*August update*
GWJ guild activity is now minimal, the information below is now suspect at best.
*Edit*
GWJ Guild/Circle launch info:
The GWJ guild is The Impure of the Dominion faction on the Avatus server. Contact ranalin or pretty much any GWJ on Avatus for an invite.
Wolfstar76 is organizing an Exile Circle on Stormtalon, so contact him in game at "Wolfstar" for a circle invite.
Also on Stormtalon, it looks like many Goodgers are joining the guilds:
and;
If you're interested in joining Grievance, write a post in their "Apply here to join Grievance in Wildstar" forum. Great group of folks and very active.
Gamescom and Pax Prime saw the announcement of another MMO, this one currently planning on releasing as a premium model.
I kind of dig the graphical style but have my doubts about its ability to gain mind share.
Beta sign up at their website linked above.
Dev walk through video:
It has an interesting art style, something like what would happen if Firefly had a drunken hook-up with Hayao Miyazaki.
The video and their website provide basically no information on actual mechanics, but NCSoft generally isn't weak in that department. I'll be interested to see more.
The tone of the trailer has me wondering if the content of this game could be "PG" or "PG-13" in which case it could be an interesting step between things like Wizard 101 and more adult MMOs to get the kidlings involved with.
I like the visual style. But there sure was a lot of "stand there and attack". From the player and AI side.
Yeah, I love the style and the claims are interesting, but I'm only cautiously interested at this point. It'd be silly to get my hopes up; I mean, look at TOR, that's basically WoW: Star Wars Edition.
I mean, look at TOR, that's basically WoW: Star Wars Edition.
Really? Because they use the healer/tank/dps trinity? I never thought that before and now after being in beta especially dont see this aping WoW in any way.
They're both RPG and have similarities due to that, but by no means is it a "WoW clone"
Farscry wrote:I mean, look at TOR, that's basically WoW: Star Wars Edition.
Really? Because they use the healer/tank/dps trinity? I never thought that before and now after being in beta especially dont see this aping WoW in any way.
They're both RPG and have similarities due to that, but by no means is it a "WoW clone"
If I promise not to sell your secrets to the Russians, can you tell me more? 
It has been noted that the "gimmick" that Wildstar is building around is a Bartle-inspired pathing sytem.
Massively did have some hands on with the Alpha of the game at PAX....
..as did Rock Paper Shotgun.
Played this at PAX, they were doing a 40 minute timed demo for each person playing. I was having so much fun playing that when the timer clicked over, I felt like it had maybe been 10 minutes. I've been fairly jaded on MMO's lately and taking a break from them, this seemed like alot of fun in the gameplay and mechanics, it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the long run.
Love the art style, game has a ton of character. That means a lot to me in a potential long-term MMO. For example Rift was a good enough game that just never really hooked me because the characters and world were just so painfully bland. If Wildstar's gameplay holds up I'll be all over this game.
Farscry wrote:I mean, look at TOR, that's basically WoW: Star Wars Edition.
Really? Because they use the healer/tank/dps trinity? I never thought that before and now after being in beta especially dont see this aping WoW in any way.
They're both RPG and have similarities due to that, but by no means is it a "WoW clone"
I can only go off the videos I've seen. TOR is disappointingly similar to Cataclysm.
ranalin wrote:Farscry wrote:I mean, look at TOR, that's basically WoW: Star Wars Edition.
Really? Because they use the healer/tank/dps trinity? I never thought that before and now after being in beta especially dont see this aping WoW in any way.
They're both RPG and have similarities due to that, but by no means is it a "WoW clone"
I can only go off the videos I've seen. TOR is disappointingly similar to Cataclysm.
There are other videos out there that show other things.
Bioware is having to juggle a lot of balls. They can't overemphasize the story and the solo RPG elements without having a legion of hard core raiders slamming them for making just a single player game.
Then, when they show that they have raids, people gnash their teeth that is not a true Bioware game, just a WoW clone. Reading the dev description of the Eternity Vault it seems pretty clear that they are going to be trying new game-play styles in additional to traditional raiding encounters.
So what makes this game so special?
Rift had a unique class and talent tree system, zone events, and rifts. For better or worse, they are unique and do change the game enough to say it's not a flat WoW clone. It is trying some things that are new. Even if those things suck.
SW:TOR has "Star Wars" and voice acting.
Is this a level-up MMO like EQ/WoW/etc? Or is something about it foundationally different? Or does it add something I've never seen before?
Rift had a unique class and talent tree system
Not really... in the end its still the Holy Trinity/Threat Mechanic.. unless someone/something breaks that model then IMO its basically a WoW clone with graphical/gameplay tweaks.
Nothing I've seen from anyone recently comes even close to doing anything that breaks this mold.. even Guild Wars 2. I mean who cares that I can switch between dps, tanking, and healing on the fly? I'm still fitting a role in the trinity.. and my core gameplay still revolves around the threat mechanic.
Not really... in the end its still the Holy Trinity/Threat Mechanic.
In my experience, Rift's Soul system really is unique. Yes, the basic play mechanics are the same, but I've never seen the breadth of choice, design, and flexibility in any other class/talent system. Rift's uniqueness is one of degree, not of kind - it is truly better than any other system I've encountered.
Rift had a unique class and talent tree systemNot really... in the end its still the Holy Trinity/Threat Mechanic.. unless someone/something breaks that model then IMO its basically a WoW clone with graphical/gameplay tweaks.
Nothing I've seen from anyone recently comes even close to doing anything that breaks this mold.. even Guild Wars 2. I mean who cares that I can switch between dps, tanking, and healing on the fly? I'm still fitting a role in the trinity.. and my core gameplay still revolves around the threat mechanic.
So you are complaining in the MMO forums that MMOs are still MMOs?
From reading their Dev. postings, they have designed a lot of their group content to allow you to take 4 DPS classes in if you want and make your way through it. Raid content probably falls more within traditional play-styles but even then they have hinted at new dynamics.
TheGameguru wrote:Not really... in the end its still the Holy Trinity/Threat Mechanic.
In my experience, Rift's Soul system really is unique. Yes, the basic play mechanics are the same, but I've never seen the breadth of choice, design, and flexibility in any other class/talent system. Rift's uniqueness is one of degree, not of kind - it is truly better than any other system I've encountered.
Rift is unique because it tries to straddles the fence between a class system and skill system. Still a true skill based system is where you'll find more flexibility and breadth of choice. You're still limited in Rift.
Rift is unique because it tries to straddles the fence between a class system and skill system. Still a true skill based system is where you'll find more flexibility and breadth of choice. You're still limited in Rift.
It's extremely rare to see a skill system that allows on-the-fly changes to different configurations though, which I think sets Rift apart.
From reading their Dev. postings, they have designed a lot of their group content to allow you to take 4 DPS classes in if you want and make your way through it. Raid content probably falls more within traditional play-styles but even then they have hinted at new dynamics.
It's not that flexible. 
One might, however, have a Mage healer, a Rogue tank, and Cleric DPS, and those roles are viable - my guild raids into every dungeon except Hammerknell with those roles and many more. It's very rare to see a raid that has more than two people specced even remotely similar to each other. The raid dungeons take advantage of this, so you'll often see people changing specs between fights - it's common for a warrior tank to have three tanking specs for different scenarios, for example.
Now back to talking about Wildstar.
Badferret wrote:From reading their Dev. postings, they have designed a lot of their group content to allow you to take 4 DPS classes in if you want and make your way through it. Raid content probably falls more within traditional play-styles but even then they have hinted at new dynamics.
It's not that flexible.
Now back to talking about Wildstar. :)
Sorry, I should have been clear. I was referring to the group content in SWTOR. Every class gets an out of combat heal and rez, throw in companions and I can see running 3 DPS classes while bringing along a companion healer or tank to help out. But yes, this discussion is distracting from the topic of the category.
My apologies, I'm responsible for the sidetracking here! 
Mainly I'm just commenting that I'm curious about Wildstar and cautiously interested. I hope it really does offer something different, and if it does I'll be all over it. 
Hmm... Just now seeing about this but it looks interesting. Really interested to see a game that rewards exploration as a mechanic.
Don't know if I'm the only one following this, but if anyone else signed up for beta, check your email for an update that includes a link to a survey, which can increase your odds in getting into the soon to launch closed beta.
Two new videos out showcasing the factions and 6 of the 8 races.
I certainly enjoyed the humor in those videos!
I just want to watch more of these videos. Although nothing has topped the original trailer.
Also, I just can not, I repeat cannot hear that woman's voice without hearing Foxxy Love. A versatile voice actress, that character has simply ruined that voice.
I like that they make fun of furries while having classes that appeal to them.
I like that they make fun of furries while having classes that appeal to them.
Yeah, I'm not sure where they're going with that.
I like that they make fun of furries while having classes that appeal to them.
Probably trying to appeal to weirdos like Psych, who are self loathing furries.
I am not amused.
I am not amused.
That's because furries don't have a sense of humor.
Psych wrote:I am not amused.
That's because furries don't have a sense of humor.
I'm going to put on my bear suit and rip you a new one.
See, it always comes back to the sex when furries are involved.
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