I think the success of WoW and its predecessor Evequest kind of answers your overarching question as to why DDO isn't that popular. Folks don't seem to mind the autoattack and go make a sandwich style of combat that I could never get into and people actually do enjoy. Character positioning doesn't matter at all in those games (I love first person shooters) and it really simplifies things. DDO's biggest draw is the combat because it has to be (not much in the way of fluff like crafting and player housing) and even having a great combat system just isn't enough for an MMO. Also, DDO not being solo friendly really hurt it. Need to add an easy button for folks and I'm not sure why DDO did not do more of that at launch since it is instanced anyway.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
It's because there's very little longevity to the actual gameplay. Once you've taken a toon to max level there's very little in the game to keep you there. Some people enjoy making more toons and seeing what variations the character development throws up, but generally, all there is to do after running a dungeon once is to try and set a new time record for completing the quest. This game is powergamer central.
I agree. You nailed it! "Oh, you guys finished ____ quest in 40 minutes? Big deal. Our guild did it in 33 minutes and 42 seconds."
I played from launch day through until last year. It really does become powergamer central. Also, there are so many times you can run the same content before it becomes so boring. Even when I went back recently to see the new content, it feels like the same old stuff. People LITERALLY run the same quests HUNDREDS of times. I am NOT exaggerating when I am telling you people run the same quest 500 times. If you are that kind of person, you might find lasting happiness. If not, you could still have a ton of fun, it just probably won't have the staying power you're looking for.
I think DDO is still one of the best games on the market, hands down, despite the issues above. The combat is great, it really has a lot to offer. You won't play it for years, but if you don't get fun out of it for at least a few months, check your pulse! DDO is a strong B+ in my book, and I can't think of any other MMOs I'd give an A to at this time.
Give it a spin, give it some time, you might be surprised. The game has a lot of flaws but it is innovative in other ways and I've got a lot of great memories from my time there. It also has dx10 now and looks much nicer. LIke I said, I won't ever go back, but that's only because I played it into the ground probably more than any MMO I ever played.
PS "HASTE! HASTE ! HASTE!" or "FIRE RESIST" or "HEAL HEAL" then "HASTE HASTE!!!" hahaha.The character customization isn't all that great. Once you've played the game a while you realize there are only a handful of viable builds per a class. You can get as creative as you want, it doesn't mean they'll be viable (ie a rogue with a returning dagger).
Have a winner and don't go on a game over! Does your avatar make you powerful in real life? Check out the Mystical Enders gaming community. www.mysticalenders.com
Originally posted by levsix People LITERALLY run the same quests HUNDREDS of times. I am NOT exaggerating when I am telling you people run the same quest 500 times. If you are that kind of person, you might find lasting happiness. If not, you could still have a ton of fun, it just probably won't have the staying power you're looking for. PS "HASTE! HASTE ! HASTE!" or "FIRE RESIST" or "HEAL HEAL" then "HASTE HASTE!!!" hahaha.The character customization isn't all that great. Once you've played the game a while you realize there are only a handful of viable builds per a class. You can get as creative as you want, it doesn't mean they'll be viable (ie a rogue with a returning dagger).
I agree that the game facilitates player's who strive to contiusously build better characters and agressively improve upon them, but this is kind of contradictive of the Power Gamer mentality of building templates based on Current activites (ie, fotm) and content then gripe to hell and back when new content would otherwise cause them to rethink their character's applications. The wonderfull thing is you aren't required to play like this although if that's your wish then the option is availble to do so.
I have a rebuttal regarding this statement: "The character customization isn't all that great. Once you've played the game a while you realize there are only a handful of viable builds per a class."
The italized comment is a problem with power gamer mentalities and not with actual mechanics. The character I play is proof to this; 28 point elven sorcerer, light armor profecientcy & weapon finesse Feats, 46 ubuffed AC, no spell failure, Action Points maxed out fire/cold dmg, 30% Acid, full enhancement line of Maximize Metamagic effecientcy, nothing spent on Arcan Fludity. It's not difficult to visualize this build and say "wtf!?!?" although I generally get an equally resounding "WTF!!!" when others play with me for the first time and see how effecient the character actually is. Now, I'll be the first to point out there's lot's of flaws with my character even though I made it when the game launched and my only knowlegde of DDO was from the AD&D rule system. This character has come a long way and is nothing compared to how it was originally spec'd out or how I percieved it, it was built and fine tuned around my playstyle. My point is: There's More Then One Way To Skin A Cat.
The "Viable Builds" you speak of are more likely "fotm" builds and do nothing to suit a playstyle while only serve to exploit the holes in the game mechanics. For some reason I'm thinking of Defense Stackers in pre-cu SWG or Nano Ships in EVE Online and I'm sure anyone can give equal comparrisons - Evasion Builds in DDO. These things generally come to pass...
In all fairness, I believe Levsix's statement "Once you've played the game a while you realize there are only a handful of viable builds " is more relative to a playstyle then anything else because the worst player with the best build is still bound to have massive problems. Those enforcing that there's only one way to play a character are also likely to be in the area of Min/Max character builds. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's easy to forget how many play simply for fun and a Halfing Wizard with a Greatsword just might be what you enjoy playing.
p.s. Theme Guilds! Last one I was in we had the requirement that everyone used a Repeating Crossbow. Lots of fun and loads of laughs.
Speaking of themed guilds.. for some time now, I have been wanting to start a Nekkid Troubadours Guild. No armor, no robes... but people just don't want to try it.... Maybe it's my nekkid female dwarven rogue. Hmmm....
Speaking of themed guilds.. for some time now, I have been wanting to start a Nekkid Troubadours Guild. No armor, no robes... but people just don't want to try it.... Maybe it's my nekkid female dwarven rogue. Hmmm.... Back to the drawing board.
Cuz Human men look (and run) ugly, and for the dwarves...shudder!
Of course, I'm a girl...
Yes, I am a gamer girl. Dungeons and Dragons Online: April 2006 THELANIS: Guild: Merc's Only. Trissa, Kleo, Sousake, Mulder, Roselyn, Caboose, Kaname, Scully, Courwin, Oncoming, Lanarissa, Doomlord, Tnannet, Healbotatron, keitherland, Keatheran, Allura, Riversong, Johnsmith, Jennysmith I also play Star Trek Online and LotRO, on occasion.
Cuz Human men look (and run) ugly, and for the dwarves...shudder!
Of course, I'm a girl...
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
Cuz Human men look (and run) ugly, and for the dwarves...shudder!
Of course, I'm a girl...
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!! Women RULEZ!!!
Well, not that childish but there is alot of women players in the game.
Yes, I am a gamer girl. Dungeons and Dragons Online: April 2006 THELANIS: Guild: Merc's Only. Trissa, Kleo, Sousake, Mulder, Roselyn, Caboose, Kaname, Scully, Courwin, Oncoming, Lanarissa, Doomlord, Tnannet, Healbotatron, keitherland, Keatheran, Allura, Riversong, Johnsmith, Jennysmith I also play Star Trek Online and LotRO, on occasion.
Cuz Human men look (and run) ugly, and for the dwarves...shudder! Of course, I'm a girl...
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!! Women RULEZ!!!
Well, not that childish but there is alot of women players in the game.
Which one of you has the pet chicken!! There's this gal who plays on Ghallanda, it's been a while since I've grouped with her, and there would always be this manic sounding chicken in the background making all kinds of noise.
Yeah, there's a lot of female gamers who actively play DDO. Ghallanda used to have regular Ladies Only groups during the evenings - don't let them kid you they're getting sloshed on their white zin!
Thelanis has alot of Ladies' nite out events. We are rarely sloshed and mostly talking about idiots that drive us crazy.
It's a good way to see our amazing multi-tasking skills!
Yes, I am a gamer girl. Dungeons and Dragons Online: April 2006 THELANIS: Guild: Merc's Only. Trissa, Kleo, Sousake, Mulder, Roselyn, Caboose, Kaname, Scully, Courwin, Oncoming, Lanarissa, Doomlord, Tnannet, Healbotatron, keitherland, Keatheran, Allura, Riversong, Johnsmith, Jennysmith I also play Star Trek Online and LotRO, on occasion.
Cuz Human men look (and run) ugly, and for the dwarves...shudder! Of course, I'm a girl...
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!! Women RULEZ!!!
Well, not that childish but there is alot of women players in the game.
Which one of you has the pet chicken!! There's this gal who plays on Ghallanda, it's been a while since I've grouped with her, and there would always be this manic sounding chicken in the background making all kinds of noise.
Yeah, there's a lot of female gamers who actively play DDO. Ghallanda used to have regular Ladies Only groups during the evenings - don't let them kid you they're getting sloshed on their white zin!
Sorry, I am on Khyber. I play sober otherwise, I get really ... ummm... Let's just say I don't drink anymore.
Cuz Human men look (and run) ugly, and for the dwarves...shudder! Of course, I'm a girl...
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!! Women RULEZ!!!
Well, not that childish but there is alot of women players in the game.
Which one of you has the pet chicken!! There's this gal who plays on Ghallanda, it's been a while since I've grouped with her, and there would always be this manic sounding chicken in the background making all kinds of noise.
Yeah, there's a lot of female gamers who actively play DDO. Ghallanda used to have regular Ladies Only groups during the evenings - don't let them kid you they're getting sloshed on their white zin!
Sorry, I am on Khyber. I play sober otherwise, I get really ... ummm... Let's just say I don't drink anymore.
Well, I have a level 15 on Khyber. Let me know when the next ladies' nite is!
Yes, I am a gamer girl. Dungeons and Dragons Online: April 2006 THELANIS: Guild: Merc's Only. Trissa, Kleo, Sousake, Mulder, Roselyn, Caboose, Kaname, Scully, Courwin, Oncoming, Lanarissa, Doomlord, Tnannet, Healbotatron, keitherland, Keatheran, Allura, Riversong, Johnsmith, Jennysmith I also play Star Trek Online and LotRO, on occasion.
Comments
I think the success of WoW and its predecessor Evequest kind of answers your overarching question as to why DDO isn't that popular. Folks don't seem to mind the autoattack and go make a sandwich style of combat that I could never get into and people actually do enjoy. Character positioning doesn't matter at all in those games (I love first person shooters) and it really simplifies things. DDO's biggest draw is the combat because it has to be (not much in the way of fluff like crafting and player housing) and even having a great combat system just isn't enough for an MMO. Also, DDO not being solo friendly really hurt it. Need to add an easy button for folks and I'm not sure why DDO did not do more of that at launch since it is instanced anyway.
"I am the greatest swordsman that ever lived."
Short answer, its only a game, and it should have been a virtual world. (IMO)
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
I agree. You nailed it! "Oh, you guys finished ____ quest in 40 minutes? Big deal. Our guild did it in 33 minutes and 42 seconds."
I played from launch day through until last year. It really does become powergamer central. Also, there are so many times you can run the same content before it becomes so boring. Even when I went back recently to see the new content, it feels like the same old stuff. People LITERALLY run the same quests HUNDREDS of times. I am NOT exaggerating when I am telling you people run the same quest 500 times. If you are that kind of person, you might find lasting happiness. If not, you could still have a ton of fun, it just probably won't have the staying power you're looking for.
I think DDO is still one of the best games on the market, hands down, despite the issues above. The combat is great, it really has a lot to offer. You won't play it for years, but if you don't get fun out of it for at least a few months, check your pulse! DDO is a strong B+ in my book, and I can't think of any other MMOs I'd give an A to at this time.
Give it a spin, give it some time, you might be surprised. The game has a lot of flaws but it is innovative in other ways and I've got a lot of great memories from my time there. It also has dx10 now and looks much nicer. LIke I said, I won't ever go back, but that's only because I played it into the ground probably more than any MMO I ever played.
PS "HASTE! HASTE ! HASTE!" or "FIRE RESIST" or "HEAL HEAL" then "HASTE HASTE!!!" hahaha.The character customization isn't all that great. Once you've played the game a while you realize there are only a handful of viable builds per a class. You can get as creative as you want, it doesn't mean they'll be viable (ie a rogue with a returning dagger).
Have a winner and don't go on a game over! Does your avatar make you powerful in real life? Check out the Mystical Enders gaming community. www.mysticalenders.com
I agree that the game facilitates player's who strive to contiusously build better characters and agressively improve upon them, but this is kind of contradictive of the Power Gamer mentality of building templates based on Current activites (ie, fotm) and content then gripe to hell and back when new content would otherwise cause them to rethink their character's applications. The wonderfull thing is you aren't required to play like this although if that's your wish then the option is availble to do so.
I have a rebuttal regarding this statement: "The character customization isn't all that great. Once you've played the game a while you realize there are only a handful of viable builds per a class."
The italized comment is a problem with power gamer mentalities and not with actual mechanics. The character I play is proof to this; 28 point elven sorcerer, light armor profecientcy & weapon finesse Feats, 46 ubuffed AC, no spell failure, Action Points maxed out fire/cold dmg, 30% Acid, full enhancement line of Maximize Metamagic effecientcy, nothing spent on Arcan Fludity. It's not difficult to visualize this build and say "wtf!?!?" although I generally get an equally resounding "WTF!!!" when others play with me for the first time and see how effecient the character actually is. Now, I'll be the first to point out there's lot's of flaws with my character even though I made it when the game launched and my only knowlegde of DDO was from the AD&D rule system. This character has come a long way and is nothing compared to how it was originally spec'd out or how I percieved it, it was built and fine tuned around my playstyle. My point is: There's More Then One Way To Skin A Cat.
The "Viable Builds" you speak of are more likely "fotm" builds and do nothing to suit a playstyle while only serve to exploit the holes in the game mechanics. For some reason I'm thinking of Defense Stackers in pre-cu SWG or Nano Ships in EVE Online and I'm sure anyone can give equal comparrisons - Evasion Builds in DDO. These things generally come to pass...
In all fairness, I believe Levsix's statement "Once you've played the game a while you realize there are only a handful of viable builds " is more relative to a playstyle then anything else because the worst player with the best build is still bound to have massive problems. Those enforcing that there's only one way to play a character are also likely to be in the area of Min/Max character builds. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's easy to forget how many play simply for fun and a Halfing Wizard with a Greatsword just might be what you enjoy playing.
p.s. Theme Guilds! Last one I was in we had the requirement that everyone used a Repeating Crossbow. Lots of fun and loads of laughs.
Speaking of themed guilds.. for some time now, I have been wanting to start a Nekkid Troubadours Guild. No armor, no robes... but people just don't want to try it.... Maybe it's my nekkid female dwarven rogue. Hmmm....
Back to the drawing board.
Cuz Human men look (and run) ugly, and for the dwarves...shudder!
Of course, I'm a girl...
Yes, I am a gamer girl.
Dungeons and Dragons Online: April 2006
THELANIS: Guild: Merc's Only. Trissa, Kleo, Sousake, Mulder, Roselyn, Caboose, Kaname, Scully, Courwin, Oncoming, Lanarissa, Doomlord, Tnannet, Healbotatron, keitherland, Keatheran, Allura, Riversong, Johnsmith, Jennysmith
I also play Star Trek Online and LotRO, on occasion.
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!! Women RULEZ!!!
Well, not that childish but there is alot of women players in the game.
Yes, I am a gamer girl.
Dungeons and Dragons Online: April 2006
THELANIS: Guild: Merc's Only. Trissa, Kleo, Sousake, Mulder, Roselyn, Caboose, Kaname, Scully, Courwin, Oncoming, Lanarissa, Doomlord, Tnannet, Healbotatron, keitherland, Keatheran, Allura, Riversong, Johnsmith, Jennysmith
I also play Star Trek Online and LotRO, on occasion.
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!! Women RULEZ!!!
Well, not that childish but there is alot of women players in the game.
Which one of you has the pet chicken!! There's this gal who plays on Ghallanda, it's been a while since I've grouped with her, and there would always be this manic sounding chicken in the background making all kinds of noise.
Yeah, there's a lot of female gamers who actively play DDO. Ghallanda used to have regular Ladies Only groups during the evenings - don't let them kid you they're getting sloshed on their white zin!
Bah!
Thelanis has alot of Ladies' nite out events. We are rarely sloshed and mostly talking about idiots that drive us crazy.
It's a good way to see our amazing multi-tasking skills!
Yes, I am a gamer girl.
Dungeons and Dragons Online: April 2006
THELANIS: Guild: Merc's Only. Trissa, Kleo, Sousake, Mulder, Roselyn, Caboose, Kaname, Scully, Courwin, Oncoming, Lanarissa, Doomlord, Tnannet, Healbotatron, keitherland, Keatheran, Allura, Riversong, Johnsmith, Jennysmith
I also play Star Trek Online and LotRO, on occasion.
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!! Women RULEZ!!!
Well, not that childish but there is alot of women players in the game.
Which one of you has the pet chicken!! There's this gal who plays on Ghallanda, it's been a while since I've grouped with her, and there would always be this manic sounding chicken in the background making all kinds of noise.
Yeah, there's a lot of female gamers who actively play DDO. Ghallanda used to have regular Ladies Only groups during the evenings - don't let them kid you they're getting sloshed on their white zin!
Sorry, I am on Khyber. I play sober otherwise, I get really ... ummm... Let's just say I don't drink anymore.
Ummm... I am also a gamer girl... For those who do not play DDO and want to try it... I warn you now! There are alot of ladies in the game and we kick booty!
BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!! Women RULEZ!!!
Well, not that childish but there is alot of women players in the game.
Which one of you has the pet chicken!! There's this gal who plays on Ghallanda, it's been a while since I've grouped with her, and there would always be this manic sounding chicken in the background making all kinds of noise.
Yeah, there's a lot of female gamers who actively play DDO. Ghallanda used to have regular Ladies Only groups during the evenings - don't let them kid you they're getting sloshed on their white zin!
Sorry, I am on Khyber. I play sober otherwise, I get really ... ummm... Let's just say I don't drink anymore.
Well, I have a level 15 on Khyber. Let me know when the next ladies' nite is!
Yes, I am a gamer girl.
Dungeons and Dragons Online: April 2006
THELANIS: Guild: Merc's Only. Trissa, Kleo, Sousake, Mulder, Roselyn, Caboose, Kaname, Scully, Courwin, Oncoming, Lanarissa, Doomlord, Tnannet, Healbotatron, keitherland, Keatheran, Allura, Riversong, Johnsmith, Jennysmith
I also play Star Trek Online and LotRO, on occasion.