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Asheron's Call Darktide: Amazing
Archetype90
Member Posts: 19
Ive been playing MMO's since they came out. Back on the Pacific server of Ultima Online my blacksmith could make one hell of an ingot. From there I went to Asheron's Call, Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot, City of Heros, Shadowbane, Lineage 2, FFXI, EvE, Lord of the Rings, EQ2, and WOW. For the past couple of months I had been extremely bored with gaming, and could not find very many quality MMOs to play. I tried to go back to Lord of the Rings, and WoW, but neither could hold my interest.
Then I heard about the 14 day free trial for Asheron's Call. Downloaded the game, and got signed up. Fairly easy process, and my god am I glad that I did. My search for a game is over!
The game has - hands down - the best PVP of any game ever made. Darktide is a fluke. The game was not designed for Darktide, but the game works amazingly well with Darktide. For those of you who do not know, Darktide is a server that has FFA PVP. Anyone can kill anyone. Funny enough, right after resubscribing and finishing the tutorial my level 5 melee character was killed by a level 197. Yay. While getting ganked can sure be a pain in the ass sometimes it adds something most MMOs these days are lacking - a challenge.
After getting killed I was able to observe some fighting going on in the town, Shushi, that I arrived in. Ten people running around casting spells, jumping, healing! It was chaos, but awesome chaos to watch! I then proceeded to the nearest dungeon I could find to get a few levels. Hit level 7, and figured I needed to move on as I was progressing too slowly. Decided I would hit up a leveling spot I remembered from a while back, but got killed along the way. Discouraged, I decided to look for a patron instead. I announced in general I was looking for one, and took some grief, but eventually found a great person to play with. Similar play times, and a great group of people in the monarchy.
Anyway.. enough about what Ive been doing. Heres the good, and bads about the game!
Good: 1) 14 Day Free Trial
2) Best PVP ever made
3) Great gameplay
4) FASTER leveling
Bad: 1) Outdated graphics, but better then most free to play MMOs
2) You will forget what the sun looks like
Hope this convinces a few of you to come back, or try the game. Ive been having a blast ever sine I came back, and I havent been doing much but leveling. If you need a patron then look me up, Vives.
Summary: Darktide PVP is amazing. Everytime you dont play on Darktide God kills a kitten.
Comments
Not true
I think that a lot of people miss out on the great PvP that the more mature games offer (AC, DAOC). They think "god, that games is old and thus its bad"
Not true. Honestly some games just seem to get better with age, like a fine chablis. Especially the PvP based games since the newer games have really been a dissapointment in regards to PvP (a notable exception would be guild wars)
Torrential
Torrential: DAOC (Pendragon)
Awned: World of Warcraft (Lothar)
Torren: Warhammer Online (Praag)
Could not agree more! I originally left Asherons Call because I did not like some of the change that they were making, but as a returning player those are the things that are fueling me.
I am looking for a new MMO atm, I loved DAOC but I missed out on AC, I have played everything that is out there atm and I pretty much hate all of it.
the fact that it is dated is really the only thing keeping me away
Is the server still populated? and is there a good community?
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Achiever 20.00%, Explorer 86.67%, Killer 60.00%, Socializer 33.33%
EKSA
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Ah.....AC, fond memories. If only they would revamp that engine. AC is IMHO, after all the wasted money and time on dozens of brain dead MMO's, the best in terms of world, variety and challenge. I wish I could go back and stick to it but the graphics really get to me after a while and so does the lack of population. I wish for the days of Qual and portal storms.
AC was my favorite game, too. Strangely, it wasn't even my first big game, which is usually the case in the "I remember the good old days" discussions. There's a strong attachment to that first game, but my first game was EQ and I couldn't stand it.
Anyway, I played AC for 4 1/2 years. I don't think a graphics update would be enough to get me back, though. I loved the game, and new (read: better than the Throne of Destiny improvements) graphics would be great. I didn't leave because of the graphics, however; I left because everything gets old after awhile.
If they made a contemporary version of that game with some of the modern conveniences (auction houses, mail, et cetera) and a slightly new angle with skills/levels or an Advanced Achievement system (more for something "new" than something "better"), I'd definitely give that a try. A lot of the fun for me in MMOs is learning how to walk, then to run. After all that time in AC, I pretty much knew how to fly. There was no place for me to go but down.
Challenge?
Being ganked by a grossly overpowered high-level player is ... a challenge?
For whom?
The Level 197 player? For the Level 5 Newbie?
I played AC and Darktide was completely chaotic FFA PvP in a setting of no-rules anarchy.
It's nicknamed "Dorktide" for a very good reason.
~ Ancient Membership ~
I see someone got owned and lost their pack doll.
splat
Challenge?
Being ganked by a grossly overpowered high-level player is ... a challenge?
For whom?
The Level 197 player? For the Level 5 Newbie?
I played AC and Darktide was completely chaotic FFA PvP in a setting of no-rules anarchy.
It's nicknamed "Dorktide" for a very good reason.
Thats what makes it so good. The "rules" are regulated by the players. While I havent played it in a while Im willing to bet there are still clan wars over dongeons ect. I dont even pvp alot but if I did thats where I would go back to. Well kinda true, I plan on playing WAR. But the playerbase worked well on darktide. You had the pkers and you had the ones who hated the pkers and PK'd them
You must try Asheron's Call! Even if there wasnt a fourteen day free trial I would recommend you go and buy it, but you can play it for free. I recommend playing on Darktide as that is where the PVP is at.
After that level 197 ganked me I was not angry (since I lost nothing), but inspired to try to get to a competitive level so I could seek my revenge! This is where the challenge comes in. Getting ganked obviously doesnt make the game difficult it makes it annoying. Learning how to not get ganked is where the challenge is at! My character is now level 70, and I have managed to find dungeons that no one goes to. This is allowing me to level without worry.
When I hit level 90, and have to move to a new spot I will be challenged again. Thats just a small example of the many challenges that present themselves on Darktide compared to any other server, or game!
Finally the population of the game seems fine. One of the things that was holding me back from returning was hearing that the player base was so low you dont see anyone for anywhere ever. Untrue. If you're running through a forest then chances are you wont spot someone. Go into any major town, or dungeon, and be prepared for a fight
Its not as busy as it used to be (for example, cottage are available 
, but you can view that as an advantage (easier to buy cottages, easier to find leveling spots, closer knit community).
Oh, and yes, there are still plenty of douchebags on Darktide!
In summary, Yes AC and DAOC are both mature games. They are both very viable alternatives against any new MMORPG from a PvP standpoint. In many ways they are better. Both have active communities and both have viable PvP. Both have 14 day free trials and because they are mature games, the grind time for both of them are far better than current games
Torrential
Torrential: DAOC (Pendragon)
Awned: World of Warcraft (Lothar)
Torren: Warhammer Online (Praag)
Man, I miss AC's PvP more than any feature in any MMO I've ever played. That's how big of an impact it made on me. Slide-casting, fast-casting, circle-casting, delay-casting.. combining them. Jump-spinning to break sticky melee. Sliding three feet away from someone and managing to still dodge their spells.
Those were the days. Knowing that if you died and didn't have enough death items, you might lose something you need. Taking on someone 50 levels higher than you or more, and ripping them apart. That was especially satisfying when I was In my late 70's, early 80's, taking on 126+ people.
Try coming back!
Throw me a tell on Darktide. My name is Vives.
If you make a melee you can be 50 in three days, but a mage would probably take a bit longer. A good PVP monarchy + buffbot = goooood times!
AC1 was the best, especially back in the days when it (felt) like it was pretty much Blood vs Everyone else, or the whole RPK's vs Anti's mentality.
Played DT for 4+ years, but eventually the botting, third party programs and twinking killed it for me.
I will never forget my arch-rivals OG, Doomgaze and Seth-Drone.
AC1 and UO - the only two good PVP MMO's every created IMO.