What is the point of Ring ?

[doustin]

If i understood well players can create areas in game but where you don´t get any xp or items to use them in the world created by devs. So, what is the point ? I wouldnt understand so much time and effort of devs to make just this "expansion"

Maybe devs validate just a few areas made by players and make them part of the "real" word of Atys?

[katriell]

It's for people who can have fun without gaining exp/uber items...

Half joking...anyway, the Ring basically opens up almost unlimited possibilities. To say in a mildly catchphrase-ish way, limited only by the imagination of the players. People would be able to make the complex "quests" they so desire, etc. And before someone says it's just a cheap way of getting the players to make content for Nevrax for free, I say it doesn't matter - player-created content is a good thing. It allows people to fulfill their own needs and wants exactly the way they want. Build the world to their specification, in a way. We don't have that kind of control IRL - so having it in a game is bound to add all sorts of fun, and more fun in the game, which everyone can participate in, can only be a good thing.

I was thinking about it, and realized R2 would also be an excellent platform for machinima. Video-makers could select a map that fits their needs, and make the mobs and environment do what they want, when they want.

Quests, stories, events (ceremonies, weddings, invasions, mysteries, etc etc etc), kitin content, you name it...

[lemoi]

If i understood well players can create areas in game but where you don´t get any xp or items to use them in the world created by devs. So, what is the point ? I wouldnt understand so much time and effort of devs to make just this "expansion"

Maybe devs validate just a few areas made by players and make them part of the "real" word of Atys?

Just to add that according to Jessica, if the devs see a scenario that they like, and if such scenario is not unbalanced they're going to add that content permanently to Ryzom.

Also, if a user gains their trust they're going to allow that player to create permantent content.

As to wath is the point? RP posibilities alone are mind boggling! It will also bring something to the game that many peeps have been asking for: Complex missions content.

And lets not forget that this is just going to be the 1st release, I'm sure that as time passes new options are going to be enabled/added to both Ryzom and R2.

Edited:
I see R2 as an "Age of Empires" kind of thing within the game. You can play the quests that comes with the game, and "win" the game (In Ryzom's case that is gaining levels and getting new gear).
You can also go and create your own map with your own goals and rewards, but that is not going to affect the "quests" in any way.

I'm sure/hope this is going to open some pretty cool PvP possibilities as well (I say that even when I enjoy PvP as much as a root canal procedure)

[oldmess]

IQuests, stories, events (ceremonies, weddings, invasions, mysteries, etc etc etc), kitin content, you name it...

All great points. Just wanted add a thought here: Think about the recent Kitin "invasions" we had recently: Did you gain much xp? Did you get a prize or object? No, probably not. But, most of us went knowing full well we weren't going to get those things. And when people criticized the events, it was mostly about the length and/or lack of complexity of the events. Not the rewards. Hopefully, with these new tools, we can try our hand at adding to that complexity in our own events.

And to answer one of the original questions, I believe it was their plan to review some of the better/more popular creations and make them part of the world such that you could get xp or mats or whatever. But they have to review them for balance first or we'll just create all sorts of xp grind areas that allow easy advancement with minimal risk. Or large areas filled with easy high end mats.

So, if you make a one-shot event area for you and some friends (like for a wedding or something), it doesn't need to allow xp. But, if you put a lot of work into creating something balanced for everyone, there's a chance it'll get accepted into the main world. At least that's how I understood it.

[lemoi]

And yet another reason

[iphdrunk]

Also, once the tools and the framework is so robust that even the general public can use it (developers using internal tools tend to ignore minor annoyances and use ugly hacks) one would expect Nevrax to use it extensively themselves, and to streamline the production of Rites and missions. According to past communications, it's well possible that the rite system was so buggy - incomplete, faulty queues, missing NPCs, testing them was a bit frustrating in ATS - and in summary such spagetthi code that they needed to restart from scratch.

It makes sense to halt the development of rites until the Ring is fully deployed and use it once it's complete - we still have hopes that new rites will be added, by civilizations and tribes - . Not only they will enable players to create content but new permanent scenarios will be easier to add. If the interface is easy to use, and as powerful as the teasers seem to indicate, they will not need a senior software developer to add new rites, a contractor or "stagiaire" can work on it, as hinted by the past announcements they made. Some players may object to it (they don't like instanced missions, which to some extent one may think the scenarios will look like) and I think the Ring can be the "tools for GMs" on steroids they announced a long time ago (before shard merge).

Wait and see, I guess....

ps: can we have some bones in the meanwhile? the thought of only interface improvments, bug fixes and minor tweaks untill June is... a bit sad

[kuroari]

Wow, if anything was left out - i'd be a power lvler!

all great reasons why to look forward to R2 - i didnt even think about them till just now. this could be some really interesting stuff!

[doustin]

[QUOTE=oldmess]All great points. Just wanted add a thought here: Think about the recent Kitin "invasions" we had recently: Did you gain much xp? Did you get a prize or object? No, probably not. But, most of us went knowing full well we weren't going to get those things. And when people criticized the events, it was mostly about the length and/or lack of complexity of the events. Not the rewards. Hopefully, with these new tools, we can try our hand at adding to that complexity in our own events.
QUOTE]


Invasions are part of the permanent world, and they are "supposed" to change things if players fail. I think if areas made by players are added then it will be a great feature.

I dont just like xp and items, i like it but without community would be pointless. I would like a game with content also, not just an interesting event every several weeks or months. I also would like abilities that made easier to RP, or at least that you enjoyed them, but all abilites are focused in combat, you cannot even jump, or dive in water, much less climbing etc..

Without almost nice content and nice abilities Ring i think may be a nice feature if they take things made by players and even by devs which i think are going to be nice and not just the crap quests that exist today that besides give absurd rewards.

[acridiel]

I was thinking about it, and realized R2 would also be an excellent platform for machinima. Video-makers could select a map that fits their needs, and make the mobs and environment do what they want, when they want.

Quests, stories, events (ceremonies, weddings, invasions, mysteries, etc etc etc), kitin content, you name it...

ARF,Arf, ARF *droool*
You´re SO right MAN!!!!!!!

Acridiel

[iwojimmy]

After playing for a while, we tend to forget that items, skills, xp etc are not the point of the game, they are just tools to help us play. No one bought the game in order to grind, but after a while people lose their view of the game world and start focusing on the mechanics.
The hope with R2 is that it will allow us to "just play", to get back to the fun part of the ryzom experience.

My experience with MMOs is limited, but I know that with shooters and wargames, some of the best content ( and longevity ) came from the players contributions.