I just question if it is too early to call DDO:EU a success...so far it has not stayed up [in f2p form] as long as Auto Assault, much less AC2.  If it is still going strong in a year or two, then it will have earned the title "success".

It's been suggested n times, but I'll add the n+1st time:

Make your own group, list "going slow" or "no zerg" or "slow, learning quest" or something similar in the description....then wait to see if any like minded people join.

If I understood the OP correctly, the problem is that the hotbars are too small at his resolution.  The post I linked explains how the skin that is linked there can be used to change the size of everything in the UI [Quote]

It's for the DDO game. It basically exposes the art assets that are used for the in game UI (windows, icons, etc) and allows you to modify how they are displayed and what images are used. The images are presented in a TGA format ( see here if you want to be able to view the TGA files as thumbnails in windows explorer -- http://greggman.com/pages/thumbplug_tga.htm )

You would create new art assets (or modify the provided ones) and then adjust the XML file accordingly.

It allows you to fully adjust the imaging / layout / sizing of UI (menus, hotbars, inventory, etc) components to suit your needs. You can look around the downloads section for LoTRO to see some of the very artistic and clean UI changes some of the members of that community have developed.

You will need a graphics editor that is able to handle TGA format to work with the images (even if you install the tool to let you see the thumbnails).
 

 [/qoute]

I've only read the first page of posts about this skin, but it appears by the comments that it will do what you want:

http://www.lotrointerface.com/downloads/fileinfo.php?s=5a56460ca08476d59fab27423dcf608b&id=178#cmnt1733

nice thing is, you can download the skin right there, too.

I can't understand why they made the change - especially since now low level characters are3 getting 4 attacks: 2 "normal", 1 at +5, and 1 at +10.  Gotta say that I really don't like it.  It's almost like they are again adding an "easy button" - +10 to 4th attack?!! on a 4th level cleric???

Yes, the thread is old but if you read it, it tells you where you can download skins for the game that let you change the size of your hotbars.

Edit: to the latest poster - No, there is no way to get more than 10 slots on any bar.  I don't believe that was what the OP was referring to; he wanted to change the SIZE of the hotbar, not the number of slots in it.

Found this on the DDO forums [you don't need an account to search the forums]:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=1522132&highlight=resize+hotbar#post1522132

Originally posted by page

I'll be back after the FTP runs it's coarse.

No, when ftp runs its coarse, the lights go out...Turbine shut down AC2, they'll shut down DDO if they have to.

Back on the OT...

Turbine has managed to screw up the vet points [http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=197586]  BUT is still promising to deliver them.  I had my 2k [+ the 400 I bought for $2 - only way I'll use "real" money beyond sub fee] - just waiting on the 9999 and the 500 for Sep.  Burned through the 2k in about 5 min though:  drow, greater tp wand, huge collectable bag, and huge wide quiver ~200TP left  :)  <bought the wand on the wrong server -doh!- LOL>

Wow!  That may go a ways towards appeasing the vets.  :)  Well done on this one, Turbine!

The major changes are:

Auto-targeting of closest enemy/object - in combat it only selects enemies.  It CAN be disabled, fortunately.

Grazing hits were added - I didn't play the last week of beta, so i didn't see the final version of this.  Instead of AC working as it should, when you play on solo you got a "grazing hit" on a 19-20 [instead of just 20], normal was 17-20, hard setting was 15-20 and elite was 11-20.  They may have revised the ranges a bit [someone will correct me if it has changed].  DR and active blocking supposedly reduce the damage from these hits - I was getting hit constantly when attacked by 8-10 kobolds [level 3 on hard] vs my AC of 28.  The 1-2pts per "grazing hit" added up to half my 75 hp by the time I finished them off.

MOBs hp scale down for solo & normal settings, slightly down for hard and they removed any scaling for elite.  Scaling also occurs based on the number of people in the party - including hirelings.  Obviously this affects combat, though not combat mechanics.

Other combat mechanics remain the same as they have been for the last 2 years.

I've been a casual player for 2 years now [casual = <10hr/week].  I am NOWHERE near level cap [with all 10 characters-I have 4 playing characters and 6 mules].  My highest characters are 8th and 6th level.

I think that powergamers that play 30+ hrs/week will find that the game FORCES one to use the store.

"Normal" gamers playing 10-20hrs will notice the need for the store, but may find periodic sales on TP such that the use doesn't seem as forced.

Casual/ultra-casual gamers like myself would find the store ENCOURAGING as it would be needed after a few weeks [unless a level sigil were found] but then not needed for a few months.  Again, sales on TP would would be watched for.

As a two-account VIP, I will not buy many points - however, when there was I "lightning sale" of 400TP for $2 during beta, I jumped at it.  I hope Turbine noticed that the lower amounts of TP at prices of $.01 [no cent key anymore?] or less produced sales from players who hadn't purchased any TP before that.  The higher amounts of TP/higher cost didn't work [for me] - 3800TP for $31 didn't make me jump, even though the price was "worth it".

Thanks for the post about the last night of beta - I was going to post to ask :)

Did they have any quickfire sales in the store?  I got 400TP for $2 at the last stress test.  Being a vip and having never bought TP before, hopefully they use that sales data to see that "a penny a point" is a MUCH better "working" price [obviously, less than that is even better for the purchaser!]

Originally posted by Aryas

As a noobie having only achieved level 2 so far (w00t!), I have a few questions for the more experienced players (who've tried beta)…
 

• Are there mounts?
• How long does it take to get to level 20 (an estimate is fine)? What is the endgame like? Is most of the game soloable?And finally…
• What is the PvP like?

I’ve heard PvP is a bit rubbish in DDO. I find this staggering. The control system the game employs could make this almost the perfect PvP game. Whats wrong here?
Aryas
 

 

1. Answered above - None

2. Level 20 [level 10 in a month of "normal" play] - impossible to estimate:  what is your playstyle?  As a very casual player [~10hrs/week spread over 10 characters] i have yet to break level 8 on my highest character IN TWO YEARS.  So for me, level 10 will have taken 2 years - level 20 will take about 4 more :)

From what I have read, "End game" means nothing - the game doesn't really change [whether that is good or bad depends on how much you like how the game works].

Most dungeons are technically solable - only a few require two or more players [or player + hireling/ summoned animals/ properly stoned enemies/ other strategies to have weight on plates, turn switches, etc].  However, even the best players [as an example Ghoste - search his posts on soloing] cannot do most dungeons solo AT LEVEL beyond level 5.  One reason that I have taken so long to level is that I play almost exclusively solo [I duo with my 5 yr old nephew about once a month -he started at 4 and loves the game]

3. I would GUESS that the majority of players do NOT PVP - there is nothing to gain by doing PVP.  Some people, myself included, do use the PVP pits to practice spell combos, etc with a partner...usually if you tell the others there that  that is your intent, they will leave you alone to do so.  As is true anywhere, there are a few asshats and accidents sometimes happen when targetting AOE spells [collateral damage as it were].

Nothing wrong...could be interesting to have one competitive dungeon that allows PVP...

Originally posted by Aganazer

Originally posted by uncus

• Brand new system added to beta [NDA has been lifted!] to reduce lag has made some dungeons unplayable via zerging. [this may not be such a bad thing, though one dungeon in particular - Stealthy Reposession - may be nearly impossible to do at anywhere near level.  I have not yet tested this myself, I am just speculating]

 

What do you mean by that? Why would reducing lag make anything unplayable?

A system created to reduce lag being implemented on the beta server currently causes characters to move more slowly depending upon how many MOBs are aggroed.  There are 4 levels - no skull for very few aggroing [<5 iirc], green skull for 6-??[depends on dungeon - usually 12-15]: to be patched to warning only, yellow skull - about 15-20-25 - character slows to 50% move [affects attack & spells now also, but is a bug], and red which slows movement to 10%.

If you will re-read what I posted [and you quoted] I said "unplayable via zerging" and gave an example of a low level dungeon that MAY be greatly affected by this.  Currently, the best tactic for completing this dungeon at near level is to use a combination of sneaking when possible, sleep/hypnotise when discovered, then Invis to re-hide/sneak...usually combined with "run like hell" when it doesn't work.  If you are slowed to 50% or 10% of movement speed [haste etc are dispelled when the skulls appear, so you can't use them to keep going], you cannot "run like hell".

Good answers, Bill!

There was a Dev post stating that you definitely COULD pick which slots are active and CAN change those slots if/when purchasing more.

Absolutely!  

As F2P, what do you have to lose? [If your time is sooo valuable, get off your ass and DO something - don't sit on it playing videogames! <anticipating response>]

Upsides:

• FREE to play - are you going to be able to run more than 20% of the total content for free? No, but you can see if you enjoy what IS offered, then either buy more of the content, get a guest pass for it from someone who has it, or keep running the same.
• My GUESS is that people who "play well with others" will be offered Guest passes now & then by VIPs/people who have paid for the content.  Asshats will play the free stuff for a bit, then fade away as they won't be offered passes.
• Closest MMO to d20 ruleset [if you enjoy the d20 rules]//Some, myself included, really like the way combat is done [others may not - again, try it for FREE]
• 6 month subscription is $60 - one calculation on the boards at ddo is that it five years [plus a few months] is the break even point between subscribing at that rate and just buying all the content [all adventure packs/10 character slots/all races & classes]
• More exposure/influx of new players - MAY pump new life into the game for vets.

Downsides:

• F2P means influx of asshats - regardless of age
• Most of the best dungeons beyond the starter area [Korthos] will cost $ - either as a subscriber or in macrotransactions
• which leads to -> prices are STILL out of whack:  some of the best areas are cheaper than some not so good areas; cosmetic stuff [hair dyes] are way overpriced; Turbine Points are based on some currency other than USD [currently $6.50 for 400TP] <Not Korean or Australian - anybody able to figure out a currency that is close to that ratio?>
• Brand new system added to beta [NDA has been lifted!] to reduce lag has made some dungeons unplayable via zerging. [this may not be such a bad thing, though one dungeon in particular - Stealthy Reposession - may be nearly impossible to do at anywhere near level.  I have not yet tested this myself, I am just speculating]

Bottom Line:  Is FREE worth it to TRY DDO?  Hell yeah!

Originally posted by mindspat

damn, talk about delusions.  If you think a simple Heal Wand that everyone can use is of a concern whereas EVERY CHARACTER is able to freely use ANY and ALL Healing Potions at ANY LEVEL you're proving yourself to be completely nuts.

 

 

How about the "Chime of Opening" for 15TP?  Rogues are limited enough [in some cases, some ARE built for combat] but the VERY cheap open locks/chests item makes "needing" of a rogue much less.  People just run through traps already, opening locks - without risk of failure such as on Knock scrolls - was the other thing that made Rogues useful.  Is this Dumbing down or Solo friendly? - semantics?

Originally posted by mindspat

Are you postive that Grazing Hits require players to make Concentration checks - also, I thought the dmg from a Grazing Hits was something like 1d6 for common foes with slightly increased base dmg from more difficult ones. What's the Concentration skill level on the average 1st level spell caster, 6 - what about at 16th level, 30-40?

Alledgedly VIPs will not have login queues.  Why would VIPs be waiting to login!?!

 

I was getting pummeled as a Level 7 C 5 /M 1/ R1 with an AC of 28-32 vs kobolds, getting interrupted while trying to heal MANY more times than when on the Live server.  Unfortunately, with that many attacks, it was tough to follow even by backtracking through the chat pane.  This was on Hard, not Elite so Grazing was at 15+...no way they should have +13 to hit [hell, I only have +10 -+12 with a +4 longsword, attack enhancements of +2 and buffs!]

Can't find the post where it gave times, but while VIPs get "priority" the waits could still be 5 min.  "Priority" is listed right at ddo.com, just follow link to VIP.  Tried searching dev tracker, but it wasn't working for the beta area until recently [user made one was about a week after, so it may/may not be listed there - half-hour searching is all I can take]

Edit:  I don't recall seeing any concentration checks - only started to cast, then interrupted...again, by the time I could check the log, the battle was over - potions ftw!

My major gripe is that Turbine is taking even more of the D&D out of DDO!  That whole adding "Grazing Hits" thing sucks hard:  not bad on Normal making auto-hit on 19 as well as 20, but 15+ on Hard and 10+ on Elite!??!  Automatic 50% chance to hit [and disrupt spellcasters] on Elite REGARDLESS of AC - that IS NOT D&D!  If some high level players with uber crafted gear were getting AC's too high for the bosses, fix those bosses - give 'em +100 to hit.  This was just put in to require more healing - leading to buying from the store while in a dungeon.  This is a real game-breaker for me.  I'm subbed through Nov, but after that I will probably bail [or stay as an f2p the last month before it closes on 1 Jan 10].

I really doubt that DDO will make it as f2p:

1. First month, there will be such incredible lag as f2p try it that monthly VIPs will drop.  Also, VIPs waiting to log in will cause some to drop [I would if I didn't have the 6mo. sub].

2. F2p won't stay long once they discover that it is almost impossible to play free beyond level 12 [last free area].  With Level Sigils and Adventure packs costing 90+ TP each and favor giving a maximum 200 TP [currently - this will raise when Mod 9 hits, but the rate at which it is earned 10 TP/100 favor isn't planned to be raised] players - f2p and VIP - won't get enough TP to do anything free. [ok, VIP get 500 TP/mo. but will save/use that for character slots, favored soul, and shrines/bags/etc]

Predictions:  Finally released in Aug, incredible lag in Sep, drastic decline in population in Oct, Closing is announced at end of Nov, Closed 1 Jan 10.  They closed AC2 pretty quick - with very little warning to the players.

Please note:  I really like this game - I've been content to pay $20/mo. {2 accounts} for the last 2 years while only playing <20hr/mo. I don't like some of the drastic changes being made and I don't like the way Turbine treats their customers.

I asked on the official forums - no response; no luck searching through the many "Turbine Download Manager sucks" threads.

Anybody here got a link to a concrete answer to this?

BTW - the reason I ask is that it DOESN'T WORK for me and at least a few other players.  It seems to be narrowed down to a Vista-64 won't run .net 1.0 or 1.1 problem [No, neither will run in 32bit mode, either - tried that]  but neither Turbine nor Microsoft has a fix or work around.  Just warning anyone with a new-ish computer - it might not work for you, either!