Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to Dark Ages of Camelot and Shrouded Isles.
Version 1.63
By Daniel K. Pu
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Contents
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I. Introduction
II. Character Creation
III. Classes
IV. RvR Group
I. Introduction
================
I’m a veteran player of Dark Ages of Camelot and have played since the game’s
release. Many things have changed since the release of the game and I feel that it is
necessary to help people who have just started playing the game. This guide will cover
all the topics and hopefully help newcomers have fun and make smart decisions while
playing
Dark Ages of Camelot. If anyone has any questions or suggestions please contact me at
Xury2000@hotmail.com.
***Opinion***I recommend that a beginner to Dark Ages of Camelot read the whole guide, as
it
will improve his or her gaming experience much more and prevent one from making some bad
decisions or "gimping" their character as some call it. Throughout the guide I will also
be
adding my opinions sections, keep in mind these are my opinions and others might agree or
disagree.
II. Character Creation
======================
1.)Making a Character: This is the most important part of the game because it will
determine
what realm and type of character one will play. I will briefly summarize each realm and
class.
2.) Realms of Dark Ages of Camelot
Realm: Hibernia-This is the "Magical Realm". If you would like to play a caster, seriously
consider going with this realm. However, the disadvantage, or advantage that one could
argue,
is the fact that your frontier (Emain Macha) will be the most invaded frontier. All 3
realms
gather to fight on Hibernia’s frontier. This makes protecting keeps much harder.
Advantage: Powerful caster classes with a baseline stun. Very good caster class:
Enchanter.
Disadvantage: Invaders will always be present in the frontier.
Realm: Albion-This realm does not have a focus, but I often call it the
"Balanced realm." Albion has the most classes to choose from and some would argue the
most beautiful landscape. However, disadvantage of Albion is the fact that there are so
many classes. Since many classes exist, key factors needed for an effective group are
harder to gather since more classes are needed in order to fulfill those factors.
Advantage: Many classes to choose from and play. Beautiful landscape. Very good stealth
class: Infiltrator.
Disadvantage: Hard to find all key components needed in an effective group.
Realm: Midguard-This is the “Melee” realm. In this realm there are the most melee classes
to choose from. The caster classes are also decent. A disadvantage of midguard is the lack
of good defining Realm Abilities (Will Discuss these later).
Advantage: Powerful melee classes. Very good melee class: Savage.
Disadvantage: Lack of good Realm Abilities.
III. Classes
============
Class: This will determine what kind of a character one will play. I will list all the
classifications and list the classes that fall below each. Keep in mind that the role of a
class can change depending on how one specializes. Next to each class I will put in
parenthesis what their spec is in order to fall under each category.
1) Main tank : The damage taking class of the realm.
These classes can deal and receive a lot of damage. They wear the heaviest of armors and
have the most hit-points.
2) Light tank : These are the
super damage dealing tanks. All are able to wield two weapons at the same time to deal
extra
damage. Can wear second heaviest armor and have second best hit-points.
*Note: no spell-casting cast can cast spells while being attacked unless the spell is an
instant*
3) Hybrid tank : These are the magical tanks. Able to hit, as well as use
magical abilities. However, their hit-points and melee damage suffer as a result of their
magical abilities.
***My Opinion***-As of patch 1.63 I feel that tanks have become a dominate part of
Player vs. Player combat. Due to the high resists introduced by spellcrafting and realm
bilities, tanks have an advantage over a caster. One on one an experienced tank will, and
can kill almost any mage class.
*Note: no spell-casting cast can cast spells while being attacked unless the spell is an
instant*
3) Direct Damage Casters : These are the heavy
artillery of each realm. Able to deal a lot of damage to many people over a long range
these
mages can wreak havoc in large battles. However, like all mages, they are fragile and easy
to
kill. They are only able to wear the lightest of armor and have the lowest hit-points.
4) Damage Over Time Casters :
These casters are the chemical warfare agents. They can cast spells that will affect a
large
area and deal damage on a target in a given amount of time. Unlike area effect direct
damage
spells, these spells have no damage drop-off due to distance and will continue to affect
its
victim even if they run out of range. They are only able to wear the lightest of armor and
have the lowest hit-points.
5) Point Black Area Effect Casters : These are the suicide bombers of each realm. Able to
cast
area effect spells that flow outward from themselves, these casters trade great risk for
great
reward. These spells have the fastest cast times and also deals the most damage, however
the
caster must literally stand over or very close to his target in order for these spells to
work.
They are only able to wear the lightest of armor and have the lowest hit-points.
6) Other casters : These
castershave a variety of skills and spells and do not fall into any of the above
categories.
The animist can summon little gun turrets to kill enemies or vent turrets to help his
friends.
The Sorcerer is able to charm any monster and is also adept at crowd control by memorizing
enemies.The necromancer is able to take on the form of an undead servant and cast spells
through it. They are only able to wear the lightest of armor and have the lowest
hit-points.
***My Opinion****-Casters have taken a big hit due to the introduction of spellcrafting,
resist
buffs, and realm abilities. Although it is true casters have access to all 3 of these
abilities
, they also affect the casting class the most. A caster can almost always expect to see
around
30 percent resistance to his spell damage in player vs. player combat and 50 percent
resistance to spell damage is not uncommon. What does spell resistance mean? It means that
if
a spell regularly does 450 damage, against 50 percent resist it will do only 225.
Considering
how much hp some tanks can have 2000+(buffed), and the realm ability ignore pain, which
instantly heals a tank back to full health, casters stand almost no chance against an
experienced tank.
*Note: no spell-casting cast can cast spells while being attacked unless the spell is an
instant*
7) Main Support/Healer class:
The most loved class of each realm! Who doesn’t want to be healed? These classes
specialize in
healing the wounds of friends and can even bring a dead ally back to life. They are able
to
wear heavy to medium armor and have decent hit-points.
8) Secondary Support/Healer class,
Warden(any): These classes can do a variety of tasks but cannot heal as well or as the
main
healer or heal at all. However, their extra skills make up for that disadvantage.
They are able to wear heavy to medium armor and have decent hit-points.
9) Buffing/Enhancing Class: these classes can make their
allies and friends stronger by providing them with extra resistance, hit-points, or
attributes.
They are able to wear heavy to medium armor and have decent hit-points.
***My Opinion***-Healing classes have received a boost lately with the introduction of
spread
heals and longer healing ranges. However, spell interruption is still a problem as just
one
enemy attacking a healing class will totally negate his or her ability to heal except for
instant heals. It also takes a special kind of person to play healing classes since
healing
classes will rarely be able to kill an enemy, if you like to feel powerful and smite your
enemies don’t play a healing class.***
10) Asassin Classes: These are the
stealthy killers of each realm. Able to prowl undetected by the enemy ,they can spring up
and
attack with a devastating critical strike. These killers are also able to scale the walls
of
keeps and attack unsuspecting defenders inside. They are able to wear medium armor and
have
decent hit-points.
11) Archer Classes These are the snipers of the game.
They are able to hide unseen and let fly an arrow at opponents. If needed they are also
able
to engage in direct melee with an opponent. They are able to wear medium armor and have
decent
hit-points.
***My Opinion*** If one is a real newcomer to this game I do not suggest that one plays
any of
these stealth classes. In all 3 realms stealth classes are very hard to level up because
group
s do not like or want them. This will make getting to 50 very tough. Even if one does
reach 50,
one will find it hard to compete against enemy stealthers if one does not have buffs from
a
support class.
IV. RvR Group
==============
1) RvR is the main attraction of Dark Ages of Camelot. RvR is the battle between the 3
realms.
These battles include keep sieges, keep defense, relic raids, relic defense, Milegate
defense, and Gank Groups.
2) Components of an effective RvR group: An effective RvR group is one that includes
these
vital components.
-Speed
-Healing
-Buffing
-Pulsing Blade Turn
-Point Blank Damage
-Melee Damage
-Crowd Control
-Endurance Regeneration
-Mana Regeneration
3) Optimal 8 character RvR group of each realm.
-Albion: Minstrel, 2xCleric, Paladin, 2xArmsman, Ice Wizard, Mind Sorcerer.
-Hibernia: Bard, Druid, 3xHero, Warden, 2xMana Enchanter.
-Midguard: Skald, 2xHealer, 2xWarrior, Suppression Spiritmaster, Savage, Shaman.
***Keep in mind these are my opinions and can vary depending on the situation***
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Daniel Pu
Copyright 2003
If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail me at xury2000@hotmail.com