New Map And Improvements In Albion Online Revamped Hellgates

Albion Online is revamping new mechanics and a brand new map of Hellgates. The official site posted some details of these updates.

In Albion Online, Hellgates are an intrinsic feature that combining the thrill of PvP and PvE in one place. Players will not only meet demonic monsters in the orange portal of Hellgate, but also face the dangers that came from other players who enter the same Hellgate.

Hellgates are a great source for intense PvP fights which making them popular in Albion Online players. When players use Hellgates, they will face some problems which related to teams dodging fights or pulling mobs to gain an unfair advantage in fights. So Albion Online plans to create a new Hellgate map and revamp several of its mechanics to fix the problems.

Hellgate Design Goals

• Hellgates are about PvP.

• Mobs should play no, or a very limited, role in deciding who wins the PvP fight.

• Mobs should act as sources for loot and as a time buffer that allow a second team to join the Hellgate before it is finished.

• Hellgate strategy should not be affected by artificial game mechanics such as timers.

• Dodging the opposing team should not be possible. At the same time, there needs to be a legitimate way out of the Hellgate if something unexpected happens, for example: your healer  disconnects.

• Camping the opposing team’s entrance should not be a valid strategy.

New Hellgate Map

The Hellgate map has been completely redesigned and now has the shape of a pentagram. The corners of the pentagram are connected by a circular path, and each corner represents a potential entrance portal to the Hellgate but it is now impossible to know where the generic group appears, and groups that enter the hell gate are a protective bubble, for a certain period of time they can not get the gate through the entrance. The PvE is now reduced, and the players do not have to worry about the fact that the monsters that are attracted will decide the outcome of PvP battles, but there is now a new PvE combat with miniboss opponents. But they are not moving into the PvP Fighting. Nevertheless, the fight against the minibosses is worthwhile as they drop attractive prey. When all minibosses are shot, the entrances to the hell gate are sealed and the appearance of the main boss is triggered with a time delay.

Three Levels Of Hellgates

The Hellgates are dividing to three levels: Ashen Hellgates (green zones), Ignited Hellgates (yellow zones), and Infernal Hellgates (red and black zones). As you can see, the partition is making according to the zones you enter.

Ashen Hellgate - These Hellgates are for teams of two players each, have a power cap and are perfect for beginners to Albion Online who are not yet familiar with PvP and Hellgates.

• Teams: Two teams of two players each.

• Entrance: Green zones.

• Death Penalty: Knockdown and teleport out of the Hellgate.

• Hostile Counter: On

• Mobs: Trash mobs, minibosses and a chest in the center.

• Mob Tier: Tier 4

• Loot: Low amount of Souls and Runes.

• Fame value: x1.5 (slightly higher than yellow zones)

• Power cap: Soft cap at 700 Item Power

Ignited Hellgate - For those who are not quite ready for full-loot PvP, there are the ignited Hellgates.

• Teams: Two teams of five players each.

• Entrance: Yellow zones.

• Death Penalty: Knockdown and teleport out of the Hellgate.

• Hostile Counter: On

• Mobs: Trash mobs, minibosses and main boss in the center.

• Mob Tier: Tier 5

• Loot: Low amount of Souls and Runes. Chest have a chance to drop level one (soul) artifacts.

• Fame value: x1.5 (slightly higher than yellow zones)

• Power cap: Soft cap at 800 Item Power

Infernal Hellgate - Infernal Hellgates can be entered through red and black zones only. These are the unrestricted version of Hellgates, with the most punishing ruleset but also the best rewards.

• Teams: Two teams of five players each.

• Entrance: Red and black zones.

• Death Penalty: Death and full loot.

• Hostile Counter: Off

• Mobs: Trash mobs, minibosses and main boss in the center.

• Mob Tier: Tier 5

• Loot: Artifacts, Souls and Runes.

• Fame value: x2.5 (same as in red zones)

• No power cap

The Hellgate map and mechanics mentioned above are just what we know so far. These updates are still being internally tested and further information about specifics of any of the above and more over at www.upalbion.com.