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I don't think I have any direct evidence within AoC of it happening, but the Alpha-1 videos are that way, because Alpha-1 wasn't in any way a content test. The world had some mobs in it to populate it and give us something to do, to test systems and level up.
But many other MMOs have differences in 'aggression' levels of enemies. Some even have enemies that detect using different methods, pursue you in different ways, and change their behaviour sometimes depending on the weather or time of day.
It's a really common thing in 'world' style games, even if not in all 'adventure' type games. I think you can expect to see it.
I can only share with you the quote that made me have some faith in it, since I play the game being talked about in the quote. From
this page
.
The best was Final Fantasy 11 back in the day where you had scent, you had sight, you had magic. Like there's all sorts of different things that you had to like protect yourself against so that certain mobs couldn't see you; and you could maintain that ability to like kind of sneak past easily... It made those monsters unique and gave them character outside of just how much damage they did to me.
[18] – Jeffrey Bard
I am unapologetically a fangirl of this game, and that quote is from the former Lead Game Designer.
Unless they've changed a LOT about the plans for enemies and their AI, I'd say to expect something. The quote doesn't really address the thing you're talking about, it's moreso the 'spirit' of it, though. So it's possible it has changed for some reason. I just think it's unlikely to be changed.
Maybe someone else remembers enemies from Alpha-1 that didn't aggro, but I don't remember any currently, sorry.