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Just got AC2 to see what it's like...
Xreeon
Member UncommonPosts: 40
I'm trying the game out for a month. Not much time to game right now but I want to have something to compare with WoW...besides my experience in EQ and DAOC.
So far I'm a bit apprehensive, as the signup required Microsoft Passport - something I dislike and I had an error on game launch (that I took a risk and bypassed) about not finding a news server. Nowhere on the help site could I find anything about that topic.... Right now I'm waiting for a huge update to load...it's at 25%. One suggestion is that right off the bat the servers should detect a CD install and send one HUGE update down instead of the many many many little updates I had to approve thru my firewall before the game would even get to a sign-on/server selection screen. And now, I'm doing another (albeit HUGE as I just asked for, just not after all the small updates) update....
I do like what I read in the manual -- it sounds like there is potential...we shall see!
I'll be back to this post to update on my experiences.
Comments
Yawn! I'm connected with cable it's at 40% now...what a big update!
While I'm waiting some info from the manual:
* A bunch of stuff for AC players I think about this being a new world after a great devastation....
* Looks like I get a choice of three races: Lugian (melee race), Human ("versatile and nimble"), and Tumerok(green peace race). I'm always a sucker for a druid like profession so that looks like it for me...we shall see.
* Sounds like there are bind stones like in every MMORPG....and that I'm going to start in a training hall and my teacher will be a rock too. Hi, I'm a musician - I learned everything I know about playing rock...from a rock...(bad riff here)
* Inteface is outlined in manual next -- looks straight forward. I see how to move and attack. Hack and Slash covered. Some camera info next.
* Speaking of hack and slash the chat window and "Slash" commands are next. /Hi! /Dance no doubt.
* Crafting section looks very interesting...and "gamble your gold" sounds like fun! We shall see..
* Looks like it's a skill system -- that sounds cool...we shall see if everyone follows a set of templates or if there are different skills...maybe that's one drawback to skill based systems that are not like Diablo II (where they are a set of progressive skills for each class.) Everyone will still pick the 'best' power gamer combo's of skills.....
* Woo hoo at 57% now!
* Social System is last part of the manual: Looks like the Amway/MaryKay system -- thats good and bad. I can have one person that signs me up -- then I can have up to 12 sales people getting exp underneath me! This is a great idea -- I'm thinking the draw is that if you like the game and want mongo exp -- you sign up people underneath me. Drawback: Most people get screwed on the bottom doing all the hard work while those that got in early reap all the benefits. I wonder: will there be some balance to this effect? Will the system be reset every once in awhile? This would be better if the benefits would flow both ways...maybe it does now?
* fellowships looks the same as grouping.
* kingdoms: "there are three":
- The Shadow Kingdom
- The Dominion
- The Order of Dereth.
(choice 4 the default 'neutral' kingdom which I hereby call the Swiss!)
Last page in manual is about getting help....going now to see what percent I'm at:
70%! More later....
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
EQ, DAoC, and WoW are all different generations of MMORPGs.
M59, The Realm, UO, Astonia3, RS are of the same generation game engines, technology, and can be compared.
EQ, AC, El Kardian, and others.....are of the same generation, and technology. Though EQ did update its game engine and max it out enough that it could compare and compeate with DAoC and its generation.
DAoC is of the same generation and technology as AO, EnB, EvE, and others. But DAoC seems to be the only one that is Dungeons & Dragons Themed/Tolkien-themed.
WoW uses a game engine of a newer generation with far newer technology than DAoC, and EQ. WoW would be better compared to EQ2, Lin2, HZ, and others....yeah even AC2 which is a flop though.... which are of the same generation.
WoW on just one of its servers will very, very, likely have more players than AC2 on ALL its servers combined.
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MMORPG games I've played:
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http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor
Star Wars Galaxies:
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http://community.webshots.com/user/capt_xplororor
More games:
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http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor_archives01
Wow, someone actually reads the manuals.
I'm just going to ignore xploblahblah and say have fun in AC2.
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MMORPG's are like graphical IRC clients where you can kill stuff!
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MMORPG's are like graphical IRC clients where you can kill stuff!
Manual? Whats a manual?
Who needs a manual when you can pay an extra $20.oo for a hints n tips guide.
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MMORPG games I've played:
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http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor
Star Wars Galaxies:
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http://community.webshots.com/user/capt_xplororor
More games:
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http://community.webshots.com/user/xplororor_archives01
Yep. You won't need manual once you'll start using general chat . Ppl are always willing to help with an advice and first hand information are always better than manual
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
OK...spent a few hours in the game played a human spell caster to level 9.
Things I like:
- That there are treasure chests¡K.I like¡Kopened one and that was new....
- That the spell system requires I cast a spell that causes creatures to be very sensitive to a typical form of attack...for example a flame spell. That is fun.
- That the training and quest system got me moving around the world quick.
- Drink a potion - get a quest - now that was a surprise.
- Conversion of items into gold.
Things I didn't like:
- The 'story' (right after the intro quest) really dropped off in quality (beyond introducing me to the area)..
- Tons and tons of stuff (items) my character couldn't use (beyond converting to gold or using for crafting...which I didn't get to yet.)
- The huge town seemed hard to traverse--so I just stayed out of town.
- I felt very alone in this world...People were kinda quiet...kinda distant...doing their own thing...I think one person gave me a hello...not at all like the early days of EQ or DAoC where people found me...invited me to groups etc.... (Unless I played a real solo class...)
- This crafting...maybe...maybe items should just have a craft button right on em...or if you get a group of items they all light up and somehow say to the player "CRAFT ME!" in an intuitive way....
I'm still badk to the 'story' it started to suck me in and then disappeared. Ever play DeusEx? Diablo? Baldurs Gate? I think a good game gets you into a story and it multiplies the fun. Actually I hated the gaming of Baldurs gate...but I played it to find out what happened! AC2 has a story and then I'm just killing some things in a mine.....I didn't get drawn into wondering what's up with the druids of Karanas.....why is there a psycho faction? Do the have the Oaken Scimitar? etc etc.... I also didn't get drawn into any guild or warfare like in DAoC.....again...just feel alone in AC2....
I'll give it some more time...to see if there is some more fun or a story or group of people that get me into the game....
- The story is given in different way. With each monthly patch the story continues and evolves. This is accompanied with new story-related quests, items and NPC. And also the look of some areas changes with patches according to story.
- There are many different classes so it's natural that you can't use class-specific items. And of course there's lvl restriction on all items.
- Don't understand really. Travel is easy and fast with portals. And you can always use mounts to travel faster.
-Main conversation goes on in general chat, allegiance chat and even kingdom chat. But most ppl are also willing to help or chat also in normal chat. You just need to find special points where ppl group.
- They will introduce new crafting system next month.
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
AC2 isn't for me. I could rant about many things now but maybe it's for someone else so I wont say more.
Of the MMORPG games I have played I would rank them in this order:
Best: DAOC
Next Best: EQ
Has a few innovations but many drawbacks : Shadowbane.
Last for me but maybe ok for someone else: AC2.
AC2 Rocks!
Too bad I sold my account for $300
I almost wished I had it back so I could go kill some more noobs :P
I have a lot of experienceplaying MMORPG's, including Everquest, Daoc, Horizons, SW: Galaxies and of course AC I.
My first impression of this game isn't very positive.
The main point of negative criticism is the thin population of the servers, giving the world a very static and empty atmosphere, especially with so few NPC's in the game. In that aspect I really preferred the buzzing life of AC I.
I do like the animated quest scenes, but they are about the only really good aspect I've discovered so far.
All in all, it's just one of the many mediocre games in the genre.
AC (retired); EQ (retired); DAoC (retired); Horizons (retired); EQII (retired); CoH (retired); AC II (tested); Lineage II (beta); Neocron (tested); Saga of Ryzom (beta); SWG (retired)...
I suggest that you try it some more before making judgments. It's true that cities are empty but that's hardly an aspect by which you can judge entire game. Do some quests, level up a bit and you'll find places where ppl hang out.
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
So the multi-player aspect isn't something by which you can judge a MMORPG? I beg to differ, especially with so few NPC's supporting the extremely modest player population.
The game has its strong points, but all in all it just doesn't do much for me. In my experience it doesn't rise above a mediocre quality level.
I fear the general quality of the individual games might suffer under this genre trend. Although I suppose there is a slight chance that the competition will drive devs to maintain higher standards.
AC (retired); EQ (retired); DAoC (retired); Horizons (retired); EQII (retired); CoH (retired); AC II (tested); Lineage II (beta); Neocron (tested); Saga of Ryzom (beta); SWG (retired)...
I always find enough ppl to do quests or to hunt with them so I don't think it's such a big problem.
And according to my experience; there's much more communication between players on server with low population than on a server with large population. I've tried another MMORPG and there were hundreds of ppl in town but literally nobody was talking. Although it was my first day in game I answered most of the questions asked by new players. Other ppl seemed to care only about their own business. It seems their logic is: 'Why would I have to help when there are so many other ppl around?'
While on a server with lower population when couple of ppl meet they always exchange at least a couple of words. And if low lvl player asks for help he always gets it.
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
When life tastes like lemmon, take tequila and salt.
Don't know anything about AC2. I just wanted to say nice handle, dude. Funniest. Movie. Ever.
Yep Me to....
Ceci est un.... une baquette magique
Ceci est un.... une baquette magique
well, yep. shadowbane is not a bad game
I real enjoin it.
I played AC2 for the first free month, and after hearing good thing i started my sub again. It is alot better than i expected. I would advise any 1 to try this game, you will be shocked at how good it is. Its such a shame about the low server pops, but as long as you find a group of freinds it does not seem that bad
Asherons Call 2 is teh best MMORPG i have played...
Only reason Population is down is because of NO ADVERTISING. I would like to see DAOC succeed without advertising. And EQ sucks quit the first week i played. AC2 might be slow at first. Then lvl to 20 then it starts to speed up. Get to 30 go to Linvak, This is were u get out of the quest and just go hardcore hunting. Get to 39 then u can do nice quest. After u get to 41 shouldnt be to long till u get to lvl 45, then u can gain the title of becoming a HERO. Very nice. Get to lvl 50 start hunting on Arramorra. Get to lvl 55 start hunting in the Chaos Planes. Then get to lvl 58+ then u can hunt Virindis. This game is very action pack and please dont diss a game u only played on the 15 day trial.
I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.
I agree with the poster above on the lack of advertising.
Asherons is a good example of what happens when a company (in this case Microsoft) only takes what it can and doesn't put back in. Now Turbine have bought the game back from M$ and started actually marketing them again I think the server populations won't be a problem.
And just to comment on the first poster mentioning the story "disappears", it continues in the Vault Campaign, but there are also the monthly story arcs and mini quest series (like the Warders/Drudge Insurgence Saga/Relics of the Past Saga/et al). The only reason you wouldn't find a story to follow is if you weren't looking for one or were expecting it to continue to lead you by the hand