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Phase I of Alpha Two testing will occur on weekends. Each weekend is scheduled to start on Fridays at 10 AM PT and end on Sundays at 10 PM PT. Find out more here.
Check out Alpha Two Announcements here to see the latest Alpha Two news and update notes.
Our quickest Alpha Two updates are in Discord. Testers with Alpha Two access can chat in Alpha Two channels by connecting your Discord and Intrepid accounts here.
@ The Devs re: Headstart
Re-posting here something I said in the Kickstarter comments.
The headstart made me almost *not* back this project. But they note in the headstart FAQ that there will be headstart servers. If they do it that way, nobody is at a disadvantage that doesn't choose to be, because you can just start on a non-headstart server.
All you kind and gentle developers, please don't go back on your word on this point! Saying that a headstart is *not* pay to win is entirely disingenuous unless you keep with the separate headstart servers, as promised! In a competitive MMO, every advantage has meaning -- even a slight level advantage from a 1-2 day headstart.
The headstart made me almost *not* back this project. But they note in the headstart FAQ that there will be headstart servers. If they do it that way, nobody is at a disadvantage that doesn't choose to be, because you can just start on a non-headstart server.
All you kind and gentle developers, please don't go back on your word on this point! Saying that a headstart is *not* pay to win is entirely disingenuous unless you keep with the separate headstart servers, as promised! In a competitive MMO, every advantage has meaning -- even a slight level advantage from a 1-2 day headstart.
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Comments
"There will be headstart servers at launch, and non-headstart servers. The headstart servers, during headstart will have the node system deactivated. Headstart is a necessary tool used that provides us the window of time to correct any errors/bugs during a live launch event that may pop up last minute. But in order to avoid the P2W aspect that it may provide we will be turning off the node system during the headstart period. Players involved in Headstart will still be able to explore the world, and play the game, but they will not be directing the course of development on those servers. "
“There will be headstart servers at launch, and non-headstart servers. The headstart servers, during headstart will have the node system deactivated. Headstart is a necessary tool used that provides us the window of time to correct any errors/bugs during a live launch event that may pop up last minute. But in order to avoid the P2W aspect that it may provide we will be turning off the node system during the headstart period. Players involved in Headstart will still be able to explore the world, and play the game, but they will not be directing the course of development on those servers. ”
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This is worthless. Players in Headstart will still have more time play on their toon which equates to more levels, more power, more skills, more time to work on professions, gather materials etc. All of these things give them a compeative advantage which is my most competitive players are okay with paying a premium for a Headstart but asking for $445 is just insanely nuts and nothing more than a cash grab.
<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/the-devs-re-headstart/#post-13762" rel="nofollow">Cirric wrote:</a></div>
Quote from discord on the headstart servers
“There will be headstart servers at launch, and non-headstart servers. The headstart servers, during headstart will have the node system deactivated. Headstart is a necessary tool used that provides us the window of time to correct any errors/bugs during a live launch event that may pop up last minute. But in order to avoid the P2W aspect that it may provide we will be turning off the node system during the headstart period. Players involved in Headstart will still be able to explore the world, and play the game, but they will not be directing the course of development on those servers. ”
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This is worthless. Players in Headstart will still have more time play on their toon which equates to more levels, more power, more skills, more time to work on professions, gather materials etc. All of these things give them a compeative advantage which is my most competitive players are okay with paying a premium for a Headstart but asking for $445 is just insanely nuts and nothing more than a cash grab.
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Uhh, then play on a non-headstart server. Not that hard to figure out here. Or did you just skip over that part of the quote?
I will admit I was a bit shocked at the tier in which headstart was included, but I understand it. ( Just wish I could buy my non-Kickstarter alpha! :-( ...put in the 5k package? :p )
I think the best way to look at it is that if it was placed any lower, they'd end up with a larger load of players on the opening day(s) which they really, really wouldn't want to be dealing with, as they'll be aiming to have a nice, measured load going onto the servers.
<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/the-devs-re-headstart/#post-13848" rel="nofollow">Ezenkrul87 wrote:</a></div>
I will admit I was a bit shocked at the tier in which headstart was included, but I understand it.
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I think the best way to look at it is that if it was placed any lower, they’d end up with a larger load of players on the opening day(s) which they really, really wouldn’t want to be dealing with, as they’ll be aiming to have a nice, measured load going onto the servers.
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Yeah, that is kind of why I understood why they made it a higher tier. I have different views of pay to win, but I can see the concern of other players however there are options.
This is worthless. Players in Headstart will still have more time play on their toon which equates to more levels, more power, more skills, more time to work on professions, gather materials etc. All of these things give them a compeative advantage which is my most competitive players are okay with paying a premium for a Headstart but asking for $445 is just insanely nuts and nothing more than a cash grab.
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Since the nodes are the essential hub around which levels, power, skills, professions and materials orbit, I don't see it as much of a competitive advantage. If anything, it makes the first 48 hours of playtime of head-start players significantly less effective than the first 48 hours of your playtime will be.
Also remember that you are completely free to start on a non-headstart server.
The second point is that it helps spread out server load. MMO launches are ALWAYS chaotic. So many people logging on at the same time, things go wrong. Head starts help spread the load out a little.
And just because playtimes between people may vary and people will catch up doesn't make it a flawed argument to say that a headstart provides an edge to people that get in early.
Bottom line, though, and the point of my post -- as long as there are headstart and non-headstart servers, I think the competitive advantage of early access is counter-balanced by the fact that you can opt out by choosing a non-headstart server if it bothers you (as it does me!!!).
Basically you're saying that if you don't start day 1, you have no chance. I've played a ton of MMO's and have come across players who are the best in their respective fields (classes etc) and only started months after the others.
Basically you’re saying that if you don’t start day 1, you have no chance. I’ve played a ton of MMO’s and have come across players who are the best in their respective fields (classes etc) and only started months after the others.
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No I'm saying it's an advantage to get in early, even with nodes disabled. But it's no prob as long as when you start you have the option to choose a server on which people did *not* get a headstart.