I know the abyss is supposed to give the best xp and all and that you can enter it at lvl 25.  But I'm wondering if when you hit 25 it is your only option or if it is more like DaoC where it is the equiv of the frontier and you can level to 50 in pve zones?

You will need items and gear from the Abyss and people will be grinding there.

Even in the Abyss it's lonely when I looked at streaming video, since most people quit before level 30 because that's when the quests stop and the xp needed to level becomes really big.

In short, no, you can't avoid the Abyss or even avoid PVP if you want to "enjoy" the game. Aion isn't a PVE game, it's a PVE game up to level 20 and then you grind Abyss points and XP in the Abyss.

TL;DR - Yes. Abyss = PvPvE ; Racial Areas (outside of the Abyss) = PvE focused 

From what I've heard there are actually areas of leveling up to 50 in the racial continents.

For PvP you will want Abyss gear though, because of the appealing specs for PvP, but I believe you can focus on PvE outside of the Abyss, although it will still be possible to get into the enemy continents through Rifts they limit the number of players that can go through 'em before they collapse, they collapse after some time, and they have maximum level requirements, plus you need to have the luck of finding one (I don't know if it's too hard to find one though).

The recent Q&A that is linked on the official website http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200906/N09.0624.1142.34905.htm?Page=1 , more specifically on the" GI: Will players who enjoy MMOs but aren’t gamers in the traditional “twitch style” way be able to acclimate themselves to the system easily?" question, has mention of "being able to focus more on PvE".

Originally posted by Bastioni

You will need items and gear from the Abyss and people will be grinding there.

Even in the Abyss it's lonely when I looked at streaming video, since most people quit before level 30 because that's when the quests stop and the xp needed to level becomes really big.

In short, no, you can't avoid the Abyss or even avoid PVP if you want to "enjoy" the game. Aion isn't a PVE game, it's a PVE game up to level 20 and then you grind Abyss points and XP in the Abyss.

What?

Aion is not the second coming of Christ?

You make it sound like.. it's.. just... another Korean PvP grinding game with very limited and poor content focused entirely on end-game PvP ganking?!?!

Not the WoW-killer and "next big thing" all the forum hype says it is?!?!

I'm in SHOCK!

not...

Originally posted by Bastioni

You will need items and gear from the Abyss and people will be grinding there.

Even in the Abyss it's lonely when I looked at streaming video, since most people quit before level 30 because that's when the quests stop and the xp needed to level becomes really big.

In short, no, you can't avoid the Abyss or even avoid PVP if you want to "enjoy" the game. Aion isn't a PVE game, it's a PVE game up to level 20 and then you grind Abyss points and XP in the Abyss.

Your response are funny, Bastioni.  Almost as funny as Zorndorf. 

Instead of posting, why not just post, "Don't play!  Just please don't play!"

It would be more effective than saying, "Well, it looks lonely according to a video I watched."  And. . .umm. .most people (except the 1 million+ players) quit before 30 because that's. . blah blah blah.

That's good stuff.

Originally posted by puma713

Originally posted by Bastioni

You will need items and gear from the Abyss and people will be grinding there.

Even in the Abyss it's lonely when I looked at streaming video, since most people quit before level 30 because that's when the quests stop and the xp needed to level becomes really big.

In short, no, you can't avoid the Abyss or even avoid PVP if you want to "enjoy" the game. Aion isn't a PVE game, it's a PVE game up to level 20 and then you grind Abyss points and XP in the Abyss.

 

Your response are funny, Bastioni.  Almost as funny as Zorndorf. 

Instead of posting, why not just post, "Don't play!  Just please don't play!"

It would be more effective than saying, "Well, it looks lonely according to a video I watched."  And. . .umm. .most people (except the 1 million+ players) quit before 30 because that's. . blah blah blah.

That's good stuff.

I'm sorry for actually giving a truthful answer. Jeesh.

Originally posted by Bastioni

Originally posted by puma713

Originally posted by Bastioni

You will need items and gear from the Abyss and people will be grinding there.

Even in the Abyss it's lonely when I looked at streaming video, since most people quit before level 30 because that's when the quests stop and the xp needed to level becomes really big.

In short, no, you can't avoid the Abyss or even avoid PVP if you want to "enjoy" the game. Aion isn't a PVE game, it's a PVE game up to level 20 and then you grind Abyss points and XP in the Abyss.

 

Your response are funny, Bastioni.  Almost as funny as Zorndorf. 

Instead of posting, why not just post, "Don't play!  Just please don't play!"

It would be more effective than saying, "Well, it looks lonely according to a video I watched."  And. . .umm. .most people (except the 1 million+ players) quit before 30 because that's. . blah blah blah.

That's good stuff.

I'm sorry for actually giving a truthful answer. Jeesh.

Right.  So those 1 million+ players are just sitting at 24, running around doing nothing because you didn't see them in a video, right?

Originally posted by Bastioni

Originally posted by puma713

Originally posted by Bastioni

You will need items and gear from the Abyss and people will be grinding there.

Even in the Abyss it's lonely when I looked at streaming video, since most people quit before level 30 because that's when the quests stop and the xp needed to level becomes really big.

In short, no, you can't avoid the Abyss or even avoid PVP if you want to "enjoy" the game. Aion isn't a PVE game, it's a PVE game up to level 20 and then you grind Abyss points and XP in the Abyss.

 

Your response are funny, Bastioni.  Almost as funny as Zorndorf. 

Instead of posting, why not just post, "Don't play!  Just please don't play!"

It would be more effective than saying, "Well, it looks lonely according to a video I watched."  And. . .umm. .most people (except the 1 million+ players) quit before 30 because that's. . blah blah blah.

That's good stuff.

I'm sorry for actually giving a truthful answer. Jeesh.

I think that is only half right. You are making a personal assessment (which makes sense I suppose) that if one is to enjoy the game then one needs the abyss. But that is extremely personal. One could very well enjoy sitting in town, crafting and hawking their wares and never enter the abyss.

I think that one could avoid the abyss and just stay in non-abyss areas. I do believe that there are areas that are 40+. Of course at the top end the xp would be somewhat slower but as long as people don't mind  grinding it shouldn't be an issue.

It might be hard to avoid pvp because of the portals that open up, but if there is a warning (and I hear that there is?) then if people don't want to pvp they could get out of the way.

It is a pvp game but it seems that if one didn't want to pvp and didn't mind not having abyss items then they could avoid it. I think there is a lvl 25 quest that sends people into the abyss so they would have to avoid that one too.

In any case, this is my sense from what I've read. I haven't played korea or china so I don't have first hand experience. I did see a post by one of the cm's or dev's that said one didn't have to pvp if one didn't want to. I just don't know how that will play out across the game.

From ericdanie's link:

Players can choose to play the game strictly PvE style, or they can enter the Abyss and take part in PvPvE

Ignore the trolls OP, bad games don't get any of them, Aion has plenty.

Now, on topic, yes, you can level to 50 outside of the abyss.

Originally posted by ethion

I know the abyss is supposed to give the best xp and all and that you can enter it at lvl 25.  But I'm wondering if when you hit 25 it is your only option or if it is more like DaoC where it is the equiv of the frontier and you can level to 50 in pve zones?

Check back with me in the fall and I'll tell you. I don't have a whole lot of intention of frolicking in the Abyss more then I have to and as far as I understand there is content to max outside of the Abyss. So yeah it does sound like DAOC.

Don't get me wrong there isn't a whole lot of PvE content at the latter levels but enough to get you going if that's all you want to do.

Here's a list of locations

Originally posted by Bastioni

You will need items and gear from the Abyss and people will be grinding there.

Even in the Abyss it's lonely when I looked at streaming video, since most people quit before level 30 because that's when the quests stop and the xp needed to level becomes really big.

In short, no, you can't avoid the Abyss or even avoid PVP if you want to "enjoy" the game. Aion isn't a PVE game, it's a PVE game up to level 20 and then you grind Abyss points and XP in the Abyss.

This maybe true for the China version but the Korean version recently had tons of quests added and is going to get more in  the 1.3 patch very soon.

The most correct answer would really be:

Yes, you can get to 50 without stepping into the Abyss.  However, Aion encourage you to do Abyss for the better gears and experience points.  If you don't ever set foot in the Abyss I can see how Aion might not be very fun for you.

BTW if you try to level to 50 without entering Abyss, it might make it feel very grindy once the quest stops.

CONCLUSION:

No one is forcing you to go into the Abyss to get to 50, however it is better for you if you do.

If your asking yourself can I get to 50 without any pvp my guess is this game may not be for you. It's not set up like wow where pve and pvp are totally separate. Even in the "PvE" areas there will be portals that open up from time to time and the other faction can attack you so with the exception of the main city and the very low lvl areas there will be pvp. It seems like it will be more open world pvp rather than instances so if pvp is not something you want then this game probably wouldn't be a good choice for you. It is designed around pvp being a major part of the game.

Trying to play this game and avoid pvp would be like never crossing the 50 yard line in a football game. You'd be missing out on most of the game while the rest of the team does all the scoring.

Here's all the info you need to know by clicking this link.

Originally posted by skeptical

If your asking yourself can I get to 50 without any pvp my guess is this game may not be for you. It's not set up like wow where pve and pvp are totally separate. Even in the "PvE" areas there will be portals that open up from time to time and the other faction can attack you so with the exception of the main city and the very low lvl areas there will be pvp. It seems like it will be more open world pvp rather than instances so if pvp is not something you want then this game probably wouldn't be a good choice for you. It is designed around pvp being a major part of the game.

Trying to play this game and avoid pvp would be like never crossing the 50 yard line in a football game. You'd be missing out on most of the game while the rest of the team does all the scoring.

I don't mind portals opening from time to time.  I don't mind some PvP.  I just don't want a lot of PvP when I don't want to do it.  I don't want to log on to do some questing or harvesting and end up being chain ganked by someone higher level who is bored and gets their laughs from making someone else unable to play the game.  I like the abyss as something I can choose to do.  When I'm wanting some fun going out and doing some PvP it sounds great.  I like the missions into it and all.

My concern is that it not be something that becomes a source of grief that makes the game frustrating to play starting at lvl 25.  I see from the link of the other poster that there are quests and stuff at high levels that are not in the abyss.  I'm still kinda concerned though because a lot of people say that after lvl 25 there are not enough quests to level up and it becomes a grinder...  Sitting around endlessly soloing mobs for no purpose also doesn't sound like much fun.

Originally posted by ethion

I don't mind portals opening from time to time.  I don't mind some PvP.  I just don't want a lot of PvP when I don't want to do it.  I don't want to log on to do some questing or harvesting and end up being chain ganked by someone higher level who is bored and gets their laughs from making someone else unable to play the game.  I like the abyss as something I can choose to do.  When I'm wanting some fun going out and doing some PvP it sounds great.  I like the missions into it and all.

My concern is that it not be something that becomes a source of grief that makes the game frustrating to play starting at lvl 25.  I see from the link of the other poster that there are quests and stuff at high levels that are not in the abyss.  I'm still kinda concerned though because a lot of people say that after lvl 25 there are not enough quests to level up and it becomes a grinder...  Sitting around endlessly soloing mobs for no purpose also doesn't sound like much fun.

What, you want a game where you can choose how you want to play it without feeling like you are doing something wrong or a second class citizen? 

BLASPHEMY! 

These are MMOs, you'll do as you're told! Eastern MMO = forced PvP, might as well just accept it.

Originally posted by ethion

Originally posted by skeptical

If your asking yourself can I get to 50 without any pvp my guess is this game may not be for you. It's not set up like wow where pve and pvp are totally separate. Even in the "PvE" areas there will be portals that open up from time to time and the other faction can attack you so with the exception of the main city and the very low lvl areas there will be pvp. It seems like it will be more open world pvp rather than instances so if pvp is not something you want then this game probably wouldn't be a good choice for you. It is designed around pvp being a major part of the game.

Trying to play this game and avoid pvp would be like never crossing the 50 yard line in a football game. You'd be missing out on most of the game while the rest of the team does all the scoring.

 

I don't mind portals opening from time to time.  I don't mind some PvP.  I just don't want a lot of PvP when I don't want to do it.  I don't want to log on to do some questing or harvesting and end up being chain ganked by someone higher level who is bored and gets their laughs from making someone else unable to play the game.  I like the abyss as something I can choose to do.  When I'm wanting some fun going out and doing some PvP it sounds great.  I like the missions into it and all.

My concern is that it not be something that becomes a source of grief that makes the game frustrating to play starting at lvl 25.  I see from the link of the other poster that there are quests and stuff at high levels that are not in the abyss.  I'm still kinda concerned though because a lot of people say that after lvl 25 there are not enough quests to level up and it becomes a grinder...  Sitting around endlessly soloing mobs for no purpose also doesn't sound like much fun.

Well that's a tough call. It has been mentioned that in the 1.3 patch more content is added.

The end game for Aion is pvp oriented but there are also pve things to do. As far as grinding for no purpose, I'm of the mind that only the player can make that purpose.

I also highly suggest that you join a legion (guild) as that will help. Aion feels like Lineage 2 in that the social aspects center around legions.

This is not to say that one couldn't go completely solo (I think they could) but you will be able to capitalize on more of the game if you are with a good group.

Ignore the China-Aion trolls, they are still on patch 1.0, and in the new patches LOTS of quests were added, you do not have to grind and you do not have to step into the abyss to reach level 50. (And when it's released in NA/EU we'll be on 1.2 or higher, says NCSoft)

Originally posted by Bastioni

I'm sorry for actually giving a truthful answer. Jeesh.

These forums are becomming blood thirsty.  I'm seeing a lot of 'name calling' over trivial matters.  Don't take it personal. 

Originally posted by Patchumz

Ignore the China-Aion trolls, they are still on patch 1.0, and in the new patches LOTS of quests were added, you do not have to grind and you do not have to step into the abyss to reach level 50. (And when it's released in NA/EU we'll be on 1.2 or higher, says NCSoft)

Thanks!! that is what I was wanting to see.  I'm not certain enough to preorder but I'm not turned off enough to never read the forums about Aion again :)