Ya EPIC FAIL by Criptic on this headstart.  It's been down as much as it's been up.  Been VERY laggy.  Now I was playing my main toon and logged to create and reserve my borg toon and it puts me in a queue at 1484 of 1951 after over 30 minutes!!! 

I mean COME ON!!!  I didn't even log off the entire game just that toon!!!!  I should have been able to log back into the game with NO issue!!!

Goodbye!!!!

Don't let the doorknob hit ya on the way out!!!! 

OP was prolly Asmo.

Originally posted by gtwhalley

I was really excited for Aion. I was expecting it to be my next full-time MMO. I'm still on the fence, but don't think this is one of those "Aion sucks" posts. I'm merely posting this to get other people's opinions, and so those who are unsure if they want the game can get a fair look at it. I will try to be as unbiased as possible.

Lets start with the bad, first:

• Linear - The game is so linear that there literally is no other path you can take until around level 20. Even then, with the way the grind is, you most likely will have to hit up everyone zone in your level range to get all the quests.
• Grind - I'm not one to complain about grind. I played FFXI for years, so grinding isn't really a problem for me. The only reason it is a problem here is because if you ever want to level up another character, you have to go through the linear progression + grind AGAIN in order to do so. Make sure the class you pick will be the one you stick with for a long time. This also includes the crafting and gathering.
• Customer Support - This is an umbrella term I'm going to use for a myriad of things. There is very little communication between NCsoft and the playerbase. The botting and gold selling/spamming is UNBELIEVABLE. I've played many MANY mmorpgs, and it has never been worse than it has been in this game. Not only that, but NCsoft has a track record of not giving a crap about it. The ticket system in game is so bugged that half the people don't know how to use it, and the other half get "locked out" after a certain amount of reports.
• World Layout - The world, while the zones are big, feels small. It doesn't have an open feel to it and there is little to no exploration. This is probably personal preference, but I love MMO games that have an open-world feel to it with exploration.
• Server Queues - This is kind of a bad and good thing. Yes, the queues are a pain in the ass. However, what does it say about the game when one of the only complaints is that EVERYONE wants in the game.

Now for the good:

• Immersion/Story - This game has very in-depth quests and missions. The stories for each quest are pages long, and there are cutscenes thrown in as well. It makes you feel that much better knowing that there is a fantastic reason behind going and collecting those bear asses.
• Graphics/Music - This game is optimized so well that you get higher frame rates on max settings in this game than you do in WoW, for example.Not only that but the graphics are AMAZING. The music is also very well done as well.
• Variety - There is such a variety in this game, its crazy. The variety of options you have when creating a character is breathtaking. The amount of amazing-looking armor in the game is awesome. Each upgrade you get feels so worth it just because of how awesome it looks.
• Classes - The game is overall FUN. Each class is balanced well in PVP, contrary to how badly people complain on the main forums. Every class is useful. According to those who play each class, they are very fun as well.

If you have anything else to add, please do so. If you agree/disagree, go for it. I'd like to hear everyone's opinion.

I was wondering just yesterday as I played about the small size.  When I was doing the beta's I only hit level 20 as my highest so I was still in the Veteron area.  Now that I'm on live and already in the abyss at lvl 25 I'm realizing that the world is actually quite small.  5 zones per faction and then the abyss.  So I too wonder about longevity.    A few other thoughts.

Bad:

TAGGING....A tagging system BADLY needs to be introduced in this game.  I had three times in a row yesterday had a duo that stole things I was attacking (for a quest) because I couldn't out dps them (I'm a cleric so lowest on the dps meters). 

Linear....you are right that the game is VERY linear.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but in a game this small.....

Grind....I didn't experience grinding until about level 24.  I was leveling WAY too slow questing why my legion mates told me to go grind these particular mobs and I got like 3 bubbles in about 30 minutes.

Server queue.  Have had NO que times on Yustiel.  NONE!

Need to be able to see SM's pet without having to either macro target or double tap the SM's F key to select the pet to monitor health.  Also would be nice to have the icons for buffs/debuffs show bigger next to the players and also show the min/sec like they do for yourself.

Rubberbanding....not a constant thing but it is there.  Kinda reminds me of old SWG's rubberbanding issues back in the day.

Good: 

I agree that the graphics are great except the hills/mountains are very badly done where they just look like a blob of color rather than grass/dirt.

Overall gameplay is fun.

Balance is spot on from what I've seen so far.

I

Guess I'll be killing you in the Abyss!!! hehe

aaand I'm IN !!!!!!

Getting cannot connect to authorization server :( 

Anyone else getting this?

The main reason for me for liking pvp is the challenge.  PVE npc's never change their tactics or attacks.  Nearly every player you come against will play slightly different than the guy before him.  Even if it's the same class!  Yes sometimes you get your bell rung by a higher level or higher geared toon as you say.  But it's those fights where you are getting ganked by someone of relatively equal level/gear who try to gank you and you rip their wings off!

I'm going Cleric.  I do find it interesting that so far in your poll cleric is leading.  With tank second.  Usually it's a dps class that leads.....interesting.

Yeah I can't wait...woke up early before 6 and cant go back to sleep!!!  Less than 6 hours to go!!!

I just wanted to remind everyone about how to get their collectors edition items.  I just tried right now and it's still not up but here's how to do it.  Straight from the aiononline.com website.

Gearing up with Preorder and Collector's Edition Items
September 18, 2009 10:43 AM

The benefits are many to be had if you have preordered Aion or are the owner of a rare and much coveted Limited Collector's Edition. Notable among these is an array of in-game items you can give to your characters.

To assign them to your characters, please follow these instructions.

NOTE: You will need to follow these steps for each new character you create in order for it to receive the items. You will not be able to do this right now, but the feature will be enabled shortly.

1. Log into NCsoft Account Management.
2. Click the Game Accounts link.
3. Choose your Aion game account listed on the Game Accounts page.
4. Click the Apply In-Game Items link in the Actions section.
5. Select the server your preferred character is on and click the Next button.
6. Select the character you wish to receive the items and click the Next button.
7. You will then see a list of all the items or item packs that may be applied to that character. Click the checkbox next to the item pack(s) you wish to apply to that character and then click the Next button.
8. Review the confirmation page and then click the Apply the Items/Item Packs to this Character button.

You will then get a message saying that the items/item packs were successfully given to that character. You should have these items when you log into the game - simply pay a visit to your in-game mail box.

Terranhawkins = always my main in every mmo I play (cleric)

Elundalla = (sorc)

Both on elyos Yustiel

From what you write I would think Sorc, Ranger or Chanter would be best for you.  Ranger and Sorc do awesome DPS.  But since it sounds like you do a lot of solo play too Chanter would also be good because it does decent damage while being able to heal well so you practically never die.

I played Asmo and Elyos equally during CB5 & CB6.  I made 4 classes with each race to try out all 8 classes to see which one I wanted to go with. 

I found on the Asmo side that the people didn't talk to each other, they didn't randomly buff each other, they ninja'd ALL the time and the whole atmosphere seemed extremely 13 year old WoW kid playing. 

Totally opposite experience on Elyos side so that's why i'm rolling Elyos.  Plus I've kept hearing everyone wanting to roll Asmo and I always gotta go the opposite direction of the "popular" choice. 

It's cause you losers are all going asmo!  I had no problem making my 2 Elyos toons. 

Asmodian = Alliance from WoW...duchebags and kids

YAY character creation today WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

This is copied from the Aion website.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Atreia on one of these servers at launch!

[East] Azphel GMT-5
[East] Israphel GMT-5
[East] Lumiel GMT-5
[East] Marchutan GMT-5
[East] Triniel GMT-5
[East] Zikel GMT-5
[West] Ariel GMT-8
[West] Kaisinel GMT-8
[West] Nezekan GMT-8
[West] Siel GMT-8
[West] Vaizel GMT-8
[West] Yustiel GMT-8

It was just announced this afternoon that they are removing gameguard.  Check out that post.

Meh...gameguard didn't effect me at all so I don't really care.

No I won't be playing at release....

I'll be playing BEFORE release in the head start WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I would read up on the class you intend to play (if you've decided on a class that is).  If you haven't decided go read some more.  It's going to be pretty important I think to pick one toon and stick with it and not be wasting time trying out the classes.  I got all of the trying out of different classes during the beta's.  Also watch Aion videos on youtube.  There's tons of them to keep you interested in the short wait time we have left before launch.