Originally posted by Aguitha

I tried VG several times, each times i quit within a month not because the game was bad but because it felt like a was playing a single player game.

There are players in game to group with...only thing is it requires some intiative and proactive ness to group..we have multiple threads on mmorpg now whcih talk about how population and group issues can be tackeled with, so I won't go into it.

Come and join us in 'Twighlyte Song' guild and you won't face that single player feeling ever again.

Not sure what it is with people playing games these days.  I can find a dozen people in the lfg queue and they will sit there all day with the flag up and not once will they send one another a tell and ask to join a group.   I'm not sure why people fray away from being the one building a group.  It's not just this game i've noticed it in quite a few other MMO's i've been apart of lately.  It's easier to get people together then just ask in general chat where you should go this game especially has tons of places to go at each level.

Originally posted by kakasaki

I recently re-downloaded the game and am currently playing. Have a lvl 15 DK and having a blast. Forgot what it was like:

• Just explore. Have no dumb linear content telling me where to go next.
• To actually have to hunt around for quest mobs/locations. While some quests do show up on your map as to where to go next, many don't and you have to figure out where to go.
• Non-instance dungeons that actually make you think if you want to survive.

 

So yes, enjoying it again... so far. 

I so agree. I have been back for just a few day. seen a few graphical glitches and I get popped out of the game once in a while (which could be a problem on my end) but other than that, it has cleaned up very nicely.

I am also loving the exploring aspect and yet they do have the rift way systems that will take you to the major quest hubs and they are color coded by level tier. So it gives you a little bit of guidance but when you get there, and you have several "theres" to choose from, you are on your own to explore the area and find things. It is great. Just a quick point in the right direction and you are off and exploring. This is also not to mention that people are very nice and helpful and will freely give you advice on where to go next.

I also agree with your second point. it is like having half a quest helper. It will tell you where an NPC is for say a turn in or if they are asking you to go to someone specific it will be marked. Almost as if you asked them "so where is this person?" and they said "let me show you on your map." But beyond that you are usually on your own. Go kill some of the X to the east of us. Well, you did have to actually read the direction and understand what it means. Nothing wrong with that. Again, a very good balance.

The best part of the non instanced dungeons happened last night for me in my first one, the temple that finishes up the quests on the starter island. I am soloing my way though pretty slowly but doing find when a dread knight and a necro show up. They invite me to group and we burn though it pretty quickly. It was a blast. actual spontainious group. I also learned a good bit from them during that "my first group in VG ever." You cant get that in an instanced dungeon because I never would have run into them. Of course you do have to compete sometimes for mobs but that problem is not nearly so bad if the community is good and helpful which the VG community generally is, or has been so far. Over all, more upside than down. And it contributes to making the world feel like a real world.

I am also very much enjoying how active the classes are. The healers do a lot of fighting and the casters do a lot of multi tasking or kiting if they are solo. It makes it a much more active experience.

Finally, it is definitly not a push over game. It has been toned down some since I first tried it the month of release but it is still definitly an older school game in terms of needing to group, giving a challenge and having death actually mean something.

There are many positives about Vanguard. The wide open world with its interesting take on classes and the distinctiveness between them. Graphics are good even with a few oddities here and there. Though only detractors for me was the carpal tunnel inducing crafting and the rather annoying Diplomacy. Both of which while fleshed out and offering a diverse way to spend your game time, I just couldn't get into either system very much. Thus with two thirds of content not to my liking eventually gave up on it.

If you really havent played in three years your going to be blown away.  Its pretty much the game that was promised back with a few annoying bugs still kicking around.  But I think its free right now for 45 days for returning players check it out.  Also with  SOE giving away game time the US server is at medium population these days.

I played VG for 3 years.  It's the best MMO I've every played.. by far.  I'll be back if the content updates come true.

Originally posted by Serpentar

There are many positives about Vanguard. The wide open world with its interesting take on classes and the distinctiveness between them. Graphics are good even with a few oddities here and there. Though only detractors for me was the carpal tunnel inducing crafting and the rather annoying Diplomacy. Both of which while fleshed out and offering a diverse way to spend your game time, I just couldn't get into either system very much. Thus with two thirds of content not to my liking eventually gave up on it.

 

I was the opposite, while adventuring was fun i found crafting and diplo to be the best parts of the  game, but weren't utilized to their full potential.