Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
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.
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.
Can i call your game as a sandpark?
When i have tried to learn more about Ashes of Creation, i have wondered how i would categorize it right. AoC feels fresh MMORPG with innoative and ambition mechanics and design. I would see AoC as a hybrid of sandbox and themepark game. It has lots of elements from both sides, so i was wondering that could i call it as a sandpark? Is my first impressions right or how would you guys categorize it better? 
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People forget a sandbox is an enclosed space, with boundaries set, where there is a vast variety of things people can do to shape their own play using tools and toys found in the sandbox. There's a misconception that sandbox games should be the Wild West, with no rules, restrictions or boundaries, when that's not a sandbox, that's a desert, and deserts are barren and brutal. Not many people enjoy being in a desert.
While a "theme park" has attractions that are scripted with no real deviation from the "rails" these attractions are on. You can ride these over and over and they never change, and this is consistent, but you are free to move from one to the next. The park may add or remove attractions, even change existing ones, but players have very little control over how they are allowed to use them. For the most part, the world stays static and dependable.
Ashes will have a set of rules but a dynamic world. Players will have a say, the in game actions of people will change how the game plays, even from server to server. We will be given boundaries and tools, but what we are able to do with and within these is up to us. I don't see much of this game being in rails.
Nothing is going to be a "pure" sandbox or theme park MMO, but they for sure can be more of one than the other. I consider it a sandbox based on the above criteria, which is my personal opinion, so spare me the "But Karthos, what about...."
Ashes is more sandbox then theme park, so that's how I describe it.
Ashes of Creation is a Themebox MMORPG
But seriously i also see in AoC more sandbox features and just some themepark elements to spice up it to something different. I would say its about time to mix up these two extremes and not just try to do something which has so many times already done. Actually i tried to find IS official announcement how they describe their own product. I could not find the answer. Maybe they have leaved description out of the front page so people would not get wrong impressions of the game, because it might be complicated to impress it out right. Also it still can be there and i am just blind as a bat.. as usual. Thank you @lexmax to link these Stevens words.
I think now we are here from different reasons and some seems to have wrong impression already and they try heavily change it to their favored direction. I have followed AoC maybe 6 months, but there is still lots of things i am not familiar with. And thats fine ofc, because some things are not announcet yet and some things are still under development.
I started to follow AoC at first place because of the beautiful environment and music. After that i started to dig more information about this mmorpg. And gladly it has lots of elements i personally like. I hope devs keep this path and does not change it heavily during testing phase. Some people could take it as a wrong marketing.
As the world’s NPC structure is established in real time, players will have the ability to destroy what they’ve created, paving the way for new development, new populations, and real change. Political strife and intrigue will play a very real role in the structure of your world.
Gone are the days of static worlds, change is here to stay.
Source: https://www.ashesofcreation.com/about/
I think one thing what that front page misses is How PvE and PvP stands in this game. There aint said that this is open world PvP game. Maybe its left out to not scare PvE oriented players away..
@CylverRayne yes its about time we mmorpg players get something totally fresh. Looks really promising at. :-)
Player Vs Environment
The environment in Ashes of Creation is a visually stunning realm, with fantastical beasts and creations designed to both inspire awe and instill fear. The world is harsh and unforgiving, presenting a clear and present danger to the players. Dungeons, demons and dragons, oh MY!
Our unique and adaptive AI means that an encounter with similar creatures will yield a completely different experience to adapt to as a player. Keeping you on your toes for constantly changing responses from your adversary. The world awaits its heroes.
Player Vs Player
Player combat in Ashes of Creation is both vast and intimate. It spans many aspects of the game itself. From great political battles held on the fields of massive castles, to open world conflicts fought for the pride of Guild Leaders. A player can choose to participate in the fate of the world by swaying the tide of battle with his or her combat prowess.
Our PvP mechanics follow a flagging system, as well as static PvP zones at certain points of interest; fight for control over cities, castles, caravans, or hunting grounds. Our PvP is designed to offer the players a well-balanced and fair world to shape through the pen, or sword should they choose.
I've summarized the information we've been so far about open-world PvP in Ashes here:
https://forums.ashesofcreation.com/discussion/33075/information-world-pvp/p1
PvP Zones (also called Battlegrounds)
These are open world PvP zones that flag everyone for battle.
Outside of these zones, normal PvP flagging rules apply.
Less ambitious than voxels and StoryBricks.
Games aren't successful cos they catered to everyone's whims and added in everything here and there.. Games are successful because they know what they want to be when being made. Much like Ashes, that's attempting to redefine the MMO genre, why should it be restricted with the limitations of such titles like sandbox and theme park! :P
Where's that delete post button at, Steven?