1. Can you give us a preview of the item mall?
The layout and the coding is still being done or at least almost finished. We haven't decided on the final content of the IM though, however it won't be pay to win and almost everything should also be available in-game in some way.
2. Will there be crafting/all that crap?
Yep all that crap is in but with a major twist. Glacial is now only slightly better than Bedron and to get higher than that you need to craft.
Don't dismiss it just yet. All of the lower tier crafted gear has been removed and has been replaced with new sets that come after the highest forged gear. There are no level requirements to producing and gathering any more. This means you can gather all ingredients from around the map at any time and you can produce any item you want as long as you have the blueprint and the ingredients. A lot of the ingredients you will find just by farming and grinding but we had to throw in a little bit of gathering to mix things up a bit.
I'm working on things like the spirit stones now.
3. what about the exp rate/drop rate/success rate/stone rate/crone drop.
Exp will be somewhere in the range of x10-x20 I think. We've yet to finalise this. The server is designed to be low-mid rate. We'll be allowing reinforcing to go right up to +30 but the stats you get at +30 are the same as what you would have got from +10 before. Really, the whole system has been redesigned and at no point will your ancient gear or crafted gear be destroyed when you fail the reinforcement
4. What will you do about dex scouts who actually uses a bow? Will you some how magically make them balanced? :P
Of course
As we've said before, balance isn't just about dealing equal damage even though dex scouts need a small boost. Their main problem is a complete lack of PvP defenses which we'll rectify. Don't expect too much from them in PvP though, they're still primarily a PvE class and a fun alternative to wizzies.
Ancient and crafted crossbows and bows will have 100% save arrow built in which will help reduce some of the annoyance when trying to use these classes.
5. how soon do you expect a close/open beta?
We're hoping to hold an actual closed beta (invite only) before the end of this month and we're working like busy beavers trying to get everything done.
Thanks in advance!
You're welcome :P