One of the big things about Aion is building up your gear to help make your avatar a defensive juggernaut or a ruthless killing machine. There are several ways to do this, but with each you need to understand the basics of what they are and how they work.
Gear comes in a number of rarity grades in Aion.
Gear Grades
There are four levels of gear rarity in Aion, each tier more powerful than the next. Some gear you acquire will have sockets for placing manastones or godstones. Chest, legs, shoulder, gloves, and boots will offer socket slots. The more rare the gear, the more sockets the item has.
Normal (Gray): Normal items are the common drops and often found on vendors. Normal items have between 1-2 socket slots.
Rare (Green): Rare items are a bit harder to find but they offer better statistics then normal items. These items drop off of creatures across Atreia and on contribution vendors for those looking rare items for a PvP boost. Rare items generally come with 2-3 socket slots.
Legendary (Blue): Legendary items are difficult to find, but they provide some of the best statistic gear in the game. Contribution vendors also carry these items at a high cost. Legendary items come with 3-4 sockets.
Unique (Orange): Unique items are the hardest to come by, but they also provide the best statistics gear-wise. You can find these on contribution vendors, but expect to pay greatly for them. Unique items come with 4-5 socket slots.
Enchantments
Enchantments improve specific attributes on weapons and armor and are a bit tricky, but the way this works is you will need to buy a set of extraction tools from the general goods vendor. You can then use these tools on an item to try and extract an enchantment stone from it. It is important to note that this will destroy the item. However, the higher the level of the item, the better the enchantment. Once you have your enchantment stone, you can try to use it on one of your items to boost its stats. There is also a chance that you will fail here and lose the stone. Lastly, if you try to enchant an already enchanted item and fail, your item will lose one level of enchantment. So there is always a chance you could do more harm than good through enchantments, but if you can succeed, your power will be enhanced, making it risky, but worth it. One way to reduce your chance of failure is to try and use a higher level stone than your items level.
Manastones enhance a number of stats and can be socketed into armor.
Manastones
Manastones are used to socket your gear and provide it with a number of possible enchantments. You can usually find these stones on various creatures throughout Atreia and very commonly on the trade broker. Manastones provide a number of possible enhancements such as boosting evasion, parry, hitpoints, attack, mana points, and much more. Read the full list of manastones here.
To socket a manastone, you first need an empty socket in a piece of gear. If you have already placed something in the socket, you can pay a visit to the specific vendors in town that can remove your current manastones. Before you remove a manastone, make sure it’s the one you want to be rid of as removing it will destroy the stone.
Godstones
Godstones are the last and one of the most powerful enhancements you can add to gear. Much like manastones, you will need a free socket to use a godstone and you will need to visit a godstone vendor in your faction’s main city. Unlike manastones however, godstones can only be placed in weapons. You can begin socketing godstones at level 30. More importantly, socketing a godstone to a weapon will give you a nice new shiny effect. What good is it to have all that power if you can’t smite an enemy in style? Godstones offer a number of enhancements to your weapon to enhance your attacks, Read the full list of godstones here.
Overall, Aion provides a huge number of options to customize your character’s gear and enhance their power. Enchantments may be risky, but the payoff can sometimes be well worth the risk. The early use of manastones is an essential tool for boosting your gear statistics and the later addition of godstones can turn your weapon into a giant, glowing, instrument of death. With all these enhancements available, you can march into battle well equipped and ready to monkey stomp opposing forces. And if the strong gear enhancements don’t earn you victory, you can always pop your wings and fly away while screaming like a school girl.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Stigma System Overview
Ever wondered what Stigma Stones were or how the system works, read on for more info!
Aion’s Stigma System is a feature giving players the ability to further customize their characters by allowing them to equip special “Stigma Stones”. Each Stigma Stone grants a particular ability unique to that class. For the lore buffs out there, you can take relief in knowing each Stigma stone carries the memory and strength of one of your fallen number. Stigmas help distinguish you from other members of your chosen class by granting you unique abilities some others might not have.
Getting Started - What is the Stigma System?
Aion’s Stigma System is a feature which gives players the ability to further customize their characters by allowing them to equip special “Stigma Stones”. Each Stigma Stone grants a particular ability unique to that class. For the lore buffs out there, you can take relief in knowing that each Stigma stone carries the memory and strength of one of your fallen number. Stigmas help distinguish you from other members of your chosen class by granting you unique abilities some others might not have.
How do you find them?
Stigma stones are rare drops from regular enemies found throughout the game. Named enemies tend to drop them in greater frequency. You will find that if you do not care to wait on drops, other players will be selling them. They usually fetch good profit as they are an in-demand item, although by using the account warehouse feature in your warehouse you can allow other characters you create to have access to them. This saves you the trouble later.
It should also be noted that certain Stigmas will be more rare than others, making them extremely sought after because of their unique and powerful abilities. The more rare a Stigma is, the more difficult it will be to obtain.
When can you start using Stigma Stones?
A player gains access to the Stigma System upon reaching level 20, at which time you will automatically pick up a new Campaign quest. The quest is for the lore junkies obviously (no spoilers here). After completing the quest you gain the ability to socket Stigma stones, along with your first Stigma stone which is of course very useful. Stigma slots become available as you level up, starting at level 20.
Level 20 - 2 Slots
Level 30 - 3 Slots
Level 40 - 4 Slots
Level 50 - 5 Slots
Patch 1.5 introduced 3 additional advanced Stigma slots for a total of 8 slots.
How do you get them equipped, and is there a cost?
Stigma Stones require a special NPC known as a Stigma Master found in each faction’s major cities. There is a cost to equipping them - Stigma Shards. By completing your Stigma quest at level 20 you receive some as a 1 time reward. After that you will need to obtain them by way of the Abyss; they drop commonly from enemies found there and add up over time. Keep in mind that the cost to equip the Stigma stone goes up with the level of the stone. Your level 20 Stigmas will be much cheaper to equip than higher level stones. Once you get a Stigma, you can change them out whenever you want without worrying about losing the Stigma stone itself since they return to you as you switch them out. It will be the shard cost to consider.
Conclusion
Your access to Stigma stones will increase with your level, and each time you reach that new milestone and get a new Stigma stone equipped (along with all your appropriate skills for your level) you will see the bigger picture here. Stigmas set you apart from other players by allowing you to customize your skills. A Templar is a good class to use here as an example because a Templar by default is the best tank, however, utilizing certain stones such as Stigmas that heal or do ranged stuns will also give them an arguable edge in PvP over PvE. The same goes for other Stigmas that buff their tanking abilities even further, such as 1 that diverts damage taken by a group member to their selves. Players will find ways and useful applications for everything. The level of customization in Aion remains superb.
Aion’s Stigma System is a feature giving players the ability to further customize their characters by allowing them to equip special “Stigma Stones”. Each Stigma Stone grants a particular ability unique to that class. For the lore buffs out there, you can take relief in knowing each Stigma stone carries the memory and strength of one of your fallen number. Stigmas help distinguish you from other members of your chosen class by granting you unique abilities some others might not have.
Getting Started - What is the Stigma System?
Aion’s Stigma System is a feature which gives players the ability to further customize their characters by allowing them to equip special “Stigma Stones”. Each Stigma Stone grants a particular ability unique to that class. For the lore buffs out there, you can take relief in knowing that each Stigma stone carries the memory and strength of one of your fallen number. Stigmas help distinguish you from other members of your chosen class by granting you unique abilities some others might not have.
How do you find them?
Stigma stones are rare drops from regular enemies found throughout the game. Named enemies tend to drop them in greater frequency. You will find that if you do not care to wait on drops, other players will be selling them. They usually fetch good profit as they are an in-demand item, although by using the account warehouse feature in your warehouse you can allow other characters you create to have access to them. This saves you the trouble later.
It should also be noted that certain Stigmas will be more rare than others, making them extremely sought after because of their unique and powerful abilities. The more rare a Stigma is, the more difficult it will be to obtain.
When can you start using Stigma Stones?
A player gains access to the Stigma System upon reaching level 20, at which time you will automatically pick up a new Campaign quest. The quest is for the lore junkies obviously (no spoilers here). After completing the quest you gain the ability to socket Stigma stones, along with your first Stigma stone which is of course very useful. Stigma slots become available as you level up, starting at level 20.
Level 20 - 2 Slots
Level 30 - 3 Slots
Level 40 - 4 Slots
Level 50 - 5 Slots
Patch 1.5 introduced 3 additional advanced Stigma slots for a total of 8 slots.
How do you get them equipped, and is there a cost?
Stigma Stones require a special NPC known as a Stigma Master found in each faction’s major cities. There is a cost to equipping them - Stigma Shards. By completing your Stigma quest at level 20 you receive some as a 1 time reward. After that you will need to obtain them by way of the Abyss; they drop commonly from enemies found there and add up over time. Keep in mind that the cost to equip the Stigma stone goes up with the level of the stone. Your level 20 Stigmas will be much cheaper to equip than higher level stones. Once you get a Stigma, you can change them out whenever you want without worrying about losing the Stigma stone itself since they return to you as you switch them out. It will be the shard cost to consider.
Conclusion
Your access to Stigma stones will increase with your level, and each time you reach that new milestone and get a new Stigma stone equipped (along with all your appropriate skills for your level) you will see the bigger picture here. Stigmas set you apart from other players by allowing you to customize your skills. A Templar is a good class to use here as an example because a Templar by default is the best tank, however, utilizing certain stones such as Stigmas that heal or do ranged stuns will also give them an arguable edge in PvP over PvE. The same goes for other Stigmas that buff their tanking abilities even further, such as 1 that diverts damage taken by a group member to their selves. Players will find ways and useful applications for everything. The level of customization in Aion remains superb.
Aion Stats Dictionary
Finally! The ABCs of Stats Explained Quickly and Clearly.
Nearly every MMOG that we play uses character stats in some way to alter the effectiveness and playability of our characters. The stats used and what they do though are unique to each game and this is certainly true of Aion stats. Knowing what stats you need to focus on is easy once you know what your stats do. This guide will define each stat for you to give you the basic knowledge you need to manipulate your character’s stats for the best gameplay results.
In addition, we will give you an idea as whether or not the stat is useful for your class. Do keep in mind that there are soft caps and hard caps that come into play so while you can pour all your resources into a single stat, once you've hit the soft cap for your class and level, the return you get from each raise in stat point is diminished and ends up reducing the effectiveness of buffs. Class will often want to consider focusing on 1 or 2 stats to increase early on, then add more later on when they start reaching cap on their stats of choice. This will give you the biggest bang for your stat buck and give you a clear road to follow when choosing stat gear.
Nearly every MMOG that we play uses character stats in some way to alter the effectiveness and playability of our characters. The stats used and what they do though are unique to each game and this is certainly true of Aion stats. Knowing what stats you need to focus on is easy once you know what your stats do. This guide will define each stat for you to give you the basic knowledge you need to manipulate your character’s stats for the best gameplay results.
In addition, we will give you an idea as whether or not the stat is useful for your class. Do keep in mind that there are soft caps and hard caps that come into play so while you can pour all your resources into a single stat, once you've hit the soft cap for your class and level, the return you get from each raise in stat point is diminished and ends up reducing the effectiveness of buffs. Class will often want to consider focusing on 1 or 2 stats to increase early on, then add more later on when they start reaching cap on their stats of choice. This will give you the biggest bang for your stat buck and give you a clear road to follow when choosing stat gear.
Guide to Aion Graphic Settings
Make the most of your average computer
Probably my one biggest regrets during the release of Aion is that I can't upgrade my system to enjoy a higher quality of graphics. I updated for EverQuest II and again for Age of Conan, but alas I have been hit by the economic troubles that many have dealing with and I can't splurge this time. The machine that I run as my main gaming comp is very mediocre. I can run anything on the market with good stability but because it isn't top of the line, I do need to make some concessions in my graphic choices to get the best of my gaming experience and I want to share my tricks with you! Please do keep in mind that I am a typical user and not at all a professional. These are my experiences and what works well on my middle line machine.
Graphic Basics
You won't know what to change if you don't know what they do! Here is a quick tutorial on what the sliders and drop downs on your graphic panel are.
Anti-Aliasing - This setting smoothes out the blocky edges of pixels. The higher the setting, the more blended the edges will be.
Bloom Effect - This is your light effect. The various setting change how pretty the lights are!
Background - Graphics that load in the distance. Lower setting limits the detail of what you see far away.
Water Effect - Controls the quality of how water looks. Water is very graphic intensive and one of the first to get mucked up if your graphic settings are too high for your system.
Shadows - Controls the depth and darkness of shadows that are cast by characters and items in game. This is also fairly graphic intensive as it needs to move and render for nearly everything in game if it is set on "high".
Terrain Range - Controls how far away you can see the background and world graphics.
Object Range - Controls how far away you see objects such as other characters, mobs, etc.
Texture Detail - Textures cover nearly everything in game. A higher setting allows for higher detail.
Shader Quality - Quality of detail on background and characters.
High Versus Low Settings
There is a huge difference between the best graphics you can get and the worst. By moving all of the settings low, I accomplish this:
By moving them all to the highest setting, I get this:
Very few machines will need to run on the lowest settings, and clearly you wouldn't want to if you didn't have to. Even during fast-paced PvP or raids, working with settings that low isn't necessary and it is not at all attractive.
Getting the Best for Your Machine
Whenever I log into a MMOG for the first time, my immediate action is to go to my graphics and start setting everything up. Some games have a system detection that will (hopefully) give you the best set up for your machine. Unfortunately I used this feature in Aion and it didn't do what I had hoped and I do not recommend using it. It changed my settings much lower than I would typically run and changed my resolution to something that I would consider unplayable.
So how then do you know what will work for you? Trial and error is probably the best way, but a few tricks can get you started.
Shadows are nice to see, but they take time to render on a mediocre machine so they aren't really worth having. Turn them to the lowest setting! This will relieve stress on your video card and will make things run smoother.
Water effects in Aion look awful on the lowest setting, but this also takes time to render so rather than turning this off, set it to a moderate level using the second or third bar. I have mine right in the middle of the scale and it makes water attractive without making it use up my resources.
Background, terrain range, and object range are things I like to see. If you are playing in game, it's helpful to see what's coming at you before it smacks you upside the head. Most system should be able to handle having these at a moderate to high setting without taking too big of a hit to performance. I feel that what you gain in visibility is worth what you may lose in render speed.
Texture detail and shader quality just make everything look prettier, but the difference you will see between moderate settings and high settings is minimal. Put these towards the middle of the slider and you'll be rewarded with a bit more speed in performance.
Anti-aliasing is the best thing since pixels were invented. To avoid that awful blocky edge that can happen in game you will want to set this as high as you can. My graphic card over rides this setting in game, automatically forcing settings to the highest possible but really all you need to do is try the settings in game to see which is the highest your video card can handle.
Bloom effect is something that you want some of, but more than that doesn't really make the in-game appearance too much more appealing. I don't like harsh bloom so I have mine set on Type 1 in game. I've been reading that a lot of people prefer Type 2, but it's all personal preference. Just watch the background light (if you can find it in Asmodae!) and choose which appeals to you without making your eyeball hurt.
Probably my one biggest regrets during the release of Aion is that I can't upgrade my system to enjoy a higher quality of graphics. I updated for EverQuest II and again for Age of Conan, but alas I have been hit by the economic troubles that many have dealing with and I can't splurge this time. The machine that I run as my main gaming comp is very mediocre. I can run anything on the market with good stability but because it isn't top of the line, I do need to make some concessions in my graphic choices to get the best of my gaming experience and I want to share my tricks with you! Please do keep in mind that I am a typical user and not at all a professional. These are my experiences and what works well on my middle line machine.
Graphic Basics
You won't know what to change if you don't know what they do! Here is a quick tutorial on what the sliders and drop downs on your graphic panel are.
Anti-Aliasing - This setting smoothes out the blocky edges of pixels. The higher the setting, the more blended the edges will be.
Bloom Effect - This is your light effect. The various setting change how pretty the lights are!
Background - Graphics that load in the distance. Lower setting limits the detail of what you see far away.
Water Effect - Controls the quality of how water looks. Water is very graphic intensive and one of the first to get mucked up if your graphic settings are too high for your system.
Shadows - Controls the depth and darkness of shadows that are cast by characters and items in game. This is also fairly graphic intensive as it needs to move and render for nearly everything in game if it is set on "high".
Terrain Range - Controls how far away you can see the background and world graphics.
Object Range - Controls how far away you see objects such as other characters, mobs, etc.
Texture Detail - Textures cover nearly everything in game. A higher setting allows for higher detail.
Shader Quality - Quality of detail on background and characters.
High Versus Low Settings
There is a huge difference between the best graphics you can get and the worst. By moving all of the settings low, I accomplish this:
By moving them all to the highest setting, I get this:
Very few machines will need to run on the lowest settings, and clearly you wouldn't want to if you didn't have to. Even during fast-paced PvP or raids, working with settings that low isn't necessary and it is not at all attractive.
Getting the Best for Your Machine
Whenever I log into a MMOG for the first time, my immediate action is to go to my graphics and start setting everything up. Some games have a system detection that will (hopefully) give you the best set up for your machine. Unfortunately I used this feature in Aion and it didn't do what I had hoped and I do not recommend using it. It changed my settings much lower than I would typically run and changed my resolution to something that I would consider unplayable.
So how then do you know what will work for you? Trial and error is probably the best way, but a few tricks can get you started.
Shadows are nice to see, but they take time to render on a mediocre machine so they aren't really worth having. Turn them to the lowest setting! This will relieve stress on your video card and will make things run smoother.
Water effects in Aion look awful on the lowest setting, but this also takes time to render so rather than turning this off, set it to a moderate level using the second or third bar. I have mine right in the middle of the scale and it makes water attractive without making it use up my resources.
Background, terrain range, and object range are things I like to see. If you are playing in game, it's helpful to see what's coming at you before it smacks you upside the head. Most system should be able to handle having these at a moderate to high setting without taking too big of a hit to performance. I feel that what you gain in visibility is worth what you may lose in render speed.
Texture detail and shader quality just make everything look prettier, but the difference you will see between moderate settings and high settings is minimal. Put these towards the middle of the slider and you'll be rewarded with a bit more speed in performance.
Anti-aliasing is the best thing since pixels were invented. To avoid that awful blocky edge that can happen in game you will want to set this as high as you can. My graphic card over rides this setting in game, automatically forcing settings to the highest possible but really all you need to do is try the settings in game to see which is the highest your video card can handle.
Bloom effect is something that you want some of, but more than that doesn't really make the in-game appearance too much more appealing. I don't like harsh bloom so I have mine set on Type 1 in game. I've been reading that a lot of people prefer Type 2, but it's all personal preference. Just watch the background light (if you can find it in Asmodae!) and choose which appeals to you without making your eyeball hurt.
Aion Flight Facts
Learn what you need to know to get off the ground!
Aion is a game that not only allows for multi-dimensional combat, but encourages it to the point where players may never again want to return to strictly land bound gaming. Having never...
Aion is a game that not only allows for multi-dimensional combat, but encourages it to the point where players may never again want to return to strictly land bound gaming. Having never played a game quite like Aion, I was very anxious to make my way to ascension and earn my wings so I could get my taste of freedom and find out what all the hype concerning Aion flight has been all about. I have found that flight is not at all overstated and while the best way to get to know flying is to learn the system hands-on, we want to give you a running head start with some quick facts that will make mastering flight a lot quicker and easier!
How is flight in Aion possible?
Enjoy views unlike anything you have seen before!
Aion’s lore tells us that prior to the world shattering, flight was common in Atreia and Elyos and Asmodians alike enjoyed this powerful gift as thoughtlessly as we enjoy drawing breath. After the world split, flight had been somewhat forgotten for a time until the discovery of the shards of Aion that were found scattered across the lands. Elyos and Asmodians reclaimed their gift of flight through ascension and Daevas once again soared through the skies of Atreia.
It is amongst these shattered pieces of Aion that we find our ability to fly, and while flight isn’t possible in all parts of the world, it is in many major areas throughout the world and within the Abyss.
When will I get to start flying?
There is no flight through your first 9 levels. The ability is granted once you have completed your ascension quests and you join the ranks of the Daevas. Your first real introduction to flight will be the cities after you have left the newbie area. It is here that you will learn about maneuvering, fighting, and gathering while in the air. It can get a little tricky though, so I strongly suggest flying around as much as possible at first to get the hang of it.
Where can I fly?
Pieces of Aion need to be present in order for players to have the ability to fly. The Abyss highlights aerial combat so you may plan on using flight as part of your strategy here. Around the rest of the world, the best way to tell if flight is possible is to glance at your UI. There is a button on the lower right hand corner that shows a wing graphic when you’re in an area where you can fly and turns black when you cannot fly. This flight indictor will be your best friend whenever you fly.
How do I fly?
You can take off by hitting your “Page Up” key and land by hitting the “Page Down” key on your keyboard. I personally did not like the location of those keys but luckily the game also provides a hotkey icon that you can find in your skills window under the actions tab. Drag and drop the icon from this tab to your hotbar where you can use it to take off or to land. If you prefer mouse control over keyboard, you can also click the flight button on the lower right hand corner of your UI.
Learn to use your UI flight tools.
Flight movement is controlled by your mouse and arrow keys. Use your forward key (either the up arrow if you use the arrow keys, the W key if you use WASD for movement, or the Num Lock for auto-forward) to propel yourself through the air. To maneuver, hold down your right mouse button and mouse look in the direction you wish to travel! Pushing the mouse away from you makes you fly up and pulling it down towards you brings you back down to the ground. You can fly in either first person or third person camera view and Aion’s key mapping allows for customization of the keys you use in game so if the default doesn’t work for you, you have plenty of options to work with.
Are there limits to flight?
Other than the previously mentioned limits to where you can fly, there is another significant limitation that you will always need to keep in mind.
Flight has a time limit. I learned this lesson the hard way in the middle of playing with my flight controls and ended up respawning in my bind location before I even realized what had hit me!
Aion has falling damage and if you are hovering miles above the ground when time runs out, you will die when you hit the ground. That nifty little flight indicator button that we have already talked about also has a timer around it. This ring around the button has 16 bubbles that tick down while you fly and turns red and angrily flashes when it gets down to 4 bubbles to indicate time is almost up. That is generally enough time to find a place to land assuming you haven’t gotten yourself somewhere rather dangerous. You can land in out of the way places like ledges, cliffs, on top of buildings and other structures so even if you aren’t near the ground, finding some place (any place!) to stand while you wait for your flight bubbles to tick back up again is totally okay!
Is there any way to augment flight?
Because flight is a key feature in Aion, there are ways to boost your flight capabilities. Skills and consumables have the ability to raise both your flight time and your flight speed. If you are questing, early on you will likely receive flight time extension potions that will come in handy as you are learning this new aspect of gameplay.
Will there be class skills that are dependent upon flight?
Fall from this distance and you will die!
Most skills follow the same rules as ground combat, but there are class skills that are focused on aerial combat. So far the only skills that I have come across are passive flight skills, but it is clear that some class skills will be more effective while in flight than others.
Is there anything else I need to know about flight in Aion?
Flight is a fun factor in PvE gameplay and it will quickly become a favorite form of travel the very first time you find that you don’t have to walk around anything and instead can fly right over. Many of the PvE zones don’t allow for flight, so it generally ends up being more of a convenience skill than anything but it does make scouting for mobs and adventuring a lot nicer!
In PvP flight becomes a strategy, a hindrance or a blessing, and a whole new level of combat that most players have never experienced before. The Abyss is a dangerous place and each player will need to utilize flight in order to stay competitive on the battlefield. Learn your controls early and play with them often to master this element of gameplay that could very well be the edge in winning!
Aion is a game that not only allows for multi-dimensional combat, but encourages it to the point where players may never again want to return to strictly land bound gaming. Having never...
Aion is a game that not only allows for multi-dimensional combat, but encourages it to the point where players may never again want to return to strictly land bound gaming. Having never played a game quite like Aion, I was very anxious to make my way to ascension and earn my wings so I could get my taste of freedom and find out what all the hype concerning Aion flight has been all about. I have found that flight is not at all overstated and while the best way to get to know flying is to learn the system hands-on, we want to give you a running head start with some quick facts that will make mastering flight a lot quicker and easier!
How is flight in Aion possible?
Enjoy views unlike anything you have seen before!
Aion’s lore tells us that prior to the world shattering, flight was common in Atreia and Elyos and Asmodians alike enjoyed this powerful gift as thoughtlessly as we enjoy drawing breath. After the world split, flight had been somewhat forgotten for a time until the discovery of the shards of Aion that were found scattered across the lands. Elyos and Asmodians reclaimed their gift of flight through ascension and Daevas once again soared through the skies of Atreia.
It is amongst these shattered pieces of Aion that we find our ability to fly, and while flight isn’t possible in all parts of the world, it is in many major areas throughout the world and within the Abyss.
When will I get to start flying?
There is no flight through your first 9 levels. The ability is granted once you have completed your ascension quests and you join the ranks of the Daevas. Your first real introduction to flight will be the cities after you have left the newbie area. It is here that you will learn about maneuvering, fighting, and gathering while in the air. It can get a little tricky though, so I strongly suggest flying around as much as possible at first to get the hang of it.
Where can I fly?
Pieces of Aion need to be present in order for players to have the ability to fly. The Abyss highlights aerial combat so you may plan on using flight as part of your strategy here. Around the rest of the world, the best way to tell if flight is possible is to glance at your UI. There is a button on the lower right hand corner that shows a wing graphic when you’re in an area where you can fly and turns black when you cannot fly. This flight indictor will be your best friend whenever you fly.
How do I fly?
You can take off by hitting your “Page Up” key and land by hitting the “Page Down” key on your keyboard. I personally did not like the location of those keys but luckily the game also provides a hotkey icon that you can find in your skills window under the actions tab. Drag and drop the icon from this tab to your hotbar where you can use it to take off or to land. If you prefer mouse control over keyboard, you can also click the flight button on the lower right hand corner of your UI.
Learn to use your UI flight tools.
Flight movement is controlled by your mouse and arrow keys. Use your forward key (either the up arrow if you use the arrow keys, the W key if you use WASD for movement, or the Num Lock for auto-forward) to propel yourself through the air. To maneuver, hold down your right mouse button and mouse look in the direction you wish to travel! Pushing the mouse away from you makes you fly up and pulling it down towards you brings you back down to the ground. You can fly in either first person or third person camera view and Aion’s key mapping allows for customization of the keys you use in game so if the default doesn’t work for you, you have plenty of options to work with.
Are there limits to flight?
Other than the previously mentioned limits to where you can fly, there is another significant limitation that you will always need to keep in mind.
Flight has a time limit. I learned this lesson the hard way in the middle of playing with my flight controls and ended up respawning in my bind location before I even realized what had hit me!
Aion has falling damage and if you are hovering miles above the ground when time runs out, you will die when you hit the ground. That nifty little flight indicator button that we have already talked about also has a timer around it. This ring around the button has 16 bubbles that tick down while you fly and turns red and angrily flashes when it gets down to 4 bubbles to indicate time is almost up. That is generally enough time to find a place to land assuming you haven’t gotten yourself somewhere rather dangerous. You can land in out of the way places like ledges, cliffs, on top of buildings and other structures so even if you aren’t near the ground, finding some place (any place!) to stand while you wait for your flight bubbles to tick back up again is totally okay!
Is there any way to augment flight?
Because flight is a key feature in Aion, there are ways to boost your flight capabilities. Skills and consumables have the ability to raise both your flight time and your flight speed. If you are questing, early on you will likely receive flight time extension potions that will come in handy as you are learning this new aspect of gameplay.
Will there be class skills that are dependent upon flight?
Fall from this distance and you will die!
Most skills follow the same rules as ground combat, but there are class skills that are focused on aerial combat. So far the only skills that I have come across are passive flight skills, but it is clear that some class skills will be more effective while in flight than others.
Is there anything else I need to know about flight in Aion?
Flight is a fun factor in PvE gameplay and it will quickly become a favorite form of travel the very first time you find that you don’t have to walk around anything and instead can fly right over. Many of the PvE zones don’t allow for flight, so it generally ends up being more of a convenience skill than anything but it does make scouting for mobs and adventuring a lot nicer!
In PvP flight becomes a strategy, a hindrance or a blessing, and a whole new level of combat that most players have never experienced before. The Abyss is a dangerous place and each player will need to utilize flight in order to stay competitive on the battlefield. Learn your controls early and play with them often to master this element of gameplay that could very well be the edge in winning!
Aion Flight Facts
Learn what you need to know to get off the ground!
Aion is a game that not only allows for multi-dimensional combat, but encourages it to the point where players may never again want to return to strictly land bound gaming. Having never...
Aion is a game that not only allows for multi-dimensional combat, but encourages it to the point where players may never again want to return to strictly land bound gaming. Having never played a game quite like Aion, I was very anxious to make my way to ascension and earn my wings so I could get my taste of freedom and find out what all the hype concerning Aion flight has been all about. I have found that flight is not at all overstated and while the best way to get to know flying is to learn the system hands-on, we want to give you a running head start with some quick facts that will make mastering flight a lot quicker and easier!
How is flight in Aion possible?
Enjoy views unlike anything you have seen before!
Aion’s lore tells us that prior to the world shattering, flight was common in Atreia and Elyos and Asmodians alike enjoyed this powerful gift as thoughtlessly as we enjoy drawing breath. After the world split, flight had been somewhat forgotten for a time until the discovery of the shards of Aion that were found scattered across the lands. Elyos and Asmodians reclaimed their gift of flight through ascension and Daevas once again soared through the skies of Atreia.
It is amongst these shattered pieces of Aion that we find our ability to fly, and while flight isn’t possible in all parts of the world, it is in many major areas throughout the world and within the Abyss.
When will I get to start flying?
There is no flight through your first 9 levels. The ability is granted once you have completed your ascension quests and you join the ranks of the Daevas. Your first real introduction to flight will be the cities after you have left the newbie area. It is here that you will learn about maneuvering, fighting, and gathering while in the air. It can get a little tricky though, so I strongly suggest flying around as much as possible at first to get the hang of it.
Where can I fly?
Pieces of Aion need to be present in order for players to have the ability to fly. The Abyss highlights aerial combat so you may plan on using flight as part of your strategy here. Around the rest of the world, the best way to tell if flight is possible is to glance at your UI. There is a button on the lower right hand corner that shows a wing graphic when you’re in an area where you can fly and turns black when you cannot fly. This flight indictor will be your best friend whenever you fly.
How do I fly?
You can take off by hitting your “Page Up” key and land by hitting the “Page Down” key on your keyboard. I personally did not like the location of those keys but luckily the game also provides a hotkey icon that you can find in your skills window under the actions tab. Drag and drop the icon from this tab to your hotbar where you can use it to take off or to land. If you prefer mouse control over keyboard, you can also click the flight button on the lower right hand corner of your UI.
Learn to use your UI flight tools.
Flight movement is controlled by your mouse and arrow keys. Use your forward key (either the up arrow if you use the arrow keys, the W key if you use WASD for movement, or the Num Lock for auto-forward) to propel yourself through the air. To maneuver, hold down your right mouse button and mouse look in the direction you wish to travel! Pushing the mouse away from you makes you fly up and pulling it down towards you brings you back down to the ground. You can fly in either first person or third person camera view and Aion’s key mapping allows for customization of the keys you use in game so if the default doesn’t work for you, you have plenty of options to work with.
Are there limits to flight?
Other than the previously mentioned limits to where you can fly, there is another significant limitation that you will always need to keep in mind.
Flight has a time limit. I learned this lesson the hard way in the middle of playing with my flight controls and ended up respawning in my bind location before I even realized what had hit me!
Aion has falling damage and if you are hovering miles above the ground when time runs out, you will die when you hit the ground. That nifty little flight indicator button that we have already talked about also has a timer around it. This ring around the button has 16 bubbles that tick down while you fly and turns red and angrily flashes when it gets down to 4 bubbles to indicate time is almost up. That is generally enough time to find a place to land assuming you haven’t gotten yourself somewhere rather dangerous. You can land in out of the way places like ledges, cliffs, on top of buildings and other structures so even if you aren’t near the ground, finding some place (any place!) to stand while you wait for your flight bubbles to tick back up again is totally okay!
Is there any way to augment flight?
Because flight is a key feature in Aion, there are ways to boost your flight capabilities. Skills and consumables have the ability to raise both your flight time and your flight speed. If you are questing, early on you will likely receive flight time extension potions that will come in handy as you are learning this new aspect of gameplay.
Will there be class skills that are dependent upon flight?
Fall from this distance and you will die!
Most skills follow the same rules as ground combat, but there are class skills that are focused on aerial combat. So far the only skills that I have come across are passive flight skills, but it is clear that some class skills will be more effective while in flight than others.
Is there anything else I need to know about flight in Aion?
Flight is a fun factor in PvE gameplay and it will quickly become a favorite form of travel the very first time you find that you don’t have to walk around anything and instead can fly right over. Many of the PvE zones don’t allow for flight, so it generally ends up being more of a convenience skill than anything but it does make scouting for mobs and adventuring a lot nicer!
In PvP flight becomes a strategy, a hindrance or a blessing, and a whole new level of combat that most players have never experienced before. The Abyss is a dangerous place and each player will need to utilize flight in order to stay competitive on the battlefield. Learn your controls early and play with them often to master this element of gameplay that could very well be the edge in winning!
Aion is a game that not only allows for multi-dimensional combat, but encourages it to the point where players may never again want to return to strictly land bound gaming. Having never...
Aion is a game that not only allows for multi-dimensional combat, but encourages it to the point where players may never again want to return to strictly land bound gaming. Having never played a game quite like Aion, I was very anxious to make my way to ascension and earn my wings so I could get my taste of freedom and find out what all the hype concerning Aion flight has been all about. I have found that flight is not at all overstated and while the best way to get to know flying is to learn the system hands-on, we want to give you a running head start with some quick facts that will make mastering flight a lot quicker and easier!
How is flight in Aion possible?
Enjoy views unlike anything you have seen before!
Aion’s lore tells us that prior to the world shattering, flight was common in Atreia and Elyos and Asmodians alike enjoyed this powerful gift as thoughtlessly as we enjoy drawing breath. After the world split, flight had been somewhat forgotten for a time until the discovery of the shards of Aion that were found scattered across the lands. Elyos and Asmodians reclaimed their gift of flight through ascension and Daevas once again soared through the skies of Atreia.
It is amongst these shattered pieces of Aion that we find our ability to fly, and while flight isn’t possible in all parts of the world, it is in many major areas throughout the world and within the Abyss.
When will I get to start flying?
There is no flight through your first 9 levels. The ability is granted once you have completed your ascension quests and you join the ranks of the Daevas. Your first real introduction to flight will be the cities after you have left the newbie area. It is here that you will learn about maneuvering, fighting, and gathering while in the air. It can get a little tricky though, so I strongly suggest flying around as much as possible at first to get the hang of it.
Where can I fly?
Pieces of Aion need to be present in order for players to have the ability to fly. The Abyss highlights aerial combat so you may plan on using flight as part of your strategy here. Around the rest of the world, the best way to tell if flight is possible is to glance at your UI. There is a button on the lower right hand corner that shows a wing graphic when you’re in an area where you can fly and turns black when you cannot fly. This flight indictor will be your best friend whenever you fly.
How do I fly?
You can take off by hitting your “Page Up” key and land by hitting the “Page Down” key on your keyboard. I personally did not like the location of those keys but luckily the game also provides a hotkey icon that you can find in your skills window under the actions tab. Drag and drop the icon from this tab to your hotbar where you can use it to take off or to land. If you prefer mouse control over keyboard, you can also click the flight button on the lower right hand corner of your UI.
Learn to use your UI flight tools.
Flight movement is controlled by your mouse and arrow keys. Use your forward key (either the up arrow if you use the arrow keys, the W key if you use WASD for movement, or the Num Lock for auto-forward) to propel yourself through the air. To maneuver, hold down your right mouse button and mouse look in the direction you wish to travel! Pushing the mouse away from you makes you fly up and pulling it down towards you brings you back down to the ground. You can fly in either first person or third person camera view and Aion’s key mapping allows for customization of the keys you use in game so if the default doesn’t work for you, you have plenty of options to work with.
Are there limits to flight?
Other than the previously mentioned limits to where you can fly, there is another significant limitation that you will always need to keep in mind.
Flight has a time limit. I learned this lesson the hard way in the middle of playing with my flight controls and ended up respawning in my bind location before I even realized what had hit me!
Aion has falling damage and if you are hovering miles above the ground when time runs out, you will die when you hit the ground. That nifty little flight indicator button that we have already talked about also has a timer around it. This ring around the button has 16 bubbles that tick down while you fly and turns red and angrily flashes when it gets down to 4 bubbles to indicate time is almost up. That is generally enough time to find a place to land assuming you haven’t gotten yourself somewhere rather dangerous. You can land in out of the way places like ledges, cliffs, on top of buildings and other structures so even if you aren’t near the ground, finding some place (any place!) to stand while you wait for your flight bubbles to tick back up again is totally okay!
Is there any way to augment flight?
Because flight is a key feature in Aion, there are ways to boost your flight capabilities. Skills and consumables have the ability to raise both your flight time and your flight speed. If you are questing, early on you will likely receive flight time extension potions that will come in handy as you are learning this new aspect of gameplay.
Will there be class skills that are dependent upon flight?
Fall from this distance and you will die!
Most skills follow the same rules as ground combat, but there are class skills that are focused on aerial combat. So far the only skills that I have come across are passive flight skills, but it is clear that some class skills will be more effective while in flight than others.
Is there anything else I need to know about flight in Aion?
Flight is a fun factor in PvE gameplay and it will quickly become a favorite form of travel the very first time you find that you don’t have to walk around anything and instead can fly right over. Many of the PvE zones don’t allow for flight, so it generally ends up being more of a convenience skill than anything but it does make scouting for mobs and adventuring a lot nicer!
In PvP flight becomes a strategy, a hindrance or a blessing, and a whole new level of combat that most players have never experienced before. The Abyss is a dangerous place and each player will need to utilize flight in order to stay competitive on the battlefield. Learn your controls early and play with them often to master this element of gameplay that could very well be the edge in winning!
Aion Carebear's Guide to Dodging PvP
Not in the mood for a face off? Get tips on how to avoid PvP!
The term “carebear” is often used in gaming as a derogatory term to describe those who choose to not engage in heavy player versus player combat. Yeah, I’ve been called a carebear but since I’m not evil and have nothing against these cuddly little bundles of fluff, I’m okay with it!
Being more PvE centric in a game like Aion isn’t a bad thing. We all have our different play styles, and each should be respected. It does make it hard though when you want to head out to gather for your crafting profession and you end up getting stabbed in the face every time you attempt to do so. You can try to defend yourself but let’s face it; carebear twitch reflex isn’t quite the same as the Ranger that just popped you with an arrow in the back then ricocheted across your screen until you finally died without landing even one hit.
Because Aion encourages PvP, and should, PvE players have to find a way to dodge the player killers and we have a few tips that will make it easier to avoid unwanted PvP gameplay. Whether you are a staunch PvE player who may never step foot in the Abyss, or a regular PvP player who just wants to get a few quests or some gathering done, these tips will work for just about everyone.
My Safeword is Blueberry Pancakes
Zones, like this one in Asmodae, have absolutely no risk of PvP encounters.
Probably the best way to avoid PvP is to go where it cannot. Each faction sports a decent sized zone that has absolutely no access for the opposing faction. For Asmodians it’s Brusthonin and for the Elyos, their PvP free zone is Theobomos. These two zones cover levels 20-40+ but not completely. Best uses of these safe zones are between levels 20-25 and 40-45 which leaves you to your own devices through most of your 30s but these zones can still be utilized for gathering across all levels.
When those zones aren’t appropriate but you’d still like to progress your character unfettered by ganking, grab a group and hit some instances! Dungeons give good and fast experience without the worry of having to watch your back. You may have to live with pick up groups, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made in the name of leveling.
Run Forest, Run!
When playing in a safe zone won’t work for whatever you need to do, you’ll end up having to make your way into one of the several rifting zones and this means you may face players looking to beat you down. It is pretty much impossible to avoid PvP completely in these areas, but you can take control and minimize your exposure. One way to do this is being aware of where the rift incoming locations are at. Opposing faction players will only make it so far in a zone so if you stay away from these hot spots, thus you lower your risk of coming face to face with them.
Another trick is the “radar”. Easy to set up and so extremely helpful in either finding PvP or avoiding it, utilizing your existing chat filtering tools you can set up your own warning radar to go off when danger is near.
Step 1 – Open a new tab on your chat box via the chat menu and drag it to a separate location where it will be easily noticed at all times.
Step 2 – Right click on your new tab and choose “tab options”. Only have selected “Combat-Others” and in the sub section, mark all that are for your Enemy’s.
Step 3 – Make all font colors for the selected sections something that will stand out, such as bright red then hit your “change” button.
Now when an opposing faction enemy enters the area and casts any sort of skill or spell, it will scroll onto your screen before you even see them giving you a chance to either protect yourself, or get the heck to a safe location.
Just Me, Myself, and I
Some times of day are busier than others. Weekends are extremely active and weekday evenings are peak times when a lot of people are on and looking to make war. If at all possible, do your gathering and other low key gameplay when tons of people aren’t on. During the day and late night are perfect for this and often off peak hours will be the key in getting stuff done without getting ganked while doing it.
For those times when you can’t avoid peak gameplay times, be more social! If you spot enemies sneaking around in the shadows, link their map location into regional chat and wait for the cavalry. If you see open rifts, tell people where they are! Aiding your own faction’s PvP players is probably the best way to keep the other faction at bay while making the lands safer for your own travel.
You don’t have to be a hardcore PvPer to enjoy Aion and you don’t have to be the victim every time. Take these tips with you next time you get in game and you’ll find yourself the target of unwanted bloodshed a little less often.
The term “carebear” is often used in gaming as a derogatory term to describe those who choose to not engage in heavy player versus player combat. Yeah, I’ve been called a carebear but since I’m not evil and have nothing against these cuddly little bundles of fluff, I’m okay with it!
Being more PvE centric in a game like Aion isn’t a bad thing. We all have our different play styles, and each should be respected. It does make it hard though when you want to head out to gather for your crafting profession and you end up getting stabbed in the face every time you attempt to do so. You can try to defend yourself but let’s face it; carebear twitch reflex isn’t quite the same as the Ranger that just popped you with an arrow in the back then ricocheted across your screen until you finally died without landing even one hit.
Because Aion encourages PvP, and should, PvE players have to find a way to dodge the player killers and we have a few tips that will make it easier to avoid unwanted PvP gameplay. Whether you are a staunch PvE player who may never step foot in the Abyss, or a regular PvP player who just wants to get a few quests or some gathering done, these tips will work for just about everyone.
My Safeword is Blueberry Pancakes
Zones, like this one in Asmodae, have absolutely no risk of PvP encounters.
Probably the best way to avoid PvP is to go where it cannot. Each faction sports a decent sized zone that has absolutely no access for the opposing faction. For Asmodians it’s Brusthonin and for the Elyos, their PvP free zone is Theobomos. These two zones cover levels 20-40+ but not completely. Best uses of these safe zones are between levels 20-25 and 40-45 which leaves you to your own devices through most of your 30s but these zones can still be utilized for gathering across all levels.
When those zones aren’t appropriate but you’d still like to progress your character unfettered by ganking, grab a group and hit some instances! Dungeons give good and fast experience without the worry of having to watch your back. You may have to live with pick up groups, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made in the name of leveling.
Run Forest, Run!
When playing in a safe zone won’t work for whatever you need to do, you’ll end up having to make your way into one of the several rifting zones and this means you may face players looking to beat you down. It is pretty much impossible to avoid PvP completely in these areas, but you can take control and minimize your exposure. One way to do this is being aware of where the rift incoming locations are at. Opposing faction players will only make it so far in a zone so if you stay away from these hot spots, thus you lower your risk of coming face to face with them.
Another trick is the “radar”. Easy to set up and so extremely helpful in either finding PvP or avoiding it, utilizing your existing chat filtering tools you can set up your own warning radar to go off when danger is near.
Step 1 – Open a new tab on your chat box via the chat menu and drag it to a separate location where it will be easily noticed at all times.
Step 2 – Right click on your new tab and choose “tab options”. Only have selected “Combat-Others” and in the sub section, mark all that are for your Enemy’s.
Step 3 – Make all font colors for the selected sections something that will stand out, such as bright red then hit your “change” button.
Now when an opposing faction enemy enters the area and casts any sort of skill or spell, it will scroll onto your screen before you even see them giving you a chance to either protect yourself, or get the heck to a safe location.
Just Me, Myself, and I
Some times of day are busier than others. Weekends are extremely active and weekday evenings are peak times when a lot of people are on and looking to make war. If at all possible, do your gathering and other low key gameplay when tons of people aren’t on. During the day and late night are perfect for this and often off peak hours will be the key in getting stuff done without getting ganked while doing it.
For those times when you can’t avoid peak gameplay times, be more social! If you spot enemies sneaking around in the shadows, link their map location into regional chat and wait for the cavalry. If you see open rifts, tell people where they are! Aiding your own faction’s PvP players is probably the best way to keep the other faction at bay while making the lands safer for your own travel.
You don’t have to be a hardcore PvPer to enjoy Aion and you don’t have to be the victim every time. Take these tips with you next time you get in game and you’ll find yourself the target of unwanted bloodshed a little less often.
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