Anarchy Online: Lost Eden Interview

Kenneth Marlon Christensen, Funcom's Lead Designer for Anarchy Online, speaks with MMORPGS about the upcoming "Lost Eden" expansion pack. Kenneth has worked on Anarchy Online since 1999.

About Battle stations, could you describe to us what kind of advantages will provide the battle stations for the players? Can we imagine something similar to the Org contract with Notum towers?

The way advantages work in Lost Eden is not that similar to Org contracts with Notum towers.
The Battle Stations work as a power balance between Omni-Tek and the Clans, the side that controls the most stations will have the most power in the new weapon systems.
Your side now has the ability to work together to research and develop extremely powerful equipment including mechs, air strike bombers and artillery units.

Is 25% gas area will be permanent inside the stations or will we have a gas cycle, like for the Notum Towers?

The Battle Stations will have a gas cycle similar to Notum Wars, but we will do our best to tweak it so everyone can participate in the massive battles no matter what time zone you live in.
We'll make sure to have "breathing time" between the massive battles.
It's always our goal to keep Anarchy Online fun and fast paced. This will be a great addition.

The Mechs look very exciting, will they be available for all players? Some different models according the player level for example?

The Mechs are very exciting indeed! All players will have access to mechs at any time and different models are available based on your player level and how advanced your side has become through research.
Several types of mechs are also available for different purposes such as scout mechs (fast and low damage), light artillery mechs (medium damage/speed) etc, and each type is unique in specs and appearance.

Is a Mech stronger than a player level 220? Will it possible to "tune" or customize our Mechs in any way?

That's not the way it works. A level 220 mech is something completely different from a level 220 player without a mech.
Mechs attacking players will do little damage and players attacking mechs with regular weapons will suffer the same restrictions.
The purpose of the mechs is to take out heavier fortifications and other vehicles.
We will provide anti mech weapons designed in such a way that a team with players with the right equipment and strategy should be fully capable of taking down a mech.

Where exactly we will be able to use the Mechs ? On Rubika? Inside the station too?

Mechs are designed to be used in a large number of areas where it makes sense to have them and some areas on the Battle Stations are even designed for pure mech fighting.
Some areas will be restricted such as dungeons and mission areas, but in general you can use them all over Rubi-Ka.
One thing is certain; Rubi-Ka will never look the same.

Do you have more information about the new dungeons in alien mother ships with LE?
Is the design similar to the current Alien dungeons? Some exceptional Boss?

The alien mother ship is of course bigger, badder and more intense than the landers you have seen so far.
You will get the feeling that it belong to the same alien race that attacks our player made cities now, but its a whole new design and layout.
You will encounter rooms with purposes such as sleeping quarters, armories, hangars etc.
This is basically a major flying alien city and as such has all the facilities a city should have.
Perhaps you can even catch the latest alien block buster at the alien cinema.

We already know no new levels are planned for now.
About the new special attacks, are they working with the "perks" systems like in Shadowlands and Alien Invasion ?
How will we be able to get them ?

The new special attacks have nothing to do with the current perk system, these are all passive attacks that will be triggered when special criteria is met.
They will look extremely cool and do vast amounts of damage.
All special attacks are attained either with research done by your side or research done by the individual player.
This is a completely new era for the combat system in Anarchy Online.

OmniTek/Clan conflict will come back at the front of the stage with Lost Eden, that's a good news . Will the expansion introduce new pvp areas? On RubiKa also?

No new PvP areas are planned for Rubi-Ka so far, but Lost Eden will give a whole new dimension to tower fights.
New strategies for warfare have to be deployed and by using the new spectacular air to ground weapons the status of the battle can change in a matter of seconds.
Offense/Defense tactics play a major role in the outcome of the battle after this changes so it will be intense as well as a great deal of fun.

Do you plan to create new Notum spots on Rubi-Ka? We have the feeling that the places are currently overcrowded with the growing population, is that your vision too?

The population of Anarchy has definitely grown, but we have plenty of room for more.
It is not in our plans to create new Notum spots at this time, but we will always make sure there's plenty of room on the planet for everyone.

We read new SAM installations and stationary gun will be available to help player protect their Notum spot. Will the current models become useless?

Not at all! The new weapons are additions not replacements.
SAMs will protect your Notum spot from air strikes and the stationary guns are actually controlled by the players similar to the mechs.
None of the existing towers can defend you against giant laser turrets blasting at you from space or squadrons of bombers launching air strikes at your Notum base.
It's a matter of providing defenses against these new ultra cool weapons of mass destruction

At last, would you like to say anything more and/or deliver a message to the fans waiting for the new expansion?

I'm really looking forward to release Lost Eden, and I'm confident that this will become the best EP we have ever made.
I'm so lucky working with such a fantastic and creative team dedicated to give you, our players, the best experience we can possible give you.
What makes our day is to see how much love and dedication is given to AO by our fans.
Stay Thight!