Originally posted by R4WkU5

I only started playing recently but this game doesn't seem very good at all. It seems like a poor WoW clone with worse graphics and slower. I was really hyped to play this game after reading some good reports but playing it now just seems like a let down. It still seems buggy and nothing seems new or interesting.

Could anyone tell me what I should have to look forward too. Atm it just seems like the same old same old with a poor engine. I'm not here to slate the game but I feel a little let down after spending 12+hours patching it to find nothing new. I would love it if some experience gamers could let me know the big pros I should look forward to and aim for. Because as it is I'm really not sure if I have the patience to put in the hours for the same things I can find in another game. I'm a bit biased because my pc runs it ok but not as smooth as it could be and I might as well play a game where I can enjoy a smooth experince while putiing the time in.

 

I will be getting a new pc in the near (ish) future so if it's worthwhile I'd contine but as it stands it's not looking like a great investment of time. I feel bad asking this so early in playing but these are real concerns.

If you are after new exciting features unfortunately there is nothing on the market at present.  Most MMO's have the same features just implemented in different ways.  What I have seen is different MMO's focus on different playstyle's.  WoW is fast paced action focused on end game raiding and PvP and it guides the player quickly to these goals. Vanguard IMO takes a more slow approach and is focused on group play through dungeon exploring and VG has some of the most amazing dungeons I have seen in a MMO. Maybe this is the problem, switching from a fast paced to a slower paced MMO.

Can I ask what server you are playing on.  If it's Sartok (PvP), this may effect your enjoyment due to the low population.  I would suggest Seradon or Xeth due to the higher populations or if PvP is a must have feature to try a different game.  Unfortunately PvP is near the bottom of the VG's devs to do list.

Due to the large open world, when you first step into the world the low level population is spread out among all the different starter areas which may cause a negative experience if you are used to being one among many.  Population gets better around the mid teens, you come across your first group dungeons.  You get to enjoy popular quests the Hunter's League and United Races of Threstra Quests which offer great rewards and the opportunatey to get some good loot from the named mobs you encounter. To experience the game in it's fullest you need to group and explore the dungeons, join a guild etc.

I would also suggest like a previous poster to try out the different classes, Most of them play differently from each other and are not as limited to a set role i.e healers have to muck in with the damage to be more effective in combat, not just stand at the back just watching health bars. Tanks can dish out decent damage some better than others and depending which tank you play you are not restricted to a sword and board.

If you are playing VG at the lower spectrum of the settings I can understand your concern reagarding the graphics and if it's having a negative effect on your fun maybe try again at a later date. I've enclosed some screenies from the high quality setting (one below the highest).

Character's and animations are being worked on at present and hopefully will be introduced before the end of summer.  I do agree VG has it's fair share of bugs and the patch last week broke some of the quests.  At present VG is not at it's full potential, but the small team of devs have worked miracles to keep the game a float and to bring it to it's present state compared to launch. I have in the past disagreed with some of there actions and still do, but I know you cannot please everyone.

These are just a few suggestions to hopefully improve your fun, they may not imply to you.  I'm not sure due to the info given in your post and not knowing what you want out of a game.  Maybe I will see you in game, but if you do decide that VG is not the game for you all the best in your next game you play and I hope you find it a more enjoyable experience.

Peace

Edit:  Enclosed system specs as requested.

Windows XP

I've enclosed the links from the offical site.

http://vgplayers.station.sony.com/links.vm

Also the offical VGplayers site is a good resource for up to date news etc.

http://vgplayers.station.sony.com/index.vm

Originally posted by Josters

from Silius

So we have had a meeting about this and discussed our options. Out of this discussion we have decided to revert the BOP change on our named blue (uncommon) items and see how that goes. We are still discussing the modifications to crafting items and if we will move forward on it.

 

 

I suppose beggar's can't be chooser's, but would have liked to see yellow items encluded or at least able to decon the items.

Thanks for the info Josters

Originally posted by Tweej

I am joining but im from EU (Scotland)... read theres as much if not more EU players on Seradon than the nominated Halgar... i will daytimes with my gf and through the night (insomniac) on my own... so is Seradon a better choice for me do you reckon?

 

I live in the UK and play on Seradon and find it still quite busy during the UK daytime and during the night the population blooms.

You must have missed it OP.  We had a thread going with a lot of Bombay clips in last week.

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/186725/page/1

Have to scroll down a bit before they start. (most of the clips are on the second page)

Edit: I've included some of my favourite ones

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv

I would wait a few months, it's a decent game just needs a lot of loving at present.

It gets better as you level .  Around level 16 to 18 you get your first AoE lifetap which helps.  Make sure you do the URT (United Races of Thestra) quests around level 15 in Thestra (most likely spelt wrong) to get the nice armor rewards, these start in Rentons keep or Veskal's Exchange. Also remember to use two handed weapons, as a DK  two handed wepons are your bread and butter, leave the sword and board to the paladins.

I would not worry too much about taking on 3 dot mobs at level 10, most classes have trouble taking on more than one 3 dot mob (excluding healers) at level 10.  Has you progress through the levels DK's become a powerful fun class to play.  If things start to go down hill, fear and run the other way.

I'm not 100% positive, but maybe the extra is the tax that gets put on if you live in EU. I live in the UK and I'm always hit for extra on MMO subs due to the greedy EU and there regulations.

EDIT:

Just checked the VAT policy on MMO subs.  It's 15% the value of the sub so you can disregard my post.

I voted I'll re-sub in a few months option. For me it just needs a good PvP system other than sieges to bring me back.  PvP needs some meaning.

Originally posted by Bengalman

I played Vanguard when it first came out and like a lot of people including people talking about it on here already, I quit.  It was just too buggy and the server I was on wasn't too populated so I was alone most of the time.  That being said, I just got done with Pirates of the Burning Sea (Pergus Myst, lvl 50 Priv., Morgan until it re rolled. If you know my send me a message )  and I would recommend it to anyone thinking about playing.  BUT my question is, should I go back to Vanguard, I'm looking for  a good MMO with some really fun, mature players and good PVP mainly.  Currently my main hard drive crashed and burned so all I have is my backup 20g one atm.  I already have VGSOH so I wont have to re buy it, should I buy a new hard drive to play it (I plan on getting one anyway but not so soon)

AND if I do come back would someone have a buddy key I could use to test the waters before I go full blown and get a subscription?

You will need a bigger hard drive.  I just checked my VG folder and it's over 25 gigs, but I do have a few extra files from the VG test server in there as well.

Community is one of VG's strong points, most people are mature and helpful.

If PvP is what you are after I would hold of from playing VG.  The PvP server is a ghost town at present, hopefully that will change after the trial island goes live.  The PvE game is one of the best out there in my opinion, it's just a shame PvP has been neglected.

I think it was great idea.  It's the best way to gauge any problems with the game and hopefully improve it.

Originally posted by morpin

As GKarn alluded too, I think the reason you cant buffer your next command is becuase of critical hits.  Originally in the game if you had a critical it would set the ability to issue a chain command.  If you hit another command and did not hit the chain command the ability to use that chain command was lost.  People actually had a bunch of thier commands all in macros to automatically hit the chain attack if a critical hit was scored.

A While back they changed it (yes dumbed it down if you will).  You can hit another command and still hit the chain command as long as the timer does not run down. 

Now as to why they have not changed it further to allow you to enter one command in advance?  I dont know.  You are the first person I have heard of to to bring it up.  Perhaps you should post it as a suggestion on the official forums.  Vanguard people and the developers are not all that rigid.

Yep this is most likely the reason skill queuing is not in game.  It would be a nice addition to be able to queue your next attack.  Best bet would be to bring it up on the offical forums to gauge the responce and you never no a dev may pick the idea up.

Welcome to VG m8, glad you are enjoying yourself

Unfortunately AoC PvP system is one of the worse I have played, no risk, no reward.  The combo combat system is limited in PvP, you just have to move out of the way, whilst the attacker stands there trying to get of a combo.  Basically it was bolted onto  a PvE game.  Hopefully in the future it will improve, but at present it's just pointless.

I would state IMO most of the info given is credible.  One thing to remember is your likes and dislikes may differ to the posters.

I would advise to check out the below link regarding your computer trouble.  Your more likely to get the help you need.

http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/forums/show.m?forum_id=8

Originally posted by pencilrick

I know that Sony bought the game out (smart move; Sony isn't stupid), but if Sony is really saavy they might have hired these guys on retainer for creative advisement. 

So, are McQuaid and Butler still guiding the progress of Vanguard behind the scenes?  Are they going to make a public reappearance if Vanguard relaunches?

Both are gone, but SOE have McQuaid hidden away somewhere. I have to admit I hope one day they get another chance to make a MMO.  Only this time they are hidden in the basement coding whilst a proper experienced management team run the show.

Originally posted by andreibaru

the only thing is.. this end game.. or real game as i call it has really nothing to do with content. I dont want raids and epic PVE zones and lvls and shit. I just want a solid system in place that makes PVP a rewarding experience. I dont mean rewarding by gear. i mean rewarding by giving me the feeling that i have somehow inconvenieced the pleyer i kill to a somewhat large extent. Be it by travel time, loss of gear/cash or by just taking him out of the fight for 10-15 mins. This style of PVP needs to happen in open world.. not in instances.. and if people choose to avoid it, create reasons to open world pvp. IE 1 instance so you cant just go and swtich when you are getting your face owned. Overall there is no risk/reward (again see above for my definition of reward) system in place. Sadly enough, the system that they are now hyping with their ALL-Star marketting team is about as appealing to a PvPer as two girls/one cup is to an OBCD hypochondriac.

 

lamens terms: when i kill someone i want them to face crush their keyboard b/c it sucks to get owned. At the moment, the worst  thing you can make someone do is switch instances. totally not satisfying.

I 100% agree with the highlighted part of the quote.  This is the reason I played AoC, to PvP.  When I played AoC there was no fear of what is around the next corner, no motivation to attack other players.  Once the freshness of the combat system/new game waned I couldn't be bothered to attack other players unless I was attacked myself.  Hell the only time I attacked someone was because i wanted to get to the other side of the instance and used PvP death as a quick means of travel.  The funny thing is a full loot penalty would work wonders in AoC due to the poor itemisation.

People have different tastes and like different things.  One person's opinion can differ to another person's opinion.  My advice is to play the game you enjoy the most.

The best feature in AoC was the music.  I enjoyed it so much I brought the soundtrack.

I wanted AoC to be my PvP game.  It was advertised as a PvP centric game and I brought the game only to find the game was a average PvE game with a PvP system bolted on.  Sorry I do not call endgame sieges a PvP centric game.  I enjoyed my time in AoC but was drawn back to other games after a couple of weeks of play.

I hope AoC is a success, it's a decent game just needs alot of loving.

@OP I'm glad you are enjoying the game m8, to me thats the most important factor when deciding to play a game.

Originally posted by andreibaru

AOC as an MMO is garbage. Im sorry.. did i miss something when a game is rated on how cool it is lvling up.. MMO's arent. B/C lvling up is the work you put into the game to get to the real game.

I agreed to alot of your posts in this thread until you stated the above highlighted statement.

This one statement put's things in perspective.  It's not the game's unfinished state that you are unhappy with, it's the lack of endgame content.  Over the last couple of years every MMO I've played gets these sort of posts shortly after release.  Your post was disguised better than most due to all the flaming AoC is receiving at the present, but what it all comes down to is you are a power gamer (nothing wrong with this playstyle) that has ran out of content.

Regarding your statement. Personally the leveling is my favourite part of a MMO, I enjoy exploring new places, seeking new experiences, grouping with new people to explore far of dungeons etc.  IMO a MMO should be fun all through the level ranges including endgame, thats why I laugh and sigh when I see comments like the the game gets better after level 40 or wait to endgame to experience the fun.  If I'm not enjoying myself at level 20 why should I continue playing something I'm not finding enjoyable to experience someone else's perceived fun at level 40 etc.  According to you a MMO is about the endgame.  If this is what a MMO is all about why not start the game at max level and play the real game, why bother with levels. 

I apologise if  I'm wrong in my assessment, but this is what the highlighted statement screams at me.