Initial impressions of Isle of Storms: new avatar in offline mode

I hadn't created a new avatar in ages, so I did so in offline mode. My initial impressions:

1. I logged in with my account and was presented with a list of avatars to choose from. My first thought was "Oh, I can only save one game per character created." I wondered what would happen if a game gets corrupted. I chose an empty slot which created a new character.

2. The tips for new players have been improved since the last time I started out on the Isle of Storms. It is easier to know what to do.

3. The Isle of Storms is very beautiful.

4. The dialogue system could use more differentiating colors. Both the tips the game gives you and the name of the person you are talking to are in yellow. While reading the dialogue, I wished that the name of the person I was talking to was a different color.

5. This game tells you from the outset:
To speak with Arabella, click on words underlined in what she says, or simply type whatever you would like to say.

In my experience (and I tried it again here with Arabella) "typing whatever you would like to say" leads to disappointment when no appropriate response is given. If this option was removed from the game I wouldn't miss it.

6. The initial confrontation with the Oracle was disappointing.
The Oracle asked me questions and I had to answer according to Truth, Love or Courage. I immediately understood that these concepts were important, and was excited to learn what affect my answers would have.

I ended up choosing the Path of Love, but then it turned out that the virtue had no importance at all. Only the skillset was important. If I preferred to start out with mage skills my Path was suddenly changed to Truth. That nullified the whole experience of answering the Oracle's questions.

I know that players were initially angry at being forced to start out with a particular skillset and that because of this the option to switch Paths was added to the game, but I wish that the choice of Path was independent of the choice of skills. It would have been so nice if the Oracle had determined that I should embark on the Path of Love and then asked me other questions to determine which skillset most suited me. Well, I guess it is too late to change anything now.

 

Agreed. I really hope they address this in the next couple weeks. Also this too.

 

I forgot to mention that after I said goodbye to Arabella and was looking about before going down the path to the mirror I heard that annoying "Yoo-hoo!" that NPCs in towns shout out. That seemed to be out of character for the situation I was in.

 

This is the most annoying thing to me in the Isle of Storms scene. I'm so glad I manifest in a strange, alien world to have some random person "YOOOHOO" me.

 

May be Arabella should teach us our first most important thing:
The "Yooohoo" Emote

Joke!

Please, no more "Yooohoos"...
No more "Player xxx..."
No more "underlined Keywords"
No more Pop up chat windows showing that information double on screen...

Thank you Kara Brae for your serious Feedback. It's so important for the whole story(feeling).

 

The sparkly wave... fine, I can deal with that. But the pointing to their own face?

WHO DOES THAT??!?!??!?!?

 

I think it means: "Come to me - talk to me!"

Well, beside this I understand your question ...
It's obvious that some emotions aren't perfect now and have to be polished and changed to fit more to the actual situation ...

 

*lol*

 

And in one picture, you have provided the perfect reason for removing this from the game! lol!

 

@Alley Oop well played.

 

I cannot agree with this heavily enough. I have maintained for years that the character creation questions should affect ATTRIBUTES, as opposed to skills. This would give the questions weight as to your character development, yet not tie you to a specific skillset.

Lum replied to this suggestion:

 

We can only wish for some kind of removal....

 

I would be happy, if the actual state provides the same amount in skill points equal on which path we are starting ...
I really don't know where the problem is to change this difference...
--> Information about different skill(points) depending on choosen path <--

 

I agree. For a game that emphasizes a classless system, keeping this cart ahead of its horse would have been felt more natural a gaming experience.