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Dark Age Of Camelot DAOC Game Overview
Dark Age of Camelot DAOC is a 3D MMO MMORPG fantasy role play game that revolves around the war between three realms at the end of King Arthur's rule. The realms being Albion, Midgard and Hibernia. The game was created by Mythic Entertainment in Oct 2001. DAoC players can choose to play alone or they can join other players in a group in which all of the responsibilties, credits, risks and rewards are shared. Battlegroups can also be created which shares some but not all of the characteristics of a regular group. DAOC Battlegroups are formed for large scale events so that large numbers of players can work together and achieve credit without having to repeat the events. PvE is the only way to acquire equipment without trading, purchasing or crafting it. PvE is available to players in any playable region except
capital cities and housing areas.
The majority of PVP combat focuses players from the same realm combating players from the other two and is
usually restricted to PvP areas or zones such as New Frontiers, battlegrounds and some dungeons. Players receive Realm and Bounty Points for PVP victories. Earning enough RPs grants the player Realm Ranks for new skills to the player. DAOC Players earn experience and money by hunting and battling non player characters, monsters and animals, completing quests and tasks, and battling other players. Gaining experience allow the character to increase their level, offering new abilities and skills and access to new areas of the game.
Realms
Dark Age of Camelot players can choose between three realms based on specific tidbits fact, folklore and legend. Albion is centered on Arthurian legend and has notable real world places as Hadrians Wall and StoneHedge. Humans are the dominent race of Albion and its origins are in and around old Britain.
Hibernia Celtic folklore and legend. Hibernia races include fairy types such as Sylvans, Lurikeen and Elves with classes that are more nature-based.
Midgard is Norse legend featuring races like Dwarves and Trolls with classes based on worshipers of the old Norse gods of Odin, Loki and Thor.
DAOC Classes
Dark Age of Camelot Classes broken down by realm are:
- Hibernia - Animist (Shrouded Isles), Bainshee
(Catacombs), Blademaster, Bard, Champion, Druid, Enchanter,Eldritch, Hero, Mauler (Labyrinth of the Minotaur), Mentalist, Nightshade, Warden, Ranger, Valewalker (Shrouded Isles) and Vampiir (Catacombs).
- Albion - Armsman, Cabalist, Friar, Cleric, Heretic (Catacombs), Infiltrator, Mauler (Labyrinth of the Minotaur), Minstrel, Mercenary, Necromancer (Shrouded Isles), Paladin, Reaver (Shrouded Isles), Sorcerer, Scout, Theurgist and Wizard
- Midgard - Berserker, Bonedancer (Shrouded Isles), Hunter, Healer, Mauler (Labyrinth of the Minotaur), Runemaster, Savage (Shrouded Isles), Shadowblade, Skald, Shaman, Spiritmaster, Thane, Valkyrie (Catacombs), Warlock (Catacombs) and Warrior
DAOC classes are broken down into one of five archetypes: Tanks and light
tanks, stealthers, casters, healers, and hybrids.
- Spell casters have the highest damage potential of all DAOC classes and can be the most powerful characters both in PvP and PvE. They have the lowest hit points and use the lightest armor in the game. Their abilities of crowd control plus spells that immobilize an opponent, and the immense damage they produce helps keep them alive. Their spells can be interrupted when hit and are likely victims of stealthers as they die easily. Some Casters can summon pets to them in combat. Examples of Caster classes would be Sorcerer, Wizard, Necromancer, Eldrich, Spiritmaster, Enchanter, Runemaster and Bonedancer.
- The tank classes is the pure melee fighter. He has very little ranged attacks skill but can wear the heaviest armour and have the highest melee damage of all classes. Light tanks have slightly higher damage and can wield 2 weapons ( Duel Weild ) but have lighter type armor. Examples of Tank classes are the Armsman, Warrior and Hero. Light tank classes would be the Mercenary, Berserker and Blademaster.
- Healing classes specialize in healing and buff spells. They are always in demand for among groups. Healers offensive capability is somewhat limited and they can be a difficult class to play. Examples of Healing classes would be Clerics, Healers and Druids.
- Stealthers are used primarily as intelligence gatherers and hit and run melee or ranged fighters in the game. Invisibility allows them to pick and choose their targets, spy and report about enemy activities and to ambush
unsuspecting players or monsters. It is possible for a well played stealther to walk into the middle of a group of enemies, kill an enemy in one strike, and disappear again before the other enemies have a chance to react provided they
are not uncovered. Examples of stealther classes would be Scouts, Infiltrators, Minstrels, Shadowblades, Hunters, Rangers and Nightshades.
- Hybrids are are primarily tank caster and are versatile. They can be difficult to play because they are not experts in any one discipline and must know how to use their capabilities to complement each other. If played correctly they can be very effective. Examples of Hybrids would be Friars, Reavers, Heretics, Paladins, Valewalkers, Thanes, Valkyries, Wardens and Champions.
DAOC Races
- Albion - Briton, Avalonian, Half-Ogre (Trials of Atlantis), Highlander, Saracen, Inconnu (Shrouded Isles), Korazh (Labyrinth of the Minotaur).
- Hibernia - Elf, Celt, Firbolg, Lurikeen, Shar (Trials of Atlantis), Sylvan (Shrouded Isles), Graoch (Labyrinth of the Minotaur).
- Midgard - Dwarf, Frostalf (Trials of Atlantis), Norseman, Kobold, Troll, Valkyn (Shrouded Isles), Deifrang
(Labyrinth of the Minotaur).
Server types
Dark Age of Camelot features 5 types of servers for players to choose
from.
- Normal - There are 13 normal servers and are the primary set for gameplay. All expansions are enabled. PvP combat can only take place in the PvP zones.
- Classic - There are 3 classic servers which are similar to the Normal servers except that PvE regions introduced by the Trials of Atlantis expansion have been removed. The character buffing system has been altered so that a character giving a concentration based buff must be in group with the recipient and within 5000 units range from the recipient to give and to maintain its. These servers offer reduced damage for longer battles and eliminate the use of buff bots.
- Co-operative - 1 server which is similar to the Normal servers but there are no PvP based zones. The three realms cooperate in their attack on NPC controlled keeps and other PvE areas. High level enemies protect the locations where PvP would normally take place. All classes teleport between realms.
- Player Vs Player - 1 Server and has an alternate ruleset where players can be attacked and killed within the normal PvE regions of the game world. Certain areas, such as capital cities and times such as immediately after portal to a new zone grant immunity to players from being attacked. Guild vs Guild warfare in Normal PvP zones is popular on this server as apposed to the traditional Realm vs Realm. Realm affiliations have been removed making it possible to kill players of their own realm and race.
- Test - There are test servers for players to test different
abilities and additions to DAOC prior implementing.
Server Clusters
In February 2005 DAOC implemented server clustering, combining three to six servers into a cluster where certain locations from multiple servers were the same location, and PvE areas of each server continued to be located on the individual server. This allowed for more PvP opportunity and offered PvE players three to six times the area to hunt as well as the opportunity to group and join guilds with players from other servers. Then they merged the PvE areas on the existing clusters, leaving only the housing zones separated by server.
The Northern American clusters are :
- Bossiney cluster (Classic)
- Devon cluster
- Akatsuki
- Bedevere
- Galahad
- Igraine
- Morgan Le Fay
- Tristan
- Iseult
- Kay
- Lancelot
- Pellinor
- Killibury cluster
- Bors
- Gawaine
- Merlin
- Palomides
- Guinevere
- Percival
- Nimue
- Test cluster
- Pendragon (Test server)
- Hector (Secondary Test server)
- Uther (Internal Test Server only accessible to EA/Mythic employees)
- Non-clustered servers
- Mordred (Player vs Player)
- Gaheris (Cooperative)
- Former servers
- Andred (Player vs Player), merged with Mordred
- Gorlas (Player vs Player Test server), retained for internal use
European Servers currently ran by GoA
- Limors Cluster (German)
- Dyvet Cluster (English)
- Temair Cluster (German)
- Logres
- Stonehenge
- Dartmoor
- Kernyw Cluster (French)
- Kattraeth Cluster (French)
- Cantebury Cluster (English Classic ruleset)
Realm vs. Realm
Realm versus realm is the primary focus of DAOC. The storyline revolves around what happens after the death of King Arthur, and his united kingdom falling apart. The Realms are in a three way war against each other and constantly fight for control of powerful relics, towers, keeps and even control of the entrance to Darkness Falls.
Player Vs. Player, Play Styles
There are Three Main Play Styles used in Dark Age of Camelot:
- Group - Players can agree to function as a team with up to 8 characters per group. Because of the competitive nature of this play style, 8-man teams will often function in RvR zones with rules of engagement that include allowing a fight in progress to be completed without adding onto the fight. The goal of this style is enjoying the competition given its limit of only having 8 players on each team. Group style requires tactical thinking and committed teamwork.
- Solo - This style encourages the player to find their match against other solo players. Solo PVP players choose their abilities and specializations to be tailored towards survival and success in short assaults on small numbers. A good example is a stealther who are capable of becoming invisible at a distance. Stealthers are the most common classes for this style because they have the best chance of avoiding disadvantageous situations. Solo style is very much concerned with timing and opportunity.
- Large Group - or Zerg. Players who engage in this style of play usually join together in text chat known as a Battle Group. This style is generally concerned with Realm vs Realm warfare taking keeps and towers, capturing relics, and fighting the other realms zergs.
Expansions
DAOC has had several expansions to enhance gameplay.
- Shrouded Isles
- 6 new classes: Necromancer, Reaver, Bonedancer, Savage, Valewalker, Animist.
- 3 new races: Sylvan, Valkyn and Inconnu.
- New land for each realm
- New epic dungeons.
- Foundations
- This expansion added player housing and Consignment Merchants which is the ability for players to set up a shop and sell ingame items.
- Trials of Atlantis
- 3 new races: Half Ogre, Frostalf and Shar.
- New high level content and zones which include new terrain graphics for all areas of the game.
- The expansion featured artifacts and extra abilities known as "Master Levels".
- Many players rejected this expansion because of the high difficulty, organization, and time required in Atlantis's epic raids which lead to the formation of the now popular 'classic' servers
- New Frontiers
- This expansion remade of the game's realm vs realm warfare system which included making the entire frontiers one zone, redesigning keeps and adding towers and adding numerous types of siege equipment.
Catacombs
- 5 new classes: Heretic, Vampiir, Valkyrie, Bainshee and Warlock.
- Instanced dungeons
- New zones and quests with an emphasis on faster and easier leveling.
- New player model graphics and new graphics for dungeons.
- Darkness Rising
- Champion weapons
- Player mounts
- Champion Levels and subclassing
- New dungeons and instanced zones for the new Champion Quests
- New graphics for the game world such as barns, forts and haystacks
- A new island called Agramon which acts as a central island to connect the frontiers of the three realms.
- Labyrinth of the Minotaur
- New race: The Minotaur
- New hybrid class: The Mauler
- New RvR dungeon
- Additional Champion Levels 6-10.
- New New Frontiers
- Significant changes to the layout of keeps and towers
Revamp of the Siegecraft line including the addition of Siege Toers and Tents
Campaigns
Theese are six month long story arcs with dynamic content. During this period new content is added in two week intervals to help further the storyline. Most story lines will come to a close as others open. Periodic flash point events within the story will have great effect on the world and in some parts of the story, player participation will ultimately be the catalyst for these story and world changes.
Storyline
Each realm has a unique but parallel storyline. In the original Realm zones, smaller cities in the realm needed protection against comon monsters, in particular, Albion is menaced by undead raised by Morgana and Hibernia is torn
apart by the Unseelie court and Siabra.
Trials of Atlantis - A portal to another Plane had been discovered where the ancient Atlanteans underwent their trials. The Trials remain in a form twisted by the passage of time and the departure of the denizens of Atlantis. Ancient artifacts are to be discovered and their power and secrets need to be revealed by learned scholars. Familiar figures from Greek and Egyptian mythology make their arival in a new land waiting to be discovered. This is also the time that the Evil Valmontian appeared to deceive all of Albion.
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Shrouded Isles - Each realm must assist a smaller allied realm against a larger enemy. In Albion the Drakoran have besieged the strongholds of Lady Lile's Avalonians. Hibernia has come to the aid of Hybrasil, where the Sylvans face extinction at the hands of the Fomorians. Midgards ancestral home at Aegir has seen the Last of the Troll Fathers hunted down by the Morvalt.
Labyrinth of the Minotaur - The ancient race of Minotaur has returned Albion, Midgard, and Hibernia to reclaim powerful but corrupt relics hidden long ago by their ancestors. Lust for these relics once brought about the
downfall of the powerful Minotaur kingdom and their evil influence now threatens the kingdoms of Man.
Catacombs - A nemesis has gained controlof the power within the Darkspire controling most of the denizens of an underground realm's race. Arawn, previously referenced as an ally of the Avalonians and patron of the Inconnu has had his realm overrun by Inconnu. The Shar are only able to hold their ground at the gates of their Otherworld citadel. The Kobolds have been forced to open the secrets of the undercity to outsiders in a desperate bid for survival.
Darkness Rising - The King of has returned to fight back a growing rebellion. Further investigations show a conspiracy with a dark power behind the rebellion. To become a Champion of the Realm players must defeat the demonic evil behind the unrest and return peace to the land.
Economics
DAoC promotes economic activity with a player market for the sale and acquisition of weapons and armor. Tradeskills which enable a character to create player usable items, such as weapons and armor are important to DAOC as well.
The basics - Currency in the game is termed coin. There are several denominations and valued as follows: 100 copper = 1 silver, 100 silver = 1 gold, 1000 gold = 1 platinum, 1000 platinum = 1 mythril. Players accumulate coin by engaging in combat, hunting, crafting by means of Tradeskills, trinketing and the sale of items. Players defeated in RvR and monsters slain in PvE all drop coin.
Tradeskills - Players can choose to study and advance in any of the six Tradeskills.
Tradeskills include:
- Tailoring (light armor)
- Armorcraft (heavy armor)
- Weaponcraft (swords, shields)
- Fletching (staves, bows, arrows)
- Alchemy (poisons, dyes)
- Alchemy alows a player to enhance armor and weapons with special magical abilities
- Spellcrafting alows players to enhance armor and weapons
Players can choose any Tradeskill, and can raise the level of every Tradeskill they possess without restriction.
Support skills - The six Tradeskills depend on a variety of support skills such as metalworking, leatherworking, clothworking, and woodworking. Most support skills will increase automatically and the player uses thier primary skill but generaly will not advance at the same pace so characters may from time to time need to devote time to improving their score in one or more support skills.
Woodworking - A character's skill in Woodworking can also be used to repair towers and keeps damaged by members of enemy realms. Making these repairs can earn a character Realm Points which are used to purchase new or improved Realm Abilities. To make such repairs a character must obtain wood from NPC merchants or from the Master Level 1 Convoker spell "Summon Wood", or by salvaging droped loot from monsters.
Trinketing - Items such as armor and weapons acquired from monsters can be salvaged back to their raw materials which can then be used to craft new items to be sold to NPC merchants usually for more coin than might be obtained by selling the original item to an NPC merchant. Trinketing can be a good source of income for characters with
high skill.
Housing - Any player may purchase a house if the have sufficient coin but only one house may be owned per account. Players can set permissions for their house which allow other characters to use the house and its assets such as a Consignment Merchant, a Grandmaster Merchant, tools such as a forge or lathe, or a Vaultkeeper ect.
Player market -
Player markets are in Housing zones which are unique to each realm and no combat of any kind is permitted. Players may enter the Housing zone of their own realm and purchase from the Market Explorer. To sell items on the player market a player must have access to a player owned house equipped with a Consignment Merchant.
Detailed Guild Information
One of the best features of Dark Age of Camelot is the ability to form player run guilds. Each guild has its own chat channel, a ranking system, the ability to claim territory, a banking system, housing and reward system in the form of guild bounty points and merit points. Each guild leader can define their own set of rules and goals. Alliances can be
formed between guilds which offer up a conjoined chat channel for all guilds within one alliance to communicate.
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Game Time Codes
