Kargstein is the new adventure zone of The Elder Scrolls Online. In addition to more veteran ranks, it offers a completely new leveling area with its own NPCs, landscapes, and stories. However, the endgame is finally being implemented with the zone: the trials.
They are designed for 12 players and are meant to present a really tough challenge for groups. Additionally, they are made more difficult by the soul reservoir, which limits the number of revivals, and for those seeking even more challenge, they can also compete in a leaderboard with other groups.
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Unfortunately, the meeting with the producer and director Naoki Yoshida of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn won’t be quite as cozy – but if you watch the next livestream for Patch 2.3 while drinking a coffee, it’s almost the same! You should definitely keep Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 11 AMGMT free if you want to learn more about the upcoming update and its contents firsthand.
The live broadcast will be divided into two parts. On one hand, there will be information on the following topics:
The 3rd part of the Zodiac Weapon quest line, which is set to be implemented with Patch 2.28 in FFXIV ARR
Primae Ramuh
The three new dungeons Shipbreaker Island, Tam-Tara’s Rest and Stoneskin Watch.
The ability to recycle items by breaking them down and receiving new items in return.
The mob hunt.
In the second part, you will be asked. If you have questions about designs of equipment items, monsters, hairstyles, and emotes, post them in the official forum of Final Fantasy XIV ARR and with a bit of luck, you might soon get a response from the lead designer Takeo Suzuki, who will take care of answering the submissions this time.
Even though the broadcast will be in Japanese, we hope for exclusive insights into the new content – it’s definitely worth a click! You can follow the whole thing on Youtube, Niconico, and Twitch. Meanwhile, you can actively participate in the discussion on Twitter under the hashtag #XIVLive. If you don’t have time on May 24, there will be a video recording available, where you can watch everything again at your leisure.
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The start of the Open Beta has given the SF MMORPG WildStar a significant boost in attention. The publisher NCSoft has high expectations for the title, which has seemed relatively quiet until now.
Google’s interest in WildStar has nearly tripled with the start of the Open Beta. Google Trends shows how much a term interests Google users. In the last 90 days, WildStar barely succeeded in generating attention, the so-called buzz.
April was entirely focused on The Elder Scrolls Online. However, from May 7 to 8, that changed rapidly. In Germany, the search term “WildStar” has surpassed the relatively constant competing titles “Guild Wars 2” and “Star Wars: The Old Republic“ In the three months prior, it was roughly at the level of Final Fantasy XIV, which may succeed in Japan, but is treated rather poorly in Germany.
Buzz War among the MMORPGs in Germany
The interest in WildStar comes with a diminishing buzz for The Elder Scrolls Online. In the last few days, WildStar has even managed to surpass the competitor that started with much buzz. Of course, these are not long-term trends. Especially at release or during key events of a title, interest spikes sharply, only to quickly fade again. For the long-term success of a title, it is important to establish itself at a high level.
Key Release for NCSoft
For the publisher of WildStar, NCSoft, the game is of strategically high importance. Besides Guild Wars 2, they primarily have Asian titles in their portfolio, which struggle in the Western market. Sales Manager Simon Cowley stated to the British online site mcvuk.com that the pre-sale figures and the beta feedback from WildStar provide grounds for optimism so far. For NCSoft, WildStar is the “key release,” the most important launch, in the summer. The MMORPG has the potential to become one of the few titles to truly take off on PC in 2014.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Several months ago, Blizzard made an offer to all pre-order customers of the next expansion Warlords of Draenor that many couldn’t refuse: Those who pre-order the expansion can boost one of their heroes to level 90. Many gladly accepted the offer.
Warlords of Draenor has already sold over 1 million copies. This makes WoD one of the most successful expansions in the Warcraft franchise so far, even as interest in the title has noticeably declined after 9 years. During the current content drought, 200,000 subscribers were lost.
Activision’s CEO Bobby Kotick described Warlords of Draenor in a presentation on the financial report of the software giant as “: (…) already one of the fastest selling expansions in the franchise’s history based on pre-sales”, thus one of the expansions in the entire Warcraft series that sold the fastest in pre-sales.
Blizzard’s Mike Morhaime added: “(…) that the incentive of being able to immediately boost one character to level 90 for those who do pre-purchase likely had a lot to do with driving sales.” From Blizzard’s perspective, the strategy with the free level 90 thus worked perfectly.
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[intense_testimony_text]Mein-mmo.de says:
Well, it is a bit disheartening when in-game things are so successfully used to influence the market in the “real world”. The idea of the free level 90 with the pre-order seems to have paid off for Blizzard more than well.
Evil thought: Those who try to exchange virtual money for real money as a player will be banned by Blizzard for it.
That there are hard marketing calculations behind decisions that have a direct impact on the virtual world and gaming experience has to be accepted. Nonetheless, we view “conveniences” or “special bonuses” in full-price titles with ongoing subscription costs with some skepticism. [/intense_testimony_text]
[intense_testimony_author image=”https://images.mein-mmo.de/magazin/medien/2014/01/Logo-022.png”][/intense_testimony_author]
[/intense_testimony]
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In an interview with an English website, the Chief Content Designer of the fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online revealed more details about Craglorn. The new adventure zone is coming soon and is considered the first raid.
12 players will take on everything Zenimax throws at them in Craglorn. But they will also compete for best times against other players. Richard Lambert, the Lead Content Designer of TESO, is responsible for the development of all zones. In an interview with tamrielfoundry, he reveals details about the planned adventure zone:
Lambert has been looking forward to the development of Craglorn all along. For him, it is a return to “Old School” raiding like in Everquest or World of Warcraft, when raiding was still hard.
Craglorn was designed with the idea of bringing players together and making them fight for their survival.
With Veteran Rank 1, players can head straight to Craglorn. There is no need to complete any prerequisite quests or qualify in any other way.
The loot from the bosses and quests will be bind on pickup. It is not tradable. The rewards for the fastest players on the leaderboard are also Bind on Pickup (BoP).
Items can be further upgraded as usual in The Elder Scrolls Online through crafting skills.
Mini-bosses, known as Bannermen, will appear in trash packs and make it difficult for the group to mindlessly tear through the trash. They will require a strategy adjustment depending on the special abilities they possess.
Players involved in a PvP campaign, which grants them numerous bonuses because their alliance dominates there, will also benefit from these bonuses in the raid.
Currently, 3 souls are planned per player for the Soul Reservoir. When a player dies, one of these 36 souls is consumed. If all are exhausted, the instance is considered failed, but it can be restarted.
There will also be achievements for Craglorn. More will be added later.
The trash in the raid will give players a glimpse of what the bosses can do later.
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The fantasy MMORPG Guild Wars 2 is leveling up acoustically. In a live stream, the composer hinted that he has composed thirty minutes of new music for the next “Living Story”. Now he intends to record it with a live orchestra.
The live stream introducing the new musical instrument, the drum, wrapped up after 49 minutes, when in-house composer Maclaine Demer started chatting. For the next big chapter of the Living Story, he composed thirty minutes of epic music and is now flying “to far away lands” to record the music with a live orchestra.
The music in many MMORPGs often takes a back seat, but for some audiophiles and mood players, it is particularly important. In a discussion thread in the English forum reddit, some fans complained about the initially generic background music of the title but also noted that it has improved in recent months. Especially the music for the event about the attack of the giant killer puppet (mein-mmo.de reported on this) received much praise.
With the upcoming release in the growth market China on May 15 and the issues with the European mega-server, ArenaNet currently has its hands full. Overall, an announcement regarding the Living Story 2 is expected by the end of the month. Speculations suggest that the continuation of the “Living Story” may revolve around Mordremoth, one of the Elder Dragons.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
WildStar presents itself in top form at the start of the open beta. The SciFi-fantasy MMORPG plays smoother than it did a few months ago and the German localization surprises, aside from a few minor issues, with a successful implementation.
Since Thursday everyone can take a look at the much-discussed online role-playing game, which will be released on June 3rd, so in just over a month. Listening to the first voices, whether in public chat zones on the planet Nexus or in the respective gaming communities, one gets the impression that Carbine is offering players a truly mature, yet fun package. The general tenor so far is positive.
Those who were somewhat dissatisfied a few months ago may find a completely different gameplay experience. Much has improved for the better in that time: whether it’s a more modern UI, user-friendly menus, improved quest flow, or the new options in character creation – it already feels like a sufficiently finished game at this point.
Just a word about localization: Many concerns have been raised, especially since the English version boasts a specific humor that is not easy to transfer into other languages. However, after several hours in the German version, it can be said: Well done, better than expected for a start.
Yippie, WildStar is ready for launch!
Over 8 years of development time and a generous budget, with many experienced developers and a very intensive beta phase, have seemingly paid off. Almost everyone agrees: A AAA MMORPG is being released here, with a version that can be confidently labeled as ready for release. Thanks to the hardworking Chuas and adorable Aurins. The remaining 4 weeks are enough for the final polish, as no significant flaws are left to find. Meanwhile, performance is still a concern, but according to the developers, many optimizations are already in the pipeline for the launch.
How often in recent years have we heard that a game would have benefited from a few more months, that it was released too early? Such doubts have hardly emerged here so far. It is a different story with the recently released The Elder Scrolls Online, where the community often plays the “The game has potential” card. It is a good game – unfortunately not yet as polished as hoped.
Negative opinions about WildStar are almost exclusively based on personal preferences: “The graphics are too colorful for me, I don’t like the comic style,” to take the classic example. The quest presentation is also not for everyone, especially not for players who insist on fully voiced quests. MMO players who were socialized with classic titles will not be bothered by this. After all, there were neither cutscenes nor full synchronization there. More on that later. At the moment, I just want to say that WildStar offers a thoroughly polished gaming experience. And that’s anything but a given today.
The calm before the storm?
Will the concept of WildStar succeed beyond the release and captivate players even after one, two, or three months? We will report extensively on mein-mmo.de about this. It will be especially interesting to see to what extent this game appeals to the masses – are we perhaps witnessing a renaissance of the blockbusting MMORPG, with a revamped World of Warcraft 2.0? It would be a wish for the developers. However, it is still relatively quiet around WildStar, as we have already reported. Is there a lack of interest, or is it just the calm before the storm? The trend on Google in recent days gives hope.
We cannot guarantee it for every single player, but according to our beta experiences, several hundred hours of gameplay fun are definitely in store. One feels at home as an MMO veteran. Because WildStar primarily relies on tried-and-true features but expands them, revealing interesting innovations. Another question will be whether players would prefer a game that breaks more conventions, like Guild Wars 2 once did. WildStar, on the other hand, operates within the genre lines.
Whether there will be problems at the beginning, despite the positive signals, can never be completely ruled out. However, we are on the right track.
Most importantly: How do you like the open beta so far? Is WildStar captivating you, or can you not get into its outlandish style?
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Do you know that feeling? The raid in World of Warcraft is scheduled for 7:30 PM. At 7:25 PM, you rush home, quickly start the computer, take care of your personal basic needs while it boot up, and then try to log in at 7:29 PM (still standing). You call into Teamspeak that you’re there, but of all days, a hotfix has to be downloaded today! Then the moment arrives, the atmospheric music of the login screen plays, and it could start right away. But where is the authenticator?
For this problem, there are only two good tips: Attach the physical authenticator directly to the monitor stand or install it on your smartphone – provided you haven’t left it in the bathroom and now have to run back. But even this seemingly elegant solution has its pitfalls: The upcoming update for the Battle.net Mobile Authenticator on iOS (on iPhone, iPad, and iPod) can reset the beloved app or authenticator.
Workaround to avoid the problem
To avoid being caught by Murphy’s Law, you should take the following precautions:
Link your mobile number with mobile notifications. In case of a problem with the authenticator you can remove it via SMS!
Note the serial number and recovery code provided in the app.
Now you need to remove the authenticator from your Battle.net account. To do this, log in to your account and enter two consecutive authentication codes there.
Then update the app as usual. To save on connection costs, it’s best to use a wireless network – according to Blizzard’s statement, this is also the recommended way to prevent unwanted resets.
Now add the authenticator back to your account.
Unfortunately, it is not known when the update for the mobile app will be available, but we hope that this message reaches you in time before it becomes unnecessarily complicated because you can’t access your account.
Learn more about the mobile authenticator and your account security in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYZLTxevPMY
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Patch 2.7Bloodline for the online role-playing game Rift should be another milestone in the history of the MMO: Four exciting new souls, countless quests, and UI improvements are just part of the new content. Unfortunately, the anticipation was overshadowed by two mishaps:
First, there was a serious error, which announced that the deployment of the update would be slightly delayed. In the meantime, the update has been successfully deployed (at least partially). Given the emotions that flared up immediately, the development team of Rift was probably very glad to be able to write these lines on the planned release date for the patch:
We are proud to announce that our RIFT Update 2.7: Bloodline is now live.
But the second issue has still not been resolved: There are localization problems and the translations of the skills of the new souls have not been fully translated into German. As a result, the ability names are missing, or they are all simply the same.
If you are playing in English anyway, you might wonder who could be bothered by this – one could just switch the language. However, there are many players who want to play in their native language and with their familiar interface and addon settings, which is currently nearly impossible – and they feel quite frustrated about it. A community manager from Rift commented on this last night as follows:
We are currently investigating what exactly has happened here, and the new German text will be provided as soon as possible.
Today, a hotfix is supposedly set to be deployed that will partially resolve the issue. We will keep you updated on this!
Katja: Mistakes are, of course, human! But we still hope strongly for the disappointed players that a solution will be found. With a price of 5,000 diamonds (rounded up to about 25 euros) for the soul package, one can expect that everything works as it should.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
At the start of the Open Beta a new WildStar video has been released. However, those who expected a humorous visual explosion with striking accents, even more striking words, teeth-baring furballs, and plenty of explosions, might be surprised. They can do other things too! And not badly at all.
The video proves that many do not believe at first glance: WildStar has a serious, even bombastic background story. As in the sci-fi thriller Prometheus, there is also an ancient race in WildStar, the “Creators” or Eldar, who traveled and explored the universe long before the younger races. Long gone, they have left their traces everywhere. Nexus, the mysterious planet over which the Exiles and the Dominion will fight, is considered the home planet of the Creators… And the rush that draws all intelligent races of the universe to this outpost of civilization at once – what consequences will it have? What secrets does the planet hold? And would it perhaps be better to leave what sleeps eternally undisturbed?
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With the atmospheric cinematic trailer, Carbine shows that behind the sci-fi MMORPG there is a background concept that can give players the coveted “epic” kick.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What appeared to be a debacle this morning could turn out to be a lucky break for Zenimax. They took advantage of the delay in console adaptation for a bold step: Console players can now begin their adventure on PC and later continue smoothly on their favorite console for a fee of 14.99 euros.
The last game of the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim, has sold 20 million copies. More than four-fifths of them for consoles. Many console players were eagerly anticipating the MMO, and there was great disappointment shortly after the announcement of the delay.
But with the recent developments, console fans now have the choice to wait until after Christmas or to join the looting masses on PC that are currently exploring Tamriel. Thanks to Zenimax’s offer, they will be able to continue playing later on their favorite console with the character they start on PC now. For 14.99 euros, they will not only transfer their account to the new console but also receive an additional 30 days free.
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The most important news of the past days is the announcement of an Open Beta for the upcoming sci-fi MMO WildStar. It was originally said that there would only be beta weekends, but in the latest press release from developer NCSoft, it was announced that an open testing phase will take place from May 08 to May 18.
Also in The Elder Scrolls Online there were a few news items. In a press report about TESO, ZeniMax now gave us a small insight into their future plans. For example, they want to introduce a rights system soon, automatic level adjustments for dungeons, or the Dragonstar Arena, which is supposed to be similar to the Trials but designed for 4 players.
Last but not least, a new patch in Hi-Rez MOBA Smite brought several new features to the game. Not only was the new god Osiris implemented as a playable character, but a new game mode was also introduced. In the sieges, two 5-player teams compete against each other on 2 lanes and there is even a brand new league system.
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Oh dear, the rumor mill about the console version of The Elder Scrolls Online is brewing! Allegedly, the following text appeared this morning on the official page of ESO.
When does The Elder Scrolls Online officially launch? The Elder Scrolls Online officially launched on April 4, 2014 on PC and Mac. While it has become clear that our planned June release of the console versions isn’t going to be possible, we have made great progress, we have concluded that we’ll need about six more months to ensure we deliver the experience our fans expect and deserve. For additional information on the delay, please see this blog post (link).
Summary: The developers have realized that it is currently impossible to release the console version for TESO and that the release is delayed by approximately 6 months. The initial reactions were disappointment and frustration, but then it got mysterious: The post was deleted and allegedly the comments on the official social media platforms were removed. Additionally, there have been bans of some users in the forum because they expressed their frustration and resorted to verbal blows.
Unfortunately, Bethesda and ZeniMax Online have not yet commented on this, but as soon as there are any updates, we will keep you informed! Until there is an official statement from Bethesda or ZeniMax Online, this news should be considered a rumor.
Who among you is eagerly waiting for the console version? Please raise your virtual hand! 😉
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[intense_testimony_text]If this is indeed true news that just came out too early, it would be very sad for all fans. But the wave that has been initiated because of this is insane. It’s a shame that there is no official statement on this yet! [/intense_testimony_text]
[intense_testimony_author image=”https://images.mein-mmo.de/magazin/medien/2014/01/Logo-022.png”][/intense_testimony_author]
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Update:
It is now certain: The console version for ESO will be delayed!
It has become clear to us that we will not be able to adhere to our planned release date for the console versions in June. Even though we have made great progress, we will still need about six months to provide our fans with the experience they expect and deserve.
Bethesda or ZeniMax Online made another statement today at 4:15 PM in an official blog post.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Several weeks ago, we previously introduced you to the next expansion Amazon Fury Part 1 for the MMO DC Universe Online. Now the DLC featuring Wonder Women and the battle of the Amazons is finally available, and you can (hopefully) quickly put an end to the Chaos in Gotham City.
To fully immerse yourself in the story, we recommend that you become an Amazon yourself, to relive the most exciting scenes and moments of the Amazon war. This way, you will understand how Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, was so easily confused by Circe and why she wants to destroy Gotham City.
But not only is the story definitely worth playing the first part of Amazon Fury – the new adventures in the palace district, the warehouses, and the harbor of Themyscira are truly thrilling! If that wasn’t enough action, try to save the city from its demise in the Alternate Phase “The Siege of Gotham”. There, you can accept daily quests from the Amazons to actively support Wonder Women and her entourage.
Tip: As legendary players, you can enjoy the new features for free as usual, while others can purchase the expansion pack for €8.99.
So, have you not quite decided whether to try out the expansion? Then this trailer will surely whet your appetite for more!
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The SF-MMORPG WildStar relies on the three big K’s: War, Competition, and Capitalism. With the Open Beta on the horizon and the release in sight, it’s high time to take a look at the inner values of this MMORPG hope.
Back to the Future
While The Elder Scrolls Online focuses on immersion and community, WildStar beats with a cool-calculating capitalist heart. And where other games promote cooperation, WildStar fuels the competitive spirit. While in some games a hero can reach the end of the line after just three weeks, WildStar offers continuous improvements even after three months.
Three indicators that have caught our eye in recent weeks:
In an interview with our magazine, French pro-gamer Pryda mentions that his guild has stopped raiding in TESO. They are preparing for WildStar.
The term “WildStar” is being Googled worldwide. However, interest is strongest in the Scandinavian countries: in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Scandinavians are considered the Koreans of Europe when it comes to pro-gaming and e-sports. Guilds from these countries were the first in the world to defeat numerous raid bosses in World of Warcraft, achieving so-called World-First-Kills. This is the Holy Grail in MMORPGs. Unless there’s a Scandinavian beer brand, a pair of skates, or a pop band named WildStar, one should assume that enthusiasm for the game is high in these countries.
Regional interest in the last 90 days for the search term “WildStar”. Source: Google Trends.
In a post, one of the devs explains a seemingly obvious point in detail: WildStar would never interfere in any form in the competition between players: There would be no loot gifts, nor any advantages. Additionally, the sometimes somewhat quirky devs of WildStar send clear signals that they want to heat up the competition among players.
Capitalism Triumphs!
One of the selling points of the game is the C.R.E.E.D. system (a play on the English word for greed). This allows players who are wealthy in-game to pay for their playtime directly with in-game currency. Players who don’t have to count every cent in real life can buy playtime for euros and then sell it in-game for in-game money.
Otherwise, capitalism is the name of the game in WildStar. The game features a sophisticated crafting system, relies on rare drops, even rarer elite recipes for crafters, and a robust auction house system. Just as an interior designer capable of creating the rarest furniture pieces, one can earn a fortune from fashion-conscious Aurins and Chuas.
And money is also a kind of high score, even if most of us may not play in the first league…
War is Good for Business
In PvP, one can orient themselves towards the battlefields and arenas typical of the genre. But even here, the status quo is not enough. Instead, they keep up with the times and take cues from successful games like League of Legends. A spectator mode is already in the works. Then the top games can also be followed by average PvPers. This is a big hit in League of Legends, where the best players can even make a living from their successes. Additionally, there will be regular rankings and an announcer voice to further escalate the spectacle.
The rivalry system ensures that there’s always something going on in the wild. With it, one marks their arch-enemies to keep an eye on them. Anyone who craves the excitement of continuous PvP should play on a PvP server. Things get really intense there. With the release, according to the latest information from the community manager responsible for Germany, Bronn, there will also be a German PvP server. The names for the two PvE servers are already set as Toria and Ikthia.
Besides the arenas, the war bases will be the territory of the best of the best of the best (Sir!). Here, 40 players clash head-on. The path to the top will lead through countless dead aliens. Many expect that existing guilds with e-sport aims will invade WildStar to take over the PvP on a specific server, thereby creating fear and hair-pulling from just the prospect of playing against them.
With the Warplots, which offer countless configuration options, a varied and exciting meta-game is guaranteed. Cookie-cutter strategies are unlikely to be found with 40 players on each side and a dev team that pays such close attention to balance.
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Competition Breeds Success: Who Will Get the First Kill and the Best Weapon?
For the core component of an MMORPG, the raids, Carbine has come up with something special. On one hand, they take inspiration from Vanilla World of Warcraft and extend the raids to 40 players. On the other hand, they want to make them challenging.
WildStar promises challenging raids.
According to the philosophy of chief developer Frost, raids are only for core gamers and they will want it to be a bit tougher.
Another draw for many players is to equip their character with best-in-slot items. In many games where equality is valued, this is usually done within a few weeks, while in typical hunter-gatherer games like Diablo 3, it never really ends.
In WildStar, the best items, the artifacts, are incredibly hard to obtain. And even if one has them, they aren’t necessarily the end of the dream. Only when the hero and their weapon have gone through hell and been tempered in purgatory do they reach that goal: for an artifact can be continuously enhanced through such trials.
European and international top guilds are undoubtedly already at the gates of Nexus, waiting to compete against each other to rise to the top of their respective fields.
Who will be the toughest in PvP, who the richest in the trading system, and who will first slay the biggest bosses and acquire the best items?
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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Last night, the developers announced in the official forums of the Free2Play MMORPG “Star Wars: The Old Republic” what is coming with game update 2.8, aside from the already announced features.
First, a new event will take place called “Nar Shaddaa Nightlife”. In this event, the Republic and the Empire can use their hard-earned credits on various slot machines to obtain special certificates with a bit of luck and skill, which can then be exchanged for unique rewards; however, what exactly these look like is still unknown. The event will last from June 10 to August 21 – exactly the time span between Patch 2.8 and 2.9.
PvP Rewards
The rewards for both PvP modes (Warzones and Galactic Starfighter) will be temporarily doubled. Between Patch 2.8 and 2.8.1, all space pilots will benefit from double fleet requisition and double the amount of credits, while between Update 2.8.1 and 2.8.2, all foot soldiers can look forward to double the number of Warzone medals.
Furthermore, all pilots will have access to two new starships that they can steer purposefully towards the nearest meteor.
Group Finder, Nightmare Mode, and Events
The Group Finder operations will be revamped and simplified. Max-level players will be strengthened and will no longer need high-tier equipment to participate in the operations, while rewards will be improved and some boss fights will be toned down to forgive minor mistakes.
The “Nightmare Palace” will receive a Nightmare Mode, raising the bar once again to continue providing a challenge for the most ambitious players. At the same time, the buff from the Nightmare Mode of the “Nightmare Fortress” will be removed, lowering the difficulty and making the associated titles no longer available – those who want to grab them should hurry!
Additionally, between June and August, all major server events, except the Rakghoul Plague, will return, giving players another chance to help the Gree, collect bounties, and earn double XP.
“Many people are currently working on a very big thing”
Lastly, it was mentioned that the developers, aside from Patch 2.8 and 2.9, are working on something big, which is still a secret – but not so secret that it can’t be mentioned already. One can be curious.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Nearly a week ago, restless and discontented voices were silenced with a gift package in The Elder Scrolls Online. On one hand, Matt Firor brought five free days for every player with an active subscription.
However, much more important for the peace of the realm was a long list of announced improvements and expansions that are set to gradually find their way into the fantasy MMORPG over the coming months and years. In our special, we take a closer look at the list.
I confess: I was overwhelmed by the list. While we were piecing together the news about the five free days, Dawid, who was working with me on the news, kept discovering new points on the list that excited him: There are new raids planned, the thief quest is coming, and so on. It was too much to comprehend all at once.
Additionally, new topics constantly pushed in, but today, nearly a week since “THE LIST” (by Matt “Grisham” Firor) has been among the people, it is time to take a closer look at the most important points.
Hey, take your hand out of my underwear drawer!
A legal system where theft and killing of NPCs (non-player characters) have consequences if you get caught.
This is the point at which most people have clicked their tongues. A clear commitment to the single-player series with an embedded moral gray zone.
The MMORPG ArcheAge brings a similar system. Players accumulate penalty points, can be tracked down and arrested by other players, must answer to a jury, and ultimately serve their sentence.
Many players have resented TESO for the absence of a punishment system. On the other hand: How exactly should it work? Will it then be possible to kill innocent NPCs? For that, they would first have to be introduced.
And will the chronically kleptomaniacal TESO players cope with not peeking into other people’s underwear drawers? Will Zenimax go a step further and prohibit the quick reading of 200 tomes in four seconds while casually looting and eyeing skill points?
Anticipation: High. The system simply belongs in TESO. It will be exciting to see how it will be implemented.
When will this come? I think relatively late. This is a typical “nice-to-have” feature that will require a lot of work. Maybe with a first expansion? The best time for such a feature would be at the launch of the strategically important console release of TESO (which will play on its own server and not with the PC gamers, who otherwise would have too much of an advantage.)
Cosmetic fans, pay attention
Dyeing and tinting of armor
A small thing at first glance, but important to many players. Especially because the rather “realistic” color choices currently look like gray in gray in ochre gray – like a rainy November day. A splash of color here and there would be nice. Purists, however, will roll their eyes. Should the spectacle slide into bright Asian colors, the path to costumes in the in-game shop would not be far. Next, players would be running around with Khajiit masks and thinking they are Catmen! Wait, I think I saw one of those recently…
Anticipation: Low for some, but for those who spend six hours in the character editor, it could hardly be higher. It just doesn’t fit the grim atmosphere in TESO. However, Zenimax has so far proven to have a pretty good hand and could limit themselves to subtle colors.
How do new guilds fit into the game?
Story and quests for the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood
A major point of criticism from the “This is not like Skyrim” faction. While the Fighter’s Guild and the Mage Guild made it into the game, the Thieves and the Dark Brotherhood did not. Even an MMO player with little connection to the Elder Scrolls series would concede that the storylines of the Mage and Fighter guilds represent highlights in the game.
Great stories could surely arise around the Dark Brotherhood. The only question is: How should this work? Do you want to start them at level 10? Then the content would be unattractive for a large number of players who by then would already be strolling in veteran ranks? Or do you introduce them directly at the end level? Then newcomers would have to wait a long time.
Anticipation: For newcomers (keyword: console version), this could be a great thing; for veterans, not necessarily. Except as a high-level version or if the guilds become quest givers in new adventure zones: then it would surely be a great idea that many would appreciate.
When will this come: Maybe with one of the next zones? Or only with a possible expansion? Maybe Firor will surprise us here and pull some members of the Dark Brotherhood out of his Santa Claus hat for the next adventure zone. The assassins and thieves surely won’t sneak into the game just like that. You will definitely hear some fanfare.
Spell weaving! Sounds complicated? It is!
Weaving spells
Spell weaving was the first thing that raised questions: “Is it really what I imagine?” And the answer was a wise nod. Spells that a player can assemble themselves are an interesting concept in an MMO, especially in one that proudly boasts such a large kit of skills from which a player can customize their character.
If spell weaving comes, it will surely happen within strict parameters, similar to how it was with glyphs in World of Warcraft. If certain aspects of a spell are too good (a flame strike without range but with eightfold damage, like a Three-Finger-Fire-Deathpunch), it ruins the already fragile balance.
Perhaps one could change a color or slightly modify something. A major overhaul of the game’s balance will not be allowed.
Anticipation: Probably too high. But we are happy to be pleasantly surprised by Zenimax.
The return of Darkness Falls?
PvP dungeon in the Imperial City
Here I can shine with my Dark Age of Camelot expertise, because this idea comes from the old-timer. A PvP dungeon!
Memories awaken: PvP Dungeons in DAOC
In DAOC, it was a particularly tasty dungeon that offered rich loot. It was only open to the realm that was currently ahead in PvP. The realm then had access to the dungeon for a certain period of time, could undertake a realm-wide action to send the resident arch-villains to the other side, and fill their pockets.
It was roughly like storming a department store during a winter clearance sale, only everyone was armed and it wasn’t about fur coats but about loot being carried out. Well, at C&A, a thousand-eyed demon monster that sucks the souls of the fallen isn’t usually slain… On the other hand, I haven’t been to a C&A in a long time.
Moreover, the PvP dungeon was a great place to level up; the exp was increased.
A particular joy was when the realm changed that occupied the PvP dungeon. Then it was like a spring cleaning. A new army stormed into the PvP dungeon after the triumph over some castle and killed mobs alongside enemy players until Darkness Falls belonged to them alone. Such a sweeping action was possible because only those who still had access to the PvP dungeon could respawn directly on site. The rest found themselves at a graveyard outside.
This also set off a constant circulation in the PvP area, because when 200 people from the currently dominant realm were in the PvP dungeon, they couldn’t defend their fortresses…
Anticipation: Probably too low at the moment. This was a huge deal in DAOC, gave everyone a goal, and breathed new life into the game. The exp was good, it was a “server-wide” event, and the slaughter after each change was a lot of fun for the whole family.
When will this come? Probably the first time Firor thinks the game needs a gameplay boost. End of the year? Around Christmas maybe?
Things that are simply due now
This was of course not the entire list; it will be completed by a whole host of changes that players would have wished for at release.
Better facial animations of NPCs
This is urgently needed and has been noted as the big weakness in the presentation since beta. Unfortunately, such things typically take a long time…
Migration of the European mega server to our European data center.
The European servers somewhere in America (probably in Maryland) have indeed angered many German players because the impression was given before the release that the servers would be located in Frankfurt. Well, at least most had assumed that if there was already a European server, it would also be in Europe.
There is no date for the move yet, but every week, one of the officials reaffirms that it is really high on the priority list and that they will definitely do it as soon as things calm down regarding bugs, bots, and gold sellers.
When will this come? Soon. I think by the end of May, this should be settled.
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A system that allows players in groups to see each other even if they are in different phases.
Personal adjustment of the field of view
Two new veteran dungeons: Crypt of Hearts and City of Ash
New region in Kargstein with a new trial: the Serpent
Improved ways to pick up items in the world
Horse racing
Dragonstar Arena – similar to trials, but for up to four players
Improvements in fishing
Improvements in the crafting system
Improved group search
New guild features: changes to the user interface of the guild store, customizable guild emblems, tabards, and guild kiosks – guild stores that are accessible to everyone and available to the highest bidding guild.
Automatically leveling dungeons that adapt to the level of your group leader.
Achievements for repeating dungeons
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What do you think? What are you most excited about from the long list of things? Let us know in the survey! Or do you have something else in mind? Then share it in the comments!
Diese Umfrage ist geschlossen.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Do you remember your first time logging in around level 20 in Module 2 Shadowmantle and Sergeant Knox in the Protector’s Enclave gave you the quest to visit a priest who told you about artifacts? These powerful items have since become a staple of the online role-playing game Neverwinter and will of course play a role again in the upcoming expansion Curse of Icewind Dale!
But now comes the big “but”: You can only use them if you have played at least two characters at level 60 and they have already enjoyed a trip to Caer-Konig.
Phew!
Those who prefer to play only one character to experience all the adventures in Neverwinter will probably gulp now! Of course, the new artifacts have super duper abilities like:
Teleporting to the enemy as a rogue
Blocking 50% damage as a guardian
but you still have to crack the nut! If you’re still ready to snatch the Drow from House Xorlarrin the artifacts at the last moment, talk to Jarlaxle in Caer-Konig next week so the adventure can begin!
And now the big question?
How many characters do you have at max level in Neverwinter?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After giving you all a little break from my columns, you now get to enjoy (or suffer through?) reading the third part of the “Nerdhobbies” series.
You have already heard a lot from me about “Role-Playing in MMOs“, but this hobby obviously goes further:
Even outside the server worlds of SW:TOR or WoW, you can engage in role-playing, and often the experiences here are even more interesting, as there is no strictly predefined world, but you must rely entirely on your imagination – and on the “small” rule sets.
We are talking about “Pen&Paper” role-playing, which appropriately gets its name because you need nothing more than paper, a pencil, and a few dice to get started. In the following, I will try to make this type of role-playing appealing to you and provide a brief description.
Pen&Paper Introduction
Well, regarding the needed items, I may have held back a little. You also need 3-4 players, or a person to lead the game unless you wish to do it yourself. The game master can be imagined as a storyteller: They provide the framework for the story, incorporate tasks, rewards, and enemies into the narrative, ensure that the rules are followed, and take on the role of all NPCs – meaning any character not portrayed by a player.
Basically, there is only one rule for Pen&Paper: The game master is always right. Regardless of what any rulebook says, no matter what the dice result shows: In case of doubt, the game master is God and can override everything.
All others take on the role of a character – either the game master creates a character with each person individually, ensuring everything fits together, or the master creates their own selection of characters. Especially when trying to engage new players, it is advisable to provide them with ready-made characters so they can jump straight into the action. The creation of such characters generally follows the same principles as that of a role-playing character in an online game.
What exactly your “hero” can do is recorded on the character sheet, which most will already know from MMOs: Each character has attributes like “Strength”, “Stamina”, and “Willpower”. Pen&Paper goes even further into detail here, as there is a unique attribute for almost every possible action: picking locks, tracking, lying, or sneaking, almost everything is represented by a value.
What is the exact process?
Every game night is essentially an interactive story. The players decide what they want to do with their character, like visiting a tavern, breaking in somewhere, or simply living their everyday life. Dialogues are conducted by the players, who either converse with each other or with the NPCs via the game master.
Of course, players might also try to follow the game master’s storyline – but here too, there is a golden rule: If you give players option A, B, and C, they will choose E – the guiding person often has a tough job, which is why one should be lenient with “fresh” game masters.
The Power of the Dice
The character’s attributes come into play whenever a significant action is taken. A simple example: Halgrim the dwarf wants to try to pick a lock. The game master sets a difficulty value of 25. Halgrim has a picking locks value of 12 on his character sheet. Now Halgrim must use a D20 (a 20-sided die). He rolls a 15, which is then added to his value of 12 in picking locks, resulting in a total of 27.
Since 27 is above the difficulty of 25, the attempt is successful, and the lock opens, allowing the players to explore whatever lies behind the door.
Such and similar actions are often decided in all game areas through the use of a die, meaning there is always a certain element of chance determining success and failure – or the all-encompassing power of the game master.
Who is this for?
Pen&Paper in the world of WildStar? Anything is possible!
In Pen&Paper, there are hardly any limits, except for one’s imagination. Since there is a specific rule set for almost every major fantasy world, any taste can be catered to. Whether Warcraft, Star Wars, or “Vampire – The Masquerade”, the possible game worlds are limitless, as one can also play any other world with relatively little effort. For example, with the “Pathfinder” rule set, you could also represent a world like that of TERA or WildStar.
Thanks to the internet, it is even possible to hold a game session completely over Skype if the respective friends are not nearby – online dice programs make that and much more possible. Numerous rule sets for beginners are available for free on the internet, or “beginner kits” with pre-made characters and a short adventure can be tried out.
So let your imagination run wild, grab a few raid buddies, and start your own Pen&Paper campaign! And believe me: What seems difficult and cumbersome at the beginning will become an addiction after just a few game nights, as you increasingly identify with your character.
The RPC 2014: A Day Among Nerds – Just Like You and Me!
If you have nothing planned for the upcoming weekend and live within reach of Cologne, you should treat yourself to two days of abstinence from the computer and visit the annual “Role Play Convention” at the Cologne Exhibition Center. Both Saturday and Sunday, you can experience and try out news from the realm of “Role-Playing”: This includes table-top games, LARP, Pen&Paper, board games, and also a lot of cosplayers will be present. Of course, computer games also fall under this theme, and one or another manufacturer will also be represented with a booth and PCs for testing.
Moreover, there is also a large area for the medieval market, and the “gamer musician” Jan Hegenberg (“The Horde Runs”) will again hold a concert.
If you prefer something a bit macabre, it should be noted that the “Zombie Walk” will also take place in Cologne at the same time, which also moves through the RPC. More than 1000 people will dress up as zombies and pilgrimage around the cathedral.
You can view the RPC program booklet here to get an overview of the countless activities.
The tickets can usually still be bought on short notice on-site, so spontaneous visitors also get a chance to see everything.
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What is one of the favorite pastimes in The Sims 3? Certainly playing around with the building mode to make your own lots even more individual and beautiful in design. One of the tasks of Senior Art Director Chris Robinson and the Environment Team is exactly that, but for the online role-playing game World of Warcraft. Currently, the work on the next expansion Warlords of Dreanor is still in full swing – and yet there was some time for an exclusive insight into the creation of landscapes in the MMORPG.
What is particularly exciting is the screenshot to the right of this text. You might be asking yourselves what’s so special about it – after all, you can hardly see anything!? But that’s exactly the point: Will the night in WoW finally be dark, gloomy, mysterious, and give you goosebumps? Unfortunately, the question cannot be answered precisely yet, as the developers have remained relatively tight-lipped about this since last year:
If it does come back at some point in the future, it wouldn’t be as dark as some of you have suggested through screenshots (pitch black, or very close to pitch black) because it’s very important to see mobs in dark environments, though.
Therefore, it may well be that the region itself is simply very gloomy – but it is already a great idea, isn’t it? The desire for dark nights flares up again and again – and the excuse that you wouldn’t see anything at night just cannot be accepted… What are the wonderful lanterns for anyway? 😉
More on the topic of landscape design in World of Warcraft can be found in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll4LAoeox9U
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
