Eltnen
Latest
Wings Over Atreia: The top 19 ways to get your dungeon crawl on
You know 'em -- those places shrouded away from the everyday grind of the world where you can chill-out without being interrupted (excepting spouse aggro), a private nook where you know there is a definite beginning and end to your adventure, one that offers the best possible loot. They are areas often steeped in lore. They are... the instanced dungeons. There are actually 19 separate PvE dungeons currently in Aion where Daevas can get their dungeon crawl on. If you include the Fortress instances, you can add another 10 dungeons to this list. Adding PvP instances raises the number even higher. However, since fort instances are seriously lacking in lore and fort ownership is required (so availability is not assured), we will forego including them. We'll also omit the Dredgions and PvP arenas to keep the list PvE focused -- after all, there are times you really may not want to bother with fighting the enemy! This week, Wings Over Atreia explores the first half of the dungeon list for the benefit of both young whippersnappers and old-timer Daevas alike. Why would veterans need it? Because dungeons aren't just for certain levels anymore. For a change of pace or to break out of a rut, grab yourself some lowbies, mentor down, and check out one instance a day -- you'll pass two weeks before ever repeating. You might even have fun, meet new friends, and renew your enthusiasm for Aion.
NCsoft planning more Aion rifting tweaks
The month-long rifting experiment begun by NCsoft in early December has apparently given the Aion devs enough data to continue with a trial aimed at revisiting the decision to nerf the PvP mechanic with last fall's 2.0 update. Players were recently asked to complete in-game surveys relating to the new changes (which boiled to down a removal of Heiron/Beluslan protections and changes to the large protective defender buffs), and NCsoft reports that the majority of survey participants responded favorably to the change. In a post on the official Aion website, NCsoft says it will continue the rifting trial "a few more weeks," and the devs will also tweak lower level player protection in Morheim and Eltnen. Finally, a new player survey will be sent out and the rifting protections will be "restored to their previous levels" while feedback is collected and analyzed.
Aion experimenting with temporary rifting changes
Rifting is a sore spot for many Aion players. On the one hand, some folks no doubt felt that the mechanic was intrusive and forced PvP on people who simply wanted to quest, gather, and otherwise PvE. On the other hand, the drastic changes introduced in the Assault on Balaurea expansion all but killed most of the rifting in the game, causing some to question NCsoft's all-or-nothing approach. Starting today, the devs are experimenting with a month-long trial designed to bring an element of risk back to Atreia and also strike a balance between rifting and PvE. The protective buffs placed on homeland defenders will remain in place for the low-level Morheim and Eltnen zones but will be significantly reduced. Protection buffs for defenders in the higher-level Heiron and Beluslan zones are going away entirely. What does this mean for you? In a nutshell, you'll have an easier time completing those spy quests that have been clogging your journal for weeks, and you'd also best keep an eye on your radar for incoming reds.
Wings Over Atreia: The ties that bind
Flaws. Bugs. Annoyances -- like a level 45 slaughtering you while your little level 18 self is quietly going about gathering Lumesia. Moments that just make you want to find a dev and toss him off the nearest high rise; all games have them, no one denies this -- not even Aion players (although they usually don't feel the need to discuss them with those who don't play). So why is it we stay in games that, at times, make us want to rip our hair out by the fistfuls? With such a plethora of games catering to a wide variety of play styles, how do we stay faithful to a particular one over the long haul, even when we know it isn't perfect? No, it isn't because we are all secretly masochistic. Or because we detest our barber/hairdresser. Looking around me in games both past and present, watching those who could be considered die-hards stay in (and enjoy) games long after the masses have fled, I found themes that mirrored some of my own reasons -- because, alternately, there are the moments that make it worth it. Not the art, the features, or the wittiness of the quest dialog. Rather, the ties that bind us: Friendships, epic memories, and just plain stubbornness. Charge across the bridge and we'll delve into my top reasons for sticking with a title, even in the face of the raging malcontents.
The Daily Grind: Are you excited by the Aion beta?
I don't know about you but I'm so excited by Aion. I really can't help it, I've been following the game since it was announced. I'm pretty sure it was the angelic avatars, the ability to fly, an ethereal soundtrack and the Asian origins which captured my attention and I'm literally counting down the hours until the beta begins on Friday. Days like this make me love my job. By now the beta keys should have started landing in inboxes, including the 200 we gave away last week, and the fact they went so fast confirms my belief that a lot of people want to play this game.So come on, readers, do you have a beta key? Are you planning to roll an Elyos? Do you like the idea of a shorter beta testing a specific class/race/zone or do you prefer being left to your own devices with an entire world to explore? Would you rather play as an Asmodian? What about you folks who don't give a fig, why doesn't Aion interest you? Are you baffled by the number of people clamouring to play this new MMO?
NCsoft reveals Eltnen in a video tour
NCsoft have revealed yet another new zone for its gorgeous and must-play MMO Aion. This time it's an area called Eltnen. The video tour gives a fly-by of the zone and is accentuated by some very beautiful Chinese-inspired music. However, the zone itself is filled with ruins and desert, but for the odd oasis. NCsoft also issued an official teaser for the site which goes into a little background about Eltnen's history: "Once the breadbasket of Elysea, Eltnen is now threatened by an encroaching desert. Lady Yustiel, one of the gods of the Elyos, has established several Mystic Springs in hopes of revitalizing the area, but so far there has been little improvement. Could there be a saboteur in the mix? As if this weren't enough, the area is also under attack from mutant wildlife, alluring succubi, statues that have come to life, volcanic spirits, and of course the ever-present Krall. The Daevas are mustering their forces, preparing to defend their ethereal fortress to the death, if that's what it takes."Check out the video after the jump.
