My take on DDO and Turbine

[Loromir]

I have been playing DDO for about a year now. I have seen tons of posts from numerous people who have nothing but complaints about the game and company. Sure there are plenty of issues that need to be worked on (Welcome to the age of technology), but overall, I have nothing but praise for the Product that Turbine has rolled out for us.

You have the option to play the game for free and there is plenty of free content in the game to keep you busy for a long time. You also have the option to pay a small monthly fee and get pretty much all DDO has to offer at the touch of a button. Better yet, you have the option to earn TP's to buy just about everything DDO has to offer without spending a dime of real cash. In my opinion, you can't go wrong with any of these three options.

Turbine has a long ways to go to give us the absolutely prefect MMO experience and make EVERYONE happy. But...by gosh... they have sure given us a great product. I am proud to say I am VIP and will continue to chip in my paltry $15.00 per month to support this great cause.

Does anyone else feel the same?

[Thornton]

It is WELL worth my 15 dollars a month for what I get for my money. It is well worth it (to me) to not have to worry about what quest I can do, how many characters I can create, etc. I can't think of anything that gives me (and has given me) so much (fun, entertainment, etc.) for so little, EVER.

Thank you again, Turbine.

[t0r012]

I like the premium model myself.
Most of the "free" MMos I have played have been horrible grind fests being being "eastern" games. That I play for a couple months and get completely disgusted with the grind and quit. You know the ones where you get a to a certain level and realize that without paying it will take you the next 3 months of your life day in and day out killing the same 5-10 mobs in an area to get the next level. And paying money would pretty much only get you an XP boost that would cut the time by a bit and then be gone.

Yet even before that I disliked the idea of paying a subscription. never liked the idea that even if I didn't play I was still being charged With DDO F2P I tried the straight F2P for a while and was happy with the game and found myself playing it a lot. Which is where premium came in.
Here I could see a permanent lasting benefit for my money and be able to spend it on my time as I see fit. Not just an autodraft on the CC every month and not having to spend money for an intangible consumable. I could treat this game like i do with other video games be it console or PC.
How do i buy games for console or PC? Rarely and then when I do I hit the bargain bin so i'm not paying 50 or 60 bucks. With DDO when I want more i simply ding the CC for another 20 bucks and grab a pack or two. To me that is the perfect fit to the way buy/consume games.

[TeyaBrosna]

Agreed completely. I happily bought two subs after playing the game with my significant other for just a couple of weeks. I know that the lifespan (and my attention span) on MMOs is short, but I'm enjoying the heck outta DDO. I like the unfinished quality to much of it as well. I like the fact that the forum community has contributed to the development of the game - makes me feel like if I have something to say, it might matter. (I do realize that the odds of that are minimal, but the possibility is exciting.) I actually find the price of two subscriptions MUCH cheaper than spending the same amount of time going to movies, dinners, shopping, etc.

It's also really great to see the same enthusiasm in other people - thanks for making this thread.

EDIT: I finally figured out how to add to positive rep, so +1 for you, OP!

[samthedagger]

Actually I think you will find that most people who play DDO really enjoy it. While many of us wish certain things were one way instead of another, most of the people I encounter in PUGs and in the game chat have generally positive things to say about the game. DDO continues to grow at an incredibly rate, which is a testament to what a great game this is.

I think you have noticed what is known as the "vocal minority effect." The percentage of gamers who actually visit the forums has been estimated to be around 10% by Turbine and of those about 1% are responsible for the vast majority of the posts. Inevitably message boards tend to be outlets for negative thinking. It is one of the few places where one can air grievances with a sense of permanency and hope that someone else who knows what they are talking about will look at them and either agree with them, making them feel better, or that it might somehow effect change.

So I wouldn't rule too much into what you see posted on the forums. It isn't like every other post is a complaint that lasts for 500 pages with as many unique accounts exhibiting the same complaint. Every once in a while something comes up that gets a lot of attention and usually (though not always) the devs notice it and address it in one way or another.

[~KatsMeow]

I completely agree, and everytime I come across a post that has nothing but negative comments regarding the game, I just think....GO PLAY SOMETHING ELSE THEN!

[flynnjsw]

Actually I think you will find that most people who play DDO really enjoy it. While many of us wish certain things were one way instead of another, most of the people I encounter in PUGs and in the game chat have generally positive things to say about the game. DDO continues to grow at an incredibly rate, which is a testament to what a great game this is.

I think you have noticed what is known as the "vocal minority effect." The percentage of gamers who actually visit the forums has been estimated to be around 10% by Turbine and of those about 1% are responsible for the vast majority of the posts. Inevitably message boards tend to be outlets for negative thinking. It is one of the few places where one can air grievances with a sense of permanency and hope that someone else who knows what they are talking about will look at them and either agree with them, making them feel better, or that it might somehow effect change.

So I wouldn't rule too much into what you see posted on the forums. It isn't like every other post is a complaint that lasts for 500 pages with as many unique accounts exhibiting the same complaint. Every once in a while something comes up that gets a lot of attention and usually (though not always) the devs notice it and address it in one way or another.

^^ This. Well said.

[SEMPER]

for those of you that are vip you might want to look into the package deals that let you pay $30 for 3 months which will save you $15 every 3 months to buy more points or 2 more cases of mountain dew for that next Raid Train your on

[Nebless]

Past P2p and now premium player and DDO helps fill that hole I used to get filled from P&P play called Dungeon Crawl Time!

I'm glad Turbine made DDO and made the decision to keep it going with F2p vice shutting it down. I don't play it steady, but when I do play I have a blast.

[PopeJual]

I often make posts with positive comments.
I sometimes make posts with negative comments.

It is rare for one of my posts to contain both because I'm going to be posting on a specific subject and I'll either have a favorable or unfavorable opinion on that particular subject.


This should not be surprising.


Additionally, there are lots and lots of things that I like in DDO. I like that you have to solve a problem for someone in order to get XP instead of just killing 800 rats so that you can bring back the rare albino rat pelt to the albino rat pelt collector. I like that you can multiclasss. I like that multiclassing will usually ruin your character if you don't have a specific plan to take advantage of useful synergies. I like the pace of most quests. I like to zerg. I like to flower sniff. I like to solo Rainbow in the Dark. I like to PUG the Hound of Xoriat.

I generally don't make those posts because I'm satisfied with those experiences. If I'm unsatisfied with something, then I will make a post because I want to communicate my desire for a change to the good folks at Turbine. I would like to see ingredient bags sort their contents like collectible bags do. I wanted Turbine to fix the LFM screen so that the can't-see-the-quest-name bug was gone and so that I could see my adventure compendium (and this was fixed over the summer). I want lots of things.

Do I need to mention something in the game that I like every time I make a post where I voice my disapproval over something like the Maban festival?

[Loromir]

Just to Clarify....My original post was not intended to criticize anyone who posts about the problems with DDO and Turbine. Frankly, those who take the time to point out the flaws are performing a service for us all. Otherwise Turbine would never know what needs fixing.

Unfortunately when folks have a good experience with something, they often forget to let the world know about that good experience. I just wanted to add my little "radiant burst" to a place that often only sees the dark side of things.

Kudos to Turbine, and Kudos to those players who keep pushing Turbine to continue to get better.

[TeyaBrosna]

I often make posts with positive comments.
I sometimes make posts with negative comments.

It is rare for one of my posts to contain both because I'm going to be posting on a specific subject and I'll either have a favorable or unfavorable opinion on that particular subject.


This should not be surprising.


Additionally, there are lots and lots of things that I like in DDO. I like that you have to solve a problem for someone in order to get XP instead of just killing 800 rats so that you can bring back the rare albino rat pelt to the albino rat pelt collector. I like that you can multiclasss. I like that multiclassing will usually ruin your character if you don't have a specific plan to take advantage of useful synergies. I like the pace of most quests. I like to zerg. I like to flower sniff. I like to solo Rainbow in the Dark. I like to PUG the Hound of Xoriat.

I generally don't make those posts because I'm satisfied with those experiences. If I'm unsatisfied with something, then I will make a post because I want to communicate my desire for a change to the good folks at Turbine. I would like to see ingredient bags sort their contents like collectible bags do. I wanted Turbine to fix the LFM screen so that the can't-see-the-quest-name bug was gone and so that I could see my adventure compendium (and this was fixed over the summer). I want lots of things.

Do I need to mention something in the game that I like every time I make a post where I voice my disapproval over something like the Maban festival?

No, you're completely right - and these are the issues which need our input. I'm just in agreement with the OP that sometimes a little "Gosh, I love this or that" helps me maintain my general level of excitement. But by all means, please help keep the devs (and other players) on their toes with the constructive criticism. I've seen you do it, you're great at it.

[Thrudh]

It is WELL worth my 15 dollars a month for what I get for my money. It is well worth it (to me) to not have to worry about what quest I can do, how many characters I can create, etc. I can't think of anything that gives me (and has given me) so much (fun, entertainment, etc.) for so little, EVER.

Thank you again, Turbine.

Exactly... And you can sub now for $10 a month...

There are few hobbies that can give you this much fun for $120 a year.

[Cauthey]

Do I need to mention something in the game that I like every time I make a post where I voice my disapproval over something like the Maban festival?

No. But it is especially nice when someone does go to the trouble to compliment a great product or a job well done.

It is in our nature to behave much like shopping cart casters. When the job is getting done well, the wheels make no sound at all, and hardly even draw any thought or notice. But, if the job isn't getting done, well... *SQUEEK!* *SQUEEK!* *RATTLE!*

I'm sure that Turbine knows this, and expects this. However - I bet it makes them smile when they see compliments for all of the things that they have done exceedingly well. I would also wager that it makes them want to continue doing their jobs well to see further praise.

[Cauthey]

Just to Clarify....My original post was not intended to criticize anyone who posts about the problems with DDO and Turbine. Frankly, those who take the time to point out the flaws are performing a service for us all. Otherwise Turbine would never know what needs fixing.

Unfortunately when folks have a good experience with something, they often forget to let the world know about that good experience. I just wanted to add my little "radiant burst" to a place that often only sees the dark side of things.

Kudos to Turbine, and Kudos to those players who keep pushing Turbine to continue to get better.

Well said, +1. Now, can we get back to our "Death Aura?" (Kidding!)

[Elucidus]

I like the premium model myself.
Most of the "free" MMos I have played have been horrible grind fests being being "eastern" games. That I play for a couple months and get completely disgusted with the grind and quit. You know the ones where you get a to a certain level and realize that without paying it will take you the next 3 months of your life day in and day out killing the same 5-10 mobs in an area to get the next level. And paying money would pretty much only get you an XP boost that would cut the time by a bit and then be gone.

Yet even before that I disliked the idea of paying a subscription. never liked the idea that even if I didn't play I was still being charged With DDO F2P I tried the straight F2P for a while and was happy with the game and found myself playing it a lot. Which is where premium came in.
Here I could see a permanent lasting benefit for my money and be able to spend it on my time as I see fit. Not just an autodraft on the CC every month and not having to spend money for an intangible consumable. I could treat this game like i do with other video games be it console or PC.
How do i buy games for console or PC? Rarely and then when I do I hit the bargain bin so i'm not paying 50 or 60 bucks. With DDO when I want more i simply ding the CC for another 20 bucks and grab a pack or two. To me that is the perfect fit to the way buy/consume games.

I started out premium. well I had purchased the original years ago and when they changed the model that is what it got me. I had a similar view. I did not want to pay a monthly fee, but when they announced the 3 months for $30. I couldn't resist. They got me and got my wife. Though we both play for a little more than what the cost was before.