Reddit user Krytoric has opened a new debate in the run up to the release of Amazon's new MMO, New World. The subject of addons is one common to games in the genre, having become a dominant -- and sometimes overpowering -- in other games.
Krytoric expresses frustration at their experience of World of Warcraft in particular, where players are often judged based on having addons or not. The argument is that they have become so prevalent in dungeons and raids that not having certain addons was considered 'borderline trolling'.
As such, Krytoric would like Amazon to forego the possibility of having addons in New World when it releases next week, stating they'd like New World to 'actually let people figure out the game and let people enjoy what they wanna do'.
It's something we agree with, and wouldn't pigeon-hole players into something akin to following a meta. With New World offering a lot of flexibility in builds, allowing players to stand out for their individualism within the system.
And after all, players sticking to a cookie-cutter build without fully understanding the nuances of a build aren't exactly ideal. While there are certain weapon pairings that synergize with one another ideally, and min-maxing possible, you still want to see some variety.
Krytoric states in an edit to their post that their opinion isn't pointed towards UI addons. One example given is that of a minimap -- there's not one in New World, and an addons could make the lives of players easier in that regard.
While accessing the map is uncomplicated, a minimap would simply remove any notion of "realism" or immersion in the game. This removal of the 'pure' experience is something that would be a shame, in our opinion, and is probably not what the developers want.
There are add-ons on World of Warcraft such as BigWigs and GladiatorlosSA2 which show players the cooldowns and spells used by mobs or players in PvP. Again, these are addons that arguably affect the style of the game. Monsters in New World don't have an impressive array of skills, and as such it's not hard to anticipate their moves with a little observation and experience.
In a game as PvP focused as New World, addons like these would be to the game's detriment.
While some addons are highly contentious, others can prove useful. Aesthetic addons that change the user interface with practical elements such as skills, or a simpler way for healers to target allies are not that threatening to the overall experience.
However, addons aren't necessarily needed for UI customisation in some games, with Final Fantasy XIV having an comprehensive menu for placing almost any facet of the UI wherever we see fit.
This would be a much better option for New World in our opinion, and the same applies to accessibility options such as colorblind settings.
Ultimately, we think it'd be a great shame if New World was bogged down with addons down the line.
The launch of New World is imminent, and now Amazon Games has revealed details and the time for preloading the game.
