Saturday, May 31, 2008

Warhammer Online Newsletter Issue #31 (May 2008)




“Do not be deceived by the rugged beauty of Chrace, for behind that serene mask lies a beast like none other. No, no I speak not of the War Lion, but of it’s White Lion master who’s will can bring such a beast to heel!”

- Kitharl Woodwalker, Huntsman of Chrace

Read more about the White Lion >>

Checkout GameSpot’s exclusive White Lion coverage:
White Lion Interview and Art Assets>>

Links will be live the evening of May 28th.

Learn More about the Armies of WAR >>

For those of you who were pondering what it would be like to play the Artistan High Elf - GOTHCA! That was a little practical joke on all of those who just couldn't wait for the last Elf class to be announced.





Games Day Baltimore (June 14, 2008) and Games Day Toronto (June 21, 2008) are quickly aporoaching and we have some exciting news for fans of WAR. Simply stop by our booth at either Games Day Baltimore or Toronto to play Warhammer Online, and you will receive an invitation to the Closed Beta and an exclusive in-game item - the Skaven Skin Cloak!*

For more information about Games Day Baltimore and to purchase tickets click here. For more information about Games Day Toronto and to purchase tickets click here. If you are unable to make it to these events, never fear! We’ll see you in Chicago and LA with more beta invites and Skaven Skin Cloaks to give away.

*One set of codes per player. Entrance into the Closed Beta is not guaranteed. You must be 18 years or older to enter the beta, and cannot be employed in the video game industry. Timing of beta invitation is dependent on computer system specs and other factors. See full disclaimer at the end of the newsletter.






If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to pre-order the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Collector’s Edition. It is selling fast and we won’t be making more of them when they are gone! This is your only chance to gear up with exclusive in-game items and exciting collectibles. Pre-order your copy today!

The Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Collector’s Edition includes:

  • An exclusive Games Workshop Miniature of the Greenskin warboss, Grumlok, and his shaman, Gazbag
  • An original 128-page Graphic Novel commission specifically for the Collector’s Edtion
  • A beautiful 224-page Art Book filled with original art from the game
  • Bonus In-Game Item – The Librams of Insight
  • Exclusive In-Game Content – 12 new quests with exciting item rewards and unique players titles
  • Exclusive Character Customization Options

To learn more about the Warhammer Online Collector’s Edition, please click here.

The WAR Collector’s Edition is available now for Pre-Order. Special Pre-Order Bonuses Include:

OPEN BETA ACCESS
Be one of the first players to experience the glory of battle and the thrill of WAR when the Open Beta phase begins.

LIVE GAME HEAD START
Begin your adventures in the Age of Reckoning before the raw recruits arrive!

BONUS IN-GAME ITEMS
Equip your characters for the journey to the frontlines with two helpful bonus items!

For more information about the Collector’s Edition pre-order program, visit www.warhammeronline.com/ce_preorder.

COLLECTOR’S EDITION PRE-ORDER PARTNERS
The Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Collector’s Edition is available for pre-order from these fine retailers:

United States Retailers:


Canada Retailers:







Episode 5: Doomfist Crater and Blackfire Basin
by Brian Wheeler, Lead RvR Design

Welcome folks to another episode of Scenarios 101! With this episode we’ll be switching over to Greenskin vs. Dwarf Scenarios!

Read more from Scenarios 101 >>






Witch Elf Career Masteries

The Witch Elves are the sanctified brides of Khaine, the Lord of Murder, and they serve their patron deity with savage pleasure. Wielding long daggers and prowling across the battlefield, the Witch Elves will sacrifice anyone and anything in their path as an offering to please the Bloody-Handed Lord.

With each strike of their weapons, the Witch Elves drive themselves deeper into a furious bloodlust, until they finally sate themselves in a horrific frenzy. Using their Khaine-blessed weapons, a Witch Elf can slice into her enemy and then corrupt their very blood upon her blades, briefly granting even more power to her attacks.

Witch Elf Masteries

Path of Carnage

The Path of Carnage is mainly concerned with quickly and directly slaughtering anything that presents itself to the Witch Elf. Eschewing subtlety, a specialist in this path prefers to confront her enemies face-to-face...or at least, face-to-what's-left-of-their-face.

Path of Suffering
The Path of Suffering focuses more on effects that linger for some time, and a master in this path takes pleasure in leading her victims into a false sense of security. While her attacks may not seem dangerous at first, it's only moments later that the Witch Elf's enemy suddenly realizes that their death is imminent and there's nothing they can do to stop it.

Path of Treachery
The Path of Treachery appeals to those Witch Elves who prefer to stalk their prey, attacking when the target is unsuspecting. A master of this path performs best in the thick of large, chaotic combats, where her victims are kept busy and unsuspecting, and she prefers to strike the enemy at their unprotected flanks.






In the eastern reaches of Caledor, the tall mountain peaks yield to grassy hills that eventually slope down to meet the western border of Eataine. Though the lands to the west are more mountainous, the caves that run beneath the hills of this region are as deep as any in Caledor, and many ancient Dragons slumber within them. In ages past, when the lands of the High Elves came under threat, the Dragon Princes traveled to this land to rouse the slumbering beasts to war. For this reason, the western-most region of Caledor came to be known as Dragonwake.

Fueled by hatred that has festered for millennia, the Dark Elves continue their relentless march across Ulthuan, driving the defending High Elves and their allies ever southward toward the capital city of Lothern. For the noble lords of Ulthuan the situation grows bleaker with each passing day. It is clear that desperate measures must be taken to slow the invaders' advance, for little else has worked. The time has come to wake the great Dragons of old.

With the enemy at their heels, the High Elf armies pour into Dragonwake and race to the old temples and holy sites to rouse the slumbering titans of the skies. The Dragons are among the High Elves' mightiest weapons, and their wrath will surely be terrible when they behold the treacherous armies of the Witch King burning and pillaging the lands of Ulthuan. But the Dragons' slumber is deep indeed, and there is no knowing whether they will ever take to the wing again.

Read more about Dragonwake >>






Dark Elf Mount - Basic Cold One
Dark Elf Mount - Light Armor Cold One
Dark Elf Mount - Heavy Armor Cold One



Dwarf Mount -
Gyro Harness
Tier 1
Dwarf Mount - Gyro Harness
Tier 2
Dwarf Mount -
Gyro Harness
Tier 3





Warhammer Online Podcasts are now available on iTunes! Subscribe today!


Click Image to Watch Podcast

This month we sit down with Mark Jacobs, GM, EA Mythic, to talk about crafting in Warhammer Online. Mark shares with us the two important rules that shaped this crafting system and just what makes it different from other crafting systems.

Links will be live the evening of May 28th.





Join Creative Director, Paul Barnett, and his trusty video phone for a truly unique look at the making of WAR. This month, Paul preps video to send Down Under, sings to the cows, witnesses the end of Bruce, and finally finds a little slice of his homeland here in America.

View the Video Blog >>








This month in the WAR Closed Beta, testers battled their way through Empire and Chaos Tiers 3 and 4 to fight their way to the gates of Altdorf! Next up, Greenskins and Dwarfs! Don’t waste any time, sign up now to take part in one of the largest beta tests ever for an MMORPG. More than 700,000 players have registered so far, but we are always looking for new recruits. Sharpen your sword, unleash your inner mutation, and prepare to meet your destiny on the battlefields of Warhammer Online.

Sign up for the WAR Beta at:
betacenter.eamythic.com

WAR is coming! Are you ready?





There are a million stories in the Age of Reckoning just waiting to be told. What is your tale?

This month we recount the journeys of a heroic Swordmaster in the Age of Reckoning. His first encounter with the forces of Chaos was so disturbing, and conjured up such feelings of fear, that his words alone cannot do it justice.

Read This Month's Beta Journal Entry >>






WAR is coming! Are you properly dressed?

Do you feel like you’ve been lacking accessories in your WARdrobe? Well not any more! Now available exclusively at the EA Mythic Store is the new WAR pewter belt buckle.** Supplies are extremely limited so order now!



Visit the EA Mythic Store!

** Offer valid for U.S. residents only







EARN A SPOT IN THE CLOSED BETA!

Feeling creative? We know we have some talented fans out there and now is the time for you to demonstrate your skills. Send us your WAR-inspired art and we’ll showcase the best submissions in upcoming newsletters. Plus, featured artists will be invited to join us in the closed beta test!


It's Dawn of BloodGod
by ButcherBOY

A Goblin's Best Friend
by M. Holtkamp

clic, BAM !
by Elhebore

Factions Fight
by Giuditta

'Ard as Nailz
by G. Holden

Warhammer
by C. Terpent

Erbitterter Kampf
by J.Weßbacher

Deklam el ingeniero
by Jone

More Pointy Bitz Is More Ded Stunties
by B. Megan


Visit the Fan Art Gallery >>

Submit your artwork >>







Welcome to the WAR Grab Bag, where our friendly neighborhood community team answers the most pressing, the most popular, and the most interesting questions from fans. Keep those questions coming, as we’re eager to hear what you have to say!

Check out this month’s Grab Bag >>

In the future we will collect grab bag questions from a different fansite each month. If you have a question you would like to submit for next month's grab bag please submit your questions on www.war-rvr.net dedicated forum page.








"MMO’s are always expanding their worlds, and since we’ve only tackled a small portion of Warhammer so far, there’s plenty more to add. With so many different sides, angles, and armies to choose from, the potential for creativity is enormous which gives us a great opportunity to take an established IP and still make something original."

Developer Profile >>


"Warhammer is the Heavy Metal of the fantasy genre, I mean … what’s not to like? Warhammer works great as an MMO setting simply because there’s so much to draw from in the IP. The tone of the setting lends itself to the kind of brutal, exciting experiences that are a blast to play. These are also the kinds of things my team and I look forward to bringing to life in the game."

Developer Profile >>







The next phase of the WAR Beta is underway and we are debuting all-new content and RvR mayhem! Each month we'll randomly select 20 names from the newsletter subscriber database for entry into the Beta Test.*** If you are a current Warhammer newsletter subscriber, then you're automatically entered into the drawing every month. If you are not yet a newsletter subscriber, visit betacenter.eamythic.com to register for the Beta and subscribe to the monthly newsletter.

May Winners:

J. Reid/North America M. Knap/Europe
L. Appleby/North America M. Wesseloh /Europe
J. Petro/North America S. Icks/Europe
C. Kendall/North America F. Sanz/Europe
R. Kohnow/North America V. Berge/Europe
T. Potter/North America R. Mikael/Europe
A. Narvaes/North America P. Frago/Europe
R. Moore/North America G. Palau/Europe
D. McGregor/New Zealand G. Imenes/South America
S. Delaney/Australia A. McColl/Australia







This month, decorate your desktop with more images of WAR.











April 2008
March 2008

February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007


Each month we’ll be shining the spotlight on WAR fan sites that exemplify what we consider to be the best in WAR community spirit.

Two years ago Richard Prince (better known on Warhammer Alliance as Lynx) decided to write “Shadowspear Legacy”, a fan novel about the Age of Reckoning. He finally released the first chapter to excited readers and eager fans this month on his website dedicated to the novel. We hope you enjoy it and the chapters to come as much as we did, you can
find it at www.shadowspearlegacy.com.

Is your fan site doing something cool, informative, or fun? Let us know by sending an email to war-community@mythic.ea.com and you could be featured in the next community spotlight.

Download the WAR
Fan Site kit.

The views expressed in the linked sites are the views of the respective owners of each site, and do not necessarily express the views of Electronic Arts, its wholly-owned subsidiaries or Licensors. Electronic Arts does not endorse and is not responsible for content on third party sites, including fan sites.



Here’s an exciting chance for you to get into the Warhammer Online closed beta test!

BOOM! Studios' new comic, WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE is now on stands and readers have a chance at gaining entry into the North American WAR closed beta test.****

Each copy of WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1 contains a special scratch-off which reveals a code giving readers a
1-in-5 chance to get into the Warhammer Online North American beta test.* (The deadline to enter yor code has just been extended to June 14th.) Not only will you discover some great new Warhammer fiction, but there is also a chance you could be fighting your very own battles online.

WARHAMMER: CONDEMNED BY FIRE #1 (of 5)


Story by Dan Abnett and
Ian Edginton
Script by Ian Edginton
Drawn by Rahsan Ekedal

The Witch Hunters come to the fore in this five issue mini-series from the same team that
brought you WARHAMMER:
FORGE OF WAR.

Tireless foes of Chaos in the Warhammer universe, Witch Hunters roam the Empire seeking to stop the spread of dark magic and witchery of all kinds. When Witch Hunter Magnus Gault hears that the nearby village of Loughville has fallen prey to the canker of Chaos, he is driven to investigate. Once there, he finds the buildings rancid and rotted and the villagers wretched and mutated - eager to prey upon any lost soul who should come their way.

Can one man stand against this monstrous regiment? Warhammer 40,000 novelist Dan Abnett, multiple Eisner Award-nominee Ian Edginton, and fan-favorite artist Rahsan Ekedal return to bring you another tale from the epic, fantasy realm that is Warhammer!

Issues #2 through #5 are available now for pre-order at the BOOM! Studios website: www.boom-studios.com.
To find a comic shop near you
for Issue #1 visit: www.comicbookresources.com



Knight Errant
by Anthony Reynolds



The noble knights of Bretonnia are bound by duty and honour to fight for their king, and defend their lands from invaders. When the Lord of Bastonne falls ill, his two sons Calard and Bertelis are plunged into conflict as suppressed rivalries surface. As a horde of goblins swarms out of the forests, the knights gather their forces to repel the foul beasts, little suspecting that the true enemy has yet to reveal itself.

Knight Errant is the first ever novel about Bretonnian knights from Mark of Chaos author, Anthony Reynolds.

Available online here and in Games Workshop stores and all good bookstores.



What is going on in this picture? Send us your best caption and we’ll send the winner into the Closed Beta! Please keep your captions clean if you want them to be printed!

Enter your Submission!


Last Month’s Contest Winner



Winner:

"Despite the less then subtle hint, Joe, the most annoying prisoner ever, was still there after Arnold returned from his break."

Runners-Up:

"I know you said I was free, but you try moving after 10 days of being stuck in this contraption!"

"Nothing exciting ever happens here. It isn't like any of these wastes of flesh could break out of the stocks."

"It is a common prank for the guards to see how long it takes for a prisoner to find out that there is no lock."


Get your hands on the latest
build of
WAR at one of
the following events:


Baltimore Games Day
June 14, 2008

Toronto Games Day
June 21, 2008

Origins
June 26-29, 2008

San Diego Comic Con
July 24-27, 2008

Chicago Games Day
July 26, 2008

Gen Con Indy
August 14-17, 2008

LA Games Day
August 23, 2008

Penny Arcade Expo
August 29-31, 2008

Stay tuned for more information
about our upcoming 2008 show schedule!



More news and exclusive information from the frontlines of WAR, including:

  • The first Dungeon is
    revealed
  • New Career Mastery Updates
  • Guild Beta Updates
  • Plus, new screens, videos,
    podcasts, and so much
    more!





  • **** The BOOM! Beta promotional code must be activated by June 14, 2008 to be eligible for the Beta Test. Previous registrants can add the promo code to their existing accounts by visiting the Beta Center. One in five registrants using this promo code are potentially eligible to participate in the Beta test. However, this is dependent upon the registrant meeting specific computer system specifications and the time of entry is not guaranteed. The Beta Test is an ongoing process and registrants will be invited to participate at various intervals until the launch of the game. Offer valid for North American beta test only. Only one BOOM! Beta Code can be associated with a Beta Center Account.

    ***In order to participate in the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Beta you must agree to a Beta Test Agreement, in which you will represent and warrant that, among other things, you (a) are eighteen (18) years of age or older, (b) are not a principal, employee, agent, independent contractor, officer or director of a developer or publisher of video or computer games (other than EA), and (c) are not a principal, employee, supplier, independent contractor, officer or director or of any entity that participates either directly or indirectly in the sale of in-game items, including but not limited to, in-game currency, armor, weapons, etc., whether these sales are to the general public or to a third-party.

    Please know that at EA Mythic, we don't want to send you information you don't want to receive. If you no longer want us to contact you, please click here to be removed from our mailing list or to change your preferences. You can also write to: Privacy Policy Administrator, Electronic Arts, 209 Redwood Shores Parkway, Redwood City, CA 94065.

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