Alpha-1

Alpha-1 Teaser.^[1]

This is a true development alpha. This is not a marketing alpha; and what that means is as you know part of the process here in developing Ashes of Creation is being open with that development so you guys can see that progress; and it is a double-edged sword. There are going to be a spectrum of people that exists who are very involved with the game's development and those who are just completely at an arm's length away in understanding the process; and they may look at alpha one- the people who don't really understand the development process or haven't been a part of it- they may look at it and they may think oh you know this is trash, looks like trash, you know whatever it's the end-product. But at the end of the day what's important for us and what yields the best possible product is for us to include as much as possible the community in that development process with no NDA so that you guys give valuable feedback; and as we go through the iterative process in further defining the game and fleshing out that content were doing so with the player in mind and their voice in our ear. That is I think one of the key distinguishing factors between our development and many developments that you guys may have seen in the past.^[2] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-1 preview ancients mobs.^[3]

What this experience for Alpha one is going to be- that month-long experience- it is not intended to be a content experience... It is not intended to be a game experience. It is not intended to be a fully-fledged content experience. So keep that in mind.^[4] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-1 PvE combat.^[5]

Alpha-1 was a testing release of the Ashes of Creation MMORPG.^[6]

World
- The Alpha-1 map (Alpha island) consists of a mainland area and several islands. This was approximately 70 km² of playable area.^[7]
- Alpha-1 takes place in the north west part of the map.^[8]

Character
- Progression to level 15.^[9]^[10]
  The composition of class skills or archetype skills has to tread a fine line between two roads: One we wanted to be representative of skills not just that would traditionally be found 1 through 15 but we're actually introducing some skills that might be found later, because we want to test those particular ideas and how the skill functions.^[9] – Steven Sharif
- Character creator (basic).^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]

Archetypes
- Cleric, Mage and Tank archetypes.^[15]
- Ranger may be added later in Alpha-1.^[16]
- Fighter, Bard, Rogue, and Summoner archetypes will follow in later in development (after Alpha-1).^[16]^[15]
- Secondary archetypes will not be present in Alpha-1.^[17] These are planned for Alpha-2.^[18]

Races
- 4 playable races Kaelar, Vaelune, Dünir, Empyrean.^[19]^[12]
  A lot of times people ask well why haven't we seen the other races and stuff? We want to establish the quality bar and process with these races first and then when we move into further content production for the other races we have have those pipelines in place and we have the processes in place and we know how to approach them.^[20]

Combat
- Hybrid action/tab combat.^[12]
- Revamped combat systems will be rolled out during and post Alpha-1 testing.^[21]^[22]^[23]

The weapon attack is an important component of the combat system, so we want to make sure that as we're doing this combat revamp that we are essentially taking into consideration player feedback and sentiment about how they want a reactive and more mobile weapon attack system.^[21] – Steven Sharif

Nodes
- Node advancement to Village (scena 3).^[24]^[14]
- There are 9 node locations in Alpha-1.^[24]^[25]
- Normally there would be 18-20 nodes in the same area.^[26]
- A basic vassal system is in place.^[24]
- The node ZOI's is larger than the final map.^[27]
- Node locations are subject to change prior to Beta-1.^[25]

Economy
- The economy present in Alpha-1 is not reflective of the final state of the game.^[28]
- Merchant systems and player to player trading.^[28]^[29]
  We have an economy but it's not really going to be reflective of the final how the economy is going to work. It'll work for alpha one and there'll be plenty of things to trade and buy and exchange, but it's not going to be really super representative what the final state is. So keep that in mind as well it's a stubbed-in system. It's not a complete or really finalized system at all.^[28] – Jeffrey Bard
- Approximately 10 percent of the artisan system.^[10]^[30]
  - The core basics of the artisan gameplay loop is facilitated via the merchant (NPC) system.^[10]^[30]^[31]
- Gathering, Processing, Crafting is expected to come online in Alpha-2 and the Betas.^[30]^[31]
- Previously this was targeted for Alpha-1.^[32]^[12]
  What's present in Alpha-1 doesn't even really scratch the surface for crafting.^[31] – Steven Sharif

Gear
- Approximately 49 unique gear sets.^[10]
- These are unique sets with different stats, but some may be similar in appearance.^[10]
- Daggers (Dual weapons).^[33]

PvE
- Approximately 6 or 7 dungeons with one almost raid-level difficulty.^[34]
- Two world bosses requiring party-sized groups.^[34]
- One true 40 person raid boss.^[34]
- Over 200 quests.^[10]
- Questing is placeholder until Alpha-2.^[35]^[12]

Guilds.^[36]^[12]
- Alpha-1 castle sieges and Castles are in a zone accessible via a NPC teleporter.^[37]^[10]^[36]^[38]^[39]^[40]
- This zone includes three Elder dragon raid bosses.^[10]^[36]
- These bosses also appear in the open world (outside the siege zone) with slightly different mechanics.^[10]

Naval content
Ships for "island hopping".^[41]^[42]
- Temporary teleportation points are present in early tests until ships are introduced later in the alpha testing.^[41]

Other
- There is no instancing in Alpha-1.^[37]
UI and tutorial systems are placeholders until Alpha-2.^[43]^[35]

Niektóre z poniższych informacji nie zostały ostatnio potwierdzone przez programistów i mogą nie znajdować się na aktualnym planie rozwoju.

Alpha-1 availability

Pre-order pack upgrades are possible for current pack holders for the difference in price.^[45]^[46]^[47] Upgrades to Kickstarter and Summer crowdfunding packs are also available in the store for the difference in package price.^[48]

August 15, 2018 was the last day for purchases of Alpha-1 through Intrepid pre-order packs (History).^[12]

Sales of Alpha-1 resumed on May 5, 2021 through the Adventurer pre-order pack.^[49]^[50]^[45]^[38]

August 13, 2021 was the last day for purchases of Alpha-1 through the Adventurer pre-order pack (History).^[49]^[50]^[45]^[38]

Ashes of Creation

Ashes of Creation.^[51]

Ashes of Creation takes place within a medieval fantasy setting, blending imagination with cutting-edge graphics. We are putting the word massive back into massively multiplayer with unique and novel mechanics that will bring meaning to player action. Ashes of Creation will incorporate the best parts of traditional MMORPGs with innovative sandbox concepts. You will choose your fate at every opportunity. Questlines will open and close based on the interactions of the players with their world, because this is a world where choice is consequential. Monsters will roam and grow in ferocity as civilization disrupts the natural order of things. From the location of towns to the size of cities, you will determine the landscape of your world. It will be unique in culture, ecology, and economy.^[52]

Ashes of Creation is an upcoming MMORPG set in a world of high fantasy where player’s choices will shape and define the world around them.^[53]

Ashes of Creation is a unique take on the MMO experience. Our world structure is dynamic and built to react to the actions of our players. Cities will rise and fall, their populations based on the history of the world as the players create it. Quests will unlock as these populations gather, their needs grow, and secrets are unlocked. As the world’s NPC structure is established in real time, players will have the ability to destroy what they’ve created, paving the way for new development, new populations, and real change. Political strife and intrigue will play a very real role in the structure of your world. Gone are the days of static worlds, change is here to stay.^[52]

The original code-name for Ashes of Creation was The World of Origins.^[54]

The developers are hoping for over a million concurrent users at launch.^[55]

Alpha-1 playtest schedule

Testy Alpha-1 zaplanowano na jesień 2020 r. Wszystko, co miało miejsce przed tą datą, jest uważane za testy QA, do których osoby wspierające Alpha-1 są zapraszane etapami.^[56]

Ograniczone testy Alpha-1 rozpoczęły się 28 maja 2020 r. Od sponsorów Royalty i wyższych. Początkowo testy te będą przeprowadzane podczas jednodniowych sesji, które w ciągu kilku miesięcy przekształcą się w weekendowe okresy testowe.^[57]
Umowa NDA dotycząca tekstu i głosu została wycofana z tej fazy testów.^[58]

Testy w maju i czerwcu prawdopodobnie pozostaną pod NDA, dopóki nie poczuję się komfortowo ze stabilnością.^[59] – Steven Sharif

Posiadacze pakietu Leader of men zostanią zaproszeni do rozpoczęcia testów w sierpniu.^[60]
Latem testy Alpha-1 zostaną rozszerzone, aby objąć wszystkich posiadaczy pakietu Braver of worlds i wyższych. Zaczną również od weekendowych okresów testowych.^[57]
Bliżej jesieni, celem jest zaproszenie wszystkich graczy Alpha-1 do udziału w tygodniowych sesjach testowych.^[57]

Na koniec z radością ogłaszam, że ograniczone testy Alpha One rozpoczną się w maju 2020 roku, zaczynając od naszych sponsorów Alpha One najwyższego poziomu z Kickstarter. Te testy będą początkowo obejmować naszych zwolenników Phoenix Initiative i wyższe. Ponieważ klient gry staje się bardziej stabilny podczas tych ograniczonych testów, zaczniemy wprowadzać naszych odważnych i ponadprzeciętnych zwolenników, a ostatecznie naszych posiadaczy pakietów Interpid w przedsprzedaży. Naszym celem jest, aby klient gry Alpha One był gotowy do pełnego testowania jesienią 2020 roku. Teraz oczywiście ta oś czasu podlega wstępnym testom i jej sukcesowi w ciągu następnych kilku miesięcy, więc upewnij się, że złagodzisz oczekiwania. Głównym celem testowania Ashes jest stworzenie solidnego i przyjemnego doświadczenia podczas iteracji projektowania i wdrażania gry. Ważnym wnioskiem z tego ogłoszenia jest to, że robimy postępy w kierunku grywalnej gry. Przed nami jeszcze długa droga, a wiele systemów w Alpha One to podstawowe systemy, które wymagają jeszcze więcej dopracowania. I nawet teraz nie mogę zagwarantować, że opóźnienia nie wystąpią, ale będziemy starać się być transparentni i komunikować się z Państwem o naszych sukcesach i porażkach.^[57] – Steven Sharif

Pierwsze testy w maju z naszą inicjatywą Phoenix i wyższymi zwolennikami będą prowadzone podczas jednodniowych sesji, które w ciągu kilku miesięcy ostatecznie przekształcą się w weekendowe okresy testowe, gdy klient gry Alpha One stanie się bardziej stabilny. W okresie letnim, gdy rozszerzamy uczestniczących testerów Alpha One o Bravers i nowszych, oni również zaczną od weekendowych doświadczeń, które sprawdzą cierpliwość naszych graczy. Zbliżając się do jesieni tego roku, zamierzamy zaprosić wszystkich graczy Alpha One do udziału w tygodniowych sesjach testowych i przesunąć granice naszego doświadczenia z Alpha One. W miarę zbliżania się do tych okresów testowych będziemy aktualizować harmonogramy i instrukcje.^[57] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-1 testing zone (Alpha island)

Map of Alpha-1 testing zone.^[61]^[62] Kredyt obrazu: Axiom: Angelcry

The Alpha One map including nodes, dungeons, quest givers, POI, teleporters, and camps will be explorable! Note that this is only a small portion of the world of Verra.^[63]

Alpha-1 testing tropical zone featuring a war beast and a tribe of pigmy goblins.^[64]

This is a rather large tropical area; and what we use some of the creatures for is establishing character for different parts of this tropical place. So that even though it's the same biome, it feels different when you are going from place to place based on what's there and how those things are interacting with the environment.^[65] – Jeffrey Bard

Alpha-1 testing took place in a zone to the north west of the world map.^[66] This zone has many islands and a mainland area.^[67]

The Alpha-1 starting area is set in the ruins of an Pyrian divine gateway.^[68]
There are 12 different (sub)zones in the Alpha-1 testing location.^[65]
The Alpha-1 map was approximately 70 km² of playable area.^[7]
- This was previously estimated to be approximately 100 km² in size.^[65]^[67] This was about 17% of the total world size.^[69]
- Previous estimates range between 20-25% of the map.^[65]^[70]^[71]
- Traversing the width of the zone (10 km) on a mount would take about 30 minutes.^[72]
Alpha island (also called Alpha-0 island) was the first open-world testing zone for Alpha-1 participants.^[73]
There are approximately 4 biomes in Alpha-1: Flood plains, Desert (Desert), Snowy mountains, Forest.^[74]^[75]
- A tropics biome was added for the December 2020 Alpha-1 preview tests.^[66]^[64]^[65]
Temporary teleportation points will be present in early tests until ships are introduced later in the alpha testing.^[41]

Alpha-1 participation

Alpha-1 testing was available to the following participants:

Anyone who won and claimed an Alpha-1 Key through a giveaway.^[50]
Adventurer pre-order pack and Intrepid pre-order pack owners.^[50]
Braver of worlds, Leader of men, Royalty, Hero of the people, and Avatar of the phoenix Kickstarter and summer campaign backers.^[50]
Official content creators.^[50]

There were approximately 9,600 participants in Alpha-1 testing as of August, 2018.^[76]^[77]

As of May 31, 2021, just under 5k additional participants have been added since Alpha-1 sales resumed. Less refunds and unclaimed codes, leaves a total of slightly over 13k testers.^[76]
The weekend test of May 27, 2021 saw 5,300 unique logins over the 3 day period.^[76]

There were roughly 9600 if I recall A1 participants prior to my closing the preorder packs in 2018. Since opening them up again there have been just under 5k additional participants added. And prolly around 300 refunds give or take. Of the roughly 14,000 a1 testers, there are still about 1k unredeemed ks codes which leaves a little over 13k testers? The weekend test saw 5300 unique logins over the 3-day period. And I think discord flags stand around 4k roughly?^[76] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-1 servers

To tłumaczenie może być nieaktualne

Serwery Alpha-1 zostaną udostępnione w następujących regionach.^[78]

NA - Ameryka Północna.^[79]^[78]
EU - Unia Europejska (Frankfurt).^[79]^[78]^[80]
Serwery OCE - Oceanii^[78] nie zostały uwzględnione.^[79]

Serwery Alpha-1 będą obsługiwać od 1500 do 2000 jednoczesnych użytkowników.^[70]^[81]

Server wipes

Alpha and Beta servers will be wiped prior to launch.^[82]

Servers may be wiped between individual tests.^[83]^[84]^[85]

As a general rule, if the testing phase contains the word Alpha, it is safe to assume there will likely be wipes.^[85] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-1 NDA

Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1, Beta-2 releases are not covered by NDA (non-disclosure agreement).^[86]

Alpha-2 testing prior to the full release of Alpha-2 will be under NDA.^[87]
Alpha-1 testing prior to the full release of Alpha-1 was covered by NDA.^[58]^[59]
The developers will not necessarily announce when NDA testing starts.^[88]

We may not always announce when the NDA testing is, because we're not definitive how that testing is going to influence the future testing schedule; and we don't want to set the wrong expectation from a broader audience perspective on what they should be expecting with regards to testing.^[88] – Steven Sharif

Alpha testing system requirements

Alpha-1 stress testing, March 17, 2021.^[89]

These are fully operational NPCs. They have behavior trees, they have AI blackboards; they are functioning as an NPC would; and to my surprise, to everyone's surprise actually, the server handled it quite well: 5000 entities all within a very dense area.^[90] – Steven Sharif

Minimum and recommended computer specifications for Alpha-2.^[91]