Half the year is already behind us, making this the perfect time to talk about something that will improve your everyday gameplay. Since day one, Broken Ranks has stood out from other mobile MMORPGs thanks to its unique turn-based combat system. Now we want to make finding a party for activities such as boss fights much smoother. That's where the revamped Party Finder comes in - it’s getting a second life. And, of course, this isn't just for mobile players; the improvements will benefit PC players as well.
Filters, Presets, and More
The Party Finder is one of the most important features in any MMO and a genre standard, so let's start with the basics. The system will include filters, allowing you to tailor party listings to your needs and preferences. Instead of browsing listings one by one, you'll be able to narrow the results immediately: a specific instance, character class, required level, or Might range.
You'll also be able to invite friends or guild members directly to your party from the interface.
To save you from configuring filters every time, you'll be able to create highly detailed presets based on your own preferences. Once created, a preset is saved, so you won't have to enter the same settings before every expedition. Presets will be available on both PC and mobile. We'll share more details, including any fees for custom presets, closer to release.
In addition, if you're looking for a party for a specific instance, the Party Finder will automatically verify the required conditions. This way, you'll know immediately whether your party meets the requirements for that location. This does not apply to entry items - the system will not check those.
Teleportation and Compass
One of the biggest changes is a complete redesign of the Party Finder's teleportation system. There will be far more destinations than before. Our goal is to eventually allow teleportation to the vicinity of every party instance in the game. Instead of arriving somewhere in the general area and having to cover the rest of the distance on foot, you'll be able to choose the exact destination from several available options.
We're also considering expanding teleportation further - for example, allowing the Guild Tower to offer the same teleport destinations as the Party Finder. We're also looking into expanding the Guide. Wherever possible, we'd like to reduce the abuse of party listings created solely to gain access to teleports.
For new players, we'll also add a compass to help them find the meeting point and join the rest of their party.
Communicating with other Expeditioners
The new Party Finder isn't just about finding a group - communication is just as important. Before your party even meets, you'll have access to a dedicated chat. In addition, you'll be able to track the locations of other expeditioners on the map, so you'll always know where everyone is and when the party is ready to go.
We also see value in adding group private messages outside of the Party Finder itself, although we're not yet sure whether we'll be able to fit that feature into the same update.
Better Party Resource Visibility
Here's another feature we think our more hardcore players will especially appreciate. We'll add party resource panels displaying each party member's Health, Mana, and Stamina while you're moving around the map, without the need to open a separate window. This feature will be available on both mobile and PC.
Expedition Chat
Finally, a short but important note for those who still appreciate the good old expedition chat - it isn't going anywhere. In addition, you'll be able to automatically post a link to your party in the chat, along with a short description of the players you're looking for.
Until now, finding a party in Broken Ranks hasn't always been the smoothest experience, and we knew this was an area that needed improvement. Before the global launch, we want to polish as many important systems as possible. Among mobile MMORPGs available on Android, a solid Party Finder is practically a must-have. We hope these improvements will make every expedition easier to organize and let you spend less time assembling a party - and more time playing.
Remember: "You must gather your party before venturing forth." :)
Adventure awaits!
