Calling it an “essential part of the game,” grouping is this week’s focus over at Ashes of Creation.
Ashes of Creation’s team is currently planning for a default group size of eight, saying that this brings back the “massively” to the genre and “amplifies” class roles. Loot rules will be pretty traditional compared to what you’d find in most MMOs, although the team is considering adding a bidding system as well.
To help with the creation of more well-rounded groups, the team will empower players to choose “augments” that allow for more diversification in addition to their main role. Think of a DPSer having some debuff abilities or a healer that adds some buffing skills.
“We want to allow for well-rounded parties to be rewarded for diversity and inclusion when people are determining party composition,” the devs wrote.
But when group dynamics break down, there’s always PVP arenas to hash out any hard feelings. The team showed off some pre-alpha footage that is coming soon to a convention near you.
“Here is a preview of some of the arenas that will be playable at PAX Prime this September,” the team said. “We will be offering players for the first time the ability to play four of our primary archetypes in a PvP setting, as well as, a separate dungeon PvE experience showing caravans and node developments ending with a boss fight!”
