Profile: GameMonger71
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• • Classes - AoC vs WAR

  • As a long time MMO player, I always look for the certain intangible something that makes me want to log into a game.   Every MMO, despite the most valiant efforts, has moments, sometimes large segments, of repetition, but there is usually something about a game that helps keep me going through that.  Sometimes it is a great community, but even the best community cannot overcome a boring game. 

    So far DAOC and Shadowbane have both been games that kept my interest for long periods when others like WoW, EQ2, VG, DDO, LOTRO, Lineage 2 did not.  For me, Shadowbane had one of the coolest class systems out there with a base class to xx level (say rogue or fighter base), then a specialized class (say ranger) and then I could apply special runes to further fine tune my character.  This was interesting and definitely made me feel unique and interested despite the less than stellar graphics, many bugs, occassional ganking, and oft times cookie cutter specs despite the opportunity for variety.

    DAOC, also had interesting classes, but as my first MMO I am perhaps biased in my view of that game which I enjoyed a lot as well.

    With that lengthy preamble, I advance to my AoC experience where the graphics have perhaps spoiled me for other games.  I also enjoy the combat system, although I am very aware that it is not any more challenging than other systems, just more clicking.  I very well may tire of the system over time, but for now it is fresh and new (been playing since early release).  With that said, as is, right now, AoC lacks the certain something that has made me play other MMOs for lengthy multi-year stretches.  I cannot quite put my finger on what it is.  The environment is beautiful.  The instances don't bother me that much and the quests (for the most part) are no worse and no better than other MMOs.  I am sick of Tortage (having leveled out of it multiple times now it is quite old) and find the larger world adequate but not great, but the problem is something else.

    POSSIBLE REASONS:

    Some of it is gear I think.  AoC bragged (pre-release) how my char would look different in its features as to be recognizable.  Yet, I usually only see my guy's armor, weapons, and the back of his cranium most of the time, and sadly, everyone looks very much the same in AoC due to limited armor/clothing options.  This sounds superficial, but for me, I need a connection to my character and the blah nature of the clothing/items does not make me feel interested to get that next gadget/armor upgrade or whatever.

    Some of it is community/group based.  AoC is very soloable, and as of yet I have seen very little group or guild mentality on my server.  This may change.  The community is open and nice, but it lacks the absolute need like in Shadowbane to align into guilds.  I enjoy soloing, but I also like good groups and casual but fun guilds.  This may be more my failing so far in AoC than the game's since if I actively tried to find a guild I could.

    Some of it, and perhaps most of it, has to do with races and classes.  Shoot me now, but I enjoy the diversity of high fantasy games that let me play a grumbling dwarf or magic using elf.  I also like turning those stereotypes on their heads.  The human races and lore of AoC is okay, but nothing incredible to me, but then again I like the writing of Steven Erikson, George RR Martin and others way more than the pulp fiction of Howard's Conan.  The classes also leave me cold.  They do not grab me.  The ranger, a class I usually love, is blah.  Magic is purposefully repetitive (fire, lightning, or hgeneric bright flash).  Once again, okay for many but not for me. 

    So where does WAR come in?   Well, it all came clear for me when I read about the White Lion, Shadow Warrior, Sword Master, and Archmage classes among others of various Order races.  These classes really have some cool twists that I look forward to.  Last night, I found myself logged into AoC, yet I had tabbed to an internet screen and surfed for more info on WAR.  Will WAR meet my hopes?  I do not know.  Will AoC rise to ever greater heights and be a great game?   Possibly.  But for now, for me, I find myself already drifting from AoC and looking for the real deal that will get me engaged again so I can play, have fun, and leave the real world for just a bit and become a hero.  Cheesy, I know but a good MMO alllows me to relax and dream a bit.

    Sorry for the long post, I never intended for this long of a post, I just wanted to air my thoughts since MMOs by their nature are social arenas.

  • Posted: 7/16/08 8:46 PM
    Age of Conan
• • Any MMOs (besides SB) have Centaurs as playable race?

  • Shadowbane had/has centaurs and minotaurs.  DAOC has minotaurs only I believe.  Does any other MMO out or in late dev stages have centaurs as a playable race?

    The stagnate feel of all 3 races being various human cultures in AoC has me looking for some unique, old fashioned high fantasy races.  I know some folks prefer the all human set up, but AoC made me realize, among other things, how much I enjoy high fantasy (races and magic) in my MMOs.

    Thanks!

  • Posted: 7/12/08 11:13 PM
    General Discussion