When the sun rises over Icewind Dale in Neverwinter these days, nothing is as it once was. The inhabitants of the once peaceful Icewind Dale are corrupted by a dark magic, the black ice. Rumor has it that the vile wizard Akar Kessell is behind it, who was once killed by Drizzt Do’Urden in the fantasy novel by Robert Anthony Salvatore. But true to the saying “those presumed dead live longer”, Akar is back – and he wants to take control of Icewind Dale.
After already giving you a brief preview of Module 3: Curse of Icewind Dale over the weekend, new information about the upcoming expansion of the online role-playing game from the Dungeon & Dragons universe has finally been revealed. The most important locations will include Caer-Konig, the charming fishing village in Icewind Dale, Icewind Pass, and the Dwarven Valley. While you can engage in normal activities and crafting at the former, PVP and PVE enthusiasts among you will find much to enjoy in the other two zones. Numerous new campaigns with repeatable quests await you there.
The particularly brave among you should pay a visit to Kessell’s Refuge, the hideout of the undead Akar Kessell, to put an end to him. In doing so, you should use the dark magic of the black ice to craft helpful new armor with strong bonuses thanks to the new crafting profession.
If you want to learn more about the changes in PVP, we refer you to this news from February. It was previously unknown that there will be faction-based battlegrounds where the Arcane Brotherhood fights against the fighters of the Ten Towns. Which side will you choose?
But equipment for PVE is also being refined to make gear improvement more interesting. For dungeons, you will need certain dungeon keys before you can explore them.
Unfortunately, it is still unknown whether there will be a new class in the expansion Curse of Icewind Dale, but the watchful rangers among you can at least look forward to a new paragon path, the scout.
We really hope that the release of the third module won’t be delayed much longer – are you also this excited?
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The Elder Scrolls Online: The Complete Overview of All Races and Their Skills
Some time ago – even before the NDA was lifted – we compiled and presented you with the preliminary racial advantages in TESO. Now, as we are allowed to report directly from the beta, we update everything and also make it a bit more visually appealing. It is indeed more fun to browse such lists when the post looks a bit stylish. 😉
Now, long story short, here is the complete overview of the current racial skills from the beta weekend. Note: We had to obtain the bonuses of the Imperials from another source, as the guys and girls were unfortunately not yet playable. But all future Imperial tanks can look forward to it. See for yourself! 😀
The Bretons
Affinity for Light Armor: Increases experience gain with light armor by 15%.
Gift of Magnus: Increases max Magicka by 4%. [1/3]
Spell Resistance: Increases spell resistance by 14. [1/3]
Magicka Mastery: Reduces the Magicka cost of spells by 1%. [1/3]
The Orcs (Orsimer)
Skill with Heavy Armor: Increases experience gain with heavy armor by 15%.
Muscular: Increases max health and stamina by 2% [1/3]
Robustness: Increases health regeneration in combat by 5%. [1/3]
Swift: Reduces sprinting costs by 4% and increases your sprint speed by 3%. [1/3]
The Redguards
Shield Affinity: Increases experience gain with a shield and one-handed weapon by 15%.
Momentum: Increases stamina regeneration in combat by 3%. [1/3]
Fortification: Increases max stamina by 4%. [1/3]
Adrenaline Rush: Melee attacks restore 1 stamina. This can only occur once every 3 seconds. [1/3]
The High Elves (Altmer)
Destruction Skill: Increases experience gain with destruction staffs by 15%.
Spell Charge: Increases Magicka regeneration in combat by 3%. [1/3]
Gift of Magnus: Increases max Magicka by 4%. [1/3]
Elemental Skill: Increases the damage of cold, fire, and shock effects by 2%. [1/3]
The Wood Elves (Bosmer)
Archery Skill: Increases experience gain with bows by 15%.
Momentum: Increases stamina regeneration in combat by 3%. [1/3]
Innate Resistance: Increases your poison and disease resistance by 7 and your max stamina by 1%. [1/3]
Furtiveness: Reduces detection radius while sneaking by 1 meter and increases damage dealt from sneaking by 3%. [1/3]
The Khajiit
Feline Skill: Increases experience gain with medium armor by 15%.
Robustness: Increases health regeneration in combat by 5%. [1/3]
Furtiveness: Reduces detection radius while sneaking by 1 meter and increases damage dealt from sneaking by 3%. [1/3]
Bloodbath: Increases the chance of critical melee hits by 1% and increases damage from critical hits by 5%. [1/3]
The Argonians
Restoration Skill: Increases experience gain with restoration staffs by 15%.
Amphibious Lifestyle: Increases your swimming speed by 50% and the effectiveness of potions by 5%. [1/3]
Argonian Resistance: Increases your max health by 1% and your poison and disease resistance by 7. [1/3]
Fast Healing: Increases the healing received by 2%. [1/3]
The Dark Elves (Dunmer)
Ambidexterity: Increases experience gain with dual-wielding by 15%.
Dynamic: Increases max Magicka and stamina by 2%. [1/3]
Flame Resistance: Increases your fire resistance by 10 and your max Magicka by 1%. [1/3]
Flame Talent: Increases the spell strength of flame effects by 1. [1/3]
The Nords
Skill with Two-Handed Weapons: Increases experience gain with two-handed weapons by 15%.
Robustness: Increases health regeneration in combat by 5%. [1/3]
Frost Resistance: Increases your frost resistance by 10 and your max health by 1%. [1/3]
Toughened: Increases your armor by 2. [1/3]
The Imperials
Shield Affinity: Increases experience gain with a shield and one-handed weapon by 15%.
"Tough": Increases max health by 4%. [1/3]
Fortification: Increases max stamina by 4%. [1/3]
Red Diamond: Melee attacks have a 10% chance to restore 2 health. [1/3]
Everything Remains Different!
So, since nothing is as constant as change, a lot can happen until the TESO release. But for now, these numbers and facts should be helpful to you. Of course you are welcome to share the post and post it vigorously in your forums! Meanwhile, we will also stay active and see what else we can conjure up for you from the beta chest. If you haven’t seen it yet, here is our (almost) first TESO Let’s Play. 🙂
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Oh my, the latest announcement on the homepage of World of Warcraft once again makes fans’ hearts race: The Digital Deluxe Edition of Mists of Pandaria is unexpectedly available only until March 10. If you want to make a last-minute decision to upgrade your standard version or start as a newcomer in World of Warcraft, you should hurry!
If you don’t care for frills, the regular package is perfectly fine. You get access to levels 86 to 90 in both versions and can explore the beautiful Mists of Pandaria. Those who choose the Digital Deluxe Edition will also receive the following:
The proud Imperial Riding Mount which you can majestically ride or fly through the dense forests and green meadows of MOP.
Loyal by your side will be the Lucky Qilin Cub running alongside you.
If you also play Diablo, you can show off your adventures in Pandaria with an exclusive banner sigil and an ornament with the iconic badges.
All StarCraft II players will receive two new stylish portraits in Horde and Alliance style.
But what does all of this have to do with the upcoming expansion Warlords of Draenor? So far, the Digital Deluxe Editions of expansions have always disappeared shortly before the pre-sale of the new expansion started from the online shop of the online role-playing game. This means that if the DDE of Mists of Pandaria is disappearing now, it’s a good hint that you will soon be able to pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition of Warlords of Draenor!
Those who decide early to continue playing WoW will receive some bonuses in addition to the immense anticipation: You can boost a hero of your choice to level 90 for free, fly on a representation of Anzu, the Raven God, and receive the mini-version as a pet for free. As soon as the pre-sale starts, we will of course keep you updated! What the Warlords of Draenor expansion has to offer, we have summarized here.
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The Elder Scrolls Online: The (Almost) First Let’s Play from Mein MMO
We don’t want to fully consider it a Let’s Play yet, but in our latest video, we would like to take advantage of the moment – the lifting of the NDA – to briefly demonstrate the wonderful atmosphere of TESO. Deliberately, we distance ourselves from louder LPs that often focus more on the action in the game, and just play casually for a bit. After all, that’s a large part of the game and it strongly reminds us of Skyrim. 😀
And what exactly are we playing?
Yes, yes, The Elder Scrolls Online, that’s clear. No, so a Wood Elf (Bosmer) that is accordingly (at least in the beta) located in the starting area of the Aldmeri Dominion. We are exploring a serpent cave, helping the crew of a stranded ship, and towards the end we prevent the summoning of an admittedly impressive storm caused by sea elves in the literal sense. We don’t tell much about the story here or in the video. Just watch and enjoy it quietly. 🙂
If you liked the little impression and you need to “convince” your friends to follow you to Tamriel, then simply use the video and feel free to share it on Facebook and Co.
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Once, a mouse was dull. Just the little brother of the keyboard. My first mouse belonged to a Commodore Amiga. If I’m not mistaken, that thing had two buttons and was quite bulky.
Nowadays, mice have evolved: From a mere tool to a piece of art. But not only in design have mice evolved: These little critters can do much more now.
G600 Overview
Especially in MMO games, the functions of modern mice are essential for the gaming experience. I have tested and tortured several of these “Human Interface” devices, and ultimately, I settled on a Logitech G600.
With its 20 buttons, I can configure the Logitech G600 exactly as I need it for a specific MMO. League of Legends has very different requirements than a round of WoW. And even within WoW, there are differences. A casual round of solo questing with my rogue feels quite different from raid night with my hunter or the battleground with my dwarf priestess.
The buttons are divided into three main buttons, twelve thumb buttons, and a clickable scroll wheel. The wheel can also be tilted to the side. Additionally, switching profiles and DPI settings is easy. No driver is required under Windows! I have no idea how it works with Linux or Apple.
The Gaming Mouse in the MMO Test
So many buttons and functions are perfect for gaming. For some games, the mouse is even perfectly set up right out of the box.
Pleasant: Despite heavy use, there are no significant signs of wear, which unfortunately does not apply to every MMO mouse that has fallen into my paws.
With 8200 DPI, the mouse is somewhat oversized – I don’t push it to the limit – but it doesn’t hurt either. For someone using 8200 DPI for the first time, the mouse may seem hypersensitive, but thanks to the settings in the profiles, you’ll soon appreciate this accuracy! This makes it possible not only for MMORPGs but also a few rounds in Defiance, daredevil maneuvers in League of Legends, or headshot sessions in Planetside 2.
Most of the G-buttons are easily reachable with the thumb. A sign that the designers put a lot of effort into it and deserve their bread in the right job. I have functionally mapped the G-buttons using the Logitech Gaming Software, and I now use the mouse together with a Logitech Gaming Keyboard (G510S) – a satisfying combination for me. Even when working with Office, the buttons can be utilized if configured properly.
Especially useful for online role-playing games like World of Warcraft, Aion, or Star Wars: The Old Republic, these additional buttons are extremely helpful for quickly and conveniently accessing numerous skills. An immense advantage! Not only can skills be activated quickly, but also emotes, buffs, or food.
Instead of just jumping on the defeated enemies in the BGs like a beginner, you can perform an elaborate victory dance consisting of a series of emotes with the Logitech G600!
The Thing About Hand Size
In my opinion, the only weak point of the Logitech G600 is its size. Players, especially female players with small hands, will have difficulties handling the somewhat wide G600 (the mouse has probably eaten too much cheese…). I occasionally notice that I have to stretch my thumbs a bit – you need pianist fingers (or larger hands than mine) for the front row.
Maybe three rows on the left side would have been enough, especially since there is still the special G-Shift button on the right side that allows for additional assignments (as the saying goes: less is sometimes more). On the other hand, I simply mapped the buttons so that I mainly use those that are easiest for me to reach.
The “Swiss Army Knife” among MMO mice offers such a high range of functions that the device cannot be a micro mouse. That’s clear. In handling, I see small advantages with the Razer Naga or the R.A.T. mice.
Conclusion Logitech G600
The Logitech G600 is an excellent mouse for MMO games. Even after long and intensive use, it operates precisely. The buttons have good resistance. Those who enjoy this will appreciate the various lighting modes – others can also disable this option.
A little tip on the side: You will need a bit of adjustment time at first, probably more than with conventional mice. This can be a bit frustrating, but after some time, you’ll learn to appreciate the many functions if you use them.
And which mouse do you use for gaming? Or do you have other recommendations? Feedback is welcome!
This post was written by Frank, an avid WoW player and hardware fan who just wanted to contribute a visitor post (the text has been polished a bit by us).
https://youtu.be/3DRw7qsxTJ8
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March not only brings the beginning of spring, but also the birthday of the legendary Yasker, the ruler of Sarnaut. If that’s not a reason for all fans of the free online role-playing game Allods Online to celebrate! For this special day, the members of the committee in the capital have prepared a big party where you can snag the following items until March 10, 2014:
A gramophone that will play classical music for one minute.
The pickle jar with five delicious pickles – as they say, sour makes funny.
Each pickled cucumber restores health points and increases your stamina for 45 minutes.
In line with the motto “A little drink in honor, no one can refuse,” tasty wheat schnapps must not be missed!
For each glass of schnapps, you will regain useful mana in the online role-playing game Allods Online and increase your willpower for 45 minutes. But beware – watch out that you don’t become helpless due to too much alcohol.
Since celebrating together is much nicer, you can of course share these items for the birthday in the online role-playing game with your imperial colleagues to spread even more party spirit! Oh, and Kanians, Elves, or Gibberlings are of course not welcome – but the next reason to celebrate will surely not take long to come!
So if you’re already in a party mood, you shouldn’t miss the birthday in Allods Online. After all, it’s celebrated only once a year. So it’s worth paying the game a visit again.
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You have to give it to the developers of the free-to-play MMORPG Dragon’s Prophet: They are very eager to come up with new features, especially when it comes to strengthening the bond between the player and their beloved companion. As the saying goes?
The dragon is man’s best friend, or in this case, the Osira.
This is also made clear by the conclusion of Evolution.Phase.One, an update that was recently released. On one hand, the name sounds a bit cool, which is rather secondary, but on the other hand, and this is far more important, this completed phase symbolizes that the possibilities surrounding the accompanying dragons have reached a new milestone.
Here’s what’s new in this rather different (dragon) MMO!
The Mounted PvE Combathas been fundamentally revamped with this update, which should significantly enhance the fun for all types of players, whether tank, healer, or DPS. Overall, fighting goes much more smoothly thanks to the removed energy costs, and since the dragons now take most of the damage, you can finally stay seated longer on your faithful companion!
Join like-minded individuals on your journey to defeat the evil world bosses during the public World Event Phases II & III. It’s not for nothing. Promise.
The greatest heroes of Auratia should now set out to gather materials for the powerful Laedis Hero Set. You can obtain this through treasure hunting, the wandering merchant, and the open-world boss events. Once you have the materials together, John Warder (near the Path of the Elders) will certainly help you so that the so-called “Golden Gear” will adorn your head from now on.
Dragon Arena has been introduced, where Osira can now compete with their peers and rise to become the undisputed champion of the arena. For this, you assemble a team of 3 dragons and choose a master from a list of participants whose dragons you would like to challenge. A little sneak peek: Soon there will even be dragon championships, that is, large-scale tournaments!
To master the arena, one must also be a master of the compendium and evolution. The compendium serves as a kind of encyclopedia that collects information about all previously tamed dragons, including their stats and skills. Develop your dragons through evolution skills and challenges that expose you and your dragons to the toughest battles yet.
Mein-mmo.de says:
Dragons from Auratia come when called. Companions from other worlds acknowledge your message and may come back to it later.
And now let someone say that dragons are not suitable as pets. But jokes aside. Runewaker and Infernum have realized that they need to focus on their strengths, and those are the extensive companion features that are unique in this genre.
Let’s hope the niche is large enough to continue to stay in it. It’s certainly interesting to see that dragons are becoming more and more integrated into the gameplay. Back then, in our review of Dragon’s Prophet we criticized that the connection to the dragon was still too superficial and would benefit the PvP arenas. That is largely history now. We would even go so far as to say:
Those who fight too long against dragons will themselves become dragons.
– August Strindberg
Moreover, it is great that with the “sticker album”, also known as the compendium, increased focus is placed on the collecting passion. After all, this essential primal instinct of humans is appreciated in MMORPGs. The game still has weaknesses, especially in quest design, but it’s on the right track.
Last, but not least, we at mein-mmo.de wish you much fun with the trailer for Evolution.Phase.One:
http://youtu.be/phrBQvpuJU0
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While you are probably all playing the beta, we at mein-mmo.de take a closer look at the deeper features of The Elder Scrolls Online, or TESO for short.
The first steps in Tamriel, the new world, new adventures, and new quests are attractive. And the focus of many of you is currently on the combat system, the PvP, the crafting skills, and the class skills, but long-term motivation in games now also includes a robust trading system.
Here, Zenimax is taking amazing new paths in The Elder Scrolls Online.
The pros and cons of the old system
World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2, also WildStar, and many other games prefer an auction house to facilitate player trading. The irony is: An auction house takes away from players the opportunity to interact directly with one another. And that in an MMORPG.
Instead, an auction house serves as an intermediary, turning the busy spam in the trading channel, the back and forth between negotiating parties, into a list of numbers and items. The player picks out what they need.
Interaction with other players is reduced to a minimum.
The typical MMORPG auction house (here WoW).
A seller placing items in an auction house is to the buyer as much as an NPC.
Players often buy directly through instant purchase and do not compete with other players by bidding on auctions. Even eBay – one might chuckle – still demands too much interaction from MMORPG players; it must be the anonymity of Amazon instead.
Most auction houses take a certain percentage of each transaction as a commission fee. This acts as a gold sink, so at least some wealth flows out of the game. Without such gold sinks, every game would face permanent hyperinflation.
Fairly, the advantages of an auction house should also be mentioned. They are the same as with Amazon. It is incredibly convenient to find everything in one place, neatly organized with the cheapest offer at the top. Plus, everything is just a click away, there is no risk, no need to travel anywhere or talk to anyone to get your stuff.
And someone is changing that now?
For a bit, the auction house system felt like one of those axioms that are just set in stone. Just as there are no more open dungeons, only instances, and just as you need a tank, a healer, and a specific number of DPS.
And just as there are achievements and online shops and the price of RAM keeps rising and Sundays often turn out disappointing and the wireless mouse always runs out of juice when there are no batteries at home and the stores are closed, and you fumble around with the battery compartment for the TV remote and – well, it doesn’t matter! In any case, the auction house seemed to be set in stone.
But now Zenimax comes and does everything differently. Just like that: Bam. There is no auction house.
Oops! That was surprising.
And what comes instead of the auction house?
The terrible JRPG solution where players simply go AFK in the capital overnight and leave their toon logged in with some kind of belly stand, allowing anyone passing by to help themselves?
Yes?
Rest assured. That is not it.
For starters, you can trade directly with other players old-fashioned style, just like your fathers and their fathers did. You know, with “Want to Sell” and “Want to buy,” some haggling over the price, and a “Where shall we meet?” at the end. You need to talk and trade with other players, thus interacting. I know: Innovative concept for an MMORPG.
Intense negotiations between players will soon be part of daily business!
But the system is of course even smarter.
Players can join guilds that can accommodate 500 members. Each player can be in up to 5 guilds. These guilds have their own guild shop, accessible to guild members.
Thinking it through, it can be incredibly valuable to join one of the top trading guilds on the server. This sounds like secret societies, cartels, and huge bribery fees. Because what types will make up the best and richest trading guilds? Well, from people who have become very wealthy. And they certainly didn’t do it by always playing by the rules and never eating fish on Fridays, but because greed oozes from them.
I predict that the finest guilds will have entrance fees that everyone must pay if they want to participate in the trade of the elites. Perhaps some guilds may even limit themselves to 100 players or only 50 to be particularly exclusive.
Link to PvP
But Zenimax does not stop there. Because player guilds can claim a fortress in PvP and offer their goods in a shop that is also available to non-guild members.
Through this integration into both the trading and PvP systems, guilds take on a central role in The Elder Scrolls Online.
[pull_quote_center]It will no longer be only important for raiders and hardcore PvP players to hang out in the popular guilds. It will also play a decisive role for traders and collectors.[/pull_quote_center]
This collector dreams of being accepted into the largest trading guild.
While in other games they often pact in circles, wasting their time with price fixing, tier sacrifices, trolling in forums, and ruining individual lives, they are now forced into the light.
New ways – new dangers, new potential
You see: With a little imagination, exciting scenarios can already be thought up and considered solely through the changes in the trading system in The Elder Scrolls Online.
What if a guild forbids its members to trade outside of their ranks?
Could it be worthwhile for a guild not only to poach valuable raiders from other guilds but also to draw attention to a particularly skilled craftsman?
And how will the guilds position and organize themselves?
Will it be completely relaxed and everyone can blossom freely?
Or do certain guilds want exclusive rights to goods and try to dominate the realm in this regard?
We at mein-mmo.de believe:
[intense_testimonies]
[intense_testimony]
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The decision not to have an auction house is a bold and interesting step. It will help to differentiate TESO from competing games. The renunciation emphasizes the image of a game for more mature players who value roleplay.
However, new paths often come with dangers that cannot be assessed. Where there are winners and trading masters, there will also be poor losers. The risk of permanent spam in the trading channel exists when traders feel excluded from the small circle. It would be exciting if the individual realms on the various servers developed differently.
Will you miss the auction house or are you looking forward to finally interacting more closely with other players? Do the new paths Zenimax takes excite your interest in the game, or is the concept, the hint of a sandbox, too far-fetched for you?
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This resonant title describes the next and thus third module of the free-to-play fantasy MMO Neverwinter. So, off to the north, to Icewind Dale, which lies at the northernmost edge of the Forgotten Realms. And that already in spring 2014.
However, it is still not known too much about what stories await us around the icy regions. Only that the “Black Ice”, a malevolent magic, is gradually spreading and captivating the inhabitants; apparently, they are cursed by this magic and consequently controlled. A human wizard named Akar Kessell is involved in this, who sets out to seize Icewind Dale.
Alongside the gripping story and the already known PvP changes, the developer Cryptic Studios and publisher Perfect World revealed that another faction-based battlefield will be introduced to the Dungeons & Dragons-based MMORPG. Players will have the choice to either join the Ten-Towners or the hostile Arcane Brotherhood. The goal is to gain control over the “Black Ice”. PvE players should also not be left out, as there are also talks of new PvE campaigns.
Parallels to Gauntlgrym?
Whether this game content resembles Gauntlgrym is not clear from this, but a similar game mode could certainly be conceivable. In the deeply hidden and ancient dwarven city of Gauntlgrym, two factions of 20 players compete against each other for up to one and a half hours. During this time, it is essential to earn as many points as possible in both PvE and PvP-focused events. The faction with the highest score also gets access to the tomb of the dwarf king, where further very lucrative rewards can be obtained.
http://youtu.be/Ahct7XV_exY
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There are days when you just don’t feel like raiding, can’t find partners for role-playing, and even HearthStone has to take a break. So what do you do with your precious free time?
Interestingly, as gamers, we often have the same or very similar interests outside of games, which is why I want to talk to you about these in this new column, free according to the motto: What do gamers do when the keyboard takes a break?
I would also like to hear your ideas and suggestions, which can only happen if you diligently share them with me in the comments!
The Song of Ice and Fire!
I’m starting with the series “Game of Thrones” (GoT) or the book title “The Song of Ice and Fire”. I’m trying to keep this as spoiler-free as possible to allow everyone the chance to dive into the fantasy epic themselves.
First, it should be said that GoT is probably not the typical “nerd hobby” as might be a collectible card game or live role-playing, because it is popular among almost all segments of the population, and the only people who have so far refused it were those who found it “too mainstream”.
But what makes this world so appealing?
What ensures that even different generations are fascinated by this series?
In my opinion, it’s not just the much-praised and often criticized use of sex and violence scenes, but the design of the world as a whole – although the first points certainly also have a large influence.
Unlike what is common today, the series does not shy away from convincingly depicting a brutal, cruel, and sexist fantasy world. War is a theme in countless shows, but few address the equally terrible “byproducts”. Taboo topics such as torture of prisoners of war, rape, mutilation, or incest are discussed and examined from multiple perspectives.
Here, few moral guardians appear who want to change this: The world is cruel, and people have gotten used to it. And it is exactly these conditions that make this world so convincing. As much as I detest violence in the real world – here it is coherent, if not great, and the explicit depiction is a welcome change from the now-typical “blacking out” of atrocities.
The second major factor is the characters and their complexity.
Westeros and the surrounding areas are brimming with different characters and none of them follow a simplistic superhero scheme like: “I want to do good because it’s good.” Every one of the over 40 (more or less) relevant actors has a significant past, their own set of moral views, plans, and intentions, and the first impression of a character is rarely the same as the one you have two episodes later … before it changes again. Despite this constant shifting of perspective, all roles remain convincing – perhaps even because of it.
The last point for me is the complexity of the world.
Unlike in many other stories, it’s not just two rival parties fighting for power, but a total of 11 noble houses, which even struggle with betrayal and envy within their own ranks. Magic and dragons are a mystery, now regarded as fairy tales, and many of the world’s secrets have been forgotten.
The viewer experiences a discovery, an exciting adventure, and for every secret revealed, two new ones emerge, without leaving you completely confused. Intrigues and political maneuvering are, for me, the pillars of the plot, supported by the magnificent performance of the actors.
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“Game of Thrones” is definitely a series for adults and the book or audiobook series is hardly suitable for younger readers, partly due to the high level of violence, and partly due to the very complex storylines, for which I myself had to read some chapters multiple times.
However, if you are not deterred by this, you can immerse yourself in this fantasy world and engage in the highly interesting game of intrigues, and should ideally complete it before the fourth season airs in April – for now only in English.
A final tip: If you can’t handle the death of beloved characters, you should avoid this series. One of the most common lines in the series is also a program:
In the game of thrones, you win or you die.
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Runes of Magic, the first truly large free-to-play MMORPG, is now considered a classic. After more than 5 years, the servers are still running and the game is continuously being updated.
It seems there are still enough players around who continue to support the game and have fun. Patch 6.0.6 will address this and bring some interesting content and an event where players can express their affection.
Old Memories…
When I write about RoM, I automatically indulge in beautiful, but also memorable memories. I played the fantasy MMORPG for 2 years and it impressed me even more than World of Warcraft, which is why I stayed away from the genre Primus. This was true for quite a few players, as the community grew steadily and it wasn’t long before regularly aired TV commercials increased the player count again.
Runes of Magic is the epitome of customizing and individualization
– no, we are not talking about a car, but a character. Some may remember, but back then it was possible in some MMORPGs to level up indefinitely, and each level slightly improved your character – there was simply no end. This is not entirely the case in Runes of Magic, as the online role-playing game is largely oriented towards World of Warcraft. However, there are practically no limits when it comes to enhancing equipment items. You can constantly develop further and thus set new goals, although at some point it becomes unrealistic in terms of effort. Until then, though, you have more than enough to do.
I still mourn the multiple class system. Just recently, an article by Schuhmann addressed this dilemma – “The Class Struggle – Variety or Balance in Class Design?” In Runes of Magic, there were often problems with balance, but it was always incredibly exciting to combine classes and find the best mix – at Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn there is a similar system, but it cannot hold a candle to RoM in this regard.
Tied to all the possibilities of improving equipment, it was incredibly motivating to get the most out of it. However, the downside was that the gap between ambitious and casual players grew larger and the item shop, at least in my time, was not exactly reputable. At some point, the developer RuneWaker also increasingly focused on Dragon’s Prophet. While the last sentences might sound somewhat negative, players who do not want to play a next-gen MMO, whether due to insufficient hardware or due to changes in the genre, can definitely take a trip to Tarborea. The free-to-play MMORPG offers an incredible amount of features.
Now to the new content
After I have filled you with tales of past days, let’s move to the present and take a look at what has been newly added with Patch 6.0.6:
Level 85, World Boss and New Zone
In the previously pristine area “Jammerförde”, you can expect…
…new quests, items, and titles.
The level cap has been raised from 82 to 85.
The new world boss named Taren is better approached with a group.
New Raid Dungeon
Deep in the jungle of Jammerförde lies the “Cave of Horrors”, where many…
sea monsters, demons, and undead pirates roam.
The challenges come in 3 levels: easy, medium, and hard.
It’s worth driving the monsters out of this cave, as rumors say there are great treasures.
New Monsters
You will frequently encounter enemies you haven’t seen before.
Some monsters can buff themselves; if you defeat such an enemy, you will receive…
…a bonus on the talent points obtained and the looted items.
In addition, the skills have received visual upgrades.
Guild Castle
A new skin for the guild castle is now available for guilds.
This is, of course, also visible during a siege war.
Crafting
The recipe collection has been expanded for the following professions:
Carpentry, blacksmithing, armor smithing, tailoring, cooking, and alchemy.
Flower Festival
The Festival of Lovers is on everyone’s lips! Many events await you during the celebrations.
Anyone participating in the rose cultivation competition secures…
the blessing of the flower god and a chance at a rare unicorn mount.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The increase from level 90 to level 100 is expected to be massive again this time. Where Blizzard wants to go with this strategy is not entirely clear.
[pull_quote_center]It seems a bit like they’re trying to ensure that the psychological pressure to buy the add-on is increased, because a level 100 character is significantly more powerful than a level 90.
While with a constant increase in player power, the gap would only be small, as with earlier add-ons, when a player without the latest add-on could indeed defeat one with it.
Further relics from the past being trimmed
Blizzard has already eliminated some quirks and relics from earlier role-play days from the code. The rough edges of the game have become smoother. Along with other things, resistances, weapon skills, and hit cap have disappeared. Apparently, they want to continue this trend. Excessively strong racial abilities will be nerfed, new ones introduced to level the playing field for each race – something similar happened a few years ago with crafting skills. Additionally, the skills of different classes are to be further thinned out – and the crowd control abilities reduced.
How we see it
As Blizzard adds new abilities and skills with each add-on, but developers are likely constrained by a magical number of only 10 skills or so, this decision is understandable. If new skills come, old ones must make way.
Other games like WildStar or Guild Wars 2 limit the skills through a tight action bar, on which only a few of the numerous available skills fit. These players follow the philosophy of keeping the buffet huge but reducing the plate size. Blizzard keeps the plate size but cuts back the buffet.
We believe: Blizzard consistently continues on its chosen path. In part, old ties that no longer fit the concept will be cut. However, for some players, a part of class and racial identity will also be lost.
The compromise regarding the growth curve of player power, however, is difficult to justify purely from a gameplay standpoint. It would have been consistent to adjust the curve from level 1 to level 100, not just from level 1 to level 85. This apparently only serves to create an additional purchasing incentive for players.
With such purchasing incentives, Blizzard has lost quite a bit of trust in the past. Keyword: Annual Pass. With it, they ensured in the end of the unpopular expansion Cataclysm, that players would be tied to WoW for over a year. However, during that year, hardly any new content was released.
[pull_quote_center]Given the high quality of World of Warcraft, such a tactic is not necessary in our view, though understandable.
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At Blizzard’s flagship World of Warcraft, the expansion Warlords of Draenor is slowly taking shape. While there have been mostly images to marvel at from Blizzard in recent months regarding the new housing or the facelift of the old races, the dev blog this time is dedicated to hard facts. Because it goes deep into the game mechanics of the long-standing genre primus.
Player characters with over a million health points
Now, while images of new raids, even bushier dwarf beards, or one’s own garrison are more suited to attract fans’ attention, the real substance usually comes into play when numbers and gameplay are involved.
Already before the last expansion Mists of Pandaria, Blizzard considered out loud, to reduce the numbers. Because the damage points of opponents had reached the millions, players’ health points reached six-figure values (and at the upper spectrum), and even for DPS and similar values, players slowly needed a PhD in mathematics.
Before Mists of Pandaria, an idea was circulating that reminded of the old pre-Euro times: They wanted to possibly just drop three digits off high numbers, just as one used to convert the Italian Lira into Deutsche Marks.
The mega-number as a solution?
Furthermore, there was even the idea of a “MEGA-number”; instead of 1,143,478 health points, a character would then have 1.1 MEGA-health points, or something similar. But the plan was not implemented before Mists of Pandaria. Blizzard feared the wrath of players who would suddenly see themselves reduced to a hundredth.
During the item progression in Mists of Pandaria, damage numbers and values increased once again. Blizzard accordingly makes another attempt and declares war on the big numbers.
Compromise for the add-on found
This time, however, it seems that the developers fear disappointment among fans. Therefore, they only want to significantly flatten the growth curve of numbers and strengths up to level 85. Blizzard reassures: There will be no change in the actual strength of players. If a player’s damage is only one-tenth of the previous number, they will also reduce the health points of opponents by that factor.
The increase from level 90 to level 100 is expected to be massive again this time. Where Blizzard wants to go with this strategy is not entirely clear.
[pull_quote_center]It seems a bit like they’re trying to ensure that the psychological pressure to buy the add-on is increased, because a level 100 character is significantly more powerful than a level 90.
While with a constant increase in player power, the gap would only be small, as with earlier add-ons, when a player without the latest add-on could indeed defeat one with it.
Further relics from the past being trimmed
Blizzard has already eliminated some quirks and relics from earlier role-play days from the code. The rough edges of the game have become smoother. Along with other things, resistances, weapon skills, and hit cap have disappeared. Apparently, they want to continue this trend. Excessively strong racial abilities will be nerfed, new ones introduced to level the playing field for each race – something similar happened a few years ago with crafting skills. Additionally, the skills of different classes are to be further thinned out – and the crowd control abilities reduced.
How we see it
As Blizzard adds new abilities and skills with each add-on, but developers are likely constrained by a magical number of only 10 skills or so, this decision is understandable. If new skills come, old ones must make way.
Other games like WildStar or Guild Wars 2 limit the skills through a tight action bar, on which only a few of the numerous available skills fit. These players follow the philosophy of keeping the buffet huge but reducing the plate size. Blizzard keeps the plate size but cuts back the buffet.
We believe: Blizzard consistently continues on its chosen path. In part, old ties that no longer fit the concept will be cut. However, for some players, a part of class and racial identity will also be lost.
The compromise regarding the growth curve of player power, however, is difficult to justify purely from a gameplay standpoint. It would have been consistent to adjust the curve from level 1 to level 100, not just from level 1 to level 85. This apparently only serves to create an additional purchasing incentive for players.
With such purchasing incentives, Blizzard has lost quite a bit of trust in the past. Keyword: Annual Pass. With it, they ensured in the end of the unpopular expansion Cataclysm, that players would be tied to WoW for over a year. However, during that year, hardly any new content was released.
[pull_quote_center]Given the high quality of World of Warcraft, such a tactic is not necessary in our view, though understandable.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
European beta players must also play on the North American server!
By now, the European (beta) client is available in The Elder Scrolls Online. When you open the launcher, you may also be directly assigned to the corresponding server and a longer download will start. BUT the problem is that this weekend ONLY the North American mega server will be available. This means you also need to use the corresponding client. If you have mistakenly downloaded the European version of the beta client, then PANIC!!!! No, just kidding, you can still participate in the beta. 😛
What do you need to do to still participate in the beta?
You just need to take a deep breath and follow a few steps. We boldly take these steps directly from TESO support since they must know:
For Windows:
Click on “Settings” (under the gear icon) in the upper right corner of the launcher
Change the region to “United States” and click “Apply”
Close the launcher and access the installation folder of the client (normally: C:Program Files (x86)Zenimax Online)
Rename the folder “The Elder Scrolls Online (EU)” to “The Elder Scrolls Online”
Start the launcher and ensure that “United States” is still selected as the region and that you have access to the North American server
For Mac:
Click on “Settings” (under the gear icon) in the upper right corner of the launcher
Change the region to “United States” and click “Apply”
Close the launcher and access the installation folder of the client (“Finder”, then click on “Application” and finally “Zenimax Online”)
Rename the folder “The Elder Scrolls Online (EU)” to “The Elder Scrolls Online”
Start the launcher and ensure that “United States” is still selected as the region and that you have access to the North American server
Those who have already played in the beta don’t need to patch anything basically. You continue playing on the North American server and with the same version. More about this in the update further down! The language selection English, German,French is, of course, available to everyone. Maybe even finally in the starting area. 😉
FAIRPLAY! DISTRIBUTE!
So because we gamers have to stick together, we ask you to quickly spread this breaking news through social networks. So that other TESO fans who might not know about this can enjoy another beta test during the weekend AND can get the exclusive monkey! Which monkey – wait, first distribute the post! – okay, click here now! 🙂
Thank you and enjoy your time in Tamriel!
+++UPDATE+++
It seems that unfortunately, this weekend there will be no collision detection. We found the following:
Currently, only beta testers with full access will be able to enjoy the current version 1.8 including collision detection.
The Elder Scrolls Online v0.171 focuses on stability at high peak user load as we prep for launch day.
Please be aware that this is not the build currently on our PTS that has been in the news recently. That version is still in testing and is being refined on our PTS server before it is ready for a mass test. This test focuses on the overall stability of the game’s underlying infrastructure. Our goal for this test is to have very short – or no – login queues and to have an overall smooth user experience for our worldwide audience.
Here’s a brief overview of what awaits you in this test: Continue your characters from v0.17. Play through level 1-17 content for all three alliances. Create up to eight characters, increased from four. Fight for your alliance by participating in the Alliance War in Cyrodiil.
During this test, you will have access to the following areas: Khenarthi’s Roost Auridon Stros M’Kai Betnikh Glenumbra Bleakrock Isle Bal Foyen Stonefalls Cyrodiil
TEST GOALS
For this test, we have a few goals we’d like you to try to reach while playing the game.
Attain level 10 on at least one character.
Reach Rank 10 in any crafting skill.
Find and complete at least one group dungeon.
Travel to Cyrodiil and participate in the Alliance War.
Yesterday, a new detail about WildStar was revealed that many have been waiting for: The interface is finally being revamped!
Until now, the user interface of the MMO hope of 2014 was rather confusing, and especially the lower middle screen used far too much space. Since in WildStar, the player’s character is represented smaller than in other games, this often led to problems, as the feet of one’s avatar frequently disappeared behind the interface, making it difficult to always be sure if one was standing in a dangerous area of effect attack.
Although the new UI is still in beta status and will likely undergo many changes before the game’s release, the important elements are now much clearer and more space-efficient, despite the increased amount of information. The player’s HP and that of the enemy are now closer together, and it is also possible to see the progress of the path experience points without having to laboriously navigate through the menus – which are now also arranged in the lower screen area.
The new beta UI is introduced.
Additionally, the developers have announced that it will be possible to move all elements freely – customization is one of the major buzzwords of WildStar. Particularly interesting is the ability to display certain parts of the user interface only during combat, allowing players to see as much of the world as possible while exploring.
Even more information about these changes can be found here (official WildStar blog).
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Now it’s time to listen up. After we have already introduced keyboards and gaming mice, today we will take a look at the most popular gaming headsets according to Amazon sales rankings (as of February 26, 2014).
A headset is much more important than an outsider thinks. After all, you only know the voice of most players in an MMORPG. And when the two-meter ogre who wanders around like a pile of meat speaks with a crackly beepy voice because the 2 Euro headset just sounds that way, it makes… not a good impression.
In an MMORPG, the voice is equivalent to a handshake, a clean t-shirt, and polished shoes combined.
Every gamer knows it when suddenly a buddy sounds completely different on Teamspeak or Skype. More grown-up, melodic, somehow not so strange anymore. When you then ask what it is, the answer is not “voice change” or “I finally found and turned off the helium supply in my room”, but usually “How different? Oh right. New headset!”
You should pay attention not only to understand others well but also to be easily understood yourself. Ideally, a headset should also ensure a pleasant sound quality.
Also important: It must sit well, keep the ears nice and warm, and not leave any pressure sensation. Some even wear a gaming headset even though they are not gaming: Keeps the ears nice and warm.
1. Logitech G930 PC Gaming Headset Wireless
The G930 headset ranks first among the most popular gaming headsets on Amazon. It is at the upper end of the price spectrum but leaves nothing to be desired. While a look into the manual and a thorough test run is worthwhile until all functions are perfectly adjusted, once that is done, the device sits perfectly – even on particularly small heads – and allows for noise-free communication. Also important: It is wireless.
The outstanding sound quality, numerous gimmicks, and functions such as noise cancellation, voice morphing, and great wearing comfort speak for the headset. Against the headset speaks the price and that you have to deal with it before you can use it.
Conclusion: The Logitech G930 is a good choice for anyone who values a perfect voice. Especially for Let’s Players, it can be a worthwhile investment. The followers will appreciate it. For the average raider or Teamspeak gamer with a standard head, a smaller model will surely suffice. The highlight of the G930 is the “wireless” feature. If that’s important to you, you should grab it.
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2. Logitech G430 Gaming Headset
Now we are at the smaller model. For half the price of a G930, you can get the G430. This one comes with a wire and lacks some features of the G930, but is significantly cheaper.
For the headset, the sound quality and the numerous features of Logitech are in its favor; there is really nothing against the headset. The sound quality and the features are not the same as those of a product that is twice as expensive. Quelle surprise.
Conclusion: The Logitech G430 is a wonderfully stable mid-range choice. Ideal for frequent gamers who can live with a wire.
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3. Creative Fatal1ty Pro Series HS-800 Gaming Headset Black
The Creative Fatal1ty is somewhat of a secret tip among gamers and often ranks first among headsets. This is due to its unbeatable price-performance ratio. The Fatal1ty is priced under 30 Euros. For that, the player gets a decent headphone, a decent microphone, a mute button, and that’s about it. The device does what it’s supposed to do without much frills.
For the headset, the design, the pleasantly warm headphones, reasonable sound quality, good wearing comfort, and especially a great price-performance ratio speak in its favor. The only downside is that it does not come with enough gimmicks for the highest demands. Jay-Z wouldn’t go into the studio with it.
Conclusion: Definitely the best choice for anyone on a tight budget. What were the products from Sharkoon in our other tests, the Fatal1ty is here in the test.
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The Plantronics is in the same price segment as the Fatal1ty. It only differs in design and personal wearing comfort from the competitor from Creative. It looks a bit bulkier and shinier.
The processing and wearing comfort, as well as the price-performance ratio, speak in favor of the headset; the only downside is that it does not have the numerous bonus functions and gimmicks like the much more expensive competitors.
Conclusion: The Plantronics is a completely acceptable and comparable alternative to the Fatal1ty.
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The big brother of our number 4 is the Plantronics 780. It looks a bit as if the 380 had spent two months in the gym and always had the plate full of steroids nice and empty.
It features some functions aimed at ensuring better sound, both in terms of listening and speaking. Additionally, it is possible to switch the headset into a different mode with a few adjustments while it is in use.
The sound quality, bonus features, and wearing comfort are all in favor of the headset. There is really nothing against it.
Conclusion: The Plantronics GameCom 780 is a decent alternative to the Logitech G430 in the mid-price segment. It is a bit shinier, a bit more showy, and a bit bulkier.
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All these headsets we can recommend with good conscience. It is important for each headset to first take some time to study the manual and set up the microphone so that your voice sounds reasonable.
The second important criterion is wearing comfort. Ideally, you shouldn’t even notice a headset while gaming. The same goes for the headset as for the mouse and keyboard: it must appeal to you individually.
If you buy a headset, put it on, and after two days you realize: “Somehow this feels weird.” Then don’t hesitate to send it back. Try another one. No guide can make that decision for you.
Surprise! NPCs are (almost) no longer ghosts in The Elder Scrolls Online!
On the weekend, the lucky ones with a beta key for The Elder Scrolls Online will be back in action. Then many MMO fans will critically assess a new feature – the collision detection. We had already informed you about the good news a few days ago.
Now a video from “The Quest Gaming Network” appears, a YouTube channel that, like us, provides content by gamers for gamers. The video not only offers some first impressions of initial quest areas but also initial impressions of the collision detection. Overall, the whole thing sounds really cool. Especially battles against multiple opponents now seem not only more realistic but also significantly more challenging. So check it out and feel free to tell us next week how your impression of the feature looks.
Small Conspiracy Theory on:
Don’t you think that the developers wanted to implement collision detection from the beginning? And that they just wanted to trick us into saying: HEY! They are reacting super well to the community and are even changing such huge gameplay influences as the collision with NPCs! HUH? HUH? What do you think It?
“WTF Blizzard? Why am I paying 12 euros a month when my class is the only one that keeps getting nerfed!” This is a legendary quote from Uncle Barlow, which has been circulating on the internet for years.
In our article, we address the sensitive topic of class balance using the genre leader World of Warcraft and the classic Dark Age of Camelot. We also take a look at what awaits us in this challenging area.
Seething Chaos in Dark Age of Camelot
My first MMORPG was Dark Age of Camelot many years ago. Today it feels a bit like the ghost of Christmas past.
In retrospect, it was a time for game design like the 1960s for society. Suddenly, different rules applied; everything seemed to be in chaos and change, every idea was initially implemented, and game developers were searching for a new path.
Dark Age of Camelot, for example, started with 30 different classes.
If you’re used to the manageable number of classes in WoW today, you might raise an eyebrow at that, but for us newcomers back then – having no other reference – it was completely normal.
The trick with DAOC: Each of the three warring realms had different classes to choose from, but the basics were covered. Each of the three realms had, for example, an archer available. However, the details differed among the classes.
Who doesn’t know them: the Legolas fetishists
In the realm of Albion, inspired by Arthurian legend, there was a scout, a military archer, who could also wield a shield. The northern realm of Midgard had a hunter who functioned very much like the later hunter in WoW: with a pet, a bow, and a spear for close combat. The realm of Hibernia, rooted in Celtic mythology, had a ranger whose strength was self-buffs.
Fun Fact:Since Hibernia also had elves and “The Lord of the Rings” was incredibly popular, variations of the name Legolas were found everywhere in Hibernia at release.
Was everything worse back then?
From today’s perspective, it sounds like a utopia: Three hunter classes in one game? How would they be balanced? Wasn’t it logical that the hunter with the pet was stronger than the one without? So why didn’t everyone play the one with the pet?
And that was not all. There were the craziest classes back then in Dark Age of Camelot. The Shadowblade was highly sought after. He was an assassin but could wield huge two-handed swords and with the first strike from stealth, he could send numerous opponents to Odin. From our current balance perspective, a true nightmare!
Did you know that the upcoming PvP MMORPG Camelot Unchained is essentially the successor to Dark Age of Camelot and that the former producer, Matt Frior, now has significant influence on the development of The Elder Scrolls Online as Game Director? The parallels in game design are definitely unmistakable.
Another example of class design in DAOC: There was a skill back then that doesn’t exist in contemporary game design and it was simply called “Bubble”. It was a buff that could completely absorb the first physical damage and renewed every 6 seconds. This ability was distributed across all three realms – but in a creative way. In Hibernia, it was given to a chain-wearing supporter, in Albion to a caster who could summon elementals, and in Midgard to a typical pet-caster class, the Spirit Summoner.
So was everything better back then?
The good thing about the system: Each realm required a different strategy and developed completely differently over time. The classes were highly specialized, and the different distribution and orientation of the skills created a completely different gameplay experience, depending on which realm you played.
The disadvantage of the system: It was unbearably unfair. Each realm envied the opponents for certain traits and advantages. Constantly, grand conspiracy theories were devised, claiming that the operator favored one realm, and especially that a particular class was much better than its equivalent.
DAOC reached its peak or its low point when new classes were introduced with expansions that appeared much too strong to players. Then the operator was accused of only introducing such strong classes to boost sales of the new add-on. The term “FotM” started to circulate, standing for “Flavor of the Month”, referring to the class that was currently in vogue.
Peace and Order in WoW
Now, leaving this chaos, which had a lot to it but could not establish itself, let’s look at the classes in WoW (the spirit of the present Christmas, so to speak). Here, there were only two realms from the beginning that had access to the same classes. Only two classes were initially reserved for one faction, but that was quickly changed. With The Burning Crusade, there were also paladins for the Horde and shamans for the Alliance.
What stands out sharply in WoW: Blizzard is extremely cautious when it comes to introducing new classes into the game. In the many years that WoW has existed, only two new classes have entered the stage, the Death Knight and the Monk. When the Death Knight was introduced, it came with the promise of only being the first of many new prestige classes available to players reaching a certain level. However, as it turned out, the Death Knight was also the last prestige class.
The Death Knight as a Sinful Fall
Shown here: A wicked, wicked Death Knight.
His appearance was met by the community with the same reaction as the emergence of strong new classes in DAOC many years earlier. He was perceived as much too strong, overpowered and imbalanced. A year and a half ago, when Mists of Pandaria was released, the Monk was viewed exactly the opposite. He was considered much too weak and people wondered what purpose he even served.
The gameplay principle that Blizzard maintains above all others is comparability and fairness among classes. Every player should have the same chances for first kills and achievements, no matter which realm they play in. The differences between the Alliance and Horde in WoW are negligible compared to the differences among the three realms in DAOC at its peak. However, that doesn’t stop players from constantly discussing the unfairness of classes and races. In WoW, it is even the case that the Alliance has what are perceived to be the stronger PvP races and the Horde has the better PvE races.
Envy can also occur within one’s own ranks
Furthermore, in WoW, it is not the realms competing against each other anymore, but different classes eye each other with suspicion and mistrust. Even in WoW, there is always a class that seems superior in every patch cycle. Either the mages are at the top of the damage meters or rogues benefit particularly from a strong scaling.
It is clear: Even if the mathematical advantages are only a few percent or even mere fractions, the game has become so professionalized that the differences are perceived as unfair and lead to loud protests.
Blizzard has also reacted to this: With the new expansion, the same race was simply unlocked for both factions. Interestingly, a similar reaction was also seen back in DAOC in response to the inequality among the factions. In the last expansion, all three realms were given the same race and the same class.
Where diversity exists, there is also envy and anger
The interesting and overarching insight that can certainly be drawn from the two case studies of WoW and DAOC is the understanding that there is immediate dissatisfaction and discord when more than one class or race is in the game and intended for the same task, regardless of how large the actual difference is in reality.
As soon as there is a difference, it is perceived as unjust.
This should reassure everyone who is concerned about the class distribution in the next generation MMORPGs. These will not only have 10 or 30 classes, but rather 40 or even an unlimited number of options. That is the spirit of the future Christmas!
New Impulses on the Horizon
Because modern role-playing systems and game designs are moving away from the equalization of a system like World of Warcraft and encouraging players to take new paths in character creation. Many systems are intended to have classes that are not as highly specialized and narrowly defined as they were in DAOC. Instead, developers want to give players opportunities to express themselves creatively and to develop their character independently of predetermined categories.
We at mmo.de believe:
That has also been necessary for a long time. We look forward to new impulses in the class system! And we will keep you updated!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
More story, more background information, more cutscenes, etc.
The German community members of Defiance have apparently not yet managed to translate one of the latest news of the MMOTPS. The information about the next DLC is currently only available on the English version of the game’s website. But who cares! The current DLC “The 7th Legion” has barely been released, and the creators are already rushing in with the next blockbuster. The next DLC will be named: Gunslinger Trials. What is loosely translated might mean “Gunslinger Trials”.
The DLC number 4 of the first season, which will consist of 5 parts, is primarily expected to bring a substantial boost to the story. For those familiar with the Defiance universe: You will likely learn more about the Biodyne Project and the Republic of Earth. Numerous backgrounds are expected to be clarified, and eleven new cutscenes will come. The starting point of the story in Gunslinger Trial will be the disappearance of Karl von Bach, who is well-known from the main story of Defiance. The three new mission lines will be presented to us arch hunters by three different members of Von Bach Industries. These include:
Azumi Yoshida – The former COO of Von Bach Industries and current CEO.
Uvan Johaar – Senior Technician at Von Bach Industries.
Raizar Zandijur – VBI consultant for the Republic of Earth (and perhaps Von Bach Industries?).
Three DLCs of the first season have been released, and soon number 4 “Gunslinger Trials” will follow.
What else will there be and what do I get as an arch hunter?
Furthermore, there will be a conspiracy regarding the EGO implants, the rise of a new power within the Republic of Earth, and the revival of the Biodyne project.
Those who assist the somewhat strange acting company of the disappeared Karl (von Bach) will be rewarded with new specialized equipment. Additionally, brave arch hunters, if not gunmen, will have the chance to earn fame and honor in 9 new arenas. Here it will be known: Four arch hunters for a Hallelujah, oh nonsense, I mean of course, and a high score! 😉
And what is really nice about the arena changes is that the old Thorn Liro arenas will also be opened for groups with DLC number 4. So again: Four arch hunters for a… well, you already know it.
More information about the next Defiance DLC Gunslinger Trials is expected in the coming weeks. Allegedly, there is still plenty to tell about it. Accordingly, we will keep you updated.
Are you already playing Defiance with your friends or do you want to inspire them for the exciting combination of online game and TV series? Then just share this or one of our other posts about the successful MMOTPS. We are happy to help you, and are happy to provide our contributions for sharing.
Little tip: We have put together a super long introduction for Defiance, check it out right away or send it to your friends. 🙂
In this sense or as a famous computer expert from the last century once said:
“PLAY THE PLANET!” – with Mein MMO
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In the free-to-play fantasy MMORPG Neverwinter, the PvP area is about to be significantly revamped and equipped with new features. Until now, the focus has primarily been on PvE content, which was communicated to the community from the outset.
However, this will change in the coming weeks, as fans of player-versus-player battles can look forward to the new PvP stat Toughness, new equipment items, an improved matchmaking system, as well as severe penalties for leavers. As soon as there is a date for the update, we will of course inform you on mein-mmo.de.
By the way, here is a little preview of the new armor:
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
TESO fans are eagerly waiting for the announcement of the next beta weekend. They eagerly anticipate every tidbit of information and interpret every movement from Zeniimax employees as if they were reading Joyce.
This has a long tradition: Even in ancient Rome, priests wanted to determine the plans of the gods by observing the flight of birds or the entrails of sacrificial animals. Today, we just stare at tweets and status reports to find out what “soon” really means.
This weekend or wait a week?
Many speculate that if the beta takes place this weekend, Zenimax would announce something today. Pessimists, on the other hand, speculate that the beta might still be a while away. An especially mystical date is the first Tuesday of the month. That would still take a whole week.
We at mein-mmo.de are real gamers and can empathize with every waiting fan, which is why we promise: As soon as we hear anything new about a beta invitation, we will update this news here.
This weekend we want to invite millions to test The Elder Scrolls Online!
Today we are sending out more beta invitations to test ESO on an even larger scale. If you receive an invitation, it will also include an additional key, which will allow a friend to assist you in Tamriel!
During this beta, you will no longer have to adhere to the Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA). We invite you to share your best screenshots or videos with your friends or to stream your adventures for everyone to see. (…) All participants of this testing weekend will also earn an exclusive companion in the form of a little monkey for PC and Mac, which will be waiting for you upon the release of the game.
And on the other hand, we have searched for two videos from the multitude of TESO clips on the internet to shorten your waiting time until the next news.
In this video, you can see the changes in the beta patch that we reported on in the last days in full action. The gameplay not only shows the new collision detection, but the tester also discusses the possibility of skipping the starter island.
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In this video, however, a young beta tester plays The Elder Scrolls Online on an exceptionally luxurious set-up and apparently has trouble following her character. It’s also just mean that she keeps getting stuck. Or as her father explains: “Sweetheart, you’re not stuck anywhere, you just forgot to move.” Reminds me of a raid in WoW with a drunken tank!
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