Vindictus player, thinking about Mabinogi

• Masterdo wrote on 2010-12-07 13:08
  Hey there!
  
  I've been playing Vindictus for about 6 weeks now, thoroughly enjoying it so far. I quite like the story and the settings, but since so far it's pretty limited, my thoughts turned to the original Mabinogi.
  
  I have a few questions about the game and thought the people on this forum might help. So far the community on the Vindictus side is really solid here.
  
  So here we go :
  
  1) How much of a pay to win is this game? While "leveling" and at the end content?
  
  I have nothing against cash shop. I usually am alright with spending 30-40$ after a few weeks, equivalent to buying any other boxed game, then a few bucks now and there, when a promotion interests me. My problem is when it takes a few hundred dollars a month to play with the big boys, or to be able to craft things, etc. That type of major pay to win is usually a let down. How is Mabinogi there?
  
  2) How often content is added?
  
  I know that Vindictus is not really an mmo, but we are often stuck waiting for content. It'll probably take me a while to catch up and be at a point where I would wait for content in Mabinogi, but if I like the game I just might get there :p So, does the game keep you busy even after a long while? If not, is it updated fast enough so it doesn't feel like just waiting? In game events help too usually, is there any nice ones regularly in Mabi?
  
  3) Last one : How is crafting /economy in Mabinogi? For some reasons, in most MMOs I tend to really like playing the economy, become a sort of crafter. A couple of things in some games that can completely kill this type of gameplay would be : Excessive botting, they sell everything half the reasonable price, you can't do squat. Or the crafting is based on the size of your wallet (cash shop). Or whatever you craft / enhance you can't trade after...
  
  Not that it matters that much if it isn't in game, I just know I'll end up at least looking for this, so I might as well ask those who know up front :p
  
  Thanks for reading and even more if you take the time to answer a few of these. Trying to figure out if it's worth time and money to get started :p If you have pointers, like what to watch for, what to expect, feel free :) If indeed I like the game, I hope I can contribute something back to this board and enjoy it with you guys!
  
  Thanks.
• Osayidan wrote on 2010-12-07 13:32
  I'll just answer the first one then.
  If you don't spend any money on this game you can still enjoy it to a very limited extent, but you won't have pets, have to wait 3 weeks to rebirth (and if you play more than very casual that's way too much), and miss out on tons of benefits like revivals by Nao, storage space and random bonuses from cash shop.
  Someone who does use cash shop and who starts at the same time as you and plays the same amount of time as you will probably be 3 times ahead of you at a minimum.
• Aubog007 wrote on 2010-12-07 13:44
  becoming a serious competitor in crafting as of this point takes a LOT of time and dedication to be recognized.
• Masterdo wrote on 2010-12-07 13:52
  Well, downloading the game anyway :p I guess I'll see. Is there a nice guide resource somewhere, or a wiki I can read while this downloads?
  
  I know in most games I've played there are a few very nice resources, things that when I see new players asking questions I just think "I wish this guy read THAT before asking a million questions". I'm looking for this thing for mabi :p Anyone got a place I can find this?
  
  Thanks for the answers so far!
• Pocoyo wrote on 2010-12-07 13:54
  Well since Chise answered the first question, I'll have a go and answer the second one.
  
  Mabinogi will always keep you busy, even when you have ranked a fair amount of skills. If you were to start now, you would be busy training skills and still have a fair amount to go by the time G13 comes around. If you get bored of training combat skills theres always life skills, which are challenging but fun and can be rewarding. Theres rarely a time without events on Mabi and theres a fair amount of good ones, but then there is the bad and useless ones.
  
  
  

  Quote from Masterdo;239826:

  Well, downloading the game anyway :p I guess I'll see. Is there a nice guide resource somewhere, or a wiki I can read while this downloads?
  
  I know in most games I've played there are a few very nice resources, things that when I see new players asking questions I just think "I wish this guy read THAT before asking a million questions". I'm looking for this thing for mabi :p Anyone got a place I can find this?
  
  Thanks for the answers so far!

  
  
  Mabinogi has a wiki, which is http://wiki.mabinogiworld.com/index.php?title=Wiki_Home and theres also another one which you should use when the first one is down, http://mabinoger.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page. The second one is not as up to date, but still useful.
• Osayidan wrote on 2010-12-07 13:55
  There's the guides section here for helpful info for varying levels of experience, and then mabi world wiki for data on skill ranks and things like that.
• Masterdo wrote on 2010-12-07 14:01
  Awesome, thanks. Should keep me busy for a while. Trying to get a few resources so I can find what I want on my own after, thanks for helping me out :)
  
  Then the dreaded question : The first thing I'll probably have to do will be to choose a server... Any suggestions?
• Pocoyo wrote on 2010-12-07 14:04

  Quote from Masterdo;239831:

  Awesome, thanks. Should keep me busy for a while. Trying to get a few resources so I can find what I want on my own after, thanks for helping me out :)
  
  Then the dreaded question : The first thing I'll probably have to do will be to choose a server... Any suggestions?

  
  
  Id say play on Ruari. I'm on that sever and I'll gladly help you out.
  
  EDIT: Just realised, My post count is now 666!!!
• kevinXIV wrote on 2010-12-07 14:18
  even if you are playing for years.. you will still be busy.. if you plan to rank all skills to max.. you need about ~3 years with constant weekly rebirths and level up to 50/25 at least (approximate)..
  
  with regards on what server you should choose..
  
  Mari is the oldest
  Alexina is the newest
  
  others i dunno what to say lol..
  
  wiki will do the rest..
• Cannibal wrote on 2010-12-07 14:22
  I suggest Alexina for new players.
• Karmel wrote on 2010-12-07 14:25
  @ #3. its horrid really, the useful stuff is low in value while the most useless things are high in value
• Zid wrote on 2010-12-07 15:24

  Quote from Masterdo;239811:

  1) How much of a pay to win is this game? While "leveling" and at the end content?
  
  I have nothing against cash shop. I usually am alright with spending 30-40$ after a few weeks, equivalent to buying any other boxed game, then a few bucks now and there, when a promotion interests me. My problem is when it takes a few hundred dollars a month to play with the big boys, or to be able to craft things, etc. That type of major pay to win is usually a let down. How is Mabinogi there?

  
  
  Usually, your initial "$30-$40" will be to pay for permanent pets and appearances.
  
  How much is "pay to win"? About... $15 for Premium Services, then about $7 per week to rebirth (the method used to gain more power, so to speak) weekly instead of the free 3 week rebirth. That's usually about $35-$45 monthly, plus some more if you want to buy speed training potions with NX.
  
  Of course, the game can be enjoyed just as well without spending any money at all (except for pets and appearances). That's how many Mabinogi players play, in my opinion.
  
  In terms of leveling, rebirths will always make sure you're in combat/exploration, leveling to however long you can handle (There's no true level cap in Mabinogi). End game content, there's a lot in Mabinogi. Getting to Rank 1 of every skill will take years of hard work, and I don't mean a few years either. Getting the best equipments and enchants will take a lot of effort and luck.
  
  And when I mean years... I mean years without a playing time cap like Vindictus with its token system.
  
  

  Quote from Masterdo;239811:

  2) How often content is added?
  
  I know that Vindictus is not really an mmo, but we are often stuck waiting for content. It'll probably take me a while to catch up and be at a point where I would wait for content in Mabinogi, but if I like the game I just might get there :p So, does the game keep you busy even after a long while? If not, is it updated fast enough so it doesn't feel like just waiting? In game events help too usually, is there any nice ones regularly in Mabi?

  
  
  Yeah, it does. The end game content, like I said, will plow a row in your life and keep you busy. NA Mabinogi has been updated frequently (large amounts of new content has been added every 2 months since 6 months ago), but new game content release is expected to slow down significantly after catching up with KR Mabinogi (G13).
  
  We get events about every week or so. However, good events are diamonds in the rough.
  
  

  Quote from Masterdo;239811:

  3) Last one : How is crafting /economy in Mabinogi? For some reasons, in most MMOs I tend to really like playing the economy, become a sort of crafter. A couple of things in some games that can completely kill this type of gameplay would be : Excessive botting, they sell everything half the reasonable price, you can't do squat. Or the crafting is based on the size of your wallet (cash shop). Or whatever you craft / enhance you can't trade after...

  
  
  There's really an extensive crafting system in Mabinogi, and it takes a lot of money (under-exaggeration) and effort to get to the top. It's a competitive economy, very player-driven.
  
  There are bots in this game in the economy, but they work in the lower tier of the market, usually materials (like finding ores). The higher tiers (Blacksmithing/Tailoring/Enchanting/Synthesis) are left untouched by them and are controlled by the players.
  
  Crafting based on the size of your wallet? Well... ^^;
  
  Everything crafted can be traded. The only things in Mabinogi that can't be traded are equipment that's been upgraded with "Personalized" on them, enchants/enchanted equipment that has "Personalized" on them, and a very few select items. Most of every item you see though, can be traded.
  
  Mabinogi Wiki can do you well on the basics of Mabinogi, and Mabination's guides are good stepping stones too.
• Archibald wrote on 2010-12-07 15:34
  Ive been playing for 1 year and 8 months now and I still love this game and have so many goals yet to achieve. Crafting in Mabi is fun. If your serious about lifeskilling feel free to talk to anyone in Kugnae on Alexina if thats the server you join. We are a lifeskills based guild. If I may suggest though yo won't be doing any serious lifeskilling for probrably your first month in mabi, maybe 2.
  
  The major weaknesses of mabi are Elf vs giant fighting and the dueling system. They are fun but very imbalanced.
• Masterdo wrote on 2010-12-07 15:40
  That post was truly awesome Zid, thanks a lot. Already pretty busy reading the wiki, will be for a while I guess :p
  
  There seems to be a lot of positive on those 3 subjects, I'm glad. This community seems awesome too, just like the Vindictus side of the forum. Amazing.
  
  Btw, I think we played a few dungeons together at some point, Seradia on East servers. I'll be sure to say hi next time I meet you :)
  
  Have a good one!
• motorpoep wrote on 2010-12-07 15:43
  If you decide to move on mabinogi,i would be glad to see you. Too bad i am on the EU server :<