Asheron's Call: Headed to Maintenance Mode, Player-Run Servers Possible

SBFord

Turbine has announced that Asheron's Call will go into what is being called "maintenance mode" after the deployment of the February content patch. Producer Severlin took to the forums to make the announcement that the team will be working on bug fixes, possible balance issues and support for the game, but no longer will supply content on a regular basis.

In addition, Severlin announced that both Asheron's Call and Asheron's Call 2 will be going free to play in the coming months and, most intriguingly, he said that Turbine is exploring the possibility of player-run servers to host the games.

In addition, we have been working within the company to start an initiative sometime near the end of the year to allow players to run their own Asheron’s Call servers. We intend to put the call out to tech savvy enthusiasts that love Asheron’s Call to create a community for players who want to run their own Asheron’s Call servers.



Unfortunately, setting up and running an AC server is not a user friendly experience. Enthusiasts would need some knowledge of running an SQL server, setting up the network, using our tools to configure the SQL server, installing the Asheron’s Call server with our complicated tools, and distributing the client. Our intent is to help these players build a community so these processes can be created and distributed to people interested in running an Asheron’s Call game. If that works out we can look into releasing tools and data files that would allow players to modify game data and create alternate content for their own Asheron’s Call games.

The good news is that there are no plans to shut down either Asheron's Call or Asheron's Call 2.

You can read Severlin's post on the Asheron's Call forum.

zimike

Reboot Asheron's Call !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The world NEEDS this MMO to be made!

Pig-Eye

AC DT back in the day was amazing!

 

/shout out to all my fellow Bloodtide!

flizzer

This sounds good and bad at the same time, if that makes sense.

Havik83

I like how they are giving the opportunity for players to run a server. Must have learned from SoE with the out pouring of people wanting to run a Vanguard server. That's a great way not to piss off loyal customer because gives people hope of still playing a game they invested into and most importantly love.

Kossuth

My first MMO all those years ago and still holds a special place in my heart. Came back for a few days a couple of years back but afraid the graphics were so dated I couldn't face trying to relearn the game despite its incredible open world environment.

MrBum21

I would love an upgrade to this game, or fan run servers.  Maybe with a bit less craziness on the magic, like the 3 hours it took to buff completely

azzamasin

Originally posted by flizzer
This sounds good and bad at the same time, if that makes sense.

Ohh it does make sense.

 

F2P sounds awesome, but after 14 years of monthly content updates stopping is going to suck.  Sigh, the game that should of been the hallmark of the genre if only Microsoft actually spent some money on advertising.  But then again you gonna advertise Thoston Cragstone and Asheron Realaidain (2 old white dudes over a scantily clad Fiona Vie in EQ?  AC never had a chance in the PR department.  Such a shame because the game was infinitely more fun then EQ.

azzamasin

Originally posted by korr
I would love an upgrade to this game, or fan run servers.  Maybe with a bit less craziness on the magic, like the 3 hours it took to buff completely

They changed the buffing system about 6 years ago.  Buffs last up to 3.5 hours (level 8's with Augmentations) and persist through death (with another augmentation)  Plus they condensed all the item buffs down to auras that cover anything you equip.  What used to take a solid 15 minutes to buff now takes less then 2 minutes plus they last a lot longer.

MrBum21

Originally posted by azzamasin

Originally posted by korr
I would love an upgrade to this game, or fan run servers.  Maybe with a bit less craziness on the magic, like the 3 hours it took to buff completely

They changed the buffing system about 6 years ago.  Buffs last up to 3.5 hours (level 8's with Augmentations) and persist through death (with another augmentation)  Plus they condensed all the item buffs down to auras that cover anything you equip.  What used to take a solid 15 minutes to buff now takes less then 2 minutes plus they last a lot longer.

wow, that's a huge difference, guess that shows how long it has been since I played the game.

azzamasin

Originally posted by Kossuth
My first MMO all those years ago and still holds a special place in my heart. Came back for a few days a couple of years back but afraid the graphics were so dated I couldn't face trying to relearn the game despite its incredible open world environment.

Said the same thing when I quit WoW right after Cataclysm and almost didn't give it, it's fair due but stuck with it and after a few days I forgot about how shitty the graphics were.  What made me quit was the lack of players to participate in high end quests. 

JJ82

My first MMO love, this is a sad day but was long coming.

atr0cityx

Very good game, Morningthaw and Darktide 4eva!

azzamasin

Originally posted by korr

Originally posted by azzamasin

Originally posted by korr
I would love an upgrade to this game, or fan run servers.  Maybe with a bit less craziness on the magic, like the 3 hours it took to buff completely

They changed the buffing system about 6 years ago.  Buffs last up to 3.5 hours (level 8's with Augmentations) and persist through death (with another augmentation)  Plus they condensed all the item buffs down to auras that cover anything you equip.  What used to take a solid 15 minutes to buff now takes less then 2 minutes plus they last a lot longer.

wow, that's a huge difference, guess that shows how long it has been since I played the game.

the only downside is you'll never be able to self cast level 8's if you started with a 10 Focus/Self template.  Still Level 7's will last 2 hours 45 minutes.

azzamasin

Originally posted by zimike
Reboot Asheron's Call !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The world NEEDS this MMO to be made!

If I was a Bagillionaire I'd definitely do it LOL.

azzamasin

Imagine a Decal-Less Private server.  Ohh would I freaking drop everything and move there right away!

bjwimer

This is because all the games are getting cracked private servers already... just hoping to still cash in.  Not a complaint since I would happily pay to host my own legit server,  just saying good move.

Jyiiga

Originally posted by bjwimer
This is because all the games are getting cracked private servers already... just hoping to still cash in.  Not a complaint since I would happily pay to host my own legit server,  just saying good move.

I've never seen a functional AC private server.

I would be happy to run one if they have decent instructions though.

Jyiiga

On another note... This shows some real quality. EA, SOE and everyone else... They just let their games die. Kick their playerbase to the curb and never release anything for us to run our own servers.

 

Bravo Turbine

Xiaoki

---

Originally posted by zimike
Reboot Asheron's Call !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The world NEEDS this MMO to be made!

---

Dont think you want that.

The Turbine that made Asheron's Call is dead and gone.

Mithrandolir

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Originally posted by bjwimer
This is because all the games are getting cracked private servers already... just hoping to still cash in.  Not a complaint since I would happily pay to host my own legit server,  just saying good move.

I've never seen a functional AC private server.

I would be happy to run one if they have decent instructions though.

If you are the same Jyiiga from back in the VN days... and it seems that you are, I'd play on your server in a heartbeat so let me know if it ever happens! 

Mithrandolir

Originally posted by Xiaoki

 

---

Originally posted by zimike
Reboot Asheron's Call !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The world NEEDS this MMO to be made!

---

Dont think you want that.

 

The Turbine that made Asheron's Call is dead and gone.

Remember the Sean Huxter days???

This game was the greatest.

 

Jyiiga

Originally posted by Mithrandolir

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Originally posted by bjwimer
This is because all the games are getting cracked private servers already... just hoping to still cash in.  Not a complaint since I would happily pay to host my own legit server,  just saying good move.

I've never seen a functional AC private server.

I would be happy to run one if they have decent instructions though.

If you are the same Jyiiga from back in the VN days... and it seems that you are, I'd play on your server in a heartbeat so let me know if it ever happens! 

That would be me.

Hi you

Mithrandolir

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Originally posted by Mithrandolir

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Originally posted by bjwimer
This is because all the games are getting cracked private servers already... just hoping to still cash in.  Not a complaint since I would happily pay to host my own legit server,  just saying good move.

I've never seen a functional AC private server.

I would be happy to run one if they have decent instructions though.

If you are the same Jyiiga from back in the VN days... and it seems that you are, I'd play on your server in a heartbeat so let me know if it ever happens! 

That would be me.

Hi you

Heya!

Had me second guessing without the Harley avatar! 

<--- was Ghilin_MacAlister back in the VN days. 

 

Edit - I should say.. without THAT Harley avatar... I know this is Harley too, just so used to the one you had on VN

 

 

Jyiiga

Originally posted by Mithrandolir

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Originally posted by Mithrandolir

Originally posted by Jyiiga

Originally posted by bjwimer
This is because all the games are getting cracked private servers already... just hoping to still cash in.  Not a complaint since I would happily pay to host my own legit server,  just saying good move.

I've never seen a functional AC private server.

I would be happy to run one if they have decent instructions though.

If you are the same Jyiiga from back in the VN days... and it seems that you are, I'd play on your server in a heartbeat so let me know if it ever happens! 

That would be me.

Hi you

Heya!

Had me second guessing without the Harley avatar! 

<--- was Ghilin_MacAlister back in the VN days. 

 

Edit - I should say.. without THAT Harley avatar... I know this is Harley too, just so used to the one you had on VN

 

 

 

The ACFriends board lives on. I lurk and post a little on there still.

Alalala

Just to be clear, the official announcement appears to say that AC will be free to those with an active account at the point where it is converted.