[Translation] German Interview (23.05.08)

[Haubix]

Here comes live translation #2. Have fun reading!

Disclaimer:

This is the raw translated text from the interview.
All grammatical errors/bugs/etc. are copyrighted.
Feel free to transform this raw text into beautiful correct english sentences
Source: Live stream from allvatar.com

Devs are concentrated on analysing the beta data; balancing data
1st time they introduced pvp -> analysed which class died how often, what skills were used, etc

Main focus on balancing, there were doubt about content: they are working on it

Translations are running parallel to cbt testing in korea;
First english, then other languages. They aim to keep as close to the original as possible;
they dont want to do a miserable translation, they aim for quality

EU/US Beta expected this year

-> dont believe release dates from online-trading platforms (amazon, etc)

Balancing: Devs got lots of log data
e.g. which class killed which class, who died how often, what was used to kill? (skills)

Hunter strong in PvP, suits the projected role, have most kills
many details to get balanced;

melee classes cant get to players to kill them -> you see that in log files
devs think about introducing skills to prevent that: maybe faster running

there won't be a rock-scissor-paper-system
logfiles very helpful, "you can't imagine what we're able to see "

Originally Posted by Amboss

Some clarifications:

Rock, paper, scissors:
What I was trying to explain was, that there will always be situations where classes have advantages over other classes and it will be down to the players to use the situations to their advantage. It should be obvious that if an assassin just stays out of melee range of a sorcerer that the assassin becomes the rock and the sorcerer the paper.
But the goal is not that a class always dominates another. However, you can't expect that you still have a 50% chance of winning when constantly fighting in situations where the opponent's class is specialized. I.e. as a sorcerer, don't rush into melee. Just admit that other classes are THE melee fighters. As a Gladiator, don't try to reach the ranger covering you with a rain of arrows from 20 meters distance with your (ok, giant) sword and then wonder why you go down instead of him. Force them to play your game and you will increase your chances.

• Talent trees? Skill trees? Specialization?

Standard classes, with lvl 9 -> quest to specialize into a specific class (e.g. warrior -> templar or gladiator)
from then there will be no "tree", you can buy all skills (->moneysink) from npcs
you can have all standard skills if you have enough many (due the huge variety)

Stigma -> level 20 quest, unlock stigma slots; the fact that you have all skills don't mean that you're like the rest (regarding diversity)
there are weapons/armors with different attributes, they have slots for mana stones(drop or buyable from npc);
Mana stones are comparable to runes in GuildWars, they are cumulative;

• Game often compared to Lineage? Differences/Similarities?

Amboss wouldn't compare it with Lineage; Devs used experiences made from it (see UI);
when Abyss goes live, lots of experience from L2 castle sieges is going to help development;
Aion reminds Amboss of western MMO's (more likely the handling - game controls - less the playstyle)
Game controls -> learned their lection from Lineage 2

• PvP in every area besides the Abyss?

PvPvE area in Abyss, PvE areas: timed portals (rifts), appear randomly, no steady pvp in own zone;
they dont want to hinder ppl on pve, but you have to be aware of it; ppl should slowly get a taste of pvp;
on the sky there will be a cloud directly above the portal (so u can see where the portals are)

• Races get their own skills? Differences?

generally spoken, they share the same skills (due same ancestory), in high level they differ more,
you'll see the differences, but will be equalized, so no site has advantages; differences lies in detail, but not too much ->
otherwise players would change factions

atm more elyos players (60%:40%)

• Startevent?

nothing known now, but events are extremely important and have high priority; already planning about events;

Originally Posted by Amboss

Regarding events:
You should add that we're investigating the technical possibilities. We're eager to do what we can for the community but I can't make any promises yet. Apart from that we will give our best.

• Ratio Damage/Life?

one-hit-wonder not their goal; players think that fights too short; eventually faster as in other MMO's , but dont want to create
too powerful skills, you need some hits, maybe they slow down it a bit

• Will the world (map) be extended?

more zones will be added; about 1/2 of all zones are implemented; abyss with 3 layers is missing, the biggest high-end zones are missing; lvl 20-30 zones seems to be huge for Amboss;

• Crafting?

Some elements taken from Lineage; You can learn all professions with your character (no restrictions), you can start always a new profession if you don't like the actual one (reset-able); you can supply yourself through crafting; specialize to e.g. 2 professions: you'll be faster "master" instead of taking every one; you need mats (auction house for trade), there is a
"joker-material" called aether; you can "transform" aether in a specifict basis material (e.g. wood);
Specialization in profession: No, but you can only buy specific recipe (e.g. bow recipes) then you can "specialize" your profession towards bows (but no restrictions regarding recipes! if you have money, you can buy everything, but thats very expensive!);

• Is Aion going to have Realms/Servers? Instancing?

there are different servers; you can play on any you want (dont misinterpret that to international servers/etc!); the resp. territory (EU/US/Korea) has free will about structure; so if the demand is high enough, maybe there will pvp/pve/rp servers;
its technically possible; they dont want to exclude the idea but also cant promise;

• Possibility of preordering?

rumor, nothing planned yet

• Plans against China Farmers/Cheaters/etc

have methods and processes to fight those; they are fighting against it from the very beginning; are working on it;

• XP loss at death?

cant tell exact numbers; similar to L2, but not that extreme; lvl 15 char loses 5% xp; xp loss in pvp no clue;

• Item loss on death?

no

• Wings dye-able?

Not yet in game, probably yes (read: it's intended )

• Collectors Edition?

probably yes, other games from ncsoft also has CE; can't approve it, but most likely there will be one

• Intra-faction PvP? Or only RvR?

most likely duels -> right-click/duel
also arenas; but not sure if it's finished in release;

• Payment scheme? Costs?

nothing new atm; more likely in a press release; not that kind of news from community managers;

• Daytime depending events? X-Mas? Eastern/etc?

techn. possible, would like to see ingame, nothing sure yet;

• Classes weapon-restricted?

Basic classes yes, then no restrictions due stigma;

• Day/Night cycle?

Yes, also already ingame; some day-night-cycles per real-life-day; about 2-hour-rhythm;

• Housing?

no concrete plans for launch; but still in mind, maybe if there is time it will be sooner than later

• Both factions playable on one account on one server?

No, you have to choose one race per server;

• Alliances`?

don't know exactly, but probably yes

• Inflation?

They use the collected experience from Lineage in Aion; There are "Soulshots" in Aion, but not the same as in Lineage2;
they give a static bonus to damage; no percentage; -> intended moneysink;

• Aion an Asia grinder? Feedback from beta true?

no off. feedback yet; sceptical about it; its the opinion of one player; 2nd beta main goal: balancing; lots of content not yet ingame; balancing very important; intention: levelling 1-50 only with quests; feedback article didn't note that the abyss isn't ingame yet; lots of things will be added; -> don't panic; lots of things are missing and will be implemented later;

• Updates? Patches? free/buyable?

there will be updates; nothing exact yet; will be released with the subscriptions or shortly after;

Hint from Amboss:

new website is looking very good; no date, but looks really good
regarding medial presence: we will come!

[HunterX]

This is all I needed to see.

there won't be a rock-scissor-paper-system
logfiles very helpful, "you can't imagine what we're able to

and it makes me happy in pants!

Thx for the infos.

[Anuxinamoon]

OOo this is really good! Thanks!

I agree with HunterX, I'm glad it isn't like Rock, paper, scissors otherwise I would need to character change to kill a certain class better...

Or get more skill >>

[lyankyj]

Thank you, Haubix!

I managed to ask my friend to translate these stuffs so i could translate it back to english in flashchat


It appears Abyss will only has 3 layers
But, im glad that the current maps are only half of all!


And: "Again, we will fight against goldfarmers and cheaters!"

[Tareith]

Wings dye-able?
Not yet in game, probably yes (read: it's intended )

no restrictions regarding recipes! if you have money, you can buy everything, but thats very expensive!);

Ugh, there goes the rest of my free time.

[huangker]

nice great info! Thanks Haubix!

[Amboss]

Some clarifications:

Rock, paper, scissors:
What I was trying to explain was, that there will always be situations where classes have advantages over other classes and it will be down to the players to use the situations to their advantage. It should be obvious that if an assassin just stays out of melee range of a sorcerer that the assassin becomes the rock and the sorcerer the paper.
But the goal is not that a class always dominates another. However, you can't expect that you still have a 50% chance of winning when constantly fighting in situations where the opponent's class is specialized. I.e. as a sorcerer, don't rush into melee. Just admit that other classes are THE melee fighters. As a Gladiator, don't try to reach the ranger covering you with a rain of arrows from 20 meters distance with your (ok, giant) sword and then wonder why you go down instead of him. Force them to play your game and you will increase your chances.

Regarding events:
You should add that we're investigating the technical possibilities. We're eager to do what we can for the community but I can't make any promises yet. Apart from that we will give our best.

[HunterX]

Cool, Thx for the clarification.

[jameinkaiser]

danke schön

[SoraNashimi]

Thanks for the great Translation

Wings dye-able?
Not yet in game, probably yes (read: it's intended )

Oooo that would be awsome o.O

[Mark]

Awesome. Thanks for dropping by, Amboss.

[Terpsichore]

intention: levelling 1-50 only with quests


ewwww

[Norfolk]

Good stuff, indeed

[Zanaionic]

Why do people hate questing lol. 1) its how the game unfolds its story. As long as its not the generic "Go collect 10 Decimated Wolf pelts" im all for questing. 2) Grinding gets boring for most people w/in the first 10 minutes. Why grind and just collect small amounts of EXP when you can quest and gain a large portion.

I think questing>grinding.