manticore posts

Frogster has just announced a September 15 release date for Runes of Magic's next content update, Chapter II - The Elven Prophecy. The update will bring players into new zones, like the Savage Lands, in addition to adding a new race to Runes of Magic -- the elves. September 15 will also mark the release of a boxed version of Runes of Magic for Germany, France, and Spain (at a recommended retail price of €9,90). That boxed version will include a few collectors items:

• Manticore pet

• Printed manual

• Poster-sized world map of Taborea

• Time-limited mount: Thunder Wartiger

Mythic has taken their Recruit-a-Friend program up another notch by offering exclusive griffon and manticore mounts to players who refer six friends to Warhammer Online. Before you get ultra-excited, no, they don't fly. That said, special flying mounts for friend referrals would probably be a little unfair to everyone else.

The mounts do look great though. Magus players will receive a special disc for their referral efforts since they do not ride traditional mounts. There are a number of other referral rewards, including free game time, non-combat pets, and special items that grant additional XP and allow you to temporarily raise a friend's level up to within two of your own.

Referring a friend is as simple as logging in to the account management centre and firing off a few quick emails.

NCsoft Europe launched its first official podcast today, and it's full of City of Heroes goodness. Why should us Yanks bother?

Sure, in the inaugural episode Stephen Reid ("Rockjaw" from the CoH EU forums) talks about an upcoming European community event (happening in Birmingham, UK, March 2st-24th), but he also chats with Matt "Positron" Miller (Lead Designer of City of Heroes), and gets the scoop on Manticore and Sister Psyche's wedding from none other then the real life couple behind the heroes themselves, Sean and Jen Dornan-Fish. Sean is the Lead Content Designer on several unannounced NCsoft projects, and works on CoH and Exteel. Jen is a freelance CoH writer (and anthropology professor). There's even some Guild Wars love thrown in for good measure as they speak to Martin Kerstein (European Community Team Lead for GW) about the Bonus Mission Pack.

Click on over to the NCsoft EU site where you can download the podcast and the transcript.

On Valentine's Day, players who were able to access the Test Server had the opportunity to see Sister Psyche and Manticore wed. Today, however, the rose petals are swept up, giant mutant zombie pigeons have consumed the rice, and the confetti's been acquired by the Clockwork for use in their bizarre building schemes. Manticore's back on duty, as is Sister Psyche, but does that mean that the wedding has been retconned? Never. NCsoft, in conjunction with ChaseArcanum, has provided a downloadable comic book to commemorate the event, and is also allowing players to see the vows exchanged during the ceremony.

For those of you who didn't have the opportunity to see the wedding of Sister Psyche and Manticore on Valentine's Day, Samuraiko Productions captured the joy and delight of the event. Ah, the outfits, the pre-wedding jitters, the explosive fury of Citadel's rage, it was all captured for posterity. Just think, when there are little Manticores and Sister Psyches running (or flying, or teleporting) about, Justin and Shalice can look back on their wedding day ... and only wish things were this quiet at home. For a high-quality version, please check out Samuraiko Productions' web site, but if you just can't wait, here's the YouTube version.

Today's event provided closure -- and a new beginning -- for a love story that's spanned both years and comic books. Today Sister Psyche married Manticore, and we all wish them only the happiest of futures together. Thanks to NCsoft, and the writers and artists of Top Cow, we've had the opportunity to watch their relationship develop, deepen, and bring them closer together. And today, Positron said the magic words: "With the power vested in me by the state of Rhode Island, and Ken's 24 Hour Internet Ministry, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife... You may now kiss the bride!"

Let the bells ring out for Manticore and Sister Psyche: they're finally formalizing the relationship they started in the comics. Today -- Valentine's Day 2008 -- City of Heroes icons Manticore and Sister Psyche will be wed in a live wedding ceremony in the main Training Room on the Test Server. Manticore will be controlled by Sean "Manticore" Dornan-Fish, and his off-server wife Jennifer Dornan-Fish will allow Sister Psyche to mindride her for the event. With Matt "Positron" Miller officiating, and other iconic heroes attending, it's sure to be a ceremony to remember. The ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time and will repeat hourly for the next three hours. Please note, though, that the service is first-come, first-served, and each presentation will only be open to 100 participants. It's the luck of the draw, heroes, so you and your villainous counterparts will need to find the ushers in Mercy Island and Atlas Park in order to attend.

Our own Jonathan Northwood offers this shot of high-end City of Heroes content straight from the pages of Issue 11. Jonathan brings us up to speed on the story (yes, these could be spoilers for some of you):

The concept is drawn from the Trading Places storyline in Top Cow's City of Heroes comic (Issues 10 – 12), when Manticore is kicked from the Freedom Phalanx, and winds up teaming with the Vindicators for a short while. He apparently defects to Recluse's side; however, in the dénouement, it's seen that he took these actions in order to get more information on what Recluse is doing. The mission this screenshot is from was the fourth in the Mender Silos Task Force: your team and some of the Vindicators (Swan, Ms. Liberty, and Mynx) are sent to Siren's Call to find out what's going on with Manticore, and wind up being tasked with taking him down.

For tomorrow's One Shots, we're turning the reins over to all of you -- what game do you want to see featured? Let us know in the comments!

Do you have a screenshot that shows off a memorable moment or an amazing view in your favorite MMO? Send them to us at oneshots@massively.com with a description (including game name and location) and you may see it posted here for tomorrow's One Shots.

As an unexpected benefit of NCsoft's recent acquisition of City of Heroes, old friend and story designer Sean "Manticore" Fish has returned to the public light, retaking his position as a contributor to the lore and overall story for City of Heroes. About a year ago, Manticore took a position working on an unnamed MMO project within NCsoft. By virtue of the relationship between Cryptic and NCsoft at the time, this meant that his contributions to the CoX franchise were indirect, if there indeed were any at all. Now that the franchise is secure in NCsoft's loving embrace, the erstwhile developer can finally be an open part of the community again, though curiously we've learned little about what he's being doing in the interim.

The general consensus on the official forum is a resounding "HUZZAH!" If you feel like giving Manticore some welcome back love, head over to the official forum thread and say hello. It's sure been a great week for the CoX community, hasn't it?