A Thought Exercise

[Akisohida]

What would you do if WoTC and Standing Stone did what PSO2 did?

By which I mean; What would you do if they made a 5E D&D game in the same vein as DDO here (an Action MMO instead of a normal 1-9 Auto-attack MMO like FF14) and, in the process, upgraded DDO graphically?
Like, just redid the entire engine and ported everyone's accounts over. Including QoL changes like easier to read pet character sheets, a search box for inventory & storage, etc.
So fans of DDO and 3.5 ruleset had DDO with a graphics/engine update, and new players would have a 5E D&D MMO.

Would you be happy?
Are you content with DDO as it is?
Would you play both? Switch to 5E? Stick to 3.5?

I mean, it's probably a pipe dream, but I'd LOVE for a 5E D&D MMO and a facelift for DDO. Wish I knew someone at WoTC and Standing Stone just to plant the ideas!

[archest]

is it approved by wizard of the coasts?

[Akisohida]

is it approved by wizard of the coasts?

The theoretical 5E MMO? It would have to be.

[droid327]

DDO is pretty far divorced from its 3.5e origins at this point. And, tbf, tabletop rules don't translate well to online gaming, so I think any 5e mmo would necessarily have to undergo a similar evolution, and at that point what's the purpose of having two?

Would I like to have an updated ddo with better graphics and GUIs? Sure of course, all things being equal....but all things are not equal, and that's pretty low on my priority list compared to other things that could be accomplished with that much effort and investment instead

[Akisohida]

DDO is pretty far divorced from its 3.5e origins at this point. And, tbf, tabletop rules don't translate well to online gaming, so I think any 5e mmo would necessarily have to undergo a similar evolution, and at that point what's the purpose of having two?

Would I like to have an updated ddo with better graphics and GUIs? Sure of course, all things being equal....but all things are not equal, and that's pretty low on my priority list compared to other things that could be accomplished with that much effort and investment instead

True! But it's also more likely that we'd get a new MMO based on 5E, as it is the current edition, rather than just an engine upgrade to DDO's 3.5 system.
And yeah; in my head, I'm imagining a 5E MMO having DDO's evolution; basically DDO as 5E.

Though I'd more want DDO just just get a full-on upgrade, engine and graphics-wise with allot of QoL changes. I'd love to be playing this game for another 20 years and see it get enough of a boom to afford such a thing.

[droid327]

True! But it's also more likely that we'd get a new MMO based on 5E, as it is the current edition, rather than just an engine upgrade to DDO's 3.5 system.
And yeah; in my head, I'm imagining a 5E MMO having DDO's evolution; basically DDO as 5E.

Though I'd more want DDO just just get a full-on upgrade, engine and graphics-wise with allot of QoL changes. I'd love to be playing this game for another 20 years and see it get enough of a boom to afford such a thing.

DDO still seems to have enough gas in the tank that it attracts a big wave of new players for things like the free quest codes - I think a major graphic overhaul would probably attract a lot of new eyes even if it wasn't a full on ddo 2

I just don't see the difference between being not-3.5 and being not-5. Both engines would end up migrating to the same place, with MMO-focused mechanics like PRR/MRR replacing systems better suited to imaginative tabletop play than strictly mathematical computerized gaming

There's already elements of 5e incorporated into ddo too - if there's a specific mechanic you have in mind, just advocate for that.

[Memnir]

As a thought exercise with all the utopian conditions described, sure - bring it on.

Then, sadly, reality intrudes.

[Akisohida]

DDO still seems to have enough gas in the tank that it attracts a big wave of new players for things like the free quest codes - I think a major graphic overhaul would probably attract a lot of new eyes even if it wasn't a full on ddo 2

I just don't see the difference between being not-3.5 and being not-5. Both engines would end up migrating to the same place, with MMO-focused mechanics like PRR/MRR replacing systems better suited to imaginative tabletop play than strictly mathematical computerized gaming

There's already elements of 5e incorporated into ddo too - if there's a specific mechanic you have in mind, just advocate for that.

I don't have any mechanics in mind, really. I'm just aware that WoTC would probably want Daybreak/Standing Stone to make a NEW MMO based on 5E to boost 5E PnP sales over completely overhaul DDO.
And since I love DDO so much, I'd picture it as DDO 2. It's...hard to explain? Like, I like DDO because you use your weapons. In every other MMO; auto-attacks are garbage filler-animations. You mash 1-9 to do anything and everything.
In DDO; depending on your class, you're bashing stuff with default weapon attacks. This makes it an Action MMO in my book; run, jump, attack with your weapon.
Instead of standing in place and pressing 1-9 until the ground glows gold/red/blue/magenta-with-polkadots, sidestep, resume 1-9. (Looking at you, FF14! *Yawn* )

In my ideal world; DDO would get an entire overhaul, engine-wise. Fix allot of the problems baked into what it's currently using. Add QoL changes people have bene begging for for years.

But 3.5 is 'dead' to WoTC, sales-wise. They'd want a new game to push the new books. Sales driving sales.
That would mean 5E, if we're being realists. If that were to happen, I'd want a 5E MMO like DDO here. Not like *Shudder* Neverwinter.
Basically; take the flesh and blood of DDO and apply it to 5E's skeleton exactly like it's applied to 3.5's skeleton.

But, honestly, I'd rather just see DDO upgraded. Call it nostalgia goggles; I first learned 3.5. I love the settings and the stories. I also love the modules voiced by Mr Gygax; that's like a time capsule we can't afford to lose.
And that last point can't be done in a newer D&D MMO, for obvious reasons.

But I'd love it if some people at Daybreak/Standing Stone, and WoTC, just said 'Let's try it! Let's upgrade to a new engine; port EVERYTHING and EVERYONE over (data-wise. it'd have new animations, models, etc). Let's see if it gives us a mass of new players!'
Because I'd bet money it would. If I had money to bet.

[Oxarhamar]

As a thought exercise with all the utopian conditions described, sure - bring it on.

Then, sadly, reality intrudes.

I’m with it

[Akisohida]

As a thought exercise with all the utopian conditions described, sure - bring it on.

Then, sadly, reality intrudes.

Maybe, if enough fans let the devs & WoTC know via these forums, we could get them to realize an upgrade could be worth the money.
Stranger things have happened in the world of video game development!

[Arkat]

I would not play any DDO-type computer game based on 5E.

There's a reason why my gaming group moved from 3.5 to Pathfinder, never to even consider D&D 4E or 5E.

[Isolani]

The only experience I have with 5E is that turn based game Solasta, which is alright. But the 5E rules in that game are very different than what we are using in DDO. 5E in Solasta seemed like simpler character building, but for an action MMO that might be ok still.

[fatherpirate]

STOP

How many MMORPGs (like DDO or LOTRO or WOW) has SSG made from scratch?
as far as I know, none. YES YES, they have made games (I think)
but not like these.

SSG buys games and then runs them.

So asking them to make a brand new MMORPG from scratch is extremely unlikely
because they are not staffed for it. There is a ton of folks you need for
making something new that you do not need to maintain a game, even counting
for DLC.

Also there is the cost (for a major title, millions) that SSG likely does not have
just sitting around.

Now if you wanted SSG to BUY a MMORPG someone is willing to sell, that they can
and will often do.

So, you want rule set 5? , have SSG buy NWO.
(doubt the owners will sell at any price SSG could offer)
but why? you can just download NWO for free and play.

What you prob want is DDO2 - DDO with all the latest bells and whistles,
might happen in some form but likely not from SSG ( would not hurt my feelings if wrong on this)

PEACE

[Memnir]

How many MMORPGs (like DDO or LOTRO or WOW) has SSG made from scratch?
SSG buys games and then runs them.Wrong. Both. They made both of those. They just split off from Turbine and formed SSG when Turbine decided to refocus and do... other things.

[Weemadarthur]

Wrong. Both. They made both of those. They just split off from Turbine and formed SSG when Turbine decided to refocus and do... other things.

I would say your both 50% correct (or wrong) about that. Although SSG is just Turbine renamed to a degree the staff that actually made DDO and LOTR are now for the most part a distant memory. SSG itself (and most of its current staff) have not had any experience in building an MMO.

[fatherpirate]

I would say your both 50% correct (or wrong) about that. Although SSG is just Turbine renamed to a degree the staff that actually made DDO and LOTR are now for the most part a distant memory. SSG itself (and most of its current staff) have not had any experience in building an MMO.

> Although SSG is just Turbine renamed to a degree the staff that actually made DDO and LOTR are now for the most part a distant memory. SSG itself (and most of its current staff) have not had any experience in building an MMO.<
They do not have the experienced staff to do it.

basically what I said

[dredre9987]

There is no porting. Won't happen

[Oxarhamar]

> Although SSG is just Turbine renamed to a degree the staff that actually made DDO and LOTR are now for the most part a distant memory. SSG itself (and most of its current staff) have not had any experience in building an MMO.<
They do not have the experienced staff to do it.

basically what I said

Semantics really staff comes and goes companies change their names if the wanted to building a new version that is not outside of the realm of possibility