Rise of the Hutt Cartel, first opinions

I, as most that were actually interested on it, finally got into the first expansion of SWTOR, Rise of the Hutt Cartel. Since I didn't do the pre-order business I had to wait for more days for it. That wasn't a problem.

What so far I think of it? Well first off, and this is something I think Blizzard should apply on World of Warcraft, each time we buy an expansion they could give us a month subscription included. Bioware/EA did it with this expansion, why can't you too Blizzard? 

A side note about WoW. Doing the math on World of Warcraft right now, if for example, I don't buy the current expansion (which I haven't) and only decide to go play the game on the next one, I will always have to buy this expansion, plus the new one, plus the subscription, overall that will be more then 70 euros for an expansion access... One can pay 10 euros plus subscription (you have to be subscribed first before buying it) for the expansion and subscription for SWTOR. I would have to pay 40 or 50 euro to get WoW expansion plus subscription. A BIG difference... Also, either we like it or not, pay to play model is getting seriously outdated, with better free to play or buy to play models.

Back to the expansion. I haven't done much, maybe like 20% of it. I'm halfway to 55, but that's because I was nearly 51 before getting the expansion (players with no expansion can get exp until 99,99% of the bar). The gameplay doesn't change much from previously. Still it's a quest based game, where NPC's will handle you the quest and go to where you must do the quest. Main difference here, is there is a lot less side quests. There are still some, but I haven't got the journal full with like 10 side quests to do everywhere I go. It's mostly a planet story quests. Which is good, I think. 

The few other things I gave a look, was crafting, which can be raised pretty fast. Also, since they implemented reputation system in game, each quest here now gives an item to gain reputation, so this is new compared to old planets. Also since they changed the type of planet currency type, you be getting a lot of planet commendation while playing, and also the new basic commendation to get level 55 gear. 

The annoying parts of this expansion? Well, right off the bat, the currency weekly cap... It's so easy to get to the currency cap, that eventually you will be wasting tokens due to that cap. 

It's also not a BIG expansion. More of a DLC then a expansion. Sure it brings a big planet, and new operation, but that's about it. Oh and the seeker droid and macro binoculars, but I haven't seen those yet. The new flashpoints, are rehash of the normal version of those that didn't had a Hard Mode, and the highest level operation at 50 was pulled up to 55. I don't think it will put the world on fire, but it's always something new to give a go.

For what it's worth, and if for any reason, you are interested in the game, won't hurt much playing it. Otherwise if you didn't like the game before, you won't like it now.

Let's see what Bioware can pull out from now on.

SWTOR: Early access for Rise of the Hutt Cartel is now open

For any of those who pre-order in January (before 7th), the early access to the first SWTOR expansion (Rise of the Hutt Cartel) is now active. As was known, those that pre-order it by then, would have a 5 day access ahead compared to other players.

But for those, like me, who are waiting for the 14th of April, there is always new stuff to do. The update 2.0, Scum and Villainy is now up, and that will bring some changes to game mechanics, tokens consolidation, or many gear changes. However the most notorious change on this update, besides of course, the expansion itself, is the introduction of the Legacy Achievements, that besides the usual achievement hunt that it will bring, also features the ability to gain some cartel coins.

Anyways, one can read a bit more here.

Some curiosities from Rift

Yesterday I was browsing my folders and end up stumbling upon a video I made in Rift, of a bugged event on Storm Legion expansion, featuring Volan. Somehow the event just crashed and left an unmovable statue of Volan for everyone to see.

  

I also uploaded the video on Youtube.

SWTOR: Rise of Hutt Cartel released at 14 April

The official date for the first SWTOR expansion to be released has been announced on 14th April. For those that pre-order it before 7 of January, a early access will be awarded so they'll start 5 days sooner, at 9 of April. The announcement can be read here.

Also, this date will mark the release of update 2.0. More information is also available here.

Here is two videos of the making off for Rise of the Hutt Cartel.

See you all in Makeb!

The Secret World Issue 6 goes Live

The Secret World must be one of the most underrated MMO game in the market currently. Maybe it's because it doesn't feature the typical kill 10 rats quests or the typical rush level up to cap level and start doing end game. Maybe it's that... Personally, I admit I haven't played as much as this title would deserve, do the reasons mentioned on another post, but in any case this game really deserves more attention.

In any case, the latest issue (you can call it latest game update) is out. Issue 6, The last train to Cairo, features Indiana Jones style questline (from what I've seen on the video) and also Indiana Jones weapon of choice, the whip. Besides that, there's a new raid and a revamp on the PVP system (damn those armors on the video do look great). Also there's a new system for veteran players (for those that subscribe the game, because you aren't obliged to subscribe it), that offer nifty cosmetics and other stuff to players.

Watch the video:

Talking about subscribing. For those that aren't subscribed, to get this Issue you will need to buy it at the games shop. The price is around 10 euros (1200 funcom coins), but if for any reason you decide to subscribe the game, I think from what I've read, you are awarded enough points to buy this Issue with no further expense.

Time to go play it. Queue up the Indiana Jones main theme.

The Secret World - Rise of a Dragon

In my humble opinion, The Secret World is probably one of the few MMO I've played that I don't feel like doing an alt. The main reason is because, except for some faction quest, the rest is exactly the same from faction to faction. Zone quests, skills, gear, etc. Even crafting doesn't require to have a multitude of alts to have every profession covered. It doesn't give a big incentive to create alts. On the other hand, the game doesn't need you to have tons of alt, because your main can be a jack of all trades, as long as you get all those skills and abilities. This can be a no for those who suffer of "altcoholism", but on the other hand is a good thing so we don't spread all our attention to "over 9000" different characters.

That being said, I've made an alt. :P

But my main reason is simple. My "main" is a Illuminatti, and I've only played it with a friend, and not often that friend or me are available, so it defeats the purpose of it being a main. So I created a Dragon to give it a few kicks alone, and as a given bonus, to create some sort of in-game progress of it. It will not be a diary.

So with no further delays, here's my new Dragon born character, LethalLamb.

After a quick intro, and a unexpected video sequence, this is where we go to try out all different sort of weapons. It's a sort of tutorial to allow players to see what they enjoy most. And to have an idea on what is what. I'm gonna call from now on to weapons, skills.

So, the skills for the game are as followed:

Each weapon has a array of abilities that players will need to unlock as they get ability points. The ability wheel, which is what it's called, is where players will work out there builds, which abilities they can pick.

The inner circle where Range, Melee and Magic words are, are related to basic skills to each type of weapon. In this case I have shotgun selected. To the left there are all the available abilities for the basic shotgun skills, and it's respective cost, from 1 ability point to 7. The outside wheel, is related to all advanced abilities, again for each type of weapon. The abilities at the outside wheel are more expensive.

There are some specific templates to help newcomers built a more typical build. But the sheer amount of abilities, can still make it a bit daunting at first.
On my highest toon, I already have an big amount of abilities unlock, and I got to a point that I'm unlocking them just for the fact of not stacking much abilities points. Ah yes, if for any reason you stack more than 40 skills and/or 175 ability points, you will start "loosing" points since you are capped. So if you have where to spend them, just do it.

After picking the weapon of choice, move out of the training ground. A small tip: each character will always have two weapon equip, of different type, so let's say, you pick, as I did, Blade and Pistol, do the tutorial, pick the Pistol, come outside and get back in to get the Blade. The first time you are inside the training ground, you will only be able to bring one weapon out, so going in a second time, will allow you to bring what else you pick (or even all).

After this part, you are sent to Agartha. Agartha works like a main hub which connects every zone of the game. Here you can access the three main cities of the game, London, New York, Seoul, or the different zones for questing, like Solomon Island, Egypt or Transilvania.

You will also be given an item that works much like World of Warcraft soulstone, that will teleport you to Agartha in case of need.

Besides linking the zones in the game world, I haven't seen any other utility for it.

All done here, and it's time to move out and start working - ahem questing. Solomon Island is the place to go. It seems some odd fog attacked the island, and start turning it's inhabitants into zombies and other creatures. Guess the Dragons want to figure what is going out.

By the way, as most should know, unlike other mmo games, The Secret World, doesn't have a quest journal where we can fill it up with all the quests we get on our way. Here we have slots for quests of specific type. So one type is the story mission, which is taken by the zone main quest. Second we have the dungeon quest, which you got it, it's related to the dungeon. The main quest, is next and it's related to most quests in the zone, that range from Action, Sabotage or Investigation. And finally the side missions, which you can have up to three.
So let's suppose you get one Action quest (typically a red button). If you go and try to pick up right after another Action (or Sabotage or Investigation) quest, it will replace your current Action quest for the new one you are picking. Also, I'm not 100% sure but if any case you have any progress done on a previous main quest done, and you replace it with a new main quest, I think the progress from the old one will be saved. You just need to get it back again. In any case, I always complete what I'm doing before getting a new one.

Also, most quests are repeatable on a daily basis, but until now, I haven't repeat any quest. It can be interesting to repeat some, because quests will give tokens that can be used to get better equipment, Weapons or Talisman. There are no armors like other games. Most armor, like jackets or helms are all cosmetic and players can acquire them either from completing quests, completing pre-made ability builds, buying from npc vendors or shopping on the in-game shop. The only gear in game are Talismans, which are basically a sort of rings, belt or necks (and other pieces). And as for weapons, they have skills requirement. But comparing to weapons, they are simpler. Just need to get more skills on it to use better gear.

So wrapping up for now, LethalLamb is on Solomon Island and kicking zombies ass out. He will come back again. Until then, Dark Days are coming.

SWTOR 2.0 is live on PTS

I'm sure everyone knows the news by now, but in any case I'm posting something about it.

As expected the 2.0 update is related to the first expansion to The Old Republic, entitled Rise of the Hutt Cartel. It brings several new features, like:

- Level increase to 55, with all the new gear, class abilities, skill trees, crew skill cap to 450 and such for the new level.

- A new operation: Scum and Villainy. This operation brings 5 new bosses, from what I've read.

- Old flashpoints that previously didn't had a hard mode, will get one now. So the new hard mode flashpoints are: Hammer Station, Athiss, Mandalorian Raiders, and Cademimu.

- The most recent operation now available in game, Terror from Beyond, will get a new nightmare difficulty.

- New legacy achievements.

Also note, that for the time being, Makeb (the new planet) is not available.

Seems pretty standard expansion. The really interesting thing about this expansion, at first sight (besides obviously the new content), is the new legacy achievements. It will be a typical achievement system, not like the codex we have at the moment, and some achievements will actually reward Cartel Coins! As an example, a class will receive 20 Cartel Coins, for each act they finish, so doing math, that's 60 coins per character, and if we multiply it by 8, we will have 480. Not bad. Of course this is legacy wide, so if you want to get yet another 480, I assume you can by doing a different legacy on a different server. In somewhat it resembles with the DDO or LOTRO system where you get Turbine Points by doing in game activities. Will see how this can affect positively the Free-to-Play.

Further reading here.