Hello from Aion (Coming from XI/WoW)!

What?!

When I told people FFXI was my last MMO, I really mean it… “at that moment”. However, as more MMO came out, I was more than tempted to try. I went to try WoW, ended up taking it to Lv80, gank in Ulduar (I stopped after Ulduar, so no idea about Trial of the Crusader), but Aion’s buzz got me into just buying the game and really give it peek.

I went to EB, pay an extra 10 dollar versus online for an actual pretty-nice metal case of the game :) I really liked the case, not some paper-based boxes. I’m sure everything inside cost more than 10 bucks, so yea, I think the extra 10 was worth it.

Regarding collector’s edition, I’m not really sure if you want to RMT a flapping wing. That’s what you get :D A pair of wings, which you’ll get anyway when you’re Lv10.

First Impression

Installing, and looking at the art was quite amazing. I was pretty pleased with a 500MB update after the DVD installation, which took roughly 40min. I’m glad they download it as one package (not like FFXI, separate file) via BT, extract and install those file individually. I haven’t had time to look at the file system, but I did see individual file installed, not sure if its packed up like MPQ system in WoW, or a modular system like FFXI.

The account creation was nice. They used something similar to WoW system. Web-based registration, then in-game based login. There is also a NCSoft Launcher, which is optional to run. It’s kinda like the WoW launcher, serving you information. However, I see it as promoting their other games too =) Anyawy! So far so good!

Gameplay Experience

Now it really depends on where you’re coming from. For a ton of people who got tired of FFXI, and move directly from FFXI to Aion (such as Sumny, Jowah), they are really excited about a real UI comparing to FFXI (at least it seems like it), the amazing graphics, and just about anything in Aion. There is just one thing I can see, everything is completely new to them. An Abyss to PvP, flying in-game, personalization of your toon, class customization, customization of Action Bars, hell even the powerful macro system.

Now I’ll tell you mines!

I installed, and without even reading the Manual, I launched the game. WoW-style login screen, log right into char creation, then it loads Aion. Character creation is worthwhile to go over though!

Before you read on, play this! Aion’s Character Creation music!
[audio:http://www.staronion.com/maiev/download/Kingdom%20of%20Light.mp3]

You started with a preset. Now, there are a ton of choices. You have roughly 30 preset hairstyle, after you’ve picked, you can adjust a TON of parameters.

Now that you’re done with your face, you will be zoom-ed out and can customize your body. I did try to configure a… Lalafella, but you can’t do a fat waist :( with a skinny body top. But you can create some of the nicest character. If you spend enough time, I’m pretty sure you can even resemble yourself, if not it should be pretty close.

I had a lot of fun with the Character creation, which is what lot of people like anyway :D It’s really, nothing like F5B Taru customization. LOL :D Okay, time to run the game.

Aion’s graphics was shit to begin with ^[4], I thought it was my system. Well no, it doesn’t pre-configure your system or auto-detect. Adjust everything to high with a 3GHz HT (single core) with a 256MB X800, raid 0 raptors and 2GB DDR RAM, I manage to be able to play it on a 1920×1200 24″ screen with slight lag. Now common, coming from FFXI, I’m pretty sure Lag is Okay…! We used to have 30fps or less, so 35 in Aion was totally acceptable (but a lot of people won’t accept it!).

Pretty [awesome ^[5]] [newbie tutorial ^[6]], although I don’t read it at all. Oh its voice narrated and animated.

Oh, here’s your equipment and inventory box ^[7] in Aion. AND RMT MESSAGE! LOL (This was taken from initial release date).

I see a little arrow on a person, figure its an NPC from my WoW experience. Went to talk. Of course, real-human narrated voice saying “Good Morning” :D clicking through it, please slain some mobs. Usual habit of WoW, I like to browse around and of course it has to close the quest box. I wasn’t moving my XYZ, just moving camera (which again, same as WoW, right click hold to move around) and it disengage my NPC talk. That was terribly annoying but I’m sure they will patch it.

I walk towards a mob with WASD, pretty standard. See my action bar spell labeled with 1 2 3 4 5, figured its like WoW, press to cast. Target it with a MOUSE (ZOMG!) and press. Oww it fires. I started as a Mage. So you get.

1. Attack/Bitch Slap with a Book (Mage = Scholar look in XI)
2. Fire Ball
3. Bind/Root
4. Loot All
5. Forgot/Useless

On your “Action Bar”. Of course you’d figure it out later that maybe u should Fire first then Bind, part of a learning curve of course. You see that there is no global cooldown for all actions so if u want, you can blast and bind. (Or Keyboard smash).

Mob dies in 2 blast, cool! Right click for loot, instinct and of course, it worked. Pretty familiar to WoW, you get a loot box, with a “Loot All” button. Exp/Messages appear on bottom left saying how much Exp you got. Of course, you also get RMT tells.

Mini maps are similar to WoW, you can distinguish NPC from PC, and you can adjust your map to rotate with you, or static location. You kill a few mobs, drink for HP regen. You get the idea. It’s the same quest and kill system in WoW.

Quest givers leads to you other larger town, where you can make purchases and buy stuff (Which, from a FFXI person, much more easier to follow/play). Not too surprisingly, even the item are categorized. Greyed out item are worthless (usually with no description), and can NPC. So you wouldn’t do the same thing in FFXI, where I started off NPCing stacks of Silk Thread (lol) for gil. You would already get “Inscriptions” type stuff in Aion, call Gem and Socket. You can enhance a piece of your equipment conveniently by using the “Gem” onto a piece of your equipment.

I walked by a plant, right click and next thing is… you are a Herbalist. Again, same stuff as WoW. But again, with the pretty graphics :D.

I kept on doing quest for a bit, and I realize… man, this is “just like another MMO”. Difference is, this is WoW v2.0, with BETTER graphics and of course, with a new Toon.

Where you coming from Matters.

Depending on which game you play before this, you would get a totally different perspective of Aion.

• If you were a bored FFXI or a quit FFXI long time ago, haven’t play WoW, you would find Aion very new, interesting.
• If you were bored from FFXI, play WoW inbetween and now hoping to Aion, you would find it not too interesting, since it’s exactly WoW, but with a new theme/skin. It would be “just another MMORPG”. Might not necessary like it, but might not necessary hate it.
• If you were a new MMO player and started Aion, you would find it very new, interesting.
• If you play WoW, got bored and go into Aion, you would also find it not too interesting, despite a new skin/theme. You’d still play it though simply because.. WoW’s so watered down from the recent badge changes, so many old-content was burned by the Trial of the Crusader. Though I like Exping in Battleground.

Now lets look deeper into Aion.

Aion.. you can’t swim =P You lose health in water. There is no swim motion like the ones in WoW. You actually run in water :D lol. It looks pretty funny but basically swim don’t exist.

At Lv9/10, you get your Ascension quest, to get your Wings. Well no, you can’t fly anywhere. Obviously you have restricted airspace as well, so you will be gliding. But air is one of the big things in Aion, and there will be Aerial combat. It is definitely something new.

Class specification is kinda like, merits. You can’t really be good in just about everything. You got to pick between being a half ass/hybrid by putting talent/merit points in just about every category, or focusing your talent points in one category, which they refer to class specification.

You’d start to discover the TP system in Aion (and of course, its not call TP). Same as FFXI but this one is… there is no zone =P So you can keep your TP to execute some WS. (Got to make this clear, I was told by Istari, who is actually playing Aion)

Learning new spells is just like WoW and FFXI, you buy a scroll and read it. Of course, there are spells you gain from class specification (hence, you can’t buy).

Of course while you fight/auto attack, you get very sparky and shadowy graphics. Every swing is so epic, it feels like a Relic. Graphics in this game is simply amazing, but if you’re coming from WoW, it’d just be a graphics upgrade.

The Abyss

Now without being at Lv20/25 (forgot exact number), I wouldn’t be able to really experience the Abyss, perhaps the most interesting part of Aion (well, depends on how you look at it!). If you come from FFXI, this would be mind blowing! As a WoW player, not really. We got that long ago with the Vehicle system. You hop into a F18, you are now a figher pilot (just an example). Aion is wings built-in :D

Yes, PvP while you level. While some like it, some hate it since they can never get anything done. But to compensate for that type of inconvenience, the monster inside the Abyss slight give more experience points!

The designer Aion created “Fortress ^[13]“, similar to Besiege in FFXI, but with the PvP. You can raid a fortress once every few hours, but by gaining control, you get access to specific PvE dungeons (eg. gain access to Dragon’s Aery), lower taxes, teleportaion. Basically, life easier with it. Therefore, every few hours, there will be a gank feast.

Imagine you and your guildmates gather up, and wanted to goto Dragon’s Aery. Oh shit the other faction have control. Now either you sit there do nothing hoping it goes back to your side (which it might not), or PvP for the access to go into the dungeon. There goes a night. Also, some factions tend to have all the shitty players. If the other faction can never win, you can never enter Dragon’s Aery, which is equally annoying to not getting claim for a week.

You can read more about Abyss here ^[14]. (Yea, Abyss is like 80% of Aion)

Final Word

I try to be as non-bias as possible, but I am bias in a certain aspect. However, this is not a review, but simply what I feel like about Aion on Mai blog. I do have to say, my mindset was already set to “not play Aion”, not because its a shitty game, but because I just got to EXP in Real-Life instead. It’s a great game, but I’m using this break between FFXi and FFXIV to get some real life accomplishment.

Shitty graphics might play a role, but I am a very game-play person. I play DotA because the gameplay is fun (shitty graphics). Same goes for FFXI and WoW. Fun goes down when it starts to be repetitive.

But I do have to say, a lot of Asian-based MMO are all grind feast. It’s the same leveling/grinding system that you seen in any other MMO. Me being tired of grinding, I naturally already dislike Aion. However, I do believe a lot of people out there don’t mind it. It gives them time to learn about the game, as well as a way to burn time.

However, I do see it that if you are coming from WoW, you would find it very repetitive. If you hate repetitive and grinding, then I truly think Aion isn’t worth your 50 bucks to even try. Coming from XI, you’d find it interesting. Everything considered, I still enjoy FFXI. I just wish it had better graphics lol.

Anyway, I know I haven’t covered many other game mechanics. Feel free to drop what you feel about Aion in comment. Everyone will have a different perspective, and the above writing is simply my perspective of Aion. :)