Alpha-0

Alpha-0 Launcher/login screen.^[1]

Alpha-0 was a NDA^[3] pre-alpha^[4] release of Ashes of Creation.^[5] This was the first of many internal tests of the networking, backend and node system.^[6]

Establishing core technical features for the back-end solution.^[7]
Connecting many players into a single zone with 4,000 NPCs.^[7]
Getting good server framerate performance.^[7]
Making the connection through the launcher end.^[7]
Establishing the core node system collection cultural experience.^[7]

This release was also known as the "friends and family alpha".^[8]^[9]

Alpha-0 was the invite-only "raffle" alpha that also grants access to some media and influencers.^[10]
Alpha-0 is a part of Pre-alpha testing.^[4]

Alpha-0 gameplay footage

Alpha-0 footage from livestream, 31 October 2017.^[11]

Alpha-0 participation

1,200 to participate in Alpha-0 starting Friday 15th of December 2017.^[12]

Alpha-0 nodes

Alpha-0 Эмпирийцы village node.^[13]

The alpha-0 map is divided into three Узлы, each with a ZOI.^[5]

Only one node was capable of reaching the Village stage (at one time).

Стартовая зона в альфе-0

В альфе-0 игроки начинали возле Эмпирийских божественных врат.^[14]

Alpha-0 environments

Alpha-0 river that runs through the center of the map.^[15]

Alpha-0 flood plains environment.^[16]

Alpha-0 forest environment.^[17]

There are four over-world environments (climates/biomes) in Alpha-0.^[15]

Alpha-0 Подземный мир preview by Trystan Snodgrass.^[18]

Alpha-0 has a bio-luminescent Подземный мир environment.^[19]

One of the important aspects of color play is going to be the distinguishing factor between different Underrealms and the regions that exist in the world: Their color influences set them apart from different regions.^[20] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-0 classes, races and genders

Alpha-0 civilian clothing by Keith Kovach.^[21]

There was no active character creation screen in Alpha-0, but there were several options for players to choose from.^[5]

Four playable archetypes: Cleric, Mage, Ranger, Tank.^[22]^[23]
- The other four archetypes are planned for Alpha-1.^[24]
Two playable races: Кэлар, Эмпирийцы.^[22]
Gender selection.^[22]

Alpha-0 progression

Players experienced a degree of progression in Alpha-0.^[5]

Leveling was from level 1 to 10.^[25]
New equipment dropped.
There was a tier-based skill progression where players applied points into individual skills.

Alpha-0 artisan classes

Gathering and crafting was originally intended to be in Alpha-0,^[5] but due to time constraints these were not included.^[26]

Alpha-0 combat

The weapon use ability (precision combo/quicktime event) system is in Alpha-0 but it is a different iteration to what was shown at PAX West 2017.^[27] Due to time constraints leading up to Alpha 0, the success range of this system was widened and the UI component was disabled. The plan moving forward is to continue to evolve the system in a fun and more engaging direction based on community feedback.^[28]

Many animations at the moment are first pass, and will be further fleshed out as development continues.^[29]

We want combat to be engaging, fun. What you're seeing in our pre-alpha we honestly have not spent a lot of time on combat. Most of this pre-alpha has been spent on establishing core technical features for our proprietary back-end solutions for making a MMO in Unreal.^[7] – Steven Sharif

Weapon use ability status

The weapon use combo system plays heavily into the weapon skill trees, which are planned for Alpha-2 and beyond.^[30]

A revised weapon use combo system was present in Alpha-1.^[31]^[32]
The weapon use ability that was originally shown at PAX West 2017 was reduced to a basic form in Alpha-0.^[33]
The new combo system will not have the quicktime event that was seen in PAX West 2017.^[31]
This is referred to as Combo system^[31], Combat skills^[34], and Combat tree^[35] in Alpha-1 preview and early testing.

Alpha-0 dungeons

Alpha-0 Дюнир (Dünheim) dungeon design by Michael Bacon.^[36]^[37]

Alpha-0 dungeon design by Javier Perez.^[38]

There were three open-world dungeons in Alpha-0.^[5]
Mobs scaled with node advancement.^[39]

Alpha-0 party size

The party size in Alpha-0 is six (6).^[40]

Размер мира

480 км² (квадратных километров) - приблизительный размер мира на старте,^[41] включая море и сушу.^[42]

Море считается игровой зоной, но точное соотношение моря и суши в настоящий момент неизвестно.^[43]

Я не знаю точного соотношения моря и суши, но море - тоже игровая зона, и для него будет контент...^[43] – Steven Sharif

В добавок к этому, 100 км² может занимать Подземный мир.^[44]

480 квадратных километров, что довольно много по сравнению с другими MMORPG. И это ещё не считая пространства, находящегося на другом уровне: например, Подземный мир и часть мира, которую он охватывает. Они, в моём представлении, могут легко занимать ещё около ста квадратных километров.^[44] – Steven Sharif

Предполагается, что игрок на ездовом животном сможет за несколько часов преодолеть всю карту.^[45]
Карта на этапе альфа-0 представляла собой область размером 4 км x 4 км (16 км²).^[46]
Карта в Режиме королевской битвы Ashes of Creation Apocalypse была размером 2.5 км x 2.5 км (6.25 км²).^[47]
- Карта Forest of Erinthia имела площадь приблизительно 1/5 оригинальной карты.^[48]
Площадь карты альфы-1 составляет около 100 км².^[49]^[50] Это приблизительно 20-25% общего размера мира.^[49]^[51]
- Пересечение карты в альфе-1 (10 км) по ширине на ездовом животном занимает примерно 30 минут.^[52]

Карта альфы-1 будет представлять собой множество островков и часть материка, приблизительно 100 квадратных километров.^[50] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-0 NDA

NDA Alpha-0 ограничивает распространение визуального контента с тестирования Alpha-0.^[53]^[3]

Alpha-0 easter eggs

There may or may not be a pair of sandals; if found will grant you some major boon or benefit... You might need a utility skill to find them.^[54]^[55]

Alpha-0 release schedule

Phase	Release	Estimated/Actual date
Alpha	Alpha-0.^[4]	December 15, 2017.^[56]

Подробнее...

Alpha-0 key raffles

When getting real-time feedback, we want a wide sample of opinions from people that cannot afford to spend four or five hundred dollars on the Braver of Worlds, to the people that can... We want to get a wide, diverse audience from a purchase standpoint, even people that aren't even invested in the game at all, that's why we raffle out to registered users, or just on stream..^[57] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-0 end date

Alpha-0 may end eventually... or morph into something else.^[58] – Джеффри Бард

Alpha-0 security systems

Начиная с альфы-0 для противодействия читерам, эксплойтам, ботам, продаже золота, дупликации предметов и других явлений, влияющих на экономику, в игре будут присутствовать системы безопасности.^[59]^[60]^[61]

Эти системы собирают данные игроков и помечают ненормальную активность для проверки. В комбинации с функциями сообщений игроками о нарушениях, они в реальном времени генерируют heatmap, обращающую внимание на необычное поведение.^[61]