<I did not want to post in the Age of Conan section because i did not want Biased Fanboy responses, so please do not move this if possible>

About ready to download, I heard alot of bad press about it at lauch, but I've also heard they've done alot to fix it and ad content as of yet and I always thought graphically it looked rather good.  So 3  questions:

1) How is it now ?

2) How's the population?

3) Is the zoning really as bad as they say?

Originally posted by Teradyne

<I did not want to post in the Age of Conan section because i did not want Biased Fanboy responses, so please do not move this if possible>

About ready to download, I heard alot of bad press about it at lauch, but I've also heard they've done alot to fix it and ad content as of yet and I always thought graphically it looked rather good.  So 3  questions:

1) How is it now ?

2) How's the population?

3) Is the zoning really as bad as they say?

 

Very quick reply:

1. Good (your mileage may vary, this is based on opinion, and that is mine).

2. Depends on server.

3. If you hate zoning, you will most likely not like it. Expect to zone every 30-45 mins of gameplay for about 10-15 secs while leveling.

Answers:

1. Bugs are usually minor and most usually appear after patches (as with any MMO) It is regularly patched with new content as well a fixing bugs. Note that some people appear to get more problems than others and so some people seem to complain more.

2. Population is mature on most servers, PvP servers generally have lower maturity. In terms of amount of people it is wise to join a guild as you are unlikely to experience end game content without the support of a guild to make raids. PvP is reduced because of population amounts. if you are after a large population it is bad, if you are after a mature population it is good.

3. Zoning takes a while to load when first entering the zone. this reduces in time drastically after the first zoning. Some people complain they crash the software when they zone from some instances. This seems to occur to some people more than others. Do not believe people when they say zoning takes too long, this is only for the first time you zone or after a large addition tot he game, this is because the computer needs to update quests and npcs.

Edit: (Initial zoning is 30-60sec depending on zone, zoning after initial zone is about 2 sec for me)

Originally posted by Aercus

Very quick reply:

1. Good (your mileage may vary, this is based on opinion, and that is mine).

2. Depends on server.

3. If you hate zoning, you will most likely not like it. Expect to zone every 30-45 mins of gameplay for about 10-15 secs while leveling.

And MUCH more often the first 20 levels. The zones themselves are a decent enough size. The problem comes when you need to zone to enter a small shack, and then zone back out. (Tavern in Tortage, Mosuleum in White Sands, the prison cell in Underhalls, etc.) I think that is the biggest complaint about the zoning overall.

Originally posted by Rallycart

Originally posted by Aercus

Very quick reply:

1. Good (your mileage may vary, this is based on opinion, and that is mine).

2. Depends on server.

3. If you hate zoning, you will most likely not like it. Expect to zone every 30-45 mins of gameplay for about 10-15 secs while leveling.

 

And MUCH more often the first 20 levels. The zones themselves are a decent enough size. The problem comes when you need to zone to enter a small shack, and then zone back out. (Tavern in Tortage, Mosuleum in White Sands, the prison cell in Underhalls, etc.) I think that is the biggest complaint about the zoning overall.

When I level in first 20 levels i zone to each of those a maximum of twice, and after the first time it takes literally 2 seconds to zone, and that is really just the fade out and fade in.

Originally posted by haratu

When I level in first 20 levels i zone to each of those a maximum of twice, and after the first time it takes literally 2 seconds to zone, and that is really just the fade out and fade in.

You only zoned into the Tavern in Tortage a maximum of twice? That is quite the feat. And, it doesn't matter how long the zoning time is. As soon as people see that you need to zone into a small building, which should just be open with the mother zone, it angers people for some reason. Never bothered me, other than back in the grey mapping days, but lots of people were pissed.

Wow you guys are fast here !

thank you, very insightful, I start download.

Is anyone familiar with the size of the population in regards to eq2 or vanguard both of which i left after years  because of waning population?

Also i just watched gamspot video review and they said you choose Race/Class "before entering the larger world". Does that mean you dont choose till you hit lvl 20??

Originally posted by Teradyne

Wow you guys are fast here !

thank you, very insightful, I start download.

Is anyone familiar with the size of the population in regards to eq2 or vanguard both of which i left after years  because of waning population?

Also i just watched gamspot video review and they said you choose Race/Class "before entering the larger world". Does that mean you dont choose till you hit lvl 20??

 

The population overall is pretty low. However, there are not that many servers, so you can find very populated servers. If you like PvE, try Set.

Also, the original idea for the game was that you would not choose a class until later, but you currently choose race and class at character creation.

Originally posted by Teradyne

<I did not want to post in the Age of Conan section because i did not want Biased Fanboy responses, so please do not move this if possible>

About ready to download, I heard alot of bad press about it at lauch, but I've also heard they've done alot to fix it and ad content as of yet and I always thought graphically it looked rather good.  So 3  questions:

1) How is it now ?

2) How's the population?

3) Is the zoning really as bad as they say?

 

If you like single player games, you'll love Tortage(lvls 1-20).  I did.

1.  If you don't care much about out of combat MMO trappings and love combat, you'll like this game for a good while.

2.  I haven't been in in a few months, but it was moderate when I was there.

3.  Depends on how much zoning bugs you.  I didn't care much about the loading screens(they didn't take long), I just felt it detracting from my feeling of being immersed in a huge gaming world.

The only way to tell is to try it.  If you like it, pick it up from Amazon.  You can get the box new for 8 bucks.  You can also get 60 day time cards for 14 bucks.  That's like half off!

Word of warning.  If you LOVE Tortage, which is quite possible, avoid running back to the forum and starting threads like, "AoC pwnz!  Best MMO eva!", cuz Tortage is not very representative of the rest of the game.  And I think there's a pretty good chance that your opinion of AoC in 3-4 months will be dramatically different that what it will be in the first week.

Have fun!

Ok thanks again !

Can anyone recommend  the highest pop server/servers?

Be back after work and be looking forward to it

Originally posted by Teradyne

Ok thanks again !

Can anyone recommend  the highest pop server/servers?

Be back after work and be looking forward to it

PvP or PvE, US or EU?

Originally posted by Teradyne

<I did not want to post in the Age of Conan section because i did not want Biased Fanboy responses, so please do not move this if possible>

About ready to download, I heard alot of bad press about it at lauch, but I've also heard they've done alot to fix it and ad content as of yet and I always thought graphically it looked rather good.  So 3  questions:

1) How is it now ?

2) How's the population?

3) Is the zoning really as bad as they say?

 

I don' t know for sure, but I'd guess the game is lying face down, pinned under the sweaty body of Saddur.

What is the big deal about zoning? We have far greater issues in MMO's, I have never seen the problem.

Originally posted by Scot

What is the big deal about zoning? We have far greater issues in MMO's, I have never seen the problem.

Zoning in a game with a world is generally okay. 

But zoning in a game that is nothing but zoning and zoning and zoning feels like being trapped in one of those Halloween haunted houses with corridors that go nowhere or lead the wrong way, etc...