In Riders of Icarus, the open beta starts on July 6, and in a big news post on the developer blog, the creators of the online role-playing game released a lot of information. Read here all about the planned changes to gameplay and the payment model.
In a few days, the big open beta test of Riders of Icarus will begin. But what can we expect in the colorful fantasy world with many mounts and pets? Development Director Kyu Il No has shared a lot of information in a lengthy blog post on the developer’s site.
On the topic: Preview report on Riders of Icarus
Higher Level Cap for Tougher Dungeons
At the start of the beta, the level cap will still be 25, but a later update in July is set to raise it to 35. In addition to the higher maximum level, there will also be new regions and instances in the open beta:
- Parna’s Coast: This new zone is specifically designed for levels 25 – 35 and focuses on ground combat, although there are occasional flight zones. A unique frost effect slows us down if we do not tame a native animal and ride it. The creatures are immune to the cold!
- Cavern of the Veil: This is a new dungeon in the region “Parna’s Coast.” Inside, insane Merumi cultists reside, and deep within the cave lies their temple, which they fiercely defend.
- The Frost Keep: Another dungeon where the merciless boss Rondo resides with his frost guard.
Seen already? Riders of Icarus Gameplay – Meet the four biggest bosses in the trailer!
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In addition to the mentioned regions, the developers want to add more areas, including the “Akrat Plain,” where particularly exotic animals are said to exist, or a beautiful forest full of waterfalls. Each of these regions has its own ecosystem and special dungeon instances. Therefore, we can find and tame special animals in each area, such as Pegasi, griffins, and strange cute creatures.
Interested in PvP?
As in most MMORPGs, PvP is also a must in Riders of Icarus. The developers are planning special maps that mix PvE and PvP. Both teams start at their respective corners of the map, and in between are PvE bosses that provide valuable bonuses and points. It is essential to find the perfect mix of PvE and PvP to win. However, the system is still in development, and feedback is always welcome.
The first major PvP region is called “Exarahn Badlands” and is open from level 25. All players who are not in our group or guild are considered enemies. Additionally, this dark region has its own unique animals that stand out with a particularly menacing look and grant special PvP bonuses. Also very cool: Guild wars are possible in the PvP areas, which will initially only take place on the server but are planned to occur across servers later.
What types of heroes are there? Riders of Icarus: Here are the 5 classes – with trailer
Animals and Equipment
Our growing zoo of creatures that we gather on our travels can soon be placed in the so-called “Familiar Farm” and made even stronger with temporary buffs. So something like a dog school for pets and mounts! Additionally, the developers plan to introduce a new minigame called “Familiar Race.” In it, we can compete against other players in a race and actively hinder them with skills.
Furthermore, the developers have taken into account frustrated players who were dissatisfied with the upgrade system for equipment. In the endgame, enhancing weapons and armor often led to catastrophic failures that ruined the item completely. This can now only happen starting from level 10, and the costs for upgrades have also been lowered so that they can be earned through regular gameplay.
More Info on the Payment Model and Pay2Win
Riders of Icarus will be a free-to-play game with premium currency and microtransactions. The premium coins, called “Elluns,” can also be found in the game. According to the developers, approximately 250 Elluns (25 US dollars) can be found per month and an additional 600 (60 dollars) through one-time actions. With this currency, we can buy premium game time and level up faster.
Regarding the topic of Pay2Win, there is particularly good news, as unlike in Asia, costumes from the cash shop will explicitly not grant bonuses and will be permanently available. New skins for animals will continue to improve the creatures, but these skins can also be found in the game without spending real money. Items with attributes from the cash shop will never be better than freely available items. Instead, they will only have about 90 percent of the strength of regular items.
Interesting: Riders of Icarus: Founder packages available
You can find the complete text about the changes in the open beta of Riders of Icarus on the developer’s blog under the provided link. What do you think of the developers’ plans? Is Riders of Icarus an alternative for you to the existing MMORPGs, or are you getting tired of Asia imports? Write it in the comments!
