While it may not hold up to World of Warcraft or Guild Wars, Vindictus certainly holds a candle in the free to play realm. Vindictus is one of the most appealing free to play games that I have ever played, both in visuals and in gameplay. Even on computers with low specs, it will still appear visually beautiful, and combat will move smoothly.

A good illustration of the game at its best: killing

As of today (Ver 1.25), Vindictus sports four completely different characters, in terms of both equipment and play styles. There is Evie, a mage who can wield either a scythe or a staff, Fiona, who I can only summarize as a defensive character who uses either a shield and a sword or shield and hammer, Lann, a highly offensive character who wields either twin swords or twin spears, and Karok, the most recent character, a giant who wields a “battle pillar,” and deals massive damage, as well as excels at taking hits.

This being said, each character is highly customizable in terms of gears, and abilities. No single character will play alike from one player to the next, nor will any battle experience ever be the same. Many hours can be put into this game, and they are very rewarding.

As far as the game is concerned, for the majority of the time, you will be sent to embark on “battle quests,” in which you can take up certain extra requirements, called “bonus missions” and “oaths of honor.” The oaths of honor are generally harder, and require much more patience than the bonus missions, which are generally more along the lines of chance. Oaths of honor can set you to a certain time limit, raise the attack power of the enemy, or even make you run the battle quest wearing no armor! This is one of the few things that sets Vindictus apart from other MMOs, and it is a welcome change. An example of a quest will be given at the bottom of this article.

Quests in this game are not turned in to visible NPCs, for the most part. Most script will be going on inside buildings, in which characters are portrayed by an avatar that represents them. The characters are vivid, and full of personality. There will be twists and turns which I will not reveal, as I would rather have the readers discover this themselves! You are going to be come attached to certain characters, almost certainly, and you will grow to hate others. There is a marketplace, where you can buy some quest items early game, but later on in the game, most quest items cannot be purchased, and you will find yourself doing battle quest time and again to get these items; that is the one flaw that I have seen with this game so far, repetitiveness, to a certain point.

Abilities are learned through an “AP” system. You earn AP by going through the dungeons at hand, and the more you run through them that day, the less AP they will give (to discourage grinding.) This is a good change, but it can also become disappointing as well, as often you will find yourself running through dungeons that give little EXP for the AP alone. The actual ability system in itself, however, is very customizable, as you can put your points into whatever you please, making the characters between players very different, and this isn’t even talking about equipment.

In summary, Vindictus is certainly a game to keep your eye on in the free to play realm, and it is going to be an interesting game to see just how it evolves.

Talisman Online is a completely F2P (free to play) MMO. If I were to make a comparison of how the game is set up, then this is what it would be:

Server Setup: World of Warcraft

Quest and Economy: Allods Online

PvP Setup: World of Warcraft

So with that said, Talisman Online is basically a F2P version of WoW, give or take a few features. Now, as far as it goes with the features being the same, the community is 800% better. In fact, in my experiences of testing this game, I met someone who decided to buy a Divine Tiger mount for me and give me items to level it up.

TIPS

• Take advantage of newbs (newbs as in new people, not noobs). Newbs are always willing to bargain to make a quick buck. You can end up buying an item thats 15 gold, for about 6 gold. Newbs make up a huge part of the Talisman online economy.
• Get a mount! Whether its a Divine Tiger +1 or +12, get a mount. A mount increases your movement speed, thus allowing you to get places faster, which means that if you’re doing a quest or meeting someone to do a quest, you get things done faster.
• DO YOUR QUESTS! This is the most important tip of them all! When you do your quests, you’re awarded with items, gold, experience, and energy. Doing your quests allows you to not buy your armor/talisman, because they are given as rewards when completing the quest. Talisman Online is set up as a quest based system, which means more PvE than PvP.
• Advertise your items on the world chat. It’s interesting how someone can advertise items. This is how: Press enter; click and drag the item into the chat; when entered into the chat, the person can click on the item name in the chat and see the stats of the item. When selling an item say something like this: Selling [item name] [price]g (g meaning gold. you can also use s for silver) PM me for offers.
• Every time you level, enhance your talisman one level also, if possible. The higher your talisman level, the more points you get to level up your abilities and the more damage your abilities deal.
• Find a Team! Always find a team to join, or just make your own. When doing a quest/scenario/boss having a team always benefits, because if one person kills something that’s required to complete a quest, then the whole team benefits, except when you’re picking up items required. Teams are especially good if you have to kill, say 30 bandits; your team members can help you ward off those bandits and help finish the quest faster, so you can get on to other quests! Also, scenarios are impossible to do without a team (Most of them anyway), mainly because of the bosses.

The Concept of the Talisman

Talisman Online is different from all other MMO’s by one simple reason: The Talisman. Every class has the same 3 spots for a talisman: One weapon talisman, and two assistant talismen. The talismen, and armor, are arranged by class. i.e. a wizard can only use a wizard talisman, an assassin can only use assassin armor, etc. Your talisman comes with preset abilities; usually 4 or 5, depending on its maximum enhancement level. Whether you get to use those abilities or not is dependent on your talisman level. Every time you level, generally, you can enhance your talisman one level also. How do I enhance my Talisman. Simple: Just press the hot key that reads: Enhance Talisman. Before enhancing, unequip your talisman and click in drag it into the box (sometimes it will automatically do it once the talisman is unequipped) and press start. NOTE: enhancing a talisman uses energy, along with some copper; not much, but a small amount.

Assistant talismen also greatly affect your survival rate and/or your damage output. Some can even increase the amount of defense you have by up to 300 points. But always remember, level up your weapon talisman first, then level up your assistant talisman.

Identifying armor

You can identify your armor by using either a green, blue, or yellow/gold identify gem. How do you know if it’s identified, and if it is, what kind? You can scroll over the item, and if the title’s green, blue, or yellow, then it’s identified as green, blue, and yellow respectively. To see if it’s identified or not, scroll over the item and look at the stats; if some of the stats say “un-identified”, then that stat can be identified. You can identify armor/talismen with the help of a blacksmith. Also, you can combine rubies with your armor to make it more defensive.

Mounts

Mounts, as mentioned before, are by far the most useful tool in Talisman Online. They not only show opulence, they allow you to around to different places MUCH faster, even with a +0 mount. Mounts can be leveled up by using small, medium, and large emeralds. Each +0 mount starts with +20% movement speed, and with further leveling, it increases by 10% each level. Be aware that mounts can only be leveled by emeralds, not rubies, with the help of the blacksmith of course!

Pets

So, now on to pets. The pets in Talisman Online have different attributes that benefit their masters. These attributes can be things like increasing the upper HP limit of the master, or increased general defense and intelligence. In fact, on one quest that you do for the wounded panda, you obtain a pet panda that increases your upper HP limit. You pet levels by keeping him out and having him follow you around as you kill things. When your pet levels, the attribute power increases also. Also, be aware, that you NEED to feed your pet, or else you will not be able to take him out, meaning that you will not be able to use his attribute. You can buy pet food from various user stalls and/or semi-rare drops.

Conclusion

So in conclusion, Talisman Online, in my opinion, is the greatest f2p MMO of them all. The features are amazing, for a free to play game, and even for a pay to play game. The Dot Gamer Clan is also in the process of creating a guild called Waters of Lethe. We just need the money and the member, so if would like to donate gold towards the guild creation. Thanks for reading!

Links

http://talismanonline.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.talismanonline.com/

http://watersoflethe.dotgamerclan.com/

Candidate: Irelia
Date: 12 November, 20 CLE

OBSERVATION

An enormous four-pronged blade parts the air for Irelia as she enters the Great Hall. The unusual weapon, once owned by her father, hovers unaided two meters above the ground. Irelia follows it apathetically, her mind focused on the task at hand. Aside from her pristine armor, which is polished dutifully for presentation, Irelia puts no effort into her appearance. Her face is seen only in glimpses behind her swaying hair. She’s young, though the youthful spark in her eyes is tarnished with the blood of the battlefield.

She maintains a bold presence, fitting for the captain of the Ionian guard. Despite bearing the responsibility of Ionia’s safety, her shoulders are as square and resolute as her Mantle of Decorum – Ionia’s highest decoration. The capricious sword darts ahead of her to the marble doors, halting beneath the inscription. There it shivers imperceptibly, emitting a high-pitched whine. Whether because of apprehension or excitement, it is unclear. Irelia, expressionless, passes it and walks into the blackness.

REFLECTION

The darkness set Irelia on edge; this was an unsafe manner in which to conduct an interview. She felt the blade circling around her, probing for threats she couldn’t see. She hoped the agents of the League had the wisdom to approach her with care, as a surprise assault would end unfortunately… for them.

Irelia had a knack for steel; it spoke to her. Closing her eyes, she extended her senses – a meditative exercise her father taught her to perceive unseen threats. Air is the same as water, you simply must heed the ripples. His words echoed in her mind. What did he always say after-

Irelia flung herself into a backflip, the razor edge of a knife slicing through the space her head had just occupied. She landed in a crouch as a second knife raced through the air toward her. She beckoned to her father’s blade, but it was nowhere to be found. Sensing danger, she managed to shift her head just enough to evade the point of the second projectile. She didn’t flinch as the blade’s edge slid through her cheek.

“…every ripple is the messenger of something yet to come.” Master Lito appeared from the darkness, frowning behind his blindfold. Two more knives were clenched between the fingers of his left hand.

“I smell blood.”

Irelia’s jaw dropped. “Father?”

“Don’t try to hide it, I can hear your blood pattering on the shingles.”

Irelia looked down. The red clay tiles of the roof were unmistakable; this was her home. But she’d seen it succumb to the sickly green flames of Zaunite hextorches years ago.

“You know what that means.” Lito sheathed the blades in the blue folds of his robe. He inhaled sharply, his hands circling in front of him, channeling energy. Irelia did know what that meant: discipline.

“Father, wait-”, she began to say. The protest was futile. A loud snap announced his attack; Irelia was too slow to dodge. Though he stood twenty paces away, the long cloth from the sleeve of her father’s training robe lanced out, lashing her squarely in the chest. She hurtled backward, sliding down the tiles. Catching her balance, she rolled back up the roof. Tiles cracked as Lito’s unrelenting strikes thundered after her. He paused for a moment.

“Messy. Your mind is clouded.” Lito flicked his wrist, and cloth gripped her neck from across the roof. With another flick, he brought Irelia soaring toward him, yanking her off her feet. She could faintly see her father’s devastating roundhouse kick coming to instill the day’s final lesson, when a red blur appeared in front of it.

“I thought I heard someone getting disciplined. You having trouble, Irie?” A voice gloated.

“Zelos!” Irelia sputtered. Zelos was between them, his right arm blocking the roundhouse kick, and his left hand holding his father’s sleeve so she could extract herself. The fabric released her neck.

“Here, I brought something for you.” He grinned at their father, who, though blindfolded, smiled back. “It’s only fair.”

Zelos hurled a saber to her, but before she could grab it, Lito’s other sleeve plucked it from the sky. He leapt, spinning horizontally in the air, reeling the weapon in. The spinning motion knocked Zelos to the tiles.

“Alright, let’s go!” Zelos brandished a sword of his own from a sheath strapped to his back and slashed at his father. The blow seemed to pass through Lito entirely. Irelia sprung to her feet, flipping forward with a devastating axe kick. Her heel met the flat of the saber Lito had intercepted. Zelos directed his energy into his own reverse roundhouse, and Lito was forced to block the blow with his arm. The saber clattered from the grip of his sleeve.

Irelia wasted no time diving for the weapon. Lito’s sleeve arced out as she’d expected, but this time she was ready. She landed on its cloth with her right hand, pinning it to the tiles. She twisted her body so that her foot could kick the hilt of the blade, bouncing it up in the air. Her other foot swung around in mid-air to kick against the back edge of the blade, launching the steel straight at Lito.

He tore the blindfold from his face as the blade plunged into his stomach. His eyes were wide.

“Irelia, what have you done?!” Lito choked.

Irelia stared at him apathetically. “Had enough?”

“Irelia, Dad’s really hurt!” Zelos was incredulous.

She nodded. “Well he does have a sword sticking out of him.”

Lito’s pained expression vanished, replaced with a wry grin. “Why do you want to join the League, Irelia?”

“My home was destroyed because I didn’t have the strength to protect it. I will fight to the bitter death before I let something like that happen to Ionia again.” Her tone was icy.

“How does it feel, exposing your mind?”

Irelia laughed heartily, a sound she’d almost forgotten. “I thank you for allowing me to set eyes on my family again, but my father would never have let us land a blow. He joined the Elders by staying dry on this very roof during a rainstorm. According to the records, he never even moved. You can view the images in my mind all you like, but you’ll never appreciate their true nature.”

Irelia found herself in the waiting alcove, doors closed in front and behind her. Her father’s blade bobbed complacently beside her. With a flash, it split into four blades, throwing all the doors open around her. She drew a great breath, and strode into the League.

If you picked up a copy of the November issue of PC Gamer, then you’ve already had your first look at the League’s latest champion. If you missed that issue, then it’s my great honor to officially introduce Irelia, the Will of the Blades. In addition to being the latest in our long line of pretty ladies to join the League of Legends, Irelia serves as the captain of the Ionian Guard — which only goes to show that there’s no glass ceiling when you have a telekinetic command over swords. So watch yourself! Irelia brings new meaning to the old proverb: “Walk softly, but carry a big sword.” Hey, wait… did I get that right?

If you’ve been looking to add a little bit of high society to your League of Legends lineup, this next patch is the one you’ve been waiting for. Allow me to introduce the talented and graceful Emelia LeBlanc, a stately sorceress ready to round out your champion selection. In addition to being extremely attractive, the Deceiver comes primed to fuel your most megalomaniacal of desires. If you’ve got a bit of mischievous thread to your personality, you’re definitely going to want to make sure to pick up LeBlanc in the upcoming patch. Would I lie?

Born to the prestigious Crownguards, the paragon family of Demacian service, Luxanna was destined for greatness. She grew up as the family’s only daughter, and she immediately took to the advanced education and lavish parties required of families as high profile as the Crownguards. As Lux matured, it became clear that she was extraordinarily gifted. She could play tricks that made people believe they had seen things that did not actually exist. She could also hide in plain sight. Somehow, she was able to reverse engineer arcane magical spells after seeing them cast only once. She was hailed as a prodigy, drawing the affections of the Demacian government, military, and citizens alike.

As one of the youngest women to be tested by the College of Magic, she was discovered to possess a unique command over the powers of light. The young Lux viewed this as a great gift, something for her to embrace and use in the name of good. Realizing her unique skills, the Demacian military recruited and trained her in covert operations. She quickly became renowned for her daring achievements; the most dangerous of which found her deep in the chambers of the Noxian High Command. She extracted valuable inside information about the Noxus-Ionian conflict, earning her great favor with Demacians and Ionians alike. However, reconnaissance and surveillance was not for her. A light of her people, Lux’s true calling was the League of Legends, where she could follow in her brother’s footsteps and unleash her gifts as an inspiration for all of Demacia.

“Her guiding light makes enemies weary, but they should worry most when the light fades.” – Garen, The Might of Demacia

Abilities:

Prismatic Wave: Fires a wave to the target location and back, granting bonus magic resistance to allied targets in its area of effect. Lux is also struck by the wave upon return and enters stealth for a short duration.

Lucent Singularity: Creates a zone that slows enemy units (zone lasts 5 seconds). Can be detonated to deal magic damage to enemies in the area.

Light Binding: Fires a ball of light towards a target location, binding the units hit. The units take magic damage. Can hit up to two targets with the second target receiving a reduced effect.

Finales Funkln (Ultimate): After a short delay, Lux fires a laser pulse in front of her dealing damage to all enemy units in the area, as well as blinding them for up to 3 seconds.

Illumination (Passive): Lux’s damaging spells illuminate the target for 6 seconds, granting her vision of the target. Lux’s next attack ignites the debuff, dealing magic damage to the target.

If Swain was a bit dark for your taste, then this next champion ought to be more your speed. She’ll be a real ray of light into your otherwise dreary day. Allow me to introduce Lux, the Lady of Luminosity. Representing the City-state of Demacia, Lux is not only the latest champion to grace the Field of Justice, but also the sister of everyone’s favorite Might of Demacia, Garen. Whether you’re a strong believer in sibling rivalry or just want to keep it in the family, Lux should make the perfect addition to your champion collection.

(Passive) Illumination:Lux’s damaging spells illuminate the target for 6 seconds. Lux’s next attack ignites the debuff, dealing 20-180 (depending Lux’s level) magic damage to the target.

(Q)Light Binding – Lux releases a sphere of light that binds and deals damage(80/135/190/245/300(+AP*0.75)) to up to two enemy units, dealing 50% effect to the 2nd unit struck.
Cooldown 15/14.5/14/13.5/13
Manacost 60/75/90/105/120
Range 100

(W)Prismatic Wave – Fires a Prismatic Wave that bends the light around any friendly target it touches, stealthing them for 3 seconds. In addition, Lux gains passive cooldown reduction(3/6/9/12/15%).
Cooldown 21.5/20/18.5/17/15.5
Manacost 100/100/100/100/100
Range 1000

(E)Lucent Singularity – Fires an anomaly of twisted light to an area, which slows(13/16.5/20/23.5/27%) nearby enemies. Lux can detonate it to damage(60/105/150/195/240(+AP*0.6)) enemies in the area of effect.
Cooldown 21.5/20/18.5/17/15.5
Manacost 100/100/100/100/100
Range 1000

Finales Funkeln – After gathering energy, Lux fires a laser pulse that deals damage(250/350/450(+AP*0.9)) to all targets in the area.
Cooldown 70/60/50
Manacost 100/150/200
Range 3000