Baby Barbarian: first steps in Age of Conan

Posted at: Wednesday 28th May 2008 by Orestis Bastounis

Having enjoyed early access in Age of Conan, Orestis Bastounis has been sharpening his axe, slaying beasts, swilling beer and chatting up the wenches of Tortage.

Age of Conan has received plenty of attention from both gamers and the press so far, and for good reason. It’s arguably the prettiest MMORPG yet seen. In their current state the visuals offer advanced lighting and shadows, shimmering water effects and detailed textures. They are set to get even better once the full DirectX 10 client is launched in August. Nearly every conversation with NPCs is delivered through both text and full audio, which contributes to the double digits of disk space the game will consume. Age of Conan is certain to give your system a good workout and guaranteed to make you feel better about spending an arm and a leg on PC hardware.

The game comes in a unique setting, the only MMO set in a land of Barbarians, loosely based off the Robert E. Howard novels, not to mention the Golden Globe winning film that kick-started the film career of one California governor. It’s also a mature rated MMO, which means splashed blood, decapitated skulls, and brutal executions; and no Hello Kitty Online here. This of course does not mean the players are mature, since even we were amused by being able to belch loudly in other players’ faces. Repeatedly.

If a persistent world filled with axes, loud guttural exhalations and severed limbs is your idea of fun, you may have already joined Age of Conan, the latest MMORPG from developer Funcom, whose previous credentials includes the acclaimed Anarchy Online. If you aren’t yet convinced, or your copy is arriving shortly, our handy guide to your first few hours in the game will help you get a better understanding of what to expect.

Click on each section below for an explanation of some of the fundamental aspects of the game, and the early decisions you must make.