GrizzlyOso
Well-known member
The REAL thing about sp usage is some people like games with constraints, and some people don't. Stating not having a constraint is more fun is like, your opinion.
Why do beginners give up the game? Why so few players?
- Thread starter Bolseiro do Condado
- Start date
Valerianus
Former Captain Of The Rotten Shark
beginners give up....
because the first thing they see after the grotto is an npc sending you to money-gated content (borderlands), a manifesto of "pay or get out, the servers can't handle a real server population, pay or get lost we don't want you to be around".
because they move too slowly compared to everyone because gearing for run speed is an abomination that should not be in a mmo, standard move speed should be striding 30 and striding effect removed from spell\gear, class bonus or action boost is fine.
because they buy, like, restless isle or sorrowdusk and since it is paid content they think it must be special. this game has always had, has, and if things go on this way will always have so much buyers remorse potential that's mind bogging.
because, related to OP, nothing in the tutorial explains the critical role of sla + metamagic feats. also, they can't possibly know that if you spend 1 AP and hotbar it you should re-hotbar it when you take the 2nd and the 3rd.
because, when they realize the sla are the "cantrips", or generally speaking they made a mistake in a wonderful game with so many build options and an over-the-top wonderful customization system, the best feature this game has, they could respec but nope, this game has no easy respec option. again, pay or get lost.
what about, like, rework the tutorial?
what about, like, rework the slas to be a single version costing 2 or 3 AP and scaled with empower and maximize and heighten always on by default even if you don't have those feats (obviously contextually removing the option to activate those feats for slas) ?
because the first thing they see after the grotto is an npc sending you to money-gated content (borderlands), a manifesto of "pay or get out, the servers can't handle a real server population, pay or get lost we don't want you to be around".
because they move too slowly compared to everyone because gearing for run speed is an abomination that should not be in a mmo, standard move speed should be striding 30 and striding effect removed from spell\gear, class bonus or action boost is fine.
because they buy, like, restless isle or sorrowdusk and since it is paid content they think it must be special. this game has always had, has, and if things go on this way will always have so much buyers remorse potential that's mind bogging.
because, related to OP, nothing in the tutorial explains the critical role of sla + metamagic feats. also, they can't possibly know that if you spend 1 AP and hotbar it you should re-hotbar it when you take the 2nd and the 3rd.
because, when they realize the sla are the "cantrips", or generally speaking they made a mistake in a wonderful game with so many build options and an over-the-top wonderful customization system, the best feature this game has, they could respec but nope, this game has no easy respec option. again, pay or get lost.
what about, like, rework the tutorial?
what about, like, rework the slas to be a single version costing 2 or 3 AP and scaled with empower and maximize and heighten always on by default even if you don't have those feats (obviously contextually removing the option to activate those feats for slas) ?
Br4d
Well-known member
DDO is built on the two principles: FOMO and buyer's remorse. Most players and almost all new ones are trapped between those two extremes.
Coffey
Well-known member
And then there is the hit and miss of the yearly free content giveaways.
Br4d
Well-known member
Those are the saving grace at this point I think. Getting 60% of the game content for free is the kind of giveaway that might make a newer player stay for a bit longer to see what all the hullaballoo is about.
Coffey
Well-known member
At least OP is a Wizard with expeditious retreat lol.
Valerianus
Former Captain Of The Rotten Shark
agree, but a new player won't know it. and spell selection at low levels is very limited, they won't think that they need a spell just to walk around. afterwards, they'll be bashed by needing spell inscription abomination materials, and they'll be further slowed down and harassed by abomination spell components that have weight. inventory clogging + carring capacity mechanics for no reason whatsoever except to inconvenience you, since the very start of the game, major gargantuan red flags for a mmo.
Coffey
Well-known member
If you are expecting to play an MMO with other people at least lol. Try running a new character on a brand new account without VIP on occasion as i do. Your DDO world shrinks really fast.
This may not be as noticeable to a new player as you might think. You miss a lot around you speeding through towns. I enjoyed the site seeing like i was on a vacation when i first started playing. I didnt even know what a past life was so i was in no hurry the same as i am now because i dont chase that as a player.
FaceDancer
Olde Wurm
To add to what Br4d and Valerianus have already said... If you look at wikipedia for the definition of Free-To-Play, one of the other terms for it is Free-To-Start which I would argue is an apt description.
Yes you can play it for free, but you will have to deal with many handicaps and gating. Some go in understanding those aspects of F2P (and see it as a challenge which IMO is a great attitude to have!) others will see it as a paywall which prevents them from properly playing the game which can lead to a player feeling alienated or manipulated and ultimately leaving because who wants to deal with predatory marketing tactics?
I feel ultimately that DDO is a game worthy of the time and effort to learn it, but it is not a good game for those with short attention spans (or those expecting a truly free game). It is IMO worthy of a monetary investment, but there shouldn't be a rush to do that when you are first starting out.
If you go into this game with the expectation of a shooting fireballs out of every orifice and cleansing the land of evil, you will be disabused of that notion rather quickly. I'd call it a win if you manage to not pancake yourself in the harbor because you don't have a feather-fall item yet. ?
Yes you can play it for free, but you will have to deal with many handicaps and gating. Some go in understanding those aspects of F2P (and see it as a challenge which IMO is a great attitude to have!) others will see it as a paywall which prevents them from properly playing the game which can lead to a player feeling alienated or manipulated and ultimately leaving because who wants to deal with predatory marketing tactics?
I feel ultimately that DDO is a game worthy of the time and effort to learn it, but it is not a good game for those with short attention spans (or those expecting a truly free game). It is IMO worthy of a monetary investment, but there shouldn't be a rush to do that when you are first starting out.
If you go into this game with the expectation of a shooting fireballs out of every orifice and cleansing the land of evil, you will be disabused of that notion rather quickly. I'd call it a win if you manage to not pancake yourself in the harbor because you don't have a feather-fall item yet. ?
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Coffey
Well-known member
I agree with this. I joined VIP and bought nothing else for the first year i played. VIP allows you access to all the adventure packs excluding expansions. A new player could play with the default content or get VIP until the free content giveaway which has been around the early part of the year the last 4 years.
Some new player guides were made by some of the players that become absolutely useless without the free content giveaway. They are still useful if you have VIP. Edit: You can still learn from these videos but you wont be able to level along with them.
Here is one i found that is really well done:
The other i remember was made in 2020-2021 by a player F2PDDO (sorry if i have your name wrong) but i am having difficulty finding that one at the moment. This was a complete play through of a 18 Paladin 2 Rogue Staff build. It is the best guide i have ever seen on DDO. I will look around for it and post it later.
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Solarpower
Well-known member
Basically, a common situation among the F2P games ? So unless your imaginary players have never played any game before, they won't see anything new here... ?
GrayJedi AntiProPaladin
Well-known member
the 2 Rogue / 18 Paladin is the 3rd link of the post here...
...I believe he started out with Staff build, then switched to THF Greatsword in later videos...it's Solid... I played this build (among others) when starting out Free To Play before going VIP sub
I also quit in frustration years before and came back to DDO to give it another go during pandemic lockdown, and had a bunch of time to watch many youtube videos going over strengths and weaknesses on various builds, and tried out those builds to see which I liked (I liked most of them heheh)... and play throughs, and picking up techniques, tip and tricks, tactics, etc.
...I believe he started out with Staff build, then switched to THF Greatsword in later videos...it's Solid... I played this build (among others) when starting out Free To Play before going VIP sub
I also quit in frustration years before and came back to DDO to give it another go during pandemic lockdown, and had a bunch of time to watch many youtube videos going over strengths and weaknesses on various builds, and tried out those builds to see which I liked (I liked most of them heheh)... and play throughs, and picking up techniques, tip and tricks, tactics, etc.
Solarpower
Well-known member
No, it's because you've ignored the warning saying that this quest is hard. ? And it is. Despite it's age. For the new players at least.
Anyway, you've had hard time going through lvl 4 quest with the lvl 7 character... Didn't something clicked telling you it's not the game but some of your actions might be wrong ?
Like that weird build of yours. DDO is not "Baldur's ? 3" you can't multiclass unless you know what are you doing for 100%
At Wizard 7 you can have at least a couple of SLAs saving your mana and both Mana Toughness feats if you need them.
I wish we could actually see your gameplay... So many questions there. ?
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FaceDancer
Olde Wurm
I don't know if Bolseiro do Condado has left for good, but I hope not. I would just say to lower your expectations. Not for the game, but for yourself. I would argue that when you chose Irestone Inlet, you had already effectively committed seppuku (you just did it very... slowly...) As a note... several characters of ours got smoked when our lead took us in there at much higher levels than we were ready for. I hope other new people find this thread and USE it to their advantage. There is a fount of knowledge in these forums and in the Wiki as well! Use them both, ask questsions! Most of us are tools for the greater good, some are just tools though... ?
Mindos
CHAOTIC EVIL
No one waits. No one. Every new person gets left behind and feels useless and alone. Welcome to DDO.
Nothing but old, unused content that no one runs. They pay their money and wonder why it was for sale if it's so old. At least they don't have to worry about running too slow and being left behind- since no one is running this content, they won't be grouping with anyone whatsoever.
The most ridiculous thing ever. Here's everything free! But not right now, oops you missed it! SSG is really raking in the cash from those sales of sorrowdusk?
And the hits just keep on coming. Being too slow, being alone, can't find groups at all, can't find a group doing the content you just paid a ton for, can't cast because you don't have components, can't inscribe cause it doesn't make sense, lol wut spell levels?, oh I need more stuff just to inscribe?
And when you do find someone to play with, (finally you can have fun!!!, right??/) they just destroy everything instantly. And they go through dialog options in the blink of an eye, as you'll never read any story, or understand *** is happening. But I will tell you one thing, if you find someone really special in this game, someone really nice, the one in a million player, you will have a blast. You'll know you found that one nice person when they actually come back and get your soul stone instead of just ignoring you and finishing out.
Welcome to DDO.
FaceDancer
Olde Wurm
And this is why I solo or only play with family and friends. I have low expectations on others (I am never disappointed...)
There are exceptional people out there in DDO land, but that is partly because they are the exception, not the rule. T'would be good if there was a thing such as a run for new N' squishy peeps instead of just R10 raid stuffs..
There are exceptional people out there in DDO land, but that is partly because they are the exception, not the rule. T'would be good if there was a thing such as a run for new N' squishy peeps instead of just R10 raid stuffs..
Solarpower
Well-known member
Fixed it for ya. ?
For the longest time when I see a new player on Korthos I try to invite them into a group. And they refused ! ?
(Maybe it's me. Maybe they are afraid I'm going to steal their precious "starter" gear or something... ?)
Never met any of them later in the game. Guess, they didn't make it past Korthos area.
Last time I've managed to be in a group with some new player was something like 5-6 years ago. And I've only learned he is new after he asked how do we manage to rest in the dungeon. He was around lvl 11 or so. ? He didn't know about shrines bacause he "didn't pay attention to text in the tutorial dungeon". ?
Well, DDO isn't Diablo, players have to read in-game texts. And if players refuse to do so, no developer can force them to.
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Valerianus
Former Captain Of The Rotten Shark
100% correct....but what about a wonderful oooold game with a very steep learning curve and a freakload of potential never untapped? maybe, my very humble opinion, after pioneering the f2p they should have evolved, cause the games did age, so what about being extraglitteringbutterflyingwelcoming with the new players you want to lock in your rather costly old game and profit from?
Coffey
Well-known member
I will say it again. This is why i believe the servers just cant handle a massive increase of players otherwise they would have been doing the advertisement work all along through the years. They also would have invested in teaching new players themselves (via more in depth training areas etc throughout the game) and not left it all to the player base lol.
ACJ97F
Well-known member
Maybe it's the level of DDO apathy. Filigree from U37 aren't fixed after 6 years, and a huge pile of other issues like that. As I'm sitting here,
wearing the Purity set, with stacks of Mummy Rot, I'm reminded how little they really care about anything that's not a fast buck or a TR.
wearing the Purity set, with stacks of Mummy Rot, I'm reminded how little they really care about anything that's not a fast buck or a TR.