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Advanced character class system gives players ultimate control of their destiny in NCsoft's Aion: The Tower of Eternity
NCsoft reveals the detailed character class system behind its eagerly anticipated MMORPG, Aion: The Tower of Eternity.
NCsoft reveals the detailed character class system behind its eagerly anticipated MMORPG, Aion: The Tower of Eternity.
Wednesday 19th December/... Massively Multiplayer Online RPG fans can look forward to a wealth of career opportunities in NCsoft’s forthcoming Aion: The Tower of Eternity next year, with gamers able to literally choose their destiny thanks to the game’s two-tiered character class system.
Characters begin their journey by choosing one of four base professions – Warrior, Scout, Mage and Priest. This initial tier of development impacts on everything from a character’s strength, to their combat prowess, to their magical abilities, ultimately shaping the players actions throughout the game. However, higher-level players can tailor their character further still, with each profession offering two advanced classes, bringing the total number of character types available in Aion: The Tower of Eternity up to eight.
While the initial choice of character class will largely depend on each player’s personal style, the ability to develop a character through the advanced class system ensures that players have all the tools they need to create a character that is unique to them.
The Warrior
Bold, brave and possessing immense physical prowess, Warriors excel in close-quarter combat. Strong performers in a wide range of situations, Warriors are relatively easy to master and when fully realised can unleash a spectacular range of physically devastating skills.
Depending on how players prefer to approach combat, Warriors can specialise as either Gladiators, who concentrate on dealing damage through brute force, or Templars, who combine fierce fighting with defensive chants and techniques.
The Scout
The Scout combines great agility with swift attacks. Scout players require a deft and accurate touch to get the most out of this tricky class, however the rewards are great and offer the greatest variety in play style of all the basic classes.
Scouts that specialise in ranged combat develop naturally into Rangers, an advanced class equally adept in the use of blades and traps. For those Scouts who prefer to stay hidden and strike from the shadows, the Assassin class is the perfect choice of advancement.
The Mage
Mages compensate their weakness in physical combat with the ability to launch devastatingly powerful magic attacks. In addition, Mages must learn to divert and evade the enemy so that they’re able to attack from the relative safety of range.
As Mages advance, so their mastery over the elements of water, air, earth and fire increase, their choice of advanced class determining how that mastery is manifest. Spiritmasters can summon and control elemental spirits, while Sorcerers channel elemental power into fearsome magical bolts and missiles.
The Priest
Spiritual warriors, Priests can use healing and self-protection spells to excel in melee combat, and launch powerful ranged magic attacks too. This makes them not only useful support characters in a party of adventurers, but also powerful combatants in their own right.
Priests that specialize in healing and protecting their allies naturally progress to the advanced class of Cleric, the ultimate support class. Alternatively, Priests can become Chanters, pious warriors that boast both healing and ability-boosting powers.
Players will be able to experience all eight character classes for themselves while exploring the incredible world of Atreia when Aion: The Tower of Eternity launches later next year.
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Aion: The Tower of Eternity
Advanced Class System
No two journeys through Atreia will ever be the same. At the beginning of every adventure, players are given the choice of four distinct character classes; Warrior, Scout, Mage or Priest. Each class offers its own strengths and abilities, weapons or a spells, and a unique set of skills for use in combat, whether to deal damage to enemies or heal and protect allies.
As the player gains experience and masters their chosen class, they are given the option to advance to a higher level class. These advanced classes present even greater possibilities, and ensure that the path players take is truly their own.
Warrior
Thanks to their immense physical prowess, Warriors excel in close-quarters combat. Strong performers in a wide range of situations, Warriors are relatively easy to master and when fully realized can unleash a spectacular range of skills that other classes would find difficult to match.
Warriors can advance to become a Gladiator or Templar.
Gladiator
Gladiators are skilled in using a variety of weapons, ranging from swords to halberds, their ultimate goal being to master a wide variety of fighting techniques tailored to the characteristics of their weapons.
- Special ability: Close combat
- Play style: Gladiators prefer to defeat their enemies through brute force power and devastatingly accurate blows as opposed to fancy sword play and trickery.
Fighting with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, the Templar is both guardian and fierce combatant. To remain effective, the Templar should stay on or close to the front firing line.
- Special ability: Protection chants
- Play style: A warrior that fights with his head as well as his heart. The Templar provides shelter from enemy fire, absorbing much of the brunt in battle.
Scout
The Scout has the benefit of great agility coupled with swift attacks. The success of any given Scout will be decided by its master - it requires a deft and accurate touch - however the rewards are great. Scouts provide the greatest variety in play style of all the basic classes.
Scouts can advance to become a Ranger or Assassin.
Ranger
The Ranger lives by the bow and is a naturally talented archer. However, the bow is not the only weapon for Rangers, for they are also masters of the sword and dagger and adept in using traps.
- Special ability: Range diversity of attack
- Play style: Rangers need to make predictions for combat situations and adapt their tactical decisions to cope with rapidly changing circumstances.
Assassins are experts in deft movement and the silent termination of their target. Employing a simple but deadly strategy, there are endless tactics with which to exact a swift and soundless blow to unsuspecting foes.
- Special ability: Striking without detection
- Play style: The main combat strategy of this class is to approach the enemy stealthily, then deal high damage with one mighty blow, targeting the enemy’s vital areas.
Mage
Mages, whist relatively weak in close combat, have the ability to deliver devastatingly powerful magic attacks. Due to the long range capabilities inherent to this class, it is vital for a Mage to learn how to divert and evade the enemy.
Mages can advance to become a Sorcerer or Spiritmaster.
Sorcerer
The Sorcerer follows the path of magic, mastering the elements of water, fire, wind, and earth. Sorcerers call on the strength of their spirit to issue bolts of fire or to freeze every bone in the body of an enemy.
- Special ability: Long-range damage-dealing spells
- Play style: Concentration during spellcasting is key, hence the reason Sorcerers team up with defensive classes for protection.
As well as using the power of the elements to strike fear into the enemy’s heart, the Spiritmaster can control Water, Fire, Earth, and Air Spirits with ease. A Spiritmaster's skill set becomes very diverse as their combat ability evolves.
- Special ability: Summoning powerful elemental Spirits
- Play style: A true commander of the elements will know how to engage in combat, practice magic, and choose the perfect moment in a given situation to summon spirits.
Priest
The Priest is specialist in healing magic. Melee combat is possible through strategic use of self-protection and self-heals, and Priests also have long range magic attacks that can aid greatly in battle.
Priests can advance to become a Cleric or Chanter.
Cleric
Following the path of healing, the Cleric uses the power of magic to fortify an ally’s body and heal their wounds, or even resurrect a Daeva whose soul is separated from its body.
- Special ability: Healing and protection
- Play style: The main role of the Cleric is to provide support to allies through healing or fortification, but they can also be formidable soldiers in battle using a mace and shield.
The Chanter’s specialty is in healing and fortifying magic, but they can also use a magic staff to great offensive effect. The Chanter uses mantras to strengthen allies and raise their morale.
- Special ability: Fortification magic using healing and mantras
- Play style: While fortifying allies is its greatest strength, in an emergency a Chanter can transform into a powerful soldier and can fight in close range combat using their magic staff.
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