Warhammer Online: Warhammer Online January 2007 Newsletter Released!

The January 2007 Newsletter is out, and it is PACKED full of awesome info. The fact that it is actually February isn't going to stop me from telling you all about it.

Of special interest is the unveiling of the fourth and final class for Chaos - the Marauder. A melee DPS that can apparently warp its arms into varying weapons, they are, in the words of Paul Barnett, "a great big Viking who's gone bad ... a crab-clawed hulk! They are dead good! Marauders rock!"

I can't help but agree. This was exactly what I was hoping for from Tzeentch-based Chaos - an insane shapeshifter with all kinds of crazy mutations. I think I have found my first alt (my main of course being a Black Orc), although the Chosen is still under consideration.

This newsletter also unveiled more details for the Empire's Bright Wizard and the Chaos Magus, the first two "mage" type classes that EA Mythic has announced so far. I'm psyched to learn that Bright Wizards will explode when they die. Although I am not looking forward to be on the receiving end, that is simply badass. Oh, and lest I forget, the Magus class has been confirmed to ride on a Disk of Tzeentch: "He is forever bound to this living platform, and it is utterly ruled by his will." So those guys will get to float around and look insane. I'm not sure how they intend to balance the Disk and other mounts, though.

The newsletter also contains three videos. First, and foremost for me at least, is an in-depth explanation by Josh Drescher, along with a very nicely animated visual aid, of the tiered zone system that will provide the backbone of the grand RvR battles in Warhammer Online. This should answer a lot of questions about how the layout of zones and the larger war - you know, the one culminating the sack of your enemy's city and all that fun stuff - will work. Second is an amazing gameplay video from the recent Mythic press event of the RvR scenario "Mourkain Temple", which not only showcases the fun (and already very polished) combat of WAR, but confirms our own lepidus' account of winning the battle for the forces of Order with a timely kill.

The third video is actually a collection of mini-videos, those random rants and occasional bits of awesome info recorded on a video phone by Paul Barnett. This time he's got all kinds of cool stuff including Bright Wizards, cannons, Giants, and a look at Squig Herder pet commands - as well as whatever other random stuff he decided to put in.

There's also a look at the Chaos starting zone of Norsca, some pictures of ingame enemies, fan-submitted art and writing, and some Q+A with WAR Community Manager Sanya Thomas. Anyway, what the hell are you doing still reading this? Go read the newsletter and see for yourself!

Also, discuss this at our forums!