Age of Conan General Discussion

I'm still interested... I'm just broke. From everything I've read buying the expansion doesn't give you 30 free days of game time (right?) so plopping down the cash for a full price expansion plus at least a month of full priced subscription is just a bit much for me right now simply because I want to give the game another chance.

The expansion is all in one and includes the original game. If you buy the expansion and start a new account, you get 30 days free time. If you apply the expansion to an existing account, you don't get 30 days. (I have no idea about upgrading trial accounts with the expansion. In theory, you should get 30 days but I went ahead and created a new account just to be sure. With the double xp pots I was back to the progress I have made with my trial characters in no time.)

Note that Best Buy sells 60 day cards for $14.99, if that helps any.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Age+of+C...

Now that being said, the game is better but I canceled my subscription. They asked for a cancelation reason and this is what I said. The class balance is still all over the map. If things even out at levels 40+, its too late. Right now:

1. the barbarian is the best class at handling all of the different encounter types - single target, 2-3 man groups, and groups with adds
2. the barbarian's blood rage stance is better at leeching life than all of the dark templar's life leech abilities combined
3. the solo game is still difficult as a barbarian. no, everyone shouldn't be exactly as effective as the barbarian but they shouldn't be drastically different as they are now
4. the dark templar is the most frustrating class solo and I guess this is supposed to be the tank class? with better armor and a shield, it has as much survivability as the caster classes.
5. armor is near useless in this game. doubling the damage absorption does not merit much more survivability. survivability is increased more dramatically by the effectiveness of your abilities to hit multiple targets.
6. the cone targeting and line of sight is broken in this game. there are times when you will do more damage to a target behind the enemy you have targeted. there are times where you will not hit a target right in front of you because the targeting probably thinks the too close target is behind you.
7. combat is geared toward fighting groups of enemies yet there are 3 classes geared towards single target combat. guess how frustrating they are to solo?
8. herald of xotli is a melee class and a caster class. It has none of the ranged abilities of the other casters and it has a fraction of the melee abilities of the melee classes.
9. the necro has 8 pets that collectively make a single decent pet.
10. the demonologist has a single useless pet

They don't have to do dramatic changes to the classes. You can really leave the classes as they are. If they just added one new ability to each class, it would make the game much less frustrating to solo. This ability should be a quick (4 sec) recast melee combo that does point blank damage to all targets around the player. It doesn't involve line of sight so it can't be broken by enemies that are too close. It will give casters a reason to use their weapons. It will help out rangers, assassins and dark templars when they are fighting groups by giving them an ability that hits a group.

They already have such an ability with either slam or sweep. They just need to make them available to casters and priests and they need to make it target 360 degrees in a 4m range. Heck, if they wanted, they could give slam a chance to knockdown or knockback like it does up to level 6. I have no idea why they got rid of that. Even if it was to avoid pvp spamming, you can just make it not work on other players or make it do another effect on players like an interrupt.

Ok, whew, long winded but I needed to get it out. I will point out that this is just constructive criticism, albeit very verbose criticism. I do like the changes in the expansion a lot. The challenge is fine. The challenge without being able to do anything about it except die or run away and still die is frustrating.

DevilStick wrote:

Anyway, probably time to put this on the shelf for a while. Seems like interest faded in this one already.

I think I will be canceling my subscription as well. I really enjoyed the new 20-40 zone and the questing is generally really fun, but for some reason I'm just losing interest and playing less and less every night. I guess that's because I'm playing by myself and that tends to get really boring after a while.

I just wish this game had a better reception initially so more of my friends would give this a chance. I'm sure the game would be much more enjoyable if I had a nice small guild to play with, just like I had in WoW and WAR.

fangblackbone wrote:

the dark templar is the most frustrating class solo and I guess this is supposed to be the tank class? with better armor and a shield, it has as much survivability as the caster classes.

So I just re-upped this after letting my STO sub lapse. Hadn't played since a couple weeks after launch, and now I've got a 40s DT, 30s Necro, Demo, and Guard. Really enjoying the game quite a bit, which is not surprising as I enjoyed it at launch -- just couldn't play it at all due to bugs and low-end rig.

This is going to sound like alot like L2P, but I don't at all mean it with the derision that embodies -- when you say that DT lacks survivability it really makes me think you've missed something important in the game or class mechanics. My DT lacks survivability in much the same way Bill Gates lacks money, and it did not take until 40 to get that way. If you hadn't already cancelled I would offer to help out but I guess it doesn't matter now.

Also, a pet-spec'd necro is nothing like a WoW Warlock or any other pet class I've played before. If you try to play it like a Warlock it will be painful. Once you adjust to it though, the class plays great -- feels borderline overpowered to me, honestly, so I certainly wouldn't want them to buff the pets at all. Nightfall Necro plays more like a typical mage-class, as do both specs for Demo.

If anyone else that's re-upped is sticking around, I'd be happy to get together in-game.

I also renewed and have been playing again. I actually created a couple of new toons because to be honest it had been so long since i played i forgotten a lot of nuances and was messing up. The thing i noticed most was that your spec was very important and dictated the way you should play. If your play style didnt match up with the spec you were toast 90% of the time and it got frustrating.

So with the new guys i read some guides and poking along when i can, but i'm really liking this. I've not made 20 yet with any of the new guys and will have to see what happens after i reach 50.

Spec does make a difference. In light of Strekos L2P newb post, I fired up a new dark templar and took it through tortage. The starting talent makes a big difference. I wouldn't call the class fun exactly, but with 5 points into the lifetap increase on every attack instead of the chance to do extra unholy damage, the dark templar survives much better. There is also the level 15 talent that modifies defensive stance so that attacks against the dark templar have a chance to heal them. Its a couple of subtle positive tweaks that significantly increase death avoidance.

fangblackbone wrote:

Spec does make a difference. In light of Strekos L2P newb post, I fired up a new dark templar and took it through tortage. The starting talent makes a big difference. I wouldn't call the class fun exactly, but with 5 points into the lifetap increase on every attack instead of the chance to do extra unholy damage, the dark templar survives much better. There is also the level 15 talent that modifies defensive stance so that attacks against the dark templar have a chance to heal them. Its a couple of subtle positive tweaks that significantly increase death avoidance.

OK, fang if you're going to play a bit before your sub lapses, here's my unsolicited solo PvE DT advice:

Fill up your action bar with only DT combos as soon as you can, using multiple ranks of them. If you need the base soldier combos to fill out your rotation at lower levels that's fine, but get them out of there ASAP. Rotation should look like Leech Life -> A Soul For Our Feast -> multiple ranks of Blood For Aid while refreshing LL and ASFoF as needed. Unhallowed blight doesn't really do much until/unless you start going down Desecration tree or are grouped with a Necro. If you feat Mystical Bane through to Ether Reap, than add as many ranks of it as you have access to your bar and open your rotation with it. Hit your HP to stamina tap (can't remember the name) as often as its cooldown allows.

Spend your feat points exclusively in Depravity to get Soul Barrier as quickly as possible. All the Depravity feats pre-Soul Barrier are useful for soloing with the exception of Consuming Bulwark and Improved Martyrdom. You'll want to pick up at least one of Crystalized Ether, Ether Leech, or Ether Reap to fuel Soul Barrier, and may find as I do that you like having more than one of them. Once you have Soul Barrier, spec choices open up depending on how you want to play, be it tank, offtank or DPS.

Generally use Aura of Infusion, Covenant of Pestilence and normal stance. Once you get to Soul Barrier, if you decide to then go down Desecration, then you can start using Covenant of Arms instead of Pestilence, but you may find that you still prefer Pestilence against multiple enemies. Frenzy stance also is much more useful post-Soul Barrier. Covenant of Invulnerability is great against casters but usually not needed in solo play.

My advice is probably not valid for PvP servers.

OMG I get it now. I haven't been using A soul for feast because its on a minute cooldown. But does it act like other combos where the cooldown is only for one rank? So if I have 2 ranks of ASFF I can cast it twice a minute?

Holy crap that is awesome for my barbarian too. Butcher is a wicked barbarian combo and I know I have at least 2 ranks of it so I can probably use it twice in every three combos.

Yeah the cooldown is just on the specific rank that you've used, so you can rotate through multiple ranks of the same ability to keep it running as much as possible. You can't stack the effects though.

I posted in another thread about it, but i'll do it here too. All old subscribers are able to play for free for the rest of the month.

3 years already?

I got the mail, but I think the main thing preventing me going back besides the 2DVD install + gigs of patching, is the usual hurdle of restarting an MMO, relearning everything and getting back into a groove. Then I've got the fact that my HoX character is from the era (first month) when things weren't as well designed, and I don't really want to do the Tortage area again. I'm sure it's a nice MMO now, but I don't think I'm willing to make the investment.

Scratched wrote:

3 years already?

I got the mail, but I think the main thing preventing me going back besides the 2DVD install + gigs of patching, is the usual hurdle of restarting an MMO, relearning everything and getting back into a groove. Then I've got the fact that my HoX character is from the era (first month) when things weren't as well designed, and I don't really want to do the Tortage area again. I'm sure it's a nice MMO now, but I don't think I'm willing to make the investment.

without the dvd the install is 2.5hrs. I'm also going to try and experiment with my HoX, but all my alts were around the 30 range i believe. Out of Tortage at least.

I have such fond memories of this game I'm afraid to go back in and ruin them. I had a 50 something guardian that was nearly indestructible and would just plod his way through waves of enemies.

Seems they basically have to. I've been playing some this month while its free and i see almost no one on the servers. I saw a few folks in the Tortage area, but didnt see anyone in the 30,50,80 range. Even though they're listed as a medium pop servers.

Which is a shame because i was reminded just how satisfying the combat was for this game.

Sweet! I was just talking about AoC the other day with my wife, despite the flaws and occasional jankyness, we had a lot of fun. (Especially those times rolling with the GWJ crew).

TrashiDawa wrote:

Looks like AoC is going free to play.

The F2P looks pretty restricted, certainly more so than I was expecting when I first saw your link.
http://forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=233500

One thing to note is that a lot of restrictions are lifted if you have bought the game or had a payed subscription at any time. For example, you still only have 2 character slots but the class restrictions are lifted. 2 character slots are really limited. Hopefully more slots aren't unreasonably priced in the cash shop. I would have like to see another slot or two open up for those of use who bought boxed copies of the original game and expansion. Or maybe the ability to earn cash shop points in game to buy character slots.

class restriction is pretty rough... not sure whats the deal there. having 1 or 2 i understand, but all but 4 are shut out if you're f2p.

Yeah the F2P looked like basically a trial. Much of it "to curtail spammers."

I re-d/l it from Steam. I enjoy playing it but I can't see myself sticking with it for more than a month or two if I pick it back up.

ranalin wrote:

class restriction is pretty rough... not sure whats the deal there. having 1 or 2 i understand, but all but 4 are shut out if you're f2p.

Agreed. I was somewhat interested until I saw they removed ranger and assassin, my 2 favorite classes from my short time with the game. Oh well. Back to WoW.

Budo wrote:
ranalin wrote:

class restriction is pretty rough... not sure whats the deal there. having 1 or 2 i understand, but all but 4 are shut out if you're f2p.

Agreed. I was somewhat interested until I saw they removed ranger and assassin, my 2 favorite classes from my short time with the game. Oh well. Back to WoW.

According to the forum you'll be able to keep any of the characters you've previously made. The class limitation are for people who did not have AoC accounts previous to the FTP switch. All the characters on a returning player's account should still be there (just my reading of it, not intended to be a factual statement).

Stengah wrote:
Budo wrote:
ranalin wrote:

class restriction is pretty rough... not sure whats the deal there. having 1 or 2 i understand, but all but 4 are shut out if you're f2p.

Agreed. I was somewhat interested until I saw they removed ranger and assassin, my 2 favorite classes from my short time with the game. Oh well. Back to WoW.

According to the forum you'll be able to keep any of the characters you've previously made. The class limitation are for people who did not have AoC accounts previous to the FTP switch. All the characters on a returning player's account should still be there (just my reading of it, not intended to be a factual statement).

Oh i figured as much, but for trying to entice people to join in... not much of an incentive.

Stengah wrote:
Budo wrote:
ranalin wrote:

class restriction is pretty rough... not sure whats the deal there. having 1 or 2 i understand, but all but 4 are shut out if you're f2p.

Agreed. I was somewhat interested until I saw they removed ranger and assassin, my 2 favorite classes from my short time with the game. Oh well. Back to WoW.

According to the forum you'll be able to keep any of the characters you've previously made. The class limitation are for people who did not have AoC accounts previous to the FTP switch. All the characters on a returning player's account should still be there (just my reading of it, not intended to be a factual statement).

Just so we're clear: My cancelled account can be reactivated as a F2P account and I can play my old ranger and assassin?

Yes as far as i understand it. So long as you either bought a copy of AoC or have been a subscriber at any time, the class restrictions will be removed for you. You will just only have 2 character slots active until you buy more in the cash shop.

This is going to have to change but currently, extra character slots are $15 in the cash shop.

edit: maybe Perfect World can buy Funcom too =P

fangblackbone wrote:

Yes as far as i understand it. So long as you either bought a copy of AoC or have been a subscriber at any time, the class restrictions will be removed for you. You will just only have 2 character slots active until you buy more in the cash shop.

This is going to have to change but currently, extra character slots are $15 in the cash shop.

edit: maybe Perfect World can buy Funcom too =P

Not according to the post krev linked to:

Returning customers get to keep the number of character slots they already had.

Key word being customers.

It'll be interesting to see how much the dungeons cost to add. Most of the prime gearing up (Sanctum, Amp, Crow's Nest) and leveling (Pyramid/Treasury, Villas) instances are restricted access. It is also hilarious to me that they think anyone would pay to go through Cistern or Main since those are some of the most hated instances up there with Scorp Caves which are rightly free.

Since AoC is really gear dependent it's hard to quest if you skip Sanctum and Amp in particular, unless you grind for gold (or buy it) to be able to afford decent BoP gear on auction. You can't enjoyably solo to 80 on quest gear alone.