A small trick helps to expose annoying bots in World of Warcraft faster. You just need to be a mentor.
While many are still frolicking in WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria, the “normal” game is once again plagued by bots and twinks placed on all realms to advertise boosts. It’s hard to keep up with reporting them.
WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria – All Features at a Glance
Why can mentors recognize bots? If you are a mentor (“Guide”) in World of Warcraft, new players will be shown to you with a special Murloc symbol – even through the walls of houses.
This post from the WoW subreddit shows how well it works:
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Especially in Stormwind and Orgrimmar, many of the current new players are indeed bots. The characters usually have a gibberish name and often stand in a corner of some house, staring at the wall while posting in various channels.
What are the bots advertising? Currently, there is a lot of advertising for getting a boost in WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria. You pay for that with gold from a “real” character and in return, you get a “boost” in WoW Remix – usually a run through a raid or the quick leveling of a character.
Is that forbidden? Advertising such services is not fundamentally prohibited, but it is if done in the wrong channel or on other realms. Since some of the most aggressive providers are advertising on nearly all realms, it’s pretty obvious that this violates the rules. A report is usually completely appropriate. Worse than in the capitals is it currently only in Goldshire – but for different reasons.
If you want to tidy up a bit in your capital city – activate the mentor system and report a few obvious bots.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The 2000s had some comedies that were vulgar, silly, and quite crude, but they hit the youthful target audience just right. MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes watched a film on Amazon Prime that hits this same mark, but is much more modern.
Which film is it? The film Bottoms was released in 2023 and is a comedy that satirically deals with well-known high school tropes. The two lesbian students, PJ and Josie, who represent classic losers, are the main characters of the film. Through absurd incidents, the two start a self-defense class, which is more like a fight club, to get closer to the cheerleaders.
Bottoms is, as you can guess from the premise, not a delicate or elegant film. The film is silly and extremely vulgar. The familiar high school tropes are parodied to the extent that at one point I thought the movie was an R-rated version of something like High School Musical.
You can get a first look at the film here:
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Bottoms – Trailer for the modern high school comedy from 2023
Disney Channel for Adults
Bottoms is a satire about high school clichés. The world in Bottoms is absolutely exaggerated. The many students seem like blueprints from the cliché box, and especially the football players and the holy quarterback are an absurd highlight. The star player of the school is almost worshipped like a god, and in the cafeteria, he sits like Jesus with his disciples.
The clichés are the perfect contrast to the two protagonists, who are the classic losers but are portrayed as the only normal ones while watching. The silly situations go so far that I was also reminded of something like Scary Movie.
The fight club is pure fun, because instead of learning real self-defense, they just hit each other. You shouldn’t expect intelligent jokes here, but the film never pretends that you should expect such things.
The many Disney Channel clichés are taken to the extreme at the end when the rival high school wants to get revenge on the players, going beyond insults.
Despite the Dark Humor, There Are Important Themes
Bottoms also addresses socially relevant themes. Just the two protagonists are a big contrast to other female roles in such films. They portray the pubescent losers that are usually played by men.
Topics such as sexual harassment, homophobia, or feminism are also addressed. This is never done subtly, but it fits perfectly with the vulgar film.
When the female students talk about their problems, the teacher interrupts them with: Guys, I’m getting divorced or Men need therapy too. This shows in a comedic way how women’s issues are often related to men or interrupted directly.
Unlike in other films, this feels organic in Bottoms. Bottoms never tries to tug at the heartstrings or make the mood more serious, and I really liked that. Nothings seems out of place because of that.
I had a lot of fun with Bottoms. This is due to the fights, but also to the social themes. However, one shouldn’t expect a deep exploration here. Not everyone will enjoy the comedic aspects. But if you miss American Pie and want to see a more modern version of something like it, you will have fun with Bottoms. If you want to poke fun at Generation Y, you should check this out: The new film “Old Dads” on Netflix is ideal for everyone who hates 30-year-olds
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Clint Eastwood is counted among the greatest icons that Hollywood has produced. He is not only a talented actor but also an award-winning director. His greatest success came with a film for which he was originally the second choice.
Which film is it about? Clint Eastwood directed American Sniper. The film is based on the memoirs of Chris Kyle, the deadliest American sniper with over 160 confirmed kills. He earned the title “Al-Shaitan,” which translates to “the devil.”
The film begins during the Iraq War. We see Chris Kyle shooting a boy who was attempting to kill American soldiers with a grenade. His mother is also shot by the sniper.
Kyle experienced a strict upbringing in his childhood. His father beat him and raised him to defend himself with violence.
He experienced a total of four extended deployments in Iraq. His social life suffered as he only integrated superficially. This made his relationship with his wife increasingly difficult.
There was an intense shootout with an Al-Qaeda terrorist. Kyle was able to come out on top.
He could never return to normal life. Ultimately, he was shot by another veteran at a shooting range.
The screenplay for the film landed with several directors. Ultimately, it was Clint Eastwood who was able to impose his vision of the film. Although he was only the second choice, it became his greatest success (via Collider).
One of Eastwood’s best Western films is Unforgiven:
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Clint Eastwood created a great Western with ‘Unforgiven’
American Sniper became the biggest hit for Clint Eastwood
Why was Eastwood only the second choice? Originally, screenwriter Jason Hall wanted to impress with the story. He had formed a close bond with the real Chris Kyle. But America was not ready in 2013 to implement his vision of the film.
After Kyle’s death, director Steven Spielberg took up the screenplay. He made some changes to the script and wanted to focus more on the personality of the Al-Qaeda terrorist. He was supposed to be a sort of mirror to Kyle, which made the screenplay move in a more psychological direction. As a result, the page count of the screenplay increased,
However, Spielberg did not get the budget he wanted. His ideas were too expensive, which is why he dropped out of the project. Only then did Eastwood take the reins and cut some content to fit within the budget. Spielberg’s original idea of incorporating the antagonist more significantly remained intact.
How successful was he with that? American Sniper became Clint Eastwood’s biggest success. According to Box Office Mojo, the film earned over 547 million USD at the box office. This makes the film even more successful than Gran Torino, Sully, and Million Dollar Baby. Eastwood was therefore lucky that Spielberg dropped out of the project.
For the 10th anniversary of The Elder Scrolls Online and the console launch of Gold Road, MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz had the opportunity to speak with Creative Director Rich Lambert about the past decade, criticism of the new chapter, and the hottest MMORPG summer in years.
Since April, celebrations for the 10th anniversary of The Elder Scrolls Online have been underway. The party is set to continue until June 2025, which marks ten years since the console version of the MMORPG was released. Speaking of consoles: Since June 3, 2024, you can experience the new chapter Gold Road on PC, followed by the release for Xbox and PlayStation on June 18.
This time, Rich Lambert took the time to answer my questions. Rich has been the Creative Director at Zenimax since June 2014 and has been involved in the full seven years of development time of Elder Scrolls Online as Lead Content Designer. He is usually the one who presents the new chapters to the press and public.
[toc]
Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz is the MMORPG expert at MeinMMO. He has been dealing with the best genre in the world almost daily for 15 years. His private first contact was in 2005. Since then, he has accumulated several years of playtime in various online role-playing games and has played almost every relevant genre representative of the past two decades at least for a while.
He has been following The Elder Scrolls Online since the beta. He was there at launch and knows every DLC and every chapter. With his Khajiit Nightblade, he has already been able to traverse dungeons alongside the developers multiple times.
However, it is impossible to compare the playable area of different chapters without tools. For example, in the center of Vvardenfell stands the enormous volcano. Other chapters brought vast underground areas in addition to the overworld map. I wanted to know exactly from Rich: How do the West Marshes stack up in direct comparison? His answer:
Of course, we have seen the criticism and taken the feedback. The engine of our game world consists of many cells, and when you look at the number of cells from which the West Marshes are constructed, the size of the region actually turns out to be similar to that of previous chapters.
However, I also find that one area in the northeast, where five wayshrines are within sight, quite strange.
We wanted to try something here that we hadn’t done before. What is interesting is: For every person who tells us that they dislike the writing tasks for the reasons you mentioned, there is someone else who is happy to return to old areas they haven’t visited in ages…[ ]
However, we are looking closely at the mentioned points of criticism and have also identified some issues around the writing system that can be improved – such as regarding the unlocking of recipes with alternate characters…[ ] It simply doesn’t feel as good as we hoped to earn the writing schematics a second and third time.
Rich Lambert in conversation with MeinMMO
The discussions surrounding the launch of Gold Road were ultimately accompanied by Pay2Win accusations because you have to purchase the chapter Gold Road to gain access to the skills of the writing system. I wanted to know from Rich how he evaluates this and whether similar accusations had already been made when new classes were introduced through chapters.
Every time. As soon as we release a new class with a chapter, there are some people who complain that it is Pay2Win. However, we don’t see it that way because the skills that come with new classes or now with the writing system aren’t really noticeably more powerful than the skills you can access alternatively.
They’re just new and thus interesting, and some skills come with cool effects. However, our PvP is so skill-based that a less experienced player with the best possible gear and skills will never win against a hardcore PvP veteran…[ ] Our job is, of course, to ensure that we don’t introduce any new skills into the game that are overly powerful.
Rich Lambert in conversation with MeinMMO
However, Gold Road was not only received critically in the community. There was a lot of praise, for example, for the visual design of the zones and how locations known from Oblivion like Skingrad were integrated into Elder Scrolls Online.
Many lore fans also warmly received the introduction of the new Daedric Princess Ithelia. The charismatic princess is also one of the highlights of the chapter for Rich. Just like the aforementioned writing system:
The system itself is already fantastic, with over 4,000 combinations. However, the writing system is accompanied by a story that I simply think is incredibly good. This is clearly part of the best storytelling we have done so far.
Rich Lambert in conversation with MeinMMO
“One half was sure that we would kill the game like this.”
Rich and I didn’t just talk about the new chapter, but also about the path the game has taken over the past ten years. After previously discussing the full voice-over of all dialogues with Michael Zenke and Bill Slavicsek, I wanted to know what other design decision has positively shaped the Elder Scrolls Online today.
One of the most important decisions came only after the launch, when Matt Firor and I sat down to think about what we could do to make Elder Scrolls Online something different. […]
At that time, we were caught between a rock and a hard place because the game didn’t have enough Elder Scrolls but also not enough MMO, and we had to think about what exactly we wanted to be. So I spent several days over Christmas at Matt’s house to figure out what One Tamriel could be.
Once we nailed that down, we went back to the team where we presented our pitch. And the team looked at us in disbelief: “You want to do what?!” One half was sure that we would kill the game this way. The other half was excited about our idea. And we did it, and that changed everything for the better.
Rich Lambert in conversation with MeinMMO
The update One Tamriel was released in October 2016 and brought flexible level scaling to the game world of Elder Scrolls Online. Additionally, the endgame of the MMORPG was restructured. Both created, in combination, the foundation on which ESO has been standing for almost eight years now.
A Live-Action Series for Elder Scrolls like Fallout?
You must have heard about how incredibly positively the launch of the Amazon Prime Fallout series has impacted player numbers in the various Fallout games. I want to know from Rich Lambert how such an adaptation for Elder Scrolls would need to look in his view to be worthwhile and significant.
Similar to Blizzard with Warcraft, the Zenimax team has also been hearing the demand for a live-action or CGI movie for the Elder Scrolls universe for years. Rich would be very interested in such an adaptation because the lore of Tamriel has so much to offer, but that decision is not in his hands.
Through the Amazon Prime Fallout series, Fallout 76 hit player records – here is the trailer:
Start video
The official trailer for the Fallout series on Amazon in German
Additionally, every minute of CGI film, of the quality of the cinematic trailers of Elder Scrolls Online or World of Warcraft, is extremely expensive: “Many people simply cannot imagine how expensive it is to implement something like this in CGI,” explains the developer.
The Hottest MMORPG Summer in Years
In the interview, we also discussed the various MMORPG releases that are currently and upcoming in the following weeks. Tarisland is already out. Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail and WoW: The War Within are already on the starting blocks. Throne and Liberty is coming. New World is landing on consoles.
I wanted to know from Rich whether there is currently relief that with the early launch of Gold Road, they were able to avoid this launch cycle or if he is, on the contrary, very excited about one of the projects privately.
I find all of them exciting, and not just the upcoming MMORPGs. I’m also really looking forward to the DLC for Elden Ring. There are just so many games that are coming out soon. Currently, I’m playing Hades 2 nonstop; I loved the first part already…[ ]
If time permits, I’d also like to check out all the new MMORPGs. On the one hand, that is naturally part of the job, but on the other hand, I have always been a fan of the genre.
Rich Lambert in conversation with MeinMMO
The Time Under Microsoft
Normally, PR doesn’t like it when you stray too far from the actual topic in an interview about a specific game, but I took the chance to briefly talk with Rich about Microsoft and the time so far at Team Xbox.
For a long time, it was said that the Microsoft management grants the acquired studios a lot of freedom to work on their projects quietly. However, since the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, there have been repeated reports of layoffs, project terminations, and studio closures. Zenimax and Bethesda were often affected.
I wanted to know from Rich how he evaluates the time since the acquisition in March 2021 and whether anything has changed in the internal working methods since then.
We are in the fortunate position that we are profitable and successful, and that the Xbox leadership understands what we are doing and why we are doing it. Therefore, they usually let us work in peace, which is great.
For us developers, there has not actually been any change in our daily business. The changes that have occurred have more affected the leadership levels, such as Matt Firor and the others. The team and I simply continue to do what we have always been doing, and as long as we are successful with that, they can leave us alone.
I wanted to know from Rich what goes through his mind when he hears such stories and whether there is perhaps a community story that has particularly touched him. The Creative Director explains that over the years there have been so many beautiful anecdotes that he doesn’t want to highlight any. But many stories involve friends or partners for life having met.
He can relate very well to this, as Rich met his wife in EverQuest. They have now been married for 22 years. For the developer, it thus feels like he can give something back with ESO and close the circle.
According to Rich Lambert, the first details about the update for the third quarter of 2024, which is set to bring new housing content among other things, will be available “very soon”. Additionally, the public test server is set to go live with the new features in the coming weeks.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In June, there will be Spotlight Hours in Pokémon GO again. We summarize which Pokémon and bonuses will appear.
What kind of event is this? The Spotlight Hour usually takes place on Tuesdays. Starting at 6:00 PM, there will be 60 minutes during which a specific Pokémon appears in large numbers.
In addition to the respective event Pokémon, there will also be a bonus that allows you to increase XP, Stardust, or similar.
The bonuses and Pokémon change from week to week. We will show you here when and what you will encounter.
Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
All Spotlight Hours in June 2024 for Pokémon GO
When do Spotlight Hours take place? Always on Tuesday, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The following dates are scheduled:
Which Pokémon? Makuhita is a Fighting-type Pokémon from the third generation. It can evolve into Hariyama.
What bonuses? You will receive double the amount of candy for each Pokémon you catch. Note: This also applies to raid bosses that you catch during the event.
Is it worth attending? Neither Makuhita nor its evolution Hariyama play a particularly significant role in battles. This applies both to the league as well as in fights against raid bosses or gyms. So, it is more for players who still need the two or wish to try their luck for a shiny. However, the chance for that is not increased.
Spotlight Hour on June 11
Which Pokémon? Wingull is a Flying-Water-type Pokémon from the third generation, just like its evolution Pelipper.
What bonuses? As a bonus, you will receive double the amount of candy for every Pokémon you send to the professor. So make sure to go through your collection and send away what you don’t need during the event.
Is it worth attending? Pelipper is a useful Pokémon for the PvP battle league. Here it might be worth looking for a good specimen with appropriate values for the battle league.
Which Pokémon? Kiesling is a Rock-type Pokémon from the fifth generation. It evolves into Sedimantur and further into Brockoloss.
What bonuses? You will receive double XP for evolution.
Is it worth attending? Kiesling and its evolutions are not particularly relevant in the league or in battles against raid bosses and gyms. However, for your collection, the date can be worthwhile since the evolution from Sedimantur to Brockoloss costs a whole 200 candies. You can bypass this by trading a Sedimantur with friends, then the candy cost for evolution will be waived.
But let’s say you find a four-star specimen or shiny, it would be frustrating not to be able to evolve it or trade it away. So: Use the date to collect candies.
Spotlight Hour on June 25
Which Pokémon? Bubungus is a Fairy-Grass-type Pokémon from Generation 7. It evolves into Lamellux.
What bonuses? You will receive double Stardust when catching.
Is it worth attending? Yes, because Bubungus is among the Pokémon that yield more Stardust. You will receive a total of 500 for each catch, and 625 even if you have sunny or cloudy weather. However, you can double these values again, since the Stardust bonus is active.
Here you have a very good opportunity to boost your Stardust supply. And this should always be taken advantage of, as you need Stardust to level up your Pokémon or when you want to teach them new moves. Accordingly, Bubungus is worth it for that alone. And if you want to know what else is happening this month: Here are all events in June 2024 for Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Scientists have found that what keeps you awake also ensures higher efficiency in fuel cells.
What does caffeine have to do with fuel cells? Caffeine is found in many popular drinks, whether coffee, tea, soft drinks, or energy drinks, and is very popular for making you feel more awake. According to recent findings (via nature.com), it also has a positive effect on the energy generation process in fuel cells.
Wait, what exactly is a fuel cell again? It converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The classic example is hydrogen and oxygen reacting together with platinum as a catalyst. The faster the reaction occurs, the better, and this is where caffeine comes into play, as it speeds up the fuel cell and saves platinum. The precious metal is expensive and gets “used” up over time in the cell:
Where are fuel cells used? You will most likely encounter them in everyday life in cars or trucks. Theoretically, however, there are several other fields, such as airplanes, that are also conceivable and are currently being tested. However, the weight of the hydrogen to be carried still imposes relatively early limits.
Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?
A layer of caffeine, please?
How does caffeine help? It is added as part of a liquid and ensures that the platinum lasts longer and accelerates the water/oxygen reaction. Thanks to caffeine, the costs of fuel cells can be reduced and the electricity yield increased.
Will we all soon use fuel cells in devices? No, probably, even with this innovation, fuel cells will not suddenly become a panacea for all our energy concerns. But if used widely, it could help promote their use in airplanes or trucks in the medium term and eventually make them part of everyday life.
We find high-tech of a very different, almost magical kind partly in Dune. One example is the suits of the desert dwellers, the Fremen. Hardly any or even no expelled water is lost, thus securing survival in the deserts of Arrakis. In the following article, we introduce you to some YouTubers who have improvised a, at least partially functional, replica in just one single day: The desert suits from Dune sound too good to work – fans built one and are surprised.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
It’s over – for now. The world-famous fast-food chain is ending its AI experiment at the drive-thru. Simply too often, desperate customers. But the corporation has plans.
AI at McDonald’s? I didn’t even notice. For about two years, McDonald’s has been testing AI for ordering at the drive-thru – but only at 100 locations. The chance that you will be at such a location is relatively low. In July, the test will come to an end, as Restaurant Business reports. Even if the test is publicly considered a preliminary success.
Why is the test ending? The corporation does not disclose the exact reasons, but anyone who looks around a bit might get an idea of what it could be. Because there are numerous reports online, in written or video form, that the AI often misunderstands verbal orders. What ultimately appeared on the receipt was sometimes disturbing – or very expensive.
Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?
So, never again AI at McDonald’s? Yes, it will come back. As McDonald’s emphasizes to Restaurant Business. A solution for verbal orders at the drive-thru is part of the future of McDonald’s restaurants, comments the system catering corporation. By the end of the year, the company aims to settle on a solution – even if the test with exactly this variant is initially ended.
Artificial intelligence in all its forms can, however, do far more than (potentially) help people order unhealthy food. Some are even using it to achieve political success. For example, Steve Endacott, who acts almost as an extended arm of an AI to gain a seat in the British Parliament. We have written down his story and the AI that supports him here.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In 2020, Twitch streamer DrDisrespect was banned. Now, in June 2024, the alleged reason is said to be known. The now 42-year-old streamer sent sexual explicit messages to a minor at that time. But the situation is complicated, says YouTuber Charles White.
These are the allegations:
A senior former employee of Twitch has dropped the bomb: DrDisrespect was banned at that time for having sent “sexual messages” (sexting) to a minor via Twitch’s whisper system and for wanting to meet her at TwitchCon.
Twitch employees saw it and banned DrDisrespect.
So it was not a mistake by Twitch.
Start video
DrDisrespect was a celebrity on Twitch – His ban remains a big mystery to this day
Source held a central position at Twitch
Who is the source: Cody Conners was Twitch’s “Strategic Partnership Account Director”. This is a central role. He was responsible in this position for the parameters on how Twitch employees manage the biggest streamers.
2 known individuals reinforce the accusation
Is it credible? During the discussion, two people spoke up who hold considerable weight in the scene:
Nathan Greyson was at the time the Twitch expert for Kotaku (and the trigger of the GamerGate scandal): Greyson says he heard this from various sources multiple times. He says he heard the same story about DrDisrespect at least 4 times. However, Greyson states: Everyone he spoke to had “only heard” the story, and no one could substantiate it.
Rod Breslau, an e-sports journalist and insider known as “Slasher”, had already commented on the ban in 2020 and said he had more information. However, it is a “delicate matter”; he does not feel comfortable sharing it. At that time, he was accused of boasting. Now he feels vindicated.
This is Rod Breslau, a well-known industry insider/leaker.
Twitch bosses are conspired to tell the story
Why didn’t they tell it then? Greyson shares a post from a colleague, who says:
A journalist needs multiple sources to confirm such a story.
The decision-makers at Twitch seem to be just a small group and tightly conspiratorial. None of them wanted to spill internal matters – because then it would be immediately clear where the internal information came from.
Moreover, it is difficult at Twitch to even find someone who knows such information.
This means: So far, some well-informed journalists have heard the rumor but were unable to get to the bottom of the story.
DrDisrespect refers to a legal agreement that binds him
How does DrDisrespect respond? He has already commented on the allegations twice. He states: He is under NDA; he cannot say anything. However, he refers to an agreement at Twitch that there was no “misconduct” and that he received his full contract payout.
Nothing illegal happened.
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Expert sees many discrepancies in the current discussion
This is what an expert says. One of the biggest opinion bloggers on the internet, Charles White, explains why all this is so mysterious:
If DrDisrespect really sent sexual messages to a minor, Twitch would have had to report it and forward it to the authorities. Twitch is obligated to ensure the safety of children on Twitch. This casts a very bad light on Twitch.
That Twitch apparently simply reads the private messages of streamers, he considers normal – that is the reality.
He interprets DrDisrespect’s statements as “legal jargon” – he does not understand how DrDisrespect can be so bound that he cannot simply say: He exchanged no such messages with any minor.
He is the leading opinion blogger in the USA.
According to White, the discussion now raises many questions again. He believes that either there will soon be a clarification or that the incident will remain unresolved for several more years.
The Twitch streamer Asmongold says: The story that DrDisrespect harassed a minor is certainly not something that can be cleared up through arbitration.
He believes it may be possible that, for whatever reason, the minor was not cooperative, and thus nothing happened.
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What could be a possibility? One possibility is that both are true. DrDisrespect may have sent sexual messages to a 16-year-old, which is socially frowned upon but not illegal in the legal sense.
Because the “Age of Consent” is 16 in 31 states in the USA – not 18.
In MMORPGs, the rules for weapons are actually clear: Warriors fight with sword and shield, mages use a staff, clerics wield a mace, and rogues carry a dagger. But the new class in Black Desert has an unusual weapon combination: The Dosa uses a sword and a tobacco pipe, although smoking is not really acceptable nowadays. The Dosa will come to Black Desert on July 3rd.
What kind of class is it:
The Dosa is a warrior who fights with a sword and a pipe. It will be the 28th class in Black Desert.
The character is inspired by Korean folklore, or so it is said. “Dosa” actually refers to someone who practices the “Tao”, a Chinese worldview.
The new Dosa will arrive on July 3rd in Black Desert, at least for the PC version.
Start video
Black Desert: New Class ‘Dosa’ in Trailer
Those who smoke always have friends … or fog slaves
What can the class do? The Dosa will use his sword in battle, but with the pipe, he can summon “Warriors of Fog”, fog warriors, who will fight by his side.
I used to smoke a pipe and no warriors ever appeared beside me – but what do I know?
This is what it looks like: In a trailer for Black Desert, you can see the Dosa in action and indeed, when he is battling, 4 warriors appear beside him, hammering down on the enemies together with him.
The Dosa seems to be creating quite a stir and appears to favor particularly vigorous sword attacks and lots of smoke.
However, the Dosa doesn’t really smoke in the trailer. Especially in the USA, public tobacco consumption is a sensitive topic and has largely disappeared from pop culture. The amount of smoking in “Mad Men” was hotly debated in the late 2000s, but the series was set in the 1960s when smoking was part of everyday life.
This is how the class is being discussed: In the comments on the Dosa on YouTube, there is a cheer through the community because after “feeling like 500 years”, there is finally a male class again. Moreover, it is fully voiced.
In the MMORPG Black Desert, there is a gender lock: Each class is automatically assigned to a race and gender.
The analyst Michael Pachter (67) has been dealing with video games for a long time. He explains Microsoft’s new strategy behind the three new console versions. For him, the goal is clear: Microsoft wants to get people who have been playing PlayStation for ages to buy the first Xbox. For Pachter, the Xbox Game Pass is the business model of the future. This is questioned on a panel.
This strategy is what Pachter sees at Microsoft: In a discussion format, Pachter explained the strategy behind the 3 new Xbox variants presented by Microsoft at the showcase (via gamepro):
He says Microsoft hasn’t presented the exact specifications yet. But a new Xbox has no drive and is purely digital, with a hard drive of one or two terabytes (Note: Pachter is referring to the Robot White Xbox Series X – It has 1 terabyte of storage and is supposed to cost around €500)
Pachter says: “This is clearly the console for the Game Pass.”
What Microsoft is trying to do is clear: They want to get a PlayStation user to buy the first Xbox and sign up for the Game Pass. That’s clever.
Start video
An old Xbox game could only be bought for 36 days – A pro wrestler has over 2,700 copies of it and wants more
Former PlayStation head views Game Pass critically
Are there counterarguments? A journalist from Gamesindustry.biz questioned the subscription model behind the Game Pass. Many gamers would only buy one or two games a year. He asks if they are willing to pay $17 for a subscription model that they hardly use. He remains unconvinced by the business model to this day.
Players are only renting access and not purchasing ownership. The question is whether people are willing to pay $17 for something that can be taken away from them at any time:
“When you pay money for the privilege of having access to content. But that access can be revoked at any time. Then you don’t own it, do you?”
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Analyst is convinced of Game Pass, sees opportunity for Xbox to dominate
What Pachter counters: Pachter presents possibilities for how the Game Pass could become even more attractive:
Microsoft could offer every free-to-play game for free access to the Game Pass – without taking platform fees, then all mobile games would come there and potentially bring 3.5 billion players with them
Microsoft could also include World of Warcraft in the Pass, for which players are already paying a subscription fee
Pachter seems to believe that Microsoft has the upper hand in the battle for players. Especially mobile gamers tend to play more than just one or two games, just not on console, but on their phones.
The possibility of WoW actually coming to the Game Pass and indirectly saving subscription fees or getting much more for your money has been discussed ever since it became clear that Microsoft planned to buy Activision Blizzard: Will WoW come to Xbox: “The dream exists,” say the developers
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The DLC of Elden Ring has now encountered negative feedback from players after a positive start. The bosses of Shadow of the Erdtree are at the center of the criticism.
What is the mood like? Shadow of the Erdtree was released on June 21, 2024, and received enthusiastic reviews from the press. The Metascore stands at 95 points.
On Steam, the sentiment also looked very positive on Friday. There were predominantly positive ratings and reviews praising the DLC. Additionally, the player count of Elden Ring skyrocketed, reaching a peak of over 550,000 players simultaneously shortly after the expansion’s launch.
On June 22, 2024, according to SteamDB, about 780,000 simultaneous players were recorded. The motivation is high, but the more people have played the DLC and the further they progressed, the more the overall sentiment changed.
This has led to Shadow of the Erdtree currently losing its “very positive” rating on Steam and now standing at “Mixed.” But what are players criticizing?
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Elden Ring introduces the boss enemies of the DLC
The biggest problem is the bosses
What do the ratings look like now? As of June 23, 2024, over 22,200 players have provided their rating on Steam. Only 63% of these are positive. Many of the negative voices have expressed themselves in detailed reviews explaining why they are giving the DLC a thumbs down.
One point that is repeatedly mentioned is the partly poor performance of the game. Especially in comparison to the main game, there are noticeable frame drops and even freezes, particularly during boss fights. This might be due to the fact that many of the battles are very effects-heavy, which puts significant strain on players’ PCs.
Regarding the bosses: they receive the most criticism. In the reviews, long-time fans of FromSoftware often voice their opinions. Players like the user Lars760 say: “It pains me to write this review, as I love the Souls games. But the boss fights are no longer what they used to be.”
FromSoftware has artificially made the bosses, in their opinion, more difficult. They act overly aggressively and have long combos that leave little time for players to attack.
The studio should reconsider its design philosophy, especially in light of the negative feedback. User Crimson finds the expansion itself great but criticizes the poor execution of the bosses. They rely on cheap tricks and do not reach the quality of previous bosses like Lady Maria.
“This DLC only exacerbates the core issues of the base game. Inflated HP pools, attack cycles that never end, scaling that doesn’t seem to work properly,” writes PossumPally while also criticizing the new system surrounding the Scadubaum fragments. Read our guide on MeinMMO to make your life easier.
“Every boss must now be like Malenia,” criticizes ThomasOfAstora, after explaining that he has been playing and loving FromSoftware’s games for 12 years. With the DLC, however, the studio went too far.
Currently, the mood is quite mixed. Many positive opinions stand against negative ones. Therefore, we are curious about your opinion. Have you played the DLC yet? What do you think of it, especially the bosses? Feel free to let us know in the comments. If you are looking for assistance, you can visit MeinMMO – here is our guide overview.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The DLC for Elden Ring introduces numerous new weapons to the game. But one stands out in particular. With it, you can beat your opponents according to all the rules of the art and look like a martial arts fighter while doing so.
What weapon is it? When FromSoftware announced a total of eight new weapon categories for the DLC Shadow of the Erdtree, the excitement was high. What new additions would there be? In the first trailers for the expansion, alongside the obligatory swords, spears, and staves, there was also a fighting style that reminded many players of Bruce Lee kung fu movies.
In the now-released DLC, you can find this weapon called “Dry Leaf Art” and beat the crunchy opponents with it. In addition to punches, you can also kick with your feet and actually whirl through the air – both you and the opponents.
In practice, this fighting style is a lot of fun and lets you zip from enemy to enemy like a whirlwind. Also, because it is unusual for Elden Ring. FromSoftware manages to loosen up the established fighting styles of their games a bit and bring some fresh air into it.
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Elden Ring introduces the boss enemies of the DLC
You must defeat a master
How do you get the weapon? Dry Leaf Art cannot simply be found in the world of the DLC. You have to earn it.
At the grace “Cross at the High Road,” just after Castle Ensis in the Scadu Altus area, you will find the gesture “May the Best Win.” Collect it and run east to the grace “Ruins of Moorth.”
There, the NPC Dry Leaf Dane awaits you. He has nothing to say to you. Instead, use the gesture you just received, and you will be thrown into an arena where you must fight Dane.
The NPC does not withstand much, so he is not comparable to the big and difficult boss enemies of the expansion. After your victory, you return to the grace and find a drop from Dane there. Namely, his hat and the sought-after weapon Dry Leaf Art.
Equip it, preferably upgrade it, apply a war ash to it – then the joyful beating and kicking can begin. Your opponents won’t survive the day without a black eye.
Unfortunately, the weapon has one downside. Its range is not particularly large, and in combat against tower-high boss enemies that also move quickly, it may happen that you swing at empty space. Against smaller opponents, this problem is hardly noticeable. They end up in the afterlife and will tell their colleagues there about the cool guy with the hard kicks. Unless you die yourself – Lead developer Miyazaki has now explained why his game has to be so difficult.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
On the night of Thursday to Friday, June 21, 2024, a massacre occurred on a server of World of Warcraft . On the US server “Defias Pillager”, a server lag claimed the lives of numerous WoW characters. Because in hardcore mode, everyone has only one life, and there is no mercy, not even in such a case.
This was posted by a concerned WoW player. In the official WoW forum, on June 21, a gnome warrior posted (via forums.blizzard):
A massive lag spike claimed hundreds of characters’ lives on the server “Defias Pillager”.
It was clearly a server lag, he was in Ironforge trying to buy something. But suddenly, nothing worked anymore, only the chat functioned, everything else was gone. The game just stopped responding.
He encourages people to share their experiences.
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WoW: Guild loses 30 characters on a hardcore server – And it wasn’t even a boss fight
“Thousands of play hours lost”
This is what the players say: One says thousands of play hours were lost here, and no player is to blame for that. He understands that Blizzard is tough, but the deaths are 100% the fault of the server – there should be an exception in such a case.
Another player says: He lost 20 guild members at that moment.
Another player adds: She has played for 50 days, invested money, and now everything has gone down the drain.
There was apparently a raid underway, and the lag cost many level-60 characters their only life. Image source: Mmorpg.org.pl
This would be a solution: Some players are demanding that Blizzard makes an exception and resorts to a rollback.
A rollback is one of the most drastic actions an MMORPG developer can take. A rollback reverts the server to a previous state. Everyone loses their progress made from that point until the moment the rollback occurs. MMORPG developers do this only in very few cases.
The nightmare for anyone who enjoys looting and leveling
This is what’s behind it: “Hardcore” is not for everyone. MMORPG players traditionally suffer from loss anxiety and enjoy building something in the game, collecting items and levels, and becoming stronger.
While the theory that in such a hardcore game everything “really” counts because you always risk everything is quite plausible. But such moments of losing everything through no fault of your own are the nightmare for every MMORPG player, and many seem to have experienced this on that night.
The thread in the official Blizzard forum has nearly 130 comments.
The action RPG Elden Ring is hard. The new DLC “Shadow of the Erdtree” is even harder. In an interview, the boss of Elden Ring explains why this has to be the case. Because even though compromises were made in Elden Ring to give players some breathing room – it is not meant to be a game for everyone. Only when it is really tough do players get that satisfying feeling of having achieved something.
That was the question: In an interview with “The Guardian” the head of Elden Ring, Hidetaka Miyazaki, is confronted with the difficulty level of Elden Ring. This may sound a bit cynical, given that the DLC is now so hard, but the interviewer asks Hidetaka Miyazaki:
Whether he believes Elden Ring is so successful because it is more accessible than other games from FromSoftware. Instead of repeatedly facing an unbeatable boss, you can go elsewhere.
In Elden Ring, at least you are not constantly having your face pushed into the dirt.
Whether the head believes Elden Ring is more successful than Sekiro because it is more accessible?
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Elden Ring introduces the boss enemies of the DLC
“The point is that it is so hard”
This is the answer: The head admits that Elden Ring gives players more freedom than other games from the developer.
They did not want players to feel claustrophobic or constrained in their options. Elden Ring does not have the dark fantasy of other FromSoftware games, but the same coolness. However, they want to give players the feeling of being able to breathe. That is just part of the “High Fantasy” genre.
“If we wanted the whole world to play the game, we could reduce the difficulty”
According to the head, there is this discussion about the difficulty level with every new game from FromSoftware. Other developers would introduce an easy mode, some enemies would even be removed completely. But for a game like Elden Ring, that is out of the question. The fact that it is so challenging is exactly the point, and dialing back the difficulty would compromise it creatively:
If we really wanted the whole world to play the game, we could simply keep reducing the difficulty. But that wasn’t the right approach. If we had chosen that approach, I don’t think the game would have turned out the way it is, because the sense of achievement players have when overcoming these hurdles is such a fundamental part of the gaming experience. Reducing the difficulty would take that joy away from the game – which in my eyes would destroy the game itself.
The DLC of Elden Ring is out and many Tarnished are now fighting against the incredibly difficult bosses from the expansion. Streamers like Asmongold are also venturing into the Shadowlands, but he is so frustrated by one boss that he has to change his build – successfully.
Who is Asmongold? The streamer Asmongold is considered the biggest MMORPG streamer on Twitch. He gained fame with his WoW streams, but for some time now his content has consisted solely of reaction content where he reacts to things and lets his fans participate. Occasionally, he tries out new games like Elden Ring and proves how good he is at them.
With the release of the new Elden Ring DLC, the streamer didn’t want to miss out on the hype and thus dared to try it himself. The result: countless deaths and pure frustration. One boss even demoralized him so much that he had to resign.
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Career and life of Asmongold in 3 minutes – What makes him special?
To progress in the DLC, you must defeat him. Asmongold thus tried his hand at Messmer with his halberd build in Power Stance. Unfortunately, his failures frustrated him so much that he had to end his stream and gave up.
Messmer was simply too powerful for him, and so the streamer decided to try something new. He built a setup that was unfair but effective.
What was the solution? In his YouTube video, Asmongold first showed his frustration and then how he found his easy mode in the DLC. The solution was straightforward: he decided to forgo dodging from then on.
Paired with a lot of poise and the fingerprint stone shield, he fought a crucible knight, the rot knight, Romina, and even the dancing lion with ease. Asmongold employed the turtle tactic with counterattacks.
He blocked every attack and then always followed up with a counter. With this build, he was now ready to challenge the mighty Messmer.
The action starts at minute 00:53. His build is simple yet effective:
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How effective was the build against Messmer? Surprisingly effective, even though Asmongold had trouble withstanding all attacks. His first attempt brought him into the second phase of the boss, only to die impressed by the transformation of the boss. The second attempt brought him victory, but throughout the fight, it became apparent that the build still had its difficulties.
Messmer has many quick attacks that will melt your stamina bar. If you block every one of them, the boss can break your stance and then knock you off your feet. The turtle tactic can thus work, but Asmongold’s build still needs optimization to be perfect.
Could Pokémon GO change the way stories are told? That’s what we asked the heads of the game.
How much story does Pokémon GO have? There isn’t a large overarching story. Different stories are told for various research, events, or seasons, primarily in text form.
These texts mainly appear in the game as narratives from the professor. Willow usually gives a few sentences for each research – and those who follow along can often read interesting info about the key Pokémon of the research, or sometimes even quite interesting stories.
What is the problem? Many players have recently reported that they simply skip the professor in Pokémon GO. They don’t catch much of the stories that Pokémon GO wants to tell.
We asked the heads of the game about this.
Start video
Heavenly teamwork in Pokémon GO – a new season begins
Developers want to offer players both options
What do the heads say about the story in Pokémon GO? During the Pokémon GO Fest in Madrid, we met Niantic CEO John Hanke and Live Game Director Michael Steranka in a roundtable interview. Besides various other topics, we also discussed the topic of story.
At the GO Fest in Madrid, it was noticeable that at least a few characters besides the professor talked to the trainers to advance the story of the event. That’s why we asked: Is it conceivable that Pokémon GO will change its storytelling in the future, especially since many players simply skip the professor?
“Our philosophy regarding this type of story design is: We know that some players are very interested and formulate theories about why things happen in the game Pokémon GO,” said Steranka: “And some players just want to catch Pokémon.”
So Pokémon GO has different target groups that it needs to serve. “I would love to do more in terms of storytelling,” admits Niantic chief Hanke: “But it is true, you have to maintain the balance. Some people are excited about that, others just want to be right in the action.”
The fact that some players just click through and thus miss out on the story is not a problem for now, according to Steranka: “We want to be able to offer players both. If you’re not that interested in the narrative aspect, you can just quickly tap through, and that’s okay. We want you to make the best use of your time,” said the director.
He also emphasizes: “But the team puts in a lot of thought and effort to build this world and this story. For the players who are interested in it, there is quite a bit to discover.”
As it stands, it doesn’t seem that too much will change in storytelling, at least in the near future – even if Hanke says he would like to do more in that direction. What do you think about the topic? Would you like to see more story elements, like in the Ultra Beast teasers? Or do you not care about the story in Pokémon GO anyway? Let us know in the comments! And what’s coming up next is shown in the overview of all Pokémon GO events in June 2024.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Through the Devil Fruits, the characters in One Piece gain special powers that turn them into strong fighters. However, there are also some figures who struggle through life without devil powers. MeinMMO introduces you to five characters who manage well without devil fruit.
Warning, this reflects the current state from manga and anime. Therefore, some locations and bounties may be spoilers for you.
What was the ranking based on? The following factors were considered when creating the list:
The fighters have not eaten a Devil Fruit or it is not yet known that they have eaten one.
The individuals are still alive. This excludes characters like Gol D. Roger and Kozuki Oden from the ranking.
The characters can belong to either the Marines or the Pirates or the Revolutionary Army.
The ranking was also created with personal preferences and is not 100% objective. If you see other characters in the ranking, please share your suggestions in the comments.
[toc]
Position 5: Silvers Rayleigh
The pirate is retired.
Faction: Retired Vice Captain, Roger Pirates
Bounty: unknown
Silvers Rayleigh may have had his best days behind him, but he is still a formidable fighter. He masters all three types of Haki and has trained Luffy in mastering the three types of Haki.
Despite his age, he has proven what he is capable of. He was able to effortlessly keep up with the light speed of Marine Admiral Kizaru to protect Luffy and his crew from him. Presumably, he would have moved up a few spots in the ranking back when he was the right-hand man of Gol D. Roger.
Start video
One Piece – The 26th Opening for the Egghead Island Arc has been released
Position 4: Ben Backman
He always keeps a cool head.
Faction: Vice Captain, Red-Haired Pirates
Bounty: unknown
Ben Backman is also now at an advanced age, although not as old as Rayleigh. He landed in 4th place in the ranking, even though he has not shown himself in a single battle yet. However, the fact that he is the vice captain of one of the Four Emperors speaks for itself. Marine officer Brannew also revealed that he has a high bounty.
Backman himself claims that it would take a whole warship to stop him. He uses his rifle as a weapon and can enhance the fired bullets with Haki. Even Vice Admiral Kizaru has great respect for him. Although we have to speculate a bit here, we believe he has a lot to offer.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Final Fantasy XIV there are so-called Ultimates – these are really tough fights. MyMMO author Fabienne Kissel has finally succeeded in one of the hardest Ultimates but made a really dumb mistake that still haunts her today.
I am a huge fan of Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV). In Eorzea, I feel at home. Especially in battles, I am very ambitious. I have successfully mastered the current raid at the hardest level (Savage).
Next, I dreamed of successfully completing one of the Ultimate fights. For me, it would be a personal milestone to master such a fight.
Ultimates are the hardest fights in Final Fantasy XIV. They require immense skill, knowledge, patience, and a strong team. The fights consist of a series of boss battles, where teams of 8 players fight against several intermediates before they must defeat the final boss.
Ultimate raids offer titles and shiny weapons. These rewards primarily serve as status symbols that show that one has mastered the hardest content in the game – and are popular glamour pieces (i.e. transmog).
The new expansion Dawntrail is just around the corner, and I am really looking forward to it:
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Final Fantasy XIV: Launch trailer for Dawntrail prepares for the adventure in Tural
My Journey to Ultimate – A Dream Comes True
Since I started playing FFXIV, I dreamed of successfully mastering at least one of the hardest Ultimates. I am talking about the two Ultimates from the Endwalker expansion: The Omega Protocol (TOP) and Dragonsong’s Reprise (DSR).
I absolutely wanted to do one of them, as these are the only Ultimates so far that have a weapon for my job (the Sage). However, in my friend’s raid group (Static), there had not been a spot for a shield healer, so I waited.
The thought of diving into this adventure with strangers through Party Finder stressed me out too much. The endless waiting for a group, the lack of coordination, and the constant need to get used to new players – that was not an option for me in a fight of this class.
Moreover, I preferred to raid with my friend and guild members.
Finally, a Spot Opened Up for Me
In February of this year, it finally happened: A healer spot for the Ultimate Dragonsong’s Reprise (DSR) opened up in my friend’s Static. Awesome! The group had already reached the 6th phase of the fight, but they decided to rehearse the fight with me from the beginning.
The joy was immense, but I knew that a long road lay ahead of me.
What is Dragonsong’s Reprise (DSR)?
Dragonsong is one of the most challenging fights in FFXIV. The Ultimate raid challenges you with complex mechanics that require precise coordination, speed, and perfect timing.
It consists of several phases (a total of 7), which are tied to the events of the Heavensward expansion. The fight lasts about 18 minutes, and mistakes are almost unforgivable. A single error can mean the end for the entire group.
Therefore, it is crucial that everyone plays their role well and knows the mechanics inside out. There are, of course, damage and heal checks as well.
Anyone who has ever tackled an Ultimate knows that this is no walk in the park. It was my very first Ultimate raid. Until then, I had managed the current Savage tier, but I had never encountered content this difficult before.
To prepare myself, I watched guides on Dragonsong on YouTube . My mitigation plan (according to LPDU) was also ready. A mitigation plan is a guideline for the fight that specifies exactly when and which shields, healing spells, and damage-reducing abilities must be used.
Everything had to fit perfectly, or the group would die from the damage.
Dragonsong is a great fight that is incredibly fun – but also damn hard.
It was hard. I was the only one in our group who had to relearn the fight up to phase 6. Many mistakes happened while the others played well. Sometimes I forgot a shield or wasn’t always in the right position for mechanics that needed to be solved. Here and there, I lost my orientation and concentration.
The entire group must be extremely consistent to return to the prog point where progress was made.
The pressure was high, but my ambition was just as strong.
After Over 400 Pulls, the Moment Finally Arrived…
After over 400 pulls, countless hours, and massive efforts we did it! In the last phase, I was shaking with excitement and breathing heavily. I even forgot to give our dear tank a shield at the end! So he died at the end, but we defeated Dragon King Thordan.
The moment of triumph was overwhelming. I was so proud and happy.
A picture of our Static in Dragonsong – right after our Clear.
…but the high didn’t last long
Because I made a really dumb mistake: My inventory was full.
ARGH!! How can one be so stupid, I thought to myself.
And so the inevitable happened – I missed the totem for the weapon. After successfully completing the Ultimates, everyone receives an item that can be exchanged for a weapon of their choice.
The weapon I so desperately wanted and fought so hard for, I unfortunately forgot.
To be honest… I somehow deserved it.
This MMORPG sin I have been committing for years – sometimes I am just too lazy, don’t feel like it, procrastinate, or simply forget to clean up my own inventory.While I always made sure during Dragonsong that I had at least two slots free for the totem – but of course not on that evening.
My totem was gone. It did not appear in the mailbox. Even the FFXIV support could not help me. So I walked around with my new awesome title The Heaven’s Legend – without my shiny weapon that I wanted so much.
Since then, we have tried to complete Dragonsong again, but so far without success. I felt really bad.
The frustration ran deep and I decided to bravely dive into Party Finder. Definitely a challenge for me. I had gotten so used to our Static; to the calls of our reliable raid leader. They have always helped me a lot. Although, of course, one has to know and see all the mechanics themselves.
But it was doable.
I threw myself as a healer into Party Finder, spent countless hours again, and finally managed to get my totem. Originally, I wanted to use my first totem to get the weapon for the Sage, but my plans changed.
Because in my guild’s Static, a permanent spot for the Physical Ranged Damage Dealer became available, which I got. With this group, I will also raid the Savage tier in Dawntrail and hopefully also the upcoming new Ultimate Futures Rewritten (Eden).
So I treated myself to the dancer’s weapon, because I won’t be playing the healer in Dawntrail for now.
There is the infamous totem.
I Am Looking Forward to the Dancer
I have been playing only healers or supporters for years, whether in LoL, Baldur’s Gate 3, or in FFXIV.The last time I played a DPS (damage dealer) was back in the Burning Crusade days in WoW. Back then, I played a warlock.
Finally my shiny weapon! Dawntrail can come.
But I am feeling positive. I am already constantly practicing my rotation on the training dummy in front of our guild house and running various content so that I can deal proper damage in Dawntrail.
And I have to say: Wow! The dancer feels really great in terms of gameplay. We don’t even have to talk about the aesthetics of the job.
Now it’s your turn: Has something like this ever happened to you? What MMORPG sins do you commit? Feel free to write it in the comments. If you’re unsure what else you should do before the new expansion Dawntrail is released in Final Fantasy XIV, we have a checklist for you: 10 important things you should do.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The first and last DLC of Elden Ring will be released on June 21, 2024. What you should know about the release, the trailer, preparations, the preload, its price, and the content is summarized in our overview.
Update, June 21: We have updated our overview. We explain to you under “Start” how you can access the new DLC.
When is the release of the Elden Ring DLC? The release of “Shadow of the Erdtree” will take place on June 21, 2024. Players can already pre-order the DLC to secure a bonus in the form of an emote.
We have now listed all the information in our overview. If you only want to read individual points, you can jump to your desired location using our directory.
Where can I find the start of the DLC? The start of the DLC can be found in Mohgwyn’s Palace at the cocoon of Miquella. Interact with his hand to teleport to the new area.
Elden Ring DLC: Preload – Start, Time, and Download
When does the preload start? Elden Ring comes with a preload before the official start, but it is only available for PlayStation. It is scheduled to start on June 19 at 00:00 German time. PC and Xbox players can only download the DLC after the release on June 21.
How large is the download? There is no official information yet, but unofficially the X account “PlaystationSize” (source: x.com) has revealed that the preload will be 16.502 GB. We will only find out how large the file will actually be on the official release.
Can the DLC be played earlier? There is a trick for various releases where players can change their region to New Zealand to get earlier access to the games and expansions.
Players on Reddit particularly recommend this trick for Xbox and PS4 players. It apparently does not work on PS5 and PC.
Elden Ring DLC: All about Price and Editions
How much does the DLC cost? Shadow of the Erdtree will offer four editions for purchase. Depending on the platform, you have the option to buy all or only one of them. They differ in price and the content you receive. The following editions are available:
Standard Edition
Price: €39.99
Content
“Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC
Pre-order Bonus
Bonus Gesture
Premium Edition
Premium Edition
Price: €49.99
Content
“Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC
Digital Artbook of the DLC
Original Soundtrack of the DLC
Pre-order Bonus
Bonus Gesture
Deluxe Edition
Deluxe Edition
Price: €99.99
Content
Base game “Elden Ring”
Digital Artbook of the base game
Original Soundtrack of the base game
“Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC
Digital Artbook of the DLC
Original Soundtrack of the DLC
Pre-order Bonus
Bonus Gesture
Collector’s Edition
Collector’s Edition
Price: €249.99
Content
“Shadow of the Erdtree” DLC
Figure of Messmer the Impaler
Exclusive Hardcover Artbook
Digital Soundtrack Download Code
Pre-order Bonus
Bonus Gesture
Elden Ring DLC: Content, Bosses, and Locations at a Glance
Elden Ring DLC – What content is available? In Shadow of the Erdtree, you enter the Shadow Realm of the Earth Tree – a new dimension where Messmer, one of the main antagonists of the DLC resides. You will access this world through a portal and must figure out what schemes the god is up to in this world.
In the DLC, you will also explore new areas such as a swamp or a massive castle. The world remains open and can be explored by you with Torrent, your faithful steed.
The CastleThe Forest
New bosses as well as armor and weapons are among the content players can expect at release. Even new abilities, such as throwing large jars or darting through enemies like a porcupine, will soon be available for players.
Ninja Kicks against enemiesA new bossThe Porcupine Ability
Lastly, Messmer, the chief of this dimension, makes his stance clear. He has no regard for the Tarnished and will do everything he can to destroy you.
Miquella, the sleeping god in Mohgwyn’s Palace, will most likely be the key to the portal into the new Shadow Realm. He will also guide you through the DLC via his footprints.
These were all the important details regarding the DLC of Elden Ring. If more information becomes available, this article will of course be updated. Are you excited about the Shadow of the Earth Tree, or is Elden Ring enough for you without the expansion? Let us know in the comments!
A professor who plays a major role in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is despised by many fans. The actress talks about what it was like for her to play this role.
Who is it about? The British actress Imelda Staunton is particularly known for her portrayal of Dolores Jane Umbridge, one of the most hated and cruelest characters from Harry Potter.
In the Order of the Phoenix, she is sent to Hogwarts as the new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts to solidify the Ministry of Magic’s control over the school. She stops at nothing and punishes students in sadistic ways to suppress them and reinforce her power.
The actress has spoken in interviews about how challenging it was for her to play the damn monster Umbridge.
Start video
German trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
What does the actress say about her role as Umbridge? Imelda Staunton spoke in an interview with Entertainment Weekly about how much she detests Umbridge’s insidious nature. Even though she enjoyed playing the character.
She said the following about Dolores Jane Umbridge:
I think she is a damn monster and should be played that way. I don’t need to understand what she does, but in her character, she believes she is doing absolutely the best for this school. Once again, I have completely and utterly embraced a blind woman.
This scene haunted the actress for days afterwards
What scene is it about? One of the worst scenes in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix particularly affected Imelda Staunton. In the scene, Umbridge forces Harry Potter to write I must not tell lies with a magic quill, which painfully engraves itself into his hand.
About the scene, she said the following in the interview:
It touched something in me that made me think: ‘God, we are all capable of great cruelty.’ It was a horrible, terrible feeling. She doesn’t just twirl her mustache and say ‘Muahahaha’, but it is the absolute and unwavering belief that it will actually help, and that is, of course, much more terrifying.
