KNIGHTS OF CROM

This is a prerelease guide It includes many of the questions that you may have been wondering about.
 Topics include:
Action Combat
Single player MMORPG
 Class Structure
Race
City Building
 Player Versus Player Combat
Multiple Server Rule Sets

 Action Combat
One of the biggest attractions to AoC is their action-based combat system. Though the full workings of the system have yet to be released, we do know the generalities of it. Combat will be based both on the abilities of the players and the statistics of their character. That is to say that, while strength and agility will play a role in how hard and fast your character swings, so will your movements via mouse, keyboard, or joy pad. There will be no ‘auto-attack’ function, as the decision to strike an opponent will rely completely on the player’s discretion.
 
Single player MMORPG
 AoC is also host to a unique introductory portion of the game. The first 20 levels of AoC will be played almost entirely solo. This is most likely to introduce the player to the various systems of the game and allow them to develop a well-rounded back-story before entering more social surroundings. That is not to say, however, that players will have no interactions amongst themselves during this ‘introductory’ period. Players will meet others in certain areas, Inns being mentioned as one, but further details on this are not available. Also, while the first 20 levels of the game are played primarily alone, players will still have to connect to the designated servers to access their characters.

Class Structure
 Several different leveling methods are incorporated into Age of Conan. First there is the class system, detailed as follows: Level 1 through 5 you play as a Slave or Commoner class. At Level 5 your select your primary class from Warrior, Rogue, Priest and Mage. At Level 20(the same time you leave the singe player portion of the game) you select a subclass to your primary class. Exact listings of subclasses have yet to be released, but you will have a selection of 3 to 4. At Level 40 you determine your ‘Profession.’ Currently there are 4 Profession classes available: Engineer, Lord, General and Craftsman. An Engineer builds siege engines, used in Guild versus Guild combat areas, as well as certain Player Controlled Community buildings. Lords receive a unique NPC to control in any way they see fit. Generals both increase the maximum size of groups by being involved in said group, as well as learning advanced formations to use on the battlefield. Finally, Craftsmen are the masters of trade skills. While every character in AoC will be able to craft some items, Craftsmen are the ones that make the truly impressive items. At Level 60 you receive your last subclass, or ‘Epic Class.’ As with subclasses, no official list has been released. However, there will be 2 choices for each subclass available. As you can see, this system, by itself, allows for a wide variety of characters. All tolled, there will be over 40 different class options available to players. However, classes are not the only way to customize your character. Skills: No official list of skills has been released. However, we do know that characters receive 10 skill points per level, as well as a larger chunk of points every 5 levels. Feats: No official list of available feats has been released.

Race
 There are three races currently slated to make an appearance in Age of Conan: Cimmerians, Aquilonians and Stygians. If you are not familiar with Howard’s collection of work, these names may mean little to you. However, as the races seem to be based on historical communities, generalizations can be made. Cimmerians are the hardy people from the frozen north. Their culture most closely resembles that of the Germanic barbarian tribes such as the Gauls, but may also be a generalization of the realistic Cimmerian nomadic tribes of Russia. Aquilonians are the centralized community of the world, most closely related to the Roman culture. Finally, Stygians are the priest-centered nation, most likely based on the Egyptian culture. Though information on possible statistical differences in races has not been divulged, we know that only Stygians will be able to select the ‘Mage’ primary class. For this honor, however, they lose access to the ‘Warrior’ primary class. Both Aquilonian and Cimmerian characters can select the Warrior, Priest, or Rogue primary class.

 City Building
Age of Conan is one of the first games that has developed a structure for building player-run cities. Players will be able to both build and operate a city in an area designated by the game, but chosen by the player. For instance, only certain parcels of land may be available to build upon, but among those parcels players have free reign. Of course, there are also dangers to this kind of flamboyant expression of wealth. Nearby NPC villages, perhaps filled with gold hungry bandits, may attack your city without warning. Such threatening communities can be kept in check with the proper measures, but such actions may cost precious time. The decision is left to the players.

 Player Versus Player Combat
There are several options available for those who wish to quench their blood thirst on more intelligent opponents. These options come in the form of the various ‘player versus player’ arenas available. Brawling: The most simple, yet interesting, of these systems is the drunken bar brawl. While inside an inn players will be able to spontaneously erupt in violence, bashing fellow players with bar stools, chair legs, or anything else they can get their hands on. Combat in this manner will not result in any player deaths, but maybe some well earned bragging rights. Dueling: Through the use of special dueling zones or arenas, players will be able to test their mettle against fellow players. The reward for such a fight will be left up to the players. PvP ‘Mini-Games’: There will be the option to participate in certain combat ‘games’ inside AoC. These may include scenarios such as capturing the opposing forces’ flag or defeating their NPC ‘boss.’ Siege Combat: Siege Combat will take place in various PvP-enabled ‘Border Zones’ where players can set up their own Guild-Based city. As well, players can also decimate opposing guilds’ cities.

Multiple Server Rule Sets
 Age of Conan will cater to as many players as possible with their multiple server rule sets. While some players may like the idea of open combat, others may wish to relegate player versus player combat to only specific zones. Funcom has made a decisive effort to hear the community’s opinion on this matter, and to create as many servers as necessary to accommodate the largest amount of people. That’s not to say that every single suggested rule set will make its’ way onto one of AoC’s servers, but there seems to be a good deal of variation planned for the rule sets.