Warhammer Online in PC gamer: april

[Kerith]

The last few years have seen a number of companis explore the possibilities for online gaming - cautiously poking toes into various bodies of water. But none more so than mythic: CEO Mark Jacobs has been making multiplayer games of one kind or another since 1995. He's one of the most experienced MMO developers in the world, and his sizeable team are people responsible for the quietly successful Dark Age of Camelot - an MMORPG about to celebrate its 5th anniversary. Given these foundations, Mythic's new project, Warhammer Online, promises to be the first of a new generation of MMOs, built on weightly experience and expensively learned lessons.
The Warhammer Online licensehas already taken one casualty. Originally developed by Climax, licence-owners Games Workshop eventually pulled the plug on the project in the summer of 2004. Signing a replacement deal at E3 in 2005 (the game is still some way off), Mythic decided that their 'Realm vs Realm' approach refined over the years in camelot, was perfect for the battle-driven Warhammer universe. Unlike most player vs player games, everlasting wars and fiercely defended territories sit well with the xenophobic races of its lands. Mythic's game will arrange six races into three warring pairs (i believe this to be Dwarf vs Greenskin, Dark Elf vs High Elf, Human vs Chaos), contesting their homelands and venturing further abroad to play roles in a mighty world-wide war. The armies of Chaos are descending from the north into the Human lands, while to the south the Greenskins (Orcs and Goblins) are taking on the Dwarfs. And the Dark Elves? They're subtly orchestrating the whole conflict, in an attempt to reclaim their former homeland, Atlantis, from their own enemies, the Elves.
"This is not a game about people who just want to get along," says Jacobs. "They don't want to make peace. They just want to kick the every-living snot out of one another."
When asked for the focal feature of Warhammer Online Jacobs gives a simple answer. "War. Warhammer is all about war - its's about great and terrible battles." Mythic have no interest in asking you to kill 30 wolves to recover one wolf hide, or stand around for ten minutes waiting for an enemy to respawn. The motivation of the race your are playing drives your quests. If you play an Orc, your very first quest willbe to kill dwarves. Should there be a giant marauding in the vicinity, his death will be the group task of anyone who takes part. And that giant isn't just there for the hell of it - every monster is there for a reason, as a part of the story.
The RvR treatment is similarly revolutionary. Loose alliances exist between Elves Humans and Dwarves, while Chaos, Dark Elves and Greenskins just about tolerate each other. While you can fight an enemy race face to face, there are also designated 'Battlefields': locations containing quests for both sides, with PvP active. Then there are instanced 'Scenarios' with a team-based timed challenge, in a vaguely Counter-strike mould. And finally, for the highest ranks in the game, there is the campaign. Here opposing sides battle to conquer the enemy's capital city, in ongoing conflicts intended to last for a week at a time. These all count toward a global battle for dominance, and a perpetual struggle for racial superiority.
Warhammer Online will radically overhaul MMO mainstays, from new death penalties to a two-layer combat system enabling us to buff attacks with secondary abilities for a more tactical battle. It's going to move the genre a significant step forward, into a brave new post- World of Warcraft world.
While they have access to 20 years of material, Mythic are under no obligation to maintain the series' canon. Any changes are run past Games Workshop, but the owners appear to be aware of the need for malleability. "They gave me full access to the key guys at GW, and we hashed over things," says Jacobs. "All that matters to GW and Mythic is to make a great and glorious game."

firstly, yes im bored ^^

interesting look into how the game is gonna develope, the pve system sounds kinda nice, based around racial rivalries between warring pairs... and more importantly, chaos is a player race !! , had a feelin they might neglect it to being the focal point of PvE in the game. Lookin good peeps !

 

[Robin the Brave]

Just wait and watch all the easymoders join Chaos.

 

[tris-]

learn to micro nubs, eldar pwns everyone.

 

[Robin the Brave]

learn to micro nubs, eldar pwns everyone.

In 40k maybe, Chaos pwn all in fantasy

 

[Fana]

Just wait and watch all the easymoders join Chaos.

Greenskins all the way :> Wonder if only orcs will be playable or if goblins will be a player race as well.

 

[Kerith]

Just wait and watch all the easymoders join Chaos.

ofc, i will be rolling chaos

 

[tris-]

orcs suxors. big and clunky, crappy

 

[Robin the Brave]

I think the most populated races would be 1)Chaos (Daemons 4 teh win?), 2)Empire (LOLOLOL paladin!!1, cannons?), 3)High Elves (better than humans, mages far superior) 4)Dwarves (some people like short people with beards? maybe for DemonSlayers), 5)Orcs & Goblins(Big tough and stupid.. wont be many followers), 6)Dark Elves (who cares about dark elves?), so maybe DE will be the best race to roll ;p

Balancing will be interesting.

 

[Robin the Brave]

I should stop posting.. but i hope casters following the storyline.. basically theres very few and most die from casting simple spells (teh warp is fun) Tank game plz!!

 

[Tilda]

scans please!
especially photos!

 

[Kerith]

scans please!
especially photos!

nothing that isn't on the warhammer webby

and as for races i think if i dont go chaos, wil be either dark elf or high elf

ofc cant decide till closer to release

 

[Vasconcelos]

But only 2 ways RvR if i understood correctly

Chaos should be all alone themselves vs the rest

 

[WiZe^]

Am praying to the gods that the PvP wont be anything like WoW's tho am hopeing they will copycat WoW PvE, plus that they dont gonna allow PL or BB's

 

[Vasconcelos]

Am praying to the gods that the PvP wont be anything like WoW's tho am hopeing they will copycat WoW PvE, plus that they dont gonna allow PL or BB's

Im guessing after reading the article, PVP will be more likely DAOC RvR, but with only 2 factions.... might be another WoW

 

[Thadius]

Chaos will be easymode :/

Omg meights!!! I can use a Bloodthirster!!!1111

I played 40k Warhammer and I loved my Khorne Zerkers

 

[Megarevs]

In 40k maybe, Chaos pwn all in fantasy

empire > chaos :< stupid canons.
I wanna play vampire counts

 

[adoNix]

I'm playing chaos in warhammer fantasy ;o but i will deffo roll a goblin in warhammer online