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Destination Games
MMORPG | Genre:Sci-Fi | Status:Cancelled  (est.rel 11/02/07)  | Pub:NCSoft
PVP:Yes | Distribution:Retail | Retail Price:n/a | Pay Type:Subscription
Desktop Client | System Req: PC | ESRB:T

Tabula Rasa - Hybrid Video and Exclusive Q&A

Today, the folks at Tabula Rasa released a video highlighting the new hybrid races that are coming to the action-packed MMORPG, along with a Q&A from Lead Designer Paul Sage.

MMORPG.com:

Can you explain how the concept of hybrids came about? What made you decide to put them in the game?

Paul Sage:

Community feedback had a lot to do with this. Richard felt strongly that the story of Tabula Rasa was a human story. Throughout the history of his games, it has been about the player actually being in the world. So it seemed natural that at launch we told the human story. The internal and external community feedback was that they wanted to play alien races as well. So now it is time to tell the story, still human, but with a twist, or a splice, if you prefer, of alien DNA.

MMORPG.com:

We've heard there are three Human-alien hybrids, Brann, Forean and Thrax. What is the fiction behind them?

Paul Sage:

I don’t want to give too much of the fiction away, because that might ruin the fun of discovering it in game. However, I will say that the DNA of all of these races share a common marker and from there, the AFS have found a way to put the ‘best characteristics’ of the alien races into humanity.

MMORPG.com:

How do you get a hybrid character and what do you see as the benefit to having one?

Paul Sage:

In order to be able to start a new character or clone a current character with alien DNA added, you must complete a mission chain. Each race, Forean, Brann and Thrax have their own chain that must be completed.

Once you have opened up the ability to create a hybrid, your hybrid will get more points in certain attributes like Body, Mind or Spirit, than the normal human. It varies from hybrid to hybrid. It is important to note that with the Hybrid publish, attributes play an even more substantive part in the game. Body, for instance, adds to not only health, but armor as well. So a Thrax-Human hybrid can have more total Body than a regular human which means they can absorb more total damage. Hybrids also have natural resistances to certain damage types, as well as vulnerabilities, that regular humans don’t have.

MMORPG.com:

We've also heard that this is just the first iteration of the hybrid feature. Can you tell us how you intend to add to this feature?

Paul Sage:

In the future, we will be adding hybrid-specific weaponry and armor. We may also be adding hybrid-specific missions later this year.

MMORPG.com:

Can you talk about a couple of design or art hurdles you had to overcome to get hybrids in the game?

Paul Sage:

Sure. We would like to get unique weapons and armor for hybrids in. However, that will take freeing up more video memory. We’re looking at ways of doing that right now, but it is an ongoing process.

MMORPG.com:

Will hybrids affect your ability to clone characters?

Paul Sage:

Only in a positive way. Any time you clone you will now be able to reallocate attribute points. We felt it was necessary to open this up when we added Hybrids, but it is available any time you clone your character.

MMORPG.com:

What else can you share with us about plans for Tabula Rasa?

Paul Sage:

The team has some core things we want to concentrate on. Those are: veteran content, improved PvP, improved class balance and more consistent AI for summoned creatures / NPCs / pets. Most of the updates will revolve around these core ideals. Also, we are extremely excited about launching in Japan this year.

 

Hybrid Video

NCsoft has released this video featuring the new hybrid race system.

Hybrid Video

 

More Tabula Rasa Features:

Tabula Rasa - The Quiz: The Garriott Assessment Column added on Wednesday December 01
Tabula Rasa - Correspondent: Classes Overview General Article added on Wednesday September 10
Tabula Rasa - PAX - A Look at TR Interview added on Monday September 01

More Interviews:

WildStar - Troy Hewitt Interview Interview added on Monday February 13
Repulse - Interview with Scott Hartz Interview added on Friday February 10
DC Universe Online - MMORPG.com Community Interview Interview added on Monday February 06

More Features:

Guild Wars 2 - Micro-Awesomeness Column added on Tuesday February 14
The Free Zone - Is F2P Ruining Korea’s Youth? Column added on Tuesday February 14
 
 
Valentina writes:

Cool!!! That might actually make me take a second look at it down the road...When are the hybrids available? lol

New Post Quote
1/29/08 12:53:09 AM
 
pussaykat writes:

I'm guessing this part about PvP is what they have planned for endgame. Which could be nice if there's some kind of gear reward or any kind of positive bonus for participating. I'd like to see it instanced like wow's. I mean wow got to be what it is by copying everyone, i don't see how copying wow could be a bad thing. They even claim when you quit for another game they have everything other games have to offer so...

 

Personnaly i'm just waiting for mires to be fixed, did all i could without resorting to grinding. Well except 2 instances in mires but it's too late today to start looking for a group for those.

New Post Quote
1/29/08 1:15:54 AM
 
Alienovrlord writes:

 

Originally posted by pussaykat

 I mean wow got to be what it is by copying everyone,


True but only half-right.  WoW copied everyone before them but then they also cut out lots of the garbage from the stuff they copied.  

That's always been Blizzard's greatest skill - they didn't invent RTS games, they copied those too but they cut out a lot of the garbage and made Warcraft and Starcraft more fun and playable. 

Copying alone isn't a good idea, you need to be able to selectively copy the best parts and toss the junk :)

TR can only benefit from adding more races into their game, only being able to select humans was boring, but why are all the alien-hybrids bald?   Hair isn't considered a favorable genetic trait for future warfare? lol

New Post Quote
1/29/08 4:20:28 PM
 
Hexxeity writes:
Originally posted by Alienovrlord

 

TR can only benefit from adding more races into their game, only being able to select humans was boring, but why are all the alien-hybrids bald?   Hair isn't considered a favorable genetic trait for future warfare? lol

Because hair is the hardest part of a character model.  Basically, they probably didn't give their artists enough time to do good hair, so they had to leave it out.

New Post Quote
1/30/08 3:21:09 PM
 
Zeroxin writes:

Hair was replaced by skin spots and scars.

New Post Quote
1/30/08 3:36:29 PM
 
boomix writes:

I've played this game for 2.5 months and in that time I've managed to get 6/8 classes to level 30+ and I was close to get last two (biotech class line). My engineer was 49.9 when I got really pissed off because instance I was in wigged out. after that I was basically done and canceled my account.

Overall game is fun but right now there is nothing there to keep you playing once you hit 50. I will take another look at the game once they put in the following:

- flash points (raids)

- fix all the mission bugs and add more content from 40 to 50. because once you hit 44+ you will need to grind to 47.

- add drivable mechs

- add more level 50 content and fix pvp

- Squad comntroled CPs

 

Big bonus for this game is fast pace but that pace is hindered with bugs when it comes to weapon switching among other things. But back to pros. Another pro for this game is that instance trash doesn't feel like trash because they are just regular mobs. If only other games would take the hint and reduce raiding time invested due to the amounts of  tedious trash clearing.

I hope TR puts in the things that would keep me and countless others interested in it.

New Post Quote
2/01/08 9:46:53 AM
 
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