Levelling your characters uses a very easy and familiar system - every time one of your characters attacks an enemy they receive exp based on the effectiveness of the attack. Upon reaching level 20 and after meeting certain requirements your characters can undergo a class change making them much stronger, and adding a new look and new skills to their arsenal. As each of your mercenaries are entire characters on there own, they all require attention separately. This includes equipping them with weapons and armour, upgrading their spells with various books found throughout the land, equipping items like healing potions to them specifically so they can use them in battle, and a great deal more down the track. Things like battle formation also play largely into unit management, putting your ranged 'mercs' in the back lines and your hardy warriors up front. Many characters also attack in specific patterns - Archers can attack units from any distance and in any row, Gunners can attack multiple enemies at once, Spearmen can attack all units in a straight line and so on. Careful placement of your units, and knowing their attack patterns will almost always be the difference between victory and death.

Turn-Based Fighting.... back in action!

I forgot to mention this above, but the reason I love turn-based battles so damn much is because of the strategy involved. Every game has their own way of implementing strategy and with Atlantica Online Gold they've chosen to go with the timed turn system. Each side has a certain amount of time to make their move, and once the time is out, or no other moves are available the opposing side will have their turn, and so on until the end. I've always preferred it without the timer personally, so that you can think carefully about your next move, but this style does add a certain sense of urgency, which is never a bad thing. During the battles you will find that things can get quite hectic, even with only 4 or 5 characters in your party you will sometimes be fighting battles with 9 enemies and required to think quickly and strategically.