General feedback from a returning beta player

Hello Notorious Studios,

I played your game in the early beta, when it was still called Legacy: Steel & Sorcery. After some time I stopped, mainly because class balance felt weak and player feedback hardly had any visible effect. With the recent update I came back and I’m enjoying the game again. It is clearly in a better state now.

At the same time the Steam numbers are still low for an online title, often only a few hundred players at daily peak. That is a real risk for the future of the game. From that point of view, here is my feedback:

1. Marketing and positioning
   Calling Eldegarde a “mini MMO” feels wrong. It is not a small version of WoW and it does not need to be. At its core it is a fantasy extraction game with its own identity. I would present it clearly as that: a fantasy extraction title with distinctive classes, magic and a run based structure that can stand next to games like Dark and Darker or ARC Raiders. The store page and other communication should focus on this angle instead of the mini MMO label.

2. Free to play entry
   Please think about a model where players can start for free and important features are unlocked by buying the full game. For a small, niche game a lower barrier to entry makes it much easier to bring in new players and fill lobbies.

3. Class balance, especially PvP
   Class balance still feels uneven in PvP and it comes up again and again in streams and discussions. Players need to feel that their class is a solid choice if they put time into it. Class balance should stay a clear priority in future patches.

4. UI and menus for town, vendors and workbenches
   Town, vendors and crafting are harder to read than they have to be. Many functions sit in sub menus and basic things are easy to miss. As one example, it took me several hours to notice that I could unlock the forge with gold instead of special materials. Core progression options like that should be obvious in the interface and clearly marked. A simpler and more direct layout for town and workbenches would help.

5. In game text chat
   The game needs an in game text chat. Not everyone wants to talk to strangers on voice and not everyone is comfortable speaking English. A simple text chat for party, lobby and maybe a general channel would make it easier to coordinate and would make the game feel less empty.

I still like the basic idea behind Eldegarde and see potential in it. With clearer positioning, an easier entry, stronger class balance, better menus and a working text chat, the game has a better chance to grow and keep its players. I hope you will take this into account when planning the next steps for Eldegarde.