Updating the game!

On the last two weeks there been some content release for some of the mmorpg on the market. For some games, much needed content was released, while others are just events but worth mentioning. So let's see...

For starters, Star Wars The Old Republic got finally released game update 1.2 Legacy. 

As i posted before, this new game update brings the now famous legacy system, a new raid, a new dungeon,  new battleground, some new dailies quests and plus other fixes. Also on last sunday a event started (can i say the first SWTOR event?), which puts players exploring a crash of a ship in Tantooine, which carries the Rakghoul virus. The event boosts several dailies, which allows players to gather specific tokens to get pets, weapons crystal (to change the color of the lightsaber for instance), and some other small stuff. Also there's the fun ability to spread the virus between players by simply hoping one dies and explodes miserably near other players. Overall, for me, with this update and event, i finally manage to log more often in SWTOR.

Everquest 2, finally saw released last tuesday (US) and wednesday (EU) Game Update 63: Skyshrine. 

Also I posted about it, this game update, works almost as a little expansion (even Age of Discovery is so bland compared to this update). It brings a new landzone, increase level cap to 92, prestige points system, more then 100 quests (either adventure or tradeskill), new crafting stuff, new dungeon maker stuff, etc. I must admit I'm curious about how this will affect on me, because to be honest i have been loosing interest over Everquest 2. Will this bring me back to it? Time will tell.

Lord of the Rings Online is celebrating it's 5the anniversary and an event is ongoing. 

This event is much like any other event that's happen over the years in LOTRO, boosting dailies that players can do to gather tokens, for either appearance items, house items or mounts. There's also an amount of deeds to do, that will give players new titles. Also each player, depending on their account age will receive one or several gifts, which may include, appearance gear, consumables or in my case for instance, some sturdy keys to open locked boxes.

Although I'm not currently playint it, Rift saw yesterday released 1.8 update: Infernal Dawn.

All i know is that this update brings a new raid zone, 2 new tradeskills (fishing and survival), guild finder (for those who like to jump between guilds :p ), leaderboards (i guess this is wanted...), and some other changes and/or fixes. I haven't checked this out so i can't say much, about it.

Other games got some content released, like for instance Aion finally got to 3.0, but not for the euro servers.  Betweeen other, I know it's expected an housing system, new instances, etc. I'm not talking much about it because i know this game very little. Euro update is expected to be released in May.

Champions Online (On alert) also got some massive update, but I'm not playing that so i can't tell much, except what I could read from the main site, some system update (statistics changes and other stuff), added an alert system (sort of events), a new currency to the game (questionite) which allows players to trade for gear and/or for cryptic points that can be used in the game store, and some other big changes, that i can't tell much because as i said before i don't know the game.

Overall, I guess that's enough content going to keep fanboys of each of these games happy for some time now.

Oh and by the way, Legend of Grimrock got release!

What? It's not an mmorpg? No, but it's seems so damn fine! If you are an old time player as me, and if you recall games like Eye of the Beholder or Dungeon Master, this one can be the next great thing. Dungeon crawler game meets 2012 graphics, but keeps the fun gameplay as before. Game as been praise by several players already so i only expect this game to be awesome. It might even take me off mmo games for a while :)

Everquest 2 Game Update 63: Skyshrine

It's expected to be released tomorrow the new game update for EQ2.

This update promises to be more of a mini expansion with several adding features, mainly:

- oddly increase of level from 90 to 92 (adventure and tradeskill);

- new prestige system (which in my opinion is yet another AA tree);

- new overland zone to explore with more then 100 quests;

- new dungeons that can be played either solo, group or raid;

- new dungeon maker stuff;

and other stuff added.

But the level increase seems to be the most odd. There are several reasons for this, one being the fact that zones that before were hard for some players, with the 2 level increase will probably make them easier for everyone. Another, might be because of the new prestige system. This system, on contrary to AA will not work as experience you gain that gets converted to AAs. Instead, a player gets 1 prestige point, for each 20% experience made from 90 to 92, making it a total of 10 prestige points one ca make. This new points work much as new features you get for you spells, like having a spell that can instantly a cooldown of another, when you cast it - although i haven't see much about it, except for Coercers, and those are a bit underwhelming :(. Also notice although it's only 2 level increase, they say it's expected to a player to take longer reaching those 2 levels, then before, so i guess they step up the experience curve.

I also heard there is like 2 new dungeons, but i can't confirm it at this time. If that's the case it's expected to either be like Drunder, where each dungeon have like 3 versions inside with different mobs and names, or if not, then its like each dungeon will have one version for solo, other group and other raid. But as i said i don't know anything about it, so it's pure speculation.

The new zone will probably be a good addition to the questers out there, with more then 100 quests will probably keep players busy for some time. Ah yes, there will be new gathering nodes, but if you have your trusty gathering horse, you can use it to gather. But of course he won't get rares, so you have to work for that.

I was curious about the tradeskill apprentices, because i heard there would be new recipes, but don't know if you need a new sort of colossal for it, or if the max tier one, Colossal Reactant would work on new recipes. All i heard the new crafting gear was kinda uber, but again haven't seen it myself. Edit: News flash, right after posting, i found this about the topic.

I expecting this update to bring back some of my lost interest over the game. 6 month with no noticeable update, and also the fact that my slacker guild is loosing focus on raid, made me got tired of the game. Might work a bit, but time will tell. It's a big enough update, to keep players busy if they are into the game.

First day of SWTOR 1.2 Legacy, first impressions

Is this what SWTOR needed to start kicking? Well in short yes, BUT it still feels somewhat short, at least on the legacy system. Still it's only first impressions.

The legacy system so far is offering a few mimics, most of which i do believe roleplayers will love. The most notables offerings, i think, are the ability to add stuff to your spaceship like training dummy, mail or auction house. But you can also unlock races to play with specific classes that before you weren't able to, get some legacy abilities, or even social animations. It's expected on 1.3 to increase further in the system with the unlock of abilities to enhance current skills. Also another fluffy thing, is the ability to create a family tree with all your toons on the server (either republic or imperial) by defining who is what in relation to each other. So for instance you can have a toon that is married with an alt of yours and they got a child which is yet another alt of yours. I guess this is fun for roleplayers. Overall, the system at first feels a bit short but time will tell.

The new flashpoint? Haven't seen yet, but my brother did, and he said it was quite hard compared to previous flashpoints, so will check it soon.

The new operation, on the other hand, is proving to be fresh and challenging. The setting is on a planet Denova (hence operation Denova) and it's called "Explosive Conflict".

From the official site:

"In 'Explosive Conflict', a brutal battle between Imperial invaders and Republic-backed mercenaries has come to an abrupt end, with both forces swearing allegiance to a powerful warlord. Neither the Republic nor the Empire will allow such a betrayal to stand, and that's why you and your allies must travel to the planet of Denova. There, you and your groupmates will have to work together to battle some of the greatest threats in the galaxy, but you will earn powerful weapons and armor as you progress."

Word of warning, there's a bit of trash between bosses.

We only did two fights, and one kill, onde the normal mode or storymode. Fights prove to be harder and more challenging then before, even for an 8 man group. First fight was compose of two bosses, Zorn and Toth, and basically you need 2 tanks for the fight, each tank grabs a boss and takes him far away from the other. The idea would be to have a balanced group of tank, healer and dps for each boss. The trick is that, every once in a while Toth will jump to where Zorn is, and when that happens tanks will have to swap targets. Be aware that Toth will always jump to Zorn and that's the queue for tanks to swap to the other boss. And keep in mind they have to be spread apart, and really spread. After both bosses die, a 3rd one appears but it's really easy. At storymode, drop was Rakata based.

The second boss is yet another 2 boss fight as you can see on this picture. Yep, we are fighting tanks!  

Again split the fight in 2 groups. From my point of view, i'm tanking the right one, and there are a few things to do. Whenever the tank gets 2 beams focused on him have 2 melee each grab one beam, when the beam dissapears each melee will receive some debuff and huge damage, so have them away off the tank. Besides that every once in a while, and this is from what i've saw, some adds will pop below some protection and each group should go there and kill the adds. Mind that you don't destroy the pillar that is support of that protection because the boss will be throwing some electric pillars all over the area. I, for once would stay off that protection and dodge any pillars. We didn't killed this one but we got as close as around 30% so it's a matter of going there again and kill. The strategy isn't that great but it's what i recall.

Overall the new raid seems good.

Finally the new quest area, sets foot on Corellia. Basically after winning the planet, the empire is abandoning it! Gasp! Well I'm not spoiling anymore :p but i do hope they give more consistentance to this new area of quests cause 5 dailies or so feels short, unless you wanna grind daily commendations. Oh and also if you do all dailies at least once a week, you get also the new tokens that also drop from the raid zone.

I'm not a pvper so I haven't checked the new battleground, sorry!

Some other enhancements been made to the game, loot wise and class changes, but thats expected on bigger updates.

Overall it's good but still could be better, just hope Bioware puts it on track and starts releasing content fast and of quality. And by the way, BW/EA are giving a free month to any one subscribed with a level 50 toon, woot!

Star Wars The Old Republic 1.2 being released on servers tomorrow!

It's planed to be released tomorrow, 12/04/2012, the 1.2 update for Star Wars The Old Republic.

This will be the first major update for the game, and will boost besides others, the Legacy System, a new Raid, new Dungeon, new battleground and new quest zone.

Some other updates are expected but the major thing on this patch is the release of the Legacy system. From what I've learn this system will allow players to customize further in their game, with a list of unlockers such as races being able to play classes that before we're locked to them, or adding mailboxes or auction house to the spaceship or even adding new special abilities for their own characters. I don't really know much about the system itself, but there are several posts going around the internet talking about it. Or check this video.

Overall I'm expecting this new update will bring more action to the game. Having all raid content farmed and without anything else to do makes me feel rather dull.