Read all about Age of Conan's extensive class system and the feats that will make up the character you play.
4.0 Classes and Feats
4.1 Do you pick a class when you start playing?
No, when you start playing you don’t pick a class at all. Character creation at the game’s start is all about modeling your character the way you want him or her to be – changing their height, their muscle size, the shape of their head, aging of their skin and so on – and you don’t have to make any choices other than that. Of course you have to select a gender and a race, but that’s about it. You don’t have to start making decisions regarding your profession until you’ve reached level five.
4.2 So you pick a class at level five?
No, you pick an archetype at level five. The archetypes are Soldier, Mage, Priest and Rogue. Each of these bring with them different benefits, penalties, advantages and disadvantages. We use this system so that you won’t have to start making difficult decisions from the start – the first five levels is spent just playing the game, and hopefully you get a feeling on what sort of character you would like to play. At level five you only have to select an archetype that best fits your playing style.
4.3 Does your character’s profession evolve after this?
Yes, absolutely. Once you’ve reached level twenty, you will be able to select one of several classes that are part of the archetype you have chosen. The soldier can, for instance, become a Guardian, a Conqueror or a Dark Templar. Each of these has their advantages and disadvantages, and they help to further shape the specialties of the character that you have been playing for the past twenty levels. Each of the four different archetypes has several different classes to choose from.
4.4 What exactly are the classes we can choose from?
The classes that are available to you are determined from which archetype you choose and the race you hail from. Not all races can play all classes, so you have to make a conscious decision on what sort of character you wish to play. This information is given at the start of the game. The classes that are planned for each archetype from level twenty are these:
Soldier:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Guardian
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Conqueror
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Dark Templar
Priest:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Priest of Mitra
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Scion of Set
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Druid of the Storm
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Bear Shaman
Rogue:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Barbarian
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Assassin
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ranger
Mage:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Lich
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Necromancer
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Herald of Xotli
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Demonologist
4.5 Will there be crafting-specific classes?
No, you won’t pick a crafting class like you would pick an ordinary class. There is definitively a room for crafters in the game, and you will be able to become one, but crafting is in another layer of the class system in Age of Conan called prestige classes. Later in the game you will be able to pick a prestige class that you develop alongside your ordinary class. Crafter is one of these special prestige classes, and as a crafter you will have access to all crafting-specific skills, whereas the other prestige classes only will have access to one or two different crafting skills.
4.6 What prestige classes are there in Age of Conan?
There are four different prestige classes: The Crafter, the Lord, the Commander and the Master. Each of these has extremely valuable advantages that can be used both in solo play and in team play, and each has specific skills and benefits that can make a great difference. The commander can, for instance, expand groups and use special formations during combat, while a lord has certain rights when it comes to building cities and gathering resources. As for the master, he will be able to control a computer-controlled follower that can be of aid in battles. Here are some of the benefits that the prestige classes carry with them:
Lord:
Has exclusive placement rights in regard to the main keep
Can build Guard Towers that automatically defend against enemy attacks
Each Lord in a guild increases the resource extraction of gold nuggets for all guild members - up to a max of 30 Lords.
Each Lord in a guild increases the experience point bonus for all guild members - up to a max of 20 Lords.
Has access to the Architect and Alchemy crafting skills
Commander:
Adds one additional maximum member to a team, up to a total of 10 (with 4 Commanders)
Can build Barracks for the Village or Keep that will spawn soldiers to protect the village on attack
Each Commander in a guild increases the resource extraction of iron ore for all guild members - up to a max of 30 Commanders
Can draw up special "Tactical Plans" to enable Commander only formations. Massive battle formations, such as large mounted formations or the special Raid Attack resistant formations, are available only to the Commander
Has access to the Weaponsmith crafting skill
Crafter:
Can build crafting premises, smithies, and other tradeskill facilities in the guild villages
Each Crafter in a guild increases the resource extraction of wood for all guild members - up to a max of 30 Crafters
Has access to all forms of crafting
Master:
Can have one "follower". Being in a guild gives you access to more powerful followers
Can build stables which upgrade the quality of mounts
Each Master in a guild will increase the resource extraction of stone for all guild members - up to a max of 30 Masters
Has access to the Armorsmith crafting skill
4.7 What crafting skills are there?
The crafting skills planned for launch are weaponsmithing, alchemy, armorsmithing, gemcutting and architecture. Each of these gives the player the ability to make items and structures that are both beneficial for the player him or herself, as well as other players.
4.8 What sort of skills will players have in the game?
There will be several skills planned for the players to improve over time, such as hiding, climbing, taunting and so on. Skills will be raised by investing skill points made available at each level-up, but the main focus in Age of Conan is actually not skills, but feats.
4.9 How do feats work?
Feats are the meat of character development. There will be hundreds of different feats in the game, and you will both choose them as you go and have some automatically assigned to you. Feats can do anything from modifying statistics to controlling which items you are allowed to use. One feat can, for instance, allow you to use a special form of armor, while another feat would allow you to perform certain attacks. The feat system in Age of Conan is extremely elaborate, giving you the chance to create characters that are as unique as yourself.
4.10 How do you obtain feats?
You obtain feats every few levels as they become available to you, and you will have to train to get them. You can begin training with computer-controlled characters that you will find in various locations in the world, and you will have to pay money for the trainer to teach you the feats you want.
4.11 Will players be able to use any rogue or thief specific feats?
Yes, absolutely. There are several specific feats for the rogue classes, and we are planning to implement basic functions like hiding and pick pocketing. We’re also aiming to include climbing and lock picking so that players will be able to break into places and steal stuff. Even Conan himself, who now is King of Aquilonia, used to be a thief and the Conan lore is fraught with situations where characters have stolen from other people. It is a part of Hyborian life.
4.12 How many levels are there in the game?
At launch the game includes a total of 80 levels. This is the main experience pool, which you advance by fighting and generally developing your character. There is also a PvP specific level-tree that contains 20 levels, and we’re also planning specific level-trees for some prestige classes.
4.0 Classes and Feats
4.1 Do you pick a class when you start playing?
No, when you start playing you don’t pick a class at all. Character creation at the game’s start is all about modeling your character the way you want him or her to be – changing their height, their muscle size, the shape of their head, aging of their skin and so on – and you don’t have to make any choices other than that. Of course you have to select a gender and a race, but that’s about it. You don’t have to start making decisions regarding your profession until you’ve reached level five.
4.2 So you pick a class at level five?
No, you pick an archetype at level five. The archetypes are Soldier, Mage, Priest and Rogue. Each of these bring with them different benefits, penalties, advantages and disadvantages. We use this system so that you won’t have to start making difficult decisions from the start – the first five levels is spent just playing the game, and hopefully you get a feeling on what sort of character you would like to play. At level five you only have to select an archetype that best fits your playing style.
4.3 Does your character’s profession evolve after this?
Yes, absolutely. Once you’ve reached level twenty, you will be able to select one of several classes that are part of the archetype you have chosen. The soldier can, for instance, become a Guardian, a Conqueror or a Dark Templar. Each of these has their advantages and disadvantages, and they help to further shape the specialties of the character that you have been playing for the past twenty levels. Each of the four different archetypes has several different classes to choose from.
4.4 What exactly are the classes we can choose from?
The classes that are available to you are determined from which archetype you choose and the race you hail from. Not all races can play all classes, so you have to make a conscious decision on what sort of character you wish to play. This information is given at the start of the game. The classes that are planned for each archetype from level twenty are these:
Soldier:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Guardian
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Conqueror
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Dark Templar
Priest:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Priest of Mitra
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Scion of Set
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Druid of the Storm
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Bear Shaman
Rogue:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Barbarian
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Assassin
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Ranger
Mage:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Lich
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Necromancer
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Herald of Xotli
<!--[if !supportLists]-->Demonologist
4.5 Will there be crafting-specific classes?
No, you won’t pick a crafting class like you would pick an ordinary class. There is definitively a room for crafters in the game, and you will be able to become one, but crafting is in another layer of the class system in Age of Conan called prestige classes. Later in the game you will be able to pick a prestige class that you develop alongside your ordinary class. Crafter is one of these special prestige classes, and as a crafter you will have access to all crafting-specific skills, whereas the other prestige classes only will have access to one or two different crafting skills.
4.6 What prestige classes are there in Age of Conan?
There are four different prestige classes: The Crafter, the Lord, the Commander and the Master. Each of these has extremely valuable advantages that can be used both in solo play and in team play, and each has specific skills and benefits that can make a great difference. The commander can, for instance, expand groups and use special formations during combat, while a lord has certain rights when it comes to building cities and gathering resources. As for the master, he will be able to control a computer-controlled follower that can be of aid in battles. Here are some of the benefits that the prestige classes carry with them:
Lord:
Has exclusive placement rights in regard to the main keep
Can build Guard Towers that automatically defend against enemy attacks
Each Lord in a guild increases the resource extraction of gold nuggets for all guild members - up to a max of 30 Lords.
Each Lord in a guild increases the experience point bonus for all guild members - up to a max of 20 Lords.
Has access to the Architect and Alchemy crafting skills
Commander:
Adds one additional maximum member to a team, up to a total of 10 (with 4 Commanders)
Can build Barracks for the Village or Keep that will spawn soldiers to protect the village on attack
Each Commander in a guild increases the resource extraction of iron ore for all guild members - up to a max of 30 Commanders
Can draw up special "Tactical Plans" to enable Commander only formations. Massive battle formations, such as large mounted formations or the special Raid Attack resistant formations, are available only to the Commander
Has access to the Weaponsmith crafting skill
Crafter:
Can build crafting premises, smithies, and other tradeskill facilities in the guild villages
Each Crafter in a guild increases the resource extraction of wood for all guild members - up to a max of 30 Crafters
Has access to all forms of crafting
Master:
Can have one "follower". Being in a guild gives you access to more powerful followers
Can build stables which upgrade the quality of mounts
Each Master in a guild will increase the resource extraction of stone for all guild members - up to a max of 30 Masters
Has access to the Armorsmith crafting skill
4.7 What crafting skills are there?
The crafting skills planned for launch are weaponsmithing, alchemy, armorsmithing, gemcutting and architecture. Each of these gives the player the ability to make items and structures that are both beneficial for the player him or herself, as well as other players.
4.8 What sort of skills will players have in the game?
There will be several skills planned for the players to improve over time, such as hiding, climbing, taunting and so on. Skills will be raised by investing skill points made available at each level-up, but the main focus in Age of Conan is actually not skills, but feats.
4.9 How do feats work?
Feats are the meat of character development. There will be hundreds of different feats in the game, and you will both choose them as you go and have some automatically assigned to you. Feats can do anything from modifying statistics to controlling which items you are allowed to use. One feat can, for instance, allow you to use a special form of armor, while another feat would allow you to perform certain attacks. The feat system in Age of Conan is extremely elaborate, giving you the chance to create characters that are as unique as yourself.
4.10 How do you obtain feats?
You obtain feats every few levels as they become available to you, and you will have to train to get them. You can begin training with computer-controlled characters that you will find in various locations in the world, and you will have to pay money for the trainer to teach you the feats you want.
4.11 Will players be able to use any rogue or thief specific feats?
Yes, absolutely. There are several specific feats for the rogue classes, and we are planning to implement basic functions like hiding and pick pocketing. We’re also aiming to include climbing and lock picking so that players will be able to break into places and steal stuff. Even Conan himself, who now is King of Aquilonia, used to be a thief and the Conan lore is fraught with situations where characters have stolen from other people. It is a part of Hyborian life.
4.12 How many levels are there in the game?
At launch the game includes a total of 80 levels. This is the main experience pool, which you advance by fighting and generally developing your character. There is also a PvP specific level-tree that contains 20 levels, and we’re also planning specific level-trees for some prestige classes.
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Anyone who runs is a Chaos Sympathizer. Anyone who stands still is a well-disciplined Chaos Sympathizer.
