Originally posted by EvilGeek

Why does Lani insist on misleading people ? "If you want to focus on PvE only, you can." is a lie, it just isn't true, post lvl 20 you will be forced into non consensual PvP. 

No its not, you can reach 50 without PvP

I don't think that's what he means. Yes, you can level to max via PvE only in PvE "mostly" territories. You can't avoid PvP entirely, since rifts are random. You do get forewarning about a rift opening in you area though, so you should be able to plan accordingly.

Originally posted by EvilGeek

Why does Lani insist on misleading people ? "If you want to focus on PvE only, you can." is a lie, it just isn't true, post lvl 20 you will be forced into non consensual PvP. 

Sounds sexy.

Originally posted by Leucrotta

Originally posted by EvilGeek

Why does Lani insist on misleading people ? "If you want to focus on PvE only, you can." is a lie, it just isn't true, post lvl 20 you will be forced into non consensual PvP. 

 

No its not, you can reach 50 without PvP

You can not reach level 50 with out ever being subjected to PvP. You don't have to seek out PvP and can avoid it the best you can and still reach level 50. However, with the Rift "invasion" system, you can and will be ganked in PvE zones with no ability to opt out, other than to log out when you see trouble and hope no one is around next time you log in.

I plan on playing on a server with the current rule set. However, if the game is going to hope to not lose half their US customers after the first month, they need to offer PvE rule servers where PvP only occurs in the Abyss, or where PvP vulnerability can be turned off in PvE zones for those who don't want to deal with it while playing the PvE content in the game.

Originally posted by Xasapis

I don't think that's what he means. Yes, you can level to max via PvE only in PvE "mostly" territories. You can't avoid PvP entirely, since rifts are random. You do get forewarning about a rift opening in you area though, so you should be able to plan accordingly.

The problem is that the game world isn't that large and there is no redundant PvE content. If your zone is invaded, that's going to be the only zone for your level range. Your choice will be to log off.

I still haven't read one single reason why someone should buy this over any other MMO, except for "I'm bored with my current one".

"It has wings" doesn't cut it.

The game looks like Cabal Online.. Where the game developer focused more on Skill Effect and PVP styles which attracts more and more player..

Why would you need somebody to "sell" the game to you? If you're remotely curious, you'd check for yourself and make your own mind about it.

Originally posted by Papamac

From 1-20 I haven't noticed any grind. There are always quests available as you level up.

I think Aion has the potential to be an MMO force to be reckoned with. It's not going to be perfect when it launches (no title ever is) but it is going to have enough going for it to make people want to at least try it.

My only real complaint is that there are a few too many invisible walls where there shouldn't (imo) be any. That can make the world seem more restrictive (smaller) than it really is, and it serves to discourage random exploration. That (again, imo) is a shame, since the world itself is gorgeous, and just begs to be discovered.

I'm looking forward to release. The dev team has done an awesome job with localization so far, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun when the first rush of gamers all reach the Abyss for their first PvPvE experience.

Peace. :)

 

There wasn't a problem from 1-20 with AoC either, was there?

Originally posted by fiontar

Originally posted by Xasapis

I don't think that's what he means. Yes, you can level to max via PvE only in PvE "mostly" territories. You can't avoid PvP entirely, since rifts are random. You do get forewarning about a rift opening in you area though, so you should be able to plan accordingly.

 

The problem is that the game world isn't that large and there is no redundant PvE content. If your zone is invaded, that's going to be the only zone for your level range. Your choice will be to log off.

Or we could go the way of a nice large world like 'Warhammer',  where you can choose to avoid the main purpose of the game. 

Originally posted by Papamac

Originally posted by Taram

TBH I wanted to like this but when I tried it it just wasn't that fun.  Painfully linear with no real storyline whatsoever.  Quests are boring and repetitive at best.  Runes of Magic is a better game, frankly, and it's free to play.

 

 

I respect your opinion, and admire the courage it took to express it in a public forum.

I've played both games, also. There is no comparison between the two, in my opinion.

Peace. :)

I would have to agree with the above poster. Runes of Magic is quite a nice game although it is a very basic PvE game. There really is no comparison to a free to play game and a pay to play. Runes of magic is essentially a WoW clone at the very best with a few interesting gimmicky features to attract some curious gamers in.

from 1-20 i never felt bored, the game is fun , specially the graphics are a Highlight (depends on the PC you play with ;)  )

the quests are fun to play , in higher level you need a grp, fine there is a grp-finder included,makes it easy to find a grp. Not many people used it while beta , but i guess after release it will be used more often.

to compare a new MMO with an existing MMO has pros and cons, and will never do justice to one of the MMO.

I prefer to take any MMO , like it is , as a new MMO with his own characterism  :)

So, i like Aion and i will up to play after release.

mfg

PS.: Wow sucks :=)

I bet 90% of people that gave it a try and find the quest without story and linear are rather silly.  Beta don't even include an opening and straight goes to the first starter's area.  It is beta, they are not giving us the full game.

On the issue of it being linear and storyless.  A novel is usually linear as hell, but there is a story.  It is because it is a story that it is linear,  the same can be said about any games.  However, I would have to say people probably didn't even read the quest converstaion with NPC and just hit the accept button.  Yeah, easy to say the story isn't there when you didn't bother reading the story. 

I read it and tried to play around with the quest, and found some interesting after quest that is not available unless you did certain actions in a previous quest.  This involves actually choosing a different option than just the standard, "k thx bye", after completing a quest.  In this case the problem is more likely with the player than with the game. 

Remember that quest where you have to steal the nymph's cloth.  Apparently that nymph is actually a daeva, and there is an after quest for it if you choose the option to not give the woodcuter the cloth you stole. (You can give it to him immediately again after refusing though, this will open up the quest in sanctum and complete the quest with woodcutter)  People who just click give him the cloth no questions asked will not receive the additional quest.  The game even bothered marking it with a optional reward mark on the top of his head to let the players know there is a difference to be made here.  However, people that doesn't read the log nor pay attention will almost 100% miss the nuances of questing.

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Originally posted by Taram
TBH I wanted to like this but when I tried it it just wasn't that fun.  Painfully linear with no real storyline whatsoever.  Quests are boring and repetitive at best.  Runes of Magic is a better game, frankly, and it's free to play.
 

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I don't know anything about Runes of Magic, but this pretty well sums it up for me. The combat system, I will grant, is pretty nice. It's similar to most other games, so it is easy for most people to pick up. The combo system is clever and well done. It feels reactive and real. Each class is pretty standard, no new ground there, but they really feel (to me) the way that class should. The mage is really a glass canon. They are incredibly powerful at range, and they have abilities to keep you at range while they blast unholy amounts of damage your way, but if you can get up to them, you can smash their face in. Scouts really feel like your rangers and assassins (I never played one high enough to actually pick). You stealth behind your target and you destroy them before they new what happened. You have a feel for the world around you. It's wonderful.

It's gorgeous. There are certain things that seem dated about the way the engine was built, but overall, the textures and models are far and away better than anything I've ever seen in an MMO.

The problem lies in the freedom. It doesn't feel like a world at all. It's linear; you are forced to go from point A to point B to point C. You are forced to do certain quests in a zone before you can proceed to the next zone. For story, that has it benefits, but it doesn't give the player the freedom to choose. You can't fly where you want, you can't fly for long, and while there is potential there, I don't think it will live up to it. You can't go where you want in the world. You can't even swim! I'm sorry, if I'm an adventurer, and Angel, and I can't swim, that's pretty pathetic. I kill things for a living and I can't figure out how to move my arms and legs together to stay afloat? That's an immersion killer for me right there.

Another huge immersion killer are the cities. In the outposts, most people are standing still, waiting to give you quests, but in the cities, there are more players and NPCs walking around, going about their day. If you are in a city full of angels, they should be flying most of the time. I just can't imagine a city of angels where they are all okay just walking about on foot. I am not even allowed to fly there. I am an angel and I can't fly at home? It just breaks it for me.

Do they support Mac gamers?

friends of mine use macs so i am curious, also don't bother posting mac vs pc crap i don't really care about it, i just wanna know if they support Mac gamers.

Originally posted by Leodious

 

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Originally posted by Taram
TBH I wanted to like this but when I tried it it just wasn't that fun.  Painfully linear with no real storyline whatsoever.  Quests are boring and repetitive at best.  Runes of Magic is a better game, frankly, and it's free to play.
 

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The problem lies in the freedom. It doesn't feel like a world at all. It's linear; you are forced to go from point A to point B to point C. You are forced to do certain quests in a zone before you can proceed to the next zone. For story, that has it benefits, but it doesn't give the player the freedom to choose. You can't fly where you want, you can't fly for long, and while there is potential there, I don't think it will live up to it. You can't go where you want in the world. You can't even swim! I'm sorry, if I'm an adventurer, and Angel, and I can't swim, that's pretty pathetic. I kill things for a living and I can't figure out how to move my arms and legs together to stay afloat? That's an immersion killer for me right there.

I agree with you about the freedom. For me, that is the deal breaker. I literally felt like I had no choice in the game when it came to what quests to do or where to level. EVERYTHING is a pre-determined path for you and you have little to no choice to not devaite from it.

I like choice and I like to explore and adventure out through a game. Aion limits that and its a deal breaker for me.

What is worse is that when you create an alt, you have to do the same zones and same quests again with no deviation.

Make the wrong class choice at 10? Or find out you don't like that class at level 20? Same zones and same quests.

Want to re-roll on a new server because the server you were on is unbalanced/laggy/crashes or all of your friends are on another server? Same zones and same quests.

Sorry, I have been around MMO's long enough to know when I will not like a game or the game has mechanics that I will not like. I have final stopped and made myself forget the honeymoon period and the "OMG this new game is SO awesome" feeling and think 3-6 months down the road. And honestly, because of the above mentioned lack of freedom, I do not think I would make it past the first 30 days. So I will save my $50 and move on.

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Originally posted by Kris.Kringle

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Originally posted by fiontar

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Originally posted by Xasapis

I don't think that's what he means. Yes, you can level to max via PvE only in PvE "mostly" territories. You can't avoid PvP entirely, since rifts are random. You do get forewarning about a rift opening in you area though, so you should be able to plan accordingly.

---

 
The problem is that the game world isn't that large and there is no redundant PvE content. If your zone is invaded, that's going to be the only zone for your level range. Your choice will be to log off.

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Or we could go the way of a nice large world like 'Warhammer',  where you can choose to avoid the main purpose of the game. 

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That's gotta be a joke.

Warhammer's main purpose was suppose to be RVR but even in end game it's mostly PVE keep swaps or PVE in their new LoTD zone.

Don't use Warhammer as a example of good gaming to hold up to others. They got some good things in the game but end game RVR is not one of them.

Aion would do well to not force PVP on people in PVE zones specially when it's the only place you can go to level. Give people options... not giving it to them will just drive people away when they get tired of being ganked by higher level people while they are simply trying to level up.

Originally posted by LordDraekon

Originally posted by arrius2410

Originally posted by LordDraekon

Meh, another theme park where your progression runs on rails in a very narrow world.  The scenery is gorgeous until you realize that you can't actually go to a lot of those places that you can see. Nothing for explorers here.

Replayability is minimal since every character you create is going to take the same dull ride as the one before. In fact, both factions have essentially  the same quests with the only differences being names and the mobs involved. It's soloable until about level 18 when forced grouping hits you in the face like a bucket of ice water. From that point, you can either group or grind the same boring mobs over and over.

However, you  can make some very pretty characters. Still, if you love shallow PvP and forced grouping, you might be happy here, that is, if you can find enough like-mindeds to play with six months after release.

 I don't understand it, if you don't want groups and want to play alone doing quests, then why not just play a single player game. Also about the shallow PvP, which game today has better PvP to offer? In my opinion, this game has huge potential, alright it might have some invisible walls but for it just being 1.0 beta it sure delivered.

I didn't see any grinding problems when going from 1-19 in 18 hours just from quests. Plus since I had friends that were playing with me, group quests where no problem but I am sure when the game comes out, more people will play it thus solving this problem.

 

 

Gods, not that old saw again! The reasons why people may enjoy playing these games without grouping or PvP have been stated over and over in numerous forum posts on countless websites, yet some of you just can't factor it into your myopic view of how things should be.

I've also been around the block a few times and have heard the "it's beta" garbage until I'm ill. Beginning with my first beta, which was Horizons, people like you have been pointing to some unseen patch that will make everything better after release. These fixes never seem to materialize and the game you're playing on the last day of beta is essentially the same thing you'll play at release. So, if you're happy, then you'll be okay. But don't try to convince the undecided that there's some miracle patch around the corner. It's never happened.

The version launching in NA is 1.5. You have been testing 1.0. Rather than point to one patch that is coming, we can look forward to 3 (1.1, 1.2 and 1.5). Think there might be some changes? Or do you really think the last day of beta will be the same as release (1.0 vs. 1.5)?
 

If you don't like the game, fine, go away. But really, cut the BS and don't try to convince the undecided that there's no changes around the corner...

Eloar, dude, wall of text for a game that you've already given up on? Who are you trying to convince? The readers or yourself?

Sorry to burst your bubble but GW was crap. If that's your idea of a good MMORPG, well, you need to get out more...

I have run through the last 3 beta tests and I have to say that at least the producer is telling folks a more "real" version of the game they are offering.  I know things can still be changed before launch but it's a bit refreshing to read this and realize that they aren't promising something that the game doesn't deliver.  I agree that the game can be a bit "grindy" if you will but that doesn't make it boring by any means.  I still hate the crafting and resource collecting but to each their own I suppose.  It's basically EQ 2's crafting system which I actually liked when building items for my house but hated for everything else.  I had more fun this time in beta than the previous 2 but I think that had to do with getting deeper into my character this time.  They are going to have to improve server performance and fix the rubber banding though.  The server performance didn't improve at all regarding lag and the rubber banding could end up killing pvp. 

Originally posted by fiontar

Originally posted by Xasapis

I don't think that's what he means. Yes, you can level to max via PvE only in PvE "mostly" territories. You can't avoid PvP entirely, since rifts are random. You do get forewarning about a rift opening in you area though, so you should be able to plan accordingly.

 

The problem is that the game world isn't that large and there is no redundant PvE content. If your zone is invaded, that's going to be the only zone for your level range. Your choice will be to log off.

Sorry, but that last part is BS.  If you are in a zone with a rift you get a warning and can leave.  Your feet don't get cemented to the ground when a rift opens, you can move.  And, there are zones with no rifts.

Or, you could, ya know, stay and fight...

Originally posted by EvilGeek

Why does Lani insist on misleading people ? "If you want to focus on PvE only, you can." is a lie, it just isn't true, post lvl 20 you will be forced into non consensual PvP. 

that isn't true you can only pve if you wish, like at 20 you go to the next zone wich does have rifts opening but you CAN go to the other zone wich has no rifts. i never ever seen a rift open in the other zone. i can't think of the name but since its the same lvl as the one you're lead to through quests, it costs the same amount roughly to teleport there. i don't think i had a quest to go there i just went exploring and found it to be the same lvl and with no pvp or rifts.

edit: just checked the rift zone is Eltnen and the non rift PVE only zone is theobomos, for elyos

1-20 is very easy. On my first character, first time ever playing, it took me 2 days to hit 20 on my Cleric, and the following playthroughs took a day or less. I believe I got my Sorcerer to 20 in less than a day, with enough time to get a Ranger to 12 out of curiousity for the class. It all really depends on how well you know the game and how many people are questing in the same area as you.

Post 20 however, slows down considerably, though I don't feel it falls to the point of grindy. It feels more like City of Heroes leveling speed pre i9, where it took me about 6 months to hit 50 on my first character (Tank) 4 months on my second (Empath).

Edit: About forced PVP: Both sides are correct. You can strictly PvE if you want, but PvP ~is~ forced on you at certain points in the game. These are rare occurances, and are more to remind people that it is an option of play in the game, rather than throwing it in the player's face. You can still avoid PvP about 9/10 times, but there are times when it is unavoidable:

Rifts - Rifts open in certain maps only that allow people to travel to the other side of the world. These are NOT open 24/7, they only allow a set amount of people through, and as of patch 1.2 (which we will get, and then some, by official launch) NPC Guards will be dispatched to Rifts to help PCs fight those emerging from them.

Quests - Certain quests will teleport you to the other faction's side, perhaps by accident (Elyos NPC Teleporter is young and stupid) or for reconaissance (Asmo level 21 quest). Once you get there, you can simply die and get teleported back instantly if you don't feel like PvPing; the point is just to be there, you don't have to kill anyone...but hell, since you're there, may as well have a bit of fun, eh?

Guilds - Because Guilds usually strive to be powerful, joining one probably means participating in Abyss gatherings. Either make your own or find one that is strictly PvE. They're few and far between, but they exist.

I think alot of people moan and groan... but I personally think this game will be great. It'll be a change from all the other stuff. I myself like the graphics... Kiddy graphics like WoW, just doesn't do it for me.  If you don't like the game then don't play. If you are looking for something totally new, umm MMO's are MMO's.

But I have to agree with a lot of you about the interview, it did suck. No new information that I already knew... Atleast give us more info about the game, or something....

And to the people who plan to play this, cya in game. ;)

Originally posted by Airwren

I have run through the last 3 beta tests and I have to say that at least the producer is telling folks a more "real" version of the game they are offering.  I know things can still be changed before launch but it's a bit refreshing to read this and realize that they aren't promising something that the game doesn't deliver.  I agree that the game can be a bit "grindy" if you will but that doesn't make it boring by any means.  I still hate the crafting and resource collecting but to each their own I suppose.  It's basically EQ 2's crafting system which I actually liked when building items for my house but hated for everything else.  I had more fun this time in beta than the previous 2 but I think that had to do with getting deeper into my character this time.  They are going to have to improve server performance and fix the rubber banding though.  The server performance didn't improve at all regarding lag and the rubber banding could end up killing pvp. 

Uhm, in Europe's ariel the CBT3 performance was terrible, but in cbt4 it was smooth as silk, and it was still rocking 40 mins queues.