to make it short and simple

- graphics still amazing, but if you enable volumetric lighting in DX 10 FPS will drop fom mid 50's to low 20's instantly. I like the DX9 graphics just as well as the DX10 and they run much better. Animations are great, music is terrific, voiceovers are nice but the Arnold accent on all the males gets old fast. The story quest line is good, can't say much beyond Tortage because the game bores me into uninstalling before I can get much beyond it.

- combat - slow as hell, even in LoTRO a minstrel is faster. However I never felt the slightest bit of danger or challenge. So far up to lvl 6 I have just randomly clicked buttons and managed to take down mobs two and three and sometimes four at a time even lvl. ~yawn~

- loot is still a snooze fest at the low levels. It may or may not get better at the higher lvls but so far I am having to force myself to log in and usually after 30 minutes I log off and fire up LoTRO or Eve so I doubt if I will ever find out. My rule of thumb is if the first ten lvls or 3 hours of game play suck the rest of the game probably sucks even more

- having to redo Tortage every time gets real old the 3rd and 4th time through. I have done that area like 4 or 5  times now trying to find a class I enjoy, This game is just too linear, connect the dots and poof you are lvl 80. Problem is I get bored real weasy connecting the same dots over and over and over

Summary - it would make a good free to play game, but I can't see me spending money on it. Not even ten USD a month.

all I can say is everyone should do the free retry,  just don't commit to sending money till you are sure you will like it. The game just bores me to tears but there are some that enjoy it. If you like really easy gameplay that does not require a lot of thought this game is probably the right one for you.

Sure tortage gets boring after a few times so just play one character

After you get to levle 50 you can create one more levle 50 of any class so dont waste time with tortage.

I tried this game at launch and had high hopes for it but I think I mainly left for WAR but was more dissapointed in that then ever. Ive been playing darkfall on and off since march but I got fed up with it a month ago and tried a few games out there again, and after i tried aoc i resubbed 2 days later and ive been havin a blast. pvp is fun even just to piss someone off its great. so definately get on a pvp server.

Originally posted by Jackdog

to make it short and simple

- graphics still amazing, but if you enable volumetric lighting in DX 10 FPS will drop fom mid 50's to low 20's instantly. I like the DX9 graphics just as well as the DX10 and they run much better. Animations are great, music is terrific, voiceovers are nice but the Arnold accent on all the males gets old fast. The story quest line is good, can't say much beyond Tortage because the game bores me into uninstalling before I can get much beyond it.

Graphics are nice, and the game in Tortage vs. out is very different.  I have this inkling you are going to talk about the game as a whole after just admitting you never got much beyond Tortage...

- combat - slow as hell, even in LoTRO a minstrel is faster. However I never felt the slightest bit of danger or challenge. So far up to lvl 6 I have just randomly clicked buttons and managed to take down mobs two and three and sometimes four at a time even lvl. ~yawn~

Ah my inkling was right.  You are judging the combat on the first 6 levels...  In any MMO you have what.. 2-3 skills.  The combat is actually quite frantic in this game and enjoyable at later levels even with some imbalance between casters and melee.  With my HoX I was able to storm in on 3 equal level characters and slaughter them with a good bit of speed.  It was like crap hitting the fan.

- loot is still a snooze fest at the low levels. It may or may not get better at the higher lvls but so far I am having to force myself to log in and usually after 30 minutes I log off and fire up LoTRO or Eve so I doubt if I will ever find out. My rule of thumb is if the first ten lvls or 3 hours of game play suck the rest of the game probably sucks even more

Loot is alright later, but itemization IMO is one of the games weaknesses.  They need about 100 more armors and weapons in mid to late levels.

- having to redo Tortage every time gets real old the 3rd and 4th time through. I have done that area like 4 or 5  times now trying to find a class I enjoy, This game is just too linear, connect the dots and poof you are lvl 80. Problem is I get bored real weasy connecting the same dots over and over and over

At level 50 you can get another char starting at 50.  The first 50 levels of this game IMO are a ton of fun, but if you don't like it you don't like it.

Summary - it would make a good free to play game, but I can't see me spending money on it. Not even ten USD a month.

Again you never got out of Tortage so I wouldn't judge the entire game as F2P vs. P2P.  IMO I think you are crazy with this comment especially commenting on the first part of the game.

all I can say is everyone should do the free retry,  just don't commit to sending money till you are sure you will like it. The game just bores me to tears but there are some that enjoy it. If you like really easy gameplay that does not require a lot of thought this game is probably the right one for you.

Again... Tortage.. first few levels.  How can you judge how easy the gameplay is and how much thought is involved.

 

Now the worst part... the re-eval has been going for how long?  You judge the game on Tortage, and what?  The first 2 hours of the reval?  I realize your thread is called "First reimpressions", but then your post contradicts it entirely.

 

Gameplay in Tortage (the starting area) is simplified for an easy learning curve. I thought getting to lvl 6 should take 30 minutes or so, I cannot see that its possible to write a review after 30 minutes playtime... i recommend people to at least get past lvl 20 before making up their mind about this game. In my experience it just keeps getting better!

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Originally posted by motorthor
Gameplay in Tortage (the starting area) is simplified for an easy learning curve. I thought getting to lvl 6 should take 30 minutes or so, I cannot see that its possible to write a review after 30 minutes playtime... i recommend people to at least get past lvl 20 before making up their mind about this game. In my experience it just keeps getting worse!

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notice the title of the thread fanboys and girls--- First reimpressions. key word there is first ...not a review, just a initial reaction to what the first ten levels are like , This was what the first hour was like for me. Now if the first hour gives me this impression why in the hell should I invest another hour or five or ten in the frigging hope that it will get better.

Replies like this thread has gotten so far is why this game went down the toilet after selling a million or so copies.

Originally posted by Jackdog

notice the title of the thread fanboys and girls--- First reimpressions. key word there is first ...not a review, just a initial reaction to what the first ten levels are like , This was what the first hour was like for me. Now if the first hour gives me this impression why in the hell should I invest another hour or five or ten in the frigging hope that it will get better.

Replies like this thread has gotten so far is why this game went down the toilet after selling a million or so copies.

Archet / Breeland, Celondim etc wouldn't be a basis for the whole of Lotro surely.

Your right though, I got you, First and in First Impression based on first time in for 45 mins or so. The first 5 levels in AoC are single player :)

The skills your get below level 10 are the pure basic.

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Originally posted by Jackdog

notice the title of the thread fanboys and girls--- First reimpressions. key word there is first ...not a review, just a initial reaction to what the first ten levels are like , This was what the first hour was like for me. Now if the first hour gives me this impression why in the hell should I invest another hour or five or ten in the frigging hope that it will get better.

Replies like this thread has gotten so far is why this game went down the toilet after selling a million or so copies.

 

Archet / Breeland, Celondim etc wouldn't be a basis for the whole of Lotro surely.

Your right though, I got you, First and in First Impression based on first time in for 45 mins or so. The first 5 levels in AoC are single player :)

The skills your get below level 10 are the pure basic.

hey look I am trying to get myself up to level 25 at least before the end of the two weeks. Unless I am still bored to death after another two or three hours that is.

Like I said in my original post, everyone should give the free 2 weeker a shot and make up their own minds. Nothing wrong with that is there? No shoe fits every foot, and I am sure there a few that this one fits, I just don't think my foot is one of them.

Originally posted by Jackdog

notice the title of the thread fanboys and girls--- First reimpressions. key word there is first ...not a review, just a initial reaction to what the first ten levels are like , This was what the first hour was like for me. Now if the first hour gives me this impression why in the hell should I invest another hour or five or ten in the frigging hope that it will get better.

Replies like this thread has gotten so far is why this game went down the toilet after selling a million or so copies.

LOL you say you played through Tortage 4-5 times to find a class you would like, you also say that as a rule of thumb you can base a game on the first 3 hours of it and claim that playing this area was so terribly boring that you wouldn't bother playing past lvl 6.

This doesn't add up very well

Edit;

Ok, I see you want to get to lvl 25, this makes much more sence

Jackdog you surely have a character higher then 6 ? I bought the game and played for a month and have a level 62 ....

Originally posted by Jackdog

- combat - slow as hell, even in LoTRO a minstrel is faster. However I never felt the slightest bit of danger or challenge. So far up to lvl 6 I have just randomly clicked buttons and managed to take down mobs two and three and sometimes four at a time even lvl. ~yawn~

Duh, combat is slow in all games for the first 10 levels or so... And killing many mobs is easy in most game when you start.

If you think the same at lvl 20 it is a different thing but to me doesnt the combat feel slower than Wow or EQ2. It is not the wonderful flowing combat of Guildwars but ít still doesn't feel as slow as WAR.

Re-impression :

Thegame play was very solid on tyranny server. I had no issues with lag running with the dx10 up,  The game play is refreshing , the combat skills are fun the only thing for me is that they lose some of the tranquility of the skill motions with  how fast the render the skill aninations. It is lighting fast in my opinion, agin, my character is level 62.

The Dark Templar has had some nice tweaks and his procs seems to be going off BUT, he has not been given an increase with his drain lifes even when adding points in the feet tree. I've done 5point drains since level 8 to 62 ? that simply makes no sense when other class's skills increase in damage like all 3 caster class, HoX , and ToS are still ridiculously  over powered in pvp. The Dark Templar if feet'd properly should have a chance in pvp, but it just feels like the feet tree  just doesn't add enough to the drains to make them viable . When a Barbarian is regenerating health faster then a class that has Health drains over time, something is wack.

SO yah, class still inbalanced.

I still enjoy the game, it is a lot of fun to just run around and "try" to kill people with the gimpest class in the game, and when I do get a kill oo boy I rub it in lol.

Hope funcom keep s pushing in this direction, not overhyping the product but letting it come into it's own, and also hope they fix the Dark Templar someday so I can wreck face.

Originally posted by solareus

Jackdog you surely have a character higher then 6 ? I bought the game and played for a month and have a level 62 ....

yeah I have a mid 20's HoX that I made at launch and a mid teens necro that I played about the server merge time. It's never been able to maintain interest for more than a couple of weeks.

Logged in and played last night for a hour after my last post and made level 8. No real bugs, game runs mid 60's amd 70's outside Tortage in DX9 with all settings maxxed

Levels 1 to 10 takes 1 hour.

Out of Tortage in 3 hours (lvl20) during this time you get most of your main abilities and spells. Hence it should be used as learning to play that particular class.

Originally posted by Jackdog

Originally posted by solareus

Jackdog you surely have a character higher then 6 ? I bought the game and played for a month and have a level 62 ....

yeah I have a mid 20's HoX that I made at launch and a mid teens necro that I played about the server merge time. It's never been able to maintain interest for more than a couple of weeks.

Logged in and played last night for a hour after my last post and made level 8. No real bugs, game runs mid 60's amd 70's outside Tortage in DX9 with all settings maxxed

To be brutally honest you have not really experienced what the game is like. if your highest char is mid 20s.

I have a Hox and i nearly gave up on her during the mid 20s, when i got to 30+ i understood the phrase "Hox Rocks", and has turned out to one of the best classes i have ever played.

It seems you want to like this game but are too impatient with it.

I advise you to stick with it till you start grouping at mid 30s or give up all together..........

Originally posted by VultureSkull t.

 

I advise you to stick with it till you start grouping at mid 30s or give up all together..........

so again I must ask why should I stick around if the first 1/3 rd of the game isn't fun. just to give Funcom another 15 bucks maybe...no thanks. If the game has not grabbed me by the time this two weeks then I cannot hold out on a fan boys hope that the game gets to be entertaining after I pay for it.

Originally posted by Jackdog

Originally posted by VultureSkull t.

 

I advise you to stick with it till you start grouping at mid 30s or give up all together..........

so again I must ask why should I stick around if the first 1/3 rd of the game isn't fun. just to give Funcom another 15 bucks maybe...no thanks. If the game has not grabbed me by the time this two weeks then I cannot hold out on a fan boys hope that the game gets to be entertaining after I pay for it.

Then simply give up, as per the other option I offered you.

Since the game has not grabbed you at the early stages than it is not for you :-)

You cannot force yourself to like it unfortuanetly. AoC will do fine without you.

PS: I wish you luck in finding a game that you like....................

Originally posted by Jackdog

... I never felt the slightest bit of danger or challenge. So far up to lvl 6 ...

Hehe.. lol! I was expecting better from you Jackdog :D But at least you are honest (I hope) ;)

Congratulation that you are faster and better than lvl6 AI! Maybe you can try lvl at least 30-40 on PvP server... it wont be that slow and easy, beleive me (but on the other hand, its too much for me personally).

In my opion the folks running Funcom know they are ripping you off and alot of gamers just gladley hand over 15 bucks a month hopeing things will change and few things do with this guys. " Let the Buyer Beware " this can't be said enough.

I bought the game...the collectors edition at launch and like many was deeply disappointed. I have been trying new classes for several weeks. Yes..you can get 7 day trials  as many as you want....and am really having fun . Just got my wife hooked as well .Hopefully we will win in the drawing. Looks like I'll be playing a HOX and she a Demonologist.

On the issue of speed of combat...it certainly isn't too fast for someone who wants to be more than a buttonmasher ...and actually see what your character is doing..and enjoy it.

As a past hater of AoC... 1.05 has won me over.

- Fights last longer than 15 seconds

- Gear has noticable differences to the character and you can stack stats nicely

- PVE seems minorly affected by the change, PVP seems to be improved (i.e. better mini's)

- New Area is MUCH better end zone than Kashetta

The only down side is now, we have been noticing that everyone is gone/leaving to Aion in a month (I play on Tryanny). Not sure if this is a short term thing or if we're looking at vanguard 2.0 here.

But AoC is right, now. We just need more players :)

Originally posted by Jackdog

to make it short and simple

-...

yeah whatever...

you should have at least waited a week or at least a couple of days to give yourself some credibility.

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Originally posted by clearSam

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Originally posted by Jackdog

to make it short and simple
-...

---

yeah whatever...
you should have at least waited a week or at least a couple of days to give yourself some credibility.
 

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Sorry JD, but I have to agree. IMO, you played enough to take your usual stance as someone who doesn't like the game (we get it) but not enough to give an honest review from a neutral perspective.

I started the LOTRO Welcome Back Week and while I almost did what you did and posted my thoughts, your post helped me decide to play longer and give it a chance before reflecting on the game. ThX!!

If you roll on a general server, then I can see how it could get boring. THe Tyranny server is a lot of fun, FFA pvp on Tortage's Under Halls and White Sand Island, I have a Ranger who has stays lvl 17 just to do pvp as a lowby .

Jack Dog reroll on a pvp server, I'm sure you will find a little more engaging  through all the leveling. Iff I had rolled on a general server, I would of quit at 20 as well..

Though, I will alsways be LotrO first, and probably will pick up a month here and there with AoC just for my pvp fix, since Shadowbane is almost empty cause a lot of guilds went to AoC.

 There are too many different player types trying to compete with each other in this forum. I have never ever experienced an endgame in my MMO experience. Still i have played many. (WOW; LOTRO; AOC; POTBS; TS; and many free ones). 

Casual gamers as myself are important to gaming companies. They keep their CC running for several months and they dont really complain much. 

Therfore Jackdogs impressions are important. How does it feel to play the game for the first, lets say 200 hrs. For me 200 hours is a lot of time and it can easily mean 3-5 months of subscription time for the gaming companies. So all you "L33T's" that spend 9000 hours in 3 months are different. You are important for the gaming companies, but they have to treat you differently. Namely endgame content vs other content. 

So, compare apples with apples. Endgame vs endgame and lvl'ing vs lvl'ing. 

(sheeiiit, its friday and im drunk. dunno if what i wrote makes sense. took a loooooong time to write it)