PCG: What kind of classes will be offered? The table-top game boasts the line: "in the future, there is only war." But will there be non-violent, "social" classes as well?

Joe Madureira: We have a ton of classes planned, but honestly, the final classes will only be cemented once we’ve tested them a bit, weeded out any overlap or redundancies, balance issues, etc. As just about everyone knows, class balance and fun group dynamics are some of the trickiest, and most important aspects of the MMO genre. While characters will be able to take part in non-violent actions in the game (social activities are vital to the success of an MMO), there won't be any characters that advance completely outside of combat. It just doesn’t fit in with the vision of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

PCG: What are the player customization options? Can a player design their own Space Marine Chapter or Ork Clan?

JM: We have a very robust system for creating distinctive looking characters - and of course, it wouldn’t be Warhammer 40,000 without tons of stuff hanging off your character, including weapons, scrolls, chains, books, medals, and what have you! I hate to say this without showing images to back it up, but I feel like we are going to have the coolest looking characters of any MMO, ever. Of course that isn’t all that hard to achieve being that everything in Warhammer 40,000 is over-the-top badass! Once we begin releasing images, feel free to call me on that remark.

PCG: What kinds of NPCs will the player encounter? Will we see the Fat Bloke?

DA: We want to build a Warhammer 40,000 world that extends beyond the battlefield. This will involve cities (of all scales, types and sizes), exotic alien temples, Chaos shrines, deserted battlefields, mysterious ruins, ancient structures, drifting hulks in space, etc... Warhammer 40,000 is a universe filled with mystery - where the unknown lurks around every corner, ready to kill you.

Warhammer 40,000 is also a universe filled with history - you get a sense that the stars have been tread countless times, by forces beyond imagining. This is what makes it such a great place for adventure and excitement - but it also makes it a cruel and remorseless place where a single man is less than a speck in an ocean of stars. However, those that manage to make their mark in such a time and place are all the more remarkable for it - and that's where our players come in.

As for NPCs, all these fantastic locations will be brought to life with a wide range of NPCs: Imperial citizens, Chaos sycophants, xenos (40k for alien), Daemons from the warp, Eldar craftsman, oge raders, ancient killing machines, etc... I could go on forever.The point is, the game will be filled with NPCs both ready to help you and kill you.

PCG: Will players be able to control vehicles?

DA: This isn’t something we are willing to talk about at this point, but let’s just say that we are well aware of the importance of vehicles in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

PCG: How much involvement has the Games Workshop staff had in the making of the game?

DA: Games Workshop is the master of Warhammer 40,000, they have spent decades building up, what I believe to be one of the best science fiction IPs of all time. The job of translating that IP into an MMO setting is largely left up to our team, but Games Workshop does a wonderful job of providing us all the appropriate feedback and information to ensure that what we make remains true to the universe they have created. As an avid fan of the setting, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

PCG: What kind of missions can the player look forward to playing solo or with parties?

JM: We’ll have a large number of solo, party, and PvP missions. We are not going to try to force grouping, as some games have tried to do - that’s just annoying. MMORPGs are about giving the player options, and that means letting them play the game how they want to. Though, while it will be possible to solo for the life of your character, you’re definitely going to want some buddies watching your back in some of the missions, especially the PvP ones. Yes - there will be PvP and bloodshed. After all, this is Warhammer 40,000 - and there is only War!!!

May 7, 2008