[VG] Producer's Letter

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Ashes Emberblade

Don't base your class off what you think will get you into a raiding guild. Their recruiting changes all the time and, if you're a good player, you'll get in eventually.

Play what class you like. If it just so happens to be an under played class so much the better.

This is true. One of Blades mottos is never turn down a good player even if a classes isnt really needed. If you can get people to vouch for you, you have a damned good shot.

[Grumpy Old Fart]

Originally Posted by Locithon

So grumpy how did you get AA to work? I have HDR off but it still doesn't work.

Actually, I'm still figuring out VG's awful touchy graphics settings. I started out maxing everything, but then V-synch wouldn't work and forced AA totally screwed everything up (textures were mostly all white, etc.). So, I stop forcing AA, load up VG and it's *STILL* all messed up, even though the settings are exactly the same as they were for the previous five hours of playing. Then I fiddled with the "Ultra High/High/etc." pull-down menu and got it to work. Just by setting the main choice to "Very High" (I think that's it - second highest option), I now have V-synch working and what looks like 4xAA, even though there is no option for any AA in the VG options and I don't have it forced by the nVidia CP. But now, selecting HDR just washes out all of the textures again. Very strange.

And now, Whiny Bitch Mode: Why can't these game devs show even the slightest bit of creativity? These Sigil folks had this huge budget and a total blank slate to create whatever type of world they want. So, rather than getting a wondrous fantasy world started from scratch, what I got in the Half Elf newbie area was some bullshit Chinese/Japanese culture 100% ripoff, from the character models, architecture, monkish "chi" beliefs, Emperors, etc. It's pretty fucking sad.

It reminds me of the "big deal" in WoW when Ahn'Qiraj was released. After a huge buildup, I get into AQ and it's a totally boring, shitty, amateur-hour 3-D construction, with half of it being more of the same damn insects you'd seen a million times before, then proceeding to... (wait for it)... an Egyptian themed area! Egyptian themed? Where the *FUCK* did those lame-ass, no-talent, loser devs come up with this shit? This is Blizzard, with 550 million bucks in cash stashed aside, and they make their newest "big thing" some boring, stupid, totally non-creative garbage like this.

My current character in VG is a level 8 Half Elf Druid on Seradon, of course, since I'll probably end up joining some RP guild (less kiddies). That is, if any of them actually have any of their recruiters on-line. It sorta sucks starting out new in a game that has had 95%+ of the prior players already quit the game. The next few days will be spent cruising forums for newbie tips, crafting tips, diplomacy, graphics tips, editing INI files for fun and profit, etc. Speaking of which, the VG forums I've been reading (Ten Ton Hammer, Silky Venom, Druid's Grove, etc.) are pretty indicative of a "dead" game, with very few threads even started in the past seven months.

[eVasiege]

Why don't you try the main forums? There seems to be a lot of activity on those.

Oh, and I think most realistic fantasy MMO's are based off of real world themes. Try checking out Qalia if you don't like the Kojan starting areas. Its where I started the other day and its mostly desert, but a lot of new players seem be starting around the Khal area. Quite a few people around at all times, its easy to find groups so far.

[Arrr]

I'm actually really liking rogue so far. Haven't had any problems on any 2 dots, although I'm still just a wee noob (level 7). A lot more questing than I expected, but that's okay. Just hope I can find a group to check out some group content.

if anybody else is rolling on seradon, gimme a shout. name is Europe.

[Grumpy Old Fart]

Now that I have a snare spell, I think I'm going back to that level 7 caster that kicked my ass and try some kiting/LOS 'sploits to get some revenge!

And Arrrr, we old East Lansing, Michigan natives need to stick together. I usually play either an "Elytharra" (my VG druid) or "Zahasha" (not sure yet - maybe DE Sorcerer or Rogue). I've had those two names since D&D days 31 years ago. Then again, maybe I'll revive "Gretlein Sweetcookie" and make a Halfling Psionicist (if that's possible).

[Arrr]

haha, sounds good. I should be on late tonight and all day tomorrow.

btw, is there some kind of DPS meter or parser for Vanguard?

[Grumpy Old Fart]

Originally Posted by Arrr

haha, sounds good. I should be on late tonight and all day tomorrow.

btw, is there some kind of DPS meter or parser for Vanguard?

From what I'm reading in the VG forums over the past couple of days, the combat log output by VG is so incompetently done that it's impossible to parse. Some stuff I read included the fact that DOTs don't have any attribution in the log, etc.

And I'll probably be reading forums or doing crafting/diplomacy quests for the next few days, at least. I'm not the type to just head out into the hinterlands and start grinding on mobs for XP. I actually read all of the quest text, even!

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Arrr

I'm actually really liking rogue so far. Haven't had any problems on any 2 dots, although I'm still just a wee noob (level 7). A lot more questing than I expected, but that's okay. Just hope I can find a group to check out some group content.

if anybody else is rolling on seradon, gimme a shout. name is Europe.

Here is a nice Rogue ring that drops from the entry wing.

[Kodylan]

Originally Posted by kcxiv

Here is a nice Rogue ring that drops from the entry wing.

Is the text actually blurred in-game, or is that something screwy with the screen shot?

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Kodylan

Is the text actually blurred in-game, or is that something screwy with the screen shot?

it was just the screenshot. Its not blurry

[Arrr]

wow, that seems pretty nice. it's good that they've got some idea of how to do loot this early (clicky effects, etc). Usually first raidzones have crappy loot and they go back and revamp it.

[Bobleclair]

Is it the only mob you killed in APW ?

[Darkivy]

here we go again.. 1.30am gmt finish, cos we just had to get to the next portal.. but had a great time, killed general vicus tonight (we didnt manage this on test), and travix and made it to the next portal.. throughly enjoyable even if we had a patch halfway through and had to stop at a safe point.

We spent a long time to get the encounter right on vicus, quite a few wipes where a tiny bit more information/what if we do this/change the groups this way etc.. which personally i like.

getting that old eq raiding feeling again.. where theres a target/destination and its worth it to play later to get there.

Whats worthy about VG raiding.. everyone gets to be really, really busy, every tank has a go, every healer goes mad healing, every dps racks it up.. and every single persons contribution counts.. no slacking here at all.

Looking forward to gearing up (two red pieces already on this little shammy), and working (with a capital W) our way through the rest over the coming months.

[tad10]

If you are new to VG or considering it -- this is a good time to try it.

* * *

Rudolph the Reindeer is a 140 speed flying mount you can get in any major city that will last through at least the next two weeks -- so easy access to everywhere for a few weeks.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Bobleclair

Is it the only mob you killed in APW ?

No, just killed Sillius right now. Dunno whats next. APW is fucking huge.