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PAX South 2015: O'Brien and Johanson on Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns
ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien and Colin Johanson (and Commander Shepard) took to the PAX South 2015 stage yesterday morning to announce Heart of Thorns, the first-ever expansion for Guild Wars 2. If you're not up to speed, check out our post covering the announcement and the official site to get the broad strokes on the expansion's new zone, new profession, new progression system, and more. News of the expansion raised many a question from our readers (and our staff!). Massively's Larry Everett and I sat down with O'Brien and Johanson to try to get those questions answered and dive a little deeper into the changes coming to Guild Wars 2's living world. And no, there isn't a release date.
PAX South 2015: Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns is an expansion
ArenaNet has just announced that Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is indeed an expansion. Speaking from a packed main theater at PAX South 2015, ANet President Mike O'Brien formally confirmed the rumored expansion, saying it will take players "deep into the heart of the Maguuma jungle" and will avoid traditional expansion powercreep and gear treadmills by not raising the level cap. The expansion will introduce new group challenges, new profession specializations, and an account-based "masteries" system for character progression through the new territories. Game Director Colin Johanson told cheering fans that new legendary weapons and precursors are inbound, as are epic quests that help players acquire their precursors. The expansion will include one new class, the Revenant, which is a heavy armor class that channels the spirits of the mists and famous characters from Guild Wars lore. Each existing class will receive new mechanics and weapons that "fundamentally" change how they play; for example, Rangers can become druids and Necromancers will be able to use greatswords. WvW will also finally get some love, and there will be a new GvG game mode called Stronghold, which of course means... guild halls! The official site is live now, and the brand-new trailer is now below the cut. Massively's Larry Everett and Mike Foster are live at the event; we'll have more from San Antonio later this afternoon. Fans can follow the festivities on Twitch.
Black Gold Online outlines its Guild vs. Guild systems
Guilds in Black Gold Online have plenty to do. Sure, there are the usual social aspects of guilds, but there's also a constantly amplifying race for technological progress combined with territory control. The latest development blog on the official site discusses how guilds can advance and grow in power, as well as the basic outlines of the territory control feature with characters fighting it out over energy wells. All guilds have a level of technology available to them, determined by the amount of eponymous black gold used to upgrade the guild. This can come from members, or it can come from energy wells, which can be fought over on both a factional and intra-factional basis. It's entirely possible for two guilds of the same faction to fight repeatedly over the same well. Take a look at the full article for more details about how you can send your forces to fight and die for that all-important energy.
Massively's Valentine's Day roundup
When a mob hits your eye with a big sharpened spike... that's not really amore! In fact, it's downright painful. But it's February -- a time when love is in the air, hearts are aflutter everywhere, and pink and red festoon your favorite MMOs. So in the spirit of the season, go ahead and give that mob an extra-hard love tap, right from... er, to the heart! And don't forget to collect whatever treasures it had for you because we all know Valentine's Day isn't all about the love; no, it's about the loot! Want to know where to get your hands on something special for this holiday? There are plenty of celebrations throughout the MMOverse offering a plethora of events and goodies. Check out some of the various Valentine's events and specials going on now.
Age of Wushu updates with World of Contenders
You could have been a contender. Wait, that's not right -- you could currently be a contender. You could be contending right now. After all, Age of Wushu's latest update is specifically titled "World of Contenders," odds are good that you could be one heck of a contender. So get in there and contend! Yes, the latest major update for the game is live, and it offers a lot of ways for players to contend with one another, most notably the Dragon and Tiger Tournament featuring a series of one-on-one duels in large arenas. You can also take part in the weekly battles between schools added with the School Rivalry system. Not really up for contention? There's still plenty to access with the addition of the fourth Internal skill and a new set of skills exclusive to married couples. Get patched up and get ready to contend just as much as you'd like, as it seems Snail Games is indeed looking out for you.
Age of Wushu teases the features of its next major update
The next big patch for Age of Wushu is due out next month, which should be reason enough for players to be excited about it. But it's hard to get excited about an update with no idea what's in it. So it's a good thing that the official site has posted a small preview detailing the coming update, a patch that will give players even more reason to engage in epic duels of martial arts. For example, there's the new Dragon and Tiger Tournament, a series of one-on-one duels in which both combatants must fight without use of tricks like Hidden Weapon Skills and Ancient Manuals, with winners receiving manuals, skills, and pills. Or there's the chance for assassins to engage practitioners of Peerless Skills; successful defense is required for the practitioner to keep studying, while assassins who slay the practitioner will be rewarded handsomely. Throw in a fourth Internal Skill and new School Lessons, and there's plenty for players to be excited about when the patch goes live in February.
Some Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond
Just over two years ago there was a great disturbance, as if millions (or so) of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Yes, something terrible had happened: a beloved virtual world was destroyed. And that left a number of sandbox refugees looking for a new place to call home. At that time, Some Assembly Required offered a roundup of the then available virtual worlds that could possibly offer accommodation, depending on what qualities players most desired in their games. But as things are wont to, they changed; a lot can happen in the MMOverse in 24 months, from additional features in existing games to new games to the loss of more worlds. So it's time to update this list of virtual worlds to reflect 2014 and beyond. Take a look and see what titles or titles-to-be have the sandbox features that best make a game a home for you.
Massively's winter holidays MMO roundup
The holidays are here! That means the hustle and bustle of the season is in full swing, with gifts to get, treats to taste, deals to nab, and plenty of festivities to partake in -- and that's just in the MMOverse! Yes folks, there's a plethora of holiday celebrations out there -- so many, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track of them all, let alone participate to them! If you're trying to catch everything in your favorite games, we're here to help. We've got a round up of the various winter celebrations across the gaming sphere all bundled together right here for you. If something catches your eye, hop in and join in the festivities!
Age of Wushu introducing school betrayals
Traditionally, your school in Age of Wushu isn't something that changes. Once you've signed on with a school, that's your home forever. But with the upcoming betrayal mechanics, you can move from being a dedicated partisan of one school to being an initiate of another. And you aren't even just limited to changing schools because you were kicked out of the first one, since the game offers several departure options for those who want to see how the other half lives. Betrayal is the obvious choice, which will allow you to immediately leave with the cost of losing your school-specific identity, titles, internal skills, fashion... you get the idea. In trade, you can join any of the seven other schools or one of the new sects launching with the next major update. The Excursion route still takes your identity, titles, and fashion, but your internal skills are merely lowered. Incognito takes this a step further, merely locking your titles and such while leaving your first three skill slots unaffected. These latter two options allow you to explore the new sects with lesser consequence, but both are meant to be more costly and time-consuming. It's up to you if you want to continue to be loyal or start walking the path of betrayal.
New screenshots spotlight Age of Wushu's advanced school skills
Coming from scrolls that are literally billed as the Ultimate Scrolls, you'd expect the skills that Age of Wushu's expansion introduced to be pretty impressive, no? After all, these scrolls offer the pinnacle of each school's arsenal, and only the most skilled martial artists can acquire them. To show off the artistry of these new moves, Snail Games has released eight new screenshots highlighting these ultimate skills, one for each school. Check out stills of Dog Beating Staff from the Beggar's Sect, Tai Chi Fist from Wudang, Dragon Claw Technique from Shaolin, and more in the gallery below. We've also included the official trailer so you can see each advanced skill in action. [Source: Snail Games press release]
Age of Wushu tours the Forbidden Grounds in new trailer
Although Age of Wushu's Ultimate Scrolls expansion launched two weeks ago, you may not have had the chance to experience the scenery (and the dangers that hide therein) of the Forbidden Grounds. Even if you have seen your own school's special instance, you likely have not peeked into the unique vistas of the other seven since each is available to members only. Now, thanks to Snail Games' latest trailer and eight new screenshots, you can see the unique designs of each instance that reflect the soul of its respective school. Take a two-minute stroll through the beautiful landscapes in the Forbidden Grounds in the video below. [Source: Snail Games press release]
Albion Online unveils Player-vs-Player and Guild-vs-Guild details
Berlin-based studio Sandbox Interactive released a new dev blog today revealing a number of details regarding Player-vs-Player and Guild-vs-Guild combat in its upcoming title Albion Online. In Albion, much of the game world will be up for grabs, and guilds can claim territories in order to harvest their resources and build shelter for their members in the midst of Albion's wilderness. While guilds can capture as many territories as they like, they'll also be required to defend these territories from opposing guilds who would take their lands. In order to keep Guild-vs-Guild combat fair and balanced, each land-holding guild will be required to choose "a number of times during the day at which their territory will be 'open' to attack." At these times, both the attacking and defending guilds will field a team of five players who will act as champions in the battle, thereby ensuring that no one guild can ensure victory by overwhelming numbers. Those who wish to reap the benefits of holding land without getting their own hands too bloody can instead put a bounty on their enemies' heads and let mercenaries (presumably other players) do the work for them. To learn more about Albion Online and to sign up for the game's upcoming closed beta, head on over to the official site.
Age of Wushu releases the Ultimate Scrolls
It's time for another big expansion to Age of Wushu, and this time it's all about the Ultimate Scrolls. You might have thought before that you had some pretty great scrolls, maybe even excellent ones, but they're nothing compared to these scrolls. That's reflected in the release of new techniques for all schools, allowing expert martial artists to climb even higher in power. And given all of the challenges you'll be facing in the expansion, you'll need it. The crux of the expansion are the teachings of the Helianthus Codex and the Star Vortex, offering players new paths to wisdom. Players can also take part in the new Forbidden Instances deep within each school and explore a new morality-based PvP system, forcing players to determine not only if they will fight but why they will fight. The patch is out today, and you can take a look at the trailer just past the cut.
Lifting the veil on Age of Wushu's marriage system
Many people consider a wedding day to be a big deal, and Age of Wushu's upcoming marriage system provides a good helping of pomp and circumstance to accompany player nuptials. When the Ultimate Scrolls expansion hits next week, players will be able to tie the knot in an elaborate in-game ceremony that includes a a parade through the city, a banquet (that friends can attend and foes crash), and a dance show provided by the new couple. For those who don't yet have a companion, the marriage system has you covered: Unattached characters can register with the Matchmaker in hopes of finding a suitable suitor. Once you find your match, male characters have to do the proposing by offering a betrothal gift (a self-determined amount of Taels) that, if accepted, starts the whole process rolling. Men, have your money pouches ready because you also have to spring for the wedding package! For a look at what your money will buy, check out these new screenshots and then watch a ceremony unfold in the video below.
Age of Wushu's Ultimate Scrolls expansion launches November 13
Grab your parkas (or sunblock, if you live in the southwest) because winter is right around the corner! Age of Wushu's Ultimate Scrolls winter expansion is coming in less than two weeks. On November 13th, players will be able to enter Ancient China's forbidden grounds and test themselves in new school-specific instances. Other incoming features include secret scripts (in the form of teachings of the treasured Helianthus Codex and Star Vortex), a new tier of martial art skills with ultimate scrolls, and the new marriage system. You can read more about the expansion in Massively's behind-the-scenes interview. And to help tide you over (or just tease you some more), Snail Games also offers the following expansion trailer.
The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best skill names?
I haven't played Age of Wushu since beta, but I love reading about the title. For one thing, it's a martial arts sandbox and how badass is that? For another, it's got the best skill names I've ever seen. How can you not love a game with a skill called Devil Slay Lovers or a style called Demon Heart Chain Hand? It sure beats Fire I or Fire II, no? Anyway, which MMO do you feel has the best or most creative skill and ability names? 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!
Age of Wushu promises latency improvements and matrix authenticator
In a new set of questions and answers from the Age of Wushu community, Snail Games promised that North American players experiencing lag will soon see relief. "We are taking serious measures to solve the latency problems after escalation," the devs promised. "Server fixes are already on their way. Players in North America will see considerable improvement starting from this week!" The devs said that a mobile matrix authenticator is coming later this month to provide better account security. "Think of it as a private Bingo card that works as a key to your account," Snail PR explained. A separate mobile authenticator is being worked on for iOS and Android, but no release date has been set. The Q&A article covered other topics such as the cash shop skill, bug fixes, cross-server interactions, and unnecessary chat spam. For those interested in Age of Wushu's upcoming Steam release, the devs said that this is still in the works but currently there is no release date set. In a separate post, the studio announced that the Phantom Twin Dagger skill set will be coming to the game next week. [We erroneously reported the matrix as a mobile authenticator and have corrected the article accordingly.]
Snail teases four additional Age of Wushu school instances
Snail Games has published a brief look at four new School Instances in its Age of Wushu fantasy sandbox. "In order to obtain your school's apex of strength and power," Snail says, "you must face its Forbidden Instance." Today's update covers four of the game's schools: the Tangmen and their Great Poison Palace, the Scholars' Villa of the Departed, the Royal Guards' Purgatory and Wanderer's Valley's Cavern of Lost Souls. If you missed the first entry in the School Instance series, it's here along with info on the Beggar's Sect, Wudang, Emei, and Shaolin instances.
Choose My Adventure: Learning and seeking revenge in Age of Wushu
Age of Wushu continues to impress and confuse me at the same time, but I can see much of the appeal behind many of the systems. As a reader noticed last week, many sandbox MMOs have the same in-depth systems and mechanics that Age of Wushu does, but as I have said many times before it is not only the specific systems that make a great game, but how the game has taken those systems and combined them in a package. Age of Wushu takes much of the appeal of many of my favorite games and wraps it in a beautiful package that can run on lower-end systems. I crank it all the way up, turn up the music, and enjoy exploring and trying to slowly figure out some of the harder-to-understand mechanics. This week I wanted to try out the two options that were put up for polls, and once again Age of Wushu Community Manager Earthquake and Massively columnist Patrick Mackey joined me to explain, hand out tips, and to help me remember how much of a newb I still am.
Battle your inner demons in Age of Wushu's Possessed Encounters
Age of Wushu will soon be introducing a new game mechanic that pits you against... yourself. The Possessed Encounter is a triggered event that will teleport you to an instance where you'll fight against a random Manifestation of Evil, complete with mirror counterparts of your character and any players with you. These encounters can be triggered by normal NPC battles, through collecting life skills, or even by an act of Jianghu (suicide). Each character can only activate a Possessed Encounter once per day, but you can join your friends in their trials twice. The Possessed Encounters -- as well as more promised winter content -- are coming soon.
