So if you're not familiar with the backstory, basically this game was pay-to-play, got a ton of work done on it, switched ownership a few times, went down for a while, and now is back up in the hands of people who are hosting the servers free of charge.  You can download the client at www.ryzom.com

The game is definitely an MMO, so expect grinding and "go get 10 of this" and all the other standard MMO bullshit.  However, there's a few things in the game that I really like, and are making me want to invest a good chunk of time in it.

• Non-traditional levelling system.
• Economy based entirely around player created items. (armor, weapons, etc)
• Fun and highly customizable combat system.
• Visual style that looks alot like a bizarre amalgamation of cyberpunk techno-stuff mixed with Elder Scrolls' Morrowind & Shivering Isles.
• Guns!
• It has all the balancing & polish of a pay-to-play MMO that has been patched heavily for years, and yet is completely free!
• No need to re-roll, ever.  If you want to specialize in something else, you can without any penalty.  Everyone can master everything if they really want to.

I just read THIS NeoGAF topic on it. It sounds ridiculously good, but I don't know if I have the time to invest...

FUCK IT. I'm installing it.

It looks cool, but I've been disappointed by MMO's so many times, I don't know if I have it in me to try another one. Can you elaborate on the "Fun and highly customizable combat system" because what I usually find so boring about MMO's is that the combat system is basically "Click on enemy to attack, press key 1 if you want to do a more powerful attack, press 0 to heal", If this is substantially different I might give it a try.

Well you get these things called stanzas.  You then group them together to form your attacks.

So for example, I can make #1:
Attack, Acid Damage, Increased Accuracy
#2:
Attack, Regular Damage
#3
Cure, Heal Poison
#4
Cure, Fire Protection
etc etc etc

Also, I'm not sure, but it seems like the cooldown is done BEFORE the attack.

Granted, it's very much an MMO, so if you're not to keen on that kind of combat, you probably won't like this.  I personally am not an MMO guy, but have been enjoying myself in this game.  I think it has alot to do with the built in mp3 player and macro maker, though.

I just read this on the Ryzom official forum :

"A lot of you have probably been wondering how long the testing phase and the associated free access for everyone will last. Well we can tell you for now that Ryzom will stay free for everyone *at least* until the end of October, and possibly longer. If you haven't done so already, or if you don't know what we're talking about and just want to try out game for free, you can download it here, and you can create a FREE Ryzom account on this page (Hurry up, no credit card required for the moment Wink )."

So its not forever basically.

Vaxadrin plays Ryzom until the end of October confirmed.

:(

I might give it a try. I've got nothing better to do for 2 weeks until I go back to university. I might as well waste it on an MMO. I'll download it tomorrow morning. My internet is super slow in the evening. It'll take ages to download at this speed.

I've got other things to play, but they'll last forever as far as I'm concerned. Might as well play this out I guess.

"I just read this on the Ryzom official forum :

"A lot of you have probably been wondering how long the testing phase and the associated free access for everyone will last. Well we can tell you for now that Ryzom will stay free for everyone *at least* until the end of October, and possibly longer. If you haven't done so already, or if you don't know what we're talking about and just want to try out game for free, you can download it here, and you can create a FREE Ryzom account on this page (Hurry up, no credit card required for the moment Wink )."

So its not forever basically.
"

Just played it for a good hour or so. I can definitely see why it died out as a P2P game. It's got great concepts, but a serious lack of polish. And by serious, I mean it has relatively none. I may post a blog of detailed impressions later.

I agree about the polish.  There's a ton of little things like sometimes having to click twice when you should only have to click once.

Something about it keeps drawing me to it...I think it's the art style.

If anyone does decide to give it a try, I have two characters on the English server, Vaxadrin & Vaxadril.

downloading now.

I will download once I feel like playing an mmorpg again...They all feel the same lately

I cant run it, my computer can barely do anything besides internet and video!


Oh well I guess

Player supported economy? Sounds kind of like luminary. I think I got upto level 35 in that game before I got board. My friend got up into the 80's or something.

i wouldve played if it came out in the summer.............

So what will it cost me.



If you know where that's from you get a cookie baked with love ;D.

I don't know where that's from.  Do I get a cookie baked with hate instead?

I might get it if lots of people sign on but I can't really sink that much time to it! especially with all the other games ocming out!

My computer has been rapidly deteriorating. I can't run that game. My computer can't even run the original Fallout.

i remember this getting great review back in the day.
However since i have a strict anti MMO/AntiSocialLife policy i wont try it.

Downloading now.

just started playing, its pretty good.
looks good, and I agree about polish.

Vaxadrin said:

"I agree about the polish.  There's a ton of little things like sometimes having to click twice when you should only have to click once.

Something about it keeps drawing me to it...I think it's the art style.

If anyone does decide to give it a try, I have two characters on the English server, Vaxadrin & Vaxadril."

Vaxadrin dragged me to the mainland. It's weird as hell. I definitely should have stayed on the preview island longer. Was only there for like 2 or 3 hours.

I'm getting my skills up though. Since I'm not in Fyros (my dude's native land), it'll be a while before I craft anything fyros-style. That's ghey :-/

I've been having trouble running it. After I choose my character, the load always stops. I've changed my router and firewall settings, but still nothing.

"I've been having trouble running it. After I choose my character, the load always stops. I've changed my router and firewall settings, but still nothing."