Age of Conan

So, to all the viewers, the anticipation is coming to an end the the reality of this game's release will be soon upon us. Its been a long road with hoards of fans following the progress, reading the monthly newsletters, discussing then defending then flaming numerous posts on even more numerous AoC fan sites. The beta is coming to a close. So feel free to brush aside any jealousy of those who were in Beta. The clock starts anew...

It is here! It is time!

However, this time begins sooner for some. Preorders gain a 3 day head start. Purchasing of the Early access also allows you those 3 days. The reasoning behind this is both financial and practical. Financially, Funcom gets more money by enticing people to preorder...giving them an influx of cash. Practically, it allows for a smoother start. Instead of the dam breaking on May 20, they open the floodgates  a little on MAy 17 and are able to see where they need to shore up unforseen stresses on their servers.

However, what does it mean for you...the individual player?
First off, get the notion out of your head that these 3 days will allow you become MAX lev 80, become a grandmaster uber-crafter and have all the rarest equipment to place you at such an advantage that you will be crowned Conan 2.0

...wont happen.

There should be one focus and one thought in your mind. Get the HELL out of Tortage.
Let me repeat this
GET THE HELL OUT OF TORTAGE!

To those who have not read mine or other reviews (read mine HERE). AoC begins with a bottleneck. For 20 levels EVERY player starts here ...no matter the race, no matter the class. I do not want to take away from these zones...they are great. But on May 20 there is a  HUGE influx of players ...and I wager Tortage will become VERY VERY frustrating. There will be vast competiton for resources (MOBs/quest bosses) in every Tortage daytime instance  and I worry there just wont be enough to satisfy the first wave of players.  If you can get out of this bottleneck in 3 days, you will be much happier as thereafter the zones are larger and there are many more choices for you to go.

3 days! When you start that game, the clock is ticking! I myself usually like to enjoy the journey...take it leisurly....smell the roses. DONT SMELL THE ROSES! Get to 20 and get out. After the game has calmed and the populations have moved on and spread out. Make an alt, and enjoy Tortage. It is a great place and really has a great story behind it.

For more reading, take a look at the AOC  "A Great Game with a Fatal Flaw" HERE
Good Luck, and lace up your running shoes.

Well there are multiple instances of the same zone so it will not get too crowded.  Hoping they have enough.

Originally posted by Czzarre

So, to all the viewers, the anticipation is coming to a end the the reality of this game's release will be soon upon us. Its been a long road with hoards of fans following the progress, reading the monthly newsletters, discussing then defending then flaming numerous posts on even more numerous AoC fan sites. The beta is coming to a close. So feel free to brush aside any jealousy of those who were in Beta. The clock starts anew...

It is here! It is time!

However, this time begins sooner for some. Preorders gain a 3 day head. Purchasing of the Early access also allows you those 3 days. The reasoning behind this is both financial and practical. Financially, Funcom gets more money by enticing people to preorder...giving them an influx of cash. Practically, it allows for a smoother start. Instead of the dam breaking on May 20, they open the floodgates  a little on MAy 17 and are able to see where they need to shore up unforseen stresses on their servers.

However, what does it mean for you...the individual player?
First off, get the notion out of your head that these 3 days will allow you become MAX lev 80, become a grandmaster uber-crafter and have all the rarest equipment to place you at such an advantage that you will be crowned Conan 2.0

...wont happen.

There should be one focus and one thought in your mind. Get the HELL out of Tortage.
Let me repeat this
GET THE HELL OUT OF TORTAGE!

To those who have not read mine or other reviews (read mine HERE). AoC begins with a bottleneck. For 20 levels EVERY player starts here ...no matter the race, no matter the class. I do not want to take away from these zones...they are great. But on May 20 there is a  HUGE influx of players ...and I wager Tortage will become VERY VERY frustrating. There will be vast competiton for resources (MOBs/quest bosses) in Tortage daytime and I worry there just wont be enough to satisfy the first wave of players.  If you can get out of this bottleneck in 3 days, you will be much happier as thereafter the zones are larger and there are many more choices for you to go.

3 days! When you start that game, the clock is ticking! I myself usually like to enjoy the journey...take it leisurly....smell the roses. DONT SMELL THE ROSES! Get to 20 and get out. After the game has calmed and the populations have moved on and spread out. Make an alt, and enjoy Tortage. It is a great place and really has a great story behind it.

For more reading, take a look at the AOC  "A Great Game with a Fatal Flaw" HERE
Good Luck, and lace up your running shoes.

You have practically said everything that was in my mind!

...or...you could just wait 3 days until after launch to play it, wait for the flood of people to pass, then smell the roses

I personally love the smell, especially during springtime...

Well the last thing im gonne do is rush...cetertenly not when theres some influx of players on the 20th....so what? if its becomes realy unplayablel i loggoff and go do something els? and check back later, but i think the op is just way to overreacting here, as i never had any trobble whit it on previous mmo's starting areas so why would conan be an ecseption? even if the world will be hit whit a gaint metior on the 20th...the last thing i will do in a game is rush...i will enjoy it instead at my on phase.

Originally posted by Czzarre

So, to all the viewers, the anticipation is coming to a end the the reality of this game's release

There should be one focus and one thought in your mind. Get the HELL out of Tortage.
Let me repeat this
GET THE HELL OUT OF TORTAGE!

That is basically why I'm waiting a week past release to play, to 1) read all the reviews (biased an unbiased) that pass by, and to 2) make sure I'm not frozen by the traffic. I could care less if I'm first to level 80, just that I'm the best player once I get there

I am sure the OP means well & thinks he is giving good advice, but why spoil the best part of a new MMO by being in a mad rush to get out of the initial areas?

In most MMOs, the starter city gives you your first flavour of the game & has lots of things to see & do that have been carefully prepared to introduce new players to the world. If you just grind your way through the first 20 levels at super speed, then the opportunity to enjoy experiencing things for the first time will have been wasted.

Not sure about smelling roses though, I am looking forward to relaxing in the bar!

I would be thrilled to get to Level 20 and get the heck out of Dodge...erm...Tortage .*wink*

However...

I forgot to buy the guide when I preordered the CE so I am clueless...totally without a clue. I have been stuck in lava, chased and killed by Level 20 mobs in an area where I was supposed to find a Level 6 quest item and I only discovered the NPC that sells and repairs yesterday! (Sounds so dangerous, so exotic and exciting, but it just makes me feel oh so DUMB!)

Granted, I'm almost a fresh from the farm newbie when it comes to games but after playing World of Warcraft and Lord of The Rings, I thought I had grown and perhaps matured. I believed that maybe I was ready for something that required some thought and intelligence.

I was wrong, Wrong, WRONG!!

My only hope is that by the time early access begins my dear husband will have figured it out and is more than patient as he guides me through the steps needed to get outside. Otherwise, I will be in a sorry state on release day.

(I mean no harm, disrespect, or inciting of anything...I am admitting I'm new, so please don't flame me *wink*)