Post-apocalyptic settings are all the rage these days, and our large
contingent of Ten Ton Hammer href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/membership" target="_blank">Premium
Members have fallen prey to the
dystopian fever as well. For href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showthread.php?t=42522"
target="_blank">their latest VIP interview, the
members
decided to send their excellent questions to the href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/806"
target="_blank">Earthrise
developers. With their usual flair, the style="font-style: italic;">Earthrise team
answered a large chunk of the inquiries, including questions on the
differences between Earthrise and other post-apocalyptic games, the
skill system and its “caps,” the usage of vehicles,
and more!

Ten Ton Hammer: Does
Earthrise play similar to PlanetSide in some ways? (metal)
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Atanas Atanasov: Like
PlanetSide, Earthrise will feature dynamic combat that plays similar to
third person shooter games, with emphasis on player skill in combat and
emphasis on Player vs. Player gameplay. While the level of dynamic
combat will be similar, Earthrise favors team play and customization of
combat style with a large amount of abilities further tailored to the
player's taste through tactical enhancements. Also, Earthrise focuses
less on war itself and more on political and economic opportunities in
times of turmoil between two opposing factions.

Ten Ton Hammer: What will
separate Earthrise from the other "post-apocalyptic" games coming out
soon? (Mordan)



AA: The
game setting itself, the visual atmosphere and the gameplay of
Earthrise differ from the stereotypical "post-apocalyptic" games on the
market. While the game is set in a world that has survived destruction
and is now inhabited by mutated monstrosities, it can be classified as
"post-post-apocalyptic" as it is less about survival against the
environment and more about what humanity would do if it won against the
odds and is building a new society. Gameplay will also fluidly change
from survival against the environment towards rivalry for the new
resources uncovered and the power and influence associated in becoming
part of the future of the Enterran population. Earthrise will also
offer a true sandbox experience, giving players the chance to control
certain zones and resources.

Ten Ton Hammer: Can you
talk about the skill system in Earthrise? Is there a cap on how many
skills a player can attain? (Arkane)
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AA: Players
will have access to a variety of combat, crafting and social skills
that they can develop through combat, manufacturing and designing
items, or as they acquire new offline professions. Certain logical
actions for each type of skill, such as killing opponents for combat
skills, will earn points that can be paid to advance skills. Each skill
advancement to a new level will unlock new abilities for your character
to use. Combat abilities can further be enhanced by opening Tactic
slots which allow placement of Tactics - enhancement bonuses that
modify the effect of the ability. There's no limit on how many skills a
player can learn; given time and persistence, your character could
attain all the skills in the game. Using the skills is a whole
different matter though, as your equipment, armor and weapons, are
prerequisites for using the abilities of each skill.

Ten Ton Hammer: Will
there be mounts/vehicles in the game, how will they be used? (Clinique2)
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AA: There
will be vehicles in Earthrise that allow players to transport at high
speed between locations, and also avoid risks such as wading your way
through mutant infested locations or being ambushed by other players.
While vehicles will not have any combat abilities, they also will have
no cost associated with traveling. Mechas, huge massive robotic
exoskeletons, will have imposing combat abilities but will require fuel
to operate which will limit their use to urgent times such as siege
territory attacks.

Ten Ton Hammer: What
about the economy? Will there be an auction house? Will players be able
to trade items? (Clinique2)
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AA: No game
can claim to offer player-driven economy and not allow players to trade
among them. Players will have access to banking services and an
extensive auction house / global marketplace that allows players to
trade goods and services with each other.

Ten Ton Hammer: Will
guilds/clans be able to change the landscape of the game? (Arkane)
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AA: Guilds
will have to operate with a dynamic, persistent world in mind which
requires them to cover many economic and political grounds in order to
ensure their influence in the game world. They will have to make sure
they have a strong flow of resources from controlled territories and
the PvE world in order to re-supply, their constant protection often
requiring contracting other guilds for that purpose. Although Factions
make initial impressions on the players, guiding and aiding them as
they find their way through the world of Earthrise, guilds offer
different and often more exciting opportunities for players to connect
and fight united for their own cause.

Ten Ton Hammer: How will
players collect their resources for crafting in the game? (TTH Staff)
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AA: There
will different types of resources based on the means of their
acquisition and their use. Basic resources will be available from a
centralized market place but their price will fluctuate depending on
the availability of these resources from the mines. These mines are
under constant treat of mutant waves and should be kept operating.
Basic resources are the foundation of crafting and used by all items.
Rare resources are mined from territories that guilds control over and
have built mining facilities. These rare resources are used for the
manufacturing of powerful items and then creation of items with major
design enhancements added by the players. Without access to rare
resources, players won't be able to achieve high levels of
technological advancement so the resources extraction is required in
order to push forward the economy of the game world.

Ten Ton Hammer: Thanks
again for your time, Atanas!