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Returnee Impressions
Toxilium
Member UncommonPosts: 905
You've seen me around these boards. I am probably one of the biggest haters for Tabula Rasa. After getting scammed by Failcom (and 500,000 other people) I noticed a lot of spark in returning players eyes. So I decided to try it out once more... (I also want to get on to take part in Operation Immortality, because I love the final frontier.)
I made a new trial account. I didn't want to spend $15 to play on a lvl50 again (as I recall, there is still no endgame). I started off making a character, going through tutorial arriving at Alia Das once more. I accidentally hit the "I" key (used to AoC keys) and brought up "Prestige Points." Well, that's new, sort of. New is usually good.
I went through Wilderness quickely, taking part in occasional CP runs. I was lvl14 in Divide in about an hour and a half. All the same quests, maybe one or two new ones, but I knew my way around. I noticed by now client performance has drastically improved.
I also noticed a teleporter to CELLAR Arena. I went there thinking if they finally added some PvP content. Turns out its a boxing ring of sorts. One or two players were there, and we boxed with the provided gloves. It was fun for a bit, I lol'd at our Rocky-impressions. The nostalgia wore off and I continued on my travels.
After about 4 hours I wound up at lvl16 with my Forean quest completed. Called it a night.
Over the next two days I didn't see much change, other than the occasional new quest or animation. Client performance still impressed me, despite dozens of Thrax on-screen during invasions. After my trial, I ended up at lvl32, with an Engineer.
Overall to returning veterans, I would say hold-off for now. The game still needs loads of content added and the PvP still leaves much to be desired; although I did notice a lot more clans battling. Wait a few months (may be too late, ala Warhammer Online is out) perhaps after Clan-Controlled CPs and more endgame and TR could be one of the best MMOs out there, not to mention a sci-fi MMO.
Comments
Very well said!
Side-note: I installed the PTS and played with a lvl50 engineer in the new CP Wargame map. I was pleasantly surprised on how fun it was. A simple CTF-style concept at best, still fun with TR's variety of classes and skills.
The PTS War Game Map was so well recivied that it's how they based the future Clan Owned Control Points. Small, instnaced PvP. With large scale PvE Clan Owned Control Points coming later.
Glad you enjoyed your time. I think you'll be surprised with the level of end gmae being brough in between now and the 1 year mark.
They have three months until the one year anniversary of game launch. They have done nothing with the game up until now. COCPs were supposed to be released two "deployments" ago. Every single major feature the devs have ever mentioned has been completely vapor.
There's no reason to assume anything will be different come 30 OCT 2009.
There's no reason to assume anything will be different come 30 OCT 2009.
Um, no. Because they are literally about to put the COCPs on PTS in the next 1-3 weeks. Wargames are already being tested. Tom Potter seems to know what he's doing. I'd estimate COCPs will be live by the anniversary.
Yes, it's been a slow and painful development process, but TR is shaping up to be one of the best MMOs out right now. From past MMOs, TR has some of the highest level of PvE polish to date.
Kavadas, I used to be like you. But in a way, I decided to give a second chance, see what the hype was. I resubbed, and am having a blast. Stop with all the doom.
Um, yes. Sorry, bud, but they've been saying COCPs are "almost ready" for months now. I bought it the first time around when Potter released his little producer letter in April. The second time around not so much when the new producer regurgitated verbatim Potter's letter.
Everything the TR devs have ever promised is completely vapor. And let's put this in context assuming that COCPs even go live ever. Okay, so one actual content feature per year that would take any other MMO dev just a few months to do. And?
TR is plagued with the most lethargic and apathetic MMO devs, scratch that, game devs I've ever beared witness to. They make SOE look like wizkids which is sad.
I also had fun with the game. Would like to resubb if it was worth it. I don't think so right now. But I'm glad the client is running more smoothly now, even though I bought a new rig, so it would run smooth anyway.
I quit after they implemented the AH because I saw no goal in reaching level cap. There wasn't anything to do besides of Open PvP.
Hope they gonna add new content and the new stuff they promised back then. All in all its a good game. But right now it has the same status like AOC, doesn't it? I mean content wise...nothing to do there on endlevel.
Yeah, I think Age of Conan has done a good thing. It is pretty much the same as Vanguard (horribly failed launch title that they desperately tried to cover up) and it gave a huge boost to Tabula Rasa and LOTRO, both of which were very acceptable games that never pretended to be something they weren't (though TR's lag was unacceptable - and they did fix it, from all reports).
Funcom's incredible level of deception (FAR beyond that of Vanguard) really drove home how unassuming titles that are just trying to have good gameplay can be very worthwhile.
I will return, when people like you tell me it has the content it needs.
In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.
-Thomas Jefferson
I wish it was true that this game would end up living up to what it was supposed to be but it's not. It's almost been a year and from the patch notes since then it's obvious that they only kept a skeleton crew on the game. It's a shame really because it could have become a great game. I just hope it last long enough for me to receive my NCSoft package from the contest and enjoy it for a couple of weeks
I retuned this week to TR after taking off a semester and I'm loving every minute of it. I think the free trial has helped a lot. I grouped with a lot of great people this weekend and some were even people that converted over from trial accounts.
I started over on a different server just so I could re-learn the game/controls and just over all I had a lot of fun. Will it last? I don't know.
I'm hoping to get my sci-fi alien space over flowed so that I'll crave the elves/orcs when Warhammer gets released.
I would suggest to do like the OP did and make a trial account and play around and see if you like it. If so sub for a month until Warhammer comes out if you're waiting for that.
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Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate.
Thanks to the OP for a non-biased, honest opinion.
When a game creates such widely varying viewpoints like this post which is concise and clearly stated while others continue to insist the game is so much fun, then there are obviously issues with the consistency of the gaming experience being delivered.
....b/c people have different opinions? ::gasp::
I am back in it too....waiting for blizzards new secret mmo to come out.....its fun.....good time killer
I've returned after a lengthy absence to TR, and am enjoying it immensely. I can easily see how hardcore MMOers will burn out quickly on TR, but as a casual player myself (ten hours a week to play these games, tops) TR is very rewarding to me. I've also noticed that the game has some noticeable improvements in performance, too, which is very welcome indeed. I don't know....there's something about this game that really appeals to me; I think the shooter/rpg sci-fi elements are just a pleasant change from the overabundance of fantasy MMOs on the market right now.
Anyway, like many others, I am sticking with TR (and i've dumped all other MMOs now) until WAR, which I am really, really hoping won't be the disaster AoC apparently was (haven't personally played it; too many reviews have convinced me it's not worth the risk).
Current MMOs: Rift, GW2, Defiance
Blog: http://realmsofchirak.blogspot.com (old school tabletop gaming and more)