Yearly Archives: 2012

MEAD: RIFT 1.8 – War of the Wanton Maw Event

MEAD: RIFT 1.8 – War of the Wanton Maw Event

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

We have all been expecting the 1.8 War of the Wanton Maw world event to end for some time. I’m not complaining mind you, I was feeling a bit of world event burn out after the huge event that was the Carnival of the Ascended. As a result I didn’t even look at the event until last week. That was when I discovered the epic quest line. It hasn’t been easy, one quest in the story took me three days to finish! So now I’m grateful for all the time I can get. Yes, it was announced not long after I started the quests that they would be made into a permanent storyline, but first they would be taken down. Which to me is completely intolerable, must finish! There has been more than just the epic quest though. There are daily quests, regular quests, a new currency, and even a new zone event that is quite unique and fun.

 

 

All Things Money

The currency this time around are called molten gold ingots and look like a pile of liquid gold on fire. Now, for me this is a bit troubling. I don’t know about anyone else but my coin purse isn’t designed to be carrying molten gold. And I don’t even want to ask how you’re supposed to measure how many you have. As is tradition there are merchants in the major cities who sell mostly planar essences. The first fishing lure buyable from a world event is also being sold. It is called Greedy Lure and keeps you from catching grey items while fishing. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve found that those grey items really tend to add up while fishing and they get me some pretty decent money. The merchants also sell the traditional items which make you and you weapons glow the color of the plane that is the focus of the event. This time around fire is the theme. Which I have to say I’m quite excited for because I have a lovely little Kelari who is obsessed with all things fire. She spent a little too much time around Mount Carcera as a child. And finally, the two mounts that were available during the Carnival of the Ascended are back. Nebula and Tindrel are still only purchasable with special quest rewards, this time called Crystalline Rage.

 

 

Quests

The first quest I got as I was making my way around to all the event questgivers was the quest to give over 500 molten gold ingots. At first I thought this was completely insane and decided that I refused to do it. That was before I discovered how easy it was to get 500. It took me only a few hours of doing zone events. And the reward for it was wonderful! 100,000 Planar Attunement experience! Best of all it is repeatable and that planar attunement xp remains the reward. In addition there are the traditional daily events. This time though you get two of them randomly every day. They can range from something as simple as summoning a rescue medic to the more lengthy defeating rifts. The rewards are small, but to be honest the quests are too. Which leads me to the big quests….

 

Epic Wanton Maw Quests

I mentioned the epic quests at the start of the article. They are huge, take big groups to finish and a whole lot of time. I haven’t finished yet, so I’m not even sure how it ends. It begins with an investigation. You’re sent out to collect invasion orders off the dead soldiers from major earth and fire rifts. This is no small task, and requires several people to complete. Once you finish that you’re sent to defeat these huge, angry brass creatures. This isn’t a difficult task, though my little cleric did get her face kicked in when she went up against one of them alone. But two of us went back and forth between two spawn points and were able to defeat 20 of them in maybe an hours time. Then came the beast. We were sent to take down this giant, epic level monster. When we got there though it was just the two of us. We asked around and managed to get 4 of us total. We tried it and were defeated, brutally. We tried a few more times before giving up for the night. The next day we went back, got ourselves into a group of 6 and it was still a fight but we did it!

 

 

After that we were sent to defeat the Captains of the attack forces; it was easy and fast with our two full groups backing us. That was when we got the dreaded parcels quest. We had heard people saying it took them a week to finish it! We didn’t have that kind of time so we got to it. Taking part in earth and fire zone events we slowly gathered everything we needed to get. Which has brought us to where we are now, defeating the Generals.

 

What comes beyond that? I’m not sure yet. Did I mention that for every stage of this questline the reward is a full planar attunement level? Well for defeating the Generals, in addition to that awesome full level we get gloves. These aren’t just any gloves though, they’re raid level and part of a set. Will we get the rest of the set as we finish the story? I hope so.

 

 

Zone Event

Zone events are always a bit part of world events. Each world event brings about a new zone event. In the past these zone events have been incredibly rare and as a result I missed them. Others have happened quite regularly; that is where this one falls. Unlikely Alliances only occurs in Shimmersand and Stillmoor and if you aren’t quick you’ll miss it. But it is a lot of fun, feels completely disorganized, and is over before it really should be. In two parts of the zone you defeat Monstrous Motes with the aid of giant heroes from both factions. Springing from the motes are a huge fire or earth creature. Once they’re both defeated the event is over. I am completely in love with the huge Defiant mechs which debuted during the Carnival of the Ascended.

 

So that is my wrap up on the 1.8 world event. It is a lot of fun and a lot of work. It has been getting us ready to take on a new raid which came out in 1.8 and I think I really am ready. Nevermind that I’m not geared and have almost no experience raiding. I hope we see more zone events like Unlikely Alliances in the future.

 

 

Before I let you go there is a bit of news that seems to be fairly unknown right now that needs to get around to everyone. With 1.9 (we don’t know when) some of the event currencies of the past will be phased out as will the items you can buy with them. From the start of 1.9 the following currencies will be gone: Otherworldly Sourcestone, Ancient Golden Dragon Egg Shell, and Rune King’s Seals. After 1.9 Dragon Tears and Magma Opals will be made obsolete as well. Three currencies are annual and will remain in the game, they are: Unique Snowflakes, Glass Beads and Carnival Prize Tickets. Basically what I’m saying is spend your old currency now before it is completely useless.

Born to Fire Online

Born to Fire is the latest title set to join the AeriaGames roster. It offers fast paced FPS action in a F2P title.

 

 

Features:

 

Character Oriented: Build your own character, teaching then unique skills from among 5 classes.

 

One-Click Matchmaking: Hop straight into game with ease of mind knowing your opponents will be matched to your skill level.

 

Replay: Record matches and trade the video files with your friends to show your greatest moments.

 

Massive Content: With 16 maps, 5 intense modes, and tons of character customization, this game brings the full package straight at launch. The game offers up to 8v8 matches.

 

Project Copernicus

Copernicus is the codename for an unparalleled MMOG entertainment experience set in a truly evolving fantasy world that is both warmly familiar and intriguingly unique. Creative giants R. A. Salvatore and Todd McFarlane, together with the design teams at Big Huge Games and 38 Studios, are crafting a story of epic conflict and heroic individual journeys in which the players’ actions will impact the fate of the world.

 

 

This storyline rests upon a solid design core that incorporates the best play and social experiences available to players at launch. Driven by the creative talents of Salvatore and McFarlane and enriched through an array of products that will allow broad and deep exploration of the vast universe of Copernicus, 38 Studios is combining the ages-old art of the story with 21st century interactive entertainment.

Overpowered: Funcom, the Elephant in the Room

Overpowered: Funcom, the Elephant in the Room

By Jonathan Doyle (Ardua), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

 

I have a question for our readers.

 

 

As you may have seen recently, I have started talking a bit about The Secret World. I can’t help it after all. I am as excited for the game as I have been for any other that I can remember. More so, it has been years in the making and for me the expectation is high.

 

 

However I have a question. I figure we should address the elephant in the room.

 

 

What has Funcom ever done to you?

 

 

Now I know some people are going to take the easy Internet argument and dismiss me as a fanboy. “Jonathan” they will say if they are polite, “You are just a rabid fanboy”. After that, comments will go quickly downhill.

 

 

However, I do honestly want to know. No company that I can think of in the massively multiplayer genre engenders as much ire, bile and dismissal as Funcom. And I don’t know why that is in particular. Oh I have theories and I hope to expand on them, but the fact of the matter is, I really don’t understand why people are so down on a company trying its best to try new things for us.

 


Some of you will very rightly point towards the, by all accounts, disastrous launch of Anarchy Online. Be fair though, that was early days and it seems that people are quick to forget the tough queue times of just launched World of Warcraft and the myriad of issues and hiccups other games have had when they took their first steps into the limelight.

 

 

Others will point to various mistakes and faults with Age of Conan. I am not going to excuse those faults. How could I? More to the point, why would I? I know they made mistakes with Age of Conan, but thankfully they do too. Some of them were boneheaded in the extreme; I’m looking at you female avatar strength issues.

 

 

The thing is, that happens. People are human, mistakes are our bag. I’ve seen tough launches of games and mistakes a plenty.

 

 

Electronic Arts sits on a fence between loved and loathed by gamers. They’ve cancelled their fair share of online games, but are also the ones running The Old Republic and bringing The Secret World to our computers. Blizzard is generally considered incapable of doing no wrong on the whole, but does itself irritate gamers on a regular basis. Cryptic creates games that have magnificent character creators and then run off into their own heavily instanced ideas of “multiplayer”. Sony Online Entertainment… For every Everquest and Planetside, there is a Matrix Online dying early and a Star Wars Galaxies suffering unusual patches. NCSoft… Well their whole business is Massively Multiplayer games and so they’ve closed plenty.

 

 

However, EA isn’t feared by gamers. NCSoft isn’t assumed to be on the brink of closing every game it has all the time. Sony isn’t assumed to be staffed by malicious people.

 

 

Why then is the name Funcom such a poison for some?

 

 

In the end, I think it is because people need someone to look down on. They need a whipping boy to point at and make an example of.  It really does all come down to human nature rather than the mistakes of the creators. We, as a genre of connoisseurs are convinced that we know best, that we know what is and is not worthy in our eyes.

 

 

What needs to happen then is those same connoisseurs need to open their eyes and minds. Funcom has made mistakes, but everyone has. Third time may indeed be the charm. If they fail again, they will be raked over the coals and deserve that. To be forewarned after all is to be forearmed.

 

 

Ultimately though, if it all goes well, perhaps the connoisseurs will wake up to a new realization. Funcom, if nothing else, with this new game is firmly in the vintage of “Interesting Worlds”.

 

 

I can think of worse labels, can’t you?

The Pride of Taern Proxzor Impressions

The Pride of Taern Proxzor Impressions

By Remko Molenaar (Proxzor), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

The Pride of Taern is a browser based RPG that lets you follow its story with a lot of different classes and a unique combat system to keep the game challenging. Make your hero and travel the world as the story develops around you, play alone or together in a guild and declare war against others to expand your grasp over the land. Arenas and tournaments are also offered to show off your skills at end-game.

 

 

Before I even touched the game I already noticed that the developers are a fan of multiple franchises. I have seen many things taken from other products and I was scared if I would be trying out a game that was simply a clone of its predecessors with a new skin. Even when making my first character I was a little bit surprised by the Archer class; just look at him, tell me that doesn’t look like Aragorn at all. When I got in the game however I was really surprised by what I saw. The game is actually really good looking and by far one of the best looking browser games on the market.

 

 

Right from the start you get sucked into the story and it immediately revolves around your character. I was together with my family until a war broke out with most of my loved ones getting caught in the crossfire. Unfortunately things went from bad to worse and soon I was the last remaining member of my bloodline, ready to claw my way out of my own personal hell to seek revenge. While doing the starter quests I was amazed at the attention to detail the designers put in the background and environment effects. My greatest gripe though was the walking pace of my character. It was absolutely terribly slow and in my opinion should be speed up because the longer you play in one setting, the more it grinds at you how slow you’re progressing. While walking through town I even was overtaken by a turtle with a snail on his back that looked like he was laughing at me.

 

 

The combat in Taern is really difficult; you have 12 AP that you can spend to dodge armor, ranged and magic attacks. On top of that you will have to choose what kind of attacks you want to do and how much damage. So you can either choose to fully block incoming melee attacks and deal 3 heavy attacks yourself. Or you can try to block a little from all the three possible attacks and deal 5 weaker attacks. Unfortunately it doesn’t really work that great yet and it is quite annoying if you are using a weapon to deal damage. The game comes with 2 preset attacks already but unfortunately I didn’t find any option whatsoever to make your own setup, resulting in me having to click through a lot of options at the beginning of each battle. Once again this combines with the slow movement speed to make for a tedious combat and questing system during long play sessions. One strange feature tacked on though is the card system. When a person dies he must draw a card to know the price he has to pay in order to return back on his feet.

 

 

Conclusion

All in all Taern is ahead of its time for what it offers within a browser game, but still has some minor issues to adjust. From my own point of few these mistakes are enough to deter players from wanting to play long-term, which is a shame since the RPG elements are so strong. If you are a big fan of RPGs in general and want the convenience of one in your browser, keep an eye on this title as I imagine it’s going to get a lot better with a few patches.

Eden Eternal Launches Newbie Guide Update

Aeria Games Launches Super Newbie Guide for Eden Eternal

 

Eden Eternal

 

Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, has released a brand-new content update for its anime MMORPG Eden Eternal, including intense new battles, daily recommended events, and a suite of features for new players called the “Super Newbie Guide.” The Super Newbie Guide will help new players get acquainted with the game’s mechanics and features as they level up faster than ever before. The combination of features will help new players get into the game faster while giving veteran players new events and vanity items to earn.

 

 

The Super Newbie Guide includes the following benefits for beginning players:

 

Level 1 to 50 Adjustments: EXP and fame obtained from quests are adjusted so players can level up more quickly, and players are less vulnerable to monsters, including Elites.

Teleport: Players can save time by directly teleporting between the beginning village and Tranquil Hill when they reach a certain level or complete a particular quest.

Alpaca Mount: An Alpaca Mount (1 day) will be awarded to players at Lv10/20/26 to increase their speed before they receive a full-time Alpaca at Level 30.

Other Changes: The UI and map display make it easier to find NPCs, quest details, and other key information. Potion cooldowns are reduced, and pet attack power is increased.

 

Eden Eternal

 

The Crystal Cross Badge, which players can use to purchase vanity items for their characters, is among the changes for veteran players. Players can obtain badges by participating in territory battles, where badges are distributed based on a player’s fatigue level. Higher fatigue will result in fewer badges, but fatigue is reset to zero with each weekly update; players can start fresh every week.

 

 

Daily recommended events, a new addition to the in-game event interface, give players new adventures each day. Players can complete a range of daily events to earn additional EXP, gold, Crystal Badges, and much more—check back every day!