Hello:) Thinking of joining your community.

socialbasilisk · January 2011

I am on PC and a Phantasy Star Universe vet who went through their server shut down over a year ago. Awesome game ... but many aspects were handled terribly by its creator (at least in the US). I tried Guild Wars .... enjoyed up until I ended the tutorial by enabling "The Searing" event. After that it was boring traveling with endless word / talk-to-this-guy type quests with unimpressive enemies and boring press 1-8 button spell style fighting. I don't mean to flame it though. It was cool...just not my type overall. I will say that most players online in GW were very friendly and eager to help a new player. I've been checking into some MMORPGs and this game came up. Looked well done and possibly very fun to play. I'm up there in age ... so being a noob doesn't bother me. I would much rather enjoy the game as opposed to blitz-learning it. I don't like PvP. I saw that I can avoid that route. I don't mind being support in parties when I'm in them. A cleric looked cool to me.

Okay, so not to make a wall of text too extreme, I'll try and get to the point. Obviously the PW vets in this forum love playing the game and probably have a sound knowledge of rpg gaming. You're opinion is gold with me. Truthfully though, I'd like to hear anyone's opinion on a new player joining this game regardless of how long you've been online. It seems like a minor project of a download ... but if the game is awesome and worth getting into... I'm in. Considering the options currently out there; if you could re-do the last so many weeks, months, or years playing PW, would you still do it? Or would you use the time trying a different game?

Thank's in advance.

SaiIorMoon - Lost City · January 2011

inb4 5.0 QQ, Tideborn QQ, PWI Greed QQ, economy sucks QQ, Free to play, pay to win QQ.

I enjoy the game and I just started playing again a couple of weeks ago after a year break. Some parts of the game could be handled better by the creator but they're a business and need money too. All around decent game imo. Plus it's free to play.

You mentioned getting around the pvp aspect, I'd suggest rolling a PVE server.

Renza - Raging Tide · January 2011

mm, well saying i started PW in general, coming from pw-malaysian version that is, this game has changed a lot, into a money hungry game where cash shop>all, if your not going to cash shop, you will have a hard time doing any PVP or territory wars due to being 1-2 shoted all day which belive me, isnt fun...

the pve aspect of the game, well, id just say meh, the mobs are nothing special, just about every single mob uses magic attacks, and when you get close to them, they slap you with phy attack which is just so much "lol", but yea, i did play GW my self and got bored after a while but to be fair the combat on here isnt really much of anything special, i mean, its ok for an auto target game thats been here for about 4-6 years, if you have seen the expansion announcement, the new race with 2 new classes will be coming up in feb so you shud prob wait till then to start as the new classes will be more *flashy* instead of the original outdated races of human, untamed and elfs, eitherway its more of a see for your self game atm, but if money is an issue, dont really expect to do much pvp unless you want to physically bum **** the game to gear farm at later levels, which is very boring.

Mikatrick - Harshlands · January 2011

Well our community is lively as always, Forumers getting more and more active, game wise its degrading tho. But new ones as you come in the place, be ready for PW life u always wanted!

RedsRose - Lost City · January 2011

In threads like these (because of SO many differing opinions), the best answer is to try it out.

1) Download
2) Log-in
3) Play the game your way
4) Come to forums for QQ Fest 2011 (continued from QQ Fest 2010...2009...)
5) Draw your own conclusions.

^ Seriously, just try it out.

SaiIorMoon - Lost City · January 2011

socialbasilisk wrote: »

I would much rather enjoy the game as opposed to blitz-learning it. I don't like PvP. I saw that I can avoid that route.

Renza - Raging Tide wrote: »

if your not going to cash shop, you will have a hard time doing any PVP or territory wars due to being 1-2 shoted all day which belive me, isnt fun...

but if money is an issue, dont really expect to do much pvp unless you want to physically bum **** the game to gear farm at later levels, which is very boring.

b:cute

Roseary - Sanctuary · January 2011

RedsRose - Lost City wrote: »

In threads like these (because of SO many differing opinions), the best answer is to try it out.

1) Download
2) Log-in
3) Play the game your way
4) Come to forums for QQ Fest 2011 (continued from QQ Fest 2010...2009...)
5) Draw your own conclusions.

^ Seriously, just try it out.

Step 3 won't work out to well for you if you want to be in a party longer than 5 minutes. If people pick up that you aren't apart of the cookie cutter selection that the "community" thinks you should be then you will be thrown out like yesterdays garbage.

If your a cleric heal
If your a mage cast magic damage.
Everyone else pick up some claws and go 5.0

Or so I feel when I join a party and they kick me out for not being like everyone else.

Shneibel - Harshlands · January 2011

tips : put away your credit card before you regret it

DeadRaven - Sanctuary · January 2011

My following response will in no way fulfill any expectations for helpful, informative feedback but........ the game is "technically" free to play so I would simply recommend trying it out for yourself, and come to your own conclusions about its merits. Everyone has different preferences so I would not like to guess whether this game is suited for you or not. Only you can make that determination. So if you have some spare time on your hands, you have nothing to lose by giving it a shot. Happy gaming b:pleased

Edit: Excellent tip by Shenibel: Hide your credit card before starting... this game will make every effort to tempt you into maxing it out b:surrender

Ankiel - Raging Tide · January 2011

Despite what people like to say, the game is actually quite enjoyable if you like to take thinks slow, and arent crazy hardcore with the need to be the best/have best gear, ect, which will cost you serious real money.

its pretty much a combat game, the "skills" generally dont take up much time, or give huge advantages, so its combat or nothing really.

quite a lot of group combat, if thats your thing as well

overall, its better then some games i have played, worse then some others, but it looks nice, plays ok, give you some interesting features you dont find in other places, and is free

fun way to spend a few hours here and there

Ninnuam - Sanctuary · January 2011

You're a year and a half late - this game went to the ****er. Since the original "anniversary packs" (do a forum search) this game has been plagued by constant sales, week after week, which rendered getting any sort of endgame gear completely pointless, and became a matter of who can charge more money on their credit card (yes, this game has a legal alternative to chinese farm bots, although both lead to the same broken economy).

This game has a refining system on weapons and armor that goes up to +12, making farming actual gear and having player skill irrelevant, and turns it into a matter of again, using your credit card (or farming same instances for months on end to get ingame coin to buy cash shop items that allow you to + your gear).

Oh, and we also have permanent gamble packs that have a chance to give you ultimate endgame equipment. Only $9.99.

Should you opt to spend months farming the same instance for coin to match someone who paid $100 for their gear, make sure you do not roll a magic class, since the game became so much broken that with proper gear, physical classes in this game can do the same amount of damage as 5 equally geared magic casters, which rendered players who played their magic class for a year, virtually useless in 90% of the PvE content (which you are interested in).

As a player who's been here since the start, I can only suggest you keep looking for another game to kill time on. If ya find a good one, get back to us

Boartracker - Raging Tide · January 2011

I'm also an older player and have played computer games since they've first come out. I got bored with the last MMo I was in and tried out several others. I decided to play here for a while on the PVE Raging Tide server. Try it out for yourself and see what you think.

You'll find forks on this board who complain, argue and talk. There are even those who don't know what they're talking about

It's a free game and you'll meet all types from kids to people with way too much money to spend. If you like the way the game plays and find like minded players, you should enjoy yourself. It's a game so have fun. Opinions are free as is the advise, so take it for what it's worth. b:laugh

FiDollaYou - Sanctuary · January 2011

Roseary - Sanctuary wrote: »

Step 3 won't work out to well for you if you want to be in a party longer than 5 minutes. If people pick up that you aren't apart of the cookie cutter selection that the "community" thinks you should be then you will be thrown out like yesterdays garbage.

If your a cleric heal
If your a mage cast magic damage.
Everyone else pick up some claws and go 5.0

Except that you're viewing your situation from the wrong perspective. You seem to expect other people to play on YOUR terms.

Each of the classes is given certain class-defining attributes (clerics have the best heals, venos have pets, etc.) So each class has a "cookie-cutter" approach that exists by design. It's not simply what the community wants or expects, it is there by design.

If you want to play a non-traditional role for your chosen class, well... feel free to do so. Just don't think that others are obligated to squad with you.

How many 4 foot tall players get drafted into the NBA? How many people with Tourette's get elected to public office?

Roseary - Sanctuary wrote: »

Or so I feel when I join a party and they kick me out for not being like everyone else.

You really feel the squad is to blame when they feel cheated by picking a cleric that doesn't heal? Or a veno that doesn't use a pet? Or a wizzy that wants to melee with axes?

_Nuriko_ - Lost City · January 2011

Psh ignore these peeps, ive been playing this game since the anniversary packs first release and honestly yeah its a cash shoppers game but you know what, go find a guild that doesnt cash shop, make friends, and have fun playing, my first wife on this game was a HA veno who uses duel swords and you know what, our guild didnt care. I personally make alts to mess around on all the time and make em weird, lvl 24 Arcane barb ftw lmao i deleted him though >> but anyways listen to Reds (MISS YOU!!!!!) download, log in, play, have fun

JanusZeal - Heavens Tear · January 2011

socialbasilisk wrote: »

I am on PC and a Phantasy Star Universe vet who went through their server shut down over a year ago. Awesome game ... but many aspects were handled terribly by its creator (at least in the US). I tried Guild Wars .... enjoyed up until I ended the tutorial by enabling "The Searing" event. After that it was boring traveling with endless word / talk-to-this-guy type quests with unimpressive enemies and boring press 1-8 button spell style fighting. I don't mean to flame it though. It was cool...just not my type overall. I will say that most players online in GW were very friendly and eager to help a new player. I've been checking into some MMORPGs and this game came up. Looked well done and possibly very fun to play. I'm up there in age ... so being a noob doesn't bother me. I would much rather enjoy the game as opposed to blitz-learning it. I don't like PvP. I saw that I can avoid that route. I don't mind being support in parties when I'm in them. A cleric looked cool to me.

Okay, so not to make a wall of text too extreme, I'll try and get to the point. Obviously the PW vets in this forum love playing the game and probably have a sound knowledge of rpg gaming. You're opinion is gold with me. Truthfully though, I'd like to hear anyone's opinion on a new player joining this game regardless of how long you've been online. It seems like a minor project of a download ... but if the game is awesome and worth getting into... I'm in. Considering the options currently out there; if you could re-do the last so many weeks, months, or years playing PW, would you still do it? Or would you use the time trying a different game?

Thank's in advance.

This game is fun. It has it's drawbacks, as any game does, especially in the F2P category. I would say before you even make a character, select which server you want, by location (west coast US vs. east coast), then by the type of play (PVP vs PVE), and you said you prefer PVE, so I'd recommend Dreamweaver if you're on the east, or Heaven's Tear if you prefer west. Once that's done, then try out the various classes to see which style you like more. There's plenty of people to help new players to the game, but questing is very easy solo. There are certain dungeons which are either impossible to do solo (FB19+ / Call to Duty tabs) or are way too hard for a person just starting out, so if it seems too tough don't hesitate to ask people for help in one of the big cities.

Paramedic - Dreamweaver · January 2011

most pw vets will tell you, that this game changed a lot and you should try it at own risk b:chuckle

pw management is good in making this game really frustrating for players: constant sales make gold prices 2-3x higher; new packs mess up economy i.e. lately they devaluated some endgame gear parts by 90% w/o any warning.. so you can imagine rage of everyone who worked hard for their gear

now, all depends from what type of player you are. if you are very casual, log in every few days, to do quest and kill few mobs, then game will be fun i guess.

but if you will want to enjoy whole pve content - in teams, then you may find a problem.. some of dungeons are 'dead' for long time, because there is no reason to run them anymore (because of game updates); other instances, where you farm your gear (and earn money) are occupied by high levels, which made mats prices very low (awful earnings for lowbies).
for player like me, who like teamplay games, pw become very shallow.

cv of modern pw player would look more-or-less like this:

0-30lvl quests, which take 2-3 days

30lvl-40lvl exp quest (talking with npc) which lvl you fast

40lvl-80 lvl (up to 100) you get another exp quest (3 times per day; killing boss in 20lvl lower instance). getting to 80lvl takes 1-3 weeks

at 80lvl most people decide to farm even moar exp in some dungeon (which can be fun for few first times) and if you gonna use 12x exp stones from cash shop, then you will be able to reach 100lvl in week or two..

beside that, there is really not much to do in this game.. some stubborn lowbies decide to farm gear, in last farmable instance, but as i mentioned - you wont earn much coins there.

whole exp craze changed community a lot imo. people rush their levels, it is harder to make friends, if someone who you met 2 days ago is 20lvl higher than you today. people tend to be less helpful too..
also neglecting most of old game content produce high level noobs everywhere and they will give you seizures, if you choose to be a cleric. b:surrender

you can give this game a try.. but if you can find something better, then forget about pw..

socialbasilisk · January 2011

All of you were cool for responding so rapidly!!! I realize there are many differing opinions and that the only way to truly know the game is to play it. However; most of what everyone said I understand perfectly due to similarities to other games I've played.

Ankiel --- you would be the man if I was trying to persuade someone to play PW -- kudos to your outlook and thanks. Best of luck gaming!

But there are many things you guys cited that I don't like. Many factors I have seen before:

1) Your cash shop is the same as PSU's Guardians' Cash missions which dropped some premier gear and offered other premier bonuses to paying customers. This didn't happen until after the US PC/PS2 servers closed. So I didn't have to decide whether to ignore it or quit. Ironically, we paid $10 a month to play PSU. I would've gladly paid $50 a month to play if the game would've been slightly better supported and updated. But pay just to have good gear? --- **** that! That totally kills the point of playing any game! If you like to golf, why would you pay extra money to have someone print a "67" on your scorecard and not play a hole? I actually enjoy grinding as long as the fighting is fun. Finding rare gear is a major feeling of achievement in a game. -- better than beating story mode. Imo, cash shops are disgusting and yours seems to have dominated your game more than the general info implies.

2) Broken physical damage making mages and the like nearly useless? plus making many skills unimportant? (These skills seem to be a major part of character development which I am a big fan of.) That sucks for when you are in the mood for a decent party and everybody is doing the same dance because it kills the fastest. No one wants to feel useless. In PSU, Fighmasters tore through the S2-ranked missions in minutes with lvl 50 attack arts leaving you in the dust if you were teching. Gunmasters had a prayer of tagging a few creatures. I'm glad I waited until my 3rd alt to make a Fighmaster - it would've taken a lot of fun from the other chars.

3) People booting because you don't play according to the mold? I think every game has that. That's a human flaw, not a game flaw. Elitists don't usually bother me whether or not they are on a crusade to be the best and have the best gear before anyone else does. Plus I understand their point. If they truly demand excellence, then they won't want a caster swinging a sword or whatever. That is their preference. I just don't party with them if it's a problem. When it comes to selling gear in my player shop, their money was as good as anyone else's.

4) You have refining, we had grinding. However, grinding a weapon even to 10/10 did not render your level or your arts on other weapons useless. That's a bit hard to swallow.

Oh well enough text.... I still may try this game just for its aesthetic appeal. From the sounds of it, guess I'll be a slow-going, grinding, and probably solo noob for quite a while.b:laugh Hey all thanks again for your input! It was extremely insightful! As long as you are having fun playing ... it is not a waste of time!

Hello:) Thinking of joining your community.

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