1 minute of flight time?  Come on that is absurdly short.  Even 5 minutes at the top end means flight is an after thought in this game. 

Even Wow players are going to have a huge laugh at this. 

All I can say is the rest of the game needs to step up as flight won't pull people in as it is designed.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

1 minute of flight time?  Come on that is absurdly short.  Even 5 minutes at the top end means flight is an after thought in this game. 

Flight is for travel, combat and resource gathering. Based on the functionality of flight and air space, along with the animations and the ease of use of flight, I'd say it was much more than 'an after thought' but I doubt any actual facts about the game are going to change your mind.

All I can say is the rest of the game needs to step up as flight won't pull people in as it is designed.

Could you explain what aspects of the game need to 'step up'?

I'm disappointed with the answers. I just read the Introduction of Daeva, and I expected them to be much more than what they are. The Introduction describes them as being viewed as demi-gods from ordinary people. Is it too wrong for me to assume that a Daeva will be better than a seasoned warrior? The Introduction also said that Daeva get to control aether, which makes everything they do more powerful. If this is the case, how come the Daeva sound so week or equal to grounded fighters. Then there's the whole timer thing on flying. If you're some ascended Daeva, what sense does it make to make them so weak at flying? Either you can fly, or you can't. Don't put restraints on flying that don't have to be there. Give Daeva a lot more credit and endurance than 1-5 min.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

1 minute of flight time?  Come on that is absurdly short.  Even 5 minutes at the top end means flight is an after thought in this game. 

Even Wow players are going to have a huge laugh at this. 

All I can say is the rest of the game needs to step up as flight won't pull people in as it is designed.

There are also ways to extend your flight time. I can't remember the exact details, but it is doable.

There are potions, foods, and buffs that can extend your flight time and also as you level and get better wings your flight time is extended too.

Originally posted by nate1980

I'm disappointed with the answers. I just read the Introduction of Daeva, and I expected them to be much more than what they are. The Introduction describes them as being viewed as demi-gods from ordinary people. Is it too wrong for me to assume that a Daeva will be better than a seasoned warrior? The Introduction also said that Daeva get to control aether, which makes everything they do more powerful. If this is the case, how come the Daeva sound so week or equal to grounded fighters. Then there's the whole timer thing on flying. If you're some ascended Daeva, what sense does it make to make them so weak at flying? Either you can fly, or you can't. Don't put restraints on flying that don't have to be there. Give Daeva a lot more credit and endurance than 1-5 min.

The only grounded people are the characters below level 10.

 there are rings in the air that can extend your flight time, updrafts ect.     On long flights there may be a path of updrafts and things to help you get where you going and allow you to stay in the air a indeterminable ammount of time.   But won't be easily as exploited as say a flying mount where you can just hover a mile above the surface as long as you want where people can't attack you.

This will make it require thought on how to best use your ability and those who know the lay of the land will be able to survive longer than those who don't.  

Originally posted by nate1980

I'm disappointed with the answers. I just read the Introduction of Daeva, and I expected them to be much more than what they are. The Introduction describes them as being viewed as demi-gods from ordinary people. Is it too wrong for me to assume that a Daeva will be better than a seasoned warrior? The Introduction also said that Daeva get to control aether, which makes everything they do more powerful. If this is the case, how come the Daeva sound so week or equal to grounded fighters. Then there's the whole timer thing on flying. If you're some ascended Daeva, what sense does it make to make them so weak at flying? Either you can fly, or you can't. Don't put restraints on flying that don't have to be there. Give Daeva a lot more credit and endurance than 1-5 min.

Ok, try playing the game as a gladiator/templar/assassin/chanter against a sorc and don't fly or use your pull down ability. See how long you last for the 1 to 5 mins.  I would be surprised if you last the 1 min.

There is alot of equipment that will increase your Flight Time but ofc your sacrificing other stats for flight time, i like the one minute it means you really need to think of what your next step is going to be, flight can be your doing or undoing, in my aether farming gear (yes farming aether is risky business :P) I have 1min and 46 seconds of flight and thats alot already. Keeping the flight time low means it will stay special rather than being a  flying mount where by the end of the day everyone would be just flying around.

Flight just simply diminishes the need for mounts in my opinion. There is more to the game than just being able to fly.

I actually love the limitation to flying. If you can't see how that adds some additional excitement and challenges in certain situations I'm afraid you're a lost cause. It is also realistic in that it would take huge amounts of energy to stay airborn.

p.s.

"Once you earn your wings the game really takes off."

Originally posted by Ozmodan

1 minute of flight time?  Come on that is absurdly short.  Even 5 minutes at the top end means flight is an after thought in this game. 

Even Wow players are going to have a huge laugh at this. 

All I can say is the rest of the game needs to step up as flight won't pull people in as it is designed.

Sigh, yeah I think the same. People from modern MMOs will find this puzzling. And hearing 3-4 min is maxed in high levels is absurd. Kinda disappointing. I thought it would be somewhat like the CoH flight. :/

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Flight just simply diminishes the need for mounts in my opinion. There is more to the game than just being able to fly.

Why does every game have to have mounts?

I constantly see people asking for something different and when a game company gives something different it then becomes "well, no, something else..."

Personally I would like more flight time but then again, I completely understand the need to balance it.

But here we have a world that is different from many of the worlds we have been given. And there are some places you can fly more and some less.

But it adds the idea of choice to the player. Flying is not something to take for granted but something to be planned in its usage. That to me gives it more weight and more meaning.

And to me, that's a good thing.

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Flight just simply diminishes the need for mounts in my opinion. There is more to the game than just being able to fly.

 

Why does every game have to have mounts?

I constantly see people asking for something different and when a game company gives something different it then becomes "well, no, something else..."

Personally I would like more flight time but then again, I completely understand the need to balance it.

But here we have a world that is different from many of the worlds we have been given. And there are some places you can fly more and some less.

But it adds the idea of choice to the player. Flying is not something to take for granted but something to be planned in its usage. That to me gives it more weight and more meaning.

And to me, that's a good thing.

You can add more flight time by gear according to some of the posts here.

Originally posted by Stradden

Originally posted by Ozmodan

1 minute of flight time?  Come on that is absurdly short.  Even 5 minutes at the top end means flight is an after thought in this game. 

Even Wow players are going to have a huge laugh at this. 

All I can say is the rest of the game needs to step up as flight won't pull people in as it is designed.

There are also ways to extend your flight time. I can't remember the exact details, but it is doable.

I was just going by what the article said which was up to 5 minutes flight time.  Basically that is a blink of the eye when it comes to playing a MMO.   Just very disappointed they made this feature so limited.  Of course if you can eventually extend it a lot beyond 5 minutes at later stages then sure, we can make do at lower levels.

As to stepping up, they need to make other features much better than the average MMO to compensate.  Many of us have been looking forward to the flght feature.  We have basically been spoiled by flight in other MMO's and just don't understand why it is so limited in this game.

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Flight just simply diminishes the need for mounts in my opinion. There is more to the game than just being able to fly.

 

Why does every game have to have mounts?

I constantly see people asking for something different and when a game company gives something different it then becomes "well, no, something else..."

Personally I would like more flight time but then again, I completely understand the need to balance it.

But here we have a world that is different from many of the worlds we have been given. And there are some places you can fly more and some less.

But it adds the idea of choice to the player. Flying is not something to take for granted but something to be planned in its usage. That to me gives it more weight and more meaning.

And to me, that's a good thing.

 

You can add more flight time by gear according to some of the posts here.

That's true. I also believe there are areas (abyss?) where players have significant amount of flight time added.

Quite frankly, I think part of the reason it's limited is certain places is that players were never intended to have a lot free flight. It was only supposed to be a mode of transportation from place to place and then limited to get up ledges and the like. Then players started expressing that they wanted more flight and more places to fly. So NC took that into its development plan.

Guildies of mine that have played/are playing the game either on the chinese or korean servers really have no complaints about the flying system.  They say it works and make battle much more interesting.  Plus, if you watch the videos, it seems like people incorporate flying in all sorts of situations that lead to a twist on normal gameplay, specifically pvp.

I actually like the idea of having to think about what I do before doing it.  I have no need for hovering up in the air and going afk.  I will decide after I try the game whether the flight mechanics work or not.

Originally posted by Stradden

MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh had the opportunity to ask the Aion developers a few questions about the Daeva and flight in this exclusive interview.

MMORPG.com:

Is earning your wings or becoming Daeva something like a rite of passage?

Aion:

Becoming a Daeva is something every child of Atreia dreams of. Ascension can be sparked by a traumatic event, or might happen in a moment of dire need; no one is sure exactly how or why it occurs. However, once it happens you realize you were meant for something greater.

Read the Daeva Interview

What class is that one in Picture ???

looks like an assassin

Originally posted by Ozmodan

As to stepping up, they need to make other features much better than the average MMO to compensate.  Many of us have been looking forward to the flght feature. 

It's not a game about flight - that is just one of the aspects of the game. If you are looking for a flying game, you're probably going to be disappointed here. It's a great feature and very well done, but it's not the focus of the game.

We have basically been spoiled by flight in other MMO's and just don't understand why it is so limited in this game.

Have you played this game? There is more to the flight in this MMO than in most other MMOs. Actually, I'm very curious what are all these other MMOs that have 'spoiled' players with their extensive flight features. 

Imo the 1 min is even to long ^^

Flying is a strategic aspect you can use limited and should not be hold for granted :)

Originally posted by Haradeas

Imo the 1 min is even to long ^^

 

Flying is a strategic aspect you can use limited and should not be hold for granted :)

1 minute doesnt seem too long, neither does 3-4 minutes at high levels.

 I do agree it is a great strategic aspect. Sounds like people just seem to feel this should be some permanent flying mount, which I would hate to see.

1 minute really is a good start to flying though. Since there are updrafts, potions, etc and such, there are plenty of ways to increase that time. Even as early as level 11 you get such items. Besides flying, Gliding is also a strategic way of flying that limits your altitude but does'nt use as much time ;). If the flight time were any longer, the game would'nt seem as interesting imo. There have to be consequences considering you are practically being given the ability to fly at such an early level :P 

Originally posted by Ozmodan

I was just going by what the article said which was up to 5 minutes flight time.  Basically that is a blink of the eye when it comes to playing a MMO.   Just very disappointed they made this feature so limited.  Of course if you can eventually extend it a lot beyond 5 minutes at later stages then sure, we can make do at lower levels.

As to stepping up, they need to make other features much better than the average MMO to compensate.  Many of us have been looking forward to the flght feature.  We have basically been spoiled by flight in other MMO's and just don't understand why it is so limited in this game.

You read where there's only a 10 second cooldown before you can start flying again, right? That's like, nothing.

So at the max level you'd have to land every 5 mins for 10 seconds before you could take off again. That's not 'ruining' anything.

For me, I can't wait to try the flying. It is just something that we all will have to plan to use and not just go floating around.

Just to clarify how the system works. Lets say you got 5 minute flight time, you can start flying, fly for a bit, close wings then from time you can reopen wings it takes 10 seconds. However used up flight time doesn't get replentished instantly. Currently you have to wait for 3 seconds on the ground for every 1 second of air timer to replenetish. So after you used up your 5 minutes, it will take you 15m to get your 5m back. That is not to say there are no potions that restore your flight time, but that means you cant use HP or Mana pots, since they are all on the same timer.

People being "spoiled" by unlimited flight elsewhere? Right. I guess some people are forgetting that god forbid some people play MMO's for the fun of exploration, flying for the sake of seeing stuff. Timers are never, ever an added design function to enhance simple fun; it's for challenge, tactics, or other inhibitive qualities.

1~5 min seems absurdly short (seriously, time yourself how long it takes you to get your next quest in whatever game you're playing), but I'll reserve a final opinion for after trying it.

One other thing I forgot to say is that, you are very limited in areas where you can fly. Abyss is fair game everywhere for flying but in core zones you are limited to flight in very few places. What you can do in those zones is glide from the top of the hill downwards, but even gliding costs you air time.

Took real interest in this game, hope it’s not all about PvP, personally I am not fond of PvP so much, usually I try to stay away.
 

Regarding the wings, one of my best early experience is flying for the first time with my dragon in Horizons after the rite of passage (or whatever it was called) and later when I started flying with my druid in wow, it’s a great feature and many time I just stop and enjoy the graphics while I fly aimlessly.

IMO it’s not all about rushing and doing quest none stop, some do enjoying some relaxing and doing nothing,
Too bad the fly time is short, 1 min at start and with potion how much more 2-6 extra minutes? more? And then you need x3 time longer to regenerate unless you use other potions, to me sounds very restricting and a bit disappointing.

Maybe now the time look fine to some of you but once more people join the game and game expand more, it will have more and more lag, and when you fight someone and suddenly experience few seconds of lag, IMO 5 min is restrictive, one second you fight then boom lag spike and then you find yourself on the ground when your timer runs out, yea some people will say don’t fight when your timer is short or if there is too much lag don’t play or change servers, but all is good in theory once you hit the real play many times you can’t avoid those situations.
 

Originally posted by Pietoro

Originally posted by Ozmodan

I was just going by what the article said which was up to 5 minutes flight time.  Basically that is a blink of the eye when it comes to playing a MMO.   Just very disappointed they made this feature so limited.  Of course if you can eventually extend it a lot beyond 5 minutes at later stages then sure, we can make do at lower levels.

As to stepping up, they need to make other features much better than the average MMO to compensate.  Many of us have been looking forward to the flght feature.  We have basically been spoiled by flight in other MMO's and just don't understand why it is so limited in this game.

 

You read where there's only a 10 second cooldown before you can start flying again, right? That's like, nothing.

So at the max level you'd have to land every 5 mins for 10 seconds before you could take off again. That's not 'ruining' anything.

The flight timer recovers gradually, you recover 1 second of flight every 2 seconds when you are not flying.

Originally posted by Urza123

Just to clarify how the system works. Lets say you got 5 minute flight time, you can start flying, fly for a bit, close wings then from time you can reopen wings it takes 10 seconds. However used up flight time doesn't get replentished instantly. Currently you have to wait for 3 seconds on the ground for every 1 second of air timer to replenetish. So after you used up your 5 minutes, it will take you 15m to get your 5m back. That is not to say there are no potions that restore your flight time, but that means you cant use HP or Mana pots, since they are all on the same timer.

To clarify? I could buy this game thinking I can fly around doing cool stuff and then be disappointed finding that I can’t fly for more than a few seconds (perception) and then I’m stuck on the ground like in any other mmo with the bonus feature of being unable to use pots to survive.

I had thought to buy the game on release, but common sense is telling me to wait until a wiki is created and check if the marketing matches the reality.
 

This games development has taken so long I've lost interest.  I don't see it being any better than any other game out there.  The only thing it has going for it is the flight aspect and perhaps the pvpve model.  We'll see how well that works.

Originally posted by LynxJSA

Originally posted by Ozmodan

As to stepping up, they need to make other features much better than the average MMO to compensate.  Many of us have been looking forward to the flght feature. 

It's not a game about flight - that is just one of the aspects of the game. If you are looking for a flying game, you're probably going to be disappointed here. It's a great feature and very well done, but it's not the focus of the game.

We have basically been spoiled by flight in other MMO's and just don't understand why it is so limited in this game.

Have you played this game? There is more to the flight in this MMO than in most other MMOs. Actually, I'm very curious what are all these other MMOs that have 'spoiled' players with their extensive flight features. 

 

 

 

Broaden your horizons, go play Perfect World or even Wow.  Once you fly, going back to a ground only game, which basically Aion is, is a downer.

This does not demean the game, it still could be good, but as you can see from many of the posts many of us are disappointed a very heralded feature is going to be so limited.  

Originally posted by Ozmodan

Broaden your horizons, go play Perfect World or even Wow.  Once you fly, going back to a ground only game, which basically Aion is, is a downer.

I''ve played both but thanks for the advice! 

Again, if you are looking for a 'flying game' - as you indicate in the quote above - AION probably isn't it. Flying is one of many great features of the game but not the game's focus. Honestly, though, from your post history it seems like you've got some personal attachment to PW and that colors your view of AION.

Yet again mmorpg fails to ask the most simple and basic question of flight.

What happens if you run out of flight time while in the air?

From the sounds of things you just die, or take massive amounts of HP damage. 

And no, flying is not a unique experience to Aion as anyone who's play Perfect World will tell you,  Except in Aion its Severly limited 4 minutes at most? Even then you would die if you dont fly back to ground..

Doesnt sound very enjoyable to me.

Am I one of the only people who are actually glad flying is limited in this game?

I've played flying games, ie Perfect World, CoX, etc. and while I do enjoy the flying I feel like it gets kind of annoying and gimmicky after a while. I enjoy flying, and flight-based combat, but I also feel that ground-based combat offers a bigger impact at times. If everyone is flying all the time, it tends to make the environment irrelevant after a while, and a flight restriction is one good way to limit this.

I hope this gives the game a healthy mix between the 2 types of mobility, and leads to a healthy mix of air vs. land - based battles. This would make the fights much more epic than just a ball of people in the sky the whole time.

Originally posted by sadeyx

Yet again mmorpg fails to ask the most simple and basic question of flight.

What happens if you run out of flight time while in the air?

From the sounds of things you just die, or take massive amounts of HP damage. 

And no, flying is not a unique experience to Aion as anyone who's play Perfect World will tell you,  Except in Aion its Severly limited 4 minutes at most? Even then you would die if you dont fly back to ground..

Doesnt sound very enjoyable to me.

Flight is supposed to be used tactickly and rather than a gimmick

It all depends on how the world is constructed. It is a bit premature to talk about limits when we have no first hand experience of how those limits enchance or hinder gameplay.

I've never played Perfect World but in games like WoW flying was a world immersion killer (for me).

Originally posted by sadeyx

Yet again mmorpg fails to ask the most simple and basic question of flight.

What happens if you run out of flight time while in the air?

From the sounds of things you just die, or take massive amounts of HP damage. 

And no, flying is not a unique experience to Aion as anyone who's play Perfect World will tell you,  Except in Aion its Severly limited 4 minutes at most? Even then you would die if you dont fly back to ground..

Doesnt sound very enjoyable to me.

If you are high enough off the ground you do die. Anything less than that you take damage. Don't be stupid and that won't happen? There are warnings you are getting low on time, enough for you to fly back to the ground.

Flying is done much better and theres more thought into it than Perfect World. You can fly, glide, use skills in the air, it's very smooth and nicely done. It's a AAA title, PW is just a AA cash shop game.

Also if you think flight is the only feature worth playing for then LOL. In my experience I rarely use flight... it's a tool.

Originally posted by FastTx

 In my experience I rarely use flight... it's a tool.

Same here. I use it for resource gathering and evasion mostly.

Originally posted by sadeyx

Yet again mmorpg fails to ask the most simple and basic question of flight.

What happens if you run out of flight time while in the air?

From the sounds of things you just die, or take massive amounts of HP damage. 

And no, flying is not a unique experience to Aion as anyone who's play Perfect World will tell you,  Except in Aion its Severly limited 4 minutes at most? Even then you would die if you dont fly back to ground..

Doesnt sound very enjoyable to me.

I'll tell you what happens when you run out of time.  If you get all wrapped up in draining just.. one... more...Aether from that node you'll find yourself falling...... possibly a long way to the ground.   If you're really lucky though just before you splat on the ground your timer refreshes and you pop your wings at the last second.......Talk about a learning experience. 

For the most part. If you want to know how flight is, bloody try the damn game out rather than moan about how short you think it is.  I've played em all, Perfect world, CoX  I think someone mentioned WoW flight too and I am not Dissapointed in the Flight Aion is using.   Your mileage may vary.

p.s Japanese OB is coming up soon.

so many people making baseless assumptions and opinions when they haven't played the game and not even sure how the mechanics work. LOL

Don't make an opinion unless you actually know what you're talking about.

its boring to have fly time i'd rather have wings instead of a freakin pet / mounts

Originally posted by FastTx

Originally posted by sadeyx

Yet again mmorpg fails to ask the most simple and basic question of flight.

What happens if you run out of flight time while in the air?

From the sounds of things you just die, or take massive amounts of HP damage. 

And no, flying is not a unique experience to Aion as anyone who's play Perfect World will tell you,  Except in Aion its Severly limited 4 minutes at most? Even then you would die if you dont fly back to ground..

Doesnt sound very enjoyable to me.

 

If you are high enough off the ground you do die. Anything less than that you take damage. Don't be stupid and that won't happen? There are warnings you are getting low on time, enough for you to fly back to the ground.

Flying is done much better and theres more thought into it than Perfect World. You can fly, glide, use skills in the air, it's very smooth and nicely done. It's a AAA title, PW is just a AA cash shop game.

Also if you think flight is the only feature worth playing for then LOL. In my experience I rarely use flight... it's a tool.

  I got a real laugh out of that, trying to compare gimped flight in Aion to Perfect World which has a far better implementation.  You can phrase it anyway you want, 1 min flight time is ABSURD, it will seriously hurt this game.  If you have not figured it out yet, this is a game and people like to have fun.  Flying is fun and making it so limited it a definite negative.  All the other games that have flight don't have this ridiculous limitation.    You are welcome to your opinion, but why advertise a feature that in reality is extremely limited? 

I think Aion will be hands down better than any of these free to play games, but it's real competition will be games like Wow and Wow's flight dynamic is far better.

Originally posted by kaishi00

so many people making baseless assumptions and opinions when they haven't played the game and not even sure how the mechanics work. LOL

Don't make an opinion unless you actually know what you're talking about.

Looks like a lot of people are looking at the flight option as an "I win "button.

I like the flight time as is, the same as tribes, use of flight is more of a tatical use than a gimick feature.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

I think Aion will be hands down better than any of these free to play games, but it's real competition will be games like Wow and Wow's flight dynamic is far better.

IMO, any dev that tries to compete with WOW in the NA market is an idiot setting himself up for failure.

Originally posted by Ozmodan

1 minute of flight time?  Come on that is absurdly short.  Even 5 minutes at the top end means flight is an after thought in this game. 

Even Wow players are going to have a huge laugh at this. 

All I can say is the rest of the game needs to step up as flight won't pull people in as it is designed.

Try playing first, also keep reading, it is like any spell skills that you get even in WoW, they start off small and get bigger. And as for the rest of the game stepping up...that doesn't seem to be a problem. Graphics are awesome, soundrtack 2nd to none, gameplay a load of fun, questing/storyline are well done.

Originally posted by beauxaj

Originally posted by sadeyx

Yet again mmorpg fails to ask the most simple and basic question of flight.

What happens if you run out of flight time while in the air?

From the sounds of things you just die, or take massive amounts of HP damage. 

And no, flying is not a unique experience to Aion as anyone who's play Perfect World will tell you,  Except in Aion its Severly limited 4 minutes at most? Even then you would die if you dont fly back to ground..

Doesnt sound very enjoyable to me.

 

I'll tell you what happens when you run out of time.  If you get all wrapped up in draining just.. one... more...Aether from that node you'll find yourself falling...... possibly a long way to the ground.   If you're really lucky though just before you splat on the ground your timer refreshes and you pop your wings at the last second.......Talk about a learning experience. 

For the most part. If you want to know how flight is, bloody try the damn game out rather than moan about how short you think it is.  I've played em all, Perfect world, CoX  I think someone mentioned WoW flight too and I am not Dissapointed in the Flight Aion is using.   Your mileage may vary.

p.s Japanese OB is coming up soon.

Yes Taiwan, Japan, and then NA/EU launches I think in that order and they have not IP blocked any countries, I am currently playing chinese F2P here in US