Time To Switch Games Guys

[Imp]

After getting rid of my GS4 characters/items now almost a month ago, I needed to find a good game (one that wasn't ridiculously priced like GS4) and so I searched the web for the perfect game that would fulfill my RPG desires. And I found it.

It's called Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited. It's completely free to play, although you can purchase things in game if need be.

It is multiplayer, and it has won the following awards:

* Freebie Award: Best Free-to-play-MMORPG, 2009 RPGLand.com RPGs of the Year 2009

* Best Free to Play MMO, 2009 MMORPG.com 2009 Awards

* Best Free to Play Game, 2009 Tentonhammer.com Best of 2009 Awards

* Best Multiplayer Game, 2006 British Academy Video Games Awards

* Most Anticipated Game, 2005 MMORPG.COM Reader's Choice Awards

* Best Persistent World Game, IGN.com Best of 2006 Awards

* Nominee, Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year, 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards

* Third Prize, Best Graphics, Les JOL d'Or 2006

* Third Prize, Public's Award, Les JOL d'Or 2006

That's not bad at all for a game that has better graphics than Gemstone 4, more skills to train in, more people to play with, a lower price (free!), and is just as professional if not more so.

Here's the link to the website, hope to see some of you guys there:

http://www.ddo.com/

[phantasm]

Spambot.

[Fallen]

It has better graphics than Gemstone 4?!!?! NO WAI!

[Malvadere]

I use to really like DDO, but it went to crap when it became free to play

[Imp]

I use to really like DDO, but it went to crap when it became free to play

To be fair, the game is only free for those who choose it to be.

If I understand their current system right, for anyone who makes 1 single purchase from the DDO store, they are automatically permanently upgraded to a Premium Member. Premium Members get new access to things that standard free members don't. And all you need to do is buy one thing from the DDO store for your character or whatever and you can become a premium member.

Then, there is VIP members. They pay a monthly subscription for the game, but they get an enormous amount of benefits compared to the free players. They get automatic free monthly credits towards purchasing things in the DDO store (higher quality weapons, armor, etc.) that I believe generate every single month annually. And do believe they are stackable.

So the game is not as boxed in as you made it appear to be Malvadere.

[Imp]

This appears to be an expansion of the game that I don't currently have but there are reviews to go with it as well:

http://www.play.com/Games/PC/4-/688805/-/Product.html

[Imp]

I should also mention that there are a few races and professions that are only available for people who pay for them. Which is kind of cool in that sense.

[radamanthys]

I played and got bored with it. But I get bored with everything.

[Imp]

Here's a really good review of the game from the people over at IGN. I do like the diversity that their game offers though, and for example right now I created a character that wields two handed weapons better than one handers, however he is not limited to only being able to use one or the other like in GS4, because although I am better with two handers, I can also be just as good with other weapons like ranged, blunt, etc. And it costs less to make your character well rounded (as far as training points are concerned) than it does to do so in GS4.

I am a Human Paladin at the moment, and I have just started out, so there is so much left for me to explore, and there are even groups and guilds that you can join to enhance your social experience as well. I really haven't found anything about the game that I don't like yet, considering that I am not dishing out $20.00 a month for 2 characters like I was with GS4. GS4 has to be the only company that has increased it's prices over time for a game that is more than 15 years old. It doesn't make any business sense at all.

You can purchase more character slots if you want to in DDO, but even if you did, it would only be a one time fee I believe as opposed to a monthly charge that GS4 gives you.

When your character starts out in the game (unless you have geared him up through purchasing stuff from the DDO store), you start out in basic clothing just like in GS4, but with the added benefit of actually seeing the clothing as opposed to imagining it. You also get to pick your characters features like in GS4 as well, and even down to the details of what you want his facial hair to look like, or her (if you choose a female) figure to look like. It's pretty awesome when it all comes together.

Anyways, here is the IGN review for those who want to take a look:

http://pc.ign.com/articles/641/641861p1.html

They do cover alot of ground in that review though so I think it's the one of the best ones for new players to read.

Overall, DDO offers more bang for your buck than GS4 does. And it's community is still thriving as opposed to GS4's which is hanging on by a thread.

[Showal]

I played for like 3 days. Got incredibly bored with DDO.

I find it hard to believe that the graphics are better than GS4's graphics. I think the artists that worked on GS4 were just better than the ones who did DDO. Just my thoughts, however.

[Jayvn]

I installed it.. and I'm fairly bored with it already... I'm not sure if it's just the nostalgia, but GS has kept me coming back unwillingly since I was about 14.. i'm 30 now... I actually enjoy playing the 'wild ones' app on facebook more than DDO... DDO reminds me of those old attempts at over the shoulder rpg's like stonekeep? i'm pretty sure that was the name

[Imp]

I installed it.. and I'm fairly bored with it already... I'm not sure if it's just the nostalgia, but GS has kept me coming back unwillingly since I was about 14.. i'm 30 now... I actually enjoy playing the 'wild ones' app on facebook more than DDO... DDO reminds me of those old attempts at over the shoulder rpg's like stonekeep? i'm pretty sure that was the name

Well maybe it's not for you then. But at least you tried it. Gotta give you credit for that.

[Imp]

I played for like 3 days. Got incredibly bored with DDO.

I find it hard to believe that the graphics are better than GS4's graphics. I think the artists that worked on GS4 were just better than the ones who did DDO. Just my thoughts, however.

lol. Yeah those 15-20 year old text games created in the 1980's just offer so much more in the graphical realm than a 2006-2009 release.

If you are looking for artistry, play Magic the Gathering Online. Now that's real artistry.

[Sam]

lol. Yeah those 15-20 year old text games created in the 1980's just offer so much more in the graphical realm than a 2006-2009 release.

Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Perception.........................| 0 0
Climbing...........................| 140 40

[Imp]

lol. Yeah those 15-20 year old text games created in the 1980's just offer so much more in the graphical realm than a 2006-2009 release.

If you are looking for artistry, play Magic the Gathering Online. Now that's real artistry.

Here's the MTG website. One look at the site/cards and you'll see what I mean:

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/

[Imp]

Here's the MTG website. One look at the site/cards and you'll see what I mean:

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/

Had to fix the link and change it to the main page. Go ahead...click on any of the different colored planets...show me a game which has more artistry put into it than MTG. I'd like to see someone try.

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/

[StrayRogue]

One of the worst games I've ever played in my life.

[Imp]

One of the worst games I've ever played in my life.

Yet you offer no basis for your claim.

[StrayRogue]

Sure I do. I played it at Beta, then when it first started. If I recall, each room, not each area, is instanced. The blocking/dodging system was utterly flawed, and the graphics were 5 years out of date. Plus the entire setting of Eberron is horribly shallow to begin with. I had more fun playing for FREE on NWN's RP servers.

[Imp]

Sure I do. I played it at Beta, then when it first started. If I recall, each room, not each area, is instanced. The blocking/dodging system was utterly flawed, and the graphics were 5 years out of date. Plus the entire setting of Eberron is horribly shallow to begin with. I had more fun playing for FREE on NWN's RP servers.

Fact. You say the dodging system was flawed, yet it has since then been improved.

Fact. You say that the games graphics were 5 years out of date, yet it won 3rd place overall for it's graphics.

Fact. The High Resolution version of the game is much more refined than the low resolution that I use because I am running it on a pentium 4. If I was running it on a better system and on high res it would look better than World of Warcraft hands down. If it doesn't already with low res. Which is debatable.

[StrayRogue]

Thanks for countering all my points there.

[Imp]

Thanks for countering all my points there.

Not to mention that Monks have already been introduced into DDO. How long have you been waiting for them in GS4?

[StrayRogue]

So they still instance every room/area?

[Imp]

So they still instance every room/area?

I believe they have improved on that as well. They ran into a problem with solo instances in the beginning, however-- while the lower levels of DDO offer solo questing opportunities, the higher levels have characters that are so different from each other that it's hard to code for an instance that everyone can beat alone. The devs do see the draw of solo content, however -- and they may have upped the XP and loot for solo quests, and Kate Paiz said that solo quests at higher levels were a possibility for future content.

Keep in mind that I am brand new to the game though. So that's all I could find for ya.

[StrayRogue]

So it's still all instanced. How 1990.

[Imp]

So it's still all instanced. How 1990.

All I can tell you is that they are constantly working on their problems. And have already released 14 updates/patches since their initial release.

Besides, you are currently playing a text based game for $20.00 a month or more. One that can't even keep up with it's own goals list for each year. What does that tell you?

[StrayRogue]

I am paying nothing for GS.

14 updates since release? Wow. Wait, hasn't Warcraft had about 5 updates in the last two months, including a major content patch??

[Carblin]

Imp is trying to hard.

[Jayvn]

conquer online 2.0....... this is a 3/4 view free or pay with benefits type korean grind fest... I go to it every now and then when I wanna fill time..

[Cephalopod]

Is Imp getting a kickback from this and Magic somehow?

[Imp]

I am paying nothing for GS.

14 updates since release? Wow. Wait, hasn't Warcraft had about 5 updates in the last two months, including a major content patch??

Look this isn't a WoW vs DDO comparison. You have to pay for WoW and you don't for DDO if you don't want to. So DDO wins anyways in my opinion. This is a GS4 vs DDO comparison.

[StrayRogue]

Well I don't pay for GS4.

[Imp]

Well I don't pay for GS4.

If you are playing GS4 at all then you are ultimately paying for it one way or the other. Whether you are sucking a GM's hairy multi-colored cock (not that you are) for a free months worth of time or whether you are grinding it out every day in order to sell your coins, you are paying for it in one way or another.

[StrayRogue]

In my experience the only time an MMO goes free is when buisness is truley twindling, ALA, Conan, Archlord, Anarchy.

DDO is no exception. It was a nothing game when it was released. It's more of a nothing game now.

[Cephalopod]

There's a free 30 day trial now. I don't think that qualifies for sucking a GM's hairy multi-colored cock. (Why bring Andraste into this, man? That's just not right.)

[Imp]

In my experience the only time an MMO goes free is when buisness is truley twindling, ALA, Conan, Archlord, Anarchy.

DDO is no exception. It was a nothing game when it was released. It's more of a nothing game now.

I'd have loved to have been in the board room meetings over at SIMU when MMORPG's hit the scene back in the day. I can see it now:

Simu Corp Rep: "Alright guys we have a new challenge on our hands. There are now going to be introduced multiplayer games that have graphics, take place in real time, and are catching on like fire all over the globe. What we need here are some ideas....some good ideas...nothing that won't help us curb the competition. I'm all ears..."

Simu Employee: "Well, we've been promising Monks for years now. Perhaps we could introduce them into the game? Thereby gaining the interest of previous gamers as well brand new ones"?

Simu Corp Rep: "Guys, what about GOOD ideas don't you seem to be understanding? We don't have time for fairy tales or fantasy right now. This is a serious problem we have on our hands."

Another Simu Employee "Well, we could raise the price on our monthly subscription...which should put a smile on everybody's face."

Simu Corp Rep: "Now that's what I'm talking about people. Innovation. I'm going to take this idea all the way to the top. It's ideas like this that have kept us in business all these years. And with ideas like this, we're surely going to be in business for the many years to come."

Another Simu Employee: "But wait...won't increasing the price cause people to have to fork out more of their hard earned dollars? And I have to admit the Monks idea did sound really appealing."

Simu Corp Rep: "Wait a second. Who are you? What department do you work for?"

Same Simu Employee: "I've been working here for years.....we sat together at the last Simu Con convention....we talked about our families..."

Simu Corp Rep: "Well anyhoo I'd like to see you in my office after this. You don't seem to listen too well."

[StrayRogue]

Didn't bother to read because the moment someone bashes a company to try and praise another, I just immediately think: you're trying too hard moron.

I'm no Simu fanboy by any stretch of the imagination. But I'll bet GS lasts longer than DDO.

[Imp]

Didn't bother to read because the moment someone bashes a company to try and praise another, I just immediately think: you're trying too hard moron.

I'm no Simu fanboy by any stretch of the imagination. But I'll bet GS lasts longer than DDO.

Considering that the D & D company and games have been around since 1974, I'll take you up on that bet.

[StrayRogue]

The company that ran D&D initially went under years and years ago. It was bought up by Matel.

And I meant the game. Not the overall company.

[Imp]

As of 2006, Dungeons & Dragons remains the best-known and best-selling role-playing game, with an estimated 20 million people having played the game and more than US$1 billion in book and equipment sales.

[StrayRogue]

And has very little to do with the online game, except own the license. What is your point?

[Warriorbird]

Just because somebody has an excellent and long-lived RPG does not mean that it has a successful or even good MMO.

There's some great and enduringly popular IP with terrible MMOs. Some even... from the early 1980's. Let's think on that.

With that said...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e37/Krunchmastaflex1/successful-troll-is-successful.jpg

You actually had me until the monks comment.

[Sam]

Fuck off with your broke ass and your Pentium 4. Your free game sucks, deal with it. Our paid game sucks, we freely admit it. You sound like a fucking telemarketer.

[Drew]

you start out in basic clothing just like in GS4, but with the added benefit of actually seeing the clothing as opposed to imagining it.

I don't see this as a benefit. Quite the contrary.

[Imp]

And has very little to do with the online game, except own the license. What is your point?

One hand washes the other.

[Jayvn]

One of the best parts of GS is the fact that my interpretation of say, "the rift" and someone elses are completely different, neither of us are forced into seeing some half assed computer limited graphics.

[StrayRogue]

One hand washes the other.

Not in this case, no.

[Showal]

Had to fix the link and change it to the main page. Go ahead...click on any of the different colored planets...show me a game which has more artistry put into it than MTG. I'd like to see someone try.

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/

You still haven't convinced me that DDO's graphics are better than GS4's.

[NicAlbion]

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/Biohazard08/GTFO/11866176713801.jpg

[Elgrim]

This is fail.

Any time a game goes free to play from a pay to play model you know it is a sinking ship.

If the game is successful there is no need.

Free to play is the MMO deathknell.

[NicAlbion]

This is fail.

Any time a game goes free to play from a pay to play model you know it is a sinking ship.

If the game is successful but doesn't want to seem needy it adds a cash shop.

Free to play is the MMO deathknell.

Fixed.

[Imp]

Some of the best MMORPG's are free to play. Including this one. I have no clue what you are talking about.

The majority of good MMORPG's are free to play.

Just do a search on yahoo for free MMORPG's and you will come up with 6,040,000 results. And that's just for yahoo.

But what you guys seem to be forgetting is that DDO is both free to play and not free to play. It is both. Depending on what you want out of it.

So trying to label it as being strictly free to play would be incorrect.

[Imp]

Guys, don't get me wrong. I tried everything I could do to get GS4 back on it's feet, and nothing worked.

If you go on facebook and type in Gemstone Simutronics, you will see my page come up there which was supposed to get the word out more about the game. Unfortunately, it never happened. Although I have close to 1,000 friends on it, I believe I have only had 1 person out of those people tell me that they signed up for the game. lol. And this guy thought I worked for the company, so every time the server was down, he would send me a message asking me what was going on and when I was going to fix it. So at least I got 1 to sign up, but the point is futile, because it's the price that's killing the game, when there are so many other games out there that like I said can be played for free and can give you just as much entertainment.

But I have done my part. Feel free to send me a friend request on that page on Facebook if you want to join it. Also, I am looking to have someone take that page over since I no longer have any interest in finishing it. So whoever wants it send me a PM on here and if you are serious about it I will give you the password to the account. But don't bother taking it over unless you plan to seriously improve on it or keep it going.

[AnticorRifling]

I installed it.. and I'm fairly bored with it already... I'm not sure if it's just the nostalgia, but GS has kept me coming back unwillingly since I was about 14.. i'm 30 now... I actually enjoy playing the 'wild ones' app on facebook more than DDO... DDO reminds me of those old attempts at over the shoulder rpg's like stonekeep? i'm pretty sure that was the name

Stonekeep was the shit. Too bad it was so buggy. I had the edition that came in the tombstone box, with the small novel Thera's Awakening in it. Good fucking times. Wahooka can eat my ass.

[NicAlbion]

But what you guys seem to be forgetting is that DDO is both free to play and not free to play. It is both. Depending on what you want out of it.


The same could be said about almost any MMO. No? Gemstone is strictly pay to play? True, but in the time of a 30 day trial given to you when signing up allows you to make that decision. Hell, in the first hour or so of playing a game you can decide if you like it and want to continue. If you don't, you stop playing and go search for another game. If you do, you stick with it, obviously. Yet what YOU seem to be forgetting is the Freedom of Choice. To choose what we like and dislike, want or not from a game.

Graphics, I don't mind so much. Yet you seem to be forcing the 'It can be seen with our eyes.' mantra down our throats. Big deal. Hello Kitty Island Adventure can be seen, doesn't make it playable to another group. In this day and age you can make a profit off of something shitty and horrid. No? Go look at runescape for a moment. See how full their servers are at peak times on both p2p and free.

Paying to play vs 'free' to play. This is where your knowledge of MMO's shines through. In a pay to play, you end up paying what, once a month. In a 'free' to play with micro-transactions you end up spending possibly hundreds a month. Generally under the premise of 'I need X to do Y. But I need them in bulk.' Bulk buying > Once a month transaction WITH optional transactions 'on the side'. Same thing? Naive. Most free to play are tilted towards the micro-transactions. A perfect example is Mabinogi.

'Big whoop. We aren't talking about those games.'

Eh, you got me there.

Also, what do you get? Like a $5 gift card for every person you bring into the game?

[Imp]

The same could be said about almost any MMO. No? Gemstone is strictly pay to play? True, but in the time of a 30 day trial given to you when signing up allows you to make that decision. Hell, in the first hour or so of playing a game you can decide if you like it and want to continue. If you don't, you stop playing and go search for another game. If you do, you stick with it, obviously. Yet what YOU seem to be forgetting is the Freedom of Choice. To choose what we like and dislike, want or not from a game.

Graphics, I don't mind so much. Yet you seem to be forcing the 'It can be seen with our eyes.' mantra down our throats. Big deal. Hello Kitty Island Adventure can be seen, doesn't make it playable to another group. In this day and age you can make a profit off of something shitty and horrid. No? Go look at runescape for a moment. See how full their servers are at peak times on both p2p and free.

Paying to play vs 'free' to play. This is where your knowledge of MMO's shines through. In a pay to play, you end up paying what, once a month. In a 'free' to play with micro-transactions you end up spending possibly hundreds a month. Generally under the premise of 'I need X to do Y. But I need them in bulk.' Bulk buying > Once a month transaction WITH optional transactions 'on the side'. Same thing? Naive. Most free to play are tilted towards the micro-transactions. A perfect example is Mabinogi.

'Big whoop. We aren't talking about those games.'

Eh, you got me there.

Also, what do you get? Like a $5 gift card for every person you bring into the game?

I could have picked any free MMORPG to play. But I chose DDO for a reason. Because it is a respectable name with a respectable history. The franchise that is. I wanted something I could trust my information with. Something I could download that I knew would not give me a virus, and something with quality. After researching the game, and after watching myself create my own character, I saw for the first time why this game has so much appeal.

[Imp]

Also, what do you get? Like a $5 gift card for every person you bring into the game?

How would I know who I brought to the game?

[NicAlbion]

I could have picked any free MMORPG to play. But I chose DDO for a reason. Because it is a respectable name with a respectable history. The franchise that is. I wanted something I could trust my information with.Something I could download that I knew would not give me a virus, and something with quality. After researching the game, and after watching myself create my own character, I saw for the first time why this game has so much appeal.

First post:

1st, I'll give you that. It's got a long history and it's addictive. 2nd, yet every game out there is full of viruses and has horrible quality and gouge you for money? Got ya.

So putting lights and bells on some Nike's makes them better?

Second post: You're not doing this for our benefit. Sounds to me like you're attempting to convince yourself to stay with DDO.

[Marl]

ill just keep plucking around GS and torchlight until D3 comes out thx

[NicAlbion]

ill just keep plucking around GS and torchlight until D3 comes out thx

Chances are I'll vanish for a while after the 18th. New Gundam game for the PSP.

[Showal]

I could have picked any free MMORPG to play. But I chose DDO for a reason. Because it is a respectable name with a respectable history. The franchise that is. I wanted something I could trust my information with. Something I could download that I knew would not give me a virus, and something with quality. After researching the game, and after watching myself create my own character, I saw for the first time why this game has so much appeal.

Can you create a re-enactment dialogue for yourself, sitting alone, when you created your own character and realized why DDO has so much appeal like you did here:


I'd have loved to have been in the board room meetings over at SIMU when MMORPG's hit the scene back in the day. I can see it now:

Simu Corp Rep: "Alright guys we have a new challenge on our hands. There are now going to be introduced multiplayer games that have graphics, take place in real time, and are catching on like fire all over the globe. What we need here are some ideas....some good ideas...nothing that won't help us curb the competition. I'm all ears..."

Simu Employee: "Well, we've been promising Monks for years now. Perhaps we could introduce them into the game? Thereby gaining the interest of previous gamers as well brand new ones"?

Simu Corp Rep: "Guys, what about GOOD ideas don't you seem to be understanding? We don't have time for fairy tales or fantasy right now. This is a serious problem we have on our hands."

Another Simu Employee "Well, we could raise the price on our monthly subscription...which should put a smile on everybody's face."

Simu Corp Rep: "Now that's what I'm talking about people. Innovation. I'm going to take this idea all the way to the top. It's ideas like this that have kept us in business all these years. And with ideas like this, we're surely going to be in business for the many years to come."

Another Simu Employee: "But wait...won't increasing the price cause people to have to fork out more of their hard earned dollars? And I have to admit the Monks idea did sound really appealing."

Simu Corp Rep: "Wait a second. Who are you? What department do you work for?"

Same Simu Employee: "I've been working here for years.....we sat together at the last Simu Con convention....we talked about our families..."

Simu Corp Rep: "Well anyhoo I'd like to see you in my office after this. You don't seem to listen too well."

It should be complete with you talking about the graphics, your ability to see AND choose whether you want to spend money. Also, put in what you said to yourself when you decide to come to the PC and post about it.

[StrayRogue]

I'd like to know which of these 6 million free MMO's are actually worth playing, because I kind of think 99% of them won't be.

Free-to-play is a deathknell. Just look at Archlord.

[Fallen]

It is funny all of these people are pushing gemstone to offer free play. It sounds like many would actually consider that a mistake.

[NicAlbion]

It is funny all of these people are pushing gemstone to offer free play. It sounds like many would actually consider that a mistake.

I think what deters all the 9 year old kids you see on countless other MMO's is the fact that it's P2P. I say keep it that way but drop down the price a little and take away that bullshit 'One time charge of $30' for Premium.

[Elgrim]

Some of the best MMORPG's are free to play. Including this one. I have no clue what you are talking about.

The majority of good MMORPG's are free to play.

Current Top 10 rated MMOs:

1. World of Warcraft
2. Guild Wars
3. Lord of the Rings Online
4. Warhammer Online
5. Everquest 2
6. Lineage 2
7. Runescape
8. Final Fantasy XI
9. Maple Story
10. Eve Online

Of those, only two are really "free to play", with Guild Wars being one of them, and it's model completely different from most MMOs.

Sorry, DDO didn't make the cut. Not even close. Even Free Realms and Allods Online have more players.

DDO had a failed launch, took too long to fix bugs and release content. The playerbase outgrew content in months.

So your first statement is somewhat right, there are some good free MMOs. Your second statement is completely full of shit. The majority of good MMOs are pay to play because that allows the producing company a revenue stream to pay developers to constantly improve and expand the game.

And remember, FREE to play isnt the same as a Transaction based game like DDO. If you want to experience the full game, you will pay.

[Endaar]

Not to jump to the defense of Imp here, but I will say that DDO is a very fun, interactive and pervasive game, I used to play it on-&-off since launch.

However I stopped late in 2009 and am not sure I will go back again mainly for the reason that for all my own canvassing of trying to get people to come play it went for naught. For a game of its style, it's a real drag to play all by yourself, even if you do make a few in-game friends here or there, you will ultimately never play at the same speed as them and either speed past them or get sped past.

Games like WoW transcends this sociality because of the ease of immersing yourself in the gameworld, and the polish of the system is much greater. GS transcends this because soloability is much more viable, and you are never forced to interact with others (which, in turn, makes the times when you choose to interact that much more enjoyable)



Ultimately, though, the reason is has or will eventually fail is because our North American culture will never get over the belief that playing Dungeons & Dragons is a pasttime reserved for "nerds" and "geeks" and that if you start playing it, you will magically become a nerd or geek, grow unsightly hair in all the wrong places, mystically develop foul and permanent B.O., and never get any girls ever again. Except of course for the ones that play D&D as well (more than you think, 4-5%, but 4-5% is still pretty slim pickin's). To all this, I say pffft.

The woman I'm dating is a former hardcore D&D gamer, and she is a MUCH better lover than other so-called "chic" girls.



... AH, OK, I feel better now :-)

All that said, it would be nice if the communities of BOTH games improved. However, since I'm dropping my hard-earned coin for GS right now, my vote is for getting THIS community back & working properly again.

For those who think it already is, don't kid yourself : I'm sorry, 1000-2000 players at peak is *NOT* overpopulated, there's plenty of room for everyone, get out of your little elitist bubble.

I am curious, though, whose dick StrayRogue actually is sucking for his subscription :yes:

[StrayRogue]

I am curious, though, whose dick StrayRogue actually is sucking for his subscription :yes:

Or clit.

But yeah, no one's. I'm back for the free month they offered for long-term deserters.

[Endaar]

Or clit.

But yeah, no one's. I'm back for the free month they offered for long-term deserters.

And then, are you just gunna quit again once the $$ kicks in?

If so, their marketing ploy failed miserably and they need to come up with a new one <sigh>. Oh well.

[StrayRogue]

Yeah, dying twice in unGodly hours with no cleric/empath around to do fuck all about it is incredibly annoying. The game is certainly not worth paying for.

[Endaar]

Yeah, dying twice in unGodly hours with no cleric/empath around to do fuck all about it is incredibly annoying. The game is certainly not worth paying for.

a) hunt in less-risky zones at ungodly hours

b) hunt in more risky zones where, even at ungodly hours, clerics & empaths are around

c) make friends with the people who actually keep the same hours as you do (trust me, they are around)

Sounds like a win to me...

[Fallen]

The promotion got people back in the lands, if even for a month. I consider that a success. Some will stay, and I doubt it cost Simu anything to do this promotion. It is not like all these extra people required a second server. For those that dont stay, it gives them a chance to keep GS fresh in their minds (for better or worse, I suppose). It also gave current players a chance to see old friends, and something to remember.

[StrayRogue]

a) hunt in less-risky zones at ungodly hours



Feel free to tell me where I can hunt at my level (66) where there is zero risk, and I'll probably do it.




...Actually I'll save you some time. They don't exist.

[Asha]

Soon as I hit 66 I went to The Rift and didn't leave till 98.
That was like 2006-07 ish I think so it might have changed since then but there was a good sense of community and rescue up there.

If you hunt on GMT before work, in the morning you're fucked anywhere in GS though with regards to rescue.
You're gold from 7pm onwards though if not much has changed.

.. which it probably has.
Not much help really, mate. Just sayin what worked for me.

[StrayRogue]

Soon as I hit 66 I went to The Rift and didn't leave till 98.
That was like 2006-07 ish I think so it might have changed since then but there was a good sense of community and rescue up there.

If you hunt on GMT before work, in the morning you're fucked anywhere in GS though with regards to rescue.
You're gold from 7pm onwards though if not much has changed.

.. which it probably has.
Not much help really, mate. Just sayin what worked for me.

Yeah, agreed. Crazy hours for them are normal hours for us, usually.

Rift is out mainly because of curse/void and the fact that I'd need to constantly keep getting a bless to hunt there, which sort of puts me off.

[AnticorRifling]

What about EN? I was hunting out there and probably could have continued. And I had zero problems.

[StrayRogue]

What about EN? I was hunting out there and probably could have continued. And I had zero problems.

Where I'm at right now. It's certainly easy, but not-risk free. For example about 20 minutes ago a dogmatist came in with a spell-prepped and insta-gibbed me before I could blink. Same applies for griffins, which can't be stunned, hidden from or ambushed in the air (oh and whom pick you up and drop you on your head).

[Fallen]

I would say the tree tops of the Black Forest is pretty much zero risk, but it sounds like you're just past that. The temple is certainly the next closest thing to easy hunting. You just watch for the creature to move, then go kill it if you're worried about getting caught with an instant spell. Slow and tedious, but next to no risk. Maghara's Tower is pretty low risk if you use the same tactic on the Shrickens.

Is Stay a rogue? You could always try to get as much exp out of locksmithing as possible. If you build up a decent reputation people will seek you out with their hoard of boxes in Ta'Illistim.

[AnticorRifling]

Where I'm at right now. It's certainly easy, but not-risk free. For example about 20 minutes ago a dogmatist came in with a spell-prepped and insta-gibbed me before I could blink. Same applies for griffins, which can't be stunned, hidden from or ambushed in the air (oh and whom pick you up and drop you on your head). I must resort to calling you a muffin then. That or I was OP as shit in those hunting grounds.

[AnticorRifling]

Is Stay a rogue? You could always try to get as much exp out of locksmithing as possible. If you build up a decent reputation people will seek you out with their hoard of boxes in Ta'Illistim.

Yeah all those people that aren't online during overseas prime time will line right up :)

[Fallen]

I must resort to calling you a muffin then. That or I was OP as shit in those hunting grounds.

The Keen is tough, but the Black Forest, Temple, and Tower are all cake.

[Kithus]

Wyneb is mind numbingly easy. If you're having trouble there I'd suggest you're just rusty and need to get back into it.

[Fallen]

Yeah all those people that aren't online during overseas prime time will line right up :)

I believe they will. Power hunters still need their boxes picked, and Ta'Illistim has its share, day or night. I know I would have Rlen pick my boxes at all times of the day and night when I saw he was on.

[Drew]

Where I'm at right now. It's certainly easy, but not-risk free. For example about 20 minutes ago a dogmatist came in with a spell-prepped and insta-gibbed me before I could blink. Same applies for griffins, which can't be stunned, hidden from or ambushed in the air (oh and whom pick you up and drop you on your head).

Stay might be a little young but once you hit 68 or so, come hunt krag yeti in the landing. Problem solved.

[AnticorRifling]

The Keen is tough, but the Black Forest, Temple, and Tower are all cake. The keen was a cake walk. Black Forst and Temple 2x.

[Showal]

Anticor, while that might be easy for you, what you're missing is that, with a fix skills and the proper training, Fallen has the potential to become one of the most powerful characters in Gemstone history.

[Fallen]

The keen was a cake walk. Black Forst and Temple 2x.

Sure, if you're hunting with haste up 24-7. Did you use Tonis on the Griffins? For swingers, if they fixed that kneebash bug, they have no recourse but to stand there like jackasses until Griffins attack, and they have fun ones like mote, and Call Wind. I'm not saying it is the hardest area in the game, but there are a lot of factors which make the area more challenging than usual.

- No teleport to for rescues
- Griffins carry your corpse around, often to hidden areas making rescues difficult
- Maneuver attacks galore
- Environmental RT without a ton of survival training
- No stuns for Lesser Griffins and Storm Griffins

[Fallen]

Anticor, while that might be easy for you, what you're missing is that, with a fix skills and the proper training, Fallen has the potential to become one of the most powerful characters in Gemstone history.

While this certainly is true, it is somewhat off-topic. Did you mean Stay, or were you just trying to make a funny?

[Showal]

http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=49932&highlight=selling+account

[Showal]

I wonder if Imp's characters in DDO have the same potential as his old ones in GS4 did.

[Cephalopod]

Sure, if you're hunting with haste up 24-7. Did you use Tonis on the Griffins? For swingers, if they fixed that kneebash bug, they have no recourse but to stand there like jackasses until Griffins attack, and they have fun ones like mote, and Call Wind. I'm not saying it is the hardest area in the game, but there are a lot of factors which make the area more challenging than usual.

- No teleport to for rescues
- Griffins carry your corpse around, often to hidden areas making rescues difficult
- Maneuver attacks galore
- Environmental RT without a ton of survival training
- No stuns for Lesser Griffins and Storm Griffins

You forgot spellburst.

[Fallen]

You forgot spellburst.

True enough, though that is pretty much universal at that level on up. I think Warcamps are the only exception, and those would eat Stay up if he is having trouble in the Temple.

[StrayRogue]

Yep, Wyneb is very easy. HOWEVER, you can get killed in a single, unavoidable hit, be it from some death-spell crit from the dogs, or a lucky thorn from the hieros. I can't wear spells because of spell-burst, so boosting my TD is not an option.

Ultimately it's a part of hunting. Without a risk it would be mind-numbing. But dying, waiting ten minutes to decay, then waiting a further 30 minutes for spirit/death's sting, to hunt again for a few hours to remove the penalty...it's just not worth it.

Fallen: I am a rogue, but I don't have the spare points to pick. I had considered it, as it would make a contributing factor to the game...maybe in a few levels I'll drop down to 1.5x CM or something.

[AnticorRifling]

Sure, if you're hunting with haste up 24-7. Did you use Tonis on the Griffins? For swingers, if they fixed that kneebash bug, they have no recourse but to stand there like jackasses until Griffins attack, and they have fun ones like mote, and Call Wind. I'm not saying it is the hardest area in the game, but there are a lot of factors which make the area more challenging than usual.

- No teleport to for rescues
- Griffins carry your corpse around, often to hidden areas making rescues difficult
- Maneuver attacks galore
- Environmental RT without a ton of survival training
- No stuns for Lesser Griffins and Storm Griffins

Full wizard spell up. Maybe some blues if they were easy to get. Haste at all times, wizard shields at all times. Generally just 415 on the griffins ( I think it's been awhile) or tonis bolt.

I think I died once in griffins but yeah hybrids have the advantage in areas like that.

[Cephalopod]

True enough, though that is pretty much universal at that level on up. I think Warcamps are the only exception, and those would eat Stay up if he is having trouble in the Temple.

Well, spellburst in the Tower (for example, since it's like-level) is wussy compared to the blowing up you can do in the Keen and other areas.

[Fallen]

Full wizard spell up. Maybe some blues if they were easy to get. Haste at all times, wizard shields at all times. Generally just 415 on the griffins ( I think it's been awhile) or tonis bolt.

I think I died once in griffins but yeah hybrids have the advantage in areas like that.

Agreed.

[Ugotfaced]

Spambot.

yea, true..


Also, better graphics??

IT'S A FUCKING TEXT BASED GAME!!!

[Elgrim]

http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=49932&highlight=selling+account

This made me laugh all over again.

I didn't even recognize the name of the OP at first and realize he was the tool selling the "uber centaur hunters".

[LOL BRIELUS]

i'm gonna try it out, how bad can it be?

[StrayRogue]

Here's another little petty annoyance; No locksmiths in TI. Weighed down and nothing to do but wait...

[Drew]

Here's another little petty annoyance; No locksmiths in TI. Weighed down and nothing to do but wait...

Honestly if I'm anywhere other than Landing/Solhaven/Icemule I just go straight to the town locksmith. With Lich making moving between towns so easy when I'm on the "mainland" I just type ;go2 etower (my saved location for the Landing east tower) and it only takes a minute or less to get to the east tower where there is usually a picker.

[GSKynthelig]

I am not even sure the last time I looked for a locksmith. I just got in the habit of going to the town one being on plat I guess.

[Endaar]

Ultimately it's a part of hunting. Without a risk it would be mind-numbing. But dying, waiting ten minutes to decay, then waiting a further 30 minutes for spirit/death's sting, to hunt again for a few hours to remove the penalty...it's just not worth it.


You don't have to "wait ten minutes to decay", you can type DEPART and DEPART CONFIRM if you know you're screwed and no one's coming.

You also don't have to wait for Death's Sting if you buy the potions from the priestess in your corresponding town to remove it.

[AnticorRifling]

How much more penalty is enforced with a depart?

How much do potions cost?


You know you don't have to do X? You can just do Y which in no way shape or form fits in your model or addresses your situation.

[StrayRogue]

You don't have to "wait ten minutes to decay", you can type DEPART and DEPART CONFIRM if you know you're screwed and no one's coming.

You also don't have to wait for Death's Sting if you buy the potions from the priestess in your corresponding town to remove it.


You get screwed harder for a depart.

[Fallen]

You do, but at 66 with deeds you shouldn't be too bad off. Especially if you only die once in a great while.

[StrayRogue]

I am not even sure the last time I looked for a locksmith. I just got in the habit of going to the town one being on plat I guess.

You ring the bell, and ask Aradluin if he can open the thanot chest on his counter. He looks over the thanot chest, frowns, and tells you, "Havin' some trouble, eh? Of course I could open this, but it'll cost ya. Gimme 3396 silvers, and I'll have it open before you know it."

>pay 3396
Aradluin accepts your silvers.
Turning his attention to the thanot chest, Aradluin deftly disarms a small trap, and then picks the lock with ease. "There you go," he says matter-of-factly.

>take chest
You remove a weathered thanot chest from on a leather topped counter.
>open chest
You open a weathered thanot chest.
>look in chest
In the thanot chest you see some silver coins.
>take coins
You gather the remaining 3397 coins from inside your thanot chest.
Roundtime: 3 sec.

[AnticorRifling]

PROFIT!

[Kithus]

That's better than I do with the town locksmiths most of the time. Anything that isn't mithril, enruned or glyphed gets blown up with call lightning now. Being an archer with 2x perception as a ranger has it's advantages.

[Fallen]

Stay is a Dark Elf, right? You can be a citizen of Cysaegir. I BELIEVE they have a locksmith, but honestly I don't know. Like Kithus, I just blow up or pop anything I find unless there was a locksmith around. I do know being able to get citizenship bonus + your INF bonus trumps the shit out of selling stuff in Ta'Illistim.

[Asha]

Just watch the glyphed boxes.
Jesus Christ, watch the glyphed boxes.

[CrystalTears]

So it looks like not only does DDO suck, but GS4 continues to suck. I'm not paying for either, and I don't think I'll even try DDO at this point.

Why the constant "BETTER GRAPHICS! comment"? My 7-year-old cousin's artwork has been graphics than GS.

[4a6c1]

I know this is off topic but WoW has the best cyber of them all. Unless your a girl irl. But if you are a guy irl you are pretty much guaranteed to get tons of fake poonani from other guys who play girls.

[Cephalopod]

I know this is off topic but WoW has the best cyber of them all. Unless your a girl irl. But if you are a guy irl you are pretty much guaranteed to get tons of fake poonani from other guys who play girls.

That was a pretty special night, wasn't it?

[CrystalTears]

That was a pretty special night, wasn't it?
That was you?

[Ryvicke]

I used to use MS paint to cut and paste my GS name onto Star Wars CCG cards after Decipher put all the card images online. Then I would give them leet skills, print them out and deploy them to Kashyyk like it was a real card.

GOOD DAYS

[4a6c1]

That was you?

No way to tell....just a bunch of manly voices groaning on Vent to signify the end of a raid.

[Carblin]

As of 2006, Dungeons & Dragons remains the best-known and best-selling role-playing game, with an estimated 20 million people having played the game and more than US$1 billion in book and equipment sales.


DnD (ADnD) =/= DDO. Anyone who even remotely tries to compare those two things is a giant, flaming dumbass.

[CrystalTears]

DnD (ADnD) =/= DDO. Anyone who even remotely tries to compare those two things is a giant, flaming dumbass.
Not to defend the crazy Imp, but Wizards of the Coast promotes DDO. So there is nothing wrong with the statement that they're a popular roleplaying company, since they are. Progressing onto an online game (although a pretty lame one) doesn't change the fact that D&D is a popular roleplaying game.

[Imp]

The majority are pay to play because that allows the producing company a revenue stream to pay developers to constantly improve and expand the game.


Right and that's why Gemstone 4 treats you all worse than a $50.00 hooker on Park Avenue. In terms of how they ride you every year with their promises and leave your asshole sore with displeasure.

That $14. a month sure does go for something though doesn't it? Anyone know where?

[Showal]

Right and that's why Gemstone 4 treats you all worse than a $50.00 hooker on Park Avenue. In terms of how they ride you every year with their promises and leave your asshole sore with displeasure.

That $14. a month sure does go for something though doesn't it? Anyone know where?

Gemstone has never left my asshole sore with anything. Certainly not yearly.

That $14 a month sure does go for something. Gemstone is like any other product or service. Sometimes, believe it or not, people produce things so they can make money. Who knows what they do with the money not used to develop the game, I would assume some people use it to pay their bills, their mortgage, food, and sometimes additional things they want, but do not really need.

If you're unhappy about where the money is going, it's not the government. They're not taxes. You don't HAVE to pay them. You can join free DDO, with stuff you can actually see WITH YOUR EYES!!!

[Showal]

Also, Gemstone does not treat me like a whore. I pay them and get exactly what I know I was signing up for.

[Imp]

Here's some little tid bits of info that might change some of your minds about DDO:

1. More than one million new players have joined DDO since it launched as free-to-play in September, 2009.

http://www.massively.com/2010/02/26/one-million-new-adventurers-in-dungeons-and-dragons-online

How many new players have joined GS4 since September, 2009?

2. No matter what level your character is in the game, you can re-pick your skills, or swap one class level for another at anytime you want to (not once a year like in GS4) with DDO's Reincarnation program.

3. The results from Beckett Massive Online Gamer 2009 Reader's Choice Awards are in, and DDO won for both Best Fantasy MMO of 2009 and Best MMO Expansion/Addition of 2009.

http://massiveonlinegamer.com/news/special-features/518-2009-readers-choice-award-winners

[Alarke]

IMP, you're completely missing the point... you're on a soapbox screaming so loud you can't tell that no one cares. Let me try to put this bluntly.

1. All this tells me is that there are 1 million cheap assholes out there, the game is now completely oversaturated and probably doesnt have enough content to keep the people happy.

2. There is absolutely no penalty for making stupid decisions. One of the things I liked best about GS was the fact that people had to put a LOT of thought into their characters, and that every character was different. You could be viable 30 different ways with each profession.

3. The results from Alarke online are in and DDO won last place for every category you can imagine ... no one cares what other people say about this game.

[StrayRogue]

How many of that million are still playing? Not many I imagine.

But yeah, again, F2P = death.

If you want to play a graphical MMO which at least has a lifespan beyond a few years, there needs to be money in it. I'd venture WoW has had more patches, content and such added to it since New Year than DDO has ever had.

[Imp]

By the way, I should also mention that in both of those categories DDO beat out World of Warcraft. And for Best MMORPG of 2009 DDO only lost to World of Warcraft by a mere 68 votes.

[StrayRogue]

I've never heard of that Website.

[Imp]

I've never heard of that Website.

I have. And that was way before I ever started playing the game.

[Imp]

Who the hell hasn't heard of massiveonlinegamer.com?

http://www.massiveonlinegamer.com/

They've got their own magazine as well which you may have heard of.

[Cephalopod]

To be fair to Imp, I did download this at work yesterday. (I'm cheap, and I'll try anything for free.)

After downloading 5gb of game data, I tried playing and it failed with a bizarre error (417 Expectation Failed). I've been poking around the support forums, and found the usual assortment of RTFM jackasses, but finally nailed it down to not being able to play through certain routers or a proxy.

SOOOO... I'll play with it a bit more today and see what happens. I'm sure you're all hanging on the edge of your seats to see how my experience goes.

[Showal]

Wait ... so I gave it a chance, really really did not like it, but should go back because a website says a bunch of people have recently joined (probably since it's gone free and it's no skin off their back for joining)? Especially since the game I do pay for has not had the dramatic increase in the same time period?

Ok. Sounds like good logic to me. What's the website to join DDO again?

[Imp]

To be fair to Imp, I did download this at work yesterday. (I'm cheap, and I'll try anything for free.)

After downloading 5gb of game data, I tried playing and it failed with a bizarre error (417 Expectation Failed). I've been poking around the support forums, and found the usual assortment of RTFM jackasses, but finally nailed it down to not being able to play through certain routers or a proxy.

SOOOO... I'll play with it a bit more today and see what happens. I'm sure you're all hanging on the edge of your seats to see how my experience goes.

Well I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. Also, did you download the full res game or the low res game?

I downloaded the low res game with no problems. Not sure what kind of a system you are running it on but the high res might be too powerful for your current hardware.

Also, if you end up not liking the game, at least if you could post one thing about it that you did like, then I don't care if you post 50 things that you didn't. But if you said there wasn't a single thing about the game that you liked then we both know you'd be lying (after you try it you'll see what I mean).

[Alarke]

Never heard of Massive Online Gamer, and already forgot that it even existed.

[StrayRogue]

Also, if you end up not liking the game, at least if you could post one thing about it that you did like, then I don't care if you post 50 things that you didn't. But if you said there wasn't a single thing about the game that you liked then we both know you'd be lying (after you try it you'll see what I mean).

I played it. There was nothing about it that I enjoyed or thought hadn't been done better in other games.

[Cephalopod]

I almost shit myself when I saw I could be a monk!

...then I realized I'd have to pay for it.

I went with a hot elf cleric to start.
http://imgur.com/BO5lR.jpg

I hope to be involved in some DDO bukakke within the next few minutes.

[Imp]

I almost shit myself when I saw I could be a monk!

...then I realized I'd have to pay for it.

I went with a hot elf cleric to start.
http://imgur.com/BO5lR.jpg

I hope to be involved in some DDO bukakke within the next few minutes.

Thanks for posting the pics too. I was gonna ask if you could post a few more actual screenshots of what you are doing as you do it so people can get a genuine idea of how the game works.

[Warriorbird]

...so people can get a genuine idea of how the game works.

Like a bad night with Poser and really cheap tequila?

[Showal]

I played it. There was nothing about it that I enjoyed or thought hadn't been done better in other games.

Agreed.

[Imp]

Agreed.

Well why don't you guys go a little deeper than instead of just saying "agreed".

What games was it and what exactly was it that you could do "better" in other games?

[AnticorRifling]

From the screenshot alone I don't like the fact that you can only make 2 characters without purchasing another slot. So much for exploring all aspects of the class/race system without rerolling.

[Tolwynn]

Heh, don't forget that you have to pay for some of those classes/races as well, if you want to fully explore all of those aspects.

[Imp]

From the screenshot alone I don't like the fact that you can only make 2 characters without purchasing another slot. So much for exploring all aspects of the class/race system without rerolling.

There are 11 playable classes with no race restrictions. Following the 3.5 edition rules and the rules of the Eberron campaign, players choose a class to begin with but are not limited to remaining in that class.

At the character creation screen, the player is allowed to choose a path or to customize their stats. Choosing a path will automatically give the character feats when they gain a level.

Absent from the table are the standard classes of Druid, the psionic classes and Artificers (an Eberron-exclusive class). Prestige classes do not exist as standalone character classes (although many are available as enhancements to base classes). There are no experience penalties for multi-class characters. Apart from alignment restrictions there are no restrictions on multi-class combinations.

The new class Favored Soul has been added in the new content update along with the free to play and new store.

The Classes

* Fighter: A warrior with extra feats, allowing him to specialize in melee.

* Paladin: A warrior that trades some of his melee power for the ability to cast divine spells.

* Barbarian: A warrior that has special powers when angry and specializes in damage dealing.

* Ranger: An archer and a dual-wielding melee (in exchange for removing animal companions, DDO gives all rangers both combat styles).

* Monk: A combatant usually fighting without weapons, without shield and without armor, that performs amazing techniques in battle by using a power source called Ki.

* Favored Soul: A divine caster that follows the path of the Cleric but is able to throw spells with surprising ease.

* Rogue: Has the most skills in the game. He can find and disarm traps. Rogues can also open locks and find hidden doors.

* Bard: Has a lot of skills and is a weak arcane spell caster.

* Wizard is an adaptive caster.

* Sorcerer is a focused caster.

* Cleric: a strong divine spell caster that uses all armor without penalties.

-----------------------

I believe only two of those character types are pay to play. And for an additional character slot it is a one time fee I believe.

[StrayRogue]

Well why don't you guys go a little deeper than instead of just saying "agreed".

What games was it and what exactly was it that you could do "better" in other games?

I've already said what I didn't like about it.

Graphically it is nothing special. Conan is better. Warhammer is better. Star Trek online is better. I think WoW, although stylised, is cleaner as well.

Combat-wise it is no NWN. Those games do a far better job of conveying "DnD".

It's instanced. The only game that comes close to the level of instancing here would be Eve. WoW instances you for dungeons and cross-realm transport, and very little else.

[Showal]

I play roleplaying games for the roleplaying aspect. I liked the developed history and the generally well informed population of Elanthia. There are always the people in Gemstone that play for mechanics, stats, gold, and items. There are some people, myself included, that play for the actual story. I found that completely, in every sense of the word, absent from DDO. I can't even find online the history of the world, explanations of any dieties, anything, for DDO.

I quit playing Diablo real soon after I got it, because simple hack and slash games do not hold my interest for long. The limited interactions with people I had in DDO put it into pretty much the same category as Diablo for me, with the ability to customize your character more. I feel I could do this on my own. I could draw pictures and walk my picture character around in my mind and get just as much satisfaction out of it. I could devise all sorts of items and clothes and imagine them in it. It would be free too.

I don't play games online to actually forge and maintain friendships. I do, however, go for the interactions with people. Sometimes I have found friendships through these interactions, but I don't set out with this as an intention. I don't care to play DDO with someone and have them say over a mic "Hold on, going for a smoke break". I enjoy trying to think like a character and interact with people who are doing the same.

I really don't enjoy the mechanics and the numbers of games. I don't generally involve myself in these conversations when it comes to Gemstone either. As I've said, that's not what I play roleplaying games for and this, to me, is what DDO is.

[StrayRogue]

I believe only two of those character types are pay to play. And for an additional character slot it is a one time fee I believe.

You totally didn't read what he said, did you?

He said if you wanted to try all the race/class combinations, you'd have to PAY for more character slots, otherwise you'd have to reroll.

[Imp]

I should also add that the game is extremely easy to understand right from the beginning. You get spawned, you hit ctrl M I believe it is to bring up your map (it shows you your location real time) and you are given a task right from the start to travel to a cave (at least that's what happened to me) which is almost directly in front of you down the road.

To swing your weapon you can simply click the mouse, to jump you hit spacebar....your special abilities are all in a line on the bottom right.....and everything just falls into place quite nicely.

I like umz easy to learn.

[Imp]

You totally didn't read what he said, did you?

He said if you wanted to try all the race/class combinations, you'd have to PAY for more character slots, otherwise you'd have to reroll.

Right well is Gemstone 4 any different? And it charges per month for the extra slots.

[Imp]

I've already said what I didn't like about it.

Graphically it is nothing special.

I disagree. Graphically, WOW is nothing special. DDO is at the least decent and at the best pretty damn nice. It might not be the best looking game out there, but it certainly isn't anywhere near the worst.

Many other MMORPG's look choppy, and others look cartoonish (WoW comes to mind), but DDO is neither in my opinion.

[Showal]

I should also add that the game is extremely easy to understand right from the beginning. You get spawned, you hit ctrl M I believe it is to bring up your map (it shows you your location real time) and you are given a task right from the start to travel to a cave (at least that's what happened to me) which is almost directly in front of you down the road.

To swing your weapon you can simply click the mouse, to jump you hit spacebar....your special abilities are all in a line on the bottom right.....and everything just falls into place quite nicely.

I like umz easy to learn.

You start gemstone with a sprite on your shoulder. You type DIR for directions. To swing a sword, you type "kill *monster*".

I'm not shocked you like easy to learn. From your past post where you sold your gemstone accounts, it was quite evident that you're not very bright.

[Imp]

You start gemstone with a sprite on your shoulder. You type DIR for directions. To swing a sword, you type "kill *monster*".

I'm not shocked you like easy to learn. From your past post where you sold your gemstone accounts, it was quite evident that you're not very bright.

And here we resort to childish insults to make our own little ego's feel so much better. It works out really great for you hey? Not so great for me though.

[StrayRogue]

Right well is Gemstone 4 any different? And it charges per month for the extra slots.

I didn't say GS was any different, retard. You said you could try any race/combo FOR FREE. You cannot. Where did anyone say GS was free?

[StrayRogue]

And here we resort to childish insults to make our own little ego's feel so much better. It works out really great for you hey? Not so great for me though.

Actually you were the one who initiated the insults first, wiseguy.

[Imp]

I didn't say GS was any different, retard. You said you could try any race/combo FOR FREE. You cannot. Where did anyone say GS was free?

Guys, in all do respect, I'm not calling you any names. Is that even necessary? Or is that the only way you can express yourselves?

[Some Rogue]

Imp posts like ClydeR.

No matter what reviews or gaming sites say...11 million people willing to pay for your product vs. 1 million who will play for free. Which do you think is better?

[Imp]

Imp posts like ClydeR.

No matter what reviews or gaming sites say...11 million people willing to pay for your product vs. 1 million who will play for free. Which do you think is better?

I didn't say anything about the game being cool to me simply/only because it was free. I said it was one of the many different perks.

[Tolwynn]

I do wonder how much fun you're going to have when you start needing leveling sigils for your characters, particularly when you try to get those past copper for free.

[Imp]

I do wonder how much fun you're going to have when you start needing leveling sigils for your characters, particularly when you try to get those past copper for free.

I'm not in this for the competition. I'm in it to enjoy myself.

[Showal]

Guys, in all do respect, I'm not calling you any names. Is that even necessary? Or is that the only way you can express yourselves?

I made an observation. I called you not that bright, used this as my reasoning for why I wasn't shocked you "like umz easy to learn". It wasn't a childish insult. The way you don't answer people's questions appropriately comes off as you not actually understanding what was asked or said. I see this in people from time to time.

[Some Rogue]

I didn't say anything about the game being cool to me simply/only because it was free. I said it was one of the many different perks.

Woooosh.

I said, which do you think has a better product? The one you can get 11 million to pay for vs the one you can only get 1 million to take for free?

[Imp]

Woooosh.

I said, which do you think has a better product? The one you can get 11 million to pay for vs the one you can only get 1 million to take for free?

It depends on the game.

[Imp]

All races are initially available in the game, except for Drow and Warforged, which must be unlocked. Current player character races are: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, Warforged, and Drow. The game does not feature a full complement of playable races from the Dungeons and Dragons world, and is missing core races (Gnome, Half-Elf and Half-orc), as well as the additional Eberron-specific races of Kalashtar, Shifter and Changeling.

[Cephalopod]

I won't be posting screenshots until I try this at home, since the gamma on my work computer is all fucked, so my screenshots are always over-exposed. I'll try the hi-res version at home a bit tonight and maybe grab some screenshots of my hot cyber orgies.

Caveats: I've played a few MMOs, but only casually. I play WoW (poorly at level 80) and ST:O and I've played AnarchyOnline, LotRO and DaOC in the past.

I have to say, Stray is pretty much nailing it as far as the downsides to this game.

Good:
- It is absurdly easy to learn
- The game itself is fast and responsive
- Because it's free, there are a LOT of newbies. Playing mid-day, they were pretty respectful and seemed to be trying to help each other. I don't know how this would be in prime time.

Bad:
- Only two character slots before you need to buy more.
- Two of the races aren't playable unless you buy in.
- A few of the classes aren't playable unless you buy in.
- Having played for about 30 minutes, I've already seen ads in game for buying things. It's a bit weird having NPCs tell you to visit the website to buy something. The constant BUY THIS gets old quick, but you can tune it out.

Weird:
- The constant instancing. The only way to compare it to something else is if every time you stepped into a hunting area in GS, you were instanced.

Indifferent:
- The graphics are 'meh'. I prefer the more toonish WoW graphics to most attempts at realism, though.

I feel I got my money's worth playing it for 30 minutes or so. I'll play a bit more tonight.

If you're a real gamer, you probably won't care for this. I'm a very casual player, so it'll keep my attention for a few days, then I'll get bored and do something else like play ROBOT UNICORN ATTACK.

[Imp]

I guess there is also an option of gaining favor to unlock Drow so the only strictly pay to play race is Warforged.

[AnticorRifling]

There are 11 playable classes with no race restrictions. Following the 3.5 edition rules and the rules of the Eberron campaign, players choose a class to begin with but are not limited to remaining in that class.

At the character creation screen, the player is allowed to choose a path or to customize their stats. Choosing a path will automatically give the character feats when they gain a level.

Absent from the table are the standard classes of Druid, the psionic classes and Artificers (an Eberron-exclusive class). Prestige classes do not exist as standalone character classes (although many are available as enhancements to base classes). There are no experience penalties for multi-class characters. Apart from alignment restrictions there are no restrictions on multi-class combinations.

The new class Favored Soul has been added in the new content update along with the free to play and new store.

The Classes

* Fighter: A warrior with extra feats, allowing him to specialize in melee.

* Paladin: A warrior that trades some of his melee power for the ability to cast divine spells.

* Barbarian: A warrior that has special powers when angry and specializes in damage dealing.

* Ranger: An archer and a dual-wielding melee (in exchange for removing animal companions, DDO gives all rangers both combat styles).

* Monk: A combatant usually fighting without weapons, without shield and without armor, that performs amazing techniques in battle by using a power source called Ki.

* Favored Soul: A divine caster that follows the path of the Cleric but is able to throw spells with surprising ease.

* Rogue: Has the most skills in the game. He can find and disarm traps. Rogues can also open locks and find hidden doors.

* Bard: Has a lot of skills and is a weak arcane spell caster.

* Wizard is an adaptive caster.

* Sorcerer is a focused caster.

* Cleric: a strong divine spell caster that uses all armor without penalties.

-----------------------

I believe only two of those character types are pay to play. And for an additional character slot it is a one time fee I believe.


Thank you for the long post that doesn't address my dislike.

[Imp]

Alignments

Dungeons and Dragons Online does not feature the full spectrum of alignments available in Dungeons and Dragons, instead limiting itself to only good and neutral alignments. The ability to play evil aligned characters is unavailable. Some character classes have restrictions based on alignment. A Barbarian and Bard may not be Lawful. A Monk must be Lawful, and a Paladin must be Lawful Good. A character may not multiclass into those classes if the alignment is not allowed for that original class. In addition, some weapons and equipment have alignment restrictions as well.

Feat, Skill and Enhancement system

In DDO, there are a number of progressive systems in place for additional variety between characters. Feats are special abilities that grant a character additional actions or abilities. Skills can be increased to give better proficiency of talents. Enhancements can be chosen which augment feats and talents.

Feats are divided into regular feats and class feats. Whereas most feats are available to any class (so long as the requirement is met), class feats can be chosen only by specific classes. For instance, Ranger is the only class that is able to choose Favored Enemy, which grants an attack bonus against certain monsters. Every class is granted at least one feat during character creation, as well as one every level of a multiple of three. Other feats include Toughness, which grants additional Hit Points, and Whirlwind Attack, which lets a character perform a special attack where the character spins 360 degrees.

Skills are available to all characters. It is a fixed list of talents such as Jump and Tumble. Upon leveling up, a character adds a certain number of points into those talents based on the Intelligence statistic. For instance, putting more points into Jump will allow a character to jump higher. Also, each skill is augmented by a character's stat. For instance, Tumble is connected to Dexterity. The higher a DEX score, the more able a character is able to roll away from attacks. Finally, Skills are dependent upon classes. Each class has a certain number of skills connected to it. Class skills cost one point to raise one point. A skill not connected to a class costs two points to raise one point.

Enhancements further customize characters. Every level is divided into five tiers. Each tier, reached by accumulating XP, grants one Action Point(AP), for a total of four AP's per level. These can be spent at any time, and are traded into a trainer NPC for an enhancement. These are similar to Feats, but do not provide as significant an alteration to a character's attributes. Each enhancement costs a certain number of AP to attain. An example is Fighter's Critical Accuracy II, which costs 2 AP, and requires Fighter's Critical Accuracy I. That particular ability gives a Fighter a better chance to deliver a critical strike when a hit is delivered, doing more damage than an ordinary hit.

Prestige Enhancements (PrE's) are similar to Prestige classes. Instead of Prestige classes in the game, some classes are able to purchase enhancement lines that grant much the same abilities. For instance, a Rogue is able to become an Assassin by purchasing Way of the Assassin, thereby doing greater damage when doing a sneak attack. All PrE's require a prerequisite number of other enhancements and/or Feats to attain.

[StrayRogue]

NWN handles the feats/skills system much better.

[Imp]

From what I gather there are about 6 different Worlds to explore in the game. I have only barely explored the World I am currently on at the moment. But that's pretty impressive in itself.

[Imp]

DDO is set on the fictional continent of Xen'drik, in the world of Eberron, a D&D campaign setting. Players can create their characters following the revised edition of D&D 3.5 rule-set fashion, and play them in both indoor and outdoor environments, including a large variety of dungeons.

Although the game is based in large part on the D&D 3.5 rule-set, it contains numerous changes from the tabletop game, most of which were introduced due to differences in the dynamics between the media of computer game combat and tabletop gaming. For example, Turbine wanted DDO to use a real time combat engine, where tabletop D&D uses a turn-based system. This brought considerable amount of changes in combat, character skills and feats; situations where Turbine felt the turn-based combat system and real-time combat did not mesh well. Most noticeable differences are greatly increased amount of hit possibilities in round/same amount of time (as much as twelve times more), greatly increased spell-casting resources over rest periods, and spell point system instead of spell slots. Magic items are greatly under-priced (average of 1/8 the D&D prices), magic weapons and armors have a maximum of only two abilities, characters have considerably higher stats, and offensive effects created by characters do not harm their allies. A near-complete list of other differences between DDO and D&D has been listed on the DDO Wiki.

The core of the game is set in the city of Stormreach, a giant-scaled city built ages ago, and recently settled by humans. There are a number of areas within Stormreach: The Harbor, Marketplace, and four Dragonmarked Houses (House Deneith, Jorasco, Kundarak and Phiarlan). In addition, there are a number of adventures that are taken beyond the city walls, into other areas across the continent, each home to quests of their own.

Generally, the issues of the game revolve around the following dark plots:

* Giants attempting to regain mastery over the city of Stormreach and the continent of Xen'drik
* The gate to Xoriat attempting to be reopened
* The Black Abbot and his minions of Khyber (Eberron) and other undead attempting to gain power over Xen'drik
* Devils from Shavarath attempting to invade and conquer Eberron

[StrayRogue]

Oh yeah, and like classic DnD (not like NWN), the level cap is 20. Which sucks balls.

[Showal]

Alignments

Dungeons and Dragons Online does not feature the full spectrum of alignments available in Dungeons and Dragons, instead limiting itself to only good and neutral alignments. The ability to play evil aligned characters is unavailable. Some character classes have restrictions based on alignment. A Barbarian and Bard may not be Lawful. A Monk must be Lawful, and a Paladin must be Lawful Good. A character may not multiclass into those classes if the alignment is not allowed for that original class. In addition, some weapons and equipment have alignment restrictions as well.

Feat, Skill and Enhancement system

In DDO, there are a number of progressive systems in place for additional variety between characters. Feats are special abilities that grant a character additional actions or abilities. Skills can be increased to give better proficiency of talents. Enhancements can be chosen which augment feats and talents.

Feats are divided into regular feats and class feats. Whereas most feats are available to any class (so long as the requirement is met), class feats can be chosen only by specific classes. For instance, Ranger is the only class that is able to choose Favored Enemy, which grants an attack bonus against certain monsters. Every class is granted at least one feat during character creation, as well as one every level of a multiple of three. Other feats include Toughness, which grants additional Hit Points, and Whirlwind Attack, which lets a character perform a special attack where the character spins 360 degrees.

Skills are available to all characters. It is a fixed list of talents such as Jump and Tumble. Upon leveling up, a character adds a certain number of points into those talents based on the Intelligence statistic. For instance, putting more points into Jump will allow a character to jump higher. Also, each skill is augmented by a character's stat. For instance, Tumble is connected to Dexterity. The higher a DEX score, the more able a character is able to roll away from attacks. Finally, Skills are dependent upon classes. Each class has a certain number of skills connected to it. Class skills cost one point to raise one point. A skill not connected to a class costs two points to raise one point.

Enhancements further customize characters. Every level is divided into five tiers. Each tier, reached by accumulating XP, grants one Action Point(AP), for a total of four AP's per level. These can be spent at any time, and are traded into a trainer NPC for an enhancement. These are similar to Feats, but do not provide as significant an alteration to a character's attributes. Each enhancement costs a certain number of AP to attain. An example is Fighter's Critical Accuracy II, which costs 2 AP, and requires Fighter's Critical Accuracy I. That particular ability gives a Fighter a better chance to deliver a critical strike when a hit is delivered, doing more damage than an ordinary hit.

Prestige Enhancements (PrE's) are similar to Prestige classes. Instead of Prestige classes in the game, some classes are able to purchase enhancement lines that grant much the same abilities. For instance, a Rogue is able to become an Assassin by purchasing Way of the Assassin, thereby doing greater damage when doing a sneak attack. All PrE's require a prerequisite number of other enhancements and/or Feats to attain.

You really should write the manual for DDO. This addressed no one.

We get it. You really really like DDO.

[Imp]

As of 9 September 2009, DDO is free to play in the USA, with an available micro-transaction store; players can gain VIP status by paying a subscription fee, which garners them additional rewards every month. Furthermore, a free-player's first micro-transaction converts him/her to a "Premium player" with a few additional perks (though substantially less than those of a "VIP").

There are five DDO servers for the North American market (merged from the original 14), named after various geographic aspects of Eberron. For the European market there were initially 5 servers, named after Eberron deities. After a server merge in early 2007, 2 remain. In North America, Turbine themselves deploy the game and maintain the day-to-day operations. In Europe this has been outsourced to Codemasters with the help of Alchemic Dream. In China, the game is operated by Shanda.

There are no servers for the Southern Hemisphere market. The game distributed in Australia by Atari is the US version. Players in that region will get a ping of ~300 ms to North American servers.

Turbine generally performs weekly maintenance from 6:00AM to 10:00AM Eastern (-4 GMT) on Monday or Tuesday mornings, game upgrades and patches are generally applied from 6:00AM to 2:00PM Eastern (-4 GMT) on Thursday mornings.

In Europe the game is maintained by Codemasters and remains still subscription based, although European users can register and play for free on the Turbine servers in the USA.

[Imp]

DDO is played from a third person perspective. There is the option to move the camera view to first person perspective. The camera follows behind the player and can be adjusted to view surroundings. The game is controlled either by keyboard or gamepad. Every action in game can be remapped to suit the player, even controller buttons. This allows a player to play the game just like a console game if desired. DDO also makes use of macros. Within a toolbar on screen, items and action abilities may be placed and activated at will. Everything in game takes place in real time. For instance, characters move around in 3D with directional keys and may dodge long range attacks aimed at them.

A party system is in place, placing more emphasis on multiple players grouping together more so than most other MMO games on the market. Joining a party or creating one is accessed by the Grouping panel. Interacting with other players is implemented with chat windows on screen. Voice chat with other players is also possible with a headset or microphone if in a party.

[Imp]

Standard groups can be up to 6 characters. Characters gain experience by completing quests. Killing monsters will usually increase the size of the experience reward, but are not always central to the reward. In some cases, simply running through a quest from one end to the other will grant an XP reward. Raid parties may be up to 12 characters. They are usually high level adventures with multiple tasks to complete. There is usually a specific method of unlocking them. DDO does support solo play, mainly by a special "Solo" level of difficulty on many low-level quests. Since the "Mod 9" update (September 2009), "Normal" difficulty also scales well for solo players when "Solo" difficulty's not available for any given quest. A more typical party consists of multiple characters filling roles such as "tank" (melee types), healer (clerics) and caster (magic users).

The quests in DDO are organized by character level, difficulty, and length. Each quest has a base level, and the XP reward increases if all of the party members are below that level, and decreases if any of the party members are above that level. Characters more than three levels below the "base level" are not allowed to initiate a quest, however they are able to join a quest started by another party member.

Most quests have an item or monetary reward when finished, but the character must have talked to the quest giver to receive the reward. Some dungeons require several visits to the quest giver to complete the entire quest chain. Speaking to the quest giver also generally allows players to repeat the quest. Note that completing a specific quest multiple times will reduce the XP given upon completion.

The quests are narrated by a "Dungeon Master" who gives additional details and information to the players about what they see and hear on their adventure. For the "Delera's Tomb" quest chain, the dungeon master duties are performed by (now deceased) D&D co-creator Gary Gygax. In his memory, a special 'shrine' area of the graveyard was added. A higher-level quest chain features the voice of D&D's other co-creator, Dave Arneson, also now deceased.

There are five difficulty levels for quests: Solo, Normal, Hard, Elite and Epic. Hard and Elite increase the XP bonus the first time the quest is run at the given level, and generally provide a much more challenging experience to the players. As a bonus, the quality of the "loot" (items, equipment, etc) in the chests in hard and elite is better. Generally speaking, the highest level quests on the Elite setting offer the best treasure, although that is not always the case. Epic difficulty is available in very few quests, and only to characters who are level 20.

On the other hand, Solo offers very little loot, and few, if any, special items. Generally, the Solo difficulty section were added to the game in June 2006 to make it more accessible to lower-level characters who do not have a group. There was until Module 6 a huge XP reduction for solo play (this was reduced from 50% to 20% with the launch of Module 6), and only some low (6th and lower) level dungeons offer this capability.

[Showal]

cut and paste.

[Cephalopod]

You could just link everyone to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_&_Dragons_Online instead of spamming.

[Imp]

The game includes built-in voice chat, integrated into the overall experience.

DDO is an instanced game, where each party receives a private "copy" of a dungeon for their own use.

There are localized versions for the European market. Languages available so far are English, French and German.

A gamepad is supported, as well as a virtual keyboard.

[Imp]

You could just link everyone to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_&_Dragons_Online instead of spamming.

I know but it's easier to read this in increments. I'm about done anyways. But I actually learned alot more while I was posting this. lol.

[StrayRogue]

Obvious troll is obvious.

[AnticorRifling]

You still didn't address my dislike.

Also the pro copy and pastes is grade A fail fan boi.

[Showal]

So when you posted this:


I never thought I'd say this, but now I finally understand what people have meant when they said that they can no longer play because of the time they need to spend with their children. My baby girl is 7 months old and between the two of us (my girlfriend and I) we get very little sleep as is, and I just don't have the time to finish what I planned to do with my 3 characters (which was make a boat load of coins off of them all and then sell them for money).

Did you mean it or did you mean "I'm looking for a game that is visually stimulating and I don't have to pay for"?

[Imp]

Well for those who read it I mean that pretty much sums up the game. Like I said, this isn't one of those games where you are like, "Damn, too much going on to understand."

[Xanator]

You have caused me to hate it with a passion.

[AnticorRifling]

So when you posted this:



Did you mean it or did you mean "I'm looking for a game that is visually stimulating and I don't have to pay for"?

I think it meant "I make bad decisions IRL, but gaming I know what's up".

[Imp]

So when you posted this:



Did you mean it or did you mean "I'm looking for a game that is visually stimulating and I don't have to pay for"?

No I actually had a plan for GS4 that didn't work out for me because I came to realize that I was paying for something that I wasn't going to get any return on.

I wasn't getting anything that was worth the $14 per month as opposed to the $9.99 or whatever it was that I was paying when I played back in the day. The enjoyment of the game has fallen, the market has fallen, the population has fallen, the false promises have gotten under my skin, the fact that this is a 15-20 year old game, which still charges as much as some of the newest games on the market do per month, is also annoying.

If GS4 could get away with it, I could see them raising their price another $5.00 or so just because. And without giving anything in return. Whoever is running the company is doing a horrible job in my opinion. The GM's might be cool and helpful in many cases, but the entire corporate office must be out of their minds.

[Showal]

You still didn't address my dislike.

Why address dislikes when you can spam copy and pastes that address no one?

Why realize that what you like visually in a game will be different than others when you can quote random awards or links that say you're right?

[AnticorRifling]

Why address dislikes when you can spam copy and pastes that address no one?

Why realize that what you like visually in a game will be different than others when you can quote random awards or links that say you're right?

No dude you have to like something from the game or you're lying. Imp said so.

[Imp]

Why address dislikes when you can spam copy and pastes that address no one?

Why realize that what you like visually in a game will be different than others when you can quote random awards or links that say you're right?

It isn't about being right or wrong. It's actually about trying to pry you guys away from your low-grade crack addiction which is otherwise known as GS4.

The game is worth $5.00 a month. That's it. Tops. If the population was in the thousands, I would understand $10.00 a month. But it's not. It's in the hundreds. And....it's not even $10.00 a month. It's $14.95 or whatever, and with additional character slots (which I would imagine most people would want) now you're just getting into the realm of insanity.

[Showal]

No I actually had a plan for GS4 that didn't work out for me because I came to realize that I was paying for something that I wasn't going to get any return on.

I wasn't getting anything that was worth the $14 per month as opposed to the $9.99 or whatever it was that I was paying when I played back in the day. The enjoyment of the game has fallen, the market has fallen, the population has fallen, the false promises have gotten under my skin, the fact that this is a 15-20 year old game, which still charges as much as some of the newest games on the market do per month, is also annoying.

If GS4 could get away with it, I could see them raising their price another $5.00 or so just because. And without giving anything in return. Whoever is running the company is doing a horrible job in my opinion. The GM's might be cool and helpful in many cases, but the entire corporate office must be out of their minds.

Oh, ok, so it wasn't because you wanted to spend time with your 7 month old and your girlfriend.

I think someone said it best in the other thread:


Congratulations on having a baby with your girlfriend.
Its every mans dream to be a baby's daddy.
Some people might say you should get married and make her a dignified wife and mother, get a family started.
I think you should hold out and give her a chance to find someone better.

You can do this by playing DDO, not GS4.

[Cephalopod]

After getting rid of my GS4 characters/items now almost a month ago, I needed to find a good game (one that wasn't ridiculously priced like GS4) and so I searched the web for the perfect game that would fulfill my unicorn desires. And I found it.

It's called ROBOT UNICORN ATTACK. It's completely free to play.

It has won the following awards:

* Nachos' Seal of Apporval

That's not bad at all for a game that has better graphics than Gemstone 4, more rocks to jump over, a better soundtrack, decapitated weeping unicorns, a lower price (free!), and is just as professional if not more so.

Here's the link to the website, hope to see some of you guys there:

http://games.adultswim.com/robot-unicorn-attack-twitchy-online-game.html

[Showal]

It isn't about being right or wrong. It's actually about trying to pry you guys away from your low-grade crack addiction which is otherwise known as GS4.

The game is worth $5.00 a month. That's it. Tops. If the population was in the thousands, I would understand $10.00 a month. But it's not. It's in the hundreds. And....it's not even $10.00 a month. It's $14.95 or whatever, and with additional character slots (which I would imagine most people would want) now you're just getting into the realm of insanity.

Once again, you entirely missed the point of my post.

[Some Rogue]

FYI, most of the people who post here don't even play GS anymore.

[Showal]

After getting rid of my GS4 characters/items now almost a month ago, I needed to find a good game (one that wasn't ridiculously priced like GS4) and so I searched the web for the perfect game that would fulfill my unicorn desires. And I found it.

It's called ROBOT UNICORN ATTACK. It's completely free to play.

It has won the following awards:

* Nachos' Seal of Apporval

That's not bad at all for a game that has better graphics than Gemstone 4, more rocks to jump over, a better soundtrack, decapitated weeping unicorns, a lower price (free!), and is just as professional if not more so.

Here's the link to the website, hope to see some of you guys there:

http://games.adultswim.com/robot-unicorn-attack-twitchy-online-game.html

I wish my work computer let me play flash games.

[AnticorRifling]

FYI, most of the people who post here don't even play GS anymore.

Shhh he's saving us from ourselves (while not addressing dislikes even though he requested them). Besides you're obviously lying since you don't love this game.

[Imp]

Oh, ok, so it wasn't because you wanted to spend time with your 7 month old and your girlfriend.

I think someone said it best in the other thread:



You can do this by playing DDO, not GS4.

No. It was. I have had way more time on my hands to spend with my little girl (and have been) since I switched to playing Magic The Gathering on Xbox Live, Command and Conquer on Xbox live (which by the way is the first game ever to have that many known actors in it's cast), and DDO Online. It's a perfect cocktail.

If I had to compare that strategy to grinding it out for hours and hours on end just to get anywhere in Gemstone 4 (and you will never even begin to compare to the 80% in GS4 who have been playing for 10 years or more - unless you bought a character and bought items for it) then I would say that to compare my current gaming trend to back when I was playing Gemstone 4 is like trying to compare backwoods mexican low quality reggie to 7 finely rolled strawberry blunts filled with the highest quality purple dro.

[Showal]

Shhh he's saving us from ourselves (while not addressing dislikes even though he requested them). Besides you're obviously lying since you don't love this game.

Anticor, you're lying because you think there's even something to dislike. You don't deserve a response because lies don't deserve responses. Fucking liar.

[AnticorRifling]

No. It was. I have had way more time on my hands to spend with my little girl (and have been) since I switched to playing Magic The Gathering on Xbox Live, Command and Conquer on Xbox live (which by the way is the first game ever to have that many known actors in it's cast), and DDO Online. It's a perfect cocktail.

If I had to compare that strategy to grinding it out for hours and hours on end just to get anywhere in Gemstone 4 (and you will never even begin to compare to the 80% in GS4 who have been playing for 10 years or more - unless you bought a character and bought items for it) then I would say that it's like trying to compare my current gaming trend to back when I was playing Gemstone 4 is like trying to compare backwoods mexican low quality reggie to 7 finely rolled strawberry blunts filled with the highest quality purple dro.

Oh shit son weed spliff bong internet I'm hood doobies. You got straight told Showal STRAIGHT TOLD!!!!!


Imp can you give me a training path for DDO so you can have the potential to maybe with years of work have the best character ever?!

[Imp]

Oh shit son weed spliff bong internet I'm hood doobies. You got straight told Showal STRAIGHT TOLD!!!!!


Imp can you give me a training path for DDO so you can have the potential to maybe with years of work have the best character ever?!

I don't believe my characters were going to be the best characters ever when they got into their 100's. I remember saying before the BO offer that they could have definately turned out to be some of the best characters in the game at this time.

But...then again...that's not saying very much in a population of 300-400 people.

[AnticorRifling]

Does that bike of yours go forward or does it just back peddle?

Also address my dislike properly, sans unrelated copy/paste.

[Imp]

Does that bike of yours go forward or does it just back peddle?

Also address my dislike properly, sans unrelated copy/paste.

Ok and what exactly was your dislike again? I'm having trouble finding it.

[Showal]

No. It was. I have had way more time on my hands to spend with my little girl (and have been) since I switched to playing Magic The Gathering on Xbox Live, Command and Conquer on Xbox live (which by the way is the first game ever to have that many known actors in it's cast), and DDO Online. It's a perfect cocktail.

If I had to compare that strategy to grinding it out for hours and hours on end just to get anywhere in Gemstone 4 (and you will never even begin to compare to the 80% in GS4 who have been playing for 10 years or more - unless you bought a character and bought items for it) then I would say that it's like trying to compare my current gaming trend to back when I was playing Gemstone 4 is like trying to compare backwoods mexican low quality reggie to 7 finely rolled strawberry blunts filled with the highest quality purple dro.


Stupidest analogy ever.

GS is not always about comparing yourself to others. I assure you that, while my character has been around for 7 years, under the right dedication, a fixskills, and a few support characters to drag backpacks filled with loot in his following, he has the potential to be one of the greatest characters www.play.net (http://www.play.net) has ever seen (this includes Modus Operandi).

As I said in my post before, which you requested, but failed to address, I don't play for the grind and stats.

I have an interesting fact about Command and Conquer. Did you know it is the first game ever to have that many known actors in its cast?

[Imp]

I play roleplaying games for the roleplaying aspect. I liked the developed history and the generally well informed population of Elanthia. There are always the people in Gemstone that play for mechanics, stats, gold, and items. There are some people, myself included, that play for the actual story. I found that completely, in every sense of the word, absent from DDO. I can't even find online the history of the world, explanations of any dieties, anything, for DDO.

I quit playing Diablo real soon after I got it, because simple hack and slash games do not hold my interest for long. The limited interactions with people I had in DDO put it into pretty much the same category as Diablo for me, with the ability to customize your character more. I feel I could do this on my own. I could draw pictures and walk my picture character around in my mind and get just as much satisfaction out of it. I could devise all sorts of items and clothes and imagine them in it. It would be free too.

I don't play games online to actually forge and maintain friendships. I do, however, go for the interactions with people. Sometimes I have found friendships through these interactions, but I don't set out with this as an intention. I don't care to play DDO with someone and have them say over a mic "Hold on, going for a smoke break". I enjoy trying to think like a character and interact with people who are doing the same.

I really don't enjoy the mechanics and the numbers of games. I don't generally involve myself in these conversations when it comes to Gemstone either. As I've said, that's not what I play roleplaying games for and this, to me, is what DDO is.

Not that's what I call a dislike that makes perfect sense to me. Certainly, DDO is not the game for you.

[Imp]

Stupidest analogy ever.


I have an interesting fact about Command and Conquer. Did you know it is the first game ever to have that many known actors in its cast?

I'm talking about the newest version. Command and Conquer Red Alert 3. Don't even get me started on this game. The original Command And Conquer Red Alert was one of the most innovative and amazing games for it's time. Many memories of hooking up two tv's side by side and holding tournaments in my apartment with the one and only incredible "link cable". =)~

[Showal]

But...then again...that's not saying very much in a population of 300-400 people.

UH OH! GEMZ IS A DYING GAME! IT'S DYING! THAT'S WHY YOU DIDN'T MAKE ALL THAT MAD CASH TO BUY SO MANY FINELY ROLLED STRAWBERRY BLUNTS!

[AnticorRifling]

Ok and what exactly was your dislike again? I'm having trouble finding it.

Root thru the last few pages of steaming shit you posted, it's the golden corn kernal buried within.

[Showal]

I'm talking about the newest version. Command and Conquer Red Alert 3.

Yeah yeah. Me too me too.

[AnticorRifling]

Not that's what I call a dislike that makes perfect sense to me. Certainly, DDO is not the game for you.

Shit, Showal, Imp says you have a valid dislike YOU MADE IT MAN YOU MADE IT!

[Cephalopod]

UH OH! GEMZ IS A DYING GAME! IT'S DYING! THAT'S WHY YOU DIDN'T MAKE ALL THAT MAD CASH TO BUY SO MANY FINELY ROLLED STRAWBERRY BLUNTS!

This makes me wonder: can I smoke in DDO? I can in GS. I don't like smoking in real life, so any game I play has to allow me to smoke.

[AnticorRifling]

I'm not sure that's a valid dislike Nacho, we'll have to wait on a ruling as to it's validity as a dislike or if it's more of a nitpicky bitchification.

[Showal]

This makes me wonder: can I smoke in DDO? I can in GS. I don't like smoking in real life, so any game I play has to allow me to smoke.

Fucking liar.

[Imp]

I'm not sure that's a valid dislike Nacho, we'll have to wait on a ruling as to it's validity as a dislike or if it's more of a nitpicky bitchification.

I'm not finding it...

Just repost in other words.

[Imp]

It was a close call....but GS4 beat out both DDO and World of Warcraft for best game of 2010:

www.fantasyisland.com

[Showal]

From the screenshot alone I don't like the fact that you can only make 2 characters without purchasing another slot. So much for exploring all aspects of the class/race system without rerolling.

Here.

[Imp]

Here.

Alright here's the deal.

Oh thout migh-t Unicorn. Cast upon me the benevelant love that so thrust itself upon my Elanthian Empath.

I really don't have any comment other than that about your dislike...I mean it's yours. Keep it.

[Showal]

It was a close call....but GS4 beat out both DDO and World of Warcraft for best game of 2010:

www.fantasyisland.com (http://www.fantasyisland.com)

Thanks. The reference was requested.

I care what other people think about my game. I only enjoy games that have been rated high by others. I don't know why, but if my hobbies aren't rated high on internet polls and random award sites, I just can't find pleasure in it anymore.

[Cephalopod]

http://thebooksmugglers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/unicorn.jpg

[Imp]

http://thebooksmugglers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/unicorn.jpg

lol. Man I wish I was high right now.

[AnticorRifling]

Alright here's the deal.

Oh thout migh-t Unicorn. Cast upon me the benevelant love that so thrust itself upon my Elanthian Empath.

I really don't have any comment other than that about your dislike...I mean it's yours. Keep it.

Gotcha you don't have the ability to say "That makes sense and does suck. You're right".

[AnticorRifling]

lol. Man I wish I was high right now.

Father of the year.

[Imp]

Father of the year.

I said I WISH I was high right now.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3488641595_df3aaaebfd.jpg

[Showal]

Alright here's the deal.

Oh thout migh-t Unicorn. Cast upon me the benevelant love that so thrust itself upon my Elanthian Empath.

I really don't have any comment other than that about your dislike...I mean it's yours. Keep it.

Anticor, he approved of your dislike too. You also got a sentence that made no sense at all.

Oh thout migh-t finely rolled strawberry blunt filled with layer and layer of the highest foraged quality of purple dro, cast upon me the benevelant [sic] love that so thrust itself within the gates of stormreach.

[Showal]

Father of the year.

The father of the year quits Gemstone to spend more time with his daughter, but instead picks up Magic: The Gathering, DDO, and C&C: Red Alert 3 (which has the most known actors in its cast when compared to other games) - the perfect cocktail.

[AnticorRifling]

I said I WISH I was high right now.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3488641595_df3aaaebfd.jpg

Can't see the pic at work.

I know what you said. I can't see the picture but I'll assume it's a lvl 13 half-krol with potential being directed by a stoned dude as his kid looks on.

[Imp]

Anticor, he approved of your dislike too. You also got a sentence that made no sense at all.

Oh thout migh-t finely rolled strawberry blunt filled with layer and layer of the highest foraged quality of purple dro, cast upon me the benevelant [sic]

Father or not...you give me a hand rolled (if yer hands were washed) blunt filled with that kind of bud and what my soon to be wife doesn't know won't hurt her.

[Showal]

Father or not...you give me a hand rolled (if yer hands were washed) blunt filled with that kind of bud and what my soon to be wife doesn't know won't hurt her.

http://www.forumspile.com/Misc-OhSnap.jpg

[Salueha]

Father of the year.

Where do I place my vote?

Seriously though, OP, did you really expect to get a different response from the PC? Did you happen to miss the little "Gemstone IV" above the player's corner logo? Also, did you get confused and completely miss the Other Games section of the forum? You posted this under General Gemstone. DDO online is an interesting game, I'll give you that. It bores me to tears in comparison to GSIV though since the roleplaying aspect is pretty much non-existent.

The points you're making in support of the game are no different than the ones fanbois of any MMO, FPS, strategy, and Hello Kitty make to give themselves reassurance that they're not playing a crap game.

Oh, the Other Game section is this way. http://forum.gsplayers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42

- Sal

[Imp]

Can't see the pic at work.

I know what you said. I can't see the picture but I'll assume it's a lvl 13 half-krol with potential being directed by a stoned dude as his kid looks on.

No. It's a dude riding one of the killer Unicorns from GS4 with a rechargable +3 to his charisma crown on his head.

[Imp]

Where do I place my vote?

Seriously though, OP, did you really expect to get a different response from the PC? Did you happen to miss the little "Gemstone IV" above the player's corner logo? Also, did you get confused and completely miss the Other Games section of the forum? You posted this under General Gemstone. DDO online is an interesting game, I'll give you that. It bores me to tears in comparison to GSIV though since the roleplaying aspect is pretty much non-existent.

The points you're making in support of the game are no different than the ones fanbois of any MMO, FPS, strategy, and Hello Kitty make to give themselves reassurance that they're not playing a crap game.

Oh, the Other Game section is this way. http://forum.gsplayers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42

- Sal

I just wanted to give you guys another option for when you leave GS4 - which if the current trend continues...you will. Least that's what I'm putting my money on.

[Showal]

No. It's a dude riding one of the killer Unicorns from GS4 with a rechargable +3 to his charisma crown on his head.

Why are no backpacks attached to the killer unicorn to drag all his minotaur loot that he's going to use to make real life money? He's developed a very very good business plan.

[Showal]

I'm talking about the newest version. Command and Conquer Red Alert 3. Don't even get me started on this game. The original Command And Conquer Red Alert was one of the most innovative and amazing games for it's time. Many memories of hooking up two tv's side by side and holding tournaments in my apartment with the one and only incredible "link cable". =)~

Sorry, I don't even want to get you started.

[Salueha]

I just wanted to give you guys another option for when you leave GS4 - which if the current trend continues...you will. Least that's what I'm putting my money on.

Actually, I just returned GS from a long hiatus and am loving every minute of it. The population is definitely lower than what I remember, but I've roleplayed more in the last week than I have in the last year while playing on a RP server in WoW.

DDO is decent for a free game. It's mainly just about mechanics though (much like WoW), which I dislike. Most of the MMOs of today seem to have forgotten that RPG goes on the end.

There's a difference between just tossing a link out there and saying "Try this game, it's fun for me" and trolling like you are. I really could care less what Wiki says about DDO, and I'm sure most of the other people feel the same way. If we felt inclined to read it, we would just go to the damn site.

[AnticorRifling]

Fail.

[Showal]

Actually, I just returned GS from a long hiatus and am loving every minute of it. The population is definitely lower than what I remember, but I've roleplayed more in the last week than I have in the last year while playing on a RP server in WoW.

DDO is decent for a free game. It's mainly just about mechanics though (much like WoW), which I dislike. Most of the MMOs of today seem to have forgotten that RPG goes on the end.

There's a difference between just tossing a link out there and saying "Try this game, it's fun for me" and trolling like you are. I really could care less what Wiki says about DDO, and I'm sure most of the other people feel the same way. If we felt inclined to read it, we would just go to the damn site.

The trend is for people coming back. I know because one person posted that they came back. If you jump on, Imp, you might be in time to make some real money off your characters now. We all know you didn't really sell that account.

[AnticorRifling]

Did we even consider getting black crystals for disks and what kind of ROI that would have on dragging loot back to vendor?!

[Imp]

DDO is decent for a free game. It's mainly just about mechanics though (much like WoW), which I dislike. Most of the MMOs of today seem to have forgotten that RPG goes on the end.



Another completely understandable reason why the game wouldn't be for you then. Extreme roleplay is something I would have to admit that the game might not have going for it. Though I can't say that definitively. But GS4 has lost it's roleplay element as well, I mean there is no more "tis not what the Elves would like" element to the game.

I remember the good old days of, "If that's what you wish My Lord."

lol. Now it's, "Hey, Brute, get a grip."

[StrayRogue]

I just wanted to give you guys another option for when you leave GS4 - which if the current trend continues...you will. Least that's what I'm putting my money on.

Like has been said about a billion times on this forum, most people who post here DON'T PLAY THE GAME.

[Salueha]

Another completely understandable reason why the game wouldn't be for you then. Extreme roleplay is something I would have to admit that the game might not have going for it. Though I can't say that definitively. But GS4 has lost it's roleplay element as well, I mean there is no more "tis not what the Elves would like" element to the game.

I remember the good old days of, "If that's what you wish My Lord."

lol. Now it's, "Hey, Brute, get a grip."

Of course, we're all going to have our own experiences and opinions about things. From my observations, GSIV still has a strong roleplay element. You just have to know where to look. I play a half-elf, and I do a little dance of glee in my head when someone expresses disgust or acts in a dismissive manner toward me because of my mixed heritage. The shop keepers do it all on their own, but it's extremely refreshing when a player does it.

It sounds like you burned out on GSIV and found something else that you enjoy. Good for you. There's no need to keep trying to reassure yourself that you made the right decision. You posted a link to the game and your opinions about it. Why are you continuing to try and discredit everything that you don't like? By doing that, you're just going to make people think you're trolling, which you are. :)

[AnticorRifling]

It sounds like you burned out

Indeed.

[Some Rogue]

Indeed.
Wut?
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a64/lrenzo2/stoner-791927.jpg

[Xanator]

GemStone IV is a text-based role-playing game (often known as a MUD) produced by Simutronics. Players control characters in a High Fantasy game world named "Elanthia". The first playable version of the game was known as GemStone II and was launched in April 1988 on GEnie. It was one of the first MMORPGs and is one of the longest running online games still active. [1] Access to the game is subscription-based (monthly fee) through its website, with two additional subscriptions levels available, "Premium" and "Platinum".

Technical Information

GemStone IV is a text-based game built on Simutronics' proprietary engine, the IFE (Interactive Fiction Engine). This engine is capable of changing nearly any aspect of the game on the fly which allows updates without the necessity for downtime, a problem of many graphical RPGs. Due to the use of the IFE, GemStone is rarely taken offline, giving a 24-hour uptime cycle aside from the occasional game crash.

The GemStone interface is simply a text stream, and the game can be played with a Telnet interface after authentication. There are several official interfaces to the game, as well as several unofficial ones. The oldest interface for Windows is called the "Wizard Front End" and offers several useful features such as status readouts, macros, and limited scripting abilities. The Wizard has since been superseded with the "StormFront" Front End introduced in 2003. StormFront offers several additional extensions to the game, including a "point and click" interface that allows one to click on text within the game and bring up action menus applicable to that portion of text. The Java FE and a browser-based version named "eScape" are less popular alternatives. A Wizard (similar to the Windows version) also exists for Macintosh Classic, while a Front End named "Avalon" is available for Mac OS X. No official Linux client exists.

[Xanator]

History

GemStone was first demonstrated to GEnie in 1987 before Simutronics was officially incorporated. It was only used as a demonstration model and was never available to the general subscribers. GemStone II was released in April 1988 to GEnie customers. However, GemStone II was very short-lived, and GemStone III went into open beta testing in December 1989, officially launching on February 1, 1990. [2] The transition from "II" to "III" maintained significant portions of the environment, but not all, and character records were not maintained over the transition, requiring all players to begin anew. GemStone III evolved into GemStone IV in November 2003, but the game world and character records were maintained over the transition. Gemstone III was promoted on GEnie by promising players the opportunity to receive real-life versions of gems found in-game, something that persisted for many years.

GemStone originally operated with a license to use the Rolemaster game mechanics and Shadow World environment from Iron Crown Enterprises (ICE). In 1995, Simutronics and ICE agreed to let the business relationship expire, necessitating the removal of all ICE intellectual property from GemStone. Many of the game changes were simply renaming ICE names, such as changing the world name from Kulthea to Elanthia, and renaming the deities while keeping their pre

[Xanator]

vious characteristics.

Game mechanics were greatly changed with the de-ICEing (as the period is colloquially named), which required every game character to undergo significant changes. Character racial and class choices were also changed, making any direct translation between the two systems difficult. The end result was that every character was required to "re-roll" their character with the option to change race and skills, but maintaining their old experience level, class, and equipment.

GemStone became available on AOL in September, 1995, just after the de-ICEing process. Shortly thereafter, it became available on CompuServe and Prodigy as well. When AOL switched to flat-rate pricing, GemStone did over 1.4 million customer-hours in a single month, while the number of simultaneous users could rise above 3000 during prime time. [3] Simutronics launched a web portal in 1997, and started phasing customers off of the online services and onto the web interface, although it would take several years before the last of the online service portals were closed.

The number of subscribers has slowly been declining since the move to the web. However, GemStone still maintains a healthy playerbase, with a large group of players remaining active for years. There is at least one remaining player from GemStone II and many others who have been playing for more than ten years.

Awards and achievements

* 1998 Finalist, Online Game of the Year, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences [4]
* December 1996, AOL Members' Choice Award [5]

[AnticorRifling]

HAHA awesome.

[Salueha]

That's classic! I'm sad they didn't mention when Gemstone was on the MSN Gaming Zone though. Oh, how I miss the Zone.

[Endaar]

Like has been said about a billion times on this forum, most people who post here DON'T PLAY THE GAME.

"most people" seems a stretch.

Just admit that the successful troll was successful, as has been succinctly noted with one of those funny GIFs earlier in this thread :yes:

[AnticorRifling]

I think if we were to get an honest poll (yeah right) it would probably show more past players than current.

[Fallen]

I think if we were to get an honest poll (yeah right) it would probably show more past players than current.

It would be interesting if it were along the lines of people who have, and have not played in the past year.

[Cephalopod]

We should do a snapshot of currently online folks in a new thread, and identify if they play or not. I say we because I don't feel like doing it.

[Fallen]

We should do a snapshot of currently online folks in a new thread, and identify if they play or not. I say we because I don't feel like doing it.


Would have to wait for prime time. Not many people on now.

[CrystalTears]

Bad:
- Only two character slots before you need to buy more.
- Two of the races aren't playable unless you buy in.
- A few of the classes aren't playable unless you buy in.
- Having played for about 30 minutes, I've already seen ads in game for buying things. It's a bit weird having NPCs tell you to visit the website to buy something. The constant BUY THIS gets old quick, but you can tune it out.

Weird:
- The constant instancing. The only way to compare it to something else is if every time you stepped into a hunting area in GS, you were instanced.

It's for these reasons that I won't play this game, the bold ones being the biggest offenses to me. The instances are what turned me off from Guild Wars. Not being able to run into players while out questing/hunting is LE BORING and huge LE SUCK. What's the point of a roleplaying game if you're only able to do that in town?

The ads would "instantly" get on my nerves too.

[Warriorbird]

Imp = IorakeWarhammer

[Cephalopod]

Imp = IorakeWarhammer

Wizards of the Coast orchestrated 9/11. True story.