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Other Games / D&D Neverwinter Open Beta
« on: May 09, 2013, 02:44:14 pm »
There doesn't appear to be a thread for the topic, better rectify this at once! I've been trying this game out the last few days and I must say I am pleasently surprised, enough so to share with you guys.
I'm probably not the best OP for this topic however due to my limited d&d experience (never was a fan of dice rolls). So you d&d enthusiasts out there don't gun me down when I say something blatently ignorant or stupid.
Anyway without further ado!

Disclaimer: Screenshot taken with my personal post processing applied
Neverwinter is, for you d&d newbs like me, a new mmorpg by Cryptic based on the fictional d&d universe. It's currently in open beta so downtime and plenty of patches are to be expected. In terms of features the game seems plenty ready for launch though. Payment model is standard free to play mmo, core game is free with a cash shop filled with boosts, shiny toys and account upgrades.
The lore and I assume also the classes their skills are as inspired by the d&d setting. Not much I can share about the lore myself though, for prevously stated reason. I'm endulging myself in the d&d lore so I can get into some roleplaying. Personally I've always been interested in getting into the whole d&d thing but, as I said before, dices scare me off. Loving every bit of this game though, so here's my chance.
The game is set in the partly reclaimed city of Neverwinter and its environs, explorable through a travel screen and instanced dungeons/quest areas. The world isn't exactly seamless like most mmorpg out there, so that might be a bummer if you think that's important. What it does allow for though is a large game world that feels less like a theme park and more like an actual vast world, and for players to create their own adventures by making new instances anywhere on the travel map, but more on that next.
Because this is the part I think will interested you guys. The game has something called The Foundry wich is, in essence, a builder kit for players to make their own pve content. You can create your own map instances anywhere on the travel map, be it a dark dungeon or monster filled forrest, anything is possible within the confines of what the kit allows you to make. You can set your own quest objectives, interactable objects and npcs, your own monsters, anything you might need for an adventure.
I guess ultimately it is much like being a dungeon master of a d&d session. At least I assume it to be since I've never participated in one, but you are given all the tools for players to pick up your quest or story arc, group up and have a jolly good adventure. Player made quest will, like regular quests, give you loot and experience so no descrimination for not completing the standard pve content.
Now then the combat. For a game based on a pretty traditional rpg setting I'm surprised how fluid an visceral the combat is. It's no gw2 where all fighting is on the move, but no olde stand next the enemy and auto attack either. Combat is very active with lots of interesting mechanics, movement and positioning. Definatly a fresh look on the more traditional rpg combat while still retaining its qualities. It's not very convoluted but definatly solid.
Basicly the way it works you have a skill tree with power to be unlocked and upgraded, containing passive powers, at-will powers, encounter powers and daily powers (bit of a weird name if you ask me). Your at will powers have no cooldown so they're your bread and butter attack skills, of wich you can select two. Your 3 chosen encounter powers are a bit more powerful and/or specialized and have cooldown, the two passive powers give, as the name suggests, a passive bonus to your character. Finally the daily powers are only usable after your combat gauge fills up, how you fill it up depends on your class.
Bit more additional info on the races and classes.
And that's about it. Definatly want to try this game if you're into d&d or if you're like me and don't care for the roll of a dice but love online rpg.
The combat is good, the game looks great and the foundry is just sublime. Try out the open beta or keep an eye out for its developement, it's definatly one of the better mmorpg I've played of late.
I'm probably not the best OP for this topic however due to my limited d&d experience (never was a fan of dice rolls). So you d&d enthusiasts out there don't gun me down when I say something blatently ignorant or stupid.

Anyway without further ado!

Disclaimer: Screenshot taken with my personal post processing applied
Neverwinter is, for you d&d newbs like me, a new mmorpg by Cryptic based on the fictional d&d universe. It's currently in open beta so downtime and plenty of patches are to be expected. In terms of features the game seems plenty ready for launch though. Payment model is standard free to play mmo, core game is free with a cash shop filled with boosts, shiny toys and account upgrades.
The lore and I assume also the classes their skills are as inspired by the d&d setting. Not much I can share about the lore myself though, for prevously stated reason. I'm endulging myself in the d&d lore so I can get into some roleplaying. Personally I've always been interested in getting into the whole d&d thing but, as I said before, dices scare me off. Loving every bit of this game though, so here's my chance.

The game is set in the partly reclaimed city of Neverwinter and its environs, explorable through a travel screen and instanced dungeons/quest areas. The world isn't exactly seamless like most mmorpg out there, so that might be a bummer if you think that's important. What it does allow for though is a large game world that feels less like a theme park and more like an actual vast world, and for players to create their own adventures by making new instances anywhere on the travel map, but more on that next.
Because this is the part I think will interested you guys. The game has something called The Foundry wich is, in essence, a builder kit for players to make their own pve content. You can create your own map instances anywhere on the travel map, be it a dark dungeon or monster filled forrest, anything is possible within the confines of what the kit allows you to make. You can set your own quest objectives, interactable objects and npcs, your own monsters, anything you might need for an adventure.
I guess ultimately it is much like being a dungeon master of a d&d session. At least I assume it to be since I've never participated in one, but you are given all the tools for players to pick up your quest or story arc, group up and have a jolly good adventure. Player made quest will, like regular quests, give you loot and experience so no descrimination for not completing the standard pve content.
Now then the combat. For a game based on a pretty traditional rpg setting I'm surprised how fluid an visceral the combat is. It's no gw2 where all fighting is on the move, but no olde stand next the enemy and auto attack either. Combat is very active with lots of interesting mechanics, movement and positioning. Definatly a fresh look on the more traditional rpg combat while still retaining its qualities. It's not very convoluted but definatly solid.
Basicly the way it works you have a skill tree with power to be unlocked and upgraded, containing passive powers, at-will powers, encounter powers and daily powers (bit of a weird name if you ask me). Your at will powers have no cooldown so they're your bread and butter attack skills, of wich you can select two. Your 3 chosen encounter powers are a bit more powerful and/or specialized and have cooldown, the two passive powers give, as the name suggests, a passive bonus to your character. Finally the daily powers are only usable after your combat gauge fills up, how you fill it up depends on your class.
Bit more additional info on the races and classes.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
And that's about it. Definatly want to try this game if you're into d&d or if you're like me and don't care for the roll of a dice but love online rpg.
The combat is good, the game looks great and the foundry is just sublime. Try out the open beta or keep an eye out for its developement, it's definatly one of the better mmorpg I've played of late.
Short stout stubborn and bearded, based on tolkien's dwarves.




