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First major Dragon's Prophet content update coming next week
Sony Online Entertainment's latest free-to-play offering, Dragon's Prophet, has been in open beta for about a month now, and that means it's about time for more content, right? Right. Next week, Dragon's Prophet will be receiving its first major update since the open beta went live, and it looks like there's plenty on offer for players of all kinds. For starters, players will be able to take part in the first annual Shadow Festival, an in-game event hosted "in remembrance of the great Warthorne who sacrificed his life during the Second Dragon War." Of course players might be more interested to know that participating in the festivities will earn them a unique title for their troubles. The update will also add a new zone to the game: the frigid Wintertide. This frosty new area contains three new dungeons in which players can put their skills to the test. And to top all of that off, players will finally be able to take up residence in their very own homes thanks to the introduction of dream islands. Oh, and there's a new level cap (yes, already). Players will now be able to adventure all the way up to level 70. The official post promises more information in the coming days, but in the meantime you can head over to Dragon's Prophet's official site for a peek of what's to come.
Beat the heat with new Dragon's Prophet Wintertide screenshots
At E3 we were introduced to Wintertide, a new land coming in the next big beta content patch for Dragon's Prophet. With constant harsh weather in the endless tundras, dense forests, and sky-scraping mountains, adventurers will brave bitter cold when traversing the wilds of Wintertide. To give players a glimpse of this upcoming zone, Infernum Productions has released three new screenshots highlighting the ever-present chill. Check them out in the gallery below. Eager for more information about the new dungeons, the legendary Ancient Shadow Festival, and the advanced housing features that will also be included in the content update? Keep your eyes peeled -- the studio said that information would be released next week. [Source: Infernum Productions press release]%Gallery-169367%
Win trip to Gamescom in EU Dragon's Prophet costume contest
Calling all European Dragon's Prophet fans handy with a needle and thread (and hot glue gun and nail gun and whatever else): Infernum Productions has announced the Dragon Cosplay Summit 2013, a fantasy-themed fashion show to debut at Gamescom 2013. Think your skills are up to the challenge? To be a part of this event, designers must hand-make an original costume based on the Dragon's Prophet universe (it must include a prominent Mark of the Osira) then submit a photograph to be judged on craftsmanship, creativity, and relevance to the world of DP. The 10 best submissions will be put to a community vote, and the top three winners will win a trip to Gamescom to participate in the fashion show -- along with various other prizes including cash, artwork, and in-game rewards. First place will also receive an Alienware X51 computer system. The seven runners-up will receive a ticket to the convention along with other goodies (but no travel expenses). If you need some inspiration for your project, there's a large selection of armor and weapons pictured right on the contest's official page. The contest is not available to residents outside of Europe, and participants must be 18 years of age or older. For a full run-down of all terms and conditions, check out the official rules. [Source: Infernum Productions press release]
E3 2013: Dragon's Prophet impressions from open beta to now
I don't have any strong love of dragons. I don't really hate them, usually, aside from the fact that I've killed far too many to get excited about it, but I've never looked at one and thought, "I wanna collect that like I would a Pokemon!" However, I like Dragon's Prophet. I was actually playing the open beta and got to level 18 on my Oracle until vacation plans and E3 took over my play time, which is fine, since apparently from what the SOE floor representatives tell me, I'm ahead of the curve. Many industry folks were sitting down and trying the game out for the first time at the convention. Now, to be honest, I didn't unlock all the dragons slots or the stable slots. I haven't done a ton of crafting, and I haven't done a ton research on the dragons and of raising them. The game's pushed out content before localization was done, and the game still has a few bugs. I know it's "open beta," but for a free-to-play game that isn't wiping the servers, it might as well be release. To be blunt, I really shouldn't like this game. It's done a lot wrong, but for some reason, when I pass the booth, I want to sit down and log onto my own account to play my character.
E3 2013: Dragon's Prophet's PvP, raids, and housing
Los Angeles is certainly swarming with a variety of citizenry this week, from zombies to superheroes to martial artists. Even dragons have been spotted! Yes, Dragon's Prophet landed in in the City of Angels for E3 2013, and Massively's Jasmine Hruschak captured Senior Producer Todd Carson to learn more about the the dragon-centric title from Runewaker. (Don't worry folks, we practice catch and release here at Massively.) In open beta for less than a month, Dragon's Prophet still has many systems and areas to roll out during testing, and Carson expounded on some of those. He introduced the new zone of Wintertide as well as offered details about raiding. And we certainly couldn't let him go without more information about the frontier system, which encompasses both housing and PvP.
Latest Dragon's Prophet trailer is SUPER METAL
Have you ever been going about your day-to-day business and found yourself wondering, "Is this metal or not?" If so, then the latest Dragon's Prophet trailer may have some useful information for you. Said video features an original song titled "The Ballad of the DraGod" (seriously), which -- unsurprisingly -- tells the tale of the eponymous DraGod over the soothing sounds of "#SUPERMETAL" guitars and pounding drums. Yep. For those of you keeping score at home, flamingos, cacti, and chickens are decidedly not metal. Dragons and leather, however, are apparently SUPER metal. Don't ask me; I just work here. If you want to check out the new trailer for yourself, you can find it embedded past the cut. [Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release]
Story trailers spotlight two Dragon's Prophet EU zones
Dragon's Prophet launched into open beta yesterday on both sides of the pond, and players are jumping into the world of Auratia to try their hand at domesticating the various dragon-kind. But there's more to Dragon's Prophet than just taming dragons, there's also a fight against the evil threatening to take over the land. So what's the story on this invading evil? To give players a glimpse of what they are fighting for and against, Infernum Productions has released two videos delving into the story of two zones, Laedis and Satuma. You can catch both trailers after the cut. [Source: Infernum press release]
Dragon's Prophet EU soars into open beta
It's a bird! It's a plane! No -- it's a dragon... and it shall be mine! European players eager to tame their own dragons will finally be able to utter those words as Dragon's Prophet EU launches into open beta tomorrow. Founders can enter the world of Auratia today and get a head start on training, riding, and fighting alongside (or against) the over 300 unique dragons in game. The open beta launch introduces a new starting zone, Puretia. Full of waterfalls and airships fighting in the sky, Puretia gives way to a volcanic landscape and deep canyons as players journey on to the region's capital of Arboran. More updates and expansions are already in the works and will continue to release regularly throughout open beta. If you need something to distract you from the launch count-down timer on the official site, check out this new trailer after the break. [Source: Infernum Productions press release]
Dragon's Prophet pre-orders are 25% off
Dragon's Prophet's open beta is just a couple of days away, and SOE is hoping that you'll drop a few bucks on one of the pre-order packages due to the general excitement. Not only do each of the packs come with a day head start to the game's launch, but now all of them are 25% off the normal price. The pre-order packages start at $14.99 and go up to $67.49, depending on how many frills you'd like to stock your account with prior to launch. You'll want to move quickly on this if you're interested, as the sale only goes through tomorrow. Curious about whether Dragon's Prophet is worth your interest? Check out Massively's recent first impressions of the title to help give you a feel for it! [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Massively's Dragon's Prophet first impressions
I don't have many fond memories from Runes of Magic. I didn't play it long, and the thing I recall most vividly is being forced to hunt around Runewaker's cash shop for an item that would let me talk in global chat. Fortunately, negative vibes like that didn't affect my recent hands-on with Dragon's Prophet's beta, which, in case you're wondering, is Runewaker's followup to Runes of Magic. Unfortunately, I don't think the new game in its present state is quite ready for prime time.
Dragon's Prophet blasts beta doors open on May 30th
If you've been waiting for your chance to capture and tame your very own dragons to ride, then grab your saddle and get ready to mount up because Dragon's Prophet flies into open beta next week. On May 30th, beta doors open to all dragon aficionados who want to enter the world of Auratia and tame, train, and fight alongside -- as well as against -- a variety of dragon-kind. As part of their bonus, founders will have access one day earlier on the 29th. Formal launch is expected later this year. Players can also expect to hear more about the game; as of today, SOE has lifted the closed beta NDA. Current testers can now begin sharing tales of their adventures with family, friends, and random strangers in line at the supermarket. You can also watch some of those adventures this week on Massively TV, with a two-hour show today at 10 a.m. EDT and one featuring a special dev guest on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. EDT. And check out the video after the cut! [Source: SOE press release]
Dawn of the Aspects Part IV preview
For all you lore fans out there, Dawn of the Aspects Part IV will be available in five days, on May 20th. To tide us over, community manager Bashiok has posted a preview on the story forum, featuring our fearless dragon quintet facing an undead menace. I don't want to spoil too much for those who are waiting to read the whole thing once it's all finished, but as the penultimate addition to the story, there's some name dropping that might come as a surprise if you haven't been following along. The excerpt hints at some tense situations for the soon-to-be Aspects, and Ysera, in particular, plays an important part in this scene. There are even a few hints that she might have some kind of hidden, unexpected power, but we all know that's because Ysera is the best Aspect anyway. The position of my druid as my perpetual main has in no way influenced my opinion on this matter. Make sure to check out WoW Insiders' reviews of the previous parts of Dawn of the Aspects. The full part four preview is the break, and keep your eyes peeled for Dawn of the Aspects Part IV.
Player panel submissions open for SOE Live 2013
Last year, SOE threw a new ingredient into its convention mix -- player panels. The result was such a hit that the studio is not only bringing them back this year, but extending their availability; Sunday has been added to the player panels schedule, and that means there are plenty of openings! Do you have a subject involving any SOE game that you think would be of interest and benefit others? Maybe you are a whiz at livesteaming or you have primo tips and tricks on cosplay to dispense. What about sharing your fan site or holding a raid clinic? Whatever your idea, submit your proposal by 3:00 a.m EDT June 1st for consideration. If selected, you and up to three other panel members will receive All Access passes to SOE Live 2013 (no other expenses are covered, including food, travel, or add-ons). Panel selection -- which is not on a first-come, first-served basis -- will be completed mid-June.
Dragon's Prophet shows off screenshots of Wynnadia
Despite the name of the game, Dragon's Prophet does not exclusively feature dragons and prophets thereof. It also has lands for all of that to occupy. The Wynnadia zone even has houses and people living there, providing a rich background for all prophet- and dragon-related antics. It's a pleasant zone filled with rolling hills, farming communities, undead monstrosities clawing their way up from the depths, and charming beaches. Wait, do we need to go back to that middle one? Once in game, players will be tasked with exploring the Accursed Tower and the Nameless Keep, full of dark secrets and alluring treasure. But it's not all monster-stomping day, as the zone is also home to the cities of Zarland and Lilia, with the former composed mainly of outcasts and refugees and the latter serving as an impressive naval stronghold. While we're assured that there's danger in the zone, all of the pictures in the gallery below look more inviting than deadly. [Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release] %Gallery-169367%
How to tame your Dragon's Prophet
Wanna-be dragon tamers are probably all over Dragon's Prophet and the promise of making a magical lizard your willing servant. But if you're looking for more details about the whole Smaug slavery deal, then a new dev post on the official site should clear things up. Dragons come in many packages. First off, there are the three species in Dragon's Prophet: elder dragon, legendary dragon, and regular dragon. Only the last type are available to bond with, however. Dragons then come in four varieties: flying, aquatic, gliding, and land. To snag a dragon of her own, a player has to engage in a capture minigame to charm a beast. If successful, then the dragon joins forces and can use one of its many skills in combat. Dragons can also give players special skills as well. When players aren't using dragons, they can put them in a dragon lair or assign them to tasks such as gathering materials.
Dragon's Prophet EU opens guild registration with contest for floating island
If you're an EU player with thoughts of creating a guild in Dragon's Prophet, now's a good time to act. In conjunction with launching a new guild registration page, Infernum Productions is holding a contest that will grant one lucky guild a floating island to call home! The grand prize includes a mansion for the guild leader, five housing plots for officers, four medium houses, an exclusive in-game title, early access to open beta, and a year's subscription to Enjin guild hosting. All registered guilds will receive early access to closed beta and 30 days of Enjin premium hosting. To enter, register your guild on the site and tell Infernum why your guild should get access to closed beta, and then have 10 others activate the guild code you provide. Only guilds with 10 or more members will qualify for the contest. Want a glimpse of the housing to whet your appetite? Then check out the trailer after the break. [Source: Infernum Productions press release]
GDC 2013: Dragon's Prophet demo and hands-on
Last fall, Runewaker and SOE announced Dragon's Prophet, a free-to-play fantasy game focused on -- you guessed it -- dragons. Since then, we've been treated to various videos detailing the classes, the starter zones, and other gameplay. Just last week the game entered closed beta in North America, allowing select folks the chance to get in and test out the current stage of the game. This week, I joined those folks in-game during my hands-on and demo at this year's GDC. I was also able to talk with senior producer Todd Carson and associate producer Rod Haza as they demonstrated different aspects of the game at the convention. What delectable tidbits of information about classes, housing, and (of course) dragons did I uncover? The answer awaits after the break.%Gallery-169367%
GDC 2013: Dragon's Prophet video reveal
As Dragon's Prophet flaps and flies toward a closed beta weekend, the SOE crew have put together a reveal trailer for this week's GDC. Set against the backdrop of some fairly epic music, the trailer shows off dragons, dragons, and even more dragons (with a heavy dollop of the world and combat). Our intrepid reporter MJ is putting together a meaty article on Dragon's Prophet for later today, so consider this trailer something to tide you over until the full course is delivered. Enjoy!
Limited-time VIP packs for Dragon's Prophet include beta access, houses
It's pretty standard for upcoming free-to-play games to offer limited-time starter packs to interested players, and Dragon's Prophet is no different. SOE has unveiled three early access packages for the dragon-filled fantasy game, each offering special in-game items as well as VIP access to the closed beta going on now. The Dragon Seeker Pack is the basic starter pack and includes various scrolls, potions, and runes for $19.99 US. Next is the Dragon Master Pack, which gives players even more for the price of $39.99, including a dragon mount, vanity armor, bank and bag slots, and a small house. The legendary pack is the Dragon Lord pack; players can purchase it for $89.99 and get even more outfits and bag/bank slots, a large house, and weapon skins. All three packs include the beta access, a special title (that matches the title of the pack), and StationCash. While these packs will be available for only a limited time, players can still sign up for beta by applying on the official site. [Thanks to Mikey for the tip!]
Dragon's Prophet gameplay on display in beta vids
MMO Culture has posted some hands-on impressions with Runewaker's new Dragon's Prophet title. The fantasy MMO, which will be published in North America by SOE, is most notable for its extensive dragon-based gameplay featuring taming, progression, and mounted combat. The author comments on the game's combo-based combat system, saying that it is "full non-target" with the ability to aim manually and hit multiple enemies. He also points out that you can't fight "while moving jumping, or swimming," though. The article features several lengthy gameplay videos, the first of which is embedded for you after the break. [Thanks Dengar!]
