Noob Critique

[Rhiannon]

Being an extreme gamer for about 9 years now (Internet wise begininning with RO) I thought I'd give my first impressions. I found this game when it was mentioned in a thread on mmorpg.com. I must say It has taken me from my other games and verything else now for 2 days, it's quite an awesome idea. I realize it is very beta and I'm surprised I've not found more wrong with it. I find it extremely satisfying and have only a few critiques.

1) without a world chat and mail system for veterans to help out noobs, no real detailed guide for the finer things, the game is pretty difficult to "get going" for new people. The beginner area is ahorrible maze of the unknown and no resources and the long trek to the outer areeas to then be left with the basic resources can be pretty frustrating. I managed to get some starter seeds from the ring in town and went far out. There I began and though it took two days have an alright start.

2) the lack of many resources can be pretty frustrating, i've yet to see a cow, and only one flock of sheep inside a claimed area. Many players would balk at the long journey as a "beginning" and I feel many would not have the patience.

3)This idea of perma death is ok on one hand (PVE), but a VERY game killing idea on the PVP side. To make mistakes or take on too harsh of prey and get yourself killed is one thing, to work for weeks or even months on your character or settlement only to have some sicko come by an perma kill you for nothing, well, I've never seen that in a game and after playing 100 mmos can assure you that it would limit player activity by a good 99%. There's some pretty sick people in the world, and such a thing would attract them, I know as hard as I have worked on just getting started (way too much walking, trial and error, and a bit too much clicking), the thought of it being taken by another player and me having to begin again from scratch and a few reincarnation points would make me NOT start all over again...nor would most..lol

overall I think it's quite the awesome and unique game and would be a big hit . I hope to be here along time and have quite enjoyed it. I'm hoping as I get a bit farther in, much of the frustration will subside as I will be able to do more with less clicking (eating mulberry every 15 minutes for example) by being able to craft more nutritious foods for example.

So my 2 cents would be. Get a better faqs, that details more than just (build fires, get pottery, craft treejars, and get as far from town as you can...good luck). As it's quite a difficult time for noobs to the game figuring out what to do in such a rich content atmosphere. Rethink the travel weariness, as getting one trip to town and back to your hearth can often leave one stranded. Even the simple carpet is beyond me yet (as I wait for my couple of flax seeds to grow for fibers) A trip back into town to maybe get help or another visit to the noob garden would be a big help. More resources spread around as not many gamers join a game to walk for hours. And finally, that Permadeath NON-consensual pvp is a real killer (no pun intended). I would suggest restricting pvp to consensual OR make to where only consensuals can cause perma death. NO matter how good a game is, no ones gonna play ( i mean a signifigant mmo crowd, especially if and when the Devs want donations or micro payments) if someone can take down months fo work for nothing but their own thrill. That's just scary and way too harsh.

Aside from those small few things, I do think the game is pretty awesome. To keep me from all other activites for 2 days means it's pretty enticing, to me anyway...lol

[Potjeh]

Permadeath is the only thing that's keeping people from taking everything you own as soon as you log out. It also does a fairly good job at keeping you safe from random murder. A murderer needs to be stronger than you to kill you, and once he does it's very likely he will be killed himself for his act while he's offline. So in the end, he loses more than you do, which tends to keep the griefers away.

[sabinati]

be sure you check the things in the public resources thread, especially the part about IRC. that is basically the global chat system now.

as far as guides, there is a wiki in the thread i linked, and an excellent guide here

as far as the long journey, in the city of brogdar, just north of where you spawned, there is a signpost that will teleport you to other villages. as far as the ring of brogard goes, it was recently claimed by the city of brogdar, the leadership of the city has mentioned that they want to make the area a bit "friendlier" to new players, by placing crops, helpful starter items, informative runestones, maybe even a tree (lmao), etc. the city of brogdar is basically noobville, it's run by experienced players who are dedicated to helping people who are just starting out. that's why it was built at and named after the ring of brogdar. also there is a new feature called charter stones, that any village can build, and if they build it, it allows new players to spawn there, so there will be other starting points someday.

and what potjeh said regarding permadeath is mostly true, people don't just run around killing random dudes for the lulz or whatever.

[Onionfighter]

. . .and what potjeh said regarding permadeath is mostly true, people don't just run around killing random dudes for the lulz or whatever.

Usually they don't. I can think of three cases off the top of my head.

[Potjeh]

I can think of just one that happened after they made minimum LP loss 25%, and it was by someone who was quitting.

[sabinati]

yeah, usually, i should have said

[btaylor]

I can think of just one that happened after they made minimum LP loss 25%, and it was by someone who was quitting.

I think they are referring to me. My first character was murdered by someone who was "quitting anyways." It was a terrible bit of business but it happened and I moved on. Unless someone doesn't care what happens to their character they won't risk murdering because they have so much to lose.

[AlexFili]

The information is there, it's just not on the front page yet.