Tenti

I loved this game (story mode), but I've never got on with online play (I'm the wrong side of 50 now and hate being "owned" by lightning fingered 14yo with time to burn). But as I love playing around in this "world", and as I could get in on Day2, I thought I'd give it a go. On the whole I love it, but I am seeing many comments about "Griefers" (new word for me). But are they really a problem? I read other posts on here, with some great tips/tactics on how to deal with them. So I played last night with the intention of trying these new techniques..and not one person randomly shot me!! To be fair, I have played Beta for at least 30hrs and I have been shot for no reason about 10 times. Most often just a late 19th century drive-by. A couple of times someone has tried I was able to defend my self and send them packing (which felt great!!). The one time I did get "owned" was when I mistakenly "sniped" someone (I'm claiming mistaken identity), who then hunted me down and killed me 5 times in a few minutes. I got the offer for a parley/feud but tried to kill him again (another death), at which point I said "You are totally kicking my butt!", we chatted about how he'd got his levels, and I ended up posseing up with him and he showed me how he'd levelled up, and gave me lots of tips etc. For me, there seems to be several ways to play the game. Alone, focusing on hunting fishing etc, I've been able to do this (mostly) untroubled. Its just getting to the limited Butcher's shops that is the problem. Secondly, I think you need to posse up. It is so much easier when someone has your back (especially if they're quite good!), also its better for doing many of the missions. But therein lies my problem. Being a "giffer" (oldie!) I don't have a network of online friends. I have friends (a few) but they don't play online at all. I am hoping that once I've done my 20 posts, I can try to find some posse members on here as I think its the way forward. I also feel that this so-called "griefing" problem could get worse. However, for me, I think it's much more fun to get two posse's and re-enact "Gunfight at the OK coral". I'd also like more gunfighting (duels) rather than outright murder. I think GTA V, went too far down the "just shoot everyone on site" philosophy. With RDO I think R* have the makings of something great. But if it is going to develop into a genuine and immersive world, there needs to be some way to "police" the "griefers" (I prefer murderous psychopaths). Here's a thought, how about have R* sponsored Pinkertons. Other higher level "honorable" players who set up as law-keepers and track down repeated offenders. Its what happened in The Wild West. I'd wear a Tin Star, it'd be funny. Anyway, going back to my opening question; no, I don't think that griefing is a huge problem at the moment, they can be avoided. R* could help, by reducing the need to visit the very limited number of places to sell stuff; perhaps introduce a few "mobile" trappers around the world. They could also stop sending my camp to New Austin, there are no shops and its pretty lawless as you'd expect and I certainly don't want to go all the way down there just to do some cooking. (I know I can move the camp but $2 is $2). However, as Beta ends and more people join I think there is the possibility that griefing could be become an issue. However, I think the way forward is co-op. I've done a few posses and it is definitely easier. Its definitely harder to grief/troll someone when there are 3 others to retaliate while you respawn and get your horse back.

New to me as well. Who put out the bounty on you? and why? I didn't even know it was possible. I quite like the thought of having a bounty on my head!

Well, they had an offer of 25gb for £4.49, then I got an extra 15gb gifted (Because I bought used store?) so 40gb for a fiver? Bargain..its saved me 20+ hrs of grinding and now I have nothing to spend them on. Works for me. And I look very nice with my nice new Lancaster Repeater and 30+gb in the bank.

Well, there was a "Special Offer" of 25gb for £4.49 last night. As I wasn't going out drinking beer, I decided "Why not?" When I logged on I got a messgae saying I'd been gifted 15gb. I don't know if everyone got gifted the bars, but I had 45gb. So I bought a Lancaster rifle for 14gb. I now have enough for a Volcanic when I get the level and don't need anything else really. It seems that us "Early Adopters" are being given a major advantage during Beta. I guess I could lose the bars if the do a character reset, but I can live with losing a fiver, but I'm certain I'd get it back if they did reset characters,

R* suggested that I cleared cache first (hold L1 + R1 as soon as the opening image goes until you get the screen where you choose story or online). I do it often now and my games been really stable since. I contacted them via social club help and they replied within an hour. They were good, they sent info on how to do most of what's been mentioned above.

I think you can use gold to jump levels (I used a couple to get the Rolling Rock early). Atm they are selling 25 bars for £4.50, which is nothing to may people. If that saves one 15-20 hours of repetitive farming I can see the attraction. I just hate paying again and again for the same game, so I shan't (probably) be buying any. But if you have the funds and no time then why not; it'd be pretty shoddy if R* didn't offer it. (my last word on this topic, cubs honour!)

Fair point BropolloCreed79.

If they did reset, I'm sure that any gold purchased in Beta would be transferred; but you make a good point.

I can see why gold bars (or equivalent) would be useful in GTA V. If you come in late, then its very much an unfare playing field in terms of having decent weaponry, so its probably worth spending some $ to get a leg up. Plus, there's the matter of time. I am considerably older than most, and don't often have hundreds of hours spare, but can afford the cost of Bars, so I can see the benefit. However, in RDO there is very little difference in weapon performance; A varmint rifle can one-shot you. And I can't see many people spending £80 to buy fancy clothes and do up their camp (which always spawns on the other side of the map!). RDO is a freebie, R* are obviously looking to make cash and will obviously do what they can to encourage us to spend money. If you want to grind/grind. If you want to chuck money at it, do so. I can only see it being a problem if they start to introduce more deadly (but expensive) weapons that give a real advantage, but until then it makes no odds. As with most things; if its not for you don't do it. Certainly not worth getting all lemon about it.

Now, I think that's way beyond acceptable. Sending personal messages is bang out of order.

Ability Cards that block head shot kills?? I want one!! Good points HuDawg, I've noticed that the griefers don't take any notice of who they shoot, so I often escape, and keep an eye from a distance for a bit. Then hunt them down. Ideally i'd like to hogtie one and just keep them on the back of my horse until they quit the session.

I don't get the negative comments about R* here. I bought the game for the story. To my mind it is a masterpiece and worth every penny. RDO is an added bonus. R* have not tried to charge a fee to play, there is no Annual Pass required. So what if they offer the option to short cut the need to farm money to buy the best kit. In this game it doesn't make a heap of difference anyway. I shan't be purchasing gold bars anytime soon, but more than happy for R* to take the money. Also, they need to test the transactions work in Beta before full roll-out.

NIce post Cory286, very much agree with all you say. HuDawg, its a tricky one, but I don't want a private, partitioned game. Why should those who want to enjoy all aspects of the game be penalised. Defending and fighting back shouldn't be penalised, I too like to fight back. If anyone should have a private/partitioned game it should be those that spoil it for others. I am no angel at this game and have been known to start the odd gun-battle, which is fine, I just think there should be a consequence and I'd be happy to take the consequence, especially if it improved the overall enjoyment for all. This isn't GTAV in 1890's America, Rockstar have done so much more with this, and I'd hate to see it go the same way. There seems to be a different demographic with this game.

I've been avoiding hunting up in the snow as didn't have any thermals. I'll have to have a trek up there later!

I'm quite new to online gaming. Tried a few but being consistently killed before I got to do anything meaningful was a bit boring and frustrating. This is partly to do with not having time to play enough, and always coming late when the "griefers" are fully kitted out and know the maps/spawn points etc. However, Rockstar have created such a rich and beautiful world that after playing the story twice, I just wanted more. Hunting elk on horseback up in the snowy mountains here is probably as close to doing it as I will ever get, and the graphics and detail is just awesome. So as I could now get in at the beginning I got online. The first few days (I started on Day 3) were really good. The vast majority of people were just having fun, but on the whole sociable and happy to co-opt. Joined a few posse's, did the missions, tried some side stuff, and set about trying to earn £ & exp. All was going great until a couple of days ago. SInce then being randomly "Headshot" has started to spoil things a bit. Now, don't get me wrong, I'd hate to deny anyone their right to saddle up and try to massacre everything they come in contact with. If people want to feed their murderous psychopathic tendencies in such a lovingly rendered universe, then who am I to deny them. After all it is the Wild West, and it is a shooting game at heart. Plus, trying to navigate safe passage to a butcher with a horse full of goodies is quite good fun, and so much harder when it real people to avoid. But for me; the balance is too far skewed if favour of the murderous psychopaths. Getting a head shot by someone waiting on a roof as soon as you come into view, or as you'rs skinning your latest kill, means I respawn away from my horse, and I lose much of what I had spent time hunting. There is no "upside", if I'm lucky I can either make a hasty exit if I can get on my horse before I get tracked down, but its no fun really. I tend to seek immediate revenge, but I'd rather not have to and I'd rather not lose all my hard earned pelts. For the murderous psychopath, there is little downside unless I am able to get a lucky shot in, which gives me the time for a tactical withdrawal. He/she is then rewarded with exp, and there is no consequence at all. If people want to race around the world just picking off people at random, then ok, but that behaviour should come at a cost. But what? Good suggestion above, I like that; but I've got another couple of ideas. I thought perhaps if someone murders a number (1? 5?) players, then their marker could appear red for everyone else, but maybe remove everyone else's markers for the murderer. That would put them at a major disadvantage for a set period, which would have to be played (no reset on quitting), link that to a Bounty system, temporarily remove safe zone in camp and they'd have to take their medicine. I also, wondered if the one-shot kill could be removed, so at least you'd have chance to get a shot off. Its quite easy to hit a headshot and invariably you don't see the first shot coming. There are many in-game formats available that allow like-minded individuals to massacre each-other willy-nilly, and I like to get stuck in with everyone else. But I also have the right to play the game as I see fit, and for me that means (on the whole) not murdering every person I see. And should I choose to walk the dark unrighteous path..I expect there to be a piper to pay. At the moment the community online seems very positive and I've had more positive than negative experiences, but I think this could disappear. I think the Parley/feud idea is good, but it doesn't go quite far enough. One thing that Rockstar could probably do fairly easily is remove the exp benefit for killing people outside of mission, arranged event etc, and introduce a penalty (loss of xp, $, open bounty etc).