Age of Conan Open Beta - 1st of May

[MasterFlash]

Through Fileplanet, you have to be paid subscriber though.

Lvl cap at 13 too. Probably wait for my pre-order to be honest.

[poozle]

I don't plan on getting the game (waiting for WAR) but might give it a go through file planet.

[Allen]

What's the point of an "open" BETA you have to pay for?

Anyway, what I've seen so far hasn't impressed me, so I doubt I'll take a look...

[Geist]

A lot of the ex-wow guys from my old server are planning on getting this. I think it Could be very good but its very mixed at this time.

You could watch 2 videos and one will make you want to play and the other will shock you at how poor it is.

[Allen]

Originally Posted by Geist

A lot of the ex-wow guys from my old server are planning on getting this. I think it Could be very good but its very mixed at this time.

You could watch 2 videos and one will make you want to play and the other will shock you at how poor it is.

Yeah, I guess that's the burden of being an ex-wow addict, I will compare all future MMO's to it. Even though WoW does have it's drawbacks, it was obviously good enough to keep me addicted for a few years...

[Barrichello]

Been playing in full beta last couple months and AOC rocks.

The "Open" beta to level 13 sounds a bit meh!

If you like point and click style easy mode fighting - and kidz type players/graphics then yeah wow is cool.

For more mature content - fighting involving pulling off chain/combo moves and fatalities, spellweave casting then im sure allot AOC will attract allot of ex-wow players looking for something different and new.

[Allen]

Originally Posted by Barrichello

fighting involving pulling off chain/combo moves and fatalities

That sounds more aimed at kids than most of WoW tbh... And WoW isn't "point and click" style, not by default. I can't imagine anyone playing using "point and click" though!

[Barrichello]

Originally Posted by Allen

That sounds more aimed at kids than most of WoW tbh... And WoW isn't "point and click" style, not by default. I can't imagine anyone playing using "point and click" though!

Ok i will try and explain the difference.

Lets say you a warrior in wow you just point/click or tab on a player. You then click charge/intercept/hamstring/heroic strike - hammering any button not on cooldown while all the time "auto attacking" the same target.

In AOC there is no "auto attack"

You have to weigh up you opposition to exploit weaknesses. You do not attack in one direction. You have three different core directional fighting attacks to exploit a opponents armour/shield. Attacking a mob that has a shield?, you exploit his opposite side.

Unlike wow - you are not only limited to attacking the player you have singled out. You have a permanent melee aoe - a arc/zone around you that anything that is in will get attacked. Stringing together your attacks using the core button and combo abilities in a different order (rather than a mouse click or wow type shortcut key" you are rewarded with increasingly more powerful attacks as you level up - as you become more proficient they become stronger and you can pull off finishing fatalities "think mortal combat"

In basic terms the fighting system is allot more advanced than any mmo before it, it actually does require a higher level of skill and ability than moronically clicking "i win" macro buttons and auto attacking.

In regard to the kidz aspect im talking about the 18+ rating the game carries due to the overt levels of blood/gore/sex/violence.

[Geist]

It is sounding promising and I do know a fair few ex-wow players who are going over to it and are forming a pvp based guild. But I'm holding off till nearer launch. Some of the more recent videos I've seen of in game have been poor to say the least. Plus I've started eve with some old friends and its going quite well atm...

But here's a question you can decide if you can answer or not: Will it be as big a time sink as high-end raiding in wow was/is? (grind for pots rep etc. then 4+hours raiding etc.)

By that I mean to complete the dungeons in a reasonable time frame or to take and hold a pvp tower or city.

Oh and I used to work in retail, the 18+ will mean nothing. 90% of parents (grans; aunts) who are in shops with little Jimmy don't care or are to stupid to take advise.

[tigerboyce]

If anyone has a key that they don't want, ill gladly use it

[Barrichello]

Originally Posted by Geist

Oh and I used to work in retail, the 18+ will mean nothing. 90% of parents (grans; aunts) who are in shops with little Jimmy don't care or are to stupid to take advise.

The game requires monthly payment subscription on a credit card (rather than wow style game card) so kind of rules out little Jimmy continuing his AOC adventures.

But yes i spose there is always parents etc who will fund this for their "little uns" - although im sure there will be an equal amount aghast if they see the following....

YouTube - Age of Conan Sweet Fatality
YouTube - Age of Conan Fatalaties

[j.o.s.h.1408]

you need a credit carD? umm

[Barrichello]

Originally Posted by j.o.s.h.1408

you need a credit carD? umm

There was allot of talk about there being game cards but i cant see it happening due to the press AOC is getting at the moment. Already the Americans up in arms over the fact that the female character have visible, wait for it..... nipples!

Also the Germans are getting a special version with the more excessive violence/rape scenes cut out. I spose we will know more nearer the release date.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Originally Posted by Barrichello

There was allot of talk about there being game cards but i cant see it happening due to the press AOC is getting at the moment. Already the Americans up in arms over the fact that the female character have visible, wait for it..... nipples!

Also the Germans are getting a special version with the more excessive violence/rape scenes cut out. I spose we will know more nearer the release date.

so what if it has visible everything, its a rated 18 game but using just credit card to buy monthly is abit harsh. o well

[Bhavv]

I arent in the beta but I am impatiently waiting for this game. To people comparing it to WoW, let me say this:

WoW and The Sims are two of the best selling games in the world. I played and didnt like either. They werent bad, but I didnt get hooked and I hated the happy happy kiddy atmosphere of both games, as well as the rubbish combat and graphics in WoW. I am seriously looking forward to AoC, and for all I care the game should have full nudity including the groins to keep the insecure carebears out of it.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

i think the mainr eason wow is so popular is because it can be played it 5-6 year old pc's and imo its aimed at kids and kids make up the majority of the gaming world like it or not. same has the sims. i can see AOC being close to wow numbers has a lot of kids will wanna get into this blood, nude and swearing world of AOC just like how kids love to play gta games