Stunty - Tastes Like Chicken.

*Squeek*

So, gaming is many, many things to many, many people, but one of the things that I guess people don't think about a great deal is the visuals that contribute to creating the atmosphere of the game, a great brand or gaming experience. It is there, you see it, it contributes subconsciously to the overall impression, but you don't think about it. At least, this is something that I didn't think about very much until I happened to be looking at some of the Warhammer Online images and downloads that are on the Warhammer Online website (as I was in my last post).

I hadn't noticed the "Propaganda Posters" that were on the downloads section before (even though apparently they have been around for at least a couple of years!). If you are a WFB player, you may like these, even if you don't play WAR...

Dwarves:

http://www.warhammeronline.com/art/index.php

Orcs:

 High Elves:

http://www.warhammeronline.com/art/index.php

http://www.warhammeronline.com/art/index.php

Dark Elves:

http://www.warhammeronline.com/art/index.php

http://www.warhammeronline.com/art/index.php

Empire:

 Chaos:

http://www.warhammeronline.com/art/index.php

(Got to say, the "Stunty tastes like Chicken" poster is my favorite - no apologies to you stunty players out there of course!)

You beady-eyed Skaven devils will have noticed of course that there are no propaganda posters above for the much maligned (yet beloved to many) Skaven race! There are some desktop backgrounds for Skaven. I have to say though that they aren't as good as the posters above (IMHO), but might still interest you - check them out below:

http://www.warhammeronline.com/wallpaper/index.php

http://www.warhammeronline.com/wallpaper/index.php

http://www.warhammeronline.com/wallpaper/index.php

http://www.warhammeronline.com/wallpaper/index.php

So having been inspired by these images, I decided to have a trawl through the WFB 8th edition rulebook again for the art and design. Yeah, gorgeous! Many pleasurable hours spent going through the rules, and many more to come revisiting the art and design. Hats off to the designers and artists - all of them - who have contributed to the franchise, models, boxes, rulebooks and army books since the inception of the game.

If you have some time, go back to the rulebook and take a look at the art and design again! Pretty impressive stuff.

What are your favourite images, posters, pieces of art or artists from the WFB world or materials? Are there any images that particularly stick in your mind for Skaven? (or any race that you play?)

*Squeek*

The Verminous Horde Invades...

"Squeek"

Sooo, Warhammer Online. I haven't played for a while and now it really shows, as I didn't even know until today that there had been a new patch in October of November last year and that the Skaven are now integrated into Realm V. Realm warfare.

Patch 1.4.0 added "The Verminous Horde" free content for all subscribers that includes the following 4 "Playable" Skaven Classes

Warlock Engineer, Rat Ogre, Pack Master, Gutter Runner

Copyright Mythic Entertainment: Warhammer Online

The new content also included a new dungeon, "Thanquol's Incursion, that promised new loot etc. You can find details of what the update included here.

You can also find a full list of the capabilities of each class here. Although I haven't played any of this content or these guys, I enjoyed reading through this as the abilities lined up somewhat with the content you would expect from the different Skaven classes:
- Warlock Engineer: Doom Rocket (which as well as knocking down the enemy, knocks the WE off his feet too!), Warp-Energy condenser, Death Globe, Warp-fire thrower, etc.
- Gutter Runner: Spy, Gutter Run stealth mode, Sabotage enemy war-machines etc.
- Rat Ogre: Frenzy, Savage Assault, Charge, Roar, Bash etc.
- Pack Master: Supports the Rat Ogre and Increases his effectiveness. "Thwap! Thwap!! Thwap!!!" attack, "Overconfidence", "Scurry Away" (for "when the going gets tough") and "Rats of War" (rats burst from the ground and attack the enemy. Each injury becomes a "Festering Wound")

As you can see, these would seem to try to capture the spirit of the Skaven very nicely, and include some of the dark humour that Skaven players should appreciate. To get a sense of the actual characters in motion, check out the player-made video below:

Now, it is important to note that the Skaven are not a "Playable Race" in the traditional sense of the word. What I mean is that don't you enter the game, choose to be a Skaven and then and level up from 1 all the way through to the highest levels in the game, adding equipment and abilities as you go (the basic gameplay mechanic of most MMORPGs). Instead, I understand that the expanded content for the Skaven is available at the highest level, and in RVR only (realm v. realm).

...what a shame!

Despite some of the really cool ideas that sound like fun (see the vid below where the Rat Ogre's "Hurl" skill is put to - endless - good use) the introduction of the Skaven seems to have satisfied no-one:
From what I hear...
- They aren't a fully playable race.
- They are accessible as mercenaries to both sides, which includes the "Order" faction. (WHAT!!??)
- People playing Skaven routinely get owned by other players as you don't keep your own skills when you become a Skaven player. (Which seems logical to me but...)

Have you played the expansion? Taken charge of the Skaven? Played as one of the classes above? If so let me know in the comments below - I'd like to know more about how the experience was!
In the meantime, here are some pics of some characters you might find familiar, brought to (digital) life in Warhammer Online - The Verminous Horde. (Regardless of how the game plays, I think these look great!)

"Squeek"

Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online - E3 Trailer is here...

Now Man Things, this IS a Skaven blog, but I've mentioned before that I have dabbled in the war-torn chaos of future battles using the system known as "40K"...
...On the tabletop. (As Tau)
...and on PC. (Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War)

but did I also mention that I like MMO's?
...World of Warcraft. (WOW)
...Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO)
...Star Trek Online (STO)
...Warhammer Online (WAR)
etc.

...all of which means that this YouTube video for "DMO" is really, really exciting:
Warhammer 40K: Dark Millenium Online E3 Trailer

Also, checkout a quick chat with one of the developers:
Devchat with John Mueller, Art Director for Vigil Games

I like the fact that he mentions more than once that the integrity to the "IP" (Intellectual Property) of the title is enormously important to the company, AND that one of the great things about this IP (The Warhammer 40K world) is that there are plenty of races.
(Although, just as one can't play a Skaven in Warhammer Online, I bet the Tau aren't a playable race either...)

You can see more videos with staff on Vigil's website. Also, don't forget to checkout the Official Website for DMO (Although there isn't much there right now...)

Looking forward to hearing more about this MMO as we head through 2010!