Even at the beginning Runes of Magic conveys its absorbing story in over 600 quests embedded in an atmospheric world.

Players can choose from six main classes. Combined with a secondary class they dispose of 36 individual character classes over all. All characters possess unique skills with impressive combo attacks and can use mounts in the later stages of game play. A particularly attractive feature for guilds and even players is the possibility to arrange their own virtual homes with individual furnishing. Thanks to an extensive crafting and reputation system, thrilling PVP as well as demanding dungeons and boss-monsters no wishes remain unsatisfied.

In Runes of Magic players explore and discover a magical realm full of wonders and ancient riddles. On their way from simple novice to famous hero, they will always be accompanied by magical runes and potent oracles which are fragments of the divine book Taborea. In Runes of Magic players should use the rune stone wisely, for they might also lure them to a path of destruction. But legend has it, that he, who embraces the oracle and acquires its might, will gain absolute power over the future. It is now up to the player, to write on the history of the world.

To do that, players have access to a dual class system which allows them to freely combine their main and secondary classes, in order to freely build a character the way they want. On their way through Taborea, they learn professions and special skills to forge mighty armor and weaponry or to enhance them. After a hard day of labor players can relax in their own homes, which they can arrange any way they want. In addition they have access to a dynamic item and rune system, as well as three gathering and eight crafting professions. Dangerous dungeons, raids and an extensive PVP system challenge PC heros in the long run. The Taiwanese developers of Runewaker Entertainment Ltd. grew up in the USA and were enthusiastic “Ultima Online” and “World of Warcraft” players. Runes of Magic was developed in a time frame of three years according to western MMO standards. Runemaker will provide new challenges for players every three to four months with free add-ons and updates.

The Howling Mountains, once a meeting place of lower demons and wild hordes, are nowadays characterized by their mellow landscape. Loud screams of former sacrificial rituals resounded through the area before the Council of Varanas and the Eye of Wisdom banished the howling in a great wraith expulsion. Since then humans have settled in the peaceful, hilly ley. The Settler Valley, the Pioneer's Colony, the Crushed Plain and a windmill serving as Logar's landmark invite adventures onto a discovery tour through the Howling Mountains. But there are also ominous places there. The Barren Caves for example. Formerly a breeding ground of terrifying daemons they even now instil fear into the humans heart. It is said that goblins now dwell there and that they have begun to look for the daemon's treasures.

The Howling Mountains

The gloomy word howling in the name of the Howling Mountains does not correspond to the mellow landscape. In earnest though there was a meeting place of lower daemons here and especially the Barrow was a venue for the wild hordes. In certain nights they performed bizarre sacrificial rituals in the Barrow’s monumental stone formation. Due to the accompanying screams the area was later called the Howling Mountains. Some years ago the Council of Varanas and the Eye of Wisdom repeatedly cleansed the region with great wraith expulsions and the force of arms.

At the time the first humans settled there, no howling could be heard, which has once reverberated through the valley. Since then travellers and adventures experience the Howling Mountains as an open ley, which can be perceived at a glance. The surrounding mountains and spiky stone formations can nonetheless instil a slightly eerie feeling of discomfort.

Hidden Valley

The Hidden Valley received its name because of its hidden location. In all four directions this deep-set region is surrounded by towering mountains. This is why the Hidden Valley was only discovered after the adventure guild “Silvershadow” was looking for the sources of different bodies of water. In addition to one of the springs they also detected traces of ore. To mine the ore the Council of Caranas founded the Pioneer’s Colony.

The Pioneer’s Colony

In the idyllic scenery of the Howling Mountains the Council of Varanas build a base. With its clear lake and its picturesque waterfall, its proud forests and newly discovered veins of ore the Pioneer’s Colony is rich in both beauty and raw materials. A small mine to the west of the village is the newest excavation area in the region. After mushroom-beings in great numbers appeared all of a sudden “Silvershadow” sent out many young adventures to settle the matter and help with the mining so that the region might prosper.

The Hidden Valley Mine

After the founding of the Pioneer’s Colony the mine yielded a steady supply of ore for years. It did not take long though before a band of goblins launched a surprise attack. They even brought cave crabs with them as if to publicly announce that the ore was now theirs. In light of the goblin’s attack and the crab’s furious digging, the mine’s stonewalls became loose. That was the moment the humans decided to abandon the mine in order to focus on the ore vein to the west of the settlement. This was a temporary measure until all goblins and cave crabs could be driven away.

Helen’s farm

A small barnyard in the Howling Mountains is operated by the peaceful Helen. Alongside the breeding of some cows the peasant woman also plants vegetables. For the neighbouring settlement of Logar she is an important supplier of day-to-day foodstuffs. Even though young bears and wolves in the proximity of the farm worry Helen, she does not intend to strengthen her defences. All that she wants is to live in harmony with her surroundings.

The Crushed Plain

This landscape links the Barrow to the Moon-Spring. It is for the boulders and rocky debris which lye about that the Crushed Plain received its name. At the same time the Crushed Plain serves an important transportation intersection from the Howling Mountains to the far away outskirts. Nearby a guarding squad set up a camp to ensure the safety of passing travelers.

The Logar settlement

For the past couple of years, Logar has been becoming more and more famous. Since the Council of Varanas decided to exploit the nearby mines, humans have performed some great wraith expulsions helped by the Eye of Wisdom. After the affirmation that the area was safe and sound for human settlement, a group of highly trained citizens were chosen to make this new region accessible.

Their leader was called Logar. In the battle against the demons he decided to protect his companions by sacrificing himself, falling alongside the demons he fought. As a reminder of his heroic deeds the settlement which was later founded bore his name. Logar’s younger brother is now the mayor of this town. The settlement has a great windmill which grinds the corn of the neighboring farms. Because of the windmills importance in the everyday life of Logar’s citizens, it also became its landmark. It is common knowledge among all travelers that when the windmill can be seen, Logar lies directly ahead.

The Moon Hills

The magical Moon Hills are a plateau of limestone cliffs which emit billowing clouds of steam. A long time ago a wanderer travelling at night saw the reflection of the moon in the waters of a spring. He thought that he might find treasure, but the moonlight guided him to this place and it is for that reason that the spring is now called Moon-Spring. There is another magical relevance to this place: At the time the Howling Mountains were still the home of lower demons, they did not dare to venture into the Moon Hills. It is rumored that this may be because of a mighty enchanted creature dwelling in the Moongorge, which lies deep in the mountain range.

Moongorge

It is a steep vertical vale, which water carved out of the limestone and is situated close to the reservoir where the water flows. On the inside the Moongorge is full of stalactites and stalagmites, while the turquoise water flowing there reflects violet light-spots. The touching atmosphere and the outlandish beauty of the scene resemble a cathedral of nature. According to legend the Moongorge is home to a mighty being, so terrifying that even demons feared it. No-one has ever dared to venture into the deep to take a glimpse of that creature.

The Sevaida Wood

The wild forest lies eastwards of Logar and in the ancient language, Sevaida means “Power of Aeons”. A bard, accompanied by the mayor of Logar once came to this forest and when he saw the Dead Tree with its cave deep in the woods, he was deeply touched and praised it as a symbol of ancient and mighty power. For that reason the mayor proposed to call this place Sevaida.

The Dead Tree Cave

In the Sevaida Woods stands a towering white weathered tree trunk with a natural opening in it. This hole is linked to an underground cavern. Just like the mysterious environment gave birth to this strange plant, it also created other strange life-forms.It was this cave, where Logar the hero fought the spider demon Pirlanok. After Pirlanok was defeated, legend tells that he was banished into the white trunk where he drinks the power of the forest and awaits his resurrection.

The Barrow

The Barrow is an elevated place framed by stone columns. The slanted remains of stone columns and great boulders lie about everywhere – just like in the Crushed Plain. This was the place were demons formerly performed their sacrificial rituals. The ancient, monolithic stone formation is at its center. Even though humans already settled in the Howling Mountains, for some reason a group of goblins banded together to drive them out. Their surprise attack was successful and the humans settled elsewhere.

The Barren Caves

Originally the Barren Caves were a breeding ground for demons in the Howling Mountains. After the demon’s annihilation, the caves were abandoned and are considered to be cursed. Normal people avoid them at all costs. But lately a group of nearby goblins started to move and claimed ownership of this place. Nobody knows why they began to act all of a sudden, but some suspect that they are looking for left-behind treasures and magical objects, which were hidden by the demons – a valid assumption considering their habits.

Features:

• Free2play, no monthly fees, free download
• Dual class system with switchable primary and secondary classes
• Enthralling background story
• Already over 600 quests and level comprehensive quest series on launch
• Instanced and persistent dungeons
• Individually developed skills and spells
• Armor sets with special bonuses
• Dynamic item system: Upgrades with hundreds of runes
• Activatable PvP system (Player vs. Player duels)
• Epic crafting system with the possibility to improve existing items
• Individual coloring of clothes and armor
• Housing: personalization with individual furniture for players and guilds
• Special zones for guild houses
• Reputation system
• Scalable user interface based on the users flavor (development of own add-ons possible)
• In-game map and radar system to find dealers, resources and quests easily
• Auction house: auction and purchase items
• Teleporting possibilities per runes
• Different and unique mounts
• Controlling with mouse (point & click) and keyboard (WASD or arrow keys) possible

MMO fans can find a registration form for the newsletter on the official teaser site.

The German version will come to light even before Christmas 2008, shortly there after an English version will be released.

Frogster Interactive Pictures AG strives to release both the European-English version and the American version at the same time. Concerning the US version Frogster currently looking for a qualified US-Publisher.

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