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Warhammer Online: Games Day Hands-On Preview
This past weekend. MMORPG.com's Joe Iuliani and Anthony Love attended the Games Workshop Games Day in Baltimore, MD. In this article, Anthony gives us his account of a hands-on preview of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.
Very few things give me cause to get up at 5:00am, but this year's Games Day put on by Games Workshop in Baltimore, MD was just such a day. Games Day is an annual event where players of Games Workshop's various miniatures based table top games compete for fun and prizes. This year, Electronic Arts was present with a booth devoted to the EA Mythic developed game; Warhammer Online, Age of Reckoning, and boy am I glad I was there!
;)
Earlier in the day, MMORPG.com contributor Joseph Iuliani and I were lucky enough to have a chance to speak privately with Senior Producer Jeff Hickman and Design Manager, Paul Barnett. The details of that interview will be covered by Joseph. However, coming away from that interview, I can say that these two guys are both excited about and devoted to this game. Shortly afterwards they were both busy hosting an hour (plus) long conference about the game, attended by several hundred fans. I can tell they both love Warhammer and are striving to translate the table top game as best they can into a unique and fun MMO. To sum up their feelings on the game quickly Jeff says, "War is everywhere" and Paul says, "If you don't like war and killing, this game won't be for you". I really enjoyed meeting this comical pair who were more than willing to discuss their aspirations for the game.
With Warhammer's beta test surpassing 200,000 interested testers, I knew there would be a great deal of interest in the game. In fact, as of this article's printing, it ranks on MMORPG.com as the number one most anticipated upcoming release. Eager fans were in constant supply at this event, standing in a line stretching around the corner for most of the day, waiting for a chance to play the game. The EA booth consisted of two distinct areas, one with twenty computers set up for ten on ten Player verses Player scenarios and another with about five computers allowing people to quest in the initial starting areas of the game. All of the characters were pre-generated on the sweet Alienware machines that were provided, so we just had to pick the race and class desired.
The starting area generated a level one character, while in PvP, we were given level twenty characters to play with. At this point, the Dwarves and Empire were playable for the side of Order while Orcs (Greenskins) and Chaos were playable for the Destruction side. In the end, there will be four basic class types: a damage dealer, a damage absorber (he can shield other players and attack) a ranged attacker, and a healer/buff class which can also fight. Everyone Fights! Not all classes within each race were playable at this point, such as Chaos' Chosen and Empire's Knight of the Blazing Sun, which are still in development. There was still plenty to choose from, and so little time to play.
;)
First, I went to the starting area computers to get a quick feel for the game. I chose the Empire's Bright Wizard to learn with. Upon start up, my impression was one of pleasure. The game looks great with detailed graphics, smooth movement and ease of use. Seasoned MMO players will have no trouble understanding Warhammer's interface, and will be able to spot the first quest-giver, standing with a familiar gold exclamation point above his head. It didn't take long before I was out and playing Warhammer.
I easily grouped with the player standing next to me and we went out and completed several quests. A red circle on the game map clearly indicates the nearest questing area, while quest trackers on the side of the screen are available for quick reference. Jeff and Paul, however, assured me earlier that this game would not be about grueling grinding and boring quests, no, this game is about war! After having my first look at the game, I have to say that I believe them. The Player vs. Environment part of the game seems enjoyable enough based on the 15 or so minutes I played. The Bright Wizard's fire spells are easily launched from the taskbar, and provide a satisfying effect as they incinerate your target. Experience seems to be earned quickly (as is usual for early levels), and I did learn new skills in that time, keeping it interesting. PvE players can also rejoice that their efforts contribute to the overall war effort without having to engage in PvP if they so choose.
Ok, but Warhammer is about... War! So let's get to the PvP computers. My first attempt at this style was playing the Orc Shaman character. Luckily, my level 20 character's skills taskbar was already set up. The Shaman has a mix of skills including buffs, de-buffs, healing and attacks. From what I understand, players will be able to choose to advance one skill set to its maximum, or develop a balance of power approach. My stint with the Shaman included a 15 minute instance type scenario, set up by the Mythic team. I'll be honest in that I didn't know what the overall objective was, but there was a castle in front of us, and it was obvious what was to be done.
;)
We rushed the castle and beat the snot out of the Order who were coming in from the other side. Each time we killed a player on the opposite team, we earned points. The side with the most points at the end is the winner and earns extra points towards the overall war. You can go to the Warhammer official site and find out all about points and the overall war effort. I have to admit it was a blast playing the Shaman class. There was no shortage action, and the teams were well balanced. Destruction actually won that battle, which made me smile since I had heard that the Dwarves had been handing it to them earlier.
An interesting point to note is that players get experience for PvP. I was able to gain a new skill in the middle of the scenario, which struck me as innovative. PvP is an integral part of the Warhammer game, but it's not required. Each zone in the game has its own PvP area with objectives and instanced scenarios. These allow players to level up their characters without doing any PvE quests, if they don't want too. Other players also drop loot when killed, but not their own, it appears that this system could effectively stifle some of the "griefing" that is present in other PvP games.
Later, I had a chance to play on the Order team and was the Bright Wizard again. Actually, I didn't get to choose since I was the last player on and that's what was left. Hey, I figured, at least I know a little about playing this class. This time we played a different scenario, and I paid a little more attention. Besides just killing the other team (which is a blast) we were supposed to hold objectives. Players standing near each objective would eventually "capture" it and begin earning extra points for the scenario, enemy players nearby slow down or reverse the capture process. ;)
Each scenario instance will have its own unique objectives, appropriate for that area. Playing the Bright Wizard at level twenty was also very enjoyable. Instead of just button mashing, you need to plan your attacks wisely. A short root spell was available now along with "combo" spells that feed off of each other and a damage over time spell. Fifteen minutes was over in a flash, and Order won this battle (to the dismay of a crowd of onlookers, hmmm), I had a great time.
I can see why the hype surrounds this game. Even though I had only around 45 minutes of hands on time, I was hooked and wanted more. Both the Order and Destruction sides have compelling character classes that I wished I could try, yet the choices are simple and straightforward. Each side is well balanced with skills and the motive is to go out and fight (hear that healer types). Little or no drudgery is promised by the creators, and so far I see none. Yes Jeff and Paul you are right, this game is about war, and that's what the original Games Workshop table top was about also.
I hope the PvP will be as good as he says it is
Being a long-time Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 (the sci-fi version) player I bought my tickets months ago, so it was just an excellent bonus that they handed out cards at the registration desk containing promo codes for beta entry. Entering the code gets you the "Baltimore Games Day Attendee" association. Each card had a unique code, though, so don't expect anyone to be able to email you their code and have it work for you.
My wife and I didn't feel like standing in the line to try out the WAR beta (it was a couple hundred feet long throughout the entire convention) but they had a big-screen TV set up at one end showing onlookers a copy of somebody's monitor. We stood and watched for a minute and it looked awesome... very fluid and action-packed. People were running around charging up attacks and launching them at each other in nonstop action; the combat didn't look anything like DAoC where you run up to an opponent, stand facing each other, and fire off a move every 5 seconds or so. People were getting launched to and fro by powerful attacks, awesome special effects were streaking by... very cool. Reminded me of the rare times in DAoC's battlegrounds where two equal forces met by chance in the middle of the path and just laid into each other, rather than standing back and Nearsighting each other blind.
I'm not sure whether we're allowed to discuss what new stuff Jeff and Paul were revealing at the Mythic panel, but I'll say that defensive tanks will actually be USEFUL in PvP. As far as "old stuff," Paul did a funny impression of the "button-masher cleric" from other games, poking a key in the air with one finger and yelling "I'm Healing, I'm healing, I'm healing, I'm healing-- BORING!" :) He was trying to emphasize how the "healers" in WAR have to get involved in combat in order to be effective, so there's no such thing as a buff-bot. In the Q&A session, one audience member asked whether a pure PvE player could enjoy the game; Paul said essentially that it will have the full complement of quests, dungeons, monsters and all that but it will all be tied into the war so don't complain that there's no "bread baking" or "ferret breeding" (his words). ;) (He wasn't commenting on the presence or absence of crafting, just that such "peaceful" things as breeding ferrets are not in the spirit of Warhammer.) There wasn't a ton of new info that came out of the panel, but the way Paul and Jeff spoke so vehemently about all the things that are going to make WAR stand apart from other MMOs left me feeling very certain that this game will kick @$$ in a major way.
BTW, look for the panel audience we were in to show up in the next podcast... their underpaid and overworked podcast guy was there filming, and we were made to do various comical things for the benefit of the camera. ;)
--Ditchdigger
Last thing I heard was, that it is planned, and that they have a great system in mind to include it.
Crafting, as everything, will somehow have to do with the war, so don't expect jobs as Bread-Baker, Fisher or something. Instead, expect things like Blacksmiths and the like.
But details aren't known yet, they keep it secret.
I so want to play the game, following it for well over a year now
Why come up with something new?, if the concept works use it, there is no point in reinventing the wheel for something that is an ease of use tool at best.
Based on Jon's comments it sounds like WAR really does have a good change to be a great game, it will have competition but is still on my most anticipated list along with AOC and TCOS.
1
MMORPGs life story right there, and the reason why 98% of them are shit.
Funny you should point that out, WAR isn't that much different than flyff tbh.
Bah, who cares, he can say what he wants cause he probably likes some other game and doesn't like seeing us all excited about WAR. I know I'll be playing this game because DAoC was a great game and WoW was very user friendly and combining some aspects from both those games as well adding new innovations means a game that works, plus some new bonus features to enjoy.
That phrase "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" is quoted a lot for a reason. Innovation is only good if it improves a problem area in history. So, if people understand the gold ! above an NPC means quest giver and no one has any issues with it, why change it? Sure you could remove this icon and force people to figure out who is giving out quests the old fashion way, but I think that's why this gold ! came about, because people didn't like hunting for quests anymore.
Now, I noticed in the this article, he said he leveled in PvP and was awarded a new skill. So I guess my question about having to go to a trainer to learn new skills is now answered. See? Theres an innovation worth noting, cause who wants to head back to a trainer to level up when your out fighting? WAR fixes and improves stuff quite a bit, but rather then people taking notice for what is new and innovative, they comment like knives did which is really a shame.
why people try to dump on upcoming games because it's not one they like or are looking forward to is beyond me. all this AOC vs WAR garbage is a lot of BS, guess what they both look like they'll be awesome games that are both fun and interesting--each in their own way. frankly i'm looking forward to both of them and plan to enjoy playing both.
DO WANT
I am afraid I don't understand the hype behind this one at the moment. Everything he just described is currently in WoW. PvP is instanced and voluntary, there are PvP grounds with a range of group numbers, and even the PvP occupy scenario is a part of WoW. This may look better, but if the exclamation point is any sign....
Note, I am not bashing this game, I just can't help but think that some are going to be surprised with the similarities. If this "about WAR" than obviously is seems safe to say that WoW is about WAR as well.
After reading the article, paying particular interest in the PVP section, I noticed how items were dropped from the other players when they were defeated. I also noticed how the items dropped were NOT opposing player property. So what we have here is just another game with a 0 risk factor, which adds up to a 0 excitement factor. No thx, I'll pass.
If you want to be that "generic" everything he just described is currently in DAoC, so why play WoW.
I think you might see the inconstancy there.
WAR is a PVP oriented game, WoW is a PVE oriented game. Don't fool yourself.
This statement doesn't make sense to me. I'd rather get stuff and be satisfied then lose stuff and be frustrated. Risk doesn't equal excitement, I played DAoC for years and they had no risk in PVP yet it was extremely exciting, heck, sitting at a wall for 2 hours fighting albions on the other side is probably some of the most fun I've ever had in a MMO. Certinaly not losing exp or anything else.
Before watching some vids I totally ignored WAR thinking it would be another WOW no more. Now, the more I read the more I thin "wow, they REALLY think about how to make a game fun". Experience for PVP, loot from players but not theirs, I mean, wow, this is what I was waiting for so long. I am really in awe. I was always torn between good PVE games and good PVP games and never had it all in one game. Sounds all quite cool.
The golden ! comment bothered the heck out of me. Here's what is actually over their heads.
I have faith in Mythic concidering they have the best PvP system in the business! I'm just tired of waiting to play the game, but please, take your time aqnd get it done right!!!
Uhm, I've never agreed with full or even partial looting in a PvP game simply because it attracts griefing to the Nth degree. I'm almost sure there will be people cheating in WAR or exploiting any possible aspect of the game they can to defeat the opposition. So allowing people to loot the enemies items, serves as nothing more than a frustration factor for the loser. If you get loot from their corpse, isn't that good enough? Why does taking what someone else gained a requirement for your satisfaction? Seriously, that kind of mentality of fun is unhealthy.
I am also a 4+ year veteran of DAoC and I've played enough of WoW to know what it has to offer and I'm only being honest when I say DAoC RvR has 10x more meaning then WoW's PvP. I'm not talking about BG's cause BG's have little to no role in the world. I'm talking about world RvR or PvP and if WoW fans think WoW PvP offers anything in terms of meaning, it's a flat out lie. WoW is a PvE game with PvP capabilities, thats all it is. WAR will turn that table around and up the ante by not only making it a truely PvP oriented game with meaning, but turn the PvE into a war effort meaningful task as well.
If anyones noticed, I never compare WAR to AoC cause I don't know jack about AoC. I compare WAR to the games Ive actually played and therefor I usually have references or points in my arguments / debates. Too many folks who come here bashing WAR simply do so with no relevant knowledge of the game concept. We can agree with what some of them say because it's true, such as it has a lot of things carried over from previous MMO titles. Guess what, every MMO carries over ideas and concepts from previous titles, except maybe a rare few.
WAR isn't claiming to be a WoW killer or competition for AoC. WAR is offering what some of us wanted out of WoW or loved in DAoC. WAR truely does have a lot to offer PvP fans and I'm sure AoC does too. I'm just more familiar with DAoC, Mythic Entertainment and the design concepts they use. As for Funcom, the company behind AoC, well, I can't say Anarchy Online was anything to brag home to mom about, but guess what, I'm playing it right now. Its a fun game, now that its free and it's always nice to have a sci fi game that isn't about space. I just hope Funcom has a better launch with AoC cause AO launch was disastrous.
I agree with Rhoklaw 110%! I have played both DAoC and WoW apon release, so yeah, 6+ yrs playing DAoC. Most I can say about WAR is that for those of us who play(ed) DAoC, WAR would be the upgrade because no other MMO can match with Mythic's PvP system! WoW PvP is nothing more than world duels, with no charecter gains other than better gear, while DAoC you have the chance to fully maximize your charecters potential! As for other MMO's, well, if you can't scratch Mythic's PvP system, then there is no reason for me(PvP based players) to attempt to play it! JMO, cause I am sure there are some who do not feel this way, and many that do.
For the record, the golden "!" mark was not from WoW it was from Diablo, remember? :) At this point, things like that have become standards like WASD movement. Someone could make a game with ESDF or RDFG movement, but what's the point? I'm less concerned with a company using something that works compared to a company that makes needless changes just to make it seem like they're doing something innovative.
Any similiarities are understandable if you don't know much about WAR. Check out the official (and very entertaining and informative) podcasts describing the game, there's a ton of great information about it.
http://www.warhammeronline.com/english/media/podcast/
Podcast #7 (the most current) is a good one to start, it describes the different types of quests in the game and you'll clearly see that they are VERY different from WoW's typical PvE grinding quests.
Certainly the games might similar on the surface, particularly since Blizzard's games borrowed heavily Games Workshop's art style, but just like the art style if you take a closer look, you'll realize these games are quite distinct.
I really like the sound of this game. At first I wasn't into the graphics and I'm not much of a PvP style gamer, so I marked this one off of my top game list, but after watching some of the pod-casts and hearing about the different styles of quests and all the stuff you can do without even getting into the PvP, I am really looking forward to it. Even the PvP sounds better than anything I've expirienced so far. Being rewarded for exploration, and not having to go into a town to level up reminds me a lot of my old days playing Asheron's Call. Back before the level cap raise and all of the buff bot non-sense. To be able to just wander off into the wilds with nothing but a stout heart and the lust for adventure, not having to find a PuG and grind mobs all day, or worry about some Pker killing me and stealing all of the stuff I spent weeks trying to get, honestly this game sounds great. I fear the character customization will be a little weak, and as in WoW all of the members of one class will wear pretty much the same armor as all the other members of that class, but I am just guessing there and my hope is that I am proven wrong. Even so, it should be a really fun game.
Once upon a time video games were fun. You could just sit and play for hours because you were enjoying yourself, not play hours so that you could get or be good enoug to play what you wanted to play.
Did all the detractors miss that fact that the author had fun? The only thing I've really heard the devs claim was that the game will be fun from beginning to end. Early indications...the public has still not been allowed into beta.... is that they have succeed. Fun you f***ers
Goblin Shaman, not Orc Shaman.
because in WAR all classes are great fighters its just that heaers ahve the option to learn buffs and healing spells too.
So id say thats a BIG difference there.
Also WAR is a RvR game and WoW is a Straight up PvE game.
Quest Structure is different in both.
As far as i can see the only majour similarity [and it is only a similarity] is the art style.
To quote the customisation of characters and regarding armour and what they look like, taken from WarCry and interview with Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman;"The Hickman": We have Armor dyeing in the game, just like in Camelot. So you can die your armor different colors, certain types of armor, there are a few that you can't.
so not EVERY one are gonna look the same which is great
Cool, I am glad they have dyeing. I am so sick of all those 60-70 WOW fuzzies looking like rainbows with all the fancyful mix of colours. Seeing those multicoloured Hordelings running towards me in some PVP battlezone I never was sure if they were going to kill me or sing "YMCA" to me. :D
Thanks to the OP for the write-up!
As for the haters, I think some pretty good responses have already been supplied. Hopefully, in future posts, you'll stick to asking intelligent questions instead of blindly flaming.
Amazing. It seems like they went back and read the WoW articles from when that game was first announced and said "why isn't that actually in the damn game?" Anyone remember when their was supposed to be MEANINGFUL PvP in WoW? Or even epic fights? SIEGES for gods sake?! Seems to me that Mythic gets it and knows what we want. Blizzard lost their way somewhere along the line...I like WoW, its fun...but where is the war?
Sounds great for me.
Is there one big world in WAR or many separate servers?
Eve-Online and WW2 are the only 2 games I know of that have survived with just one large server. Every other MMO has used mutiple shards to prevent population from causing unforseen crashes. Even though Eve-Online has only ever peaked at around 30k people online at one time, they still have constant zone crashes, which force people to take alternate routes to travel places.
Don't worry though, DAoC was setup the same way and was successful with it and WoW obviously made due with multiple servers as well.
Tnx for answer.
But I still worry, because for good PvP game need big population. Example, LOTRO have America's and European's servers (10 and more servers in every side), here in Europe I trying Monstre battles, but every time we was 5-6 players in one side and 1 or 2 in other, so things going like joke. Next example, GW had PvP Arenas full of players all the time and you can fight with Koreans, Americans, not matter where people live.
i tried applying to this beta... no word still after 2 weeks? wtf
Still currently in the Friends and Family stage of BETA
Thanks for pointing me to the podcasts, I will watch them. I do understand that most of these minigames were actually developed in other FPS style games like quake, unreal tourny, etc. I also thank a previous poster for letting me knw these are already a part of DAOC. I recognize WoW is not the most innovative game on the planet, but it is a major pvp game to most people I know who have played it.
Chances are I will be giving this game a chance, I hope it grabs me a little more than Lortr did, which was also a good game, I just think it needs a few more components to make it a complete world.
Eh, we'll see...
I get more and more hyped for this game every time I see/hear new info...
who's the dude in the sunglasses?
i'm GLAD he wasn't in more podcasts.... why did he have to be in this one?
i like the public quest idea - it's like raid on the fly (i'll stop my commentary there :P)
Let's me correct 1 sentence on this review...
"...but PvE players can cry, as they will promotes the WAR and contribute to their side while they will not be able to progress on what they may really care about, total and complete mastery of the PvE component of the game."
Been a subpar PvE-grouper/soloer won't do it. Nobody sane will settle for mediocrity unless they can't commit a serious amount of time; and even then... Thereby, you will attract only PvPers and casuals PvEers. Although I like and respect the casuals a lot, eventually they usually come to a point where they need these dimwit hardcores...and the only hardcores they can turn to...they will be PvPers. They won't understand them, they won't support them properly and they will most likely scorn on their activity and tell them that it is the "WAR", that they contribute to their side efforts...instead of actually helping and understanding what their concerns are. See, if a PvE casual come crying, telling him it is the WAR won't do it. Now they may smile, they may not care, but eventually it may determine if they renew subscribtion or if they move to another game...
Having hardcore PvEers groupers in the game is not linked with the amount of stuff PvE has, it is linked with mastery of the PvE itself...and this is denied.
Please don't take me for a fanboy or a 'hater' for the following comments, because I personally feel it must be said.
This article - to me - sounded like a Warhammer fan trying desperately to justify a game he knows full well brings nothing new to the table, and really isn't very impressive.
Please read the game FAQ explaining gameplay - just the "chapter" system of quest progression alone is RADICALLY different from any other mainstream mmog. And the way Questing, Combat and Crafting all work together as a World System is very impressive design.
AoC will be my main mmog cuz i'm more interested in the subject and prefer role playing to PvP BUT as a hard core mmog'er i feel almost obligated to play this, it really is that different and compelling.
-----
" so don't complain that there's no "bread baking" or "ferret breeding" "
arg NOOOO they nerfed ferrets !!!!
I don't find this true, He said he played the orc class sharman, and as we all know that have been following the game, there is no orc sharman in Warhammer, theres only goblin ones.
If he were a Warhammer player / fan he would have eaisly known this and would have stated either greenskin sharman or goblin. Nuff said.
Its just like every other reveiw I have read so far about this game, the reveiwer hasn't got one bad thing to say and all his douts seem to vanish once he plays for what 45 min?
Theres a reason this games got the hype and fan boys it has and strangly the haters it has too.... The games very good, so good infact a lot of fan boys from other games are nervous.
im soooooo getting this
Until we know more about how the dungeons will work you really cant judge whether or not there will be instanced PvE dungeons for you to 'master'. For example, the dungeon described in the last newsletter certainly sounds like your typical PvE experience however it doesnt say what size group its made for, whether or not its instanced, or if its using the PQ system.
I think what your actually trying to critise is the PQ system, that because you will have zero control on who your questing with and what the rest of your team is doing you will be unable to orchastrate the most efficient strategy to the goal. Well guess what thats actually going to appeal to alot of people, not having to wait for hours to get the 'perfect' group, not have to worry that the tank just dc'd, not be told by a control freak raid leader how to spec your character.
The type of gamer you described is as rare as the PvP'er who wants permadeath and full looting, you represent a minority. Most people like PvE for the fun of beating the crap out of a boss and getting some nice rewards for doing it, the PQ's in WAR would appear to do that. The type of gamer you describe also likes full control of the environment they play in which is also why these players will despise and most probably totally fail at PvP.
What I really dont get is why you think a casual PvE'er will not only not enjoy WAR but not enjoy it because it will lack hardcore PvE'ers. Do you think casual PUGS incapable of completing PvE content without an altruistic elite guiding their way? With the book of knowledge and PQ's casual PvE'ers have plenty to look forward too, and possibly even more.
I also attended the gameday in MD. Was really interested in game, and after seeing it live, I can't wait for it. The smooth gameplay alone makes me want to play the game. Just hope they have a rock solid launch. Went through EQ2 and Vanguard launches. Really not looking for another disaster.
As for the game play. Casters seemed to be pretty tough. Saw a few on what looked to be discs of air. They were fast and were tearing up peeps. But just like all squishy's, they died in about 3 good hits. Graphics were alot better than I thought they were gonna be. Avatars appear to try and keep to Warhammer models, and scenery was more detailed than I thought it was gonna be. Not on Vanguards quality, but still pleasant to look at.
I want it. gimme gimmie gimme I'll trade ya an iPhone?
Not flaming or hating.. But I wish before you make blanket statements, you might take the time to research the game. WaR is bringing so much to the table. Let me break it down for you.
Obviously I am by no means an expert, but I do read most information I can locate on WaR.
Lets start off with the some basics..
I) Public Quests: Currently there are over 300 Public quest in WaR. A public quest is something that the realm as a whole does, not just a group or a guild.( New Concept)
II) Collision Detection: No more running through someone while fighting.. Welcome to the future of Raiding, where you no longer have a single MT and a MA.. Try having a Group of MT keeping the bad guys from busting through to the casters.( New Concept)
III) Multitudes of Armor: As was said in one of the interviews.. for the Iron Breaker alone, there are 40 different armor sets you can earn, not counting armor pieces you pick up along the way.( Not new concept, but definetly stepped up from previous MMO)
IV) PvP/RvR Areas per Level: No more getting ganked at level 10 by a lvl 60 just for shits and grins.( New Concept, battle grounds do not count because it is a limited number of players)
V) 24 Classes at Release: Has never been done in a US MMO. Vanguard didnt even have 24.( Not new concept but stepped up)
Im sure there are more, but these are the ones that stick out to me.
So in essence, WaR is taking things from Previous MMO and bringing in New Concepts as well. They are definetly on the right track and I think WaR will pull alot of the serious PvPrs from WoW.
These are just my opinions, take them for what you like.
THose were Chaos Magi, and the Discs are actually Demons.
Magi are Player Characters, by the way, and yes, you'll float on that Disc as Player ;-)
Alright I admit I knew very little about the game and perhaps my comments were completely unjust. Thanks for that.
Phalanx?
I've said it before, and now I get to say it once again. If an MMO ever creates a PvP system that prevents ganking so that the PvP is always fun, I'll be there to try it out. So far, it appears that this may be the first game I actually WANT to try out :P