Neverwinter MMO

[Kazyth]

Been tooling around a bit in the Neverwinter MMO now that it's in open beta, and have been enjoying it quite a bit so far.  Anyone else here dipping their toes into it?  If so, what do you think?

[Chris Brady]

Great Weapon Fighter here on Dragon Server.

The first day the servers were horrid, but they got it settled down in less than 24 hours.

I like the fact that the 'Foundry' is free to play with.  I haven't really tried it yet, but I've done some of the missions that people made.  Pretty good tools.

I also like that you have skills, and if you don't have the skill, you can get 'tool kits' to help you gather stuff.

I've only played a couple of days, and am at level 7-ish, so that's all I got.

Wish they had more Paragon Paths, or at least different weapons for the GWF, like an ax or something.  Although I do love the Greatsword as a weapon.

[Kazyth]

Devout Cleric here, on the same server.

I skipped the first day, when the queue was up to 5k or greater on all three servers, but the next day things were fine and there hasn't been a wait since.  Seems less pay to win than a lot of free MMOs I've played, which is nice.  The Foundry seems pretty cool, like the Architect feature in City of Heroes/City of Villains, but you don't have to subscribe to use it.

The skills thing is interesting, though it's a touch annoying that each one is one use, and they can break so easily.  Still, a good way to keep money moving in the virtual economy.  Not terribly happy that you have to use Astral Diamonds to bid on things and purchase special gear, but you -can- earn them in game without spending Zen, which is nice.  Slower, but nice.

Right now I'm level... 15 I think.  Pondering trying a Defense Warrior because I love to have a tank and a healer available.  I'm sure as they go they will release different greatweapons and paragon paths and such, along with different varations for the base classes.  Still, trying not to get too invested, in case they do a full wipe when the game gets out of beta and goes live.

[Sel Nar]

Trickster Rogue, same server.

No queues for me, and holy crap can I lay out the damage fast; When you get a skill at level 3 that does well over 100 damage, you kinda get that giddy/evil smile of 'Lookit all those numbers' that I only got before when I was playing a Splinter Weapon/Barrage Ranger in GW1.

Mechanically, the game feels similar to a hybrid of GW2's 'limited skills' and ease of movement and DDO's thematic setting. There's a few quality-of-life things that need to be poked at, such as having to de-equip your offhand weapon before equipping a new one, instead of just selecting 'equip to offhand' via inventory or character screen, and the weapon selection is rather limited at the moment, but, otherwise, It's good fun, and gets me my D&D fix that I haven't had since 2001.

[Kazyth]

I do enjoy the D&D Fix.  Most of my favorite early fantasy books were D&D stuff.  Elminster, the Harpers, Drizzt, and all of that.  Just wish we had even one or two more character slots to start with.  I want to try all the classes for a bit, to find the one I like.  I just hate having to delete to make more room, and I'm not willing to spend money on a beta.  Ah well.  First world problems, and all that.

[Moraline]

I'm surprised that you all aren't on the Mindflayer server - it was voted the Unofficial RP server. I guess it doesn't matter much as they are planning on merging all 3 of them in a couple months anyways.

I created a GWF today (my first character.) So I haven't got to far in it as I only played for a hour or so.

The game itself seems to play smoothly and the graphics are pretty good. I'm impressed with how well it plays on my old desktop computer with the quality set to maximum (the coding for the game is well put together.) I always played SWTOR or GW2 with graphics set to low so I could get smooth framerates.

[Kazyth]

Honestly, I didn't check on that.  I probably should have, as I have a marked preference for playing on RP servers.  Then again, right now I'm just enjoying running around and soloing.  If needs be, I can always make a toon or two on Mindflayer instead.

I do like that they don't place any racial restrictions on classes.  You can be a Halfling GWF or a Half-Orc Rogue if you want.  Of course, you sacrifice a bit of Ability Score bonus if you don't go for one of the optimal races for that class, but it can still be a lot of fun.

And I'm with you there on the smooth rates.  I have a decent rig, but I still have to tone down GW2 a bit to keep things smooth the whole time.  I get mad lag in Neverwinter proper at peak hours, but outside of that, things run smoothly and I enjoy the mobile combat of it more than I enjoyed GW2 combat.

[Chris Brady]

Yeah, didn't check on that either, Mora.

Oh, and I do have a complaint about the GWF.  I also made a trickster Rogue for the fun of it and dear Goshenheimer the DPS on that class.  The GWF isn't tough enough for it's lower damage cycle, I'm finding.  When I play him, he's taking a LOT of damage in a single fight, despite wearing Scale which technically is a heavy suit of armour.

[Kazyth]

True, but you have to remember that the Rogue is heavy on dodge and deflection.  Not to mention he is killing single targets faster.  The GWF is meant to be DPS/Offtank, while the Rogue is meant to be pure, pure, sweet DPS goodness.  And holy hell is there a lot of it.

Thus far the only class I haven't dabbled in is the Control Wizard, mostly because my Devout Cleric is quite casty as it is.  And he's even more fun now that I've reached the right level for one of my favorite features from EQ1 and SWOTOR, the Companion.  It's quite nice that they have so many options for companions for soloing and for understaffed groups.  Of course, the really awesome ones seem to cost Zen to buy, but that's a F2P business model for you.  Right now I'm happy with my NPC tank.

[Chris Brady]

Are Companions humanoids or animals?

[Kazyth]

Both and more.  Your initial choices around lvl... 15 or 16 are a humanoid tank, cleric, wizard, or a dog to choose from as your freebie.  After that, you can buy with Zen or I think Astral Diamonds things like a galeb dur, an Ioun Stone, floating shield, a honey badger... all sorts of different things.

[Chris Brady]

I see, neat!

* Chris Brady makes note to get a Cleric for his GWF.

[apygoos]

I'm surprised that you all aren't on the Mindflayer server - it was voted the Unofficial RP server. I guess it doesn't matter much as they are planning on merging all 3 of them in a couple months anyways.

I created a GWF today (my first character.) So I haven't got to far in it as I only played for a hour or so.

The game itself seems to play smoothly and the graphics are pretty good. I'm impressed with how well it plays on my old desktop computer with the quality set to maximum (the coding for the game is well put together.) I always played SWTOR or GW2 with graphics set to low so I could get smooth framerates.

midnflayer is the RP server? who knew! i didnt when i joined with my Guardian Fighter :) i also have been playing with a cleric and RPing a little as we level. prepping to get on now actually

[SinXAzgard21]

I to have given this a go, I was in closed beta but never really got very far.  Real life was kinda in an uproar.

[Kazyth]

You should, it's fun.  I may use my second character slot to make a toon on Mindflayer, so I have two options to hang with E-peeps on.  If I wasn't already almost 20 with my Cleric, I'd re-roll there, but I don't want to run the same class twice.  It's a thing of mine.

[SinXAzgard21]

I guess I'll be giving it one more go, though I'm not gonna get my hopes up.

[Kazyth]

Eh.  It isn't groundbreaking, but when it was called a cross between DDO, Tera, and GW2 I had to agree with that.  You move around a lot for the combat, flanking bonuses are a thing, there are no mana bars, just timers.  The graphics are pretty good, it runs decently on older computers, and as stated you don't have to buy anything to enjoy the game.  It makes things easier to do so, sure, but that's the F2P model.  There are various ways to get Astral Diamonds as you level, which can be sold for Zen (much like the GW2 gold for gems thing), both of which are the prime currency for buying things from the AH or specialist merchants.

It has a "Build Your Own Adventure" feature, which you can access to creat with once you get at least one character to a certain level.  Can't remember what it is off the top of my head, though.  Solo and group friendly, solid gear drop rates so you don't have to use the AH if you don't want to, all of the classes are fun in their own ways.  There have been far, far worse MMO debuts, both F2P and non-F2P.  And this one is still in Open Beta.  Given that, and the whole free thing, I think it's worth giving a shot if you have even a little interest in it.  *shrugs*

[SinXAzgard21]

Eh.  It isn't groundbreaking, but when it was called a cross between DDO, Tera, and GW2 I had to agree with that.  You move around a lot for the combat, flanking bonuses are a thing, there are no mana bars, just timers.  The graphics are pretty good, it runs decently on older computers, and as stated you don't have to buy anything to enjoy the game.  It makes things easier to do so, sure, but that's the F2P model.  There are various ways to get Astral Diamonds as you level, which can be sold for Zen (much like the GW2 gold for gems thing), both of which are the prime currency for buying things from the AH or specialist merchants.

It has a "Build Your Own Adventure" feature, which you can access to creat with once you get at least one character to a certain level.  Can't remember what it is off the top of my head, though.  Solo and group friendly, solid gear drop rates so you don't have to use the AH if you don't want to, all of the classes are fun in their own ways.  There have been far, far worse MMO debuts, both F2P and non-F2P.  And this one is still in Open Beta.  Given that, and the whole free thing, I think it's worth giving a shot if you have even a little interest in it.  *shrugs*

Yeah, I've played the closed beta for a bit as I said.  I've also been giving FF XIV beta a go and that is barely going into phase 3 closed beta and will be out later this year... Which it shouldn't... But anyways.  I'm gonna give Neverwinter another shot since I really need a DnD fix.

[Kazyth]

... you need to roll a Halfling GWF.  >_>  I'd do it myself if I had another slot free.  But I don't, so it falls to you.

And sorry, I meant the little wordblurb up there to be more for folks who might read this and aren't sure if they wanted to give it a try or not. :P

[SinXAzgard21]

... you need to roll a Halfling GWF.  >_>  I'd do it myself if I had another slot free.  But I don't, so it falls to you.

And sorry, I meant the little wordblurb up there to be more for folks who might read this and aren't sure if they wanted to give it a try or not. :P

Why a Hafling GWF?

I'm rolling a dwarf guardian fighter.  I think it is funny that the ranger and Drow are not available yet.  Also, what server are you on?

[Kazyth]

My main, a devout cleric, is on Dragon.  I have a Half-Orc Guardian on Mindflayer.

And Drow are technically available now, if you paid the 200 dollars for the founder pack.  No ranger yet, but no doubt that is coming along.

As to why halfling GWF... because the idea amuses me.  Tiny little halfling running around smashing things with a greatsword.

[SinXAzgard21]

My main, a devout cleric, is on Dragon.  I have a Half-Orc Guardian on Mindflayer.

And Drow are technically available now, if you paid the 200 dollars for the founder pack.  No ranger yet, but no doubt that is coming along.

As to why halfling GWF... because the idea amuses me.  Tiny little halfling running around smashing things with a greatsword.

If only it was an axe....  Yeah, I wouldn't have dropped 200 on this game.  While I love DnD this wouldn't have been a smart 200 dollar investment.

[HairyHeretic]

What are the queues like atm? I created a character (control wizard tiefling) the day it opened, and the queue was about 11,000. I haven't checked back since.

[Kazyth]

No queues at this point.  Other than opening day, there has been instant logins with no wait.

[HairyHeretic]

Might check it out in a couple of days when I'm on my weekend.