I just wanted to give a heads up to whoever is trying out the game for the first time. Before you come to a conclusion about the game, you should try out both servers because playing on a PvP server is extremely different from playing on a PvE server. When i first started I played on a PvE server but I found it a a bit slow for me. Then i tried out the PvP server and WOW was it different. The open world pvp iwas really fun and intense for me-  the kind that really gets ur blood pumping. It changes the game completely for me, from the way I interact with the online community to the way I level, quest, and enjoy the PvE content. I've made a lot of enemies through killing people but I also made a lot of friends by helping others combat grouped gankers and murderers. I've also had groups that were originally for pvp but then later became a raid party since the party was already well balanced and we thought "hey, might as well!"

Also, I really like this game because i dont feel like I really need to rush to lvl 80. I've been taking my time for the past 3 months and enjoying everything. Theres a lot pvp opportunities, both instanced and open-world starting once you start the game. Then theres new dungeons every 10 levels or so and lots of questing for both solo and party. Also, rolling alts isnt such a chore because from levels 20-40 you have 3 different regions that you can quest in, so you can potentially roll 3 different characters and be able to go through that level bracket in a completely different area from your other characters. Anyway, end rant. this game is fun, especially now that im seeing more and more new people come in because of the free trial.

Completely agree, playing on a pve server is like missing a whole part of the game in my eyes. Sadly the community on the pvp servers is more hostile and open pvp attracts the usual douchebag. But it's worth it to me, open pvp is some of the most fun i have in this game.

To each their own.

There alot of people on SET (pve) that have absolutely no interest in pvp and then again there are some people that love it. I know I enjoy both aspects of the game. As you also mentioned the communities differ greatly between the pve and pvp servers. I would recommend anyone rolling on a pvp server to try CImmeria, its the rp-pvp server but has a much more mature community than Tyranny.

pvp at level 80 does exist on pve servers but its definetly nothing like you experience on a pvp server.

I'm new to the game.  I just subbed after playing the free trial.  After reading the boards, I could tell that players WERE/ARE experiencing two different games.  It's obvious from the comments about the game and about the community that things were way different between the two.

I don't want to gank or be ganked.  I want to follow the story lines in the quests without being jumped and stopped.  I want to explore the world.  I don't want the pressure of having to be in a big group, just so I can survive the gankers.  But that's ME. I'm sure that flavor would be boring to others.  Questing is boring to many...and they get no sense of wonder from seeing a computer world.  Personally I'm having a blast.  I played last night for a couple of hours, and when it was over, I had a big smile on my face.....(not something I've had in a game in along time)

So if you don't like one...try the other mode.

i would say if you play on a pve server your really only playing half the game . i would say conan would be a very boring game if you just look at the pve side . there is alot of ganking but that just adds to the atmosphere . i, m finding it yo be a vastly improved game now . i hated it with a vengance upon release but now i m finding it to be a lot of fun in fact in many ways i prefer it  to warcraft and its certainly a lot better than warhammer and lord of the rings . i really did nt think i would be saying that six  months ago .

i have to agree i tried the trial to see what changed in the game and went to a pve server and hated it.

Soon as i went over to a pvp server im falling in love with this game.  It's so much more fun on a pvp server than a pve one.

Huum...I have two subscriptions.... i have 12 toon on pve server and 4 toon on pvp...and i like both but i prefer pve server because the only difference is the ganking...

To this date, I have NEVER enjoyed playing on a PvP server before max level in a level based game. It's fantastic fun if you're playing a game like UO or ye olde SWG, but that's about it. No matter how well balanced or horribly skewed a game is, it always seems to come down to who is the higher level and whos class is more suited to ganking. The only times I've been in fights that actually required "skill" were when both myself and my opponent were equally suited to ganking and we were about the same level.

I understand this level of face rolling gankfests is apparently what makes the ruleset attractive to players. I'll never understand it, personally. But then, I was never one to pick on people who can't fight back. *shrug*

As many define a "proper PvP" by 1v1 duells that are fair and nice and shiney AoC is not for them.

As i wrote elsewhere regarding PvP...

AoC is rude , unfair and open PvP that is NOT balanced around 1v1. Yeah thats right. There is classes that can work theirs off to defeat another class which is disposed single-handedly by a third class. Neither is it Rock/Scissor/Paper. There is a lot of Scissor that can , well played and feated, bite throu any rocks and then get wrapped by a well played paper.

The first thing you are confronted with leaving the safegrounds is a Swordbash into your back or mostly arrows coming from all sides and you get killed over and over and over without a chance to fight back. This will happen for sure as many of the vets are returing with a low-level char and raping you the youngbloods for pvp-exp.

You are new , have no clue and for that reason free kills to anyone.

Then thers two options. Dump the PvP and reroll PvE or fight throu it. Bite back and get better at it. Get into your class and learn to assess your chances in a given situation. And there will be enough of those where you just HAVE no chance.

Later you have buddys, a Guild and skills to manage. Or you are just damn tought, akilled, smart and a lone wolf.