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.
What level and type of technology are you ok with?
Nerror
Member, Alpha One, Alpha Two, Early Alpha Two
Ingame technology on Verra, mind you 
What would you like to see and where do you draw the line?
Currently the plans are no gunpowder, no combustion engines, and no steam tech. We will be getting siege weapons and ship weapons like giant potion launchers. We'll have airships.
It's a high fantasy game, which means magic is prevalent and abundant. Some high fantasy settings, like Warhammer, also have a high level of technology, often fusing magic and tech, so one doesn't rule out the other at all. There are many other examples of this, of course.
From the thousand years on Sanctus without magic technology might have evolved, but it's also possible the gods kept it in check or that they just focused on what they knew.
So, if you became Steven for a day, what design changes with regards to technology would you make? If any.
What would you like to see and where do you draw the line?
Currently the plans are no gunpowder, no combustion engines, and no steam tech. We will be getting siege weapons and ship weapons like giant potion launchers. We'll have airships.
It's a high fantasy game, which means magic is prevalent and abundant. Some high fantasy settings, like Warhammer, also have a high level of technology, often fusing magic and tech, so one doesn't rule out the other at all. There are many other examples of this, of course.
From the thousand years on Sanctus without magic technology might have evolved, but it's also possible the gods kept it in check or that they just focused on what they knew.
So, if you became Steven for a day, what design changes with regards to technology would you make? If any.
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Comments
I'm also not entirely sold on the potion launcher idea as a replacement for cannons, but I'll have to see and hear them first to be sure.
That being said, we need a method by which we can have ship to ship combat, and I don't see a way to do that without cannons which wouldn't have the same implications on siege warfare. (Magic cannons that don't work as well on stone for some reason?) If cannons are in the game at all, it would indicate that guns wouldn't be much further along, and it would be pretty silly to have one without the other.
I also think (not for player use) that pseudo-advanced weaponry like flamethrowers/grenades and things could be wielded in niche cases by NPC characters that have a science/alchemy background. I think engineers and alchemists creating lightly fantasized, medieval-ized versions of advanced weaponry is fun.
Magic cannons that shoot Ice blasts, Fire or Magma. Just off the top of my head.
Steam engines was the height of technology, with extremely basic gunpowder and cannons available.
Which would break frequently when there was a mage nearby, because fantasy.
That's not what High Fantasy means. It's also means at the time of High Fantasy. The thing that dominates and rules, is anything Magic.
Aren't we all sinners?
smartphones and hoverboards
If gunpowder is introduced, it should be pretty limited in scope (cannons/slow player firearms only). Plus, with Ranger abilities you can definitely fire quite fast already.
I think fundamentally we need to think of things in Ashes as working differently due to the magical component. I expect Scientific Nodes could reach technology that looks post-steam era, but is actually driven by harnessing various magical energy. That sort of thing I think can be quite interesting.
I don't even want the airships.
I'm sure there could be the equivalent of "ship battle CC" potions, but that's not nearly as fun as blowing your enemy to smithereens. Otherwise, you'd basically just need some crazy compound slingshots for round shot or something. Not even sure if that would work. So I'm not sure how you're supposed to apply blunt force to penetrate the enemy hull.
Magic cannons sound... a bit weird, to be honest. I'd need to see a functioning concept before I'd be able to say anything about it for sure, but I'm having a hard time imagining what that looks like and how it logically functions regardless of the user. If there are magic cannons, why not magic guns? Magic cannons to defend your node with, or to bring with you to launch a siege? It's hard to find innovative solutions that don't just become the best solution for too many things.
Tho i am against modern warfare like Helicopters/tanks/trains/cars and ect.
Arcane Tech like that is planned will be fine within the context of Ashes of creation.
I'd like to see actual siege weapons, artillery, firearms, etc within the context of Arcane tech and high fantasy. Doesn't have to involve crude low fantasy tech at all.
They will be super rare, so you have that going for you. Basically only between two science metros.
Seems like anything should be possible.
To clarify, I am ok with flatulence in the game, but not projectile flatulence. Though using it as a short-term poison area attack is ok,,,but not in the mountains or at sea where it is windy.
Now, as for the airships: If I understand it correctly those are limited to two Tier 6 Nodes running a shipping service. So basically they are the result of technological progress, right? That makes sense to me, especially since most people on Verra would probably have focused on finding out how the freaking harbingers could fly, rather than creating flying air sacks.
Equally, I'd have no problem with a VERY limited number of "gun powder" type of siege weapons.
For ships, I just hope we get ballistas and flings that can toss alchemic fire on enemy ships XD
So a minimum amount of steampunk for me please.
I'm good with single shot pistols and steam engines. That would be my cap.
Gaslamp is a very nice second sibling. (Nightingale)
But, D&D/Pathfinder settings are also fun - and the typical RPG setting.
Perhaps with a lot more magical implementations/technology but overall a more LOTR style.