Aion Part Deux

27Jun10

Response to Aion & the level grind. I think not reaching the Abyss and completing a recap of the game was a missed opportunity to see all the game offers.

WoW is so popular because they put the grind at the end of the game, as someone already mentioned.

However as a direct result of that: There is no meaningful gear from
1-(Max Level – 1) in WoW.

There are things you can do in “Asian” games while you’re leveling
that will benefit you at end game. In WoW you’re limited to crafting
and your PvP trinket. Examples abound in FFXI (which has a level
capping system … or it did anyway … to make those items shine,
but with specialized gear uniquely suited for one or two specific
uses, this niche may be useful until end game) but also in Aion
(Titles, Wings, Abyss jewelry, armor sets, speed boots, attack speed gloves,
etc).

Most of that in Aion, like in FFXI, is replaceable at max level but
you can choose to upgrade other more level-centric gear instead as a
result (say, your weapon).

Aion is obviously designed to have every 10 levels gained be
considered a major accomplishment. If you do the story missions, you
are notified of the next area every 10 levels with an automatic quest.
I do agree with many critics that the levels themselves are not
unique enough. Though the Fire Temple in Morheim is amazing, the
desert of Morheim and the forest are the same as what I find in the
equivalent Elyos territory. The wintery section is nice but nothing
special and reminds me of level 10 when I’m almost level 35.

However exploration lacking in Aion, really? Have you flown under
the center of the Core in the Abyss? Found the Shugo village in an
area so distant and remote that space literally bends around you as
you fly through it? Jumped through a Rift to end up in a burning
volcano only to die steps outside the Sky Temple itself?

I’ve done those things, and my highest level character has been level
37.

The “problem” with Aion is that, very unlike WoW, it’s design
philosophy does not begin with “Everyone should see the content.”
That’s what WoW devs think, and that’s why Blizzard (or whoever) is
so rich. However for all that reaching Level 80 is an empty goal,
the work of days, not months, and your reward is the endless grind
for GearScore. In Everquest reaching level 50 was an epic accomplishment
(and a relief of sorts), in WoW it is your birthright from character creation.

These endless arguments against the grind are why every game is
ultimately WoW-ified, whether it does so at launch (hey new Star
Wars) or later (hey old Star Wars). And that’s too bad in my
opinion. Sometimes having a leveling curve that makes hitting a
level that isn’t the cap feel like an accomplishment is actually
quite refreshing.

PS The serious Aion player’s argument to this is that PvP is balanced
around max level characters. And you are, so, so, right. Hey, I
never said the game was perfect!

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