PVP:Yes | Distribution:Download | Retail Price:n/a | Pay Type:Subscription
Desktop Client | System Req:
Darkfall General Article: Looking at the First Expansion
MMORPG.com first time Correspondent Jeffery Hargrove writes this look at the first free expansion to Aventurine's controversial MMO, Darkfall Online.
By Jeffery Hargrove on July 28, 2009
Darkfall Online is an MMORPG developed by Aventurine. On July 10th 2009 they released their first expansion. As a result, I spent the last week and over 36 hours testing it out. Wondering what it’s all about? Just keep reading for the full highlights.
In this expansion, nearly all of the mobs in the game had damage or HP changes to put them more in line with intended difficulty. Considering the number of mob types in the game, this was a huge undertaking that included fixing player skill mechanics, game mechanics, and mob AI to prevent future exploits.
The developers taking a three tiered approach addressing the player skills, the game mechanics, and the AI of mobs was amazing. It also allowed them to address the underlying problem, of players exploiting because mobs were too hard to kill without doing so. A lot of companies take the easy way out, just fixing AI, nerfing skills, or taking away key elements of the game. Aventurine’s three pronged assault has made for a much more enjoyable PvE experience.
This game has always had challenging, competitive, and risky PvP. However, several game mechanics have been added to push players into both wider scale conflicts and to create opportunities for solo PvP. Overall, I’m pleased that Darkfall has added these ideas that work. Two key mechanics lead to this, The Village system and Chaos chests.
The Village System in Darkfall Online includes player housing. Players can find houses in the world from harder mobs, or chaos chests. These houses can then be placed in villages; they are not able to be lost unless you stop paying taxes. They are extremely rare, but this encourages players to explore the world. These houses then get placed in one of several dozen villages spread across the world. Players pay taxes and those taxes go to the village. The village can be attacked every six hours by guilds. Those who control them get cash every hour for the next six hours. Since dozens of villages exist, even a small guild has an opportunity to capture a village with larger guilds possibly going for larger scale domination. This is an effective system for implementing player housing in a PvP centric game.
Chaos chests are an example of looking at an un-realistic demand of players and finding a way to make it happen. Players have been requesting more opportunities for one on one PvP, and the developers need to find a way to make it happen. The Darkfall devs found chaos chests.
;)
A chaos chest is a randomly spawning chest in the world that players find by simply wandering around. Usually players do this solo, as there is no increased chance of one spawning in an area in a larger group, and who wants to share the loot? The loot that is dropped consists of some of the best items in the game, including skills books, player housing deeds, 10k gold, potions, 100 gold, etc. It is random where they spawn and what they drop. However that has not stopped players from scouring the world looking for them. This search placed me into thirteen different one on one random world PvP encounters, and seven OMGWTFbbq moments in enemy territory.
Three new skill systems have been added. One, in the form of books that drop from mobs or come from chaos chests, specialization allowing players to diversify their character’s magic spells in several different ways. Second,there are title quests earning players a bonus to stats when wearing a title. Finally, the first advanced weapon skill was added in the form of Sithras, offering higher end players who can afford them to use some of the top melee weapons in game.
Darkfall Online already offers a wide variety of skills in this non-level based game. Players literally can choose from hundreds of possible combinations already. With the expansion, players can now choose between one of four specializations to add to their spells: Velocity, Range, Damage, and Jump Shooting. Though I was unable to test all of them, I have not heard of any major bugs with these skills at this time. This diversity should help set players apart from one another using magic and melee and archery specialization are two things that they have stated they will be working on getting into the game soon.
The skill books added to the game allow players with no prior training in a skill to learn powerful abilities right away, or gain up to a medium proficiency in a skill if they already have some training in it. This system in my mind offers a compromise to grinding skills. Players could spend two weeks leveling to learn some of the most powerful spells, or they could grind for money and buy an ultra rare book that trains that skill up to a medium proficiency. These items are consumable and permanently affect stats, but they are also fairly rare.
;)
The title quest system, is a series of gathering and kill quests that when completed result in a character being able to wear a title. The titles adds a bonus to some stats, but although a player can do all of the quests, they can only wear one title at a time. Overall there is a large amount of PVE content, but it’s pretty boring to complete and is lacking originality or much entertainment. However, the rewards are very much worth it. The skill system was not added on as much as I would have liked. Though the specialization is great, I am unsure if it should have been added now, before they have specializations for melee and archery abilities. The skill books are a great alternative to grinding for weeks just to train one spell, but if a player has been playing a few months, I do not think they will be as big a deal to established characters. Finally though the title quests end up being a must complete, even if they are boring and lack originality.
The major highlights for the world include the weather system, nexus system, and home recall. These together really make the world better. The nexus systems and home recall add additional travel options that can make the world easier to get around for large groups, or individuals covering large amounts of ground. The weather system, however nice it is, just doesn’t seem to work as well as expected, with many players reporting seeing rain while others report sunny skies in the same area.
The nexus system is a system of player created portals. Players can create exit and entrance portals and they can be used by the player, or anyone else who stumbles upon them to travel across the world. They have a certain amount of time they last then they disappear. This restriction makes large group travel practical heading to distant targets, provided scouts emplace the portals in timely manner before the group travel is to begin. They are practical for many uses, but expensive to use extensively.
;)
The home recall is a part of player housing, but it is also a travel option usable by the owner of a home or his allies. He can allow players to teleport inside his home with him from anywhere in the world. Though a good system, it is not without risks, as remember villages where homes are based, are under constant threat of attack.
The weather system is nice eye candy and makes the world pop. Seeing clouds moving in the sky really makes the world feel alive. The rain effects are somewhat poor, but the fog could be useful if you are running away from enemies and run into it. I did not get to test it extensively as it was only patched in July 12th. But what I saw was ok, but hardly seemed special.
The changes to the world though interesting, didn’t seem to have the same attention to detail as other elements. However they do enhance the game a fair amount. I think all players will appreciate the extra travel options in Darkfall Online however.
Darkfall Online’s first expansion is filled with great improvements to the game, and creative strategies for used to enhance game play. Darkfall Online has come a long way in the past four months. It actually looks, feels, and plays more like a professional MMO. Most importantly Darkfall Online really delivered a stunning expansion after just four months launch.
first this isn't an expansion. It barely qualifies as a large patch. Secondly, it offered little to no improvement to the game besides housing which is kinda a neat idea.
If CCP could get away with calling every decent sized patch an expansion then so should AV.
Don't Hate.
The whole exapnsion/update thing is really tiresome, but I would agree that any expansion that was this small would be considered a fail. This is my opinion of course and others will say, it was great etc. That said this game from people I ve talked to playing, is not as busy as some are claiming(trying to lure people to play) Endless running with no one around=boring fast.
If CCP could get away with calling every decent sized patch an expansion then so should AV.
Don't Hate.
I dont agree with you here. Eve Online adds alot of content every 6 months which is far more than most games do. From what I read AV didnt add much at all.
Was a nice write up. I am in the group that wouldnt call it an expansion but it was a sizable update and did provide more for the population to do. Much like VG though I think the company running it has done so much damage that any large scale success is all but over.
Did you even read? No of coursr you fucking didnt, just went 'ooh a nice chance to bash DF, yipeee'
So the AI was amazing, eh? oh my gosh, it just doesn't stop ... rofl!
Where's the promised review that was already done last week?
The whole exapnsion/update thing is really tiresome, but I would agree that any expansion that was this small would be considered a fail. This is my opinion of course and others will say, it was great etc. That said this game from people I ve talked to playing, is not as busy as some are claiming(trying to lure people to play) Endless running with no one around=boring fast.
Maybe you should actually try playing it before hating on it? There is always people around on Agon; Sieges happening, Wars, and Open World PvP. And yes, this is on both EU-1 and NA-1 servers. EU-1 has more Sieges and Big Battles while NA-1 seems to have ALOT more Open World PvP
I'll be the first to agree that this game isn't perfect; especially at the starting areas where it is VERY hard to learn and get into the game. But once you learn the mechanics and start actually playing it is one of the best games I've played. It's not for everyone but for those who enjoy Open PvP and one of the Best Built Guild Management Systems I've seen then you'll enjoy this game.
Maybe you should actually try playing it before hating on it? There is always people around on Agon; Sieges happening, Wars, and Open World PvP. And yes, this is on both EU-1 and NA-1 servers. EU-1 has more Sieges and Big Battles while NA-1 seems to have ALOT more Open World PvP
I'll be the first to agree that this game isn't perfect; especially at the starting areas where it is VERY hard to learn and get into the game. But once you learn the mechanics and start actually playing it is one of the best games I've played. It's not for everyone but for those who enjoy Open PvP and one of the Best Built Guild Management Systems I've seen then you'll enjoy this game.
Oh good god I ve played it. I ve quit but kept an eye on it through a friend/next door neighbors account. I have every right to judge it how I feel and it is without a doubt(outside the odd big battle) losing subs more each week. Sorry if that bugs you but from what I ve seen and heard it s true.
I have to agree about not calling this an expansion. When I see expansion in any news headline, I immediately think of your normal $30-$40 store bought expansions. Just call these updates and everyone will be happy. This way I don't waste my time coming to look at what is a given in mmorpg games. The updates. Or they should be. Funny how some companies do these better than others. Also funny, how the most popular game is one of the worst at content updates and expansions, at least with how long they take to get them out.
I dont agree with you here. Eve Online adds alot of content every 6 months which is far more than most games do. From what I read AV didnt add much at all.
At the same time lets look at this....Eve Online has 300k Subs while Darkfall has what, maybe 30-40k? WOW had around 1-2 mil subs and it took them over 1 year to get out their first major patch which fixed their fail raids that shipped with the game.
If you can't find PvP you are retarded. Granted EU server player activity is more aligned with EU peak times now, but the US server is busy when Americans are playing DF. I was in a EU siege just yesterday while a US server clanner was having one there. DF isn't about solo PKs running through the countryside, it's about large scale warfare. Try it.
Nice review and I agree, But its not a expansion a needed patch, which helped and made me resub and do not regret it.
Dont mind these kids/haters, they are probably mad they got owned too much or tried the first week and were in queue.
O maybe they have too much of a low IQ to know what a indie company can do, CCP anyone?
Geez, calm down guys : ).
Expansion is word meaning that something is "expanding", "growing". It's the right word here, even while I've never played Darkfall.
The problem is, you people just got used to calling WotLK, Mines of Moria and, generally, any paid... expansion a real "expansion". Like you buy expansion packs for deck cards, or new adveture packs in DDO. But this is just what those big companies taught you, and by no means "patch" which adds to the world something other than bug fixes can't be called an expansion.
"Patch" was originally a term used to call a piece of software which fixed bugs and other issues, but didn't add anything new. This Darkfall "patch", from what I've read here, adds plenty new things to the game, so it's actually a "module", an "expansion", an "update" or whatevere developer chooses to call it. It's all fair and perfectly normal in my opinion.
I'd like to try out Darkfall, since I loved Ultima Online back then (and now play DDO), but... it's too expensive. 50$ for this game is way too much to risk for me. If there was trial - yeah, I'd try it ASAP. I don't fear losing my inv, while risky, I loved it in UO. That's real PvP, not cookie cutter "pvp" WAR and WoW serves us.
Thank you for your review, well said.
I will return to Darkfall online if and when the Star Ship Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) arrives in orbit to pick me up.
I think people got too used to multi-million dollar mmorpg companies, that they expect a game and a half on top of a game with a expansion drop.
But people who know the industry know what a expansion truly is, that said this was a expansion but added more fixes and balance more then content. But it did add in new content.
Thank you, good post. And I'd acrually rather like to point out the game is only 40 euros. I guess they stealth changed it, but thats what my acc says and that is what I paid out of my bank so..
* Code: *******
* Amount Paid: 42.00€
* Description : Includes one month of game-time. The subscription will be canceled after one month of gaming. You can renew it after it's expiration.
The review is coming on Thursday. We run reviews on Thursday, have for quite some time now.
Did you even read? No of coursr you fucking didnt, just went 'ooh a nice chance to bash DF, yipeee'
Yea I did read and im expressing my opinion on the subject. By the way you spelled course wrong.
I think people got too used to multi-million dollar mmorpg companies, that they expect a game and a half on top of a game with a expansion drop.
But people who know the industry know what a expansion truly is, that said this was a expansion but added more fixes and balance more then content. But it did add in new content.
I think new features IS new content by definition. New content isn't only new polygons. So yes, there's some new content.
I came back for the expansion.
TBH the game is much better now. I don't think its all down to AV though. I think the player base has matured a lot. Most of them are still angry little kids, but they have settled into the game.
When the game first came out people were so excited over the fact they could kill anyone and take their stuff that thats all they did. Everyone ganked everyobne none stop. You couldn't get anything done.
This forced people into a massive power struggle as the only way to get peace to earn money and level your skills was to hide in a play city and to control all the cities in a whole area. Thus the super zergs were born.
Most of the super zergs have been destroyed and smaller alliances have sprung up and are now able to claim holdings without the super zergs offering them join or die threats.
The new features have encouraged people to go out looking for chests and to complete title quests. the easier PvE lets even noobs get pretty far with the quests. Small scale PvP happens a lot more than before when it was only ganking or zerg.
The game still has a long way to go. it had a bad start but every single patch has made it better. When I look at a game like Warhammer I just can't see them ever getting it to the point of being a good game. With Darkfall it feels like its just a matter of time. I am much more confident that in the end Darkfall with be a good game than I am of ever seeing Warhammer as a good game.
Articulate and comprehensive reivew of the expansion. well done.
The review is coming on Thursday. We run reviews on Thursday, have for quite some time now.
Thanks for letting us know. I wonder if the same person will be doing the review. Look forward to it.
-CC
Thanks for letting us know. I wonder if the same person will be doing the review. Look forward to it.
-CC
My apologies for being blunt, but Im fairly sure someone else will be doing the review, Jeffery Hargrove is a big fan of Darkfall and has been an active player for quite some time, he is also very biased when it comes to this game.
It's ok and objective though if people like you or that other one from that big european site review the game, right?
It's ok and objective though if people like you or that other one from that big european site review the game, right?
Being a fan is a site requirement of being a Correspondent. Do I have to make it simpler for you? Maybe draw some pictures?
Like any DF Correspondent guide, report, review etc the write up has been a source of good and honest information and very helpfull. Continue with the good work and keep the updates coming, its one of the best sources for info, very informative and spot on.
The expansion has been indeed a breeeze of fresh air so far..
I thought the article was nicely done. Although the writer has evident bias toward's the game. That is ok though, I am glad he likes it.
What he completely fails to mention that Aventine has not been able to control the hacks. There are more every day. While i tis nice to see they did address some pve issues, they just made a small dent in the matter.
The game still has a lot of potential, but it is a long way down the road. Let's hope that Aventurine has the time to make this a decent MMO.
If CCP could get away with calling every decent sized patch an expansion then so should AV.
Don't Hate.
That statement is so wrong on so many levels. Every expansion CCP has released has had a shit-load of content to go with it.
They have every right to call it "expansion".
They shouldn't call this an expansion, when it's actually just a patch with everything that was missing in the game.
The "expansion" only marked the real launch of the game.
Expansions for sandbox games are not the same as for themepark games, W.o.W. noobz. Themepark expansions add land mass, new quests, new instances, new gear and bosses (most of it recycled from existing content), sandbox games mainly add new game mechanics, e.g. teleport systems, player housing, weather. Patches only add fixes, no new stuff. Expansions expand. It's clearly an expansion. A free one at that.
Being a fan is a site requirement of being a Correspondent. Do I have to make it simpler for you? Maybe draw some pictures?
Was that an answer to what I said, or just repeating yourself cause of a lack of a better arguement?
Come on dude, don't be a fanbot. Whatever, they only added player housing, a minor feature. I mean, look at most of the other MMO's, do you think they will make it a big deal if WoW adds player housing in the future? I don't think so, as we all know that adding a hairdresser profession or whatisname is a million times more important than adding player housing.
Another ill-thought statement. Wrong. Adding the "wow-noobz" comment doesn't help your case either.
I don't see how sanbox expansions can't have extra landmass, new quests, new instances, etc?
Player housing? teleport systems? So......Runes of Magic and LOTRO are now sandbox games?
Were you being sarcastic? Hope so.
Noob. :)
Being a fan is a site requirement of being a Correspondent. Do I have to make it simpler for you? Maybe draw some pictures?
Was that an answer to what I said, or just repeating yourself cause of a lack of a better arguement?
What are you having trouble understanding? No, it's not "ok and objective" for me to write a review. Do you see me fucking writing one? I'd have to give Tasos money to play in order to do the review, for one. And I wouldn't give that squib a bucket of piss if he was on fire. And it's not "ok and objective" for a fan to write a review, which obviously leaves the "Correspondent" out SINCE HE'S REQUIRED TO BE A FAN TO BE ONE, which is what I already said but you can't process data that fast apparently.
As for the review from Eurogamer, which one? The first one, where Tasos cried foul? Or the second one which Tasos hurriedly decided he didn't want as soon as he knew who the reviewer would be and slunk away from? Because while I don't think the first was entirely objective or fair, the second one sure the hell was dead on.
As far as "lack of a better argument", I'd need a better adversary to even be worth putting forth the effort.
Edit: By the way, this is where you hit the report button and cry. Seems to be the popular form of battle by Darkfall supporters and felines from asia.
I'd just like to remind people that what Adventurine markets as a free expansion is actually what was suppose to be in the game at its initial launch. I use to play this game and I had the best time in a long time doing so - until they stabbed America in the back. They 'invited' us to play EU1 until NA1 launched. The DID SAY we could have one character per server. Than they fucked us in the ass by breaking their own word, switching their position to 'one character per account', and charging NA another 50 bucks to play the SAME FUCKING GAME.
You can call me a troll, a fool, a misguided idiot, or anything else you want, I don't give a shit. The bottom line is I was fucking lied to and I'm gonna let people know about it. I don't care how much fun I had when I was playing. I don't care about a lousy 50 bucks for a game because I work for a living. I'm not a basement dweller with too much time on my hands. What I do care about is a company selling me a product for a certain amount of money, and than trying to sell me the same product all over again a few short months later, when they INITIALLY said the price would stay the same.
Adventurine, I have one thing to say - burn in hell.
Darkfall has an expansion? Dammit, and I thought Groucho Marx is dead. I am waiting for the George W. Buch re-election campaign in 2012 now. Double-You reloaded. Compared to Darkfall, Vanguard was a Diamond, dammit!
We normally associate expansions with the adding of a new race, a new class, a new continent in the map, some new gear, an extra feature or 2. Well, on a skill based game there's no need of class & race. New land in a world so big, doesn't quite compute, so in this case, a revamping of all the monsters, adding a whole new dimesion to the PvP with this village system & these chests & learning of scrolls could be taken for an expansion. Frankly, since it's free they can call it whatever the heck they want. I don't know why any1 would give a sh...!!!
Yes I Agree And I Cant Find Dowload For DarkFall So I Cant Play To Find It Out
Come on dude, don't be a fanbot. Whatever, they only added player housing, a minor feature. I mean, look at most of the other MMO's, do you think they will make it a big deal if WoW adds player housing in the future? I don't think so, as we all know that adding a hairdresser profession or whatisname is a million times more important than adding player housing.
I think its ironic that everyone who says that DFO is heading in the right direction is called a fanboi.
Just saying.
Anyway, I also think that the semantics of Expansion is not really important here, because whatever you want to call it, DFO is improving. And improving drastically. I would love to have another review of Darkfall, because its turning into a whole 'nother game.
I played the beta, with Hyperion (Which, i know, is a fail). The game was fun if you were good enough to beat the zerg. The entire game post-beginner hamlets reminded me somewhat of the epicness of 3 squad Outfit Gal drops in Planetside. Running to an objective with 20 people. Scouting the enemy. Killing people with much better gear them me. Those moments felt right to my inner gamer.
But the problem was that DFO was so damn unpolished I didn't buy it. I felt that it was like an old peice of silver- It's beautiful underneath all that crap, it just needs to be cleaned it off. I think that with this expansion, patch, whatever it is, DFO is taking a step in the right direction-Its cleaning off that layer of filth and finally getting polished. Its not there yet, but by Tasos, it sure is getting there.