We learn by playing. In theory, playing a mad warlock who stealthily backstabs his victims, clad in a mithril platmail sounds the coolest class in any RPG. However, switching GOD mode on in any singleplayer game has proven to quickly diminish its appeal.

Meaningful RPG classes have strengths and weaknesses, which enhance gameplay and require the players’ cooperation. Read more »

The Flying Eighty-Eights,
Elite Ranger Detachment

The first couple of ballistae have been captured, dismantled, and hauled all the way from a forward Caldarian outpost.

Once Ranger command got word of it, they immediately requisitioned them to include a ballista-training course in the Rangers’ curriculum at Mistral Isle.

Taking full advantage of the increased range and armor penetration of the ballistae, the first operational battalion distinguished itself again and again. They earned their nickname during the defensive operations in grid 88, Riftforge’s home turf. Read more »

Sea caves on Rift Isle

Rift Isle is located in the south most portion of Warzone Icecrest (grid 88), surrounded by treacherous ice floes.

New commanders are first sent to undergo training in one of the three training camps. Each camp is situated on an island controlled by Riftforge forces.

Mistral Isle

Named after the chilling northwest wind, the isle serves as a base of operations for commanders in the West. Sixth Shock Regiment has been dislocated to the isle in an effort to minimize casualties sustained by the Ranger Survival School.

An often overlooked fact is that a significant portion of ranger casualties result from the minefields covering the island, the very minefields laid by Sixth Regiment in order to protect the training camp. Read more »

Icecrest Gulf

The Southern warzone comprises Icecrest Gulf and the surrounding coastal areas.

Bitterly contested by a dozen (somewhat) sentient species, the zone covers over 500,000 square klicks of windswept icebergs, islands, marshlands, and mountains.

Each warzone on Riftforge’s map is subdivided into nine sectors, which are referred to by their grid coordinates. Read more »

Nightblades in broad daylight

The Templar network of agents allows them to recruit “local assets” and enroll them in their indoctrination program.

Rumors abound about a secret training track with a notoriously low survival rate that produces a handful of elite Black Ops operatives.

Nightblades

The Nightblade's captain was held in the Order’s dungeon for a month. He was charged with organizing his elite assassins into squads that were robbing small merchants at night. The charges were dropped after all three witnesses were found dead at first light.

Unlike the charges, the nickname stuck. As did the captain, who liked the Order’s dungeon so much, he moved his headquarters there. His assassins’ lair is now a sanctified place, ideal for Aguta worship. Read more »

The Order of Aguta’s Temple is an ancient organization indigenous to Manirak. Recently though, it was taken over by Riftforge. Even with new management, the Templars continue to look at the Sisterhood and the Guild as insolent upstarts.

From time immemorial, the Order has been taking care of the mortally wounded and terminally ill in an efficient, if not always a very humane manner.

Yet, the Templars’ primary focus remains thwarting the heretics. The most grievous affront to Aguta (meaning simply the Creator) is tempering with the natural world, whether in the form of creating constructs (organisms patched together from different creatures) or abominations (twisting the nature of a creature). Read more »