Just got done doing the last thing I wanted with Aion’s closed beta — trying the Cleric. I’m going to be taking a Priest class as my main come launch, and I’ve already had some good experiences with the Chanter class — all that was left in the choice was to see how the other half lived.

It’s quite laggy on the beta servers, lots of rubber-banding and such. This could be due to my connection, but I’ve heard of others having some difficulties too. As such, I only spent the bare minimum of time to get to the Cleric (going through the newbie zones, again) and testing out the starting abilities it gains. This is by no means a thorough run down of the class, just what I can gather early on and judging both Priest sub-classes by this early information.

The Chanter is a melee type of Priest, often preferring the use of a staff. The Cleric uses blunt one handers and a shield (usually, of course you can use either for each… I just like them this way) while throwing bolts of magic around. Perhaps the ability I was most pleased with on the Cleric was a short root that was on a quick cool-down — this could be excellent for PvP. The advantage of the root and ranged damage will be a major boon in the Abyss where aerial combat is sure to be common. However, magic damage is also a bit slow and interrupt-able. As it stands I don’t know which of the two Priest classes will be most favored in PvP — Clerics for the slightly better heals and ranged damage, or Chanters for their powerful group buffs? I’ll go ahead and say… both. Can never have enough healers, really.

The same goes for PvE. I don’t know which will be favored since they both play differently.

While I can’t make a good call on PvE/PvP ability I can make a call on one thing — which class I’m going to go with. That class is… the Chanter! I like me some staff wielding melee, and I love to use lots of buffs. It’s a natural choice for me.

If I had one suggestion for NCSoft to make Aion a better game: make the newbie zones optional after the first character ascends. They get really boring after the third run through, and once you’ve been through it six or more times? I almost hate it. Luckily I won’t have to worry about it again till launch, and then hopefully just once or twice.