Over the past 7 days, I have embarked on a challenging journey known as the Albion Online Ironman Challenge. Inspired by fellow content creator and friend NauskTV, I decided to bring myself and my twitch community a new perspective when playing Albion Online, one that would bring me back to a role I have not played in quite some time; the guild master.
The rules of the ironman challenge in Albion Online mirror closely the rules that you will find in a similar and iconic game known as Runescape. Runescape started their own revolution in ironman challenges where players began their own self imposed restrictions that eventually became a game mode in Runescape. My goal is that this more challenging rule set will eventually spawn an independent game mode in Albion Online as well.
So without further adieu, the rest of this blog will be dedicated to sharing the rules of the ironman and answering some frequently asked questions.
The rules of the Albion Online Ironman Challenge are as follows:
- Players are strongly encouraged to begin this challenge with Premium Membership. Without it, it would be too restrictive as an island is required to progress.
- Players cannot use the auction house marketplace (except for the Black Market).
- Players can only use NPC buildings for crafting (starting town crafters, repair stations, artifact foundry) which means that for T4 crafting and above they will have to build their own crafters on their personal or guild island.
- Players cannot trade with each other
- Players cannot party with non ironman players (with the exceptions noted in rule #6 below).
- Grouping with non ironman players is ok for expeditions and arenas (not HCE).
Some tips that I found useful while engaging in the challenge are as follows:
- There is a T4 saddler in the initial starting towns (Crosses) that will help with mount crafting early on.
- Salvaging unwanted equipment from dungeon loot allows you to get refined materials early to craft tools and other early game items.
- Completing the monthly adventurer challenge (premium required) allows you to receive a faster mount that you can use to transfer things to the black market for some early silver generation.
- Managing access to crafting stations on a guild island by only giving access to guild members who grind the stone blocks required for the station they wish to use preserves their ironman status (blocks received by such members should be deleted afterwards).
- For group ironman PvP activities, an exception can be made to aggregate all PvP loot obtained in a chest after the event occurred and allow participating members to choose the items they would like.
- Treasures (luxury goods) can be sold to the marketplace in which they must be delivered to receive full price.
- Fishing can be used to feed crafting stations for initial crafting needs.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. Is the Ironman challenge an official game mode in Albion Online?
A1. No but I hope one day it will be!
Q2. How do you ensure someone doesn’t cheat?
A2. I can’t but they would only be cheating themselves as there is no reward, ranking system, or reason for them to do so.
Q3. Do I have to join a guild to do this challenge?
A3. No but you should create your own guild to leverage the additional crafting station and housing plots of a guild island as the island upgrade costs get very expensive past the 3rd personal island upgrade.
Q4. Can I group with other ironman players?
A4. Yes so long as they are following the same rule set as you are in your challenge. There are many versions of the ironman currently being employed so ensure you are matched appropriately.
Q5. Can I keep the loot I get from PvP?
A5. Yes! In fact, it is a valid strategy early on to loot PvP kills for hard to get items.
Q6. Can I use the dungeon loot I get?
A6. Yes! Most of your early gear will be from dungeons as you wont be able to get your crafting stations up as fast as you will find usable dungeon loot.
Q7. Can I sell loot to the black market?
A7. Yes, it is actually among the most lucrative ways to earn silver in the ironman challenge.
Q8. Can I use the rewards I get from the adventurers challenge, including the mount?
A8. Yes! Since premium is required for the adventurers challenge, you get the benefit of that end of challenge mount every month for use in the ironman challenge.
These are some of the early observations I have had during this Albion Online Ironman Challenge. Please continue to ask questions across social media and through my twitch stream so that I may continually update this document to address the myriad of scenarios and questions that this new and fun self imposed game mode will undoubtedly bring up. Thanks for reading!
Kind Regards,
Blackboa