Yearly Archives: 2012

TERA Announces Politics and Premiums

TERA Announces Politics and Premiums

 

 

Big news comes in from TERA this week just two weeks after the launch in both North America and Europe. First up? The Political system starts up this week as candidates from across Arborea put their money where their mouth is to vie for 1 of 15 territories in each server.

 

 

Political System

Now not anyone can run for office. You’ll need to be level 50+ (60 preferred if you don’t want to get punked by your opponents in a pre-election duel), with a level 3 guild that houses more than 20 members. To throw your ring in the election hat you’ll have to fork over 3,000 gold and 100 Catharnach awards so think carefully of your chances of victory before committing the hard earned resources of you and your guild to the race. The deadline is fast approaching though on both versions so decide now what you want to do.

 

 

Once you’ve selected your continent and territory you’ll have to start campaigning. Players are only able to cast one vote per continent per account so you’ve got to fight against not only those campaigning directly against you, but also those campaigning in adjacent regions for votes. The voting character must also be level 20 so don’t waste too much time showing off on the Island of Dawn. How you earn your votes is entirely up to you, so we should see quite a show come out of this.

 

 

One week later (June 1st on NA servers), the winning candidates will ascend to office, receiving special mounts and the privilege to change policies for ruling their region. Of course to do so you’ll have to earn policy points so start making your members praise your faction now, and get ready to tackle some seriously powerful BAMs to earn more points the hard way. Vanarchs rule for 3 weeks and can control the following:

 

Tax Rates on Merchants

Open/Close Specialty Shops

Create Skill Trainers in Remote Locations

Upgrade Stamina Restore Clerics with New Abilities

Enable Access to Trade Brokers

Turn Open World PvP On/Off (PvP servers only)

 

 

Premium Shop

The other surprising update to come from TERA this week is the reveal of the premium shop. This is an area outside of the standard subscription fee in which players can buy name change scrolls, cosmetic changes, weapon skins, and even race/gender alterations. Prices seem on par with what most F2P titles charge for these conveniences, but opening premium shops in a P2P game is bound to cause controversy. One plus is the premium items are non-tradable so you can’t just buy them in bulk and sell them for power. Feel free to let us know what you think in our TERA discussion thread at OnRPG forums!

Tribes: Ascend Hits 1.2 Million Downloads

Tribes: Ascend Hits 1.2 Million Downloads

 

 

Hi-Rez Studios today announced that Tribes: Ascend has been downloaded 1.2 million times to date. The fast-paced, free-to-play multiplayer shooter was released on April 12th, 2012 to strong critical reception from the gaming press including Editor’s Choice awards from PC Gamer, IGN, and GameSpy and 10/10 scores from review sites worldwide including Eurogamer and Ausgamers.

 

 

“We’re thrilled that over 1 million gamers have discovered the fast-paced and skill-based gameplay of Tribes,” said Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios Chief Operating Officer. “It is truly the player support of the title that has driven the population growth and fuels our team to deliver updates.”

 

 

Hi-Rez Studios also announced that over 110,000 people have joined Tribes: Ascend via the recently introduced friend referral system.

 

 

“We see the community expanding primarily through positive word of mouth,” continues Todd. “Since release we’ve already recognized seven players who have each individually referred over 500 new people to Tribes: Ascend. The game’s success allows us to give back to the community through free DLC updates, tournament events and expansion into new markets in coming months.”

 

 

Tribes: Ascend has received three free DLC updates to date and has outlined a summer schedule for tournaments that include over $30,000 in cash and prizes for players.

 

 

Can’t get enough of the Esports scene? Hi-Rez also announced today that SMITE, their 3rd person mythology MOBA, will be hitting CB on May 31st! They are currently accepting pre-orders to ensure beta access including 10 permanent god unlocks plus five free gods. Check out the official site for more info: https://account.hirezstudios.com/smitegame/

WoW Wednesday: I’d Rather be Raiding

World of Warcraft Wednesday – I’d Rather be Raiding

Questions by Meredith Watson, OnRPG Journalist

Answers by: RocknRoll and Selamine, Outlaws Torn Guild Representatives

 

 

 

Raiding is serious business. Or so the hardcore World of Warcraft raiders would have us believe. If a guild wants to be number one in the world and clear all the content in the first week or month then raiding is very serious business. Not every guild is hardcore though. In fact, very few are. Most guilds in the World of Warcraft are casual raiding guilds or social guilds.

 

 

I’ve had the opportunity to talk to the guild leader as well as one of the raid leaders of Outlaws Torn, a casual raiding guild, to find out how they have succeeded as a guild for seven years and how the game has changed for the raider. Outlaws Torn is led by Rocknroll, a level 85 Tauren druid. They are currently one of the top horde guilds on their server Emerald Dream EU.

 

 

Can you tell me a little about yourself and the guild’s background?

 

Rocknroll: I’m Rocknroll, the server’s arch-druid and only remaining immortal. The guild’s almost as old as I am, started in 2005 by my brother, our friends and myself purely so we could play together and enjoy the game a bit more.  Initially, our guild started out as our friends. We extended to people who like heavy metal, then people who like beer, then anyone who can stealth, then we stopped drinking so much and actually made an effort to raid since we had a good group of people.

 

Selamine: Yes, hi.  I’m a post doc at Warwick uni, just finished my PHD in graphics end of last year and got into WoW through a fellow researcher. A wrath baby as the term goes.  Outlaws Torn was actually my second guild, first non-leveling guild.

 

 

You raided in vanilla. What challenges did you face finding 40 players to raid?

 

Rocknroll: Aye we did, although we never finished clearing Naxx. Primarily, our main issue was that our server, at the time, had a low population with 80% Alliance. We didn’t want to go through the logistical (and we deemed entirely unnecessary) steps of recruiting 50 people to get a solid 40 people every night. So, we worked with other guilds for 40-man raids, letting each bring in 5-10 people and it worked really well. It worked so well that people were joining us to join the co-op raids and eventually we inadvertently were taking 30 people from Outlaws Torn and needed less and less other guilds. But we didn’t try very hard.  We’ve always had kind of a casual ethos.

 

 

What was your most memorable boss kill of vanilla?

 

Rocknroll: Personally, it was our first kill on Venoxis in Zul’Gurub.  It earned my nickname “supermoonfire” since everyone was dead and I was left standing with the boss, killed it with moonfire. Started trying to tally how many bosses I could get killing blows on with moonfire as a healer.

 

Selamine: He’s still on the fingers of one hand.

 

Rocknroll: Yes, four.

 

 

How did you transition to 10 and 25 man raids in The Burning Crusade?

 

Rocknroll: Karazhan really suited us. At the time we had the perfect setup for two 10-man raids.

 

 

Were you able to do 25 man raids?

 

Rocknroll:Yes, it came really naturally after doing well in Karazhan with  two teams.

 

 

What was the biggest difference in TBC raiding versus vanilla?

 

Rocknroll: I can’t say that we felt much difference at the time, other than numbers of people involved.  Smaller raids made it much easier to organise and sustain. A lot of our guys still look back at TBC raids as the glory times.  We had a lot of active people and new things to do. It was more comfortable than vanilla. We stopped trying when we started Sunwell, I think. The other guilds on the server seemed so competitive and I just don’t want involvement in stuff like that.

 

 

How did you plan for the introduction of the DK in Wrath of the Lich King? Did you allocate a certain number of spots in your raiding roster for Dks?

 

Rocknroll: Well, I’ve always been given beta access for each expansion.  A lot of people go on beta and just moan about the changes to their class but I went and invested some time learning how good they’d be, how to play them and such. Before every expansion we do a “summer transfer” style period where we give people the opportunity to tell us if they aren’t enjoying their role, class, and such so we can prepare for them to re-roll or change specs permanently. We’ve never dictated what someone should play.  If people are forced to roll a spec then they won’t enjoy it and won’t perform as well as they could.  If they enjoy what they’re doing they’ll turn up more often, they’ll stay in the guild longer and remain a part of the team. It’s done us well over the years

 

 

Selamine: Although, with the expectant flood of  DKs, I’d say it was the opposite. We never really had enough.

 

Rocknroll: Yeah, we all made one but very few made the DK their main character.

 

 

Compared to TBC raiding what was the biggest change in raiding in WotLK? Selamine, did you start raiding in WotLK?

 

Rocknroll: Really I’d say the raids felt a bit more gritty. The devs really did a good job (for me) in making the raids feel like you were in Northrend.  It felt like we were pushing for a reason and didn’t mind getting our asses handed to us a few times.

 

Selamine: Yes, I started to play about a month before TBC ended and joined Outlaws Torn for Naxx runs just as they were downing KT.

 

 

What was your greatest success in Wotlk?

 

Rocknroll: Sel’s probably going to say our first LK 25 kill.

 

Selamine: Maybe Bane pre-4.0, that was hard. But LK25 did take some coordination it has to be said.

 

What about the differences between Cataclysm raiding and the other expansions?

 

Rocknroll: I think we’ve found the introduction of “flexi-raiding” a bit erm…well, it’s been fun.

 

Selamine: In the early stages, it did seem to be more along the lines of resource management towards sustainability, which is what Blizzard said they would be pushing. That has declined massively as we went through Cataclysm. Gear always had that effect.

 

 

Outlaws Torn is currently a top Horde guild on Emerald Dream EU. You must have been working hard to get there.

 

Selamine: We have always been casual. I’ve had month breaks through Firelands while submitting my PHD. We hardly work hard at it. Just a bunch of decent players with a similar ethos and mindset.

 

Rocknroll: At the start of Cataclysm we were the only really social guild that was doing well in raids on our server. At the announcement of 25 and 10  dropping the same loot, same achievements and stuff, a lot of the old guilds ditched people to fit into 10-man for easier content.

 

 

Are you looking forward to Mists of Pandaria? The monk class?

 

Rocknroll: We all are.

 

Selamine: Yes MoP is another milestone. It is still an enjoyable game. And I will be rerolling monk myself.

 

Rocknroll: Seems that over the years our guild just gets on with stuff and now we’re accidentally at the top of the pile on our server.

 

 

It was a pleasure meeting you both. I wish you much continued success and thank you again for chatting with me.

 

 

Soul Captor Online

Soul Captor is a fantasy MMORPG with an Eastern setting. Along the way, players will collect hundreds of souls from defeated monsters while defending the land from a mysterious evil. Expect challenging quests, adventure, and a magical world all open to be discovered. With six classes to choose from, you’ll find something that fits just right for you.

 

 

Features

 

The Soulpedia: Capture and collect the souls of fallen monsters across the world. Learn more about each one, and utilize them as mounts outside of combat.

 

Spirit Sidekick: Every character has a unique sidekick that can be utilized to your advantage. Plus, they can be switched from defensive, offensive, or healing quickly, allowing you to adapt to situations easily.

 

In-depth Friend System: Forge powerful bonds through gameplay. By doing so, you will unlock various buffs and bonuses to aid you in your journey. Boast the many achievements you have, and work together to attain even more!

 

Story and Lore: The game is rich with information. In-game cutscenes will tell you the story of the land as you seek to uncover the mysteries behind the evil spreading across the world. Rich storylines and colorful characters are everywhere!

 

Eudemons Online Promises Special Anniversary Events

What’s Special About EO’s 6th Anniversary?

 

 

 

It’s the 6th year of Eudemons Online, and this exciting, free-to-play MMORPG is far from over! Eudemons Online has grown up and changed a lot through these years, so what can we expect from the anniversary on June 1st?

 

 

Gamer Video Support

Games and gamers are inseparable. None of the games of today could have come so far without the help and support from their players. This anniversary, many EO fans have sent their videos to add to the official trailer. We’ll see players from all around the world in EO’s upcoming anniversary trailer. Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones to have their video included!

 

 

 

Real-World Gifts Giveaway

The in-game gifts are as great as ever, but there’s a special surprise for this anniversary! This time, TQ is offering special anniversary souvenirs from the real world! Check out these awesome Eudemon books & pins! There are altogether 10 unique pins per book. You can put them on your clothes, your bag, your hat, or any other place you like! Just join the Eudemons 6th Anniversary celebration events, and you’ll get your chance to grab these incredible gifts!

 

 

 

For more information check their official site.

Runes of Magic Announces New Classes for Fires of Shadowforge

Runes of Magic Announces New Classes for Fires of Shadowforge

 

 

Only a few weeks remain until the anxiously anticipated release of Fires of Shadowforge, the fifth chapter of the Fantasy MMORPG Runes of Magic. Now, Frogster is providing details on the two new classes, the Champion and the Warlock, and their special abilities.

 

 

Like the Warlock, the Champion class will only be available to the Dwarves. One of the unique abilities of this class is its capacity to transform into a Runic Robot. This form allows for additional devastating magic and attacks that are particularly useful in melee combat, making the Champion very effective at soaking up damage.

 

 

With access to the Dwarves’ ancient blacksmithing skills, the Champion has the potential to create and equip powerful weapons and armour. Armaments embedded with runes offer nearly impenetrable protection without forfeiting mobility. Long familiarity with the forge hammer has made the Champion’s hands into efficient instruments of creation and destruction. This barbaric combination of strength and swiftness fortifies their reputation as steel demons of the battlefield, and makes a Champion the ideal tank and attack class. Their broad variety of in-game capabilities will be a pleasure for veteran gamers.

 

 

In contrast, the Warlock’s fighting style is characterised by long-range attacks and sapping enemy strength. Through exhaustive experimentation with the dark magic of the Shadowforge Dwarves, this class has developed techniques for harnessing spiritual energy in order to become powerful spellcasters. With this mystical power, Warlocks are capable of both tearing enemies to pieces and helping allies in need. In direct combat, the Warlock can thus be played as a support class or an additional damage dealer.

Warhammer Wrath of Heroes Beta Impressions

Warhammer Wrath of Heroes

By Remko Molenaar (Proxzor), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

Luckily I had the chance to be part of a press event for the upcoming new Warhammer game, Wrath of Heroes. In this event we were able to play some games with the developers and we were taught some of the scenarios. Together with JamesBl0nde who also offered up his video impressions yesterday, we played three scenarios on three different maps. In my write-up I’m going to focus on my impressions of each of these scenarios.

 

 

Mourkain Temple

In the first game I teamed up together with some other members of the press to play versus the other teams. My first thought on the game was Wrath of Heroes does things differently. Unlike many other games in this genre there will always be three teams on the battlefield and each team consists of six players. At first I was hesitant that with 3 teams and 18 players the entire bout would just be a free for all orgy in the middle of the map. To my surprise this works out quite well and character builds, player skill, and team composition really has a stark contrast on the outcome. It was a lot more exciting having to worry about a third party gank while in a vicious struggle to hold an objective or protect our flag.

 

 

In the first game the objective was to capture one of the surrounding flags, there are in total three flags and once you take over one of the flags you are able to go to the middle building and take over the artifact. When capturing these flags the team automatically receives points; after your team has taken over a flag it is possible to take over the artifact, leading to an even faster accumulation of points. Each kill that is made by your team will also earn you points, so even if your team is full of rogue vigilantes out for revenge instead of a cohesive objective focused team there’s still a chance you can come out on top. The scenarios are relatively short and capped by a 15 minute time limit as well as a mercy score limit. The game is surprisingly intuitive if you’ve ever played Warhammer Online or MOBAs, and I had no problem topping the scoreboard in my first match just through learning the mechanics on the fly!

 

 

Black Fire Pass

In the second game we played a new game mode that I actually haven’t seen in any other game before. In this scenario the point was to collect as many coins for your base as possible out of the three coins in the field. Once the game starts each one of these coins will automatically spawn in the middle and you have to try and get as many as possible. Once one of these teams has taken one of the coins back to their temple their job is not done. It is always best to have the three coins in your temple but you will have to attack and defend at the same time, since the other teams are able to snatch that coin back and capture it as their own. So unless your team doesn’t hold any coin yet I would advise you to always have someone overlooking your precious coin. I haven’t seen this game mode before, but I must say that I think it is the most awesome scenario of the three we played.

 

 

Arena

The last scenario is none other than the Arena! In the Arena three teams will have to fight against each other in order to win the game. There are no rules whatsoever, and it requires some real team play in order to win this scenario. As a lone soul I had been successful sniping down opponents in the other scenarios. However when killing your opponents is the primary objective, I found most teams moved in packs. After two quick deaths I learned my lesson and regrouped with my faction. The Arena is definitely not my scenario of choice if I’m planning to play solo.

 

 

Since Wrath of the Heroes is a free to play game you will have to purchase some of the heroes in the store. In the store you can find a lot of other heroes with all of their own unique abilities, and if you don’t really like their default skin you can purchase a variation. In the store you will also find some items that will boost your experience or your money income.

 

 

If you played Warhammer Online you may feel a bit of nostalgia seeing some of the familiar skills reused in this title. Many spells that are used by some of the heroes are actually a direct copy from Age of Reckoning and even some of the heroes look like characters that you were able to make. Personally I don’t really mind this transition since Wrath of Heroes is a free game.

 

 

Although I only had a short period of time to test the title, I was impressed by what has been put together. The developers seem to take community feedback seriously and have demonstrated that they are still masters of PvP scenarios. I seriously hope they will also try to add a competitive side of the game, like some sort of team league or a ladder system for the real die-hard fans that are as much into e-sports like I am.