Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

Good Morning all,

Some of you who play the game may have seen Ghoul, that's me. At any rate, I thought i'd come to the forums and let people know what my impressions of the game are.

Firstly, I was VERY wary of trying this game. I didn't even know it existed other than the people bashing it on the AoC forums for being the worst game ever. I went to the vanguard website ( which is really nice by the way ) and after looking at all the info decided to just buy it and see what all the negativity was about.

1. Installation & Logging in

Downloaded the game from the internet, installed. Installer played some music, showed some screenshots, etc.. I was worried that it would take 6 hours to patch, as usual with SoE products. After installing, it told me I had 30 mins worth of patching, which actually was an hour, but it didn't bother me. I had no expectations.

So I log in, decide to create an orc in the likeness of an orc I trapped in my house in UO so long ago, named nodagog. Orc Dark Knight.

Log into the game, set up my grahpical settings, start doing the quests. The first thing I noticed is that I actually liked the quest text, it was pulling me in. Combined with the graphics, it was a great first impression. One thing I didn't see was players.

2. Exploring & Adventuring

So after I get through the initial area where Nodagog started off, I manage to make my way to a camp, grab some more quests but at the same time noticing the game doesn't give you the impression you NEED to do quests to progress. In fact I get this incredible feeling of freedom so I decide to explore.

Upon exploring I notice the invisible line between monster levels does not exist. It is apparent the world is the world, and there are monsters and beasts wandering about. There is no taking the wrong turn to find all the level 40 monsters around the corner or anything. Once I came out of my little "corner" of the world and could see as far as my draw distance would let me, it was breathtaking. Off in the distance I could see a far away mountain, with a dragon flying above it's peak. A dark storm was slowly creeping over this mountain towards me. I sat there for several minutes just watching the environment.

This is when I realized this game isn't to be rushed, it isn't about leveling, it is THAT world.

3. Players

So I managed to make my way to some Orc outpost, I'm about level 7 now. I see a level 50 Dark Elf using diplomacy on one of the guards and sit there, watch him while I eat breakfast. He asked me what I was doing, told him I was new and just eating breakfast. We get into conversation, I ask him where everyone is and it turns out everyone is on another continent all together.

My new friend, Daz, gives me instructions on how to get to this "place" where everyone else is at but I really just couldn't follow him.

4. A new start

So Instead of trying to take nodagog to the other continent I figured it would actually be easier to level a new Dark Knight up, make him a Dark Elf and look for other players.

And that's what I did.

So I created Ghoul, played in the Dark Elf area. Met a bunch of people, learned some crafting, EXPLORED a lot, made friends with 2 really cool old school MUD players, got PK'd while crafting, and just had tons of fun.

Now I'm level 11, have a horse, some pretty rad spells, some money, and I have BARELY even explored 1% of the continent I'm on.

5. Summary

In the end, my impression of Vanguard is that it's a game that has a lot to offer. I hear that people didn't like the fact that there was no end-game content. I think people just have it all wrong. If you play the game, to play the game, and take your time and enjoy all that it has to offer instead of trying to rush your way through leveling and getting stuff, you'll have fun. This is not one of those level up to whatever the top level is, get the epic gear and sell your account games.

I actually think the low population of the servers is a good thing. When we buy these games and pay our $$ every month we're really paying for a % of the fun/game. Think about WoW, millions of players all sharing their %, which is small due to those numbers. In a game like this your % is very high, it creates for a very personal and rewarding experience and a community of players who all know each other.

I encourage you to check it out, screw the negativity you see on the forums, because it's all bullshit.*

* unless you're into power leveling yourself and getting all the gear/stuff you can.

Just wanted to add:

This game for me = EQ1 + UO.

Hehe, very nice post.. you've made me want to try to play again ;)

I played at launch very briefly, the game was in a little bit of a state then.

I'm really interested in giving it another go, everything you described amazes me. I don't suppose you still get buddy keys with the game? If you've no other use for it, it'd be very nice if I could use it and hopefully join you on your adventure!

~Dreathor.

I think you can send out invites from your account page, if you mail me your address I could see what I can do.

Excellent post Pix.  I beta tested the game and in my high hopes for the game, I kept my pre-order and stuck with it for 3 months,  finally pulling the plug due to performance issues and the fact that my guild had pulled up stakes.  Recently, I resubbed and am truly enjoying the game.  The performance is far better due in part to some system upgrades I've made for AoC and the population appears to be sufficient (Seradon).

Though I'm looking forward to AoC, I'm thinking of remaining subbed to VSoH for the time being and giving it a real shot as my "main" game.  I usually have several subs at a time anyway.  Glad to see your enjoying yourself and I'd like to say "hope to see you around", but it looks like your on the FFA server.

and Pix, don't forget........ "stay mean, stay green!"

nice review, it sounds interesting... hmm ill look into some more vids since the ones i saw were kinda dull.. i might try after my exams

I have recently started playing again. I have station access from my eq2 account, so i figured what the heck.

Firstly i was blown away that with station access, i could make 12 characters! That is three classes shy of having one of everything!!

What i was most concerned with was performance issues. I have a decent pc, but in the past had horrible frame rate problems. I can say that things are a great deal improved, but i still have some fps issues in cities and just about anywhere on Thestra. (I can play most anywhere on Qalia with great rates).

I've tinkered around in random classes so far. The two i have been most impressed with are Psionisist and Sorcerer. My previous main was a druid, i will try that again soon. (I know they just redid the class).

In my opinion, the casters have been put into a position where they are able to make it through your average fight a lot easier than most melee, especially scout types. My least favorite so far is Rogue, which tends to get beat down hard and quick.

I know a lot has been said in the past about a big world with nothing in it. Perhaps this is a fair assesment of a lot of areas, but in a way this is a lot like real life. Not everywhere you go will have excitement.

I still haven't gotten a good handle on diplomacy. I can do a lot of matches with success, but the "soldier" matches that they have on each continent tend to frustrate me to no end. Also not very impressed with early tradeskilling.

Overall, i look forward to logging in one of my toons every night and seeing what i can do. It may sound strange, but i use a research ransdomizer i found somewhere on the net to pick what toon i play that night, and it makes it fun!

that's the thing I liked the least about most MMO's. The areas look clearly designed for a # of players, almost like a pre fabricated play ground set. In VG though, the world is what it is, regardless of population.

I like your random idea. I've only played the death knight, and wanted to create a caster, so I went with necromancer on an alt, but he's only level 2.

The spell I like the most with my DK is the word of something, basically can kill most stuff my level in 1 hit and has a 2m recharge so I use it often.

I hear you can feed your necro pet bones and stuff to make him stronger

Took some screenshots tonight after I ran into a GIANT.

http://vgplayers.station.sony.com/media/media_general.vm?characterId=481036589392

As I was looking at that above link, and came back to the game I found some shaman of my level attacking me and had me halfway down on life.

Next thing I know she's running away because I had unleashed my dread upon her. Just as she's over a hill I'm casting fear WHILE RUNNING ( although at a slower pace ). And I just BARELY caught her with fear. She had slowed me. I make it over the hill and there she was, teleported behind her, lunged with my spear, grabbed some life, I'm almost out now. And then she's done.

heart racing.

Best initial pvp experience ever.