The Chronicles of Spellborn is shaping up to be a pretty interesting MMORPG for dark fantasy. With the post-apocalyptic story placing you on a giant floating rock amongst other giant floating rocks confined in a space called the Deadspell Storm (a mouthful in one breath, I'm sure), there is already that unsettling feeling of despair from the moment you were born. What lies beyond the Storm, and why is there one to begin with? Why are there so many shards floating around? What exactly HAPPENED to make your world completely and utterly bonkers?

More importantly, what should players expect when they get into this game?

That last question can be answered with the first installment of the Community Q & A, which answers questions of Spellborn fans on the logistics we've come to expect as normal from anything post-World of Warcraft.

With regard to seeing and being in the world, players will start their journeys on a starter area that is directly connected to the world. "All new characters will start in the area surrounding Hawksmouth on the Parliament Shard. The available content and quests in this area will specifically be designed for new players." Because this starter area isn't separated from the rest of the world, higher-leveled players can also help newcomers if they so choose.

At the same, they also respond to queries about roaming the Deadspell Storm.  Since it's still being developed, Deadspell Storm is currently meant to be accessed only by getting on a Shardship. They have hinted, however at freely roaming the Storm in the future. As the Q & A states,

We do have plans to open up the Deadspell Storm for free exploration at some point after release. If you dive into the lore scrolls on the website you should be able to find some more information on these plans. The Eight Demons at one point created the Vailyrians; A race of mighty flying creatures that were trained by the Enclave of the Five Sacrifices for Deadspell Storm exploration shortly after ‘The Awakening’.

 
While the developers haven't released any new gameplay trailers for those hoping to get a feel for the beta version, they have talked about the gameplay. First, there will definitely be a mailing system that allows for attaching items and money in the message. This will definitely lessen the strain on packrats and people hoping to give items to friends. Second, loot tables will be handled with a bit more attention to detail in this game. In addition to the regular loot you pick up from those poor dead souls who tried to stand in your way, there will also be level-specific faction items that drop, requiring additional crafting before they can be used.

Lastly, they also discussed the distribution of spoils, an issue that has existed since the birth of cooperative gameplay.  In addition to having a large inventory and a textual loot log, Spellborn will also allow implementation of the well-known "Master Loot" system, as well as an auto loot system, which distributes items to eligible group members.

Stay tuned to QJ for more info on this dark fantasy, and make sure you don't step off the shard.

Although the game - still in beta - has yet to be officially released anywhere, Spellborn Interactive Ltd. has already taken on a European partner for distribution of its greatly anticipated MMORPG, The Chronicles of Spellborn. Frogster Interactive Pictures AG, a Berlin-based publisher of computer games, will have exclusive marketing and distribution rights of the game for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France.

Dirk Weyel, Frogster Interactive CMO, issued the following statement:  “In the last months, we have been involved intensively with a lot of MMOGs and are most pleased that we now have a project with such a huge potential in our pipeline as ‘The Chronicles of Spellborn.' The development team works highly professional and shares our vision of a long term co-operation regarding marketing and operation of a MMOG. For this, we’ll support the launch of TCoS with the yet largest marketing campaign in Frogster history.”

Barry Hoffman, Spellborn's Marketing Manager added:  “We are very proud to achieve our publishing goals by signing the publishing contract for ‘The Chronicles of Spellborn’ with Frogster. Their regional presence and extensive knowledge of the local markets ensures the high quality of store availability and support that we aim to achieve with TCoS.”

Spellborn assured the gaming community that its planned release date of October 2006 remains unchanged.