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Been Playing - Does it get better?
Spradomatic
Member Posts: 10
Hey all,
I've been playing the Archeage CBT for events #3 and #4. I'm currently in the mid-20's. I've experienced the first "dungeon" a couple of times, a minor amount of crafting(very minor), experienced a trade-pack quest for earning money, and have been mindlessly questing.
I understand that this is supposed to be a hybrid themepark/sandbox thingy where you don't experience much of the sandboxy feel of the game until (Level 30?). I'm trying very hard to log in at least once-a-day to gain some levels so that I can experience life in the game whenever it's supposed to "get better." Others have stated how unbearable and mindless the questing is, and I have to agree after doing it for 23+ levels now; I'm just bored with it. (But I'm trying to give it a fair shake since I haven't experienced many of the sandbox elements of the game yet).
I love a game that emphasizes crafting, instead of it being an afterthought once you begin end-game PvE content; so kudos to the creators for that.
One major flaw that (I have) with the game is the "combat." The mechanics behind the combat here feel extremely dated and boring (very clunky). I may have been spoiled by the combat of WildStar (which I quit for other reasons, but I enjoyed the combat). I've been gettin' used to chaining combinations for maximum effect, but that doesn't change a boring combat system.
Another flaw I've noticed (and I haven't narrowed this down to what it is yet) is some random (lag spike? / FPS spike?) that I seem to be getting ONLY in this game. It happens frequently and always interrupts my combo's.
The "trial" chat (which is supposed to be reserved for those facing consequences for doing some bad), just seems to be the trade-chat of most of other MMO's, where people are just trolling and immediately saying guilty when it's time for someone's sentence.
Keep in mind, I haven't grabbed a founder's pack; so I haven't gotten around to housing or farming yet (and that the last sandbox game I played would have to have been RuneScape YEARS ago, so I most likely don't have an updated idea of modern sandboxes). All-in-all, I've enjoyed the graphics of the game quite nicely, but the boring combat and issues with spikes have caused me to probably look elsewhere before spending my money here (because let's face it, the only way worth playing this game is to subscribe).
I'm going to keep playing until I hit level 30 at least, so that I can keep giving it a fair amount of play-time before saying NO(or YES) to the game. What do you guys think? Am I alone in my assessment of the game so far? I've found myself yearning for something to take me away, and have a few games on my future-test list that I want to try out, but unfortunately I'll be waiting 1+ years for them to come out.
Comments
Your first impressions pretty much match what others who do not quite like the game are saying. Great ideas, but the direction of some key mechanics keep the game from being truly great in a portion of gamers eyes. Some downright hate the game, other downright hate that the game seems to be on the fridge of where some would want it but does not cross over.
There are plenty of other threads here that pretty much point in the same direction you are going. While some (including myself) have not got to the 30+ mark "where the game really opens up" getting there just does not feel fun to us. It's a goddamn shame because I dig the way the game looks and makes you feel, the game just needs a few tweeks in certain areas for a certain portion of gamers.
For another portion of gamers the game feels right and they enjoy the game very much. I just wish there was a way to keep the game unchanged for those who love the game, but make the appropriate changes for the rest of us. In a perfect world perhaps
S.C.I.F.I
<Sights, Clouded, In, False, Illusions>
I've no clue where this whole thing about lvl 30 started from. What comes to mind is that at lvl 30 open world pvp opens up; but then again that's not the only thing that AA is about.
So please stop saying lvl 30 like it's some magical number; because it's not.
If you want a magical number it's lvl 10. At lvl 10 you get the first trade quests that give you the scarecrow. From there a whole new world opens to you. You start seeing quests as a way to get quick money to buy seeds, then harvest what you planted and sell on the ah for a lot more money.
Trading opens up at the same time as farming; and that's another very good part of the game. Once you get 15 gilda stars (20m gameplay if you rush) you place down your house and start mining for ores. Mining iron veins gives A LOT of XP. Mining is the fastest way to lvl, not quests. What's the catch? It costs labor points.
As a patron i did daily 1 lvl just by mining. Are you f2p? Stick to quests then, till you have enough gold for APEX. Or just pay the 15$.
Your post will fall on deaf ears. Not because you are not providing good information, but because the information you are providing is not relevant to those who are complaining the loudest. Why you may ask? Well, because it speaks of PvE which does not appeal to the majority of those complaining. They understand they can do all of those things, they just don't want to do them. What they want to do is OWPvP, and that is why, as you so accurately depicted in your post, they have established the magical number to be level 30. Is it a shallow and short-sighted mentality to adopt when assessing game play value? I'll leave that to the interpretation of each individual. Just be aware that it is what it is and any attempt to convince it otherwise is futile.
I explained this in another thread, but it needs to be restated again here. The reason the specific lvl 30 number is thrown around so often when it comes to Archeage opening up is because that's typically the level you have enough Gilda Stars available to purchase a Clipper boat (allowing unfettered exploration opening up the world). So, when people figured this out they established the lvl 30 point as an approximation for when the majority of players will have progressed far enough to begin exploring at their own discretion.
Additionally, it is around lvl 30 that the majority of players will encounter their first contested area aka open world PvP area. This is a pivotal point in many players experience with Archeage, and primarily when most people have played enough to make an informed decision as to whether or not they like the game.
I guess that's explains it to a certain extent. But then again if they wanted to they could have joined a guild and get to do a trip with the boat much sooner. This is an MMO. Also clipper it's not the equivalent of a land mount. It takes time and effort to build it as it should be.
If they really couldn't wait to explore they could go with the rowboat..
That level 30 number is a SIGNIFICANT number... up until then, you are wandering around in protected areas. No one can attack you. When you hit 30 and are sent out into the world, you are no longer in protected areas. It's why that number is mentioned so frequently because the game does in fact change dynamically at that point... unless of course you stick to the 1-30 leveling zone for the rest of your time in the game.
It's a PVP game first and foremost... the idea and the intention is to have you all at war with one another, not sit in a garden farming fruits and vegetables. They want you out there in the 30+ zones fending for yourself at every turn. It's why they say the game opens up at 30... because that is the magic number that you will be when you see the PVP side of the game for the very first time.
Yes, I have tried to do things different in other games but if other people are not doing the same thing it just does not work.
I am actually going to post this suggestion on the official forums. They should at least make 1 server like this to see how it goes. I know its the server that I would be playing on.
During beta 3 i said that the game felt too themepark and linear and i was met with many replies of at level 30 the entire game changes it becomes a open world sand box game - it seems to be misinformation and at level 30 all that changes is you enter open world pvp while still doing the same linear themepark
Have you tried just wandering off in the wrong direction? I think you will find that there isn't anything there... well, you might find some plant still on a timer marking the presence of another soul who just wandered aimlessly in a particular direction. This game doesn't provide you with surprises to discover, it merely gives you the land on which to build/grow things or attack things. Notice those mobs are awfully thin... even in the quest areas you are directed to.
Sure, when you cba to think outside of the box and do other things... you still have the option to go questing. This was specially introduced for players who cannot see anything beside "themepark" everywhere.
I felt similarly after hitting level 32 during my beta period. It didn't help that I'd practically just hit 30 and earned the Gildas to build my boat the day before CB3 was ending. Had I not been F2P, with it's significant LP restriction, I would likely have had my clipper sailing the seas within a few days of play. As mentioned by many other posters, it's definitely a game that you'd have to be willing to sub to in order to really have a good time. I don't have a problem subbing to a game, but had doubts that AA was truly something I wanted to devote a lot of time to (school started back today).
I redirect you to the third post of the thread.
pvp, crafting, farming & housing do not make a sandbox
i couldnt be bothered to put in 30 levels of themepark boredom to see if the game offers anything else - i would rather wait for a game such as the repopulation which will be sandbox and most importantly fun from level 1 not level 30
I say after level 10 there should just be no quests. Make it a real sandbox. The people complaining about the game are mainly complaining about the themepark aspect of the game (which I think has been established is not the true beauty of the game). Give some easy to do quest to give players that "tutorial" feel and then just let them wonder. Why even have the quests?
I have always been a fan of dynamic events. Events that allow players to complete either solo or in group...easy to form and leave groups. No standing around asking for help but allowing players to jump in, participate and be rewarded. Don't want to help the village being raided by thugs? Move on. Want to jump in and kill a few waves and then move on? Sure go ahead. Want to see it all the way to the end and stop the thug leader and save the town? Sure do it. Simple! You have your PvE and you still can have an open living world.
I think this would be a good idea to replace the "themepark questing" in AA and encourage players to think outside of the box more. So to finish off, you really cannot 100% blame the players from getting caught in the themepark aspect of a sandbox game, since this is the way the developers have obviously started the game off.
S.C.I.F.I
<Sights, Clouded, In, False, Illusions>
The only one making it a themepark is you. The quests are there to guide WoW players into the sandbox. You didn't have to do them.
Honestly its the entire game for me. The needing the points to harvest/do anything is a MAJOR setback for new comers the lack of weapons or drops in game make it tough when vendors are priced to sell to the Golden Camel Jockeys. I do not like the camera the traveling, the ability to compare armor stats, ability change out, horse/walk fast etc.
yeaah right ok then
i give up, no point in this conversation any further
Could you elaborate on the housing please. I went to Mirage Island and the smallest house I saw cost 150 gilda stars.
I have 23 so far and I am at level 20.
What am I missing?
http://www.entropiapartners.com/?r=22415
This is why you need the quests. Without them you would have nothing but dozens of threads and posts dominating entire forum websites asking "How do I ....," and "What do I do now."
I like this idea. If they consolidated all of the "mindless" questing into JUST the necessary ones which get you involved with housing, farming, crafting, and trade packs, etc...you could easily get those done within 10 levels. I could also see the dynamic events catching on in something like this.
I would also love for them to take a better look at the combat (sounding like a broken record, I know). As it is now, it doesn't feel fluid enough for a "modern" game.
Honestly this is the majority of Asian MMOs take on online gaming. Its not racial its just how they build games. Pretty looking, bubbly, with no commitment to quests. Click point lvl 20, make the game just a visual mind rub when your content alarm goes off you think its false but its a real emergency. Lets call it what it is people: Not made for NA.