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If Vanguard is so bad, what should I be playing?
gavin2050
Member Posts: 25
First, let’s set some parameters, these are the things I would enjoy in a game, and would like to find as much of as possible in any game I try.
Decent 3d graphics. It doesn’t have shock me with how fantastic it is, but I’d like to see variety in players appearances, and interesting settings and creatures.
Housing. SWG / Morrowind style, and non instanced. I want to be able to develop a housing community with other players, not just walk into a door and be in an apartment in my own little copy of the same apartment as everyone else. I also want to be able to display gear and trophies from my adventures.
Complex crafting. Something akin to the crafting in SWG, Horizons, or Ryzom. Crafting in games like Wow is way too simplified and linear to keep my attention.
PvP. Doesn’t have to be the main focus of the game, but player vs. player conflict, when driven by the storyline of the game instead of ego and greed I find quite enjoyable.
Character diversity. Preferably a class-less system, if not as many class / race combinations as possible. Having the same 6-9 classes running around in the same armor with different hairstyles gets old for me real fast.
Large world, the bigger and more diverse the better. I live in a pathetically dull state, and don’t get the opportunity to travel a lot, so paying 15$ a month to travel and see new things even in a virtual world is something I enjoy.
Multiple starting areas and advancement paths. I’m an alt-aholic and like to play around with multiple characters, having different places to advance them again keeps things from getting stale.
Weather and season effects. It adds to the immersion and helps keep things fresh, not something major, but Ryzom had it and it I found watching the changes enjoyable.
Mounts / Vehicles & Pets. The more diverse the better, again just adds to the amount of things that can be done for entertainment.
Now, with that said, I feel that myself and many others who are so-called Van-bois are looking for a game with things like this. Even Vanguard dosen’t totally fit the bill, I realize that. But after the extensive game wandering I’ve done it’s the closest thing I can find to what I am looking for in a game.
Please feel free to show me another game that I’ll enjoy more.
Comments
I played VG, and ended up quitting but not because I think its a bad game. It just was not the game for me. My gaming schedule is very erratic and I frequently only play for small blocks of time in a sitting, it just was not working out too well with VG.
I really didnt find it a bad game though...if I had more free time for gaming I would very likely still be there.
I have tried quite a few games since then and have settled with another until there are new games to try...but for what you want...I dont know where else you will find something as close to those parameters.
Everything you said is in Vanguard -seems intentional. I don't think you will find EVERYTHING you are looking for elsewhere. So I guess Vanguard is your only option granted you can put up with it.
Gannon, it was intentional, but also truthful. My point is, Vanguard is a unique game, one that I and many others do enjoy, even after taking into consideration it's problems.
Some people like pickle and peanut butter sandwitches too
, I don't but I don't spend my day slandering it over any venu I can find.
Flame on Troll, you still didn't answer my question?
The problem is that you pretty much know what you are getting into with that sandwich, and it doesn't cost you $50, but nice try. There is a difference between slander and critisism. This game has problems, everyone including the devs knows that. But beyond the bugs there are other issues involved.
You might find some of your requirements fulfilled, but the enjoyment is at your own opinion.
Yes a large world is nice, but when it doesn't provide the meaningful content to fill it and it's only justification is more travel time, it's kinda bad. And with the multiple starting places, this is a double edged sword. Vanguard does have a ton of different starting areas, but this displaces the lowbie pop so it's difficult to group (in a group-centric game) and the balance of quality content is very far off. The PvP in this game is nothing worth noting. Yes the graphics are alright, but the textures are bland with an unstylish world that has pretty poor performance and horrible lighting. And it seems your class system may be met, but there isn't any real difference at all between the races just cosmetic (and even with all of the "option" having only 4 hair-styles per race makes it a moot point). You may consider this slander, I consider this honest critisism that most could probably agree are actual problems with the game.
Games like EQ1/2, DAoC, WoW, AO and SWG all have areas where you can find people and ways to meet people. Vanguard is a HUGE empty world where everyone wanders around aimlessly. I'm a very social person in mmorpgs, I'm always making friends... However in Vanguard I didnt meet one person level 1-10 that stayed around. They do the same wandering everyone does and you never have the feel of a "home" and if you do goodluck traveling 100 hours if you want to visit it.
I started to rant, Im sorry. But truely, I can't stand Vanguard.
I've tryed every new/old mmorpg, my favorite of the somewhat new ones would be EQII.
I myself rotate between DAoC, Anarchy Online, and SWG and EQII. Because despite their age, they are the best.
-Selek
EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests
Flame on Troll, you still didn't answer my question?
Your answer is to go play Vanguard. Have a blast and enjoy the game.
Just don't be surprised with SOE hits you with the NGE stick.
Everything but the kitchen sink isn't necessarily a smart design decision, especially if all of the features offered are actually not very good due to lack of development time, poor coding, rash design decisions, etc.
I think most players would be willing to wait on arguably extraneous things like housing and mounts/ vehicles, weather effects, large explorable world, etc. in order to give developers time to iron out more important issues like performance, combat systems, bugs, poor design in the development and testing phases. All of those things you mentioned in your OP can, and usually are at some point, offered as free content updates for most MMORPGs out there.
I played SWG up until NGE, that killed it for me. If Sony would put up pre-NGE servers I would consider trying it again, but what hapened to the classes in NGE and making Jedi a common starting character was just too much. I still am verry resentful of SOE for what they did to SWG and almost didn't try Vanguard because of it. But yes, I really enjoyed SWG back in the "glory days".Not sure exactly what your tastes are, but here's my plan
EvE Online until STO comes out.
p.s disliked Vanguard also, quit before the first month
Moonlightmist
First, he didn't say the GRAPHICS are on par with EQ1 he said the ANIMATIONS and I agree completely.
Second, telling people to "go play *insert game name*" gives vanguard fans a bad name.
*equips flame retardant leotard*
Flame away!
If EvE does what the Dev's promise with avitars it has the potential to grab my attention. Ryzom was fun when outposts were introduced, but has settled down to a cold war. I do keep tabs on both games, and am interested to see where they go in the future.
I'm also verry interested in seeing what happens with Stargate and Warhammer 40k.
But for right now, for what I seek in a game Vanguard is getting my money, becuse it's the closest thing to what I want in a game. That's been my point the whole time.
This forum is so choked with flamers that it's basicly non-functional. With the exception of them spewing the same garbage over and over. Vanguard was released early, takes a decent system to play, and has bugs, we get it. It's time for the bitter flamers to let go.
All the features you mentioned are what 99% of players are after. Vanguard does have these and thats what pulled me to the game and made me into a 'vanboi'. Then I actually played it and the performance issues (i have a 8800GTS and 2GB RAM) and the bugs that never get fixed and seeing my desktop every half hour destroyed it for me. If, and I say IF; TCOS, AoC, WAR, Aion all suck (unlikely) I will take a look at how Vanguard is coming along but for now Vanguard has blown its chance at getting my credit card numbers, I'm sure a lot of other exvanbois understand me.
SWG ruined your personality, but there is still hope for a normal life. Eat right and get some excercise, you will feel much better. Also, cut out the weed, or at least cut it in half. The conspiracy theories will dissipate accordingly.
Some people, as crazy as it sounds, love Vanguard for what it is despite it's problems. Open up your closed mind and try and accept it.
SWG ruined your personality, but there is still hope for a normal life. Eat right and get some excercise, you will feel much better. Also, cut out the weed, or at least cut it in half. The conspiracy theories will dissipate accordingly.
Some people, as crazy as it sounds, love Vanguard for what it is despite it's problems. Open up your closed mind and try and accept it.
Thanks for the psychoanalysis...now I don't have to pay a shrink this month!Anyway, have fun in Vanguard. When SOE ruins it you'll have an idea of why I am so angry.
SWG ruined your personality, but there is still hope for a normal life. Eat right and get some excercise, you will feel much better. Also, cut out the weed, or at least cut it in half. The conspiracy theories will dissipate accordingly.
Some people, as crazy as it sounds, love Vanguard for what it is despite it's problems. Open up your closed mind and try and accept it.
Thanks for the psychoanalysis...now I don't have to pay a shrink this month!Anyway, have fun in Vanguard. When SOE ruins it you'll have an idea of why I am so angry.
You know i used to feel bad for all you SWG players over the NGE but after reading your posts plastered all over the these forums. Well now i laugh about it all day long as a play vanguard and guess what if they change it to the point i no longer like it all cancel my account and go else where and never look back its that simple .
There is a game in development that does all of what you want and more but i won't even bother with stating it here cause it is obvious all you wanted to do was try and prove your just a honking huge Vanboi.
SWG ruined your personality, but there is still hope for a normal life. Eat right and get some excercise, you will feel much better. Also, cut out the weed, or at least cut it in half. The conspiracy theories will dissipate accordingly.
Some people, as crazy as it sounds, love Vanguard for what it is despite it's problems. Open up your closed mind and try and accept it.
Thanks for the psychoanalysis...now I don't have to pay a shrink this month!Anyway, have fun in Vanguard. When SOE ruins it you'll have an idea of why I am so angry. I'm a SWG refuge just the same, but you know what as of now SOE doesn't have the power to pull a NGE in Vanguard. Soe always had that power in SWG thats why it happened not once but twice. I nearly didn't give Vanguard a chance because of SOE ties but honestly the only company that could have backed them after Microsoft and Sigil had a falling out would have been SOE or NCsoft for it to stand a chance. Think about it, would you want EA doing the publishing or maybe get the people behind EVE to do it since they are so credible, the fact is you have to go with a publisher that can at least get the product out like it or not.
Am I still bitter about SOE destroying years of my work toward Jedi, destroying my guild in one fell swoop and ripping every bit of fun out of SWG? of course I am but as of now SOE doesn't decide what happens to the actual game. Every game company has a black eye on their resume, bad launch just look at what happened with Anarchy online, shut down a game after releasing an expansion recently guess that goes to Asherons Call 2, destroying the core design and creative direction of a game Ultima Online and the companies associated with them.
Fact is you are NEVER safefrom having a NGE or something similer implemented in the game you love no matter what company you back. Even NCsoft which I find to be top notch lets botters and gold sellers run Lineage II. My point if you want to boycott SOE in every capacity feel free, if you want to tell everyone the story of what happened go for it, but to blindly hate a game that you haven't played recently if at all in every thread started in Vanguard forums is immature and quite frankly annoying. You aren't fighting a holy crusade to save people from themselves because those that are considering playing or are playing are pretty up on the situation when it comes to Vanguard at this point. the info on the games pros and cons are everywhere.
Actually if you haters went back now and tried playing you would find much of what you champion as all these huge core issues are being fixed and in many cases have been fixed. Example? the animations are getting much better with each patch, now the enemies respond to how they are hit and many of the fighting animations have been redone completely. Don't believe me? I don't care. The hitching for me is getting to the point its almost non existent, granted I run a pretty good machine but the game is getting there. Crashes? I haven't had a single crash in three weeks, yup 3 weeks of playing no crashes. Lastly lack of meaningful content, tell me what game has content that is so much deeper than Vanguard, I say this because I've played damn near every major MMO released in the last 8 years and I can't think of any of them that did anything particularly different.
I know the haters all champion one game or another so lemme give it a shot Lotro NOTHING different, wow style missions par for course, WAR looks to be in the vein of Daoc to me and that would make since due to who's developing it again nothing different til you get to RvR pvp and even that has been done before repeatedly. AoC looks to have a cool fighting system but other than that it looks like more of the same and the fact its being made with consoles in mind as well, to me equals difficulty evolving since the system requirements have to be set by the consoles involved. Honesetly if I am looking forward to anything new its Tabula Rasa as it seems to be promising some new stuff and has Lord British on the project which rocks but its to early to tell.
I hate SOE but am not going to let it keep me from enjoying a game I like. As others have said if the day comes Sigil sells it to SOE and they pull a NGE I'll cancel and move on to another game because thats all these are, games. I will always miss SWG, it was more than a game to me but quite frankly I don't see anything current or future doing what it did for me, so I enjoy the games while they last and move on when the fun stops.