The other thread about favorite mechanics is great, so let’s also do the opposite: what are some of your most hated mechanics?
The other thread about favorite mechanics is great, so let’s also do the opposite: what are some of your most hated mechanics?
Fishing is pretty interesting to discuss in terms of a game mechanic in terms of enjoyablity since it seems like a very marmite “you love it or hate it” sort of deal and seems to pop up in lots of games. Some people love it precisely because of its slow-paced, chill nature. I quite enjoyed it when I played some of the MMO’s that have a fishing profession as a pretty low energy thing to do when I wanted to focus on talking to guildies or doing some other thing in the background.
For what you described, I’d go materials farming. WoW and ESO farming for herbs/metals is still a chill time, and it requires zero decision-making.
Fishing, though? You’re waiting for QTEs. WoW will let you fish anywhere (but pools are best), ESO will only let you fish in pool spawns. But both have fishing that consists of ‘do nothing for like, ten seconds, then DO SOMETHING VERY FAST’ and for me that’s hell.
The ‘wait to catch’ mechanic means the fishing is not interesting enough that I want to pay attention, but I can’t afford to stop paying attention or I’ll miss the fish. It’s not willing to be interesting enough to keep my attention, but it also won’t let me look for interest somewhere else.
I like the Warframe fishing because even in the ‘waiting’ portion of watching them swim towards me, there’s anticipation. Lining up a shot, I’m considering angles in my head. The most recent open-world zone lets you turn into a fish to hunt them; I haven’t done that one yet but what an idea!