Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

Without a doubt, boasting a set of extreme-looking armor is one of the coolest elements of any fantasy MMO. Many of those "Whoa" moments come when a player first observes a special type of in-game armor. Out of all the classes in Aion, the melee-based Templar sports the best armor in the game, and according to the NCsoft devs makes them look like "metal gods."

In our second exclusive Aion class interview, it seemed appropriate to talk about the Gladiator's more heavily armored brethren, so the Ten Ton Hammer staff quizzed the Aion team about the Templars. The answers we received were excellent. Armor, abilities, lore and more subjects were all explored, so make sure you check it out!

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Ten Ton Hammer: Will the two factions in Aion have any influence on the classes that characters select? Will a Templar of one faction be stronger than a Templar of another?

NCsoft: The strength of a Templar is completely dependent on the skill set of the player, so no; being on a particular faction doesn’t give you an advantage. Each side has a rich history and background and I think that will be one of the biggest parts of why a player chooses a side.

Ten Ton Hammer: Will the Templar be seen as more of a “meat shield” type of tank, with the Gladiator being seen as a higher DPS alternative?  Or will the Templar be playing a different role?

NCsoft: Calling the Templar a maestro of defense wouldn’t be far from the truth, but I wouldn’t say its only purpose is to be an Atreian punching bag. With their high defense and various shield skills, they can inflict some serious damage on their opponents. Also, depending on the situation, a Templar can change the sword, mace or shield into a great sword and can morph into a “damage delay” form. So while its attack is lower when compared to the Gladiator, it would be unwise to ignore the Templar’s powerful attacks.

Ten Ton Hammer: What kind of backstory have you given Templar characters? What is their purpose in the world? Will the Templar have any religious aspects in relation to the gods of the game?

NCsoft: The first Templars were elite soldiers chosen to be an honor guard for humanity’s grand temples—including the Tower of Eternity itself. No duty could be more prestigious, so soldiers competed fiercely to become a Templar. When the monstrous Balaur besieged all of humanity, the Templars served as a reserve force of last resort, leaving their temples only when humanity’s defenses were about to collapse. To this day, Templars quote the proverb: “When all else fails, send a Templar.”

In Ancient Atreia, the Templars were dedicated to the service of Lord Nezekan, the Empyrean Lord of Justice, and while modern Asmodian Templars believe that he turned his back on them when he chose to be faithful to Ariel, they uphold the concept of justice as strongly as ever.

At the start of the Abyss War, each century (100 soldiers) had 10 heavily armored Templars that would serve as living “rally points” for the other soldiers. As the war progressed, the Asmodians and Elyos started experimenting with more flexible organizations, and now Templars can be found in units large and small. But the notion of protecting the other soldiers—and being at ground zero of the fight—is never far from a Templar’s mind. Many Templars go so far as to inscribe their comrades’ names on the inside of their shield to symbolize that the shield stands between those soldiers and the perils of the Abyss.

Ten Ton Hammer: Templars seem like a very melee-oriented sort of class. How does this affect the flight mechanic in Aion? Will Templars be powerless once they leave the ground?

NCsoft: All classes are more vulnerable in the sky, but thanks to the Templar’s higher defensive skills and rating they will be more protected that most.  Strategy of when to fly and when not to fly will affect the Templar’s just as much as any class.