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TERA exalts its game testing team
"You'll probably never see our names until you read the credits, but we have one of the most important jobs in game publishing," writes Scott James Magner. He heads up the "unsung heroes" of the TERA development team -- the game testers -- and he's written up a few fun insights into the behind-the-scenes process that is helping to refine this MMO as it heads to launch. According to Magner, the En Masse QA team's been flooded with requests to join the testing and feedback process as they continually poke and prod at all of TERA's systems and content. "At this point," he says, "we've played every class and race multiple times, but no one is tired of coming to work." The team is currently testing fights against "Big-Ass Monsters" in the Celestial Hills, and Magner says he's still learning new combos and techniques even after a full year of testing. While the testing team usually is far out of the spotlight, he says that its job is crucial to the game's success and that all of the testers are "you" at heart -- passionate gamers who want the best for this title. [Thanks to Joseph for the tip!]
TERA blog post redefines the holy trinity
En Masse Entertainment wants you to take everything you think you know about class roles and shove it -- well, you get the idea. En Masse's Scott James Magner waxes nostalgic on Dungeons and Dragons, EverQuest, and the establishment of the holy trinity. Scared of change? Don't worry too much. Magner says, "TERA isn't going to re-invent the wheel as far as class roles are concerned. Instead, we're redefining them as we move into the next generation of online games. TERA's eight classes fall easily into four in-demand roles, but how they do it is another story entirely." The Lancer and Warrior fill the tank role, but Magner is careful to point out that there is much more to to defending your allies than simply spamming your high-threat abilities; it's also highly dependent on blocking and dodging in a timely manner. Healers won't be playing whack-a-mole anymore, and Magner says that TERA's healers are "just as often in the thick of combat as the outskirts." Lastly, Magner thinks that the trinity should further divide into a "'foundation' of four," with DPS roles divided based on whether they are ranged or melee. The melee attackers deliver high damage with each strike, but the ranged attackers have an unbeatable attack speed. For the full details, head on over to TERA's site and check out the full article.
En Masse sheds light on TERA's Mystic
The Mystic is sort of an unknown when it comes to TERA classes (at least in terms of available information). While there's no shortage of articles floating around the web about Berserkers, Sorcerers, and Warriors, Mystics have been shrouded in a bit of mystery unless you're one of the lucky few currently experiencing the Korean beta. Thanks largely to information translated from said beta, the TERA fan community has labeled the Mystic a hybrid class, and TERAfans sheds a bit more light on the archetype via a new interview with En Masse Entertainment production associate Scott James Magner. So, is the Mystic a true hybrid? Magner says it depends on the player. "We can't stress enough the importance of player skill and player choices when playing TERA. All mystics will have access to the same skills and glyphs -- it's how you use them that will distinguish your mystic from other players. There's no one right way to play the game other than yours," he writes.
TERA berserker interview, part two
TERA, the upcoming action fantasy MMORPG from En Masse Entertainment and Bluehole Studio, is looking to put a fresh spin on both genre combat and the traditional healer/tank/damage dynamic. One way the designers are attempting to do this is through individual classes that play a bit differently from what you might expect. Take the berserker for instance. Rather than opting for your standard meat shield, Bluehole has given the class significant DPS capabilities as well. En Masse's Brian Knox and and Scott James Magner recently chatted about the berserker's unique features in part two of a lengthy interview with ZAM.com. "You want to be a target as a Berserker, but you also want to be targeting. And that's not a word we use a lot for this game. We talk about action and the way we play, but you are a destination for damage, just as you are an output of damage going the other direction," Magner says. Check out the new interview segment, as well as the previous installment, at ZAM.com.
TERA invites the Berserker to visit for tea
When you heard that one of TERA's classes was to be called the "Berserker" and you either thought of either the 80's arcade cabinet classic or an obscure song from the movie Clerks, then we could be fast friends. In any case, TERA's Brian Knox and Scott James Magner sat down with ZAM to talk about this brutal class and why it might appeal to the barbarian in all of us. TERA's Berserker is a two-handed axe wielder who has his weapon constantly in motion. The relatively short range of the class means that Berserkers have to get up close and personal with any foe they're fighting, but the increased risk of such moves are paid off with some of the highest DPS of the game. Because TERA uses both collision and positioning in its combat system, it's essential for the Berserker to hit with the blade and then duck away before getting slammed in return. Get too close, and you'll end up hitting with the hilt and wondering why the monster is laughing at you. You can read the full interview at ZAM and check out a series of screenshots detailing one of the Berserker's key moves. The official TERA site also has an outline of the class, along with a video for your eyes only (it will self-destruct after viewing).
