Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
| Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Studio | Mythic entertainment | ||
| Publisher | Electronic Arts , GOA | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
September 18, 2008 | ||
| platform | Windows , Mac OS | ||
| Game engine | Gamebryo | ||
| genre | MMORPG | ||
| Subject | Warhammer Fantasy | ||
| Game mode | Solo - quests , multiplayer quests, PvP | ||
| control | Keyboard , mouse | ||
| system advantages preconditions |
Windows
|
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| medium | DVD-ROM , download | ||
| language | German | ||
| Current version | 1.1a (Released December 12, 2008) | ||
| Age rating |
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| information | 300,000 registered players (end of 2008) | ||
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning ( German Age of Reckoning ), short- WAR is one in the Warhammer located somewhere -Spielwelt massively multiplayer online role-playing game ( English massively multiplayer online role-playing game , briefly MMORPG ) of the game developer Mythic Entertainment .
Like any MMORPG, Warhammer Online can only be played with other players over the Internet. The main focus of the game is on a realm vs. realm concept (known from the MMORPG Dark Age of Camelot , also from Mythic Entertainment), in which players from several parties compete against each other.
The game was stopped on December 18, 2013.
Since June 14, 2014 there is an active private server "Return of Reckoning".
Game world
Mythic Entertainment has a Warhammer Fantasy license from Games Workshop for Warhammer Online . The game world is divided into three conflicts, which in turn are divided into several different zones, in which two of the six races are at war.
The game world includes the area of the Old World , which is based on real Europe , as well as the continent Ulthuan , which can be compared with the mythological Atlantis . Depending on the race chosen for your own character, the player begins one of the three available race pairs in the areas, but can leave these at any time to explore other areas.
people
Three peoples at a time have united to form one of the two great factions, the armies of order and destruction. The order armies include the Empire , the High Elves, and the Dwarves , while the Armies of Destruction include the Greenskins , Chaos, and the Dark Elves .
Careers
| people | tank | Melee fighters | Ranged fighters | healer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chaos | Chosen one | Chaos barbarian | Magus | Zealot |
| Dark elf | Black Guard * | Witch warrior | sorceress | Disciples of Khaine |
| Greenskin | Black Orc | Gap ** | Squigtreiba | shaman |
| High elf | Sword master | White Lion | Shadow warriors | Archmage |
| imperium | Knight of the Sun Order * | Witch hunters | Fire wizard | Warrior Priest |
| dwarf | Iron breaker | Slayer ** | machinist | Rune priest |
|
* This career was patched on December 11, 2008. ** This career was patched on March 4th, 2009. |
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Four out of a total of twenty-four careers are available to each of the six races. Each career can be assigned to one of four archetypes , whereby these only provide a rough framework and do not force the player into a specific role.
- The tank primarily has a defensive role and protects its (vulnerable) colleagues.
- The melee deals primarily damage, but has a lower defense than the tank.
- The ranged fighter also primarily deals damage, but at a long range, which makes him particularly vulnerable in close combat.
- The healer keeps allied fighters alive or strengthens them in battle.
Depending on the race and class chosen, careers differ, even if they belong to the same archetype. Basically, there is a matching counterpart in the other factions for every special ability in order to enable fair fights even without identical or mirrored classes.
On July 11, 2008, Mark Jacobs announced in an interview that four of the twenty-four careers could not be completed in time for publication. On December 11, 2008, the Black Guardsman and Knight of the Sun Order careers were patched . On March 4, 2009, the last two careers Spalta and Slayer followed . The originally planned hammer carrier was discarded in favor of the Slayer .
Game principles
Realm vs. Realm
The gameplay principle Realm versus Realm (RvR), which Mythic Entertainment uses as a brand , was first used in Dark Age of Camelot , whereby the main focus of the game is not on battles against non-player characters , but on battles against players of the opposing faction. In contrast to normal player versus player systems (PvP), the aim is not just to win individual battles, but to achieve greater goals together with other players from your own faction. To this end, Warhammer Online offers several battlefield objectives and fortresses that players can capture and claim for their faction. Depending on the influence gained or lost in this way, the existing sources of conflict and contested areas adapt dynamically. This makes it possible, for example, through good cooperation, to gradually advance deep into the area controlled by the enemy in order to finally conquer the capital.
Guilds
Guilds are associations of several players in order to achieve common goals. The game system promotes this in that guilds can unlock certain achievements and game content. If the players of a guild collect enough experience points for this, the guild moves up one level like a player. Over time, for example, guild crests, standards, shared treasure chests and other advantages can be earned that players without a guild are denied.
Craft
Each character can learn the basics of two of the six available professions with appropriate instructors. He has to decide between a craft and a collective occupation. The occupations can also be changed afterwards, but the new occupation must be learned from scratch. In order to progress, it is enough to use the skills normally. Depending on the raw materials used or the level of the items, there is a certain chance of getting better at the respective craft.
There are no fixed recipes for making an item. Rather, depending on the materials used, a random object is generated, whereby there is no guarantee that the desired effect will actually be found on the end product. Conversely, luck can also increase the effect. Items that can be equipped directly, such as weapons or armor, cannot currently be produced.
| Collecting professions | Craft trades |
|---|---|
| Planting : By processing seeds, spores and other raw materials, ingredients for pharmacy are created. | Pharmacy : Potions, powders and lotions that strengthen or heal the player character can be produced with pharmacy from a container, a main ingredient and additional ingredients. |
| Cannibalize : Defeated animals and animal-like monsters can be eviscerated to obtain bones, skin, intestines, blood, and other materials for pharmaceutical use. | |
| Loot : In addition to the normal loot, ingredients for making talismans can be obtained from defeated humanoid enemies (apart from the PC ). | Talisman production : Talismans, with which equipment can be adorned and improved, are composed of a container and a fragment, and optionally a curiosity, a gold and a magic essence. |
| Magical utilization : Ingredients for making talismans can be extracted from magical objects, namely magic essences and their preforms, echoes and whispers. |
Customization
The options for customizing the player character are initially limited to visual features, as all characters in a career initially have the same attributes and different game values. The use of equipment is the most important option for customizing game values at the beginning of the game. Special instructors allow you to specialize in one of the three paths per class with each level up in the advanced game . This aligns a character, for example, on healing or on the defensive. In addition, each character has different tactics , passive abilities that can be obtained through level up or special achievements. Tactics give the character special, strong attribute increases or the like; their use can be redefined before each fight. Morale skills that can only be activated after a while in combat are also interchangeable .
For special successes in the game you receive trophies , i.e. items that can be attached to the character in different places, but which do not strengthen the character. Also, you can unlocked from the game progresses through heroics, discoveries or experiences titles choose one, the other players will be displayed along with the name of the player character.
costs
As with other online games , there were monthly fees that could be paid by credit card , direct debit or prepaid card. Depending on the length of time purchased, the cost from the second month onwards was around 13 euros. Since April 2010 it was no longer necessary to buy the game yourself. Later there was a free trial phase. There was no time limit to play up to level 10 until the server was discontinued.
Game versions
Warhammer Online is available in a standard and a limited “Collector's Edition”. The “Collector's Edition” also contains a book on the art of Warhammer Online, a comic, a mouse pad and a miniature “Grumlok & Gazbag”. It was also possible to pre-order both versions to get access to the open beta test , an earlier entry into the game and special in-game items.
Furthermore, a distinction is made between the individual distributors and sales regions. While the European version contains the respective localizations for this region, the North American version, for example, only contains the English language version.
Each copy of the game can only be used in the region it belongs to. For example, it is not possible to play a game purchased in Europe on the game servers for Oceania.
history
The game developer Climax Online made its first attempt to implement the world of Warhammer as an MMORPG as early as 2000. However, the project was no longer supported by Games Workshop in 2004 due to the expected costs. Climax then tried to continue the development at its own expense, but had to give up at the end of the year for legal reasons, among other things.
In the following year, the American development studio Mythic Entertainment managed to secure the license that was available again and to try again in close cooperation with Games Workshop.
Originally announced for 2007, the publication of the title had to be postponed several times until autumn 2008. Reasons for this included complete concept changes that were implemented in response to beta testers .
On September 18, 2013, the developers Mythic announced that the server operation and thus the game will be discontinued on December 18, 2013. The officially named reason for the shutdown of the game is the expiry of the license agreement with Games Workshop on the said date. As a further reason, the press suspected steadily falling user numbers.
Since June 14, 2014 there is an active private server "Return of Reckoning". This server is a free-to-play community project.
Awards
Warhammer Online has won numerous awards prior to its release, including multiple times as a most anticipated game.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| MMORPG.com : Best implementation of a license | China Joy 2003–2007 : Best Foreign Language Online Game | MMORPG.com : Best new Game of 2008 |
| Game Amp : Best of Show | Ten Ton Hammer : Best Fantasy MMO | Best of GamesConvention : Best online game |
| Game Amp : Best Loot | Ten Ton Hammer : Best of Show | IGN PC : Best of E3 2008 - Best MMO |
| Game Daily : Nod Award | Beckett Massive Online Game Reader's Choice Award : Masterly Awaiting MMO | Voodoo Extreme : E3 2008 - Best MMO |
| Voodoo Extreme : Best MMO | Warcry's Editor's Choice : Masters Awaiting Game 2007 | GameSpy : Best of E3 2008 - Top 10 PC Game |
| Gamespot Editor's Choice : Best Presentation | MMORPG.com Readers Choice : Master Waiting | G4TV : Best of E3 - PC |
| Ten Ton Hammer : Editor's Choice Award | Warcry's Editor's Choice : Masters Awaiting Game 2008 |
Web links
- warhammeronline.com . Official website of the publisher Mythic Entertainment.
- User manual , English, PDF , 6.5 MB.
- Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning at MobyGames (English)
- Link catalog on the subject of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning at curlie.org (formerly DMOZ ) (links to fan sites)
Individual evidence
- ^ Christian Merkel: Warhammer Online. Subscriber loss . In: Gamestar, February 4, 2009; last accessed on March 11, 2009.
- ↑ Punkbuster Inclusion, Removal of 4 Classes and 4 Capital Cities from WAR's release ( Memento of 31 July 2008 at the Internet Archive ). On: Warhammer Alliance , July 11, 2008; last accessed on March 11, 2009.
- ↑ Version 1.1a is coming! . On: War-Europe , December 11, 2008; last accessed on March 11, 2009.
- ↑ Version 1.2 is coming! . On: War-Europe , March 4, 2009; last accessed on March 11, 2009.
- ^ Trademark Assignment Abstract of Title of January 22, 2008. In: United States Patent and Trademark Office ; last accessed on March 11, 2009.
- ^ Curt Feldman: Warhammer Online killed in action . On: GameSpot , June 21, 2004; last accessed on March 11, 2009.
- ↑ Q&A: EA Mythic chief demystifies Warhammer Online delay . On: GameSpot , November 1, 2007; last accessed on March 11, 2009.
- ↑ http://www.golem.de/news/warhammer-online-age-of-reckoning-ein-litzer-waaagh-vor-dem-endung-1309-101683.html
- ↑ See list: Awards ( Memento from July 19, 2008 in the Internet Archive ). On: Warhammeronline.com ; last accessed on March 11, 2009.