Worth the switch?

[Searyx]

The only thing EQ and Shadowbane have in common is they're both MMORPGs, and they're both Sword and Sorcery type games. However, the difference between a primarily PvP and a PvE game is vast.

For all you fucktards who can't wait to reply to this to brag about how they're quitting that horrible EQ for Shadowbane, you don't have to quit one to pay the other unless you're living in squaller.

[sadre spinegnawer]

What I want to know is, is SB gonna implement "nut shock" technology to heighten the gameplay experience?

We at the nut shock advocacy team (www.nutshockplease.org) were *this* close to getting SOE to signing off on this easy to implement and use technology, but they wimped at the last moment.

(Sidebar: for those of you not familiar, the nutshock app involves electrodes wired between your gonads (for men) or labia (for women) and the power supply of your pc. Simple re-coding of gameplay encounters involves combat-triggered electrical shocks that scale from the mild tingle (getting snapped at by a green mob) to searing waves of pain that cause your eyeballs to roll back in your head (dying to an npc or pc). The point? this is the only way to finally put in concrete terms the meaning of "risk vs reward")

As we like to say on the nutshock team, "Say it loud, and say it proud: I want nutshock an' I want it now!"


sadre
wraithguild
quellious

[Avenzel]

lol... nutshock

I want to know which servers everyone is on. I'll be heading to EB in about 20 min to pick up the game.

[Aeka]

If history is any indicator ridged PVP, a PVP system where you aren't allowed to switch teams, is a rotten PVP setup.

DAoC and Sullon Zek(the Diety PVP server??) have a small problem with their PVP. If everything is balanced struggles are interesting. However there is a threshold where once one side gains enough of a lead they dominate forever.

Its like playing Capture The Flag where teams are 3 v 10 and team switch is disabled. How much fun is that to be on the smaller, underpowered team that is loosing far more than winning? If that is the case people just start quitting or start over on the other team.

*shrug* If it is too hard to balance out sides then the game will degenerate into an unfun situation. Will Shadowbane avoid this? You tell me.

[Qalar-Drinal]

You can do whatever the hell you want. You can even kill your own guildmates if you so desire. Switching teams takes a couple clicks at any tree of life as long as another city has its doors open(usually they do).

[Hurtful]

In answer to that.. Yes you can do whatever you want. And the whole idea about conquering the world is basically how long you want to suck your king's dick. Basically the idea is that people once good enough wont listen to their king and overthrow him. Nobidy likes to be a servant when they can be a guard.. etc. etc.

[sadre spinegnawer]

wow, all of a sudden this sounds very interesting.

this all raises a basic question what kind of power dynamics will people prefer?

Some say, that once one guild gets powerful, naturally people will want to challenge it. Call this the equilibrium model.

Others say, that most people like power even when it is overwhelming and dull, and so a dominant guild will "snowball" always easily accruing new players who seek the thrill of Reich. Call this the fascist model.

Im going to play it, cuz I am dying to find out whether, in practice, whether love of open free play or dull dominion most beguiles us mmporpgers

sadre
wraithguild
quellious

[Justy]

Hrm, it seems to me that the biggest problem with these massive PVP games, is that you have to rely on others too much in order to lay seige to a town. In Everquest your guild has how many mains? 60, 70, 100+? How often can you rely on them to log in for raids? In order for a guild to lay seige to a town it seems you would need a massive guild or other player organization in order to ever accomplish anything. *shrug* my 2cp.

[Buzze]

Others say, that most people like power even when it is overwhelming and dull, and so a dominant guild will "snowball" always easily accruing new players who seek the thrill of Reich. Call this the fascist model.

A perfect representation of this model: Ebonlore, Fear server.

www.k2.org

Check out the recruiting forum, it is fucking bumping in there and their numbers keep growing. I'm not in that guild, though, as I retracted my application upon further consideration.


Edit: One thing I can say is that it is quite early in the game, and not many people are at the level of GvG combat (I am cause im leet but you already knew that).

[Iannis]

Feudalism, pah! Someone should set up a shogunate! The Hans(i think?) were hardcore...

How can you threaten someone's family members online though? =P

[Duhulk]

Many people have claimed you can play both EQ and Shadowbane. While this is physically true, I would argue that there just aren't enouh hours in the day for that.

[eqsaelie]

I'm in the dominant guild on the Dread server (TBW) and I've got a few observations. One is this: my guild is super rich. We've got the cash to build the stuff, but it takes time. We won't have a fully r7 city for at least two months. Once you hit 35 you can't go to the freehold cities anymore without being summoned (or running), and even if you can get there, your trainers are only r3 and can only train you so high. A fully r7 city costs between 500 million and 1 billiion gold. But even if you do have all that cash, it's going to take 2-3 months to build. During that time you will be extremely vulnerable.

The question rises--and remains to be seen: will people leave their guilds to form other guilds if/when warfare settles down. I don't know, and the reason I have my doubts is because the town is the center of life. Need to fix your armor? Go to an armorer. Need a new bow? Go to a bowyer. Need to train? Go to a trainer. To leave a guild (even if you do have the cash to build, the cash to defend, and the people to defend) will result in at least a month of limbo, and in a game of constant warfare, that's very dangerous indeed. Unless, of course, you have friends in high places.