Star Stable Online‘s Camp Western has returned, but unlike previous years, the event has not been well received. In a sudden shift from the status quo, SSO has implemented a series of changes that has left players both confused and scratching their heads.
Starting with the beasts—wolves and bears—they decided early on in the year that these creatures would be removed from the event. These ‘beasts,’ as they were called, created an interesting and unique challenge in the event, forcing players to be aware of their surroundings, carry repellent, and keep their pace brisk to avoid them. If they were caught, they would be teleported back to Starshine Ranch.
Although many players loved these beasts for bringing a fresh challenge to the game, others felt they created a frustrating hurdle, resulting in players avoiding the event altogether.
The next change was to gold mining. Gold mining was originally a free-roam activity, meaning while you were out exploring (and avoiding wolves), you would come across ores to mine and collect gold to be used in the shop. They changed this entirely, making it a timed activity, limiting the amount of gold one can find and the time you can spend mining.
The final change was the removal of the token shop. Tokens could be collected throughout the event and then exchanged for gear. Every year, new gear would be added to the token shop, giving players a wide range of options to choose from. Instead, players now have an event board, giving them something to work toward, but taking away their ability to grind for gear they actually wanted.
This became even more shocking when players realized that the tack that should have been in the token shop was now being sold in the global store.
All of these changes have been met with fierce pushback. Players feel the event has been stripped of its engaging content and left bare-bones and boring. A series of Reddit posts has been shared amongst players, and on Instagram, players are also quick to tell SSO how disappointed they are with the changes.
On the other hand, some players are quite happy with the changes. Some felt the beasts were a nuisance and the grinding became a chore instead of fun. They argue that quick play sessions are better than long, drawn-out grind sessions.
This is still early in the Camp Western event, and Star Stable might still have a lot planned. However, as it stands, it’s clear the changes have the community split. We’ll have to wait and see if SSO rolls back these changes again, like they had to do with the Trailblazers.
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