Aion Coverage - It's live folks!

[damocles]

Anyone on the beta living in China by chance?

I am keen to give Aion a go but I am in Beijing and I suspect the lag may be unbearable. I just reactivayed my WoW account to kill some time and the lag is awful (far far worse than back home in NZ).

I am not sure if I can solve this with a better ISP (is there away to ping the servers to get an idea of laggage?)

I know there are local servers here but I don't speak Chinese

 

[Gothgar]

I saw this at Comic-Con, looked like fun /shrug

 

[SunnyD]

Alright, updated the OP for one more round of beta. If I didn't have a rule of not paying subscriptions for games, I would definitely be buying Aion.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

I read somewhere that this game has a class/job system similar to FFXI, that you can level up as say a Fighter, then switch to and level up as a Mage, and dual-class the abilities somewhat similarly to FFXI. Is this true? I searched through this thread and didn't find anything that talks specifically about the class/job system.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
I read somewhere that this game has a class/job system similar to FFXI, that you can level up as say a Fighter, then switch to and level up as a Mage, and dual-class the abilities somewhat similarly to FFXI. Is this true? I searched through this thread and didn't find anything that talks specifically about the class/job system.

No. You pick from Warrior, Mage, Scout, or Priest at the beginning. Then at a certain point, you pick a subclass from that. So if you started as a Warrior, you can only pick from either Templar or Gladiator later on.

Your class limits what skills, armor, and weapons you can use. All classes can learn any of the crafting skills afaik. You're not limited to only Armorsmithing / Weaponsmithing as a warrior class, for example, you can train Sewing if you really want.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: AmberClad

Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
I read somewhere that this game has a class/job system similar to FFXI, that you can level up as say a Fighter, then switch to and level up as a Mage, and dual-class the abilities somewhat similarly to FFXI. Is this true? I searched through this thread and didn't find anything that talks specifically about the class/job system.

No. You pick from Warrior, Mage, Scout, or Priest at the beginning. Then at a certain point, you pick a subclass from that. So if you started as a Warrior, you can only pick from either Templar or Gladiator later on.

Your class limits what skills, armor, and weapons you can use. All classes can learn any of the crafting skills afaik. You're not limited to only Armorsmithing / Weaponsmithing as a warrior class, for example, you can train Sewing if you really want.

So you can't change your class at some point to say a Mage and switch back to a Fighter if you want?

That's what I heard you could do, but then again, it was just a forum post or something.

 

[AmberClad]

I suppose it's possible that was discussed early in development, but there's no dual classing whatsoever currently in the closed beta.

 

[Magusigne]

I'm tempted to give this a go.

I'm too impatient to wait it out a few months and then sign up.

So I either pre-order and start from release (And get burned, AoC, Auto Assault >.<, WAR)
or don't even give this game a second thought.


Is it worth plunking down the 50-60 dollars for the release?

Just needing a general opinion.

 

[RyanPaulShaffer]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
I suppose it's possible that was discussed early in development, but there's no dual classing whatsoever currently in the closed beta.

Bummer

I was looking forward to real end-game character progression, instead of the "generic gear grind which is just replaced at the next expansion, thus rendering all of your work worthless" type of end-game progression which is all the rage nowadays.

 

[Chronoshock]

Originally posted by: Powernick50
I'm tempted to give this a go.

I'm too impatient to wait it out a few months and then sign up.

So I either pre-order and start from release (And get burned, AoC, Auto Assault >.<, WAR)
or don't even give this game a second thought.


Is it worth plunking down the 50-60 dollars for the release?

Just needing a general opinion.

Yes it's worth it.


There are some flaws in closed beta right now, but they're all (99%) corrected in the subsequent patches that will be applied to the release version.
Right now, the beta test is using version 1.0 of the game (with some minor bug fixes applied)
Korea has 1.5 on their test servers. When NA goes live, it will be using 1.5 which fixes a wide variety of issues from quest experience (in closed beta there is a fair amount of grinding due to insufficient quests and low quest XP) as well as involuntary pvp (added penalties for rifting as well as killing lower level players). As a result the game is really polished, it just doesn't look that way in CB right now. Hopefully open beta will at least use 1.2

 

[AmberClad]

I preordered the Collector's Edition because a friend got me into it. I'm not a big MMO person, but this didn't feel too grindy to me, although I'm sure it probably slows down as you get higher. I got from level 1 to level 17 the first weekend I was in the beta, although I was mostly busy on that Sunday. I got from 17 to level 22 this weekend, but I was mostly training Armorsmithing and Gathering to level 2, instead of aiming to level up quickly.

The group quests have been kind of fun. I'm playing a Templar, so I got about a half dozen whispers from random people, inviting me to come along to tank on the group raids.

 

[VashHT]

Has anyone else noticed that Nvidia cards run this game far better than ATI? I have a 4870X2 and a GTX280 and the GTX280 just kills the 4870X2 in this game. I'm talking like 2-3x the performance. I hope it's just a driver thing and ATI fixes it, because the 4870X@ runs pretty much every other game I have a lot better.

 

[DangerAardvark]

The only thing that's stopping me from trying this is the apparent lack of customization within each class. Is there anything resembling talent points or specialization?

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: VashHT
Has anyone else noticed that Nvidia cards run this game far better than ATI? I have a 4870X2 and a GTX280 and the GTX280 just kills the 4870X2 in this game. I'm talking like 2-3x the performance. I hope it's just a driver thing and ATI fixes it, because the 4870X@ runs pretty much every other game I have a lot better.

Running a 4890 @ Stock and it runs silky smooth here.

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
The only thing that's stopping me from trying this is the apparent lack of customization within each class. Is there anything resembling talent points or specialization?

Haven't gotten that far, but about the only thing I see as far as character customization goes is the Stigma system. It's more limited than say WoW's talent system.

 

[damocles]

Does anyone know how I can ping a NA Aion Server please?

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: VashHT
Has anyone else noticed that Nvidia cards run this game far better than ATI? I have a 4870X2 and a GTX280 and the GTX280 just kills the 4870X2 in this game. I'm talking like 2-3x the performance. I hope it's just a driver thing and ATI fixes it, because the 4870X@ runs pretty much every other game I have a lot better.

Lmao, puhLEASE could you be any more hardcore in your fanboyism.

Want to see how you're getting 2-3x the performance when a 4890 is silk-smooth. You're getting 180FPS? Why don't you have Vsync enabled?

Yawn, smells like the usual nvidia trolling to me. We've got to have more info...at least give us FPS, and your setup, so we can figure out if it's drivers or what. But simply saying stuff like this is worse than not helpful. Other members have been banned for stuff like this, I suggest you tread lightly.

 

[AmberClad]

@soccerballtux - Overreact much :roll:?

Originally posted by: VashHT
Has anyone else noticed that Nvidia cards run this game far better than ATI? I have a 4870X2 and a GTX280 and the GTX280 just kills the 4870X2 in this game. I'm talking like 2-3x the performance. I hope it's just a driver thing and ATI fixes it, because the 4870X@ runs pretty much every other game I have a lot better.

 

[Chronoshock]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
The only thing that's stopping me from trying this is the apparent lack of customization within each class. Is there anything resembling talent points or specialization?

The stigma system allows a pretty decent amount of customization (not as much as a talent tree) but it's something. You get 5 basic stigma slots and 3 advanced stigma slots. You can slot stigma stones which grant special abilities (both passive and active). There are many more stigmas than slots so you choose whatever you want to customize our char.

 

[VashHT]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux

Originally posted by: VashHT
Has anyone else noticed that Nvidia cards run this game far better than ATI? I have a 4870X2 and a GTX280 and the GTX280 just kills the 4870X2 in this game. I'm talking like 2-3x the performance. I hope it's just a driver thing and ATI fixes it, because the 4870X@ runs pretty much every other game I have a lot better.

Lmao, puhLEASE could you be any more hardcore in your fanboyism.

Want to see how you're getting 2-3x the performance when a 4890 is silk-smooth. You're getting 180FPS? Why don't you have Vsync enabled?

Yawn, smells like the usual nvidia trolling to me. We've got to have more info...at least give us FPS, and your setup, so we can figure out if it's drivers or what. But simply saying stuff like this is worse than not helpful. Other members have been banned for stuff like this, I suggest you tread lightly.

How did you even get trolling out of my post, you obviously didn't even read it. If you aren't going to bother to even read posts don't bother responding to them jackass.

Anyway thanks to the other people who actually responded to it, I will try some older drivers (using 9.7 now) and see if that fixes it.

 

[Magusigne]

Pre-ordered The CE from Steam.


Hopefully I won't get burned too bad.

Fortunately I have a few more things to go on that made me more comfortable about this purchase.

1. Already been released in the Asian market and doing very well and expanding.

2. NDA released early, most comments are positive

3. Graphics are amazing

4. Even if it is very similar to WoW, I really loved WoW so if this is just a graphically updated version with some tweaks, it will be worth my money.

 

[SniperWulf]

For those wanting to try the next beta test without fully committing your hard earned $50-60, run out to Bestbuy and pick up the $5 pre-order deal. Inside that case is a card with a key that will get you into the beta sessions. If you like it, just go back at launch and pay the other $45-55 for the box, or pre-order on steam, etc. If you don't like it, well your only out of $5 bux



to Vash:

I don't have a GTX285 to compare to, but I am able to run my 4870X2 at 2560x1600 with everything maxed (including the lvl 3 bloom and 8xAA) and still get really high frames. I'm talking 150fps+ in most areas. The only place I noticed that it slowed down alot was when the Asmodian area got a little foggy.

 

[SniperWulf]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Alright, updated the OP for one more round of beta. If I didn't have a rule of not paying subscriptions for games, I would definitely be buying Aion.

You know Sunny, I used to have that same rule. Then I started playing WoW. And you know what, WoW actually saved me money! LOL During the time when WoW was my primary game, I didn't really bother to buy any other titles. In essence, that $15 a month as a hell of a lot less that the $50-100 I was spending before (depending on what gets released and when of course)

 

[EricMartello]

Aion seems interesting except for a small hitch. From all the videos I've seen of this game, it looks like it still has that animation issue where the players have twitch, unnatural movement animation like they're on guiderails. Even though WoW has gone to shit in terms of being a good game, the animation quality is still the best I've seen in any MMO...by that I mean it has a very smooth, fluid style of animation that has yet to be matched by competing games. I dunno what it is, or why it is so hard for other developers to animate their games with that kind of fluidity.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: SniperWulf

Originally posted by: SunnyD
Alright, updated the OP for one more round of beta. If I didn't have a rule of not paying subscriptions for games, I would definitely be buying Aion.

You know Sunny, I used to have that same rule. Then I started playing WoW. And you know what, WoW actually saved me money! LOL During the time when WoW was my primary game, I didn't really bother to buy any other titles. In essence, that $15 a month as a hell of a lot less that the $50-100 I was spending before (depending on what gets released and when of course)

I don't generally buy games unless they come out of some bargain bin sale. Last "retail" game I bought was Demigod when Stardock had it on sale for $20. Before that would have been something off of steam for about $5 I'm sure.

Originally posted by: EricMartello
Aion seems interesting except for a small hitch. From all the videos I've seen of this game, it looks like it still has that animation issue where the players have twitch, unnatural movement animation like they're on guiderails. Even though WoW has gone to shit in terms of being a good game, the animation quality is still the best I've seen in any MMO...by that I mean it has a very smooth, fluid style of animation that has yet to be matched by competing games. I dunno what it is, or why it is so hard for other developers to animate their games with that kind of fluidity.

I haven't seen what you're saying. The animations are very fluid. Granted, they're static, but so are WoW's. Until someone comes out with gesture-based kinematics using ragdoll physics, that's the best it's gonna get.

 

[EricMartello]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I haven't seen what you're saying. The animations are very fluid. Granted, they're static, but so are WoW's. Until someone comes out with gesture-based kinematics using ragdoll physics, that's the best it's gonna get.

Go on Youtube and watch an Aion video and a WoW video side by side. If you don't notice the better quality of character animation in WoW then you may just not be that observant...but a lot of people who are coming from WoW are put off by Aion's "twitchy" and "stiff" character animation.