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New Darkfall siege mechanics detailed
Aventurine has spilled the beans on Darkfall's new siege mechanics in a lengthy blog entry posted over the weekend. Producer Tasos Flambouras writes that the "new system brings substantial changes to how sieges work, and will not only eliminate issues like self-sieging, but will also make sieges a lot more strategic, profitable and interesting." How so? Well, for starters there's the fact that clan size now affects your ability to initiate a siege, and actions against a rival clan city will require more members than actions against a hamlet (and trial accounts won't count towards your clan size). All attacking clans will also need to pay a wager, the amount of which is affected by several variables. First up is the target city's power level, which is derived from how many buildings are in evidence. Your clan's wager will also change according to how many clans are already sieging by the time you join. These tweaks are the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and there's much more reading material at the official Darkfall Epic Blog.
Aventurine releases new Darkfall dungeon video
While speculation continues to swirl around Darkfall 2.0 and character wipes, Aventurine is staying the course by revealing new tidbits every week that serve as both a teaser for upcoming game goodness and a distraction from the larger issues. Case in point is the new Yssam dungeon video. As the press release on the game's official blog states, "there's a little bit of new in quite a few things that you will see," including the new lair, a new lighting system, a new AI monster, and a new armor model. There's still no definitive word on 2.0, though, and the when, why, and how of the huge upcoming reboot is by far the most important 'new' for denizens of Agon.
Upcoming Darkfall relaunch is 'a new game'
How does a fresh start in the world of Agon grab you? The devs at Aventurine have been making noises about relaunching Darkfall for a while now, but in a new dev blog released earlier today, producer Tasos Flambouras gives us a hint at just how significant the changes are going to be. "This relaunch is not an expansion. It's a new game we've been developing in parallel with the current version of Darkfall. The scope is massive, and it has been difficult to stay on schedule after several unexpected issues," Flambouras writes. So, yeah. Whoa. In our best Keanu Reeves voice. The blog features some further discussion about a new siege system and a political map for the current version of Darkfall, but frankly we're still recovering from the previous paragraph and unsure as to how it all fits together. Is this Darkfall II? Is the current version going away when the relaunch hits? Inquiring minds want to know, and we'll bring you the latest on this story as we learn more.
Darkfall dev blog talks armor system updates, roles, and PvP viability
The latest Darkfall dev blog update has an interesting new Q&A session dealing with the game's armor system (and ongoing attempts to balance it). Aventurine devs collected a sampling of related questions from users on the sandbox title's official forum, and Tasos Flambouras has a pretty lengthy list of answers that should be of interest to Agonian veterans and newbs alike. Aventurine's goals for the upcoming revamp are threefold: more diversity in terms of the number of combat roles available to the player, a reduction of the time it takes to become viable in PvP, and retaining the ability for players to freely select, combine, and change roles at any time. Flambouras also spends a bit of time explaining Aventurine's stance on Darkfall physics, particularly bunny-hopping. "It's a fun way of using physics," he says, "but we never intended for players on foot to be able to keep up with mounts." Head to the official Darkfall website to see the changes coming to Agon in the near future.
Darkfall dev blog talks new dungeons, siege changes
A while back we brought you word that Aventurine was looking for feedback on Darkfall's siege mechanics. Though the process is still ongoing, it seems as if the devs have gotten a good sampling from the community thus far according to this week's activity report. Your opinion is still needed, though, so head to the Darkfall Epic Blog and weigh in on the maximum number of clan attackers during sieges. This week's report also details a bit of the PvE-related goings-on, and the world of Agon is getting a new themed dungeon for each continent in the very near future. "All of them are huge and have different areas that you need to traverse. Doing this, however, leaves you with choices as to which way to go and which challenges to face," says the blog entry. There's a bit of PvP info as well, and the requisite teases for the new expansion. Read all about it at the official website.
New Darkfall video offers GM perspectives on Agon
Darkfall's two-year anniversary may have come and gone, but the game continues to inspire awesome video productions celebrating its unique blend of sandbox-style mayhem. The latest such is the pet project of Aventurine developer Tascha, and the clip offers up some unique flyby perspectives on life in the world of Agon. Tascha witnessed many an epic battle and GM event, virtual camera in hand, and the resulting montage is an unofficial love note to Darkfall and its loyal players. The clip runs a tad over four minutes and features everything from heart-pounding cavalry charges to individual PvP scraps to gargantuan player ships and scary PvE mobs. See for yourself after the break.
Aventurine discussing major prestige class revisions for Darkfall
Aventurine is looking for your feedback on Darkfall, and while there's no official survey, there is a lengthy list of bullet points that the developers are debating internally -- as well as an ongoing discussion in the comments section of the Darkfall Epic Blog. Topics include the possible implementation of lawless/lawful areas, clan vendors, capital city tower buffs (which would essentially turn Darkfall's starting areas into safe zones), and a recycling component for the game's crafting system. Producer Tasos Flambouras also addresses some huge theoretical changes to the game in the form of the prestige class system. "We're working on an improved concept to prestige classes where players get to make 'class'-based selections which can lead to the ultimate specialization, especially combined with the right equipment. The philosophy behind this is that while the armor system limits, the new 'class' system extends a player's specialized powers to new levels. [These] are major changes to the game to say the least," Flambouras writes. Head to the Darkfall Epic Blog to make your voice heard.
Aventurine tweaking Darkfall's newbie experience
Darkfall can be pretty intimidating for newbs, and that's before they're killed and stripped of all their meager belongings. The game's learning curve is considerable, whether it's the unconventional UI or the vast world of Agon and the lack of themepark-style direction from one area to the next. Aventurine's latest activity report indicates that the dev team is hard at work on improving the new user experience. Over half of the game's quests (yes, it does have them, even though it's a sandbox) have been rewritten, and many new training quests are being added. Starting areas will also be seeing some changes in the upcoming relaunch campaign. New characters will no longer choose from three starting towns; instead, they'll begin in a single racial capital city. Additionally, NPC racial vendors will offer the same services regardless of whether they're located in the capital or the outlying faction towns. The activity report also drops a few hints about new art assets (including the infernal image above) as well as the new armor specialization system that is currently under development. Check out the Darkfall Epic Blog for further details.
Darkfall tempts sandbox vacationers with special pricing deals
Are you looking to get away from it all? Does your themepark day job leave you dreaming of sunny sandbox beaches and skill-based progression at your own pace? Do you yearn for long days filled with crafting and exploration and steamy nights where gank-or-be-ganked is the commonly heard call of the wild? We didn't think so. But if you did have these base cravings, Aventurine's new Darkfall second anniversary promotion would likely be right up your alley. If you're a former subscriber, you've probably received an email outlining all the details. If you're an Agonian virgin, head to the Darkfall Epic Blog for more information on the special $9.95 client pricing and the $24.95 three-month subscription deals. Hurry up though, as the sandbox vacation deal of the decade ends on April 1st!
Choose My Adventure: Singing the skill grind blues
Well, here we are folks, smack dab in the middle of our Darkfall run for Choose My Adventure. With three weeks down and three weeks to go, I have to be honest: I feel pressed for time. There's so much to see and do in this game that six weeks simply isn't enough to really do it justice (to say nothing of the fact that it's not nearly enough time to build a competitive character in terms of the skill grind). In any event, I'll do what I can to give you an accurate read on the game, and as my first couple of columns have admittedly erred on the side of fresh-faced enjoyment, today's entry will touch on a few of the game's less than savory aspects. In addition to that, I'll recap a few of my gameplay highlights from the past week. Join me after the cut for a look at my Darkfall present and future as well as a video diary of my adventures thus far.
Choose My Adventure: Special treatment, or how I learned to stop worrying and love the gank
Well, so much for the theory that the Darkfall community has banded together to ensure I only see the good side of the game. This past week was an interesting one, and despite an encounter that most players would probably consider griefing -- as well as various and sundry inconvenient ganks -- I remain enamored of Agon. Aside from recurring instances of the Darkfall version of "special treatment," much of the week was spent leveling greatswords on my public main and crafting/harvesting on my private alt. In between there was a NEW-sponsored PvP event, a kracken run, and various dungeon excursions, not to mention more exploring than I've done in my last three MMOs combined. Finally, I'm also beginning to see the grind that a lot of current and former subscribers complain about. Join me after the cut to see how I dealt with it as well as a recap of week two. %Gallery-108450%
Choose My Adventure: The Wayback Machine
Whew. Well, my first week in Darkfall has come to a close and, at the risk of fanboying it up, holy cow was that fun! It's hard to believe this is the same game that I was unable to purchase on launch day (and unable to play for more than a few weeks at a time over the course of 2009 due to a lack of interested friends). Darkfall isn't so much a game as it is a lifestyle -- and as far as MMOs go, it's a really nifty time machine. In six days and a little under 30 hours of play time, I've managed to move across the map from my racial homeland to my clan city and to assist in taking down two Gardorocs, a Dark Dragon, more deadly wraiths than I can count, and a couple of giant stone dudes whose name escapes me at the moment. I've also gotten a good start on skilling up my spell-casting, archery, and greatsword abilities, and I even did a bit of crafting and gathering. In true Darkfall tradition, the first mount I made was promptly shot out from under me by a gaggle of the game's frightening mobs. And in case you're wondering, yes, I also got ganked. Though it's only happened once (so far), it was a doozy. Join me after the cut for a rundown of the week's mayhem and an earnest attempt at maintaining my objectivity. %Gallery-108019%
Darkfall PvP tips contest results published
We've been giving Darkfall a lot of coverage lately, and deservedly so. The sandbox title from Aventurine is branching out beyond its boy's-club beginnings and becoming one of the more complete titles on the current market. The game isn't abandoning its PvP roots, however, and the world of Agon is experiencing an influx of new blood (or fresh meat, if you prefer) that could stand to be schooled in the ways of player vs. player. To that end, Aventurine recently held a contest in which veteran gamers were asked to come up with their best PvP tips. A panel comprised of experienced PvPers and newer players mulled over the entries and selected five winners, each of whom will receive a unique forum title and rare in-game items for their trouble. Check out the winning tips for yourself on the Darkfall Epic Blog, and have a look at all of the entries (over 100 of them) via the contest announcement post.
Choose My Adventure: Swiftsnout theCrotchety
Aaaaaaooooooooooooo... er, sorry. I was just getting into character a bit early, I suppose. Welcome back, loyal readers and Aventurine subscribers alike, to Choose My Adventure. With the past couple weeks' worth of voting formalities behind us, it's time for the main event. As we speak, I'm rolling up a brand-spanking-new Darkfall character, the better to suffer at the hands of my new PK overlords -- and hopefully get a good look at the world of Agon prior to writing about it over the next six weeks. Join me after the cut to see the results of last week's voting and get a sneak peek at what I'll be doing first.
Choose My Adventure: Agon awaits
Join me as I become an action hero for hire, experiencing an online adventure directed by you, the Massively readers. You'll get to choose the game, character creation options, and in-game goals, then sit back and watch how it all plays out (or join me in-game to get in on the fun). Choose My Adventure game arcs run for six weeks, and after the concluding episode, we'll do it again in a new title. 'Tis the season for voting, and I'm primed to do my part to balance the PvP, eliminate missed launch dates, and provide a strong national troll defense. OK, maybe I'm as full of hot air as your average elected official. Last week, though, while some of you were fooling yourselves into thinking the U.S. midterm elections were the most important voting opportunity in your lifetimes, the real action was going on right here in the form of the latest Choose My Adventure poll. Thanks to a monumental zerg by members of the Darkfall forum community, I'll be heading to the lands of Agon for the next six weeks. While Final Fantasy XIV and EVE Online both looked like early frontrunners, nothing could withstand the momentum of 1400 frothing FFA Forumfall fanboys (not even a late-week surge by Global Agenda). If you're not familiar with Darkfall, join me after the cut for a brief history lesson. If you already know it all, join me after the cut anyway to help pick my character race, game focus, and social status.
Darkfall teases character model upgrades and more
The devs at Aventurine apparently never sleep, as releasing a major expansion and graphics revamp was the tip of the iceberg as far as what's happening on Darkfall's horizon. The team has generated three separate news items in the last week, all of them pointing towards exciting things in store for the world of Agon. First up is a design blog posted on the official website. In it, community manager Laenih gives us an inside look at the process of converting a quick design sketch into a finished in-game model. Due to the small size of Aventurine's development team, this process often means that quest designers take up paper and pencil (or the digital equivalent) in order to present modelers with a clear idea of their vision. Next up are some screenshots previewing Darkfall's new character models. While the world of Agon is often praised for its size, detail, and beauty, the game's character models have thus far lagged a bit behind the current MMORPG visual standard. Not to worry though, as an upgrade is in the works, and you can view photos of some of the new models on Darkfall's Facebook page. Last but not least are the patch notes from this past week, which address a few niggling issues related to the Hellfreeze expansion. Read all about it on the official boards.
Darkfall expansion delayed, treasure hunting in the works
Lots of stuff is going on in the world of Agon, and the weekend brought us a double-shot of news updates, one good and one not so good. Aventurine's Tasos Flambouras recently checked in on the official boards to announce a delay on the upcoming expansion. The delay appears to be primarily performance-related. "The expansion is forced back a short while longer, we hope no longer than a couple of weeks, in order to get the performance right, and everything in the expansion working properly and tested thoroughly so there's no repeat of the last setback with the terrain feature," he wrote. Aventurine has also been having trouble with its network service provider, and the post provides a few details along those lines as well. Now for the good news: treasure hunting is coming to Darkfall, courtesy of the aforementioned expansion. Players will be able to acquire map-reading skills from NPCs, make their own shovels to unearth various objects, and use treasure map hints to determine appropriate dig locations. "We are already planning on expanding this system, which means you can expect additional treasure hunt features being added on top of the one we talked about today," writes Aventurine's Laenih on the Darkfall forums.
Darkfall community Q&A hints at massive game expansion
Its been quite awhile since Aventurine first sat down for a community-based question and answer session with noted Darkfall blogger Paragus. Today, he brings us part two of the lengthy interview, which features a whopping 57 questions generated by Darkfall players. As you would expect, some of the answers are short and fluffy, but many are quite informative as to the future of the PvP sandbox title. Stashed away inside the deluge of queries are a few gems about upcoming content, including mention of the cryptically titled Darkfall 2010 project. "[It] comes after the next expansion and is a much bigger proposition. Darkfall 2010 is our internal code name for this project. Our intent is to have it complete within the year, but we can't rule out that it will take longer than that. We've been working on this for quite a while, it's parallel development to Darkfall and almost as big a project as making a new game," Aventurine says. Aside from that teaser, there is also talk of prestige classes, performance improvements, and the long-awaited four-legged running feature for the mahirim race. Sadly, it seems as if this particular fan wish isn't going to be granted anytime soon, despite the assets already existing in the live game. "Our main problem is that it is an unbalancing factor," says Aventurine.
Darkfall details expansion mob AI
One of the things that makes Darkfall unique is its mob and NPC AI. Unlike traditional MMORPGs, the creatures in the world of Agon use the same skills that players use and also drop appropriate loot (for example, killing a goblin will likely net you his sword and armor, and boars don't drop coin). With the upcoming free expansion, the developers at Aventurine are further tweaking the game's PvE elements by adding additional monster skills to specific creatures. Laenih, Aventurine's community liaison, has all the details in a new post on the game's official forums. "Some existing monsters as well as new ones have already received their own abilities which we'll leave for you to discover. Additionally there will be more strategic interaction between monsters that spawn together," he writes. You can get a glimpse of one of the new monster teams in the form of a video that showcases the Gorra Dar and Gorra Slaves. Check it out after the cut or on YouTube.
The Daily Grind: Terms of endurement
Gankers! Kind of an unpleasant word isn't it? Given the fact that I re-upped my Darkfall subscription last week, it's one that I'm intimately familiar with on account of the PvP-centric title's target audience. Heck, even the game's deathblow ability isn't called deathblow but rather "gank." Despite the unfortunate red-equals-dead mentality that seems hardwired into the psyche of your average PvPer, Aventurine's game manages to conjure a few pleasant memories of both Ultima Online and Morrowind, which is why I keep going back to it in spurts every few months and enduring the relentless PvP. I put up with the ganking and the crazy skill-grind (even though the devs are taking steps to mitigate it, it is still there) because there's something about the world of Agon that appeals to me on a basic level. I don't know if it's the pseudo-sandbox trappings, the fact that I can explore a varied landmass for hours without running into other players (let alone themepark mobs spaced six inches apart), or some other unquantifiable allure. What about you, Massively folk? Do you put up with PvP (or any other unwanted mechanics) because something about a game speaks to you? Which games and which mechanics?
