Age of Conan: Class List

[Kail]

Conan is fantasy but not what modern readers would call it with elves and trolls and shit like that. It isn't generic fantasy. It is dark, gritty, more realistic and an fairly original conception.

The term I've generally heard used is "Low Fantasy" as opposed to "High Fantasy."  As far as I'm aware, High Fantasy is supposed to represent Tolkienesque stuff, with Elves and Dragons and Wizards and Knights and so on, and Low Fantasy is the catchall term for people who want to be less... prancy, I guess?  Anyways, in my experience, Conan is to Low Fantasy as Lord of the Rings is to High Fantasy, it's just that high fantasy has seen a lot more exposure in video games and movies (especially in the last ten years or so).

[stray]

A quick googling around says that high fantasy, apparently, deals with epic themes, epic struggles, and usually entirely created worlds. ex. C.S. Lewis, Tolkien.

Low fantasy contains more personal themes, personal struggles, worlds borne out of our own myths or history (Howard), and even contemporary worlds (Gaiman).

Then again, low fantasy could have all the themes of high fantasy, but at same time, not take itself too seriously. Warcraft, Bard's Tale, or Discworld.

[Bandit]

The Conan series is definitely in the theme of "Barbarism versus Civilization".  Conan is a much deeper character than the pulp "machismo".

Also, there aren't as many scantily clad women as you may be lead on to believe. Some of his best stories have none. Others have very strong female characters (Queen of the Black Coast).

Indeed, from the introduction of the The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian:

"Most of the more routine Conan stories - systematically featuring semi-naked ladies, which had been entirely absent from the series until then - were indeed composed between November 1932 and March 1933, at a time when Howard was in dire need of money"

"Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite with having their skulls split, as a general thing" - Conan, the Tower of the Elephant.

[Velorath]

Based on what I'm reading here it sounds like there might not be too many problems with the character customization.

Depending on the race of your character, you’re also able to choose from a variety of different skin colors.

You can relax just a little bit now Stray.

[stray]

Heh. Thanks for pointing that out. 

[Darniaq]

Yea but doesn't that mean some people can choose wrong? 

[stray]

I'd like to think that that page was created because of ME. Hehe. It was posted on December 22 (yesterday). How convenient. 

[Xuri]

AoC class list has been updated.

All the originally listed skills and abilities are still in the game, but they are just spread across fewer classes. We know that the players will benefit from the added abilities when it comes to the roles each class will fulfill in gameplay terms. We also know that this had to be done for the greater good of the game, and that our choice will seem the only logical one once you get your hands on the game.

• Guardian and Halberdier have been merged, class name is Guardian.
• Barbarian, Reaver and Master Thief merged, class name is Barbarian.
• Conquerer and Liberator merged, class name is Conqueror.
• Zealot and Dark Templar merged, class name is Dark Templar.
• Defiler and Lotus Master merged, class name is now Assassin.
• Ranger and Waylayer merged, class name is Ranger.
• Stormcaller and Druid[/i] merged, class name is Druid of the Storm.
• Scourge of Derketo’s abilities have been merged across the Priest archetypes

Final line-up of classes:

• Priest Archetype – Druid of the Storm, Scion of Set, Priest of Mitra, Bear Shaman
• Mage Archetype – Demonologist, Lich, Necromancer, Herald of Xotli
• Soldier Archetype – Guardian, Conqueror, Dark Templar
• Rogue Archetype – Ranger, Assassin, Barbarian

[UnSub]

This news makes me sad.

... but I got a laugh out of the Liberator becoming the Conquerer.

[tazelbain]

Translation: We aren't creative enough to make the number of skills needed to fill out the classes we'd like. So we chopped the number of classes in half and called it a day.

[stray]

I've gotta laugh at their new screenshots  .

Apparently, this is only a DX10 game in name, not implementation.



Now compare that to Crysis:

[Velorath]

AoC class list has been updated.

All the originally listed skills and abilities are still in the game, but they are just spread across fewer classes. We know that the players will benefit from the added abilities when it comes to the roles each class will fulfill in gameplay terms. We also know that this had to be done for the greater good of the game, and that our choice will seem the only logical one once you get your hands on the game.

• Guardian and Halberdier have been merged, class name is Guardian.
• Barbarian, Reaver and Master Thief merged, class name is Barbarian.
• Conquerer and Liberator merged, class name is Conqueror.
• Zealot and Dark Templar merged, class name is Dark Templar.
• Defiler and Lotus Master merged, class name is now Assassin.
• Ranger and Waylayer merged, class name is Ranger.
• Stormcaller and Druid[/i] merged, class name is Druid of the Storm.
• Scourge of Derketo’s abilities have been merged across the Priest archetypes

Final line-up of classes:

• Priest Archetype – Druid of the Storm, Scion of Set, Priest of Mitra, Bear Shaman
• Mage Archetype – Demonologist, Lich, Necromancer, Herald of Xotli
• Soldier Archetype – Guardian, Conqueror, Dark Templar
• Rogue Archetype – Ranger, Assassin, Barbarian

That's... pretty crappy.  I realize Conan was a Barbarian, a Reaver, and a Thief, but that doesn't really justify rolling them all into one class.  They've got 4 different Mage classes, and 4 different Priest classes, but we can't get just one basic Thief class in a fucking Conan game?

[geldonyetich]

Still no lamenting woman class?

[Velorath]

Translation: We aren't creative enough to make the number of skills needed to fill out the classes we'd like. So we chopped the number of classes in half and called it a day.

It doesn't bother me much that they had cut down the number of classes.  What I find stupid is how they said "aw fuck it, let's just combine some of these classes even if they're nothing alike."

That and the fact that there are now more caster classes than there are melee classes.  It makes me wonder if these guys ever actually read any Conan stuff.

[stray]

It makes me wonder if these guys ever actually read any Conan stuff.

That's what I was getting to in my previous rants. It's the little things that indicated that. It becomes more apparent over time.

Though, on the bright side of things, that's still more classes/skillsets than World of Warcraft.

[Xuri]

What's up with comparing a DX9 screenshot of AoC (with the main character model cut out) with a DX10 screenshot of Crysis, Stray?

If you took that screenshot from the IGN article on the DX10 version of AoC shown at CES, then take note - none of the screenshot on IGN are actually of the DX10 version.

EDIT: And granted, the DX10 version of AoC will probably still not look as good as Crysis, but then Crysis is a singleplayer FPS (though supporting up to 32 people in multiplayer), while AoC has to support displaying a shitload of characters onscreen at once.

[tazelbain]

Oh, I forgot. LOL.  Conan's reign is going to be the greatest boon for the magic-users he hates so much.

[Velorath]

Though, on the bright side of things, that's still more classes/skillsets than World of Warcraft.

It's not a bright enough side of things if I can play a fucking Bear Shaman but not a Thief.

[stray]

What's up with comparing a DX9 screenshot of AoC (with the main character model cut out) with a DX10 screenshot of Crysis, Stray?

If you took that screenshot from the IGN article on the DX10 version of AoC shown at CES, then take note - none of the screenshot on IGN are actually of the DX10 version.

That was a CES shot, taken from the updated Conan site. Not IGN.

Thought they were pimping DX10 (at least, that's what MS is using Funcom for).

Someone should caption the cows.

[Velorath]

While the Crysis shots are beautiful, at least the AOC screens give me some hope that my computer could actually run it.

[Xuri]

That was a CES shot, taken from the updated Conan site. Not IGN.

Thought they were pimping DX10 (at least, that's what MS is using Funcom for).

Someone should caption the cows.

Ah. Well, no DX10 screenshots have been released as of yet, in any case. Cow screenshot was posted around Dec 28, if that's of interest. :P

[Strazos]

I think it looks alright as far as MMOs go.

[Darniaq]

I agree. Crysis is not an MMO so not trying to drive as many variables as one. It does look hella good though, something I'll load onto my next computer. We don't need any more proof that MMOs targeting a lower common denominator is not only a good thing, but a requirement.

Otherwise, I realize the classes break lore and aggravate some, but I'm really happy they did it. Some call it less creative, but in an MMO, a zillion classes just mean the same abilities slightly tweaked across many of them, and the rest becoming bots or ignored by devs. Funcom probably looked at their CSR and live-team budgets and sizes and realized they couldn't support the classes as originally designed.

I still don't like the base class/archetype setup. EQ2 was much better after Pub 19 (when they dropped the sub-sub-class thing for a straight class roll at character creation). But at least in AoC, as I understand it, you only have to play through the 1-20 game once. After that you can /level to 20 all new alts. Anyone know if that's still the case?

[stray]

Some screenshots look alright, but that was a mistake putting those cows on their site. I think it's hilarious.

Besides that though, an MMO CAN look good. Those trees do not NEED to look like shit, just because it's an MMO. And it's the last game Microsoft should be pimping anyhow.

[Hoax]

That ss looks assy, like Titan Quest or somesuch shit.

[Threash]

I still don't like the base class/archetype setup. EQ2 was much better after Pub 19 (when they dropped the sub-sub-class thing for a straight class roll at character creation).

The only game who did the class/archtype thing was shadowbane.  At least there you had a choice to become the same end class from different archtypes, like rogue/ranger vs warrior/ranger.  With no class overlap between archtypes theres absolutely no reason to not pick your class from level one.

[Darniaq]

The only game who did the class/archtype thing was shadowbane

EQ2 and DAoC too. In the former you chose your first class at 9/10 and the second at 19/20. In DAoC you chose your class at 5.

I personally feel GW and DDO differ in that they offer MULTI-classing.

Unless we differ on the definition of 'class/archetype'?

[Threash]

Woops, i meant to say the only game who did the class/archtype thing RIGHT was shadowbane, my bad.

[Alkiera]

Some screenshots look alright, but that was a mistake putting those cows on their site. I think it's hilarious.

I dunno, the cows look like...  cows.  While I agree that a screenshot of a building and cows doesn't exactly say 'Conan the Barbarian' to me, I don't really see anything in particular wrong with the screenshot.

I also love how schizo this thread/forum is about whether screenshots of MMOs should be CPU-crushingly awesome, or low-end enough to be widely playable.

--
Alkiera

[stray]

Woops, i meant to say the only game who did the class/archtype thing RIGHT was shadowbane, my bad.

Heh

[stray]

Some screenshots look alright, but that was a mistake putting those cows on their site. I think it's hilarious.

I dunno, the cows look like...  cows.  While I agree that a screenshot of a building and cows doesn't exactly say 'Conan the Barbarian' to me, I don't really see anything in particular wrong with the screenshot.

I also love how schizo this thread/forum is about whether screenshots of MMOs should be CPU-crushingly awesome, or low-end enough to be widely playable.

--
Alkiera

Conan had plenty of cows and buildings.

I'm only talking about the image quality.

I wouldn't pick on them so much if they didn't claim DX10 quality, "close work with NVidia", or that it'd be a 360 game. In that context, those graphics are laughable.

[Chenghiz]

Just when I was looking at the max-settings Vanguard screenshots and thinking 'those don't look too bad' the AoC people release this[/url set of screenshots showing the game with DirectX 10. I'm pretty impressed.

[Velorath]

Parts of the video looked good, but man that combat with the bat demon looked dull as fuck.

[Engels]

All 5 seconds of the combat looked dull? Granted, it wasn't the most awsome display of combat, but I've seen other footage that suggest that it'll be on par with current expectations.

[pxib]

Combat looked very conventional, yes. Also, not enough gratuitous use of bloom. Other than that, I'm impressed.