Well, I got to see a new area today ...

Sovrath · April 2018

Went to their PAX booth and met some of the developers.

Brad was nice enough to spend quite a lot of time talking with me. Everyone was very nice and generous with their time.

They had a new dungeon up and were making their way through it. More "castle like". Lighting looked amazing.

We talked a bit about getting people, especially younger players interested.

Since they only had a few slots open to play on Sunday I decided to forgo trying it (Two days at PAX is more than enough for me).

And they are going to be at the Asgard Irish Pub in Central Square if anyone is in the area.

There were some really nice details on some of the armor as well a really nice shield spell effect for one of the characters. Was really beautiful.

They were also having a drawing to give away some alpha slots.

Amathe · April 2018

Nice scouting report!

Sovrath · April 2018

Xodic said:

Sovrath said:

We talked a bit about getting people, especially younger players interested.

How did that conversation go?
I hope it didn't involve the introduction of Tide pods and condom snorting.

Someone was listening from the shadows!!!!

Image: http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/t1000_wag.jpg

It was interesting because they are very cognizant of how younger players approach these games and what types of games they tend to gravitate to. They fully know that there are a lot of players out there who are looking for sizzle and pop and omfgcombatissoepicpickmyjawupoffthefloor!

And they know there game is more about strategy and positioning and socializing.

This is not to say there aren't younger players out there who couldn't be enticed but they somehow need to have the "idea" of a game like this imparted to them in a way that inspires the imagination.

I suggested something that inspired the imagination as far as the "journey" a player took to get together with friends, travel/fight to their goal and then what they had to do to achieve that goal.

Seems a bit lighter on paper than in my mind but I don't think showing a group of avatars slowly beating down a mob or boss is going to capture what this type of game is about.

The new area/dungeon really looked nice, the colors were deep and the lighting was warm. It was nice to see a group "acting like a group" and having the off tank take an add while the tank pulled a mob away from the group, especially when they didn't see the attack coming.

I also suspect that the "shirtless" mob we saw in the last stream was more about "the artwork not done" than an actual shirtless character.

There was a little of that here but there were quite a few of these warrior/guard npc's wearing armor.

Also, we spoke a about animations and they aren't too worried about negative comments as they know where their animations are going.

In any case Brad was a very nice guy and was very open to questions.

Thupli · April 2018

Really good to hear! Thanks for your second post, lots of good info I have been waiting to hear more about.

Kumapon · April 2018

Thanks for the update @Sovarth. Good to hear other people's opinion on Pantheon.

TheScavenger · April 2018

Coming as a solo player (not a fan of forced grouping, but do indeed socialize heavily, roleplay and do generally interact with the community)...its nice to see an MMO with a far more heavily socialize aspect.

Looking at modern MMOs. People run around, and the only time they group with you (hence why I mostly solo) is if they get something out of it. As soon as they don't need you anymore, they'll drop you like a rock. No friendships, no relations (like how MMOs used to be)...all about "me" "myself" and "I"...I would never group with someone like that even if the game was forced grouping.

Now I'm trying out Tibia. The game allows soloing pretty easily, however the game is very social and people will randomly come up to you just to talk. Sure get rewarded for grouping, but everyone who groups wants to (for most part) make friends and socialize. Not because they get something out of it. Its the first MMO in a long time I've personally played, despite soloing being really easy...that I'm actually proper socializing and grouping with people. Its been an awesome experience.

In Tibia I've RPed with random people out of nowhere, made friends and its great and none of it is forced on you. People just are friendly (mostly) and want to make friends.

It sounds like Pantheon is going to be along the same line of design from my understanding. A much more social and friendly atmosphere, than one where the only reason some groups is because they get a "personal" reward out of it and get a +1 better stat. Those MMOs cause so much drama, negativity and as bad communities as deathmatch PvP games, just in a different way.

But it sounds like Pantheon is designed for the social aspect and far more friendly atmosphere. But of course that depends on the community that joins, but its nice to see a modern MMO at least attempt to go from "me myself and I" to about the community.

goboygo · April 2018

Sovrath said:

Xodic said:

Sovrath said:

We talked a bit about getting people, especially younger players interested.

How did that conversation go?
I hope it didn't involve the introduction of Tide pods and condom snorting.

Someone was listening from the shadows!!!!

It was interesting because they are very cognizant of how younger players approach these games and what types of games they tend to gravitate to. They fully know that there are a lot of players out there who are looking for sizzle and pop and omfgcombatissoepicpickmyjawupoffthefloor!

And they know there game is more about strategy and positioning and socializing.

This is not to say there aren't younger players out there who couldn't be enticed but they somehow need to have the "idea" of a game like this imparted to them in a way that inspires the imagination.

I suggested something that inspired the imagination as far as the "journey" a player took to get together with friends, travel/fight to their goal and then what they had to do to achieve that goal.

Seems a bit lighter on paper than in my mind but I don't think showing a group of avatars slowly beating down a mob or boss is going to capture what this type of game is about.

The new area/dungeon really looked nice, the colors were deep and the lighting was warm. It was nice to see a group "acting like a group" and having the off tank take an add while the tank pulled a mob away from the group, especially when they didn't see the attack coming.

I also suspect that the "shirtless" mob we saw in the last stream was more about "the artwork not done" than an actual shirtless character.

There was a little of that here but there were quite a few of these warrior/guard npc's wearing armor.

Also, we spoke a about animations and they aren't too worried about negative comments as they know where their animations are going.

In any case Brad was a very nice guy and was very open to questions.

Its great to think about group play, and strategy and position, hearing about off tanking, as opposed to spastic mob combat where everyone does what they want until the boss dies. The first time I really experience the later was in Guild Wars 2, and I said ugh, this isnt group play this is just a bunch of solo players standing next to each other killing the same boss. I didnt like it, at all.

Mendel · April 2018

Were they asking people who had hands-on at PAX to sign an NDA?

Otherwise, good info, @Sovrath. I wish you had had some hands-on experience to share.

delete5230 · April 2018

@Sovrath

Have you seen any cities towns or outpost to interact and find player content ?

Sovrath · April 2018

delete5230 said:

@Sovrath

Have you seen any cities towns or outpost to interact and find player content ?

Well "no".

I didn't get to have the hands on as I wasn't about to buy another pass for Sunday. Sunday at PAX never feels good. Everyone is tired, the crowd is less, I prefer more energy.

Having said that, and this is "just a guess" don't think there are a lot of "finished" cities or towns. Just that they were in various states. For example:

I asked about the starter areas for each race which they said they had but I seem to remember, when talking about the Elf Starter area the guy saying it's there but still being worked on.

At one point we were talking about the first area they showed players (in their stream) which they worked on several times. One of the guys said that they "might" give it another pass at which point Brad said "no, it's fine the way it is".

I think they don't want to get into the "let's make it perfect, now again ... now again... let's try again" as that can suck up time and money.

At some point it has to be finished.

@Mendel: yeah I wish I had the hands on experience as it seemed that they were giving players 30 minute slots. Having said that, I think they were putting people in groups (I think?) so not knowing the classes I question how well I would have done.

MrMelGibson · April 2018

Good info to know my friend. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us.

Talemire · April 2018

Very solid report. Wish I could have been there this year.

kitarad · April 2018

Sovrath said:

delete5230 said:

@Sovrath

Have you seen any cities towns or outpost to interact and find player content ?

Well "no".

I didn't get to have the hands on as I wasn't about to buy another pass for Sunday. Sunday at PAX never feels good. Everyone is tired, the crowd is less, I prefer more energy.

Having said that, and this is "just a guess" don't think there are a lot of "finished" cities or towns. Just that they were in various states. For example:

I asked about the starter areas for each race which they said they had but I seem to remember, when talking about the Elf Starter area the guy saying it's there but still being worked on.

At one point we were talking about the first area they showed players (in their stream) which they worked on several times. One of the guys said that they "might" give it another pass at which point Brad said "no, it's fine the way it is".

I think they don't want to get into the "let's make it perfect, now again ... now again... let's try again" as that can suck up time and money.

At some point it has to be finished.

@Mendel: yeah I wish I had the hands on experience as it seemed that they were giving players 30 minute slots. Having said that, I think they were putting people in groups (I think?) so not knowing the classes I question how well I would have done.

Looks like a lot of work to do still in the game. Definitely not this year for release then may be end of next year if we're lucky.

Sovrath · April 2018

kitarad said:

Sovrath said:

delete5230 said:

@Sovrath

Have you seen any cities towns or outpost to interact and find player content ?

Well "no".

I didn't get to have the hands on as I wasn't about to buy another pass for Sunday. Sunday at PAX never feels good. Everyone is tired, the crowd is less, I prefer more energy.

Having said that, and this is "just a guess" don't think there are a lot of "finished" cities or towns. Just that they were in various states. For example:

I asked about the starter areas for each race which they said they had but I seem to remember, when talking about the Elf Starter area the guy saying it's there but still being worked on.

At one point we were talking about the first area they showed players (in their stream) which they worked on several times. One of the guys said that they "might" give it another pass at which point Brad said "no, it's fine the way it is".

I think they don't want to get into the "let's make it perfect, now again ... now again... let's try again" as that can suck up time and money.

At some point it has to be finished.

@Mendel: yeah I wish I had the hands on experience as it seemed that they were giving players 30 minute slots. Having said that, I think they were putting people in groups (I think?) so not knowing the classes I question how well I would have done.

Looks like a lot of work to do still in the game. Definitely not this year for release then may be end of next year if we're lucky.

Oh, DEFINITELY not this year.

I should mention that the area I saw is the one that Bill mentions in his PAX write up "Black Rose Keep".

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