RO is changng. big UPDATES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DeAmascus]

I saw the RO version 2, and I swear...if it's going to be something like WoW, I'm NEVER playing RO again.

[I♥Music]

Id also like to point out how IDIOTIC the level thing is for high rate servers. How the _ _ _ _(insert swear word of choice) do we lvl over 102 then...?? -_-

[Ryoji]

I saw the RO version 2, and I swear...if it's going to be something like WoW, I'm NEVER playing RO again.

It looks like they were trying to have a RO + WoW love child....

But, yes. I'm going with what someone said earlier...I editted some

If I'm going to play a game with WoW level graphics, WoW level lag, and a WoW level price.

I'm going to go play WoW.

[Drax]

ya the update is SO stupid there changing the whole game around and it makes no sence. like there changing so dex doesnt effect ur casting speed and attack speed is lowered ALOT. like great way 2 ruin the game i hope we dont add this dumb or do we have 2?

[Rosed]

This is gonna be worse then FlyFF V9, when deleveling and the new pvp karma system came out.

I used to play flyff. :P but I got bored because version 9 came out.

[Nimmy]

If the admins are planning on adding this update, does that affect the Donators in any way?

Will this change the game in any way? Will there be a stat reset, character reset and all them bad stuff in any way?

:o

If so, will there be compensation?

[Zeitgeist]

If the admins are planning on adding this update, does that affect the Donators in any way?

Will this change the game in any way? Will there be a stat reset, character reset and all them bad stuff in any way?

:o

If so, will there be compensation?

This is just a Gravity update announcement. It'll take long before they actually finish it and implement it, after that, we'll address if the update would benefit fRO or not and act accordingly. All I'm saying is: You shouldn't worry about it right now.

[Yusuke]

ye guys he is right , moscovia was released over a year and half ago and it isn't even here in the game. that means even after they release the new stupid updates , it will take too long time for the server to update it , IF they will even do it.

[» Pat]

we'll address if the update would benefit fRO or not and act accordingly.

That's the most important part. This server is not just a copy of iRO or something. Before anything gets implanted, most likely even a poll is open if the community even wants this update or not.

[Levis]

Yea, they'll open a poll and like you can see at the moment Genesis is working on 3 New Events and I agree with Blueberry. He said that fRO isn't just a copy of RO. It has many quests that you won't find them in the Original Server.

[Terroryst]

K, time to uninstall.

[Tyristian]

That made me laugh a bit; RO was the MMO that set the standards to today's MMOs, I don't see how it should be ' more in line '. Alas, I'm not working with Gravity so who am I to complain? The update looks nice and it seems to me this might help us solve some class balance issues we have. Although, I don't hope this update will come anytime soon. You know, I also heard there were going to be this 3-1 classes by the first half of 2008. Oh well.

Please tell me this is a joke post? Ragnarok Online... setting the standard for what? I think you meant Everquest.

I've always said this, but this game has potential to be one of the best MMO's around, if they would just update it. I'll even make a list of changes that would attract new players, and maybe even some old ones.

Players who have tried World of Warcraft will recognize many of these much needed changes.

Mechanic Changes:

* Better PVE content, especially End-game - This game lacks PVE content altogether. Add quests that tell the story, since there's no story make one. Grinding gets old real fast.

* Make all current dungeons into instances or raids for a set amount of players (5-25man, depending on difficulty) - Makes the field even for everyone, also makes it so players can choose to do content at their own pace. Trust me, you'll enjoy instances and raids that actually require coordination.

* Fix mobs for Pete's sake. The new trend with RO has been it has to attack faster, and stronger than the previous mobs. Talk about lackluster. Add fights that are distinguished and require coordination to successfully down.

* Balance PVP on 3v3~ and not 1vs1 - Currently most classes have a counter to every class in the game and those that don't aren't played, it needs to stop. Every class should have its strengths and weaknesses.

* Completely reworked classes - This change is needed, especially for overpowered classes. The change currently planned for most skills to be based off weapon damage rather than strength is huge step towards balance in classes. I'd also like to suggest something that may be taboo for any RO player: Cooldowns. It is needed and you all know it.

* Completely reworked stat and skill mechanics - Spell Haste > Dex. Spells getting a set cast time is a good start. Now make it so melee will only 'push-back' spells and interrupt spells with some sort of interrupt skill or stun. There ya go! Balance.

Cosmetic Changes:

* The interface needs a complete overhaul, enough said. There's nothing customizable about the interface, and it's features are severely lacking. Add a party window that actually helps distinguish players. There's tons more stuff you could add as well.

* Update the engine and the graphics. I'm not saying make it look like World of Warcraft, Lineage 2, or Guild Wars; what I mean is make the graphics smoother, add small details like shadows, environment effects, and make characters cell-shaded instead of isometric. If this is added you can also add more character customization.

* More character customization. If you've kept up-to-date with modern MMO's you'll see many different things; voices, emotions, dances, different clothes, etc. What does RO have...? Headgear! Yeah, no need to explain further.

I can go on and on, but you probably get the idea by now.

[Whyte Rose]

Players who have tried World of Warcraft will recognize many of these much needed changes.

If I'm going to play a game with WoW level graphics, WoW level lag, and a WoW level price.

I'm going to go play WoW.

When you were coming up with (copying from WoW) your brilliant changes you forgot one thing: The reason we are playing Ragnarok Online is because it is not like WoW, Guild Wars, or Lineage.

There are some particular things I'd like to address though.

1.

* More character customization. If you've kept up-to-date with modern MMO's you'll see many different things; voices, emotions, dances, different clothes, etc. What does RO have...? Headgear! Yeah, no need to explain further.

First of all, voices are a bad idea in my experience, they never seem to please everyone because right now we're basing our characters attributes on our imagination. It's like once you read a book and imagine how a character sounds then you see the movie and your favorite character has the most annoying voice that you want to just press stop. Same principle applies here, Gravity chose not have the characters have no voices, if you don't believe me then look around the game. Every single thing your eyes can witness has sounds, every spell, every single monster, and every single npc activated event (i.e. equipment repairing and forging) so if they wanted characters to talk they could but they chose not to because... well, RO is not WoW.

Emotions? Really? Emoticons aren't doing it for you, you think it would be better if each command made your character grow a mouth and nose and act out the emotion? Can you imagine how stupid that would look on a 2-d character?

Dances... The reason other games have dancing is because they are trying to show off that they had some guy sit in a room and work a week on each movement. Yet again, gravity has the ability to do 3D graphics and complex movements but they chose not to, which is why RO is not WoW

Different clothes do exist in a free server, its called a clothes stylist. What you're talking about is showing armors and other clothes on the character. No, because the point of RO is your build, which would be given away if everyone could see your full equipment. Other games, especially guild wars since you mentioned it have no focus on builds and really just concentrate on leveling up.

[Tyristian]

When you were coming up with (copying from WoW) your brilliant changes you forgot one thing: The reason we are playing Ragnarok Online is because it is not like WoW, Guild Wars, or Lineage.

The reason Gravity is changing to be more like World of Warcraft is because.... it's been so successful. Right now Gravity is in a tough spot, since Blizzard is expanding its global market. If Gravity does not make major changes they will not be able to keep the game up. This is fact.

First of all, voices are a bad idea in my experience, they never seem to please everyone because right now we're basing our characters attributes on our imagination. It's like once you read a book and imagine how a character sounds then you see the movie and your favorite character has the most annoying voice that you want to just press stop. Same principle applies here, Gravity chose not have the characters have no voices, if you don't believe me then look around the game. Every single thing your eyes can witness has sounds, every spell, every single monster, and every single npc activated event (i.e. equipment repairing and forging) so if they wanted characters to talk they could but they chose not to because... well, RO is not WoW.

I agree with you kinda. I speak from experience from playing games with voices, it's annoying at times. They can though, just add different voices for each class. Voice acting in Asian games > American games... that's all I'll say about that. And if you're so against it... turn character voices off. Almost all games nowadays allow you to do this, RO would be no different.

About your argument about imagination, doesn't being able to visually see your character make that argument null?

Emotions? Really? Emoticons aren't doing it for you, you think it would be better if each command made your character grow a mouth and nose and act out the emotion? Can you imagine how stupid that would look on a 2-d character?

Dances... The reason other games have dancing is because they are trying to show off that they had some guy sit in a room and work a week on each movement. Yet again, gravity has the ability to do 3D graphics and complex movements but they chose not to, which is why RO is not WoW

The main reason they didn't add this is because the engine simply wouldn't allow it. It's too much customization for isometric graphics. Not because they choose not to, look at RO2, they added all that and more. If they updated the engine and switched to Cell-shaded graphics they could very easily do it in RO as well.

Different clothes do exist in a free server, its called a clothes stylist. What you're talking about is showing armors and other clothes on the character. No, because the point of RO is your build, which would be given away if everyone could see your full equipment. Other games, especially guild wars since you mentioned it have no focus on builds and really just concentrate on leveling up.

This game has only cookie cutter builds. There's nothing unique about character builds, why is that? Because players either auto attack or use one or two skills/spells. And correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't there a planned update to be able to view players equipment in one of the next patches? If I am indeed remembering that right, then there goes that idea.

Oh, and this game is suppose to be all 'cute' and stuff. Hence the anime styled graphics.

[geldaz]

I agree with Tyristian as hell. Either Gravity makes big changes,or they're falling appart. As Tyristian said,Blizzard is expanding at enormous speed. Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, WoW. I won't even bother calculating,just do 13 euros x 8 million people a month. And that's from WoW,when Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 come out,more millions to Blizzard,and small companies such as Gravity will fall appart if they do nothing.

You people compare this and other games with WoW,and say it sucks,but somehow Blizzard makes some of the best games out there,and they earn billions with it. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'll be here to check this RO change. Maybe I get to see real skilled players,not 1-2 skills and auto-attack people.

[Tyristian]

I agree with Tyristian as hell. Either Gravity makes big changes,or they're falling appart. As Tyristian said,Blizzard is expanding at enormous speed. Diablo 3, Starcraft 2, WoW. I won't even bother calculating,just do 13 euros x 8 million people a month. And that's from WoW,when Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 come out,more millions to Blizzard,and small companies such as Gravity will fall appart if they do nothing.

You people compare this and other games with WoW,and say it sucks,but somehow Blizzard makes some of the best games out there,and they earn billions with it. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'll be here to check this RO change. Maybe I get to see real skilled players,not 1-2 skills and auto-attack people.

Exactly my point, thank you.

EDIT:

I did manage to find the planned viewing of players equipment http://ro.doddlercon.com/wiki/index.php?title=Episode_12, now you can choose to keep your equipment hidden, but that doesn't change the fact they're indeed changing it so you can.

I also want to add on about Blizzard expanding. They are currently making a Next-Gen MMO, which will probably utterly destroy RO, and maybe other famous MMO's. This is pure speculation but I think it's a safe bet.

[Icon]

* Make all current dungeons into instances or raids for a set amount of players (5-25man, depending on difficulty) - Makes the field even for everyone, also makes it so players can choose to do content at their own pace. Trust me, you'll enjoy instances and raids that actually require coordination.

* Fix mobs for Pete's sake. The new trend with RO has been it has to attack faster, and stronger than the previous mobs. Talk about lackluster. Add fights that are distinguished and require coordination to successfully down.

* Balance PVP on 3v3~ and not 1vs1 - Currently most classes have a counter to every class in the game and those that don't aren't played, it needs to stop. Every class should have its strengths and weaknesses.

This would chase off all the solo players(like me) and would probably end up in a ROworld full of gangers,

which I can do without. MVP's are distinguished and require coordination, even though they are rare with

all the campers. Classes already had strengths and weaknesses.

* Completely reworked classes - This change is needed, especially for overpowered classes. The change currently planned for most skills to be based off weapon damage rather than strength is huge step towards balance in classes. I'd also like to suggest something that may be taboo for any RO player: Cooldowns. It is needed and you all know it.

* Completely reworked stat and skill mechanics - Spell Haste > Dex. Spells getting a set cast time is a good start. Now make it so melee will only 'push-back' spells and interrupt spells with some sort of interrupt skill or stun. There ya go! Balance.

I think these ideas MIGHT be good on a lower rate server instead of a fast-paced,high rate PvPserver,

but then again why make a Kiel card that does what it does if cooldowns were meant to be unchanged.

Magic classes are already underdogs, no changes need to be made there.

Cosmetic Changes:

* The interface needs a complete overhaul, enough said. There's nothing customizable about the interface, and it's features are severely lacking. Add a party window that actually helps distinguish players. There's tons more stuff you could add as well.

skins ... change the interface ..right?

peoples names ... distinguish the players ..right?

* Update the engine and the graphics. I'm not saying make it look like World of Warcraft, Lineage 2, or Guild Wars; what I mean is make the graphics smoother, add small details like shadows, environment effects, and make characters cell-shaded instead of isometric. If this is added you can also add more character customization.

* More character customization. If you've kept up-to-date with modern MMO's you'll see many different things; voices, emotions, dances, different clothes, etc. What does RO have...? Headgear! Yeah, no need to explain further.

Sounds like I'm in for alot of lag .... also sounds a little like NosTale

On a side note, you will NEVER EVER EVER find 1 game to fit EVERYONE's taste.

There are those of us that are quite content with what we have and there are those of

you which obviously want a new game.

[geldaz]

To be honest,graphics is the less important. Remember Starcraft 1 and Warcraft trilogy? (( 1 ,2 and 3)) ? Well,these games have not so great graphics,but there's loads of people out there playing it,and you wonder ''Why?'',oh well I'll tell you. These games may suck graphicly,but they've indeed HOT stories (( Warcraft does )) and an excellent gameplay.

Lets see it this way: On WoW,you do quests,instances to level. After you reach 70,you start doing harder instances in the objective to achieve better equipments. As you've got them,you join bigger and stronger guilds which focus mainly on end-game raids.You have LOADS of fun raiding. After you've done all the raids and you're geared ((which takes MONTHS AND MONTHS )),you've got the various PvP modes. Battlegrounds (( 4 of them )),Arenas ((2v2,3v3,5v5)),each one of these giving rewards,thing you don't get in here. Also,in WoW,it's not about how you gear yourself (( Can't say build,because you don't do /dex+ 40 /stamina+ 30 in there)) ,but how you play. I've beaten people with the best PvP set ,with myself having PvE gear.

Now on RO: You level,you party to do that,no fun,gets boring.After reaching level 99,you turn level 1 again. You level,and party,even more boring. After getting to 99,all you can do is either farm items/equipments or PvP.

Wonder why Blizzard makes billions and Gravity doesn't make a million? There's your answer. I've played RO for long,and I play WoW,so... correct me if I'm wrong.

[Tyristian]

This would chase off all the solo players(like me) and would probably end up in a ROworld full of gangers,

which I can do without. MVP's are distinguished and require coordination, even though they are rare with

all the campers. Classes already had strengths and weaknesses.

MMO's are suppose to be for group play. Now I won't tell you how to play, that's your choice. But grinding for hours and hours, or getting a small group together to do an instance (which will probably have higher drop rates, because it requires a group of equally leveled and geared players to the instance) sounds like a no brainier to me.

skins ... change the interface ..right?

peoples names ... distinguish the players ..right?

Not the customization I am talking about. World of Warcraft allows players to choose how they want their interface to look. Take for instance these next two screen shots (that I took myself). The first is the standard interface, nothing special about it but it gets the job done, like the RO original interface. Now the second is what you are able to do through heavy customization.

Now I am in no way saying, let us completely redo the interface. That's expecting too much. But at least some customization would be greatly appreciated. If you can just see how much customization helps you'd understand why it is a needed change.

As for character names... are you serious? We have to use that tiny little window for our entire party? No thanks. Give us something to work with. That party window should be nothing more than a placeholder if anything.

To be honest,graphics is the less important. Remember Starcraft 1 and Warcraft trilogy? (( 1 ,2 and 3)) ? Well,these games have not so great graphics,but there's loads of people out there playing it,and you wonder ''Why?'',oh well I'll tell you. These games may suck graphicly,but they've indeed HOT stories (( Warcraft does )) and an excellent gameplay.

And this is why Blizzard does so well. World of Warcrafts graphics are beautiful, but they're far from the best. You thoroughly explained why Blizzard has been so successful, so I'll just say great job.

[Impulse]

imo, L2 > WoW o.o

[geldaz]

imo, L2 > WoW o.o

Because you don't pay for it? Shows how bad it is. You have to click arround to walk. Using A W S D is way cooler. And on WoW you can have diffrent looks. You can wear mostly anything,it's so damn cool. RP clothes,PvP clothes,PvE clothes,etc. It's hella damn versatile. Something Ragnark isn't.

[Impulse]

actually, you could use both mouse and A W S D. Whatever you just said Lineage 2 has. I just prefer it because it has such a medieval theme, pvp/pk system is amazing, and siege is by far the best ive ever experienced in any mmorpg.

[Whitefish]

L2 and Wow are unique imo.

if WoW combined l2 graphics, then that would sick.

of course you would have tons of ppl lagging but w/e.

[Zeitgeist]

RO isn't a perfect game but it was still one of the biggest and most succesful MMO's some years ago. Even though it was way more simple than what it is now (remember having only 5 classes to choose from?), it still was great and online peaks and overall account creation showed that. RO did stuff that other MMO's haven't thought of, not saying they're godlike but they did set quality standards for other future MMO's.

Finally, I'm not against the change, we'll have to see how it works out when it is, in fact, released. I'm only reluctant to changing the gameplay so drastically. Other details such as showing off armors could maybe not be so good for a HR, but that's my opinion. At any rate, I believe this discussion is best left for when the update is close to coming out.

[Mei Mei]

They are just testing right now, they never said all of these changes will stay.

But it's possible.

And even if that happens in about a year or whatever, it will take a very very long time until eAthena gets this done.

And EVEN then again, WE are able to change it to what we like to have it (for example slower AttackSpeed sounds weìrd) >_<