Hello Everyone!

With the official servers for ArcheAge closing soon, many of the remaining players are looking for alternatives to continue playing. I've put together a detailed introduction to features as well as rumored controversies for both ArcheRage and ArcheAge Classic. This will be done in hopes that you can make an informed decision on which server to play on. Whether your a veteran of the game or a curious newcomer I hope to provide a in-depth explanation of both servers features and their issues based on what I have learned or heard. Please be aware that all of the information included in this post will not be updated and is from my interpretation of both servers. If you have anything to add or refute please provide it in the comments below so readers can form their own opinions.

ArcheRage

Pros:

• Server is well developed and has an experienced team working on custom content consistently.
• Currently on a patch that will be familiar to ArcheAge Unchained and new official server players 8.0.
• Donations are not mandatory and all cash shop items can be purchased for gold (similar to apex)
• Custom Content:
  • Several quest lines that are well fleshed out with unique mechanics and rewards. (5 chapters)
  • Custom mounts, pets and gliders.
  • Custom housing and décor.
  • Staff host player ran events. (Gladiator tournaments)
  • Custom Zone with worthwhile rewards
• Increased rates:
  • 2x Growth time
  • 5x Experience
  • 2x Production time
  • 4x Labor regen
  • 2x Honor
• All gear is much easier to progress
  • Decreased experience requirements
  • Increased Awakening chance
  • Decreased Crystallization chance.
• Support Pack for new players and a Returning player pack.
• Account Purchasing System.
• Administration has no ties to the player base as they are RU. Unlikely to experience favoritism.
• Open to feedback and suggestions (Previously this was a major issue)
• EU and NA boss spawns.
• Active forums with staff run events.
• Well developed Anti-Cheat
• Staff run Wiki that pulls data directly from their custom database. (ArcheAge Codex for their version)
  • Players contribute images of different items to add to the database.

Cons:

• While the server has increased rates and gearing is much faster but it is still very P2W. Credits can be sold to other players for gold.
• Admins are RU and this can lead to misunderstandings during both ticketing and normal dialogue.
• Account Purchasing System is primarily used for players to RMT accounts.
• Important cash shop items are introduced to the game via RNG boxes but are tradeable.
• Donations have to be done via crypto or via a player made solution.
• Anti-Cheat is intrusive
• Accused of selling gold to players.
• No referral system.

ArcheAge Classic

Pros:

• Server is currently on a nostalgic 3.0 patch
• Increased Rates
  • 2x Experience
  • 4x Labor Regen
  • 10,000 Labor pool (Usually 5k in this patch)
  • PvP Honor x4, PvE and Quest honor x2
• Custom Content
  • Custom quests that teach new players to participate in word bosses.
  • Mounts are gained by doing custom quests.
  • New World boss and Event.
  • Gliders are obtained via crafting.
• Quality of Life Changes
  • Replanting Feature.
  • Commerce and Fishing cost 2x labor but return 2x rewards.
  • Ship components can be salvaged into scraps and crafted into any other component.
  • Obsidian crafting materials are unbound.
  • Custom buffs that require different proficiencies.
• Support Pack for new players.
• Open to custom content suggestions.
• EU and NA boss spawns.
• Cash Shop is primarily filled with cosmetic items. (see cons)
• Player made Wiki where anyone can contribute.
• Referral System is automatic

Cons:

• Administration is unprofessional.
  • Spawned in items for a particular group and never addressed it properly.
  • Actively insults players, especially common in the servers earlier months during turbulent times.
  • Player Helpers in the past have leaked private information leading to advantages for certain players.
    • Private discord Siege Bids.
• Large changes are typically unpolished when released.
• Deadlines are missed frequently.
• You must link your discord account to your game account.
• Anti-Cheat does not prevent cheaters and is intrusive.
  • Stealth hacking, Flying, Land Grabbing and Radars still work.
• Ticketing system is only done via discord.
• Cash shop has had items such as Cow Karts and Hello Kitty car introduced that include trade pack slots.
• There is no opportunity to buy cash shop items through in-game means.
• Race transformations are disabled.
• Depreciated forums with little to no activity.
• Owning land has little value due to the state of the economy.
  • Items sell slowly and/or have low value in comparison to effort due to other more profitable custom labor dumps.
• Stat costumes were not released at launch and delayed with the intention of a new system being implemented.
  • New System was never added and players stacked synthium shards until it was randomly released.