[Translation] Aion = Hardcore? [thisisgame.com]

[elliot]

- 아이온이 클로즈베타테스트를 시작한지도 벌써 4주가 지났네요.
It's been 4 weeks since Aion Closed Beta started.


운이 닿았는지 클베 테스터로 뽑혀서 게임을 하고 있습니다만 (덕분에 요즘 게시판 활동도 안했고 잠잠했죠) 아무래도 아이온이 처음에 생각했던 것과는 전혀 다른 방향으로 가는 듯하길래 이렇게 글을 남겨봅니다.
I was lucky enough to receive the privilege of being a beta tester. (which is why I've been so inactive on forums) Anyhow, I am making a post to cuz I am getting the feel that Aion is going to a opposite direction of what we all had expected.


오늘의 주제는 <아이온은 정말 누구나 즐길 수 있는 라이트한 MMO가 맞는가> 입니다.
Today's topic is <Is Aion gameplay really light enough for everyone?>


(이 라이트하다는 부분에서 오해가 생길지도 모르니 우선 좀 짚고 넘어가자면 제 기억으로는 분명 '솔로잉과 파티플레이 모두를 고려하겠다'는 인터뷰와 '라이트유저와 하드유저 모두를 만족시키기 위해 노력 중이다'라는 인터뷰를 본 기억이 있습니다.)
(For those of you who just went what? Aion is supposed to be "light?", from what I recall, there were interviews that claimed "planning to satisfy both light/hardcore players" and "will include both solo and party plays")


1. 아직 초반인데도 벌써부터 빡세지는 솔로잉
1. Soloing is already getting difficult at eary levels.


이번에 풀린 레벨은 20. 아이온의 만렙이 50이라고 했으니 초반을 갓 벗어날까 말까하는 수준이 되겠군요. 그런데 문제는 사실상 대부분의 직업이 15이후 솔로잉을 하기가 상당히 버거워진다는 점입니다.
Level cap was unlocked up to level 20. Since Aion's max level is 50, this is around 'Noob' range. The problem is that sololing gets very difficult for most of the classes past lvl 15.


이유가 뭐냐고요? 몹의 체력을 한 번 보시면 알게될 겁니다. 현재 제 마도성의 경우 단방 대미지가 약 500을 웃돕니다. 매우 높아보이죠? 물론 대인전에서는 그렇습니다만 이놈의 몹들은 대체 뭘 먹고 자라서 저리도 체력들이 좋은지, 대미지 500으로는 10%쯤 줄어든 체력을 보는 것이 고작입니다.
Why? Let's take a look at the monsters' hp. Currently as a mage, 1 attack does about 500 damage. Sounds high ins't it? Yes, that's true for PvP. However, PvE is a totally different story. I don't even know what NCsoft fed to these monsters, but their HP is uber high. 500 damage only counts for 10% of their hp.


그렇다고 저 500대미지짜리 마법을 팡팡팡 쏴댈 수 있느냐하면 그것도 아니죠. 대충 소비되는 마나가 300선이라고만쳐도 mp를 죄다 긁어모아야 몹 한 마리 잡으면 땡이라는 놀라운 결론이 나옵니다
I wouldn't be comeplaining if I could be throwing those 500 dam magic shots like candy, but that's not the case. If I have around 300 mana, using up my entire mp would get me 1 dead monster.


마나 회복은? 네, 그렇습니다. 앉아서 주구장창 기다릴 수밖에 없는 겁니다. 오델로 가루를 써서 mp 회복을 한다고요? 그렇게 해봐야 50 더 차는게 땡입니다. 마법 두 대 분량이지요. 차라리 저같으면 앉혀놓고 TV라도 보고 있겠습니다.
MP regen speed? Yes, it sucks. You just have to sit and wait. Use mp regen items? Yea sure, that'd be 50 more. That's about 2 more casts. I'd rather leave it sitting and go watch tv.


솔직히 지금같은 상황이라면 이후에는 몹 한 마리 잡는데 무슨 PVP라도 한 번 한 기분이 들지 않을까 걱정입니다. 다리 묶고,도트걸고, 이속 늦추고, 공격하고, 다시 이동 늦추고, 이동 공격하며 거리 벌리고, 캐스팅 후, 다시 다리 묶고, 클리어. 축하합니다. 당신은 이제 몹 1마리를 잡았습니다(...)
Honestly, if it goes on like this, on later levels, fighting 1 mob would feel like I've done some major pvp. root, poison, slow, attack, slow again, run, attack, root, attack again, rince and repeat. Congratulations! you killed a monster!..


2. 선택이 아닌 '필수'인데도 혼자서는 진행조차 할 수 없는 미션
2. Mandatory, but non-soloable missions.


그럼 이런 빡센 솔로잉을 보완하기 위해 다양한 퀘스트와 미션이 있지 않느냐 하는 분도 계실텐데 이 역시 궁극적인 해결책은 못됩니다.
Ok, soloing is hard, but wouldn't there be lots of quests and missions to cover for that? No, that's not the case either.


실제로 17이 넘어가면 일반 퀘스트의 수도 꽤나 줄어드는데다가 정작 가장 중요한 미션이 '죄다 파티플레이'를 위한 것들입니다. 일반 퀘스트 역시 투르신 주둔지에서 뭘 모아오고 잡아오라는 것들이로군요 ㄱ-;; 파티는 안 붙었지만 파티로 치겠습니다. 허허허.
When you go past level 17, the amount of regular quests you can do decrease by half. Plus, the mandatory missions require parties. Even the regular quests require gathering materials at a high level place. I won't have a party but will get hit by parties eh? ha ha ha.


물론 파티를 위한 미션과 지역도 당연히 있어야겠지요. 그래야 조금씩 파티플레이에 친숙해지고 그럴테니까요.
Yes, I understand that there should be missions and areas for party plays to encourage partying.


그런데 이놈의 미션이 한번에 깔끔히 돌면 땡인게 아니라 투르신 주둔지와 베르테론 요새, 강 하구, 환영신의 성소를 계속해서 오가야합니다. 고로 아주 작정을 하고 만난 파티가 아니면 한 번에 진행도 힘들 뿐더러 정작 파티를 구해도 서로 다른 퀘스트를 진행해야하는지라 의견이 계속 갈리는 난감함도 있지요.
However, the missions aren't even simple. You have to go back and forth b/w multiple areas , meaning if you don't have a good party, you won't get much done. Even if you do get one, you'll have problems with each party mates wanting to do their own quests first.


뭐 말도 많고 탈도 많던 제사장 리젠(이게 걸작이죠. 약 1시간; 퀘몹인데도; 시간이나 맺집 좋은 감시대장이 공격력 약하고 맺집도 약한 경계때장보다도 경험치를 덜 주는 것 등은 수정되리라 믿으니 따로 말하지 않겠습니다.
annoying priest spawn. (this is a state of the art annoyance. respawn time = 1 hour and its a quest mob) Although watch captains have longer respawn time and higher def than alert captains, they give less exp, but I am guessing this will probably be fixed.


3. 순간의 실수는 곧 죽음? 빡빡한 파티플레이
3. A mistake means death? Overly intense party play


그리고 파티플레이 역시 지나치다 싶을 정도로 빡빡합니다. 일단 탱커 + 뎀딜 + 힐러 정도의 역할 구분을 나눠둔 것은 이해가 가는데, 로브 계열의 옷을 입은 pc의 경우 정예 몬스터에게 크리티컬 3방이면 눕는 아슬아슬함을 보여주고 있습니다.
The party plays themselves are way too intense. I understand that the roles are divided into tank+damage dealer+healer, but robe users can die from 3 crits?


게다가 애드는 또 왜 이렇게 잘 되는지, 투르신 지역에서 두 세마리의 몹에게 둘러싸여 사이좋게 강강수월래 돌림빵을 맞아본 기억들. 다들 한 번쯤 있으실 겁니다.
The monsters' organization is impressive. We all probably have experience gangbangs in Tu-ru-sin areas.


그러니까 이게 '초중반 지역' 맞습니까? 개인적인 소감으로는 무슨 와우의 영웅난이도 던전을 보는듯했는데 말이죠;;
so, um. This is the mid-level area? To me it feels like this is the Heroes only area.


실제로 아이온이 처음 접하는 mmo라 말했던 한 여성유저분은 투르신 지역에서 애드 두 번 내고 전멸 세 번 보더니 말 없이 탈퇴하시더군요. 제가 장담하건데 그 유저분 이제 크랄만 봐도 ㄷㄷㄷ 하실겁니다. ㄱ-
I saw this one new player, who was a female playing an MMO for the first time, get gangbanged 3 times and die in the Tu-Ru-Sin Area and just leave. I bet she'll now run even at the sight of "Kralls".


거기에 보너스로 경험치 하락까지 있지요. 이거 아픕니다. ㄱ-);
There's also the delightful bonus of experience loss. That really hurts.


4. 이대로 나간다면?
4. If it goes on like this?


너무 비판만 한 거 같은데. 이런 상황에도 장점은 있습니다. 우선 '엔씨게임은 닥치고 버튼 연타 노가다'라는 인식하나는 확실히 종식시킬 수 있겠군요. 버튼 연타만하다가는 지나가던 크랄 a에게 맞아서 대로변에 가지런히 눕기 딱 좋은 상황이니 말이죠.
I feel like I've been flaming too much. Yes there are certain pros. First of all, it helps taking out the image "for all ncsoft games, you stfu and press buttons". If you do that on Aion, you'll probably end up getting floored by Krall A.


그리고 초반부터 자기 직업과 역할에 대한 빡빡한 체험을 습득할 수 있겠군요. 일단 나중에 가서 '발로 만렙찍었냐'는 이야기는 안 나올듯합니다.
You can also experience (intensely) true roles of each class from early levels. No one would be able say something like "you just pressed buttons to max level" later on.



하지만 그보다는 잃은게 더 많을 것이라는 것이 제 솔직한 심정입니다. 대놓고 말해서 아이온이 목표로 삼는 건 리니지 2의 유저들과 그래픽에 반한 여성 유저들, 일부의 와우저 정도가 아닌가요? 결국 다소 가볍게 즐길 수 있는 게임을 찾아온 유저들이 대다수란 말입니다.
However, there will be more losses than gains with that. Isn't the target audience of Aion Lineage II players, females players attracted by pretty graphic, and some WoW players? meaning mostly casual players.


그런데 벌써부터 이렇게 빡빡하게 나가서야 어디 게임에 발을 붙일 엄두가 나겠습니까? 실제로도 투르신 야영지에서 파티끼리 신경전 붙는 것만 네 번을 목격했습니다. 벌써부터 이러면 나중가면 얼마나 더 심해질지..
As for right now, the game feels too intense for any of them to set foot on. Realistically, I've seen parties get in to conflicts in Tu-Ru-Sin area already 4 times. If it's getting like this already, I don't know how it's gonna be later.


5. 결론
5. Conclusion


뭐 무지무지 간단합니다. 솔로잉이 가능한 지역을 추가하고 몹 체력좀 현실에 맞춰 너프시키세요. 그리고 투르신 야영지 몹 리젠도요.
It's pretty simple. Expand solo areas and lower mob HP to a reasonable level, and increase regen on Tu-Ru-Sin area.


솔직히 요즘 게임이 다들 너무 쉬워서 문제라고는 하는데 아이온은 지나치게 그 반대로 가버렸다는 느낌입니다.
Everyone is saying that modern games are too easy, but it seems like Aion went in the completely opposite direction.


꼭 그게 나쁘다는 건 아니지만 벌서부터 이런다면 아이온 = 리니지 2 이상의 하드코어유저용 게임이 돼버릴 것 같다는 게 문제지요.
I am not saying that's necessarily bad, but at this rate, Aion is going to turn into extreme hardcore game that surpasses Lineage II.


참고로 5주차 역시 레벨 20 제한이라고 합니다. 과연 새로운 지역이 열릴 수 있을까요? 아니면 그냥 지금과 같은 모습을 유지하고 있을까요. 한 번 기대해볼 일입니다.
It was announced that level cap for fifth week is also 20. Would there be new areas? or is it going to be just like how it is now? I dare to have some hope.




아이온의 초반부터 지나친 난이도. 여러분은 과연 어떻게 생각하시나요?
Aion's extreme difficulty at early stage. What do you all think?


[Source]

[VendorTrash]

well, not quite what i was expecting
bummer to hear about the lack of soloability, although in another interview that was pointed out as well, i hope they fix that.

its still only beta.

[Fayeth]

By the looks of this post it was written by someone who doesnt enjoy MMOS. From my understandign its a cross or wow and FFXI PvE wise adn killer PvP... which is exactly what he descirbed here. I dont see the issue

[lyankyj]

They will definitely fix these things.

In LotRO beta, 2 weeks before launch the respawn rate of the mobs in certain places was so fast, you couldnt do quests.

These are just balance things, will taken care of.

+ They said we can solo to lvl50, so no worries, as Ken said in Episode 9, casual players too can proceed easily.


Thanks for the article btw!

[Kyuzo]

This is exactly what I wanted to hear. I'm glad Aion is becoming a lot more hardcore than what the devs have said. That sounded way too easy.

[N0rdic Ninja]

Dude, what he describes is pretty dang close to what I'm looking for in an MMO. I like the idea of highly encouraging party play, it's what drew me into fleven so badly. It sounds like maybe they went a little to extreme with the difficulty maybe, but I def like the idea of having to party past level 10, it would be exactly what I'm looking for. =P

[Midgarsormr]

This is what i've been wanting from Aion since I heard of it....thank you....thank you so much for posting this info. I didn't even read all of it because I just HAD to post a reply asap. The fact that people are complaining about the difficulty, and the fact that missions require full parties......MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!!!!!!! Even the exp loss makes me happy. I know what you're thinking, that I'm a psychopath, it's quite alright. These are all symptoms of FFXI which I adore.

[Rizzmoe]

That's great news! I was afraid, Aion will turn out to be another Soft-MMO-clone without any challenge at all! I also prefer the thing with the soloplay. I think it is good to be forced to groupplay. After all it is still a MMO-game and not a sologame....

[dalin]

the trouble is, this is something that each player has to experience for him/herself to see if the game meets their individual challenge level...

some players will be perfectly happy with highly challenging content, while others will prefer being able to slowly reach the end game, with no sense of frustration (and about 100 other variations in between)...

its all relative... however, if we take into account Ken's most recent "is Aion a typical Asian Grinder" video clip, it would appear that the developers really want to make this game as accessible to solo/casual players as possible...

personally, i hope things get toned down a bit...

edit: p.s. thanks elliot!!

[Kiyumi]

Aion will be harder than Lineage II? xD Yeah, right. But, if it's more of a challenge to reach lvl cap then that's a good thing, imo..
I'm not much of a solo person anyway - partying is a lot more fun! Although, needing parties to do quests sounds time-consuming if everyone's not on the same part of the quest.

Thanks for the translation! <3

[Cynthe]

Honestly I'm starting not to care if leveling and quests are elaborate and challenging, I just want to know that they are possible solo or with small groups. Even if it takes me a lot longer then other people, I just don't want some content (besides raids) closed off because I'm casual.

**something is wrong with this post but I have to go....

[Vydren]

You know there is one game that comes to mind when reading this, Final Fantasy XI. Tons of people still play that game and are joining on a regular basis and this description of hardcore gaming fits it perfectly. I mean so what, you have to get a party 15+, that will make the game more enjoyable and less anti-social. We saw early on with interviews with Aion officials that they planned to make the game solo-able and party based but not as fast if you soloed. Sometimes games like these have to be "hardcore" for a better feeling of achievement.

[N0rdic Ninja]

Reach a broader audience is definitely a good thing, but I just hope there is an emphasis in some way on party play... I don't want Aion to turn into another MMO I don't play past the free month trial cause no one cares to party until max level. Pretty much like every MMO I've ever tried other then FFXI. Maybe they could put an emphasis on it in another way other then difficulty, I dunno, but I'm not gonna play a single player RPG with a chat room up through 50 >.>

[Mark]

The only problem I see in this is the mob's HP. All NCsoft has to do to fix most of these problems is lower it. That's all. I think they made it a little too hard for these beta guys, perhaps to slow them down.

[dalin]

for the record, i have no problem with group play, just dont -force- it on me... as Cynthe mentioned, make it an option, and if i so choose, i'll take the "hit" in time i have to invest in solo play to reach the same result (quest completion, uber item collection, etc.)...

i do enjoy grouping, but more often than not, i will have 1-2 hours to kill late at night, and i just want to jump into the game, collect a few quests and be off.. maybe ill do a little crafting to "depressurize" from the day, maybe ill just go right to the quests...

i dont want to HAVE to find a group to accomplish my questing needs... but if i choose to go that route, make it simple to find people, and simple to know who has matching quests, etc.

if grouping is painless, im all the more inclined to do it, when the mood strikes me...