The month of May has begun, the release of the third expansion Curse of Icewind Dale is approaching and the developers of Neverwinter are literally bursting with announcements! Our previous topics were the new factions and mercenary contracts and a preview of the new campaigns and leaderboards. Today it’s again about the Black Ice Armor, but rather visually:
How will the cool steel adorn you?
The Dwarven artisan Baerick Hammerstone has likely become one of the VIPs among the population of Caer-König since his discovery of the possibilities of Black Ice. Since he began shaping the massive, glass-like substance into armors and weapons, he has become extremely popular among the war heroes of Neverwinter. The great advantage: The more pieces you own, the greater your resistance against the corrupted magic and damage of Black Ice! To become even stronger, you should regularly reforge your armor and weapons with their main material to give you a short power boost!
But it is well known that not only the inner values or stats count in an MMO, but also the appearance!
Let’s start with the two-handed weapon fighter: The shoulders are very stylish, aren’t they?
The Vigilant Ranger, on the other hand, is rather simple, but chic:
The Trickster Rogue impresses with his large weapons:
The Tactical Mage really makes an impression, doesn’t he?
Do you also wonder if the Faith Cleric doesn’t hurt himself on the upper spikes of the boots?
The shield of the Protective Fighter is simply eye-catching:
What do you think of the armors? Which one do you like best – or do you not like any of them?
Oh yes, one last tip: Remember, tonight the double XP weekend begins in Neverwinter!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Wouldn’t that be something?! Far above the rooftops of the world a small apartment and the possibility to observe the city’s hustle and bustle at any time? The Sky Palace in Star Wars: The Old Republic makes it possible! Make yourselves comfortable in the skyscraper on Nar Shaddaa. But be warned, your surroundings are not necessarily the safest, as the cityscape of the Smuggler’s Moon is ruled by the underworld.
There you will find numerous affordable strongholds for both factions, which you can customize and expand in many ways – even with balconies and staircases! But such luxury comes at a price! Your own 5-room apartment in the Sky Palace costs a cool 4,000,000 credits. Yes, you read that right: Four million! But if it turns out only half as nice as in the following video, the investment is definitely worth it, right?
If you want to know how to get this apartment without plundering your fortune, read on after watching below:
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Well done for continuing to read! 😀 Now for the tip: Every player who subscribed to SWTOR by May 12, 2014 will receive their own luxurious Nar Shaddaa-Sky Palace with five rooms at their disposal. If you are still subscribed on August 19, you can even experience the new expansion Galactic Strongholds before anyone else! On top of that, you receive the character title “The Bold” and a Subteroth mini-pet.
Of course, this isn’t the end of the tips, as if you want to level a character quickly for the next addon, you should take advantage of the Double XP Weekend
from May 2 at 8 PM to May 5 at 9 AM
! As always, you get 100% more experience points for killing monsters and completing quests! For this, you will also receive the adorable little MT-4T Astromech Droid as a mini-pet for free. Perhaps you already know that Star Wars Day is coming soon – and the little droid is a thank you to all players. However, you don’t have to be a subscriber to get this companion. Just log in and collect it from your mailbox!
And I promise, the last tip: Also in Neverwinter you will receive double XP this coming weekend!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On May 1st, the lead developer of Zenimax’s fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, Matt Firor, commented on the current state of the game. He reassures players with five free days and reveals some insights. What is planned for the future of TESO?
Many players have expressed their frustration over the numerous maintenance work in recent weeks. Zenimax now aims to counter the players’ frustration with 5 Free Days. Further highlights in Firor’s report can be found in his outlook for the future. Plans include the introduction of a long-missing penalty system that characterized single-player games, as well as further improvements specifically in group play. Some additional instances are also planned along with “Quality-of-Life” enhancements.
The look at the present and the near future of TESO
Lead developer Matt Firor already reached out to fans a week ago and apparently, they want to make this a tradition. In the second letter to fans, Firor dives right into the thick of things and addresses the current status.
At the moment, according to Firor, they are working diligently to combat bots, curb gold sellers, and mitigate quest bugs. They are still relying on the help of the players and ask for further feedback.
In the near future, the Kargstein Update will provide a first big boost of new content that is currently undergoing testing on the test server. An announcement regarding when the patch will go live for players is expected soon.
Firor faces negative criticism from the press and players
Firor addresses some negative reports from the press and feedback from players later in the letter.
[pull_quote_center]ESO evokes strong emotions in players – both positive and negative.[/pull_quote_center]
For a successful game, it is important to listen to all kinds of criticism, no matter if it comes from the press or players. Zenimax has made it a point to take this to heart. Firor promises the community to take every criticism to heart to make the game a little better week by week.
The future plans for The Elder Scrolls Online
For the long-term future of The Elder Scrolls Online, Firor and Zenimax have set quite a few goals. Here is a list of planned features for the rest of 2014 and beyond.
In addition to bug fixes, the fight against black market gold farmers, and adjustments to game balance, we have a long list of features and updates we are working on and want to integrate into the game in 2014 and beyond. Below is a brief overview of what to expect. For most of these features, we do not yet know in which update we will include them, but they are currently in development:
A system that allows players in groups to see each other even if they are in different phases.
A legal system where theft and killing NPCs (non-player characters) have consequences if you are caught.
Migration of the European megaserver to our European data center.
Personal customization of the field of view.
Dyeing and coloring of armor.
Two new veteran dungeons: Crypt of Hearts and City of Ash.
New region in Kargstein with a new trial: the Serpent.
Improved ways to collect items in the world.
Story and quests for the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood.
Spell weaving.
Horse racing.
Dragonstar Arena – similar to Trials, but for up to four players.
Improvements to fishing.
Improvements to the crafting system.
Improved group search.
Better facial animations for NPCs.
New guild features: changes to the guild store user interface, customizable guild emblems, capes, and guild kiosks – guild stores that are accessible to all and available to the highest bidding guild.
Automatically leveling dungeons that adjust to the level of your group leader.
What do you think of the changes coming to The Elder Scrolls Online? Are you looking forward to them? Do you have any favorites? And what about the five free days? Is that enough for you?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The upcoming MMORPG highlight Black Desert from Pearl Abyss is not only a true eye-catcher and an action-packed spectacle, but also pursues innovative approaches in terms of content. The game designers have not overlooked that sandbox features are increasingly gaining popularity in online role-playing games.
Black Desert from Korea leaves local gamers in awe and craving more. Whether the game will ever find its way to Europe is currently unclear. Given the images, videos, and positive reports from the closed beta, one has to say: That would be great!
The trailer above gives us first insights into the so-called “Mounted Combat”.
Some will immediately recognize parallels to The Lord of the Rings Online after the first scenes. It already looks a bit more spectacular here, doesn’t it? As is already known, the player can rely on a special skill line in mounted combat; the features surrounding the mounts go beyond mere combat, as you will also be able to breed and train them.
Moreover, other interesting videos of the AAA MMORPG Black Desert have also been released in recent months. Here is a selection:
The character customization leaves little to be desired:
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Days pass so slowly when you’re waiting for a game, right? At least that’s how I feel with Neverwinter… My little huntress is eagerly waiting for the release of Module 3: Curse of Icewind Dale – Are you too? After our last big news about Mercenary Contracts and the Black Ice, we will reveal more about the new campaigns and leaderboards today.
If you also want to get the great new equipment, you should visit the skilled craftsmen in Icewind Dale after the release on May 13, who trade with powerful weapons and armor. But they don’t sell their goods to just anyone! You need to complete adventures for the residents of Caer-Konig to earn their trust and respect.
With the help of daily quests, you can earn Konig coins, dwarven gold, and Auril’s tears to gain access to new areas, such as the Dwarf Valley and Kessell’s Refuge. As your reputation improves with the dwarves, they will additionally supply you with blessings and Black Ice enchantments to ensure you’re well-equipped against Akar Kessell and his corrupted minions.
But there’s also plenty to do for the PvP fans among you: The three open-world PvP areas invite fierce battles for glory and honor. But that’s not all – as you know, you can’t buy anything with that! 😉 You’ll receive tasks like “Conquering 100 points in Domination” or the “Elimination of 150 players in Gauntlgrym”. If you manage to fulfill these requirements, you will be rewarded with great items and new titles. If you’re particularly diligent and reach several of these milestones, you’ll receive additional black opals and blessings on top.
So that the whole world knows about your achievements, soon it will be possible to retrieve your slaughter statistics – for you personally and for the best in Neverwinter. Of course, only your successes after the release of the third module will be considered in the new leaderboards! So get ready on May 13 for epic battles and practice a bit until then to stay fit.
Haven’t you reached the maximum level yet? Then take advantage of the upcoming weekend or the bad weather and level up your hero diligently with double experience points. Let’s go!
Event on May 2 and ends on May 5 – each day at 7 PM!
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H1Z1 sounds not only like a dangerous virus, but it is also one in this case. And to make matters worse, it transforms infected people after death into incredibly stupid, yet hungry zombies.
However, there is much more behind it: H1Z1 describes the latest iron in the fire of Sony Online Entertainment, an apocalyptic MMO that the community-oriented game studio has high hopes for. Will it succeed? The first official trailer, at least, gives us a nice glimpse into the atmosphere of H1Z1.
A little more about the game: Exactly 15 years after the outbreak of the pathogen, survival is primarily what it’s about in post-apocalyptic America. In a changing world, dangers lurk everywhere, which one can either evade or alternatively confront head-on with uncompromising violence.
Not only the abandoned zombies or flesh-eating predators are considered problems that are almost ravenous for human bodies, but other players also will do everything possible to claim the last vital resources for themselves.
Since the characters will depend on a regular supply of food and water, it is important to pursue this; otherwise, what would happen in real life will also occur. It is also interesting that it goes beyond a “free-for-all” mode; team play is given higher importance, which is why clans can also be formed.
My-mmo.de: H1Z1 is now in direct competition with DayZ, also a survival horror online game that is still in alpha but can already look back on over a million sales. The story about deadly viruses and zombies is anything but new, but it seems that the post-apocalyptic scenario continues to fascinate many people and thus captivates them.
It will be exciting to see which game ultimately prevails in the market. Sony promises a true MMO experience with H1Z1, as unlike DayZ, the server technology and engine of the game are designed for a very large number of players. Additionally, a well-designed crafting system that is said to resemble the crafting experience of Star Wars Galaxies will make the difference.
We will keep you updated and conclude the post with a 50-minute livestream on the sandbox survival MMO:
http://youtu.be/6C8phAdpJuA
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The PvP area Cyrodiil in the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online is suffering from a vampire plague. A combination of vampire abilities and certain class bonuses turns the nice dragon knight into a nasty Dracula look-alike, able to take on a whole horde of opponents alone.
The Path to Becoming a Vampire
In TESO, it is possible for every player to become a vampire. They just need to be bitten by another player. In Tamriel, the world of The Elder Scrolls Online, one practices tolerance and openness towards vampires. Some bloodsuckers even openly offer the vampire kiss in chat.
But beware: First let yourself be bitten, then pay – reports of scams involving bites are increasing.
Alternatively, one can get bitten by NPC vampires and start their bloodsucker careers with a quest. There is a catch, however: Vampire mafia guilds have teamed up to eliminate their NPC cousins right from the spawn. This allows them to continue selling their own bite at a high price or to trick players into parting with their gold, promising them a bite.
The Vampire in TESO: How to not suck
Vampires possess several traits and skills that distinguish them. One is the ultimate: The Bat Swarm. It is morphed so that the bats also return health points. Even as “Devouring Swarm”, it is still limited to 6 targets that must stand around the vampire to be hit (that’s called PBAE).
According to reports on reddit, the swarm, when used by correspondingly strong vampires, deals 300 damage to each opponent. That’s 1800 health points from the opponents around him, converted into blood bags. This allows a vampire to heal half of his total health points every second. In the mist form, which he can also assume as a vampire, the damage is significantly reduced.
That would be a lot, but that’s why the Bat Swarm is also an ultimate, the strongest skill that can only be used rarely, right? Wrong. The cost of 200 ultimate points per use of the ability can apparently be reduced to a quarter through special class bonuses, armor bonuses from sets, and passive abilities of vampires.
Since the vampire builds up ultimate points every time he is hit, he can keep the feeding bats active constantly. As long as they have something to bite, he walks around in a kind of vampire god mode.
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Synergy Effects Make Any Temporary Vampire into Dracula
No special weapon is even required for this combination. Therefore, the vampire can choose whether he wants to use sword and shield to be a decent tank or increase his AE damage further with the destruction staff.
Since these vampires are usually controlled by experienced players who know every nuance of the game, they also use abilities that are currently considered too strong (overpowered) or even broken. This has devastating effects. Individual players can thus attack and destroy up to 20 others.
The combination becomes especially tricky when the ultimate cost reduction is combined with the abilities of an emperor. This truly turns the vampire into Dracula or Draculine and allows him to take on an entire army by himself.
The inherent weaknesses of a vampire, including its susceptibility to fire, can currently be easily countered by appropriate gear.
Garlic Won’t Help
In the English forums, there is heated debate on how to deal with such an over-vampire. The problem is seen in the uncoordinated approach against a high-level vampire. If enough weak players are grouped closely around him, he can regenerate almost indefinitely due to his often significant level advantage.
An effective method to withstand him is best seen in direct hits from a distance with the Silver Bolts from the Fighters Guild skill. Against a concerted fire from a distance, even the mightiest bloodsucker is powerless, as long as no one is close to him. However, this requires attentive orchestration, and up to a dozen players must devote their full attention to the bloodsucker. If he is not alone but has a few buddies with him, it looks bleak.
Many players are calling on Zenimax for an immediate fix for the problem.
The problem lies not only with the vampire but also with the fact that hardcore PvP players have chosen him as their favorite character at the moment. They will exploit and maximize every advantage in the game.
Many must have been looking forward to being something special, making a difference, handling a superior number of opponents alone. That is currently happening, but it is less heroic and more about taking advantage of a large level advantage, item advantages, and a whole range of still “improvable” traits and bonuses.
The vampire has become the first “Flavour of the Month” character. He is the currently popular “Weapon of Choice” for elite PvPers. Those who want to join Team Edward now should be warned: such outriders (or biters, in this case) usually do not last long.
Ultimately, it is an exciting design question how powerful an individual player should be compared to others. Before the release, there was much emphasis on the special status of the emperor. In practice, however, shadows are now also showing: Only one is an emperor, but dozens or even hundreds can be slaughtered by him.
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Update from 1.5: Vampires will have their fangs pulled next week
This comes directly from the developer’s Q&A session about the vampire topic:
Yeah, we are aware of the issues vampires in PvP. One bug fix and two balance changes are in the pipe, and should get to you guys next week. The changes are:
Fixed the bug where multiple Bat Swarms can be stacked on the same Vampire. Reduced the movement speed bonus during mist form to 30% (which makes it equivalent to the “Boundless storm” morph of Lightning form) Reduced the Vampire ability cost reduction to 7% per stage We’ll continue to monitor Vampires in pvp after these changes hit as well.
Roughly translated: Zenimax has also noticed that vampires are too strong in PvP. A bug fix and two balance changes are expected by next week.
The bug fix is (as Lena suspected in the comments) that it was previously possible for a vampire to trigger multiple bat swarms simultaneously. That was not intended, is a bug, and will be fixed. Additionally, the speed bonus of mist form will be reduced to 30%. And the reduced costs for abilities through vampirism will drop to 7% per stage.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Some moons uh seasons ago, the resource Dilithium was introduced in the online role-playing game Star Trek Online. However, especially newcomers sometimes have a bit of trouble figuring out where to get the ore.
The easiest way is probably to complete the daily PvE and PvP quests. But there are also special Foundry missions, events, and KAs that will provide you with Dilithium ore. But beware: Traders do not want the unrefined ores. Daily, you can convert a maximum of 8,000 of them into full-fledged Dilithium.
If you are among the 800-day veterans or even gold members, you have the option to convert 1,000 more Dilithium ore and let this process run automatically. If you do not belong to these players, it is best to get used to doing this right after logging in.
Additionally, you should keep an eye out for a Dilithium mine to mine and refine Dilithium ore even more efficiently. Is all of this too tedious for you? If all else fails, you can use the exchange market and trade your ZEN for the coveted Dilithium .
And what do you get from it? You can exchange Dilithium for
ground and ship equipment
starships
some duty officers
crafting materials
. From time to time, you also need them for special projects of seasons 6, 7, and 8. Would you prefer the whole thing in film format? Your wish is our command:
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Item duping refers to the process of illicitly duplicating virtual items. This usually happens through illegal methods, such as using third-party tools in this case. This often leads to flooding the market with gold and goods, massively harming the in-game economy of a game.
Now, The Elder Scrolls Online has also become a target for hackers and exploiters, and developer ZeniMax has to deal with the consequences. However, initial attempts to get a handle on the situation have unfortunately failed, and now a rollback may even be imminent. But could it really come to that?
Editorial Note: The head of ZeniMax has now reacted to the events that Darion describes in the video. We have summarized his message to the fans for you here.
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Are you sometimes annoyed by the MMO uniformity and feel like trying something really crazy? Something that reminds you of your childhood days and lets you reminisce? Then how about registering for the Open Beta of LEGO Minifigures Online? It is set to start in June this year – so be among the first to register for a test of the action-adventure online game !
Action-adventure online game… If you let this roll off your tongue while looking at the adorable Lego figures, you might chuckle – but the developers are serious about it. How exactly the concept will be implemented will be tested soon!
It is already known that there will be an exciting story, as the mini-figures are in great danger! A nasty supervillain wants to kidnap them – and it is your hero’s job to rescue his companions. You can play on PCs or tablets, whatever you prefer.
The release is planned for autumn – so no rush if you prefer to lie on the beach and grill in the summer! Of course, we will keep you updated with all important information. 🙂
Tip: In conjunction with the beta, a large special will appear in the LEGO Club magazine in June with an extensive preview report. In September, at the game’s release, there will even be a special code for exclusive in-game mini-figures.
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April has been a turbulent month for AAA titles: While the genre leader World of Warcraft is currently hibernating for its two-year break and preparing for the next expansion, The Elder Scrolls Online has gone through a turbulent debut month. An update has caused a stir for Guild Wars 2, and WildStar is heading down the home stretch.
The MMORPG calendar year is packed, and the big titles are vying for a window in which they can capture players’ attention or create a stir. The market’s biggest title, the 400-pound gorilla World of Warcraft, ultimately remains the fixed star by which others are guided.
The date for the next expansion has not yet been set, but it is generally expected to be at the end of September. Two titles are in direct competition to establish themselves on the market by then: The Elder Scrolls Online and WildStar. Both rely on the subscription model, which was considered dead until recently. But Guild Wars 2 is also doing well in its second year.
In our column “State of Play,” we take a look at the three contenders for the MMORPG throne. Who has gained ground, who shows weaknesses, and which title can take advantage of World of Warcraft’s slumber?
The Elder Scrolls Online: Great potential but some launch difficulties
The Elder Scrolls Online is the title with the greatest renown among the challengers. After all, the Elder Scrolls franchise has a huge single-player tradition behind it. The release at the beginning of the month attracted many players. It occurred in three waves: Heroes were allowed into Tamriel five days and three days before the actual release. The initial reaction was positive: No MMORPG launch had gone as smoothly as this one so far, people heard everywhere.
But that was just the calm before the storm. Now, at the end of the month, The Elder Scrolls Online is undergoing its fourth mini-crisis and revealing some issues. However, this should always be put into perspective: Often, only a loud minority creates a negative impression because they shout particularly loudly. Nonetheless, The Elder Scrolls Online is still a long way from a PR miracle or choirs of jubilation.
The happiness of the earth lies on the backs of horses. Does this saying also apply in Tamriel?
At the beginning of the month, players complained about issues when starting the free first month, for which they needed a valid payment method. This led to a reprimand for the manufacturer Zenimax from the consumer protection agency. Later, players were mostly disturbed by some dead-end quests that affected gameplay enjoyment. Gold sellers, botters, and speed hackers made many honest players despair. The dupe exploit caused stress over Easter; currently, the forums are heated because some overpowered abilities in PvP threaten to run amok.
Variety of skills leads to a multitude of problems
These problems stem partly from the fact that TESO could have used a bit more development time. But they also arise because The Elder Scrolls Online is taking some interesting paths.
With a modular skill system, players can build their heroes from a whole set of skills. The choice of class, weapon, and armor provides the foundation.
Additionally, there are optional skill lines and bonus abilities when, for example, becoming a vampire. Especially the Ultimate ability of the vampire, which charges too quickly because an AE ability requires too little mana and affects too many targets, currently creates a “bomb” atmosphere in the PvP area of Cyrodiil.
This multitude of skills is wonderful for anyone who wants to leave the rigid lines of an MMORPG. On the other hand, it is a nightmare to ever balance or make every skill function as intended.
Meta-Critic score in the yellow zone, 70% still want to extend
Zenimax is not burying its head in the sand about all the problems and issues but is addressing each difficulty anew. Complaints about an overwhelmed support team appeared soon after, but gradually the manufacturer is regaining the trust of fans.
Bots are now being directly killed by Gamemasters; unjustly banned players received their access back within hours, and the dupe exploits have been fixed. According to recent reports, players who lost their items due to inventory issues have been compensated with large amounts of gold.
Surveys on reddit or other magazines run similarly. The game provides such a great deal of content and long-term enjoyment that it is simply too alluring. It also surely helps that there are no other competitors waiting in the wings for May.
The next content patch is already waiting with Kargstein. Another argument for staying interested.
The outlook
The Elder Scrolls Online divides the audience. Those who play it intensively and proceed to the higher areas often notice bugs and encounter issues that considerably hinder gameplay enjoyment. Those who have had negative experiences with some early issues or had different expectations of the game are also not pleased.
However, those who embrace the TESO experience, accept the game as it is, and can overlook the early issues can gain much enjoyment from The Elder Scrolls Online.
At the beginning of May, when players have to decide whether to extend their subscription, the first major content update is due. By the end of May, however, Zenimax urgently needs to address the biggest problems. They are on the right path.
MMORPGs never launch without issues, but such a wise realization doesn’t help during frustrating moments.
Guild Wars 2: Mega-servers cause mega-frustration
The Buy-to-Play MMORPG Guild Wars 2 had announced a major feature update for April. It was supposed to bring mainly “Quality of Life” improvements: an account-wide wardrobe, a streamlined skill system, and other goodies. However, it also introduced the mega-server, which created some challenges that threaten to overshadow the success of the update.
Unfortunately, not all players rejoiced after the big April update.
Guild Wars 2 and the problem with the “Oomph”
Guild Wars 2 is in a unique position. It does not rely on large, paid expansions but consistently releases content throughout the year in the form of connected events. However, this also means the game lacks an “oomph” moment that comes with an expansion, which could entice lapsed players to look back into the game.
For weeks, individual details of the feature patch were unveiled to create an atmosphere of excitement. But when forums are flooded with threads like “What has happened to my game?” in the days after a patch, it seems the goal may have been somewhat missed.
Language confusion, event issues, and an overcrowded world?
With the introduction of mega-servers, the intention was to ensure that every corner of the world feels lively and vibrant, so players never feel like they are playing on a ghost server. The result is, however, not well received by all players, to put it mildly.
Guilds are now struggling to come together for guild events, there is language confusion, some zones feel overcrowded, world boss events end in disconnects, and many are quite angry at ArenaNet.
ArenaNet admitted some difficulties and promised to continue working on the exact mechanisms. It remains to be seen what will come of all this.
And the moral of the story: Together we are strong!
Perspective
When a heavily promoted patch leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth, it is hard to talk about a feeling of renewal. As is often the case, it is impossible to say what the player base “really” thinks of an issue and how many players agree with the changes but do not speak out about it.
Unfortunately, our impression is that Guild Wars 2 has missed an opportunity to take a step forward. Especially when it comes to sensitive topics like the sense of community in a guild, many players react much more sensitively than when merely a value is moved up or down by two points. In managing the “crisis,” we believe ArenaNet has also lacked some tact.
The situation and discussion are still ongoing. The game will likely not suffer lasting damage. However, it has not exactly gained points either.
The biggest competitor to Guild Wars 2 at the moment is surely The Elder Scrolls Online, where there are parallels, especially in PvP. However, in Guild Wars 2, no subscription fee is necessary, allowing the game to continuously invite players back when other games do not meet player expectations and are not worth 12 euros a month.
WildStar: Just 5 weeks left, yet relatively little to hear
The SF MMORPG WildStar will be unleashed onto the world at the beginning of June. It is the stark contrast to The Elder Scrolls Online.
While TESO has a big name, WildStar is the first foray into the world of Chuas, the exiles, and the planet Nexus.
While TESO focuses on freedom and immersion, WildStar clearly prioritizes balance and competition among players. There will be leaderboards, there will be first kills, someone will be the best, and someone will be the worst. While TESO tries to cater to MMORPG newcomers, WildStar is aimed more at League of Legends or WoW core gamers.
Meanwhile, the initial impressions are promising, and in the beta, a hardcore fanbase has already formed around the game, eager to tell everyone about this great game WildStar, whether they want to hear it or not.
MMORPG insiders have had this game on their radar for a long time. However, outside of a relatively small circle, not many have heard of WildStar yet. In the Facebook group, there are just over 200,000 fans, while The Elder Scrolls Online boasts 1.8 million.
WildStar is covered in major gaming magazines, but the respective articles do not receive nearly as much attention as other topics. The discussion about the game mainly takes place on two fan sites. Fans often express frustration that little coverage is being given to WildStar compared to the next mini-news regarding WoW or TESO.
Sometimes, under a WildStar article on one of the mainstream gaming sites, there is simply a disappointed comment from a fan urging for more reporting on WildStar in the future and less on the next mini-news about WoW or TESO.
The Carbine studio will face the challenge in the coming weeks of promoting the game to a wider audience and selling a “new world” to players. Carbine signals that this is now the plan. Strategically, it makes the most sense to deploy resources shortly before launch.
WildStar: Not for everyone?
The initial reactions to the game are mixed: While some immediately fall in love with the new world, either diving into housing or wanting to tackle the comprehensive raid and PvP challenges with an existing guild, others provide counterarguments against the game.
“Not enough innovation,” state some veterans who are looking towards MMORPGs with sandbox elements like Everquest Next or ArcheAge.
A criticism we also heard at mein-mmo.de: WildStar is just a collection of existing MMORPGs. Others criticize an “unserious” story that supposedly appeals to children and teenagers, one that they themselves have long since outgrown. Or they chastise graphics that no longer meet today’s standards.
In his column Wiped from the last weekend, Frank Fischer considers WildStar a last gasp of the western market. He is betting on a revolution from Asia.
Widespread criticisms also include the “Twitter quests.” This refers to the relatively short quest texts that invite skipping or only skimming.
Other gaming journalists, however, see the game as an evolution of concepts, praising the PvP or the fresh raid and item ideas.
Perspective
A lot will depend on whether WildStar can attract more than just the already enthusiastic fans in the coming weeks. Without a strong brand name behind it and with a concept that suggests “like WoW – only better,” the team faces some challenges. While the fantastic promo videos are nice, screenshots or the slightly tedious introduction to the game may deter some interested parties.
Carbine has yet to make a major blunder. Only a few fans are now vocally awaiting a localization to delve deeper into the game.
Can there really be only one?
In such a competitive MMORPG market, none of the titles can afford significant failures. In a few months, Warlords of Draenor will arrive, and for 2015 the sandbox invasion with Everquest Next looms – and high-quality current titles from the east like Black Desert are likely to make their way to the west eventually.
With the emergence of two pay-to-play models like WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online, which directly compete with WoW, players will also face the question of whether they are willing to commit more than just one monthly subscription for an MMORPG.
This could be a great opportunity for a buy-to-play game like Guild Wars 2 or numerous free-to-play titles. They are ideally suited to be played during content droughts from subscription titles or simply to enjoy alongside others.
What are the biggest highlights in the lives of gamers for you? Okay, okay, the release of MMOs and addons definitely belongs in there! But this time it’s about something that’s almost as exciting: The first Final Fantasy XIVFan Festival 2014. Woah – that sentence makes your tongue tie! 😉
Do you want to lie in the grass laughing with other players of the online RPG, grilling and chatting? Or would you rather experience exciting stage presentations, participate in interactive events with your friends, and if lucky, have a short chat with the developers of the cult MMO? All this combined with a short trip to one of the following beautiful cities?
Mid-October in Las Vegas
End of October in London
End of November in Tokyo
Then get ready, because the next information about the spectacle will follow soon! Are you fans of such events? Then the BlizzCon2014 might also be something for you! Remember, ticket sales for that start on May 8 at 4 AM!
Whether and when you need to secure a spot for the FF XIV Fan Festival 2014 is still unknown. But as soon as we know more, we will of course keep you updated! Meanwhile, you can still enjoy a round of gaming, because last week’s patch not only brought a new side quest to the fantasy MMO, but the PVP rank cap has also been raised to 40. This means there’s plenty of new equipment to obtain!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Is there a better way to start the week than to fight a few battles with your self-propelled guns? Until Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at 7:00 AM, you can fill your accounts in World of Tanks.
So grab your self-propelled guns of level IV or higher, head into random battles and team battles, and complete the following missions:
Fire Discipline: Here, you need to destroy 10 enemy vehicles. But don’t worry: you don’t have to complete this mission in a single battle, you can repeat it as often as you like and earn a generous 50,000 credits each time!
Fire Command: Can you deal 3,500 damage in a battle? Then you earn 25,000 credits in every battle!
Let’s finish them off! Unfortunately, you can only earn the big bucks once a day by destroying 10 self-propelled guns during your battles. It may not sound easy, and it isn’t – but you will earn a whopping 250,000 credits for it!
If your stock of large repair kits is running low, you can secure five of them today by earning 15,000 XP in any number of battles – but beware, this only counts if you have received at least ten percent of your team’s experience points!
Do you enjoy being the scout in your team? Then you can easily earn 10 automatic fire extinguishing systems by dealing 10,000 damage through your favorite activity as a scout.
And the best part: You will also receive double crew experience, allowing your crew to train significantly faster!
http://youtu.be/i69SLV1fnDg
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, a small detail of patch 1.1, which has now been deployed on the test server, has caused another shitstorm. AE skills are now only supposed to affect 6 players. Elite PvPers see their enjoyment of the game threatened.
For some, it is a bug fix; for others, it is the downfall of the game. Within hours after the new patch was deployed on the test server, there were already two threads bursting at the seams in the English forum Reddit. In both, especially PvPers complained that a now secretly introduced AE cap was the worst decision of all time. After all, it had already turned Guild Wars 2 into a pure zerg fest and ruined it. Now it would surely also lead to the imminent end of The Elder Scrolls Online.
To provide an example of what exactly the problem is:
Four beats Fifty
In this video, a raid of likely uncoordinated players has taken down the second gate after a siege and is around the unguarded flag of the enemy keep. In the video, a handful of players sneak into the flag room, simultaneously activate their AE skills, and wipe out 10 times the number of enemies in seconds. Had the players’ AE skills been capped, they would have only hit 6 people, and the rest would have likely finished them off in a 44:6 fight.
Zebras or Lions – which side are you on?
If you follow the argument of the loud complainers on Reddit, the 50 players standing there deserve to die, as they are uncoordinated and standing around in a herd-like manner. The nerf would provide them protection from herd behavior – just like fleeing in the wild, which cannot be condoned.
Other forum members argue that it is not very difficult to sneak in there and wipe everything out within 2 seconds. Such a triumph must be earned differently.
ZeniMax evades the question
From ZeniMax’s side, it seems they want to avoid the debate. They say that this is not a problem and not a significant intervention in the balance, as all AE skills are limited to 6 targets, only some “buggy” skills will now be adjusted. A list of which skills this specifically affects will be provided later.
A side aspect of the nerf also affects PvE. Players mainly see the possibility threatened to defeat as many mobs as possible with AE effects, known as bombs. Healers fear that with AE spells they will no longer reach all players, especially since the new patch will also introduce 12-man raids. AE healing that only hits 6 players, of course, worries the healers.
The problem is that the “few” effects that are not affected by the AE cap, which ZeniMax refers to, are crucial. Because those will be utilized by elite PvPers to create such zerg explosions as seen in the video. Whether 99 other abilities are capped doesn’t matter as long as there is the one that can cause such devastating damage.
Each individual’s position on the fix will depend on how one stands on the players’ actions in the video: Should they be able to do that or should they not be able to do that?
That is a question ZeniMax ultimately has to answer. In game design, it is intended that such action can be performed through siege weapons – keyword: burning oil. But just 4 people sneaking in and then launching atomic bombs to end everything in 2 seconds?
This is a general problem in balancing a PvP game. If you want long and balanced battles, in which players also have the opportunity to react to the actions of the opponent, you make such ambush actions impossible. Yet only with such ambushes can small groups blow up larger enemy numbers.
It would definitely now be important to hear a precise statement from ZeniMax regarding the problem: Is this a conscious design decision or not intended?
In The Elder Scrolls Online, the first major content patch is coming, the adventure zone Kargstein is now on the test server, and we have prepared the patch notes 1.1 for you.
Note that the changes currently apply only to the patch server and may still be changed.
The new adventure zone Kargstein is being introduced, with 12-player fights – the TESO equivalent of raids; players share a life reservoir of 60 lives, and if these are depleted, one must start anew if necessary.
The 12-player fights do not necessarily operate on a timer, but a leaderboard is kept and the 100 fastest teams will receive an additional reward at the end of the week.
Who will defeat the bosses in the trials the fastest?
Interesting concept, especially since the whole action is supposed to last only about one and a half hours and Zenimax is taking interesting approaches to encounter design; however, the intense rivalry idea is a bit alienating for a game like The Elder Scrolls Online.
Veteran Ranks 11 and 12 are now in the game, veteran EXP from mob kills doubled.
Some players are already groaning under the effort to reach veteran rank 10, so the prospect of two more was not exactly rosy. Doubling EXP from mobs should hopefully alleviate the struggle.
For every player within 50 meters of a chest in an instance, a chest will drop individual loot.
This was already announced in advance, intended to prevent chest griefing, as players sneaked away from the group and went on a solo tour.
There are exactly two chests per instance, their locations are random each time.
Interesting idea to make the game fairer and more comparable. However, it also takes away some of the luck factor.
Death Recap: After a death, the sources of damage are listed and there are some tips on what one might do better next time.
Well-known from LoL. Does it fit TESO? I am already looking forward to reading the famous ‘Don’t stand in the fire’ after a boss fight. Also, this is an ideal place for Easter eggs. For example, in case of a tank fail, it should definitely read ‘Blame the healer!’.
Double EXP for player kills in PvP, significantly more EXP for the quest that requires you to kill 20 players.
This makes leveling in Cyrodiil more attractive.
A numerically inferior alliance now receives bonus points in Cyrodiil, both individually and for the entire alliance; the bonus is displayed in the UI.
One could expect this as well; it is an underdog concept that is common in many other games.
Higher resolution textures for non-human enemies.
Some eye candy! Nice!
Crafting motifs and cooking recipes will drop less frequently from containers.
Anyone who still needs something should start farming. This was almost to be expected. And of course, there’s a whole bunch of bug fixes and balance changes in the details of the classes!
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Many players felt lost on them, clashing with foreign players and unable to play with their friends anymore. ArenaNet has since recognized this and acknowledges some difficulties.
In a forum post, ArenaNet made an effort to calm the fans’ spirits. They stated that the introduction of a Mega-Server has no financial background. It wouldn’t save any servers that already only make up a fraction of the overall costs. Currently, they are working on further refining the algorithms to allow players a “sense of home”, especially in the cities.
Feedback is now important, especially from large guilds. They have suffered under difficulties in conducting joint large events, as it is challenging to get all guild members into the same world instance.
For ArenaNet, the maximum number of players per map is a crucial point, which they are still refining. They will also continue to optimize the spawn timers of the three major world bosses, Tequatl, Wurm, and Karka Queen, so that European players do not face disadvantages.
ArenaNet continues to ask players to keep a cool head. Insulting other players is unacceptable and should be reported immediately.
The idea of a Mega-Server is essentially the same as what World of Warcraft does with cross-zones or what TESO demonstrates. Ideally, this should ensure that something is always happening and a player never feels alone in the world.
However, Guild Wars 2 has a very different atmosphere among players compared to TESO or World of Warcraft. In those games, only players from the same faction are thrown together. And even there, unfriendly confrontations across server boundaries often occur, as if clicking on a name from a long list of servers immediately has a character-defining effect.
In Guild Wars 2, the servers are drilled into conflict through the weekly WvWvW matches. When players are made to feel that they are losing their home, their server to which they have established a connection, chaos ensues.
Even though it’s uncomfortable: Of course, there are also prejudices against players from other countries. These resentments are flaring up right now. An atmosphere like that of Guild Wars 2, when it is not only server against server against server, but also Germany against England against France, fuels such issues, even if ArenaNet says three times that there is no place for insults in their game.
The case of the “Mega-Server” teaches us on a theoretical level that a solution that works for games A and B may not be the right one for game C. GW2 players hope that ArenaNet will soon come up with something to permanently solve the issues while still guaranteeing full enjoyment of the game. Right now, all parties involved surely wish they had never heard the term “Mega-Server”.
For a few weeks now, Hearthstone, Heroes of Warcraft has been officially released and the first “expansion” Curse of Naxxramas has already been announced. But is that enough to keep the players engaged?
In this video, Darion takes a closer look at Blizzard’s online card game and examines what it could do better currently or what is still missing from the game.
The fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online has been threatened by a bot attack since the beginning of the game, choking its lifeblood. In numerous caves, clusters of robotic companions surround the bosses and farm them away from the spawn.
This not only ruins any sense of being at home in a fantasy world but also makes it difficult for honest players to enjoy the game. Some GMs from Zenimax have now taken spectacular action against these bots.
Dōmo arigatō, Mr. Roboto
Everything began with a system-wide message. There, a Gamemaster named Satsui No Boto announced that he would eliminate all bots he would encounter in the next 15 minutes. He then teleported to some of the most frequently bot-infested caves, warned all players to step away from the cave boss if they did not want to get caught in his beam, and used his god-like GM abilities to make the bots disappear.
Whether this happens regularly or was a cool PR stunt from Zenimax remains to be seen. According to reports, this action was not an isolated incident but has been repeated with various GMs until this morning.
In any case, players in the English forum Reddit and also in the German community forums responded to the action with applause. The bot plague has certainly ruined the fun of many players. Zenimax, especially CEO Matt Firor, has been asserting since release that they constantly ban bots and take action against them.
However, such an action carries that message further out and is visible to everyone.
Various news summarized
The European mega-server is located in Dallas, Texas, until further notice. A move to Frankfurt is still planned, but, as the German community manager Kai Schober states, it is significantly more complicated than just putting someone on a plane with a USB stick. Therefore, no one at Zenimax is committing to a date.
According to Schober, the German-speaking market is the second most important for Zenimax.
At the new adventure zone Kargstein, which will also bring two new veteran ranks, crafters will not be left out. They will also be able to produce items for these new veteran levels.
Reports about the popularity of The Elder Scrolls Online are consistently positive. TESO was, along with Diablo 3, the most googled term from the gaming genre over the holidays. Sales charts also show high values, exact numbers are still unknown.
If you are unsuccessfully searching for tomatoes in the game, they are indeed implemented, but only available from crafting apprentices starting at level 2.
A particularly combination of skills has created a kind of god mode for a player in PvP. Apparently, vampire abilities combined with those of an empress allowed a single player to hold off a large number of enemies for a long time, as he kept healing himself up from them. There is also a spectacular video with which we would like to conclude this news.
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Without any pomp, a true masterpiece of construction was opened yesterday in Dragon’s Prophet. But beware, the Pillar of Prophecy is not just any shabby tower in the landscape, but there you must face century-long imprisoned creatures that only want one thing: Your demise!
Do you still want to prove your skills? Then talk to the Battle Herald in Arteicia (east of the Dragon Arena), to be teleported to the Isle of Ancestors. According to legend, powerful dragons created this spot to bury the bones of their fallen comrades in the first Dragon War. But the sinister Doom Dragons found the grave of the Legendary Dragons and chose their bones as their food, which they transformed into Soul Devourers. The Shax also abused the skeletons to bring undead dragons back to life.
Now it is up to you to put an end to the chaos. Are you brave enough? Then go alone – otherwise grab your bravest allies and enter the Pillar of Prophecy! The strength of your opponents is based on the highest level of your group members. As if all this excitement isn’t enough, there are time limits in which you must eliminate your enemies! If time runs out and one of the creatures is still alive, you have failed – and find yourself in the Infirmary in the south of the island.
However, if you manage to defeat your enemies and protect the medic accompanying you, you have 60 seconds to grab the reward, wipe the sweat from your brow, and continue fighting. Be aware: The higher you climb the tower, the tougher it becomes to take down your opponents. And what do you get for all the stress? Besides support and challenge crates, you will receive Destroyer Insignias, which you can exchange for valuable equipment for elite warriors.
And now the big question: Do you dare to enter the Pillar of Prophecy?!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Europe, it will be on May 3rd, but in North America, they are already celebrating the 2nd anniversary of TERA Rising due to the earlier release.
In addition to a variety of events, the American publisher EnMasse also gifts us an impressive trailer that summarizes the highlights of the controversial fantasy MMORPG of recent years.
TERA Rising – a new beginning
The million-dollar project has gone through turbulent times. After a spectacular launch in May 2012, the Asian AAA title gradually lost players after a few months. What caused this? There is probably no single reason, but the lack of variety in the endgame, the monotonous quests, the frustrating enchanting system, and other weaknesses at the beginning contributed to it. At that time, the pay-to-play model was also considered outdated, which exacerbated the decline.
With the transition to free-to-play in February 2013, things started to improve again; the newly added “Rising” in the name symbolically heralded a new era, a fresh start. Since then, the action MMO has been doing quite well, although more could have been achieved.
In these 2 years, quite a bit has changed in the game. From several new dungeons to an alliance system where territories are fought over, to new battlefields and numerous improvements in game design, the online role-playing game has matured in many respects. In June, we can also expect the highly anticipated new Elin class, the Reaper, or in German, the “Blade Dancer”.
While there may still be weaknesses, they should not overshadow the birthday. We will address the current state of the game another time.
TERA, mein-mmo.de wishes you all the best on the second anniversary in the West. Despite its advanced age, you still retain the new car smell. With spectacular bosses, impressive graphics, and the perhaps best action combat system in the genre, you continue to make many players happy and are still a welcome destination for new players. Much success for the future!
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