MMORPG.com: When you decided to make Eldar part of the Eternal Crusade factions, what were your first impressions?
David Ghozland: “The Eldar will be challenging, but they’re so iconic that we simply HAVE to have them in the game. They're also our only launch-race that gives us the opportunity to add women warriors!”
Brent Ellison: “They’re a challenge for us because they’re the aliens who don’t fit in the same sort of structures as the other factions. Their characters are extremely specialized, and they’re effective at short or long ranges, not so much medium and their primary weapon, the shuriken catapult, is nothing like the bullet, slug, or rocket-based projectile weapons we’re used to.
We’re thrilled to have them, but we want to be sure that we do them right."
MMORPG.com: Eldar have a much deeper lore and history than people might realize in 40K. They are not just the space elves people think. What steps are you taking to bring this mysterious race to life?
Steven Lumpkin: "The Eldar will be integrated with the story of our planet. During the level design of our open world, I've been talking with our writers- Graeme McNeill and Anthony Reynolds- and they have some fantastic ideas for prominent features in the world that will support the existence of the Eldar. You might get to find out more about that later this month, even..."
Brent Ellison: "We're also planning to make the Eldar feel different to control, and move around differently than the other races- faster, more acrobatic, things like that. We'll be reshaping the user interface and progression to match their unique features."
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MMORPG.com: Eldar vehicles are defined by their hover and anti-gravity features. What are some of the vehicles you are really excited to work with?
Steven Lumpkin: "As one of our resident Eldar players, I'm most excited for the Eldar Jetbikes."
Brent Ellison: "Oh yeah, absolutely."
MMORPG.com: Every faction has certain elements in Eternal Crusade. The Eldar have always been sleek, fast, and precise in their attacks. How are you bringing that to the battlefield, say vs. the wild and clunky Orks?
Brent Ellison: "Eldar will be fleet of foot, clearing cover and other obstacles faster than the clunkier Space Marines or Orks. Eldar jump packs will also feel and control very differently from Space Marine jump packs, but we want to do more testing before we go into detail."
David Ghozland: "We're looking to give Eldar players more available tools for hit and run tactics, but we'll be leaving it up to our players to figure out how to make the most of them."
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MMORPG.com: How will you break down the Eldar race in terms of Squads and Chapters? Will it be by Craftworlds or will you follow the Autarchs?
David Ghozland: "Just like Space Marines are divided into Chapters, the Eldar are divided into Craftworlds- we're offering Ulthwe, Iyanden, Saim-hann, and Biel-tan. Like Space Marines, the Eldar will be able to form groups and guilds that mix the Craftworlds together."
MMORPG.com: Color and customization are going to be extremely important to Eldar players. How are you tackling their design?
Brent Ellison: "We're still evaluating this, but players can expect to see all the standard Eldar embellishments, from giant headpieces to runes to soul stones and more."
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MMORPG.com: What are your favorite parts about working with the Eldar race?
Steven Lumpkin: "I'm really interested in finding out how the Eldar's psykers (the Farseer and Warlock) might affect the battlefield."
Brent Ellison: "Slick, athletic melee combat!"
David Ghozland: "Women!"
Miguel Caron: ‘’Yes, like David says.’’
