How Settlement Sieges Work in Ashes of Creation Alpha-2

[heishili guangtouqiang]

What Is a Settlement Siege?

A settlement siege is a sanctioned PvP event where players can attack and attempt to destroy a settlement that has reached at least Village stage (stage 3). These sieges are not random open PvP. They are planned events that follow specific rules and systems.

In general, settlement sieges exist to reset or reshape parts of the world. When a settlement is destroyed, it opens space for new development and can unlock or change content in surrounding nodes. This is part of how Ashes of Creation keeps the world feeling active instead of frozen in one state.

Most players will not be starting sieges themselves, but they may still be affected by them, especially if they live, craft, or trade in the targeted settlement.

Why Do Players Siege Settlements?

Most players do not siege settlements just for fun PvP. There are usually political or strategic reasons behind it.

In general, settlement sieges happen because:

A rival node wants to stop another settlement from growing into a city.

Guilds want control over nearby resources or trade routes.

Political conflicts between mayors or alliances escalate.

Players want to unlock content that is blocked by an existing settlement.

Because nodes compete with each other, one settlement growing often means another will stagnate or decline. This natural competition usually leads to tension over time, and sieges are how those tensions are resolved.

Are Settlement Sieges Hard for Attackers?

Yes, most players should expect settlement sieges to favor defenders.

Cities and villages have built-in defensive advantages. Defenders know the layout, have fortifications, and usually have faster access to the battlefield. Losing a node is a major setback, so the system is designed so that defenders are not easily overwhelmed.

That said, sieges are not meant to be unwinnable. With proper planning, numbers, and coordination, attackers can succeed. In practice, successful sieges usually involve:

Long-term preparation

Political support from multiple guilds

Resource stockpiling

Good timing, such as attacking during off-peak hours for defenders

Most random or poorly planned sieges will fail.

How Can Non-PvP Players Participate?

One important thing to understand is that settlement sieges are not only for hardcore PvP players.

PvE-oriented players usually contribute in indirect but important ways. This includes:

Fulfilling buy orders and commissions posted by the mayor

Crafting and supplying siege weapons

Gathering materials needed for defenses or repairs

Supporting logistics before and during the siege

In general, a well-supported siege effort depends heavily on players who never directly fight other players. This means crafters and gatherers still matter, even during large-scale PvP events.

Do Lower-Level Players Matter in Sieges?

Yes, lower-level players usually still have useful roles.

Ashes of Creation is designed so that not every siege role depends on raw combat stats. Lower-level characters can:

Operate siege weapons

Repair walls and fortifications

Provide proximity-based buffs

Scout or use stealth in key areas

Scale walls or disrupt objectives

In practice, this means newer players can still feel useful during sieges instead of being one-shot and ignored. Most organized groups will assign roles that match player strength instead of forcing everyone into direct combat.

How Big Are Settlement Sieges?

Settlement sieges are mostly open-world events, but they are controlled.

During Alpha-2 Phase-2 testing, sieges include a temporary registration and approval system for both attackers and defenders. This is mainly to limit the total number of players in the area, usually around 250 to 300 participants.

If a player is not registered and stays near the siege area, they will receive a warning and eventually be killed if they do not leave. This system exists to keep performance stable during testing and may change later as server capacity improves.

Some parts of sieges may include small instanced objectives inside the larger open-world event. These are short, focused battles tied to specific waypoints or goals, but the siege itself is not fully instanced.

What Happens When a Settlement Is Destroyed?

In the current Alpha-2 MVP version, full settlement destruction is not implemented yet.

Instead of completely wiping the settlement, successful attacks and defenses provide rewards through in-game mail. This allows developers to test siege mechanics without permanently damaging the world state during early testing.

In later versions, settlement destruction will matter more. Losing a node can remove player housing, reset development progress, and change access to nearby content. This is why defending your settlement is usually a high priority for players who live there.

Why Homeowners Care So Much About Sieges

If you own a house in a node, a settlement siege is not just background content.

Most players who own housing will actively defend their settlement, even if they are not PvP-focused. Losing a node can mean losing access to your home or seeing it destroyed in later versions of the game.

Because of this, defenders often have strong motivation and high participation rates. Attackers usually need to account for this when planning a siege, since homeowners tend to log in specifically to protect what they built.

How Players Prepare for Settlement Sieges

Most siege preparation happens long before the actual event.

Players usually prepare by:

Stockpiling materials and consumables

Coordinating with allied guilds

Assigning siege roles ahead of time

Managing gold for repairs, weapons, and logistics

Some players also focus on economic preparation. For example, ensuring enough gold is available to fund commissions or repairs is a common concern. This is why discussions around currency management often come up, including neutral mentions like buy AoC gold from a trusted site like U4N when players talk about external options, even though most players rely on in-game methods.

In general, preparation matters more than individual skill in large-scale sieges.

Are There Practice Sieges?

No, there are no practice sieges.

While some systems may resemble siege mechanics, players do not get separate training events. Most players learn how settlement sieges work by participating in real ones, usually as defenders first.

This makes early siege experiences messy, but it also keeps them feeling serious and meaningful instead of scripted.

What Settlement Sieges Mean for the World

Settlement sieges are one of the main tools that keep the Ashes of Creation world from becoming static.

In practice, this means:

Power shifts over time

Cities do not last forever

Player decisions have long-term consequences

Political alliances actually matter

Most players will not control these outcomes alone, but their participation still contributes to the bigger picture. Even players who avoid PvP entirely will feel the impact through changing markets, travel routes, and available content.

Final Thoughts on Settlement Sieges

Settlement sieges are not designed to be fair fights every time. They are designed to feel meaningful.

Most players will experience sieges as defenders first, reacting to a threat rather than starting one. Over time, as players understand the system better, sieges will likely become more strategic and politically driven instead of chaotic zerg fights.

If you live in a settlement, ignore sieges at your own risk. In Ashes of Creation, the world moves whether you participate or not.