Every once in a while I like to check out Funcom’s Age of Conan MMO. Age of Conan is a mature game based in the world of Conan the Barbarian. The graphics are decent for its age and the combat system is fun. The game is free to play but Funcom has recently reduced monthly membership to now $12.99 USD/month or $95.88 ($7.99/month). You can totally play Conan for free but it is very limited in comfort areas like bag and bank space in particular.
Register for a free account and check it out here:
https://register.ageofconan.com/recruit/conan/11/1499956301
Current Event
The current event is called the Saga of Zath. This is a special temporary server where players start from level 1 and have until May 15th to complete the saga quests. The rewards are legendary items and tier gear that transfer to the regular Crom (PVE) server once the event is over. The Saga server is also PVE.
Conan has an in-game shop and while it is not necessary to purchase items in order to progress (at least in lower levels) I found the introductory beginner – intermediate packs very helpful. Also purchasing a bigger bag is useful if you intend to play free. The introductory packs include a mount you can use right away as well as some blue item level lowbie gear that is excellent for leveling to 20.
Comparison to World of Warcraft
I also play World of Warcraft and you might wonder how Age of Conan compares to WoW?
Combat
The combat system is different than WoW. While you can enable tab targeting, every hit on your opponent is a combo and you must be facing your opponent. It’s not as “easy” as WoW but still fun. You can also fight while mounted and your mount can do damage as well. Pictured here is the Reaver’s Steed which was part of a beginner’s bundle for around 400-500 Funcom Points purchased in the in-game store. It seems especially good at taking down beast npcs. At the time of this writing I’m unsure if the pack is still available. The stats and talent trees are more reminiscent of Rift if you have played that game you would understand it a bit better.
Skills
In Age of Conan you have skills in climbing, hiding, finding, and running where you allocate points. Points are gained as you level. I am currently playing on a PVE server so I forget to allocate my points sometimes, but on a PVP server it is essential to allocate your points as escaping or engaging the enemy heavily relies on these skills.
Bag Space, Inventory, Auction House
In Age of Conan you start out with very limited bag and bank space. Seriously it is going to cramp your fun! You can buy additional bags and slots from the in-game store or if you upgrade your membership from free to paid more slots open up. The auction house is called the Trader and the first one you will find is in the beginning city of Tortage where you will be spending your time leveling from 1-20. The Trader is near the Inn down in a lower “pit” area along with some other vendors. When you list an item for auction the item actually stays in your bank until it is sold. See how this can start having a crowded bank?
Quests and Completing
Quests are fun and there’s a mix of grinding kill x / collect y things but also with some more complex story type quests where you investigate areas and talk to npcs with information. The stories and quests totally make sense in the Conan universe.
As a Conan fan I have to say the themes, problems of the npcs, and their view of the world and their situation is very close to the Conan books and comics. I have to tell you the world is gruesome and horrific at times. There’s a lot of blood, gore, and unpleasant situations (cannibalism, executions by hanging, sacrifices, slavery, etc.) so just reminding once again this is a mature game. Also prostitution is in the game from npcs but they are represented as they are in the Conan canon which is usually as clever and self sufficient in their own way. Female hereos are present and we get to adventure with Valeria in the battle of Tortage! Slaves are both men and women and suffer equally. A large part of your early tasks are helping slaves.
A big annoyance with quests is the loot and kills are not shared. I’ve become spoiled by Rift, and then Wow’s adoption of shared kills with questing. It becomes especially annoying in Age of Conan on escort quests when someone else tags the npcs before you – you’re stuck to wait for them to respawn, or a mini-boss quest objective. Funcom should update this.
You can play to max level FREE with Age of Conan, unlike WoW (level 20 cap).
Guilds
There are guilds just like WoW and they seem helpful at least from an outside perspective. I haven’t joined one yet.
It’s Harder than WoW
You die - a lot. Well maybe not you - but I sure do. The mobs usually come 4-5 at a time and I’m just being honest death is a regular thing. I have a character on a PVP server and it’s even harder to level – I do not recommend signing up for a PVP server when you are learning Age of Conan it will be too frustrating. On a PVE server though it’s not so bad at least from other players.
Currently I’m in Conarch Village on the limited time Saga server, my character’s home village, after reaching level 24 and completing the newbie quests in the city of Tortage. I’ve picked up the new quests and am sitting and figuring out which way to go. It’s all new and unfamiliar but that’s part of the fun (and frustration, especially if I get lost). Give Age of Conan of try there’s nothing to lose other than a bit of bandwith to download it and drive space.
Lastly,
There's lava.
Bonus for Upgrading to Paid Membership
If you join for free and then decide to upgrade you will receive a free “Xanthic Death” pet (for monthly membership) or “Xanthic Death” mount for yearly paid membership. Note* the pet and mount are only usable at level 80. (bonus offer ends May 15th 2018)
Free play registration:
https://register.ageofconan.com/recruit/conan/11/1499956301
- The above links are my referral links to the game. Thank you for clicking them and using it to sign up for a free game account.
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@OriginalWorks
nice Age of Conan write up