14 DAY TRIAL // Set in the fantasy world of Hyborea, Age of Conan is the upcoming MMORPG title in development at FunCom. The world is filled with cruel gods, mythical creatures, and a human race struggling for survival. Although the mighty barbarian has finally seized the throne of Aquilonia, Conan's rule is on the edge, spiraling towards the doom of evils forgotten. Age of Conan is scheduled for release in Q2 2007, yet game details surface the net in a steady flow. In the latest developer preview we learn about Blood Coins and the PvP system.
Blood Coins shall effectively be the combat currency in the Border Kingdoms. These tokens are the mark of victory taken from the bloodied corpse of your mortal foes. When entering the Border Kingdoms for the first time, players must pay a toll for safe passage, coins that are not taken away and instead get turned into Blood Coins. This alternative currency will be a decisive factor to show a character's PvP strength and ability. In addition, combat between players earns separate PvP experience, sending your avatar into a twenty level saga for fame and glory. As a result, several PvP exclusive feats and abilities can be unlocked to further regular PvE character development.
"When we came to think about PVP in Age of Conan we wanted to ensure that it reflected that dark and hostile environment. We want to make sure that there will always be something at stake when a player decides to make a name for themselves in the Border Kingdoms. Likewise though, PVP still has to be fun, and no one really likes losing their hard earned possessions, so we have a very special system of Blood Money that operates in the PVP areas."
The Blood Coin purse grows bigger with every victory you earn, and you'll eventually catch the attention of other active PvP-ers, ready to challenge you for domination. It is amazing how natural this system sounds. People with higher PVP scores carry more blood coins, thus slaying them greatly pays off. PVP content outside of the Border Kingdoms will also be available. In addition, developers wanted to assure fans that several "free for all" PvP servers will be available at launch, with more on the way depending on popularity.