Yes as you can see from thread title i have taken the plunge into one of the apparent biggest MMO failures to date and my reason for doing was simple, there is nothing else at the moment that i have not played to death nor anything recent that kept my interest for more than 1 week.

So lets get started, i have join since the NA release..which i waited for due to the horrible website and ordering process which i discovered upon the EU release, first off Adventurine has created a new site for the NA release which is 100x better than the previous that was used for EU.  The site looks better and can easily be navigated through.  After making an account i was surprised to see that the subscription/payment setup was as it should be easy, and they now off paypal as a method of payment, which to me was a huge benefit.  So account setup etc only took about 10 mins and from what i could tell there are no limits on how many accounts they are issueing atm.

Now that i have all my account/sub information is setup its time to launch the game, as most MMO's i take part in the patching process (which i heard was a nightmare for EU release), i am in shock to see that the patching process is actually running at roughly 1250kbs solid and uninterrupted.  So 15 minutes the game is patched and ready to play, i select the new character option, and proceed.

Within the character creation there are a total of 6 races, all of which are comparble to any other race in any previous MMO to date, and all have similar stats comparble to all other MMORPG races, so nothing new here.  The customization met my expectations, minus that path/career options everything look oriented was very thorough and i was pleased with what i can accomplish to make this character my own.

Now with the red carpet out of the way its time to head into the world of Darkfall.

When you start you are prompted to choose 1 of three start locations, from what i have heard all offer the same and no one start area really differs from another besides cosmetically.

Once in the town you start at your bind location (which is the first part of TUT), after binding, you then must locate and speak with a councillor, which is obviously your initial quest contact for PVE.  First two quests were to go kill 5 goblins and get 5 goblin axes (I *SIGHED* out loud) this obviously initially was a huge deterent for me as i am so sick of these types of quest, but as usualy i continued to truck.  This is where my first WTF came out of me, in Darkfall running is considered a skill and you must build this skill in order "In my words" to actaully feel as if you are running, same goes for sprint it too requires building in order to be sufficient.  You can look at this in two ways, 1) Yes its about time an MMO took something from Bethseda/Elder Scrolls, or 2) This is really unecessary as the world is huge and it takes (atm) 20 mins to run to the mob i have been questing for.   To each is own, i find both in the back of my head at all times, it also seems that running is not something that will come quickly even if you do it all the time, thus far with every raise in run skill i have yet to actually notice a difference in speed.

Ok so now were running toward the mob and as time ticks by we eventually arrive, i notice there are other players at this location whom are also hunting the goblins, at first i am skeptical of continueing my approach as from all the talk i have heard i should be expecting to get ganked at any moment now.....not the case, i proceed without any aggression from the players and now i am about to dive into the combat of Darkfall, i enter combat mode (which is 3rd person), i have my starting weapon out and i am sprinting towards a goblin Scout i approach and begin to attack, the combat is rather refreshing, it requires i move, block, and attack from different angles/distances after a few slashes the Goblin scout is ready for death...but then (this is where the amazing AI kicks in)  the goblin turns coat and begins to run away, i chase after him, but my stamina is low from the previous attack so i stop to rest and get back some of that stamina....well the Goblin seems to notice this and from a safe distance pulls out his bow and starts firing arrows at me..I am kind of in shock at this as most MMOs have crap AI and for the most part easily conquered mobs.  Regardless i get my stamina back and send the smart little bastard to his grave.

Once a mob is killed in Darkfall the loot is represented by a tombstone that state the name of the Mob killed, unfortunately in Darkfall there is no loot all option all items must be manually dragged n dropped over, which is very annoying as mobs are aggro and attack once you try to loot, also the inventory bag is also a pain in the ass as there is no auto separate items and all will appear over each other preventing a clear view from what is what.

Now, i have killed the required # of Goblins and received the Req # of axes, back off to the Councillor.........

I cash in my quest get the rewards, then immediately open the chat asking for directions to the bank (afraid of lsoing it all from gank fest) as bank is not listed on map or mini map.  Bank works the same as any other MMO so nothing to be said here.  I bank my $$ and backup gear then move onto the next set of quests which are harvesting.    I get the basic tools and begin, much to my joy, all trees are harvestable res, so i actually dont even leave town and proceed to chop down some of the towns landscaped trees, harvesting as well is a skill based ordeal...the more you do it the higher you will get.  I then begin to head out the gated to quarry some stone, again seems all stones are harvestable, then i move onto Gathering and fishing...same details as above.  

For me the harvesting system was a huge relief, i had been asking for a system such as this in an MMO since Horizons, i thoroughly enjoy this type of skill based harvesting.

Well at this point i will end the brief review and will add to this as i go through the game, but at this point i am having a very large difficulty understanding why everyone is bashing this game, a few of the really good things i have found in Darkfall so early:

1) Huge World

2)Excellent graphics

3)Good Character Customization

4)Combat is great

5)no lvling all skill based

6)You can do whatever you want...no limits

These are the things that need improvement

1) PVE, they need more World Lore and more active quests.  (if it continues to go for PVP gamers it will fail)

2) Update locations on map (arent enough viewable)

3) Create more PVE mobs and more locations of them (too many players not enough mobs)

Anyways i will update this in a few days.

You are supposed to go somewhere and put on auto run and face your character into a tree.

Then you leave the game on all night, and when you play the next day, his running skill will be up.

This is pretty much the way use it to improve it games work.

^I actually smiled at that, but that is what most of the people do... (me? No... Oh wait, yeah.)

 Well i think you were spot on in everything you say regarding darkfall. I have just started playing 2 weeks ago on EU1 and im having a blast.

I wanted to play this game for a long time but was always put off due to the hatedred for it, but a very happy with my purchase now all they need to do is improve on the points you mention, i woud love to see more spawns and more life to the world and more pve quests and i will be very happy.

Good write up, honest and right as far as im concerned.

The game has flaws but it's improved by leaps and bounds since release and the devs listen to player feedback. I believe the game is pretty good as of right now and improving with weekly patches.

The PVE and lore does have room for improvement. Too much grind for a PVP game also IMO

The looting is as should be (as in a large PVP war someone dies you cant just loot all with no risk). The fact that you have to choose what to pick up while arrows and spells flies around you makes it have a risk for the reward. Its not a flaw we wanted this back in 2002.

Suggestion: look into joining a clan and help build a city & defend and siege others. That's DFs main selling point. Also get a house since they just introduced them with the expansion.

Very good review. Now I want to try this game out and see for myself. First time I see someone writing about this game in a constructive way.

it has one fatal flaw that will forever keep it on my no-play list.

FPS combat system....

no thanks

Originally posted by admriker4

it has one fatal flaw that will forever keep it on my no-play list.

FPS combat system....

no thanks

Meh, its 3rd person for non ranged combat in comparison to single player RPG its alot like Gothic combat..  Not sure  if it is FPS oriented for ranged though.  I will try that out in a bit...once i get home, and will fill you in, personally for the bow combat i would like FPS, the no auto target feature is a much needed one at that.

Quest are supposed to be a tutorial to the game. Yea, there could be more quest, to help people from other games adapt. But  Darkfall can run 100 % withouth quest. Is a totally optional element.

Wellcome, hope you have fun.  As soon as posible join to a guild with a city, and you will playe the real game :-)

 I'm still on the fence, but a well thought out view of your early game play.

after reading this well i decided to buy the game. just gona wait a few days  for it to download... 

A game where you have to train... running. Ok, pass.

Originally posted by elderotter

A game where you have to train... running. Ok, pass.

You don't have to train running at all. You can just run, and you'll get better at it over time as you play the game. 

What did you have a problem with Oblivion, or Morrowind? Did you spend 5 hours running into a wall in that game too? 

The skill system is just a glorified Level system. You'll eventually realize that.

"6)You can do whatever you want...no limits" .... I won't beat this dead horse once again. Let's just say that there are several limits.

I too made the plunge, both in EU originally and now on the NA server. This is THE best failure I've played in a long time. I hope I can find more failures like this in the future.

Say hello to me in-game. Of course, I'll kill you and take your stuff, but that's just our way of saying, "Hi". I promise only to do it once...

Originally posted by elderotter

A game where you have to train... running. Ok, pass.

You train everything in Darkfall by DOING. You can't get better at swords by swinging one around for an hour. You have to hit a player or NPC to build the skill.

You train running by, well, running. Its not some activity you have to set aside time to do. You'll be running a lot in Darkfall -- mostly FROM other players ;-)

I think the reason people don't understnad how Darfkall works is because they are used to vanilla games like, LOTRO, GuildWars, WoW, WAR, Aion, etc. Those games practically play themselves. In Darkfall, you have to put some thought and effort into building your character the way you want it. Eve has a similar open-ended skill system, but in Eve you don't train by doing, you train by waiting. Just as boring as the vanilla games IMO.

Originally posted by cfurlin 

You train everything in Darkfall by DOING. You can't get better at swords by swinging one around for an hour. You have to hit a player or NPC to build the skill.

You train running by, well, running. Its not some activity you have to set aside time to do. You'll be running a lot in Darkfall -- mostly FROM other players ;-)

I think the reason people don't understnad how Darfkall works is because they are used to vanilla games like, LOTRO, GuildWars, WoW, WAR, Aion, etc. Those games practically play themselves. In Darkfall, you have to put some thought and effort into building your character the way you want it. Eve has a similar open-ended skill system, but in Eve you don't train by doing, you train by waiting. Just as boring as the vanilla games IMO.

Yes, because in EVE you set your skill and sits looking at the screen. I remember when I had to train my Battleship Tech II 5, it took me weeks just looking at the screen!

Heh.

You like the game, that's fine. But don't belittle great games to make poor little DFO look pretty. Because it's still pretty ugly.

Originally posted by cfurlin

I too made the plunge, both in EU originally and now on the NA server. This is THE best failure I've played in a long time. I hope I can find more failures like this in the future.

Say hello to me in-game. Of course, I'll kill you and take your stuff, but that's just our way of saying, "Hi". I promise only to do it once...

Don't say you like the game, the trolls will swarm you for enjoying a good game!

Originally posted by SignusM

Originally posted by cfurlin

I too made the plunge, both in EU originally and now on the NA server. This is THE best failure I've played in a long time. I hope I can find more failures like this in the future.

Say hello to me in-game. Of course, I'll kill you and take your stuff, but that's just our way of saying, "Hi". I promise only to do it once...

Don't say you like the game, the trolls will swarm you for enjoying a good game!

I know, sometimes I forget.

Originally posted by cfurlin

Originally posted by SignusM

Originally posted by cfurlin

I too made the plunge, both in EU originally and now on the NA server. This is THE best failure I've played in a long time. I hope I can find more failures like this in the future.

Say hello to me in-game. Of course, I'll kill you and take your stuff, but that's just our way of saying, "Hi". I promise only to do it once...

Don't say you like the game, the trolls will swarm you for enjoying a good game!

 

I know, sometimes I forget.

There are some exceptions yes.  But, the vast majority have no issues with players that find fun in DarkFall. 

Where some DarkFall players run into problems (as with the post just  a couple posts earlier) is that for some reason DarkFall players think that the only way they can express how good and how much fun DarkFall is by disparaging other MMOs and their players. 

Well, I for one think that shows a petty person and a dysfunctional  MMO if it's fans have to resort to those tactics.  A good MMO should be able to stand on it's own merits without having to resort to putting down other MMOs and their players.  If DarkFall and it's players don't understand that... then they will forever be hounded by the "leash" of failure.