Marc M.
06-27-2007, 03:04 AM
So I got into the beta for this thing and have been messing around with it a bit.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/01.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/03.jpg
or should I say Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa, but since I've never played any of the Ultima games I don't particularly care that it is his brainchild.
It's surprising that there haven't been more Sci-Fi MMO's, or at least, GOOD Sci-Fi MMO's. This one thankfully does not attempt to take a Sci-Fi setting and slap it onto the standard click-n-auto attack game play of most.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/05.jpg
This is something of an Online Action RPG. You can't just target something and watch as little numbers float all over the place. You've got to take aim and fire (Left mouse button, how very convenient, that) or if you're feeling reckless you can run up and melee mobs with the butt of your rifle/laser/EMP... gun thing. There is a lock-on function (Tab) though it is more for keeping track of where your target is than anything. Your shot placement effects the damage you do, so the closer to the center of the target the better. I'm not entirely sure if headshots increase your damage, but you can go down to one knee which does improve your accuracy and damage.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/stats.jpg
Most of the RPG standards apply here: Get EXP, level up, spend Attribute and Skill points. You do not pick your class from the start; instead, the game uses a Tier system (seen in the center of the above image) to decide what abilities you can spend points on. You begin as a Novice and then can choose which path to take from a trainer once you get to level 5. As you can see, I made Cinna Mahn a Specialist, which is something of a healer/magic type of class.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/04.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/06.jpg
The magic effect in the game is kinda cool (I don't even know if that's what it's called... I wasn't paying attention) as your character opens something like a computer window IN MID AIR and the spell is cast from it. To learn and use new spells you have to find Logos, which are found it shrines all over the place. Once you've used a shrine the accompanying logo is added to your tablet (the tablet is huge so I guess there are a lot of them).
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/07.jpg
Other stuff:
Dropships fly down and beam the invading guys onto the planet (as pictured) though it's pretty much just way to cover up respawning monsters.
Theres no corpse running (you pick the nearest respawn point to rez at)
Everybody starts out with a Sprint ability, which is the orange bar under your mana/whatever bar. However the beta did not inform me about this bar, but I figured it out on my own. It recharges as you kill stuff. Just letting you know.
There is a "chain" mechanic similar to FFXI, where your EXP from kills will get multiplied. When you kill a monster they can go into a death reel of sorts where a red skull appears above their head. I'm pretty sure that if you kill something else while this is happening you start the chain. So far I've gotten an x3 chain.
Overall it seems... okay. It does have a bit of a Guild Wars feel (theres even armor dye you can find) but a bit faster paced. The early quests are set up so you flow through them without running around aimlessly, and the mini-map has quest markers so you know where you need to go (always a plus).
Worth a try if you like MMO's and action RPG/Shooters specifically.
EDIT:
Here's the Website (the beta page specifically)
http://www.playtr.com/beta/index.html
Good Luck
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/01.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/03.jpg
or should I say Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa, but since I've never played any of the Ultima games I don't particularly care that it is his brainchild.
It's surprising that there haven't been more Sci-Fi MMO's, or at least, GOOD Sci-Fi MMO's. This one thankfully does not attempt to take a Sci-Fi setting and slap it onto the standard click-n-auto attack game play of most.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/05.jpg
This is something of an Online Action RPG. You can't just target something and watch as little numbers float all over the place. You've got to take aim and fire (Left mouse button, how very convenient, that) or if you're feeling reckless you can run up and melee mobs with the butt of your rifle/laser/EMP... gun thing. There is a lock-on function (Tab) though it is more for keeping track of where your target is than anything. Your shot placement effects the damage you do, so the closer to the center of the target the better. I'm not entirely sure if headshots increase your damage, but you can go down to one knee which does improve your accuracy and damage.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/stats.jpg
Most of the RPG standards apply here: Get EXP, level up, spend Attribute and Skill points. You do not pick your class from the start; instead, the game uses a Tier system (seen in the center of the above image) to decide what abilities you can spend points on. You begin as a Novice and then can choose which path to take from a trainer once you get to level 5. As you can see, I made Cinna Mahn a Specialist, which is something of a healer/magic type of class.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/04.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/06.jpg
The magic effect in the game is kinda cool (I don't even know if that's what it's called... I wasn't paying attention) as your character opens something like a computer window IN MID AIR and the spell is cast from it. To learn and use new spells you have to find Logos, which are found it shrines all over the place. Once you've used a shrine the accompanying logo is added to your tablet (the tablet is huge so I guess there are a lot of them).
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/edisonwhite/tabras/07.jpg
Other stuff:
Dropships fly down and beam the invading guys onto the planet (as pictured) though it's pretty much just way to cover up respawning monsters.
Theres no corpse running (you pick the nearest respawn point to rez at)
Everybody starts out with a Sprint ability, which is the orange bar under your mana/whatever bar. However the beta did not inform me about this bar, but I figured it out on my own. It recharges as you kill stuff. Just letting you know.
There is a "chain" mechanic similar to FFXI, where your EXP from kills will get multiplied. When you kill a monster they can go into a death reel of sorts where a red skull appears above their head. I'm pretty sure that if you kill something else while this is happening you start the chain. So far I've gotten an x3 chain.
Overall it seems... okay. It does have a bit of a Guild Wars feel (theres even armor dye you can find) but a bit faster paced. The early quests are set up so you flow through them without running around aimlessly, and the mini-map has quest markers so you know where you need to go (always a plus).
Worth a try if you like MMO's and action RPG/Shooters specifically.
EDIT:
Here's the Website (the beta page specifically)
http://www.playtr.com/beta/index.html
Good Luck