Advertisement

Waging WAR: Tapping the keg

Mythic has released the Keg's End live event in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, and this week in Waging WAR, after falling off the wagon and bumping his head, Greg talks about all the things to see and do in-game during this holiday season. Don't worry, though -- we were able to get him to stop singing carols after the swelling went down.

It's that time of year again, and most everyone is celebrating something in some fashion. Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or Festivus, ultimately, it's a section of the calendar that many of us can appreciate and look forward to. On that note, I would like to extend my warmest and sincerest Season's Greetings to all Massively readers out there, wherever you are. And as fun as it is with the gift giving, merriment and world-peace-wishing, the best part of the season is when we get hammered and smack-talk our families. Wait, you don't smack-talk your family at your house? You mean... the season really is all about warmth, love, and mistletoe mischief? Hmm... well, it seems as though my family missed that memo. Behind-the-back dirt-dishing has been a staple at my house for as long as I can remember. But enough about that, let's talk about Warhammer Online and the Keg End live event -- something I can relate to. Forget about religion, politics, and corporate pan-handling; let's get out the gourds, chug a frothy or two, and loudly proclaim our bravest victories in that barrel-chested manner we're all so accustomed to (OK, maybe not all of us, but play along, will ye?).

Read on after the cut to learn about all the fun things you can look forward to with WAR's Keg End live event.


I enjoy a good swagger and boast as much as the next guy, but nothing is more encouraging in that regard than Warhammer Online. No matter how many times I tell it, the story about how "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I've watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate"* never gets old. If you're anything like I am, and if you take joy not in the story but in the telling of it, then Warhammer is the place for you this holiday season. As with any live event, there is a list of tasks to be fulfilled, sort of like a set of quests, if you will. And the Keg End is no different. Thankfully, several of those tasks involve taunting your enemies with a hearty, chest-beating /boast. Whether they lay slain at your feet or are running for their fleeting lives, emoting at them as they do so will earn you influence points for the event. Nothing ramps up the old enmity meter like a heaping helping of macro spam. There should be no shortage of bodies to boast at either, as the task list calls for the e-deaths of enough enemies to fill several busses. Throughout this year's event, it will be your responsibility to slay at least 150 members of the opposing faction -- 50 from each realm. I guess it's a good thing the event runs until the 4th of January, because that's a pretty tall order, especially for some of the DPS-indisposed careers out there. Thank goodness for RvR warbands. (*These are Roy Batty's final words spoken to Deckard in the movie, Bladerunner. Giving credit where it's due. I'm not from Mars and I don't dream about sheep, electric or otherwise.)

Once all the fighting is done, it's time to relax and head back to your favorite bar and/or grill, where you can /toast your victories with your comrades in arms over a cheek-flushing brew. There are kegs, cauldrons and steins everywhere, to be tapped and enjoyed by all. But why stay stationary? Both Altdorf and the Inevitable City are home to several pubs of note. Why not visit them all? Celebrate your hard-earned victories on the battlefield with a righteous pub crawl. In fact, there's a live event quest to run around and find all of the city's finest alcoholic offerings, even a few hidden ones. There are eight in total to be found and tasted, and while a few of them are pretty easy to find, a few others aren't. If you do manage to find them all, you'll be rewarded with your very own portable bar -- never mind the indentured servant responsible for the bar's portability.


If the brew in your home city isn't enough to satisfy your iron gut, then it's time again to leave the fortified walls of safety and go outside. There are caches of brew stashed around the world, all yours for the taking, assuming, of course, that you can manage to defeat the Giants that will inevitably be guarding them. But if you do, the spoils are yours, including whatever loot that was dropped by the Giant, the influence points toward the live event, and the Dwarf ale.

And what is better than being stumbling drunk as you wade through pools of your enemies' blood? Fireworks and loot! But don't worry about where you can find them, since just about everything you kill during the live event will have a chance to drop some of both -- fireworks and loot, that is. If you fire off a few Roman candles from the ramparts of your favorite keep, you'll earn a few points of influence toward the live event. But fireworks won't be the only loot worth taking. Everything from empty bottles (collect 50 for a prize!) to backpacks full of explosive beer can be yours if you're lucky enough.


So get out there and tap a keg or two. The Keg End live event runs from Tuesday, December 14th through January 4th of next year. There are plenty of good times to be had by all, and that includes all of your alts too! Have a Cheery Festivus and a Happy New Year!

Leave your comments, suggestions and questions using the form below.

Every Saturday afternoon, Waging WAR hits the cover of Massively with the latest and greatest in all things Warhammer Online. From patch news to career reviews, Greg Waller writes about it all. Email comments and questions to greg@massively.com.