Originally posted by mindspat

Rok, the population was increasing from what I had also seen although it appeared to have completely collapsed around the first time it became obvious that "Mod9" was not part of the anniversary.  The game appears to have an pretty heavy cycle of ebb and flow. 

It's a let down, but I'm not upset.  ;)

 

That's what I've been saying since a long time :(. Yeah, Mod 9 delay and silence destroyed that growth we had after Mod 8 with NPE. Maybe it wasn't huge growth then, but IF a 3 years old game has it, it's worth attention I guess. Anyway, I was surprised and needed to check it, talk with others about it before saying it myself. It was pretty refreshing - Turbine did something that helped the game grow with new players. So I guess it was a damn straight confirmation to Turbs that it's the right direction and relaunch may be worth it after all...

Rok - please, what lie?... I wasn't lied to, anyway. Maybe I just understood what I've read, and you fell to those community tales.. ur... "speculations"?

It reminds me how it works with so called "celebrities". One day I've read on some music portal big headline:

"United Abominations is the last album of Megadeth!"

...and it surprised me, because I'm very up to date with Dave Mustaine, I read all his blog posts on forums and listen to interviews with him, and he never said anything like that. (Mustaine is my musical inspiration)

Ok, so I thought: let's check this article!

And then I read what the journalist has to say. Hmm, looks like that. But wait, there's a quote to confirm it! So it was like that:

Dave Mustaine: "If United Abominations was the last album I wrote, I would die happy"

Ok, so it was laughable! He obviously said something different and journalist shamelessly manipulated it! But it wasn't the end...

I looked down, under this article, and read comments... People were thinking UA is really going to be the last Megadeth album!  And what now, on year later? I go to guitar forums and  read people are saying Mustaine is a LIAR, because he said that United Abominations was going to be his last record. That he LIED just to make more money from it!

Heck, he never said such thing in the first place, it was just gossip that some people wanted to believe in SO BADLY! 

Originally posted by Rokurgepta

You are 100% wrong. WHat is on the beta server is not in game content., until it gets released to the full game servers. Nothing you do there will transfer to your live character on your normal server. If I play my character on the live server today that is what matters.  Of course it matters when the launch is, maybe not for you but then you are the extreme minority who thinks beta is live servers for a game you are paying monthly for. Turbine needs customers like you.
 

 

I am not suggesting they have not developed the plane of battle, what I am saying is it is on beta server only. That requires a seperate download and my current chars would not be leveled. So no new content has been added sine October of 2008. Sarr you can spin beta all you want, but the simple fact is they are closing in on a year without adding content to the game.

 

The content is not done and ready to jump in and play when it is only on the beta server. Turbine can claim anything they want, the facts are the release is delayed and the live servers(the ones everyone pays to play) have seen no new content.

Well, not a problem for me at all, because I have more things to do than playing a desolate-desert game that live servers are now, comparing to beta : ). I want to have fun when I play. I don't know why people still pay for playing on live servers, I wouldn't - I would be screwing myself up!

You won't tell me they must play on live, can't take a break because they're addicted, right? : )

Originally posted by Rokurgepta

Originally posted by Sarr

Originally posted by Rokurgepta

The point I make over and over is Turbine seems oblivious to what goes on. Extending another month and taking money from the VIPs(LOL) for that month is BS. Turbine should give them the month free(no effect on me I am not currently subscribed anyway) and for once put their money where their mouth is.
  

Turbine is failing to take advantage of the small bump in recognition it got recently. Though I guess we now why they had not advertised at all. Bad form by Turbine but not unexpected at all.

 

Do you really think Turbine delayed relaunch just to make 1 month more of subscription money on players?

How many of them are still subbed, while we can play free on beta and get new Turbine Points for free? Also, that's not pure money, there are costs to maintain an MMO - especially if you acquired more staff.

I don't think that's the case... I can't know the numbers, but I know one thing - I was going to VIP for at least one month, starting at relaunch. Delay means that either I will subscribe later but not now, or won't subscribe at all and just spend few buck on guild charter.

Well, I don't know. I don't know if that would be even worth it. While Aion isn't a competition, because it much different game, people easily get upset, and Turbine should know what it means by now ; ).

But is that really possible that they've panicked about how many players will join? Well, beta has ONE server. Live has 6 servers now. Couldn't they just buy more machines and open more of them soon after relaunch? Or maybe it's a problem with in-game support, I mean - every new server needs people to crew it as Game Masters and techs... WAR had a launch that made it slipping into nothingness since then, but that was because of bugs on every square foot of the game... Not just in-game support.

 

If Turbine is having staffing issues in this economy then they are more incompetant that I give them credit for.

 You love Turbine, am I right? ; )

Do I think they delayed to get another month from Subscribers? No, but they should give this month away free as a real apology as oppsed to the BS one they gave again.

Well, that's a good point. Would it be technically possible? I doubt.

Of course Aion can be competition. Many players who play MMOS like different kinds so just because it is different does not in any way, shape or form mean it will not be competition and draw players away from DDO.

DDO is free PvE game, Aion is very PvP oriented subscription-only game.

War slipped to nothingness? So did DDO since launch.

Ok, so what? Turbine should do it again, this time because of crappy service? Why do you think they're delaying? For fun?

Originally posted by Rokurgepta

1. How does Turbine have a much better organization? They just blew all their press coverage the last couple of months by once again missing a deadline they announced. 
 

 

2. Of course you do not think there will be less people paying.  You have always thought the game was growing, even with all evidence to the contrary. Turbine screwed the pooch again today.

Sorry, but you're on the edge of trolling now : ). Lacking arguments, speaking about your own feelings.

1. No, actually it may even boost DDO's popularity. It can go both ways. I understand your opinion is that they've "already blew all their press coverage" etc. Ok, that's your opinion on future, got it.

2. Please don't tell me what I think, that's not possible to know like that : ). As I've said numerous times, you're wrong on that point. And you're wrong again! Actually, I won't be subscribing because of that delay, and I think most people who wanted to go VIP at 4th or 6th won't do it now! Heck, they may even go away, while many others may come to check out what's that DDO they're all talking about. But they won't sub before September too, why would they?

Originally posted by Rokurgept

Sarr the problem with the new content you are touting is it is not coming out until September at the earliest while the other content will be nearly a year old by he time the release date actually happens. The plne of battle has not been released, how can you talk about that as content when its not in the game?

The last content added was in October 2008, the only new content since then is at the earliest September 2009. That is almost a year as I stated in my earlier post. I clearly said they are getting closer to one year with no new content. Please explain how that was wrong?

I find it funny how you are so sure of what Turbine will do when 3 1/2 years of experience with this company tells the exact opposite story.

Wait, honestly, I don't understand. Who cares about "old" game, live servers, when game is being relaunched? All subscribers can play on Lamannia now, so they can play that content there - yes, I've seen it! There is a spoon after all! 

What you were suggesting is that Turbine works slow, they haven't even developed Plane of Battle, while in that Video above you can see Jerry from DDOCast making a review of it for you.

So either it's done or it's not, and it's done, ready for you to jump in and play. It doesn't matter when the launch is. From development perspective, it's already done and devs have moved to Update 1 (old Module 10), which is even playable at this point (according to DDOCast's interview : ) ).

Originally posted by Rokurgepta

The point I make over and over is Turbine seems oblivious to what goes on. Extending another month and taking money from the VIPs(LOL) for that month is BS. Turbine should give them the month free(no effect on me I am not currently subscribed anyway) and for once put their money where their mouth is.
  

Turbine is failing to take advantage of the small bump in recognition it got recently. Though I guess we now why they had not advertised at all. Bad form by Turbine but not unexpected at all.

Do you really think Turbine delayed relaunch just to make 1 month more of subscription money on players?

How many of them are still subbed, while we can play free on beta and get new Turbine Points for free? Also, that's not pure money, there are costs to maintain an MMO - especially if you acquired more staff.

I don't think that's the case... I can't know the numbers, but I know one thing - I was going to VIP for at least one month, starting at relaunch. Delay means that either I will subscribe later but not now, or won't subscribe at all and just spend few buck on guild charter.

Well, I don't know. I don't know if that would be even worth it. While Aion isn't a competition, because it much different game, people easily get upset, and Turbine should know what it means by now ; ).

But is that really possible that they've panicked about how many players will join? Well, beta has ONE server. Live has 6 servers now. Couldn't they just buy more machines and open more of them soon after relaunch? Or maybe it's a problem with in-game support, I mean - every new server needs people to crew it as Game Masters and techs... WAR had a launch that made it slipping into nothingness since then, but that was because of bugs on every square foot of the game... Not just in-game support.

Originally posted by Rokurgepta

Originally posted by jaykpants

So they may have a lot of new players for awhile, then most will move on to try Aion.

 

At least it's F2P after that, so it'll be one of those games people go back to over and over and over again.

Wait.... "at least"???? UGH!

 

But if DDo F2P/Hybrid fails to bring in and keep "paying" customers it will not be here long enough to go back to over and over.

I don't think there will be less people paying than before the relaunch : ). And that probably means DDO is safe, as last years' delays with new content were due to DDO:U being worked on in background.

Also, I don't think Aion is a competition to DDO ; ). Nor DDO to Aion. Those game are just too different, and you can play both. 10  days or even 14 days trial was never enough for DDO, so this new free to play, seemingly unlimited "trial" is nothing but an improvement here.

Turbine sure must have a very good reason though. I wonder what could it be. But if anyone, players are the last to be able to foresee consequences of such moves. Turbine surely thought about that, though still it's possible that's not a very good decision... From my unprofessional perspective the game was ready to launch. But if they want to, for example, create new UI or add more quests, that would be worth the delay I guess.

But one thing is sure - after those new positions in their ranks were filled, they have much better organization and nothing seems to happen without good reason. Probably old live is pretty desolated, but in the beta it's really visible. Feedback goes out, then next patch addresses it better or worse, but nonetheless.

On the other hand, if that's just to make sure DDO is not laggy with so many possible players, well, they should have sorted it out long ago. But it's not very believable. On last stress test with multiple instances from Korthos, through Harbor to Marketplace there was no lag in game that I noticed... Maybe Turbine Store had some hiccups, but I can't tell, haven't used it at that time.

Originally posted by Rokurgept

Except DDO has been out for 3 1/2 years and is getting closer to 1 year with no content update. Of course people who played three years are bored, they spent almost the entire last year getting nothing. Sarr lets not blame the players for this.

But I'm not blaming anyone : ).  I just remind us all of the fact that it's the issue of all MMOs : ). Can you show me one you played 3 years and is different?

But what you've said, that there's no content update for 1 year is wrong mate. Sharn Syndicate quests (a couple of them) in Marketplace is very good new content:
www.youtube.com/watch

As well as 2 new quests in Cerrulean Hills for free players:

www.youtube.com/watch

And here comes completely new questing area on the plane of battle, new raid and... I think it was 6 new quests there?

www.youtube.com/watch

Though I might be wrong with the number here.

Last live module (8) came out in the Autumn, am I right? It brought NPE, whole Korthos Island with reworked quests, some new high-level quests (without a raid, but pretty epic) and Dragontouched armor system.

That said, there's new class "Favored Soul" and many handy changes to UI and combat system, which is all pretty important changes.

Of course that may still not look very impressive. But new version of DDO was done behind the scenes, and let's be serious, relaunch requires different kind of things than just new quests and new raids. It must be consistent with free to play model and suit much broader audience. DDO's old niche expands in our eyes. If Turbine did nothing to address it, that would be wasted occasion for DDO and even more so, for them.

So I wouldn't worry much. After relaunch, I'm sure content will come more often, as that's the best way for Turbine to keep earning those hard $. Update with new quests would be also the best thing to bring more players with those news of it in press. Nobody outside of the game cares about what was nerfed and what not, it's new screens, hooks and stories that may catch their precious attention : ).

I've read several times now that Mod 9 delay was an absolute anomaly, and that they've moved some LotrO devs to help with DDO now : ). That was also said in DDOCast, and really makes sense. Well, time will tell, but if Turbine wants to break a bank here, they must get busier than ever before. DDO target is not brainless sheep, I guess.

Originally posted by Asleep

Lack of content is this games problem. Also, lack of anything to do with your geared out guy in end game, besides doing raids again, maybe quicker/easier. It has made bitter alot of vets, and you will likely get rushed threw alot of stuff cause of it.

 Overall, the key factor for this games awesomeness is not combat, or custimization, as you will find a good enough amount of that others places, what you will not find, and is the heart of DDO, is insane content. Not all of it, but the ones that are out there, are like nothing you will see anywhere else right now.

Quests like Inferno of the dammed, Rainbow in the Dark, The Abbot, Titan, Offering of Blood, Von 2,  Crucible and many others really make the instanced questing worth it. Also, with this core game play, you don't need to be on for 7hrs to get something significant done, most raids and quests average 30mins. So far as the amusement park pve thing goes, it really really shines.

They need to change their ways though, and start releasing content on a way more steady and shorter basis, cause at this point, long term in this game is about a yr. If you played this game, and got turned off, play it again to endgame, if you haven't you owe it to your inner gamer.

Also one other thing, its not a PvP game at all, its super unbalanced and it doesn't get you anything in this game.

 

best of luck.

 

ps- I don't currently play, cause of lack of content.

Well, if you play 3 years, let's be honest - no game has enough of content to keep playing fresh : ). Endgame in WoW, for example, looks pretty much the same. Of course you can do PvP or craft, but you've probably raised your crating skills to max already. And PvP is just PvP. Do battlegrounds to grind for PvP armor sets or go raiding the same instances to grind loot. And then same question returns - what for? Should I move on elsewhere?

To be honest, I prefer that way than hearing "there's no fun till the endgame!". Just think about those 80 levels you need to XP grind for to get there... or whatever the number is in any "endgame centered" MMO, if we can call it that way. Guild Wars strength always was that - if you want to PvP, you can jump to the max level and do it right away, no need to grind anything. Well, it works, at least in theory - people get hooked and start to farm .

Originally posted by Rokurgepta

This is the type of thing that has plagued DDO since day 1. They had a great chance here and a delay now hurts them.

Well, they're obviously first to know what impact can it have on launch. So probably they have a good reason, trust me and many others - DDO looked ready for launch since weeks, but they still released major patches each week.

For me the best thing to change now would be, uh... USER INTERFACE!
Darn, DDO has so good graphics, but when you look at that 2006-era (or pre 2006?) UI, well, you better ignore it. I love DDO, I like how it differs from all other MMOs, but please tell me - why DDO must have that darn Framwork 1.1 graphical anomaly? 

Look at Guild Wars - perfect example of good and easily tweakable UI. Look at WAR, look at WoW. Well, ok, don't look at AoC or  LotrO. Look at most other Free to Play games...

UI is used VERY often, it's probably the most used thing in DDO, just after wasd keys and mouse. It should shine, keep up with DX10 graphics and lightning effects. Now it doesn't. I've seen they've improved some "icons" in DDO beta. But this kind of UI is just bad, works bad, looks bad, isn't tweakable unless you're programmer, etc. This is turning people off.

For a proof, look at opinions about DDO graphics. Recently one guy wrote a thread (today?) how GREAT DDO looks. So now click at "Ratings" and read a short review that this game is for people preferring gameplay over graphics!

Of course, we can say it's a matter of taste. But I bet our less-than-pretty UI is the reason for more than a half negative opinions about DDO graphics.

One experiment to perform at home - play DDO in a dungeon. Look at those graphics. Then hit Alt-z to disable UI. Much better now, right?  Hear it Turbine! Hear me scream! ;D

Originally posted by mindspat

My best advice, and this goes out to EVERYONE, getting into a guild with like minded individuals should be your goal inorder to experiance the quality experiance that DDO is capable of delivering. 

Oh yes. Though maybe it's not necessary, you can use LFM all the time like I did in "old" DDO.

But now, what you've pushed me to say - I think Turbine should REBUILD GUILD SYSTEM and expand it a lot!
As you said, guilds are so well suited for DDO, that it scares me that Turbine haven't changed much about it yet. Of course, there's new Rank system for Guild in DDO:U beta. But it relies on /guild commands typed into chat. Well, that's a technologody from MUD era!

Don't get me wrong - I loved Muds back then. But let's be serious, we have 2009 and 2010 is near. I don't want to write /commands in action-oriented game, even if I'm a guild leader. I want a good, modern UI!

Originally posted by toord

In a move that has suprised NO ONE, the DDO team has decided to delay the launch of their so-called F2P until September the 9th. They have missed more deadlines in the 2+ years I played that game than any other developer I've heard of. Way to alienate your veteran subscribers, Turbine.

forums.ddo.com/showthread.php

 

Peace.

Tell me. How consistent that is. Writing "Where are all the DDO _fanboys_ now", a few hours after this is official. Then writing "Peace".

Do you think anybody is going to lie to him/herself and say that's not just obvious trolling? Heck, I wasn't even home all day, didn't even have time to think about DDO. Yet, you're the first! To whine...

Here's my more detailed response to you on TenTonHammer, where you're "voluntarily spreading the truth about DDO while not even playing in the beta". That is, lacking all necessary knowledge to have opinion about RELAUNCHED D&D Online:

forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php

Damn it, that's ridiculous. I think I'll just cease to respond, that's pointless. I really tried to believe in your proclaimed intentions, but they're absolutely different to what you're doing.

Happy vendetta!  I hope you'll not go too far and get banned someday...

Originally posted by SwampRob

Originally posted by Papadam

I have read that sorceress are very poor soloers in the low levels but are one of the best solo classes at higher levels. Clerics seems to be the best solo class at low levels.

Soloing in DDO is alot of fun but grouping is really where the game shines (if you dont play with people who rush thorugh the dungeon)

 

When I played, it was almost impossible to find a group of ppl who did not rush through the dungeon, very little talking, except for stuff like "fire trap coming up", "the box for that trap is ahead on the left".   Man, I hated that.  It was so unlike the PnP game in that sense.   Is it still like that?   Is it really possible to find people who don't rush through?

 

I think it has improved on beta, probably due to 10x more newcomers than ever : ). And additionally, Turbine made a development move which helps with lag AND... rushers. Dungeon Alert system - if you aggro too many mobs in one dungeon, you will see green, then yellow, orange and finally red dungeon alert level. Green is almost 100% safe, but yellow and higher make monster more difficult, able to slow you down upon hit etc.

From my experience, leaving alone a few bugs constantly being fixed, If you play normally, you won't notice any alert. Maybe green sometimes, but very rarely. But if you rush... orange is sure, at least orange.

After rushers cried out all their tears on forums, they started to insist they still CAN rush if they are good enough. And I'm fine with it - rushing turned to be elite thing, not accesible to everyone. Good, win-win situation if you ask me.

Other than that, what always worked for me: Creat LFM group in social panel!
Just write "no rush" in comments and you can be pretty sure no one will be rushing. Those who rush know what they're doing, and don't want to be kicked out from the group.

PS: I don't have any problem with rushers, as creating "no rush" LFMs works always for me, a sworn non-rusher. Though I think it's good Turbine adressed that problem. Or at least started to address it by design - worst experience possible for a newcomer is when he gets into a rush group!

Originally posted by jaykpants

Yeah, thanks for posting something so useful.

 

I will be joining the game with the new release. I've always wanted to try the game, but never had a good excuse to. This will be the perfect opportunity.

And those sites all seem informative.

Now if only they'd send me a beta key I can get underway!

 

Now you won't have an excuse for NOT trying it! Damn, it's week before launch, and I already love it!
<joke>

frijoles --> YES! You shall have all your brave heroes and other gimps at your diposal. Har, har, haaarrrr....
Yeah, it's official mate : ).

Originally posted by jaykpants

Any secret way of getting a Beta Key? Hardy har har...

Damn it, launch for free players is on 6th of August, and 4th for subbers :D. You still can't wait? Then know we all have our beta characters WIPED on the launch :D.

Was I of help?

Originally posted by gestalt11

Originally posted by Sarr

Of course. If you look for character customization, you probably won't find an MMO with more options. Basically, if it's possible in D&D, it's possible here as well. Just take into consideration that in real D&D there's usually only 3 people who play the game with you, and if your character isn't very efficient, Dungeon Master will get you more magic items, etc. Here, it's an MMO game, you're on your own.

That said, I think it's not a problem at all. DDO is mainly a PvE game, so I wouldn't be afraid of experimenting with anything, as long as you know why you're doing it and what you want to achieve.

Multiclassing  work like that - you take one class. Then, when you level up, you can train next level from your class trainer, or seek any other class trainer. You simply add a level of the class you want. You can have up to 3 classes for one character, but I'd recommend you single class, than experimenting with second, and if you feel confident - go on, take third class. 3 classes are pretty rare though.

Here's a VERY good resource for you:

compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Compendium_Home

I especially encourage you to review that section:

compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Category:Character_Attributes

And if you're just starting to experiment, without much D&D knowledge, this is a must:

compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Category:Path_Directories

Have fun!

 

PS: Gestalt11 -> Tarrasque and ancient wyrm dragons? 

I may have the entire 1st edition Monster manual and Monster manual 2 close to memorized but I am not 100% up on all 3rd edition stuff.  But i think its a safe bet that the Pit fiend boss has more HP than either of those.  I mean he is at like 50,000 hp or so.  The 1st edition tarasque was hard to kill due to regen and rebirth he didn't just have tons and tons of HP to burn through.

 

Also DDO red names do what other MMOs do and disable most effects.  DDO bosses are just not really D&D.  The normal stuff sure but the bosses become just like any other MMO.  Its a shame really.

 

Edit: yeah according to a wiki the 3rd ed tarraque has about 850 hp.  That means the Pit fiend has like 60 times the HP.  I mean that is pretty ridiculous.  We are talkin about a unique monster that destroys entire country sides and this boss has almost two order of magnitude more hp.

Yeah, you're right ; ). I just always say "Tarrasque!" in such moments ;D.
Ok, HP are absolutely infalted. I agree. But after all. I ask one question: Why is that bad? 

If monsters in DDO had HP of pen&paper monsters, it would play like Baldur's Gate like game. That's not fun for first-person or third person MMO to kill monsters as fast. I mean, yeah, DDO has it all changed up, inflated very high. But this is real time, action-oriented MMO.

D&D pnp is based on a VERY loose concept of 6-second rounds. And Ad&d 2nd Edition was based on... one minute rounds and turns which were 10 minutes long! Can you imagine? It works when you're storytelling, dividing everything to rounds and rolling actually 100% random initiative on d20 and in Ad&d - on d10. With modifiers of course. But having that in DDO would be pretty strange. Or, it would look like LotrO or WoW. No exactly round based - but imagine how would it look if players would need to wait for the start of next round before they attack and random initiative is rolled!  That's exactly like PnP game works.

And last but not least, there wouldn't be any such action-intense game as DDO is now, if Turbine took that popular route as WoW, with semi-round-like cooldowns.

It's easy to criticize DDO that it's not 100% D&D, but to think if that would make any sense is better. Anyway, I have yet to see a game 100% true to D&D. BG I and II or NwN series... weren't : ). Oh, ok, Dungeon Hack or Eye of the Beholder-like games... yeah, actions stopped in those when combat encounters began, so there was actual initiative rolled and then it went 100% Ad&d way probably. Not sure though, hehe. But those games were almost skill-free, not to mention how simple and oldish to present standards.

D&D pen and paper isn't an action game. It's "storytelling" game which involves acting (too big word probably) and 100% strategic combat. Now, it couldn't turn to a very fun MMO that way . That wouldn't be even MMO by our present standards!

Thanks for doing this Papadam .

And here's site in-production for POLISH players of D&D Online:

www.ddoworld.pl

www.forum.ddoworld.pl

It's only forum to date, but there you can join my guild or various others, discuss many D&D Online aspects, builds, classess, ask for help in Polish. I've joined ddoworld team recently, and I'm going to help them.
Ah, someone made mistake in that banner - it's not going to be WORD of DDO but WORLD .

Zapraszam! ;)

Originally posted by Irishoak

Not the same model, not at all. You are required to pay the 15 bucks a month plus there is a MT store.

What?? You must pay subscription and still have Store in game?

Ok, so I read it wrong, my fault :|.

So yet another game after Chronicles of Spellborn and Star Trek copies D&D Online new model .

I think it's good, new DDO starts on 6th of August (week from now!), and those companies will get people used to this model even more. It's not a competition for DDO though, so it won't affect that game negatively - rather positively.

Response to this model in DDO Beta was overwhelmingly good. The way Turbine implemented it for real is simply genious. So logical and easy that one wonders why no one did it before them.

So Turbine and DDO are innovators again : ). Nice to see it. Wish you luck and great fun in Champions guys, I just prefer fantasy genre to comic genre MMOs, that's all.

It's very hard to answer at this point.

There are some things one thinking about DDO dominating the F2P scene must consider.
 

1. Instances

Firstly, it's not the same type of game most F2P players are used to play. It's not 100% open world, or in other words, you can't quest in public "open-world" areas. You go to instances all the time. But, actually, the most fun parts of WoW to me... are instances. They're just done way better in DDO, so that can mean lots of players.

Of course, not all instances in DDO are so good. You can find simple WoW-likes. But most of them - yes, unmatched, original, epic.

2. Challenge

Well, but ok. Instanced F2P MMOs are getting numerous now. For example, Warrior Epic. All questing is instanced in WE, though let me tell you, comparing those 2 games is like comparing Porsche (DDO) to children bicycle with 2 additional wheels (WE)...

Having said that, some people like it that way! A portion of people like and will like to play games which are so basic as WE is. And so pink-pony-happy and colored, just with some boobs on top of that for male audience.
Those people will get into DDO only if they need something more involving, something like "real MMO" to play for a change. Otherwise, they will go trolling on DDO forums and write how DDO is stupid, just because they're not used to thinking or being cautious while playing.

D&D Online Unlimited, even though its Korthos Island is easy as those other F2P games, isn't an easy game. D&D Online is a challenging game. So if one is not in for a challenge, I think we'll say "farewell" to him around 3-6 level . I mean, first jaw drop in DDO is usually getting killed in 2-5 seconds of a fight, when you've made some big mistake or took too difficult quest just because you though you're Uber enough.

This it the time when you either fall in love with DDO, or feel ashamed and leave. But that's good if you ask me. That's why DDO isn't full of idiots like most other MMOs are, and won't be anytime soon or ever.

3. Maturity.

No, not that naked boobs "maturity". People playing this game like to have a lot of fun, but usually they're pretty intelligent folks. And they're usually more friendly than AoC players, though unlike in AoC, being rude etc. isn't much tolerated. You'll get ignored, ridiculed or even reported.

Yeah, another good thing about DDO. But then just look at the Internet - how many people are mature and want to behave well? Not everyone for sure.

4. Learning curve.

Basically, if you've never played Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, NwN or NwN II, or any other D&D games - you'll need some help. We have exceptionally helpful community in DDO. And I really meant exceptionally helpful. Just use /advice channel...

But not everyone likes to ask. People can complain that not everything is explained in details in game, and won't like to go here:

compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Compendium_Home

I can't say they won't have some good points. As a D&D pnp veteran I can say honestly that Turbine should make more "tutorial-like" quests to get new people even more familiar with DDO. Especially, quests which will teach you how to read game mechanics, how to use some skills, and how to find a group. Don't ask me how can they do it, they should!

Of course D&D pen & paper veterans will feel in DDO like fish in the water. But those have so many preferences and tend to be so stubborn, that every little deviation from D&D pnp rules may make them leave and bash DDO for years. Or even things like that may make them leave:

"Why ist's not Forgotten Realms? What it's not Ravenloft? Why it's not Dragonlance, Mystara, Greyhawk or my own setting!? Why is there mana!?"

While that's absolutely silly (I'm a D&D pnp vet too, so I have an opinion), many D&D players are like that. Immature? Yes, immature!

5. Free to play? With DDO in game Store? Are kidding me?

Many new people think "Free to play" means everything is free. No, it's not. It's not a 100% free game. Of course, you can earn those Turbine Points for DDO Store in game while questing, but many people, when they see any "STORE" in game think that they are screwed up already. And will run away shouting: "it was called free to play! Liars! I hate Turbine!"

Another wave of trolls pretty is pretty much granted. Well, unless MMO folks will mature somewhat in coming months. But this can be good as well! Controversy is always going to promote anything you can think of. Look at Darkfall... I want to try this game out myself!

6. There is only one D&D Online.

 Pretty self explanatory. That alone can give DDO huge popularity. I doubt anyone can create another D&D MMO until Turbine says "D&D Online: U is closed!".

So, I won't answer yet. I think DDO: Eberron Unlimited can be pretty huge indeed, but it's not a game for some of those people types I've mentioned above.

Check my new DDO gameplay video:

www.youtube.com/watch