Saga (2008 video game)

Saga
Developer(s)	Wahoo Studios
Designer(s)	Dallan Christensen
Engine	Wraith
Platform(s)	Windows
Genre(s)	Fantasy
Mode(s)	MMORTS

File:Saga eagles.jpg

Battle screenshot from Saga

File:Battle screen.jpg

Battle screenshot from Saga

Saga is an upcoming massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game (MMORTS) with an anticipated Q4 2007 or Q1 2008 release. Developed in part by Wahoo Studios, the game has been in open Beta since July 5th 2007. The title will reportedly have no subscription fees, unlike most MMOs, instead being supported by the release of booster or expansion packs. It is possible to enter Beta Testing from the Saga official site.

Programmer Dallan Christensen (Lead Programmer of Starcraft: Brood War) was lead programmer contracted by Wahoo Studios in the development of Saga.

Plot

Saga is set in a fantasy world where an age-old strife exists between five competing Gods. Each God heads up a faction with unique races and abilities. The factions are Magic (Dark Elves), Machines (Dwarves), Nature (Elves), War (Orcs), and Light (Giants). Each faction is diametrically opposed to two other factions. For example, Machines hates Magic (they are naturally opposite, technology vs. mysticism), and Machines also hates Nature (machines vs. living things). Nature also despises War, for their tendency to destroy nature. Light faction are champions of order and justice, while Magic faction delve deep into the black arts, and the circle completes itself. Each faction has an ethos and a strategic quality that sets it apart, giving players a spectrum of play styles to identify with. The system is designed to create a balanced tension between the factions, giving each faction two archenemies and two neutrals to war with or form alliances with. The result is a world where endless war is inevitable.

Gameplay

Saga combines the TCG-sensibilities of Magic: The Gathering, the MMO persistency of RPG’s, and the kingdom management and mass battles of RTS titles such as Rome: Total War.

Gameplay in Saga is best described in two states: kingdom management and battle.

Kingdom Management

In keeping with the RTS genre, gameplay in Saga revolves around managing a persistent, online kingdom. Each player is given a plot of land by their faction God, which they must develop and improve. These improvements include building defensive walls and towers, researching new technology at the university, and harvesting the available resources.

Additionally, players maintain a population of peasants, which rises and falls depending on the popularity of the player as a leader. Unpopular leaders can suffer riots, leading to extensive damage to structures and mass desertions by peasants.

Battle

Troops

Saga employs a booster pack system to amass troops. Each player receives an initial starter pack, as one would with a TCG, featuring a collection of various individual troops. These troops must be placed into like units to create an army. When more troops are needed, players buy “booster packs”, which are a random selection of 10 troops ranging from common to rare. These troops can then be drafted into existing units, or traded off to other players. Through the trading system, players can customize their armies and trade for exactly what they are looking for. Trading takes place in the market, which also allows for resources to be traded, and troops to be bought and sold.

Units grow in experience, increasing their base efficacy. Additionally, units can be further upgraded through collecting special gear such as armor and weapons. This gear is obtained through Questing against computer-controlled opponents.

Combat

Combat in Saga is real-time, in keeping with the RTS genre, and consists of maneuvering units around the field to fight and gain an advantage over the enemy. Spells, special abilities and reinforcements add to the various strategies that can be employed to gain an advantage. Battles can be fought against computer-controlled opponents through the Quest system, or against other players in PvP battles. While quests largely take place on neutral battlefields across the world of Saga, PvP battles are city-to-city conflicts between the competing players. PvP battles can be fought between two or four players, either on teams or as a free-for-all. In PvP combat, the two (or four) players have their kingdoms stitched together so that battles take place upon their lands. Being a persistent world, damage inflicted during PvP battles carries over, including the pillaging and destruction of opponent’s buildings, and the death of troops. (Dead troops can be resurrected in temples using God-favor, a combat-based resource) PvP battles can be fought in “scrimmage” mode, which allows for players to compete without any permanent damage being done to their kingdoms or troops, however, no experience or resource rewards are accumulated through “scrimmage” games.

Also See

• Wahoo Studios
• MMORTS

External links

• Official Website
• Saga Interview by Gamezone.com
• Saga Official Forum
• Saga Interview by Destructoid.com
• Saga Interview by Gameshark.com
• Saga Interview by FiringSquad.com
• Saga Interview by StrategyInformer.com
• Saga Interview by KillerBetties.com