Balti
03-18-2008, 10:42 AM
Since I've never played any of these types of games, I asked Rage for some information as sort of an introduction. Below is a copy/paste of an email he sent me in reply. Please feel free to add to this thread as a way of informing our non-mmorpg members that might be interested in trying these out!
A Guild
Q: What is a Guild and how does it work?
A: A guild is the same as what we have here with OSG. It's a fancy name for a clan. It's a group that all of us will be identified with in game. If your group is dominant in game, the guild's name will be very recognized and respected. A guild is normally formed by a Guild Master (a fancy name for clan leader or team leader). In most mmorpgs a Guild master needs around 10 people or so to create the guild (all the more reason to get as many OSG guys involved). This stops a bunch of single players creating guilds. The guild master will also be the one to create the Guild's name and the crest/insignia etc that the guild will wear to identify them as a member of the specific guild. So be sure to pick something bad ass...!!
A guild is a group. Our group. It's a family and will become very reliant on one another. These members will build the town/ keep. It will also make up the government of your town as well as protect your town. They will be the ones to fight along side of you as you try to take rival guilds keeps or towns. They will are given privileges that outside citizens are not given etc.
Types of Servers
Q: Whats the difference between PVP, PVE, AND RP servers?
A: PVP means "Player Vs. Player". A PVP server is a no holds barred server. You can be attacked by an opposition at any time. Being on a PVP server gives them the right to attack you and you the right to attack them at any time (kind of like walking down the street at 2am). PVP servers are much more exciting than PVE and RP, as it gives the user much more action. Perfect for OSG Members. All options are open.
PVE means "Player Vs. Environment". In other words, its you against computer generated characters. Most PVE servers will have a "turn on / Turn off" option to PVP, so those that choose to can participate in Player vs. player activities. Due to the sever being PVE, the excitement is not nearly as much as a PVP server. Normally these players are big time end game players. Meaning their main objective is to conquer the game / beat the game. All servers will have "Instances". Instances are dungeons that guilds can enter to take out computer generated bosses. This is done for fun... with most of the guild just to accomplish the end game stuff (beating bosses, and getting gear and weapons). This is separate from the in game life of your character. It's just an additional activity, though an important one that all guilds should try to get involved. OSG would fit in this type of server, but it will be a bit boring for them, considering everyone is coming from a first person shooter background. Some options opened.
RP means "Role Playing". Role playing servers consist of players that take their character to a higher level. A higher level in the sense that everything must be character based or done with the game in mind. For instance, in a PVP server I could come up to you and say "Hey Balti have you seen Ninja?" And you could respond… "Yeah he is at the pub at the other end of town". That's normal. In a RP server, it would go something like this…. "Hello my king (character bows), have you any knowledge of the where abouts of a Baron by the name of Ninja"? You would reply, "Yes my kind citizen, I have been given word that he was seen in the pub on the other side of town". Etc… you get the idea. In other word, this is the kind of server for the ultimate nerds. OSG would not fit in this type of server. Same as a PVE server, but with a lot more formality.
Professions
Professions are a cool aspect of the game. I believe there will be many professions to choose from in Age of Conan. Professions are used to make your money. Remember, the only thing you are truly in control of in this game is you. You are only a single person in a society of thousands. In order to survive, you need to make your money. In order to make your money you need a profession. Just like the real world. In AOC, you can even craft items and set up your own store in your town that people all over the in game world can come and purchase from. This is one way to make your money. Your profession is also used in the building the town and keep.
For instance, let's say that stone is needed to build the walls of your town. Well, if your profession was a miner and you are able to gather stone, you would be very valuable. All professions offered provide some value to the game. Something in game will be reliant on a certain profession, so choose one or two that you will enjoy. Some also go hand in hand... for instance, you need herbs to make potions, but only an Alchemist can make potions… So an alchemist would buy the herbs from an herbalist. This would also be an example of two professions that will work nice together if a character can have more than one profession. Another example would be an Armor smith. Smelting is needed to create metallic substances from minerals that are mined. So, in this case… (to show the relation) … The miner would mine the minerals then sell them to the smelter, who would melt down the substance and sell it to the armor smith, who would then sell the armor to a buyer. How are these items sold to a buyer? They are sold through a person's vendor or on an in game Ebay like system. It's a lot to think about, though very simple in game.
Grinding
Grinding is a term you will hear a lot. Each person will start at level one. In order to go up in level you have to get experience (also known as XP). You can do this by picking up quests or tasks that will ask you to do a variety of things. When you turn in these quests or accomplish a given task, you will be given XP. This could include killing things, attacking other players, bounty's etc (Not sure what the quests will be in AOC). When you gain enough XP, you will be brought up to the next level (same as COD4) that will allow using other special items, special gear as well as give you special abilities. Grinding is something everyone will have to do. There is no avoiding it and can be fun if done in a group of guild members and friends. XP can also be gained by accomplishing in game dungeons and instances.
A Guild
Q: What is a Guild and how does it work?
A: A guild is the same as what we have here with OSG. It's a fancy name for a clan. It's a group that all of us will be identified with in game. If your group is dominant in game, the guild's name will be very recognized and respected. A guild is normally formed by a Guild Master (a fancy name for clan leader or team leader). In most mmorpgs a Guild master needs around 10 people or so to create the guild (all the more reason to get as many OSG guys involved). This stops a bunch of single players creating guilds. The guild master will also be the one to create the Guild's name and the crest/insignia etc that the guild will wear to identify them as a member of the specific guild. So be sure to pick something bad ass...!!
A guild is a group. Our group. It's a family and will become very reliant on one another. These members will build the town/ keep. It will also make up the government of your town as well as protect your town. They will be the ones to fight along side of you as you try to take rival guilds keeps or towns. They will are given privileges that outside citizens are not given etc.
Types of Servers
Q: Whats the difference between PVP, PVE, AND RP servers?
A: PVP means "Player Vs. Player". A PVP server is a no holds barred server. You can be attacked by an opposition at any time. Being on a PVP server gives them the right to attack you and you the right to attack them at any time (kind of like walking down the street at 2am). PVP servers are much more exciting than PVE and RP, as it gives the user much more action. Perfect for OSG Members. All options are open.
PVE means "Player Vs. Environment". In other words, its you against computer generated characters. Most PVE servers will have a "turn on / Turn off" option to PVP, so those that choose to can participate in Player vs. player activities. Due to the sever being PVE, the excitement is not nearly as much as a PVP server. Normally these players are big time end game players. Meaning their main objective is to conquer the game / beat the game. All servers will have "Instances". Instances are dungeons that guilds can enter to take out computer generated bosses. This is done for fun... with most of the guild just to accomplish the end game stuff (beating bosses, and getting gear and weapons). This is separate from the in game life of your character. It's just an additional activity, though an important one that all guilds should try to get involved. OSG would fit in this type of server, but it will be a bit boring for them, considering everyone is coming from a first person shooter background. Some options opened.
RP means "Role Playing". Role playing servers consist of players that take their character to a higher level. A higher level in the sense that everything must be character based or done with the game in mind. For instance, in a PVP server I could come up to you and say "Hey Balti have you seen Ninja?" And you could respond… "Yeah he is at the pub at the other end of town". That's normal. In a RP server, it would go something like this…. "Hello my king (character bows), have you any knowledge of the where abouts of a Baron by the name of Ninja"? You would reply, "Yes my kind citizen, I have been given word that he was seen in the pub on the other side of town". Etc… you get the idea. In other word, this is the kind of server for the ultimate nerds. OSG would not fit in this type of server. Same as a PVE server, but with a lot more formality.
Professions
Professions are a cool aspect of the game. I believe there will be many professions to choose from in Age of Conan. Professions are used to make your money. Remember, the only thing you are truly in control of in this game is you. You are only a single person in a society of thousands. In order to survive, you need to make your money. In order to make your money you need a profession. Just like the real world. In AOC, you can even craft items and set up your own store in your town that people all over the in game world can come and purchase from. This is one way to make your money. Your profession is also used in the building the town and keep.
For instance, let's say that stone is needed to build the walls of your town. Well, if your profession was a miner and you are able to gather stone, you would be very valuable. All professions offered provide some value to the game. Something in game will be reliant on a certain profession, so choose one or two that you will enjoy. Some also go hand in hand... for instance, you need herbs to make potions, but only an Alchemist can make potions… So an alchemist would buy the herbs from an herbalist. This would also be an example of two professions that will work nice together if a character can have more than one profession. Another example would be an Armor smith. Smelting is needed to create metallic substances from minerals that are mined. So, in this case… (to show the relation) … The miner would mine the minerals then sell them to the smelter, who would melt down the substance and sell it to the armor smith, who would then sell the armor to a buyer. How are these items sold to a buyer? They are sold through a person's vendor or on an in game Ebay like system. It's a lot to think about, though very simple in game.
Grinding
Grinding is a term you will hear a lot. Each person will start at level one. In order to go up in level you have to get experience (also known as XP). You can do this by picking up quests or tasks that will ask you to do a variety of things. When you turn in these quests or accomplish a given task, you will be given XP. This could include killing things, attacking other players, bounty's etc (Not sure what the quests will be in AOC). When you gain enough XP, you will be brought up to the next level (same as COD4) that will allow using other special items, special gear as well as give you special abilities. Grinding is something everyone will have to do. There is no avoiding it and can be fun if done in a group of guild members and friends. XP can also be gained by accomplishing in game dungeons and instances.