Do people still play DDO?

[Bogezzus]

Do people still play, if so what server is the most highly populated?

[Charononus]

It's either dying or growing depending on who you ask and the most populated servers are probably khyber and thelanis.

[Bogezzus]

Ah I'll give it a shot. Loved this game back in the day ha. Thank you for the info, I'll go give those servers a looksy!

[Ironclans_evil_twin]

Ah I'll give it a shot. Loved this game back in the day ha. Thank you for the info, I'll go give those servers a looksy!

It does seem to be getting smaller lately no doubt about it, looking at the logins on that DDO tracker site there is a clear slow decline, not drastic but there.

I think it's as much to do with poor grouping design and mechanics and Neverwinter beta as anything else. Grouping is just super inertia strangled and difficult when the player base drops below critical mass (which IMO we are hovering right around at this point), due to all the hurdles and obstacles in the way of joining and getting people to join LFM's.

It doesn't help that they dropped this steaming pile aka "forum update" on forum users at the same time that they previewed a horrible mishmash of enhancement updates filled with broken promises, Uber-nerf bait build combo's and disappointing lack of the most interesting features they had talked up, and the same incomplete racial and 3rd class PrE's as live...

So there's some people pretty disgusted with Turbine right now... And deservedly so. But the game is fun to play, and IMO more diverse and interesting than in past years. If you can find a group in your level range, doing content you are flagged for, in a difficulty that wont break your BB streak, asking for a class you have in that level range, running content that has loot you want, and that you haven't repeated so many times you're getting penalties for, and you don't mind "bringing your own healing" (and sorry that doesn't mean a hireling) and you "know it" or are comfortable pretending that you know it and trying to follow the guy who does know it (Well hopefully he knows it! Nothing like running after someone who also doesn't "know it" when you also don't "know it"). Oh and you know how to get TO the quest entrance, and where to find the quest giver. Also you've brought up DDOwiki in the background so you can check to see if running that quest requires you to have already completed another chain (otherwise that Quest giver might not even show up on the map, but hey they could just be inside a bar or in a different house than the actual patron and/or location of the quest, so don't just assume you can't find them because you didn't complete some other chain of quests... no don't do that.) And lets not forget: the quest could be in a house that has nothing to do with the patron, the quest giver could be in yet another house that also has nothing to do with the patron... So good thing you always have DDOwiki up, because third party websites that are maintained by players, but are none the less hundreds of times more accurate and quickly updated than the official compendium should be an integral part of your gameplay.

[Uska]

I haven't been playing as I hate the forum changes and not liking what I see about the enhancement changes

[BOgre]

I haven't been playing as I hate the forum changes and not liking what I see about the enhancement changes

I'm not sure why, but just about everything you post prompts me to disagree.

1) the forum changes have zero to do with gameplay. Your point is irrelevant.
2) the enhancement changes are neither final nor on Live. Your point is irrelevant.

If these are truly the reasons you're not playing (not just 'you' but 'All y'all out there'), then you need to drop the drama and get back in the game.

[TheLegendOfAra]

It does seem to be getting smaller lately no doubt about it, looking at the logins on that DDO tracker site there is a clear slow decline, not drastic but there.

I think it's as much to do with poor grouping design and mechanics and Neverwinter beta as anything else. Grouping is just super inertia strangled and difficult when the player base drops below critical mass (which IMO we are hovering right around at this point), due to all the hurdles and obstacles in the way of joining and getting people to join LFM's.

It doesn't help that they dropped this steaming pile aka "forum update" on forum users at the same time that they previewed a horrible mishmash of enhancement updates filled with broken promises, Uber-nerf bait build combo's and disappointing lack of the most interesting features they had talked up, and the same incomplete racial and 3rd class PrE's as live...

So there's some people pretty disgusted with Turbine right now... And deservedly so. But the game is fun to play, and IMO more diverse and interesting than in past years. If you can find a group in your level range, doing content you are flagged for, in a difficulty that wont break your BB streak, asking for a class you have in that level range, running content that has loot you want, and that you haven't repeated so many times you're getting penalties for, and you don't mind "bringing your own healing" (and sorry that doesn't mean a hireling) and you "know it" or are comfortable pretending that you know it and trying to follow the guy who does know it (Well hopefully he knows it! Nothing like running after someone who also doesn't "know it" when you also don't "know it"). Oh and you know how to get TO the quest entrance, and where to find the quest giver. Also you've brought up DDOwiki in the background so you can check to see if running that quest requires you to have already completed another chain (otherwise that Quest giver might not even show up on the map, but hey they could just be inside a bar or in a different house than the actual patron and/or location of the quest, so don't just assume you can't find them because you didn't complete some other chain of quests... no don't do that.) And lets not forget: the quest could be in a house that has nothing to do with the patron, the quest giver could be in yet another house that also has nothing to do with the patron... So good thing you always have DDOwiki up, because third party websites that are maintained by players, but are none the less hundreds of times more accurate and quickly updated than the official compendium should be an integral part of your gameplay.

Someone has their rage face on this morning. :p
I think you're getting a little worked up about a problem that doesn't really matter.
Grouping is fine in DDO. Nearly everything you just described with the exception of quest givers, is just you not liking how some people play, and/or make their LFMS.
Which makes it a non-issue.

But I agree that some quest givers, not that many though can be pretty stupidly placed. But that's rarely an issue, after a quick look at the wiki, and a bit experience you remember where things are anyways.

[Arnhelm]

I still play. Despite what appears to me to be awful management practices by Turbine, and the impending enhancement changes that will make for an entirely new type of game play, I enjoy playing DDO with friends in my guild.

[goodspeed]

I'm not sure why, but just about everything you post prompts me to disagree.

1) the forum changes have zero to do with gameplay. Your point is irrelevant.
2) the enhancement changes are neither final nor on Live. Your point is irrelevant.

If these are truly the reasons you're not playing (not just 'you' but 'All y'all out there'), then you need to drop the drama and get back in the game.

I think the forum reference was more featured at the * list of items that are used as a toilet bowl instead of taking the time to screw up a forum.

And while not final or live that "thing" is such a.. well we won't say those words, aside from a complete rework (lol work) it would still just be a waste. It's like trying to build a grand sand sculpture when you know the tides coming in in an hours time.

Sure you can gloss over it with "Well if you play to have fun it shouldn't matter" But that's outright bs! Their is no fun. We are human beings and humans always strive to reach for greatness. So what TR? Go to make something that will probably be as amazing as a dps pally main healing a LOB raid? Grind on at end game (that's a whole other ball game there of finding life) all the while thinking, man this thing is just going to be shanked in the shower in a month or two.

Ain't nothing irrelevant.

[aristarchus1000]

I'm not sure why, but just about everything you post prompts me to disagree.

1) the forum changes have zero to do with gameplay. Your point is irrelevant.



The forum and community in it was a major part of what I enjoyed about DDO, so I don't think that is irrelevant.

[relenttless]

the forum changes are truly a big pile of poorly-designed, badly thought out, unattractive, unnecessary dog-do...HOWEVER, they are actually brilliant, in a classically cack-handed Turbine sort of way because now I only visit for a few minutes a week now instead of many times a day.

Which means I'm playing DDO far more, and enjoying the game like never before.

My advice:
Ditch this appalling poor excuse for a forum and just get on with playing the game.
You'll be surprised how much you enjoy it

[Brendael]

I was on Orien today and there were 10 players logged on who were between level 12 and level 15. No fun if you are trying to get a PUG going.

[apaurin]

I haven't touched it since the billing fiasco, but thinking of coming back. I kind of miss it from time to time, but for sure won't go back to VIP any time soon.

[ForumAccess]

2) the enhancement changes are neither final nor on Live. Your point is irrelevant.

That is a hell of a stretch. It's a lot like saying "The weather forecast may say that there is a tornado coming over the weekend, but that is no reason to not go camping!" If the design direction, not just the details of the change but the high level direction of it, for the game is rubbish then there is very little reason to continue playing.

[Uska]

I'm not sure why, but just about everything you post prompts me to disagree.

1) the forum changes have zero to do with gameplay. Your point is irrelevant.
2) the enhancement changes are neither final nor on Live. Your point is irrelevant.

If these are truly the reasons you're not playing (not just 'you' but 'All y'all out there'), then you need to drop the drama and get back in the game.

Part of my enjoyment of the game is the forums and turbine's history shows they usually change little after showing it and I think your trolling as you usually do.

[Musouka]

I see they fixed my forum account, so maybe I'll come back here a bit. However, I cannot bring myself to reinstall the game right now.

I'm not playing anything else at the moment also. The direction this game is going is really going to change how we build characters completely. I feel that certain multiclasses are now going to be gimped with the new setup for enhancements coming, and I also hate that they plan on throwing another expansion at us so quick when the first one really didn't come with a whole lot that was actually new. If you paid the higher price, most of what you got was old stuff.

[Psiandron]

I feel that certain multiclasses are now going to be gimped with the new setup for enhancements coming,

Actually, from what I saw, multi-class toons will probably come out way ahead on the new enhancement pass. IMO, ofc.

[scoobmx]

I'm not seeing a problem. I log onto Argo everyday and there's plenty of activity.

[Musouka]

Actually, from what I saw, multi-class toons will probably come out way ahead on the new enhancement pass. IMO, ofc.

I'm just saying certain ones. Not all. I do see that my own multi-classes may suffer in some regard, but gain in others.

Overall it's a game changer. Everyone is going to have to adjust to a new way to build and play.

[enochiancub]

DDO may not be the best run mmo on the market, but it's the one I always come back to when I have the time to play a game.

Granted the gaps in my ability to play may be years thanks to my job. I last logged in back in 2009 and boy howdy there were a lot of changes since then, but I'm adjusting and still loving DDO. I'll be loving it even more when I learn to re-gear all my toons and when I figure out how to make my arti's iron defender actually friggen defend!

Though, *** is with these new forums?

[Psiandron]

Overall it's a game changer. Everyone is going to have to adjust to a new way to build and play.

That really does sum it up pretty well.

I hope Turbine does a fair bit of modifying to the pass. I think that fighter, sorc and cleric really need at least one more PRE each and there needs to be some "tuning" all the way around, but I'm actually fairly hopefully about the pass itself. Ofc, I could and probably am crazy, but /shrug. What ya gonna do? :rolleyes:

[Ryiah]

I feel that certain multiclasses are now going to be gimped with the new setup for enhancements coming

My impression based off the initial preview was that some builds will die but others will rise to take their place. At least one of my builds was destroyed but at least one of them was improved. Both were multi-class builds.

[skaught78]

So there's some people pretty disgusted with Turbine right now... And deservedly so. But the game is fun to play, and IMO more diverse and interesting than in past years. If you can find a group in your level range, doing content you are flagged for, in a difficulty that wont break your BB streak, asking for a class you have in that level range, running content that has loot you want, and that you haven't repeated so many times you're getting penalties for, and you don't mind "bringing your own healing" (and sorry that doesn't mean a hireling) and you "know it" or are comfortable pretending that you know it and trying to follow the guy who does know it (Well hopefully he knows it! Nothing like running after someone who also doesn't "know it" when you also don't "know it"). Oh and you know how to get TO the quest entrance, and where to find the quest giver. Also you've brought up DDOwiki in the background so you can check to see if running that quest requires you to have already completed another chain (otherwise that Quest giver might not even show up on the map, but hey they could just be inside a bar or in a different house than the actual patron and/or location of the quest, so don't just assume you can't find them because you didn't complete some other chain of quests... no don't do that.) And lets not forget: the quest could be in a house that has nothing to do with the patron, the quest giver could be in yet another house that also has nothing to do with the patron... So good thing you always have DDOwiki up, because third party websites that are maintained by players, but are none the less hundreds of times more accurate and quickly updated than the official compendium should be an integral part of your gameplay.

SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO True. Grouping needs to be massively fixed!!!!!!

[Teh_Troll]

Sunday 5 PM . . . There's about 900 people on Ghallanda. Is that a lot? I can't say as I lack the historical context.

Game's still fun, people are playing it.

[XiaNYdE]

I was on Orien today and there were 10 players logged on who were between level 12 and level 15. No fun if you are trying to get a PUG going.

That would be Otto's fault :/

[SealedInSong]

The forum and community in it was a major part of what I enjoyed about DDO, so I don't think that is irrelevant.

@BOgre, a majority of my interaction with DDO is actually in the forums, so... I find it highly relevant that they suck now.

[samthedagger]

Plenty of people still play. While server traffic might be slowing down a bit, I imagine it will kick up (at least for a while) once the new expansion pack comes out. Of course, details about said expansion pack have been shy in the coming. Hopefully this means they are learning from their mistakes and taking some extra time. The roll-out for MotU was excellent. The delivery could have gone better. I wanted to say it was awful, but then I realized there were a lot of things I really liked about the expansion despite all the bugs and raid issues so I can't say they got everything wrong. And if you had to ask me to go back, I much prefer playing post-MotU than pre-MotU.

My guild still raids on a regular basis and has TR groups running on a regular basis. We have lost some old players but gained quite a few new ones.

[voodoogroves]

I'm monkeying w/ Neverwinter but still playing DDO some.

Thing is, DDO has greatly reduced my personal motiviation to play. The game itself is great, but the goal/grind ratios are (again, for me) now out of whack. What would I log on to do? End game is small, and has a published shelf-life. TRing is even less worth it given the power in EDs, and even if I nabbed a bunch of stones it doesn't actually help with the tedious 16+ zone much. I could what? Out level the crypts, Necro 4, GH, Sands? I like those and they are good XP. End game itself is small - GH, maybe the demonweb and 2 raids.

DDO is still an awesome game - but the content / reward / benefit curves need some adjustment.

[Sebastrd]

It does seem to be getting smaller lately no doubt about it, looking at the logins on that DDO tracker site there is a clear slow decline, not drastic but there.

I think it's as much to do with poor grouping design and mechanics and Neverwinter beta as anything else. Grouping is just super inertia strangled and difficult when the player base drops below critical mass (which IMO we are hovering right around at this point), due to all the hurdles and obstacles in the way of joining and getting people to join LFM's.

It doesn't help that they dropped this steaming pile aka "forum update" on forum users at the same time that they previewed a horrible mishmash of enhancement updates filled with broken promises, Uber-nerf bait build combo's and disappointing lack of the most interesting features they had talked up, and the same incomplete racial and 3rd class PrE's as live...

So there's some people pretty disgusted with Turbine right now... And deservedly so. But the game is fun to play, and IMO more diverse and interesting than in past years. If you can find a group in your level range, doing content you are flagged for, in a difficulty that wont break your BB streak, asking for a class you have in that level range, running content that has loot you want, and that you haven't repeated so many times you're getting penalties for, and you don't mind "bringing your own healing" (and sorry that doesn't mean a hireling) and you "know it" or are comfortable pretending that you know it and trying to follow the guy who does know it (Well hopefully he knows it! Nothing like running after someone who also doesn't "know it" when you also don't "know it"). Oh and you know how to get TO the quest entrance, and where to find the quest giver. Also you've brought up DDOwiki in the background so you can check to see if running that quest requires you to have already completed another chain (otherwise that Quest giver might not even show up on the map, but hey they could just be inside a bar or in a different house than the actual patron and/or location of the quest, so don't just assume you can't find them because you didn't complete some other chain of quests... no don't do that.) And lets not forget: the quest could be in a house that has nothing to do with the patron, the quest giver could be in yet another house that also has nothing to do with the patron... So good thing you always have DDOwiki up, because third party websites that are maintained by players, but are none the less hundreds of times more accurate and quickly updated than the official compendium should be an integral part of your gameplay.

I had to log in just to pos. rep you for this. Nice job.

[BOgre]

I think the forum reference was more featured at the * list of items that are used as a toilet bowl instead of taking the time to screw up a forum.

And while not final or live that "thing" is such a.. well we won't say those words, aside from a complete rework (lol work) it would still just be a waste. It's like trying to build a grand sand sculpture when you know the tides coming in in an hours time.

Sure you can gloss over it with "Well if you play to have fun it shouldn't matter" But that's outright bs! Their is no fun. We are human beings and humans always strive to reach for greatness. So what TR? Go to make something that will probably be as amazing as a dps pally main healing a LOB raid? Grind on at end game (that's a whole other ball game there of finding life) all the while thinking, man this thing is just going to be shanked in the shower in a month or two.

Ain't nothing irrelevant.


The forum and community in it was a major part of what I enjoyed about DDO, so I don't think that is irrelevant.


That is a hell of a stretch. It's a lot like saying "The weather forecast may say that there is a tornado coming over the weekend, but that is no reason to not go camping!" If the design direction, not just the details of the change but the high level direction of it, for the game is rubbish then there is very little reason to continue playing.


Part of my enjoyment of the game is the forums and turbine's history shows they usually change little after showing it and I think your trolling as you usually do.

What y'all are doing is "Throwing the baby out with the bathwater." Because some ancillary part of the game, (in this case not EVEN part of the game (forum/enhancement)), you've decided to stop playing the actual game. So fine, something about DDO has changed to the point that you don't enjoy it. You're entitled to your opinion. But the game itself is still the best fantasy action adventure mmo out there. That fact isn't even in dispute.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: the game is fine, people still play it. Even if they shut down the forums completely, people would still be playing it. The forumites would simply move to other venues like they did with myDDO blogging. The dead builds from enhancement pass will be remade.

[Teh_Troll]

The dead builds from enhancement pass will be remade.


You really believe that? You think people just won't pick up and go someplace else?

This is NOWHERE NEAR as active as it used to be. End-game is dead (please try to refute that), killed by MoTU's fubaring raids.

TRing is still active . . . but it's something people are doing right now waiting for the expansion. No point in grinding out level 25 loot as we know Feather will out-date all of it with the level 28 cap increase.

Long story short . . . this new expansion needs to be amazing or DDO is done. Less than 1000 people signed on during prime time on a weekend shows this goose is almost cooked.

[colinski283]

I play on Argonnessen server nightly at 11 pm - 2 am and sometimes I start around 8 PM. I never see more than 3-4 groups on the party search screen. The last few times Ive played I just logged out because there was not 1 nearly full party, just 2 or 3 parties with 1 - 2 people. Thats a pretty clear sign that the population on DDO is dwindling down to almost nothing. Ive also logged with other level toons and just the same result sadly.

[Hellllboy]

With the issue on the Enhancement Changes-there are a number of players that may not be so inclined to grind out a toon to completion with the expectation that everything may up and change and all that work would be for nothing-likely reason why game population may not be as high as in the past.

I still play most nights-but have seen a drop in players that I game with as of late.

I am enjoying the PUG scene though-meeting new players. :-)

[Ironclans_evil_twin]

I counted 9 LFM's at one point last night around midnight on thelanis where anything less than 20 LFM's is kinda startling.

I think people (namely Turbine) need to start taking DooooOOOOoOOOooOMMmmmMmm!!!!!4321mark! at least somewhat seriously.

It's not that I think there's no one out there wanting to play, I know there is... But as I often find myself stairing at an empty group or an empty LFM window and either resorting to watching TV/movies or playing another game (My Steam back catalog is getting a lot of attention, Trine and Bionic Commando Rearmed are both a lot of fun to play between checking the LFM's when I'm not the one with the empty LFM). Again the LFM system is extremely dependent on "critical mass" 800 players logged in divided by 25 levels, minus solo'ers, minus guilds, minus "only doing chores/surfing AH" = a small handful of players in any level range and these are of course stretched even thinner by all the other impediments to pugging.

[bsquishwizzy]

I'm not sure why, but just about everything you post prompts me to disagree.

2) the enhancement changes are neither final nor on Live. Your point is irrelevant.


Yeah, they're not live.

Just got done reading the lamm forums, for kicks. I noticed the doom / anti-doom posts about the enhancement pass.

All I can say is: 1.5 years in development. If anyone thinks they are going to scrap, or do any major modifications to what's being presented, they are living in La La Land (an appropriate place to be in a Fantasy MMO, I guess). No company spends 1.5 years in deveopment on anything only to scrap what they've done, or make major modifications to it because the customer doesn't like it. That would mean that someone in management made a bad call somewhere, and to admit that might be career-ending.

And the people who agreed with the call and/or approved it...well, they are kinda in the same boat.

So, what you're seeing is what you're gonna get whether you like it or not.

Granted, I'm not beta testing. I'm not sure if it sucks or not - and I'm really not commenting on that. But I know how (often bad) decisions get made in this enterprise, and the fallout thereof.

If it needs to be changed, it'll get tweaked here or there, but not actually revised. So if any of the apologists of the enhancement pass (and, admittedly I'm using that word with a very wide scope, and not in a derogatory way) think that they can somehow affect change on what they see, you should prepare yourselves for a measure of disappointment.

BOgre - I'm not trying to single you out. I heard a lot of "they may change it" talk on those threads. Often times that kinds of stuff is said wi****lly. I just wanted to crush that notion outright.

[Livmo]

Do people still play, if so what server is the most highly populated?

I started playing in Dec. 2012. I'm ****ed nobody told me about this game sooner!

I was looking for a new game to play and I was tired of first person shooters. I stumbled across DDO by chance and now I'm hooked. DDO is now my main game.

I would like to see some of the old DnD modules from the 1980's be turned into new quests and/or expansions. More Forgotten Realms content would be nice too.

DDO could do a better job at marketing.

[Vint]

You really believe that? You think people just won't pick up and go someplace else?

This is NOWHERE NEAR as active as it used to be. End-game is dead (please try to refute that), killed by MoTU's fubaring raids.

TRing is still active . . . but it's something people are doing right now waiting for the expansion. No point in grinding out level 25 loot as we know Feather will out-date all of it with the level 28 cap increase.

Long story short . . . this new expansion needs to be amazing or DDO is done. Less than 1000 people signed on during prime time on a weekend shows this goose is almost cooked.

I have to agree with this. Anymore you do not even need past lives. ED’s more than make for a first life toon. This is why I am in no rush to start tr’ing again. On top of this (from what I hear), Turbine is going to drastically nerf many types of characters and builds, so I am in no rush to go perfect a toon just to have it made worthless.

My first life sorc and monk handle the hardest content in the game. It took me a whole week to outfit my 5 end game toons. The ball is in Turbines court though. Start producing quality that people want over your P2W ploys or you will be the ones in the unemployment lines, not me.

[Ironclans_evil_twin]

I'm not sure why, but just about everything you post prompts me to disagree.

1) the forum changes have zero to do with gameplay. Your point is irrelevant.
2) the enhancement changes are neither final nor on Live. Your point is irrelevant.


I think you're letting some personal issue with that poster cloud your willingness to see perfectly logical and reasonable factors for why the game is strangling slowly.

1) The be-shatting of the forums is a big disruption to the sense of community, many people stick with games due to the community. When sufficiently turned off, discouraged or outright ****ed off, those people can say "enough is enough" or use the forum mess as a last straw. Even just saying "I've had enough I'm taking a break for a few weeks" makes 1) a valid point. I have no difficulty in seeing the forum mess as a turn off to people and believing that some of them are walking away or trying NWO while the mess is sorted out... some of them wont return if NWO or some other game scratches their itch... some will. Either way it's a valid and logical cause and effect relationship.

2) the Enhancement preview is scary to some of us. Especially those of us who can see through the broken nerf bait false "new builds" that are a result of the very low minimum level to get a tier III PrE in the Alpha. Almost no chance that level 5 for maxed out PrE's will make it out of Alpha. Sadly the handful of brokenly powerful new build possibilities will probably join all the broken previously working live builds that are no longer possible, and we'll be left with a "by the nose" heavy pre requisite filled system where a couple new possibilities exist, but a whole lot of old possibilities are no longer possible. That is NOT an encouraging thing, in fact a very large number of people on the lam forums seem to think the preview was a disaster of broken promises and wasted hype... No Domains, No 3rd PrE's, Tier II PrE's put in as per live and stretched out instead of new Tier III's added, Working PrE's made worse (DOS and Stalwarts now HAVE to wear a shield?) The Cleric Protector PrE (barf) the Cleric Protector PrE slapped into FvS's (double barf), None of the expected racial PrE's that were promised, Bard and Pali PrE's mashed together instead of fleshed out... Lots of utility enhacements stuffed into PrE trees where you wont be able to afford them without taking that specific PrE.

Man I don't see much in that Alpha to like... it's a hot mess on par with this runny steaming pile of Forum "upgrade" and the only people who disagree seem to be blinded by the impossibly broken "Epic SoS wielding Kensei III Centered in Gandmaster Monk Stances Ninja Spy Shadow fade crit on a 13-20 X6" they wont actually ever get to build.

So once again we have a DISCOURAGING disapointing new development, that could be a "last straw" for some folks or just a downer that makes you less motivated to play just like 1) some players just aren't going to keep leveling their characters when the preview seems to imply that character will have to be totally redone in a couple months. If you can't see a cause and effect here that would result in some people playing DDO less then I am sorry but you're intentionally disregarding it.



Someone has their rage face on this morning. :p
I think you're getting a little worked up about a problem that doesn't really matter.
Grouping is fine in DDO. Nearly everything you just described with the exception of quest givers, is just you not liking how some people play, and/or make their LFMS.
Which makes it a non-issue.

But I agree that some quest givers, not that many though can be pretty stupidly placed. But that's rarely an issue, after a quick look at the wiki, and a bit experience you remember where things are anyways.

Actually "nearly everything I described" was poor LFM system design that can be corrected and only TWO things I described are players putting things in their LFM's that exclude. I am aware that those can't be corrected... although I suspect they will self correct when the player base keeps declining and the LFM window continues to have less and less groups. People who like to play with other people will tend to be less hostile to new players when the choice increasingly becomes "include as many people as possible or don't fill"

The problem matters, rather obviously. Most people are joiners, when there are less and less LFM's to join, they go away. That might not matter to you, but I play MMO's to play with others, not to to play faux single player in a bad RPG when much better single player RPG's exist.

[SilkofDrasnia]

You really believe that? You think people just won't pick up and go someplace else?

This is NOWHERE NEAR as active as it used to be. End-game is dead (please try to refute that), killed by MoTU's fubaring raids.

TRing is still active . . . but it's something people are doing right now waiting for the expansion. No point in grinding out level 25 loot as we know Feather will out-date all of it with the level 28 cap increase.

Long story short . . . this new expansion needs to be amazing or DDO is done. Less than 1000 people signed on during prime time on a weekend shows this goose is almost cooked.

Exactly this, I used to love to endgame grind but that kind of went out the window since motu so I got into tring and was enjoying it great along with trying out new builds both flavorful and more power-gaming but the new enhancement pass has me totally unmotivated to log in.

Sucks I went from playing everyday to hardly at all. I play because my wife still likes the game and out of loyalty to my guild. I have gotten her into Neverwinter though!

[BitkaCK2]

I haven't been playing as I hate the forum changes and not liking what I see about the enhancement changes

This. Sort of. I mean it's not why I left but it definitely does nothing to bring me back. The game is still installed and I keep it updated but I haven't played in almost 6 months. I keep checking in with the forums hoping to find a reason to come back everything I read keeps me playing elsewhere. With this latest 'forum upgrade' and especially the loss of a 'Dev Tracker' link I'm now even less likely to check in with a hopeful eye.

When I left I was't having fun but had always considered it a hiatus rather than a goodbye. However so many /facepalm worthy decisions and the direction of the game has me wondering whether or not to keep it installed and updated.

Just my 2c. TTFN,
bitkaCK2

PS: Having to relog and navigate back to a thread you were in the middle of replying is over-the-rainbow BS.

[Teh_Troll]

Man I don't see much in that Alpha to like... it's a hot mess on par with this runny steaming pile of Forum "upgrade" and the only people who disagree seem to be blinded by the impossibly broken "Epic SoS wielding Kensei III Centered in Gandmaster Monk Stances Ninja Spy Shadow fade crit on a 13-20 X6" they wont actually ever get to build.


Dude you are absolutely right. The ENH pass is a big bucket of fail with so many brokenly OP combinations that will eventually lead to massive nerfs which will kill the game. This is especially the case since Turbine doesn't understand their own game and will eventually nerf the wrong thing.

You'd have to be an idiot not to see this.

Seriously it is unacceptable that the rules change as often as they do in a friggin 7 year old PvE game.