Anyone still here?

[Excedrin]

I've been playing allot lately after being gone for quite some time (lol can't even remember how long but quite a few months)...

Anyway, by looking at the post dates there doesn't appear to be anyone still actively using this board.

Too bad, I always received great information from the people here.

Also, I notice in game (or perhaps it's me):

There doesn't seem to be that many players left in game. Where did everyone go?
I notice I am no longer in a guild: have no idea where they went. LOL level 50 walking around Xeth with no guild is quite amusing to me.
I notice the players that are in game seem to solo allot more then group. What gives with that?

Well anyway, just wanted to say hello and thanks for providing this board. It was one of my favorites, even though I wasn't very active.

[Ysharros]

Heya Excedrin, long time no see

I check this board pretty often still, but mostly for old times' sake -- I don't even play Vanguard anymore. Fired up the SWG trial last November to see what had changed in the 2+ years I'd been gone, and haven't come back since. Other folks have moved on to other pursuits.

It's hard to put my finger on the whole Vanguard thing, except to say that it never did become quite what I hoped it might. The crafting eventually got to me too (I won't say more because I'll start to rant), and since I'm 75% craft 25% whatever else there is, there wasn't much holding me in the game.

A few still play -- in fact, since you're coming back after a while away, hopefully with new eyes, I'd like to know what you think of it now. Better? Worse? Same? I know there aren't many playing, but that aside, what's it like for you now?

[Pirotess]

We've noticed the lack of traffic and are working on plans to fold the site into a more general site under a different URL. It'll take awhile but we're hoping the resources here get leveraged better when they can be used for multiple different games in different parts of their life cycles.

[Ysharros]

That sounds like a great idea - not your fault Vanguard sank like a lead balloon, that's for sure.

This site has/had a great community, I'd like to see that re-invigorated somehow.

[Excedrin]

Hi Ysharros,

I remember you quite well. Your guidance helped me get one of my crafters out of the closest and into a crafting rhythm to lvl 25 (before I left)

As for new eyes, this is what I've noticed:

First off the riftways had changed and were a real pain and weren't working for me.

It seems the custom interface I used wouldn't work with the new mapping technique (also no more rift stones) they use so I had to install DroxUI and that fixed the issue.

I had stayed away from custom UI's (mine was actually the exact same as the default except I had more quick bars and a % xp bar) because they were another thing for me to learn and I already had my hands full learning VG ins and outs. But I bit the bullet.

I like the fact you don't need the riftway stones any more, but I'm still cheap and I don't like paying to travel. Never did.

As a Mage and a UO vet from long ago, I've always been spoiled with setting a rune and casting recall on the rune to go where I want. To me, that's how a mage travels. They don't pay they open a gate and teleport

I'd forgotten completely how to adventure so that took me a few days to get under control.

My lvl 50 necro - Excedrin had mucho problems. Seems many of his spells were 'tweaked' and not as powerful as they had been. So a bit of adjustment there. I can no longer solo a few of the mobs I was able to before I left. But what can you do, no biggie.

The mini map is quite a bit different and I miss seeing the roads. At least in my mini map I can't tell where the roads are that lead from town to town.

So I pop up the large map and 'aim' myself in that direction. Fortunately for me, being a quasi Mage I can recall once I cross the chunk.

It's because of the new mapping that I'm only playing my mages at the moment (sorc and necro). I'm leaving my warrior and shaman home at the lake.

I still don't like playing alone, and it appears I probably won't stay in VG much longer because of this. I've played for 2-3 weeks and I'm already bored as hell.

I haven't found anyone of interest to group my lvl 50 Necro, my lvl 34 sorc is soloing southwatch at the moment and there seems to be quite a void of pugs there.

I hunted a few trees and undead beyond the bulwork (what ever it's called) but the trees take too much time to take down alone to make grinding the missive worth it.

I don't do pvp (I'm on Xeth), and it seems I'm not going to get into a raid group so that aspect is also out for me.

The broker prices are still insane, and from what I've read about the last patch, being a crafter is not nearly as profitable as it had been in the past.

I don't know this as first hand experience since I never got any of my crafters beyond 25, but it doesn't look pretty from I've read.

On a positive note - I did manage to get a new crafter to 21.

When I left you did not get xp for creating items, now you do! That was a definite welcome bonus!

I still can't make complete 'A' batch mods, but I did manage to make a few complete 'B' batches and a few A sets mods.

But I decided for xp, Id' just stick with the easy and forget the mods.

New Targ is still as laggy for me as ever. I've never liked that city and I think it should be tossed in the ocean and rebuilt.

I can barely get through to the crafting area as I hitch like crazy. Sometimes I stand still for 3-4 seconds before moving a step. Ridiculous.

If there were more friendly people in game and/or I could get in a guild I might stay a bit longer.

I would have liked to get a flying mount since they are in game now, but it appears you can not solo those quests so that's out for me also

All in all I agree with you completely. VG lost it's focus and for my taste I don't see how it will ever shine.

AoC doesn't really sound promising to me either and Warhammer sounds a bit childish (I may be wrong but it doesn't really appeal to me).

The patches and 'fluff' they are adding to the game IMO is too little to late. They're focus on adding new features when there are so many current features and issues that need addressing IMO is ludicrous.

Whoever is in the PM and making those decisions needs a dose of reality. IMO, they've got it all wrong and there focus is blurred.

Well, that's all I care to really share at the moment.

I wish everyone the best where ever they end up. It definately great seeing a friendly response Ysharros. Thanks for always being there when we needed help.

And again, thanks to the boards creators and mods for keeping this active. It was like a beacon of light when I thought I was on my way home.

I guess I'll keep looking for home and check back in here as long as the site remains active.

Best wishes to everyone

[Aredhel]

Thanks for those great words, and it's wonderful to see you and Iz, as well!!!

Like Piro said, stay tuned, cuz we're headed for some even "funner" stuff! It's in progress now. We have our programmer and target IPs and we will NOT let VSoH down. Even if it's dead slow, we'll keep it for those who do come back to see what we're doing at "home"!

There are a lot of people still enjoying Vanguard! When I have time to play, I'm one of them, actually. I do have my eye on a couple of other things, tho, so we can bring the best info possible, so my time is limited.

I play on Seradon...everyone I know does and we didn't even take notes! I just don't ever know when I'm going to be there right now.

[Excedrin]

It's great to hear you guys/gals are still working on the site and improvements.

I have always been pretty active on other boards (non game related) and from a games perspective when I find one I like, I tend to stay put. Even if I don't have anything of value to add, I enjoy reading and learning from others.

A few things I always liked and admired about the spheres community was the level of expertise, willingness to help newbies or struggling players like me and the lack of flame wars.

The idea of combining/restructuring the site does sound like a great idea. Are you thinking of added areas for other games, sorta like a portal?

IGN or Stratics comes to mind when I think of these portal sites. I used to stratics as my primary site when I was involved in UO. Lots of good information there, although it did get pretty flamey from time to time.

Are there any projects that could use some assistance? I have a few 'special' talents I wouldn't mind offering and lending a hand with on a casual basis.

[Aredhel]

Originally Posted by Excedrin

A few things I always liked and admired about the spheres community was the level of expertise, willingness to help newbies or struggling players like me and the lack of flame wars.

Thank you! And you know us well enough to know any flames will be doused quickly!

The idea of combining/restructuring the site does sound like a great idea. Are you thinking of added areas for other games, sorta like a portal?

well....on a smaller scale, maybe. There are 3 other games we're currently looking at.

Are there any projects that could use some assistance? I have a few 'special' talents I wouldn't mind offering and lending a hand with on a casual basis.

NOW you've done it!

Send me a PM or email (aredhel.vanguard@gmail.com) and we can see how best to abuse....I mean....USE (yeah, that's it) your talents!

[Excedrin]

LOL, it's been awhile since I've been abused

But that's a personal issue.

PM sent.

[Arctic_Slicer]

I still visit this site about once a week to see if anything new is posted and sometimes try to take my Tetris trophy back to no success. I have recently resubscribed to Vanguard: Saga of Heroes; after trying a couple of games of other more popular games with big disappointment that it became obvious that Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is the superior game.