The developers of Ashes of Creation gave insights into the PvE of the MMORPG during a livestream. Several new features and UI elements were presented that had not been available in the previous alpha phase.
In recent weeks, much of the discussion around Ashes of Creation has revolved around the Standalone Apocalypse, which will be released on December 18. Consequently, we also speculated whether the actual MMORPG is now at risk.
In contrast, there was only a roughly 30-minute livestream with studio founder Steve Sharif. Among other things, a further developed town, the combat system, and initial quests were showcased. For many, this was likely the first glimpse into PvE.
These are the new features for Alpha-Zero
What’s new with the Node system? The nodes are the core content of Ashes of Creation. During the livestream, a level 5 city out of 6 was shown. While there was already node expansion in the first alpha, new is an interface that informs about all the specifics and the systems behind the city.
In the interface, you can see for example:
- the progress in expanding the city
- who the mayor is
- how many people live there
- taxes collected for the city’s expansion
- core functions like alliances, trade alliances, and potential enemies.
Generally, Ashes of Creation focuses on Node vs. Node combat. Therefore, only cities that one has formally declared war on can be attacked. Allies can support you in these wars.
A new feature is also the “Troops” stationed in cities. It is still unclear how to recruit them and whether they will defend the city in the event of an attack. They may also only be intended for the PvE part of the horde attacks.
Quests with a proper interface: Also new is the quest interface and the way in which quests are received. There are no longer simple hubs where NPCs gather with tasks.
As you wander through the world, these tasks suddenly appear because help from the players is needed at that specific location. In the screenshot, you can see what such a task looks like and that all tasks are collected in a quest log.
How does the combat system work? A lot was discussed about the combat system during the livestream. This was largely a copy-paste of the system from Apocalypse.
Nevertheless, the announced hybrid system is already identifiable. This creates a mix of tab-targeting and action combat systems. However, some issues arose during the livestream, causing developers to inadvertently harm each other with certain skills.
New information about professions: On a bridge, the developers randomly passed by a fisherman. He had the task of catching a specific fish, providing hints about when during the day it could be found and how difficult it is to catch.
However, they could not show us more as the developers did not carry the appropriate equipment with them.
You can watch the complete recording of the livestream on YouTube:
How can I play Ashes of Creation?
You can only play the MMORPG in its current alpha phase if you buy into it with a founder’s package. However, the standalone PvP game Apocalypse will be released in a few days.
What is Ashes of Creation Apocalypse? Apocalypse is a PvP offshoot that you can play for free. At launch, there will be a battle royale mode, and further modes like a siege are already planned.
The release is scheduled for December 18. Content earned in Apocalypse can also be transferred to the later main game.
More about the PvE content:
