ThisIsGame Link
Translated by AFKalmighty
I had to cut off the last part of the article, go to
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[Image: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KrfOV8K4cuw/T_70JmOGJTI/AAAAAAAABEQ/P69vKUGZiPM/s598/982c8ccba860d711a20ce4c3c06949ef.png]
Interviewees
Lu Su Ung : Programmer - Season 2 Programmer, participated in Kai character development, in charge of developing the skills for Vella
Im Duk Bin : Planner – leaded the battle design for Titan, Glas Ghaibhleann, Keaghan, Dragons and many more prime battles. Planner for Kai and Vella
Park Hyo Jin : Animator – Worked on the motions for pets, octo-humans, sirens, and Vella
Lee Sang Hyun : Modeler - Worked on the models for season 1, dark knight [both 1st and 2nd trans] b.. b.. the ice dragon, and Keaghan and Vella
Lee Gun Wu : Illustrator – Drew illustrations for Season 1 gear, dragons, paladin, dark knight, Kai and Vella
Unlike the previous four interviews we had, the specifics of this interview was held tightly in secret until the interview date. We tried to pry out any kind of hints with some questions based on our assumptions but they simply replied ‘Look forward to the interview. You will be surprised’.
At the start of the interview we were shown a picture and was immediately able to know what to expect. The female Lann that was shown as a joke on April Fools had become a reality.
The new character is named Vella. She uses dual swords like Lann but is a completely new character.
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Dual Swordswoman Vella[/SIZE]
Q: As expected a new character.
A: ‘Yes, we kept it a secret until now because we didn’t want to spoil the surprise.’
Q: What made you to decide on making a 6th character?
A: ‘Mabinogi Heroes is not a game where you can choose your character gender freely. We wanted a dual wielding female character but was worried because that archtype already existed with Lann. The reaction from the April Fools event was positive so we went on with the project going on from late 2011.
Though we might not make it at the same date as Season 2, we’re pushing our limit to get her released at a close date as Season 2.
Q: What kind of character is Vella?
A: ‘A dual wielding swordsman. Though she may also be called the ‘female Lann’ her concept is different from that of Lann. Her evasion techniques and overall playstyle is different. Only her weapons is the same.
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Not just a ‘female Lann’. Vella’s unique action ‘Counter’[/SIZE]
Q: It’s hard to imagine another Dual wielding character besides Lann. How does she perform in combat?
A: The main action concept is ‘Counter’. Not a block and counter like Fiona but a evade and counter motion. Not only can she counter melee attacks but also projectiles as well. Her counter will have ranged monster’s projectiles sent back to them.’
Q: Fiona can only counter normal attacks, will this also be the case for Vella?
A: No, Vella will be able to counter both normal and smash attacks’
Q: There are attacks that Fiona’s Heavy Stander can’t block. Are there any attacks which Vella can’t ‘evade’?
A: We don’t have alot of those planned, but yes there are some. Like Fiona, there are monster skills which can’t be blocked and it wouldn’t be fair for Vella to be exempt from that penalty.
It was mentioned that Vella can reflect projectiles but that doesn’t mean that she will be able to counter fireballs from dragons. That would be too unrealistic and overbalanced. We’re going to make sure something like this doesn’t happen’
Q: Counter implies that you have to avoid an attack first. Wouldn’t that cause Vella’s combat to become passive by waiting for an incoming attack?
A: That won’t be the case. The concept for Counter is not to wait for an attack but to keep on attacking yourself and when a attacks comes in your way you evade that and then counter it. So it’s not waiting for a chance to counter but more like a part of a fluid combo chained from your attacks.
Q: Does that mean that we can start off from where we left off of our combo to use counter?
A: There will be a cancel timing. You can cancel your combo with a command input similar to Fiona’s Heavy Stander Cancel to time your Counter. So depending on whether you timed it right, you’ll either Counter the attack or get hit of course. This timing will have to be learned through practice.
The timing will not be shown with a special interface as Karok’s boss wrestling’
Q: With all the Emphasis on Counter it’s hard to imagine how her active attack skills will be like. How would you express her attack style?
A: It’s hard to explain it briefly but I would express it to be like the wind. Speedy and stylish. She will also show a tough side as a dual wielding character.
We regrettably can’t show a video right now but you will see when you play her that many of her attacks are based on themes using the wind. All the skill names also have references to the wind. We wanted to provide a more stylish hack and slash experience. For example one of her attack motions have her spinning her blade.
Think of it as a sharper version of Lann.
But there isn’t a single move that overlaps with Lann’s attack motions. The concern that she is too similar with Lann may have people looking for similar motions but you will get to see that her motions are different from Lann’s.’
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Easy to use yet fun to control.[/SIZE]
Q: So far she seems to require alot of skills to master. Wouldn’t this make her to difficult to use?
A: ‘Counter may be her concept but it’s not mandatory. Just like how Lann’s Gliding Fury should be used yet is not mandatory. Evasion will be easier than Lann.
The goal was to make her easy to play but more compelling even than Lann if used by a skilled player.
So while her basic gameplay is easy, you can experience the thrill of taking your chances with Counter.’
Q: What kind of idea were her actions centered around?
A: ‘What we shown last April Fool’s was planned as a ‘Lann’s little sister’ so her motions were the same but Vella is completely different. So our central focus naturally became ‘how can we make her different from Lann?’.
So we had to make her motions different from Lann, yet with striking actions and at the same time the lines and curves that would come from the pose of a female character.’
Q: The basic combat style for Mabinogi Heroes is starting up with normal attacks and ending it with a smash. How will Vella’s smash attack be like?
A: ‘Well we can start with the fact that she doesn’t have Gliding Fury [chuckle]. Where Lann looked for an opening and moved in for the kill, Vella will pulling her targets towards her. Her playstyle against normal monsters will also be different from that of Lann’s.
Pulling monster to her will also be done by using the wind. Since making things seem real is important in Mabinogi Heroes we made sure the pulling method didn’t seem awkward. You will get to see what kind of motion this is in game.’
Q: Sounds like alot of work for our hands to do all that evading and Counters.
A: ‘We’re doing what we can to ensure that this requires as little buttons as possible. The evasion starts with a button but we haven’t decided on how we’re going to handle Counter. There is something currently in the works but this can be changed.’
Q: Does Vella have any ES moves?
A: ‘Yes, some of them are similar to Fiona’s and will show some tough action scenes.’
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Vella specific gears[/SIZE]...
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