Darkfall dev update beats around the free-to-play bush

It's Friday and that usually means an update of some sort from the folks at Aventurine. True to form, Tasos Flambouras has checked in with his weekly Darkfall blog post. This time around we're treated to a round of Q&A with a couple of Aventurine devs, and reader-submitted questions are the order of the day.

The discussion meanders from Darkfall 2.0's crafting changes, which are described as "a complete overhaul," to mechanical concerns like AoE melee damage as well as surges and fizzles.

Flambouras also drops an interesting comment regarding Darkfall free-to-play rumors. "We also read around the internet about Darkfall going free-to-play. Rumor has it that if you start a sentence with 'rumor has it' you can say pretty much anything you want. Not true," he writes. Whether the "not true" was a reference to Darkfall's alleged F2P conversion or a reference to the latter portion of the sentence isn't completely clear, and we'll be interested to hear a definitive answer as it relates to business models.

Reader Comments (19)

I'd play this Free to Play.

I like the Conan FTP Deathwish server now, but I would much rather have it skill leveling based instead of just spells and abilities.

cant wait for 2.0 may resub if they do whipe

@blix2006 wipe

I think it would be hard to make this game F2P comparted to other MMOs, imo

Now, now, Jef, don't be obtuse. That's pretty clearly a denial of the F2P rumor.

I think the update is looking pretty impressive so far. Allllmost makes me want to give it another shot, but not quite there yet. Not even sure F2P would bring me back to this one.

@Ghostspeaker

I agree that it sounds like a denial of F2P in Tasos-speak.

Also, I would hate to see this game go F2P because it's not really a type of game where people would care about "vanity items." If it became F2P, I can't see how it wouldn't become P2Win. If it became P2W, it would totally negate any wipes.

But this is all rumors feeding off of rumors and lack of clear information.

@xBludx

I'm actually inclined to agree with you. This game wouldn't be a good fit for F2P for a whole host of reasons.

Man I bet the vets of this game are so pissed.

@Bartlebe

I'm sure both of them are.

All kidding aside I agree. A full wipe would be the MMO dick move of the century. No matter what changes come in an MMO, the players know that one thing should always remain constant: their character.

@Bartlebe

They don't really have anything to be angry about -- yet.

Anyway, I'm sure they will be compensated in terms of maintaining "max level" avatars in whatever the new stat scheme is.

Why couldn't Tasos simply come out and categorically state "yes or no" about wiping or going F2P? He sounds like a politician, giving himself enough wiggle room to do what he appears to say he won't.

In any event, nothing I've seen in this statement or any other is anything to get excited about. It still doesn't appear that Aventurine has the any idea of what a sandbox game is.

Unless they change the game from what is has become infamous for, brutal PvP, I will never touch it. But then again, people that like unforgiving pvp should have a game to call their own where they can congregate and gank each other to their hearts content and leave other games alone.

Sounds to me like he was clearly saying the game wont be F2P. I find this unfortunate although I can agree it might be tough to implement.

Since it's the only way the game will survive long-term, Mr Flambouras has only two answers from which to choose: "Yes," or "I want to go job-hunting."

To be fair, I like the mechanics of the game; the combat in particular is a refreshing change from standard MMO number-clicking. But the game is a gankfest, and I don't play games wherein my primary function as a lowbie is serving as a punching bag for 20-year old children with debilitating inferiority complexes.

@ApathyCurve
I don't think you'll find many takers for pretty red dresses in Darkfall.
It's not the sort of game to go prancing around in looking for dating coins and it is based on full PvP so potions and buffs are out for any type of item shop.

We've already seen what happens when you try to force F2P crap on a group of adults with real jobs and an understanding of money with the Eve situation.

If you don't want to get ganked, either find the protection of a group or don't play. It is part of the beginning of the game. The last thing the game needs is an influx of carebear tourists filling the forums with whining about how they want the game to be.

So, please no F2P - it's one of the few real games left. What are we, down to Darkfall, Eve, Xsyon and Wurm now? Ya'll can have all the Japanese grinders, kid's games, Anime crap and pet bunnies, just leave a couple of games for the minority of us who aren't following the talking heads like lemmings.

Seriously, who buys buff potions from the same people can adjust the difficulty of the world anyways? Hello?

Since I don't have the time to put into this game to warrant paying a sub, I would definitely come back if it went free to play (I play for about 5 months when it first came out and loved it!)

@HiroProtagonist7

Do lemmings really follow talking heads?

That's my real problem with Darkfall. Anyone who isn't a hardcore PVPer, or who dares to find the game difficult, is automatically inferior.

@Issmir As someone who is an active darkfall n00b, I have to disagree. While the game centers around PvP largely, I've found a great PvE game alongside all that and players who are as happy to talk to you about crafting and questing as they would be about PvP advice.

It's a game for people who cut their teeth on Ultima, EQ, or something else like that --- and that's OK. We need our space as well.

@(Unverified) Yes.

Darkfall dev update beats around the free-to-play bush

Reader Comments (19)

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 7:41PM real65rcncom said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 8:48PM blix2006 said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 9:55AM blix2006 said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 9:17PM The Minn said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 9:57PM Ghostspeaker said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 10:05PM xBludx said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 10:18PM Ghostspeaker said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 10:36PM Bartlebe said

Posted: Jul 15th 2011 11:35PM Vorender said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 2:55AM xBludx said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 1:02AM AnathemaOne said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 3:12AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 9:08AM EndDream said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 12:17PM ApathyCurve said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 1:17PM HiroProtagonist7 said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 1:22PM thebillyman said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 4:23PM Issmir said

Posted: Jul 18th 2011 3:44PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 16th 2011 4:55PM HereticalPenguin said

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