Hypothetical MMO beta question

[Lunch of Kong]

Hypothetically, if I were in a beta for an MMO based upon a hypothetically popular pen & paper RPG, could I ask that other such hypothetical people send me a PM so that I can get roam around this hypothetical realm with some familiar hypothetical people?

[Robert Sharp]

Is Vanguard in beta already? Hmm.....

[Euri]

Vanguard isn't based upon a pen and paper game, but yes it is in beta.

If you have some beta slots in a game to give away, send to Euri! He will play any MMO at least once!

[stusser]

Yes, because vanguard is based on a p&p RPG. Wait, it isn't.

Don't evade the NDA dude, it's bad karma. Plus devilmouse reads these forums and I wouldn't be surprised if calandryll does too.

[mlatin]

Roger,

my opinion of this game is that it looks pretty but.. that's about it. i've tried to play it, but i just haven't been able to do it without wondering if i was making any progress, then finding out that pretty much, nope, you aren't! there's also just so much repetition of the, erm, "modules" that one can take. :(

[EvilIdler]

If you were in such a hypothetical beta, I think asking other such
hypothetical members to post on the hypothetical beta forum for said
beta with the headline "Qt3ers, look here!" would be sort of OK.

If you know how to get into such a hypothetical beta, I am looking for
two non-hypothetical beta keys :)

[Robert Sharp]

Vanguard isn't based upon a pen and paper game, but yes it is in beta.


You and stusser scare me. I didn't think I could have been more obvious.

[Euri]

Obvious about what? Don't assume everybody understands your humour.

[Lunch of Kong]

I think IGN was giving out beta keys. don't know about now.

actually, reading the NDA more closely, it doesn't say that I can't reveal that I'm in the beta, just that I keep what I see to myself. It's not as draconian as some I've seen. But, I'd still rather run around with people I know to kill monsters and find bugs.

[EvilIdler]

FilePlanet has a beta sign-up here:
Link with obnoxious, soul-destroying registration requirement (http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/ddo_stormreach/)

[Uncle Larry]

Seems like it was last year I forked over the 7 bucks to try the WoW stress test, but I'm still getting "subscriber" benefits.

What the hey, I'll sign up.

[EvilIdler]

What the hey, I'll sign up.
This one just required a regular FilePlanet login, no paid subscription :)

[Uncle Larry]

But FP ASSURES me I've got the inside track!

As a subscriber, you have the best chance of getting into this exclusive!

*Subscription does not guarantee participation.

[arctangent]

How good (or bad) could an online 3d game that's based on a decades-old pen and paper game be, compared to the likes of WoW and CoH/CoV?

I know the answer to that question, but I can't tell you because of the NDA. :wink:

[stusser]

Hey you're right... you can say you're in the beta, just can't say anything about it. It's too tempting to talk about the game if you do so, though. I get the feeling that turbine will be letting in many more testers over the next couple of months anyway.

If you're curious about the game, read this unofficial FAQ (http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7728). It doesn't really get too deep into the gameplay mechanics but does give some idea of what they're aiming for. DDO is a non-massively multiplayer RPG, much like guildwars with a pve focus. The game that FAQ describes is really something I'd like to play.

[Robert Sharp]

Obvious about what? Don't assume everybody understands your humour.

Fair enough. Euri, are you from Britain originally? I only ask because your location says you are in the U.S., but you spelled humor like a Brit.

[Robert Sharp]

As for this hypothetical MMORPG (I thought Roger's post made the game so obvious that people would get that I am joking...at any rate, we are all clear on what game he means), I have a quick question.

My concern is that the hypothetical P&P game doesn't really allow for a good translation to the MMORPG realm. First, it lacks the many levels that we have come to see in these games (WoW has 60, CoH has 50, etc....our game has maybe 20?). Each level matters more, I grant, but it seems like the usual slogging to ge to the next level would be even worse in our hypothetical online game here. Is there any way to indicate whether that is the case?

[stusser]

No, that's giving an opinion about implementation and would clearly violate NDA. Read the FAQ I linked above if you want an idea of what they're aiming for.

[Sidd_Budd]

First, it lacks the many levels that we have come to see in these games (WoW has 60, CoH has 50, etc....our game has maybe 20?). Each level matters more, I grant, but it seems like the usual slogging to ge to the next level would be even worse in our hypothetical online game here. Is there any way to indicate whether that is the case?
One of the recent magazine features on DDO indicated that there will be 4 incremental advancements within each level. The game at release will go to level 10, but have a total of 40 "dings" (to use MMO jargon). This is in the FAQ that was linked to earlier, but is a little hard to pick out.

[Backov]

cap of level 10? Damn, you just start to come into your own at level 10.

[Robert Sharp]

No, that's giving an opinion about implementation and would clearly violate NDA. Read the FAQ I linked above if you want an idea of what they're aiming for.

Yeah, I guess it's a fine line. Apparently, there will be 40 levels on one interpretation, and only 10 on another. Does the magazine indicate whether those increments are substantial? I know those in the beta can't say whether they "feel" important, but are there hard facts about HOW this will be implemented that can be given without breaking the NDA?

[stusser]

This is why most NDAs restrict you from admitting you're in the beta, it's very easy to give information away.

The FAQ I linked earlier was created by hardcore fans and contains pretty much all publicly available information about the game.

[DivDevlin]

One of the many hypothetical people who worked on this hypothectial game, and are hypothetically no longer with the hypothetical company told me the game was a hypothectical nightmare.

Hypothetically speaking.
Probably why I'm not in the hypothectical beta.

[DeepT]

Is this Hypothetical developer under a hypothetical NDA? If not, Hypothetically speaking, could he speak his mind?

Anyone know a target quarter for DDO? IE: THey want to go live by summer 06?

All I can say, hypothetically, is the longer the better. Not that I would know anything, mind you. I just want to know if they are still willing to make major game-play changes at this point in development. Not that I am making any implecations about gameplay now, hypothetical or not.

[DivDevlin]

Pretty sure none of the folks that left can say anything at all. I know WotC was not happy a few times with the way development was going.

Codemasters is going to do Europe. If this were the hypothetical game we were talking about. Not saying it is though, not at all.