There are a few things you ought to know, which I learned in my first 4 days in Darkfall. I have also added some observations.

1. PvP is terrifying at first, with a real penalty and a cruel world of murdering bastards, you know that everyone you see could be a predator. It makes every moment in game much more intense, there is no 'mindless' grinding, anyone could be coming for you. You can hide though, if they cannot view you with their physical eyes, they cannot aim at you, remeber, no tab selecting targets, you crosshair and aim. If you are using ranged you need to lead the target, very, very realistic and harder to hit anything. Not easy mode, but satisfying, also your ranged 'range' is sick, you can shoot stuff a long, long ways away, if your good enough.

2. Skill is equally important to stats, there are no auto select, auto fight options, you have to target with your crosshairs and hit whatever you are aiming for, forget all you learned about easy mode targeting in MMO's

3. The UI is wierd, but actually makes sense once you get used to it. Know that it will take a couple of days to learn how to play

4. This game does not hold you by the hand. It is more a sim than a easy MMO. Everything about the world and items are more mysterious than a typical MMO. Get into a clan right away, if only to be able to ask questions.

5. The world is HUGE. When I was traveling across the continent, after about 45 minutes of travel I needed at least 40 minutes more to get where I was going. I would bet no one has seen every little village, keep or ruin stashed away in the mountains, valleys or on remote islands. One of my clansmates, who played since launch estimated maybe 80-85% he had seen. You truly appreciate the scale of the world when you first venture out, all the while looking over your shoulder for someone who wants to make easy meat of you.

6. You can possess territory and also build a nice little home anywhere you choose.

7. There are ships and you can build them

8. Learning to kill mobs is satisfying, every decision, skill and action is more satisfying as you progess, I love PvE, but strangely in this wild world, thus far, it is working for me.

This I think feels the most like Eve of any game I ever played. But it is fantasy, if they progress like CCP did with Eve, the politcial intrigue and world will really grow with more and more massive wars and powerful clans. It it is not easy, but it is vast and has a solid group of core players and with the new EU transfers, the NA server is about to get alot more busy.

Anyway that was my .02 of advice and observations. Solid and interesting game.

Point 1 is the most important to understand.

There is ALWAYS a chance something will happen. Even if you are cutting wood in a town. No safezone whatsoever!

 I would definately try this game if they only had a free trial if only for a few days.  For something that has so many people either loving it or hating it, they should really hand out some free trial time to build a larger player base.  I know this is #1 on my list of games I want to try, but Fallen Earth and Dragon Age: Origins have me too distracted to sink my money into another game without knowing that I like it first.

Im pretty sure there will be trials later on.

Dont sure how it will work. Normally a MMO tryes to lure you in with a good first impression (high hero factor)......DF does the complete opposite. You are nothing. No hero, no fighter, no general..nothing.

So there is a good chance there will be alot of whining here : (

1 very important point for new players : Visit the NEW Guild. (Visit the DFO forum for infos) that guild was made to help all new players for 30 days and most guilds and alliances have agreed not to attack NEW Guild :)

Originally posted by daarco

Im pretty sure there will be trials later on.

Dont sure how it will work. Normally a MMO tryes to lure you in with a good first impression (high hero factor)......DF does the complete opposite. You are nothing. No hero, no fighter, no general..nothing.

So there is a good chance there will be alot of whining here : (

In pretty much every MMO you start out at the bottom and work yourself up to the 'high hero factor'.  That is true for WoW, EVE, LotR, Lineage, Final Fantasy, UO, EQ, SWG (pre and post NGE).  Darkfall is nothing special when it comes to this.

Originally posted by Torik

Originally posted by daarco

Im pretty sure there will be trials later on.

Dont sure how it will work. Normally a MMO tryes to lure you in with a good first impression (high hero factor)......DF does the complete opposite. You are nothing. No hero, no fighter, no general..nothing.

So there is a good chance there will be alot of whining here : (

In pretty much every MMO you start out at the bottom and work yourself up to the 'high hero factor'.  That is true for WoW, EVE, LotR, Lineage, Final Fantasy, UO, EQ, SWG (pre and post NGE).  Darkfall is nothing special when it comes to this.

We will see "when" the trial goes live.

If you are right, and its just as any other MMO, Nothing special will happen.

My Darkfall Online Review

Darkfall just opened up a NA server and is in the beginning of moving NA players over to it. This will lead to some upheaval in power of some guilds and alliances. And honestly, if it were up to me,  I'd stick with the EU server...cause I like killing the French.

Best part about this game, is that everything is always in flux. Its a tough game to adjust to for those who come from nicely polished MMOs. It's not a pretty game. However, playing Darkfall holds a true sense of danger that lacks from most every MMO out there.

The description of the OP has nothing I'm looking for in an MMORPG.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

The description of the OP has nothing I'm looking for in an MMORPG.

Cool, thanks for jumping in and letting us all know.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

The description of the OP has nothing I'm looking for in an MMORPG.

Ships?

Pirates : )

Originally posted by Cecropia

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

The description of the OP has nothing I'm looking for in an MMORPG.

 

Cool, thanks for jumping in and letting us all know.

Sharing is caring...

 If I do try Darkfall it'll be because of a free trial. If Darkfall doesn't believe it should have one, then awesome I guess the game is doing well and hope it can supply the masses with what it wants. But like with most stuff I'm becoming fickle at my older age, and rather than pay any nominal amount of currency for anything I want to try before I buy.

Originally posted by daarco

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

The description of the OP has nothing I'm looking for in an MMORPG.

 

Ships?

Pirates : )

I stand corrected. I like the ships. Not even crazy about "pirates" unless they are in an RvR zone.

Originally posted by Elreic  

6. You can possess territory and also build a nice little home anywhere you choose.

Houses are built on pre-determined spots.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by daarco

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

The description of the OP has nothing I'm looking for in an MMORPG.

 

Ships?

Pirates : )

 

I stand corrected. I like the ships. Not even crazy about "pirates" unless they are in an RvR zone.

But you can be on the pirate ship! Maybe you even can make the smaller ship give up without a fight if you spare ther lives!

As an architect and merchant in pre-cu swg, how would one who has played both in SWG and DF compare them?  Is there a wide variety of structures to make?  Can one make a competitive business out of it?  Are player merchants an option?  Or do they force an auction house on everyone?

DF have a 100% player driven economy, but it lack player owned vendors.

That will come in the next expansion (ten days).

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

The description of the OP has nothing I'm looking for in an MMORPG.

then dont play it.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by daarco

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

The description of the OP has nothing I'm looking for in an MMORPG.

 

Ships?

Pirates : )

 

I stand corrected. I like the ships. Not even crazy about "pirates" unless they are in an RvR zone.

there are no rvr zones