Persistent alpha
Alpha-2 is known as the persistent alpha.[1][2] Persistent means that the Alpha-2 servers will be kept up all day and night until launch.[3][1]
- Alpha-2 servers will become the public test servers (PTS) post-launch that are used to test patches and updates.[7][5][1]
- Alpha-2 will remain even post launch as our public test server.[7] – Steven Sharif
- The ultimate goal for A2 is to be persistent and the PTS, but before we get that far there's gonna be some wipes I would expect.[5] – Steven Sharif
Alpha-2
Ashes of Creation's core game systems are expected to be in place at the start of Alpha-2.[11][12] By the end of Alpha-2, the game is expected to be feature complete, but it will not be content complete until launch.[3][4] Alpha-2 will last until launch and will run in parallel with Beta-1 and Beta-2.[3][1]
- Alpha-2 is intended to be a true functional representation of all the core systems and features.[13] – Steven Sharif
- World
- Seasons and climates.[14][12]
- Events.[15][16]
- Story arcs.[CORE 1][11]
- Missioni.[CORE 1][11][15][17][18]
- Punti di interesse.[CORE 1][11]
- Zones are expected to be around 60-70% complete before they are ready for Alpha-2.[19] The developers will publish a list of starting biomes closer to the start of Alpha-2.[20][21]
- The starting biomes will be announced when we are confident which ones will be ready. Environmentally and asset wise, there are 7ish biomes created. Content wise (PoIs, narrative/quest, creatures etc) is a decision that will be evaluated for A2 entrance as testing continues. When we are ready to share this info we will.[21] – Steven Sharif
- The eastern continent may not be included until later in Alpha-2.[22]
- Personaggio
- Creatore del personaggio.[23][24]
- Some aspects of the character creator will not be present at the start of Alpha-2.[25]
- Character progression up to level 30 (subject to change).[26] Previously this was stated to be level 35.[CORE 1][11][11][27]
- Bard, Cleric, Fighter, Mage, Ranger, Rogue, and Tank primary archetypes are expected to be present at the beginning of Alpha-2, along with some secondary classes and augments.[28][29][30][CORE 1][11][31][15][32][33][34] Summoner may also be released at the beginning of Alpha-2.[35]
- Secondary selections will be released individually, rather than all at once.[30]
- Tulnar race.[36]
- Family summon mechanic.[37]
- Religioni.[38]
- Cavalcature.[CORE 1][11]
- Creatore del personaggio.[23][24]
- Combattimento
- Combattimento rinnovato.[15][32]
- Active and passive skills will be re-architected.[32]
- Primary skills are expected to be very different to those in Alpha-1.[32][39]
- Weapon skill trees will be present to augment the combo system.[40]
- Assedi.[CORE 1][11][12]
- Guerre tra Gilde.[CORE 1][11]
- Combattimento rinnovato.[15][32]
- Nodi
- Node progression to City (fase 5) and potentially Metropolis (fase 6).[CORE 1][11][12]
- Relics and the Reliquary node building.[43]
- Player housing.[CORE 1][11][12]
- Crop rotations.[12]
- Naval content will be introduced as an Alpha-2 update.[44][15][12]
- Naval warfare.[12]
- Three ship classes.[12][45]
- Navi will have functioning cannons but the ship building UI may not be complete.[12]
- Economia
- Classi artigiane (Raccolta, Elaborazione, Crafting).[CORE 1][11][15][46]
- Artisan gear sets.[47]
- Potential gameplay layers such as surveying and land management are being considered for gathering.[48]
- Auction houses.[12]
- Crates used to transport supplies between storage points and caravans.[49]
- Classi artigiane (Raccolta, Elaborazione, Crafting).[CORE 1][11][15][46]
- Other
- Guild management tools.[50]
- Unreal Engine 5.[51][52][53]
- Some of Bear McCreary's music will be in Alpha-2.[54]
- Interfaccia utente and tutorial systems.[17]
- Emblem, logo and symbol editor (tentatively).[55]
Alpha-1 and Alpha-2 testers may be invited to participate in spot testing prior to the Alpha-2 release.[56][57]
Alpha-2 is known as the persistent alpha.[1][2]
- Q: What systems are still needed to be rolled out before Alpha two?
- A: I don't think it's at a core level that there's a particular system that has yet to be feature developed. Right now, it's more along the lines of expanding on those features, getting UI support for those features... UI, VFX, audio effects: Those are all big bottlenecks because they tend to occur at the end of the pipeline of content development; and then also ensuring that the interactions are polished and working. So from a large feature perspective- let me think about that, what large feature endeavor is still outstanding on the Alpha-2 front? A lot of it is content. I'm not sure that it's a feature one. I can't think of any large system features that haven't been stood up from a core functional perspective that don't just need expanding on, slash content development on.[58] – Steven Sharif
- Q: And when you say content, that's like art and implementation and so on?
- A: Narrative quests, the assets, the modelling, the particular types of buildings, the armor sets, the creatures, the visual effects, audibility systems. Those are all content that accompany what the code is creating from a mechanical perspective.[59] – Steven Sharif
Alpha-2 core features list.[11]
Alpha-2 availability
Phase | Release | Estimated/Actual date |
---|---|---|
Alpha-2 | Alpha-2 spot testing (NDA).[60][61][56][62] | November 2023.[63] |
Alpha-2 (No NDA).[60][56][1][2] | Q3 2024.[64][60][65] |
Pre-order-packs with Alpha-2 access have ended
September 2023 - January 2024 (The Unseen Order) were the final pre-order packs for Ashes of Creation as the developers have reached their desired number of testers for Alpha-2.[66]
- Why are the pre-order packs ending?
- Our pre-order packs were intended to be a way for players to support the project by providing an opportunity to collect exclusive cosmetic appearances that are used in creating the world of Verra, while respecting our commitment to zero-tolerance pay-to-win whatsoever. As we draw closer to our Alpha Two and Beta testing periods, we want to ensure a glorious experience for our players who have signed up to help make Ashes of Creation the MMORPG it deserves to be. To that end, we have decided to discontinue the packs until such time as our internal and/or external testing supports the admission of additional testers. We will continue to update our community when more ways become available to access Alpha Two or Beta testing through our communication channels.[67]
- When will the final pre-order packs end?
- The final Pre-Order Packs will end on January 17, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific in order to ensure everyone has enough time and notice with regards to the final Pre-Order Packs’ availability.[67]
- Does this include the Beta-1 and Beta-2 pre-order packages as well?
- Yes. While we anticipate we will reopen the ability to purchase Beta packages in the future, these options will not adopt the same format of regularly recurring monthly exclusive cosmetics as our existing Pre-Order Packages currently offer.[67]
- If I do not get a pre-order pack, does that mean I will not be able to join Alpha-2, Beta-1, or Beta-2 in the future?
- Not necessarily. We will continue to engage with our community and content creators to offer various giveaways that players will have an opportunity to participate in. After our internal and/or external testing satisfies the admission of additional testers, we may provide alternate methods of purchasing access into testing periods.[67]
- When the pre-order packs end, will there be other items on the Ashes of Creation shop?
- We may provide cosmetic items and merchandise in the shop at a future date.[67]
- I purchased a previous pre-order pack, but I like The Unseen Order cosmetics better. Can I switch out my cosmetics for these?
- Previously purchased cosmetics may not be exchanged, though we do provide a 90-day return policy. If you own an existing Pre-Order Pack, you may also purchase individual cosmetics offered in the current pack a-la-cart.[67]
- Can I upgrade my pre-order pack after sales for the pre-order packs end?
- Yes. You will continue to have the option to upgrade your Pre-Order Pack to a higher-tier package after sales of Pre-Order Packs end. If you upgrade, it will not give you the cosmetic items of the same type (Accessory, Pet, Mount, etc.) that came with the previous pack you purchased. Only the additional cosmetic items from the upgrade to The Unseen Order Pre-Order Pack will be granted.[67]
- Can I purchase add-on cosmetics from The Unseen Order after pre-order packs are removed from the shop?
- Yes. You will continue to have the option to purchase add-on cosmetics from The Unseen Order, based on what your Pre-Order Package level gives you access to.[67]
- How long will I be able to upgrade my pre-order pack or purchase The Unseen Order add-on cosmetics?
- We don’t have a date to share for this yet, but we’ll give everyone plenty of notice before ending the ability for them to upgrade their Pre-Order Packs or purchase add-on cosmetics from The Unseen Order.[67]
- What about upgrading Kickstarter packages? When do those end?
- You will still be able to upgrade Kickstarter and Summer Backer Packages. We’ll give plenty of notice before ending the ability for people to upgrade their packs.[67]
Server wipes
Alpha and Beta servers will be wiped prior to launch.[6]
As a general rule, if the testing phase contains the word Alpha, it is safe to assume there will likely be wipes.[5] – Steven Sharif
See also
Riferimenti
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Trasmissione in diretta, 2018-01-18 (25:22).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-04-07 (28:08).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-07-29 (1:08:49).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4
- ↑ 6.0 6.1
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-07-29 (1:10:05).
- ↑ Podcast, 2023-07-15 (5:23).
- ↑ Video, 2022-03-31 (34:16).
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-03-31 (1:24:21).
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 Podcast, 2021-09-29 (59:29).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (1:30:10).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-04-29 (56:24).
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-10-14 (6:38).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-04-29 (32:29).
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Blog: Creative Director's Letter, October 16 2020
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-04-07 (13:35).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2024-03-29 (2:31:06).
- ↑ 21.0 21.1
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-04-07 (22:15).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (1:49:39).
- ↑ Video, 2022-03-31 (0:00).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-04-07 (54:02).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-12-19 (1:41:54).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-01-28 (15:35).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (1:11:29).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (1:06:53).
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-04-07 (1:14:05).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-10-14 (15:44).
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Podcast, 2021-09-29 (23:00).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2020-03-28 (1:41:11).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2018-10-20 (12:38).
- ↑
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2018-04-8 (AM) (2:17).
- ↑
- ↑ Colloquio, 2018-10-20 (0:00).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2021-09-24 (1:18:06).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2021-09-24 (1:19:17).
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-04-29 (21:00).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (1:28:32).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2018-09-27 (54:02).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2021-02-07 (35:30).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-06-30 (1:17:34).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-04-29 (25:16).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-02-25 (1:10:00).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (1:52:20).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-01-28 (7:26).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2021-12-23 (40:53).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2021-12-23 (50:50).
- ↑
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2018-10-31 (47:44).
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-03-31 (5:57).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2021-07-30 (45:11).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (1:11:53).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (1:13:08).
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 Trasmissione in diretta, 2023-09-29 (55:34).
- ↑ Colloquio, 2023-07-09 (26:35).
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2022-10-14 (17:05).
- ↑
- ↑ Intrepid Studios Support - What are the Alpha/Beta Release dates?
- ↑
- ↑ Ashes of Creation Store: August cosmetics.
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 67.3 67.4 67.5 67.6 67.7 67.8 67.9 Ashes of Creation Store: September cosmetics.
- ↑ Alpha one test schedule, Mar 12, 2021.
- ↑ Trasmissione in diretta, 2020-11-30 (7:27).