Saturday, June 19, 2010

Wings Over Atreia: Armsfusion explained

With a few more days of Aion's 1.9 patch under our collective belts, not to mention a couple of additional levels, I think it is safe to start discussing a few of the changes this patch has wrought in more detail. The Armsfusion system has been a subject of some confusion for my circle of friends, so it's as good a place as any to start.

In a nutshell, Armsfusion is used to generate better versions of two-handed weapons. Initially, I'll admit to glossing over it in the patch notes, simply because the name made it sound like something applicable to melee classes. While this is true, in that it can result in some nice new staffs, polearms, and greatswords, it also applies to the pew pew crowd, since technically the ranger bow and sorcerer/spiritmaster tomes and orbs are all two-handers, though not in the traditional visual sense.

Fly past the cut for more details on building the perfect two-handed beast.


The basics

So what exactly is Armsfusion? It's basically a way to combine the stats of two distinct weapons into one, and the process requires the player to choose a primary item for its stats and appearance, as well as a secondary item from which partial stats will be applied to the primary. It's also worth noting that the secondary weapon will be destroyed in the combine, so make sure you're not dropping any one-of-a-kind weapons in the secondary slot.

In something of a departure for Aion crafting, there is no chance of failure when completing an Armsfusion combine (and there was much rejoicing from Sanctum to Pandaemonium). Also, your chosen two-handers must be of the same type (i.e. you can't take the stats from a bow and apply them to an orb, but you can combine a polearm with another polearm).

So now that you know the basics of how to make use of the Armsfusion system, why would you want to? In a nutshell, the process adds roughly 10% of the secondary weapon's attack and magic boost stats to the primary weapon. Furthermore, all manastone slots, as well as manastones themselves and bonus statistics will port over during the combine. Similarly, any Godstones in the primary weapon will carry over to the new fused weapon, while any Godstones in the secondary weapon will be destroyed during the combine. While Armsfusion does destroy the secondary item, the process can be reversed to make use of a different weapon to combine with (called Armsbreaking).

Extendable weapons

For extendable weapons, the appearance and characteristics of the primary weapon will be retained after the combine process (i.e. if the primary weapon is extendable, the new fused weapon will be as well). As you've probably guessed by now, the appearance and any extendable characteristics of the secondary weapon will be destroyed.

Other considerations

While the basics above will allow you to successfully combine weapons, there are a number of other factors you should consider before pulling the trigger. For example, the secondary weapon's level must be equal to or lower than that of the primary. Also, combinations of weapons that feature multiple cast speed, attack speed, or PvP damage bonuses of the same type will result in the highest bonus being applied to the final Armsfusion product. Additionally, once a weapon has been fused, it becomes unsellable, untradeable, and unstorable in either your account or legion warehouse. Finally, in terms of enchantment levels, your primary weapon will retain its enchantment after the combine process, while the secondary weapon's enchantment will be destroyed along with the weapon itself.

Getting started

To get started on your combines, you'll need to visit an Armsfusion officer in your race's capital city. For the Elyos, the Armsfusion officer hides out atop Elyos Square in Sanctum, near the skin-changing merchant. Asmodians looking for their Armsfusion officer will find him on the Pandaemonium Market Street. Don't forget your wallet or pocketbook, particularly if you're combining high-level weapons, as the process is exceedingly expensive for all but the richest of Daevas.

To summarize, the Armsfusion process consists of:

speaking with the appropriate Armsfusion officer to begin choosing your primary and secondary weapons viewing the cost (in kinah) and preview the fused weapon accepting the confirmation dialogue pwning face with your new weapon (and cry over your lack of kinah) And now, your new columnist...

There now, that wasn't so hard, was it? That's all the time we have for this week. In closing, I'd like to take a quick moment to thank those of you who've read and commented on Wings Over Atreia over the last three plus months. As of next week, I'll be passing the torch to Massively's new Aion correspondent, MJ Guthrie, and she'll be your guide as you continue your journeys around the Aionosphere.

Despite the fact that Aion has its share of problems (which many of you remind me of on a weekly basis), I've enjoyed covering it, as well as talking to all of you, and I hope to see some of you in the comments section of my other columns. I'll still be toodling around on my Lumiel sorceror from time to time, so I also look forward to seeing (or killing) you folks in-game. Until then, keep the blue side up.

Aion guide to Daily Quests available

New (or newly returned) to Aion and curious about the recently added daily quests? Well you're not alone, as your humble correspondent has been playing for awhile now and was having trouble unearthing any definitive information regarding the system just added in the 1.9 patch.

Happily, NCsoft has updated its PowerWiki with a lengthy entry devoted to answering all of your daily quest needs. Everything from where to get to them, to what kind of rewards they offer, to how to join the requisite NPC factions, is available in the new article.

"Every morning at 9 o'clock, the organization will send a new Quest notice that can be found at the bottom of your screen. Once you click on the icon, you can choose to either accept or decline the Daily Quest. If you accidentally decline the Quest, you can quit and then re-join the organization to get it again," the article says.

Check out all the details over at the official Aion PowerWiki.

Aion™ Refer a Friend Program Starts June 23rd

NCsoft is dangling a few goodies in front of current Aion subscribers in the form of their revamped Refer A Friend program and its myriad incentives. If you've got an active account that's over six weeks old (and have paid for at least six weeks of game time), you can log into your NCsoft Master Account and click the Refer A Friend link in the Actions section to get started.

If your referral purchases either a retail box or digital copy of the game, you'll be gifted with three Major Ancient Crowns, currently valued at a whopping 6400 AP each. If your referral signs up for one month or more of Aion game time, you'll get a free paid month credited to NCsoft Master Account. Your friend isn't left out either, as NCsoft will email each referral a serial code that includes XP bonus items, running scrolls, courage scrolls, and recovery serums.

Check out the official site for all the details and regulations. Or check the full articles here:

Aion™ Refer a Friend Program Starts June 23rd!

Refer a friend to play Aion, and you could get free in-game items and free game time!*

When you refer a friend, we'll send your friend an email containing a free demo serial code and a bounty of in-game items that are helpful for leveling a new character.

If your friend buys a new copy of Aion (from a retail box or a digital download), you'll receive your own in-game items. If your friend pays for a subscription for at least one month of Aion game time, you will be automatically credited with one month of free game time!

*Subject to the terms and conditions listed below.

Who is eligible to participate?
You can refer a friend if your game account is current and in good standing, your account is at least six weeks old, and you have paid for at least six weeks of game time. (Time included with a box or a full download version of the game applies, and paid time from any of our supported payment methods is valid.)

What do I get, and what does each friend get?
When your friend buys Aion (applies a digital or retail box serial code to his or her account), you get three Major Ancient Crowns.

We'll email each friend a free demo serial code and in-game items, including:

25 Lodas Amulets
100 Lesser Running Scrolls
100 Lesser Courage Scrolls
100 Greater Recovery Serums
Each friend can apply the in-game items to up to five unique characters.

How do I refer someone?
Log in to your NCsoft® Master Account.
Select your Aion game account from the accounts listed under Game Accounts.
In the Actions section, click the Refer a Friend link.
Fill out the requested information.
Click the Refer a Friend button.
Once we have sent your friend the email, you'll receive an on-screen confirmation.
Periodically, return to your Refer a Friend page to check the status of your outstanding invitations.
How many friends can I refer, and can I get multiple sets of items and free months?
You can have a maximum of four referrals outstanding at once. For each new friend that you refer who meets the requirements, you'll receive the in-game items and a free month of Aion game time. As soon as one of your friends buys Aion, you'll receive your in-game items, and we'll allow you to refer an additional friend. As soon as your friend enters its first billing cycle, you will receive a free month credit applied to the account that referred the friend.

How do I check on my referrals?
Once you are logged in to your Aion game account, you can check the status of all of your outstanding invitations on your Refer a Friend page.

When do I get my in-game items?
You get your in-game items after your friend buys Aion and applies a digital or retail box serial code.

How do I get my in-game items?
Log in to your Aion game account periodically to check the status of all of your outstanding invitations on your Refer a Friend page. When the Invitation Status table indicates that your friend has bought Aion:

Click the Apply In-Game Items link in your Aion game account in the Action section.
Select a server in which you have made a character, and click the Next button.
Select a character to receive the Refer a Friend items, and click the Next button.
Click the checkbox next to the appropriate item pack, and click the Next button.
Review the confirmation page, and click the Apply the Items/Item Packs to This Character button.
Once you've assigned items to a character, log in to Aion and retrieve the items via in-game express mail.

When do I get my first free month?
You get your free game time after your friend buys Aion and pays for the first month of game time. (Time included with the digital client or boxed game purchase doesn't apply.)

How do I get my first free month?
Log in to your Aion game account periodically to check the status of all of your outstanding invitations on your Refer a Friend page. As soon as your friend enters its first billing cycle, you will automatically receive a free month credit applied to the account that referred the friend.

How does my friend get the items?
The instructions on how your friend gets his or her items are included in the email we send to your friend.

Are there any limitations on the Aion demo serial codes?
Yes, Aion demo accounts are good for three days, five hours, or level 7, whichever is reached first. At that point, the Aion demo account expires. All of the character information and progress is retained so that a player can continue the adventure when he or she upgrades to a standard Aion account.

To upgrade an Aion demo account to the standard game (to buy Aion), go to the Aion section of the NCsoft Store, or purchase a retail box at one of our partner retailers.

Terms and Conditions
This offer is void where prohibited and is subject to server space availability. This offer can be suspended by NC Interactive, Inc. at any time and for any reason. At the time of the referral credit, both the referring and the referred customer must be current in their payments and in compliance with the Aion User Agreement. If both parties are not current and in compliance, the referral credit will be denied. If a referring customer cancels his or her account, all remaining referral credits are forfeit. A referral credit cannot be refunded. A referral credit has no cash value.

Help and Support
For additional information and help, visit the knowledge base at the Aion Help and Support page.