In WoW-Classic there has been a Hardcore mode for almost a week now. Each character has only one life, and if they die, they must start over. Blizzard has now revealed which class dies the most. It is the Hunter.
How often do Hunters die? On August 30, the developers revealed that so far 32% of all created Hunters have already died. This is the highest value among all classes. The result is surprising … but somehow also not:
At first glance, Hunters seem like a strong class for the Hardcore mode. They have a pet that can tank, traps to prepare for a tough fight, rely on ranged combat, and can escape a fight thanks to the ability “Feign Death” with a bit of luck.
However, a closer look reveals problems. Hunters are among the weakest classes in DPS according to WoWHead. Additionally, ranged combat is a disadvantage because it does not level the hit chance in melee and the defense. If the pet dies, you can be easily defeated.
Another drawback is that Hunters only get their animal companion at level 10. On average, players die around level 9 in Hardcore mode. The class cannot yet tap into its full potential. Also, “Feign Death” is only available at a higher level.
The most deaths occurred for the Horde around Orgrimmar, Durotar, and Mulgore. So primarily in the starting areas. The Alliance players are increasingly making it to Westfall and Darkshore, with many deaths also reported around Ironforge.
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The Hardcore servers have indeed sparked a bit of hype among players. On Reddit, there are countless funny stories about how silly one died or how nice other players helped out.
In the week before the Early Access of Starfield, a leaker published around 45 minutes of shaky gameplay and gave his first assessment of the game. He had stolen his game versions and was arrested. The story behind it is quite crazy.
Leaks, data mining, and unconfirmed early information are part of a major release for some players. There are entire communities that express their excitement for a game by meticulously tracking down fragments of information.
When users even provide solid information about a new game, perhaps even breaking a confidentiality agreement to give leakers fresh insights, they can even become heroes.
In the subreddit “GamingLeaksAndRumors” on the discussion platform Reddit, this hero is currently Darin “Lord Tyrone” Harris. After Harris posted 45 minutes of gameplay from Starfield and his assessment online, he was arrested by the police in Shelby County, USA. Apparently for theft and marijuana.
For a brief insight into the gameplay of Starfield, check out our video:
Start video
7 gameplay highlights from Starfield that you should know about
Starfield: Leaks, Theft, and a Bit of Grass
The story behind the leak: The story behind the leak sounds wild. Harris allegedly did not have access to a preview version but is said to have broken into a warehouse and stolen 67 copies of Starfield (via polygon.com).
Accordingly, Harris was also not prosecuted for violating confidentiality agreements.
According to a report by eu.commercialappeal.com, Harris intended to sell the stolen copies. According to this report, there is a video of him that he posted himself showing him sending packages with the Starfield games at a post office. With the help of the security company of the warehouse, a lead to Harris was reportedly established.
A search warrant was issued, and Starfield copies were found. Harris himself said that he had bought the copies from an unknown individual.
The leaker “Lord Tyrone” was subsequently charged with grand theft. He also received a charge because a stolen firearm and marijuana were found. Harris could face a fine ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
However, the leaker is no longer in jail: Harris has posted his bail of $10,000. The hearing is scheduled for September 8.
What happened next? In the subreddit “GamingLeaksAndRumors”, the story went a little further.
As the US site Kotaku reports, they received an email from Jasper Adkins providing evidence that he was in contact with the local police to assist in identifying Harris. Kotaku writes that he sent screenshots which are supposed to prove the communication with the police (via kotaku.com).
It is unclear whether Adkins’ help actually contributed to identifying Harris. However, Adkins felt secure enough to boast in the leak subreddit that he was in contact with the police to catch the leaker.
He quickly received a message that he had violated the subreddit rules and was banned. Adkins contacted the admins and claimed that the response was: “Just not interested in having someone here who goes against the community like that”.
Adkins said: “Undoubtedly, the community will condemn me while criminals gain meme and legend status. It’s no wonder people are losing faith in humanity.” Leaks are okay, theft is where he draws the line.
Not much longer and leaks about the release of Starfield won’t matter anymore. On August 31 at 6 PM, the review embargo will be lifted, and the first streamers will be allowed to show the RPG, with early access starting on September 1 at 2 AM German time.
A hardware bundle in the Starfield design is currently being offered on eBay. The manufacturer AMD has limited the set of graphics card and CPU to 500 units. A few days before the auction ends, the bids are already in the thousands of euros.
The game studio Bethesda and hardware developer AMD are actively promoting the upcoming space RPG Starfield. For Bethesda, this is the first new game brand in more than 25 years. Therefore, it is even more important for the developer to present its new role-playing game with a science fiction setting to the gaming community.
In collaboration with AMD, unique hardware in the art style of Starfield has been created in limited quantities. And this hardware has now landed on eBay for a lot of money.
Start video
Starfield shows the Chronomark watch of the Constellation Edition
Auction for a supposedly good cause
On eBay, one of these hardware packages is now being offered for purchase. The seller emphasizes that they only have good intentions and want to donate the money to a charity after the auction ends.
So the seller writes:
All proceeds from the sale of this item will go towards supporting Mental Drive Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting inclusion, diversity, and awareness of mental health issues. We hope the money ends up in the right hands.
Article description for the auction on eBay
What amounts of money are involved? Currently, the highest bid is over 3,330 euros. The auction will still run for several days. It is assumed that the final sale proceeds will be many times higher than the current highest bid.
Why should such offers be viewed critically? Even though the auction is supposed to serve a charitable purpose, potential buyers must still be cautious and take a close look at the auction and the seller behind it. Due to false information on sales platforms, scammers have often deceived many gullible buyers and have in some cases taken a lot of money from them.
Whether the seller actually donates the money for charitable purposes in the end is only known by the seller themselves.
Especially with special and limited edition items, interest is generally high and can quickly lead to recklessness.
What makes the offered components so interesting? As the exclusive PC partner, AMD supports the release of the role-playing game. A package consisting of a Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor and RX 7900 XTX graphics card has been put together, which is visually inspired by Bethesda’s new title.
How does the hardware differ in color from the standard design? The Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor itself does not visually differ from its normal variant, which is regularly available in stores. However, its packaging shines in black-and-white Starfield design and could be highly sought after by collectors.
Why is the RX 7900 XTX more attractive? The true highlight of this bundle is the graphics card. The card, which is white, has been adorned with the typical rainbow accents of Starfield. Even the power cable of the stylish pixel accelerator is eye-catching and has been colored accordingly.
How does one get the hardware duo? The limited edition of 500 units is not available through the normal retail or online store routes. Those who want to own one of the coveted sets had to be very lucky in one of the raffles by Bethesda and AMD, where the hardware was given away. Alternatively, the search for available sales offers on the internet remains.
More information about Starfield can be found directly on MeinMMO:
League of Legends has several ranks in its ranking mode that categorize players based on their skills. The lower you go, the weaker the players become in terms of mechanical skill. Currently, an unconventional champion known for his bluntness dominates in Bronze.
Which champion is it? The champion Garen has been in LoL since the beginning and has always been known for being incredibly blunt.
Has a high passive heal
Can silence opponents
Is very tanky himself but deals massive damage with his E ability and his ultimate.
No ability requires mechanical skill
Actually, Garen is a classic top laner, but apparently he also dominates the mid lane in Bronze. With a win rate of 55.66% (via. U.GG as of 31.08.2023), he is only ranked 4th among the best champions in the role, but a win rate over 55% is still incredibly high.
Start video
LoL: Video shows the relationship between rank placement, MMR and league points
Blunt is Trumpf
Why is that? Many mages are currently in a rather poor state and are dominated by assassins. They have few tools to defend themselves or many skill shots, which require hitting the target. And even if they hit, Garen can heal himself in no time if he is not hit for a short period.
Accordingly, Garen simply runs at the mostly immobile mid laners and kills them quickly. With his ultimate, he can even execute opponents with a fair amount of health. Consequently, he is also a frustrating match-up. However, if you know Garen and can consistently stun him, he is less of a threat.
Looking at the statistics in Silver, he is no longer even present on the mid lane. However, Tryndamere is at the top, following a similar strategy. Interestingly, Garen is right back at the top from Platinum, so he seems to have found a successful spot in the current mid lane meta.
The newest mid laner is also of the simpler variety and suitable for beginners:
This dominance may change again in the coming weeks, as today’s patch buffs some mid laners and nerfs some assassins, potentially leading to a mage-based mid lane again.
Worlds are coming up again soon, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Europe will qualify:
As limited as magic in Baldur’s Gate 3 may be, it can be incredibly powerful: A Reddit user has created a magic build that can deal up to 2016 (!) points of damage in a single round. To help you defeat your opponents with a snap of your fingers, we have put together this guide.
What happened? Reddit user King-mollusk posted their wizard/sorcerer/cleric build. With this specific build, their spell Lightning Bolt deals 2016 damage in a single round, which can be split among up to four enemies.
Since most tough opponents have between 100 and 200 hit points, this spell can quickly end even the most challenging fights. Even the current “highest health” boss with over 600 hit points looks pale in comparison.
You can read an effective strategy for such a challenging boss fight here:
What items do you need? For the build to reach its full potential, you will need the following two items:
Markoheshkir: You can find the battle staff in Ramazith’s Tower, which is located in Baldur’s Gate. It gives you a +1 bonus to your spell save DC and attack rolls with spells. Additionally, the staff can be used as an Arcane Battery, allowing you to cast a spell without using a spell slot. On top of that, the weapon grants you the spell Kereska’s Favor.
Amulet of the Believer: You can find this amulet in the basement of the Stormweaver’s Tabernacle. This item also gives you a bonus to your spell save DC: +2.
Which spell do you need? You will achieve 2016 damage points with the spell “Lightning Bolt.” With this, you shoot a bolt that can hit a primary target and then chains to up to three other enemies within an 18-meter radius.
The spell is a 6th-level spell and requires an action. Your targets must make a Dexterity saving throw. Even on a successful save, they still take half damage.
If your target is weak against lightning attacks, they take double damage. To ensure this, make sure the enemy is wet. Shadowheart or Gale can cast “Create Water” on the enemies, for example. The spell doesn’t count as an attack, so you can trigger it as preparation before the fight.
Alternatively, you can throw a bottle or barrel of water. As long as all your desired targets end up well-drenched, it works.
The Classes for Your OP Magic Build
What class levels should you take? For an optimal build, you need a combination of three different classes. Here you will find a selection of our articles on the fundamentals of multiclassing.
1x Wizard: One level is enough to give you the ability to learn spells from scrolls.
9x Sorcerer: Choose the subclass “Storm Sorcerer” at level four.
2x Cleric: Take the Domain of Storms for the cleric.
Which attributes should you focus on for the build? Since spell damage increases with your intelligence, you should invest most points in this attribute. Charisma is also the basis for many spells and can also be emphasized accordingly.
What traits and abilities do you need? You spend your spell points on “Quickened Spell” and “Twin Spell.” The former turns a bonus action into an action and costs three spell points. The latter allows you to cast two spells with one cast. You will spend six points here.
Through the cleric, you also have “Divine Intervention.” With the passive ability “Destructive Wrath,” your enemies always take full attack damage – provided you hit. This ensures that you maximize your spells’ potential.
The Calculation 1. Lightning Bolt deals 10d8 damage on a cast, which means a maximum of 80 damage to the primary target. Your battle staff adds an additional four damage: 80 + 4 = 84
2. Normally, secondary targets only take half damage. However, if you focus your divine power “Destructive Wrath,” they also take full damage: 84 x 4 = 336
3. If your enemies are wet, they are vulnerable to lightning damage and take double damage: 336 x 2 = 672
Your battle staff Markoheshkir gives you the ability to cast Lightning Bolt multiple times per turn. In combination with your nine spell points, you can cast Lightning Bolt up to three times in a single turn. Use your spell points for the metamagic abilities “Quickened Spell” and “Twin Spell.”
The final calculation: 3 x 672 = 2016
We have not yet been able to thoroughly test this build. Therefore, we have relied on the Reddit post as well as our own experience for this article.
Have you already seen the build in full action? How many damage points have you managed to deal so far? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
If you are generally interested in playing a magic-using class, you can check out our Gale build here:
In EA Sports FC 24, there will be a series of new goal celebrations. Online, a comedian has unofficially applied for a place among the new celebrations in the upcoming FIFA successor with his imitation of a goal celebration.
What is it about? During one of his stand-up shows, Brit Karl Porter surprisingly mimicked the process of scoring a goal and the subsequent celebration. The audience was able to document every single change in the comedian’s facial expressions and gestures because Porter made his movements in slow motion.
The audience was ecstatic and the video quickly became a hit on the internet. This shows that this goal celebration could also work very well for FC 24, at least theoretically.
Would the slow-motion celebration also be something for EA Sports FC 24?
Anyone who has ever watched a replay at FIFA or during football matches on TV must admit that Porter delivers an almost perfect imitation of a goal achievement followed by a celebration in slow motion.
Imagine if you could celebrate your goals in EA Sports FC 24 like this. Instead of running wildly through the stadium or to the corner flag, your player celebrates his goal right on the spot in half speed. The comedy factor would be incredibly high with this goal celebration. However, we see a few problems that speak against its integration into the game.
What are the problems with the celebration for FC 24? Unfortunately, there are two things that make the inclusion of this piece of art in FC 24 difficult.
On the other hand, this goal celebration requires a lot of time; so much time that it would overly strain the patience of the opponent. The longest goal celebrations in FIFA 23 last around 10 seconds.
To properly showcase the slow-motion celebration, you would certainly need to plan at least twice as much time. That could become quite annoying over time.
No slow-motion celebration in FC 24 for now: For these two reasons alone, the slow-motion celebration will, at least for the foreseeable future, not be a topic for EA Sports FC 24. This means for you that you will still have to create slow-motion celebrations yourself using the replay feature.
But who knows? Maybe our celebration specialist Karl Porter will come up with a few other videos, so that EA Sports can’t ignore him and his poses anymore.
Tonight at 2:00 AM, the Early Access of Starfield begins. Especially on Steam, the preload may cause stress at launch – a user explains why you shouldn’t panic right away.
What is this note about? A small but helpful tip from the Starfield community on Reddit.
User ComManDerBG shares his experiences with early access actions related to a preload on Steam. He receives many upvotes, comments, and people thank him (via reddit.com).
The note: As soon as at 2:00 AM the Early Access starts on Steam, Starfield is still not ready to play. Steam initially only stores compressed files, and only when Early Access is truly available does Steam unpack the files.
The speed of unpacking depends on the hard drive. A user in the comments adds that the processor also plays a role.
Starfield requires an SSD in its minimum system requirements, and the faster the hard drive, the sooner you can start the RPG on Steam. Starfield will probably run on an HDD as well, but the loading times will likely increase significantly.
ComManDerBG recommends not to panic right away when Steam is still working on Starfield in the “Downloads” window. While it may well be that a few files still need to be downloaded for Early Access, most of it should be running through the drives (unpacking), not over the network (download).
You can check in the download window above if Steam is currently downloading something or just unpacking. The blue bars represent downloads, while the green line represents drive processes.
If only the green line has high spikes, then it is mainly unpacking.
The hype around Starfield is great, the mood is emotionally charged. If something goes wrong with the download, it can quickly lead to knee-jerk reactions.
Before you restart the download completely, it’s better to be a little patient and observe what Steam is doing. Restarting the download should be your last resort if something is wrong.
This includes, among other things, the starters from Scarlet & Violet, but also a monster that fans consider one of the pseudo-legendaries: Frospino, which evolves into Espinodon via Cryospino.
Espinodon is already considered one of the favorites of the new monsters by some players, as it has the potential to become one of the best attackers in Pokémon GO.
A leak from the data miners at Pokéminers also suggests that Espinodon could get really strong attacks, making it a great monster for raids (via reddit).
In the trailer, Espinodon’s pre-evolution Frospino can be seen briefly:
Start video
Pokémon GO brings the first Paldea Pokémon
However, the excitement for the new monster is still somewhat tempered, as it is uncertain how many specimens will actually be seen.
The Problem with Rare Pokémon
What is the problem? The pseudo-legendaries in Pokémon GO are known to be notoriously rare – at least right after their release. Monsters like Kaumalat, Kapuno, or Miniras took players ages before they eventually became more common.
Players now suspect the same for Espinodon, or rather its pre-evolution. While Frospino will be included among the wild Pokémon of the second hyperbonus event, it has the unique restriction that it can be found “with a bit of luck.” Thus, it will be a rarer spawn than the other monsters. (via pokemongolive.com)
Additionally, Frospino will be available in 10 km eggs starting September 15, along with monsters like Ignivor, Rocara, Viscora, Miniras, and others.
Consequently, trainers are looking forward to the new monster, but they are also apprehensive about the possibly high rarity of Frospino, Cryospino, and Espinodon:
Espinodon, a better dragon than Rayquaza, as an ice attacker on par with Crypto-Mamutel and strong as a rocket attacker with Ice Fang. This could become one of the most useful PvE monsters ever!, predicts a user (via reddit) based on the current data. However, it must be said that Espinodon could still face a nerf upon actual release.
I can’t wait to never get an Espinodon!, jokes another (via reddit).
The new Milza/Miniras has returned, says another comment (via reddit).
Others joke that you should already look forward to Community Day 2027 when it will be widely available. To what extent that actually happens is of course uncertain. However, past pseudo-legendaries showed that it is not far-fetched to expect that you should not hope too soon for the cool monster.
The exact nature of the release will be revealed at the event. And speaking of events: Here you will find an overview of the new events in September 2023 in Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Corsair has introduced a new gaming mouse for MMO players and gamers in need of many buttons with the Darkstar Wireless. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann was able to extensively test the mouse and reveals in his review how it performs in everyday use.
Mice with a lot of buttons are a specialty in the MMO mouse market. With the Darkstar Wireless, Corsair has now released a new gaming mouse featuring many buttons for players.
A few months ago, Razer released its new Naga V2 Pro, which the manufacturer confidently calls the “MMO King”. You can read the review of the Naga V2 Pro on MeinMMO.
In my review, I looked at Corsair’s new Darkstar Wireless. With a price of 169.99 euros, it is in line with what Razer charges for its Naga V2 Pro. The internal specifications are also similar, making a comparison worthwhile. In my review, you will learn how Corsair’s Darkstar Wireless performs.
Who tested it?
I am Benedikt and have a passion for gaming mice, owning over 20 gaming mice and a good dozen keyboards privately. I have been testing hardware for MeinMMO for our readers since 2019. Mice are among my favorites alongside gaming headsets and keyboards when it comes to PC and console peripherals. Nowadays, I am also using the Steam Deck in addition to the PS5.
The Darkstar Wireless MMO mouse was provided to me by Corsair for testing.
Benedikt Schlotmann Hardware editor MeinMMO
Features and technical details:
Sensor
Corsair Marksman
Resolution
Up to 26,000 DPI
Switches
Corsair Quickstrike, optical switches
Buttons
15 fully programmable buttons
Design
Black mouse. RGB lighting on the front, top, and manufacturer logo
Skates
2
Cable
Detachable 2.0 m USB-C cable
Weight
96 grams
Price (RRP)
169.99 euros
Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
Corsair Darkstar Wireless: Scope of delivery, design, and build quality
What does the scope of delivery look like? The mouse is delivered with a USB dongle for wireless connection and a 2-meter USB cable. Also included is the obligatory manual.
How is the mouse designed? The model features a black design:
On the top of the mouse are the primary buttons and between them is the four-way scroll wheel. There are two small switches on top that allow you to cycle through profiles.
In the index finger area on the left mouse button, there are two additional buttons. With these, you can adjust the DPI setting.
On the left side, in the thumb area, there are 6 additional buttons arranged in a semicircle.
On the right side of the mouse is a grip tape, which is also located among the 6 buttons in the thumb area. Otherwise, the mouse has a smooth surface.
The Darkstar Wireless also offers lighting. This is located at the front near the USB-C connector, as a strip on the top and as a lit manufacturer logo.
Build Quality
The build quality of the mouse leaves a good impression. During the pressure and shake test, nothing squeaks or rattles. The USB dongle can be safely stored in the underside of the mouse and sits almost a bit too securely for my taste. It’s also worth noting that the USB-C connector of the mouse is wide enough so that I can also use cables from third-party manufacturers.
Software
As is common with Corsair products, the iCue software is also used with the Darkstar Wireless. Initially, the software seems a bit overwhelming with all the lighting functions.
Tutorials (in German) explain each setting and possibility. However, the tutorials can be easily skipped if you want to discover everything yourself. I found the tips quite practical.
The interface of the iCue software seems a bit confusing. On the left are all the lighting options and below are other features.
Through the “Hardware Key Assignments” menu, I can easily assign specific functions to buttons. However, on a large display, the menus seem quite small. I couldn’t find a scaling function.
Cool, however, is that the tilt position of the mouse can also be linked to specific actions. For example, if you tilt the mouse at a certain angle to the right, you activate the B key on the keyboard and the associated ability. The idea is cool and quite innovative. However, in the heat of battle, I quickly forget this possibility. Moreover, I rarely come up with the idea of lifting the mouse in the middle of a game.
Theoretically, I can also integrate additional software from ASUS, MSI, Nvidia, or Lenovo as plugins into the software. However, this was not necessary for the mouse test.
The settings of the mouse are clear but a bit small. Especially on large displays, it’s a bit too small, and the menus do not scale.
On the next page, you will find my assessment of the weight, ergonomics, and functions of the mouse. In the final conclusion, I will also explain for whom the mouse is worthwhile and what (still) might speak against a purchase.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Some people can really drive support crazy. An employee at a support center recently had a very demanding user on the line. But he was able to solve her problem in a ‘brilliant’ way – until she found the next problem.
Everyone knows the technical problems when gaming or at work, when things just don’t work as they should. A user particularly persistently reached out to support, as her mouse had stopped working.
Support exchanges wireless mouse for wired model
What is the user’s problem? Her problem is her mouse. Because it was apparently not working all the time. The user kept losing the dongle of her wireless mouse, and without it, the mouse wouldn’t work on the computer either.
However, a quick and simple solution was finally found for her constant calls. The annoyed employee explains on reddit:
A technically very demanding user. She would call maybe twice a month because her mouse wasn’t working. Each time it was because she had lost the dongle. I have no idea why she kept unplugging the dongles, as she always left her mouse on her desk. We had a box full of lost dongles, so we just connected her mouse with another dongle. Until we lost patience and gave her a wired mouse.
With the wired mouse, she could no longer lose a dongle. But then there was another problem. At least it was no longer the mouse’s fault.
Were all problems resolved? At least the problem with the dongle, which kept getting lost, was resolved. Until she called again because her mouse wasn’t working. But this time it wasn’t the mouse’s fault:
She called because her mouse was not working again. I went to her desk, and she moved her mouse to show it to me. Only, it wasn’t her mouse, but her webcam. It had somehow fallen forward onto the mouse pad. Her mouse was on the same pad, right next to the fallen webcam.
Wireless devices are very popular today and don’t need to hide
Many users rely on wireless models both in the office and when gaming nowadays. A lot has changed in recent years. In the beginning, the speed and especially the latency of wireless devices lagged behind wired options.
Nowadays, wireless devices are just as fast as wired models. Most players probably won’t notice a difference in which model they are sitting at their desk with.
Anyway, wireless devices offer you many advantages, as without the annoying cables, you have much more space on your desk. And no cat can chew through the cable while you’re gaming.
More on Tech Support: Not everything goes smoothly with support either. A gamer recently had to find that out when he wanted to send his notebook for repair. You can read the whole story directly here on MeinMMO:
New World has announced its first expansion “Rise of the Angry Earth.” MeinMMO had the opportunity to ask Creative Director David Verfaillie and Live Lead / Senior Producer Katy Kaszynski some questions about the MMORPG.
We talked with the developers at an event in America about the general changes to New World and future plans.
“I pushed for us to be scarier”
MeinMMO: What do you think has been the most important update or patch so far? Aside from “Rise of the Angry Earth.”
Verfaillie: Scot Lane talked a bit about what we called the “Reduce Friction” initiative. That was in February/March. I believe when you’re developing a game for the first time, you already have a few ideas of what you want to do next.
So you have a small pipeline, but then we really started taking player feedback into account, and we radically changed our plans accordingly.
That was a big change. We didn’t speed up fast travel. We made it much cheaper. We allowed storage. That was the beginning of a new pattern where we catered a bit more to the players and less along the lines of: “Hey, here’s our roadmap. This is what we’re going to do.”
Kaszynski: Yes, Reduce Friction is definitely an innovation that I consider very important. But I think one of the biggest changes we made in one of the most interesting patches was the introduction of seasons.
This introduced a cycle in which players can expect content. Even if we wouldn’t release a roadmap, they could rely on the seasons appearing. So we will have at least one reward track that gives us these really cool rewards for playing New World.
We talked earlier [before the interview] about MMOs being work and we want that work to be fun. And part of what makes the work fun is the incentive, the reward. Therefore, the introduction of the season reward track was very important. It gave players something exciting to look forward to.
Start video
New World: Rise of the Angry Earth – Trailer for the Expansion
MeinMMO: Are there still any contents that are not in the game and that the community hasn’t asked for, but that you would like to see in the game?
Verfaillie: Yes, of course. I think it’s our job to come up with cool ideas that we want to implement. Katy, you mentioned in the last interview that our goal is to complete the “New World” experience.
With the completion of the main quest, we have the last little segment ahead of us. I believe that’s a very important part of it. We now have the storage of equipment, which has completed us. There are still a few more little things we want to do.
Kaszynski: What we currently have on the roadmap and the future that the developers know about is really exciting. But what I would like to see relates more to an art style or design decisions.
I pushed for us to be a little scarier. Let’s do things that could seem a little creepy. And the expansion is a really interesting transition. […] But I would like to take it a step further and make it a little creepy, not all the time, but in moments where you feel your heart racing.
When you first enter the Apophis fight in Brimstone, it’s terrifying, but not in terms of design, not in terms of art. So that’s something I would really like to do at some point in the future. I will always bring that back to the design table.
MeinMMO: Where do you want to take New World? Originally it was a survival game. Now you have several dungeons and even your first raid, and the player base loves it. What is now the big overarching goal for New World?
Verfaillie: We made the switch to an open-world MMO some time ago, and that’s kind of our charter here. That’s exactly the point we are at and where we want to continue to be a really fun open-world MMO.
This will include a variety of PvE and PvP content. One thing we don’t talk about too much are the influence updates that are also coming. So even in this update, we have a lot of PvE content, but with the influence updates we have something really, really cool for PvE.
MeinMMO: Many players were immediately excited about your world, but they criticized the scope of the endgame. How do you see that in retrospect?
Kaszynski: This expansion is a really good example that we are focusing on the endgame. Many of the elements we’re adding are definitely for people just getting into it. When you’ve just started with your character and reached level 25, you get a mount.
But there is now much more depth for the endgame. The hunt for equipment is something you can do. You can do the ECRs [Elite Chest Runs], but you can also go into the new area and go through the main story. That’s definitely deeper than what we had before. So we are definitely focusing on making our endgame very extensive.
Verfaillie: We added a lot of new content for the endgame, right? Four new expeditions have been added. There’s the Sand Wurm elite trial and now another one is coming with the expansion.
Additionally, there’s the update of the gear score, which I believe will be another cool advancement for the players. And finally, I believe the artifacts will provide another incentive in the end, right? So you don’t just want to create your gear, but you also want to get your artifact combinations. I think there’s a lot of fun things to do.
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New World: Gameplay on the new mounts
“Swimming is on the to-do list”
MeinMMO: I have researched and asked around why many players are no longer playing New World. And the most commonly mentioned answer was because of the faction system. Players were in one faction and the others were overpowering. Do you plan to improve this system to make it a bit more competitive, so that a weak faction has a chance against a strong one?
Kaszynski: That’s something we are constantly monitoring. Every week we look at the composition of factions on the servers. Interestingly, most servers are evenly distributed. So even if it seems that one faction has dominance, they only have that by a very small margin. It’s really just about the active users.
Verfaillie: We’ve made a few changes, especially since launch, to achieve that, right? We did things like making it not so easy to change factions. Another thing we’ve done is that for some people, war is not so important, but it was so obviously.
On the map, that is now no longer displayed by default, unless you have a PvP flag. The bonuses you get for owning territories have decreased. And the other big thing is that we’ve tried to make it not feel bad to be the outsider, so I think we’ve also tried to minimize the impact of that a little.
MeinMMO: Aside from the mounts, the most requested feature is swimming.
Verfaillie: We agree that it’s something that will probably happen at some point. We are not working on it immediately, but I think it’s a natural extension of the game. We will keep an eye on that.
MeinMMO: So it’s on the to-do list?
Verfaillie: It is on the to-do list, but it’s not in the pipeline yet.
Kaszynski: Imagine an MMO table that is probably 60 times larger than this table here [in the room]. Let’s say it’s on the table, although on the edge, but it’s on the table. Right now we are focusing on the middle of the table. As Dave said, that’s something we are discussing. We are talking about it, but there are no immediate plans or anything we can announce.
Verfaillie: Unfortunately, that’s all we can say at the moment.
We thank the Amazon Games development team for answering our questions. Are there any questions that are burning under your nails?
We from MeinMMO were in Cologne at the gamescom 2023 for you. Besides the numerous games, there were, of course, plenty of content creators from Twitch and YouTube present. We interviewed some of them in a little Q&A session.
Who did we ask? Alongside our GameStar colleagues Michael Graf and Géraldine Hohmann, as well as Maurice Weber, the YouTuber Max “HandOfBlood” Knabe, Peter Smits from Pietsmiet, and Twitch streamers Gnu and Acyrania were also present.
What did we want to know? Our head editor Leya asked the attendees which character from a video game they would be. The twist: they can not only embody the character, but also must live in the corresponding game world – a big disadvantage for horror fans.
What creative answers the respondents came up with can be seen in this video. Whether they would really survive in their chosen game is, of course, a completely different question.
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These characters would be content creators in video games
What else happened at gamescom? Even this year, influencers caused quite a stir at the gaming fair. However, there were no major incidents like the infamous brawl behind Hall 8 or a stampede.
To prevent such scenes, action was taken when too many fans gathered around a person. This happened to Twitch streamer LetsHugo, who was faced with the choice to retreat to the Red Bull lounge or leave the venue altogether.
Destiny 2 players were recently surprised by a truly amazing change in the game. A once-overlooked and considered useless PvP Exotic, the “Enemy Finder,” has become a standout option for PvE content due to a radical change.
Update from August 31: Following this article, Bungie announced that this Exotic will be disabled for the Day One of the Legacy Raid “Crota’s End” due to its strength.
This Exotic is the new star in PvE: At the start of Season 22, Bungie has overhauled a total of 12 armor exotics. The changes focused on Exotics that were not frequently used in any game mode. They were meant to become “more useful and powerful” again.
After the initial tests in Destiny 2, the once PvP Exotic “Enemy Finder” for the Hunter stood out, as it has changed immensely.
Before the overhaul, Enemy Finder visually marked targeted enemies and dealt more damage to opponents with low health.
After the overhaul, when you deal damage to an enemy with an ability, you get a temporary bonus to weapon damage that corresponds to your focus. Additionally, if you defeat the target with a weapon that corresponds to your focus, a collectible associated with that subclass will appear, such as an Ionic Trace for Arc.
By adjusting how the “Enemy Finder” works, the Exotic can no longer mark enemy targets, but it can deal truly great damage. Its usefulness has shifted from a forgotten PvP Exotic to a top PvE DPS Exotic.
We show you how strong this currently is and how drastically it affects your damage output.
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Destiny 2: The game needs new tricks and “The Witness” has them
The damage boost is great and easy to trigger
How good is the “Enemy Finder” now: After the first tests on the Hunter with the Exotic “Enemy Finder,” it quickly became clear that it now offers surprisingly high damage peaks with increased effectiveness in PvE combat. It has even become a strong alternative to the Exotic “Star Eater Scales.”
Player tests have shown that the “damage bonus” with “Enemy Finder” lasts for 10 seconds at 25%.
Strand builds are currently a good choice. However, the Destiny editorial team recommends trying it out with a Stasis build as it works even better that way.
With Strand, you can activate the 25% damage boost through a tether grenade or by swinging as swinging on hit also deals a bit of damage.
The 25% buff also applies to your Strand weapons. The recommendation here is to use the new Legendary Trials Strand grenade launcher “Cataphract GW3.”
Additionally, using the Strand fragment “Thread of Ascendancy” is practical to reload the grenade launcher immediately.
And this can still be increased.
If you use this with traditional damage or debuff boosts like “Shadow Shot” and “Well of Radiance,” you will get a 3.01x damage increase for the grenade launcher.
The new Trials Strand grenade launcher Cataphract GW3 from Season 22
In PvP, you can of course still use the Exotic as well. However, here the damage increase is only 6%, and the duration is reduced to about 6 seconds.
Players have also noticed this: Besides the damage tests, players have also noticed inconsistencies with the Exotic, raising the question of whether the Exotic is functioning correctly.
In some tests, the timer for armor charges did not start counting down, meaning that you essentially have an infinite armor charge timer and do not lose armor charges when playing with the “Enemy Finder.”
Successful rework: This successful adjustment of the Hunter Exotic “Enemy Finder” shows how a developer can revitalize seemingly forgotten parts of the game through careful consideration and bold changes.
As players, we can certainly look forward to what surprises Bungie has planned for the future with more forgotten Exotics. None are ruled out yet, and all are constantly being reviewed and, as here, possibly successfully revived to shine anew.
What do you think about the resurrection of the “Enemy Finder”? Were you surprised by this transformation? And what do you think about the damage output and the statement about the armor charge error? Did you notice this too? Then feel free to leave your opinion in the comments and exchange ideas with the German Destiny 2 community.
If you prefer to play with new Exotics, we recommend that you get those moths as soon as possible:
The new MMORPG Palworld is coming to Steam and introduces you to its unusual monsters in short trailers. So far, you can meet 22 “Pals.” MeinMMO author Linda has watched the first 7 trailers herself and introduced them to you.
Quick overview:What is Palworld? What you can imagine under Palworld has been pretty well summarized by the user bags in his comment (via Youtube) under the official release date trailer. Briefly, he writes there that he loves “Breath of Pokémon Duty.”
In this open world and multiplayer game, you collect unusual monsters called “Pals” that you can then use as mounts or equip with firearms to send them into battle, which primarily convinces MeinMMO author Mark.
Or you use the cute Pals yourself as flamethrowers.
What are Pals? You can fight, catch, and tame these monsters in Palworld, love them afterward, ride them, send them into battle, make them work for you, or if you are hungry, even eat them.
You can look forward to some of the following Pals in the upcoming trailers:
No. 001 FOXPARKS
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Paldeck 001 Foxparks
Foxparks may first appear as a cute little fox living happily with its family on a green meadow. However, if you have already killed the rest of the family, you can catch and tame a Foxparks to use it as a flamethrower.
And as user non_one_c notes in his comment, Foxparks doesn’t care at all about its dead siblings next to it; it just loves being petted by you.
No. 002 UNIVOLT
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Paldeck 002 Univolt
Univolt is a lightning-producing unicorn that you can use as a mount once you have tamed it. The special thing about it is that you can ride Univolt and use lightning attacks at the same time without taking damage yourself.
No. 003 Relaxaurus
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Paldeck 003 Relaxaurus
This rather heavy-looking dino may seem inconspicuous at first glance, but you shouldn’t underestimate Relaxaurus. Once you’ve equipped this giant with rocket launchers and jumped on its back, it becomes the perfect fighting machine.
For as user dansmith1661 has noted, Relaxaurus knows no restraint in battle.
No. 004 Jolthog
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Paldeck 004 Jolthog
Do not underestimate these small hedgehogs at all; their electric attacks look very impressive for their size. Once tamed, you can use Jolthog in battle like a hand grenade and throw it at your enemies to cause lightning damage.
Or you can simply use them to power your base.
No. 005 INICINERAM
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Paldeck 005 Incinerator
Incineram looks like an interesting mix of goat and werewolf and can really heat things up with its fire attacks. However, once you face this Pal and tame it, it seems to become a very good friend.
In the trailer, you see Incineram joyfully running towards its new owner and cuddling with them. After that, it eagerly helps in building the base.
No. 006 MAMMOREST
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Paldeck 006 Mammorest
Mammorest is impressive. With its size and its stone tusks, this “Pal” makes a tremendous impression. And as seen in the trailer, you need to use everything you have in the fight against Mammorest. Otherwise, you’ll completely fall short against its powerful stomp attacks and leaf attacks.
If you can tame Mammorest, it will become a powerful weapon and a strong builder for your base.
As user PutthePCinmyHands notes, Mammorest has a truly vast repertoire with leaf attacks, stomp attacks, tornadoes, and earth attacks.
No. 007 LAMBALL
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Paldeck 007 Lamball
Lamball definitely look cute, but when you encounter them in a herd, these little fluffy balls become a real challenge. If you shoot these balls with your rocket launchers, they fly around everywhere and attack you together from every direction.
Once caught, the trailer shows us their excitement for weapons and that you can use them as assembly line workers.
Overall, the trailers impress especially with their attention to detail and the interesting mechanics utilized. Among other things, players are enthusiastic about small things like a rainbow created by water attacks or that a small Foxparks is lifted by its owner in the middle of a battle to avoid taking damage.
Such small details make the trailers truly appealing and especially curious to find out more about the Pals and living with them.
What do you think of Palworld and its creatures? Feel free to discuss!
If you’re still looking for news on Pokémon Go, take a look here:
In October, Rise of the Angry Earth will be released as the first expansion for New World. This not only brings many new contents but also an important change to the equipment. This point has driven MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch to despair multiple times.
What is the important change? New World removes creature ban and creature protection effects on equipment. These are stats that only work against a specific mob type:
With the protection effects, incoming damage from humans, Angry Earth, Lost, or Corrupted is reduced – at best by up to 4.8% per piece of armor.
With the ban effects, damage against certain creatures is increased by up to 14%.
These special perks on the equipment previously meant that one had to build a separate set for each dungeon to maximize their values. If someone also fulfills two roles – like tank and DPS – they have to carry around 12 different sets of equipment.
This, in turn, was associated with a lot of grind and really annoyed me. As a result, I reached a very high value in mutations in some dungeons, while in others I can just run the lower levels. There, my equipment is not good enough.
But that will finally end on October 3rd. Well, at least for the most part.
Select a MMO video…
More Damage for Weapon Types Instead of Focus on the Enemies
How does New World replace the system? Instead of the additional damage against mob types, you can now specifically enhance the damage of magic or ranged weapons. This means you will probably only need three different sets – one for melee, one for ranged, and one for magic, although the weapons require different attributes anyway.
The defensive protection effects are being completely removed. Instead, some offensive abilities of the enemies are being revised to compensate for the disadvantage.
What else changes with the expansion? Rise of the Angry Earth brings several features, including an increase in the level cap, a new equipment tier, a revised area, the new weapon flail, and mounts.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is skyrocketing on Steam, but many of you are wondering how the release on PS5 and Xbox will proceed and when you can expect it. You can find all the important info in our overview.
What kind of game is this? Baldur’s Gate 3 is a classic role-playing game set in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. You choose a hero, explore the world, complete quests, and watch as your decisions drastically change the game events.
Depending on how you behave or decide, the world around you also changes. Companions may start to hate or love you, and the story takes unpredictable turns. Furthermore, you can freely decide how to approach your missions. There are hardly any limits for you.
Lastly, the game offers local and online co-op without microtransactions.
Baldur’s Gate 3 has already launched on Steam and PC, but consoles still have to wait. We are now showing you the details about the release, prices, and classes.
Did you miss the launch trailer for Baldur’s Gate 3? Here it is for you:
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Launch Trailer for the Role-playing Game Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3: Release for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
When does Baldur’s Gate 3 come to PS5? Baldur’s Gate 3 celebrated its release on Steam and PC on August 3rd. However, the PS5 version of the game still needs to wait, as you can only play it starting September 6th. Pre-orderers can start on September 2nd at 6 PM German time.
However, the release for the Xbox looks quite different. You will have to wait.
When does Baldur’s Gate 3 come to Xbox? The developers behind Baldur’s Gate 3 will also bring the game to Xbox in 2023, but only at a later date. In a tweet from Cromwelp, the Director of Publishing at Larian Studios, the problem isn’t a deal prohibiting publishing on other platforms. It is about the Xbox itself, which has an issue with the split-screen mode (via twitter.com)
According to the Director, a team is already working on this problem and is hard at work to get it under control. However, the developers also cannot temporarily remove the system for the Xbox because they are required to keep all versions of the game the same across all consoles.
Xbox has gotten involved and is now helping Larian Studios with the implementation for the Xbox. However, there is a catch: the Xbox Series S will have to do without split-screen for now. This will be added after the release. On the Series X, everything remains as usual without restrictions.
Many goodies including a statue, stickers, keychains, and more
How much does Baldur’s Gate cost on Xbox Series X/S? So far, there are no prices for Xbox yet. However, we assume that the same prices will apply as what PlayStation has listed in its store.
Baldur’s Gate 3: All Classes at Release
How many classes will there be? So far, there are 12 classes that you can play at release. These classes come with additional subclasses that you can choose from when you want to specialize. The following are known:
In Pokémon GO, the new season is already on the starting blocks and brings you not only new monsters but also finally one of the most valuable items back. We at MeinMMO show you how to secure the Master Ball and how the trainers react to this news.
What item is it? As the developers of Pokémon GO announced in their blog, there will be in the new season Plenty of Adventure a new research format: The Timed Study. In this, you should finally be able to secure a second Master Ball.
This has created a lot of excitement in the community. We have summarized what makes the ball so special and what concerns trainers may have.
When will the Timed Study be available? According to Niantic, the Timed Study should be active during the new season. It is therefore expected that you will receive it at the start and should solve it over the weeks. If you complete the tasks by November 21 at 8 PM local time, you will receive the Master Ball. Additionally, players who cannot finish the research on time will be able to buy a corresponding ticket, through which you can also get the Master Ball.
New Master Ball research makes trainers cheer
What makes the Master Ball so special?The Master Ball is one of the most valuable items in Pokémon GO. Unlike the other balls, the Master Ball guarantees you the catch. You cannot throw the ball away, nor can the Pokémon escape from it.
It can be used on all monsters, whether a legendary Pokémon from raids, wild monsters, or specimens from the adventure smoke. But it is also correspondingly rare, which makes it even more valuable.
Trainers are happy about new supplies: So far, only one Master Ball has been available to you in Pokémon GO, thus only one guaranteed catch. This had to be well thought out. Many players have used their ball more or less wisely. Therefore, it is not surprising that the trainers are finally happy about new supplies.
Especially the Galar birds from the daily adventure smoke have captivated the trainers, as they spawn quite rarely and have a high escape rate. Many have already thrown their first ball at one of the legendary Galar birds and now want to secure another specimen. You can read the following in the comments on Reddit:
Chell_the_assassin: It’s great that it’s not just a one-time thing. Hopefully, it’s once a season or so, that would be quite fair.
insistondoubt: I’ll use one if I ever find a Galar bird again…
gabrielasslab: While I’m excited about another Master Ball, I’m even more curious about what other rare rewards we could receive in future Timed Studies. The wording suggests that a Timed Study could be a new type of recurring research (maybe one per season?) with various rare rewards. I’m thinking of meteors, coins, premium TMs, permanent incubators. Or perhaps legendary/mysterious encounters, silver pineapples, if introduced…
BrittanySkitty: Perfect timing, as my 3.5-year-old used mine for a Formeo recently while I was busy with his little brother.
Too difficult quests: However, there are also a number of skeptical opinions in the community. Some believe that the new research format could be particularly challenging. From the trainers’ perspective, it should therefore differ from previous timed researches and special researches in the game. They suspect this especially because of the rare rewards that are expected.
Especially the tasks are giving some trainers headaches, as they suspect that they will have to use the new routing system to complete them. However, this could be difficult for some trainers, as they still cannot find it everywhere. You can read the following in the comments (via reddit.com):
blorcsharc: I hope it’s not locked behind… routes….
Moon_Dark_Wolf: Something tells me this timed study could be the toughest research we’ve received for a limited time. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have to play the whole season, like with the Cosmog and Hoopa researches, to complete it in time and properly. I think this could very well be event-bound.
Can the balls be collected? Additionally, some players are also unsure whether they can actually secure a second Master Ball. Not all trainers have already used the first ball. Others are still completing the related research “Nichts wie raus und GO!”.
They hope they can collect the balls to use them meaningfully in the end. However, other trainers believe that this will not be the case, and that you have to use the first ball to obtain the second one. You can read the following in the comments (via reddit.com):
just-regular-I-guess: They will force us to use the old one first, and everyone will catch random trash with it because they know they will get a new one that they can use.
JuanG12: I haven’t completed the research for the first ball and hope I can combine it with this ball.
How difficult the tasks will actually be and whether you can hold several of these balls remains to be seen for now. If there is any new information, you will find it with us at MeinMMO.
Are you also excited that there is new supply of Master Balls? Have you already used yours? Or are you also hoping that you can keep several of these balls in your bag? Feel free to let us know here at MeinMMO in the comments.
A legendary sword for Lae’zel is available in Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3. It is so powerful that the rest of the game becomes a breeze.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is full of hidden opportunities to obtain extremely strong equipment very early in the game. It is possible to get a legendary sword that you usually receive only in Act 3, during the first act. However, to achieve this, you need a lot of luck – or reload a save until it works.
We will show you how it works.
Which sword is it? We’re talking about the “Silver Sword of the Astral Plane.” This legendary greatsword not only has an enchantment of “+3”, but also powerful bonuses when wielded by a Githyanki – like Lae’zel. Because then the sword deals an additional 1d6 psychic damage with each attack.
Additionally, it grants a Githyanki bearer “Githborn Psionic Resistance”: You have advantage on saving throws against Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Moreover, you have resistance to psychic damage and cannot be charmed.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Silver Sword of the Astral Plane – How to obtain it in Act 1
To obtain the sword in Act 1, you must reach at least level 3 and have unlocked Lazarus. After surviving the Nautiloid crash, simply head north and explore the ruins to find Lazarus later. It is likely that you will nearly reach level 3 by then. If the XP from exploring the ruins isn’t enough, just complete some more quests in the Emerald Grove or defeat Gnolls and Goblins.
Now travel to the southwest of the first map, just before the transition to the mountain pass. There is a large wooden barricade set up, and your characters react warily to the large dragon. Be sure to save here! Because if you trigger the dialogue with the Githyanki behind the gate, you will have missed your chance.
In the marked area, you will find Kith’rak Voss – a fight usually starts immediately.
Return to your camp and speak with Lazarus to hire a mercenary. Make sure it’s a warrior and that he has the ability “Disarming Attacks.” Additionally, you should equip this mercenary with one or two potions of invisibility so that he can get into position.
Now return to the transition of the mountain pass and split your party. Only the mercenary who just drank the invisibility potion may pass through the gate! Position the invisible mercenary warrior right next to Voss, activate the turn mode, and send the rest of your party back to camp. Save the game again.
Behind this gate or barricade, the dialogue starts immediately – unless you are invisible.
Now it comes down to the crucial attack: Use a “disarming strike” and aim for Kith’rak Voss. Make sure to see if the attack was successful and if the sword was dropped.
In any case, a cutscene begins immediately afterward, at the end of which Kith’rak Voss flies away with the dragon. After the cutscene ends, a fight begins. You must immediately pick up the sword on the ground! You don’t even need to wait for your turn, picking it up can happen in between.
If the strike misses or the mercenary dies before you can pick up the sword, simply reload your last save and repeat the situation until it works.
If you successfully pick up the sword, let your mercenary fall in battle. Then switch back to your remaining characters in camp and revive the fallen mercenary with Lazarus. Now you can easily transfer the sword from his inventory to Lae’zel – done!
Lae’zel is quite surprised when you have the sword so early – and then she is nearly unstoppable.
Alternatively, a cleric can use the “Command” spell to force Voss to drop his weapon. However, the chance is significantly lower here, and it is difficult to achieve without a fight. This does have the advantage that you can immediately give yourself “Sanctuary” as a buff afterward, making you immune to attacks. This allows you to pick up the sword relatively safely and hand it over to your party.
However, you should be cautious: The sword is so powerful that Lae’zel will almost single-handedly beat many enemies that are usually dangerous. Especially the bonuses to saving throws also ensure that Lae’zel can withstand many attacks without getting into trouble. The “Silver Sword of the Astral Plane” has the potential to simplify what is usually an exciting playthrough – you must decide for yourself whether you want that.
How to obtain the sword regularly? You actually get the sword only in Act 3. However, you have to make specific decisions – you must make a pact with Raphael and then talk to Voss to peacefully obtain the sword from him.
Do you know any other tricks to obtain extremely good equipment very early?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone now utilize ToxMod in North America. This is an artificial intelligence designed to ban toxic players. In Europe, the AI will first be implemented in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
How does the AI work? The AI-driven moderation technology is integrated into the voice chats of Call of Duty and is designed to recognize hate speech, discriminatory remarks, and harassment in real-time.
All of this is supposed to happen in 14 different languages, but the AI currently only works for the English language at launch. The ToxMod not only searches for individual words but can also analyze tone and intent.
Additionally, the AI can estimate the age of the participants in the conversation. Violations in the presence of children and adolescents, who should not be in Call of Duty due to the age rating, are supposed to be punished more severely. The AI’s experience comes from hours of listening, and it is also expected to evolve over time.
During gamescom, there was an exclusive look at the first mission from the upcoming Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3:
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Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 World Premiere First Level Trailer – Opening Night Live 2023
Meanwhile, ToxMod can even recognize when radicalizations occur in the voice chat. If a dangerous conviction, dissemination of an ideology, or planning of violent actions occurs, the AI intervenes.
If you’re now afraid that ToxMod might mistakenly ban you for misunderstood expressions or phrases, we can reassure you. The AI cannot directly ban you, but serves only as a reporting system.
After the AI detects something suspicious, the user is initially reported. ToxMod categorizes based on the type of behavior and severity. However, it cannot recognize the ethnic affiliation of individual languages, which is why a further step is taken after the report.
The excerpt from the voice chat is then forwarded to a real person. The Activision employee then checks whether it is a false report or if the player actually needs to be punished.
Riot has finally introduced the new champion in League of Legends. Briar may look harmless, but she is actually a kind of vampire with an insatiable hunger. We present you the new jungler and show you her abilities.
What kind of champion is Briar? Briar was an experiment of an underground organization in Noxus and resembles a vampire-like creature. She has an insatiable hunger for blood and sacrifices, which is also evident in her kit and abilities.
Passive ability
She has no automatic health regeneration like other champions. Instead, her attacks and abilities bleed opponents. The bleeding effect heals her and scales with missing health.
Q ability
This is a Point and Click gap closer. She jumps to a target, deals damage, and stuns the opponent. At the same time, she reduces the opponent’s armor, and her bloodlust prioritization can allow her to switch it.
W ability
This is Briar’s central ability. When activated, Briar goes into a blood frenzy and automatically attacks the next opponent she relentlessly pursues. You cannot change this without abilities. During the blood frenzy, you get attack and movement speed, and your normal attacks deal area damage.
If you activate the W ability again during the blood frenzy, you bite off a piece of your opponent, heal yourself, and deal additional damage.
E ability
Her E ability ends the blood frenzy. You can charge it, and it deals damage and a slow. If Briar charges the ability, she takes less damage and heals herself. If you fully charge the E, opponents are knocked back, and if they hit a wall, they are stunned – similar to Gnar’s ultimate.
R ability
Briar kicks a stone. If she hits an opponent, she immediately flies there, frightening all surrounding opponents and automatically going into blood frenzy. Additionally, she gains life steal, resistances, and movement speed. The range of the ability is almost global and is 10,000.
You can see an animated video about the champion here:
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League of Legends Briar – Animated Video about the new Jungler
Simple mechanics, but tough decisions
How to play Briar? Briar is primarily intended to be an aggressive champion who benefits from tower dives and quick ganks. Her abilities are quite simple and intuitive to use as mechanics. However, this does not make her an easy champion.
The focus with her is on the decisions you make. The blood frenzy mode is a powerful tool, but if you just have the E ability on cooldown, Briar might run into a tower with the opponent and could die. You can do nothing about it, just watch her die.
This is why it’s important when playing Briar to know exactly when to do nothing. With her gap closers and speed, as well as her passive, she is designed for the jungle. But you could probably also see her more often on the top lane, depending on how well her self-heal works on the lane.
Which champions counter Briar? Because she heals herself through bleeding and thus benefits from life steal, tanks with items like Thornmail can be a strong counter against her. But strong crowd control also counters her, especially when she tries to finish you off in blood frenzy.
When will Briar be released? On the PBE, the test server for LoL, she should be released next week on September 6 or 7. Her release on the live server will take place with patch 13.18, so probably on September 13.
She is usually playable on the evening of September 14.
Briar is likely to be a popular champion due to her design, at least more popular than these:
