An abundance of adventures and new experiences are just around the corner. Early access to Solisium begins on September 26, with the official launch following on October 1. As we near this exciting milestone, we want to take a moment to provide some key updates about THRONE AND LIBERTY. Below, you’ll find a letter from our team sharing insights into our vision for the future, along with detailed information on the improvements and differences between the Open Beta and the launch version. Let’s dive into the details.
Team Letter
For the past 18 months, we’ve been guided by player feedback, working closely with NCSOFT to shape the game’s direction. Since the initial release in Korea last December, significant changes have been implemented based on extensive playtesting and community input.
The progression system has been reworked for smoother leveling as players begin their journey in Solisium. We’ve introduced a refined tutorial system, better pacing for new mechanics, and more engaging quest types that go beyond just defeating monsters. Gear progression has also been enhanced, with higher-tier items providing more noticeable power boosts, along with a more rewarding system during both leveling and endgame phases.
Combat has been a major focus, with the introduction of Skill Specialization, increasing customization options for players. The skill cap has been raised to 24 abilities per weapon combo, while new passive armor bonuses, customizable camera options, and a revamped combat system featuring skill-shots and permanent Crowd Control breakers have been introduced. Additionally, controller support has been improved with optimized camera controls and smoother skill execution.
PvP balance and fairness have also seen significant improvements, with changes to Dynamic Events, guild restrictions, and power scaling in lower-level zones. The new 1v1 Conquest Battles mode promotes balanced PvP competition. We’ve also made certain crafting materials untradeable to ensure fairness, increased drop rates in solo content, and improved Lucent rewards distribution.
Upon launch, THRONE AND LIBERTY will feature a wide variety of new content, including a 3v3 PvP Arena mode, alongside PvE content like Co-op Dungeons, the Gate of Infinity, Amitoi Expeditions, and lifestyle activities such as fishing and cooking. We’ve also added quality-of-life features, such as cross-server auction houses, improved looting mechanics, cross-server matchmaking, and removed penalties for death.
These updates reflect just a fraction of the improvements driven by your feedback, and we’re not stopping here. Our goal is to create an evolving world shaped by your experiences. We’ve already made significant changes since the Korean release, and this journey will continue post-launch as we work to deliver an MMO that adapts to your needs and preferences.
Launch Build Updates
For players who participated in the Open Beta, here are some key changes that you’ll notice in the early access and full release versions of THRONE AND LIBERTY. Before early access begins, we’ll also share a team update, offering a glimpse at the post-launch content and our plans for rolling out new updates.
New Content
Skill Specialization:
This system introduces deeper combat customization with over 250 skill specializations, allowing players to modify and upgrade their abilities or even completely change them.
Lifestyle Content:
- Fishing: Players can fish in any body of water, using bait to catch fish that can be used in cooking recipes. Occasionally, fishing rewards players with valuable bags containing additional items.
- Cooking: Players can craft meals with special effects using ingredients gathered from hunting, fishing, or purchasing from NPCs. There’s also the option to create party feasts that grant buffs to all party members.
- Amitoi Expeditions: Players can now send Amitoi on expeditions to gather useful items for player growth and the Cooking system. Collecting different Amitoi allows for customization of expeditions, enhancing the chances of success and rewards.
- Weekly Missions: Every week, players can complete various missions for rewards. Players can select one reward from a list after reviewing the completed missions.
New PvP and PvE Modes:
- 3v3 Arena: A new instanced PvP mode where players can queue solo or as a party of three.
- Co-op Dynamic Events: Players must collaborate to complete objectives, advancing through event stages until a boss appears for everyone to defeat together.
Leveling, Progression, and Gear Updates
For players who finish all content in a chapter of the Adventure Codex but aren’t yet at the required level for the next chapter, guidance on supplementary content like Contracts or Co-op Dungeons will be provided to help with further character progression. Additionally, we’ve redistributed quest timings to introduce game systems at a more manageable pace, and the Milestone system has been balanced to appeal to both hardcore and casual players.
Leveling speed has been adjusted back to normal after being sped up during the Open Beta for endgame testing. We’ve also raised the minimum level for Auction House access from 15 to 40 to ensure fair use of the system.
Item and Gear Changes
Several Epic Tier items have been adjusted for launch, ensuring that their power levels align with the intended progression for new players. A list of these adjustments is provided below:
- Tevent’s Warblade of Despair: Damage reduced by 20%, Strength reduced from 5 to 4, and other minor adjustments.
- Queen Bellandir’s Languishing Blade: Base damage and Shield Block chance reduced, among other tweaks.
- Tevent’s Fangs of Fury: Damage and Dexterity slightly reduced.
And many more similar balance adjustments have been made to ensure fair and competitive gameplay across the board.
Set Bonuses
Several set bonuses have been updated:
- The Death set has been renamed to Shadow Harvester, with a critical damage reduction from 21% to 14%.
- The Ghost Wolf set is now Phantom Wolf, and the bonus damage has been reduced from 22 to 18.
- The Grand General set is now Shock Commander, with a damage reduction bonus cut from 22 to 18.
New Skills
Several weapons have received new skills, such as Devastating Smash for Greatswords, Witty Strike for Swords, and Vampiric Strike for Daggers. These skills offer new tactical options, allowing players to customize their combat experience even further.
Source: playthroneandliberty.com
