Wings Over Atreia: My grown-up Solorius list
The strains of festive music wafting about Santum and Pandamonium. The glow of twinkling lights adorning the trees. The chatter of Shugos wearing red velvet robes and hats. Yes folks, it's that time of year again: It's Solorius in Aion! And you know what that means... OK, besides a festival filled with holiday-themed goodies. It means it's time for the annual Solorius wish list! And this year the venerable list is combined with another annual tradition: the Solorius medley.
You may notice that this season's list is actually more modest compared to those from years of yore. It's not that I don't want to see a plethora of goodies injected into the wonderful world of Aion. On the contrary! But we already know of many things coming our way in 4.0, and I don't want to distract the devs from getting them out to us quickly. And besides, those previous lists have been whittled down as wishes have been granted. Don't believe me? See for yourself. Then be sure to add anything else you want to see in Atreia to the list.
You may wonder why I bother with a wish list. Trust me, it's not just an exercise in futility; sometimes I actually get what I want! Yessiree, I've gotten to scratch a few wishes off of my lists of years past because NCsoft has delivered them. Housing? Check. Requested on both the 2010 and 2011 lists, this wish was fulfilled with the release of Ascension. Specialized quest item and currency cubes? Check. Last year's wish was just granted with the release of 3.7. Stackable arena tickets? Check-ish. Since tickets can go in the new spacious 120-slot currency cube, the wish was filled in spirit; they no longer clog up your inventory. More space on the block list? Mounts? Check, check! One thing (furniture dye) even made it into game before my holiday list could come out!
But even with these, there are wishes that have not yet come to pass. I'd still very much like to see bind-on-equip eradicated or at least changed to allow full swapping between characters on the same account. A need/greed mechanic would also be absolutely splendid! And I can never stop asking for a change in the manastone socketing mechanics to match the enchantment stone mechanics.
Of course, there are a few other wishes that deserve their time in the spotlight. While three of them are new entries to the holiday lists, a previously mentioned one is making another appearance because of its importance.
CHARACTER SLOTS!
Ahem. I cannot express the importance of this one enough, especially with three new classes coming in 4.0! Folks are really going to want to play these classes, possibly dabbling in all three. Heck, even anti-alt me wants to try two of them! Obviously new folks checking the game out will be OK in this regard, but if you want to excite old veterans to return or stay with the game, give them the chance to be a part of the new and exciting changes. I don't even care if you make character slots a purchaseable item in the BlackCloud Marketplace. Just give us more slots!
Character respec
Along with more slots to allow for the new classes, I would very, very, very much like the ability to respec my characters to a different class. For instance: I really do not like my Spirit Master, but she has three years' worth of veteran rewards on her. She also looks exactly how I want her to. So please, please give me the ability to change her class. I would give almost anything to be able to remake her into the new Troubadour! Make the reset force me back to level one or 10 -- I am totally OK with that. I will even buy it from the BlackCloud Marketplace for a spiffy chunk of change. Just let me have the ability, I am begging you! I will be the most grateful Daeva. And I have been a good Daeva this year...
Mentoring in the fast lane
Why is there no mentoring on the Fast-Track server? It actually does not really make sense to me. The server is touted as a place to boost Daevas through the levels at a fast pace, enabling them to see the higher-level content more quickly. The level limit was even just raised for that very reason. So tell me again why mentoring is not allowed? Why hinder group formation due to divergent levels or prevent higher levels from going and helping out?
I am not actually looking for any kind of bonus or even the mentoring daily quests on that server; I just want the ability to go and help folks or group with friends new to the game. As it is, friends have to choose between being PvP-free or being with me. That kind of defeats the efforts of folks getting friends in the game.
Non-restricted flight
This is one of the saddest parts of Aion: the fact that flight is restricted in so many areas. Heck, you can't even glide in some places! One of the greatest strengths of the game is the ability to fly. So why tease folks with such an awesome feature, only to yank the ability away at so many turns? If you must, leave the flight timer in (though that is horrid as well and should go), but for the love of all that is winged, please remove all no-flight zones!
PvP trophies
This next wish is actually from the list of a friend and I felt it was totally worth sharing. Why not give Daevas the ability to pluck feathers from fallen foes? It could easily be a PvP quest to collect them. You can also grant daily titles for those who have collected the most feathers as well as those who forfeited the most for each server. Can't you see it now? You are going about your business when you come across Carrebare the Plucked. Even better, let us collect enough feathers to make a nice trophy for our homes. Asmo-wing rug, anyone?
A-caroling we go!
To conclude, I wanted to to spread some Solorius cheer! After all, the season is not just about what we want and what we receive. So take a moment and sing along with some of these traditional holiday songs while enjoying the many Solorius festivities in-game. For even more tunes, check out last year's debut album!
Elyos we have heard on high
Elyos we have heard on high
Quickly flying o'er the plains,
And once they get in my sights
On their heads my spells will rain.
Fi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ireballs are great!
I could singe their wings all day.
Fi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ireballs are great!
I could singe their wings all day.
Come to Gelkmaros and see
All the Elyos at the siege.
Come and drop them to their knees,
Fry those white winged enemies!
Fi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ireballs are great!
I could singe their wings all day.
Fi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ireballs are great!
I could singe their wings all day.
Deck the Asmo
Deck the Asmo with my mace,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Clip his wings and smash his face,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Don we now our PvP gear,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Victory will soon be here,
Fa la la la la la la la la.
Oh come all ye Daevas
Oh, come, all ye Daevas,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Beshmundir.
Come and behold him
The mighty dragon Stormwing
Oh, come, help us defeat him
Oh, come, help us defeat him,
Oh, come, help us defeat him,
And maybe get loot!
Frosty the Asmo
Frosty the Asmo was a very jolly soul,
With a corn cob pipe and Kromede's bow
And two wings that looked like coal.
Frosty the Asmo met an Elyos, they say,
He had to know they were enemies both
But he couldn't fight her that day.
There must have been some magic in the
Way she looked at him.
For once she winked his heart was gone
Though he knew his chance was slim!
Oh Frosty the Asmo
Fell in love with an Elyos!
He said be mine in pantomime
and then he let her go!
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
His heart was beating fast.
Thumpetty thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Went the arrows she shot back!
Soaring through the Aionosphere, MJ Guthrie touches down weekly to bring you Wings Over Atreia. Featuring tips, guides, and general snippets of life in Aion, the column is better than Tutty-on-a-stick, ackackackackackack! Have a suggestion to share? No need to bribe a Shugo -- just send mail to mj@massively.com.
