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DDO Goes Solo
Gamespot reports on efforts by Dungeons and Dragons Online creator Turbine to add soloable content to the gameworld. They have added a new difficulty level to the existing missions ('solo'), which will allow players unwilling or unable to form a group to successfully complete tasks. From the article: "Turbine has also adjusted the experience requirements for leveling up. The change heavily favors new players, cutting the necessary experience points to get to level two by half. However, the requirements for levels four and up will only be decreased by 10,000 points."
I was talking to a friend the other day about how I don't play WoW because a) I just don't have the time, and b) the later missions pretty much require that I always have to have a group with me.
The problem with that is finding said group, organizing them, keeping them there long enough, before I decide I need to go to bed, blah, blah, blah.
But when I was playing Oblivion, I actually thought it would be nice to have other people around to chat with or trade things with (like "I'll restore charges on your weapon for some potions"), or just chat about things in game or otherwise. Some really good discussions I've had came around through old MUD gaming while talking to guild members about Friends or religion or politics.
What we decided is that the fun of MMRPG's isn't necessarily grouping together - it's just the shared experience. I'd be perfectly happy never having a group of people with me on a quest, but just being able to chat or trade with them as I chose.
So, I'd love to see a MMRPG with mostly solo quests that can ramp themselves up if you have a group to provide a challenge - but don't *make* me try and herd these cats you call other gamers if I don't want to.
52 Weeks, 52 Religions with John Hummel
Q: What's geekier than playing board games with friends?
A: Playing Dungeons & Dragons with friend.
Q: What's geekier than playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends?
A: Playing Dungeons & Dragons with strangers.
Q: What's geekier than playing Dungeons & Dragons with strangers?
A: Playing Dungeons & Dragons with strangers, online.
Q: What's geekier than playing Dungeons & Dragons with strangers, online?
A: Playing Dungeons & Dragons alone, online.
Though thankfully, LARPing still has all that beat hands down.
I think its called "Dungeons and Dragons Online: Table Top Edition"