Ashes of Creation will be heading into the next alpha phase on October 25th. Intrepid Studios’ recent development stream features a preview of the starting area of Lionhold and a guide to Alpha Two overall.
Lionhold is a city in Verra that was once an important place to the Alen Empire. We are introduced to not just the area and some of the structures, but we get to see NPCs with markers over their heads and Shining name tags to let you know that they have quests or something important to tell you. We also get a little taste of lore, items, UI elements, and NPC voiceovers. Since this is an alpha build, , Everything is subject to change, but these previews do give us an idea of what we might expect when Alpha 2 opens at the end of next month.
The full preview includes a run to take down some goblins and the group exploring in the Lionhead ruins. Another lore element is the Heartwood tree we see, Since this one is damaged and essentially dead. These trees, in the lore, are connected throughout Verra. They form their own network of essence throughout the lands. Obviously, if one of them is severely damaged or perhaps even dead in the area, that one's not doing well and the connection may be broken.
The Alpha Two guide is also here if you just want a shorter overall intro to what to expect from the start of this next testing phase. It includes details on the starting experience and Lionhold, but moves beyond to show some of the systems, including resources, caravans, the dangers in the world, and features like Node Wars.
The full preview is worth checking out if you’re planning to take part in the Alpha 2 opening or you’re just curious what Intrepid has been up to. With Ashes of Creation, there’s plenty of conversation around what the studio is doing and how long development takes, but these streams do at least show off what you’re actually going to get next month (more or less, since, again, it’s alpha).
