Masters of the Book,
I am Kim Young-mo, the director of ASTRA: Knights of Veda.
We have recently conducted a Live Broadcast where we were able to have an honest conversation with our Korean Masters of the Book. Unfortunately, due to circumstances, I was unable to meet and address you, our Global Masters of the Book, who have always shown their unwavering love. I would like to express my deepest apologies for this.
Due to this, we would also like to share with our Global Users the content revealed and the questions answered during the broadcast, even if it’s in writing.
Through this live broadcast, the development team had the valuable opportunity to hear various opinions that we had not considered before. As the Director, I cannot make all the decisions on my own, so we’ve arranged to review and discuss the points you shared with the development team.
We will provide clear responses on what can be answered and give specific details regarding the update schedule.
[h3]
ASTRA: Knights of Veda Update Roadmap[/h3]
[h3]
Director’s Live Broadcast Q&A[/h3]
[h3]
Call of the Stars[/h3]
Q: Since the 11/28 update, the Pickup All-Out event has disappeared. Does this mean that the event will never come back?
A: Starting from the 12/26 update, the Pickup All-Out event will now be available permanently and in addition, will include Rhynara. This means all of the previously released characters can now be summoned once again.
Q: The Aslan Pickup Hero Event doesn’t take advantage of the Pick-Up Draw system. Does this mean future Knights of Veda releases will also exclude the feature? If so, will there be any compensation for users who paid to take advantage of it?
A: As stated, the Pickup All-Out event that will be made permanent (and now also includes Rhynara) will feature the “Pick-Up Draw” system. Additionally, the bonus system, where you can obtain a Knight of Veda from the permanent Pick-Up event after 300 summons, will also return.
Q: Are there any plans to add Knights of Veda to the “Fallen Wing of Veda” Call of the Stars?
A: Adding Knights of Veda to the permanent “Fallen Wing of Veda” Call of the Stars may make them more difficult to obtain. For now, we plan to retain the current roster of Knights available in “Fallen Wing of Veda.” However, we aim to make Season 1 Pickup Knights of Veda easier to acquire and introduce increased rates in “Fallen Wing of Veda.” More details will be shared once finalized.
Q: Since the “Pickup All-Out” event will be made permanent, does this also mean the corresponding Halo and El Cid events will come back and be made permanent?
A: That is correct. Both the Halo and El Cid events will come back.
Q: Are there any plans to buff the Exclusive Weapons that can be obtained from “Fallen Wing of Veda?”
A: We do have plans to buff the permanent Exclusive Weapons. However, there may be users who are dissatisfied with the improvements made versus the original stats. Therefore, we are preparing a system that allows players to choose between the original and new stats. We will share more details and the update schedule once it's finalized.
[h3]
Knights of Veda[/h3]
Q: For Fire-attribute Knights, it’s only Edward that fills the DPS role. Anais is being introduced as another Fire-attribute Knight but she’s in the Healer role and that’s disappointing. Are there any plans to remedy this?
A: Although Anais is a healer, she is also a great damage dealer. She has a unique "Wound Healing" ability that other Healers don't have, allowing her to keep the party alive in content like the Celestial Trials, where the difficulty increases fast.
Q: Bikki’s performance is overwhelming in all content, and I am concerned about balance. Are there any plans for adjustments?
A: There are currently no plans to nerf Bikki. However, we plan to add other Knights of Veda who can provide buffs and perform on the same level as Bikki does in different content. Our goal is to ensure that all Knights are useful in various content, so we ask for your patience as we continue to improve the game.
Q: Can you tell us about any 4★ Knights of Veda that we can look forward to in Legendary Promotion?
A: While all 4★ Knights of Veda will get improved in one way or the other, we would like our Masters of the Book to take a closer look at Leon, Yanko, Rani, and Orlik, all of whom have significant roles in the story. We also have plans to buff some 5★ Knights of Veda, ensuring that all of them are viable and useful across the game.
Q: Aurora’s Fate Level 7 effect doesn’t expand the range but only does direct damage. Is there a plan to improve this?
A: We are aware of this issue and are planning to make improvements. Not only for Aurora but for all underperforming knights, we are considering overall buffs.
Q: Will there be any plans to release more Dual-Attribute Knights of Veda
A: For the 1st Anniversary update, we plan to release "White Hell," the first Dual-Attribute dealer with Lightning and Light attributes.
Q: Aslan has a high fixed damage output. Are there any plans to release a character that can counter this?
A: The fixed damage cap is not particularly high, and as stats increase, Aslan’s value will naturally decrease. We plan to consider buffs when the time comes.
Q: There seems to be an issue with Aslan’s stamina.
A: We’ve identified an error where Stamina-based additional damage from Aslan’s Signature Skill ”Deadly Leap and Blow” was not applied when switching to another character after the shockwave was triggered. This issue does not occur in Squad Battles, and we plan to fix it in the 12/26 update.
Q: Are there plans to release a non-elemental Knights of Veda?
A: Non-elemental characters would likely become all-purpose characters, so we currently do not plan to release one.
Q: I’m curious why the focused Knight deals more damage during Training Ground Squad Battles.
A: The difference in damage comes from the AI used by the focused Knight compared to the other Knights in the party. The focused Knight uses a standard AI, while the others use the Bot AI, which is the same AI used in Arena, which has a delay when using skills to ensure an appropriate level of difficulty is maintained. This delay is the cause of the difference in damage output. However, in the 12/26 Update, we have adjusted this so that the AI used in the Training Grounds will now be the same for all Knights, eliminating any discrepancies in damage.
[h3]
Content[/h3]
Q: Are there any plans to introduce multiplayer content such as Guild Wars and Co-Op Boss Battles?
A: With the 12/26 Update, we will be introducing a new content called “Nightmare of the Abyss.” While this content can be cleared solo, it includes mechanics that encourage users to party with other users to lower the difficulty.
Q: As F2P users tend to grind and farm for resources more, they tend to feel like chores after a certain period. To remedy this, I feel like more RPG elements being added to the game would be great.
A: We have been preparing and carefully considering new content. We hope that the "Nightmare of the Abyss" content, which will be introduced in the 12/26 Update, will quench this thirst for new content.
Q: The Celestial Trials gamemode is too difficult.
A: Celestial Trials Floors were designed to avoid feeling repetitive. However, for content like the Celestial Trials and Portrait of Thierry, we plan to adjust the difficulty of the early floors each time new ones are added.
Q: Portrait of Thierry’s playtime is too long, and the difficulty for Floors 30 and above are too high, are there any plans to adjust these?
A: In an update that will be released in January, we plan to expand the number of floors and adjust the difficulty. In addition, by equipping the new "Goddess's Armor," which can be obtained from the new "Nightmare of the Abyss" content, you can improve your survivability and make it easier to clear Floors. We also plan to lower the difficulty of the lower floors in the 12/26 update to allow more players to clear it.
Q: The drop rate of Mythic Accessories on Portrait of Thierry seems to be very low.
A: In the 12/26 Update, the drop rate for Mythic Accessories will be increased from 10% to 15%. Additionally, we will be adding a sweep function to Portrait of Thierry, making it easier to obtain Mythic Accessories.
Q: Nec and Orlik have been dominating Battlefield of the War Gods for some time now. Are there any plans to address this?
A: Since there are players who have invested in growing Nec and Orlik specifically for the "Battlefield of the War Gods" content, we do not plan to make immediate changes. As with how various metas have changed in that content, we expect a new meta to emerge that will supersede the current one in the future. Instead of artificially controlling the current meta, we aim to create new metas where different character combinations can overcome the current one.
[h3]
Items[/h3]
Q: There are too many currencies which increases the barrier to entry. Are there any plans to add new progression systems, and thus currency?
A: We acknowledge that the amount of currency required for improving your Knights of Veda can feel frustrating, and to alleviate this, we are introducing the "Sweep System" for each piece of content to reduce the difficulty of acquiring resources for enhancement. Although this is not part of the roadmap yet, we are preparing a system that will automatically repeat and progress dungeons, and we aim to let you know about it before the first anniversary of the game.
Q: I’m running out of Adventurer’s Shoes and would like to see more sources for Gold and Starstones.
A: We are continuously increasing the rewards given through events, but we understand that it may still feel insufficient for active players. We are monitoring this situation and will keep making improvements to ensure players can enjoy all of the content without inconvenience.
However, regarding Adventurer’s Shoes, increasing their acquisition quantity could impact overall playtime and character growth, so we ask for your understanding as we must carefully consider any changes related to this system.
Q: “Solvent of Prayer” is too expensive.
A: Relics are a core part of the game and are an integral piece of beating the highest-level content, so changing an option on a relic holds significant value. Given that there are players who have already purchased these items, it's difficult to reduce the price immediately. However, we are considering ways to improve the situation and will explore potential solutions.
[h3]
System[/h3]
Q: I would like a feature where I can choose to keep the old stats when Enchanting an item.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. We will be implementing this feature, using a system similar to the Relic Bloom system in the 1/23 Update.
[h3]
Others[/h3]
Q: How often will new maps and additions to the main story be released?
A: The Main Story for Season 2 will be expanded after approximately three more updates. The storyline and overall content have already been decided, and we are currently working on finalizing it. Rest assured that we will bring more exciting story updates to you, just as you expect.
Q: The time between updates feels too long, and the announcements are made too close to the release of said content.
A: Since we operate globally, preparing official announcements may take a significant amount of time. As a result, it’s difficult to expedite this process. However, we plan to improve communication by using all available official channels to provide more frequent updates.
Q: I miss the darker tone of Season 1’s Art Style, are there any plans to return to or improve upon it?
A: We are doing our best to match the art style from Season 1 and are working hard to bring the original aesthetic back. However, instead of reworking already released characters, we plan to address this through costumes or skins.
Q: Are there any plans to add a feature to replay the story segments or at the very least upload them to YouTube for future viewing?
A: There is already a system in the game that allows you to rewatch story cutscenes via the Journal or the Collection menu. However, we realize that cutscenes alone may not fully convey the story, so we are considering other ways to release the entire story for easier access.
Q: Are there any plans for collaborations?
A: We are currently considering collaborations with titles that align well with ASTRA: Knights of Veda’s theme and aesthetic. Our focus is not just on popular titles, but rather on ones that can generate synergy with the game and bring new experiences to our players. We apologize for not being able to announce collaborations in advance, but rest assured that once details are finalized, we will inform you as soon as possible.
Q: As updates continue, I feel the game’s performance is worsening and that optimization is not being done. Will there be plans to improve this?
A: We continuously strive to improve optimization with every update, but it’s a challenging process. We are dedicated to creating an environment where players can enjoy the game with smooth and stable gameplay. We hope for your patience as we work towards this goal.
Q: The rewards for Synchronizing with your Knights of Veda feel too low. I hope this will be improved.
A: We recognize the importance of rewards for reaching higher Sync levels. We agree that the rewards have not been sufficient compared to the difficulty of reaching those levels. Therefore, in the 1/23 Update, we plan to improve this by offering "Crystals of Fate" as rewards for certain Synchronization levels.
Q: How can I purchase the Tunic again?
A: Tunics from previous seasons are available for sale through the Arena Shop. However, to maintain fairness for players who earned the Tunic through active participation in the Arena, it is only sold after three (3) seasons have passed.
We hope that the answers provided are satisfactory to all of our Masters of the Book. In addition to the official announcement notices, we will also be engaging more with the community to address all of your feedback.
We will continue to listen and strive to make the game more enjoyable for everyone.
Thank you.
"Now, I… want to help, together with Yor"
