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Stupid Reason Why I can't Get into AoC.
Hrayr2148
Member Posts: 649
I played AoC for a month then just gave up on it.
Recently, I've been hearing how Age of Conan is the most improved mmo, and how after changing management, it's turned the corner.
On a spur of the moment thing, I reactivated the account, downloaded the gigs worth of patches since the last time I played, and logged on.
I played for 20 minutes, logged off, and continued to cancel my reoccuring subscription.
The BIGGEST reason I can't get into the games is because of the ICONS used for abilities. THEY ALL look the same to me. They look generic. Unlike other games, I have to think hard on what each ability does. The Icons pictures are not inuitively linked with the ability. for the life of me, I forget what each does, even after repeated practice. Their look is so unappealing that it destracts me from enjoying the game.
Also, though my computer is high end and I can run AoC on max settings, I just don't like how "things" look. This may be shallow, but when it comes to games, style is as much substance. Think Matrix (the original) and you get what I mean.
Stupid reason, but for the life of me, I just can't get into this game.
Comments
Yes it is a stupid reason, but you are right, most of the skill icons are bland, not sure are game breaking though.
I left AoC simply because it doesn't appeal to me, too vanilla and generic, but it is a decent game.
Maybe I should clarify... not only do they look bland/generic, the Icons of different abilities look too much like each other.
I'm new to the game and am really enjoying it so far, but I agree. The icons could use a redesign and the skill descriptions could hold ALL the information. I've been having to go to external websites to figure out 'exactly' what certain skills do.
Its a minor issue, as I have been playing MMO's for a long time. But for people less experienced they may think certain skills are better than others but actually arn't. For example, one skill hits 3 times for less damage per hit and another skill hits 2 times for more damage per hit. In total damage the one that hits 3 times is actually more DPS but that isn't displayed in the descriptions. And its not totally obvious when you are using them as the combat is so fast and fluid.
After playing WoW for a good three years, I find it refreshing that I need to read the skills. O.o
"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I, or the others crazy?" - Albert Einstein
thats the problem
From what they say you get the wrong impression of them.
I had the exactly 20 minute experience. High end pc, lvl 80 char (u?) - but when I tried the free trial it took me the same short period of time to realize that it wasn't what I was looking for.
Wait with me, will you; they are merging things, fixing things, and may come out with some nice endgame content with the xpansion.
Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions.
That is silly and you didnt give it a chance. Icons? Many games use icons for abilities. Console games maybe more for you.
(DDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH after being beaten down mnay times via the plunger Thoth Amon takes up a new hobby! River dancing from the raving Rabbid!)
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
Maybe I should clarify... not only do they look bland/generic, the Icons of different abilities look too much like each other.
They look like each other cause a lot of them do nearly the same thing: damage. There isn't much diversity especially as a melee, the only thing that really differs them from each other are the combo arrows and animations.
I used to hate them as well. The overall UI is really poor really, and I don't think it's stupid to quit over it.
As far as style goes, I actually had the exact opposite experience as the OP. I LOVE the way AoC looks. Its the only MMO with a truly grim, dark, and brutal atmosphere. I love the art style... The armour in this game looks incredible, the cities are great to look at (Old Tarantia is probably one of the coolest looking cities I've seen in any game), and the terrain is so bloody scenic. If you go out to any of the open areas, find a mountain and look around... The views are absolutely breathtaking.
In my opinion, AoC has a lot of faults, but art style was something they got right.
I think it's more that hte icons are too similiar to each other and the can't tell them apart. But you are right, the art design is very good in this game.
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Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
exactly; much like theres nothing to make you distinct and special from everyone else in the game, the icons being too similiar in appearance and function make each other (both in icon and performance) no better than the next
forcing people to be equal ain't cool; gotta give them the choice
Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions.
That's funny because I didn't dared point at this issue in the Fixing the game thread, but that was one of the first issues I saw when logging into the game. Not to say non resizeable UI so way too small icons in high resolution and way smaller typo...
It gets worse when you start using the skill trees, most of the time you are clueless of what you are getting or what you will get when you reach a specific point. Very annoying for planning your career.
I know you're just kidding, but, well...Yeah. I mean, maybe not so much the purple hat that you get at level one, but look in the second pic. Look at the art style of tortage. Playing through it, the level design is absolutely wicked for an MMO. And again, that is just the newbie starting area of Tortage... It only gets bigger and cooler after that.
I am honestly impressed by the art and level design in AoC.
That second pic actually sums up my first post perfectly! That while there are faults - such as textures sometimes loading slowly - Just look at how good it looks when they do load.
This is something most MMO developers overlook time and time again.
If the INTERFACE sucks, people will not play your MMO. It's as simple as that. Nothing is more infuriating than trying to play a game in which you can't use the interface effectively. I sincerely believe this is one of the reasons why World of Warcraft did so well. The interface in that game flows naturally and fluidly and the necessary information about abilities or your current situation is plainly laid out. Furthermore, it is highly customizable.
AoC is indeed a graphically nice game but like so many others, the interface killed it for me.
I'm half kidding...
While the graphics are really nice in AoC there are a few things that are killing the immersion and gives the feeling of lack of polishing. The hat and the badly done textures are part of it. It's like they had 2 teams working on the game and nobody double checked the work of the second one.
About the graphic engine one thing I really don't like is the rendering of distant objects. Mountains appearing or disappearing when you are in range or even worse just rotate your camera is killing the immersion. Compared to LotRo which has really good graphics it's just plaing wrong. (And LotRo shadows are even better)
Thank you!