Interview with the Dev Team (Part 2)

gamona: Will we see mounts, airships (like the Balaur ones) and portals? If yes, will they be fixed or will players be able to create / craft them?

Aion-Team: Certain classes can use portals as one of their skills, but that is more a supplement to travel than actual transportation from one place to another. Because PC races can actually fly, we are not considering any vehicle or aircraft. Usually, the main means of transportation will be via NPC teleporters or flying.

gamona: What will a castle attack look like? Will players be able to destroy walls? When will a castle be overtaken? Will there be siege and defense weapons to prevent players from just flying over the walls?

Aion-Team: In a castle siege, rather than destroying the castle itself, players will use special skills to attack both objects and the NPC castle commander. Therefore, if there are no defending players, the fortress attack will be like a Raid, and if defending PCs join, they can utilize NPCs in their strategies. Although the attacking side cannot get any help from NPCs, they can actually utilize objects such as siege weapons. Regarding flying, a castle has an Aetheric Field (magic force field) around it as a default setting, and it restricts flight around the castle. However, because they can still infiltrate the castle, players can use the Field strategically.

gamona: How can a character become a hero and how can a hero lose his status? What are the advantages of being one and what’s the reward if someone manages to kill a hero?

Aion-Team: Heroes have several levels, according to the Abyss points they have earned over a certain period of time. Once you become a hero, you can obtain exclusive skills according to each level, and you will be able to fight against enemy players ranging in number from 2 or 3 to scores by using those skills. Of course, there are some restrictions on using these skills, and you will become the same as a normal PC while these restrictions are applied. On the other hand, the PvP reward for players who catch these heroes will be greater than normal, just like the rewards for catching Party Monsters or Raid Monsters, and it does not matter whether the hero has lost his status or not. However, if the hero enters a zone while the restrictions are applied, everyone in the zone will be notified. That hero must get help from the members of his faction to defend against the enemy.

gamona: What will endgame content in Aion look like? Will you focus on PvP in endgame or can we expect other elements like instanced raid dungeons?

Aion-Team: Although we have RvR and Raid taking place in Instanced areas and Persistent areas, it is not true to say only one of them is Aion’s endgame content. Playing in the Abyss, which incorporates both, will be Aion’s endgame content.

gamona: Can you give us a rough time schedule for the next months? When do you expect the release of the final game in Korea, and when do you plan to make Aion available to the public in North Amercia and Europe?

Aion-Team: We are going to continue to make various changes regarding the game, especially improving Hitting Sensitivity during combat and supplementing Collection/Crafting on a large scale. Aion will be available in the first half of next year in Korea, with an anticipated launch in Europe and North America later in the year.

gamona: Thanks a lot for your time!

(20.12.2007)

Interview Overview