Monthly Archives: November 2013

Albion Online Adds New Twist to Equipment Customization

Albion Online Spells 1

Sandbox Interactive has shed some light on the unique equipment and crafting customization system in their upcoming cross-platform Sandbox MMO, Albion Online.  With a player-driven economy and territorial-based PVP, crafting and equipment are a centerpiece of the Albion Online experience.

In Albion Online, players craft items and onto these items spells, which are then available to them once an item is equipped. Because any item can be combined with any spell, and vice versa, there are nearly endless possibilities for combination!  Needless to say, this system offers a huge depth in terms of combination and how each individual player opts to set up their individual characters.

“Let’s say you want to craft a tier-two broadsword: currently, there are 30 different meaningful spell setups for this sword with room for expansion,” says David Salz, Technical Director for Albion Online. “What was important for us in designing this is that a weapon, although it has a lot of possibilities, still has a certain characteristic. So our broadsword is a bit more of a defense-oriented weapon.”

Albion Online Axe Spells

This Rock-Paper-Scissor style equipment division is seen throughout the game.  In comparison, a one-handed battle axe is focused more on close combat, direct damage spells; to complete the triangle we have a Paladin Hammer onto which players can craft a variety of healing spells and buffs.  This system makes it easier to read players during fights just by looking at a character: when someone with an axe is charging, you can anticipate some heavy damage, while if an opponent is wielding a one-handed hammer they’re more likely to be a healer.

These comparisons also extend to gear load-out, so that cloth armor leans more towards mana regeneration, stealth, energy shields, or cleanse, while plate armor is more about armor, instant self-heals, and survival mechanics.  Whether players will play up the natural enhancements of a piece of equipment or choose a spell or attribute that will give them a more balanced approach will be up to individual choice – and there’s no single “cookie cutter build” that will be the one correct answer.

Conquer Mars

Conquer Mars is a multiplayer strategy game designed for quick-hitting matches: no extra fuss. Eight player battles let you build twenty units at a time, focus your base-building on upgrades and defensive towers, and forgoes the individual unit for massive armies. Send your tanks out in a game designed more like Risk. Afterwards, hit replay and focus on armchair analysis before your next big match.

Ensemble Online

Ensemble Online is a free-to-play, open world strategy game with RPG elements. Available for PC, Mac, Linux, and some smartphones and tablets, Ensemble encourages you to thoughtfully gather resources, control territory, and construct your world, all while balancing careful diplomacy between friend and foe.

Features:

Open World Construction: Build a peaceful farming colony, or conquer the most popular land and defend it with a fortress – it’s up to you!

Expansive Map: Millions upon millions of tiles mean that Ensemble Online’s world is so expansive, you may be the first to discover what’s over that next sand dune.

Diplomacy System: Allies can harvest your farms – but your defense towers will only attack enemies. Will you share bases with your friends as a safe haven, and who can you trust?

MU ONLINE Celebrates the Harvest With November Events

MU Online is lining up a series of events for November for its players! Here’s the breakdown:

MU Monster

WHAT: MU HARVEST MADNESS

START DATE: November 6, 2013 at 11:00 am (Global Server Time)

END DATE: November 20, 2013 at 5:00 pm (GST)

DETAILS: A new harvest has dawned in the legendary continent of MU, which means it’s time for players to reap the rewards! During MU HARVEST MADNESS, all four servers (Valhalla, Helheim, Midgard and Yggdrasil) will compete in a bracket-styled tournament for exclusive in-game advantages and the coveted title of “The Ultimate Server.” From November 6 – 20, players can rally their friends together to vote for their server on the MU Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MUWEBZEN). Servers will go head-to-head to make it into the Final Round, where the winning server will be rewarded with the ultimate prize – an exclusive weeklong EXP Rate, plus an increased Item Drop Rate and Monster HP Rate (November 27 to December 4). Alternative rewards will also be distributed to the remaining three servers for participating.

Round 1 – November 6 – 10
Round 2 – November 11 – 15
Final Round – November 16 – 20

 

 

WHAT: BOUNTY HUNTER EVENT

START DATE: November 13, 2013 after maintenance (GST)

END DATE: November 20, 2013 before maintenance (GST)

DETAILS: For MU ONLINE, a bountiful harvest season calls for a bounty of a different sort – rewards in exchange for hunting characters masquerading as staff members. Starting November 13 after maintenance, a group of imposters will invade the sacred land of MU. Players should be forewarned that these treacherous characters will appear throughout the game under false pretenses, by bearing the names of GMs and MU Team Members. Those who defeat these duplicitous creatures will be handsomely rewarded with a GM Gift Box filled with in-game prizes. Bounty hunters have until November 20 to track down these imposters!

 

WHAT: SHARE MU WITH FRIENDS

START DATE: November 15, 2013 at 11:00 am (GST)

END DATE: November 27, 2013 at 5:00 pm (GST)

DETAILS: There’s no better time to reflect on thankfulness and friendship than the month of November. During the SHARE MU WITH FRIENDS event, players can enter to win a V8MA Gaming Mouse from BLOODY USA by inviting other gamers to join the action for MU ONLINE. From November 15-27, players are encouraged to ask their friends to join MU for the first time and help them level their characters up to 80. For each friend that they refer, they will receive one entry into a raffle. Players can enter this promotion by submitting their friend’s server name and character name on the MU forums. Three lucky winners will be selected to receive a gaming mouse from BLOODY USA and seven winners will be rewarded with 1000 WCoins(P). (All “friends” that are referred for this promotion must have joined MU ONLINE for the first time during the event period. WEBZEN will verify the account information for each new user).