AION
- Aion (Korean: 아이온: 영원의 탑, also known as Aion: The Tower of Eternity) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released by NCSOFT.
- The game combines PvP and PvE (a concept the developers call PvPvE) in a fantasy game environment.
- Many of the skills acquired as characters progress may only be
performed in a certain order, or chain. Generally the skills located
farther along in the chain are more powerful than those at the
beginning, or those that have no prerequisite.
- The PvPvE gameplay of Aion revolves around battles within the
Abyss and Balaurea (PvP zones). Within the these zones are fortresses
which can be controlled by individual Legions (the Aion
equivalent of Guilds). Battle to control these castles involves combat
against players of the opposing faction and computer controlled NPCs at
the same time, using siege weapons obtained from PvE raid content.
Legions in control of a castle are entitled to funding from taxes and
players within the faction get specials from NPCs and discounts for
travel and vendor items.The game currently does not allow factions to fight against those of
their own race, except for casual duels or in the Arena, or Panesterra.
- The participation in PvP is rewarded with Abyss Points in the game.
The game ranks players as battles are won against fellow players based
on their participation in the Abyss and Balaurea. Certain items can be
purchased with these points such as high-end armor and weapons. This is
referred to as the Abyss Rank system, and there can only be a
limited number of high-ranking players per server. The highest-ranking
players compete for the relatively few rank positions available.Players of a very high rank are also granted the ability to transform into what is known as a Guardian General;
a form that bestows an exceedingly large boost to certain stats. Abyss
points are gained by killing other players in combat, and points are
lost by being killed by another player. Higher points are awarded for a
kill of a much higher ranked player than for killing an equal or lower
ranked player. Abyss Points can also be earned by completing certain
quests and by selling certain items. In 4.5 patch, a new Glory Point
system is introduced. It replaced the Abyss Point ranking system,
turning Abyss Points into a currency to be spent instead of a factor
defines players' rank. You can get these glory points from sieges or pvp
and pve instances. Player can't get these points from killing the
opposite faction. Glory points aren't useable as currency to buy new
items, but they do decrease a certain amount daily, and the amount of
lost points depends on the players rank.
Classes
 |
| Character customization in Aion |
There are six subclasses, and eleven main classes in the game.
Players start the game by choosing one of the six primary classes:
Warrior, Mage, Scout, Priest, Technist or Muse. After attaining level
10, the player must choose from two specialized classes associated with
their chosen class (with the exception of Muse, which at the time can
only ascend to a Songweaver). Warriors may become a Templar or a
Gladiator; Mages may become a Sorcerer or Spiritmaster; Scouts may
become an Assassin or Ranger; Priests may become a Cleric or a Chanter;
Technists may become a Gunslinger or Aethertech; and a Muse will become a
Songweaver.
Grouping
- Up to six players may form a group,
to assist one another in battle, and share the benefits of victory.
Certain areas are designed for group play and a group is required to
enter some areas in the game. Up to four groups may form an Alliance
for situations that call for greater force of numbers. Eight Alliances
may combine to form a League, allowing for a total of 192 players
participating in a given activity.
Crafting
- The base process involves learning a particular form of crafting, of
which there are seven in Aion: weaponsmithing, armorsmithing,
handicrafting, tailoring, alchemy, cooking, and construction. Players
can learn all seven crafting professions, but can be an Expert in only
two, and a Master in only one.
- Any item that can be crafted is actually composed of several
individual components, or materials. The player can either learn which
materials are needed for a particular item automatically or via purchase
of the design. Generally these materials must be purchased from vendors
or from other players, gathered out in the wild (via collection or
extraction), crafted already, or morphed. Not everything can be crafted,
however.
Flight
- There are many aspects to flight in Aion, which plays a vital role in
Travel, Combat, Quests, and Crafting. Flying is only permitted in
certain areas, known as flight zones. Flight is initially limited to 60
seconds but can be increased with various armor, titles, and other items
in-game, especially wings, that can be obtained from level 10 on.
A player may also use potions during flight which add to his or her
remaining flight time, up to the current maximum. However, the most
important aspect is gliding, which unlike actual flying is possible
everywhere in the game (with very few exceptions) and allows to easily
cross chasms or slopes that would otherwise block the player's path.
Quests
- There are three type of quests in Aion: ordinary quests,
campaign quests and Work Orders. Ordinary quests require the player to
complete a task to receive a reward. Campaign quests are focused on
story, and are crucial for player progression. Work Orders are used to
increase skill in a chosen profession. Some quests are repeatable. Some
quests, especially campaign quests, cannot be shared or abandoned.
Mounts
- Mounts can be obtained through world boss drops, quests, crafting,
guestblooms, events and Cash Shop. When not in a fight, a player can
mount to not only move faster by default, but also being able to sprint,
which means moving at flight speed by also consuming the player's
flight time. They can remain on their mount as long as they are not
attacked by another player or monster. Mounts can be crafted with some
difficulty, as the materials needed are hard to come by. NC West has
sold materials to craft mounts on their real money store.
Plot
Backstory
- When the god Aion created the world of Atreia, They created the Drakan—powerful dragon-like
beasts tasked with safeguarding the humans; performing Aion's will on
the planet; and protecting the Tower of Eternity, Aion's physical
presence on Atreia. For a time, the Drakan obeyed Aion; but over time,
they began to enjoy their power, ignoring their duties and abusing the
humans who inhabited Atreia. Aion took notice, creating the twelve
Empyrean Lords in response. Angelic in appearance, the Empyrean Lords were demigods
who walked amongst humans, and used a force called "Aether" to create a
powerful barrier, later to be called an aetheric field, around the
Tower of Eternity, protecting all of those within. While the outside
world continued to be ravaged by the Drakan, who had become the more
ferocious Balaur; the humans within the barrier managed to tap into the
Aether, gaining their own powers. In time, they would become known as
the Daeva.
- As time went on, the Lords decided that they had to be more
aggressive in stopping the Balaur. With the number of Daeva growing, the
Lords decided to form an army, with ten of the Empyrean Lords leading
the Daeva into battle; while the remaining two, Siel and Israphel,
protected the Tower of Eternity (thus earning the title "Tower Lords").
This conflict between the Balaur and the Empyrean Lords would come to be
known as the Millennium War, which led to no real progress by any side.
As the war progressed, a faction of Lords began to view the war as
unwinnable, and Lord Israphel proposed a discussion of peace with the
Balaur. This surprise proposal drew criticism from within the faction;
after a lengthy and heated debate, seven of the twelve Lords became the
winning majority to move forward with the plan.
- However, for reasons unclear, the negotiation failed. When the Balaur
arrived at the Tower of Eternity, a commotion broke out, killing a
Balaurian captain; the remaining Balaur, enraged, marched upon and
destroyed the Tower, which set off a chain reaction that threatened to
destroy the planet. However, Israphel and Siel made the ultimate
sacrifice and gave their own lives to protect Atreia. The world was
shattered into two "hemi-shells", with a dark Abyss lying between them; but it was held together by the aetheric field created from the Tower Lords' sacrifice.
- While the Balaur were banished to the Abyss, the Empyrean Lords found
themselves in conflict with each other. Two groups were formed as a
result, each with five Lords; the Seraphim, who had proposed the peace
solution and blamed the others for sabotaging the peace negotiations by
failing to agree to them; and the Shedim, who blamed the Seraphim,
believing that their weakness and their proposing of the peace talk
allowed the Balaur to gain the upper hand. From that day on, the two
sides became bitter enemies.
- The Shedim migrated to Asmodae, the dark and harsh upper, inner half
of the planet; while the Seraphim Lords settled in Elysea, the light and
abundant bottom half. They both took their humans and Daeva with them,
and over time, they adapted to their respective new worlds and declared
the opposing side their mortal enemies. Those in Asmodae became the
Asmodians, rugged survivors, gaining dark features and a fierce loyalty
to their kin.Those in Elysea became the Elyos, growing even more beautiful and
believing themselves to be Aion's chosen people (although they have
grown arrogant). From that day on, they would wage war for centuries as bloody enemies
