I can sum up Vanguard for EVERYONE reading this thread:
IF YOU LIKE: Massive worlds, PvE combat, 3 types of game advancement, mostly unique and varying classes from each other, tons of quests, multiple areas to hunt for every level from 1-50, 3 distinct continents with different geology, ruins, vegitation, as well as owning mounts, boats and non-instanced houses and engaging in strategic, low-twitch gameplay -- YOU WILL LIKE VANGUARD.
IF YOU LIKE: Zoning, WoW, PvP, instancing, twitch-based gameplay, cartoon graphics, pixelized boobs, speed levelling, hundreds of hours of faction grinding and repeat dungeon runs nightly, OR If you feel SOE owes you personally for what they did to SWG and therefore you are bound and determined to spend the rest of your days angry that a company ruined your game, -- YOU WILL NOT LIKE VANGUARD. wait if like wow, and i like pvp and i like fast lvling that must mean that there are no way in hell i would like this game you say? well thats kinda unfair dont you think, thats like saying if you like appels you cant like pears...that just stupid. It's that easy. Anyone saying Vanguard (today) is crap has either never tried it (since GU5) or is still angry at SOE for what they did to SWG and are just griefing on the game to 'get even' with Sony.
Anyone still on the fence - give it about 3 weeks and you'll get the long-awaited trial island and new character models.
Sadly, this is probably the best PVE game out right now (other than risking your luck with a F2P based in Asia and hoping your account doesn't get hacked, etc.) I came back for the free trial and was happy with a few things, but I still run into graphic bugs, found myself underneath the guild hall when I logged in for the 4th time since coming back and some other glitches. I still have to run on Medium in order to have any sense of seemlessness while moving towards objects or towns. (E6600 with 2GB RAM and 7900NVidia, not the best, but decent) Everytime i log in I have to rebind my equipment (except 2 pieces that seem to have permanently bound okay). Clicking open a bag will randomly and not consisently prompt me if I want to Bind the bag.. My character is always above the ground and even more so when using stairs. (Maybe the character model fix will make that better?). Really it isn't fit and finished yet, but better than it was at launch.... I decided to buy 1 month to give me something to do until the Runes of Magic Beta starts. (I can not handle another minute of WoW high-fantasy, cartoon mode MMO). I will check out WAR for the PvP aspect, but really want a PvE game as well to play when I don't feel like being in competirion mode. Rohan is cool, but F2P and who knows if it'll be there or your account will get pwned next week? .my 50 cents
I personally think EverQuest2 is the best PVE game out there right now.
Vanguard looks cool and is coming a long way, but still has so much to fix and finish (so many empty areas still, not to mention some really cool "could have been" dungeons that are still unfinished and empty
Isle of Dawn will make it easier for new players, but it will be really hard to get new players in the game. There are so many AAA MMORPG titles on the launch agenda, that people rather try out a New MMO, then an MMO that failed at launch and is now supposedly better and playable.
That's the sad reality and hence only 4 servers left in Vanguard, from wich only 1 is decently populated, 2 others seriously lacking in population and the 4th PVP one completely empty.
I bought it and played for a few months at launch after the bad reviews. I just wanted to see how bad it was and was pleasantly surprised. I even bought a new PC to play it so some good came of this
As mentioned before, if you like the massive open world type MMO then this is for you. I'd like to see a follow-up article about what is great about it now.
I'm currently enjoying AoC, will try WAR and I think the only other MMOs I'd seriously play are WoW and VG.
Ryzom will be back soon which also has some beautiful scenery and fun gathering and crafting systems. VG reminds me of it in some ways although each has its pros and cons. I'd try the free trials of both, what have you got to lose?
On the one hand I see the benefits of VG compared to other MMOs now too. After leaving VG in a similar ire, it seems it is one of the few open worlds where you are not confined into some zone cages and stuff, or limited to few and boring races and classes. But those had always been the bonus of VG, nothing new here.
On the other hand, what drove me away never had been so much the bugs, but the sterile feeling of the game, the lack of the "many nice details" that made it feel too less of a living, breathing, immersive world. Basically its one big quest hub, end of the story, and nothing in VG has changed in that aspect at all. On top they took customization away, which was just the final blow for me to go. I want to see the new models in first and the new starter isle before I even consider giving this game another try, and even then... while I can appreciate some of VG's accomplishments, open world, many races, good classes, it has WAY to many shortcomings which for me never had anything to do with polish or bugs.
Most quests are still extremely generic and "soulless", as are most civilized places by design. The entire game just lacked "soul". And in some aspects it is just too less casual friendly for me. I dont have the time to invest as I has as student, and dying at the bottom of some damn, hard dungeon is just as evil as it used to be. Given the long time they had the changes are nice but way too few and small.
Sure, VG won't be for everybody, it does have a pretty steep learning curve and often new players feel lost and unable to figure out their characters or different spheres. However, the Dawn of Isle could really help that type of situation.
Right now, the game is in great shape and has an active and vibrant player-base and community. I've played since launch and I've never seen as many people running around as I do now. Many folks stayed after the last free month promotion. Game Update 6 (the mega-update) is really something to behold and I can't wait until it arrives.
I can play the game with a laptop. 1.8ghz duo core, 2 gigs ram, 512 meg Vid card. I can play it on balanced without issue. Performance isnt the issue for me and I dont think its a huge issue to anyone anymore. VG still feels dry. With my lvl 50 character, I find it difficult to find new quests. The contant still doesnt make Telon feel alive. It's too robotic. It doesnt flow. Also, it is tough to get a group and you are waiting with the LFG tag on for awhile unless you spam advertise you want a group. (Similar to EQ2) I tried to get back into the game a month ago and paid for 30 days. I gave it a good shot but I just didnt get hooked. I've now switched genres and I am trying EVE. I'll be subbing after my 14 days are up and seeing where the game takes me.
I just needed to add this to a previous post I made on this Thread:
There is one thing this game does not have that draws me to play it more and more: There are NO "WOW KIDDIES" that play this game and anything that keeps them away from ruining the Gaming Community of one game will surely make we want to stay a while longer and explore and play the game..........if it is way to hard for WoW Kiddies? then it is my kind of game! Now AoC is becoming the home of those WoW Kiddies, so move on I must?................So I will check back when they release the next Big Patch and I truly hope it will become the game it was meant to be?
Its worse to actually think about doing something then actually doing it!!!
I'm sorry, but I found that article a bit...well..."meh" I think it might be an idea to say what you found was good about the game. The actual 'about the game now' bit was about 10-15% of the article. I'm not sure what the brief was, or even if there was one, but I don't think the article really tells anyone in a similar position as you were, exactly what's good about VG. Just for the record, the character models are due to come out after SOE's Fan Fayre - so mid-late August. I'm sorry if I come off over-critical, that's not my intent. It's just that VG gets precious little frontpage coverage on top MMO sites like this one and when it does I'd hope that the article really explores just how far Sony (love-em-or-hate-em) have brought the shambles Brad left them.
I agree. I'm sorry but that article had very little in it that was worth reading. OK so you spent a long section of your life dreaming about a game that was essentially crap. Now its not as crap but still not brilliant. Well.....ummm.....thanks for that.
ps. I also reinstalled the game several months ago and uninstalled it yet again a few days after that. It still seemed like a very weak and unfinished game to me and of course the character models were still as ugly as ever. I might have a look again though once the new models are implemented and if they still look stupid then its goodbye to Vanguard for good.
I just got stuck under a lake last night and ended up under the world and still running out of air... Drowning is fun... Luckily you can cast spells still from down there and gate before you die... still annoying though for a 19 month old game.
"I personally think EverQuest2 is the best PVE game out there right now.
Vanguard looks cool and is coming a long way, but still has so much to fix and finish (so many empty areas still, not to mention some really cool "could have been" dungeons that are still unfinished and empty
Isle of Dawn will make it easier for new players, but it will be really hard to get new players in the game. There are so many AAA MMORPG titles on the launch agenda, that people rather try out a New MMO, then an MMO that failed at launch and is now supposedly better and playable.
That's the sad reality and hence only 4 servers left in Vanguard, from wich only 1 is decently populated, 2 others seriously lacking in population and the 4th PVP one completely empty.
Cheers"
I play both atm. There are things I like about EQ2 and things I like about VG. Overall, at the moment I feel like VG is winning though for me. The reasons are based on the classes and the combat. I really by far and away prefer the combat system of VG.
What I like about VG's combat system: the speed of combat feels right i.e. not too fast and not to slow. I like the fast regeneration rates and the smaller power/end/life pools. You have to play far more strategically. I like having 3 pools rather than 2. I like the buffing system. I love being able to kite. I like how melee is so much different from casters and I like how ranged combat is really ranged. I also think the addition of defence vs offence options, chain effects, and counterspells are brilliant! They add new dimensions to play. In contrast, I find the combat of EQ2 lacklustre and not as interactive. I like the HO system, but I am surprised when I group about how few people seem to know how to use it. EQ2 doesn't really have 'kiting'. Mobs run to you at supersonic speed if you hit them with even 1 ranged spell or arrow. I also think the idea of the spell/skill level system of having to buy upgrades really sucks because it is heavily slanted in favour of older players who can afford ridiculous prices on the broker.
Classes are better in VG too in my opinion. The class structure is really good and I hope that SoE developes on it. I find it really cool that each class is so unique and has strengths and weaknesses that are very apparent. I like how hybrids in VG are good in their own right rather than being watered down. Each class is incredibly complex even without talents, deeds, etc.. My only gripe with the class development of one's character is that it isn't extremely customisable other than through attribute point allotment. I do wish that something like deeds or achievements were in place. I like that aspect of EQ2, though of course AAs didn't come about until a recent expansion, so perhaps something similar will be put in place in VG in the future. I find that a lot of the EQ2 classes are very similar to each other. There is still an issue of balance between some of the EQ2 classes and always has been. It seems to me that every VG class is viable whether solo or group: each has its own place. Because some of the EQ2 classes are so similar to one another, I think even raids won't miss certain classes because their skills and role might be shared with another similar class.
I know it might sound weird, but I prefer how VG handles character death to how EQ2 handles it. I think there should be some penalty to keep people from not caring if their character dies or not. It's only a recent MMO phenomenon that developers seem to think that death penalties are something that players don't want. Maybe some players don't want them, but some do: I'm one of those that does, for many reasons that I won't get into here. I will just say quickly that it is partly to do with challenge and I think that challenge is one of the main reasons why some games stay fresher and more interesting than others.
VG needs more fluff and more fleshing out. I love the guild system in EQ2: it's one of the best I've ever come across. The guild level system is great because it compels everyone in the guild to help out with guild development, and everyone can help out no matter what their playstyle is. Things like writs, faction items, collections, lore books, item examination that provides quests, linguistics, etc. really flesh out EQ2. Those are all aspects that are missing from VG as well as what some of the people above me mentioned.
VG has amazing potential and I think that it could survive for a very long time and become a truly respected game if SoE just developes it properly. I certainly think it has a lot of life in it. I think that is the main point of what this article was about. Try VG again to see what positive changes SoE puts in.
Back in EvE. Started with BatMUD. Main MMOs have been EvE and DAoC.
I bought Vanguard before Christmas sometime and tried it out but I was put off by the animations of the mobs and the combat. I didn't give the game much of a chance really though, I might pop back in soon and give it another go.
There were only 2 intolerable things about Vanguard that made me stop playing it:
1) The perfomance was hell - not just bad, hell. I could not play the game even though I had a top-end machine without several seconds of freezing and delay. According to the article, the graphics are still glitchy. So this problem remains, though probably not as severe.
2) The models looked like poser knockoffs. Good models with good textures are part of what make a game good. The artists at blizzard, as the comparison was already made, do this very well (at least before the expansion). I guess this just didn't get changed either - it is, like so many other things, scheduled.
I suppose the article was enlightening in that it told me about these two key points. Vanguard will gather more dust, even though I really want it to be better than it is.
I tried VG a few months back and it was alright. Much much improved from the launch. I heard they are doing a combat revamp which sounds good for the game hopefully. The thing I didn't like was the lack of population. The bad thing is that there are just too many games to play. War seems cool. I'd like to finish leveling my priest in WoW for LK. Just too many games to play.
I liked the article. It was honest and it touched on points, good and bad, that I share.
I played closed beta early, when Brad was still in charge of those thousand artists he brought in from EQ.
I stuck it out since the game was gorgeous and much to my liking, in spite of the bugs and falling through the earth often (after all it was beta).
The problem for me was through all this, the game didn't get better. And it got worse on the corporate side, especially when Microsoft Games was dropped and then Sony Online Entertainment got in. That's when I quit the Vanguard Beta and never looked back.
I've a real problem with anything Sony since SWG - NGE when I swore off anything Sony. (looking back on it my hatred should be focused on Lucas Arts but then again SOE let it happen).
So of course, when Sony was in and Microsoft out, at that point I dropped the Vanguard closed beta immediately.
While I won't ever play Vanguard or anything Sony ever again, it seems to me, anyway, that Vanguard is actually a decent game now -- the new character creation options add to that a lot and all those artists Brad McQuaid had on staff certainly made Vanguard a gorgeous game that is still right up there even by today's standards. Crafting still is a bit funky, but oh well.
If you're not into PvP and love the PvE aspects of MMOs, and -- most importantly -- you don't have an issue with SOE -- I'd recommend you give Vanguard a try.
I just want to thank the author for writing this article, which is already 2 weeks old... Not that the article was particularly brilliant or offered any breaking news, but it reminded me about the Game. The Game that compelled me to build a new system before I even played a second of it. The Game that sucked me in to a world similar to that of Asheron's Call (my first and favorite MMO) but with breathtaking visuals. The Game that I left -- I did not leave because of bugs or because my friends left it (both of which are true,) but because it was so amazing and all-encompassing, that I HAD to walk away.
Anyway, this article got me to renew my subscription. My level 37 necro is now nearing 40 after a LONG weekend, and I am back.
I will share just a couple of observations from someone who has spent about a year away...
1. Slightly buggier than when I first played! My system is the same, but now I have Vista Ultimate. My own fault, I guess...
2. Awesome changes/enchancements to item abilities -- my gear got a lot cooler
3. Rest XP bonus -- I don't know if I have a year's worth, but I am leveling MUCH faster
4. Solo content!! My biggest struggle was finding solo content, but that seems to have been fixed. I can't stop finding stuff to do!!
Again, thank you for re-introducing me to an old friend.
Comments
I personally think EverQuest2 is the best PVE game out there right now.
Vanguard looks cool and is coming a long way, but still has so much to fix and finish (so many empty areas still, not to mention some really cool "could have been" dungeons that are still unfinished and empty
Isle of Dawn will make it easier for new players, but it will be really hard to get new players in the game. There are so many AAA MMORPG titles on the launch agenda, that people rather try out a New MMO, then an MMO that failed at launch and is now supposedly better and playable.
That's the sad reality and hence only 4 servers left in Vanguard, from wich only 1 is decently populated, 2 others seriously lacking in population and the 4th PVP one completely empty.
Cheers
I bought it and played for a few months at launch after the bad reviews. I just wanted to see how bad it was and was pleasantly surprised. I even bought a new PC to play it so some good came of this
As mentioned before, if you like the massive open world type MMO then this is for you. I'd like to see a follow-up article about what is great about it now.
I'm currently enjoying AoC, will try WAR and I think the only other MMOs I'd seriously play are WoW and VG.
Ryzom will be back soon which also has some beautiful scenery and fun gathering and crafting systems. VG reminds me of it in some ways although each has its pros and cons. I'd try the free trials of both, what have you got to lose?
On the one hand I see the benefits of VG compared to other MMOs now too. After leaving VG in a similar ire, it seems it is one of the few open worlds where you are not confined into some zone cages and stuff, or limited to few and boring races and classes. But those had always been the bonus of VG, nothing new here.
On the other hand, what drove me away never had been so much the bugs, but the sterile feeling of the game, the lack of the "many nice details" that made it feel too less of a living, breathing, immersive world. Basically its one big quest hub, end of the story, and nothing in VG has changed in that aspect at all. On top they took customization away, which was just the final blow for me to go. I want to see the new models in first and the new starter isle before I even consider giving this game another try, and even then... while I can appreciate some of VG's accomplishments, open world, many races, good classes, it has WAY to many shortcomings which for me never had anything to do with polish or bugs.
Most quests are still extremely generic and "soulless", as are most civilized places by design. The entire game just lacked "soul". And in some aspects it is just too less casual friendly for me. I dont have the time to invest as I has as student, and dying at the bottom of some damn, hard dungeon is just as evil as it used to be. Given the long time they had the changes are nice but way too few and small.
Sure, VG won't be for everybody, it does have a pretty steep learning curve and often new players feel lost and unable to figure out their characters or different spheres. However, the Dawn of Isle could really help that type of situation.
Right now, the game is in great shape and has an active and vibrant player-base and community. I've played since launch and I've never seen as many people running around as I do now. Many folks stayed after the last free month promotion. Game Update 6 (the mega-update) is really something to behold and I can't wait until it arrives.
I can play the game with a laptop. 1.8ghz duo core, 2 gigs ram, 512 meg Vid card. I can play it on balanced without issue. Performance isnt the issue for me and I dont think its a huge issue to anyone anymore. VG still feels dry. With my lvl 50 character, I find it difficult to find new quests. The contant still doesnt make Telon feel alive. It's too robotic. It doesnt flow. Also, it is tough to get a group and you are waiting with the LFG tag on for awhile unless you spam advertise you want a group. (Similar to EQ2) I tried to get back into the game a month ago and paid for 30 days. I gave it a good shot but I just didnt get hooked. I've now switched genres and I am trying EVE. I'll be subbing after my 14 days are up and seeing where the game takes me.
I just needed to add this to a previous post I made on this Thread:
There is one thing this game does not have that draws me to play it more and more: There are NO "WOW KIDDIES" that play this game and anything that keeps them away from ruining the Gaming Community of one game will surely make we want to stay a while longer and explore and play the game..........if it is way to hard for WoW Kiddies? then it is my kind of game! Now AoC is becoming the home of those WoW Kiddies, so move on I must?................So I will check back when they release the next Big Patch and I truly hope it will become the game it was meant to be?
Its worse to actually think about doing something then actually doing it!!!
I agree. I'm sorry but that article had very little in it that was worth reading. OK so you spent a long section of your life dreaming about a game that was essentially crap. Now its not as crap but still not brilliant. Well.....ummm.....thanks for that.
ps. I also reinstalled the game several months ago and uninstalled it yet again a few days after that. It still seemed like a very weak and unfinished game to me and of course the character models were still as ugly as ever. I might have a look again though once the new models are implemented and if they still look stupid then its goodbye to Vanguard for good.
Ah well, i have read more thrilling articles.
Okay maybe EQ2 is better...
I just got stuck under a lake last night and ended up under the world and still running out of air... Drowning is fun... Luckily you can cast spells still from down there and gate before you die... still annoying though for a 19 month old game.
Runes of Magic beta starts soon
(and WAR for PvP)
you will be looking for another new game, lets say, a week after the 18th september
There is no detail in this report which makes it pretty worthless.
Personally I tried going back but the server was dead and it was very boring trying to find a group or going solo!
"I personally think EverQuest2 is the best PVE game out there right now.
Vanguard looks cool and is coming a long way, but still has so much to fix and finish (so many empty areas still, not to mention some really cool "could have been" dungeons that are still unfinished and empty
Isle of Dawn will make it easier for new players, but it will be really hard to get new players in the game. There are so many AAA MMORPG titles on the launch agenda, that people rather try out a New MMO, then an MMO that failed at launch and is now supposedly better and playable.
That's the sad reality and hence only 4 servers left in Vanguard, from wich only 1 is decently populated, 2 others seriously lacking in population and the 4th PVP one completely empty.
Cheers"
I play both atm. There are things I like about EQ2 and things I like about VG. Overall, at the moment I feel like VG is winning though for me. The reasons are based on the classes and the combat. I really by far and away prefer the combat system of VG.
What I like about VG's combat system: the speed of combat feels right i.e. not too fast and not to slow. I like the fast regeneration rates and the smaller power/end/life pools. You have to play far more strategically. I like having 3 pools rather than 2. I like the buffing system. I love being able to kite. I like how melee is so much different from casters and I like how ranged combat is really ranged. I also think the addition of defence vs offence options, chain effects, and counterspells are brilliant! They add new dimensions to play. In contrast, I find the combat of EQ2 lacklustre and not as interactive. I like the HO system, but I am surprised when I group about how few people seem to know how to use it. EQ2 doesn't really have 'kiting'. Mobs run to you at supersonic speed if you hit them with even 1 ranged spell or arrow. I also think the idea of the spell/skill level system of having to buy upgrades really sucks because it is heavily slanted in favour of older players who can afford ridiculous prices on the broker.
Classes are better in VG too in my opinion. The class structure is really good and I hope that SoE developes on it. I find it really cool that each class is so unique and has strengths and weaknesses that are very apparent. I like how hybrids in VG are good in their own right rather than being watered down. Each class is incredibly complex even without talents, deeds, etc.. My only gripe with the class development of one's character is that it isn't extremely customisable other than through attribute point allotment. I do wish that something like deeds or achievements were in place. I like that aspect of EQ2, though of course AAs didn't come about until a recent expansion, so perhaps something similar will be put in place in VG in the future. I find that a lot of the EQ2 classes are very similar to each other. There is still an issue of balance between some of the EQ2 classes and always has been. It seems to me that every VG class is viable whether solo or group: each has its own place. Because some of the EQ2 classes are so similar to one another, I think even raids won't miss certain classes because their skills and role might be shared with another similar class.
I know it might sound weird, but I prefer how VG handles character death to how EQ2 handles it. I think there should be some penalty to keep people from not caring if their character dies or not. It's only a recent MMO phenomenon that developers seem to think that death penalties are something that players don't want. Maybe some players don't want them, but some do: I'm one of those that does, for many reasons that I won't get into here. I will just say quickly that it is partly to do with challenge and I think that challenge is one of the main reasons why some games stay fresher and more interesting than others.
VG needs more fluff and more fleshing out. I love the guild system in EQ2: it's one of the best I've ever come across. The guild level system is great because it compels everyone in the guild to help out with guild development, and everyone can help out no matter what their playstyle is. Things like writs, faction items, collections, lore books, item examination that provides quests, linguistics, etc. really flesh out EQ2. Those are all aspects that are missing from VG as well as what some of the people above me mentioned.
VG has amazing potential and I think that it could survive for a very long time and become a truly respected game if SoE just developes it properly. I certainly think it has a lot of life in it. I think that is the main point of what this article was about. Try VG again to see what positive changes SoE puts in.
Back in EvE. Started with BatMUD. Main MMOs have been EvE and DAoC.
I bought Vanguard before Christmas sometime and tried it out but I was put off by the animations of the mobs and the combat. I didn't give the game much of a chance really though, I might pop back in soon and give it another go.
There were only 2 intolerable things about Vanguard that made me stop playing it:
1) The perfomance was hell - not just bad, hell. I could not play the game even though I had a top-end machine without several seconds of freezing and delay. According to the article, the graphics are still glitchy. So this problem remains, though probably not as severe.
2) The models looked like poser knockoffs. Good models with good textures are part of what make a game good. The artists at blizzard, as the comparison was already made, do this very well (at least before the expansion). I guess this just didn't get changed either - it is, like so many other things, scheduled.
I suppose the article was enlightening in that it told me about these two key points. Vanguard will gather more dust, even though I really want it to be better than it is.
I tried VG a few months back and it was alright. Much much improved from the launch. I heard they are doing a combat revamp which sounds good for the game hopefully. The thing I didn't like was the lack of population. The bad thing is that there are just too many games to play. War seems cool. I'd like to finish leveling my priest in WoW for LK. Just too many games to play.
I liked the article. It was honest and it touched on points, good and bad, that I share.
I played closed beta early, when Brad was still in charge of those thousand artists he brought in from EQ.
I stuck it out since the game was gorgeous and much to my liking, in spite of the bugs and falling through the earth often (after all it was beta).
The problem for me was through all this, the game didn't get better. And it got worse on the corporate side, especially when Microsoft Games was dropped and then Sony Online Entertainment got in. That's when I quit the Vanguard Beta and never looked back.
I've a real problem with anything Sony since SWG - NGE when I swore off anything Sony. (looking back on it my hatred should be focused on Lucas Arts but then again SOE let it happen).
So of course, when Sony was in and Microsoft out, at that point I dropped the Vanguard closed beta immediately.
While I won't ever play Vanguard or anything Sony ever again, it seems to me, anyway, that Vanguard is actually a decent game now -- the new character creation options add to that a lot and all those artists Brad McQuaid had on staff certainly made Vanguard a gorgeous game that is still right up there even by today's standards. Crafting still is a bit funky, but oh well.
If you're not into PvP and love the PvE aspects of MMOs, and -- most importantly -- you don't have an issue with SOE -- I'd recommend you give Vanguard a try.
I just want to thank the author for writing this article, which is already 2 weeks old... Not that the article was particularly brilliant or offered any breaking news, but it reminded me about the Game. The Game that compelled me to build a new system before I even played a second of it. The Game that sucked me in to a world similar to that of Asheron's Call (my first and favorite MMO) but with breathtaking visuals. The Game that I left -- I did not leave because of bugs or because my friends left it (both of which are true,) but because it was so amazing and all-encompassing, that I HAD to walk away.
Anyway, this article got me to renew my subscription. My level 37 necro is now nearing 40 after a LONG weekend, and I am back.
I will share just a couple of observations from someone who has spent about a year away...
1. Slightly buggier than when I first played! My system is the same, but now I have Vista Ultimate. My own fault, I guess...
2. Awesome changes/enchancements to item abilities -- my gear got a lot cooler
3. Rest XP bonus -- I don't know if I have a year's worth, but I am leveling MUCH faster
4. Solo content!! My biggest struggle was finding solo content, but that seems to have been fixed. I can't stop finding stuff to do!!
Again, thank you for re-introducing me to an old friend.