Academic nodes

Alpha-2 Kaelar Academic node architecture.^[1]

A great Verran philosopher once stated, "To know the Gods, we must first know ourselves. Science is our looking glass." On Verra, the Essence flows through the fabric of the world. Each location focuses the Essence in different ways, allowing for interactions with the Essence that yield a variety of results. Nodes exist near these locations in the world that focus the Essence, and one such focus is that of the Scientific Node Type. Those who seek knowledge, technological advancement, and want to understand why the world is the way it is will find the Scientific Node is for them. In these Nodes, you’ll find sprawling questlines and rewards for crafters, gatherers, and those who seek the highest reaches of Artisan knowledge.^[2]

Academic nodes (also referred to as Scientific nodes)^[3] are focused on artisan classes and construction.^[4]

Scholar NPCs are present from the first stage of development (Expedition).^[4]

Upon first glance at a Scientific Node, players will find Scholars on an Expedition out in the wilderness, requesting aid in finding alchemical or natural reagents. If you should choose to help them, you may progress a Scientific Node beyond a lowly Expedition into something magnificent.^[2]

Specialization in Artisanship and Construction mechanics are granted through many of the NPC merchants and through the ancillary quest points within the Scientific Node Type. This will unlock abilities within many professions and allow specialization in the Gathering, Processing, and Crafting aspects of the Artisan system.^[2]

Academic nodes are likely the only node type that will be fully implemented at the beginning of Alpha-2. Aspects of other node types will be tested within the framework of the academic node election system.^[5]

List of Academic nodes

Node	Thumbnail	Type	Location
Joeva		Academic	Riverlands
Miraleth		Academic	Riverlands

Academic node superpower

Academic nodes that have reached Metropolis (stage 6) unlock teleportation within their vassal network, which can extend across seas, and also include islands.^[6]^[7]^[8]

If there are multiple scientific metropolises, then an airship will provide faster travel between those scientific metropolises for citizens of those nodes and their vassal nodes, so long as the metropolises are not at war.^[2]

Previously this was stated to be limited to citizens of metropolis academic nodes regardless of the stage of the vassal node, so long as the vassal node is not at war.^[2]

This will allow Citizens and Vassals of Scientific Metropolises to do things more quickly than others, as fast travel is limited in the world of Ashes of Creation. They’ll be able to exchange goods and information with ease and get to locations in the world at a quicker speed in order to gather crafting materials to create recipes, as well as participate in limited-time events.^[2]

Government

Academic node mayors are elected via ranked choice popular vote.^[9]^[10]^[11]

This was previously a single popular vote system.^[12]^[7] Records of who voted for who are not published.^[13]

Unique node buildings

Alpha-1 Node buildings.^[14]

Each node type has a unique service building associated with it that can be activated at Village (stage 3) of node advancement.^[15] The unique building plays a central role in the progress of civilization for a server realm.^[16]