What sort of experience would a person whos never played this before and stepping into the game expect to experience? Is this hard to get into at this point?
Black Desert is honestly easier to get into now than it's ever been. The recent release of Olvia Academy added a ton of solid tutorials that walk new players through the game's major systems, plus some genuinely helpful starting rewards. The early experience is much more guided than it used to be.
That said, there are a few important things to understand going in:
- Progress is extremely incremental.
More than almost any other MMO, BDO rewards consistency over speed. I usually compare it to the stock market: time in the game beats rushing. If you're the type of player who wants to blast to endgame as fast as possible, you'll probably get frustrated. If you're okay with slowly building silver, improving gear over time, and letting progress compound, the game is very fair about eventually getting you where you want to be. Catch-up mechanics for new players are better than they've ever been. People who whine about, "I'll never catch up! This game is so grindy!!!!" and quit, come back, quit again will always feel behind players who've been consistently active.
- Pay-to-win does exist, but it's mostly limited if you want it to be.
There are two cash shop items I'd consider close to "must-haves" - the premium tent (remote repairs, buffs, convenience) and the Value Pack, which functions like a subscription and significantly boosts silver earned from market sales. Beyond that, most purchases are convenience rather than power. While the entry cost of the game itself is low, realistically you'll probably want to spend around $50 upfront if you plan to stick with it long-term.
- Combat is the game's best feature.
BDO easily has the best combat system in any MMO, ever. It's the main reason many long-time players still stick around and probably the biggest singular reason I still play all these years later. That said, it's not a low-effort or fully "chill" combat game. It's not a braindead, tab-target, Netflix-on-the-second-monitor kind of thing (unless you're doing lifeskills). "Dad gamers" will not be fans of BDO, generally. Some classes are easier on the hands than others, but even the simpler ones require learning movement, timing, and mechanics. If you're coming from a traditional tab-target MMO, this will feel very different.
Those are the big picture points. If you have specific questions about classes, progression, or what kind of playstyle fits you best, feel free to ask.
