11-05-2004, 11:37 AM
Quote:I think I understand now how they will try to accomplish this. Apparently the release game will not include our input from Open Beta. It will probably a separate, more advanced version of the patch we are about to get.
OK, I think you and Lochnar are forgetting the unique structure of an on-line based game like this. With this type of game, you can "go gold," print CD's, etc. and yet continue to work on the game and have a game-day patch. Lots of other games have done this. Heck, D2:LoD did that, and that was a "stand-alone" game.
Quote:I hope you're right that this game isn't as bad as Bolty seems to think. Frankly, I'm still reeling from his comments. My view of the game is exceptionally limited right now, especially since I'm a level 12 Paladin (no Talents) on a non-PvP server. But I can tell you this - Pallys are gimped. Without talents we can barely manage mobs one-on-one, and I do mean barely. Hopefully talents will change this. And, hopefully more tweaks are in the works for us.
Level 12? I'm sorry, but I have to chuckle a bit. I mean, this is like someone playing D2 for the first time and saying that sorceresses are gimped because they're having a hard time beating Blood Raven. You haven't seen much of the game, yet, and haven't gotten some of the best skills for your class. I can tell you that the rubber-stamp level 60 five-man group for alliance is: warrior, paladin, mage, warlock, priest. Other classes can be subbed in (druid for pally, rogue for mage or warlock, for examples), but that's the default group. There are lots of high-level pally's out there and they are desired for groups. Also, they are considered good PvP'ers. It'll be nice for them to have talents like everyone else, but it's laughable to say they're "gimped." Everyone's "gimped" at level 12.
The idea behind this game is very different from your standard stand-alone games. I know people here know that intellectually, but it seems like people are still thinking in stand-alone mode where every possible feature has to be implemented right at release. There's going to be a large development team creating things after the release. One isn't expected to have everything already in place at release, because there are an infinite number of possible improvements and additions that can be made to the game. The question is, is there plenty of stuff to do to have fun with the game at release, even before all the other stuff gets put into place. The answer right now for me is, yes, there is. Months of gametime play can be devoted to just what is in the game now. It would be nice to have all the PvP system and raid system completely fleshed out before release, but we know that there will be some of that at release, and after that, a lot of post-release development will be devoted to it. Meanwhile, there's a lot of fun to be had with the characters, quests, and instances that are already in place now.
But again, let's temper our discussion until we see the patch that should be coming in the next few days. The next patch is supposed to introduce pally and hunter talents, the first real vestiges of a PvP reward system, the first mini-battleground, the first raid instance, and a lot of revamping of areas and classes. That's a lot of stuff, and no doubt having read that sentence, several of you are probably ready to sound off on how that's not enough time to test everything yadda yadda. But, you know what? Let's just see what comes and keep an open mind about it.