Mortal Online = darkfall + mourning?

[Zzulo]

Well okay. My personal interest comes from the fact that it is developed in my country and that, on paper, it looks like a fun MMO focused on PvP rather than PvE. I don't really have any other MMO that I'm looking forward to, (except maybe Jumpgate) so this one will hold my interest until something better comes along.

As for new info, I guess I can contribute with the fact that they just released info about the flagging system

The balance of Mortal Online’s open-PvP relies heavily on its flagging system. Each player and NPC (Non-Player Characters, Creatures etc) in the game has a flag (color) that is visible to you when you highlight or target them. The color will tell you some basic facts about that player, for instance if it’s “ok” to attack him/her or not, although you will never be forbidden to do so by the system. You too have a flag of course, visible to yourself at all times.

Getting to know the basics of the flagging system is easy when playing the game, but unfortunately rather complex to describe. However, when you first start playing, all you need to know is:

    * Neutral/Blue players are innocent (well, as innocent as they get) and it’s not ok for you to damage them. You may not steal from them, or cast suspicious spells on them either. Nor poison them. If you do so, you become Allowed/Grey. Kill enough of them and you will eventually be flagged as a Murderer/Red.

    * Allowed/Gray players have behaved badly in some way against you or someone else in the last few minutes, meaning you can attack them without becoming Grey for everybody else. But remember, if you attack them first, they have the right to attack you back! (Meaning they see you as Grey.)

    * Murderers/Red players have committed several murders, and you better look out for them. You can attack them without turning Grey for everybody else, but if you attack first, they have the right to attack you back! (Meaning they see you as Grey.)


Loot from other players and specific objects in the world share this system as well and will be colored accordingly. That means it’s ok to loot or interact with all Red and Grey stuff you see, but if you mess with Blue stuff you will become Grey yourself.

If you decide to join a Player Guild that is at war with another Player Guild, special rules apply. You will still see their flag/color, but they will be treated by the system as Grey – and so will you for them!

As the system itself will always allow you to attack, steal, enchant, poison or kill any color/flag you like whenever you want, you might ask what the colors/flags are for except decoration. The main reasons are:

    *

      Cities and villages may have guard zones, where it’s possible to call for the guards to capture or kill any Grey or Red player, if they’re not already doing so.

    *

      Certain merchants may choose not to trade with Grey or Red players.

    *

      Players of every color may take the opportunity to attack Grey or Red players, as they can do so without getting “Grey for all” themselves.
    * Red players may loose stats if they resurrect too soon after being killed. Also, most healers will simply refuse to resurrect murderers.

This is probably all you will need to know when first starting to play Mortal Online. However, the flagging system goes much deeper than this as it is the foundation for balanced conflict in the game. This section will be updated with more stats and specifics later on.

And to sprinkle a bit of cynisim on all of this; Yes I realize it's a virgin studio that is developing the game and that rings a few alarms in my own head, but there's just not a whole lot of awesome on the horizon, so what else is there to look forward to?

[Rendakor]

These flags sound like the old MUD [Attacker] and [Killer] flags; you got a flag for either attacking or killing a non-PK character. Having an attacker flag would make you KoS in certain cities; the killer flag would do that plus risk punishment from the admins. It makes for a much more interesting system than most modern MMOs which are either anything goes, opt-in, or level restricted.

[Lantyssa]

    * Red players may loose stats if they resurrect too soon after being killed. Also, most healers will simply refuse to resurrect murderers.

They're assuming something they cannot know.  Likely there will be Red Healers which will be happy to resurrect other Reds.  They shouldn't be listing a psychological factor with their matter-of-fact bullet points, as player behavior tends to be worse than given credit for than any behavioral control system gives credit.

[Middleton]

I'm assuming they meant certain NPC healers would refuse to resurrect red players, limiting their respawn locations. This would make sense because it might be bad if red players could constantly respawn in newbie zones to continue griefing, so they simply won't be allowed to resurrect at the healers there. As for the game I'm only mildly interested in it. It seems to me that level and item based fantasy combat doesn't make for balanced or fun PvP. Usually games like that reward the most 'dedicated' players instead of the most intelligent ones. That might be thinking too far ahead, as it seems doubtful that the game will make it far enough for me to play it.

[Nerf]

Meh, their innovative flagging system is a carbon copy of Lineage 2's flagging system, except it's easier to be a red, as when someone attacks you they flag now.
It worked quite well in Lineage 2 though, so they've got that going for them.

[Zzulo]

They just had an alpha testing session and have since posted screenshots from it;

http://www.mortalonline.com/screenshots


A statement regarding their beta procedure was also released;

Star Vault AB: Mortal Online Alfa release
As previously announced the internal release of the Alfa-version of Mortal Online has
been completed on Monday December 1st and Mortal Online has now been listed on one of
the major game rating sites mmorpg.com
Together with the development team and Henrik Nyström, CEO, 7 invited guests were the first gamers to
actually test the Alfa version of Mortal Online. As expected there are a number of bugs and not all the
features are implemented, but overall the Alfa release performs as expected. More information about the
Alfa will be released in the Mortal Online Newsletter in December.
During December the Alfa testing will be completed together with the preparations for the Beta-phase.
Beta development will start in January 2009.

[NiX]

I get this eerie dawn feeling from those screenshots. They look terribly staged.

[Zzulo]

They probably are staged to some degree, like most pre-release screenshots

I don't know what "Dawn" is though.

[rask]

I think the description of the Alpha Combat System is more interesting than the screenshots, especially active/passive blocking, 10 hitboxes and the magic system.

Meh, I think it's worth tracking as time goes on.

[grebo]

They probably are staged to some degree, like most pre-release screenshots

I don't know what "Dawn" is though.

Dawn=MMOG announced by Glitchless in 1999, promising everything any MMOG player could imagine, from fetus tossing catapults to a terraformable planet with 180 million square miles.  Stirred up a lot of fanboy froth but, of course, never produced anything except for a web based thing called Race Wars.  Even today it is the subject of much ridicule...

Google Lum Dawn  It's pretty amusing.

[UnSub]

I get this eerie dawn feeling from those screenshots. They look terribly staged.

"I'm just going to lie here and think of England..."

[Nerf]

They probably are staged to some degree, like most pre-release screenshots

I don't know what "Dawn" is though.

Dawn=MMOG announced by Glitchless in 1999, promising everything any MMOG player could imagine, from fetus tossing catapults to a terraformable planet with 180 million square miles.  Stirred up a lot of fanboy froth but, of course, never produced anything except for a web based thing called Race Wars.  Even today it is the subject of much ridicule...

Google Lum Dawn  It's pretty amusing.

http://www.brokentoys.org/2000/12/02/just-when-you-thought-it-could-not-possibly-get-any-weirder-author-lum/

That shit makes me want to start an MMO.

[KallDrexx]

lololol

[00:25] [Pizza_Guy> A FUCKING COMPANY IS AT STEAK

omg thanks for posting that.  That was a fun read.

[Senses]

For the life of me I cannot understand how or why fanbois exist in the first place in this industry.  I mean, even if you are excited about the concept of a new game, why do people defend it as if they are a member of some strange cult.  And more importantly, in a world where we have seen over-hyped failures crash and burn constantly, how is it that people aren't more skeptical?  If I hadn't already lost all faith in humanity, I'd lose it again.  Other than politics, I can't think of another industry that regularly promises so much, rarely ever delivers, and still has people willing to fight to the death to defend them.

[kildorn]

For the life of me I cannot understand how or why fanbois exist in the first place in this industry.  I mean, even if you are excited about the concept of a new game, why do people defend it as if they are a member of some strange cult.  And more importantly, in a world where we have seen over-hyped failures crash and burn constantly, how is it that people aren't more skeptical?  If I hadn't already lost all faith in humanity, I'd lose it again.  Other than politics, I can't think of another industry that regularly promises so much, rarely ever delivers, and still has people willing to fight to the death to defend them.

I'm pretty sure any enthusiast group counts. Auto nuts are insane, and will defend their given choice of tire, filter or whatnot to the death. Musicians are less absurd about it, but all have their pet amp, favorite pickups, whatever. Gaming just goes a little(hah!) rabid on the prerelease, and fails to maintain a healthy level of skepticism.

[Aez]

For the life of me I cannot understand how or why fanbois exist in the first place in this industry.  I mean, even if you are excited about the concept of a new game, why do people defend it as if they are a member of some strange cult.  And more importantly, in a world where we have seen over-hyped failures crash and burn constantly, how is it that people aren't more skeptical?  If I hadn't already lost all faith in humanity, I'd lose it again.  Other than politics, I can't think of another industry that regularly promises so much, rarely ever delivers, and still has people willing to fight to the death to defend them.

Welcome to humanity - again.

[Zzulo]

There's a countdown on the website now. Not sure what it's for though;

http://www.mortalonline.com/

[LC]

There's a countdown on the website now. Not sure what it's for though;

http://www.mortalonline.com/

The devs refuse to talk about it. I have been idling in their irc channel for a few months. The devs hang out there, and don't seem to be complete douche bags. They answer questions, and chat about the game from time to time.

[Zzulo]

Perhaps the beta? Or beta signups?

[schild]

Why do you care?

[Zzulo]

I am curious. Especially since I'd like to participate in the beta.

[schild]

Not what I meant, not even a little.

I know why LC follows stuff like this. I can grok that.

I'm trying to understand why someone else would.

[Draegan]

Not what I meant, not even a little.

I know why LC follows stuff like this. I can grok that.

I'm trying to understand why someone else would.

There are many stupid people in the world.

[Zzulo]

I don't think this game deserves to be sworn off justyet.  I've been interested in this game since I made the connection in my head that this could be an MMO version of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, which resonates well with me.

[Draegan]

 

[Zzulo]

I don't see the need to be hopelessly cynical in this case (yet, anyway), so I don't get why you're clowning around.

[Draegan]

 

[Zzulo]

 

[Mrbloodworth]

[Zzulo]

 

[raydeen]

14 days and 11 minutes to go till....something....

Maybe it's a snarky countdown until Darkfall completely implodes?

[DLRiley]

Like a horde of locust all the zombies who wanted to play DF will swarm Mortal Online and infect it with their hardcore "i played UO pre-trimmel" attitudes. The game won't last a year...

[Mrbloodworth]

You know what, this game looks promising.

[Draegan]

You know what, this game looks promising.

If you paypal me 40$US I'll give you a alpha key to my new MMOG. 

[Redgiant]

Dawn ... Even today it is the subject of much ridicule...

But they make damn fine putters.

Thanks for reminding me about that GL-Jeff toasting. As always it was Lum 7, Random Asshole 0. Anything from LtM days is good enough for my sig.