Classic vs Regular

RJO_

Hi all,

I played DAoC when it first came out and haven't touched it since... so basically I am starting off from scratch with very little knowledge of the game and I have some questions regarding classic and regular servers...

1) What are the benefits of going with either server type?
2) What will I miss by choosing one over the other?
3) What is your preference of server types?

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.  I want to enjoy the game and not miss anything.

Thank you

JulianDracos

It all depends on what you think is a benefit or not.  If you play on the Classic servers (or rather I should say Gareth as there is no reason to play on the other two), you will have more people to group with at lower levels.  More new players also start on that server.  You will be missing out on all of the ToA content.  This means you will be missing zones, a huge amount of raid content, artifacts, items, quests, master levels, and good gold farming spots.  On the up side, once you hit 50 you won't have to bother with any of those things.  There is a distance limit on concentartion buffs.  This has the benefits of reducing the impact of buff bots.  On the other hand, the distance is so small is makes it annoying when you move out of range espically if you are chasing an enemy.  This also gives a benefit to Rangers on the Classic servers because they have self-only buffs.  In my experience, the community on the Classic servers is much worse than on the regular servers.  I am sure there are good people there, they are just much harder to find.  The server is an odd combination of player types.  You have those who just want to RvR so they rush to 50 and form leet groups.  Then you have very casual players that are fairly mellow about everything and take their time leveling and doing RvR.  From what I understand, player crafted gear is in demand, but at the same time there is a shortage of crafters willing to make the items.

The regular servers have all the content.  All RvR balance decisions are based on the reguler server rules.  You will generally find a better community here.  The RvR is better if you are a caster.  You will have access to powerfont which is just wonderful to have.  Since the regular servers are clustered, you have access to so much more content.  5 ToA zones to run raids in.  RvR is often huge.  There are plenty of competant leaders on those servers.  Guilds are likely to twink you, give you money, power level you, etc. 

I play on the regular servers.  It is based off the fact that if I start on a new server I need to start all over.  If I am going to start all the way over I will do it on another game.  Too much time and money spent on my account to give it up to play on the same game.  If I was new, I am not sure what I would do.  I hate ToA so much.  It is not just that I hate raids, it is that it is just so boring!  How many times can you do something over and over?  My schedule is also odd.  I hate having to schedule my life around a game to go on raids.  Also, if I was new to the game and started on a regular server I might feel that the game was dying because of the lack of people around.  So all of that tells me to play classic.

On the other hand, I will have not played this game since release.  I will not have to compare pre and post ToA.  I might actually enjoy the ToA content if I had more time to do it.  I might enjoy it because it is a lot of content to explore.  On the classic servers once you get 50 that is basically it.  You might go do you champion levels, but they are not that important.  Further, they are pretty quick to do.  The RvR is better.  Once you play a caster and have access to powerfont it is so hard to give it up.

If you like PvE more then maybe the regular servers, if you like RvR more then perhaps the classic servers.

I would suggest you play Morgan Le Fey on Hib (the nicest server/realm I could ever imagine).
Or Merlin (the largest regular server)
Or Gareth (the largest classic server)

Riotgirl

Nice post Julian

I've been considering DAoC ever since I started posting again (a few weeks). If it wasn't for the fact that my Pc is in serious need of an upgrade and that all of my cash is already allocated for the next few months, I would have upagraded and be playing right now.

The classic server would be perfect for me because as a semi-casual player I have the benefit of PvE and RvR without having to raid 24/7 just to RvR [ToA]. I don't mind the occasional raid but I hate being forced to raid, especially if I want to RvR!

Then there is the question of realm and class. First of all, as an old school DIKU MUD player, Midgard is the natural choice because the vast majority of starter cities in DIKU based MUDs included Midgard. Also, I'm well versed on Norse mythology. As for class, I prefer casters and the only caster class that doesn't involve having to cleric (not my style) is Warlock. As a former EQ chanter, I prefer being an active participant of combat, directing people and generally having to do 10 different things at once. Also, with no real CC, it would make an interesting change of playing styles from my regular style.

Regards,
Riotgirl

Greyface

I recently returned to DAoC and went with a classic server.  After experiencing WoW's "endgame,"  I can't imagine knowingly subjecting myself to raid content ever again.  The other nice thing about the Classic servers is the relative rarity of buff-bots.  It's just wrong to need two accounts in order to be competitive.

If you prefer PvE raiding over PvP, by all means choose a regular server.  But, then again, why would you play DAoC if that was the case?

Elnator

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Originally posted by Riotgirl

Nice post Julian
I've been considering DAoC ever since I started posting again (a few weeks). If it wasn't for the fact that my Pc is in serious need of an upgrade and that all of my cash is already allocated for the next few months, I would have upagraded and be playing right now.
The classic server would be perfect for me because as a semi-casual player I have the benefit of PvE and RvR without having to raid 24/7 just to RvR [ToA]. I don't mind the occasional raid but I hate being forced to raid, especially if I want to RvR!
Then there is the question of realm and class. First of all, as an old school DIKU MUD player, Midgard is the natural choice because the vast majority of starter cities in DIKU based MUDs included Midgard. Also, I'm well versed on Norse mythology. As for class, I prefer casters and the only caster class that doesn't involve having to cleric (not my style) is Warlock. As a former EQ chanter, I prefer being an active participant of combat, directing people and generally having to do 10 different things at once. Also, with no real CC, it would make an interesting change of playing styles from my regular style.
Regards,
Riotgirl

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Unless your PC is REALLY archaic it's probably fine for DAOC... You might have to tweak down the graphics or use the TOA engine but there's no reason you shouldn't be able to run DAOC.  It's a fairly old game and runs pretty well even on older systems.  Remember it ran pretty well even on 'moderate' systems back in 2001 when it released.  The newer updated graphics might be too much for a really old system but anything over a 1ghz processor with at least 256mb of ram should be able to run the game on moderate or low settings easily... You might get some lag spikes in big RVR fights but that's about it. 

JulianDracos

The minimum specs are 1.6 ghz (or 1.4 can't remember exactly) CPU, 512 RAM, 64 MB videao card that is fully directx 9 compatible. 

When playing on an AMD 2800+, 1 gig ram, 128 mb geforce 6600gt a few months back I only lagged at two places when running the DR client.  I would lag in the capital and I lagged to many deaths during a relic raid at the Alb gate.  I turned everything off and I still lagged so bad. 

If you run the ToA client you will not have access to the Cats content.  If you meet the minimum requirements above then you should be able to run the game smoothly outside of RvR.  Then just turn your system specs down and use the ToA client for that.  You can go a little slower than above, but do not skip on the RAM. 

brostyn

I enjoy soloing/small groups(3-4 people). I have found there is more soloing/small groups on the ToA servers. I'm guessing this has to do with buffbots and abilities which give people confidence that they can survive. ToA takes A LOT longer to get geared up. Casually it could take up to 6 months, easy. Not a lot of MLs are happening anymore. Anyways, they both have their pros and cons.

I just like to be on equal footing with my opponents, so I prefer ToA (I play on both). On classic server, so many classes selfbuff or run with a buffer nearby you can really be at a disadvantage. I also don't have to hassle with charges, which become very tedious quickly. I really wish they would have allowed buffbots, but, oh well, not spending weeks on MLs and artis is good, too.

JulianDracos

I am very thankful for my cluster then.  According to my alliance calander, ML1-9 are being run twice this month as well as 4 artifact raids, 2 dragon raids, 2 kraken raids, and Co5.  It is not as though you can always make the times for these (I happen to miss most of them because of time, or I simply do not want to bother with ToA), but they are being run a lot.

ToA servers will take longer, but it is not as though raids are not going on.