Hey peeps.
I've been playing Rift for a couple of days now and am really enjoying my mage (Defiant on Blightweald). Got her up to 26 and had a few good groups, only getting circa 45 mins wait in the LFG tool).
Despite what people say (or how much it winds them up), I think that comparisons with WoW are inevitable, as once you take out the emo numpties in chat (so glad I'll never see DIRGE again, hehe) and the public quests / rifts (nod to WAR) its a virtual clone (albeit a very very polished one). Graphics are far better, people seem more mature, story line / plot seems OK, leveling seems less of a grind and the all important epicssss seem to go for sensible prices so I'm definitely staying for a while.
I've got a few questions for the more experienced players here that I'd be very grateful for your opinions:
1, I played Wow for years (6 months before TBC release to end of Wrath) at the highest level (on my server). Cleared all of TBC content pre nerf, 2.5 hr clears of BT (after we had been in Sunwell for a few weeks), and a few server 1st's under my belt (meh King Slayer, Obsidian Slayer is where its at
). However, got bored / burn out and haven't logged on since the day I hit 85. The problem for me with WoW is that if you want to raid at a high level you have to be in a semi hardcore guild meaning 4 days per week attendance etc etc. I can't / won't do that, but really miss raiding...what is the end game raiding in Rift like, and how does it compare to the complexity of WoW raid instas. I've played a few other MMOs (LOTRO, WAR and GW) and although all very enjoyable whilst leveling, none have come anywhere close to WoW for skill and team work requirements in the big raids, most are :
Boss 1: tank and spank
Boss 2: tank and spank and don't stand in green stuff
Boss 3: tank and spank and 2 adds
Boss 4: tank and spank, 2 adds and don't stand in green stuff, with one special phase where you have to stand behind a column tooo (real challenging that last bit
)
You see where this is going......compare that to the 5 phases of mayhem that is Kil'jaeden, or the unforgiving Vashj fight where everyone has a duty and if anyone screws up its a wipe (she wasn't called guild breaker for nothing) or even Lich King and other games end game pales into comparison. Although I'm enjoying the leveling, its with an aim to get to some challenging end game stuff and I'm wasting my time if I get there and its simple don't stand in the red puddle type fight. So I'm really hoping that there are a few ex hardcore (or semi) WOW raiders who could reassure me that Rift end game, requires good skill, teamwork a decent leader and is actually interesting.
2, I keep pulling agro (warlock, necro, chloro mage). In my mind 9 times out of 10 that a dps pulls agro its his fault, not the tanks - is there an agro meter anywhere?
3, Damage meters. Some people hate them, I love them, not just because I'm a dps whore, but also because its a major learning tool and without one how can you really tell how well you are playing your dps toon, and what works and what doesn't? Is there such a thing as an in game damage meter in RIFT?
4, I'm getting lonely, so if anyone here is on Blightweald and is in a guild that is (or is aiming to) take raiding seriously, but not forgetting that RL> Rift life, please say hi in game and point me in the direction of your guilds webby
When I say serious I don't mean hardcore (maybe 'softcore'), but I'm too old and grumpy to raid with 5 players who are prepared to read up on encounters, bring flasks and pots etc, turn up on time and 15 people who want to be carried by the other 5. I know it makes me sound like an elitest **** but I'm sure many of you will sympathise with me. I'm really not elitest as I believe attitude is actually far more important than gear, and to a lesser degree more important than skill (if someone wants to learn and is prepared to pull their weight then they will skill up fast imho). My main toons is Sammaria - even if you are unguilded, /w me, say Hi and mebee we can clear some insta runs together
.
