Alliance of Valiant Arms Escort Mission Overview

With Alliance of Valiant Arms (AVA) coming into full steam in North America, we’d thought new players could use some tips for the various mission types that we learned from our recent tour from NHN.  An Escort Mission pits the EU with the task to protect a tank moving through the map, and the NRF try to stop the tank using rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) stored in lockers found throughout the map.  The maps are filled with checkpoints, which allow EU players to spawn further in the map.  Once a tank reaches a check point, the new spawn will be available.  For the NRF using RPGs, one RPG hit slows the tank down, and two will disable it. Once the tank has been disabled, the EU can repair it to keep it moving. At the end of the first round, the players switch teams and sides.  The tank must reach the end of the map before time runs out, and whoever escorts the tank the fastest wins.

Repairing the Tank

New players often don’t understand how to repair a tank when they start playing escort missions.  Repair is a simple mechanic: as the EU, run up to the tank and hold down the action key (default to E) to start the repair.  A pair of pliers appears on the screen and starts to fill in from bottom to top, and when the pliers fill in completely the tank will be repaired and start moving again.  You can only repair a tank when it’s completely disabled.  The best spot to repair your tank is on the back side, because the NRF are spawning ahead of your tank and will continue to hammer the front of it.  Also use your surroundings to your benefit, and have someone watching the repairers back – getting shot in the back while working on your vehicle is never fun.

RPGs!

The only way to disable a tank is to shoot an RPG at it.  As previously stated, one shot slows it down, and two shots will stop it from moving.  RPGs are found in lockers around the map, and are conveniently located near NRF spawning points.  Inconveniently, these lockers take some time to open up, so you’ll have to stand there for a second to retrieve your RPG.  With your RPG in hand, find some nice high ground, preferably a quick corner to go around, and start shooting at the tank.  The RPGs have a good amount of ammo, but a long reload time, so make your shots count.

Capture the Spawn

The main priority for EU is to move the tank, but spawn points are of equal priority.  If EU push their tank far enough to reach a check point, then that team will spawn near the check point.  This new spawn also pushes the NRF further down the map, and allows EU forces easy access to previous NRF RPG lockers.  If a tank is near a check point, try to keep two team mates behind the tank to repair it constantly, and have other team mates killing off the NRF.

Teamwork

AVA is a game all about team work.  This isn’t like Counter Strike, and one man isn’t going to make the difference.  Working as a team, and coordinating your attacks will bring the quickest victory.  Talk with your team mates, and make sure you have an event amount of the three classes on your side.  Again, it’s about team work, not about being Rambo.
 

Gates of Andaron Exclusive – Races

With our recent exclusive tour of Gates of Andaron we have put together a helpful overview of how to pick the right Race.  To catch you up to speed, Gates of Andaron (GoA) is an impressive Free-to-Play MMORPG, than has a huge world to play and explore.  As someone new to GoA, you’ll have to quickly decide on which race you want your character to be: Human, Feline, and Fairy.  We want to take the opportunity to give new players a firm first step into to the world of GoA with our quick race guide.

Humans

The Humans of GoA are seen as the jack-of-all-trades type of race.  They don’t have a strong leaning to either physical fighters or magical users, but they can do either job just fine.  Humans are the weaker race of the three, and are all descended from the Parholn Clan, but they have a strong will to live and are technical geniuses in the world.  Humans make fine warriors or strong sorcerers, and are an excellent middle ground for a race choice.

Felines

GoA Felines are the primary physical race of the world.  These crazy cats have a ton of strength, agility, and endurance, but lack the intelligence, mind, and wisdom of other races.  The Felines are the protectors of nature, and have honed their physical prowess to a fine degree.  If you’re looking to make a heavy combat character, then the Feline race is the choice for you.

Fairies

The Fairies of GoA are the great thinkers of the world.  These sprits are the founders of magic in GoA, and their capabilities reflect their instinctive, mystical knowledge.  Fairies have the highest intelligence, mind, and wisdom of any race, but will lack the strength, agility, and endurance of Felines and Humans.  This race makes the best casters, and any player looking to play a caster should defiantly think of making a Fairy.

Alliance of Valiant Arms Keys to Annihilation 

With Alliance of Valiant Arms (AVA) coming into full steam in North America, we’d thought new players could use some tips for the various mission types.  Annihilation is the most familiar of AVA’s mission types.  EU and NRF forces are pitted against each other, and simply need to destroy each other as efficiently as possible.  Whichever side reaches the final score – ranging from 80 to 180 points depending on the map – wins.  Players that are killed have to wait a few seconds before re-spawning at their teams starting position.  Spawn points are safe havens and players can’t be killed while staying inside them.  While this mission mode is familiar, AVA throws team work into the mix and makes the fire fight more enjoyable.  Here are some quick tips for Annihilation maps:

Location, location, location

Annihilation maps, in general, are smaller than most AVA maps.  This means you’ll be spawning, killing, and dying a lot more often.  If you’re unfamiliar with a map, take a second from killing and look at the maps layout.  Understanding what obstacles obstructs your view, or your enemies view, really does change the dynamic of the fight.  This knowledge also makes it a lot easier to sneak behind your enemy and blast him into a pulp of red goo with your shotgun.

Incoming!

Again, Annihilation maps are smaller, so it’s actually quite easy to chuck a grenade into the air and hit someone on the opposing side.  Before rushing into the enemy’s territory, find a good spot in the middle of the map and chuck a grenade over your cover.  Often times you’ll see an icon on your screen stating that you’ve just killed someone using your grenade.  You may be playing a sniper, but you’ve just become your own personal bomber jet.

Diversify your portfolio

Just because you’re playing Annihilation doesn’t mean team work is out the window.  Working as a team will allow you to advance further into the enemy’s territory, and to sneak up on them during their big push.  It’s also important to have a divers amount of classes on your team.  If everyone goes Point Man and tries to rush constantly, your team will get picked off by a couple of snipers; alternatively, if everyone goes snipers, you’ll never see your enemy coming as he sneaks up behind you.  Having a few of each class on your team will allow you to adapt to any situation more appropriately.

Gates of Andaron Exclusive – Choosing The Right Classes

Recently we had the opportunity to get an exclusive tour of GoA, we have put together some helpful tips on getting off on the right foot in the game.  Starting off in any game can be a challenge because you wan to make sure you pick the right class for your playstyle.  The world of GoA offers six different classes to choose from: warrior, night walkers, archers, magicians, priests, and evocators.  It’s important to choose a class that you enjoy, but also to choose a good race combination with that fits with the class.  We take an exclusive quick look at some of these combinations, and give our feedback on these choices.

Warriors
The warriors are the most versatile fighters in GoA.  These strong brutes an dish out the damage, or soak it up using their defensive capabilities.  Warriors are also masters of weaponry, and can use a large array of weapons: swords, axes, two-handeders, bows, crossbows, and shields.  These guys are the primary tanks of the game and wear plate or chain mail, so make sure you’re willing to be a punching bag for some of your groups.  For races, we recommend going with Feline as your best option; however, Humans and Fairies are still viable as warriors, and provide the necessary attributes to be great tanks.

Night Walkers
Give a warm welcome to the rogue of GoA, because a Night Walker is the class that lurks in the shadow, waiting for that right moment to strike their enemies.  These cunning assassins use chakrams, daggers, and swords, to strike at their enemies in melee range, but can use bows and crossbows.  While they can’t handle the damage a warrior can, Night Walkers wear light armor and hard leather, have great survival skills, and are able to retreat from danger faster than any other class.  For races, we recommend going with Felines as your best option and Humans as a close second.  You can be a Fairy Night Walker, but we don’t recommend it for novice players.

Archers
The ranged fighter that doesn’t cast spells, the Archer is a deadly foe with da’ bow.  Archers have devastating ranged attacks – like Sharpened Arrowhead and Sniper – to decimate their enemies from afar.  Should their foe survive the volley, Archers have strong survival and battle techniques to evade enemy attacks or to stay toe-to-toe.  Archers wear light armor and hard leather to protect them, and primarily use bows or crossbows for their attacks, but they can use daggers, one-handed or two-handed swords.  For races, we recommend going with Humans as your best option, with both Feline and Fairy races as a close second.

Magicians
Magicians can call the power of the elements to their side, thanks to their powerful teacher Pauldron, God of Thunder.  As the primary caster of GoA, these strong minded students bend Mana to their will and create magical attacks the likes no mortal has seen, and use fire, ice, and lightening as their primary attack.  Donning robes and light fabrics to their bodies, Magicians use staves, magic shields, and wands to protect themselves should enemies survive the onslaught of the elements.  For races, we recommend going with Fairies as your best option, Humans as a distant second, and suggest shying away from Felines for this class.

Priests
The Priests of GoA stand on the fine line of life or death, and can either giveth or taketh away one’s soul.  Trained under Rekamies, the Goddess of Water, these spirited disciples focus their energy on protecting the ones they love, and forsaking those they hate.  Priests are the primary healer in GoA, so those that choose this class should be prepared to heal when grouping for battle.  While priests have powerful healing spells, they use robes and light fabrics to protect their bodies from the elements, and rely on staves, magic shields, and wands for support.  For races, we recommend going with Humans as your best option, Fairies as a very close second, and Felines as a distant third.

Evocators

It’s not every day that you see someone summon powerful creatures from other dimensions, unless you’re an Evocator that is.  These students of Endendros, the God of Rock and Iron, are of strong mind and strong body, and command monsters to bend to their will.  Stubborn like the land, Evocators are the only casters that wear light armor and hard leather, but still abide with staves, magic shields, and wands.  For races, we recommend going with Fairies as your best option, Felines as a distant second, and warn against using Humans for this class.