scenarios
Latest
Mythic's Carrie Gouskos on Warhammer's ToK and hints of patch 1.3
The 1.2 patch for Warhammer Online is barely a week old, but Chaos Moon managed to speak with Mythic's Carrie Gouskos about many a things -- including some hints for the 1.3 patch. There was also some general discussion of future updates to the Tome of Knowledge and much love from Carrie concerning the Book of Grudges mod. We're pretty excited to hear stat tracking for Scenarios and oRvR battles are on their way.Of course the big news concerns clues of what to expect in the next big patch. Following some of Carrie's comments, it sounds as though the Tome of Knowledge could be getting a new feature or two in the 1.3. update. Additionally, some further UI information and visual improvements are on the was as well -- although Carrie mentions the visual boost will be minor.What sorts of UI improvements could be on the way? The added layer of information to the open party and world map systems in 1.2 have been very well received, but going from Carrie's comments it seems as though something much more exciting is on the way. Given the size of the first two live events, something tells us Mythic will be showing off whatever it is they're working on next in a big way. Mythic has announced the first expansion to Warhammer Online! Check out the announcement itself, the two brand-new classes coming to the game, and the enormous new dungeon/zone slated for a few months away! Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!
Square Enix announces three downloadable expansions for Final Fantasy XI
Diehard Final Fantasy XI players who've not been beckoned away from Vana'diel by the siren call of World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online will be pleased to know that three "scenario expansions" for Square Enix's MMO were recently announced at VanaFest, a FFXI fan event in Japan. The three add-ons will be downloadable from the PlayOnline Viewer over the course of 2009, each going for "around $10.00."The expansions won't be adding any new locales to Vana'diel's geography, but will attempt to "deepen the storylines running through pre-existing areas by ushering in all-new plots and intrigues." The three scenarios are titled A Crystalline Prophecy - Ode of Life Bestowing (which will be available next Spring), A Moogle Kupo d'Etat - Evil in Small Doses and A Shantotto Ascension - The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born (which will be available in the months following the first expansion). Brief synopses for the scenarios, which were explained in a recent press release, are available after the break.
WAR's Heavy Metal hotfixes
Mythic Entertainment has announced some recent Warhammer Online hot fixes they've made regarding the Heavy Metal live event, which entails the completion of daily tasks for the chance to gain early access to the two new classes being introduced to the game. Despite the excitement some had about being able to play a Knight of the Blazing Sun or a Black Guard early through goal completion in the Heavy Metal event, there have been some issues and complaints that WAR players have been reporting -- particularly in regards to unfinished tasks and scenario launch rates at Reikland Factory. Warhammer Online community coordinator James Nichols made an announcement about what Mythic is doing to address these concerns: By popular request, players will now be able to complete previous daily tasks for the Heavy Metal event. A task will continue to unlock each day and remain open until the end of the event allowing players to complete all the tasks at their convenience. Please Note: If you notice an apparent loss of credit for any previous days you have already completed simply exit the game entirely and log back in to correct this issue. Reikland Factory: Improvements have been made to potentially increase the rate at which the scenario launches. How have your own experiences with WAR's Heavy Metal live event been? Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!
The Digital Continuum: December updates for WAR
Warhammer Online has its flaws that like to run up and slap you in the face from time to time -- it can put a damper on the fun. Lucky for us, one of the strengths found in Warhammer Online actually comes from its design team, Mythic Entertainment. These guys (and gals!) have been stringing together a daisy-chain of updates and just yesterday announced their first big content release only one month out of launch. The update seems all good, but I do have a couple of gripes.
Massively's WAR Camp: Tier 3 Scenario Guides pt. 2
The Talabec Dam scenario may remind some FPS fans of a much older (but still popular) game, as it involves running a bomb or "Powder Keg" to a particular location in order to blow it sky-high. However, no one starts with the bomb in Talabec, and players must fight off the enemy team to have a chance to pick up the sole Powder Keg that lies in the middle of the map. Once this takes place, you'll either be pushing your team towards the bombing site, or trying to assassinate the bomb carrier or run his timer down and prevent the big boom! Click the button below to see our Talabec Dam gallery guide. To Talabec Dam << Previous page: Tor Anroc %Gallery-34148%
WAR's phase two experience enhancements
Man, these guys just keep on rollin' with these updates. After the first phase of Mythic's "experience enhancements" players in their 3 and 4 found themselves with an overall improved experience gain in those zones. Now Mythic has taken the next step in phase two by allowing players to receive not only renown, but experience from capturing a keep -- assuming they're the proper,(non-bolstered) level. The Warhammer Online Herald lays out the tier requirements as such, "In Tier 2, players will begin to earn this bonus when they reach rank 15. In Tier 3, the minimum rank required is 25, and in Tier 4 it is 35. Players will notice a diminishing return from keep captures if their level approaches the top of that tier." All in all, it seems like Mythic has put some serious thought into this decision.We're happy to see them giving players more reason to participate in open world RvR earlier in the game. Scenarios are fun and all, but there's definitely something to be said about some good old keep capturing.
WAR's cross-server scenario queues akin to socialism
Warhammer Online, despite a very smooth launch, has a few nagging problems that have cropped up in its first weeks of life. Chief among its growing pains is the problem of scenario queuing issues, both on barren servers and the ones that are practically choking on players. Snafzg over at The Greenskin asks if creating a better situation for all Warhammer Online players must entail some degree of sacrifice made by all through cross-server scenario queues, likening the solution to socialism. A situation where the 'good servers' sacrifice for the benefit of 'problem servers'. Snafzg writes, "I'm not saying socialism is bad... but I wonder if there are alternative solutions that don't punish (too strong a word?) people on good servers for the benefit of those on bad servers. I don't envy Mythic here... Make one crowd happy only to piss off another?" He also points out that the core issues of server population imbalance impact the game on many levels, and suggests some potential solutions for both overpopulation and underpopulation issues. If you're not happy with the scenario frequency in Warhammer Online, give Snafzg's "Cross-Server Scenario Socialism..." post a read, and let him know if you agree with his views on the issue. Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!
Warhammer Online hot fixes for September 30th
Yesterday Mythic patched a bunch of hot fixes into Warhammer Online when they implemented the cross pairing queues for Scenarios. Most of the hot fixes address questing bugs that were scattered about the game but there's a class fix for the Archmage and a Scenario bug fix as well. There's also a capital city fix which is far too funny not to share, "The Mastiff's End Brawler in Altdorf will no longer start bar fights and kill the other patrons at the Mastiff's End Tavern." While it's nice that there won't be a man pummeling everyone to death at the bar in Altdorf, we're a bit bummed out to have missed this particular bug in action. If anyone grabbed a video of that, you can email it to us through our handy tip line and we'll throw it up there for all to see. The rest of the bug fixes lie in wait like a crazed bar brawler ready to strike, after the break.
Warhammer developers announce scenario cross-pairing queues
Good news everyone! Mythic has today announced that Warhammer Online scenario queues can now be entered from any of the appropriate zones. That is to say, any Tier 1 scenario can now be queued into from any Tier 1 zone. Standing in Nordland, you can now just as easily queue for Khaine's Embrace or the Gates of Ekrund as you can the Nordenwatch skirmish. In fact, we just confirmed by jumping in-game that you can queue up for all three scenarios at the same time! All you have to do to actually choose your queue is use the arrows next to the scenario name, like so: The news was announced in an official post on the Warhammer Herald site. The post goes on to note that "We know many have been waiting for this feature and we have a lot more great additions coming on the horizon. We look forward to your continued feedback as we work to take WAR to the next level." Hopefully we'll see more player-requested features like this added in soon. What do you want Mythic to add into Warhammer next?
Massively's WAR Camp: Tier 2 Scenario Guides pt. 3
Stonetroll Crossing is the Tier 2 scenario for the Empire and Chaos pairing. The stars of this scenario are the Stonetrolls, who toss large chunks of rock all over the map at regular intervals. A Troll Pacifier is located in the center of the scenario, and can be used to pacify the trolls, earning points towards victory for your realm. It's not as easy as it sounds though, with both the trolls and the enemy players interrupting you every step of the way. Click through to our gallery guide below to preview the stomping grounds of these mischievous trolls. To Stonetroll Crossing << Previous page %Gallery-34148%
Massively's WAR Camp: Tier 2 Scenario Guides pt. 2
Mourkain Temple is the Tier 2 scenario for the Dwarf and Greenskin racial pairing. Its objective could be described as "murder-ball" -- there's an artifact to grab in the center of the map, and when you have it, everyone on the other team will be after your blood. The artifact provides bonus points to the holding realm when they get kills, and there is a bonus to the other realm if they can kill the carrier. This also gives them a chance to pick up the artifact themselves, if they're quick enough. Check out our gallery guide to see more of Mourkain Temple, and when you're done there, continue on for a look at the last Tier 2 scenario. To Mourkain Temple << Previous page Next page: Stonetroll Crossing >> %Gallery-34148%
Massively's WAR Camp: Tier 2 Scenario Guides
By now, people who picked up Warhammer Online at launch should have had a chance to play a bit, and many of them will be in Tier 2. This unfortunately means leaving the Tier 1 scenarios behind, but it also means that a whole new set of scenarios is unlocked. As in Tier 1, there is one scenario per racial pairing in Tier 2, totaling three new battlegrounds to visit. We've once again visited all three and documented our findings in gallery guides. Join us over the page, as we begin by looking at Phoenix Gate, the scenario for the High Elf and Dark Elf pairing. Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!
The Digital Continuum: WAR's secret PvP sauce
Before the game's launch day came, a lot of people found themselves thinking there was a stigma that came with Warhammer Online. There was a concern that you couldn't play the game without having to participate in PvP or that the PvE content assumed a much smaller role within the game. People were just plain scared/worried/concerned about PvP in general. Today when I log in I'll find countless strangers and friends all participating in some form of PvP content during their play session. So just what is Mythic's apparently potent secret sauce?
Massively's WAR Camp: Tier 1 Scenario Guides
WAR is finally upon us, and as the gates open and players flood the servers hungry for blood, their first Realm versus Realm experience is most likely going to come from "scenarios". Scenarios are instanced battlegrounds that you can join by clicking a button near your minimap, and will differ depending on which part of the world you're in. Once you get into one, there will be a number of objectives to fight for, all the while holding off players from the opposing realm. Each racial pairing has its own scenario, totalling three unique battlegrounds per tier. We've braved the frontlines in each of the Tier 1 scenarios in order to give you a preview of the landscape and objectives that are the backdrop for the RvR mayhem. First up, we'll take a look at the High Elf vs. Dark Elf pairing, then Dwarf vs. Greenskin, and finally Empire vs. Chaos. Join us after the break to view our gallery guide for the Elf pairing scenario, Khaine's Embrace, and for guides to the other two scenarios as well! Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!
The Elves of WAR: Disciple of Khaine levels 6-10
Levels six through ten for the Disciple of Khaine see you receiving not only your first morale ability (hint: it's a big heal) but also your first revive spell at level ten. The especially nice thing about the Dark Elf healer's revive spell is that it costs no Action Points (AP) to use and it builds 20 Soul Essence (SE) on top of that, too. The only drawback is that it's got a six second casting time, which doesn't make it the most immediate revive in the heat of battle. Another first for these levels is a very nice de-taunting spell that's definitely handy to have for later Public Quests.
Warhammer website previews new PvP scenarios
The latest edition of Scenarios 101 is up on the official Warhammer Online website, and this latest screed covers two of the very first RvR encounters players can have in the Dwarf/Greenskin conflict. The first area described is the famed Gates of Ekrund. You may recall it from our own Massively goes to WAR series; we discussed its strategy in-depth during our look at the game's instanced PvP maps. The developers reiterate the need to control the all-important central Gate switch. They also suggest trying to pull players off of the other two switches with scouts - just one extra switch cap can make the difference.The other scenario covered is the Tier 2 RvR encounter known as Mourkain Temple. Fewer details overall are covered, but it sounds as if this 12 v. 12 pile-on will be a pretty simple affair. Mourkain is another Murder Ball event, where players vie to hold onto the Mourkain Artifact from the center of the map. Killing players while holding the bobble gains your team extra points, but killing the Artifact holder is worth extra points for the opposing side. Meanwhile, the artifact holder loses hit points at a rapid rate. The result? A fast-paced PUG-friendly encounter worthy of the Blood God.
Massively goes to WAR: Wrap-up
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/The_latest_on_Warhammer_Online_from_Massively_s_Mythic_visit'; All week long, Massively.com has been offering up feature after feature on EA Mythic's in-development MMO, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. The Massively goes to WAR feature series has taken you front to back through almost every moment of our time at Mythic's Virginia headquarters. To wrap it all up, we've got a handy-dandy clickable guide to the series. Whether you're into hardcore PvP, dungeon delving, crafting, or are a total MMO newb, we've got you covered. Click on through, and explore the world of Warhammer. %Gallery-21881%
Massively goes to WAR: RvR Scenarios explored
Over the course of our two days with Warhammer Online, we were given the opportunity to participate in a generous amount of Scenario play. Scenarios are EA Mythic's answer to the instanced PvP mini-game popularized by World of Warcraft and (more recently) Age of Conan. Each is an enclosed, objective-based event that a player can opt into or out of at any time. Because of WAR's focus on RvR gameplay they're an integral part of the game's epic "realm control system", as important as sacking a Capital City. They're playable at level 1, right off the bat, dropping you directly into the war. We had the chance to hack and slash across four maps during our time in Virginia, each with a very different feel. Howling Gorge, for example, sets players against each other on "bomb runs" towards the opposing side's camp. Khaine's Embrace offers an explosive twist on capturing and holding territory, a style of gameplay honed to a point in the Gates of Ekrund encounter. Details on these events, firsthand impressions of Doomfist Crater, and some thoughts on the role that war will play in Warhammer can all be found below the cut.
Warhammer Online takes you to school with Scenarios 101
The official Warhammer Online site is a cornucopia of goodness. If you're not watching the production podcasts, Paul's video blogs are fantastic. If you're more in a text mood, there are zone previews and developer diaries to page through. Their most recent addition to the site is over in the "special features" category, a continuation of their ongoing class in WAR: Scenarios 101. These pieces run down the rules and layout for the many and varied Realm Vs. Realm scenarios Warhammer Online will ship with. EA Mythic's answer to the WoW Battleground phenomenon, they're going to offer some of the game's meat and potatoes PvP combat over the course of a player's gameplay lifespan.The newest 101 feature is all about the scenarios named Grovod Caverns and Reikland Hills. The caverns is a 'capture the flag'-style game, but with a twist. Flags and bases are up on a series of platforms, all connected with walkways. Every time a flag is captured, a walkway gives way; this changes the dynamic of the scenario's very surface, and forces players to adapt and change their strategies as the match progresses. Reikland, meanwhile, is a 'king of the hill'-style game that requires players to capture and hold a position for a few minutes at a time. The catch is that one of three 'hills' will be available at any given time, and the newest hill will overlap with the oldest one for some time. It's great to see how Mythic is planning to shake up some PvP assumptions with these maps.
