Glorious Alpha Two Testers!
Alpha Two Realms are now unlocked for Phase II testing!
For our initial launch, testing will begin on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific and continue uninterrupted until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific. After January 6th, we’ll transition to a schedule of five-day-per-week access for the remainder of Phase II.
You can download the game launcher here and we encourage you to join us on our for the most up to date testing news.
Alpha Two Realms are now unlocked for Phase II testing!
For our initial launch, testing will begin on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific and continue uninterrupted until Monday, January 6, 2025, at 10 AM Pacific. After January 6th, we’ll transition to a schedule of five-day-per-week access for the remainder of Phase II.
You can download the game launcher here and we encourage you to join us on our for the most up to date testing news.
Comments
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Classes#Secondary
The secondary archetype of a class may be changed, but not "on-the-fly"
Players will likely need to speak to a NPC in a Village node or above to enable them to change their secondary archetype and skill augments.
This may be done through a quest system.
There probably will be a cooldown associated with switching secondary archetype.
It may also be possible to swap between multiple specs after the cooldown period.
The secondary class choice, which comes after some time getting used to the world of Verra, will be more fluid. If you choose the Fighter and the Rogue to make a Shadowblade, but eventually want to try your hand at Summoning to make a Bladecaller, you’ll be able to do so.
We don't want you to be able to change your secondary class or the augments you have applied out in the open. We want you to have to make a conscious choice somewhere at a NPC. The level of node necessary for that particular NPC to be available will likely be either at the Village stage or above. So, if you are far out in the wilderness exploring – and we have no instant teleportation in the world – you need to be conscientious of what your choices are; and not be able to change them on-the-fly. – Steven Sharif
Or in other words, do you have plans or rules set to prevent the cosmetic "visual creep" that other games have where 5 years after release everyone's running around with angel wings and rainbow auras?
Question was answered. Thanks!
Lineage 2 Franz/Naia Servers Non Stop From 2007-2012
Wow on and off
Rift for beta and a few months out
Tera for beta and a year or so
Formerly T-Elf
Parlor games are games that are played in player-built taverns or in-node taverns. Some will be dice games, others will be card games; and some will be less savory.
These games will involve aspects of both chance and skill.
They must be played between 2 or more people.
Players will be able to wager in-game currency against other players.
A portion of the income from the game goes to the tavern owner or node.
Parlor games will vary based on the predominant race of a node.
Parlor games were a Kickstarter stretch goal.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Parlor_games
Doesn't seem to be the case at this time, as per Steven's quote:
The issue with macros is that from an anti cheat metric perspective it's difficult to define what a macro is against a script. And in order to catch all scripts sometimes you have to prevent the macro usage. So really that's a that's a data issue. If we allow for macros then we lose our ability to precisely ban script users, botters. – Steven Sharif
Freeholds may be placed anywhere within the ZOI of a stage 3 node (or higher) so long as they are not in close proximity to any of the following:
- Pathing routes (Roadways).
- Dungeons and other points of interest (POIs) regardless of advancement.
- Spawn areas.
- Other freehold plots.
- Hard terrain features, such as mountainsides or cliffs.
- Freehold plots will require a certificate from the parent node in order to place the plot.
The more advanced a node is, the more freeholds can be built within its ZOI.
Ample space will be available to place freeholds in the ZOI of a village node.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Freeholds#Freehold_placement
There will not be a generalized group finder in Ashes of Creation, instead Bulletin boards are used to encourage localized grouping.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Group_finder
Performance in various PvP systems (such as Caravans, Arenas, Guild wars) is measured over the course of 6 month PvP seasons. At the end of each season, a player's cumulative score may unlock various rewards.
- Gear enhancement rewards.
- Achievement ranks.
- Purchasing power (Currency).
- Gear enhancement rewards
- Gear enhancements (power stones/runes) can be applied to weapons to add elemental or energy types of damage.
Progression in various PvP systems will unlock enchantment stones that grant temporary PvP-focused benefits to gear (via a socketing system). Performance is measured over six month PvP seasons.
- Guild wars.
- Arenas.
- Caravan PvP.
It's not as though you're going to necessarily acquire these once and then you're set for your PvP enchantments, but instead you'll have to continually perform month after month in order to keep having those slotted enchantments. – Steven Sharif
Metrics
Ashes of Creation gathers tracking data to facilitate achievements, titles and other accolades on a server.
- Number of successful siege defenses.
- Number of successful siege assaults.
- Number of PvP kills.
- Raid participation points.
- Number of firsts.
Visibility of those types of things on the server help to promote a competitive atmosphere. If there is an attainable impression that you can work towards, so that others know your success, you have more drive to succeed. – Steven Sharif
Leader boards
There will be dungeon and raid leader boards.
Some leader boards will be across all servers.
Arena ladder
There will be an arena ladder system.
Rewards for arena ladders will be revealed at a later time.
Titles can be received from arena play.
Arena points that can be used to buy gear are not currently in the design.
Guild ladder
An inter-guild ladder will rank guilds based on their performance within Guild wars and Castle sieges.
When the guild participates in guild wars or they participate in sieges, you'll be able to climb the ranks of your inter-guild ladder as well so you get bragging rights amongst your friends. – Steven Sharif
Trophy park
Trophy park is an area within Town, City or Metropolis nodes that has available spots for trophies. These trophies show the character names of players who are the first to complete world bosses and dungeon bosses that were spawned as the result of the development of that particular node
Server announcements and achievements are designed to encourage groups to experience new content.
Node sieges enable players to destroy nodes. This paves the way for new development and access to the locked content in surrounding nodes.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Node_sieges#Siege_defenses
It seems that a higher level node doesn't have as many incentives to siege and destroy smaller nodes in its ZOI, as it can already grow without interference.
Incentive for defense is not wanting to lose that chunk of materials and goods, and housing, and thus you sign up as a defender.
As an attacker: you get loot, better PvP ratings if you win, and if your node wasn't the larger one, you can now grow yours to a higher rank.
How does the team feel about alts?
The developers are moving from Unreal Engine 4.25 to 4.26 during the Alpha-1 spot testing.
Intrepid Studios will be evaluating the potential to upgrade to Unreal Engine 5 in the future.
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Unreal_engine_4
So is there some mechanic or toolset that allows smaller guilds to combat the Zerg mentality to compete for Open-World Raids and Guild Castles? I worry that the only ones that will have the opportunity to participate in that content will be Zerg-level guilds.