GGL Wire

From GGL Wire contributor Khonsu:

Auran recently announced some big changes involving its Competitive Online Role Playing Game (CORPG), Fury. These changes are in direct response to play testers concerns involving its “No Grind” philosophy. Previously players had to unlock skills and level up incarnations (classes) which many players considered grinding. Also Auran has made a few changes to help new players into the game so they aren’t so overwhelmed. The updates seek to mirror the philosophy of the title of the announcement: “An even game is a fun game.”

A training area for new players is now available to test out and learn the game. CORPGs can be very complex involving a myriad of skills and possibilities. Several differences between skills, spells, and other alternate ways to deal damage can have subtle differences in how the game computes that damage and how the player can either maximize or minimize the effect. The complexities can be infinitely deep and a training area where players can test out skills and actions to monitor their effects is always a good idea.

One thing that Fury did well on from the start was allowing Pick-Up Groups (PUGs) to form and play through their end game content. This can’t be said for other games like Guild Wars and World of Warcraft which require organized clans to enter some of the higher level arenas. However the game was previously matching PUGs against organized clans on a regular basis. This meant that pick-up groups were often going up against clans using communication programs and better organizing their tactics. Fury will now pair PUGs with PUGs and clans with clans when available.

Another change in their match making system was with their realm versus realm system. Previously players and teams could only play against opponents from other realms but not their own. Your realm was essentially the server that you logged onto and this feature was meant to inspire rivalry between the different realms. However the mechanic has been removed and players can now compete against anyone. This should go a long way with the competitive scene as players no longer need to deal with realms when forming external leagues.

Elimination Rounds, a four versus four deathmatch gametype with no re-spawning, has also received a change. Match format has altered from best of three rounds to best of five. Its tough to comment on this except to echo the announcement. Five rounds instead of three gives more time for players to adapt to each other. Depending on the existing round times this could be good or bad. Most fighting gamers extend the rounds to five for competition because of that very reason.

Possibly the biggest change is the removal of Incarnation Ranks. This is a huge step forward that Auran is making toward a grind free environment. You can now instantly create a character that is at the same level of other people that have been playing Fury since the beginning. This better helps player skill, not time spent, to decide who the better player is.

Also players will be able to purchase UAA (Unlock All Abilities) packages for each respective arch-type (class), or for all arch-types at once. On the surface this may look like a ploy to get more money from players; however Fury is currently a free game charging only for high level competition. Prices aren’t released yet although if a complete UAA pack is around the price of a new game the amount shouldn’t be unreasonable. New free accounts get starter abilities to test the game and players can either choose to “grind” out other skills or purchase the UAA pack to get all available skills.

This is not to say that Fury is free from concerns against a grind free environment. This is because the equipment and armors you receive at the beginning may not necessarily be the best. The starter equipment will fill all the equipment points available; however players still receive armor and items with better stats after killing people in combat. Auran says that these armors are balanced with the starter armors because they take up more equipment points. This means in order to equip the better armor you have to make sacrifices and remove additional equipment to even everything out.

Never-the-less Fury is worth a second look to those questioning its no grind promise. Also the additional mechanics in place to help new players learn the game should go a long way toward player retention. The existing equipment system still leaves concerns about grinding to test out various equipment patterns although players willing to pay for the game no longer need to spend time unlocking skills.

Download Fury Challenge

-i208