Darkfall 2010: Not Just A Year This Year!


2010: Not just a year in Darkfall.

Darkfall is coming upon its first anniversary, and two expansions out the door is already looking at expansion number three. Dubbed “Darkfall 2010” the expansion looks to focus on everything. Armor dying, tons of new craftable items, more impact with the dynamic lore system, death animations, more PvP and PvE opportunities, better drops, wandering mobs, scavenging, mounts, and of course user interface upgrades, among others.

Of course, thanks to games who may or may not be Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Runes of Magic, and Runescape, players are reasonably concerned by the idea of “sweeping changes,” and some have expressed concern about any less desirable surprises that may be in store for this update. Unfair ganking practices will be slightly more difficult with the changes, making it impossible for players to declare war on players simply to gank them inside normally safe cities. Granted, as the MMO community often does, likely the following will be taken far out of context:

Yes we’re always adding more things and we’ll keep adding elements to make the game friendlier to new players, solo players, and more casual players.

I’m not normally one to forward conspiracy theories (or stir the pot of an already paranoid community), but the planned updates I have seen are quite reasonable. Disallowing players invading a city to use the city’s guild bank, putting a stop to griefing by players declaring war to gang up and attack sole players in starter areas without fear of the town’s natural defenses.

Either way, hopefully these sweeping changes will continue the reported upward trend in Darkfall’s subscriber rate. More on Darkfall as it falls into our hands. You can read the entirety of the community Q&A here:

Check Out the Darkfall Demo!

According to the MMO Fallout reporters currently stationed in Greece, PC Master Magazine is currently giving away a promotional 10-day time card for Darkfall, alongside a client DVD.


A taste of things to come...

…for those of you living in Greece. According to the MMO Fallout reporters currently stationed in Greece, PC Master Magazine is currently giving away a promotional 10-day time card for Darkfall, alongside a client DVD. This is going to be a short article, but I felt it was worth mentioning for a couple of reasons:

  1. The trial will most likely expand to Europe and, eventually, North America.
  2. Darkfall will see a surge of new players.

This demo system will bring a lot of help to Darkfall, of which is currently in a sinkhole of sorts: The only way to obtain the title, currently, is to pay the full $50 price tag, which many players are not willing to do on a game they haven’t even been able to trial.

More on the Darkfall trial system as it appears.

Darkfall Isn't Dead!


People think that I must hate being wrong when I write articles for MMO Fallout when, in fact, the opposite is true. Even though the main purpose of MMO Fallout is somewhat doom and gloom, I do try to balance that with articles on success and companies prospering. So it makes me glad to see the dedication to Darkfall that Aventurine has, with a vision that they are bringing into the world, to make the game in their image, while still being accessible to more and more players.

darkfall

On September 2nd, Aventurine released a balancing patch in preparation for an upcoming October Expansion. The patch tweaks quite a few mechanics of the game. Some important notes:

  • Ships are now cheaper, but with reduced hitpoints
  • Ships and Warhulks are slowed by damage.
  • Weaponsmithing leveling is faster creating higher leveled weapons.
  • New one handed clubs, and elemental bows
  • Shield blocking damage has been reduced
  • Spell trees level faster in preparation for adding more schools
  • Spells cost less, but have a lower AOE damage.
  • Villages bring in more gold, but have less hitpoints
  • Training on monsters gives triple the experience of fighting players

Darkfall is the closest thing you’ll get to the original Ultima Online, obviously barring the lack of an isometric view. Aventurine knows their target audience, and knows who they are not advertising to, and they are ok with that.

Darkfall Isn’t Dead!


People think that I must hate being wrong when I write articles for MMO Fallout when, in fact, the opposite is true. Even though the main purpose of MMO Fallout is somewhat doom and gloom, I do try to balance that with articles on success and companies prospering. So it makes me glad to see the dedication to Darkfall that Aventurine has, with a vision that they are bringing into the world, to make the game in their image, while still being accessible to more and more players.

darkfall

On September 2nd, Aventurine released a balancing patch in preparation for an upcoming October Expansion. The patch tweaks quite a few mechanics of the game. Some important notes:

  • Ships are now cheaper, but with reduced hitpoints
  • Ships and Warhulks are slowed by damage.
  • Weaponsmithing leveling is faster creating higher leveled weapons.
  • New one handed clubs, and elemental bows
  • Shield blocking damage has been reduced
  • Spell trees level faster in preparation for adding more schools
  • Spells cost less, but have a lower AOE damage.
  • Villages bring in more gold, but have less hitpoints
  • Training on monsters gives triple the experience of fighting players

Darkfall is the closest thing you’ll get to the original Ultima Online, obviously barring the lack of an isometric view. Aventurine knows their target audience, and knows who they are not advertising to, and they are ok with that.