Vanguard Expanding into Novels, Comics, and PnP Games
Vanguard is in discussions with an undisclosed entity about Vanguard novels, comics, and even possible PnP games to truly bring the lore of Vanguard to life. That is nothing but great news for those of us looking for immersion into the new world we call Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.
First Impressions and Gameplay
We got to the game right away! Three computers, side by side in a room filled with seating for as many of us as we could get, were ours for the day. I quickly grabbed the first seat, luckily standing next to it when they asked who wanted to go first.
The game is beautiful, more so than any game currently on the market or that I’ve seen yet! As we waited for the art team to come by, Brad stopped in and said hello. Various staff members piled in, taking turns checking us out and saying hello.
Combat and Exploration
Fighting was pretty different, with various stances and skills available. As a newbie fighter, I could choose to fight more offensively or defensively. I clicked on Stance of the Furious and then one of four attack options. I kicked and swung in a slicing motion, then continued down the list to see what damage I could do.
After killing a few badgers, I stood there staring at the sky, taken aback by how incredible the trees looked in this game. The closest comparison would be animated movies that push for a very realistic look.
World and NPC Interactions
I noticed a village off in the distance with tall, beautiful buildings. The Devs said it was the Village Lethnurae, the starting Elf city. Populated with a few guards and many buildings, it was more of a well-established town than a full city.
NPCs interacted with players, greeting them as they approached and bidding farewell when they left. Voice-overs will also be a part of the game to bring full immersion.
Skill System and Class Specialization
Training will be through NPCs and quests. Players will attain skill points as they level up, which can be spent on class-specific abilities. The skill pool will limit coverage, allowing players to shape their character uniquely while maintaining class specializations.
For example, Rangers will always out-damage Warriors, and Warriors will always be the best option for mitigating damage.
Team Strategy and Combat Mechanics
Vanguard will not have any mezzing. Instead, it will rely heavily on team strategies. If three mobs aggro at once, the team must have a plan to handle them. Stuns and roots may be available, but players will need to strategize rather than rely on mezzing.
Encounters will vary; enemies with the same con rating may have vastly different behaviors and intelligence, requiring tactical engagement.
Map Exploration and Waypoints
Maps will reveal themselves as players explore. Waypoints can be marked for personal use and team guidance, but only those who have previously visited a location will see the waypoint.
Behind the Scenes: Development Team Insights
We toured the Sigil office, meeting the art and development teams. Senior Artist Den Beauvais showed us a Manfibian – a half-lizard, half-man swamp creature – complete with animations.
Motion capture was used to create smooth, realistic movements, avoiding the jerky animations seen in other MMOs.
Crafting System: A Revolutionary Approach
Crafting in Vanguard will be an engaging event rather than a repetitive grind. Players will choose from four types of resource gatherers:
- Foreman: Enhances the team’s gathering efficiency.
- Reaper: Deals damage to the resource.
- Prospector: Identifies resource types.
- Gleaner: Extracts secondary resources.
Resources will not be easy to gather. If a player lacks the necessary skills, they may break their tools, get injured, or even die in extreme cases.
Group Crafting and Housing
Players can form crafting groups for higher-tier resource gathering. Crafting will be event-driven, requiring teamwork for efficiency.
Housing will be available but limited per server to prevent overbuilding. If space runs out, players will have to rent spaces in towns. Shops and city dwellings will also be available for crafters to sell their wares.
