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TERA players killed 5,000,000 BAMs during the BAM Killer event
Back in August, TERA's devs adopted a faux Kickstarter page and a funny video to solicit help in the in-game campaign against BAMs (big-ass monsters). Players who contributed to the overall BAM kill count were showered with special loot. That event came to an end last week, and En Masse has released another tongue-in-cheek video as a capstone to the festivities and a thank-you to the players. Community Manager Tonka tells us that the Mount Tyrannas server racked up the most kills but also the most deaths. In fact, over 5,000,000 BAMs were slain during the event, which works out to 165 BAMs per minute. "That's a lot of BAMs," Tonka says, wide-eyed. The outtakes at the end are worth the watch all on their own. We've embedded the video below.
TERA introduces Kickstarter-esque BAM Killer event
Instead of asking for cash, TERA has taken to crowdfunding to solicit manpower. Using a fake Kickstarter page, En Masse invites players to help combat the out-of-control population explosion of BAMs -- or Big Ass monsters -- throughout TERA before they invade our world. How dire is the situation? Watch the video below to see! From now until September 16th, players can contribute to the BAM kill count and work toward the ultimate goal of 5 million BAMs dead in 21 days. Each day players log in during the event they will receive a special loot box that will contain five federation bills and a chance to drop bronze, silver, or gold BAM tokens -- tokens that can be exchanged for costumes, accessories, and even weapons exclusive to this event. For a look at all the possible rewards, check out the BAM Killer program. [Source: En Masse press release]
TERA Korea is getting guild fortresses that float
Let's all take a moment to lament that what I'm about to share is currently specific to the Korean version of TERA. There. Now that that's out of our system, we can appreciate the fact that Bluehole's new guild sky fortresses are pretty dang impressive, even if we won't see them in the En Masse version of the game for a while. MMO Culture reports that TERA Korea is also removing side quests from the fantasy MMO's quest log and placing them in a new interface nugget called Scouting Command, ostensibly to allow for more focus on the game's main story. But you really wanted to see the guild fortresses, right? Click past the cut for the vid.
Want to see your artwork on TERA's load screens?
If you've ever looked at TERA's loading screens and thought "I can do better," well, put up or shut up. En Masse is hosting a contest designed to spice up the waits between zones in its fantasy action MMO. You'll need to come up with original artwork (i.e., no screenshots), and you'll need to submit your entry no later than August 17th. You could win a new avatar outfit for your trouble, as well as the chance to see your work -- featuring your character and server names -- in the game. Click through the links below for more details and the full contest rules.
TERA's level cap to hit 65, new continent on its way
Bluehole Studio and En Masse Entertainment have announced today that their fantasy MMO TERA will be receiving a level cap increase and expand into a new continent later this year. The level cap will increase to 65, adding new skills and glyphs in the process. Along with this will come the Northern Arun continent and the world's fourth largest city, new instance dungeons, quest guide, enchanting system improvements, and more. Mention of a special competition for seasonal guild housing is also in the notes, and players are speculating in the forum thread about what this might mean. While Korea will get this new content in late July, En Masse says that the goal is to make it available for North American players by the end of the year. [Thanks to Leiloni for the tip!]
TERA's Patch 27.02 hits North American servers
TERA's Wounded World patch (Patch 27.02) has finally hit the North American servers after teasing us on the Korean servers for a time, and with it, we see some long-awaited additions to the game including new dungeons, a new boss gauge system, new gear, new master crafting rank, and more. Ghillieglade, Lakan's Prison, Abscess (normal and hard mode), and Rift's Edge (normal and hard mode) are the newest dungeon additions to the fantasy MMO while the dungeon bosses have been tweaked to allow more comprehensive information on which boss you're attacking and how close it is to kicking the bucket. Check out the complete patch notes at the official site for more information. [Thanks to Leiloni for the tip!]
Bluehole's not developing a TERA sequel after all
Korean MMO maker Bluehole Studio officially shot down long-circulating rumors about an in-development TERA sequel this week. While the firm is working on two new games -- currently codenamed Project W and Project EXA -- they "will only be similar to TERA in terms of western fantasy design," according to MMO Culture. The studio is also developing a mobile TERA spin-off tentatively titled Elin Expedition which features turn-based combat and additional Arborean lore and backstory.
The Daily Grind: Are you still playing TERA?
You know what's one MMO that I haven't heard much about lately? TERA. I guess it's doing fine following its free-to-play switch, but it seems like there's been zero chatter about it in the comments or on blogs, so I'm wondering if anyone's still playing it. Are you? Maybe you are still playing and enjoying TERA. Maybe you have good things to share about the new Reaper class. If so, pipe up for this game today! Why are you playing it and why should others check it out? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
TERA: Rising previews Wounded World update, Rift's Edge encounters
En Masse Entertainment is gearing up for its next TERA: Rising update in the west, which we now know is called Wounded World. The studio told Massively this week that the update is loaded with fresh content, including a three-man scenario in Lakan's Prison, a solo rescue mission in the primal forest of Ghillieglade, a seven-man foray into the Abscess instance, and a 10-person Big Boss BAM Slam in Rift's Edge, complete with new gear and bosses and rewards. We've got an exclusive video and screenshots of some of the new bosses and encounters coming in the update. Enjoy them below.
TERA's Chinese publisher has a deal for VR headsets
Good news for the VR enthusiasts today, or at least the VR enthusiasts who live in China and have a deep-seated desire to hack at some monsters in TERA. The game's Chinese publisher, Kunlun, revealed an agreement being made between the company and Sony to bring the game to the latter's virtual reality headset. The idea is that the headset will allow players to step into the game with what amounts to a full IMAX experience, only with significantly more giant monsters. Nothing has been said on whether or not this option will be available for players in North America. The Chinese version of the game is planning on its first large-scale open test in August, and there will be unique content for the region, but hopefully that won't include the ability to play the game with a headset strapped over your eyes.
One Shots: Mount up!
Whether it's a real-world or fantasy version, we apparently can't resist showing off a sweet, sweet ride. This week's edition of One Shots is dedicated to all of your spiffy-looking mounts and the paint jobs that you had done to them while they were asleep. The first one comes from The Lurker, who might become one with his horse in EverQuest II: "Arriving at the magical teleportation spires in the Commonlands. Stepping into the magical wortex will dissolve even a Deathknight and restructure him in a distant land. Is it really safe? If I ride into it on my horse, will we arrive as a centaur? And must I then join the Centaur Herds in the Thundering Steppes? Is that how they came to be?" Get the picture in full Technicolor as well as several additional ones -- at no extra charge! -- all after the break.
Here's some odd art from Bluehole's TERA sequel
The TERA sequel is still a thing, as Bluehole Studio served up the game's first publicly revealed artwork at the Nexon Developers Conference 2014. MMO Culture has the image, and is that the white hand of Saruman on that dude's trenchcoat?
TERA's remodeling system removal causing player unrest
Avatar customization is a big deal in MMOs, especially ones as gorgeous as TERA. It's such a big deal, in fact, that changes to TERA's system brought on by the recent Reaper patch have resulted in a titanic forum protest thread that's well over 30 pages long as of this writing. In a nutshell, TERA's dearly departed remodeling system allowed players to alter the look of individual gear pieces. It was similar to World of Warcraft's transmogrification mechanics, but it has now been replaced by a system that necessitates grinding for tickets that may be exchanged for whole armor sets. [Thanks everyone who tipped us!]
TERA brings out the Reaper
Today's patch for TERA is bringing a brand-new class in a pint-sized package: the Reaper. Patch 26.04's star attraction is the new Reaper class, which only becomes available once a player hits level 40 with at least one character (And yes, there's an achievement to be the very first Reaper on any given server. Make us proud, Massively readers!). The Reaper is a leather-wearing, Elin-exclusive class that does mid-range damage with a scythe. It utilizes chains and combos extensively to do its DPS work. The patch also contains the new Reaper starting area of Ashen Hope, a big revamp to the crafting system, a production system, and an update to glyphs and the skills UI. It's a two gig patch, so you'll want to familiarize yourself with all of the ins and outs of the patch notes before you log in.
TERA's Reaper class heads to NA servers on May 13th [Updated]
The official Facebook page for TERA has posted an official North American release date for the Reaper class, already live in Japan and Korea, and that date is May 13th. According to fansite TeraToday, the Reaper is a free class available to players who already have a character over level 40; they're shadowy fighters who excel in close- and mid-range combat. We've included the Reaper trailer below. Pew pew slash slash and all that. [Update: The studio has just posted an official website for the new class.]
TERA's having a birthday party and you're invited
TERA celebrates its second birthday this weekend, and for reasons that make sense only to MMORPGs and hobbits, that means it's giving its players a bunch of presents. En Masse will be handing out 20 prizes per server per day from today to May 1st, with a special jackpot chance for those who play over the weekend. The prizes include party packs, special mounts, skins, and the all-important 2013 swimsuit bundle. Everyone who logs in will be showered in daily federation bills, and this Saturday the team plans to bring in "special guests" who come bearing -- you guessed it -- more loot. The studio produced a trailer to punch up the festivities and demonstrate just how far the game has come since launch; we've included it below. Happy birthday, TERA!
April Fools' Day around the virtual world
I was in Guild Wars 2 last night at 10 p.m. PDT when my Asura's head... grew. And wobbled. And bobbled. As did the heads of the not-so-scary-anymore Nightmare Court villains I had been murdering in pursuit of my dailies. Ah, I remembered. It's April Fools' somewhere! Here are some of the MMOs that tried to prank us today: Blizzard showed off a hideous new model for World of Warcraft's Draenei women and announced a new fighting game full of rejected characters. Neverwinter introduces a brand-new playable race -- the Dragon! EverQuest Next wants you to choose the next class: Duct Tapomancer, Rubberbandian, Origami Assassin, or Martinizer. Star Wars: The Old Republic introduced asteroid starships. Final Fantasy XIV teased the worst NPC companions ever. TERA has been overrun by beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! Lord of the Rings Online announced plans for a major sports league. DC Universe Online brought to life the Unicorn Trinket. EverQuest II celebrated Bristlebane Day. Path of Exile gave up and went pay-to-win. Destiny unveiled the "Get Your Ass To Mars" collectors edition. World of Warplanes promised playable UFOs. The Repopulation posted patch notes including The Adventures of Ding Veisel. World of Tanks introduced World of Tanks: The Crayfish. League of Legends turned its meta upside down with a goofy Ultra Rapid Fire mode. Finally, rather than add to the pranks, we sent you on an April Fools' Day quest. The first person to complete it was reader Nathan6! The words in order were waffle, platypus, macguyver, shazbot, and doge, and here is the "prize" page. Thanks for playing, everyone! ;)
TERA's federation bills let you buy discontinued cash shop items
En Masse has added a new wrinkle to its TERA cash shop. The next time you log into the free-to-play fantasy brawler, you'll receive a pack of five federation bills for your trouble. You'll get five more on each subsequent login "for a limited time," and En Masse will be "introducing more and more ways to get them" in the future. The bills aren't tradeable, but you can share them across all the characters on your account. They're used at exclusive merchants in towns spread throughout Arborea to purchase "some of those rare items no longer available anywhere else" as well as "plenty of other goodies and treats." [Thanks Dengar!]
32-team TERA PvP tourney starts Saturday, March 9
TERA fans, you've now got some weekend plans -- assuming you didn't already have weekend plans, of course. En Masse is hosting a three-vs.-three PvP tournament in Champions' Skyring starting on Saturday, March 9th. This will be a single-elimination event composed of 32 teams, with 3,000 En Masse cash shop points going to the winners alongside a premium ninja costume bundle. The second place team gets the costume bundle and a thousand EMP, while third and fourth place finishers will take home the costumes. All participants will receive an afro head slot accessory. If you're not much for PvPing, you can view the shenanigans via En Masse's Twitch channel. The event runs from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday. Click past the cut for the full press release. [Source: En Masse press release]
The Soapbox: My hypersexualization conundrum
Every now and then here at Massively, we receive an email that isn't super nice. I know this may come as a shock to many of you -- the internet is, after all, a place of tolerance and constructive debate -- but sometimes the Massively inbox is no place any sane person would want to be. One reader recently took the opportunity to offer some choice thoughts on Massively staffers. And amidst the jumble of insults and generalizations, the reader levied the ever-powerful "hypocrisy" charge at us for claiming to care about hypersexualized designs of female characters in MMOs while simultaneously playing as those very hypersexualized characters. How could we possibly purport to care about the presentation of women in games if we're all running around in chainmail bikinis? Generally speaking, I prefer to not have my habits and behavior challenged via ad hominem attacks and false comparisons. But I have to admit that this one particular charge piqued my curiosity. Why is it that the majority of my characters are female? Am I, as a person who looks down on hypersexualized designs in games, committing an act of hypocrisy every time I create a female character? Let's sort it out. And before we begin, remember that the Soapbox, like most of our editorials, is just one person's opinion and doesn't represent the thoughts of Massively as a whole.
