Tera Online News

We sat down with executive producer Brian Knox and story consultant and class expert Scott James Magner for part one of ZAM's exclusive look at TERA's most terrifying class: the Berserker.

MisterBones: When I was looking at the website, I saw the four different melee classes, and I would like to know what you felt made the Berserker class stand out from those other classes.

Scott James Magner: Well, I'll tell you flat out, I don't think the Berserker is the best of the classes. I think that it's the most fun for me to play.

MisterBones: Ah, ok.

Scott: Right. All the classes have their own advantages, and I've played every single class and every single character combination there is in the game so far, over the last five or six months.

And I really just keep coming back to the Berserker. It was the first one I found; I liked the concept of the big axe, but also, it really epitomizes the way our combat works in TERA.

It's a class that has to keep moving all the time, but it also has to be very mindful of where the attacks are going to land, because you're not swinging a giant sword like the Slayer is, you're swinging a three-foot blade that's five to eight feet away from you. And where that blade goes is where your damage goes, so you want to make sure there's a monster on the other end of it when you finish your attack.

MisterBones: So you're saying that the only damaging area on the axe is the blade?

Scott: It is. It just moves really fast. A lot of the Berserker's attack patterns move that blade as fast as it can around the Berserker, and a lot of times you'll be moving just so that there will be a monster at the end of it. But I've stood right on top of a monster and not been able to hit him, but hit the guy behind him.

It's really interesting, especially when you're fighting a much larger monster, because you have to get a lot closer than a lot of other character have to, to really do your maximum damage. But you're doing the most damage of any character class in the game.

MisterBones: I see.

Scott: Yeah, that monster may have a longer attack range than you. So hit your attack, move, hit your attack again. Your attacks take a little bit longer, so you've got to make sure you're positioned right. If you're in a group, you work really well with somebody who's doing a lot of damage over here on the side, while you're getting a really big attack in over here.

Brian Knox: It kind of goes back to collision, right? You know, some games have done collision, some games haven't and for the most part it's never been a factor in the game as it is in TERA. This collision has different areas of the weapon doing different damage and the way you're positioned with your enemy, you know, you can't just run through the enemy and turn around and swipe him. You would have to actually physically run around the enemy.

It adds a layer of strategy to it and, also, just more realism in terms of the action that's involved. Where you swing is where you hit. And, you know, that goes so far as the blade of the axe verses the hilt of the axe.

MisterBones: Wow, so an enemy could be too close to you and you wouldn't be able to hit him because you'd be hitting him with the hilt of the axe.

Brian: Exactly.

Scott: And it's not just the Berserker too, some of the spell casting classes have that same problem. Or that same "challenge," because we don't have problems around here.

MisterBones: (Laughs) That's good. You know, actually, I was going to ask you about the challenge of playing the Berserker class as opposed to playing the other melee classes, or playing the ranged classes. Is it easier to play as a melee class than a ranged class?

Scott: I wouldn't say that it is. I'd say that there are different challenges for both. I've taken Archers all the way through the game, I've taken Warriors all the way through the game and I've taken Berserkers through the game.

I don't know if you were paying attention to our Facebook pictures that Evan was posting, but he was posting the leaderboard of us playing here in the office. And my Berserker character was the one gaining all the levels. And then I stopped gaining levels, because I came up against monsters that I couldn't fight on my own. Or I couldn't fight them fast, on my own. It just took a while to get through those things.

With an Archer, those monsters were really easy. Because I was always moving, I was always on the periphery of that monster's attack range and my damage over time was more than his ability to catch me.

Brian: There are just so many more factors than just looking at a monster and seeing its level. You know, what are their attacks, what are they doing, what is their size compared to your size? You're going to really have to explore the world and find the monsters that are right for the type of hunting that you're going to be doing. I mean, sure, monsters may be more difficult for parties but at the same time there just may be things that are better suited for your class and your play style.

And not everyone is going to play this class the same way too. There's a lot of differentiation in play styles. One Warrior is very different than another Warrior, just based off of the human action of it all.

MisterBones: And you said in the beginning that the Berserker may not be the best class, but it's the most fun to play. Something about always having to move around. Why is that?

Scott: It's the most fun class to play, for me. Because it's about positioning and it shows off my skill as a player.

Brian: It's a very patient class, though, too right? [When we talk about] moving around [we mean] you have to position yourself. I don't think of moving around like you're all dodgy-twisty. It's more like you got to be in the right spot when you swing that axe or you're going to get a lot of dirt on that axe.

MisterBones: Ah, I see, but the axe does the most damage.

Scott: It is the most damaging weapon in the game.

Check back this weekend for part two of ZAM's exclusive look at TERA's Berserker Class!

ZAM.com's Berserker Gallery

Tempus Fugit

The days have begun to blur as they speed towards the start of Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010! Anticipate detailed E3 news next week as En Masse prepares for this exciting game industry event. With that in mind, June is already shaping up to be a busy month for TERA. Read on to catch up on the latest developments!

IGN.com Explores the Land of TERA

Delve into the land of TERA with IGN.com's new article featuring an interview with En Masse Entertainment’s Senior Producer Brian Knox. Be sure to watch the three new videos that illustrate the game’s vibrant and exotic world!




Read the full article and watch three new TERA videos on IGN.com.

ZAM.com Interviews Senior Producer Brian Knox

Senior Producer Brian Knox also spoke with ZAM.com late last week, discussing TERA’s action-packed combat and other key game features. Additionally, this is the first interview to make a point of being pre-E3.


Read the full interview on ZAM.com.

En Masse Interviewed on TenTonHammer.com Podcast

Producer Sam Kim and Director of PR Matt Atwood were guests for the ninth installment of Ten Ton Hammer Live, TenTonHammer.com’s podcast. Starting about 40 minutes into the episode, the two En Masse team members discussed TERA’s combat, quests, and classes.

Listen to the full podcast on TenTonHammer.com.

World Lore: Welcome to Southern Arun

Learn about Arun in the latest addition to the official TERA website! This new world lore tells the history of the eastern continent’s southern landmass.


Read the full article on Southern Arun, the third section to be added to the interactive world map.

Screenshots of the Week: Set 4

As decided by the TERA community, Screenshots of the Week’s latest installment travelled to Oblivion Woods near the village of Crescentia. Although this verdant forest beckons, the townsfolk hide behind reinforced walls, threatened by monstrous basilisks and clans of Devan raiders.



Explore Oblivion Woods in Screenshots of the Week: Set 4.

TERA’s Booth Location at E3 2010

You can now visualize the location of South Exhibit Hall booth 537 where TERA will be demonstrated at the Los Angeles Convention Center during E3 2010! Check out the TERA booth location on MapYourShow.com. On the website, click "Search Products", scroll to "MMO", click "MMO - PC", and finally click "TERA". We’ll have more details about demonstrating TERA at E3 next week!

Archer Fansite TeraBow.com Launches

TeraBow.com, TERA’s first fansite dedicated to a single character class, launched late last week. Its creator, Alexan, has submitted a set of archer questions to En Masse Entertainment and welcomes all TERA fans to visit TeraBow.com:


Be sure to keep an eye out for the answers to her archer questions: visit TeraBow.com!

Deadline for TERA’s First Fan Art Contest is Tonight!

Your chance to be featured in TERA’s June newsletter is almost gone! Our first Fan Art Contest will be closed to submissions tonight after 11:59 PM Pacific (6:59 AM GMT). Got a last-minute entry? Post your artwork in the Fan Art Contest thread and include a short blurb about yourself and your entry. Quickly, now: time is of the essence!

TERABlah.com Sends En Masse Tasty Custom Beverages

To round out our community news for the week, we’ve received a thoughtful "thank you" from fansite TERABlah.com: a dozen custom-designed bottles of Jones soda featuring a personalized message and TERA concept art! Check them out on the official TERA forums.

Do you have a TERA fansite to announce or other news to share with the Velika Guardian? Email us at community@enmasse.com with your hot scoop!
-- Scapes

TERA is one of our most hotly anticipated MMOs here at IGN. With a colorful art style, extremely impressive visuals, and an action-based combat system where your positioning relative to your enemy truly counts, TERA is impressive on all fronts. En Masse Entertainment, the North American publisher of the Bluehole Studios game, have given us the low-down (that's slang for "information", or "soulful feeling of early blues" depending on the context) on the world of TERA, and we will dispense with that soulful feeling of early blues forthwith.



In the video above you'll see a lot of ruins, a campsite, and a giant, floating tree with things (probably magical!) orbiting the trunk. The real treats are, however, in the background. The entire island seems to be encircled by waterfalls that can be seen from all over the landmass. Keep an eye out for the wrecked pirate ship balanced precariously on the water's precipice. We really, really hope we get to go there, though considering the whole "raging currents" thing, it is unlikely.

Just north of the Island of Dawn, a brown line cuts a swath through the two continents. According to Knox: "Long ago, the "children" of Arun and Shara warred against themselves. These powerful gods used powers and weapons unmatched before or since—and one of them went completely out of control." It took the sacrifice of a god known as Balder to cease the fighting, and it was his selfless act that heralded the "Age of Mortals," which is the period in which the game takes place.



Spiritwood, showcased in the video above, is the zone players enter shortly after the Island of Dawn. It is much darker, with torches lighting the path, and stony constructs dangling from tree branches. It is home to a location known as Crescentia, which plays a central role in a series of quests. "The Devan bandits have pretty much taken over," Knox explains, "and everyone has lost something…or someone." Devas – the race of the invading bandits – look similar to the Castanics (one of the playable races) though, as Knox tells us, "They may look like Castanics, but the two peoples parted ways long ago."



This final video above displays Deadwood Bog. "That area's part of a zone known as the Tuwangi Mire," says Knox, "a place inhabited by strange humanoids of the same name. Seemingly without culture or resources, the Tuwangis have somehow adapted "frogs" into any number of uses." At least one of the uses includes makeshift balloons. You know, in case you need a frog balloon. Although this zone isn't as visually striking as the Island of Dawn, pausing the video while one of the totem poles is on display shows just how detailed the art really gets.

The geography has gameplay applications, too. Due to the nature of the action-based combat, using objects in the world opens up strategic options. "We've put together a world where ducking behind a rock is a viable way to avoid being hit by an attack." Knox says. "At the same time, climbing up on top of a stone idol might get you out of reach of a lot of mobs, but also out of range for your own attacks"

Much of the world still remains a mystery, of course. The large zone in the northern part of Arun, for example, is larger than any other on the map, and clearly borders the big brown scratch. We asked about this area: "Like any classic adventure story, there's always a little bit more to learn in TERA than can happen in just one release…. hypothetically speaking, of course." Sounds like post-launch content to us.

Printed on 100% Recycled Bytes

Welcome to the second issue of the Velika Guardian, your weekly community newspaper covering Internet-wide TERA developments. We're always interested to hear what you feel should be covered in this regular feature; email us at community@enmasse.com to voice your ideas! It's been a mighty busy week in the world of TERA, read on to see for yourself!

Official Survey: Private Stores

En Masse Entertainment wants to know your preferred method of commerce in MMO games! We posted a survey on the subject to the official TERA forums yesterday and the community response has been impressive. Senior Producer Brian Knox shares his thoughts on the results thus far:

"I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I arrived to find hundreds of responses to our Private Store Survey. The results were very interesting, and will help us gauge what players like and dislike about Private Stores so we can talk to the developers about solutions. I hope to run more surveys like this on various topics over the coming months so we can continue to improve TERA for the West."

Take the survey and share your thoughts on private stores in MMOs. Your answers may influence the development of this gameplay element in TERA!

Lead Writer David Noonan Visits Bluehole Studio in Korea

En Masse's Lead Writer David Noonan is in Korea this week, working onsite with Bluehole Studio on the TERA story. You can follow his adventures in the city of Seoul as he shares the activities on the official TERA forums.

Screenshots of the Week: Set 1 and Set 2

One of our new weekly features, "Screenshots of the Week" introduces a set of in-game images showcasing characters, monsters, and the world they live in. Set 1 features the green fields, blue skies, and territorial beasts of the Island of Dawn while Set 2 ventures beyond the shadowy veil of the southeastern corner of the island to reveal the dark creatures that patrol that region. The next installment will introduce the city of Velika and we'll ask you, the TERA community, to choose between two areas to explore next.



View Screenshots of the Week Set 1 and Set 2.

World Lore: Rough Lessons

TERA's second lore piece entitled "Rough Lessons" was published on Massively.com this week. Penned by En Masse Creative Writer Stacey Janssen, this short story illustrates the importance of reading creatures' movements in combat and offers three new screenshots.


Read the full story on Massively.com.

Bluehole Studio Demonstrates New Character Customization Options

A brand-new video from Bluehole Studio demonstrates new character customization options being introduced to TERA as a result of feedback received during Focus Group Test 2.



See the video and more screenshots here.

Elleon's Journal: Day 1 and Day 2

Elleon, the Valkyon Federation's brilliant researcher, has survived the first two days of his adventure! His journal excerpts are published to a Twitter account, @Elleon_TERA, where Day 3 has just begun. Catch up on his travels with convenient compilations of Day 1 and Day 2 here on the forums or read Lead Writer David Noonan's article detailing the origin of this feature.

En Masse Staff Interviewed in Community Podcasts

Two community podcasts hosted En Masse team members in a series of interviews this past week. Streamed live, For The Lore spoke with Senior Producer Brian Knox and Creative Writer Robin MacPherson for more than an hour about a multitude of TERA topics. TeraCast talked with the Community Director Jason "BrotherMagneto" Mical and Senior Community Manager Evan "Scapes" Berman in consecutive interviews. You can listen to and download both podcasts from their respective websites.

Listen to For the Lore (Episode 35) and TeraCast (Episodes 6 and 7).

GoHa.Ru Interviews En Masse's Community Director

Russian MMO community GoHa.Ru spoke with En Masse's Community Director Jason "BrotherMagneto" Mical this week, asking a number of revealing questions about TERA's classes, equipment, PvP, character creation and more.


Read the full interview on GoHa.Ru. Remember to hit the green "+" at the bottom of the post to read the original English version.

World Lore: Southern Shara

We've published new world lore to the official TERA website introducing eager adventurers to the southern landmass of Shara, the western continent. For those keeping score at home, this is the second section added to the website's interactive world map.

Read all about Southern Shara!

Fan Art Contest: Get Published in the June TERA Newsletter!

Equip your artistic weapon of choice: the first TERA fan art contest began this week! Post your masterpieces, along with a brief blurb about yourself, to the contest thread in the Art and Media section of the official TERA forums for a chance to be featured in our June newsletter. We've seen some excellent entries so far, be sure to check them out!

Learn more about the contest and view some of the submissions in the Fan Art Contest thread.

Now on YouTube: GDC 2010 Class Trailer

The TERA Class Trailer shown at Game Developers Conference 2010 is now available online. Showcased at the En Masse Entertainment booth, this trailer introduces TERA's eight player classes.



Watch it now on the official En Masse Entertainment YouTube channel or click the still image above!

Yes indeed, it's been a very busy week in the world of TERA!

-- Scapes

Chris Lee
Publishing VP, En Masse (TERA)

It’s true to an extent, that gaming is a big business, however it’s a business that maries technology, art, creativity and user interaction. Many of these attributes are hard to quantify and predict, which can create a level of chaos many big business types are uncomfortable with. I believe the dilemma, as you have pointed out, is that the industry is faced with chasing success or taking a huge risk. But it isn’t quite as simple as that, the path to success in the MMO market is filled with obstacles. For example, a risk that MMO creators face that console developers don’t is that consumers have strong social ties to their primary game, creating a significant switching cost. So even if your product is “better,” you still might not overtake existing products. When there is an incumbent in a competitive social space with a large share of the market, it presents a particularly daunting challenge for new products. The good news for gamers is that this kind of market condition fosters competition and encourages differentiation and innovation.

"I personally believe the industry needs to move past the notion of besting World of Warcraft, and that some developer needs to step up and bring us something truly new. However, do you think that can't happen if revenue is the number one goal?"

I agree with you, and from a business perspective for the company willing to take a risk and to pioneer “the next big thing,” the rewards are substantial. To repeat an existing formula, the upside is only marginal. So it’s about risk tolerance vs. bottom line management. The way we see it at En Masse, you can attempt to mitigate risks and follow the crowd or you can offer something different and both pull users who are bored with their existing library of games and grow the market by attracting a new audience. Ultimately gamers will have the final say on what direction the market goes, by voting with their dollars they support innovation or drive product sameness.





Patrick Wyatt
COO, En Masse (TERA)

One of the questions I frequently hear from gamers is, “How is TERA going to beat the competition?” We all love to identify with a favorite sports team and cheer its victories or lament its losses; in cinema the biggest news is not “how good is the movie” but instead “how big was the opening weekend” so it can be compared to other releases; so it’s natural that a similar view applies to online games. My feeling is that game developers need to think more about creating something that people want to play rather than endeavoring to beat the competition.

The great thing about the games market is that there is no monopoly on fun; it’s possible to create a game with any size development budget that users will love to play. So as we work on developing TERA, our focus is to create an online world that players want to live in and play frequently. We need to create game mechanics that are sometimes familiar, and sometimes break out of the existing mold.

One of the reasons I’m particularly excited about TERA is the way it combines many familiar elements of the fantasy MMORPG genre that players know and love, and then turns around and completely redefines other areas of gameplay to bring a new level of excitement and interest to the game. TERA’s non-targeted combat system, which plays equally well with either a keyboard/mouse or with a gamepad, is just more fun to play! And coupled with the collision-based positional combat system, which enables players to create shield walls to block monsters, set up gauntlets to funnel their enemies, do more damage when attacking from behind, and fundamentally redefine the way that support characters work in combat, the new tactical combat system has much more interesting minute-to-minute gameplay than players have seen before.

So, as I think about releasing TERA into the market, I’m not worried that there are other games that have a large market-share. I feel there’s an incredible opportunity to appeal to gamers with something that’s going to raise their expectations about how a game should play; the level of excitement generated by the new combat system, a visually stunning online world, a play experience balanced for Western gamers, and a return of familiar features that gamers love, will all join together to create a product that players love for itself, not for how it compares to the competition.





Bryan Knox
Senior Producer, TERA

Evolution and refinement is the key to success. By evolving features and ideas you begin to shape your game into something familiar yet unique. For example TERA has all the elements of a traditional fantasy MMO: the adventuring and questing, the dungeon encounters and competitive PVP. We devoted our time to evolving the combat system in a way that MMOs haven’t yet, making a much more immersive and interactive experience. By removing the targeting system and focusing more on the action taking place in the center of the screen it creates something new and different. This unique feature is surrounded within many of the other comforts you would expect from a big budget MMO and allows it to stand out from the crowd yet have a familiar air about it.

There is plenty of room in the MMO market for high quality games, and the quality is the key element. Users are not going to invest the amount of time necessary in an MMO if the game is not of a high standard. Customer support, community and, more recently, security all need to be kept at that same level of quality you hold the game too. If you can meet this standard then you will find your audience and be successful as an MMO.