This week's edition of "Ask Cryptic" features the Champions Online undersea area called Lemuria. Questions feature a look at the area, its denizens and a lot more.

What can we expect from Lemuria that is different from other underwater worlds in other games? How will yours stick out more than the rest? (Wokie0)

While other games give a nod towards underwater game-play in terms of having an old underwater ruin with some sea creatures, we've built a massive area with many different types of denizens, challenges, and storylines. Plus we have sharks with frickin' laser beams!

Will be there factions in-game like the Empyreans, the well-known enemies of the Lemurians? And if so, Will have an effect on missions and rewards as well as enemies and zones of influence of the factions? (lordbat)

While there is an Empyrean presence in Lemuria in the form of gigantic war constructs that stride across the ocean floor there are not a lot of Empyreans in Lemuria proper. We may flesh out the Lemurian-Empyrean war in future updates.

Will Lemuria be considered one of the main parts of the story? Will there be "missions" to complete in Lemuria or will this be a map only for questing for items, assuming you use this type of system for the "missions. (Genetic)

Lemuria is a major gameplay area containing some of the greatest threats to humanity. There are a lot of missions you can take on behalf of various people or organizations or that you discover as you explore the depths of this ancient undersea civilization.

I read somewhere that you were veering away from water powers due to the high graphic requirements needed. Does this mean that the underwater experience will be compromised, or does the existence of these underwater environments give us hope for Water oriented powers and costume parts? (jhonderbler)

Never fear! We have enough water oriented costume parts to keep Jacques Cousteau busy! However the only water themed powers we currently have are the frozen kind.

What level will the Lemuria zone be targeted at - endgame, midgame, new players? Also how will the ancient people of Lemuria (forget their exact name) come into play when we are there? Will there be a raid/big instance in Lemuria? (Palidine83)

Lemuria is a high-end zone. The Lemurians are in the middle of a civil war with one side returning to worship their ancient evil gods known as The Bleak Ones. Many of these ambitious rebels hope to gather power to return to dominance and destroy the surface world. It'll take a brave team of heroes to enter into the Mandragalore and stop the threat of the Bronze King!

With the ocean offering virtually limitless exploration, how big will the underwater zone be? Is Lemuria, the underground city itself, a zone within the underwater areas? Will the Empyreans be represented in some way? (Nachtwolf)

This area focuses on the underwater city of Lemuria and the surrounding environments. The Empyreans have a presence in the form of their massive war constructs; as mentioned earlier, we may be expanding the Lemuria-Empyrean war storyline in future content updates.

What are the movement changes for being underwater? Will it be walking movement speed, but three dimensional movements or will there be special swimming animations that we will be able to customize? (starkaos)

It is running speed with 3 dimensional movement, and no customizing of swimming at this time. Although I have been asking for a doggy paddle!

So, grab your snorkel and your flippers and dive right in! Lemuria sounds awesome!