All Posts by Ataaka

You guys are relics!

<snicker>

You completely left out the D&D Games for the C64 <sigh>.

I got started with a novel called, "The Dangling Witness". It had nothing to do with D&D, Consoles, PC's or anything else. In fact, it dealt with the games that the mind plays on itself (wohlolololo)

Haha.

Back to the point...Uhmmm, hmmmm

I'd have to say the tale of Skara Brae. A powerful mage and I make it past the final room, after losing every key member of the party, and slaying our way through thousands in halls of the never-dead-undead...A Bard's Tale.

The Bard's Tale is googable. Nice story. The game was ok, too.

My favorite quest is The Focusing Stone Quest; Asheron's Call.

It's a mage specfic quest that cannot be completed solo (at level). First run through, people die within the maze. No one has lockpicking skills to open the door leading to the undergound. Certain rooms, the mob ignores you (if you attack, three rooms of baddies come down on you).

Please don't qoute me on the exact quest..this is being drawn from memory 5 years back.

Well, it was a team-oriented quest that could be soloed by a highlevel player.

The quest takes place in a building that is heavily guarded. You must solve some door latch issues before heading to the dungeon area, that is plagued by the undead.

The focusing stone is guarded by a very bad looking Bone-Knight (skelly). Before that, you need to traverse some lava golems and lesser undead. The quest, when teamed is about 30-45 mins long. Since every player must pick up the spawning stone, things can get a bit fun with mob respawns. Occasionally, an AFk'er would come back to find a corpse with the focus stone in hand.

The final step is to touch the focusing stone to a power source, located in the last part of the quest. Many people had to run back through because they didnt charge the stone in the power source, or died trying.

I'm sure I butchered the true flow of the quest, but it's still my favorite for solo and partying.

Try looking into the Wizards of The Coast website for answers.

I'm sure they have a ton of resources. I know for sure they have blank Character Sheets, mapmakers, and a few monster generators.

That's how I was born -.-

Good luck!

OMG!!!

Whoever coined the phrase, "It's good for player interaction" is rich, but need meds.

People don't need built-in player/people interaction. They would interact over a well placed rock in the sand. Having thought about it, perhaps it's thinking along those lines that have ruined the fact that we are being led and not leading.

If I'm on a narrow passage, do I need arrows pointing me to the far end? Doesn't that take away the fact that I can think and reason on my own? I am 100% sure that a monkey could find it's way to the far end of a narrow passage without arrows (player interaction).

If I find the Sword of a Thousand Evils, please let me decide what to do with it. Don't place player interactions that almost force me to react a specific way. Who wants another boss in their life??? I don't. So, guess what?!? Let me decide what to do with the sword. If anyone cares that a priest is wielding a two-handed sword than they need to lighten up.

Loot systems are crazy like that...built-in reminders that whatever you find, great or small, is meant for someone else. So Sill

Sorry about that...Devs need to eat, and low playerbases don't pay the bills.

This is a big problem that gamers face, when choosing a place to spend thier time, money, and efforts. It's kind of spooky not knowing if the game you invested so much time into will disappear or live on forever.

Nothing is certain in the gaming industry. Servers shut-down and sometimes the game changes so drastically that you quit playing.

Go to the forums, or fansites of the game and find your friends. Maybe you can all join another game together. Afterall, Turfs wasn't exactly the Bee's Knees in gaming. <wink>

You'll bounce back to level 90 in another game, for sure. Keep your hope alive.

The first thing a typical Teen player asks is,  'How old are you?' (for example)

The first thing an Rper asks is, "Excuse me, Sir/Madame. Where might I find a Tavern."

It's not the verbage we are focusing on, it's the attempt to openly find those who are similar to ourselves. We try to flock near those who are like ourselves. Sometimes, it doesn't matter, and we PUG for the sake of finishing.

My theory about the internet and gaming remains constant, developed years ago, after studying the relationship between the web and it's primary users, people have an overwhelming need to communicate. Even more, they want to communicate in a specific way that is certain to cause a reaction in the audience available.

Gaming is nothing without the ability to communicate. Rping is nothing without flexibility. We just need to keep leading the way, no matter what environment we exist.

RP, afterall, is what you make it. There are so many variations of RP that one could get lost in the lingo or even worse, left out for not understanding.

The best way to get your RP fix is to create an RP Guild. You have control over the flow and implementation of the RPing. Otherwise, you will never stop complaining about how Devs are making MMOGs, when it's the players who need to make it MMORPG.

After reading hundreds of concerns over RP being dead/dying/lost, etc... I decided to focus inward. I found that there are not enough RP Leaders out there in the gaming world. We do not have the time it takes to build and maintain a solid RP Haven (Guild), therefore, we seek and cannot find in anquish.

We need a leader for this revolution. We need someone who isn't entirely nerdy or geeky. Perhaps, a  person who has great organizational skills, but not bossy. A person who is friendly, but not obsequious would be nice. I could go on...

It's hard to RP in any game where the distractions are too great. Afterall, games are nothing more than colorful chat lines...in essence. We RP because we want to communicate, not to reach a certain level.But, the devs have taught us that levels mean power. Who doesn't want the Finger of Death an arms length away?!? Lets be real about it all. Do I need to list the plethora of examples that equal poor gaming, poor diplomacy, and to say the least...distractions??? I'm sure you get the picture.

I read the MMORPG Gamers Guide (Review) and it reads like we have succombed to "1994". I am not flaming the book or it's author, perhaps, I am just irrate that we need to explain customs and courtesies. The best way to teach is by example, or not. I believe that RPing doesn't need a GM (GameMaster) unless of course you are doing PnP. RP'ing needs examples, led by selfless people who always remain focused on the BIG PICTURE...the livelyhood of RP and it's denizens.

You want RP? Let's get a leader, co-leaders, commanders, etc...Build it and they will come, I'm told.

I dare anyone of you to create something, send a hail to the lost and weary, and pull this thing off. One thing is certain...you have nothing to lose. 

CITY of HEROES/VILLAINS:

Woot!

Yes...this game is fun. You need some graphic power to enjoy it fully, but it's worth the time of day.

This is one of my favorite RPG's that has a twist that you'll come to love...Creating SuperHeroes and ArchVillians. The game has a mixture of land mass with instancing. The quests are fun with a group and the loot is very interesting.

Again, this is a build-type game. You start with a great looking, highly configurable template and build it into a force. There is no room for boredom at the lower levels, but the last few levels upward are tedious because you've mastered the game...Time to build another Hero/Villian!!!

Get your ram in gear and tack on a fan to the video card.

Did I mention fame? Oh yea...you can fame in the fashion of badges. You can get a badge to unlock special powers, flying over buildings, and much more. Never a dull moment.

ArchLord:

Modern graphics, great music, and tons of grinding.

I've played every class and I guess mages are my favorite. The loot is decent and interesting. The game is kind of small, which means you'll be fighting for XP. The GM's are always popping in for perks and simple chit-chat, which I found to be a plus.

Leveling is fun until you reach that wall of no return where XP is slow and grinding is high.

Well organized game, very guild oriented, fun to play on rainy nights.

AGE OF CONAN:

You land on a beach with nothing but determination.

The game starts with a deep element of RP, a rags to riches kind of theme. After taking about ten steps, you realize that your FPS is sweet or you need a good excuse to buy a better video card and or ram.

The graphics are breathtaking. But, you soon find that pretty pictures don't mean squat when an OP Archer is killing every low level on the server (PvP Jive). It will take a minute for Funcom and friends to put the fun into the game. It is a quest lovers dream or a grinders nightmare, at this point.

My free level 40 Rhino is the slowest mount in the game (rofl) but heck it was free, right? Things are expensive and coinage is slow, but steady.

Some love the game, I Cancelled my subscription for now.

Ever wanted a review about a game without all the hype included? Tired of downloading games with hope and finding them less than what others hyped it to be? Good! You deserve the truth now. 

If you are LFG, and have a Title that you'd prefer to have some inside information on, then post a reply.

I will respond to your request to create a thread of your own. Then you can come back and flame me or not. I promise you will be surprised.

One thing that I've learned about gaming is that we are all seeking a place for ourselves, our family, friends, or anything leading to a decent social event. Forget about the graphics, quests, and other mechanics...we want loot and people to show it to. Thats the bottom line with MMORPG.

So...tell me what you want in a game or tell me a title that appeals to you. I'll give you the truth.

Nice listing.

I may take your work and write some reviews. I've played most of them (quick scan), if not all of them. Your list is mainly that of the 'lesser kind' RPGs. They hit the market from our Asian friends a while back. The only drawback to F2P is the playerbase is very young/immature/unruly...If thats what you like, DL and P.

Keeping the Hype Real,

Ataaka

Vanguard was another hyped MMORPG that left many with eyes rolling in their heads. I wasn't invited to the Beta (an ongoing story of my life) but I purchased the preorder and launched. The first thing that started to make my mouth dry was the gaming resources (video, ram, cpu). While my PC was ready, my friends lacked the ram to make things smooth on his end. Having such a low tolerance for half-baked releases, he moved on to Dungeons and Dragons Online (DDO).

The game unfolds with quests, right out of the box. They are meant to familiarize you with the mainstay of the game, looting the dead. The loot system, which we all love to hate in most games, well...it's pretty hot in Vanguard. You won't lack the tools to dispatch creeps, mobs, or monsters.

The graphics are breathtaking, but you need a nice video setup to fully enjoy what the Devs had in mind. (If you scale the graphics down, you can dismiss 99.9% of your lag.)

One unmentioned thing about Vanguard that I found interesting is that you (your character) can find a place in the storyline, per se, by doing things that no other character has done. To simplify this...You can get notariety for discovering a mountain range, a lake or some other land icon. It makes exploration worth even more, especially when riding a mount.

The game is HUGE. You can probably fit DAoC inside it, easily. I prefer games with large, seamless masses of land. It furthers my love for RP. Did I mention RP? Yea, this game has tons of it, if thats what you like. Otherwise, Vanguard is a Ghost Town at times. You may not get the feel of the Massive Multiplayer at the beginning.

The game is great and has tons of avenues for any adventurer, gamer, RP'er, or powerleveler.

Good luck with Vanguard, enjoy.

OOOH!!!

I bought the game. I played the game. Now the game sits on my shelf.

I trust you guys, MMORPG, but I wonder how much longer your Hype Meter is going to work with me.

I've been coming to you site for many years, perhaps as long as it has been around, and I trust you.

Recently, I finally decided to start commenting. I'm glad I did.

As far as VANGUARD: Blah Blah goes...think of playing a modern version of AC with ridiculous code that simply causes your VM to constantly whirl while you play. One terrific thing about VG:BB is that they cater to the players via website. Much information is at your fingertips, even if you dont have the game loaded, you can poll your toons and plan when you are away, sailing on the ship in the bahamas.

Good luck with VG, and please...go buy the freakin software you cheapskate!! <smile>

Allow me to rant, please.

MS ruined the chance of ever making a nickel off of AC2. They created a whole new game and wasted tons of resources trying to tie it to Asheron's Call. They had millions of gamers wanting a graphic update to the original game. What gamers got was a fake AC with beefed up graphics. I must admit, however, They did a great job with the graphics.

Yes...with a total upgrade to graphics, and some additional addons like seiges, voicechat, and perhaps mounts, AC would have thrived along side the toonmaster game called WoW.

As far as Botting goes...well, yah know what...get over it. Game devs are not the only ones with people smart enough to develop ideas, code, or addons to fit the life that most people have to spend on a 'game' that yields nothing more than a stadium filled with enthusists.

Yes, there were issues with PvP, but what game doesnt have issues. Should the devs be a fault for the exploits that players develop over months of trial and error...dont think so. But, in all fairness, they try their best to make the classes balanced (a word I have grown to hate).

AC is probably the first and last RPG that allows a newcomer to enter a world where they may not see another player for a week, if so desired, and a place to explore, adventure, and simply sink into the many, many, areas of RP that some games only reach in their titles.

LoTR, DDO, WoW, etc...they miss the mark totally.

If you've never played AC... you've missed an entire world.

I'm providing a checklist of sorts that shows the depth that other games fail to reach...

1. Born into a world where you can start exploring and adventuring at level 1.

2. Run across fields of threatening or non-threatning mobs.

3. Spend a week in a Dungeon trying to conquer it's residents.

4. Own a home with personal item storage.

5. Perform Quests when YOU want to do them.

6. Cast Powerful and useful magics.

7. Custom build toons via raw stats

8. Solve simple and complex problems for quality rewards.

9. Loot static chests for plats, scrolls, or fun.

10. Gain three levels while you sleep (wink)

I could go on...

But yah know what, AC is what it is, but I would have loved it much more with the graphic update. 

Roleplaying is as simple as exploring an unfamiliar land and can be as complicated as finding the 'Sword of A Thousand Truths'.

The biggest problem RP'ers face, like myself, is that we are not alone in this adventure. The 'MMO' part of RPG (hehehe) is what has buried our quest for a world to roleplay in depth. Since players gather from all corners of this planet called Earth, this means that we must be flexible to the beliefs, customs, and courtesies that follow.

I have been to a country (name intentionally left out), for instance,  where the 'Television' had three basic things broadcasting.

1. Sports (with no camera shots of the 'cheering crowds')

2. War Movies (24/7 no commercials)

3. News (with no eyewitness commentary)

Guess what? Some fortunate person from that country is playing the Paladin in your party.

So, as we have tried to become the teachers and mentors to all those who seem sub-par...perhaps they are roleplaying...as much as their life-experiences can allow.

Having tried every RPG in the MMORPG Game List, I am personally dissatisfied with developers more than the 'kiddies' who say, 'Hi. How are you? Plz can you spare some goldz?' Afterall, the devs want to make real money and the world is full of people that devs cater .

Hang in there...perhaps there is one of you who may influence someone who can make a place where people can be Elves and not Elvis.

I was slightly dazed and confused when I found myself in a alley with a dead-end to my back. I dared not to move or let my breathing disturb the soft sound of ooze dripping from the walls. The stench was horrid. It was the odor left behind when maggots had devoured flesh.

My hands were beginning to sweat. I could hear my heart beat as I slowly descended into the darkness ahead. The grit beneath my feet sounded like I was walking on small granules of stone. Something was ahead of me, I could feel it. As I moved down the middle of this narrow alley, the darkness began to swallow where I had been and continued thru where I was heading.

What am I doing?, I asked myself. Why is it so important to travel this god forsaken place. Fear had crossed my mind, if not for a moment, but it was rapidly replaced by curiousity. My mind began to wander...Perhaps this is a dream...Maybe this is that world I had longed to traverse.

You see, I have always wanted to wake up like this...In some foreign land with nothing more than my senses. I wanted a place that I could start with nothing and make something of myself. I wanted a world that I could have control over what I ate, where I slept, and whom I fellowed with...Yes, this is that place!

But...Where are the taverns and barmaids? Where are the weary travellers, mysterious denizens, and lofty towers? WHERE ARE YOU!?, I thought aloud.

A small light appeared at the very end on the alley. I smiled. I knew this was that place. I knew this was the door leading to that place. I knew it all along. As I touched the light, I could feel coldness...it was not what I expected, but there was no turning back. I touched it again...and again..and again. With each touch, it became warmer.

In the light was a door. I could not see what kind of door, but it was...a door. I found the metal handle. It was smooth, crafted to the highest quality , but it too was cold. I pulled the lever with my fingers,  a soft click was heard. Followed by the soft click, I could hear the sound of a wheel spinning, a cog clicking and finally, the sound of two metals sliding against one another.

I lifted my hand from the handle and braced myself for the worse. The door opened slightly to reveal a small child. I looked at the child. The child looked at me. As I began to speak, the child yelled...

HEY MISTER, GOT ANY SPARE GOLD?!?

AO has so many things to like that it's fruitless to compare it graphically to newer or emerging MMO's.

AO is the pioneer of all that  stuff we have come enjoy in other games. In fact, other games can't touch some things that AO Players have enjoyed for eons...

1. Flying Vehicles (not brooms or skateboards)

2. Housing

3. Crafting

4. PvP

5. Self-Supporting Economy

6. Exploration

7. Indoor Gaming (Instances/Missions/Lairs)

8. Outdoor Gaming

9. A living Computer Host

10. Characters that feel...real.

Good Luck AO...see yah after I do A.O.C.