Tabula Rasa

 Let me start with the fact that I do infact enjoy playing this game so far.

    This game looks great, although very demanding on you system, it is refreshing from most all other MMO's.  I dont feel like im going thru the motions at all. The quests are some of the best i've seen and taken part of. The actual gameplay is actually sweet. I love using the chain gun, I find my self shooting everything possible all the time. Armor looks pretty kickass. I LOVE that I dont have to "search" for bags like most other games. Leveling is a blast so far. However, this is wear I have some ?'s.

1.  I have not run into a single reason to group. I have done instanced areas solo although I know you get more mobs with a group. You level so fast it isn't really worth it. So other then seeing text about how cool WoW is and how TR is #1 and seeing others run around (you have to target them to tell if there a NPC/Player really) I can't really tell it is a MMO. It is crazy fun but not a real sense of roles that need to be played like needing a "tank" or a "healer" and "DPS." It is fine if TR is getting rid of all that but as a group it is nice fill a type of role.  My question is what role do ppl play in a group other then just another member of the group?

2. Leveling is actually fun and immersive. the quests are very good and I love the choices you get to make on some of them. Escorts aren't retarded becuase the NPC is so tired of being in one place they only walk slowly to get out, they actually run and keep up with you for the most part. The voice over is kickass. Seeing a NPC yell "BOOM, HEADSHOT" is awesome. The cutscenes to instances is cool and the instances themselves are great. TR got this part of the game spot on. What is there to do at 50? This really worries me and no one I know that is higher then 45 know other then the carebear PvP this game has. Yes, thats right asking a clan if they could please go to war with them is indeed care-effing-bear. As it stands right now the "endgame" is made by the players them selves which sounds cool but it isn't, because it is out of sheer boredom that alot of this pvp will come from. If the devs screw this game up and make no endgame either by PVE or PVP I will kill a baby seal.

3. Test Server....this is just a personal opinion, but does this worry anyone else? I understand this can be taken as the Devs just wanna test the games future but I cant help feel that this coupled with the fact that there are only 4 servers makes me wonder. Isn't it a little early to need a whole other server to "test" changes? If the changes are that drastic then doesn't that  make this game "not ready" for release?  Again, I like this game so the "OMG NOOB STOP FlamMING MY GAME" isn't really needed.

4. Cloning. I dont get. I level a guy and use attributes but if I dont like where I put them im screwed? I can clone but that only gives me a half respec? How important is the attributes? Why should I worry about health if I want more armor. If I go for high armor why should I care about regen or does it work for armor also? Why isnt this info readily availible without looking thru the internet fansites to get it? I like to put points into each skill just to see its effect. If I dont like one ability I need to use a clone to fix it? Kinda drastic.

   I am currently playing a game that I enjoy. Once I get 50 I am going to want to be able to do somethign I could not do at lower levels. "Top level" should mean that you get to partake in events that at lower levels you can not. Since leveling or getting new skills is no longer a factor in playing at top level there should be something to do. I truly hope I am flat out wrong about level 50. For those of you who think I should just play and enjoy the game, I am but I also want to know that after I enjoy leveling and get to 50 something is going to make me wanna stay around instead of boxxing the game up like I do with "solo" games. Thats what those are for. MMO's are games that keep you playing and keep it like new and entertaining for some time. There isn't an end to the game. Clan wars is not enough to keep us all here talking in general about how lame WoW is and WaR will be or why we should all like Aoin or whatever.

Thnx for taking the time to read. Halfa Ounze  Orion

 So I guess all there is to like ends at 50 atm?

As to question 4, you will come across enemies and bosses that can bypass your armour and damage your health directly, health will always be important no matter which class you are. Also, the 3 attributes also have a secondary benefit, Body gives you Health and Power, Mind gives you Power and Regen, and Spirit gives you Regen and Health. Because of this, it's hard to judge which should be your main focus to pump points into, but you can't really screw yourself up here also since all 3 are important. Regen only affects your Health and Power, your armour repairs itself based on it's own regen rating from each armour piece.

Originally posted by Rev52

 Let me start with the fact that I do infact enjoy playing this game so far.

    This game looks great, although very demanding on you system, it is refreshing from most all other MMO's.  I dont feel like im going thru the motions at all. The quests are some of the best i've seen and taken part of. The actual gameplay is actually sweet. I love using the chain gun, I find my self shooting everything possible all the time. Armor looks pretty kickass. I LOVE that I dont have to "search" for bags like most other games. Leveling is a blast so far. However, this is wear I have some ?'s.

 

1.  I have not run into a single reason to group. I have done instanced areas solo although I know you get more mobs with a group. You level so fast it isn't really worth it. So other then seeing text about how cool WoW is and how TR is #1 and seeing others run around (you have to target them to tell if there a NPC/Player really) I can't really tell it is a MMO. It is crazy fun but not a real sense of roles that need to be played like needing a "tank" or a "healer" and "DPS." It is fine if TR is getting rid of all that but as a group it is nice fill a type of role.  My question is what role do ppl play in a group other then just another member of the group?

2. Leveling is actually fun and immersive. the quests are very good and I love the choices you get to make on some of them. Escorts aren't retarded becuase the NPC is so tired of being in one place they only walk slowly to get out, they actually run and keep up with you for the most part. The voice over is kickass. Seeing a NPC yell "BOOM, HEADSHOT" is awesome. The cutscenes to instances is cool and the instances themselves are great. TR got this part of the game spot on. What is there to do at 50? This really worries me and no one I know that is higher then 45 know other then the carebear PvP this game has. Yes, thats right asking a clan if they could please go to war with them is indeed care-effing-bear. As it stands right now the "endgame" is made by the players them selves which sounds cool but it isn't, because it is out of sheer boredom that alot of this pvp will come from. If the devs screw this game up and make no endgame either by PVE or PVP I will kill a baby seal.

3. Test Server....this is just a personal opinion, but does this worry anyone else? I understand this can be taken as the Devs just wanna test the games future but I cant help feel that this coupled with the fact that there are only 4 servers makes me wonder. Isn't it a little early to need a whole other server to "test" changes? If the changes are that drastic then doesn't that  make this game "not ready" for release?  Again, I like this game so the "OMG NOOB STOP FlamMING MY GAME" isn't really needed.

4. Cloning. I dont get. I level a guy and use attributes but if I dont like where I put them im screwed? I can clone but that only gives me a half respec? How important is the attributes? Why should I worry about health if I want more armor. If I go for high armor why should I care about regen or does it work for armor also? Why isnt this info readily availible without looking thru the internet fansites to get it? I like to put points into each skill just to see its effect. If I dont like one ability I need to use a clone to fix it? Kinda drastic.

   I am currently playing a game that I enjoy. Once I get 50 I am going to want to be able to do somethign I could not do at lower levels. "Top level" should mean that you get to partake in events that at lower levels you can not. Since leveling or getting new skills is no longer a factor in playing at top level there should be something to do. I truly hope I am flat out wrong about level 50. For those of you who think I should just play and enjoy the game, I am but I also want to know that after I enjoy leveling and get to 50 something is going to make me wanna stay around instead of boxxing the game up like I do with "solo" games. Thats what those are for. MMO's are games that keep you playing and keep it like new and entertaining for some time. There isn't an end to the game. Clan wars is not enough to keep us all here talking in general about how lame WoW is and WaR will be or why we should all like Aoin or whatever.

 

Thnx for taking the time to read. Halfa Ounze  Orion

1) What can the person bring to the group in terms of skills that you dont have? Yes i know i answered a question with a question, but as there is essentially no "holy trinity" (ok specialists are the healy side of the game, BUT they can still deal damage, although not as fast as the soldier tree), each class can deal with a certain situation differently. Recently playing a ranger i was teamed with a exo biologist and a medic, and they would take turns healing whilst the other was dealing damage, building up adrenaline so they could use their signature ability (very handy i have to admit). So although i was the main damage dealer, i wasnt the only one dealing damage. Right now i would say that there is 1 essential skill for soldiers (Firearms) and 2 for Specialists (Healing tools and Firearms) that  should be taken up as high as they can go... everything else is optional extra according to the style of the player.

2) I dont know what is at 50, as i am still getting up there.  If FFA PvP (ie not wargames) does make it into the game it will be zone limited most likely. They are planning PAU's for the 40's, Squad Commands for the 50's and also Flashpoint Missions (little information about them, but i would hazzard a guess of them being the larger more involved instances, where the squad play comes more into its own). But right now i have to admit there isnt much to do. The same could be said about WoW if you play a Rogue and you dont like PvP (it is/was very hard to get in a Raid playing a rogue) though.

3) No i wouldnt say that the test server being up already is bad, more of a case of seeing what is to come. Being hit with a change and not being told about it is a bad thing. Considering that the Rage ability is going to be changed soon (maybe not this patch but soon), and how it has gone down generally (not well) at least gives the dev's feedback. Also, considering that we get to try these changes before they go live can also tell them if its liked or not (through playing with the skill itself, as some changes are bad on paper but not in when you play with them), and not just a knee jerk reaction (which i have a feeling a lot of the Rage outrage is about).

City of Heroes has a test server (and for the EU release it was up pretty fast as well) and on several occasions, changes that players have suggested due to playing on the test server (which is always ahead of live, but behind on their internal servers) has resulted in some things not being as severe as always expected (plus you get to see features ahead of them going live as well (a la Military Surplus, which is on the test server right now so you can get a feel for what it is indeed like))

4) If a game gave you all the information itself,then being honest, the voyage of discovery wouldnt be as sweet (and also the information that a game gives you isnt always correct). Attributes themselves are/ aren't important. It just depends on how deep you want to go into the game mechanics. Seeing as you gain 2 points in each attribute when you level, and then 3 floating points, it is hard to seriously gimp your character. And the fact that you can get armour to overcome stat defeciencies as well (ie the stat bonus's) can make your life easier as well.

In terms of the internet fansites, they generally tend to go much more into detail than the game can possibly provide to you (unless of course you really do want to be hit with a multitude of information). The game will tell you the figures, but not how it arrived at them ;)

In terms of the abilites though, yes i would like there to be an option to respec your character without having to clone (there are things that i dislike about the cloning to respec process). But i have yet to really see a game where you can "try before you buy" abilities and NOT have to spend a point (btw this goes for ALL skills and ranks in skills, before it gets swept off to one side). But at least it is only 1 point to take an ability/skill at Rank 1, so you can at least 'get a feel' for the skill.

At least here, you have to confirm the choice after you have clicked on the skill (unlike WoW, where a misclick can easily set you back 50G, and this is when you are in the middle of respeccing your Talent Tree, and the game is horrible in the amount of information on how the ability works, as i have taken Talents that i have yet to find useful for me, although other players swear by them). Maybe if they allow you to buy clone points (and also the ability to reallocate Attribute points as well), then i could see there being less of a problem.

YMMV with my answer to number 4 though.

Anyway, nice to know that you are enjoying the game so much...