SoR vs WoW

[akede]

If anyone cares to constrast the 2 games, I'm all ears.
Thanks!

I played WoW up until about 2 months ago. Had been playing since last version during open beta. Had 2 characters hit 60: NE Warrior and Orc lock. Smattering of other characters including a 57 priest, 3x rogue, 3xhunter.

SoR caught my attention in October 2004 recently after it was launched. I tried it and didn't like the new starting area. I felt lost and the community just wasn't as accessible as it is now.(Universal Chat Channel). Couldn't get the concept of stanzas and actions and just moved on. I returned the end of last month and played the NPE(New Player Experience) or commonly known as the starter Island(Ruins of Silan).

The island is great. It's just one huge tutorial and really teaches you how to play. Like any other tutorial, it isn't always representative of the total game experience. I hit the mainland on 29 June and have been exploring since then.

Now to your questions:

*Is SOR's emphasis on small party quests at all levels? How soloable is it?

While all of the content can be solo'd with the exception of named(boss) mobs at the highest of levels, small grouping is the norm. Solo play involves multitasking to not have downtime. That means you might hunt until exhausted of resources(stamina or sap(mana)) and then harvest in the same area, switching back when your hunt resources are replenished. Small group play allows all concerned to maintain an even hunting flow as you can heal each other during battle. Unlike other games, you DON'T have to group to play. You won't hear LFG every second on the regional chat channels. No waiting for 45 mins after login for everyone in the group to fly someplace to start your adventure.

*My understanding is that the quest framework in SOR is not all that extensive. Just what is the emphasis in the game and what exactly are world events?

The quest framework on the tutorial island is extensive and leads you step by step to the conclusion. Ryzom is a Saga. There is no end game inasmuch as there is no end game in EvE or in Asheron's Call. The missions on the mainland are designed to foster exploration and to work up your fame with the various factions. There are some missions that are linked and when completed create pages in an encyclopedia which provides you with further tasks. Hoping someone with more SoR experience can add to this one.

Little editorial here: When I say there is no End Game, some will hear that and remark, bleh, then what is the point. I'd like to turn it around and ask of the WoW players, What is the point of doing MC umpteen times? Oh, to get gear? Yes. To get gear so that I can hit AQ umpteen times....ah I get it now. Regardless of what "content" Blizzard implements instance-wise it will always be the same. Grind an instance to equip to be able to grind an instance ad infinitum.

Ryzom end game doesn't really exist. You have a moving political scene that results in Outpost Wars(pvp-consentual), there are GM run events that shake out the story with e.g. a hunt for a lost prince, building temples for your cult or an invasion of Kitin and you have a skill based character model that requires years to max. No cap in 16 weeks and then do end game.

*WoW is the ultimate example of a static world. Is SOR better in this regards?

SoR is static in terms of the landmass. You have the island, the mainland with an area for each Civilization, regions within those areas and then the Prime Roots(PR).

MOB AI is better than anything I have seen. Herbivores herd around and run from carnivores. They might come to you, sniff you and look you over as curious of you as you are of them. Carnivores pack hunt and are much faster than their prey. Fights will break out frequently when territories are crossed. Herbivores graze and move around within their groups/herds. Think about some of the cat pathing in WoW where you have a mother and cub. They appear to interact and have some sort of relationship as they move. Now think about 20 mobs doing that and then you start to understand mob AI in Ryzom. Oh, and Ryzom has collision detection so running through that herd of 20 can be interesting.

Also in WoW there was a lot of info floating around on the best character "builds", in otherwords, how you develop your character. Could anyone point me at similar info for SoR?
In SoR can a character be reset and still maintain xp to redevelop that character?

Builds develop as players are constrained in how they can develop their character. Perhaps they need to select a class, perhaps apply xp gained to skills, perhaps pick a tree branch each level. You look to a build to not make the mistakes of others. Some games, a la WoW, even allow you to reset a build in case you need to make a change, for a price of course.

Ryzom character development is not constrained by any game code. You can train up every single tree branch and the only thing preventing you from doing so is the sheer effort/time involved. You can max in magic in any of the subtrees that are available. Maybe you want to max in 2 of them. Then you max in 1 tree in Fight. Perhaps you then want to max in 2 crafting trees and 2 harvesting trees. You could do them one at a time or all at the same time. Choose your poison.

This game is very different from any other I've tried since beginning with MMOs with Asheron's Call back in November 1999. Give it a go with the free unlimited tutorial island. It's a very good tasts of gameplay.

Shoot me a message any time for clarification.

-Mesh

[huntn]

Outstanding info in your post! I appreciate you taking the time. Thanks so much, Mesh!

I played WoW up until about 2 months ago. Had been playing since last version during open beta. Had 2 characters hit 60: NE Warrior and Orc lock. Smattering of other characters including a 57 priest, 3x rogue, 3xhunter...

-Mesh

[jamela]

Terrific reply, Meshin, thankyou
*bookmarks*

[karmelit]

I don't I know I was GUILTY! First thing I did when starting a new quest in WoW was to look it up on Thottbot. I was on the treadmill and there was no time for exploration. Hopefully I can avoid this attitude in SOR. Is a Wiki being developed for SOR with mission info?

I am unfamiliar with WoW. But it seems to me that there is a contradiction here. You want to read a Wiki to know beforehand what any mission is, or what the reward is? Just curious, because that would spoil all the fun in my view lol

[huntn]

I am unfamiliar with WoW. But it seems to me that there is a contradiction here. You want to read a Wiki to know beforehand what any mission is, or what the reward is? Just curious, because that would spoil all the fun in my view lol

I know the dangers of delving into too much info. Thottbot for WoW includes info such as the quest location and exactly what needs to be done. Thanks for the warning! I was just curious. But I do have a limit. If I spend all evening looking for a location and can't find it, at some point I'll look for outside help, players first. Besides Wiki's include other game info besides locations.

[acridiel]

There are some "Spoiler-Sites" yes. They´ve got the lokation of almost every Material and Bossmob and whatnot maped out.
But hey...
Ask yourself, do I want to spoil my Fun again?

You said that you did not like to be led by the hand. So why then do you ask for a guide?
Just don´t look at those sides. I for myself have never looked at them while aktively seeking for something. I have looked them over, but I´ve almost instantly forgotten what they show. Because I don´t want to know.
I want to explore for myself, I want to search for myself.
I want to be surprised when I turn a corner somewhere and see a Boss I´ve never seen before, and pleased if I find a material I´ve been looking for.
Ok, it can be frustrating to NOT find the said material, but the feeling of accomblishment is so much better, IF you eventually find it without looking at a spoiler. I don´t want to miss this for anything in Atys

Hope this helps.

Enjoy Atys. Enjoy yourself. Thats what Games are about.

Acridiel

[huntn]

There are some "Spoiler-Sites" yes. They´ve got the lokation of almost every Material and Bossmob and whatnot maped out.
But hey...
Ask yourself, do I want to spoil my Fun again?

You said that you did not like to be led by the hand. So why then do you ask for a guide?...
Acridiel

I'm also looking for game info such as crafting guides, character builds, and the such. Wiki's normally have this kind of info. I realize there is a delicate balance between re-inventing the wheel and enjoying one's self.

[acridiel]

Charakter Build Guids aren´t there because no charakter is the same as any other. Simple as that. Just do what you want to do.

Crafter guides... tricky thing. I for myself enjoy asking Poeple INgame for a ceratin recipe. Maybe doinf a small task for them to get the Info, or doing a BIG Task for them and getting a whole supreme recipe.
If you want to look up recipes for Über Gear... do so.
But again, you´re robbing yourself of an important factor of the Fun in this Game. (as it would be in every Game)

You may find good starter Guides on the "Players Guide" Section in the Forums though and those aren´t real spoilers.

Enjoy the Wiki here, if you realy want to
And the Guides here
Some Video Tutorials here.

Nobody stops you, it´your decission.

Acridiel

[huntn]

Charakter Build Guids aren´t there because no charakter is the same as any other. Simple as that. Just do what you want to do.

Crafter guides... tricky thing. I for myself enjoy asking Poeple INgame for a ceratin recipe. Maybe doinf a small task for them to get the Info, or doing a BIG Task for them and getting a whole supreme recipe.
If you want to look up recipes for Über Gear... do so.
But again, you´re robbing yourself of an important factor of the Fun in this Game. (as it would be in every Game)

You may find good starter Guides on the "Players Guide" Section in the Forums though and those aren´t real spoilers.

Enjoy the Wiki here, if you realy want to
And the Guides here
Some Video Tutorials here.

Nobody stops you, it´your decission.

Acridiel

I have no idea if there is a parallel here In another game I'm playing Elder Scrolls 4, there is a huge list of items for making potions. Granted, most of the potions I know I have experimented with to create. But sometimes if your looking for a particular effect, it's a good thing to know what kind of ingredient your looking for. In ES4, plants (the source for most potions) are found growing in specific areas. It's really no different than finding a potion cookbook. But as stated, 95% of the time in ES4, I've been experimenting on my own.

Here in SoR, I don't even know if you can find specific crafting items in specific places. So far on newbie island, "resource" pickups, the green globs on the ground seem totally random as to what you get. Is that an accurate perception?

Thanks for the info!

[alhanna]

Here in SoR, I don't even know if you can find specific crafting items in specific places. So far on newbie island, "resource" pickups, the green globs on the ground seem totally random as to what you get. Is that an accurate perception? Thanks for the info!

On the mainland, resources are generally clustered together, and not always in safe places. Generally, there are small "zones" for lack of a better term where certain materials are. I use the map markers to make returning to my dig sites easier. Sometimes several materials are in the same general area so that your green blobs may have 3-6 different mats in them. As you gain skill, you can add knowledge to your prospects to see what you have discovered before you dig. Also, there will be prospection items you can purchase that will let you find specific types of items, like resin or shell. Eventually, you can even prospect for individual items such as Oath Bark. My favorite dig areas are pretty well defined. I know if I go east a few steps I'll find Oil, North a few more steps, I'll find bark, etc. I hope that helps.