So I've followed some of TR's work for a while, and it's bloomin awesome, but admittedly I'm a bit of a purist with games and tend to shun playing beta version's till full release. My question is to those who've played what's released so far is what you think? Do you really notice that its a beta version or is it barely discernible? And if there are any TR people around, if a more full release is anywhere soon, I wouldn't mind just waiting for that?

Thanks guys

Maps 1 and 2 are fully playable, functional, and complete. Quests, NPCs, towns, dungeons, loot. Play it now since maps 3-6 are going to be... a while. I must inform you, however, that I suffer the same completionist's obsession and have only had a few landmasses appeal to my sensibilities.

Nothing Beta about the Released Maps.

People seem not to understand how BIG those maps are. Things to see and places to be. Dungeons that have never had a visitor.

Go with Map1-2.

There's also the Map 4 alpha on our thread, which is just exteriors, but a very hefty chunk of land to run around and explore (bigger than maps 1 and 2 together if my memory serves me right). Maps 1 and 2 are both well worth it

Sounds good. I'm becoming more tempted. I seem to remember reading some time ago that there were interconnecting quests inbetween the maps though. Obviously those couldn't be finished till all the necessary maps are. What's the chance of me getting engrossed in one of the larger quests only to find out it can't be finished yet and end in dissapointment?

High, since Antediluvian Secrets doesn't have quests yet, and most of the main quest lines from Telvannis don't have their endings added. Sacred East is coming soon, however, and will include quests for Antediluvian Secrets and the new Sacred East area as well.

As I remember from reading posts of members of TR in other threads about this subject quests will only be added when they can be finished. This means that interconnecting quest will only connect maps that are already available and you shouldn't get quests that will end halfway through because a map is not there yet.
Edit: Ah, it seems that I was remembering it wrong...

Is it clear in game that you've done as much as you can do in a quest until next release, or does it kind of just drop?

I'm not exactly sure, but since we didn't design any kind of transition between the two stages, they probably just kind of end.

Except aren't they still technically considered betas by the TR leaders? Especially map 2.
Since big updates and changes are coming for both map 1 and 2, I still consider them betas in some ways.

Fully playable, enjoyable and recommended, yes, but they are not completely finished either.