I have decided to copy and paste this from the post I made AGES ago on the US Servers, and have reworked it to be meant for the EU servers
Welcome to Age of Conan: Unchained!
So you've gotten the game, you have installed it, and the patches have gone through. You might be a brand new player, trying out F2P, you might have hopped right into having a premium subscription, or you may be a returning veteran. Either way, you are ready to enter the savage lands of Cimmeria, the political landscape of Aquilonia, the treacherous deserts of Stygia, or the mysterious Khitan landscape.
You log in, and are greeted with the server lists to create a character. Which one do you choose? Fury... or Crom. Or, very soon, the Blood and Glory Server. There's also Mitra and Asgard. Asgard appears to be the only "official" RP Server, and yet it is German. So which one do you choose?
So... that leaves three choices. Crom, Fury, or the soon to be launched Hardcore PVP Server. So again, which do you choose?
That Fateful Choice
I will be the first person to say I am not the official Fury Represenative, but as someone who has been on Age of Conan since Early Access, I am more then willing to write this guide, even if its only been a month or so since I actually jumped in to the EUs ide of things. So write it I am. The first question one might ask themselves, whether they are returning or new... where is the official Roleplay Server? Returnees may wonder where Aquilonia and Hyrkania are, and newbies may just want to know why the only RP Server is German.
The answer is... there were merges, because they needed bigger populations, and one day in the future, there WILL be a change, where there is cross server tech. That tech however, will need to be elaborated on by the Funcom folks high above. But until then, you can choose between two "unofficial" RP Servers, and one Hardcore PVP.
So why choose either? Admittedly I am biased, but I will try to be objective.
Crom. Crom is a good choice for those who generally don't like PVP, and would prefer a more "relaxed" environment. You might not want to be on edge all the time when you're trying to quest, or your computer is just not fast enough to handle the fast paced combat of Player-Versus-Player. Some genuinely hate PVP for whatever reason, and so they come here. Roleplayers who come here should also (at least, IMO) be the ones who may decide to RP concepts un-enforceable by the game. You may say, roll a Stygian Necromancer, but want him to be say, a soldier. Sure, you get the Black Dragon or Archeronian Vanity Armor, but you're still casting spells. In a situation like Crom, this may be more doable, since conflict will likely be handled with emotes, maybe even dice rolls.
This server does have its cons though: there are roleplayers who refuse to lose, and even with dice rolls may decide to powerplay and just ruin RP by godmodding themselves to oblivion. That, and it is impossible to kill someone who tries to grief roleplay by bunnyhopping, bycromming, and so on. But, while I am no Crom native, I am certain this is a minority.
Then we have the other choice.
Fury. My home at present, and probably for my duration here. Fury is a PVP Server, and I know full well that PVP Servers have a stigma. I used to have this belief too. Over on the US Servers, Tyranny backed up the stigma that PVPers were immature, but over here, I see differently. Global, like most servers on this game, is filled with trolls, immature types, and humor that is off color if not outright offensive at times. But that is global, and anyone who thinks its different on any other server is lying to themselves. Fury is a PVP Server, and so, one has to live on edge and prepare to be attacked. Roleplayers can easily find a home here, especially if the roleplayers either are avid PVPers, or enjoy it from time to time. Yes, you will get attacked out in Grasslands, Khesh, or what not, but the Fury population as a whole, will
not grief roleplayers. Despite misconceptions, Fury is welcoming to the RP Population, so long as the RP Population is not among the type of people to send rage tells when they get fairly killed while running out and about in Khitai. Just as with Crom, conflict has a certain way of being handled: with RP-PVP. Just imagine, when the Stygian Necromancer begins to raise the dead in Fields of the Dead. A Cimmerian Warband, offended by the defilement of their dead, confronts the sorcerer. When the sorcerer does not back down, off with his head! Such conflict can be bread and butter, but it is not at the expense of deeper and more meaningful Roleplay. Ask anyone in Clan Koragg, Tombstone, Dark Desires, Hand of Ibis and so on: their RP is deep, and involves intense storylines and character development. PVP does not "simplify" anything.
Of course, there are cons to Fury: If you don't like PVP. And while RPers have not really been griefed yet, there is always the risk that some chump will come in, and faceroll an RP Event. That said, with the introduction of vanity slots, that will be less possible: at least, on the US Servers, the biggest reason why RPers got griefed is because they wore RP Armor, and were unprotected. So now, with vanity slots, that will be much less of an issue.
Then there is the Hardcore PVP Server. Blood and Glory. While I think it would be fun to RP there, IMO, do not roll there when it is live, with the intent of heavy RP. It will be a PVP bloodbath. If you want to RP there, bring it in a lighter form, where conflict is breakfast, lunch, and dinner and dessert.
There are a few things newcomers and returning players should know regarding Roleplay and Age of Conan.
Truth Number 1 - There are no RP Servers outside of Asgard
Yes. This is true. And unfortunate but...
Misconception 1 - No RP Servers, Thus No Roleplay
Look at City of Heroes, Champions Online, Fallen Earth, Lord of the Rings US Servers (pre-migration). Now, this is all from the US Side of things, I'm not sure how the EU Servers were there but... all of these games had UNOFFICIAL, NON SUPPORTED RP Communities, on one or several of their servers. RP is very well alive on AoC. Just choose which is your preferred style: with the more casual Crom atmosphere, or the steel singing Fury battlefield. Each has RP, it's just about the other stuff.
Truth Number Two - Lore Can Be Learned
So assuming you are not turned off by the prospect of no official RP Server, want to join in on the RP, and want to know more, know this. There are RP Guilds of all degrees, shapes, and sizes. Some allow all races and classes, following a lesser emphasize on the lore, while some are true clans of barbarians with an absurd level of lore detail. Yet if you are new to the lore, most any RP Guild will gladly teach you.
Just look up anyone from the guild listings on either server, and you will find someone who can help you!
Misconception 2 - PVP is RP Griefing
This is a HUGE misconception. While there are plenty of undesirables who roll on ANY PVP Server, most PVP is not Griefing, let alone RP Griefing. Infact, most PVP is done by those who have a reason ICly, even if flimsy. While I would consider spawn camping a version of griefing, most PVP that is open world is just that - PVP on a PVP Server, and even the non RPers can come up with a good "barbaric" reasoning for their actions.
Yes, sometimes it is harsh, but one of the truths that will be covered is that Hyboria is a harsh land.
Truth Number Three - Hyboria is a B*tch
Simple truth. Hyboria is a foul land. As such, expect most RP to not be the light hearted Everquest 2 tavern talk with faeries and dating advice. Expect Hyboria to be full of bloodthirsty savages, scheming mages, and alluring seductresses. That is the truth. Whether you're a Roleplayer wanting to know the atmosphere or a non roleplayer who can respect the rulset but is wary of how people act... know this:
Do not enter Hyboria expecting us to sling horribly stitched up "ye olden English" in a horribly contrived manner. Infact, do not even expect to be treated nicely in RP. Many while great and helpful players OOC, will play a complete sociopath ICly, who might just sooner kill you for talking to them the wrong way.
Remember, Hyboria is viscous.
Misconception 3 - We are not an ERP/Insular/Whatever Place
While some guilds do RP in their cities, and a degree of sensual/sexual RP can happen (especially in the Stygian areas of Roleplay) we are not an RP Community that solely focuses on that. Infact, one thing that is true about Fury, and likely Crom, is most of our RP is varied. Are you looking for RP-PVP? We have it. Are you looking for Tavern RP? We have it. Are you seeking deeper intrigue based stories? We have it. The AoC RP Community has all of your RP Needs.
Final Comments
If you've read this, and still want to know if the server is right for you, ask yourself the following?
- Do you like to Roleplay? If not, do you enjoy the atmosphere Roleplayers set up?
- Do you like PVP that has meaning beyond JUST the grind of PVP-XP?
- Or do you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, where conflict is handled with emotes and dice rolls?
- Are you willing to deal with the bad that comes with the good?
If yes to most of these, then give Age of Conan Roleplay a chance!
Fury and Crom beckon to those who wish to give roleplay a shot! Are you ready for Age of Conan: Unchained?!
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