Age of Conan

Ok, first, please take this write with a grain of salt. It is more inituitive, feeling than cool analysis. It is further only based on the limited Open Beta.

Still, my assumption is, overall the launched game will not be so *fundamentally* different from what we see now.

AoC as an IDEA is a blast. I really enjoy the fast paced combat, the lush landscapes, the dark mooded world asf. I think it has in the best sense of the word a great potential.

However, looking at the reality of the details, I cant stop wondering "what the heck were they thinking"?

First, the VERY demanding tech requirements. I mean, its natural to make a new MMO with great graphics, but wasnt it really necessary to make it THAT steep that even ppl with very good computers get so bad lag, framerates asf? Given my beta experiences I dont see that change dramatically ever. I mean ok some lag and some freezes can be cleaned over time. Keep that word in mind, TIME. Issues like those are NEVER cleaned up fast, because any change invites the danger of creating a new problem elsewhere, if you dont be careful. It all feels quite a bit rushed, once again, which makes me wonder when devs will learn quality of the launch is ESSENTIAL. No game ever really recovered from a bad launch, so we can only hope closed beta is in MUCH better tech shape.

Second, after playing all classes outside Necromancer, and most of them at least to 10, participating with about half of the classes in PVP I can seriously say the classes are SUBSTANTIALLY unbalanced. Even for mere PVE it strike out, comparing the same mobs and instances than some classes mow through the enemies as in easy-mode while with others it was a death-fest for me. I took the Volcano instance as measure, since it always adapts to your level. Some classes could wipe the enemy effortless, while some died dozens of times in the same place. Given the strong PVP component this sounds like the chance for a BIG disaster. I know balancing is tricky, but what the heck where they thinking making a game like this, and then have one of the most poor balanced classes I have ever seen?

Even in-class the curve is VERY variable. In some level ranges a class is very strong, and then suddenly it grows almost impossible to play, or the other way around. There is no smooth difficulty curve in many classes, like Priest of Mitra for instance. And boy, BALANCING is really a BIG issue, both important for most gamers and in the overall run. Can you imagine the mood, when Funcom is going to constantly nerf classes up and down for MANY MONTHS to come? I dont want to be in their shows with all the heated debate such post-launch class reworks usually cause.

Third, as far as I heard, there will be only a Roleplay server with FFA-PVP, no PVE-RP server. I mean, WTH? Are we PVE centered players outcasts? Seriously, this sounds like one of the most stupid choices I have heard of in MMOs. I am damn sure there are MANY potential AoC roleplayers who prefer NOT to be ganked and PKed at every possible turn. I experienced it in Lineage 2, and that was enough. Its SO non fun, just talking to someone or selecting your inventory or reading your new skills or what and some jerk PKs you out of the blue. War on the field of battle is one thing, but cold blooded murder as ruleset... well each to his, but why we RP-PVE folks dont get a server apparently, I dont get it.

Finally, I know some dont care much, but seriously: everyone I showed AoC screens and vids said the landscapes look great, but the CHARACTERS look like they feel into a lawn mower headon. I dunno, making a few ugly faces as choice, nice and fine. But why essentially EVERY male character looks like he came from a contest of ugliest man in the world is beyond me. I know some enjoy to play such faces, fine, but what the heck were they thinking making those characters?? There are enough MMORPG players who care a LOT about their character appearance, and giving that away seems like a loss of temendous porpotions to me.

EDIT: I also noticed how many new players have difficulties to understand the combo system. I really hope they add a thoroughly tutorial on those aspects, since they are quite different from what ppl are used to. Why they just toss ppl into this is beyond me.

I thought you already had a post very similar to this... why not just revive it??

anyways, in response to what you are saying...

yeah, the tech requirements was a bad move on their part if they're looking to make a game that can compete. There just simply aren't enough features in this game to make up for the "why don't I just continue playing WoW instead of buy a $1,000 rig?" HOWEVER, after hearing from three of my five friends (haven't even contacted the other two) who are expecting this game, they mentioned that they actually got a miracle patch... and it seems a couple people on these forums mentioned it as well, though I'm not sure what the details on this are. But even still, with a miracle patch, the game is not playable on some systems. As I'm sure you know first-hand some gaming rigs that are built for this sort of game are failing while mediocre computers are at least playing on low - medium settings. A casual player won't be able to play this game, unless AoC adds more versatility in it's graphic designs so that it can fill the needs of those casual gamers. If they don't do that the game will become like EVE; a great, graphical game, but only really fitting the mold for a certain group of people.

It's kind of unfair to judge the classes by level 10... most if not all MMORPGs focus balancing mostly on end-game. You will rarely find a game that is completely balanced with it's classes on every single level (heck even WoW fails in this aspect). Tbh I really don't like all this obsession with class balance... what ever happened to just picking a class that seemed the most fun, not the most powerful or the best in PvP?

I'm not completely aware of how the game will be working with it's servers, though I know there's basically the PvE, PvP, FFA PvP, RP-PvP, and FFA RP-PvP, something like that at least. I honestly am not quite sure why they made this move... maybe it was for the lore aspect...? RP in AoC I would imagine would be very bloody... that sort of fits the PvP area. But still, I do agree, there should be that option for PvE-RP for those that don't like having to watch their back and give paragraphs of sentences at the same time! I think they did have a survey on it and according to them the amount of people that voted for a RP-PvE server were relatively low... so that beats me.

If you mean the graphical detail on the characters I'm not quite sure where you're getting that from... can't find a more beautiful MMORPG to date, nobody can really argue with that. And the faces... well, that sort of fits the lore: rugged and "manly". Though as far as I can tell, if you wish, you can really customize the faces to, essentially, look like anything you want, you just have to learn how to use them to your advantage, and properly, while actually putting in the time to making your character. As far as I can understand you can't edit the essential look of your characters so you might as well spend hours upon hours molding the perfect persona of whatever you want your avatar to be.

There's my full 2 freakin' cents.

1)

Id just like to ad, that i ran this beta with a 1 and a half year old rig, upgraded only from 2 to 4 gig RAM due to VISTA. I ran on High settings with a stable 20fps (its stable so its ok) in Tortage city daytime (laggiest place i found). And im running a dual screen, showing vista with allt he bling on on the second screen!

I think the problem ppl are havings are more connected with software and computer configurations and drivers then there actual hardware. Heck there are ppl saying they run fine on Low with 1 gig ram (ok yeah i cant prove that, skip it if ya want, still..)

Ive tested a few drivers so far, and theyd differ a good 10 fps from worst to best. Currently the newest 169.x drivers work good for my card, and the newest beta driver (the newest a week ago sucks so bad it aint funny). Just to give a heads up what a decent configurated computer can differ with same hardware.

But yeah it has high reqs, but ppl with 1year or newer gaming rigs love Funcome for it, and we do not care that the game wont have 10 mill subs becouse of it.. so its basically a screw you guys with old or crappy rigs. I feel sry for you, but still i dont want my graphics taken away becouse of it! Guess im a little evil.. >_>

2)

Class balance... where do i start... its lvl13... - sry but im gonna do it.. compare to WoW (as most gamers know about it). How balanced is the PvP at any level even max level in that game?

You know what, im not gonna bother here.. ppl whined on nukers at lvl13 alot.. in the pvp weekend ppl whined at melee (with all the charging nukers died like flies apparently). Not only does Funcome need time to balance this.. Players need time to find the true  unbalances, and your not gonna find em at 1 weeks playing at lvl13. Otherwise i guess its true, its unbalanced.. it is..

3)

I dunno why funcome is doing that really, they said that there researched showed PvP and PvE as the highest and RP-PvP as the runner up. And they chhosed those 3 to start of launch with. Other rulesets where to unwanted to bother. (dont remember where i read it, trust me or dont i dun care :p)

I dont feel much about it since im gonna play pvp server, but i see the problem... Apaarently Funcome sees it but said it was to minor at this point

4)

The faces was... wierd yeah.. And with all the sliders for all the wrong stuff (give me more hairstyles and colors... who cares if the cheeks has 100 different stages, i want 100 different hairstyles for crying out loud!)

The animations rocked the hallway bigtime thou, not quite asgood as Lineage2 still... but best try so far IMO (note the IMO flamers please)

No offence, just a honest reply from my "feelings" from playing the beta on the points you brought up. I respect your concerns, especially on the character creation!

It's not ready and needs to be pushed back no matter how bad we all want a new mmo to play!!!!

/sigh

I agree with the first two posters on the whole. I mean this is like the 3rd thread with some catchy title, you on a mission?

As for the combat. They released a tutorial video the day before OB started all around the internet.

"Still, my assumption is, overall the launched game will not be so *fundamentally* different from what we see now."

"EDIT: I also noticed how many new players have difficulties to understand the combo system."

A little contradictory maybe? 'They' dont understand so well because it is Fundamentally different, plus its been re-evaluated and taken down a notch serveral times through many thousands of testers feedback.

For about 2 yrs now they have always said in interview when talking about RP is that its the Conan Universe man! Its brutal and bloody, PvP is the main staple diet, only natural that RP PvP servers are the main RP servers. Through countless polls on the official forums RP PvP was the preferred choice, only lately some are on a quest for RP-PvE servers, but hey they are listening, just wont be there for launch.

Lastly Conan is not a pretty boy game. The men are have harderned looks, scars, cuts, broken noses, black eyes etc not some airbrushed elf. If anyone knew anything about the lore they would know this before character creation on a game based on the lore. There are not the smooth facial features of a typical elf. Females is a different story, you can make a barbie babe and there are beautiful women in Hyboria PLUS there are wizzened old hags with moles an all.

Typical mmorpg:

Age of Conan typical guy (wrinkled face, flush cheeks from Alcohol, bridged nose, strong features) :

Originally posted by gamedever

And now for the text response, I agree with all the points (well can't really comment on class balance yet) except the last one. C'mon now, men are supposed to be rough n tough. You got them soft graphics for the topless girls (half of them being played by guys anyways), so having men who have been "thrown headfirst into a lawn mower" as you put it is a GOOD thing.

Elikal, a miracle patch that fixes the performance issues for 80% of the people who had problems was released today on the CB. Here's a thread about it: www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/178077/page/1

Furthermore, even more dramatic improvements are already there in newer internal builds and coming to us. This is as far as I can stretch it with the NDA. Remember that the CB builds are already 2-3 weeks behind development on the day we get them, let's not even talk about the OB build.

Really, I wouldn't be so worried about the performance on release. Of course some people will still have issues, fortunately they are now the minority and it's getting better by the day.