Rift MMO

[cosmonaut]

Yes Joby - a Mac can't really do everything.  ;)

Well, Warhammer runs on my Mac - but if I boot it with Windows Warhammer runs better ;p

I wouldn't mind giving it a try if anyone has any type of beta key available.

They hand out beta keys that are good for 25 uses, this one still should be full:
3HEQ-2FD7-DQRZ-7Y7R-NT2K

and @King
Well, my instinct tells me to distrust anything that is hyped, I'm going to believe it when I see it.
I think we can agree there. :)
I haven't seen much so far, but I know where to find my guild - they are playing Rift alpha, beta and omega. Some of them are MMO vets, the guild used to be active in GW, WoW, Aion and DOAC, too.
Some still play WoW, getting a high level toon is a huge time investment and you get attached, if I enjoyed the game I wouldn't abandon them either.

[Jobydrone]

Yes Joby - a Mac can't really do everything.  ;)

Oh Boo Hoo!  Like I have any time for a new MMO anyway. ;) ;) ;)

Actually I am more tempted to try DC Universe Online.  I've heard varying reports of course, some have said they can hit the level cap in one or two days, and that the queues for end game instanced content are hours long if they're running at all....but it sounds so cool.  The various podcasters I've listened to seem split.  The Giant Bomb guys hated it, while Jeff Canata from Weekend Confirmed and Totally Rad loved it beyond words.  I want to try it on PS3, but $60 bucks + $15 a month is too steep considering I am still addicted to WoW.

[cosmonaut]

Trion Worlds today announced dates for the sixth Rift™ closed beta event, "Planar War." The event is scheduled to begin at 10 AM PST Friday, February 4th and end at 10 AM PST Monday, February 7th.

http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.php?44961-Rift%99-%93Planar-War%94-Beta-Event-Set-to-Kick-off-on-February-4

[billybob476]

If anyone else wants a key, mmorpg.com got more then 4000 beta keys. You just need to make an account on their site and log in to get one. 3400 remaining.

http://www.mmorpg.com/giveaways.cfm/offer/257/Rift-Beta-Key-Grab.html

[Rico]

Cool Joe!  Thanks! 
Off I go....

[Rico]

Ok, so I'm all signed up and got my key, etc.  Do these Beta "events" only go for a few days?  So the servers are only up at certain times??

[cosmonaut]

Ok, so I'm all signed up and got my key, etc.  Do these Beta "events" only go for a few days?  So the servers are only up at certain times??

Yes, they have events that usually run a few days, every time there are more levels and areas available.

The lower levels are said to be very standard fantasy MMO you see the first rifts over level 6 and enter the contested areas at level 20.

I should also mention the soul tree calculator, allows you to try different builds (though it might not be up to date), looks like the one in the game
http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html
You pick an archetype, and at level 12 you will have three souls, spend your points as you wish. Even better, you can then purchase new roles and get different builds with different souls on the same toon! :)
(That's something I really love, don't have to level a dps, a tank, and a healer, I have my archetype and can just switch to another role!)

Planar War
Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 at 10:00 AM PST (18:00 GMT) through 10:00 AM PST (18:00 GMT) on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011

Levels 1-35

Telara is left in chaos as the elemental planes force their way into reality. The armies of Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Life, and Death launch devastating invasions through the rifts opening across the land. Beat back the invasions and eliminate the planar blight that's eroding this once-prosperous world.

Play to win! Seal any rift and receive planar loot and you could be eligible to win an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 video card! Terms and conditions apply, click here for details. And In-Game Prize Packs will be given away to ten (10) select players who complete the objective!

Beta Event dates subject to change and/or cancellation at any time in Trion's sole discretion.

http://www.riftgame.com/en/beta/schedule/listings/111810_planarwar.php

[Rico]

Sounds like fun!  So this coming weekend I should be able to give Rift a go.

[cosmonaut]

Sounds like fun!  So this coming weekend I should be able to give Rift a go.

Yay, see you there! :)

[billybob476]

I haven't logged in either, is there more then one server?

[cosmonaut]

I haven't logged in either, is there more then one server?

Yes, I didn't count but they had like 20 servers and added more as they all filled up. And that's only the US area, there are probably more for the European area.

They come in:
PvP (Player versus Player)
PvE (Player versus Environment)
PvP-RP (Roleplay)
PvE-RP

Difference is, on the PvE servers you will have to flag yourself if you want to fight the other faction, unless you are in a contested area or want to capture one of their towns. I heard the PvE servers have more mature players and are less prone to ganking and griefing. Haven't encountered it so far, but it's already happening. :(

Defiant side is more popular than Guardian, I think mostly for the lore, but there are also different racial abilities, everything else is mirrored.

My guild Gaiscioch is presently on Faeblight (PvE-RP?), Guardian side, if you go there and need a guild just ask for an invite.

[cosmonaut]

http://h20435.www2.hp.com/t5/The-Next-Bench-Blog/Trion-Rift-Opens-on-HP-Servers/ba-p/61333
That's an article about the servers and how the innovative setup is supposed to prevent server crashes when many players are in the same area.
Should allow some battles of epic proportions, and coming from Warhammer I'll be duly impressed if this runs smooth.


And that's their plan for Saturday:

RIFT Stress Test
Saturday, Feb 5, 2011,12:00 PM – 2:00PM PST
We've had heaps of players in the RIFT beta, and we're really proud of how the shards are holding up. We think they can handle pretty much whatever we throw at them... so let's throw more stuff! We're hosting a special "Bring Down the House" event this Saturday to see just how much they can handle. The proverbial gauntlet has been thrown down and to make it worth your while, we'll be giving away 100 In-Game Prize Packs, and an Nvidia GTX 460 video card. All you have to do is play for the duration of the event.
Bring it. We dare you. Because seriously, the riftspawn were saying some pretty rude things about all your moms.

[billybob476]

Yeah I got that email this morning, hopefully I'll have time Saturday to log in!

[Rico]

Hmmm, no email for me yet today.

[X]

Just heard about this. Grabed a key and now going to see what's going on