In a swift update that caught most Aion players by surprise, NCSoft released a sexier line-up of Veteran Rewards covering subscription Months 7 – 11.

Loyal players who stuck with Aion since its launch last September have been receiving bonus items under the Veteran Rewards  program. Everyone liked the idea of freebies, but many wished to receive a more permanent or useful item than the Lodas amulets handed out as Months 1-6 reward.

Finally, the amulets have been replaced with life-saving Recovery Crystals and the gear-pumping Major Ancient Crown. Yay free Abyss Points! Nine-month subscribers should also look forward to extra storage space since NCSoft will be giving them an Expanded Warehouse Ticket. The complete reward scheme is as follows:

Months 7, 8, 10 and 11: Honored Daeva

• 5 Revival Stones
• 5 Recovery Crystals
• 1 Major Ancient Crown

Month 9: Guardian Daeva

• 5 Recovery Crystals
• 5 Revival Stones
• 1 Major Ancient Crown
• 1 Expand Warehouse Ticket

While altaholics and AP grinders rejoiced at the new rewards, I couldn’t help but feel bad for the raiders who still suffer from pitiful drop rates in elite dungeons like Dark Poeta. One just has to look at the first EU server kill of Tahabata Pyrelord–the ultimate boss in Dark Poeta–which yielded two measly items, including a so-so blue headband.

At least they got an Anuhart’s Elite Dirk for their trouble, but NCSoft should seriously raise the loot drops for this very difficult encounter. Because with more players reaching the end-game and new content from Version 1.9 still nowhere in sight outside of Korean servers, endgame raids are one of the few reasons we players are logging in.

So reward our patience and bump up those drop rates!