Destiny: Maximum values for Intellect, Strength, and Discipline in exotic armor pieces with House of Wolves

In the MMO shooter Destiny exotic armor pieces can have different values in intellect, strength, and discipline. What are the maximum values with House of Wolves?

Exotic armor pieces are nearly identical. But only “nearly” and it is this “nearly” that this article is about.

An exotic helmet like the “Achylophagen Symbiont” of the Hunter always has the same properties and always the same status value. In the case of the Symbiont, that is “discipline.”

However, this value in discipline can vary in height. If Xur sells an Achylophagen Symbiont, each of these helmets at the same light level has the same value. It is the same outcome. From an Engram though, as a strike, nightfall, crucible reward, or from a boss encounter, other “Achylophagen Symbionts” can drop that may have a higher or lower value in discipline.

This value in discipline moves within very specific parameters (i.e., between a minimum and a maximum value). This range varies depending on the type of armor piece. Moreover, many of the new exotic armor pieces not only have one value but several. For these types of armor pieces (we refer to them as split-items) different parameters apply.

And these parameters can be quite broadly defined. For instance, it is assumed that chest armors can have values ranging between 102 and 181. It is therefore worth paying attention to obtaining an armor piece with the “highest” value possible.

What do the values intellect, strength, and discipline bring in Destiny?

The magical value that Guardians need to aim for remains at 272. With this value, one receives a 100% bonus for the respective stat. Beyond this value, additional points do not yield any benefit.

  • For those who reach 272 intellect, they receive their super every 3:55 minutes instead of only every 5:30. The super meter fills up twice as fast through kills.
  • At 272 discipline, a Guardian throws grenades every 27 seconds instead of just once a minute.
  • With 272 strength, a player reaches the full 100% bonus and therefore has only 31 seconds cooldown instead of 69 seconds.
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What are the current maximum values?

We differentiate between “pure” (only one value) and “split” (multiple values). The maximum values for armor pieces with light 42 are:

For chest armors (pure) at 181. Chest armors (split) at 103 for the individual value. The only exotic chest armor with a split value are the new robes for the Warlock.

For gloves (pure) at 120. Gloves (split) at 68 or 69. Exotic gloves with split values are: The claws of Ahamkara and the new items Handcuffs of Nothing for the Warlock and ACD/0 Feedback Fence for the Titan.

For helmets (pure) at 135 or 136. Helmets (split) at 77. Exotic helmets with split values are: For the Hunter ATS/8 Arachnid, for the Titan Eternal Warrior; the Obsidian Will and The Ram for the Warlock.

For boots (pure) 166. No boots with split values are known.

Destiny-Ram

6% more with House of Wolves in Destiny

These values correspond to an increase of 6% compared to the values that exotic armors with “Darkness Lurks” could reach. The earlier version of the article can be found here.

For the article, we again used the measurements of the reddit user aWrySharK. He collects on reddit the maximum values of the individual armor piece types from the community. For the values of the split gloves and those of the pure helmets, it is still uncertain. By calculations, it should be the higher value, but so far, only the lower value has been found or not all outcomes with the maximum value have been found yet.

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SWTOR: End of the War Leaked! – And the expansion has a release date

Actually, this information was probably meant to be saved for E3, but then they let the Bantha out of the bag too early: The next addon for Star Wars: The Old Republic could bring groundbreaking changes. At least in terms of story.

The Empire of Zakuul

Star Wars The Old Republic - Revan
Did Revan actually initiate the end of the galaxy…?

On BioWare’s official website for the MMO, a lot of exciting details about the upcoming expansion “Knights of the Fallen Empire” were briefly visible. What came to light there could shake the galaxy to its core: The war is over, as our characters are now “veterans of the great galactic war”. But that’s just the beginning of the fun!

A new, third faction enters the scene, the “Empire of Zakuul” under the leadership of the immortal Emperor Valkorion. Because too many cooks spoil the broth, the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic are swiftly destroyed. In the new storyline, players can make significant decisions for the future of their former factions and support… or betray both old and new friends.

Another important detail is the cost of the largest addon to date: Anyone who subscribes on or after October 27 will receive the expansion for free. And those who subscribe between July 31 and October 19 will secure early access.

Is this already the release date for the SWTOR expansion Knights of the Fallen Empire?

The release date would thus be October 27, with the “early release” being October 20, 2015.

However, none of this information is official yet, so it should be taken with caution. After E3, we will know more, as a new cinematic is also rumored to be revealed then…

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The Elder Scrolls Online on PS4 and Xbox One seems to be a hit – already 2 new campaigns opened

In the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, the influx seems to be greater than expected. Already, two new PvP campaigns have been launched.

The Elder Scrolls Online Armor

It seems to be becoming apparent that The Elder Scrolls Online is doing well on consoles at least initially regarding sales, exceeding Zenimax’s expectations. Exact numbers are not known, but Zenimax mentioned “millions” of new players welcomed to Tamriel. Though this has some negative repercussions, there are login issues. In the long term, however, this should be good for the game’s development.

Meanwhile, there is also reassurance, stating that the login problems on the European mega-servers have been resolved.

There are no numbers, but it seems that The Elder Scrolls Online is being received better on consoles than it was on PC back then

Figures for the PC version were never disclosed. Generally, it is assumed that they remained “at the lower end of expectations,” which led to the decision in 2014 to delay the console version for the time being and later make significant efforts to conceptually and structurally improve TESO. But these are just external assessments.

The current influx on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is so large in PvP that it has been decided to open two new “campaigns.” These are essentially “further copies” of the PvP zone Cyrodiil, where players from the three warring factions fight against each other. Since The Elder Scrolls Online only has mega-servers outside of Cyrodiil, this decision is roughly equivalent to what other MMORPGs refer to with the announcement “We’re opening new servers.”

The Elder Scrolls Online: Cyrodiil

With the PC version, Zenimax did not open any additional campaigns at release and later significantly reduced the number of campaigns as players focused on a few campaigns and the mass “got lost” on the rest. However, at that time, there were also clearly more campaigns than at the console launch now.

The first new campaign “Versidue-Shae” opened on Friday, and the latest is called “Juliek.” It launched yesterday. Both campaigns have a five-day duration until reset and are aimed at “non-veteran characters” on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Interestingly, they open on both the PS4 and Xbox One mega-server. It seems that The Elder Scrolls Online is doing well on both consoles.


If you dust it off, our PvP guide to Cyrodiil might still serve you well: Lost in Cyrodiil? – The Elder Scrolls Online PvP Guide

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Hearthstone: And this is the “new” wizard Medivh

In Blizzard’s online card game Hearthstone , the new alternative to the mage Jaina Proudmoore has been introduced: It is the cornerstone of the entire Warcraft franchise, Medivh.

At Blizzard, they have decided to offer new alternative heroes for initially 3 classes. These come with emotes, animations, and a new card back, costing about 9 euros each. For warriors, it will be Magni Bronzebeard, for hunters Alleria Windrunner, and for mages, it will be Medivh. He is, so to speak, the cornerstone of the entire Warcraft franchise.

The first Warcraft, a strategy game, was originally supposed to be a “Warhammer” license, which could have utilized the background story. However, that fell through at the last moment, and Blizzard had to come up with its own backstory to justify the conflict between orcs and humans. Somehow, years later, Medivh was created from this with his complex story as a demon-possessed mage.

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World of Warcraft acknowledges problems in Draenor, it should get better with 6.2

Recently, in the MMORPG World of Warcraft , things have been turbulent. The community is upset about a multitude of issues. During a Q&A session, the responsible parties clarified some points.

The mood in World of Warcraft has been rather negative since the beginning of 2015. There are many little things that annoy players. After many jumped back into the adventure with Warlords of Draenor in November, perhaps completing the best leveling phase in the history of WoW, not much followed except for problems. The concepts showed weaknesses, and long-term motivation evaporated from WoW.

Lead developer Ion Hazzikostas now answered fans’ questions. We summarize the most important points for you, referring to a transcript by mmo-champion.

Twitter, 6.1, and the selfie camera

Some players were upset about the 6.1 update: They felt too little “content” had come. Selfie cameras or Twitter integration did not fit WoW.
Hazzikostas said:

  • After the expansion, a holiday phase began at Blizzard; they wanted to add some little things beforehand, but they should have preferred to call the 6.1 patch 6.05.
WoW-Selfie
  • Both Twitter and the S.E.L.F.I.E. camera were small projects handled by a few developers who managed this alongside their regular tasks, which did not prevent other game content from being developed.

Garrisons a problem in Warlords of Warcraft

Garrisons indeed pose a problem because much that used to happen in the outside world of World of Warcraft now functions in the garrison. It was actually intended as game content to fill small sessions of a few minutes. However, players spend a lot of time in the garrison because it is the path of least resistance.

WoW-gute-Freunde

Especially gathering professions have suffered because players no longer venture out into the world but find everything in the garrison. Through the garrison, one does not feel like a craftsman, but like a collector of daily items. Additionally, players being able to acquire gear from raids also turned out to be a problem. When players arrived at the raid, they often already had the gear.

With the next patch 6.2, they aim to enhance the outside world again.

The issue with flying…

Flying in Draenor was also a hotly debated topic internally. They were relatively balanced until the end, but the majority advocated for a flying ban. After the fans’ reaction, it became clear that a compromise would be sought.

Headless Horseman WoW

This should now also serve as a model for future expansions: Those who thoroughly explore the world on foot will also be able to take to the skies.

The relevant ability will not come immediately with patch 6.2, but that is just a technical issue; they do not want to delay it unnecessarily, but rather bring it as early as possible.

Dailies, instances, and reputation in Warlords of Draenor

Hazzikostas also admits difficulties with the reputation factions, instances, and daily quests.

The reputation factions were introduced as one of the last things. They really didn’t want them; in the end, they turned out to be pure mob grinds with weak rewards. The new reputation factions in 6.2 are supposed to be significantly better.

WoW-Apexis

A similar problem existed with daily quests in 6.0. They wanted to move away from the overdose in Mists of Pandaria and create more freedom. They shifted from story quests to a model where one had to ensure order in an “area”. But this also removed the “story” behind the daily quests, making them seem arbitrary, and players had no connection to them.

Additionally, the rewards through the Apexis vendors were too weak and too expensive. With patch 6.2, the daily quests are expected to improve.

The instances in Warlords of Draenor were great, but they did not offer players a reason to visit them repeatedly.

And this is how we see it…

Mein MMO believes: Hazzikostas sees the problems just as clearly and sharply, if not even more so than the players.

Especially dailies, reputation factions, crafting, and instances were the backbone of the “everyday WoW” outside of raids. Each of these points has drastically changed with Warlords of Draenor, such that it no longer creates a “long-term connection”.

However, the statement regarding patch 6.1 does seem a bit strange. Apparently, Blizzard still does not have the schedules completely under control. If they would have preferred to call patch 6.1 patch 6.05, then we would still be 7 months later without the first major patch for WoW. However: It feels exactly like that. And that cannot have been the plan for World of Warcraft and Blizzard.

While everything is “running”, and the second raid appeared on time and as planned, it is still strange that they found no opportunity to adjust for problems over 7 months.

WoW Blood Elf Female

The problems that Hazzikostas analyzes have not just been present since yesterday; they have been relevant for many months. Reducing or strengthening the Apexis crystal rewards or creating incentives for instances are not things that necessarily needed to be part of a major patch. This could have been done as early as February or March.

In any case, the fault analysis is solid; Blizzard has some solutions ready with 6.2. We’ll see how they play out in practice.

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Source(s):
  1. MMO-Champion

Destiny: Tips for the Trials of Osiris in the Cauldron

This weekend, Trials of Osiris is active in Destiny: It’s going into the Cauldron, a close-quarters map.

No one can say that Trials of Osiris is always the same. Last week, snipers were in demand at Widow’s Court, this time the map roulette landed on “The Cauldron”. It’s a relatively tight and small map, with closing doors that reduce the combat area and sight lines.

Destiny-Matador
Considered the new top shotgun …

Therefore, this week, hand cannons and scout rifles are favored in the primary slots, while shotguns are recommended as special weapons. And there are quite a few strong weapons. Additionally, handling grenades proves to be a key skill in tight spaces. Those who can play around corners can reliably catch enemies and prepare a storm of attack. Anyone who insists on using a sniper rifle must coordinate well with their teammates to take advantage of open doors.

In the video, Nexxos introduces you to the Crucible map “The Cauldron” and provides some tips on what to pay attention to during Trials of Osiris:

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The keyword according to Nexxos this week is “flank,” it’s essential to get into close combat, surprise the opponent, preferably strike from a blind spot and quickly build pressure to overwhelm the enemies. You can split into two groups, one flanks while two come from the front, or use similar formations.

Communication and reviving fallen teammates are also important here. Good “map knowledge” is advantageous, as it allows predicting the enemies’ movements, making victory almost certain.

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A reddit user has created a detailed map of the Cauldron and found names for the individual areas, making it easier for players to orient themselves and communicate within the team.

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The image change – When gaming becomes socially acceptable

Over the past few years, the topic surrounding video games has changed significantly. I do not mean any game trends, genres, or virtual reality gimmicks – no! I mean gaming itself.

Gamer and Gamerin

It undergoes a huge image transformationwhich positively affects us gamers. Since video games have existed, the community has been struggling with typical clichés like: “Gaming is boring”, “that’s only for kids”, or “only freaks/nerds play that”. But how should outsiders know any better when mainstream media portrays gamers as aimless, unwashed, pale, and lonely? Yet slowly but surely, a change in mindset is occurring within society.

A significant contribution to this transformation is made by eSports and streaming platforms like Twitch. With massive tournaments, prize money in the millions, and a global audience, “gaming” is becoming a cultural asset with a cool factor.

The Power of eSports

Soccer has the Bundesliga, football has the NFL, and gamers have the ESL. eSports is the abbreviation for “electronic sports” and refers to competitive playing of computer and video games. One might assume this is a league for extraordinary super nerds, but the opposite is true. Those who make it to one of the top teams in the ESL can make a living from their passion, and often quite well.

League of Legends eSports

Prize distributions in the millions have become standard, and that’s not all: Major publishers like Riot from League of Legends hold their own tournaments with even higher prize pools. Winners are not only rewarded with a lot of money but also lucrative advertising and sponsorship contracts that secure a steady income. Although eSports is still not classified as a sport by the German Olympic Sports Confederation, this does not hinder the success of pro gamers.

Gaming as a Profession

The more popular a sport is, the more money can be made from it. And if I earn something, then I am not unemployed; I have a job. Thus, the term “ProGamer” is not a title in a role-playing game, but a type of “profession”. An annual income of €100,000 is not uncommon. The sum consists of contracts with advertising partners and sponsors, as well as merchandise.

Korea Gaming

Other attractive jobs await in the gaming scene. In addition to typical professions like game developer, designer, or Mein MMO editor, eSports also offers opportunities for a professional career. All professional teams in the leagues have managers, coaches, strategists, and even sports psychologists who support the entire venture in the professional realm of computer gaming.

A Career Ending Does Not Necessarily Mean Bankruptcy

However, one should be aware that the career as a ProGamer does not last as long as, for example, the already short career of a soccer player. Furthermore, it can happen that a game falls out of fashion, and though you are still good, no one is interested.

However, all players and teams in eSports and the realm of professional gaming have sponsorship and advertising contracts with high-profile companies like Intel, Razer, or Logitech. If you manage to navigate your career wisely and build a network within the sponsors, you can secure a good job with a former partner even after your career ends. Or you can pass on your experiences as a coach or manager to other teams.

You Can Even Study Computer Games

ArcheAge-Library
Head to the library and study for the subject “Gaming”!

It is now even possible to study computer science. The University of Bayreuth is offering the computer science course for the first time in the winter semester of 2015/16. However, anyone who thinks that this means gaming all day is mistaken. It is about the science behind the medium of video games. Similar to cultural and literary studies, the game only serves as a basis for analysis. Is this perhaps another indication that video games are encountering cultural acceptance? I do not know…

Online Games – A Spectator Sport?

No matter if League of Legends, Dota 2, Smite, or CS:Go – all these online games fill entire stadiums with supporters and fans. Even at home in front of the screens, it’s a state of emergency: Live broadcasts of the games are watched millions of times. Yes, there’s even public viewing now. The PC games that were once mocked have become a successful spectator sport. They evoke emotions and bring crowds of fans to a boil.

From Super Nerd to Superstar

Long gone are the days when the word “gamer” conjured up images of a nerdy, rebellious PC freak who dives into a virtual game world for hours in his parents’ basement. The super nerds are now multi-millionaire superstars in the scene with villas and pools in their gardens. Instead of World of Warcraft posters, the walls of pro gamers are adorned with lingerie and swimwear from groupies. A prime example is former League of Legends pro Ocelot. He is a kind of figurehead of the LoL scene and has built a small empire through savvy self-marketing.

League of Legends - Ocelot SK Gaming
There are also stars and celebrities among gamers

Although he never won a title with his team SK Gaming in the big tournaments, he basks in fame and glory. He not only disproves the stereotype of the ugly nerd but also demonstrates the true qualities of a businessman. His own shoe and sock collection, sponsorship and advertising contracts, tons of merchandise, and his own League of Legends team that he personally manages. On the side, he is also a successful streamer.

Twitch.tv Offers Space for Showmen, Professionals, and Everyone

Twitch is far from being a nerdy TV format for gaming freaks: With 100 million viewers who follow the streams for 16 billion minutes every month, gaming is becoming a ratings hit. In addition to countless games, all major tournaments in the scene are broadcast live. Anyone with the desire and a stable internet connection can share their gaming skills with the world. Those who cannot impress with “skill” do so with creativity – entertainers and likable personalities can gather a large number of followers. With emotions that the game characters often lack, witty comments, and anecdotes, they delight their viewers from stream to stream.

Twitch Dress Code

The financial aspect of a successful stream should not be underestimated either: Top streamers on Twitch can rake in substantial extra cash just from community contributions. Additionally, there are paid subscriptions, advertising, referral links, and a revenue share that Twitch pays to its partners. Twitch is becoming increasingly popular among female gaming fans. Those who skillfully showcase the advantages of the female body can expect to receive galactic donations from viewers – in line with the motto “The more wood in front of the cabin, the bigger the donation”.

And What About MMORPGs?

In my opinion, MMORPGs have not really jumped on the success train of eSports and the image transformation – at least, that’s how I perceive it. The only noticeable change in the MMORPG genre – aside from a few exceptions – is the player count, and that’s negative. A larger upheaval is needed here. In my opinion, it lies in the fact that many MMOs hardly offer “competitive gameplay” that is suitable for competition. Thus, they are far removed from the trend of the gaming scene. Casual play was yesterday. Nowadays, the youngest generation of gamers wants to compete with other players, rank up, and achieve successes. While almost every role-playing game offers a PvP mode, this is not “balanced” enough thanks to the variety and the good old item spiral. The only one that comes to mind is Guild Wars 2, which is trying to establish itself in the eSports sector – with currently little success. Are MMOs and eSports perhaps a bad combination?

EEDAR MOBA Study Revenue Market

In my eyes, the gaming scene has taken a huge step forward. With the steadily growing eSports scene, new professions are emerging alongside more and more games with a competitive gameplay system. MOBAs and shooters are at the forefront of the trend, taking the pole position. MMORPGs, on the other hand, are missing this trend. Additionally, the topic of gaming is gaining more and more social acceptance due to, for example, its own degree programs.

I would naturally like to hear your perspective: Do you view the development of video games as positively as I do?

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WildStar: Mysterious event frustrates players

The day before yesterday, there was a strange incident in WildStar: An event was announced in the forum, encouraging players to participate. When the players gathered on time, the disappointment was great.

Small Rowsdower and Big Disappointment

WildStar Rowsdower Mystery Event
This should also answer the question, “Is anyone still playing WildStar?”

The event on the server “Entity” turned out to be a stress test for the servers: Hundreds of players stood around a large, pink Rowsdower and were transformed into smaller variants of the plush creature. However, not much more happened there, which left many players confused or even angry. On Reddit, those affected expressed their frustration: If Carbine wants to conduct a stress test, they should announce it honestly and not disguise it under the pretense of an “event”.

Despite the confusion caused by this strange occurrence, Carbine announced on Twitter that something similar will also take place on the European servers in the future. Perhaps there will be a bit more clarity then.

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Source(s):
  1. massivelyop.com

The Elder Scrolls Online: For some, the first day; for others, the first year

In the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online , a new trailer guides through the first day, showcasing an infographic of what PC and Mac players have been up to so far.

The influx at The Elder Scrolls Online is likely even higher than expected. Zenimax is somewhat overwhelmed by the rush and therefore needs more time to tackle the “initial difficulties” with login queues and responding to help tickets. However, they ensure that they are still working diligently on it.

For a change, they bring a “conventional” trailer aimed at players with no plan, to demonstrate what the first day will be like:

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If you need more assistance on how to survive the first day, check out our TESO guide to first steps: The Elder Scrolls Online: How to succeed in the first steps.

However, there was a life before the PS4 and Xbox One version, and this infographic shows what all happened back then and what players accomplished until then:

ESO infographic
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  1. Infografik

Cabal II: The next Free2Play MMO from Asia is launching here in the West

The Korean free-to-play action MMO Cabal II will launch here in the West at the beginning of July, with an open beta, which is essentially equivalent to a soft launch.

We recently asked ourselves: When will Cabal II start? Now we know: On July 2nd, the action MMORPG will enter an open beta. This is already essentially a soft launch, and later the game will transition from open beta to official release. Just two weeks ago, Echo of Soul took a similar path.

Cabal II is considered a typical “Asia MMO” with a focus on an action combat system and has been on the market in Korea for three years. We presented the individual classes and gameplay principles in this article.

Cabal2-Launch2

What do you think of Cabal 2? Are you interested in the game at first glance? You can register for the open beta here.

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Destiny: Trials of Osiris – Hard-Mode

In the MMO shooter Destiny 3 players managed to play their way to Mercury using the notoriously bad “No Land Beyond”.

Destiny-No-Land-Beyond-231

“You only see the Thorn“, “Supers are too strong”, “sniper rifles with Last Round are too much”, all of this has been heard in the past weeks, often rightly so, about the Crucible of Destiny. It might give the impression: It doesn’t matter what you can do, but what weapon you are carrying.

Last week, the map Widow’s Court was featured in the “Trials of Osiris” – a paradise for snipers. Three players took this as an opportunity to tackle challenges using only the exotic retro sniper rifle “No Land Beyond”. The weapon is still considered “a joke”, repeatedly chosen as the weakest weapon, yet that is exactly what attracts top players looking for a challenge: Because once again, really good players can extract golden moments.

The three tried to get by mostly without supers and grenades. They didn’t quite manage it. However, they used only “No Land Beyond” as their weapon. How far they got and how it all works, you can see in this video:

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For those who want to know what the title image is about: Someone carved ‘No Land Beyond’

 
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Star Wars: The Old Republic receives the largest expansion to date

The SF MMORPG Star Wars The Old Republic is set to receive the largest story-driven expansion yet. The title chosen is “Knights of the Fallen”.

Electronic Arts has presented a comprehensive program for E3. Among them is “Star Wars: The Old Republic”, the Free2Play MMORPG from Bioware. It was announced that a new expansion is planned. With “Knights of the Fallen”, the storytelling through Cinematic will be brought back to the forefront.

There will be new companions, new worlds to explore. Electronic Arts promises a dynamic story for SWTOR that changes with the decisions of the players: A typical “Bioware” game, with all the features that define them.

We will receive further details on Monday evening, when the EA press conference at E3 takes place.

SWTOR EP Boost

Electronic Arts has already signaled last year that they support the Free2Play MMORPG and that 2015 should be the year of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Allegedly for the sake of SWTOR, they have discontinued the 4vs1 experiment Shadow Realms. At the end of the year, the next Star Wars film will be released in theaters. The now officially announced expansion was subtly hinted at during Gamescom 2014.

For those who want to get an overview of the cinematic trailers from the early days of Star Wars: The Old Republic:

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Source(s):
  1. EA Pressemeldung E3

Destiny: Sneaky Hunter combo causes super uproar

In the MMO shooter Destiny , a gear combination allows Hunters to regain their Super incredibly quickly.

YouTuber Nexxos has discovered a really nasty combination for the Gunslinger through a tip and some pondering, which allows the Hunter’s Super to recharge incredibly fast. If you’ve seen swarm grenades or the “Golden Gun” in Destiny more often in the past few weeks, it’s probably because of this combination. Some say they have known it before and that it’s “old news”. However, it has only become truly popular in the last few days.

How the “Golden Gun” combination works

The key to the combo is the perk “From the Ashes”. It charges your Super when a player gets a kill with grenades. At least that’s what you’d think since that’s what it says in the tool tip. In practice, it’s also enough to deal damage to charge the Super.

From the Ashes can be found on well-known exotic Hunter helms like Heavenly Nighthawk. However, the perk can also appear on legendary helms and is represented on the exotic gloves “Ahamkara’s Spine” – the Exo gloves are actually meant to be used with sensor mines… but they are even more useful for swarm grenades.

Ahamkara's Spine-126

The Special:

  • Swarm grenades seem to trigger this effect, even when one of the “sub-grenades” hits – this isn’t guaranteed, but it seems to occur often enough to make the combination deadly
  • And the effect “stacks”, meaning that if a Hunter has both Ahamkara’s Spine and a legendary helm with “From the Ashes” equipped, the effect is significantly increased

Nexxos takes it to the next level by additionally using the skill “Looting” in the Gunslinger talent tree and utilizing the “bad karma”. With Looting, the cooldown of the swarm grenade decreases, and “bad karma” grants even more Super energy.

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Frequent Super for Hunters in Destiny

Destiny - From the Ashes

This combination means that especially in the Crucible, the “Golden Gun”, the Gunslinger Super, is used much more frequently. Additionally, there are more swarm grenades in play. However, this combination can also yield significant results in PvE, quickly turning some enemies into gold dust.

It seems clear that the combo of these properties and exotic weapons is significantly overpowered and that only certain “quirks” make it possible at all, as Ashes to Asset, the crucial perk, does not behave as described in the tool tip. Therefore, the question arises how long this combination will remain viable. Unlike strong gear combinations like Ruinenflügel + anything on the Titan or Obsidian Will for the Voidwalker, it does not seem to be sustainable.

Even average players achieve such frequent Super usage, but you have to hit with it:

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Hearthstone: And the new Hunter hero is …

In the online card game Hearthstone, Blizzard has revealed the identity of the new hero for the Hunter class. There are already hints about the Mage and the new card backs.

Most had suspected and pieced together via fuzzy logic: The current hero among the guys who love to go full Face is the male Horde Hunter Rexxar – perhaps there will be an Alliance Hunter. The image already looked like an elf woman. Sylvanas is present in the game as a servant and is taken… leaving her sisters.

And indeed: Alleria Windrunner, the lost high elf general, is the new alternate Hunter in Hearthstone.

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Gameplay-wise, the new heroes will make no difference to the previous ones: The cards remain the same, the hero ability as well. They are “merely” new skins of the existing heroes with new animations, emotes, and voices. Additionally, there will be a new card back. They will be available for about 9 euros. Alongside Alleria, Magni Bronzebeard has been announced as the new warrior, and there is still a “Mage” to come – following the previous logic, this could likely end up being a Horde character.

Is this what the card backs of the new heroes for Hearthstone look like?

A leak on the Korean Battlenet site seems to already reveal who it is: It appears to be Medivh, one of the key figures in the entire World of Warcraft lore.

new-heroes-card-backs
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World of Warcraft: Battleship as a browser and garrison game 2.0

With the upcoming patch 6.2, there will be an expansion of the garrison in World of Warcraft alongside the new area Tanaan Jungle. If you reach level 100 and have a garrison of level 3, you can start building the shipyard because: Draenor’s seas are fiercely contested!

New Resources, New Missions

Ships must be built in the shipyard, which takes some time. However, once they are ready, you can send them on missions to slowly but surely conquer the waters of Draenor for yourselves.

WoW-Horde-Tauren

Unlike your followers, ships do not consume garrison resources on their missions; instead, they require oil – which can coincidentally only be found in the new jungle area of Tanaan. While you gather the raw material on foot, it can be immediately used to send the fleet out.

Follower Missions 2.0 in World of Warcraft? – Almost!

World of Warcraft Ship Destroyer Horde
The destroyer is strong against submarines, but weak against battleships.

At first glance, this resembles the regular follower missions, which have now gained a reputation as “browser games.” Even on second glance, the differences are not that massive, aside from one small but significant detail: The ships can sink and thus be destroyed.

This means you not only lose the time it took to build the ship but also any experience points it has accumulated thus far. Tactical planning should therefore play a larger role in naval missions, as even a “97%” mission can end in a painful defeat.

Various Ship Types

Different dangers require different measures; therefore, there are numerous ship models, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. A submarine, for example, can approach enemy ships without being seen, whereas a destroyer lays mines in the water that destroy submarines. Battleships counter destroyers, and carriers counter battleships. It seems that variety and tactical planning are covered – at least until an interface addon takes over this task as well.

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Source(s):
  1. eu.battle.net

Overwatch: Pharah – the death from above

To match the weekend, Blizzard sweetens the days again with fresh gameplay material for Overwatch. This time, the heavily armored “Pharah” is in the spotlight, bringing death and destruction to her enemies with her rocket launcher. But actually, she is quite peaceful. So she says.

Rockets for Safety

Overwatch Pharah Concept

Fareeha Amari hails from Egypt and initially wanted to join Overwatch, but the program was shut down before she could join. Instead, she now works under the codename “Pharah” for a private security company, fulfilling her dream of protecting the innocent. On the battlefield, she primarily fires with her rocket launcher, which deals devastating damage over a large area, but her abilities are also impressive:

  • Vertical Takeoff is a jetpack that allows Pharah to temporarily fly to attack her enemies from above.
  • The Concussion Rocket deals enormous damage to shields and barriers. Additionally, it knocks enemies back a good distance. Especially handy when they fall somewhere and have to take a long walk back.
  • Her ultimate ability Rocket Barrage riddles a target area with many mini-rockets and can dismantle an entire enemy team. However, Pharah cannot move during this time, making her vulnerable to countermeasures.

How to score a kill streak of 37 with her and potentially be the key player in the battle is demonstrated quite impressively in the latest video:

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You can find more heroes from Blizzard’s new MOBA/shooter hybrid here.

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  1. youtube

Guild Wars 2: The Wallet is Being Renovated

With the upcoming update of Guild Wars 2, the first significant changes for the expansion “Heart of Thorns” will take effect. One of these adjustments cleans up the wallet and gives it a much clearer design.

All Important Information at a Glance

Lion's Arch Rebuild
The craftsman of Lion’s Arch even takes care of your wallet.

So far, the game’s wallet has been relatively hidden – either you open it through the hero view or via a dedicated button in the inventory. In the future, all currencies will be displayed directly in the inventory and additionally according to the respective environment: If your hero is in the Fractals of the Mists, then the Fractal Relics will be displayed, while if you are playing PvP, you will see the available Honor Badges.

If desired, you can now also filter your wallet by specific currencies and display them permanently. A click on the individual exchange mediums immediately shows where to obtain them – this should make it easier for newcomers to understand the necessary game content.

Item Conversion

Guild Wars 2 Ranger Druid

To declutter the players’ inventories a bit, some items will in the future be converted into currencies: Flawless Fractal Relics, WvW Tournament Tickets, Geodes, and Bandit Crests will no longer take up space and will automatically be found in the wallet after the update.

Goodbye Skill Points

As skill points will also belong to the past with the upcoming update (they will only be obtained up to level 80), another currency is being introduced: The Spirit Shards. These shards will now be obtainable from all sources that previously awarded skill points. Scrolls of Knowledge will also be converted into Spirit Shards, which can, as usual, be exchanged with Miyani for useful materials.

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Source(s):
  1. guildwars2.com

My MMO asks: What is your favorite boss fight?

It’s time to ring in the weekend again, and what better way to do that than with a little exchange of opinions? After all, we know just as well as you what’s on the agenda this weekend: defeating bosses and looting gear. But which of these moments really stayed in your memory?

The Biggest Challenges

World of Warcraft: Ragnaros

Without a doubt, the hardest challenges in MMOs (aside from disconnects) are the boss fights in raids or dungeons. Whether you are in a small solo dungeon in SWTOR or a large raid in WoW, powerful adversaries are lurking around every corner, ready to take a beating. While many of these enemies can be easily taken down “on the go,” there are a few opponents who will stick in our minds for a long time: Either the fight was particularly tough, the mechanics were refined, or the atmosphere was so gripping that you forgot to blink while playing. However, few fights manage to combine all these components. And this leads us to our question for you: What is your favorite boss fight in an MMO?

Cortyn says: Several memorable boss fights come to mind, most of which I experienced in World of Warcraft. Many of them have stayed with me to this day, and I often measure current content against those past battles. Ragnaros in Molten Core is linked to the euphoria in TeamSpeak when the Firelord finally sank into the lava pool after more than 100 attempts. Kael’thas Sunstrider in “Burning Crusade” was an amazing fight from a role-playing perspective and especially three months of hard work until he, his four advisory henchmen, and his arsenal were finally brought to their knees.

Screenshot Illidan WoW Burning Crusade
One could argue about my then interface. Luckily we don’t.

However, no fight satisfied me as completely as the one against Illidan Stormrage in the Black Temple. Everything just clicked. The encounter had different phases and was one of the few fights where every player absolutely had to be “on the ball.” I don’t remember how many hundreds of times the Shadow Beasts devoured me and how many bandages (which were still useful back then) I used up there. But finally bringing Illidan to his knees, only to be rewarded with a brief dialogue that made me question my own actions, was phenomenal. I haven’t experienced such an intense encounter in any other game since then – at least in no MMO.

Now it’s your turn! Which boss fight was the best and why? Was it an emotional connection to the character or were the phases of the fight incredibly well-designed? Or was it just the loot that made a boss memorable for you? Let us know in the comments and engage in lively discussion!

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The Elder Scrolls Online: How to Succeed in the First Steps

Console players in particular will have to find their way around the vast fantasy world of Tamriel in the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, as the game has only just been released a few days ago. We will help a bit with the first steps.

An MMORPG can overwhelm a newcomer. Which class should I choose? How should I allocate the skills? Which guild should I join? We would like to provide some assistance so that you find a good entry into the MMORPG.

The choice of class and race

Each race in The Elder Scrolls Online offers you certain bonuses; however, by choosing your race, you also determine which of the three factions you will fight for. So consider carefully at the beginning which race you want to play. Pay attention to the bonuses, as they can provide you with various advantages.

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The choice of class is also important, as it determines the role you will take on.

  • If you want to play a tank, choose the Dragonknight or Templar.
  • If you want to specialize in healing, the Templar is your choice.
  • As an archer or if you want to focus on stealth, you should choose the Nightblade.
  • As a mage or summoner, the Sorcerer is your best option.
  • And if you want to appear as a melee fighter, you will be best served as a Dragonknight.

About skills and guilds

You have many skills, and it can be confusing to decide where to allocate your points best. At the beginning, it is important that you really allocate points to the first skills of your class. Even if it seems not very useful to you at first, later in the game you will need all the skills of your class, so you should start allocating your points there right away.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Skyshard
Keep an eye out for skyshards to improve your skills. Recommended: The interactive map from tamrielfoundry.

Since you only improve the skills when you use them, it is essential that you regularly use every skill. Therefore, you should always have at least one ability of your class on your hotbar. Passive skills are not as important as active skills, so focus more on these. This does not apply to the two passive skills “Persuade” and “Intimidate,” as they can unlock special dialogue options that provide you with certain advantages.

Also use the spell Soul Trap, which you receive right after escaping from the prison at the beginning of the game. Although it is not a very powerful spell, it can help you master the initial battles better, as Soul Trap deals damage to monsters.

Elder Scrolls Online Fighter's Guild

Right in the city that you reach after escaping from the prison, there is a Fighter’s Guild. Join it and complete quests for them. This helps you to level up faster at the beginning. Even if you actually wanted to join another guild, you should first become a member of the Fighter’s Guild. This will not cause you any disadvantages. You can still join another guild later.

Also, be sure to go to the starter island, as that is where you can level up your character the easiest. The starter island is not mandatory, but without it, you will likely face some issues in the game world.

Gold and equipment

Especially at the beginning, it will take quite a while before you have really collected a lot of gold. Since you acquire a lot of gear through battles and quests, you should try to save as much gold as possible at the start and not spend it right away. Instead, buy more inventory space, so you can carry more items found that you can sell.

TESO Inventory

Additionally, you should place value on improving the riding skill as quickly as possible, as this will allow you to acquire more powerful mounts that let you travel faster and provide a larger inventory.

Questing

Choose suitable partners for your adventures who match your playstyle. Do not conform to others; instead, stay true to your path. This will make it easier for you to progress more quickly. Take on every dungeon you encounter, as they usually promise you many items, gold, and a way to level up faster.

Be aware that at level 15, you will get the option to switch your weapon quickly. This is very useful for battles but has another benefit as well. Because the skill unlocks five additional ability slots for you. Assign those slots with abilities that you may not use regularly but would like to improve.

The Elder Scrolls Online Dungeons

Once you have completed a quest, simply switch weapons before speaking to the relevant NPC, and you will receive an improvement in those skills through the EXP. Also, don’t forget to read as many books as you find during your adventures, as some of them improve skills. Eat plenty of food, as this will make you stronger in battles. Make sure not only to do side quests but also to follow the main story from time to time, as this will grant you special rewards.

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With these tips, your entry into the world of the MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited should be a bit easier.

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Destiny: Xur, Agent of the Nine, offer and location on 12.6.

In the MMO shooter Destiny Xur, the vendor for strange coins, appears on June 12 either in the Tower or in the new Reef. What exotic armor pieces and what weapon will he have on June 12? When does he appear? Where is he located? All this in our article.

Destiny-Anlegen

The House of Wolves is only a few IDs old and next week Bungie plans to already drop the next “bomb” at E3. Dates like mid-September are circulating as the date for the big expansion. But that is still distant music at the moment.

Just like this rumor about Taken King – the super of the new subclasses and Oryx Raid.

The Guardians have settled into “House of Wolves”, the first exotic armor pieces have been found, and with Etheric Light some legendary weapons brought to the new maximum level. A rhythm has been found again.

Destiny-Xur

Xur, the Agent of the Nine, has taken a step back with “House of Wolves”. Apart from new exotic armor pieces and the coveted Engrams, there is hardly anything left that Guardians want from him. The 3 new exotic weapons are outside of Xur’s arsenal. Maybe he will sell that one weapon that he hasn’t had for so long …

Everything about Xur, the Agent of the Nine, on June 12, 13, and 14 in Destiny

When does Xur come and when does he leave again?

Xur arrives on Friday, June 12, at 11:00 AM in the Tower or the Reef. He leaves again on Sunday, June 13, at 11:00 AM German time.

Where is Xur?

Xur is located in the bar under the hangar.

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What is up with the numbers in parentheses for the armor pieces?

These are the values of the armor pieces in Strength, Intellect, or Discipline. These values can vary within certain parameters. These parameters have been adjusted upwards by about 6% with “House of Wolves” compared to the parameters that applied with “Darkness Awaits”. Most of the “new” exotic armor pieces exhibit more than just one value.

What does Xur sell this week?

This week Xur sells the Universal Device, a shotgun for 17 strange coins. It fits into the primary slot.

Destiny-Universalgeraet-126

Armor pieces cost 13 strange coins. For the Hunter, Xur sells: the helmet the Mask of the Third Man (104/110).

Destiny-Maske-des-3-Mannes-126

Titans will soon don the DLC I boots Type 44. Out of Bounds (126/135).

Destiny-Typ44-im-Abseits-126

And for Warlocks, he has this on offer: the Helmet Light Behind Nemesis (109/115).

Destiny-Licht-hinter-Nemesis-126

This week Xur sells a Chest Engram. There is a new exotic chest armor piece, which are robes for the Warlock. No new exotic chest armor pieces were introduced for Titans or Hunters with House of Wolves.


If you want to stay updated on Destiny outside of Xur, we recommend taking a look at our Destiny topic page. There you will find the latest news, the most specific specials, and the … oddest oddities about the MMO shooter from Bungie with the extra portion of Space Magic.

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