AION : Initial Impressions
So I started playing Aion, dhc10 plans to join once he gets back from the field, and several of the folks from his old Soldiers of Legend guild are joining us for aerial Gnostic pixel-killing goodness. As has started to become my habit, a brief review:
0.Prepurchase Download
Did. not. work. for me. Not sure what the problem was, but it would crash. The launcher is supposed to pick up where it left off, but it appears that if it encounters an error (as opposed to just losing connection) it starts over. 7GB, and I wasn't getting more than 150KB/sec on my DL so it was taking hours and then crashing. The last time it crashed - at 98%!!! - I gave up, loaded up my laptop and went to Glas' to steal it off his machine. Conceptually I like the idea, even though I normally prefer to have media in hand. But once you have the account and serial code set up you can always redownload it. I may have been somewhat influenced by having just had to clean out my software cabinet, which is overflowing with CDs I don't use... Suddenly not having another box to store sounded like a great plan. :P
1. Character creation
No variances between classes, and very little between the factions. But it is extremely tweakable. I have probably spent almost as much time tinkering with this as I have actually playing thus far. Separate controls for height, leg length, neck length, hand size, arm thickness... I've always thought muscle-bound mages was an odd conceit and this gives you the option to be as realistic as possible, or completely absurd.
As per usual, there are no long curly-haired options (at least for girls), and only 1 option longer than bra strap length (though several shorter curly ones). I expect I am the only person who cares about this. :P
2. Bugs and Lag
Seems much more polished than WAR when it first came out. Until I get my new machine built, I'm playing at slightly below the minimum CPU requirements so while I do sometimes blink backwards while running around, I'm not sure if that's server side or my machine.
3. Gameplay
Thus far is pretty straightforward. If you've played WoW, WAR or Guild Wars or pretty much any fantasy MMO ever, it won't take long to figure out. The convenient clickable page of emotes is pretty amusing.
I haven't figured out a way to keep my camera from resetting to directly behind me. I've found it useful in PVP elsewhere to be able to face one way and look another without having to continually hold the mouse button - anyone know if there's an option for this I've overlooked? Especially since if you pull your camera to the side and jump - your character changes direction to match your camera angle. 0_o Of course, if I got used to it that might actually be useful?
Haven't gotten to flight or PVP battles yet, am looking forward to it though.
4. WoW -killer?
No, I really don't think so. Its neat, its fun and I think I'll definitely stick with it for a bit. But it doesn't strike me as having the scope that WoW does. And with WoW's tendency to quickly adopt the engaging features of other MMOs, I don't expect anything to *kill* WoW - rather I think it'll eventually crash under its own weight.
5. Come Play with Me ~ My chars
Lumiel (Asmodean) - Aleliel (lvl 6 scout), Leliel (lvl 5 priest), Oasis (lvl 1 warrior ) and Neuromancer (lvl 1 mage)
I was thinking I'd probably end up on a healer again, but thus far have been playing my scout more. Stabbity Stabbity makes me happy happy.
Some of my Wow guildmates have rolled Elyos on Zekiel, so I snagged the name "Akela" there but haven't actually played.
0.Prepurchase Download
Did. not. work. for me. Not sure what the problem was, but it would crash. The launcher is supposed to pick up where it left off, but it appears that if it encounters an error (as opposed to just losing connection) it starts over. 7GB, and I wasn't getting more than 150KB/sec on my DL so it was taking hours and then crashing. The last time it crashed - at 98%!!! - I gave up, loaded up my laptop and went to Glas' to steal it off his machine. Conceptually I like the idea, even though I normally prefer to have media in hand. But once you have the account and serial code set up you can always redownload it. I may have been somewhat influenced by having just had to clean out my software cabinet, which is overflowing with CDs I don't use... Suddenly not having another box to store sounded like a great plan. :P
1. Character creation
No variances between classes, and very little between the factions. But it is extremely tweakable. I have probably spent almost as much time tinkering with this as I have actually playing thus far. Separate controls for height, leg length, neck length, hand size, arm thickness... I've always thought muscle-bound mages was an odd conceit and this gives you the option to be as realistic as possible, or completely absurd.
As per usual, there are no long curly-haired options (at least for girls), and only 1 option longer than bra strap length (though several shorter curly ones). I expect I am the only person who cares about this. :P
2. Bugs and Lag
Seems much more polished than WAR when it first came out. Until I get my new machine built, I'm playing at slightly below the minimum CPU requirements so while I do sometimes blink backwards while running around, I'm not sure if that's server side or my machine.
3. Gameplay
Thus far is pretty straightforward. If you've played WoW, WAR or Guild Wars or pretty much any fantasy MMO ever, it won't take long to figure out. The convenient clickable page of emotes is pretty amusing.
I haven't figured out a way to keep my camera from resetting to directly behind me. I've found it useful in PVP elsewhere to be able to face one way and look another without having to continually hold the mouse button - anyone know if there's an option for this I've overlooked? Especially since if you pull your camera to the side and jump - your character changes direction to match your camera angle. 0_o Of course, if I got used to it that might actually be useful?
Haven't gotten to flight or PVP battles yet, am looking forward to it though.
4. WoW -killer?
No, I really don't think so. Its neat, its fun and I think I'll definitely stick with it for a bit. But it doesn't strike me as having the scope that WoW does. And with WoW's tendency to quickly adopt the engaging features of other MMOs, I don't expect anything to *kill* WoW - rather I think it'll eventually crash under its own weight.
5. Come Play with Me ~ My chars
Lumiel (Asmodean) - Aleliel (lvl 6 scout), Leliel (lvl 5 priest), Oasis (lvl 1 warrior ) and Neuromancer (lvl 1 mage)
I was thinking I'd probably end up on a healer again, but thus far have been playing my scout more. Stabbity Stabbity makes me happy happy.
Some of my Wow guildmates have rolled Elyos on Zekiel, so I snagged the name "Akela" there but haven't actually played.