trying Asherons Call 2

Hobbes

Still have the NC going but thought I'd try AC2 as well. Here is what I have noticed so far.

- Dying doesn't suck.
In AC if you died it normally involved getting a team together to help rescue your corpse and get the items back. So far if you die you don't loose anything.

- No vendors
Now you have a 'convert to gold option' which automatically turns the items into gold. There are no shop vendors at all in the game. Everything is constructed by players (which is a good thing) or quest items.

- More races.
you can play Human, Tumerock (lizard) or Lugian (Stone giant things). Each have thier own specialised skills.

- Skill tree
Reminds me of Diablo, although you can unlearn skills you basically start off as a generic player and then can build up a tree of your choice. Mage, Melee or Missiles (then sub classes under them when you hit level 15). Not sure if I like this, I think I preferred the AC system.

- A crafters dream
They have a brilliant crafting system. Basically each city you have to get resources for the city which helps you build items from mined resources (Wood, stone, Iron). You then learn and build up your craft tree.

- Kingdoms
The world is broken into three kingdoms dominion (order), Neutrual and Shadow (Chaos). Each kindom get thier own special skills as well as other stuff. I haven't really gone that far into it. There is also other forces you can align with in the game. Again still learning.

- Monarcies are still there.
Anyone familar with AC1 will know. They have a patron/vassel system to get players to create monarcies. They can be link to cities (why I am not sure).

- Pure eyecandy.
If you have the machine to run it, the view is breathtaking and effects fantastic.

Other then that, quest system is quite nice but the game is orientated towards getting people to work together. I also liked the actual storyline movies built into some of the quests that teaches you more about the world.

Downside.. if you have a 56k modem the game will make you cry.

jaggeh

ive been playing on hobbes acount while hes not using it :P

heres my views

Crafting
While nice its not very intuitive, ievery time you sucessfully make an item you gain a mastery point. Most low level stuff needs 5 mastery points for you to learn the next recipe up. (example: Tumerok shield (basic) > Tumerok Shield(quality))

the problem is you dont actually master it, i was trying to make myself a shield for over an hour collecting materials and failing every build, doesnt sound like mastery

Quests
While quite straightforward, a lot of the quest involve a lot of walking, and one of the major differences from AC1 that i have noticed is the lack of portals, or lifestones(respawn) near serious quest areas. They advise that you form a party to take on some quests, but another difference from AC1 is that only 1 person needs to complete it. so i saw a group of low level guys hanging around and they said a high level guy was doing a quest for them, basically powerleveling themselves. (something i strongly disagree with)

Skill tree
its a carbon copy of diablo2's system buy a skill pay exp/points into it to improve it, its a perfect console gamers system tbh

Monarchies
While still there they are hugely smaller as players can only have 12 vassels (followers)

i havent played much since the weekend, but im already bored, the game reminds me of beta SWG in some respects (combat for one) ill give it another blast when im feeling better.

Hobbes

I'm beginning the feel the same way too.

The no NPC, crafting while is cool (basically player run system for items), the problem is that everyone can craft stuff so there is no point in looking for a crafter when you can just make the thing yourself.

there are actually a ton of portals/lifestones (Jaggeh is too used to ACExplorer ), and you start off with recall to Lifestone and quick access to portal recall/summon portals. So getting around is actually not a problem at all.

However while the quests are good they do require having to team with people and it can be a pain, also having one person compete the mission is a bit lame too.

Eyecandy is what it has going for it, but I am getting a little bored of it and I haven't played as much as Jaggeh.

you are also able to do things at low level that only high level players in AC could do (example: throw yourself off cliff and live).

Hobbes

Cancelled the account. The game is mind numbing boring, even the combat is boring. Jaggeh said it was like SWG for combat?

Example I come across monster A I know how to kill I press (without having to wait).

3`128612863

Then if he isn't dead I repeat from 1. Seriously don't even have to watch anything.

Graphics the game is fantastic, but the extremly low server populations and the boredom in the game made me quit.

Venom

It was the same for me in SW:G. Amazing graphics and ok sounds but bugger all to do.

Horizons is ment to be utter rubbish as well with a good 99% of the beta testers in shock its been released in its current form. I really wanted to give it a spin but Im ****ed if I paying to play a beta game again. Warhammer online is gonna be a long wait tho

Nemesis

I bought the game on a whim one day..(nothing else interested me at the time).
Loaded it up..patched it...and played for about 2 hours.
Cancelled account after 2 hours.
Main reason was the lack of population..was like running around Laois or Offaly...but I have to admit the Scenery was prettier.
If anyone wants a very cheap copy get in contact with me.
DemonBaby.

I played the Beta for a while, and i have to say i hated it. It was soo boring.

Horizens sounds boring, and from what i've heard is quite crap.

In the height of frustration, i tried Earth and beyond, and while fun for a bit, it gets really annoying.

So the only alternative i've found was going back to DOAC, which i did. Still, i'm not sure how long i'll play it. While after two years of being away, alot has changed, essentially it still has the same reasons i left.

I dunno. Doesn't seem to be much to look forward to. SWG is crap, and Wow can't really live up to expectations. We'll see.

Venom

WoW dosent offer anything new at all, it just offers the same old idea but done to the high standards of Blizzard. But then the same can be said of all there games in all fairness.

Warhammer Online is not going to disapoint I hope.

melachi

I just started UO (again). Nothing else seemed appealing or free enough for a scumbag PKer like me

Could just download Age of shadows there without having to buy any cd.
15 days trial and 30 days of game time for 10 euros. not too expensive
gamespot had the download.

adnans

well, it seems that Turbine bought AC1 and AC2 rights from Microsoft two days ago which would mean some expansion packs coming to both games making it more playable. i havent played any of the AC games so far so i cant comment on how bad/good microsoft made the two games. hopefully this will make Hobbes happy

links: Turbine Games

adnans

Hobbes

Sony have you corrupted.

AC and AC2 have what amounts to expansion packs every month already.