GU61 Preview: AA Revamp & New Tradeskill Tree at ZAM!

[Cyliena]

<p>In Game Update 61 the <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Alternate_Advancements_%28EQ2%29" target="_blank">Alternate Advancement</a> system is being revamped and a new AA tab will be added. As a result of the revamp, every character will have all of their AA points reset. Several classes will also see changes, removals or replacements of existing AA abilities, which will be further detailed when the final Live patch notes are released.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eq2.zam.com/Im/Image/204031" target="_blank"><img src="http://eq2.zam.com/Im/Image/width=275/203991.png" /></a></p><p>The Class, Subclass and new Tradeskill trees are available at level 10. The Subclass tree was reorganized, placing the available Advancements in rows which are unlocked as you spend AA points in the tree. The final AA is available after spending 80 points in the Subclass tree.A change to the Shadows tab is that it will now be locked until level 50. This was perhaps the most <a href="list.m?topic_id=503994" target="_blank">controversial topic</a> on the Test forum as the General AA line in that tree is beneficial to all characters regardless of level.</p> <p><a href="http://eq2.zam.com/story.html?story=27388" target="_blank"><em><strong>Head over to ZAM for more on the revamp and new tree.</strong></em></a></p>

[ZUES]

<p>Nice. Thanks for posting it. Ya I agree that Shadows AA is helpful to all levels. The one that stands out the most to me is tanks. The hate/rescue/lockdown abilities are invaluable. We struggle with agro as it is and I would hate to have to play a new tank from 1-50 these days without powerleveling it.</p>

[Cyliena]

<p><cite>Stabb@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Nice. Thanks for posting it. Ya I agree that Shadows AA is helpful to all levels. The one that stands out the most to me is tanks. The hate/rescue/lockdown abilities are invaluable. We struggle with agro as it is and I would hate to have to play a new tank from 1-50 these days without powerleveling it.</p></blockquote><p>Yup, I have a young 50s Bruiser and she'll be losing several Shadows AAs. Same with my younger alts who have gotten the mount speed AA. I'm very pokey at leveling with some of my alts, really enjoy switching them to all AA a lot taking them out to experience every zone at their ranges that I can.</p><p>I really do like the Subclass tree changes, it feels a lot freer to me now. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I just hope that eventually they re-open at least some of the Shadows AAs to lower levels.</p>

[Runewind]

<p><cite>Cyliena wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Stabb@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Nice. Thanks for posting it. Ya I agree that Shadows AA is helpful to all levels. The one that stands out the most to me is tanks. The hate/rescue/lockdown abilities are invaluable. We struggle with agro as it is and I would hate to have to play a new tank from 1-50 these days without powerleveling it.</p></blockquote><p>Yup, I have a young 50s Bruiser and she'll be losing several Shadows AAs. Same with my younger alts who have gotten the mount speed AA. I'm very pokey at leveling with some of my alts, really enjoy switching them to all AA a lot taking them out to experience every zone at their ranges that I can.</p><p>I really do like the Subclass tree changes, it feels a lot freer to me now. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /> I just hope that eventually they re-open at least some of the Shadows AAs to lower levels.</p></blockquote><p>I agree that it seems silly to force people to wait until 50 to spend in the Shadows tree, and I don't mean to be nitpicky, but why would your low 50s Bruiser lose Shadows AAs? She's over 50. She should be able to spend whatever she wants in that tree, unless they put increased level restrictions on different lines or something.</p>

[Cyliena]

<p><cite>Runewind wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite> </cite></p><p>I agree that it seems silly to force people to wait until 50 to spend in the Shadows tree, and I don't mean to be nitpicky, but why would your low 50s Bruiser lose Shadows AAs? She's over 50. She should be able to spend whatever she wants in that tree, unless they put increased level restrictions on different lines or something.</p></blockquote><p>Hahaha, you're right. She just hit over 50 very recently after spending almost 2 years below 50, so my brain automatically thinks she's still in her 40s. *facepalm*</p><p>*goes to look for moar coffee*</p>

[Calthine]

<p>I see it as a way of redefining progression, the way they did with the new mounts.  As you level up, more cooler stuffs becomes available to you.</p><p>Sure, it may take a small adjustment, but overall I like it.</p>