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Most Important to -me-
Wycliffe
Member Posts: 354
I bought AoC shortly after launch. Having played AO for years(on&off) I was cautiously optomistic about Funcoms 2nd MMO. AO was amazing game at heart, being a highly technical MMO which greatly rewarded player ingenuity. I remember making friends with an engineer who had discovered the right combination of gear, skills and buffs allowed him to summon a slayerbot at lvl 100. He quickly became my favorite grinding partner btw 
Still, AO had(has) problems that are hard to overlook. Based on my experiences with AO, I had come to see Funcom as a worthy developer; while not the most competent at times, they didn't simply copy a EQ, UO or AC formula, they created a unique, innovative game and thus distinguished themselves within the MMO industry.
AoC on the otherhand... While the technical problems of AoC may have scared off the majority of the games early adopters, I more or less expected them (well not to such a degree, but w/e moot point). What killed AoC for me was the very thing I had been so excited about - Directional Combat. I was hoping for an MMO with deep character building(like in AO) using a combat system similar to Oblivion or DDO. Instead, I found a half-baked talent system straight out of WoW, my precious AO skill bars only present for trivial skills like ladder climbing, and the most unnecessary "innovative" combat system EVER. The defense "paranthesis" are pretty much set and forget, keep one on each side. Most of the time, as melee, you were using combos which prompted a shortgame of simonsays using the directional attacks. Overall, it felt like WoW or EQ, except that you were forced to press a lot more keys to achieve the same effect.
Inclosing: If they rehauled AoC by replacing the cookie-cutter WoW talent trees with the AO skill system while also getting rid of directional combat for something similar to DDO, I'd resub in a heartbeat.
Comments
I totally agree that the AO skill system was pretty godly. But I liked how Funcom kept the focus more on action in Conan than on numbers. I personally think that it just works better with the license.
BTW, I still load up some AO from time to time as well. Great game.
I have no problems with an action oriented game. The second point I brought up was directional combat for this reason. I just don't see myself ever really get into AoC while it remains the core gameplay.
Yeah, the directional combat was over hyped. When I first saw that sh!t, I thought I would be able to swing my sword with my mouse.
But, it came out more like Simon Says.
Honestly, though, I prefer it to standard mmo combat. It at least feels a bit more involved. But to each his own, I guess.
When it comes to the skill department, I totally agree with you that the system in Anarchy Online is far superior. I too enjoyed twinking and tweaking to get that special gear on, and I think its skill system was what really kept me to the game for all those years. I believe this system was scrapped for AoC just because it was perceived as to complicated and they really wanted AoC to hit the mainstream MMO market. So far so good.
But directional combat? What is there not to like about it? To be able to swing your sword on the side of your opponent were his defenses are lowest is a great step forward in MMOs in my opinion. It makes melee combat much more engaging and adds a new dimension to the genre.
Directional combat sounds good on paper and is fun for the first 10 minutes. Then it becomes boring button smashing.
Directional combat sounds good on paper and is fun for the first 10 minutes. Then it becomes boring button smashing.
Actually you get used to it and then if you try to play any other classic autoattack MMO you go WTF is this boring shit.
After the initial omg combos are great I got so use to it that i did not give a second tought to the system until I tried to play some other MMO with classical combat .. well its far from the same or boring.
When it comes to melee fight AoC really shines ( to bad range/magic was not done the same way ).
Futilez[Do You Have What It Takes ?]
My favorite combat type system in a MMO is the one used in DDO. The one in AoC doesn't really bother me to much.
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Promote what you love instead of bashing what you hate.
Directional combat sounds good on paper and is fun for the first 10 minutes. Then it becomes boring button smashing.
Actually you get used to it and then if you try to play any other classic autoattack MMO you go WTF is this boring shit.
After the initial omg combos are great I got so use to it that i did not give a second tought to the system until I tried to play some other MMO with classical combat .. well its far from the same or boring.
When it comes to melee fight AoC really shines ( to bad range/magic was not done the same way ).
I have to agree there, share the same sentiments. I love GW, played it long time. Even popping occasionally in game and fighting just doesn't cut it anymore. I play Lotro too, I like that game but the combat can't really match the saitisfaction I get from AoC. I think it takes Melee to another level. When I first played AoC I was like WTF with regards to Range and Mage too. But in the grand scheme of things I can understand the direction taken, just wish it would of been a little bit more different too. I mean for magic we have spellweaving which sounds better on paper, visually awesome but for me in my experience is only really awesome in certain situations and handy to boot. They were on the right thinking path there. Needs a bit more "ummph".
I agree, if you think AoC combat is boring you are doing it wrong, and not utilizing your skills to the maximum effect
Only AoC are you going to get to play a class that has the most depth in combat, with the most complex system that needs you to be on your game and on top of your skill usage, AND ITS A HEALER!
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche
Yea, the combo system, while not the end-all-be all is MUCH more interesting then a classic mmo style of button clicking.
Additionally, I love how positioning actully has an effect. Lining yourself up to make broad sweeps against several NPCs at once. Very cool.
Actually what we have is that people like different things. Most guys on this forum are so called "fanbois" who have been playing AoC since 1999 and they love every single thing about AoC.
When you ask people outside these forums, most of them have complaints about the combat system. And it's not about them understanding it or not knowing how to use it. Don't blame the users. I have played AoC for a long time since beta and I know just how much "skill" playing a melee character needs.
The fact is that everyone liked the IDEA of directional attacks and combos but what Funcom gave us was whack-a-mole type of button smashing experience which was so badly executed that it drove players away.
Like I said some of you like it. Good for you. Just understand that most players didn't like it.
I don't think its the best thing since sliced bread (sliced bread is terrible BTW, any good bread is not sliced and slicing means preservatives to fight staleness) but its definitely a step in the right direction and a big step above the WoW/EQ paradigm...
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche
The directtional combat in AOC is both a good thing and a bad thing.
It is good because it actually takes skill to use, and while you do still button mash (what games doesn't? Even DF apparently has you button mash although that is actually only 1 button repeatedly) it requires timing and co-ordination. I am not great at it but I do better then average and once you do understand how to fight with your class it is really more in depth then the simple button mashing combat you think.
It is bad bacause I now find it hard to play other MMO's without falling asleep in combat. At least with AOC you have to button mash AND move about, use terrain, work off your opponent and basically use skill to fight. Compare it to say a game like WOW where you attack, go downstairs, make some food, watch a film, come back up and click on the loot bag, I just can't go back.
The only combat I found comparable was in DDO suprisingly. While I dislike the game for other reasons the combat was actually very well done on DDO. From shield blocking a door to prevent creatures getting to the mage to having to time swings it was probably on a par with the combat in AOC.
I can see why people that can't handle FPS type combat don't like it and I guess there is nothing I can say to promote the system other then saying that is fits with the game very well. Nothing is more satisfying then knowing that your timing of combo's and ability to use skill rather then an inbuilt advantage wins the day.
LOL did you really just describe why sliced bread is bad?
LOL did you really just describe why sliced bread is bad?
I watch "Good Eats" a lot
Of all that is written, I love only what a person has written with his own blood. -Nietzsche