Vanguard: Saga of Heros

[Quixfire]

This game looks to be promising but like most RPGs from Microsoft I feel it will be a slight let down in the end. It looks a lot like the Forgotten Realms from D&D 2nd & 3rd additions. There are a lot of promises to be the next great MMORPG, but that's what Blizzard said too.

Characters will not only own buildings and vehicles, but they will also whisper into the ears of kings, manipulate the hand of justice, and change the direction of history. They will make their mark on a world we initially create but they ultimately shape and form.

Offical Website

 

[AdamSnow]

Sounds kind of interesting...

 

[Malladine]

dude ms is the publisher - damn publishers corrupting midns left right and center! :frown:

It does look good, apparently they are aiming to "bring the challenge back to the genre." I'm all for that. But that said i have minimal expectations, as with all mmos forever more damnit!

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Isn't this the one Brad "EQ" McQuaid is now heading up? I read some interview he did and he basically said this will be the pinnacle of the group-and-grind gameplay. Don't let the marketing BS about CHANGING THE FACE OF THE WORLD fool you.

You want a game where you can impact things....then cross your fingers that Darkfall ends up not being vapor. That, or that EA converts UO over to the UXO engine and creates some "classic" ruleset shards.....oh man!

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
Isn't this the one Brad "EQ" McQuaid is now heading up? I read some interview he did and he basically said this will be the pinnacle of the group-and-grind gameplay. Don't let the marketing BS about CHANGING THE FACE OF THE WORLD fool you.

You want a game where you can impact things....then cross your fingers that Darkfall ends up not being vapor. That, or that EA converts UO over to the UXO engine and creates some "classic" ruleset shards.....oh man!

That's true, i read the same interview. It will definately be an evolution of EQ, whatever that brings.

Who the hell would believe the changing the world crap.

Darkfall devs update their website so infrequently i've given up visiting. Do you have any recent info?

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: Malladine
Darkfall devs update their website so infrequently i've given up visiting. Do you have any recent info?

As a matter of fact, they popped their heads out of their burrows and responded to a news article in some Scandinavian country that accused DF of being vaporware. They basically responded by saying that it is NOT vaporware and that they've gone on low-profile status while working very hard preceding an update on a beta announcement. When the article was mentioned on the forums, one of the devs, Claus, I think, confirmed it and made a couple comments and then disappeared again.

Personally, I think it's a little too SB and not enough UO, but if they pull of the insane things like the ship warfare on the seas and engaging skill-based combat, then, heck, I'll give it a shot. Not that I didn't like Shadowbane, but I actually spent the vast majority of my time playing UO, doing silly things like picking reagants, mining, chopping wood, decorating my house, dressing my vendors, fishing, digging up treasure, gathering hides. Despite my love for open PvP, I'm not a PvP-centric person myself. I also love the double-edged sword of full loot. That concept must make WoWers cringe, but, until you've rummaged through the corpse of your fallen foe, you have no idea what raw multiplayer interraction has to offer. There's nothing you'll experience in any PvE encounter no matter how grand that can compare to being jumped by a PK, turning the tide of the battle and defeating him, then looking through his pack, grabbing the weapon he used against you, seeing anything he got from anybody else, and wonder at the odd random things he was carrying.

 

[Malladine]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
I also love the double-edged sword of full loot. That concept must make WoWers cringe, but, until you've rummaged through the corpse of your fallen foe, you have no idea what raw multiplayer interraction has to offer. There's nothing you'll experience in any PvE encounter no matter how grand that can compare to being jumped by a PK, turning the tide of the battle and defeating him, then looking through his pack, grabbing the weapon he used against you, seeing anything he got from anybody else, and wonder at the odd random things he was carrying.

Oh HELL yes. I treasure those memories

 

[Gurck]

Welcome to 2003 I've been looking forward to this title for a long time now, Brad & crew certainly have the talent but of course, if M$ keeps the leash on him too short there won't be much he can do People who don't like MMORPGs and put down everything about them probably should pick up an FPS or offline RPG and leave MMORPG threads alone. Not everything is for everyone; I certainly don't crap in country music threads and such just because it's not my thing, please show others the same courtesy.

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
There's nothing you'll experience in any PvE encounter no matter how grand that can compare to being jumped by a PK, turning the tide of the battle and defeating him, then looking through his pack, grabbing the weapon he used against you, seeing anything he got from anybody else, and wonder at the odd random things he was carrying.

For you. Don't bother responding, I've heard it all before... anyone who isn't exactly like you is a noob, stupid, a carebear, etc... :laugh:

 

[Feneant2]

Your details are a bit off. This game is from Sigil Games and has been around for 2 years. Actually, there are rumors of a beta annoucement very soon. It will rank somewhere between Eq2 and WoW. This game already has a huge following in the Everquest / Everquest 2 communities. Matter of fact, a ton of Everquest players remained there while waiting on Vanguard and skipped Eq2. It will probably have 250-300k players on it once things settle from the initial release boom and has a better chance than WoW did at putting EqLive to rest.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Feneant2
Your details are a bit off. This game is from Sigil Games and has been around for 2 years. Actually, there are rumors of a beta annoucement very soon. It will rank somewhere between Eq2 and WoW. This game already has a huge following in the Everquest / Everquest 2 communities. Matter of fact, a ton of Everquest players remained there while waiting on Vanguard and skipped Eq2. It will probably have 250-300k players on it once things settle from the initial release boom and has a better chance than WoW did at putting EqLive to rest.

Brad's outfit is Sigil, but M$ is providing the $.

 

[Feneant2]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Feneant2
Your details are a bit off. This game is from Sigil Games and has been around for 2 years. Actually, there are rumors of a beta annoucement very soon. It will rank somewhere between Eq2 and WoW. This game already has a huge following in the Everquest / Everquest 2 communities. Matter of fact, a ton of Everquest players remained there while waiting on Vanguard and skipped Eq2. It will probably have 250-300k players on it once things settle from the initial release boom and has a better chance than WoW did at putting EqLive to rest.

Brad's outfit is Sigil, but M$ is providing the $.

Ahh, but if its anything like Asheron's Call 2, MS does nothing more than provide funds and infrastructure to the company. Or was it the opposite, it's been a while? All I remember from Asheron's Call 2 is that it was the biggest joke ever with the most idiotic team possible making it. They were smart enough to show the server population and on peak time it varied from 23 (gotta love pvp) to 250 on the most populated of 10 servers. Didn't MS actually buy this game out to save it from ruin? I know Sigil won't be this bad but if it's similar, MS will do nothing but give them the infrastructure.

 

[Gurck]

I don't know how involved M$ will get, hopefully not very, as the more they do the less likely it is to be a good title. I have no doubt that, given sufficient funding & liberties, Brad & Sigil can come up with a phenomenal game.

 

[fishbits]

They will make their mark on a world we initially create but they ultimately shape and form.

Allow your average MOG community to do this, and everyone will be living in caves on a barren husk of a moonscape. The extremely wealthy will have loincloths.

I'm only halfway joking here, and it isn't a slap at MOG players in particular (I am one). It's just that it's basic entropy in action, far easier to screw up something nice and/or intricate than it is to build or protect something. Especially in a game world where there's no real consequences to the most destructive behavior. Even though it doesn't take many, there's no shortage of players whose primary motivation is to cause grief.

That said, it'd be interesting to see a more "anything goes" environment eventually evolve into something better and mutually cooperative (for the most part), but I doubt enough would see it through as a hobby to make it happen. The future of such communities will lie in premiums beyond the basic subscription fee, and moderated communities whether by players, game reps, or a combination of the two. Don't make the cut? Suspensions and/or cancellation of the premium and banishment to one of the basic servers where the trolls can torment each other endlessly. Different servers can have different charters listed up front of what they offer to and expect from players who want to join there.

Now this isn't meant to imply I think everyone should be a saint online, far from it. Play the ruthless villian to the hilt whenever you like. But there's so much more than can be opened up in MOG play once the maturity entry bar is raised a tad, "You must be at least this tall to ride this realm" (no offense to gnomes), and mindless players are put back at the kiddie table.

 

[Jeff7181]

Could it be the first MMORPG for a console?????

 

[Schadenfroh]

I heard from a friend at school that Sony fired most (if not all) of the original EQ team to save money by hiring lower cost employees, is this true?

also, how many from the original EQ team is working on this?

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
This game looks to be promising but like most RPGs from Microsoft I feel it will be a slight let down in the end. It looks a lot like the Forgotten Realms from D&D 2nd & 3rd additions. There are a lot of promises to be the next great MMORPG, but that's what Blizzard said too.

Characters will not only own buildings and vehicles, but they will also whisper into the ears of kings, manipulate the hand of justice, and change the direction of history. They will make their mark on a world we initially create but they ultimately shape and form.

Offical Website

Umm record setting sales and 85 overpopulated servers doesnt make WoW a success?

Even if you dont like it, it is stomping the crap out of its competitors right now.

Dark age is consolidating servers to stay profitable, they lost nearly half of their playerbase, and its only going to get worse when the battlegrounds go live.

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Quixfire
This game looks to be promising but like most RPGs from Microsoft I feel it will be a slight let down in the end. It looks a lot like the Forgotten Realms from D&D 2nd & 3rd additions. There are a lot of promises to be the next great MMORPG, but that's what Blizzard said too.

Characters will not only own buildings and vehicles, but they will also whisper into the ears of kings, manipulate the hand of justice, and change the direction of history. They will make their mark on a world we initially create but they ultimately shape and form.

Offical Website

Umm record setting sales and 85 overpopulated servers doesnt make WoW a success?

Even if you dont like it, it is stomping the crap out of its competitors right now.

Dark age is consolidating servers to stay profitable, they lost nearly half of their playerbase, and its only going to get worse when the battlegrounds go live.

Britney Spears sells millions of records, doesn't make her great. 85 overpopulated servers this long after release is rediculous.

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Could it be the first MMORPG for a console?????

That would be FFXI. Can play on both PC and PS2.

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
I heard from a friend at school that Sony fired most (if not all) of the original EQ team to save money by hiring lower cost employees, is this true?

also, how many from the original EQ team is working on this?

False. The original EQ team (Verant, now Sigil, lead by Brad McQuaid) left SOE before luclin was released

 

[fishbits]

Acanthus: Being "the next great MMORPG" and having a high subscription rate for now aren't necessarily the same thing. You can produce a really good game and it still not be all it was hyped up to be while in development.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
I heard from a friend at school that Sony fired most (if not all) of the original EQ team to save money by hiring lower cost employees, is this true?

No.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Quixfire
This game looks to be promising but like most RPGs from Microsoft I feel it will be a slight let down in the end. It looks a lot like the Forgotten Realms from D&D 2nd & 3rd additions. There are a lot of promises to be the next great MMORPG, but that's what Blizzard said too.

Characters will not only own buildings and vehicles, but they will also whisper into the ears of kings, manipulate the hand of justice, and change the direction of history. They will make their mark on a world we initially create but they ultimately shape and form.

Offical Website

Umm record setting sales and 85 overpopulated servers doesnt make WoW a success?

Even if you dont like it, it is stomping the crap out of its competitors right now.

Dark age is consolidating servers to stay profitable, they lost nearly half of their playerbase, and its only going to get worse when the battlegrounds go live.

Britney Spears sells millions of records, doesn't make her great. 85 overpopulated servers this long after release is rediculous.

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Could it be the first MMORPG for a console?????

That would be FFXI. Can play on both PC and PS2.

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
I heard from a friend at school that Sony fired most (if not all) of the original EQ team to save money by hiring lower cost employees, is this true?

also, how many from the original EQ team is working on this?

False. The original EQ team (Verant, now Sigil, lead by Brad McQuaid) left SOE before luclin was released

You do realize that they had less than half of that number of servers at the games release right? If people keep buying the game, they have to keep adding servers, and they are, they just opened up 3 more over the last 2 weeks, and are allowing chars to be copied off of the most overpopulated servers.

Blizzard sucks for being the most popular 3d-MMORPG of all time. (The original Lineage still holds the record i believe, but didnt have graphics until Lineage 2, which bombed).

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: fishbits
Acanthus: Being "the next great MMORPG" and having a high subscription rate for now aren't necessarily the same thing. You can produce a really good game and it still not be all it was hyped up to be while in development.

What was promised in wow that wasnt delievered on yet?

They said the Honor System and Battlegrounds were going in after release, the Honor system is in, and the battlegrounds are in beta now.

Whats the "better" mmorpg? Ive played almost all of them.

Dark Age of Camelot - 3 years - Mythic destroyed its own game over time with every successive expansion, the original game had a wonderful premise and a hard hitting and FUN endgame, they eventually watered it down to pure zerg vs zerg warfare and eliminated the purpose of tanks in the game entirely.

Shadowbane - 3 months - Dont even get me started.

Horizons - 4 months - Great premise, best crafting design in any game out at the time (much of horizons crafting system is now in place in wow), Company ran out of funding, had a dev team too small to deliver on promises, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Everquest - 3 Years - My original MMORPG, The uncreative nightmare that was deemed "evercamp" and "evercrack" seemed great at the time, but at dark ages release wasnt even desireable to play anymore, I jumped ship the day DAOC came out and never looked back. (right before Luclin), i was also met with terrible support, piles and piles of bugs, and nothing to do at the endgame but raid for better gear, over and over and over and over.

Planetside - Decent game, not really an RPG.

Lineage 2 - 2 Months - Nice graphics, decent pvp system, the worst leveling grind since everquest.

AC2 - 1 Month - Didnt play it long enough to pass judgement, so i wont comment, game just wasnt for me.

 

[Malladine]

the fact is most of us will try it out or at least pay close attention when it's released.

 

[fishbits]

Acanthus: I didn't make myself clear: I'm not saying the WoW did not deliver on its promises. Wasn't following it, and joined up at the beginning of the year. My only point was that commercial success, especially short term, does not necessarily translate into a particular game being great or legendary. Surely we can all think of games they were highly anticipated and hyped that sold well, but were letdowns compared to expectations.

 

[skace]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Vanguard have some EX-UO folks working on it also?

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: BigPoppa

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Quixfire
This game looks to be promising but like most RPGs from Microsoft I feel it will be a slight let down in the end. It looks a lot like the Forgotten Realms from D&D 2nd & 3rd additions. There are a lot of promises to be the next great MMORPG, but that's what Blizzard said too.

Characters will not only own buildings and vehicles, but they will also whisper into the ears of kings, manipulate the hand of justice, and change the direction of history. They will make their mark on a world we initially create but they ultimately shape and form.

Offical Website

Umm record setting sales and 85 overpopulated servers doesnt make WoW a success?

Even if you dont like it, it is stomping the crap out of its competitors right now.

Dark age is consolidating servers to stay profitable, they lost nearly half of their playerbase, and its only going to get worse when the battlegrounds go live.

Britney Spears sells millions of records, doesn't make her great. 85 overpopulated servers this long after release is rediculous.

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Could it be the first MMORPG for a console?????

That would be FFXI. Can play on both PC and PS2.

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
I heard from a friend at school that Sony fired most (if not all) of the original EQ team to save money by hiring lower cost employees, is this true?

also, how many from the original EQ team is working on this?

False. The original EQ team (Verant, now Sigil, lead by Brad McQuaid) left SOE before luclin was released

You do realize that they had less than half of that number of servers at the games release right? If people keep buying the game, they have to keep adding servers, and they are, they just opened up 3 more over the last 2 weeks, and are allowing chars to be copied off of the most overpopulated servers.

Blizzard sucks for being the most popular 3d-MMORPG of all time. (The original Lineage still holds the record i believe, but didnt have graphics until Lineage 2, which bombed).

Them having half the servers at release compared to now impacts the games greatness how?

As for Lineage2 tanking: MMOG subscription chart, this was just recently updated. Click on games with 120k+ population on the right hand side. Still doesn't mean the game is good in the least bit.