Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures PvP Interview
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Q: How do you handle magic in combat? Are there traditional spellcasters who act as ranged combatants, and can their spells be avoided?
A: Spellcasters are different in Age of Conan than what you normally see in online games. First of all, only Stygians will use arcane magic -- this foul form of power is not used by the saner Cimmerians or Aquillonians. Second, magic will look, feel and handle differently than in other games. There aren't any magic missile tossing clowns with funny hats. Instead we have more "real" magic, manipulating reality, shaking the Earth, and summoning the odd demon from an unspeakable Hell.
In Conan's Hyboria, arcane magic is deemed dangerous and foul and is very often focused around the manipulation of artifacts, more than the simple channeling of energy. To simulate this we are playing around with a system called "Soul Corruption" that will determine the degree to which you have sold your soul for power. Naturally, for most, this will be fatal and something to be avoided. For others, walking the edge is the only form of true excitement there is, and is, by far, the most efficient way to gain maximum power. It is still uncertain if "Soul Corruption" will make it all the way to the final game, though.
Since you must "aim" as a mage in Conan it is possible to somewhat avoid magic by having high resistance or by getting out of the line of fire. Magic-like powers can be also be gained through shamanistic and religious powers. They are more close-up and personal, and most forms of healing or "buffing" will be team based.
