So I've been playing Darkfall since release and I just have to say I haven't felt these adrenaline rushes since my first days in Ultima Online back in 1999.

Every time I leave one of the newbie cities I'm constantly scanning the horizon for danger. The least of my worries are NPC's. Roving bands of goblins or trolls can kill me, but I have a fair shot at escaping.

A few of my typical experiences:
I found an isolated cave with some skeleton warriors and I start killing them. Retreating and resting when I can. I'm pretty focused on them because the A.I. is challenging. They'll use magic and arrows at range, switch to melee when I get close and run if low on health while their buddies pepper me with arrows or magic. Anyway, I'm pretty intent on whacking and looting when all of a sudden out of the blue a giant cat leaps into my sideview and someone whacks me. My heart skipped a beat. I was low on health and stam - my pack full of goodies. I immediately thought he was an Alfar and ran. My heart racing I ran back to the safest area I could find - a small dwarven guard tower in the middle of nowhere. Turns out the guy was a Mirdain. An alliance elf type. He whacked me to scare me and it worked.

Another time I was mining near a newbie city, minding my own business trying to get some iron ore, when BAM I get hit in the back. I get pushed up onto the top of my rock. By the time I can turn around to see who or what - My health is down to about 20%. I see who it is - a mean looking Ork riding a death pig. If he hits me again, I'm dead. I think he has buddies, but I don't even have time to look. I take off sprinting for town. Somehow I make it, don't know how, but I think he had trouble turning his pig around. He should have followed me, I had like 10% stamina left from all the mining. But my adrenaline was pumping, I had a buttload of ore.

Another experience I'll tell you about is when I'm mining out in the middle of nowhere. I got the occasional traffic running by, checking me out. But they were all alliance races and pretty much left me alone. A human tapped me once, probably to make sure I wasn't macroing. If you're macroing out in the middle of nowhere and someone comes along to investigate - even if they're an alliance race I bet there's a good chance they'll kill just because you're macroing. Anyway, I'm mining and suddenly I'm surrounded by these dark looking creatures. I think they're Alfar. I stop and equip my measly newbie hammer. About 8 of them, all dressed in black armor and wearing what looks like black eyeshadow. We all just stood there, staring at each other for about 30 seconds. My heart is racing thinking, "crap I gotta fight, I'm totally surrounded, I wouldn't be able to push through all of them." -- then, just as suddenly as they appeared, they ran off. I figure they must have been Mirdain patrolling the dwarven lands. Alfar would have killed me on sight.

So just wanted to give you all some of my experiences, especially from a newbie perspective because y'all will be that when you get in.

Preston

nice write-up

i felt the same way in beta. the "danger" that exists in  DF hasn't existed in an MMO since UO.

I know. I havent felt like this since UO

Thanks!

The worst part is when you get so scread you press RMB in the panic and everything just flashes for your eyes. Inventory, worldmap and spell list instead of running and fighting.

Agreed ....... this game is insane.  In 25 years of gaming I have never had a game evoke as much emotion as this one does.  I am commited to the life of a lone wolf and am constantly reminded how difficult a life this is going to be.  Three times last night, with a bag full of loot in hand, I was sent home with nothing.

They sit and patiently wait until your health and stamina are down from fighting MOBs and then from out of nowhere ...... they attack.  Enemy race, friendly race or same race ....... it quite simply does not matter.  No one is to be trusted.       

~Hairysun~

"I'm pretty focused on them because the A.I. is challenging. They'll use magic and arrows at range, switch to melee when I get close and run if low on health while their buddies pepper me with arrows or magic.""

Please forgive what might sound like a challenging statement, but that's pretty much the MOB AI in other MMO's.

Originally posted by Hairysun

Agreed ....... this game is insane.  In 25 years of gaming I have never had a game evoke as much emotion as this one does.  I am commited to the life of a lone wolf and am constantly reminded how difficult a life this is going to be.  Three times last night, with a bag full of loot in hand, I was sent home with nothing.

They sit and patiently wait until your health and stamina are down from fighting MOBs and then from out of nowhere ...... they attack.  Enemy race, friendly race or same race ....... it quite simply does not matter.  No one is to be trusted.       

 

~Hairysun~

 

 

So you find it challenging as a lone wolf. I commend you, I honestly do. You truly are playing the game hardcore, and I mean that with all sincerity.

Those who gank you when you're low on health or otherwise occupied, on the other hand, are playing the game like the carebears they mock in WoW. They are cowards, and in a way it's a compliment to the game that all types of people can play.

If, some day, I play DF I would most likely attempt it as you have, as a loner. I cannot see myself in a group of cowards looking for weakened players to kill and loot.

Originally posted by Fargol

"I'm pretty focused on them because the A.I. is challenging. They'll use magic and arrows at range, switch to melee when I get close and run if low on health while their buddies pepper me with arrows or magic.""

Please forgive what might sound like a challenging statement, but that's pretty much the MOB AI in other MMO's.

I have to agree with fargol.  Thats the exacts same AI in LOTRO.  Not bashing or anything but its a standard these days for AI to do that.  THe thing that you shouldve said is how the AI differs from other mmos.  The ai in Darkfall Side strafes and runs around as if its a player. 

 You got a rush from a video game?  Wow, things have changed since I was 15.

I love being in constant danger. Even around my clan city I have to be wary. Killing mobs is not a borefest because you have to always scan your surrounding for baddies sneaking up on you.

Originally posted by gnlLucid

 You got a rush from a video game?  Wow, things have changed since I was 15.

If you dont ever, then maybe you should get another hobby, otherwise, why play?

I get so nervous after I get finished fighting someone in PvP. So nervous. Especially when I'm looting.

Originally posted by gnlLucid

 You got a rush from a video game?  Wow, things have changed since I was 15.

You haven't played a video game since you were 15? That's a LOT of trolling Sir.  Perhaps you should blow off the girlfriend and take a day off work and instead of trolling play a video game like a real man :D

Originally posted by termsy

I get so nervous after I get finished fighting someone in PvP. So nervous. Especially when I'm looting.

Haha, same here man.  Especially when you are near popular mob spawns and you kill some people and your low on stam/health... jesus, I've found my self praying in hope that noone stumbles upon me in my weakened state, stock full of all the loot I just won.

Originally posted by Technohic

Originally posted by gnlLucid

 You got a rush from a video game?  Wow, things have changed since I was 15.

 

If you dont ever, then maybe you should get another hobby, otherwise, why play?

Because he might play games to have fun. Hmm. He is right but what i think is more likely is that someone lived a sheltered life. That a bunch of pixels gave him a rush or he doesnt know what a "rush" is.

I want in. Any word on when this thing will release?

Originally posted by Technohic

Originally posted by gnlLucid

 You got a rush from a video game?  Wow, things have changed since I was 15.

 

If you dont ever, then maybe you should get another hobby, otherwise, why play?

I'll stick to the real world for my rushes there sparky.  You know, sex, roller coasters, moto-x, sky diving, a really good concert, things of the nature that create a symbiotic chemical response.

OP, what other FPS games do you play, if any..

Originally posted by EvolvedMonky

Originally posted by Technohic

Originally posted by gnlLucid

 You got a rush from a video game?  Wow, things have changed since I was 15.

 

If you dont ever, then maybe you should get another hobby, otherwise, why play?

 

Because he might play games to have fun. Hmm. He is right but what i think is more likely is that someone lived a sheltered life. That a bunch of pixels gave him a rush or he doesnt know what a "rush" is.

bullshit

You can get a rush in a game, you can get a rush cliffjumping off a 130 foot cliff, running from the cops.  you don't have to be dumb to kick it