no offense healz, being a former vanguard player having my hopes dashed by a crappy unstable bug riddeng ame. talk is cheap, lets first wait to see what goes down okay. Im glad your stoked about SOE grabbing the mantle from SIGIL incompetent hands, but dont put the horse before the cart bub. lets see what happens.
It's like you took the words right out of my head. IMO however by the time they fix this mess the masses will be drawn elsewhere. I'm not saying the technical end of the game is forever broken, the reputation of the game is. It would take a LOT to change people's minds to play vanguard. When last I played 3 weeks or so ago, in an average playing session I would suffer through constant lag on the lowest settings, at least 3 boots and typically 1 computer crash. Do you know how often in a group (if you can get one in server ghost town) people would say "hang on I've got a graphic bug/etc etc I gotta reboot" I have a system well over their required spec and like I said lowest settings! The one thing vanguard has going for it is how nice it looks, sorta defeats the purpose. I've never had problems like that in WoW or what I'm playing now LOTR. Speaking of LOTR it's just as wonderful to look at IMO, I play it on max settings and incidentally I get an occasional hiccup of lag here and there and have only seen 1 server crash in 3 weeks of steady play.
Originally posted by Enigma The only way Vanguard will improve is if SOE completely redo the core code from scratch. Which is highly unlikely. Whenever SOE buys a product it is usually set aside the back burner indef. ...look at Matrix Online. I really don't see SOE putting as much effort as you think into this.
SOE didn't buy Matrix Online. Matrix Online was freely given to them by Warner Bros when SOE bought the DC Comics MMO license rights. SOE didn't even want MxO yet they are still maintaining it. Hell they would of been better off closing that game down completely IMHO.
Games I've played/tried out:WAR, LOTRO, Tabula Rasa, AoC, EQ1, EQ2, WoW, Vangaurd, FFXI, D&DO, Lineage 2, Saga Of Ryzom, EvE Online, DAoC, Guild Wars,Star Wars Galaxies, Hell Gate London, Auto Assault, Grando Espada ( AKA SoTNW ), Archlord, CoV/H, Star Trek Online, APB, Champions Online, FFXIV, Rift Online, GW2.
The only way Vanguard will improve is if SOE completely redo the core code from scratch. Which is highly unlikely.
Whenever SOE buys a product it is usually set aside the back burner indef. ...look at Matrix Online. I really don't see SOE putting as much effort as you think into this.
SOE didn't buy Matrix Online. Matrix Online was freely given to them by Warner Bros when SOE bought the DC Comics MMO license rights. SOE didn't even want MxO yet they are still maintaining it. Hell they would of been better off closing that game down completely IMHO.
MxO still has a pretty tight community, and it is still very much supported. The Matrix Story continues and they are still constantly updating the game. The last patch was just on the 17th of this month. I won't say it's an amazing MMORPG but it's a nice change from the Hack'n Slash Fantasy MMORPGs that have flooded the market.
Let's not pop open the champagne bottles just yet. As a Vanguard Open Beta tester, I was glad to hear that SOE acquired Vanguard from Sigil because I followed this game for many, many months prior to launch and was severely disappointed. Now it actually has the chance to reach its potential under the team over at SOE. I have high hopes because SOE made an incredible turnaround with EQ2 and i have no doubt that they can do the same with Vanguard. Let's just wait a few months at the least before we make any huge assumptions about SOE.
eq2 was not really a turnaround when it was their game to start with and they totalyl revamped whole game if you were their from start. not to mention it took them over 2 years to havea 'good' game.
Let's not pop open the champagne bottles just yet.
I completely agree with you.
Everyone posted excellent comments in this Topic, for the most part. Very interested to read them all.
It is very exciting in a sense to see whether or not SOE can deliver. The question is whether or not they will (1) improve performance, (2) fix the various bugs, (3) add content.
FIRST EXPANSION
Full disclosure: I know, a bit premature.
After performance has been improved and bugs fixed.
(1) Solo epic Quests
(a) gear
i) special class specific items such as a mace for a Cleric or Shield (hammer) for a Paladin
ii) neat items with special and unique abilities such as a lot of REGEN
(b) titles
(c) mounts and ships
EDIT: Solo Epic Quests for different land-mounts already in.
(2) AA Point System
NOTE: I think an AA-system is underestimated to retain subscriptions
(a) similar to EQ 1
i) stats
ii) abilities
iii) run speed, etc.
(3) Fishing
(a) gorgeous ponds, lakes, and oceans to fish in
(4) PvP
(a) revamp PvP
i) no more altar camping
(b) NPC contested by Shadow and Order
i) cities that Order or Shadow can own through diplomacy
ii) NPC cities that Order or Shadow can own through annexation
(5) Enhance Crafting and Diplomacy
(a) reduce "grindiness"
(b) reduce tedium
(c) Improved harvesting
i) stuff is too scarce and prices are too high for resources!!
(6) Raid
NOTE: I am not a "raider" (I like the option to raid here-and-there)
(a) Raid Dungeons
i) raid Quests
ii) raid items from drops/Quests
(b) Random Raid Mobs
(7) Classes
(a) Add the Inquisitor (so I can play it!) and Beserker (so my brother can play it!) classes
VANGUARD STAGES
Game-breaking Non-Inclusive Issues
I think Vanguard will have a number of Stages:
PastPresent Future
(1) Release (2) Pre-SOE & Today (3) Post-SOE
Poor Performance Good Performance Best: Great Performance
Bugs Everywhere Most Bugs Fixed Best: Nearly All Bugs Fixed
Lack of Content Missing Raid Content Best: Raid + other content added
I regret the ice has melted and the champagne is warming. I still believe if SOE implemented all or some of my suggestions (1) through (7) a substantial market would exist for Vanguard. Nonetheless, SOE has improved performance (people I know average 50 fps), fixed thousands of bugs, and is going to add raid content and other content such as Quests for permanent flying mounts. The server merges will also be, in my view, a highly significant and highly necessary improvement.
I wish Vanguard and its community the best. The game is very fun for many people. However, it lacks elements, fundamental elements, of MMORPGs that people enjoy: deep character customization, a workable PvP system, solo epic Quests. I would also say it contains elements that people find annoying: corpse retrievals, death penalty, frustrating travel, grindy gameplay (especially end-game).
As for myself, I will be in Everquest 2 and other games.
The only ones that will reach 500k subs is either age of conan or warhammer online. Your still living in your dreamworld buddy.
Interestingly, I have decided not to wait for Warhammer any longer. I will most-likely try the game, primarily because I am very intrigued by the zone-wide or server-wide Quest cooperative system.
I think you make an excellent point on Warhammer and AoC being fierce competitors.
Warhammer and Age of Conan will be competitors, but they are different games insofar that they have a PvP focus. Vanguard does not. Vanguard is primarily a PvE game. I think there is a considerable market for people that want a more authentic PvE game in a world as vast and interesting as Vanguard's. The amount of content that Vanguard currently has and could add is far-reaching. If the game continues to improve and content continues to be added, I am confident Vanguard will be a viable competitor.
We shall see, though.
I am a PvE players. But if you bring me a plate and force me to pick between PvP or raiding, I will not pick raiding, no matter what.
Luckily for me, I don't have to pick PvP either; I can willingly starve and wait.
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
SOE chaneto restore their image by improving vanguard seems to be slipping away, The game was arguably in better state performance and content wise when took over almost 3 months ago.
Since SOE took over:
1. The staff has been cut in half and it really shows. One has to wonder if they have not made further cuts in staff.
2. Performance has gotten much worse for many people while any people report perfomance increases.
3. Almost no new content has been added. Compare that to Sigil which had been putting out an amazing amount of content since beta 3 last August with often patching in new content 2-3 times a week. It was well known that devs under SIgil were routinely working 80+ hrs week ands often sleeping in the office. This has pbviously stopped so not only is the staff much smaller but they likely work a lot less hours.
4. The dumbing down of the game has started, rest experience will be in next patch, crafting exp curve will be 35% easier before rest expereince, the games adventure leveling speed which is now just a tad slower than WoW's will speed up greatly with rest expereince.
5. Gold seller spam has increased by ten fold.
6. Soe appears to have no knowledge about the game or what effect their changes are making,
7. SOE appears to care very little about thios game but rather seems more concerned with driving away VG's player base in hopes they play EQ2.
8. In almost every decision SOE has made about Vanguard they have taken the simple easy way out. From sever merges in not addressing housing plot problems or differences ion server economies, to simplifying crafting decons, to lowering the crafting curve, to eliminating EE and putting in level limits. SOE said people do not understand EE and its confusing for them. I think that simply means EE is just to confusing for SOE. EE is a great little feature and it allows a lot of flexibilty in choosing your gear. Simply taking the time to write a nice EE tutorial quest would be not be hard for SOE but rather than take the time to do that they are scapping it in favor of a much simpler less unique and fun system. Taking the easy way out like this does not bode well for the games future.
Before you know it they will scrap vulnerabilities, rescues, counterspells and other unique features of the game because its to complicated for them. Where will it end?
On the positive side:
1. SOE has not engaged in outright lies to the playerbase like they have in other games.
2. Thier approach to fixing perfomance first is admireable.
3. Many people report perfomance increases while many people say perfomance has gotten much worse.
4. They seem to be more concerned with testing their patches and new features before releasing them than Sigil. This thoughtful go slow approach is IMO a much better long term philosphy.
5. The lower level game play is much improved since launch. There are many more quests and there is an amazing amount of content and quests in the game now although the qaulity and lack of complexity involved in most quests is severely lacking. One cannot come close to doing all the quests in the game without them going grey.
Overall I am concerned that SOE has simply given up on the game and that their lack of understanding of Vanguard and MMO's in general will cause them to reach for even more quick simplificartion fixes.
SOE chaneto restore their image by improving vanguard seems to be slipping away, The game was arguably in better state performance and content wise when took over almost 3 months ago.
Since SOE took over:
1. The staff has been cut in half and it really shows. One has to wonder if they have not made further cuts in staff. 6. Soe appears to have no knowledge about the game or what effect their changes are making,
This is what they have been doing. They have not only pushed it out of the door in a weekly bases and as they sauid they are moving to larger updates and some minor inbetween if needed. It seems that they have done things as working on those allegedly almost nonextisting tools to work with so they maybe can get things done faster in the future. Which could mean that they not only put out things as fast as they did when the staff worked under Sigils flag but also in add to do it faster they have more content in the patches themself.
As for the last part I cut you know and state that there are the same people working on Vanguard so one should be quite shure that they are familiar with it aswell. I don't think you would say, or mean to, that the agenda given from SOE is to 'destroy' what's left of Vanguard, leave that shortsighted *crap* to the anti SOE trolls instead.
I regret the ice has melted and the champagne is warming. I still believe if SOE implemented all or some of my suggestions (1) through (7) a substantial market would exist for Vanguard. Nonetheless, SOE has improved performance (people I know average 50 fps), fixed thousands of bugs, and is going to add raid content and other content such as Quests for permanent flying mounts. The server merges will also be, in my view, a highly significant and highly necessary improvement.
I wish Vanguard and its community the best. The game is very fun for many people. However, it lacks elements, fundamental elements, of MMORPGs that people enjoy: deep character customization, a workable PvP system, solo epic Quests. I would also say it contains elements that people find annoying: corpse retrievals, death penalty, frustrating travel, grindy gameplay (especially end-game).
As for myself, I will be in Everquest 2 and other games.
Are you telling me that healz4u the champion of Vanboys...the undisputed king of optimism is calling it quits in Vanguard?
Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
Never be afraid of choices. More choices are always good things.
I regret the ice has melted and the champagne is warming. I still believe if SOE implemented all or some of my suggestions (1) through (7) a substantial market would exist for Vanguard. Nonetheless, SOE has improved performance (people I know average 50 fps), fixed thousands of bugs, and is going to add raid content and other content such as Quests for permanent flying mounts. The server merges will also be, in my view, a highly significant and highly necessary improvement.
I wish Vanguard and its community the best. The game is very fun for many people. However, it lacks elements, fundamental elements, of MMORPGs that people enjoy: deep character customization, a workable PvP system, solo epic Quests. I would also say it contains elements that people find annoying: corpse retrievals, death penalty, frustrating travel, grindy gameplay (especially end-game).
As for myself, I will be in Everquest 2 and other games.
Are you telling me that healz4u the champion of Vanboys...the undisputed king of optimism is calling it quits in Vanguard?
Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
It is also crucial for SOE to communicate better with its community. The FOH and message board style that was used by SIGIL was not merely ineffective but destructive.
I regret the ice has melted and the champagne is warming. I still believe if SOE implemented all or some of my suggestions (1) through (7) a substantial market would exist for Vanguard. Nonetheless, SOE has improved performance (people I know average 50 fps), fixed thousands of bugs, and is going to add raid content and other content such as Quests for permanent flying mounts. The server merges will also be, in my view, a highly significant and highly necessary improvement.
I wish Vanguard and its community the best. The game is very fun for many people. However, it lacks elements, fundamental elements, of MMORPGs that people enjoy: deep character customization, a workable PvP system, solo epic Quests. I would also say it contains elements that people find annoying: corpse retrievals, death penalty, frustrating travel, grindy gameplay (especially end-game).
As for myself, I will be in Everquest 2 and other games.
Are you telling me that healz4u the champion of Vanboys...the undisputed king of optimism is calling it quits in Vanguard?
Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
That was pretty pathetic Balisdar.
Perhaps...however is was also pretty true. Perhaps some of the rest of you need to take your blinders off and just accept that this game is pathetic.
Sorry if the truth hurts. And Vanguard really is'nt worth the loathing anymore. It's more pitiful than anything. Kind of like poking a dead jellyfish as it's drying up on the beach. Not really worth the time but still rather fascinating.
Never be afraid of choices. More choices are always good things.
I regret the ice has melted and the champagne is warming. I still believe if SOE implemented all or some of my suggestions (1) through (7) a substantial market would exist for Vanguard. Nonetheless, SOE has improved performance (people I know average 50 fps), fixed thousands of bugs, and is going to add raid content and other content such as Quests for permanent flying mounts. The server merges will also be, in my view, a highly significant and highly necessary improvement.
I wish Vanguard and its community the best. The game is very fun for many people. However, it lacks elements, fundamental elements, of MMORPGs that people enjoy: deep character customization, a workable PvP system, solo epic Quests. I would also say it contains elements that people find annoying: corpse retrievals, death penalty, frustrating travel, grindy gameplay (especially end-game).
As for myself, I will be in Everquest 2 and other games.
Are you telling me that healz4u the champion of Vanboys...the undisputed king of optimism is calling it quits in Vanguard?
Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
That was pretty pathetic Balisdar.
What is pathetic is that it took months for healz4u to see what we all saw on release; that the game was a failure.
Let me set the record straight here for anyone that is trying to remain optimistic about VG; the game will putter along with a minimal of effort and upkeep from SOE. They will string the playerbase along with promises that things will get better, all the while providing only vague dates for bug fixes and updates, most of which will never see the light of day. You only need to look at this board, littered with the corpses of Vanbois who ultimately reach the same conclusion that everyone else has.
I regret the ice has melted and the champagne is warming. I still believe if SOE implemented all or some of my suggestions (1) through (7) a substantial market would exist for Vanguard. Nonetheless, SOE has improved performance (people I know average 50 fps), fixed thousands of bugs, and is going to add raid content and other content such as Quests for permanent flying mounts. The server merges will also be, in my view, a highly significant and highly necessary improvement.
I wish Vanguard and its community the best. The game is very fun for many people. However, it lacks elements, fundamental elements, of MMORPGs that people enjoy: deep character customization, a workable PvP system, solo epic Quests. I would also say it contains elements that people find annoying: corpse retrievals, death penalty, frustrating travel, grindy gameplay (especially end-game).
As for myself, I will be in Everquest 2 and other games.
Are you telling me that healz4u the champion of Vanboys...the undisputed king of optimism is calling it quits in Vanguard?
Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
That was pretty pathetic Balisdar.
What is pathetic is that it took months for healz4u to see what we all saw on release; that the game was a failure.
Let me set the record straight here for anyone that is trying to remain optimistic about VG; the game will putter along with a minimal of effort and upkeep from SOE. They will string the playerbase along with promises that things will get better, all the while providing only vague dates for bug fixes and updates, most of which will never see the light of day. You only need to look at this board, littered with the corpses of Vanbois who ultimately reach the same conclusion that everyone else has.
Yeah... Because of all the month the guy, healz4u, spent bashing upon Vanguard after the release, maybe by then foremost from a soloplay perspective. The banning on SV he's was 'bragging' about. Now some people goes lolzor look the vanboi quat. But none the less
You know... with that in mind you both come out as pretty pathetic.
(1) I was never banned from SV; I have also never posted on SV.
(2) I was banned from Ten Ton Hammer.
(3) I never described Vanguard as a "failure" after I resubscribed and experienced the many improvements made to Vanguard. More to the point, I do not consider Vanguard a failure. I am at the end-game and have grown bored with Vanguard. I enjoy EQ 2. (Generally speaking, I probably will take a break from [mmorpg] games before school starts soon).
I regret the ice has melted and the champagne is warming. I still believe if SOE implemented all or some of my suggestions (1) through (7) a substantial market would exist for Vanguard. Nonetheless, SOE has improved performance (people I know average 50 fps), fixed thousands of bugs, and is going to add raid content and other content such as Quests for permanent flying mounts. The server merges will also be, in my view, a highly significant and highly necessary improvement.
I wish Vanguard and its community the best. The game is very fun for many people. However, it lacks elements, fundamental elements, of MMORPGs that people enjoy: deep character customization, a workable PvP system, solo epic Quests. I would also say it contains elements that people find annoying: corpse retrievals, death penalty, frustrating travel, grindy gameplay (especially end-game).
As for myself, I will be in Everquest 2 and other games.
It takes a lot of guts to post a message like this -- especially in such an embarassing thread. I have to give you credit for stepping up to the plate.
Lets all just hope that the next game we get sucked into buying can live up to its own hype.
IMO Vanguard has nice graphics and possibillities. But id rather them concentrate on eq2 for the simple fact eq2 has done it right and has improved so much since launch. Why they bought vanguard im not sure other then maybee they just have money for it. but as far as fantasy type games eq2 has it and is much better then vanguard. That is only my opinion.
Originally posted by sonicring But id rather them concentrate on eq2
(please do not let large paragraphs intimidate you)
I have been playing Star Wars Galaxies the past two or three days. I just learned that players can have musical bands of upward of 8 members, and you can have holograms in your band. The more members, the more music you can have. You are also able to slightly modify and customize your music. I even met a smuggler who told me he set-up gambling terminals or things that allowed players to gamble with their credits. I play a Medic, and I learned that I can have a spaceship hospital in addition to an actual hospital with droids and nurses and doctors and things. Players can have their own cities and hold mayoral elections. Players can run their own bars/clubs with NPC bands and bartenders that interact with players.
I have not even scratched the surface of the depth that this game offers.
If I were making a business decision, I would terminate Vanguard (sorry) and allocate resources to SWG. My rationale: first impressions are too hard to recover from; competitors such as WAR/AoC/WoW are too predominantly positioned; the amount of time, resources, capital, and human talent required to fix, improve, and enhance Vanguard to be a viable competitor and commercial success are probably substantial. I would keep the game running, I would not completely terminate it; but I would not commit a lot of resources to the game. Beyond general maintenance, I would commit no more resources than that required to sustain Vanguard with infrequent patches, updates, and so forth. EQ 2 is a viable competitor to WoW/WAR/AoC as a fantasy game. In the sci-fi MMORPG realm, SWG is brilliant and SOE should even consider a SWG 2 based on pre-NGE elements and the good things from later developments (solo epic Quests known as the Legacy Quest).
Oh dear he's into the NGE now! Please god spare us from 3-6 months of Fanboism about how great SWG is until he finally realizes it's a massive steaming turd like all SOE games. SWG has many of the same problems as VG, low population, skeleton crew of Devs, bad lag when/if you see other players, screwed up crafting (no item decay), everything is 100% soloable, 90% of players are the same class (Jedi), characters look like they're 3 year olds on meth when they fight, four year old bugs still in there with more to come!
Being a musician is great but it's a pity you serve little to no purpose anymore, so you have no-one to group with to make a band (low pop) and no-one to perform for (low pop and no point).
You left VG because you got to the end game? Hmmmmmmm, isn't VG meant to be a sanbox? Were'nt you always telling us how great VG was because it's a sanbox and you can do as you wish and don't need to follow any linear path? I think you're trying to BS those of us that have read your past posts. SOE is using VG to recruit players for EQ2 and it looks like they got another, you realized VG sucks after 6 months then went to other SOE games. Now you're trying to recruit for another dead game because you're lonley there right?
What happened to the houses the boats and the flying mounts of the beautiful world of Telon? What happened to the big new world where you could do as you pleased with your friends? Did Telon lose its luster? I'd like to know more about why you quit Telon, not just "I reached the end game" because as you stated soooo many times here, VG is a sandbox and has no end game.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
The server I play on in Star Wars Galaxies (Starsider) has people everywhere I go. I am hopeful what you say is true that SWG content is 100% soloable, but this is not what I hear from people that play the game. 90% of the players are not Jedi, and everyone on my friends' is not a Jedi. Not one. (I agree that Jedi should be very few as a class, perhaps 1 in 100).
On my server, musicians perform for a lot of people; there are a lot of musicians. I just logged out of the game a few minutes ago, after making some progress on my Legacy Quest. The musicians, I think, provide excellent buffs.
Vanguard is a sandbox in many respects as you level up. You do not have to follow a linear path from dungeon A to dungeon B to this Quest line to that Quest line. The end-game is neither fulfilling nor complete. I see no point in logging in, although members of my guild do raid. I have yet to participate in a single raid; I am not very much into raiding.
I am not trying to recruit for any game. Do not buy Vanguard. Do not buy SWG. Do not buy WoW. Do not buy WAR. Do not buy a new tv.
I am not playing Vanguard because EQ 2 and SWG are superior. EQ 2 and SWG have features that I enjoy in a game. Including but not limited to: Deep character customization. Vast worlds to explore. Interesting/fascinating lore that you can be apart of and impact. Solo Epic Quests. Variety of races/classes. Mature and helpful community. Different types of means of travel: boat, space ship, personalized vehicles/mounts. Impressive audio: combat, music, etc.
I am happy. If it were not for Vanguard, I would not have obtained a Station Pass to try these games. I will tell you what you, $20.00 for Star Wars Galaxies was the best deal for a game I ever purchased in my LIFE. And, no, I could not care less if you buy SWG, EQ 2, WoW, WAR, or Lineage II. Find a game(s) you enjoy. I know I have.
Comments
SOE didn't buy Matrix Online. Matrix Online was freely given to them by Warner Bros when SOE bought the DC Comics MMO license rights. SOE didn't even want MxO yet they are still maintaining it. Hell they would of been better off closing that game down completely IMHO.
Games I've played/tried out:WAR, LOTRO, Tabula Rasa, AoC, EQ1, EQ2, WoW, Vangaurd, FFXI, D&DO, Lineage 2, Saga Of Ryzom, EvE Online, DAoC, Guild Wars,Star Wars Galaxies, Hell Gate London, Auto Assault, Grando Espada ( AKA SoTNW ), Archlord, CoV/H, Star Trek Online, APB, Champions Online, FFXIV, Rift Online, GW2.
Game(s) I Am Currently Playing:
GW2 (+LoL and BF3)
SOE didn't buy Matrix Online. Matrix Online was freely given to them by Warner Bros when SOE bought the DC Comics MMO license rights. SOE didn't even want MxO yet they are still maintaining it. Hell they would of been better off closing that game down completely IMHO.
MxO still has a pretty tight community, and it is still very much supported. The Matrix Story continues and they are still constantly updating the game. The last patch was just on the 17th of this month. I won't say it's an amazing MMORPG but it's a nice change from the Hack'n Slash Fantasy MMORPGs that have flooded the market.
The Old Timers Guild
Laid back, not so serious, no drama.
All about the fun!
www.oldtimersguild.com
An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. - Jef Mallett
I completely agree with you.
Everyone posted excellent comments in this Topic, for the most part. Very interested to read them all.
It is very exciting in a sense to see whether or not SOE can deliver. The question is whether or not they will (1) improve performance, (2) fix the various bugs, (3) add content.
FIRST EXPANSION
Full disclosure: I know, a bit premature.
After performance has been improved and bugs fixed.
(1) Solo epic Quests
(a) gear
i) special class specific items such as a mace for a Cleric or Shield (hammer) for a Paladin
ii) neat items with special and unique abilities such as a lot of REGEN
(b) titles
(c) mounts and ships
EDIT: Solo Epic Quests for different land-mounts already in.
(2) AA Point System
NOTE: I think an AA-system is underestimated to retain subscriptions
(a) similar to EQ 1
i) stats
ii) abilities
iii) run speed, etc.
(3) Fishing
(a) gorgeous ponds, lakes, and oceans to fish in
(4) PvP
(a) revamp PvP
i) no more altar camping
(b) NPC contested by Shadow and Order
i) cities that Order or Shadow can own through diplomacy
ii) NPC cities that Order or Shadow can own through annexation
(5) Enhance Crafting and Diplomacy
(a) reduce "grindiness"
(b) reduce tedium
(c) Improved harvesting
i) stuff is too scarce and prices are too high for resources!!
(6) Raid
NOTE: I am not a "raider" (I like the option to raid here-and-there)
(a) Raid Dungeons
i) raid Quests
ii) raid items from drops/Quests
(b) Random Raid Mobs
(7) Classes
(a) Add the Inquisitor (so I can play it!) and Beserker (so my brother can play it!) classes
VANGUARD STAGES
Game-breaking Non-Inclusive Issues
I think Vanguard will have a number of Stages:
Past Present Future
(1) Release (2) Pre-SOE & Today (3) Post-SOE
Poor Performance Good Performance Best: Great Performance
Bugs Everywhere Most Bugs Fixed Best: Nearly All Bugs Fixed
Lack of Content Missing Raid Content Best: Raid + other content added
The future is speculative!
I regret the ice has melted and the champagne is warming. I still believe if SOE implemented all or some of my suggestions (1) through (7) a substantial market would exist for Vanguard. Nonetheless, SOE has improved performance (people I know average 50 fps), fixed thousands of bugs, and is going to add raid content and other content such as Quests for permanent flying mounts. The server merges will also be, in my view, a highly significant and highly necessary improvement.
I wish Vanguard and its community the best. The game is very fun for many people. However, it lacks elements, fundamental elements, of MMORPGs that people enjoy: deep character customization, a workable PvP system, solo epic Quests. I would also say it contains elements that people find annoying: corpse retrievals, death penalty, frustrating travel, grindy gameplay (especially end-game).
As for myself, I will be in Everquest 2 and other games.
Interestingly, I have decided not to wait for Warhammer any longer. I will most-likely try the game, primarily because I am very intrigued by the zone-wide or server-wide Quest cooperative system.I think you make an excellent point on Warhammer and AoC being fierce competitors.
Warhammer and Age of Conan will be competitors, but they are different games insofar that they have a PvP focus. Vanguard does not. Vanguard is primarily a PvE game. I think there is a considerable market for people that want a more authentic PvE game in a world as vast and interesting as Vanguard's. The amount of content that Vanguard currently has and could add is far-reaching. If the game continues to improve and content continues to be added, I am confident Vanguard will be a viable competitor.
We shall see, though.
I am a PvE players. But if you bring me a plate and force me to pick between PvP or raiding, I will not pick raiding, no matter what.
Luckily for me, I don't have to pick PvP either; I can willingly starve and wait.
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
SOE chaneto restore their image by improving vanguard seems to be slipping away, The game was arguably in better state performance and content wise when took over almost 3 months ago.
Since SOE took over:
1. The staff has been cut in half and it really shows. One has to wonder if they have not made further cuts in staff.
2. Performance has gotten much worse for many people while any people report perfomance increases.
3. Almost no new content has been added. Compare that to Sigil which had been putting out an amazing amount of content since beta 3 last August with often patching in new content 2-3 times a week. It was well known that devs under SIgil were routinely working 80+ hrs week ands often sleeping in the office. This has pbviously stopped so not only is the staff much smaller but they likely work a lot less hours.
4. The dumbing down of the game has started, rest experience will be in next patch, crafting exp curve will be 35% easier before rest expereince, the games adventure leveling speed which is now just a tad slower than WoW's will speed up greatly with rest expereince.
5. Gold seller spam has increased by ten fold.
6. Soe appears to have no knowledge about the game or what effect their changes are making,
7. SOE appears to care very little about thios game but rather seems more concerned with driving away VG's player base in hopes they play EQ2.
8. In almost every decision SOE has made about Vanguard they have taken the simple easy way out. From sever merges in not addressing housing plot problems or differences ion server economies, to simplifying crafting decons, to lowering the crafting curve, to eliminating EE and putting in level limits. SOE said people do not understand EE and its confusing for them. I think that simply means EE is just to confusing for SOE. EE is a great little feature and it allows a lot of flexibilty in choosing your gear. Simply taking the time to write a nice EE tutorial quest would be not be hard for SOE but rather than take the time to do that they are scapping it in favor of a much simpler less unique and fun system. Taking the easy way out like this does not bode well for the games future.
Before you know it they will scrap vulnerabilities, rescues, counterspells and other unique features of the game because its to complicated for them. Where will it end?
On the positive side:
1. SOE has not engaged in outright lies to the playerbase like they have in other games.
2. Thier approach to fixing perfomance first is admireable.
3. Many people report perfomance increases while many people say perfomance has gotten much worse.
4. They seem to be more concerned with testing their patches and new features before releasing them than Sigil. This thoughtful go slow approach is IMO a much better long term philosphy.
5. The lower level game play is much improved since launch. There are many more quests and there is an amazing amount of content and quests in the game now although the qaulity and lack of complexity involved in most quests is severely lacking. One cannot come close to doing all the quests in the game without them going grey.
Overall I am concerned that SOE has simply given up on the game and that their lack of understanding of Vanguard and MMO's in general will cause them to reach for even more quick simplificartion fixes.
This is what they have been doing. They have not only pushed it out of the door in a weekly bases and as they sauid they are moving to larger updates and some minor inbetween if needed. It seems that they have done things as working on those allegedly almost nonextisting tools to work with so they maybe can get things done faster in the future. Which could mean that they not only put out things as fast as they did when the staff worked under Sigils flag but also in add to do it faster they have more content in the patches themself.
Which should be a good thing.
http://www.silkyvenom.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22465
As for the last part I cut you know and state that there are the same people working on Vanguard so one should be quite shure that they are familiar with it aswell. I don't think you would say, or mean to, that the agenda given from SOE is to 'destroy' what's left of Vanguard, leave that shortsighted *crap* to the anti SOE trolls instead.
I'm so broke. I can't even pay attention.
"You have the right not to be killed"
worse then what ? 2 days ago ? or since first day release ?
if first day release, well, this is a lie what you are telling us.
Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
Never be afraid of choices. More choices are always good things.
Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
That was pretty pathetic Balisdar.
Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
That was pretty pathetic Balisdar.
Perhaps...however is was also pretty true. Perhaps some of the rest of you need to take your blinders off and just accept that this game is pathetic.
Sorry if the truth hurts. And Vanguard really is'nt worth the loathing anymore. It's more pitiful than anything. Kind of like poking a dead jellyfish as it's drying up on the beach. Not really worth the time but still rather fascinating.
Never be afraid of choices. More choices are always good things.
Game is basically done, but it still has my favorite class in any MMO, Vanguard's Shaman.
Oh well, back to my Zerker in EQ2.
Are you telling me that healz4u the champion of Vanboys...the undisputed king of optimism is calling it quits in Vanguard?Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
That was pretty pathetic Balisdar.
What is pathetic is that it took months for healz4u to see what we all saw on release; that the game was a failure.
Let me set the record straight here for anyone that is trying to remain optimistic about VG; the game will putter along with a minimal of effort and upkeep from SOE. They will string the playerbase along with promises that things will get better, all the while providing only vague dates for bug fixes and updates, most of which will never see the light of day. You only need to look at this board, littered with the corpses of Vanbois who ultimately reach the same conclusion that everyone else has.
Are you telling me that healz4u the champion of Vanboys...the undisputed king of optimism is calling it quits in Vanguard?Well...slap me in the face with a fish and beat me with a pipe wrench...Ladies and Gentlemen, he CAN be taught.
Just goes to show you that EVERYONE has their breaking point. Good luck in your future games healz. Try not to buy too much into the hype next time.
That was pretty pathetic Balisdar.
What is pathetic is that it took months for healz4u to see what we all saw on release; that the game was a failure.
Let me set the record straight here for anyone that is trying to remain optimistic about VG; the game will putter along with a minimal of effort and upkeep from SOE. They will string the playerbase along with promises that things will get better, all the while providing only vague dates for bug fixes and updates, most of which will never see the light of day. You only need to look at this board, littered with the corpses of Vanbois who ultimately reach the same conclusion that everyone else has.
Yeah... Because of all the month the guy, healz4u, spent bashing upon Vanguard after the release, maybe by then foremost from a soloplay perspective. The banning on SV he's was 'bragging' about. Now some people goes lolzor look the vanboi quat. But none the less
You know... with that in mind you both come out as pretty pathetic.
I'm so broke. I can't even pay attention.
"You have the right not to be killed"
Hello, friends.
I believe a few clarifications are necessary.
(1) I was never banned from SV; I have also never posted on SV.
(2) I was banned from Ten Ton Hammer.
(3) I never described Vanguard as a "failure" after I resubscribed and experienced the many improvements made to Vanguard. More to the point, I do not consider Vanguard a failure. I am at the end-game and have grown bored with Vanguard. I enjoy EQ 2. (Generally speaking, I probably will take a break from [mmorpg] games before school starts soon).
It takes a lot of guts to post a message like this -- especially in such an embarassing thread. I have to give you credit for stepping up to the plate.
Lets all just hope that the next game we get sucked into buying can live up to its own hype.
IMO Vanguard has nice graphics and possibillities. But id rather them concentrate on eq2 for the simple fact eq2 has done it right and has improved so much since launch. Why they bought vanguard im not sure other then maybee they just have money for it. but as far as fantasy type games eq2 has it and is much better then vanguard. That is only my opinion.
(please do not let large paragraphs intimidate you)
I have been playing Star Wars Galaxies the past two or three days. I just learned that players can have musical bands of upward of 8 members, and you can have holograms in your band. The more members, the more music you can have. You are also able to slightly modify and customize your music. I even met a smuggler who told me he set-up gambling terminals or things that allowed players to gamble with their credits. I play a Medic, and I learned that I can have a spaceship hospital in addition to an actual hospital with droids and nurses and doctors and things. Players can have their own cities and hold mayoral elections. Players can run their own bars/clubs with NPC bands and bartenders that interact with players.
I have not even scratched the surface of the depth that this game offers.
If I were making a business decision, I would terminate Vanguard (sorry) and allocate resources to SWG. My rationale: first impressions are too hard to recover from; competitors such as WAR/AoC/WoW are too predominantly positioned; the amount of time, resources, capital, and human talent required to fix, improve, and enhance Vanguard to be a viable competitor and commercial success are probably substantial. I would keep the game running, I would not completely terminate it; but I would not commit a lot of resources to the game. Beyond general maintenance, I would commit no more resources than that required to sustain Vanguard with infrequent patches, updates, and so forth. EQ 2 is a viable competitor to WoW/WAR/AoC as a fantasy game. In the sci-fi MMORPG realm, SWG is brilliant and SOE should even consider a SWG 2 based on pre-NGE elements and the good things from later developments (solo epic Quests known as the Legacy Quest).
Oh dear he's into the NGE now! Please god spare us from 3-6 months of Fanboism about how great SWG is until he finally realizes it's a massive steaming turd like all SOE games. SWG has many of the same problems as VG, low population, skeleton crew of Devs, bad lag when/if you see other players, screwed up crafting (no item decay), everything is 100% soloable, 90% of players are the same class (Jedi), characters look like they're 3 year olds on meth when they fight, four year old bugs still in there with more to come!
Being a musician is great but it's a pity you serve little to no purpose anymore, so you have no-one to group with to make a band (low pop) and no-one to perform for (low pop and no point).
You left VG because you got to the end game? Hmmmmmmm, isn't VG meant to be a sanbox? Were'nt you always telling us how great VG was because it's a sanbox and you can do as you wish and don't need to follow any linear path? I think you're trying to BS those of us that have read your past posts. SOE is using VG to recruit players for EQ2 and it looks like they got another, you realized VG sucks after 6 months then went to other SOE games. Now you're trying to recruit for another dead game because you're lonley there right?
What happened to the houses the boats and the flying mounts of the beautiful world of Telon? What happened to the big new world where you could do as you pleased with your friends? Did Telon lose its luster? I'd like to know more about why you quit Telon, not just "I reached the end game" because as you stated soooo many times here, VG is a sandbox and has no end game.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience"
CS Lewis
The server I play on in Star Wars Galaxies (Starsider) has people everywhere I go. I am hopeful what you say is true that SWG content is 100% soloable, but this is not what I hear from people that play the game. 90% of the players are not Jedi, and everyone on my friends' is not a Jedi. Not one. (I agree that Jedi should be very few as a class, perhaps 1 in 100).
On my server, musicians perform for a lot of people; there are a lot of musicians. I just logged out of the game a few minutes ago, after making some progress on my Legacy Quest. The musicians, I think, provide excellent buffs.
Vanguard is a sandbox in many respects as you level up. You do not have to follow a linear path from dungeon A to dungeon B to this Quest line to that Quest line. The end-game is neither fulfilling nor complete. I see no point in logging in, although members of my guild do raid. I have yet to participate in a single raid; I am not very much into raiding.
I am not trying to recruit for any game. Do not buy Vanguard. Do not buy SWG. Do not buy WoW. Do not buy WAR. Do not buy a new tv.
I am not playing Vanguard because EQ 2 and SWG are superior. EQ 2 and SWG have features that I enjoy in a game. Including but not limited to: Deep character customization. Vast worlds to explore. Interesting/fascinating lore that you can be apart of and impact. Solo Epic Quests. Variety of races/classes. Mature and helpful community. Different types of means of travel: boat, space ship, personalized vehicles/mounts. Impressive audio: combat, music, etc.
I am happy. If it were not for Vanguard, I would not have obtained a Station Pass to try these games. I will tell you what you, $20.00 for Star Wars Galaxies was the best deal for a game I ever purchased in my LIFE. And, no, I could not care less if you buy SWG, EQ 2, WoW, WAR, or Lineage II. Find a game(s) you enjoy. I know I have.