Age of conan, Open beta: May 1st 2008.

[Montague]

Interesting that a game hyped as a PVP game has 2x the number of PVE servers at launch.

[Evildrider]

Interesting that a game hyped as a PVP game has 2x the number of PVE servers at launch.

Because PvP doesn't have to mean Open PvP.  Do you really think this game would survive if the server counts were the other way around?

[IainC]

On the 48 x 48 topic:

This first one is referring to this.

Where Athelan  states clearly that the combat can go up to 500 people (i doubt it as this is their best number, in their best conditions) but actually you will only be able to see about a hundred people around you

a) I am not THE lead designer for Age of Conan, I am A designer for Age of Conan and one of the more senior ones, and was the designer originally responsible for the massive PvP design.

b) My answers are based on the discussions we had while I was in Norway and what our intentions were and what I knew of our technology, given that I operate on a 9 hour time difference now since moving back to the US and getting married I *gasp* could be outdated on my information.
__________________
Athelan -NPC/Monster Designer, Behavioral Control Center/Combat Guru, Age of Conan

The whole point of my even participating in this thread was to let you know that we certainly aren't trying to say one thing and do another. If I am wrong, then I am wrong, but I know that we did not want to put hardcaps into place in Massive PvP and if the decision was made to do so I am unaware of it, and from a design perspective as far as what I feel embodies PvP I don't really like it, but I know that its possible there were some issues in implementation that forced us to change things.

We never "cut" massive PvP. The implementation has been changed from the original design, how, I don't really know exactly. If you have never collaborated internationally on anything then I could never begin to explain to you how difficult it is to be on a 9 hour time difference. A 2 hour time difference impacted the production of SWG when I was working in QA for SOE, so much so that 16 people were sent from San Diego to work in Austin for 5 months on the game myself included. Again I repeat I have yet to hear about this 48vs48 thing. If that is the case then I am just as surprised as you but I am willing to understand the fact it probably happened for a reason and that I would rather see 48vs 48 as a last resort than not have massive PvP at all at launch.
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Athelan -NPC/Monster Designer, Behavioral Control Center/Combat Guru, Age of Conan

Wait, they went from uncapped PvP to 48x48 in the space of 9 hours apparently out of the blue without discussing it with their 'combat guru'?

[Slayerik]

Interesting that a game hyped as a PVP game has 2x the number of PVE servers at launch.

And twenty bucks says they rush to open more PVP servers within a week of launch.

[Miasma]

Interesting that a game hyped as a PVP game has 2x the number of PVE servers at launch.

And twenty bucks says they rush to open more PVP servers within a week of launch.

Hahahha, I'm not betting but I don't think so.  The regular "PvE" servers have plenty of PvP, as soon as these kids find out just what FFA PvP really means those servers will have their populations gutted.  I am certain that your playstyle will personally result in dozens of people leaving and that you will take that as a compliment.

[Triforcer]

There will be two American PvP servers left after eight months. 

[FatuousTwat]

There will be two servers left after eight months. 

Fixed.

[Slayerik]

Chart does seal the deal and make it fact.

You sir, have won this round!




I've never been a 'graveyard ganker' but that doesnt mean there won't be plenty of people who are. Its hard to predict server pops though, since this game is supposed to cater more towards the PVP why wouldnt PVP players naturally roll on PVP servers. Should be interesting anyways.

[Miasma]

Chart does seal the deal and make it fact.

You sir, have won this round!

...

It wasn't a serious chart, it was a lolchart.

[schild]

Lolcharts can still be serious. If you wanted a straight up lolchart, you should've had server population go into the negatives and then back up once slayerik left.

[Miasma]

It was my first lolchart and I stand by it even if it isn't perfect!  I actually had to remember to draw the axis by hand, I had already used the line tool before I realized my error and erased them.

[Sir T]

All in all, everyone can agree that they should have based it on this film, not the other one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZHoHaAYHq8

[Der Helm]

Someone send me an invite for a free trial, once they are avaible. (1 month after launch ?)

I would like to know if my computer can handle it (doubtfull), but the official site does not tell me the system requirements. 

[Viin]

Here, let me help (click the preorder button to see this):

Minimum System requirements

    * OS: Windows XP / Windows Vista
    * GFX: Shader 2.0 and 128MB ram, GeForce 6600
    * RAM: 1GB
    * CPU: 3 GHz, Pentium 4
    * Resolution: 1024x768

    * Recommended Specs:
    * CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2,4 GHz or better
    * GFX: nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX  or higher
    * RAM: 2 GB

[Der Helm]

Lol 

[schild]

Anyone getting the collector's edition can get you a 10 day trial key. I don't know if Euro is the same as America, but I imagine Falconeer will get one.

[FatuousTwat]

As of 19:00 GMT they took down the petition system, so you can't report bugs anymore.

Hasn't it pretty much ceased to be a beta?

[Morfiend]

Here, let me help (click the preorder button to see this):

Minimum System requirements

    * OS: Windows XP / Windows Vista
    * GFX: Shader 2.0 and 128MB ram, GeForce 6600
    * RAM: 1GB
    * CPU: 3 GHz, Pentium 4
    * Resolution: 1024x768

  at running the game with those specs.

[HRose]

You hit the hotkey, and then must perform the combo for it to fire.

The combo is displayed on-screen too, so theres no memorization cockstabbery involved.

Okay, then the defensive part where you decide which direction to protect isn't all that meaningful.

I was thinking that a system when you plan a combo and your enemy guesses it and counter-protect against it would be interesting. But it would be also so cumbersome that it wouldn't bring nowhere, and impossible in larger battles.

[Nerf]

Actually, if you spot the combo they're pulling off and have all 3 defense points on the final blow, it won't do fuckall damage.  So yes, the defense part does matter.

Also, DAOC was the best game. ever.

[Draegan]

Spellweaving:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A61zzEA3ER8

[Venkman]

That looks just like the momentary spells I'd been casting in various classes. What makes it "spellweaving" instead of just spellcasting? That buffs can affect spells? 

As to the blocking thing, Nerf is correct: if you time it right, you can block shots. And the same is reverse too. NPCs will adjust their blocking based on the way you're attacking. It felt different in the melee sense from diku-standard autoattack+specials. And with the NPCs blocking thing, there's was another layer of realtime decision making beyond the usual insta-heal/debuff type.

[KallDrexx]

How do you change your shields anyways?

[Draegan]

Shields change with ctrl-#

You can cast spells while you are spellweaving.

[pants]

b) My answers are based on the discussions we had while I was in Norway and what our intentions were and what I knew of our technology, given that I operate on a 9 hour time difference now

The whole point of my even participating in this thread was to let you know that we certainly aren't trying to say one thing and do another. If I am wrong, then I am wrong, ...

If you have never collaborated internationally on anything then I could never begin to explain to you how difficult it is to be on a 9 hour time difference. A 2 hour time difference impacted the production of SWG when I was working in QA for SOE, so much so that 16 people were sent from San Diego to work in Austin for 5 months on the game myself included.

[/quote]

Jesus fuck.  "waah waah, its hard to make a game with people in other cities.  waah waah."  I'd love to use that excuse every time I've been kept out of the loop or fucked up my internal communications just because someone is in another time zone.  What else will they blame on this?  "Sorry about deleting your Windows directory, the lead programmer rang me to tell me to remove that code, but I was asleep."  Come work in Australia where we are 10+ hours from fucking everywhere.

[Montague]

Just got a recorded phone call from Gamestop, said we can come in and pick up our preorder tomorrow. Still can't play till the 20th but it leaves plenty of time for patching 

[Mrbloodworth]

Just got a recorded phone call from Gamestop, said we can come in and pick up our preorder tomorrow. Still can't play till the 20th but it leaves plenty of time for patching 

I was about to report the same. 

[Miasma]

Some people are reporting getting denied when they go the store because their screens still say the 20th so I would call first.

[Miasma]

Someone send me an invite for a free trial, once they are avaible. (1 month after launch ?)

I would like to know if my computer can handle it (doubtfull), but the official site does not tell me the system requirements. 

I just got my game delivered, I didn't buy the CE but still got a seven day guest pass.  There is no key on the guest pass piece of paper, it tells you to go to the site to get it.  There is nowhere on the website to get a guest pass.

Funcom.

[shiznitz]

As I drove into work today, there was a Saab on fire on the shoulder. The license plate was FUNCOM11.





Oops, my metaphor keyboard took over there for a second.

[Montague]

As I drove into work today, there was a Saab on fire on the shoulder. The license plate was FUNCOM11.





Oops, my metaphor keyboard took over there for a second.

Shaka, when the walls fell.

 

[Mrbloodworth]

As I drove into work today, there was a Saab on fire on the shoulder. The license plate was FUNCOM11.





Oops, my metaphor keyboard took over there for a second.

Shaka, when the walls fell.

 

LMFAO.

Geek +50

[HaemishM]

Shaka, when the walls fell.

 

Well played, geek. Well played.

[Morfiend]

For once I think its a positive when I dont get it.

[Merusk]

It was a TNG episode where the aliens only talked in metaphores.  "Shaka, when the walls fell" is about a great failure.
 
It was a really cool episode, so long as you didn't think about it.  Like...how do you teach the metaphores if you can't tell the stories behind them?