Grouping:

Grouping has the benefit of granting more total experience then when solo. The exp is divided more like each person gets around 2/3 of the full exp. Thats just a rough number but it holds pretty true. There is a generous bonus in having a full group as well. Combined with the speed of killing as a group and group exp is better then solo.

Classes:

Here is an overview of classes: http://aovault.ign.com/View.php?view....Detail&id=116.

For right now I will just focus on what the classes I am using for my experiment. I will add more class information over time.

• Nano Technician: A very simple class, they blow crap up. Nanos for the most part are cheap and they really only need one stat to do the most damage: Matter Creation. They have a wide range or AOE/Single Target nukes and Nano regeneration buffs/group auras damage absorb buffs. Cost is related mostly to nanos and implants. I chose the Nano-Mage breed of human for this class.
• Doctor: They have single-target initiative slows (ie. the best one being "Uncontrollable Body Tremors" aka UBT), the best individual/group heals and individual/group HP buffs. Don't worry about weapons with them and just focus on heals until endgame. They also get the fastest Complete Heal (10k HP) and eventually a group CH. Cost is related mostly to nanos and implants. I chose the Nano-Mage breed of human for this class.
• Enforcer: The greatest hate-tanks bar-none in AO. Soldiers get some single target hate gain abilities but Enfo's can walk into a crowd and pull the whole group onto themselves with the execution of one nano - the Mongo line. They get damage shields, multiple lines of short and long HP buffs that stack together and with Doc HP buffs. Weapons are good for this line but they won't be doing the massive damage for the group. Rather they will be soaking up the damage for the group, it's what they do best. I chose the Atrox breed of human for this class.

My current setup consists of the Enfo leading the group of three NT's and a doc trailing behind on follow. The Enfo positions himself in the middle of a group of green-to-orange con mobs and pops off his best Mongo nano. Shortly there-after the three NT's are chain AOE'n the mobs and the Doc is either firing single or group heals. The mobs tend to be dead before the Enfo has lost aggro. If aggro has been lost the Enfo can Mongo as needed.

NT's are best at AOE damage but they aren't the best at single target DD (one reason is, in AO, nukes don't crit) but they can hold their own.

Due to current hardware limitations I had to step down to five accounts for the time being. My secondary PC is running three clients (three NT's) and my main is running two (Doc and Enfo). For buffing, I load up a Meta Physicist on a fourth client on my secondary PC and buff the groups Nano skills saving constant implanting and allows faster exp grinds before reworking equipment.

I am utilizing four SL accounts (NT's and the MP) and two full accounts (Doc and Enfo). SL accounts provide the best bang for your buck.