"We're seeing less people engage in the Dark Zone." | Forums

[alibby53]

It's now clear why they dumped all of the exotics in there. After Supply Drops, Contamination Events, the DZ is still shrinking in activity. I think we all know where the real action needs to be.



That's definitely a part of it.

But I'd imagine that's not the reason on consoles.

On console we want more content, and the DZ is a great place for PVE grinding, when you aren't being punked by rogues, which kills the enjoyment.
When you're geared appropriately for one activity but then you have a totally different activity decide to engage you from behind. It's not unfair, it just sucks.

With EA and Activision/Bungie recent blunders Ubi/Massive has an opportunity, but they're blowing it.

On console we want more content, and the DZ is a great place for PVE grinding, when you aren't being punked by rogues, which kills the enjoyment.
When you're geared appropriately for one activity but then you have a totally different activity decide to engage you from behind. It's not unfair, it just sucks.

With EA and Activision/Bungie recent blunders Ubi/Massive has an opportunity, but they're blowing it.

Yeah, you kinda have to walk into the DZ with a META PVP build, just to protect yourself, even if you're going in there to PVE. It sucks but it's the truth.

[alibby53]

Yeah, you kinda have to walk into the DZ with a META PVP build, just to protect yourself, even if you're going in there to PVE. It sucks but it's the truth.

But if I could do my PVE activities with my PVE build, i'd enjoy it more... honestly I play with a PVE build, and roll the dice... avoid rogues, switch character

But if I could do my PVE activities with my PVE build, i'd enjoy it more... honestly I play with a PVE build, and roll the dice... avoid rogues, switch character

If the LZ had landmarks similar to the DZ, besides the need to extract, do you think there'd be an underlining difference in how you play?

[Spiko252]

On console it's so hard to tell if they're glitching or it's just terrible latency. Especially on PS4. I go into some servers with a Banshee/Predator/Ninja build to try and hunt some Rogues and I get melted. 90% of the time now my heals/medkits don't even work. Having a refreshed mask for me is useless because by the time I'm in the 30% health region, I'm already insta melted. It has truly taken any joy out of this game.

Now I run around with a PVE Lonestar build that burns down AI and I can last a decent amount of time against Rogues only because they're afraid to come at me one at a time, so I'll fight one while the other two run around me and shoot me in the back. True talent throughout the DZ. Then I see two manhunt rogues just destroying everything in their path, low health, pop a full overheal and go on 4 shotting people with their M4's or LVOA's. I have completely given up on PVP in this game because I refuse to glitch and I don't know whether or not I'm being killed by latency or glitches.

If I was only fighting teams of 4 I could understand why I'm getting shot down so quickly. But even when I'm going up against someone with my most PVP oriented build sometimes it's not even a contest and I have zero chance of winning. It's ridiculous.I think the most obvious time I see glitching is when I pop survivor link and an overheal and they burn me down in less than a second.

Last stand is the only place I feel like I have fair fight, and when in last stand I annihilate other players. So, this is where my problem arises. I'm not terrible at PVP and can hold my own, but in the DZ it's pointless. The DZ is a ****ing garbage heap that brings out the worst type of human behavior.

[alibby53]

If the LZ had landmarks similar to the DZ, besides the need to extract, do you think there'd be an underlining difference in how you play?

Yes, if I could just focus on Landmarks, or Contamination event, and not looking for a team of players to roll up on me and wipe me out. Hell i'd be fine if the LZ required extracting, if there were no rogues.

I can solo Landmarks and Supply Drops, but it can be challenging, especially if i'm not patient. I don't bother with contamination events, when i'm solo.

It's not just how i play the game, it's how i enjoy playing. I get frustrated farming gear for them to take. Doing an activity and getting wiped by players trying to go Rogue or Manhunt. As a PVE player you're being lured into the DZ by gear and activities, so that you can be victimized by greifers, who get rewarded for ganging up on solo players and blindsiding them while they are geared for PVE.

[alibby53]

On console it's so hard to tell if they're glitching or it's just terrible latency. Especially on PS4. I go into some servers with a Banshee/Predator/Ninja build to try and hunt some Rogues and I get melted. 90% of the time now my heals/medkits don't even work. Having a refreshed mask for me is useless because by the time I'm in the 30% health region, I'm already insta melted. It has truly taken any joy out of this game.

Now I run around with a PVE Lonestar build that burns down AI and I can last a decent amount of time against Rogues only because they're afraid to come at me one at a time, so I'll fight one while the other two run around me and shoot me in the back. True talent throughout the DZ. Then I see two manhunt rogues just destroying everything in their path, low health, pop a full overheal and go on 4 shotting people with their M4's or LVOA's. I have completely given up on PVP in this game because I refuse to glitch and I don't know whether or not I'm being killed by latency or glitches.

If I was only fighting teams of 4 I could understand why I'm getting shot down so quickly. But even when I'm going up against someone with my most PVP oriented build sometimes it's not even a contest and I have zero chance of winning. It's ridiculous.

<Sarcasm>
I love getting melted by players while i'm in my animation putting gear on the rope, it'seems a great game experience (melting defenseless enemies/ getting melted while defenseless.
</Sarcasm>

[Spiko252]

You're not just getting lured in there, you almost HAVE to go in there to complete any classified gear sets. I have had 3 classifieds drop in two weeks farming DZ 07 and above and get jack **** doing legendary missions.

[LubzinNJ]

But if I could do my PVE activities with my PVE build, i'd enjoy it more... honestly I play with a PVE build, and roll the dice... avoid rogues, switch character

Same. On console I run DZ solo with a Striker build and try and avoid rogues. I also don't try and extract many things because....well...frankly it's all junk. I'm just there to clear some landmarks and have some fun.

I used to call in an extraction just for S&G if there hadn't been any rogue activity or I hadn't seen anyone else taking down landmarks around where I was, but out of nowhere a group of 4 would always show up and gank me from behind as I was clearing off the purps that come to contest an extraction.

Merphee if they had LZ landmarks I don't think I'd ever venture into the Dark Zone unless it was the only source of some item that I needed, and even then I'd probably weigh the pros and cons of going into the DZ for that one piece of gear and just move on from trying to get that one item.

[RushLoongHammer]

The reason I don't engage with the DZ is

• There is no suspense in the DZ like their used to be
• The teleporting NPCs and heal delays
• Loot I can get outside the DZ in scripted/voiced missions
• The DZ leveling is pointless. I wish this had a purpose.
• I don't enjoy the PvP in the Division. Not from a lack of trying.
• Most people seemed to be running the same build

The 3 things I love about the DZ is

• 24 player Interaction. I really hope the Division implements +8+12+24 player PvE public events in the future.
• Contaminated events. I just like the idea behind them. Cleaners eradicating the virus wherever it flares up.
• The environmental design. To bad it's limited in the DZ