All Posts by chryses

Hardly worse launch, in fact its one of the best ones I have seen and I have played too many too remember.  I could log on, start character, play up to level 35 and not come across any bugs that were game killing.  I have had a few ctd's but I can accept that.  So stop bitchin about the game...I am so looking forward to the next MMO launch because its the same old dross being puked up each time. 

If I could I would merge Vanguards open world and dungeons with AoC's combat and PvP.  Since I played Vanguard and left I am with AoC now but I have a lot of fond memories of Vanguard and I played at launch when it was bugged up.  .....mmm.....reminds me of AoC actually lol

I have played Vanguard, PotBS and AoC.  Can you shed some light on what you are looking for because I can  give insight on Vanguard and AoC.  

Vanguard: I played for 6 months at launch so I went through the bugs and lag.  If you decide to play now you join at a time when there has been extensive patches, more content and the trolls are long gone.  Just players who want to play remain.  I loved the fact crafting was a game in itself and it kept me going for a long time.  The world has no loading screens or instances and it should be lag freeish now.  If you have a 8800gt 512mb or above with a decent rig then you can really ramp up the graghics and its pretty gorgeous.  Its no great for PvP as it tends to be who gets first jump and its over pretty quick.  I would prefer the PVE server now because PvP is pointless so it just gets annoying.

AoC: Well I am sure you can read the 1000 threads on the game here and most will be negative because all the players who love the game are too busy playing it.  It has bugs in crafting and other areas but I have been playing games for 25+ years and hand on heart its a good game.  If you have a rig (8800gt 512mb or so) and the usual 2-4 gig of RAM then you can play on high spec easily enough and get 30fps at least.  I played the trial of LotR and it does remind me of AoC in the way it looks and characters etc.  I absolutely loved the first 20 levels because there is a pretty strong story line and I am playing a priest now and its the same ending but with a different storyline.  The combat is great and its the best I have seen in an MMO and yes the gore and fatality moves gives it realism.  There is loading screens and instances but on my system its normally 5-10 seconds max.  On some maps I could play for 5 hours and not see a loading screen so I guess you may like or not like that.  My personal choice is AoC because I like to have some meaningful PvP in a game.  

Hope this helps.

I am surprised High Elves has so little hits.  I always play HE and I decided to go dwarves this time because I thought HE's would be over used...guess I was wrong.

Seriously with the backlash from a lot of players over AoC's instances and loading areas this thread asks a pretty viable question.  I hope a beta tester can pass on a hint and not break their NDA.  For me I don't see how WAR with 500k subscribers can have large roaming fields and space for players to run around.  If they do then there will be more complaints about how the lag is so bad and players stealing kills and how no one can finish  quests because the bosses are always killed etc. 

Darkfall is the only game being developed that has stated it has a massive world with 'no' instanced or loading screens.  I like to feel like I can get lost and wont come across players every 2 minutes.  I can get away in AoC but as you say players are split into different zones.  I don't see how they could have done it any other way tbh.

slightly embarrassed here :) When I was trying to sort the system I forgot to plug the SATA drive back in.  I know I could mess with it and get it working well enough but the pain of going through the installation process knowing my new parts are turning up is too much to take.  Wife is appreciating me off the PC to!  Have to keep her on side because when she sees what I ordered she knows it cost a lot! :)

I wish they had a PC recycle plant in the UK.  I have so many out of date parts laying around which I just can't throw away.   Might keep to show my future grandkids how bad we had it :)

I am using XP.  Until I see a massive need to upgrade to Vista I will keep with XP.  e.g. More games going Direct X 10...AoC for example...when or if it ever does.  I will post how my new build goes here

Sorry answering your question its good advice and I would recommend to other people to try this first.  Thanks again,

Originally posted by Somnulus

 

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Originally posted by chryses
Yesterday I bought a 2nd 8800gt to install on my PC and go SLi.  I have ran SLi a couple of times with older cards and normally its plug and play.
After installation I received an error I have not seen before.
* i get to the windows logo just before it loads and then the screen goes blue and I get an error, something like...
A problem has occurred and windows needs to shutdown to prevent damage.  The bios in this system is not fully ACPI compliant.. stop (0x00000002, oxab96440; 0xe1d48a20, 0x8ab96600)
* I obviously took the new card out, still same error.
* swapped cards over, same error.
* cmos bios, managed to get to windows once on safe mode but it had absolutely nothing there.
* tried reinstaling windows, now instead of hanging on that blue screen it goes into a reboot cycle.
 
My specs: motherboard Asus A8N32-SLi, 2 gig of ram, 8800gt 512, AMD 4800, XFi soundcard....
I dont think its the video card because in the past I would not get anything or really bad glitches when it was.  For once I am really lost and I have built my last 4 PCs. Has anyone come across this error and fixed it??
Any help would be awesome, thx
 
 
 
 

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First, check your power supply, because that is what the computer uses to manage Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI); how many watts is it pushing? On an SLI system, the lowest recommended (if I remember correctly) is 500 watts; but power supplies rarely deliver their rating. So if you have a 500-600 watt PSU it may possibly not be delivering the full power required to run your dual card system.

This is particularly true if you are using a generic PSU.

It is also possible that it is just a BIOS / OS communication fault from installing a new piece of hardware.

Normally when you get a BIOS warning error like that from the OS, it means that previous settings on the BIOS have become incompatible with new hardware installed.

Because of the way that Windows is designed today, it takes all of its hardware cues from the BIOS; so if there is a conflict or error there, that would stop Windows from functioning properly.

My other recommendations if it's not the PSU (if you haven't tried these already);

1. Shut down the computer, unplug the power supply, and open the case.

2. Find your CMOS jumper and put it in the CLEAR CMOS position (normally I think on a three peg jumper, the CLEAR position is 2-3)

3. Plug the computer back in and power it up so that it clears the CMOS.

4. Shut down, unplug the power supply again and find the CMOS battery; remove and replace it, just to be on the safe side.

At this point, your CMOS and BIOS should be reset completely to its default factory settings. So any changes you may have made (overclocking, other adjustements) would be cleared.

Go ahead and plug the power supply back in and start the computer.

If you get no BIOS errors, you may or may not see the Windows DOS start options screen asking if you want to start normally, etc.

Select "Start Windows Normally".

If that screen doesn't come up, and Windows starts normally, you should be good.

Let me know if any of this helped, please.

 

Thanks Somnulus..

Funny enough I had the PSU issue before (1 year ago)  because I had a 500 watt PSU and the computer did start but would reboot every 5 minutes.   So I  purchased a  pretty expensive Corsair  750 watt which had some pretty good reviews for performance and cooling.

I found the error message on windows and it said that it was obviously the BIOS and it could be due to new hardware being installed.  So I cleared the CMOS and BIOS and tried it again.  Semi success I guess...windows wanted to repair or something so I did a clean install which is fine since I have a hdd just for booting it.  I managed to get through to the windows but now its not recognising my sata drive for some weird reason.   I am sure I could mess about and get it working also but I was playing with the idea of really updating my PC so in my anger went and spent a ton of cash on the latest technology and hopefully it will turn up on Tuesday.   New mobo, cpu, DDR3 ram, cd, hdd, keyboard, mouse....basically new build...

Originally posted by Evasia

 

Originally posted by SyNn3r

Maps and icons, really ARE a must-have!

Anyone who's recently played Requiem: Bloodymare can cofirm this. In requiem almost everyone who's looking for a mob asks other players. This is because there are no pins, no arrows, or anything on the map to guide you to the location. Furthermore nothing in the quest log tells you if the monsters you're looking for are daytime, nighttime, or nightmare monsters, so you just end up running around like mad, only to begg people to tell you where your mobs are.

In Lineage 2 I've noticed that the arrow and the pins on the map really do help a lot, even tho the pins aren't very accurate. Also the fact that Lineage 2 has specially detailed maps for some of it's dungeons is a big plus in finding your mobs.

Any self respecting MMORPG should have dungeon maps and icons to help it's players, in any measure.

 

You can shut that down arrow and pins and ive never use them and i love it in l2 to explore by myself, and im also waiting for darkfall, that game also wont have any guidance to find your mob or npc ILOVE IT.

 

But thats hardcore, so games who are designed that wont help you, you have to do it yourself is good, if you choose to play it.

If casual and newbee players choose to play such hardcore gameplay games its at your own risk and fault if you cant manage or find anything in the game dont play it.

Most games dont need much thinking these days they think for you, thats fine, if you choose such games, dont whine about it, when you cant accomplish much in such games thats bit silly.

For avarage player who want a easy ride, maps arrows clues how to find somethingyou have plenty of games for that.

Hardcore and true rpg lovers dont need them to solve the riddle:).

If you start a mmoprg thats very hard its mostly your own fault you could have read up gamelore to see how it is, if not, at your own risk, dont whine about it:)

I can't agree more.  Its fine not to like arrows pointing to the spot where you need to complete the quest but this is the way the game is.  When Darkfall comes out I will see 1000 threads on how it sucks because you can't find the mission!  I enjoy AoC because I am really busy normally and I want to get 2-3 hours of gaming out of it and level so I can PvP with my guild.  If I spent 2 hours running around a map and ended up with no XP then I would be pretty pissed off. 

I have to reiterate that I don't think both gameplays are totally exclusive of each other.  I love the EVE system where missions do have an exact spot but in the very same solar system you can explore and find something no one else has.   To date I can't remember any game that didn't have a directional arrow or prompt. 

For those that hate this system can you give examples of games that you really loved that has no directional prompts for missions? 

For the record I do love to explore but later on in a game.  I remember running around Oblivion for ages and forgetting what missions I had.  Vanguard was pretty good like that to...if the lag didnt kill you first.

Originally posted by erandur

It's your mistake... Never upgrade a PC without knowing the other components are able to process it. My guess is that you bought a ultra-high end SLI which needs a 750W PSU. Your current PSU is maybe around the 500, meaning it's a 250W overload, getting the heat up to 70-120°C (yes, it will be literally burning at 120°C, plenty of movies of such thingies at LAN-parties.). So not only your PSU will get overloaded, all the rest will get too hot, loosing performance, and eventually, it will burn up too. In the best case scenario, your CPU will shut down the PC, if not, run. :D

I know this as I have built several PCs over the years.  That is a noob mistake and one I am aware of.  The bios just crapped itself thats all and unfortunately I don't have time to fk about with it but fortunately I am well off enough to just spend the cash and buy just buy a bunch of upgrades.  So another build coming up this week...

BTW its a good point though.  A lot of people have their PC reboot after installing SLi or they get a lot of noise from the PSU.  Generally its the card using up way too much power.  I use the calculator on ASUS website which is a good guideline..

Even this morning I woke up and still checked the PotBS website to see what the next patch will bring.  Some tiny part of me is still hoping they can turn this around into a stable and worthwhile game (long term as its fun in the short term).  The patch coming out which they are all cheering about is improving interface, interface and more interface.  On one hand I agree that they are nice improvements and thanks etc.  However in the past 4 or so months almost all of the patches have been pointless in the grand scheme of things.  I always judge a game on the first 6 months and the support it gets.  I stuck with EVE because the added real content, even Tabula Rasa is still on my pc because I am happy enough with the updates.  Just tweaking the interface is not good enough.  

PotBS seriously needs open land to run around on outside of town.  Might be a crazy idea but what if they kept resource gathering the same but then you had to actually craft the items in a workshop that you built outside of town?

Thing with Jumpgate and a few of you have mentioned this already, is that even though its leveling you don't automatically have this amazing new spell or ability that makes you superior to every other player below you. 

Jumpgate lets you access different ships and equipment when you rise in levels.  However you still need the cash to buy them and secondly you need to learn how to fly them.  Its not as simple as 'oh I have fireball now'...push number 1.. Burn...

The game is real time and zero G.  So even if you grind to a higher level a player with better flying skills will pwn you every other day of the week, so skills is everything...

Ok I can see your point about talk to NPC and go to X location etc etc.  However I have gone off track a few times and been rewarded with finding NPCs that I would have otherwise missed.  Its a fine system but as long as they have areas that reward a player for taking the initiative and exploring them.   A combination of both is always good.  E.g. EVE has set locations for missions and stations etc but if you learn the skills and equip the right equipment you can find hidden bases in the same system.  I would love if AoC moved towards an oblivion setting where missions were obvious but you could find a cave or trap door and all of a sudden you are creeping through a crypt just because you stumbled across it.  You dont have to exclude one over the other.

Thanks Cleffy..I have been messing about with that all day and managed to get to the windows screen but on the wrong hdd and it wont recognise my sata drive either.  I just got really frustrated so spent 800 pounds and upgrading the lot.  Was thinking about it anyway so nothing like a catalyst!!

I agree with your points about immersion but here is a perfect example of gameplay vs. realism and the challenge that lies with developers.  Having no markers and no glowing boxes showing items would be more challenging but ultimately I would get bored having to wander around aimlessly, ask in guild chat or be pestered myself.  Personally I like the grey circles showing where the mobs are and the arrows with directions.  However they could easily state that X mission is around the bottom of 'foothills' or something along those lines.  Glowing boxes for items I dont mind but being bright blue could be a little excessive.   I don't hold mission tracking system against the developers because they are trying to make a game that is fun and interactive, so I think its hard a balance. 

Look at Vanguard, at launch they didn't have any fast travel across maps (take out horses) and due to players getting sick of traveling huge distances they introduced teleport shards that allowed you to warp to different locations. Not realistic but players drove that decision and not the company. 

Originally posted by Battlekruse

Originally posted by Slythe

"Check out our guild city, it's in Purple Lotus Swamp, Instance 5!"

 

Having a guild keep in an instance = fail.

 

By putting the pvp sieges in a "box" it is bound by limits such as area of battle, number of people, ability to come and go as you please, ect. If its in a box, then its got limited dynamics and really takes the feel of world pvp away. As for the 48v48, that is garbage, nothing ground breaking about that, I want the 200 person fight.

Actually it doesn't feel like a box at all and I would prefer 48vs48 and have decent FPS then 200 players and play in lag hell

LOL not blaming Funcom but I did buy a new video card to get more out of 'AoC'.  I guess it just pushed me to upgrade my system.  And yes I stuck in a new video card and normally its plug and play but this time blue screen and I have given up trying to fix it. 

I have a pretty decent setup and had AoC running at 35-45 fps on high settings.  I thought what the hell I am going to buy another card and really jack up the performance.  After installing the SLi it just blew up.  I know if I fk about with it and possibly get someone to look at it I thought what the hell and just purchased 800 pounds worth of CPU, DDR3 memory, MOBO and a bunch of other stuff.  If this doesnt rip the hell out of this game and WAR then I am really gonna puke!!  ......just like my wife is when she sees a ton of boxes turn up

Yesterday I bought a 2nd 8800gt to install on my PC and go SLi.  I have ran SLi a couple of times with older cards and normally its plug and play.

After installation I received an error I have not seen before.

* i get to the windows logo just before it loads and then the screen goes blue and I get an error, something like...

A problem has occurred and windows needs to shutdown to prevent damage.  The bios in this system is not fully ACPI compliant.. stop (0x00000002, oxab96440; 0xe1d48a20, 0x8ab96600)

* I obviously took the new card out, still same error.

* swapped cards over, same error.

* cmos bios, managed to get to windows once on safe mode but it had absolutely nothing there.

* tried reinstaling windows, now instead of hanging on that blue screen it goes into a reboot cycle.

My specs: motherboard Asus A8N32-SLi, 2 gig of ram, 8800gt 512, AMD 4800, XFi soundcard....

I dont think its the video card because in the past I would not get anything or really bad glitches when it was.  For once I am really lost and I have built my last 4 PCs. Has anyone come across this error and fixed it??

Any help would be awesome, thx

Originally posted by Dracus

I do not think it is too late, there are methods to change things around and bring people back.  Albeit slowly.

Some of those methods would be:

- Make the client free, go with digital distribution.

- Reduce the monthly payments, $15/mo is too high for what is provided.  $10/mo may be right, though $5/mo may be too low.  But I think F2P should be avoided...  then again Pirates of the Caribbean looks like it is doing well.

- Engage the user community as was being done before.  Player created model ships for example.  Get the users to have ownership.

- Provide an effective change management program in which the users have a say in the manner of the proposed changes.  Let the customer be part of the team.

- Rename PotBS to PotBS: Something Epic or Catchy subtitle

- Conduct a marketing campaign.

- Provide incentives for new and current users.

Never say never I guess...

When I think about what would make me go back to the game I have to say it would have to be a lot of content based on land and not sea.  There are so many things they can do such as:

* NPC's drop pieces of a map that once completed give you the location of a hidden cave, treasure cove, special NPC warship...whatever

* The ability to land and explore land and find resources, treasure...hell have players fighting over hidden caves which your guild could control.  Even player housing, this game desperately needs more RP elements. 

* much larger map

* too many changes TBH but it would make me consider it again.

I did enjoy a few of the storylines but it is a one trick pony.