Why DDO will beat WoW (long-term)

[Lanhelin]

I remember it when I first installed a MMO (it was WoW), I downloaded it, I launched it, I got to character selection and I was unsure what race/faction to take because this toon should become my very first unforgetable hero. It took quite a long time to create it, I watched how the skin colour changed in the different lights, I thought about "what would he behave with this or that type of nose", and so on. Finally I got into the world. The landscape was huge, compaired to single player games, I did some quests and made my way forward to the capital. On my way I encountered another toon and suddenly there was a white text on screen that said: "U wanna go into that cave?" I thought, yes I will - or at least it's what the old guy in town there said I should do." But I didn't know how to tell him. I literally used every button (except Enter ofc) and tried to reply, but meanwhile I read lines like: "Hey, I'm talking to you." and "Now, what?" and "I guess you wanna be on your own?" - No - "ok, cja" - Nooooooo ...

I managed to get through the cave and later when I first entered Darnassus it was like wooooooow, this is so huuuuge, this is so impressive. It didn't take long until I happily started sitting there, fishing in the city pond.

Since these moments I have played quite a few (newer) MMOs but it was only DDO that made me feel like this again. And I don't exactly know why. But I'm sure - if it's not DDO it's the concept behind - that sooner or later it will be the question: WoW or DDO.

I don't know an universal answer to this, but I'll start with what makes me think so.

WoW: huge, interesting world but by the time awfully simplified toons
Rift: quite complex toons, huge world too, but world is empty and everything seems artificial
TSW: don't know the whole world, toons look complex but I guess they aren't, difficulty level is beyond reason
Lotro: world is huge, but toons are doomed to grind thanks to the "book"
TOR: world-design and toon-concept is bioware (nothin more to say)
GW2: world is huge, toon-concept is very limited and thus not exciting at all
ESO: no Illusion magics - ***???
PoE: world is ok, complexity of toons seems to have no end, complete different genre
DDO: audio story told dungeons, traps, charming - it cannot be that it's just because it's D&D, no?

Maybe this clears up a few things - or it does not. I can only say that it was WoW (long time ago) and DDO only that made me marvelling. And between WoW and DDO were quite a few other MMOs, AAA-Titles, estimated blockbusters, undergrounds and so on - but none of them could fascinate me like these two did. I mean, DDO is the only MMO I ever payed for and did not play it during payed time. Sure, I could have spent my money for quite more stupid things like a MMO, but I didn't. Is it me? Or is it the games?

Normally I do not think that what I think is what everybody else thinks - but in this case I cannot see any other MMO that could replace DDO (except DDO 2) regarding any of the forementioned features. Am I right?

[Uska]

While WoW's world maybe huge I don't find it interesting maybe its because of the mind numbly boring game play and super cartoonish graphics. That said DDO wont beat it because the masses want simple easy to play games that don't require any real work or thought.

And no there wont be a replacement for DDO sadly I didn't get one for SWG which had a world much larger and more interesting than WOW but Sony ruined the game by trying to simplify it for the mindless masses and sometimes I fear that will happen here. Hopefully there will be another game I can play when this one dies but it wont be a true replacement for this just like this wasn't a true replacement for SWG

[Nefatron]

Me and another player cant remember his name were having a conversation the other day about how wow is for kids..
This game takes some of intelligence to build a great toon. Not just grinding for some piece of gear.
If you have bad gear but good stats Wont be the best
Good gear but bad stats it will be unplayable .. and multiclassing.. I haven't even adventured off with doing my own multi yet..

WoW is simple zombie like game play.
We could learn a thing or two from there pvp battle gear and arena's

[scottmike0]

I remember it when I first installed a MMO (it was WoW), I downloaded it, I launched it, I got to character selection and I was unsure what race/faction to take because this toon should become my very first unforgetable hero. It took quite a long time to create it, I watched how the skin colour changed in the different lights, I thought about "what would he behave with this or that type of nose", and so on. Finally I got into the world. The landscape was huge, compaired to single player games, I did some quests and made my way forward to the capital. On my way I encountered another toon and suddenly there was a white text on screen that said: "U wanna go into that cave?" I thought, yes I will - or at least it's what the old guy in town there said I should do." But I didn't know how to tell him. I literally used every button (except Enter ofc) and tried to reply, but meanwhile I read lines like: "Hey, I'm talking to you." and "Now, what?" and "I guess you wanna be on your own?" - No - "ok, cja" - Nooooooo ...

I managed to get through the cave and later when I first entered Darnassus it was like wooooooow, this is so huuuuge, this is so impressive. It didn't take long until I happily started sitting there, fishing in the city pond.

Since these moments I have played quite a few (newer) MMOs but it was only DDO that made me feel like this again. And I don't exactly know why. But I'm sure - if it's not DDO it's the concept behind - that sooner or later it will be the question: WoW or DDO.

I don't know an universal answer to this, but I'll start with what makes me think so.

WoW: huge, interesting world but by the time awfully simplified toons
Rift: quite complex toons, huge world too, but world is empty and everything seems artificial
TSW: don't know the whole world, toons look complex but I guess they aren't, difficulty level is beyond reason
Lotro: world is huge, but toons are doomed to grind thanks to the "book"
TOR: world-design and toon-concept is bioware (nothin more to say)
GW2: world is huge, toon-concept is very limited and thus not exciting at all
ESO: no Illusion magics - ***???
PoE: world is ok, complexity of toons seems to have no end, complete different genre
DDO: audio story told dungeons, traps, charming - it cannot be that it's just because it's D&D, no?

Maybe this clears up a few things - or it does not. I can only say that it was WoW (long time ago) and DDO only that made me marvelling. And between WoW and DDO were quite a few other MMOs, AAA-Titles, estimated blockbusters, undergrounds and so on - but none of them could fascinate me like these two did. I mean, DDO is the only MMO I ever payed for and did not play it during payed time. Sure, I could have spent my money for quite more stupid things like a MMO, but I didn't. Is it me? Or is it the games?

Normally I do not think that what I think is what everybody else thinks - but in this case I cannot see any other MMO that could replace DDO (except DDO 2) regarding any of the forementioned features. Am I right?

League of legends is already destroying any chances of future MMORPG, smite is insuring that MMORPG is going to die. The future of MMO's will be more in the sandbox genre rather than a game like this. DDO may still have potiential, but the pay to win features in the DDO store is what keeps this game low, and also the lack of real PVP as well. When I watch a caster destroy things in an archery destiny, I feel sad that this game has gone at an all time low.

[Lonnbeimnech]

Having played sandbox mmos in the past, and then playing ddo; I'll say that I never want to play another sandbox game again.

[Chai]

WOW play basically begins at end game, where strategy and teamwork are needed. If everyone isnt on the same page, failure can and will occur. Before that its mindless leveling. The zones are awesome, but the quests are the same mind numbingly boring collect and kill quests.

DDO is the opposite. The questing and leveling is better, while the endgame is static, grindy, and lacks options.

DDO could take a page or two from WOWs endgame, and WOW could take a page or two from DDOs leveling and questing.

As for one defeating the other, how is this being measured? When all is said and done for both games, WOW will have profited insanely more than DDO by a landslide.

The issue in the MMO scene isn't WOW, its the elevendy twelve zillion other companies that tried to clone it to create their own profit device, due to WOWs rampant financial success, rather than thinking outside the box to come up with something new. Thus the entire MMO industry stagnated and became chucked full of bandwagon jumpers.

[Uska]

League of legends is already destroying any chances of future MMORPG, smite is insuring that MMORPG is going to die. The future of MMO's will be more in the sandbox genre rather than a game like this. DDO may still have potiential, but the pay to win features in the DDO store is what keeps this game low, and also the lack of real PVP as well. When I watch a caster destroy things in an archery destiny, I feel sad that this game has gone at an all time low.

Disagree with PvP being required to make a successful game that lack of PvP is one of the things that attracted me and kept me here.

[Lanhelin]

DDO could take a page or two from WOWs endgame, and WOW could take a page or two from DDOs leveling and questing.

That's why I think there are two basic concepts: On the one hand there is WoW with simple character, leveling and questing mechanics - the dungeons (higher ones) can consider classes and class mechanics regarding boss/puzzle design. There actually is no way to bad skill your character (though it was possible in early times) to make it unplayable or unsustainable for a group. It's more easy to design end game challenges.

On the other hand there is DDO, where the character and its development are in the centre. All design circles around it. One doesn't get XP for killing single mobs, because this killing can happen in very different ways, even by letting the mobs do it themselves. Quests have to consider all the possible ways (or getaways). The complexity of possible characters makes it hard to design end game challenges.

[arkonas]

i know im replying a little late to this but for me Rift has a lot of what i like besides ddo. when i look at ddo if you're not a first life toon things do get a little easier each tr life or just for the fact you have been playing for a long time. despite i consider myself a vet i can struggle on a first life toon in elite if its a hard quest. sadly those don't appear until later on. there might be mobs that can be challenging. say for example an ice flenser. it could tear anyone to pieces if that polar ray hits you and you're not ready.

when i look at Rift i enjoy there isn't cartoon graphics like WOW. yes it is similar to it, but i feel there is some variety from it as well. i feel the mobs are tougher in rift then they're in ddo. in ddo you can grab say 20+ mobs or even say 8 and not die. in rift you get more then 4+ death is more likely to follow. bosses are much tougher when compared to ddo. events really mean something there. you can't dupe the currency either. sure its a grind but what game isn't.

dungeons are difficult as well as raids if your party is not set up then it will fail. the mobs are very tough and will kill you. the mechanics for boss fights are amazing. when they hit you with their aoe or even single attack its devastating if you stand there. i wished ddo mobs had more like that. i know we have some tells for some attacks but i wished there was more to be worried about.


no matter what ddo was my first real mmo and it will be until the game closes. so no matter how much i talk about rift i still go back to ddo.