Atari seems to have decided to focus on strategy games this summer and has now announced that it has plans to develop, under license from Hasbro, "Dragonshard" a real-time strategy game based on the Dungeons & Dragons universe created by Wizards of the Coast.
Dragonshard will be the first game set in the exciting new D&D campaign setting, Eberron, a cinematic and war-torn world of action, adventure and intrigue where fantasy meets magical technology. Developed by Liquid Entertainment, Dragonshard will incorporate classic role-playing themes, a powerful and dynamic real-time strategy engine all woven together with a storyline involving a global conflict for an immensely powerful artifact with the power to change the fate of Eberron itself. Dragonshard is scheduled to be available for personal computer in Spring 2005.
Ed Del Castillo and the team at Liquid Entertainment have a long history with the real-time strategy genre stretching all the way back to the original 'Command & Conquer.' When Atari needed a strong development studio that could bring together the depth of a Dungeons & Dragons world with the intensity of a real-time strategy game -- they were the natural first choice, said John Hight, executive producer, Atari. 'Dragonshard' will take real-time strategy in new directions by using many of the unique aspects of the coolest features from traditional role-playing; we are also taking advantage of new surface level terrain rendering technology to give the player two distinct levels of play; new squad and leader tactical functionality to give the player an all new army experience; a new base development system; and much more.
Eberron, which has been recently released by Wizards of the Coast, details a land composed of a dark underworld ruled by monsters and demons, and a surface world home to the civilizations of humans, dwarves, halflings, gnomes and more. Surrounding the world is the Ring of Siberys, a multi-colored belt of crystal shards and a source of tremendous magical power. These dragonshards occasionally fall to earth and are the cornerstone of all magic on Eberron.
The Dragonshard takes place at time when the world of Eberron is in chaos. Three forces are vying for control of a massive dragonshard, known as the Heart of Siberys. The ancient artifact has come to rest in a mystical part of Eberron known as Xen'drik, once home to ancient and powerful civilizations; it is now a place of mystery and monsters. Shielded by a circle of high mountains and blanketed by never-ending tempests and blizzards, this region has been shunned for millennia.
Each of the three warring factions in Dragonshard has its own role to play in the overall story of the game. One force is looking to free the power within the ancient shard and use it to further its own self-righteous cause -- it is The Order of the Silver Flame. A second faction has been expelled from its ancestral homes and has come seeking a dark tool for revenge -- these are the Umbragen. The third force in Dragonshard remains veiled and mysterious, its intentions unknown.
The Order of the Silver Flame is an alliance of humans and dwarves from the land of Khorvaire. The Flametouched have gathered together warriors from a variety of cultures and traditions, all of whom are united in their desire to fight for the light. Guided by a seer's visions, the Flametouched have assembled an army to destroy the Heart of Siberys; but the purpose behind this action is something that will only become clear as the campaign is unveiled.
The strength of the Silver Flame is in the versatility of its elite units. The Silver Flame provides players with a significant number of options, and each unit can adapt to fill many different situations. The forces of the Silver Flame are also familiar in form. Players can expect to control knights, wizards, priests and rogues among many others as they attempt to sway the tide of battle in their favor.
Order of the Silver Flame Units (sample):
Artificer The foundation of the Order's workforce, gathering resources, repairing equipment and keeping things running smoothly. Given their knowledge of building construction, they function very well as siege engineers to attack enemy structures
Berserker These stout and hardy Hammerfist dwarves honed their skills battling foul beasts in the caverns and wastelands they call home
Sentinel Marshal Paragons of virtue who ride horseback into battle, inspiring allies and demoralizing foes, swinging their swords until victory is won
The Umbragen are the descendents of an ancient elvish race. When the age of giants came to an end, the Umbragen fled into the dark underworld. Forced to use dark powers to survive in this world of mind flayers, beholders and other terrible creatures, the Umbragen slowly became as evil and twisted as those they fought. Lead by the wizard Satros, the Umbragen have come to reclaim the might and power of their ancestors in an attempt to reshape the destiny of their race and the world.
All Umbragen units possess an innate ability to manipulate umbral energy. Those who serve in the military must master some aspect of the umbra. All Umbragen learn to merge with the shadows to avoid mortal injuries; this is reflected by allowing an Umbragen unit to use its mana in place of hit points once these are exhausted. An Umbragen with zero hit points becomes a shade; it is invisible in darkness and possesses other special or altered abilities.
Elite Umbragen units are drawn from the ranks of the undead -- those who have given up their mortal lives in exchange for terrible mystic powers. In addition, the Umbragen army commands a considerable number of monstrous beings from their underworld home.
Umbragen Units (sample):
Shadowblade Umbragen who have shown less of an affinity for magic and more for ambushing their enemies from the darkness
Darkslinger These lithe and cunning assassins slink through the shadows waiting for the perfect moment to unleash bolts of dark energy upon their unsuspecting targets
Shade Witch Brooding, female mages who spend the better part of their lives in deep study and meditation, using their abilities to aid allies and curse enemies
In addition to the three controllable factions, Dragonshard will also feature two other significant forces that cannot be controlled by the player, but that will be encountered throughout the game. The first of these are the Illithids. These ancient enemies of the Umbragen have learned of the Heart and intend to claim its power for their own. Over the course of the story, the Illithids will prove a threat to all three sides. Finally, while the ancient elves themselves are long gone, their guardians and traps remain. All three warring factions will have to contend with these constructs and golems as they explore the ruins of the ancient elven city-state and the Ring of Storms.
