Some new information from Korea

[Fasimedes]

A little answers from Korean contacts about AION. Big thanks for KR Team member for this information!
Please don't take it hard, its not an announcements from community team. Its just a private experience.
Sorry for my (Q>'s) weak english.

AION technical issues
Q> All testers was amazed by character customization editor in CBT3. As far as i know, among its issues was missing option to change eye color. Will any more improvements be done for character editor, maybe more presets for face/hair styles, etc? Also, eye color issue will be fixed in OBT ?

A>u can see many more presets for face/hair than u expected.
no option for eye color.

Q> There are rumors what newbie regions (as Poeta for Elyos) are made as instanced zones (with a limited maximum number of players for each instance) to spread a large number of newbie players between several copies of the region. Is it true? Will high-level (>10) players be able to teleport to Poeta and meet their newbie friends in such "multi instanced" areas?

A> instanced zone.. we call it channel. and u can go to the right channel that u wanna go.. everybody (newbie or not) can alter their channel.

Gameplay in AION
In Lineage II a very large scale battles was taking place, involving up to 200-400 simultaneous players.
Q> What estimated number of players are planned for fortress battles in Abyss ? Should we expect same scale of battles in AION as in Lineage II?

A> during CBT3, about 100 ~ 400 players were in same fortress for fight.

Q> Will game engine be able to handle hundred(s) of players in a visible range, kepping considerable level of lags?
A> AbyssMode Option(client option) will be added. ( can't say detail)

Q> Is a single-key-press function available in AION to bring graphical setting to lowest state for the battle use (to instantly decrease graphics lagging)?
A>No.

Q> Will swimming be added to OBT?
A>No.

Q> Will AION use offline experience boost system (like newly added Vitality system in Lineage II) to improve gaming experience for casual players (temprorary EXP gain boost bonus after being offline for a 9-12 hour period) ?
A>not in OBT. some exp boost method are in consideration.

PvP and RvR
Q> Will players of the same faction be able to confront each other? In many situations where are possible conflicts and concurrency between players (and even legions) inside a single RvR faction. For example, raid boss, exp spot conflicts, etc. Usually such conflicts could not be solved using a duel. Are any solution expected for this?
A>I don't think that we can make such a great solution ..


Q> There are possible situation then a large-scale legion (clan) could split its members benween two sub-legions in both Dark and Light RvR factions. Communications between two parts of the legion could easily be made in out of game manner (forums, voice chat, etc). Opposing RvR factions of that large legion will be in truce with each other and such a legion will be able to totally break RvR system in the game and gain a total domination from the both sides of the bipolar world. Imagine you have possibility to call forces from opposing RvR force (by pointing them safe ways through rifts or in the Abyss) to get rid of any concurrent players on the spots, have fictional battles for AP farming, etc, etc. Could possibly a GMs or gameplay itself limit the ability to rise such "RvR cheating" legions ?
A> If I can manage large_scale , I'll put every resources (people) in same faction. raise 50 lev characters for AP farm
and spot holding??? I don't think so..
abyss is the field for fortress battle, not that sweety zone(get rid of any concurrent players on the spots -> don't have to do that...) anyway AP farming will be handled in system and by GM.

Items
Q> Recently some improvements in craft was announced: mean possibility to became a craft master beyond 399 points of crafting skills. Will Masters be able to craft unique items with custom names ? I mean very rare possibility for a Master to craft an item of exceptional quality and give a totally custom name (not just crafter's name) to it ? For sure such item will be based on some predefined model and textures, but its item name will be customized. It anything like that is planned?
A>no plan, but think that good idea.

A> Feel sorry for short answer.

[dalin]

thanks for the Q&A Fasimedes... well done!

Q> There are rumors what newbie regions (as Poeta for Elyos) are made as instanced zones (with a limited maximum number of players for each instance) to spread a large number of newbie players between several copies of the region. Is it true? Will high-level (>10) players be able to teleport to Poeta and meet their newbie friends in such "multi instanced" areas?

A> instanced zone.. we call it channel. and u can go to the right channel that u wanna go.. everybody (newbie or not) can alter their channel.

i thought i had read that elsewhere, but its nice to see it mentioned again...

[Keeva]

Q> Is a single-key-press function available in AION to bring graphical setting to lowest state for the battle use (to instantly decrease graphics lagging)?
A>No.

Q> Will swimming be added to OBT?
A>No.

Those make me sad. But all in all, some helpful info, thank you! ^^

[Vent]

Originally Posted by Fasimedes

Q> Is a single-key-press function available in AION to bring graphical setting to lowest state for the battle use (to instantly decrease graphics lagging)?

That's too bad actually. It's one of the features I was hoping to see. But it's okay too if you can change the graphical settings one by one, BUT without the need to restart the whole client. Maybe that's a question for the next interview.

[lyankyj]

Yay for:

- more hair-styles!


Nay for:

- still no swimming




Regarding AbyssMode: somewhere it was mentioned that if you set so, in huge battles where there are far too many ppl, you would only see those who are directly affecting you or your party (those who are not attacking will not be seen). This would result lesser lags and such. I would say that is AbyssMode, but it may be just a regular feature and AM is completely different.



Thanks for the post!

[Keeva]

The hair thing is awesome too, but I can't help but find it odd that they'd add more hair styles and yet not bother to allow changes in eye colour. :l

Yea, I would think eye color change would be a given. Kind of surprising actually

[lyankyj]

These infos are applied to OBT only, there is still a chance those wished things will be in the game @ launch.

[Keeva]

I suppose adding eye colour for the official launch is a possibility, but I doubt that they'd ever include swimming or probably the one-hit decrease in graphic quality if they're not testing it in the OB.

[illmeltxwithyou]

they need to come out with a char creator like they did for spore.

[Fasimedes]

I think eye color is not freely customizable (i beleive differen eye colors are included in charater presets) because of lack of UI space. Customization editor already is very complex and there are maybe no place for extra color palette (you can't just make an editbox with #RRGGBB values in the game, you need to arrange enough place for a color palette). Also, such things like skin or hair color are easily seen in the game, but i doubt many ppl will stare into char's eyes to distinguish its color.

[Aelo]

Originally Posted by Fasimedes

I think eye color is not freely customizable (i beleive differen eye colors are included in charater presets) because of lack of UI space. Customization editor already is very complex and there are maybe no place for extra color palette (you can't just make an editbox with #RRGGBB values in the game, you need to arrange enough place for a color palette). Also, such things like skin or hair color are easily seen in the game, but i doubt many ppl will stare into char's eyes to distinguish its color.

You have lost your mind. . .

The reason you are giving for them not having eye color (which should be a given attribute) is because they dont have enough space in the UI to put a color palette?

These are highly paid developers, i'm sure they could fit whatever they wanted in the UI.
---Yes, even without moving anything

As a matter of fact i can think of a way to do it myself. Just put a tabbed window next to hair color. *gasp* problem solved.

[eVenom]

Thanks for attempting to translate it I'm sure we can make out most of it. The channel instance thingy is pretty interesting; never heard of it before.

[lyankyj]

Originally Posted by eVenom

Thanks for attempting to translate it I'm sure we can make out most of it. The channel instance thingy is pretty interesting; never heard of it before.

Here you can read a little more about it.

[xJermariox]

Originally Posted by Fasimedes

Q> All testers was amazed by character customization editor in CBT3. As far as i know, among its issues was missing option to change eye color. Will any more improvements be done for character editor, maybe more presets for face/hair styles, etc? Also, eye color issue will be fixed in OBT ?

A>no option for eye color.

Q> Will swimming be added to OBT?
A>No.

I really hope these make it in the release version of the game. Also I thought ive seen screenshots of characters with purple, red, or green eyes?