Content - what should I expect?

[dedistic]

Hi folks,

I apologize in advance if these questions have been raised before. I was having issues with the search function timing out on me.

I'm currently a World of Warcraft player. Coming across to SoR, it's a whole new ball game. I love what I'm experiencing in the newbie area, the flexibility is fantastic.

Being a WoW ex-pat I've come to accept a few things as the norm in MMO's. Dungeons (instanced or not), Bosses requiring 40 people to slay, and huge time-sinks. It's gotten to the point where I rarely log on to WoW unless there's a raid happening. I've achieved my PvP goals, received my reputation/faction rewards and most end game epic items available. The game no longer has any value to me, bar raiding the 40 man content.

What I'd like to know is what will I find myself doing in SoR? I appreciate the "do anything you want" comments, and understand where you're coming from. But that is very difficult to grasp when most WoW ex-pats have had their hands held. Quests to gain levels (and I realise there's no level system per-say in SoR), PvP battlegrounds and rewards, an near limitless terrain to explore.

But what exactly will I find myself doing? Are there dungeons to explore (or caves, whatever the case may be)? Are there bosses to slay? How many people does it require to do certain content? If there's bosses to slay, what do people find themselves doing in between time?

I have many, many questions that I'm sure will be answered in due time. I love the game for what I've seen so far. I've taken a character through the portal to the mainland (after a quick account upgrade), but the flora and fauna seemed little different to what was on the newbie island. Whether I didn't run (very quickly) far enough to see some things, I don't know.

Basically I would just like to know what to expect before I really sit down and sink my teeth into the game. Learning these new games is great fun, don't get me wrong, but some games have scary results (WoW as an example).

Any feedback you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Gwyr

[chessack]

I've come to accept a few things as the norm in MMO's.

Dungeons (instanced or not)

None in Ryzom

Bosses requiring 40 people to slay and huge time-sinks

None in Ryzom (there are bosses but 8 people can kill them in 5 or so minutes generally).

Quests to gain levels (and I realise there's no level system per-say in SoR)

After trial island, you get NO XP and NO ITEMS as rewards for quests. You get basically journal entries that teach you the lore of Atys, should you be interested in that, and faction, which you might want if you are into PVP. But other than "grinding faction" with one side or the other, quests give you nothing, and they are generally VERY simplistic (fed ex or "Kill X", being basically the only two types).

PvP battlegrounds and rewards

Sort of here -- outposts are PVP battlegrounds and there is the reward of "cats", which can double your XP rate.

and near limitless terrain to explore.

That's one place where Ryzom shines. There's a huge planet to explore. You can wander around for days and days and never see the same thing twice.

Are there dungeons to explore (or caves, whatever the case may be)?

Nope.

Are there bosses to slay? How many people does it require to do certain content? If there's bosses to slay, what do people find themselves doing in between time?

There are bosses but a group of 8 or so can kill them (usually, assuming levels are appropriate of course) and they do not tend to be the focus of hours of gaming. They are a 10 minute distraction from whatever else you were doing at the time (usually).

the flora and fauna seemed little different to what was on the newbie island. Whether I didn't run (very quickly) far enough to see some things, I don't know.

Depends where you start. If you are matis, then you started in the forest, which is what Silan is like. The other 3 zones are much different, especially the desert, which looks nothing like Silan (so I assume you didn't start there).

Basically I would just like to know what to expect before I really sit down and sink my teeth into the game. Learning these new games is great fun, don't get me wrong, but some games have scary results (WoW as an example).

You should expect:

1. Completely free-form, open-ended gameplay with pretty much zero of what a WOW player would consider "content." This is not to say that Ryzom has none, but it is not formulated in the traditional "go to contact, take mission, enter instance/area, do mission, return to contact, gain big reward" format that most MMORPGs (COH, WOW, GW, etc) are currently using. This makes nobody "right" or "wrong" in terms of design, but Ryzom's design is just not like that.

2. A game that requires large amounts of self-motivation. Ryzom will not tell you what to do. You will have to decide what to do for yourself, and go do it. I decided to really focus on foraging (because I enjoy it) and jewel making, and I have been going around exploring Atys, finding good forage spots (that are safe enough to dig!) and working those skills. I go hunting with my guild. And so on. These things are not formal "quests" the way most games would cast them, but they are quests of a sort to me -- quests *I* have decided to go on, for my own purposes. If you aren't self-motivated, though, Ryzom will leave you wandering around feeling lost.

3. A game that allows you to create your own content. You can do this via the Ryzom Ring. You can create adventures and DM them, or join in other people's adventures (they DM for you). You can make your own story arcs, etc. Be warned though -- you get zero XP or in-game "rewards" from the Ring. It's there for fun, creativity, and enjoyment, not for grinding.

Again, self-motivation is key.

Note that I am NOT suggesting that "self-motivated" play style is better, or worse, in the absolute sense, than a more hand-held style. Sometimes I am in the mood for one, sometimes for the other. But a self-motivated play style fits Ryzom's design philosophy, and the other really doesn't.

C

[dedistic]

Thanks very much for the prompt and descriptive reply.

I'm very intrigued by the idea of not having anything in particular to do, but being able to do whatever I want. I can see it would certainly help in the RP side of things. I take it that's quite popular here?

At the same time as being intrigued by the design, I'm also scared of it.

Regardless, I've paid up a month on my account so I can at least start getting an idea of what it's all about. Perhaps that is where my enjoyment will come from (as it does now). Figuring out what it's all about and where my place is.

My wife is paying up an account to tag along for the ride as well. She's in the same boat as me as far as WoW is concerned. Any recommendations on how to make symbiotic characters? Or characters that compliment one another?

Regards,
Gwyr

[borg9]

Any recommendations on how to make symbiotic characters? Or characters that compliment one another?

Regards,
Gwyr

Duoing

Healer + Melee
Healer + Elem
Melee + Elem (Heal between fights)
....

Basically most combinations work well.

The nice thing is you can swap roles regularly and gain a good mix of skills.

The key is understanding the Mobs.

I won't spoil it for you, but if you ask others might plant seeds in your mind about what are good things to 'Grind on'.

Take breaks to explore and see the sights. Grind will kill the game if you do it constantly.

[sx4rlet]

Yes, there is quite some roleplay on Atys. It gives the game a much 'richer' feeling then people shouting LFG, WTB all the time

To make compliment characters, at least make sure you are both of the same race, so you will not be split when you both go to mainland, as every race goes to the mainland of its own race.

Beside that, I cannot think of a way that the characters cannot be symbiotic... (Well maybe if you both only level jewel crafting...) But because of the classless design, you can both heal each other, when needed, use afflictions to keep mobs away, or help each other with digging and crafting...

Take your time to see if you can enjoy Ryzom. The game doesnt take you by the hand like it is in WoW, and it can take some time to get used to.

Have fun!

edit: *smacks Neun on the head because he types faster*

[borg9]

edit: *smacks Neun on the head because he types faster*

*dodges*

Trios are the 'perfect' set-up,

Melee for the tanking HPs
Elem for the damage
Healer for the reduced down time

I love the idea that you can all rotate roles and use the knowledge gained the first time to do it 'better/faster' the second and third time.

Having a Fight, Heal & Elem lvl on one char makes them one tough and useful homin!

[vguerin]

Being a WoW ex-pat I've come to accept a few things as the norm in MMO's. Dungeons (instanced or not), Bosses requiring 40 people to slay, and huge time-sinks. It's gotten to the point where I rarely log on to WoW unless there's a raid happening. I've achieved my PvP goals, received my reputation/faction rewards and most end game epic items available. The game no longer has any value to me, bar raiding the 40 man content

None in Ryzom (there are bosses but 8 people can kill them in 5 or so minutes generally).

There are bosses but a group of 8 or so can kill them (usually, assuming levels are appropriate of course) and they do not tend to be the focus of hours of gaming. They are a 10 minute distraction from whatever else you were doing at the time (usually).

Just to be sure, there ARE bosses you can kill with one team as a 10 minute distraction...

There are also bosses that require more than one team and can be quite a challenge in Atys normally. There are also event bosses (and R2, tho R2 mobs have no XP or drops) like the current event where 4 teams cannot make a dent. Just last night without even knowing what or if these current event bosses have a nice drop, several hours were spent by many players with us eventually having to give up

The NPC bosses, currently being revamped/relooked, have been the only thing close to "Epic" drops to date and you'll see many wearing Aen armor because of it. Their AI and drops are under review and should become more challenging as well as no longer likely to drop a full set, only a piece.

It seems we "may" be getting WoW type content with the planned addition of the "Kitin Lair"... I'd say most of Atys is looking forward to it while also being cautious on how it is implemented. It has to be balanced with the current player made economy and most would rather it doesn't happen at all if they don't use good sense in their planning.

It seems like you got your head around the major differences in the gameplay here, the rest is going to be based on your own sense of discovery while you learn your way around Atys.

[rushin]

there are bosses that require 40 ppl to slay, some in the ktiin lairs are here all the time, others come during invasions and events.

because there are no classes or restrictions on levels you have the biggest time sink imaginable right there

[gretchen]

A...a game that encourages wandering and dabbling, exploration and roleplay, trying lots of things?

I'm gonna love it here!! It's everything that people chuckled at me for doing in all the powerlevelling mmorpgs.

[chessack]

Yup, if you like wandering, dabbling, RPing, trying things out, and making your own way in the world... Ryzom is for you.

If you want a rigid, carefully constructed set of missions that lead you by the nose from level 1 to level N, then Ryzom is not for you.

Pretty simple.

C