MMOGs
almost always have class roles with the tried and true
tank, healer, and damage dealer. Typically a player will choose their
class
based on which role he/she sees themselves playing when max level is
achieved.
The thinking typically goes like this: If I enjoy tanking or my group
is short
a tank, then I will level a tank and hope that the process of getting
from one
to max level isn’t too painful. With the amount of solo play
and focus on PvP
in Aion
there seems to be a shift in
the landscape. Players now have the luxury to choose the class they
play for
many reasons, not just the role they may fill at the endgame. Thus, the
idea of
play the class you like is becoming the standard not the exception.

style="">  style="">Show some class.

As you
all know some classes are easier to level up. Whether
it’s less downtime between fights or easier modes of
transportation, some
classes just have an edge over others during the
“race” to max level. In Aion
the classes with a heal button seem to do fairly well early in the game
but
there are mixed reviews later on. The damage dealers are a mixed bag.
I’ve
heard conflicted news about Gladiator and Assassin leveling speed, but
high
praise for Rangers at later levels. The classes seem to have their own
sweet
spots for leveling; the Cleric is easy mode early on while Rangers take
a while
to gather their speed. Overall Aion seems to keep the pace fairly even,
though
the real test is whether or not the class is fun to play while leveling.

style="">Leveling and
learning.

For
the most part the leveling process is set up to allow players
a gradual gathering of skills to practice and perfect as they reach the
later
game. If we logged in for the first time with 5 action bars filled up
with
skills we’d struggle mightily. This being said, does it
really take hundreds of
hours to learn how to play a class or are the developers just
stretching out
the content? The amount of time it takes to bring a character from the
starting
zone to the endgame is an issue for the first round of characters, but
it
really hits those wanting to level alts hard. If it takes considerable
time to
level an alt, people will be less likely to switch up their classes and
bring
another one through the process. The speed of leveling for the various
classes
may play a pivotal role in alt-making.

style="">Where do you want to go
today?

Aion
is not for the weak at heart when it comes to leveling
up to max level. The leveling in Aion is not a sprint to the end game
it is a
marathon. Ultimately this means that choosing a class to play is really
an
exercise in choosing a class to level. As we discussed in href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/aion/levelingspeed">Speed
Leveling or
Sauntering there are many ways
to gain experience and enjoy the game from
different perspectives. The challenge is finding that blend of
character class
that one enjoys solo and during the leveling up process without
painting
oneself into a corner and not conducive to the desired end game. As
discussed
above, some classes level faster than others and may be the
“easier” way to get
to end game, but you don’t want to show up to the end game
raids with a class
you don’t enjoy.

style=""> So
how do you balance
the choice between a leveling class and the role at end game? I have
made a
fairly radical shift in my thinking (I’m all edgy like that).
In my previous
MMOGs I chose the role that I anticipated wanting to play at end game.
If I had
my friends with me I would choose a class that would be complimentary
to the
group. If I was going solo I would choose a tank or healer because at
end game
I assumed I could always get a group. For Aion I leveled many classes
into the
teens and then decided to level a Spiritmaster as my main.

class="MsoNormal"> style="width: 475px; height: 335px;" alt="Aion Guts"
src="/image/view/75979/preview">

Here
is my thinking; I like playing the Spiritmaster. Done
and done. I have no idea if I will be able to hold my own in PvP, or
contribute
to any group play. Heck I may never get into a group, but I really
doubt that.
Aion seems to have done a good job of providing every class with a way
to
contribute to a group. Are you a slave to the group, do you choose what
you
think they will need, or do you choose your class for role playing or
role
filling reasons? Do you by chance choose your class based on fun?