Throne and Liberty jumps rope with the feelings of PvE fans. While a focus on PvE was promised in early 2021, it sounded in the meantime like a pure PvP game. Now, the content of the release version has been shown in Korea. The MMORPG is set to release on December 7th. Much sounds like a game where players can almost completely avoid combat.
What do we know about the release version? In a major showcase, NCSoft revealed the key details about the MMORPG. There was a clear listing and explanation of the contents, monetization, and future update strategy:
- At launch, there will be two large regions, which include a total of 19 areas, 8 cities, and 6 dungeons. Additionally, you can expect 18 world bosses and 2 arch-bosses. The latter should be stronger, however, PvP is also active here, allowing players to backstab each other.
- Most dungeons are found in the open world, but there will be at least one instanced version where you will only be with your group. This will unlock at level 30 of 50.
- Completely new are the guild contents. Each guild can be leveled up and the higher you go, the more and harder content will be unlocked. Highlights are said to be the guild raids, where you only play with members of your guild. These battles are said to be much more challenging than the classic dungeons.
After the release, NCSoft plans three major content patches per year. The first update is supposed to contain a new region with new areas. The release is scheduled for the end of Q1 2024. The second update is called Dracoryft and will bring a new species and a region where 12 servers compete for control of outposts, a kind of oversized WvW or Cyrodiil.
Monetization is supposed to be based on four pillars, none of which relies on luck.
You can watch the complete showcase in Korean with English subtitles here:
PvP in mind, but you don’t have to participate
What is the current status of PvP? Project Director Jong-ok Ahn says in the video that all content in Throne and Liberty was developed with PvP in mind. However, they realized that many players also want to explore the world at their own pace.
There are still events and open dungeons where PvP is active, but as a player, you can completely ignore and bypass these zones. For both leveling and upgrading equipment, you are not dependent on PvP.
If you accidentally enter a PvP zone – which you can recognize by a large ring – you will automatically be drawn into combat with other players. However, you can’t lose much, as there is no full loot and no consequences from death, apart from a small loss of time.
All events in the game also follow a fixed timer. This allows you to choose the exact contents you want. The day/night cycle has also been adjusted. An in-game day now contains two real hours of day and 30 minutes of night. This shifts the cycle slightly, allowing players who log in at the same time to experience different times of day.
If you still really want to PvP, you can participate in outpost battles for territories or the large battle for the castle:
- Every 2-3 days, each area will become a conflict zone, where guilds will fight for territory control. However, this only happens with one zone at a time.
- The biggest PvP element at launch is the fight for the large castle, which has also been featured in trailers. This battle only takes place every two weeks and gives the controlling guild some bonuses, but also new tasks.
Later on, the already mentioned conflict area for 12 servers will be added.
Monetization focuses on Battle Pass and Cosmetics, avoids luck
What is the current state of monetization? NCSoft explains that their model is based on four pillars:
- Pillar one focuses on two passes: a growth pass and a classic battle pass. Both are available for free as well as paid. The former focuses more on upgrade materials, while the latter is more about cosmetics. However, the difference in materials should not be significant if you don’t spend money.
- Pillar two offers cosmetics and skins in the shop.
- Pillar three is based on pets and mounts that give special bonuses.
- Pillar four is a real-money currency that can also be used to buy items from other players in the marketplace. This is somewhat reminiscent of the gold-to-gem exchange in GW2 or the token in WoW.
In all these contents, however, luck is not supposed to play a role. There are no loot boxes, no gacha, and no chances with material bags. You should always clearly know what you’re spending your money on.
Auto-play and loot boxes removed not just for the western market
What else was revealed in the video? Jong-ok Ahn explains in a QnA at the end that many changes were made in recent months. These included the removal of auto-play and loot boxes, adjustments to the combat system, and a faster character progression. A player who invests one to two hours a day should reach max level in less than 30 days. This was very different in the first beta.
However, these adjustments were not made solely because the western version needed them. They were also based on requests from Korean players from the beta.
Additionally, there were a few new insights into the battles, the special weather system, and an important note regarding gear upgrades. Upgrading attempts should never fail or downgrade.
When will the MMORPG be released here? There is still no concrete statement on this. The latest update is that Amazon will bring Throne and Liberty to us in early 2024.
What do you think about the new info? Are you excited for TL or do you believe it won’t work in the West?
Finally, Amazon itself shared information from a test: Amazon conducts secret test for new MMORPG on PC, PS5, and Xbox – Now talks about it.
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