I’ve really been struggling with this one. Should I pre-order the CE for AoC or just get the normal version? I am for sure getting the game but at this point I can’t decide whether or not the contents of the CE are worth the investment. Here’s what you get in the CE, and my thoughts on each item:
Ring of Acheronia (Exclusive In-Game Item) – The ring offers special XP and stamina enhancements for players – * I’ll talk more on this in a minute. Bonus XP = nice.- Hand-Finished Collectors Edition Box – Don’t care. It’s going on the shelf anyway.
- Hyborian World Faux Leather Map – I would never look at it.
- Unique Bonus DVD – I might watch it once.
- Official Age of Conan Soundtrack – This is cool. I like soundtracks.
- Age of Conan Art Book – I would look at it once.
- The Drinking Cape (Bonus In-game Item) – the Drinking Cape gives you access to free drinks in all the taverns of Hyboria – I don’t care about the drinks. The cape might look cool, but I wouldn’t wear it.
- Five Free Guest Passes – These would be cool to give away to readers of our blog… but not a deal breaker.
Looking at the above contents the only two items that really interest me are the soundtrack and the ring with a XP bonus. That leaves a lot of other stuff I really have no use for, that would clutter my room, and result on my forking out an additional $40. Is the XP ring worth it?
* I’ve looked into the XP ring more and it’s been said that the ring will give a 2% exp bonus. This means that out of every 100 mobs I kill, that ring will have given me 2 extra kills worth of exp. Not that big a deal. Let’s boost that to every 1000 mobs and that means 20 kills extra. Still, not a big deal. But pushing it to the total exp needed for level 80 (which could be around 800 million exp) and suddenly the bonus looks a little more appetizing… However I don’t think I can bring myself to terms with paying $40 for a 2% bonus. I would forever regret that decision. I would also be sacrificing potential stats from another ring for that small 2%.
** Also on the XP ring it has 5% stamina. If AoC plays out like most mmorpgs then stats will remain on the low side. An addition 5-10 stamina isn’t going to be worth it to me. I’m almost certain about that.
On top of all the above reasons why I don’t need the CE, I have the Pre-order bonus to look at. I can get the Pre-order bonus from ordering just the normal version! I’ll get the 3 day headstart, the mammoth mount, and pay nothing for it! (Well, $5 but that also comes with 10 days free play with pays for the $5).
I think my final decision is that I’m going to pass on the CE and just pre-order the normal version. That way I can get the mammoth, the head start, and not kick myself in the arse tomorrow. Anyone out there reading this who might be considering whether or not it’s worth it, I urge you to look at a list of what comes in the CE and decide if it’s worth it to you or not. It helped me.
Side Note: Cameron from Random Battle made an interesting post about how the whole CE thing feels like micro-transactions — It’s worth reading because it feels so true. He also decided to get the normal version.
Has anyone out there pre-ordered the game and received their codes for the mammoth or the headstart yet? I’ve heard rumors that they are not giving them out until a week before the headstart begins but that seems like it would be cutting it a tad close. I’m debating if I should hold out on pre-ordering until the store I go to actually has the codes… I’ve been burned by Scamstop a few times too many on these promises that pre-order bonuses would be delivered.
Can you pre-order through Amazon? They add the codes for most games (such as WAR) to your amazon account info, so you don’t even have to wait for e-mails, mailings, or whatever.
You can, but apparently no one has the codes yet. Also, pre-ordering from Amazon gives you an in-game Bow and not the Mammoth. To me it seems wisest to order from Gamestop.
It sound like you’ve already made your decision.
Your really looking forward to WAR! and AoC is only a place holder. I’d go normal retail and save the money for the redbulls you’ll need when WAR comes out.
At this point I can’t rule out AoC as a full-time game for me. It’s no longer just a place holder because of WAR’s long delay. But WAR has played a part in this because I’ve already pre-ordered through Amazon for WAR which charged my card immediately. I’m out the full price of the WAR pre-order 6 months before the game comes out. That makes me less willing to rush out and spend money.
Well I am sitting on the fence about whether or not AoC will be a game that I really, really enjoy. It does look nice but spending a lot of money on the preorder or the CE seems like to big of a gamble for me.
There are to many mysteries about how the game works or how it will run for me to want to risk it.
WAR was the first game to reach my heart and mind in a big way. AoC, while it looks fun and could be a nice game, will always be in the shadow of WAR for me. Even if I buy it and start playing it full time, WAR will always be there in my mind, waiting and praying for a beta key.
I remember reading a while ago that getting drunk in a bar allows you to start brawls (PvP?), thus the purpose of the drinking cape to get free drinks and start bar fights at any time. Is this no longer the case?
But WAR has played a part in this because I’ve already pre-ordered through Amazon for WAR which charged my card immediately. I’m out the full price of the WAR pre-order 6 months before the game comes out. That makes me less willing to rush out and spend money.
Have you actually seen the charge on your card? I have two emails from Amazon (one auto response, one customer service in response to my question before I saw the auto response) that clearly state they will not charge me for the WAR preorder until it ships.
Yeah, the charge is on my card. Others I’ve talked to were charged immediately as well. Totally a rip if you ask me.
Well I think I will be getting AoC, if for no other reason than to give it a good bash and see what it’s like, irrespective of whether I stay longer term.
Frankly I’m coming to the conclusion that a great mmorpg is the type of game I would most like to be playing; I love quests, I love rpgs, I love choosing to sometimes play solo and sometimes group, but part of the conclusion I’ve come to is that the mmorpg as a genre still isn’t quite there. None of them can hold my appeal.
The faux leather map I like. However a map of the world is not that useful as you’ve said Keen. What a Collectors Edition it would be if it were a faux leather map book! Inside, every page is a lovingly designed map of a game area/zone, bound in an expensive looking Hyborian-style leather with brass clasp.
Cost would probably go up a fair bit though.
Collector’s Editions are rarely worth it. The small bonuses given in them aren’t anything that big. Most people (myself included) who purchase the collector’s edition do so because it supports the game developers, which helps ensure that the quality will improve post release.
The drunken brawls will still be in the game, by the way.
I’m getting a “normal” version, myself. The game itself is really the only thing I want. The box would end up in my storeroom and you’ll probably find a ring with sweet +stat effects that you will want soon enough.
Even I’m having a hard time deciding on which version of AoC to buy Keen. If it helps, I believe ALL pre-orders get the mammoth from Gamestop.
I agree that 90 bucks seems like an awful lot of cash for a CE.
Yeah i ant decide either. im really looking for the 3 day headstart! and thebow off amazzon.com because im going to be a ranger!
79.99 with no tax for the CE on Amazon and free shipping coupon codes found most everywhere = not even 20 bucks over Gamestop regular edition cost once tax and shipping added
So for less than 20 bucks you get all that – seems like a good deal to me
I definitely buy the CE!
I will put the map in a frame on the wall where I can always look at it and the Free Guest passes are going to spilled immediately among my fellow RPers. The Drinking Cape RULEZ: It has all the benefits of drinking with none of the side effects, which are very useful in Tavern Brawl minigame!
Gamestop/EB no longer has pre order for the CE version. Seems they’re no more available so hopefully if you did want to pre order you did it already. Regular edition is still up but it doesn’t include ring/cape and all the other so called goodies the CE included.
Just a heads up.
As far as the preorders here in Norway goes.
– A code for a mammoth or other mount will be included in the game box
– A head start code will be sent to you by mail 17th of May, the download will be available from 20th of Mayand the store release is 23rd of may.
– The ring sucks bigtime
– The Collectors Edition cost about 100kr more than the non collector, that’s about $6 so i’m aiming for collectors edition even tho the fetures of it doesn’t seem to impressive
[…] Gaming Blog that talks about the pro’s and con’s of buying the CE. Keen his article about what he feels are the two most important features of the CE, the soundtrack and the XP […]
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i got my preorder early access code today 😛
Hey it takes 250 hours to get to the level cap (according to Funcom averages). 2% of that is only 5 hours, which could be as small as a day of gaming depending on your scheduling. Not that big of a deal. If there are better stamina regen items or better rings then it really doesn’t matter.
In hindsight, I’d have to say the CE wasn’t worth the money. Never used the cape and the ring isn’t noticeable at all really. The map is okay and the art book is nice but I wouldn’t have bought it for that. And I never did get my soundtrack CD. Grrr….