tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826986957606858027.post7663782982391741122..comments2023-06-19T10:45:56.724-04:00Comments on Player Versus Developer: Unintended Consequences of the DDO Item Shop ModelGreen Armadillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15564045048380177626noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826986957606858027.post-46214477205932599732010-03-31T22:39:52.517-04:002010-03-31T22:39:52.517-04:00If I get to 1750 favor (much less 2500), it'll...If I get to 1750 favor (much less 2500), it'll be because I've enjoyed the game enough that I won't begrudge Turbine some extra cash for having paid to unlock the features. Also, I'm expecting to try a bunch of alts, possibly on a bunch of servers, so I'm not sure that I want to be tied to advancing one character on one server that far to unlock options that won't be retroactive for my other characters. <br /><br />The Drow race is the one thing that I'm hedging on at the moment. I'm pretty sure that I'll have at least one character hit 400 favor eventually, and I can just save the rest of the slots on that server for Drow. I think I'll probably hold off on unlocking that race unless it goes on sale or I decide that I really want to go Drow. :)Green Armadillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15564045048380177626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826986957606858027.post-81627315462175691232010-03-31T15:54:14.139-04:002010-03-31T15:54:14.139-04:00So you know, you unlock drow on a single server by...So you know, you unlock drow on a single server by getting 400 favour, and favoured soul with 2500 or so.<br /><br />You can also unlock veteran status (ability to start at level 4) and, I believe, 32-point characters. <br /><br />But only on the server you have that level of favour earned.<br /><br />Husband and I are enjoying it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826986957606858027.post-3248960062489136172010-03-30T08:22:23.465-04:002010-03-30T08:22:23.465-04:00I'm hesitant to write too much about gameplay ...I'm hesitant to write too much about gameplay because I'm still a newbie, and some of what I think now may be wrong, but here's my snap impressions:<br /><br />The combat mechanics are more active than most target + autohit MMORPG systems. You click to swing your weapon (hold down the button to keep swinging in a combo), press shift to attempt to block attacks, and you hit what's in front of you when you swing or cast a spell. <br /><br />I had a lot of trouble attempting to cast at specific targets, which probably means I'm doing something wrong, but it's a somewhat moot point because casters are very difficult to solo. They made their MP system much more flexible than the pen and paper DND it was based on, but your magic only regenerates at special "rest shrines" or with expensive consumable potions. The create character UI flat out tells you that your solo ability will be "challenging" if you attempt to play as an offensive caster. <br /><br />I'm still working on the newbie village, but the typical model has been that each quest gets its own scale-able instanced dungeon. Dungeons include traps and puzzles - typically the quest only tells you to kill the boss or recover the artifact, and the rest of the specifics unfold as you journey through.Green Armadillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15564045048380177626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826986957606858027.post-23372223596276547232010-03-29T10:07:38.207-04:002010-03-29T10:07:38.207-04:00how is the actual gameplay and how does it compare...how is the actual gameplay and how does it compare to WoW and LOTRO?<br /><br />Especially curious about the quests and combat system.Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16296697308918246805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-826986957606858027.post-56893949594604008682010-03-29T09:52:39.990-04:002010-03-29T09:52:39.990-04:00I'm not sure that a lack of content will be a ...I'm not sure that a lack of content will be a problem for most people; both the pricing model and the game itself encourage casual play, and, I think, discourage the sort of relentless pounding through content that one sees in most MMOs. The amount of content in the game already is large and the leveling pace very slow (slow enough to be jarring to players more familiar with how fast leveling goes in WoW or even EQ2,)<br /><br />I'm playing once a week with a static group and putting in an extra couple of hours on a solo alt, and while I've run some content more than once, I don't feel like I'm exhausting the activities available; and I've been doing this for a few months now. Too, Turbine seems committed to bi-monthly content updates, and so far they've done a good job with mixing in free stuff along with new paid content.<br /><br />Now, this may change as we continue to progress, but (I'm told) t doesn't until level 12-14 or so, and at my pace this is many months away at least. Turbine has lots of time to add new stuff between now and then.Ardwulfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09612113439848252327noreply@blogger.com