Mythos (computer game)

Infobox VG| title = Mythos


developer = Flagship Studios
designer = Travis Baldree
engine = Developed in-house
released = Hiatus
genre = Action RPG, MMORPG
modes = Multiplayer, Online
ratings =
platforms = PC (Windows)
media = Download
requirements =
input = Keyboard, mouse

"Mythos" is a multiplayer computer role-playing game that was under development by Flagship Studios Seattle, a subdivision of Flagship Studios, a video game company composed largely of ex-Blizzard North employees who were lead producers of the "Diablo" series. Due to financial issues at Flagship Studios, Flagship Seattle was subsequently dissolved with the full staff of 14 moving to the new game company Runic Games, leaving the intellectual property rights in the hands of the Korean company Hanbitsoft. [cite web|url=http://www.warcry.com/articles/view/interviews/5127-WarCry-Interviews-Runic-Games-Travis-Baldree|title=Runic Games Interview|publisher=WarCry|accessdate=2008-08-11|date=2008-08-11|author=Suzie Ford]

Mythos is similar in style to "Diablo", utilizing a similar interface and perspective, extensive map and item randomization, and a high fantasy setting. Its development was led by Travis Baldree, creator of the action RPG "FATE", now a co-founder of Runic Games. The game started as an MMORPG intended to test the networking technology behind the multiplayer component of Flagship Studios' "", but has since grown into an independent game scheduled for a separate release.

"Mythos" shares the same core engine and technology that "" uses. Features between the two games are often shared since they are so similar in technology.

Starting in 2007, the game had been in an ongoing closed beta testing stage, with an open beta expected sometime during 2008. However, on July 19, 2008 it was announced that due to continuing financial hardships at Flagship Studios, "Mythos" would be going on hiatus. There is currently no information on whether or not the beta will re-launch. As Flagship has laid off most of its employees (two founding members remain), the development of "Mythos" has been suspended.

According to the developers' statements prior to the hiatus of July 2008, "Mythos" was to be digitally distributed by Flagship Studios subsidiary Ping0 in North America and Europe. The game will be free to play and download, but optional in-game items will be available for online purchase to help finance the game.

Gameplay

The gameplay of "Mythos" is very similar to that of the "Diablo" series using Point-and-click movement from an overhead isometric view. Players fight monsters in randomly-generated, instanced dungeons, collecting items, gaining experience points, and completing quests. The graphics are rendered in fully 3D polygons, rather than pre-rendered 2D sprites on a 3D perspective plane.

Game Modes

"Mythos" offers four different game modes: Normal, Elite, Hardcore, and Hardcore-Elite. Players of each mode can only play and trade with players of the same mode, but guilds are not limited to each mode and members can be of all types.

"Normal" mode is the standard way of playing "Mythos". There is one benefit to Normal: Normal is the only mode where players are allowed to respec their character. Respec is free if your character is under level 5. After level 5, it costs 1 gold the first time, and doubles in price each subsequent time.

"Elite" mode causes the damage dealt to monsters to be reduced, while the damage caused by the monsters is increased. Items in Elite mode also sell for half of their normal sale price. Elite mode also offers more champion monsters, which are stronger monsters who drop rarer items.

"Hardcore" Paying homage to the "Diablo" series, "Hardcore" mode in "Mythos" features permanent death. If a character dies in Hardcore, you will not be able to play it again or retrieve any items from it. Hardcore Elite mode is even harder, as both Elite and Hardcore settings are on.

"Shadowlands Only" constrains the player to the Shadowlands, which is a version of the game world with Player versus Player combat allowed at all times. This mode can be combined with Elite or Hardcore modes for extra difficulty.

Trading

"Mythos" allows players to trade currency and items to each other. There is also a mail system that allows players to send items, money, and messages to each other while in town.

Player vs. Player

"Mythos" will have an open Player vs. Player (PvP) play style for those who choose to participate. There are two sides to the world, Normal and Shadow. If you are on the Normal side, randomized levels are for you and your party alone except roadways. However, if you are on the Shadow side, levels are randomly generated and other players may join the same one you are in and attack you. If you are killed in PvP combat (aside from duels) you will drop one inventory item depending on your Anarchy level and if the attacker is 10 levels higher than you.

Crafting

Characters gain Crafting Points upon leveling up and from completing crafting-related quests. These points can be spent in a tiered crafting skill tree. As the player invests in a specific crafting tree, the creation of higher quality items with greater customization becomes possible. Crafting supplies can be found by exploring, created by breaking down equipment, or purchased from vendors. Recipes can be found as treasure or purchased from vendors.

Races

Currently there are four races in the closed beta with at least one other, unnamed race in development. The races are Human, Satyr, Gremlin, and Cyclops. The races all share the same attributes, however.

Aside from the humans, the races are based on mythological or folkloric (in the case of the Gremlin) creatures. Gremlins are a very short race of people with pointy ears, who have an affinity for technology and machines. Player-character Gremlins can sport accessories like sunglasses and cigars. The Satyrs are of similar height to Humans and are inspired by the the horned, goat-legged creatures of Greek mythology. Cyclopes are large, hulking, one-eyed humanoids, also inspired by Greek myth.

Classes

The three classes are Bloodletter, Pyromancer, and Gadgeteer. The Bloodletter can be considered "the warrior," Pyromancer "the mage," and Gadgeteer "the marksman." However, each class has three different skill trees, supporting a large degree of variation in character builds. For example, a Pyromancer with "Cinderblade" skills can be played as a strength-based melee fighter, almost an entirely different class compared to mage-like Pyromancer builds. Each class can potentially summon minions that work independently of their master (without control).

A Gadgeteer can summon fire/lightning turrets and widgets, small airborne machines that have abilities ranging from damaging foes to healing the Gadgeteer and his party to giving the Gadgeteer additional damage in their presence. Widgets last for a set amount of time, and turrets last until damaged or recast. This is the range of the Gadgeteer's Tinker group. Marksman skills expand the Gadgeteer's ranged attack ability with rifles, and Grenadier skills allow the Gadgeteer to throw bombs and traps.

Flamecaster Pyromancers learn ranged attacks such as Flaming Dart and Meteor. Pyromancers with Coalsmasher skills have two summons: Flame Wisp and Burning Colossus. Flame Wisps fire streams of missiles at enemies and only last until a set number of shots are used up. The Burning Colossus primarily takes damage but moves slowly, and lasts until it takes a maximum amount of damage. The Cinderblade skill tree focuses on fire-based melee attacks and abilities that protect the user in close combat.

A Bloodletter may use melee attacks from the Martialist skill tree, specializing in bladed weapons. Crimsonate Bloodletters build their skills around "bleed" effects which buff themselves and weaken (or possibly even explode) their enemies. Red Hand Bloodletters fight using minions summoned from corpses: Bloodlings (melee attackers) and Blood Imps (ranged attackers). The Bloodletter may have six of each at maximum level, creating a small personal army.

Payment

Flagship Seattle stated that they would implement a Real Money Trading (RMT) system, instead of a monthly subscription-based system. The in-game RMT currency is planned to be called "ingots", to be freely traded between players who choose to purchase ingots and players who do not. They also stated that ingots would not tip the balance towards players who purchase them and players who do not, which can be seen in many other games.

Trivia

In the game "" (another Flagship Studios game) while in one of the stations in the London underground you can find posters of "Mythos" on the walls.

The game features an item called "Zivia's Puzzle Box" that is an homage to the "Horadric Cube" from Diablo II and features very similar functionality, allowing the player to transmute certain items into different items.

References

External links

* [http://www.flagshipstudios.com/ Flagship Studios Website]
* [http://www.mythos.com/ Official Mythos Website] Dead link|date=September 2008