Caltrops - MMORPG Level Treadmill





	[quote name="up with pod people"]how is it? <i>it is an MMO.</i> you kill X, gather Y, occasionally grind like a peppermill if that doesn't stop you, here are some variations that might tip the scales either way, that I've noticed already at level 11. the game has been out in Asia for a year, so some typically unfinished elements of MMO launches past are taken care of. <b>positive</b> <ul><li>seriously fucking ridiculously incredible character generation</li> <li>all the expected social tools, albeit with limitations in first few levels to forestall spam account creation</li> <li>easy right-click goldfarmer blocking</li> <li>turning off ugly helmets, guild robes, etc.</li> <li>player stores - anyone at any time can put out their tile and sell items directly from their inventory, avoiding auction fees. this gives public areas the charming atmosphere of a moroccan sook, +big blue titties</li> <li>unlimited crafting professions (only limited grandmastery)</li> <li>decent writing - so far, impeccable translation, enjoyable cut scenes 'to the future'</li> <li>shift-F12 turns every non-teamed toon completely off to prevent claustrophobia and lag in busy areas (definitely turn off names. hideous)</li> <li>strikingly beautiful environments and creative backstory/architecture</li> <li>when you stack damage, you get a highly satisfying rat-a-tat contact that feels very active, like a fighting game</li> <li>blue highlighted names are clickable, and you can select "locate" and get a mark on the map instantly instead of playing hunting games <li>aerial gameplay is completely unique. unlike CoX, you don't just fly forever; flight time management is one of the major live-or-die skills in the game. if you catch an updraft at the wrong time you could run out of time and crash to your death, frex. I haven't even hardly fought in the air yet and I am looking forward to it.</li> <li>corollary to aerial gameplay: open worlds are in three dimensions. they train you early to look for contacts and goals in the air as well as on the ground, with altitude notations in your locate info.</li> <li>open, kibbitz-able arena</li> </ul> <b>negative</b> <ul><li>pay to bind to city WTF</li> <li>inflation. I am already hitting for hundreds of points at level 11. the top level folks must be doing stupid 10,000 point crits or whatever</li> <li>auto emotes like pointing when you say "that" and laughing if you say hahaha. obnoxious and apparently so loathed they're already on their way out</li> <li>once you choose a faction you cannot make opposite faction characters on that ENTIRE SERVER</li> <li>WoW-level community</li> </ul> I may think of more. place "apparently predominantly faction PVP after level 25" in whichever category, according to your PVP preferences[/quote]