[Update] AA4USA is now CLOSED

Thank you to the many who stopped by in the short life of this blog. All contests are postponed. It's not all bad news as we have expanded into a Twitch/Twitter. Please come visit us to try and win several giveaways we'll be holding and thank you so much for your time.

- Erick


www.twitch.tv/mrbabygames
Twitter: @mrbabygames

This week @ AA4USA

Late last night I was given access to the NA Alpha. This now allows our blog to see some drastic improvements that were not seen before. These changes will include live streams via twitch, the continuation of live tl;dr posts of the official Trion streams, an increase in media and much more. To accomplish these goals there will be a period of site wide silence until this Thursday's live stream from Trion.

I'd like to take a moment to thank the staff at Trion Worlds for granting me access to the Alpha. It would have been impossible to maintain a steady stream of updates without it. I would also like to thank Bikeman for being the first person to bring the game to my attention, and Nekrage for the vast amount of time put into his informational streams and videos. Last but not least I want to thank you the visitor!

Hold on tight, because the fun is just about to begin.

Next stream set for 4/24

I'll be giving away a copy of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag & Splinter Cell Blacklist (Both UPlay) during this Thursday's stream. Stop by for details later this week.

Happy Holidays!

Giveaway!

During the next official stream for ArcheAge, we'll be giving away a UPlay code for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag & Splintercell Blacklist! Be sure to stop by during the next stream for your dose of tl;dr, and possibly walk away with 2 free games!

Livestream begins!

7:02p - Begin discussing skills/classes. I would like to mention that I previously said this stream's topic would be crafting but may have misread it.

Can change skills at any time. Skill cap is at level 50. Princess of Nui statues can help change skill set.

Hearts floating above character heads signifies being in a protected area.

7:13p

Skills can and will work with skills in their own set, and sets of other classes.

Vocation points can further develop crafting skills.

Firecait doesn't believe you can fail while crafting.

Housing areas are generally not inhabited by mobs.


Q&A Begins

Founders Packs - Coming "soon". "Not very long."

How to enter the alpha - Thread to come to forums. Every week adding people, not a large amount.

Is there a reason for alts? - Only if you want to get on the other faction. It's up to you.

Housing - Patron status to have housing. Can get patron status with cash or with an undetermined method in game. If you lose your Patron status your house will not despawn for 2 weeks.

Do not have to level up with questing. Can level up entirely by crafting.

Will show underwater farming soon.

Composition proficiency, you can compose your own music but your ability to play it comes more with skill progression. Can be made in text files.

Costume slots - (Will update this after rewatching)

EU and NA beta dates will be the same.

No limit on how many mounts you can have.

The further a combat skill is leveled the better chance you have of critting with it.

Several hundred people in alpha.

Crafting recipes are generally already available to you unless it's a unique type item.

No costume slots for your weapon.

PvP death doesnt drop items unless it is a trade pack.

You will start with any founder's pack items. Including in beta.

Modified class list will be coming out soon.

World gate's allow for mass teleportation.

Crafting levels and class levels are seperate.

2 Scarecrows to a character.

Guilds are faction locked.

Character wipes are only for the end of alpha and beta.

Alpha access will run through beta.

Can craft vehicles.

No limit to amount of ships or pets.

ArcheAge will be out in 2014 for sure according to Scapes.

No shared banking unless exchanging items in a house.

3 Alpha invites given away.

End of Stream


Edit: This official forum post has additional information that I wasn't able to include. Credit to official forum user evepalfreeman.

Will be doing a live tl;dr for the 4PM stream today.

ArcheAge Caption Contest

Caption a photo and try and win an alpha key.


Click here.

"The client currently supports fullscreen and windowed but not windowed fullscreen"

-@Scapes

Source

All 120 Class Names as posted but official forums user Bakemono

Click Here

Evan “Scapes” Berman ‏@Scapes  

@CohhCarnage Hello! You'll see us lurking Twitch streams often, may even have #ArcheAge Alpha invites we'll personally raffle to viewers.

Tweeted at about 4 PM EST

Every class. Every skill. Courtesy of Nekrage of The Oran'Thul

Will Trion or the players control the costs in the cash shop?

"We decide what's in it and at what price, simple as that." 

- @Scapes Sr. Community Relations Manager

Sounds like I'm being curt, but this is the answer. See source for further details.

Source

11 Common Class Combos

AA forum user Forestcrow made an excellent tl;dr type of post regarding some of the most common class combinations played in the korean version. Take a look.

Housing updates from Trion Worlds

On April 8th 2014 Trion Worlds held a stream focusing specifically of NA ArcheAge housing. Many of the features are detailed in page at the bottom of this post but some highlights that may not have been addressed directly that I took notice of. The tl;dr of the video they provided goes something like this:

• The group lays down a building using an item from their inventory in what seems to be a public neighborhood within the NA Alpha. (Skip to this in their video)

• After placing the site, it is not immediately built. By clicking on the site, it will display the materials required to complete this location. Other information provided includes the taxes on the home, when they are due, the size of the site. The building site is protected for a certain amount of time that was not mentioned. Some of this information is also listed in your inventory. The current estimated time you can go without paying your taxes is 2 weeks. After this, your site vulnerable to attack. 

• Question asked, is it possible to open your own shop? The short answer is no.
  
• As progress is made on your building, it's physical appearance will change to mark its growth.
  
• There will be the ability to provide privileges to other players so they may assist you in building your site. They will not be able to make additions within your home when it is made, but will be able to manipulate the items inside it depending on the privilege given to the person. (Skip to in video)
  
• One of my personal favorites in the housing is just how much leeway you're given to do as you please with the items you can put inside of your home. Specifically there is no grid on the floor when they are placing items, and it seems instead of rotating in a compass style (North, northeast, east, etc.) that ArcheAge provides a much more finite ability to rotate the items, allowing you to customize the look of your home that much more. (Skip to in video)
  
• Question asked, will housing only be available to subscribers? Short answer is if you are a subscriber you may build a house. There will also be methods for F2P players to own homes. Being able to build a home means you have "Patron" status which is acquired by meeting either of those requirements.
  
• What happens when there is no more housing space? You will either need to seek a more satisfactory spot for your home on another server, or share a home with other players.
  
• The more homes you own, the higher your taxes will be. For example if John is building his first home, it costs 6 gold. If John were to build an identical home as his second home, he would pay more than 6 gold because he already owns 1 property.
  
• Homes are generally located near vendors.
  
• Every home will be allotted a certain of amount of land.

Sources:

https://www.archeagegame.com/en/news/2014/04/archeage-feature-guide-housing-and-farms/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_TMl3a3Pf4