fiontar, why on earth do you think it is necessary for NCSoft to change the game's design just to make a few more people happy? I agree with the other posters saying that asking Aion to change game design to appease a few more people is stupid. This is their game, not yours. If you don't like PvP, Rift's, RvR - why play Aion?
You guys arguing for Aion to change the game's design need to stop QQing and go play something else. Aion is not for you.
fiontar, why on earth do you think it is necessary for NCSoft to change the game's design just to make a few more people happy? I agree with the other posters saying that asking Aion to change game design to appease a few more people is stupid. This is their game, not yours. If you don't like PvP, Rift's, RvR - why play Aion?
You guys arguing for Aion to change the game's design need to stop QQing and go play something else. Aion is not for you.
A few more? Try a lot more. At lest 50% more. If NC doesn't like money then they will stay with the current server type and the game will go the way that T2 did. The word is already getting out a month prior to release that Aion is a griefers paradise and driving casual PVPers away in droves. The PVE's wont even give Aion a try knowing it's a PVP open game.
So, current server type = dead game within a year. Rift free servers and PVP servers = twice the income. PVE only servers, Rift free servers and PVP servers = triple the income.
PVPers don't have to play on the PVE friendly servers so what's the problem?
If they made different servers for different aspects, I would play on them.
But I'm not going to sit here and say they SHOULD make them. I clicked on this thread to read (by the title) a subject I have an opinion about, but the main post itself changed tempo from asking an opinion, to offering advice to server changes. That part I do not agree with.
I'm not going to say what company should do or don't, it's up to them to create the world or they can ask me for advice (lots of games consider this type of alpha testing), but I will say that just about any game I have played, I have made multiple characters on multiple servers (pve and pvp) to decide what was best for ME.
If Aion's system intact provides a better experience for me in regards to killing, looting, or grinding then I'm happy. If they implement a rift free server (takes away a portion of quests but meh sacrifice is sacrifice) because griefing IS that bad, then I'd play on that server AS WELL.
But I won't contribute to a player demand thread since as much as I can have an opinion, trying to force it onto a company to cater to my whims is folly and as it is apparent in this thread... creates more argument and bashing. No matter how professional you guys type it out to look =P.
fiontar, why on earth do you think it is necessary for NCSoft to change the game's design just to make a few more people happy? I agree with the other posters saying that asking Aion to change game design to appease a few more people is stupid. This is their game, not yours. If you don't like PvP, Rift's, RvR - why play Aion?
You guys arguing for Aion to change the game's design need to stop QQing and go play something else. Aion is not for you.
A few more? Try a lot more. At lest 50% more. If NC doesn't like money then they will stay with the current server type and the game will go the way that T2 did. The word is already getting out a month prior to release that Aion is a griefers paradise and driving casual PVPers away in droves. The PVE's wont even give Aion a try knowing it's a PVP open game.
So, current server type = dead game within a year. Rift free servers and PVP servers = twice the income. PVE only servers, Rift free servers and PVP servers = triple the income.
PVPers don't have to play on the PVE friendly servers so what's the problem?
I am sure everyone wishes they had your magic 8ball that tells the future. How can a game that isn't even released in the us be driving away people in 'droves' - the game isn't even out yet. There are 0 people playing Aion on NA servers right now and the people that are in NA playing on China servers love it, so they don't even count.
This game is not a Casual PvPer game - why the hell would they make it appeal to them when they are marketing toward people who like PvPing all the time?
It's just like what a previous poster said - sure chick-fil-a could serve burgers to increase their income a ton, but it's chick-fil-a, they aren't going to ever serve a burger! It's not aimed at people who want McDonalds and crap!
I think this topic has gone way off base. The question was: Would you play on a Rift free server? Not: Do Rift free server make economic sense? That's just my two pennies worth. Oh, well, one more penny. The developers chose to make the game the way they did for a reason. They are the artist, this is their masterpiece. Would you have asked DaVinci to change the way he painted the Mona Lisa? Would you have asked him to offer a variant edition? I'm not saying rift free servers would be bad, I'm sure there are people who would love them. I'm not one of those people. And by the way things look in the East, neither are 2.5 million people over there...if that's a true estimate of suscribers. I've heard more and I've heard less.
I just want to clear one thing up here, Asians love PvP plain and simple more so than westerners. If you look at all their f2p games and most of their p2p ones, they all center around PvP. Westerns on the other hand prefer a more PvE friendly game with concensual PvP hench the success of WoW. If Aion comes here and push for more of a PvP centric crowd, than its going to end up in the waste pile right along side AoC and WaR
In the end i say let the PvP crowd have Aion and in 3 to 6 months lets see what happens, there are far more western PvE players than PvP players and we will see Aion going the way of WaR and AoC.
I think this topic has gone way off base. The question was: Would you play on a Rift free server? Not: Do Rift free server make economic sense? That's just my two pennies worth. Oh, well, one more penny. The developers chose to make the game the way they did for a reason. They are the artist, this is their masterpiece. Would you have asked DaVinci to change the way he painted the Mona Lisa? Would you have asked him to offer a variant edition? I'm not saying rift free servers would be bad, I'm sure there are people who would love them. I'm not one of those people. And by the way things look in the East, neither are 2.5 million people over there...if that's a true estimate of suscribers. I've heard more and I've heard less.
I just want to clear one thing up here, Asians love PvP plain and simple more so than westerners. If you look at all their f2p games and most of their p2p ones, they all center around PvP. Westerns on the other hand prefer a more PvE friendly game with concensual PvP hench the success of WoW. If Aion comes here and push for more of a PvP centric crowd, than its going to end up in the waste pile right along side AoC and WaR
In the end i say let the PvP crowd have Aion and in 3 to 6 months lets see what happens, there are far more western PvE players than PvP players and we will see Aion going the way of WaR and AoC.
That's my point. Once the new FF is released a lot of the casual PVPers and all the PVEers will flock to that game and Aion will die, slowly, but it will die.
I'm not demanding, and I don't think anyone else is, that Aion make a PVE/PVP friendly type server. They will or they wont. But they will lose tons of income if they don't. That's just the facts.
Since I already bought the game I'll try every class to level 20, both races, like I do in every MMO I play, then quit before the monthly fee kicks in.
I don't see how we can say that it'll die if it's not WoW-level popular in the NA, when it already has sizable fanbases in Asia, and will also be released to the EU market the same time as it is here. Even without that level of NA support, Aion is already a successful game, and has been for nearly a year.
Why would a game "die"? There are far too many people on this planet that enjoys different things. Take card games for instance. CARD GAMES. Just a few pieces of lamenated paper has people entertained for hours. Just ask any prison inmate =P.
Too many people put way too much emphasis on #1 or nothing. I for one like that I have variety with my drive thrus when I want a burger. Just because someone came up with a new burger joint doesn't mean mickey d's is going to "die". And Jack 'N' Box is still popular, Wendy's, Burger King, Sonic, whatever...
There is such a huge player base of internet gamers that I'm sure comanies are still going to profit and survive.
Would you like the option to play on a Rift free server but still PVP in zones like the Abyss but without ganked while PVEing? For Aion to be successfull I don't see how NC can't give players this option. There are three types of MMO gamers. 1) Player Versus Players. 2) Players who like to PVE without getting ganked and still have the option to PVP in zones and instances. Warhammer and Dark ages of Camelot type games. 3)Players who only like to PVE. To get the numbers they are hoping for NC needs to do what Wold of Warcraft has done. Make Aion attractive to all three and not just the Player versus players.
No, they don't need to do what you suggest, and NCSoft have big enough balls not to gimp their game to the standard of WoW.
If a handful of Elyos were able to shut down Asmodian leveling, why were there so many Asmodian's running around Elyos lands (15+).
I don't like being ganked. I don't like ganking others. I do think the Rifts are fun and should stay. Getting a group of 15-25 people together to clear out your area of enemy's is fun.
It's an intersting idea that does deserve merit. and the more income will mean that the pvp servers will be around longer, and the pvp players will enjoy that (Plus they get to make fun of carebear servers, and that would be icecream on the pie)
My first beta weekend is coming up so i don't know how it would actually pan out, but like I said its an interesting idea that deserves merit.
Oh yeah and to answer the question I don't know, I probably wouldn't play on the non rift servers, just cause, no speciffic reason other than I want to experience the PvP aspect.
The simple fact of the matter is that Aion, like most any other game, is a game designed with a specific vision in mind. That vision includes a war between three races....let me repeat that, a WAR BETWEEN THREE RACES. Not a war between three races, but there just so happen to be valuabe (aka higher level) areas where the other human race decides they don't feel like trying to control. Not a war between three races, but for whatever reason there happens to be a way to turn it into a war between two...you and the balaur.
It's just like any other game. Not everyone liked Ninja Gaiden, but lots of people liked Final Fantasy. That doesn't mean you should turn meaningful aspects of Ninja Gaiden into Final Fantasy.
There are many a well thought out arguments and more than a few that feel AIon should be thier idea of a perfect game. Aion doesn't exist to satisfy the developer's req. for PXP. They make a point of telling folks its completly PVEable. They get it. Some folks want PVP, some PVE, some PVE+PVP (me).
Bottom line is NCSoft isn't in business to provide a haven for PVP, PVE, griefers etc. They are in business to make a profit. If providing an option to avoid PVP results in an significant number of players that would otherwise choose not to play=win!!
I personaly would like to do both. That said, there are times when I just don't feel like PVP and would welcome a 'bad hair day'/PVE only play mode to just go to for enjoyment and to relax. It takes nothing from the game and would result in a larger player base. This isn't a copy of ( insert favorite example here) its just good business practice.
Yup, I suppose I could just do something else when I don't feel like being at high energy levels but its not exactly a plus for the game.
OOPS!! On the original question of rift free.. While I would like to be able to do both I dunno that I'd make a toon on a rift free server and not be able to PVP in the rift with that toon at all.
There are many a well thought out arguments and more than a few that feel AIon should be thier idea of a perfect game. Aion doesn't exist to satisfy the developer's req. for PXP. They make a point of telling folks its completly PVEable. They get it. Some folks want PVP, some PVE, some PVE+PVP (me). Bottom line is NCSoft isn't in business to provide a haven for PVP, PVE, griefers etc. They are in business to make a profit. If providing an option to avoid PVP results in an significant number of players that would otherwise choose not to play=win!! I personaly would like to do both. That said, there are times when I just don't feel like PVP and would welcome a 'bad hair day'/PVE only play mode to just go to for enjoyment and to relax. It takes nothing from the game and would result in a larger player base. This isn't a copy of ( insert favorite example here) its just good business practice. Yup, I suppose I could just do something else when I don't feel like being at high energy levels but its not exactly a plus for the game.
NCsoft is in the business to make video games with at least some semblance of integrity to their intent, most of the time.
If they were out purely to make money then they would have overhauled Lineage 2 yeaaaaars ago to copy WoW or at least make it super casual.
Of course they are out to make money, but I have never seen NCsoft completely corrupt a core principle of one of their games. In other words, they at least have some measure of integrity. Some people won't like being able to be ganked, so don't play the game then. I really don't want you around anyway.
a lot of doomsayers in this thread saying that aion will be a gankfest, but have never actually played the game. now, CB will of course have a huge amount of rift activity because of bored players who have hit the lvl cap.
now for kaion 1.5 huge rift groups are almost non existent because AP distribution in a huge alliance isn't worth it. so what you'll see are small skirmishes of group with 2-6 players. now, for you doomsayers posting about high lvl players rifting to camp lowbies... you have to realize that the travel from a lvl 40 to a lvl 20 area is a long #$@ing run. and with the addition of the slayer system, even if that lowbie killer sets up a kisk the AP wont be worth it. this of course wont stop everyone but my friends have never once complained being killed by a high lvl player.
There are many a well thought out arguments and more than a few that feel AIon should be thier idea of a perfect game. Aion doesn't exist to satisfy the developer's req. for PXP. They make a point of telling folks its completly PVEable. They get it. Some folks want PVP, some PVE, some PVE+PVP (me). Bottom line is NCSoft isn't in business to provide a haven for PVP, PVE, griefers etc. They are in business to make a profit. If providing an option to avoid PVP results in an significant number of players that would otherwise choose not to play=win!! I personaly would like to do both. That said, there are times when I just don't feel like PVP and would welcome a 'bad hair day'/PVE only play mode to just go to for enjoyment and to relax. It takes nothing from the game and would result in a larger player base. This isn't a copy of ( insert favorite example here) its just good business practice. Yup, I suppose I could just do something else when I don't feel like being at high energy levels but its not exactly a plus for the game.
NCsoft is in the business to make video games with at least some semblance of integrity to their intent, most of the time.
If they were out purely to make money then they would have overhauled Lineage 2 yeaaaaars ago to copy WoW or at least make it super casual.
Of course they are out to make money, but I have never seen NCsoft completely corrupt a core principle of one of their games. In other words, they at least have some measure of integrity. Some people won't like being able to be ganked, so don't play the game then. I really don't want you around anyway.
You may not want him round but im sure NCSOFT does. They make games to make money not for any other reason. As has been said, they are already introducing more PVE content and talking about how it will be possible to PVE the game to level cap. Im not sure how they intend to do this but i will not be surprised to see additional areas that will be "rift free". As for the OP's question, i want the rifts but i also want the game to do well in subs and the more the better be they fans of PVP or fans of PVE.
From what I've been reading, NCSoft has made clear they will not offer alternate server types. However, they are aware of the negative effect of griefing for a large portion of the audience and they will continue to make additions to the anti-griefing penalties, until they have a game that appeals to a broad range of players.
These changes will take time and future penalties will depend on the level of success that the current slayer system has in making the game more friendly to all, with out eliminating Rift battles.
Oh, BTW, they also made clear that all changes will effect all regions. As the game adjusts for Western audiences, the game every where will morph. They are committed to the game playing the same every where.
People who dislike griefing will need to decide if the game is still worth buying and , if so, will then will have to decide, based on play experiences, if it's worth it to continue playing.
I'm not sure how this approach makes financial success, but maybe they will some how find a good balance, in time.
All they have to do all a few more PvE areas with rifts don't appear... problem solved.
Don't wanna PvP goto the non-rift PvE areas.
No need to make a 2nd Server type.
There is a fine one already for the asmo side anyway, no rifts appear in brust, however there are only like 5 quests there since the zone isnt finished. Once 1.5 hits and it IS finished i think it will work fine.
Getting ganked? Go to brust and quest/grind
Personally during CB while getting ganked my legion got together, we went the long way to get around the gankers (to the 10-20 zone south theres a portal that will take you deep into the 20-40 zone) and farmed eleite mobs to level.
There are many options opposed to simply zombie running into elyos and getting killed. People just need to look for them.
Would you like the option to play on a Rift free server but still PVP in zones like the Abyss but without ganked while PVEing? For Aion to be successfull I don't see how NC can't give players this option. There are three types of MMO gamers. 1) Player Versus Players. 2) Players who like to PVE without getting ganked and still have the option to PVP in zones and instances. Warhammer and Dark ages of Camelot type games. 3)Players who only like to PVE. To get the numbers they are hoping for NC needs to do what Wold of Warcraft has done. Make Aion attractive to all three and not just the Player versus players.
Not me, how can I do infiltration quests if there are no rifts? And they give some pretty good gear...
If they ever change the game for carebears, they won't disable rifts, but they will just put some PvP consent toggle for non-Abyss areas.
The game doesn't suggest there will be PvP-restricted servers though, rifts and the upcoming Slayer system will already put limits on PvP, it doesn't look like they want to divide the playerbase and rather find a middle-point for both. I like this approach and it just shows they aren't lazy, these kind of servers are the easy, shortcut solution. I hate this kind of solution.
In CBT5 there was a rumor that in a later update there would be a scroll you could buy that would make you unattackable by the other faction in your home region. I actually like this idea alot more. I do not think PvP flagging should be merely a matter of convience and time. Putting a price on safety is not a bad idea. Its like insurance or something.
Now I told people this was a rumor and i had never seen anything about this. But I guess my server was camped so bad people wanted some kind of hope the game would be playable.
If people wanted a PvE server I think would be perfectly fine with that as an implementation. I do not think the Abyss with a flag system is a good idea. Because the Abyss is designed and weighted with RvR in mind and also there is the whole Balaur thing.
I do not beleive a "Rift free" server is a good idea. But I do think that rumor I mentioned would be ok. If you do an infiltration quest you get flagged. If the zone is really bad for the home team, they get scrolls and have a minor (or maybe major) monetary burden but are allowed to play.
I most likely would play on a "normal" PvP server myself. Although I would also play on a server where that scroll idea was very pricey, ie. very much a last resort you would have to be super rich to run around all the time with it. Something on the order of costing all the Kinah you would make in a level (on average), and lasting long enough to get 50% of a level.
I might preferentially play on that kind of server. I am actually leaning toward a price control flag being the best solution around. ALL systems can and will be exploited. So basically allow the players to make a price decision on where they want to be burdened.
But a striaght up WoW-like flag (I just say that for reference that flag system is more than 20 years old) or a super cheap scroll I would opt for the no-flag system. But I enjoy PvP even if I think griefers are piece of shit cowards.
All they have to do all a few more PvE areas with rifts don't appear... problem solved.
Don't wanna PvP goto the non-rift PvE areas.
No need to make a 2nd Server type.
There is a fine one already for the asmo side anyway, no rifts appear in brust, however there are only like 5 quests there since the zone isnt finished. Once 1.5 hits and it IS finished i think it will work fine.
Getting ganked? Go to brust and quest/grind
Personally during CB while getting ganked my legion got together, we went the long way to get around the gankers (to the 10-20 zone south theres a portal that will take you deep into the 20-40 zone) and farmed eleite mobs to level.
There are many options opposed to simply zombie running into elyos and getting killed. People just need to look for them.
I am sorry while I would agree with you in this case, due to the design of morhiem this is not really true. You guys had level 23 and higher people (except for one person initially who was 22).
I tried to grind elites at level 20 with two groups mostly of level 20 and one level 24 tank and it was not good xp. The fact is there is a dry spot in Morhiem and the only place to muddle through. Even with two groups it took forever to kill one level 28 elite. We were able to do it but it was not good and gave no loot we could use anytime soon.
The fact is for Asmodian their main zone is designed really badly. Even worse the Elyos zone is really easy. The Elites are easier and less densly packed and have a better levels spread.
I would agree with you if the zone was designed OK but its not. If you are level 19-21 maybe even 22 getting a group together and finding the right content is not the right answer. Maybe you could grind Black Claws at 19 that should be ok.
Morhiem is designed very poorly in this regard. And The Elyos side is very easy. So while in theory this fine. In practice it is not. The Induction fails when n=21. In the worst case the only solution is mindlessly grind on Vespine and Corn in Brus until you hit 23, then do what you say.
The fact is that you need to be level 23 at the least to do what you reccomend in the Asmo zones. Not only that but at release the Elyos are going to level much quicker. Hopefully as the servers age this will be less of a problem. But count on the Elyos being two levels ahead for the first 2-4 weeks. And take in consideration that this affects the Abyss and with RvR coiuld make the level disparity even worse. Of course this all depends on faction ratios too so it could also simply even out if Asmo is more populated.
Also note that anyone relying on population poll to pick a side is jsut flat out wrong. Initially it will be almost solely iunfluenced by Legion. The initial ratios will swing and vary wildly.
Comments
fiontar, why on earth do you think it is necessary for NCSoft to change the game's design just to make a few more people happy? I agree with the other posters saying that asking Aion to change game design to appease a few more people is stupid. This is their game, not yours. If you don't like PvP, Rift's, RvR - why play Aion?
You guys arguing for Aion to change the game's design need to stop QQing and go play something else. Aion is not for you.
A few more? Try a lot more. At lest 50% more. If NC doesn't like money then they will stay with the current server type and the game will go the way that T2 did. The word is already getting out a month prior to release that Aion is a griefers paradise and driving casual PVPers away in droves. The PVE's wont even give Aion a try knowing it's a PVP open game.
So, current server type = dead game within a year. Rift free servers and PVP servers = twice the income. PVE only servers, Rift free servers and PVP servers = triple the income.
PVPers don't have to play on the PVE friendly servers so what's the problem?
If they made different servers for different aspects, I would play on them.
But I'm not going to sit here and say they SHOULD make them. I clicked on this thread to read (by the title) a subject I have an opinion about, but the main post itself changed tempo from asking an opinion, to offering advice to server changes. That part I do not agree with.
I'm not going to say what company should do or don't, it's up to them to create the world or they can ask me for advice (lots of games consider this type of alpha testing), but I will say that just about any game I have played, I have made multiple characters on multiple servers (pve and pvp) to decide what was best for ME.
If Aion's system intact provides a better experience for me in regards to killing, looting, or grinding then I'm happy. If they implement a rift free server (takes away a portion of quests but meh sacrifice is sacrifice) because griefing IS that bad, then I'd play on that server AS WELL.
But I won't contribute to a player demand thread since as much as I can have an opinion, trying to force it onto a company to cater to my whims is folly and as it is apparent in this thread... creates more argument and bashing. No matter how professional you guys type it out to look =P.
A few more? Try a lot more. At lest 50% more. If NC doesn't like money then they will stay with the current server type and the game will go the way that T2 did. The word is already getting out a month prior to release that Aion is a griefers paradise and driving casual PVPers away in droves. The PVE's wont even give Aion a try knowing it's a PVP open game.
So, current server type = dead game within a year. Rift free servers and PVP servers = twice the income. PVE only servers, Rift free servers and PVP servers = triple the income.
PVPers don't have to play on the PVE friendly servers so what's the problem?
I am sure everyone wishes they had your magic 8ball that tells the future. How can a game that isn't even released in the us be driving away people in 'droves' - the game isn't even out yet. There are 0 people playing Aion on NA servers right now and the people that are in NA playing on China servers love it, so they don't even count.
This game is not a Casual PvPer game - why the hell would they make it appeal to them when they are marketing toward people who like PvPing all the time?
It's just like what a previous poster said - sure chick-fil-a could serve burgers to increase their income a ton, but it's chick-fil-a, they aren't going to ever serve a burger! It's not aimed at people who want McDonalds and crap!
I just want to clear one thing up here, Asians love PvP plain and simple more so than westerners. If you look at all their f2p games and most of their p2p ones, they all center around PvP. Westerns on the other hand prefer a more PvE friendly game with concensual PvP hench the success of WoW. If Aion comes here and push for more of a PvP centric crowd, than its going to end up in the waste pile right along side AoC and WaR
In the end i say let the PvP crowd have Aion and in 3 to 6 months lets see what happens, there are far more western PvE players than PvP players and we will see Aion going the way of WaR and AoC.
I just want to clear one thing up here, Asians love PvP plain and simple more so than westerners. If you look at all their f2p games and most of their p2p ones, they all center around PvP. Westerns on the other hand prefer a more PvE friendly game with concensual PvP hench the success of WoW. If Aion comes here and push for more of a PvP centric crowd, than its going to end up in the waste pile right along side AoC and WaR
In the end i say let the PvP crowd have Aion and in 3 to 6 months lets see what happens, there are far more western PvE players than PvP players and we will see Aion going the way of WaR and AoC.
That's my point. Once the new FF is released a lot of the casual PVPers and all the PVEers will flock to that game and Aion will die, slowly, but it will die.
I'm not demanding, and I don't think anyone else is, that Aion make a PVE/PVP friendly type server. They will or they wont. But they will lose tons of income if they don't. That's just the facts.
Since I already bought the game I'll try every class to level 20, both races, like I do in every MMO I play, then quit before the monthly fee kicks in.
I don't see how we can say that it'll die if it's not WoW-level popular in the NA, when it already has sizable fanbases in Asia, and will also be released to the EU market the same time as it is here. Even without that level of NA support, Aion is already a successful game, and has been for nearly a year.
And to fiontar: I already answered your question.
Why would a game "die"? There are far too many people on this planet that enjoys different things. Take card games for instance. CARD GAMES. Just a few pieces of lamenated paper has people entertained for hours. Just ask any prison inmate =P.
Too many people put way too much emphasis on #1 or nothing. I for one like that I have variety with my drive thrus when I want a burger. Just because someone came up with a new burger joint doesn't mean mickey d's is going to "die". And Jack 'N' Box is still popular, Wendy's, Burger King, Sonic, whatever...
There is such a huge player base of internet gamers that I'm sure comanies are still going to profit and survive.
No, they don't need to do what you suggest, and NCSoft have big enough balls not to gimp their game to the standard of WoW.
Do us all a favour, and stay away.
If a handful of Elyos were able to shut down Asmodian leveling, why were there so many Asmodian's running around Elyos lands (15+).
I don't like being ganked. I don't like ganking others. I do think the Rifts are fun and should stay. Getting a group of 15-25 people together to clear out your area of enemy's is fun.
No.
Aion is very similiar to a lot of MMOs on the market already, why make it even more like what we already have?
It's an intersting idea that does deserve merit. and the more income will mean that the pvp servers will be around longer, and the pvp players will enjoy that (Plus they get to make fun of carebear servers, and that would be icecream on the pie)
My first beta weekend is coming up so i don't know how it would actually pan out, but like I said its an interesting idea that deserves merit.
Oh yeah and to answer the question I don't know, I probably wouldn't play on the non rift servers, just cause, no speciffic reason other than I want to experience the PvP aspect.
My Thoughts on Content Locust
No.
No.
No.
No.
The simple fact of the matter is that Aion, like most any other game, is a game designed with a specific vision in mind. That vision includes a war between three races....let me repeat that, a WAR BETWEEN THREE RACES. Not a war between three races, but there just so happen to be valuabe (aka higher level) areas where the other human race decides they don't feel like trying to control. Not a war between three races, but for whatever reason there happens to be a way to turn it into a war between two...you and the balaur.
It's just like any other game. Not everyone liked Ninja Gaiden, but lots of people liked Final Fantasy. That doesn't mean you should turn meaningful aspects of Ninja Gaiden into Final Fantasy.
There are many a well thought out arguments and more than a few that feel AIon should be thier idea of a perfect game. Aion doesn't exist to satisfy the developer's req. for PXP. They make a point of telling folks its completly PVEable. They get it. Some folks want PVP, some PVE, some PVE+PVP (me).
Bottom line is NCSoft isn't in business to provide a haven for PVP, PVE, griefers etc. They are in business to make a profit. If providing an option to avoid PVP results in an significant number of players that would otherwise choose not to play=win!!
I personaly would like to do both. That said, there are times when I just don't feel like PVP and would welcome a 'bad hair day'/PVE only play mode to just go to for enjoyment and to relax. It takes nothing from the game and would result in a larger player base. This isn't a copy of ( insert favorite example here) its just good business practice.
Yup, I suppose I could just do something else when I don't feel like being at high energy levels but its not exactly a plus for the game.
OOPS!! On the original question of rift free.. While I would like to be able to do both I dunno that I'd make a toon on a rift free server and not be able to PVP in the rift with that toon at all.
NCsoft is in the business to make video games with at least some semblance of integrity to their intent, most of the time.
If they were out purely to make money then they would have overhauled Lineage 2 yeaaaaars ago to copy WoW or at least make it super casual.
Of course they are out to make money, but I have never seen NCsoft completely corrupt a core principle of one of their games. In other words, they at least have some measure of integrity. Some people won't like being able to be ganked, so don't play the game then. I really don't want you around anyway.
a lot of doomsayers in this thread saying that aion will be a gankfest, but have never actually played the game. now, CB will of course have a huge amount of rift activity because of bored players who have hit the lvl cap.
now for kaion 1.5 huge rift groups are almost non existent because AP distribution in a huge alliance isn't worth it. so what you'll see are small skirmishes of group with 2-6 players. now, for you doomsayers posting about high lvl players rifting to camp lowbies... you have to realize that the travel from a lvl 40 to a lvl 20 area is a long #$@ing run. and with the addition of the slayer system, even if that lowbie killer sets up a kisk the AP wont be worth it. this of course wont stop everyone but my friends have never once complained being killed by a high lvl player.
NCsoft is in the business to make video games with at least some semblance of integrity to their intent, most of the time.
If they were out purely to make money then they would have overhauled Lineage 2 yeaaaaars ago to copy WoW or at least make it super casual.
Of course they are out to make money, but I have never seen NCsoft completely corrupt a core principle of one of their games. In other words, they at least have some measure of integrity. Some people won't like being able to be ganked, so don't play the game then. I really don't want you around anyway.
You may not want him round but im sure NCSOFT does. They make games to make money not for any other reason. As has been said, they are already introducing more PVE content and talking about how it will be possible to PVE the game to level cap. Im not sure how they intend to do this but i will not be surprised to see additional areas that will be "rift free". As for the OP's question, i want the rifts but i also want the game to do well in subs and the more the better be they fans of PVP or fans of PVE.
There was a post stating "When the next FF mmorpg comes out, Aion's asian population will leave"....
That's IF they all have a PS3, right?
"Sony announces the online-based Final Fantasy sequel is exclusive for PS3."
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174536
Do you have the willpower to delete YOUR wow toons? XD
[Retired: WoW, RO, EvE, WaR, AoC, LoTR]
This discussion may now be academic.
From what I've been reading, NCSoft has made clear they will not offer alternate server types. However, they are aware of the negative effect of griefing for a large portion of the audience and they will continue to make additions to the anti-griefing penalties, until they have a game that appeals to a broad range of players.
These changes will take time and future penalties will depend on the level of success that the current slayer system has in making the game more friendly to all, with out eliminating Rift battles.
Oh, BTW, they also made clear that all changes will effect all regions. As the game adjusts for Western audiences, the game every where will morph. They are committed to the game playing the same every where.
People who dislike griefing will need to decide if the game is still worth buying and , if so, will then will have to decide, based on play experiences, if it's worth it to continue playing.
I'm not sure how this approach makes financial success, but maybe they will some how find a good balance, in time.
Want to know more about GW2 and why there is so much buzz? Start here: Guild Wars 2 Mass Info for the Uninitiated
There is a fine one already for the asmo side anyway, no rifts appear in brust, however there are only like 5 quests there since the zone isnt finished. Once 1.5 hits and it IS finished i think it will work fine.
Getting ganked? Go to brust and quest/grind
Personally during CB while getting ganked my legion got together, we went the long way to get around the gankers (to the 10-20 zone south theres a portal that will take you deep into the 20-40 zone) and farmed eleite mobs to level.
There are many options opposed to simply zombie running into elyos and getting killed. People just need to look for them.
...or a PC.
Not me, how can I do infiltration quests if there are no rifts? And they give some pretty good gear...
If they ever change the game for carebears, they won't disable rifts, but they will just put some PvP consent toggle for non-Abyss areas.
The game doesn't suggest there will be PvP-restricted servers though, rifts and the upcoming Slayer system will already put limits on PvP, it doesn't look like they want to divide the playerbase and rather find a middle-point for both. I like this approach and it just shows they aren't lazy, these kind of servers are the easy, shortcut solution. I hate this kind of solution.
Lineage ii system kinda worked..
In CBT5 there was a rumor that in a later update there would be a scroll you could buy that would make you unattackable by the other faction in your home region. I actually like this idea alot more. I do not think PvP flagging should be merely a matter of convience and time. Putting a price on safety is not a bad idea. Its like insurance or something.
Now I told people this was a rumor and i had never seen anything about this. But I guess my server was camped so bad people wanted some kind of hope the game would be playable.
If people wanted a PvE server I think would be perfectly fine with that as an implementation. I do not think the Abyss with a flag system is a good idea. Because the Abyss is designed and weighted with RvR in mind and also there is the whole Balaur thing.
I do not beleive a "Rift free" server is a good idea. But I do think that rumor I mentioned would be ok. If you do an infiltration quest you get flagged. If the zone is really bad for the home team, they get scrolls and have a minor (or maybe major) monetary burden but are allowed to play.
I most likely would play on a "normal" PvP server myself. Although I would also play on a server where that scroll idea was very pricey, ie. very much a last resort you would have to be super rich to run around all the time with it. Something on the order of costing all the Kinah you would make in a level (on average), and lasting long enough to get 50% of a level.
I might preferentially play on that kind of server. I am actually leaning toward a price control flag being the best solution around. ALL systems can and will be exploited. So basically allow the players to make a price decision on where they want to be burdened.
But a striaght up WoW-like flag (I just say that for reference that flag system is more than 20 years old) or a super cheap scroll I would opt for the no-flag system. But I enjoy PvP even if I think griefers are piece of shit cowards.
There is a fine one already for the asmo side anyway, no rifts appear in brust, however there are only like 5 quests there since the zone isnt finished. Once 1.5 hits and it IS finished i think it will work fine.
Getting ganked? Go to brust and quest/grind
Personally during CB while getting ganked my legion got together, we went the long way to get around the gankers (to the 10-20 zone south theres a portal that will take you deep into the 20-40 zone) and farmed eleite mobs to level.
There are many options opposed to simply zombie running into elyos and getting killed. People just need to look for them.
I am sorry while I would agree with you in this case, due to the design of morhiem this is not really true. You guys had level 23 and higher people (except for one person initially who was 22).
I tried to grind elites at level 20 with two groups mostly of level 20 and one level 24 tank and it was not good xp. The fact is there is a dry spot in Morhiem and the only place to muddle through. Even with two groups it took forever to kill one level 28 elite. We were able to do it but it was not good and gave no loot we could use anytime soon.
The fact is for Asmodian their main zone is designed really badly. Even worse the Elyos zone is really easy. The Elites are easier and less densly packed and have a better levels spread.
I would agree with you if the zone was designed OK but its not. If you are level 19-21 maybe even 22 getting a group together and finding the right content is not the right answer. Maybe you could grind Black Claws at 19 that should be ok.
Morhiem is designed very poorly in this regard. And The Elyos side is very easy. So while in theory this fine. In practice it is not. The Induction fails when n=21. In the worst case the only solution is mindlessly grind on Vespine and Corn in Brus until you hit 23, then do what you say.
The fact is that you need to be level 23 at the least to do what you reccomend in the Asmo zones. Not only that but at release the Elyos are going to level much quicker. Hopefully as the servers age this will be less of a problem. But count on the Elyos being two levels ahead for the first 2-4 weeks. And take in consideration that this affects the Abyss and with RvR coiuld make the level disparity even worse. Of course this all depends on faction ratios too so it could also simply even out if Asmo is more populated.
Also note that anyone relying on population poll to pick a side is jsut flat out wrong. Initially it will be almost solely iunfluenced by Legion. The initial ratios will swing and vary wildly.