In the Meantime
What DDO Players do between
Sessions of Their Favorite Game
By Ralsu
|
No matter how much you love a game, you're going to need a break every
now and again. Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO) is not exempt from
this axiom. Whether you've reached the boiling point after your third
straight raid wipe against the Warforged Titan or you don't have enough
time to get into another long quest, you'll want to give DDO a rest
occasionally. The question becomes what else to play. I did some poking
around on the official DDO forums, in-game, and via PMs to ask DDO
gamers how they entertained themselves when DDO is in "timeout." I'll
share some of those responses with you, discuss the virtues and vices
of the games mentioned, and add a little commentary on that game's
impact on DDO.
World of Warcraft (WoW)
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Site-Graphics&id=WoW&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php">![]()
alt="WoW"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/Site-Graphics/WoW.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 200px; height: 150px;" align="right">
You can't not mention
href="http://wow.tentonhammer.com/">WoW. You just can't.
Blizzard's MMOG behemoth has changed the shape of the gaming industry
with its massive popularity. Many DDO players are WoW veterans. Some
came to DDO looking for a change--something different. Others came to
DDO just to see the new game and find out what's it's all about.
Just about everyone and his mother has at least tried WoW. Among it's
crowd-pleasing features are the ability to solo any class to the level
cap, an overwhelming (in a good way) loot system that makes rares feel
special, and the full array of time sinks. WoW has questing, crafting,
player-vs.player combat (PvP), raids, and huge world to explore. WoW
didn't suck me in when I tried, though I could recognize it had all the
right pieces. I just didn't care for the graphics, and a large portion
of the player base seemed immature to me.
Let's take a look at the features of WoW:
all the way to level 60
40-man raids and PvP until your eyes bleed
crafting professions to keep you busy
a few are profitable at this time
of players worldwide
and raid instance queues
selection of classes
classes get pigeon-holed in the end game
character development
game favors certain builds
Impact on DDO: WoW has a large
impact on almost every game. People compare newer games such as DDO to
WoW all the time--even if the new game isn't trying to be like WoW at
all.Some people will leave DDO to return to WoW because they can't
escape the pull of WoW's addictive elements or the friends they left
behind. A few will go back to WoW because they were never really
looking for something new in the first place. Because both WoW and DDO
have a monthly fee and can take up a lot of time, I don't see many
people spending money on both for a long time.
Neverwinter Nights (NWN)
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album11&id=NWN&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php">
alt="NWN"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album11/NWN.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 200px; height: 200px;" align="left">Since
DDO draws in fans of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), DDO is filled
with people who have played Bioware's D&D-based role-playing game.
NWN lacks the massively-multiplayer aspect of DDO, but it uses a strong
foundation of D&D rules and lets players enjoy what amounts to
online D&D campaigns. When they've played through the content that
comes in the box, players can play modules created by other players or
make on of their own and act as Dungeon Master (DM) for their friends.
I must confess that I have never played NWN. I watched it closely
during its development and saw that it launched to rave reviews. Sadly,
I was a poor college student unable to shell out the cash to upgrade my
pc at the time. By the time I was fiscally able to craft a machine that
would run NWN, there were too many other hot games on the market that I
just "had" to try.
Those who are true D&D fans swear by NWN, though. They say it is
very faithful to tabletop rules and that the module-building tools are
fun and easy to use. The combat in NWN is a little slow, but this is
intentional. The idea is to bring that tabletop experience to your pc
and let you play D&D with people on the other side of the country.
Let's take a look at the features of NWN:
to D&D rules
to prep spells can be tedious
can create their own modules
of player modules varies wildly
D&D races and classes playable
get no love from the player base
quests
of reading in-game
solo
companions have lousy AI
Impact on DDO: NWN will not
pull players away from DDO. The game is 4 years old and a sequel is on
the way. Fans of DDO's fast-paced combat may be a little bored with the
slower pace of NWN. Overall, NWN merely offers an escape on the
occasions when players need a break from DDO. And with no monthly fee,
NWN is always there waiting like an old friend you visit when you're in
your hometown.
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)
href="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album11&id=D_D&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php">![]()
alt="D&D"
src="http://ddo.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album11/D_D.jpg"
style="border: 2px solid ; width: 200px; height: 265px;" align="right">
D&D is the primordial Eve of all role-playing goodness. D&D
allows players to use their wits and imagination in a creative arena
that's filled with adventure. D&D lets people gather around a table
and craft a story that centers entirely around their characters. The
sky's the limit.
My experience with D&D began in my college days. A $20 investment
into a Player's Handbook
brought me immeasurable fun. My longest D&D campaign spanned 4
years and was responsible for the birth of the bard named Ralsu. Oh
what fun I had letting Ralsu talk his way into and out of trouble! The
only reason I stopped playing D&D was because I moved to the other
side of the country.
I haven't found a new D&D group in the last 3 years. Honestly, I
haven't looked very hard. I love D&D and would play it in an
instant, but it's very time consuming. It usually requires me to pack a
lot of gear (books, dice, character sheets, scrap paper) and go
somewhere. In my busy life as a father and husband, I find I get
unpredictable spurts of free time. I might get 1 hour here and two
hours there.
It's hard to commit a set day and time to a gaming session. Considering
that other people have lives as busy as my own, D&D has become less
of an option. I'll never stop loving it, though. I'll just have to
revel in my nostalgia.
Let's take a look at the features of D&D:
gets you started
hundred of dollars on extras
great social game
everyone together can be hard
for hours on end
need hours on end
great way to meet people
probably can't be in your underwear
the imagination
DMs have sick imaginations
Impact on DDO: D&D brings
people into DDO and vice versa. Finish playing a session of D&D
with your friends before going home to play DDO with some people in
another part of the country. Some negativity will come from comparing
D&D to DDO to see how DDO deviates from the core rules. Still, this
is a beautiful relationship that most game publishers could only hope
for.
Upcoming Titles
A ton of games are on the way, and each of them will compete with DDO
in some small way. Blizzard will release the first full expansion for
WoW,
href="http://wow.tentonhammer.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2157">Burning
Crusade before the year's end. Sigil is scheduled to launch
href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/">Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
at the beginning of 2007. Some people will return to WoW to play with
the expanded level cap and new content. Others will dart off to try the
shiny newness of Vanguard. The rumor I hear most often is that a good
number of players will say goodbye to DDO once Neverwinter Nights 2
hits the stores in October 2006.
Parting Thoughts
Whatever you play to unwind between sessions of DDO, we'll be right
here waiting for you. DDO @ Ten Ton Hammer is dedicated to bringing you
the best content (and the most content) about DDO on the World Wide
Web. So enjoy a break every now and then, but don't forget where your
home is!
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited Game Page.
