The Final Fantasy franchise thrives on its recognizability, its focus on aesthetics, and a distinctive style. Many fans drawn to the MMO now have played the earlier installments of Final Fantasy in their childhood. The game and the franchise are so immensely popular in Japan that it was not such an outlandish thought to try it with a “theme” café. The Eorzea Café opened yesterday on July 31 in Tokyo and impresses with its attention to detail. While the Hard Rock Café showcases memorabilia from rockers or stars on the walls, here you find Moogles, swords, shields, and other artifacts.
The dishes also come with a nice Final Fantasy touch. And for those who can only think about gaming while eating: Of course, there are PCs with internet access in the Eorzea Café. Installed is – of course – Final Fantasy XIV.
You can find more pictures in the sources.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The fans of the MMO shooter Defiance are still waiting for the promised transition to the free-to-play mode for the consoles Playstation 3 and XBox 360.
Originally, the switch to a free model for the consoles was planned for July 15, but it was postponed at short notice to an indefinite time. According to Trion Worlds, new elements were introduced into the game in conjunction with the television series, which made the MMO shooter unstable. And they did not want to burden the expected newcomers with such a gaming experience.
Clearly, the work is taking longer. Even more than two weeks after the missed deadline, a date for the switch to F2P on Playstation 3 and XBox 360 is still not known. A community representative from Trion Worlds recently mentioned that they at least want to provide a new date for the transition soon. We will keep you updated on the developments.
Mein MMO thinks: This is definitely not the polite way to announce a date for a transition, cancel it at short notice, and then leave the fans in the lurch. It especially leaves a sour taste that players were drawn to a game by advertising it as “free.” Tempted by the offer, some may have acquired Defiance somewhere cheaply because they did not want to wait any longer for the F2P transition.
Others may have lost interest in the game if the date could not be held for so long. In any case, it is an unfortunate situation. Hopefully, it will be resolved in the coming days.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
You log in unsuspectingly, and it’s already that time again: Just under 4 weeks after the last update, the latest WildStar patch, aptly named “Sabotage,” is ready for download.
This content update is fully dedicated to PvP, as it introduces the new map “Dolchsteinpass“, where 15 players from each faction can beat each other up. In addition to three capturable control points, you will also be able to blow up enemies and their bases with large bombs – due to the increased battlefield size, you can also use your mounts and hoverboards this time.
Additionally, the healer-friendly change to PvP values (PvP Power now increases healing done) has been made, with the main focus on class balance: Espers can look forward to increased damage and higher mobility, while Assassin tanks have had to sacrifice some of their survivability, and Spell Slinger will have to settle for smaller telegraphs.
Moreover, there are some new housing items that can now be found in PvP reward boxes. Lastly, there has been an effort to fix as many bugs as possible, especially the erroneous path missions should now be manageable without problems. You can see a complete list of all changes in the patch notes.
So far, the developers have been delivering a big update every 4-6 weeks as promised – let’s hope this frequency will be maintained!
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Before the release of The Elder Scrolls Online, it became known that the capital city, the Imperial City, would keep its gates shut upon launch. The reason given was that the city had been conquered and occupied by the hordes of Molag Bal. It is now up to you to drive them out of the city and gain control over it, but that is not so simple.
First of all, you must manage to get into the city at all. To do this, your alliance must control most of the 18 strongholds in Cyrodiil. Then, and only then, can you enter the Imperial City through an entrance in the sewers. There are 3 separate entrances, one for each alliance, but only one will be open at a time. Which one that is can change quickly.
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In Wargaming’s World of Tanks, the patch 9.2 is coming to the servers today. It beautifies the tanks, makes the maps slightly harder, and brings a cozy feeling to the otherwise steely tank game with its own fortresses.
“Fiery Ground” is the name of the new map that is coming with 9.2. According to Wargaming, it is a revamped version of the map “Prokhorovka”. Additionally, changes have been made to eight other maps based on player suggestions.
Furthermore, the tank mechanics at Wargaming have done a great job. Players can now experience four of the tanks in high-resolution textures: specifically the Soviet IS and SU-100, the German StuG III, and the British Churchill I.
However, the actual new feature is the “Fortresses,” which have been announced for a while and were extensively tested in recent weeks. The fortresses are the pride and joy of every clan, provide bonuses, and give the commanders plenty to do. Wargaming’s management is promising that the mode will bring more gameplay depth at the meta level, variety, and new tactical elements.
Twitch is expanding
In World of Tanks, there is not only something happening in the game but also around it. A real cult is slowly forming around World of Tanks, and the eSports factor is being expanded further. Just this weekend in Minsk, a $90,000 tournament took place as a closing event of the Wargaming.net League, and there are regularly clips on social media featuring the most absurd or coolest tank kills.
Wargaming has recognized the signs of the times and understands that there is no better advertising than having players that you can watch while they are having a great time playing. Thus, they are doing everything to make it easy for players to stream their gameplay. With just a push of a button, as they advertise, you now land on Twitch.
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The Free2Play MMORPG Neverwinter will be available on Xbox One in the first half of 2015.
As Perfect World Entertainment announces in a press release, a port to Xbox is practically a necessity; a quality game like this must be accessible to console players. PWE believes that the action-oriented combat system of the game will be well suited to the console and its peculiarities. Therefore, a port is a logical choice. For Perfect World Entertainment, it is a significant milestone, as they are stepping out of the PC market for the first time. A dream is coming true.
Controls and Payment Model of the Xbox One Version; no information yet on Playstation 4 port
For the Xbox One, no compromises are to be made. There will be the same races, the same classes, and all areas as in the PC version. With “some minor” exceptions, the game will therefore be identical. Xbox One players will get their own server; cross-play like in Final Fantasy XIV is not planned. At the moment, they are keeping silent about whether they plan to expand to other platforms. The Playstation 4 would be a logical choice.
The biggest challenge will be, as they told the US site ign.com, to adapt the mouse and keyboard controls to the controller. They plan to display abilities at the bottom of the screen that can then be activated with the buttons on the controller. A classic console model. Selection should be swappable with a press of LB. Then, less frequently used skills will be available.
Currently, the payment model looks like Neverwinter will only be available to users who have activated an Xbox Gold membership.
In China, the Xbox One version will be available this year, while the rest of the world will have to wait until the first half of 2015.
On PC, the reign of dragons will begin soon
The next major update for the PC version of Neverwinter is coming in two weeks. On August 14, the fourth module “The Tyranny of Dragons” begins. A new class and a new race have already been announced for this.
The new race “Dragonborn” has recently caused a stir as it will come at a substantial price and will be associated with some advantages.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The free MMO shooter Defiance will receive the expansion “Silicon Valley” next week.
On August 5th, Defiance fans will be able to enjoy the completely free expansion “Silicon Valley”. The expansion introduces encrypted items as a new feature in the game, which deal 3% more damage or provide shield performance.
The storyline of “Silicon Valley” revolves around Karl Von Back, who promised his followers a bright future, a paradise on earth. However, things are set to unfold differently than he planned. A cult has taken over the area, and there are Grid swarming everywhere. Someone will have to come to clean up.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The most popular hobby of hardcore fans? Data mining, of course. As soon as a new patch is applied, a close look is taken at what the patch notes leave out but the data reveals. Three screenshots showing new “outfits” have now surfaced on reddit.
While fans find the outfits quite nice, some would wish that ArenaNet would design new clothing pieces again. These could then be combined with the existing clothing. Others argue, however, that a piece of clothing would then have to be matched with every other to avoid clipping issues. That would be extremely cumbersome. Outfits are much more practical in that regard. And they are stylish too.
By the way, the thread creator on reddit still hasn’t figured out which of the outfits fits the Sylvari. How to squeeze oneself into the stylish attire is also not yet known.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The European megaserver for The Elder Scrolls Online is now located in Frankfurt am Main. The actual move took only six hours instead of the planned nine.
“The move was quick,” is technically correct in this case, but also a bit inappropriate. Although the long-anticipated relocation of the European megaserver from Austin, Texas, to a data center in Frankfurt took about three hours less than expected, fans had to wait almost four months for it.
In any case, everything went smoothly, and the first reactions from freshly logged-in fans are positive: Ping is better, and the gameplay feels improved. The night and the next few days will show whether everything went as smoothly as it seems right after the move.
The relocation of the megaserver from the USA to Frankfurt was one of the main criticisms of the game. In social media, some former players are saying that now, with the server located in Germany, they want to give the game another chance. Players returning now hopefully find an improved and strengthened The Elder Scrolls Online. Shortly after the release, the game struggled with bugs and growing pains. Even in recent weeks, there have still been problems with the technical aspects of the game, especially after major patches. However, improvements have been noted since the release.
To resolve design missteps and change gameplay aspects, Zenimax is currently planning a whole series of changes, most of which will become active in the coming months. Our YouTuber Darion presented and discussed some of the planned changes for The Elder Scrolls Online last week.
For Returning Players: What’s Coming in the Next Months
Elder Scrolls Online: Spellcrafting – With spellcrafting, Zenimax aims to introduce a brand new feature that allows players to differentiate themselves even more.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Blizzard’s card game Hearthstone, no cheap tricks are allowed in the heroic mode of Naxxramas.
Spoiler Warning: Beware, the text contains hints about bosses in the heroic mode of Naxxramas. The second wing of the first expansion for Hearthstone opened last night. The abilities and stats of the bosses have been known for some time or at least as good as known. Players and experts have therefore already devised certain strategies to deal with particularly nasty bosses without any problems. However, Blizzard has thought ahead and has put a stop to cheap tricks.
“Not like that, buddy”
The heroic bosses in Naxxramas all have significantly increased HP. They typically have 45 health points instead of just 30. This made the legendary card Alexstraza particularly valuable in the first week, as it can set an opponent’s HP to 15. While it only deals a maximum of 15 points of damage against “normal” opponents, that’s already 30 in heroic mode. When it became known that the final boss of the Plague Wing, the mushroom monster Loatheb, would have 99 HP in heroic mode instead of 45, experts’ eyes lit up: Against him, Alexstraza would deal 84 points of damage! The rest would be no problem. The boss mechanic (annoying spores and so on) could simply be ignored.
Internet personality Athene faces a nasty surprise
Reports suggest that the polarizing “internet personality” Athene has transferred to the Chinese server specifically to clear the heroic mode in the Plague Wing first. And of course, he aimed to show Loatheb HC what Alexstraza can do. However, Blizzard’s voice manifested in the form of the necromancer Kel’Thuzad, who said: “This is the heroic mode. No cheap tricks are allowed here.” And so the card dedicated to the aspect of life vanished. Alexstraza left empty-handed, and Athene looked a bit like a drenched poodle. Because against Loatheb HC, this card is simply ineffective.
The dataminers from Hearthpwn have found more such sound snippets and suspect that there are other secret card restrictions in the game. One of the next trick bosses will be the four horsemen, who would be very vulnerable to some cards. Again, Blizzard seems to have taken precautions. Kel’Thuzad certainly has more “Not so cheap, buddy” texts ready.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The fantasy MMO ArcheAge introduces some elements that are unusual for a modern MMO. But how can players get to know these systems? Best by learning from each other, say the developers in an interview.
Curiosity as a driving force: “The farm looks great – how can I get one?”
In a podcast interview with mmorpg.com, two ArcheAge team members answered questions. A few days ago, an article appeared on the interviewer’s website that raised the question of how ArcheAge would present its deeper and freer gameplay elements. And whether hiding them might cause boredom.
For the developers, it is clear that players learn best from each other. An experienced player can take a “beginner” under their wing and simply take them on a tour on their ship. Or players would wander around, see another’s farm, and decide: “I want that too!” That’s how the devs themselves experienced it in the game. But of course, they are working to point out these elements of the game through conventional quests as well. Those would also introduce the deeper gameplay elements.
Interest in beta not only high, but overwhelming
At Trion Worlds, they have been overwhelmed by the response to ArcheAge so far. They were surprised by the rush for the beta, even though they had already raised their expectations. Before each beta event, they roughly estimate how many of the invited players actually log in. This depends on the overall interest. With ArcheAge, they had already anticipated “high” interest, but it was overwhelming. Therefore, they had to double the number of servers after just 18 minutes to avoid players being stuck in queues for too long.
It is also possible to reach endgame as a crafter and pacifist
In a casual chat, the conversation turned to crafting. This highlights the difference from today’s established theme park games. The game’s producer, Victoria, explained that there is a real way to progress in ArcheAge without indulging in the genre’s typical monster-slaying. She is an avid crafter and has not killed anything in the game for a month and a half. She crafts items for her guild (the best ones are only craftable) and receives protection on her trade journeys, certain lootable materials in return, or simply gold. They support each other, everyone fulfills their role, and they have a great time doing it.
Even as a pacifist, she enjoys the adrenaline rush that an open-PvP system can provide. This keeps you alert and makes you think carefully about which “war” zones you want to roam and whether you should seek protection for that journey. However, she finds it quite possible to avoid PvP.
The developers did not want to commit to a possible release date in the interview. Only the number “2014” was extracted from them. The rest depends on numerous factors. It is now important to incorporate the beta feedback from players to fine-tune certain aspects.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Fishing in World of Warcraft is inextricably linked to Nat Pagle. With Warlords of Draenor, the dream comes true: Finally, you will be able to command Pagle around instead of hauling fish to him as if he were a gluttonous orca. Pagle will be one of the followers hanging around in the garrison, and he will be a very special one.
World of Warcraft and Fishing – A Love-Hate Relationship
Nat Pagle – how many hours have been spent in World of Warcraft securing his favor? From expansion to expansion, Pagle wants us to do the only thing a hero in Pagle’s eyes must do: fish, fish, fish.
Many players associate fishing in World of Warcraft with a love-hate relationship. For hardcore PvPers or endgame raiders craving action, there’s hardly a sillier activity than sitting motionless by a pond for hours, waiting for something to bite.
Of course, it’s not that bad. Blizzard has continually paid attention to fishing: Every expansion introduces new achievements, and for good buff food, one often needs seafood. Additionally, there are rare items that can only be fished up, most notably the sea turtle. Nowadays, Blizzard is making an effort, and a real cult has formed around fishing. Although some achievements – like the giant rat in the sewers under Dalaran – do reignite the love-hate relationship.
Nat Pagle at Your Service
With the next expansion Warlords of Draenor, players will be able to recruit Nat Pagle for the garrison. To do this, the player must have built a fishing shack in their garrison, be a seasoned angler (700 points), and convince the good Pagle through a questline that they really have what it takes.
As a reward, there’s Pagle, a level 100 follower of rare quality. He will then likely be sent on missions alongside other followers. But Pagle also has a passive effect. Those who have him in their service can fish for “Lunkers”, rare fish, in the new world without bait. It is still unclear what these “Lunkers” are useful for, but it is assumed that they will be important for a series of recipes. After all, they are “rare”, thus “blue”.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Yesterday, Swordsman Online, the free Kung-Fu MMO, launched. Perfect World released some amusing numbers for the beta, and the first reactions to the game are already in.
Swordsman Online is a Free2Play MMO in Wuxia style. This means the fights are not realistic, but exuberant. Just like in those movies where fighters can jump eight meters high from a standstill and strikes generate enough force to heat the air (due to friction). The classes in Swordsman feature the typical combat styles from respective films. Depending on the type of weapon you prefer, you can choose the suitable class in Swordsman Online.
We have already presented the classes in a special. The most popular in the beta were Splendor (16%) ahead of “Sun and Moon” and Harmony. This also reflects our class presentation; even then, Splendor (Burst-Killer) and Harmony (Glass-Cannon with Short- and Long-Sword) were considered the players’ favorites. The “Sun and Moon” school equips its students with chain blades.
The beta ran from July 3 to July 29. And there were quite a few player kills. 231,000 player kills occurred during this period. As you can see, Swordsman ramps up significantly in PvP from level 30 onwards.
Initial Reactions Instead of a Test
Initial reactions to the game were quite mixed. At mmorpg.com, there was a humorous video about the game, poking fun at the exaggerated drama in the introduction villain of the first hours. They also found humor in the alcohol consumption in the game and complained that the hero could wonderfully tumble around and parkour over the pagodas; however, this was limited to situations where the player had no control over the hero.
We at mein-mmo.de also tested the game and chased our Swordsman through the first 20 levels. The game has a fairly simple combat system in the early levels, a somewhat unconventional menu navigation, and an interface that does not quite meet triple-A standards. However, the world is richly equipped with amusing details, and those who can approach an MMO with a smile will find it quite rewarding.
Typical for Asia MMOs is the auto-pathing, which feels rather unusual to us. The game sometimes feels like it’s being remotely controlled. However, after just a few hours, one cannot judge it, especially since other sources say that the strengths of the game lie in PvP, which only begins in the mid-game.
The upcoming fantasy MMO with sandbox elements, ArcheAge, will launch with a Free2Play model complemented by a cash shop. Are there items in the cash shop that look like Pay2Win?
ArcheAge’s payment model features a “Patron” status, which is only available to players who either subscribe or obtain this status through a tradeable license within the game. In addition to this “quasi” Pay2Play model, ArcheAge has a cash shop. These are common in Free2Play games but remain a sensitive topic: How powerful are the items available for purchase there? Can players buy advantages that cannot be obtained otherwise?
The US site mmorpg.com has taken a detailed look at the items available in the ArcheAge cash shop and reassures that a large portion of the items there are purely cosmetic. However, two exceptions exist regarding inventory and storage space expansion.
5 Categories of Items in the ArcheAge Cash Shop
The items roughly fall into five categories:
Clearly cosmetic items such as alternatively colored mounts; costumes; the ability to print one’s seal on items; special furniture; unique colors. In short: “Vanity” items. Eye-catchers and attractions for other players. These items also indirectly affect gameplay, as one might buy a Euro-mount with in-game currency instead of a standard mount, but typically this should remain within reasonable limits.
Useful, permanent items: Currently, there are still few of these, and most relate to mounts. The shop includes some faster mounts and moderate equipment for them, as well as gliders with a special skill. How these items affect balance will be seen. They likely are not items that would provide significant advantages in the endgame.
Typical account service stuff: Also in the cash shop are character services that one would need an account service for in WildStar or World of Warcraft: gender changes or facial shape adjustments.
Potions and scrolls that grant temporary bonuses: This is the type of item known from browser games or Guild Wars 2. Convenience items intended to make progress a bit easier for the player. For one hour, there may be more EXP or more honor points, armor does not degrade upon death, and one can access the mailbox from any location—typical stuff as found in F2P or Buy-to-Play games.
Quasi-must-buy shop-only items: Mmorpg.com finds and criticizes items that they feel should not exist in an item shop. The criticized items all revolve around inventory expansion—either for the warehouse or for the player themselves. Currently, it seems that there is only a visit to the cash shop to expand the space. However, this might just be an oversight or a snapshot, and a later patch may reintroduce an in-game method, perhaps during crafting.
My MMO says: The Pay2Win risk seems manageable in ArcheAge. It currently appears that the specifics of the western market are being considered, and the topic is being handled sensitively. Everything is still in flux. How it will be under “real conditions” will only be seen at release. However, one should not be overly skeptical. On one side is the commentary from the Trion chief, and on the other is the history of Trion Worlds: There, Free2Play models have always been fair and player-friendly. Of course, Trion Worlds needs to earn money somehow.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Guild Wars 2 new content is coming. With the third new story episode “In the Grip of the Dragon (Part 1)” the action shifts to the home front.
The third episode of the second season of the Living World for Guild Wars 2 is coming. This new and improved form of storytelling in Guild Wars 2 has been running for several weeks and is receiving positive feedback. Compared to earlier, when the individual events seemed rather scattered and arbitrary, a red thread can now be recognized, guiding the narrative like in a television series from point A to point B to point C.
The plot of GW 2 shifts inland
This time, another trick from television series is employed, declaring a two-parter, with the first part supposed to go live on Tuesday evening to Wednesday in Germany. After exploring the area “Dry Top” in the first two episodes and players gradually understanding the threat that awaits them here and what lies behind the mysterious events in the desert zone, this episode goes back to the home front. To prepare for the fight against the new “big bad”, old disputes must be settled, acute problems eliminated, and the buried powers recalled. But we don’t want to spoil the tension with careless chatter. We are not Asuras.
Guild Wars 2 cleverly leverages advantages in storytelling
But as an example of how ArenaNet has improved in narrative techniques: A player has been meticulously noting over the past weeks how the vines continue to crawl towards Ascalon. Every few days, they come a little closer. They move along the ley lines and crawl towards the waypoints. When a waypoint is reached, the vines attack it and render it unusable. The NPCs around these attacked waypoints also react to the vines. A great idea from ArenaNet, we think. What happens in the new area affects the whole world of Tyria. An interesting concept that we could also imagine and wish for in other MMOs. With the episodic narrative along events, Guild Wars 2 has an advantage in storytelling, and ArenaNet seems to be increasingly understanding how this advantage can be utilized.
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In an interview, game designer Adam Clegg commented on the Playstation 4 version of the upcoming survival MMO H1Z1. Apparently, there is currently no focus on it.
In a conversation with gamingbolt, Clegg addressed the question of what the status of H1Z1 for the Playstation 4 is at the moment. The game is also announced for the console. Clegg’s response: “Right now, we are focusing on the PC version. No one on the team is currently working on the PS 4.”
What do players want and what do they expect?
There have been numerous rumors regarding the Early Access of the game. Articles and predictions have repeatedly surfaced claiming the game would soon be playable in an early version on Steam. Clegg also commented on this. The Early Access for PC has been postponed after the team sat down and realized they were not able to meet the expectations of the fans.
On one hand, it is about what players wanted: they wanted a large, a huge game, with many features. That is something to work towards during the development. But the other aspect is what players expected from H1Z1. And there, it was realized that they were not yet ready. They would have disappointed player expectations if they had launched this early version in Early Access.
Once they have a polished alpha with the things fans expect, they will go into Early Access, according to Clegg. Therefore, there is no date until then.
Microtransactions a sensitive topic
A sensitive topic for a free-to-play game is the marketplace, the in-game shop. For H1Z1, according to Clegg, only “consumables” should be sold here. Additionally, they have started a thread on reddit to ask players for ideas. They absolutely do not want to offer anything that would have a direct impact on players’ survivability. So, no backpacks with more space or anything that protects against the cold. Such items will not be available for real money.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Details about the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online have emerged regarding the Imperial City, the upcoming PvP dungeon in Cyrodiil. The PvP dungeon will primarily be used for PvE purposes. Nevertheless, its influence on Cyrodiil is expected to be immense.
Access to the Imperial City granted only to one faction
Although there will be three separate entrances through the sewers to the Imperial City and a large intersection in the middle, access will always be granted to only one faction. The faction that controls most of the 18 strongholds in Cyrodiil will gain access. This faction can invade the Imperial City and push back the currently dominant opposing faction to focus on plundering, raiding, questing, crafting, and other PvE activities.
In our last article, the question of access remained open because the layout of the sewers with the crossroads had suggested that multiple parties could simultaneously gain access rights to the Imperial City. However, this is not possible.
The process is reminiscent – as confirmed by Zenimax – of the Dark Age of Camelot PvP dungeon Darkness Falls. Brian Wheeler, the PvP lead at Zenimax, hopes that the introduction of the Imperial City will lead to greater power fluctuations and dynamics.
An example of a day in Cyrodiil when the Imperial City is present
If everything goes ideally, each of the three factions has something to do. Let’s assume a scenario where faction 1 has held the Imperial City for a while. Faction 2 has now captured the crucial stronghold, while faction 3 has been disadvantaged in Cyrodiil, suffering only dents in their armor.
Faction 1 is currently in the Imperial City doing PvE with increased rewards. Most players want to do PvE peacefully and hope that others will hold off the new intruders from faction 2. Then it happens: Faction 2 attacks. Faction 1 either gets massacred one by one or puts up a fight. In the long run, it will be a lost battle as more and more players from faction 2 gain access to the Imperial City, while faction 1 can only decrease in numbers.
Faction 2 has just captured the decisive last stronghold in PvP and is now pouring into the Imperial City. There, they will first encounter players from faction 1, whom they want to get rid of quickly to quest in peace. The question is: Will there be players who stay behind in Cyrodiil to hold the line and buy time for their fellow players in the Imperial City? Otherwise, the strongholds and thus access to the Imperial City could be lost quickly.
Faction 3, which has no players in the Imperial City, should now be in the majority in Cyrodiil and needs to capture more strongholds to gain access to the Imperial City. Unless faction 1 loses access so quickly that they are already back in Cyrodiil to reclaim it. Or faction 2 has left enough defenders behind. If faction 3 successfully captures the majority of the castles or faction 1 makes a comeback, each faction will shift positions and the cycle will start anew.
By the way, players can log out in the Imperial City and log back in later, even if their faction no longer holds the Imperial City. When the new PvP dungeon will be released is still unknown at this time.
Mein MMO states: Today, without the Imperial City, the power dynamics in Cyrodiil are relatively static. Factions only thin out when they own more and more strongholds, thus needing to defend more land. In contrast, PvP with the Imperial City will be significantly more dynamic. Factions will shrink within minutes from being an “overwhelming force” to “scattered remnants while the rest greedily loots the Imperial City.”
The key will be that the PvE activities in the Imperial City are so lucrative that these mechanisms take effect.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The next wing in Hearthstone’s expansion Naxxramas, the Plague Wing, will open on Tuesday night at 23:59. We take a look at the cards that will be available as rewards there.
Now it gets tanky – Boss Rewards in the Plague Wing
For the normal rewards for the boss kills, it will get tanky.
Noth, the old necromancer, leaves you:
Stoneclaw Gargoyle – a 1/4 minion for 3 mana that fully heals itself at the start of the player’s turn. A neutral card that would benefit enormously from taunt if it could somehow receive the ability through buffs or minion abilities. Otherwise, probably not a hit.
From Heigan, the dancer among the undead, you get:
Unstable Ghoul – a 1/3 minion with taunt for 2 mana. As a deathrattle, it deals 1 damage to all minions on the board. A neutral card with board-clear potential in the early turns. Especially with the cheap taunt, it’s quite an alternative for defensive Hearthstone decks that need a safety net against an early rush.
Loatheb gives out two cards:
Sludge Belcher – a 3/5 minion with taunt for 5 mana that leaves behind a Slime with 1/2 and also taunt as a deathrattle. A somewhat slower blocker at 5 mana, but not easily removed from the board due to its legacy, provoking two actions from the opponent. With the deathrattle, it has, like many other cards, exciting synergy effects with Baron Rivendare (makes every minion deathrattle twice) and the Gravedigger (buffs itself with every played minion that has a deathrattle effect).
Unfortunately, it is still unknown what class challenges await players in the Plague Wing. Besides the Rogue and Druid, all classes are still waiting for their class cards that could shake up the meta-game in Hearthstone.
Update 12 PM: Ah, the class cards are now also known. This time, the Mage and Hunter will receive their challenges and class cards. The Mage will be rewarded with the secret card “Duplicate” for 3 mana: When a friendly minion dies, the Mage receives two copies of the card to their hand. The Hunter gets the 1/1 Beast card “Webspinner,” whose deathrattle summons a random Beast card to the Hunter’s hand.
Update 9 PM: The Hunter’s class challenge is to defeat Loatheb with a pre-made deck consisting of 30 Webspinners. The Mage’s class challenge puts her against Heigan. For that, a rather balanced deck is available to her.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Carbines SF-MMO WildStar adjusts the endgame design two months after launch. For the Warplots, a form of endgame PvP, only 30 players will soon be needed instead of the previous 40. A sensitive endgame topic in the community is the elaborate access quests to the raids.
Endgame PvP: Warplots for 30 instead of 40 players
In the latest episode of “WildStar Weekly,” the topic “Warplots” was extensively discussed. This is a form of rated battleground as endgame PvP. Currently, each team needs 40 players before the carnage can commence. But such a high number of players is likely hard to motivate for organized PvP at the highest level. The stress factor of “Rating” adds to it – as is known from other games, this deters some players; they have to overcome themselves to engage in Elo matches. Therefore, this mode often remains deserted. To increase the attractiveness of the Warplots, the team size will soon be reduced from 40 to only 30 per side.
The Warplots were one of the most important and spectacular innovations that Carbine wanted to add to the MMO genre before release. They aimed to connect this feature with crafting and raiding and presented it externally as one of the game’s great advantages. Apparently, they expected larger PvP guilds to emerge and adopt this feature.
Endgame PvE: Access conditions for raids too harsh
The WildStar community has been focused on the raids in PvE in recent weeks and months (aside from gold runs).
Not that the raids are too difficult – on the contrary, Carbine receives a lot of praise for the design of the raids and their challenging difficulty level. However, the tedious and lengthy access quests find little favor. The attunement, the access for the 20-man raid, is quite a hurdle.
“Normal” guilds attempting the 20-man raid struggle with the fact that some of their members are already raid-ready, while others, who invest less time, are still falling behind. This leads to internal tensions, as one can imagine.
This problem also affects the top guilds. In these guilds, players have long completed the 20-man access quest. However, if players from the core group drop out or if they want to expand the raid pool for the 40-man raids, they face difficulties in finding new recruits.
The access quest for the 40-man raid is even worse: players, when they reach it, have just weeks of experience in the 20-man raid and with challenging content behind them. Now, they are supposed to go back to 5-man instances to grind a specific item in 400 copies.
This kind of “grind” access quest, which requires not skill but patience from the player, finds little approval. Some say that Carbine wants to buy time with such methods.
Mein MMO says: The problem with the access quests is ultimately a matter of how one defines “hardcore.” With grind elements (“Collect 120 easily obtainable items, but you only find 2 every 30-minute round”), you are ultimately only testing the endurance and patience of players – even if some fans welcome it and say: One must show commitment here. Many players wish that more “skill” were required. However, Carbine deliberately employs these “content blocker” elements to prevent players from finishing the raids too early and shouting “finished”.
The difficulties in finding enough new recruits are already great for raid guilds, even without access quests. When the transition from the 20-man to a 40-man raid occurs, the problem is exacerbated. Furthermore, to cope with the initial rush, several servers may have been opened. This is now backfiring. If a raid guild is stuck on a server with few players, they are out of luck. But all these problems were actually to be expected. Almost every raid guild in every game faces recruitment issues – only the top guilds have free choice and even they lose players; the rest also feeds up. Content blockers and grind quests are often a necessary evil. Ultimately, there is no patent solution because designers cannot possibly design so many raid encounters that top guilds will never get bored.
However, that Carbine is adjusting the Warplots so early must be a disappointment for the developers. They were visibly proud of the feature. Surely, they had expected it to be received with much more enthusiasm. Perhaps the eSport hype in other games will have a long-term impact on the PvP scene in MMOs and also in WildStar. Or it may be that the currently very unbalanced PvP has driven away possible guilds. Here, they want to counteract with the next content patch, which is expected in the coming days.
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In Bless Online, a Korean MMO, the Northern Empire, Hieron, is at war with the Union in the South. We present to you the races of the South.
After extensively presenting the five peoples of the North a week ago, it is now the turn of the remaining five in the South. Bless Online features a classic two-faction war: The two kingdoms are embroiled in an almost endless struggle, just like the Alliance and Horde in World of Warcraft or the Dominion and Exiles in WildStar.
Amistad
The Amistad are a humanoid race that particularly values the concept of freedom. They are skilled in music and poetry and are committed to scientific progress. Some time ago, they were able to free themselves from the yoke of the North and have since been fighting, alongside the peoples of the South, for their independence.
Aqua Elf
After the downfall of the elven kingdom, these elves settled in the southern part of the land and began to call themselves “Aqua Elf”. They reside somewhat isolated from the rest of the continent on an island. Their highest good is personal freedom and self-determination. Therefore, they have allied with the other peoples of the South, as they see no other way to realize their quest for freedom and independence without being troubled by the North.
Iblis
The Iblis, like their northern counterpart, the Fedaykin, originate from another dimension. After a rebellion there turned everything upside down, the Iblis fled to this world and here to the southern continent to renounce their old roots. The knowledge of how they could once traverse dimensions also seems to be forgotten. They are castaways in a foreign world without a way back.
Pantera
The Pantera are proud and audacious warriors who only accept the law of the stronger. Divided into clans, they are dedicated to robbery and have become highwaymen and bandits. But the times of shattered irrelevance are over. In the Union, they hold an equal rank among the other peoples. Although wild and aggressive, they appreciate the glory and honor inherent in a glorious battle.
Siren
The original homeland of the Siren was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Only a small group of them survived this catastrophe and landed as a group of castaways on the shores of the southern continent. They are closely connected to nature and strive to restore their civilization. They are known for their beautiful form and even more beautiful voices. Furthermore, they are excellent shimmerers, divers, and sailors.
The Korean MMO Bless Online is currently still in beta in South Korea, having received a large funding and found a publisher for the western market. According to the publisher, they plan with Bless Online to even surpass the success of Blade & Soul.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
