WAR (Warhammer Online)

I guess because I'm an old git, one of the first things I look at/think about when logging into a new mmo is the overall design. You can NEVER listen to any of the hype, because until you first get in yourself can't tell if the game will even be right for you.

So far I have no real issues with WAR (aside from Order being fugly beyond belief). So I began to think about the long term playability of the game. For me, FPS's have long term playability if they are good on physical mechanics. SWG had long term appeal also as you kind of made the game up as you went along, but mainly because of the crafting and economy, intertwined with the other aspect of the game.

I have thus far enjoyed the combat in WAR, at first it does feel sloooow and up to a certain level some clases are pretty much single button mashers, but games are all about the end game, especially this one.

An obvious design flaw for me is the order/destruction thing, but this is inherent with rvr if you can choose your side at character selection and it definately isn't just a WAR problem.

So with the lack of meaningful crafting atm and no real economy to speak of (at least not an 'epix loot' based one) will this game have long term appeal based on the combat alone? I have been subbed to Planetside since day one so this is absolutely possible and up until now I havn't sampled the end game keep sieges and all the goodies that come with it.

So can anyone else see this game keeping high subs without continually adding more levels (which they have said they will not do). Can anyone see other design flaws?

yes.

That's a question I ask myself quite a lot. Reading first impressions on WAR I get the feeling the game is one HUGE battleground where you control different points etc.

Don't get me wrong I really want this game to flourish and be a success, however I would love to know the plans they got for long term appeal. If they're not adding lvls later, there must be some other idea or plan that can keep people playing, because I personally know that for me and others I'm sure, RvR won't keep me occupied for a couple of months (after I hit lvl cap).

This may be a stupid question (I haven't really followed WAR for years), But after getting all the renown gear you need, and conquer keeps/cities etc. what is there to do other than do it all over again for 1000times?

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Originally posted by mrw0lf
So with the lack of meaningful crafting atm and no real economy to speak of (at least not an 'epix loot' based one) will this game have long term appeal based on the combat alone? I have been subbed to Planetside since day one so this is absolutely possible and up until now I havn't sampled the end game keep sieges and all the goodies that come with it.
So can anyone else see this game keeping high subs without continually adding more levels (which they have said they will not do). Can anyone see other design flaws?

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I am afraid not for me. I have been enjoying myself till lvl 16 or so. From there on leveling is very slow, scenarios are getting boring and the combat isn't too great. Don't think i'll be subscribing for very long tbh...

In short, yes.

There are many things people forget about.  The chief example, as far as I can think of, would have to be Team Fortress.  Now i've been playing TF since it came out as a quakeworld mod.  Before Half-Life ever came out.  TF has used the same basic maps for over ten years.  2fort5 and the well are two orignial maps.  They were the most popular maps then, and they still seem to be very popular.  The classes haven't changed much (aside from taking out nades and demopacks) and the core game-play is exactly the same.  People still play and love TF.  I can easily see this happening with WAR.  Aside from the idea that there are still two capital cities that need to be implemented.

They can also add content without adding levels.

Also.  I've never liked the gear treadmill most games are.  To me there's no point to that.  But I do enjoy mindlessly killing other players in PvP, even if it's done on the same map over and over again.  I really think WAR appeals to a certian market.  It's a Niche game that many people overhyped and called a "wow killer."  Really it's for a completely different market, one I'm proud to be a part of.

Yes.

Dozens of them, but we can't say anything because we will get flamed.

Most important flaws on the long run : server populations in ALL aspects of the game (PvP-PvE-RvR-Balance-scenarios-economy- lag- territorial expansions - etc). You name it, it will influence everything. And they can't raise the server populations, so ....

Originally posted by mrw0lf

So can anyone else see this game keeping high subs without continually adding more levels (which they have said they will not do). Can anyone see other design flaws?

Well, you can't level up at all in counterstrike... But they should have kept the original system with no levels instead, players still get better but not in the same god like difference as in War, Wow and almost all MMOs.

In the RPG game a witch hunter or free lance (Which you don't start as from the beginning but have to spend a lot of work to reach) can be beaten by a rathunter, it is just very unlikely. I think the original system don't have the "I reached max level, what do I do now?" thing. If you never played the RPG, you have no clue of what I'm talking about but it have a very smart system.

Still, as I said, you don't get better or much better anyways in a FPS and they have many players. On the other hand they don't charge monthly fees so we will see, it is really to early to tell, we'll see the tendency around Q1 2009.

In Guildwars it is the same thing, you can reach max level very fast and then you don't get much better, they do still have many players but no monthly fees either. It is possible to keep the players anyways, it all depends how good the endgame is.

RvR Population Balance.

In any RvR game this should be the first issue addressed.  Yet every MMO with RvR I have seen has failed to consider this until very late in the design - if at all.

If the forum search function actually worked I could link you to the Mythic Dev quote where they said they hoped it would all work itself out.

Yeah, because it has worked itself out in all the other RvR games...

Originally posted by Electriceye

That's a question I ask myself quite a lot. Reading first impressions on WAR I get the feeling the game is one HUGE battleground where you control different points etc.

 

Don't get me wrong I really want this game to flourish and be a success, however I would love to know the plans they got for long term appeal. If they're not adding lvls later, there must be some other idea or plan that can keep people playing, because I personally know that for me and others I'm sure, RvR won't keep me occupied for a couple of months (after I hit lvl cap).

 

This may be a stupid question (I haven't really followed WAR for years), But after getting all the renown gear you need, and conquer keeps/cities etc. what is there to do other than do it all over again for 1000times?

Reroll?

Honestly - what is there to do in ANY mmo?  I mean really when you get right down to it every single game is  a grind to max skills or level and then...

But whatever.  I just think if you aren't creative enough to make things interesting for yourself time to find a new hobby.  I think keeps would be fun, even 1000 times because you aren't fighting NPCs, you are fighting other players who change what they do and are not predictable.  I think that's why WAR is fun, not because it's NOT the same old game in a shiny new wrapper - it is.  They will also probably add some things whenever they get around to it as well.