Ald Demo

I know it's sorta frowned upon to be playing on a private server, but i'm not really taking this seriously. I've been screwing around on an Aion private server for a few months now just passing time until FFXIV.

It is what it is and honestly, it's a shame that the game is more fun here than in retail. Basically this server is a high rate PVP server, which means the ridiculously boring grind has been replaced completely. It takes only a few hours to ding 55 and after that it's non stop PVP full time.

It's also not really an MMO this way, but that's not really was i was looking for anyways. I usually like to sink large amounts of time into a game when i think i'm going to be in it for a long period of time. This is not it. FFXIV is around the corner, but until then i'm having fun killing people.

Here's my Gladiator and Ranger doing what Aion is best known for....grinding.

Ah, we all had such high hopes for Aion. Was to be our next home for the next 3-4 years. At least that my my mindset going in. Hell, i played on a Chinese server pre-release, i loved it so much. Then the betas came and we went hardcore in those as well. Release day, we all sat there spamming the log in screen so we could save the names we wanted!.

Let me just say that the first 30 levels were a blast when the servers were new. Everyone was pretty much the same level and there was always something to do. From Training Camp instance to constant PVP. I mean you couldn't get 5ft outside of your own city gate without 30 people from the other faction waiting for you. I loved it.                                                                                                                                                           

I don't regret Aion for one second and i'll consider playing it some more if the updates fix certain ailing aspects. Right now i'm bored while waiting for FFXIV and Star Wars!

Ding 50! This was before Christmas i think. So funny having to go back to the starter area because i skipped campaign quests there due to overcrowding on launch day.

Alukina's Scepter baby. Extendable weapons are so overrated. Having to stop to use skills while flying completely limits melee to fodder for ranged.

Shugo Pirates! Absolutely the best part of Aion are the Shugo. They completely destroy Moogles from Final Fantasy. "No more kinah? Check your pockets.... nyerk!"

Getting shot out of a cannon for the first time in Steel Rake instance. Also the mid deck monkey boss. I dunno how the fuck i don't have any pics of the other 2 bosses.

Capturing an artifact before a fort siege. Jack never disappoints.


A-rank Dark Poeta with 2 templars is possible! I blame Gurack for it not being S-rank.

Soloing Sulfer Tree Nest instance before they nerfed the ability to do so. I wish i knew about this earlier. Oh well i guess.

Choo choo, everyone run! Fucking Blaize(Natsuki) still trying to solo mobs while we run.

I've lost track of how many times I've done the 1-20 grind, between the betas and Chinese Aion. It feels so good to finally have it count. Been busy trying to stay ahead of the leveling curve. The first few days were rough and trying to find mobs was challenging. After deciding on our server, we picked another one instead because we were worried about having members locked out.

Well it turned out we picked the most populated server somehow! We're on Triniel, which later we found out is also the server with more old FFXI BG people. Anyways, managed to get to 30 in the first week, but the next 20 levels will take much longer. As a huge Cowboy Bebop fan, i finally got the name i wanted in FFXI which was always taken.

Nochsana Training camp: 1st 6-man instance with fantastic exp but no drops for us.



Fire Temple: 2nd instance also with no drops for my groups.


Getting my Courageous Breastplate.


Level 30 CE wings

  Well less than 30 days til Aion goes live. I haven't touched FFXI in 2 months now. My account is sitting inactive and i really have no desire to fire it up. Even thinking about it puts me in a bad mood. I think it's because i don't like to put up with bitching and complaining. Tell me what job and where to go and i'm happy. I feel like i'm back to my laid back, sarcastic as fuck, old self.

  So far we have around 20 members for our legion from recent FFXI and oldschool FFXI of 3 years ago. Seems like a really nice group of people with no assholes, except for Bastilla. Just kidding, but not really! If you happen to be reading this and are interesting, hit me up on here or on BG and i'll direct you to our temp forum. Jack, stop playing WOW, we need more asians. Oh Katrisha, respond to your damn e-mail.

  It looks like Aion will be a game of numbers in the Abyss. Probably need 30+ to take over forts and open up the instances within. The instances themselves look like they're  mostly 6-man starting at lev 30. The thing that struck me first was that some legions have 80-100 members. I find that insane, probably due to the fact that i'm so used to FFXI's small numbers. I guess it makes sense, you can do the instances with a few of your close friends, then go ransack the fortresses with a huge group. Should be fun.

  If you don't get it, then you're too young and I'm too old and grumpy to explain.

I finally gave in and decided to kill some time on the Chinese servers. Setting up and account was ridiculously simple and paying for it is really cheap. I think i bought like 50 hours for $4, which is cheaper than a sub would be, considering i'm not really playing that much. Oh and the game client is free to download, which surprised me. With the English patch and so many NA and EU players on my server, it feels a lot like FFXI. Although doing some of the group quests has been a bit of an adventure with zero communication. Anyways, i turned up my setting on my pc so i could take some pics. Unfortunately i can't play with these setting as my FPS goes to shit.

Doing some quests in Eiron Desert. I went afk for about 10 seconds to get a drink and was destroyed by some Asmo's that wandered through a nearby rift.


Talking to my friendly tree NPC in Manduri Forrest. An Asmo tried to kill me shortly after, but we outnumbered him and set him home.


Farming for my lev 22 stigma stone Stunning Strike in Theobomos. I gave up after 3 hours and just bought it off the AH with the money i got from the mobs!


We ended up chasing some Asmo's through the desert and into Grave of Sataloca. So much fun. Well, until high level Asmo's attack and we have no chance. Damn movement speed boots!

Level 25 is the cap this time and i have to say, 20-25 is a lot more fun than 1-20. I'm sure it's because i'm a Templar and we pretty much suck without some important stigmas and abilities we get later on. Right now the ranged damage dealer classes have whooped my butt and i don't see that changing til the mid 30's, when i get another ability. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect because i'm not really a PVP person, but the more i try out the game, the better it gets. There's so much to do PVE wise and so many quests, gathering, and crafting, that i can only see it getting better. It's just plain fun. Not having to base your play time around mob respawns doesn't hurt >.>!

Testing out my pull stigma that i get at 22 called Stunning Strike.


Elyos side of the Abyss. It's a huge PVP zone where 2 factions and a 3rd NPC faction duke it out.



Cutscenes in the Abyss explaining factions, fortresses, and basically the story.


Doing some quests on the first Abyss island. Forgot to take pics of me getting owned by some Asmodians shortly after. I was busy running.

Cap was raised to 20 this time so we got to have some fun for 5 days. All i can say is that i'm having fun so far and i can only see it getting better once more friends start playing upon release. Hit a wall at level 17 for a bit as we ran out of quests that we could do without a healer, so we just grinded a bit. Once the game is finally released, i think they fixed the exp for those quests a bit. Templar is slow at low levels, as to be expected, so grab an Assassin or Gladiator friend and go to town. Provoke is ridiculous hate btw. Took some screenshots - keep in mind my PC stinks so these are the lowest setting possible.

Obviously tons of people are waiting for this game and we got to fuck around on it this weekend. Let me say so far i'm loving it, but it's still early. For one, it's capped at level 10. Secondly, my PC barely meets the minimum requirements. I took some screen shots of myself and Bastilla questing and whatnot. I have all my setting all the way down just to get the game to run smooth on my 1.87GHz piece of crap. The actual game looks absolutely beautiful when it's maxed out.

Level 10 Asmodian Templar:


Asmodian Ascension quest. Getting my wings:


Level 10 Elyos Gladiator. The main city is absolutely stunning:





One of the ridiculous emotes that distracted Bastilla from curing me and letting me die.