Is this the game for me?
Hi,
I'm new to Ashes of Creation, but have been doing my homework; reading the last 10 pages of posts posts (so far), watching videos by devs and content creators, and reading the Wiki. I am impressed by the level of community involvement and the openness of the development team. It gives me great hope for the game and that it will release sooner than later.
There are some aspect of the game that are very intriguing:
1) The Node System sounds like it can keep a world alive with dynamic content for a substantial time period without the need for endless expansions. They will also be bringing loads of opportunity in character development, even without traditional roleplay you will have a built in backstory as the world grows and you in it.
2) Housing=Citizenship is another way to tie your character to place. Other MMOs have used housing as an add-on, a place to store your stuff. AoC goes way beyond that traditional aspect. Your house is your connection to a place on the map and how the node fairs will impact your prosperity.
3) The Class system looks to be well thought out. Sticking to the “holy trinity” of the genre; tank, dps, and healer is, is in my mind a solid choice. The addition of the second archtype choice gives the player a means to customize a “toon” to their own style with the augment system. I look forward to more reveals so I can really start to hone in on what direction I will go.
4) Landscapes, architecture, and player races look realistic. They aren't cartoonish (if thats a word). The realism appeals to my senses. The fantasy aspects aren't overdone, they look like they belong in the world.
5) The business model that Intrepid has chosen really appeals to me. The subscription model without a pay-to-win cashshop is tried and true. I played a couple games that went free-to-play as a way to keep people in game and have eventually lost population anyway, leaving vacant worlds.
My dilemma is whether it will fit my play style:
1) PvP is the primary reason I would shy away from the game, I have never been good at it. I typically lose in a 1v1, mostly because I am not a meta player. I don't mind consensual PvP. The castle sieges and node wars sound like something I can stand behind. I'm would not be alone in these, having backup matters. But I fear “gank squads” of low-lifes that get their jollies from killing players iin the open world just because they can. The corruption/flagging system is a good start but will only matter if there are players around that will put the corrupted in their place, the grave.
2) I will more than likely take up an economic position within AoC. The crafting life style has appealed to me in every game I have played. I really like the fact that the dev-team is going to attempt to make crafting a viable route to top-end gear. I'm stuck at the moment with the mastering of a single Artisan Class and the limits of mastering only a couple professions. There just isn't enough to make a decision on yet. Will you be able to master a profession outside of your class? For example a master in Crafting chooses to be a master carpenter, then also becoming a master sawyer (processing) and/or lumberjack (gathering) to set up a supply-line.
3) The combat system is another area still in testing, that will sway me. I come from an Everquest background, where tab-targeting is the only system for combat. I have only dabbled in RTS and FPS so I have almost no experience in action-oriented combat. I really hope that Intrepid makes the hyrid-system being talked about with the option of customization. A player needs to be able to select which system the bulk of their abilities are from. The balance of the two-systems will be difficult to manage, but there is hope.
4) Along with the combat system is the associated animations and effects. For my taste they seem a bit over the top. In the December Development Update we got a good look at a boss fight. There were times that the mob was obscured by the particle effects and that was for only 7 players, think what it will be like for a raid of 40 or a siege with 500! This is not a game breaker for me but could be the tipping point if other aspects don't fully pan out.
TL;DR
I appologize for the wall-of-text, I got a bit carried away. It boils down to - there are aspects that I like about the game as it stands today and some that might turn me away depending on the direction the developers take.
There are other games in development now as well. Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen and Star Citizen are two that I've peaked at. Please convince me that this is the game I want to focus my attention on. Looking forward to following the development of Ashes of Creation through the eyes of the community.
Thanks,
Dadrick
