Why Target Lock Should Stay

First off, before the conspiracy theorists crawl out from under rocks, here’s my YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/@thiadon?feature=shared

I don’t work for AGS, I have a career, I’m not trying to be a YouTuber or promote my content, I made videos in my free time to help people, I couldn’t care less how many views or likes I get.

I’ve also got 1,600+ hours in New World and played both PvE and PvP extensively. My company held Everfall and 2 other territories and were undefeated in PVP for the first 8 months of the game until we got merged. I’ve done a lot of OPR and influence races, and I am a PC player that enjoys challenging PVP over a high kill count.

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the situation:

A lot of people seem to be having a knee jerk reaction against target lock based on a misleading DukeSloth video and videos like it. Instead of forming an opinion based on a video that is misleading on multiple points, I suggest people actually get in game and try it for themselves like I did.

I’ve made these arguments repeatedly. Corrected people calling target lock “tab target” (which are two totally different systems) repeatedly. And I am starting to get frustrated with the misinformation. This is the last post I am making on this topic.

In my opinion, the much bigger threat to NW is limiting end-game loot to only PVP FFA zone and raid. If you want 725 gear, those are your only options. The loot system in RotAE was fantastic, AGS finally got it right, and now they’re reverting 3 years of progress and throwing all the replayability of the expeditions and the reason to do so out the window. THIS, in my opinion, is where the community should be focusing its feedback. Not on a necessary crutch for controller players. AGS needs to tweak target lock, sure, but it’s a necessary feature if they want to retain console players.

Here are just a couple problems with the DukeSloth video and what is presented:

  1. ⁠The video relies on selective footage from TrickTrick (TorikuToriku, which is the Japanese pronunciation) rather than DukeSloth using his own testing and footage.
  2. ⁠In the TrickTrick video, TrickTrick is intentionally being misleading. He pretends to beat someone with a “blindfold” but it is clear a) that his opponent threw the fight and b) TrickTrick could see. Why do I say this? First, the bow user started in melee range, no bow user would start a duel with a rapier player in melee range. Second, after he put distance between himself and TrickTrick he immediately got TrickTrick to within one or two shots of defeat. Third, he then stops attacking and lets TrickTrick close the gap again and runs away without any dodging until he dies. Fourth, no bow user who actually wanted to win the fight would do this. Fifth, immediately after killing the other player TrickTrick moves his headset up, so it’s clear he could see his opponent. In a real fight between a bow user and a rapier user where the rapier user is blindfolded, here is what would happen: the fight would start at range, the rapier user would be mashing buttons and hitting air while the bow user peppered him with arrows until he died.

Here’s what people are failing to understand about target lock:

  1. ⁠At range: target lock fires your projectile at the center mass of your target where they are standing at the time you fire. Meaning a) you cannot headshot and b) if your target isn’t close, you will miss your shot entirely if they move even slightly left or right after you fire. You’re better off NOT using target lock at range for those two reasons if you have even mediocre aim. Yes, being able to snap aim is very helpful. But target lock isn’t an “I win” button at range.
  2. ⁠In Melee: target lock sticks you to the other player, tries to keep you in melee range and facing your target, it also forces you to dodge roll around your target. This is useful for controller players who cannot spin their camera as quickly as keyboard and mouse with the same precision but it’s detrimental for players who are using keyboard and mouse or who are used to free-aiming in Soulslikes games because your dodge options are limited.
  3. ⁠Keyboard & mouse is a superior input method compared to controllers. K&M has faster response and more precision.
  4. ⁠Most console players (and many PC players) play with a controller.
  5. ⁠~83% of players are mid skill level and below assuming a normal distribution (one standard deviation above the mean and everyone below it).
  6. ⁠Therefore, the VAST majority of the incoming player base with NW:A will be at both a skill and technology disadvantage. Meaning they are easy kills unless something is added to help them.
  7. ⁠We need these players to stick around if we want to continue receiving updates for New World going forward. They won’t stick around if they lose nearly every fight.
  8. ⁠As above, target lock is helpful for acquiring targets quickly and sticking to them, but it doesn’t suddenly make bad players into Superman. At best it’s a crutch to help low skill players with an inferior input mechanism have a fighting chance.
  9. ⁠Target lock is present in almost all Soulslikes that have PvP. NW combat is based on soulslike combat. Target lock is present in Elden Ring and the Souls games, and no one complains about it. The souls PVP community is very active. Two things are noteworthy about Souls / Elden Ring target lock: a) it has projectile tracking, NW doesn’t, this makes Elden Ring ranged attacks more likely to hit and b) most of the skilled PVPers in these games do not rely on target lock because you can do things when you’re not locked on your target that you can’t when you are.

TL:DR

  1. ⁠Video is misleading
  2. ⁠Target lock in its current state needs tweaks but is no where near as good as its being made out to be
  3. ⁠It’s a necessary crutch for players on controller to compete with keyboard & mouse
  4. ⁠Most new players will be on controller
  5. ⁠It exists in other games upon which NW combat is based and is fine, no one complains about it, and the soulslike PVP community is thriving.

In my opinion the people upset about target lock in NW don’t understand why it was included, are having a knee jerk reaction based on some videos, didn’t test it themselves, haven’t played PVP in games like Elden Ring extensively, and / or just want easy kills and are afraid of having any challenge.

Here’s the DukeSloth video for those that haven’t seen it:

https://youtu.be/x_oMkE-5Oxk?feature=shared