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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.
Comments
I think its a perception thing. I could be wrong, but haven't other, overall non-pay2win games had early access scenarios as well?
Personally I'm not too bothered by early access in general and I suppose that non-early access servers take worries away for many. In the end those with most time will always be ahead of others
Also, early access may sound like a way for players to get ahead, which it is. But more practically it is really a very good way for developers to ramp up the servers and see if things are going well before the big release and if necessary make last minute changes to have a more smooth launch.
Last but not least, I don't really agree with the statement that they will always be 48 hours ahead of you. That statement is only valid in a scenario where you can indeed play 24/7 and all content is instantly unlocked.
When nodes do not develop, players will not have access to a lot of content and subsequent rewards that you will be able to get when you start out later. So holistically you will have an easier time leveling, even if from behind, as you do have access to those rewards relatively sooner. So you don't miss out on anything (as the nodes don't develop until you're there too). And you have a soft catch-up mechanic in place, because you can take advantage of rewards while leveling, which early access players can only access at the same time as you.
That said, it will always remain true they will always be potentially ahead of you. At least until the game is live long enough for the amount of hours to become nearly irrelevant. So its a matter of opinion and maybe a grey area for qualifying as pay2win. If you think it 100% is so, no matter what people say, you are entitled to your opinion!
Sorry. There is no subjectivity here. Only apologists and excuses.
It either is or isnt.
If you lot want to stick your fingers in your ear and head in the sand over this, then thats your right.
But dont cry when those holy sandles come back to smack your o'so obivous arse, sticking up in the air, while your heads in the sand.
Either object and nip this in the butt or tolerate and pay the price with future 'even looser' definitions of what pay to play is.
Progress gives you a power advantage that you have paid for.
Whoever has the most powerful stats will ALWAYS out perform those without, unless they are incompetent.
You have literally PAID to WIN!
I dont know how anyone can argue any other conclusion.
Also, by your logic all games are pay2win. Have to pay to buy the game to play it? You have a head start on anyone who didn't get to buy it. You just paid to win! Have to pay a subscription? You have a head start on anyone that cannot pay for it every month. You just paid to win!
So ye in that case I guess its true. Its pay2win. Just like every other game you have to spend even a penny on to enable any form of gameplay.
How can you repeat the mantra the game will not be Pay2Win and then do this ?
Would you consider experience potions/scrolls in the cash shop ….cosmetic items ?
<blockquote>Will Ashes of Creation be “Pay to Win” so to speak?
Ashes of Creation will not be pay to win, that is our pledge to the community. One of the core principles we set forth with Ashes of Creation is a very strong desire to maintain the game’s even playing field.
</blockquote>
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Only if you can't hit max level without said potions or scrolls
<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/page/2/#post-14133" rel="nofollow">Helzbelz wrote:</a></div>
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<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/page/2/#post-14112" rel="nofollow">Rune_Relic wrote:</a></div>
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<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/#post-14063" rel="nofollow">BraneGames wrote:</a></div>
The only way players who get in earlier will be ahead is in terms of levels and maybe gear.
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So you agree then !
Leveling up increases your stats. That is the whole point of levelling up !
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You know its going to take something like 250+ Hours to level right? They are talking about even pushing that towards 300 hours. While Yep they get a 2 day headstart, in the grand scope of things its not that big of a deal because if you know anything about MMORPG launches launch day does not always go so well.
</blockquote>
Well yes…launches often dont go too well. I’ll give you that <img alt="????" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f642.svg" />
But 24 or 48 hours progress is a big deal.
Progress = Power.
Thats the whole point of vertical progression.
The fact they might or might not hit cap is neither here nor there
They will always be 48 hours more advanced than you.
That means you will be outperformed in every aspect by these players.
Especially the ones who know what they are doing with extensive alpha/beta testing experience.
Thats why people create bots.
Thats why people pay others to play their account for them.
That why people multibox with scripts.
So they can play 24/7/365 … because progress is power.
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Yes they can create bots. But the Developers already said they are going to target this problem. Honestly the 2 day headset will not be as big of a deal as people think because they will only be stronger than you for what a few hours? You can easily make up 20 hours of leveling which in this game might only be 2 or 3 levels. I doubt you will see anyone that is level 15 in 2 days. You might see someone around level 7 or 10.
Point 1 agree.
Point 2……link to info stating there will be one set of isolated servers for headstart players and one set of isolated servers for non-headstart players.
If you please sir. ????
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http://i.imgur.com/LkHd4nl.png
Steven himself saying there will be non-headstart servers.
Also please read the Kickstarter FAQ(5th from the bottom)
Whoa, a head start!? Isn’t that Pay to win!?
In our case, no! We’ve limited the functionality of the head start so that people cannot decide the world-scape earlier than others. They’ll most likely be higher level, but it won’t have a direct impact on the server’s decisions early on since the node system will be deactivated (because being a deciding force is a fun part for all our players!). <strong>Additionally we are planning headstart specific servers.</strong>
Also you are seriously bitching about 48 hours of game time in a style of game that lasts for years....Seriously?
<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/page/2/#post-14131" rel="nofollow">Rune_Relic wrote:</a></div>
Point 1 agree.
Point 2……link to info stating there will be one set of isolated servers for headstart players and one set of isolated servers for non-headstart players.
If you please sir. <img alt="????" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f642.svg" />
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Steven himself saying there will be non-headstart servers.
Also you are seriously bitching about 48 hours of game time in a style of game that lasts for years….Seriously?
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Well I see no winning here at all. If you can start on Day 1 on non-headstart servers then that is great. There is no advantage here at all. Unless someone wants to complain that they cannot play on Day 1 because life happens.
<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/page/3/#post-14240" rel="nofollow">nosut wrote:</a></div>
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<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/page/2/#post-14131" rel="nofollow">Rune_Relic wrote:</a></div>
Point 1 agree.
Point 2……link to info stating there will be one set of isolated servers for headstart players and one set of isolated servers for non-headstart players.
If you please sir. <img alt="????" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f642.svg" />
</blockquote>
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</div>
Steven himself saying there will be non-headstart servers.
Also you are seriously bitching about 48 hours of game time in a style of game that lasts for years….Seriously?
</blockquote>
Well I see no winning here at all. If you can start on Day 1 on non-headstart servers then that is great. There is no advantage here at all. Unless someone wants to complain that they cannot play on Day 1 because life happens.
[/quote]
Oh it'll happen. Someone will complain about server launch time. Someone will always find a way to complain about anything and everything. Most times the complaining is unfounded and if they would spend 3 seconds doing a search before posting the mini crisis would be averted.
<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/page/3/#post-14245" rel="nofollow">Helzbelz wrote:</a></div>
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<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/page/3/#post-14240" rel="nofollow">nosut wrote:</a></div>
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<div class="d4p-bbt-quote-title"><a href="https://www.ashesofcreation.com/forums/topic/intrepid-lied-about-pay2win/page/2/#post-14131" rel="nofollow">Rune_Relic wrote:</a></div>
Point 1 agree.
Point 2……link to info stating there will be one set of isolated servers for headstart players and one set of isolated servers for non-headstart players.
If you please sir. <img alt="????" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f642.svg" />
</blockquote>
<div class="">
</div>
Steven himself saying there will be non-headstart servers.
Also you are seriously bitching about 48 hours of game time in a style of game that lasts for years….Seriously?
</blockquote>
Well I see no winning here at all. If you can start on Day 1 on non-headstart servers then that is great. There is no advantage here at all. Unless someone wants to complain that they cannot play on Day 1 because life happens.
</blockquote>
Oh it’ll happen. Someone will complain about server launch time. Someone will always find a way to complain about anything and everything. Most times the complaining is unfounded and if they would spend 3 seconds doing a search before posting the mini crisis would be averted.
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I dont doubt some person will be stupid.
The fact that there are non-headstart servers really is key to making this a non-issue.
But the Devs will need to be sure that population on headstart servers is sufficient to allow them to remain viable, because I would expect most people who do not have headstart access to roll on a non-headstart server. I'm not sure how they will do that, it will be tricky, but probably not the trickiest thing they deal with during the continued course of development :)
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To me, every reply to posts like this should simply be that there are two types of servers, headstart and non-headstart. That settles the issue. Don't even engage in a discussion of whether it's pay to win or whatever -- it can't be pay to win when you have the choice to avoid the headstart servers.
I think its time to say you were wrong to jump to this conclusion. There is official word of headstart and non headstart servers. That would resolve any issue you have.
Hell, with nodes turned off, I think that more than suffices for rendering the two-day headstart as not P2W. The fact there will be non-headstart servers is just overkill. I just hope character names are universal so when they inevitably have to merge servers, there won't be an issue.
Hell, with nodes turned off, I think that more than suffices for rendering the two-day headstart as not P2W. The fact there will be non-headstart servers is just overkill. I just hope character names are universal so when they inevitably have to merge servers, there won’t be an issue.
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There is no way to merge servers in a Dynamic world like this. The only thing they can do is if the world is dead and does not have anything higher than a level 3 node after 6 months then just allow character transfers. You cannot merge a server
Well, any larger communities (Twitch Streamers) that plan on playing during headstart will likely have a lot of players in their gaming community who cannot afford or otherwise cannot play during headstart, but will follow their guild/community to that server anyways. I don't think the headstart servers need to worry about not having enough population.