What makes Ryzom worth it?

[crag2004]

I just read the following thread entirely.

http://www.ryzom.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25947

Prepin sure knew how to get everybody's attention there. After leaving he said that basically the game is the same as any other. Ouch, that hurts, true fans and fulltime-players of Atys.

Well for me, im still on the newbie island. Ive been there over a week and today i decided to try it. It takes some time to have it recognise you sent the money tho so i cant enter just yet.

"So?", i hear you ask, "What is this thread about then?"

Well after reading the thread i thought: "From what i have seen Ryzom is a grindfest". All the critizism is that it is a grind, and you cant fool me saying that these people dont understand the game. There is a good reason why Ryzom isnt as big as for example Wow. The reason i decided to pay is because i love grinding. It's my way to have a really really good time. Im going to grind untill i reach lvl 200 or higher and then im off again.
Ive been on the island and ive reached the point where only the kirosta boss is a match for me. I havent lost a one on one PvP in that arena for some time, i only get killed when i ask people to gang up on me. That is just very very cool. Fights are the BEST ! I just love the graphics which run very smoothly, even on my old machine.

All i have read (i have read most of the forum for the past week) is that it isnt a grindfest and that the community is so great and that people love looking at waterfalls. Well with all due respect, i hate doing that. Btw, there arent any waterfalls on the island so i might get back on that.

So for any new players, if you like grinding and killing, get this game ! It has an intense experience on teaming, ganging and killing. And the very best in this game, i found nowhere else is the behaviour of the creatures. They walk and act like in real life. They made up (in my humble opinion) silly names for very cool acting and looking creatures who move very nicely and fight eachother. So if your too weak, wait till the predator attacks a strong herbivore and jump in after it is hurt. Get that thrill from almost dieing, it's the very best there is.

In the previously mentioned thread, i found some people putting up a list (to basically defend their turf and say that the Thread Starter sucks bigtime). I would like for some of the more experienced players to expand that list in a different context on the floor of grinding. All i can find on the island are simple creatures (after you know what makes em tick), but i know that theyre much better on the mainland. So what should i expect in this huge world?

The island is 1km by 2km, how big is the mainland approx?
Do groups of mobs like bodocs team up on you?
Why do i hear everyone say its so hard to move between areas if your weak?
Please give some features here in depth instead of the shallow ones i find on the official site and here in the forum.

Much Obliged CragHack (Yes they made me change the name, i couldnt use my own )

[therius]

Hello my fellow homin. Welcome to the world of Atys. It is with my humble thoughts that I bring to you a few words about what you wrote. Many people may not find a home here on the living planet, and that is how it is. For those of us that stay, or in cases like mine, leave and return, there are many reasons. I think one of the greatest experiences here, if you choose to persue this aspect, is that of the community. Everywhere you look, there are good people, with good ideas, who will share their experiences and talk with you. Should you choose to role-play, there are others who will join you. If you enjoy pvp, there are those who will fight you, and events are held at times to aloow you to engage in tournaments. If you enjoy grininding, you are not alone either. The world is full of others who are as diverse as the land itself. Find them. Like in any ecosystem, we all must find a niche. As far as grinding to 200, did you know the skills go to 250? And with multiple branches of every skill, it is my belief that you will find more grinding than you can shake a yubo at, if that is what you wish to do.

As far as the mainland. It is big. I cannot give you a specific amount of distance, but it is big. Underneath the land there also lay the Prime Roots. It is big. The size is second to its beauty and changing landscapes. There are the Tryker lands, my home, of Aeden Aqueous. Here we Trykers carve our lives out of the beachlands, spending much time honing our skills, crafting, and preparing our homelands for defense. We lost our home to the kitin once, as all homins did, and it will not happen again. To our north, beyond the caves, lay the forested Matis lands. To our west, through a section of the Prime Roots, lay the Zorai, a strange jungle people who wear masks over their faces for reasons I do not understand. To the far northwest lay the deserts of the fyros people, hardy warriors who like to live without water, as far as i can tell. There they dwell in cities, with Pyr, and its gates of fire, being the capitol of their peoples civilization.

All across these lands live creatures of all types. I do not know all of them myself, but I do know that they coexsist as they do on the refuge island as you have said. These beasts range in strength from the lowliest yubo to creatures swift and mighty. The kitin abound, and there are many cretures which, to my knowledge, will end the existence of any homin they encounter, unless they are challenged by a group of us.

I fear I have gone on for too long. My eyes have just opened upon this day, and I have yet to get enough coffee resin from the ground to brew a pot of Tryker Beach Roast Blend. I hope I have been helpful, but most of all I hope that you find your niche. This world brought me back, as I am sure it will others, and it will welcome you should you wish to stay.

On a final note, there is much more to Atys than work, work, work. At times, one of the greatest things I have enjoyed, is the freedom we have been granted here. I suppose this is a freedom that is often overlooked by many and is forgotten. Find it, and you will find more than just a world. Enjoy the world we strive to reclaim, fellow homin, and once again, welcome to Atys.
-Zeeby

[fiach]

Well regardless of breaking it down into individual peices of scenary like the waterfall, to me its more than the sum of its parts, the whole living world as you alluded to, the eco system, the seasons , the variety of landscapes etc.

Its so immersive that to compare it to WoW is to do both games a great dis-service. WoW is cartoon-ish by nature, whereas Ryzom is lifelike (in a fantasy style of course ), its immersive due to being so lifelike, where WoW makes you geel like a toon in a cartoon

Size....Dunno I reckon Atys is as big as WoW for square footage, you use a griffin in WoW, in Ryzom you teleport, but even if either is bigger, its immaterial as both are so huge, size becomes irrelevant. There is more variety in the lands of Atys compared to WoW and also Atys is more beautiful to look at.

Yes Ryzom is a grind fest, like any other MMO, some dress it up differently eg. WoW, but I found WoW dreadfully boring, with really rubbish "quests" that were pointless insofar as a) they were boring, b) they were so time/gold consuming, it made more sense to just chain kill mobs.

At least in Ryzom, you get to grind in excellent company.....I suppose Barrens Chat has its novelty value, but that trash talk gets old after awhile.

Complete strangers are always willing to help new players, money equipment rez, cats, advice etc. Never had any strangers offer me help in WoW except in a certain way, my character name was Vladak and random high level czech players would open trade windows with me and give me stuff, once I got 50g from a player in email LOL! But it was due to my name and percieved nationality than genuine altruism

Anyway, apart from people and scenary, let me see.....SFX, spells are awesome looking, man it even makes healing interesting

PVP....Man theres more PvP here than in specifically PvP games , you have duels, consensual (tagged), Race vs Race, Faction vs Faction, Guild vs Guild and Outposts, but seldom is the PvP vindictive like in WoW (I was on Drak 'Thule PvP server) where RvR ganking and corpse camping was the norm, the player base in Ryzom has alot more classy....mature players than most other games.

I played Ryzom up to level 191 Melee and 155 heal and left, I tried a load of different MMO's, but the one I consider home is Ryzom and I returned and took up Elemental, currently 240 and I'm delighted to have returned lots of old friends still here and I meet new ones every night.

You can craft or harvest, develop myriad fighting skills or just explore and hang out and chat with friends and it doesn't end there.

The new Ring and Spires content add even more variety to Ryzom, Personally I dont agree with Spires, but I will adapt to it I'm sure and Ring can only go from strength to strength with the quality of players here..... hopefully you will be one of them

[crag2004]

I think one of the greatest experiences here, if you choose to persue this aspect, is that of the community. Everywhere you look, there are good people, with good ideas, who will share their experiences and talk with you.

And with multiple branches of every skill, it is my belief that you will find more grinding than you can shake a yubo at, if that is what you wish to do.

As far as the mainland. It is big. I cannot give you a specific amount of distance, but it is big.
All across these lands live creatures of all types.

Well regardless of breaking it down into individual peices of scenary like the waterfall, to me its more than the sum of its parts, the whole living world as you alluded to, the eco system, the seasons , the variety of landscapes etc.

Its so immersive that to compare it to WoW is to do both games a great dis-service. WoW is cartoon-ish by nature, whereas Ryzom is lifelike (in a fantasy style of course ), its immersive due to being so lifelike, where WoW makes you geel like a toon in a cartoon

Yes Ryzom is a grind fest, like any other MMO, some dress it up differently eg. WoW, but I found WoW dreadfully boring

Complete strangers are always willing to help new players, money equipment rez, cats, advice etc.

Anyway, apart from people and scenary, let me see.....SFX, spells are awesome looking, man it even makes healing interesting

PVP....Man theres more PvP here than in specifically PvP games , you have duels, consensual (tagged), Race vs Race, Faction vs Faction, Guild vs Guild and Outposts, but seldom is the PvP vindictive like in WoW (I was on Drak 'Thule PvP server) where RvR ganking and corpse camping was the norm, the player base in Ryzom has alot more classy....mature players than most other games.

Well thanks alot for the really fast feedback...
From top to bottom:

Both of you seem to really like the community. But i dont think the people here are any different. If i wouldve made this thread one big piece of hatred, than everyone wouldve jumped me and it wouldve become a flaming thread. It's the same in every game, if you start with a joke and a warm entry, people will welcome you and say hello. If you start unsettled, not knowing how to start, people will think you dont care and walk away. It's that simple really, in any game. Always think: "What would i have done if i was you...."

Im amazed by the skill tree, i love not having a level above my head. When i meet people and tell them my combat level, they say wow. But then they tell me their harvesting skills and i return the favour. It's just very nicely built. Including the mats found/used in every skill.

About the size, has noone really measured the world? Its so darn easy really, and it was one of the first things i did on the island. Target an npc on one border of the land into your compass and move to the other side......

I understand that the ecosystem and the seasons are amazing. I hope they are, its one of the things along with the creature's behavouir that im expecting to amaze me. If those disappoint me, its one month and im gone. As harsh as that really.

And a grindfest can be boring, but it depends on the way to grind. Leveling in the best way alone isnt fun, not for long. And the solution to sit down and watch the world, pff im no buddha. It might look good, but hell, most games do these days. I know how to grind and have fun, always try including other grinders and enter new areas. Works every time.

And one thing that really amazed me was, when i walk around and heal someone who has been hit, just randomly i get a 95% TY rating !!! I have never gotten that high. Dunno why that is, but for some reason everyone takes the time to look at me and say thanks. (Mostly i say np, unless its a really goodlooking female homin)

And PvP is real nice. Ive only experienced the arena on the island, but it was nice. Being the stronger one is always nice, but people gang up on you after several tries untill the balance of power is once again achieved. Games are always fun with other people. Try playing pong on your old MSX or oldest nintendo. It's dead boring, but when you play it together, the most simple game gives pleasure for an hour or so.

Conclusion: Im really really looking forward to entering, lets hope the servewr comes up soon, and my money gets accepted ...

[tavenni]

Well thanks alot for the really fast feedback...
From top to bottom:

Both of you seem to really like the community. But i dont think the people here are any different. If i wouldve made this thread one big piece of hatred, than everyone wouldve jumped me and it wouldve become a flaming thread. It's the same in every game, if you start with a joke and a warm entry, people will welcome you and say hello. If you start unsettled, not knowing how to start, people will think you dont care and walk away. It's that simple really, in any game. Always think: "What would i have done if i was you...."

I will beg to differ here; having played MMOG's from the days when EQ didn't have Kunark yet, I have definitely seen a change in community, especially in the rudeness factor, over the years. When I played WoW I realised I'd finally had enough. You'd think being kind would get you what you give, but instead I got mobbed by beggars, gold sellers, naked people /dancing in the middle of our rp circles solely to be disruptive, and all sorts of behaviour which had me about ready to hang up playing online games altogether. Ryzom's community, at least on the isle, has that old community feel from EQ pre-Kunark days, when everyone knew just about everyone else, and saying "Oh, does anyone want to do/can anyone help me find" would get you not only a response, but several offers of assistance - not something I've witnessed in games for some time (unless you count "FFS stfu u n00b" as a response).

Like you, also looking forward to getting onto the mainland and each doing our respective "thing" Good hunting.

[crag2004]

I will beg to differ here; having played MMOG's from the days when EQ didn't have Kunark yet, I have definitely seen a change in community, especially in the rudeness factor, over the years. When I played WoW I realised I'd finally had enough. You'd think being kind would get you what you give, but instead I got mobbed by beggars, gold sellers, naked people /dancing in the middle of our rp circles solely to be disruptive, and all sorts of behaviour which had me about ready to hang up playing online games altogether. Ryzom's community, at least on the isle, has that old community feel from EQ pre-Kunark days, when everyone knew just about everyone else, and saying "Oh, does anyone want to do/can anyone help me find" would get you not only a response, but several offers of assistance - not something I've witnessed in games for some time (unless you count "FFS stfu u n00b" as a response).

Like you, also looking forward to getting onto the mainland and each doing our respective "thing" Good hunting.

Hehe you just changed your post... (Im master of F5, no just kidding)
To respond to the disappeared part:
I understand that you like to enjoy the scenery and want everyone to make their own life on atys a good one. One likes a different thing than the second and i want everyone to respect that.

And about the community, it's not like ive done ten games like this one, not at all. But i am doing other text-based games alot, and those work similar. Violent words are to be heard everywhere. When i asked where to find some gulatch oil yesterday i got this:
Try to find it yourself before asking
Have you tried digging into your hair
Do you expect me to check the entire world, every square metre, just to help you?
It went on and on, and people started to try to insult me harder and harder, to top their friend standing next to them. Believe me, every community is the same, there are 14-year olds everywhere. (no offence, some do have brains)

p.s. I already had the Gulatch oil, i was trying to test the community.
After telling them that the entire tone of the guys changed and my position in the conversation changed 180 degrees. If you know your way with words, roleplay is easy. Some community might be more gruesome than another, but people dont change.

[tavenni]

Yes I removed that because I realised it was irrelevant, as I was just going on about my own playstyle. What I wanted to try and point out was both styles seem to be able to coexist here rather than the name calling I've seen.

As for testing the community - it may have to do with times of play. Again, that's pretty much true everywhere, as you say. My own observations have been that, no matter how many times the same question got asked over the past five days, no-one ever got bent out shape...they just answered politely and asked if the player needed any more help. One lass got herself killed repeatedly (something like five times in as many minutes) and kept wanting a rez. I was amazed she wasn't told to just be more careful...instead she not only got her rez, but also managed to get a hunting partner to keep her safe.

That's not something I've seen in a long time...unless you count the times I actually offered to spell "please" and "thank you" with all its vowels and have been offered massive buffs/armour/items solely out of gratitude for speaking properly in other games I've played. Yes, idiots exist everywhere, but I still beg to differ with you that the QUANTITY is still quite diminished here.

[fiach]

Try to find it yourself before asking
Have you tried digging into your hair
Do you expect me to check the entire world, every square metre, just to help you?
It went on and on, and people started to try to insult me harder and harder, to top their friend standing next to them. Believe me, every community is the same, there are 14-year olds everywhere. (no offence, some do have brains) .

I've never ever been given a reply like that, I'm not doubting what you say, but it is a response so alien in Ryzom, I would hate to think a fellow homin would give such a reply, If its true, then that persona will come through in lots of other things and they will wind up on alot of Ignore lists.

I would take issue with the....."I was testing the community" statement.

It rankles just a tad.

[rothimar]

I have never had an experience like this in Ryzom. I don't know what region you were in, or what channel you asked that in, but this is hardly a reflection of the community I have experienced in the 30-40 hours per week I spend on Atys.

*edit* - I also cringe a bit at the idea of someone asking questions to "test" the community. Either be part of it, or don't. Wasting people's time to ask questions you already know the answer to seems a little odd. The best way to get a feel for a community is to genuinely get involved in it. Poking it with a stick won't get you a good feel for its nature.

When i asked where to find some gulatch oil yesterday i got this:
Try to find it yourself before asking
Have you tried digging into your hair
Do you expect me to check the entire world, every square metre, just to help you?
It went on and on, and people started to try to insult me harder and harder, to top their friend standing next to them. Believe me, every community is the same, there are 14-year olds everywhere. (no offence, some do have brains)

p.s. I already had the Gulatch oil, i was trying to test the community.
After telling them that the entire tone of the guys changed and my position in the conversation changed 180 degrees. If you know your way with words, roleplay is easy. Some community might be more gruesome than another, but people dont change.

[zanthar]

I would have to agree with Andarr and Fiach about the rude comments made to you about the local of the oil. I have never been verbaly slammed like that here ever. As a matter of fact everyone I have talked to has been the polar opposite of those comments you recieved. I am sorry to hear that! And please don't take those that made the rude comments as the majority of players here! And Welcome to the living planet!
As far as the reason that this game isn't as big as WOW from what I've read here in the forums and else where is that Nevrax does not have the big budget for promos like WOW and this game didn't have a fan base already setup like WOW did with Warcraft and its clones. This game, if I remember correctly, was mainly marketed for Euro players cause I don't ever remember seeing the box for Ryzom in the stores. Yes, I'm an American!