Gaiscioch Magazine - Issue 2 by Gaiscioch Magazine

Gaiscioch Magazine Issue 2, 2014 G

reetings and welcome to the second edition of the Gaiscioch Magazine. For our second issue we decided to cover the founding of the family.

Benjamin Foley

Founder & Managing Editor Gaiscioch Magazine foghladha@gaiscioch.com

Managing Editor & Layout

In addition, we have interviewed three of the forefathers of our MMO journey:

Editors / Columnists:

Scott Hartsman: CEO, Trion Worlds, creator of RIFT Colin Johanson: Game Director, ArenaNet, creator of Guild Wars 2

These three men have been involved in massively multiplayer online gaming since its birth. We sat down for one-onone interviews to get their perspectives on how this whole thing came together.

RaidCall: http://Gaiscioch.com/raidcall Join Channel: 1101 Facebook: http://Gaiscioch.com/facebook Twitter: http://Gaiscioch.com/twitter YouTube: http://Gaiscioch.com/youtube Twitch.tv: http://Gaiscioch.com/twitch iTunes Podcast: http://Gaiscioch.com/itunes

Gaiscioch Magazine is a quarterly, volunteer driven, no-profit, digital magazine for game developers and enthusiasts alike.

Within these pages you will find a complete history of the Gaiscioch family as well as the original backstory established in Dark Age of Camelot.

Matt Firor: President, ZeniMax Online Studios, Elder Scrolls Online, founding employee of Mythic Entertainment, and creator of Dark Age of Camelot

Learn more about the Gaiscioch Family at: http://www.gaiscioch.com/

Gaiscioch Magazine Staff

Benjamin “Foghladha” Foley <foghladha@gaiscioch.com>

Althea “Briseadh” Damgaard <briseadh@gaiscioch.com> Beth “Jae Onasi” Carlock <jaeonasi@gaiscioch.com> Christine “Seacoral” Metz <seacoral@gaiscioch.com> Esther “HumbleMisty” Foley <humblemisty@gaiscioch.com> Herb “OldGoat” Townsend <oldgoat@gaiscioch.com> Jessica “Kyla Rose” Hunt <jessica@gaiscioch.com> Michael “Balry” Perez <balry@gaiscioch.com> Timothy “MrFallenAngel” Beerman <mrfallenangel@gaiscioch.com> Wally “Pops” Anderson <pops@gaiscioch.com>

Also, we have some exciting features on Guild Wars 2 and Elder Scrolls Online, as well as some previews of upcoming games and reviews of newly released titles. We wanted to give you a glimpse into the life of a game developer and show you a bit behind the curtain of some games.

Contributing Writers:

I thank you for taking the time to read this magazine, and I hope you enjoy what you see. If you have any comments or questions or would like to publish something, please contact us at: magazine@gaiscioch.com.

Artists:

Slan Go Foill!

Donald “Donaliam” Rush <donaliam@gaiscioch.com> Lisa “Prissy” Grant <prissy@gaiscioch.com> Crystal “Kamia” Gates <kamia@gaiscioch.com>

Denton “Neoyoshi” <neoyoshi@gaiscioch.com> Sarlyn “Redvy” <redvy@gaiscioch.com>

Join the Gaiscioch Magazine volunteer team by visiting: http://Gaiscioch.com/magazine Send guest articles, art, requests, comments and feedback to: magazine@gaiscioch.com

About the Gaiscioch Family

he Gaiscíoch (pronounced Gosh-Kia) began on November 11th 2001 in the industry pioneering MMORPG “Dark Age of Camelot”. They began on the Nimue roleplaying server with a focus on creating a fun and enjoyable community for players of all ages and skill levels.

their members to play how they want, when they want, as long as they want and do not constrict them with quotas or requirements. The overall focus of the Gaiscioch is to support the server communities and real world communities they are part of. They accomplish this by hosting public community events, participating and hosting community forums, interacting with game developers, and providing new players information through our in-game advisers and out-of-game guides, maps, and videos.

The Gaiscíoch takes it’s name from an Irish legend found within the “Lebor Gabála Érenn” and “Cath Maige Tuired” which chronicle the first people of Ireland, the Tuatha de Danann. Specifically the First Battle of Moyturna where the Tuatha de Danann hand picked the most honorable and loyal warriors to fight alongside the Celtic Gods in With a strong focus on community our endgame a battle against the Fir Bolg. These warriors were goal is to create memories, friendships, and known as the Gaiscíoch. participate in the overall success of the community. It is through gaming, athletic competition, and The Gaiscioch are a social gaming community with social interaction that we forge new friendships a relaxed approach toward gaming. They allow and relationships.

From Camelot to Tamriel: The Gaiscioch Story by: Benjamin Foley

ooking back on times past is always a fun endeavor. Recalling the memories of epic adventures and friendships made is the easy part. But with these recollections comes the memories of hardship, obstacles, and how we evolved to overcome them.

of how the Gaiscioch began we have to travel back before the days of Camelot.

In the days prior to my journey into Camelot, I despised massively multiplayer video games. I was a site lead for a company called Harding Marketing who oversaw the With every story there is a production of Hewlett-Packard, beginning, a great strife, and an Oracle, Siebel, SONY, and EO ending. With a lifetime, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not Products websites. I was in about how it began, or how it charge of staffing my team with ends, but the journey in between the top talent in the industry. that shapes our legacy. By the time that Ultima Online The Gaiscioch Family was and Everquest made their born in Dark Age of Camelot on appearance finding talent that the Nimue server, with a simple wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affected by these games notion of creating an friendly was rather difficult. I had 6 web environment for all levels of developers leave the company to roleplayers to enjoy while play Everquest full time. They sharing the stories and legends told me they were making over 6,000 dollars a month selling of the Irish people. virtual items in these games. But this story did not begin Playing games, earning more there. For us to know the tale than you could in the silicon 6

valley? This baffled me. I swore I would never touch one of them in fear that they would consume my life and I would lose all common sense. My free time was devoted to building map campaigns for the Marathon Trilogy and later a 6 part story told in the PC action RPG Vampire The Masquerade: Redemption. My story was called Death in Prague and ran for a little over a year. Over the course of that time, more than 600 people went through this 6 part adventure and I got my first taste of community. Death in Prague was featured and sponsored by the GameSpy network, which then gave me an exclusive opportunity to test upcoming games while in alpha or closed beta stages. My passion for storytelling was piqued and I fell in love with sharing my stories with others.

The Birth of the Family An alpha invite arrived in my inbox from an upcoming game created by Mark Jacobs, Matt Firor, and Rob Denton called Dark Age of Camelot. With my Irish upbringing, I saw this as a chance to share the stories I grew up with, to an audience of a much grander scale. I spent nearly a year testing Dark Age of Camelot and losing myself in the wilderness and theme of this game. When it launched, I decided to join a guild by the name of Silverfist Brigade, where I enjoyed my time of roleplaying and adventuring. But the idea of running a guild of my own with an overlaying story was calling. I broke off of Silverfist Brigade and rallied a few people in Tir na nOg to help me form the Gaiscioch na Anu, the first chapter of the family. Upon asking passer bys if they would help me form a guild, three Silverfist Brigade members volunteered and four local volunteers agreed to assist. In the end Bondon, Caelliu, Breel, and I were the only of the eight, that remained after it’s creation.

real life needed me more than the game. It took all of 3 months for them to run Gaiscioch straight into the ground. Gaiscioch would go from 500+ members to under 50 members. Over the next two years in my absence it would dwindle to non-existent say for one. Aldenn held onto the guild awaiting my return for 5 additional years. When I came back to revisit the game, he kindly passed leadership back to me and said, “I couldn’t let The family grew, the events the family end up in the wrong expanded, and for four years the hands so I kept it in case you ever Gaiscioch na Anu were a major came back.” Even though I’ve part of the Nimue community. never seen Aldenn again, he was a phenomenal person who I will always have fond memories of The Fall With all legends there comes a and that completely selfless act time of strife. Real life struck in a spoke volumes of his character. big way and with it took down the Gaiscioch family hard. I suffered The Dark Ages of two layoffs on the same day, Gaiscioch two consecutive years in a row. The whole experience was a Being life in the Silicon Valley wakeup call to me on so many requires people to have more fronts. While the gory details than 1 job, I was not eligible to I will not share in this story, I receive unemployment as I also can tell you that in my life there had two part time jobs. This led has never been more strife than to a mountain of debt, marital in the Dark Ages of Gaiscioch problems, and the whole time from 2004-2006. My entire life I just wanted to provide for my was flipped upside down and little girl. I had to step away to completely wiped to the point try to prevent the collapse of my I had to start completely from family. scratch. players of all ages and skill levels could enjoy. Within our first year we were 250 strong. We began leading larger events, including the once a month dragon hunt, where for the better part of 3 years we assaulted Cuuldurach the Glimmer King and finally defeated him after our second straight year of trying. We also hosted Siege Night, an all out Realm vs Realm (RvR) fest for all on Nimue who cared to enjoy.

To try to prevent the collapse of Gaiscioch I entrusted our family to a council which would vote on decisions in my absence. The council was made up of my Wife at the time, my best friend, and three other active members. A lovers quarrel within this It did not take long to grow. We council would result in the held public events for everyone council deciding to go a different and people began flocking to direction with Gaiscioch. At the family. Our original design this point, it was incredibly was to create an immersive uncomfortable for me to make an roleplaying environment that appearance at all and I decided

Foreclosure, divorce, nearly homeless, my daughter taken and moved a thousand miles away, my cat slaughtered by neighborhood dogs, on the verge of bankruptcy, these years had it all. I saw the darkness that life had to offer. I lost everything. I lost my family, I lost my home, I lost Gaiscioch. As you could imagine I fell into a pretty deep depression and looked for a way 7

to come back. That’s when I found Juliana. I met her while going through my divorce as she too was going through a divorce. We both were transplanted to Eugene, Oregon by our ex’s and then left there alone and without a friend network. We found each other while trying to find anyone to share our burdens with. We never expected the result. It didn’t take long but shortly after meeting Juliana we discovered that we amplify each other. She made me better, I made her better. Instead of life fighting against us, it began to fight for us. She encouraged me to chase my dreams, no matter where they take me and do what I do best. Over those 2 years I would go from having nothing, to having a home, and having my ambition back. That didn’t solve all the problems, but it sure helped getting me focused on the comeback.

The Rebirth It was late in 2006 that Caelliu, Breel, Don, and my friend at the time, Juliana, pulled me out of the darkest depression and put me back on my horse and encouraged me to chase my passion. My world was reborn and I had to adapt to a new way of living. Caelliu introduced me to Warhammer Online and asked if I would like to join him in recreating the Gaiscioch in a new image. One that was 8

“It’s only in your darkest moments, that you have the most potential to shine.” - Benjamin Foley, 2006

We requested that controversial topics stay in the real world and not bleed over into our family so that we could prevent heated arguments. Our goal We knew where we went wrong was to create a family friendly the first time. The “Council” and environment for all to enjoy the democratic way tore the regardless of their playtime or guild apart with arguments and availability. debates that turned into feuds. I would not let that happen Something Remarkable again, so we took on the new Happened approach. Gaiscioch would be a We began with 5 people, a sole proprietorship and I would form a group of elders to help simple concept, and created the ease the burden. I would become “Family”. We re-deployed our the voice, the choice, and the website which had been mostly only person who blame could rebuilt from scratch. Still today, be passed upon. This prevented you will find the doors at the people from drawing lines in the bottom of the site which were sand which turn to fractures, part of the original design as well as the wood texture you and turn to divides. find throughout. Remnants of an By being the sole source of empire passed. blame we have existed for over Over the first few months a decade without collapse. While we began leading events with democracy can work in real life, it just me and Caelliu at the helm can also divide your community, and people of late get quite grabbing every random person offended quickly, which turns that wanted to play and putting those divides into feuds and them into 2 warbands. Within wars. This is the one thing we a month we were 250 strong, would not stand for. We created within 3 months we had to create the rule “Blades out, Not in” to a second guild to house everyone. prevent any sort of infighting. Our events grew in scale, our fun welcoming to all types of players, and focused on making lasting memories and friendships but not at the cost of real life.

times amplified, and we began to public community event series gain server wide attention on the with a set schedule, set leaders, and a start and end date. It battlefield. even had a website devoted to the contest. This brought the attention of players, journalists, and even developers. For the first time we began working on our public image and began The Re-Birth of Public networking with developers and Community Events journalists. We launched the Open PuG Nights as a fun and friendly event The Decline of for both sides of Phoenix Throne Warhammer Online to enjoy. We had a schedule Our numbers grew and by the of battles and both sides came to the fight. The events would time that Mythic Entertainment top 600 people in attendance would start the decline we at times. But alas population maxed our 3 guilds and were in Warhammer Online began sitting at 90% full on the 4th. to decline and server closures Unfortunately, a series of patches began to happen regularly. would hit sending activity Phoenix Throne stood as the last into the ground. Players were Roleplay server and would do so leaving in droves and we saw a sharp decline. We put together for about 6 months. teams to scout out new titles for Unfortunately by the end potential homes. November 2009, Phoenix I spearheaded the team looking Throne would be on the list of closures. The Gaiscioch Family at RIFT and Roger â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oldroarâ&#x20AC;? moved to Badlands where Order Rall looked into Guild Wars stood the underdog and was 2. Both had promise of siege commonly outmatched. During warfare and epic adventures. our very first event we pushed Both were scheduled to release all the way to their city and gave in the next year. Trion Worlds destruction a real run for their contacted us and flew me out to their studio for a week to money. get a first hand look at RIFT. We rebranded Open PuG Immediately following they Nights as Battle for Badlands brought a significant number of and started our very first major

our members into their alpha program. Unfortunately Guild Wars 2 would be pushed back, but Oldroar continued to follow the progress for us over the next couple years. In August of 2010 our Warhammer chapter celebrated 1,106 victories during 79 events. By the time 1.3.6 launched in December of 2010 activity had dropped to 85 victories in 20 events. There was no way of hiding the truth that we needed a new home quickly or we would suffer another collapse.

A Refuge Established in RIFT While our testing days ended in RIFT and the live game was launched several key factors were taken out of the game. All of the siege mechanic was taken from the game and promised in a future patch to be reintroduced. We launched into RIFT full steam anyways and tried to create our own siege battles. We created the Telara Saga, a 22 week trek across Telara with 1 goal. The Siege of Meridian. The first few weeks were filled with massive consensual PvP warfare in various zones. Hundreds joined us for this epic mix of PvE and PvP. It all lead to a climax at the gates of Meridian where over 800 people were in attendance for one final battle. As the Guardian forces rushed the gates the entire battle group totaling 8 9

and running dungeons together. We went from 750 members at launch, to well over 2,500 in just over a year. This growth brought the necessity for structure and revealed the need for managed growth and absolute control We recollected and made over our reputation. another push killing several key We expanded our eldership, NPC’s standing outside the gates of Meridian. The battle raged refined our systems, and for more than 2 hours until it’s mastered our processes. In climax where a plot was revealed just a few short months we in story, to pit the Guardians quadrupled in size. Feats, others and Defiants against each other deemed impossible, we made to make them weak to an attack possible. We showed our server Faeblight that you don’t have to from Dragon Cults. be hard core to overcome epic Season 2 launches as a encounters. We became the cooperative adventure for both server first to clear several of the Guardians and Defiants to enjoy. The event series was praised by fans and the media and even earned the attention of Trions developers who Tweeted and Facebooked about the adventure. servers went offline. When we managed to log back into game we stood in Meridian without groups formed and hundreds of angry Defiant players and NPCs surrounding us on all fronts.

The Birth of our PvE Family Our numbers boomed in RIFT and with it came a new side of the family who enjoyed other styles of play from our traditional siege warfare focus. We experienced raiding for the first time since Camelot and spent time crafting, socializing, 10

major raids. We sieged Meridian and killed all of the Defiant Leaders which others said was impossible. We became a beacon for the possible impossible. In addition, the Gaiscioch coined the term “Crifting” organizing large scale server wide crafting rift events several times a week. These events were friendly and casual and brought our server together. While the PvE side of the family boomed, the RvR hungry grew discouraged as no sign of the siege warfare between the Guardians and Defiants was to be seen. We now found ourselves

RIFT while placing over 500 displaced members into the Alpha Test for Guild Wars 2. Our numbers flourished and continued to grow. In July of 2012 we began a letter writing campaign to try to get an in game memorial for Roger “Oldroar” Rall.

with two halves of a family and no common ground to stand on. Tragedy Strikes Close To Home We were on top of the world in 2011, seeing numbers higher than they’ve ever been, getting involved with development communities on a much more intimate basis. But our Siege War community was still without home. Roger “Oldroar” Rall continued reporting to the elder council about the progress of Guild Wars 2 and encouraged me to approach ArenaNet about lending a hand in their testing title. I made arrangements to meet them at PAX Prime in August of 2011. At PAX, I met with Martin Kerstein and discussed what Gaiscioch had to offer. It was a good meeting and Martin said he would be in touch shortly. I excitingly shared the news with Oldroar and the Gaiscioch, about what I saw at the conference.

to be seen for days on end. After a week of him being missing we decided to give him a call. Much to our surprise his daughter answered the phone and shared with us the news of his passing. This news hit our community hard, very hard. Many of us felt a profound sense of loss. Roger had been an inspiration to the family for years. He was a solid voice of reason that kept us on track and focused. His humor and kindness radiated to all of us. Just by being in the room he could change bad days, to good ones, take stress, and turn it into laughter. I have tried for years to describe the way Roger made us feel but there no words that can describe it. He was one of those people that brightened people’s lives just by being there.

The Fall of RIFT By the time fall season arrived, tides started to shift. We had seen it once before. In Warhammer Online the developers made the same mistake as the developers of Star Wars Galaxies with the NGE update. Wide sweeping changes that require players to throw away years worth of experience to relearn the game. In August of 2012 the Gaiscioch Family celebrated 5,895 victories during 850 events, a record among our family history. This would all change drastically with the release of RIFT 1.11 on October 17th, 2012. The patch required every player to completely relearn their class. Activity dropped in October to 3,583 victories during 654 events, a 40% decline in 2 months.

Then in November they released the Storm Legion expansion, which again caused players to relearn their class, A few days after his passing removed PvP conquest from ArenaNet would contact me anyone who was not rank 60 and about bringing Gaiscioch into placed an obscene experience their Alpha Team. Roger passed grind between players and the before he could ever lay hands way they liked to play. on the game he praised and By December of 2012, the loved for the last few years of All seemed hopeful, and the his life. His quest to play Guild Gaiscioch Family was down to Siege Warfare side of the family Wars 2 began before we ever left 873 victories in 146 events, a looked to finally have a home Warhammer Online and was 86% decline in 4 months. Shortly approaching. But on September after the release of Storm Legion, finally coming to fruition. 27th, 2011 tragedy struck in a Scott Hartsman would depart big way. Oldroar was nowhere We continued our course in 11

and most of the RIFT staff would be laid off.

The Rise of Rall Just weeks before the launch of Guild Wars 2, ArenaNet notified me that they were going to pay tribute to Roger’s memory in the form of a server called “Sanctum of Rall”. The word of this spread through the media and gaming communities. Players from far and wide flocked to the community to be a part of it’s legacy. It was here that we realized that it’s not the start, or end of a persons life that determines their legacy, it’s what they do

with the time in between. By the time Gaiscioch launched into Guild Wars 2 we had more than 2,000 unique players slamming into the 5 Guilds we created within. The launch was probably one of the most chaotic we had ever seen. Our elders spent days just sending invites to players. On top of that, several bugs made themselves painfully known making several of our rooms completely useless. The siege war drew hundreds of our members back to the fold, however queues and the lack of an alliance system sent many of them searching once again. We maintained a foot in both RIFT and Guild Wars 2 through March of 2013 where we finally decided to pull the plug on RIFT and focus our attention solely on Guild Wars 2. Life in Guild Wars 2 was ideal for the siege warfare lover and the casual gamer. Crafting was also wildly popular and

players found much enjoyment in hunting the epic creatures throughout the land.

The Creation of the Great Tyrian Adventure On of our greatest challenges was creating a public community event in Guild Wars 2. We originally wanted to host it in the World vs World area but queue’s and player necessity was not in line with flooding the World vs World lakes with hundreds of people. We decided to create a public community event focused

on traveling through all of the zones in Tyria. We gave it a dry run in the first few months to identify any pitfalls we might find along the way and began building a plan for the first season of the Great Tyrian Adventure. The first season of the Great Tyrian Adventure took participants across all of the zones in the game getting the waypoints, point of interests and skill points found across the land. In the 26-week adventure, 500 people joined us of which 203 won prizes. The second season we shortened to 14-weeks and had 312 people join us. We changed the format to focus on the guild missions system by creating SOR Community Events [SORC], a temporary guild for use for the events to allow everyone on the server to get credit for this event. In this 14 week trial run we noticed something remarkable. Where Season 1 followed the same fate of Telara Saga by having consistently smaller numbers each week, the Season 2 of Great Tyrian Adventure, increased in numbers every week. In the start we had between 60 and 70 people, by the last event over 100 people were joining us every week. This laid the foundation for our most ambitious Public Community Event to date. The third season dubbed “Legendary Edition” was drafted as a 12 week, 4 events per week, event that had a massive raffle pot at the end of each chapter and at the end of the event. The Gaiscioch Family pulled together and put all of our efforts to work in gathering materials,

running dungeons, and creating 7 Legendary Weapons including the mother of all legendaries herself Eternity. In addition we made 14 Mystic Forged Weapons, and countless exotic items. We decided to go all out for this event and raised/created over 30,000 gold in prizes. Season three took off like a wild fire. Numbers consistently topped 300 weekly. We split the event up into 4 different runs per week at various timeframes to allow everyone to participate. In all 793 people attended this 12 week series making it the most successful event to date. Finding a Home For Displaced Gaiscioch Guild Wars 2 has been a wonderful home for some, but for the majority of the family who enjoyed Raiding and large scale Siege Warfare, Guild Wars 2 didn’t meet it’s mark. With the limitations put in Guild Wars 2, for how many people can be in WvW at the same time; the lack of raiding; and the general lack of challenge, a new home for the majority was clearly voiced. The eldership team put together a list of over 200 things that help make running Gaiscioch a lot easier and keeps it healthy. This allowed us to create a scoring system to measure potential games against one another. Items were broken into 5 categories Critical, Important, Needed, Useful, and Added Bonus with each one awarding a different point value.

Scrolls Online. However early in the game Archeage would publish information about it’s guild system limiting it to 250 characters per guild. This killed any hope of us going into Archeage. Other contenders included Camelot Unchained, Pathfinder Online, Everquest Next, Lineage Eternal, Final Fantasy XIV, Bless, Gloria Vicits and Neverwinter. None stood as tall and proud as Elder Scrolls Online. Our preexisting relationship with many of their developers aided in learning and getting involved in the game quickly. In it’s first run through our scoring system 6 months before launch it scored a 86%, the highest on any branch we’ve ever had. It dwarfed all of the primary contenders. It was decided that this was the direction we would go with our 5th chapter in hopes we could reunite the Raiders and large scale siege warfare players under 1 roof.

A Home Established in Tamriel Our life in Elder Scrolls Online started with a bang and off to the races we went. Players from our past games flooded to the scene to get a taste of our newest chapter.

By the end of the second month, we had experienced the traditional surge and fall as we have with all the games prior. We We started comparing titles began with 5 guilds to support and looked at several. The the load from the initial rush and most standout among them have been able to reduce them to were Archeage and Elder 4 now that the surge is complete. 13

We are now in a stable place where we have begun exploring our place in this world and have made some new friends within the community. In the days to come, are future will be ones of growth and adventure.

Guild Wars 2, we will continue to be a leader and role model for those within the Sanctum of Rall community.

A year from now, our methods and reputation should be solidified within the Elder Scrolls community. As always we The Future will have one eye on the horizon Every successful business, while continuing to be involved community, or family has a with the development process of plan for the future. I was always the games we play. It is my hope, taught that you should build a that we can help guide ZeniMax plan for the future based off of Online and ArenaNet into where you want to be a month, bringing some of the features, a year, 5 years and 10 years that have been crippling our from now. While you may or community from thriving, into may not achieve these goals, it is their games so that we can important to have them to keep unlock their full potential. your focus on track and moving Our 5 year plan is to continue forward. our course of bringing fun, Over the next few months, friendly, and memorable Gaiscioch will be growing gameplay to various fantasy within both Guild Wars 2 and based games. It would be great if Elder Scrolls Online further one of the 2 games weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing establishing their presence. We today were in this future, but will find our role in the Elder the face of the MMORPG world Scrolls Community and begin has changed to the point that hosting our newest public most games have a lifespan of community event series. In 2-4 years. We likely will be onto

our 7th chapter. Additionally, I am working on a few proposals for panels and would like to start getting our name out there at conferences as a panelist. I have many dreams and visions of where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like Gaiscioch to go in 10 years. Some crazy ideas include creating a chain of restaurants and pubs to actually building an MMORPG. There is so much potential in the future we can envision, that almost anything we dream up seems possible. We have been blessed over the past decade with some amazingly talented people joining the community and I look forward to a future where we can share our success together. It would be great if in 10 years, we could actually hold a Conference hosted by Gaiscioch, focused on Gaming Communities. Possibilities are endless. Regardless of where we end up, I look forward to the journey, of future memories, and epic conquests at every turn.

From Camelot to Tamriel With

Matt Firor By Benjamin Foley

att Firor has been a key player in the world of Massively Multiplayer games since the beginning. Many of you know his latest project with ZeniMax Online’s “The Elder Scrolls Online”, but his story began long ago. In 1990 Matt co-founded Interesting Systems (ISI) with Rob Denton and two others. He was the co-designer and lead content developer for ISI’s multi-user BBS game Tempest (later renamed Darkness Falls). This would later be merged with Adventures Unlimited Software to form Mythic Entertainment in 1995.

In 2006, he parted ways with Mythic Entertainment and later resurfaced in 2007 at the helm of ZeniMax Online Studios. His latest project is our very own home for chapter 5, The Elder Scrolls Online. It’s rare that you get the chance to sit down and speak with someone who has been a part of creating the worlds your community calls home. Matt Firor had his hand in Matt worked with Mythic creating the game that gave birth Entertainment to produce to the Gaiscioch Family and also the groundbreaking title and in our current chapter in The birthplace of the Gaiscioch, Elder Scrolls Online. 12 Years Dark Ages of Camelot. It was the of gaming and Firor has been a first game to deploy large scale part of the majority of them. siege warfare on a three realm front and was set in the Camelot Today I get the opportunity to folklore. ask him a few questions about 16

his journey from BBS to The Elder Scrolls Online. Who better to share his story than one with such a successful history in MMORPG gaming. Thank you Matt for joining me today to answer a few burning questions. The first of which, I have to ask, Did you ever imagine that the BBS style game would evolve into the MMO’s we have today? Matt Firor (MF): I don’t think back in the late 80’s I could have envisioned what modern games have evolved into – but the basics are still very similar. Players connected over a network,

experiencing the same game world together, working with each other – and in some cases, fighting against one another. Even though it was text back then, and high-res 3D graphics now, the principles are the same. Can you tell us about the founding of ISI? What inspired you and Rob to create Tempest? MF: Way back when, in the mid1980’s, there was a multi-user BBS game called “Scepter of Goth” that I played with some friends in the Washington, DC area. You dialed in, the server had 10 or so modems attached to it, so you could play with up to 9 others at the same time. There was a standard message board attached to it, so while playing you could chat with other players, and leave message for those who were offline. It was what would now be called a MUD, although I’m not sure if it was part of the official MUD code base. Scepter was licensed around the US by a company, so there was the Washington-based server, and then others in other parts of the States. Interesting to note: you paid $5.00/hour – if memory serves me correct – to play this game, so it got expensive, very quickly.

with the licensing company to set up the modems and server location we’d need in Atlanta. Sadly, the Atlanta version of Scepter never materialized, as the company we licensed the game from went out of business soon thereafter. But, this energized us to start working on our own game, written from the ground up, so we wouldn’t have to rely on outside partners. In full ignorance of MUDs (I didn’t even hear that term until 5 years after this), we sat down and started coding and designing a game and (text based) virtual world. That game was Tempest (although it was renamed Darkness Falls a few years later), and it became the core code base for many of Mythic’s games, including Dark Age of Camelot. At what point did you realize you were sitting on a game changer that would change the face of gaming for generations to come? MF: I don’t think I really ever have. We were just trying to

make a game that we wanted to play. If you ever realize that you are “changing the face” of anything, then you’re probably over thinking it. The goal is always to make a great game. Let’s talk about Dark Age of Camelot, one of my personal favorite games and the game that changed my mind about MMO’s. What inspired Mythic Entertainment to create a game set in this fantasy time period? There are so many other places you could have set this adventure. Why Camelot? MF: Because Arthurian legends (and Viking mythology and Celtic legends) are all in the public domain. We had no money, so we couldn’t base the game on any recognized IP that we would have to license, so Mark Jacobs, Mythic’s President, came up with the idea of King Arthur and Camelot – known worldwide, and perfectly free to use. It was genius.

So, some friends and I – including Rob, who I met while playing Scepter – decided to license the game ourselves and set up a Scepter server in Atlanta, where another friend of ours, Don Campbell, was going to college at Georgia Tech. We licensed our server, set it up at Rob’s house, and spent a few months developing our own game world while we worked 17

Do you have any favorite memories about the early days of Camelot and Mythic that you would care to share?

MF: The first Realm we worked on was (obviously) Albion, so most of my development memories are of those areas as the game was in its formative stages. But my main character MF: How sad that I answer this was a Midgard Warrior, for question on the very day that I reasons unclear to me at this found out the studio was shutting point – probably that’s where down. It is a sad day, I have so most of my guild was playing at many memories of Mythic. Of the time, and I stuck with it. course I have many, many fond Camelot, many memories of that time. What Since most people who only know studios have played their about Mythic through Dark Age hand at duplicating that of Camelot don’t realize is that RvR feeling you introduced. Camelot was Mythic’s 12th or 13th None have managed to game (I forget) – we had made duplicate it until now. What at least a couple games a year for is it that makes the 3 realm six years by that point. We did siege war so successful? a run of movie-licensed online shooters (Godzilla Online, MF: In a 1v1 fight, any population Aliens Online, Independence imbalance (even one or two Day Online, Starship Troopers), percent) is a big imbalance. With and a really good top-down 3-way PvP, the balance is more spaceship combat game called forgiving, because it is much Silent Death Online. harder (although still possible) for one side to totally dominate. One fun fact: Until very late in beta, the Dark Age of Camelot’s Between your time at title theme was the Monty Mythic Entertainment and Python and the Holy Grail ZeniMax Online Studios theme. Anyone who played in I understand you formed Ultra Mega Games which early betas will remember this. focused on consulting. In I have to ask, which was your that year, were you already realm? Hibernia, Midgard, thinking up new ideas for the next best thing? What or Albion?

ambitions drove you to keep you fresh and in the game? MF: I consulted for just over a year in between game development jobs, but mostly I was gathering info for my clients and taking some much needed time off with the family. I think of it more as a time to recharge than anything else. Funny enough, since I first played Morrowind I always imagined an Elder Scrolls MMO would be phenomenal. Now I have my hands on it and I have to say it’s surpassed even what I could imagine. What was that first day with ZeniMax like? Did they just drop it in your lap and say make it happen? How did Elder Scrolls Online come to be? MF: The plan all along was to make an Elder Scrolls MMOG – that was what we talked about from our earliest conversations. I spent a lot of time in the early days of the project working with the guys at Bethesda to make sure that the timeline for the game was set, the general setup of the Alliance War was approved, and the main story (centered around Molag Bal)

was ok with everyone.

console versions done.

times fall short. Do you still find yourself leaning on your past experiences to help shape your future ideas? At what point does your ambition to innovate get toned down by your knowledge of player needs? How do you keep the balance to remain fresh and relevant?

So be honest, you took on a product with a 13 year history. I imagine that would be quite the frightening task. Living up to years worth of fan base buildup has got to be quite a challenge. Over the next 7 years you’d see the MF: I’ve been in the industry successful life of Oblivion so long that there were many and Skyrim raising that bar different developers on my mind even higher. Were you ever MF: Every project starts with when I started the project – some worried you wouldn’t do the blue-sky ideas, most of which meet the cold reality of timelines I was successful in recruiting and Elder Scrolls justice? and feasibility – but definitely some I wasn’t, which is normal. The game industry – and MF: Working with an IP of the we had the idea with ESO to especially the MMOG industry – caliber of The Elder Scrolls bring a new server experience is so small that almost everyone comes with the pressure of by removing the need for players making sure that you deliver a to select a server before they knows everyone else. product that matches the IP. We started playing. Being able to I must say you’ve built an worked long and had to make have friends across the entire amazingly talented team ESO a great Elder Scrolls game userbase of one megasever is and an even more amazing – but one that you can play with pretty cool, and that led to being able to be a member of multiple product. What’s next on the your friends (and enemies). guilds, etc. Between that and agenda? We’ve launched, begun finding those pesky You have a phenomenal ESO’s return to “classic” threepost launch bugs, and can knack for making mind way PvP, we’re really happy with games that the way that those large systems start looking to the future. blowing What are the short and long revolutionize the MMO came together. term goals that your team is scene. With Elder Scrolls Online you brought back Over the years MMORPGs looking at? changed quite Siege War with AvA, have mainstream drastically. In Camelot we MF: Our goals are clear: keep introduced adding regular content and Megaservers, and perfected didn’t have quest icons features to the PC game while the Multi-Guild Gaming. telling us where to go. Today fixing imbalances and adding Other games have tried to almost every game produced polish. At the same time get the master these areas but often requires developers to hand So now you have a project, you have a goal, you need to staff your company with the best talent. Did you already have people in mind for the roles or was it a traditional recruiting process?

hold players and show them the way. Are we as gamers becoming so lazy that we require these things or is it a natural progression of streamlining products to maximize efficiency and time usage? MF: That is a great question. There is a delicate balance between player autonomy and too much information – players are now very much used to onscreen indications to direct them where they should be going. We’re now at the point where a game that doesn’t have direction indicators of some type feels like its missing something. I have to admit, I do miss the days when I would get lost in the wilderness looking for a location for that named creature. Elder Scrolls Online seems to have tried to rekindle that experience by removing the Minimap and making players rely on a compass to tell them where to go. What was the inspiration behind removing mini-maps and

x/y locations from the traditional style MMO?

a new Road Ahead article going up this week in which we’ll talk about some of our future plans – MF: Exactly what you said – keep an eye out for it. we had a minimap in the game initially, but it just felt too easy What do you see for the to find things in the game. We future of the MMO industry? experimented with the compass, You’ve been there at the and decided it was a much birth, and are here at its better feel. Part of the joy of destination, where do you ESO is the journey – exploring, see MMOs taking us in the wandering around, and if you future? have a minimap that shows you everything all the time, it just MF: People always want to play great games, and I think if takes away from that feeling. developers concentrate on that, Are there any exciting then all the questions answer features currently lined up themselves. There’s going to for launch this fall you can be inevitable evolution – new share with us? We know the devices, new horsepower, etc. world will be continuously – but the basics of game design growing with new and fresh and virtual world design will content is there any hints always drive how online games you can share as to what’s are made. in store for us? Thank you so much for MF: We’ve already publicly taking the time to sit down discussed the features we’re and talk with me. It has working on, so there’s nothing truly been a journey none of really new to add to the list – but us will likely forget. I look we are very excited about having forward to our future with regular updates to the game. One Elder Scrolls Online and of the huge advantages of games the continued success of like ESO is how they expand and ZeniMax Online. get better after launch. We have

On the Front Lines with

Colin Johanson By: Benjamin Foley

n light of this issue focusing on the lives of game developers and the changes taking shape in the industry over the years, we’ve managed to steal a few moments from the ever busy Colin Johanson, Game Director for Guild Wars 2. Colin’s game producing career has most recently been spent at ArenaNet, but his involvement in gaming goes well beyond his 9 years spent on the Guild Wars team. His career dates back to 1997, when he worked as a game designer on Dragon’s Gate, and later as lead designer on the Multi-User Dungeon 22

(MUD) created by Mark Jacobs’ Interworld Productions (the company that would later become Mythic Entertainment). Additionally, he spent time working for Zipper Interactive and Games Workshop. Thank you Colin for taking the time to meet with me today. A

lot of our members are excited to hear what you have to say about the future of Guild Wars 2 as well as gaming in general. Let me start of by asking, what was it like working with Mark Jacobs on Dragon’s Gate? This was the starting point of the revolution that would become MMORPG’s and quite possibly one of the game changing titles that opened the door for games like Dark Age of Camelot. What was it like to witness these early days of online multiplayer games? Colin Johanson (CJ): When I first started working for Interworld Productions, Mark was focused on a number of other products at the time separate from Dragon’s Gate, predominantly Spellbinder (Magestorm 2) and Darkness Falls, so I didn’t really work with him very much. My time was mostly spent learning from Darrin and Lori Hyrrup, two of

the original pioneers in the game industry who later helped create Dark Age of Camelot (DAoC) and made it the amazing hit that it became. They really helped set my career in motion, in particular seeing potential in me and trusting a teenager to take over as lead designer on a team and a project with GMs with decades more life experience to offer; if not for them taking that chance on me, I’m not sure where I’d be today. Since you asked about him in particular, one fun Mark story I can share is when I spent a summer out in Virginia during college (I mostly worked remotely during those years) cleaning up code Mark wrote in the very early days of Dragon’s Gate. For all I know, it’s the only code he ever wrote, but I can say based on that experience he was a far better CEO than he was a coder! The big three online text-based RPG games back when AOL was huge and “published” everyone on the MUD side were really Gemstone, Dragon’s Gate, and Dragon Realms. Those three in particular, with countless hundreds of other text-based games and limited graphical MMO’s like Magestorm, helped set the foundation for where MMOs would go in the future. The lessons learned from Dragon’s Gate and Darkness Falls provided a lot of the inspiration and concepts that led to the creation of DAoC. For example, I’m not sure how many people realize that “Darkness Falls,” the iconic location in DAoC, was named after one of Mythic’s big online text-based games back in the day.

One of the great ironies (and inspirations) to me is how graphics-based MMO’s have spent the last two decades trying to get back to the things that made those early textbased games such amazing experiences. Those early text games were living worlds; there were live scenarios and storylines constantly running in the game being led by the designers (GMs) that literally changed, created, and destroyed parts of the world. There were live playerrun scenarios and storylines, political intrigue between the players, player-run stores, player-created economies, and even player-created parts of the world. Some MMOs have done some really great stuff over the years, but it’s nearly impossible to capture the freedom of change within the game that text as a medium gave the players/ developers to work with. I don’t think any of us could have imagined just how big the MMORPG scene would become in just the short few years it’s been around. I imagine if anyone had that vision it would have been someone on the front lines. Did you expect to see the rise of MMORPG’s to be so rapid? CJ: I feel like that jump wasn’t that hard to predict, it was just the future of where gaming was going as the Internet became more approachable and maybe even just as important affordable. Suddenly, games that traditionally had been reserved as single-player experiences were all going to open up to the world

of multiplayer. When thinking about those early single-player RPGs like Quest for Glory, or King’s Quest, or Final Fantasy, there was always one big barrier: I couldn’t have my friends over (or go someplace) and play the game with them. I had to make the choice: hang with my friends, which meant Mario Kart, GoldenEye, Street Fighter, etc., OR go solo and play an RPG. That choice naturally put limitations on those games and prevented them from a broader appeal or shared experiences. Once that wall was down, a new genre would almost inevitably grow out of that. Two MMOs stand out to me as the ones I look back on that I’m not sure I ever thought would reach the levels of success they have: Lineage and World of Warcraft. For western gamers, the first name really likely doesn’t mean very much, but Lineage was the east’s version of WoW before WoW ever existed when considering massive, breakout, industry-defining success. UO, EQ, and DAoC were huge success stories for their time, but Lineage and WoW just crushed them in both revenue and players. The jump from what was considered a “successful” MMO when comparing WoW or Lineage to the other games of their generation was just incredible. To this day, most new MMOs are generally lucky to come in around the same ballpark userwise of where EQ/ DAoC were back in the day, and I’d guess most of them would consider that a success. Free-to-play has been another really interesting addition to the mix, and something I’d have 23

CJ: I remember back in the day that folks playing MUDs used to make fun of the early graphical MMOs because they didn’t have the flexibility to change the world and players couldn’t drive the stories and role-playing the way text games allowed. The latency was so terrible in the early graphical experiences that oftentimes games could be borderline unplayable. You have to remember, everyone was on dial-up. I’ll never forget that sweet, sweet modem sound when you dialed in to play. A lot of folks thought they’d each be a flash in the pan and gone again because of how you could literally do anything in the world in text-based games, but graphics limited your “sandbox” dramatically. I remember specifically reading forum threads about how EQ sucked I imagine that in the early cause you couldn’t “RP any way days there was a lot of you want” like you could in a criticism and disbelief text-based RPG. that Massively Online Multiplayer games would EQ, UO, DAoC, and others proved be successful. Did you find that wrong and opened up the people downplaying your genre to a much larger audience. achievements early on? Any Suddenly, MMOs were seeing funny experiences to share? a million subscribers, and they never considered an option 15+ years ago when I thought about where the industry would go Bandwidth costs dictated monthly (or hourly!) fees as a mandatory part of the experience. The games recently that can claim the kind of player numbers in the ballpark of a WoW or Lineage are almost all F2P titles, and in the east some of the F2P titles number users in the 30-50 million range, absolutely destroying any kind of conceivable active user numbers I could have ever imagined. It’s worth noting, though, that only a very small percentage of users in most F2P games actually generate revenue, so it’s not exactly a straight comparison when talking vs. WoW/Lineage, but it’s still very impressive.

were paying $10–15 a month, which to a lot of folks may have seemed expensive at the time— little did they know the very first MMOs used to be far more expensive. In the earliest days of text-based MMOs on GEnie, you’d pay upwards of $12/hr to play many of the games! Even during AOL’s prime years, games like Dragon’s Gate were $2/hr to play. Bandwidth costs sure have changed over time! In 2005 you joined ArenaNet, what was the studio like back then? Do you find the lifestyle is similar to the way it was or has it evolved over time? CJ: Well, first and foremost, it was much smaller. You knew everyone, you saw everyone every day, and it was a very small, tight-knit family. Everyone had to work on everything, it felt like, to be able to get parts of the game done. Each individual team/ department on GW2 now is a bit like what the entire ArenaNet company was back in those days on GW1, Prophecies in particular. Some things haven’t

that ship experience; it was a hell of a bonding moment for the entire company. It’s amazing how welcoming that team was to someone who showed up for the very end. It felt like family after just a few days; I’ll never One fun story to help give an forget that. Sometimes I think idea of what that ship process back on it and can’t believe it for Prophecies was like: I was all turned out as well as it did. hired about five weeks before That’s just the company culture Prophecies shipped, and at of ArenaNet: everyone was the time, there were almost no insanely talented and pulled off quests other than the main story miracles every day. “link quests” to support the missions in the game. There was One of my favorite memories a big Word doc I was handed on that helps give an idea of the my first day filled with quests early culture of ArenaNet is the Eric had written, and Ben asked very first Halloween festival me to “build as many as you in Guild Wars. I remember a can.” There was a crazy haze company e-mail went out asking of caffeine and sleeping on the if people wanted to volunteer to floor while waiting for my stuff work some extra hours to build to arrive from Virginia in a something small to celebrate moving van, and five weeks later, Halloween for the players. I went Prophecies went out the door. to the meeting room on a Friday Everyone from that release has afternoon expecting a few people their own amazing story about to be there, and instead it was changed from those early days - this company has always tried to do big, ambitious, push-thelimit ideas, and I think that spirit lives on to this day at the core of what ArenaNet is.

like half the company - everyone wanted to pitch in. We basically worked the entire weekend and knocked out the Halloween festival, Mad King Thorn jokes and all, and it was awesome. That’s how live events got made in the early days in Guild Wars, and it set the stage for so much of what would follow. The company/culture has evolved a lot over time, predominantly as a result of going from around 60 or 70 employees to over 350. It’s unavoidable when a company changes that much in a relatively rapid period of time, but with great change comes great opportunity. Guild Wars was a great success for us, but the team we had back then was far too small to be able to take on a daunting and massive project like GW2. Also, our office is no longer in danger of falling over into a swamp, which is a nice bonus.

Between the work that you did on the original Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 what has been one of the greatest obstacles that you and the team have had to overcome? CJ: There have been so many obstacles over the years… I think one of my favorites was trying to find out if the dynamic event system was going to be successful. The GW2 engine was a multi-year project before we could start using it as designers, which meant we needed some place to test our crazy ideas about this “event” system that’d later define so much of the content in GW2. The idea was floated that we should just build the event system in GW1, and so Queensdale was born! What feels like ages ago, we started out by building the garrison, and the centaurs, and the human starting area using the GW1 engine and built a fake event system to learn what GW2 would be like. Those lessons provided the guidance and outline we used to craft the dynamic event system in GW2 and helped us answer the question that, yes indeed, events would be a viable model for us in our new game. Figuring out how every little component would work - scaling, removing player conflict, handling rewards, messaging, content direction, pacing of content, etc. - all came after that, and each proved to be their own obstacle to overcome, but that very initial concept helped us solve the biggest question of all: should we do it? Guild Wars 2 has changed focus and shape constantly since it’s launch. As you refine this product more, 26

what areas do you see the something that you are most most consistent demand proud of? and growth? CJ: Wow, that’s a tough one. I CJ: We have a very demanding think my favorite memory from customer base. They expect GW1 was getting to work on and consistent growth and support help drive many of the festival, not just in a few specific areas, minigame, and fun side quest but in every area of the game! projects. From roller beetle We love that; we want to be racing, Kilroy boxing, polymock, pushed to be the best possible secret snowman lair, Halloween, lunar festival, developers we can be. Our Wintersday, players are our partners on this parts of Sorrow’s Furnace, the wild ride that is an MMO, and bonus mission pack, and more, the high bar they expect from I got a chance to work on some us is a huge compliment to the amazingly fun projects with a potential they see in our game. lot of incredibly talented people. With a game as large as GW2, it’s I didn’t get to build a lot of the a challenge to try and keep up content in GW2 - being more on with all the different components the management team for the of the game, to update and project - other than some of the focus on and attempt to strike a very early events in Queensdale, balance between them, but we’ll so I have a lot of fond memories continue to do our best to meet of those days from GW1 when I our fans’ insatiable appetites for came in every day and got to build more! I really can’t pick even a the world. Being game director is few specific areas; we want to also an awesome dream job, but ensure we’re making the entire it’s rewarding in different ways game better and helping it all than building content was. consistently grow. On GW2, five years of The April 2014 patch was development before release gives quite possibly one of the a lot of time for great memories, largest upgrades to hit Guild but my favorite is absolutely Wars 2 so far, are there the first time we brought the plans for more patches like playable demo of the game to Gamescom in Germany. We’d this in the future? spent three months before that CJ: There will absolutely, working like crazy to polish and positively be more feature packs clean up every little detail we in the future for Guild Wars could to get ready for that world 2. Our first feature pack was premiere, and in the matter of extremely successful for us, and those three months, the game we’re looking forward to doing massively transformed from a prototype we saw potential in to more! a fully functional and playable In your time both creating game with two complete maps. and playing Guild Wars 1 We all felt pretty confident about & 2, what has been the one where the game stood, but when thing that stands out for you you’re as close to the project as when you think about your we all were, it sometimes can be favorite memory? Is there hard to tell how something will

be received when rolled out to a large audience - in particular an audience as massive as Gamescom. I remember being so nervous, amped, and excited that I barely slept on the flight to Germany or the first few days we were there before the show began. I remember Eric and I staying up way too late talking about game design ideas due to all the adrenaline and nerves from knowing what was coming. A day before the show, a press outlet shot some really grainy footage of one of our practice presentation settings on the show floor and released it as “world’s first” footage of GW2. It was grainy, our characters were all using dev commands to be invisible so the mobs didn’t actually react to us, and it was a horrible way to see the game for the first time. The Internet exploded with people talking about how bad the game looked - combat with mobs that ignored players and such. A day before the actual show, here we were with some horrible first

footage as the first thing anyone saw of our demo, and let’s just say…that’s not exactly the way we’d hoped to show GW2 to the world - via fake, temporary, testrun demo. Another mostly sleepless night later and the show began. We had lines 4 - 6 hours long on the show floor and 9 hours straight of back-to-back-to - well, you get it - media sessions up in the press center. Back in Seattle, the entire rest of the company stayed up all night every night playing in the maps with all the people on the show floor to help show the true MMO experience when you played in a map filled with other players. They worked in shifts, had a command HQ that helped coordinate groups of devs to join events other players were doing to show how dynamic scaling worked, and generally tried to make it a giant 4-day (overnight) party at the office.

importantly, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Maybe more positive than we even thought was possible. People absolutely loved it; they got back in line multiple times to wait 4 - 6 hours to play again. The reviews and comments coming out of the show were glowing, and the vibe around the game suddenly shot through the roof overnight.

When we all returned home, we did it all again at PAX and showed the game one more time to the same fan reaction in the US, and it reinforced to all of us just how big GW2 could be. The feeling on the team shifted after those shows. I remember a distinct transition from all of us thinking it could be good to knowing it was going to be good after that. It was a validation of years of work and a deep sigh of relief for all of us at ArenaNet, and it really changed the dialogue around the game from By the end of day one, we were that day forward. I’ll remember all dead tired, both in Seattle that feeling on the flight home and Germany, and the show from Gamescom for the rest of had barely begun…but most my life, and as a bonus, I could 27

finally sleep knowing everything CJ: I was talking with a friend at was going to be OK. PAX East in Boston not long ago What else can you tell us about this, and I think the VR side about the future of Guild is going to be really interesting Wars 2 and the goals you are in particular for games where the striving to achieve over the monitor/TV can’t do a great job of very quickly allowing you to next few months to a year? assess the situation around you CJ: I can tell you we’re extremely with camera movements. For excited about Guild Wars 2 in example, flight sims or driving 2014, and we hope all our players sims where you can quickly look are equally excited once we’re above/around you with the VR able to announce all our plans! options will be amazing and Also, they absolutely won’t want make a massive leap in a genre to miss Living World Season 2 that’s made precious few steps starting on July 1st. More info… in the last decade. Maybe if when it’s ready! someone brings back X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter (DO THIS PLEASE!) Since you first started it could be amazing without working with Multiplayer having to contend with some of RPG’s you’ve seen them go the clunky camera interactions from text based to virtual and getting a true fighter pilot reality. Where do you think experience. I don’t see all games it will be in another 10 going this route, but I certainly years? With Oculus Rift and see some types where the VR many other VR technologies side could certainly bring a lot to hitting the shelves and VR their experience. making an appearance. What challenges do you As for the genre as a whole, I foresee as developers to think we’ll continue to see more maintain an edge on this work towards making MMOs ever changing technology. feel like you’re truly living inside

of a living game world - be that through VR, truly dynamic AI capable of making decisions that define and change the world, the next evolution of event content systems, real-time multiplayer stories that affect the world, or fully player-owned/run worlds. We’re going to see more power being put in the players’ hands in their ability to change, define, and own their world - and a world which in turn reacts to those actions and interactions the players make. Ironically, in many ways it takes us all the way back to your very first question. Games are more and more going back to what they were long ago, when they were text based - easy to modify worlds that users can impact, change, and even own. But they’re doing it to a level of modification, change, and world reaction I’m not sure even the text-based gamers could have imagined possible. And they certainly wouldn’t have thought it possible in a graphics-based online RPG.

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The Spectacular Life of MMO Mastermind

Scott Hartsman by Benjamin Foley

recently decided to ask my good friend Scott Hartsman if he would be willing to do an interview for the Gaiscioch Magazine about his life on the inside of some of the most groundbreaking projects in the industry.

MMO Industry. He has seen it all: subscriptions models, free2-play, mobile, the rise and fall of some major games, and he has come out on top. Thank you so much for joining us today Scott, Let me start this off by asking if you could tell us what it was like building games in the 80’s? What were budgets like back then and how long did it take to produce a game?

Scott Hartsman (SH): Honestly, at that point I would’ve been Scott Hartsman is now the of AOL Games to Everquest too young to even be aware of CEO of Trion Worlds, one of Online to RIFT, Scott has been a what budgets were, if they even the largest producers of MMO driving force behind several top- existed. The first online games I worked on were people’s second Games currently on the market. tier MMO productions. jobs for the adults, and I was one His story began in 1986 as a game designer for Interplay on I had the opportunity to ask of the 16-17 year olds pitching in, a little game called Scepter of him about his experiences and with the group being 6-8 people Goth. His career took off, and challenges in gaming along total. his involvement in multiplayer with the trends and changes in games grew. From his early days expectations that he sees in the I can tell you that the first two games I worked on paid precisely 30

zero, and my second one paid about $100 a month which reimbursed my phone bill. The budgets must have run into the dozens of dollars over a year of development! Do you have a favorite memory of your early years of game development that you’d be willing to share? SH: Sure. In the early 90’s, I left games to get an engineering degree, and after I graduated, I ended up working a “Real Job” doing online software for a Fortune 100 company. No one really viewed games as a way for a “Respectable Midwestern Adult” to make an actual living that involved luxuries such as food and housing.

About a year into that job, I got a call from an old friend, Jessica Mulligan, who remembered me from our time working on that first generation of MUDs (multi-user dungeons). She was out in the exotic lands of California, where there were actual Game Companies. And she was working at one of them! And she thought I might be able to help them! The company she was at needed someone to make two online trivia games where hundreds of people could play at the same time, with scoring and leaderboards. One was for Billboard, the other for The Improv. She wondered if I might be interested in helping out. It needed to be a Windows 3.1 client and run on a Solaris (Unix) server.

Out of a group of 150 Perfect! I just had to learn programmers, maybe 4 or 5 of us Windows programming for that had even heard of the Internet, last job - of course I could make much less actually used it. That a game! made me one of the “experts,” which was pretty exciting -- Remember, in my head, game as I ended up with far more development was this thing that responsibility than I had any Adults only did as their Second right for a guy who had been Job, so of course I said yes - I out of school for five minutes. could clearly do it at night. One of these tasks included being the sole developer on the If this were a movie, three Windows client, despite my only big boxes would arrive at my qualification being that I owned a Windows programming book that I had yet to open.

house with $25000+ of Sun Sparcstation hardware, then there’d be a programming montage as I spent the next few months trying to figure out what the hell I’d gotten myself into. Questions such as, “Do you have trivia questions to send me? I’m at the point I could use some,” were met with, “Hey! We should get some of those!” We didn’t do a lot of planning in those days. A few months later, I had a working, skinnable, minimallymassive-online trivia engine that could load the right theme of questions. It looked like the right-themed game, complete with chat rooms to use between games and leaderboards, and it was even kind of fun! Ok, it was a little fun. That first online game was something I did entirely by myself, end to end, from databases to graphics and everything in between. That’s when I was re-hooked on games. I was playing with more different types of technology than the people I’d graduated with who were doing Serious Things with their degrees. I discovered

We ended up writing the first system that would end up being used for digitally signed electronic filings for legal documents in court anywhere in the US, including in the court that was handling the OJ Simpson trial at the time. Spoiler: Filings are boring. Huge disappointment. 31

making things that could be fun again!

mortals yet. The way most people programmed visuals in DirectX was called “DirectDraw,” which That’s the game that led to my was all 2D. “Direct3D” was just move to California where I’ve getting off the ground. People simply didn’t have 3D hardware been ever since. yet. So tell us about 2001, where you took on what would be Around that same time, I’d tried one of the biggest games Ultima Online (UO). I had been to shape the MMO world-- a massive Ultima fan since the EverQuest (EQ) with SONY original Ultima, but UO didn’t Online Entertainment. Did do it for me for whatever reason. you ever expect it to take off I heard about EQ at a conference like it did? immediately before it came out, SH: Yes and no. That EQ existed and a friend from a prior online at all completely caught me by game company found me and surprise. At the time I first came said, “You need to see this game.” out to California, a handful of us did want to make online RPGs She described the visuals and using graphics instead of the text the environment to me and how of the last generation, but none compelling it was turning out of us were even thinking about to be. My immediate response first person or 3D. It was too in my head was, “I am so never early for that unless your name playing that game.” was John Carmack or Michael Abrash. The knowledge hadn’t I did know that if they could really gone wide among mere pull off what she was describing, 32

it would be my perfect game. What I didn’t know was how many other people were really interested in that kind of thing, too. I have to admit that at the time Everquest went online, I was a Site Lead at Harding Marketing overseeing their contract for the HP/Oracle alliance. I kept losing my best web developers to Everquest. I originally hated MMOs just because I feared what would happen to me if I played them. I saw Everquest as this black hole that consumed all of my talented programmers. Little did I know that soon I, too, would find that passion for the MMO world. SH: The company that I was at had the same thing happen. We lost ops people to it entirely. On the bright side, a whole lot of things got automated really well-

-it left more time to play.

It’s insanely fascinating being Even though I’d sworn that I around to see it all happening at wouldn’t play EQ myself, one of once. my coworkers bought me a copy, which led to my joining them all You’ve worked with both subscription models and on the second or third day. Free-to-Play (F2P) games It’s safe to assume that I was over the years, can you markedly less productive than I explain some of the pros and cons for these 2 models should have been for a time. and give us a glimpse on how MMOs have been at the each of these plays a role? heart of your professional Also, what do you think the life since 2001. What’s the biggest factor is that has biggest change that you’ve shaped the MMO landscape seen in how MMOs are over the years? Why has produced now as opposed the move to F2P become so popular? to then? SH: It’s interesting. In some ways, it’s gotten bigger and continues to get bigger. I heard my first brag this year of someone proud of the fact they had 600+ people working on their nonMMO massive online game. That’s about 20 times as many people as the EQ/DAoC era. Those types of games need to be recordbreaking, #1 sellers to not be considered failures. The levels of planning and coordination that have to go into that are just astounding, not to mention the astronomical budgets. In others, it’s come full circle. We’ve returned to having one or two people, or smaller teams of a handful, and some with dozens, just creating their own games in very similar ways to the original Wild West that existed in 1999-2000. Now that the tools are better, like Unity, AWS, platforms like Glyph for online game-specific tools, Steam for distribution, and Kickstarter for funding, smaller numbers of people can do a lot more and blaze their own trails.

cross-game, persistent guilds started out back in those days, as I’m sure you know better than me! Now, everyone is online. Everyone who plays games plays online games. Taken as a whole, people tend to play the games their friends are playing. Now, for a subscription game to get and keep an audience, they have to get entire friend networks to agree to pay a subscription. That’s problem number one.

The way the physics around subscribers work, think of games as having their own gravity, based on their number of SH: One of the biggest factors players. Big games have massive has been the change in social gravity. If World of Warcraft dynamic among friend groups as (WoW) is Jupiter, it’s going to the number of online games has have the greatest pull. If you go back to WoW as a single player, increased. unaffiliated with any persistent When online games were new, guild, chances are you know people went online to make people you can play with. So, it’s new online game friends. If you not that big of a risk to restart a had a lot of friends in real life, subscription and play. The same chances were that they didn’t can’t be said for smaller games, play online games. A game only and it makes you a lot less likely had to overcome the resistance to go back and try those if there’s of one person to get them to a barrier like a subscription hop over the wall to commit to a standing in the way. subscription. They’d make new online game friends once they I’ve used this phrase a lot: with got there. A lot of the bigger, subscribers, you’re either “#1”

or you’re “everyone else.” That gravity, or subscriber physics, is what I meant. For the last 15 years, there’s always been a #1 that was able to maintain and grow, while “everyone else” didn’t. Now in 2014, we’re seeing the former #1 declining, as more people try online games of entirely new genres, which also happen to be free like League of Legends and Defense of the Agents 2. Now, they’re the gravity holders.

SH: There’s actually a third stage that comes after “hands dirty” and “guy with ideas,” when you don’t get to do much of either of those anymore. I think we’d call it “guy who tries to make sure the idea people and hands dirty people and everyone else can excel and thrive.” If I were CEO of a smaller company, I’d be able to be more involved. At the scale we work at now, the best thing I can do is make sure great people are able to kick ass with as little meddling as possible. What I do now is more about helping set context at the macro level, so people are all as close to being on the same page as possible. That way, they know how to make sure what their teams are, and everyone knows how to make their own decisions in a way that works for our overall goals.

In your career, you have gone from a Game Designer to being the CEO of one of the major players on the forefront of MMOs today. How well have you adjusted from being the guy that builds everything to the guy that watches people build everything? Do you still get the chance to get your hands dirty, or have you found that you’re just the We set context, and we have idea man now? 34

to help other people grow into being their own deciders. We give them the values and they bring the tools. I think I’d be a terrible CEO if I was forcing ideas on people or creating bugs that I’d have no time to follow up on in their stuff. :) As for the hands on stuff? Yes, I miss it constantly. Fortunately, it turns out that helping make sure other people have the latitude to be awesome is not a bad second pick. So tell us, what’s the newest project you’re working on? I understand you’re now working with XL Games on bringing ArcheAge to the American market. Can you tell us a little about ArcheAge and your role in it? SH: Indeed -- ArcheAge has been fantastic to be involved with. In a lot of ways, it’s the

perfect fantasy complement to RIFT. Where RIFT is very intentionally a theme park with dynamic elements, ArcheAge is very intentionally a PvP sandbox with some themepark elements included to guide people.

finished up.

Think of any conversation you’ve had with someone where you didn’t perfectly understand each other on the first try. You probably had to go back and forth in a conversation with 5, 10, even 20 sentences trying to clarify before you both were on the same page. It’s perfectly natural and human.

ArcheAge has been on many players’ radars for quite a while now, and it’s pretty exciting that Trion Worlds is bringing it to the American market. There’s When I first got involved with always been a long history it late last year, my role was to of pristine quality from the act as the Executive Producer. games you’ve worked on. My job was to get everything on What challenges do you see Now try that where you’re only track and make sure we were only bringing an Eastern market able to have that back-and-forth once a day, across a language asking for the tech we needed title to the West? barrier,16 hours apart. Things to get the game shipped at AAA quality, and nothing extra. SH: There’s definitely any that would be a 5 minute chat We had to develop the team number of them. At the strategic in-studio can be a 5-day email of experts who would get the level, the overriding challenge thread. game shipped. The translations is to make sure that we ship a were all well underway, but the game that meets the western We get around this a few ways tech integration work with our AAA standards our players by having people work off-shift expect. It’s also all of the from time to time on both teams, platform hadn’t begun yet. different types of tactical details constantly connecting in real In the time since, we’ve built underlying that broad statement time to chat wherever possible, up a fantastic product group that make up the actual day-to- and taking trips out there to to complement the translation day challenges. Most of those visit and realign. We also have work. We have been running tactical details, no matter what to have infinite patience with the game in alpha-testing for they’re related to, all involve one each others’ unique challenges and the faith that we’re both a few months as the rest of the thing: communication. on the same page strategically technology integration gets

in wanting to deliver the best support even more insane sales damn AAA experience we can for targets than what the “top of the line” already require to “not fail.” ArcheAge players in the west. However, that would also take Do you have any estimations a new revolution in the human on when we will start seeing side of project management and a beta test for ArcheAge’s coordination. If it’s true that the things you do at 600 people are American version? different than the things you do SH: We’re very happy to say at 60, it stands to reason they’d that closed beta testing begins in be as different from 600 to 1200 or 1500. June. Lastly I wanted to ask you, from your perspective of gaming, what trends do you see changing the MMO Landscape? Where can we expect to see it go over the next 10 years? Also, do you have any final thoughts or comments?

It’s good that tools like Unity, Unreal, and Cryengine and more available and commoditized. Online game services have become more open with Glyph, and assets have become more interchangeable via Unity Store and Crydev. These tools will let the 100 people of tomorrow do what 500 can today. It already SH: I think we’re going to lets 10 people today do what 50 continue to see a flight from did yesterday. subscription at the mass scale, though I think it does have a We’re going to see more people place in specific types and sizes partnering with people that normally might have been of games. competitors elsewhere. We’re We’re just about that the point already doing some of that today, where massive AAA teams can’t and we’ll be doing more of it in scale much further without a the future. That’s really healthy massive new influx of gamers to for the entire online gaming

ecosystem, since just like in the real world, it creates a situation where we’re all winning together. Hopefully, that all makes for more games that are better games along with greater stability in the game-making space. That means more people will stick around to learn and constantly improve and then they will pass knowledge on to future generations of developers. Thank you, Scott, for taking the time to meet with me. We’re all very excited to see what you have in store for ArcheAge and also the future of Trion Worlds. RIFT was a major landmark in the Gaiscioch community. We celebrated 2 years of fun times and made epic memories there. The guild system you laid out in RIFT was the best system we’ve used to date. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to the ArcheAge launch in America. SH: Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you again!

10 Most Overlooked MMO Features By Benjamin Foley

began playing MMORPGs in 2001 with Dark Age of Camelot, and it changed my perspective on MMOs forever. It wasn’t long thereafter that I launched Gaiscioch as a casual social gaming community. Through the years, I’ve seen great MMOs forget the simplest concepts, and hole-in-thewall MMOs come forth with features that seem so basic and necessary that we wonder how we ever existed without them. I have come up with 10 things that are absolute essential for legacy communities (5+ years) to thrive in a new title. These are things I constantly share with game developers.

play with their friends resulted in players leaving Guild Wars 2 in droves. Today, we sit at almost 500 active members.

A community like Gaiscioch has thousands of members, and any branch is susceptible to a huge surge of players that exceeds the guild cap. In RIFT, Gaiscioch grew to over 2,500 active members in a single month. At the time, RIFT was a pay-to-play game. Financially, Gaiscioch alone was responsible for over $37,475 in subscriptions per month.

Legacy gaming communities have proven track records to not only grow and maintain their numbers over extended periods of time, but they also have proven that they create an environment within games which keeps players interested in playing. They are essential to your long term goals and success.

That might have been a fluke, right? Let’s take a look at Elder Scrolls Online. This time, we 1. Guild Size Restrictions launched with 1,300 players and were forced into This is by far the most underestimated base 500 player guilds. We created three guilds, which construct of an MMO today. There is no reason to we call rooms, for long term membership. We had limit guild sizes. I have heard every excuse from to create two additional short term rooms for the “Large communities ruin server communities” to most active players. This room required players “It causes too much server instability”. Let me put to check in on the website every 14 days. Again, it in the words of Scott Hartsman when I asked the inability to communicate with their friends him what the guild size limit for RIFT would be: has lead to players leaving in mass. Our player “If you can find one, call me and I’ll raise it.” numbers have dropped from 1,300 to almost 800 in only 3 months. For a community that has a five-plus year past, oftentimes reducing the roster to 250 or 500 Each time we’ve launched into a game with a players is just not possible. As a game developer, restricted guild system, it’s like launching a potato you need to ask yourself a question, “Do you want from a cannon into a cheese grater. Subscriptions the first experience a player has in your game to bleed out faster than developers can remedy the be one where they can’t play with their friends?” situation. A community like Gaiscioch has the Quite simply, guilds grow and can snowball over potential to bring thousands of players into a years of gaming together. Players may come and game, but oftentimes game mechanics shoot us go in any particular game, but they return again in down before we can even get off the ground killing the future to the guild. both profits and potential gains.

Let’s fast forward to the release of Guild Wars 2. Guild Wars 2 limited guilds to 500 players. At launch, Gaiscioch had 5 guilds nearly full and a total of 2,000 players actively playing. The inability to communicate between the guilds and 38

As the years progress and more legacy gaming communities are born, this one feature is going to be essential for any MMO’s chance of survival.

2. Alliance Systems and Cross Guild Communication

Surprisingly, this is one feature that appears to have been lost in newer games. Dark Age of Camelot had a phenomenal Alliance system. Warhammer Online followed suit with an equally efficient Alliance system. RIFT left the alliance system out of the game in lieu of a custom chat channel system. Guild Wars 2 and Elder Scrolls Online have neither an alliance or a custom chat functionality. Why is this so important? MMOs are built to be a social experience. They were the Facebooks and Twitters of the late 90’s. These games are highly reliant on people using their social medium. Clubs, organizations, and communities evolve when they are allowed to communicate with one another. Imagine working in a Fortune 500 company and not being able to communicate with any other department. Alliances allow like-minded communities to build a bridge of communication between their organizations.

launched, the public facing guild rosters and data were long gone. We have not seen it since. Why is this so important? Giving guilds the ability to import data straight from the source into their own websites not only allows them to save countless hours of maintenance, but it also allows them to help market the game to a wider audience without tapping into the developer’s marketing dollars. Giving information for the public to import, index, and use allows hundreds of fan and guild sites to form and grow. This promotes the game without any cost to the developer other than maintaining the feed. Any way that a developer can keep people playing the game rather than maintaining a website is a best practice all MMO companies should encourage. Making in-game information readily available to outside sources will help promote and encourage communities to be involved in that title.

4. Guild Branding

In a somewhat baffling turn of events, many new Additionally, alliances can be used to overcome MMOs are turning away from allowing guilds to the hurdles of small guild size restrictions for large set a guild brand. In older MMOs, guilds were gaming communities. First and foremost, you able to design a guild emblem or marking that cannot have a social experience without allowing could be used in game. This allowed guilds instant people to communicate. Developers may say “but recognition in towns and on the battlefield. we have zone chat for that, right?” Yes, but let’s Developer need to realize that guilds are like think about what Facebook would be like without brands. Imagine if every cola drink just came in a the friend feature. Imagine how well we could clear bottle. How would we separate them? How communicate if everything that everyone said would we decide we like one over the other, or was on the homepage. Think about what would identify which one is which? We couldn’t. A MMO happen if there were no profile pages or friend that does not allow guild brands means that people requests. It would be pure chaos. The pairing of throughout the game will be able to find different like-minded individuals is a powerful part of why guilds, recognize what they represent and find the social networks work the way they do. Ignoring group that best meets their needs. Guilds will find this essential element in an MMO is catastrophic. it much more difficult to recruit and promote their guild. Guild branding is about building a legacy within a graphical representation of your community. When you decide to buy Nike over Pro Wing or This one is something that has baffled me. In Dark Coke over Safeway Select, you are making a choice Age of Camelot they had externally available XML based on a brand. You know what to expect when data feeds of stats for every guild and every player encountering this brand. Branding is about giving in the game. When Warhammer Online came people a feeling to associate with your product. around, they merely displayed the guild roster and Whether it’s a memory or a way of life, branding vital information on a website. World of Warcraft is powerful. When people in Warhammer Online also had public facing guild information readily saw the Gaiscioch Griffon, they knew who we were, available on their website. By the time RIFT

3. Guild API and Guild Site Connectivity

and participate in the community. These features are important, whether it’s a simple “First on the server / First in the world” system like RIFT or a full-fledged guild questing system and rewards tree. These concepts are not only sought after by players but also used in promoting a community. A guild brand gives a sense of pride and belonging Any way that a developer can allow guilds to show to a player. It also acts as a beacon for what a group pride in their accomplishments will go a long way stands for. Overlooking this is one of the crucial to keeping those guilds involved in game. This underestimations of guild marketing needs, and keeps guilds and players feeling accepted and it drastically affects the success of communities connected to the game community as a whole. within a game. what we did, what we were capable of doing. This however was lost in the latest wave of games like RIFT and Elder Scrolls Online which has made identifying one guild or another increasingly more difficult.

5. Guild Recognition, Rewards and Achievements

6. Group Finder / Public Groups

I never really thought about this one much until I played Warhammer Online. In Dark Age of Camelot, Gaiscioch used battlegroups to organize several smaller groups together. However, most of the time, this required a player to step up and form the groups themselves.

From the moment we’re born to the moment we die, there is one thing we all want. Acceptance. Achievements, goals, and accomplishments drive us as human beings. They make us feel important and included in the bigger picture. Whether it’s membership in a family or a country, recognition In Warhammer Online, they blew the lid of one’s achievements drastically improves their completely off with their Public Group system and made grouping incredibly easy. A leader just had loyalty toward the recognizing party. to mark their group as ‘public’, and anyone in the In a business, it is common practice to recognize area could pull up a list of public groups and join employees and teams that overachieve and meet them. A leader could even mark if the group needed their goals. This can be applied to gaming as a healer or tank. While we had it, we overlooked well. Players naturally want to be recognized, as its importance. Unfortunately, we have seen this do communities. Every guild system added to a magnificent creation disappear from gaming. It is game should have some form of recognition and the one feature that I feel could help make MMOs a social experience once again. It also allows groups achievement structure for guilds to push for. to grow and shrink as players log on and off for the You want to encourage guild members to contribute day, and this saves a lot of time for an event leader.

#6: Warhammer Online’s Open Parties and Warband window allowed players just logging in to instantly jump into the action with a simple click of the join button. Leaders could specify if they wanted an open party or a private one. This also allowed players to see who’s leading on the battlefield at a glance.

7. Ability to set 10 Guild Ranks

This one may seem silly. The reason why requires us to look at times past. In the past three games, I’ve explained this to developers, and once they understood the reasoning, they were quick to expand their guild ranks.

icons above certain NPC’s heads to allow them to target them specifically across a larger group.

9. Custom Linkable Map Markers

This is something many don’t think about, and it is one of the most overlooked features in a game. Most classic MMORPGs featured a 10 guild rank Being able to shift-click to print a location in chat roster. Gaming communities with a long history can be extremely useful for helping a new player and proven track record developed an internal find something they’re looking for, for giving 10 rank guild setup. If a game launches with a 5 rally points for raiding events and for setting up guild rank system, a guild with a pre-established ambushes in PvP. Being able to point at a part ranking system has to eliminate 5 ranks from their of the map and allow any player who clicks on it roster. This would require some players to take a to see where you’re talking about is a huge aid in organizing events and guiding players to where demotion to play a game with their guild. they need to go. No one likes a demotion. It puts a negative taste in the player’s mouth about the game before they even get a chance to know it. Starting a player 10. Group Assist experience on a negative can quickly balloon into One of the most forgotten features in modern an overall negative experience. I have witnessed MMOs is the ability to assign another player as players quit a game because they would have to a group assist or assistant leader. A group assist take a demotion to be part of the guild within it. can invite, kick and move members within a A game developer should avoid friction like this at group. This allows the leader to focus on leading the overall event while his or her assistants keep all costs. the group organized. Events move more smoothly with this feature, and guilds really don’t know how important it is until they’ve played a game that has the feature then switch to another game that doesn’t include it. It’s like going from power door locks to manual door locks on a car. You really don’t expect how annoying it is to be without it until it’s suddenly not there.

Supporting Guilds Supports the Game 8. Ability to Mark a Target or Player

Oftentimes, when leading large scale events, leaders may be coordinating several groups at one time. Some games are kind enough to provide a “Group Leader” icon, but few allow leaders to mark a player with an icon that shows above their head signifying they are the leader of the raid. When leading events that span several groups of people, this is critically important. It helps players stay organized and allows them to follow the right person when multiple groups cross paths.

Ensuring these 10 items make it into a game solidifies its longevity and well-being. First and foremost, remember that MMOs are a social experience. It’s a way for people who play games to meet other like-minded people and forge new relationships together both in the game and real life. Developers are not just creating a game, they are building a social network whether they realize it or not. Any tools these developers can give to players to make it easier to connect will benefit the game and encourage players to continue playing it. Focus on bringing people together and allow them to build memories.

In addition, the ideal system allow players to place 41

Chapter 5

Cyrodiil AvA Tactics: The Basics By: Caitlin “Kaytlin” Martin

lder Scrolls Online will expose many players to forms of combat that have, in the past, been more appropriate with real life situations than in a mmo. Real life combat tactics will actually come into play for many people who have never had the need or desire to learn them in this MMO. One such tactic is the ambush.

Ambushes Tactical ambushes will be effective and will most likely see widespread execution across the Cyrodiil landscape. In fact, the landscape of Cyrodiil lends itself to this type of combat quite well. The terrain is varied, with many places for opposing teams to hide in wait for their opponents. These potential sites provide cover and concealment as well as concentrated fire zones. A well-executed ambush is not only devastating to your opponent’s morale, but their numbers as well. An ambush should be planned well in advance and is not something that just happens. For it to be effective it must meet several criteria. 1. 44

The enemy must be put in a position that

funnels them into a narrow “killing zone”. This killing zone is one in which the enemy has few options for escape. It limits their response, and allows a rapid escape for the “good guys.” 2. There should be a crossfire that puts a maximum amount of damage into a narrow focused area in order to put your enemy down as quickly as possible. It restricts their escape, and prevents them from making a counterattack. 3. A good ambush allows for maximum cover and concealment to minimize the chance of damage to your own team. 4. Advance planning will enable the field commander to know where the enemy access points are. Where do they travel, when are they likely to travel, etc. 5. An ambush that occurs after dark is especially

disorienting to the victims as their vision is limited, and makes counterattacking difficult if not impossible. 6. Placing your team on high ground also makes it more difficult for the opposing team to reach your team in an attempt to flee the killing zone. 7. Even the best plans sometimes go astray for any number of reasons. Plan an escape route for your team if something goes wrong. Better to run away and fight again, than to lay is some field eating dirt!

sites in order to save you a lot of time randomly exploring the landscape. The illustration below shows one such potential site that I identified using the map.

Here are some examples to illustrate what to look for when setting up your ambush points.

Figure 2 Map Use to Scout Potential Ambush Site

Figure 1 Potential Ambush Site

This site illustrates several of the points we have been discussing. This site allows the attackers a height advantage over their enemy. It provides almost no access to the enemy to rush their attackers, and provides both cover and concealment for the attacking force. Additionally this site provides an additional advantage to the attacking force: The water in the valley slows the enemy and keeps them in the “killing zone” for an extended time frame. If the gate in the distance is controlled by your team it would be even better for you could close the gate behind the enemy when you spring your ambush, allowing them only one avenue of escape. Unfortunately this site would not work, for the gate in the distance goes nowhere, but it is a good example to illustrate the ideal. Cyrodiil is a large battleground that takes over 30 minutes to run across from border to border. As a commander who is seeking potential ambush sites you should be using your map to locate potential

This illustration taken from Cyrodiil shows a promising ambush site location. The trail between the two “X’s” is our potential site. It provides a limited access through mountainous terrain. It parallels a well-traveled road that leads both to a Keep and a Gate. It also leads to a town that provides quests to all factions, which is also an advantage. In order for you as a commander to know if this potential site will really work out as an ambush site, you will need to perform an actual inperson field recon of the area. The map provides us some information, but not enough to make an informed decision.

Figure 3 Entrance to the potential site from the South

When I first came up on the area from the south I was immediately encouraged by what I saw. 45

Steep sides, with a narrow path up the center just as the map seemed to indicate. There is plenty of potential cover and concealment among the rock formations on either side. The pathway in real life would show the path is well traveled. Unfortunately we cannot confirm this in the game. We will have to scout this location during peak periods of combat to see if the path is used by actual players. What I would be looking for as I progressed up this trail was potential hiding places that provides cover and concealment for my team, and limits to the response routes for the enemy team.

Figure 5 shows the actual killing zone of this ambush site.

Figure 5 is a view of the actual killing zone of the ambush. I am shown standing on the same rock as in figure 4. You can see that there is little access to the ambushers. On the other side of the trail similar protection is offered to team members who would be stationed there. The site is not perfect, for the perfect ambush site is so far still a dream. The figure below illustrates one minor problem area.

Figure 4 Limited access to upper level prevent direct frontal melee attacks

Figure 4 shows how the terrain in this site limits access to the ambushing squad. Here I am standing in an area that potential melee counter attackers could access in a relatively short time frame. Unfortunately for them, they cannot get any higher. I confirmed this with my site recon. Ambushers on the level above can rain ranged attacks on them without fear of melee response. The actual ambush site is farther below which keeps the enemy in the killing zone even longer, since access to this point is not an easy task as you can see in the next screenshot. So make sure when you are scouting to try and access the areas your team will be stationed in from the killing zone from several directions to make sure your team will be secure. 46

Figure 6 Potential counterattack avenue of approach

Here you can see a potential avenue for the opponent to scramble up the slope towards our attackers. The path directly over my head is the avenue of approach. You will notice it is a fairly narrow access point. By concentrating fire on this point with a few people you should be able to take down anyone attempting this route quite easily. AOE traps, etc. would be great placed in this area. In real life the steepness of the terrain here would

also hamper the opponent’s access to the attacking team, but this is not something that has been implemented by the designers. Our escape route for this site would be to the north past the ruins near the top of the ambush site towards the gate shown in red on the map. Access is readily available to both sides of the ambush towards the gate. So it would seem this is indeed a good site to establish an ambush. We would certainly want to scout this area to make sure it is actually being used by our opponents as I mentioned previously, but I think you can see what we are looking for when selecting the site. This site shows great potential and went into my notebook for future reference/ use. If we decided to utilize this as an actual ambush site we would want to have between 10-15 people on each side of the path with ranged weapons. We would station two people at the beginning and end of the killing zone. Once the ambush is sprung we would want to drop ballista at the start of the trail and end of the trail to take care of any who try to escape using those routes (See accompanying screenshots for several possible placements). The second person at the trails ends would be for protection of the siege operators. In real life we would have used claymore anti-personnel mines to protect these ends, but since they aren’t available in Cyrodiil we will have to make do. Good communication with your team members is also vital. Make sure each and every member of your ambush team knows what their position is, what their job is, what the signal to initiate the ambush is, and what the signal to (escape or “boogie out of dodge is.”) Never assume they know for it never fails, someone will go “I didn’t know.” Another thing that is vitally important in an ambush site is discipline at the site. Everyone must stay hidden in a crouching position so as not to give away the ambush site prematurely. The last thing you want to happen is to give away your element of surprise. The waiting game in an ambush is tough. It separates a good team from a bad team. The good team is patient, and disciplined. They look forward to catching their enemy by surprise. The element of surprise is vital for a successful

ambush as the enemy freezes momentarily right where you want them, in the “killing zone” at the moment the ambush is sprung. This is human nature, the brain “farts” for lack of a better word when faced with a surprise. The longer they stay there confused and dazed, in the KZ, the better for your team and the worse for them. It allows your concentrated fire to have more effect, and it allows you to set up siege at the entrance and exit of the ambush site increasing the chance for total victory and devastation of your opponent. When stationing yourself in a potential ambush site you should also make use of good cover and concealment. Good cover provides both concealment and cover, but good concealment does not necessarily provide good cover. Here are two examples to illustrate this point.

Figure 7 Great example of Concealment

In Figure 7 I am effectively concealed from my opponents view. It would take a keen eye to spot my character unless you knew where I was. Another example of concealment not illustrated is to simply crouch in position. Your enemy cannot see you when you are crouched. There is a problem with good concealment though, it provides no protection from enemy fire. You are completely vulnerable to enemy fire even though you might not be seen. Arrows penetrate leaves quite easily.

Figure 10 Ambush Entrance Placement Example

Figure 8 Example of good Cover

Figure 8 illustrates the concept of cover. Unfortunately I had to take this screen shot from the rear as I was unable to get a good shot from the front due to my proximity to the tree. This is the same tree as shown in figure 7. Cover protects you from enemy fire, and often time protects you from enemy view as well. The only thing that appears from the front view of this tree is the ends of my bow, which for all intents appear as small branches. I mentioned placement of siege engines in the ambush site earlier. Here are several examples of potential siege placements at the ambush site.

Siege placement could also include “meat bag” catapults to poison your enemies in the killing zone. Ok, so you have now planned, scouted, and set up your ambush. You wait for your opponent to show up, and spring the ambush. But suddenly something goes wrong and the enemy is escaping your ambush. Don’t wait for them to regroup, give the signal to withdraw and have your team leave the area as quickly as possible via your escape route. Waiting around can get you all killed and negate any gains you made. Knowing how to plan, scout, set-up, and execute an effective ambush are skills every commander should be intimately familiar with. Not only to ensure the destruction of the enemy, but to be able to know what terrain features on the map to avoid. If you know where to set one up, you will also know what areas to avoid! If you do get caught in an ambush the main thing you have to do is to “get out of the killing zone” ASAP! If you stay in the KZ you will die, can’t put it any simpler. Marines are taught to turn and advance towards the attackers as quickly as possible if caught in an ambush, but avoidance is a far better option. It doesn’t matter which direction, just get your feet moving as quickly as possible towards your attackers. You might make them duck, or move which might just give you enough time to get them.

Figure 9 Ambush Exit Ballista Placement Example

Pay attention to the terrain, know what potential sites look like, and take steps to avoid those areas. Now that you know what to look for you should not have any problems. If you do get caught in a well laid out and executed ambush, shame, shame, shame.

Exploring Bleakrock Isle By: Lisa “Prissy” Grant

while he sorts out what is going on. Is he nuts? I have to do this alone without help? Easy for him to say. The Prophet’s ghostly form is now gone; he went to find a safe place for us to meet, leaving me utterly alone. I have ragged and unclean clothes on (hope no one takes a deep breath), no shoes; I Who brought me back and why? Where am I? am only armed with the weapons I picked up while What am I supposed to do? Who are all these rescuing the Prophet, and I am not very good at people around me? Who the heck is the Prophet using them. I simply want to go back to bed, cover and what does he have to do with me? Why is he my head up, and hope this nightmare ends soon. calling me a vestige? Skyshards, dark anchors, no What is one person suppose to do? Why me?! soul, lions, tigers, and bears...Oh My! Wait, is this a dream or a nightmare? Come on Prissy, wake up! I am afraid to open the door and see what is out there; I am afraid it will look like my nightmare. As I open my eyes I realize that it was no dream; it But I cannot stand here forever! I have to just turn was a nightmare. I did die, but I am now alive. The the doorknob and get moving, exploring, meeting Prophet, who I rescued in my dream, is standing new people (both good and bad), figure out who in front of me once again in ghostly form. I am in took my soul and take it back, take my revenge. a building somewhere; there are sounds coming Mmmm I like the sound of that. from outside, and the scent does not smell like home. The Prophet is alive, but he is somewhere I have several choices to make, stay in Davon’s else in this land. He is once again talking to me Watch or go help the people who pulled me from in my mind, which I think I am slowly losing. He the water. As I step out of the house I see a man by says I am to go explore this world, meet and help the well; I decide to talk to him. His name is Riurik; the people who rescued me, and make new friends he suggests that I go talk to Liezl because she would i. I am Prissy, the directionally challenged explorer. I have been killed and my soul has been taken. No, wait, I am alive! I have somehow been brought back to life without a soul.

be able to tell me about the people who brought me here. I found Liezl at the docks, and she took me by boat to an island called Bleakrock. I found myself on the docks of this island slightly seasick, and with the instructions to find Captain Rana. The excitement of exploring is now overriding my fear of the unknown. The great adventure has begun. Beware world, Prissy is on the loose! I found Captain Rana in her office issuing a lot of orders to people. She looks haggard, as if the weight of the world is on her shoulder. I listen to her concerns; she is looking for some missing people, and she is trying to decide whether to flee the island or stay. I offer to help look for the missing people to fulfil my newfound hunger for exploration and adventure. I am told to find Darg at the Skyshroud Barrow, Rolunda and Eiman at the Orkey’s Hollow, and Sergeant Seyne at Hozzin’s Folly. I must get them back to town and report to Captain Rana. I have my orders and a sense of purpose, I am feeling human again.

I have gone east as far as I can go so let’s go north. The island population of wolves is decreasing to help with my new set of clothes. There are butterflies and globugs that a local told me was used in fishing. Yumm, fried fish. I just spotted someone running towards me. I can not tell if it is friend or foe. Prepare for battle! Ok false alert he is one of the missing people I am to find so I must be close to Skyshroud Barrow. I found Darj and he is hurt and wants to know if I am good with my weapons. Is he nuts? So I lied and said, “Yes how can I help you?” He wants me to summon the Dragon Priest and help him, since they are desecrating his tomb. So ok here we go again. Watch out for the skeletons, they are very angry and hurt alot when attacked. I died several times trying to get this done. Maybe next time I will not lie and say I am good with these weapons. Mission accomplished the tomb is now safe, though after the Dragon Priest called me a worm I think the bad guys can have his tomb back. One thing I did notice is a skyshard located in front of the tomb. I remember the Prophet said to collect all that I could find. Darj has now been sent back to Captain Rana.

After exiting Captain Rana’s office I have no idea which direction to go. So I shut my eyes, spin around and go the direction I am facing. When I open my eyes the rising sun blinds me momentarily, and I realize I will be heading east; it is good to see the bright sun after the horror of the last few days. And so I begin my journey to gather the missing people by walking through the east opening of the village wall; at that moment I notice a lot of flowers, iron ore, and shiny things called runes. I immediately decide to collect them all. I also wonder about all the things I could make with them; it would be great if I could make some new clothes, weapons, and food to support myself. I will have to check with Captain Rana when I get back. But, I also see a lot of wolves that I must kill before they kill me. Ok, back to finding the other missing people. I Ouch!!! That wolf tore a hole in my clothes; I hope can still go north so off I go. I smell smoke from a campfire, bandits! I just killed one and he had a his hide can help make me new ones. note on him. I now need to burn their supplies and Look there is a man in front of that tent, I wonder if rescue the captive. I have a torch and I have burned he is one of the missing people. This man is in bad the supplies, now to find the captive. Of course, he shape and his name is Hoknir, and he is missing can not be up by the supplies. Oh no, he is all the a foot because something called Deathclaw ate it. way in the back and I had to fight my way back to Why only his foot and why is the thing not dead? him. He is now on his way back to Captain Rana Now he wants me to kill it. Do I look like a mighty and his name is Bjorynoff. This will make 5 people hunter and why is he out here? I think Captain rescued. Rescuing all these people is helping me to Rana is missing more than the three she sent become familiar with my weapons again. me after. Hoknir makes four. Deathclaw is dead and there is nothing in his cave - no trace of the From the camp I can see an island to the northwest, think I will head there. The water is cold here, full missing foot. 51

of chunks of ice. I can see bears on the island and see a light flickering in a cave. Guess I will head for the cave and hope there are no bears. No bears just Rolunda. She is upset because her brother went into the cave and has not returned. She keeps talking about a Frozen Man and missing people and that this place is called Orkey’s Hollow. Before I went in I collected the skyshard in front of the cave. I have rescued Rolunda’s brother, Eiman, from Orkey’s Hollow. The Frozen Man knew I had no soul and offered me his which was black and gooey. I declined. I think I am better off the way I am now. Rolunda and Eiman are now on their way to Captain Rana.

the mine. I found a skyshard in the middle of the mine and at the end of the mine discovered what was going one. Mission accomplished. Sergeant Seyne is on her way back to Captain Rana.

Not much else on the coastline, I am going to head south now still looking for Sergeant Seyne at a place called Hozzin’s Folly. I see a dead body in the road and someone is standing by the body. I approach carefully to see who it is. Thank goodness the dead body is not Sergent Seyne, but a bandit that she killed. She has a mission for me to take the clothes off the dead guy, put them on as a disguise, collect three items from the building below, bluff my way into the mine, and discover what it going on. I carefully take the dead man’s clothes and decide I would put them over mine, since I really did not want them touching me. I am not squeamish, just prissy. I fought my way to the three items and then put the disguise on to enter

I returned to the town and talked to Molla and was glad to hear that all her friends made it back and had reported to Captain Rana. Total rescued is now fifteen. Now time to report to Captain Rana that all the people of Bleakrock have been found and she can leave the island.

Still more island to explore. I think I will finish exploring before heading back to report in. I continued to head south. I passed the Wayshrine that has allowed me to revive and continue my adventure. A lady runs up to me chattering like a squeaky squirrel and I cannot figure out what she is saying. She shakes her head and says her name is Molla. I can finally understand her. Someone put a curse on her and her three friends using a wand and turned them into skeevers (not I finished exploring the island. Nothing else squirrels). I have to find them. Well, I am heading here, going to head west now. Found a really nice out to continue my exploration, so I might as well fishing camp called Paddlefloe Fishing Camp. No look for them, also. Since they are now skeevers I one was at home but a fire was going and fish were bet they have all gone in different directions. I will drying. It is a nice place to rest and maybe do a continue my route to the south. little fishing. I can see land on the other side of the I just met Halmaira. She is very upset. She cannot water. That looks like a good direction to go. find her husband or dog, or was it her dog and Spiders, lots of spiders, spitting poison and webs. husband. They went fishing and have not returned. The hair on the back of my neck is standing straight She gave me a dog whistle to call the dog. I am up. Must I go that way? I shudder and take a deep heading to the barn to see what I can see and use breath. Here I go. As I round the corner I see a the whistle. Wow, the dog actually came and wants hunter’s camp and an Argonian is standing by the me to follow him. Can you guess where he is going fire. She looks a little green under her scales. She to take me? Yep, good dog. Husband and dog safely wants me to find her three missing friends, which home. While I was waiting for Geilund to recover you guessed right, have been taken by the spiders from his near drowning I saw a statue across the to their caves. Mission accomplished. All three ice flow and I went to see it. Very interesting, two friends rescued, freed from the spiders’ cocoons. figures on top of the rock sort of looking maybe The Argonians have their own boat waiting for like dwarfs. Halmaira and family sent to Captain them so they are taking the boat and leaving the Rana. This makes eleven. Oh, found one skeever area. My count is now up to eight people rescued and uncursed him. I also found the other two while re-exploring the island and uncursed them. from the island.

My last assignment before I leave the island is to light the signal fire to warn Davon’s Watch of an attack coming by sea and to prepare for a fight. I light the signal fire and when I return to the town it is under attack. The fires need put out and people need to be gathered up and pointed in direction of the tomb. Once this is done a ship is waiting for us on the other side of the tomb. Captain Rana will

lead us all to safety. We have landed on the shore of a little camp called Dhalmora and here the people of Bleakrock will rest except me. Captain Rana requests that I head to the Dhlamora Watchtower to find kindlepitch to light the signal fire at Bal Foyen.

not have to get the eggs. He wanted me to throw the eggs at the Covenant soldiers in the area. I was thinking better egg in their face instead of mine. The only thing I have to say is I want more eggs! It was awesome fun.

I talked to Quartermaster Urona at Fort Zoran and she is sending me to Bal Foyen docks to see In Dhlamora there was an Argonian crying about Quartermaster Lineem to get the kindlepitch his children being lost. His name was Esqoo. powder and to warn her of the incoming invasion. I stopped to offer to help seeing I am getting It was a nice walk to Bal Foyen docks. I found the pretty good at finding lost things, well, except my missing guars and the lost argonians. All should soul. I was surprised he was not talking about an be in Dhalmora when I return. Quartermaster argonian child, but the beasts that carry his goods. Lineem gave me the kindlepitch powder and Umm, guars I think he called them. I said I would showed me a shortcut to the signal fires, which help and he gave me some stinkweed to feed them were of course guarded by Convenant guards. when I found them. Oh good, something else to Success signal fires lit. Davon’s watch has now make my clothes smell wonderful. I found another been warned. I see movement below me, going to Skyshard behind the merchant hut, which is the go investigate. Nice place sort of hidden and out highest hut in the town. of the way, a good place to land and hide enemy troops. I also found another Skyshard on a boat in Finally, made it to the watchtower, but noone was the shipyard. Strange place for a skyshard. there just a note saying that the kindlepitch powder is at Fort Zoran. Had to fight my way to Fort Zoran I need to head back to Dhalmora and let them and on my way there I found an argonian hiding know that the signal fires have been lit. I am to in some bushes. He said his three friends were talk to Aera Earth Turner. I have two paths I can lost in the area and if I saw them to send them take after talking to her and if I chose one the to Dhalmora, where they will all meet up. I had other might fail. Aera can not help me make the the way clear for him, so sent him on his way. His choice, but she can help me talk my way through name was Wenaxi. A lot of lost and misplaced it. I now have the fate of these people on my hands people out here. I could open a new business and and I have to make a choice. I will not tell you my call it - Lost and Found. Just outside Fort Zoran choice. A choice was made and I will have to live I discovered an Overlook that looks like you could with it. Let’s just say to some I am a hero and have have a grand party on it and the view was of the been sent to Davon’s Watch to report to Holgunn. plantation below. There is a wayshrine in Fort I shall rest a while in Davon’s Watch before I Zoran and I also found another skyshard behind adventure out. In my short walk through Devon’s the wayshrine. Watch, I have found the Fighter’s guild, Mage’s guild, Undaunted guild and many other people Iron-claws, the Argonian, was waiting for me needing help. outside of Fort Zoran and wanted to know if I would help him conduct an experiment using I shall end with this saying, “Life is full and I am Netch eggs. It sounded intriguing so long as I did glad to be alive.”

Darkshade Caverns By Christine Metz

e found ourselves once again crossing paths, this time it was in area called Deshaan, a land that was a broad, fertile area in the southern mainland of Morrowind which slopes down and merges with the swamps of Black Marsh further south. Kyla Rose had sent word to the rest through the Mages and Fighters guild that our skills would be needed once more by the Ebonheart Pact to investigate an area called Darkshade Caverns. Over the course of the next few weeks, one by one we gathered at a small dirt village called Silent Mire. I was the last to arrive of the group having been gone for many months on a task that I needed to achieve for myself in the lands of the Rift. The other three Kyla Rose, Selrina and Pops were staying at Seek-of-the Nights house when I arrived. We spent the night catching up on what each one of us had been doing over the last several months. Kyla Rose said she had been spending much of her time with our extended family in the north lands of Cyrodiil fighting in the Hopesfire campaign, trying to retake that lands that are rightfully ours by family. Pops simply said that he had been traveling the lands on one adventure to another not really giving us many details, as we have come to know our leader for the four of us. Selrina, the closest one I know of as family, explained that she had traveled many different lands learning the skills 54

of enchantment and increasing her knowledge of magical weapons. For me, there is not much to tell what I have been doing and who I have been living with over the last few months. One just has to look at my eyes, they could see what I had become. We set out in late afternoon to the Selfora Wayshrine, where we had planned to spend the night before pushing on in the early morning hours to Darkshade caverns.

Pops took the first watch of the night as we all lay down for rest by the campfire just outside of the Wayshrine. I had the feeling that there was unease in the air, as the others ate and had mead for their evening meal, which I did not partake of. My food comes from a different source now and would not be one that the others would enjoy to take part in.

But we all must choose our paths, as I did mine, and we were happy with my choice in life. As the morning came to a shiny bright day we found our group on a bridge leading up to the caverns. One would think that there was nothing amiss in this area because of the beauty.

Upon entering the caverns, we started down a long narrow tunnel that never seemed to end, but all around us were eggs of some kind that seemed to be in a state of growing or being farmed for some use. As we rounded a turn in the cave we found a group of Pit Rat Thugs doing just that, taking the eggs and carrying them away for who knows what reason. After quickly sending these thugs to their gods above, we pushed on further into the cave. Standing in front of us was the leader of this group of thugs, Head Shepherd Neloren. It turns out she is raising Kwama warriors and works for some plan of hers and her boss, the Foreman Lothian. Neloren had some tricks up her sleeve, but nothing that we could not take care of as she was finding out what made up the afterlife. Going deeper into the tunnels we had run across various groups of Kwama, both workers and warriors. One could say they make a good snack to munch on, if one likes dead bugs for breakfast. We came out to an open area where Lothian himself liked to hang around and tell his workers what a big shot he is down in this cavern, or mine as to what I am starting to believe it to be.

Foreman Lothian did not seem happy at all to see us in his office, as one would think he would call it. In fact he got downright nasty and the four of us had to put him in his place after he shot us with nasty green thingies, as Selrina came to call them. But after running around and looking out for each other, the Foreman was now enjoying a very peaceful rest by the look of it.

Running up the tunnel we went through a door that led us out into what appeared to be a very old city that once had held many races and riches from the land above. But now it was only home to bugs and giant netchs that no one would want to spend the night with, not alone their worst nightmare. As all good things come to pass, Kyla Rose led us into battle with these bugs of the underworld, with Pops handling the healing, what little was needed, as Selrina put the final spell on the Hive Lord to bring him to an early grave of green blood and broken shells .

As we come to a close to this simple story of four, we find ourselves facing the final trespasser of this cavern, the Sentinel of Rkugamz, a fearful beast one would say or simply another bug in the light that needed to be stepped on. When you come across him in your group, think about your skills as one and then as a whole because it will take the whole of all to bring this one down to his death.

Elder Scrolls Online Progress Report By: Benjamin “Foghladha” Foley

ith most games the first few months set the tempo for the next few years. To the untrained eye the fluctuations in numbers can cause panic and a false sense of impending doom. A lot of players have noticed that when we launched into Elder Scrolls Online we had over 1,300 players and currently at the time I am writing this article we’ve dropped to a little over 700 players. First and foremost let me remind ourselves of a time long past, the early days of RIFT. At launch we had over 2,200 registered members aiming to go full steam into RIFT. Right after the gates opened and we realized that the Siege Warfare promised in the game early on had been cut from the program and if more than 50 of us gathered in one spot we couldn’t even see each other numbers dropped like a rock. Within the first 3 months we dropped from 2,200 to a little over 800.

Additionally, the unbalanced emperor system and vampire skills in AvA caused droves to call it quits after 4 players were able to decimate 150 in seconds. This issue for the most part has been resolved and ZeniMax continues to issue new patches to lengthen the engagements and give everyone a fair shot. Just recently we have had great fun hunting and repeatedly killing the Emperors. A feat previously deemed impossible. So looking forward, the first campaign has ended and in it’s place come several new campaign options. We will be moving our efforts to a more populated campaign to work on getting our family some additional exposure.

When the new Non-Veteran Rank campaigns are introduced we will be moving 1 event per week to that campaign to try to serve as an introduction Fast forward to the height of RIFT, and you’ll find to AvA and also help introduce new players to our that we actually did find the maximum number of community. people you could fit in a guild. Not because it gave us a warning saying “Guild Is Full” but because by I highly encourage anyone who hasn’t tried AvA pressing “G” you would crash your game. Trion recently to come out and experience the changes fixed the problem and we continued to grow to that ZeniMax has made thus far. the point that we had over 4,500 characters in the guild roster before the XML export ability broke. There are several larger changes coming in Update At our height a year after launch we were sitting at 2 and Update 3 including new campaigns and more AvA refinement as well as the ability to dye over 2,700 active members. your armor and even a Guild Emblem system! Ok The key to remember is that while this game may maybe I’m excited about that one. Guild branding be for some, it may not be for all. Some people are is a huge plus. looking for something specific, others just want to be part of the community. The key is player In any case over the next few months I suspect satisfaction. We want everyone to end the day we’ll see the same type of rise we saw in RIFT as the game thins out the players that are “Trying” with a smile on their face. the game and builds it’s foundation on the players Our first few months of Elder Scrolls Online have who are here to stay. been challenging to say the least. The loss of the Alliance system just before the final stages of beta Now it’s all up to us to show what we’re capable of put a serious dent in our ability to communicate in front of a larger audience. It’s showtime people across multiple guilds. This made that 500 person lets make a splash in our new campaign. guild cap hit even harder and caused the same thinning we saw in Guild Wars 2.

Elder Scrolls Online Spring Highlights By: Jessica Hunt

eniMax has made continuous efforts to improve their game and provide their players with a smooth gaming experience. They have also released some awesome new content lately for people who prefer to PvE and raid as well as providing some fixes to Cyrodil to ensure a more balanced experience for players. ● Each patch fixed a variety of issues affecting gameplay with many fixes to quests that were blocking progress in different zones. ● Zenimax introduced the ability to view the intro cinematic at any time. They fixed a character creation bug that would not allow you to zoom in on your character’s face when you were creating your first character. ● There was a bug in guild banks and stores for a while and many people lost items. Zenimax provided patches to the game and was able to fix these issues and restore items. ● They took measures to ensure that gold spammers and botters were not adversely effecting the game and thanked everyone for their patience. Part of this effort was fixing open world dungeon boss camps by introducing a wait time after looting a delve or overworld boss before you are eligible to receive loot from these types of bosses again. ● There were Alliance vs. Alliance changes for people who were ending up glitched and couldn’t join the group they wanted to play with. Fixes also included not being able to use bolt escape with a scroll in your hand, as well as fixing the scroll disappearing when a vampire was in mist form. ● Zenimax also fixed some server side issues in Cyrodil. They have made many adjustments to the vampire and werewolf skill lines and abilities to prevent the raid wiping that was going on in early launch play. ● AvA also received boosts to experience and quests as well as help for factions that were greatly outnumbered. Server side fixes were made to improve overall performance in Cyrodil.

● They fixed issues that were causing people to freeze and crash out of the game. Mac clients were fixed as they were having memory leaks and keyboard issues due to languages. ● Zenimax reduced fees for guild stores and for mail, as well as the tax on what is sold in guild stores. Armor repair costs were also reduced. ● The first major content update introduces an adventure zone. Craglorn is designed for group adventuring for Veteran rank players. Trials are designed to be a test of skill for 12 player groups where you have a limited amount of resurrections to get to the final boss and beat them. Leaderboards were introduced to allow people to compete for more rewards. ● Another feature is the addition of death recap. It was added to help players understand what killed them and to give them hints on how to improve. ● The chests that are in dungeons now give loot to everyone within a group within a 50 meter radius, the amount of chests per dungeon was reduced. ● Dark anchors now give chests to participants upon completion. ● Added a new overhead icon for group leaders. ● The following crafting changes were made: Inspiration was increased per break for most of the crafts. Provisioning was brought in line with other crafts as far as value wise when selling to vendors. ● Increased Veteran ranks to rank 12 and the amount of experience gained from killing enemies. ● Launched new community programs focusing on guilds, lore, builds, war stories and fanart.

The future of ESO looks bright and I look forward to many more adventures with the family!

Chapter 4

Exploring Queensdale By: Herb “OldGoat” Townsend

ueensdale is half of the new Kryta. It’s farmland provides produce, livestock, and other goods to Divinity’s reach. The kingdom is ruled by Queen Jennah, one of the last descendants of King Doric. Her rule is challenged by separatists throughout the region. Resource nodes: • Copper Ore/Rich Copper Vein • Aspen Sapling • Blueberry • Button Mushrooms • Carrots • Herb Patch/Herb Seedlings • Lettuce (node farm) - northmost field in Beetletun Farms • Onions

Shaemoor Waypoint in the Village of Shaemoor. Directly south of Divinity’s reach, Shaemoor can be reached by the southernmost exit at the Plaza of Dwayna. Just a bit southwest we find the Point of Interest Recipes: • Eda’s Apple Pie Recipe from (POI) Trainer’s Terrace. (So named because it’s the home of Farmer Eda • Ettin Stew from Veteran skill trainers.) Krug • Ascalonian Herbs from Landmark: • Shaemoor Cemetery Brother Vince • Eggs Beetletun from Assistant Chef Victor We begin our journey at the Bulk ingredients: • Apples in Bulk from Farmer Eda • Nutmeg Seeds in Bulk from Farmer Eda

Events: • Catch rabbits and return them to Arlo • Prove that you know a lot about Destiny’s Edge • Defeat the Lady in White (In the Cemetery)

Events: • Defend the garrison • Defend the gate • Defend Shaemoor Garrison from Tamini attackers • Liberate Shaemoor Garrison

From here, we make a slight detour East then South over the bridge to Shaemoor Garrison to find Garrison Waypoint. Hearts: • Assist the Seraph Shaemoor Garrison

Vista: • Shaemoor Garrison Vista

Once we’ve completed the achievement and gotten the chest, we exit back to Lake Delavan and head northeast to Eastern Divinity Dam. Pet: • Juvenile River Drake We then follow the Dam east until we arrive in the Shire of Beetletun, the location of the dungeon Caudecus’s Manor.

Beetletun Waypoint and Carnie Jeb’s Skillpoint are inside the village.

Back over the bridge to the north we head northeast across Lake Delavan to enter Beggar’s Burrow. There are actually two entrances to the Burrow. The entrance accessible from Shaemoor Cemetery is only open during the personal story, Infiltration. There is a Splendid Chest available in the burrow. There is also an Achievement, Bad Neighborhood which is received by fighting through the mobs and opening the chest. Foes: • Bandit Cutpurse • Bandit Highwayman • Bandit Rifleman • Bandit Saboteur • Bandit Scout • Veteran Bandit Saboteur

Pet: • Juvenile Krytan Drakehound

Resource node: Hearts: • Aspen Sapling • Assist Fisherman Will and the fishermen of Beetletun • Support the citizens of Beetletun Vista: • Beetletun Vista –Simple walk up and view. 61

Resource nodes: • Copper Ore/Rich Copper Vein (Rich vein is inside a cave in the southwest corner of the area. This cave contains a veteran cave troll Heading Southeast from here, we also. Be careful not to use enter the Orlaf Escarpments the lever to close the cave just in which we can find Cliffwatch before you leave. The gate Camp POI. It is rumored that will keep you from being inside a shelter at the Tamini able to access the rich vein.) camp there is a chest. I was lucky and received a few empyreal • Aspen Sapling fragments among other low level items. Watch out for the Veteran Directly east of the foothills, we Tamini Chief who may reappear find Demongrub Pits. This while you’re admiring your find. is the location of the jumping puzzle of the same name. It has three chests within it, each Resource node: guarded by a veteran and normal • Onions foes - one by spiders (looks like an egg sack), one by skelk, and the last by oozes. The chests guarded by spiders and skelk are false ends to the puzzle as the one guarded by oozes gives a Jumping Puzzles achievement. Events: • Defend Tunwatch Redoubt • Retake Tunwatch Redoubt • Rescue the captive farmers

From the shire, we head directly south to Beetletun Farms. Beetletun Waterworks POI is at the waterworks on the far west side of the farms. Heart: • Aid the Beetletun farmers Events: • Escort Moa Trainer Kappa and her pygmy moas to Beetletun • Escort the carnival caravan to Beetletun • Retake the farm and bring sprinkler pieces to Clarence • Stop the Tamini from capturing farmers

There is an excellent guide for this jumping puzzle at Dulfy’s guide to the jumping puzzle We now move south to the Taminn Foothills, adjacent to the Demongrub Pits. Taminn Foothills contains Bonegrinder’s Gully and Righteous Hoofmoot POI’s. You will also find Tamini Place of Power Skill Challenge. (Commune)

Directly south of the farms we run into Salma’s Heath. Named after Queen Salma, who declared war on the White Mantle in the original Guild Wars. Here we find Tunwatch Redoubt Waypoint and Hidden Cliff Camp POI.

Heart: • Unite the ettins Event: • Drive back Underworld creatures by destroying portals in Taminn Foothills

Once we’ve completed the foothills and pits, we head due west to Godslost Swamp. Two waypoints, Godslost Waypoint and Swamplost Haven Waypoint, and two POI’s, Deathroot Shack and Temple of the Ages. Near the POI, a submerged Temple of the Ages contains a Commune

Skillpoint. The Godslost Swamp Vista is on the island near the center of the swamp. This vista is up a slope in the center of the swamp, to go up you need to use the roots of a tree directly west of Deathroot Shack POI.

and there are two POI’s Eldvin Monastery and Holdland Camp.

Heart: • Help the monastery brewers, this heart can be assisted during the Drive Back the Centaurs, Return Stolen Directly north of the waypoint, Kegs, and Protect the Brew follow the crossroad west into Heart: the Queen’s Forest. Just off of Shipment events. • Help Historian Garrod this road you will find Kappa’s investigate Godslost Corral POI. Farther North is the Swamp (both events below Events: • Escort the carnival caravan Hunting Lodge POI. Ojon’s contribute to this heart.) Lumbermill Waypoint marks to Beetletun • Drive back Underworld the lumbermill to the west. Events: creatures by destroying • [Group Event] Defeat the portals in the monastery shadow behemoth • [Group Event] Drive back • Drive back the centaurs before they steal the Underworld creatures by monastery’s ale destroying portals in the • Return stolen kegs of ale to swamp Abbot Mathias • Destroy Holdland Camp’s Resource nodes: weapon caches before they • Copper Ore amass a counter attack • Aspen Sapling • Gather ruined grapes from Victoria’s vineyard Other: • Also A nameless book can be • Prevent the Tamini from retaking Holdland Camp found near Deathroot Shack in Godslost Swamp. Reading • Protect the brew shipment through it fully will spawn a Resource Nodes: Veteran Fleshreaver. • Copper Ore • Aspen Sapling • Blueberry Bush • Herb Seedlings • Onions

Hearts: • Assist Laborer Cardy and Ojon’s lumbermill (Contributing events are Stop the Skritt Thieves, Retrieve Stolen Logging Tools, and Help Slim Mikhart) • Assist Hunter Block and the hunting lodge (Contributing event, Hunt and Slay the Giant Boar.)

Events: • Help Slim Mikhart destroy the skritt cave support (7) • Retrieve stolen logging tools from the skritt hideout (7) • Stop skritt thieves from stealing logging tools (7) • [Group Event] Destroy the wasp queen (9) • Herd the pygmy moas into the pen (9) Vista: • Escort Moa Trainer Kappa • Krytan Freeholds Vista and her pygmy moas to Overlook the Hold. To get Beetletun (10) to the vista just climb the slope west of the Krytan • [Group Event] Hunt and slay the giant boar (10) Waypoint.

Moving north and slightly east from the swamp, we enter a very busy location named the Krytan Freeholds. There is a waypoint, Krytan Waypoint

Pet: • Juvenile Forest Spider (on a hill southeast of the Hunting Lodge heart)

• Collect skale eggs for Events: • Capture Heartwood Pass Assistant Chef Victor Camp from the Tamini • Defend Altar Brook Trading • [Group Event] Defeat the Post champion rotting ancient Southwest to Windloss • Drive the Tamini from Altar oakheart Brook Trading Post Delves, a small skritt cave with • Drive back Underworld an entrance on the northeast creatures by destroying side and another on the Resource nodes: portals in the Heartwoods southwest side. You may have • Copper Ore • Hold Heartwood Pass Camp already accessed the cave while • Aspen Sapling • Blueberry Bush completing events. Pet: • Juvenile Boar (between Resources node: the two hills north-east of • Copper Ore Claypool) Resource nodes: • Copper Ore • Aspen Sapling

Resource nodes: • Aspen Sapling • Blueberry Bush • Button Mushrooms • Herb Seedlings

Southeast of Scaver Plateau we find Phinney Ridge. (This Continue southwest into Scaver area is named after James Plateau. Scaver Waypoint Phinney, a former Design near the center. Further Director of ArenaNet.) It holds southwest you’ll find Altar Phinney Waypoint. Brook Trading Post POI. The area has two skill challenges, Resource nodes: Chhk the Windmill King • Copper Ore/Rich Copper Vein which is a fight, (watch out for his knockback), and Earthen • Aspen Sapling • Blueberry Bush Magic which is a commune.

We now continue our westward swing and enter the Township of Claypool. The town contains a single waypoint, Claypool Waypoint. Heart: • Train with the militia

We now head west into The Heartwoods. Heartwood Pass Camp Waypoint is in the Pet: east. Head north to Greatheart • Juvenile Pig Weald POI. Resource nodes • Copper Ore Heart: • Help the Seraph protect • Aspen Sapling Claypool from centaurs • Blueberry Bush (Capture Heartwood Pass Events: and Hold Heartwood Pass Directly west of the township • [Group Event] Defeat the are both contributing events is Clayent Falls, with Duran greater earth elemental Brother’s Docks POI . to this heart.) • Defend Barthol on his way to the Old Armory Heart: • Help Lexi Price protect the trade route (contributing events are Defend Altar Brook Trading Post, Drive the Tamini from Altar Brook Trading Post, and Escort and Defend Workers.)

Vista: • Clayent Falls Vista (On the east side of the house, at the top of the ramp, there is a wooden rafter leading from the roof. Jump on top of the post in front of the rafter. Jump on the rafter and then walk to the roof.) Events: • Defend the beehives from hungry bears • Collect grub remains for Ine • Slay the giant fish to protect the fishing waters Resource nodes: • Copper Ore/Rich Vein • Aspen Sapling • Blueberry Bush • Carrots

Copper

Going north we find ourselves in Altar Brook Vale. We like to take this area in a counterclockwise manner, starting with Altar Brook Crossing POI. Working our way back, we hit the Bandit Loot Skill Challenge. At this point, you can either finish this zone, or take a detour into Bandithaunt Caverns as shown below. Vale Waypoint will lead you also to Altar’s Windings which we will get to shortly.

Events: • Escort the trading post caravan to Claypool • Defend Altar Brook Crossing • Drive the bandits from Curtis’s ranch • Escort and defend workers sent to rebuild the guard tower • Protect the ranchers from bandits Resource nodes: • Copper Ore • Aspen Sapling • Blueberry Bush • Carrots • Herb Seedlings Bandithaunt Caverns, not to be confused with the Troll cave nearby, can be reached just west of the Bandit Loot Skill Point.

Vista: • Altar’s Windings Vista (Travel up the slope, the vista is easily reached to the southern bend.)

Event: • [Group Event] Slay the enraged cave troll (This is the troll that is part of the train that many people run Vista: daily to farm.) • Bandithaunt Caverns Vista In the eastern portion of the cave, cross the bridge and Resource nodes: head up the spiraling slope. • Copper Ore/Rich Copper Vein • Aspen Sapling Events: • Rescue Mepi’s moa herd • Button Mushrooms from the bandit caves (4) • [Group Event] Eliminate the After we’ve had all the fun we can in this area, we head north bandit lieutenant (5) along the path into Pinion Once we finish in the caverns we Trail. Ettins and Harpies galore head back to Vale Waypoint and is my nickname for this trail. start north to get to the bottom At the end of the trail, through of the hill. Then we go south to the caves, you’ll find Erts Jug reach the vista. Note: Directly of Power Unguent Skill below the vista is an entrance to Challenge. the Troll’s Cave. Resource node: • Copper Ore 65

• Help Farmhand Paris collect apples for Eda’s famous pies • Kill the huge spider in Eda’s Orchard • Stop the bandits from poaching Mepi’s moas Resource Nodes: • Copper Ore • Aspen Sapling • Carrots • Herb Seedlings • Onions Western Divinity Dam has a single vista and heart and two events. Western Divinity Dam Vista (This vista is pretty

straight forward. Make sure you stay on the wooden planks)

Heart: • Help Foreman Flannum Continuing north we find ourselves in Shaemoor Fields. I like to split this one into two parts. The first part is moving north on the left until we get to Western Divinity Dam. After completing the Dam, head back south to Shaemoor Fields and finish the last zone of the map. I start with Mepi’s Moa Ranch POI, work my way north to Eda’s Orchard POI and Orchard Waypoint. I then move into Western Divinity Dam. Hearts: • Help Farmer Diah • Help Fisherman Travis and Fisherman Justin • Assist Farmer Eda • Help Cassie around the moa ranch Events: • Bandits have constructed a roadblock to stop Shaemoor traffic 66

• Drive the bandits away from the windmill • Kill the giant wurm tearing up Jeb’s field • Protect the hay bales from bandits • Bring blobs of toxin to Apprentice Jameson • Defend workers repairing the pumping station • Kill the river drake broodmother • Prevent the bandits from blowing up the water pipes • Protect Shaemoor’s drinking water from bandits • Stop the bandit thief from stealing the pumphouse blueprints • Clear the orchard of spiders for Farmer Eda • Defend Farmhand Nevin as he transports his cocooned friend to safety • Defend Mepi from bandits • Drive the rogue bull back home, and fix any mayhem on the way

Events: • Drive the harpy flock from the dam • Stop the elder earth elemental from destroying the dam Resource node: • Copper Ore And there we have it. The entire zone of Queensdale.

Caudecus’s Manor Story Mode Dungeon Guide By: Herb “OldGoat” Townsend

Welcome to Gaiscioch’s Caudecus’ Manor Story Mode Dungeon Guide. Our goal is to put together the absolute best dungeon guides available for Guild Wars 2. Special thanks to Xensa, Dee, Zababa, and Rev for their incredible support and help getting the screenshots and refreshing my memory for this dungeon guide. You guys are absolutely the best. We suggest when you’re faced with a group of mobs that you target in the following order of priority. 1. Bombers, Grenadiers, or Saboteurs – Area of Attack (AOE) bomb attacks can do massive damage in a short time, so take these baddies out first. 2. Snipers – These deal massive damage from a distance, and are hard to avoid. 3. Fighters – These can be defeated by ganging up on them. 4. Sergeants – Do more damage to those that are moving first. Anti-range works best, and the Mesmer skill Feedback is the best defense/ offense. 5. Lieutenants – Anti-range, anti-projectile. 6. Captains – Will use condition removal

The entrance to Caudecus’ Manor is in the Shire of Beetletun in Queensdale We enter the dungeon and immediately see Albert, the butler. Go up the stairs and through the doorway and hall to find the courtyard. Talk to Captain Logan Thackeray to begin the first cut scene. It seems that Logan fears for the Queen’s safety. Uzolan the inventor is supposed to show off his newest invention. After the cut scene, talk to the guests and staff with this symbol above their heads:

This star icon will appear above the heads of some NPCs 70

There are three questions for each person. The fastest way to get through this is to assign question 1, 2, and 3 to individuals and have those individuals ask each target their one question. Eventually, the star goes back to Logan, and you then speak to him. That will start the fight.

Wall of Reflection and the Mesmer skill Feedback are all valuable skills in this fight. This has been called the most difficult fight of the dungeon, and in fact it can be if you’re not ready for it. Gaiscioch parties have defeated the golem with level 40 characters. You can, too. Don’t forget to loot the first of four chests right by the stairs. Once the golem has been defeated, follow the sparkle trail to find the way.

Follow the little lights. There is peace and serenity in the lights. The trail will lead you to the Champion Door Guard. He will refuse to open the door and then the fight will begin.

Uzolan’s golem has two main attacks: a spinning fire attack and a spinning rocket attack. The rocket attack will give you no red circles to dodge out of. You have to see the attack begin and then dodge behind something. He will also pull you in if you are too close and his damage can be massive if you don’t dodge out. We have our best luck by attacking him at range from behind the hedges and trees. When the rocket attacks start, dodge backwards to hide behind the bushes. Guardians’ “Wall of Reflection” works against the rocket attack but not the flame attack. If you keep at it and are able to avoid damage by dodging and hiding, this fight will last a short while. If you are unable to avoid the rockets and the flames? It will take much longer.

The Door Guard before he attacks 71

The Door Guard can be a tough champion, but he’s not invincible This champion level guard has a lot of HP and can do a lot of damage if you try to fight him toeto-toe. We like to kite him and keep hitting him from everywhere. Tanks can jump in and out of the fight, trying to catch him from behind. Range damage dealers can stay on the stairs and still hit him. If everyone keeps attacking him, he will go down, and the door will open. Important: resist the urge to charge through the door. We like to have our guardian put up Wall of Reflection right at the door as we kite the trash mobs out. Then, keep hitting them while they’re stuck in the door. It takes less time than having to chase them all around the room. We are usually able to kill all these mobs in two or three groups. Chest number two is in this room.

That big glowing thing must surely be the door switch In the outer tunnel, you’ll find the lieutenant. He can do a lot of ranged damage. Anti-projectile defense is helpful. Mesmer’s Feedback and Guardian’s Wall of Reflection are my favorites. Once the lieutenant has been defeated, look around the corner to see a lieutenant, a sergeant, and a fighter. We like to take the fighter first, then the sergeant. The lieutenant is the same as the one you just killed and shouldn’t give you much trouble. Avoid getting too close to the adjoining room, since there are a few more mobs in there. Once these three are finished, go after the rest. Once all the mobs are cleared, wake Sigfast with a cold bucket of water, and he’ll unlock the door to the outside. Don’t forget to loot the third chest in here.

Right next to the chest are steps leading down to the cellar. Again, resist the urge to charge down these stairs. Instead, we like to send a ranger or warrior with a bow down to “call” or pull mobs towards us and then run back up into the room. The rest of us then join the fight. Sometimes, our ranger doesn’t get back to the top of the stairs, and we then fight the mobs on the stairs. Be careful not to go down the stairs too far, since you can aggro another group of bad guys if you get too close. Again, once the first group is done, bring some more enemies back. We usually can get them all in two or three attacks. Once they’re dispatched, we find a small group by a door in the cellar that includes Uzolan. He runs off as we defeat the guards. Once they’re down, there is a switch to open the door to the outer tunnels.

Heading towards the last tunnel Outside, we have an enemy group immediately past the door. Use the range and draw method to bring them inside, and then finish them quickly. Once they’re gone, clear the two groups of hounds controlled by a lieutenant each. Again, hit them at range and draw them to your location to keep from having to fight them both. Beware the group of mobs in the trees and stay far enough away to keep them out of the fight. This is one of the spots where it is very easy for the party to wipe out if you rush in. You can take care of them after the dog

packs are gone. We usually move into the trees on the left and take out the bombers and snipers we can see first. Enemy fighters will attack, and they will be easily dispatched. Once the ground is clear, work up the ramp going around the tree and kill everything in your path. At the top there will be a lieutenant. The mobs in this group are normal with lower HP. You should be able to take everyone. If you’re lower level, use the range and draw method on the fighters while staying out of sight of the snipers. Once this group is cleared, release Mia Kindleshot from the cage, and she’ll tell you where to find the Queen. On your way to the final battle, don’t miss the chest in the field.

most of the dungeons I’ve run, this fight is an anticlimactic battle. You do want to be careful with the sergeant whose range attacks do more damage when you’re moving, and Captain DeLana who can cause temporary blindness with the ranged attacks. And that’s the dungeon we call Caudecus’s manor. Once the Queen has been saved, you have a few minutes for a photo shoot and then move on to your next adventure.

Congratulations! You rescued the Queen!

Poor Mia Kindleshot looks pretty cramped in that cage At the top of the valley, you’ll find Queen Jennah inside a protective bubble. Captain DeLana, a sergeant, and two fighters are trying to figure out how to get her out. We usually take out the fighters, the sergeant and then finally the Captain. As in 73

How to Lead a Group in a Dungeon By: Herb “OldGoat” Townsend

e’ve all heard the complaints. Someone used a pick-up group (PUG) for Twilight Arbor, and it was a horrible experience. Someone felt completely lost during a speed run and eventually got booted from the party. The party leader expected someone to know the dungeon and wasn’t very patient when that person acted confused. These kind of dungeon runs are no fun. Why are we playing when it’s not fun? When I lead a party through a dungeon, I have a few very important rules.

1. It has to be fun. If my party isn’t having fun, I’m either too serious or haven’t been explaining everyone’s “job” well enough. GW2 dungeons all have times where teamwork is required. If someone doesn’t feel like part of the team, I’m not leading correctly. If someone feels picked on, rushed, or even not valued, it’s probably not a good time for them. 2. Everything’s better with Voice. Typing takes time and fingers away from the battle. Speaking can be done while still fighting, casting spells, healing, etc. Even if some of the party don’t have microphones, it’s much easier for us all if the leader can talk to us. Plus, it’s more fun. Raidcall is free, and we can help you get set up in just a few minutes.

3. Whoever is driving should know the dungeon pretty well. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the I as a leader need to have every step memorized, but I should be somewhat familiar with it. It’s okay to use external resources like GW2 Wiki or another dungeon guide to help jog the memory. I would not suggest anyone lead a dungeon without having been through it a few times as a party member. 4. Give clear instructions. This means just what it says. The leader, or whoever that leader has designated for that boss or activity, should give clear instructions to describe each task. If there are red circles that become spike traps, say so. Don’t just say “watch out for the red circles.” Say “the red circles are spike traps, you can avoid them by timing your run or finding some other way to get by them.” Don’t say, “okay when I start this fight, somebody go after the Golem.” Try instead, “I need a volunteer who wants to kite the golem and keep him away from us while we kill the engineer.” 5. Ask for suggestions from the party. Yes, I just said that. It’s way more fun for everyone to feel involved in the planning stage of each fight. Asking for suggestions makes it OUR DUNGEON. That will add to the satisfaction factor at the end. 6. POSITIVE FEEDBACK. I don’t mean the “good job” we say almost automatically, I mean the “wow Goat, you really nailed that troll at the end. Nice!” Or maybe, “Wow you guys really pulled me out of the fire that time. Thanks.” Make it sincere and look for reasons to pass out the compliments.

The key is fun.

7. Stay until it’s over. Nothing is more frustrating than having to wait for someone over and over again. Now, I’m not saying it’s not okay to give short breaks during a dungeon. I’m just saying make sure you don’t leave people hanging around waiting for you to get back. 8. Plan. Yes, plan. Look at your party. Do you have a guardian? Warrior? Elementalist? Who will be needed for what task? If anyone has to change characters before starting, it should be the leader first. I’m not saying you need put together a perfect group. I prefer to run with what I’ve got and make my plan based on the party makeup. Just be prepared. 9. Speed runs are like having a job. I don’t really do well in speed runs. They remind me too much of being at work: “Hurry up and get it done.” No time for chit chat, kill it and move on. I’ve had bosses like that. Don’t be that “leader.” Be the one who takes the time to cause rule number 1 to be followed. 10. Be careful what you say. We don’t really know each other as well online as if we saw each other face to face. In a dungeon, we know each other by voice or in-game chat. It’s important to remember we all come from different places. Stay away from the deadly conversation topics: politics, religion, and anything else that might cause hurt feelings. And there you have my rules for a successful, fun dungeon experience. Remember, you’re an adventure leader, not a “boss.” Don’t bark orders. Get agreement before the plan is put into action. LISTEN to your group. I’ve learned a lot of my “tricks of the trade” by listening to everyone in the party. A few times, listening to my teammate has saved me from an embarrassing wipe.

If it’s not fun,

it’s not worth doing!

The Manor By Herb “OldGoat” Townsend

ranger had no place left to go and no money left to get there. Dressed in his worn battlecoat, dusty breeches, and ancient boots, he watched as Precious, his tiny kitten, wandered around on the floor, picking up scraps that other patrons had dropped from their supper plates. Harry worried he would be unable to provide for his companion. As he sat staring at the paper, his drink appeared at his side and he said, “Thank you, keep the change, sweetie.” Picking at a loose hair on his worn, stained jacket, the ranger picked up the glass and suddenly felt someone scratching that perfect place behind his ears. He closed his eyes and sighed. A familiar voice in his ear said, “Why so glum?” Harry immediately realized who the voice belonged to and he stood up, grinned, and turned to embrace Terri Watson. Precious jumped on the table and joined the hug, meowing her welcome. Terri, dressed in a beautiful gold silk gown, picked up the kitten and nuzzled her. “Hi there Precious, how have you been?”

arry sat in the Dead End Bar nursing his drink. It was Saturday night and the room was packed with regulars, the commoners of Divinity’s Reach. Working class beer drinkers, sometimes a bit rowdy, always loud, it was his kind of place. The floor was covered with sand, as much for the dancers as to soak up the spills, and the bar smelled as comfortable as well aged beer. As the waitress walked by, he gruffly asked her for another, dropping his last coin on her tray.

Sitting down in the chair next to Harry, Terri nodded toward the stage, put her finger to her lips, and turned to watch the singer. Harry sat back down and turned his attention to the stage.

The lights went down as a rough bluesy sound touched their ears and the spotlight illuminated the singer as she walked to the center of the small dais. Harry’s surprised look made Terri smile again. On the stage was Maggatha Lynne, her dress a deep, blood red, slit to the hip. Harry noticed it went perfectly with her hair. As the crowd quieted, she began to sing “Caught in Scarlett’s Rain.” Her voice’s pure emotion filled the hushed room. He was almost relieved he couldn’t get drunk The song, a raw melancholy piece described the tonight. In his hand was the crumpled eviction destruction of Lion’s Arch by Scarlett’s evil as notice from his landlord. He had quietly spent seen through the eyes of a young woman who lost the evening waiting for inspiration. The Charr 76

everything, including the man she loved. When the song was over, the room erupted with wild applause and cheers. Maggie smiled at the crowd and began her next number. This song talked about being madly in love and fearing it would end. By the time she finished, even the rough-and-tumble Harry was wiping tears from his eyes. As the evening wore on, Harry forgot his troubles and allowed the music to fill him. After her final song, Maggie came to their table, hugged him and head butted with the kitten. She then turned to Terri, and with a sparkle in her eye asked, “Well, how’d I do?” “You had old scruffy here crying,” Terri replied, tipping her head towards the Charr.

is usually a good judge of character, Logan. You must have caught her on a bad day.” Bones slapped Logan on the back, nearly knocking him out of the chair. The Captain coughed as he worked to catch his breath again. The blond Norn pulled up a chair of his own and looking at Maggie shook his head, “Such a big beautiful voice from such a tiny little girl.” “Don’t make me hurt you.” Maggie grinned with a sparkle in her eye, as she stood and hugged the giant. Terri joined in and it was obvious to the entire room that the three shared a bond. Precious, not

to be outdone, jumped on the Norn’s lap when he sat and began to rub against his chest, claiming Harry blurted out, “I didn’t know you could ownership. Harry reached across the table and sing like that. That was amazing!” grabbed the big hand with his paw. Logan sat “Oh, I’m not all that,” Maggie said as a rosy quietly observing, noticing how close they all were. color flushed across her cheeks. Suddenly an unmistakable voice came from “The heck you’re not,” Terri grabbed her and kissed her soundly, silencing any further modesty. Then, taking advantage of the band, Terri took her out on the dance floor.

behind, “Hey Bookahs, how’re my favorite adventurers doing?” “Mellen!” they all shouted in unison. And just like that, they were all together again. Bones retold the story of their adventure in the Ascalonian Catacombs. Laughter filled the room as he recalled his own foolishness and the subsequent rescue by the group. Onlookers gathered round and heard the entire story, including Maggie’s fierce defense of them all against the king. Finally standing, and with a tear running down his cheek, he toasted to her courage and leadership.

By the time the girls got back to the table, someone had bought the three of them a round of drinks. Looking around, Maggie spotted the culprit at the bar. Logan Thackeray was watching them. Dressed in his common clothes, he looked strangely out of place without his uniform. She waved him over to their table. He picked up his drink and then tripped over the kitten who wound between his legs. He dropped into the chair Harry “Litt storesøster, I pledge to you my life. I will kicked out for him. Precious took an immediate follow you anywhere, you have only to ask.” dislike to Logan and hissed at the hand reaching Just as quickly he fell back into his chair, nearly down to pet her. Logan yelped suddenly as a claw toppling over as the legs threatened to buckle.. drew blood, and the pet scampered away behind “You’re drunk,” accused a booming female Harry. voice. A booming Norn voice startled them, “Precious

“Of course I am drunk. I am drunk with love for you, Electra!” The tall female Norn, bent down and put her arms around Bones and bit him gently on the ear. “Introduce me to your friends, kjæreste.” She whispered softly.

They all looked at the Asuran. Mellen leaned in so that only they could hear, “I think I may know something, but let’s not talk about it here. There are too many ears in this room.” “It’s late, where are you all staying?” Terri asked.

His eyes glistened with love, as he pulled Electra said simply, “We were supposed to her into his lap, “I would like you all to meet my spend the night upstairs in a room, but they’re full. beautiful bride. Electra Arrow Heart, the most Is there an inn nearby?” wonderful woman I have ever known.” Terri answered firmly, “We have plenty of The group smiled and welcomed her openly. room in our house. Please, all of you, come stay Electra’s krytan hound, Simon, joined in with the with us. We need to discuss this, and I doubt we’ll traditional dog greeting ceremony, all slobber and get much sleep tonight.” sniff. Precious immediately touched noses with the “Harry? Mellen?” Maggie asked. dog and they instantly became fast friends. Logan Both simply nodded, and they all finished their sat quietly watching the interchange between drinks while Maggie went to the bar to settle the the individuals at the table. Finally, when he was tab. The bartender told her that it had all been satisfied, he stood and cleared his throat to gain taken care of by Logan Thackeray. She returned their attention. to the table and gathered her things. Harry had “I am happy to have met each of you. I can see turned to put the kitten into his backpack, and the bond between you, and I would like to ask your Terri snuck a look at the document he had been help with a most disturbing concern of mine. But, wrinkling up in his paws all night. She looked at this is not the time or place for this discussion. I Harry who was staggering a bit from all the beer would like to meet all of you tomorrow for dinner at Logan had bought him. Pretending to wipe off the my home on Manor Hill. It is of utmost importance table, she swept the paper into her bag, putting that you attend. Please be there at eight PM.” her finger to her lips when Maggie gave her a As he turned to leave the group, he shook questioning look. Maggie’s hand, placing a small square of paper They all followed Maggie and Terri up the hill to secretly in her palm. The others sat stunned by a pretty little house, ornate in a simple way, the yard his invitation, curiosity squinting in their eyes. filled with flower beds that were in mid blossom. Maggie stood as they watched him leave, her mind It was hidden between two apartment buildings filling with questions as well. Then turning to the near the center of the Eastern Commons. Maggie group, she said, “What do you guys think?” showed Bones and Electra the spare bedroom, “I have no idea,” came Terri’s bewildered reply. Mellen was given a soft loveseat in Terri’s office, “You can’t trust him.” Harry crossed his arms and Harry and the kitten were left with the long couch in the living room. Terri and Maggie sat on over his chest. either side of the young ranger as Terri produced Bones stroked his chin, “The fact that he gave the eviction notice. “When were you going to tell us no chance to decline tells me it’s important.” 78

us about this?” she asked. “I can take care of myself,” was his sullen reply.

between the Humans and Charr. Caudecus is going to show off his personal inventor, Uzolan.”

The Asuran, silent until now, cleared his throat. Everyone turned to listen. “Logan’s not the only one worried about the Queen. Minister Caudecus’ butler, Albert, let it slip to me two nights ago that there have been many changes and additions to Terri stated simply, “You’ll stay here until the staff based on Uzolan’s suggestions.” you figure out what you want to do. At least Silence enveloped them, with only the until tomorrow, when we find out what Logan is planning? I won’t hear any argument about it. occasional sound of someone sipping hot tea. You saved both our lives more than once in the Maggie’s brow gave away her deep thought. Finally, Bones broke the silence, “The Queen once Catacombs. You are family, and that’s that.” sent a squadron of soldiers to fortify my village “I’m not going to be a burden.” against a Svanir attack and saved my father’s life. “We know that. You might as well stop If she is in danger, I will stand by her.” protesting. When Terri makes up her mind, that’s “As will I,” Terri whispered softly, “The queen the end of it.” Maggie was serious. performed our marriage in spite of those who “What’s going on?” Mellen had come out of the spoke out against us.” office. “Yes,” Maggie nodded. “Harry has just agreed to help Maggie and me Harry’s voice was soft, “She spoke at my by staying here with us and sharing expenses.” father’s funeral after he was killed at Claw Island. Terri smiled. “Afterward she took me aside and gave me his Mellen replied, “A wonderful idea.” medal.” The tears began running down his face. Just then Bones and Electra came in and said “She had it made in the shape of an apple.” Maggie put her hand on his shoulder and said, “Yes, you can. But we’re your friends and we want to help. Besides, I don’t want Precious to be homeless.”

in unison, “So, what’s the plan?” Since it was going to be a long night, Terri went to the kitchen to boil a large pot of water for tea. Maggie produced the secret square of paper. It held the Queen’s own seal and was an invitation to Lord Caudecus’s Manor at the end of the month.

His friends shared his sadness. The group embraced him as the kitten began to purr. Electra’s Krytan Hound could be heard outside as he howled along with Harry’s sadness. Eventually, the mood began to lift, and Harry began thanking his friends. “I’m sorry, I generally don’t get melancholy.”

“Oh stop,” replied Terri. “We all go there. You’ve just got to realize that we are here for you. We are your friends, we are your family now. This bond “I think Logan thinks she’s in danger,” replied we have formed was no accident. It was destiny. Bones, “It’s hard to know if she really is. Logan We came together at just the right moment in our hasn’t told us anything yet.” lives. Everything happens for a reason, and the Harry tugged one of the kitten’s ears and said, reason for our joining will show itself eventually.” “I’ve heard a rumor. It’s a celebration of the treaty “In spite of her non-scientific way of putting it, “So, it has to do with the Queen. Do you think she’s in danger?” asked Mellen.

I must agree,” stated Mellen. “We are meant to be together. I am normally much more comfortable with my own people, but with each and all of you, I feel as if I belong. We are symbiotic in some manner. I believe we may have been connected by the Foefire when we slew the King.”

us have what we would consider a regular job. We make money doing odd jobs, treasure hunting, body guarding, so on and so forth.”

“Electra? You’ve only just met us, how do you feel?” Asked Maggie.

“Nothing’s wrong with it, but how often do we worry about where the rent is going to come from? Or how often do you have the money to do what you want, when you want?”

“I feel it as well, although Bones has told me about each of you. The moment I met you in the bar, I knew we were connected. I can’t explain it. My mother would have called it kismet. I call

“We take what work we can find, when and where we can find it,” chimed in Bones. “What’s wrong with that?”

“That’s not the kind of lives we have,” said Terri. “We live day to day.”

it destiny. And I can tell you feel it as well. We “Exactly my point. How would you all like to have nothing to hide from each other. I am both have a steady income AND have more than you do honored and a bit bewildered, but I already know now?” I would follow you anywhere. With that, the group “Who wouldn’t?” was Maggie’s reply. hugged once more and everyone went to bed. With the next day’s mysteries still on their minds, “Then I have a proposition for you all.” With sleeping was difficult for them all. that Mellen began to outline his plan. “Let me put together the business side of things and work as your agent. I will find work and make sure you # get paid more than you’re used to and still have salvage rights for anything you find on the job. Morning found Maggie in the kitchen drinking Let me begin by discussing the business side with coffee and making breakfast. Her motto was Logan this evening.” pancakes for all, and she had built up quite a Harry looked skeptical, “How do we know that stack when Electra showed up with an offer of you know what you’re doing? What if you end up help. Maggie smiled, poured her a large mug and losing the job for us?” handed her the spatula. One by one the friends, “Well, do you trust that I am more intelligent smelling breakfast and the coffee, appeared at the than Logan? Give me one chance on this job here. kitchen door. Breakfast soon became a loud, joyful Then while the five of you go do the job, I’ll put time. together more work for you. I can assist when I am After breakfast, everyone went to the backyard needed, however, but we split the money evenly to soak up the warmth of the sun. The chatter went between us. I’m going to ask for two Gold for each from Logan’s meeting to Lord Caudecus’s Manor, of us from Logan. If I succeed, we each take one but as time passed to noon, Mellen stood up and gold, and put the other gold into the business. I said, “I would like to discuss a little business with might even be able to get us a house that we can all all of you.” live in just outside the city. Everyone’s attention was on Mellen. “None of 80

The group erupted into discussion with many florist cart, each lady was presented with a delicate differing viewpoints being aired. Mellen answered bouquet. every question thoroughly. Finally, Maggie stood A wagon stopped beside them, and with a tip of up and began to pound on the table. “It’s nearly 3, his hat, the driver offered a lift. we have much to do to get prepared. I would like to “We can’t afford to pay you today William, put this to a vote. Does anyone object?” besides it is such a beautiful evening.” Maggie No one raised a hand or voice. replied. “Okay, all in favor of giving Mellen a chance to “No need for payment, my dear, Logan improve our income, say aye.” Thackeray sent me to fetch you.” A chorus of ayes rang out. “All opposed to the idea?” Not a sound from any of the friends. “Okay Mellen, you’ve got your chance. Tell us what you need us to do.” Maggie looked expectantly at the Asuran.

“In that case, thank you. Perhaps you can insure we won’t be more than fashionably late.” With a large smile, the driver said simply, “Hang on.”

Soon they were all stepping off the wagon into the courtyard of the Thackeray mansion. Logan “I have the plan, so you can ask him anything assisted the ladies off the wagon and then turned you need to know about the job. But, when it comes to each man and shook his hand. “Welcome to my to the money, leave that to me. If he really wants home,” was his simple greeting. our help, he will pay us a retainer which will allow “Thank you for having us.” said Mellen, us to get any supplies we need, and perhaps even establishing himself as the communicator for the buy some information.” group. “Agreed” said Maggie. Now let us get dressed, we leave in forty minutes. The rushing about began as they all tried to make themselves as presentable as possible for such a formal dinner invitation. Harry had the most difficult time, but with Electra and Terri’s help, he was soon made to look very handsome in his black leather suit and silver bow tie. Terri even fitted Precious the kitten and Electra’s hound with matching ties. Simon was given a quick bath to eliminate a foul odor he had rolled in earlier that day.

They were escorted to the dining hall, where they found a grand feast laid out before them. Once they were all seated and served, Logan waved the servants away, and they were alone. “Eat, enjoy, we will save our business for after the meal, unless you have questions that will not wait.” Logan, ever the polite host, started the conversation. Mellen answered, “The only question I have is about compensation.”

“Always the businessman, Mellen. Give the man a few moments to gather his thoughts,” interjected They assembled themselves outside the front Maggie. “Business can be discussed after dinner.” door and began the walk to the Logan family’s With that the conversation turned to more mansion. Such a fine sight they made that they mundane things, such as what were they eating, caught the attention of the neighbors, and at the where did this delicious beast come from, and so 81

on. A few anecdotes were told at Logan’s expense. reputation as a bargainer precedes you. I have no He took it all gracefully, and soon they were desire to quibble into the night. This is my offer.” laughing and enjoying themselves in the manner Mellen looked at Maggie with a question, she of friends. nodded her head slightly. He turned his large eyes When they had eaten their fill and more, Logan back to the Captain. “It is acceptable, considering rang his bell and dessert was served. A huge cake, what we know at this time. I hold to my right to baked in the shape of the elder Dragon Zhaitian counter your offer should the need arise.” was brought in. The unspoken challenge was Logan opened his desk and removed a cloth accepted and soon the cake was devoured. bag. “I expect this will take care of your expenses. Finally, Logan led them all into the next room. Should anything more arise prior to next week’s It was filled with soft chairs and couches, the festival, please contact me here in the evenings. ladies found comfortable pillows on the floor. The My servants have been told you are contractors, bar along the wall held all manner of spirits, and hired to work on one of my properties in the Logan provided bartender service. countryside.” Once everyone was seated, with drinks in hand, Logan began, “I’ve asked you here to help me protect the Queen. It may be nothing, but I have reason to believe Lord Caudecus and his inventor Uzolan mean to do her harm. I cannot allow it. I’ve asked you here because you’ve proven yourselves worthy of a challenge and I trust you.” “Forgive me Logan,” Mellen quickly spoke, “But the question of our compensation still remains. My friends and I have expenses. If we are to help you, we will be unable to use the time to earn other income. Bills must be paid.”

“What what can you tell us about this Uzolan?” Maggie asked. “I’ve heard he is controlling Caudecus, and that he has ties to the Separatist movement. Demmi Beetlestone brought him to my attention. She told me her father had begun acting strangely since hiring the toy maker. I’ve had operatives at the mansion for weeks now, but they have not been able to gather much information. However, it appears that Uzolan has convinced Caudecus to make certain changes to key personnel. The Queen refuses to listen, I cannot convince her of the danger.”

Logan surprised them all with his next statement. “I will give you as a group, six gold “We will uncover any plot and protect the coins as a retainer, and 6 more gold coins upon Queen. I promise you.” Mellen assured him. completion. That is what you were going to Maggie quietly added, “Yes. Speaking of which, haggle me to, isn’t it? If the retainer doesn’t cover do you have invitations for us or must we sneak in your expenses, provide me with receipts upon the back door?” completion and you will be compensated.” “The Queen was adamant that you all are Maggie looked at Mellen who simply said, invited.” Logan produced the rest of the invitations “How did you know what I was going to ask?.” and handed them to Maggie. “It seems she With a smile, Logan simply replied, “I expected remembers each of you.” you to ask what the task is worth to me. I will spare As Maggie placed the invitations into her pack, no expense to protect my Queen. And besides, your she looked at each of her friends. The yawning had 82

begun, “Excuse us Logan, it is late, and it seems we have preparations to make, and a plan to hatch.” “Please keep me apprised of the situation if you will, I would prefer no surprises.” Logan’s eyes frowned in worry.

they held hands and smiled at each other. Harry sat with the driver, carefully watching their progress while Maggie called out various points of interest.

Upon arriving at the gate, the group made their way up the stairs to be greeted by the butler, Terri reached out and gently touched his arm, Albert. When Albert came to Maggie and Terri, he “I know you’re concerned about the Queen, but we said brightly, “The Queen is looking forward to seeing both of you again.” will do our best to protect her.” “Thank you, Albert.” Terri smiled back as he He nodded once and the tight muscles in his kissed her hand. face relaxed a bit as he exhaled. The party was in full swing as they entered the With that the group bid Logan good night and found the wagon waiting outside to take them back courtyard. When the Queen noticed Maggie and to the house. The ride was uneventful, and the talk Terri, she had them escorted to her. Ignoring the remained small. Once they reached the house, formalities, she greeted them with warm embraces Mellen reached into his pocket and produced a tip for the driver, saying, “Thank you sir.”

“My favorite young ladies. I want to scold you for not keeping your promise to come visit me Back at the house, they discussed the evening every week.” and planned until everyone was exhausted. “I’m sorry your majesty, but we both know how

The day of the party arrived bright and clear, and the friends each felt a heightened sense of adventure. As promised, Mellen had left earlier to stash away their weapons and armor in case they were needed. He would not be joining them directly, but would be on hand nearby to keep watch from outside the grounds. Logan sent a carriage to pick them up in Divinity’s Reach. The ride to Beetletun was uneventful, full of nervous small talk. Precious slept in Maggie’s lap. Electra’s pet krytan hound sat in the front with the driver, looking all regal in his brightly polished, studded collar. Electra and Bones sat in the front facing rear seat. Taking nearly the entire seat with their large Norn forms,

busy you are. We can’t take up your time with our little lives.” Maggie replied. “Nonsense, you would have saved me from endless paperwork and fools. But I’m happy that you are here now. Logan is worried. It may be nothing, but thank you for coming.” With that, the talk turned to mundane, “How have you been,” and “You look wonderful.” Eventually, the Queen was pulled back into her official state and the girls were released to enjoy the party. The group gathered to discuss the plan. “I found the cache, it’s inside that little building in the fountain,” said Bones. Electra added, “I noticed some muttering going on between some of the guests and servants. Something isn’t right here, and I think we should ask some discreet questions.” “Okay, let’s split up and cover as much ground 83

as we can. Bones, would you please stay up here near our gear in case we need the weapons?” “You’ve got it Maggie. What’s the signal?” “The signal is me screaming your name.” Maggie replied. The group split up and began mingling with different groups and asking innocent sounding questions. After an hour or so, they came together in a secluded spot to discuss their findings. Maggie quietly signaled Logan who gradually worked his way to them so they could fill him in on their findings. Uzolan had replaced most of Caudecus’s security with his own people. Clearly upset about what they had uncovered, Logan stormed off toward Lord Caudecus. Maggie, seeing the look in his eyes screamed “Bones!” Bones grabbed their gear, removed his hammer and staff, then tossed the rest down to Maggie. Weapons in hand, the group spread out and took defensive positions. As Logan confronted Caudecus, Uzolan shouted, “Do it NOW!” While his huge golem began to attack, Uzolan activated a small device and he, Caudecus, and the Queen disappeared in a bright flash of purple light.

They donned their armor while formulating a rescue plan. Suddenly, Mellen appeared waving a small, blinking device which he excitably handed to Maggie as Terri looked on. Mellon said, “He used a transporter that leaves behind a residue of energy bundles,by following the residue it will lead you to where they teleported. Push this yellow button and it will show you the path of energy. The green button is a communicator you can use to reach me. There is no time to waste, go find the queen. Terri took the device and led the way. The group followed the residue into the building and down a hall. Soon, they came to a door that was guarded by a very large doorman. Armed with a hammer and shield, He refused to let them pass. A long scar running down the side of his face showed he had no fear of fighting. Logan stepped up to him, “I order you in the name of the Queen to stand aside and let us pass.”. “I take orders from no Queen.” was his reply as he spit on the floor and the battle ensued.

The doorman struck a mighty blow with his hammer and Logan went down almost Maggie leaped headlong into the attack and immediately. Simon pulled him away and Maggie began using her axes to disable the golem. Bones dived behind the doorman as Bones took the front. joined her and shielded them both as his hammer Together, they began to beat their way through pounded on the machine. Precious deflected the his defenses as Harry and Electra hit him with Golems first attack, as Simon interrupted his their arrows. Once Logan revived, he rejoined second. Electra and Harry both fired from behind the fight with a vengeance. Precious appeared as the hedges, arrow after arrow. Terri put up a wall did Electra’s hound. Simon quickly knocked the of stone that protected the guests from the golem’s doorman down, and that allowed Bones to finish attack. Soon it was over and the golem lay in pieces him off. Bones cast healing spells all around, and soon the group was ready to advance. on the ground. Inside the room was a group wearing the “The Queen, he’s taken the Queen!” Logan cried out. His fists clenched around the grip of his uniforms of Caudecus’s security guards. As soon as Logan entered, they attacked. Logan quickly sword in frustration. rolled back through the doorway, shouting, “Look “We’ll find them,” Maggie replied. out, it’s a trap!” 84

Bones and Maggie quickly took positions on either side of the doorway and fought the enemy soldiers in the narrow confines of the door. Terri threw fireballs, Electra and Harry fired arrows, and the pets joined the fight at the door. One by one, the enemy soldiers were killed. Once the fighting had stopped, Maggie peeked inside the room and shouted, “There are seven more, charge!”

Harry winked and started back down the stairs, this time he took a little longer, but when he returned, another group was hot on his trail. Dodging again to get out of the way, Harry stood to the side and used his bow. Precious and Simon met the group directly and helped dispatch them in no time. Harry made one more trip, and after that group was gone, said, “That’s all I could find. I The group bolted through the door firing as think it’s safe for us to go downstairs now.” they went and the remaining bandits went down Maggie directed her gaze at Logan, “This quickly. As Harry and Bones searched for clues machine is pointing toward the stables. We may on the bodies, Bones commented, “These are not need help. Get reinforcements to meet us there! security guards, they’re separatists. They all have You’ll need to save her if we fail.” the distinctive tattoos on their necks. What are “It will take some time,” he answered, rubbing they doing here?” his forehead. “When we were questioning everyone, we were told that all of the security staff had been replaced at Uzolan’s direction.” Harry reminded them.

“Then you should go now, we can handle tracking them, but we might need help freeing her.”

“Replaced by separatists, sworn against the Queen. We have to get to her.” Terri sounded worried.

“You are right, thank you,” he said and left the room in long, determined strides.

Harry piped in, “I can go down first, draw some back up here. We can fight a handful at a time that way, instead of the whole mob.”

and let him out. Maggie pointed in the direction of the voices, and the group charged. They came across more bandits, including a grenadier who was throwing bombs at them. Dodging the bombs, they were able to kill the grenadier first, then the fighter. Finally, they captured the loud-voiced one who had been trying to get through the door.

As Logan left the way they had come, Maggie Maggie calmed them, “Don’t worry, we can motioned the group forward. Quietly they went still see and track the energy trail, so we must be downstairs to find the halls empty. Maggie put her getting closer. We need to go down the stairs.” finger to her lips and whispered, “Listen.” “That could be dangerous,” Bones surprised They heard voices arguing. Someone was her with his caution. trying to convince someone else to open a door

Maggie nodded and Harry started quietly down the stairs. The rest of the party spread out and waited. Soon they heard heavy footsteps running up the stairs and Harry burst in and suddenly rolled to his left. Behind him were half a dozen bandits. They were dispatched quite handily by the group. “Nice job.” Bones said in admiration.

“And who have we here?” asked Maggie, while holding her axe at his throat. “I work for Lord Caudecus, I am trying to find him, and he has been kidnapped,” the guard shook as he answered. Sweat beaded on his pale face as 85

he stared at her determined face. “You’re wearing the same uniform as these men. That tells me you’re one of them. They were obviously working for the separatists.”

lieutenant, Simon began to fight the lieutenant’s soldiers. Electra and Harry used their bows to fire upon the entire group. Terri, wearing her conjured stone armor, waded into the battle and created a wall of fire that the separatists couldn’t cross.

“I don’t know anything about that, I only know One by one, the separatists were defeated until I have to reach Lord Caudecus. I have information about Uzolan. He’s in league with the separatists only the lieutenant remained. Precious and Simon made short work of the injured officer. The party and is trying to hold the Queen for ransom.” took time to check for injuries on themselves and “Where are they holding the Queen?” Maggie the cat and dog. Bones and Harry traded barbs. pushed the axe tighter against the man’s neck. They also checked their weapons for damage. He swallowed and trembled. “I don’t know for Simon gave a soft whine. sure, but I think they were leaving the grounds by Harry sniffed the air and said, “He must smell the stable. I saw a wagon loaded with weapons.” other dogs, guard dogs patrolling the grounds” Maggie removed the axe from his neck, but not Looking around the corner, Maggie noticed a the tight grip on his arm. “Tie him up. Leave him. handful of separatists guarding a Norn. Signaling Gag him so he can’t warn anyone.” to the group, she switched to her bow, stepped Maggie reached up and pressed a lever on the around and fired at the closest separatist. Electra wall. The doorway opened to reveal a separatist fired a barrage at the group, the arrows landing Lieutenant. Armed with pistols and grenades, his with the sound of heavy hail. Three separatists double attack gave them some trouble until Simon went down immediately from their attack. Two charged and knocked him down, giving Maggie more fought their way into the middle of the and Bones time to reach him. group, only to die when attacked from all sides. “Grenade!” Bones grabbed the grenade he was holding and flung it into the next tunnel. It exploded and hurled rocks and shrapnel through the tunnel.

Looking around the corner again, Maggie found the Norn alone and asleep. As they drew closer, Harry noticed three more bandits hiding in an adjoining room. He signalled the group and Five separatists in clanging metal and leather they were drawn out quickly and ran instantly armor ran through the tunnel as the smoke cleared. into a flaming wall created by Terri. The smell of They whipped out their weapons and leapt into burning flesh filled the air. Bones took a moment to cast healing spells. Electra noticed blood on the battle. Simon’s leg and insisted on wrapping the cut with Harry growled, “Thanks, Bones, I wanted a herbs. harder fight.” The Norn snored loudly. Maggie was at a loss. “Now you’re learning how to be a Norn,” was She shook him and he still didn’t awaken. “He’s the Guardian’s retort. drunk,” stated Electra after sniffing the air around Bones countered the attack with a defensive him. spell that protected both Maggie and him. Bones found a pail of water and dumped it While Precious continued to bite and claw at the 86

unceremoniously on the sleeping giant. He stood up, sputtering and wiped the water his face and beard. Upon being questioned, the Norn soon identified himself as Sigfast, the door guard. After being told of the Queen’s danger, he staggered to the door and unlocked it. “You’ll need to be careful, there are guard dogs all over the property. You may also find a group of soldiers outside this door. There is also a guard post in the trees at the top of the hill. You’ll be vulnerable until you take out the grenadiers and snipers.” “Thank you Sigfast.” Bones replied. “We will see you at the Moot.” Bones waited at the door for Maggie’s signal. Once everyone was in position, she nodded her head and he used his hammer to blast open the door. The surprised separatists on the other side charged right in to the trap. As Sigfast passed out again and began to snore, the battle was finished. “Stay inside,” said Maggie.

tree. A ramp wound around the tree, leading up to the guardhouse at the top. Out in front was a single caged prisoner. “What do you all think?” Maggie asked. “I think the grenadiers have done the most damage to us so far, they should be our first targets.” Bones replied. “I agree,” said Terri. Maggie nodded and then stated, “I think you’re right. Let’s take them out first, then go after the snipers. If the fighters break through, Bones, you and I will have to keep them away from our friends.” “Sounds like a solid plan,” Bones agreed.

With that, the group began the attack. Grenades were flung in their direction immediately, but they were able to dodge out of range. Harry and Electra used their bows with precision, targeting the most dangerous enemies first.. Precious and Simon She stepped outside and carefully looked helped and the grenadiers were soon removed around the corner to see two groups of hounds, from the fight. The snipers were the next targets. each led by a lieutenant. Firing a single arrow at Fighters charged them, but Maggie and Bones the first group, she ducked back inside. The first held them at bay while Harry worked his way group came charging around the corner, only to be behind the tree and began picking snipers off from met by more arrows. Electra and Harry continued the rear. Electra continued her barrage from the to fire as Bones and Maggie waded in and attacked front. Terri built wall after wall of stone to protect the lieutenant. Terri set fire to the grass around them. Finally, Maggie and Bones started up the the fighting and the hounds fell, one by one. Soon ramp. only the handler remained. As Maggie’s axes Fighting their way to the top, they faced the sliced through the air in brutal blows, Bones drew commander. He was soon overwhelmed and the his staff and began casting a wall of reflection. The group hurried to the bottom to free the prisoner. lieutenant’s own attack was reflected back to him Surprised she had no injuries, Harry realized she and he died by his own hand. was none other than Mia Kindleshot. “Well met, The second group was dispatched the same Harry. You’ve grown into quite the fighter.” way, and the party moved out into the field. “Thank you elder Mia. How did you become Looking ahead, they could see the outpost their prisoner?” described by Sigfast. They counted grenadiers, “They took me when they took the Queen. snipers and fighters along the base of the largest 87

Perhaps for ransom, although they paid in blood. They didn’t realize I bite.” She laughed. “Speaking of the Queen, do you know where they took her?” Maggie asked. “They are at the end of this valley, waiting for Uzolan’s escort. I heard some talk the Queen was being difficult. I like her. I hope she bites too.” Mia replied, with a smile “Come, I’ll show you.” After quickly restoring their energies, the party started up the valley. Soon they could see some commotion in the distance. They hid away in the underbrush to observe. The Queen was in a protective bubble, and the Captain angrily shouted at his men, “Try and burst it.” The Queen, defiant, “I’ll let you all live if you leave immediately. Otherwise, you’ll be fed to farmer Hewitt’s pigs”

He fell to the ground immediately unconscious. Queen Jennah rushed to his side and cradled his head. She grabbed up a handful of stones from the ground beside them and threw them up in the Captain’s face. The captain howled, holding his hand up to his face to protect his eyes. Maggie saw the opening and whirled her axe for the finishing blow. The other enemies fell soon after. Terri and Electra joined Queen Jennah and Maggie next to Harry’s unconscious form. Tears flowed down the Queen’s face. “He saved my life. He stood between me and the dagger. We must help him. I will not let him die.” Tears also ran down Terri’s face as she charged up the lane towards the stables, shouting, “Logan! Damn you, where are you, we need help!” Logan appeared, followed by a squad of soldiers. “What is it?”

“The Captain will be the most difficult, but “It’s Harry, he’s been wounded. I think the the others should be easy compared to what we’ve dagger was poisoned. He’s in bad shape.” fought so far,” whispered Harry. “Perhaps, but we should watch a bit longer,” Terri replied. “Wait, did you see that?” asked Harry. “The bubble, it’s flickering. Her power is waning. We need to attack now!

“Medics!” Logan barked. Two soldiers with heavy packs sprinted to the group and the medics immediately began chanting healing spells and bandaging wounds. Bones assisted with healing spells himself. Precious lay on Harry’s body, purring loudly. The group could see her growing smaller as she gave Harry her life force. Simon licked Harry’s face.

With that, Harry climbed up the hill for a better vantage point. Electra joined him, Terri moved behind a tree and waited for the signal. Bones The Queen looked up at one of her officers. walked up the center of the path and confronted the Captain directly. Maggie charged and the fight “Captain, we need an airship right away. If we can began. Mia, using a rifle taken from a dead sniper, get him to Divinity’s Reach, our doctors might be able to save him.” targeted the sergeant.

Suddenly, the protective bubble surrounding the Queen burst. Harry, seeing it first, charged and put himself between the Queen and the

The captain saluted. “Right away, Your Majesty.” He turned and sent off his fastest runner to deliver the message.

separatists. He cried out in pain as the captain’s knife, flung at the Queen, struck him in his chest.

Once they arrived at the palace, Harry was taken to the guest quarters and the finest doctors in the

kingdom were summoned. The group waited at the foot of his bed. Precious, at first banned by the staff from Harry’ room because of her ferocious nature toward anyone who came near Harry, slipped in behind one of the healers and joined Harry on the bed. When an orderly tried to remove her, she became very large, very fast and her no nonsense hiss made it plain she was not leaving.

“I can help remove some of the poison.” “You’re exhausted from casting the protection spells for so long, Your Majesty. You could be seriously injured yourself if you’re not at full strength.”

“Mellen needs help, and I’m certainly not going to stand here and watch Harry die.” Queen Jennah waved a scepter in tiny spirals through the air. Maggie left the room briefly and punched a Music filled the room and light glowed in a circle, button on the communicator. enlarging until it engulfed Harry, Mellen and the “What is it now, bookah?” he sighed. “I’m right other healers. A gray-green cloud appeared above in the middle of calibrating the psy-accelerometer the Charr. Harry started to breathe more easily, and the tachyphonic stream needs to be in perfect and his drooping ears regained some color. synchronization, or--” The healer attending the Charr checked his vital With tears in her voice, Maggie almost shouted, “Mellen, get to the Queen’s palace in Divinity’s Reach NOW. Harry was seriously wounded in the battle, and the doctors can’t stop the poison. I think he’s dying.” Mellen arrived a couple of hours later. The party had collapsed in chairs and on the floor around the room, exhausted from battle and worry.

signs again. “Harry is improving, Your Majesty. The poison appears to be out of his system.” The necromancer collapsed at the side of the bed. He laid his head down on the bedspread briefly before saying, “What idiotic bookah tried to get between Harry and me and interrupt my work? Don’t you fools know that Asurans have superior constitutions for this?”

Mellen scanned the Charr with some instruments and nodded. He looked at the doctors. “You there, tall bookah. Cast whatever it is you cast to keep his cardiovascular system in high gear. I’m going to leech the poison out of him.” He turned to Harry and began a spell of his own. His voice faded as he worked his way through all the spell chants.

The Queen laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. “You’re welcome. Now get some rest. We all need it after this ordeal. That’s an order.”

A healer examined him without interrupting the flow of his work. “He’s healing him somehow, my Queen. Necromancers can do that, but Harry may have too much poison in his system for Mellen to save him.”

some breakfast?” As the group awakened, each of them rushed to the bed and began to hug the wounded ranger. Precious jumped off the bed and

Mellen opened his mouth once, closed it, and stayed silent. Terri helped him to his feet and led him to a chair. She handed him some water and a small bowl of stew to regain his energy. He slumped over in the chair as soon as he finished, The queen noticed the Asuran becoming more eyelids fighting unsuccessfully to stay open. pale as the spell went on. “What’s happening to Maggie was the first to awaken at the sound of him?” Harry’s voice. “I’m hungry,” he said. “How about

moved to the still sleeping Mellen. Laying upon his body, she began once again to purr. It was then 89

that everyone noticed Mellen’s color was very pale.

“You put yourself in the line of fire to protect Soon though, the flush returned to his cheeks me, that takes incredible courage. You remind me and he awakened. Maggie looked at him knowingly. so much of your father and I know that he would She knew he had been the one to save Harry’s life. be very proud of you. You are hereby declared a Champion of the Queen. Let all who meet you Mellen put his finger to his lips, and she nodded. know, you have the heart and courage of a lion.” The Queen entered the room in a flourish. There was not a dry eye in the room, even Sitting on the edge of the bed, she held Harry’s paw and said simply, “Thank you, you saved my Logan had to wipe his eyes. The story was told life and I can never repay you, but if you ever are over and over again and Precious grew in each retelling, until she was as large as the Elder dragon in need, you have only to ask.” himself. “It was just blind luck Your Majesty. I zigged instead of zagged.” The Charr shyly replied.

Guild Wars 2 Gaiscioch Progress Report By: Benjamin “Foghladha” Foley

ife in Guild Wars 2 lately has been getting better by the day. Our numbers have balanced out right at the 500 active player level which has made guild management a breeze and makes the strain of the lack of a cross guild communication system less apparent.

they feel the leader has done an outstanding job. Lastly we have enabled badges on the Sanctum of Rall site to allow players to show off their achievements in leadership and fellowship.

Many of you will be familiar with these new systems as they are a lite versions of the ones we Over the past few months we’ve actually seen a use every day on the Gaiscioch.com site. With this rise in activities and player participation in these new system in place we have seen our server grow activities. The new Sanctum of Rall Community and become active once again. New guilds have Conquest events featuring both Guild Missions found their way to our shores and we are actively and WvW have been a huge hit and we’re now growing once again. getting crowds over 90 players for the missions Those of you who have stepped up to lead in World and around 60 for the WvW segment. vs World I thank you. Your efforts have breathed Server wise, we have seen several new developments new life into our server. Over the past couple that have improved the quality of life. A new war months we have had some of the most fulfilling council has been elected including Xivor, Scripko, fights on the battlefield to date. Moscow, GFKowns, and myself to oversee the public face of our server to the rest of the Guild Players are having fun again and the old days of Wars 2 community and provide leadership and belittling and raging that we came to know on the community Teamspeak is long passed. With the support to our community. loss of the Elite, we gained the ability to forge a Several new features have been added to the community of our own. SanctumofRall.com including the new Commander On Deck feature that allows commanders to mark This new community is friendly, helpful, kind, that they are on a map and earn a score based of and respectful. If you have not had a chance to their PPT performance and how many players experience WvW since we left tier 1, I’d highly followed them into battle. This system ties directly recommend coming out for some of the most epic into our new Weekly and Monthly raffles which nights we’ve had in recent years. Every event is an award random participants, leaders, and members epic event now. I look forward to the days to come in anticipation for what comes next. We can finally of Sanctum of Rall a chance to win loot. “play” and not worry about being the best all the Additionally I have added a new feature that allows time. Join us for some fun times and play Guild people to add comments about each leader and Wars 2 the way it should be played. With friends! award them with a commander commendation if

Preface: The following story was created in 2001 as the Origins story for the Gaiscioch na Anu, a Dark Age of Camelot Roleplaying guild formed to share the stories of Celtic folklore with the Hibernia, Nimue community. Characters mentioned in this story are fictional and not related to any person in particular. This story loosely based on the lore of Dark Age of Camelot, Celtic folklore, and in game character stories.

Chapter 1: The Tuatha de Anu Legend has it that the Tuatha de Anu was created by Anu to help protect the people of Hibernia. Anu is known throughout Hibernia as the mother goddess or as Mother Nature. She is the Wife of the Sun God Belenos, and mother to the Tuatha de Anu, or Tribe of Anu. She is well known for her benevolence and is often times referred to as the goddess of fertility and nature. It is believed that she is the source of all energy that lives within all natural elements. This is the very same energy, which allows the ancient druids to practice the 93

magical ways that help protect the land of Hibernia. Little is known about the origins of Anu however it’s believed that she has been around since the creation of time. The Tuatha de Anu was comprised of several gods and goddess. The most well known being Dagda the king of the Tuatha de Anu. This was not always so. His brother Nuada was once the king of the Tuatha de Anu. Until the first battle of Magh Tuiredh. In this treacherous battle King Nuada had his hand severed in combat. Due to this sign of mortality the Tuatha de Anu removed him from his throne and in his place sat his brother Dagda.

His first son was Aonghus Mac Og. He was raised by Midhir, a chieftain in Bri Leith, after his mother Boinne gave birth to him. This was because Boinne was the wife of Dagda’s brother Nuada who he had taken the throne from. In an act of passion Dagda ordered his brother Nuada to travel to the islands in the east to investigate a new civilization that had been discovered. In the time that Nuada was away Dagda impregnated his wife and delivered his child. In an effort to keep his heredity secret the Tuatha de Anu’s poets of skillful words and magic educated him. He excelled in the magical ways of shape shifting and in time was told of his true heredity.

His next son, Lugh Lamfhota, was endowed with abnormal strength. Based on his abnormal strength and the long range of his weapons, Lugh became known as the Raven of the Long Arm. He carried a sword that could cut through anything, and a spear given to him by Dagda, which was extremely powerful. It could fly through the air for a great distance when cast by him, and when he spoke the When Dagda took the throne his brothers Nuada, word “Ibar” it would never to miss his mark. Then Dian Cecht and Lir quickly became dominant he would speak “Athibar” and the spear would figures in the Tuatha de Anu as well as Dagda’s 4 return to his hand. He earned the name Raven sons; Aonghus Mac Og, Lugh Lamfhota, Oghma, from his ability to speak with the ravens to learn and Aodh, and 3 daughters Brighid, Banbha, the positions of the enemy soldiers. He has long and Eire. He is endowed with great wisdom and blonde hair and was very tall and muscular. He is extreme magical skills. He wears a coarse-woven, handsome and well proportioned. He is a heroic brown low-necked tunic, which only reached down warrior, sorcerer, and accomplished in all skills. below his hips; and over this a hooded cape, which From music to crafting in metals stone and wood. barely covered his shoulders. He wears knee high He is portrayed by many, to be the God of Light. animal-hide boots, and has long hair with a full silvery white beard. Even though he is a king he Dagda’s third son, Oghma is a master of wisdom, has never been seen with a crown or any type of speech, and poetry. Oghma is shrewd and thinks jewels or riches. He is a rather large man towering quickly in warfare, and a champion in battle. He is one of the leading warrior chiefs in battles. He over most firbolgs. was the creator of the Ogham script, the earliest He had enormous strength and carries a club-of- form of written language. He is fair haired, blue anger. This eight-pronged war club is so huge that eyed, and handsome with a chiseled face. He is several men would be needed just to carry it. The tall, muscular and very strong. Even today, his club is imbued with magical powers on the smooth language can only be read by the Tuatha. end he could touch a dead man and instantly bring him to life. Thus one end has the power to The fourth son is rather elusive. There is little destroy while the other the power to recreate. documented about his son Aodh. It is rumored He is also known for his mighty bronze cauldron that he is the god of shadows and no mortal has named the Undry, in which provides an endless ever laid eyes upon him. It is believed that Aodh bountiful harvest to the people of Hibernia. He was extremely jealous of his other brothers and also possesses a harp that when played can change decided to spend life in shadows and only to appear upon the request of the goddess Anu herself. the weather and seasons. Nuada was rather upset by the loss of his seat as king and also the loss his hand. His brother, being as clever as he is and a skilled craftsmen, Nuada’s younger brother Dian Cecht, forged Nuada a new hand made of pure silver. The hand was given to Nuada and from that day on he became known as “Nuada Argetlamh” or “Nuada of the silver hand”.

Dagda’s first daughter Brighid was born at the exact moment that the sun rose over the eastern foothills. A great tower of flame rose from the top of her tiny head, reaching far into the skies, thus signaling the birth of a uniquely divine baby. Her breath gave life to the dead and this earned her the name “the Exalted One”. She is a great poet and possesses many talents in the realm of arts and crafts. Many Bards and Poets aspire to be like Brighid and often times find themselves in awe of her greatness. However, while Brighid’s words are beautiful she is cursed with one half of her face being ugly while the other being beautiful. However her long hair hangs over her one side of her face to hide this curse. She is rather well proportioned and is always clad in a simple, long white robe. She is married to Breas, the son of a Fomorian king in an attempt to form an alliance between the two races. She gave birth to a son Ruadan who was beheaded and killed in a battle at a young age. Due to the delay in reaching her slain son she was unsuccessful in breathing life into his body. Her sorrow was great and she was the first to lament the death of a love one by weeping, shrieking and wailing. In his memory she erected a shrine in Kildare that contained a sacred flame that would never go out.

this mysterious woman would eventually lead to her death. Bran still lives today as a well known as a giant that roams the land south of Innis Carthaig. The Tuatha were strong and brought prosperous times to Hibernia. Many years passed before the great conflict began.

Chapter 2: The Great Conflict It was the winter after the great oak fell near Ardee, that snow began to fall on the mountains to the east. This made the Tuatha de Anu very weary. For snow had not touched the soil of Hibernia for nearly a thousand seasons. Anu began having horrible nightmares of a foreign race coming to Hibernia and laying siege to its peaceful way of life. They had horrific faces often times hidden in the shadows. Some were tall and bulky while others were short and slender. Their coarse skin was like the scale of a dragon or that of golem.

Anu decided it was time to call upon the Tuatha de Anu to discuss the nightmares that had besieged her. The Tuatha agreed to meet at a place not to far from Caille at the top of a mountain where villagers His second daughter Banbha took king MacCuill had erected worship stones. For hours upon hours hand in marriage at a young age. She is a gifted they discussed this matter and a plot to prevent magician and is known to be the goddess of war the fall of Hibernia. The first to speak was Brighid. Tormented by her own ghosts and plagued with and of fertility. the ever desire to partake in war she suggested Dagda’s last child was Eire, a extremely powerful that the Tuatha meet the resistance before it had magician who cast powerful spells by the use of ever begun. Dagda looked to her with a troubled incantations and herbs. She sometime appears as a face and asked, “if we are to leave Hibernia to fight tall, powerfully built woman in colorful, intricately a war against an unknown race, who would be left adorned robes, luxuriant gold-blonde hair, and to protect our home?” Lugh then spoke out hastily sometimes as a long-beaked gray crow, casting her to add, “We can not leave our country, nor can we even begin to predict the power of this race. We spells and weaving magic wherever she goes. must defend before siege. Learn the ways of these Dian Cecht is a fine Craftsmen and maker of people.” Nuada then interrupted by saying “why Nuada’s silver hand. He is the great god of healing don’t we have Dian Cecht create a staff that could and is the physician of the Tuatha de Anu. It was be imbued with our powers and used to protect Dian who blessed the well Slane in which the the lands of Hibernia even in our absence?” The wounded Tuatha de Anu bathed. It is known that heads of the Tuatha snapped to Nuada and the this would cure all wounds so they could resume air became rather still. Dagda said calmly “Aye brother… I do feel that would be our best plan of fighting. action.” The other Tuatha quickly agreed. Lir is the god of the sea and father of four. The most controversial of which, was his son Bran, So it was decided that Dian Cecht’s craftsmanship who was born from a mortal woman. Lir’s love for would be called upon again. He began crafting a 95

shod staff made of duskwood with an emerald the size of a fist encased in its peak. After the staff was crafted the Tuatha met once again to perform a ritual that would place their powers into this staff. As the ritual progressed the storm that had been bantering the hillside for days diminished. The sun peaked out between the clouds and shined upon the shrine illuminating it with a breathtaking aura. Small wisps of light began flowing through the bodies of the Tuatha into the staff. When the wisps of light disappeared Anu stepped forward and mumbled an ancient blessing. She then bent down and kissed the emerald, which was placed at the staff’s crown. The staff began glowing a silvery green color and Anu named it “Bioran de Saorsa”.

goddess Anu a gift. It was a golden necklace with a leaf embossed pendant that he had spent many hours crafting for her.

As he set the necklace on the base of the center stone the rain that had been hammering his blue hooded gossamer cloak dispersed and a beam of light illuminated the shrine. Anu appeared next the stone clothed in vines of ivy. Her skin was far paler than he expected. Her red hair flowed into the wind like fireflies dancing in the moonlight. Her eyes were like emeralds yet peaceful and soothing. He was mesmerized by her beauty and could barely breath. But as the wind stilled and Anu’s lips parted, he felt warm and safe, not terrified like before. She spoke to him and requested that At this point the Tuatha decided they needed a he build a tower so vast that it could house a staff place they could house this powerful yet destructive created by the Tuatha de Anu. She gave to him the staff. Anu decided it was time to contact a mortal plans for this tower and then disappeared into the and instruct them to build a tower that could light. protect this staff. She sought out an individual so pure of heart that he would perform this task Within one season cycle Allister had the tower without questioning her motives or inquire about completely constructed. It was erected just north the origins of this sacred staff. It was imperative east of the town of Magmell and he called it the that the staff be kept secret, as every rogue from “Tùr na Tir na mBeo” or the “Tower of the land Innis Carthaig to Tir Urphost would be seeking it of the living”. The Tuatha de Anu came to Tùr na Tir na mBeo and placed the staff in its highest out for its valuable emerald. point. Upon placing the Bioran de Saorsa into its holder a bright light flowed from the staff into the sky creating a barrier that would prevent foreign invasion. This barrier was known as the Veil. The following season ships were seen to the coastline just passed the hills of Emain Macha. Hundreds of thousands of foreigners began making camp on the beachhead just a days hike from the village of Failte. These humans, who claim to be from the land of Midgard, brought with them hundreds of beasts known as trolls and kobolds. Like Anu had dreamt, they were tall and bulky while others were short and slender. Carragh dé Earsadh

It was at Carragh dé Earsadh, also known as the Monument of Hope that she contacted a druid by the name of Allister Caulfield who was paying his respect to the Tuatha. Allister was a medium sized man with short brown hair and fair skin. He was a man of unquestionable devotion and dedicated his entire life to nature and to worshipping Anu. He had traveled to Carragh dé Earsadh to give the 96

Widespread panic began to arise in the land of Hibernia as tens of thousands of Norsemen, Trolls, and Kobolds stormed into the northeastern lands of Hibernia. Scouts reported a large settlement on the beachhead. Villagers packed their bags and began heading towards the capital city in hopes their lives would be spared. A call to arms was sent across the lands and what forces Hibernia had moved to Emain Macha in hopes they could stop this force about to partake in sieging their homes.

Another season passed before they attempted to siege the Hibernian fort of Dun Crauchon. Legion upon legion began marching towards the north-easternmost keep. Like a sea of steel they progressed towards the mainland. However upon crossing the hills of Emain Macha their skin burst into flames and their bodies were disintegrated within seconds. Half the Midgard legion attempted to pass through the hills of Emain Macha before they finally figured out they could not pass as long as the veil stood. After half the Midgard force fell the Tuatha lead the counter assault. Celts, Elves, and Lurikeen all joined together and pushed the Midgards back the ships in which they came. As the last Midgard ship set sail to the east, an uproar of cheering and celebration was heard across the land. Hibernia was saved thanks to the devotion of Allister to the goddess Anu and the work of the Tuatha de Anu.

Chapter 3: The Fall of the Veil A thousand seasons passed and relations between the Tuatha and the races of Hibernia were strengthening. For they knew that if the veil should fall it would be up to the races of Hibernia to defend their land. While the Lurikeen, Celts, and Elves agreed to the alliance the Firbolg remained at war with the Fomorian and would not agree to peace between the two races. For thousands of years of war placed a thick wall between the Firbolgs and Fomorians. Dagda offered his first daughter Brigid’s hand in marriage to the Fomorian kings son Breas as sign of new life between the Formorian and Tuatha. The Formorian were pleased by this offer and Breas and Brigid gave birth to a son by the name of Ruadan. However the Firbolg were appalled by this gesture. The fact the Tuatha chose the Formorians before Firbolg did not help matters. This did not last long, as before Ruadan’s 15th birthday his own father Breas, out of jealous rage sent him to his death in one of the most meaningless battles ever fought. This caused an all out war between the Tuatha and Formorians and the Tuatha forced the Formorians out of Hibernia.

Now the Formorians can be found on the small island of Hybrasil. Seeing this war take place did however smooth over relations between the Firbolg and Tuatha and finally the Firbolg joined the alliance. Meanwhile in the land of Midgard, a Stormur Herra by the name of Garn was ordered to take a small band of troops to Hibernia. They were ordered to infiltrate the eastern shores of Emain Macha, secure a fortress, and make contact with a greedy Celtic rogue by the name of Kerwyn who had agreed to steal the Bioran de Saorsa. Garn set sail from the port of Mularn. Less than a season later his ships landed on the shores of Emain Macha. A cave quickly became their base camp and was the arranged meeting spot for Kerwyn. At the next full moon Kerwyn arrived late at night by horse. He met with Garn and agreed that in exchange for the staff Garn would give him 5 platinum coins and a home in Midgard in the highest class neighborhood of the Midgard society. Kerwyn spent many months observing the guard cycles and patterns around Tùr na Tir na mBeo. He noticed one guard had a tendency to talk with a local rowan maiden a wee bit too much and talking wasn’t all they were doing. He planned his entrance around the guard’s scandalous affair, planning to sneak in and out of the tower before he would ever notice. His plan went exactly as he imagined and by the next moon cycle he found himself with the Bioran de Saorsa in his hand running riding swiftly to Emain Macha. Once again as winter came, snow fell on the hills east of Ardee. Anu began having nightmares and the Tuatha were called together. Dagda was sent to Tùr na Tir na mBeo to check on the sacred staff. When Dagda arrived he noticed the staff had been stolen. In his rage Dagda struck the tower sending it crumbling to the floor. The staff was gone and worse yet the veil had fallen. The search for the staff began however it was too late. When Kerwyn arrived at Garns hideout he was told that Garn asked he meet him at the village of Failte. The tired and nervous thief made haste to the small Lurikeen village. From a distance he could see a cloud of smoke. As he neared the small bodies of Lurikeens were scattered throughout the 97

Chapter 4: Là na Bàs land. It was an massacre and those who survived the initial raid were captured, locked in their town hall while the children of the village were locked in A cold winter night greeted the Stormur Herra a cage and forced to watch their mothers, fathers, Garn as he set foot in the port of Mularn for the first time in almost four seasons. Several other Midgard and grandparents burst into flames and perish. officials joined him as he marched to the capital Garn rode into town with cynical grin on his face. city. The Midgard king Kaall anxiously awaited his He dismounted his horse and walked over to the return. As he entered the palace he removed his now shaking thief. He took the staff into his hand cloak and gave it to one of his servants. As Garn and yelled something in a Midgard tongue. A approached the throne of King Kaall he wielded loud uproar began and then an utter panic. Garn the glowing green emerald. looked to the cage where the children were held, and noticed the lock had been removed and the A legendary runemaster by Uald took the stone from his hand. The King was most pleased by his children escaped. actions. Uald attempted to summon the power The children arrived at Dun Crauchon and the of this legendary stone but failed. Several times forces of Hibernia were sent to the village of Failte. he attempted and every time resulted the same. When arrived they found the body of the hooded Something was missing he said as he looked to thief stapled to the side of a burned out building Garn. He asked if there was more than just the with a piece of the sacred staff shoved through his stone when he found it. Garn looked to the floor and forehead and through the oaken log wall. Scouts then let out a roar so loud it scared even the king led the troops back to the cave where Garn had set himself. He then looked at Kaall and apologized. up camp. To their dismay the cave was empty. All He told him that it had once been encased in a that was found was a few remains left over from staff and that the staff too must have contained spraggons that had made a tasty meal at one time. power. He mentioned the staff had been broken The Midgards had set sail back to the homeland in two. One half he still possessed. However the to inform their leaders that the Veil had fallen and other half remained in Hibernia and its location the most powerful stone that had ever befallen the was unknown. hands of a mortal, was now in the possession of The king was most displeased by this and sent Garn Midgard. along with five warships full of trolls, norsemen, Fear and sorrow plagued Hibernia and King Fagan and kobolds to seek out this second half of the was more interested in mining silver from the staff. The oceans were not kind to the Norse as two Silvermine Mountains, than he was preserving his of their ships overturned on the way to Hibernia. kingdom. The veil had fallen and the only thing The remaining three ships arrived near the old standing from total domination was the people settlement in Emain Macha. When Garn set foot of Hibernia and the Tuatha de Anu. When Fagan on Hibernia soil even the willow trees wept in realized he might lose the Silvermine Mountains sorrow. For there was only one outcome in store and all that lay within if he did not act to keep the for Hibernia, total destruction. Midgard’s away he ordered a messenger to travel to Albion to seek assistance from their neighboring Garn spent one month rebuilding he lair before setting out for the first medium sized village. He Island. came across a Firbolg village by the name of Darag. It was known that the War of the Realm had begun. By nightfall Failte looked like a carnival compared Several strongholds were constructed to protect to Darag. This time Garn spared no one. He almost the land and scouts were ordered to patrol all butchered the entire village, only a handful of the coastal land constantly and to notify Fagan when Firbolg managed to escape. The chieftain of this the Midgard’s resurfaced. It was only a matter of village, Rusg, was tortured and killed after he would not speak of what happened to the second time before the “Là na Bàs” or the Day of Death. half of the staff. This was the largest massacre that had ever fallen Hibernia. It became known as Là na Bàs. 98

Three more villages were plagued by Garn’s wrath in the following days and word of his presence arrived in Tir na nOg. King Fagan was furious that Garn had disrupted his silver trade routes once again and called upon their allies to the east. Within a half a season Albion forces arrived. The Albion forces were greeted by thousands of Hibernians. The two nations combined an assault and managed to push Garn’s forces out of Emain Macha. Yet it was not over. As the Albion and Hibernians pushed the Midgard forces back, fifty more ships arrived unleashing yet more terror on the nation.

the soul. With the portals unleashing hundreds and thousands of trolls and kobolds unto Hibernia, the Albion drafted an idea to take over one of the portals to allow Albion troops to move directly into Emain Macha to meet the resistance head on. Fagan approved this plan and the Hibernian and Albion forces slammed into the southern portal crushing its opposition. An Albion mage then cast a similar spell that Uald used to create a gateway between Albion and Hibernia. Albion forces came by the thousands and joined together with the Hibernian forces. Together they crushed Midgard’s remaining settlements and pushed them back to their last stronghold. The fight would have been won if it weren’t for the Black Plague that befell Albion. That is when the real battle began.

Onboard one of the ships that had docked at the Midgard settlement came Uald, a very wise and powerful runemaster. The Midgard forces constructed two strongholds in the east side of Emain Macha. Inside these strongholds Uald used an ancient summoning stone and a spell that allows the bending of matter which allowed him to Chapter 5: The Black Death construct two portals that would allow Midgards to flow into the land without wasting several months The spring brought with it more than just color at sea. and warmth to the land of Albion. With it came a Fagan quickly demanded the creation of two gates plague of which none had ever witnessed. It began that would be used to halt the Midgard forces from in a small town outside of Lyonness. A local villager entering Emain Macha. The creation of these gates came out of the woods terrified and barely able did not go without blood being spilled. Hundreds to speak. His ramblings were so delusional that of Hibernian soldiers passed to the netherworld people took him as a mad man who had too much to drink. A wealthy man took him to the local inn defending the gates construction. and paid to his stay for the night. By morning the The Tuatha de Anu were greatly saddened by man covered in black welts, his fingers had turned these casualties and decided it was time to black in color and he lacked the strength to even endow the soldiers of Hibernia with the same life move. By nightfall three of his fingers had fallen giving power that Brighid possessed. The Tuatha off at the knuckle, and the welts on his body began traveled to every major city and taught the master to burst, leaking a white substance. By the next healers to use the town’s runestone to bring the morning he was nothing more than a mutilated fallen soldiers back from the dead. Each soldier piece of flesh. That day five more people became was then given a miniature runestone that would ill. By the end of the week, hundreds of Albion bind him or her to their hometown’s stone. These men, women, and children were ill as well. quickly became known as Bindstones. With this innovation the Hibernian soldiers fought without The Albion king set up a stockade preventing anyone from entering or exiting the east side of fear of death. Albion. In this great state of turmoil he ordered However, there was one way that the spirit could be all of his troops to withdraw from Hibernia, as he lost and not return to the bindstone. If by chance would need them to contain the illness that the the miniature stone was lost or not on the body locals began calling “The Black Death”. The troops of the fallen victim the body would be lost in the immediately pulled out of Hibernia leaving the netherworld and permanent death would overtake fight up to their neighboring island.

Within a month many of the Albion soldiers had fallen victim to this illness. The king ordered his best Alchemist to study this illness and find a cause and a cure. He traveled to Lyonness to begin his research. His research led him to the woods to the south of Lyonness where he found a necklace that had Ogham script written on it. This concerned him as the nations relations with the Tuatha and the Hibernian people had been peaceful for many centuries. The alchemist traveled back to Lyonness to speak with the innkeeper who might have heard something of the ill mans ramblings. When he arrived the innkeeper had also fallen prey to the illness. His journal was taken back to the alchemistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; workshop where he read about the sick man collapsing to the floor speaking of a tall dark skinned beast, with an amulet around his neck. The man said he swung his dagger at the beast cutting its necklace off. Before he could escape the beast cast a spell on him and then vanished.

greenish fluid. He drew his dagger and scrapped a small amount off the bark and placed it into a small satchel. He took it back to the lab to compare notes. After weeks of research he found that it was not the blood of a Firbolg or Fomorian, but that of a Troll. The amulet was sent to a master of cultural arts and he determined that the amulet was one that was give to each Hibernian chieftain to protect their village from harm. It was also noted that the amulet came from the village of Darag where the Midgards had ravaged the small Firbolg village. This news did not set well with alchemist. He realize by assuming something so bold he cause a war between two peaceful nations. In the night, the alchemist slipped into the Lyonness bell tower and jumped from its edge. His body crumbled as it smashed into the hard rock below. In the weeks following the kings men packed their things and returned home.

One season had passed and not much hope remained in Hibernia. People began fleeing south of the great walls of Druim Cain and Druim Ligen. He looked at the amulet in his hand, which Every day several more cities were destroyed. It possessed Ogham script on it and began making was only a matter of time before the Midgards and notes. He wrote in his journal that the man was Albion would march into capital city of Tir na nOg. rambling of a curse put on him by a tall dark skinned creature that wore and amulet with the Seeing the unrest in the nation and the latest turn divine language of the Hibernian Gods on it. He of events, Anu called upon the Tuatha de Anu to went on to note that this was most likely a Firbolg meet with her once again. She had decided it was or Fomorian and could possibly have been one of time to use the 10 Seeds of Anu. The last hope of Hibernia. the Tuatha. He sent this journal back to the King and this cause great unrest between the two nations. He asked himself, how could the Tuatha bring this death to the people who had been helping them. The betrayal was too much to overlook. He ordered his troops to attack Hibernia. The following months became the largest wave of bloodshed Hibernia had ever seen.

Chapter 6: The 10 Seeds of Anu With the black death spreading across eastern Albion, and the remaining Albion force amassing in Emain Macha, Hibernia found they now had two foes threatening their way of life. The king was troubled and knew that if he did not put an end to this, all of Hibernia would fall. He called upon eight of Hiberniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best scouts.

Albion and Midgard raiding parties ravaged the hillside of Emain Macha. Folk of the land began referring to Emain Macha as land of blood as blood had stained so much of the land it glowed The first to arrive was resident of the city of Howth, which could be found deep in the Silvermine red in color. Mountains. He was a young lad by the name of Meanwhile, back in Lyonness, the Alchemist went Ethan Foghladha. Professionally he was a well back to the area where he found the amulet. On known as the Lurikeen ranger that had previously a nearby tree he saw what appeared to be a dark scouted many of the Midgard movements. King 100

Fagan ordered him to scout the movements of the famed Kobold shadowblade, Garn.

Alexis’ mind at ease. She had an ill feeling about this that she could not seem to dismiss.

This news troubled Ethan as he had seen the village where his grandparents lived destroyed in a matter of minutes under Garn’s hand. He traveled to his home in Howth, to his wife Alexis and sons Banning and Alaois. Upon entering the gates Alaois came running jumping in excitement to see his father had returned from the capitol city. Ethan kneeled down next Alaois and handed him a bow he had crafted on his journey to Tir na nOg. Alaois looked to him with bright eyes and embraced his father.

Morning came and the birds began to sing. Alaois packed his father’s bags and Ethan set off for Druim Ligen where he was to be given his orders. As he rode off, Alaois ran along side his horse wishing his father good luck. Ethan looked back at Alexis as she blew him a kiss and then rode towards the horizon.

Meanwhile, in Bri Leith, the Tuatha de Anu gathered on the hill they met at long ago. Only nine members made it to the gathering as the others were seeing to the removal of the Albion His wife Alexis was the next to greet him. In her and Midgard forces. Anu looked over the nine arms was his second son Banning, who while he war torn Gods and Godesses and stepped into the was away took his first steps. Ethan leaned over center of their circle. She then held out her hand and smiled at his son Banning and then kissed and chanted an ancient blessing on the 10 seeds in him on his forehead. Alexis glowed with an aura her hand. She spoke of a prophecy, which was said of pure delight. Her hair was as red as the sunsets that in the final days of unrest when all is thought over the Silvermine Mountains and skin as fair as to be lost that there would be 10 seeds to rise up beaches of Connla. He held her tightly as he knew upon evil and save the land of Hibernia. it would only be a day before he must depart. Anu passed one seed to each of the nine gods Alexis had cooked a fine meal for him and they and told them to find one family each that could discussed his orders over dinner. Alaois looked at handle the burden that the 10 seeds would bring. his father with pride hearing as he was ordered by She also told them not to speak of the seeds to the King of Hibernia to seek out one of the most the nine families, which they were to give these famed Midgard’s to ever touch Hibernian soil. seeds. It was said that the 10th seed, the seed Anu Alexis on the other hand wore a rather saddened herself would give would be told of the 10 seeds face and was disturbed by this news. The time and it would be up to them to seek out the other came for kids to go to bed and Alexis and Ethan seeds. The gods agreed, and they set forth on their tucked them in and told them stories of the Gods epic search to find the ten families that would be known as The 10 Seeds of Anu. and Goddesses. Alexis and Ethan returned to their room where Alexis wrapped her arms around Ethan tightly. She gave to him a necklace of badger teeth she had made for him and in return Ethan gave her his old bow he had used for years. He said he never threw it away because it brought him luck.

Chapter 7: The Gaiscioch na Anu

Ethan Foghladha arrived in Druim Ligen on the first day of the new winter. He reported to Caiptean Lucas MacKerry III, and was given his charts and That night Alexis and Ethan did not sleep. Instead, orders. His orders stated he was to travel to Emain they embraced each other as they gazed up at Macha and scout Garn’s encampment to find out the stars. Ethan took Alexis’ hand and told her how many soldiers were under his command. He that no matter what, the Gods would protect her was to leave the next morning. and be looking over them while he was away. He assured her that he would be all right as he had That night he went to a pub in Ardee for a drink his bindstone firmly fastened around his neck. before he long travels. Here he sat on his stool He knew if by chance he fell he would be saved by thinking of Alexis and his sons back home. To his the mages in Tir na nOg. However this did not set left he noticed a young Lurikeen lad sitting in the 101

corner. He had his steeple hat pulled so low than no one could see his eyes. He was dressed in black and had carved a dagger with a rose into his walking stick. Ethan approached him wondering why he looked so distraught. As Ethan approached young lad quickly hid the engraving on his staff. With a cough in his voice Ethan asked the boy his name. The boy looked to him slightly without revealing his eyes and said, “I do not concern myself with names.” This statement confused Ethan. Ethan slowly pulled up a stool to the table and sat down. The Lurikeen seemed to grow uncomfortable to his presence. Ethan asked the boy “What troubles ye lad?” The Lurikeen moved his hand revealing a name in his staff… Two words were inscribed on the staff, “Fogair Garn”. Ethan then knew this was one of the children of Failte. Ethan asked the boy if he knew anything about Garn that might help him find his lair. The boy nodded and began telling Ethan about the night his parents were killed. Several hours passed and the boy and Ethan compared stories. It was time at last for Ethan to rest and he asked the boy one more time what his name was. The boy said “you can call me Conchobair De Failte” Ethan nodded at the boy repeating the phrase Fogair Garn, which in the modern tongue means Destroy Garn. The next dawn came and Ethan once again packed his things and set off on foot to Emain Macha. The road was long and oftentimes wet. Ethan kept on schedule arriving in Emain just before the leaves began to fall. Ethan’s first stop was at the village of Failte. There he placed a stone that Conchobair had given him on the burned remains of their town hall. Ethan noticed a piece of driftwood lying next to a well. As he began to reach for it he heard the sound of something rather large coming his way. Ethan grabbed his bag and dove behind the remains of a small building.

of the success of his mission in Albion. Ethan did not immediately understand the depths of this but then realized that this Shaman must have been the cause of the Black Death. Ethan then attempted to sneak out of the Midgard encampment but a hunter had caught onto his scent. Ethan looked at the hunter who was about to fire his bow and before the Hunter could get a shot off, Ethan drew his stiletto, and threw it at the hunter splitting the string of his bow and stabbing the hunter in the neck. The sound of the hunter’s body falling onto the leaves that had fallen in the night’s wind triggered the guard’s eyes. Ethan began to run grabbing his dagger from the corpse of the hunter. Ethan ran but the trolls did not seem to tire. He was almost to the Mile Gate, when on the horizon stood more than a hundred trolls and kobolds. He turned to run the other way and noticed another hundred trolls. He had been surrounded. A small group of trolls moved in on Ethan’s position. Ethan drew his bow and let loose a fury of arrows killing six of the trolls. Ethan was down to his last arrow. He barely could make out the silhouette of a figure on a horse in the distance. He cocked back his bow and let his last arrow loose. The arrow seemed to be carried by the Gods as is roared through the sky. A moment later the arrow pierced through the figures thigh and into the body of the horse killing the horse instantly. Ethan watched as the horse fell to the ground crushing the figures leg under it. Several large figures most likely trolls ran to his position and removed the horse from his wounded leg.

Next a group of six kobolds began to close on his location. Ethan drew his daggers knowing that if he was to die, he was going to bring as many as he could with him. The group formed a circle around him and began dancing around as if to try to taunt Ethan. Ethan tossed his first dagger into the air He sat there very still while a least a hundred trolls and reached for his spare dagger. The kobolds all ran by. He peered out from behind the rocks to see looked up at the dagger as it soared higher and the mark of Garn’s warband on the cloaks of these higher flipping end over end. A moment later trolls. Ethan grabbed his bag and began following Ethan lunged and thrust his daggers into two this group of trolls. They led him to a Midgard kobold chests then swung around slashing another settlement right off the coast. As Ethan moved trolls throat then as the other 3 drew their axes closer to try to get an accurate count another and Ethan threw his left handed dagger at one group of trolls came marching into town. With this of the trolls piercing his skull as if it were made group was a shaman. The shaman spoke to Garn of cloth. The second troll charged him and Ethan 102

Ligen. The guards would not her pass even after she offered them money. As she was leaving she bumped into a young Lurikeen wearing a Steeple hat so low that it hid his eyes. She apologized for bumping into him and he grabbed her hand. He placed a dagger in her hand and told her that Ethan had given it to her. He went on to tell her of their encounter and that Ethan had been seeking the Kobold Garn. Conchobair then told her of a way she can get passed the gates. Seems Conchobair had been traveling back to Failte once a month Ethan walked over and collected his three daggers to pay his respects. He showed Alexis to small and awaited the next group. The shadowy figure opening he had dug to circumvent Druim Ligen. As with the wounded leg began limping towards him. she exited the small cave Conchobair said, “forgive Ethan waited in anticipation to get a good shot at me mi lady, but I do not believe I asked ye your him. When the figure was almost in range an arrow name.” Alexis looked back to him and answered pierced Ethan’s leg from behind causing him to fall “Foghladha… I shall be known only as Foghladha”. to the ground. Ethan attempted to rise to his feet With that she turned to the long road ahead and again and an arrow pierced his shoulder. Ethan fell marched off towards Emain Macha. to the floor yet did not shed a tear. He did not rise again. He laid there quietly asking Anu to protect She arrived in Emain Macha on the first night of his wife and children. Two trolls approached him winter. The rains hammered Hibernia as if the taking his bow and daggers. They sat him on his Gods were angry. Another day passed and she neared the village of Failte. She found a few of knees all grew quiet. Ethan’s wooden animals he liked to carve while he The limping figure approached Ethan and as he was away and began searching for clues to where looked up he saw the wounded Kobold Garn. Garn he had gone. She found a trail of footprints too drew his axe took a hand full of hair in his hand large to human and followed them. By daybreak and swung. Garn raised Ethan’s head and roared. she was at the Midgard encampment. She counted Ethan’s limp body fell to the floor and a loud roar at least two hundred Midgards and decided it would be best to take the slowly. could be heard as far as the mile gate. evaded his charge by spinning away. As the kobold passed Ethan he threw his second dagger into the spine of the kobold. The last kobold looked around at all his fallen comrades and the lone Lurikeen standing there empty handed. The troll smiled and then began laughing furiously. Ethan then placed his hand behind his back catching the dagger he had tossed into the air. The last kobold opened his eyes to see a dagger sticking out of his skull. His vision turned red and he fell to the floor.

Then next morning another scout opened the mile gate to see a box sitting in front of it. He opened this box and began go gasp. It was Ethan’s head, all which had remained of him. His head traveled back to Tir na nOg with a message written on his forehead. This appalled King Fagan. He had his best scribes try to translate the carvings on Ethan’s forehead and sent a messenger to notify his family. A couple days later the messenger arrived in Howth and delivered the message to Alexis. Alexis was mesmerized by the letter and literally turned white. She went into her house and gave Banning and Alaois a hug and kiss and told them that she must travel north. She told them their father had asked her to meet him. Banning and Alaois smiled un-expecting and Alexis packed her bag and rode off into the mist. Several days passed and Alexis arrived at Druim

The first was mage that had left the camp to empty his grog filled bladder. Foghladha crept up behind him drew her dagger and slit hit throat. She then took her dagger and cut his kneecaps out of his body and placed them in her bag. She then snuck back to the foothills overlooking the camp and began sharpening the two kneecaps into four arrowheads. By nightfall she had four arrows made of bone and creped back into camp. She watched as a patrol of 5 guards began to set out to the woods. She followed the quietly. As they entered the clearing one of them spun around at the sound of a bow being drawn. He began feeling cold and looked towards the ground to see an arrow in his chest. The troll went limp and fell to the ground. Before his body hit the floor two more arrows flew through the air hitting one troll in the chest and the other in the eye. The last two troll drew their weapons and stood back to 103

back. The creak of one last bowshot was the last thing either of these trolls heard. An arrow pierced both of their necks sending them into death before they could even speak. Foghladha then took the five trolls and gathered their kneecaps and once again began carving arrowheads.

handed the young lady a solitary seed and said “Where you find this seeds siblings, you will find the hope of Hibernia. It is imperative that you seek out the other 9 seeds and bring them into your family, uniting all 10 families.”

The young lady shed a tear of happiness knowing The next season Foghladha took the trolls out that there was hope for her two young boys. Anu one by one taking their kneecaps after each kill. then asked, “What might be ye name young lady”. The Midgard’s began fearing the legend of the The young lady paused and grinned and said Nightwalker and rarely left the camp without “Foghladha” Anu looked curiously at Foghladha an armed escort. By the time winter had begun and asked “Dost ye have no surname?” Foghladha Foghladha had slain over two hundred Midgard’s replied “I had a name long ago but the loss of and she had only one more that she desired. The my husband Ethan caused me to banish my own Kobold Garn. She followed his movements for name. I want him to be the last to ever speak my days and finally took her shot. For the first time in name. So I took on his surname as my own name.” nearly two seasons she missed. Garn turned and Anu smiled and said “I happy to know that the fate saw her and began to run. He managed to escape of our land lies in the hand of someone who acts out of love. Love and friendship will be the reason and fled back to Midgard. Hibernia prevails. If you hold love and friendship Foghladha ridden with sorrow went home. She above all else ye will succeed.” Foghladha nodded had failed in killing the man that had slain her and looked to the ground with a slight blush. husband and vowed to slay this Kobold before she When she looked up Anu was gone. She placed the left this world. She set off for Carragh dé Earsadh amulet around her neck and turned to walk away. That’s when she stumbled upon a little Lurikeen to ask one last favor of the Gods. named Anwell. He had seen the whole thing and Meanwhile, The Tuatha de Anu began seeking was awestruck. He was stuttering as if he were the 10 Seeds of Anu. The 9 Gods traveled far and freezing cold. Foghladha placed her hand on his wide and the goddess Anu had saved one seed for head and said “believe what you saw for I saw it herself. This seed was to be used to form the family as well.” Anwell looked into Foghladha’s eyes that would bring the families together. It was at the and said, “If you will have me I would like to help foot of the stones of Carragh dé Earsadh that Anu you find this family”. Foghladha agreed and the noticed a young lady broken by rage and sorrow Gaiscioch na Anu was formed. kneeled in prayer. Her husband had been slain and she was left to care for her two young sons. She had just returned from Emain Macha after several moons of tracking her husband murderers. Her rage had consumed her so deep that she had lost touch with all sense of reality. It was at this moment that Anu appeared next the center stone and lifted the young ladies chin to look her in the face and wiped a cold tear from her eye. She said “Worry not my child your destiny is not that of your husbands. You must find strength and prevail over the demons that besiege you.” She placed into her hand a golden Amulet with an embossed leaf upon it. On the other side was carved the words Gaiscioch na Anu. Anu then spoke “Take this Amulet and form a family so great it could protect all of Hibernia. Do this in my honor and the land shall be saved.” She then 104

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Welcome to the World of

ArcheAge By: Amanda “Soren” Carr

As one of the most highly anticipated Korean MMORPGs making its way to North America (rumored to be sometime this year) Trion, alongside partner and developer XL Games, look to breathe life into an epic sandpark MMO that promises to deliver all kinds of out of the box fun and a game that you can truly play how you want, when you want. All players begin their journey on either the Nuia or Harihara continents. From there they explore the world, cooperating or competing with each other as necessary to survive. Remnants of the Lost Continent, where the ancestors of the world’s races lived together in peace two thousand years ago, still dominate the landscape. If you explore deep into the hearts of these ancient relics, you may discover the secrets of legendary gods and heroes or if you are very lucky, you may reveal more details about the catastrophe that caused the Nuia and Harihara schism.

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Build Creators & Theory Crafters Unite! Classes & Skill Sets ArcheAge presents a class and skill system that can surprise even the most veteran of MMO players. With 10 interchangeable skills sets and the ability to have 3 slotted at any given time once level 10, players will find themselves with a whopping 120 unique character classes to choose from. Have a warrior that you want to control the undead and give buffs via bard songs? Go for it. Have a rogue that you want to be able to tank and sling spells? Go for it. Have an archer you want to control the elements and heal? You can do that too. And you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just limited to one class either. Should you wish to change and tinker with you character class you can, for a nominal fee, meaning if a player wanted to they could unlock all 120 classes on one character. 110

The game offers a simplistic system to get players into the game fast. By simply leveling you gather skill points which can be used to unlock various skills within each skill tree. Skills are then selected and a simple drag and drop will allow you to place skills on 1 of 4 unique skill bars. Learned skills can be swapped out at any time a player is not in combat making choosing abilities based on certain fights or areas a player may wander into a breeze. But it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just stop there! Choosing skills that have synergies with each other will allow players to string together powerful combos that can be unleashed on their enemies with sometimes devastating effects. Alongside basic and combat skills players will also have access to 21 Proficiency (Crafting) skills, 10 languages, and 46 emotes.

Factions, Guilds & the Pirate Isles In ArcheAge there are four playable races spread over two continents: the Nuians and the Elves share the western continent- Nuia, while the Firran and Harani inhabit the eastern lands- Haranya. All 4 races are loosely connected by ties long preceding the Exodus however, allegiances are fluid and further complicated by the Pirate and player made factions inhabiting the world. Aside from just meeting up with fellow players in your own faction, ArcheAge goes out of its way to let players group up and run with family and friends in a more personal way. Families: Similar to a guild, Families allow for smaller tight knit groups of friends and players ranging from 2-8, to play with each other regardless

of faction. Families also have a couple perks that make them worth looking into such as the ability to share property rights (houses, farms, shipyards etc) as well as a custom chat channel. The family system runs parallel to the guild system meaning you can be in both a family and a guild and gain all the benefits of!

settings can only be applied to the East and West factions. Currently no member cap.

Pirate Faction: Aye, shiver me timbers matey! If pirating be in yer blood ye should be joining the crews of the Silent Ocean! That’s right, if thieving, stealing, bribing, pillaging and plundering are your life’s calling Expeditionary Forces the Pirate’s Faction is for you! (Guilds): Expeditionary forces Anyone who has been exiled are the lifeblood of the game and from their current faction by are required to explore deep into collecting 3000 crime points can enemy territory, take and claim be a pirate. Crime points can be land on the Northern Continent, gathered by committing various move large amounts of trade felony’s in the eyes of you fellow packages in relative safety, build players. Once the requirements guild houses/towns/castles and for becoming a pirate have declare war. In order to form been met you will automatically one, players must be at minimum added to the faction and have level 5, have a full party and the access to the Pirate Isles. Keep required gold to create and are in mind that as a pirate your limited to faction only members. reputation will precede you so Expeditions are currently have keep an eye out for other greedy no cap on alpha but that may pirates, trade escorts, players and bounty hunters. Currently change yet. no member cap. Player Factions (Nation): The Justice System Ambition is key! What good are guilds if you can’t join forces As an MMO with a high amount with like minded others? With of freedom, you can bet your last thoughts of expansion firmly in copper that ArcheAge has quite your mind, and alliances to plot a few players who are less than and plan, it’s time to usher in a new era of national independence! Any guild owning territory on the Northern Continent can choose to run a special quest and upon completion, have their Expedition Force reborn as a new faction. New factions allow you to combine players of other factions regardless of race or previous faction. So long as they are willing to join your faction everyone will be one big happy family. Player factions have the ability to communicate and establish independent relations to other factions. Currently these

savory. Luckily there is a Crime and Punishment system in place to help keep things in balance. Good Samaritans, aka fellow players, may report crimes if they happen to stumble across or witness anything that could be questionable. For example, Murders tend to leave bloody spots on the ground where the event took place while theft will leave a trail of footprints to follow. As players continue to commit various crimes they will accumulate crime points (shown in the character panel). The severity of the transgression will determine how many crime points are handed out. If a player has 50+ crime points they will be sent to prison on their next death. This is where the real fun begins! Upon awakening in jail, players have the option of giving a guilty plea for a maximum sentence or if they are feeling brave, can go up before a randomly selected jury of their peers and attempt to sway the jury in their favor. Jurors are selected at random from a pool of players over level 30+ that have volunteered for jury duty and when selected, are

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Live Like a King - Player Housing The ArcheAge housing system is a complex yet highly entertaining open world system that is accessible to anyone playing the game, the same way your house in the real world is there and anyone can come knocking. Leave a door unlocked or a window open and don’t be surprised if things tend to go missing. Housing requires that Since prison life isn’t meant to you have a few things in order be glamorous and a deterrent before you can begin building for future crimes. When a player such as blueprints and materials is sentenced they will receive a like wood and stone. Blueprints severe debuff that lasts until all can be found for various things like, houses, farms, and castles. time is served. presented with a window listing the accused’s crimes. They then have the option to ask questions and hear defenses in a special chat window for trials (open to the public). The jury is then asked to vote guilty or not guilty. The amount of guilty votes will determine how much time a player will serve and can range from as little as 1 minute to well over 726 minutes.

Players, while in prison do have a few options to help pass the time such as soccer, chat, dig, kill rats and of course, escape!

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Mounts: Your first mount will come from one of you early quests, usually before level 7, though you can also get various mounts from merchants and rare drops. When a player receives a mount it is usually a baby and will need to be raised until they grow into furry companion. Once fully grown, mounts can be summoned into the world. They have their own stat bar, skills, exp, and equip slots. You can ride them, feed them, or simply have them follow you around. Each mount comes with its own special abilities so it is always good to make sure your mount matches your needs. Some mounts include Elk, Deer, Bears, Travelling in Style Cows (yes you can milk your own The world of ArcheAge is massive, cow), Unicorns, Donkeys and with a huge range of landscapes Yata! to seek out and explore. What better way to get around the Gliders: Take to the air and world than with a variety of enjoy a bird’s eye view of the transportation options! entire world! The basic glider

can be acquired through an early quest and can be upgraded through the crafting system at various levels. Every glider has some basic stats such as: Flight speed, gliding ability, turning speed, and decent speed. As an added bonus gliders also have a combination of abilities that can do everything from improve flight time to dropping bombs on enemy factions.

Portals: Players have the ability to quick travel to memorized locations by using reagents known as Hereafter Stones. As you journey through the continents you will encounter Memory Tombs in various towns that will let you record your location and allow you to set a recall point if desired. World Portals on the other hand are stored and saved in your Boats: Oceans are just as characters teleport book. They expansive as the land based areas can be used by simply opening with tons of unmapped areas your book and clicking on where ripe for exploring. Travel on the you’d like to go. high seas can be dangerous and rewarding and explorers will Open Warfare - PvP have access to a variety of ships such as, rowboats, clippers, World PvP in ArchAge is quite merchant ships, submarines, a bit different than your regular MMO. Those that have played war ships and fishing boats. EvE: Online will be rather Ground Transport: Enter the familiar with the open world world of steam-tech! Roadsters environment – Think Null-Sec. and Farm Wagons rule the Players that enter into these roads and open areas and can areas can be attacked and killed be an asset for fast traveling and by anyone depending on which efficiency in trade. Keep in mind zone they are in. traffic laws are non-existent and PvP is largely dependent on your accidents are common.

level and zone, and zones are divided into 3 types: Newbie Zones: can’t engage in any pvp and pretty much safe until level 31+ zones. Beware pirates though Same Faction Peace Zone: When in these zones you can’t be attacked by those of opposing factions unless you attack first. Attacking a player in this zone means that only they can attack you back making this an ideal area to test your skills in 1v1 fights Same Faction War Zone: Each zone has 5 of these areas. When they are in conflict or at war you can be attacked by anyone in the zone including your own faction. After a certain amount of time has passed the zone enters a peace state where no one can attack each other. Open PvP: Open water and the Northern Continent are always at war so tread carefully. 113

Pirate Faction: members of this faction can attack anyone at any time regardless of faction or location. Being a pirate however means you are not welcome on the East or West continents and you can be attacked by anyone at any time including NPCs. Eventually players are going to be drawn to the hostile Northern continent in search of riches and more lucrative trade deals, and in the case of Expeditionary Forces, claim land for their chosen faction. Owning land does have its perks such as being able to build a castle, build a guild town and charge taxes for those living there, gain rare resources and of course gain the ability to siege other castles.

if the defending guild brings in mercenaries the attacking guild is allowed to bring in reinforcements after 20 minutes so the battle has the potential to be 100 vs 100.

and boss raids, combined with the open world and ever changing sandbox elements of the market and pvp, means Archeage has the potential to be something fresh and unique.

PvP isn’t just restricted to land however. Head on out to the high seas for some epic unrestricted naval warfare! That’s right! On the high sea’s there is no rules and anything goes! Not only do you have to watch out for other merchant ships, mercenaries and pirates, you need to be extra wary of things that lurk deep within the oceans depths.

ArcheAge has a certain nostalgia that older MMOs had, and brings with it a lot of the older game systems not seen since I first dabbled in EvE. The world feels alive and the community plays an important role in shaping the overall experience.

Throwing Everything we know about MMO’s Out the Window So far ArcheAge has shown that Sieges start off as 70 vs 70 with the defending guild it isn’t afraid to think outside the having the option to hire up typical box. Standard themepark to 30 mercenaries, however staples such as linear questing

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Currently the game is in its Alpha stages with closed beta set to begin sometime in June. If you are looking to get in on the action early and or just want to see what all the hype is about feel free to wander over to www. archeagegame.com/en and pick up a Founder’s Pack or sign up for the beta!

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Welcome to

WildStar! by: Beth “ Jae Onasi” Carlock with Crystal “Kamia” Gates

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his newest MMO (massively-multiplayer online) game by NCSoft, who also brought us Guild Wars (GW) and Guild Wars 2 (GW2), just went live at the beginning of June. For those who have been playing WildStar, it is a fun romp through a new galaxy and focuses on the planet Nexus. The two main factions are the Exiles and the Dominion. The Exiles are escaping the rule of the Dominion, like the Independents in the show “Firefly” or the Rebels in Star Wars. The Dominion is trying to maintain strict control throughout the galaxy, much like the Empire in Star Wars or the Alliance in Firefly. The factions come together on one planet, called “Nexus.” The adventures start on the ship and landing zone and take off from there.

An Aurin Esper in the Exile faction

Who knew we’d find toilet paper!

While the story content is not nearly as fleshed out as it was for each single class in SWTOR, the stories are different depending on the faction you play, and each class and race have had their tales tweaked to allow a more unique fit into the WildStar universe. If you enjoy witty banter and lots of quips, you’ll love the dialogue in this game. Setting up a character is straightforward, though it might take you awhile to get through all the choices. There are different server types: PvP (player versus player), PvE (player versus environment), and RP (role-playing) PvP and PvE servers. Each faction has four different races and six classes. On top of that, you can choose four paths. Paths are designed to accommodate a player’s particular style of gaming, whether that’s running all over a map to learn every tiny detail or to build items for personal and guild use.

This Draken Warrior is from the Dominion faction

The art style is bright and cartoony. This isn’t the game for those who prefer to stick to pure realism— it’s far more geared to light-hearted fun. The details are hilariously over-the-top, and the quips in game are worthy of the banter written for Han Solo or Star Wars: The Old Republic’s (SWTOR) Smuggler and Bounty Hunter storylines.

Faces can be selected from one of the templates and then further customized. Enjoy the Jetson hair.

Like Elder Scrolls Online, there is tremendous customization in skills and crafting in addition to the classes and races offered at the start of the game. While you may choose a Human Esper at the beginning of the game, your character’s gameplay may be entirely different from another Human Esper depending on the skill trees you select throughout the game. 117

button for long to move their toon, such as those with limited hand movements. Adjustments can be made in the graphics and audio to help people with vision and hearing losses so that many more people can enjoy the game more fully. I give the WildStar team kudos for putting so much effort into being inclusive to as many players as possible.

Crafting materials won’t clutter up your main inventory bag, happily.

The combat animations are fun and easy for me to differentiate, which is great since I’m terrible at identifying these in general by sight alone. Many of the combat options can be adjusted in the settings if you prefer better immersion, and there are numerous add-ons for the game, very much like the add-ons that we can find for Elder Scrolls Online. These can be a tremendous help for both hard-core and casual players. Quests are easy to find, and the quest markers were clear, especially in the tutorial zone. The directions were straightforward and the quest locations were not difficult to find.

You can return to the quest giver or just call them from your phone when you complete an objective.

One thing NCSoft has worked hard on is including options for people with various disabilities. There is a color-blind option for the three main different types of color vision defects located in the combat settings. Deuteranopia and protanopia are for those with red-green color vision defects (deuteranopia being the more common version—experiment to see which works best for you), and tritanopia is for those with the rare blue-yellow color blindness. I also noted a ‘click to move’ option, which is especially helpful for those who can’t hold down a 118

JaeOnasi rescues five chattering veggies. Make sure you have the sound on for this one.

While this is a subscription model game, the developers have created the C.R.E.D.D. system, where you can exchange paid play time for ingame gold and vice versa. People who have limited “Real Life” funds can play the game, earn in-game gold, and exchange that gold for more game time. People who want to be able to buy items quickly or need more gold for their favorite decorative item for their house can use real currency to buy in-game gold. This is similar to Turbine’s coin system in Lord of the Rings Online to unlock playable content or GW2’s gem store items—but also imagine being able to buy more game time with those gems. This makes WildStar more accessible to those with limited funds and lots of time to play, while allowing those with little time due to Real Life work, school or family demands to purchase some of their favorite skins and items if they choose that route. While one can argue about play-to-win issues if high-powered items can be purchased with cash, I think NCSoft will work to keep it all in balance. The Gaiscioch family does not have an official presence or guild in game, but a couple of guilds from our Tuatha, such as Harbingers of Light, have created a guild in game. Members of the family have set up “Circles” on the Stormtalon server where we can join in to chat, give and receive help, and share items more easily. Of course, we can always chat in RaidCall, too, and everyone is encouraged to hop on and enjoy each other’s company. Details

on how to join a Circle are in the WildStar threads on the Gaiscioch forum.

J: This game is REALLY quirky—the style is kind of ‘Disney animated steampunk While I had a chance to play the game in both open meets Firefly’ with its cartoonish graphics beta and early start, I wanted to chat with one of and ‘space western’ theme. What are your our members who had played WildStar longer favorite quotes or quests in game? and had more experience with it. Kamia has been enjoying the game, so I contacted her for an K: I am not very good at remembering quotes, interview, and she graciously consented to answer but it is non-stop enjoyable. Most games I skip the text to just quest, but in WildStar, all my questions. I am finding that I am reading everything. Jae Onasi (J): What drew you to WildStar? J: How do you feel about the C.R.E.D.D. Kamia (K): I was invited into the very first beta, system? and I accepted. I try to test one game a year in order to have some input. I loved it from the K: I am hoping it turns out to be a good system and start. I found the humor and the play style to offers a person a variety of ways to play and pay. I be amazing. I loved the cartoony characters. haven’t seen it in action yet, since it is early. It seemed like it would be a very fun game. J: Have you tried PvP, and if so, how did J: What’s your favorite class, faction, you like it? pathway, race, and so on? K: PvP is great fun. It is crazy and chaotic, which K: I like the Exile (faction) over the Dominion. I love. The PvP reminds me a bit of World of They are just looking for a home and trying to find Warcraft PvP with the various mission objectives. their place in the world. My favorite race so far is It is very fast-paced and a blast. the Aurin. I like the ‘cutsey woodsey’ person. My favorite class is Spellslinger - I tend to favor ranged J: Are there add-ons for the game, and if dps in any MMO that I play, and it has a wonderful so, what are the best ones and how can we combination of spells and damage abilities, along find them? with some nice heals. The pathway I have enjoyed the best is explorer as I like finding every nook and K: There are many add-ons that help the game. I have found mine from Curse. The couple that cranny, and there is a lot to discover. I am using are ZenRadar - which helps you find everything from lore books and crafting materials, AMP Finder - it helps you find all the AMP’s in the game, and a Junk seller add-on that sells all the junk with one click. J: How is crafting?

One of the many lore books in game

K: Crafting is very unique. It consists of discovery and playing a game of hot or cold. I did find it very confusing to figure out on my own, but after I watched a YouTube video on how to use the system, it made sense and became easier.

J: What would be a good starter class for a J: I saw that a couple players made level new player? 50 in only a couple days on the Stormtalon K: I think every class is good; it really depends on server. Do you think there will be enough what type of play style a person enjoys. I say try content to keep players busy? them all and see what sticks best. 119

K: I believe there is plenty of content. WildStar is not like most games out there. You hit 50 and don’t just start raiding. You have to do adventures first, then expert ones, then dungeons, then expert dungeons, and many attunements all to get to raids. I believe there is a lot of depth that exists in endgame. It is not easy content, so the challenge level is high.

for each class like GW, or is it dramatically different in the way that SWTOR did so well? K: It is pretty much the same storyline for each faction. The main difference is between the Exile and Dominion sides - and that storyline is amazing. The different races have small variations of storyline, but it is nothing like the great development that SWTOR did.

J: How do Gaiscioch members get together in game, since this isn’t formally a Saighdear J: What is the ‘best/coolest/most awesome/ game? most emotional’ moment you’ve had in K: There are many posts on the forums with game so far? people’s names and what servers they are on. The easiest is to add that person as a friend. Once both K: I have enjoyed every part of this game. I am people are online at the same time, they can join really enjoying housing. The depth of what you a circle - which is like a guild, but it’s for chatting can do is incredible. and finding a group. J: Do you recommend WildStar? Are there player types who this game would especially J: How did you like character creation? appeal to? K: It’s not bad; I would like more hair and body options to really fine-tune what I want. There are K: I would recommend this game to everyone. It is some good customizations, but it’s mostly on the unique and has a great development team behind it. I love PvE, PvP, grouping, solo play, housing, and face. pretty much anything else. The depth and thought J: How easy or hard is it to figure out the that went into this game is incredible. I think a person that will enjoy the game is someone that skill system? doesn’t mind the cartoony style and appreciates K: I haven’t had a problem figuring out the skill some witty, not always obvious humor. system, but I have been gaming for many years J: How is combat? I thought the game and have played many different MMOs. made it really clear where and when I was J: WildStar seems to have tried hard to attacking or going to be attacked so I could accommodate players with vision and other dodge (a good thing for me, since I have disabilities (e.g., ‘click to move’ option, bad eyes myself), but it’s pretty obvious color blindness options, and so on). Have and may affect immersion for others. Then you used any of these or know anyone who again, I have all my combat settings turned on, so that may be part of it. has, and have they helped? K: I think the combat is pretty intense. It is a game that is meant to challenge a person. It is always moving and changing. It is not a game where J: Is the loot as quirky as the rest of the someone can stand still. In regards to that, the developers made it very easy to see the big red game? areas of danger. K: Yes, the names and looks of the items fit right in J: The map system is very interesting—you with the quirky, fun game. can hit a button and an arrow and distance J: How does the basic storyline play out marker will show you which way to go, kind with the different classes? Is it the same of like a personal GPS. Do you like it? K: I have no knowledge of these items - I know the game has it, which I think is great.

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K: The world is big and the interface is very should! I think the majority will love it. customizable. The maps have so much to do in If you’d like to try WildStar, players who have each zone. purchased the game were given three guest passes J: Anything you’d like to add or comment to share with friends, and we may still have one. Check out the WildStar threads, and don’t hesitate on that we haven’t touched on? to message one of us to see if we have a pass left. K: I think WildStar is a great game and think that We love to share fun games with family! anyone that wants to come over and try it out

Discover the Legendary

Planet Nexus

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The Witcher Series Comes to an Epic Conclusion By: Benjamin “Foghladha” Foley

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s an avid lover of foreign film and games, few titles have made my top 10 list from international developers. The international scene is rich in story, innovation, and gameplay. Yet traditionally lacks the domestic marketing of mainstream titles. Too many times these titles slip through the cracks and go unnoticed.

Rivia as he hunts dangerous monsters that plague the Nilfgaard Empire.

When you look back at games that have evolved from books, there are very few that capture the essence of the story and convert it into a visual representation of the epic adventure within. One Polish development studio took on the development of a game based on the 1986 short story by Andrzej Sapkowski titled “Wiedźmin”. The story centers around the witcher Geralt of

At the helm of the game series is CD PROJEKT RED, a Polish development studio based out of Warsaw. There newest addition to the Witcher series serves as the end of the Geralt of Rivia “White Wolf” story. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, is a mature, non-linear story with a vast open world concluding the trilogy of epic adventure.

Over the years there have been 6 books published, a Polish TV series, a full length feature movie titled “The Hexer”, a comic book series, a tabletop game, two card games, a board game, and a legendary video game series.

The final chapter of the Witcher series features more than 100 playable hours, 50 of which are for the main storyline alone. Travel by horse, boat, or foot across a terrain 20% larger than Skyrim and 30 times larger than the Witcher 2. There are 36 alternate endings to this story which all unfold in a cinematic series of events capturing both the original work of Sapkowski and the visionary minds of the CD PROJEKT RED team. Embark on an adventure through a mature story driven by player decision, full of unexpected events with memorable characters who both aid you in your quest and plot against you based on their own ambitions. This is the first of the series to allow you to explore both by land and by sea allowing you to traverse the previously unreachable Northern Kingdoms. With the 3rd part of this series they have also introduced a living ecosystem that allows communities within the game to behave with such realism that the flora and fauna form and react to in-game events. CD PROJEKT puts all of their cards on the table for this final epic adventure that has an amazing amount of promise.

THE WITCHER (2007)

The story begins with Geralt reappearing after being feared dead. He is found unconscious, dazed and with only a vague recollection of past events. This way, players unfamiliar with Sapkowskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works will be able to gradually immerse into the fantasy realm. Available on: PC / MAC

THE WITCHER 2: ASSASSINS OF KINGS (2012)

If we know anything, we know that CD PROJEKT has a long history of delivering compelling stories along with itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fare share of innovation in gaming. The third installment of the Witcher series will be the largest most ambitious project to date using the latest technology. Additionally if you fancy creating your own world, REDkit allows you to mod the Witcher series bringing into the game fan made adventures and endless content to explore. REDkit comes with each of the titles and allows even the most novice user to create their own world, quests, and world to explore. The Witcher 3 is set to release on February 15th, 2015 for Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. If you have not had the chance to play this exciting series be sure to head over to GOG. com (Also run by the CD PROJEKT group) and pick up a DRM Free copy of the first two games which usually are on sale. This is sure to be an adventure you will not soon forget.

In the second chapter of the Witcher series a time of untold chaos has come. Mighty forces clash behind the scenes in a struggle for power and influence. The North Kingdoms mobile for war. But armies on the march are not enough to stop a bloody conspiracy. Someone is hunting crowned heads. Every assassination attempt intensifies the chaos, and might truly does make right. Cruelty and violence become the daily fare. Available on: PC / MAC / Linux / Xbox 360

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The Cast

GERALT OF RIVIA You are a witcher, a mutant. The sooner you accept this, the better. People will seek you out for your skills, but you must know to disappear when your presence is no longer desired. You are unique, different. This puts you in the same precarious position as non-humans who find themselves impaled or hanging from nearby trees. That they exist and are different triggers resentment, animosity and hatred among common folk, who will use any pretext to show them their proper place. How is it then that witchers, while equally non-human and different, do not share the fate of these poor devils? The answer is twofold. First, relatively few of you walk this earth. Therefore, one is far more likely to encounter an elf than a monster-slayer such as yourself. And second, you possess a couple of rather forceful deterrents, a solid sword and a simple set of life rules. Your blades are your lifeline. It`s therefore unsurprising that your ability to wield them is renowned, or that very few are keen or even willing to risk their lives by engaging you in combat. Still, your prowess has not led to arrogance. Neither 126

do you revert to force when it isn`t necessary. As long as even a small possibility remains of resolving a conflict by other means, you sheathe your sword rather than tempt fate. However, you are unrelenting and without remorse when you must fight. You`re no saint, and not out to save the world. Ultimately, you simply want to survive while remaining true to your profession. TRISS MARIGOLD At first she was known as the owner of the most beautiful auburn hair; a promising, yet modest sorceress. When everyone thought that she had died together with thirteen other magicians during the Battle of Sodden, she was called the Fourteenth of the Hill. Thanks to her wisdom and courage she has earned herself the title of King Foltest`s adviser and nowadays no one questions her position in magic and politics. The rulers take her opinion into account, and young trainee sorceresses learn about Merigold`s Hailstorm, a powerful spell which stopped the rioting in Rivia. The gates to the witcher stronghold, Kaer Morhen, are always open for her. Geralt could always count

on her, together they defeated sinister Salamandra and stopped the rebellion of the Grand Master of the Order of the Flaming Rose. After the attempt on the life of King Foltest, Triss and Geralt once again work together. The sorceress can once more be with her beloved man. Against all adversities. DANDELION The world needs heroes to protect the innocent from evil just as heroes need bards to ensure that their names are remembered, to sing ballads about their heroic exploits and noble, albeit dopey demises. Though roadside taverns are full of homegrown buskers who call themselves minstrels, only a few actually matter, and Dandelion is arguably chief among them. Calling him the greatest artist among lovers hardly does him justice; calling him the greatest lover among artists, well... dozens of seduced women can`t be wrong. Dandelion has been travelling with Geralt for ages, and though it`s impossible to say how it all began, it`s hard to imagine them going their separate ways. Dandelion has a foul tongue, a jester`s sense of tact, and an ego the size of a small kingdom. These are the traits that would lead the two companions to the scaffold were it not for the swiftness of the witcher`s sword. Such is the price of friendship...

ZOLTAN CHIVAY Zoltan Chivay is among the few who can consider themselves Geralt`s close friend. They met years ago and very much by accident, when Geralt, pursuing his destiny, was seeking Ciri, and Zoltan was looking for a fight and a chance to get rich. Amidst the turmoil of war, they saved each other`s skins many times, which transformed their chance acquaintance into a friendship that endures to this day. In breaks between bloody melees, Zoltan strives to cultivate beautiful dwarven traditions that include picking fights in taverns, losing his coin at cards, or getting drunk as if there was no tomorrow. Invariably curious about the world, Geralt has often joined in these rituals, usually regretting this the following morning, when a hangover obliterated any doubts as to what had happened the night before. Despite all, Geralt values Zoltan`s friendship as well as the edge of dwarf`s battleaxe, mindful that it is always better to wake up with a splitting headache than to wake with no head at all.

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Star Trek Online: Improving Over Time By: Donald “Donaliam” Rush

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On February 2, 2010 my dream of commanding my own starship came true with Star Trek Online (STO) leaving Spacedock. I had only played one beta weekend and was not able to play for very long, so I didn’t know whether I would enjoy the game or not. After purchasing the game and inputting my code for a Star Trek Original series starship, I began to play. I enjoyed the space combat and was excited for this game, even with the long queues and lag time on launch day. Then came ground combat, which killed my enthusiasm. The ground combat was very clunky, and the reaction times were terrible for an MMO. It reminded me a lot of a slightly faster version of turn-based style of combat. Since the ground combat was not enjoyable, I tried my hardest to avoid these missions as much as possible. That proved difficult since the story missions required some planet-side activities. As the rest of my free month went on, I became more and more disappointed with the game, and so I decided to cancel my subscription. 130

The Second Chance About 3 months after launch, a relative gave me a play time card for STO, so I decided to give it another try. They had just launched their Season 1: Common Ground patch in March 2010, which added some higher level content, new ships, added captain skills, achievement systems, a crafting system revamp and UI Improvements. I tried the crafting system out and didn’t really get into it. Some of the UI improvements made the game somewhat more enjoyable, but the ground missions were not that much better. I still was not impressed and wasn’t really having that much fun, and after a few more months, I dropped the subscription again. It was almost a year later when I came back to try it out again. STO had launched a new 3rd person shooter mode option for the ground combat with their Season 4 patch. It was a huge upgrade, and I decided to renew my subscription for some time again. The ground combat was now playable in the action shooter style to which I was accustomed playing.

Going Free to Play Perfect World announced in September 2011 that STO would be free-to-play (f2p) in the upcoming Season 5 patch. The change to f2p occurred in January of 2012. I know the f2p versus pay-toplay is an ongoing debate in the MMO community, but in this case f2p with a cash shop was a smart move that likely saved the game. Gamers could now buy ‘zen’ (the in-game currency) and get special starships, uniforms, mini-pets, and weapon skins. These ships were not any better that the ones included in the base game, but they were better skins. I know I spent some cash on some of the starships as well as different uniforms. First Expansion November 13th saw the launch of the “Legacy of Romulus” expansion which included the Romulans as a playable race. In addition to playing as Starfleet or Klingon officers, players could now start as a Romulan refugee trying to help establish a new homeworld following the destruction of Romulus. Upon establishing the homeworld players then had to decide to either ally with the Federation or the Klingon Empire. With this new race came a whole bunch of new ships to play with, which is the most appealing thing to me. Flying through the universe in the latest ship is a lot of fun.

Continuing on into the Undiscovered Country What I find the most enjoyable about this game is some of the newest ‘episodes’ that bring back some old stories from the various TV series. Perfect World has also brought back some of the series actors for voiceovers in addition to Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Michael Dorn plays Worf, Tim Russ reappears as Tuvok, and Denise Crosby returns as Tasha Yar with some very fun story missions. Star Trek Online continues to improve with each new season, and I find myself enjoying more of what the game has to offer. I personally will continue the voyages of my starship, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no one has gone before.

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Star Wars Canon: Updated Version! By Beth “Jae Onasi” Carlock

o you have the burning desire to argue whether Darth Vader, Revan, or Emperor Palpatine is the most powerful? Have you ever wondered if Revan would pwn Darth Maul’s butt? (Yes) If you have, you’re a geek. If you’ve ever debated these life-altering issues on a Star Wars forum and brought up ‘canon’ (or ‘cannon‘, for those who prefer the artillery version), you are a complete and utter geek. If you’ve moderated a motley bunch of geeks, well, you’re so geeky, your geekiness has reached a level of nerd nirvana normally reserved for people like Bill Gates, except with a whole lot less money. As a super-moderator on one of these forums, I’ve done two things. First, I’ve escaped being made an administrator, because the Geek Factor just might make the universe explode. Second, I’ve moderated people who are fighting about Star Wars canon. Yes, I said fighting. I’m not sure why discussion of Star Wars canon can inflame the level of hatred normally reserved for baby killers and tax collectors, but it happens. If you ever see a “Revan vs. X” thread on any forum, I guarantee you that the “it’s not canon!!!11!!11!eleventyone!!11!!” argument will appear even faster than a mention of Hitler in a political/religious thread.

“I’m not sure why discussion of Star Wars canon can inflame the level of hatred normally reserved for baby killers and tax collectors, but it happens.” emails from forum administrators and moderators who were ‘having to deal with too darn many threads on arguments over Canon’. 1st degree Canon shall be The Movies. Radio adaptations, so long as they include voices from the Original Actors (and Actresses) shall also be 1st degree Canon. The Screenplays are also 1st degree Canon, but only if George Lucas put a ‘GL’ on every page. The official soundtracks are 1st degree Canon, because John Williams has included the use of both the bassoon and the triangle in his music, and quite possibly the krummhorn. Anything spoken by George Lucas is first degree Canon, including those more mundane statements like ‘I want to order a pizza’ and ‘I have to find the nearest restroom.’

2nd degree Canon shall include those radio adaptations that deviate from the script slightly After moderating a number of these threads, but still maintain the ‘True Spirit’ of the movies. and surely not influenced by the level of 151 rum Those radio adaptations that include the voices of in my cup that night, I decided to chime in on the Harrison Ford or Liam Neeson shall automatically be changed to 1st degree Canon, because their canon argument. This is my updated version. voices are really sexy. If JJ initials script pages, those may be elevated to 1st degree Canon, but his Six Degrees of Canon st st We at WookieWikiWarrickWicketpedia 1 degree is not quite as high as George Lucas’ 1 understand that we have entered a new era of JJ- degree, because he uses too darn much lens flare. canon with the anticipation of Star Wars VII, VIII, Those adaptations that include excess amounts of and IX (and possibly other Roman numerals— Jar-Jar Binks or Ewok cuteness shall automatically we’re not sure). We wish to clear up the confusion be reduced to 6th degree Canon or less. of ‘Canon’ in Star Wars by instituting a new 3rd degree Canon shall include any books classification system on how to rank the different that George Lucas decides shall be 3rd degree, Star Wars and Star Wars EU materials, despite the fact that Disney is summarily ignoring the EU. which is pretty much everything else not in the 1st This will replace the Canon-a, b, c and g system and 2nd degrees. It’s his world—if he wants to say (along with other letters and symbols), which was a book is 1st degree or 6th degree, we shall bow to becoming just too confusing, resulting in many his greater wisdom. The exceptions are the Vong 133

books, which shall be reduced to 6th degree or the 9th circle of Dante’s Inferno, whichever comes last. All Star Wars games are 3rd degree Canon. The Knights of the Old Republic games, because they are Really Righteous, are 2nd degree Canon. We hereby declare all permutations of Revan and Exile to be Canon, because trying to pick just one is really ticking off the fans. The Star Wars Lego games would be 4th degree Canon because of the ‘cutesy factor’, except for the fact that my kids really like the games, so they stay at 3rd degree.

figures are 5th degree Canon, unless they involve Yoda, Han Solo, or Luke Skywalker. These are 1st degree Canon because I like them and Frank Oz rules.

6th degree Canon includes any speculative posts on any forums. It also includes any nonspeculative posts, comments, jokes, pictures, and other written, visual, or aural media. Jedi Knight mugs are 6th degree, unless they contain 151 rum and/or Corellian Ale, in which case they automatically get the fast pass to 1st degree. 4th degree Canon includes any comic books. Anything else not already specified shall be 6th Graphic novels remain at 3rd degree because degree Canon, unless the author finds something ‘graphic novel’ sounds way more cool than ‘comic she really likes, in which case the Degree of Canon book.’ The exception is the Knights of the Old may be altered accordingly. Forum posts that are Republic comic book series, which is destined to written by administrators or moderators shall be become a Graphic Novel when bound together, whatever Degree of Canon they desire, because and because they’ve drawn Zayne Carrick really the author feels the need to suck up, unless George cute. It’s at least 3rd degree, and we might even Lucas declares otherwise, because his 1st degree is make that series 2nd degree if sales continue to be more equal than everyone else’s 1st degree. good. We hope this clears up any confusion about 5th degree Canon includes all fan-fiction, Canon. If you have any further questions, please unless they are “Really Good,” which, by our send an email to our help center at ‘we won’t definition, is anything with over 1,000 views on answer it anyway.idiocy’. We will do our best to LucasForums.com or over 15 thumbs-ups on make sure that the answer to your questions are kotorfanmedia.com. If they’re “Really Good”, answered with as much obfuscation as possible, then they can, at the option of the administrators, preferably by someone who does not even speak moderators or the author, move to 4th degree. The your language. exception is if the spam-per-view ratio approaches Thank you for your kind attention to this matter. 1:82, in which case the fanfic shall be declared ‘spammy’ and the fic drops to 6th degree. Action

Meanwhile, in Cyrodiil...

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Best Brownies By: Beth “Jae Onasi” Carlock

originally picked up this recipe, “Best Brownies”, from the Columbus Dispatch about 20 years back, and it’s been the only one we’ve used in my home since then. It was posted in my blog, Confessions of a Geeky Mom.

It’s better than any box mix and just as fast to put together. The challenge will be not to eat them all before they cool off.

Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 pan with oil or spray with cooking spray. Wet Ingredients 2 cups sugar 1 cup canola oil (vegetable oil is fine if you don’t have soy allergen concerns) 4 eggs 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Dry Ingredients 1 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup cocoa (regular, not the Dutch version) 1 cup chopped nuts, optional

It is dairy and soy free. If you like male brownies, add nuts. If you have nut allergies, leave out the almond extract and In one bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients nuts. I think this counts as a pareve recipe until smooth. In another bowl, mix the dry for my Jewish friends, but someone can ingredients together, and then blend into the wet ingredients. Pour the batter into the greased pan. correct me if that’s wrong.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until edges of brownie pull away from the edges of the pan. Do not use the My friends and I contend that all the ‘toothpick test’ to check if the brownie is done, or calories fall out when you cut the brownies, you will overbake it. When cool, cut into squares but I suspect nutritionists would frown and serve, if you can manage to wait until they’ve cooled. We never can. upon us for saying that too loudly. 135

Ingredients:

Morning Scramble By: Jessica Hunt Makes 2-4 servings

Basic Rib Hat for Children or (Adults) by Esther Foley - G-Ma

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1-2 potatoes(any kind, medium size, chopped) 2 eggs 2 tbsp. taco seasoning ½ cup green bell peppers (chopped) ½ cup onions (chopped) ½ cup cheese (mozzarella or cheddar works best) butter or oil (added as need during cooking)

Needed: Size 8 knitting needles 1-2 Skeins of yarn (1 for ribbing/1 for main hat) One yarn needle Instructions: 1. Bind on 64(88) stitches with size 8 needles 2. Knit one, Purl one for 10 rows or 4 inches 3. Then Knit one row and Purl the next for 8(12) more inches

1. In a 12 inch skillet, cook potatoes until they are tender (about 10 minutes on medium heat). 2. Add in green bell peppers, onions and taco seasoning. Cook 2 minutes. 3. Add 2 eggs and cheese. Cook till eggs are done completely. 4. For additional flavor add sour cream and salsa.

4. To bind off, knit 2 together for 2(4)rows 5. When you are done keep about 16 inches of yarn and thread a needle onto it. 6. Pull it through the remaining stitches and sew the two sides together. You’re done! Be creative and test out colors and yarns!

Anthropological Research Study Hello again Gaiscíoch Family! This is Michael Perez (Balry) checking in! I’m a graduate student from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) doing my M.A. thesis on online gaming communities; remember me? I sure hope so! I previously posted an announcement in issue 1 of the brand new Gaiscíoch Magazine that offered more details about my research project.

interviews please contact me - Michael Perez (anthropology graduate student at FAU) in-game (Balry.9450 or @balry) or offline through the Gaiscíoch website or email mperez89@fau.edu.

This time, I am making a call to volunteering participants for this research study. We are looking for adult (at least 18 years of age) Gaiscíoch member volunteers to participate in an anthropological research study through Florida Atlantic University. This study aims to determine the elements that make the Gaiscíoch family a successful community and to expand the understanding of the border between the virtual and physical space.

I ask that those of you who are bound under NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) please keep in mind the information that you are not allowed to divulge. I am not interested in any confidential information regarding these agreements. This is why I avoid questions that may touch on those types of subjects.

You can participate in one of two ways: either in a voice-chat interview or through an online survey answering questions about gaming styles, opinions about the Gaiscíoch Family, and other demographic data. For participating in the

To participate on the survey please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ MMOGamingCultureReasearch

Details about the research project and risks for participating are delineated in the survey and interview consent forms. However, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me ingame Balry.9450 / @balry, via email mperez89@ fau.edu, or via phone (954) 588-3296. Thanks for reading and your cooperation! 137

POPS’ MUSINGS OF LIFE By: Wally “Pops” Anderson

y wife, Diane, and I decided to go to an early show to see a new movie, thinking the crowds wouldn’t be as bad. We arrived a little early and were talking during the credits about our day. In came a young girl, followed by a man whom we thought was her father. They sat one row ahead and about two seats to the right. As they began to talk, it was clear the man was her father and their family had come on hard times.

The young girl seemed mature beyond her years. She consoled her father that all would be okay and that she loved him. As they spoke, Diane’s eyes filled with tears, thinking how fortunate this father was to have the love and support of this daughter. You see, the young girl had commented on how long it had been since her father had taken the time to relax. This young lady reminded her dad of the times past when they would go to movies together, sitting, talking, crying and laughing. These were times she missed, she knew her dad did as well, but had dedicated himself fully to correcting the ills the economy placed on their finances.

enough to allow them to enjoy this daddy/daughter date as in times not too long ago. The father expressed gratitude for this expression of love, promising the girl they would get back to the good old times soon. Next, entering while talking on a mobile phone, was a woman who appeared to be rushed and impatient. She took the seat right in front of us two rows down. She had a combo snack with popcorn and a drink as well. It became obvious to us she was waiting for someone, and they were to meet at the movie. This woman was “put out” that she had taken off work early to meet this person who was late. She had unkind words over the phone; then we realized she was talking to her daughter.

have it all with no concern for time or money, yet she had no relationship of value with her child. On the other hand, the father, while perhaps having no surplus cash, had a deep and meaningful relationship with his daughter.

The movie started as the theater became dark. After about fifteen minutes, this mother and her daughter came marching in through the doors. Their eyes had not adjusted yet, so they had difficulty getting to their seats. The mother missed her row and proceeded to sit next to this father and his daughter. Now they were right in front of us so we could hear the frustration in both the mother and her It became obvious to us, they daughter. They had words; the had chosen the matinée because daughter stated, “Mom I knew the tickets were less expensive. The mother stormed out of the this wouldn’t work. Let’s just They had bought a small value drink and popcorn and were theater. Diane and I remarked leave. Who cares about this sharing it happily. This young at how the two families were stupid movie?” Shock registered lady had saved her money experiencing totally different on the little girl who sat next to from doing chores, to have just lives. The mother seemed to them as she was having the time of her life and didn’t understand. The mother had taken the seat on the outside so the young girls were sitting together.

“Have a generous heart; it will serve you well.“

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After

few

minutes

the

mother remembered she had bought treats and looked over to see where they were. She was shocked to see the man and his daughter next to them were eating the popcorn and had the drink. She bent over and whispered to her daughter, “That’s our popcorn they are eating.” Her daughter said, “So what?” But the mother kept eyeing this family as they ate. The young girl with the dad could see the mother next to her was talking about the popcorn and wondered if they wanted some. She leaned over to her dad and said, “Daddy, I am going to share our popcorn with these people. I don’t think they have the money to buy some for themselves.” The father responded, “Sure, ask them, but be quiet so we don’t disturb anyone.” This little girl reached over, handing her bucket to her neighbor in the next seat asking, “Do you and your mom want some popcorn?” The other girl said, “No, I am good, thanks though.” The mother angrily reached over, “Certainly we want our popcorn.” The little girl was taken back but thought to herself that they must be hungry.

when the mother asked if she could have the drink. “Yes, certainly,” was the response of this girl as she handed it to the lady. She then bent over to her dad and said, “Daddy, we don’t really need those treats anyway; they are not having a good day.” She reached over and held her father’s hand. The lady kept the drink and the popcorn. This didn’t seem to affect the father or daughter at all.

The woman’s daughter leaned over to her mother and asked if she could go and buy some candy. The mother snapped back, “Yes, why don’t you ask the family next to us if they want something,” stating it sarcastically. “My purse is under the seat. Just hurry,” she exclaimed. The girl reached under the seat and was unable to find the purse. Boiling over, the mother leaned over her daughter and said to the young girl sitting next to them, “Did you steal my purse as well?” Shocked, the little girl clasped her father’s hand as he said, “I don’t know what you are talking about. Could it be under the seat you had when you came in?” “What are you talking about,” this mother snapped back at the father! He kindly pointed to the row in front of The mother kept the popcorn them and said, “This is the seat on her seat and ate slowly. After you took originally.” The mother a few minutes we could see the looked on the row in front of little girl was wondering if she them and saw her popcorn and would get the popcorn back, drink.

At that time Diane and I became aware of what had happened and were shocked to see her reaction as she handed back both the drink and the remaining popcorn. “I am so sorry,” she said. She was truly embarrassed, as well as humbled, by the young girl’s generosity. The lady reached for her purse and got some money out to give the girl for her misunderstanding. The young girl had no interest and suggested she was happy to share. As Diane and I drove home, we talked about how this simple, yet profound, experience gave us perspective on how easy it is to misunderstand. This woman thought the family next to her had stolen, when, in fact, they had given the “widow’s mites.” We realized how often others deserve the benefit of doubt before we place judgment. This is just a story; one I wanted to use to illustrate the following: Have a generous heart; it will serve you well. Know as we go through life our impressions can be one hundred and eighty degrees from reality. Our greatest relationships come through selflessness and understanding. And, if we’re lucky as we do so, we will find that “What goes around, comes around.”

“Our greatest relationships come through selflessness and understanding.“ 139

he Gaiscioch Family extends far beyond the game. Our members have a very broad professional background extending from teachers to CEO’s. Our members are involved in the businesses, organizations, and government agencies below. We are very proud of our diverse community and support our members in all of their real life accomplishments. 3M

Bernard Simulacao Gerencial

CW Technology

Franchising.com

ABB Inc. - Robotics

Bethel School District #403

Dallas Center - Grimes CSD

ACE Network Consulting

Bishop Investment Services

Dane Massage

Freeport Welding & Fabrication, Inc.

Addtech Controls

Black Nova Digital

Decoy’s Dork Decor

Aditya Birla Minacs

BNP Paribas

Dell, Inc.

ADP Dealer Services

Bollinger’s services

Department of Defense

advantage metal Products

Boondocks PC Repair

DFW Honda

Advent International Corp

Bowman Consulting Group

Diebold Inc.

Air Transport International

Box Home Loans

DJO Global

Alachua County BOCC

Documatik Limited

All Smiles Orthodontics

BreakAway ltd.

Duke Energy

Allied Arts

Brilliant Bees LLC

DuPont Spruance

Amercian Coalition of Healthcare Recruiters

Buchanan First United Methodist Church

Easter Seals

American Express

Bypass Mobile

American Red Cross

Calumet Park School District 132

Ankara State Hospital Apples & Arrows Apptricity ArenaNet LLC Arizona Supreme Court Army Asialink Realty Pte Ltd AT&T Atlantic Bay Mortgage Atwater Aloha Floral Barclays Barrister Global Network Baylor University Beck et al. Services Becton Dickinson

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Campus Crusade for Christ Cardomain Inc CareFusion CEB Cerner Corporation Chinook Pharmacy City of Elizabethtown ClarkBetty.com Cogeco Cable Inc. Collateral Intelligence Comcast Coram Deo Academy CSG International Cubic Corporation Culinary Institute Virginia

eBay Enterprise Edict Systems Edward Jones Investments EFFIIS Eley Guild Hardy Architects EMC Exterran Facebook Faellin Angels Realm LP Firestone Building Products Fitzgibbon Hospital Flagstar Bank FLASH Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute Flypaper Studio, Inc Food and Drug Admin Franchise Update Media

Fry Productions Fujitsu Geek Squad/Notre Dame General Mills Gerald Blakemore, CPA P.C. Global Exposition Services Government of Canada GPC Company Great Wolf Lodge Harris Caprock Harris Siding & Windows Hawk Paranormal Scientific Investigations Hawt Websites HCL Axon/Fortis BC HDD Broker Inc. Hillsouth Home Trust Company HP/Vertica Humana Cares Hunton & Williams I.B.E.W. IBEW Local 1141 IBM IGT Indie group with friends Infor Inserso Corporation Insitu

International Paper

Nova Engineering

Self Employed (NS Vine)

UC Davis Childrens Hospital

Isolation Equipment Services

Nova Engineering, Inc.

Sep

Unique Useables

ITI INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION INC.

NYPD

Shaw Inc.

United BioSource Corporation

Odessa College

Siemens

United Parcel Service

Office Essentials

Signature Transcription Services

United States Army

Jasmine-Dragon Johnson Surveillance, LLC Kazmarek Technology Solutions Kenedy’s Cakes and Donuts Inc. Kingsley Associates Konecranes Kroger L’Anse Creuse Public Schools Leslie’s Pool Supply Lightyear Network Solutions Lincoln Loop Logic Technolgy Inc. Looking for one Los Angeles DHS Lowe’s M&S Technologies Made Men Inc. Magnolia ISD McDonald’s Media Bridges Mercedes Morgan Photography Micro Center Microsoft Mind Wrack Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Missouri State University Mobile Fire-Rescue Mobile Sports Chiropractic Montana State University College of Nursing Moran sheetmetal Muler Pasific Labelindo National Aviation Academy National Title Network Nav Canada Navy Federal Credit Union New Life Church Nextek, inc Nine Dots Studio Nokia Siemens Networks Norfolk Southern Railroad Notnat Technology Services

Ohio EPA Oklahoma Military Dept: Construction and Facilities Maintenance Office

Signs Manufacturing Corporation Simply Floors

One Point Home Health and Hospice

Skyline Construction & Restoration

Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Smithbucklin

Panther Energy Company PCM Inc. Pender County Schools Pink Zebra Home Placer SO Polaris Premiere Inc Professional Medical Writers Promise Keepers Canaa Proteus Europe Quantum Security & Innovations QuikTrip Radio Shack Ref-Chem Regional Manager for UPS Reid Hospital and Health Care Services Reinsurance Group of America RescueTime, Inc. ResolveIT Computers Retired Robot Entertainment Rogue Community College Rogue Photos / KEDU Romine CPAs & Associated Round Table Media LLC

SoftFile DCS SolutionSource Sony Online Entertainment Southwest Airlines Spectra Tech Inc @ ORNL Spencer Gifts SplitZero Designs Staples State Farm Steris Corporation Steve’s Computer Rescue

University of Akron University of Central Florida University of Florida University of North Carolina Charlotte University of Utah US Army US EPA US NAVY USAF Vantiv Verizon Conferencing | Verizon Business Video Game Auctions.com Vishay Intertechnology Waelwulfas dotOrg Walmart

Stevens Transport

Washington State Dept. of Early Learning

Stevens-Henager Online

Washoe County School District

Stewart Lender Services

Waterbury Public Schools

Stewart’s Market place

Wayne Russell Search Consultants

Sutton Creative Studios Talaria Press Target Technicolor and Throw the Gauntlet Productions Techpath Techtell inc Tellepsen Builders Texas A&M University The Boeing Company The Last Frontier & New Phoenix Casinos

We Do Windows Computer Services Weibel Services Welcome Home Design Wellcare Westmark Industry Whole Foods Market William S. Frates II P.A. Williams Buick GMC Wireless Advocates WIS International

The McGraw-Hill Companies

Wizards of the Coast

The Mirage

WSP

The North West Company

www.SKLURB.com

The Sawmill Ltd

Xerox

Schneider Electric

The Ultimate Software Group, Inc.

Xyvid Inc.

SDL

Theres’s No Box

Seagate

Tool Using Monkeys

Seagate Technology

triumph

Self Employed

Tweddle Group Techologies

SanMar Corp. Scentsy Scentsy, Inc. Schlumberger

Yellowknife direct charge coop Zappos

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