"But since subscription rates are up 40% since the subscription model change, Dungeons and Dragons Online is definitely getting something right." To be fair, sub rates in a f2p game are hardly indicative of anything. I activated an account, played, didn't like it, didn't spend a penny, uninstalled. But I bet I'm part of that 40%.
You should look the definition of subscription up. Subscription means you PAY to play the game. That's what subscribing is. Otherwise you're just a player. He didn't say the population has gone up 40%, he said the SUBSCRIPTION rates has gone up 40%. Big difference.
P.S Also everyone rushes through dungeons at later levels so much so that you end up running at full speed just to keep up with them when somethimes I just want to stop and take a breath and look at the scenery!
I played back with the game was first released. I enjoyed it, and would have played it for a while longer no doubt, if it wasn't for the repeatitive nature of the dungeons. This wasn't even so bad, as the combat and group play was fun, but when it got rushed, and everyone raced through the dungeon, I felt like I was missing something.
Sometimes, I even miss the old days of Everquest when everyone actually was required to sit and rest to get their health back in order to fight again. It was a time when the social/roleplaying aspect really came into play. Now, in most games, its full speed ahead killing things, questing, etc. Especially if there is something that can slow the game down everyonce in a while, I would be happy to try DDO once again.
Can us poor Europeans finally get this F2P change, as well? I can't believe how long it's taking them, whether it's Codemaster's or Turbine's responsibility not to mention we're still paying for the game here in EU.
Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
"But since subscription rates are up 40% since the subscription model change, Dungeons and Dragons Online is definitely getting something right." To be fair, sub rates in a f2p game are hardly indicative of anything. I activated an account, played, didn't like it, didn't spend a penny, uninstalled. But I bet I'm part of that 40%.
Steefel did say that the amount of players actually using the service (the shop) was far more than they had anticipated and they consider the move a success.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
The game is good, it is free to play except your gameplay is limited considerably. Limited character slots, amount of gold you can create what quests are available. You'll also find that when trying to find a group you'll notice a large number of spots closed to you because you don't have the adventure packs, or the group states "No F2P!"
This is a common attitude amongst the people who've played this game over the last couple years and have the misconception that it makes them somehow better then the new people trying the game. The other thing someone else touched on that is what they call zerging dungeons.
You enter and before you know it the group is running off in different directions trying to blast through the instance like its a race. When asked they reply with they've done it so many times its boring. Why do it if its boring then ? Translation, they wanna show off.
The DDO store allows you to buy a wide variety of items which makes you a premium member that provides a few benefits. You still have to buy certain adventure packs and you get more character slots. Only thing is you'll more then likely be starting over ALOT because creating your character takes alot of consideration. You can really mess up and gimp your character if you don't do some research.
If you become a VIP 14.99 a month you get all the content, character slots and the store is still available. Only thing is you might end up spending more on the store then the subscription... I buy points to get potions so far have spent more then the subscription amount.
THe writer hit it right on the head. THe Vets of the game have been complaining about the lack of social panel training and the fact that Korthos can be "too easy". While soloing is possible there and in the harbor, it rapidly disappears around level 7-8 for some classes/players. THe shock can be really bad, andthe fact some classes actual change roles from soloist to group player confounds most new players.
As for the friendly aspect of the community. I am disappointed. I work hard to help new players for the last few years, and to see a so-so review is disapointing. ++MUST WORK HARDER!! ++
And, to the writer, to call Thelanis the "unoffical" roleplaying server will anger all the Xoriats and they will eat more butterflies. Shame, we just housebroke them! :P
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.
Cool, the re-review that should have happened OVER A YEAR AGO. Nice to see mmorpg.com keeping up with all the latest happenings and changes in the world of mmos....
Some of us kept saying it in the forums, but usually we'd just get ridiculous replies like, "It's instanced, so it's like Guild Wars." Oh, I'm sorry, am I coming off a slight bit harsh? I'll return to my normal, wonderful self in a moment, but for now I just want all the people who have kept their heads in the sand and kept this game down, often without ever even playing it, to eat some crow is all.
Oh, and when an LFM says, "no f2p," it's often not to exclude anyone; it's just a reminder that the quest isn't free.
I will agree with the poster above in the fact being it is nice that this site FINALLY did something positive for the game and the fair weather posters are eating rotten ham.
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.
I played the original DDO. It was so disappointing. After playing the F2P remake for about a month I am very impressed. As soon as my CoX sub runs out in December I'll be paying for a DDO sub. I enjoy soloing alot so the option to solo or even to play a dungeon on normal for added challnege is good for me.
The times I've teamed have been enjoyable too. I get a real feel of the old PnP AD&D I used to play back in the 80s.
It's a little dumbed down from actual D&D but that's ok it's still alot of fun.
"But since subscription rates are up 40% since the subscription model change, Dungeons and Dragons Online is definitely getting something right." To be fair, sub rates in a f2p game are hardly indicative of anything. I activated an account, played, didn't like it, didn't spend a penny, uninstalled. But I bet I'm part of that 40%.
Steefel did say that the amount of players actually using the service (the shop) was far more than they had anticipated and they consider the move a success.
Sub rate increases are based on paid subscribers. You are not a subscriber on an F2P account, you are an F2P player.
I played the original DDO. It was so disappointing.
I'm a founder. other than the ddo points store, LFG interface and some more content, as well some broken stuff fixed, its still almost the exact same game... Running waterworks with a group (outside of how you get the quest) is _identical_ to what it was on launch day.
The f2p remake has changed nothing about the game other than the limits put on f2p players and ability to buy your way out of favor rewards. Solo options and enhancements were put in relatively soon after launch.
I'm not sure why people say it was disappointing at launch and it's not now. More bugs and less content at launch?
They've fixed a lot of stuff, added 2 classes, and drow but the gameplay experience inside the dungeons is identical sans bugs. A few of the quests have been modified, a bunch added, but really?
I've always loved the game... then again I'm a PnP fan so maybe I cut the game more slack than someone coming into DDO cold would. They've added a lot to the game, but at it's core, it's still identical to what it was at launch.
My only beef is players that talk about nothing but WoW when we are on a quest. >barf<
Can us poor Europeans finally get this F2P change, as well? I can't believe how long it's taking them, whether it's Codemaster's or Turbine's responsibility not to mention we're still paying for the game here in EU.
I would really hope that Europeans would get this F2P change, but then again... I have been playing the game on NA servers for few months now, and the latency is quite nice (about 100-120ms), so no lag for me.
And one of the best things I find about the NA servers... is that (almost) everybody speak English very well, that is a nice bonus in a game like this, where co-op is needed.
AND... if this would come to Europeans aswell, I would hope that I could transfer at least one of my characters to European servers.
It might just be me and my actual D&D 3.5 experience, but I believe this game has no right to be truly called Dungeons&Dragons Online. The reason I loved D&D is because I made the choices, and my neutral/chaotic could just take this cash and run. I got to call the shots- not a dev I've never met. Maybe suggestions could be available?
Don't get me wrong- this is a great f2p MMORPG. It just doesn't amount to the intense creativity of true Dungeons and Dragons. It's close , but the end- player crafted ideas and even quests- has yet to come.
If it ever comes, please PM me and tell me where. If you do, you have just found the game I'll always play, provided it has good scores in everything other than an "editor" system.
Originally posted by wiseguy21 It might just be me and my actual D&D 3.5 experience, but I believe this game has no right to be truly called Dungeons&Dragons Online. The reason I loved D&D is because I made the choices, and my neutral/chaotic could just take this cash and run. I got to call the shots- not a dev I've never met. Maybe suggestions could be available? Don't get me wrong- this is a great f2p MMORPG. It just doesn't amount to the intense creativity of true Dungeons and Dragons. It's close , but the end- player crafted ideas and even quests- has yet to come.If it ever comes, please PM me and tell me where. If you do, you have just found the game I'll always play, provided it has good scores in everything other than an "editor" system.Nice review, by the way. Keep it up!
WiseGuy21,
Since you are obviously a fan/player of the original D&D P&P game, there is no way a production MMO based on that game is going to satisfy your more sophisticated appetite. I will make a suggestion though; the Never Winter Nights (NWN) series. Perhaps you've heard that already but it remains a viable MORPG (minus the first "M" for "massive").
I can say this, in both NWN 1 and NWN 2 there are active communities and the game allows players to be a DM, host a game, take over their own NPCs and even invent custom creatures (not to mention entire story lines) from scratch. If immersion is what you want (with more control), NWN is the way to go. It's not technically an MMO per-say, but it is an RPG based on D&D 3.0 (NWN 1) and 3.5 (NWN 2) rules.
As an MMORPG based largely on D&D rules, DDO gives the old P&P players something to tinker with while not being too difficult to attract your standard MMORPG player.
I've always wanted to play D&D in it's classic form, but I just can't resist 3D graphics . . . and I'm sure you can relate.
This is an excellent and fair review. For the first time I have little to say other than perhaps this post should be stickied somewhere on DDO's forums for new players, lol.
One things that was hinted on that does hinder my play-time is DDO's lack of open terrain. The game's environmental foundation is indeed much like Guild Wars in that everything is instanced except for the "main" communal areas of Stormreach. In fact, most dungeons in DDO are quite confining as well and really don't allow for the nonsense exploration that draw many MMOers "in". Couple that with the rush of veteran quest runs and you've got an MMO that's not only impossible to just explore in general but that also flies by before what little open area that DOES exist can be explored before your dungeon partners move on.
This isn't the case all of the time, as no one situation typically is, but it does occur. My suggestion is that players should keep in mind that D&D is a complex system and to implement its many varying facets it would be largely difficult to leave the world "open" and yet remain playable.
That's really my only complaint though and for the most part the game offers players options that no other MMORPG has truly implemented to DDO's extent, such as: trap detection/disabling, hidden passage detection, lock picking, sneaking through a dungeon instead of fighting through, objects that require strength or wisdom to open . . . it's all good stuff.
DDO is free, it IS fun, and although the restrictions can be a bit confusing at times (like having to get a "pass" to progress past certain levels), it's not too difficult to figure out and achieve and yet still offers Turbine a small hope of eventually getting paid for developing, maintaining and updating what is truly a premium game.
A very good review, both for its impartial comment on the pro's and cons of this game.
I have been playing the game since a month after initial release on the european servers and then on the US servers and the changes within the game have been quite vast.
I would encourage anyone to play, the game might suck you in like it has me and many others, but it also might not tick any of the boxes and push you away.
I cannot see myself ever leaving this game.. except for when they pull the plug on the servers.. hopefully many years away. I love the hectic combat, the team strategy, playing with friends..
My only concerns with the game at the moment is the impending arrival of guild sky ships (housing).. from what I have read, if you are in a newly formed guild with small numbers like myself you will be at a disadvantage from playing in an old elitist guild with large numbers.. This seems to remove another layer of individuality.. and so i expect to see a lot of the smaller guilds merge with the bigger guilds to get the benefit of enhanced spell dc's, etc..
My only other concern is with raid lag... caused by dps, not game breaking in any respects just frustrating
On the flip side you get to play inside a community that actually cares about other players, in the main always willing to help. You get to create a character with probably the most vast customisation / character building option then in any other game (just from my experience)
For those of us who love this game, creating a crazy new build or adapting a tried and tested forum build to suit ourselves is one of the highlights.
My main relief is that there is none of the lotro/wowisms in this game.. D&D is epic adventuring.. how epic would a merry band of adventurers feel if they had to run across a massive map to kill 6 spiders just to run back and be told that the next "epic adventure" is to go back to where you just were to kill 12 more spiders and take 12 fragments of web.. not very epic at all.
I will stick with having to enter another plane of existance and defeat a selection of bearded devils, orthons, horned devils and a pit fiend (Thats EPIC)
This game wont suit everyone.. but for me.. it rocks
Awesome comments. I am glad there are players out there that can actually give an opinion without turning it into some sort of rant. I have yet to try this game and really hadn't given it a great deal of thought till I was just messing around on MMORPG.com and came across this review. I am glad you actually have experience playing WoW and other titles without just making assumptions and dissing something because its a cool thing to do. I think I may go and download DDO so that I can experience what its like so I too can say hey I tried this and I really liked/didn't like this or that and actually have a valid opinion.
Comments
I like these Co-op Rpgs. Games like Diablo 1 &2, Guildwars and DDO are really fun to play.
I know most people don't consider game that have Hubs with limited instanced questing/dungeon areas as MMO I still find them a joy to play.
DDO is a fun dungeon crawler with interesting classes,well done combat mechanics and good graphics.
I hope the other Co-rpgs like APB and Global Agenda are just as good.
PLaying: EvE, Ryzom
Waiting For: Earthrise, Perpetuum
You should look the definition of subscription up. Subscription means you PAY to play the game. That's what subscribing is. Otherwise you're just a player. He didn't say the population has gone up 40%, he said the SUBSCRIPTION rates has gone up 40%. Big difference.
I played back with the game was first released. I enjoyed it, and would have played it for a while longer no doubt, if it wasn't for the repeatitive nature of the dungeons. This wasn't even so bad, as the combat and group play was fun, but when it got rushed, and everyone raced through the dungeon, I felt like I was missing something.
Sometimes, I even miss the old days of Everquest when everyone actually was required to sit and rest to get their health back in order to fight again. It was a time when the social/roleplaying aspect really came into play. Now, in most games, its full speed ahead killing things, questing, etc. Especially if there is something that can slow the game down everyonce in a while, I would be happy to try DDO once again.
Can us poor Europeans finally get this F2P change, as well? I can't believe how long it's taking them, whether it's Codemaster's or Turbine's responsibility not to mention we're still paying for the game here in EU.
Steefel did say that the amount of players actually using the service (the shop) was far more than they had anticipated and they consider the move a success.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
The game is good, it is free to play except your gameplay is limited considerably. Limited character slots, amount of gold you can create what quests are available. You'll also find that when trying to find a group you'll notice a large number of spots closed to you because you don't have the adventure packs, or the group states "No F2P!"
This is a common attitude amongst the people who've played this game over the last couple years and have the misconception that it makes them somehow better then the new people trying the game. The other thing someone else touched on that is what they call zerging dungeons.
You enter and before you know it the group is running off in different directions trying to blast through the instance like its a race. When asked they reply with they've done it so many times its boring. Why do it if its boring then ? Translation, they wanna show off.
The DDO store allows you to buy a wide variety of items which makes you a premium member that provides a few benefits. You still have to buy certain adventure packs and you get more character slots. Only thing is you'll more then likely be starting over ALOT because creating your character takes alot of consideration. You can really mess up and gimp your character if you don't do some research.
If you become a VIP 14.99 a month you get all the content, character slots and the store is still available. Only thing is you might end up spending more on the store then the subscription... I buy points to get potions so far have spent more then the subscription amount.
THe writer hit it right on the head. THe Vets of the game have been complaining about the lack of social panel training and the fact that Korthos can be "too easy". While soloing is possible there and in the harbor, it rapidly disappears around level 7-8 for some classes/players. THe shock can be really bad, andthe fact some classes actual change roles from soloist to group player confounds most new players.
As for the friendly aspect of the community. I am disappointed. I work hard to help new players for the last few years, and to see a so-so review is disapointing. ++MUST WORK HARDER!! ++
And, to the writer, to call Thelanis the "unoffical" roleplaying server will anger all the Xoriats and they will eat more butterflies. Shame, we just housebroke them! :P
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.
Cool, the re-review that should have happened OVER A YEAR AGO. Nice to see mmorpg.com keeping up with all the latest happenings and changes in the world of mmos....
Some of us kept saying it in the forums, but usually we'd just get ridiculous replies like, "It's instanced, so it's like Guild Wars." Oh, I'm sorry, am I coming off a slight bit harsh? I'll return to my normal, wonderful self in a moment, but for now I just want all the people who have kept their heads in the sand and kept this game down, often without ever even playing it, to eat some crow is all.
Oh, and when an LFM says, "no f2p," it's often not to exclude anyone; it's just a reminder that the quest isn't free.
I will agree with the poster above in the fact being it is nice that this site FINALLY did something positive for the game and the fair weather posters are eating rotten ham.
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.
I played the original DDO. It was so disappointing. After playing the F2P remake for about a month I am very impressed. As soon as my CoX sub runs out in December I'll be paying for a DDO sub. I enjoy soloing alot so the option to solo or even to play a dungeon on normal for added challnege is good for me.
The times I've teamed have been enjoyable too. I get a real feel of the old PnP AD&D I used to play back in the 80s.
It's a little dumbed down from actual D&D but that's ok it's still alot of fun.
Glad to see DDO get such a high rating!
Steefel did say that the amount of players actually using the service (the shop) was far more than they had anticipated and they consider the move a success.
Sub rate increases are based on paid subscribers. You are not a subscriber on an F2P account, you are an F2P player.
I'm a founder. other than the ddo points store, LFG interface and some more content, as well some broken stuff fixed, its still almost the exact same game... Running waterworks with a group (outside of how you get the quest) is _identical_ to what it was on launch day.
The f2p remake has changed nothing about the game other than the limits put on f2p players and ability to buy your way out of favor rewards. Solo options and enhancements were put in relatively soon after launch.
I'm not sure why people say it was disappointing at launch and it's not now. More bugs and less content at launch?
They've fixed a lot of stuff, added 2 classes, and drow but the gameplay experience inside the dungeons is identical sans bugs. A few of the quests have been modified, a bunch added, but really?
I've always loved the game... then again I'm a PnP fan so maybe I cut the game more slack than someone coming into DDO cold would. They've added a lot to the game, but at it's core, it's still identical to what it was at launch.
My only beef is players that talk about nothing but WoW when we are on a quest. >barf<
Running waterworks with a group (outside of how you get the quest) is _identical_ to what it was on launch day.
Actually, thiss isn't quite true.. they just changed how you Free Arlos. Now you have to shepherd him back to the entrance like Threnal West 2.
I would really hope that Europeans would get this F2P change, but then again... I have been playing the game on NA servers for few months now, and the latency is quite nice (about 100-120ms), so no lag for me.
And one of the best things I find about the NA servers... is that (almost) everybody speak English very well, that is a nice bonus in a game like this, where co-op is needed.
AND... if this would come to Europeans aswell, I would hope that I could transfer at least one of my characters to European servers.
It might just be me and my actual D&D 3.5 experience, but I believe this game has no right to be truly called Dungeons&Dragons Online. The reason I loved D&D is because I made the choices, and my neutral/chaotic could just take this cash and run. I got to call the shots- not a dev I've never met. Maybe suggestions could be available?
Don't get me wrong- this is a great f2p MMORPG. It just doesn't amount to the intense creativity of true Dungeons and Dragons. It's close , but the end- player crafted ideas and even quests- has yet to come.
If it ever comes, please PM me and tell me where. If you do, you have just found the game I'll always play, provided it has good scores in everything other than an "editor" system.
Nice review, by the way. Keep it up!
WiseGuy21,
Since you are obviously a fan/player of the original D&D P&P game, there is no way a production MMO based on that game is going to satisfy your more sophisticated appetite. I will make a suggestion though; the Never Winter Nights (NWN) series. Perhaps you've heard that already but it remains a viable MORPG (minus the first "M" for "massive").
I can say this, in both NWN 1 and NWN 2 there are active communities and the game allows players to be a DM, host a game, take over their own NPCs and even invent custom creatures (not to mention entire story lines) from scratch. If immersion is what you want (with more control), NWN is the way to go. It's not technically an MMO per-say, but it is an RPG based on D&D 3.0 (NWN 1) and 3.5 (NWN 2) rules.
As an MMORPG based largely on D&D rules, DDO gives the old P&P players something to tinker with while not being too difficult to attract your standard MMORPG player.
I've always wanted to play D&D in it's classic form, but I just can't resist 3D graphics . . . and I'm sure you can relate.
This is an excellent and fair review. For the first time I have little to say other than perhaps this post should be stickied somewhere on DDO's forums for new players, lol.
One things that was hinted on that does hinder my play-time is DDO's lack of open terrain. The game's environmental foundation is indeed much like Guild Wars in that everything is instanced except for the "main" communal areas of Stormreach. In fact, most dungeons in DDO are quite confining as well and really don't allow for the nonsense exploration that draw many MMOers "in". Couple that with the rush of veteran quest runs and you've got an MMO that's not only impossible to just explore in general but that also flies by before what little open area that DOES exist can be explored before your dungeon partners move on.
This isn't the case all of the time, as no one situation typically is, but it does occur. My suggestion is that players should keep in mind that D&D is a complex system and to implement its many varying facets it would be largely difficult to leave the world "open" and yet remain playable.
That's really my only complaint though and for the most part the game offers players options that no other MMORPG has truly implemented to DDO's extent, such as: trap detection/disabling, hidden passage detection, lock picking, sneaking through a dungeon instead of fighting through, objects that require strength or wisdom to open . . . it's all good stuff.
DDO is free, it IS fun, and although the restrictions can be a bit confusing at times (like having to get a "pass" to progress past certain levels), it's not too difficult to figure out and achieve and yet still offers Turbine a small hope of eventually getting paid for developing, maintaining and updating what is truly a premium game.
A very good review, both for its impartial comment on the pro's and cons of this game.
I have been playing the game since a month after initial release on the european servers and then on the US servers and the changes within the game have been quite vast.
I would encourage anyone to play, the game might suck you in like it has me and many others, but it also might not tick any of the boxes and push you away.
I cannot see myself ever leaving this game.. except for when they pull the plug on the servers.. hopefully many years away. I love the hectic combat, the team strategy, playing with friends..
My only concerns with the game at the moment is the impending arrival of guild sky ships (housing).. from what I have read, if you are in a newly formed guild with small numbers like myself you will be at a disadvantage from playing in an old elitist guild with large numbers.. This seems to remove another layer of individuality.. and so i expect to see a lot of the smaller guilds merge with the bigger guilds to get the benefit of enhanced spell dc's, etc..
My only other concern is with raid lag... caused by dps, not game breaking in any respects just frustrating
On the flip side you get to play inside a community that actually cares about other players, in the main always willing to help. You get to create a character with probably the most vast customisation / character building option then in any other game (just from my experience)
For those of us who love this game, creating a crazy new build or adapting a tried and tested forum build to suit ourselves is one of the highlights.
My main relief is that there is none of the lotro/wowisms in this game.. D&D is epic adventuring.. how epic would a merry band of adventurers feel if they had to run across a massive map to kill 6 spiders just to run back and be told that the next "epic adventure" is to go back to where you just were to kill 12 more spiders and take 12 fragments of web.. not very epic at all.
I will stick with having to enter another plane of existance and defeat a selection of bearded devils, orthons, horned devils and a pit fiend (Thats EPIC)
This game wont suit everyone.. but for me.. it rocks
[charsig=http://ddosigs.level3.turbine.com/062190000000ed88e/010010200003000/signature.png]Blackseed[/charsig]
Awesome comments. I am glad there are players out there that can actually give an opinion without turning it into some sort of rant. I have yet to try this game and really hadn't given it a great deal of thought till I was just messing around on MMORPG.com and came across this review. I am glad you actually have experience playing WoW and other titles without just making assumptions and dissing something because its a cool thing to do. I think I may go and download DDO so that I can experience what its like so I too can say hey I tried this and I really liked/didn't like this or that and actually have a valid opinion.