May 19, 2024
Legends of Aria Classic - Wolfe
We're excited to introduce to you Point Release 1! Coming to Legends of Aria in June 2024.
Point Release 1 will be a benchmark for our new content development strategy and one which will make end game inclusive for both PvE and PvP character.
We're moving away from an undue focus on ‘lower than GM’ content and will be decentralising the skilling up experience. We will be offering players a variety of ways to level their characters, not accelerating but de-mystifying the experience with an aim of driving players into GM level content where we will be focusing the entirety of our attention.
In the past we have been hyper restrictive on how we train our characters, invariably drawing our attention to the early game which historically has been a gruelling and punishing aspect in skill based sandbox games. We still believe that training characters should be time and resource intensive, but that core combat skills are an enormous barrier to entry for new players in a PvP orientated world.
In PR1 we are taking the gloves off when it comes to how we level our characters and will be offering improvements to this experience for existing and new players alike. Not seeking to accelerate the levelling experience, these additions are intended to make the path to GM more accessible and deliver more new players successfully to the end game:
This is no normal refresh but a comprehensive change to how we do dungeon content. Every monster and room is being meticulously replaced and will become a place of value. Here’s what you can expect:
Expect a broad spectrum of sensible gear, material, house addons, utility and cosmetic loot drops, making each adventure and hunting ground exponentially more rewarding. We don’t want to go into too much detail for obvious reasons, but we are offering an expansion to loot not seen before in the game's history.
Some highly sought after and fundamental improvements to combat will be coming in this release, including:
Prestige Talents are passive abilities which can be used to truly diversify your character and create unique builds in PvP, PvE, crafting and adventuring.
This will be a huge and crunchy update to existing meta, for this reason we’re taking a gradual approach to its implementation. The first iteration of the Prestige Talents will become available on Test Realm during PR1 for implementation when it’s been thoroughly tweaked and tested.
While this update focuses on upgrading existing content, it is a crucial step in our new approach to content design. Point Release 1 sets the stage for future expansions, including the upcoming Mythic Dungeons. The Mythic system is poised to add complimentary PvE and PvP progression which will offer Legends of Aria.
A New Endgame
Point Release 1 will be a benchmark for our new content development strategy and one which will make end game inclusive for both PvE and PvP character.
We're moving away from an undue focus on ‘lower than GM’ content and will be decentralising the skilling up experience. We will be offering players a variety of ways to level their characters, not accelerating but de-mystifying the experience with an aim of driving players into GM level content where we will be focusing the entirety of our attention.
Sandbox Progression
In the past we have been hyper restrictive on how we train our characters, invariably drawing our attention to the early game which historically has been a gruelling and punishing aspect in skill based sandbox games. We still believe that training characters should be time and resource intensive, but that core combat skills are an enormous barrier to entry for new players in a PvP orientated world.
In PR1 we are taking the gloves off when it comes to how we level our characters and will be offering improvements to this experience for existing and new players alike. Not seeking to accelerate the levelling experience, these additions are intended to make the path to GM more accessible and deliver more new players successfully to the end game:
- Skill Scrolls: Skill scrolls will offer players a more flexible and less punishing route to skill gain. Skill scrolls will drop primarily for core combat skills to help ensure that time spent adventuring is rewarded with skill gain. Whilst not intended to replace natural skill gains, the goal for skill scrolls is to provide an alternate economy for people to trade/barter for valuable points.
- Training Addons: As part of our dungeon upgrade, we will be dropping the means to craft Training Addons. These placeable housing addons will be created by crafters using rare and costly materials. These will give guilds and home owners the option to autonomously train combat focused characters at a reduced rate with these luxury highly sought after items.
- QoL to left behind skills: We’re frustrated and consciously aware that skills like Fabrication, Lockpicking and Animal Taming lack sufficient material means for players to access regular skill gains. These skills are being reviewed and will receive the attention they need.
New Approach to Dungeons: Ruin, Deception, and Contempt
This is no normal refresh but a comprehensive change to how we do dungeon content. Every monster and room is being meticulously replaced and will become a place of value. Here’s what you can expect:
- Tailored to Small Groups: Entering our dungeons will now teleport users to random starting locations, capping the maximum number of party members per arrival. Paired with the gates and barriers present, dungeons will offer players greater protection and balance in dealing with unwanted guests.
- New Monster List: Each room will feature monsters with our most modern AI, loaded with abilities and depth to create unique encounters.
- Gated Content: Areas within these dungeons will require specific items to access and will only permit a maximum number of party members, adding progressive elements to diversify the experience, balance to encounters and to reward player mastery and experience.
- Boss Encounters: We’re introducing both mini and dungeon bosses, enhancing the challenge and, most importantly, the rewards.
Loot and Rewards
Expect a broad spectrum of sensible gear, material, house addons, utility and cosmetic loot drops, making each adventure and hunting ground exponentially more rewarding. We don’t want to go into too much detail for obvious reasons, but we are offering an expansion to loot not seen before in the game's history.
Combat Improvements
Some highly sought after and fundamental improvements to combat will be coming in this release, including:
- PvE Flow: Many have raised that the flow of PvE has some issues, from mage interrupts to leashing, aggro range and other nitpicks. With our dungeon overhaul we will be polishing interrupt rates and other factors to ensure a solid combat experience.
- Blocking: Improvements to blocking, making shields a viable choice in both PvE and PvP.
- Combat Sound and Effects: We have reworked many of the sounds in LoA:Classic and a number of in-game effects to increase visual/audio quality and clarity in combat.
Prestige Talents (Test Realm)
Prestige Talents are passive abilities which can be used to truly diversify your character and create unique builds in PvP, PvE, crafting and adventuring.
This will be a huge and crunchy update to existing meta, for this reason we’re taking a gradual approach to its implementation. The first iteration of the Prestige Talents will become available on Test Realm during PR1 for implementation when it’s been thoroughly tweaked and tested.
A Benchmark Update
While this update focuses on upgrading existing content, it is a crucial step in our new approach to content design. Point Release 1 sets the stage for future expansions, including the upcoming Mythic Dungeons. The Mythic system is poised to add complimentary PvE and PvP progression which will offer Legends of Aria.
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