Two years old, the MMORPG “Star Wars: The Old Republic” has already undergone a lot of changes in its short lifespan. The new expansion, “Galactic Starfighter”, was released about 2 weeks ago, and this gives us the opportunity to reassess the game to provide guidance for those still undecided.
The Entrance and Conversations
At the heart of the game’s events is the beginning conflict between the Republic (Jedi) and the Empire (Sith)—but several thousand years before the known films.
The two mentioned factions are available, each with 4 classes that split into 2 additional classes after Level 10. Whether lightsaber-wielders, Force lightning users, or gunslingers with blaster pistols, the selection is vast, and the classes follow the principle of the holy trinity (Tank, Healer, Damage Dealer).
Flirting or focusing on the mission?
Immediately after the first login, the game shows its strengths: Each class has its own main story that is fully voiced (just like every side quest!). Each task begins with a conversation during which players can provide multiple responses that can occasionally change the course of the mission.
Do I want to kill the insurgents outright, or should I destroy their weapons cache to force them to surrender? These conversations are especially entertaining when conducted with a group, as all group members can select which response they wish to give. A random decision then determines which player speaks the corresponding line—making each player class a bit different.
I couldn’t help but grin several times when my Cortyn executed a quest giver with a lightsaber despite the rest of the group wanting to spare him.
These dialogues are always pleasant to listen to and watch; some planet quest lines culminate in a spectacular fireworks display where entire factory buildings explode. Planet quest lines? Correct. The adventures take place on over a dozen different worlds, from Nar Shaddaa to Alderaan—of course, before a certain Death Star was fired.
Mit einem gezähmten Tauntaun auf Alderaan
Auf Tatooine ist es heiß…
Auf Illum hingegen ziemlich kalt.
Nar Shadda: Viel Spaß mit den Hutten!
Quests and Companions
While the many conversations help players better identify with their character and provide a refreshing RPG experience, the overall quest design is the flip side of the coin.
The great briefings cannot hide the fact that most missions are stupid standard fare like “Collect 25 of these!” or “Kill 20 of those!” Real innovations are hard to find here. About every second quest features so-called “bonus objectives” that can be completed for additional experience points, which usually get accomplished by themselves anyway—but these too are rather uncreative.
Romantic relationship between master and companion? Find out…
But even when you have no friends at hand, you are never truly alone. A virtual companion can be summoned upon request. Each class has different companions that are slowly unlocked throughout the main missions, each with different abilities.
If I play as a damage dealer, I can summon my healing droid. If I am a healer, I send the tanking behemoth “Khem Val” into the front line. This system allows players to successfully reach the maximum level with any specific build. Want to play from Level 1 to 55 as a healer but don’t want to be slowed down? Here it is possible.
Crafting, PvP, and Space Missions
Your companions handle the crafting for you.
The crafting system in SW:TOR works a little differently than what one is used to from other MMOs. Here there are gathering and crafting professions, but the work is almost never done by the character themselves, but rather by their companions.
Companions can be sent on gathering missions or craft items that can then be broken down—only by doing so does one learn more powerful variants of this equipment. However, the professions are not really relevant, as players who primarily level through quests already have suitable gear.
In the PvP area, a lot has changed since launch; the number of available PvP battlegrounds has increased from 3 to 7, and the gap between gear has been narrowed. When entering PvP as a fresh Level 55 character, stats are automatically adjusted so that you only lag slightly behind the best gear. We also reported a while ago about our experiences in the new war zone arenas; more on that here.
Battles between players are fun in SW:TOR!
But even at low levels, you can already participate in the battles, as attributes are increased and maxed out—not talent points or abilities. Each battle rewards credits, experience points, and victory tokens that can be exchanged for gear—solid, as one has come to expect from the MMO market.
Early in the game, players gain access to space missions. These are a sort of mini-game where you pilot your own spaceship through predetermined routes in “tunnel levels” and eliminate various enemies before time runs out. Unfortunately, this becomes monotonous rather quickly, but the first few rounds are indeed fun and provide experience points that ease advancement to the maximum level. However, it is nothing more than a mini-game.
Eldergame
So what do you do once you finish the class missions and reach Level 55? A point of criticism at launch was the lack of endgame content, but that is largely history now.
Numerous Flashpoints (group dungeons) and a handful of Operations (raids) with varying difficulty levels await hero groups of between 4 and 16 players to take on.
SW:TOR offers exciting operations with unique bosses. Here is the final boss from Horror from the Depths.
Additionally, there is PvP, several daily quest areas like the recently released planet Oricon, and an extensive achievement system.
During their adventures, players collect experience points for their “Legacy”. As their Legacy level increases, any secondary characters can receive interesting bonuses—such as more experience points in PvP and PvE, or a teleport to the home planet. And if that’s not enough, players can try their hand at role-playing. In any case, entertainment is guaranteed for many days.
Galactic Starfighter
Options! So many options!
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The new expansion is currently only available for subscribers, but in the coming weeks, all others will also get to enjoy this new PvP variant, though this label does not do justice to the mode.
BioWare has managed to create a game within a game, so complex are the possibilities. You can choose between three different ship classes: the fast scout, the bomb-laden fighter, or the sluggish sniper ship.
For each of these categories, there are several ships that differ in possible equipment and flying behavior. But while we’re on the subject of customization: For each individual ship, you can swap out and replace each component.
Even with the first version, the ships can be varied and improved!
Do you want a quad blaster instead of a laser salvo? No problem! A reflective shield instead of a quick charge shield? Feasible! As if that weren’t enough, each component also has a small talent tree, where you can customize the properties even further as you wish.
However, the same goes for the ship’s crew! You must also assemble the crew, and depending on who is on your ship, you benefit from additional passive bonuses in battle—or in the case of co-pilots, even a new ability.
Admittedly, the menu with all its settings is extensive and can seem overwhelming at first glance, but investing a few minutes reveals just how organized it is. Such many customization options could hardly be presented more tidily.
The Controls
The introduction to this game mode is the only major downside. While there is a tutorial, you are overwhelmed with so much information that it is difficult to process.
In the end, you sign up for your first space battle and are thrown into the deep end. More than once, I wanted to bite my keyboard or hurl expletives at my monitor.
In the first three matches, you continually fly into various asteroids, touch satellites, and wonder why you aren’t hitting anything or how enemies are executing all these amazing maneuvers.
But now onto the actual controls:
You accelerate and turn the ship using the standard WASD controls, with the precise flight direction being determined by the mouse. You also need to target enemies with the mouse—like in a shooter; the crosshairs must be moved directly over the opponent, but there’s more to it: Instead of directly targeting, our onboard computer calculates a point to aim for in order to hit the enemy if they maintain their current flight path.
Our blaster shots take time and are not magically on the enemy pilot’s hull. Similarly, missiles work this way: You hold down the right mouse button and keep the enemy in view until targeting is completed—but since the enemy receives an acoustic signal for targeting, they will do everything they can to evade your line of sight.
Target locked, ready to fire, and missed – the opponent evaded with a dodging maneuver!
The number keys 1-4 activate different abilities that we previously determined through our crew and components. We use the space bar to ignite our thrusters for quick movement from one skirmish to another—or to escape from a missile.
But beware!
Both blaster energy and thrust energy are limited and recharge slowly; blind firing and perpetual speeding will be punished; enemies are all too ready to pounce on immobile and unarmed victims.
Speaking of energy: Using keys F1 to F4 allows you to redistribute the ship’s energy to different areas, so you can supply blasters, shields, and thrusters with additional power, which weakens the other two systems. A skilled shooter switches the energy supply every few seconds to effectively utilize both defense and offense.
Currency and Rewards
For each space battle won, you receive ship requisitions, typically between 300 and 1500 per match. You also receive a tenth of that as fleet requisition.
With both currencies, you can purchase and unlock different items: Ship requisition is used to upgrade existing components (the small “talent trees”) or exchange for new components. This currency is specifically tied to a ship, meaning if I play with the “FT-8 Star Guard”, I can only upgrade that one.
The fleet requisition is significantly harder to obtain and is used for purchases that benefit your entire fleet. With it, you unlock new ships or new crew members; alternatively, you can also use it as ship requisition for any ship.
After a week, I had successfully upgraded my first ship completely—not counting alternative armaments. The costs for upgrades feel fair and never seem unreachable.
This is not only extremely motivating, but also quickly creates addictive potential. Just one more upgrade for this blaster, and then I’ll go to bed. That happened more than once.
Balancing and Learning Curve
The folks at BioWare have managed to design the various upgrades in such a way that each one is worthwhile, but you never have an unfair advantage. With skill, you can defeat even the best-equipped ship.
Galactic Starfighter: Practice Makes Perfect!
However, it takes some tough hours to reach that level, during which you often see your own ship explode. If you can get through this tough phase and learn from each mistake, you’ll quickly become a master pilot, faster than HK-51 can say, “You don’t need to show off, Mistress.”
Also pleasing: The ships that can only be purchased through the cartel market do not offer an advantage; they only differ visually. There can be no talk of “Pay2Win” here.
Scope
Although currently only one game mode and two maps are available, the expansion already offers fun for several weeks. The countless unlockable upgrades and the urge to try out new combinations of primary weapons, missiles, and engines keep one glued to the PC for nights.
It is to be hoped that the developers keep their promise and expand Galactic Starfighter with additional maps and game modes, as it certainly has the potential to be a driving force for the game. Until that time, we’ll just protect satellites from the evil republicans.
What role will you play in the Star Wars universe?
Star Wars: The Old Republic has improved in many areas over the past 2 years and now boasts a great space combat expansion as well. Whether you’ll like the overall package can be tested for free at any time. It’s worth it!
Cortyn: SWTOR makes a good impression even after two years thanks to the revisions, although the graphics now seem quite outdated and struggle to compete with newer representatives of the genre.
Especially players looking for an exciting story can enjoy the game for free—grab some friends and dive into the adventure! Those wanting to experience the endgame content, such as PvP areas, operations, and the new space battles, should consider a subscription.
The latest mode is worth giving the game a second chance; other developers would likely have turned it into a new full-price title.
Dawid: I can only agree with Cortyn here. To be honest, I didn’t expect “Star Wars: The Old Republic” to make such a remarkable comeback after the harsh setbacks in its early phase. Developer Bioware took the hard road and has instead of adding uninspired content on the back burner over the last 2 years, improved the game all around. Kudos!
For interested players, the new entry is definitely worthwhile, but I would even say that former players should check it out again. A lot has changed. What still bothers me is that the worlds are still too sterile for my taste and some dynamic events would not have gone amiss in this regard. Otherwise, it’s a great gaming experience in the far-off galaxy of Star Wars.
Rating Box
Graphics: Cool character designs, somewhat muddy textures. Coming of age. – 73 %
Story: Exciting stories for all classes, good staging, unexpected twists. – 95 %
Longevity: PvP ranks, operations, space battles, achievements. There’s always something to do! – 85 %
Social Component: Guilds and group missions invite to play together, but main missions can also be completed solo. – 85 %
Galactic Starfighter: Complex and fun, with a deduction only for the difficult introduction. – 90 %
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tab][vc_tab title=”Free-2-Play or Subscription?” tab_id=”1418427036-2-13″][vc_column_text]SW:TOR is free, but frugal players must deal with some restrictions: Free players earn less experience points and can only play a limited number of PvP areas and Flashpoints per week, have only 2 character slots, and each avatar can learn only one crafting profession instead of three, and your credit cap is strictly limited. If you just want to experience the rewarding character story, that is more than sufficient.
Subscribers, of course, have none of these restrictions and enjoy full access to all activities.
But beware: If you were previously a subscriber or purchased something in the cartel market (real money shop), you are permanently “preferred status players,” and many restrictions are eased.
More experience points and an increased number of characters are just two of the many advantages. A complete overview can be found here: http://www.swtor.com/de/free/features[/vc_column_text][/vc_tab][/vc_tabs][/vc_column][/vc_row]
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After categorizing the ladies and putting them in boxes last time, today the men can expect the same fate. As with the last time, this should not be read with exaggerated seriousness, but rather with a wink.
The Blind One
He has been in the guild for quite a while, but he doesn’t really enrich it. However, one cannot complain about too little activity, as he is the one who writes in the guild channel. He constantly asks questions about the game, the answers to which could have been found in the manual or the tutorial.
“Where can I reskill?” “How do I learn a profession?” “Where are mounts?” “Can I change my class again?”
I’m sure each of you knows such a gentleman. Fortunately, most guild leaders put such individuals in their place fairly quickly – much to the relief of all involved.
The Dyslexic
eh how do I understand the question you can help me???
Everyone has probably had to read sentences like this in an online game and often one can only guess with a lot of imagination what the author’s true intention could have been. However, if you confront him with his poor writing style, you often receive a response that basically says: I am dyslexic, do not discriminate against me.
It’s difficult to prove if that’s really true, but with the sheer number of people who seemingly suffer from this condition, the suspicion arises that they have all coordinated and chosen my server.
The Leet-HaXX0r
These unfriendly gentlemen can always be recognized by the names they have chosen for their avatars. Usually, the intention is to make the character sound as “cool” and “dangerous” as possible, but in the end, they only make fools of themselves and erect their own “intelligence barrier” that other players cannot cross.
Parade examples would be names like
“xXShadowDeathXx”,
“HuNtErKiLLeR” or
“TheLordofEvil”.
They are convinced that they – and only they – know about their class, and if someone is better, then that person has obviously only been lucky or has “no life”.
The Uncreative
His player character is named “Hans” and his companion animal is either “Frederick” or simply “Bear”. When it comes to developing new tactics for boss fights, one certainly cannot count on this man, as all his creative skills have already been invested in creating his avatar, who, unlike his real appearance, has no beard. But that is the only difference.
The Hardcore Gamer
A little too ambitious?
He would be such a good fellow if he didn’t take the game a tad too seriously. He shows up on time for every raid, is perfectly equipped, has buffs ready for everyone, and of course, he has already read all the boss tactics, if he hasn’t even devised them himself.
Unfortunately, his “humor detector” is completely broken. This means that he only understands jokes in TeamSpeak when you explain them three times, and any ironic remark is taken literally. It’s best to remain silent around this man; then you will have a very successful evening – but not a funny one.
The Hedonist
The game is primarily meant to be fun, especially for him. As long as he gets his kicks, everyone else can be left behind. Have you heard about that annoying bug where players can’t complete a quest for hours if they position themselves in a certain spot? He uses it. Do you know those annoying guys who besiege the graveyard in battlefields and murder every newly resurrected player? That’s him.
The Shiny Materialist
Our friend Groinkh is excited about the new WoW shop: He’s into flashy mounts and extravagant clothes!
No sooner has a new mount been released in the item shop for 20 euros than he has already purchased it. One might assume that this item would then be used when the player wants to ride somewhere, but wrong thought! His only pleasure seems to be sitting all day in the middle of the capital on his latest investment, but of course, in a way that everyone can see.
He loves the attention when players stop briefly to look at him. Nasty tongues would now claim that this is the virtual equivalent of a big car, with which one also wants to compensate for a certain body part…
The Forum Kid
This young man pays the subscription fees of his MMORPG just to continue expressing his opinion in the various forums. Essentially, everyone already knows it, but he doesn’t grow tired of emphasizing that this online game gets worse with every patch and expansion, and threatens to cancel his subscription every time his favorite feature isn’t met.
Furthermore, of course, [any class he does not play] is significantly stronger and totally unbalanced, while [the class he plays] needs to be buffed urgently, and only his talent allows him to fulfill the role assigned to him by the game.
The Role-Playing Fanatic
A role-player at all times.
I love role play and role players. I really do. But this guy just doesn’t get it. Whether it’s an instance group, raid, or PvP area, the role play is lived out, completely regardless of whether anyone participates in it or it fits the situation. In the heat of battle, he will only cast a healing spell once he has recited the formula “May the light grant me the strength to heal you from these fatal wounds and to fill you again with the gift of hope, so that we can proceed against all evil and villainous adversaries!”
I hope you enjoyed this little list and perhaps recognized one or the other acquaintance in it. Did I forget a category or would you like to add something yourself? Let me know in the comments, as well as your general opinion about this post!
My MMO is a bit political today. Our not entirely serious SW:TOR video aims to educate about the NSA’s activities in online games. You can find the relevant article here on My MMO. We would appreciate likes, shares, and comments! Stay alert! Big Brother is watching us! 🙁
http://youtu.be/AwaH236g-bc
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Worldwide, Tamriel will open its gates on the significant Friday, 4th April ’14, allowing us brave adventurers to finally explore the continent of The Elder Scrolls Online. However, this deadline only applies to PC and Mac online players; console friends on PS4 and Xbox One will have to wait two more months. Only the release month June has been disclosed.
The long-awaited news has been sweetened with some information from the Game Director Matt Firor himself. He thanks the community, which has significantly contributed to the development of the game. At every event where The Elder Scrolls Online and the team were presented, they were eagerly awaited by both old and new fans. In the months to come, beta invitations are expected to increase significantly, and Firor hopes to allow all who have expressed interest in the beta to enter the game early. Especially for the stress tests, many more gamers will get the chance to make their own impression of the game beforehand.
As the demand for The Elder Scrolls Online is exceptionally high, the Game Director anticipates a major challenge for online support as well. The top goal is:
“a smooth, stable start for every single [player].”
In conclusion, the TESO team presents us with the brand new trailer, which we at Mein MMO certainly didn’t want to withhold from you. More to see from the center of Tamriel, the PvP area Cyrodiil.
Have fun with it, and maybe we’ll see each other in the beta soon! 😀
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By snooping NSA orcs, elves, and dwarves – no one can be trusted!
No one should be surprised by the latest news in the NSA scandal, especially not us internet-savvy gamers, but for the sake of completeness, we didn’t want to withhold the article from you.
As it was recently revealed, real NSA agents are allowed to play online games such as World of Warcraft during working hours. Furthermore, the American intelligence agency allegedly even attempted to recruit rogue Alliance and Horde soldiers for their purposes. Two ultra-secret special units of SI:7 and the Kor’kron, who are covertly investigating for the “Noob Source of America”, are spying on terrorist-minded goblin engineers and their supposedly bomb-buying guild members.
Pointless surveillance without raid experience
This top-secret operation, which a minimally suppressed British daily newspaper recently rat out, has not been able to show any successes so far. For example, the level-0815 heroes failed to prevent the massacre at Theramore last year. Even today, World of Warcraft mourns the fallen citizens and must deal with the most wanted criminal Garrosh Hellscream and his terrorist network, because the Noob Source of America simply messes up every raid with their poor information.
That we brave heroes of the Alliance and Horde are victims of this spying is one annoying side of the “Never Story Anding”, but the fact that the guys and gals from the NSA can’t even play properly is just too much…or something like that!
A (lonely) undercover orc investigator of the Noop Source of America.
Small controlled conclusion
The fact is: If you noobs want to snoop, then you should at least recruit MMO (S) experts like Groinkh, who know the terrorist goblin underground scene and how to enjoy some bomb fun while gaming online. So for a horrendous monthly subscription, every conceivable beta key, and plenty of soda and chips, we’d be in with Mein MMO! 😀
And to support this coded subliminal NSA application with hard facts, you’ll find the link to the boring real-life article from heise.de. And if you’re from the NSA, please take a look at our application video that we made especially for you. Oh, and while you’re at it, we could still use a few more “likes, shares, comments, and whatever else works”! You could make that happen, right?!? 😉
DEFiance: The MMO Third-Person Shooter Learn more about the successful combination of TV series and online game. Dive into the (possible) world of tomorrow. A Earth, where it once again comes down to: Survival! And if you liked our little introduction, feel free to like, share, comment and do whatever else you can! 🙂
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A successful connection between the TV series and online game?
Defiance is twofold; on one hand, it is a successful American science fiction series, and on the other, it is an online game of the same name that presents itself as a Massive Multiplayer Third-Person Shooter (MMOTPS). The twist is that both are interconnected. This means that anyone who wants to experience the full extent of the science fiction story must engage with both. It’s not new that video games and films or TV series can be found together; usually, one is a spinoff or at least inspired by the other. However, in this case, both media interact with each other and, if the desired effect works, this indeed presents a certain added value. Moreover, the TV series is supposed to influence the game, and the players, in turn, influence the storyline of the series. Whether the concept works is something we want to test for you while also presenting the online game itself.
What can be stated in any case is that both the TV series and the related game can be consumed independently of each other. This works smoothly for the series, which, although not the ultimate in presentation, has a definitely interesting story to tell and offers entertaining episodes. The game also works largely without the series being known. However, for those who want to dive fully into the world of Defiance and wish for more identification with their Archenjäger, the series is highly recommended.
The scenario
The whole thing takes place in a near future Earth. Through an interstellar war between various alien races and humanity, our planet has been massively altered (keyword: terraforming). Both the environment itself, partly due to military conflicts, as well as the flora and fauna have changed significantly. Human civilization, as we know it, no longer exists, and the scenario presented to the consumer (game/TV series) resembles an interesting mix of apocalyptic scenario, science fiction, and western, spiced with a bit of mystery, politics, and an almost overwhelming enemy in the background.
The TV series is told from the perspective of the inhabitants of Defiance, a city that continually fights for its survival, independent of other factions. As is usual in series, there are numerous main characters, foremost among them the former Archenjäger and now the city’s law enforcer Joshua Nolan and his adoptive daughter Irisa Nyiara. In the accompanying pilot film, both stumble into the multifaceted community of Defiance and promptly save it from certain doom. However, they give up their own “golden” future and remain in the city.
In the game, the character encounters the two protagonists right at the beginning. However, due to the crash of the spaceship the player is on, the paths immediately diverge again. The player takes on the role of an Archenjäger, which will be explained in more detail later. This character works as a freelancer for a man named Karl von Bach, the CEO of Von Bach Industries, who is looking for rare Archentech, i.e., alien technology. As a result of the crash, the trail to von Bach is initially lost, and the first major challenge for our young Archenjäger is to find his footing in the (new) world and locate his employer. This is an interesting starting situation that remains thrilling in the course of the game and is sweetened by numerous side missions.
What is an Archenjäger?
In short, an Archenjäger is a specialist in the recovery and salvage of valuable alien technology or alien minerals in hostile environments.
Due to the destruction of the so-called planet arches, which originally belonged to the Votaner people, countless debris from the massive ships orbit the Earth. These harbor coveted minerals and technologies that become sought-after goods upon crashing on our planet. Such crashes, which occur regularly in the game and promise lucrative loot, are called Archenfälle. The actual goal of most Archenjäger is to earn as much money as possible to move to the ominous Antarctica. It is said to be paradise-like there, and a calm, pleasant evening of life is supposedly guaranteed.
A bag full of weapons, shields, grenades, and nanotechnology!
But before you can dream of that, you will have to fight through the Badlands, the borderland, and complete one deadly mission after another. You will be aided by an arsenal of weapons and the extremely useful EGO implant, which we probably owe to Mr. von Bach. This is an alien nanotechnology that has merged with the Archenjäger, granting him extraordinary abilities. In terms of gameplay, this allows you to customize your character. You gain experience by defeating enemies and completing tasks, and you level up your EGO level. Once you have accumulated enough experience, you can acquire a new upgrade. By the way, against a certain amount of Scrips (the currency in Defiance), you can change your skills at any time. Moreover, not only can the EGO implant be upgraded, but also the different types of weapons can be improved over time. Besides modifications you can attach to weapons, simply using a weapon steadily enhances your proficiency with it.
Topic: Classes in Defiance?
Classes don’t really exist. At the beginning of the game, you can start your Archenjäger as a Veteran, Survivor, Outlaw, or Machinist. Effects: Differences in the clothing you receive at the start, as well as in the second weapon. Otherwise, this supposed class choice doesn’t play a significant role. In the game, you can grab any weapon, choose any kind of skill set, and specialize however you like.
And how do I earn my Scrips?
To generally progress and also earn a ton of cash, you can pursue various paths. Following the main story would be one option; there are numerous side quests, repeatable challenges, of course the Archenfälle, which can yield particularly nice rewards, and much more.
Multigaming is emphasized!
However, it is not a must. Even alone, you can manage quite well. Nevertheless, Defiance, as one might expect from an MMO, thrives on making common cause with other games. You can roam in teams or simply help other Archenjäger with their work; normally, something will always come off for you.
Example: If you reach a point where you need to exterminate heaps of Hellbugs, and two other players have already finished with 2 out of 4 nests, then that status counts for you as well, and you can directly assist them in completing the task.
Group gaming without much fuss. If that isn’t enough for you, proper teams can certainly be formed to tackle larger challenges more effectively.
Small conclusion:
So, up until here, this brief overview should suffice. We will continue to follow up and report directly from the Defiance front. From my perspective, the game, particularly in the atmosphere-enhancing combination with the TV series, is truly successful. There are areas that could still be refined, but overall, Defiance is genuinely enjoyable and a must for all those who appreciate Planetside 2 but find it lacking in content.
http://youtu.be/4kPeaqmklwQ
Bonus: Below you will find our comprehensive introduction to the game, where we briefly introduce you to getting started in Defiance. If you want to hear and possibly see more about Defiance or have any direct questions about the game, just write directly in the comments! Did you enjoy the post? Then feel free to like, share, comment, and do all that good stuff! 😀
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Today’s topic: Prejudices against online role players.
I’m sure each of you has faced a similar situation in your youth: You are firmly scheduled for a raid group, have gathered necessary elixirs and buffs, and then you get a call from your real-life clique asking if you want to go to this or that party. It’s difficult to explain to these people briefly and clearly why you don’t have time, because you quickly receive the following response:
So you want to sit alone in front of the computer and play instead of doing something with us.
When this happens two or three times, rumors quickly spread in your circle of friends – especially during school years this happens often. Before you know it, you already have labels on your forehead like “computer nerd”, “lonely”, or even “antisocial”.
While the first term has evolved from an insult to a kind of recognition, the last two are quite hurtful. Most people who have not had any contact with online role-playing games know nothing about the subject at all.
It is true that we sit physically alone in front of the computer, but we are only rarely lonely while doing so. Almost always we are on our way in a group or with our guild and for longer sessions, we also communicate via TeamSpeak or Skype. “Lonely” is not something that can be attributed to a person, because whether I am lonely or not is decided by exactly one person – and that is myself.
I get inwardly angry when someone calls me “antisocial” because of my passion for online role-playing games, because these people obviously have not thought about the term they used for two reasons.
First: I play with people. Just because I am not physically with other people does not mean the act is any less social. I would never think to label one of my good friends as “antisocial” because she spends hours on the phone instead of meeting someone.
Second: The following may not be immediately obvious, but think about it. A rejection is social. A discussion is social and even ignoring another person is a social act because it takes place between people. Of course, this is one of my very personal definitions, but I firmly believe that a person can never be “antisocial” as long as they are part of a society – and that is not possible differently on Earth.
What do you think? What prejudices and accusations have you faced in your life because of your passion for computers? Let me know in the comments and give me suggestions for a new topic!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Just a few days ago, we reported on the upcoming update, which will be released on December 17 and will be presented in more detail in an upcoming livestream. Now, an impressive trailer has also been released, summarizing the main features of Patch 2.1 in 10 minutes.
The MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV is still a hot topic, worth mentioning especially because it is based on the Pay to Play model and surprisingly has been very successful with it.
Considering the last few years, in which this business model has proven to be outdated and unprofitable for game developers, it is quite surprising. Whether Tera or Star Wars: The Old Republic—many high-quality titles had to quickly switch to the Free to Play model.
Players have probably realized that the P2P model also has its advantages or FF XIV is doing something really right. The rather unpopular queues are still prevalent approximately 3 months after release, which is remarkable given 60 servers. One thing is clear: hardly anyone expected that the online role-playing game would be so successful!
However, it is not yet the end of the day; who knows what it will look like in a year. We will keep track of it. Recently, there has been some criticism (too little endgame, among other things), nothing groundbreaking for an MMORPG, but still worth mentioning. Perhaps the first sign that the population is decreasing?
The Wolf Cave is the first player versus player content ever in the history of Final Fantasy!
Update 2.1 “Eorzea’s Awakening” Overview
To counter this, the patch is being released, which, upon closer inspection, turns out to be very extensive. It has to be, in order to keep players engaged. Here, we summarize for you the most important contents of this patch:
The story or the main scenario will continue under the title “Eorzea’s Awakening”.
The “Wolf Cave”, a PvP arena, introduces the first player versus player content.
The Crystal Tower: A new raid designed for 24 players that changes from time to time.
Revised dungeons (Extreme primal fights, hard modes with new mechanics, etc.).
5 completely new challenging dungeons for the endgame.
With the accommodations, players can soon have their own home.
Change the appearance of your character? No problem with the cosmetician.
Solo content
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Acute warning in Star Wars: The Old Republic: Reports indicate that epic battles are occurring in space right now. Both at a shipyard occupied by the Empire and still unidentified, situated in the middle of an asteroid field, and at the mesa, it’s getting hotter than ever!
In other words: Onward subscribers, the hatches for the early access to the new PvP spaceship addon “Galactic Starfighter” are finally open! For several hours now, it has been possible to sit in the cockpit and participate in the 12vs12 player-versus-player battles in space.
We had to wait since the announcement for 2 months, but as time flies, it moves forward with giant steps. Sometimes we get annoyed about it. Not today :). I don’t know what you’re up to tonight, but I’m about to hop into my rusty spaceship, fly a round in the distant galaxy, and let myself, as one might expect, be shot down thoroughly.
As a result, some new information came in that I don’t want to withhold from you. In a recently published post, a developer from Bioware went into detail about the functions of the crew members that will hunt alongside you and assist in various areas of space combat.
Sounds all interesting, but I’m a bit sad that I can’t fly with R2-D2 🙁 Well, the Old Republic is said to be 3000 years back and at that time, the exceedingly likable robot hadn’t yet been created. It’s a pity, otherwise Luke Skywalker would have been minus one droid. No digressions dear author. Okay.
What do the crew members bring?
Basically, it can be said that the members exercise 2 important functions. On one hand, they enrich you with four selectable combat styles (Offensive, Defensive, Tactics, and Technology).
Depending on the respective companion, it is possible for you to choose one of them. These preparations are made before the actual event – here you need to think about who you want to take along. Besides the companions you already know, you can later unlock additional ones that do not belong to the original crew.
What does choosing the crew actually bring me? To be precise, 2 passive bonuses that increase values, according to the style, in attributes like weapon precision or evasion.
Last but not least, there’s also the point “Co-pilot”, which brings you not just 2 passive, but also an active ability. Depending on the chosen crew member, this can mean that in certain situations your ship, for example, gets repaired or your targeting causes a debuff on the opponent.
But what would a co-pilot be if he couldn’t talk to you or cheer on your heroic deeds. Exactly, a boring co-pilot lacking any competence. Fortunately, they also comment on the course of battle now and then.
The Mein MMO conclusion on the addon Galactic Starfighter, including Let’s Play!
We will be looking at the new expansion for a few days now and naturally, we will report on our experiences. Is it really as promising as the trailers and articles suggest? There will be answers to this, not only in black and white but also with the help of an annotated video! To avoid completely embarrassing myself, I’m already practicing a bit. See you soon!
To make it clear once again: Only active subscribers currently have access to space battles! Other players will have to wait a little longer.
What do you think of this expansion? Does it meet your expectations, or are you planning to start the game now because of it? By the way, you don’t even have to wait until the end level because there are no level restrictions in Galactic Starfighter!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Specialist, a Jack of All Trades or the Ultimate Allrounder?
The release date of The Elder Scrolls Online (short TESO) is not yet known, but it is inevitably getting closer, that much is certain. In recent months, there have been various insights into character development in the NextGen-MMORPG. Now the creators present a video summarizing the most important aspects. Aside from the fact that you shouldn’t miss the nearly five minutes, we’ll quickly summarize the main points at a glance.
The Typically Open Character Development
All previously released “Elder Scrolls” games have been characterized by open character development. This means that the typical class binding, as we know it from other games like World of Warcraft or Star Wars: The Old Republic, never existed in The Elder Scrolls and will not be rigidly present in the online game either. Instead, you will be able to develop (largely) individually, according to the game series. You can specialize in one thing or become a “jack of all trades”, a multitasker where anything must be expected. AND, and that is also typical for the legendary game series, in principle you should even master everything in the end. Just like perfectionists could for example in Skyrim.
Points for Skills – Here’s How You Get Them!
Killing enemies provides experience, so far so clear. When you level up, you get skill points, okay, that’s also clear. But you also earn these points not only for leveling up to a higher level, but also when using the so-called Sky Shards. These can be found throughout Tamriel, but will probably not always be easy to locate. Additionally, you can obtain points for your skills by completing certain quests associated with your main storyline.
The Level Up – Attributes and Skills
Once you have reached a new level, you receive one point for your attributes and one point for your skills.
As in Skyrim, there are three attributes – Health, Magicka, and Stamina. Health increases your vitality as usual. Magicka is consumed through the use of magic. Stamina allows you to sprint longer, for example, and is needed for certain weapon skills. You decide how your character develops further. More vitality to withstand more damage? A super genius wizard overflowing with Magicka? Or a specialist in physical damage? What will it be? Maybe a bit of everything? We will see.
With skill points, you can learn new skills or spells. These, in turn, belong to certain skill lines that are thematically grouped. If you frequently use a specific spell, you gain access to stronger abilities in the respective line.
The Development of Skills
If you have gained enough experience with a skill, you get the opportunity to change it and further individualize your use of it.
Example: A Templar could change the skill “Hasty Ceremony”, which heals a nearby allied player, so that he heals three allied players or that he restores part of his own Magicka upon use.
The Ultimate Skill
Each skill line ends with an ultimate skill, which is considered one of the most powerful forces in the game. These skills consume neither Magicka nor Stamina. Instead, you must earn the right to use the ultimate power. How exactly will still have to be shown. Once triggered, they are said to have devastating impacts on a battlefield. We are excited. 🙂
Passive Skills
In addition to the previously presented skills, which are referred to as Active, there are also Passive skills that work permanently in the background. Examples include: dealing more fire damage permanently or being able to turn enemies into a pile of ashes.
Two Decisions That Will Influence Everything Else
Overall, character development seems to follow the typical open principle of The Elder Scrolls. However, during character creation, you will have to make two decisions that will significantly influence your progress: your race and your class.
The choice of race brings both visual aspects and additional skills.
Each class will give you three unique skill lines, which, of course, are thematically adjusted to the respective class but leave you open as to what role you want to take in the game.
Both decisions are supposed to have an impact, but ultimately only make up a fraction of what will be possible for you in the game. For example, numerous skills are available to all players, classes, and races. Best example: armor and weapons. If you enjoy a battle mage in full armor wielding a hefty battle axe, then go for it! 😀
Completely Discover New Skill Lines in the Game Itself!
Another way to individualize your character is to discover skill lines in the game itself. For example, by joining the Mage Guild or the Warrior Guild. Or by becoming a vampire or werewolf.
Short Conclusion:
Well, what can you say about that? Just release the game, I want to start Tamriel feeling adventurous!
What do you think? Will the game rock? Do you like the open character development? Does TESO have the chance to truly become the NextGen MMORPG? Share your thoughts, we look forward to your input! 😉
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
This event deserves to be celebrated – See what you get out of it!
Admittedly, we congratulate the successful MMOFPS in principle belatedly, because Planetside 2 actually had its birthday on November 20, but the nice thing about online game celebrations is that they usually last a bit longer. A good example, by the way, is the 9th birthday of World of Warcraft, in which you currently receive an in-game item that increases your experience and earned reputation by 9 percent. Just take a look at Groinkh (Let’s Play), he discovers it just for himself. 😛
But back to the actual point of the post: PLANETSIDE 2 is turning one year old, and the creators are celebrating this by giving the community and, of course, newcomers a few gifts. And what exactly do we gamers get out of it now?
The Mega Package – What does it cost and what does it bring (no more)?
There would have been the so-called Mega Package, which already sounds quite nice by its name. Unfortunately, it was only available for four (petty) days and is already out of the race. We say: Doesn’t matter, it would have included some nice items, but it would have cost at least 27.19 € if you had purchased Station Cash for 85 €. 🙁
Share your WarStories! – What is that?
This is something for the creatives among you. Until December 17, 2013, you can still submit your Planetside 2 “WarStory”. This means you come up with a snazzy story suitable for the game that is between 800 and 5000 words long – so rather a short story or a small anecdote from one of your battles. Then you send the story via email to this address: [email protected] and provide your username, the title of your story, and the empire you primarily belong to. The latter serves the fact that there will be a main winner for each empire. You can optionally enhance it with images and videos. However, since the trick will not explicitly help you (for fairness reasons), you could basically save yourself this effort. 😉
There’s a lot to win. As mentioned, the empires will be rewarded separately. Thus, there will be a total of three first places, three second places, and three third places. So I don’t have to write everything down, here’s just the suitable screenshot for you:
The other WarStory finalists each receive a Planetside 2 box as well. This includes all finalists, meaning the three highest entries from the community of the corresponding language and the corresponding empire. If you want to participate and want more information, you can find it here.
Newbies take note – it’s about you now!
Those who do not have a Planetside 2 account (or want to quickly set up a new one) are not only completely free to play the amazing shooter with thousands of players online, but they also receive the anniversary package free of charge on the occasion of the first birthday. And what nice things are in there? An XP Booster, which you better take only after you have got a bit into the game, and a Light Machine Gun (LMG) for the empire you choose. The booster lasts a whole day and gives 50 % more experience. Since the offer is valid until December 31, 2013, we recommend that you simply use a free vacation or holiday day for it. 😀
The package is worth 750 SC (Station Cash). In euros, that’s currently exactly 5.10 €, if you take the same example as above. Not much, but at least free. So if you’ve been wanting to try out Planetside 2 anyway, it’s advisable to do so now.
We wish all participants of the WarStory event good luck and all readers much enjoyment in Planetside 2!
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The date for the next “Letter from the Producer Live – Part 11” is now known and will provide you with some brand new information about the promising Patch 2.1 that will be released on December 17, 2013.
Via livestream, Naoki Yoshida, the director and producer of FF XIV, will be answering your questions. The URL for the stream is not yet fixed but will be provided here as soon as the address is known. The topics include the Wolf’s Den, where after a long time of waiting, you can engage in intense PVP duels in an arena, as well as treasure hunting and a fearsome primal that the savior Yoshida doesn’t want to withhold from you.
If that’s not enough, they will also show you gameplay footage of the soon-to-be-released PS4 version, which has been available for purchase since November 29 (the console, that is). Furthermore, Yoshida will also discuss the Remote Play feature of the PlayStation Vita and much more.
You can see it all live on December 14, starting at 1 PM our time (the time is admittedly a bit unusual due to the time zone difference).
Accommodations and a whole package full of dungeons
In the Copperbell Mines, you can expect challenging bosses!
At this point, I would like to remind you of the content that was already described in more detail a few weeks ago and that will also be included with the new patch: This includes the promising housing system, with which you will soon be able to acquire your own accommodation within a free company and furnish it according to your taste. In addition, the endgame will be expanded with five challenging dungeons. Many players had complained about the low number of instances at the end level, which will likely be resolved.
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Do you also have a few questions for the director and producer of FF XIV regarding Patch 2.1 that you would like to ask? Then head to the FF XIV forum or simply tweet your question here https://twitter.com/FF_XIV_DE
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
You will find out now and today in this test report. So read, form your own opinion, and be happy with an amazing dragon by your side..
Without a doubt, the imposing dragons are here THE central element, but it is self-explanatory that an online role-playing game involves more than just going on an adventure with a more or less powerful companion.
The developer Runewaker, known for its award-winning debut Runes of Magic, throws a bunch of features into the mix with its new title that brings a wide grin to the faces of most genre fans. Battles for territories, deep character development, action-packed fights, a home of your own, and not least a vibrant fantasy world. Someone has set themselves a lot of goals, perhaps too many?
Rocky start
Was the game released too early? Time to ponder…
A few months ago, my answer would have been a clear “YES”. I had already taken a look during the open beta, but the disillusionment came faster than expected. I did not stay long, and to summarize in one word, “unfinished” seems mild – even for a beta. Serious bugs, item shop too expensive, weaknesses in game design, missing content, and so on…
The negative feedback was, of course, not spared for the operators, and they reacted with numerous improvements. To give an example, the release version on September 19, 2013 even came with a 6-meter-long paper of patch notes. On one hand, it is a sign that improvements to the player experience are being worked on intensively. On the other hand, it reveals that apparently, much was not going as hoped.
Why the free MMO Dragon’s Prophet is still worth a look, I will explain to you in the following sections.
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As seen in the video, there is a really large number of features advertised. Mein MMO took a closer look at the content advertised in the video. Do you want to know more? Then read the test on Dragon’s Prophet *breathing fire* 😉
May the games begin!
The adventure begins on the starting island Puretia, after you have chosen from one of 4 selectable classes – a weapon master, magician, hunter, and a cleric are available here. The character editor in Dragon’s Prophet is very extensive and grants you plenty of freedom – the range of sliders allows you to create a distinctive Osira. Auratia, we are ready!
The start begins in Puretia, a place where you suddenly wake up…
What should not be a problem for MMO veterans, can be a challenge for newcomers at first: The game is rather complex in itself, and the sometimes weak tutorials certainly do not help. You have to teach yourself a lot based on the motto “learning by doing” or “try and error”. I don’t find that bad per se, as it obviously works, but one would like a little guidance.
After a brief introduction to the story and a few quests, you will quickly tame your first dragon. These giant lizards are capable of performing more functions than the best pet ever could. The first encounter with this creature quickly makes you forget that the entry into the game otherwise goes unspectacularly. The strange cutscenes also contribute to this.
Taming dragons made easy?
This Osira has successfully tamed a dragon.
First, let’s discuss the taming process. To establish a relationship with a dragon, you must prove yourself in a mini-game where you jump on the creature and try not to fall off! This is rodeo at its finest and a task that, depending on the level and type of your lizard-like counterpart, can be easier or harder.
For those who are already despairing at the thought of a mini-game, let me tell you that this process can be simplified with the help of an item shop item. However, I was never tempted during my attempts, I’m just a real cowboy ;-). Joking aside, failing occasionally actually motivates you to try again and be more successful next time!
Many dragons can be accommodated in the enclosure.
The abilities of each creature are random, so you spend quite some time creating the perfect partner. In your dragon enclosure, however, it is also possible for the magical beings to teach each other, which fortunately makes this process a bit more practical.
Some may recognize a hint of Pokemon here. That’s right, it feels like that. Just more extensive.
Particularly appealing are the impressively designed Legendary Dragons, which are not so easy to obtain. Of course, they differ in size and appearance from the common standard dragons, making them doubly desirable. This also increases the chance of owning a dragon that other players envy you – cool, right?
Where do I find these rare creatures!? Either at a very low percentage in dungeons, in the open world, through group activities, or by summoning them using a dragon flute, you have several ways open to you. In this context, I find it noteworthy to mention the intense cooperation between guild members and the community at large, who all pursue the same passion: how to obtain dragon X or Y.
Side by side with Legendary Dragons.
The Dragon Features – very well implemented!
What do the ultimate dragons bring me? They definitely showcase Dragon’s Prophet and I know of no game that has set up such a comprehensive companion system. Your companion is a multifunctional super beast.
The interpretation of dragons in this MMO is very broad. From a Velociraptor dinosaur to mammoths and crocodiles, to the classic serpentine winged hybrids as they are usually depicted today, you will encounter several forms here. Some might be thinking: What’s going on here? They look completely different in my children’s books…? But honestly, I don’t mind at all, as these differences do bring variety to the game. Someone who is familiar with the myths also knows that dragons do not follow just one model.
The appearance also partly reflects what they are capable of, as a crocodilian dragon swims faster, for example, and a winged monster shows its strengths in the air. This way, you select the most effective companion for every path. But what would a partner be if they couldn’t cook? 😉 Phew, lucky for me! They also master this, so you can send them to gather, cook, and god knows what else.
It’s always best when fighting alongside your dragon!
Now it gets exciting: Besides the crafting and movement skills, the companion also fights by your side. They contribute significantly to the battle and actively assist you with attacks as well as healing. I owe my favorite dragon several lives. I want to take this opportunity to thank him again.
What about the hero himself, your irresistible alter ego? Can this also be individualized more deeply? The answer is short and clear: yes.
In addition to a selection of individually fillable attributes, a sort of skill tree (mastery skills), several ways to improve and specialize your equipment, dragon skills also play a major role.
Once the player forms a bond with the dragon, there is a chance to gain special abilities from the dragon that you can adopt. Through these skills, you also define your role: the all-rounder, a caring healer, or a pure damage-dealing killing machine?
Although the official page mentions tanks, the purpose of that escapes me. I never needed a tank on my journey, not even in a raid. Thus, the interplay between healing and damage is more important.
This dragon can swim quickly!
Actually, there is not much to complain about with these exciting features. Of course, you wish for a few more dragon models here and there, but let’s stay grounded; the game has only been officially out for 2 months, and in this regard, quite a lot is certainly still to come (shortly after I finished the test, new ones came out…).
There are, however, other areas of the game that currently seem to lack potential. A few downsides exist, though, as some rare dragons can also be purchased in the shop, which negatively impacts their “rarity”. And I miss a bit of the “emotional” bond with my companion, as there is no real communication between character and companion. If you still want to build an attachment, then strain your imagination.
Action-packed fights, dungeons, and quests: Room for improvement
Dragon’s Prophet relies on an action-packed real-time combat system, much like we know from Tera, Neverwinter, or Guild Wars 2. It is not so far-fetched to wonder why many developers are increasingly preferring this over turn-based combat systems.
It creates the feeling of having more control over your character and not being at the mercy of random numbers. As the player, you have to block at the right moment or dodge in a specific direction, which gives it a distinct dynamic. This also includes independent aiming, which might captivate you more as it requires you to engage more intensely with your opponent’s movements. But as the world is, tastes differ.
Still room for improvement, but it’s fun nonetheless!
I wouldn’t call the fight perfect here, but rather improvable. The fun of combat is definitely present and stands out thanks to an innovative beat ’em up style combo system; it’s just that it still feels quite rough and repetitive in places. There’s a sense that the time for fine-tuning has been too short so far. It can be annoying when the collision detection is again weak. Not infrequently, character models collide, which might increase the birth rate between a man and a woman, but in sweat-inducing battles, it simply seems hindered.
The animations look partly really good and are convincing; however, there is also a downside. The sprint animation, for instance, appears too unnatural. Moreover, while it’s a very nice approach that hits not only reduce health points but can also knock you down or spin you through the air, the implementation suffers as the animations lack any physics and show no smooth transitions.
You know what I enjoy most in this MMO?
Pulling large monster groups! It’s just so much fun to draw all sorts of things to one point, throw them around, and ultimately annihilate them. Sometimes it’s too much and you die, but it doesn’t matter. It’s fun. They’ve really done a great job with this. WHAM!
The dungeons are, in my opinion, quite challenging yet not always satisfying in the free online role-playing game Dragon’s Prophet. This is partly due to the many bugs that occasionally force you to restart the instance, and secondly, I find the bosses somewhat limited in their capabilities. Please reduce the anabolic consumption and increase their IQ a bit!
Sammos, a boss from the challenging raid.
The problem with action-rich combat systems is often that tactical elements are left behind. I did not experience creative events on my odyssey. However, I find it very positive that there are different difficulty levels for both solo and group players!
Yes, exactly, every dungeon can also be played alone in its first level – sure, the reward is lower, but not every Osira is after epic items or feels the desire to look for a group for hours. For group lovers, a new raid has recently appeared that is quite demanding.
The quests in Dragon’s Prophet are anything but exciting and mainly consist of “kill this, collect that…”. Here, everyone must decide for themselves whether they really need exciting and varied tasks or not. The dragon MMO is very classically designed and can be referred to as more of a “grinder”.
The monsters in Dragon’s Prophet look quite unique.
In my opinion, it does hinder motivation from time to time. It doesn’t help if you are sent back to the same place again and have to defeat the same opponents once more. The dynamically generated events do liven things up, but on the other hand, they unfortunately also reinforce the effect of having just defeated certain enemies (felt for the 10th time). One should address this and try to keep dynamic quests almost completely separate from regular tasks.
Atmosphere: Graphics and immersion
Let’s start with the positives. Graphically speaking, I find Dragon’s Prophetmostly quite gorgeous, at least on maximum details: Although it may come off better in some other games, I believe it is quite far from causing eye cancer. Just don’t expect ultra-modern graphics and live with some weaknesses, which include a somewhat inconsistent style: sometimes realistic, then stylistic – the graphic designers seemed to disagree.
The world of Auratia, however, is coherent and believable to a certain extent. The creatures are suitably integrated into the environment, so you’ll meet frogs, cranes, or water dragons near lakes and streams, bandits in remote camps, and so on. Unfortunately, many species appear over-proportioned here and there. Are they all that fertile or what?
The vastness of the game world is overwhelming, as the player is not only on the ground but also in the air. It goes very, very high up. If you now think that emptiness always haunts you at cloud height, you are mistaken. Even at an altitude of about 100 meters, you’ll sometimes encounter floating islands, tall mountains, or similar. You often have to complete tasks at such heights, which in turn makes the areas more appealing, as you sometimes land on plateaus that are again equipped with caves, monuments, and other objects.
What I personally find important is that the world feels alive. It does here, but unfortunately, the handling is not always consistent. Things move around you, and the day-night rhythm also benefits the atmosphere.
There’s also attention to small but fine details in some places. I can spontaneously think of the occasional fights between animals, which rarely occurs in many other games because apparently all beings love one another. And even when you walk over grasses and plants as a player, this has an influence, and you see how the green friends under you move after each step.
It is also worth mentioning that with a clever travel system, the game occasionally takes a break from its pace, allowing you to attend to other things: Why not talk to the player next door about ongoing alliances or simply enjoy the surroundings? With trains like the Polar Express and airships, you can travel from one area to another – however, they do not run constantly, so sometimes it takes 2-3 minutes before it is said: “Please board, the journey will begin shortly!”
Please board and don’t be surprised: The train drives itself 🙂
Unfortunately, the immersion goes lost because “the concept did not reach the destination”. Waiting for the next trip is boring, as you rarely encounter other players at the stops, which is probably due to the large world. Theoretically, it would be possible to make up for the time with mini-games or similar, but unfortunately, there aren’t any! Moreover, the public transport is controlled completely automatically. Pretty spooky, right?
The developer hasn’t always succeeded in creating a world that feels unique. You get the feeling that especially in the beginnings, a lot has been seen before. A fantasy setting that too rarely surprises with beautiful scenarios.
It would probably have been better to make the areas a bit smaller; in return, more attention could have been paid to the nuances. I felt, especially in the oversized cities, where there are too many, like a little lonely ant on an exploration tour. Like I said, there are players around, but the world could really use a few more.
Winterflut is discovered beyond level 50…
Moreover, I do not understand why the environment hardly changes up to level 50 and keeps the same color scheme. Why do the desert, ice, and volcano areas only start to gradually appear after about 50 levels, which subsequently brings a bit of variety to the game?
Housing, Frontier System, and PvP
First, it is possible to settle in Dragon’s Prophet and claim an apartment, regular house, or even a villa for yourself. In the Auratian sky realm, you will find areas where players can settle, and after purchasing the land, fulfill the wish for their own home.
My alter ego, my dragon, my house!
Of course, you can beautify your home with various decorative items. It is also practical to be able to take in boosts or practice professions by placing the necessary tools. There’s still room for improvement here. On the islands designated for this purpose, construction was active, but there seem to be too few incentives to keep coming back – it almost resembles a ghost town. This is probably because it is a “world of its own” and players are busy with their tasks on other maps. There is a need for optimization in this respect. I want real neighbors!
The Frontier System consists initially of an ongoing conflict between alliances, where islands are attacked and defended on specially designed terrain. In several phases, the goal is to gain the upper hand by taking over crystals on islands and gaining victory points by killing enemy players. This part describes the Citadel System and is probably the most eventful spectacle in territory warfare.
After a successful takeover, a Highlord is crowned, who is responsible for managing and defending the claimed sky island, for which various defensive structures are needed. Taxes must also be levied because this endeavor is not cheap. The question then is whether a possibly too high tax rate is justified, which can lead to tensions.
Frontier System: Exciting battles between alliances!
Rewards are also not lacking here; for example, useful items can be acquired that allow summoning tamable Legendary Dragons. A rather complex system, yet unfortunately, the game lacks sufficient explanations for it.
PvP is already fun due to the real-time combat system, but I found that during my daring excursions outside the safe zones, battles are extremely brief. Often, just one combo is enough to kill the opponent. In addition, the engine’s performance in larger player groups still leaves much to be desired, and the dragon battles in the air are too imprecise and thus almost pointless. The mounted combat is, however, still quite fresh.
Some will painfully miss an alternative to open PvP. Instanced battlefields like arenas, which are standard in the genre, unfortunately do not exist at this time.
Nevertheless, it is commendable to program content that is virtually never-ending, continuously providing new situations and allowing players to exert influence on their environment.
You will notice that the PvP is still in its infancy, but good approaches are in place – the question is whether the footprints aren’t too big to follow comfortably.
I am a bit conflicted. The dragon MMO oscillates between genius and madness, because after all, we have a companion system that is second to none and without a doubt the best in the genre.
But the not always smooth implementation outside of the dragon features and the boring quests leave me no choice but to recommend the game only conditionally, with the note that Dragon’s Prophet is a young wine that still needs to mature. Time is a precious commodity, and it clearly shows in several areas: there just wasn’t enough of it.
The combat system is fun, the territory wars lead to exciting combat between players, the customization is profound, and so on and so forth – but all the features have something in common: the polish is missing, and so is some love for detail. Good ideas, just not fully thought out.
However, for those who love online role-playing games with companions and have spent nights playing Pokemon, this MMORPG is practically a must. If it doesn’t manage to convince, where lies the problem? After all, it’s free to play – at least it’s enough to get a good impression.
For those who wish for a smooth start, we recommend the starter package for Dragon’s Prophet, which is available for about €10 and provides the player with useful in-game items. These would otherwise cost more than €20 when bought normally. Furthermore, you also get a nice box for the game.
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The game is free and accessible to everyone without further ado. The question is whether the model is indeed fair. Essentially, you can achieve everything in Dragon’s Prophet without payment, but there are definitely a few points that could significantly dampen the gaming experience.
The spaces in the backpack and dragon enclosure are very limited, for example. After a while, you will likely become extremely annoyed being limited in these aspects. For me personally, it was already too much, and I had no choice but to expand these spaces eventually. Fortunately, it is very inexpensive and costs only a few euros, especially if you combine it with a promotion. Therefore, I find that acceptable because an MMORPG cannot be financed without revenue.
What annoys me the most is that you have to pay for the port to the dungeons when you are on another map and do not want to travel for too long. This is probably the reason why group matchmaking via the group finder simply doesn’t work – getting to the destination can be quite cumbersome depending on your location, unless you pay for direct transport with diamonds or use a transport rune.
There’s a reason why no known F2P game, except Dragon’s Prophet, generally asks for money for this. Fairly, I must say that you can also earn the transport runes in-game, but then you are short on tokens elsewhere, which are more important. Those are better spent on upgrading equipment, which is also not exactly cheap.
However, I must also give some praise to the publisher Infernum at this point. They continuously distribute gifts to active players, which I have never experienced to this extent.
Moreover, you can also trade item shop items with other players, which of course benefits frequent players. All in all, a good free to play model with some weaknesses.
[intense_icon type=”cogs” size=”1″ color=”#000000″ /]Minimum system requirements:
CPU: Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or equivalent
Graphics Card: Nvidia 8600 GT or equivalent
RAM: 2 GB
Hard Drive: 20 GB of free storage space
Operating System: Windows 7, 8, or Vista
CPU: i3 3220 3.3 GHz Dual Core or equivalent
Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 460 / AMD HD 5850 or equivalent
RAM: 8 GB
Hard Drive: 20 GB of free storage space
Operating System: Windows 7, 8, or Vista
Good morning, afternoon or evening! I am Cortyn and from now on you will read something from me here at more or less regular intervals, which may not directly relate to the latest patch notes or the newest raid bosses of a MMORPG.
Instead, I will try to highlight some aspects in this column that I personally find very interesting and, in my opinion, have been significantly underrepresented so far.
Of course, this cannot happen without your help, because although I have already prepared some topics, I am very dependent on your opinions and feedback, which you can share with me through the comment function – no, actually, you MUST do that. Let me know what you would like to read about, otherwise I will just imposingly force you to read my own topics!
I want to start with a conflict that most people in “our community” have probably encountered.
The everlasting discussion about whether friendships formed on the internet are less valuable than so-called “real” friendships in the immediate neighborhood.
True friendships also form online.
I only speak for myself here and I am also curious about your opinions, but I consider these generalizations to be absolute nonsense.
Every time I had to listen to that the friends I made in World of Warcraft or back then “Silkroad” were less valuable and then “when it matters” wouldn’t be there for me, I felt really angry inside. The worst for me was when someone tried to make me believe that these friendships were supposedly only virtual.
To my counter-question about how a human feeling, a key aspect of human life, like friendship can be virtual, I never received a reasonable answer. And it should also be shown that these prejudices could not hold.
What began back in the “Valley of Northshire” is still today – almost 8 years later – my largest circle of friends and has developed so well that I even moved in with some of these people. Of course, not all friendships from back then have endured, some people have been lost from view, but that has also happened in my local area.
What I have learned from this is that friendship can never be virtual. It is real, whether it is the neighbor or my fellow player in the worlds of the internet.
I am curious about your opinions; put them in the comments and feel free to suggest topics you would like to read about!
What is your view on the whole thing?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
TAADAAA! Groinkh struggles through the jungle and frees the former war chief of the Horde, Thrall, from the captivity of the Alliance. Shortly thereafter, he zooms off to further heroic deeds….see for yourself! And those who don’t want to miss anything should subscribe to us on YouTube. 🙂
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The Free to Play Action MMO Neverwinter will receive a major update next week, equivalent to an expansion, bringing many new features that players have been waiting for.
The long-awaited Ranger is introduced in the video, a classic ranged fighter with bow and arrow, which will be added to the game on December 5. The community has repeatedly urged the developers to finally integrate the Ranger into Neverwinter, and with good reason. The Ranger is one of the core classes in the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. For those who don’t know: This online role-playing game is based on it. Anyway – the wish is finally being fulfilled.
Module 2, also known as Shadowmantle, seems to fulfill many wishes overall. This includes the new Paragon Paths, which are intended to provide more variety within a class. The system effectively allows players to explore different gameplay paths without having to switch classes. In addition, the overall package includes a new adventure area, a fresh campaign, revised item enhancements, and artifacts that will further deepen character customization. You can find more details in the source.
If you want to take a closer look at the online game, there’s no need to hesitate – Neverwinter is free to play and thus accessible to everyone. Just follow the button to plunge into the adventure!
My MMO provides a space for interesting RP stories
Massive Multi Online Role Playing Game – that’s what online role-playing games like the classic World of Warcraft or The Lord of the Rings Online as well as Star Wars: The Old Republic are called grandiosely. Unfortunately, not all role-playing games provide a sufficient basis for well-told stories. Sure, a lot depends on the community, and there are indeed exemplary guilds that have conducted well-staged role-play events and maybe still do so regularly. Some well-maintained guild websites on the internet also provide their members with exciting and interesting stories about internal group characters or even played role-play evenings. And exactly those stories and others that may arise in a similar way, we now want to provide a basis for!
You can write well, and have already enriched some exciting group evenings with a great story? Well, then…bring it on! My MMO offers you the opportunity to present your stories, whether retold or completely made up, to the interested MMO audience. You can do this anonymously, with a pseudonym, or your real name – we are completely flexible to your wishes.
Show your interpretation of your favorite MMO!
The most important fundamental requirement is that your story must take place in an existing MMO. We don’t even limit ourselves to an MMORPG. So if you have a great story to tell that takes place in the futuristic Planetside 2 shooter, wonderful! Bring it on!
“A perfectly written text and grammar is definitely an unavoidable MUST-have!” 🙂
No, we’re not that way at all! So it would really be desirable if you wouldn’t let it slide. After all, the girls and boys here should be excited about your story and not have to sift through funny neologisms or convoluted sentence structures. But nothing is perfect, and if you don’t try, well, that would truly be a shame for the lost stories.
Once upon a time there was a Groinkh, who had such big …
So hit the keys and send us your interesting roleplay stories. Feel free to abbreviate or split them into smaller chunks. We’d love to see pictures or maybe even a short video. We will take a look at it first, think about the presentation, give you some feedback, and with your permission, we’ll send your very own story out into the wild! Who can say what could come of it. 😉
Good luck and, more importantly, have fun writing!
P.S. By the way, we can disable comment and rating options if you prefer that. Not every author wants feedback. As the saying goes: “A gentleman remains silent and enjoys” or alternatively modern: “A gamer girl remains silent and enjoys!” 🙂
P.P.S. Like, share, comment! And a little tip; you are allowed (if the story is good) to do a bit of guild advertising.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
TAADAAAAA! Groinkh went through the light and happily continues to stumble through the World of Warcraft. Shipwrecked, he first needs to get an overview and encounters both the Horde and the Alliance…. he even meets one faction below the belt. Heheheheheeee. More about WoW can also be found on Mein MMO at: World of Warcraft: The War Within
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Flirting or focusing on the mission?
Romantic relationship between master and companion? Find out…
Your companions handle the crafting for you.
Battles between players are fun in SW:TOR!
SW:TOR offers exciting operations with unique bosses. Here is the final boss from Horror from the Depths.
Even with the first version, the ships can be varied and improved!
Target locked, ready to fire, and missed – the opponent evaded with a dodging maneuver!
Galactic Starfighter: Practice Makes Perfect!
What role will you play in the Star Wars universe?
Cortyn: SWTOR makes a good impression even after two years thanks to the revisions, although the graphics now seem quite outdated and struggle to compete with newer representatives of the genre.
SW:TOR is free, but frugal players must deal with some restrictions: Free players earn less experience points and can only play a limited number of PvP areas and Flashpoints per week, have only 2 character slots, and each avatar can learn only one crafting profession instead of three, and your credit cap is strictly limited. If you just want to experience the rewarding character story, that is more than sufficient.
Was the game released too early? Time to ponder…
The start begins in Puretia, a place where you suddenly wake up…
This Osira has successfully tamed a dragon.
Many dragons can be accommodated in the enclosure.
Side by side with Legendary Dragons.
It’s always best when fighting alongside your dragon!
This dragon can swim quickly!
Still room for improvement, but it’s fun nonetheless!
Sammos, a boss from the challenging raid.
The monsters in Dragon’s Prophet look quite unique.
Please board and don’t be surprised: The train drives itself 🙂
Winterflut is discovered beyond level 50…
My alter ego, my dragon, my house!
Frontier System: Exciting battles between alliances!
