Avian Gamers Network

a new mmo, that in my eyes looks better than most on the market, or those soon to come out.

http://www.riftgame.com/en/

Its in beta, and i was just sent a VIP beta code... usable 25 times. so if anyone is interested in trying it out, here you go.

_________________
~Ravage™
~I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
~The problem with facts, is that sometimes they don't support your opinion.

Sweet Ravage, that is cool!

I won’t even try using the code because my internet sucks out here. You guys let me know how this game progresses. I'm coming home one day, and will want to play something again.

Again thanks Ravage, that is very cool of you!

I will have to try this out once my desktop is up and running again (hard rive crashed so in the process of reinstalling windows and all drivers). Yuck.

Game sounds cool, even if I was initially hoping it was based on the Palladium Games RPG.

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"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

I was invited to the beta this week as well, currently still downloading the 7+ gigs of beta

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Section 6

man, took me 2 hours to download that thing. looking forward to trying it out when the servers some up tomorrow

_________________
~Ravage™
~I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
~The problem with facts, is that sometimes they don't support your opinion.

Gonna try it myself... looks pretty interesting.

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

On Deepwood I think it is called, playing a Defiant Eth called Dais

Currenlty cant connect to the logon server

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Section 6

Same Server. Seems to have just crashed (the server)...whoops

I have a Rogue, lots of sub classes going to have to do some reading.

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

Yeah, currently a Druid/Shaman/Justicar and level 10

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Section 6

Thanks for the key! I got in yesterday and I've got a guardian beastmaster up to lvl 14 now. The skill point allocation in interseting. Pretty impressive graphics not even cranked up. Fun game, but it's a WoW clone, almost completely. Fun to play in the beta, but don't think I'll be buying it. I've played this game before.

Playing on Deepwood too... Mage: Pyromancer/Elementalist/Chronomancer. Seems pretty fun... agreed that it looks like a WOW Clone, but I haven't played WOW in a few years, so I don't mind.

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

Deepwood:

lvl5
Marksman/Saboteur - probably pick-up ranger as nothing else works with the range/bow use it seems. Going melee would be probably not helpful splitting the trees...

I enjoy it...more then wow at any rate

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

Already fairly bored and playing WoW again more, I still get in and play a little bit though. Created a guardian ranger/something and didnt make it past level 5 but liked the range, it was better than melee chasing after a mob to have a range pick him off from a long way off.

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Section 6

based on readings elsewhere it sounds like you can eventually acquire all of the souls within a calling and just rotate around the active ones. If so I like that a lot.

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

http://rift-planner.com

Soul Planner for exploring skill trees

edit: heres another one. http://www.riftrolebuilder.com/

Hopefully I have time to try some of the future beta events. I rather enjoyed the game. Probably one of the more polished MMO entries. I am kinda of tempted with SWTOR and Guild Wars 2 expected out in the Fall at the earliest.

I had some sound issues and there seems to be a lack of differentiation between skills used - ex if I use a quick shot versus a swift shot there is no graphical acknowledgment that I did so, I didnt try the mage class but I have heard it suffers from the same problem to a degree and that hurts. I think LOTRO did a good job showing you and your target what was incoming graphically instead of just a health bar decrease.

I didn't notice a fast travel option which seems odd.

ps can we get a new sand box game? I want player housing, vendors etc.. no more of this auction house garbage!

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

Another beta event is starting today. If you've signed up, you should have also been invited. I think my key is still good if anyone new wants to get in.

_________________
~Ravage™
~I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
~The problem with facts, is that sometimes they don't support your opinion.

Yup, Servers?

I'll probably roll on Deepwood again.

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

It's rift insanity this weekend. The maps are covered in invasions, non-stop. I'm about to get my mount


Larong on Deepwood

With global cooldowns you need to be able to queue actions

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

Is anyone thinking about getting this at release time? I think I might give it a shot for a while, didn't know if anyone was planning on meeting up in game? Or on the same server?

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

I am troublesomely tempted. With the TOR and GW2 releases pushed. With DAO2 coming up I am little restrained. RL has been busy so...

Most of us are beta'ing on Deepwood.

Can't add friends in other factions and have not tried the guild features.

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

I'll get on Deepwood the next time I'm in Beta. I'm loving it, but I'm not sure about playing live. Depends on cost to buy and subscribe, as well as how well it works on my laptop since that is where I would play it most.

_________________
"Loose with Dignity"
Robert
Second President, Avian Gamers

DDO - Cannith - AlistairItor - Rogue/Ranger (5/3) - Main
DDO - Cannith - Guijanitor - Paladin/Rogue (4/1)
DDO - Cannith - RicochetItor - Rogue (5)

49.99 retail I believe (probably can find a coupon on Direct2drive though.

http://www.riftgame.com/en/products/subscriptions.php

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

Direct2Drive Codes

10% off - Savingsfeb

15% via Refer a Friend Program
(Full Disclosure: I usually hate when people post these, but currently its the best deal on Direct2Drive - If you have one post it too so we can share the love -The above link is part of the Refer a friend program - you receive 15% and I get 20% off next purchase - it works even if your an existing member)


15% brings the collectors down to the same price as the retail.

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

My cpu is fixed. Is the beta still going or am I late to the party?

_________________
"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

I think open Beta starts 2/15... no beta right now : (

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

You are most correct.

http://www.riftgame.com/en/news/listings/02072011_open_beta.php

Trying to make an account and DL the beta client now.

_________________
"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

Placed my pre-order today... and thanks for the Direct2Drive coupon, used that for the purchase!

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

I kind of forgot open beta started yesterday, hopefully I'll get some time to play later this week.

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

Just a quick FYI... the shard names will be changing apparently at launch.... the names are supposed to be out the 22nd, right before Early Access starts.

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

20% until Tuesday - "hailtothechief"

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

Just played for an hour or so. Didn't read any quest or storylines as I just wanted to get a feel for the gameplay. VERY WoW-like with maybe a touch of Warhammer in there. Never the less, very familiar, and easy to control and get questing/killing. Seems quite polished and I like that is seems very easy to customize your UI (make mini-map smaller, move chat window around, etc.). I just have to try and find a Win 7 64-bit driver for the ol' Belkin Nostromo n52 gamepad as I am finding it challenging using the default WSAD and # keys for movement and combat.

I started with a Necromancer/Warlock/Dominator. I am digging the 3 Souls/Cores thing. Seems like lots of potential variation in builds (that is until no doubt people will micromanage and figure out the "optimal" build for each class. I only died a couple times so far (mostly because of my poor combat/pet controls) so not a lot of challenge so far but it does seem fun. Quests seems run of the mill WoW-like (kill X this, collect Y that) but I'm sure if one actually read the quest stories, it would be a bit more entertaining.

Likely will warrant a purchase and try. Hopefully I can play a little more tonight/tomorrow to solidify this thinking.

_________________
"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

Played a fair amount this weekend... though the highest toon I have is 16 I think. Been trying different toons, and combinations.

World Events:
- Rifts - They are a lot of fun, and you get decent rewards when they appear. When I see an open Rift, I run right over and get in on the action
- Invasions -These are a blast, I love that attacks are coordinated in that they come for multiple locations, and target a hub location in the game. I have died a few times during these by either not watching where I am going and running into a higher level area or by tagging a mob that is a few levels higher then me. Later in the game you can open a Rift with a raid group... that should be a good way to get a group together without a huge time commitment.

Warfronts (PVP)
aka Battlegrounds... I have won some, lost some... started figuring out how to play better as a mage. Strategy wins games most times, when I have seen it employed.

Crafting:
- Very WOW like, though I have really just started. You can get items that you can throw into crafting windows to boost your stats which adds a little more depth.

My mind has already gone numb trying to figure out what Soul Combinations I am going to use at launch... so many options... I think that will give the game some staying power. The ability to create combinations for your Soul configs is cool... one for PVE, one for Dungeons (as a mage, the ability to throw in some decent healing seems pretty cool), PVP ... I think this is pretty cool feature of the game.

It is a lot like WOW...but more like WOW 2.0. Graphics are pretty crisp, a fair amount new twists. What has impressed me, is for a open beta (and my time in the closed beta for that matter), there has been almost no lag, only one out right sever crash (first day of beta). More impressive when you partake in a Invasion, with tons of people around you... and NO LAG.

If your looking for something to keep you amused until SWTOR (as I am), you should check it out... if your looking for something completely new that breaks the MMO mold, then this game isn't for you.

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

I am having a goofy sound bug - when I first see the character screen I get a burst of static/feedback. Use to happen in combat more until I killed the music.

Stilgar's analysis of the game is pretty dead on and has been echo'd pretty much everywhere.

Thoughts on Factions in release?

I think we all seem to be more PVE and not interested in a PVP server. Guardian or Defiant though?

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

I am leaning Defiant on release... Technology will save us!!! Seems to be more me than the Guardians.... played through both during beta, I honestly I like the the Defiant more.

What does everyone else think?

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

Bolded the key answers to previous questions. The rest is my filler.

I have only played as a Defiant Mage thus far. I like it, but don't like the Necro skill tree (at least at my crazy low levels). I read people clamouring about Bards in game chat so I may try that out this afternoon as well. The rogues with there guns blasting also seem fun (well at least the in game sounds they make sound fun). Had a guy join me during an invasion and I absolutely loved the gun blasts (made me miss my WoW hunter perhaps).

I'd prefer to start as Defiant at launch just so I can see the story arc out. Plus their technology focus is more my style.

Crafting - I grabbed a gathering profession and it was very much like WoW's herbalism (herbs and lumber). I haven't investigated or researched the others or what/how many crafting profs one can have.

PvE vs PvP. While I spent most of my WoW time on a RP-PvP server, I think this time I am fine with PvE. I will not be playing hardcore minutes and would prefer avoiding the frustration of ganking (though I will miss ganking others I am sure). If I want to get me PvP on the battlegrounds sound fun.

PS - I got my n52 working. Much better combat now. But is it just me os does it seem like with the 3 Soul Combinations, if you spread your talents out, you get a crazy number of spells/abilities to cast. Even at like level 10 or so I had at least 1 1/2 skill bars filled, and that excluded any healing/mana potions hotkeyed.

PPS - just snagged the Collector's Edition. Not sure how useful that weapon attachment it comes with is bbut the extra bag space will be nice right off the get go. Plus the 20$ President's Day coupon was nice.

_________________
"I built me a bomb and dropped it on every MFer who got in my way!"

I have to admit I was tempted to join an RP-PVP, I have heard there tends to be more mature people there... then again I am not much of a RP'er.

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar

I am good with Defiant as well. Thought I did like my Guardian Warrior.

I am not much for RP servers, though if it means I don't have to see idiots in lvl chat talking about wow non stop....

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

Few Reminders:
Head Start begins 2/24/2011
Beta Client is not the live client (So d/l the live client!) and then d/l the game from within the client.

Someone will add the server list when it becomes available...

_________________
Ryric Krael
Former Vice President AGN
Former Director, Section 6
Former Head of Department of the Treasury
-------
Ask not what your PA can do for you, but what you can do for your PA
"Gone Section Five"

http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.p ... erver-List

US Servers
Belmont PvE
Briarcliff PvP
Byriel PvE
Deepstrike PvP
Faeblight RP
Gnarlwood PvE
Greybriar PvE
Keenblade PvE
Lotham PvP
Reclaimer PvP
Seastone PvP
Shadefallen RP
Shatterbone PvE
Snarebrush PvP
Spitescar PvP
Sunrest PVP-RP
Wolfsbane PvE

Europe Servers
Akala DE RP
Brutwacht DE PvE
Trübkopf DE PvP
Argent EN RP
Blightweald EN PvE
Cloudborne EN PvP
Firesand EN PVP-RP
Icewatch EN PvE
Steampike EN PvE
Whitefall EN PvP
Brisesol FR PvE
Rubicon FR PvP

_________________
***************************************
Stats are for losers, the final score is for winners.

Rift/Gnarlwood: Nostro - Mage (Pyro/Necro/Chrolo - mancer) lvl 29
Rift/Gnarlwood: Stilgar - Cleric lvl 8

WoW days - Aegnor/Stilgar