Originally posted by PezzBomb

 

Hi Sin. I probably answered most of your questions above. Glad to see that you are back in AoC. I was honestly thinking on some of your posts about that passwordfeel the other day and I thought you certainly would love the new combat changes in patch 3.0. Combat is even quicker now. Comments from you would be fun to read?

Finally as you see I try to benchmark AoC not only to PC games out there but also some of the best console games. Have fun in AoC.

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That was a hell of a list!

I'm glad that you were able to articulate what you felt was important to you and why you rated it the way you did. I don't agree with some of the areas mentioned, but I respect those items being important to you; and reflected in your overall score.

I have mixed feelings on the shorter combos now that I've had a chance to work through my different melee characters again at different level ranges (65-80). Prior to the changes, I didn't have many issues when it came to being competitive in PvP due to the way it was designed. I, like others have a G15 keyboard and some of the longer chains I'd macro and fire off as needed; saving the last few swings or final swing for manual key presses.

In that sense alone, the changes to the combo system more or less have changed to what I was already doing with my keyboard macros; in other words. Making them shorter and letting me focus more on what was happening on screen rather than "playing the interface" or virtual "simon says". Coupled with some decent changes to damage output/mitigation; its not bad at all.

In regards to the password protected combo system, I don't find it particularly revolutionary because it's been around for so long. Playing a game like Heavenly Sword or similar game; I know that same system is there; except it's just not visible on screen; giving the game a little more immersiveness.  I also personally don't see it different than most MMO's in terms of the execution of an end result. For example, in many MMOs; people have set or created attack chains. They press, 1,1,2,3,4,1,2 and "boom goes the dynamite" happens.  In AoC, it saves me a crapload of hotkeys by initiating 1 key to starts and usually keeping the others to just a few key presses away. Underneath it's still 1,1,2,4,LR, UP. etc,

That being said, I like how it turned out; but don't agree with people saying it's new or revolutionary. Instead, I'll say a fresh approach to the same system was taken and it works for many people; which is a good thing.  What would I have preferred?

• Less visible or non existent combos visuals, but i recognize some co's may want to appeal to a broader base.
• More Tekken-eqsue type combat. And for the life of me, I can't find that MMO video with that kind of action. It was ridiculously cool looking.
• The ability for players to create combos (not just macro chains) themselves for unique and impressive ways to keep combat fresh.  Add in the ability to "learn" from opponents you fight and defeat; and being able to incorporate their moves into your battle set up would be great.
• Dueling. Anytime. Anywhere.
• Combat trophies. I want you to see your most favorite weapon strapped on to my belt or back; knowing I took it from you and you can have it back if you beat me.
• Group Fatalities (aka heroic chains). A guardian slamming down their foe with their shield, followed by the assassin plunging their daggers into their chest; their screams cut off by an arrow to the throat by the ranger in the party.

Yeah yeah, I know...pipe dreams and incredibly complex.    Maybe someday!

Originally posted by arkady09

The most recent decision not to roll back PVP experience for everyone was pretty much the last straw.

 

Well they listened now. But you need to stop using blanket statements encompassing everyone as a whole which is simply not the case.

This game gave me a serious diaper rash. I'm so glad I was able to clear it up by canceling my account.

Originally posted by levsix

This game gave me a serious diaper rash. I'm so glad I was able to clear it up by canceling my account.

 

 thought AoC was a +17 game.

Originally posted by PezzBomb

Sin and Rohn to answer your questions from this thread and other threads.

 

Originally posted by Rohn

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Originally posted by PezzBomb

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Well what I ment to say was. AoC is a 10/10 considering the elements most important to me. Crafting is however not that good, which would pull down the game to a 9/10 for people that like a lot of crafting in their MMORPG.

This is what I ment and I do not think I am too fare off looking on about 30-50 other reviews out there.

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So, your repeated "10/10" statements aren't meant to be your objective review of the game as a whole, but rather an indication of how much you like just the parts of the game that are important to you? Would that be accurate?

What are the parts that are important to you?

Being as objective as possible, how would you rate the game overall, including all the parts of the game, not just the ones that "are important to you"?
 

My repeated 10/10 grade for this game certainly stands as it is, with you knowing my background as a new MMORPG player with a past in console games.  To elaborate on my grade:

1. The games graphics engine blows anything that ever has been in a MMO before away. If the best game in terms of graphics before was Vanguard or Lotro and hence being close to the definition of a 10 on a scale from 1-10, I would say AoC just really sets a new standard being 10 by itself reducing most other games down to 7 or less (7 being LotRO). AoC kills even hig quality graphics games like Lost Planet and heavenly Sword. AoC is unmatched in highest settings. (This is without any of that DX10 stuff, that is so much hyped).

2. The Combat system is just unique. I have not played many PC games before with this kind of detail and complexity to the combat. Combat gets a 10/10 hands down. I know Sin has written some posts about how he got this password feel to the combos. I never got that and just right away loved the system. If however you had doubts about the system, be assured that patch 3.0 if possible even has faster pace combat. Would love to see some comments from Sin on this. 10/10 again

3. Animations. I have read how FC used those sensor suits to get their animations as real as possible and I must say I have very rarely played games with as smooth and natural animations as AoC. FC your effords on this payed off bigtime. 10/10

4. The atmosphere. This game is just insanely well made in terms of atmosphere. Not even Doom III or Xbox's Manhunt was ever able to offer such an immersion. Soundtrack is partially responsible for this. Riding through the desert of Stygia just really make me feel like a caravan leader from medieval times. Extremely well done AoC composer.10/10

5. The Quests and Raids. Being used to Quest in Xbox or other PC games I played a good while back these Quests are really really good. It gives a reason beyond just going out and wack someone. In fact the parts of this game that I love the most is Raid Quests. Hitting a dungeon with a packed group, running through doing the quests kicking the ass of the boss is really fun. Important note here is, a boss in AoC is a real boss, as in hard to tackle. Do not take for granted that you and your group will be able to take down the boss. I love the way the game have been balanced at this point. I love the challenge. Traps, intelligent monsters and more really molds the experience together. Coming back to AI on monsters and NPC's I would say AoC gets a 9/10 here if a 10/10 is console games. Some of the console games has really elaborate NPC AI script. Age of Conan can not match that. Age of Conan does however beat anything else on PC hand down. My overall grade is somewhere between 9/10 and 10/10.

6. Bugs and Performance. I know MMO's are supposed to have performance and bug issues. I have rarely or if ever run into any of these issues in AoC. After a month in the game I have only managed to find one bug that for sure is a bug. The bug I found was a broken Quest. I know LotRO supposedly is the MMO of least bugs, but I must say when I have played a game 1 month straight and have not found more issues than I have, this game is a victim to the most bullshit ever posted about a game. The game is totally fine. I give it a 10/10 comparing it to other gaming experiences I ever have had.

7. Crafting. I did not like it. Then again I almost never like repoetetive type of tasks like getting a lot og gold or silver or whatever. But I realize that any economy is driven by the amount of pain in the ass it involves to get hold of something. Getting a rare gem is by no means an easy task,. You would have to grind your mind out of your head to get a batch of 5. Then again this stuff can be sold for a really high price on the trader. Putting all this aside I would say AoC still has a craftingsystem that does not match the quality of the rest of the game. It seems like FC on purpose did not make crafting into what it really could have been to save resources or whatever. I have not played too many games with crafting but my impression is that AoC crafting is nothing out of the ordinary even though the gemstacking is a new concept. 6/10. If I was to imagine that I was a real addict to crafting and the economy revolving about it I would say 5 or 4/10.

8. PvP. This is a oddball. I was already thinking before patch 3.0 that PvP is really fun. It involves way more tactics than CS or similar and I also enjoy that it is open PvP which gives me a much more realistic feel. i would not have to march up to some weird funstation to get my action. It is nonstop any place in the game action. I have other MMORPG friends that I successfully converted to AoC and their opinion also fed into this grade. I said 10/10ish before. Now after the consequence system it is a clear as clear can be 10/10

9. Massive PvP/Siege. This is really a category that did not excist before, so that AoC can offer this in itself on top of all the other goodie is just awesome. FC offers high graphics quality, insane atmosphere gameplay PvP with close to 100 combattants fighting over their own city. On top of this again, this is just not any city. It is the defenders own city. The amount of emmotions involved in this combat is just insane. One of the clearest 10/10's there is to this game. I have seen very few posts if any of people being disappointed with their Siege experience.

10. Mounts. I don't have to explain any more. What other game offers you the possibility to rearing up on your horse to plan both hoofs in the forehead of you opponents and subsequently knock him down with a rear kick. Absolutely none. I can sit on my horseback and shoot a mobster in the head with my crossbow. I have seen my friends play WOW running around on that wolfback. lol, not even in the same category. At this point I am already on 10/10. However I am not done, there are siege mounts such as mamooths and Rhinos in this game. They can be used in even more advanced actions such as sieging and as structural damage dealer. 10/10

11. AoE and Fatality. There is no other game that has these features available in the same professional implementation such as AoC. 10/10 without me having to comment further. Mortal combat and Tekken has some cool fatality moves in place. I dig those, but they are not in place with a AoE system at the same time.

12. Itemization. I have read a lot of shit about how disappointed people were in the beginning on itemization. Well I can reassure you that I have not suffered from any of these issues since I started playing like 1 month back. I would say itemization is just a tad bit higher than expected,  perhaps 6 to 7/10, BUT, just because the designers have done an awesome job making my hammer look like a real demolition weapon and my armor like a nail freaksuit from hell I would tend to say 8 or 9/10. FC what you have in place look damn good. Yeah Yeah yeah, I know you have PvP armor and X number of receipts in place out there, but just keep cranking out more items and I will eventually give you a 10/10 here just because your designers make so much fucking good looking stuff.

There is probably other stuff to comment on too, but the game is very close to 10/10. If I look on this as pessimistic as I can by putting a huge emphasis on the poorest category in the game, which is crafting, I guess I could give this game 9/10. Anyway, this game is a blast and anybody tricked into not playing it by reviewers in MMORPG and other people in this forum with an agenda such as "FC are devious devils from below" are just plain out idiots passing on the best game out there. Initially, when I started the game i though... Whaaooo great game look forward to ahve fun with this for another couple of months, but I tell you one thing, I am likely to stay with this game for a much longer period if the new material hold the same quality as the old. Rohn I hope I answered most of your questions. I will probably not answer you on you reply as my goal is to leave or at least reduce the frustrating interaction with this forum.

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Originally posted by SinReaper

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Originally posted by PezzBomb

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Well what I ment to say was. AoC is a 10/10 considering the elements most important to me. Crafting is however not that good, which would pull down the game to a 9/10 for people that like a lot of crafting in their MMORPG.

This is what I ment and I do not think I am too fare off looking on about 30-50 other reviews out there.
 

---

Which elements are important to you? Also, are you stating that the amount of crafting one likes in their MMO would rate a different score as opposed to how a crafting system is set up?

In other words, if I don't like a lot of crafting in my MMO; then I should like AoC's crafting system because a) it's not very good and b) because I don't like to craft too much, I won't miss it?

Again, please elaborate on what elements are important to you. I'd like to read that very much.
 

Hi Sin. I probably answered most of your questions above. Glad to see that you are back in AoC. I was honestly thinking on some of your posts about that passwordfeel the other day and I thought you certainly would love the new combat changes in patch 3.0. Combat is even quicker now. Comments from you would be fun to read?

Finally as you see I try to benchmark AoC not only to PC games out there but also some of the best console games. Have fun in AoC.

---

 

Pezz, you really have too much time at your hands. Nice review, but whats wrong about saying I like the game....period..

nope its 1/10.

i can make up imaginary numbers too. knock it down to .05/10 since thats about how much of what they promised they delivered out of the box -nazi customer service/forum mods.

Just face the facts..this game suxx..

I had fun with it up to level 40 but then it died when i entered my first instance

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by arkady09

The most recent decision not to roll back PVP experience for everyone was pretty much the last straw.

 

 

Well they listened now. But you need to stop using blanket statements encompassing everyone as a whole which is simply not the case.

Why werent these folks banned? They are on the forums complaining about the fact they didnt get gold back for having their armor taken away.... They should have been banned.

I was a pretty big fan of the game throughout beta, preordered and was in the fron line of the cheerleading fanbois for the first 14 days or so of live. Then the patches started to wear on me, breaking tons more than they were fixing and not fixing anything that I felt was really needing to be fixed. Finally the lies got to me and I began to tire of it all, and I canceled. I vowed not to come back but I definitely enjoyed reading about the game for the past 5 months while playing other games.

My interest piqued again when I read about the changing of the guards :)

Since then I have been reading about the game every few days to see what's going on, and I am about a coin flip away from checking things out for a month...

I am lucky enough to have another 2 mmorpgs that I absolutely love, so there is no rush for me to jump back in... although I would love for FC to turn this thing around because the concept was awesome and the game was unique in many ways imo.

Originally posted by Mithrandolir

I was a pretty big fan of the game throughout beta, preordered and was in the fron line of the cheerleading fanbois for the first 14 days or so of live. Then the patches started to wear on me, breaking tons more than they were fixing and not fixing anything that I felt was really needing to be fixed. Finally the lies got to me and I began to tire of it all, and I canceled. I vowed not to come back but I definitely enjoyed reading about the game for the past 5 months while playing other games.

My interest piqued again when I read about the changing of the guards :)

Since then I have been reading about the game every few days to see what's going on, and I am about a coin flip away from checking things out for a month...

I am lucky enough to have another 2 mmorpgs that I absolutely love, so there is no rush for me to jump back in... although I would love for FC to turn this thing around because the concept was awesome and the game was unique in many ways imo.

 

 

Take your time, AoC and the community is fine. Be however aware of that once your get back this time you will fall in love for a loooong time. AoC is getting very streamlined now.  
 

Originally posted by Transporter

 AoC is getting very streamlined now. 

What is Streamlined about it? (Do you mean less of the 'bothersome' content than was advertised at launch??) Please enlighten us.

streamlined is the anti-thesis of complexity, so I guess you may have a point.

{ Mod Edit }

Originally posted by Unfinished

Originally posted by Transporter

 AoC is getting very streamlined now. 

 

What is Streamlined about it? (Do you mean less of the 'bothersome' content than was advertised at launch??) Please enlighten us.

 

streamlined is the anti-thesis of complexity, so I guess you may have a point.

{ Mod Edit }

 

Streamline is an expression thats often used in engineering when something goes smooth as hell from A to Z. When I use it about AoC, it means the product is solid. A Charater starting in Level 1 will be tutored and guided through Tortage up to level 20 as part of very entertaining gameplay, before starting on the rest of the game where now PvP consequences, Quests, itemization and other content has been added, as well as features, characters, bosses, have had a fair amount of tweaks and been balanced to a point that the gameplay flows very natural. Quests pop up at the right rate as do other challenges. Performance is top, animations are smooth.... Blablabla... Do you understand what streamlined mean now. It means, in spite of AoCs inherrent complexity, is a smooth fun ride for anyone joining. Feel free to ask again if there are words that confuse you.

{ Mod Edit }

I think it is safe to say that this game is ready for even the most picky guy now.

Originally posted by Transporter

Originally posted by Unfinished

Originally posted by Transporter

 AoC is getting very streamlined now. 

 

What is Streamlined about it? (Do you mean less of the 'bothersome' content than was advertised at launch??) Please enlighten us.

 

streamlined is the anti-thesis of complexity, so I guess you may have a point.

{ Mod Edit }

 

 

Streamline is an expression thats often used in engineering when something goes smooth as hell from A to Z. When I use it about AoC, it means the product is solid. A Charater starting in Level 1 will be tutored and guided through Tortage up to level 20 as part of very entertaining gameplay, before starting on the rest of the game where now PvP consequences, Quests, itemization and other content has been added, as well as features, characters, bosses, have had a fair amount of tweaks and been balanced to a point that the gameplay flows very natural. Quests pop up at the right rate as do other challenges. Performance is top, animations are smooth.... Blablabla... Do you understand what streamlined mean now. It means, in spite of AoCs inherrent complexity, is a smooth fun ride for anyone joining. Feel free to ask again if there are words that confuse you.

{ Mod Edit }

I see your point, the game is very 'streamlined', it takes the average player 2-5 weeks to hit the level cap......

....... and find out there is no end game.

Glad to see that there are some intelligent responses in this thread. It really surprised me. I was expecting more posts like what we se just above my post here.

hope.

Originally posted by PezzBomb

Glad to see that there are some intelligent responses in this thread. It really surprised me. I was expecting more posts like what we se just above my post here.

 

hope.

Too bad they are made by the same 2-4 fanboys on a holy crusade. Yes the movement to spread lopsided information is quite streamlined.

the topic of the thread actual did made me laugh in real life, epic troll thread 10/10.

If this game earns a 10 out of 10, so why did all the members of my guild leave and several servers are empty now? None of them left because of the bad comments in mmorpg.com.

Maybe their wives and kids pleas, not to spend all their free time to grind from level 20 till 80 :P

I give 10 out of 10 to the fanboy who wrote that `advertisement`, for valiantly defending a game even its `captain` abandoned (I cannot even recall his name, what was the name of the rat/captain who left his place in funcom?).

Originally posted by Altug

If this game earns a 10 out of 10, so why did all the members of my guild leave and several servers are empty now? None of them left because of the bad comments in mmorpg.com.

Maybe their wives and kids pleas, not to spend all their free time to grind from level 20 till 80 :P

I give 10 out of 10 to the fanboy who wrote that `advertisement`, for valiantly defending a game even its `captain` abandoned (I cannot even recall his name, what was the name of the rat/captain who left his place in funcom?).

Thanks for referring to me as valiant, but I am not really valiant in any way. I am quite superficial and I tend to ridd myself with new games quite fast. Anyway back on topic, I have not claimed at any point that you didn't have a sub 10/10 experience with AoC at launch or through this summer. Actually, I have no idea how AoC was at launch and I am not trying to speculate at that either. What I am saying however, as a new player, is that I joined like 4-5 weeks ago, and I think this game is really awesome. Again I speak of the game the way it stands now. Some fun shit!! 

Originally posted by DrSpanky

Well, I think the game is dull, but that's me. I could care less if the game got a 10/10 or a 1/10...even if it was a game I liked because in the end, the only opinion  about a game that matters is mine.

Well said. Though thesedays i do wait for player reviews to come out now about games. A 4 person applauding the game and 40 cursing the game says to me loud and clearly, to stay away from it, at this moment in time, take another look 6-12mths down the line, if its still got the same feedback from whatever players are left (or low server populations then that also says the same thing, stay away from it.

Originally posted by Manestream

Originally posted by DrSpanky

Well, I think the game is dull, but that's me. I could care less if the game got a 10/10 or a 1/10...even if it was a game I liked because in the end, the only opinion  about a game that matters is mine.

 

Well said. Though thesedays i do wait for player reviews to come out now about games. A 4 person applauding the game and 40 cursing the game says to me loud and clearly, to stay away from it, at this moment in time, take another look 6-12mths down the line, if its still got the same feedback from whatever players are left (or low server populations then that also says the same thing, stay away from it.

Yes make sure we all stay away from the game because ManeStream has consolidated the number of negative MMO posts versus the number of possitive MMO posts. I challenge you ManeStream, round up a list over all people that have played AoC after 17th of Sep and see how many that are willing to paint you that doom Picaso you so badly crave. I am very sure you by fare will get most + reviews. Finally when you run your 4 vs 40 thing, does Lumache, Orzo, Cuda69 or any of those other 20 MMORPG personalities which that crazy AoC hater post count as one poster or as +20? If not, I think you need to reconsidder your method. In my opinion, the best thing to do, is to find people that currently play the game and get their opinion based on real play. It's just going to be another opinion, but it is ten times better than what you suggest.

Originally posted by BearShammy

Originally posted by Polikarpov

Originally posted by BearShammy

Originally posted by Polikarpov

Originally posted by BearShammy

Yes in the same way lumache would be banned and just come back with another set of BS posting profiles. lol.. I am giving the guy a bump because AoC is a very good game. 10/10 you can't obviously take serious, but AoC is certainly up there. I easily give it a 8/10.

 

Things lumache says actually make sense. I usually agree with him. I suggest you try read his posts sometimes instead of attacking him or others personally. I know it pisses you off that 90% of people left your game but don't worry, it's all going to be over soon and you can move on.

Oh and I think AoC is a very mediocre game. I easily give it 6/10. For pvp I give it 5/10.

 

You usually agree with him?? lol, your joindate was after he left or got banned from this forum. How well do you know him really ?

 

I don't know him personally but I've read many of his posts. By the way, why are you always obsessed with join dates? You think that is real life "character level" or something?

 

Join date tell very much about a poster. In particular when a guy have been in MMORPG in 2 days and posted +50 AoC related posts all of the very very doomish, in a way that reveals that there is no interest at all from the posters side to discuss the game. It's posting driven my other agendas.

This is why I take note of join dates. Also another thing. Typical hyperposters, like yourself, also seem to appear in this forum when other hyperposters Vanish. If I was to pull my tinfoil hat on I would say lumache that got banned about the 29th of October now has reappeared as the russian/finish poster Polikarkov.

Do you do it for the fanboys/viral marketers as well because looking at your  date and commets......Oh never mind its just too easy.

Originally posted by WargPest

I think it is safe to say that this game is ready for even the most picky guy now.

If all of you who claim to love the game really do you would be well serverd to get people like this out of here. Their over the top reviews and obvious attempsts at deceit do more to damage the game than any amount of haters could.

Originally posted by courtsdad

Originally posted by WargPest

I think it is safe to say that this game is ready for even the most picky guy now.

 

If all of you who claim to love the game really do you would be well serverd to get people like this out of here. Their over the top reviews and obvious attempsts at deceit do more to damage the game than any amount of haters could.

What are you talking about?

Originally posted by CobraSolidus

Originally posted by Manestream

Originally posted by DrSpanky

Well, I think the game is dull, but that's me. I could care less if the game got a 10/10 or a 1/10...even if it was a game I liked because in the end, the only opinion  about a game that matters is mine.

 

Well said. Though thesedays i do wait for player reviews to come out now about games. A 4 person applauding the game and 40 cursing the game says to me loud and clearly, to stay away from it, at this moment in time, take another look 6-12mths down the line, if its still got the same feedback from whatever players are left (or low server populations then that also says the same thing, stay away from it.

 

Yes make sure we all stay away from the game because ManeStream has consolidated the number of negative MMO posts versus the number of possitive MMO posts. I challenge you ManeStream, round up a list over all people that have played AoC after 17th of Sep and see how many that will paint you that doom picture you crave. I am very sure you by fare will get most + reviewes. Finally when you run your 4 vs 40 thing in the post above, does Lumache, Orzo, Cuda69 or any of those other 20 MMORPG personalities that crazy AoC hater has count as one poster or as +20? If not, I think you need to reconsidder you recomondation method. In my opinion, the best thing to do, is to find people that currently play the game and get their oppinion based on real play. It's just gonna be an opinion, but it is ten times better than what you suggest.

Sadly thats very tough around here since so many that claim to play are obvious over the top advetisers for the game. As far as trying to paint it as if the people who dislike the game are runnig multiple account s to bad mouth thegame you of course, in the name of fairness< are going to name the large number that showed up after it was suggested that they come here to spam the forums about how great the game is?? This thread is the perfect example and all of the usual suspects seem to be present. Some cover it up better than others but they are pretty transparent.

Oh an dplease be sure to add "crazy aoc lover  who has accounts ( I thnk you meant accounts)as one poster or 20" to your vocabulary if you plan on being taken seriously. Its far from one sided.