First and foremost, am writing this using me wife's newly created account. I can not post under my old account, and this seemed to be the only way. As a quick side note, she is enjoying the game so far, and literally just made the comment on how freindly the community is!
I am a old, new, player returning from too many years of absense. Some may know me, "Goofymonkey" most, do not. I'm not sure of the exact date where I started here, think it was sometime in 2003 during one of the beta phases. I do know that upon release, there where a few issues with my account, and I created a new one just to get playing. I beleive that the release date was around Sept 22 of 2004. By coincedence, I receieved my pre-order box on the same date of the last day of Earth and Beyond. I can still remember other freinds taunting me with the /breakdance emote... I think it was Gfunk who enjoyed it the most
Enough of the teary eyed tales of old, would like to comment on my return to Atys.
Way back when I left, I did so in a self admitted huff. Was playing for a year or so when they decided to toss in the PvP aspect of the game. I still believe that it was poorly implemented, and certainly rushed. However, with that being said, and hindsight always being 20/20, I certainly wish that I would of just lurked in the shadows and hung on.
Now, after many a year, playing many a game, and returning to Ryzom, I do regret leaving. I can provide a list of games, but feel that is not important. What is imporatant to me, is that coming back, felt like coming home. Upon the absolute disbelief that my character was still intact, and swimming with emotions, log in and me screen was filled with tells... now that was a very unexpected surprise!
Some say that the graphics are a bit dated... that may be with certain aspects, but... it still has the absolutley most breath taking scenery. Trees swaying, grass waving, rain and snow falling, I could go on, and on. The critters... eating each other, migrating, and most importantly interacting with us, the players. Dancing Cray's, circling Izam's... peeing yubos! Game immension is deep, just because of the critter AI... best I have seen anywhere, bar none.
Not even gonna start on harvesting and how much I enjoy that, would require a few more pages. Combat... ditto.
One character being able to do it all, very nice. One character being able to do it all and group with new friends using a lower skill at no penalty, very nice as well.
Some also say there is no "end game" content. All I can say is level EVERY skill to max, harvesting, crafting, fighting, and I mean all the skill trees, and then complain about no end game. Oh, no dungeons to raid... no kill everything and claim the "phat lewt." Sorry, but been on a few "raids" in a few other games, and well... they essentially are all the same. Here on the other hand, let's just say "ring scenario." No uber lootz, but can be damn fun... make your own dungeon crawl
There are certainly many faults... *points at mission dialogs* as well as the "Encyclopedia" but, in my mind only, they are not game stoppers. Well, and the UI is kinda clunky, would love to be able to have more displayed hot keys, *hint to devs, allow for player made UI mods cough cough* A few graphical/landscape things...
Thinking that I better close this one now, I could type many more pages on my feelings about Ryzom, but to keep you all awake, I will refrain at this point!
All in all, total package considered, even after a few years, Ryzom can still be the best out there. Heck... it's been more dead than Horizons, but still holds on. For the new owners, guys and gals, all I can say is THANKS for bringing me back home in the online gaming world. It is appreciated and I am hopeful that there will be a bright future for Ryzom!
Thanks for reading!
Goofymonkey
