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Post by Grok on Mar 3, 2010 13:58:24 GMT -5
As I mentioned in Dach's blog post I am thinking about returning to Aion. I've been thinking about it for a couple of weeks now and I still haven't made a final decision. I have a few questions:
Has the grind been reduced a bit? I'm not looking for a WoW style experience here, but the absolute dead pace of progression I felt was something I don't miss.
Are there more quests? Again, I'm not looking for all new areas but at whatever level I left at quests were beginning to get a little scarce.
Are the lower level areas under constant barrage from upper level gankers? This was something I could imagine happening quite easily. Will I be able to get some gaming in without constantly being ganked by players I couldn't possibly hope to beat?
Is it difficult to find groups at lower level? I'd hate to have to give the group quests a miss simply because I can't find anyone to do them with.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Dachartach
Spell Weaver
Aionic SWTOR Reliant
AHHH HAHH HAHH! I WAS BO'N AN' RAISED IN A BRIAR PATCH!
Posts: 921
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Post by Dachartach on Mar 3, 2010 17:08:30 GMT -5
I'll be honest with you, it hasn't changed much since you guys left. The grind is still quite nasty and remains a necessity. The whole gank squad mentality remains in full effect. Drop rates remain low. There are usually just a few quests in each new hub, and only every few levels do you get more, mostly repeatables, which you have to GRIND at for more gear.
There has been an olive branch extended to the community from a producer, stating that "some" of the changes that the community has demanded will be presented in the second quarter of 2010. That could mean anything.
They've mentioned changing the xp systems and drop rates, and adding a new bonus xp mechanic, changing or replacing the current energy of repose. I can only assume they will continue having some double xp weekends for all levels to boot. I will try to keep people posted here, but of course the official site should have news as well. Just be careful, be sure your viral scanners and cleaners are updated, and do scans before and after going to that site, or Aionsource. They get hacked fairly regularly.
If you do decide to come back on Triniel-Elyos side, just send me a whisper and I'll see about getting you invited to Ars Diavoli. Or you could try your luck elsewhere, up to you.
I'm trying to pilot this ship at lightspeed, which means as soon as we see anything, we've already passed it. Even with a brain the size of a city, it's still brown trousers time!
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Saia
Orc
Aion
Posts: 430
Current MMO: World of Warcraft
Current Main: Saedee
Steam ID: Saia Gaming
Origin ID: Saia_Gaming
BattleTag: Saia#1456
Xbox GamerTag: Draginfaerie
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Post by Saia on Mar 3, 2010 19:01:06 GMT -5
Pretty much what Dach said.
I have yet to run out of quests (I'm just a lowly ALMOST level 41 Cleric) but the quests I have are pretty much a grind fest. Not that that bothers me at all. I can just party up and heal while reaping in the XP. Killing is NOT my strong suit. At least I'll get gear out of it.
In any game I've always run into gank squads so I'm used to dying while questing. I just usually post where I died in region and LFG chat and usually (but not always) people will come and chase them out for you.
Being in Ars Diavoli with Dach has lessened the lonely feeling and I'm still making great friends along the way which keeps me going. I still love most parts of this game and hope the fun continues.
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Post by Rer on Mar 3, 2010 19:56:18 GMT -5
Glad to hear you guys are still having fun. ^_^
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Post by Grok on Mar 5, 2010 12:20:47 GMT -5
So I've resubscribed. I decided to try out the Asmo side on Lumiel, just to see how the other side lives.
I'm enjoying it so far, but that's no surprise. The real test will be how long I can manage to have fun before the grind or some other issue gets in the way. I had forgotten how beautiful the game looks and sounds, and I still think it has the best combat of any MMO I've played.
Thanks for the offer Kendou, I thought about going back to Triniel, but I want to try this from a fresh perspective and go in on the Asmo side. Keinermacht, any chance I might be able to hook up with you fine people in Muppeteers?
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Maeve
Rampager
Posts: 2,389
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Post by Maeve on Mar 5, 2010 13:11:12 GMT -5
guild.floppyhat.com/You should be able to post an intro there and give Jay (Kess) a shout. They have always extended an invitation to the CoT folks there. Great people. I miss my Brit!
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Dachartach
Spell Weaver
Aionic SWTOR Reliant
AHHH HAHH HAHH! I WAS BO'N AN' RAISED IN A BRIAR PATCH!
Posts: 921
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Post by Dachartach on Mar 5, 2010 13:28:18 GMT -5
Good to see you back, I hope you have some fun. Yes, from what I hear, Triniel's community is about the worst out there in the game. We've been talking about server transfers when they come live, I guess we'll see what happens. And apparently there are some things on the way, the main site listed quite a few details about the 1.9 version on the test servers. You can take a look at that stuff here: powerwiki.na.aiononline.com/aion/Korean+PTS:+March+3rd+Test+Server+Update+1.9+AnnouncementStill nothing about a security system being implemented. Which would be nice for people who don't like being hacked from NCSoft's site and getting their gear stolen. How do you write women so well?
I think of a man; then I take away reason and accountability.
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Post by Keinermacht on Mar 5, 2010 17:28:12 GMT -5
So I've resubscribed. I decided to try out the Asmo side on Lumiel, just to see how the other side lives. I'm enjoying it so far, but that's no surprise. The real test will be how long I can manage to have fun before the grind or some other issue gets in the way. I had forgotten how beautiful the game looks and sounds, and I still think it has the best combat of any MMO I've played. Thanks for the offer Kendou, I thought about going back to Triniel, but I want to try this from a fresh perspective and go in on the Asmo side. Keinermacht, any chance I might be able to hook up with you fine people in Muppeteers? Just sent you a PM with a list of our in-game names, there are usually 4 or 5 of us logged in on an average weeknight, and more during the weekend. I know you're playing Ranger now but if you feel like making a chain or plate wearer some time, Rachel just hit Expert Armorsmith on her level 50 Gladiator
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Post by Grok on Mar 5, 2010 22:05:41 GMT -5
Funny you should mention that; I decided to try out a cleric so I may take Rachel up on that eventually.
See you in game!
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Post by Grok on Mar 9, 2010 11:35:54 GMT -5
Really having a lot of fun in the game. Listening to the general chat as Fortress raids form up makes me want to level quick, but I'm enjoying the questing ao much that I don't want to rush it. Cleric is a lot more fun than I anticipated as well.
Grouped up with a couple of people from the guild and knocked out some of the tougher quests and had a good time doing it. Muppeteers seem like a great group of people.
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Post by Keinermacht on Mar 9, 2010 18:22:59 GMT -5
Really having a lot of fun in the game. Listening to the general chat as Fortress raids form up makes me want to level quick, but I'm enjoying the questing ao much that I don't want to rush it. Cleric is a lot more fun than I anticipated as well. Grouped up with a couple of people from the guild and knocked out some of the tougher quests and had a good time doing it. Muppeteers seem like a great group of people. Thanks for the endorsement, Grok Even though I only play my level 50 Templar (so it might be a while before we group up) all the other Muppets keep rolling alts and recruiting new people into the legion. It's been a pleasant surprise since overall it feels like the Aion population is a bit down lately. The community on Lumiel is really great too... I spend just as much of my time grouping with people in our allied legions (Dorlach Sgath, Vigilance, Ravensflyte) as I do with our fellow Muppets. You are right not to rush things too much, rolling a Cleric means that you will be able to make a real contribution in PvP even in the mid levels... just as I was able to help in Tier 4 in WAR on my Rune Priest immediately at level 28, you will be able to help in Aion fortress sieges on your Cleric in the mid 30s. Just stack lots of +HP manastones
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Post by Grok on Mar 11, 2010 14:26:44 GMT -5
The thing that's surprised me most is how much the Asmodian environment has made a difference in my motivation to play. When we first beta tested Aion the entire lot of us really preferred the beauty of Poeta over the desolation of the Asmo starting area, and so we assumed that trend would continue through the game as we moved through levels. We were wrong. The beauty quickly gave way to barren desolate desert and didn't vary much after that. I've always hated the desert and so I found it all a bit monotonous and depressing. Meanwhile, the Asmo landscape gets more lush and green as time moves on and I find this much more agreeable. I feel more compelled to log in now than I ever did during my initial run.
Hopefully that feeling lasts all the way to level 50.
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Dachartach
Spell Weaver
Aionic SWTOR Reliant
AHHH HAHH HAHH! I WAS BO'N AN' RAISED IN A BRIAR PATCH!
Posts: 921
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Post by Dachartach on Mar 12, 2010 17:29:52 GMT -5
Awesome, now you've gotten me all interested in the Asmodean side of things, might have to delete a bank alt and go play in the penguin lands.
We're SCIENTISTS, DAMMIT! Now, inject this man with some science! Mmmmm, sweet, delicious, magical Science...
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Post by Grok on Mar 22, 2010 10:26:02 GMT -5
Levelled to 25 yesterday. Gained entrance to The Abyss and with it access to the first instance; Nochsana Training Camp. Hoping to get a run in later tonight when I get home from work. Had some fun in a good pick up group for a non instanced dungeon area called Taran's Cavern early in the day, then knocked off some of the more "grindy" quests with some Muppeteers in Morheim. Suddenly the quests felt much less grindy.
Grouping makes a world of difference in this game. I'm hoping I can manage to stay within a few levels of the rest of the group I've been running around with. The level disparity is still a major problem in the game that I hope the dev team will address in the future. WAR nailed this in terms of making sure that level difference wasn't a game breaker.
So, still having fun, but I need to see how I feel 10 levels from now to know if it will last.
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Post by Keinermacht on Mar 22, 2010 11:47:47 GMT -5
Hey Grok, congrats again on reaching 25. You are right about the "10 levels" bit, because the game takes the five best levels (25-30) and IMMEDIATELY follows them up with the 10 worst (31-40).
My advice for you in the 30s is, try to do as much as you can on double XP weekends, ignore crafting (unless you are one of those rare fortunate souls who can make money off it), take frequent "nights off", and resist the urge to roll alts.
Let me know if you need help with Fire Temple attunement (aka the dreaded "3 Keys" Morheim campaign quest) as it is one of the few things I am able to do to help you out until you hit the 40s.
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