Jun 13, 2008
WarHammer Online: The Review
by windshell
Has the time for the new MMORPG king come? The most serious contender for the throne, Warhammer Online is coming in November. Check this ultimate review for the most anticipated game of the year.
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is game based on Warhammer Fantasy setting and preceded with Warhammer tabletop game.
Although, Warhammer Online (in the following text abbreviated as WAR) is not purely derived from either Warhammer Fantasy Battles or Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay or any other source alone, but rather from the Warhammer Fantasy universe as a whole.
WAR introduced many innovations and upgrades in MMORPG gameplay and graphics which are still being object of ‘polishing’ in the development process. Truth is that the game has been delayed few times, but that’s been done only to ensure the profound experience to current and future gamers.
Let’s start with short description of individual game features.
Warhammer Online Game Features
Graphics
WAR introduced high-end graphics with the attention to details in the modeling and texturing. Although still being in Beta, WAR has beaten many other available and upcoming titles thanks to this feature. The modeling very closely resembles the miniatures from the board game. Terrain has been done marvelously as well. Rendering ensures top visual experience, especially when massive battles are included.
Quest System
The questing system in WAR is broken into four main categories. The first are Public Quests, where anyone can participate and your progress is scored on the whole.
The second type is a Conflict Quest that will pit you against an enemy with opposing goals. The great example is Beer and Beards quest. Your goal is to rescue/or harm a group of injured dwarves. If you are an Orc you can further injure the dwarves by removing their beards, or if you are playing as a dwarf you must bring them a beer..
Third type is Branching Quests, which will allow you to choose the outcome of the quest which will also affect the reward you are given in the end.
Finally, there were Xmas quests available that offer special events and rewards in areas that usually aren’t designed for exploring and quests.
Character Progression
Another ‘smart’ and useful feature is character progression, which means that as your character levels up, your model will change appearances; not just your gear, but also muscle mass, beard length, etc. depending on which class you’re playing.
Character Progression also includes varieties on gear and equipment models, which means that characters in all level ranges appear completely different from each other.
Gameplay
WAR introduced several features that make its gameplay great to play. Locating NPCs and completing quest is extremely user friendly just as the skill system. Traveling and movement is not an annoyance.
RVR Combat
RvR (Realm versus realm) combat is a separate aspect of the gameplay and it is a new addictive feature very easy to engage in.
RvRs take place within three different racial pairings: Dwarfs vs. Greenskins, Empire vs. Chaos, and High Elves vs. Dark Elves. Although there are only two races per pairing, players may travel to either of the other two pairings to help fight with their friends and allies.
There are four types of RvR combat: Skirmishes (random world PvP), Battlefields (object-driven battles in RvR-specific areas), Scenarios (instanced, point-based battles against the opposing faction, with sides evened by NPC "dogs of war"), and Campaigns (invading enemy lands and capital cities).
Tome of Knowledge
Tome of Knowledge is unique feature in MMORPG and it is a multi-purpose reference tool that is designed to provide the players with a great deal of information about the game world. It is also meant to serve as a reduction in the need for players to feel like they have to rely upon third-party sources of information pertaining to the game.
The whole gameplay setup of WAR has a great foundation in previously very popular table-top Warhammer game, where the figures get their almost identical replicas in the virtual world. Armies, classes and races have been introduced, just like in table game. Although some are still missing, the main races are here, ready to start the ultimate battle in WAR World.
World of Warhammer Online
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is RvR game where two separate factions: Order and Destruction are confronted. Each of these factions (Realms) contains three separate armies, each of which is further separated into four career choices. A number of careers will be gender specific, which means only playable as a male or female character.
Armies
Armies of Order are separated on Dwarves, Empire (Humans) and High Elves, while Armies of Destruction are Greenskins (Orcs and Goblins), Chaos (Corrupt Humans) and Dark Elves.
Careers
Careers in WAR are similar concept to classes in other MMORPG games. Each career conforms to one archetypal role and each career will still make changes upon the basic outline of that role.
There are four basic archetypes in the WAR:
Tank
Heavily armored character able to stand a lot of damage, while protecting their allies and fighting multiple opponents at once.
Melee Damage
Is an archetype with less protection or power than Tank, but able to deal out greater damage in a shorter amount of time.
Ranged Damage
Is an archetype that deals high levels of damage from a distance, which includes both spell casters as well as classes that use weapons such as bows or guns.
Support
As name says it’s a support class that can buff and heal allies, as well as deal damage to enemies. Support classes are the most effective when combining all of their abilities, rather than focusing on just one specific role.
Based on these four archetypes here is the table of all Careers available in WAR:
| Armies |
Tank |
Melee Damage |
Ranged Damage |
Support |
| Dwarfs |
Ironbreaker |
Hammerer |
Engineer |
Runepriest |
| The Empire |
Knight of the Blazing Sun |
Witch Hunter |
Bright Wizard |
Warrior Priest |
| High Elves |
Swordmaster |
White Lion |
Shadow Warrior |
Archmage |
| Greenskins |
Black Orc |
Orc Choppa |
Goblin Squig Herder |
Goblin Shaman |
| Chaos |
Chosen (Male Only) |
Marauder (Male Only) |
Magus |
Zealot |
| Dark Elves |
Black Guard |
Witch Elf (Female Only) |
Sorcerer/Sorceress |
Disciple of Khaine |
Conclusion
Warhammer Online is certainly one of the most anticipated games. It has shown more in its prerelease than some other released games. Mythic as a developer, done a great job so far and often delays are only consequences of developers’ perfectionism nature. Once the game is finally released, it should be the biggest contender for the best MMORPG throne.
* Note: Warhammer Online release has been announced for November 2008
Check our Warhammer Online forum for further discussions: http://www.realpoor.com/Warhammer_Online-f70.html
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