I read in one of your comments in one thread that you are working hard on new content despite no communication and yesterday saw in a youtube video from NothingButSkillz, that you are hiring people for division 2 development. That gives me hope!

But at the same time I have fears.

I play Division 1 and 2 more than I ever played other games, most I stopped playing very quickly.

I played both Division games more than 2.500 hours each, just reached SHD 6.100.

Why do I play these games that much: I very much enjoy the great visuals of both games (Div 2 would require some tweaks though and reducing or better excluding the kitschy cartoonish stuff), how it feels to shoot (much better than in other shooters, but would personally prefer realistic shooting instead of bullet sponge, but accepted as it is) and it works great playing with others! Very well done!!! Thank you for these very great games.

Both games have the potential to be superb games for me, though!

Well, people are different, having different likings. My clan leader for example plays Raids everyday, I played both 3 times, do not want to play these ever again. I know people playing every day Conflict and darkzone without any interest in PvE stuff, people are different and the games have a lot to offer to suit different tastes, which is great.

In Division 1 you made the mistake by not adding open world content into the super great open world in endgame, which is basically dead, apart from the few bounties. You added then the great Survival and good Underground DLC. The incursions and resistences I do not play at all after having played them several times. I wished you would have added content to the great open world map. If you would release an upgrade of division 1, I would be happy to pay 100 EUR for it .

Because you apparently have resources to further develop Division 2, which is great, very much appreciate it, I have the fear that you are focusing completely on technical things because of the latest changes (new mask, changed striker set) and communication so far (change of skill tree, new game mode). Well people are different, personally I do not care at all of these things.

Some people want more raids, others more legendary missions, legendary in open world, more exotics, new guns, new gear, classified ones as in Division 1, incursions/resistences … I do not care at all of all these things, others dreaming of a new paid DLC like WoNY inc me .

Because you apparently have resources for further developing Division 2, please do not focus 100% on technical stuff only and use some of your resources for improving the usage of the existing map(s).

I posted several proposals here and in Reddit forum as a lot other players did as well. Please do not make the same mistake as in Division 1.

But of course, you added great stuff to the game already, the great outskirts missions, WoNY, some people enjoy the Raids and Conflict, well there are even people liking Summit (sorry for sarcasm) and Kenly (really?, sorry again).

Some bullets for what could be improved with regard to the existing map(s) to make the game a phantastic one for GnarlyAtol :

• Make use of the great raid maps for normal PvE content (missions, side missions, projects, integrating in daily/weekly projects (keeping current set up as a special mode) and integrating in open world map instead of technical add-on
• the same for the 5 great Conflict maps
• the same for the 3 great darkzone maps
• the same for the great looking Kenly college map
• make use of the all great looking contaminated areas/buildings, locked locations from side missions, tunnels and locations used during campaign to hide SHD crates and loot crates only for use in endgame, eg for small projects
• especially make use of the great looking underground area of the City Hall Building from the WoNY entry mission which now not accessible more in the Control Point set-up. Why? Such a wasted great looking area, designed for a few minutes only during campaign? Are you serious?
• even the great looking safehouses could be used for simple projects instead of using them for fast traveling or the other technical stuff only
• improving control points activities by adding story link (eg task given by officer in base of operation) instead of pure simple technical shooting only and provide variability (eg varying numbers of npcs, bosses, waves, …), they are all the same
• exclude the nonsense tasks like the multiple public executions and propaganda! Common, you designed such a great map which is a artwork itself and adding such ridiculous loveless and uncreative stuff to it. I can’t understand that!
• exclude the ridiculous lawnmower!!!
• exclude the mutant-like bosses and suiciders and include realistic enemies
• include realistic and motivating tasks, examples for this further below
• make use of the super great looking mission maps for realistic side missions, projects, tasks, turning the mission maps into open maps like the open conflict maps to get the 100% linearity out for multiple use and including them in daily/weekly projects

Examples for realistic tasks for open world:

• you get a task from an officer at base of operations or from a civilian or you find information in a computer or a note on a desk in a building or … with information to a missing person, important information in a hidden computer server, … with hints where to search in the open world for finding a civilian, an important scientist, important technical appliances, important material ….
• That could be designed with different difficulty, requiring searching in open world with random npc encounters
• helping civilians getting attacked in the streets, helping to find missing persons, helping people who have been robbed, attacked at their houses/settlements …
• helping scientists, finding information, material, appliances, studies in hidden laboratories, …
• helping government/military/agents …

Further proposals to improve the great existing game and turn it into a phantastic one can be found in my posts in Reddit forum

Happy developing! I count on you

Best
Gnarly

@latenitedelight
"Besides Countdown, they've been working on the Expertise System, as well as Specialization and Balance changes. Plus new seasons/gear."
Exactly completely wasted ressources.

I understand that they do not work on a DLC for such an old game. Every game comes to an end. But why do they continue working on such frippery?

@robincitin23
I did not play both games as much as you did, but quite some time, played division 1 campaign 3 times, just started my 4th, played half a year darkzone, played division 2 campaign 2 times, just reached SHD 6.200.

I share your emotions. A lot people seem to play the game because of loot and grind and technical stuff when reading here in the forum. When I consider the views of my division friends in both games, have quite some after playing both games that much, I have a totally different impression what the players want, inc. me.

To elaborate about some of your comments:

Expertise system: I hope we can simply ignore. I definately will not spend a minute on it. We have attributes, talents, bonuses, skills, skill trees, SHD watch ... that is already very much overdone from my perspective. So, I hope I simply can ignore. I very much enjoy playing these games but definitaly not because of these technicalities.

Darkzone: why do you state that the darkzone is the essence of the game? Of course I know players playing PvP only in Division 1 and 2 and no PvE content at all and I played darkzone in Divsion 1 a lot. On the other hand most of my friends do not play PvP and darkzone at all. Basically I would estimate that 99% of my friends playing missions and open world content, no darkzone, no conflict, no raid, no Kenly, no Incursions, mno Resitsances, some playing Survival and Underground occasionally.

Sets, marks, skills and talents: agree, no more needed

PvE: if my assumption is right, that the majority of the player base plays missions and open world content and not focussing on modes and the like, then indeed they should focus on other things in their updates

Bugs/Crashes: I play on XBoX One X, indeed, I have no other game that crashes that much. Recently I played Far Cry 5, completed most of the campaign, not a single crash, Ghost Recon Wildlands played completely, not a single crash I remember, Read Dead Redemption ... not a single crash ...

@traumahawk
that surprised me!
I play limited legendary, only when people ask for help. In this case I use a full yellow skill build full yellow and glass canon. I am dead already when NPCs are looking at me, and in heroic with half a bullet when I wouldnt hide . How do you survive when not hiding, as you say?

Yeah, agree, still so much potential, but which is different for the players. Some want more raids, others more gear, others a bigger darkzone, others a new map extension, … .

Personally some of my dreams for new TD2 content are improving existing stuff:

• making more use of the existing maps in endgame by: using the 2 maps of the raids, the 3 maps of Conflict and the 3 darkzone maps for ‘normal‘ PvE content for small missions and weekly projects
• making further use of the locations from campaign side missions, contaminated areas, tunnels and the multiple not used but existing locations in endgame
• turn the existing main mission maps into open mini maps by getting the linearity out, reducing blockades, providing by that flexibility to solve a mission and these mini maps could be used for further activities, like small side missions and projects
• Projects should become logical tasks, rather going somewhere, shoot and open crates
• 3 modes for the 3 darkzones: PvE only and make use of them for missions and projects, PvP and PvE as existing, and a PVP only mode

But I am also hoping for a DLC like WoNY with a new map. But I fear that they come up with new/changed gear, talents, skills&trees, … I do not care at all about these things.
Best
Gnarly

@latenitedelight
thank you for your very good explanations. I was hoping for a DLC with new nsp later this year . In between I was hoping that they would realize some of my small dreams which is simply making better use of the existing maps and locations and developing realistic tasks/ projects for the endgame. Eg.in course of the world tiers of division 1 side missions popped up to find certain persons, as one example of a realistic task. There are multiple possibilities for small but realistic activities that can be embedded in the existing maps. But no, instead they invest developing time in a new mask and changes to gear and in the future to skill trees … well, I couldnt care less.
BUT: despite being on SHD level 4.000 now, I still have fun playing that game with friends. What counts for me is the great detailed map design, the gunplay feeling (which I do not like in Ghost Recon, feels outdated compared to Division) and the mechanism playing with other people. These elements outweigh the elements I personally do not like in both Division games. In parallel I an playing Far Cry 6. When I finished it, I am going to play Division 1 campaign a 4th time. I was always flashed from the great looks, even after having played Division 2. I played Division 2 campaign two times and do not want a third time. BUT: there are at least to areas which I would like to see again, being not accessible anymore: the great underground area of City Hall from the start mission of WoNY and an old bunker in a side mission at Navy Hill . Perhaps there were more and I do not remember anymore.
Best
Gnarly

Dear Division lovers,
 
I do not know why you all guys love to play Division games, we are all different and have different likings.
 
Division 1
 
My addiction can be described like that: when I first time started Division 1, starting in Brooklyn with the view on Manhattan Bridge, I was immediately flashed, I looked at everything … simply wow. And this emotion did not stop. I pretty much enjoyed the whole campaign, slowly discovering the open world and the great missions with all the great visual details included. Further I enjoyed the darkzone because having a great map as well, very emotional, and allowing PvE players to play in the great darkzone as well thanks to its size. I played Division 1 campaign 3 times and half year darkzone.
 
But in endgame came a big disappointment as well. Because the super great open world was dead, apart from few bounties, after having played them few times interest goes down quickly.
 
Then they added a lot stuff, most of them of limited interest and even frustrating for me:

• first of all: why making such a great open world and not adding tasks for the use in endgame? Despite probably most players were hoping for that? Instead they added stuff with limited use for most.
• Area at Camp Clinton: I was very happy that there was a new area, but the endless NPC streams were frustrating and the tasks meh. Do not play that area at all.
• Incursions: do not like them at all (technical boring play only with no context to story)
• Resistances: do not like them at all (the same)
• Last Stand: PvP modus, do not play that at all. If I am in the mood of a bit PvP then I play darkzone
• Underground: super great looking as everything in Division 1. But I am no fan of this artificial endless mode without any link to story. It becomes pure technical play. Play that very seldom. I wished they would have made use ofnthese great rooms and tunnels for a fixed arrangement as a fixed map on top of the mode and using this map for missions and projects like the other areas of the game
• Survival: did not play that often, simply not my cup of tea but It looks to me that this is well done.

 
So basically, I play only the content from the base game. All the additions no use for me.
 
Low hanging fruits here: they could have added activities in the super great open world we all love. I do not understand their extreme focus on modes and technicalities instead of building on that what makes this game great. A super great but wasted open world map.
 
 
Division 2
 
I played the campaign 2 times, just reached SHD 6.200 and recently helped a great friend from Division 1 in his division 2 campaign but he stopped at level 29 and does not want to continue playing Division 2 because he pretty much prefers Division 1 and went back, very much disliking Division 2.
 
When I first time played Division 2 I had a very different emotion compared to my Division 1 experience. I was shocked when I started the campaign. I could not play, was searching the internet because I thought something went wrong with the installation. Had the impression that I looked at a much older game compared to Division 1. In fact Division 2 graphics are better when looking close but the issue is the high volume of kitchy and cartoonish elements included in the game, strange design decisions made, which not fit to the story of the game. Despite having played both games now more than 2.500 each, I still have the same emotions. Just started to play Division 1 campaign the 4^th time .
 
But Division 2 is without any doubt a good game for me as well and I somehow accepted what I dislike over time … was a long process though, several times stopped that game during campaign and did not play endgame content in the past. Because of lacking interest. In the beginning I was happy that there was open world content in endgame but man … everything the same, every CP the same, bounties always in the same location and the same, crappy other activities like countless public executions and propaganda, … , everything sterile without any link to story, completely emotionless if you ignore the grind for a moment and look at the gameply only. Why developing such big, rich, detailed and elaborate maps and then adding such nonsense gameplay on it, I do not understand that. In no other game you would play eg a control point 50 times if there wouldn’t be the grind. You would be fed up with it already after the third. The same with respect to the other activities.
 
More than a year later I played the campaign a second time and entered endgame.
 
With respect to their additions to the base game I had different feelings:

• I was very happy when they added pentagon (great looking, atmospheric), Camp White Oak (great), Coney Island and Zoo (both well done but no fan of this because they have to much focus on tourist areas in Division 2 and we have already a lot in base game)
• I was very happy when they added WoNY: great!!!
• Kenly College: great looking but the tasks where something between meh and frustrating. Do not want to play it again.
• Raids: super great looking, but the tasks are not my cup of tea
• Conflict: 5 great looking open maps for PvP but I am not a PvP player. Playing one minute, dead, waiting to restart, playing one minute … dead …
• Summit: … no fan of artificial lifeless gunplay with strange SciFy tasks
• Classified missions: did not buy. If they would sell it as DLC, integrating the missions in open world in endgame like the other missions, I am happy to pay for additional missions

 
So again, apart from the additional missions and WoNY they did not build on the strength of the base game. And now with the new content I am struggling again. I do not care of new gear, new skill tree logics/expertise and the new mode at all. Fine to have some modes for the ones being interested but I doubt that this is the case of the majority of us.
 
The low hanging fruits for me which would make much more sense for me (with respect to PvE):

• Simply make use what is existing and improve, no need for a new map
• Improving open world activities (skip technical nonsense tasks or at least reduce and add realistic logical and motivating tasks)
• Make more use of the multiple open world locations not used at all or very limited (contaminated buildings, tunnels (why are there no tube tunnels as in Division 1 but these strange tunnels instead?), locations from side missions, countless buildings/rooms/places used for placing crates only
• No need for a new map, but make use of the existing special maps for motivating missions and tasks: the 3 raid maps, the 5 conflict maps, the three darkzone maps, Kenly college map and integrating into open world
• Integrate the classified missions
• missions: several missions have aparently bigger maps which have been reduced by blockades/hedges/closed doors/... and so on for that 100% linear gameply. Perhaps the mission maps could be turned into small open mini maps like the small open Conflict maps. That would allow to put intersting tasks on it for use in endgame, eg for small projects

 
So much potential by making use what is already there!!! That would make much more sense from my perspective instead of wasting ressources on new/changed gear/guns/exotics, skill trees (expertise), … modes …
 
Best
Gnarly

@suspiciouspixel
I played both raids several times with zero interest playing these ever again. Sometimes I join my clan leader who plays raids several times per week and when a person is missing I am helping out.
I do not like it, I do not play it, I do not like Summit, Kenly College … I do not play it. I do not like Incursions and resistances in Division 1 … I do not play it.

They are adding new gear, change skill tree stuff … I simply do not care, they add a new mode … I simply do not play it.

I am not saying stop all this because there are always people being interested in this. BUT: I am angry because they are focusing 100% on these technical things/modes for quite a while. Seasons, new masks, changed striker and now that. A lot people where hoping for real content with replay value, inc me.

@arnudswazaneger
Man you are so right, an integration of both games would be great. But my emotions are a bit different than yours. When I first time started division 1 game I was simply stunned, when I started division 2 campaign I was shocked and frustrated, could even not play, thought something went wrong in installation, had the feeling I am looking at a much older game.

For me it’s not summer vs winter. I like the summer looks as well. A dynamic season model would be great though . Would require a further Xbox generation I assume .

After having played both games more than 2500 hours each, being at SHD 6.500 right now, I still have the same emotions. If Division 1 would have open world content in endgame I probably wouldn’t play Division 2 at all.

My struggles with division 2: wrong design direction, they put so many kitchy/cartoonish elements into the open world, in limited areas/missions you get tense feelings that fit to the story, to much focus on tourist areas for missions, cartoonish unrealistic looks of the enemies, gameplay worsened because of focus on technical elements instead of designing realistic tasks with storylink that provides emotions. Open world content with steril nonsense tasks, completely without any link to story and extremely repetitive. In Division 2 they focused on the wrong things, technical frippery and modes. Of course much easier to develop than real content, it started already with the additions to Division 1 … frustratingly they still continue as we could see in latest information/PTS …

Would love to see an upgrade of Division 1 one day.

Dear Ubi/Massive,

I love both division games a lot but playing the base content only for years (missions, open world) with few exemptions.

For years now I was hoping for improvement and expansion of the base game, means improved tasks for the open world, use of non-used locations/buildings/areas for further tasks, more missions (like in base game, not these modes), so many unlocked low hanging fruits requiring limited efforts, further map expansions and the like. People were raising these things here and in Reddit for years, which gave me hope for future content.

Because I am not interested in new gear, new exotics, seasons and manhunts which are nothing else than repetition with some technical effects, modes like incursions, resistences, raids, summit, Kenly … apparel… I am deeply disappointed with the upcoming content … waiting for years, basically since release of WoNY all additions were completely useless for me and my friends, all of them playing both games for years, loving the base game, and now again only new gear, exotics, a useless progression system (which makes the content easier while it should be the other way round, the more experienced a player is, the more demanding the tasks should become) and again a new mode only … .

Apparently you made a great map for this Countdown mode but I am wondering why you didn’t make this map as expansion of the base game and you could have put this mode on top, to make the base game and mode lovers happy, like the great Survival mode has been put on the same map. Apparently technically no issue.

I know a lot people were asking regularly for further gear, exotics, skills … and all this technical stuff for the grinders and build addicts but there are also the other division lovers asking for years for more/better playable content as mentioned above, a lot friends left the game because of that.

I wonder why this part of the player base is continuously ignored, for years? Is this part the minority of the player base? I do not think so.

But I am grateful for your addition of the outskirt missions and WoNY, which are all great additions! Thank you!

Now I am wondering if I should bury my hopes or whether there are any signals for future content that suits our tastes, the great base game(s).

Further, still dreaming of a Division 1 remaster with open world content , would be happy to pay 100 bucks for it … ok, give you 200 .

A very disappointed Gnarly

Best
Gnarly

@noxious81
Hi Noxious,

I couldn’t complete the manhunt yet because my game crashed 2 times in DCD, so cannot completely judge. What I have seen so far surprises me that people are that exited about it.

As you know, I love the base game, especially playing in the great open world, the missions and darkzone. But this manhunt is: the same control points, a propaganda broadcast and a bounty embedded in a mission map. Yes, it’s change but a negligible change for 1 hour playtime only but from their marketing I expected something else. I will see when the DCD bug is solved and redo.

What I like about the new manhunt, that you contact someone first in base of operations because it provides a bit realism and context instead of go somewhere and shoot only. That is indeed a good addition. Exactly this I proposed several times to combine tasks a bit with narrative. What I further like is, what I proposed several times as well, making use of the great mission maps for other tasks instead of this one time use, didn’t have bounties in mind, rather small sidemissions, projects with story contribution. The DCD map I like a lot and Pentagon and several others, super great maps for additional use. This is definately a good improvement. But for a short moment only in these manhunts. Basically it means continue playing 99% of our play time the old things.

With respect to Countdown: well, as we can see here and in Reddit there are apparently a lot players who like it, also some of my friends or clan members play it. When I ask them what they like, mostly the answer is „a lo loot“ … Therefore it’s good that they prepared it. I played it several times with my Iron Horse friends, all of them returned to the normal Raids, I played it with my usual team and with randoms. It’s simply not my cup of tea. But it’s fine that it is there as said. Was hoping till the last second that they in addition would make use of the map for normal missions as well because of all the feedback from the community, with story contribution, where you can choose to play alone or in a team and the difficulty level, as it has been done for the added outskirt missions. But keeping current mode of course. One map, for two purposes. What I like about the map is the open design, as Kenly. That would be a good basis for more varied missions as in other shooters instead of this typical 100% linear tunnel-like design.

Builds: I am neither a grinder nor a build guy, I have 3 builds only, 1 for darkzone, 1 for lightzone, a skill build for lazy playing in legendary . No interest in further builds. My focus is gameplay, not these technicalities.

But started Far Cry 6 now. My Division 2 time is over but will complete the Manhunt when the bug is solved. With SHD 8.100 it was quite some play time, far away from yours of course . In parallel to Far Cry 6 I play the Division 1 campaign a 4th time, already started in Brooklyn … I love it ️️ and continue playing PvP with my old friends in Division 1, love the darkzone as well, no mode stuff, great

In case they add further missions, eg integrating the classified assignments, and open world content in future, I might return. Seasons are definately no driver. Leagues I do not play, dislike rushing, and global events I played in my grind phase only to get optimization crates. No driver for me to return.

I whish you a good time
enjoy
Best
Gnarly

@midniitemangler
I recognize very often that people play certain content only because of certain rewards. The same with Countdown, I asked several people who like Countdown what they like, mostly the answer was „a lot loot“.

That your previous Raid friends left after getting Eagle Bearer implies that they were not interested in the gameplay itself. Perhaps it’s better to play what you like to play instead of focussing to much on rewards.

When they would introduce monthly rotating rewards, well then you play it one time, get the reward and then?

But I fully understand you, the core incentive scheme is rewards in this game, not that much the gameplay itself.

@angrypandanr1
right
but would pretty much prefer good playable content over more collectibles and as you rightly phrased a 1 floor Summit

Responded to quickly
You were saying 1 floor Summit for Countdown in another post and immediately confirmed because of my emotion about it. But the good thing in Summit is that I can choose to play alone or in a team and what difficulty level. Therefore Summit is much better for me.

@angrypandanr1
I fully share your view

@suschunga
I do not know if you are a child or a grown man, considering your regular posts I expect the first. You should have learned that people have different opinions. Take care about your behaviour.

With respect to Kenly I share your observations, considering my friends. But there are also people out there who like Kenly, but I am not part of this community

@noxious81
yeah, I agree with you. In PvE one can ignore but not in PvP and most PvP players I know despise grind. There is no force for me personally because PvP I mainly play in Division 1.

With respect to season and Countdown: no value for me.

Countdown I played now around 20 times, done with it. When the manhunt bug is solved I will redo DCD, then my D2 time is over. Already started a new game, waited enough for new content which resulted in a big frustration. I might return when I read here that they intend to add further missions and open world content in future.

@n3mb0t
sometimes I wonder why these things do not pop up in their own testing …

considering the huge amounts of bugs over the years, partially still existing, and new bugs …

@maxkiller181
I was very happy and excited when WoNY came out because I was so deeply disappointed from the DC map after the great Division 1 map. BUT I was upset because we were forced to grind again. Now a comparable situation.

Well it’s cheap content and apparently a lot people love it.

@calaxanas
PvP should be about tactics only, all this skill/gadget/trick stuff should be excluded completely

@ugandajim
Kenly was the second worst content for me after Summit.
Now it’s Countdown. I prefer playing Kenly over Countdown by a big margin.

But nevertheless, my assumption is that a map can be used for two purposes. Eg in Division 1 they added the great Survival mode on the existing open world map, DZ and LZ, therefore I assume that they could technically put Countdown-like modes on top of Kenly map and others. Personally I prefer normal missions if the base game by a huge margin.