Ryzom

This is easily the least friendly aspect of the game. It's the opposite of fun to pore through player auctions and NPC wares in the same list, looking for a mission item. And even after the training quest chain in the start area, there's a powerful stink of mystery about the whole thing. It'll take considerably longer than the time I have here to become anything other than inept at Crafting. For now, I'm going to have to move on, on the advice of the kindly passer-by who's helping me out.

That's one thing Ryzom still has in its favour - the small-town mentality makes it a much friendlier place than most MMOs. And making its players welcome - a feeling enhanced by the fact that it's currently free - is one thing that'll earn a game some loyalty. The crafting system could take a tip from its excellent players.

Hour 5: Guilding Up

Guild message of the hour:
"Christmas Party on the 21st"

As I reach Level 20 (Fighting) and unlock another item from my skill trainer, I accidentally unlock a new title. This acts as a substitute for a class, allowing me to label myself based on the skills I've earned. Obviously, someone calling themselves a healer could well whip my ass as a Fighter, too - but I'd probably get a couple of cheap shots in first.

I'm testing out the friendliness of the Universe Chat, a place that's designed for newcomers to ask questions, and experienced folk to answer. I ask a question: my client crashes. This isn't common enough to worry about, but it's badly timed. Now I look rude.

Logging in as my camp character, Ooello, I ask my question again, and a private chat window immediately pops up. Simply by talking in full sentences, and being apologetic and amiable, I end up with a new sword and set of boots. I say how much I'm enjoying the early stages, he says that he's been playing for three years. I check that my impressions of the game aren't entirely ignorant. He's happy to indulge me - "I'm bored of levelling at the moment," he explains. The idea that he's still levelling, three years in, makes me feel a hot flush of mortality.

After half an hour of chat, gift-crafting and general pleasantries, I'm invited to join the Atys Ghosts, one of the largest and oldest Guilds of Ryzom, according to my guide. It's not bad progress. I've not been here long, and I've got a support network. Just by not being an idiot.

Conclusion

Of course, it took me longer than five hours of pure gameplay to get this far. I set up a number of characters to make sure everything was as I imagined it, and had dozens of conversations with people, and read baker's dozens of FAQs, to go some way towards making sure I didn't make a slathering tit of myself. I might still have done, and this being the internet, I hope you'll let me know if I have.

Ryzom is an accomplished and ambitious game. From talking to people who played in the early days, there was a real feeling of incompletion, unplayability and bugginess back then. I saw very little evidence of that - although the interface isn't immediately welcoming or intuitive. For example, a couple of times, a party invite was hidden under a chat window. The experienced player knew what had happened, and told me to move my chat window. But if it's that common a problem, it's a fault.

You can't rely on the cliché that it's the people that make the game. If Albert Einstein and Gary Kasparov started punching each other in the dick, no-one would suggest it was the new chess. At the moment, I'm undecided. There's a lot to like, and a fair amount to dislike about Ryzom.

You can ignore the lore, leave the crafting until later, and suck up the unfair deaths and XP penalties. You'll find it easier - but you're also left with a game without the deepest rewards. The unapproachable stuff is the most compelling; you'll just get into it a lot faster if your father is a spreadsheet.

The unfriendliness of Ryzom is more than counterbalanced by the friendliness of the players. People are keen to help, or share your confusion. And if combining stuff to make more impressive stuff gets you a bit thrilled, then Ryzom will launch your brain towards the moon.