New Official Site Updates

Dragonshards:
The Aerenal Elves, Part I

Sharn Inqusitive:
Court-Martial Convicts Tardalis

Mark of Heroes:
Campaign Standards v.1.2

Dragonshard Community Update #9

Here's the latest from the Dragonshard RTS Developers!

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Greetings Dungeoncrawlers!

It's Dragonshard Update time again, and this week its going to be a little different. In addition to our regular Q&A with our friends at Liquid Entertainment and a new screen shot we're going to be showing off one of the featured characters from the game. This weeks featured character is Darroc from the Lizardfolk faction. In the coming weeks we will be spotlighting more characters from all three playable races. Seeing that we're showing off one of the heroes this week we decided to focus our questions on how heroes in Dragonshard effect the game. As always, if you have a question about Dragonshard that we have not yet answered please free free to submit it and we'll feature it in an upcoming update.

Enjoy!

The DM: How customizable are characters in the game?

Liquid: They are customizable to about as far as a degree as we felt we could take it and still be a balanced RTS game. The Champions can earn new items and even a few new weapons that all add new abilities or stats in the single player. These can have some pretty drastic effects (such as a chance to freeze a unit in ice or even allowing a super high health regeneration).

The DM: What happens if all your hero-led parties get wiped out by a trap or monsters? Does the game end?

Liquid: Yes, and a dragon flies on screen and laughs at you. I'm joking, of course. It would be pretty difficult to have a whole party wiped out by a trap (I've not seen it yet, and I've helped make the game!). If you still have your town, you can build more units and re-summon your Champion.

Name: Darroc
Race: Lizardfolk

Darroc represents one of the pinnacles of the Lizardfolk's rapid evolution under the influence of the Heart of Siberys. Either through sheer genetic chance or, as the Lizardfolk elders believe, via supernatural or draconic influence, Darroc was hatched bearing the size and strength of the dragons his people worshipped, while retaining the agility necessary to maneuver rapidly through the jungles and swamps that are his home. Even at a young age, Darroc was a leader among his people, besting all other warriors who challenged him, defending their lands against invading forces, and banding together otherwise disparate tribes to form one collective Lizardfolk race. However, he fell in battle after repelling the last assault of the Silver Flame on Xen'drik when they first sought to claim to Heart. His remains were recovered, and buried within a sacred tomb hidden away deep within the swamps. Bone is all that remains of his solid form, with flesh and sinew replaced by surging arcane energies. The form that Darroc now takes is that of a resurrected guardian. In his absence, his people have sought out and attempted to groom new heroes to take his place, one of which being the young and temperamental Redfang, who physically shares many of the qualities that made Darroc so fearsome. But now, Darroc has returned to guide his people to victory once again, and to teach the young ones who might follow in his legacy what it takes to truly be a leader of one's people.

--
Shane DeFreest
Atari Community Manager

Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard
http://www.atari.com/dragonshard

Act of War: Direct Action
http://www.gamespot.com/unions/home.html?union_id=actofwar
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Latest Screenshots:

Lizard Cheer


The Hero Darrc

Official Site Updates

Dragonshards:
The Elves of Aerenal, Part One By Keith Baker

Sharn Inquisitive, News for Sul, Dravago 22nd, 998:
Court-Martial Convicts Tardalis By David Noonian

Dragon #332 on newsstands now

Issue #332 of Dragon magazine hits newsstands today, May 24. It features "Cults of the Dragon Below" by Keith Baker. It also includes other exciting articles like "Chromatic Player Characters" and "Cutting up the Dragon" (and a Class Acts piece, by up-and-coming game designer Johnny O'Neal, called "Claim Your Birthright").

Also of note is Dungeon #124, which is in subscribers' hands now and will hit newsstands on June 7. This issue includes a new Eberron adventure, "Temple of the Scorpion God," by James Wyatt and Andy Collins. " It also kicks off the "Age of Worms" adventure path, which will feature Eberron conversions by Keith Baker.

New Official Site Updates

Steal This Hook!
Shocking Admissions

Sharn Inquisitive:
Eldeen Wolves Seize Expedition; Aundair Refuses Talks

Dragonshard Community Update #8

Greetings Dungeoncrawlers!

Now that the wild week that was E3 has once again come and gone we're glad to get back to giving you as much Dragonshard info as we can. Last weeks update focued on the "D&D" aspects of the game so this week we'll focus a bit on the more traditional "RTS" elements of the game. Specifically, we asked our frineds at Liquid about what we know many people want to get some info on, multi-player!

Here is what they had to say...

THE DM: What differences in multiplayer will there be from conventional RTS games?

LIQUID: There are lots of differences. Every unit can gather resources, for examples. Some of the resources are found mainly in the dungeon- the underworld of the multiplayer map. The player has a town grid that uses the nexus system to build buildings and train units, rather than a normal system where buildings are put down anywhere.

I think one of the largest differences is that players have to fight over the resources, so the game encourages combat from the get-go. Also the complete lack of a tech tree- you can build any unit at any time. This helps ease up a lot of the decision making for the player- it isn't difficult to throw in a whole new mix of units on the battlefield.


THE DM: Are there a variety of victory conditions in single player and multiplayer?


LIQUID: Each single player chapter is custom as far as its victory conditions, so there is a large variety. Multiplayer has four different victory conditions that can be individually turned on or off for a multiplayer game.

Shane DeFreest
Atari Community Manager

Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard
http://www.atari.com/dragonshard

Lizard VS Umbragen

Lizard Raid

New Official Site Updates

Dragonshards:
The Lhazaar Principalities, Part Two

Sharn Inquisitive:
Sharn Watch Ties Murders to Key of Saranach Pamphlets

Dragonshard Community Update #7

Hi Dungeoncrawlers,

This week our two questions are focus on the more "D&D" elements of Dragonshard. Many people have been asking for more input into how an RTS can get that real "D&D feel" to it. This week our friend's at Liquid shed some light on that very topic. Also, make sure not to miss the second part of the indepth Liquid interview at RPGvault that went live today.

http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/613/613324p1.html

As always keep your question's, comments, or interview requests coming in.

Enjoy!

-The Dungeonmaser


The DM: What are some of the more recognizable D&D units in the game?

LIQUID: Well, for the monsters there are mind flayers, driders, beholders,
umber hulks, minotaurs, bugbears, ettins, lizard folk, dragons, hydras, gelatinous cubes, and more! If you include the player units you add rangers, elemental drakes, sorcerers, clerics, paladins, rogues, archons, fighters, and...that is all from the top of my head...but I'm sure there are many more.

THE DM: What D&D ! rule set is Dragonshard based off of and why?

LIQUID: The direct answer is that it is based on D&D 3.5. However, I want to point out that the game is an RTS with RPG elements, and it uses D&D 3.5 as source
material, rather than a rules base. It isn't a turn based game with rounds or days to refresh spells and abilities. We had to take concepts like that and apply them to a Real-Time setting for Dragonshard, while still making it feel like D&D.

Shane DeFreest
Atari Community Manager

Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard
http://www.atari.com/dragonshard

Scorpion Folk Battle

Marilith

New Dragonshard Desktops!

The Dragonshard Community Manager, Shane DeFreest, has sent along some backrounds for use on your desktop! Here they are!



800x600
1280x720
1280x1024

Eberron Book Covers Spotted

Some chatters in our Official Chatroom have spotted some Book Covers for Eberron products!

Magic of Eberron: (September 28th, 2005)



War Torn, Book 2? The Orb of Xoriat (October 4, 2005)




The Dragon Below, Book 1: The Blinding Stone (August 2, 2005)



Also War Torn, Book 1: The Chrimson Talisman appears is now avaialable for purchase at www.amazon.com


Finally, stay tuned for news of an upcoming chat with the authors of Races of Eberron!

Five Nations delayed to July

According to a recent update on the Wizards products page, the Five Nations has been delayed until July. Originally scheduled for release in June, the next Eberron sourcebook will focus on the human nations of Khorvaire.

No explanation was provided for this delay, but the May previews article notes that "folks down in RPG R&D are really cranking on the guts of this book to get it just the way they want it."

To view Shemov's original scoop and discuss this news, click here.

New Official Site Updates

D&D Official Errata:
Eberron Campaign Setting

Sharn Inquisitive:
Orien Offers Bounty on Lightning Rail Raiders

Mark of Heroes:
Digger's Union Revealed

Dragonshard Community Update #6

This is a direct copy from the Dragonshard Community Update Mailing List.
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Hi Dungeoncrawlers,

It's time for our weekly Dragonshard update. "For those of you had not had a chance, there is still time to sign up for the Beta Test. Check out dragonshard.com for the details." We will have another in our series of wallpapers out very soon. And as as always here is what our friends at Liquid had to say in response to your questions this week:

Enjoy!

THE DM: How much involvement does the creator of Eberron, Keith Baker have in the developement of Dragonshard?

LIQUID:

Keith Baker has provided us with our initial story line and some main characters, as well as the world of Eberron as the foundation for the world we move in. So captains like the Warforged and Artificers are direct from his world of Eberron.

THE DM: Are all the D&D classes available in Dragonshard?

LIQUID: Most of them are represented with captains and soldiers, yes. I think the only one that didn't manage to get in as a player character was the bard class. And that is mostly because a bard is an "all-in-one" character in D&D that performs all sorts of roles. In an RTS, where units need to have solid roles and counters in order for combat outcomes to be clear, a unit that is "jack-of-all-trades" doesn't really fit in. There are NPC bards, however, so we still managed to get them in the game.

--
Shane DeFreest
Atari Community Manager

Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard
http://www.atari.com/dragonshard

Act of War: Direct Action
http://www.gamespot.com/unions/home.html?union_id=actofwar
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Eberron Journal Site News

Great News!

Dragonshard.net, the first fansite to specifically cover all information for The Dragonshard RTS by Atari is officially joining forces with the Breland Ledger and Eberron Journal.

Dragonshard.net's Chatroom is now the same chatroom shared by The Breland Ledger, The Eberron Bestairy, and the Korranberg Chronical!

Stay tuned, for more Dragonshard updates later today/tommorw. Apparently we've missed a lot!

Fileplanet Dragonshard Subscriber Beta-test

Fileplanet.com is providing its members with an exlusive beta-test of Dragonshard, the Eberron RTS.

You can download the file here. Though you must be a fileplanet member to join and play. You can join here.

Dragonshard is supposed to be released in June of this year. Though its primary homepage has not been updated in some quite time, lets hope that it is released ontime!

New Official Site Updates

Dragonshards:
The Lhazaar Principalities, Part 1

Sharn Inquisitive:
Stormhold District Quarantined