RIFT POLL -- Guardian or Defiant??

[Wild]

Excerpt from Rift:

The people of Telara are now convinced that the end of the world is at hand. In these desperate final days, two major factions have arisen to battle the coming apocalypse: the Guardians and the Defiant. Though each faction wants to save the world, their beliefs and methods differ, and they war upon each other as often as they do other enemies of Telara.

Guardians:

Guardians are the chosen of the Telara's gods, the Vigil. When the tyrant Aedraxis called forth the power of the Plane of Death and devastated Telara, the Vigil chose the most powerful souls taken by the Shade to be the archons of the next age. A golden age awaits, but Telara must first be saved — by deed, by example, or by the sword. Its people must be redeemed, its corruptors cleansed. Only then will the Guardians be imbued with the divine and ascend to a higher level.

Defiant:

The Defiant do not care whether the gods abandoned the world or not. To them, this entire planar convergence disaster is the gods' fault in the first place. Indeed, as soon as things went from bad to worse, the gods suddenly and inexplicably disappeared.

So while the Guardians run around Telara building temples, sticking their noses in everyone's business, and desperately praying for a miracle, the Defiant plan on actually delivering one, even if it means being branded as heretics and operating outside the laws of the land.

[Wild]

As with Callings, I already know that I'll dabble with each faction to see how the quests differ (if at all), etc. I imagine everyone else will, too! =p

My fond hope is that it is like EQII at the outset (not sure if it is the same way) where a race can defect to the other side because they saw the error of their ways (yes, I want to select the race of my choosing for avatar bonding).

This is just for group-ability -- so that we know what faction to make at creation for beta.

[Glipkerio]

Go Defiants!!

[Wild]

I voted Guardian, because it's my ideology more than Defiant, but if it came right down to it, I'd go where the guild goes. Just prefer Guardian.

[Traxxis DarkClaw]

I voted Guardian, because it's my ideology more than Defiant, but if it came right down to it, I'd go where the guild goes. Just prefer Guardian.


I choose Defiant It fits my personality better then those Mambe Panbe Guardians.

[Craeat]

With the anouncement of .......... (wait for it).............. PALADINS


I will have to go 100% guardian as it looks like only guardian get paladins.

Craeat

[Nepenthia]

The more that is posted, the more I'm thinking I definitely want to try both factions. It's not the usual good vs evil from what I can read. Rather ... it's two sides fighting the same evil but each side is so convinced it's right and the other is wrong that they'd just as soon kill each other along with the really bad guys from the rifts. Doesn't sound like that old saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend at all!!

[Wild]

The more that is posted, the more I'm thinking I definitely want to try both factions. It's not the usual good vs evil from what I can read. Rather ... it's two sides fighting the same evil but each side is so convinced it's right and the other is wrong that they'd just as soon kill each other along with the really bad guys from the rifts. Doesn't sound like that old saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend at all!!


I definitely will make one of each faction. We just need to devote our energies to one or the other for guild-building. Not sure how we can do that. I have good friend that only wants to be Defiant and another that only wants to be a Guardian <torn completely> This is awful. =(

[Colla]

I ... I have good friend that only wants to be Defiant and another that only wants to be a Guardian <torn completely> This is awful. =(

Not to make light of your quandry, but, strikes me as odd that somebody developing a game and putting people in that type of predicament should be giving that some thought.

[Nepenthia]

What I am not clear yet on is how at high levels the two factions will interact. After all, they are both against the denizens of the rifts. So, assuming we are on a pve server, would we be allowed to group up on the higher level stuff? If so, we don't have a real problem. If not, then we may need to organize more tightly.

[Glipkerio]

From

Riftgame.com Faq (http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.php?1137-Rift-Feature-Guide-Expanded#ig_ref_faq)


Guilds
There are guilds.
Possible guild only content through guild mechanic? (guild only encounters? guild progression content?) [14] [Pending]
You cannot create guilds across factions. [faq]


Groups
Max out at 5 characters. [15]
You cannot group across factions. [faq]

[Nepenthia]

Nods Maye, thanks for posting that .... someone on the forums posted somewhere that Scott Hartsman said they hadn't decided for sure. Haven't checked today to see if anyone responded to the thread going on on the Rift forums.

[Glipkerio]

" Players can choose between the Defiant and Guardian factions. The Defiant are a technology-based faction who throw caution to the wind and seek out forbidden “world-destroying” technology to pursue their cause. The Guardians are the “chosen ones of the gods” as the gods require an army, and this army consists of the best men and women of particular specializations, whether or not they were good or bad people in life."


Scott Hartsman Interview (http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/431/feature/4446/page/1)

[Belarios]

...and by “world-destroying technology" they mean the ipad.

[tdewey10]

I voted defiant but don't really care. I am guessing we'll end up guardian - anyway I think defiant uses guns or pseudo-tech which can be a little silly in a fantasy MMO ;-)

[tdewey10]

If, as I understand it, Paladins are Guardian only, given the SV background in VG having far more Paladins than DK (I gather the SK/DK equivalent is the Reaver which is Defiant only) I'd suggest that Guardian will make the most sense for Live (assuming we all decide to go forward with Live - it is always possible we get into beta, play it, decide it is too buggy/unbalanced/etc to play Live). Of course in Beta, hopefully they don't have the faction restrictions until late beta (otherwise I would think there would be problems testing everything).

[tdewey10]

Okay I think the Guardians have the better racials. So, if the racials don't change, yet another reason to go Guardian.



http://telarapedia.com/wiki/Race

Each race has 2 passive and 1 Instant. The Instants are what matter most, IMHO. And 1 passive is essentialy the same for all (each race gets addtional resistance versus one type of magic).

Guardian Instants (All 5 min cooldowns)
Dwarf: Second Wind - Regen 30% of Health over 6 seconds.
Mathosian: Heroic Resolve - healing for 1/2 damage recieved for next 30 seconds up to 1/2 helath
High Elf: Wisdome of the Ages - increase regen rates for various stats for 15 seconds.




Defiler Instants (All 5 min cooldowns)
Bahmi: Sefir of Power - Increase Spell and Attack power by 40% for next 10 seconds.
Eth: Magic Shiled - Absorb damge up to 25% of max health for next 20 seconds
Kelari: Kelari Frenzy - Increase Critical Hit chance by 10% for next 15 seconds.

I think the two healing Guardian ones are >>> anything else. Particularly the Dwarf racial. In fact, if the dwarf racial doesn't change I'm playing one.


Edit: I should add I am thinking like a monk here. Obviously - if you're playing a cleric class something like the High Elf could be better. Generally though, given the handyness of self-healing, I think the Guardians are more useful.

[tdewey10]

Sorry for the spam - but as was pointed out on the rift boards. The passives do matter. Here's the full list.

Mathosian

* Heroic Resolve: Healing for half the damage received per hit for the next 30 seconds for a total of half maximum health. 5 Minute cooldown.
* Thedeor's Will: Increases all damage dealt by 1%.
* Legacy of the Shade: Death resistance increased by 20.

High Elf

* Wisdom of Ages: Increases mana, charge, energy, power regeneration for 15 seconds. 5 minute cooldown.
* Tavril's Grace: Increases all healing received by 3%.
* Grace of the Forest: Life resistance increased by 20.

Dwarf

* Second Wind: Regain 30% of health over 6 seconds. 5 minute cooldown.
* Bahralt's Mettle: Endurance increased by 5%.
* Miracle of Hammerknell: Water resistance increased by 20.


Ethian

* Eth-Made Shield Generator: Absorbs damage equal to 25% of maximum health, last for 20 seconds, 5 minute cooldown.
* Sun's Fortune: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom, Endurance increased by 2%.
* Desert Dweller's Birthright: Earth resistance increased by 20.

Kelari

* Kelari Frenzy: Increases critical hit by 10% for 15 seconds, 5 minute cooldown.
* Critical strikes deal 10% more damage or healing.
* Legacy of the Fire Islands: Fire resistance increased by 20.

Bahmi

* Sefir of Power: Spell and Attack Power increased by 40% for 10 seconds, 5 minute cooldown.
* Sefir of Constitution: Reduces all damage taken by 2%.
* Shalastir Heritage: Air resistance increased by 20.


The Bahmi passive is pretty nice.
Ultimately the choice is gong to come down to the tanks.

Apparently you can aquire any soul in a calling. So the Defiant can get the Paladin soul - just not at the start.

Since the life of the MT is of supreme importance to the health of the raid, the question is which is better (assuming the racials dont change).

The Bahmi 2% continuous damage reduction
The Mathosian healing instant

As noted on the boards the racials, as they are right now, seem to shoehorn the classes a bit. The Bahmi and Mathosian racials are >>> for tanks than any of the other classes.

Anyway, wanted to correct my first post. I'm not a tank - but my thought is that the Mathosian clutch healing instant is better than the passive continuous damage reduction. But maybe I'm wrong? Obviously we don't have full or even 10% info about healing abilities.

[DrEscobar]

With the anouncement of .......... (wait for it).............. PALADINS


I will have to go 100% guardian as it looks like only guardian get paladins.

Craeat

I think there is a mirror class in Defiant? Ill go find it later...

[DrEscobar]

I think I will wait to make a vote until either more info comes out, or some of get to mess around in beta some...

PS here is the complete class list. Seeing as how there is 4 from each faction, I think it is designed to have mirror classes in each side.

Warrior

1. Beastmaster
2. Champion
3. Paladin [G]
4. Paragon
5. Reaver [D]
6. Riftblade
7. Void Knight
8. Warlord

Cleric

1. Cabalist
2. Druid
3. Purifier [D]
4. Inquisitor
5. Justicar
6. Sentinel [G]
7. Shaman
8. Warden

Rogue

1. Assassin [G]
2. Bard [H]
3. Blade Dancer [H]
4. Marksman [H]
5. Nightblade [D]
6. Ranger
7. Riftstalker [H]
8. Saboteur [H]

Mage

1. Archon
2. Chloromancer
3. Dominator
4. Elementalist
5. Necromancer
6. Pyromancer [G]
7. Storm Caller
8. Warlock [D]

[tdewey10]

I think there is a mirror class in Defiant? Ill go find it later...


Everybody gets everything.

The only difference is the start.

Both G/D Warriors get access to Paladin souls. But the guardians get to start out with them. Trion doesn't want to deal with faction class balance issues a la WoW.

[Nepenthia]

I think someone on forums or on the FoH board was talking about a fairly fast "played" time to max level. I'm actually thinking about leveling up at least one character on each side, just for the fun of experiencing the world from a different perspective.

[DrEscobar]

I think someone on forums or on the FoH board was talking about a fairly fast "played" time to max level. I'm actually thinking about leveling up at least one character on each side, just for the fun of experiencing the world from a different perspective.

Im not sure you will be able to actually play both sides unless you get 2 accts. And the problem with that will be the "battleground" areas. Endgame will have enough spies around trying to gather info on what the other side is doing that it will be hard to keep things straight I think.

i think we will have to pick a side and commit to that one.

[Glipkerio]

Defiant Trailer (http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/431/view/videos/play/1783/E3-2010-Defiant-Faction-Trailer.html)