I recently posted about Warhammer Online Mods, which is a relatively ambitious process. I’m still eager to get that up and running, but I felt its scope was too big for a first project. Last night I started the programming for a new project which is Warhammer Online Skills (www.warhammeronlineskills.com).

As the name suggests the site will be a database of all the skils and abilities for Warhammer Online. I realize this isn’t the most unique concept and a number of fansites will probably have a similar system, but I feel if I have a site specialized to the one function it can rise above the others.

A few things I plan to do include:

• Contact fansite owners to help with the entry of data (one fansite owner would manage the skills for one race etc), in exchange for links back to their site shown throughout Warhammer Online Skills.
• Provide a fast, simple and intuitive interface. I’ll specifically code the site so it loads as fast as possible and seeing as the site will provide only the one function of finding skills it shouldn’t get bogged down with tons of images, links etc.
• User interaction. This may not be in the first release of the site, but I’d like users to be able to submit, and edit content for skills (changes would have to be approved of course) so visitors can feel like they’re really helping out.

I’m toying with a few other ideas, but I don’t want to get into any technical jargon.

I have 2 weeks of mostly free time so I should be able to get a basic framework of the project done within that time period. The plan is to launch by the start of the Open Beta, so data can be entered as everyone becomes interested in the skills.

I’ll update this post with leaked links from the June 2008 Newsletter.

• Guild Standards Podcast

Just added:

• Mongbat Guild - Video
• Paul’s Video Blogs - June Edition
• The Bastion Stair - Dungeon Sneak Peek
• The Bastion Stair - Video
• Gates of Ekrund and Mourkain Temple - Scenarios 101 Part 6
• White Lion Grab Bag - Q&A
• Beta Journal GB / F / D / I / ES

Thanks to Warhammer Alliance for these links.

Yes, I know I’ve really been neglecting this blog, and for that I apologize. Being in my final year of school it’s hard to keep motivated to write a constant stream of articles when I’m being constantly on the receiving end of assignments, homework, etc.

However, I have not given up on Warhammer Gamers, I am merely taking a break from the posting of news, and will be changing the direction of the site (slightly) in the future. Instead of reporting on every little news tid bit, I’ll be focusing on creating video content, and features such as How To’s, strategies, etc.

Announcing Warhammer Online Mods

Okay, this isn’t much of an announcement as I’ve got nothing to show off it really, but nevertheless, I’ve got some neat ideas. Basically I picked up WarhammerOnlineMods.com and I thought it was quite a nice domain name and believed it deserved to be developed. Currently if you go to Warhammer Online Mods you’ll just see a “coming soon” page, but there is also a description of what I want it to be.

As a quick summary, Warhammer Online Mods will be a place for developers to store their creations (add ons, user interfaces, external utilities etc) for free, and also keep gamers up to date with any development progress etc. Basically, the developers will have a free place to store their work, and gamers will have a single place they can go to and get a number of great tools from (at least, that’s the plan).

And remember…

I’m not abandoning Warhammer Gamers, and will still be participating (and promoting) our Warhammer Online Forum, and of course, our awesome Warhammer Online Contest. How I was updating the site before was very unproductive, which is why I’ve been spending my “time off” thinking of content I can create that is useful, within my ability, yet won’t take up my entire day.

For quite some time I was worried about the state of my preorder. Games Warehouse emailed me saying they probably would not have enough stock to fulfil my order, but luckily they secured enough stock and now the Open Beta access code is attached to my account.

Who else has got their open beta code in the beta center? Where did you get it from?

If you’re in Australia try using Games Warehouse, although they may be out of stock by now. Otherwise EB Games is always a good choice, although I’ve heard good things about GAME (although, they’re still new to Sydney).

What do you know, the white lion class, remember that beastly looking dude Dave posted about earlier.  Well, it looks as if Gamespot scored an interview with Mythic to clear up a few questions on ‘fore mentioned class and shed some more light onto it.  I’ll give you a brief summary of what we learned (Because i’m nice like this), or you could go and read it at the link i’ll put at the bottom.

To start off, the White Lion class is a melee dps, so don’t think you’ll be able to hide back with a ranged weapon and think you will be effectively using your class.  When you start you get a Lion, as lil’ fury youngling Lion, and you Customize its fur patterns, maybe some markings here and there.  And as you play and level your Lion grows with you (cool huh)  and its fur patterns and markings grow with it.  It has three skill trees into which you may customize your character into.  The path of the hunter, No, you don’t go ranged, sorry.  As the path of the hunter you stride into battle side by side with your lion dishing out multi-target damage and combo’s.  As the path of the Axeman your Lion turns into your tank, he keeps your target busy, as you walk quietly, and carry a big….axe.  As you are expected to flank the target while he’s fussing over this lion at eating his throat.  And finally,  as the path of the  guardian  YOU become the tank, while everyone else runs in to deal damage you mitigate it by using your multiple debuffs (For you new to MMO “debuff” means a n effect upon your character that isn’t beneficial.) to decrease damage and attack speed etc.  And to tie it up the class is described as, and i quote “The white lion is a very attractive career for the player that desires a strong solo experience but also prefers to get in the thick of melee combat. It’s one of those careers that is very “new player” friendly but has a lot of depth and takes a good bit of strategy to master.”‘

The link the the full interview is here.

Aw man. Just after I’ve been unsubscribing from heaps of podcasts because I was spendng too much time listening to them ChaosCast has come along. I haven’t had a chance to listen yet, but I’ll make sure to check it out when I get home in a few hours.

ChaosCast is hosted by: Syp of Waaagh!, Keen of Keen & Graev’s Gaming Blog, and Snafzg of The Greenskin - that’s quite an epic lineup so it’ll definitely be a podcast to watch out for.

Check out the podcast here.

Just because I’m such a nice guy, and because the May 2008 newsletter just arrived in my inbox, I decided to upload it to the site so anyone who hasn’t got it yet can still check it out.

Find the newsletter at http://warhammergamers.com/newsletters/may2008.html

Coinciding with the crafting video in the May 2008 newsletter, Mark Jacob’s has been interviewed by GameSpy in regards to crafting. Unless you’re in the beta crafting would be new to you so definitely check out the interview for some crafty-goodness.

Find the interview @ gamespy.com

Haven’t seen much Hickman stuff over the past few weeks, so for all you Jeff Hickman fanbois, you should enjoy this. BigDownload.com has quite a long interview with Teh Hickman (yes, I misspelled ‘The’ on purpose). The interview covers lore, PvE, PvP and has just a nice range of information, so it’s worth a read.

Check out the interview @ BigDownload.com

Okay, it’s not really leaked, as everyone finds the links to this stuff before every newsletter is out, but here is some of the goodies from the May 2008 Newsletter.

• White Lion - Career Overview
• Artisan - Career Overview
• Dragonwake - Zone Overview
• Scenarios 101 - Part 5
• Pauls Video Blogs - May Edition
• Grab Bag - Q&A
• Crafting Video Blog

Thanks to Warhammer Alliance for finding them.