I think one key mechanic found in most MMO's now days was forgotten - or perhaps I missed it on my admittedly quick read-through.

The Hunter class - to be mainstream.  There is an obvious mechanic that can be implimented through the use of controlled droids.  Some made for battle, others for repairs or diagnostic.  Either way it can be easily used in order to make a class.  Who knows what it could be called - perhaps just built into your Slicer class.  But it certainly would make for a solid class that delves into both the Star Wars universe at large while still providing something familiar for MMO fans to delve into.

I agree that I think we are going to see various forms of the Jedi/Sith.  I think our primary tank is going to be inthe form of a Jedi Guardian but unfortunately I think being a Jedi that heals would just take away from the coolness of the class unless they impliment a mechanic such as Warhammer where you heal through taking part in the combat.  After all, nobody wants to equip a light saber just to stand in the back and make the tank glow green.  Perhaps another use of driods for a class would result in a combat medic - a man who specializes in controlling driods such as surgeon droids and general repair droids.  Then again I hate it when developers overuse a mechanic (droids in this case).

If we think back to the movies and be meticulous, I think we can pinpoint various side-characters who can be used for a class other than the obvious, Jedi - Sith - Bounty Hunter - Smuggler - Soldier, setup.  And on the other side of that I think we have to look at the primary class components of all mainstream MMO's and find out what's missing.

Stealth, Straight DPS, DOT DPS, Healer, Tank, Crowd Control, etc etc

Originally posted by Realbigdeal

I played starwars of the old republic series and it was good. Now, when i see this game as a mmorpg, i think it will be exacly like guild wars. I just hope it wont be like the old old republic from the series with the rock paper scisors systeme. It was so stupid. Only the story was good.

Anyway, if starwars will be pay to play, i will not pay because i hate guild wars. Even if it become a wow clone, i will not play too because i hate wow.

If it become a starwars jedi knight jedi academy mmorpg, i will pay to play.

Darkfall online will be the best mmorpg and i will pay to play for that kind of game were you have the freedom to do anything you want without leveling everyday.

Do you guys think it will be a GW clone or a WOW clone?

Quite possibly one of the worst posts I've ever read. 

Regardless, what about this game reminds you of Guild Wars?

Originally posted by ItalWHOP

 

My suggestion would be to be less anti social and find a guild that can help support you. This is a MMO right? Tons of people to get along with.

 

 

I don't like the example...."You die and your friends leave you in XP dust." If their your friends, they should be helping you catch up.

He's just being realistic.  And he's right.  Maybe in another game, where the entire game is catered to the ideal shallow game play a game with things like Permadeath and the ability to lose all of your gear to death, it would work.  But it's simply out of the question in Age of Conan.  It would essentially make end-game content unviable, as well as most of the high end crafting items.  Not to mention the economy would be non-existent given the nature of it.

You die and have to start over.  You're going to die at some point, it's a fact.  There are 80 levels in AoC at launch.  You've some how made it to 79 without dying then suddenly your game crashes and you're left for dead.  What a waste of six months yes?  It makes no sense for Age of Conan.  For Prema-Death to work the game would have to take 1-2 weeks to reach your max level, and gear would have to play only a small part in the games mechanics for equipment looting to be feasible.

Not enough people want these options to merit a server dedicated to the idea, and by making the game work with it, you're basically cutting out entire portions of the stereotypical MMORPG's game, which in turn loses about 90 percent of the audience.  There's not a popular game with these features in it for good reason, it doesn't work for long term fandom.

Originally posted by Lilalu

Unfortunatly it´s not a matter of game design, if people get along with each other or not. It´s the people themselfs, who are the problem in online games. The bigger the game, the more people there are, the bigger the problem. Publishers of online games will have to face this in the future and they actually have to deal with this already. It´s a not at all cheap problem, because every customer may drive away another potential costumer.

You must be confusing an industry as large for some non-profit organization.  World of Warcraft has what? 10 Million subscribers and plenty of them are total nuisances to everyone around them.  Fact is they won't address the problem because gamers (not just Role Players) aren't putting their foot down enough to hurt their income.  You or I might leave because of it, but for every 1-2 people putting their foot down there are 1-2,000 more who will put up with it and keep playing.

You could just use psychology on her and play the "Girls just aren't as good as guys at videogames" card.  This will bring out the naturally feminist movement part of her that every girl has and she'll play for no other reason than to prove you wrong, in the mean time she'll grow addictive and you'll have accomplished your goal.  Yipee.

Originally posted by fischsemmel

After reading you guys basically saying "No one will play it no matter how sweet it is, because the graphics are sub-par", I was going to post and make fun of you all for being so shallow that graphics are such a deciding factor in your opinions.

 

But then I went to the site and looked at the graphics. They're a notch above a 1998 single player RPG I replayed the other day... but they LOOK terrible.

 

Eh... maybe I take it back. They could grow on me. They do look like they are straight out of 2000 though.

 

 

Edit - They say they are working towards a playable prototype? Heh. My ultimate MMO (it's a WoW killer, believe me) is in about the same stage of development. Keep an eye on this one, folks!

Also note that nowhere in my post did I say I was judging the game on its graphics, I stated more so that the MMORPG genre and the general demographic playing it would not be so forgiving, and in turn its doomed to have maybe 2-3 servers worth of people at most.

I've not heard anything about SLI/Crossfire support, but I haven't really dug into it, I know they work with Dual Core proc. but that's about it.

This is only true if the game supports the crossfire/SLI system.  Otherwise its just a waste of a lot of money.

The mammoth is the most interesting to look at but I think for looks I'd stick with the horse because it fits my character better.

Good stuff Avery.

I've been working on consolidating all of the pre-launch videos and interviews for my guild site as well the video section is coming along well guildportal.com/Guild.aspx

Also working on collecting the text articles and interviews as well guildportal.com/Guild.aspx

Yeah they haven't gotten to the Necromancer yet on the TenTonHammer class interviews yet.  I assume you've already checked out the information they have on the community site: community.ageofconan.com/wsp/conan/frontend.cgi

Just found and read this and am fairly impressed with the approach they are taking, I think it will make for amazing combat situations.

So essentially they're deriving even more of their system than I realized from the way Shadowbane did it.  Sounds like a viable system if they give you as many options as SB did.

I was pondering the best way to first present the guild to the public for the first time and figured what better way than a guild charter?  It is a work in progress naturally but it's something to build on, as well as a good way to show the public exactly what to look forward to.  If you're interested in joining the pre-launch roster and help us prepare for May 20th then please post a reply with your interest or use the various means of contact listed in the charter below to do so as well.  Also note that the website is also a work in progress.  If you aren't interested and just want to make a general comment or suggest feel free as well.

Guild Charter
Contents
I.   General Information
II.   Membership Requirements
III.   Hierarchy Information
IV.   Lore Synopsis

I-A. General Information

Guild Name: The Verdant Watch
Guild Type: Heavy RP, PVP/PVE Hybrid
Server: The RP-PVP Server Decided Upon by the AOC-RP Community

I-B. Contact Information

Website: http://guildportal.com/Guild.aspx?GuildID=244396&TabID=2056047
Email: circarevolt@gmail.com
AIM: CircaRevolt
MSN MSG: stykar@hotmail.com

II. Membership Requirements

Race: Cimmerian, Aquilonian
Class: Barbarian, Bear Shaman, Conqueror, Guardian, Ranger

III. Hierarchy Information

Hierarchy (Lowest to Highest):
Seeker
Watcher
Pathfinder
Sentinel
High Warden
High Keeper
High Ranger (Ranger Only)
High Druid (Non-Ranger Only)
Chieftain

Seeker
The Seeker is the entry level rank within the hierarchy of the Watch.  At this point the member is essentially learning the ways of the Watch and trying to prove itself to the higher ranking members within the order that he is worthy to support the weight that The Verdant Watch's cause places on its member’s shoulders.

Watcher
The Watcher is the rank a member gains when he officially graduates into the ranks of the Watch. It signifies the steadfast approach the member took during its initial time under advisement.  It also is a statement to that member’s skill in combat, saying that the member in question can handle him or herself in the line of duty.

Pathfinder
As a Pathfinder the member has proven that he is a master of his trade and has more to offer to the guild than just a soldier with a cause.  He has mastered the abilities that his job within the Watch requires of him and has in turn proven to his colleagues that he can handle himself in extreme situations.  He/she has also shown that they possess leadership abilities in and out of combat situations, which in turn proves that they can make the right decision in a time that would otherwise cause panic and turmoil within the ranks.  The Pathfinder may find himself in charge of several Seekers and Watchers.  (OOC: Also the player has shown that they excel in role-playing situations)

Sentinel
The Sentinels are the elite of the Watch.  When all else fails send in a Sentinel to do the work, save the lives, safeguard the helpless.  The Sentinels have different jobs depending on what orders they received upon promotion into this prestigious position.  It could range anywhere from leading a sector's defensive forces, to organizing sieges or city defense, all the way to becoming an official body guard for one of the Protectorates.  Many new options will open up to the Sentinel once they make their way into this position.  They will qualify for election into the Protectorate positions should they ever open up, as well as gaining access to guild assets otherwise unavailable to them.  As a Sentinel they may find themselves in charge of an entire region worth of members (Seekers, Watchers and Pathfinders).  In such the Pathfinders will report directly to the Sentinel with developments and then the Sentinel will then report these updates to the Protectorate.

High Warden
The High Warden is a member of the Protectorate (Guild Council) whose main job is to advise the Chieftain and the rest of the council on the lore and history of the guild if it might play a part in a decision to be made by the said council.  Their job also is to collect and consolidate the ongoing history of the guild as well as any other literature that might be of relation or use to The Verdant Watch.  Being in charge of collecting this as well as keeping it safe from those who might seek to take it and use it against the Watch itself.

High Keeper
The High Keeper is a member of the Protectorate (Guild Council) whose primary job is to advise the Chieftain and the rest of the council on the financial portions of the guild.  Effectively working as the guild's treasurer it's the job of the Keeper to collect guild materials and keep track of such things, as well as use their influence over such things to collect specific items when the Chieftain desires an extra effort is needed in that area.  For instance if the Chieftain expresses a need for a certain type of stone for the construction of a new addition to the guild town, it is the job of the Keeper to then organize the guild accordingly to go out and achieve the goal presented to him/her.  In addition it is the job of the High Keeper to proceed with the general upkeep of the guild city and whatever that requires.  If problems come up they will in turn present them to the Protectorate and more specifically the Chieftain.

High Ranger
The High Ranger is effectively the General of the immediate forces of The Verdant Watch for lack of a better explanation.  In this position it is the job of the High Ranger to organize tactics in offensives and defensives when it comes to accumulating and using the bulk of the forces in one campaign.  Not only that but it is the job of the High Ranger to assign the non-Protectorate members to the safety of certain areas or civilizations in Hyboria.  As such the High Ranger is the primary military advisor to the Chieftain.  (OOC: Head of PVP Guild Organization, Ranger is naturally the preferred class for this position)

High Druid
The High Druid is the spiritual advisor to the Chieftain.  In short this member is the direct connection the land and the heavens for the Chieftain himself and will advise him and give him direction in times of peril by giving him sound advice in accordance to nature and heaven’s laws.  While the High Ranger will oversee the physical combat training of the Watch's members the High Druid will oversee their intellectual growth.  Working closely with the High Warden the Druid will finish off the member's learning giving them the mindset and beliefs they need to do their work successfully in the field. (OOC: Head of PVE Guild Organization, Shaman is the preferred class, but not as strict as the High Rangers preference.)

Arch-Ranger/Chieftain
The Chieftain or “Arch” position for all intents and purposes is the leader of The Verdant Watch.  While they too are a part of the council, the leader has the ability to make decisions at a moment’s notice without requiring the say so of any other members.  Most decisions are made by a collective vote from the council; it is when the time to hold a meeting is not available that the Chieftain must put this power to use.  A large part of the other members of the Protectorate work as advisors to the Chieftain who advise him based on their positions.  The Chieftain position is historically usually taken up by a Shaman or a Ranger within the Watch. ((The “Arch Version” of the name can be changed according to the class of the player if it is to change, for instance a non-Ranger melee combatant would be Arch Protector where as a caster type such as a Shaman would be the Arch Druid”))

IV. Lore Synopsis

The Verdant Watch is a fairly young order started by a group of Rangers and Shamans who saw the effects civilization could have on the land first hand.  Living within the depths of the forests they saw how the creatures who lived there were forced out of their homes for the sake of humanities progression.  They saw that while there was a need for expansion as the human race grew in both population as well as intellect, there was a need for some sort of laws to be in place to preserve the natural order within nature itself.  First they sought out the human leaders themselves, talking to the leaders of different communities trying to explain to them the balance that needed to be kept in order for both Humans and nature to survive.  Telling them that the land they lived off of was threatened by the un-necessary expansions and that by steadying themselves and their efforts to respect the land they could grow while at the same time causing minimal threat to the earth around them.  Most did not heed their warnings and soon the Rangers and Shamans were not welcome within their walls, seen as a threat to progress by the Chiefs.  It was not just the expansion of human civilizations that was threatening the well being of the land and its creatures, in fact that might have been the smallest of the worries on their minds.  The dark arts were now posing threats, Necromancy and other ill fated magic had made its way to the popular culture of Humanity.  Soon they weren’t satisfied corrupting themselves and their own minds, and began spreading into nature, effecting everything around them.  A whole slew of threats began to crop up, threatening the very existence of every type of Nature.  From the trees and dirt of the forest, the innocent woodland beasts to the small settlements within the depths of said forests.  It is during these turmoil filled times that The Verdant Watch was formed.  To stop the tainting of the lands and to protect the innocent from those who would seek to taint them as well.  Focusing their collective efforts on preserving the lands while giving growing economy enough leeway to continue growing, at the same time protecting the small communities within the less traveled areas of Hyboria from the troubles of nature as well as other encroaching evils.

Bump for the lovers.

Question 2:

There are different ways that MMORPG's have gone about letting their players form their guild's hierarchy.  Some games give you a set of ranks to promote/demote as you choose, some let you pick from different sets of rank titles accordingly (Shadowbane/Charters), and some like World of Warcraft let you design and change ranks to your own liking everywhere from their names, how many there were, and what permissions each had.

I'd love to know for the sake of my role playing guild's setup if anyone's heard any stipulations on the system they'll be putting in AoC?

Well I had read that the cities will be instanced and such, I left that idea behind me a long while ago - people saw the death of Shadowbane in its terrible bandwidth when you get 500 players in one city for a siege.  I don't think that will be happening again anytime soon.  I was hoping style changes could be a possibility though.  Such as a tree top sanctuary for ranger guilds, a shabby town with lots of dark alleys and such for the thieves, buildings made of logs and such for the nomadic types, etc.

I hadn't read that there will be plots for certain buildings though, that sort of bums me out, if I can't choose a style of architecture I had at least hoped to design the layout of my town to my own accord.

As I begin to plan out the framework for my guild for Age of Conan a few questions that I can't find an answer to in the otherwise very well put together AOC FAQ. 

In the critically berated but otherwise very innovative MMORPG Shadowbane, player's could construct cities as well a plan seiges against them.  While I understand there will not be any player sieges versus actual cities (instead only Battlekeeps can come under player sieges), there are several things that Shadowbane did that I'm interested to know if Age of Conan will be implemented.

My main question is whether or not there will be a static style to player built cities or will there be architecture style selections upon the buying of the plot of land?  For instance in Shadowbane there were several charters that you essentially use to assign a guild to the controlled plot of land (I believe it was 12-14 total).  Each one gave the buildings built on that controlled plot of land a distinct style.  For instance a Barbarian Charter made the buildings very makeshift looking, made of large logs and straw roofs, where as the Church of the All-Father charter made it look much more modern (for the fantasy period) made of cut stones, windows covered in stained glass designs, Amazon Charter gave the city a distinct Hispanic Indian feel to it.

My guess is answering this question would break an NDA, but I am not necessarily looking for a direct answer from a tester, but more so a consilidation of any rumors on the matter that anyone might have heard, or hints in screen shots they've seen...things of that sort.

I run a Intel Core Duo 6600 (2.4 and 3.24OC'd) an 8800GTX, 2 GB DDR, Windows XP - I expect to run AOC as well as any other game, MMORPG or not coming out within the next 6-8 months on high settings, highest resolution with decent FPS.

If you're getting the same performance between a 6800 and a 8600 then it's because the rest of the computer with the 8600 is holding the rig back from reaching its peak performance.  There are plenty of benchmarks that will tell you the 8600 is going to hugely outrun a 6800.  If you're testing the quallity on games like World of Warcraft that in itself is a pointless endeavor, a crappy game can only look so good before the game itself is maxed out, not the card.

Yeah its a safe bet that if you can run Oblivion at a certain setting you'll be running AoC at the same setting.  For the simple fact that the game itself doesn't have the intensity of Oblivion but the fact that it's online where as Oblivion isn't put them at about the same demand on your system, just focusing more on your memory and processor speed more than your gfx card.