Age of Conan

Im usually just a lurker on these forums, but I just have to put my 2cents in on the AoC PVP weekend.

First, the game was in MUCH better shape (bug wise) than my friends who are in the cb have been telling me.  If the game at release runs like it has this weekend, then it is in for a very respectable launch.  However, people seem to be forgetting that this weekend and the future "open" beta are only showing you a very small part of the game. 

Some could even argue you are being shown the most insignificant part of the game (the low level part).  So everyone needs to realize that the middle and end game could be in much much worse shape.  I won't go into conpiracy theories about funcom capping the lvl at 13 or whatever to hide things, but you need to admit that it is a possibility that many other aspects of the game could be in bad shape.

Another thing that is just annoying me, and this isnt really a big deal at all but i need to get it off my chest, is people judging classes and deeming them worthless or overpowered (ranger).  I have played a lot of MMOs, but since WoW is probably the most commonly played one here, ill use it as an example.  Classes in pvp can be VERY different at low levels vs end game.  I remember the shaman class (at one point early on) being godmode at around lvl 40, but was more balanced at lvl 60.  And some classes that were "worthless" at mid levels finding themselves to be more effective once they reached the cap. 

People claiming AoC is the next comming, or is amazingly revolutionary etc...

I am niether a fanboi or an AoC hater.  I have followed the game along with TCoS, WAR, and Darkfall and i currently play EVE.  AoC, if they do not have any hidden problems, will be mildly successful.  Fans of the lore and the fanbois (there are plenty on these forums and im sure on other forums) will enjoy the game and have fun with it, especially if it is their first MMO.  But thats about it...

The game is not very innovative as some are claiming.  Yes the combat system has a few differences, but ultimately it changes nothing.  It is not a "WoW clone" by any means, but it definitely isnt going to change the face of MMOs either.  TCoS and Darkfall are the only combat systems that seem to be on the horizon that are truly trying something out of the box in terms of combat, but there are of course problems surrounding both of those games as well. 

Cliffnotes:  AoC will have a mildly successful career IF it launches well and the conspiracy theories behind funcom only showing us the finished/unbroken parts of the game turn out to be air.  They do a lot of things right, but ultimately it is nothing amazing, and it will attract some new faces to the MMO genre.  However MMO gamers who aren't fanbois will have a tough time finding anything new and exciting here.  It looks like it will be a nice game, again if it releases well, that will break up the cold streak of new MMOs in the last few years, but will not be that amazing in the grand scheme of things.

Thanks

Well in the same breath you said that you can't judge classes at this stage of the game verse end game or cap, but then you judge the game at this stage and make a resolute prediction about it's future?

There are a lot of innovative things still untested such as:

Mounts/Mounted combat.

Unique crafting. (Architects that build cities/houses, and only crafted armor/weapons can be slotted for gems which gemcutters create causing crafted weapons/armors and gems to be far more valuable then dropped items.)

City sieges.

We can't predict the future of this game with the information we have.

I see a lot of potential in this game and have high hopes. Hopes high enough that I have already pre-ordered a CE copy. I'm not saying the game is going to be awesome, however, I think it has the potential to be, and that is enough for me to try. Only time will tell and we will all know soon if FC has managed to break the MMO funk.

Originally posted by ProfRed

 

There are a lot of innovative things still untested such as:

Unique crafting. (Architects that build cities/houses, and only crafted armor/weapons can be slotted for gems which gemcutters create causing crafted weapons/armors and gems to be far more valuable then dropped items.)

City sieges.

Yea these are not innovative.  City Sieges?  see shadowbane.  Unique Crafting/player houses/cities?  see SWG.  They may be implemeneted slightly differently, but its still the same.

Oh and my point of judging classes is very different than judging the overall features of the game.  The features are known, and wont be changing significantly before launch.  Class balance can though.

And like i hinted at...i have a few friends in cb, and without breaking any NDA, I guess you need to just trust me that I have a somewhat decent understanding of the overall "innovation" of the game.  These are people who i have been gaming with for 6+ years and i trust their judgement, but then again we could all just be morons.

 edit: I tried to keep my review as objective as possible.  The main point is that the game won't be an "epiclol failure" like some trolls are claiming.  But certainly wont be a groundbreaking MMO either.  It will have a decent following and make those involved some decent profit, if they avoid major problems with launching.

Originally posted by originalegg

The game is not very innovative as some are claiming.  Yes the combat system has a few differences, but ultimately it changes nothing.  It is not a "WoW clone" by any means, but it definitely isnt going to change the face of MMOs either.  TCoS and Darkfall are the only combat systems that seem to be on the horizon that are truly trying something out of the box in terms of combat, but there are of course problems surrounding both of those games as well. 

Thanks

It's not WoW, as you admit, and really, that's all that matters. That, and it's fun. If it's a good game, and fun, it will be more than "moderately" successful. And it doesn't need to hit WoW 2008 numbers to be successful.

If you're looking for revolutionary, and maybe Darkfall is that game, you better be prepared to wait 5-10 years. Because there is no 'revolutionary' game "on the horizon." Darkfall is so far off the horizon, it might as well be in orbit.

Originally posted by Iijs

 

Originally posted by originalegg

The game is not very innovative as some are claiming.  Yes the combat system has a few differences, but ultimately it changes nothing.  It is not a "WoW clone" by any means, but it definitely isnt going to change the face of MMOs either.  TCoS and Darkfall are the only combat systems that seem to be on the horizon that are truly trying something out of the box in terms of combat, but there are of course problems surrounding both of those games as well. 

Thanks

Why does it need to "CHANGE THE FACE OF MMOs" to be fun? Why does a MMO get tagged with 'FAIL' if it isn't revolutionary?

 

It's not WoW, as you admit, and really, that's all that matters. That, and it's fun. If it's a good game, and fun, it will be more than "moderately" successful. And it doesn't need to hit WoW 2008 numbers to be successful.

If you're looking for revolutionary, and maybe Darkfall is that game, you better be prepared to wait 5-10 years. Because there is no 'revolutionary' game "on the horizon." Darkfall is so far off the horizon, it might as well be in orbit.

reread my posts.  i didnt claim that it needs to be that, and not once did i say  it needs to have WoW zombie numbers to be a success. 

The point is a lot of these reviews are painting a false picture of the level of innovation AoC is offering, and i am simply offering my pov.

It might not revolutionizing the genre, but a game that has:

-Great Character creation

-Real time combat

-Amazing dark graphics and not cartoonish green chars (and elves!)

-End game battlekeeps and massive battles in pvp

-Is not gear based (or nowhere near gear based as other MMOs)

In other words, this game has everything I love from other games + other stuff exclusive to it all combined. Most Pvp weekend reviewers loved the combat, thats 1 major fear put to rest.

I think the game will do pretty well, albeit without breaking any boundaries.

That is all.

This is quite a sober assessment that I agree with.

From all the info that I've gathered about AoC it will be a joy to play in terms of "going through the content" however the most serious flaw in MMOs today, that of "endgame" in a game genre that is supposed to be a permanent service rather than a one-off experience isn't addressed at all. (At least for us "casuals" who do not enjoy enforced guild play.. Don't get me wrong, I put enough at least as much time playing as the "hardcores" - it's just that I'm too old and bitter to go making friends with 40+ people I don't care to know just in order to be able to enjoy the game fully.)

I love the IP and have been a long-time fan of Conan from time immemorial and that's the prime reason I'll be playing this game (that and gfx and innovative combat gameplay) . However I seriously doubt it'll hold my interest much past reaching max lvl with a few alts. Which is all fine and dandy since I expect this will happen right at launch time for WAR - the game that will probably hold my interest for much longer simply due to much better and innovative approach to player motivation and endgame "purpose".