Worth it IMHO...  another nice thing about AD2 is that it includes a nice selection of FX, so you can really mangle things if you choose. 
 

mcdonalk
Thanks, all, for the informed feedback.
 
Currently, I primarily use Linnplug RMV (in which I can use my own samples) and Chromophone for my percussive needs. Some of the replies here reinforce my impression that AD2 is geared primarily to rock & jazz, but some replies (Mesh) indicate otherwise.
 
Although I am OCD about cluttering my PC with plugins and "free" VST's that I don't use, and sinking hours into them, it sounds like I would be well-advised to hook up my DAW to the internet and install AD2.

 
To say they're geared more for acoustic drum genres like rock, pop and jazz (or whatever) doesn't mean they can't be used in other genres, it just means that's not the manufacturers target market which it undoubtedly is.
 
As I said, sometimes your imagination, not your tools can be your best asset.
 
I got the demo of RMV and it seems quite toy like in terms of sounds although I've only spent a few minutes with it.
 
But anyway, if the reason you hadn't downloaded AD2 is because you're off line then you should do it and then figure out what other free goodies you've missed out on by being off line
 
Steve

I thought the whole idea of "avant-garde" was re-purposing conventional sounds in new ways.
 
The Hammond organ was originally meant to be an alternative to pipe organs in churches. Its inventor was reportedly shocked when jazz musicians picked up on it, and was presumably equally dismayed when Emerson started jamming knives into the keys.
 
Anything that makes sound will eventually be redefined. The only difference between "avant-garde" and "mainstream" is whether you're the first to think of it or the 10000th. I suspect there are still a great many as yet undiscovered things you can do with a standard drum kit.
 

Using midi loops to play AAS Chromophone has to be a microwave fast route to some new yet percussive sounds. I have used something like that for a different percussion take. Then you can put the drums in using the same midi loops and pull them up until until you like the blend. Put some reverb on the drums but not the synth sound or the other way around. Good drums like Addictive Drums and layers with some synths and FX added could be a very deep well for that type of stuff.

En guard!!
Check out Sonic Charge's uTonic ($99): https://soniccharge.com/microtonic
 
 

About Microtonic

Microtonic (a.k.a. µTONIC) is a VST / AU plug-in for Windows and Mac featuring a unique drum and percussion synthesizer combined with a pattern based drum-machine engine.
You can use Microtonic as a sound module to play drum sounds from your MIDI keyboard or sequencer, or you can use the built-in pattern engine to play drum patterns in sync with your sequencer. The sound of Microtonic is 100% synthetic and rendered in real-time. No samples or pre-rendered waveforms are used.
We are convinced that you will find Microtonic thoroughly unlike anything you have heard or worked with so far.

Highlights

• Eight channel drum and percussion synthesizer.
• Pattern based drum-machine engine, synced to the host.
• 100% synthetic sound, rendered in real-time. No samples!
• Over-sampled oscillators and sample-accurate triggering.
• Extremely low CPU utilization, less than 5% on any low-end system.
• Easy to use interface with context menus, popup hints etc.
• Plenty of creative editing options like morphing, smart alteration and randomization.
• Comes bundled with loads of factory sounds and patterns.

I quite like using Maschine for this sort of thing. Everybody things it's just a DJ or hip hop tool... They could not be more wrong it's just a pattern synth like any other. You can get some really great loops pretty quickly although it has a steep learning curve to begin with. And of course great samples...

I also use it to trigger addictive drums.

Doktor Avalanche
I quite like using Maschine for this sort of thing. Everybody things it's just a DJ or hip hop tool... They could not be more wrong it's just a pattern synth like any other. You can get some really great loops pretty quickly although it has a steep learning curve to begin with. And of course great samples...

I also use it to trigger addictive drums.

Herr Doktor,
Would you be kind enough to post a detailed step by step instructions necessary in routing/triggering AD?
Thanks mate!! 

Leading AD2 is on my list of things to do.  BassDaddy accurately remote viewed my methodology for using Chromophone.

McDonalk, another consideration might be (if you like to use midi and audio loops) to check out TANTRA.
You can get some really cool drum and musical sounds on practically any track you throw it on.....just adds life to any sound source.....still going for $49.  

If you have the AD that comes with Sonar and haven't chosen kits yet, I think these might fit your needs
1. Session Percussion.  You said you were interested in new age music with world percussion.  It's got your Latin and African covered.
2. Reel Drums.  Vintage drum machines recorded to tape.
3. Vintage Dry.  
 
If you are looking for electronic sounds, you can take any kit and twist it fairly easy.  Between pitch envelopes, compression, tape simulation, multiple types of distortion and transient shaping, it won't take much to make it sound like something completely different.