In The Division, a team managed to complete the incursion “Falcon Lost” using only pistols.
What weapons do you use to tackle “Falcon Lost”? The AUG and Vector submachine guns? Or do you prefer an assault rifle instead?
What about trying a pistol – and only a pistol? That’s what agents Bratpfanne007, Jaspin 72, Respectar, and COBRA-AUSTRIA thought: They executed the “Pistol-Only” run on “Hard” difficulty live on Twitch. Here’s a recording of how they managed it on Youtube:
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It seems the Division agents take their self-imposed challenge very seriously: They use no weapons other than pistols and even forgo grenades. As an essential skill, they utilize the Ballistic Shield, which allows them to use only sidearms anyway.
During the run, the agents had to contend not only with the LMB but also with a few bugs. Nevertheless, they were able to destroy the MTW and stop the enemies in the end. At least they didn’t have to worry about one thing during this attempt: the ammunition.
The agents’ gear scores during this respectable achievement were beyond the 200 mark.
In autumn 2016, we expect the new football simulation from EA Sports, which will be named FIFA 17. We list 10 aspects in which FIFA 17 should improve compared to its predecessor FIFA 16.
What can we expect in FIFA 17? What innovations does the football simulation bring?
We will likely only get official answers to these questions at E3 in June. Until then, we are allowed to make guesses, speculations, and wishes. The CEO of EA, Andrew Wilson, has already heated expectations by revealing: FIFA 17 will make a significant leap in personalization, gameplay depth, and competitive aspects. How they will implement this concretely is still unknown.
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If one wants to create a list of all the things that should improve in the FIFA series and what the community wishes for, it is definitely a hopeless endeavor: The suggestions from fans are so diverse that one would come up with a hundred different things.
Therefore, we limit the following list to 10 things that we expect from FIFA 17. For this, we not only draw on our own opinions but also on contributions from global internet forums and comments from our own community.
Top priority: Gameplay!
All the great features and modes that EA Sports comes up with are secondary if the gameplay is not solid. Because as Adi Preißler once stated: “The critical aspect is on the field.”
Not only must the control over players and game events feel good, but the artificial intelligence should also behave truly “intelligently.” EA advertises every year that the defense lines, movement paths, and positional play – that everything is optimized. In practice, however, fans still complain about bizarre and wildly erratic behavior of the computer players.
While significant improvements have already been made to gameplay in recent years, coarse blunders from the AI in FIFA 16 repeatedly create moments that raise players’ pulse and send controllers flying through the air. EA Sports should continue to minimize this issue in FIFA 17. The outcome of games should depend less on the game itself and more on the players’ performances.
Additionally, the referee sometimes officiates the events in a rather adventurous manner. There is hardly a game in which players do not complain at least once about the referee, whether for fouls or offside decisions. Our reader Warlock notes, for example, that the referee often calls offside too early, despite him having long stopped running and can’t even reach the ball. We all know such scenes.
In short (as I realize that I need to self-restrain): Most fans will surely welcome it if the events on the field become even more realistic. FIFA 16 is by no means all bad – many fans, myself included, still play it frequently and enjoyably – but there is still plenty of room for improvement.
The “Ultimate Team” mode should focus more on playing
We probably shouldn’t worry about the “Ultimate Team” mode. According to EA, this is the most popular mode in the game and brings in a lot of money for the company. We can expect that this will be refreshed in FIFA 17, will receive a few new features, and will enchant fans once again.
One thing that does need changing here: Playing matches should become more rewarding. To buy objects on the transfer market and open packs, a lot of coins are needed. However, it takes a long time to “earn” a decent team, as the rewards after a game tend to be rather meager.
It’s difficult to make significant strides this way, as players also need to be supplied with consumables like contracts.
Then some fans dig into their wallets and invest a few euros via microtransactions to advance faster. Mega stars like Ronaldo or Messi can hardly be earned through playing alone.
Hence the wish: Playing matches should become more profitable.
The “Pro Clubs” mode needs a significant upgrade
Andrew Wilson has promised a significant leap in personalization and gameplay depth for FIFA 17. This hopefully also applies to “Pro Clubs”, as a lot more can be extracted from this mode than has been done so far.
Many fans wish for more options in the career mode of the FIFA series. Our reader III wishes for a comprehensive manager part, which would “incredibly enhance” the football simulation for him.
Additionally, there are internet presentations suggesting an online co-op career or similar features that promote the aspect of “playing together.” We will have to wait and see what surprises EA Sports will present for the career mode.
More stadiums, more atmosphere
A few years ago, the “stadium atmosphere” in the FIFA series was quite limited: In the stands, some pixels moved rhythmically to the beat, and the fan chants were not exactly top-notch – it had little to do with football as we love it.
EA has made significant strides in this regard in recent years. Now, fans can be identified as people in the stadium, and the acoustics are also more varied and “realistic.” An important point that benefits the stadium atmosphere is: EA Sports is increasingly integrating more real stadiums into the game.
We hope that they will continue on this path for FIFA 17: Add even more stadiums (preferably more from the Bundesliga), make the fan chants more varied, and continuously improve the football atmosphere. Every fan of the round leather would surely appreciate that.
Give us the Third League
A wish that is especially expressed from Germany: The Third League. It contains some traditional clubs that fans want to see (again) in the FIFA series. However, the licenses for this league lie with the German Football Association, which EA still has to negotiate.
Hope comes from a statement by EA producer Sebastian Enrique: “I always push our licensing team to get more. I can promise nothing, but the 3rd league is on our list of things our community wants.” We would be happy about that. As our reader Norm An says: “3rd league and I’m in.”
Give us the ability to play unfairly
In football simulations of yesteryear, there was the ability to do diving and “intentional fouls” on demand, where players jumped into opponents head first.
Well, it’s probably not essential for FIFA 17. But we and many other fans of the game would be keen on it. And then a red card would follow if a brutal foul is committed. In that case, you’re to blame yourself.
But what impact diving and intentional fouls would have on game balance and how they would ultimately be received by fans is questionable. If the opponent gets away with a dive, the anger towards the referee and the opponent would be boundless. The developers likely want to avoid this (additional) frustration potential.
But perhaps EA Sports will find a way to integrate this appropriately. In the real world of football, diving and “frustration fouls” are also part of everyday life.
FIFA 17 and indoor football? What about it?
For many fans, FIFA 98 is considered the best FIFA ever. Why? Because of indoor football! For years, fans have been calling for this mode to return, which excited many players back in the day.
The chances of it returning in FIFA 17 are, however, slim. EA Sports has not made any hints lately that they will re-integrate indoor matches. But: Hope dies last.
https://youtu.be/nh4uA_djAuo
60 euros for an “update”?
One thing fans have been complaining about for years: The annual FIFA installments are merely updates to their predecessors. Therefore, the price of around 60 euros for the standard edition is met with disbelief. Among others, our reader Longard points this out.
Of course, EA cannot reinvent football every year anew. But more innovations in gameplay modes, personalization options, or social features would likely encourage gamers to invest the hefty 60 euros.
How about a cover star from the Bundesliga?
This pious wish does not have the highest priority; however, many fans would welcome this step from EA. For years, only Lionel Messi has adorned the German cover of the football simulation from EA Sports. The logo of the Virtual Bundesliga is also displayed. However, a star from the Bundesliga is sorely missed.
It has been a while since players like Bastian Schweinsteiger or Mats Hummels were on the cover. On the covers of “FIFA 16” in other countries, additional stars like Jordan Henderson, Mauro Icardi, or for Austria David Alaba are featured.
What improvement suggestions are particularly on your mind?
In the MMO shooter Destiny, a Redditor has completed a large-scale study on the Three of Coins. These are his results.
The reddit user wiggly_proof presented a significant community project back in April: He wants to shed light on how the Three of Coins work in Destiny. Because with this item, one only knows roughly how they function. However, Bungie has never revealed the exact details. Therefore, the Destiny player called for a comprehensive study. Some reddit users were immediately enthusiastic about this committed project and helped him gather the data.
The Three of Coins are consumables that Guardians can acquire from Xur since “The Taken King” or receive through the Nightfall strike. They increase the chances of obtaining an exotic engram from the next ultra-kill or through a completed Crucible match. The effect is stackable and is supposed to increase when the last “Three of Coins” usage did not drop an Exotic.
Here are the results of the “3oC Study”
wiggly_proof analyzed previous studies on the Three of Coins in the reddit forum and, with the help of volunteer supporters, collected additional data in a labor-intensive process. He proceeded methodically to obtain results on the “Cooldown” of this buff.
In his self-conducted study, he and 32 other users activated a total of 1660 coins and were able to obtain 167 Exotics. This group collected data for the “Three of Coins” speed-running: The Guardians used a coin approximately every 2-3 minutes, each time after swiftly defeating Draksis.
As a comparison, a study by the user GreenLego was referenced, who used a single coin every day for weeks while also eliminating Draksis. There were over 20 hours between each of his 3oC usages.
As wiggly_proof now claims to have proven: The Three of Coins have a “Cooldown”, during which the chance for Exotics is significantly lower. While in the speedrun, an exotic engram dropped every 9.94 coins, with the “One Coin Per Day” method, only 5.15 coins were needed. The chances for Exotics through the Three of Coins are therefore nearly twice as high when not used in rapid succession.
The exact cooldown of the coins, however, is not revealed here. It apparently lies somewhere between 3 minutes and 20 hours. Further investigations would be necessary to narrow down this timeframe until the Three of Coins regain their full effectiveness.
There are two theories: One says “This is a cooldown, the coins are weaker after a successful use, and after a certain time has passed, they are back to being ‘normally strong’.” And another theory says: This is not “black or white”, but follows a formula and becomes “slowly” stronger after a successful use.
Which theory is accurate will likely require further extensive studies.
The following graphic from the user shows the comparison in detail:
The blue curve shows the speed run, while the orange shows the slow method. On the right is the axis, indicating how many coins were used, and upwards is the probability of when an exotic drops. It is immediately apparent that the chances for Exotics per coin are significantly higher with the “One Coin Per Day” method.
What information can we take away from the Three of Coins study in Destiny?
What conclusions can we draw from this? If you want to get the most out of the Three of Coins, you should use them cautiously. However, if you proceed like GreenLego, it takes on average over 5 days to obtain an exotic engram.
Or you can spend the Three of Coins generously: You will only obtain an engram approximately every 10 coins, but it averages only about 30 minutes if you choose the speed run method.
In a side study, the user also found that there are no differences in the types of exotic engrams that drop. He could not identify any statistical anomalies among the various weapons and armor pieces.
Caution: These results are not official but generated by dedicated fans of Destiny. Therefore, all information should be treated with caution. Furthermore, not all factors that influence the effect of the coins could be taken into account.
Nonetheless: What do you think of these findings?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Tom Clancy’s The Division, there are numerous abbreviations for certain terms. We tell you what they mean.
Those agents who are diving into Ubisoft’s MMO shooter must first find their way in this hostile world. What is that glowing thing on my wrist? What is it about and how do you control the colleague at all?
The many abbreviations in The Division do not make the entry easier, but additionally cause confusion. However, a solid knowledge of most of these cryptic letter combinations is necessary to enhance the agents effectively.
This is what the abbreviations in The Division mean
Many abbreviations concern information about your weapons and items. However, you also encounter other strange designations.
ISAC= Intelligent System Analytic Computer. This is the talking clock on your agent’s wrist. It supports you in the post-apocalypse by warning you of enemies, accepting transmissions, or creating ECHOs. The Division technician Simon Keyes is responsible for maintaining an ISAC node in New York.
ECHO = Evidence Correlation Holographic Overlay. Your watch uses data from technical devices, such as surveillance cameras or smartphones, to make past events visible to you as a 3D hologram. Some of these ECHOs you need to activate to complete missions.
JTF = Joint Task Force. This is a crisis intervention team consisting of police, military, and medical emergency organizations. The Division agents support this unit.
DZ = Dark Zone. This is the PvP area in The Division, into which you can seamlessly transition from the open world. The “DZ” abbreviation, for example, appears with the DZ class, which depends on your level and gear score.
Mods: Modifications. You can equip and upgrade skills, weapons, and armor pieces with mods.
RST = Armor. If you increase the armor value, enemy bullets can do less damage to you. The current maximum is 65%. This will be raised to 75% with the May update.
SPS = Damage per second. A statement of how much damage you deal with your weapon. This value depends on numerous factors, which are not very transparent to the agents. However, the “true strength” is not only represented by the SPS value alone.
SPM = Shots per minute. A statement for the fire rate of the weapon.
Battleborn and Overwatch are often compared, but they actually play in completely different leagues. To clear up the misconceptions, we have outlined the main differences here.
Since the release of Battleborn, it has been compared to Blizzard’s hero shooter Overwatch, although technically Battleborn was announced earlier.
Battleborn Vs. Overwatch – What are the differences?
But we want to finally put an end to the annoying comparisons and have gathered a few arguments that highlight the main differences between the two games. However, what we definitely do not intend to do here is pass any judgment. So we are not saying which game is “better”, but just how they differ. Incidentally, the primary source we used was YouTuber Total Biscuit, whose video on the subject we also link here.
Overwatch is primarily a pure multiplayer title. There are three game modes and a total of 12 uniquely designed maps with clear differences in design. In the Escort game mode, we must escort an object through the map while the opposing team tries to stop us. In the “Assault” mode, one team attacks and must capture points while the other team defends them. The “Control mode” allows both teams to capture and hold up to three points, and lastly, there’s a hybrid mode that starts as Assault and ends as an Escort mission.
Battleborn offers 9 different maps and also three PvP game modes. In addition, there is also a PvE campaign that we can undertake cooperatively with up to four other players. The three PvP game modes are Incursion, Capture, and Meltdown. Capture is a typical shooter mode in which we take fortified positions and gradually collect victory points. In Incursion, each team has a giant combat robot secured by strong shields. We must destroy this by cleverly guiding small minion robots to it to disable its shield. Lastly, there’s Meltdown, where we must escort minions safely to scrap presses, earning us victory points.
Here we must safely escort small robo-minions to scrap presses.
Overwatch
Battleborn
Three PvP game modes
Three PvP game modes
12 original maps
8 PvE missions
9 maps that are quite similar
Point 2 – Heroes, Style, and Setting
Overwatch currently offers us 21 heroes, some of whom are quite eccentric. For example, the scientist Winston is an ape and Zenyatta is a floating Zen robot monk. The rest of the crew consists of lovingly designed heroes who mostly keep it grounded. The graphic style is somewhat akin to a Pixar animated film, colorful and lively, but still subtle.
The heroes are divided into four classes: Attackers, Defenders, Supporters, and Tanks. Moreover, all of them are available from the start. If the selected hero is not performing well during the game, it can be switched at any time in the starting zone, and multiple copies of the same hero are also allowed. Character progression is not present; although there are levels you can gain between battles, these have no effect on the game but merely unlock cosmetic items like new skins or emotes.
The story of Overwatch and the backgrounds of the heroes, while well-developed, take place entirely outside the game in comics, blog entries, and stylish rendered cutscenes. The game itself does not concern itself with the plot but rather throws all heroes, regardless of their loyalty in the story, into teams and lets them fight each other. The humor of the game is original and funny but remains mild and family-friendly.
Battleborn starts with 25 heroes to choose from. Most of them are extremely eccentric and originally designed. For instance, there is the completely insane chaos witch Orendi, who has four arms and a hearty appetite for entrails, or the healing ninja mushroom Miko. The heroes are categorized into Attackers, Tanks, Defenders, and Supporters.
Between missions, heroes can level up and unlock not only cosmetic items but also completely new skills. In addition, only a handful of heroes are available at the start; the rest must be unlocked through specific actions, for example, by eliminating a total of 50 other players or destroying 800 minions.
The graphics are extremely colorful and filled with flashy effects, resembling the style of Wildstar. A well-developed story is present and is relevant in the PvE mode; however, the individual characters are also well-crafted, and further information about their backgrounds can be unlocked through challenges. Additionally, there are fun comic sequences outside the game that explain further backgrounds. The humor of Battleborn is dark, coarse, and quirky.
Overwatch
Battleborn
21 heroes, all available from the start
25 heroes, most of which must be unlocked
4 hero classes
4 hero classes
Story only relevant outside the game
Story in PvE mode
Hero progression unlocks cosmetics
Hero progression unlocks new heroes and skill variations along with cosmetics
Funny and original lines from heroes, more subdued but always striking humor
Dark humor and coarse lines, especially in missions, not necessarily family-friendly
Point 3 – Gameplay
Overwatch plays out like a fast-paced team shooter in the vein of Team Fortress. The action is rapid, and there is a distinction between regular hits and critical headshots. All heroes are quite fragile, often going down after just a few hits. Even tanky characters like Roadhog can be quickly eliminated; however, respawn times are short, allowing constant action.
Overwatch offers fast shooter action with a short acclimatization period.
Within a match, there is no progression for heroes; they all remain equal in terms of abilities and have all skills available from the start. Only the ultimate skill needs to be charged slowly through hits and kills. There are no further talents or equipment; each hero starts the match with the same abilities and stats. This makes Overwatch very beginner-friendly.
Battleborn is less of a shooter and more of a MOBA. Unlike in League of Legends or Heroes of the Storm, we must guide minions into the enemy base in two of the three PvP modes to help secure the win. This makes it much more important to protect our own minions and eliminate those of the enemy rather than just focusing on the enemy players.
In Battleborn, focusing solely on enemy players is not always the smartest move. Rather, minions are the key to victory.
Heroes are quite durable and cannot be taken out with a single hit. Furthermore, heroes can level up to 10 levels during a match and choose special talents each time, which allow for additional tactics. Each hero also has an ultimate skill that becomes available only at level 5.
Heroes can collect special shards during battle to activate defensive structures, particularly strong minions, or personal equipment. The latter are earned in the PvE mode and a special “loadout” can be assembled before a match. This then provides valuable bonuses in combat once the items with shards are activated. Overall, the gameplay of Battleborn is tactical and requires some acclimatization to handle the sometimes very different heroes.
Overwatch
Battleborn
Shooter gameplay like Team Fortress
Shooter with strong MOBA elements
Heroes can be eliminated quickly
Heroes are durable, especially at higher levels
Fast-paced gameplay with short respawn times
More tactical gameplay with sometimes very long respawn times
All skills available from the start, ultimates must be charged with actions.
Ultimate skill only available from level 5, but limited by cooldown.
No changes to stats and skills in-game
Heroes can level up to 10 levels and gain new talents each time; pre-defined equipment can be activated for additional bonuses
Unlimited identical heroes allowed, heroes can be switched at any time
No hero copies allowed, hero cannot be switched
Easy-to-learn gameplay, quick entry
Players can activate tactical advantages like towers, equipment, or minions with in-match currency
More difficult entry, heroes are hard to master
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The community of ArcheAge has a pretty bad reputation. Trion Worlds now wants to actively address this and take stricter action.
Community Manager fights toxic players
Even the community manager Celestrata admits that ArcheAge has quite a problem with disruptive elements in its own community. From the outside, the ArcheAge community often appears unfriendly and infiltrated by trolls. That is exactly what Trion Worlds wants to address, as the social interaction of players should be made friendlier and more respectful.
ArcheAge should become more relaxed. That’s why there are now stricter rules against trolls and flamers.
In a long open letter to the community, Celestrata reveals the first steps that will be taken to achieve this goal.
Restructuring the forum: Some areas of the official forum will be closed, but new sub-forums will also be created to better group players and their concerns and to create more overview. In the forum, players from all servers should come together and experience a sense of community instead of splitting up by servers.
Stricter rules for in-game chat and forums: In a separate letter from customer service, the new, expanded chat rules have been presented. At the same time, enforcement of these rules will now be stricter, so that more players who violate them will face penalties that ultimately result in exclusion from the game.
Numerous community events: Celestrata wants to put the community and all “Content Creators” around ArcheAge more in focus and support them. Through various events, players can receive special titles or other in-game rewards for their creative achievements.
Celestrata emphasizes that these are just the first steps on the long road to freeing the community from its bad reputation. However, it is also necessary for players to commit themselves to ensuring that ArcheAge remains a place people love to return to and invite friends to.
Korea meanwhile gets a Treant mount
In the Korean version of the game, a Treant mount has been announced. The controlling player can jump far with the tree beast and even throw rocks at enemies to inflict damage. However, how one gets this rather unusual means of transportation is still uncertain.
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Some fans can hardly wait for the release of Overwatch as the anticipation is so intense that they recreate Overwatch in other games…
CS:GO – Terrorists against Overwatch Agents?
The last days before the release of a long-awaited game are often a nightmare for true fans. Especially with Overwatch, the excitement often turns into an agonizing longing until one can finally plunge back into the battlefields of the future. Instead of simply waiting apathetically in a desk chair for the release, YouTuber eNinja grabbed some friends and recreated the game in Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
They not only took on the character names of the different Overwatch heroes but also copied their playstyle and created corresponding profile pictures. McCree was allowed to use only his revolver and flashbangs, while Bastion set up on an elevation and simply sprayed down with the MG from there – and Widowmaker… well, she just pulls out her sniper rifle.
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This is rounded off with a typical “Play of the Game” and slight role-playing elements, as the players repeatedly typed the well-known catchphrases of the Blizzard heroes in the chat.
Fortunately, players don’t have to wait long for relief: Overwatch will be released on Monday night at 1:00 AM simultaneously for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
To make the wait feel worthwhile, check out the following articles about the individual heroes and the background story of the game:
At the launch of Overwatch Blizzards distributed giant statues around the world. Check out these gigantic specimens here.
The world can never have enough heroes
Genji – Click to enlarge.
Apparently, Blizzard was not satisfied with the attention from the Overwatch beta, which attracted over 9.7 million players. To celebrate the launch of the hero shooter worldwide, Blizzard promised a few days ago on Twitter that they had something “special” to show. While some overly enthusiastic fans were expecting the reveal of new heroes, Blizzard had something entirely different in mind.
At several locations around the world, life-size statues of Overwatch heroes have been erected, beautifying the cityscape for a few days. The statues have been spotted so far in Hollywood, Paris, and Busan, showcasing Genji, Tracer, and Pharah.
Many users on various social media have now been able to take some pictures of these statues.
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Blizzard also couldn’t resist adding a silly safety warning to the packaging of these “action figures”:
“CHOKING HAZARD: It is impossible to choke on these statues because they are so large. However, you can be “choked” in an actual Overwatch match, which can lead to a last-minute defeat, shame, disappointment, or public ridicule, depending on your friends. Prizes and participation options will not change. These figures are priceless and participation is not possible.”
Whether these figures will ever be available for purchase in a smaller variation is pure speculation so far. It would, however, fit the picture, because what would be better for an action figure than actual “heroes”?
For more news, articles, and guides about Blizzard’s hero shooter, check out our Overwatch game page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In World of Warcraft: Legion, a lot revolves around artifact weapons. These are given to players early on and grow alongside their bearers throughout the entire expansion. Each talent specialization gets its own weapon, which is why Druids have a total of 4 artifacts available. Let’s take a look at each weapon.
Balance – Scythe of Elune (Artifact Weapon for Balance Druids)
Background: The Scythe of Elune has a dark past that spans several millennia. Forged from the staff of Elune and the fang of the demigod Goldrinn, this weapon was created to tame beasts and ward off dangers from the night elves. However, those who are not careful fall victim to the power of the scythe and are dominated by Goldrinn’s wildness. Such an accident resulted in the creation of the Worgen, under whose curse the former inhabitants of Gilneas still suffer today.
Traits of the Scythe of Elune: As a typical caster weapon, most traits of the scythe are rather “common”, increasing critical strike chance and the damage of abilities. However, one interesting trait grants the Druid an additional 20% haste when using Regrowth.
All begin with the ability New Moon, a spell with a short cast time. After the first casting, the ability transforms into Half Moon, causing even more damage on the next use.
Echoing Stars enhances Starfall. Each time this deals damage, another nearby target also suffers minor damage.
Power of Goldrinn is a direct enhancement to Starsurge. Each time Starsurge is cast, there’s a chance to summon the spirit of Goldrinn, dealing significant damage to the target.
Moon and Stars ensures that every spell cast while affected by Celestial Alignment increases your haste by 3%.
Feral – Fangs of Ashmane (Artifact Weapon for Feral Druids)
Background: When the War of the Ancients began 10,000 years ago and the Burning Legion besieged Azeroth, the demigod Cenarius called upon the other demigods for help. The great panther Ashmane was one of the first and most powerful of these beings to join the fight. After saving many lives, Ashmane fell in battle against the Legion. A monument was erected in Val’sharah to honor Ashmane, and her fangs are displayed there – still pulsating with the power of this demigoddess.
Traits of the Fangs of Ashmane: The traits of the Fangs of Ashmane are also classic damage enhancements. However, an exciting ability could be to gain 100% dodge chance for 5 seconds when transforming into a cat (can only occur once every 30 seconds).
Ashmane’s Frenzy makes the Druid attack the target 15 times over three seconds. After this, the target suffers heavy bleed damage over 6 seconds.
Shadow Thrash enhances the ability Thrash. Each time it is used, there’s a chance to unleash the soul of Ashmane, dealing heavy shadow damage to all nearby enemies over 2 seconds.
Open Wounds improves the Druid’s armor penetration. While enemies are affected by Rip, they ignore 15% of the enemy’s armor.
Ashmane’s Bite gives Raging Bite a chance to summon the spirit of Ashmane, who uses a “shadow version” of Rip.
Guardian – Claws of Ursoc (Artifact Weapon for Guardian Druids)
Background: The Claws were forged by the Titan Keeper Freya. She entrusted the weapons to the wild god Ursoc, the great bear, who wielded them in countless battles until he lost his life in the War of the Ancients. Although the great bear died, part of his power remained in the claws, which later fell into the hands (or paws) of the Furbolgs. After a group of Druids managed to obtain the claws from the Furbolgs, they brought them to the Emerald Dream to reunite them with the spirit of Ursoc.
Traits of Ursoc’s Claws: All enhancements of the claws are tailored to the needs of a tank. Cooldowns are reduced, armor and stamina are increased, and threat generation through increased damage is enhanced.
All bears start with Rage of the Sleeper. For 10 seconds, the damage taken is reduced by 25%, and part of that is reflected back to all attackers.
Adaptive Fur makes the Druid particularly resilient against spell casters. Whenever the Druid suffers elemental damage, there is a chance that damage from that school of magic will be reduced by 10% for 15 seconds.
Gory Fur gives the ability Shred a chance to reduce the rage cost of the next Ironfur or Mark of Ursol by 50%.
Embrace the Nightmare increases the Druid’s damage and survivability. While Rage of the Sleeper is active, the Druid deals 25% more damage and has 25% lifesteal, while also being immune to all effects that lead to loss of control of the character.
Restoration – G’Hanir, the Mother Tree (Artifact Weapon for Restoration Druids)
Background: The staff is a single branch from G’Hanir, the first tree, which the Druids received as a gift from the demigoddess Aviana. The staff is directly connected to the Emerald Dream and thereby has a healing influence on its surroundings. This made it the perfect weapon to push back the madness and corruption of the Nightmare – which, in turn, drew the wrath of the Satyrs, who now seek to destroy G’Hanir.
Traits of G’Hanir, the Mother Tree: The artifact traits of G’Hanir are also quite “straightforward”. Almost always, healing from abilities is improved or mana costs are reduced.
All healing Druids start with Essence of G’Hanir. When activated, all allies under your HoTs are healed double while affected for 8 seconds.
Power of the Archdruid grants the ability Wild Growth a 25% chance to have the next Rejuvenation or Renewal hit two additional allies within a radius of 15 meters around the target.
Dreamwalker is another enhancement for Wild Growth. When the Druid casts the spell, there’s a chance to briefly switch to the Emerald Dream, instantly healing all the targets affected by Rejuvenation for a moderate amount.
Tranquil Mind increases the Druid’s serenity by 20%. It can now also be cast while moving.
Blizzard has published a lot of statistics about the open beta of Overwatch . The numbers are quite impressive.
9380 Years of Overwatch in One Week
In recent years, it has become popular to publish numerous statistics after the end of a beta, showing how much players have achieved in the respective game. Overwatch is no exception. Just before the release of Blizzard’s hero shooter, a comprehensive graphic has been created, impressively showing how much time players spent in the game during the open beta: The 9.7 million players have played a total of 4.9 billion minutes, which amounts to 9380 years.
Especially satisfying for newcomers: A total of 326 million Bastions were destroyed. However, it was also “High Noon” 5.7 million times a day – but logic doesn’t get you very far with McCree anyway.
For more news, articles, and guides about Blizzard’s hero shooter, you can find them on our Overwatch game page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In H1Z1 , a new mode is being tested in “King of the Kill”.
Since Friday, “Ingition” is live: In this mode, players start with an ATV and a strapped bomb. They have to quickly gather equipment and reach a safe zone, or else it goes “Boom.” The team has worked on this mode for a while and now finds it fun and explosive enough to hand over to the players.
“King of the Kill” is the action/arena mode of H1Z1, separate from the survival aspect, which is set to appear on consoles Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this summer. Apparently, they are now pushing a little bit harder. Recently, they also presented a new Skirmish mode.
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Since Friday, the “Everyone starts simultaneously” rule is also active, and some changes to the interface are taking effect. They are also working on a new, larger, and better map for H1Z1 , but that will take some time.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In The Division, a user captured the atmosphere of the Dark Zone in the video.
YouTuber VicenteProD creates fan trailers, cinematics, and montages for various video games on his channel. Everything revolves around music and gaming for him. Many of his followers attribute to him “an excellent eye for art,” which he showcases in his videos.
He has also created a new cinematic video for The Division, which showcases the Dark Zone in its most beautiful aspect. He himself says he still doesn’t know if he loves or hates the Dark Zone. But he can definitely say that he loves the design of the environment.
The atmosphere of the Dark Zone in the video
VicenteProD calls the following video “Warm Welcome To The Dark Zone,” which comes in 1440p and 60 FPS:
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Allegedly, a few renegades “destroyed” his DZ rank during this recording and relieved him of his DZ keys. However, this sacrifice was worth it: The images we get to see are impressive. He recorded them with a cinematic tool.
By the way, the music is “Little By Little” by Happy Republic.
Star Trek Online is coming soon to consoles and is making significant adjustments to the graphic settings.
Shadows and Light That Live Up to Their Name
We already reported that Star Trek Online will soon be released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. With the transition to consoles, a major update is also on the way, which is set to significantly polish the graphics of the somewhat outdated game. To showcase what they have planned and how it will look visually, the developers have now written a blog post and released interesting “Before/After” images.
Since the developers have relatively little time, they had to limit themselves to a few changes. The biggest innovations can therefore be admired in the area of light and shadow effects, as these – according to the developers – have the greatest impact on the game’s atmosphere.
The developers were keen to ensure that Star Trek Online remains playable on older computers – most new effects require only marginally more processing power or can be turned off in the options.
“We have put a lot of work into the graphical update of Star Trek Online; essentially, we have re-lit the whole game. Although this was challenging, it was also very satisfying. The result is drastic changes in some areas and subtler adjustments in others. In summary, the changes bring the game to a new level of realism and provide a significantly more immersive gaming experience.”
In FIFA 16, the TOTS tournament of the Liga BBVA takes place in the “Ultimate Team” mode. Rewards include another TOTS card as well as additional stars from this league!
Yesterday, the “Liga BBVA” TOTS was released in FIFA 16, featuring outstanding cards of Ronaldo, Messi, and Suarez. This Team of the Season will be complemented by another player who showed strong performances for Real Betis last season: Rubén Castro.
Rubén Castro as Tournament-Exclusive Reward
The TOTS card of the forward comes with solid shooting, dribbling, and pace stats and will likely reinforce some Ultimate Teams offensively. Rubén Castro’s overall rating as TOTS is a solid 84. Previously, he had a rating of 79.
You can only win this card through the “Liga BBVA” tournament, which is currently running in FIFA 16: FUT. But this is not the only player card you can win.
These are the requirements:
Exactly 18 players from the Liga BBVA in the starting eleven and on the bench.
These are the Online Rewards:
Win: TOTS-Rubén Castro (cannot be put on the transfer market)
Win: Rare Gold Pack and Rakitic (cannot be offered on the transfer market)
Win: Premium Coin Pack and Isco (also untradeable)
Further wins: Premium Coin Packs (at least 4,000 coins)
These are the Offline Rewards:
Win: Premium Gold Pack (contains cards that cannot be transferred)
Further wins: Coin Packs (at least 2,000 coins)
The tournament runs from May 20th to May 27th at 7 PM.
According to information from a US website, Destiny 2 has been “rebooted.” There have been further restructuring.
Several weeks ago, Luke Smith, the Game Director of “The Taken King,” stated in his profiles on Twitter and the business page LinkedIn that he is the Game Director for a “yet to be announced project” at Bungie.
Is Luke Smith not doing the autumn expansion but already Destiny 2?
We assumed that this referred to the autumn expansion: Smith is preparing his profiles shortly before the presentation of the expansion, we thought.
However, there is now new information that puts this matter in a different light. Kotaku claims to have learned from sources close to Bungie, following the “Rise of Iron” leaks, that there has been a “reboot” of Destiny 2. In a reboot, one starts over, makes a fresh start.
Destiny 2 has already been postponed from 2016 to 2017. This was preceded by information from Kotaku in January 2016, which later turned out to be true: The “Higher Ups” were dissatisfied and had postponed Destiny 2 from autumn 2016 to 2017. The live team should now provide content.
What is happening at Bungie?
The latest information that Kotaku claims to have “heard” says: There has allegedly been a “restructuring” at Bungie, and now Luke Smith is leading Destiny 2.
Mein MMO believes: A few weeks ago, in early April, Lead Story Designer CJ Cowan left Bungie after 13 years. This could fit in time and may be part of these “restructurings.”
But what goes on behind Bungie’s doors remains mostly a mystery. Even the replacement of the Bungie CEO took place without any prior or subsequent information about the background being released.
At the moment, the long-term planning of content for Destiny seems to still be in flux. According to Kotaku reports from January 2016, it is not possible to provide long-term plans yet because they change frequently. Many fans attribute such spontaneous “restructurings” to the rather meager year 2 regarding game content.
Is “Rise of Iron” just a stopgap?
Since “King of the Taken” in September, there have only been a few events and content patches from the so-called “live team,” while substantial game content has been scarce since September 2015. Such information does not bode well for the autumn expansion “Rise of Iron.” It has only been clear since January 2016 that some game content will be needed in autumn 2016.
As Blizzard states in a forum post, thousands of bot users have been banned again. They emphasize that they want a fair game. Blizzard feels committed to this goal and will continue to take action.
A look into the forums of the bot providers shows who has been affected among others. The German provider “Honorbuddy” reports: Another ban wave is underway against us.
Bossland, a German company that sells bots like Honorbuddy, has been in Blizzard’s crosshairs for several years. After some legal disputes in German courts dragged on for a long time without real results, moving from instance to instance, Blizzard intensified its efforts in 2015.
We are dealing with the backstory of the Overwatch heroes. What is in the past of Reaper, Soldier: 76 and Mercy?
As promised, we now dedicate ourselves to the backstory of the 21 different heroes of Overwatch. We begin with 3 members of the original team: Reaper, Soldier: 76 and Mercy.
Those who have not yet engaged with the lore of Overwatch should first check our article on the general story of Overwatch to better understand the following sections.
Reaper – Gabriel Reyes
Gabriel Reyes was an officer in the American military and originally from Los Angeles. He joined the “Soldier Enhancement Program” early on and became a good friend of Jack Morrison. When the Omnic Crisis began, he went to Overwatch with Morrison.
Reyes was mainly responsible for military operations and had command during the operations. He led the covert missions and trained several agents, such as McCree. However, Reyes became jealous – while Morrison received much attention and recognition for leading Overwatch, Reyes received little acknowledgment for his achievements.
After the defense against the Omnic Crisis, Reyes led “Blackwatch”, a secret sub-organization of Overwatch that operated without the limitations of governments and was not bound by any rules to achieve its goals. During the major explosion at Overwatch’s Swiss headquarters, it was reported that Reyes died – but his life was likely saved by Mercy. Since then, he has “suffered” from a genetic mutation, his cells die and regenerate at an abnormal rate, making him appear almost immortal.
Today, not much of Reyes remains. His existence has been forgotten, and hardly anyone knows that he is behind the mask of the terrorist “Reaper”. Reaper constantly changes his employers and seems to have no loyalty beyond his missions. But what his goals are, only he knows: revenge on Overwatch, whose agents he relentlessly hunts today.
Soldier: 76 – John “Jack” Morrison
John “Jack” Morrison was not only a key member of the original Overwatch unit but also served as its leader. In this position, he enjoyed great respect from numerous politicians, the global public, and the media. Just like Gabriel Reyes, he was part of the “Soldier Enhancement Program” at a young age, making him an excellent fighter whose endurance, skill, and speed remain unmatched by most humans and Omics.
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After the end of the Omnic Crisis, Overwatch fell into disrepute, and Morrison was busy trying to save Overwatch from decline. He failed to do so when the Swiss headquarters exploded, and he allegedly found his death – which was probably just a rumor.
Today, Soldier: 76 is considered the most wanted man in the world. He has broken into numerous facilities, exposed dubious companies for corruption, and stolen equipment from decommissioned Overwatch warehouses. He pursues his own agenda, as he wants to bring the true reasons behind Overwatch’s downfall to light and, above all, bring the masterminds behind the incident to justice.
Mercy – Dr. Angela Ziegler
Dr. Angela Ziegler was employed for a long time as the head of surgery at a Swiss hospital, until she made a breakthrough in nanobiology, enabling her to heal numerous diseases that were previously fatal. This breakthrough led to her being recruited by Overwatch. However, her work at Overwatch did not go as she had planned: Ziegler lost her parents in the war and could not align with Overwatch’s militaristic principles, preferring to continue her healing work and take over as head of the medical research department.
The result of this research was her Valkyrie suit, which allowed her to effectively heal the wounded and sick even in critical situations. One of her greatest acts was saving Genji, who was nearly killed by his brother Hanzo.
Today, after the dissolution of Overwatch, one can find Angela Ziegler, often referred to as “Mercy” by those she has saved, in the crisis regions of this world, where she provides humanitarian aid to war victims and refugees and advocates for the protection of the innocent.
In the coming days, we will be dealing with the backstory of the remaining characters of Overwatch.
For more news and articles about Blizzard’s hero shooter, you can find them on our Overwatch game page.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This week, you can earn double money and RP in GTA 5 online again – we will show you how to do it!
As the name suggests, this week is all about capture jobs in GTA 5. But there are also different offers on vehicles: The golden Luxor Deluxe and various Kuruma versions (regular and armored) are heavily discounted. Until Thursday, May 26, 2016, you will also receive offers on selected ammunition and clothing.
These offers are available during the Capture Week in GTA 5 Online
Throughout the week, you will earn double GTA$ and RP in all capture jobs in GTA 5 online (Created/verified by Rockstar and player-created)! There are also playlists that you can start directly from the start screen:
Playlists:
Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22 – Up to 16 players. GTA: Take the Bus, Combat: Townhall Trinity, Heist: War Games
Monday, May 23 to Thursday, May 26 – Up to 8 players. Combat: Residential Demons, GTA: Take a Taxi, Defense: Freight for Free
If you log in at any time this week, you will receive an exclusive in-game t-shirt (yay!).
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Of course, there are also certain items that cost less this week. As mentioned above, you can get aircraft and cars for cheaper – let’s take a closer look at that:
50% discount on the Luxor Deluxe: The business jet from GTA 5 online IN GOLD is available this week for half the original price.
Kurumas at half price: The popular cars that make any job mission a lot easier are now available for 50% less. Just make sure that you have completed the Fleeca heist beforehand.
Car tuning will also become cheaper: So that you can get everything out of your vehicle on your escape, there is a 50% discount on engine upgrades, turbo expansions, and brakes.
Now you have stylish vehicles, but what about your clothing? Heist and robbery outfits are 50% off.
BAM! Explosives at half price! Grenades, sticky bombs, proximity mines, and rockets are also 50% discounted. So: Let it explode!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a few weeks, the very first TennoCon of Warframe is just around the corner. What to expect was recently announced by developer Digital Extremes. Additionally, we look at the current offerings from the Void trader Baro Ki’Teer.
TennoCon 2016
If you consider yourself among the loyal fans of the online shooter Warframe and still don’t know where to spend your summer vacation, how about a short trip to London? And I don’t mean the rainy London, England, but London, Ontario, in beautiful Canada.
On July 9th, the local developer Digital Extremes will host the very first TennoCon, which will be entirely about Warframe. Space ninjas from around the world can listen to various talks by developers and well-known YouTube and Twitch streamers, participate in various competitions such as cosplay and Lunaro, and grab a lot of goodies.
The digital goodies – exclusively for visitors of TennoCon 2016
But even the countless Tenno who cannot make the long trip from their home Void, as the fuel prices for the spaceship to the event location are skyrocketing, can look forward to an information-packed stream at the end of the day. It will cover the future of cinematic quests, new content, and gameplay expansions.
However, who has spared no expense or effort to meet at the relays this weekend from the endless Void is Baro Ki’Teer, the Void trader.
The ‘When, Where, and What’ of the current offerings
When can Baro be found?
From May 20, 2016, 7 PM until Sunday, May 22, 2016, 7 PM.
Where can he be found?
PC: Larunda Relay, Mercury
PS4: Kuiper Relay, Eris
Xbox One: Orcus Relay, Pluto
What does he have with him?
The offerings for PS4 and Xbox One are as follows:
The mod Primed Flame Charge with up to 165% more fire damage for secondary weapons and the primary weapon Quanta Vandal are this week’s must-haves.
But for those who are more interested in aesthetics and less in inner values, you can glam up your Warframe and your Archwing with the two Prisma Skins.
Whether PC players are also allowed to dress up, you can find out here.
Newer ninjas who have not yet counted Primed Flow among their mod collection should definitely get this to have up to 275% more energy available for their Warframe abilities. Because energy is always sexy, right?
And for fans of “free” flying in space with their Archwing of choice, the mod Primed Morphid Converter and the Prisma Veritux melee weapon also offer something useful.
Excalibur faces off against a giant Fomorian combat ship of the Grineer
The upcoming Archwing mission expansion and the support/healer-based Archwing are on the horizon. So throw your collected Ducats at Baro Ki’Teer’s feet to prepare for it and get your equipment in shape.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Tom Clancy’s The Division today, the items of the merchants are restocked on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. This week, the specialist equipment merchant and the Dark Zone weapon merchant have this on offer.
Additionally, there’s a high-end mask, a body armor, a holster, and a pair of gloves. As cosmetic items, you can purchase the Jacket – Sand Color and the Ranger Jacket.
The DZ weapon merchant requires Dark Zone currency for his goods. He will only give them out once you have reached certain DZ ranks. If you meet these requirements, you can visit him in the safe house in DZ03.
