Welcome, adventurer, to the brutal and captivating world of Age of Conan! This guide and FAQ will serve as your trusty companion as you journey through Hyboria, a land of savage combat, mature themes, and epic quests. Whether you’re a seasoned MMO veteran or a fresh-faced recruit, this resource will equip you with the knowledge you need to survive and thrive in Conan’s harsh reality.

From mastering the intricate combat system to navigating the complexities of character creation and progression, we’ll break down everything you need to know. We’ll delve into the core gameplay loop, explore the diverse classes, and provide valuable tips for early game success. Get ready to forge your legend in a world where strength and cunning are the keys to survival.

Introduction to Age of Conan

Welcome to the savage world of Age of Conan! This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the game, focusing on its core mechanics, setting, and unique features. Get ready to embark on a brutal journey through Hyboria, where survival depends on strength, skill, and cunning.

Core Gameplay Loop: Combat and Progression

Age of Conan centers around a dynamic combat system and a compelling progression system. Players experience a blend of action-oriented combat and traditional MMORPG elements.The combat system is a key differentiator. It features:

• Action Combat: Players directly control their character’s actions, including attacks, blocks, and special abilities. This means aiming your swings, timing your blocks, and utilizing combos are critical for success.
• Stance System: Characters can adopt different stances that influence their attacks, defenses, and movement. Switching stances strategically is crucial in combat.
• Combo System: Combining different attacks in specific sequences unleashes powerful combos, dealing significant damage and providing tactical advantages.
• Blood and Gore: The game is known for its graphic violence, reflecting the source material. Combat often results in dismemberment and bloody visual effects.

Progression in Age of Conan involves:

• Leveling: Characters gain experience points (XP) by completing quests, defeating enemies, and crafting. Leveling up unlocks new skills, abilities, and access to higher-level content.
• Character Classes: Players choose from various classes, each with unique roles, skills, and playstyles. Examples include Barbarians (focused on melee damage), Guardians (tanks), and Assassins (stealth and damage).
• Gear and Equipment: Players equip weapons, armor, and accessories to improve their stats and effectiveness in combat. Finding better gear is a constant pursuit.
• Skills and Feats: Players invest points in skills and feats to customize their character’s abilities. This allows for specialization and builds that cater to different playstyles.
• Crafting: Players can craft various items, including weapons, armor, potions, and consumables, which can be useful for both combat and trading.

Setting and Lore: Hyboria and Mature Themes

Age of Conan is set in the Hyborian Age, a fictional prehistoric era created by Robert E. Howard, the author of the Conan the Barbarian stories. The game world is filled with diverse environments, brutal conflicts, and a sense of raw survival.The game embraces mature themes, including:

• Violence: Combat is graphic and bloody, with dismemberment and brutal executions.
• Sexuality: The game features adult content, including suggestive character designs, and themes of lust and temptation, mirroring the source material.
• Brutality: The world is unforgiving, and survival often requires ruthless decisions.
• Dark Fantasy: The lore is steeped in dark fantasy, with elements of magic, sorcery, and ancient evils.

Unique Features Compared to Other MMORPGs

Age of Conan distinguishes itself from other MMORPGs through several key features:

• Action Combat: The action-oriented combat system is a significant departure from the tab-targeting combat common in many MMORPGs, providing a more engaging and skill-based experience.
• Mature Themes: The game embraces mature themes, providing a more adult-oriented experience.
• Siege Warfare: Players can participate in massive siege battles, where they can assault or defend castles and cities.
• Player Housing and Guild Cities: Players can build and customize their own homes and contribute to the development of guild cities, adding a social and persistent element to the game.
• Visuals: The game’s graphics were cutting-edge for their time, featuring detailed character models, environments, and visual effects. The art style effectively captures the gritty atmosphere of the Hyborian Age.

Character Creation and Classes

Creating your character in Age of Conan is a pivotal step, shaping your gameplay experience from the outset. This section delves into the character creation process, the diverse classes available, and the significance of attribute and skill choices. Understanding these elements is crucial for building a character that aligns with your preferred playstyle and contributes effectively to the world of Hyboria.

Race Selection and its Impact

Race selection in Age of Conan offers more than just cosmetic differences; it subtly influences your starting stats and provides unique advantages. While the differences aren’t overwhelmingly impactful, they can influence your early game progression and, to a lesser extent, your character’s overall effectiveness in specific roles.Here’s a breakdown of the races available and their general characteristics:

• Cimmerian: Known for their resilience and strength, Cimmerians receive a bonus to Strength and Stamina. This makes them well-suited for melee combat and survivability.
• Aquilonian: Aquilonians are known for their balance and adaptability, with bonuses to Agility and Intelligence. They can be versatile, suitable for a range of classes that rely on either of these stats.
• Stygian: Stygians are skilled in the arcane arts, receiving bonuses to Intelligence and Wisdom. They excel in spellcasting and support roles.
• Khitan: Khitans are agile and adaptable, with bonuses to Agility and Dexterity. They often excel in ranged combat or classes that benefit from both attributes.
• Khitai: The Khitai are similar to Khitans, but with a different origin.
• Hyperborean: Hyperboreans are a hardy race, with bonuses to Strength and Constitution. They are well-suited for melee combat and survivability.

While the racial bonuses provide a slight edge, the most important aspect of race selection is the aesthetic and role-playing potential. Choose a race that resonates with you, as the small stat differences can be overcome through gear and skill choices later in the game.

Class Overview

Age of Conan features a variety of classes, each designed to fulfill different roles in combat and group dynamics. Understanding the strengths, weaknesses, and preferred roles of each class is vital for character selection and effective gameplay.Here’s an overview of each class:

• Barbarian: A brutal melee class focused on dealing massive damage. Barbarians excel in direct combat, utilizing powerful weapons and abilities to overwhelm their foes. They have high Strength and Stamina, making them incredibly resilient and capable of dishing out significant punishment.
• Guardian: A tank class designed to protect allies and absorb damage. Guardians are heavily armored and possess abilities that allow them to draw enemy aggro and mitigate incoming attacks. They rely on high Strength and Constitution.
• Dark Templar: A hybrid class that combines melee combat with dark magic. Dark Templars can deal damage, heal themselves, and debuff enemies. They require a balance of Strength, Intelligence, and Wisdom.
• Conqueror: A melee class focused on battlefield control and sustained damage. Conquerors utilize area-of-effect attacks and crowd control abilities to disrupt enemies. They benefit from high Strength and Stamina.
• Ranger: A ranged damage class that utilizes bows and traps. Rangers excel at dealing damage from a distance and can control the battlefield with their traps. They rely on high Agility and Dexterity.
• Assassin: A stealth-based melee class that specializes in dealing burst damage. Assassins can use stealth to ambush enemies and inflict critical strikes. They rely on high Agility and Dexterity.
• Priest of Mitra: A healing and support class that focuses on keeping allies alive. Priests of Mitra use divine magic to heal and buff their teammates. They rely on high Wisdom and Intelligence.
• Bear Shaman: A hybrid class that combines healing with melee combat. Bear Shamans can transform into a bear form to deal damage and tank, while also providing healing support. They rely on Wisdom, Stamina, and Strength.
• Demonologist: A spellcasting class that specializes in summoning demons and dealing damage over time. Demonologists can summon powerful demons to fight alongside them and utilize curses to weaken their enemies. They rely on high Intelligence and Wisdom.
• Herald of Xotli: A spellcasting class that specializes in dealing fire damage and controlling the battlefield. Heralds of Xotli utilize powerful fire spells to incinerate their enemies and control the flow of combat. They rely on high Intelligence and Wisdom.
• Necromancer: A spellcasting class that specializes in dealing shadow damage and summoning undead minions. Necromancers can summon skeletons and other undead creatures to fight for them and use shadow magic to inflict damage and debuffs. They rely on high Intelligence and Wisdom.
• Tempest of Set: A spellcasting class that specializes in dealing lightning damage and supporting allies. Tempests of Set utilize lightning spells to deal damage and buff their allies. They rely on high Intelligence and Wisdom.

Class Comparison Table

The following table provides a comparative overview of the classes, highlighting their primary stats and preferred weapons.

Class	Primary Stats	Preferred Weapon(s)	Role	Notable Strengths
Barbarian	Strength, Stamina	Two-Handed Swords, Axes	Melee Damage	High damage output, survivability
Guardian	Strength, Constitution	One-Handed Swords, Shields	Tank	High defense, aggro management
Dark Templar	Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom	One-Handed Swords, Shields	Melee/Hybrid	Self-healing, debuffs
Conqueror	Strength, Stamina	Two-Handed Swords, Axes	Melee Damage/Control	Area-of-effect attacks, crowd control
Ranger	Agility, Dexterity	Bows, Daggers	Ranged Damage	High single-target damage, traps
Assassin	Agility, Dexterity	Daggers, Short Swords	Melee Damage/Stealth	Burst damage, stealth
Priest of Mitra	Wisdom, Intelligence	Staves	Healer/Support	Healing, buffs
Bear Shaman	Wisdom, Stamina, Strength	Staves, Axes	Healer/Melee	Healing, melee damage, tanking
Demonologist	Intelligence, Wisdom	Staves	Caster Damage	Damage over time, summoning
Herald of Xotli	Intelligence, Wisdom	Staves	Caster Damage/Control	Fire damage, area control
Necromancer	Intelligence, Wisdom	Staves	Caster Damage/Summoning	Shadow damage, minion control
Tempest of Set	Intelligence, Wisdom	Staves	Caster Damage/Support	Lightning damage, buffs

Attribute Points and Skill Selection

Attribute points and skill selection are critical elements of character customization, allowing you to tailor your character to a specific role or playstyle. As you level up, you will receive attribute points that you can allocate to various stats, such as Strength, Agility, and Intelligence.Here’s how attribute points and skill selection influence your character build:

• Attribute Points: Attribute points directly impact your character’s stats, which in turn affect their combat effectiveness and survivability. For example, a Barbarian would prioritize Strength to maximize damage output, while a Priest of Mitra would focus on Wisdom to enhance healing potency.
• Skill Selection: Skills are abilities and techniques that your character can learn and use in combat. The skills you choose determine your character’s specific role and playstyle. Choosing skills that synergize with your chosen class and attribute distribution is crucial. For instance, a Ranger would select skills that enhance their ranged damage and trap abilities.

Carefully consider your class and desired role when allocating attribute points and selecting skills. Experimenting with different builds is encouraged to find the playstyle that best suits you. A well-built character is not just about raw power; it’s about the synergy between attributes and skills, allowing you to excel in your chosen role.

Getting Started

Alright, you’ve created your character, chosen your class, and you’re ready to plunge into the savage world of Age of Conan! This guide will help you navigate the initial stages of the game, get you leveling efficiently, and understand the basic mechanics you’ll encounter. Think of this as your survival manual for the early game.Let’s get you off on the right foot, making sure your journey through Hyboria is as smooth as possible.

Initial Steps and Leveling Focus

After the character creation process, you’ll find yourself in a starting zone specific to your race. Your primary goal at this point is to reach level 20. This is the sweet spot where you’ll have access to more content, better gear, and a clearer understanding of your class. Focus on completing quests, as they provide the best experience and rewards in the early game.

Don’t be afraid to group up with other players, especially for tougher quests or public encounters.

Early Game Quests and Zones

The early game experience varies depending on your chosen race. However, the core gameplay loop remains the same: complete quests, defeat enemies, and explore the environment.

• Aquilonia (Human): You begin in the Tortage Island. This is a large, open zone with a mix of outdoor and indoor areas. The quests here introduce you to the game’s mechanics and lore. You will have a quest chain to complete which will take you through the city of Tortage, and then outside the city to the surrounding lands.
• Cimmeria (Cimmerian): Your starting area is a harsh, snowy landscape. The quests here focus on survival and combat, setting the tone for your Cimmerian journey.
• Stygia (Stygian): You start in a desert environment, surrounded by ancient ruins and mysteries. The quests here are steeped in Stygian culture and intrigue.
• Khitan (Khitan): Starting in a village in the far east, your early quests will have you exploring the surrounding hills and dealing with bandits.
• Khitai (Khitan): Starting in a village in the far east, your early quests will have you exploring the surrounding hills and dealing with bandits.

As you progress, the game will naturally guide you to new zones. Follow the quest markers, and don’t hesitate to explore.

Efficient Leveling and Resource Gathering

To level efficiently, focus on the following:

• Prioritize Quests: Quests are the primary source of experience. Read the quest text carefully to understand your objectives and maximize your experience gains.
• Kill Everything: Defeating enemies provides experience and loot. Always engage enemies, even if you are not directly questing for them.
• Gather Resources: Gather resources such as wood, ore, and herbs. These resources can be used for crafting later on, or sold on the Auction House for a profit.
• Optimize your gear: Keep your gear up to date by completing quests and buying items from vendors. Better gear means you can defeat enemies faster and take less damage.
• Utilize Buffs: Food and potions can provide temporary buffs to your stats. Use these buffs before engaging in combat, especially when facing difficult enemies.

Resource gathering is straightforward. Look for glowing nodes in the environment. Clicking on these nodes will initiate the gathering process. The speed at which you gather resources depends on your gathering skill.

Navigating the User Interface (UI) and Key Features

Understanding the UI is crucial for a smooth gaming experience. Here’s a breakdown of the key features:

• Character Window (C): This window displays your character’s stats, equipment, and skills.
• Quest Log (L): The quest log tracks your active quests, their objectives, and their rewards.
• Map (M): The map shows the game world, including your current location, quest markers, and points of interest.
• Chat Window: The chat window allows you to communicate with other players. You can use various channels, such as general, local, trade, and guild.
• Action Bar: The action bar is where you place your skills and abilities. You can customize the action bar to suit your play style.
• Inventory: Your inventory holds all of your items, including weapons, armor, potions, and resources.
• Mini-map: The mini-map is located in the top-right corner of the screen and displays your immediate surroundings.

Mastering these features will help you navigate the world, manage your character, and communicate with other players. Familiarize yourself with these elements early on, as they are essential for your progression.

Combat Mechanics and Strategies

Age of Conan’s combat system distinguishes itself from many other MMOs with its action-oriented approach, emphasizing player skill and positioning. Mastering these mechanics is crucial for survival and success in Hyboria. Understanding combos, stances, and special attacks is the foundation for effective combat.

Combat System Overview

Age of Conan’s combat is built around a real-time, directional system. Players must actively aim and time their attacks, rather than relying solely on auto-attacks. The core mechanics involve the use of different stances, combo attacks, and special abilities. Successful combat relies on understanding enemy attack patterns, positioning oneself strategically, and reacting appropriately to the flow of battle.

Combos and Abilities

Combos are sequences of attacks that are chained together by timing and directional inputs. Different combos provide various effects, such as increased damage, crowd control, or debuffs. Special abilities, which consume mana or other resources, provide powerful attacks or defensive maneuvers. The use of combos and abilities is vital for dealing significant damage and controlling the battlefield.

Stances

Stances offer different combat advantages and disadvantages. Each class typically has access to multiple stances, such as offensive, defensive, or balanced stances. Choosing the right stance for the situation is crucial for maximizing effectiveness. For instance, a defensive stance might increase armor and resistance, while an offensive stance might boost damage output. Switching stances mid-combat can provide tactical flexibility.

Effective Combat Strategies

Effective combat varies based on the class played and the type of encounter. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both your character and the enemy is crucial. Proper positioning, timing of attacks, and use of abilities are key elements for success.* For melee classes, such as the Barbarian or Guardian, focus on getting into melee range, utilizing combos to maximize damage output, and managing your stamina.

Pay close attention to enemy attacks and be ready to block or dodge.

• For ranged classes, like the Ranger or Assassin, positioning and kiting are essential. Maintain distance from enemies while peppering them with ranged attacks and using abilities to control the battlefield.
• For spellcasting classes, such as the Priest of Mitra or Tempest of Set, casting times and mana management are key. Use spells strategically, paying attention to the enemy’s movements and casting abilities when appropriate.

Encounter Types

Different encounter types require different strategies.* Against single targets, focus on maximizing damage output through combos and special abilities.

• Against groups of enemies, consider using area-of-effect (AoE) attacks to control the crowd. Prioritize killing the most dangerous enemies first.
• In player-versus-player (PvP) combat, anticipating your opponent’s moves and reacting quickly is vital. Utilize crowd control abilities to disrupt their attacks and take advantage of openings.

Common Combat Mistakes

Avoiding common mistakes can greatly improve combat effectiveness.* Ignoring enemy attacks: Failing to block, dodge, or interrupt enemy attacks can lead to quick defeats.

Poor positioning

Standing in the wrong place can expose you to unnecessary damage or prevent you from attacking effectively.

Incorrect ability usage

Using the wrong abilities at the wrong time can be a waste of resources or even leave you vulnerable.

Stamina mismanagement

Running out of stamina can leave you unable to attack, block, or dodge, making you an easy target.

Not using combos

Neglecting to use combos significantly reduces damage output.

Key Combat Terms

Understanding key combat terms is essential for effective communication and strategy.

• Combo: A sequence of attacks performed by timing and directional inputs.
• Stance: A combat posture that provides different advantages and disadvantages.
• Special Ability: A powerful attack or maneuver that consumes resources.
• Block: Defending against an incoming attack, reducing damage.
• Dodge: Avoiding an incoming attack by moving out of the way.
• Interrupt: Stopping an enemy’s attack or spell cast.
• Crowd Control (CC): Abilities that restrict an enemy’s movement or actions (e.g., stuns, snares).
• Area of Effect (AoE): An ability that affects a specific area.
• Debuff: A negative effect applied to an enemy (e.g., reduced damage, slowed movement).
• Aggro: The measure of an enemy’s attention toward a player.

Skills, Feats, and Abilities

Skills, feats, and abilities are fundamental to character progression and combat effectiveness in Age of Conan. They define your character’s capabilities, allowing you to specialize in certain roles, enhance combat prowess, and gain access to powerful abilities. Mastering these systems is crucial for success in the game’s challenging environments.

Acquiring and Using Skills and Feats

Characters acquire skills and feats through leveling up and completing specific quests. Skills and feats can be assigned points to enhance their effects.Skills are learned from trainers or through natural character progression. Feats are learned from trainers or through completing specific quests, or by spending points on the class talent trees.To use a skill or feat, it must be equipped (skills) or automatically activated (feats).

Skills are generally used by activating them from your action bars, while feats often provide passive bonuses or trigger automatically under certain conditions.

Most Useful Skills and Feats by Class

The optimal skill and feat choices vary depending on your preferred playstyle (PvE or PvP) and desired role (damage dealer, tank, healer). Below are some general recommendations, organized by class. Remember that these are suggestions, and you should experiment to find what works best for you.

Barbarian

Barbarians excel at dealing massive damage and surviving in melee combat. Here are some key skills and feats for a Barbarian:

• Skills:
  • Brutal Strike: A high-damage single-target attack.
  • Whirlwind: A powerful area-of-effect (AoE) attack.
  • Reckless Rage: Increases damage output at the cost of defense.
  • Hamstring: Slows the target’s movement speed.
• Feats:
  • Frenzy: Increases attack speed and damage.
  • Savage Fury: Increases critical hit chance and damage.
  • Blood Frenzy: Heals the Barbarian based on damage dealt.
  • Executioner: Increases damage against low-health targets.

Guardian

Guardians are the tank class, designed to protect their allies and absorb damage. Their primary focus is on survival and crowd control.

• Skills:
  • Shield Bash: Stuns the target.
  • Defensive Stance: Increases defense and threat generation.
  • Taunt: Forces enemies to attack the Guardian.
  • Cleave: A small area-of-effect (AoE) attack.
• Feats:
  • Shield Wall: Increases block chance and damage reduction.
  • Guardian’s Endurance: Increases maximum health.
  • Ironclad: Increases armor penetration.
  • Revenge: Deals damage to attackers.

Conqueror

Conquerors are a melee damage class with a focus on self-buffs and sustained damage. They can also provide some support to their group.

• Skills:
  • Mighty Blow: A strong single-target attack.
  • War Cry: Buffs allies’ damage.
  • Rage: Increases attack power.
  • Overpower: High-damage attack with a chance to stun.
• Feats:
  • Tactician: Improves group damage output.
  • Battle Hardened: Increases armor and health.
  • Brutal: Increases critical hit chance and damage.
  • Aggression: Increases damage dealt.

Dark Templar

Dark Templars are a hybrid class that combines melee combat with dark magic. They can deal damage, debuff enemies, and provide some healing.

• Skills:
  • Shadow Strike: A melee attack that deals shadow damage.
  • Mark of Corruption: Applies a damage-over-time (DoT) effect.
  • Unholy Shield: Absorbs damage.
  • Soul Consumption: Heals the Dark Templar.
• Feats:
  • Dark Empowerment: Increases spell damage.
  • Unholy Power: Increases attack power.
  • Blood Pact: Provides a chance to heal on hit.
  • Shadow Weaver: Increases the duration of debuffs.

Demonologist

Demonologists are a ranged damage class that specializes in summoning demons and using fire and shadow magic. They excel at dealing damage from a distance.

• Skills:
  • Infernal Bolt: A basic fire damage spell.
  • Summon Demon: Summons a demon to fight for the Demonologist.
  • Shadow Bolt: A shadow damage spell.
  • Immolate: A damage-over-time (DoT) effect.
• Feats:
  • Demonic Pact: Increases demon damage.
  • Infernal Fury: Increases fire damage.
  • Shadow Pact: Increases shadow damage.
  • Emberstorm: Area-of-effect fire damage.

Priest of Mitra

Priests of Mitra are the primary healers in Age of Conan. They provide healing and support to their group. They can also deal some damage.

• Skills:
  • Healing Touch: A single-target heal.
  • Divine Light: A powerful area-of-effect (AoE) heal.
  • Blessing: Provides buffs to allies.
  • Wrath of Mitra: A single-target damage spell.
• Feats:
  • Mitra’s Blessing: Increases healing output.
  • Divine Intervention: Reduces damage taken by allies.
  • Righteous Fury: Increases damage dealt.
  • Guardian of Mitra: Provides a shield to an ally.

Bear Shaman

Bear Shamans are a hybrid class that combines healing and melee combat. They can provide healing, deal damage, and tank.

• Skills:
  • Healing Rain: An area-of-effect (AoE) heal.
  • Spirit of the Bear: Transforms the Shaman into a bear.
  • Claw Swipe: A melee attack.
  • Regrowth: A heal over time effect.
• Feats:
  • Primal Fury: Increases melee damage.
  • Spirit Walker: Increases healing output.
  • Raging Bear: Increases attack speed.
  • Bear’s Endurance: Increases maximum health.

Ranger

Rangers are a ranged damage class that specializes in using bows and traps. They are effective at dealing damage from a distance and controlling the battlefield.

• Skills:
  • Piercing Shot: A ranged attack that deals damage.
  • Crippling Shot: Slows the target’s movement speed.
  • Trap: Places a trap that can snare or damage enemies.
  • Volley: An area-of-effect (AoE) ranged attack.
• Feats:
  • Hunter’s Mark: Increases damage dealt to the marked target.
  • Deadly Aim: Increases ranged damage.
  • Expert Trapper: Improves trap effectiveness.
  • Barrage: Increases attack speed.

Assassin

Assassins are a stealth-based melee damage class. They specialize in dealing burst damage and using poisons.

• Skills:
  • Backstab: A high-damage attack that deals extra damage when used from stealth.
  • Poison: Applies a poison to the Assassin’s weapons.
  • Shadowstep: Teleports the Assassin a short distance.
  • Gouge: Stuns the target.
• Feats:
  • Shadow Strike: Increases stealth damage.
  • Lethal Poison: Increases poison damage.
  • Deadly Strikes: Increases critical hit chance.
  • Master Assassin: Increases damage.

Respecing Skills and Feats

Players can change their skills and feats through a respec process. This allows you to reallocate your points and adapt to new challenges or changing playstyles.The cost of a respec increases with the character’s level. The exact cost can vary depending on the server and any active in-game promotions. It’s recommended to plan your skill and feat builds carefully to minimize the need for frequent respeccing, as the costs can become significant at higher levels.

For example, a respec at level 80 could cost several gold pieces, a substantial sum for many players.To respec, you typically visit a specific NPC, often a trainer or a class-specific vendor, who offers this service.

Equipment and Gear

In Age of Conan, your equipment is crucial for survival and success. Choosing the right gear and understanding how to improve it is essential for overcoming challenges in the world of Hyboria. This section provides a comprehensive overview of equipment types, acquisition methods, and gear enhancement strategies.

Types of Equipment and Gear

Age of Conan features a wide array of equipment categorized by type and quality. Understanding these categories is the first step in building a powerful character.

• Armor: Provides protection against physical and magical attacks. Different armor types offer varying levels of protection and may be class-specific.
• Weapons: Used to deal damage to enemies. Weapon types include swords, axes, maces, bows, and staves, each with unique attack animations and damage profiles.
• Jewelry: Rings, amulets, and earrings that provide various stat bonuses such as increased health, mana, or critical hit chance.
• Off-hand Items: Shields (for melee classes), orbs (for magic users), or other items that can provide additional stats or abilities.
• Clothing: While primarily cosmetic, clothing can sometimes offer minor stat bonuses, particularly in higher-level content.

Equipment also has different qualities, ranging from Common to Legendary, each offering increasingly better stats and sometimes unique abilities. Gear quality is often indicated by color:

• Common: White
• Uncommon: Green
• Rare: Blue
• Epic: Purple
• Legendary: Orange

Obtaining Good Starting Gear

Acquiring decent gear early on is critical for survival and leveling efficiently. There are several effective ways to get good starting gear.

• Quests: Completing quests, especially in the starting zones, often rewards you with gear appropriate for your level. Pay attention to quest rewards, as some offer better items than others.
• Vendors: Armor and weapon vendors in major cities and starting areas sell basic gear. While this gear is not the best, it provides a solid foundation.
• Crafting: Some classes can craft their own gear or commission gear from other players.
• Dungeons: Even low-level dungeons can drop valuable gear. Grouping up with other players can make these dungeons easier to complete.
• World Drops: Monsters throughout the game world can drop equipment. This is a random method, but can yield useful items.

As an example, completing the early quests in Tortage will typically provide a full set of armor and a weapon suitable for your chosen class. Exploring the starting areas and doing all the quests will get you a head start.

Improving Gear Through Crafting, Dungeons, and Vendors

Upgrading your gear is a continuous process. Here’s how you can enhance your equipment throughout your adventures.

• Crafting: Many classes have crafting skills that allow them to create superior gear. Crafting often requires gathering resources, such as ore, wood, and cloth, and then using crafting stations to create items. Higher-level crafting can produce epic and legendary items.
• Dungeons: Dungeons are a primary source of high-quality gear. Completing dungeons, especially at higher levels, rewards you with better equipment, including weapons, armor, and jewelry.
• Vendors: Certain vendors sell higher-quality gear, often in exchange for special tokens or currency earned through specific activities, such as PvP or raids.
• Gear Upgrades/Enchantments: Certain pieces of gear can be upgraded or enchanted using specific items or crafting recipes. These upgrades often improve the gear’s stats.

Consider the crafting system. For example, a blacksmith can craft weapons and armor using ore and other materials. As a player levels up their crafting skill, they can craft more powerful and specialized gear.

Identifying Different Gear Stats

Understanding the stats on your gear is essential for making informed decisions.

• Armor Class (AC): Reduces the amount of physical damage you take.
• Hit Points (HP): Determines your health pool.
• Mana/Stamina: The resources needed to cast spells or perform actions.
• Strength/Dexterity/Intelligence/etc.: These are your primary stats, which affect your damage, critical hit chance, and other abilities.
• Damage/DPS: The amount of damage your weapon deals. DPS (Damage Per Second) is often used to compare weapons.
• Critical Hit Chance: The probability of landing a critical hit, which deals extra damage.
• Resistances: Resistance to specific types of damage, such as fire, frost, or poison.

When examining gear, pay attention to the primary stats that benefit your class and play style. For example, a Barbarian would prioritize Strength and Constitution, while a Priest would focus on Wisdom and Willpower.

Quests and Content

The world of Age of Conan is vast and filled with adventure, and quests are your primary means of experiencing it. They guide you through the game’s story, provide experience, and reward you with valuable items and resources. Understanding the different types of quests and how to navigate them is crucial for a successful journey through Hyboria.

Types of Quests

Age of Conan offers a variety of quest types to keep gameplay engaging. Each type offers a different experience and contributes to character progression.

• Main Story Quests: These are the core quests that drive the narrative forward. They typically involve significant story elements, and completing them unlocks new areas and content. These quests are marked with a specific icon in your quest log.
• Side Quests: Side quests provide additional stories and opportunities to gain experience, items, and faction reputation. They often explore the lore of specific areas and introduce you to interesting characters.
• Daily Quests: Daily quests are repeatable quests that reset daily. They offer a reliable source of experience, currency, and other rewards. These are a great way to maintain a steady level of character progression.
• Repeatable Quests: These quests can be completed multiple times, often with a cooldown period. They provide a means to farm specific items or currency.
• Event Quests: Special events often introduce limited-time quests with unique rewards. These quests offer a chance to experience special content and obtain exclusive items.

Main Storyline Quests and Rewards

The main storyline in Age of Conan progresses through several major chapters, each with its own set of quests. The rewards for these quests vary, but often include experience points, gear, and access to new areas.

• Early Levels (1-20): The early levels focus on the Isle of Tortage, where you begin your journey. Quests here introduce the game’s mechanics, the world, and the basics of combat. Rewards include starter gear and experience. An example of a quest in this range is “The Escape,” which provides a weapon and armor.
• Levels 20-40: This stage often involves exploring areas like the Border Kingdoms and the Stygia region. You’ll encounter new factions, challenges, and quest lines. Rewards include better gear and more experience.
• Levels 40-60: This phase involves the mid-game content, where you explore areas like Cimmeria, Aquilonia, and other zones. Rewards include high-end gear and valuable crafting recipes.
• Levels 60-80: This level range focuses on endgame content, including dungeons, raids, and PvP. Rewards include the best gear and powerful items.

Dungeons and Raids

Dungeons and raids provide challenging group content and are a significant part of the endgame experience. They offer unique rewards and require teamwork and strategy to overcome.

• Dungeons: Dungeons are instanced areas designed for groups of 4-6 players. They feature challenging encounters and often reward specific gear and valuable items. Entry requirements typically involve reaching a certain level and sometimes completing a prerequisite quest. For instance, the “Black Castle” dungeon requires a group of players at level 80 to enter and grants epic gear.
• Raids: Raids are large-scale instances designed for groups of 24 players. They present the most challenging encounters in the game and offer the best gear and rewards. Entry requirements involve a high level, specific gear, and often a prerequisite quest. A classic example is the “Temple of Erlik” raid, requiring level 80 characters and providing the best raid gear available at the time.

Quest Log Functionality

The quest log is an essential tool for managing your quests. It allows you to track your progress, view quest details, and filter quests based on various criteria.

• Quest Tracking: The quest log displays all active quests, including their objectives, location, and progress. You can track multiple quests simultaneously, with the active quest’s objectives displayed on your screen.
• Filtering: The quest log allows you to filter quests by type, zone, or status (e.g., completed, incomplete). This feature helps you quickly find the quests you’re interested in.
• Quest Details: Clicking on a quest in the log displays detailed information, including the quest giver, objectives, rewards, and any relevant lore.
• Map Integration: Quest locations are typically marked on your map, making it easier to find quest givers and objectives.

Social Features and Guilds

Age of Conan offers a variety of social features to connect with other players, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Guilds provide a sense of community and offer numerous benefits. Understanding these features and how to utilize them is crucial for a fulfilling experience in the game.

Social Features Overview

The game features several social tools to facilitate interaction. These tools allow players to communicate, form groups, and build relationships.

• Chat Channels: Multiple chat channels are available, including general, local, trade, guild, and private. Players can easily switch between channels to communicate with specific groups. For example, the “general” chat is for broader discussions, while “guild” chat is exclusively for guild members.
• Friends List: Players can add others to their friends list to easily track their online status and send private messages. This feature allows for easy communication and coordination with trusted players.
• Whisper Function: The whisper function allows players to send private messages directly to another player, without others seeing the conversation. This is useful for one-on-one conversations or making arrangements.
• Grouping System: The grouping system allows players to form parties to complete quests and dungeons together. This feature makes it easier to tackle challenging content and encourages teamwork.

Benefits of Joining a Guild

Joining a guild provides numerous advantages that enhance the Age of Conan experience. Guilds offer a structured environment for social interaction and gameplay progression.

• Guild Perks: Guilds often have access to perks such as increased experience gain, crafting bonuses, and access to unique guild-specific vendors. These perks can significantly improve a player’s progression and efficiency.
• Guild Activities: Guilds typically organize events such as raids, PvP battles, and social gatherings. Participating in these activities provides opportunities to meet new people, gain valuable experience, and earn rewards.
• Shared Resources and Support: Guild members often share resources, such as crafting materials and equipment. They also provide support and guidance to each other, especially for new players.
• Guild Halls and Infrastructure: Many guilds establish guild halls and other infrastructure, such as crafting stations, which can benefit all members. These features provide a central location for guild activities and resource management.

Finding and Joining a Guild

Finding a suitable guild involves several steps, from searching to applying and integrating. Players should carefully consider their play style and preferences when selecting a guild.

• Using the Guild Finder: The in-game guild finder allows players to search for guilds based on criteria such as activity level, play style, and server. This tool provides a convenient way to find potential guilds.
• Checking Public Forums and Websites: Online forums and websites dedicated to Age of Conan often have guild recruitment sections. Players can browse these sections to find guilds that are actively recruiting.
• Asking in General Chat: Public chat channels can be used to inquire about guilds that are recruiting. This is a quick way to find guilds that are actively seeking new members.
• Applying to a Guild: Once a player finds a guild of interest, they typically need to submit an application. The application process may vary, but it usually involves providing information about the player’s character and play style.
• Guild Interview: Some guilds may conduct interviews to assess potential members. This helps the guild to determine if the player is a good fit for the community.

Effective Use of In-Game Chat

Effective communication is essential for success in Age of Conan. Mastering the chat features can improve gameplay and social interaction.

• Understanding Chat Commands: Players should familiarize themselves with the various chat commands, such as /say (for local chat), /guild (for guild chat), and /whisper (for private messages). Knowing these commands makes it easier to communicate effectively.
• Using Proper Etiquette: Maintaining respectful communication is crucial. Avoid using offensive language, spamming, or engaging in disruptive behavior.
• Utilizing the Trade Channel: The trade channel is a dedicated channel for buying and selling items. Players should use this channel to advertise their wares and negotiate prices.
• Coordinating in Group Chat: When in a group, use the group chat to coordinate strategies, discuss objectives, and share information. Clear and concise communication is essential for success.
• Utilizing Emotes: Emotes are a fun way to express emotions and interact with other players. Players can use emotes such as /wave, /cheer, or /laugh to add personality to their interactions.

Crafting and Economy

Age of Conan features a robust crafting system crucial for character progression and the game’s economy. Mastering crafting allows players to create powerful items, consumables, and valuable resources. Understanding the crafting system and how it interacts with the game’s economy is essential for both self-sufficiency and financial success.

Crafting Professions Explained

Crafting in Age of Conan is divided into several professions, each with its specializations and unique items to create. Players can choose to specialize in one or more crafting professions, allowing for diverse gameplay styles and economic opportunities.

• Weaponsmith: Focuses on crafting melee weapons. This profession is essential for creating powerful swords, axes, and other close-combat arms.
  • Specialization: Swordsmithing, Axesmithing, Hammersmithing, etc.
  • Key Items: Various swords, axes, maces, hammers, and other weapons.
• Armorsmith: Specializes in creating armor to protect characters from damage. Armorers are vital for providing protection to all classes.
  • Specialization: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, etc.
  • Key Items: Light, medium, and heavy armor sets, including chest pieces, leggings, helmets, gloves, and boots.
• Fletcher: Creates ranged weapons, such as bows and arrows, as well as ammunition. This is critical for archer-based classes.
  • Specialization: Bowcrafting, Arrowcrafting.
  • Key Items: Bows, arrows, quivers, and other ranged weapon accessories.
• Alchemy: Produces potions, elixirs, and other consumables that provide various buffs, healing, and other effects. Alchemists are in constant demand for their ability to create beneficial consumables.
  • Specialization: Potion Brewing, Elixir Creation.
  • Key Items: Healing potions, mana potions, stat-buffing potions, and other consumables.
• Jewelcrafting: Crafts jewelry, rings, amulets, and other accessories that enhance a character’s stats. Jewelcrafters provide essential items for maximizing character builds.
  • Specialization: Ringcrafting, Amulet Crafting.
  • Key Items: Rings, necklaces, amulets, and other jewelry that provide stat bonuses.
• Tailoring: Specializes in creating cloth armor and other items. Tailors are important for light armor wearers and creating cosmetic items.
  • Specialization: Cloth Armor, Bags, and other accessories.
  • Key Items: Cloth armor, bags, pouches, and cosmetic items.
• Woodworking: Focuses on crafting staves, shields, and other wooden items. Woodworkers provide essential items for various classes.
  • Specialization: Staves, Shields, and Wooden accessories.
  • Key Items: Staves, shields, and other wooden items.
• Cooking: Produces food and drinks that provide various buffs and stat enhancements. Cooks are vital for providing buffs that help players in combat.
  • Specialization: Food and Drink recipes.
  • Key Items: Food and drinks that offer buffs, stat enhancements, and health regeneration.

Crafting Essential Items

Crafting essential items involves gathering the necessary resources and using crafting stations to create the desired products. These items are crucial for character progression and survival.To craft a simple healing potion, an Alchemist would need to gather specific herbs and water, then combine them at an Alchemy station. The process involves selecting the recipe and the necessary ingredients. Successful crafting results in a healing potion that can be used to restore health.For weapon crafting, a Weaponsmith would require ore, wood, and other materials.

At a Weaponsmithing station, they would select the weapon recipe and combine the required components. The outcome would be a crafted weapon.

Making Money Through Crafting and Trading

Several strategies are available for players to make money in Age of Conan through crafting and trading.

• Crafting and Selling: Players can craft items and sell them on the Auction House or directly to other players.
• Resource Gathering and Selling: Gathering raw materials like ore, wood, herbs, and other resources and selling them to crafters or on the Auction House can be a lucrative way to make money.
• Trading: Buying low and selling high on the Auction House can yield profits. Monitoring market trends and identifying items with high demand can be advantageous.
• Bulk Sales: Selling items in bulk, such as stacks of potions or materials, can attract buyers and increase sales volume.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This section addresses common questions beginners have when starting their adventure in Age of Conan. It covers a range of topics, from account creation and server selection to troubleshooting technical issues and understanding gameplay mechanics. The goal is to provide clear, concise answers to help new players navigate the game effectively.

Account Creation and Server Selection

Choosing the right server and creating your account are the first steps to playing Age of Conan. This involves understanding the different server types and account options available.* Account Creation: The process involves visiting the official Age of Conan website and creating an account. You’ll need to provide an email address, create a username and password, and agree to the terms of service.

You may also need to download the game client.* Server Selection: Players are often concerned about choosing the right server. Consider these factors when making your decision:

• Server Population: Servers with higher populations usually have more players to interact with, making it easier to find groups for quests and activities. However, they can also lead to more competition for resources and quests.
• Server Type: Age of Conan typically offers different server types, such as PvE (Player versus Environment) and PvP (Player versus Player). PvE servers focus on cooperative gameplay and questing, while PvP servers allow for open-world combat between players.
• Community: Some servers have established communities with their own cultures and playstyles. Researching the communities on different servers can help you find one that aligns with your preferences.

Gameplay Mechanics

Understanding the core gameplay mechanics is essential for success in Age of Conan. Here are some frequently asked questions about these mechanics.* Combat System: Age of Conan’s combat system is action-oriented. Players need to strategically use different attacks, blocks, and dodges to defeat enemies. The game uses a combo system where players chain attacks together for increased damage.

Timing is crucial for successful attacks and defense.* Leveling and Character Progression: Leveling up allows players to acquire new skills, feats, and abilities. Completing quests, defeating enemies, and exploring the world all contribute to experience points. Players also earn attribute points that can be allocated to improve their character’s stats.* Questing and Content Progression: Age of Conan features a vast amount of quests and content.

Quests are the primary way to gain experience, acquire gear, and advance the story. The game also features dungeons, raids, and world events that offer challenging gameplay and rewards.* Resource Gathering and Crafting: The game incorporates resource gathering and crafting. Players can gather resources like ore, wood, and herbs, and then use these materials to craft various items, including weapons, armor, potions, and consumables.

Crafting skills can be leveled up to create more powerful items.

Troubleshooting Technical Issues

Technical issues can sometimes disrupt the gaming experience. Here are some common problems and solutions.* Game Client Issues: Problems with the game client, such as crashes or performance issues, are common.

• Solutions: Ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements. Try updating your graphics drivers. Verify the integrity of the game files through the launcher. Reinstalling the game can also resolve many issues.

* Connection Problems: Lag, disconnections, and high ping can negatively impact gameplay.

• Solutions: Check your internet connection. Close any unnecessary applications that might be using bandwidth. Consider using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi. Contact your internet service provider if the problems persist.

* Graphics and Performance Problems: Low frame rates and visual glitches can hinder the gaming experience.

• Solutions: Adjust the graphics settings in the game options menu. Lower the resolution, disable or reduce the effects, and lower the draw distance. Update your graphics drivers. Ensure your computer meets the recommended system requirements.

Epilogue

So there you have it, a comprehensive guide to get you started on your Age of Conan adventure! From understanding the basics of combat and character creation to navigating the social features and economy, we’ve covered the essential aspects of the game. Armed with this knowledge, you’re now ready to face the challenges that await you in Hyboria. Go forth, conquer, and leave your mark on this savage world!

Clarifying Questions

What server should I choose?

Consider factors like your region, desired gameplay style (PvE or PvP), and community size. Check online forums or the official website for server population and activity information. Generally, a populated server is preferable for social interaction and access to content.

How do I get better gear?

Gear is obtained through quest rewards, drops from monsters, crafting, and vendors. Dungeons and raids offer the best gear. Regularly check vendors and the auction house for upgrades. Crafting your own gear can also provide a good starting point.

What are the best classes for solo play?

Classes with good self-healing and survivability tend to excel in solo play. Consider the Barbarian, Dark Templar, or Ranger. Experiment with different classes to find one that suits your playstyle.

How do I level up efficiently?

Focus on completing quests, especially the main storyline. Participate in dungeons and world events for experience. Utilize experience potions and rested experience bonuses. Grouping up with other players can also speed up the leveling process.

What is the best way to make money?

Crafting and selling items on the auction house is a common method. Farming valuable resources and selling them is another option. Completing daily quests and participating in events can also provide income.