Age of Conan

First, a bit about me.  I'm a social player and am not in MMORPGs for combat (and am not afraid of getting blood on my blades) but for socializing with my guildmates and making THEIR adventures more successful from my crafting.  Most importantly, I don't pay companies for potential.  Either a game has me the first hour or it doesn't.

The game is a great, great game.  The story plays very well.  I won't deny it.  However, it respect to TWO things in AoC that drive me insane.  Avery, my friend, you are a used car salesman!  LOL

Crafting.  Crafting is AoC is a joke.  Funcom, one of the EASIEST ways you can improve the game is completely remove crafting.  Reintroduce it later if you can develop a good system, but the one now is bad at best.   Resource spawns that regenerate extremely slow.  Itemization of crafted items is a joke.  Trash mob drops are 10x better ANY item except on the tens.  The end result is, there is no economy for crafted items.  As soon as you get to 41 or 42 level mobs the armor that you crafted is already outdated. Same goes for everything else.   We won't mention gem socketing because just the mention of it may crash your system (pun intended).  After experimenting with the crafting system in AoC myself, I can honestly say that is by far the worst crafting system I've experienced in any AAA game (that has crafting).

Instancing/Zoning.  I really don't need to go into details.  If you played it, you know the drill.  People either love it or hate it the amount of zoning in AoC.  Me personally, it completely breaks the immersion factor for a social gamer.  They don't call the game Age of Clonan for nothing.

For me, crafting and zone cloning are what holds this game back.  And the combat system, is repetitive which can lead to bordom.  Thank goodness there is a great story behind the game because it makes you forget about the repetitiveness of the combat system very easily.

Bottom line from everyone's favorite troll, even though I sit on the fence.  I give Age of Clonan at 7.5 out of 10 or 75 out of 100.  I take 10 off for each of the crafting and cloning.  I also take 5 off for combat.  I also give back +5 bonus points for the story because it is a damn good story driven game and deserves a bonus.  Unfortunately, the game didn't grab me as I would have hoped. 

Until next time...

Leet post! Look at her post number!!!! Shannia, you have to stop posting and keep this forever. Make a new account or something.

I totally agree with your review. Crafting and itemization are really bad, and as a result the economy of the game is not interesting at all. There are definitly good elements in Conan, but 7,5 is a very real and objective rating.

Anyway, its nice to realize that there are some ppl here that know what they want, and can also judge a game without trolling or mindlesly praising. Nice one!

Decent write up.

In terms of crafting I totally agree. Should be removed until it can be done well. Static regenerating resource spawns imo are the worst way of distribution. There should also imo be more of a group aspect involved in some way or at least bonuses for gathering in a group. Or something along the SWG resource distribution without maybe the need for mines for obvious reasons. Either way as it stands now, better without it.

Instancing doesn't bother me too much. Dissapearing mobs and group members is far more immersion breaking for me.

Combat I disagree but its all about taste.

As to an overal score, for me the economy and crafting (even if I don't get in into it personally) are a big thing, they are the back bone of a decent game so for the time being I would mark it a little lower. But I like playing atm and am enjoying it, long term though they need more depth from the crafters. Oh and loot should NEVER match crafted items imo.

The notes didn't have much on the crafting so I guess it could be some time, as for the supposed up and coming pvp gear, tbh I'm more than a little pesimistic. Especially from a pvp point of view (mymain reason for playing the game) it would seem a great game to have degrading items and crafted economy.

Hope you have luck finding a game you enjoy.

I don't think its a love or hate relationship with zoning. I believe its more of a tolerence issue. But crafting and zoning do need to improve. And I expect that there will be improvements made over the next few months.

I think 7.5 is a fair score, +/- 1 pt if they fix the things they need to fix.

Originally posted by Shannia

Instancing/Zoning.  I really don't need to go into details.  If you played it, you know the drill.  People either love it or hate it the amount of zoning in AoC.  Me personally, it completely breaks the immersion factor for a social gamer.  They don't call the game Age of Clonan for nothing.

For me, crafting and zone cloning are what holds this game back.  And the combat system, is repetitive which can lead to bordom.  Thank goodness there is a great story behind the game because it makes you forget about the repetitiveness of the combat system very easily.

 

This is my beef with AoC as Shannia put.. Instancing.. (to find your party is just absolutely horrible, they definetly need to fix this, reminds me a little like guildwars, i just wish they find a better method to locate your friends in the zone and in the right instance).

Now zoning doesnt bother me since I spend alot of time just in one zone and I dont craft, so I am not worried about this feature and leave that problem to someone that likes to craft in the game. However I will support any guild / friend member if they need materials or what not.

The combat system can get repetetive, but it keeps you on your toes and awake. No auto attack and grabbing a cold one in the fridge feature (you definetly got to kill the mob 1st then grab your cold one).

Now since I don't have an offical review like Shannia, I still would rate this game in its current condition a 8.5 or 85%

Still, I love the game for what it is at a level 45. The hell levels of 50 to 80? I am going to see what people are bitching about once I get there.

Completely beyond the point, but, Shannia... look at the number of your posts.

1337... just had to point that out.

On the other hand, I thought it was a good review. Those two are very large concerns for me as well, as I enjoy crafting and hate load zones. What I don't understand is why you have to wait until level 40 to get a crafting skill, assuming it will function similar to WoW's crafting (or at least attempt to). It's going to be harder to gain skill of the profession, and more importantly, money for mounts and etc., which become available at the same level. The economy in this game is starting horribly, but at least that is something that can be fixed with ease in a video game (if only the same could be said in the real world...)

As for load zones... I do hate them. But in my mind, they're a necessary evil. It's really just as simple as that for me. I don't know how they could make an MMORPG this graphically extensive without load screens. I am able to live with this and doubt that these will be changed any time soon, maybe in some way become improved in load times one way or another, but I doubt removed completely... maybe in a year from now it will be a possibility.

Shannia

Your quote is funny. Its more like an epitath now

I have to agree that the crafting needs some major work to it as it stands right now.  We need to be able to make items that are relevant for your level / experience and not just for resale, but to be useable by the crafter themselves.

As for zones, I'm not shocked by them, knew it was going to be like this. I wish it could be more open world but its the way it is, I happy with some of the large zones, and understand why it is like it is. I can feel totally immersed in some zones but not so much in others. The level of detail in them makes it up for me. NPC's hunting other NPC's, crows picking off flesh on dead people, salmon jumping up rivers etc.

Story is fantastic have to agree there too. This also adds to immersion for me as well.  Im looking forward to expansions as there is so much more of Hyboria to uncover.

Fair opinion Shannia :)

Originally posted by AmazingAvery

I have to agree that the crafting needs some major work to it as it stands right now.  We need to be able to make items that are relevant for your level / experience and not just for resale, but to be useable by the crafter themselves.

As for zones, I'm not shocked by them, knew it was going to be like this. I wish it could be more open world but its the way it is, I happy with some of the large zones, and understand why it is like it is. I can feel totally immersed in some zones but not so much in others. The level of detail in them makes it up for me. NPC's