The credit cost associated with just about everything being added is the only real gripe I have about TOR atm. I understand it to some degree, but the first tab in a guild bank should really be free for every guild out there.
I can't speak about any fees for unlocking legacy stuff yet, since I haven't seen it.
It's been a couple of years since I played it, but the original Guild Wars (and upcoming Guild Wars 2). The community was just so immature in GW that I couldn't bear to play it.
I always hear people complaining that F2P games are ruined because a bunch of kids end up playing them. In my experience, it usually isn't that bad in most F2P games because, in many ways, you do have to buy things in order to round out your character. So the kiddies tend to stay away from them. This isn't true with Guild Wars, though. You pay for the initial game and you play free forever. So you end up with a lot of kids who can't con their mommy and daddy into paying a monthly subscription fee asking for Guild Wars instead. It wasn't as bad as public beta tests can be, but it was still pretty bad. It was my experiences in Guild Wars that will keep me from even trying GW2.
And to be fair...I'm not saying the whole community is like that. I'm sure there are plenty of mature people playing the game and enjoying it. But for me? There's only so much I can put up with before I call it quits. Public betas and free trial periods come to an end. GW is forever. =/
It is true that some MMOs only offer the "beefcake" look for male characters, but I disagree with the premise that that is a majority. If anything, it's a minority. As someone pointed out earlier, a large number of MMOs seem to go for the metro look for male models. I'm generally not a fan of playing someone who so scrawny that they look like they'll pass out from exhaustion the moment they strap on a breastplate and pick up a two-handed sword.
But I also understand that many guys do want "normal" looking character models.
SWTOR did good with its characters models, though it really needed at least two more models (one short and stout and one tall and slim). By far, however, DCUO has done better than any other MMO out there when it comes to preset character sizes. Nine sizes per gender works out great. No, it's not as versatile as CoH/V or CO, but it gives the devs the opportunity to place restrictions on character models to make artwork development easier, while at the same time giving players a wide selection of character sizes to choose from.
Since the first time I saw an Imperial Star Destroyer pass overhead blasting laser beams towards the surface of a planet where Bambi ran through a forest fire trying to escape a hunter (hey, I was four years old...things are kinda a blur) I have been a Star Wars fan. I even thought the prequels weren't that bad (although certain scenes and characters should be burned from existence, never to be mentioned again). So I knew I'd be playing SWTOR from the moment I first learned that it might be in the works.
However, a Star Wars theme alone is not enough to keep me playing a game I don't enjoy. I left SWG once SOE destroyed it. And having played MMOs for well over a decade now, there are certain things I expect out of them.
Bioware has delivered the goods for me.
I honestly have not had this much fun playing an MMO since, well, ever? The quests remind me more of a PnP RPG than anything else. Sure, there is a path that must be followed for the story to work out, but you have the freedom to play your character as you will and develop real connections to your companions. And anyone whose ever played a PnP RPG can tell you that no good role-player is going to toss out the GM's hard work and completely split away from the adventure. That way leads to nothing but trouble as your GM struggles to make stuff up on the fly to try to force you back into the adventure they spent weeks putting together. So having to stay on a general course doesn't phase me one bit.
BW did good. I want to play every class to endgame and I know that between side quests, bonus quests, space missions and PvP, I can do that and have almost entirely unique experiences with all of my characters.
Simply put...I don't see myself leaving SWTOR for a long time to come.
Frankly, yes. Part of what keeps my from playing on RP servers is that every time I try them out I run into people with silly names acting like complete dicks. This group is inevitably followed by the RP Nazis, who feel it is their public duty to put down anyone whose character doesn't fit their vision of what that race/class should act like, in large part because the devs aren't doing it themselves. Of course, this group gets so ridiculous in their fits of nerd rage that they act like chum to a shark, luring trolls from every server to come roll a Drow Paladin shim named MEGABOOBZ.
So, yeah...if there's going to be an official RP server, I'd like to see it policed to keep the childish behavior from both groups limited to a minimum. =)
Remember 1st Edition AD&D? Magic-Users required 2,500 XP for 2nd level and were as good as dead if anything got close to them (especially at lower levels). They had one or two spells to cast per day and relied on the rest of the group to keep them safe...until higher levels...By 10th level they were able to devastate hordes of minions with their fireballs, create walls of stone, summon elementals, etc... And by level 20 they were easily the most powerful class in game.
I'm not saying we need to go back to the complexity that was Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, but what I am saying is that balance should depend on the game and what the "vision" for that game is.
If the game is meant to be a PvP game, then by all means, balance it on PvP. But just be aware that if that's what you do that's how the game will be labeled. Likewise, if the game is meant to focus on PvE, then PvP balance shouldn't matter. Certain classes will always have the upper hand in PvP and wasting your time trying to balance that is, well, wasting your time. Many of us who PvE'd in WoW hated what Blizzard did when they brought Arenas in in TBC, because we could expect our abilities and stats to be nerfed every patch. When PvP has a negative effect on PvE in a PvE game like WoW, you have a real problem.
Having some degree of balance is fine, but one aspect of game play MUST take precedence over the other. Balance must be based on either PvE OR PvP, not both. And devs must make it clear which will be their focus from the get go, so players will know what they are getting into.
Correction: "...the moment the majority of the player base is sitting at max level on all eight of their characters awaiting new content."
Let's be honest here, if you aren't alting in TOR, you're doing it wrong.
All eight classes have excellent story lines and BW has created great incentives to encourage people to play through all of them with the Legacy system. Plus, with all the bonus series quests, PvP and space missions, you can pretty much pick and choose how you fill in your leveling. Didn't like Balmorra? Just do the story line quest there and move on. Make up the XP somewhere else. I've leveled my Sniper almost exclusively on class story quests and space missions, only grabbing a handful of side quests along the way.
You are correct in your assessment that single character oriented players will leave once they've completed most of the content. But most of them have already left. And that reality applies to every MMO out there. These are the same folks who left WoW because it couldn't keep up with their demands. No one can really please this group. Trust me. Our guild has played together since the early days of EQ. We have formed up in numerous MMOs over the years. It's the same group every time that quits and moves on to something else once they burn through the content.
But I see a true potential for longevity in TOR. It's not going to be for everyone, though. If you're not a Star Wars fan, or if an involved story line isn't your thing, or if alts aren't you thing, well, you're probably not gonna like TOR.
Sounds about right. I think most of those who were just testing it out have moved on by now. Pretty much everyone I talk to in game is planning on staying for the long hauI. Hence, I can't see these numbers going down anytime soon, especially with everything 1.2 is bringing to the game.
Rifts. I enjoyed it for some time, but they have really failed to deliver on dynamic content, imho. They could have had such a great game if they'd have gone thr route of randomly generated dungeon levels rather than just more of the same (as in, more and more rifts). That and after awhile the lack of diversity in the game gets to you. Four classes and three races per faction and every class can have up to five specs and fill almost every role (or every role if you're a cleric or a rogue). There was no reason to alt.
On the keeper side, I am more firmly committed to SWTOR than ever. I've been playing since CB last June and I love it more now than I did then. I do understand why some people are leaving. It is definitely a game that you will either absolutely love or absolutely hate after a couple of months of playing. I'm with the former, though. I can play through 8 different alts (4 Imp and 4 Rep) and have an almost completely different play experience each time. I might have a couple of quests overlap, but by filling in with bonus series, space missions and PvP I can pick and choose which generic quests I want to take without hurting my leveling at all. SWTOR truly is a game designed for us altaholics! =)
Hyperspace Beacon: Breaking the bank
Apr 4th 2012 9:24AM (Massively)The credit cost associated with just about everything being added is the only real gripe I have about TOR atm. I understand it to some degree, but the first tab in a guild bank should really be free for every guild out there.
I can't speak about any fees for unlocking legacy stuff yet, since I haven't seen it.
The Daily Grind: What game would you play were it not for the community?
Mar 27th 2012 8:42AM (Massively)I always hear people complaining that F2P games are ruined because a bunch of kids end up playing them. In my experience, it usually isn't that bad in most F2P games because, in many ways, you do have to buy things in order to round out your character. So the kiddies tend to stay away from them. This isn't true with Guild Wars, though. You pay for the initial game and you play free forever. So you end up with a lot of kids who can't con their mommy and daddy into paying a monthly subscription fee asking for Guild Wars instead. It wasn't as bad as public beta tests can be, but it was still pretty bad. It was my experiences in Guild Wars that will keep me from even trying GW2.
And to be fair...I'm not saying the whole community is like that. I'm sure there are plenty of mature people playing the game and enjoying it. But for me? There's only so much I can put up with before I call it quits. Public betas and free trial periods come to an end. GW is forever. =/
The Daily Grind: Are MMO players tired of beefcake?
Mar 26th 2012 9:39AM (Massively)It is true that some MMOs only offer the "beefcake" look for male characters, but I disagree with the premise that that is a majority. If anything, it's a minority. As someone pointed out earlier, a large number of MMOs seem to go for the metro look for male models. I'm generally not a fan of playing someone who so scrawny that they look like they'll pass out from exhaustion the moment they strap on a breastplate and pick up a two-handed sword.
But I also understand that many guys do want "normal" looking character models.
SWTOR did good with its characters models, though it really needed at least two more models (one short and stout and one tall and slim). By far, however, DCUO has done better than any other MMO out there when it comes to preset character sizes. Nine sizes per gender works out great. No, it's not as versatile as CoH/V or CO, but it gives the devs the opportunity to place restrictions on character models to make artwork development easier, while at the same time giving players a wide selection of character sizes to choose from.
Why I Play: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Mar 21st 2012 10:15PM (Massively)However, a Star Wars theme alone is not enough to keep me playing a game I don't enjoy. I left SWG once SOE destroyed it. And having played MMOs for well over a decade now, there are certain things I expect out of them.
Bioware has delivered the goods for me.
I honestly have not had this much fun playing an MMO since, well, ever? The quests remind me more of a PnP RPG than anything else. Sure, there is a path that must be followed for the story to work out, but you have the freedom to play your character as you will and develop real connections to your companions. And anyone whose ever played a PnP RPG can tell you that no good role-player is going to toss out the GM's hard work and completely split away from the adventure. That way leads to nothing but trouble as your GM struggles to make stuff up on the fly to try to force you back into the adventure they spent weeks putting together. So having to stay on a general course doesn't phase me one bit.
BW did good. I want to play every class to endgame and I know that between side quests, bonus quests, space missions and PvP, I can do that and have almost entirely unique experiences with all of my characters.
Simply put...I don't see myself leaving SWTOR for a long time to come.
The Daily Grind: Do you expect a roleplaying server to be policed?
Mar 18th 2012 9:50AM (Massively)So, yeah...if there's going to be an official RP server, I'd like to see it policed to keep the childish behavior from both groups limited to a minimum. =)
The Daily Grind: Should MMOs balance for PvP, PvE, or yes?
Mar 12th 2012 8:57AM (Massively)Remember 1st Edition AD&D? Magic-Users required 2,500 XP for 2nd level and were as good as dead if anything got close to them (especially at lower levels). They had one or two spells to cast per day and relied on the rest of the group to keep them safe...until higher levels...By 10th level they were able to devastate hordes of minions with their fireballs, create walls of stone, summon elementals, etc... And by level 20 they were easily the most powerful class in game.
I'm not saying we need to go back to the complexity that was Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, but what I am saying is that balance should depend on the game and what the "vision" for that game is.
If the game is meant to be a PvP game, then by all means, balance it on PvP. But just be aware that if that's what you do that's how the game will be labeled. Likewise, if the game is meant to focus on PvE, then PvP balance shouldn't matter. Certain classes will always have the upper hand in PvP and wasting your time trying to balance that is, well, wasting your time. Many of us who PvE'd in WoW hated what Blizzard did when they brought Arenas in in TBC, because we could expect our abilities and stats to be nerfed every patch. When PvP has a negative effect on PvE in a PvE game like WoW, you have a real problem.
Having some degree of balance is fine, but one aspect of game play MUST take precedence over the other. Balance must be based on either PvE OR PvP, not both. And devs must make it clear which will be their focus from the get go, so players will know what they are getting into.
Diablo III shelves PvP to make launch
Mar 9th 2012 11:25PM (Massively)Star Wars: The Old Republic subscription numbers stabilize at 1.7 million
Mar 9th 2012 3:39PM (Massively)Correction: "...the moment the majority of the player base is sitting at max level on all eight of their characters awaiting new content."
Let's be honest here, if you aren't alting in TOR, you're doing it wrong.
All eight classes have excellent story lines and BW has created great incentives to encourage people to play through all of them with the Legacy system. Plus, with all the bonus series quests, PvP and space missions, you can pretty much pick and choose how you fill in your leveling. Didn't like Balmorra? Just do the story line quest there and move on. Make up the XP somewhere else. I've leveled my Sniper almost exclusively on class story quests and space missions, only grabbing a handful of side quests along the way.
You are correct in your assessment that single character oriented players will leave once they've completed most of the content. But most of them have already left. And that reality applies to every MMO out there. These are the same folks who left WoW because it couldn't keep up with their demands. No one can really please this group. Trust me. Our guild has played together since the early days of EQ. We have formed up in numerous MMOs over the years. It's the same group every time that quits and moves on to something else once they burn through the content.
But I see a true potential for longevity in TOR. It's not going to be for everyone, though. If you're not a Star Wars fan, or if an involved story line isn't your thing, or if alts aren't you thing, well, you're probably not gonna like TOR.
Star Wars: The Old Republic subscription numbers stabilize at 1.7 million
Mar 9th 2012 2:11PM (Massively)The Daily Grind: What MMO have you recently deleted from your hard drive?
Mar 2nd 2012 10:06AM (Massively)On the keeper side, I am more firmly committed to SWTOR than ever. I've been playing since CB last June and I love it more now than I did then. I do understand why some people are leaving. It is definitely a game that you will either absolutely love or absolutely hate after a couple of months of playing. I'm with the former, though. I can play through 8 different alts (4 Imp and 4 Rep) and have an almost completely different play experience each time. I might have a couple of quests overlap, but by filling in with bonus series, space missions and PvP I can pick and choose which generic quests I want to take without hurting my leveling at all. SWTOR truly is a game designed for us altaholics! =)