AOC - General Information

[Kuro]

There will be PVP servers, where you will be flagged as attackable in the adventure zones and the border kingdoms.

On the PVE servers, you will be flagged as attackable in the border kingdoms.

PVP is set up to be a large part of the "end-game," with the keep control being central.

[TwiNCannoN]

Originally Posted by Flight

I wonder how many people realise what a debt every single person on these forums owe to Howard for his writing. He started it all. And all before the time he killed himself aged 30.

Howard is to fantasy (and fantasy MMOs) what Elvis is to rock and roll.

The settings, the classes, the monsters, the magic, the ph4t l3wt - its all there in his works. He created it all. It was also more adult, with plenty of sex and violence.

As with most fantasy authors I wouldn't say he created it as much as he pulled it from ancient religions, but he very may well have started the notion of doing such a thing - and it certainly seems to have worked. I've always been a fan of his inclusion of Egyptian lore myself... need more of that in fantasy games today.

[Clug]

Tolkien > Howard.

Discuss.

[spronk]

"Someone" could definitely clean up and release AoC within 2 months, its not in a horrible state but its not really bugfree enough for release yet. Balance is also a huge problem still, as they are still implementing zones/classes/crafting/etc each of these keeps tweaking class balance, right now some classes can easily take on 2-3 of another and mop the floor with them. Like WoW, I think its still really a PVE game with PVP tacked on, although its launching with a lot more PVP endgame features.

I think the first few months playing this game is going to be great if you only play a few hours a week during non-primetime, and bad if you play a lot. Each patch release introduces a ton of bugs (many of which were fixed in previous patches), and each patch is absolutely gigantic (1-2gigs). I'm also not sure how much money Funcom has left anymore, so if too many people subscribe will they be able to handle it? If not enough people sub will they have to sell out to SoE or someone else?

My personal recommendation is that if you are interested just get the cheapest version you can find, I really wouldn't spring for the collectors, mounts, etc. By the time you get to the point you can use one of the PVP mounts (they are only usable in PVP end game zones) I'm guessing there will be more available that are better. Leveling is easy, just time consuming so XP bonus gifts and such don't really mean that much. If we go by WoW the original servers they launch with will be clusterfucks so waiting a few days to buy the game isn't really a big deal, if its successful more servers will come online.

Hacking/cheating is imo a big concern as well, afaik there is nothing like warden in the game and there is no discussion at all about it, I'd expect to see an army of hackers jump in and figure out ways to exploit the game early on. My feeling is that the game is probably very hacker friendly right now and it'll take some big exploits (like duping, massive power leveling, etc) for Funcom to respond. WoW had this same problem at launch though (remember the hack where you could change your Z-axis and monsters couldn't hit you? AoE gnomeregan 1 level every 10 minutes ftw!) and survived ok so I don't think its a make or break problem.

[Fury]

The info that keeps creeping out makes me more and more interested in this game. I've been kind of meh about most of the mmo's coming out over the last couple of years, and have moved around depending on where my buddies wanted to adventure. AoC is sounding like it might be a pretty decent game.

Here's hoping they get it pretty polished and somewhat balanced by release.

[Flight]

Originally Posted by spronk

I'm also not sure how much money Funcom has left anymore, so if too many people subscribe will they be able to handle it? If not enough people sub will they have to sell out to SoE or someone else?

Hacking/cheating is imo a big concern as well, afaik there is nothing like warden in the game and there is no discussion at all about it, I'd expect to see an army of hackers jump in and figure out ways to exploit the game early on. My feeling is that the game is probably very hacker friendly right now and it'll take some big exploits (like duping, massive power leveling, etc) for Funcom to respond.

Funcom still have income from Anarchy Online. I just started playing again this last few days and I'm surprised how many people are still paying for it, even though you can play Vanilla for free. They also must have experience at dealing with hackers and they sure know how NOT to do a launch

The hype is going to grow as this nears launch. If it has half the innovation AO had/has it is going to do very well.


Not disagreeing with anything you are saying, just pointing out I'm surprised how well AO is still doing and how much fun it still is.

[TwiNCannoN]

Originally Posted by Clug

Tolkien > Howard.

Discuss.

Probably, but George R. R. Martin > everyone!

[Draegan]

Martin is overrated.

[Vatoreus]

Howard is my favorite author. Tolkein, while he certaintly created a very rich and detailed world, puts me right to fucking sleep with actually reading any of his books. A good author knows how to leave at least some shit to the imagination.

[Rako]

I feel like no matter how the next couple of months go, most people on this board are going to pick up the game just to check it out. With the lack of new MMORPG's coming out and some of the innovative features this game has, I am sure even most of the naysayers are atleast going to try it out.

[Flight]

Originally Posted by TwiNCannoN

As with most fantasy authors I wouldn't say he created it as much as he pulled it from ancient religions, but he very may well have started the notion of doing such a thing - and it certainly seems to have worked. I've always been a fan of his inclusion of Egyptian lore myself... need more of that in fantasy games today.

I can't disagree with you, but the point is you say all fantasy authors - in this genre he was the first. 06'ers get shit on this board, Howard would be giving Tolkien shit as a 50'ser and Gygax as a 60'ser.

He was the first, though he and Lovecraft were good friends and influenced each other through the 20's and 30's. You can see their ideas cross into each others works.

As far as this, our fantasy - sword and sorcery, Howard was the first and created a world around it. Disingenuous to take any of it away from him. Not only that, read his works and it delivers. Its grittier, bloodier and more 'real' than any of the many hundreds of people who have been inspired by (read copied) him. My original point I never got out is the game has a mature rating and I'm hoping they push that to the full a la Howard.



'Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the earth under his sandaled feet.'


If Funcom mess this up the way SoE did Star Wars, I'll set the Worms of the frickin' Earth on them. On the bright side, at least Koster isn't anywhere near it.

[Vatoreus]

It delivers pretty well so far imo. One thing Funcom does is story lines, they're awesome at it.

[Clug]

Originally Posted by Flight

I can't disagree with you, but the point is you say all fantasy authors - in this genre he was the first. 06'ers get shit on this board, Howard would be giving Tolkien shit as a 50'ser

Um, Tolkien wrote the Hobbit in the 20's yo. Sure he got it published later on in 1937 but he did in fact write it in the late 20's. He wrote it few years before Conan was written (the early 30's). The Hobbit was written before Kull as well.

So ya, Howard came after Tolkien.

[Rayne]

Originally Posted by Flight

If Funcom mess this up the way SoE did Star Wars, I'll set the Worms of the frickin' Earth on them. On the bright side, at least Koster isn't anywhere near it.

Agreed.

Regarding SWG, the problem really is quite simple, and could have easily been avoided by a simple disclaimer. Its what happens when fans of the IP don't mesh well with how the IP is presented in the game.

A nice big disclaimer on the side of the box stating:

WARNING: representations in this iteration may not accurately reflect the literary works on which it is based.

could have saved SWG a lot of bullshit. And chances are, a helluva lot more people would still be playing it. What ends up suffering most is the IP itself. Because it gets shortchanged via lack of subscriptions to the game. Hopefully FunCom gets the necessary freedom to keep the game sensible and enjoyable.

[Tananthalas]

Originally Posted by Vatoreus

One thing Funcom does is story lines, they're awesome at it.

QFT! I expect AoC is going to launch much like Vanguard did. With too much shit broken and too many bugs. However I am still going to pick it up because Funcom has repeteadly written AWESOME story lines.