I'm trying to find information on exactly what sorts of character customization is in Aion.  Specifically, what can you do to make your character unique outside of manipulating basic stat numbers?

For example:

• Lord of the Rings had skills and traits/deeds that could pretty drastically change a character's role.  (I loved how certain classes could use heavier armor at a penalty.)
• Warhammer had various tactics which were very similar to WoW talents but had interesting ways to unlock them.
• World of Warcraft obviously has the three-path talent approach.
• Everquest 2 has a few interesting milestones and a talent approach I believe, it's been a while since I've touched this game however.
• Dungeons and Dragons has enhancements - and multi-classing alone allows for some wild customization.

 All examples aside, what does Aion have?  I haven't been able to successfully sift through all the jargon/lingo and rough-edged FAQs to dig any details out.

(Edited for bullets.  Pew pew.)

As far as I've seen, Gear (including Enhancements and Manastones) + Stigmas are the only way to customize your character in terms of game play. I hope someone would prove me wrong though. There doesn't seem to be any alternate skills paths or talent trees and I don't think I've heard any rumors on if/when they would be implementing such.

I'm not really all that clear on how the Stigma system works, but it seems fairly basic as each class only a certain number (I think  6 or 7 on average) stimgas to choose from. They could be viewed as sort of talents as it looks like you need certain stigmas to unlock others.

So yeah. Small talent trees, but it looks like an easy system to expand upon later on in the game's life cycle.

Starting at level 20 you are able to equip 'Stigma Stones'.  They are basically glyphs that change abilities, make them better or teach you new abilities entirely.  These help to customize your character but it isn't truly fascinating until you hit level 45.. so far in there.  By then you will have enough slots to gain advanced abilities by mixing certain stigma stones.  Apparently there are a lot of stigma stones now, too, but it isn't quite as customizable as games like WoW.

EDIT:  They can actually do some neat things, like letting gladiators dual-wield.. unfortunately that's the only one that I know for sure, but surely there are others that allow certain classes to use different weapons different ways and maybe even armor as well.

Originally posted by SimplyMonk

As far as I've seen, Gear (including Enhancements and Manastones) + Stigmas are the only way to customize your character in terms of game play. I would hope someone would prove me wrong though. There doesn't seem to be any alternate skills paths or talent trees and I don't think I've heard any rumors on if/when they would be implementing such.

I'm guessing Enhancements and Manastones are like... Diablo 2 or something?  Put Gem A in Slot B for Stat Bonus X?

What exactly are Stigmas, and some examples?

Thanks Fortenc for the examples.  The dual wielding does sound interesting, but...  I get this bad feeling 'interesting' things like that are far and few between.

If I can add a question, what about contextual abilities?  I haven't played WoW in ages, and probably won't anytime soon, but one thing I miss that no other MMO seems to do in abundance - are give you a heavy amount of contextual abilities.  Ones that you don't use all the time, that sorta bring some refreshing excitement when you see a useful window of opportunity.

Spell reflect, spell cancels, even context-sensetive stuns/mezzes/etc (Vs. Undead, Animals, etc...)

About the best I've seen from other MMO's are:  If you parry, then....    or:  If you block, then...

Originally posted by Fortenc

Starting at level 20 you are able to equip 'Stigma Stones'.  They are basically glyphs that change abilities, make them better or teach you new abilities entirely.  These help to customize your character but it isn't truly fascinating until you hit level 45.. so far in there.  By then you will have enough slots to gain advanced abilities by mixing certain stigma stones.  Apparently there are a lot of stigma stones now, too, but it isn't quite as customizable as games like WoW.

Don't stigmas (in some cases) basically give you the ability to ::steal:: another classes ability?  This is just what I've heard.  Ie - a Sorcerer that is able to buff people like a priest?

 There are also god stones, which are weapon procs that work in a similar way to stigma.

Aion has Stigmas stones, Advanced Stigma stones, Manastones, Godstones, Armor Sets, and Power Shards to help character customization.

Stigmas/Advanced Stigmas currently provide 2 "paths" for each class, or you can ignore the top level stigma and go alternate routes. Here is the stigma calculator.

I've also ready that there will be future enhancements to character customization.

Visual customization of gear: You can dye armor. You can also duplicate the "look" of one armor and apply the same look to a different armor (for example, you can make shoulder "B" that you just picked up look like shoulder "A" that you were already wearing in case you don't like the initial look of armor "B" OR you can have really cool-looking, high-level armor and make it look like low-level armor to fool opponents). Edit: You basically transfer all the stats from one armor to another.

Originally posted by vive

Originally posted by Fortenc

Starting at level 20 you are able to equip 'Stigma Stones'.  They are basically glyphs that change abilities, make them better or teach you new abilities entirely.  These help to customize your character but it isn't truly fascinating until you hit level 45.. so far in there.  By then you will have enough slots to gain advanced abilities by mixing certain stigma stones.  Apparently there are a lot of stigma stones now, too, but it isn't quite as customizable as games like WoW.

 

Don't stigmas (in some cases) basically give you the ability to ::steal:: another classes ability?  This is just what I've heard.  Ie - a Sorcerer that is able to buff people like a priest?

Some accurate info on this sort of stuff would be -really- nice.  Cause it's little things like this which cause games to get overhyped, then crush the expectations of players later.

That 'God Stigma' stuff sounds like end-game...  I'd compare that to WoW Tier armor.  If I can't enjoy it at least 30 levels into the game, or at least begin playing with it, then it just turns into:  Work/Grind your butt off to earn character customization.

(edit)   Thanks for the examples, Boardwalker. I'll peruse them right now!  I'm not much on dyes though...  I way prefer Lineage 2's armor to Aion's random-things-sticking-out-everywhere pin-cushion approach.  I don't think dye will cover up those triple-shoulder-blade-blades.
 

Stigmas, high grade stigmas, enchants, manastones, godstones and gear will make it almost impossible to see 2 chars equally set for a while at least.

Okay, so Stigmas look like talents, so that's a good start.  Not many to choose from, however.

Godstones are kinda 'meh' for me.  It's just the same proc/enchantment stuff from every other MMO.  I've never seen 'Gear' as character customization, personally.

Originally posted by Munaxes

 I've never seen 'Gear' as character customization, personally.

Understood, but I thought I would throw that in in case people weren't aware.

Customization

Appearence, Class, Stigmas, Stones, Titles

I mean even in darkfall everyone copied each other atleast with forced class differentials you'll have a pretty diverse play group by end game with the stigmas and titles.

TITLES give stats or bonuses in Aion

Originally posted by Tailz2k7

TITLES give stats or bonuses in Aion

Oh yeah, I forgot about titles.

 Eventually we will see "best" customizations that everyone will strive for, and the real variation in players - at least those that are somewhat competetive - will seriously decrease. Every MMO with any sort of customization promotes/hypes it as "no two characters will be alike" or other similar ad-speak. That may be true from a purely theoretical standpoint but realistically, Aion's customization will be no different than any other game once we figure out what works best and how to get it.

Originally posted by Katrar

 Eventually we will see "best" customizations that everyone will strive for, and the real variation in players - at least those that are somewhat competetive - will seriously decrease. Every MMO with any sort of customization promotes/hypes it as "no two characters will be alike" or other similar ad-speak. That may be true from a purely theoretical standpoint but realistically, Aion's customization will be no different than any other game once we figure out what works best and how to get it.

That's sorta outside the scope of what I'm looking for in this thread, however.  Regardless of what people do with their characters in the end, it appears all the customization in the game is in the form of a very small handful of Talents (in comparison to other games), and a whole bunch of buffs to stats.

Getting +5 to Strength isn't even remotely as interesting as changing the way a fundamental class aspect works, or adding a whole new ability.  Heck, even a fluff feature that changes the graphical nature of your abilities is more interesting than getting a few more numbers added to a character sheet.

Maybe that's all the MMO players want these days.  Numbers.  Why even bother making an MMO when you could make a MUD.

I love manastone system personally

My glad parries like a mother fucker atm

Just bumping this post again in hopes that maybe the launch version of Aion has more customization.