Huge patch inc.

[Rybnik]

Was doing some light reading and noticed that AION has a huge patch coming soon (something along the lines of 26 pages worth of patch notes). Some off the additions sounds pretty interesting too. highlights includes: a new looking for group system, quest updates, a brand new daily quest system, changes to the endgame dungeon Dredgion, a decrease in transportation and soul healing prices, increased experience gain, and a two-handed weapon merge system. (hightlighted the ones I liked best)

As an ex player (only lasted for the free month) these notes aren't enough by themselves to entice me back into the game. I'll have to wait and see how the changes actually effect the game. Would anyone else ever consider returning to AION?

[Artemesia]

I'm still paying for my Aion account, though I never actually play. I'd definitely come back if they fixed the excessive amount of grinding required to level.

Grinding is not an issue unless it hits a certain point. 8+ hours in the same spot killing the same mobs for half a level is outrageous.

[Rybnik]

Grinding is not an issue unless it hits a certain point. 8+ hours in the same spot killing the same mobs for half a level is outrageous.

I completely agree with you. I enjoyed the game but got out early because I wasn't prepared to invest the kind of time that was required. I'd go back if I heard positive word of mouth about the grind being lessened. I enjoyed the graphics quite a bit and the "visions" video they have floating around has some pretty incredible things to look forward to if they actually ever get implemented.

[Benden]

Every other weekend is double exp, so that definitely helps with the grind some.  I finally hit 50 on my sorc a couple of weeks ago.  The level 50 Fenris gear is a huge grind that won't be lessened by increased exp, so when you get to endgame, the grind doesn't cease.  Dark Poeta is a pretty well designed end-game dungeon, with two catches: you have to be willing to invest four hours each time you run it and running it is expensive (~800K kinah once you include the death penalties, which you still should pay off at 50).  I'm really looking forward to the reduced soul healing and anti-assassin skills more than anything else at this point.

[Keen]

Grinding for me isn't an issue as long as it's fun.  I think that's key.  Killing the same sprig a bazillion times isn't a very fun grind.  With more EXP it'll be way better for sure and I'd like to see how the game ends up. 

[Rybnik]

I agree grinding can be fun, but the type of grinding AION had at launch was definitely not fun. If they improve it I could see myself resubbing for amonth or two maybe. Just have to wait and see how teh community responds.

[Alurian]

Aion is one of those games that can be really great if they can address some of the issues people have had with it. From a graphics standpoint it was awesome, I loved flight in it, abilities etc. Might be worth checking out after patch 2.0 but we'll see.

[Tisel]

Straight grinding is never fun.

Sitting on the same mob spawn to get a level and it taking me 4 hours to do it is no fun. Which is why I try to steer away from games with grinding in it. I know questing is considered grinding by most as well. I just feel like I'm doing something important in most quest games. As opposed to feeling like a self-appointed exterminator of creepy crawlers.

[Benden]

Killing the same sprig a bazillion times isn't a very fun grind. 

That's why I'm not bothering with the Fenris end-game set.  I'm having much more fun leveling up an alt ranger than I would have had grinding endlessly for a set of gold shoulders.

There's really a lot to like about Aion, but I have to admit that it doesn't really cross the the threshold of being a great game.  The limiting factor is simply the size of the world.  When you can cross the entire map in under five minutes, the world is just too small.  I think that this is ultimately the problem with porting over grind-centric games.  When that grind comes down because American players won't put up with it, the small size of the world becomes much more noticeable.