Things sure have changed since Meridian, eh? rofl.

Vanguard sounds like a copy of EQ2 but improved with a few additions.  Sounds good to me.  I woulda loved EQ2 but I got bored hearing the same old names from EQ1(land and town names).

The crafting system sounds like EQ2 in a nutshell; the interviews I've read state they were worried about mud-economics so they made a new innovation by making what they call 'tasks'; this is a good thing that they got from DAoC.  However, they added having NPCs give materials to do the tasks.  Crafting was super in EQ2 and looks to just as good in Vanguard.

Someone posted that the combat system, based on videos, looked like a copy of an asian based game.  I think the asians got it right by adding reactive combat moves to the mix.  EQ1 was a tad bit too group oriented.  Adding combat moves that require other classes to start the combat chain is a neat feature, in my humble opinion, but I hope they continue to work on the solo side to make it just 10% better than in EQ1.  I wholeheartedly believe that an mmorpg should stress community and grouping does that, but I'd like to be able to kill some greenies when unable to find a group.

From the screenshots that I've seen, the landscape is the same as WoW, DAoC, AC, SWG and EQ(the five greatest games in the mmorpg community).  As long as its different which it HAS to be, hehe, then I'm happy with it.  The pictures of cities are BEAUTIFUL.

Although Brad didn't say how, I agree with him completely that towns tend to be ghost towns in most games.  So, if he can deliver with a method to change that, I'm thrilled.  Which brings up...

Diplomacy has to be the biggest thing about this game.  They're adding a 'card' mini-game called Diplomacy which directly affects the NPCs of the world on a temporary basis.  WTG, I love the idea and the promise of more player control of the world after release is something I can't resist.

So, I'd have to say this looks like EQ2 with reactive & chain combat, new lands, and diplomacy.  Guess its to be expected since the developers are ex-EQ makers.  I hope they continue to look at all the other great games out there and take the best from each.  As well, as adding one or two new ideas to the mix.

Three months after release, the newness goes away, what happens then?  The interviews from their service side sounds VERY promising.  They put as much thought into service as they have in game mechanics.  Separating their support departments to allow for better Event and Content coordination, etc, is going to be what keeps this game going.  I would have liked to have read more about the gaming mechanics that allow Service and Support people to do a good job, but maybe that'll come later.

Anyways, its a new and exciting world and I'm looking forward to it.

On the hype meter yah, I agree with you. Well still have to wait to see what we actually get.

Also If you take EQ2, Put it in a "World" like SWG (No Instancing), Throw in the deep crafting, player economy and housing...then yah, I would agree it looks to fill the void I am having with the current MMO's.