Hybrid combat

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Ranger hybrid combat in Alpha-2.[1]

Our desire has always and continues to be how we can create a mixture of tab target abilities and skill-shot oriented positional, directional-based ability usage and make something cohesive in that design. And I think that what we're achieving with that regard may not fully feel like an action-oriented game, but we've always intended to be more hybrid-oriented, leaning towards tab target. So you're going to see a mixture of abilities that require the targets and that don't; and then you're going to have an option as the player's perspective to utilize an action camera mode, which utilizes a soft target lock feature and our reticle.[2] – Steven Sharif

Hard-locked friendly player target.[3]

Hybrid combat refers to the choice between tab and action combat in Ashes of Creation.[2][4][5][6][7][8] A toggle button (default Z, but can be re-bound to another key) allows the player to switch between action and tab combat modes.[2][9][10][11][12]

  • The action mode camera is tied to the to the player's reticle (crosshair).[2][13][14]
    • There will likely be a hotkey that when held down will allow free camera movement in action mode.[14]
    • In future the user will have the ability to choose from different reticle appearances.[15]
  • Targeted skills require either a soft or hard locked target.[2][13]
    • Soft locking is when the reticle moves over a valid target while in action mode. The targeting plate will appear slightly grayed out to indicate that this is a soft-lock target. If the reticle moves away from the target or the target moves away from the reticle, the target is lost.[13]
    • Hard locking is when the player uses right-mouse on a soft-locked target in action mode, or when the player selects a valid target in tab mode. The targeting plate will not be grayed-out to indicate that a hard-lock target is selected. Unlike soft locking, if the target moves out of the reticle, the target is not lost. Tab will still cycle between hard-locked targets in action mode based on proximity priority.[16][13]
Q: Is the development team moving away from action combat, or is action combat more prevalent with the melee classes, and the healing/range classes are more tab-target other than AoE spells?
A: We have not moved away from our hybrid approach to the development of Ashes of Creation's combat; and specifically to reiterate: that approach is incorporating elements of skill shots, fast and reactive gameplay that is situationally relevant, and incorporates the camera mode of both tab-targeting as well as action combat reticle. That's something that is still in progress. We haven't moved away from that however. To note, our approach of that hybridization is going to incorporate things like templated skill-shots, directionally relevant activated abilities, along with the ability to dodge to roll projectiles that can impact collision. Those are elements of action combat that are present.[19] – Steven Sharif

Templated and targeted versions of skills will have different characteristics.[20][9][21][22][23]

Skill progressions, skill point allocation is determined by the player. The player will be able to choose either more tab-target oriented skills or more action-based skills and customize their playable experience to what accommodates their preference. From a balancing standpoint for us developers, we need to make sure that certain abilities house certain functions so that there's a balance between skill shots and tab-target abilities.[22] – Steven Sharif
  • Targeted skills will be greyed out if the target is not within a valid range but templated skills will generally require the player to assess the correct range for the skill.[24]
info-orange.pngSome of the following information has not been recently confirmed by the developers and may not be on the current development roadmap.
  • It may not be possible to be able to fully spec into just action or tab targeted skills. There might be a 75% cap on choosing skills from any one type.[22]
  • For the purposes of balance, certain skill types will be either tab or action oriented skills.[26]
    • Hard CCs may be housed in action oriented skills because they are skill shots that are more difficult to land.[26][22]
    • Softer CC's would be housed in tab-targeted abilities.[26]
As an example: Let's say you're playing a ranged class. You could have an action-oriented power shot in your skill tree or you could have a single target power shot that ramps up and does more damage.[23] – Steven Sharif

Targeted skills

Targeted skills require either a soft or hard locked target.[24][13]

  • Soft locking is when the reticle moves over a valid target while in action mode. The targeting plate will appear slightly grayed out to indicate that this is a soft-lock target. If the reticle moves away from the target or the target moves away from the reticle, the target is lost.[13].
  • Hard locking is when the player uses right-mouse on a soft-locked target in action mode, or when the player selects a valid target in tab mode. The targeting plate will not be grayed-out to indicate that a hard-lock target is selected. Unlike soft locking, if the target moves out of the reticle, the target is not lost. Tab will still cycle between hard-locked targets in action mode based on proximity priority.[16][13]
  • Targeted skills will be greyed out if the target is not within a valid range.[24]
  • The developers will be testing additional targeting methods, such as target-of-target as well as separate friendly and enemy targets, most likely during Alpha-2.[28]
Skill Icon Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3
Arcane Volley Arcane Volley (Active).png Fires a volley of arcane missiles at your target, dealing arcane damage with each hit.[29][30] - -
Barrage Barrage.png Fires a continual barrage of arrows at your target for 1.5 seconds, dealing 15% physical damage per arrow.[31]
Barrier Barrier.png Sacrifice 25% of your maximum health to place a health shield on target ally for 10 seconds. Does not stack.[32][33]
Bless Weapon Flash Cure.png Imbues your target's weapon with radiant light, causing each of their weapon combo attacks to deal additional radiant damage and applies a mana regeneration buff to the caster. Each hit extends the duration of the mana regeneration buff, up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Has a 10% chance to proc bonus radiant damage and apply a stack of Burning to the target.[34][35]
Chain Lightning Chain Lightning (Active).png Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to all nearby enemies from that target, dealing lightning damage and applying 3 stacks of Electrified to each target hit.[36][37][38] - -
Condemn Condemn.png Stun target enemy for 3 seconds.[39][40]
Defiant Light Defiant Light.png Heal target ally for 50% of their maximum health over 10 seconds. If that target would receive fatal damage while under this effect, this effect is consumed and prevents that target's death, healing them for 25% of their maximum health instead.[41][42]
Deliverance Deliverance.png Held ability: Charges up healing energy that heals a target ally upon release, scaling in power the longer it is charged and the more % missing health of the target.[43][44]
Fireball Fireball (Active).png Instantly hurl a ball of fire toward your target, dealing fire damage and applying 1 stack of Burning to target on impact. Burning deals periodic fire damage over time for each stack applied. When the target reaches 5 stacks, they become Conflagrated, dealing extreme fire damage over time. Hitting a conflagrating enemy with a lightning spell causes Fusion, dealing significant damage and removing the Conflagrated effect.[45] - -
Frostbolt Frostbolt (Active).png Launch a bolt of frost towards your target, dealing ice damage and applying 2 Chilled stacks to the target on impact. Chilled reduces movement speed of the target for each stack applied. When the target reaches 5 stacks, they become Frozen, rooting them in place for the duration. Hitting a frozen enemy with a lightning spell causes them to Shatter, dealing significant damage and removing the Frozen effect.[46][47] - -
Healing Touch Healing Touch.png Heal target ally in melee range for a large amount of health.[48][49]
Judgment Judgment Icon2.png Cast a heal on target ally for a large amount of health. If this is cast on an enemy, it instead deals radiant damage to the target and applies 2 stacks of Burning.[50][51]
Lightning Strike Lightning Strike (Active).png Held ability: Charge up a bolt of lightning to unleash upon your target, dealing lightning damage and applying 2 stacks of Electrified to the target. This deals additional damage based on how long it was charged. Electrified reduces the target's magical mitigation for each stack applied. When the target reaches 10 stacks, all Electrified stacks are consumed and they become temporarily Shocked. Whenever a Shocked enemy takes damage, they take additional damage and 1 stack of Shocked is consumed. Shocked is initially applied with 20 stacks.[52][53] - -
Longbow basic attack Bow basic attack.png A slower, powerful, longer range basic ranged attack. Tapping the basic attack button will shoot normally. Holding the basic attack button will charge the shot (and root the player) to cause added damage.[54][55][56]
Mend Mend.png Instantly launch a healing projectile toward target ally. Each charge of this ability consumed after the first has no mana cost, and restores an increasing amount of mana to the caster based on the number of missing charges. Consecutive uses of the ability will gain bonus healing.[57][58]
Protect Intercept attacks that strike your friendly nearby target, redirecting half of the damage taken to you. Must be within 10ys to Protect. If this range is exceeded for more than 5 seconds, the effect ends.[59]
Quick Shot Quick Shot.png Ranged attack that applies a debuff to the target. Each additional quickshot against the same target does increasing damage but consumes one of three charges that regenerate over time.[60]
Resplendent Beam Resplendent Beam.png Held ability: Fire a beam of healing energy toward a target ally. Charging this spell allows the beam to bounce to up to 5 additional friendly targets closest to the original target, based on how long it was charged. The amount of healing is reduced for each subsequent target.[61][62]
Shortbow basic attack Bow basic attack.png A fast, low power, short range basic ranged attack. Holding down the basic attack button will repeatedly fire.[55][56]
Slam Slam your target with immense force, knocking them back. Applies 10 stagger. Deals 500% additional threat.[63]
Slumber Slumber (Active).png Applies the sleeping condition to targets affected within a small area around the primary target, rendering them unable to move or take any action. Any damage dealt to a sleeping target will break the effect. Duration is reduced by 20% for each additional target hit, to a minimum of 40% of base duration.[64][65][66] - -
Smite Smite.png Smite your target, dealing instant damage and applying a stack of Burning to target enemy. Has no cast time and deals increased damage if activated within melee range of the target. This attack always critically hits on targets under the effect of Condemn.[39][67]
Snipe Snipe.png A powerful charged attack.[68]
Soothing Glow Soothing Glow.png Apply a healing over time effect to target ally. Reapplying this effect extends its duration on the target by its base duration value.[69][70]
Wings of Salvation Wings of Salvation.png Sprout phoenix-like wings and leap to target ally, then grant a small amount of temporary health to that target on arrival.[71][72] An ally is defined as any non-combatant player or non-mob NPC.[73]

Indirect fire skills

Alpha-2 Chain Lightning arcing around an environmental obstacle.[74]

Indirect fire skills are targeted skills where the projectiles may path around obstructions that are not in line-of-sight, so long as the maximum distance travelled for the skill is not exceeded.[75][74][76]

  • This is a prototype concept that is subject to testing and balancing.[76]
  • A limited number of these may exist throughout different class kits.[76]
Some abilities might have indirect fire. So, if you have let's say a Archer or Ranger who has the ability to select a Mage as their secondary class; and they might want to augment a Snipe ability in order to go around a corner like an Arcane Archer might have... Some abilities might not care about that line-of-sight. They might care the distance to the target around the corner, or the path that it's taking; and if it's outside that path is too long it might not be able to reach them of course.[75] – Steven Sharif
Skill Icon Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3
Chain Lightning Chain Lightning (Active).png Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to all nearby enemies from that target, dealing lightning damage and applying 3 stacks of Electrified to each target hit.[36][37][38] - -

Templated skills

Templated skills allow blind firing (free aim) without a target while in action mode. If a player moves into the path of the attack they can be struck.[17][18][13]

One of the differences between tab and action combat mode is you can launch projectiles in action combat mode as a blind fire option, and if a target or if something moves in the way between the time of that projectile launching and impacting either its max distance, or a piece of terrain, or another target, it's possible that players might move into that projectile.[18] – Steven Sharif
  • Some templated skills may have template indicators, but in general will require the player to assess the correct range for the skill.[24]
If it is a templated ability, which means it's skill-based to use, you'll need to get a feel for those distances; and that's some skill-based learning where you get an idea for what those distances are. Some of those will have template indicators but they'll be very in-world and immersive. We're not utilizing more UI-centric looking indicators, but generally the AoE templates are meant to be skill-based.[24] – Steven Sharif
Skill Icon Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3
Air Strike Air Strike New.png Leap a great distance forward and into the air while firing three projectiles in a line along the path, each dealing area damage and inflicting snare to targets hit. Enemies already snared will become briefly rooted.[78] The root effect is nature based.[79]
Ball Lightning Lightning ball.png Creates a large ball of highly charged electricity that travels slowly forward, dealing rapid periodic lightning damage to enemies it overlaps with and applying 1 Electrified stack to targets with each hit.[80][81][82] - -
Blizzard Blizzard.png Channel a massive blizzard around you, raining a barrage of hail shards upon your enemies while channeling. Each shard impact deals ice damage in a small area around it. All enemies in the blizzard also acquire 1 stack of Chilled periodically. Activate the ability again to end the channel early.[80][83][84] - -
Cone of Cold Cone of Ice.png Blasts a cone of cold in front of the caster, dealing ice damage and applying a stack of Chilled to each enemy hit. The blast also leaves behind a field of ice mines that explode on proximity contact, causing ice damage and 1 Chilled stack to nearby enemies when triggered.[80][85][86] - -
Consecrating Wave Consecrating Wave.png Send forth a cone of radiance that deals radiant damage to all enemies while healing the ten nearest allies.[87][88]
Divine Flare Divine Flare.png Place a targeted area heal on the ground that heals all targets within after several seconds. Total healing is split between all targets hit.[89][90]
Fissure Mage Spell 7.png Calls forth a series of jagged spikes of earth in a line in front of the caster, dealing earth damage and applying two stacks of Earthen to each enemy hit along its path, and then launching them in the air.[91] - -
Grapple GrappleIcon.png Takes aim for a moment before hurling a hooked chain in a line, damaging the first target it contacts and immediately pulling them to the caster. The target suffers a tapering snare for 3 seconds.[92][93]
Headshot Headshot.png Deals 200% physical damage to target enemy. Deals 50% bonus physical damage if the target is below 50% Health. Cooldown is halved if it connects with a marked target.[94]
Inciting Strikes IncitingStrikesIcon.png Slashes twice in a forward cone while adding additional threat.[95]
Longbow basic attack Bow basic attack.png A slower, powerful, longer range basic ranged attack. Tapping the basic attack button will shoot normally. Holding the basic attack button will charge the shot (and root the player) to cause added damage.[54][55][56]
Magma Field (Lavastorm).png Erupts the earth at target location, forming a boiling pool of lava that deals fire damage to enemies per tick while periodically applying a stack of Burning to enemies within the area.[96] - -
Meteor (Meteor Shower).png Conjures a massive flaming rock before sending it hurling toward target location. Upon impact, it deals major fire damage while knocking foes flying, and then continues to roll forward for its remaining distance, dealing additional fire damage while applying stacks of Burning to enemies along its path.[97] - -
Meteor Storm Meteor Storm Icon.jpg Summons forth a Meteor Storm, dropping 3 meteors in the target location.[98][99][100] Adds an extra meteor.[98][101] Adds an extra meteor.[98][101]
Piercing Shot Piercing Shot.png Fire a projectile that travels in a straight line, piercing through and damaging all enemies in its path.[102]
Prismatic Beam Prismatic Beam Icon.jpg Spawns a giant prismatic beam of energy that can be aimed around you. Deals large damage to enemy targets.[103][99][104] Increased damage.[103][105] Snares hit targets.[103][106][105]
Raining Death Raining Death.png Fires a dense rain of arrows 20 meters ahead, dealing high damage. Deals more damage to more distant targets.[107]
Shield Assault ShieldAssaultIcon.png Bashes the target with your shield, dealing damage and applying the shaken condition. If the target is already suffering from the shaken condition, stun the target instead.[108]
Shortbow basic attack Bow basic attack.png A fast, low power, short range basic ranged attack. Holding down the basic attack button will repeatedly fire.[55][56]
Snipe Snipe.png A powerful charged attack.[68]
Thundershock Lightning Bolt Icon.jpg Shoots forward a beam of lightning that damages enemies in a line in front of you.[109][99][110] Increased damage.[109][111] Now knocks down hit targets.[109][111]
Tremoring Bellow TremoringBellowIcon.png Releases a thundering shout in a forward cone, applying the staggered condition on enemy targets. Also stomps the ground dealing damage around the caster and tripping enemies affected by the snared condition.[112]
Vine Field Vine Field.png Summons 3 fields of grabbing vines, one at the target location every .5s for 1.5s. Targets hit are damaged for 10% physical damage and snared for 3s, reducing their movement speed by 40%. Targets that have more than lOs of snare duration are rooted. This effect can only trigger once per target.[113]

Time to kill

info-orange.pngSome of the following information has not been recently confirmed by the developers and may not be on the current development roadmap.

The Ashes of Creation MMORPG will have a time-to-kill (TTK) of around 30 seconds to a minute.[114]

In the MMORPG we really don't want to see any one-shots. The time-to-kill needs to be strategic and tactical.[115] – Steven Sharif

Hitboxes

The developers are testing different approaches to accommodate varying hitboxes between the races.[116]

  • There may be a single unified hitbox with some exceptions or some special collision rules as opposed to having different sized hitboxes.[116]

More than likely we'll have some sort of unified or unified-ish hitbox. But again it's going to probably have a unified hitbox with some exceptions or some special sort of collision rules based on them as opposed to just making it smaller for one and not the other.[116] – Jeffrey Bard

There aren't separate types of hitbox categories in the Ashes of Creation MMORPG as there were in Ashes of Creation Apocalypse.[116]

We don't have separate types of hitbox categories, for example. There's no head hit box in the MMORPG like there was in APOC. So from a critical standpoint you're not going to see a greater risk of critting for a larger hitbox.[116] – Steven Sharif

Headshot mechanics

There are no headshot mechanics in the Ashes of Creation MMORPG.[116][117][118]

Weapon attack cone

Weapon attack cone in Alpha-1.[11]

As I attack I am hitting multiple numbers of these opponents; and that's important because all weapons, regardless of whether you are in reticle mode or tab-targeting mode will be able to have a action-based type weapon attack. Not active skill, but weapon attack.[11] – Steven Sharif

All weapons have a forward attack cone, regardless of being in tab or action mode.[11]

Polearms for example will have a much wider arc and much further out. Daggers will have a more fine-tuned arc, so you have to be more precise in that regard.[11] – Steven Sharif

This is described as a weapon attack not an active skill.[11]

Floating combat text

Alpha-2 Floating combat text work-in-progress UI.[123]

Damage you take, which is indicated in this red number, floats towards your left-hand side; and when you do damage to a target they float to your right-hand side. Now one of the very important aspects of these floating texts is providing the player with customization options that they can adjust the size of the floating text. They can adjust the color composition on how these texts are represented. They can also include damage icons to indicate the ability that's used for those floating texts; and importantly we also call out the crits that you do in a separate way: how they pop in they're slightly above the other number; and then more so, we also have additional functionality for cumulative damage.[123] – Steven Sharif

Floating combat text shows damage taken, damage dealt, cumulative damage, crits, heals, XP gained, and other important combat indicators.[123]

  • Damage taken appears in red and floats to the left.[123]
  • Damage dealt appears in yellow and floats to the right.[123]
  • Crits appear larger and are slightly above the other numbers.[123]
  • XP appears in white and is slightly lower on the UI.[123]

Floating combat text is able to be customized by the player.[123][124]

Providing maximum flexibility and player customization options for these floating texts I think is super important.[123] – Steven Sharif

Combat revamp

Alpha-1 split-body melee weapon combat sneak peek.[125]

I can move while swinging on this guy. I can back up then continue to attack him. Just have complete control over my character while attacking.[125] – Steven Sharif

A revamped combat system will be rolled out during and post Alpha-1 testing based on player feedback.[126][127][128]

The revamped combat system will feature split-body animations, where the character's upper body can be locked by weapon attack animations while the lower body is free to continue moving.[125][133][134]

You'll be able to move forward while swinging your weapon; and this will allow you complete control over your weapon attacks for melee.[125] – Steven Sharif

Alpha-1 combat was focused on core functionality rather than combat balance.[134] Alpha-2 combat will include archetypes, significant ability support, augments, split-body combat, weapon attacks, and many additional items, among other things.[135]

Alpha-1 combat

Alpha-1 early hybrid combat demo.[11]

You'll notice as I go into action mode, I have my reticle and when my reticle hovers over an enemy target, it'll turn red, essentially showing like "hey we know you have a valid target hit" that you can see; and when you press Q you can lock on to that target. You can also hold Tab to alternate between targets. So like that's an important aspect of the combat that we're trying to incorporate, which is mixing and meshing between tab and action, so you still have that action component but also are available to use some of your tab targeted skills.[7] – Steven Sharif

Hybrid combat was tested in Alpha-1.[7][21]

  • A toggle button (default Z, but can be re-bound to another key) allows the player to switch between action and tab targeted combat modes.[9][10][11][12]
  • The action mode utilizes a targeting reticle and is very close to a third-person action game.[7][11][12][137]
    • The player does not have to be in reticle mode to use an action combat ability.[138]
    If you use an action combat ability that's going to be directional focused, you do not have to be in reticle mode to use that. It will fire where that reticle would be. So if you play by feel and you're in tab target camera mode, you can still utilize your action-oriented skills and abilities.[138] – Steven Sharif
    • The reticle will highlight/change color (to red) to indicate if the current target is able to be hit with the currently prepared skill.[7][11]
    • Action combat abilities will not have a lock-on feature but pressing Q while in action mode will lock on to the current target to enable the use of tab-oriented skills in action mode.[9][7]
    Action combat abilities will not have a lock-on feature so to speak. Some of those are going to be skill shot only. However because you can have a mix and match of tab abilities that require a target, you will be able to target lock in action mode as well. Right now that's delegated to the Q key as default, but you can obviously set that up you could put it on your left mouse button, or you could put it wherever you want; and when your reticle hovers over a target, it rapidly swaps your target ability and when you press your target lock it will then lock that target; and if you have tab-oriented skills, you can use your tab oriented skills and they will be used against that target.[9] – Steven Sharif
    • Holding Tab while in action mode will alternate between targets.[7]
    • Pressing right-click while in action mode will switch to tab mode for the currently highlighted target.[11]
  • The tab mode (MMO mode) facilitates tab targeted combat.[11][12] A tab-targeted ability requires a target in order to utilize that skill.[9][137]
    • Pressing left-click in tab mode will attack the target (with the currently selected weapon).[11]
    • There will be a "target of target" capability on the user interface.[139]

Combat abilities

The aspiration for combat is for abilities to have corresponding counter-play abilities.[140]

  • The goal is to have special animations for parrying, blocking and evading.[141]

They can be a challenge to implement sort of really reliably so you might not see them on every evasion or every block, but we do want that stuff to show up.[141] – Jeffrey Bard

Crowd control

Crowd control (CC/mezzing) abilities include root, snare, stun, sleep and slow.[142][140]

Diminishing returns in regards to crowd control and conditions like stun and sleep and slows and that thing: Yes we will have absolutely diminishing returns. I think it's a necessary component to balance out classes that have high control ability.[140] – Steven Sharif

We're trying to stay away from hard locks as much as we possibly can. We want to have the system be very play, counter-play, counter-counter-play feel.[140] – Jeffrey Bard

  • Soft CC's are in the tab-targeted abilities.[146]
  • CC effects do not apply to Non-combatant (green) players. The target of a CC ability must be flagged in order to suffer the CC effects. This prevents players from opening attacks that stun non-combatant players during a pull for example.[147]
  • Some crowd-control abilities can dismount a mounted player. In that case the mount would persist with its own health pool and other stats.[148]
    • In current Alpha-1 testing mounts are not separate from the player.[148]

There's also going to be effects that just stun the mount or stun you on the mount.[148] – Steven Sharif

info-orange.pngThis section contains information from early testing phases. It will be updated as soon as new information is made available.
Skill Icon Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3
Air Strike Air Strike New.png Leap a great distance forward and into the air while firing three projectiles in a line along the path, each dealing area damage and inflicting snare to targets hit. Enemies already snared will become briefly rooted.[78] The root effect is nature based.[79]
Ancestral Bolas Throws a magical web of bolas at the target location. All enemies within are snared and build additional hate towards the tank every second. Enemies entering or exiting the radius will be tripped.[150]
Chain Lightning Chain Lightning (Active).png Release a powerful streak of lightning that hits your primary target and then chains outward to all nearby enemies from that target, dealing lightning damage and applying 3 stacks of Electrified to each target hit.[36][37][38] - -
Chains of Restraint Chains of Restraint Icon2.png Call forth spectral chains in a target area that stagger enemies within or stun enemies already under the staggered effect, then leave behind an area that deals radiant damage each second over 8 seconds.[151][152]
Condemn Condemn.png Stun target enemy for 3 seconds.[39][40]
Fissure Mage Spell 7.png Calls forth a series of jagged spikes of earth in a line in front of the caster, dealing earth damage and applying two stacks of Earthen to each enemy hit along its path, and then launching them in the air.[91] - -
Grapple GrappleIcon.png Takes aim for a moment before hurling a hooked chain in a line, damaging the first target it contacts and immediately pulling them to the caster. The target suffers a tapering snare for 3 seconds.[92][93]
Slam Slam your target with immense force, knocking them back. Applies 10 stagger. Deals 500% additional threat.[63]
Slumber Slumber (Active).png Applies the sleeping condition to targets affected within a small area around the primary target, rendering them unable to move or take any action. Any damage dealt to a sleeping target will break the effect. Duration is reduced by 20% for each additional target hit, to a minimum of 40% of base duration.[64][65][66] - -
Tremoring Bellow TremoringBellowIcon.png Releases a thundering shout in a forward cone, applying the staggered condition on enemy targets. Also stomps the ground dealing damage around the caster and tripping enemies affected by the snared condition.[112]

Directional attacks

There will be directional attacks (back attacks, flanking attacks, frontal attacks) that deal additional damage depending on the positional context of the attack.[153]

Mobility

Revamped Alpha-1 Mage Fireball ability.[129][128]

The general approach that we're taking based on a lot of feedback and just good combat design in general. You know philosophy is that we want to give more agency in the hands of the player and the antithesis of that is locking the player down for really long amounts of time. The sort of concept behind that is like you could make an animation effects as glorious looking as possible but if it's taking away control of the player, none of that really matters. Especially the 100th or thousandth time you're using the spell you're tired of that happening you don't feel powerful: You feel the opposite of powerful. So we're trying to like give a lot of control back to the player while they're using these abilities so they can still control their movements, they can react simultaneously while they're taking actions; and we just want to get overall more of a fluid flow, I guess, of combat. And that's the general design philosophy we're using to approach the overhaul.[129] – Tradd Thompson

A lot of abilities you have the capability of moving while casting. It's going to decrease your movement speed significantly or depending on the type of ability. We do reserve the cost- and that's really what it is when you tie ability usage to mobility- we do reserve the cost of requiring the character to remain stationary on some big effect type abilities.[154] – Steven Sharif
  • Most abilities in Ashes of Creation are capable of being cast while moving. Some abilities may slow the caster down during the cast, but only rarely will the player be rooted in place.[154][156]
Most abilities you'll find in Ashes of Creation are capable of being cast while moving. Some of those abilities might slow your movement during the cast, but you can continue to move. Very rarely, and depending on obviously the importance of the ability or the power level of that ability, you might be rooted in place. So, for example, the AoE ability [Chains of Restraint] has a lot going on. It has damage ticking over time, it is an area of effect, it also has a status condition application; and in those instances the player character gets rooted.[156] – Steven Sharif
  • The ability to prone is not be in the game.[161][162]
There's a balance in the game design between your movement speed on attack and the movement speed of your opponent. When you have a game that is both PvE centric as well as PvP centric, you have to make sure that combat is blended for both approaches; and we can always run into problems where, if you're significantly hampered in your movement speed, that has an effect on how we expect player versus player engagements to interact; and we don't want to restrict a player's ability to be mobile if they're the target of an attack. And as a result of that we need to make sure that we don't restrict the movement abilities of the player who is doing the attacking as well. So we want it to be relatively free for you to stay with each other. Your opponents move around the battlefield together and if we're hampering you on the attack action, we have to then implement some type of snare, or slow, or cc effect essentially on your opposing target; and that's not the approach we want to take for for PvP.[164] – Steven Sharif
Q: If a ranger is super mobile, what are the melee's options in order to catch them?
A: Different class kits will provide different gap closers. They'll provide different mobility skills. They'll have lockdowns. They'll have chains to pull back. They'll have a lot of different things in the rotation. That's part of what an MMORPG experience is. You're not just restricted to three or six skills, you have a rotational suite; and depending on the type of challenges you face is going to help determine which of those rotations you spec into from your skill tree.[165] – Steven Sharif
info-orange.pngThis section contains information from early testing phases. It will be updated as soon as new information is made available.
Skill Icon Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3
Air Strike Air Strike New.png Leap a great distance forward and into the air while firing three projectiles in a line along the path, each dealing area damage and inflicting snare to targets hit. Enemies already snared will become briefly rooted.[78] The root effect is nature based.[79]
Blink Blink.png Instantly teleport a set distance in the direction you are moving.[166][167] - -
Caravan Speed Boost Speed Boost.png Gives the caravan a temporary speed boost.[168] - -
Caravan Trail Speed Bonus Trail Speed Bonus.png Minor speed boost for travelling on a simple trail.[169] - -
Rush rush icon.png Rush toward a target; and upon reaching the target, deal an amount damage with a chance to knock the target down.[170] - -
Wings of Salvation Wings of Salvation.png Sprout phoenix-like wings and leap to target ally, then grant a small amount of temporary health to that target on arrival.[71][72] An ally is defined as any non-combatant player or non-mob NPC.[73]

Player movement

Walking and running shown in pre-alpha gameplay.[171]
  • Sprinting will consume a percentage of a character's mana pool. Sprinting will not be permitted while in combat.[172]
    • A sprinting/dash skill with a cooldown was confirmed to be part of a class kit.[173]
I've instructed design to incorporate a mana consumption that's percentage based for sprinting. So it'll be a similar amount of time that each class, regardless of their mana values, will have in order to sprint and it will not be accessible while in a combat.[172] – Steven Sharif
  • There is a toggleable walk/run (autorun) capability.[174]
  • There is not going to be any "go to waypoint" (auto-pathing) mechanics.[175]

Collision

There are player and spell collision mechanics in Ashes of Creation.[179]

  • Inertia and momentum physics will help prevent blocking doorways/access points. This is based on a character's direction and movement speed, and can be used to push people out of the way.[180][179]

Dodging

Dodging in Alpha-1 early combat.[182]

Another thing that's important about these action combats is the ability to dodge and moving out of the way of certain skill shots.[182] – Steven Sharif

Evasion moves such as dodging and weaving will be present in Ashes of Creation combat.[183][184][185]

So you see an animation windup that's a telegraph on what's coming; and then you have response actions that you can take as a result of that in order to dodge, weave, move, do whatever. It is both a combination of what your rotation is but also how you have reaction abilities ready to go that you save for certain circumstances that are important.[184] – Steven Sharif

Active blocking

Tank active blocking with a Shield in Alpha-2.[189]

The shield version would probably be better but you'd still be able to parry or whatnot with a two-handed weapon, or even maybe a dual wield.[190] – Tradd Thompson

Cleric active blocking with a Shield in Alpha-2.[191]

Active blocking is a universal skill that applies to all classes.[192][183][193][190][186]

Active blocking might be an ability that- it's universal, of course it's universal- but it might be consuming mana; and you'll be able to adjust that mana consumption based off of your passive spec into your skill trees. In addition, it might also consume stamina, where that's something we're going to be testing as part of Alpha-2.[193] – Steven Sharif
Q: How are you designing encounters around active blocking? Will it be situational use, or would I expect to be laying on my block keybind for most of the fight to prevent getting deleted by bosses?
A: It depends really on the type of adversary you're facing. Some of them are going to have indicators or tells that a big attack is coming. It's an animation wind up where you'll have an opportunity to use active block in very unique situations that are based on timing and additional mitigation for those incoming one-off attacks. In other occasions you'll be able to use it off of rotational cooldowns, or if you're waiting for a particular ability or you're during the use of your Aegis. There's different situations for when active block is a relevant use-case.[195] – Steven Sharif
  • Some abilities may be able to overcome, surpass, or cancel active blocking.[192]
If a player is in a state, such as an active block, or an active tumble state, there will likely be some types of abilities that interact with reacting to those types of states and will either overcome surpass or cancel out those states, particularly as it relates to not just active blocking, but also potentially passive blocking as well; and that would be something probably related to physical penetration values as a stat, or even CC breaks that could be relevant as well for those types of things. I think that's on the radar for the combat team.[192] – Steven Sharif
  • Previously the developers had not finalized designs for active blocking and were leaning toward using more traditional buff-oriented universal damage mitigation for the MMO, and were also considering interaction between action-based blocking and a passive block stat.[196][197]

Interrupts

Abilities with a cast bar can be interrupted during the cast.[158]

  • There are abilities to counter interrupts.
  • Some interrupts are better than others.
info-orange.pngThis section contains information from Alpha-1 testing. It will be updated when new information is made available.
Skill Icon Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3
Bulwark Bulwark Icon.jpg Bash enemies in front of you twice. The second attack temporarily increases block chance. You must have a shield equipped to block.[199][99][200][201] Additional increased block chance.[199][201] The second attack knocks down enemies.[199][201]
Rush rush icon.png Rush toward a target; and upon reaching the target, deal an amount damage with a chance to knock the target down.[170] - -
Thundershock Lightning Bolt Icon.jpg Shoots forward a beam of lightning that damages enemies in a line in front of you.[109][99][110] Increased damage.[109][111] Now knocks down hit targets.[109][111]

Animation cancelling

Animation cancelling will not be a combat mechanic in Ashes of Creation.[202][203]

Combat stances

The use of weapon stances in game is likely.[204]

RNG

RNG elements pertain to combat relating to stats such as Critical hit, Evasion, Blocking chance.[205]

RNG is always going to play a role in Ashes of Creation whether that be in PvP or PvE, but one way to mitigate that is through the action system. The action system is going to be far less sort of dependent on those dice rolls and there'll be far more in your own hands. They won't ever completely eliminate that but it's a way for us to sort of reward skilled play versus sort of tactical strategies type play.[206] – Jeffrey Bard

See also

References

  1. ↑ Video, September 30, 2022 (17:03).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Livestream, April 28, 2023 (53:58).
  3. ↑ Video, May 31, 2023 (11:20).
  4. ↑ Livestream, April 7, 2023 (49:45).
  5. ↑ steven-hybrid.png
  6. ↑ Livestream, August 27, 2021 (1:16:04).
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Livestream, June 25, 2021 (22:34).
  8. ↑ Livestream, November 16, 2017 (30:45).
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Livestream, June 25, 2021 (27:43).
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 steven-combat-revamp-update-2.png
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 Livestream, August 28, 2020 (1:15:39).
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Livestream, April 30, 2020 (1:09:51).
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 Video, September 30, 2022 (17:00).
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Livestream, March 26, 2021 (59:21).
  15. ↑ Livestream, June 25, 2021 (26:11).
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Livestream, September 30, 2022 (49:16).
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Livestream, September 30, 2022 (52:33).
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Livestream, September 30, 2022 (48:10).
  19. ↑ Livestream, August 31, 2023 (2:22:01).
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Livestream, September 30, 2022 (41:06).
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Newsletter, 2018-08-7
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 Livestream, 2018-04-8 (PM) (37:57).
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 Podcast, August 4, 2018 (1:07:59).
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Livestream, January 27, 2023 (1:11:07).
  25. ↑ Livestream, August 28, 2020 (1:12:50).
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 Podcast, August 4, 2018 (1:11:05).
  27. ↑ steven-action-tab-attack-range.png
  28. ↑ Livestream, July 28, 2023 (59:56TpBSGYWxd38).
  29. ↑ New Arcane Volley Description.png
  30. ↑ Video, April 28, 2023 (22:13).
  31. ↑ Barrage Description.png
  32. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (19:50).
  33. ↑ Barrier Info Panel.png
  34. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (14:03).
  35. ↑ Bless Weapon Info Panel.png
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 New Chain Lightning Description.png
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 Video, May 31, 2023 (12:12).
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Video, April 28, 2023 (17:50).
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Video, July 28, 2023 (29:23).
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Condemn Info Panel.png
  41. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (22:12).
  42. ↑ Defiant Light Info Panel.png
  43. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (7:34).
  44. ↑ Deliverance Info Panel.png
  45. ↑ New Fireball Description.png
  46. ↑ New Frostbolt Description.png
  47. ↑ Video, April 28, 2023 (15:35).
  48. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (23:28).
  49. ↑ Healing Touch Info Panel.png
  50. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (15:15).
  51. ↑ Judgment Info Panel.png
  52. ↑ New Lightning Strike Description.png
  53. ↑ Video, April 28, 2023 (13:40).
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 Livestream, September 30, 2022 (26:42).
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 Video, September 30, 2022 (19:32).
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 Video, September 30, 2022 (10:44).
  57. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (5:16).
  58. ↑ Mend Info Panel.png
  59. ↑ Protect Description.png
  60. ↑ Video, September 30, 2022 (16:19).
  61. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (12:04).
  62. ↑ Resplendent Beam Info Panel.png
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Slam Description.png
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 Video, September 29, 2023 (11:23).
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 New Slumber Description.png
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 Video, April 28, 2023 (17:22).
  67. ↑ Smite Info Panel.png
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 Video, September 30, 2022 (14:27).
  69. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (9:22).
  70. ↑ Soothing Glow Info Panel.png
  71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 Video, July 28, 2023 (24:03).
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 Wings of Salvation Info Panel.png
  73. ↑ 73.0 73.1 Video, July 28, 2023 (24:16).
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 Video, April 28, 2023 (20:57).
  75. ↑ 75.0 75.1 Livestream, April 28, 2023 (59:52).
  76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 76.2 steven-indirect-fire.png
  77. ↑ Livestream, April 28, 2023 (55:55).
  78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 78.2 Air Strike Description.png
  79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 Video, September 30, 2022 (15:28).
  80. ↑ 80.0 80.1 80.2 Video, September 29, 2023 (11:29).
  81. ↑ New Ball Lightning Description.png
  82. ↑ Video, April 28, 2023 (7:15).
  83. ↑ New Blizzard Description.png
  84. ↑ Video, April 28, 2023 (9:22).
  85. ↑ New Cone of Cold Description.png
  86. ↑ Video, April 28, 2023 (11:22).
  87. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (17:32).
  88. ↑ Consecrating Wave Info Panel.png
  89. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (18:26).
  90. ↑ Divine Flare Info Panel.png
  91. ↑ 91.0 91.1 Fissure Description.png
  92. ↑ 92.0 92.1 Video, March 31, 2023 (9:55).
  93. ↑ 93.0 93.1 Video, January 27, 2023 (10:27).
  94. ↑ Headshot Description.png
  95. ↑ Video, January 27, 2023 (6:41).
  96. ↑ New Magma Field Description.png
  97. ↑ New Meteor Description.png
  98. ↑ 98.0 98.1 98.2 Alpha-1 screenshot.
  99. ↑ 99.0 99.1 99.2 99.3 99.4 toast-keybinds-skills.png
  100. ↑ Video, December 23, 2020 (1:46).
  101. ↑ 101.0 101.1 Blog: Blazing the way - Mage Alpha One Preview.
  102. ↑ Piercing Shot Description.png
  103. ↑ 103.0 103.1 103.2 Alpha-1 screenshot.
  104. ↑ Video, December 23, 2020 (1:53).
  105. ↑ 105.0 105.1 Livestream, October 16, 2017 (42:42).
  106. ↑ Livestream, July 31, 2020 (1:02:59).
  107. ↑ Raining Death Description.png
  108. ↑ Video, January 27, 2023 (5:07).
  109. ↑ 109.0 109.1 109.2 109.3 109.4 109.5 Alpha-1 screenshot.
  110. ↑ 110.0 110.1 Video, December 23, 2020 (0:40).
  111. ↑ 111.0 111.1 111.2 111.3 Livestream, October 16, 2017 (39:15).
  112. ↑ 112.0 112.1 Video, January 27, 2023 (7:28).
  113. ↑ Vine Field Description.png
  114. ↑ 114.0 114.1 Interview, October 20, 2018 (3:25:46).
  115. ↑ 115.0 115.1 Interview, October 20, 2018 (9:10).
  116. ↑ 116.0 116.1 116.2 116.3 116.4 116.5 Livestream, October 30, 2020 (1:15:59).
  117. ↑ steven-headshots-1.png
  118. ↑ 118.0 118.1 steven-headshots-2.png
  119. ↑ 119.0 119.1 Interview, October 21, 2018 (9:10).
  120. ↑ Interview, October 20, 2018 (3:25:31).
  121. ↑ 121.0 121.1 121.2 Livestream, September 27, 2018 (34:49).
  122. ↑ class cleaving.png
  123. ↑ 123.00 123.01 123.02 123.03 123.04 123.05 123.06 123.07 123.08 123.09 123.10 123.11 Video, June 30, 2022 (16:39).
  124. ↑ 124.0 124.1 Livestream, June 25, 2021 (29:09).
  125. ↑ 125.0 125.1 125.2 125.3 125.4 Livestream, July 30, 2021 (31:22).
  126. ↑ Livestream, May 28, 2021 (1:14:50).
  127. ↑ steven-combat-revamp-update.png
  128. ↑ 128.0 128.1 Video, February 26, 2021 (6:17).
  129. ↑ 129.0 129.1 129.2 129.3 Livestream, February 26, 2021 (27:41).
  130. ↑ Interview, February 7, 2021 (49:18).
  131. ↑ Livestream, July 29, 2022 (1:05:20).
  132. ↑ 132.0 132.1 Video, July 28, 2023 (10:18).
  133. ↑ 133.0 133.1 Interview, June 13, 2021 (4:12).
  134. ↑ 134.0 134.1 134.2 Livestream, May 28, 2021 (1:13:05).
  135. ↑ Livestream, May 27, 2022 (1:11:41).
  136. ↑ Livestream, May 27, 2022 (1:16:17).
  137. ↑ 137.0 137.1 Interview, April 15, 2019 (38:03).
  138. ↑ 138.0 138.1 Livestream, June 25, 2021 (27:10).
  139. ↑ Livestream, April 30, 2020 (40:19).
  140. ↑ 140.0 140.1 140.2 140.3 140.4 Livestream, May 24, 2017 (45:12).
  141. ↑ 141.0 141.1 Livestream, June 26, 2020 (1:50:01).
  142. ↑ Livestream, October 16, 2017 (25:56).
  143. ↑ Livestream, February 9, 2018 (28:17).
  144. ↑ Livestream, November 22, 2019 (1:06:25).
  145. ↑ steven-hard-ccs.png
  146. ↑ Podcast, August 4, 2018 (1:11:52).
  147. ↑ CC effects do notapply to non-combatants.png
  148. ↑ 148.0 148.1 148.2 Livestream, April 30, 2021 (1:08:10).
  149. ↑ summons-ccs.png
  150. ↑ Ancestral Bolas Description.png
  151. ↑ Video, July 28, 2023 (20:50).
  152. ↑ Chains of Restraint Info Panel.png
  153. ↑ 153.0 153.1 Livestream, March 26, 2021 (1:11:25).
  154. ↑ 154.0 154.1 154.2 154.3 154.4 Livestream, July 28, 2023 (1:02:23).
  155. ↑ 155.0 155.1 Livestream, June 30, 2022 (46:30).
  156. ↑ 156.0 156.1 156.2 Livestream, December 2, 2022 (59:47).
  157. ↑ Livestream, April 30, 2020 (1:17:13).
  158. ↑ 158.0 158.1 Livestream, May 8, 2017 (43:30).
  159. ↑ 159.0 159.1 Livestream, December 23, 2021 (55:32).
  160. ↑ Video, December 23, 2021 (23:53).
  161. ↑ 161.0 161.1 Livestream, October 14, 2022 (48:45).
  162. ↑ 162.0 162.1 stevenclarification.png
  163. ↑ Livestream, June 26, 2020 (1:30:40).
  164. ↑ 164.0 164.1 Livestream, June 30, 2022 (49:42).
  165. ↑ Livestream, September 30, 2022 (51:28).
  166. ↑ Video, April 28, 2023 (4:40).
  167. ↑ Speed Boost Description.png
  168. ↑ Trail Speed Bonus Description.png
  169. ↑ 170.0 170.1 progression.png
  170. ↑ Video, May 25, 2017 (0:02).
  171. ↑ 172.0 172.1 Livestream, July 30, 2021 (1:11:29).
  172. ↑ Reddit - Developer response to unique ability visuals.
  173. ↑ autorun.jpg
  174. ↑ Livestream, May 4, 2018 (51:57).
  175. ↑ Livestream, December 15, 2017 (1:35:38).
  176. ↑ Livestream, May 31, 2023 (1:10:08).
  177. ↑ Video, December 23, 2021 (7:05).
  178. ↑ 179.0 179.1 collision.jpg
  179. ↑ Interview, March 27, 2020 (15:20).
  180. ↑ Livestream, October 31, 2023 (1:30:52).
  181. ↑ 182.0 182.1 182.2 Livestream, August 28, 2020 (1:19:24).
  182. ↑ 183.0 183.1 183.2 183.3 Livestream, January 27, 2023 (1:06:02).
  183. ↑ 184.0 184.1 Livestream, June 30, 2022 (51:17).
  184. ↑ 185.0 185.1 Livestream, January 30, 2020 (1:34:12).
  185. ↑ 186.0 186.1 Livestream, November 19, 2021 (50:38).
  186. ↑ Livestream, June 26, 2020 (1:24:06).
  187. ↑ 188.0 188.1 Livestream, December 2, 2022 (1:05:08).
  188. ↑ 189.0 189.1 Video, January 27, 2023 (35:51).
  189. ↑ 190.0 190.1 190.2 Video, December 2, 2022 (34:41).
  190. ↑ 191.0 191.1 191.2 Video, December 2, 2022 (16:55).
  191. ↑ 192.0 192.1 192.2 192.3 Livestream, September 29, 2023 (1:12:16).
  192. ↑ 193.0 193.1 193.2 193.3 Video, January 27, 2023 (40:24).
  193. ↑ Livestream, January 27, 2023 (15:22).
  194. ↑ Livestream, January 27, 2023 (1:13:29).
  195. ↑ Livestream, September 24, 2021 (1:22:46).
  196. ↑ Livestream, June 26, 2020 (1:19:50).
  197. ↑ shieldactiveblockA1.png
  198. ↑ 199.0 199.1 199.2 Alpha-1 screenshot.
  199. ↑ Video, February 9, 2021 (0:37).
  200. ↑ 201.0 201.1 201.2 Livestream, July 31, 2020 (1:14:26).
  201. ↑ 202.0 202.1 Livestream, November 22, 2019 (1:09:37).
  202. ↑ Livestream, May 17, 2017 (1:05:11).
  203. ↑ Livestream, June 28, 2019 (1:19:00).
  204. ↑ Livestream, May 30, 2017 (16:25).
  205. ↑ 206.0 206.1 206.2 Livestream, December 6, 2018 (48:52).
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