After my daily gaming time in Tabula Rasa, I decided to fire up DAOC and get the trial under way. From the start it was very easy to get the game setup and running it did take a while to get the game updated but that is almost to be expected with any new MMO installment. It is interesting to note that unlike a lot of new games that use a web based account management system DAOC at least initially has a stand along account creation. This may hearken back the fact that DAOC would be considered a 2nd Generation MMO as it was released back in 2001.
Once my account was created the game showed me a cool intro movie that covered all the races of the world and gave a bit of information on the classes as well as the realm versus realm combat which is what DAOC is know for. After the movie I was presented with the character selection screen where you have the option to pick an existing character or make a new one. With not characters created I had to create a new one. I will say this once I was into the character creation screen it was pretty straight forward with many options which made if easy to create a character that was unique. Another really nice thing that more MMOs need that DAOC has is a random name generator. It may not sound like much but a name generator can solve a lot of problems with coming up with a name that fits the world and helps in the immersion and rp aspects of the game.
With character creation complete it was time for my character to begin his adventure. The game starts your character at a training facility where it you are given the option to run through a tutorial or just jump into game. The tutorial is actually helpful and it is completely voiced so if you don't want to read through a lot of text and if you check out the chat windows there is a lot of text flying around. The tutorial itself is pretty straight forward the first part gives you the basic movement and combat procedures as well as explain parts for the interface. After the basics the NPC sends you on a you way to a small village to show you how the vendor system works. Once you have complete this portion of the tutorial they put you on a horse which is your rapid transit method in the game and they drop you off in what is the real starter area where you can start picking up quests.
Following the tutorial I didn't have much time to really start working quests I was able to complete a couple of fedex style quests and a quest there I had to go out and kill a couple of mobs. I was able to pick up a level and gain a new weapon style as well as buy some better equipment.
Now for my 1st impression of DAOC, overall I was impressed by the look of the game for being a game that is 7+ years old it looks very good. I do know that there has been a graphical update and I am not sure what expansions are included in the trial if any. I will say that one thing that does kind of bug me is the UI I won't say its clunky but it took me a good 5 minutes to find how to exit the game and you cannot edit the video options from in the game. Other than that the interface is configurable and has "hotbars" very similiar to every other MMO out there. Bottom line it functional and not a graphically intensive as say WoW or other modern MMO's. The game has more of a realistic feel. It kind of feels like Ultima Online in the fact that when you look around its all medieval but not cartoony like WoW.
So that was my 1st day in DAOC, not very productive character wise but I did learn a lot about the game I am am pretty confident is using the UI and actually playing the game.
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