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WHY does AoC suck after level 20?
ifandbut
Member Posts: 134
I downloaded the trial yesterday and started playing. I really enjoy the game so far. The combat system is a nice change from WoW/Aion. I'm running it in DX10 and it looks amazeing without to much performence loss. I really like the fact that quest are done in a cut-scene style that reminds me of KotOR and Dragon Age instead of just a box of text like WoW/Aion.
Now I started reading about the game in general. Everything I heard of in the past said the game is dieing, but how can a dieing game get an expansion?
One thing that I constantly see is the fact that 1-20 is the best part of the game and everything else sucks. However, I have not seen anything explaining WHY post 20 sucks.
So, could someone who has played the game after the 1.05 patch explain to me WHY post 20 sucks. In what way is post 20 so different from pre-20?
Thanks.
Comments
The difference is;
The Island Tortage is built up like a RPG game, and its little grouping and playing with others, but you are allowed to if you want to. And some quests are built around it. The NPCs all have voices and everything. Tortage is the start of the Destiny quest that will follow your char. until lvl 80 and beyond.
When you finish tortage the MMO parts start for real, and grouping becomes more needed for some content then before. There are still alot of quests, but only the main quests and the destiny quests have voices due to the size of the game. Some people did not like this, and well, thats them.
My opinion: Tortage is great, but 20+ is steaming with more interesting stuff for many people. RPG fans might love Tortage more, or maybe not. Time will tell for most.
Also there used to be a lot of lvl ranges that were missing content and some of the quests above 20 were bugged. They've cleared most of that up now with new zones, Instances, and bug fixes. If you enjoyed 1-20 I'd say give the game a shot above that and make up your own mind. 1.6 is coming soon which will have some great additions also so theres no better time.
The post-20 game was more of a problem at launch, when there was less content than there is now. I personally don't have a problem with the post-20 game now.
The best thing for you to do is play the game, get past level 20, and decide for yourself. Personally, I quit AoC after a month, but what I don't like may not necessarily be what you don't like. You've already made the initial investment, and you'll be past L20 long before your included 30 days is over, so just play the game and decide for yourself if it's worth another month's worth of your hard earned money.
I agree when you see people slate post 20 it is because it is mainly (from my experience) born from an outdated opinion.
All the way to level 80 has been beefed up quite a bit now. Sure it would be nice to have the voice overs for everything but it is not a necessity. Another thing that finishes is the night time quests, which is only really there at the start so you can get a feel for the game yourself and for the graphical Tortage effects in that role.
I has issues with the game a few months post release after level 20 not for a long time now.
This. I don't agree that the 20+ "problem" has been solved. At least that was not my recent experience. Tortage, for me was magic, yes voice overs had a lot to do with that, but other things too. It was very tight and extremely well put together. Post-tortage, even now, was just stale and boring and same ol' same ol' to me. I managed to get to a lvl 35 PoM and several alts to 20+ before I stopped.
It doesn't take long to get to 20+ though so I would take the other poster's advice and experience it yourself. I would just be cautiously optimistic you will continue to enjoy it past Tortage.
Some more pointers;
Its important to point out that Tortage was built they way it is on 100% purpose, and that the game later is different, but many felt cheated & tricked by the fact that the game changed and got angry because of it. (Some haters are from here)
Many MMOs start like quest down this, and this and lvl, lvl, lvl, lvl until max, and that that. FC decided to do things differently and tell a story, something that many MMOs wanna do, but somehow fails due to different reason. (Can you believe I started with WOW in 05 for the Warcraft lore....!) I loved Tortage, and on release, sure it was better then the rest! Is it still such today? Not a chance! Plenty of areas I find more fun as of today. Just for the record, been playing for a year now.
My best tip has already been pointed out, go play, and find out what you like.
Thanks for all of the reasonable responses. I did not expect that the whole game would have voice overs however it is nice to know that the destiny quests do have voice overs.
Do the quest outside of Tortage still have the cutscene and dialog choices that they had in Tortage but without the voice overs or do they revert to the WoW/Aion text boxes?
Also, I have not bought the game yet, I'm playing the new unlimited trial which limits be to level 20.
After you have played through Tortage a few times you will opt to put the cut scenes on optional. I personally don't miss them anymore.
The game is engaging enough post 20 and it is refreshing that beyond getting sent to your racial town, what you do and where you go beyond that is strictly up to you.
Cutscene & Dialog choices is for every quest throughout the game! Some are actually quite awesome written also..
Voices were fun the first time, but already on the first alt, I were starting to rush it sometimes if I could remember it. So maybe its good its not throughout the game, considering the cost and space required, if most players would care to listen to them two times max maybe.
The gameplay doesn't even suffer in my opinion post 20. The problem for me was once i maxed out my character this was little to nothing to do and got boring amazingly quick.
Exactly what I wanted to know. This is very cool. Now to figure out what class I want to play. I'm gona defentaly get a character or 2 to level 20 with the free trial then I'll likely buy the game and see how it goes for the first month.
I played at release for a month, got a barb to level 28 and quit. Resubbed again this past weekend and have a TOS at level 25 with a few days of casual playing.
I must say the improvements to the game are great. Even at the low level I am having a blast, most fun I have had in an MMO in a long time.
Performance is much improved, the quests are plentiful and interesting. Got invited to a guild with some very nice folks, they raid several days weekly but still have no problem with showing a noob the ropes.
I encourage anyone who has not tried AOC in awhile to give it another shot. You may still hate it, you may love it, but it deserves another go in my opinion.
This is from someone who was a closed beta tester, bought it at release and quit a month later. i admit I have been keeping an eye on the game hoping to see it improve, IMO it has
Just my 2cp
I recently played another char upto 80 and the questing to level 80 is much improved from the release. Post 20 is not a problem anymore. Its just level 80 now where the problems start for me.
Post 20 is fine 'n' dandy. Plenty of solo and group quests to keep you moving.
No-one has yet explained the Destiny Quests yet to the OP. Here goes....
Every 10 levels after 20 you get a Destiny Quest, a continuation of the tortage storyline, these Destiny Quests take you through to level 80, the final Destiny Quest, and a few others, set you up for raiding in Tier 1 and Teir 2 instances.
In short there's a ton of things to do post 20 and just because an NPC doesn't have a voice hardly affects the bigger picture at all. You'll still get the quest from him/her and you'll still go and complete regardless.
TBH if people posting here (and elsewhere in the AoC threads) can't be bothered to level to 80 and join in those 24 man raids, then I wish you luck with your 'other' MMO.
[Disclaimer : I play AoC mainly because I am a fan of RE Howard's Conan stories, and the excellent community that exists on the server Crom]
I really don't think the game sucks at all after 20.
I think it sucks if you are planning to play it hardcore or even "medium" core pvp because it is only then that :
- you will run out of pvp content fast
- there are many bugs that still have not been fixed. Some even that are new.
- there is not much pvp content
- the pvp rewards are not rewarding
- did I mention that there is not much pvp content?
- classes are not balanced in PvP and especially in group PvP
- there really is no PvP content
- sieges don't work
- there is no PvP content
However, questing is really good, the graphics are nice, the music is lovely, the emotes are charming, the dungeons are pretty good and I believe pvers are happy with the pve content (when they are not crashing).
So no, the game does not suck after 20. It's a good game for casual players and PvE players. It sucks for very active PvP players.
Which sucks IMO because many people got this game on the belief that it would have a lot of PvP. In fact, it sucks even more because the best thing about it is the actual PvP combat mechanics (according to me and many people).
Anyway, did I mention there is no PvP content?
Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.
I love the game passed 20. I raid alot and lead raids so this keep me plenty busy ;D
(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH jumps up and down on yeremks'a head after 1 shotting him with perfectly placed plunger shot.)
All my opinions are just that..opinions. If you like my opinions..coolness.If you dont like my opinion....I really dont care.
Playing: ESO, WOT, Smite, and Marvel Heroes
Like the others said, it is true that the game is better than it was at launch. The majority of the questless gaps have been filled in, there are more voice overs beyond Tortage, and items now have some meaning to upgrading them. Its not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, however that all depends on ones own viewpoint and whether you begin playing the game with an open mind without any bias or preconceptions whatsoever.
As they say: The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
Agree with the level 80 people, thats where it ended for me... the way there was pretty fun there though, pre 20 and post 20.
Anyone who says that AoC sucks after 20 is not an MMO fan.
The first 20 levels of AoC play more or less like a single player game.
Levels 20 to 80 plays like every other fantasy based MMO (Wow, EQ2, etc) , so if AoC sucks for you after 20 then so do the rest of the main stream MMOs.
The post 20 experience has improved greatly, but it still offers few options for advancement and adventure. One toon will experience about 90% of the content in order to get to lvl 80, so choose your class wisely. You're not likely to want to repeat the content for alt toons.
The expansion may improve that, however.
Personaly the whole "plays like every other fantasy based MMO" is not a big deal for me. The main thing I was looking for was if the story and cutscenes continued post 20 or if you just saw text boxes with an objective for every quest. Story/cutscenes were the thing that got me hooked on Final Fantasy 11 (and MMOs) in the first place. The only reason I keep playing WoW is my firends that I made in Final Fantasy 11. As it is, every day I raid I question why I keep playing.
The fact that the major story line quest come every 10 levels along with side stories in cutscenes (with or without voice over does not matter much to me, there were no voice overs in Final Fantasy) is very cool. The only thing I am disapointed to hear is that Sieges do not work. I am not a big PvP fan but I thought it would be cool to build up a city and have to defend it from an attacking horde.
Thanks for all the constructive replies. I am currently playing a HoX on the Wiccana server. I'm gona take him to level 20 then buy the game.
I just think AOC spent a lot more time on 1-20 which is an excellent strategy on there part to get alot of people in. Post 20 does not suck it is moe open , less linier, , its just that I as a solo player and once in a while group enjoyed Tortage as it reminded me of an excellent rpg type of game but you could group if you wanted also. The quest line seemed more cohesive in Tortage also and it was a bit more linier which I like.
tT