Asheron's Call

Creating another AC1 style game wouldn't be very hard at all. The things listed here are the foundation for AC1 and what made the game fun for me.

The major areas of the game that need to be replicated are as follows

1.  Random Loot System - Truly the meat and potatoes of any game and especially AC1.  IT WAS THE ONLY REASON FOR PLAYING.  *(excluding Darktide)  It provides the base for the economy, quest system, and character advancement.  Having a character that looks different from everyone else is all that it takes to make alot of people happy. The only games that could be compared with AC1's loot system would be DIABLO 1 and 2. 

2. Limitless Character Development - This has been the downfall of almost all MMORPGs.  Why would a company who charges you monthly create a point where the game ends for most people?  They are being lazy and uncreative.  We all hate cookie cutter characters, but it is easier for them to balance out.  Putting experience points in a skill you want to advance wins out over picking a new 'power'  every time for me. I hear EVE has had success in this area.

3. Death penalty - at one time or another we all hated corpse runs, but if dying doesn't matter then what does?  Loosing treasured items upon death is the only solution for this.  This is the main ingredient in having a PVP world.  Darktide would be nothing without the fear of this.

4. Social system - there is alot to be said positively and negatively here about AC1, but truly all you need is an incentive for helping somebody else out.  ANYTHING that encourages people to interact with each other is a positive.  Also having a place where everyone socializes is a plus. ( remember the hub or sub depending on your server)

5. Random terrain generation of items and MOBS - Running around in the wild finding plants that you needed to dye your armor , or finding a Diamond Golem that drops a Diamond Shield are the best examples of what I'm talking about here.  Exploring created a never ending way to pass the time.

6. Quest system - this isn't as big a part as the others but the mold that holds them all together.  You can  explore for items to start out quests which gives you xp to advance your character and combines people socially to complete the quest.  AC1 did awesome with this.  My favorite part were monthly updates that generated excitement every 30 days and made you feel like you were getting return for your monthly fee.

7. Crafting -  this wasn't my thing but was for many.  It was done right in AC1 because they combined all parts of this game to come into play here. I'll explain...  A crafter had to explore, kill, and socialize to create something useful.  You needed x amount of potions from a store halfway across the world combined with something found from completing a quest combined from something found from killing a MOB. 

There are many more things that made this game great, like being able to dodge incoming spells and arrows.  Fighting endless hordes of olthoi,  but I believe these things are the heart of AC1 and why we all were there. 

May I add a couple more, Beavil?

8. Casters had to work at figuring out spells, and it took time to develop higher powers.

9. The seamless landscape was a joy.

10.  It attempted to be a little more original in lore and bestiary.  No elves, dwarves, dragons, orcs...

You know I think you are right, and I think the game that will really give us a new "AC" style game is "The Chronicles of Spellborn"  Reading the skill developments and how they are trying "new" things out in the game make me think that it will be the next AC.  I know there are alot of differences, but maybe the few changes they are making will actually improve the way we play MMO's today.  I for one am thinking the TCOS will keep my attention as much as AC did back in the day. 

How about you?

Technically if Darkfall ever launches and has most of the things in game that they claim, it would be close to a new version of AC1.   If the game every does launch and has some success, maybe Turbine will wake up and finally start working on a new AC game.

I know i'd play an AC1 like game with modern graphics.   AC1 game mechanics was the best i ever experienced in any mmo's. 

barn none best game ever. one of the overlooked things was to be able to dye armor.... and if it failed it went worse and pink :) the customizing in this game made it the only MMIO i played for many many years not bored. PVP took skill, hell you needed jump skills in cases. Anyone remember some of those quests where you had to tap or full jump.... Getting your corpse SUCKED but was done in such a manner people really got into it. We could all go on for days and says but alas nothing will ever top AC1.

bump:  this was one of the best games ever, too bad ac2 was such a flop.  If they had simply updated the graphics and kept the core of the game mechanics the same it would have been great.

rigghawk

I give AC 1 one of these ..... I never once logged into this game and went GAWD---I need to do what now? I was never bored, always had fun and some day there will be another to match whits with this great game.

Do any of you guys remember Amerius??

( sorry about being random but i was jw )

If some team pulled this off it'll be the next WoW killer.  AC ruled, it just got left behind do to advancements in graphics, not game play or style.