Cryptic’s new MMO Neverwinter takes the classic Dungeons & Dragons game and brings it to the online space using an adaptation of the fourth edition rules. People coming to this game with expectations that your MMO skills and knowledge that pre-exists will seamlessly slot into play in this game are in for a shock. It’s a pretty steep learning curve, but once you grasp a few easy to remember points the game is fun, fluid and easy to play.
As a Game Developer and something of an expert when it comes to MMOs (see: Malcolm Gladwell’s 10000 hour rule) for your gaming pleasure I’d like to offer these helpful tips:
1) Clerics
Nobody in your group cares about your DPS.
DPS all you want when you’re soloing, really, have all the fun in the world shooting your tiny, largely ineffectual spells and eventually watching things explode; when you hit that button to cue up and join a group the only reasons people want you in that team are that you’re the only healing class. Feel free to toss in some crowd control, spread around some wards and buffs, really do whatever you like as long as:
A) Every NPC your party is fighting has an Astral Seal on it.
B) You aren't wasting your Divinity doing meaningless DPS.
2) Wizards
You are the most replaceable member of your group.
Wizards seem to be the most played class in the game, and with good reason. They’re DPS masters, the only real ranged DPS in the game and their crowd control is second to none. Try to remember this when you’re acting like a complete ass-clown, hitting NEED on every piece of un-classed gear that drops. Also? If a party member drops at your feet, feel free to stop DPSing and actually revive them, don’t expect someone else to come running. Act like a team member or get easily replaced.
A) Don’t EVER cast Ice Storm in a party. Seriously. It’s really annoying and every OTHER class in the game WANTS mobs bunched up. Stick to Arcane Singularity, Ice Knife or Maelstrom of...
Cryptic’s new MMO Neverwinter takes the classic Dungeons & Dragons game and brings it to the online space using an adaptation of the fourth edition rules. People coming to this game with expectations that your MMO skills and knowledge that pre-exists will seamlessly slot into play in this game are in for a shock. It’s a pretty steep learning curve, but once you grasp a few easy to remember points the game is fun, fluid and easy to play.
As a Game Developer and something of an expert when it comes to MMOs (see: Malcolm Gladwell’s 10000 hour rule) for your gaming pleasure I’d like to offer these helpful tips:
1) Clerics
Nobody in your group cares about your DPS.
DPS all you want when you’re soloing, really, have all the fun in the world shooting your tiny, largely ineffectual spells and eventually watching things explode; when you hit that button to cue up and join a group the only reasons people want you in that team are that you’re the only healing class. Feel free to toss in some crowd control, spread around some wards and buffs, really do whatever you like as long as:
A) Every NPC your party is fighting has an Astral Seal on it.
B) You aren't wasting your Divinity doing meaningless DPS.
2) Wizards
You are the most replaceable member of your group.
Wizards seem to be the most played class in the game, and with good reason. They’re DPS masters, the only real ranged DPS in the game and their crowd control is second to none. Try to remember this when you’re acting like a complete ass-clown, hitting NEED on every piece of un-classed gear that drops. Also? If a party member drops at your feet, feel free to stop DPSing and actually revive them, don’t expect someone else to come running. Act like a team member or get easily replaced.
A) Don’t EVER cast Ice Storm in a party. Seriously. It’s really annoying and every OTHER class in the game WANTS mobs bunched up. Stick to Arcane Singularity, Ice Knife or Maelstrom of Chaos.
B) Repel? See A. Stop spreading out your enemies if then complaining that your tank isn't holding agro. (Unless you're knocking it off a ledge or into a death trap.)
3) Rogues
Nobody likes you. Sincerely. You’re only here because you’re needed, not wanted.
Rogues seem to attract the most obnoxious players in the game. It really doesn't help that people can’t seem to help but name themselves (time and time again) after famous, copy written characters from the Forgotten Realms setting (or more recently Game of Thrones). So far I've been forced to group with no less than four Drizzt’s, several Stark's and Lannister's, countless Baenre's; oh and one Commander Sheppard. (I pointed out he’d spelled Shepard wrong.) Also, consider actually disarming a trap before half your party runs through it.
A) Combat is not the time to be running around picking up loot. If you’re spamming your tank and your healer with popups that require them to process loot you don’t have the right to then bitch when you draw aggro and/or die from no healing.
B) Like the Wizard, you too can devote some time to helping get fallen team mates up. And like the Wizard, you’re highly replaceable due to how over played your class is.
4) Great Weapon Fighters
You are not a tank. You are DPS. Embrace this and live a more happy life.
Seriously, you’re not wearing plate – that Guardian over there is. You take hits like Samuel L. Jackson in Unbreakable, compared to the real tank class—learn your role. Protect your team, assist your tank (you BOTH do better if you’re flanking a mob, hello Combat Advantage). If this is all too complex for you, consider instead playing a Rogue (or a Guardian).
A) It’s your job to keep the fragile members of your team supported while your tank holds the big stuff. You’re DPS with survivability, don’t be afraid to wade in and throw some elbows around.
B) By default you should always been a couple of steps behind your Guardian. Not in front, certainly not pulling, just behind. That’s because when your Guardian turns the mob so your party isn't taking frontal attacks, you’re in the perfect position to set up Combat Advantage.
5) Guardians
TURN. THE. MOB. Seriously.
Slot for Threat, and keep mobs that have cone attacks turned away from the rest of your party. You have both the easiest and hardest job in the game. Easiest because once you learn how to do it its rote; hardest because idiots will constantly make your job considerably harder than it actually should be.
A) You’re a tank, which means you’re highly gear dependent. Make sure you keep your gear up to date as the difficulty increases. If you’re fighting in gear that’s 10 levels too low you might be able to solo, but you aren't tanking a dungeon group.
B) Choose your companion wisely. Active companions (things that do stuff) are for soloing. Passive companions (Cats, Ioun Stones) are for grouping. Passive, when spec’d right, make you a better tank. Cough up the cash for these and don’t whine about it.
Lastly, two final points:
EVERYONE is responsible for their own potions and injury kits. You have no reason not to come fully stocked with these—what else are you spending your gold on?
You don’t “need” every single piece of non-class specific gear that drops. News flash, Rings, Amulets and Belts are usable by EVERYONE. Hitting “need” every time it drops just makes you look like a greedy asshole.
Enjoy Neverwinter!
@Symbol
As a Game Developer and something of an expert when it comes to MMOs (see: Malcolm Gladwell’s 10000 hour rule) for your gaming pleasure I’d like to offer these helpful tips:
1) Clerics
Nobody in your group cares about your DPS.
DPS all you want when you’re soloing, really, have all the fun in the world shooting your tiny, largely ineffectual spells and eventually watching things explode; when you hit that button to cue up and join a group the only reasons people want you in that team are that you’re the only healing class. Feel free to toss in some crowd control, spread around some wards and buffs, really do whatever you like as long as:
A) Every NPC your party is fighting has an Astral Seal on it.
B) You aren't wasting your Divinity doing meaningless DPS.
2) Wizards
You are the most replaceable member of your group.
Wizards seem to be the most played class in the game, and with good reason. They’re DPS masters, the only real ranged DPS in the game and their crowd control is second to none. Try to remember this when you’re acting like a complete ass-clown, hitting NEED on every piece of un-classed gear that drops. Also? If a party member drops at your feet, feel free to stop DPSing and actually revive them, don’t expect someone else to come running. Act like a team member or get easily replaced.
A) Don’t EVER cast Ice Storm in a party. Seriously. It’s really annoying and every OTHER class in the game WANTS mobs bunched up. Stick to Arcane Singularity, Ice Knife or Maelstrom of...