I know we’ve only seen a tip of the iceberg with Reborn’s beta, but I wanted to create a separate thing to share what we love most about current-Orbus, what enchanted us, what our hopes and dreams are (before we knew Reborn was coming), and what we’re keeping our fingers crossed for. It dawned on me that since Highsteppe is the last bastion of humanity, it might be the only civilization… this is inspired by being in awe of New New Highsteppe, but feeling homesick after exploring outside its walls.
I have loved / I will dearly miss / I dream to see:
Lethal leg flurries (stag attacks)
Fleeing 5 redtails in a maze of sunflowers. Could there be a “corn maze” of sunflowers?
Being able to see ‘the world below’ before daring to venture down that was so natural with First Highsteppe and still possible in Middle Highsteppe. Maybe New New Highsteppe could have a neat lookout area or few?
Staring at the spooky structure across the lake and seeing how close one could get to Old Kingsport. Not being able to wait getting to explore a creepy castle.
The haunted apple grove on the outskirts of the neighboring town, and the pilgrim vengeful ghost that leads travelers right through them. Reading in the journal later a page that practically explains the Narrow Orchard ghosts!
Wondering what that garden is growing just outside The Twins and if we could ever participate with gardening
Coming across that game board in The Twins and hoping someday we could play. Loving the pieces! Will buy once it hits the real market.
Feeling safe within the walls of Wenderwood from all the wargs. Being very thankful we could panic-scramble over the fence.
Feeling special finding a certain hidden individual
Seeing the burning forest for the first time from the airship and panic telling my party via the compass that I could see hell
Seeing the impressive outline of University Isle, the fort, and Guild City
Getting lost in Guild City, but enjoying the band and hanging out with the guy feeding the birds while pretending to toss them bird seed.
Wondering if we could ever feed the animals, just toss out bird seed or something, and have creatures gather like at a park.
Boarding that ship that used to be at the Guild City dock and fishing from there
The marvelous creepiness and labyrinth of the archives
The different architecture of each zone that most notably became different with the jungle and its settlements (absolutely loving the significant differences between each zone with its colors, plants, animals, and structures)
Heart-stopping panic of felid pounces
The nightmares of Snake Battlefield, I mean Spider Island, I mean Death Peninsula…
How super cool the mega tall grass looked, with the deadly Twirly Whirl inside!
How very neat exploring that hidden building felt
Enjoying the feel of the desert and its towns and wildlife, the oasis, that mysterious light. THIS PLACE WITH THE DOORS AND THE VIEWS IS AMAZING. I stared at the sun filtering in through the sky light, so pretty
The fall colors of Lucian, that super cool ship, could we ever board it? Explore it? Someday will it take us to a new land? Will it take us to Parathime?
Exploring every reachable inch of the ruined house
Climbing to the summit just to gaze at the glory of the autumn deciduous forest
Traveling in a group to the winter wonderland. Do the buildings have seahorses carved into the wooden beams? Those look like seahorses. Wondering why the group stays on the hill. (Discovering later that Orbus Death Valley is a wintry place. DEATH VALLEY, I SAY!) Loving the evergreens and the sunset, wondering when these settlements will be fleshed out. Could we ever roast marshmallows? Throw snowballs?
Discovering the heaven that is Lamavora. That the kudzu of Orbus is called NIGHTMARE FLOWERS! Dreaming of having a Lamavora tree house. Wondering if those butterflies would ever land on an outstretched hand. Wondering if a type of player commerce would crop up at the balloon resort. Wondering about the feasibility of an arts and crafts station. Chilling up there on the bridge to watch the sky change colors. THE BLUE TAILS FROM THE TWINS’ GAME BOARD ARE REAL! XD
After exploring the world over, I love its layout and how everything fits together. I love the clear zone distinctions and how they’re connected so that there’s a number of ways to get around / through. I love the diverse plant life, mobs, and architecture.
To tie that in to general beta feedback, I hope the final version of zones are still very diverse/distinct. I heard that the swamp is the new jungle, and unless it’s far from its final form because the betas have mainly been to test new classes and ‘minigames’, I hope that’s just a rumor (that the swamp is just the new swamp, but not the new jungle). I only knew I was in Lamavora because I recognized the nightmare flower from the screenshot, but in current Orbus, I didn’t know Lamavora’s name before knowing this is an awe-inspiring new place I couldn’t wait to enter and explore. Ditto for the jungle or anywhere else.
I love seeing the dragon races mixed in with the terrain. That’s super cute.
Critter capture is cute (love the section in the house!) but can I be a Disney Princess? Could I sit and feed them? A whole swarm follow me a bit? Could one trust me enough to become a pet? Could they live in my house? (Still love the stuffed animals on the shelf)
I love hearing the little tree feet coming running. That’s the new fear
If Highsteppe is the last of humanity, maybe we’ll still see villages (ghost towns or inhabited by Warg People like that NPC. Are there others? Peaceful Tree People? …Redtail People? If there are Redtail People, I request their abode/culture be very sunflower-centric! They fought endlessly for those sunflowers despite our slaughtering of them for it!)
Just wanted to give current-Orbus a tribute about all the little things that endeared it to me, and while I know Reborn is going to be great, hope it still captures the wonderment of the original and more