› ›

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register

Quick Links

Star Wars: The Old Republic Preview

MagiknightMagiknight Member CommonPosts: 782
in Star Wars: The Old Republic

Dana Massey writes "The inclusion of single-player RPG style companions though is sure to worry some fans who are worried about the MMO part of this game. Not only is your character off on his own story arc, but now he has NPCs to fill the role of group members? So we asked." 

Is she trying to say that SWTOR is going to be designed like a single player game except with lots of people all doing their own thing?  Where has she been?  Every US MMO since WOW has been designed as a single player game.  You do not have to group at all in WOW, LOTRO, etc.  Sure you can do things with groups, but it is totally optional.  Having a storyline for individual players to witness together brings the possibility of more grouping. 

The idea of having individual story lines for a character is not new.  The MMO I am thinking of had individual story lines and was heavily group oriented, far more than WOW or LOTRO.  People worked together to proceed with the story line.  The factor determining whether people will group or not is the difficulty of proceeding along your story arc.  The harder it is, the more people will group, the easier it is, the less people will group.

This should have been said a long time ago.  US MMOs have been turning into single player games with MMO size economies for some time.  The only thing massive are the economies, ie the auction houses, shops, who has what items, etc.  Take away the economies and you are left with small groups doing instances, brain dead quests with a couple people at most, and PVP which is far from massive (not including end game). 

When MMOs can start to incorporate elements of grouping and massiveness again I will play again.  When I say grouping I mean everyone has a unique role that contributes something that no one else can contribute to a group so you have to have them.  When I say massive I mean no more instancing so that people have to work in the one world they have together.  I am hoping SWTOR can offer something along these lines. 

Comments

  • hayes303hayes303 Member UncommonPosts: 434

    This morning I woke up and brushed my teeth, I debated if I should make some breakfast or hit some place on the way to work. I decided a bagel and a coffee, with some soft rock in the background would be a nice start to the work day.

     

    The above is a example of how exciting and new this thread is. It all the classic parts of a dramatic I quit post, with all the pudding hard foundation that a overreaction based on a comment that a staff writer for this site made about a game that hasn't started beta yet. Notice how the OP delves into the "back in my day" demands for forced gping and games the way mom used to make them. MMMMMM, thats some good overreacting. These posts are so prevalent, I'm even getting tired of me responding to them with some variant of "in the name of all thats holy, we know almost nothing about the end state of this game. Stop harshing my buzz and shut up".

  • Xondar123Xondar123 Member CommonPosts: 2,543
    Originally posted by hayes303


    This morning I woke up and brushed my teeth, I debated if I should make some breakfast or hit some place on the way to work. I decided a bagel and a coffee, with some soft rock in the background would be a nice start to the work day.
     
    The above is a example of how exciting and new this thread is. It all the classic parts of a dramatic I quit post, with all the pudding hard foundation that a overreaction based on a comment that a staff writer for this site made about a game that hasn't started beta yet. Notice how the OP delves into the "back in my day" demands for forced gping and games the way mom used to make them. MMMMMM, thats some good overreacting. These posts are so prevalent, I'm even getting tired of me responding to them with some variant of "in the name of all thats holy, we know almost nothing about the end state of this game. Stop harshing my buzz and shut up".

     

    Come on, don't leave us hanging. Describe, in detail, what you did after you ate the bagel and coffee.

  • MMO_DoubterMMO_Doubter Member Posts: 5,056
    Originally posted by Magiknight



    When MMOs can start to incorporate elements of grouping and massiveness again I will play again.  When I say grouping I mean everyone has a unique role that contributes something that no one else can contribute to a group so you have to have them.  When I say massive I mean no more instancing so that people have to work in the one world they have together.  I am hoping SWTOR can offer something along these lines. 

    Why? Has anything been announced that could pass for 'massive' content?

    "" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2

  • vsalcedo27vsalcedo27 Member Posts: 23
    Originally posted by MMO_Doubter

    Originally posted by Magiknight



    When MMOs can start to incorporate elements of grouping and massiveness again I will play again.  When I say grouping I mean everyone has a unique role that contributes something that no one else can contribute to a group so you have to have them.  When I say massive I mean no more instancing so that people have to work in the one world they have together.  I am hoping SWTOR can offer something along these lines. 

    Why? Has anything been announced that could pass for 'massive' content?



     

    Instances are great though, beats having 8 groups in one large area trying to kill a mob for quest.

  • AnubisanAnubisan Member UncommonPosts: 1,798

    I believe Dana is a dude btw...

  • MMO_DoubterMMO_Doubter Member Posts: 5,056
    Originally posted by Anubisan


    I believe Dana is a dude btw...

     

    I believe you are correct.

    "" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2

  • vmopedvmoped Member Posts: 1,708
    Originally posted by Magiknight


    Dana Massey writes "The inclusion of single-player RPG style companions though is sure to worry some fans who are worried about the MMO part of this game. Not only is your character off on his own story arc, but now he has NPCs to fill the role of group members? So we asked." 
    Is she trying to say that SWTOR is going to be designed like a single player game except with lots of people all doing their own thing?  Where has she been?  Every US MMO since WOW has been designed as a single player game.  You do not have to group at all in WOW, LOTRO, etc.  Sure you can do things with groups, but it is totally optional.  Having a storyline for individual players to witness together brings the possibility of more grouping. 
    The idea of having individual story lines for a character is not new.  The MMO I am thinking of had individual story lines and was heavily group oriented, far more than WOW or LOTRO.  People worked together to proceed with the story line.  The factor determining whether people will group or not is the difficulty of proceeding along your story arc.  The harder it is, the more people will group, the easier it is, the less people will group.
    This should have been said a long time ago.  US MMOs have been turning into single player games with MMO size economies for some time.  The only thing massive are the economies, ie the auction houses, shops, who has what items, etc.  Take away the economies and you are left with small groups doing instances, brain dead quests with a couple people at most, and PVP which is far from massive (not including end game). 
    When MMOs can start to incorporate elements of grouping and massiveness again I will play again.  When I say grouping I mean everyone has a unique role that contributes something that no one else can contribute to a group so you have to have them.  When I say massive I mean no more instancing so that people have to work in the one world they have together.  I am hoping SWTOR can offer something along these lines. 



     

    All western MMOs have the option to group, alot of them also have the option not to group. What is the problem here? You want us to be forced to group? I would think more options are better, apparently, you do not agree. I can play WoW grouped the entire time, or solo, its my choice, and the choice of others. I would rather group with people who want to group, and not with people who were forced to group. Just my two cents mate.

    Cheers!

    MMO Vet since AOL Neverwinter Nights circa 1992. My MMO beat up your MMO. =S

  • NebirothNebiroth Member UncommonPosts: 21

    Cant wait :)

  • altairzqaltairzq Member Posts: 3,811

    The MMO part of the game? So it's not even an MMO? lol

  • MagiknightMagiknight Member CommonPosts: 782
    Originally posted by vmoped

    Originally posted by Magiknight


    Dana Massey writes "The inclusion of single-player RPG style companions though is sure to worry some fans who are worried about the MMO part of this game. Not only is your character off on his own story arc, but now he has NPCs to fill the role of group members? So we asked." 
    Is she trying to say that SWTOR is going to be designed like a single player game except with lots of people all doing their own thing?  Where has she been?  Every US MMO since WOW has been designed as a single player game.  You do not have to group at all in WOW, LOTRO, etc.  Sure you can do things with groups, but it is totally optional.  Having a storyline for individual players to witness together brings the possibility of more grouping. 
    The idea of having individual story lines for a character is not new.  The MMO I am thinking of had individual story lines and was heavily group oriented, far more than WOW or LOTRO.  People worked together to proceed with the story line.  The factor determining whether people will group or not is the difficulty of proceeding along your story arc.  The harder it is, the more people will group, the easier it is, the less people will group.
    This should have been said a long time ago.  US MMOs have been turning into single player games with MMO size economies for some time.  The only thing massive are the economies, ie the auction houses, shops, who has what items, etc.  Take away the economies and you are left with small groups doing instances, brain dead quests with a couple people at most, and PVP which is far from massive (not including end game). 
    When MMOs can start to incorporate elements of grouping and massiveness again I will play again.  When I say grouping I mean everyone has a unique role that contributes something that no one else can contribute to a group so you have to have them.  When I say massive I mean no more instancing so that people have to work in the one world they have together.  I am hoping SWTOR can offer something along these lines. 



     

    All western MMOs have the option to group, alot of them also have the option not to group. What is the problem here? You want us to be forced to group? I would think more options are better, apparently, you do not agree. I can play WoW grouped the entire time, or solo, its my choice, and the choice of others. I would rather group with people who want to group, and not with people who were forced to group. Just my two cents mate.

    Cheers!

     

    I like the option of grouping and not grouping, at least in some games.  I would like more options to choose from than "group if you want."  It reflects a broader trend in the market for easier games, more pvp, instances, soloing, races mean nothing for the class you pick, and only end game as being for the "hardcore."  It's probably because people just don't have the time for anything more complicated.  I would be one of those people too.  I don't consider it being forced to group if I like party the party dynamics.  Most parties I have experienced have been button mashing, using tons of skills, tons of class ovrelap, and little coordination (I know end games a little different).  I think it would be interesting if your choices actually made a difference.  For example, races that greatly affect the ability of what class you are, a limited number of skills to use so that you have to be careful what to use when, and lots of differentiation between classes so you have to have another class with you.  1v1 PVP would not work in a game like this since someone with high damage would probably crush a healer.  So lots of people wouldn't play this game so this game wont get made.  :)

  • MMO_DoubterMMO_Doubter Member Posts: 5,056
    Originally posted by vmoped 
     
    All western MMOs have the option to group, alot of them also have the option not to group. What is the problem here? You want us to be forced to group? I would think more options are better, apparently, you do not agree. I can play WoW grouped the entire time, or solo, its my choice, and the choice of others. I would rather group with people who want to group, and not with people who were forced to group. Just my two cents mate.
    Cheers!

    Define "forced to group". Giving groups better returns for their time is not forcing anyone to group.

    Whether soloers want to admit it or not - grouping is more inconvenient and time-consuming than soloing. Given that - grouping should be more rewarding.

    Now, I do think that soloers should have end game content as well. Just as groupers should have leveling content.

    "" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2

  • ktanner3ktanner3 Member UncommonPosts: 4,063
    Originally posted by Magiknight


    Dana Massey writes "The inclusion of single-player RPG style companions though is sure to worry some fans who are worried about the MMO part of this game. Not only is your character off on his own story arc, but now he has NPCs to fill the role of group members? So we asked." 
    Is she trying to say that SWTOR is going to be designed like a single player game except with lots of people all doing their own thing?  Where has she been?  Every US MMO since WOW has been designed as a single player game.  You do not have to group at all in WOW, LOTRO, etc.  Sure you can do things with groups, but it is totally optional.  Having a storyline for individual players to witness together brings the possibility of more grouping. 
    The idea of having individual story lines for a character is not new.  The MMO I am thinking of had individual story lines and was heavily group oriented, far more than WOW or LOTRO.  People worked together to proceed with the story line.  The factor determining whether people will group or not is the difficulty of proceeding along your story arc.  The harder it is, the more people will group, the easier it is, the less people will group.
    This should have been said a long time ago.  US MMOs have been turning into single player games with MMO size economies for some time.  The only thing massive are the economies, ie the auction houses, shops, who has what items, etc.  Take away the economies and you are left with small groups doing instances, brain dead quests with a couple people at most, and PVP which is far from massive (not including end game). 
    When MMOs can start to incorporate elements of grouping and massiveness again I will play again.  When I say grouping I mean everyone has a unique role that contributes something that no one else can contribute to a group so you have to have them.  When I say massive I mean no more instancing so that people have to work in the one world they have together.  I am hoping SWTOR can offer something along these lines. 



     

    As someone mentioned in another thread: Make the mechanics for grouping less tedious and inconvenient and more people will group. Not everyone enoys guilds or standing around a port spamming "LFG." And not everybody has time to wait for the right group of people to get together to run the same mission. That's why I say this game could use a public quest option similiar to warhammer. It's completely optional, it takes away a lot of the time required to form groups and you meet new players. And of course those should be REAL challenging.

     

    Currently Playing: World of Warcraft

  • MMO_DoubterMMO_Doubter Member Posts: 5,056
    Originally posted by ktanner3


     
    As someone mentioned in another thread: Make the mechanics for grouping less tedious and inconvenient and more people will group. Not everyone enoys guilds or standing around a port spamming "LFG." And not everybody has time to wait for the right group of people to get together to run the same mission. That's why I say this game could use a public quest option similiar to warhammer. It's completely optional, it takes away a lot of the time required to form groups and you meet new players. And of course those should be REAL challenging.
     

    Indeed. PQs should be added to any MMO.

    There is the issue of balance, though. Too few players, and they can't be completed. Too many, and they present no challenge.

    I'd like to see them in instances, myself.

    "" Voice acting isn't an RPG element....it's just a production value." - grumpymel2

  • GameloadingGameloading Member UncommonPosts: 14,182

    In my opinion, the public quests in Warhammer online were a failed experiment.

    They worked for the first wave of players, because everybody started at the same time, but they were near useless for people who joined after that.

  • nariusseldonnariusseldon Member EpicPosts: 27,775
    Originally posted by ktanner3




     
    As someone mentioned in another thread: Make the mechanics for grouping less tedious and inconvenient and more people will group. Not everyone enoys guilds or standing around a port spamming "LFG." And not everybody has time to wait for the right group of people to get together to run the same mission. That's why I say this game could use a public quest option similiar to warhammer. It's completely optional, it takes away a lot of the time required to form groups and you meet new players. And of course those should be REAL challenging.
     

     

    Just implement something like the new WOW 3.3 cross-realm dungeon tool. It is a breeze to use and you are in a dungeon grp in no time.

Sign In or Register to comment.