Let me get this straight...

The game has a single path you take from level 1 to level 40 and then finally you get to choose between continuing on the path or going back to a previous place in the path to keep leveling and this is his proof that leveling isn't on rails?

 

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No, you still follow that path from 1-50.

Basically, I haven't done a single instance, PVP, or Space Mission that gives you other means of XP.

All I have done is follow the questing path.

For Instance, at the end of the Alderaan/Plant Story, you are sent back to Nar Shadda, here there is a level 31 bonus series of side quest for that planet. Usually "Bonus" Series pop up as an additional series of quest for that planet after you have done all the quests on that planet and you are about leave that planet, given to you by a guy at the space dock. Nar Shadda and it seems Alderaan are the two exceptions to this rule as you get sent back there at higher levels to do the bonus series as a stop gap for leveling purposes to get you more on level with the next planet you will be doing your Class Quest on.

So what I am pointing out is that by just following the quests, and not doing anything else in the game, I am now level 40 with one last mission to do on Hoth, I went and followed my Story quest abit that took me back to a few places and started me out on the path to Chapter 3. The matter is that the planet my next Story Quest takes on is level 42, I'm on level 40. So I will assume, that once I complete that last little Mission on Hoth that I need to do, after that, I will be giving a quest to return to Alderaan for its Bonus Series, that will fill in the gap from 40-42. It is possible for me to do the other planet 2 levels below, but with Mobs being grouped up in pack of 3-5 mobs, and usually having to fight an elite boss mob at the end of certain quests normally, the prospects of skipping the Alderaan Bonus series and being able to complete the missions on the level 42 Planet, that I can't remember its name, is bleak or will be more difficult by skipping that Alderaan bonus series.

So if all you do is questing, the questing is completely on the rails.

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=57229&page=2

 

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Sounds fairly normal for a new MMO to me, I don't know why someone would even argue against it. Typically a new MMO doesn't create multiple leveling paths until later patches or expansions. Sounds to me like this game does in fact have multiple options, just not in a questing sense. So the questing is on rails, not the leveling. Not bad.

 

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If they bother at all, it is my understanding that WoW had that from the get go with Kalimdor and the EK where you had at least the option of going to either continent for questing paths.

You can obviously get Experience in Dungeons, through the little Space Flight Mini Game, or doing PVP. If you don't intend to do any of those, then the game is very straight forward and on the rails. I have always played MMOs the same way though, I quest and play solo up to max level figuring end game is nothing but grouping for the most part and running and repeating the dungeons over and over again anyway.

 

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Indeed, WoW was rare in that they gave multiple quest paths to level on.

 

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Aye, and that is the disappointing part in some cases with this game. I know with Mass Effect, Bioware gave you the option to go to X,Y, or Z planet to actually start your game with. The overall story wasn't affected, but depending upon which planet you went to first and got certain characters, that would affect certain interactions with characters. I look at the game and despite it being the best possible version of a game riding the coat tails of WoW, it is still riding those coat tails, and I can't help but think what opportunities were wasted by BioWare by playing it safe riding those coat tails. Thus making TOR a very solid and good game, I will not call it great though.

 

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Doh!

 

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I haven't gotten deep into the game yet, but doesn't each class have it's own immersive and detailed storyline, such that leveling alts wouldn't be the same by default? There are parts of TOR that vary the leveling experience as well as make it somewhat personal that I feel you're discounting. But in the strictest 'rail' sense, yes, perhaps TOR is more so. But really only slightly.

 

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Each Class quest is basically 3-4 quests on any of the planets, that is it, beyond that you will have to go through all the same sidequests again on each and every planet while leveling up an alt.

As far as "varying" the leveling experience, besides the class quests, the only variance basically is perhaps making a different decision whilst talking to Side Quest giver NPCs again and deciding if you wish to go light or dark, that is about it though if you want to call that the variance.

The veneer of the fluff and new MMO smell is still strong, but once that wares away, it will be curious how much people will just begin skipping the dialogue of the Side Quest NPCs just so that they can move onto the actual questing and so they can get to the Story Quest and chasing that carrot.

Edit:Strictly talking about the questing experience here and obviously not the PVP Dungeon and Ship Warfare bit.

 

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3-4? Please, don't lie.

 

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