AION Classic’s2.7 update adds a new class for fans of the MMORPG. The new class, known as the Revenant, is a mid-ranged fighter boasting extendable chain-sword weapons. TheMMORPG’s new addition promises to shake up group dynamics inAION’s PvPvE structure and comes accompanied by fresh content including a brand-new starting zone.
The 2.7 Update is available now in AION Classic Europe, a version of the game published by Gameforge.
Game Rant recently spoke with Ahn Jinho, NCSOFT’s creative design director ofAION Classic, to discuss what went into the creation of Revenants and their starting zone, Telos. Part of our discussion also detailed the unique advantages, weaknesses, and lore behind the vengeful new fighters.
Medium Distance Damage Dealers
In long-running MMORPGs, injecting a new class is always a major undertaking, as new playstyles and abilities inevitably shake up pre-existing group dynamics. Fortunately, NCSOFT had a clear vision in mind for their twice-awakened Daeva:
“We envisioned a fresh style for the Revenant with the needs of a melee class wielding extended melee weapons as default equipment. Differentiating the Revenant’s basic combat style from other classes, players need to control their distance to the target, causing various abnormal statuses to the target.”
When designing the Revenant, the goal was to reward players who are good at maintaining specific ranges from their targets rather than giving mid-range warriors a flat advantage in engagements. The Revenant also has a potential weakness in its low armor class due to wearing leather armor, but the Revenant’s ability to inflict negative status effects en masse allows them to shine against crowds of enemies. The result is a class that has a relativelyhigh skill ceiling, a specific niche (burning down mobs), and a distinctive play style.
Establishing the Revenant’s Persona
Establishing an identity for the Revenant was a major priority for NCSOFT. One thing that setsAIONapart from other traditionalMMORPG storytellingis the wealth of personalized lore behind individual character classes.
“An integral and essential part we enforce when we come up with a new class is the instantly recognizable personality and identity of the class. The chained-sword that extends and the red aura when their gauge fully charges represent the identity and characteristics of the Revenant.”
Revenant’s distinctive, brooding characteristics reflectthe class’s lore. Revenants are Daeva who have been tortured, stripped of their wings, and brainwashed by Tiamat, only to regroup with their allies and reawaken as Daeva once again. The chains-and-leather motif speaks of their prior torment, while simultaneously providing a visual identity for the class, and the lurid red glow that accumulates as they fight will speak to players seeking an edgy, anime-esque power fantasy.
Players can explore the Revenant class' story in a brand-new starting zone, Telos, and a new instance, Sunken Telos, where players can learn of the Revenant’s reawakening as they advance on a separate new instance, the Red Throne. The latter instance pits players against shadows of the past and reveals a dark secret that Tiamat would prefer to keep hidden. Originally, the two zones were envisioned as a single instance but were later split to offer playersa hardcore experience(Red Throne) and something more casual-friendly (Sunken Telos).
Challenges Involving Revenant Animations
While the Revenant class has come together nicely, it had its share ofdevelopment hurdles. One sticking point was fine-tuning the animations for weapon attacks.
“SinceAIONdamage gets calculated before the animation of action gets done, we spent a lot of time resolving artistic issues such as the weapon not coordinating correctly with the target or excessive distortions in the upper or lower body while moving.”
Chain-swords fall on the more fanciful side of the fantasy weapon spectrum, meaning real-world references are sparse, but establishing the perception of impactful attacks is crucial for both player satisfaction and fairness in PvP. Now, the class is in a good place. The team was able to resolve these issues, as well as aprogression-blocking bugin Telos, thanks to ample feedback fromAION Classic’s player community.
