Thanks, great information. I envy you for having a chance to play the beta. Very well done report!

Originally posted by elocke

Originally posted by Grotar89

So, on rails quest grinder with tab target 1+2+3+4 combat. Move along ppl nothing to see.... I predict game will fail worse than Aion in west or TERA....

Pretty much what i expected from looking few livestreams.

Except for people like myself who want this kind of game and don't mind Tab target combat and who like quests and then boom at level cap the game opens up into it's awesome sandboxiness to actually keep me playing instead of unsubbing like every other MMO in the last 8 years.  Can't wait till this hits western shores.

+1

Originally posted by LlexX

When im searching for an MMO to play, im looking at the endgame (by endgame i meaning reaching the max level, and finish with the quest line) and what features it has to offer at endgame to make me busy for years. Questing in MMO is not important for me since it takes just a few week(s) to complete it, and the real game starts after that. And the endgame in AA is different from the casual themeparks, it has many options unlike most of the MMOs where you just farm instance repeatedly countless times for items, do arena PvP... Endgame in AA is much more complex and whats the most important to me, its not instanced.

Ive played so many RPGs both MMO and single player, that i simply can't enjoy questing anymore, simply there is nothing new left to show to me, probably many of you feel otherwise, but the fact is that i had enough of the same repeated questing.

Agreed, While the themepark questing might not be the most fun and memorable part of ArcheAge, once you get through it, (and leveling in ArcheAge is not slow in any ways), the world will open up to you, and I believe this is why ArcheAge will keep a steady playerbase. instead of the traditional raids and gear farm, ArcheAge gives you a lot of possibilites. You might want to buy the biggest and most expensive house, or you might just want to travel over sea exploring. Maybe you and your guild want to build the biggest Castle and leave a mark in the world for others to gaze upon. Maybe you want to be nasty and go around killing other players.

Point being, ArcheAge offers more than the usual end game and as you'd likely to spend more time doing end game stuff than leveling, isn't that a good thing?

While I do not defend XLGames choice of level progression, in any way, I do believe ArcheAge at least deserves some recognition for it's take on end game.

Originally posted by bcbully

Originally posted by BadSpock

Why oh why do all the "sandbox" activities have to be reserved for end-game?

This saddens me. Will have to wait and see for myself in a hopefully English open beta at some point, but man...

How hard is it for these devs to understand that most people are tired of grinding boring stuff to get to the good stuff?

Themebox / Sandpark is a valid idea - but it's not "themepark leveling than sandbox end game" that we want - it's a fusion from the very start with NO FINISH.

 

First, ty OP. This is the type of info I was looking for. The ability system looks interesting for a max level character.

 

Spock, I couldn't agree with you more. This paragraph bothers me, alomst to the point of intrest lost.

 

"Trough level 1 to 25 the game have been really on rails, or a Quest Hub or whatever you'd like to call it. Small Zones, (no loading between them though), go from one quest giver 'til another until you've finished the zone and then on to the next one to do the same. I've been told by guildmates that the game is pretty much this until cap level, but I don't have any experience after level 25 so I can't really state that as a fact. You can however go around harvesting and earn XP through that, but it's really slow that way."

 

That sounds like the same ole same grind to level cap. WTF are there levels for?! I'm starting to feel like levels are nothing more than a way to mask a bad design, and a way to extend game play due to a lack of meaningful content. Get rid of the levels and let people advance skills. I just don't think I can stand another grind to level cap, in any mmorpg.

 

The thing that bothered me the most is XP from quest and harvesting only?! I hope that's not true. Coming from Age of Wushu, where I can do whatever I want and still progress my toon (I haven't did a quest since the first 2 hours of the game) the thought of grinding quest after quest is unthinkable. 

 

 

 

 

I agree I dont like being 'funneled' through content, but perhaps the limited approach is used to teach game mechanics?  Just a thought.

Either way I dont care.  I will be playing this game as soon as it touches down state side =)

Originally posted by LlexX

Originally posted by Zzad

LOL Quest hubs driven gameplay??

Didn´t expect that.... :/

After playing more dinamic games i think i can never go back to that.........

The questing is like in every other MMO, its boring, there are no exceptions after you played a few of them. Think of it as a tutorial phase what you need to pass to get to the real content, just like in every other MMO (it doesnt take long to do them).

One simply does not play an MMO for its questing/story, for that there are many single player RPGs. Play MMO for the group content.

RPGs ARE stories!  Thats what MMOs dont get.  They are typically about conflict and your role (or lack there of) within it.

I wish developers would put more work into the story.  A good one can go a long way.

there is still some misinformation about archeage in this thread.

you don't need to be max level to enjoy the sandbox content, you don't! sure, it benefits you, if you're max when playing pvp, but the pve content is available to you pretty much right from the beginning. also, aa gives you xp for almost everything you do, even your interaction with the auction house gives you xp, so yes, it's possible to reach max by not questing. the questing in archeage is fast, and i mean fast. questing in archeage serves only to introduce you to the game world, the lore, your class and other things.

it may seem like it's just typical themepark stuff, but all of it is very deep and not shallow at all. many typical features like mounts are indeed innovative and the game also allows to over- or underachive quests. what does this mean exactly? well, lets say you get a kill 5 rat quest. with this system it's possible to kill 8 rats instead and get a better quest reward, or you could just kill 3 rats and get less.

lore lovers be happy, the story in archeage is considered by many very good, even impressive.

archeage is as overall package unbeatable, instead of only offering some good things like in many themeparks, you get a game that puts importance on pretty much everything it offers. story, music, graphics  and  tons of features that are not found in games that have been released in the last 10 years. instead of calling archeage a disappointment, because of it's quest system, you should honestly give it a try and not just discard it because of that, you could miss out on something great.

Originally posted by Sygris

there is still some misinformation about archeage in this thread.

you don't need to be max level to enjoy the sandbox content, you don't! sure, it benefits you, if you're max when playing pvp, but the pve content is available to you pretty much right from the beginning. also, aa gives you xp for almost everything you do, even your interaction with the auction house gives you xp, so yes, it's possible to reach max by not questing. the questing in archeage is fast, and i mean fast. questing in archeage serves only to introduce you to the game world, the lore, your class and other things.

it may seem like it's just typical themepark stuff, but all of it is very deep and not shallow at all. many typical features like mounts are indeed innovative and the game also allows to over- or underachive quests. what does this mean exactly? well, lets say you get a kill 5 rat quest. with this system it's possible to kill 8 rats instead and get a better quest reward, or you could just kill 3 rats and get less.

lore lovers be happy, the story in archeage is considered by many very good, even impressive.

archeage is as overall package unbeatable, instead of only offering some good things like in many themeparks, you get a game that puts importance on pretty much everything it offers. story, music, graphics  and  tons of features that are not found in games that have been released in the last 10 years. instead of calling archeage a disappointment, because of it's quest system, you should honestly give it a try and not just discard it because of that, you could miss out on something great.

Perhaps you could elaborate on this; what, exactly, makes it so deep and innovative? What are these amazing new features that are found nowhere else? Pretty graphics, good music and some lore does not make an epochal game.

You only give one exaomple of an actual game feature, and sorry but  in my book being able to kill 12 rats instead of 10 does not qualify as deep. 

Originally posted by Biskop

Perhaps you could elaborate on this; what, exactly, makes it so deep and innovative? What are these amazing new features that are found nowhere else? Pretty graphics, good music and some lore does not make an epochal game.

You only give one exaomple of an actual game feature, and sorry but  in my book being able to kill 12 rats instead of 10 does not qualify as deep. 

Check some of the detailed guides here:

Guides to ArcheAge

when you got some free time.

And im not saying any of this is a new feature, it is present in some MMOs already (so nothing revolutionary), but you dont see all these features being part of a game lately.

Sounds like a fun game.  Hope they bring it west.

Let's make something clear though. 

When you say "it becomes more sandbox at the level cap, or end-game", your'e not talking about a sandbox, that's entirely a themepark.  Being a themepark doesn't make a game bad though, bad games are just bad. 

AA isn't a sandbox though, which IS what I thought it was going to be based on what people around here have been saying.  However, a sandbox has no endgame, it sure doesn't have a level cap that is required to be met in order to do "sandbox" things.  Lot's of content at "end-game" is a themepark; even if that content is "sandbox" in nature. 

50 levels of themepark makes it a themepark. 

Originally posted by Uhwop

Sounds like a fun game.  Hope they bring it west.

Let's make something clear though. 

When you say "it becomes more sandbox at the level cap, or end-game", your'e not talking about a sandbox, that's entirely a themepark.  Being a themepark doesn't make a game bad though, bad games are just bad. 

AA isn't a sandbox though, which IS what I thought it was going to be based on what people around here have been saying.  However, a sandbox has no endgame, it sure doesn't have a level cap that is required to be met in order to do "sandbox" things.  Lot's of content at "end-game" is a themepark; even if that content is "sandbox" in nature. 

50 levels of themepark makes it a themepark. 

i shall give you my answer, which i posted already once.

you don't need to be max level to enjoy the sandbox content, you don't! sure, it benefits you, if you're max when playing pvp, but the pve content is available to you right from the beginning.

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by Zierrity

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by Zierrity

 

The zones takes about 7 - 15 minutes to ride through, then again, no loadings between the zones, only change of maps.

And I am glad you liked it :)

Well, that might not be too bad.

Are they literally in a straight line or can one just go in any direction?

 

You can pretty much go where you choose, but following the quests you kind of have a route allready planned out (if that makes any sence)

It does make sense.

Now here's a question, do I have to do the quests? Or can I just go out into the world, do my own thing and buy good gear from player crafters?

This is the question I want to know also. There is nonthing wrong with a game having quest but if its forced linear questing then thats not good.

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Originally posted by Mannish

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Originally posted by Sovrath

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Originally posted by Zierrity

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Originally posted by Sovrath

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Originally posted by Zierrity

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The zones takes about 7 - 15 minutes to ride through, then again, no loadings between the zones, only change of maps. And I am glad you liked it :)

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Well, that might not be too bad. Are they literally in a straight line or can one just go in any direction?  

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You can pretty much go where you choose, but following the quests you kind of have a route allready planned out (if that makes any sence)

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It does make sense. Now here's a question, do I have to do the quests? Or can I just go out into the world, do my own thing and buy good gear from player crafters?

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This is the question I want to know also. There is nonthing wrong with a game having quest but if its forced linear questing then thats not good.

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The fastest way to lvl up in AA, is to gather up some friends and over do the quests. If you collect more than you are suppose to for a quest you get extra credit.

But the game is not linear, ArcheAge has a lot of hidden quests around the world and there are many ways to level up other than questing. For example, you can earn loads of exp by exploring new areas, crafting, mining, farming, ect.

Zierrity, thank you for taking the time out of your day and sharing your experiences with us.  I loved the screenshots.  The art department is really to be commended.  It really is a beautiful game.

I loved the Bunny mount!  OMG I want one, lol.   I'm a little worried about the questing part.  I guess it's wait and see.  I love houses, I love boats.  I want to play this game now.  Yesterday actually.

Can you tell us about your computer rig and how many fps you were getting? I realize it was beta, but the pictures were INCREDIBLE.  Did you turn up the graphics for the pics or were you playing at that resolution and eye candy.  Did the game stop and start, laggy, or taxing on your rig or was it smooth?

What level did you get the rabbit?  And boat?

Do they have a pet class?

Thanks for the review, I havent really paid much attention to the game because it was still a bit away, and the Korean games that have released in the US have ranged from poor to awful.

Looks decent, but tired of three tree skill systems.  Looks like its done better than Rift since its less restrictive though.  

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Originally posted by Terranah
Zierrity, thank you for taking the time out of your day and sharing your experiences with us.  I loved the screenshots.  The art department is really to be commended.  It really is a beautiful game.

 

I loved the Bunny mount!  OMG I want one, lol.   I'm a little worried about the questing part.  I guess it's wait and see.  I love houses, I love boats.  I want to play this game now.  Yesterday actually.

 

Can you tell us about your computer rig and how many fps you were getting? I realize it was beta, but the pictures were INCREDIBLE.  Did you turn up the graphics for the pics or were you playing at that resolution and eye candy.  Did the game stop and start, laggy, or taxing on your rig or was it smooth?

 

What level did you get the rabbit?  And boat?

 

Do they have a pet class?

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You can make a boat at any time in the game, as long as you have the blueprint and the materials needed to build your boat. You get blueprints from doing Trade runs.

The simple rowboat you get from a quest early on, and if you want to build the "BlackPearl" Pirate ship you need to kill the Pirate Boss on Pirate Island (He drops the blueprint).

There is no pet class in the game, you get pets from doing the pet breeding system. You can breed a pet to be your mount. Or breed a pet to be your ally. So there is no lvl restriction, it's whenever you want to start pet breeding.

Here is a video of someone breeding a pet mount

http://youtu.be/5mS1WXUDafU

Here is someone breeding a pet to be their ally

http://youtu.be/AttxRr5vYAE

Well at least now I know I won't bother with this game whenever it's available for 'Merica.

Asian grind fest until endgame and that is when I can participate in the sandboxy elements... no thanks.

Originally posted by Terranah

Zierrity, thank you for taking the time out of your day and sharing your experiences with us.  I loved the screenshots.  The art department is really to be commended.  It really is a beautiful game.

 

I loved the Bunny mount!  OMG I want one, lol.   I'm a little worried about the questing part.  I guess it's wait and see.  I love houses, I love boats.  I want to play this game now.  Yesterday actually.

 

Can you tell us about your computer rig and how many fps you were getting? I realize it was beta, but the pictures were INCREDIBLE.  Did you turn up the graphics for the pics or were you playing at that resolution and eye candy.  Did the game stop and start, laggy, or taxing on your rig or was it smooth?

 

What level did you get the rabbit?  And boat?

 

Do they have a pet class?

Thank you fo you kind words :) I am happy that you enjoyed the review :)

I did not turn up the graphics when I took the screenshots, I've been playing with maxed out graphics and never really gotten any lag or low fps.

As of my rig, the computer is a couple of years old, and not really anything special, I bought a Geforce GTX 560  for about 2 years ago, but the as of the rest of the hardware, nothing over the top. I'll update with the specific details when I get home. The only problem I've had are the delay, but that's not a hardare issue I believe.

Minimum system requirements for playing ArcheAge are:

System: Windows xp sp3 (32bit)
CPU:     Intel core2 duo

Disk Space:    30GB
RAM:    2GB RAM
GFX card:     Geforce 8000 / Radeon HD 4000, 512MB

(source)

the boat (rowboat) you'll get pretty early on through quest, other boats you can either create yourself, or buy with currency you'll get through out the story quest.

As for the bunny mount (or jar jar mount as I like to call it), you can buy at anytime for 5 gold (which you'll get quite early on if you do quest).

They do not have a specific pet class, but everyone can get a battle pet through a level 25 quest (I believe). I have a cat named  Meatball :)

Good stuff.  Thank you for doing an excellent writeup and sharing your experiences.

I'm still excited about this game as ever!

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Originally posted by BadSpock

Why oh why do all the "sandbox" activities have to be reserved for end-game?

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Because if they were "sandbox activities", they would need not to be reserved for end-game.

The game is themepark and there is nothing wrong with that.

Im really curious as to why your guild mate called this game casual?

It seems to have insane depth, a crazy amount of things to do. Casual would be the last thing that comes to my mind when

thinking about AA.

Perhaps im missing something here?