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Returning to Age of Conan
warwon
Member UncommonPosts: 23
I'm not going to defend my decisions or my reasons in a massive block of text but what I want to say hopefully will reach the people that it meant to.
Often we see posts in a lot of newer games, some old, about people quitting and leaving for various reasons; often personal, but a lot are for game design or lack there of also this does include bugs.
Most MMORPG by design are never finished when they launched but there is enough content, the game is playable to the point, but some games launch and have a big come back down the road.
I have always felt that Everquest 2 had a great but flawed launch, and I believe most of the major welcomed changes came over the course of two years, no matter what people say that game is growing a bit; I even tried it out just not my taste nothing wrong with it just how it is.
I played Champions Online I was sucked into the hype at first and never went back. I can’t defend something that I feel wasn’t ready for a release even two years down the road.
Now you might wonder where this conversation is going, if anywhere. But Age of Conan almost made me leave the MMORPG market for several months as playing it for the first month was enough for me to go play my NES and never look back. I never in my life thought with some rich history from so many books, such a great franchise could be ruined (but I guess history does repeat see -> star trek online).
I left as many did for various reasons when it came out, I did return several months later to little improvements (there were a lot, but not what I saw need to be done). Than if I can recall around April/May 2009 there was another big come back campaign that claim a lot had changed and it was time to come back.
I last a better part of two months before I removed Age of Conan again, I saw lots of older bugs still, lots of improvements and new bugs.
I was heavily involved with Lord of the Rings since it came out until the middle of 2009 I say about July. But I gave up that game as I felt Turbine was heading down a dark path, and it was getting to complex and out of control.
So since than I really haven’t been playing much I tangled a bit with Free Realms than I finally broke down and gave World of Warcraft a chance. I was amazed that I join when they added the dungeon queue system, it kept me happy to oh level 52 and I hit a grind, than I left.
World of Warcraft no matter what people say it has marketing and numbers behind it, but I find it the same no matter what you do, the game never really shined for me. Maybe I one of the few that got Blizzard big hit, as I had avoided for so many years.
In the back of mind was this theory that Age of Conan would become the game it should have been when it first launched. Than talk of this Rise of the Godslayer expansion pack, and more server merges which was confusing.
I remember years ago I played Starwars Galaxies and it had server merges but since that last failed expansion pack it hasn’t really gone anywhere, it was odd to see a game like Conan merging there servers but still working on a expansion pack. I was thinking the game was ready to take itself out back and end it.
Than I started to see lots of details about 1.5, 1.6, and than 1.7 patches; something must have happen at Funcom to make them pull all there eggs together. Cause with the amount of work done with 1.6 and 1.7 the game was ready for a real come back.
So I figured out my account details and signed back for a month. I had an older character that I tested for a part of day, figured it was too messy to play with an older character, and went back to the starting island with a new character.
Less than ten hours later I was off the island and around level 20 with only a few quests left in that area. I can saw even through I know the island is more controlled than what you’ll see later in game but it was amazing.
Combat was very smooth flowing, I actually was able to combos correctly, I loved the way the game looked, and sounded. The performance was great I only had to change a few settings, but I was fine with high settings.
I had the old DVD’s so it was only about 4GB of patches, and it took about an hour to download/install. No issues with Windows 7 or my G15 keyboard even the LCD had info from AOC.
There was so many issues I had that was even noticeable in the starting area back when it first game out, a year later, and after two years it’s been fixed.
I was getting stressed from the changes in Fallen Earth; I’m packing my bags and making my move to Age of Conan.
It has great PVE, great PVP, it’s got some issues still but it’s better than half of the crap last year that I saw, and after the mess that Fallen Earth is becoming I’m glad to return to Conan and make some heads roll.
Slight update as I was writing this on the weekend and held off, I was very impressed with Funcom for keep the Rise of the Godslayer expansion pack only $24 with some fluffy extras.
Also if you’re thinking of coming back and have read this, the starting area is full of people so is 20-40 and above. Conan may become the first real next-gen MMORPG to come back 180 and return a large number of people that have left.
In the end give the endless trial a shot, it’s worth it.
Thank you Funcom!
Comments
I do not want to derail this or upset Fallen Earth players, but I had a strange feeling when Lead Designer Less Hammock left, but it looks my gut feeling was not all that incorrect.
http://www.massively.com/2010/04/30/icarus-announces-company-restructuring/
I wish them the best of luck, I had bailed a few days ago. I don't think it will keep the pace that it had on content patches, it may last a few more months but with such a small team supporting such a young product and having a rough start this is not good to see 80% of it's staff go.
Back onto topic
Yup, AoC still has a few bugs, but nowhere near as many, they have greatly expanded the content, fixed the stat system, and just made the game fun, IMO.
I just hit 50 with a friend last night and we're both having a blast. Getting ready to hit E. Mountains tonight, this will be the furthest I've progressed in game and am excited to see what's next. The combat system in this game can feel downright epic. With me as a conq and my buddy on a BS we can pull 5-10 mobs and mow them down, really makes you feel powerful.
Wrong thread I think
man i think you just redifined the words "wall of text".
I was trying to keep it simple but it kind of exploded. LOL!
Yeah I know exactly how you feel. On my HoX I have some crazy fun in combat, and it seems like the battles are always somewhat dynamic and chaotic not like a repetitive thing like most MMO's. I love charging into a group of guys, rooting, AOE'ing, eating hearts, and dropping massive combos which cause fatalities and somehow when I swing my great sword to cut off another players head their arms also fall off which is a pretty amazing thing.
Honestly some of my favorite combat in any game MMO or single player has been in AoC. They have good content, graphics, story, ambience, and the game is worth playing at least to see the content and have some PvP and PvE chaotic fun. I only play melee though because of the combat system. I imagine casters are a lot more like other MMO's. I can't wait to make an Assassin with a friend and check out the new areas. This is the type of game i'll come back to with every expansion and at least see all the content.
Well we walked the same path of continuous dissapointments and your post got me convinced. Just as I am typing this my AoC is installing. I bet there is a long update progress after so probably no playing tonight.
I will give AoC another try and really graphics look so very very nice which I appreciate very much. Gameplay was never bad either and since they obviously got rid of many bugs now there is a good chance I will enjoy it very much. Well, see you in Hyboria guys!
Im downloading the trial for this game now. What ive read here is pretty encouraging so far.
After reading your short story of a forum post, I have decided to give AoC another shot, will be downloading the patches tomorrow night. I've been hearing more and more about how they have down a 180 but I'm still skeptical, we'll see though.
I'm going to be returning to EU Crom I believe it is. Havnt played the game since first month of launch but I've had my eye on it and am really impressed by the changes and the upcoming content. With a new PC and the expansion on the way i'll be making my come back
I'm having a hard time resisting but I've told myself to wait until the expansion what with Uni deadlines and the likes, and have it preordered from Play.com ready to go. Lets hope they deliver in time!
I really like this game. I prefer the PVE servers. I really look forward to the expansion, and hope that it brings back and brings in tons of new people.
Heh, felt exact the same. Though my main reason to leave a 3 months after launch whas the downward spiral the community was plummeting in. There was such a negative aura, that it took away my fun, players that got online just to bash everything (I mean, come on, get a life -_-).
Ahwel, got back two weeks ago and performance is up by a long shot and the overall feel is good.
It's amazing how many first time posters are in this thread stating they are returning to AoC. Screams of viral marketing.
Or it might simply be people rejoining. Quite a bit of influx of new players these days.
In any event, you don't like the game, so what do you care?
Lol. Just... plain lol.
Hilarious how silly people can be, next there'll be posts about 'conspiracies' and such
Expansion is coming up, and a lot of people who left are coming back to take a peek. Plus gameplay is actually pretty good now, melee combat in AoC is one of the most addictive there is.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Eh... Funcom is a Norwegian company last time I checked. I know for some non-Europeans it's hard to get, but Norway and the Netherlands are two very different countries. Google up a map sometimes, you might learn something from it.
Are you just trying to be moronic or did Funcom members screw with your gf or such?
I'm someone who plays AoC - next to other MMO's - and don't have much patience for the crap some people try to sell for the truth, especially those who don't play the game they're criticising.
If you don't like a game or don't "get it" that people can be enthusiastic about it, then move on. Get a life, play some other MMO you do like.
About people returning: I could name 5-10 of the friends I knew that returned lately, AoC related guildforums are talking about people who intend to return or who have returned and want to rejoin the guild they left earlier, so what you're saying is bull and just shows your hatred for everything Funcom related in all your posts, nothing more, nothing less.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
To Iceice: that's funny you coming up with that theory as if anyone here cares to look through your post history they will see every post made here is along similar lines of hate regarding AoC. The irony is amazing lol.
THE SECRET WORLD - PAY ONCE PLAY FOREVER - Give it a go!
http://www.thesecretworld.com/buy/
OR PM ME FOR A BUDDY KEY (need your email address).
Just as you are paid to talk down the game.
I'm a returning player, live in the UK, yes my post count isn't high but thats becuase I've Nerd raged 3 times and deleted my MMORPG account, heavens know why.
Yes the game has bugs, WoW still has damn annoying bugs, EQ1/2 has annoying bugs, Asherons call has bugs, DAoC has bugs hell all of them have bugs.
Age of Pets more like, since every update and 'improvement' in this game invariably introduces new pets for players to own and love. I'd much rather get a better axe than a doberman puppy, but no.
People got different needs, and it is not just pets introduced in the patches. What about T2 and T2 gears
. And the new mounts for the expantion is not pets, but realy cool mounts. AoC is more about having fun playing then just owning the newest gear (like in sutck game like WOW).
Nope, not falling for that again. Tried it a couple of months ago after these AoC forums were filled with pink rosy flowers, people praising the game left and right and urging old players to return and check the changes for themselves.
I'm sorry but in reality it's still the same shallow AoC, albeit with less bugs and more quests.
The core game hasn't really changed, so if you don't like it, it doesn't matter if they polish it. But that has got nothing to do with the game, just your preferences.
The game is greately improved, as other say it is stil the same core game and if you dont like it, you just dont.
It would help if you could give more info of what you dont like and where these things are alot better(other games).
If you check out all the Rotgs trailer you will se what you are missing out on. The dungons are epic and the playfields are larger and more open.
Keep in mind that there are things I like about the game. I had followed the game for a year before it actually launched and was looking forward to it very much as it was marketed as THE next-gen MMO, from spellweaving, to 100vs100 keep sieges, to bar brawls etc., and yet it was all lies and lies. Sadly its launch left a bitter taste in my mouth and it was a huge let-down and disappointment to say the least. Learned my lesson after that, never, ever buy into the hype.
I wouldn't bank on the expansion releasing bug-free, not after what they did at launch. ROGS does seem good in theory and in their words, like the original game did, but I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out it was just the hype machine over and over again.
Now that's all in the past and It may be true that It's impossible for me to ever enjoy this game again. Anyway some of the things that screwed it for me a couple of months ago:
Instancing and loading screens (instant traveling) kills immersion. I was ready to live with this in the past as long as the game had a lot of good on the other side of the balance, but since I knew it didn't it felt like a game-breaking issue.
For some reason I still get lag spikes every few seconds just like at launch and that renders the game virtually unplayable (I'm positive it's not on my side as the 2year old thread on the forums is still going). Apparently this is only one of the many bugs that are still present since launch.
I feel the overall UI and chat is clunky, from the very limited chat customizations available, to key binds, abilities icons, LFG window, etc.
PvP in general is pretty weak and unbalanced and FC's decision to take the easy route and just pump out PvE instances and raids instead of fixing and improving the actual game be it PvP or other issues doesn't bode well at all.
There is a general lack of things to do apart from killing mobs. You can't even help out guildies in lower level content because of a stupid mechanic they added shortly after launch that "fixes" high level chars farming low level content. Is this still in place?
The direction the game is heading towards is sad. They started out with a "gear doesn't mean anything" policy that didn't quite work out as the endgame in itself was a gear grind, a grind for gear that barely changed anything. How on earth did they ever think it could work out without rewarding players in an alternative way to gear is beyond me.
I know they gave more importance to gear and pumped out instances and raids (the easy route I was talking about), but it was never the game myself and others wanted. It's no longer a game I'm interested to play, because it turned 180degrees from what AoC fans wanted, the game they set out to do since the beginning.
We wanted something fresh and different, we got WoW with a mature setting, but without the quality PvE content, the open-world, the game mechanics, economy etc. basically we got a worse WoW.
Well, if WoW is your thing, then AoC most definitely will be not.
A lot of the problems that I know were there at launch have been solved in the meantime. I can't say this is the case for everyone, but I myself have found the game to be stable and relatively lagfree, except for sieges. As far as I can tell most people I know also have little problems in that area. I know there's been done a lot for balancing the classes and PvP, but I guess like in other games that's a neverending process.
Like someone said, the core hasn't changed, so if that wasn't your cup of tea, then it won't be now as well.
Me, I like the the melee combat, it has been one of the best I encountered with the positioning, combos and fatalities and such it is still highly immersive. At least, to me. The magic combat, not so much, too much a reminder of how other MMO's do it.
I think it's good sense to not try the expansion right from the start if at all, you'll probably not like it. Just wait, see for a few weeks after, if it warrants a change of mind or not.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."