WildStar, the squeaky science fiction MMORPG from Carbine, impresses with hardcore gameplay and intricate game mechanics. The release is on June 3. We played the closed beta for you and can now report on it.
What appears at first glance to be a colorful surprise is for our tester Schuhmann a masterstroke aimed at one goal: to captivate former World of Warcraft players.
Sweet on the Outside, Biting on the Inside
WildStar is somehow different and not at all as it appears at first glance.
In the trailers, the game is marketed as a quirky science fiction story, somewhere between Futurama and Borderlands, with a timeless comic aesthetic reminiscent of the wild gunplay of Team Fortress 2 . But after a few hours it became clear to me: This is not Angry Birds or any bubbly three-euro Japanese title, but WildStar is made with sense and skill by professionals. The quirky presentation and the comedy style serve, like every other part of the game, a purpose:
You want to take exactly the path in WildStar that World of Warcraft has left.
It’s a kind of bizarre experiment: What if Blizzard had taken the blue pill instead of the red one? What would have happened if they had delved deeper into the matrix, if there were still 40-man raids today? If they had opted for action gameplay and demanded more from the players?
And what if today you took all the strong aspects of well-known MMORPGs and eliminated the weaknesses – as much as possible: What kind of game would come out?
No idea. But I think: It would look damn like WildStar.
Target Audience is EX-MMORPG Players
The target audience for the title is not newcomers or fans of single-player titles who want to give this MMORPG thing a try, which all the kids on the street are talking about. WildStar wants MMORPG veterans. Preferably ex-WoW players, of which there are also the most.
But WildStar also gladly welcomes Everquest players or former players of Warhammer Online. Those who are disappointed by The Elder Scrolls Online can also come by. Star Wars players are welcome anyway.
Hype, Hyper, Hyper-Hyper – WildStar!
WildStar is a bit like Skynet, that computer monster from Terminator. At some point, it also stopped sending killer machines that looked like Schwarzenegger because it figured out that a really hot twenty-year-old who is a killer machine underneath the tanned skin works much better.
What presents itself as a poppy game is an MMORPG titan. A calculated monster and a stroke of genius.
I’ve read somewhere: One shouldn’t stir up the hype, WildStar also cooks only with water and there are also quests here that are a bit boring and so. To this I would like to say at this point: HA! You clueless!
WildStar is Calculated: The Combat System
The combat system differs significantly in WildStar from World of Warcraft. That’s because WildStar does not use a classic combat system like World of Warcraft, but a action combat system with so-called telegraphs: Opponent mobs announce their attacks with a red circle or arrow or some other geometric pattern that appears on the ground. This geometric shape slowly fills up and either deals damage during that time or only when the shape is fully filled.
The combat system is known from The Secret World, Guild Wars 2 or Tera. But WildStar has thought it through to the end and constantly finds new ways to apply it.
Another feature is the various crowd-control abilities. If you get dirt in your eyes in another game, the hit probability decreases by a third. In WildStar, the screen turns black. And at that moment, the mobs begin with particularly nasty combinations. As a player, you have to guess which part of the ground is about to turn to lava.
Never before has the advice “Don’t stand in the fire!” been so appropriate as in the combat system of WildStar.
Crunchy Difficulty Level
While in World of Warcraft and other titles such combat sequences are reserved only for the toughest raid bosses, it’s an adventure in WildStar after a certain level just to step outside. Quest mobs have complex combinations of abilities. In instances and Adventures, the mobs really ramp up.
The game is finely tuned; the final boss of the first 5-man instance has roughly the difficulty level of a medium raid boss in World of Warcraft!
Speaking of raids.
WildStar Starts with End Content!
You can tell WildStar is clearly targeting a specific audience: former dedicated WoW players who are disappointed by Blizzard’s decisions to make the game increasingly accessible for casual players.
Therefore, there will again be 40-man raids in WildStar. And 20-man raids for warm-ups.
Carbine has a simple philosophy: Anyone who raids in an MMORPG is more or less a “hardcore” player. For casual players, there are other areas in the game, such as crafting, house setup, or simply various achievements in the world. But raiding should not be watered down, as it has happened in World of Warcraft in recent years.
The 20-man raids will take place in the Gen Archives. The difficulty is supposed to be crunchy and the items sparkling. From the 20-man raid, you then go directly into a 40-man raid.
In the 40-man raid, an Eldan computer will run amok and summon increasingly difficult digital monsters until the supercomputer is finally freed from its virus (*cough* Skynet, I tell you! *cough*). In the 40-man raid Datascape, 6 bosses, 16 mini-bosses, and 2 space events will await the players.
Here, too, one can see Blizzard’s design idea: Even the supposed trash mobs should anticipate abilities that the bosses will use later. Carbine wants to make every single pull a challenge that requires a special tactic.
One can also see the cleverness of Carbine here: While in World of Warcraft it has never been possible, and never will be, to form a functioning 25-man raid from two or three 10-man raids because there are too many tanks left over and damage dealers are missing, this is precisely possible in WildStar. Two 20-man raids can handle the 40-man. This is already in the game.
Variable Content … just like in Cube
Raids in games have so far suffered mainly from becoming boring over time. WildStar aims to tackle this by making the raids variable. Each week there will be a different combination of bosses, different patterns, and different possibilities. The combination of the individual rooms should change a bit with each rotation, similar to Skynet …, excuse me, just like the death cube in the Cube films.
This shows the nature of WildStar: By opting for 20-man and 40-man raids, a target audience is clearly addressed that played World of Warcraft years ago and longs for those times. But it would not be useful to simply design an encounter like Ragnaros from 10 years ago or resurrect the Four Horsemen from Naxxramas, even though Blizzard prefers this strategy of reheated content.
MMORPGs are much further along than they were back then. So WildStar provides a new player experience with the variable raids. The active combat style with the telegraph system ensures a different gaming feeling.
Classes and Races and Such
Many players are put off by a science fiction scenario for fear of too much ranged combat and not enough action that takes place toe to toe. For those, here is immediate reassurance:
While WildStar is set in a science fiction universe, it feels like fantasy.
Even with the classes, no crazy risks are taken. There is a warrior that works like a warrior. Then we have a rogue with Wolverine claws. Instead of an archer with a wolf as a companion, there is a technician with a drone … but the game feels very classic in the classes and the combinations of abilities.
The individual races only offer cosmetic advantages and cover a spectrum from cute, stocky, and cunning to heroic, sweet, and steadfast.
However, in the skills and in the orientations of the classes, there are fine distinctions compared to rigid roles like in the early days of MMORPGs.
Here WildStar remains true to the established successful recipe. If something isn’t broken, why fix it?
WildStar Picks the Best from Current Titles
WildStar is far ahead in terms of features that players desperately request in other games. And they bring what other games do well fully into their own game.
Warplots are designed for coordinated PvP groups wishing to battle together – in their own flying fortress.
For PvP, there will be battlegrounds and arenas with a special twist. Not just boring capture the flag, but a capture the flag with three different flags. Additionally, they borrow from WoW the concept of rated BGs, taking it to the next level and allowing 40 players to compete against 40 others in their own warplots, their flying fortresses.
A relatively free skill system, where the class can take on different roles depending on the build, looks like an evolution of WoW. Inspired by Guild Wars 2, it appears that you can only pull a few skills and abilities onto the quick bar from numerous options. Character skill progression in WildStar leads to difficult decisions for the player.
Then WildStar also boasts a fantastic housing system similar to The Lord of the Rings Online and a clever crafting system! From EVE Online, they adopted the possibility to pay for game time with in-game money. Half-legal online trading, goodbye!
Of course, one heavily draws from the genre leader World of Warcraft when it comes to item hunting. The player always has a task in sight, there is always something to do and improve in the world.
But it would also be unfair to WildStar if one did not attribute any creativity to it. With the paths, for example, the game follows its own path. Every player can choose one of four paths as a secondary profession and thus increasingly play the type of quest they are interested in.
The supposedly Twitter message-like short quest texts also follow a certain plan. This makes it possible to quickly deliver high-quality content. One is not forced to wait for hard-to-find voice actors.
We will surely go into more detail about specific areas of WildStar in the future; in a few days, Cortyn will comprehensively tell you about housing (already done and here available).
I am absolutely thrilled with WildStar at the moment. For me, the game is much better than I expected. And what particularly pleases me: Behind every design decision, a truly clever mind shines through. Everything in WildStar is coherent. It is contemporary, clever, and absolutely addictive.
There will now still be four opportunities to participate in a closed beta during the weekends. And it will probably lead to an open beta shortly before launch. Or you simply secure the game in the pre-order right now.
I will definitely do it. Carbine has already converted me in the closed beta. Not because I find the ears of the Aurins cute or have fallen in love with the wink of the game’s humor, but because the design decisions behind the game and the gameplay have truly convinced me.
WildStar is a game for MMORPG veterans, it is a game for me.
http://youtu.be/ukb7oOCkhJw
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If you pre-order WildStar, you will receive various additional contents at launch, such as an exclusive accommodation, and the opportunity to participate in the 4 upcoming beta weekends.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We talked a few weeks ago about the successful journey of Final Fantasy: XIV A Realm Reborn. One section also covered the extensive updates that justify the subscription in our opinion so far. Can the Japanese developer SquareEnix maintain this pace?
On March 27, 2014, the next major content expansion titled “Through the Maelstrom” will be released for the Final Fantasy MMORPG. The video serves as a small preview of what to expect with version 2.2. About 4 months after the last game improvement of similar magnitude, another substantial package will be delivered here that should send the active players into a frenzy.
With 2.2 there is a lot to do in Eorzea again!
In the main scenario, the revived Eorzea needs assistance in the fight against the looming shadows, as the goals of the diabolical Ascians, the so-called originators of chaos and darkness, are once again of a darker nature. Furthermore, among other things, it needs to be clarified what secrets surround the power of transmutation!
In the new side quest “Hildibrand Returns”, the crime and detective fans among us will be fully satisfied. Can you assist Hildibrand enough in his investigations and catch a thief?
Servants of the deep blue sea, the Sahagin, have managed to summon this terrifying monster!
In the deep blue sea, a newly summoned Primal awaits you: Is the beast Leviathan just wet cannon fodder, or a serious challenge? The loot is definitely worth the trip!
What do “The Historic Amdapor”, “Halatali (hard)”, and “Roar of the Wall (hard)” have in common? They are all dungeons that you can now enter and hopefully master with a group of 4 players.
For characters of level 50, the exploration of “The Twisted Shadows of Bahamut” continues. This expedition team has difficult tasks in store for 8 players.
The beast tribes are once again struggling with problems, which should not necessarily bother you; on the contrary: With the new wave of daily quests, lucrative rewards await.
With the projection prism, you can finally change the appearance of your equipment without having to give up the hard-earned attributes of the previous items!
Additionally, be on the lookout for the masterpieces of the legendary blacksmith Gerolt. This and much more will soon be making its way into the game with this update.
That’s a lot of new features, isn’t it?
It certainly looks like the pace can still be maintained. Will it be enough to keep the players entertained? We shall see! Detailed information about the new content can be found by the way here on the official page of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
How do you like the video or FF: XIV ARR in general? Awesome or rather bland? Or are you disappointed that something specific is not included in the patch?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Overflow servers, the new zone Kargstein, a collision detection in the combat system, and a modified start to hero life: The final touches on the highly anticipated fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online are progressing shortly before release.
As chief developer Matt Frior stated, valuable lessons have been learned from the beta, and they want to provide players with a smooth start to the game.
Frior promises overflow servers to handle the rush at release. He also announces more endgame content that will keep players entertained once they reach the maximum level. The Elder Scrolls Online has also been adjusted to ensure that the starting levels are exciting and fresh.
5 million sign-ups for the beta
Chief developer Matt Frior began his letter to fans by thanking the over 5 million interested in The Elder Scrolls Online beta. This level of interest motivates the team to perform at their best. The large turnout allowed for stress testing the servers thoroughly. This aims to ensure that The Elder Scrolls Online can withstand any rush.
At the same time, they are using feedback from testers in the closed beta to make changes to the endgame by adjusting key elements. This is to ensure that The Elder Scrolls Online remains attractive and enjoyable not only up to level 50 but also beyond.
Frior and the team are particularly pleased that so many users are leveraging the nuances of character creation. 98% of player-created characters are unique. The crowning of the first emperor during the beta also delighted the team.
The first hours of every player should be exciting
Frior demonstrates that he and the other employees of Zenimax have listened to tester feedback in the next sentences.
A common criticism of The Elder Scrolls Online was that the first hours of gameplay felt a bit slow and did not feel enough like an “open world.” Zenimax immediately addressed this and reworked the first steps of every player in Tamriel.
New heroes will immediately find themselves in their alliance’s capital after a short introduction and be right in the midst of adventure, with several paths to choose from.
Overflow instead of waiting line
Furthermore, The Elder Scrolls Online is likely expecting a massive rush during the opening time. To prevent server problems that have plagued the launches of many other online games, The Elder Scrolls Online will have overflow servers. Guild Wars 2 has already had good experiences with this approach.
Instead of putting players in a queue, they can play normally in another area of the game and will be redirected back to the main server at a later time.
Changes in the combat system and work on the endgame
Another criticism from beta testers was the combat system, which felt not organic enough and too often felt like aerial combat. A collision detection is set to address these complaints.
Moreover, Matt Frior is aware of the risk that players with the maximum level might hit an invisible wall and find nothing to do in the game. There is already a recipe for that as well: The team is currently working on additional endgame content. Repeatable adventures will be available in the endgame zone Kargstein, which is set to be presented to players shortly after release.
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[intense_testimony_text]Mein-mmo.de says: It shows that the developers have apparently learned from the problems of previous releases. The measures that Frior presents are all well thought out, and they should give those disappointed by an early beta a reason to check out The Elder Scrolls Online.
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http://youtu.be/izvq9868fi4
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Around March 17, events related to St. Patrick’s Day take place every year. Little garden gnomes in green clothing wave from the advertising banners of the MMO developers. However, as various surveys annually show that very few know why we celebrate Ascension, we would like to report not only on what you can experience in World of Tanks this weekend – but also why!
When the Welshman Patrick Maewyn worked as a slave on Irish farms for six years, he would have never imagined that his name would still be floating around in our time. The son of a Roman-British army officer was sold to slave traders as a child, which dramatically changed his life. He found comfort in his faith in God – who visited him repeatedly and told him that he would escape on a ship. Driven by this idea, he fled across Britain to France, where he joined a monastery and was educated – and ultimately even became a bishop!
God visited him once again in his dreams and so he returned to Ireland and evangelized the pagan population. However, many more legends surround St. Patrick. For example, he is said to have freed Ireland from deadly snakes by driving them into the sea and drowning them.
Since then, St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated internationally – in green and with lots of alcohol. However, to complete the holiday missions in World of Tanks, you should be sober!
The task “Let’s Celebrate!” can be completed once with a tier VIII tank in a random or team battle to earn 350,000 Credits. However, you must have won 25 battles and be among the top ten players in terms of base experience. The mission “Go All Out!” can be completed as often as you want in random and team battles, and you will receive 50,000 Credits each time. To do this, you must destroy at least two enemy tier VIII tanks during a battle and survive the fight.
Of course, there are also bonus XP this weekend! Grab a tank of tier IV or higher and earn the Warrior Medal. For each battle with a reward, you will receive 20% more experience points!
May the luck of the Irish be with you!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What is the hype around the sandbox all about? The term has been circulating for a few years. It became popular through quirky titles like Minecraft or Dwarf Fortress. Now it is supposed to cause a stir in MMORPGs like Everquest Next or ArcheAge.
Current blockbuster games like WildStar, The Elder Scrolls Online or World of Warcraft are skeptical about the concept, yet the word can be heard everywhere on the internet. We at mein-mmo.de will take a closer look at the term “sandbox” and consider how it could shape the future of MMORPGs in 2014, 2015 and beyond.
What is a sandbox actually?
When we remember the best moments in our gaming time, there are two factions.
The roller coaster ride
One side raves about having defeated an incredibly strong opponent: How they took on Mother Brain in the second Phantasy Star. Or they talk about the wonderful atmosphere in Zelda, rave about the clever dialogues in Planescape Torment, or drone on for hours about the balanced, exciting maps in Warcraft 3.
Themepark fans, please take your seats! A ride on rails awaits you!
The game developer wanted them to see and experience exactly those things. The gamers boarded a roller coaster and passed by exactly the stations that the designer of the ride once dreamed up. This half of the player base enjoys the carnival, the trip in the amusement park.
They love sitting in a darkened room and cranking the speakers up. They enjoy the story unfolding before them like in a movie. And they love taking on the role of a character in a fantastic world that they can enter with a click of the mouse.
The games they love are also called “theme parks”: They are adventure worlds, roller coasters, amusement parks. It is Disney World.
Building and dreaming
The other faction of players still knows how fantastic their city looked in Sim City. They can remember every branching of a 300-year spanning family tree in the first Crusader King. They created huge realms with settlers and organized a perfectly running hospital with the rather cheeky Biing, even though only idiots worked there.
They have built a near-manic relationship with their creature in Black&White, which they tell a psychologist about every Tuesday and Thursday in individual therapy (“And then I dozed off for a moment and when I woke up, my wolf had devoured the entire Maya village and his fur was red and he grew horns.” – “(After a long pause) How was your relationship with your mother?”.)
At the moment, they are neck-deep in a primal survival struggle in DayZ, where survivors torture and massacre each other for a few valuable resources. Or they play Minecraft or even Dwarf Fortress and have cut off contact with the outside world months ago.
Who doesn’t love to play in the sandbox?
These players have been given a few tools by the developers, a few shovels and molds, and could build great things with them. They played in the sandbox and let their imagination run wild.
They often play games that don’t visually impress much because the important half of their gaming experience takes place in their heads. They become not just a character in a game but a creator, a builder, a world shaper.
They do not experience a story; they tell it.
Has this existed in MMORPGs before?
Hardly at all, but a little. Before the triumph of Blizzard’s flagship World of Warcraft, there were a few games that showcased sandbox elements. The open housing in Star Wars Galaxies is still missed and mourned today, and Ultima Online had significantly more of a sandbox than many current games.
Generally, the terms sandbox and theme park are absolute and theoretical terms that are rarely found in their pure form. Even a prototypical theme park game like World of Warcraft has sandbox elements. Not every detail is regulated by Blizzard.
Players can shape the economy themselves. Blizzard does not dictate how much an item should cost. The players decide that among themselves. Other parts of an online game can also not be predicted or controlled by Blizzard: the interpersonal, guild politics, the poaching of players between guilds disputing for first kills. All of this, if you broaden the term, belongs to the sandbox.
EVE Online is known for its numerous sandbox features
In EVE Online, players have whole zones for themselves, known as Null Sec, which they compete for. They shape and manage this space themselves. But even in EVE Online, there are elements of an amusement park in the early hours with a few introductory missions. And the developer regularly guides the course of the game with new expansions in a certain direction.
Why is there so little sandbox in MMORPGs?
Because Blizzard won with World of Warcraft and for years everyone thought that to guarantee success, one must imitate World of Warcraft.
After all, the development costs for an MMORPG are huge. The developers and their bosses in suits believed that success could only come from emulating Blizzard.
A sandbox requires a lot of trust in the players from a corporation. The developers relinquish responsibility and lose a piece of control over their creation. Corporations usually do not like that; otherwise, we would all have jetpacks. It is ironic that the giant Electronic Arts has so much success in a supposed sandbox world with The Sims. However, upon closer inspection, The Sims are also not sandboxers but rather a theme park wolf in sandbox clothing.
League of Legends or Minecraft?
In recent years, e-sports have been on the rise, especially in Asia. The MOBA League of Legends, designed entirely for e-sports and comparability, is breaking all records today. A MOBA or an e-sport game is the opposite of a sandbox. The developer needs absolute control over it to create comparable possibilities.
Only through the indie wave in recent years have titles like Minecraft developed so well that studios are now brave enough to incorporate sandbox elements into MMORPGs.
Why is the sandbox necessary for MMORPGs?
Most MMORPGs today have problems with the long-term motivation of their players. If a player wants to experience new adventures constantly, someone must be there to write and design these adventures. Not even World of Warcraft can accomplish that. Other games even less.
World of Warcraft: Even the most popular MMORPG in the world has to artificially stretch the content because players consume it too quickly.
Developers cannot keep up with the pace of players. Therefore, existing content is artificially extended. Quests do not need to be done just once, but fifty times – that is called dailies. Instead of developing three instances, only one is completed and it is offered in three difficulty levels. And when players really get bored, they simply invent particularly time-consuming tasks in the existing world and call that achievements.
While there have also been efforts in recent years to loosen a theme park, it usually results in offering the player just three alternative routes through the amusement park.
The relationship between developers and players sometimes resembles that of a babysitter and a child.
The child says: “I’m bored.” The babysitter says: “Read something.” “I already know everything.” “Then read it again.” “I’ve done everything already.” “Well, then read it backwards and upside down.”
With a sandbox, developers hope players can occupy themselves for months and years.
What are the hopes for MMORPGs then?
In Everquest Next, sandbox possibilities are taken seriously. Players should be able to creatively shape and change the world around them. At the moment, everything is still being discussed and is in the air. It will be crucial to see to what extent the world and the engine can keep up with the players’ creativity.
So far, the focus has primarily been on the ability to directly influence the game world in the fantasy MMORPG Everquest Next. One can dig a hole in the ground and reach a deeper level of a cave. But the plans for Everquest Next Landmark, the associated world-builder game, go much further and allow the construction of starships with the engine of the actual fantasy game.
[intense_blockquote color=”#f0f0f0″] You haven’t heard anything about it yet? Then read these articles:
In addition to Everquest Landmark, several other titles are in the wings that cultivate sandbox elements: including ArcheAge, which we have already introduced (the best MMORPGs 2014).
There could also be a surprise coming from the crowd-funding corner. With The Repopulation, a promising title is approaching beta, which aims to impress mainly with a sophisticated crafting system. And perhaps even Ultima Online will experience a renaissance with the spiritual successor Shroud of the Avatar.
But I already hear so much about sandbox; what’s going on?
At the moment, sandbox in a blockbuster title is still a thing of the future. While many games today advertise with “sandbox” elements because it is a new selling point, whether a relatively limited quest builder really deserves such a designation is another question.
Such advertising measures have not yet shown resounding success. In Star Trek Online or Neverwinter, players have the opportunity to build quests and design spaces. However, they rarely match the quality of a developer quest. Often, they exist only to grant other players items or experience points easily.
However, it could be that the year 2014 is the last big year for theme park MMORPGs, with the upcoming release of The Elder Scrolls Online and WildStar. Although these games already have larger sandbox elements than were conceivable a few years ago. For example, The Elder Scrolls Online gives a lot of responsibility in the trading area and in PvP to its players. WildStar, on the other hand, seems to be an advocate of the “multiple routes through the amusement park” strategy.
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[intense_testimony_text]One thing is clear: With Everquest Next (Landmark) and other high-profile “sandbox titles”, the world of MMOs is becoming more colorful and creative. We look forward to it.[/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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This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMO The Secret World unfortunately has not gained as much popularity as it deserves, as it should – the concept and its implementation are really great! You will be thrown right into the web of intrigues and power of the three factions and must find your personal way. As if you didn’t have enough to do, you can try your hand at scenarios since last autumn and train your strengths and eliminate weaknesses.
In this virtual training through the Council of Venice, your reflexes are required! The hardcore challenges are not for the faint of heart and will demand a lot from you – but for your perseverance, you will of course be rewarded! The better you are, the more Aurei of Initiation you will earn, with which you can purchase great equipment, tool sets, or access to the Tokyo battleground.
Next weekend, from March 14 to 18, you will even receive an additional 50% of the earned Aurei of Initiation on top – whether as loot or a reward for completing a scenario. To continuously face this challenge, you should pick up the (currently) free Venetian waivers in the item shop to remove the cooldown on scenarios.
So what are you waiting for? Grab enough energy drinks, and then we’ll see you in-game! 😉 Oh, and one last tip:
If you purchase Funcom points during the scenario weekend, you will receive 30% more points as a bonus every time!
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With the Wood Elf in beautiful weather on the prowl
Yes, I know you would The Elder Scrolls Online rather play yourself than just getting our short impressions presented. But, as much as I regret it, at least until the next beta weekend you will still have to be patient. And for those who have come to like our little Wood Elf a bit, here is the start in the Aldmeri Dominion. Oh, and for anyone who has always wanted to see how to crack a treasure chest – and at a master level! – they should also check out our new little Let’s Play. 😀
Oh, simply wonderful – enjoying the beautiful weather with a few friends. 🙂
In this sense, have fun with the half-naked Waldi!
http://youtu.be/izvq9868fi4
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Carbine Studios and NCSoft have now officially announced the release date of WildStar, the slightly different MMORPG. The hopeful title is set to be released on June 3, 2014, a Thursday.
Furthermore, we are now also allowed to report on our beta impressions, which will happen very soon (EDIT: the first posts can now be found at the bottom of the article). Just continue to visit mein-mmo.de and always know what’s going on!
Pre-order WildStar
Among other things, a pre-order, which is now possible, will grant you access to all further beta phases, an in-game storage bag, an exclusive rocket house, as well as a trophy for your favorite accommodation on the planet Nexus. And with the head start, you can even start on May 31 and rock the refreshing sci-fi world!
http://www.wildstar-online.com/de/preorder/
P.S. You can also pre-order WildStar on Amazon, the bonus code for the additional content and beta access is of course included here as well:
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With this code, you will be able to participate in the following beta weekends, as mentioned above:
Friday, March 21, 3:00 PM CET, to Monday, March 24, 7:59 AM CET
Friday, April 4, 4:00 PM CEST, to Monday, April 7, 8:59 AM CEST
Friday, April 18, 4:00 PM CEST, to Monday, April 21, 8:59 AM CEST
Friday, May 2, 4:00 PM CEST, to Monday, May 5, 8:59 AM CEST
You can now also marvel at the trailer for this happy news in this article, so to speak as the cover image. On the WildStar page, you will also find all information about pre-ordering the different editions. I’m getting the Digital Deluxe Edition 🙂
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[intense_testimony_text]All beta participants can openly talk about their experiences and share screenshots, videos, livestreams, blogs, tweets, Vine, haikus, and much more.[/intense_testimony_text]
The release of the ninth expansion for the free MMO DC Universe Online was not that long ago, but unfortunately not all player groups were as satisfied with the DLC War of the Light as the developers probably hoped. Therefore, the new letter from the Creative Director addresses this issue directly: Future addons are to be designed so that all players feel engaged with the content.
The life of a game developer is often not that easy. You give your best for months to develop an exciting MMO or update while still working economically… And then the big day – release day is here, and not even 24 hours later the support forum is overflowing.
Some find the game too complicated, others too easy. Some feel neglected because nothing new was included for their beloved hobby in the game… and so on. The list can surely go on endlessly for anyone of you who has read player reviews right after the release of an MMO or patch. It sounds quite frustrating when you consider it from the perspective of the people who spent months sweating blood and water over the many details, right?
But once you’ve licked your wounds and read the posts more closely, as a developer, you can also discover a lot that can simply be done differently in the future. The team from DC Universe Online has taken these suggestions and player feedback to heart and developed a battle plan on how they can make the game even more exciting in the future – for all fans!
In the future, every expansion will include content for small and large groups.
In addition to 4- and 8-player operations, you can also expect combinations of duos, challenges, and open world components.
The design of the 8-player content ranges from single rooms to simple to complex raids.
In addition, your decisions during these contents will significantly shape the course in order to make everything as varied as possible. The different difficulties of operations and large-scale missions are also intended to offer additional challenges. Depending on how much experience you have already gained in DC Universe, you will soon have the choice to play a large-scale mission on normal or hard mode. Depending on which difficulty level you choose, this should not only affect the stats of your opponents but also which bosses you have to face.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? We are already very excited for the 10. DLC expansion pack! What are you hoping for?
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The open beta of “HearthStone – Heroes of Warcraft” is obviously going into its final round!
Tomorrow a new patch will be available for download, which, along with the long-awaited golden hero portraits, also brings some changes to legendary cards and fixes positioning errors. The ranking system is also being refined to not scare away new players right away. Last but not least, some achievements have been added, bringing the exclusive mount for World of Warcraft within reach!
+++Update++ As just announced on the official page (see source), the open beta was already in the last round, because the patch tomorrow marks the official launch!
But first, here are the two card changes in detail:
The “Tinkmaster Overspark” is now a 3/3 creature (previously: 2/2) and now transforms a random other minion into a 5/5 dinosaur or a 1/1 squirrel (previously: The creature to be transformed could be chosen).
The card “Nat Pagle” now has a 50% chance at the start of your turn to draw a card (previously: 50% chance at the end of your turn to draw a card).
Keep in mind that these two cards can be disenchanted for 1600 arcane dust in the coming days, so if you don’t need them, now is the right time to accumulate a large amount of arcane dust.
Hero portraits, achievements, and ranking improvements…
As previously announced, golden variants of the hero portraits can now also be unlocked, each requiring 500 wins with the respective class, so it will likely take a few more days until you actually encounter the first ones.
The “Hearthsteed”, an in-game mount for World of Warcraft, will also be available through an achievement, and you only need three wins to unlock it and should be able to collect it directly from the mailbox afterwards.
Additionally, achievements for purchasing the expansion of “Diablo 3” were found, with buyers of the standard version receiving a free card pack, while buyers of the collector’s edition receive two instead.
The ranking system is also getting a revamp that ensures that newcomers at the beginning of a new season do not constantly face hardened veterans. If you have achieved a high rank in the current season, such as “Black Knight” or even “Legend”, you will not start at Rank 25 at the beginning of the next month, but a bit higher up, around Rank 16 or 15.
But since we’re talking about the season: According to the patch data, the first “real” season begins next month, indicating a release in April.
Finally, the new card backs have been implemented into the game, so if you reach legend rank, you can show these new backs after the next season – so every opponent knows who they’re dealing with!
At the end, a little recommendation: Are you a newcomer and not doing very well? Then check out the helpful Arena Guide by Darion:
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The last beta for The Elder Scrolls Online is coming up. Just before the official release of the game on April 4, this will be the last chance to test TESO.
On Friday at 5 PM, it will happen: Tamriel will open its gates one last time without requiring a valid ticket in the form of the paid game. Until Monday at 5 AM, undecided players will still have the opportunity to test The Elder Scrolls Online for free. This time, they will even enjoy bonuses that are otherwise only available to buyers of the Imperial Edition.
Servers running with new beta patch and collision detection
The Elder Scrolls Online will officially launch on April 4; pre-orderers can start playing five days earlier. Therefore, the current beta is less about testing – there wouldn’t be much point so close to release – and more about a trial run.
Thus, the servers will run on the current beta patch, which has only been available to closed beta players: This means beta “testers” will be able to skip the starting island and enjoy an improved combat system with collision detection. These changes have been well received by testers of the closed beta.
The benefits of the Imperial Edition
The Digital Imperial Edition: Start five days before the official game launch and receive exclusive digital bonuses.
As an additional treat, players of the beta weekend will be treated as if they ordered the Imperial Edition. Therefore, they can create a character belonging to the premium race “Imperial.” The additional benefits of the Imperial Edition and the Explorer Pack are also unlocked, such as the experience-boosting Rings of Mara or the Imperial horse.
The racial bonuses of the Imperials make them an ideal choice for players who want to try out tanking with sword and shield. We have presented the premium race alongside the other races in this post.
Players also have the choice between the European and American mega-servers and can continue playing previously started characters from earlier beta tests. The beta is open to anyone who has participated in a previous event. Additionally, some beta keys are still circulating online that can be easily obtained.
Last chance for the monkey and to play for free!
For a free beta event, developer Zenimax is offering some goodies. In addition to the benefits of the Imperial Edition for the weekend, there will also be a monkey as a pet. You will even keep it when the game officially launches: you will find it in your mailbox at the “official” launch on April 4.
The benefits of the Imperial Edition will fade after the weekend; those who want to enjoy it long-term or want to continue sampling the air of Tamriel after the weekend will have to pay something for that.
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http://youtu.be/kFBFhM9cc2Y
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What is more fun than playing a round of Hutball with friends in the evening? Although the team sport requires a lot of endurance and physical toughness, the victory over the enemy and the recognition of the galaxy’s inhabitants is a nice reward for all efforts!
Whether a citizen of the Galactic Republic or the Sith Empire – Hutball is always a welcome distraction from the chaos of war, where two teams of eight players fight over a ball – the deadlier, the more exciting. Those who manage to get the ball behind the opponent’s line score points and receive the cheers of the excited audience. A special highlight is the commentator Baron Deathseal, who diligently reports on every duel.
Even Giradda the Hutt is a big fan of the gladiatorial combat in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and has therefore built a new arena on the contaminated planet Quesh. Now, we just need brave heroes like you who are not afraid for their lives and are willing to test the new battlefield at will. But beware: The new traps are even more dangerous, and you should always be careful where you step!
Design of the new Quesh Hutball Pit
The layout of the pit also follows a completely new concept. While the old pit on Nar Shaddaa was rather rectangular, the new arena resembles an upside-down pyramid. Therefore, you not only have to pay attention to enemies but also to where you step so as not to fall straight down. To get up, you can use the grappling hook blaster tables, which will elevate you to the second level of the pit. As if that wasn’t enough excitement, the Hutt has something very special in store for you: Toxic slime rains down from the tubes in the arena, which not only burns like hell on your skin or damages your armor but also slows you down!
Who wouldn’t want to play a round of Hutball in SW:TOR with all this action?
The official test server has been opened since last week and offers you, of course, not only a new PVP area but much more. When exactly the long-awaited housing will find its way into the game is unfortunately still not clear – but as always: Mein-MMO informs!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
For connoisseurs and collectors, Blizzard also has the digital Deluxe Edition on offer. With it, you will become the proud owner of a new flying mount: a Dread Raven (in English, this guy isn’t called Chirpy as one might expect, but Dread Raven Mount). You can observe this beautiful specimen in full dreadful glory with the folks over at mmo-champion (or alternatively below the post).
Additionally, the Deluxe Edition comes with a pet (which is a code for one, otherwise shipping would be difficult). The Dread Hatchling, the mount in small, will surely serve you well in Pet Battles. Both skins resemble the Raven Lord from the Sethekk Halls, a coveted mount not many players own.
If you are also active in Starcraft, you can look forward to special portraits; if you enjoy the hack ‘n slash Diablo 3, you can call a special war banner your own after acquiring the Deluxe Edition of Warlords of Draenor. As always, the mount and pet will be exclusive to the Deluxe Edition.
Release date yet to be determined, likely in October or September
Blizzard can’t get any exact release date out, however. They only assure that Warlords of Draenor will be released in 2014 and give “Fall” as an approximate date. Wild speculation leads to October or September, approximately around the time Mists of Pandaria was released in 2012.
As of today, you also have the option to purchase a level-up directly in the in-game shop. Fresh level 90s will be equipped with green gear, the item level of the equipment being 496. The externally funded hero receives a palette of 22-slot bags. If they were already level 60 when using the boost, they receive professions of choice at the current maximum level of 600.
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Tera Rising offers a really good action combat system, which hopefully can be seen in this fight against a BAM (Big-Ass-Monster). It is quite amazing, especially in the endgame content, how the boss mechanics are tailored to the active combat system. I have not experienced anything better to date.
By the way, – Tera is a free-to-play MMORPG – so checking it out won’t hurt, at least until you encounter your first BAM 😉 The game is certainly not suitable for every type of player, as the Asian style cannot be denied and the quests are not exactly known for their variety. However, I found this, honestly, not too bad on my way to the end level, as I enjoyed the fighting and didn’t want to leave the beautiful surroundings untouched.
The spectacular BAMs are definitely a welcome change in the open world, which distinguishes Tera a bit from other games. I don’t know of any other MMORPG where you encounter such bosses during the leveling phase, outside of dungeons. At least not on this scale and quality.
By the way, I play a Slayer, a fairly agile class that can deal significant damage with a two-handed sword.
Well, just watch the video yourself ;-).
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
My MMO Plays the Start of The Elder Scrolls Online
Admittedly, this little insight into TESO isn’t exactly brand new. But since we briefly introduced you to the little wood elf in the (almost) Let’s Play just last week and the response was quite nice, we didn’t want to withhold his “epic” battle through the prologue from you. Those who have seen enough of the backstory of The Elder Scrolls Online probably need little help here. However, if you haven’t had a chance to take a look yet or simply cannot get enough of MMORPG, well, enjoy! 😀
And if you still need enough materials for “Invite Friends“, feel free to directly share and embed the video. A little tip at the end: You can find the TESO racial bonuses here! 🙂
http://youtu.be/wyPhbocBGFw
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
We take a look at the new trailer for World of Warcraft featuring the promised boost to level 90. Why is Blizzard doing this? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the maximum level from the mailbox? And what the heck does this have to do with cake?
Maximum Level with Pre-order of Warlords of Draenor
A gnome is stumbling through the desert of Tanaris and sees a mailbox on the distant horizon. After dragging himself there, he is greeted by postcard-sending furry creatures who seem motivated by sadistic pleasure to boast about their own lifestyle:
My axe, my raid group, my fun.
The message is clear: While the level 90s are celebrating, the gnome still has to wash the dishes until he finally reaches level 90. It somehow reminds one of a dish soap commercial: While Villariba is already celebrating… – you know the rest.
But the gnome also finds a way to become level 90 directly, accepts it, and the fun begins. Instantly level 90, instantly playing with friends, and off we go. Because those who pre-order the next add-on Warlords of Draenor will receive an instant boost to level 90.
Trouble in Paradise
Okay, now the trailer also glosses over some things. A fresh level 90 cannot immediately participate in the hot activities of his friends, but must first gather equipment at level 90, study the various boss fights, manage with his character, and orient himself somewhat before he can help a raid group.
All that aside, the exciting question is:Does Blizzard really believe that players can only have fun at the maximum level? Do they see their world as a desolate valley, the valley of dead content? Do they see low-level players trapped in eternal level limbo? Do they think, in Blizzard’s eyes, we spend our time lonely and alone in agony until, at the end, somewhere on the horizon, the paradise of maximum level awaits us? Is this the cake that we were always promised in the portal?
Blizzard and the Level Qual
Blizzard has been trying for years to make the leveling experience as painless as possible. Once you have a shiny level 90, you can send items to your own low-level character that guarantee him bonus XP. Furthermore, the leveling process has been repeatedly accelerated by simply reducing the required XP. With the Recruit-a-Friend program, there was also so much bonus XP that some levels went by unnoticed. While handing in quests or completing a dungeon, it seemed that certain levels were simply skipped.
Anyone who has ever experienced how a group equipped with heirlooms swept through an innocent instance and only stopped to congratulate each other on their level-ups is reminded of a swarm of locusts.
Blizzard and the Desolate Realms of the Shattered World
Blizzard really seems to be stuck on the idea that the path to the maximum level is for most players an annoying task that must be completed as quickly as possible. The fact that for many players the journey is the goal seems to have worn off over the 10 years of content.
Especially The Burning Crusade, the leveling distance from 60 to 70, feels desolate and empty today. The quest structure, the phasing, the storytelling of interconnected stories – all of this has been refined by Blizzard later, perhaps even perfected. In the oldest, unspoiled corners of the world, the storytelling quality and variety in quests are lacking.
The old world was upgraded significantly with Cataclysm. How did you like the overall picture?
Keeping all the old content constantly on par with the latest is not possible. With Cataclysm, a similar attempt was made:
[pull_quote_center]The old world, the leveling experience from 1-60, was changed. Players did not reward it because it took valuable development time away from endgame.[/pull_quote_center]
For years, Blizzard struggled to creatively deal with the problem. They combined low-level zones across servers so that players felt like part of a living world. They redesigned group quests so that they could also be tackled solo. Lucrative detours in dungeons were intended to distract from quest monotony; even in battlegrounds, you could now level up. Everything was done, nothing helped in the long term. The creativity seems to have come to an end now.
Then let them eat cake!
The level boost with a pre-order is therefore quite consistent. Blizzard sees the former hero’s journey from 1 to 90 as a tedious tour that many players want to get through as quickly as possible.
[pull_quote_center]Whether at the end of the journey, with the maximum level, a cake-filled paradise truly awaits the player or not… that is another question.
A rather stale taste sets in at the latest with the expansion. Players can then directly purchase a level 90 character for a considerable sum of real money in the in-game shop. So you pay Blizzard to not have to play a large part of the game in order to get to the delicious cake at the end as quickly as possible. Hopefully, it’s not a lie.
Additionally
Negative: It reminds of the infamous annual pass story, that with such an action, in a content drought that will likely last another year, they want to bind players to the game through a pre-order.
Positive: If it eliminates power-leveling or other absurdities like character buying on eBay from the game, then there is something good about it.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Elder Scrolls Online will be released on April 4th. Developer Zenimax gives you the opportunity to try the game one more time this weekend from March 14 to 17. The last beta weekend before the release has just been confirmed. For anyone who hasn’t had the chance to visit the world of Tamriel yet, this is the last opportunity. Or you can just check out our videos from the world of The Elder Scrolls Online.
Today we take a look at the UI. UI is short for User Interface, basically the game’s interface. It is essential in any game, but especially in an MMO, the UI is particularly important. Many things and information are accommodated here, such as the mini-map, the health display, or hotkeys for various abilities. However, the interface should not appear overloaded and should not distract too much from the game world.
Whether The Elder Scrolls Online manages this and whether the game succeeds in balancing singleplayer and multiplayer, we will take a closer look at now.
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If this day has brought you little good news so far, we have a great surprise for all Rift fans! With the next update 2.7, every class will receive a new soul. The first two have already been announced, and we certainly don’t want to withhold them from you:
The ancient Oracles have already averted the destruction of Telara in the dark future with their water and death magic and must now also advocate for the survival of the world in this time. Thanks to their powerful blessings, shields, healing abilities, buffs and curses, the new cleric soul will be a welcome ally and feared enemy in epic battles on the battlefields of Telara and against nasty boss opponents.
After the cleric’s area of expertise has rather been damage, healing or protection, many players will surely be pleased with the new role and its possibilities.
This soul seems a bit strange. When one thinks of healers, one usually imagines elegant, wise beings in long robes… But a warrior? Seriously? Yet the new warrior soul proves that everything is possible in an MMO:
The Liberator has recently returned from the plane of Earth and now supports the brave champions of Telara with his strong magnetic fields. While he fights at the front, he can protect his allies with powerful absorption shields – the more group members, the better. His great strength lies primarily in long-lasting healing for raid groups, where he can fully unleash his potential.
Katja: The aim of these changes is that every character can fulfill any role in the game – if they want to or if the group would benefit from it. However, it is noticeable that the souls presented so far apparently primarily rely on absorption mechanics. To what extent this will influence the healing of all healers in a raid or group will probably only become clear once patch 2.7 is deployed on the official servers. Unfortunately, it is still unclear when that will be – However, we can promise you that rogues and mages will also be able to look forward to new souls in the coming days. As soon as more is known, we will of course keep you updated.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The current beta skills of the Dragonknight in The Elder Scrolls Online
While nothing is set in stone yet, many TESO fans have been pondering their main character for weeks now, and the release date is getting closer. This is reason enough for us to gradually introduce you to the current skill trees of the different classes. Today we start with the Dragonknight, who is often referred to as Dragon Warrior. But whether knight or warrior, the overarching theme is: DRAGON! So what defines a dragon?
Fire, power, strength, toughness, magic or at least a certain resistance to magic, often a connection to the earth, and yes, dragons love to sleep on a huge pile of gold, as we’ve recently been reminded by J. R. R. Tolkien’s Hobbit.
Admittedly, the young Dragonknight lacks the latter initially – that’s something you have to work on yourself – but all other aspects are actually somewhat reflected in the skill options. And what is particularly noticeable about the Dragonknight is that with a little creativity, you can play him almost however you like.
A fiery multi-talent!
On one hand, I completely agree with Darion (see later in the video below) when he says that the Dragonknight is the fire mage par excellence. This is illustrated by the talent tree Ardent Flame, which we will introduce to you first. On the other hand, we also have a support character par excellence. Both in the skill tree Ardent Flame and in Earthen Heart, there are numerous talents that should make you very popular with your teammates.
You protect them, improve their weapons and attacks, you immobilize enemies, and ensure, for example, that they miss your group more often. Anyone who develops in this direction should be a sought-after companion in dungeons and raids. And what would such a character be with a healing staff in both hands? Possibilities galore, it should be exciting.
The ultimate tank?
Furthermore, the Dragonknight is already being celebrated in many forums as the ultimate tank. And indeed, taking a look at the third talent tree Draconic Power: Wow, those are impressive skill options, which could definitely yield a hard defender when mixed with a few talents from other branches. Ultimate or not, the Dragonknight can be excellently played as a tank. Innovative talent combinations are more than welcome! 🙂
The three talent trees of the Dragonknight:
So, to cut a long story short, here for you are the three skill trees of the draconic warrior from The Elder Scrolls Online at a glance!
Fire and flame with the Ardent Flame talent tree
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As already hinted, the Ardent Flame talent tree primarily features the use of fire effects. The passive talents Spark Flight, Warmth, Scorching Heat, and World in Flames increase damage from fire effects, slow enemies through fire effects, extend the duration of certain fire talents, and the area damage of all fire skills. In other words: You’re going to be a real little fire devil!
The active talents are also quite impressive. With Fiery Grip, you pull enemies towards you and deal fire damage to them. Yes, this talent is reminiscent of the WoW Death Knight and is likely to be very interesting for tanks in TESO as well.
“Scorching Strike“ also deals direct fire damage to enemies and starts a DoT (Damage over Time) that more than doubles the total damage. Of course, a dragon fire is also included, so “Fiery Breath“ inflicts cone-shaped fire area damage in front of you.
The “Lava Whip“ also deals considerable fire damage and knocks back stunned and immobile enemies (meaning: likely to fall).
With the talent Inferno, you gain a kind of fire aura that distributes area damage to all nearby enemies (radius 5 meters) and consumes Magicka over time. This skill needs to be manually deactivated, otherwise your Magicka supply will eventually run out.
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The Ultimate Talent in this tree is called Dragonknight Standard – making it clear for all know-it-alls that the class must be called Dragonknight. 😉 Just kidding, the standard, in any case, deals fire damage to all enemies in the vicinity and makes them receive a whopping 50% less healing for several seconds (certainly also entertaining in TESO PvP). An ally can activate the so-called Shackle synergy and deal additional damage to the affected enemies as well as hold them in place.
Conclusion: In summary, the Ardent Flame talent tree (without major mixes with other talents) focuses on delivering a decent amount of fire damage, making it generally well-suited for a damage dealer (DD) – whether melee or caster remains open for now. Nevertheless, we are dealing with a rather free character development system in The Elder Scrolls Online, so it wouldn’t be surprising if other roles like tank could benefit from some talents (e.g. Fiery Grip).
Draconic Toughness – The Draconic Power talent tree
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Moving on to the supposed tank tree, which is referred to in English as Draconic Power, let’s look at the passive talents first. Iron Skin simply reduces damage taken, Burning Heart increases healing received as long as you keep a Draconic Power talent active, Elder Dragon boosts your health recovery by 2% per equipped Draconic Power, and Scaly Armor increases your spell resistance. All in all – yes, it clearly outlines a full-time tank or at the very least a very sturdy resident of Tamriel. 😉
Visually impressive is the Spiked Armor. Large dragon spikes grow from your body, temporarily enhancing your armor while a portion of the damage you take is reflected back to the attacking enemy.
The talent Dark Claws deals damage to surrounding enemies, briefly immobilizes them, and allows an ally to activate the Impale Synergy, which deals damage to immobilized enemies.
In order for our showcase tank to survive briefly without a healer and endure empty healing potions, you use the talent Dragon Blood that lends you a small piece of draconic immortality, healing yourself and increasing the healing received. Uh, so this is also good if the healer is taking a nap.
In addition to spell resistance, the Reflective Scale helps against hostile casters. Once activated, you simply reflect all spell projectiles back for a few seconds. The last skill is also very amusing. With Inhaling, you absorb some life from nearby enemies, and after a short time, they take damage in return. 🙂
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An attack to charge in is common in many games and in TESO even exists in other skill trees. You do it in an extremely stylish way with Dragon Leap. Click, spread your wings, come in reeling with style, deal significant damage, and kick all affected enemies away – to quote Friedrich Lichtenstein: SUPER COOL! 😀
Conclusion: Well, I would say it is quite obvious that the Draconic Power talent tree is focused on the role of a resilient defender. However, who knows what cool combinations you will come up with. The Dragon Leap, for instance, should be exciting for all PvP fans as well. If I think of the shamans in WoW, who love to catapult people off cliffs, it’s surely fun… uh, well, or maybe not. Depends on your perspective.
Become the earthen heart of the group – The Earthen Heart talent tree
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Moving on to the last skill tree, the quintessential draconic supporter. Again for the Earthen Heart talent tree, let’s quickly glance at the passive talents. Eternal Mountain increases the duration of all abilities in this talent tree. This already suggests that there will likely be several effects with duration. Battle Cry helps only you but tremendously. You immediately regenerate 50% health, Magicka AND Stamina at the cost of activating an Ultimate Ability. This means you are explicitly benefiting from this passive talent when you use another Ultimate Ability – it almost invites you to do this. Blessing of the Mountain helps you to build ultimate power needed to activate Ultimate Abilities. In other words – even more frequent health, Magicka, and Stamina regeneration. 😀 And Helping Hands grants you 2% Stamina when you use an ability of the Earthen Heart.
“Stone Fist” – You deal physical damage to an opponent and knock them down after a few seconds. Okay, that could help the group, but direct support?
Now, here we go! “Melted Weapons” – increases the weapon damage of all nearby allies and is even more effective for you!
“Obsidian Shield” – You provide all allies with a damage-absorbing shield, and an even more effective one for yourself!
“Petrify” – You stun an enemy for a comparatively long time, and they only regain consciousness after taking considerable damage. Aha, so two different stun options, neat.
And with the Ash Cloud, you significantly slow down all affected enemies and reduce their hit chance by nearly one third.
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So what does the actual ultimate ability bring? “Magmatic Armor” – you limit your damage taken for a few seconds to 3% of your maximum health, and all nearby enemies also receive fire damage over that time. Hmm, certainly not uninteresting for tanks?!?
Conclusion: The Dragonknight of the Earthen Heart – sounds kind of romantic, right? – is indeed packed with active abilities, with which you can support your group. The passive talents further bolster the actives, and when things get tough, you could at least prevent the worst for yourself with the Magmatic Armor while also contributing to the decimation of the enemy group. Hypothesis: Without other ability combinations, this talent tree may not be of much interest to single players? Not necessarily, as the support abilities cleverly provide you with the greatest benefit. Therefore: Experimenting is the way to go with the Earthen Heart talent tree! 🙂
Little conclusion:
Well, there isn’t really much more to say about the Dragonknight for now. The fact is, The Elder Scrolls Online offers numerous possibilities to create your own class and playstyle. And even if one or another talent tree already seems fully playable, it is certainly advisable to experiment from time to time.
I hope you enjoyed our little overview of the truly stylish class of the Dragonknight and will soon start introducing the next one. As always at the end, the request – if you liked the post or wish to embed it in your fan forum, please share it directly on Facebook and more. We are glad to help you and wish all future Dragonknights much success in Tamriel!
Wait, that’s it? Really?
Oh right, I did mention something about a video, didn’t I? Well, we won’t withhold that from you. Here’s Darion’s post about the Dragonknight in The Elder Scrolls Online. Enjoy and feel free to ask questions and provide answers! 😀
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News about The Elder Scrolls Online: A few hours ago, Paul Sage, the Game Director, commented in the official beta forum on upcoming changes for the soon-to-be-released online role-playing game. Especially interesting is the announcement of the FOV Slider (Field of View), which provides players with a larger field of view.
So far, fans who prefer a third-person perspective have had a significantly better overview in the virtual world. Players who prefer the first-person view, like from The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, face the problem of having nearly no visibility, making it easy to overlook approaching enemies.
Additionally, Paul Sage addressed a few more points that will soon be improved:
Expansion of world interaction, which will not only increase the number of collectible items but also the variety of interaction options.
An optimized grouping mechanism: Players complained that they could no longer find each other due to phasing technology.
In the future, you will be informed about who or what was responsible for your death.
The option to enable or disable “Battle-Level” in Cyrodiil.
A Battle-Level is an artificially increased level, whereby a player is raised to a high level, but the combat power does not correspond to the same level at a “Normal” level.
Furthermore, we can soon look forward to in-depth information about the so-called Adventure Zones, which are said to resemble raids from other MMORPGs and are particularly important for the endgame.
The next beta weekend is just around the corner?
The rumors that the next weekend beta will take place on March 14th are gaining traction. Apparently, the Finnish edition of IGN has already leaked information pointing in that direction. However, that has since been taken down. It is assumed that Zenimax wants to be the first to announce the start of the beta weekend.
So please act surprised. It all makes sense, as when you start your client, you will notice something – a big update is coming your way 😉