Dark Age of Camelot: New Frontiers Preview

One of the things that Dark Age of Camelot has done well is take good care of its community. 

Mythic Entertainment continues that trend with the pending release of Dark Age of Camelot: New Frontiers, a free downloadable expansion that boosts the game’s realm-versus-realm system. 

“Basically what we’ve tried to do is to let people get into the combat all the time,” stated Jeff Hickman, vice president of production support and quality.  

New Frontiers adds small towers to the game, which can be occupied and defended, as well as a small pop-up mini-map. The maps will let player see, at a glance, were the RvR battles are being waged.  

Keeps are now upgradeable and they will change as players acquire experience and the finances. Players will be able to extend the wall, buy guards and siege equipment. Is an opposing army pounding at the main gate with a battering ram? Maybe pouring a bucket of hot oil on them will diminish their enthusiasm.  

“We’ve also made the entire keep destructible,” said Hickman. 

The trebuchet sits atop the tower across the water from the keep. The opposing force lobs huge rocks against the walls of the keep, battering the walls and wearing down the stones. The rocks begin to crumble and holes start to appear, enabling the opposing armor to work an egress into the keep. But don’t expect battles to be resolved quickly. 

“Battles now can last, instead of minutes we’ve had a battle on Pendragon (server) last six hours,” said Hickman. 

Graphically the game sports sharp environmental graphics and is really focused on the damage and keep/tower graphics than anything else. 

The game addresses all aspects of RvR combat, and “it’s much easier to use the siege system,” said Hickman. 

Hickman went on to note that “we try to be as open and responsive to the players as possible.” 

DAoC: New Frontiers is currently in beta testing.

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