Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Great Reasons to Support Pantheon
Xeravik
Member CommonPosts: 7
I wont get too deep onto what Pantheon is, I'll leave some of that exploration up to you (dont worry I'll put in some great links toward the end of this post) but If you've found your way here inquiring whether or not you should invest your time and money into this game, then I've got some great reasons on why you should.
1) Visionary Realms, the company developing Pantheon, is a small start up company creating an traditional or 'Old School' MMORPG. This is something pretty uncommon now, with many companies developing MMOs with overhauled combat systems, crazy dynamic events, huge 100+ man pvp matches and etc....This is NOT Pantheon.
Pantheon will be much more like Everquest or Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, but with a more modern engine, focus on social interaction (grouping), and using quests/exploration/items to uniquely develop your class and character.
Pantheon is not looking to create some grand new gameplay style in MMOs, no, it's looking to use the foundation of some of the best traditional MMOs and improve upon it, and of course add their own lore and unique elements, but in a way that works well with the traditional foundation.
2) The development decisions really are guided by Pantheons supporters. The forums are very active and foster mature and productive discussions on various aspects of the game including payment model, class development, travel system, and crap that I've never even considered like attribute transparency. The devs are constantly scouring these forums giving praise, throwing in their 2 cents, and creating an positive environment for the community to grow and develop.
3) Going back to Visionary Realms. They really are a company with everything to lose. What? Now let me readdress that statement.....This company was created by Brad McQuaid and a hand picked group of experienced developers to develop Pantheon specifically. They are the new kids on the block looking to make waves. Entrepreneurship at its finest. They have spent a considerable amount of their time developing this game without a fully funded kickstarter and without an investor for quite some time. (though I feel this has changed with the recent expansion of their team) They WANT this game to succeed and they have set a deadline for a 2017 release. I've been following Pantheon for a few months now, and the progress I've seen in those few months is astounding, dont take my word for it? Check out some of their progress videos and podcasts, you'll see what I mean. Check out some of the talent they have on their team....these arent a bunch of MMO noobs https://www.pantheonrotf.com/wiki/view/pageId/216/slug/about-us
4) It is a game that forces social interaction upon you. I've played some of the more recent MMORPGs out there such as Guild Wars 2 and The Elder Scrolls Online and the gameplay experience is pretty awful and here's why. I never really had to group, and when I did group, the content was so easy it was pretty much steamrolled. There are a minimal amount of dungeons in the game, and the content feels so linear. This isnt what Pantheon is going to be. The content will be difficult and there will be a wide array of dungeon areas for different level ranges. From the sounds of it, You'll need a small group if you want to effectively explore the world of Pantheon. There will be content you can solo, as they've stated they dont want to tie your hands behind your back when you cant find a group, but some of it will be difficult and many of the encounters you face may heavily rely on your skills and items, which are obtained by more difficult means. Honestly, why would I play an MMO where I can solo most of the quests and content, I play to interact and PLAY with other people.
I really encourage anyone reading this to explore Pantheons website, here are some great links to check out to get more info on the game. If you have a chance, make a pledge to their site and donate a few dollars, this will give you forum access as well. Feel free to add me too once you've registered to the website!!
Tenants and Game Info: https://www.pantheonrotf.com/wiki/view/pageId/217/slug/game-summary
Podcasts: https://www.pantheonrotf.com/wiki/view/pageId/297/slug/pantheon-s-soundcloud-page
Make a Pledge! https://www.pantheonrotf.com/signup
Lore/Races/Classes http://www.thekeepersvault.com/
Comments
I'm sure they will appreciate that, and I hope to see you there!
Great reasons to not support Pantheon:
1. Their Kickstarter failed
2. Afterwards they tried getting Crowdfunding money through their own website
3. Afterwards whole dev team was fired because they ran out of money
4. Afterwards there were charges that Brad McQuaid embezzled the crowdfunding money. They were never really proven nor disproven
5. Afterward Brad McQuaid announced that they'll be developing the game using volunteer devs.
6. Currently you can't give them crowfunding through the Subcribe -button on their website, it leads to error message, and for some reason their news have moved from website to forums too. It looks like they lost all the devs capable of updating the website.
7. They are now accepting donations through Patreon. It looks like the game has total of 3 paying supporters.
Yes, they're clearly doing some work with the game and releasing some videos. However with Brad McQuaids previous project Vanguard: Saga of Heroes there were later claims that when the project was with Microsoft they created things just for demoes to show Microsoft that they've been progressing.
As long as they don't release anything playable by us, there's high probability that they're just making demos and showing us pretty much everything they've created. Aka no game, not for a decade on their current development speed.
Yet another brand new account advertising Pantheon without mentioning Brad's shady past.
Before people jump in again saying Brad never took a third of the donated money for himself - he even admitted doing it.
If you support to Pantheon, here's what you agree when you pledge them:
Items included in Pledge Packages may be substituted, changed or eliminated at any time for any reason or no reason at the sole discretion of VR.
Terms are subject to change at any time without notice.
https://www.pantheonrotf.com/help/terms
You'll also agree to not sue any of their staff, and you agree to the terms by using their website. No requirements about registration or pledging, apparently anyone who's every surfed to their website is bound by their terms of use.
A great reason to 'support' Pantheon? There isn't one, sorry.
It's not an investment. I get no return on my investment, no stock, no ownership, nothing. If I want to invest in technology, I'll buy stock in the technology sector. I'll have some historical data to assess my risks.
It's not a charity. They don't have the 501(c)(3) status of a Red Cross, Wounded Warrior Project, or other worthy charities. I would receive no monetary benefit by reducing my taxable income.
At this point, I won't receive merchandise in return for my money. There isn't a product, yet. So this isn't a retail/wholesale transaction. Maybe when there is an actual deliverable product, I will consider making a purchase.
Right now, they simply want my money, much like a panhandler at the interstate exit ramp, with similar promises not to spend the money on booze. I'm not in a financial position where I can act altruistically, supporting something without some kind of clearly defined return.
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
Someones living with their head in the sand. Thats the way things are today, and the way they will be for a while until games start making money again and showing better long-term profitability. Investors are no longer interested in this genre because they payed for too many failed clones.
Pantheon has a chance to break this trend because they are taking the classic approach to making an MMORPG (depth) instead of emulating another shallow game.
to not offtopic - I totally agree with Xeravik, nice to meet you too on this forum
These 2 parts crack me up so much.
You even point out that Brad has a history of making big financial losses so companies no longer even consider to put money into his ideas.
At the same time you say that Mendel who says nothing but "I only pay for a well working finished product" is "living with his head in the sand"
Maybe you should ask yourself "But, what if?" and give Brad a second chance. I believe he learned his lesson the hard way.
There are more than one reason why Investors are no longer interested in this genre. Paying for too many failed clones is obviously one of them, another is simply that they have been burnt too many times like so many of the player base for a myriad of reasons. When developers start producing quality games I guarantee you that the investors and players will come back in droves. Trust should be earned. The manner of doing business in the MMO video game industry needs to change. They can begin by producing and releasing a quality product as is the expectation with the rest of the retail industries and we will throw money at them in droves. Until then its going to be rough going, as it should be. We are all tired of being ripped off by this industry. Most of us don't stay stupid forever.
I'm curious to hear what makes you say that.
What did he do to signal he learned his lesson?
Was it the part where he took a third of the donated money for his own expenses as "payment in advance"?
This ^^.
And just a bit on point #4, at one point McQuaid came out and apologized for pocketing $45k for medical expenses, before some other supposed investor money came it. So yeah, he took $45k from previously donated funds for personal use.
Yeah no.
McQuaid is on about his 5th or 6th chance by now.
He wants to make a game and listen to his "visions"?
Let him do it with his own damn money.
I definitely will, but I don't think I'll back it. You do understand that giving him another chance would not be his "second" right? Luckily he's given up some of the control over the project because I think he's horrible at management, but creatively I do hope it gets made.
Crazkanuk
----------------
Azarelos - 90 Hunter - Emerald
Durnzig - 90 Paladin - Emerald
Demonicron - 90 Death Knight - Emerald Dream - US
Tankinpain - 90 Monk - Azjol-Nerub - US
Brindell - 90 Warrior - Emerald Dream - US
----------------
Congratulations! Your life may be going better than mine. I do not have finances to throw around frivolously. You obviously seem to think that's the norm. My restricted financial situation forces me to look at every single expenditure with an ultra-conservative hand on my wallet. If you consider that living with my head in the sand, then I'm guilty. It's the reality of my life at the moment and for the foreseeable future. But, let's see how well you do after three congestive heart failures and an ascending aortic aneurysm. I'm happy just to be around.
Logic, my dear, merely enables one to be wrong with great authority.
It is sad how Brad McQuaid jumps on forums posing as a fan with these obviously scripted posts.
Sorry to hear about your problems, but I never suggested you or anyone else personally has to fund an indie game. I'm only saying its the way it is with this genre today. From one guy on a tight budget to another, sit back and let the wealthy folks fund them if need be, but you can at least show support of the idea. The most well known developers in the history of MMORPGs are all working on crowdfunded games, so criticizing Pantheon for doing so is a little silly. They are doing what it takes to make a game they love and that people are asking for and when people go out of their way to criticize the process it just makes you look rude without cause.
so, as you asked i will give everyone else 1 xD
POSTING HARD TO VOTE ASAP
I will also do that. The game has done huge progress, especially with the latest update (2 monthes ago). Within a few days comes another update.
Anyone know by the way if you pledge for example $100... will you get 2 alpha and 2 beta slots as you get 2 copies of the game (as I would like to play the alpha together with my daughter). Right now it just says alpha and beta access but not how many of each you get. I hope it's 2 alpha and 2 beta access.
Nothing like socially engineering second-party websites to inspire product confidence.
/s
"The simple is the seal of the true and beauty is the splendor of truth" -Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar
Authored 139 missions in Vendetta Online and 6 tracks in Distance
I loved Vanguard! If this game is anything like Vanguard, I'll be happy to buy it and play it.
After it releases.
------------
2024: 47 years on the Net.
From what I have read on the web, we are well far past second chances.