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Aika Global. A Commentary.
Played Aika Global since the first day it went open. Have played all characters bar the priest/cleric and the following are some general observations.
1) PVE/Grind
On the global version the bulk of exp is made up from quests. Grinding mobs does actually take forever, so the quests, of which there seems to be an endless supply has you leveling at a fairly brisk pace.
The quests themselves are not actually anything inspiring. Go kill x amount of mobs, collect and deliver this or that item. The good thing is that the kill x amount of mobs does not mean go frag 100 of them. So far the most I have had is go kill 20.
Another good way of making exp, gaining equipment/items to keep or sell and to make new friends is the dungeon run. The worrying thing at the moment is that the first dungeon, Ursula, is difficult to get a party for. The implication is that since it is a newby dungeon ie the first one you do, the lack of party members means a lack of new players.
2)Population/Civilisation
G.M.'s on all the time 24/7. Nice friendly community. One of the best so far that I have encountered. Nuff said 
3) PVP
This is the kicker. PVP sucks big time.
Where to begin.......
In a nutshell PVP is the usual assign skills to keys, lock on target, spam at will. Skill is not a factor, level and equipment is.
General PVP as in defending the nations relics (because they give the whole population buffs) is not worth getting involved in untill you are level 40 at least and have some serious kit. Honor weapons are seriously recommended.
The problem with the whole system is that a 5 or more level difference will have you killed within seconds if you are the lower. You will notice this if you join in the arena battles.
Secondly there are only two melee classes but there are four ranged, 3 of whom really kick ass. If you are a warrior or crusader, you are a primary target and your life span is brief. You do a lot of damage up close so they do their best to make sure you dont get that far. As such the arena battles are now becoming gun duels and not much else. It is not worth getting involved unless you are willing to hang back and let the mages and snipers duke it out.
Thirdly, there is no collision detection on the smaller scale. Arenas are just kill boxes and open terrain can be walked, shot, stabbed through unless it is a huge rock. The upshot of all this is that for a potentially 1000 v 1000 system tactics will not apply and neither will skill. Watching a battle its like watching two schools of fish fight.
A final piece of advice would be dont get involved in arena battles unless you are close to the cap. Join 11-30 battles when you are in your 20's. 11 to 50 battles when you are in your 40's (these are generally acknowledged as newb farms for the higher levs) and for any of the others good luck.
Aika is a nice game with a great community and outstanding G.M. support, but the PVP is the big let down. Although it will allow massive battles with little lag, the wars themselves are class limited, brief , based on what you are wearing, what the level difference is between you and your opponent and unfortunately, your class.
Comments
I agree on what you said about the community. Aika Global's community surely is one of the best.
What I don't fully agree is your review on the PVP. Well for small scale PVP, I'm not sure if you're right since I haven't tried it yet. But for nation/relic wars, I believe that levels, gears, and class, although important, does not determine the outcome. With a LOT of people participating, even a high-level, fully equipped character can die in a matter of seconds if he's not careful. On the other hand, lower level, not so fully equipped character can still contribute if the player is skilled enough to control his character. The huge number of participants itself somehow balances the difference among levels, equipments and classes.
Played: Runescape, Adventure Quest
Currently playing: Aika Global, Atlantica Online
Waiting for: Cardmon Hero, Dynasty Warriors Online
The point I was making re pvp was that the melee classes were and are gimped and that a small level difference which relates to skills usable and gear available makes the open and arena pvp broken.
There is a lot of difference between +5 level 8 armour and weapons and +5 level 16. There is a lot of difference between level 8 skills and level 16 skills.
Yesterday I took part in two arena battles of which 99% of those taking part were ranged. That is the growing situation for all of them. A Warrior and a Crusader have to get up close and personal to be truly effective, but you have a no mans land in between which has to be crossed. As soon as anyone crosses that range marker they are slowed, rooted and high angled in under a second.
Plus arenas are death or glory one shot deals. You die your out. If you are unlucky your participation might only last seconds before your back in the main world. As such the few melee players taking part hang back with the clerics and watch the show, again making them useless.
This situation is the same for all pvp. It is ranged bias. Go against an enemy sniper who is of a higher level than you and has serious kit you wont even get close enough to land a blow.
Like I said, it is a great game with a great community and groovy G.M.'s but the mechanics for its mass battle and 1v1 pvp is seriously broken.
For small scale pvp, gears matter a lot, have you ever tried ganking a +8 knight of marshall members or knight of archon members(full abyss +pdef WAR class or crus class), you'll jst LOL x 10. Ever tried to test your damage to a relic carrier, its Lmao x 1000. Gears matter, nuff said, ever seen notices on how CS users +11 their abyss armor
? Anyways for large scale pvp, gears dont matter actually, cause its like 10v1 and no matter what you'll still die if you get Focus fired upon. Oh well, for those who wants pvp action, dont choose the leading nation which im in(germania). If given the chance, i would exile to other nations just to enjoy pvp to the fullest extent lol. Anyways, im 50 now, nothing much to do, except for Boring lMH/lme runs with the occasinal defending and sometimes honor farming if my guildies wanna go(all of it is boring except honor farming, i love ganking xD)
And btw, there is skill too in PVP which i disagree, maybe you arent playing mage eh? Lol... Cause if you are, you wontbe saying that
This ^
In large scale battles (the game sells itself on this idea) both sides hold back and spam AOE or snipe. If you are a melee class you have to cross that open space to get to the enemy. As you said, as soon as you come in range it is 10 or more enemy focussing on you and your toast. Your kit as a Warrior or Crusader wont mean squat.
This isnt mass battle PVP its just luck of the Irish as to whether you survive. There is no strategy involved. Nobody feints, flanks or lays down supporting fire. Its more like two gangs facing off across a playing field daring each other to come closer. Skill only comes into play when deciding whether or not to risk your life and take a shot.
With regards to kit, I agree with you although I would say that is only valid on a small scale and if the encounter isnt balanced (ranged dominates over the enemy coz they have stacked with melee for example).
Plus as you stated your a Mage, a ranged class. How many Warriors and Crusaders have even got close to you let alone hit you enough to kill compared to you cooking them? I'm talking battles here not 1v1 duels.
Personally I think it needs to be re-worked. FEZ had the best idea with the stone paper scissors concept where a Class such as Bow Scout got bonuses against Sorcerers but penalties against warriors.
P.S. I'm a Sniper and I am currently wondering why I am bothering to level my Crusader alt :S
No strategy involved? I disagree. Have you seen the video where three nations, I think it's Sparta, Gallia and Britannia raided Germania, and Germania was able to fend off the assault? Although Germania is quite populated, it is not as populated as the three nations combined obviously. The problem is, the attack of those three nations wasn't very organized. We can't blame them since it's hard to manage a LOT of players. But if the assault was done properly, which involves strategy, then the outcome would have been different.
Also, don't blame the game that the class is imbalanced. Each of them have strong points and weak points. Imagine a priest for example. She's mainly for support. You will just be viewed as a cry baby if you complain that priests don't do well in arena. (Although there are good priests out there so it also depends on skill). But generally, a priest has a very small chance of winning against for example a sniper since a priest is for support. If you want to kill and kill and kill people, then don't choose priest. Similarly, a crusader is for partying with lots of skills for increasing threat levels to get the attacks of mobs and protect your allies. So please, don't always complain about anything that you see. Classes are there to fill in different roles, and satisfy different play styles.
Played: Runescape, Adventure Quest
Currently playing: Aika Global, Atlantica Online
Waiting for: Cardmon Hero, Dynasty Warriors Online
"But if the assault was done properly, which involves strategy, then the outcome would have been different."
So what you are saying is that no strategy was available or used to a degree where one nation was able to hold off 3? You also don't mention which classes dominated in numbers and you have not supplied any info on which side had the most max levels, the most relics and the most + 11 equips. Germania is a powerful nation with some of the strongest players around where as Sparta and Gallia are not exactly great. Britannia the nation I am part of just seem to be too casual to take anything seriously to my mind :S
I would be interested in watching this Vid. Any chance of a link?
"Also, don't blame the game that the class is imbalanced."
I am not blaming anyone, I am putting forward my observations. It is just my opinion that two classes, Warrior and Crusader are gimped for PVP, that is all and without them involved strategy is lost because it just becomes a shooting match as I have said above.
"Each of them have strong points and weak points. Imagine a priest for example. She's mainly for support. You will just be viewed as a cry baby if you complain that priests don't do well in arena. (Although there are good priests out there so it also depends on skill). But generally, a priest has a very small chance of winning against for example a sniper since a priest is for support. If you want to kill and kill and kill people, then don't choose priest. Similarly, a crusader is for partying with lots of skills for increasing threat levels to get the attacks of mobs and protect your allies. So please, don't always complain about anything that you see."
Priests are known to be primarily support, to expect them to do otherwise would be stupid. It also makes them prime targets if they get too close. They are an easy kill especially for snipers.
"If you want to kill and kill and kill people, then don't choose priest. Similarly, a crusader is for partying with lots of skills for increasing threat levels to get the attacks of mobs and protect your allies.
Classes are there to fill in different roles, and satisfy different play styles."
Thank you for reinforcing my point. As you stated, in a game that is sold as a mass war, 1000 v 1000 pvp different classes are there to fill different roles. Warriors and Crusaders are good for dungeon runs and if you want PVP then ranged is the better choice, both with a good priest or two for buffs and support.
And that is the flaw. Why have two classes that are useless in mass pvp the main point of Aika? Last night I was in a arena battle again. We had 1 warrior and the enemy had one crusader. Our warrior survived because he just didnt take part. You have to ask yourself what is the point in playing a class that should be able to storm the front lines and cause havoc, that in reality is a bullet magnet that wont even get half way there.
Thanks for this
Such an in-depth and helpful read. Go Aika!!
"The world's still the same - there's just less in it."
I don't believe that those two melee classes are useless in PVP. My first point to support that is on the practical side. If those two characters are useless in PVPs, then why do I see a lot of them during relic wars? They are there because they are needed. Compared to gunners and magicians, they're defense and hp can withstand a lot of damage. Imagine a battle without them, as you said, it will just be a shooting battle. The war would definitely end faster since characters will just die one by one in a matter of a few seconds since there are no tanks to support them. My second support is that if you are skilled enough to use those melee characters, you will be able to contribute a lot to your nation. If you just charge alone without fellow tanks, without the buffs of the priests, and without the firing power of the gunners and magicians, then no doubt you will die in a blink of an eye. But that's where skill, teamwork, and essentially, strategy comes into play. Parties or legions coordinate attacks and supports to win the war.
Played: Runescape, Adventure Quest
Currently playing: Aika Global, Atlantica Online
Waiting for: Cardmon Hero, Dynasty Warriors Online
I have to agree that you make some valid points and they would be 100% true if the majority of players leant towards going a melee class. That is , if battles had greater numbers of warriors and crusaders than of the ranged classes combined. The only flaw that I would mention is that there is a growing majority in the area of ranged classes and a drop off in melee. There are 4 of them compared to the 2 sword wielders after all.
As to the damage that the melee classes can take I would respond that the ranged classes, especially mages and snipers can dish it out at an equal level, usually before the warrior or crusader can even get close.
Seriously, look at the survival rates especially in death or glory battles such as the arenas. Apart from the obvious farming of lowbies in the 11-50 bouts the majority of the players still standing at the end are snipers clerics and mages.
Plus there is this topic of which I point you to the last comment/question made which remains un-answered;
http://aika.t3fun.com/Community/Forum_View.aspx?page=3&post_key=12167
With regards to strategy, I will concede that the game is capable of it, but it is limited in its scope because of the weakness of the two melee classes. They do need some serious PVP buffs with regards to stun and slow resistance if nothing else. My main is a Sniper and I'm saying this :S
If newbies are choosing Snipers, Dual Gunners,Clerics and Mages over Warriors and Crusaders because the best way to get honor points and medals early on is in the arenas and they have the best chance of survival, then the imbalance will become greater over time and melee in PVP will become redundant.
On a final note I asked my Legion commander which was the rarest class to which the reply was Crusader. I gave that class a go until level 30 and found it as boring as hell. Next to no offensive capabilities, a few defensive, and skills aimed at attracting crap from surrounding MOBS. Compared to all the other class choices with their AOE stuns/damage and just plain old death dealing the main Tank of the game is as interesting to play as watching dust settle.
Not to mention I have a level 25 Warrior for when I am bored and he can dish out some serious damage, the Crusader on the other hand is not fun and seems to take ages to kill anything which is a bit naff for the Tank of the game.
In short not many new players are going to be attracted to a class whose main function is crap magnet/damage soak. Not for long anyway.
Aika is a great game and a lot of fun to play, but I want to see massed ranks of warriors and crusaders slamming into each other while Snipers, Mages, Dual Gunners and Clerics give ranged support and pick off the weak. All I am seeing at the moment are growing numbers of shooting matches with the front liners hanging back so they survive.
EDIT:
The reason for such high numbers in Relic wars is that they are among the first players who were there at or near to the beginning. If the game doesnt keep them interested and they leave, those that get high enough to replace them most likely will not be Warriors or Crusaders.
We will have to wait and see
Aika Global is a really fun game but you really need help from the community to finish certain mission like the dungeons and those hella lot monsters that I need to kill. Aika Global made the game to make you really interact with other people in the game and so far the community is really helpful and generous.
For your first point which you said that the game only has 2 melee characters but has 4 ranged, I think there's no problem with that. Many other games are like that or 1 melee, 2 ranged. That's because the usual classes are fighters, archers and magicians. Also, I can change that to 2 melee vs 3 ranged since priests usually don't attack. They will run around looking for people to buff or heal. Or else, they will stand there to recover some hp and mp.
For your second point that the 2 melee characters will have a hard time reaching and killing off the snipers and dual gunners, I will agree if it's a war between the melee characters and the ranged characters. But it is not. It is a war between two or more nations with all of these classes. Being a tank, closing in and killing those snipers isn't your priority. Your task is to take those damage and get the support of priests. Your ranged allies should do more of the damage and killing. A relatively low survival rate is indeed common. Of course, you're the one taking the damage so you really are more prone to death. Melee classes also need trust especially from your team mates. That a priest, for example, should do its best to buff and heal you whenever possible. And on a side note, if you say melee characters have low survival rate, how much more is the priest? They have a much lower hp and defense, and they are also walking targets of enemies because their support is essential.
Regarding your point for the crusader, well it's more fun to use crusader when you have someone else playing with you. Again, because crusaders are more on defense. Or if you want solo, you can get a fire pran to complement her offensive weakness.
For your last point, I think there won't be a time where ranged characters will significantly dominate in terms of number. The need for tanks/melee characters is always there. As such, there will always be people who will supplement that role. Besides, people have different play styles anyway. So those who really want to be a tank will still choose those melee characters.
Played: Runescape, Adventure Quest
Currently playing: Aika Global, Atlantica Online
Waiting for: Cardmon Hero, Dynasty Warriors Online
You make some very solid points.
Let us both then agree to disagree and leave it to time to prove one of us wrong
I don't think we could ever convince each other that one of us is right lol. XD
Yeah. You're probably right. But that was a good discussion.
Played: Runescape, Adventure Quest
Currently playing: Aika Global, Atlantica Online
Waiting for: Cardmon Hero, Dynasty Warriors Online
I agree with the OP that the arenas cater to ranged fighters if its just one open field. There should be things to take cover behind, if they want melee to have a fair chance. And the large lvl ranges are silly too if there is so much difference in toon strength over just a few lvl. Its the typical badly designed gearbased pvp.
I know this quite a late reply but I do agree on your points about AIKA GLOBAL. The GMs are always there in the past months but I think they are more elusive now but still 24/7. PVP is great in my opinion for this game yet I do hope they will make the characters balanced in a sense that melee's can outlast the power of Rifleman or mages.
Good observations.
Still, I've been playing Aika Global and have used both melee classes and I have some comments on those two:
Crusaders:
I agree they are mostly PvE-based since they're designated tankers.
They are often the most valuable (second to priests) in relic raids since they are DEFINITELY the most durable. Due to that, they're often the Relic Carriers.
Crusaders have a very big strategic importance.
They have the highest HP and Defense
They have an extra piece of equipment (shield) which you can enchant with an extra Move Speed stone (VERY Helpful).
They have a buff that blocks other skills (about 7+ times, think linken's sphere x7 in DotA)
They have a Reflect Damage skill
They also have increase speed buff
They also have an AoE that silences targets beside them for about 3 seconds
They also have the excellent/powerful high-level skill Blades of Promessa, which is a damage every enemy around while the buff is active
With their defensive skills and overall toughness, they can clear the AoE zone/"No man's land" between the two warring factions and get to the squishy ranged classes AND COME BACK ALIVE.
Once they get in, they can use the AoE silence and temporarily disable the ranged players, while causing serious damage (remember, ALL the ranged classes there, especially priests, are squishy). After the casters get disabled, the others have a great opening for an annihilating assault.
Another useful strategy is by using the Blades of Promessa. It damages EVERY ENEMY around you and it's very strong, especially if you have a powerful weapon. Just buff the defensive skills, get ally buffs, run into the enemy crowd, cast silence, damage everyone there, have your allies smash them as your enemies scatter.
The MAIN issue here though is that the crusader player needs to be brave enough, and skillful enough to find the right opening. THAT is a VERY rare crusader indeed.
Warriors
They have the best party buffs: increase HP/MP, Defenses, and stats. Support subbuilds are actually very common and still pack quite a punch. They don't sacrifice their DPS capability, but in fact augment it, as well as their party members.
They are also just about as tough as Crusaders, but without the defensive skills. They DO, however, have VERY high DPS capabilities.
Strategic skills for war:
Stunning dash attack
Stun AoE
Slow AoE
High-damage AoE (about 2-3 I think)
With the above abilities, good warriors should be able to pick off stragglers. Flanking and killing enemies one-by-one is very easy for a warrior. Try it. Go participate in war as ANY of the ranged classes, and fight a good warrior. They WILL be able to dash to you, smack you with their stuns, and you'd die in seconds. All the ranged classes are VERY fragile.
Warriors can (though difficult) clear the "no man's land"/aoe zone) with their high health and their dash. From there, they use their stun AoE, slow the enemy with another AoE, and pick off the low-hp survivors with the remaining DPS AoEs. This is best used by flanking the enemy and striking their Priests (and everyone else) who are often at the rear and far from the crowd (of course, good priests are always looking around, and stay a bit to the side to not get hit by the AoEs)
Oh yeah, warriors have the most useful AoEs, rivaling those of the Night Magician.
Of course, the warriors are also the within-crowd bodyguards against incoming warriors and crusaders.
The main issue is, like the crusader, is that it can be a bit more difficult to play the warrior right in war since survival is much harder.
So yeah, those are my commentaries too. My experience mostly comes from the Relic Raids since that's where the meat of the PvP comes from. As for the Elter Arena, meh. I'm not into that because of the reasons you already stated. That mode is a ranged slug-fest and there's not much room to maneuver. It's also hard to flank as a warrior since enemies are scattered. And being a crusader is next to useless since there is no crowd to disable as the people are very scattered.
Anyway, Aika is still fun because of the relic raids. I'm also playing Cardmon Hero though when I feel like just kicking back and enjoy the PvE-ing scenery.
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