The new survival MMO Rend (PC) is still in Early Access. At Gamescom 2018, the developers at Frostkeep revealed to us that there will soon be new content. This includes special artifact items that are overpowered and exist only once per server.
New content for Rend: At Gamescom, the developers at Frostkeep introduced new content that will soon make its way to Rend. Particularly in the spotlight were new artifact items that are intended to be OP.
Additionally, dynamic seasons will be introduced in the area of the World Tree. A new creature, the Frost Giant, will be added to the game, and in the new dark mines of the dwarves, players will encounter creepy monsters.
New artifact items exist only once per server
Artifact items are OP and unique: As a new feature, Rend is getting artifact items. Each of these items possesses overpowering powers and exists only once per server. Therefore, only one player on the server can be the owner of an artifact item. This could be Thor’s Hammer or Loki’s Scepter, but also a water bottle that never runs out.
New dynamics in PvP: Rend is a PvP game, and when someone kills another player, they can also take their items. Players with this special equipment are expected by the developers to become mini-raid bosses.
Players with artifact items become popular targets because this equipment becomes extremely powerful. However, those who possess an overpowered armor or weapon are also correspondingly hard to defeat.
The idea is for groups of players to come together and try to take down this one overpowering player. The developers want to create an interesting PvP dynamic this way and believe that introducing these OP items is just fine.
Artifact items are found in rare chests: There will be various ways to obtain the special and rare equipment.
- Chests from the sky: Artifact items will fall from the sky in treasure chests. The chest will be made visible on the world map. Like an event. Players will then have 30 minutes to compete for the artifacts and emerge as the shining owner and winner.
- Mini-dungeons: There will be small dungeons where mini-bosses have a chance to drop a chest as loot. Sometimes, artifact items can also be found inside.
Changing seasons at the World Tree Yggdrasil
A new season every 72 hours: In the center of the map stands a huge tree glowing golden, representing the World Tree Yggdrasil. Every 72 hours, the season around the Tree of Life changes. The 72 hours are “real” hours and not in-game hours.
Seasons have different challenges: Each season will feature different challenges. For example, there will be different creatures in winter than in autumn, summer, or spring. Likewise, there will also be different resources. Rend is a survival game where the environment also impacts the character. In winter, players will need to wear warmer armor to protect themselves from the cold.
New realm Nidavellir: Map expanded with dwarf mines
Dwarf mines are pitch dark: In Norse mythology, dwarves created the armors and weapons for gods. Therefore, it was logical for the developers to convert the dwarf realm into a mine. It is always dark in the mines, and hence eerie creatures have adapted to the darkness.
Entering the mines requires a group: To enter the mines, multiple players are needed. This is because one needs a torch and weapons to navigate through the mines. A solo player cannot hold both a weapon and a torch at the same time. Therefore, there always needs to be a designated torchbearer.
Can the mines still be explored solo? No, it really requires a torchbearer and several fighters for the mines. The developers want to wait for player feedback once the new content goes live. If players wish to explore the mines solo, Frostkeep would be willing to implement that request.
First new creature: The Frost Giant Jötunn
The Frost Giant is a group battle: After the launch in Early Access, the Frost Giant Jötunn will be the first new creature. He is intended for group fights and requires multiple players to defeat him.
Dungeon for Jötunn: There will be a special new dungeon. Once the doors open, players can face the Frost Giant. In the dungeon, they will also find new items and resources.
What is Rend? Recently, Rend entered the Early Access phase, in which the entire game is available. It is a mix of survival, MMORPG, and PvP. Rend features a class system and three factions that players can choose from. The setting is a dreamy and mystical world inspired by Norse mythology after Ragnarök.
Rend is a complex game that already has an incredible amount of content. In our playtest, our survival expert Benedict also found that it takes a while to get used to Rend:
