Interview: Talking Throne & Liberty's Wilds of Talandre With Amazon Games' Globalization Design Manager Daniel Lafuente

Throne & Liberty, developed by NCSOFT and published by Amazon Games, has seen moderate success by comparison to other MMORPGs of its kind — floating around 45,000 concurrent players on Steam alone, despite its mixed reviews. And while players have most certainly gotten their hands dirty in bouts of PvP around the all too familiar Ant’s Nest, if you were a Lineage II player, NCSOFT has a slew of new content on the way for players to dive into.

This includes Nebula Island through the Wilds of Talandre expansion, which sees the addition of another PvPvE zone and a revamp to the Weapon Mastery System. We had the opportunity to interview Daniel Lafuente, Globalization Design Manager at Amazon Games, about this update, which you can read below.

MMORPG: The Wilds of Talandre expansion will see the addition of Nebula Island. Now, it’s no secret that a lot of Throne & Liberty has been inspired by the Lineage series, with the Ant’s Nest appearing shortly after the official release of the MMORPG. Are we bound to see other prominent PvPvE zones appear on Nebula Island that share a common name or background with the Lineage series?

Daniel Lafuente: This would be a better question for our partners at NCSOFT as they lead the creative direction for lore development in Throne and Liberty.

MMORPG: On that note, given how the Ant’s Nest was received on release, what has NCSOFT and Amazon Games done in preparation for these new PvPvE zones to give all players a shot at reaping the rewards from this new area?

Daniel: Great question. Let’s talk about Nebula Island, which is fundamentally a PvP zone tied to our new Artifacts progression system. We've specifically designed it with accessibility in mind for all player types. The island features five distinct zones, including a dedicated peace mode area where players can progress without engaging in PvP. Additionally, Artifact loot will be obtainable through Abyss dungeons in Talandre, ensuring everyone has multiple paths to acquire these important items regardless of their preference for PvP content. 

MMORPG: I watched the streams of a few prominent MMORPG content creators on Twitch, and they were getting rolled pretty hard by smaller, more focused guilds and alliances when it came to tackling content in these PvPvE zones. Will new players who want to jump into the Wilds of Talandre expansion and its new zones be at a disadvantage, and will content creators be given a chance to breathe if they can’t be carried by their community?

Lafuente: While PvP is a major focus in Throne and Liberty, there is so much more for players who enjoy all types of content, as Wilds of Talandre offers far more than just Nebula Island's PvPvE content. The expansion includes six expansive new zones within Talandre filled with activities for players of all interests. Guild-based PvP remains a cornerstone of Throne and Liberty, but we're introducing significant improvements to create more balanced experiences. Our new GvG instanced boss portals allow guilds to compete directly against matched opponents. Additionally, we're implementing dominion portals for field bosses that enable smaller parties of up to six players to engage in PvPvE encounters with similarly sized groups. These changes help ensure competitive balance for players regardless of their guild affiliation.

MMORPG: What was the process of working on the new Artifact system and having to balance it alongside the Weapon Mastery revamp? Were there any design considerations made to shake up the meta in Throne & Liberty?

Lafuente: Keeping the meta fresh is always on our minds. Our guiding principle for progression systems is maximizing player customization and build diversity. Throne and Liberty shines brightest when players can craft unique builds tailored to their playstyle preferences. Both the new Weapon Mastery and Artifact systems enhance this aspect by providing varied stats, passives, and active skill modifications that complement our existing gear combinations. This approach creates a rich foundation for players to experiment with innovative builds that truly reflect their personal gameplay style.

MMORPG: Why has NCSOFT and Amazon Games chosen to opt for a Weapon Mastery revamp as opposed to building on the foundations of Throne & Liberty as it is now? Was this done for balance or purely based on player feedback?

Lafuente: While our existing Weapon Mastery system had merit, we identified opportunities to significantly enhance player choice – a core value in our design philosophy. The revamped system delivers meaningful customization options that allow players to truly tailor their builds to their preferred playstyle, rather than conforming to limited, predefined paths. This evolution represents our commitment to continually improving core systems based on both player feedback and our vision for deeper character development.

MMORPG: Going forward with future content updates, has NCSOFT and Amazon Games taken more consideration into the localization quality of the MMORPG going forward?

Lafuente: Delivering exceptional content to our players remains our primary goal, and we recognize that high-quality localization is a fundamental component of that experience. We're continuously optimizing our processes and elevating standards across all aspects of publishing, including localization. This commitment to quality ensures that players across all regions can fully immerse themselves in the rich world of Throne and Liberty. Thank you for all the great questions. We're so excited for everyone to finally get a chance to experience Talandre! It's a huge new addition to the world of Solisium and we can't wait for you to uncover all of its secrets. See you in game on March 6th!