Asheron's Call 2: Comments

Vigor was the energy or stamina system in AC2. It's used to power most skills, attacks, etc. When a player runs out of vigor, they lose the ability to dodge attacks and spells, making them vulnerable. Thus players must always be alert not to lose all their vigor.

Some skills would make opponents lose vigor. This is mostly PVP oriented skill. Can't remember how NPC mobs handle vigor loss.

Several ways to recoup vigor. Each playable race can learn a basic vigor heal skill. Some specialization may have stronger vigor heals; some even heal entire fellowship. Also potions that heal vigor instantly or over time.

For this Magic set, vigor is represented by Energy counters. Some creatures have new keyword Vigor X. When this enters, you get X . Also, Whenever you cast a spell, you lose a . The second rule only triggers once no matter how many creatures with vigor, as long as you control at least one vigor creature.

In return there may be benefits while you have at least one . Such as static bonuses or enhanced triggers. Energy may also be spent in other ways, i.e. activation costs.

In conclusion, for this set, a Magic player has varying strategies to manage vigor/energy. Whether to use up all energy, or to keep at least one energy around.

Crafting is converting materials into a product or intermediate material.

In AC2, you use maps to find and survey hidden nodes where you can harvest mats. Surveying involves repeatedly using the map to tell you how close you are to the node.

In this set, you can convert tokens into something ?useful?. Creatures can simulate surveying by creating Map tokens.

In AC2, players start with 100% vitae, which determines their max health and vigor. Whenever a player dies, they lose 5% vitae. This death penalty causes a player to play with less health and vigor. A player who keeps dying may be reduced all the way to 65% vitae limit -- a severe disadvantage to fight at -35% of your true max health and vigor.

Players can recoup vitae mainly by killing creatures and gaining experience proportional to their level. 5% vitae loss after the first death is not too bad. But if you keep dying and end up at 65% vitae, it can be very daunting and demoralizing to keep playing.

Fortunately, the game has two classes that can heal vitae: Lugian Sage and Tumerok Healer. Players can usually find a vitae healer in the capital city of Cragstone or elsewhere. They can only target one player per activation, though. So you may have to wait your turn if many players are crowded around the healer. Also each activation only heals between 3-7% vitae. So if your vitae is low, it could take more than a few heals to get you back to full vitae.

These healers (usually bots) accept tips (voluntary) in return for their service. Just drop some coins on the ground in front of them. For that matter, other players should not pick up these coins that they didn't deserve. (Yep, AC2 allows you to drop items on the ground for anybody to pick up.)