World of Darkness Online - Confirmed

in the long term, i may get a casual gaming character on the wodmmo when it comes out, and if the price is right.

but until then, the next expansion of wow gives me chance to play a werewolf in an online game, so i will stick to that for now.

I'm quitting WOW, the Cataclysm expansion holds no interest for me and I've just about played the game out.

I know I will get World of Darkness Online when it comes out, if only to give it a try.  I should be ready for another MMO again by then.

wow, so I must have done some crappy skimming over the last 6 pages, but IS there any definitive information out there about WoD online?
i get the joke stuff, but is it even confirmed that it will look anything like OWoD? NWoD?
is there anything of interest to even talk about yet?

illiterati:

wow, so I must have done some crappy skimming over the last 6 pages, but IS there any definitive information out there about WoD online?
i get the joke stuff, but is it even confirmed that it will look anything like OWoD? NWoD?
is there anything of interest to even talk about yet?

Actually yes, we do have information. There have been several interviews over the course of the past few years, which can be found here: http://forums.gamespy.com/world_of_darkness_mmo_general_discussion/b50383/7330678/p1/?0

There's also this speculative fanpage: http://purgatologia.pbworks.com/World-of-Darkness

Even what limited information we have are assurances to the public, much like political assurances in the United States.  At present, we don't really know whether or not CCP even has enough money to make an MMORPG but we'd all love to see them make one, as it appears they're the best candidates for the job.  I mean, you know, with all other candidates looking like thoughtcriminals, it's only obvious CCP are the best guys.  Same goes for White Wolf to an extent.

We must assume that White Wolf and CCP are working together joyously, crafting an excellent MMORPG that they can afford to run and run well even should millions of players log in on the first month, that the areas have been built (like major metropolitan regions in the real world) with millions of people in mind.  And we can only hope there won't be static quests, levels, and grinding.

(please delete this)

WW + CCP = (WoDMMORPG) epic win!

Any word on whether we can expect the initial release to be Mac compatible?

I think that Vampirism's weakness to sunlight would be necessary for game balance if the game is going to include other races of Super.  Sure, vampires and wolves get along fine in the dark, but what about light-loving Obrimos or sun-loving Summer Changelings?

Of course, if your Retainer merit gets you a playable mule character/pet, Vampires could easily switch to their "ghouls" to play out daylight hours mostly doing gopher work and defending the sleeping vampire.  Or, you could play a different character once your vampire goes to sleep, switching to go level up your Mage or Werewolf.  Or, of course, you could find something else to do for an hour.  Like chores.  Or eating.  As horrible as that might sound.

glamourweaver:

Any word on whether we can expect the initial release to be Mac compatible?

That would be very interesting!  I think inclusion of Macintosh audiences might permit for greater audience interaction.  Also, I do believe Macintosh is largely untapped as a customer base for interesting (and mature and complex) computer games.

cleverest of things:

Of course, if your Retainer merit gets you a playable mule character/pet, Vampires could easily switch to their "ghouls" to play out daylight hours mostly doing gopher work and defending the sleeping vampire.  Or, you could play a different character once your vampire goes to sleep, switching to go level up your Mage or Werewolf.  Or, of course, you could find something else to do for an hour.  Like chores.  Or eating.  As horrible as that might sound.

Given that some users would only log in for a few hours of play, perhaps manuevering ones NPC through a variety of UI and gameplay interfaces might be handy.  Ever hear of The Agency MMO?  NPC agents call the user on their pager and I *think* might send email, reporting on their assignments and missions, progress, and problems.  The World of Darkness might have a similar feature.  Also, since this game is set in the Modern Gothic, we might see an in-game internet (or bulletin board system like Schrecknet from VtM Bloodlines) or at least in-game smartphone use.

Keep in mind that vampires don't need to sleep during the day but should stay out of sunlight.  There are many opportunities for vampire activity during sunlight hours.  However keep in mind that innumerable situations in real life could yield a vampire outside without protection during the daylight, including network failure, personal computer error, bathroom break, pet care, child care, emergency, or even power outage.  There might be a system govering automated retreat to a pre-defined area (or even default area with user configuration and exigency options chosen from apparent escapes).  However, daylight might also be the result of a vampire's player clicking "end turn" button or even something more role-play oriented like clicking on a rest command and accepting a choice whether or not to revoke that command.

The best option to me seems to be automated retreat before light even breaks... but retreat could be cut off by strange situations.  Then again, given that the game is based on a Storytelling system, it's more likely that end-night will be subjective and governed by the player of any given vampire (which makes scheduling and actual date rather peculiar, if it's even included in the game -- this could offset in-game news broadcasts and such).  Also, if there is an extensive network of underground dwellings and shopping malls and an effective subterranean city, making the region valuable for vampires, we can understand the millions of vampires flocking to the city.

Also, there's the concept of "slowing time" which would be valuable in many regards except in equating game seasonal holidays with real holidays.  Also there's the long evening, such as is had in areas closeby the terrestial podal areas.  This can provide more realism but handy positioning for vampires, and the wealth of human presence might be due to population clustering from technological comforts.  An underground city with internal heating throughout and dry, watersafe passages might be so ideal that droves of secluded settlements are abandoned in favor of such a city.  And the preservation of the wild areas throughout the Far North might provide ample opportunity for werewolves to take the abandoned land.  Finally, similar cities might appear.

A better solution might be a mixture of gameplay approaches to diurnal progression and vampire safety.  Some servers might use "slow time progression" while others might use a subjective time approach.

It is of course also possible that at first it will only feature Vampires. If you go on the official site and on the news of CCP and White Wolf merging (merging news) you'll see that they present the license of  WoD and VTR. So my guess is, that at first we'll only get to play mortals and vampires, which would make the whole thing a lot easier to get started. Eventhough I would also enjoy to play a mage :-)

I have been the 'The White Wolf Party' twice in a row at GDG (now the CCP Party). In the shadows were LCDs with a cool collage of dark Gothic images that will not be found in any of the WoD Books. I am fairly certain these were concept paintings for the MMO.

Tease :p

Kry8ter:

In the shadows were LCDs with a cool collage of dark Gothic images that will not be found in any of the WoD Books.

If I might be so bold as to ask, what activities were shewn in these LCDs?  If combat, what sort of weaponry or mixed supernatural types battling?  If city scenes, what city or environs did it seem to resemble?  If solitary contemplation, were there any tech gadgets or clothing fashions that suggest at game-play or wide ranges of costume choice?  Were there images obviously not of vampires but obviously of supernatural beings without vampires in the same picture?

Are you just kidding us about the LCDs?

No, not kidding. Here is what I can remember. One was a subway scene similar to one of the pics in the main WoD book. Another was a fetid bathroom. Other was similar to time square filled with people but no so bright and lit up with signs. Another looked like the scene of a bloody Cruac ritual. There are others sure. Something like a vampire queen or litch. Some were character art, most were setting.