jgerblick

The Legends of Aria team has been doing their best to navigate a firestorm of controversy surrounding a since-scrapped item many feared would be the beginning of a slippery slope toward “pay-to-win” territory. Project Lead Derek Brinkmann was gracious enough to lend me some time to discuss the latest update and the events of the day.

Is it fair that Grapeshot Games is charging folks for a game so early in its development cycle without warning of its crude state? On a broader note, is the whole Early Access system being abused?

Welcome back, dear readers. In my previous entries, I've told stories of my beginnings as a rogue traveler in the world of Legends of Aria, making my start in Pyros Landing and slowly developing in strength and character, through both triumph and loss. Though today, it is with a burdened heart and aching eyes that I recount a personal tale of great loss, with hopes that it may serve as a lesson for younger adventurers.

It’s been a little longer than a fortnight since I last wrote about my journey through Legends of Aria. In that time, I’ve become a competent and well-armed rogue, no longer the lame sitting duck for beasts and thieves who first ventured outside Pyros Landing.

Any bowman worth his salt knows you want light armor, plenty of arrows, a discreet blade, and of course a good solid oak longbow to make a safe and lucrative living. I began my journey in Pyros' Landing with a paltry supply of arrows, fabric garments, and a sorry excuse for a bow - even by Pryos' Landing standards. I was no archer, and yet with little direction to guide my adventure, I took to the desert wasteland outside town for a preliminary hunt.

Recent rumors suggest that the next installment in the storied Diablo franchise will feature elements reminiscent of Diablo II, which could be a step in the right direction. However, the news is only a small light at the end of a very long tunnel for fans of old school MMORPGs. Fortunately, Diablo IV isn’t the only enticing prospect for gamers of a certain age looking to relive the glory days of the MMO genre.