Rift: Planes of Telara

[Insanecyclone]

http://www.riftpodcast.com/podcast/2...-vip-keys.html

Rift Podcast 17: Abigale, Alpha, Beta and VIP Keys

This week we have Abi join us once again. She talks about her own experiences in Alpha, the contention on the official forums over Beta and the VIP keys, and talks to us in some detail about the Trion Gamer Day.

There has been much contention on the official Rift: Planes of Telara Forums over Trion’s decision to hand out Beta keys in multiple different ways. The keys are available through multiple randomly timed give-aways on Rift’s Facebook, Twitter and Official Forums. Not to mention there are several fansites running competitions to gain the keys as well. These are not the only ways VIP Beta codes will be available, but just the first ones that have been implemented.

Abigale talks to us in this episode about the fine line they walk trying to make sure they fulfill their development, stress and focus testing needs; balance getting the word out about the game; and try to include their supportive community at the same time. Sadly, it is a fine line and not everyone will be happy – If they did manage to find a way to accomplish it, they could bottle it and make a fortune.

We’d like to announce that the random winner of the VIP Beta key comment on our blog contest was: Zephirius. Congratulations!

Don’t forget today is your last chance to get in bumper sticker slogans or create a soul. Entries close at Midnight CST tonight!

We hope you enjoy this Podcast episode.

[Alderaan]

Combat and Abilities - Rift: Planes of Telara Reader Submitted Q&A #4
http://www.tentonhammer.com/rift/int...uestions-part4

Lead Systems Designer divulges combat system philosophy, abilities, souls, and PvP.

In our fourth exclusive interview with Trion Worlds, Ten Ton Hammer probes ever deeper into the upcoming Rift: Planes of Telara MMOG. This time, we talk to Lead Systems Designer Cameron McNeil, who goes into depth of the combat system in Rift. The combat-themed discussion also touches on various abilities, soul trees, the user interface, and even PvP. If you wish to have a question answered in a future interview, please submit them in our official Rift forum.

Ten Ton Hammer: For most MMOGs, the heart of the game is the combat system. What about Rift: Planes of Telara? How does that combat system work?

Cameron McNeil: The combat system in Rift is very similar to other traditional MMOG combat systems. There’s ability selection, target selection, cast times, cooldowns; if you’ve played an MMOG, you’ll understand the core fundamentals on how the game plays. A lot of what happens though depends on your class, what you’re doing, and how you want to play the game. We don’t want to change the fundamentals of the game. We want to change what sits on top of those fundamentals and the things that make it fun. Pressing “1” to swing my sword, changing that isn’t necessarily what we want to do. What sword do you want to swing?

http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/91185

For a given fight, depending upon my class, I’m going to find my target, I’m going to start off by throwing a damage-over-time spell, I’m going to hit my instant, I’m going to start throwing around my bread-and-butter fireball, and when they get close to death, I’m going to finish them off either with my instant, which has hopefully cooled off, or with another ability that will hit them harder when they’re under a certain amount of health.

For harder pulls or larger mobs, I’ll throw in some crowd controls, pop a cooldown, drink a potion; all the things you would expect to do in an MMOG.

Ten Ton Hammer: Basically, it’s along the philosophy of “if ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.” Would the advantage here be that it sounds like the system would easily be picked up by players if they’ve ever played other MMOGs before?

Cameron McNeil: Yes, very much so. We want people to sit down and start playing immediately. Having never played Rift before, you should be able to pick it up and go, “Hey! I know how this works. Let’s start killing stuff!” What we have is an incredibly flexible soul system that allows players to create their own classes and play style. What we want is for players to define how they want to play, which abilities to use, what effects they want, and the general strategy. That’s where we want our players to feel that our game is different. That’s what we think is fun. It’s not in pressing the “1” button, it’s in my choice as a player deciding on what I’m going to do.

Ten Ton Hammer: How many abilities are going to be within a rotation? Obviously, you can’t give exact examples, but do you think it’ll be a lot of rows of hotkeys that people will be using or is it going to be five to seven main abilities that people will rotate through?

Cameron McNeil: Each class has generally about 20 abilities. We certainly don’t expect you to be using all of those. A lot of those are situational, and a lot of them are reactionary. In my general rotation, four or five abilities are might what I throw around. If something happens, I have access to other things. A lot of it depends upon your class as well. If you’re a stealth class, you’re going to have a few more buttons that you’re going to use. If you’re a class that’s going to set themselves up as a tank, then there’s going to be one or two more things that you’re going to do at the start of combat. We don’t expect you to be pressing the one through nine buttons in order before looping back to one again.

http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/91187

Ten Ton Hammer: Would you say that you have the standard arsenal of damage-over-time, direct damage spells, AoE spells, and that sort of thing?


Cameron McNeil: There are certainly those abilities in there, and more abilities sitting on top that you don’t see around the place very often. Your standard MMO fare is in there. That’s your meat and potatoes, and there’s a little bit of desert thrown in on top of that as well.

Ten Ton Hammer: Does that mean that we’ll see the holy trinity return in combat, where you need to have a tank, a healer, and a DPS class?

Cameron McNeil: Yes you do if you’re going to attempt a dungeon or a raid, but unlike other games, who your tank is might not always the same person. If the warrior isn’t on for the night, someone can change their role quite easily and use the options in another class. Just because there is a holy trinity, it doesn’t mean that you have to have the warrior, cleric, and the mage.

Ten Ton Hammer: Talking a little bit more about the combat on the screen, some games tend to get so intense with ability rotations that you find yourself focusing on the UI and not the combat itself. Would you say that that is something you’ve been trying to avoid?

Cameron McNeil: It’s something that we’re very aware of. There are things that we try to do to make sure that the information you need is easily accessible onscreen. We have an incredibly talented UI department who are looking at these things all the time. How do we make this better? How do we make sure that your focus isn’t sitting on the top left or the top right corner of your screen? We want you to be looking at the center of your screen. We want the effects to be meaningful. We want you to know what everything means. If something happens and you have to react to it, there should be something sitting there to help you know when to do it. You shouldn’t have to look at the top right hand corner of your screen and go, “Oh! That little icon has popped up.”

http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/91186

Ten Ton Hammer: Do the abilities have ranks?

Cameron McNeil: Yes. If an ability requires a rank, then it has a rank. For example, how much your fireball hits for. That’s going to go up in ranks. Something like a Silence, we don’t put ranks on that. It’s a single ability. You buy it once and it’s there now. There’s nothing else there that needs to rank up on it.

One of the reasons for that is when you do get a new rank in an ability, we want it to feel special. We don’t want it to be that you go up a level, and now you’re hitting for one more extra point of damage. We want you looking forward to getting those new ranks. When you get a new rank, it’s like, “Awesome! I’m hitting for more damage now. I’m healing more now. This makes me feel better as a player.”

Ten Ton Hammer: You’re bringing meaning back to leveling again?

Cameron McNeil: Yes.

Ten Ton Hammer: How will players gain access to new ranks or new abilities?

Cameron McNeil: New ranks are unlocked slightly different from new abilities. Once you have the first rank in an ability, you are always entitled to upgrade to the next rank. There are no restrictions on it. We don’t want there to be a restriction on it, other than “Hey, you got to level 35. You now get access to rank 4.” For unlocking the abilities themselves, that’s kind of the core of our system. We have this soul system where you define where you want to spend your points. You decide if you want to be a little bit of a champion, and a little bit of a paladin. Depending upon the number of points that you spend in those classes, that’s going to give you access to abilities that they have. If I want my Charge, then I’m going to have to spend some points in my champion. If I want my Shield Throw, then I’m going to have to spend points in my paladin. Once I get the first rank of it, that ability is unlocked for me. I don’t have to worry about not spending enough points to get the second version of that ability.

http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/91188

Ten Ton Hammer: Are there any abilities that are unlocked just be leveling without spending points in the soul trees?

Cameron McNeil: No. You only gain ranks by leveling. With that being said, equipping a soul tree will always give you something a little bit special and a taste of the class.

Ten Ton Hammer: How frequently are upgrades to the ranks available? Does it come with every level or every two levels? How does that work?

Cameron McNeil: It depends upon the ability and it depends upon your level as well. At the start of the game, we hand them out a little more frequently to ease you into it. After that, for damaging and healing abilities, it’s going to be every five to six levels. It’s enough so that you’re not running back to the trainer every other level, and when you get it, it feels important. It shouldn’t be a matter of, “Oh my God! I can’t play until I get my next rank.” It should be, “I’m playing well and when I get my next rank, I feel really powerful for a level or two.”

Ten Ton Hammer: Are you going to have different abilities for PvP than you would for PvE?

Cameron McNeil: We don’t have different ability sets for PvP versus PvE. We do have different things, such as crowd control, that has diminishing returns and a maximum duration. There are those things in place to make sure that we’re not creating an unpleasant experience for people. We want you to have fun while you’re playing. On top of that, because we have this wonderful soul system, we can create, and we have, PvP specific souls. These are souls that you take into PvP. They have very specific PvP uses and abilities and are things that you would want to take in with you.

http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/91190

Ten Ton Hammer: Just to reiterate, the abilities reflect more upon the soul rather than the calling? Or would you say you get more abilities from the calling itself than the souls?

Cameron McNeil: The calling itself has no impact upon your abilities. Your abilities come directly from the soul. If I want to be a warrior that deals a lot of damage, I pick my champion soul. If I want to be a warrior who tanks hard bosses, then I take a paladin soul. The abilities that those two souls grant you are obvious in what they do. You have your paladin with your shield blocks and your shield crushes. You’re a champion; you’re swinging around a big two-handed weapon. Your soul defines what you do, not your calling.

Ten Ton Hammer: To touch a little bit on the UI in terms of combat, do you have separate windows for hostile targets as opposed to friendly targets or targets-of-target?

Cameron McNeil: There’s two parts to that question. A multi-target system is something that should be built into the core of the game’s combat system itself, with abilities and effects designed around having access to multiple targets. What that means though, generally, is that tends to lead to more complex combat systems. One of our goals is to ensure that Rift is very accessible to new players, and we feel that a multi-target system takes away from that accessibility. So it’s something that we’re not looking at right now.

The second part of that dealing with target-of-target and focused targets; we certainly have that for the people who want it. We don’t feel that just adding an offensive and defensive target into the system itself is going to help players who are new to MMOGs.

Ten Ton Hammer: In your personal opinion then, what is it about the combat that really engages you as a player?

Cameron McNeil: For me, it’s all about choice. What choice do I have when I’m creating my class? What choices do I have when I’m in combat and fighting? Did I take someone with stealth? Does that give me a kind of sap? Can I open with a stun? Should I take the mage who is very flimsy, but can deal a lot of damage and can root from range? A lot of it is how do I want to play this class today? It’s also about solving problems. I tried to kill this guy, but it didn’t quite work out. How can I come back and kill him? Did he put a DoT on me or did he summon some friends? What can I do that will make killing this guy easier the next time I face him?

http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/91189

Ten Ton Hammer: So there’s a lot of strategy involved, you would say?

Cameron McNeil: Yes, that’s exactly it. What are you taking in with you and how can you best use it? What does this other guy have and how can I counter it? Especially in PvP, that’s something that’s going to be ongoing within the game itself. As soon as there is a flavor-of-the-month build, someone else is going to be working on the best way to kill that build.

Ten Ton Hammer: Is there anything else you want to tell us about the combat system?

Cameron McNeil: I think what we’ve created here is not just the combat system itself; it’s a combination of the combat system and the soul system. Our combat system is something people can sit down with and feel right at home. Very soon into the game, you start to see what’s really cool about our game. You get to see this wonderful soul system where you can make your own classes and make your own choices. It’s not just that the combat is fun, it’s the whole thing together that makes for a really rewarding experience.

Our thanks to Cameron McNeil. If you have any questions that you would like to see answered in a future interview, post them in our offical Rift forum.

[Alderaan]

Dev Diary: Scoring Rift

[Alderaan]

Abyssal Precipice Zone Revealed
http://www.rift-news.com/index.php/t...zone-revealed/

Trion just released a bunch of details via their press site on what seems to be their latest instance, the Abyssal Precipice. Below you will find the lore behind this zone, as well as screenshots and a fly-through video.



The brink of the void

The highest spires of Iron Pine Peak are rightly called the roof of Telara, snow-capped giants from whose shoulders climbers could once look out upon the whole world. Today, these lofty peaks overlook a swirling storm of sleet and snow, as if hovering over an endless void. Over the abyss.

This vista chills the blood of bold explorers, while encouraging the mountain's new full-time occupants to redouble their wicked efforts. These cultists of Akylios find the seemingly bottomless expanse almost comforting, a reminder that if their schemes in Iron Pine are successful, all of Telara will be swallowed in cold, roiling chaos for them to rule over.

The Abyssal have made camp in these mountains, seeking to awaken an ancient horror. This cephalon, a loyal servitor of Akylios during the Age of Dragons, knows where the Profane One is imprisoned. The Abyssal must not wake the cephalon, lest his secrets help free the maddest of dragons.

http://www.rift-news.com/index.php/fa/347/0/

http://www.rift-news.com/index.php/fa/348/0/

Cold like the crushing depths

Cultists of Akylios make camp throughout the Abyssal Precipice, manning eldritch machines meant to pinpoint and draw out the spirit of the banished cephalon. They have planted seacaps in the snow around their camps, and the vicious little crustaceans pounce on any intruders who draw near the cultists' sensitive equipment. Furthermore, water elementals patrol the cliffs, large enough to drown a full-grown Bahmi in their flowing bulk.

As they race to stop the Abyssal ritual, heroes must plunge into icy caverns teeming with juvenile Deep Ones. What they lack in the adults' tremendous size, these young make up for in ferocity and numbers, and their claws can tear clean through plate armor. Siltreavers also lair in these caves--hungry tentacled horrors who lurk under the snow, ready to drag adventurers into madness and death.

For a chance to free Akylios, the Abyssal have brought their two most loyal enforcers. These cultists command liquid in any form: One blends water magic with the frost of Iron Pine to summon up deadly spikes and blasts of ice, while the other can manipulate the very blood in his enemy's veins. Both of these villains must be overcome to find the leader of the Abyssal before he can unleash the cephalon amid the cold peaks.

http://www.rift-news.com/index.php/fa/349/0/

http://www.rift-news.com/index.php/fa/350/0/

Stem the tide of madness

It is in all Telara's best interest that the Abyssal fail to summon Akylios's cephalon advisor. Not only is this being ancient and horrible in its own right, it is rumored to know the location of its master's prison. Akylios's madness transcends mortal understanding, and if Telara is to survive, he must remain chained.

The Faceless Man, who spearheads the Defiant's more clandestine operations, bids his fellows to claim a book of horrid spells integral to the Abyssal summoning efforts. Once an Abyssal himself, he seeks the book's secrets to stop his former comrades from unmaking the world. The Guardians would rather destroy the book than trust him, or any Defiant, with such twisted magic.

Keeping forbidden lore from their enemies is just one reason Guardians would assault the Abyssal Precipice. According to legend, the sword of Thedeor himself stands on one of the cliffs. No one knows for sure whether this oversized blade belongs to the war god, but Guardians who have seen the weapon claim it filled their spirits with holy light. If so, all Guardians should strive to make this pilgrimage, for a true vision of righteousness is precious in a world where madmen wake slavering nightmares.

http://www.rift-news.com/index.php/fa/351/0/

[Alderaan]

Rift: Planes of Telara: The Archon
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/g...re/4708/page/1

MMORPG.com and Trion Worlds have partnered to bring you news and information about four of the classes players will be able to choose from when Rift: Planes of Telara goes live. The first in our series is the support specialist, the Archon. We have screens, basic class information and a lore story to breathe life into the Archon.

Overview

Archons are support specialists who steal their opponents’ strength and convert that raw energy into beneficial magic. These mages bolster their allies and unleash potent kinetic blasts, quickly turning the tide of battle.

Strengths

Archons draw upon an enemy’s strength to empower their friends and unleash potent spells, helping their allies face down seemingly insurmountable odds.

Weaknesses

An Archon is weakest when caught between transfers. Having expended their own life force to gain access to their enemy’s, they must feed on the energy of others to regain strength. During this time a strategic assault can quickly overcome the Archon’s meager defenses.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...t-Archon-1.jpg

Background

The Archon’s Bahmi servant looked the Paladin Amardis up and down. Amardis shifted uncomfortably, unused to the desert heat.

“Many warlords seek the aid of the Archon Tahkaat. Her power brings victory to any army. What priceless treasure do you offer for her support?”

“None,” replied the Paladin. “My forces and I have taken a sacred vow. We will take no pay, nor spoils of war. We march against Laethys, Queen of Avarice, and we’ll give her greed no purchase.”

The Archon was clad in robes and veiled from sight in her tent. She appeared to be meditating in a circle of incense and spices. The figure made the barest nod, and her servant looked back, smiling.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...t-Archon-2.jpg

“The Archon Tahkaat thinks you wiser than you appear. She will fight with your army, and through her strength the dragon will fall.”

In their third week afield, the army faced attack. Stone constructs rose from the desert sands and set upon them. Rushing to the front lines, Amardis saw the Archon’s litter explode. The Mathosian Paladin ran toward the blast, finding at first only fire and shards.

Tahkaat’s servant sat nursing her as the Paladin arrived at their side. The Archon’s veils were askew. Amardis laid eyes on Tahkaat for the first time and saw an emaciated and frail Eth woman, bleeding on the sand.

“Is this her great power?” yelled Amardis at the Bahmi servant.

The Bahmi looked at Amardis, leader of a noble crusade, as if she were no more than an ungrateful child. “Take a look at your army, Northerner.”

Amardis was stunned. Wreathed in stone and flame, their skin like rock, every one of her soldiers, from the hardened tribesmen to the boys who last season had been shepherds, matched the golems’ terrible strength. Every apprentice wielded spells like a magus, each infantryman fought like a champion. They dismantled the golems of Laethys a child smashes his toys.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...t-Archon-3.jpg

“She needs healing,” said Amardis, ashamed at her lack of faith.

“No!” The Bahmi gently picked up Tahkaat. “Something is coming.”

Suddenly, a series of thunderous blows shook the battlefield. “Titan!” the soldiers cried. A gargantuan figure towered over top of them. Even in their empowered state, the army was no match for this force of nature.

Before Amardis could sound the retreat, magma gushed from a sudden crack in the hill, washing over the foe, and Amardis felt her hands surge with the titan’s own might. She looked at the Archon, whose eyes burned like the molten blood of the earth. No longer frail and wizened, Tahkaat was regal, beautiful, and awesome to behold.

“Attack!” she bellowed.“Trust in the Gods, and the Archon Tahkaat!” Her army rallied, empowered anew. Amardis had never felt so strong, so unstoppable in her life.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...t-Archon-4.jpg

As Amardis drew her blade from the Titan’s desiccated heart, she felt Archon Tahkaat’s hand on her shoulder. Amardis loved the gods, but at no moment in her life had she felt closer to a divine being.

[Alderaan]

Rift: Planes of Telara: Hands-On Preview
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/g...n-Preview.html

MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh recently had the opportunity to attend Trion's Gamer Day in Redwood City, California. During the day, Carolyn played the alpha version of Rift: Planes of Telaraand was able to check out several level 30 characters and classes, different builds and several areas of the game. Check out her experiences with Rift and then leave us a comment below.

On a bright sunny Thursday in Redwood City, Trion had gathered five members of the Rift: Planes of Telara community who were not in the Alpha Test stage and a handful of media for a day with hands-on the game. Although still in an Alpha stage, the game has a polished look and feel, equal to some games that were launched in previous years. Remember some of the really painful launches? Yes, I think we all do.

With a quick reminder that the game was in Alpha and a request that we report any bugs we encountered and file feedback, we were let loose at the machines on accounts where several level 30 characters of each faction and various builds, and a slot for creating our own characters. Having played the previous build, I ran through the character creator and the starting experience again. Remember. Alpha Test stage. Things may and will change. Having stressed that, read on.

Starting Experience

Each faction had three races to choose from: the Guardians had a human, elf and dwarf and the Defiants had a human, elf and half-giant (more or less), and class selection at character creation is a broad choice of: Mage, Warrior, Cleric or Rogue. Once I got into the game, I was faced with my first choice of specific class and given three choices as a Mage: Pyromancer, Elementalist and Warlock, (Purifier, Inquisitor and Sentinel for Cleric) and given a short demonstration of the class powers by an in-game NPC. Like any other starting tutorial, I found quests, quest NPCs, and directions that led me out of the re-birth area into the world beyond.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...Archon-1_t.jpg

I made it through the second Ascension with the Guardian Cleric – taking Purifier with the first Ascension (first choice of three classes) and Justicar at the second Ascension at level six where I had the remaining seven classes to select from. Then I received a quest which required me to go through a pass to take down a boss. Whoa! I screeched to a halt after running through a field of mobs when I glimpsed the wall of level five and six mobs I had to go through, including a named. I checked my mini-map as well as my larger map to make sure that I was headed in the right direction. Sure enough, I was. A couple of PR guys had noticed I sat back in my chair as I pondered my options and checked the quest. Suggestions were tossed back and forth, and Devs came on over…

“Did you get something you were supposed to use?” “Miss a step?” “Come on, Carolyn, you can do it! Wimpy looking mobs, don’t you think?”

Actually, no. They were nasty looking mobs, but what the heck. I shielded up and charged… and triggered a Guardian’s “guardian angel” that smote the nasties – all of them – and infused me with the blessings of the Gods to take down Mr. Big, Mean and Nasty that I was tasked to do. Okay! When I finally took him down and leapt through the portal, everyone behind me cheered as I had gotten through the newbie tutorial.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...Archon-2_t.jpg

Well, that totally had to be the most un-newbie tutorial area I’ve run through. I thought the tutorial consisted of the hot-tips I was getting as I moved, picked up quests, etc. etc. Hey wait! I’m not done with the area yet! But there was no going back. The world had been waiting too long for my Ascension and return. Onward toward battling the Rifts and Invasions from the planes!

I was able to run both the Defiant as well as the Guardian starting experience although I did not make it through the Defiant tutorial area, the experience was similarly epic. The sense of danger was all around, with explosions rocking the area, the various experiences, not only combat, but activating machines (Defiants anyway), blowing mobs up with ballista, freeing Cyril’s horse and riding it across the battlefield, collecting, harvesting, leather working – yes, you learn your first harvesting skills in the field. I found myself trapped in the “Get quest from NPC A, return to NPC A” syndrome a few times, running halfway back to my starting point before I realized that I had received the rewards and the quest was complete, or else I was to go to a different NPC farther afield. I like that.

Dungeon Experience

We also got to play in a dungeon as level 30 characters, with Devs filling in to have enough of a mix of classes to make groups of five. This particular dungeon was instanced for our group and mobs did not respawn. We looked through our builds and skill bars, pressed buttons and hoped for the best. We did rather well, all told. In a departure from the usual boss with say melee and spells, each mini-boss had enough different powers and abilities that we were entertained trying to figure them out. One had spectral healers that spawned and those had to be taken out first. Another summoned crystals with AE explosions. High-level loot opened a window with buttons for Need, Greed or Pass.

http://images.mmorpg.com/images/news...recipice_t.jpg

PvP

I unfortunately missed playing the PvP as my group was determined to have just one more go at the final boss in the dungeon despite an AFK member (we did not succeed). I created a character on the PvP server, met Fluffy, Destroyer of Worlds, buffed up to 50 but missed trying out the PvP arenas before the server went down and we were to move on to the next planned activity. Currently there are three maps: King of the Hill, team based Attack/Defense and a team based “Kill the Courier” or maybe it’s “Protect the Courier” depending on whose team has the ball. According to the players that did get to try it, it was a lot of fun.

Questions, Answers and Evening Demo

It was a packed day which continued with a Q&A session in a conference room with an HDTV and an NVIDIA 3D Vision box, so for fun, the game was run through the box and the glasses passed around so everyone of us could see the game in 3D – and that really rocked – but on with the Q&A where community questions were answered. Most answers were based on their philosophy of making the game fun, not tedious.

* Day and night cycles are being tweaked and the cycle will be an odd number. Currently set at 7 hours – so you aren’t always logging in during day or night, pure dark night will also be very short and there are no day/night specific quests.
* Balance between two factions is not required. PvP maps and games are not about stronger or more numerous forces.
* Rare events are the random events whose outcomes depend on player actions. For example a regular or black market may spawn depending on how the wandering trader is treated.
* Mentoring will be in the game after launch (not much need for it right at launch). The main designers of the EQ2 mentoring system and the CoH systems are now at Trion.
* Travel around the world will consist of portals, fast mounts and guild summoning.
* There are no “safe” areas out in the field. Invasions can happen across the land, and you may log back into an invasion.
* There are underwater areas, and in Gloamwood, an underwater cave for adventuring in.
* Dragon cults are themed for personality, for example, the Golden Maw are rich, evil and villainous, the Wanton are crazy, chaotic and use fire.
* Avatars will only have first names because of the great number of titles they have in game. The final decision on whether they will have a last name has yet to be made
* The Dwarf female has to be found – it’s part of the lore, and unavailable as a class choice currently.
* There’s no dynamic weather but zones will have their own climate, so to speak, and this will be a gradual change and not an abrupt change when you cross the virtual zone line.
* The only zoning you will encounter are specific instances and some dungeons.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/46...Warlord3_t.jpg

We were treated to the first public visuals of a Plane of Air and Water invasion / rift, and a Dev’s build of an Assassin, Ranger, Bard which was said to provide crazy soloing and PvP utility.

Quotable Quotes

In reference to dynamic world changing events and when players will experience them: “Once you learn what the world is supposed to be like, then you can mess up the world.”

Speaking of characters and customization: “Cyril was named before my time. I’d have chosen a more butch name.” “We women want eye-candy too. Make sure the male avatar looks good. Teeny loincloths please!”

Scott Hartsman during discussion of our hands-on experience: “We won’t have quests that will make you run back and forth and back again the same area or kill the same mobs repeatedly, to get different things from them.” Not that there won't be any quests at all that make you go back to the same area, but that they won't be onerous. Scott further said "If you think players get loud about it when it happens, you should see what happens to our internal playtest list when devs find them."

Impressions

What we saw of the game is impressive in an Alpha stage. We weren’t told where we could go or couldn’t go, or that we had to play this tiny vertical slice or dungeon. We were on the live Alpha server and sat down to do what we wanted to do. I spent little time on character creation which I have a hazy impression of having lots of options and sliders as I wanted to get into the game right away after hitting the random button a few times.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/46...e-Nov2-3_t.jpg

This is my second look at a different newbie experience and of course it’s a new and improved version. I like the pace of combat, development and advancement in the early stages of the game. The first build had newbies attacking rifts at level 3, but as Scott Hartsman said, you’ve got to know what the world is before you know that it’s changing. The second Ascension could come a little later, in my opinion, after you got out of the tutorial zone or a couple levels later even. The most impressive thing about the day was that the Devs came by all day to interact with us, speak to us to get our feedback, note what we were doing and not doing. One asked me what I was doing when running around the newbie town and noted that a particular mob’s spawn wasn’t adequate. Oh, and did I mention the sound field? Some fabulous sound work there.

[Alderaan]

Rift: Planes of Telara: The Paragon
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/g...1/feature/4712

In the second installment of our exclusive Rift: Planes of Telara class overviews, MMORPG.com is pleased to show off the dual wielding specialist, the Paragon. Paragons deal damage at a steady, brutal pace and have the ability to hurt enemies at a distance as well. We've got exclusive screens, information and lore behind The Paragon. Check it out and then comment below.

Strengths

With a finely tuned mind and body, the Paragon wields two weapons to perfection, devastating his enemies. Paragons specialize in dealing consistent damage, and can also hit their enemies from range.

Weaknesses

Paragons suffer against healers who can outpace their steady damage output, and these methodical warriors tend to be weaker against opponents who specialize in burst damage.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...-Paragon-1.jpg

Background

One day, along their journey to confront the first incarnation of Regulos, a party of heroes realized they were being followed. So the Riftstalker Anan hung back to ambush their pursuer.

Anan found an old Bahmi man sitting before a fire. “Sit. Have a bite,” said the elderly fellow, peering straight at Anan under the shadow of an exceptionally large hat. He turned a spit on which was skewered an alarmed-looking rodent. “You should know, however, that the forces of Regulos will be arriving in just a few moments.” No sooner did he say so than a cadre of skeletons spilled over the hill. Anan whipped out his daggers, ready to confront the first wave before they could harm the old fellow.

In a flash, the Bahmi was on his feet, a long, slender blade in each fist. “Strike like iron!” he bellowed, and did.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...-Paragon-2.jpg

He made bone mulch of the oncoming horde with a dizzying onslaught of attacks. As a second wave crested the hill, he swung his swords in an arc. A wave of energy flew from his blades, shattering bones and spilling marrow on the grass. Before more could come, he danced back to turn his spit. Anan could not help but admire the old swordsman’s disciplined, fluid movements. One blade struck while the other repelled, flowing between well-practiced forms. When a foe managed to knock one sword from his grip, the Bahmi used the spit from the fire to defend himself.

Just as the skeletons had been laid to rest, an enormous flesh golem appeared on the hilltop, casting a monstrous shadow in the bloody light of dusk. It lumbered straight for the swordsman, who crossed his hands over his chest and shouted, “Way of the Mountain!”

The aberration’s charge hit the old man with an anticlimactic thud, as if rushing against a solid pillar of earth. It stumbled back, yet the Bahmi remained completely unmoved. Before it could recover, Anan joined the swordsman in a dual attack, and the battle ended quickly. Before the dust could settle, the man sat back at his fire.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...-Paragon-3.jpg

“Great warrior,” said the Riftstalker. “I am Anan. My fellows and I journey to rid the world of Regulos. Would you join us?”

The old man took a bite of rodent, and with a twinkle in his eye, he said, “I am the Won Odego, and I will join your cause gladly. But first, I will eat.” And so the father of the Way of the Paragon joined the crusade to end Regulos.

[Insanecyclone]

http://forums.riftgame.com/showthrea...l=1#post175458

Here is a copy of the press release that went out today! Yes, it's official!!!

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. – November 18, 2010 – Trion Worlds, a global developer and publisher of premium online games, announced today that the first closed beta event for RIFT™, the highly-anticipated MMORPG, is scheduled to take place December 3-6, 2010. Gamers worldwide have the chance to participate in one or all of the upcoming beta events by creating an account at www.RIFTgame.com/betasignup.

“This is a momentous event for the entire Trion team, as well as the fans that have been following RIFT since we first announced the game,” said Scott Hartsman, RIFT’s Executive Producer and Trion’s Chief Creative Officer. “We’ve created this deep, vibrant world that’s just waiting to be populated with enthusiastic players, and our hope is that gamers will enjoy playing the game as much as we’ve enjoyed building it.”

Players interested participating in the closed beta event series can sign up for an account now at www.RIFTgame.com/betasignup. Additionally, players can improve their chances of being selected by obtaining VIP beta-keys that Trion will be giving away on RIFT’s Facebook, Twitter, and community forum pages leading up to each of the event. If selected, testers will be notified via email a few days before the start of each beta event with download and feedback instructions.

Featuring the first 20 levels of play, the “Rise of the Defiant” closed beta event will include the full starting zone for RIFT’s techno-magical Defiant faction, plus the Plane of Death-invaded land of Freemarch. Players can tour the fortress-city of Meridian, and battle hordes of undead in the Iron Tomb dungeon.

[Alderaan]

Rift: Planes of Telara: The Riftstalker
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/g...1/feature/4716

In the third installment of our series of Rift: Planes of Telara character class reveals, we are pleased to present the Riftstalker. The Riftstalker is known as a defensive specialist that uses magical abilities to avoid enemies' blows. They also have the ability to shift out of the physical realm to suddenly reappear behind a foe. We've got exclusive screens, information and lore. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

Overview

The Riftstalker is a defensive specialist who bends the planes to enhance his constitution and shift in and out of the physical dimension. These highly skilled and survivable combatants keep their opponents’ focus while easily evading incoming blows.

Strengths

A Riftstalker is an incredibly mobile fighter capable of shielding himself from harm and appearing in the ideal place and time in a fight.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...tstalker-1.jpg

Weaknesses

Harnessing planar energies places Riftstalkers under tremendous strain, so while formidable in short engagements, they quickly lose ground as they exhaust their bag of tricks.

Background

It had been years since the accident, but Anan Mkhai recalled vividly the agony of having his very essence torn to shreds by his father’s experiment.

“Just one more adjustment,” the old man murmured, tinkering with the sourcestone lode he’d balanced within a crude assortment of metal rings held together with rawhide bands. As the lode clicked into place, the device erupted, shooting a bolt of wild planar power straight into Anan.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...tstalker-2.jpg

The agony returned whenever Anan detached himself from physical space. Of course, when a snarling Bomani thrusts a spear at one’s midsection, pain is a small price for vanishing into thin air before the blow lands. Anan forced himself through the shadowy realm between realities to reappear behind the Bomani, jabbing his daggers into the dog-man’s kidneys. The Bomani crumpled, and Anan wiped his blades on the leather of his leggings.

A soft crying caught his attention. Turning, Anan noticed a small girl huddled by the beset caravan. Bending the threads of space and time, Anan stood beside her in moments. The bodies of her parents lay nearby.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...tstalker-3.jpg

“Let’s get you out of here,” Anan said to the girl softly. As he leaned down to scoop her up, his ears pricked to the clink of chain against stone. Closing in fast, a spectre charged, howling and whipping the air with ghostly chains.

Anan put a finger to his lips as tears welled in the little girl’s eyes. “Shh… I will be back for you.” He studied the spot, and in his mind, a beaming mote appeared in the girl’s location, visible across the immaterial lines of reality.

Anan closed with the spectre, and knew for once the frustration of facing a foe who could wink in and out of existence. Countless times they vanished and reappeared, like warring shadow-puppets in a lightning storm. At last, Anan poised his blade where he knew the shade would materialize, and it appeared once more, impaled on his blade, and dissipated with a bloodcurdling screech.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...tstalker-4.jpg

A second scream drowned out the spectre’s, and Anan whirled to see a Bomani poised to skewer the terrified girl. He honed his mind in on the mote he had laid near the child, and in a flash, he was back beside her, burying his dagger in the heart of the beast. The girl in his arms, Anan walked from the ruins of the caravan toward the small cluster of survivors.

Transporting his mind to another time, Anan saw his father cradling his own body tenderly, muttering apologies and weeping after smashing the device—his life’s work—to spare his son from complete disintegration. For all the agony, his father’s experiment allowed Anan to spare others from pain, a gift he shared with the next generation of Riftstalkers.

[Alderaan]

Rift Beta Dates Announced!!
http://forums.riftgame.com/showthrea...613#post175613

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. – November 18, 2010 – Trion Worlds, a global developer and publisher of premium online games, announced today that the first closed beta event for RIFT™, the highly-anticipated MMORPG, is scheduled to take place December 3-6, 2010. Gamers worldwide have the chance to participate in one or all of the upcoming beta events by creating an account at www.RIFTgame.com/betasignup.

“This is a momentous event for the entire Trion team, as well as the fans that have been following RIFT since we first announced the game,” said Scott Hartsman, RIFT’s Executive Producer and Trion’s Chief Creative Officer. “We’ve created this deep, vibrant world that’s just waiting to be populated with enthusiastic players, and our hope is that gamers will enjoy playing the game as much as we’ve enjoyed building it.”

Players interested participating in the closed beta event series can sign up for an account now at www.RIFTgame.com/betasignup. Additionally, players can improve their chances of being selected by obtaining VIP beta-keys that Trion will be giving away on RIFT’s Facebook, Twitter, and community forum pages leading up to each of the event. If selected, testers will be notified via email a few days before the start of each beta event with download and feedback instructions.

Featuring the first 20 levels of play, the “Rise of the Defiant” closed beta event will include the full starting zone for RIFT’s techno-magical Defiant faction, plus the Plane of Death-invaded land of Freemarch. Players can tour the fortress-city of Meridian, and battle hordes of undead in the Iron Tomb dungeon.

[bori]

I really hope I get a beta key!!!

[bori]

If you haven't already, if you create a GameSpot account, you can register for a key, and they give you a code that you enter on the Beta Page on the official Site.

[Insanecyclone]

[link deleted]

[bori]

I was able to stack 2 codes onto my account, Gamespot and Curse. Not sure if it helps, but I did it anyway.

[towelliee]

Does stacking a code mean you're in the beta?

[Gokulo]

Applying more than 1 code doesn't increase your chance to get into the beta according to their FAQ.

[Alderaan]

Rift: The Shaman
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/g...re/4723/page/1

Trion Worlds and the Rift development team have teamed up with us this week to reveal four of the classes upcoming when Rift goes live. Our final installment features the Shaman, an elemental force who can wreath companions in powerful shields and provide healing as well. We have lore, screenshots and a basic overview of the Shaman. Check it out and tell us what you think by commenting below.

Overview

The Shaman binds the power of the icy north to his very being, wreathing himself in pure elemental force. This power augments a Shaman’s attacks, making him a powerful melee combatant, and provides shields and reactive healing.

Strengths

A Shaman strikes hard and fast like the fury of a winter storm. He can quickly close into melee and unleash powerful blows fueled by muscle and magic.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...ft-Shaman1.jpg

Weaknesses

Shamans lack other clerics’ abilities to bolster defenses and heal grievous wounds, so they fare poorly against foes with a strong defense of their own or who can keep the Shaman at bay.

Background

Ekkehard was a bear of a man, even after age turned his beard white and fine as snowdrifts. He was the last of the Valnir clan to fall when the Storm Legion swept through Iron Pine Peak. His maul toppled many of Crucia’s finest, but at last they captured the mountainous man. As the other imprisoned northmen looked on, the Storm Legion commander blinded Ekkehard with a hot poker. He was chained with the rest of the captives and marched toward Crucia’s chamber for assimilation.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...ft-Shaman2.jpg

Despite his blindness, Ekkehard spent the long death-march preaching faith in Thedeor, god of storms and justice. One night, the commander dragged Ekkehard out of line for rousing the tribesmen to a particularly passionate fervor. Stripped of all but a few loose furs and beaten savagely, the once-unstoppable northerner found himself left for dead in the snow.

Somehow, Ekkehard found the strength to limp along the roadway, following the ruts left by the Legion’s wagons. As his body began to fail, limbs turning solid with the cold, he cried out, “Thedeor! Avenge my people! Grant me your strength, and I will crush the mindless hordes of Crucia!”

The cold in his limbs deepened, as if arctic water ran in every vein, yet Ekkehard felt completely at ease. All pain vanished, and he felt the winds flowing around him, guiding him through the dark to where the slave train made camp.

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...ft-Shaman3.jpg

Silent as a stalking lion, Ekkehard felt his way to the wagon carrying the weapons confiscated from the Valnir. No sooner did he clutch his trusty maul than living lightning poured from his fingertips, charging the weapon with Thedeor’s wrath.

Blind but no longer helpless, Ekkehard let his ears guide his assault. Creeping toward the prisoners, Ekkehard heard the guards mocking the bedraggled northmen, and directed his fury toward their laughter. He charged, roaring, and smashed the first guard’s skull to flinders, lightning arcing from the blow to fry the second to a husk.

Ekkehard was prepared for the third guard’s rush, summoning a flurry of ice and snow to obscure the combat and blind his foe. Ekkehard struck her with such thunderous force that she flew out of the flurry and into a cliff face with a sickening crunch. The snow settled back to the ground, and Ekkehard stood before the astonished prisoners. He hoisted the maul high and cried out, “Praise Thedeor!”

http://images.mmorpg.com/features/47...ft-Shaman4.jpg

The Storm Legion quickly fell to the freed Valnir. Their commander begged for mercy, so Ekkehard put his eyes out with spikes of lightning from his maul, and left him to wander the ice. “Let’s see if Crucia aids you as Thedeor aided me!” Ekkehard declared. Ever after, the Shamans of the northern tribes have driven back the Blood Storm with bitter cold and the fury of the sky.

[bori]

Awesome talent builder

http://www.riftrolebuilder.com/

[Alderaan]

Here's the On The Spot video with just the Rift parts



Also a link to all the confirmed or announced classes/souls. I'll update the OP when they're made official on the main site. 32 Souls so far sounds insane.
http://telarapedia.com/wiki/Class

[Vespula]

Hello,

Just posting to let everyone know that ZAM is giving out VIP Beta keys for the upcoming Rift Beta slated to start Dec. 3. With the VIP keys you will be eligible to participate in all upcoming betas for this new MMORPG. Feel free to check out ZAM for more details on how to win one of these coveted keys.

Go to zam (dot) com (slash) forums for details!