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Andreas Asimakis, Associate Editor
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Sunday, November 16 2008 |
After taking a detailed look into some of the Dark Elf Public Quests, this week we will continue our guide but with a small addition: Loot. As you complete the various quests of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, you will be rewarded with various bags of Loot which contents vary based on their type: Minor, Lesser, Greater, and Massive. Those who contribute the most to their party will be eligible for the greatest loot so don't let your teammates do all the work for you. Now, on to the quests!
Chapter 4: Twilight
Lionhome Lodge
Zone – Chrace
Stage I - Kill 75 Lion Hunters, Kill 25 Lion Stalkers
The Lion Hunters will crowd you here and will often overwhelm you if you are not prepared. They are not particularly difficult to deal with but should not be taken lightly. By now you should have realized the generous amounts of experience points these opponents will yield and you should be working with your teammates to take advantage of the situation. The Lion Stalkers won't prove to be much of a bother either so you should be able to handle them without much help from your party. This quest will offer useful items to the players who participate the most so be sure to be as active as possible. Don't be afraid to get in there and take these enemies out.
Stage II - Kill 4 Lion Guardians
The Guardians are responsible for leading the young Hunter recruits into battle. Putting an end to their lives will cause the inexperienced Hunters to flee from battle. Do not let the number of Guardians to slay fool you. These enemies are ruthless and will stop at nothing to take you down. Team work is especially important during this stage so be ready to use the appropriate buffs on your allies and DOT's on your enemies.
Stage III – Kill 4 Lion Guardians, Kill Kaliera the Lioness
With the Lionhome Lodge on the brink of destruction, Kaliera the Lioness will put up one last ditch effort to end the Dark Elves' ambitions. Accompanying her will be another set of Lion Guardians which are keenly adept at protecting Kaliera. Pay close attention to their attacks and you will be able to break through their defenses. Combos of quick cooldown spells will prove essential as the Lion Guardians will be an even greater nuisance than before. With the Guardians taken out, Kaliera will come at you with ferocity. Her attacks can be devastating and you should work together to bring the Lioness and the Lionhome Lodge to its end. The fight here can last a little longer than all the other greater battles you've encountered but diligent players will be greatly rewarded.
With the Public Quest at its end, the following Loot will be available. Here are some of the items and weapons you can look forward to receiving.
Minor Loot Bag:
Withered Guts - Withered Guts
Cultivation - Nutrient
A low-grade nutrient used to enhance the cultivation process.
Skill Cultivation 45
Dusty Loam -
Cultivation - Soil
A low-grade soil used to enhance the cultivation process.
Skill Cultivation 45
Lionsbane Greaves -
Boots
Heavy Armor
109 Armor
Bind on pickup
Empty Talisman Slot
Minimum Rank: 9
Career:
Skill: Heavy Armor
Lesser Loot Bag:
Inveigler Gown
Body
Robe
45 Armor
Bind on pickup
Empty Talisman Slot
Minimum Rank: 9
Career: Sorceress
Skill: Robe
Effective staff of Warding
Right Hand
Staff
21.8 Dps
3.3 Speed
Bind on pickup
+ 34 Willpower
Minimum Rank: 9
Skill: Staff
Race: Dark Elf
Lacquered Ring of Muscle
Accessory 1
Bind on pickup
+ 9 Toughness
+ 2 Wounds
+ 15 Elemental Resistance
+ 26 Corporeal Resistance
Minimum Rank: 9
Greater Loot Bag:
Blackbird Knife
Right Hand
Dagger
16.0 Dps
2.9 Speed
Bind on pickup
+ 14 Toughness
+ 4 Wounds
+ 2 Initiative
Minimum Rank: 9
Skill: Dagger
Race: Chaos
Stone of Valetear
Zone: Chrace
Stage 1 – Kill 100 Shining Guard Knights
These brutal and heavily armed warriors will approach the player in large numbers. Your best bet is to stay alongside a teammate or two and use combos to bring these opponents to their knees.
Stage II – Rubric of Hatred
This stage is a defensive endeavor. Players will be charged with protecting the Rubrics against the oncoming High Elf attacks. It is an easy place to earn experience points as the simple enemies will allow you to deviate from the party. You won't have much to fear as this stage will be over before you know it.
Stage III – Kill the Archer Champion, Kill the Guardian White Lion, Kill Shadow Walker Terevin
These champions of the High Elf forces are formidable and should not be taken lightly. DOT's are a player's best friend and should be used as frequently as possible. While the Archer Champion and the Guardian White Lion offer a slight challenge, Shadow Walker Terevin will prove to be the most troublesome of the bunch. Strong offensive combos work best here but keep a close eye on your health. This may be the third stage but it is not the final.
Stage IV – Retake 4 Rubrics, Kill 4 Shining Guard Archmages, Kill Sildaen of Hoeth
After sending their so called Champions to defeat the Dark Elves, the High Elves pull out the big guns in this final stage. They will stop at nothing to take the Stone of Valetear and players should be extra cautious going into this battle. Taking the Rubrics back will not be the issue for this final stage. It is the Archmages which are the most troublesome. Their long range attacks give them an incredible advantage on the battlefield and they have a way of combining their efforts in the most damaging ways imaginable. Still, you are a lot faster than the Archmages and their low resistance to melee attacks makes them an easy target for your teammates. Keep the Archmages preoccupied with DOT's and stay on the move. Sildaen will be just as annoying but thankfully not as bad as the relentless Archmages. Combos of high damage will make this battle a breeze as the rewards will soon be yours for the taking.
Lesser Loot Bag:
Stonebreaker Sash Belt
Bind on pickup
+ 29 Spiritual Resistance
+ 14 Elemental Resistance
Empty Talisman Slot
Minimum Rank: 9
Career: Sorceress
Blackbird Bitestoppas
Gloves
Light Armor
44 Armor
Bind on pickup
+ 11 Toughness
+ 3 Wounds
+ 2 Initiative
Minimum Rank: 9
Career: Squig Herder
Skill: Light Armor
Massive Loot Bag:
Chewtop of the Suffused
Body
Light Armor
60 Armor
Bind on pickup
+ 3 Strength
+ 5 Initiative
+ 14 Ballistic Skill
Minimum Rank: 9
Career: Squig Herder
Skill: Light Armor
Squikickas of Carnage
Boots
Light Armor
28 Armor
Bind on pickup
+ 3 Toughness
+ 2 Initiative
+ 4 Ballistic Skill
Empty Talisman Slot
Minimum Rank: 6
Career: Squig Herder
Skill: Light Armor
Squig Calla's Kit of Carnage (0 / 2)
Chewtop of Carnage
Squigkickas of Carnage
(2 Piece Bonus) +9 Ballistic Skill
That does it for this week's installment of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning: Age of Reckoning. I hope that these tips have helped you in your quests and made your experience a lot more enjoyable. I look forward to hearing about your playtime with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning thus far so don't hesitate to leave your comments below. Until next week, Happy Gaming!
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Andreas Asimakis, Associate Editor
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Thursday, November 06 2008 |
Continuing with last week's Mini Public Quest Guide, I will cover some of the later quests the Dark Elf Race will come across within the realm of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.
Chapter III marks the beginning of slightly more complicated quests where teamwork and efficiency are keys to success.
Chapter III – Into the Lion's Den
Golden Tor:
Zone: The Blighted Isle
Stage I – Kill 50 Goldenwing Eagles, Kill 50 Goldenwing Fliers
A great place to earn a lot of experience points and properly allocate your abilities to configure the most devastating attacks, Stage I features a pair of relatively simple enemy encounters which can be easily dealt with on your own. The numbers here are high with the party having to kill a total of 100 enemies to proceed, but that figure will quickly dwindle away as players will easily fell these winged adversaries. Having a particularly powerful combo will prove useful if you intend to contribute greatly to your party's efforts and earn the largest share of this quest's rewards.
Stage II – Kill 25 Goldenwing Fledglings
To prevent further nuisances from flooding the skies, the Dark Elves have been charged with destroying the very eggs from which these winged creatures emerge. Another relatively easy endeavor, players should take advantage of the solo aspects here and proceed to kill the enemies around them without much worry of their teammates. The experience is rewarding here as well and a clever set-up with quick attacks will help you earn the bulk of the rewards.
Stage III – Kill Queen L'thil
Finally, the creator of this vile species will make herself present and her existence will only further the population of these winged troublemakers. As long as she survives, the eagles will indefinitely survive. DOT's are recommended as well as a strong sense of comradery. Pay mind to your teammates as their survival will be important in this final stage. Queen L'thil's attacks can be devastating to your party but a continuous stream of offensive magic combined with DOT's will prove deadly for your daunting adversary.
Dreamshade Forest
Zone: The Blighted Isle
Stage I - Kill 50 Dreamshade Ambushers, Disarm 20 Traps
The Dreamshade Ambushers can be a difficult to deal with as mobs of these anxious opponents will emerge from the shadows in hopes of ruining the Dark Elf's quest. Stay close to your teammates and be sure to handle your spells combos with care. Take your abilities and their rate of cooldown into consideration. An ideal set-up involves your combos to work in tangent with your spells as they recharge, allowing for fast action and anticipating your next move. As for the traps, best deal with the Ambushers as the approach you in waves. Traps can be easily disarmed throughout the battle but they should not be your priority during this quest.
Stage II – Kill 10 Dreamshade Stalkers
Deadlier than the Dreamshade Ambushers, these High Elves will come at your party with speed and strength. Public Quests will occasionally allow players to deviate from their party but this is not the case here. Casting high damage combos alongside your teammates will bring these opponents down in no time. The combined assault of multiple spells will prove to be devastating and the stage will quickly come to its end.
Stage III – Kill Guardian Baron, Kill Shadow Walker Ialia
Stage III is a tad more difficult than the previous segments in this quest as the Guardian Baron will prove to be a formidable opponent at this stage in the game. Lurking in the mist, Guardian Barons have the strength to put a quick end to your character's life. Distance and steady attacks work best here and don't be afraid to draw the Barons away from your teammates. You should a bit quicker on your feet and be sure to cast DOT Spells to use your escape to your advantage. As for Ialia, the attacks met here can be frustrating and often difficult to deal with. Buffs are recommended here as well as combos that include a DOT Spell or two.
The more time I spend in the realm of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, the more I admire its involved and intricate quests and its well structured system of driving players to help one another. I have spent many hours with several MMO's but Warhammer's community has been one of the friendliest I have ever encountered. How has your gaming experience been? How does Warhammer stack up to the other MMO's you've played? Post your comments below.
I've been giving a lot of thought to creating a new character as of late. Not that my formidable Sorceress has started to lose her charm, I am just eager to find out what Mythic Entertainment has in store for me. Still, I have barely begun to scratch the surface with the Sorceress and the more play time I sped with her, the less I am inclined to tear myself away. Join us next week as we continue our Mini Public Quest Guide. We will also take a look into some the Sorceress's advanced abilities as well as Item Description and tips for leveling up. Until then, Happy Gaming!
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Andreas Asimakis, Associate Editor
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Thursday, October 30 2008 |
 Last week we took a detailed look at the Mastery Paths and abilities of the Dark Elf Career: Sorceress. This week we will look further into the trials of the Dark Elf race and at the creatures awaiting players in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Along with a Mini Public Quest Guide for the Dark Elf, I will also cover the Tome of Knowledge, complete with Monster Info. Let the hunt begin!
All races in the realm of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning will have their own unique sets of quests to complete. Public Quests typically involve 3 Stages and often conclude with a grand battle against one or more Hero Tier opponents. As Public Quests revolve highly around the areas which they are confined to, players will often find themselves wandering into an ongoing quest and can choose whether or not to join the battle. This means that players can participate in any stage of the Public Quest which is currently underway. But as will players come and go as they choose, Mythic Entertainment has setup a rewards system to assure that those players who have contributed the most during any particular quest will receive the most valuable bounty.
Having gone into detail on Chapter 1 of the Dark Elf's Story, let us take a closer look at some of the upcoming Public Quests this race will soon be able to undertake.
Chapter 2: Nimosar
Quest: Nimosar
Location: The Blighted Isle
Zone: Akrana's Storm
Stage 1 – Kill 100 Nimosar Guadians
This might seem like a bit of a daunting errand at such an early stage in the game but these are no match for your abilities. Doombolt works wonders here so put it to good use. Keep your distance and depending on the amount of players participating, the guardians should fall by the numbers in no time.
Stage 2 – Destroy 12 Braziers
The Dark Elves are a naughty race and setting sights on these braziers as a means to burn the village to the ground. This task can be a little tricky at first what with the continuous mobs of guardians trying to thwart your evil ambitions. It's best to try and help out a few of your party members here as they destroy the braziers will you provide cover fire and slay the oncoming minions.
Stage 3 – Kill Erinas and his Silver Helms
The main adversary of this quest will sow his face and try his best to put an end to your misdeeds. The Silver Helms can be a bit of a pain to deal with and will often interfere with your attacks on Erinas. Using Doombolt in conjunction with any other Sorceress spell will put these opponents in their place. As for Erinas, this High Elf Hero will attack your party with all he has but he is not match for your barrage of attacks. Mind your distance and use projectile attacks to guarantee victory.
Quest: Mistwood Grove
Location: The Blighted Isle
Zone: Akrana's Storm
Stage 1 – Kill 75 Venomroot Sprites
The vast area of this quest will allow players to roam around and earn their own share of influence in this particular area. The sprites are easily dealt with so no need to watch your companions during this stage. Feel free to do your own thing and kill the mobs of enemies as they advance. This is also a great quest to gain vast amounts of experience as the waves of enemy forces will be constant and easily dealt with.
Stage 2 – Kill 8 Venombough Dryads
Dryads are a bit tougher than then Sprites but still a pushover nonetheless. Keeping an eye on your friends is recommended here as the mobs can be a bit overwhelming and the Dryads being a bit harder to take down. Still, it isn't anything to be really afraid of.
Stage 3 – Kill Branchwraith Ylrisae
Time for the main event and boy is she angry. Killing Ylrisae will shatter the spirit of the forest so keep your attacks constant. You will discover that the boss mobs to be confronted here will offer an easy way to gain experience but keep your attention on Ylrisae. Her attacks can be partially devastating if underestimated.
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is a very deep and lengthy gaming experience. As an MMO, the amount of content is simply staggering and it can often be difficult to keep track of your progress and current endeavors. Luckily, Mythic Entertainment has implemented a system for sorting through this information. The Tome of Knowledge or TOK is a virtual summation of all a players' activity within the realm of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Divided into 8 categories, the Tome of Knowledge contains valuable information and helps breakdown the complexities of the MMO in a clear and organized manner.
Quests - Lists all the character's current Quests with sortable columns on completion, name, Zone, and type.
WAR Story - Lists the storyline for each race with breakdowns on Public Quests and Influence rewards plus a map of the chapter's area.
Achievements - Lists the various Achievements earned by the character (for example dying 10 times).
Rewards - Contains categories for Titles, Cards, Tactics, and Items earned by the character.
History & Lore - Breaks down the game Lore that the character's race can find in each zone.
Noteworthy Persons - Lists all of the important NPCs that the character can meet in each zone.
Bestiary - Lists the types of mobs and races the character can run into and a list of interactions relating to them.
Armory - Lists the different armor sets discovered for the character's career.
Players will encounter a vast amount of monsters and human adversaries throughout the realm of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Though any initial battle will automatically log any new creatures or opponents into the Tome of Knowledge, it is important to note that detailed information on the extensive bestiary can be acquired by completing certain tasks.
The Bestiary: consists of 6 categories which can be further divided into sub-categories containing the distinct creatures which populate the realm of Warhammer.
Animals: Consisting of Birds, Beasts, Lizards and Arachnids, this category contains the savage end of the Bestiary.
Basilisk – Giant lizards with the power to petrify your character, these beasts are best approached from afar.
Rhinox – A massive beast, the Rhinox can overwhelm players if caught off guard. Ogres use these beasts as mounts and their focus on a particular player can prove to be quite frustrating if not dealt with properly.
Humanoids: Similar to the races of Warhammer, this category houses the likes of Humans, Dwarves, Elves, and Beastmen.
Ogres – Will attack in great numbers and will often come swinging clubs. Though easily dealt with than most enemies, Ogres tend to attack in mobs and will stop at nothing to take you down. A great way to level up as their large groups will lead to impressive amounts of experience.
Skaven – Ugly Rat-like men of Warhammer, these enemies are similar to Ogres in that they attack in great numbers but are slightly more difficult to take down if playing solo. Again, great opportunities for experience as well.
Monsters: Category of the Trolls, Giants, Magical Beasts and Dragons, monsters are both overwhelming in size and in number.
Trolls – Giant sulking creatures, Trolls can be a pain to deal with and are often best left avoided for lower level players. The use their bare hands to pound at their enemies but will sometimes come carrying clubs for even more damage.
Wyverns – Smaller than a dragon but still a force to be reckoned with. These winged creatures will use their flying abilities to their advantage making difficult for players to land a killing blow. Patience works best with Wyverns and they offer a variety of treasures along with great experience points.
Undead: Skeletons, Zombies, Spirits and Greater Undead shamble into this section of the Tome of Knowledge.
Zombies - They may be slower than most enemies but Zombies can take a beating and still come at your with unrelenting intensity. Their numbers and durability against most attacks offers a deadly combinations and beginners should tread lightly around these shambling corpses.
Skeletons – Skeletons are a bit easier to deal with than their undead cousin the Zombie. But Skeletons will often wield weapons and armor making their presence slightly more threatening than that of the slow moving Zombie.
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning continues to be a fun filled experience. How has your playtime been? Have the Public Quests been challenging? How big of a role do you play in your party's success? We would like to know. I am starting to see the true potential of this title. Its approach to the MMO world has proven to be very successful and I can only fill the void of my downtime by reporting my progress to you. Be sure to check out the Gamer's Column next week for another informative entry. Happy Gaming!
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Andreas Asimakis, Associate Editor
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Wednesday, October 22 2008 |
 The online experience continues with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. I have taken this last week to become better acquainted with my Dark Elf Sorceress, learning the ins and outs of the character's career, abilities, and performance in battle. Having recently reached Rank 12, I will be going over my findings including a detailed look at the Sorceress Mastery Paths and Spell Descriptions, Strengths and Weaknesses, and finally, Handy Tips for RvR. Let's begin!
Each race in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning can further specialize in their chosen career by mastering a certain path. As players increase in rank, mastery points will be earned to be distributed amongst the mastery trees provided. These trees or paths as they are referred to in the game, add a level of thought to a character's evolution as players will never obtain enough mastery points to fill out all three mastery trees. Study the given abilities well, and you will be sure to increase the effectiveness of your character if those chosen go well with your particular playing style.
A Sorceress has many abilities at her disposal. As a Sorceress uses her abilities her Dark Magic will increase. As a Sorceress builds Dark Magic, she will gain a bonus to critical damage as well as a bonus to critically hitting an opponent. A side effect however, to higher levels of Dark Magic is higher damage of a backlash. A backlash can only occur upon casting a spell which builds Dark Magic is unfortunately the majority of spells in the Sorceress spell book. Lowering your Dark Magic levels is recommended to avoid fatal repercussions. The ability Dhar Wind will be your immediate ability which lowers your Dark Magic to zero. Not casting any spells for a moderate amount of time and death will relinquish you of your Dark Magic as well.
But while she has many spells available to her, the power of her Dark Magic can be found in her Mastery Paths. Let's take a closer look at the paths a Sorceress can study and examples the spells and abilities she can learn.
The Path of Agony contains spells intended on slaughtering individual enemies. This path is a mix which contains devastating Dark Magic spells and more stable magic. The spells to be found in this path have a primary focus on massive damage. The Path of Agony builds Dark Magic extremely quickly and if used efficiently, can provide the most devastating attacks in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.
 Doombolt delivers a burst of dark power which will damage at the cost of 30 Action Points. This primary skill for damage comes at the cost of a 3 second cast time which can be especially difficult to utilize in RvR. This spell can create powerful combos as it comes without a cooldown allowing it to be chain cast. Doombolt is one of the most efficient spells and should be a constant throughout the career of the Sorceress.
 Gloomburst is a quick casting spell that takes 1 second to cast and comes at the cost of 40 Action Points. The spells builds Dark Magic at an insane rate and when combined with Doombolt, Gloomburst makes for a very efficient combo for beginners. It hits the target extremely fast and its damage is slightly lower than Doombolt.
The Path of Calamity focuses its spells on long duration effects and casting magic which often curses an enemy. This path contains fewer Dark Magic spells and relies more on the effects of destructive stable magic. The spells can be considerably effective, allowing the Sorceress to safely move about the area while Damage over Time slowly ravages the enemy's health.
 hillwind will damage an enemy over 9 seconds at the cost of 35 Action Points. It is best used while on the move and while Dark Magic levels are relatively low. Like most Calamity Spells however, Chillwind can lead to disastrous results if spam casted at high Dark Magic levels.
 Word of Pain reduces an enemy's Willpower for 10 seconds at the cost of 25 Action Points. It prepares the target to absorb massive amounts of damage from spells such as Doombolt and Gloomburst. It can be stacked 3 times and after its effects have wore off, will cause damage to the target for each application that was stacked. It can be used while moving and once stacked against an enemy can be highly effective.
The Path of Destruction is primarily aimed towards those who wish to slaughter mobs of advancing enemies with a single Dark Magic spell. The spells offered are interesting but not as exciting as the other paths. It is extremely effective in deflecting group attacks and if used properly, the Path of Destruction can provide formidable abilities to the Sorceress.
 Surging Pain will damage all enemies within 30 feet of the caster at the cost of 35 Action Points. A useful spell to help deal instant damage to an incoming mob but players should be warned that spamming this particular spells, coupled with its ability to max out your Dark Magic in a handful of uses, can lead to an instantaneous death by means of a backlash. It can cause fairly impressive damage when combined with other spells but Surging Pain is much betters used as a last resort as it will often save a Sorceress when overwhelmed and near death.
 Shattered Shadows will damage enemies from underneath and all other enemies within 20 feet of them with a living shadow at the cost of 35 Action Points. A fairly useful spell for beginners, Shattered Shadows is nothing but a placeholder until better spells become available. It's long cast time of 3 seconds and its ineffectiveness in RvR, Shattered Shadows should only be used in between castings.
While the Path of Calamity and the Path of Destruction have their share of destructive spells, the balance of the Path of Agony fits my particular style of playing. I would rather focus on one enemy at a time instead of confronting mobs and the Sorceress race is intended for players to carefully plan their attacks and deal the most damage to a single persistent enemy. A Sorceress strives on her ability to keep a large gap between her and her target and cause Damage over Time. You will find that most parties will often rely on the sorceress for much more than her high level of damage, but her ability to quickly dispose of pesky healers during RvR.
The Sorceress race isn't well suited for solo RvR play. While she is adept at handling herself against enemies, going against other players is somewhat challenging for a lone sorceress. Her low HP makes her highly vulnerable to melee attacks and her light armor options offer little in terms of defense. I have tried this before and have only been met with certain death. This is an MMO, embrace the teamwork and competition to be found. As a Sorceress, or any race for that matter, it is important to remember your role in the party and know how to exploit your opponents' weaknesses.
 A Healer's greatest asset is his ability to heal himself or damaged teammates. These classes should be a primary target for a Sorceress. As a Healer heals himself, a steady barrage of dark magic will allow your teammates to make quick work of the opposing force. Healers who concentrate on healing their damaged teammates are extremely vulnerable to your attacks and can be dealt with little effort.
That's all for this week. How did you find the Sorceress career? How did you find the spells' effectiveness? Have you decided on mastering a single path or spreading your points amongst the skills trees? Leave us comments below. Join me next week as I venture further into the chaotic realm of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning with a Mini Public Quest Guide as well as tips for increasing your character rank and more in depth coverage on this addicting game. Happy Gaming!
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Andreas Asimakis, Associate Editor
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Wednesday, October 15 2008 |
 Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning has been under many MMO fans' radar for quite some time. And the world of online role playing has always been a great experience for me. My approach to such an easily addictive medium has always provided me with many satisfying hours of interaction and quest completion. After a long hiatus from the MMO world, I am about to take the plunge once more with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Recently launched on September 18th, I finally had the chance to get some one-on-one time with this massive game and discover all the wonder and depth cleverly concealed within. Join me now as I venture into Warhammer.
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning builds it's principles on a Realm vs. Realm mechanic, splitting its races into two separate factions: Order and Destruction. Each faction contains three races for a combined total of six available for the player to choose from. On the side of the Order we have, Dwarves, High Elves and the Empire. On the side of Destruction players can choose from the genderless Greenskins(Orcs and Goblins) and Dark Elves. From this point, players must choose a career for their character. I have always been a fan of long range, magic users so the Dark Elf Race and their Sorceress Career seemed perfect for me. Sorceresses specialize in Dark Magic. Their buffs are crucial to any party planning to take down an overwhelming adversary. And even though these characters are limited in armor options and hit points, Sorceress spells strike opponents for massive amounts of damage. Just the way I like it.
 Quests are the heart of any MMO and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning has implemented a few innovative ideas to keeps thing interesting. As with most MMO's, I have come to expect the usual types of objectives. From slaying a specific amount of a particular creature, to gathering a requested item and returning it to an NPC, Warhammer follows the standards set by its MMO forefathers. An early quest entitled ‘Blood Feud', instructed my fledgling character to slay 4 Sea Guards before I can receive my less than modest reward. And while these meager offering had me eager to level-up my character for a short period of time before taking on another quest, an interesting MMO addition known as Public Quests, proved to be a lot more rewarding and a reminder of what the MMO experience is all about.
Public Quests are often broken up into various stages with multiple objectives to overcome, culminating to that final moment where you and your party defeat an oversized Boss NPC for a hefty amount of experience and gold. These quests will begin to populate as you enter areas and will have a designated section within your user interface. The Spires of Narthain, a Dark Elf Public Quest began as I entered Narthain. My first objectives required me to slay 30 Narthain Soldiers. It may seem like a daunting task for such early game time, but these quests can only be completed with a large group of players so interaction is a definite. The next portion of this quest asked for the demise of 15 Narthain Sun Mages. It's times like this where I am reminded why I like to keep a distance in battle. The final stage of this Public Quest spawned a Boss dragon by the name Sunthair. This winged monster was quite the troublemaker and it required many players to take it down. When all was finally said and done, I wasn't rewarded with just experience and gold. My character also earned influence which I can use to purchase further rewards from particular vendors. Huzzah!
 Warhammer isn't without its flaws. I noticed a few bugs here and there but they aren't enough to mar an otherwise enjoyable gaming experience. These early moments will definitely have me coming back for more. I look forward to unlocking the potential of my character and playing alongside the friendly gamers inside this virtual playground of destruction. The world is constantly at war with itself and so far it's been a blast to play.
If you've had similar experiences, let us know. What are your thoughts on the game so far? Leave us some comments below. I'm looking forward to where this online experience will take me in the weeks to come. From what I can tell, Warhammer has a lot to offer to even the most casual of MMO players. Be sure to stay tuned to more Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning experiences down the line. Happy gaming!
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Leon Hendrix, Associate Editor
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Thursday, September 25 2008 |
This past summer, movie fans were treated with a number of impressive and blockbuster hits. Outstanding sound, jaw-dropping special effects and even a few decent plot lines poured out of the theatres this summer. Still, what made this summer’s box office fare truly unique was the presence of some of our most beloved heroes finally, on the silver screen. Between The Dark Knight, Hellboy II, The Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man, filmmakers grossed an incredible excess of a billion dollars. The Dark Knight alone reached approximately $918 billion in foreign and domestic sales. With such an outstanding showing in the theatres, it’s only natural that we expect great things from the videogame industry as well, right?
Ideally, and many game developers have jumped on the bandwagon. In fact, a slew of games following the films, including the critically unfortunate next-gen outing of Iron Man and what was essentially a remake of the Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, and a lot of new projects are on the way.
It’s been a good year for Bruce Wayne, and DC Comics aims to keep it that way, not only have there been persistent rumors of a tie in to the uber-popular film, but the prince of Gotham will be getting the royal treatment in the highly anticipated Batman: Arkham Asylum. As if that wasn’t enough, Lego Batman and, the future fan favorite for all comic nerds, DC Universe Online the mmorpg set in the world of the legends of DC. Sharing the wealth, so to speak, Batman will be joined by some of his Justice League buddies and some of their famous foes in the fascinating Mortal Kombat vs. DC.
Not to be left in the lurch, Marvel has slated a number of big name releases themselves. Along with a much-more-than-likely tie in game for the release of the Punisher War Zone film and the two aforementioned critical bombs, Marvel is hoping to give gamers a reason to release their hard earned greenbacks.
The sequel to the popular if a bit stale Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Fusion is scheduled to burst into stores by April of next year. Riding the coattails of its most popular star, Marvel aims to capitalize on (and hopefully redirect) the Spiderman franchise with Spiderman: Web of Shadows, an action title starring several of the other Marvel stars.
Considering the number of comic based films rumored, shooting, scheduled, and awaiting release, comic fans could be set for a while. Marvel alone is rumored to have Magneto, Wolverine, X-Men 4, and Spiderman 4 movies on deck (tie-ins are a safe bet). DC is supposedly in development of a Justice League film, the sequel to Superman Returns, as well as Super-Max, starring the Green Arrow (of all people).
Though movie tie-ins are common, with the rising popularity of gamers as a whole, games are beginning to make their way to the big screen. The Max Payne movie looks to make its big screen debut in the middle of October to take advantage of the post summer/pre-holiday slump. Ultimately, filmmakers, comic fans are getting what they want (money and superheroes respectively). It will be interesting to see if there is enough love to go around for gamers to get some decent gameplay out of things. Stay tuned.
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Written by Shalese Tonks
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Saturday, August 09 2008 |
The 80's was home to much advancement in gaming, from the Colecovision, to a better Intellivision, even down to the highly popular Nintendo and Sega Genesis. These new consoles housed some of the best known franchises with titles like Donkey Kong and Mario Brothers, but probably the most impressive was the Final Fantasy franchise. Starting on the NES, Final Fantasy blew gamers minds with its impressive graphics and amazing storyline. This was essentially the birth of RPGs (Role Playing Games) and the beginning idea that games could do more than just entertain with small pixilated figures and a jump button. Following in the footsteps of the NES, the Super Nintendo launched another Final Fantasy game with the release of Final Fantasy 6. This game was a benchmark in the Final Fantasy series due to its more in-depth battle customization options and the sheer amount of playable characters in the game. In fact, it is heralded as the landmark of the series and of the role playing genre.
Also following in the genre molders of the 80's are titles like Chrono Trigger. This game was created by the "dream team" of Square (now Square-Enix) and was a major advancement in the RPG genre. Nintendo Power magazine even described certain aspects of Chrono Trigger as revolutionary. From its multiple endings, plot-related side quests focusing on character development, unique battle system, and detailed graphics, Chrono Trigger really showed us that games could be more than we had ever thought possible.
During this time, the first real racing games were developed. The two titles known for establishing this market are F-Zero and Mario Kart. F-Zero is considered to be the game that set a standard for the racing genre as a whole. The title was known for having an original scenario as well as its gameplay. It also ran on what was considered to be a groundbreaking technological achievement, for its time, that made the title the first racing game to be developed this realistically. On the other hand, Super Mario Kart could be played by one or two players. This sparked the start of "late night gaming" with your friends in the basement. While the game could be played in single player mode, with the top displaying the course and the bottom either displaying a rear-view mirror perspective or an overhead view of the whole track complete with competitor's positions, the real fun came in the multiplayer. In multiplayer, the bottom screen is assigned to the second player's view. Along with playing with friends, you have other aspects that add to the gameplay. Simply put, you don't just "drive fast" to win. There are different types of cars, with their own advantages and disadvantages, as well as items in the game that can aid you, from Koopa shells to throw at your opponent, to a banana peel to make them slide out. With all the 80's and 90's had to offer in gaming, it was looking like games couldn't get any better!
Cue the fighting genre. With the releases of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter for home consoles, gamers really got to bring feed their addiction to these arcade classics. Rather than spend all of your hard earned cash on the nickel arcades, you could demolish enemies from the comfort of your own couch. While Street Fighter concentrated on fighters from around the world coming together to beat the snot out of each other, Mortal Kombat took a much more graphic approach. The game is famous for its sprites (2D images in a 3D background) it is remembered for the amount of blood and gore associated with the title. The most notable example of this is, of course, the fatalities. These were special "finisher" moves that ranged from pulling out your opponent's spine, to setting them on fire. Because of the nature of the fatalities, parent groups cried out - to which the makers of the game came out with "variations" to mock those who felt it was too brutal for a game. These included fatalities such as Fergality, Friendship and, my personal favorite, Babality - where the opponent is turned into a crying baby complete with diaper and all.
With all the buzz of video games in the air, Sony decided to get in the mix with the release of the Playstation One in 1995. This housed games such as a new Frogger and Twisted Metal, and turned the gaming public on its head with releases like Final Fantasy VII. Not only did Final Fantasy VII continue with the great story lines and amazing character development as its predecessors, but it introduced a new graphical advancement into gaming altogether. Until then, 3D imaging had failed to really make a mark in gaming due to its taxing need of a high end system to keep the game running smoothly. Final Fantasy VII, on the other hand, was not only a visual treat, but it had evolved the turn-based fighting system even more so than before and is remembered as one of the best Final Fantasy stories to date.
After Microsoft saw the acclaim and desire for in-home gaming consoles, they entered the industry as a competitor to Sony. Once Sony announced their newest console, the Playstation 2, Microsoft was hard at work with the release of the XBOX. These two powerhouses with the silent Nintendo Game cube in the background sparked what could be considered the best era of video gaming. We have had so many great games come from these feuds between game companies, like Halo, Call of Duty, and many others. Now, in the current generation of gaming, we have a flood of mind-blowing games. Whether you like your RPGs like Mass Effect and Lost Odyssey, or FPS like Warhawk and Unreal Tournament 3, one thing is for certain, we have come a long way and if history is any indication, we have an amazing future in gaming ahead of us.
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Defender, Publisher
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Wednesday, July 09 2008 |
The bell rings and here we have two powerful contestants. In one corner is the Playstation 3 and in the other the Xbox 360. The argument and main debate has always been which one's better? We're not comparing these two consoles to the Wii, DS or PSP, as obviously these are different types of consoles that suit different needs.
Should you buy a 360 or a PS3? That's always been a tough question to answer. Honestly, both systems are good. Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 are next-gen consoles with outstanding graphics and quite fascinating capabilities.
Let's put in perspective the Playstation 3 versus the 360. Here are some facts:
- PS3 Is the cheapest Blu-ray disc player out today.
* Although 360 is also a DVD movie player, it doesn't quite match up with the fact that the PS3 plays Blu-ray discs.
- PS3 Online network is free compared to Xbox LIVE.
* Xbox LIVE is only about $7.99 per month, however the PSN offers online gaming for free.
- PS3 System has stability, fewer system crashes.
* A recent Firmware upgrade to the PS3 may have led to a few system crashes, However I don't think that's a huge case, since a lot of Xbox 360 owners have been complaining that their 360 system has crashed atleast once and sent back to microsoft for repairs.
- PS3 System Supports up to 7 Bluetooth Controllers.
* Xbox 360 Supports up to 4 Controllers. This could be interesting on "family game night". I'm sure the rest of the family would like to have 7 controllers.
- Metal Gear Solid 4 is exclusive to the PS3. I mean, what more is there to say?
* Both highly rated and anticipated, truly one of the hottest games out this year. Sadly 360 owners won't be able to get their hands on this one.
Now let's compare the Xbox 360 to the PS3. Here are some facts:
- Xbox 360's frame rate is a lot higher for certain, multiplatform, games. Thus, producing a much smoother gameplay experience.
* PS3's frame rate is less than the 360 in some multiplatform games, you may experience minor lag when playing some games.
- On the Xbox 360 you can play MP3 music while you're gaming.
* It must of been very disappointing for PS3 users to not have this option at first. New updates are making this available, but it is still somewhat limited in functionality.
- Most games on the Xbox 360 have better lighting and texture work.
* Although the PS3 has great gameplay, some games can look a bit washed out with overly bright visuals. The Xbox 360 wins in the graphics department. Most 360 owners will tell you that the graphics and detail make the gameplay experience more enjoyable.
- Games, Games and More games, Something that the PS3 doesn't have at the moment.
*Although most of the current and upcoming releases are being showcased for both the PS3 and the 360. It always seems as though the 360 has a bigger library of games. Not to mention some games like Alone in the Dark were released first for the 360 since it was not yet ready for PS3.
- Last but not least - 3 words... Gears of War.
*This is the priceless baby for the 360, truly a masterpiece and I'm sure the sequel will be one hell of a game. Sony wishes they had Gears of war.
So which is the better console? You decide. I'll just sit back and enjoy the best of both worlds.
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