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Newbie Gripes
pashbe1
Member Posts: 32
So I just started playing DDO, my first mmorpg, with some friends who I grew up with playing pnp some 20 years ago (yikes). Different game back then, sigh. My friends and I get together twice a week but the time differences (different continents, sigh) makes it difficult. We like to play slow, and savor the quests, but when we recruit we invariably get some old hand who just runs off, yells all the interesting stuff, and gets mad at us for being slow. The combat is said to be the best of any mmorpg, which makes me worry, as it is seriously lacking in any strategy, tactics. It would be nice if it learned some things from some of the better FPS games. The AI is pretty numb. Missing is a good story line to pull you along, the quests all amount to "go here and kill everything, come back and pick up your reward". Yawn. It would be nice if the quest were real, and challenging, and required thought. I remember playing DD Forgotten Realms on my Commodore64 (yeah I'm old, and I actually have a life) and you actually had to figure out the story and follow clues! In short, I play DDO because it gives me a chance to hang out virtually with my old friends, period.
Now I'm hoping that all the "real" DDO people can tell me why I am wrong, and hopefully some will even tell me how to improve my DDO experience.
Comments
If you have atleast 2 friends you don't need to recruite a full group of people so just leave out the old players. If you play on normal or hard settings the AI is kind of numb but on elite mode ... holy cow.... strat and tactics are up to the player do you want the rogue out front to look for traps or the fighter barreling down the hall setting them all off. I've found if you don't have some sort of tactic to how do you things, traps and mobs are not your friend at all on hard settings (its worth doing them again to build up city reputation). Its nice to sneak up on the mobs while they're sleeping and just kill them in their sleep. DDO is kind of..non linear you don't need an over all storyline to pull you along your supposed to pave your own path to greatness. The higher up you get the more involved quest lines do get so there are longer adventure lines. There are quests where you're 1. not allowed to kill anythijng or kill as FEW as possible. 2. Don't break anything and etc you just have to find them, heck there's even one that just has you protect a crate for 5 mins or smash up gambling tables in the name of all thats holy, course the guards dont like you when you do.
I've always thought the bigger quests were challenging, once you beat the area on an easier setting you can play it again and beef it up or play a campaign thats a level or 2 higher than you and your friends, youll see a huge challenge difference.
You can't really compare an MMO to regular games because its supposed to be (rp wise) about your char finding his way & paving his path through the world. Otherwise the game ends and well that just sucks. MMO's are open ended and in DDO's case semi non linear. If there was an overall storyline it'd eventually have to end and you'd might as well play a NWN for that.
Please Refer to Doom Cat with all conspiracies & evil corporation complaints. He'll give you the simple explination of..WE"RE ALL DOOMED!
Thx for the repo's. Some good points there. Check out my post on the suggestion forum for randomness. As far as my group goes, we all chose rather idiosyncratic characters, so we always need a tank. I don't mind looking for quests, nor do I mind just being able to play. We do play tactics as much as possible, like rogue out front, ranger archer, etc..
I don't mind the non-linear aspect, infact I like it. What I mean is that the stories that go along with the quest seem almost meaningless, just an excuse to go kill everything, destroy all boxes, etc. There are no plot twists to figure out, no choices that lead down different paths. As for the character developing his own story and paving his way I don't exactly know how that happens in this game. Yeah, you gain levels, get more hp, mp, better equipment, and?
I'm not trying to disparage the game. I have been a game developer, and am professionally involved with 3dmodeling, rendereing, etc., so I know my expectations are very high. The graphics and casual playability are very good. It would be nice if there were more interactivity with the environment, and if you could use the environment to your tactical advantage. I am also a big believer in secrets and randomnes. It would be nice if alignment meant more.....
Again Thx for the input and hints!
Just to chime in here, you can use the environment to your tactical advantage in this game. Character and NPC models cannot exist in the same space in this game. You can use doorways to channel large groups of mobs into just a few at a time by placing the warrior in the doorway with his shield up while casters and archers ( with the right feats) can blast them to death. You can also get up high and pelt non ranged mobs while they try to get to you. You can even lure mobs into traps and yes they will get hurt or killed. Using exploding barrels as a makeshift trap is always fun. These are just a few examples of the tactics you can employ in this game in relation to the environment.
There are quite a few dungeons/quests with hidden areas, some of which lead to little side quests of sorts. As far as randomness, the game is a bit lacking, aside from the randomly appearing rare npcs.
Yea I agree on the alignment side, so far the only thing alignment seems to affect in the game that I have found, is whether or not you can use certain items.
Cheers, and happy questing!
MMO Vet since AOL Neverwinter Nights circa 1992. My MMO beat up your MMO. =S
Hi and thx to all those who have taken the time to share their DDO improving wisdom. I like those tactics you described above. Like I said, I play with 2 newb friends. We ended up "rolling" a Cleric (me), Rogue, and Ranger. Not the best combo I think, but it suits our quirks. Now (this is a joke) if I follow your tactics that means I stand in the door and the ranger shoots them to death while the rogue sneaks in behind for the backstab right? Rofl. Not meant seriously that.
Thanks again!
Actually, that's not such a bad idea. Of the three, your cleric is probably the most heavily armored and if you have a high Concentration skill you should still be able to get off a few spells while blocking the door. The rogue should actually sneak into the room first, wait for you to draw the baddies to the doorway and get in place behind them. A few well-timed sneak attacks will take out their casters while they are in the middle of trying to cast a spell at you or the ranger.
To enhance this kind of tactic, the Cleric can carry a Tower shield. (And of course, don't forget to actively block.) Proficiency with it is not necessary because a cleric does not suffer spell failure for armor/shields. Just switch to a different shield for attacking since you suffer a to hit penalty while wielding a shield you are not proficeint with.
The key to small groups in DDO is to remember that your characters do not have to be shoe-horned into narrow roles. For example, in your group you are probably the best at toe-to-toe melee as well as being the best at healing. So keep your Concentration skill high and don't be afraid to wade in to combat, casting from the fray when necessary. The ranger is no slouch in melee either, though and should be prepared to dual-wield or use a shield as necessary. He can also use cure wands with no UMD check. The rogue is capable of using a variety of magic items via Use Magic Device, can sneak attack for significant damage, and usually has a high enough dexterity to be an excellent ranged combatant as well, even capable of ranged sneak attacks.
It also helps that the quests are designed around a group of four, not six as most people seem to think.
I have played DDO since beta and most of the time there are only three of us online. I have only recruited extras two or three times and have only been in a group of six on four occasions, ever. Our three-man group is usually composed of either Ranger/Rogue, Cleric, and Paladin; Ranger/Rogue, Bard and Barbarian; or Ranger/Rogue, Cleric and Barbarian.
Welcome to Stormreach and have fun!
Hi and thx to all respondents:
You guys have really helped out my (and my friends) game time. We have been following these suggestions and feel so much smarter (wink). One thing I will add to the above strat ideas is that as a Cleric masquerading as a Tank I make sure not to draw aggro. This way I don't get beat up at all unless there are ranged baddies who can't hit my team. This has been working like a charm, especially with the +2 tower shield which I can wield because I am a lvl1 fighter.
Hope to see you online sometime.
Paullan McDarrin
Server: Keeper