The MMORPG Blade & Soul comes with a somewhat unusual loot system – players can bid on loot with their gold.
With Cash to the Beautiful Armor
One of the actually unchangeable laws of MMORPGs is the distribution of loot. While in many games “master looter” and “need before greed” have prevailed and have been working flawlessly for over a decade, Blade & Soul comes with a rather atypical system.
With Cash to the chic armor – those who have a lot of gold get a lot of loot.
By default, the “gold bidding” function is set as the looting rule, making every boss loot a small auction. All players have the opportunity to place their gold within a certain time frame and outbid each other. At the end, the player with the highest bid receives the item. The gold of the highest bidder is then distributed among the other three players. This creates considerable competitive pressure while simultaneously providing a solid source of income. Because anyone who cannot use an item at all still earns some silver coins for it.
This system is viewed skeptically by some players, as this allows people to buy items in the real money shop, then sell them for gold in-game, to flaunt a fat wallet in dungeons. On the other hand, this is a benefit for fellow players – as they greatly benefit from the gold of their wealthy colleague.
What do you think about the unusual system?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Warhammer 40,000 Eternal Crusade will be an MMO third-person online shooter for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The bloody trailer now shows where the Alpha currently stands and slaughters.
The Warhammer universe is full of gigantic battles in both Fantasy and SF variants and power fantasies. It’s actually the ideal breeding ground for an MMO. And indeed, after cancellation of the Fantasy variant, the SF edition is bubbling away diligently.
In September, the closed alpha of Eternal Crusade started. The game is still under an NDA, so little is heard about it. It is officially set to release in 2016. They see themselves as an MMO third-person shooter – similar to Planetside 2.
The game has now released a remarkably bloody trailer to show curious people what they are missing if they do not participate in a founder’s package and to keep the attention high. The trailer used actual material from the Alpha of the game, as they assure:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
Two “old zones” have grown larger. In Act 1, there are now the royal quarters, the “Royal Quarters,” in the realm of the Skeleton King, Leoric.
Besides more background story about Leoric, the mad king, there is also a room with a “Tome of Set-Dungeons.” When the player clicks on it, they receive a hint about where the new set dungeons are located, corresponding to the dungeon in Diablo 3 that the player currently has their corresponding item set equipped. The “Ruins of Sescheron” will be expanded with the area “The Eternal Forests.” This area reminds fans of the series of the frozen tundra from Diablo 2 – with frozen undead variants.
The new zone Gray Depths Island hints at more story in Diablo 3
There is an entire zone with the Gray Depths Island in Act 5. The zone is an example of how “nature can go wrong.” Everywhere, nature seems to rise up against the player: they fight against tree monsters. The Nephalem experiences the story of a stranded adventurer through their diary entries, gaining insight into their descent into madness.
[Warning: Spoiler for the story of the new zone]
The corrupter of the island and the author of all this misfortune seems to be the demon Nereza, who already appears in the lore of Diablo 3 in Act 1.
Her thing seems to be the role of a seductress. She incited the waning Nephalem to make a pact. To the Nephalem, she promised to strengthen the blood of their offspring. Because these had become human (yuck!) and the Nephalem looked on the weak, short-lived beings with disdain.
But instead of strengthening the dwindling bloodline, Nereza transformed the offspring of the Nephalem into hideous monstrosities that turned against their ancestors.
Although Nereza was allegedly defeated by a hero, it seems that Nereza might still play a role in Diablo 3 in the future – perhaps in a sequel.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
World of Warcraft polishes the view distances – with Legion, the view distance in all areas is drastically increased!
Iseedeadpeople
It was already shown in a small example at BlizzCon, and now there are first images from the beta showing how significantly the view distance really changes. Where in the current version of World of Warcraft the world fades into a murky gray after a few hundred meters, soon clear colors will shine. Currently, as the distance increases, the world becomes increasingly gray, resembling the “Fog of War” from old strategy games.
With Legion, the “draw distance”, i.e., the view distance where objects retain their full color and shape, is tripled! Thus, panoramic screenshots will be the order of the day, and the world looks even more beautiful than before (though one can certainly debate about the “beauty of the world” in WoW).
Here we have some examples for you, where you can clearly see the increased view distances – the system also works in all old areas (click to enlarge).
Especially while flying over the broken isles, this change will probably be noticeable – but this will only be possible with a patch 7.1 or 7.2.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
It’s Monday again, and that means there’s a new Respec column. Once again, we look back at the past week and see what happened in the indie scene. And there was quite a bit …
Spatium
An MMO of a different kind is promised by naxcore with Spatium. This is a voxel-based sandbox where you travel from planet to planet within a solar system. On each world, you collect new resources to modify your spacesuit so that you can survive on the next world. You also team up with other players to fight for survival.
Additionally, it is possible to make a home on each world and construct your own fortress. Spatium is set to be funded through a Kickstarter campaign. The developers aim to raise 16,000 euros by December 23rd to release Spatium in early 2018.
The Repopulation
Problems with the sandbox MMORPG The Repopulation continue. The licensing issues surrounding the underlying Hero Engine are still unresolved, which could have further implications for the MMO. The developers informed players that there might be a longer downtime for the game until the licensing issues are resolved. They still hope for a quick solution and are already working on further plans in the background; however, nothing is finalized yet. Fans of the sandbox MMO must therefore remain patient and hopeful.
Otherland
The science fiction MMORPG based on the novels of author Tad Williams is currently being developed by the indie studio DRAGO Entertainment after it seemed like it would vanish when publisher gamigo withdrew. Now, the MMORPG is taking shape and is already playable in Early Access on Steam. A new major update has been released, introducing the game area Wood Isle with 70 new quests. Additionally, the combat system has been improved, and the level cap has been raised to 55.
ARK – Survival Evolved
The dino MMO ARK – Survival Evolved is expanding with three new gameplay areas. These include an ice cave where players must solve nerve-wracking jumping puzzles and a swamp area where the “Broodmother” resides. Additionally, you explore several ruins related to the background story of ARK. The new areas are set to be introduced into the MMO in the coming weeks.
The game is set to be a mix of an online shooter and MMORPG, where dynamic quests play an important role. This means that the missions you complete can lead to new quests that other players can undertake. Additionally, there will be a trading system that determines the economy in the game, as well as many skills to enhance your character. Pangea is expected to release in late 2016, provided the funding is successful.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In the MMO shooter Destiny , the legendary hand cannon “The Nothing” is similarly represented as the cult weapon “Fatebringer” from Year 1. Can it keep up?
In the run-up to The Taken King, Luke Smith tweeted about the new way players would acquire weapons. Now players should be able to earn new weapons by obtaining them from enemies in the wild. But, Smith said back then, there are still great weapons in the Tower. A hand cannon with Firefly and Luck in the Chamber, for instance.
Legendary Marks IV: That said, there are some pretty damn sweet Legendary weapons for sale in the Tower: Firefly/Luck in Chamber HC, anyone?
The parallels with “Fatebringer” took their origin there. The raid weapon from Year 1 also had Firefly, but also Arc damage, and today elemental damage is scarce.
Our friends from ProNDC took a closer look at this weapon from the Tower, which Smith raved about. It is the hand cannon “The Nothing” – available from the Future War Cult for 150 Marks.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The Nothing (Vanity) has a relatively strong stat distribution with 87 impact and surprisingly high stability of 70. Unfortunately, its range is low. The magazine comes standard with 8 rounds, and with the appropriate perk, it can go up to 9. It is a strong Omolon hand cannon in terms of stats, similar to the Uffern HC.
The kicker with The Nothing is that it comes with outstanding perks directly from the vendor. So you don’t have to hope for a good roll, you can buy it “almost perfect” right away.
With “Firefly”, it has the effect that precision kills cause enemies to explode and deal damage to other nearby enemies. This is the perk that distinguished Fatebringer back in the day, as it allows thinning out and disposing of hordes of enemies.
How Good is The Hand Cannon The Nothing?
The Nothing is a PvE weapon. In PvP, the all-important perk “Firefly” helps relatively little. Moreover, you need more power in the Crucible for mid-range – Guardians currently prefer using a pulse rifle. The low range clearly makes The Nothing a weapon for close-range.
Hand cannons are stylish, many players enjoy using this type of weapon – and The Nothing performs well in strikes or on patrols. For “the very highest challenges”, such as raids, there are probably stronger alternatives. One should maybe go for a weapon that deals bonus damage against the Taken. It is also not suited for sustained fire on a boss.
http://youtu.be/w_uw-RkFQqo
The sight takes some getting used to. With the low range, it is difficult to shine with The Nothing at a distance. With the December weapon patch, they want to increase the accuracy of hand cannons.
Opinions about The Nothing vary quite a bit: Some say, “I can’t live without this weapon in Destiny,” while others struggle with the hand cannon.
In terms of stats and perks, the “vendor” Nothing is possibly the best investment for 150 legendary marks after the scout rifle Dissonance. However, it cannot compete with the Fatebringer from Year 1.
The sight is not to everyone’s liking. In this screen, it is almost not visible.
A warning must be issued: There is still a bug in the game. When “last round” is triggered by a Firefly precision hit, Destiny crashes for some players in certain cases. The combination of Firefly and Luck in the Chamber does not mix well.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
They have looked at which classes are particularly popular and which are less appealing. This data will inform their balancing. They want to capture the burst damage of some DPS classes (probably the kineticists) without reducing their DPS value. Classes without burst will receive a boost instead.
The two support classes Alchemist and Lightkeeper will undergo extensive revisions. This has already been revealed. Here, aura mechanics will increase the values of allies based on the spirit value of the supporter.
The team at Allods has not yet disclosed the exact details; players are urged to wait for the patch notes if they want to know whether their favorite class can still pack a powerful punch starting Wednesday or if it might be a bit weaker.
ARK: Survival Evolved provides a steady supply and introduces three new areas – there’s something for everyone!
Jumping Puzzles, Murky Swamp, and Ancient Ruins
When Studio Wildcard excels at something, it’s cranking out new content like it’s on a conveyor belt. In the coming weeks, ARK: Survival Evolved will receive updates that expand the game with three new area types, where players can compete for resources or be eaten by dinos. The new buildings and caves will be integrated into existing zones, thus expanding them rather than being completely new areas.
Beautiful and deadly – the new ice cave.
First, there is a new swamp area that resembles an arena and will be the new home of the Broodmother. If that’s too stuffy, players can get lost in the beautiful ice caves (located in the new snow area), which are filled with challenging (and extremely deadly) jumping puzzles that are sure to cause the demise of a tribe member or two. Lastly, numerous ruins can be found throughout the world, which according to the developers should be strongly linked to the game’s backstory. Will the island’s puzzles ever be completely unraveled?
A specific date for the update has not yet been announced, but the screenshots already look quite advanced – at the pace Studio Wildcard is working, it can only be a few weeks.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The addon Legion brings a completely new elf species to World of Warcraft – and they have a dark fate.
Endless Magic, Endless Hunger
The shattered islands are home to many new cultures that have not been heard of in World of Warcraft before, and which will see the light of day for the first time with Legion. The possibly largest new faction are the Nightborne, a splinter group of the Night Elves that formed 10,000 years ago after the War of the Ancients. Back then, the Well of Eternity exploded due to Azshara’s greed for power, destroying the known world, separating the continents, and resulting in the division into Night Elves and High Elves.
The Nightborne – Mutated Night Elves, highly intelligent and magically gifted.
Clearly, there was a third grouping that preserved part of the power of the original Well and has since existed on the fragmented islands (although these were only raised from the sea in the Warcraft games – I am very curious about the lore explanation).
The Creeping Zombiefication
Similar to the High or Blood Elves, the Nightborne draw from their own source of magic, the Nightwell. This supplies all elves within Suramar with arcane energy and thus allows them to become powerful mages. However, like their brothers and sisters, this source comes with a dependency on magic, which only becomes apparent when access to it is lost.
Once a Nightborne can no longer access the Nightwell, they begin to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. The body transforms, becomes frailer and weaker, until the creatures are clearly recognizable as “Nightfallen” – emaciated elves who still retain their personality and knowledge.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
If this condition persists for a longer period, the degeneration continues and the Nightfallen eventually become the “Withered”: burnt-out husks that have largely lost their personality and intelligence and only thirst for new magic. Clear parallels can be drawn to the Searing of the Blood Elves, but with the difference that the Withered arise from a lack of magic, while the Searing arise from excess.
The banishment from Suramar is considered the highest punishment – as it means the loss of the Nightwell.
Due to this gruesome process, banishment in the society of Suramar is considered the highest punishment for offenses, as it condemns the respective elf to a terrible fate.
This aspect of the people alone offers material for countless exciting stories. I would not even rule out that parts of the Nightborne might join the Alliance or the Horde in a later addon, once the Nightwell has been destroyed …
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMORPG Bless, which had issues even before release, is starting a smaller test in December.
In Korea, the development of an MMORPG typically involves three “Closed Beta” phases, which are often spaced far apart; one often waits half a year in between. During that time, one hears nothing about the game.
But they are not signing off and going silent. Instead of the release, Bless is starting with smaller steps: a further “focus group” test starts in Korea on December 9. Development continues.
In addition, it is fitting that a new race, the Masku, has been introduced.
The start of the “Open Beta” is planned for early 2016.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fulfilling a power fantasy is the secret recipe for success in online games like Destiny or Star Wars Battlefront.
When playing a hero and our idea of what it would be like to play them become one, then the power fantasy is fulfilled. But what does it actually mean?
The term “Power Fantasy”, or the fantasy of a character, has long passed me by. Recently, it came to my attention twice.
Once when Destiny explained, how to design the 3 new subclasses. Initially, one had an idea of a character in mind, some image from the pop culture universe (Thor, Legolas, and Emperor Palpatine), and then one would try out whether it would be fun to step into the shoes of such a character in Destiny.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
For some classes, there were initially other ideas. However, when trying to implement these power fantasies in the game, it became clear: A sniper who can see through walls, or a necromancer are “cool ideas” – but they just don’t work. The power fantasy did not function in the game.
Also, when WoW introduced class changes, they kept speaking of the “fantasy” behind a class. The ice mage should become even icier, while fire was taken away from him. The demon warlock should rather summon many demons than become a demon himself.
This fit somehow more into the fantasy, the power fantasy of his class. But what is that even?
Soon with 48 percent more fire!
A Power Fantasy
A power fantasy is when we ourselves become the hero. Because in our idea of an MMORPG, we aren’t sitting at the keyboard, looking up tables, or talking on Teamspeak with our friends, but we are the hero, peeking around the corner with the blaster drawn or holding the shield overhead, so the claws of the giant demon smash against it. When we lie in bed and think about our hero and what we would do, we are thinking about this power fantasy.
We are not Dominic, stuttering under stress. We are not Phillip, out of breath when we have to carry a box of water up the stairs, or Melanie, who gets dizzy when we see a drop of blood.
But we are Tyranox the warrior, upon whom all rely. We stand against the huge monster, preventing it from crushing our weak comrades. We must withstand as many of its blows, dodge its tricks and spells – and we can do this because we are tough guys.
We are Ravenclaw the mage, standing behind the front lines, fighting the opponent with our fireballs. Wherever we look, the enemies writhe under the power of our gaze. When we cast spells, our veins glow red-hot. It crackles, bubbles, our thoughts become real.
Or we are the gentle healer Seraphine, who has been able to decide many battles through patient and wise healing. We are the saviors of our friends, who receive us with grateful, open arms. We bring order to the world.
You’re not so naive to believe in power fantasies, are you? Then you might find yourself on the next page!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the coming weeks, a major patch is coming for Dragon’s Dogma Online – we have the details for you.
The Road to El Dorado
So far, the MMORPG Dragon’s Dogma Online is officially only available in Japan on PC and PS3/4, but it is becoming a solid contender. Just three months after the last patch, update 1.2 is set to arrive on December 15. Players can visit the floating city of El Dorado, where (what else?) everything revolves around gold.
In Bouto, everything revolves around gold – it is also a bit destroyed.
The city is divided into two zones, Boutu and Goseiku, where a total of three bosses can be defeated in the former. Besides the “alchemized Griffin” (featured image) and a large Goliath, players will face a god-like creature named “awakening gold” – exact details on this are not yet known.
The Warrior – Something Classic
The class of the warrior is also new with patch 1.2, which increases the number of playable hero variations to 8. As is common in the genre, the heavily armored fighters act as tanks and deal increased damage as long as they take hits themselves. As a special feature, they can throw enemies through the air and thus possess strong control abilities to keep whole hordes of opponents at bay.
The shift to a Free2Play model seems to have only provided a brief boost for WildStar .
The “Google Trends” indicate how often a particular term has been searched over a period. For WildStar, the trends paint a bleak picture. Interest in WildStar has remained consistently low over the past 12 months. There was a spike at the end of May 2015. There, it was announced that WildStar would become Free2Play. Interest from Google users in the title doubled for a span of 2.3 weeks.
Then, about a month before the Free2Play launch, interest gradually began to rise, until it exploded at the “actual” launch. By the end of September, interest was 5 or 6 times higher than usual. Absolute peak values for the last year were reached. However, these peaks were relatively low compared to the release hype, reaching about 40% of the previous interest by the end of September.
The values in the statistics assume “100%” interest at the highest point in the last 12 months, at the Free2Play launch of WildStar, when the game was searched for the most on Google .
But interest in the release hype could not be maintained for long and declined week by week. In recent days, it had returned to the disappointing level pre-announcement.
Now, such Google trends are of course not ultimate and absolutely valid numbers, but they are still an indicator of interest in a game.
A dramatically rapid decline is noteworthy. While it is normal for interest to “normalize” after such hype, it typically lasts longer. And given the awful situation WildStar was in before the transition, the game might only have survived if it had landed at a significantly higher level after the transition than it was before.
In a few months, we will gain certainty about how the Free2Play switch of WildStar affected it both in terms of gameplay and financially. Then, NCSoft will disclose the business figures. They have been gloomy and getting gloomier in the quarters for WildStar.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the Free2Play switch has turned the tide.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We have once again secured some SMITE codes for you and are giving away 3 times the new hunter Chiron – try your luck!
The great teacher descends from heaven
With its last major patch, SMITE has added Chiron, a Greek god and patron of all teachers. Like many before and after him, he was born from an illegitimate affair between a nymph and the unfaithful Cronus. To keep his son a secret, Cronus decided to disfigure his son – in the form of a centaur.
But that did not stop Chiron from achieving greatness in his life. He taught famous heroes like Achilles and Hercules, showing them how to handle various weapons and teaching them various sciences, although it is often the violent deeds for which they became known.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
In SMITE, Chiron is a hunter, but he represents a hybrid form, as he has both minor healing, strong crowd control, and the ability to dispel negative effects from allies. He is therefore a perfect complement for aggressive teammates, while he can also deal considerable damage himself.
If you want to ride into battle with the demigod soon, just participate in the giveaway! We are giving away three codes for the new god, along with his alternate skin Sagittarius. Please remember that the keys are only compatible with the PC version of SMITE.
To participate, simply leave a comment under this post and you are in the running. Multiple entries will lead to disqualification from the giveaway. The deadline for participation is December 6, 2015, at 6 PM. Good luck!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the MMO shooter Destiny , some exotic weapons are seen in trailers or the database but are not yet in the game. Could that change soon?
The last hidden weapons were found with the Sleeper Simulant and the “No Time to Explain“, but the community is wondering: Are there more? YouTuber “Unknown Player” believes so.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
The “Dubious Rocket Launcher” is said to fire energy volleys according to data miners. Kills grant an extra charge – it looks like a pretty powerful weapon – that might be why it was removed from the game.
Solar Thunderlord and Void Thunderlord Already Seen in Destiny Trailers
The other two exotics are two variants of the exotic machine gun Thunderlord. It is known to deal Arc damage. There are two Thunderlord variants being discussed. One deals Void damage, the other Solar damage. Otherwise, they do not differ from the original Thunderlord in terms of values, only in elemental damage.
The “Solar Thunderlord” is said to have been spotted in a short trailer by GameInformer, flames were coming from the magazine – it looked pretty cool.
The “Void Thunderlord” was briefly seen by Guardians with eagle eyes in one of the trailers for “The Taken King” (cover image). Both weapons have thus already been seen as weapons in the game.
So are they already in the game, but hidden like the Black Spindle, just needing to be found? Or did Bungie say at short notice: “This is too boring, we’d better scrap it.” It could also be that the Thunderlord had a “I can change my elemental damage” ability that was removed. We know: These are weapons that Bungie invested time in and that were at some point in the game in early builds. However, we do not know if those are still current plans, if they have been scrapped, or if they might be revisited later like other exotic weapons in the past. The rocket launcher has been denied; it is not in the game.
Confirmed, on the other hand, are these 15 exotic weapons and armors that will be coming to Destiny in December.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the dark fantasy MMORPG The Secret World you turn the air conditioning to Tibet. Issue 13 will focus on PvP.
The Update 13 for The Secret World will likely be a PvP update, which is becoming apparent. There will also be PvE, but it seems more like a “farewell tour” through Kaidan. Issue 13 is supposed to mark the last stop there. Additionally, an update to the dungeon finder function for PvE is coming, allowing players to automatically find agents.
The main focus is on PvP: They want to revise the existing mechanics in Stonehenge and El Dorado. Additionally, a function to deal with AFK players will be introduced, improve the Fusang Project, bring new PvP rewards, and address power tuning.
A lot to do – the main attraction of the patch will be a new PvP arena. This will be Shambhala. In Buddhist mythology, this is a hidden kingdom. In The Secret World, it will become a cool PvP arena with temperatures below freezing.
A small insight into what makes The Secret World special can be found in this video – the storytelling is considered unique in the MMORPG genre:
http://youtu.be/2AbePdAV07g
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With SWTOR, one really can’t complain about a lack of attention lately, as there was recently a minor “scandal” regarding the nerfing of companions. However, it seems one likes to be in the spotlight, which is why they are once again practicing the “announcement of an announcement”.
Big novelty or “just” fresh chapters?
According to this, all fans should keep an eye on the official SWTOR channel on Twitch next Tuesday, as something “big” will be announced there.
Additional excitement was promised by the recently returned to BioWare Drew Karpyshyn, who has since been working on the story of the MMORPG again. He immediately jumped on the bandwagon and announced:
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.
What exactly will be announced remains a mystery until Tuesday. Many players expect a release plan for the missing chapters of “Knights of the Fallen Empire,” which should continue the story of the latest expansion. Others suspect that this wouldn’t be important enough to be called a “big announcement,” as everyone is already expecting it. We will keep you updated.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Guild Wars 2 is doing great – that’s why there is now a strong investment in eSports.
Doubling the Player Count and eSports Plans
Shortly before the release of “Heart of Thorns,” ArenaNet decided to make the base game of Guild Wars 2 free to play – essentially Free2Play. According to SuperData Research’s CEO, Joost van Dreunen, this had an outstanding effect on the player base of GW2. While there were “only” 1.5 million players roaming Tyria in August 2015, this number rose to 3.1 million by October 2015 – that’s more than a doubling!
ArenaNet wants to leverage this upswing and especially expand the area of eSports. That it has potential and is incredibly interesting for viewers is shown, for example, by the access figures on Twitch. Here, Guild Wars 2 consistently ranks in the top 20, with occasional surges upwards, such as at the announcement of Heart of Thorns.
Guild Wars 2 has doubled the number of active players – thanks to Free2Play.
To establish Guild Wars 2 as an eSport, changes have also been made in the game. There are different leagues in which players can qualify. Similar to football, at the end of a season, the top 2 teams are promoted to the next higher league, while the two worst teams are relegated.
Whether this is just a brief upswing or can establish itself as a long-term success will be shown in the coming months and with the first major tournaments.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMO shooter Destiny wants to know once more in the Christmas business. With a trailer and juicy discounts, they want to make an impact this Christmas season. They are selling Destiny at affordable prices – even in Germany.
40$ and excellent critic reviews, these are the arguments for Destiny in the Christmas business of 2015. The game, long derided by critics, now boasts a few press superlatives and argues: If you had bought the games like this, you would have paid 140€. That’s the value. We offer this to you for 40$.
http://youtu.be/NkYqttzX90M
40 US dollars – that is the price for the Legendary Edition with all previously released game content: The base game, the DLC The Dark Below, the DLC House of Wolves, and the expansion “The Taken King.” At the launch of “The Taken King,” Bungie wanted to sell the package for nearly 60 euros.
Bargain hunters beware: Destiny will also be available at particularly low prices in Germany
Prices for Destiny are also dropping significantly in Europe. The Legendary Edition is currently at 45€. On November 30th at 8:00 PM, shipping giant Amazon plans to lower the price again as part of its Cyber Week. But only as long as supplies last.
Oops, unfortunately this affiliate widget is no longer available.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Due to the Thanksgiving holidays, City State Entertainment (CSE) is currently busy, and two class trios have been introduced in rapid succession: the Spirit Mages (pet class) and the Healers (healer class) for Camelot Unchained (RvR MMORPG).
We will take a look at the former here, while we will examine the Healers more closely in the coming days.
The Spirit Mages are divided into the following three distinct classes:
Slaughterwolves
The Slaughterwolves (Viking) are a group of mages capable of summoning the spirits of wolves while simultaneously controlling multiple elemental beings (ice, fire, etc.). Depending on the element of the wolves, they have different types of damage and debuffs. Each animal may possess a different element; however, multiple wolves of the same type can group together autonomously and act as a unit within the entire pack. The summoners can only give commands to the spirits when they simultaneously summon a new animal of the same element, whose command then applies to all animals of the elemental group.
A summoner of the Slaughterwolves with his pack on the hunt
This enormous number of possible companions is both the strength of the Slaughterwolves and a significant challenge. The spirit wolves begin to disintegrate immediately after summoning, and this process can only be delayed by the spirit wolves feeding on the bodies of fallen enemies. However, only one wolf can feed at a time, making a large pack constantly reliant on new supplies. The summoners must also always monitor the individual animals of the group, similar to a pack leader, as the mental control over the wolves has a limited range. If this range is exceeded, the wolves will become autonomous until they either disintegrate or a new summoner of the Slaughterwolves is nearby, to whom they will then voluntarily join.
Like real wolves, the summons of the Slaughterwolves can hunt specific – chosen by the summoner – opponents. Generally, there is a close symbiosis between spirit wolves and real wolves, whose strength and energy can absorb the spirits when they meet. Considering all these points, the Spiritwolves, with their almost RTS-like gameplay (control of the wolves), seem to be one of the most skill-intensive and complex classes in the game.
Morrigan
The Morrigan (Tuatha Dé Danann) are master summoners who can summon three different types of spirits: a wolf spirit, a raven spirit, and a bull spirit. Additionally, skilled Morrigan are capable of regularly changing the form of the spirit into that of another animal when needed.
Through the portals of the Morrigan, opponents never know where the attack will come from in time
This and their ability to open portals, which the spirit can then use to quickly and unexpectedly attack, make the Morrigan dangerous opponents. Their victims usually only realize what is happening to them when it is too late. The spirits operate less as pets accompanying the Morrigan and more as a kind of magical projectile causing direct damage. Examples include the “Spectral Bull” spell, which causes significant ram damage and can interrupt enemies, as well as the “Spectral Crow” spell, which not only provides the Morrigan with a speed buff but also regenerates hit points through life leech.
The Morrigan must pay close attention to their energy pool (Blood / Stamina) during casting. Like the Wisps (scouts of the TDD), the time of day plays a vital role, as their energy regeneration at night is much better than during the day. Furthermore, the death of an opponent also temporarily positively affects the regeneration time of the Morrigan.
The Morrigan is thus the perfect complement to the Druid of the Tuatha Dé Danann, which we recently introduced to you. Whereas the Druid, in contrast to the mages of the two other realms, has hardly any direct spells with single target damage and focuses entirely on AoE damage, the powers of the Morrigan represent the complete opposite. The long range of their abilities, the element of surprise, and the fact that the spirits, thanks to the portals, are hard to stop before reaching their target, round off the overall package.
Spirit pets come in various forms and elements
Dread Caller
The Dread Caller (Arthurian) stand out a bit, as they summon the spirits of deceased humans who have done something wrong in their lives, rather than animal spirits, similar to a necromancer. These damned souls of warriors, mages, and rogues can now pay their debt by bringing their special abilities to the service of the Dread Caller. Depending on the need, the summoners can summon a different spirit with suitable abilities.
Some of the companions of the Dread Caller include a “Traitorous Soldier” who can deal considerable damage with his two-handed weapons and a “Corrupted Cultist” who uses his mind and shadow magic against the enemies, as well as a heavily armored tank who protects his master from harm. The Dread Caller, similar to some of the scouts of Camelot Unchained, can gain control over the body of the summoned spirit while his own body remains in place.
But even without creatures, the Dread Caller makes a good impression. They love to be in the midst of the fray and therefore have a wide repertoire of melee skills. And to survive the battle at the front unscathed, they have suitable advantages (boons) available. One of these options, for example, ensures that the Dread Caller is healed by the damage dealt by the spirit. This, along with the fact that the summoned spirits remain in the fight even after the death of the Dread Caller, makes him and his creatures true nuisances.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from YouTube that complements the article.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. Personal data can be transmitted to third party platforms.
Read more about our privacy policy.