Poll: Discussion: Tabula Rasa.

[wilsonscrazybed]

Well it's that time of year again. That time of year when you realize they aren't going to release a good western style RPG for 10 more months. A time of year where you start looking for something with lots of needlessly over-complicated statistics that anal-retentive Soduku reprobates like yourself can pontificate on with like minded colleagues. It is a time of changes, a time to take off your Merciless Gladiator's helm and try on something new.

I guess some people watch 'Will and Grace', while other people eat chocolate and secretly wank to Brittney Spears' last appearance at the MTV music awards. I on the other hand have a secret love of MMORPGS. Thank god for the anonymity the internet affords me. I don't think I could say those words with people present in the room. Even saying "I wank to Brittney Spears" seems less embarrassing than saying "I like MMORPGS!" aloud.

Self loathing aside, what I want to know is what people's experiences with the game 'Tabula Rasa' is. C'mon I know some of you are closet MMOmo's (I trade mark that). I know one of you plays this game. Give me some insight, or if you prefer a more suggestive idiom, "Throw me a bone!"

I really should get to the point. I need to know about this game from an informed opinion. I have literally read and watched one hundred reviews. Some claim this game is boring and dumb, while others praise it as Mr. Garriot's answer to snorting coke off the ass of a high class hooker. The thing that is missing is that seemingly no one has really played this game past level four. Almost every review covers things like "Oh graphics are better than WoW!" or "It has a unique class system!" I care very little about the technical stuff. It seems that reviewers have gotten so wrapped up in the process of writing reviews that they neglect to mention anything about the game that someone with a brain could have guessed by looking at the box art. For all I care it could look like exactly like Ultima Online and have only one class. The point is I want to know if it's fun!

How do I measure fun? We'll I guess it's a little like this (pay attention here if you plan on responding). I like games where I can play with a couple friends without bringing too many random strangers into the mix. I also desire the ability to play solo, be it questing, crafting or stirring up trouble in chat channels. I also love vanity mode. The more character customization options available, the happier I am. In fact I am so anal about this that I restarted my Mass Effect game half way through because I didn't like the way my character's scar looked. Other than that, I like to play around with statistics, customize, and earn difficult achievements that set me apart from the crowd.

As for deal-breakers, I consider myself pretty patient but the thing that pisses me off in games the most is probably organized raiding. I abhor listening to some 19 year old twat tell me what to do for thirty minutes, the encounter then taking less time than the explanation. More than that I despise complicated loot systems where people spend more time fighting each other over what dropped than fighting the enemies.

So someone come save me if this game is not for me. Tell me now so that I don't end up spending my 50$ on something that gathers dust in my bottom drawer along with my copy of Halo3 and Assassin's creed. Speaking of which, anyone want a copy of Halo3 before I use it as a coaster or a ninja throwing star? No, I am not serious, I already used it in a crafts project.

P.S. No the poll doesn't have anything to do with this post.

 

[Lightbulb]

Guild Wars:

Try Nightfall first.

Sound exactly what you want and no fees after you buy it.

 

[narethlian]

I think TR is rather fun, despite all the launch bugs that still persist.

The customization isn't that great. Male, female, somewhere around 50 faces, and one accessory/beard, and one glasses/eyepatch, and like ten different hairdos.

The game is very solo-able, although it depends on weapons/armor/skills moreso than what class you are. I play as a Medic (really low armor rating, high regeneration health and armor, with armor-peircing weaponry that hits health), as the style suits me more than any other class. My brother plays as a Commando (really heavy slow regenerating armor with machineguns and launchers), as simply running around killing things suits his play style.

Crafting isn't much at present, as you can't manufacture your own weapons and armor. You can modify weapons and armor by buffing existing attributes or add them, make armor paints, and manufacture ammo from stuff gathered in the field.

Territory control is fun, but gets hectic and deadly if you aren't a couple levels above the spawning mobs or have a couple groups hanging around farming tokens. 100 mixed damage badguys shooting you all at once is bound to do a heckuvalotta damage, and guarantee fifteen minute rez sickness.

I'm only mid-30s, so I'm not sure about high-level content, but as far as I'm aware, there is no current raiding system past the territory control element. Looting is easy. Run over the corpse and you'll auto-loot it. A bar on the left will let you know what you got. With the action being as intense as it sometimes is, if you stop to loot a monster manually, you'll die.

I'd continue, but I'm gonna be late for work.
-Narethlian

 

[wilsonscrazybed]

I think TR is rather fun, despite all the launch bugs that still persist.

The customization isn't that great. Male, female, somewhere around 50 faces, and one accessory/beard, and one glasses/eyepatch, and like ten different hairdos.

The game is very solo-able, although it depends on weapons/armor/skills moreso than what class you are. I play as a Medic (really low armor rating, high regeneration health and armor, with armor-peircing weaponry that hits health), as the style suits me more than any other class. My brother plays as a Commando (really heavy slow regenerating armor with machineguns and launchers), as simply running around killing things suits his play style.

Crafting isn't much at present, as you can't manufacture your own weapons and armor. You can modify weapons and armor by buffing existing attributes or add them, make armor paints, and manufacture ammo from stuff gathered in the field.

Territory control is fun, but gets hectic and deadly if you aren't a couple levels above the spawning mobs or have a couple groups hanging around farming tokens. 100 mixed damage badguys shooting you all at once is bound to do a heckuvalotta damage, and guarantee fifteen minute rez sickness.

I'm only mid-30s, so I'm not sure about high-level content, but as far as I'm aware, there is no current raiding system past the territory control element. Looting is easy. Run over the corpse and you'll auto-loot it. A bar on the left will let you know what you got. With the action being as intense as it sometimes is, if you stop to loot a monster manually, you'll die.

I'd continue, but I'm gonna be late for work.
-Narethlian

Thanks for the great info, on your first post too! Welcome aboard. It's this sort of anecdotal stuff I am looking for.