Originally posted by jblah

The server I play on (Gladden) is very populated so im sure whatever server you were on should be as well.Im not really thrilled about leveling 10 more levels but the way I play the game I usually dont really notice my XP bar. 

I play Gladden too, great server!
I'm looking forward to the servers going back up.   
I will probably continue my one and only lvl 50 on the server, but slowly as I have in the past. 
I'm still behind on the major book quests, and still have so many quests to complete in other parts of the world.  I'm in no hurry to rush the new content!  

 And the Delving in LOTRO.  

Originally posted by Cabe2323

Personally I would put Turbine up against Blizzard any day of the week for content added to their games. 

/QFT 

If Blizzard did half the massive updates Turbine did...  well..  Bit for bit, LOTRO players got overall twice the content over the past year than the $40 WoW expansion is giving it's players.   On top of that, their expansion is adding even more!   

I'm neither a fanboi or basher of either game.  I'm convinced there hasn't been a near-perfect MMO since the original SWG.   Just from observation and experience, having played both games extensively, that the subscription dollar certainly stretches farther with LOTRO and Turbine that it does with WoW.   

 I've been playing LOTRO on and off since release.  
I've always had a great time, I've been in a guild of 3 the entirety of my stay there.   Me and 2 other friends.

I just this past week went into the Rift.  We didn't make it to the end, but I still had an amazing time.  
What I've always found about LOTRO is unlike WoW or other games, Gear, which is usually the motivator to be a 'hard core' player, isn't as much of a factor.    I got by forever with my blue crafted set and blue crafted weapons.   They're just as good if not better than most of the set armor and drops from high end bosses. 

Turbine did a great job keeping the game "stress" level low!  You don't feel like you're required to join a large raiding guild or feel like your character is obsolete if you don't log in 4 times a day.  

I've been a level 50 for a good long while, and still haven't completed most of the Book quests and other character advancement options.  I'm wanting to, but I'm certainly in no hurry.   I find  LOTRO to be the  perfect casual game, and it applies well to the end game most of all!

I played on GL from 97-2000 as Sigurd

Mage /Tamer   (<3  My Pure Nightmare)   
 

Good 'ol days of UO.  

 Maybe they mean FULL... As in all building are T3, Walls, Etc...

Nobody I know of had accomplished that, so maybe that's what they're talking about.

You only needed a T3 Keep for a Battle Keep.

Originally posted by slyths

It's better we rate it after a month from the release date... 'cause i don't want another AoC episode

Too late.

Due to the massive imbalance of classes between Order and Detruction ..  (and don't give me the bullshit they're balanced, cause anybody who claims that is playing Destruction... )

I'm rating it a 4 at best..

When I can watch one DoK kite and heal through 8 people beating on him, just to run into a group of 6 Chosens who take no damage...  I'm saying screw this game.   If I wanted one sided skill-less PvP I'd continue to play WoW.

I agree to a certain extent, but 100% failure is more than a "glitch"  or simple "bad luck"  it's an epic failure.

Everybody says sides are so balanced, yet I've not seen a single Order win in 3 days in any T2 Scenario..

Horde v Alliance all over again.    Basically, my current take on WAR is I paid $50.00 to play Alliance PvP with different graphics..  *sigh*

Originally posted by HiGHPLaiNS

And everyones favorite.. Just google this -- Shawl of Spring

Just an FYI on that...    That's pretty much a free item for Destruction.

If you're Order, grab some friends, or hope you're quick on your toes cause it takes you into the middle of Chaos territory and when I went there earlier, there were about 6-8 guys camping it.  

Lucky for me, being a Witch Hunter, I stealth in, hid in a bush and waited to get my cape ;)  Was hilarious to see people run right past me and not even notice.

I hate to admit it, but I'm enjoying WAR.... for now. 
I was pretty outspoken about how bland and boring it all was.  The whole "Nothing new to see here, move along" approach.  

But, fortune dealt me a winning hand and I got a Collector's Edition for Free, so I figured, what the hell. Installed, activated, and went to it. 

I can say I'm drawn to continue playing.  That's something a lot of games can't do off the bat. 
I'm playing a Which Hunter, currently lvl 12.   So I'm playing on the losing side, since Destruction wins everything on my server.  

I still find it entertaining.   Few negatives though...  It does feel like Alliance v Horde all over again. (at least to me, cause my WoW server, Alliance can't win a BG to save their lives..)  So, losing every Scenario and getting rolled in every RVR area (I play on an open server btw) gets old after awhile.    If this is how it is on other servers,  I can see a lot of people getting pissed and either a)  leaving   b) rolling Destro and having nobody to PvP against.  

While the graphics are "OK"  they really lack the "cleanness" of WoW.  I know everybody say WAR > WoW in graphics.   I'll agree, if all we're talking about is Trees...   Everything else in WAR looks dated, washed out, blurry, and otherwise low quality.  (and yes, I have a top end gaming rig, with everything maxed.)

But, Graphics Don't Make Game Play...  So, I just hope there's enough to keep everybody busy in less than 2 weeks when the majority of people are rolling around at lvl 40.   

If anything, I'll enjoy my 30 days while waiting for the LOTRO expansion!

Originally posted by aurick

Tell you what.  Go back to WoW for the next five years.  Then come check out WAR.All these awesome "More" features that you're now talking about weren't even in WoW at launch.  Yet you expect WAR to have them at launch?  WoW didn't have raids.  WoW didn't have battlegrounds.  WoW still doesn't have city sieging or any sieging at all.  WoW still doesn't have meaningful world PvP objectives.

This is really getting idiotic.  The AoC forums were full of people justifying how little that game had at launch by the fact that "WoW has had five years's head start."  Now people are bashing this game because it doesn't have features at launch that WoW took years to implement.   Can we say "double standards", anyone?

Was going to comment on the AoC thing on 2 fronts..

Agree above about content.  Everybody compares to WoW, well, yes, WoW has 4+ years of content built on top of it.   At launch it had NOTHING, no PvP, Raids, BGs, nothing just slow level to 60 and UBRS! Wewt!  

AoC:  Same thing, people expect a game with 5 years worth of content on release, it doesn't happen that way.   Forget the insane level of misguided hate towards Funcom, AoC needs the same amount of "grow" time other MMO's do.   Funcom's problem, they tried to do too much with too little, and it backfired.   

But,. the flip side...

WAR on the other hand, seems to be a step backwards in all directions..   I don't need to elaborate, because rational, educated, and thought-out posts saying anything negative about somebody's beloved game they've never played is frowned upon here.  And I'm not turning this into another b*tch fest of which MMO's "pee-pee" is larger than the others...

Point being...  WAR is a new pair of shoes on old feet.   I've tried it, I've attempted to "get into it" multiple times.   I feel no drawn, no attraction to it, no compelling reason to continue playing.   It's the same drab quests, the same slow combat, and the same as every other game I've played before.   Sure, somebody will tell me I'm retarded, don't know what I'm talking about, blah blah blah..  Well, I DO Know what I'm talking about, cause I'm talking about what matters to me.   I dislike WAR, not because it's a bad game, I'm sure it's an amazing game to many people, but it's just not going to be MY game...

But, you can quote me on this, as I'm sure it will be relevant in the coming weeks...  
AoC forums were filled with this same shyte of "ZOMG BEST GAME EVER" euphoria right around the middle of May...   Even about 2 weeks after release, AoC was still being praised as the best thing since sliced bread.     Of course after players played past the level cap imposed in the betas, after people saw the content,  got bored, that outlook changed.. quickly.  Immediately everybody screamed and cried and let their hate be known...

Why will WAR be any different?   </end>

Originally posted by Crusher

Originally posted by UncertaintyP

Why did you pre-order WAR if you're sick of MMOs?

 

I'm a MMO - holic. I'm a fool thinking that I will eventually find the ultimate MMO, the god of
all RPGs :)

They ultimate MMO's have come and gone..  Ultima Online Pre-Trammel, and SWG pre-CU/NGE.

All that's left now is. /yawn fests and LOTRO.. (lol)  thank god there's about 300 decent X360 games coming out in the next few months to keep us entertained.  (And Little Big Planet for all the PS3 peoples!)  :)

I liked AoC while I played it, mainly because it was different.   
I have since stopped playing it, they got the game purchase and 1 month sub out of me before I hit the high road.   

I think so many people, will hang on to a hope, and with AoC, there is probably a mindset that "Well, they spent how many millions?!  they won't let this thing die over night!"   

At least that's how I see it.   No matter what, AoC will stumble along, be it down to 3 servers and gold farmer life support, or thriving (laugh) it will continue.   And those people who like the game, graphics, game play, etc..  Will stick it out in hopes of something better to come. 

Funcom is just slow, which in today's gaming market doesn't cut it.   And the promises, I'm sure eventually they'll make good on,  but their time table for doing so and retaining a fan base has slipped away.   It's now a Vanguard situation.    Rumor has it, Vanguard is now a pretty decent game.  Wasn't on release, but now, so many people burned by that piss-poor first impression will NEVER even look at it again. 

Sad really, cause that means good products go unnoticed.   Eventually AoC COULD be that.   It could be that good product evolved a year down the road that not a soul will ever look at again.   

I hope Funcom either figures it out, or is forced to sell the game to a company with a clue.  I'd love to see AoC "do it right".    And I'm sure I'm not the only one, that's why people cling on for hope!

 The game is quite good.  Very Solid technically and gameplay wise..  It's the only game I keep ending up playing after new games come out. 

But I also have a full time life.   Wife, Annoying Job, etc..  So LOTRO seems to fit with that.  It's not a game for the "HARDCORE ZOMG RUSH TO 50 AND PWN EVERYBODY" ..   It's a casual game, played as anything other than a casual game, you'll hate it.  It doesn't have the "gear grind" like WoW, or the treadmill PvP systems.   It's end game consists of further character advancement (Deeds..) , and raids (which I've never even seen.. :(  )   PvP is fun, in small doses...  

Overall, YES, it's a VERY good game, for the right minded person.  It's not a "Play it to beat it" game, it's a play it to enjoy it game.    It's a good thing there are so many  "ZOMG PWN YOU"  type of gamers out there that have no interest or lose interest in LOTRO.  Because of that, and as stated above, LOTRO has the best idiot free community of any game to date.

Originally posted by vardar

Thx for an excellent review OP, you give an un-bias review and that is what i am looking for, there are so many people here that talk so good of Warhammer they forget all the 'realistic' stuff about the game and other potential players interest.

I recall a time, towards the middle of May, when a certain other game was being praised up and down on these forums for being the greatest thing since sliced bread..  and yea... we all know how that's turned out. 

Pre-release of MMOs:  the fanbois and euphoria of something new are in full swing.    Not too long after release, when the ether of "shiny, not WoW-new-ness" settles, the same bashing, hatred, and anti-<insert game here>  will commence.  

Point being, much like AoC, the game is being hyped, and gushed over, but the reality will set in and we'll all be back here bitching.   (Of course, I sure hope Mythic is more competent than Funcom, at least I'm sure they are, but the previous comment stands.)

Now for my take on the game itself..   I've been playing WAR on and off for some time in Close Beta.  My issue is simply I can't get into it.  There's nothing that draws me back into the game.   Same tired quests,  sub-par graphics, and near retarded looking character models all are turn offs.  

Now, I don't put that much faith in graphics as I do game play, but when both are bland at best, now what?         I'll accept the fact that maybe WAR isn't my type of game, you'll not hear me bash it, or bash anybody who wants to play it.  I'm sure it's a good game to many and I'm happy for those people who enjoy it.   For me, I guess I was hoping for more out of it than we're getting.   

Bottom Line:  It's not the PvP or game I was hoping for, and it's certainly not going to be the "end all" to MMO's that other people are worshiping right now.   I'm sure however the game will be no failure, it will etch out a solid playerbase and retain subscribers better than most, because both the Warhammer IP as well as DAoC  fans, and people who feel they're trapped with a lack of good MMO options will embrace it. 

I just think it's sad everybody will embrace and love WAR, not because it's a good game (because it's sub-par at best) but simply because there is a lack of options.   Call it a hatred for undeserved success.

</end>

I'll say this, and anticipate the fanboi uproar that will follow...

I found AoC (even post 20)  to be more engaging that playing WAR. 

Hell, I currently find Tabula Rasa more  entertaining than WAR.   (And that says a lot).

The game is SLOW.    Combat is SLOW.   Characters are underwhelming at best, both in look and play diversity.   I don't want to really put the game down, I'm sure it will be well received by many as the greatest game of all time.. (just like AoC was till about 2 weeks after release and the "ZOMG pretty graphics" wore off)

But I figure, many gamers, like me, who have been looking for the next best thing, will be forced to keep looking, or settle for something else.   I think open beta will kill box sales of this game, because too many people will get in there, play it, and feel exactly as I, the OP and so many others do.  

I wish the game the best of luck, cause WoW needs some competition, but, (i never thought I'd say this...)  WoW is more fun...   /wrists

I can't wait till Open Beta hits, and these forums are flooded with AoC Style bitch fests!

Edit:  Before I'm called a Fanboi of something...  I do not play WoW any longer, or AoC.   I play LOTRO, which is the only game on the market that deserve to be played currently.   I've also  been enjoying the TR free trial promotion, but it doesn't seem like that game has much lasting appeal.    I played DAoC long ago, along with every other major release MMO..  Compared to all previous experiences...  There's just something about WAR that feels like 50 steps back instead of leap forward for gamers.

Originally posted by bsmith239

I just quit AoC and went back to LotRO. Age of Conan could have been a good game but funcom has ruined it. LotRO is a safe bet with tons of content and an expansion coming this fall. Oh and it will run well on your laptop...unlike AoC!

Agree...  Go LOTRO..  It's a safe bet, the game is smooth, runs on less than stellar hardware and looks amazing.   It's more fun with friends, but still solo / casual friendly.   It's not one that requires the time commitment like WoW to get anywhere in it. 

Overall, it's a good game.  AoC, one day may be a good game, is lacking right now.  Depending on your level of patience, it could be a good game for you.  

 LOL @ Your Poll Selections.

The game is good, very smooth, very polished.  
It's slower paced than other MMO's  however, it's almost entirely PvE centric.  
There is PvP, but it's kind of musical chairs with orcs.

The devs at Turbine I think are the best in the business, no B.S.  Very open with their player base, they DO listen to their players.    Frequent HUGE updates to the game make it nice, usually every major patch adds a Zone, a In Game System, or something of major significance..  And it's always smooth, never big ridden or untested like other popular (or not so popular games).

I still have an active sub, not playing it as much since most of my friends shifted to AoC..