D&D Online stress test starting

JAttractive · December 2005

Haven't seen a post here about it yet so I thought I'd inform everyone that the stress test has begun. Unfortunately you have to join File Planet and that doesn't guarantee you a spot.... Still I just joined up minutes ago and got a key so if you act fast you can probably get one.

I'm not all that interested in D&D online because of the lack of PvP but I am starved for even a decent mmorpg so I will give it a whirl.

tu_uilwen · December 2005

How can we get a key?

JAttractive · December 2005

If you subscribe to File Planet and then click on the get key link (you have to go to the download D&D client page and find it). But like I said it's not a guarantee you will get one just because you subscribe so don't be upset at me if it's too late.

newbinator · December 2005

Actually nevermind, I'm a dumbass. I guess you don't need a premium account with fileplanet to download it, I'm DLing it now using my free account, rock on

I currently play WOW and enjoy the game alot but hey I won't turn a chance to try DnD online before it comes out. Highly doubt it will pull be away from WOW though

Size-Twelve · December 2005

I used to be pretty hard on this game as I'm just not a fan of the series, or the community that generally plays it. I have to admit though, the graphics are looking pretty good, and I've heard the combat is pretty interactive. I'd definitely have to play it first though, before I buy.

HighRanker · December 2005

thank you for the info

Herithius · December 2005

Just posting to say thanks as well. Would have definetly missed it otherwise.

Seems like an interesting mmorpg to try. Especially when its free

JAttractive · December 2005

It's true you can download the client without subscribing but you won't get a key and you need a key to play. At least that is my understanding... otherwise I wouldn't have signed up either.

Piers · December 2005

Thanks for the heads up, Jattractive. I just got my key with my regular (free) fileplanet account.

KaptainZerg · December 2005

I just got my "free" number, too.

But, try finding the link to a server where you can download the D&D client without first paying for a PREMIUM File Planet account. Ha! File Planet, the Microsoft of the gaming world.

---5 minutes later---

Ok, I found the queue. Maybe FP had the free servers offline when I first looked. Fuckers.

lsutig · December 2005

yup its free.

first saw this over at IGN.com and followed the link there but it wouldnt let me sign up on my free account. had given up until i read people here getting a key with a free account.

newbinator · December 2005

Well I downloaded the game and created my account only to find all three servers down

dshwrd · December 2005

Originally posted by newbinator
Well I downloaded the game and created my account only to find all three servers down

Did you even read the Sign Up page for the Stress Test?

I'll quote it for you:

"Tuesday at 9:00am PST game servers go live. If you received a key and created your stress test event account you can begin playing the game."

Have a nice day.

rasisan · December 2005

Dont waste your time........

noname12345 · December 2005

I will waste my time and ill ENJOY IT!

Elnator · December 2005

DDO = GuildWars with a Monthly fee.

Seriously.

OH! Almost forgot: And no PVP.

Ashkent · December 2005

I played DDO when they did the 1st stress test. i only got to play 1 out of the 3 days because the servers were always down or something was wrong with it. nothign spectacualr. graphics are nice. everything, and i mean everything is heavily instanced. inns are instanced, training areas are instanced, quest areas are instanced.

i started a thief character then and one thing is that the thief class seems more useful here than in other mmos.

voodookhan · December 2005

Played in the 1st stress test as well. The Rogue class is definitely worth playing for once, pretty useful. The fighter class was good too. Didn't get a chance to play anything else.

Never lost connection once during the stress test. I was expecting too, but it never happend. The graphics are very nice once you crank up the options. The default settings they have it on don't do the game justice at all.

Only place where the instancing was a bit annoying was in the Tavern. Seemed like the Tavern needed to be MUCH bigger in the n00b area, or that there needed to be more than one. Seeing people spawn in piles at the front door or entering one instance that was nearly empty only to enter another one that was full to the brim wasn't all that great for the "immersion". However, the quests really made up for all the instancing.

This is not, and in no way, shape or form, a Guild Wars clone. First, the quests are WAY better, you can't just "clear the room", rest, wash, rinse, repeat...you actually have to think. Second, there is no PvP (nor Raiding)...not saying that might not come later, but it's not the primary focus. The primary focus is teamwork really, if you like to solo a lot, than expect to die quite a bit. It's not "unplayable" as a solo character (I solo'ed all through the stress test), but it is a bit more challenging. The game is definitely geared more towards teaming than solo'ing, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The only other "negative" you can say is that there is no "crafting". I don't mind this so much since I really dislike player-based economies in most MMOs, but I do think this is an area that they should consider for later since crafting gives you something else to do besides questing all day. It's just another outlet to have "fun", and they are missing that right now.

Elnator · December 2005

Originally posted by voodookhan
Played in the 1st stress test as well. The Rogue class is definitely worth playing for once, pretty useful. The fighter class was good too. Didn't get a chance to play anything else.Never lost connection once during the stress test. I was expecting too, but it never happend. The graphics are very nice once you crank up the options. The default settings they have it on don't do the game justice at all.Only place where the instancing was a bit annoying was in the Tavern. Seemed like the Tavern needed to be MUCH bigger in the n00b area, or that there needed to be more than one. Seeing people spawn in piles at the front door or entering one instance that was nearly empty only to enter another one that was full to the brim wasn't all that great for the "immersion". However, the quests really made up for all the instancing.This is not, and in no way, shape or form, a Guild Wars clone. First, the quests are WAY better, you can't just "clear the room", rest, wash, rinse, repeat...you actually have to think. Second, there is no PvP (nor Raiding)...not saying that might not come later, but it's not the primary focus. The primary focus is teamwork really, if you like to solo a lot, than expect to die quite a bit. It's not "unplayable" as a solo character (I solo'ed all through the stress test), but it is a bit more challenging. The game is definitely geared more towards teaming than solo'ing, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.The only other "negative" you can say is that there is no "crafting". I don't mind this so much since I really dislike player-based economies in most MMOs, but I do think this is an area that they should consider for later since crafting gives you something else to do besides questing all day. It's just another outlet to have "fun", and they are missing that right now.

Foo
It's the exact same concept as GuildWars.

EVERYTHING... literally... is instanced. Inns... town.... store.... training areas.....etc. The entire game is a giant instance. Every single area. Furthermore every door you open in town is apparently to another 'zone'.

I swear I saw the loading screen in DDO more times in 3 days than I did the entire 7 years I played EQ1.

Graphics: Top notch
Sound: Great
Classes: Very good

Adherance to the AD&D ruleset: Fair

Fun: Low - Too instanced.... too many 'zones'.
Value: For a game this instanced I'm not willing to pay a monthly fee. TBH I'm looking forward to the Sequel to NWN more than this title at this point.

voodookhan · December 2005

Originally posted by Elnator
Foo
It's the exact same concept as GuildWars.EVERYTHING... literally... is instanced. Inns... town.... store.... training areas.....etc. The entire game is a giant instance. Every single area. Furthermore every door you open in town is apparently to another 'zone'.I swear I saw the loading screen in DDO more times in 3 days than I did the entire 7 years I played EQ1.Graphics: Top notch
Sound: Great
Classes: Very goodAdherance to the AD&D ruleset: FairFun: Low - Too instanced.... too many 'zones'.
Value: For a game this instanced I'm not willing to pay a monthly fee. TBH I'm looking forward to the Sequel to NWN more than this title at this point.

To each his own, I thought GW was/is a big ball of BORING. I don't care if it has no subscription price, to me it wasn't worth paying for anyway. I'm willing to pay the price for DDO because I feel that the quests were that good.

As far as the instancing, this is personal preference to me. If you really don't care about seeing loading screens then it won't bother you, they went by quick for me. If they really bother the hell out of you, you're going to be annoyed. Their rationale is that you aren't going to be running from your quest to the Tavern every 5 mins, you are going to spend most of your playtime in a quest instance. Therefore, you wouldn't be innundated with loading screens.

People are going to piss and moan about the adherence to the D&D ruleset for as long as the game is alive and kicking. To me, it's close enough. They picked "Eberron" for a reason, and those books do give them a little bit of "openended-ness" in the game world they are creating. I fully expect to see a lot of expansion packs for this game to add in areas that are missing, like Shifters, Changlings, Cleric Domains, Crafting, and so forth. With all MMORPGs if they don't come through with the content, then the game will start to go downhill and possibly die. It looks like they are starting small, and that's just fine to me. I'd rather have small and "fun", instead of large and "boring".

I'm looking forward to both NWN 2 and DDO. The game was fun when I played it, and that's all the reason I need to buy it.

XvKillJoyvX · December 2005

I used to like file planet a while back, now I have to wait 75 MINUTES just to start the 1.6gb download. I understand that their doing this to get people to subscribe but Jesus Christ. Curse any online game that gives them exclusive beta rights!

Nerf09 · December 2005

Is it any good, or is another copywrite being butchered?

KaptainZerg · December 2005

Originally posted by Nerf09
Is it any good, or is another copywrite being butchered?

So far, voodookhan's post is informative. A couple of mmorpg.com stalwarts weigh in with their opinions of DD. Read these posts.

I've been playing the DD Stress Test for a few hours today. So far all I can say is the game looks really good, visually; nice control panel with everything you'd want to adjust right there for you; char creation is strictly ok, nothing great, but the models look cool; music is ok and blends into the background well, sounds are alright, and I've only had one crash in about four hours.

Ashkent says he does not like all the instances. I don't, either. Gonna have to see how it goes before I decide whether so many is tolerable.

Final comment (for now) is: DD doesn't break any rules, isn't revolutionary in any way so far, but the fun factor is there. I'm just advocating in favor of the DD Stress Test, of course. It was free and didn't screw up my comp after installation, so it's hard to complain. In the n00bie area I heard a player comment that she might just quit WoW when DD goes retail. LOL. Except for it's lack of pvp DD might be 500% better than WoW---god, almost anything is.

You ask is it another copywrite (sic) butchered. That's a matter for the lawyers to deal with. Has DD copied sruff from other games? Sure. But, like automobiles, every model needs a motor, a steering wheel, brakes, etc., no matter who manufactures them.

My DD char

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