General Discussion

I gather that many people who read these forums do not like DDO.

I am curious as to what the major reasons are and which ones are the most significant.  I am not sure of the sub numbers on the game, but I am pretty sure they are lower than expected.

I have heard the following:

- instancing

- the combat system (this one is sort of polarizing)

- lack of content

- didn't like progression / too low a level etc

- Not a "real" MMORPG (related to some of the above)

I am sure I missed some.  Please list which ones you didn't like or were a deal breaker as I am curious how a marquis IP like D&D matches up to people's expectations.  For example while I like the combat I think it is the opposite of what some people wanted in a D&D game.

Also I am curious if the changes they have added match up to what people wanted originally.  ie. Wilderness areas and auction house etc.  My guess is they don't.  Or even whether people are aware of what changes have been made.

So if you disliked DDO, please post.  Or if you like DDO and know some people who disliked it, put out their point of view.

Also for the people who dislike instancing, since D&D in general is about dungeon crawls, did you want some of publically available dungeon setting like some things in EQ1?  Or is it just a general dislike and unwillingness to play anything that is heavily instanced and it being D&D is incidental?

What drove me away from DDO is that it tries to emulate the pen and paper game TOO closely. It's fine to sit and play with your friends in a dungeon  on the weekend or something ( like a pen and paper DnD game ), but in an mmorpg I want a WORLD to explore, not just dungeons.

I agree with Zorvan.  A handful of city zones is not enough to keep my interest in any MMO, let alone one based from an IP that holds adventuring and exploring above all else.  I quit when i had to start re-playing the same quests over and over and over again just to level.  I also happen to despise Eberron, which means that no matter how much content they add, i can never go back to it.  But thats just my take on it

It's not a living, breathing MMO world.  It's one of the least solo friendly games on the market.  Combat is awkward because they tried to adhere way too much to the PnP game.  They still don't have the Monk and Druid classes.  Quest only exp is teh suck!

Just the instancing.  Everything else about it, I could live with, but that there's practically no MMO world to be a part of kills it for me.  I don't like any instancing, really, but kept to a minimum it's tolerable.  When the whole game is instanced, I lose all interest in it as an MMORPG.

I like DDO, what I dont like about DDO is the community. Some people can ruin your game too easy. I dont understand how someone can dislike the combat system. But is a matter of tastes i think.

I started playing DDO a few days ago. However I have left due to the lack of players :(

Its sad really. I was enjoying the game but theres just a lack of people to group with etc - especially important when the game is very group heavy. Definately if someone is bored of standard Fantasy MMOs give it a shot, because its refreshing and different!

Originally posted by Zorvan

What drove me away from DDO is that it tries to emulate the pen and paper game TOO closely. It's fine to sit and play with your friends in a dungeon  on the weekend or something ( like a pen and paper DnD game ), but in an mmorpg I want a WORLD to explore, not just dungeons.

Turbine obviously thought that aswell. And that was no1 mistake of DDO. If you ever played D&D (real campaigns not just some dungeon) You will know that D&D is about exploration. BEING FREE TO GO WHERE EVER YOU WANT.

It is also about strategy , not about twitch combat.

When Turbine came out with DDO , i wanted to go there and torch their offices. I think DDO was the biggest slap in the face for D&D and probably ruined its chances FOREVER to be represented as virtual world.

DDO is not a bad game. And Turbines do know how to make a good game. <points at LOTRO>
But it has nothing to do with D&D , NOTHING!

Originally posted by Lobotomist

 

Originally posted by Zorvan

What drove me away from DDO is that it tries to emulate the pen and paper game TOO closely. It's fine to sit and play with your friends in a dungeon  on the weekend or something ( like a pen and paper DnD game ), but in an mmorpg I want a WORLD to explore, not just dungeons.

 

Turbine obviously thought that aswell. And that was no1 mistake of DDO. If you ever played D&D (real campaigns not just some dungeon) You will know that D&D is about exploration. BEING FREE TO GO WHERE EVER YOU WANT.

I thought the same thing.  It was often about wandering country side, from eerie swamps to sprawling deserts, from quiet little villages, to bustling port cities.  I'd say even more often than any dungeon crawling.

I didn't think it was all that bad, but the lack of open world annoyed me.

Also, I think it is ridiculous to charge a monthly fee for this game. It's a guildwars style game that charges you $15 a month. WTF?

D.