Thoughts on DDO beta so far

Ok, I know I promised to run down the basic character setup for W O T A N, the PBBG project I am working on. While I could consider myself tardy with that, whatever.

I am angsty over it because I have not been working on it as much as I would like lately. This is largely due to real-life concerns, but also to some semi-serious DDO beta playing. I truly wish I was insouciant enough to break the NDA regarding the various game changes (specifically the Turbine ((micro-transaction)) Store, but alas I won't. Though I think I will say a couple things.

There are some misconceptions floating around about the store and the role it plays in the game. Without going into specifics (that honestly are floating around out there from others who won't let an NDA hold them back) the store is not as "bad" as it seems most are currently making it out to be.  Bad meaning it will kill the game.

There are some things available that I really don't think should be, there are some that I think should be available that others don't and there are some things most agree should or shouldn't be available. However, the one thing that stands out in my mind is that, with DDO at least, having all of this and more available in the shop would not really impact the overall game anyway.

What I am driving at, is that DDO has little or none of the community balancing issues that other "regular" MMOs face in terms of crafting and PVP. How does it honestly impact my game if your guild uses store-bought ********** on your raid? (edit: LOL, I actually typed out the full name of the item and caught it at the last second.)

Likewise, while I genuinely enjoy the DDO gameplay, I doubt I will ever be more than "casual" player so how does it impact that raiding guild's game if I choose to unlock certain game aspects by buying them rather than grinding them out with all that extra time I do not have?

I know I do not have the experience of having been following DDO for the past 40 months, however when I have played and what I have read lead me to believe it won't impact either of our games in the slightest. This is also where DDO's reliance on heavy instancing will be a strength.

In fact it is the instancing that has always made me see a little of Guild Wars in DDO. And that convinced me personally that DDO would probably fare better as f2p game - imagine my surprise and delight when they announced that very plan! I also wonder if that plays some part in what seems to be generally a warm reaction to the announcement. DDO never felt like a subscription-based game. Although with the hybrid-payment model they introduced I will probably find myself subbing an occasional month here and there where otherwise I might not have.

Also to clear up a misconception I have read more than once that should not violate the NDA, yes it will be possible to grind all of the important content (you might have to prioritize and forgo some cosmetics or other non-essential stuff). And I am sure there will be some people who do it. I also highly doubt it will be easy or go quickly.

At this point the general Turbine Point-to-dollar ratio is not heavily favorable for those seeking the entirely free route (for obvious reasons, i.e. running a game costs money and if a business doesn't make money it isn't a business), but it can be done. And it becomes easier the more paid shortcuts you take - and easy here is not defined in terms of "gaming skill" but in terms of "grind." (Given the nature of a few store options some might contest this point.)

Well, gotta cut this short - real life beckons. Time to go tie the hangman's noose.