It's time for DDO II

[Andafin]

It's been six epic years for DDO, we've all learned a lot while having a blast. I keep trying new games as they are released and always come back to DDO. I think it's time to start thinking of a sequel with an updated engine, enhanced graphics etc. Some of my suggestions would be to improve player customization options, like housing and cosmetics as well as keeping a good crafting system. I think a central main quest line that is effected by player choices would be great, and make leveling much less of a grind. Of course more races and classes are always fun. Of course continue to have solid f2p content as well as good p2p. That's my two cents anyway

[Quarterling]

enhanced graphics

DDO honestly has the best graphics of any MMO I've ever seen in my life; it put's WoW's to shame. The graphics are fine the way they are, the developers as well as the player-base wants new content, which is what is being provided.

improve player customization options, like housing and cosmetics as well as keeping a good crafting system.

Dungeons and Dragons has the most player customizations of any MMO. Period. There are over a billion-and-one ways to make a character and Turbine is continuing to add more flexibility with the PrE's, classes, races, feats, et cetera. Not many have talked about housing (only seen one thread in my life so far), and as for cosmetics, there's the DDO Store for that. Finally, about the crafting system, it looks good so far and Turbine can simply update it through updates. No need for "DDO 2"

and make leveling much less of a grind.

Turbine has been doing this several times throughout the course of DDO's life. First there were XP Pots, then there were guild shrines, then the bravery bonuses were introduced, and now there's even greater XP pots (+30%). Leveling has gotten 250% easier than what it was a couple years ago, so no need to take this further as it will eventually be considered an easy button (if not already).

Of course more races and classes are always fun.

Turbine continues to do this through updates.

Of course continue to have solid f2p content as well as good p2p.

Turbine continues to do this through updates.

Conclusion: The way I see it, there's no need for DDO 2 since most of the stuff you suggested has already been done, or it can simply be done through updates. Also, if Turbine was to start from the ground-up all over again, no doubt it will cause more harm than good.

[Flavilandile]

I think it's time to start thinking of a sequel with an updated engine, enhanced graphics etc.

You forgot something important : DDOII will be 4th Edition.

That alone will be a game killer... as a lot of people just cringe at the idea of 4th Ed.

Do you really want a DDO II ?

[Phemt81]

No need of DDO II. Neverwinter is coming and i have the feeling it will rock, especially cause that will use the 4th edition rules, designed specifically for videogames in my honest opinion.

[glouky]

I personaly dont care about graphics/customization/cosmetics/housing/engine, etc.

All what I want is a real challenge (friendly fire/death penalty/no uber stuff -- GS and immunities)
to favor (skill + group sync) instead of (higher DPS/HP/immune mobs) like in other MMOs.

Obviously, casual players should be able to play without thoses constraints, but having it as an option in the quest difficulty would be great (as well as a permadeath option at charater creation).

[Yvonnel-1]

bah, go away - still need to finish my epic ross first!

[Grizzie]

No need for DDO2 imho. Happy with what we have now. Still enjoying it after 4 years or so
One little change I would like to see is random locations for bosses, traps and chests just to make quests a little more surprising.
Otherwise, leave well alone

[Full_Bleed]

This should be DDO II. Too bad Turbine didn't shoot for that license.


DDO could certainly use a graphics and physics upgrade. Anyone that thinks it really holds up to modern games is deluding themselves. It's passable. But it's aging quickly.


That said, DDO II should never actually come out. The next iteration of DDO (like "Unlimited") should build upon and/or replace the current game. Fragmenting the player base is a bad idea (look how well it worked out for EQ.)

[Antheal]

Well let's hope Turbine aren't given the contract for DDO II. They really don't deserve it.

[LucidLTS]

This should be DDO II. Too bad Turbine didn't shoot for that license.

Full_Bleed, I followed your link and all I can say is WOW! Their CEO is actually on the forums, talking with the players, answering questions, even responding to really dumb ones! And he either knows tech, or has darned good advisers helping him, because he's talking some pretty detailed design considerations! Their friggin' CEO!

I know nobody is going to believe me, here's a link to just one of his posts, talking about scalability of single instance vs. multi instance, and inherent limitations of programming language choice.

http://paizo.com/forums/dmtz4v92&pag...sand-Miles#136

Full_bleed, you so earn a +1 for this, I'd give you all 3 of my plusses for the day if I could. I'm just plain stunned.

CEO knows tech, answers on forums? I'm not awake, am I?

[somenewnoob]

Holy eff they can't even get DDO I working right!

And you want a whole new game?

They can't even get a minor patch right!

[Odium]

DDO honestly has the best graphics of any MMO I've ever seen in my life; it put's WoW's to shame. The graphics are fine the way they are, the developers as well as the player-base wants new content, which is what is being provided.

Check out AION. It came out a couple years ago in the US but it still judo chops everyone with its visual effects.

Dungeons and Dragons has the most player customizations of any MMO. Period. There are over a billion-and-one ways to make a character and Turbine is continuing to add more flexibility with the PrE's, classes, races, feats, et cetera. Not many have talked about housing (only seen one thread in my life so far), and as for cosmetics, there's the DDO Store for that. Finally, about the crafting system, it looks good so far and Turbine can simply update it through updates. No need for "DDO 2".

I would give this to RIFT. Not only is there 3 skill trees for each of its 4 classes with around 20 options per tree, you get 4 "roles" to switch between on the fly. Play a cleric but the group really needs a tank, its easy to switch into a "tank" roll. To a lesser extent, Asherons call has better customization. You get like 50 points to buy skills with on creation and get more as you level up. Wanna be an axe wielder that can debuff enemies with life magic and enhance your own items with item magic? you can.

Turbine has been doing this several times throughout the course of DDO's life. First there were XP Pots, then there were guild shrines, then the bravery bonuses were introduced, and now there's even greater XP pots (+30%). Leveling has gotten 250% easier than what it was a couple years ago, so no need to take this further as it will eventually be considered an easy button (if not already).

Its easier to get to cap in DDO than any other MMO. A couple of days can easily get you to cap on a 1st life and that is without trying extremely hard. I think everyone likes to have a place they call their own. Even if it was a room on the guild ship that they could go and drop **** into, put stuff on the walls, etc.

Turbine continues to do this through updates.



Turbine continues to do this through updates.

Conclusion: The way I see it, there's no need for DDO 2 since most of the stuff you suggested has already been done, or it can simply be done through updates. Also, if Turbine was to start from the ground-up all over again, no doubt it will cause more harm than good.

Don't understimate turbine doing something like this. They did the same thing with Asheron's Call 2 and that game died a horrid horrid death. I agree that what they have hery is better than starting from scratch. and that same debacle probably still sits in their minds. The graphics are still comparable (although it is beginning to show its age) to other games, The combat is still unique (probably the biggest draw for me), and since its free, people will continue to play it for years to come. I wouldn't mind seeing a big release (probably a paid expansion) that does some major upgrades but i suspect that is the only thing we will see from ddo.

[Captain_Wizbang]

Yes it needs to have a new version released.

For the posters saying its fine the way it is, IMO you're hiding your head in the sand.

Other games in the forefront of the gaming world do this. NW, DIII, WoW, etc... even console games.

I for one am holding out on the rumor from 3 years ago, that Forgotten Realms is coming. But then again it's December, Santa is going to be here in 10 days!

[oganos]

It's been six epic years for DDO, we've all learned a lot while having a blast. I keep trying new games as they are released and always come back to DDO. I think it's time to start thinking of a sequel with an updated engine, enhanced graphics etc. Some of my suggestions would be to improve player customization options, like housing and cosmetics as well as keeping a good crafting system. I think a central main quest line that is effected by player choices would be great, and make leveling much less of a grind. Of course more races and classes are always fun. Of course continue to have solid f2p content as well as good p2p. That's my two cents anyway

rumors of DDO's death were greatly exaggerated

[Diyon]

This should be DDO II. Too bad Turbine didn't shoot for that license.

If that game can live up to its descriptions and promises, it would almost certainly steal me if the game play wasn't boring.

Example of a MMO game that failed to live up to what it was promising: http://www.planeshift.it/

Sounds like an awesome, huge immersive world, with tons of options, and a world that develops based on your actions in the game. What I actually got was a game with horrible graphics, confusingly complex, and lack of ability to figure out what I could/should go do, much less how.

[Thrudh]

A couple of days can easily get you to cap on a 1st life and that is without trying extremely hard

LOL. This tells me all I need to know about your point of view.

[Thrudh]

Other games in the forefront of the gaming world do this. NW, DIII, WoW, etc... even console games.

Only one of those is a true MMO, and I've never seen a game called WOW2.

I have zero desire for DDO2... It would mean all development on DDO1 would slow to a crawl, and I'm not sure how DDO2 would be better.

[Vanquishedfo]

Its called Never Winter Online, is being developed by cryptic studios under the umbrella of Perfect World. Will be in 4E rules and set in the forgotton realms. Rumors abound they actually have full internet rights to all things D&D starting in 2014 and that is DDOs death date. This will allow NWO which will be built around a central linear story campaign, but the core engine will be hand in hand with thier foundry system allowing player made content much like in the old NWN games. How they will acheive balance is the big ? on everyones minds ofcourse. but the idea is that in time the entire known D&D multi verse would be developed by the players, free devs to focus on class,feat, and race development, as well as bugs and administration.

However it is also true that cryptic has a real love/hate reputation and though thier early work city of heroes is one of the best in its style and actually older then and survived in the shadow of wow despite cryptic nearly dropping the ball so badly at one point the game was near DDO dark age levels of empty.

And its true that after cryptic left coh to a new team it improved alot, and its true champions online and star trek online two newer cryptic titles are considered mediocre in the MMO industry these days as stagnation during umbrella ownership really slowed them down and possibly to a degree few fans will even be able to forgive as so many new next gen mmo come out.

however there is little to no chance turbine can even make a DDOII if they wanted to, which I doubt as since launch to now DDO is still seen as the little brother to LOTRO earnings wise by tubine and infact DDO earnings still almost certainly are put first towards LOTRO dev time and DDO only sees just enough to keep its fans barely sated.

[Vanquishedfo]

This should be DDO II. Too bad Turbine didn't shoot for that license.


DDO could certainly use a graphics and physics upgrade. Anyone that thinks it really holds up to modern games is deluding themselves. It's passable. But it's aging quickly.


That said, DDO II should never actually come out. The next iteration of DDO (like "Unlimited") should build upon and/or replace the current game. Fragmenting the player base is a bad idea (look how well it worked out for EQ.)

my only fear is it being pathfinder, which many do hail as the best of 4e and i do have to admit from the books ive glanced at it seems to be abit more like the D20 of 3E i liked. But if they shoot towards to few classes and feats to maintain the 4e type balance the younger kids seem to need it might still be a failure.

we can only wait and see. me i am still looking forward to gw2 for my next S&S mmo.

[Captain_Wizbang]

Only one of those is a true MMO, and I've never seen a game called WOW2.

Correct me if Im wrong, isnt cataclysm the new version?

I have zero desire for DDO2... It would mean all development on DDO1 would slow to a crawl, and I'm not sure how DDO2 would be better.

It already is.