Nobody steals my beer!

WAR is everywhere in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR), the new MMORPG from Mythic, the creators of Dark Age of Camelot. Based on Games Workshop's popular Warhammer, a fantasy game originally released for tabletop play in the mid 1980's. WAR features next generation Realm vs. Realm (RvR) game play that was originally made popular in Dark Age of Camelot and will immerse players in a world of perpetual conflict.

When first entering WAR, players must choose their allegiance and join an army. There will be a confederation of armies that compose both "good" and "evil" perspectives and ambitions. Fighting with the Armies of Order players play as an obstinate Dwarf, a noble High Elf, or a Human soldier of the Empire. Those wanting to fulfill their darker and more base desires can join the Armies of Destruction as a savage Greenskin, which are comprised of Orcs and Goblins, corrupt Dark Elves, or the marauding Humans, worshipers of Chaos.

Incoming Artillery!

RvR combat takes place a little different then past MMOs that have used this style of PVP. Instead of all out war, good versus evil, the battles are fueled by ancient wars and grudges between specific types of armies in an unending war. Dwarfs vs. Greenskins, High Elf vs. Dark Elf, and Empire vs. Chaos. At the start of play players will choose their ancestral enemy, but are free to journey to other fronts and help ally armies in their ongoing struggles.

Ultimately the player's armies goal in RvR is the sacking of an enemies capital city. To accomplish this, an army must invade and take control of the opposition's homeland. Battles take place on objective-based battlefields and in instanced scenarios, which are point-balanced battles making use of NPC mercenaries known as "Dogs of War", deciding the date of the regions.

Every aspect of the game, including player vs. Environment (PvE) are geared towards the greater war in some way. It is important to mention that players are never forced to participate in PvP anytime in the game. Players may help their army progress entirely via PvE quests and content.

David and Goli...troll?

There are currently scheduled four levels of RvR combat possible. Skirmishes which will be incidental PvP combat. Battlefield, objective-based battles in the game world. Scenarios which are instanced, point-based battles balanced with NPCs. With campaigns, consisting of the invasion of enemy lands culminating in the assault on their capital city, being the ultimate goal of players.

The graphics of WAR have a very stylized feel to them. In the coming months and after release there is sure to be some argument over whether or not the graphical style was "stolen" from World of Warcraft. While it is true they are very similar in nature it should be mentioned that WoW's graphics style was originally imitated from the Warhammer art and style.

One interesting feature is that character models will no longer be static. They will develop and change as the player goes through their lives in game. For instance, an Orc may grow in size and muscle mass as they gain levels and power, or a Dwarfs' beard gets longer. Customizable armor and visual guild systems also allow players to customize their characters in hopes that no two look identical.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is shaping up to be a different MMO title in a world of EverQuest and World of Warcraft clones. Its very race based PvP centric gameplay is sure to find fans, while many Dark Age of Camelot players may move to this game as an "upgrade" to their current RvR experience. There is currently not much information about a release date for WAR but look for it to be released some time in 2007.

SCREENS

• I attent the First Church of WAR
• Trouble brewing...
• What the heck did they kill to get that size of a skull up there?
• The place is a little gothic, but for me, she's home
• Even among trolls and orcs, you'll run into fashion victims.