Yes, I know… Not another World of Warcraft news. But there are just things that need to be addressed – and that is this year’s BlizzCon. The Blizzard storm will sweep over the Anaheim Convention Center in California from November 7 to 8, 2014, hopefully leaving excited fans in its wake!
As every year, there will be exciting information about new games from Blizzard, you can exclusively try them out and discuss with the developers. But the eSports tournaments featuring professional players from all over the world are always exciting to watch as well.
Are you coming home again?
But before you pack up the care package for the journey, strap on your backpack, and pilgrimage to the airport, we want to draw your attention to the price: A proud 199 US Dollars (plus applicable taxes and fees) will be the cost of admission. Whether the BlizzCon is worth that much to you, you’ll need to decide relatively soon, as the sale of online tickets will take place from Thursday, May 8, at 4:00 AM (CEST) and on Saturday, May 10, at 7:00 PM (CEST).
Do you also want to participate in the legendary benefit dinner on November 6? Then save up a total of 750 US Dollars (also plus applicable taxes and fees) – that already includes the admission fee for the BlizzCon. The proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, and you will have the opportunity to meet game developers, executives, and other Blizzard staff. The sale for this will begin on May 14 at 4 AM (CEST).
And now to be honest:
Is it worth it to you? Have you perhaps been to a BlizzCon before? Do you prefer to wait for the information online?
But amidst all the excitement for the upcoming event, a few questions still arise…
That does not seriously mean that Warlords of Draenor will only come AFTER the BlizzCon, right?
Maybe not until the next birthday of World of Warcraft?
Doesn’t the WoD Beta start in early summer?
And if WoD does come out beforehand – what do they want to announce? The next expansion for WoW?
Questions upon questions… And I am so impatient!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In a statement to the fans, Matt Firor, the lead developer behind the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, has now addressed the problems plaguing his baby. There are many issues, most notably bugs, dupes, gold sellers, and bots. However, Firor is optimistic. While he acknowledged difficulties, he stated that the game is on a good path.
Gold Sellers and Bots as the Main Problems
Firor made it clear in his statement that he is not an out-of-touch armchair general who only hears about player complaints through emails or reports, but he and his staff also play The Elder Scrolls Online. They have also noticed the bots camping in caves, making it difficult for honest players to have fun. Zenimax is doing everything in its power to combat bots and gold sellers.
And the fight is already bearing fruit: First, gold sellers were in the chat, then in in-game mail, and now they have started fake guilds to invite players and harass them with their offers.
Numerous bots, cheaters, and gold sellers have already been imprisoned. Forever.
In the meantime, many bots have already been banned, and more are being banned. The fight against bots and gold sellers is not a sprint but a marathon.
The gold sellers are also responsible for some players being dissatisfied with support. Bots and gold sellers make up 85% of the support’s workload. Other issues sometimes fall by the wayside.
Firor Comments on the Dupes
Firor also addressed the two most recent dupes. Items in the game could be duplicated by exploiting a faulty guild bank mechanic or by errors in the system mail. In the first dupe, they reacted immediately, closed the guild banks, and removed involved players from the game. Wrongfully banned players were able to log in again after eight hours. According to Firor, they have contained the problem and it is not widespread enough to massively damage the in-game economy.The second dupe bug, which has to do with apprentices in crafting professions, was also resolved quickly and occurred in a much smaller dimension.
However, the two fixes for the dupes led to significantly more maintenance work than originally planned.
In conclusion of his letter, Firor also addressed the announced first content expansion Kargstein. The adventure zone for the endgame will soon be deployed to the test server and go live in 7 to 10 days. Firor attested that The Elder Scrolls Online is in generally good shape, which can only improve in the future.
Mein-mmo says:
Yes, this is the statement everyone has been waiting for, and it turns out as one could expect. The critical question will be whether the impact of the dupes on the in-game economy is really as minimal as Firor suggests. It would be very much in the interest of the game and its community.
Apparently, the first major blow against botters has now occurred with the internal loot timer for cave bosses. This is definitely a step in the right direction. The consequences of the dupes could probably only have been fully resolved with a massive intervention in the game—a rollback. That there is no talk of this was actually to be expected. One would have had to exorcise the devil with Beelzebub.
The game is now entering a decisive phase. Players face the choice of allowing their subscription to expire or renewing it. The prospect of new content with Kargstein is much more appealing than the prospect of a rollback.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
ArcheAge, the MMORPG with sandbox elements, is currently live in Russia under the supervision of mail.ru. However, they recently implemented a terrible IP ban to keep Western European onlookers at bay.
So we are left with only the longing gaze at videos. In today’s video about the role-playing hope, it’s about classes and crafting. It sounds boring, but it’s an exciting matter in ArcheAge. The freedom and choices are immense. Interesting synergy effects are available. But see for yourself!
http://youtu.be/HeSnnsOzyhU
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Dear WildStar fans and those who want to become one or do not know better yet: This weekend, from Friday to Monday, a bonus beta weekend will take place. And basically, everyone can participate. Free of charge.
No hocus pocus is necessary for this, as a simple registration on the official WildStar website is sufficient.
We invite every person who has ever registered for WildStar to this beta event this weekend. That’s a lot of people – so you will meet plenty of friends to have fun with in battlegrounds, adventures, dungeons, and more!
But that’s not all! The level cap will be raised to level 25. This also means that you can now undertake the adventure “Northern Wilderness” at the new “end level”. Additionally, you will receive a cool hoverboard from the transport merchant.
The only downside, at least for some players: There is still no German localization, which is causing lively discussions on social networks. Not everyone speaks English, and the release isn’t far off either. Hopefully, the German version won’t end up giving the impression that it was done at the last minute. It can end well, but it doesn’t have to. The biggest challenge will probably be transferring WildStar’s humor into German in such a way that the wit doesn’t get lost along the way to the Nexus. But I’m optimistic for now.
P.S. Friday, from 3 PM to Monday, at 8 AM.
P.P.S. There is now this news in German as well (see source).
http://youtu.be/p95sNB-8Ju4
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
So, was did your Easter bunny do? If you haven’t had enough of the egg hunt, take your chance to get something from the Easter bunny in World of Warcraft for a bit longer. You can celebrate the Noblegarden and snag rewards until April 28, 2014.
As a player of the Alliance, you should go to
Azure Watch
Dolanaar
Goldshire or
Kharanos
as a member of the Horde go to
Brill
Blade’s Edge
Bloodhoof Village or
Falcon Wing Square
and start the egg hunt there. In Shattrath, both factions can celebrate Easter together.
The little colorfully dyed eggs are hiding in all possible – and impossible – places, even under carts, in boxes, etc. – So keep your eyes open. Whether you stay mobile during the egg hunt or stay in one place is up to you – both tactics have their pros and cons. If you already have the Egg Basket, use it to move 60% faster during the event.
But no matter what you do – the important thing is: Don’t lose your nerves! Since the cross-server zones can be very crowded, it’s a powder keg just before explosion. If you have the opportunity, try to hunt for your eggs in the early morning hours or late at night – experience shows that it’s less busy then.
In the eggs, you’ll find either your rewards directly or Noblegarden Chocolate, which you need to collect to buy Easter items. Of course, there are again daily quests, where you can snag gold or Blooming Branches.
I found one! – Find a colorfully dyed egg.
Chocoholic – Eat 100 Noblegarden Chocolate during the event.
Desert Flower – Wear the Spring Robe and plant a flower in the Barrens, Desolace, Silithus, Tanaris, and Thousand Needles.
Blushing Bride – Kiss someone in an elegant dress while you wear a white tuxedo shirt and black tuxedo pants. The required clothing can be found in the colorful eggs or purchased from the Noblegarden vendor.
Hard Boiled – During the Noblegarden event, place an egg in the Hot Springs of Golakka in the Un’Goro Crater while in Bunny form. For this achievement, you need a teammate to transform you into a rabbit.
Spring Fever – Find a mate for your Spring Bunny to cuddle with in the listed towns. These differ depending on Horde/Alliance, but are easily accessible.
Noblegarden – Hide a colorfully dyed egg in Stormwind or Silvermoon, this is also dependent on your faction.
Of Bunnies and Bunnies – Use Spring Flowers to put bunny ears on female characters of level 18 or higher. For this achievement, make sure to check out Dalaran or Shattrath. If you frequently visit the banks or neutral auction house, you’re sure to find all the required races.
Have fun searching and collecting! If you’ve been diligent, by the end you can claim not only the title “The Noble”, but also a Swift Springstrider and Spring Bunny as your own!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Over time, I keep getting questions about The Elder Scrolls Online and often they are even the same ones. For this reason, I have now recorded this video here to answer the most important and frequently asked questions about TESO.
Table of Contents: • Which class should I play as DD/Tank/Healer? 0:33 • Magicka or Stamina? 0:57 • Which race is best for class XY? 1:42 • Which armor type should I choose? 2:26 • What are veteran ranks? 3:02 • How should I morph ability XY or what does “morphing” actually mean? 4:03 • How do I become a vampire/werewolf? 4:50 • Can I take abilities from multiple skill lines or do I have to choose one? 5:46 • Where is the auction house? 6:17 • Is it important to collect all sky shards? 6:40 • Is it worth buying a horse? 7:16 • Can I wear the armor design of other races? 8:10 • Can I level in Cyrodiil? 8:52
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The fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online is now fully in the sights of hackers and exploiters. After a first exploit was fixed over the weekend, new reports emerged on Easter Sunday that it was possible to cheat in the game. The hackers themselves are calling for a rollback. This would mean that every player would lose what they achieved in the last few days.
Sharks in Bloody Water
Hackers, cheaters, and exploiters are a bit like sharks in the ocean. Once they smell blood, they go into a frenzy. A triple-A MMORPG that is likely played by over two million people is highly attractive prey. After all, virtual gold can be converted into real euros.
The loot is even more attractive when the game seems to be so vulnerable and hurt. The Elder Scrolls Online is considered, as discussed in forums, to be a “Client-Trust-Heavy” game. This makes it susceptible to all sorts of tools and tricks that no longer work in other games.
At launch, reports of speed hacks and bots were already piling up. Zenimax acted quickly against it.
Guild Bank Exploit Fixed
On Good Friday, an exploit was made known that allowed players to duplicate items at will, a so-called dupe exploit. They are feared because they can massively disrupt the in-game economy. An item is simply worthless if it can be created out of thin air. Interestingly, the exploit could be used to craft items that not only provide a gold advantage but also a gear advantage.
New Dupes Have Surfaced Over the Weekend
After the exploit was fixed and some players were hit by the ban hammer, one might have thought that the commotion had come to an end. One would want that for the game. After all, Zenimax has its hands full. Every day, they are dealing with new issues. Just this morning, a patch was deployed to address the most urgent problems of the fantasy giant. Numerous dead-end quests are being fixed. Furthermore, during the latest wave of bans, they seem to have gone a bit overboard and have now unbanned some players. So they have fixed the worst leaks for now and can now breathe a sigh of relief, right? Not at all.
On Easter Sunday, reports surfaced in relevant forums that additional bugs in the game were allowing item dupes. This time even easier and in a way that can actually happen randomly. Probably the exploit came to light due to a recent bug. It is related to the loading screen where many players were stuck recently.
Exploiter Calls for Rollback
The impact on the in-game economy and the game remains highly dangerous and seems devastating. How Zenimax intends to control this is completely unclear.
An exploiter has detailed in a forum post which mechanisms he used to “wash,” “distribute,” and conceal the gold he “earned” through the first dupe bug from the eyes of the GMs. Apparently, he has learned quite a bit from mafia movies and documentaries.
Ironically, the exploiter is now calling for Zenimax to roll back. In his view, the game would otherwise be worthless, as every achievement and success is tainted by the illegally acquired gold and items in the game.
As ironic as it sounds and as much as it will upset many “honest” players: The hacker is not wrong. A rollback would be the only “clean” method to push so much toothpaste back into the tube.
The new exploits are so severe that Zenimax is faced with the question of whether to accept a rollback or damage the in-game economy for months. However, a rollback would likely alienate many customers. Here, one is faced with the choice between plague and cholera. In the short term, a rollback would certainly be met with a terrible shitstorm. Every player would lose what they achieved in the past days. The middle way will likely be to ban as many cheaters as possible, remove as much duped gold and equipment from the game, but it will be nearly impossible to catch everything or even a large part. Hopefully, the “duped” money will not turn out too negatively for the players.
The critical question remains: How widespread is this? How much does it really affect the in-game economy and how does it impact each individual? And who can be banned this time? The newly discovered exploits are so simple in nature that the defense for a ban is obvious: I knew nothing about it.
It is to be hoped that a really good game will slowly navigate into calmer waters. But when you hear reports about “Client-Trust-Heavy” games, that seems a long way off.
A statement from Zenimax regarding the recent problems is still pending, we will provide it as soon as we hear something.
The huge April update for Guild Wars 2 brought a lot of fresh air to the online role-playing game last week – and huge trouble! The idea of Mega-Servers is fundamentally great, however, there were issues with the implementation.
Soon you will be able to easily play any PvE map with your friends, regardless of your home world! By rearranging the relationship between players and the world, we can connect you with people who provide you with the best social experience in PvE. […]
What does this mean exactly? We will get to the technical side shortly. But fundamentally, this means that on every map you play, you will encounter more friends, guildmates, people who speak your language, and overall meet more of the same players. It also means that there will be more players on all maps going on adventures, allowing us to provide you with the best possible PvE experience.
Sounds like a good idea at first, right? But just a few hours after the update, there was criticism of the new system. Screenshots with excerpts from chat logs were posted in the official forum. Everything was present, from three languages in just a few lines of a “conversation” to wild insults. Those who didn’t intend to refresh their repertoire of swear words in foreign languages were quickly very annoyed.
Unfortunately, this was not the only problem. The system does not take into account factors such as friends and guilds – which were actually decisive reasons for starting this system at all. Guild members reported that it is still not possible to gather in the capital for role-playing, or even to see each other. A no-go! But the good news is:
ArenaNet has responded
In the meantime, a hotfix has been implemented that optionally puts an end to this distress. In the chat options, you can select that only messages from players who have set the same language in the client will be displayed. This initially alleviates the biggest pain by not displaying foreign-language messages. However, this gives rise to further/new problems:
What about players who play in English but play with their German friends?
How will guild members and friends be able to meet up again in capitals? How are guilds supposed to initiate joint actions when everyone is assigned to different maps?
How will WvW raids be organized if the enemy is eavesdropping?
How can you avoid the risk of landing on a completely different map while waiting for an event and just porting to the capital to look for allies – and not being able to participate in the event?
It’s a shame that ArenaNet hasn’t learned from the issues in Rift , where players constantly clash on battlefields because one side does not understand the other’s language or does not want to speak it. We will keep you updated on how the Mega-Servers in Guild Wars 2 continue!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A lot has happened since the peaceful goddess Althea created her world and was poisoned by her sister Vestinel in a fit of furious envy. With the eternal slumber of the goddess, war and hostility entered the continent of Althea, opening the gates for Vestinel’s nightmares and wicked dragons, whose corruption drew the land further into darkness and terrorized the inhabitants of Althea.
Decades have passed since a mysterious sage foretold the birth of a prophetess who is meant to restore balance to the world, and finally the stars have testified that the time is ripe for her to face her destiny.
If it weren’t for the immortal dragons and their fanatical followers, whose intentions for the young girl and her abilities look very different. In a treacherous ambush, the minions of the dragon cult captured the delicate prophetess Rose, and now it is up to a group of chosen heroes to find and protect the prophetess, ensuring that she fulfills her destiny and on this path finds the grail that can awaken Althea from her eternal slumber.
The Anime Action MMORPG from Korea in transition
A few weeks ago, the free-to-play MMORPG Dragon Nest Europe turned 1 year old! One can look back on quite an eventful year, from a publisher change to the introduction of 2 new classes, to the increase of the max level from 40 to 60 (more information can be found here: http://www.dragonnest.eu/)
The free anime action MMO stands out particularly for its free-aiming combat system and a purely skill-based PvP system, where equipment doesn’t provide value bonuses. In addition to fast-paced, varied battles in individually adjustable dungeons and extensive combo possibilities, it is necessary to defeat powerful dragons in 8-man raids after reaching the max level with one of the 6 basic classes.
Whether for PvE players or PvP players, Dragon Nest Europe offers challenging PvP battles, story-driven character development, increasingly demanding endgame content, a farming system, and a sophisticated equipment upgrade system, as well as customizable skill trees, allowing players to experience the Asian free-to-play success in Europe. A visit could be worthwhile for anime fans and those who enjoy action combat systems like Tera.
http://youtu.be/lN2UHQ2W1vY
In this Let’s Play from ALL EYES ON GAMES, you also get a good impression of how the MMORPG plays at the beginning.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online turns out to be a true long-distance runner. Our tester Schuhmann rubs his eyes in wonder after more than 100 hours: “Still no end in sight?”
After more than a hundred hours, the game still has a lot to offer
We spared you a review right after the first week because we find it silly to speculate about the long-term fun of an MMORPG after just 20 hours. And that’s what most players care about. Especially when a game stands in the tradition of Skyrim, which has thrilled players with its long-term addictiveness.
Now, a bit more than 100 hours of playtime have passed. Of course, one still cannot make a final assessment or quantify it in exact percentages. The endgame is still missing. But I’m sure: The Elder Scrolls Online is not a game for just one week.
I fought my way through four areas in the service of the Aldmeri Dominion, worked my way up to the fifth rank in PvP (appallingly anonymous) and already did some serious crafting and trading.
Now it’s time to address a few things that might get lost in the steady flow of bugs, exploits, and problems.
[pull_quote_center]I admit: I was skeptical. But now I must say: The Elder Scrolls Online is a really good MMORPG.[/pull_quote_center]
The quest flow in TESO is excellent
What strikes me again and again in the game: I don’t check the EXP bar. While in other games it is always clear to me that I am playing an MMORPG and that I still need 22% to level up, and in three levels I will get the new ability to achieve this and that, this is not so important to me in TESO.
I have been surprised by many level-ups. Three times a day I’m in front of the skill tree, considering where to distribute the delightfully numerous points. There is really no shortage of them. In other games, one looks up on Google or thinks about what the best build will look like (Well, usually others think about it and you copy it). You constantly wonder how to distribute the few points, how to get from the minimal value X to the maximum value Y.
In The Elder Scrolls Online, I figure it out myself. If you look a little off the path, there are skill points everywhere that do not enhance combat power after a certain level, but rather make life a bit easier and more varied. I think that’s a great story in an MMORPG.
At first, I resisted with all my might (specifically: with claws and paws) to invest two precious skill points in the quest abilities of the Mage and Fighter Guild: I thought it was complete nonsense. I’d rather see if I can squeeze out 2% more damage somewhere. By now, I have had the abilities for weeks and wouldn’t want to miss them. And that’s how I feel about many skills.
Small quest jewels
It’s hard to recommend TESO to someone because it does many things right that should be standard for an MMORPG: It has great quests. This is the core business of MMORPGs, but it is often neglected. It happens to me rarely in other games that I really engage in a quest and dive deep into it.
To give an example of a quest that “caught” me (mild spoiler alert): A young man sits in front of a ruin, complaining to me that he deserves a magical treasure and that I should help him get his right. The dungeon is right next door and it begins. On the way to the end of the cave, there are a few ghostly warnings, the usual boo-hoo, I think. Now it turns out that this heirloom is a cursed helmet that immediately takes possession of him and transforms him into a monster. The man dies (has run into my arrow) and on the way out there are ghostly apparitions at various corners, ancestors of the accident victim, each of whom says only one sentence about what the helmet has seduced him into. Chills!
People like to listen to stories in The Elder Scrolls Online. Even in taverns.
This way, there are many small quests where the developers have simply put in a bit more effort than necessary. It’s these small details that make me go that extra mile and postpone what I originally intended by twenty minutes.
Especially taken by the three main and guild quests that continue in the zones or come back every five levels. Of course, I can’t spoil anything, but they hit a narrative chord with me.
[quote_right]A work of art that you must engage with[/quote_right]At first, I thought: Can’t they include subtitles when dialogue is spoken in a cutscene? But no, this is a game that you play without a TV in the background or the chatter in Teamspeak. A game, almost one could say: A work of art that you must engage with. It does not shy away from that.
Items don’t play a big role
TESO takes an interesting approach in many aspects, which is why it does not feel like a “standard MMORPG”. While in other games items are extremely important, I don’t pay much attention to what I’m wearing in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Every five levels, I go to the guild store, take advantage of the well-organized display, and can completely re-equip myself for a little gold. Because so many items are tradeable, items do not play a big role in the game for me. However, I think this is one of the things that will become more appealing in the endgame. More and more, I’m now finding unique items with a proper name and a higher quality level that are also immediately bound.
Actually, I would have thought that this would bother me. But it’s one of those things that I don’t notice negatively. Just like the lack of a mini-map or the relatively small selection of combat skills. I don’t miss them. I also don’t need to be informed down to the last detail about how much DPS I’m doing with each individual skill and which rotation would be the most advantageous for me.
I find myself slightly not recognizing myself here. In other games, I stood for hours at the dummy, had my Excel calculator on and an extra program to see how much haste I can squeeze out of my gear to hit a crit sweet spot. Here I am back in the information Stone Age and feel wonderful about it. I’m just about ready to get a volleyball and name it Wilson.
No interest in theory crafting
This afternoon, I checked a forum and was taken aback by the typical theory crafting talk. As they spoke again in the Denglish of MMORPG gamer slang that the resto staff had the best AE damage and that the Nightblade was the weakest class for AE farming without a destro staff – and what else one says when the day is long, I felt like I was in the wrong movie.
I know this approach to a game, of course, but it would never have occurred to me to search for it in The Elder Scrolls Online.
The question is: Is it me or is it the game? Probably both.
It has become clear to me in the last hours in the game that MMORPGs can be this way too. That you can play them not only with your head but also with your gut. For that reason, however, some bugs and dead ends are particularly frustrating, which must not be overlooked. The Elder Scrolls Online is not a game for everyone and at the moment, some dead-end quests are ruining the fun for many people. And if you look at the game without affection and a certain affinity for it, weaknesses certainly become visible in some areas. A few have already been mentioned. It is clear that this is not an MMORPG where milk, honey, and mana flow.
[intense_testimonies] [intense_testimony] [intense_testimony_text]But at the moment, at level 43, I feel no saturation from this new flavor of MMORPG. I’ll check in again when I reach the endgame. [/intense_testimony_text] [intense_testimony_author image=”https://images.mein-mmo.de/magazin/medien/2014/01/Logo-022.png”][/intense_testimony_author] [/intense_testimony] [/intense_testimonies]
After 100 hours, I still have a hunger for ESO. Why not? It tastes good.
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In this video, I show you the revamped character creation of the SciFi-Fantasy MMORPG WildStar. Currently, the Easter beta weekend is in full swing, and I wanted to take a little look at certain changes that have gone live with the possibly last patch before the launch on June 3rd.
More customization options in character creation!
The biggest surprise came with the announcement that each race would receive new or, in this case, entirely different body models. The developers from Carbine have responded to a huge request from the community, as for a game that focuses on highly individual character development, this was almost a no-go.
Again and again, expressions like “A AAA MMORPG from 2014 must offer a selection of body models – my character is very important to me and shouldn’t look like the 12424th clone of the Aurin series” were heard. But how do the WildStar makers always say? “the devs are listening”. What else has been added with the final patch, you can read here.
I will briefly touch on the new body shapes, but what was more important to me was to show the variety offered when creating your hero. Maybe you’ll also discover some new hairstyles 😉 At the end of the video, there’s a short section on the newer and somewhat modern UI (user interface). This also made its debut with this patch.
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The TESO Emotes Overview – in the List and the Video
For role-players – and as it is well known, The Elder Scrolls Online is indeed MMORPG 😉 – emotes, or expressing emotions in the form of animations, are an important element for a convincing gaming atmosphere. Just like in other games of the genre, there are of course many nice emotional outbursts in TESO that we certainly do not want to withhold from you.
[table id=28 /]
And since looking beyond one’s own plate is always advisable, we enhance the experience with the two videos that Elloa has published on YouTube, in which “she” has beautifully prepared numerous emotes and the folk dances (except for the Imperials).
http://youtu.be/dg3cfYEokz8
A final tip: You can find a very great PDF version for printing, which contains all currently available emotes, here!
This very stylishly created TESO Emote List comes directly from “kijiima” in the official TESO forum.
So we hope we could provide you once again with valuable information nicely presented and wish all role-playing and TESO fans lots of fun during cozy RPG sessions in the wonderful Tamriel! Of course, feel free to comment, share, and recommend the post as always. 🙂
P.S.: Oh, and if you are a member of an RP guild, please post your character name (which interested players can address) and your guild name here, so that other players can find their way to you.
P.P.S.: One last tip: On the loading screen, you will often be informed that you can switch between guild chats with /guild1 or /guild2 etc. It can also be easier! 😀 Namely: /g1
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Free2Play MMORPG Lord of the Rings Online is facing major upheaval with a new class and numerous changes. Is that enough to get the game back on track with the world-renowned license after tough times?
Some of the Best Fans in the World
Lord of the Rings Online has a fantastic atmosphere. The game thrives on its design style, the source material, the film adaptations by Peter Jackson, and above all, a great player base. Fans are more connected with this game than almost any other like the Middle-earth saga. The fan art is excellent, there is fantastic fan fiction, and overall, the LotRO fans are the most loyal and friendliest souls a game developer could wish for.
Yet, similar to fans of a traditional club who have to accept demotion, fans of LotRO have gone through tough times.
This is mainly due to the last expansion, the Battle for Helm’s Deep. It received disastrous reviews from the gaming press, and fans also shook their wise Hobbit heads time after time, wondering what the developers were thinking.
Last Expansion Went Disastrously
Because in the Battle for Helm’s Deep, several problems with the game design became apparent: players do not control the companions known and loved from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but heroes on the fringes of events. The battle for Helm’s Deep was one of the biggest moments in recent film history. Many fans of the films were looking forward to this moment, to a glorious and “epic” battle in the best sense.
Yet, all decisive moments in the films were shaped by the companions; for player-heroes, there was obviously no place in the Battle for Helm’s Deep if one wanted to remain true to the source material. Thus, the manufacturer Turbine decided to circumvent the problem by having players perform indirect tasks, giving them command over small units, and following similar directions.
Even today, the true heroes discuss the questionable design decisions from the last expansion.
The result was suboptimal and strayed far from the player experience brought by earlier expansions. Many players no longer felt as if they were experiencing an adventure and making a difference. They also no longer felt like they were truly playing “their” hero, whom they had accompanied over the years. In short: It was not fun.
Also, fans were upset that previously introduced elements, such as horseback combat, were so neglected. Especially since a Free2Play game in continued age is a delicate matter, this failed expansion could have meant the death knell for the aging game, which recently celebrated its seventh anniversary.
New Attempt, New Class
When it was announced some time ago that LotRO was to be revived by a new class, the mockery did not take long to arrive. “Gravedigger,” some jokesters commented, “he can finally bury the game for good.”
However, the Beorning will be the new class available to players. These are shapeshifters who, if their blood boils hot enough, can transform into a bear.
Additionally, Turbine has indicated that they want to specifically address the problems faced by the player base. But resources are scarce. Thus, a renewal of the housing system must wait for now.[quote_box_right]Have you already read our special on Lord of the Rings Online? The Quiet Grandeur of a Sleeping Giant[/quote_box_right]
They want to focus more on “the journey” again. After all, the game does not tell its story freely like competitors but rather follows the hero’s journey of the companions up to the Mountain of Doom. With update pack 14, it goes to Dol Amroth, the first city in Gondor. This opens the 4th part of the saga.
What may look spectacular here is rather sluggish in the game: the combat system. They promise improvement soon.
In addition, they will grant the heroes 5 new levels and want to focus more on technical aspects, especially the combat system.
Maybe the Last Chance?
Surely Turbine hoped that the major adaptations, The Hobbit and Smaug’s Desolation, would give the troubled game a new boost. In our opinion, the changes in the rather boring technical aspects are the right way.
However, it is even more important that the developers do not lose sight of their fans and their wishes. Another disaster like Helm’s Deep cannot be afforded. No matter how much fans love Middle-earth and its heroes, the game must still be fun. And for that, the fundamental mechanics are important.
Let’s head into the battle against the adversaries!
It would be wished for the players that Lord of the Rings Online at least brings the legend of the companions to an end. Realistically, however, one must say that 7 years is a long time for an MMORPG and that the Mountain of Doom remains some distance away. At the end of 2015, the battle before the gates of Minas Tirith is supposed to await the players. For now, the current plans suffice.
In an increasingly competitive MMORPG market, LotRO is slowly transforming into its lead character, the hobbit Frodo, who also had to face a legion of adversaries and overcome impossible odds to accomplish a challenging mission. Whether LotRO will also manage to climb the Mountain of Doom in 2016, 2017, or 2018 remains to be seen.
From the operators’ side, they remain optimistic. In the official forum thread, a fan asks: “Minas Tirith? Could the story then end in 2016?” Producer Rowan replies:
That would not be an end, but we could then be creative and freely continue the story. I do not see it as an end at all.
Rowan’s words in Gandalf’s ear.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Today morning the servers of the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online were taken down to stop an exploit that could harm and impair the game for months.
Some fan sites suspected an extensive patch during the server maintenance this morning, aimed at fixing bugs in individual quests. However, instead of resolving issues, the guild banks were temporarily disabled. This was because it enabled scammers to duplicate items at will. One of the biggest disasters that can befall a young game.
With the help of a third-party tool and the guild bank, it has likely been possible for a while to “dupe” items, meaning to duplicate them. This allowed players to earn an enormous amount of money by duplicating items and then selling them to vendors. However, the method is much more serious when valuable items, such as armor or weapons, are duplicated. In The Elder Scrolls Online, these are often not bound on pickup and can be freely traded.
Legendary items affected
It could be anyone: Is this lovely lady hiding a legendary item?
Moreover, the method seems to have been primarily used to duplicate the legendary upgrade items. Because with them, some of the best items in the game can be crafted. In the current game design, they were intended as the most important trade goods. In The Elder Scrolls Online, it is possible through crafting professions to create always better versions of an item until they finally reach the quality level “Legendary”, the highest in the game.
This innovative concept could now become TESO’s undoing.
To bring an item to the highest quality level, a lot of upgrade items are necessary. Because with each one, the probability of the upgrade process succeeding increases. If it fails, the item and the upgrade materials disappear. This was supposed to make the items a coveted and rare trade good for years, which craftsmen could obtain from items or raw materials with great effort.
Criminal intent required
This means that for scammers, it was not only possible to cheat massive amounts of gold but also to craft the best gear in unlimited quantities and permanently destroy the economy. We do not want to go into the exact circumstances of the exploit here; as can be seen in corresponding videos, a certain criminal intent was necessary. Such a thing does not happen by accident.
Even if many would wish for it, cheaters are only banned, not beheaded.
Is a rollback coming?
At the moment, it is still unknown how Zenimax intends to remove the duped items from the game. In English discussion forums, there is even fear of a rollback. In this case, the server would be reverted to an earlier state, and each individual player would lose the progress they have made in the game since then.
How extensively the exploit was used and what measures Zenimax will take is not yet clear at the moment. We will keep you updated.
UPDATE: Statement from Zenimax at 11:30 PM. This is freshly from the official forum. The German community manager Kai Schober has posted this:
Measures against exploiters
Yesterday we were able to identify a bug in ESO that allowed items to be duplicated and that was abused by some players. We reacted quickly and have now fixed the bug. We show no tolerance when it comes to the deliberate exploitation of exploits; the accounts of all involved players have now been permanently banned.
We thank everyone who reported this problem to us. If you find any further exploit in the future, please let us know via /help in the game or through our help center: https://hilfe.elderscrollsonline.com/app/ask.
Do you remember our announcement of the third module for the online role-playing game Neverwinter? Now it is finally known when the expansion Curse of Icewind Dale will be released: You should mark
May 13, 2014
this date, as there is much to discover.
In addition to the new adventure zones “Dwarven Vale” and “Icewind Pass”, you can embark on a quest for the magical black ice in Caer-King. This former fishing village is not only known for its tasty anklehead trout but also attracts Ten-Towners and the Arcane Brotherhood to the city, who are looking for new comrades. However, the dark matter has also caused the corruption of the beautiful surroundings, making Akar Kessel and his army feel particularly comfortable there. To be well-prepared against these nasty creatures, you should stop by Urgus Battlehammer, who will supply you with powerful black ice gear.
Of course, it would be far too dangerous to let anyone into such a region. Therefore, you must have a Rank 3 Blessing from Sharandar or the Ring of Dread unlocked and an item level of at least 10,000! Armed with this, you can set off to Kessel’s Refuge to put an end to Akar’s minions.
But this epic battle at Kelvin’s Cairn is tough, and you will surely curse the developers a few times! In the “Tower of the Dwarves”, you will face the dark master himself in a grand finale and use his magic against him. At the end, great rewards await you, which will surely make up for the frustration.
To optimally prepare for the expansion, you should definitely upgrade your gear so you can hold your own against the new enemies in Icewind Dale.
What, you don’t feel like it? Maybe this trailer will get you in the mood:
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Since yesterday, the much-anticipated Update 9.0 is live on the servers of World of Tanks. The highlights are undoubtedly the visual improvements in all areas of the game as well as the historical battles that make it possible to not only delve into the past but also change it to one’s advantage.
Let’s write history
Operation Citadel, Ardennes Offensive, and Operation Spring Awakening. These are the first three time-travel scenarios that are now available in the historical game mode. The historians among us will surely perk up at these terms. For everyone else: These are battlefields from World War II that are being recreated as closely as possible.
To maintain immersion, only tank cockpits that were actually part of the battles over 70 years ago are available. Thus, everyone can now improve their general knowledge a bit while gaming. Very nice.
Mirror, mirror on the wall…
As already hinted, the tactical online shooter World of Tanks has undergone a makeover. From polished and detailed HD tank models to a new shader technology that creates more realistic surfaces, to more varied explosion effects and an expanded damage model, a lot has been done for the eyes. Well, you know, you eat with your eyes too.
What else does Update 9.0 “New Frontiers” bring? For example, there are significant balance changes on several maps and chassis that adapt to the terrain. Of course, that’s not all. If you want to take a closer look at all the changes, the video is recommended:
http://youtu.be/i69SLV1fnDg
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The PvP in The Elder Scrolls Online differs significantly from what many players are used to in other MMORPGs, and many find themselves puzzled at the gates of Cyrodiil. We answer the most pressing questions, provide initial tips, and offer a rough orientation.
The Easy Start
Where do I go to get to Cyrodiil?
For some players, this is the first hurdle. They look for a location, want to reach it on horseback, or keep their eyes open for battle masters. None of this is necessary.
Step 1: Reach level 10
Step 2: Press the “L” key
Step 3: Choose one of 10 campaigns
Step 4: Go to the campaign and declare it as your home campaign with “R”
Step 5: Hover over the campaign and press “E”
Step 6: Wait a moment for the invitation to the campaign to appear, then go to the message and press “E” twice
Step 7: There is no step 7, that’s it, you are in Cyrodiil
What is a campaign, can you eat that, and which one is right for me?
A campaign is an existing instance of the PvP zone Cyrodiil. This means there is a hallway with 10 doors, behind each door is always the same thing, but when you go through one, you are in this instance of the usually same room … and um. Okay, that’s really hard to explain: Just like in other games with raids or IDs.
Brutalities with Friends
There are ten different campaigns. A player can declare one as their home campaign. Preferably one where friends or the guild play. As a rule of thumb: The higher a campaign is on the list, the fuller it is; the player’s faction is represented by a color: yellow for the Aldmeri, red for the Daggerfall Covenant, and blue for the Ebonheart Pact.
It is rare for one faction to completely dominate a campaign. Later, it will certainly happen that “large” guilds of one faction, which have a significant influence on the outcome of a campaign, decide to play together in one campaign for three months. Then it can easily happen that a campaign “flips”.
The campaign can later be changed. However, this costs 15,000 Alliance Points. Additionally, the bonus points that have already been collected and that provide special rewards at the end of a campaign are lost.
Rewards? Who mentioned rewards here?
At the end of a 90-day campaign, each player receives a relatively high amount of gold, depending on how their faction performed and in which “reward” tier they find themselves. In the reward tier, one ranks up through regular participation in the campaign. There is also a high score list that offers rewards as well. That always takes 90 days.
Skill Points in Cyrodiil
For each rank you ascend, you receive one skill point. Additionally, green items regularly appear in the mail as long as you actively participate in PvP. Green or blue mystery items can be purchased from merchants.
In Cyrodiil, 45 soul shards are hidden that must be captured. Some of them are underground. Don’t forget: every 3 shards grants one skill point. That means there are 65 skill points to earn in the PvP area of Cyrodiil.
Okay, now I’m curious: Ranks?
Yes, just as you level up in PvE, you level up in PvP through ranks. There are a total of 50 ranks, and for each rank-up, you receive a skill point that you can distribute freely.
Every two ranks, you also receive a new title and an achievement. The title can even be displayed and is represented by a yellow symbol next to the name. Neat, right?
What should I do first in Cyrodiil?
Pick up the quests available in the base camp. There is always a quest where you must kill 20 players. These are refreshed daily and should be manageable. Other quests involve capturing a castle or a mine or even an Elder Scroll – you won’t be able to complete that every day.
I already knew that, tell me something new!
Alright.
No Room for Rambo, Lone Wolves, and Heroes
Basically, you need to let go of the idea that you play your character in The Elder Scrolls Online as a one-man demolition company. In the game, you are part of the faction and a larger army. While there is also something for lone wolves to do, such as intercepting supplies behind enemy lines, in this position, you are extremely vulnerable, need a lot of patience, and will rarely be successful. You shouldn’t move with fewer than 4 people (a normal group size).
With 4 people (or women, or cats, or lizards), you can start stalking stragglers or launching flanking attacks. When several groups combine, such as 8, 12, or 16 players, they can easily attack individual resources and draw the attention of the opponents. With a full raid group of 24 players, coordinated attacks against much larger player masses can be conducted: Because a quarter of them are sleeping, half are running, and the rest are dying. And with 2 full raid groups, totaling 48 players, it should be possible to defend or take a fortress safely.
The key to success is teamwork, communication, and correctly operating siege weapons.
Anyone who wants to engage in “serious” PvP will not be able to avoid joining a PvP guild in The Elder Scrolls Online.
This can also be very rewarding: Coordinated action in a team is a highlight for many players in any MMORPG. The thrill you get when you attack and slaughter a Zerg with supposed fewer numbers is a great triumph. By the way, “Zerg” refers to a large number of uncoordinated players. But for such triumphs, some key skills are necessary:
The Map Awareness: Where am I, and if so, how many?
It is important to understand the map and comprehend your role. When you are out with just 4 people, then a frontal attack on a fortified position is not a brilliant idea. On the other hand, it would also be senseless to lie in wait with 200 people until someone dares to venture out of a fortress.
It is important to anticipate and exploit player flows. When your faction attacks an enemy fortress, players from the opposing faction will try to reach and defend that fortress as quickly as possible (and defenders in a castle are incredibly annoying).
They teleport to neighboring fortresses and ride along a particular path. They often do this as an elongated trailer – it “drizzles.” These players can be specifically targeted and farmed. Smaller groups of 4 to 12 players are ideal for this. If there are more people, a bridge or a gate area can also be occupied. Some players may then face an unwelcome surprise.
With a press of “M”, larger and smaller skirmishes are displayed. For smaller groups, it can be worthwhile to intervene in the battles of the two opposing factions. Scouts who proceed in stealth and scout where the weaknesses of an army lie are a good idea. It can be fun and rewarding to join a fight between the two other factions by attacking the besieging army from behind and disrupting them.
But beware: If you try this as a lone player, you have the survival chance of a snowball in hell. And when the two opposing factions fight for the Elder Scrolls, perhaps their fortresses around Cyrodiil will be unguarded …
The Communication
Generally, too many people talk in the /zone chat. Announcements should be made by people who have a few followers listening to them. So guild or raid group leaders: If five people in the chat announce eight different targets, contradict each other, and cross language barriers, it benefits no one.
If you have a fixed raid group (either in the guild or random), most of the communication will take place over TS. In an environment like Cyrodiil, it is important not that everyone does the “right” thing, but that everyone does the same thing. If 40 players launch a strategically correct attack, but 60 make a strategically wrong retreat, it helps no one.
It’s better if everyone does the wrong thing than if half do the right thing.
The Elder Sieges Online
Every player should have a selection of siege weapons with them.
There are some simple rules: Trebuchets fire slowly, have a huge arc, and can stand far back. Ballistae have a low arc and fire quickly. Catapults are somewhere in the middle.
If you want to attack a fortress, bringing a ballista that shoots from relatively far away, where there are trebuchets everywhere at the front, doesn’t help at all. If someone only has one siege weapon and sets it up even if they can’t do anything with it, it just hurts the situation. Because space for siege weapons is precious and limited.
In general, stone ammunition is good against fortification walls and incendiary ammunition is good against the opponent’s siege weapons. In a strong siege or defense, various batteries should shoot at the same spot at the same time so that no grass grows there. If every player shoots at some target, the opponents can heal or repair the damage, and it drags on forever.
As a last line of defense, oil works wonders, which can be poured from buckets down below. However, if the opponent builds their trebuchets at max range behind barricades, it does not help at all.
So: Engage with the siege weapons, have a selection of them in your backpack, and only deploy them if they offer some benefit. Stone catapults, for example, are not very effective in a defense situation, and with ballistae, it is difficult to shoot upwards. Make sure to apply pressure on targets that are already under duress from other defenses. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself in a standoff for hours.
If there is no more room for more weapons: Don’t sulk, but support your own defenses. This is best done with healing spells, but repair kits are also a great thing. Those people who are messing around on the battlements trying to hit someone with an underskilled bow or something: Difficult.
Of course, if you play a Dragon Knight and master “grabbing” with the fire chains, you can have fun here. Otherwise, it might be more sensible to make a sortie or to attack individual unprotected siege weapons from the side or behind.
Death Suits Him Well
Death in Cyrodiil really hurts because, in critical situations, it is not possible to return directly to the battleground. Therefore: Better to play cautiously than to take risks. Sticking your head out again at 40% HP won’t do anything. The same goes for the pursuit and escape runs of opponents.
Alone against a group? Such a scenario is rarely successful.
The problem will mainly be in an uncoordinated Zerg: 200 people can be on your side, but if they are attacked by 50, a flight reflex will kick in. If you feel like nothing is moving, you are not getting anywhere, or your sixth sense signals fear of an attack: Better to retreat right away. You don’t want to be the last one in a panic fleeing chain of players. The last one gets bitten by the dogs.
If you, as many will, are determined to be uncoordinated and somehow try to leech a few kills and do your own thing: Please play as cowardly as possible.
The Highest Goals
There are two major goals that the “realm” strives for. One is the conquest of the opposing Elder Scrolls. For that, key fortresses of the opponent must be captured and then the temples seized.
The other goal is to simultaneously capture the “outer” fortresses of both opponents, which surround the imperial city. If a realm succeeds in this, it becomes the Emperor. The Emperor will then be the player with the most Alliance Points. For most of us, the concept of the Emperor should be so far away that we won’t go into it in detail here.
The Most Important Things Summarized
The most important thing should simply be to have fun. If you want to engage in PvP successfully, there is hardly a way around a guild or a raid group with TeamSpeak, Mumble, or Skype.
Everyone should practice with siege weapons until they master the basics. That takes about two hours of work to understand the individual trajectories of the projectiles, and then it lasts a lifetime. Even more valuable are the supporters of siege weapons (with the protective dome and repair kits), but that’s a thankless job.
Secret Tip: It is almost mandatory to have seen the following movies to be able to recite individual lines from them as needed: Braveheart and 300.
Hardly a battle goes by without someone quoting William Wallace or King Leonidas with utmost conviction. Here, it’s essential to at least be informed about the basic shouts (also in different languages) and to stay updated.
By the way, those who respond with “For Sparta!” to “For Frau Merkel” have earned a bonus point.
Tip 2: Rumor has it that vampires burn quite well. So a fire ballista should always be on hand!
At the moment, PvP and the directions it is developing in are really exciting.
What experiences have you had in PvP so far? Are you having fun? Do you feel lost? Do you have any tips for us? Let us know!
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Have you ever wondered what the red exclamation marks on your mini-maps in the online role-playing game Dragon’s Prophet mean? In time for Easter, the inhabitants of Auratia are getting ready for the Easter day in the eye of the sky. The festival messengers in the world will transport you to the special Easter island – you can find them in all cities and at airship docks.
As a welcome gift, you will directly receive some of the coveted dragon egg coins, which you can later exchange for great rewards. After your arrival on the Easter island, you should speak with Alex’s priestess Rachael to receive the tasks for the Easter event.
Easter Thief
First, you need to chase away the thieving rats in a public event.
Dragon Egg Hunt
Did you really think you were searching for simple chicken eggs? No! Your task is to look for fate’s gaze dragon eggs – but be patient, it’s not that easy. Check the bushes, the crevices between the stones, and of course also the obvious places, like right next to torches.
Operation Egg Reclaiming (In the north of the island by soul artist Tia)
The nasty rats have snatched the eggs that the inhabitants of Auratia need to honor the dragon god. If you manage to retrieve the Easter eggs, you will be rewarded again with dragon egg coins.
Color Collection (In the north of the island by soul artist Tia)
In order for the eggs of the soul artists to be decorated with such beautiful patterns, special color pigments are needed. Some ingredients can be purchased, but
the cream sunflowers for the sunny yellow must be collected in the eye of the sky.
Additionally, orange hay is needed from the rats.
You can find the fossils in the north of the island.
You can repeat these quests as often as you want until you have enough coins to redeem them for great weapons, furniture, etc. With a bit of luck or if you complete all activities, you might even score this cute pet or a special dragon.
See you in the eye of the sky!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
First impressions are something incredibly important. This applies not only to the first date, the first day of school, or the first pancake at grandma’s, but also to the first login in an MMO.
Every other game will inevitably be measured against our experiences and expectations that we gathered back then, regardless of whether it was in Aion, Silkroad, WoW, or TESO.
The Expectation: Final Fantasy 9 with other people!
I can’t really remember what I was expecting. But I do remember well that “Final Fantasy IX” had kept me glued to the Playstation for many nights in silent secrecy, and then I thought: “An online role-playing game will be similar to an offline role-playing game, just with more people.“
Wrong. No fixed storyline, no predetermined path, but a huge world that you could just wander into. I can only guess how many times the wolves of Duskwood ate me when I tried to cross the river at level 6 to finally face the “big challenges”.
Back then, I also thought it was a pretty clever idea to let an orc kill me in Redridge Mountains, so I could then wander as a ghost across the entire continent to get to the dwarf territory. Ha, take that, Blackrock wolves! You won’t eat me!
I realized my plan had a hole when, after several hours of wandering as a ghost, I was just asked in the general channel of Ironforge: “Where is the entrance to the Deeprun Tram to Stormwind?”
Okay, that may not have been the most efficient way, but at least the map was now somewhat uncovered!
The Unknown is What Excites
But what exactly made the first game so much better, the experience so much more intense than almost anything that comes after? It’s not what we know about a game, but what we do not know.
Back then, I didn’t hang out on gaming websites every day reading the latest patch notes. Instead, I came home from school, logged in, and just chatted a bit with the “guildies,” who operated very similarly.
The Mage Cortyn. The epitome of sustainable skill allocation.
To out myself as an official noob: My mage in World of Warcraft didn’t have a single talent point allocated until level 43 and not because I didn’t know it was possible, but because of the following thought: “If I get stronger with each level-up and each talent point, I’d rather save all talent points for later to have a greater effect!” When I finally could blast the first big ogre in Stromgarde Keep of the Arathi Highlands with a Pyroblast to the face – Ha! That was fun! Suddenly enemies fell over quickly!
But the embarrassments didn’t end there. I didn’t use “Polymorph,” commonly known as “Sheeping,” until level 60, except to turn a squirrel from Elwynn Forest into a sheep. Why should I?
It never made much sense to me to turn enemies into a sheep. That seemed pretty unheroic. I really have to thank the players from the “Eternal Watch” back then for their patience with me and for explaining the sense and nonsense of Polymorph and dispelling in countless visits to Scholomance (So, who remembers having to counter the spellcasters in the necromancer room and then pulling around the corner?).
The First Epic!
This is probably a memory that most of us can vividly remember. For me, it’s similar, but also a bit different.
I remember very well that I was happily and peacefully decimating the local satyr population in Felwood (today “Demon’s Forest”) to obtain larger supplies of Fel Cloth – back then, you needed that to craft the expensive “Moon Cloth.”
Sent another one of the red Hellcallers into the Nether. Ping. Purple item in the text log. “Band of Icy Cold.” That was a ring that made it so that you could unleash a Frost Nova on receiving a hit, freezing the enemy. Now it must be said that I was a fire mage and considered frost spells quite cowardly for role-playing reasons. And I was an enchanter, or disenchanter. You probably know how the scene ends.
Ten seconds later I was richer by 3 “small shimmering shards” and my first epic disappeared into the void. I didn’t think for a second that I could sell it…
Ashes to Ashes, Fire to Frost
But even at level 60, the boundless ignorance was not over. After all, the first raid instances were still waiting to be conquered by me and my fire mage! It’s actually a wonder that it was considered a smart idea back then to make me the “leader” of mages – that was done for every class in our raid because we had a pool of 80 players.
However, I soon faced the question of what Blizzard was thinking by filling the first two raid instances with fire monsters, where I, as a role-playing fanatic fire mage, was. Respecc? Never! My mage would rather be hit by Frostbolt! Thus, the first ten raid bosses for me consisted of choosing from my large repertoire of frost spells to properly freeze the enemies using my fire build.
Frostbolt, Frostbolt, Frostbolt. I felt dirty.
Nevertheless, this feeling of euphoria is indescribable when 40 people in TS cheer in satisfaction as Ragnaros is killed for the first time after 5 months of hard work. So nerdy as it sounds – those were some of the best moments of my life.
Together with 39 people, with whom you had fought piece by piece multiple times a week, to finally defeat one of the hardest opponents in the game in the 253rd attempt… fantastic!
No comparison to today’s “raid finder” where you give up after 2 failed attempts, leave the group of 40 nameless (and sometimes soulless) players, and never see each other again.
Big Talk Was Already There
Also unforgettable are the first evenings at the dragon lady Onyxia. At that time, we were just looking for reinforcements for our raid and had a new mage with us. While we were talking in our separate mage channel about the newcomer and their performance, we suddenly heard him scream in TS “Yeah! 6,000 Pyroblast crit!” and something must have broken in one of my mage colleagues. She was usually just a “quiet mouse” who never spoke in TeamSpeak, but now she whispered very softly “But Onyxia is fire immune…”.
This silence. It lasted only three seconds, but you could almost hear the clicking in the heads of all 40 before the laughter broke out. The respective mage was never seen again afterward.
There are many, many anecdotes I could tell from that time, but I don’t know if they would be interesting enough to read. These are the experiences that you only gather at the “first time” and during the first game in an online world.
With every new game, I already know what to expect because I research it so thoroughly that I no longer perceive new features as such, but rather condemn or nod in approval to them beforehand. It has been a long time since I wrote a text with tears in my eyes, but that time was wonderful; it also shaped me personally to a large extent.
I can only hope that future games will give me similar memories to look back on in 10 years like I do today on the first months in WoW.
Tell me, which MMO do you associate with the best memories?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This damages the in-game economy and significantly affects player enjoyment. To tackle this, they are taking unusual measures and introducing internal timers.
Boses in Public Dungeons pose challenges for developers
In The Elder Scrolls Online, there are indeed dungeons – like in other games – that you enter with a group, where each monster must be killed just once for it to remain dead.
However, in the fresh genre gem, there are also so-called “public dungeons” or caves. These are part of a shared world. At the end of one of these caves, a somewhat stronger opponent awaits the player. Defeating him concludes the cave for the hero. This is marked on the map. Additionally, an achievement is recorded. Since this alone wouldn’t be anything special, many of these cave bosses have been given better equipment in their loot tables. Upon their demise, players score big loot.
Blue items flood the market
This has led to numerous players gathering around these bosses, killing them at 30-second intervals, hoping to snag craft materials, gold, or particularly potent items. After all, almost every cave boss has a unique “blue” item, a Rare, in its loot table.
The constant camping is not exactly heroic and can end badly with insufficient food.
Since the boss has a fixed amount of health points that do not increase with the number of players, it has become a game of patience to deal sufficient damage to ensure the kill counts. A scenario where 10 heroes camp a poor boss is not particularly heroic or immersive. Frustrating – where The Elder Scrolls Online otherwise places so much value on a coherent atmosphere.
Moreover, constant camping threatens to sustainably disrupt the economy of TESO, as players may soon find nothing else to do but exploit this simple method to gain blue items to dismantle for valuable upgrade materials.
Internal timers aim to provide solutions
Zenimax is now announcing a somewhat technical solution to the problem. They intend to implement an internal timer that activates when a cave boss is killed, preventing the player from receiving loot from that boss again as long as it ticks.
At the same time, they want to address the issue of treasure chests in closed instances. These should now be lootable by all players, not just by the one who opens them.
When these changes will be implemented on the live servers is currently unknown. At the moment, many players are struggling with buggy quests that block progress in areas designed for level 30 and above.
[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
[intense_testimony_text]Mein-mmo says:
An elegant solution is not really the case, as they are taking a rather technical approach with “internal timers”. Surely, one would have preferred an organic solution that occurs more “within” the game world. But necessity dictated that a solution had to be found quickly. Hopefully, it will be implemented soon.[/intense_testimony_text]
