[MMO] Rift - Discussion

[KIAman]

I got a dwarf warrior riftstalker/reaver/champion up to 13 last night. I have a couple questions for you gurus.

1. How gear dependant is the game?
2. Where do you get gear? Drops? Quests? Purchase? Craft? PvP?
3. How important are quests? Are they just XP? Do they give special rewards?
4. Does it matter which order of souls you apply? For example, does it matter riftstalker/reaver/champion vs champion/riftstalker/reaver?
5. How important is level difference for pvp and minigames? Is there a synthetic "i win" for higher levels vs lower levels or is it purely based on stats and skills?
6. How/Is there open pvp?
7. How important is money?
8. Is money easy or hard to get?
9. How is the crafting system? Is it worth anything at the moment?
10. Is there any uniqueness in the game? Or can anyone get anything if they wanted?

Thanks in advanced!

 

[dougp]

1. How gear dependant is the game?

About as gear dependent as most MMOs, but we won't see any difference until there's more 50s with max gear.​

2. Where do you get gear? Drops? Quests? Purchase? Craft? PvP?

Everywhere. Most of my gear is from quests, with some of them being items I purchased from completing Rifts.​

3. How important are quests? Are they just XP? Do they give special rewards?

Item rewards, cash rewards, XP and reputation.​

4. Does it matter which order of souls you apply? For example, does it matter riftstalker/reaver/champion vs champion/riftstalker/reaver?

No, but the "middle" soul is what the UI considers primary.​

5. How important is level difference for pvp and minigames? Is there a synthetic "i win" for higher levels vs lower levels or is it purely based on stats and skills?

Uh, they bump you up in warfronts - outside of that, I can't comment.​

7. How important is money?

It's an MMO, and there's an economy.​

8. Is money easy or hard to get?

I find it easy.​

10. Is there any uniqueness in the game? Or can anyone get anything if they wanted?

I'd say it's unique because of the class setup. Only time will tell how the end game turns out, but anything with PvP will have a good run with niche players.​

2chars

 

[Merad]

Interesting article/interview about the account hacks: http://rift.zam.com/story.html?story=25684&storypage=1

tl;dr version:
There was an exploit for accessing someone's account without knowing their info.
Trion's contacted the guy who found the hole and had a patch out within hours.

 

[coloumb]

Awesome - TRION should hire him or at least provide monetary compensation for finding the exploit.

 

[Chiropteran]

I have recently become guild-less due to inactivity and account being hacked (no loss due to the coinlock feature, but the hacker gquit and reset my settings).

Is anyone else playing on tearfall?

 

[Hacp]

So is this finally the WoW-Killer? It seems like a very polished game.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

So is this finally the WoW-Killer? It seems like a very polished game.

Depends on the long term development of the game play and Rift's end game content. If they handle it right then Rift can be a good competitor (not a killer IMHO) against WoW or at least hold its ground. Worse case scenario it ends up like LOTRO which is not a bad position to be in if you are a theme-parked, level based MMO.

 

[akugami]

I have recently become guild-less due to inactivity and account being hacked (no loss due to the coinlock feature, but the hacker gquit and reset my settings).

Is anyone else playing on tearfall?

You can export your game settings. Use /exportui or /exportui NAME where NAME is anything you want it to be. It'll be saved in the Rift install folder. Use /importui to import the settings. Your buddy has a cool screenshot and you like the way he set up his UI and don't want to spend time fiddling with it? Just ask him to export it and send it to you. Obviously be careful about accepting files from complete strangers.

So is this finally the WoW-Killer? It seems like a very polished game.

One thing I don't like is the low agro range. Maybe it's my background playing EQ but the agro radius is ridiculously low. I can run between mobs and most of the time escape their wrath. I've killed mobs relatively close to their buddies and they just stand there. I think this is the WoW influence there. I don't necessarily want a slower paced game but I don't want a game where the extent of the strategy for most encounters is zerg it.

2. Where do you get gear? Drops? Quests? Purchase? Craft? PvP?
3. How important are quests? Are they just XP? Do they give special rewards?

You can get some decent gear from the quests and it gives pretty good exp. Most of my gear has been from quests. Some from rifts, which also is where you'll get your planar essences (think augments). A few items I did get from crafting. Most notably rings and necklaces.

4. Does it matter which order of souls you apply? For example, does it matter riftstalker/reaver/champion vs champion/riftstalker/reaver?

No but do note that you can swap zero point souls out at any time. If you've got points in two souls and the third has no points, you can swap it for another soul if it suits the situation. For soloing or small groups, having a pet class as the 3rd filler is always a good idea even if you don't intend to spend points on it because most times it means a free pet for more DPS. You can always swap it out later assuming no points have been spent in it.

7. How important is money?
8. Is money easy or hard to get?

Money is not that important. There are some money sinks but nothing major. You'll want to buy a ride and bank space at the very least. Notably if you plan to build tradeskills. Incidentally, even if you don't plan to tradeskill, you should train up your foraging/mining/butchering skills because that's extra money coming in. You can auction it off or just vendor it if you're lazy.

9. How is the crafting system? Is it worth anything at the moment?

Not bad to level up but I've only tried one and I'm not that high yet. The items aren't a lot better than what you can get via quests early on. And the materials needed aren't super expensive or extremely difficult to obtain. You also need to "learn" recipes and some of them can only be bought after obtaining tradeskill currency.

10. Is there any uniqueness in the game? Or can anyone get anything if they wanted?

Pretty much the rifts that pop up as well as the multi-class system. There are some things about how the classes are set up that I don't like but at the same time you can mix and match abilities (within limits) and that allows you to essentially create a dream build to suit your style.

 

[Veliko]

Bought this game on a whim from Steam the other day and enjoying it quite a lot so far. Got my mage to level 20.


Done the first dungeon/instance which was short, easy and enjoyable. At the end you are playing in a blizzard which was a nice touch.

The world event rift invasions can be mental and fun.

Questing and levelling is enjoyable so far.

The turtle mount that the digital premium players get looks daft.

 

[Throckmorton]

I have to say, it sucks having to save up for a mount, not having the premium edition. My druid was about level 18 before I could afford it, and on my rogue I doubt I will until level 20.

The 2 headed turtle does look stupid. It would be one thing if it was rare, but almost everybody seems to have it. I can't believe how many folks shelled out extra for the premium.

 

[Naeeldar]

I have to say, it sucks having to save up for a mount, not having the premium edition. My druid was about level 18 before I could afford it, and on my rogue I doubt I will until level 20.

The 2 headed turtle does look stupid. It would be one thing if it was rare, but almost everybody seems to have it. I can't believe how many folks shelled out extra for the premium.

There was a sale early on to pay the same as the regular version.

 

[Rhezuss]

There was a sale early on to pay the same as the regular version.

Got the CE from D2D with a 20% off from EVERY RPGs promocode they had before release.

Got the CE for $49. Was a no brainer.

But I agree, looks like 80% of the players got the CE and stupid looking turtle mount.

 

[Phobic9]

I have to say, it sucks having to save up for a mount, not having the premium edition. My druid was about level 18 before I could afford it, and on my rogue I doubt I will until level 20.

The 2 headed turtle does look stupid. It would be one thing if it was rare, but almost everybody seems to have it. I can't believe how many folks shelled out extra for the premium.

I was able to get the digital collector's edition for less than the cost of a retail box using online coupons. I'd imagine a lot of people did the same.

 

[blurredvision]

One thing I don't like is the low agro range. Maybe it's my background playing EQ but the agro radius is ridiculously low. I can run between mobs and most of the time escape their wrath. I've killed mobs relatively close to their buddies and they just stand there. I think this is the WoW influence there. I don't necessarily want a slower paced game but I don't want a game where the extent of the strategy for most encounters is zerg it.

But the enemy density is so large, the low aggro range is very, very welcome. There are many spots where if the aggro range was an extra 5 yards, you'd be pulling 4 or 5 enemies at a time, which would suck hardcore....especially if you had a pet.

 

[pontifex]

But the enemy density is so large, the low aggro range is very, very welcome. There are many spots where if the aggro range was an extra 5 yards, you'd be pulling 4 or 5 enemies at a time, which would suck hardcore....especially if you had a pet.

Yeah, in some areas the density is ridiculous. you can't take 2 steps without having to fight another mob. If you're trying to get somewhere or find something it can be quite tedious.

and many times if I did aggro something, half the time one of it's friends would come along for the ride. sometimes i would pull 1 mob expecting to get another with it and end up up getting a total of 4 or 5. Usually not an issue with my ranger/bard but as i said, quite tedious and annoying.

Scarwood Reach zone is my least favorite zone in the game. This area is so densely packed it with mobs. Plus the quests make you run all over and back and forth so many times it's makes you go insane. Glad I'm out of there now.


I guess I was wrong about the ranger/bard starting to slow down around 32/33. Apparently I forgot to level some skills and had some items that weren't so hot but once I fixed the skill issues I was back in business and still going strong at 36. I also didn't realize i had some bard skills, like motif of regeneration and coda of something that did not show up in my hot bar. Those have helped a good bit also, especially the regen motif.

 

[SunnyD]

You can't add in a chloro splash and expect to heal, it needs to be the main soul in your build. Chloromancers are legit healers as soon as they get Synthesis at level 11, and become good main tank healers as soon as they get Nature's Touch (level 16). Make sure you have Synthesis on the tank, then tab DoT withering vine, hit the main assist target with Radiant Spores, then alternate between Nature's Touch and Vile Spores on the main assist target until it's dead.

If you're doing it correctly, it should be pretty easy to finish in the top 3 in any rift and you should end up with 8-12k damage and 8-12k healing in 10-19 Black Garden runs. There are also a couple of boss fights later on that really benefit from a chloromancer (last boss in Fall of Lantern Hook for example), where the fights become DPS races and a chloro provides more an advantage over a pure healer.


Based on your other comments and preference for huge damage, I would suggest you take a hard look at a cab build (for PvP) on your cleric if you have not already. It's similar in concept to a sab, but because the decays build on yourself instead of the enemy you have enormous flexibility with target switching. It's probably the most complicated class to play well, but with practice and figuring out the right order to burn sigils you can kill a group that includes multiple healers in about a dozen seconds if nobody takes you out first.

The basic strategy is to use Decay on a close target to gain 3 LDs, then hit the desired sigil (silence, stun, snare, etc) and hit tyranny (AOE damage) three times (each use burns a LD). Rinse and repeat switching in an obliterate when it is off cooldown and add in your instant cast DoTs as you feel more comfortable with it. You can do every aspect of this except for your Decay channel while moving and that's how you stay alive, since you have no survivability to speak of.

Coming back to this...

My mage is level 25 now. Warlock/Chloro starts to get real useful at about level 15. I mean REAL useful, and just gets more abusive as the levels progress. I'm about even split Warlock/Chloro now (2 points in necro just for the additional dot), and holy crap it's ridiculous. Solo PvE I can basically tank 2 or 3 mobs at a time (my pet is useless for agro management). I can't do elite mobs, but I can essentially chain-pull even con mobs with really good efficiency now.

This is the build I have right now. It works amazingly well in PvP too. I'm not as squishy as I had expected.

Speaking of, the alternate role I ended up with is Stormcaller/Dominator/Elementalist built mostly for PvP. She's far less durable than the Warlock/Chloro build (obviously, no heals), and does marginally more AoE damage (probably 50% more damage once electrified stacks and I can start dropping the instant AoEs). She's okay for PvE too, the nice benefit being CC with the Domi side. If I have a competent taunting tank and heals to back me up, AoE PvE damage is nice, otherwise the Warlock build is far better.

 

[thujone]

so i've been having a blast being a rogue. i usually play casters but was way into the idea of the bard class. still play that soul exclusively in groups but now i've started playing assassin builds for leveling and world pvp. i've hardly ever played sneaky rogues... and i have to say it's great fun. not so great in wf's outside of codex.


but regardless i've been having a blast ruining people's day.

 

[Rhezuss]

It's sad but I'm already losing the interest...
If only I could get rid of the reroll bug hahah!

Can't decide which Calling to go main!!!!!!

 

[CVSiN]

bard+ anything = ridiculously OP right now.
I literally cannot die with just 12 points in bard for the regen and the healing from Cadence is just awesome..

Tried pretty much all the souls.. back to ranger/bard/ right now 0 points in whatever 3rd i stick there doesn't make a difference.

Warrior.. tried several and after the Rogue just feels gimped in comparison.

 

[brandonb]

Yes, bards at lower lvl are OP... However, at lvl 30, things change a bit. The scale of healing doesn't match linear as it did lower lvl. I routinely find myself hard to keep up in warfronts at lvl 33 with Cadence, Motif, and the healing finisher. But it needs to be nerfed lower lvl. I can't even out damage a bard's healing at 15ish in a warfront playing with my stormcaller. They simply outheal way too fast.

My main is a bard/sab, with a ranger for the pet as a third (with no points) and with the charges and bard's ability, they are pretty darn tuff.

 

[Throckmorton]

so i've been having a blast being a rogue. i usually play casters but was way into the idea of the bard class. still play that soul exclusively in groups but now i've started playing assassin builds for leveling and world pvp. i've hardly ever played sneaky rogues... and i have to say it's great fun. not so great in wf's outside of codex.


but regardless i've been having a blast ruining people's day.

Rogue is really fun. I'm playing a blade dancer/rogue/ranger. No points in ranger, I just wanted the pet.

I use the bard Cadence song to heal myself and my pet-- slow healing but it's kept us alive plenty of times. If I don't feel like getting close I just use the songs while the pet tanks, but I usually close in and slice and dice.

 

[kehlsi]

bard+ anything = ridiculously OP right now.
I literally cannot die with just 12 points in bard for the regen and the healing from Cadence is just awesome..

Tried pretty much all the souls.. back to ranger/bard/ right now 0 points in whatever 3rd i stick there doesn't make a difference.

Warrior.. tried several and after the Rogue just feels gimped in comparison.

have you tried riftblade primary for your warrior? i devastate pretty much anything atm. i'm level 28 and i have been destroying anything in my way for the entire leveling process. riftblade/reaver with a third soul in warlord (0 points in warlord; i only took it b/c of a few of the free buffs). at this point, i am pulling packs of mobs, aoe'ing them down and healing myself while doing it. in warfronts, i am top damage every single game, i can stand in the back with the casters and dominate players. generally, i find it best to focus a target in warfronts with my spears and bursts but factoring in my aoe disease damage and healing that it gives me, warriors are far from underwhelming.

you can kite mobs with ease, your contribution on rifts is spectacular, self healing is fairly high (for a pure dps class) once you get enough stat points to allocate for it, and your damage is outrageous. i haven't personally tried a rogue yet as i think i'll go cleric next. i don't really see a need in starting an alt yet though, personally.

 

[Bacstar]

Friend talked me into buying this on Friday, and I'm having a blast with this game. Tried to talk myself into waiting for another month since I leave on vacation in a couple weeks, but after this past weekend, I'm glad I didn't wait.

I've created a couple toons, a cleric on the Guardian side and a rogue on the Defiant side. Cleric is a justicar/sentinel/druid; Rogue is a Nightblade/Bard/ranger. Played them both to level 16 and decided to stick with the Rogue. I die more often, but the rogue adds a bit of excitement to make up for it. Having the multiple soul aspect makes for some great character development choices and experimentation.

Also, the whole rift invasion thing seems to work great. I'm a long-time LoTRO player, so this is a welcome change. The world seems so much more active. Anytime a rift opens up I find myself rushing to the area with bunches of others for the utter mayhem it creates, especially when their are raid-worthy mobs. The ability to quickly join groups and form raid parties is well done.

Funstuff...good thing I've already purchased my airline tickets, or I may have stayed home for vacation. So things are looking good so far...

 

[CVSiN]

have you tried riftblade primary for your warrior? i devastate pretty much anything atm. i'm level 28 and i have been destroying anything in my way for the entire leveling process. riftblade/reaver with a third soul in warlord (0 points in warlord; i only took it b/c of a few of the free buffs). at this point, i am pulling packs of mobs, aoe'ing them down and healing myself while doing it. in warfronts, i am top damage every single game, i can stand in the back with the casters and dominate players. generally, i find it best to focus a target in warfronts with my spears and bursts but factoring in my aoe disease damage and healing that it gives me, warriors are far from underwhelming.

you can kite mobs with ease, your contribution on rifts is spectacular, self healing is fairly high (for a pure dps class) once you get enough stat points to allocate for it, and your damage is outrageous. i haven't personally tried a rogue yet as i think i'll go cleric next. i don't really see a need in starting an alt yet though, personally.

yes and compared to the rogue it's pathetic.. that was my warrior build it kills soo slow its not even funny where the Rogue (any rogue) just decimates it's targets in a quarter of the time and has sick heals and a pet on top of that..
but then again maybe the combo gets better later none of my toons are past 23.
the Warrior is only 15 so may not have come into the power band of the build yet..
but I'm really disappointed in it so far.

 

[Merad]

It's sad but I'm already losing the interest...
If only I could get rid of the reroll bug hahah!

Can't decide which Calling to go main!!!!!!

Me too, to an extent. I've tinkered some on alts but I'm loathe to run through to same content again already. My main is up close to 40 now though, and it's just having a hard time holding my interest. I'm already debating whether to stay subscriber at the end of this month.