Yes, it always works very well to make you and your arguments sound sensible by stating that other people wear fanboi goggles. Not really.
True, you mentioned that PvE has improved, an acknowledgement that's at least more than some others will make; alas, then you continue here and in other current threads with a host of negative arguments of which most of the times only a part is relevant to the debate being held.
I mentioned in other posts some of the things I think is wrong with AoC or have been handled wrong by Funcom: it doesn't mean that I don't see and acknowledge the good aspects of the game. Not being blind for good and bad aspects but seeing both, a policy I use for everything and any MMO game, current and upcoming, even a WoW, TSW, SW:TOR, Aion or CO.
Of course I tend to see the fun and positive aspects of a game I'm still playing enthusiastically from time to time more than people who haven't played that game for a long time or who've made it their mission to discredit it or its company in all of their posts: this doesn't mean it makes me blind for the flaws in a MMO game, it just makes me give less weight to those whose post histories (almost) entirely exist of negative arguments or sophisms regarding that game, like for example AoC.
Yes, AOC has improved their PVE game. Now you can actually level all the way up by questing. When the game launched, there were levels where you literally could do nothing but grind mobs for 2-3 levels at a time. When WOW launched, you could easily level 6 characters from 1-60 without ever doing the same quest twice. AOC now has 1 quest path to level, which means your second character will do exactly the same quests as your first.... but that is actually an improvement on how it shipped.
Now lets talk to how they improved endgame pve with the expansion. Before the expansion, there was no content. you simply grinded mobs for gold, which bought very little. With the expansion, yes things have improved, now there are factions that you can grind by doing the same 3 quests every day. Yet, again, that is an improvement on the way the game was before the expansion. PVE right now is comparable to WOW back with Sithilis and Eastern Plaquelands faction grinds. Of course, that was WOW 5 years ago, and endgame PVE has been drastically improved. And with this expansion came two more tiers of raiding.. of course they are both broken and can't be completed. Even the previous tiers remain mostly broken since launch.
So since lauch, AOC has improved thier pve game. You can now level all the way to endgame (1 time) using quests, and now you have 3 quests you can do every day once you reach it. You can also try every once and while to raid to see if it was fixed.. but don't count on it.. since the previous raids still aren't working correctly.
The numbers speak for themselves. PVPers aren't playing because they got nothing in the expansion, and pvers are seeing that there is nothing more to endgame then 3 repeatable quests and a bunch of broken raids that are half finished.
This is exactly why I can never get into AoC, not at launch and certainly not now - it feels way too much like it's doing the exact same mistakes and follows the same path as WoW does. Currently it's at the level of vanilla WoW and it'll probably take years to come to the level of WotLK. It can also be argued that this expansion is in some ways TBC-like with ridiculously exclusive and hard 6 man dungeons. I played many different MMOs, but seriously, AoC feels to me like a constantly failed WoW clone that's trying to reach its "daddy".
seems like you are a total bloody noob johnie ...
the only thing that failed is the tokken and faction grind , what is more then 50 % of the content.
what is a total fail of the complete expac , but the only thing they did very well are the dungeons , they are very nice tuned and there are some very inovative encounters that are much fun ...
and jeah a bit of skill is required ... and btw age of conan is one of the games that doesn t copies wow from start to end , thats why noobs like u fail at the first lvl 30 dungeons
AoC is turning into a WoW clone; if you haven't played from launch you won't see it of course. Also he who draws out the Newb word first is in fact a Nub.
Hmm interesting theory. And he who draws out the smart word is in fact smart?
I Know you are just a simple troll, but I haven't had my lunch yet so you will have to do. Aren't you the one who accused me of being a newb (well not with this word, but you did imply it) and in this same post you implied that cyphers is a noob?
So by your simple logic ... you are the nub? Overcooked, small meal. I need to eat something else
Yes, it always works very well to make you and your arguments sound sensible by stating that other people wear fanboi goggles. Not really.
True, you mentioned that PvE has improved, an acknowledgement that's at least more than some others will make; alas, then you continue here and in other current threads with a host of negative arguments of which most of the times only a part is relevant to the debate being held.
I mentioned in other posts some of the things I think is wrong with AoC or have been handled wrong by Funcom: it doesn't mean that I don't see and acknowledge the good aspects of the game. Not being blind for good and bad aspects but seeing both, a policy I use for everything and any MMO game, current and upcoming, even a WoW, TSW, SW:TOR, Aion or CO.
Of course I tend to see the fun and positive aspects of a game I'm still playing enthusiastically from time to time more than people who haven't played that game for a long time or who've made it their mission to discredit it or its company in all of their posts: this doesn't mean it makes me blind for the flaws in a MMO game, it just makes me give less weight to those whose post histories (almost) entirely exist of negative arguments or sophisms regarding that game, like for example AoC.
Yes, AOC has improved their PVE game. Now you can actually level all the way up by questing. When the game launched, there were levels where you literally could do nothing but grind mobs for 2-3 levels at a time. When WOW launched, you could easily level 6 characters from 1-60 without ever doing the same quest twice. AOC now has 1 quest path to level, which means your second character will do exactly the same quests as your first.... but that is actually an improvement on how it shipped.
Now lets talk to how they improved endgame pve with the expansion. Before the expansion, there was no content. you simply grinded mobs for gold, which bought very little. With the expansion, yes things have improved, now there are factions that you can grind by doing the same 3 quests every day. Yet, again, that is an improvement on the way the game was before the expansion. PVE right now is comparable to WOW back with Sithilis and Eastern Plaquelands faction grinds. Of course, that was WOW 5 years ago, and endgame PVE has been drastically improved. And with this expansion came two more tiers of raiding.. of course they are both broken and can't be completed. Even the previous tiers remain mostly broken since launch.
So since lauch, AOC has improved thier pve game. You can now level all the way to endgame (1 time) using quests, and now you have 3 quests you can do every day once you reach it. You can also try every once and while to raid to see if it was fixed.. but don't count on it.. since the previous raids still aren't working correctly.
The numbers speak for themselves. PVPers aren't playing because they got nothing in the expansion, and pvers are seeing that there is nothing more to endgame then 3 repeatable quests and a bunch of broken raids that are half finished.
This is exactly why I can never get into AoC, not at launch and certainly not now - it feels way too much like it's doing the exact same mistakes and follows the same path as WoW does. Currently it's at the level of vanilla WoW and it'll probably take years to come to the level of WotLK. It can also be argued that this expansion is in some ways TBC-like with ridiculously exclusive and hard 6 man dungeons. I played many different MMOs, but seriously, AoC feels to me like a constantly failed WoW clone that's trying to reach its "daddy".
seems like you are a total bloody noob johnie ...
the only thing that failed is the tokken and faction grind , what is more then 50 % of the content.
what is a total fail of the complete expac , but the only thing they did very well are the dungeons , they are very nice tuned and there are some very inovative encounters that are much fun ...
and jeah a bit of skill is required ... and btw age of conan is one of the games that doesn t copies wow from start to end , thats why noobs like u fail at the first lvl 30 dungeons
It's a WoW clone, a failed one. They should've advanced the Anarchy Online template, but decided that mainstream is the way to go and copied the next best thing and met with disastrous results. There are still way too many faults with the core mechanics of the game that have been present since launch.
The dungeons themselves are awesome, but coming from WoW I can't say that I am greatly impressed. Instead of focusing on 26-man content they decided to advance the 6-man encounters so they wouldn't be as embarrassing as tier 1 and 2 are. This also proves AoC can't handle MASS numbers ANYWHERE, be it pve or pvp. From 48 v 48 to minigames and from 26-man to 6-man. If they wanted people to try these new dungeons, then these noob developers first need to learn how to make proper LFG tools (sorry, but /global channel is probably the most retarded thing I've ever seen in an MMO. I mean, even F2P MMOs have better LFG tools, ffs) and requiring 2 tanks or 2 healers for 6-man dungeons is simply retarded, annoying and a needless hindrance to enjoying the game properly.
Noobs like me? Dude, try Professor Putricide 25 man heroic, Sindragosa or the Almighty Lich King heroic, now those are challenging and complex encounters that AoC will produce maybe in 10 years when Funcom learns how to copy WoW properly.
Like I said, calling this expansion some ultimate pve thingy is a joke when they actually released totally bugged tier 4 TWO bosses (rofl, 2 raid bosses, they might as well, release ZERO) while tier 3 remains a total bugfest. Sorry, that's just way too "indie" for me, something to expect from Starvault or Aventurine.
Nah, Cataclysm is the way to go. Cba to wait for Funcom to learn how to make an MMO.
AoC is turning into a WoW clone; if you haven't played from launch you won't see it of course. Also he who draws out the Newb word first is in fact a Nub.
Everyone that starts using the 'WoW clone' tag is a WoW tard: seriously, LotrO is a WoW clone, AoC is a WoW clone, WAR is a WoW clone, Aion is a WoW clone, new upcoming MMO's like SW:ToR, WAR40K and TERA are WoW clones... seriously, can people BE a bit more imaginative and use their brains more?
Let's not stretch the braincells too much: let's call most of the MMO's around and upcoming 'EQ clones' (EQ = Everquest for those too freshman to know) at first.
After that, we can start working towards realising what makes a MMORPG a MMORPG and try to see MMO's for the features they have instead of stamping the 'clone' tag on everything we read.
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."
AoC is turning into a WoW clone; if you haven't played from launch you won't see it of course. Also he who draws out the Newb word first is in fact a Nub.
Everyone that starts using the 'WoW clone' tag is a WoW tard: seriously, LotrO is a WoW clone, AoC is a WoW clone, WAR is a WoW clone, Aion is a WoW clone, new upcoming MMO's like SW:ToR, WAR40K and TERA are WoW clones... seriously, can people BE a bit more imaginative and use their brains more?
Let's not stretch the braincells too much: let's call most of the MMO's around and upcoming 'EQ clones' (EQ = Everquest for those too freshman to know) at first.
After that, we can start working towards realising what makes a MMORPG a MMORPG and try to see MMO's for the features they have instead of stamping the 'clone' tag on everything we read.
Actually when AoC launched it was going to be a dynamic PvP based game that would be a refreshing change to your typical WoW type game. Funcom failed miserably on those promises, brought in Morrison to clean up the mess, who then screwed up what PvP content there was, and turned AoC into an average PvE game.
AoC is turning into a WoW clone; if you haven't played from launch you won't see it of course. Also he who draws out the Newb word first is in fact a Nub.
Everyone that starts using the 'WoW clone' tag is a WoW tard: seriously, LotrO is a WoW clone, AoC is a WoW clone, WAR is a WoW clone, Aion is a WoW clone, new upcoming MMO's like SW:ToR, WAR40K and TERA are WoW clones... seriously, can people BE a bit more imaginative and use their brains more?
Let's not stretch the braincells too much: let's call most of the MMO's around and upcoming 'EQ clones' (EQ = Everquest for those too freshman to know) at first.
After that, we can start working towards realising what makes a MMORPG a MMORPG and try to see MMO's for the features they have instead of stamping the 'clone' tag on everything we read.
Actually when AoC launched it was going to be a dynamic PvP based game that would be a refreshing change to your typical WoW type game. Funcom failed miserably on those promises, brought in Morrison to clean up the mess, who then screwed up what PvP content there was, and turned AoC into an average PvE game.
... and turned it in one of the best pve games out there
AoC is turning into a WoW clone; if you haven't played from launch you won't see it of course. Also he who draws out the Newb word first is in fact a Nub.
Everyone that starts using the 'WoW clone' tag is a WoW tard: seriously, LotrO is a WoW clone, AoC is a WoW clone, WAR is a WoW clone, Aion is a WoW clone, new upcoming MMO's like SW:ToR, WAR40K and TERA are WoW clones... seriously, can people BE a bit more imaginative and use their brains more?
Let's not stretch the braincells too much: let's call most of the MMO's around and upcoming 'EQ clones' (EQ = Everquest for those too freshman to know) at first.
After that, we can start working towards realising what makes a MMORPG a MMORPG and try to see MMO's for the features they have instead of stamping the 'clone' tag on everything we read.
Actually when AoC launched it was going to be a dynamic PvP based game that would be a refreshing change to your typical WoW type game. Funcom failed miserably on those promises, brought in Morrison to clean up the mess, who then screwed up what PvP content there was, and turned AoC into an average PvE game.
... and turned it in one of the best pve games out there
I guess we have to agree to disagree here. You (Vepgenus) find AoC an average PvE game because you've grown to passionately dislike AoC. Others find it one of the better if not among the best PvE games around, because they're still enjoying it. The reviews further indicate that there's enough stuff to enjoy for players who still like to play AoC.
For those who don't play AoC or don't like to play AoC anymore, nothing will change their opinion much.
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."
I guess we have to agree to disagree here. You (Vepgenus) find AoC an average PvE game because you've grown to passionately dislike AoC. Others find it one of the better if not among the best PvE games around, because they're still enjoying it. The reviews further indicate that there's enough stuff to enjoy for players who still like to play AoC.
For those who don't play AoC or don't like to play AoC anymore, nothing will change their opinion much.
True, also I have been playing the game since pre-launch and stuck through it till the mess that ROTGS was released, alot of other vets feel the same way, it's the newer/returning players that are basically carrying the game now.
It is a pretty good PVE game, in spite of the expansion. But having only been back for 3 months, I'm already thinking of moving on. I *was* enjoying leveling my characters to 80 and doing some raiding. However in my travels. I hear the voices of those who stuck with the game and in my experience, they are pretty much all spinning their wheels waiting for another game to move on to. The expansion and it's grind seems to have been more of a slap in the face for these veteran players rather than a new lease of life.
After exploring Khitai, I really wish I hadn't bothered with the expansion. If it wasn't for the AA system, I'd just ask for a refund and have it removed from my account. To be fair, the major turn off is an aesthetic one and not the fault of Funcom. I just don't go for the Asian style armor and lore. That aside, there is a lot wrong with the new content beyond it's looks.
The time-sink required to get any of the gear/faction, coupled with repeating the same quests over and over and over again is just a big turn off for anyone but the hardcore grinder. The six man dungeon content is already causing a divide between those who exploited/can grind 24/7 and those who have a life since without any gear you won't get in groups and without groups you won't get the stupidly rare trophy drops to get any gear. I prefer the old world content.
It is a pretty good PVE game, in spite of the expansion. But having only been back for 3 months, I'm already thinking of moving on. I *was* enjoying leveling my characters to 80 and doing some raiding. However in my travels. I hear the voices of those who stuck with the game and in my experience, they are pretty much all spinning their wheels waiting for another game to move on to. The expansion and it's grind seems to have been more of a slap in the face for these veteran players rather than a new lease of life.
After exploring Khitai, I really wish I hadn't bothered with the expansion. If it wasn't for the AA system, I'd just ask for a refund and have it removed from my account. To be fair, the major turn off is an aesthetic one and not the fault of Funcom. I just don't go for the Asian style armor and lore. That aside, there is a lot wrong with the new content beyond it's looks.
The time-sink required to get any of the gear/faction, coupled with repeating the same quests over and over and over again is just a big turn off for anyone but the hardcore grinder. The six man dungeon content is already causing a divide between those who exploited/can grind 24/7 and those who have a life since without any gear you won't get in groups and without groups you won't get the stupidly rare trophy drops to get any gear. I prefer the old world content.
The honeymoon is already over for this expansion.
Arnuphis you bring up a great point about the expansion, it has the power to attract players but does not have the power to retain them.
I guess we have to agree to disagree here. You (Vepgenus) find AoC an average PvE game because you've grown to passionately dislike AoC. Others find it one of the better if not among the best PvE games around, because they're still enjoying it. The reviews further indicate that there's enough stuff to enjoy for players who still like to play AoC.
For those who don't play AoC or don't like to play AoC anymore, nothing will change their opinion much.
True, also I have been playing the game since pre-launch and stuck through it till the mess that ROTGS was released, alot of other vets feel the same way, it's the newer/returning players that are basically carrying the game now.
Not true at all. Vets are still carrying the game because khitai exp and bori pvp is exclusive to them (more or less). New players I am really worried about since the gap after majority finishes AA will be huge.
Kind of bizarre that FC decided to turn to vanilla/TBC model of no-life grind since AoC always catered to the older customers, those with jobs and families. Even more bizarre is the fact that Blizz dispensed with their own model (a variety of EQ) with the latest expansion. It seems the tables have literally turned - AoC is now for no-lifers. I don't know, but to me it seems AoC developers have nightmares of their players screaming "we demand content, we want something to do!" on a daily basis since launch and made RotGS just to give players something to "do" and totally forgot about FUN in the process.
You want content?! You can't handle the content ... *Sirillion grins
In about a year it's going to be a living hell for newcomers due to AA alone. If one year of grinding this and that gives you an X amount of more dps/heal/mitigation, then it becomes MANDATORY to do so, it's always like this. This is exactly why Blizz decided to cancel "Path of the Titans" progression.
I guess we have to agree to disagree here. You (Vepgenus) find AoC an average PvE game because you've grown to passionately dislike AoC. Others find it one of the better if not among the best PvE games around, because they're still enjoying it. The reviews further indicate that there's enough stuff to enjoy for players who still like to play AoC.
For those who don't play AoC or don't like to play AoC anymore, nothing will change their opinion much.
True, also I have been playing the game since pre-launch and stuck through it till the mess that ROTGS was released, alot of other vets feel the same way, it's the newer/returning players that are basically carrying the game now.
Not true at all. Vets are still carrying the game because khitai exp and bori pvp is exclusive to them (more or less). New players I am really worried about since the gap after majority finishes AA will be huge.
Funcom can just speed up the rate at which you get AAs from leveling, etc. increasing AA experience and faction gain are easy knobs to turn. Funcom already doubled the rate you gain faction from quests in a minor patch. The pve side of AoC is doing fine. The same can not be said for the pvp side.
After exploring Khitai, I really wish I hadn't bothered with the expansion. If it wasn't for the AA system, I'd just ask for a refund and have it removed from my account.
Just as an FYI, just in case you somehow actually thought that was possible, it is not. Once the expansion is added to the account, it's there permanently. So even if you were to be granted a refund ( which you wouldn't be ), you would lose access to the entire account.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.- -And on the 8th day, man created God.-
I love(d) AOC. It has just gotten so stale. The point of an expansion is to re-energize and get people excited about playing again.
God Slayer had the complete opposite effect. It drove people away and made them realise just how lame MMO's are becomming.
It didn't take people long to realise that to obtain anything would be an unhealthy amount of Real Life Time. What it did was really point this out to EVERYONE.
And unfortunately it gave you nothing naturally. You did not grow and experience and acheive things naturally over time while enjoying the content.
It basically said" Here is a massive wall in your face, lets see you bitches complain about nothing to do now. This shit will taken even the hardest hardcore Korean 6 months to finish".
I think most people were like me, saw it, thought about it, were completely dis heartened by it and cancelled, moved on, or just log in to set timers.
Since launch, nothing "Fun" has been added. Its just not FUN! Mix that with the droves of people leaving, Guilds disbanding and empty friends lists and logging is occurs less and less until you just say meh. I still log in 3 times a week. But there is nothing to do...I just sit there until it auto logs me out.
In regards to reviews, No one actually sits down and play ANYTHING anymore. They "Check it out". Back in my day (Lol going old school) I remember the EGM's of the world wouldn;t even post a review until a game was completely finished by said reviwer. Sometimes you wouldn't get a review for two or three months after a game came out.
Now everything is reviewd before the game even goes on sale. lol.
Comments
Hmm interesting theory. And he who draws out the smart word is in fact smart?
I Know you are just a simple troll, but I haven't had my lunch yet so you will have to do. Aren't you the one who accused me of being a newb (well not with this word, but you did imply it) and in this same post you implied that cyphers is a noob?
So by your simple logic ... you are the nub? Overcooked, small meal. I need to eat something else
It's a WoW clone, a failed one. They should've advanced the Anarchy Online template, but decided that mainstream is the way to go and copied the next best thing and met with disastrous results. There are still way too many faults with the core mechanics of the game that have been present since launch.
The dungeons themselves are awesome, but coming from WoW I can't say that I am greatly impressed. Instead of focusing on 26-man content they decided to advance the 6-man encounters so they wouldn't be as embarrassing as tier 1 and 2 are. This also proves AoC can't handle MASS numbers ANYWHERE, be it pve or pvp. From 48 v 48 to minigames and from 26-man to 6-man. If they wanted people to try these new dungeons, then these noob developers first need to learn how to make proper LFG tools (sorry, but /global channel is probably the most retarded thing I've ever seen in an MMO. I mean, even F2P MMOs have better LFG tools, ffs) and requiring 2 tanks or 2 healers for 6-man dungeons is simply retarded, annoying and a needless hindrance to enjoying the game properly.
Noobs like me? Dude, try Professor Putricide 25 man heroic, Sindragosa or the Almighty Lich King heroic, now those are challenging and complex encounters that AoC will produce maybe in 10 years when Funcom learns how to copy WoW properly.
Like I said, calling this expansion some ultimate pve thingy is a joke when they actually released totally bugged tier 4 TWO bosses (rofl, 2 raid bosses, they might as well, release ZERO) while tier 3 remains a total bugfest. Sorry, that's just way too "indie" for me, something to expect from Starvault or Aventurine.
Nah, Cataclysm is the way to go. Cba to wait for Funcom to learn how to make an MMO.
Everyone that starts using the 'WoW clone' tag is a WoW tard: seriously, LotrO is a WoW clone, AoC is a WoW clone, WAR is a WoW clone, Aion is a WoW clone, new upcoming MMO's like SW:ToR, WAR40K and TERA are WoW clones... seriously, can people BE a bit more imaginative and use their brains more?
Let's not stretch the braincells too much: let's call most of the MMO's around and upcoming 'EQ clones' (EQ = Everquest for those too freshman to know) at first.
After that, we can start working towards realising what makes a MMORPG a MMORPG and try to see MMO's for the features they have instead of stamping the 'clone' tag on everything we read.
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."
Actually when AoC launched it was going to be a dynamic PvP based game that would be a refreshing change to your typical WoW type game. Funcom failed miserably on those promises, brought in Morrison to clean up the mess, who then screwed up what PvP content there was, and turned AoC into an average PvE game.
... and turned it in one of the best pve games out there
-ponders- Hmmmmmmm I see what you did thar!
I guess we have to agree to disagree here. You (Vepgenus) find AoC an average PvE game because you've grown to passionately dislike AoC. Others find it one of the better if not among the best PvE games around, because they're still enjoying it. The reviews further indicate that there's enough stuff to enjoy for players who still like to play AoC.
For those who don't play AoC or don't like to play AoC anymore, nothing will change their opinion much.
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."
True, also I have been playing the game since pre-launch and stuck through it till the mess that ROTGS was released, alot of other vets feel the same way, it's the newer/returning players that are basically carrying the game now.
It is a pretty good PVE game, in spite of the expansion. But having only been back for 3 months, I'm already thinking of moving on. I *was* enjoying leveling my characters to 80 and doing some raiding. However in my travels. I hear the voices of those who stuck with the game and in my experience, they are pretty much all spinning their wheels waiting for another game to move on to. The expansion and it's grind seems to have been more of a slap in the face for these veteran players rather than a new lease of life.
After exploring Khitai, I really wish I hadn't bothered with the expansion. If it wasn't for the AA system, I'd just ask for a refund and have it removed from my account. To be fair, the major turn off is an aesthetic one and not the fault of Funcom. I just don't go for the Asian style armor and lore. That aside, there is a lot wrong with the new content beyond it's looks.
The time-sink required to get any of the gear/faction, coupled with repeating the same quests over and over and over again is just a big turn off for anyone but the hardcore grinder. The six man dungeon content is already causing a divide between those who exploited/can grind 24/7 and those who have a life since without any gear you won't get in groups and without groups you won't get the stupidly rare trophy drops to get any gear. I prefer the old world content.
The honeymoon is already over for this expansion.
Arnuphis you bring up a great point about the expansion, it has the power to attract players but does not have the power to retain them.
Not true at all. Vets are still carrying the game because khitai exp and bori pvp is exclusive to them (more or less). New players I am really worried about since the gap after majority finishes AA will be huge.
Kind of bizarre that FC decided to turn to vanilla/TBC model of no-life grind since AoC always catered to the older customers, those with jobs and families. Even more bizarre is the fact that Blizz dispensed with their own model (a variety of EQ) with the latest expansion. It seems the tables have literally turned - AoC is now for no-lifers. I don't know, but to me it seems AoC developers have nightmares of their players screaming "we demand content, we want something to do!" on a daily basis since launch and made RotGS just to give players something to "do" and totally forgot about FUN in the process.
You want content?! You can't handle the content ... *Sirillion grins
In about a year it's going to be a living hell for newcomers due to AA alone. If one year of grinding this and that gives you an X amount of more dps/heal/mitigation, then it becomes MANDATORY to do so, it's always like this. This is exactly why Blizz decided to cancel "Path of the Titans" progression.
Funcom can just speed up the rate at which you get AAs from leveling, etc. increasing AA experience and faction gain are easy knobs to turn. Funcom already doubled the rate you gain faction from quests in a minor patch. The pve side of AoC is doing fine. The same can not be said for the pvp side.
Just as an FYI, just in case you somehow actually thought that was possible, it is not. Once the expansion is added to the account, it's there permanently. So even if you were to be granted a refund ( which you wouldn't be ), you would lose access to the entire account.
-Letting Derek Smart work on your game is like letting Osama bin Laden work in the White House. Something will burn.-
-And on the 8th day, man created God.-
I love(d) AOC. It has just gotten so stale. The point of an expansion is to re-energize and get people excited about playing again.
God Slayer had the complete opposite effect. It drove people away and made them realise just how lame MMO's are becomming.
It didn't take people long to realise that to obtain anything would be an unhealthy amount of Real Life Time. What it did was really point this out to EVERYONE.
And unfortunately it gave you nothing naturally. You did not grow and experience and acheive things naturally over time while enjoying the content.
It basically said" Here is a massive wall in your face, lets see you bitches complain about nothing to do now. This shit will taken even the hardest hardcore Korean 6 months to finish".
I think most people were like me, saw it, thought about it, were completely dis heartened by it and cancelled, moved on, or just log in to set timers.
Since launch, nothing "Fun" has been added. Its just not FUN! Mix that with the droves of people leaving, Guilds disbanding and empty friends lists and logging is occurs less and less until you just say meh. I still log in 3 times a week. But there is nothing to do...I just sit there until it auto logs me out.
In regards to reviews, No one actually sits down and play ANYTHING anymore. They "Check it out". Back in my day (Lol going old school) I remember the EGM's of the world wouldn;t even post a review until a game was completely finished by said reviwer. Sometimes you wouldn't get a review for two or three months after a game came out.
Now everything is reviewd before the game even goes on sale. lol.