Back in Telon
I logged in to Age of Conan, played for about 45 minutes, was uninspired and decided to log off and take up SOE’s offer of free play time in EQ2. I hadn’t played it in many months so there were a few hours of upgrades to get through but then I was in. My first impressions were that the world itself didn’t look all that bad but character models themselves were starting to age. I don’t remember my character looking so much like a toy; I always thought of EQ2’s characters as realistic.
So I flagged myself as LFG and announced my availability in the chat channels. I was in Freeport and I figured at my level (I was playing my 39 Inquisitor) the most likely group would be in Runnyeye. So I tried to remember how to get there and then headed out in search of adventure. Unfortunately I got bored and logged off. Sadly, I think I’m done with EQ2.
With still no desire to log back into AoC just yet I was left with the dilemma of whether or not to resubscribe to another MMOG. The last game I’d given any serious game time too and one which I was enjoying was Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. SOE was kind enough NOT to include VG in their free time offer so I would have to pay for it. I was convinced by my evil persona that I’d spend that much on a bottle of wine without batting an eyelid so I should resubscribe, which I did, and grabbed a bottle of wine as well.
My first impression of VG after my two month hiatus was WOW! I’d forgotten how good this game looks. And huge, Telon is truly epic in size. Huge trees, huge towers, huge mountain ranges, huge dungeons; the world is immense. AoC still has the better character models but VG makes the former’s tiny zones look exactly that, tiny. These screenshots really don’t do the game justice.
I spent a couple of hours soloing my 39 cleric and familiarising myself with the controls, my spells, and how to get around again, not to mention that there have been a lot of additions with Game Update #5. The next day, and in short time, I found myself grouped in Thelasseen. Grouping is what I like best in a MMO and VG does groups well. Beyond level 13 the majority of my XP has been gained in groups Thel itself is huge; a huge dungeon in the middle of a huge world. No zoning, no instancing, just one massive dungeon.
Our group was made up of two tanks, warrior and paladin, two dps with a monk and bard, and two healers, a disciple and me. Seeing as how I’m a cleric that made me the main healer and I like it that way. Our main tank hadn’t played the game in 12 months so he was a bit rusty and did a couple of bad pulls along the way. I hadn’t played in two months so I was a bit rusty, particularly with controlling heal agro. As a result I died a couple of times but thankfully we never had any complete group wipes. We eventually got our act together and did a good run through the place, killing nameds and getting some nice XP. Most of our group dinged including me.
So I have two subs currently, AoC and VG. I’ll try to share my time between the two and see which one I’ll stick with, but right now it’s Vanguard that I want to play. Lastly, I hadn’t noticed any scantily clad ladies in Vanguard before, but I stumbled upon this one, a rogue trainer. Have they always been there I wonder or is VG sneaking them in?
Comments
Comment from SwS
Time: July 20, 2008, 11:41 pm
I thought I got an email shortly after SOE sent out free EQ2 emails, I’m pretty sure I did… I’ll have to check. Anyway, I tried VG and I didn’t like it. I tried it back in December, I only managed to play a few days… just couldn’t get into it. The crafting system is the best in any game I’ve played though, I’m no crafter… but I would have done it in VG.
I was basically in the same boat as you, AoC just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t wanna play another minute of WoW (not that it’s bad, just very stale) so I took a second chance on LOTRO… I kind of wish I put that $30 towards WoW… or just saved it.
Comment from Openedge1
Time: July 21, 2008, 7:48 am
Haha…I have been studying the phenomenon that is LOTRO. It is so lackluster and boring, yet quite a few are so dedicated.
And the results have been interesting to say the least. I posted some initial thoughts on my website.
Time really has a lot to do with like in my opinion. Someone can like something as long as they do not have to put a lot of time into it. If they do need to dedicate their time, then it better be good (ala WoW, Guild Wars, etc..)
So far those who feel AoC or LOTRO is good seem to not put much time into it…
Interesting.
Comment from 
caliga
Time: July 21, 2008, 3:20 pm
LOTRO is one MMO I haven’t tried. I’ve been meaning to and have held the game box in my hand on numerous occasions, but I always have another game I’m playing at the time so I hold off.
Comment from SwS
Time: July 21, 2008, 4:02 pm
Not worth it, save your money and put it towards Warhammer… or something more important. I found it fun until around level 20, then it’s just… not fun. It’s sort of like something sapping your soul slowly. The fun diminishes as you gain levels.
Comment from SwS
Time: July 21, 2008, 4:04 pm
Oh yeah, heres a portion of the email for VG:
“Service Notice Email for Telon Rides On Reactivation
This message is to inform you that your Vanguard: Saga of Heroes account has been reactivated for a limited time*. Between June 26, 2008 at 12:01AM and July 31, 2008 at 11:59PM your account will be re-activated and you will be able to log-in and experience all that Vanguard: Saga of Heroes has to offer. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes has undergone many game changing updates and we are offering all former account holders a chance to play the game for FREE for a limited time.”
Comment from Openedge1
Time: July 21, 2008, 5:14 pm
I am with SwS on this. LOTRO has the AoC effect. The beginning is AWESOME, then the first time they go to send you to kill 10 boars, then 10 wolves, take this book here, then kill 10 more boars, then 10 goblins (oo…something new)…oh then 10 wolves.
Well, we know that game…eh?
Save the cash for WAR. I have been adamant about WAR being a WoW clone. Then I read the Guild system today (has EQ2 underpinnings), and keep hearing over and over how good it looks…well, I think we have an answer.
It is officially on my list to watch now.
Comment from
caliga
Time: July 21, 2008, 9:57 pm
I played VG up until about 2 weeks before AoC released and I guess that’s why they didn’t give me the free time. I will hold out for Warhammer and there’s a bunch of MMOs due out in 2009 so the genre’s not light on for games. Aion is another game I have my hopes pinned on.
Sometimes I think we’re spoiled for games and hence the disatisfaction in a lot of them.
Comment from SwS
Time: July 22, 2008, 1:28 am
I don’t think we are spoiled, I think WoW just changed things a lot. Developers and publishers will learn either the hard way or the easy way that you must release a complete game. It must have enough content to get a person from 1 to endgame, and then a few things to do at endgame. If it doesn’t your game is going to be panned and rejected by a majority, only the fanboy’s will stick around. Even they will leave eventually if you prove to not update your game in a timely manner.
I know that MMO’s are huge projects today and publishers need to start treating them like they are. They need to increase budgets for these games, or I’m afraid that we might continue to pay to beta.
Comment from Openedge1
Time: July 20, 2008, 8:30 am
Wow, nice pics as always. VG really has some good looking landscapes,, and the gameplay is ok, but for the amount of time I get to play, the death penalty and world travel has thrown me for a curve.
Add to that how I feel about the new character models (you said EQ2 was not good and I feel Vanguards look really bad since the last revamp.)…even though I hear new models will be in the next patch. I let Vanguard go for now (and PS: I had free time in VG, they offered it about 2 weeks after the EQ2 one…you maybe had played too recently?)
As to EQ2, the wife said we shall be letting that one go. We do not feel compelled to log in. It just does not feel like a living world, and is disjointed. We enjoyed our time while it lasted though.
Seems the time to goof off until the next game comes in underway. AoC let a lot of people down I feel, and with WAR around the corner and the vibe becoming even more exciting, I am at least looking at it as a viable solution to gaming.
For now, Guild Wars is working for me, and Vanguard has really made a come back.
You should keep an eye on Ardwulfs blog and join all of us in Xfire as well (Stargrace recently added this tool for screenshots and videos..)
Cheers