I was in the beta for this game, and it was honestly one of the worst that I've ever been in.  It ran terribly, the itemization was nonexistant, and the load times were terrible.  All that was painfully obvious in the first hour of play.  I tried a few characters, but couldn't get past the performance problems.  I passed on it when it was released, and judging by the reviews, I'm glad I did.

Obvious performance and content issues aside, I also don't think I was prepared for the type of game that it was.  What type is that, you ask?  Well, I'm still not sure, but I like it today.

I've played everything out there for the past 10 years or so, and was suffering serious burnout.  Jumping from game to game, with nothing holding my attention longer than a month or so at most.  Everything just  felt like the same thing, reskinned and no less of a themepark driven grind.  No immersion, and definitely no decent lore.  Well, I suppose Warcraft has decent lore, when it chooses to.  Just me grinding out levels killing, gathering and FedEx'ing.

Finally, I ran out of games.  I frantically tried a few single player games, but it just wasn't the same (even though I mostly play solo in MMOs).  Finally, I bit the bullet and downloaded the AoC trial.  I honestly didn't expect it to last more than the 7 days I was alloted.  All I can say is that I'm glad I gave it another shot.

I am, by all rights, a Conan nerd to begin with.  Some of my oldest books on the shelf are a very worn Conan the Conqueror and Conan the Destroyer.  I've read dozens beyond those.  So the concept of the game itself appeals to me, and I am familiar with the world it's set in.

I apparently picked a good time to start back up, since 1.5 had just hit, and was a huge positive change to the game in my opinion.  I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that my fairly mediocre PC was able to run on high graphics settings, with shadows on "Ultra".  Tortage was fairly boring to me, as the tropical island setting gets old quickly, but I was eager to move on to Cimmeria as my Barbarian.  

When I left the initial villiage, I was just totally blown away by the scenery in Conall Valley, and the music was gorgeous.  I was sucked in completely.  I find the combat in the game to feel a bit like old school Diablo II, since I don't have to target anyone, I can just go crazy with sweeping combos affecting multiple opponents.  That appeals to me.  

The classes are fairly unique, with some standouts being the Herald of Xotli (a Cthulhu-esque deity).  Any caster class that can wield a two handed weapon and transform into a demon with aoe flame attacks is fine by me.  I've never seen anything like it.  Funcom did do a great job of presenting the unique world that Conan is set in.

I can't speak at all to the group play, or endgame, since I'm only 28 on my Barbarian at this point, but I am having a great time.  Funcom has been working hard to fix their initial blunder, and I'm impressed.  The only other company that I've seen that can pull a game out of a death spiral is SOE with Vanguard and EQ2.  

I would encourage anyone who has never given it a try before to check it out for themselves.  The trial is free, and once you're done, it was 15 bucks to subscribe with the typical 30 days free.  Not a bad deal at all.  There are a lot of people out there who are still hurting over the botched launch and resulting year of paid beta, but check it out for yourself, you may be surprised.

Prax

Yeah, I still like to listen to the music in Conal's valley. The composer did an incredible job. I also like how AoC gear and stats are handled now. Gear that makes sense is nice. The only issue atm is melee vs casters in pvp. The pve balance is pretty good thou.

Hey Prax,

I haven't played any MMORPG's in years because ... well, been there done that, and I had no intentions of buying any more MMORPG's at this time. However I read your post, and I must say I'm curious now.. I've gone and bought the game like an hour after reading.

I hope you're right!

Originally posted by Athl

Hey Prax,

 

I haven't played any MMORPG's in years because ... well, been there done that, and I had no intentions of buying any more MMORPG's at this time. However I read your post, and I must say I'm curious now.. I've gone and bought the game like an hour after reading.

 

I hope you're right!

I noticed your from OZ, bit of advice, (as fellow gamer) the Oceanic server is not the most populated. There are lots of Aussie guilds on Cimmeria server for example, or if your not into PvP try Set or Wicanna servers. A search on the official forums under the server specific area's helps to. Make sure to update all drivers on the PC and so on too :)

I hope you find your purchase fulfilling and look forward to any future remarks out of curiousity!

Hey Prax, about this bit:  "I am, by all rights, a Conan nerd to begin with. Some of my oldest books on the shelf are a very worn Conan the Conqueror and Conan the Destroyer. I've read dozens beyond those. So the concept of the game itself appeals to me, and I am familiar with the world it's set in."

Do you recognise any NPC's from the lore yet? There are a few quests based on the lore with a Funcom twist :)

i did nt like this game in beta either . it was only down to me be able to get 5 months in game on ebay extremly cheaply at a time i was fed up with warcraft that i m there now . i was suprised at how much its improved .

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Hey Prax, about this bit:  "I am, by all rights, a Conan nerd to begin with. Some of my oldest books on the shelf are a very worn Conan the Conqueror and Conan the Destroyer. I've read dozens beyond those. So the concept of the game itself appeals to me, and I am familiar with the world it's set in."

Do you recognise any NPC's from the lore yet? There are a few quests based on the lore with a Funcom twist :)

Well, other than Thoth-Amon, not yet.  I'm not very far into the game yet, though.  I'm actually in the process of rereading the books now, since my interest has been rekindled.  I actually went out and bought the "Coming of Conan" collection a few days after starting up the game!

Any places you can point me to off the top of your head to see some of the references in-game?

Prax

Originally posted by Athl

Hey Prax,

 

I haven't played any MMORPG's in years because ... well, been there done that, and I had no intentions of buying any more MMORPG's at this time. However I read your post, and I must say I'm curious now.. I've gone and bought the game like an hour after reading.

 

I hope you're right!

Hey there!

Well, I all I can say is that I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  Also, I would follow Avery's advice on the server selection, he knows what he's talking about.  I would say this game is definitely one of the most different MMO's I've ever played, so it's definitely not a "been there, done that" experience.  Unique classes, combat, and lore really makes this an enjoyable game for me.

Prax

Originally posted by Praxus1874

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

Hey Prax, about this bit:  "I am, by all rights, a Conan nerd to begin with. Some of my oldest books on the shelf are a very worn Conan the Conqueror and Conan the Destroyer. I've read dozens beyond those. So the concept of the game itself appeals to me, and I am familiar with the world it's set in."

Do you recognise any NPC's from the lore yet? There are a few quests based on the lore with a Funcom twist :)

 

Well, other than Thoth-Amon, not yet.  I'm not very far into the game yet, though.  I'm actually in the process of rereading the books now, since my interest has been rekindled.  I actually went out and bought the "Coming of Conan" collection a few days after starting up the game!

Any places you can point me to off the top of your head to see some of the references in-game?

Prax

In Old T you see the Iron Tower. There is the Black Ones in white sands that has the pool. You don't see Zenobia in game yet that I know of but you do see Pallantides guarding the throne to Conan. The Frost Giants Daughter is in the game. Of course you have the picts which are in a lot of Howard stories.

I'm sure there is more. I haven't seen all of the game yet myself. Those are off the top of my head.

I didn't play in beta, but played at release (which was kinda like a beta anyway). After my first free month I just stopped playing. Had a 50 POM and was just getting bored. Nothing wrong with performance though (I bought a new computer just for AOC).

Anyway, i am now thinking about coming back. If I do not win this competition, I will probably have to buy it :)

Originally posted by majinant

I didn't play in beta, but played at release (which was kinda like a beta anyway). After my first free month I just stopped playing. Had a 50 POM and was just getting bored. Nothing wrong with performance though (I bought a new computer just for AOC).

Anyway, i am now thinking about coming back. If I do not win this competition, I will probably have to buy it :)

Game's Director told in a recent interview (I think it was the one for update 1.05) that those who bought the game in the early release dates will have the chance to reevaluate the game again.

MMORPG.com: If you could directly address the players who left the game angry and disillusioned shortly after launch, what would you say to them?
Craig Morrison: [......] Players can find a free trial available and there will soon be a reevaluation offer to previous players so they can come back and try it out for themselves. Anything I say really pales into insignificance compared to actually experiencing it for yourself!

Regards

Personally, I just downloaded the trial, then subbed from there.  Didn't require me to buy the game, just gave me 30 days free time and went from there :)

That's awesome that the Frost Giants Daughter is in the game, I just read that story the other day :)

Prax

Originally posted by arthen999

i did nt like this game in beta either . it was only down to me be able to get 5 months in game on ebay extremly cheaply at a time i was fed up with warcraft that i m there now . i was suprised at how much its improved .

The difference between launch and the current game is quite a bit. Now, that does make the game for everybody but it does improve the playing experience for those of us who liked the style of the game already.

ya, i'm really wanting to come back myself or wait for them to give us that rev trial.. I just finally got in top guild on my WoW server, so i'm a bit pissed now.. b/c i want to play AoC, but i'm stuck in WoW hell.. If the game is really good and shows potential of becoming awesome.. i'll do the full switch.

Originally posted by Jaklax

ya, i'm really wanting to come back myself or wait for them to give us that rev trial.. I just finally got in top guild on my WoW server, so i'm a bit pissed now.. b/c i want to play AoC, but i'm stuck in WoW hell.. If the game is really good and shows potential of becoming awesome.. i'll do the full switch.

This is why I quit WOW and am very happy I did.  When a game turns into not being a game but a job, it's time to mail gold to some random person, delete gear, delete toon, cancel, uninstall.

Originally posted by Mazin

Originally posted by Jaklax

ya, i'm really wanting to come back myself or wait for them to give us that rev trial.. I just finally got in top guild on my WoW server, so i'm a bit pissed now.. b/c i want to play AoC, but i'm stuck in WoW hell.. If the game is really good and shows potential of becoming awesome.. i'll do the full switch.

This is why I quit WOW and am very happy I did.  When a game turns into not being a game but a job, it's time to mail gold to some random person, delete gear, delete toon, cancel, uninstall.

/agree. Already got a job and don't need another one without pay. Once a game gets boring I am out of it.

As for AoC it is shaping up good but I think it will need that expansion to truly shine. Right now is it boring to make alts, once you pass 35 you have to redo all the same quests you did the last time. Once you actually could level up 3 toons without doing the same quests (tortage excluded but another start place would be nicce too) or grind a lot the game will be great.

I think Bioware is doing the right thing with having all quests in the game class specific, it means that you dont have to repeat the same ones with all your chars. But enough to level up 3 chars is perfect. It will probably take 2 expansions for that however. And lets hope they spend more work on endgame instead of raising the levelcap, That tends to make the early game boring and forcing everyone to rush to the last 10 levels.

For new to game or person who never played character above 40 and likes from linear games, AoC is now good buy. Should entertain you couple months.

Best mmo on  the market...that it

 Yes the game is fun, but pvp has a huuuuuggggee bias toward caster at the moment, to cut short if you want to play a melee prof ( soldier, rogue, shaman )
be prepared to a harsh learning curve before you can kick ass in pvp.

Age of Caster has never been so true, mage prof( Demo, necro), Tempest of Set and to the edge priest of Mitra are real easy mode if you choose the right spec ( one chance over two though so it s not a hard job ).

A good part of the communauty is irate about that.

But still the game is stunning graphics, raids, level design, music, and most surprising RP FFS !!!!!! You can RP in a world of brute strength an heavy boobs
OMAGAD 11111111111.

Sorry i could'nt help it .

Originally posted by majinant

I didn't play in beta, but played at release (which was kinda like a beta anyway). After my first free month I just stopped playing. Had a 50 POM and was just getting bored. Nothing wrong with performance though (I bought a new computer just for AOC).

Anyway, i am now thinking about coming back. If I do not win this competition, I will probably have to buy it :)

Would be good timing for you now with the welcome back trial. Plus you have that Level 50 and can make another class at that level if you want to.

Crank out the DX10 to punish your PC ;)