Dragonshard Community Update #3

Atari’s Shane DeFreest has sent us over a third community update for Dragonshard, which includes two new screenshots and another brief Q&A. This time, the screenshots depict an aerial attack by Archons and the entrance to a cave.

Q:How customizable are characters in the game?

A: They are customizable to about as far as a degree as we felt we could take it and still be a balanced RTS game. The Champions can earn new items and even a few new weapons that all add new abilities or stats in the single player. These can have some pretty drastic effects (such as a chance to freeze a unit in ice or even allowing a super high health regeneration). Units can be customized through upgrades and BattleGear. Upgrades are improvements stats – things such as attack damage, spell energy, or health. BattleGear is usually earned by doing something special. Experience can be used to purchase upgrades and abilities for units and leaders.

Q: What RPG elements are included in Dragonshard?

A: There are lots of RPG elements that would commonly be found in D&D RPG style games – heavy storylines, tons of quests (including branching quests), uncovering lore about the world, the ability to choose what side of a faction you want to help or hurt. Units will be able to increase their level by upgrading the buildings they are produced from. Increased levels will grant unit’s stat bonuses (such as hit points, armor class, damage, energy) as well as access to new abilities. Much as in the D&D PnP game, certain levels may be required before a unit has access to certain abilities. Experience is pooled and may be used by the player to advance levels and unit abilities.