RIFT

[Philosophyking87]

Anyone playing - or planning on playing - this?

 

[Melllvar]

Probably not myself, mainly because I rarely play MMOs and getting started on one seems like a terrible drain on my already somewhat busy life. However, I thought I'd reference that Jennywocky had a real nice analysis of it in one of the other gaming threads (hope she doesn't mind me quoting):

Spoiler

Oh, do share your impression and experience with that game if you would be so inclined. I hear it's a promising MMO.

Generally, I would say that Rift cribbed WoW the way that WoW cribbed EQ2. There's a lot of stuff in terms of mechanisms and system/interface design that is just literally lifted out of WoW; they didn't bother to recreate the wheel... which actually might have made the most sense, because WoW players will immediately know what to do, Wow devs already did all the design work, and the Rift devs can just focus on innovation.

Best Feature #1: The three-soul skill system (where you can acquire up to three different talent trees to build synergy with). You can also change your trees at any point in the game, to do a completely new build. Each of the four classes (Mage, Fighter, Rogue, Cleric) has eight different souls for your character to work with; you have to use the eight within your class, but there's still some great synergy to explore.

Best Feature #2: You can acquire up to four "roles" AKA "builds" for your character, all using different talent trees. So instead of having to level up one character to Tank and another for DPS, you can use the same character for both, and all you do is switch to a different Role, once you set the Roles up. Very versatile, saves time. Equipment is the only thing you'd have to switch, really.

Best Feature #3: The real-time ad hoc Raiding system: Rifts open up, if you walk nearby you get an option to Join Public Group, and you're in. It is that easy. (Sometimes you just get added automatically, if you walk into the middle of it.) Looting is simplified, and you're basically Raiding while in the middle of another quest, and afterward you just go on your way. As someone who does NOT enjoy lengthy, precise Raid schedules that eat up my real life, I really like this. (And you get some Raid goodies along the way too.)

Best Feature #4: The Raids mentioned above occur because the world is being invaded via a Rift from another dimension, and it's your job to fend off the baddies. If you do not, they actually will sometimes wipe out an entire outpost, and you can't access the quests or stores there until you wipe out the invasion. Some invasions are small enough that one character (played right) can close the rift; others will need larger pick-up groups to end the invasion. It usually hasn't been much of a hassle, because players are constantly wandering by and joining the Raid, and I think it adds some flavor to anotherwise static Quest system.

I think those are the four major differences. There's minor stuff (like being able to have three trades instead of two, like in WoW), but you'll notice the similarities immediately. If you did like WoW, this basically gives you another world to explore; but if you like the additions to the system, then that's an added plus. I'm not sure what future changes they have planned, although right now there seems to be a huge planned world "Raid/invasion" occurring as part of the mythology.

 

[Philosophyking87]

Well, the only problem I have with that analysis is that the author definitely seems to prefer PVE to PVP, although it's only a minor problem (as I'm clearly a fan of PVP). Overall, that analysis is really top-notch, and it's for reasons found in this analysis (or those which are extremely similar) which have persuaded me to give Rift a shot (as I'm completely bored of WoW).

I'm only gonna start playing today (after I finish typing this response in fact), so I'll definitely come back and give my personal opinion on the matter.

 

[The Gopher]

Runescape is better!!! (seriously I am kidding guys) But no, I am more of a RTS/TPS/FPS/RPG/Puzzle gamer. Also when I do play MMORPGs it needs to be PvP everywhere mainly skill based with the opportunity to be truly evil.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Runescape is better!!! (seriously I am kidding guys) But no, I am more of a RTS/TPS/FPS/RPG/Puzzle gamer. Also when I do play MMORPGs it needs to be PvP everywhere mainly skill based with the opportunity to be truly evil.

RuneScape, you say?

 

[Philosophyking87]

I played Rift yesterday, and I personally thought it was pretty fun; it's very similar to WoW in many respects and definitely has the overall feel that makes WoW so familiar and fun. [And trust me, I'm not biased here, as I was a giant critic of games like Aion and Age of Conan (as they didn't feel like WoW at all, and really came off mechanical/weird).]

Having said that, my only problems with Rift would be a) the pastel look of the interface (which reminds me of Aion), and b) the somewhat mechanical animation of some of the pets/mounts/mobs (which sort of reminds me of Age of Conan at times, though not extremely).

What I like about it so far is, obviously, how great the graphics look; it's very modern, very up to date, very sleek. The story of the world of Telera is also pretty interesting (and I personally chose to be a guardian). But I also liked some of the features: one of which is the ability to go into your settings, record a video, and then send it to youtube without ever leaving the game. On top of this, you can also tweet in-game, and I definitely enjoyed the character customization. I thought it was very nice.

So, this is clearly a very initial impression, and I definitely have more to explore and learn, but overall Rift seems like a very great, comparable alternative to WoW for current bored fans. I'd definitely recommend trying it out. So far, I'm still getting used to the questing features, layout, attacking system, and various little details (such as talents). While the game is built in an incredibly similar fashion to WoW (so that it's somewhat familiar/intuitive), there are a few unique aspects to which I haven't perfectly become accustomed (mostly odd colors and such). So I'm definitely going to need some time to do that.

So, overall, it's a great game so far.

 

[Jennywocky]

The Rift aspect (where landscapes change and you might have to defend the Questgivers), and the tree/talent systems are still the best parts to me.

But something I didn't mention before, that I enjoyed about Wow, was the world exploration. I like going off by myself, not just exploring things far outside my level (I once made it much of the way across a 50+ zone as a level 15 character, before I just got stuck and couldn't avoid mobs anymore), but just trying to climb things to get to the tops of ridges, etc... and zones like Stonefield (Defiant) definitely encourage that sort of exploration. I feel like there's even more ability to do this in Rift.

Not only do I run across lots of artifact drop locations that no one else has ever seemed to find, but I even found a cache on top of the one ridge that gave me gold and basic magic items. Anyway, I plan to keep exploring into unexpected places...

I have toons on Perspice and Greenscale right now.

The painful part is just not finding a lot of people to play with on EST. I guess I'll have to do actual extensive guild research and see what I can come up with.

 

[Philosophyking87]

Yeah, I only have a level 8 High Elf Mage atm. =p
But even being only so far in the game, I'm already truly impressed. I feel like Rift is basically WoW2.0 (WoW with impressive graphics). I also immensely enjoy the talent system (I can make a lightning mage with a pet capable of crowd controlling people, among other abilities)? That's just incredible. You can essentially customize your talents much more uniquely than you can in WoW. It's really great. I haven't really tried the rifts, but I'm sure they are also great.

Earlier I was walking around in one of the noob zones, and I really enjoyed the environment: giant walls that looks extremely fantasy; light from the sun shining through trees; trees, grass, and hills that just take me to another world. The mounts are also pretty decent (although I think they can use some work). So suffice it to say, I'm really, really impressed. I'm also playing the game for exploration, mostly, and as I said, there's definitely lots of interesting scenery to enjoy.

 

[gwydion85]

So I'm curious if you're still playing Rift now or if you quit playing, and in either case, why?

 

[dark]

I bought Rift, played it until my free time expired and quit.