Age of Conan and TOG want YOU!
TOG needs your help to tackle the challenges of Hyboria, share epic moments and experience the true adventure of Conan’s world!
In Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures you journey into Hyboria and explore the world of King Conan, but you do not need to travel alone as TOG will be there to guide and assist you. While the first few levels where you learn the basics of the game take place solo, afterwards you will meet TOG and gamers and have the opportunity to adventure alongside them. No other MMORPG has given players the ability to switch back and forth between multiplayer and singleplayer in this fashion, which you may do for the first twenty levels of the game. Then by yourself or together with TOG, you may go deep into Hyboria and experience many great adventures and quests as you explore the wider world.
You begin the game on the beaches of Tortage, and must immediately make your way inland towards the city. Moving on from the deserted nature of the server, one thing that really set Age of Conan apart from other MMORPGs has to be its unique combo-based combat system. Players are able to attack in three different directions (I believe this expands to five total) and they can “shield” themselves in the various different directions as well. In this way, if a player is heavily defending blows to his head, he may “divert” his defenses from his left side to his head so that these overhand blows don’t hurt too much. Of course, his opponent can easily switch tactics and start whacking him in the side, but since all PvE opponents employ this selective shielding as well, it adds a great deal of depth combat outside of spamming 1-2 all day. In addition to this, almost all special abilities that can be performed by the player must be executed in combo format, by executing the special ability, and then attacking in the way indicated by the directional arrows. Think of it like combat DDR with special attacks as rewards for hitting the right timing, and you’ll understand.
Whether you love it, hate it, or fall somewhere in between, there is little arguing that the combat system in Age of Conan is one of the most unique and innovative designs released in 2008. For those who might not be aware, Age of Conan employs a combat system that requires players to enter a directional sequence combination in order to successfully activate many special abilities. This means that while most MMOs on the market require a single button to activate any attack, AoC attempts to simulate some of the chaos and attention to detail required in real combat. During the more intense battles, it really does increase the butt pucker factor as you watch your destiny unfold through your actions.
The system itself has been met with mixed reviews from players, some of whom felt that it added a new and exciting element to the game and others who felt that the system was too bulky and was more reminiscent of a button-mashing fighting game like Mortal Kombat. The innovative nature of the feature itself has meant that it has been in an almost constant state of revision. A re-tooling of the system was at least partially to blame for a delay in the game’s original release and recently with updates, further changes were made that saw some of the longer combos reduced in length.
After quickly being introduced to the combat system, the game quickly immerses you in a massive variety of different quests, as well as giving you the option to engage in a solo “instanced” night-time Tortage, where you have to journey alone to complete “destiny quests.” In this way, the team gives new players the opportunity to learn the story of their characters while progressing through the game, while veteran players may opt to quest in the daytime with a buddy or two, power leveling themselves through the plethora of different “non-storyline” quests available.
While Age of Conan did have issues at launch, was it the fault of the game or those working on it? It would be impossible to find a recent MMO that was perfect at release, and not have players agreeing that the game should have been held back for a longer development cycle. Recently a change in the game’s leadership has prompted several major improvements, the breadth of which are far too encompassing for this article and I suggest visiting the TOG Age of Conan Forums to catch up to date.
To lure you back, Funcom has also changed subscription pricing. As of now the 3 month subscription offers a 20% discount, 6 month subscription yields a 30% discount and 12 month offers a 45% discount vs the regular one month plan. This is more than twice the discount than before.
In addition, it is now possible to purchase additional game time and immediately get the veteran points. Veteran points is a system where players are rewarded for each month they have subscribed, and can be used towards a variety of items. Veteran points will launch with the coming update which is due very soon, and will work backwards in time towards all game time you have purchased.
Age of Conan has had an overhaul in almost every aspect of the game since release, with many recommendations following suggestions from the player base. With these many changes, the additional high level content added in each patch (there was always complaints about lack of content, now it is here and you are missing out).
New content includes:
Amphitheater of Karutonia: The Amphitheater of Karutonia origins are clouded in millennium old mysteries. Karutonia was the northernmost city of the Empire of Acheron where three kings shared the rule of the city. In the Amphitheater they held gladiatorial contests where thousands of barbarians were sent unarmed against the empires best fighters. Not before they had to watch their children and women being sacrificed to the old serpent Set. All this has long passed and is now mere legend.
Something else now rules in the ruins of the Amphitheater of Karutonia. Something that seems powerful enough to enslave a true son of a god, and hold him in chains under the frozen wastes of the north.
Ymirs Pass: Ymir’s pass was added to the game to offer players more content, particularly in the level range of mid 50s to mid 60s that many players found lacking or boring. The content team also felt there were some loose ends that needed to be tied in terms of the storytelling in the game. Ymir’s Pass was the result of that.
The playfield is very large, and it can take hours to work your way from the beginning through to the end. Several bits of lore were tied into this playfield, even if just for a little fun. Conan fans will recognize the Wheel of Pain.
Tranatia Commons: Tranatia Commons is directed to players level 75 and up and introduces more content, a whole new series of quests, and outdoor easter egg boss encounters scaling from the high rooftops of the city, to a graveyard.
The story behind the villain of the graveyard and the risen undead isa mystery, and the story will be revealed in its entirety in the Iron Tower. Pass on us now and you will never know the truth.
New level 80 dungeon Xibaluku: You first have to master the Slaughterhouse to be able to reach Xibaluku. Once there Xibaluku has 11 seperate boss encounters and in order to conquer the warlords, you will have to work as a team more than ever.
The Iron Tower: The Iron Tower is a level 78 and up group dungeon that lies in the heart of the commons district and functions as the climax of the epic story from Tarantia Commons. Players pick up from where the story ended in the commons between the conflict with the Wharf Rats, Crows and Daughters. Much like the first chapter, the developers wanted to throw the players head first into the storyline and both offer some closure to the story as well some new challenges to indoor encounters.
The tower hosts some of Aquilonia’s most vile criminals while also entwining them into the plot. As you journey through the tower you will notice that the difficulties of the content scales depending on what level your currently at in the tower. In addition, you’ll also want to take notice our new approach to the content and how the AI uses their classes. As you go higher up the tower your opponents will use more abilities and reflect what type of classes they are in different ways. This will help add diversity and allow more utilization on what classes you should bring to the fight than what we’ve done before.
The Iron Tower is one of many new dungeons that the Age of Conan developers have added to the game since launch. In the previous months the developers have also added other high-level dungeons such as Xibaluku and The Amphitheatre. In coming updates developers will be adding even more content to high level players, such as introducing tier three raiding in Thoth Amon’s Stronghold – the lair of the ultimate Conan bad guy, Thoth Amon himself. So get ready for the most savage, sexy and brutal MMO ever created!
Rise of the Godslayer: Descend into the shadows that have fallen over Khitai, the fabled empire of the east! Ride across the grassy steppes and see the purple pagodas of Paikang rising from the vine-choked bamboo jungles. Unravel the corruption that threatens to taint the very heart of this beautiful land forever!
Age of Conan’s combat gameplay is taken to new heights with incredible martial arts moves, ancient magic, and epic weaponry. Extend your character’s powers through a new alternate advancement system that allows you to unlock a vast collection of new abilities that breathes new life into the revolutionary combat system!
Begin your adventure as a Khitan, an all-new character race, and experience a wide variety of new low-level content. Venture into the land of Khitai as you embark on new quests and acquire new rewards geared towards players fresh off the boat from Tortage!
So how do I fulfill my destiny in Hyboria?
If you wish to check out the game, the 7 day free trials are back. All you have to do to start playing ‘Age of Conan’ today is visit the www.ageofconan.com/trial website, download the game, join TOG on Gwahlur and off you go! We would enjoy helping you through Tortage, the Jewel of the Barachin Ilse.
For some action and scenery images, stop by and visit the ToG Age of Conan Division, check out our Slide Show, the Rise of the Godslayer teaser and some actual in game play below. These are actual in game video’s so you will see first hand the stunning world that is Hyboria and the Age of Conan.
Submission by WiredSolaris
