Kobolds, yeah, I've always seen them as having personalities like Tweek from South Park. I've even got a Kobold character named T'wyk for an up-coming campaign. lol
Hey, don't worry about it. My own mother didn't think I had it when I brought it up. Had to get a shrink's say so first.
About the game, I just wish I had a better computer so I could actually play. But for now, I'll just live vicariously through the message board. Weeeeee!
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So far, so good. I think it would be like any group online - you'd have to find the right crowd that you're comfortable with. I haven't done much group quests, as I'm leery unless I've had a chance to chat with them. Did manage to find a couple of good people who were more interested in playing their character and actually "exploring" a dungeon, so there's hope.The DDO forums, however - beware the trolls. I haven't found much use so far for them, as it's generally full of b#~!!ing, whining and complaining about how it's not like WoW or EQ or Name-your-Game here, or how it's too much like aforementioned games, why is there only 10 levels, why can't a halfling rogue wear full plate armor with no penalties to skills, blah blah blah blah blah. b#~!! piss moan. Ad nauseum. Lots of b#~!!ing, no constructive criticism.
hmmm ... That doesn't bode well. Thanks a bunch for the answers, and keep posting on how you're doing! =D
Okay, as promised, screenshots of the game
View from the wall of the Harbormaster's House
View from the rooftop of the Harbormaster's House
View from the Stormreach pier
Wavecrest Tavern interior, with user interface
Enjoy.
EDIT These were taken at 1280x1024 resolution, so y'all can see all the details, as well as with the graphics details cranked up. I apologize if anybody has any slowness downloading these!
Speaking as another DDO player, I do agree with the statement of finding a group you like. I'm still trying to find a group of players who want to explore the world and the dungeons, instead of "run around corner, smash monster, loot, pillage, repeat." The group I was with tonight had been through most of the quests already and I was constantly lagging behind. I think the situation will change as soon as the game goes 'live' on March 6th... many new players who haven't played before, and who will hopefully be cautious.
Squid
Windling Treehollow
Forge Skakentha
Tynor Evendell
--- all on Sarlone server for DDO
Its really fun, as a rogue, to find some sort of high ground advantage that will make it easier for me to fire at the enemy engaged in melee combat with the fighter in my group.
What I dislike are the cost of the potions compared with potential earnings in a dungeon. Makes a cleric a must have.
Thanks for answering my questions, Lilith, EvilTurnip, and Savaun. It looks cool enough that I'll give it a try.
The screenshots are good, but I'm still hesitant. Keep this thread going, and mention if they decide to expand the racial options and such in any future patches/expansions. If so, and you all continue to feel good about the game in general, I might decide to switch from WoW to DDO.
I've heard that there are only 10 levels, but there's some form of sub-leveling system. What's that all about, and how does it work?
10 levels, each with 5 ranks (so, about "50" levels, kinda sorta). Right now, my level is 1.2. XP is earned by completing quests - completing quests at a higher difficulty (optional) gives you more XP, but does increase the difficulty.
Each rank in a level grants you an "Action Point" which gives you skill or class enhancements (example, my cleric has one that bumps up my healing spells). You have to spend all your action points before levelling up (I'm reading this from the manual, so I can't tell about it in-game myself, as I haven't gotten there yet).
My understanding is that they're trying to work on new content on a monthly basis, with each content pushing the level limit. That was a rumor I read bandied about on the forums, so I can't speak about its validity.
As far as the ranks/levels thing goes, I think is was a conscientious effort on Turbine's part to avoid the appearance of "level-grinding". The breaks were you get a goodie are not as far apart as it would initially seem, and allows for a bit more character customization as well. ("What if I don't want the more-healing goodie? What if I want extra turning? Hmmm...")
I'll keep y'all posted on any more interesting things I hear or see, or any gameplay related stuff.
I've heard that there are only 10 levels, but there's some form of sub-leveling system. What's that all about, and how does it work?
Turbine is already committed to bringing in more races and classes. Supposedly the reason why Druid and Monk haven't been introduced is, of all things, the animations. They simply weren't finished by the time the program had to go to disk. More races are also a priority; expect half-orc and half-elf very soon, probably within the first 3 updates. And, of course, a constant updating of content... and within a month of launch, a new quarter of the city is going to open up, with mostly the higher level quests in it. (trust me, there's a doozy in there.) And the 1st expansion pack is supposed to take us to 20th level.
Squid
What about the terrain? I know that it's said to all take place in the city of Stormreach, but what about outside the city? Is there any surrounding countryside, or is it purely urban adventuring? If the latter, that would be a huge turn-off for me.
There is, but a majority of the lower level adventures that I've found so far take place in the city. Haven't gotten out of the city yet.
I don't know if I mentioned it previously, but there is swimming as well. The weight of your gear and armor that you're wearing will slow you down, as I found to my chagrin when I jumped off of a pier into the water. "Wow, I can't swim worth crap..." You'll take damage if you don't come up for air.
What about the terrain? I know that it's said to all take place in the city of Stormreach, but what about outside the city? Is there any surrounding countryside, or is it purely urban adventuring? If the latter, that would be a huge turn-off for me.
This game is great! Ive tried a few different online games and they have always been about the same thing: Farming for xp and whatever else.
In DDO it is possible, though difficult, to complete a quest without killing anything. Each class has its own blend of abilities to make it truly stand out from other classes.
If you play a fighter and try to take on a group of CR 0.25 monsters you will find it is very difficult.
This game enforces group play but doesnt do so by throwing a bunch of monsters at you.
Each level, as Lilith detailed, gives you 5 ranks. Each rank is sort of a mini level up where you get to select bonuses such as 20 more MP if youre a caster type, or bonuses to sneak and hide for a rogue.
In DDO it is possible, though difficult, to complete a quest without killing anything.
This is true - in fact there is a quest that if you kill too many of the cultists, you fail the quest.
This game enforces group play but doesnt do so by throwing a bunch of monsters at you.
I recently had an experience when I was playing it last night, by myself ('cause I don't know anyone on the Paizo boards that are there *sniffs*), trying to take on a kobold shaman. The kobold shamans have this habit of casting fear, which basically prevents you from doing anything except running. After failing my saving throw, followed promptly by the shaman casting magic missle at my hastily retreating butt, I fell to the kobold shaman. Rethinking my strategy, I said to myself - "Self! Perhaps when attempting the solo combat, you should exchange your prepared bless and bane spells with divine favor and shield of faith. You should cast that scroll of doom that you found first, though - that will help take the edge off. And for goodness sakes, don't stand there like a bullseye target! Move your butt!"
So yes, there are multiple means to solve an adventure - brute force doesn't always work, a little planning does help.
Each level, as Lilith detailed, gives you 5 ranks. Each rank is sort of a mini level up where you get to select bonuses such as 20 more MP if youre a caster type, or bonuses to sneak and hide for a rogue.
I recently took Divine Vitality, which allows me to sacrifice a turn undead attempt to revitalize somebody else's mana pool - very useful in a party situation, not as useful when solo-ing. Though people really really like it when I'm standing in a tavern and healed/revitalizing them.
Before I forget, I quickly made a warforged fighter and tested out the swimming bit. I was able to stay underwater with no penalization.
I would love to play with you but my friends had decided on the Khyber server before the game even came out.
It sucks for me because I have other things I want to do and they are busy leveling. So I pretty much have no one to play with either :[
The game also comes in with a built-in voice chat system, which I tried out last night with a group wanting to go to the Waterworks (can we say meat-grinder?) The voice chat worked really well, there was a little bit of static, but that was more in configuration than anything else. It's a heck of a lot faster than typing in your responses and much more interactive and immersive.
(I did finally manage to make it to 2nd level - phew!)
I may have to make a character on Khyber just to hang out and be groovy with you, Savaun! :-D Probably another cleric, 'cause they're just dang spiffy.
Not to dash anyone on this, and only my personal opinion, I tried the DDO beta.
For what it was, I enjoyed it, but DDO is not a MMORPG in the sense of many. It more reminded me of a MMORG-esq Neverwinter Nights.
DDO does not have a "free" world, and for that reason alone, I stopped playing. If you have played EQ, DAoC, WOW or any of the others, and enjoyed the freedom, this game simply doesn't deliver.
It's generally fun, it has beautiful scenery, but it has a very very linear story. It reminded me of some DM/GMs that plopped down module after module, with no real story in between, and no freedom to "go the other way".
Unlike most MMORPGS, and one of the critical things that to me makes a MMORPG fun, you cannot wander the towns and the country side in search of adventure or develope a social structure.
Lilith, if you make a character on Khyber that would be great fun. Im on there as Verdilith...a weakling wizard. Level 1.2 :p
Okay... the "unofficial" roleplaying server is Sarlona, which is the one I'm currently playing on. I'm about midway through level 2. Yes, there are several quests that take you out of the city... but yes, it's not really freeform. There are no spawning points for monsters; hence, no spawn camping and all the problems that come with it.
Yes, it seems to be quite linear... however, that also means that it has something different that other mmorpgs. A Plot. While everyone is going through the same storyline, it's not that obvious... and since quests are repeatable, you can just find one you like and grind the heck out of it, if that's your thing.
I'm just now starting to fight bugbears and ogres... there's a lot of higher level content, including stuff like beholders and dragons, with more to come.
Describing the game as a MMORPG version of Neverwinter Nights would be correct. It plays more like a single player game than a normal MMORPG... for that matter, it feels like tabletop! So, go into it with those thoughts in mind, and you'll have a great time.
Now, back to ranking my character... :)
Squid
Windling Treehollow
Forge Skakentha
Tynor Evendell
--- all on Sarlona server for DDO
I don't know if anyone saw Steve Colbert's report on DDO - Stormreach yet:
http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/?lnk=v&ml_video=59913&sourc e=OD_VIDEO:undefined:End+of+an+Era#
If the web adress doesn't work, search Comedy Central's "Motherload" clips, and find The Colbert Report. The clip is called "The End of an Era."
Funny stuff.
If you purchase the retail version of the game, you'll receive a "buddy" code that will let someone try the game for 10 days. (They would use your CDs/DVD to install or a client download from DDO.com.)
i don't know much about ddo. i've been watching it's developement and came to the conclusion that it isn't worth spending loads of money month after month for a game that seems to ignore most of the d&d-rules when there's neverwinter nights 2 coming out some months later. this one
- will stay as true as possible to v3.5 rules
- has a toolset to create your own campaigns (the same set the developers are using)
- has a dm-client: you can actually dm sessions. this is the closest game to pen&paper d&d i've ever seen!
- will propably offer the same huge community-options its precessor offered: this means there will be tons of custom-mod-adventures and kilos of so called persistent worlds where up to 64 players can play in their favorite setting with heavy roleplay (or heavy hack&slash if they wish so)
my advice to those as sceptical envers mmos as i am: wait for nwn2! to the others: have fun!
My lenses were ready in an hour...
Satisfied Customer
If you're in Khyber, look up Cord Banekert, your friendly neighbourhood level 2 (finally!) rogue.
I hadn't played DDO in a week with my pals, but finally got four friends together last night, and had a blast.
We got our butts handed to us by kobolds with class levels but managed to regroup and destroy them with a bit of clever planning and a pile of +1 reptilian bane arrows. What fun!
After having played it for some time, I'd have to say that DDO is built more to the casual player than the diehard level grinder of other MMOs. Which suits me just fine... with all of my pnp D&D games I run, (three at this count) I really don't have the time to devote to that... not to mention I don't want to be a MMORPG widower!
However, it's lots of fun... updates seem to be weekly, and free content will be added about every month or so. So, for the casual player, it'll be a long, fun experience.
Squid
After having played it for some time, I'd have to say that DDO is built more to the casual player than the diehard level grinder of other MMOs. Which suits me just fine... with all of my pnp D&D games I run, (three at this count) I really don't have the time to devote to that... not to mention I don't want to be a MMORPG widower!
However, it's lots of fun... updates seem to be weekly, and free content will be added about every month or so. So, for the casual player, it'll be a long, fun experience.
Squid
I agree, Squid. DDO is much more geared to the "casual gamer", meaning those that game less than 20 hours a week. (For me it's waaaaay less than that.) Pen & Paper for me is where it's at, though the Fantasy Grounds icon on my desktop is staring at me, teasing me! I still love DDO, convinced my other half to get his own copy after he played the 10 days on the buddy code. We game together on DDO maybe once a week (on Sarlona, look for Anarxa and Golthar).
But *blargh* the forums are horrible. The only forum really worth paying attention to over there is the DDO Development Discussion or the Newbie Q&A. The DDO General Discussion is ripe with flamers and trolls. Icky. (Why is it icky...let's just say there are many reasons I love the Paizo boards, chief among them being the level of maturity that is here. *breathes deeply of clean air that is at Paizo*)
My one-month review:
I'm having a lot of fun. I'm not playing the game to get through it as fast as I can, nor am I in it to "get the phat lewt" and give all the "lewt" to my level one character. I'm in it to enjoy the game, roleplay and generally enjoy exploring Stormreach and its environs.
Things that I'd like to see:
* Monk, Druid and Artificer classes.
* Half-Elf, Gnome, Half-Orc, Kalashtar and Shifter races.
* A true-to-D20 Crafting system.
* In-game mail system (using one of Eberron's houses).
Things I don't want to see:
* Anything that makes it more like any other MMO out there (*cough* World of Warcraft *cough* Everquest *cough*), rather than Dungeons & Dragons.
* Player-based economy. So many problems that I don't even wanna get too deeply into it.
Things that would be groovy
* A PvP arena for those PvP junkies, using an ante system, the prize being equal to your group's average CR vs the other group's average challenge rating.
* Psionics. :-D That way we could introduce the kalashtar and the psionic classes.
* More world exploration.
There ya go, my first month thoughts.
DDO is out in a few days and I have been playing in the head start event and I have already found a few things that are rubbing me the wrong way. So since I got nothing better to do I though I would share this with you all. First and formost is the fact that you when you respawn you end up in a tavern. I have no idea what there reasoning is but come on there is a house of halfling healers that would have mad a heck of a lot more sense to be respwand in a healing house. Seconded is the warforged wich don't need to eat, sleep, breath, and can not be poisended. So why the heck would turbin make it so that a warforged character surface for air while underwater and can be posined by posined weapons. Next is the fact that when your creating a rogue or bard some of the class skills have a N/A over the button to increase the ranks. This lead me to beleave I could not put rancks in it till some one in the game told me I could. So I had to remake my characters. If anyone out there find anything they don't like post it hear.
Well, heck if I just got killed by a bunny wabbit or something at level 1 and was brought back to life the first besides new equipment and revenge that I would want is a good stiff drink of dwarven spirits.
Turbine is just proving that if you buy a franchise you don't need to develop a good game.
DDO is like guild wars with a monthly fee, and for all its asianisms I feel like Guild wars caputred more of the D&D feel.
Hehe; DDO is so much bunk. I have been playing it since before release to the public and I just dont understand why they had to screw with all the characters. I can go with the extra 20 hps that everyone gets, but messing with the magic system just shows how weak magic is in the pen and paper game; except that it isn't; once a mage makes about 10th level they just own everything that the party faces. In this game; mages just waste everything in sight with burning hands; and clerics are mega powerful as compared to other classes. Not only can clerics heal hit points and buff like mad; they can heal mages mana pool. Granted this is all very cool; but it sure makes you take another look at the pen and paper game and what I have been hearing people complain about for decades.
Don't missunderstand; I dont really think the DDO game sucks; well, not totally, but if your just starting or even currently playing; write down your next hundred die rolls and you will really wonder about their random number generator; it is pathetic. I have watched hundreds and hundreds of rolls and my mean is a 5. You want believe the number of really low rolls you get. Take for instance that I need a 7 to hit a zombie with a crossbow; I have shot 300 bolts at 3 zombies and only killed 2; the last one I had to melee; can you imagine this happening in a pen and paper game? In this game you will be facing at first level mobs that display 4th and 5th level abilities; and skeletons that have massive dexterity. I have combed through my Libre Mortis and other books to try to create skeletons like what you face at like 3rd level and it just cannot be done; making them as individuals under cr-8 with a really high necromancer. You can do any 1st or 2nd level quest with 2 people of the right classes and build; with a full party that plays smart you can whistle through almost any quest under 6th level; dont know the higher ones.
Still, you can find yourself waiting a long time; like an hour; trying to get into a group unless your known or guilded and your guild plays when you do; even so, you can be waiting a while; I have several characters; my cleric gets invites right as he logs in most of the time; my rouged rogue, can play for an hours with the light bulb over my head without an invite; my ranger; anywhere between that.
Still, many things about the game are kinda cool and it is still a bit fun to play; just dont think of it as D&D with a fair handed gm. This game still has many of the problems of the various other online games; which i have played most of them. If they would just fix the random number generator to roll in the moderate range; like 9-11 on a d20 instead of a mean of 5; then the game would be vastly improved; asking for them to stop tweaking the hell out of the mobs is probably asking them to much as they currently dont give much challenge to a full party and are a good challenge for a pair with the exception of possibly a few boss types.
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Gods of my ancestors! Circle of Mastubastistus! I go on an epic quest to find an 18x24x1 air filter and the parlor tricksters are about threadnecromancy!
Careful,....careful. Threadnecromancy is a dangerous road.
Not for the faint of heart. 'Tis not a mere cantrip.
To breathe life into that which has stared empty-socketed eyes into the vortex of oblivion.
Care must be taken.
FOR TO STARE UNDER ALDEBERON INTO THE DARK DEPTHS OF LAKE HALI IS NAUGHT BUT A MADMAN'S GEAS! THE NEURONS TWIST IN MY BRAIN! INTO THE SIGN!
what is thy bidding, o yellow king?
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Gods of my ancestors! Circle of Mastubastistus! I go on an epic quest to find an 18x24x1 air filter and the parlor tricksters are about threadnecromancy!
Careful,....careful. Threadnecromancy is a dangerous road.
Not for the faint of heart. 'Tis not a mere cantrip.
To breathe life into that which has stared empty-socketed eyes into the vortex of oblivion.
Care must be taken.
FOR TO STARE UNDER ALDEBERON INTO THE DARK DEPTHS OF LAKE HALI IS NAUGHT BUT A MADMAN'S GEAS! THE NEURONS TWIST IN MY BRAIN! INTO THE SIGN!
what is thy bidding, o yellow king?
Chill. I wore my Threadnecromancy Robe and Slippers. You forget......I AM THE USURPER OF BANJO, WHISPERER OF FALSE HOPE, I AM THE LIE, I AM THE RENDER OF FAITH!!!! I am he who is false, I am Fake Healer.
FH (the self-impotent;P)
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Hey Heathenson, check it out! I cast re-animate thread!!!
Does anyone still play D&D online? What are your thoughts on it after a few months?
FH
I'm on one of the Euro-servers, so I can play with my brother back home, but we are seriously considering dropping the whole thing with the announced coming of PvP and such. EQ2 was a disaster after they introduced PvP - if I wanted that, I'd be playing World of Warcraft.
Otherwise, no complaints.
From what I understand, PvP is an optional thing and will likely be in an arena-style setting. That being said, I do not have any intention of playing PvP. I'd much rather have things like crafting in first, as well as the missing races and classes way before PvP ever came into the picture. I check the DDO forums frequently, but generally only the Dev Tracker. Every other forum board there is just...irritating, immature and is full of more flames than Phlegethos.
I do like DDO, despite its flaws. I just haven't had much time to play as of late due to work and commissions. I like to play with people I know in some fashion, because some of the pick-up groups I've been in are quite disastrous. Others have been pretty good. Some of the projects in work for Module 2 are intriguing, such as the Patron system, in-game mail and other ideas. (Yes, I know WoW pretty much has all these things. That's nice for WoW. I'm not playing WoW, I'm playing DDO. :D )
Vattnisse, what server do you play on? I'm usually on Argonnessen or Sarlona - 'twould be fun to play with somebody from the Paizo boards!
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From what I understand, PvP is an optional thing and will likely be in an arena-style setting. That being said, I do not have any intention of playing PvP. I'd much rather have things like crafting in first, as well as the missing races and classes way before PvP ever came into the picture. I check the DDO forums frequently, but generally only the Dev Tracker. Every other forum board there is just...irritating, immature and is full of more flames than Phlegethos.
I do like DDO, despite its flaws. I just haven't had much time to play as of late due to work and commissions. I like to play with people I know in some fashion, because some of the pick-up groups I've been in are quite disastrous. Others have been pretty good. Some of the projects in work for Module 2 are intriguing, such as the Patron system, in-game mail and other ideas. (Yes, I know WoW pretty much has all these things. That's nice for WoW. I'm not playing WoW, I'm playing DDO. :D )
Vattnisse, what server do you play on? I'm usually on Argonnessen or Sarlona - 'twould be fun to play with somebody from the Paizo boards!
I have nothing against PvP as such - the problem is that in order to facillitate "balanced" player-on-player action, they need to tweak all the classes in order to avoid dominance by one class or another. Thus, my EQ2 priest lost virtually all his offensive capabilities when they introduced PvP in order to balance him against sorcerers or straight fighters. Other than that, I like DDO a lot - it is a lot better than EQ or WoW.
I'm under the impression that the server I'm on is strictly European (something to do with tech support), but if not, I'd love to play with you or any other Paizo 'boarder - I've got some bad pickup experiences as well and would prefer someone I know (if that's the right word...). I haven't played for almost a month and a half, due to some technical difficulties, and don't even remember my server's name, but I'll renew my account and take a look at how things are working. This week, though, I gotta grade exams...
Sweet! I understand the part about the exams - my other half is in the process of taking his finals and has no time to play at all. :O He's definitely looking towards the summer, as he has been going to school for almost 2 years straight without taking a break.
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Sweet! I understand the part about the exams - my other half is in the process of taking his finals and has no time to play at all. :O He's definitely looking towards the summer, as he has been going to school for almost 2 years straight without taking a break.
My class has their final tomorrow, so I'll probably be grading util the end of the week, as there are about 130 of them... Still, as it is just a intro-level class, grading should be fairly easy. Also, it pays for my tuition, so I have no real complaints.