Age of Conan

I'm picking up my new PC next week and I was looking at giving a new MMO a try.

I have questions on AoC. I would prefer that only people who are actually currently playing the game answer. Drama queens need not reply.

What is actually "wrong" with the game today.

I understand it had a suck ass launch but what game hasn't? Since you can pick it up on ebay for about 20 bucks (or less), I'm not going to lose any sleep over retail pricing.

What are actually the issues with this game aside from all the drama queen shit that is filling the forums here?

• Are all the features in?
• What performance like?
• Pops?
• Whats broken in the classes/skills?
• Dead areas in content?
• Whats the actual problem with the PvP if any?

That sort of thing. You know actual issues.

Reviews look pretty good overall (ave 8.1 out of 33 reviews)  www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/ageofconanhyborianadventures/review.html

but forums....geez, you would think these guys are eating your children.There is also way to much conflicting info to really say.

I also understand its pretty heavily zoned/instanced...fine but does it have a restrictive linear feel like LotR or does it have a more open world feel with several areas to choose from at whatever level?

Do you like it? (remember, I only want people who are actually playing to answer)

Carry on.

Are all the features in?   No
 

What performance like?   Its Great after the last patch
 

Pops?   PvP servers have 2 RP-PvP  and 2 PvE servers the others need help so 5 healty servers
 

Whats broken in the classes/skills?  diffrent things for diffrent classes so to hard to say but over all balance was made way better with the last patch
 

Dead areas in content?  There are some but they have added some and will be adding more . 60 to 70 needs work.
 

Whats the actual problem with the PvP if any?  they have fixed alot so I would say they just need to fix some feets for some of the classes over all PvP was made alot funner the last patch
 

the game still needs work but im having alot of fun and the game is getting better.

P.S. I played EQ2 so I don't mind the instance I would say they need to make sure the world feel gets larger with contant updates and the expansion coming out.

Your best bet is to read user reviews of the game on different sites and from that figure out if its something worth playing for you. Reading reviews where they played the Tutorial isnt gonna tell you anything how the game is. Neither reviews on any site that has/had AoC commercials, you dont know if those reviews are unbiased or not then.

The majority speaks. So go to your favorite sites and check user grade and comments about the game.

The feeling I get from your post is that you hope to get some people to praise the game so you can find a reason to buy it and the biggest reason you wanna buy it is cause you got a new computer and want to see some shiny graphics. :) Asking for opinions from only people playing is like asking for only positive info. Those that didnt like it have quit by now except the 3/6 months people that are stuck for some time. I have played the game, but have stopped, dont see why my opinion shouldnt count as much. But it sounds like you already decided to buy it and just want to get some positive stuff so it feels better.

Without bashing AoC I'm just gonna say that there are loads of other MMOs that are better in every aspect except maybe graphics. So if you are looking for a good long lasting MMO look elsewhere, if you are looking for an action multiplayer game with nice graphics and dont mind paying a monthly fee for it, well give it a shot. Just consider that servers are very empty and no guarantee that they will ever fill up again.

It doesn't matter if you're a CURRENT player or someone who quit because they haven't made any changes that matter.

You're asking from honesty from current players...and frankly the only people left playing AOC are the rabid fanboys who'll sugarcoat the situation...

Do you think such distain for a game and negative posts by the thousands are unwarranted?  All these pissed off people just got together one day and said 'HEY!  Let's go trash AOC!!'  We only spent 60-100 bucks on the game.  Read what they're saying...

People have outlined repeatedly the issues.  Not sure what you mean by 'ACTUAL ISSUES' as most people's ISSUES have to deal with broken, missing content which include crafting, stats, feats, quests, items, instances, and exploits abound.

There's not enough content to get you to 80 without grinding.  By 53 I was totally out of quests until 60 and even then there's maybe 15 quests from 60-80.  Many bugged quests which left what little content there was unable to finish.

The only real change is they turned on the PVP system halfway.  It's been in the game since BETA so it isn't like they actually coded anything.  They turned on the PVP experience and didn't turn on the penalty system.  So basically high levelers can run roughshot over lowbies without fear.  This has been happening anyway because level 80's are bored to tears and ganking lowlevelers is their only fun.

Now with the PVP experience on.  Guilds just unguild themself and kill each other in a circle jerk for PVP experience.  When they get maxed exp for the day they go run in the only level 70-80 area there is in the game.  People can't even quest now in the 70-80 zone because it's full of guilds(usually 1 guild) putting the area on lockdown and resurrection camping you.

The armor of which there was suppose to be 1500 sets.  Well there aren't 1500 sets...  Everyone looks the same.  What armor is around is bland uninspired trash.  My level 20 barbarian looked almost identical to my level 80 barbarian.  Which looked just like every other barbarian in the game.  Even the PVP gear is just restatted lower level dungeon gear.

Stats and feats of which the majority are broken or aren't functioning.  Which leads back to gear.  If stats don't do a thing then gear is pan amount to worthless.  People are left without any gear goals because gear basically does nothing.

Much was promised at launch that isn't in the game and is nowhere on Funcom's agenda.

A complete PVP system.  Drunken brawling.  Mercenary system.  Kingship  DirectX10, etc...

Just watch ANY Hyborian insider especially the ones PRIOR to the games launch.  They were suppose to be insights into the game and what we should expect.  Basically they're blatant lies.  Especially the Insider released RIGHT before the games launch.  People were misled and they're pissed.

You say you play LOTRO and think that game funnels you??????

LOTRO is probably the most expansive MMORPG around.  You see the top of the Misty Mountains a mile away you can go to that peak.  You can take shortcuts through zones...  So not sure what exactly you mean by funneling as LOTRO doesn't funnel players in any way shape or form.

You want to see funneling go ahead and buy AOC.  You see that mountain way in the distance.  You can't go there.  Invisible walls all throughout the game- you're walking then BOOM invisible wall.

If you do not take the EXACT path/trail through the zone then there is NO OTHER way to where you want to go.  There are no shortcuts and you are relegated to walking the same roads over and over and over.  This is one of the LARGEST complaints about AOC.  Might as well forget any exploration.  On top of that EVERY single zone and area is an instance...Hope you like loading screens.

You seem bound and determined to try the thing.  So I say go ahead.  I can warn only so many people that the bridge is out but they keep on driving.  Sure go ahead and buy it if you have money and time to throw away.  Not my money they already ripped me off.

The graphics in AoC are great, and I really enjoyed the combat as well. Unfortunately the game in my opinion lacked story after level 20.  The content 1-20 was really packed full of quests things to do, and of course finding out about your character, however once you get sent to the real MMO part of the game after level 20 it becomes just another outside of graphics and combat.  Just go to a zone do the quests get your exp and keep doing that until about 55-60ish, then unless you have friends leveling is horribly dull, it's like playing an asian f2p game just grind those levels the quests we're few and far between at least they were a couple months ago before I stopped playing.  The game has potential, it definetly had a good feel to it.  Unfortunately if you want something new, you could maybe try war and see if thats your cup of tea.  If not it's back to lotro or wow, or whatever you find enjoyable in the stockpile of average MMO's that are on the mmorpg.com game list.

The graphics are very nice, the melee combat is awesome.  The game has a great foundation on which to build on.....in the future.

Are all the features in?
Which features are you referring to?  Directx 10 graphics - No.  Drunken Brawling - No.  PVP is in the game, to a fashion.  Though the next patch will introduce a Fugitive system.

What performance like?
Performance is good on the whole.  There are a few spots which are dodgy for me (one of the villas), but its not game breaking.

Pops?
Now this is where things start to go downhill a bit. People might still be paying, but many ain't playing.

Whats broken in the classes/skills?
I play a Demo, and ignoring some of the feats you get from the feat tree which are completely useless, I don't think the Demo has it too bad.

Dead areas in content?
I'd say levels 55 - 60, 65 - 70, 75 - 80.   Ymirs Pass zone is coming in (we don't know when exactly because the devs refuse to give details) which will fill levels 55 - 60.  There are 2 dungeons which they are working on for level 80(but they can't give any more info).   Then there's the Commons District, another zone which originally was going to be level 40+ until people started asking why.  We've been told its level range is to be raised to either 65+ or 75+.  No further details provided on the level range as of yet.

Whats the actual problem with the PvP if any?
Dunno, I don't PVP.  From the general concensus I'd say there's a lack of depth and direction.  At the moment its a little chaotic at high level on the PVP servers I believe.

 The main problem?  New content

The main issue with AOC is lack of clarity on what's coming and when.  People ask the devs and the devs reply not to ask questions directly to them because it will have the opposite effect.  So the community is left twiddling its thumbs.  People don't know if the likes of Ymirs Pass and Commons District is going to be 1 week till test, or 1 month or 1 year.  

The community is told "We will release it when it's ready" and "we are formulating a plan of action which we will HOPEFULLY get out to you when we can" and the immortal "We are already aware of the issue and have discussed it internally, no ETA".

People say "Give them time." But how much time is long enough before its too long?  Its like crying wolf all the time.  After a while, people will stop believing you.

Yes the PVP patch brought in PVP and that was a lot of work no doubt, but that took approximately 2 months with NO substantial patches in between.  All bug fixes and tweaks were also held back until the PVP patch was so big in the patch notes, it made it look awesome.  Which when the you consider that the list was an accumulation of several patches into one, it wasn't that awesome.  Though the changes were definately needed.

And that's the problem. The community has been left in limbo, with promises of new PVE content without any tangible evidence appearing on the test servers as of yet.   The test servers themselves haven't had an update of any substance since before 17th Sept when the PVP update went live. 

For now, all is quiet on the Funcom front.  Still, if you're feeling jaded about AOC, watch the new Darkfall video.  That will perk your spirits up ROFL.  How anyone has the guts to release such a pile of crap is anyones guess:

http://videos.neoseeker.com/gameplay/742-darkfall-gameplay-video/

Yes the PVP patch brought in PVP and that was a lot of work no doubt, but that took approximately 2 months with NO substantial patches in between. All bug fixes and tweaks were also held back until the PVP patch was so big in the patch notes, it made it look awesome. Which when the you consider that the list was an accumulation of several patches into one, it wasn't that awesome. Though the changes were definately needed.

How much work does it take to turn on an existing PVP system halfway?  The PVP system has existed since BETA but they turned it off right before launch.  It took them 4 months to get the PVP patch IN.  Not 2 months...  It was 2 months since they had released a patch prior to the PVP one.  Even then the first 2 months of patches were just utter bullshit and fixed nothing and introduced more bugs.