Pax Dei

First: I think it really needs to be said, that (in my opinion) this game is not for winning, but for playing. So I suppose a lot of misunderstandings about the quality come from trying to get the best stuff the fastest way and level "successfull" somehow. It reminds me a bit at the first attempts in Minecraft, where no objective had been given and it was completely your own choice, how to spend your time there. ...now just with absolutely amazing graphic and more medievilish XD
In opposite to all the survival crafting games I have and where I just try to beat the algorithm of dying, this feels like something I could do long term: built up an existence, some friendships, live a decent life and enjoy all the experiences made, best of it share everything with your neighbors in your village. That means: I have no hurry to get through it in minimized time, I rather take the long road and enjoy the view ^.^
My current pros:
- rich environment with loads of stuff to use already
- the realism that crafting something of value indeed needs time and passion and that epic builts and crafts may need a whole bunch of people (even though it is very grindy...you have time, so let it be that way...)
- amazing building system (prepare yourself for constant rebuilding something as it makes so much fun)
- complex crafting systems with a huge amount of ideas (for an EA game) and with rather few unused od notimportant crafts and ressources
- the people I met so far are really nice and the worst thing happened is that they are not thaaaat chatty. No absent base raids, no spawn killing with "I am just playing the game, it is allowed, so I will do it." and all the other funny stuff one may know by public servers of survival craftings
- the freedom to find my own way for every day
- food is for buffs or poison and there is no need to be online continuously in order not to starve
- The opportunity to socialize, even as a solo player and with no interest in clan liabilities, there always is a chance of a good talk or a short companionship
And my cons:
- I think most player wait for update and so a lot of players are not aktive. That makes it rather dull in a global sense, even though my neighbors are active and great. Other dozens of people in my village I have never seen. Society interaction needs a society.
- there is a lot to craft or levelling that you will never need again (because you then can do better) and so far you cannot recycle crafted things. Can't wait until that is changed because it feels like having tons of waste.
- some things, like combat, is not very good balanced yet.
- the price for all packs is an awful lot of money for an early access. But at least you can start with just one plot to see if you like it.
So overall I think there is a lot of work to do and maybe even lots of updates in next future, but in many ways that game does not feel immature and not playable. It is definately worth the experience and at the beginning you can find very kind helping hands.

Buy this game if:
- you like playing with Legos
- you have some amount of tolerance for jank
- you want a slow game
- you play games where you make your own objectives
- you understand this is early access and not a completed game
Do not buy this game if:
- you have no interest in building a twee cottage (or anything at all)
- you desire a rewarding combat system (pve OR pvp)
- you want the theme-park MMO experience
- innumerable other reasons
I don't play a lot of MMOs, and I don't play survival craft games, but I bought this game. The vision the devs set out is compelling, like EVE if it highlighted cooperation instead of competition. It's a low-stakes, relaxing game you can play while you do other things if that's your speed. As an older gamer, I appreciate that.
The systems for this envisioned game are not all built yet, though, so don't expect much. Presently, it's really only constructing and crafting that have been fleshed out to any degree. The building system is really good and allows a great degree of freedom to build however you want. It's a blast. The problem is, however, that it's "pointless" because the game's other systems are absent. I'm totally fine with that pointlessness - it's a game, after all - but others clamor for "content". I'll play with my ever-growing collection of building blocks

Very grindy at solo, still need lots work..
Human enemy feels very lifeless and npc like. (standing at same place doing nothing)
Leveing skills is too grindy.. have to build pointless things wich cant salvage...
I do recommend when in sale and u have to kill time and u have someone to play with.

Pax Dei is a strange one, you'll either love it or hate it in the current state it is in.
If you are after a pretty chill crafting and building sim with a steep grind for mats set in a genuinely very pretty world, then this might be up your alley. I don't normally play games like this, but I like the very laid back vibe of it. Community is super friendly too and something about seeing a mountainside littered with player created buildings is kinda awesome - Actually gives me Ultima Online vibes (if it were made in unreal engine).
Watch some people playing the game or YouTube videos to see if it is right for you, it has a long way to go but the promise is there for something really good.

I genuinely want to like this game, for the time I played as a solo player, I enjoyed what I saw.
I loved how the scenery displayed, I loved how the skill mechanics are developed over your characters in game time like you wanna be a good carpenter? Good get to woodworking, bust out a log block and start hacking away making planks. Awesome way of approach. Gathering starting materials is fairly alright, granted its a pain and a half sometimes however not entirely grueling. The combat mechanics are pretty good for the fights I've gotten to experience, granted I only had enough time to make a pointy stick.
The main reason I skeptical of the game is due to the fact of yes, early access/subscription. Early access I'm am 100% alright with, I've got plenty of early access titles in my library, and a lot of them become absolute gems, however a handful remain as clumps of coal. Subscription portion, this is what killed me a bit, all of the hard work I'd dedicate to the game and all of the progress to be made would be wiped and erased with nothing left or even a memento to keep aside from the founder pack bonuses. Sure working up to everything is great, however playing knowing that its gonna be ripped away and set to zero kinda feels pointless after it all. Also quoting their subscription "overall approach is similar to the classic MMORPGs subscription model." Isn't really sitting well, there are only two major MMORPGs that come to mind when this is mentioned, W.O.W/W.O.W Classic & FFXIV, every other MMORPG, has either been a one time buy, F2P with paid DLC packs or F2P with heavy micro-transactions.
I mean im not going to not recommend the game, since I did enjoy my time playing it. Its a good game, a great idea, and a whole lot of potential, its just the sub and wipe is a kick in the teeth for me.

Please don't listen to these negative reviews talking about various things in the game as if they are set in stone. Apparently, a large population of Steam users don't know how to read, or they just can't comprehend this is an alpha. For f's sake everything in the game CAN and likely WILL change. Stop getting your panties in a bunch over features you don't like and join the active discussions to ya know make change, and cooperate in an ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT.
The game does not have a whole lot other than building and basic combat at the moment. That's no surprise, it's written everywhere if you were to take the time and read something. If you buy this thinking it's a complete game, then leave a negative review about what the game is "lacking", I'm sorry but it is your brain that is doing the lacking.
With that being said, if you enjoy crafting/building games that are a bit of a grind while constantly being updated and new things added, you will likely enjoy this game. The views are phenomenal and everything is slowly evolving.
This is the BEGINNING of a game. From day one the dev team has said they are developing the game WITH an active player base. I really don't understand how there is so much confusion around this. lol If that is not something you are interested in being a part of, don't buy it now; it really is that simple.
>End rant

This game has more POTENTIAL than any other MMORPG on the market. The things that they have done well (building and graphics) they have done extremely well. However, there is a LOT of work still to be done. After you build your house and do a little exploring, there's little reason to keep playing. Add fun combat and a meaningful reason to engage in pvp, and this game will be legendary.