Darkfall: love/hate

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So you're standing just outside your hamlet chopping at a tree. You need more wood to go along with the iron you just finished gathering for the last hour. As you take a break to catch your breath and regain some stamina you look around for any sign of movement. Not seeing anything you go back to chopping.

15min later you finally get all you want this time around and start heading back. Half way there you hear the sounds of hooves behind you and a whirling up of a magic missle. You start weaving and bobbing thinking that if you can just make it to the hamlet you can do a quick drop off and not loose 2hrs worth of gathered materials. You're almost to half health and realize you're not going to make it. You cast a minor heal spell and then pull out your polearm and try to make a stand.

When one of the attackers stand over you for the coup de grâce you take some minor satisfaction that you were able to almost kill his mount. Still you know there's no way to get all those materials back except to spend all that time again. Probably in the safety of a major city's guard towers next time.

This is Darkfall. I hate it and I love it.

There are dudes who like getting their balls stomped on by leather clad women too.

I'll admit I'm intrigued by Darkfall. I really appreciate any company willing to take a stand and do something completely against the grain like this, but it's hard to imagine they won't pull a Vanguard and back off on some of the more hardcore elements of the game as people become more annoyed at having two hours of virtual wood chopping stolen from them.

I read somewhere that some pplayers were stepping in front of spells being cast by others so that they'd be hit and could then kill the player without affecting their reputations. You can also loot corpses other people killed, right? Those are the kind of "features" I bet they'll patch out.

Certis wrote:

There are dudes who like getting their balls stomped on by leather clad women too.

Thanks now I am all worked up at lunch time

ranalin wrote:

So you're standing just outside your hamlet chopping at a tree. You need more wood to go along with the iron you just finished gathering for the last hour. As you take a break to catch your breath and regain some stamina you look around for any sign of movement. Not seeing anything you go back to chopping.

15min later you finally get all you want this time around and start heading back. Half way there you hear the sounds of hooves behind you and a whirling up of a magic missle. You start weaving and bobbing thinking that if you can just make it to the hamlet you can do a quick drop off and not loose 2hrs worth of gathered materials. You're almost to half health and realize you're not going to make it. You cast a minor heal spell and then pull out your polearm and try to make a stand.

When one of the attackers stand over you for the coup de grâce you take some minor satisfaction that you were able to almost kill his mount. Still you know there's no way to get all those materials back except to spend all that time again. Probably in the safety of a major city's guard towers next time.

This is Darkfall. I hate it and I love it.

Ran how is stability? Graphics? Gameplay? Can you put up some screenshots?

I love this type of game. I love open free PVP. But i am torn on this title as it just seems off to me.

I think that Darkfall has a decent chance of being a niche MMO along the same lines as EVE Online. If it's willing to stick with its guns about hardcore PVP, it will attract an audience; there are people who really, really want that kind of thing; if it tries to branch out and be more friendly in an effort to compete with World of Warcraft, it'll sink.

Certis wrote:

I read somewhere that some pplayers were stepping in front of spells being cast by others so that they'd be hit and could then kill the player without affecting their reputations. You can also loot corpses other people killed, right? Those are the kind of "features" I bet they'll patch out.

This does happen and honestly if it does get patched out i think they'll loose a big chunk of their player base.

The game requires you to be aware of your surroundings at all times. constantly. You cant go spamming swings or shooting spells off like you can in WoW or other current MMOs. There's a high asshole factor in the game, but the good thing is you can smack down the assholes or try to at least.

Everything players and mobs once they die are lootable by anyone. You have to have mulitple sets of armor and weapons in your bank and only wear your best when you need it. Not while you're out gathering or just farming.

There's also the issue of their failed launch. In some ways they're still in the process of launching the game. There's thousands (we're told) of people being squirted into the game every day. The problem with this is the game skilled based so those who got in at day one do have an advantage over the guys who join today.

WiredAsylum wrote:

Ran how is stability? Graphics? Gameplay? Can you put up some screenshots?

I love this type of game. I love open free PVP. But i am torn on this title as it just seems off to me.

Stability over all is nice. The game world is built similar to Vanguards in that there seems to be divided into "chunks" and when you pass into a new chunk there's a slight catch. Very minor and nothing like Vanguard's. I've already been in battles where there's more than 100 people on the screen and have no slowdowns. This was on a defensive position. The folks on the offensive were supposed to number between 300-500 and no one complained of performance.

The graphics are dated and some of the animations aren't completely smooth but i think this is to help with the big battle performance. There's some pretty stuff in the game but nothing that would stand out against other games out today. When you get home just youtube Darkfall you'll see plenty of examples out there now.

The gameplay is a lot of fun. Everything is skilled bases. The more you do something the better you get. Casting spells, running, resting, swinging a weapon... everything. After you get something to different levels you're able to branch out and pick up more skills and abilities. While its a complete pain in the ass to loose all your sh*t. The rush of making your own hunting party and going out into enemy land and replacing it is the biggest i've had yet in a mmo.

They also have a different ui and it takes a bit to get used to. They need more toolbars available, but besides that it works out pretty good.

This is like an updated version of UO/AC mixed together with an European twist.

Oh and Wired our buddies from HARM are in game with their charming ways.

ranalin wrote:

Oh and Wired our buddies from HARM are in game with their charming ways.

I liked HARM. I am still a member over there technically. How about your boys?

WiredAsylum wrote:
ranalin wrote:

Oh and Wired our buddies from HARM are in game with their charming ways.

I liked HARM. I am still a member over there technically. How about your boys?

LOL after all that big talk not one that i know of got into the game or want to now.

I'm in with PeaceSunshine's guild they're staying as good alignment guild where HARM is staying in the red. Problem is we have a sh*tload of crafters compared to fighters so when a raiding party comes into our town it's hard to fight them off until later in the night when most of our fighters are online.

Besides HARM is close to having the whole server call war on them and they wont be able to keep their town at the rate they're going.

Shhh no more posting about this or I will get sucked in.

Damn it how do I get this game?

Trying to get in is a trick... they're only letting a few 1000 into the game each day. So you have to fight a refresh game with the browser and their purchase site. They're going on sale AROUND 4pm GMT (1 or 2pm est not sure after the DST) and sale out in about 15min. It took me 5 days before i got in. There still people in the clan i'm in now that still haven't got in. Seems like 2-4 get in each day.

go here to register an account and add your cc info

https://www.darkfallonline.com/accou...

after that when you goto buy the game log into your account and then goto this page

https://www.darkfallonline.com/accou......

When they go on sale you can refresh (BUT DONT REFRESH BEFORE THE PAGE RELOADS or you'll get kicked out for 10min) the page and a buy button will show up.

You click on the buy and wait for the page to load. If it times out just refresh and wait again. If you get lucky to get in you'll get a window to plug in your CC security code and submit that. After that page loads (you may have to do this 4-5 times) you'll have the game.

Umm yeah, that is f*cking lame.

Never mind.

If they'd had a good (hell, even just a passable) launch I'm sure I'd have caved in and tried it out.

But this mess? Yeah, good luck with that.

Farscry wrote:

If they'd had a good (hell, even just a passable) launch I'm sure I'd have caved in and tried it out.

But this mess? Yeah, good luck with that. ;)

No offense Far but i dont think you'd last out the free month even if it had been a perfect launch. Pretty much the stuff you've talked about hating in AoC and WoW is in full effect here.

I'm sure I'll try this out...

I'm going to wait until its not a hassle to get in though. What server are you on Ran?

ranalin wrote:
Farscry wrote:

If they'd had a good (hell, even just a passable) launch I'm sure I'd have caved in and tried it out.

But this mess? Yeah, good luck with that. ;)

No offense Far but i dont think you'd last out the free month even if it had been a perfect launch. Pretty much the stuff you've talked about hating in AoC and WoW is in full effect here.

No offense taken. I don't think I've ever explained my interest in pvp and why it doesn't work in some games for me.

I never got to enjoy UO in its heyday, but I did have fun on Darktide in Asheron's Call despite the high Douche-per-capita level. Part of that was due to the skill-based system (AC had "levels", but they were really more just a measurement of how advanced your skill total was) and part of it due to the general playability of it.

Starting off on Darktide sucked, but once you escaped the perpetual newbie-portal-ambushers, it was fun roaming the countryside, choosing your battles carefully, and every venture into a town for selling and restocking supplies was definitely an adventure. Sometimes you got ripped apart and it sucked, but that was part of the excitement.

AoC's free-for-all pvp was just unbalanced and stupid for newbies. I loved the excitement of it initially, but that RAPIDLY devolved into general unhappiness with it. Yeah, part of it was the unmitigated griefing that asshats could so easily engage in. I dealt with that, but it was seeing just how bad it could easily get in AoC so early on (in large part due to such a small and restricted gameworld consisting of "playgrounds" strung together via zoning points) that droveme off the FFA PVP server.

In WoW, the problem is that it being the popular game, and the general audience it attracts, you're NOT going to get an interesting PVP population. You're going to get an even higher douche-per-capita level than in most mmo's.

EVE Online? I love the pvp in that, and it's actually more brutal than any other mmo I've played. Why? Because it makes sense, and the game is constructed in such a way that it works in the pvp so naturally that any other method simply wouldn't feel right in that game.

I also love the pvp in LotRO. That's some fun stuff right there.

Darkfall had me intrigued enough that I was considering trying it out. Losing my stuff on death? Eh, that's not too intimidating or I wouldn't have any interest in EVE, for example. Skill-based gameplay really boosts my interest, and the player cities and open world really intrigue me. That was what I wanted to get when I played AoC, but they decided to hide that behind a bunch of crap to slog through first.

What's driving me away from even trying Darkfall is this ridiculously unprofessional and unacceptable pooch-screw of a launch.

Trying to get in is a trick... they're only letting a few 1000 into the game each day. So you have to fight a refresh game with the browser and their purchase site. They're going on sale AROUND 4pm GMT (1 or 2pm est not sure after the DST) and sale out in about 15min. It took me 5 days before i got in. There still people in the clan i'm in now that still haven't got in. Seems like 2-4 get in each day.

I've got to say that that is probably the best gateway possible for a game about having a virtual world stomp on your balls. The idiocy of plugging away for days at buying the game should probably filter out people who like their testicles kept intact.

Unless you're in a big guild, you're going to get sh*t kicked at every turn right? Can you do anything solo-ish without the need for bodyguards? Keep the impressions coming, I'd be interested to see your take on it Ran. I do like the wild west, non-sugar coated vibe that it seems to be giving off.

Swat wrote:

Unless you're in a big guild, you're going to get sh*t kicked at every turn right? Can you do anything solo-ish without the need for bodyguards? Keep the impressions coming, I'd be interested to see your take on it Ran. I do like the wild west, non-sugar coated vibe that it seems to be giving off.

I agree - I am just soured on paying to beta MMO's anymore. Still keep us up to date - this game seems right up my alley...

If you go out alone you have to make sure you're goto your bank and deposit your spoils... bit frustrating but if you dont you'll end up getting smacked down by a hunting party.

I've taken on 2 people and won (barely) but thats the limit i can do now. Hunting parties range from 3-6 so you just dont have a chance on your own.

So soloing while there is a longer, riskier proposition. You WILL loose your sh*t and all the stuff you've gathered while out.

Thing is when you're on a hunting party you're taking a risk too because if you die even if your mates are there to help pick up your gear you're back at your city or hamlet. If your group doesnt get out and are repelled or taken down you loose all had on you and the loot you gained.

Right now all the cities and hamlets have been taken and clans that dont have a city are just basically guns for hire that go to the highest bidder.

Player cities/hamlets can be taken over in a 6hr process and people/clans that aren't in an alliance tend to be bought up as mercs to help with an attack or defense.

TrashiDawa wrote:

I'm sure I'll try this out...

I'm going to wait until its not a hassle to get in though. What server are you on Ran?

Right now there's only 1 server Euro-1

Not sure when or if they'll open up others. I think they stopped orders until they get that figured out. It'll be interesting because guesses have been that 5000 new people entered the game so this weekend will be interesting.

ranalin wrote:

If you go out alone you have to make sure you're goto your bank and deposit your spoils... bit frustrating but if you dont you'll end up getting smacked down by a hunting party.

I've taken on 2 people and won (barely) but thats the limit i can do now. Hunting parties range from 3-6 so you just dont have a chance on your own.

So soloing while there is a longer, riskier proposition. You WILL loose your sh*t and all the stuff you've gathered while out.

Thing is when you're on a hunting party you're taking a risk too because if you die even if your mates are there to help pick up your gear you're back at your city or hamlet. If your group doesnt get out and are repelled or taken down you loose all had on you and the loot you gained.

Right now all the cities and hamlets have been taken and clans that dont have a city are just basically guns for hire that go to the highest bidder.

Player cities/hamlets can be taken over in a 6hr process and people/clans that aren't in an alliance tend to be bought up as mercs to help with an attack or defense.

Is this really happening? The mercs and guns for hire. I allways wanted to play a game where you could be contracted for protection or assaults etc.

If that is happening and it is possible to put together a group of mercs who will take down a city i am buying this right now.

Also taking down a city doesnt require signing up and scheduling a raid does it a la AoC?

WiredAsylum wrote:
ranalin wrote:

If you go out alone you have to make sure you're goto your bank and deposit your spoils... bit frustrating but if you dont you'll end up getting smacked down by a hunting party.

I've taken on 2 people and won (barely) but thats the limit i can do now. Hunting parties range from 3-6 so you just dont have a chance on your own.

So soloing while there is a longer, riskier proposition. You WILL loose your sh*t and all the stuff you've gathered while out.

Thing is when you're on a hunting party you're taking a risk too because if you die even if your mates are there to help pick up your gear you're back at your city or hamlet. If your group doesnt get out and are repelled or taken down you loose all had on you and the loot you gained.

Right now all the cities and hamlets have been taken and clans that dont have a city are just basically guns for hire that go to the highest bidder.

Player cities/hamlets can be taken over in a 6hr process and people/clans that aren't in an alliance tend to be bought up as mercs to help with an attack or defense.

Is this really happening? The mercs and guns for hire. I allways wanted to play a game where you could be contracted for protection or assaults etc.

If that is happening and it is possible to put together a group of mercs who will take down a city i am buying this right now.

Also taking down a city doesnt require signing up and scheduling a raid does it a la AoC?

That video above is a city attack.

Taking down a city isn't scheduled, but there is a time limit and if you're a clan with a city (not sure thats a requirement either) you run the risk of loosing yours as well.

What happens is the Attackers declare war and and pay 10k gold for the right to attack a city. At that point you have 6 hours. The first 4 hours your city can be attacked by ANYone in the game. The Defenders city clane stone is invulnerable during this time.

We got called to ask to defend a potential alliance member to defend their hamlet while they attacked another. So we hung out at their spot for 4 hours. We were attacked 2 or 3 seperate times very light probes. Only small groups. During this time the offensive team went to the city and pretty much destroyed the holders and kept them out of their own city for pretty much the complete 4hrs.

At 2min left of the Defenders invulnerabilty they got around 150-200 defenders and the fight was on. A clan stone can only be destroyed with siege weapons and the heaviest ones are bugged right now :(. They had 500 of the smallest kind thinking that would be enough but it only dropped the clan stone by 20%.

We found out later they paid those defenders to come to their aid at the last minute.

So in that case the attackers lost 10k gold and the defenders kept their city.

There's other options that can happen up to the attacking clan loosing their city.

I'm going to be staring like a hawk for the sale of this game tomorrow, how much does it cost?

you'll have to check the anouncements section of their forums. www.darkfallonline.com but i think they've put a hold on orders until some time next week. After the orders today there's been a queue for up to an hour to get in now. They're supposed to be making changes to the server to accomodate the extra people.

Price is 52 or 53 dollars after the conversion from 42 euros.

I wish I had more time. I'd love to try this out.

Ran sounds like you are having fun.

What you describe was how it was in UO almost exactly pre Trammel. Will be interesting to see how the game goes in the long run because very few people enjoy this type of game play. Hoping it last long enough for me to relive my glory days like when I was in MDK.

Ran is the skill system similar to how it was in UO too? In UO you could/would gain/lose points in skills based off use. 700 points was the cap on skills so after you earned 700pts to go up in one area you always had to lose in another. The skills also drove the stats of your character so you had to be smart about how you developed your skills. If you wanted to have a high strength for example you would need to take some skills that raised strength and even go so far as train your skills in a specific order to get the stats you wanted. The flip side to this also since everything was fluid people would just change up what they were skilled in, took time but hey some people have a lot of it, to what was the over powered flavor of the month.

Can you steal in town like you could in UO? Some of the most dangerous thieves were the ones that waited near the bank to steal from players about to deposit some riches or taking something important out. Bank thieves had noting to lose and everything to gain since failure would mean a quick death by a guard but being in town they were just naked all the time and carried nothing of value.

Is there collision detection? In UO people would block you in for general griefing but also in battle to help stop runners.

I know there are no looting rights on kills but one thing in UO in the early days when you died even a friend or a guild member could not loot your corpse without being flagged criminal which of course often gets you killed by your 'friends'. Also 'parties' could even betray and kill each other because you would get flagged for 'accidently' hitting the guy in your party. Are there exceptions to being flagged for party members and so on?

Eep, 42 Euros is about 70 bucks CDN now, so much for an impulse buy You have fraps running Ran? Hopefully you can capture some cool PvP videos.

I guess 50 is enough to make me pause and wait for the official U.S. release. My tax refund is still in the mail anyways, hah.

Thank you for telling us about the game though and posting that video.

I could only play this game witha solid guild - otherwise I would lose money due to replacing computer pieces.

SpyNavy wrote:

I could only play this game witha solid guild - otherwise I would lose money due to replacing computer pieces.

My vision for playing this is with a small group whose sole goal is to be gun for hire.

Would be so badass.

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