Warhammer Online goes live 9/18!

[Dhamage]

I know many of us, if not all of us, are multiboxing for WoW right now, but has anyone given any thought to Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning ('http://www.warhammeronline.com')? I must say I remember painting these minatures as a little kid (I was probably 12 at the time, I'm 31 now). I have been following the games development closely and am definitely intrigued. I do have some concerns though, which are in no particular order:

Storyline... I am really into the whole Scourge storyline. Warcraft has several very well developed storylines, but some are not so good. 15 years of Warcraft but they have had significant "corrections" even pretty recently. Warhammer has been around for about 25 years and has a very developed and stable storyline, although I'm a little concerned that it isn't as good. Anybody have any opinions on this?
Class differences... I like shamans, I like warlocks, I like shadow priests (as Warcraft defines them). I never got into the WAR Beta, but the classes seem completely different than what I am use to in an MMORPG.
PVP is going to be a very central role in this game. I'm wondering how they managed to pull it off... even from Lvl 1 the different factions will be fighting one another.
Individuality... I get the feeling that your general appearance changes as you level, but not necessarily by what you equip. I'm not sure about that one though...
Is it possible they have made Elves look even gayer than Warcraft has?


Some things that I think I will like, in no particular order:

You get experience from PvP, or more accurately Realm vs. Realm.
They say they have almost completely eliminated the whole concept of "farming"... my god how awesome would that be.
Public quest system seems innovative... no need to keep running back or making sure everyone has shared their quests.
Witch Hunter and Bright Wizard... mmmm... I like.
Something new... as I tell my wife, "How 'bout we try something a little different?" LOL.


So... is anyone else thinking about giving WAR a try?

[kadaan]

I tried AoC because I was bored and wanted "something new." It was entertaining, and I even re-subscribed for one additional month hoping they'd actually fix stuff (bad idea.) WAR seems to have the right idea, and simply removed unfinished content (a couple races and capitol cities I believe) instead of knowingly leaving broken stuff in.

A couple of my pros and cons are near mirror images of yours. I detest PvP in MMOs. I enjoy FPS "pvp" where skill, knowledge are what makes a "good" player as opposed to gear. RvR may be fun, but I dislike the idea of PvP all the way from level 1. I also love grinding and farming. It probably goes back to when I played on MUDs where it was all grinding/farming, but I enjoy popping in a movie and mindlessly grinding rep/gold/whatever for a couple hours.

I'm debating trying WAR out for a month, but once the Wrath talents get added into live I'm sure I'll go back and play with them a bit. Once Wrath comes out there's no way I'll be in WAR ;).

[Drizzit]

Blizzard has set the bar sooooo high, no one has even come close to making a game that good again.

Kind of makes you wonder if there new mmorpg will even make the bar? Or would people play it and stop because "It's not WoW". Sort of like Joey (the spin off of Friends), i loved that show and was pissed that it was cancel, but the reason why it was canceled because fans of friends didn't watch it because it was Friends... you know what i mean? Well before WoW came out wasn't EverQuest the huge MMORPG, which basically started the bar?

[Lorune]

Played beta, and if it does not change massively from now till release it will be a MMO that will only attract people who like world PVP, PVE sucks well in the worst way possible. Skills are boring and not fun at all. to much button bashing, even compared to wow.

[Talamarr]

Well before WoW came out wasn't EverQuest the huge MMORPG, which basically started the bar?

I think EQs downfall was EQ2. I think they should have just upgraded their existing game engine/graphics/gameplay instead of making a whole new game. I didn't make the switch to EQ2 but probably would have stayed with EQ if they would have improved on that.

Of course, Blizzard's existing Warcraft/Diablo/Starcraft fan base was already HUGE so that probably helped.

[Wilbur]

But theres no denying Everquest was definately the better game.

(PvEwise its still superior)

[Drizzit]

Off topic: Does anyone know if FFXI is still around. God i hated that game, 3 hours to get a lvl and die from a bunny and right back where i started. Plus you really can't solo anything after lvl 10, and finding a group is a pain.

[Talamarr]

Also, I just watched some of the gameplay video from their official site (http://www.warhammeronline.com/videos/index.php) and I'm extremely unimpressed. It looks like WoW with some slightly different textures. Not even current WoW, like old WoW. I know they have some neat new game features but I personally don't see anything worthy to be called a WoW killer.

And i too was a big table-top gamer back in the day. Although I was more interested in 40k than Warhammer.

[Dhamage]

Youtube link ('http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW8WFNNKTd0&feature=related')

This kind of proves your point Lorune... nothing about this seems innovative at all... seems worse actually.

Magnus floating disk FTL

[Drizzit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW8WFNNKTd0&feature=related

Link seems to not work

[Dhamage]

Fixed it.

[Bena]

From a graphics standpoint Wow has polish (also the blooming effect
adds a nice atmosphere). War looks flatter their lighting is not
as moody; though I did see some outdoors pics that have some diretional
light/magic hour look to it which were nice. I'm hoping that by
the end it will get more of the 'atmosphere'. Sound was pretty
bad in a few pvp movies but again hopefully that will get some extra
polish.

Gameplay wise War has some nice ideas; at least in the interviews when
the devs describe them. They seem to have some humor to it so
potentialy could be interesting.

I'll probably wait for a trial, unless it's getting really good reviews everywhere then I might buy it.

[Bena]

LOL

I usually read bunch of them from links at bluesnews.com. PC
gamer and gamespot I don't really trust.. it's politics there.
That with some forum browsing usually gives a good idea if the game is
crap or not.



I'll
probably wait for a trial, unless it's getting really good reviews
everywhere then I might buy it.

How many crap games got good reviews? (hint: anything that PC Gamer reviews)

[BodyART]

Warhammer is the grandpappy of WoW. :) Its been around longer as a tabletop wargame, and it obviously inspired the development of the Warcraft game franchise. From that standpoint (and the fact I am an ex warhammer fantasy player and current warhammer 40k tabletop player), I am a fan. I'm also a fan of mythic, as I think RvR was the best implementation of consentual PvP sofar in a game. I have a lot of hopes that the combination of the two will result in a killer game. But who knows. :) I"ll jump into Open beta when it comes around and see for myself. hehe.

I'm just getting into wow multiboxing, so it will take a lot to pull me 100% from it. I may stray to try warhammer, but I doubt I'll leave for good, not until I meet my goals here.



-BA

[Sanctume]

Quoted from "Drizzit"
Well before WoW came out wasn't EverQuest the huge MMORPG, which basically started the bar?



I think EQs downfall was EQ2. I think they should have just upgraded their existing game engine/graphics/gameplay instead of making a whole new game. I didn't make the switch to EQ2 but probably would have stayed with EQ if they would have improved on that.

Of course, Blizzard's existing Warcraft/Diablo/Starcraft fan base was already HUGE so that probably helped.EQ was up there unti DaoC got in the competition. Then Blizzard.

Competition is good because it benefits the gamers to get quality instead of developers like in EQ getting fat and giving their customers the shaft when they had monopoly.

[Sanctume]

Warhammer is the grandpappy of WoW. :) Its been around longer as a tabletop wargame, and it obviously inspired the development of the Warcraft game franchise. From that standpoint (and the fact I am an ex warhammer fantasy player and current warhammer 40k tabletop player), I am a fan. I'm also a fan of mythic, as I think RvR was the best implementation of consentual PvP sofar in a game. I have a lot of hopes that the combination of the two will result in a killer game. But who knows. :) I"ll jump into Open beta when it comes around and see for myself. hehe.

I'm just getting into wow multiboxing, so it will take a lot to pull me 100% from it. I may stray to try warhammer, but I doubt I'll leave for good, not until I meet my goals here.

It's a huge drop from commanding 100s of army units down to controlling 1 peon in Warhammer.

[Moredots]

I have played the beta and I think that WOW and War are two totally different games. True the UI is similar enough that you can jump ingame and make your toon do what ever you want him/her to do. But the game play is not focused the same. War is all about RVR. graphics are toned down to accommodate large scale pvp battles.

If you liked DAOC you will really like War. The UI has been cleaned up enough and runs very similar to wow. The old DAOC key set up and UI were just out dated. So in War you will see a more functional set up. The game play however is much like DAOC. The pvp and keep assaults will be great... and the public quests are just awesome IMO.

If you are just into leveling up doing quests and maybe a few instances then war might not be for you. If you really love a constant pvp battle and taking keeps (some of my best MMO memories are the early days of DAOC) then I think War is worth a try.

Just my 2cp

[BGuru]

I hate PvP but love PvE so Warhammer might not be for me.
I am so bored of WoW after going through the same old zones so many times I've tried everything to get my interest in WoW sparked again.
Those Warhammer movies looked very good to me now I want to know how much PvE content it has and how long it is going to be between expansions.
Blizzard is taking way too long with their expansions their first expansion I leveled to 70 in 7 days and it took them 2 years to release the next expansion.

[puppychow]

I've been in the beta of WAR forever, its a good game. It is however a PVP game, not a PVE game. There are 40 levels, 20 classes, 6 races, 2 factions. The replay value is high, there are 3 seperate mega-zones and each is very different and can be done with a new class for new replay.

You level via questing (solo/group), Public Quests, or scenarios. PQs are basically auto-group, auto-share hotspots where 2-3 phases occur, anyone who participates is rewarded, and it continuously restarts every time its done. So for example you wander into a PQ area (it tells you on screen), you have to kill some NPCs and destroy some barrels, when thats done some mini bosses spawn, when they are killed a boss spawns, when he is killed a chest drops with 2-3 items, everyone who participated gets a roll (the "better" you did the higher your chances), and it restarts. Its very, very fun and innovative.

Scenarios are battlegrounds, more or less. There is a new scenario every 10 levels for every race, so quite a few "maps". They are instanced, you queue up for them, fight for a while over objectives, and win or lose.

Having said all that, the endgame is pure PVP. You fight against the other players nonstop in big zones, and try to assault their cities. There aren't any raid zones, I think only 1 high level 6 man instance, crafting basically consists of alchemy and some gathering professions, there isn't even an auction house in the game yet, etc. If you don't like Battlegrounds in WoW, you will not like WAR. If you like Battlegrounds/world PVP but wish they were more varied and had a bigger impact on the world, you will love WAR.

Its not multiboxing friendly yet really, and the client is pretty memory and resource intensive. I don't forsee many people running 3-4 copies of WAR on a single PC.

[Sarduci]

Witch Hunter and Bright Wizard... mmmm... I like.
They got my money when I saw Witch Hunters..... (gently pats his old Witch Hunter army box)

For the Emperor of the Empire and Elector Count of Reikland! Victory for Karl Franze!

[Gaffy]

Off topic: Does anyone know if FFXI is still around. God i hated that game, 3 hours to get a lvl and die from a bunny and right back where i started. Plus you really can't solo anything after lvl 10, and finding a group is a pain.Yup, they're still out there.
That was a game that was designed AGAINST the "hmmm, I wonder if I can take that" croud if there ever was one.

[Lokked]

Lorune, Moredots and Puppychow all have accurate reviews.

Lorune's post immediately comes off as negative, but highlights lacking areas as being PvE elements. I gather that Lorune plays MMOs for the PvE/co-op, exploration, seeing all content side of things. His opinion is duely noted.

Moredots and Puppychow, after only experiencing Beta, have positive comments about PvP.

I was sold a long time ago on the whole RvR concept. I never did play DAoC, but if WAR seems similar to WoW, but is more PvP focused, where my PvP affects the outcome of the greater cause and there isn't just end-game PvP to look forward to, the idea sounds fantastic.

Now, I just leave it up to the developers to take their wonderful concept and make it work and be fun. Balance, realizing it'll never be perfect, will play a major role.

[Bradster]

In all fairness I beta tested this game over a year ago. Had potential, I hope it came a long way from what I saw. Think I’ll wait, give it another year and see what you guys think of the game then :D

[Moredots]

In all fairness I beta tested this game over a year ago. Had potential, I hope it came a long way from what I saw. Think I’ll wait, give it another year and see what you guys think of the game then :DThe game has changed a TON in the last year. I think this game will last a lot longer than AOC but it wont Kill WoW. It will how ever take a lot of pvpers away. there is just so much fun to be had pvping in War. That and I dont know about you guys but I got tired of raiding a while ago... have to dedicate 5 to 6 hours a night... i want to kill shit then log when i want. : )