this ought to make the devs smile

[Spookydodger]

Recently I was playing a lowbie character over on Argonessan, and was grouped with a party that was, for a short while, entirely populated by new players to DDO (those on their trial accounts).

4 of the 5 had previously been playing WoW.

4 out of 4 thought that DDO was better than WoW.

When I asked why, these were some reasons:

• Better environments
  
  • More realistic looking
  
  
  • Better effects
  
  
  • Better Audio effects

• More involved combat
  
  • like a FPS and a MMORPG combined
  
  
  • felt like their contributions to combat mattered more
  
  
  • Combat was more free-flowing, less rigid

• Less pointless running

• More diverse looking avatars (toons)

• More interesting and powerful spells

Now bear in mind that this might be that "new game feel" influencing opinions a bit, but from the brief amount of time I tried WoW, personally, I felt like I was playing whack-a-mole with shortcut buttons rather than any real feel of tactics and combat.

You have a great thing going here but I fear that the current path is... well... listless. I know there are a great many things planned. I also know that the subscriber numbers for this game are less than 1% of Blizzard's, and the only ways that will change is if more is put into development and advertising.

Maybe the reality of things is that DDO will be the wayward child. With LOTRO's numbers fairly high, and development here slipping, maybe there is no impetus among upper management to do anything but let things die on the vine.

I am here to say that, despite all the problems I have had with obvious bugs released to live, problems with AI and mission glitches, and a general lack of high-level content, I still believe in this game.

Not just because it is D&D. That holds no particular spell over me despite having played it for years in the paper and pencil realm. In fact, I had purposefully stayed away for a year because I felt that any MMO version would simply sully the system that I liked.

Maybe, were I to be younger and more rash, I would hold high the facets of the game that turn some PnP notions on their ear, but I realize the need for compromise, especially in a game that truly is a first-person shooter in many ways and could be even more so, yet while not shutting out those who are not "twitch" players. It's a great system if that essence can be maintained.

So to all the developers, and any who might read this from among the upper-managers or even the head of Turbine: You have a great thing here, and take it from one who has been one of your greatest detractors over various aspects. The overall reality is still bright, if only your faith in DDO, your wayward child, can be maintained and heightened.

[OKCRandy1]

I don't know about making the devs happy, but it makes me happy for sure. All the negative doom and gloom posts can really erode one's confidence in the game.

I was a little burnt out on high level content from my +1 loot binge weekends and so I started a new character over the weekend. In every group I ran there were new people playing. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't ask them any questions though, but after reading your post I wish that I had. It was fun to help them through the Goodblade quests, see them getting lost in the harbor, and watch as they spent 10 minutes selling loot and deciding whether to buy that brand new masterwork longsword or armour upgrade they really needed. Makes me sad that I can't help but twink my new toons by, at a minimum, sending them plat.

Wonderful questions, like:
What does an underwater action item do (remember the swim in the Low Road)?
How do I level my character?
Where do I sell?
Good times.

[bnrilfun]

Actually I would like to see when they add tradeskills that one of the things casters can do is make scrolls, wands, and potions. That should have the potential if done right to make something cheaper.

Of course if it costs you more in materials to make a wand than it does to buy one outright that wont do squat.

I also like the idea that if you become a member of a Church tied to your alignment that you can buy items from them at a reduced rate. Heck they could add dozen of quests just got get each class to become a member of said church.

For instance all classes of LG alignment have to destroy an evil somewhere that starts out at level 1 and progresses up to max level at the end which once done allows you to get the maximum advantages in price and offers.

Then it gives people another quest to do at a level once in a while that helps all save money.

[Berjik]

Nice to see, but, too little too late.

[Klattuu]

I've played Turbine games and posted in Turbine forums for about 7 years now. In the old days, Turbine would post all the cool stuff they were working on and actually give a general timeline of all the new development in the pipeline.

One thing about planned development is things don't fall in place as you expect. Some features are much more complicated than expected and others are just so ambitious that they are not practical and are scrapped.

When dates slipped or planned features were dropped, the understanding population accused Turbine of being liars, deceivers, and a few other less appropriate adjectives.

The consequence of this is Turbine's development continued but they stopped telling the public what was in the pipline unless they were 99% certain the code was to be implemented soon - everthing else became a warm, fuzzy concept of future development.

The unfortunate public reaction is there appears to be little development going on, especially when you look at the development achievments of other Turbine games. In reality, Turbine is just being tight lipped (and I get the impression they don't realize how tight-lipped they are being) you have to read between the lines as to what is in the pipeline. I see some points for some optimism.

Now we know that there is one class, one race, crafting, housing, at least 2 levels, and all the quests and adventure areas that come with 2 modules before the end of the year. A lot of work has gone into re-tooling and expanding the low and mid-level game. A lot of work has gone into modifying enhancements, spells, and other systems. If you look closely, that is a LOT of work going into the game just before the Christmas season. If Turbine rolls well on their Wisdom attribute, you will see an advertising push starting late September or early October to accompany all this good work.

[The_Rocking_Dead]

Thanks!

[Spookydodger]

I should also add that in a subsequent group, where one other person besides myself was experienced with the game, the feelings were largely mirrored.

It's good seeing that early enthusiasm. I hope they don't get jaded too soon. There's a lot of good in this game, especially when you approach it not from the standpoint of "how do I twink my character" but instead "how do I make a fun character"

[Gengulphus]

Now we know that there is one class, one race, crafting, housing, at least 2 levels, and all the quests and adventure areas that come with 2 modules before the end of the year. A lot of work has gone into re-tooling and expanding the low and mid-level game. A lot of work has gone into modifying enhancements, spells, and other systems. If you look closely, that is a LOT of work going into the game just before the Christmas season. If Turbine rolls well on their Wisdom attribute, you will see an advertising push starting late September or early October to accompany all this good work.

I sure hope they'll have a marketing push!!!
It sure would be encouraging to have even the slightest hint from a dev that this could be true

[Spookydodger]

My friend's wife recently started playing.

I find it a testament to the visual quality of the game that she likes to sit in the harbor and wait for the rain to strike the water.

When I took her through House Phiarlan, there was a lot of "oooh pretty!" going on.

And she likes the combat system. She plays pnp with us, but sometimes remembering all the rules and such can be tiresome. Now, she just runs in and starts whacking. I almost hear a child-like glee from her when one of the skeletons crumble to the ground.

I sometimes wonder how long before her daughter, who often watches her play, herself takes a stab at it. It's a pretty forgiving game with enough helping hands around to guide through the initial questions, but with room for someone to truly refine their talents and pull off some elite maneuvers.

[Stonebread]

Recently I was playing a lowbie character over on Argonessan, and was grouped with a party that was, for a short while, entirely populated by new players to DDO (those on their trial accounts).

I have also noticed a lot of new people on Argonessan. It keeps surprising me.

[Beherit_Baphomar]

I sure hope they'll have a marketing push!!!
It sure would be encouraging to have even the slightest hint from a dev that this could be true

Never, ever going to happen.

I wish they would, but the general feel around here is one of let it die quietly.

We are the families 18 year old dog thats at deaths door and they are slowly stroking us, telling us it'll be ok.

Man, Im gonna be sad when this games gone.

But maybe that wont happen for a few more years yet. The server merge may be an awesome thing (people having fun again) or it may be a disaster (bugs, lag, lost characters etc.)...we shall wait and see I guess.

To the OP; Wonderful post. I second everything you say in it.

[FlyinS]

First off, I don't disagree with the OP in the least. I've not played WoW, but I know a lot who have and it doesn't sound like my cup of tea.

The only thing of the post that I pray the developers here expand on is the different way characters look. I would love it if boots, gloves, and cloaks affected the way you look. Not a showstopper, just a nice-to-have.

[Raithe]

The things that DDO has done right are so awesomely amazing it's hard to live without them in another MMO. Graphics, ambience, character customization, and the physics and combat platform all make other MMOs pale in comparison.

For this thread, I'll leave it at that.

[Wulf_Ratbane]

Thanks!

THANK GOD YOU'RE ALIVE!

[The_Rocking_Dead]

THANK GOD YOU'RE ALIVE!

Honestly, I'm pretty happy about it too!

[Hendrik]

Honestly, I'm pretty happy about it too!

You evil trap master!

Glad to hear from you! Hope you have some really fiendish traps in store for us all in M5!

[Wulf_Ratbane]

Honestly, I'm pretty happy about it too!

Any chance DreadGazebo was hiding out with you?

[Ironik]

This game is awesome. I've played others but got bored well before half of the time i've played this one. I've taken short breaks, but I keep coming back. If you think about how far it's come from when it released, it's pretty amazing. Lots of new stuff, I can't even recall it all.

Hell, i'd do some intern work for turbine if I had the opportunity, just because I love the game that much. (Comp Sci student!)

But yeah, it's always nice to see some new people playing, And I look forward to the next few months of game time.

Bring me monks already!

[Shaamis]

If Turbine rolls well on their Wisdom attribute, you will see an advertising push starting late September or early October to accompany all this good work.

I agree, and with other MMO's coming out around that time, I'd say a nice boost of class/race/content in retaliation will keep others from jumping ship.

I too, want to see DDO flourish, but this is a work in progress, there is no doubt.

[Ghoste]

I took as break from DDO last Summer. A friend talked me into playing WoW. I made the mistake of setting up a full account instead of one of those 14d ay trial accounts. I say mistake, because I only played it for 1 week. Having looked at things from the opposite perspective as the guys you're talking about, the "newness factor" did little to improve WoW. I made a character and went out there to check things out. I did the first quest: kill a number of a certain type of undead. From then on, everything I did was a copy of that first quest. Hunt a set number of a given enemy. Then I levelled up. Everything was still the same. I was fighting enemies in the same jerk-and-halt way, having to use the exact same method for every fight. I did clone quests over and over for 7 days. Got bored and cancelled my subscription.