Rift: Planes of Telara: E3 Hands On With Rift

Stradden

MMORPG.com's Bill Murphy took in the sights and sounds at E3, stopping by the Trion booth for a little bit of hands on time with their upcoming MMORPG, Rift: Planes of Telara.

Back in April I had the chance to fly out to San Francisco for Trion's unveiling of what is now called Rift: Planes of Telara. There was a lengthy hands-off demo exploring the rift gameplay mechanics back then, but at E3 this year I finally had a chance to get behind the controls and see how the fantasy MMORPG actually plays. Producer Adam Gershowitz (who recently has been added to the dev team at Trion) and head honcho Russ Brown watched over my shoulder and helped me along as I played through some of the game's newbie experience and explored the newly unveiled class system (details of which can be found here). And for a game that's still in the Alpha stages, the level of polish and sophistication is pretty incredible. Rift is certainly looking like the AAA title Trion hopes it will be.

Players will begin life in the Shadowlands. Not to be confused with the titular location of a certain Anarchy Online expansion, the Shadowlands is sort of a place between life and death in the Rift universe. Players are all former heroes of a past war that rocked the world, and begin as what the team refers to as "Ascended Souls", a Telaran slain during the great Shade War and resurrected to combat the forces of Regulos. As one of the Ascended, players have access and the ability to commune with the souls of Telara's many fallen heroes. Basically this serves as the lore reasoning behind death and the multi-classing system.

Read the E3 Hands On With Rift.

Cherise

Nice writeup.  Sounds like there can be some really fun and unique class combinations.

But I always worry about those fun classes being nerfed in PvE due to PvP complaints.

Tazzasaurus

this game is really looking to be quite incredible, and I can't be the only one to notice a lot of these classes are heavily inspired by old school Dark Age of Camelot classes?

 

Really looking forward to this one hitting the beta scene

Vorruga

Its a very nice write-up, for sure.  I'm really excited for the game and I can't wait to see how the development progresses.

 

There are a couple of mistakes (well, two that stuck out at me, anyway).  First, the class he is referring to is called the Nightblade, not the Nightshade.  Although this is an understandable mistake, considering its very similar to the DAoC Nightshade class in its stealth assassin/magic user combination.

 

The second is that while there are 16 classes in the game, I don't believe you have the ability to combine any three at random, which isn't right.  Players can combine any three classes from within their particular calling.  The callings are Warrior, Rogue, Cleric, and Mage.  So while you can combine a Bladedancer with a Nightblade and a Ranger, you cannot combine say, a Champion (Warrior calling) with a Warlock (Mage calling) and a Bladedancer (Rogue calling).

 

I just don't want there to be any confusion!  But again, great article on what is going to be a great game.

Rzep

The preview says the game plays like a traditional mmo...So the combat is typical ability clicking fare? I was under the impression that this was an action mmo like Tera or Vindictus.

adam_nox

Originally posted by Rzep

The preview says the game plays like a traditional mmo...So the combat is typical ability clicking fare? I was under the impression that this was an action mmo like Tera or Vindictus.

 

mashing, not clicking.  If you are using your mouse to click abilities you are probably doing it wrong.  Anyways, yes that's what it sounds like.

cyrana

Thanks for the write up  - one thing - Shadowlands is the Defiant starting zone - the Guardians are brought back by the Vigil and not by technomagical means like the Defiant use.

 

Rzep:  It's not an action MMO, so it will be more like a 'standard' MMORPG in that respect.

TheMaelstrom

Have they confirmed an early 2011 release date? This article was the first mention of a release date I've read anywhere.

cyrana

Well, 2011 is confirmed.  But the best answer I saw prior to E3 was something like "Our current target is 2011" out of Scott Hartsman.  A few quotes around Q1 2011 came out of E3, though (not from Scott I don't think).

Rohn

Nice writeup - and an interesting looking game.  One to follow!

alakram

The gameplay sounds really common but good enought, and the graphics looks awesome.

Pigozz

Originally posted by Vorruga

The second is that while there are 16 classes in the game, I don't believe you have the ability to combine any three at random, which isn't right.  Players can combine any three classes from within their particular calling.  The callings are Warrior, Rogue, Cleric, and Mage.  So while you can combine a Bladedancer with a Nightblade and a Ranger, you cannot combine say, a Champion (Warrior calling) with a Warlock (Mage calling) and a Bladedancer (Rogue calling).

 

Well you kinda ruined my expectations here I was looking for that 16*45*14 number of combinations. But this way it is not a combination but just choosing what class you WONT be (1out of 4...)

But anyway Im looking forward to it it sounds quite interesting and the sound of polishness is nice;)

kintrik

Adam Gershowitz was the combat and careers lead/producer for Mythic's Warhammer Online. We all remember how balanced that class system is. Just putting it out there.

DataDay

Glad I am not the only one who felt that way after seeing the demo at E3.

I was floored by the fact it was still in Alpha. The game quality looked like it was ready for release, and if thats considered Alpha...I can only dream about what going Gold is going to entail.

 

DataDay

Originally posted by kintrik

Adam Gershowitz was the combat and careers lead/producer for Mythic's Warhammer Online. We all remember how balanced that class system is. Just putting it out there.

To be fair, with EA and Gameworkshop controlling most of the decisions... well its kind of hard to do your job very well in those conditions. I think the right people are in charge at the top for this game, so it shouldnt be a problem. Guess we will just have to wait and see.

mynxx

Great write up! I'm excited about this game and the graphics look amazing. Can't wait til it's released.

Osias000

Rift looks to be one of the next big names out there. The word just needs to spread a little better.

Khalathwyr

Originally posted by TheMaelstrom

Have they confirmed an early 2011 release date? This article was the first mention of a release date I've read anywhere.

I've been following this one like a bloodhound over the last 2 weeks and yes, "Early 2011" and "Early first quarter 2011" have been quoted and confirmed out of E3 by two different devs. One was a red-haired lady over the Defiant's lore (in an interview with the game site kombo.com) and the other was a lead of some sort in a video out of E3 that I saw on youtube.

Provided all goes as planned they are shooting for Jan/Feb/Mar 2011.

Khalathwyr

Originally posted by Pigozz

Originally posted by Vorruga

The second is that while there are 16 classes in the game, I don't believe you have the ability to combine any three at random, which isn't right.  Players can combine any three classes from within their particular calling.  The callings are Warrior, Rogue, Cleric, and Mage.  So while you can combine a Bladedancer with a Nightblade and a Ranger, you cannot combine say, a Champion (Warrior calling) with a Warlock (Mage calling) and a Bladedancer (Rogue calling).

 

Well you kinda ruined my expectations here I was looking for that 16*45*14 number of combinations. But this way it is not a combination but just choosing what class you WONT be (1out of 4...)

But anyway Im looking forward to it it sounds quite interesting and the sound of polishness is nice;)

You should check out the threads in the actual Rift forum here.

While Vorruga is right in respect that you can't mix the Souls (read:classes) of a particular Calling (read: arctype:Warrior, Rogue, Cleric and Mage), you can mix those core Souls within a Calling. THere are also Heroic Souls that you find while in game. These are more specialized Souls within a Calling. SOME, and I do stress that so don't let your expectations run rampant, of the Heroic Souls can dip into another Calling.

A common current example is that of a Cleric Calling Soul (so, let's say a Purifier) finding a Heroic Soul (that incidentally any Cleric Calling Soul can use we are just picking on the Purifier) that offers many Cleric Calling skills/abilities but also grants the Rogue Calling ability of Stealth.

Another example that has been offered up by the devs is that of a Warrior Calling character who through finding and slotting a Warrior Calling Heroic Soul is allowed access to some Arcane abilities (spellcasting).

Again, don't expect this to be the overabundant norm, but the options will be there to a degree to have such flexibility in character design through Heroic Souls(classes) found while adventuring.

just1opinion

Originally posted by Pigozz

Originally posted by Vorruga

The second is that while there are 16 classes in the game, I don't believe you have the ability to combine any three at random, which isn't right.  Players can combine any three classes from within their particular calling.  The callings are Warrior, Rogue, Cleric, and Mage.  So while you can combine a Bladedancer with a Nightblade and a Ranger, you cannot combine say, a Champion (Warrior calling) with a Warlock (Mage calling) and a Bladedancer (Rogue calling).

 

Well you kinda ruined my expectations here I was looking for that 16*45*14 number of combinations. But this way it is not a combination but just choosing what class you WONT be (1out of 4...)

But anyway Im looking forward to it it sounds quite interesting and the sound of polishness is nice;)

 

Uhm, no. You still aren't understanding what he said. It is not AT ALL using all of the classes but one. But the poster right before me, I think, told ya where to go read up on this.

ForceQuit

Also, unless this has just recently changed, there will be 32 classes at launch, (8 per calling)- not 16.  Some souls (classes) will be "pure" some will have attributes from other callings.

Korithian

This looks amazing. What impresses me the most and I hope this never changes is that it looks and hopefully plays like a traditional RPG. We are back to the days when monsters look like monsters not badly drawn cartoons, the terrain and landscape is realistic and not will with teletubby style mushroom houses or childish like backdrops. This looks like its taking us back to the days of Baldurs gate and IceWind Dale.

 

And as long as we don't find people wielding swords 5 times bigger them and totally out of proportion as appears to be the rage in Asian MMO's I think this will be the natural sucessor to WoW. Note I say sucessor and not clone or killer, it will be the game MMO fans move onto once they have out grown the target audience of WoW. I really hope along with the feel and look of the game play it has a more mature approach and takes us back to the Elder Scrolls or Fallout style of gaming. Where no longer do you hunt cute little kobolds with candles on their hats or bouncing mushrooms but real opponents that can be taken seriously.

 

I can't wait to see more.

VeryThorough

Originally posted by ForceQuit

Also, unless this has just recently changed, there will be 32 classes at launch, (8 per calling)- not 16.  Some souls (classes) will be "pure" some will have attributes from other callings.

Doing the math on calling/soul combos:

Assuming 8 souls available to each calling (which I'm not sure has been verified), that means that in any given calling, you have 8 possible single souls, 28 possible dual-soul combos, and 56 possible triple-soul combos, for a total of 92 possible "classes" per calling, 368 possiblities over 4 callings, 736 possiblities over 2 factions.  Especially considering that each of these combinations allows various "talent spec" allocations within them, that's a lot of choices!

Granted, it's not quite as much as it seems--you only get 1 slot and 2 soul choices per calling to start, some combinations are probably not worth doing, there's probably some overlap, etc.  Still, it does seem to really open up the options, and I feel like a lot of people (including a lot of the press) aren't understanding this.

As someone who loves choices and hates regret, I know this means it will take me forever to decide on a calling, and further hours choosing souls and allocating skills within them, but at least I'll have lots of options for changing my mind on the latter two!

Tazlor

this game looks pretty awesome.  i haven't even been watching it to closely and i can't wait for it.  i'm glad thet scrapped the whole switch between classes on one toon idea.  i like this new class system much more.  the only thing that i think will keep this game from doing as well as it should are all the other MMORPGs coming out next year like Tera, GW2, TOR, and Vindictus.  i know a lot of people are going to play TOR and GW2.

Kuatosune

Definitely will be worth a look see

jonrd463

I've been watching all the info released on Rift for some time and the game certainly piques my interest. Thing I'm curious about, though, is this skill tree system. I may be missing something, but as described, it sounds a lot like WoW's 3 categories per race. What is different about it? What makes it special and allows it to stand apart from WoW's system?