Age of Conan

Today all characters made before had been made level 20 and moved to their race's regions. So off I went to explore the areas of the three races. I must say graphically it is a really stunning thing, and belongs to the greatest game vistas I have ever seen.

Also indeed the lag has been reduced to a certain degree, though in those starter places of the races were of course hundrets or more players, so it was the same lag - just naturally because it was so crowded. While no miracle path, the lag was indeed quite some bit reduced. The load screens were mostly a bit shorter too, but there still were some who were minutes long and the frequent crash here and there.

No so cool was the fact that, as far as I could see, it was more a world set up of instances, similar to Everquest II. After being spoilt by Vanguard and LOTRO in those terms, I really thought those days are gone. It may not be so for ALL areas, but as far as I ventured outside the cities all level areas are one zone, just as in EQ2, so there are many mountains and hill and other things blocking your path you never gonna see from "behind", something never liked in EQ2 and somehow makes it more like a virtual than a real world. Its quite dissapointing if you try to swim over a river and find the other side is mere fake, like a theatre stage, and you have to find an instance exit port.

Good also was, that finally the body can now be made fat or slim and the body selections SHOW, unlike before.

As it was to be expected the FFA PVP was a heavy gankfest, especially in Stygia. I must say, it was really, really gross. I was about 7 or 8 times killed in a row by people camping at the spawn point, unable to escape, and the level of debate in the channel was... disgusting. I hardly have ever seen such a great assembly of psychpaths than in this PVP event, and I am glad I canceled my preorder so this host of immaturity get what they deserve: each other.

Alas, the new patch also brought an entire legion of graphical bugs, like textureless white background-mountains, effects shown as weird lines and eerie green lights. I toyed around with my settings, but nothing seemed to change that. (and YES I DO have the latest drivers for my Nvidia 7950) Quite a freakshow. Its not everywhere, but given we DIDNT have any such bugs before, it makes me sorta wonder.

Beside anything the great assembly of PKers, gankrs, griefers and the ENDLESS verbal harrasing and most immature speech finalized my decision to skip this MMO. The rest, enjoy each other, I am sure you deserve your company.

Now you can be slim:

TONS OF NEW GRAPHIC BUGS:

Swimming over the river showe me, the world (of Conan) is a stage, not REALLY meant to be visited ;)