Wasting Money On F2P MMORPG's

Why does it always end up that I end up wasting money on F2P games?  Once again I invested quite a bit of money into a MMO to instantly lose interest.  Why is it that once I spend money I stop playing it?

I could understand if I did it once, but it is becoming a pattern.  I did it in Archlord, Allods Online, and most recently Realms Online.  I find myself enjoying the game, and feel I have enough time invested that spending some in the cash shop is a worthwhile investment.

I think I still have money on the books in all three games.  It isn't like I can get a refund, but the money is just sitting there.  I added over a hundred bucks to Realms Online after already spending a hundred bucks.  I spent around $15 of it in the cash shop, and $85 is still sitting there.  I have no desire to play the game again.

What made me play the game 24/7 for a month straight, and than suddenly lose all interest?  Is it like using cheat codes in console games?  I know when I would use cheat codes the game would become boring, and I would stop playing.  Is it the same for F2P games?

I did a similar thing in Allods Online a few years ago.  I decided I wanted some perfumes, and a bigger inventory bag.  Two days later I stopped playing just out of the blue.  Why am I buying stuff, and than I suddenly don't care about the game?

I think maybe subconsciously I am thinking about how the game is costing me more than a normal sub.  My brain may be telling me to cut off the relationship now before it becomes a huge money pit.

I just need to now figure out the trigger, and stop that initial spending in a F2P game, and just quit before spending anything.  I don't know maybe in the back of my mind I am not really enjoying the game, but I am trying to convince myself by buying stuff off the cash shop.

Realms Online RvR Makes Me Want To Break Keyboards

Oh no, I can't wait for Michael Birke to tell me I told you so.  My second real night of RvR in Realms Online caused me to log off, and go to bed at 6pm.  I have never been so frustrated in PvP in my life.

I think I may have a new name for Realms Online.  I think a better name would be Crowd Control Online. This makes Warhammer Online crowd control look like nothing.  I felt like I was in a non stop chain spell crowd control lockdown.

I should have known by the five different crowd control options on my Warlock that everyone else would have the same.  The problem is it seems like all my crowd control have short range so before I can get mine off I am already in lockdown.

First I have Beetle Swarm.  It puts a swarm of beetles around a target, and doesn't let them attack. This lasts for about 5 seconds which is enough for the other faction to burn you down.

Secondly I have Prickling Ivy.  It does damage while rooting you.

Thirdly I have Will Domain.  It is a knockdown ability that lasts long enough for someone to get 2-3 spells, or moves on you while you are down.  Remember how OP knockdown was in SWG at launch?

I also have Freeze.  It freezes you, but you can't be attacked, or you can't attack.  A perfect way to freeze people, and knock them off one by one.

I can also do Frozen Storm which does damage, but can also have a 90% chance of freezing the target.

Don't forget about the AOE knockdown called Sultar's Terror.  It gives you the ability to knockdown multiple targets within the area of effect.

I bet right now you are asking than what is the problem?  It could just be I am not used to the RvR yet.  I felt a little frustrated at not knowing what everyone was doing.  I didn't see anyone working as a team, and it seemed like everyone was just soloing. I could be wrong.  I may have been the only one not in a group

I think my clan may be a joke.  No one wants to RvR. It seems they would rather go level up an alt than deal with pvp in the Warzone.  No vent, or other way to communicate is a huge downfall also.  You can't pvp without it.

I think my Warlock may be more of a support class than a dps killing machine it feels like when grinding pve mobs.

Of course my frustration could also be that I am level 50, and everyone else is probably 60.  It could be the real reason for all my anger, and wanting to break keyboards.  It could also be that as much as I want to PvP I just suck at it now.

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Achievement Unlocked: Orc Hater

Yes I guess I hate Orcs.  I think my addiction to killing them in Orcs Must Die has rubbed off into Realms Online.  I unlocked this achievement today, after grinding on them for hours.

I finally ventured out into the RvR zone in Realms Online.  It looks similar to the rest of the game except for keeps, and forts.  The first five minutes I received a welcome to three faction pvp as I got slaughtered by someone doing almost 2k damage a hit to me.  Sadly I am lucky to dish out 1k a hit at level 50, and had to take it like a man.

I also joined a clan last night too.  I always hate joining one right away, but I didn't want to be venturing out there by myself.  Supposedly we do organized keep, and fort takes so I figure the clan must be pretty descent. I can't wait to get in a really good keep or fort battle.  It is going to be pretty fun.

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How You Know You Found The Perfect MMORPG

Do you know when you have found the perfect MMORPG? Is it love at first sight?  Does it grow on you, and eventually you fall in love?  Do you end up playing a game because everyone else is?   What is the driving factor that makes you fall in love with a game?

This last year my gaming has really had its ups and downs.  I would say more downs than ups.  I have so many games that were pure let downs too.  Am I just picky, or am I just a bitter old man?  I have so many games that I paid fifty bucks for that barely even got a few hours of play time.

I really was trying to expand my gaming genre to more than just MMORPG's.  I wanted to start experiencing other games that didn't involve spending my whole life playing.  It made me figure out something in the process.  Any game other than a MMORPG is too easy to put down.  You have nothing invested in the game.  I had no problem dropping Dead Island, Battlefield 3, Warhammer 40k, and so many more.

I have realized that I feel more attached to a character in a MMORPG.  I feel like I am neglecting my character if I don't put in five hours a day of play time.  The thought of always getting better gear, more pvp points, and more keep you logged in. Unfortunately single player games just don't motivate me like that.  I play for like a half hour, and I am bored.  I have nothing to strive for except the final cutscene, and I have never seen one in any single player game I have ever played.

The problem is not every MMORPG makes me feel this way either.  In this last year I have tried so many, and only one recently has captured my attention.  Of course right now the hype is all about SWTOR.  I played the beta, and I cannot see why everyone is drooling on their keyboards over this game.  It really is World of Warcraft with light sabers.

Why players are so infatuated with story, and voice acting is beyond me.  The game is just so phony to me.  Every mob in the game comes in threes, and amazingly you can kill all three with barely taking any damage.  How unrealistic is that?

I have tried others like Lineage 2 which lasted about two minutes after seeing it was point and click movement. Darkfall sounded great until I started playing it, and the learning curve was equivalent to Eve.  I gave it about five minutes before uninstalling it.

Recently I have been in a few betas including WOH, and Tribes Ascend.  I haven't touched either of them in weeks.  My favorite game lately has been Orcs Must Die which I have about 85 hours of play time logged, but since starting Realms Online I even stopped playing it.

My time on social media sites has dropped down to almost nothing.  I am finding I want to spend time playing Realms Online instead.  It is crazy how I found this game out of the blue, and it is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.

Now for the clincher.  You know how I know I have finally found the perfect MMORPG?  I want to log into Realms Online, and Realms Online only.  I haven't touched any other game since I started playing it.  I am playing it over ten hours a day.  I haven't been this involved in a MMORPG for years.

The crazy thing is that it isn't the most cutting edge game.  The graphics are okay, questing is okay, grinding is a korean grindfest, global cooldowns are wanky, but I still crave this game.  It goes to show you that you just have to find something you love, and quit trying to fit in with some new AAA game that has nothing you enjoy about a game.

Realms Online has the one thing I want which is three faction pvp.  I will grind out levels till my fingers get blisters on blisters.  I don't mind the grind. Actually I think I like the grind.  I don't really have to think about it.  I have been in the same area grinding for the past five days.  It doesn't even phase me.  I am close to hitting level 51 so I only have nine more levels to grind out.

It does make me think why do I hate the xp grind in SWTOR so much.  I couldn't even stand to play it an hour at a time without being bored.  It doesn't really make sense that I enjoy just grinding, but I think in most games I just hate having to move around everywhere doing quests.  I can just find me a nice cozy spot, and grind for hours, and hours.

I know lately I have been praising Realms Online like crazy.  I really found the perfect MMORPG that makes me happy.  Will others like it?  Probably not.  It doesn't have a bunch of fancy bells, and whistles. It just has everything I want in a MMORPG, and that is what is the most important.

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My First RvR Experience In Realms Online

I finally grinded out level 45 today, and ventured out to the Warzone in Realms Online.  My heart was pumping, and adrenaline flowing.  I headed to our gate along the great wall.  I knew our gate was under attack, but wasn't sure how it all worked.

I climbed the stairs, and noticed most of my Ignis realm mates shooting down at players from the realm Syrtis who were attacking our gate.  I began casting spells, and watching them drop like flies with the help of other Ignis players.  It felt good to be protecting our land from being invaded.

If Syrtis would have knocked down our gate they would have been able to raid our cities, and other low level players trying to level up in the normally safe zone.  This is where other pvp and rvr games have been lacking. There was really never a penalty, and a city invasion was an instance, and not really the city.  It is what makes realm pride so much more important in Realms Online.

If you decide to not help your realm than your whole realm becomes vulnerable to PvP.  Realms Online is everything I expected, and more.  It is what no game has been able to do since Dark Age of Camelot.  I have finally found a game that caters to my playstyle, and the kind of pvp I crave.

I recorded a small glimpse of my first RvR experience in Realms Online so everyone could see what it is all about.  The game is free to play, and I am playing on the Raven server, and the Ignis Faction if you decide to play the game.

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Realms Online Is Growing On Me

Check my pulse, and temperature.  I have logged in over 20+ hours now in Realms Online.  I am finally getting into an MMORPG.  I have played it more than any other MMORPG in the last year.  Initially I felt uncomfortable with not knowing anything in the game, and almost stopped playing.  What made me decide to give it another shot, and keep playing?

The answer is pretty easy.  I am looking past all the things I dislike, and focusing on the RvR which is just around the corner.  I am pretty excited to be entering the Warzone either today, or tomorrow.  I thought the grind was pretty hideous, but with the xp boosts about every couple hours it has made it bearable.  At level 40 I will be easy kills for the other factions, but hopefully the last 20 levels go by as quick as these have.

Realms Online is a Free to Play MMORPG, and their cash shop mainly consists of xp scrolls, leveling scrolls, enchantments, and health, and mana pots along with some mounts.  Everything seems pretty reasonably priced, and nothing in the shop is necessary, but if you want to speed things up a little it is well worth it.  I have no self control so I have spent $50 already in the cash shop, but I see it as a one time expense to level up.  I won't need xp boost scrolls, or pots once I am done leveling.

I highly suggest using the xp boost scrolls in conjuction with the GM sponsored xp boosts.  You take 200%, plus another 200%, and you are earning 4x the xp as normal.  This makes your xp bar move at quite an incredible rate.  I like using the health/mana combo pot so I am literally killing non stop during these boosts.  It is 100% worth the money.

Right now I can't say much about the RvR until I hit 40 later on today.  I know I see lots of action on my screen from forts, keeps, and gems being stolen.  I can't wait to see, and be involved in part of a game I have been longing for since the days of playing DAOC.

If anyone is interested in playing I am on the Raven server, and the Ignis faction.  I hope to see you there.

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Realms Online F2P MMORPG First Impressions Review

Did you play DAOC?   Do you miss the realm pride?  Do you agree it had the best realm versus realm ever? Are you still waiting for DAOC 2?  What if I told you there is currently a game out there that is a very close clone to DAOC.  It is called Realms Online.

You have three separate factions. You have the Ignis, Syrtis, and Alsius.  Currently the Ignis server is the underdog, and receiving 25% bonus to xp to get more players to the end game quicker.  You can feel the realm pride.  The factions land is split up into three different zones.  You have the beginner zone, inner zone, and the war zone.

The War Zone is broken up into three separate sections separated by rivers.  It seems very similar to DAOC where you can venture over to the other factions area looking for fights.  It is also where the forts, and castles are when you decide as a realm to steal the gems to gain rewards for your faction.

Is it sounding really familiar yet?  It is so close to DAOC it blows my mind for the rvr aspects of the game.  The pve is basically non existent once you hit max level.  There is no crafting, or side professions.  It is all about fighting in the War Zones.

The classes remind me of how many games make you play until level 10 to pick your profession.  I started off as a Mage.  At level 10 I had to choose to either be a Warlock, or a Conjurer.  I decided I wanted to be DPS in a pvp game so I rolled Warlock.

The GM's are really cool in Realms Online.  They talk to everyone, and about every other hour they give 200% xp bonuses for an hour.  It is a way to lessen the grind, and get people to the end game quicker.  I love it.

The questing in the game is definitely its weak point.  Don't expect to see spots highlighted on the map, waypoints falling from the sky, or anything like that.  You actually have to read the quest text to know where to go.  The problem I find is most of the quests are very vague so you spend more time trying to figure out what you are supposed to be doing than actually doing it.  It is to the point now I am finding it faster just to grind mobs.

Realms Online is sort of old school when it comes to health, and mana.  After about three fights you have to sit for a minute to regen.  It gets old pretty quick.  This is one item they sell in their store for $5 is to speed it up about 500%.  For spending five bucks you get approximately 250 potions.  I am not sure that is worth it, or not.  I guess it depends on how fast you want to level up.  I am debating on only using them on the GM bonus xp hours to take full advantage of it.

All enchanting of items is also bought off the store. If you want to add gems you have to buy them, and than buy the enchanting supplies to do it.  It seems fairly cheap enough that you won't be spending more than a regular subscription MMORPG.

If grinding isn't your thing they sell special leveling scrolls.  You can spend about $50 to get level 45 automatically.  I may do it for alts later on, but with my first character I need to make sure I understand how the game works, and if I am sticking around.

The game isn't perfect, but I am looking past all of it because it is the game I have been looking for since DAOC.  If it was any other game I probably would have already ragequit from some of the annoying quirks, but if PvP is anything like my memories of DAOC it is going to be so much fun.

If you want to check it out more I suggest checking out the Realms Online's Wiki page.  They recently changed the name of the game, but all the facts are still the same.

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