Sandbox MMORPG Fractured Kicks Off Fall Alpha Test Tomorrow

Dynamight Studios has been prepping for months for the big fall alpha test for sandbox MMORPG Fractured, which kicks off tomorrow, September 22. It's being billed as "the largest PvE and ability content expansion ever," while also addressing the biggest issues from the spring alpha.

The continent of Myr is getting more than 20 new creatures -- each with a challenge rating to help you determine what you can take on -- along with new points of interest, dynamic world events, and more. Players will have more than 40 new skills to take on the world's challenges, and equipment progression is also getting a once-over, with new Imbuing and Enchanting mechanics to let you increase the power of your gear.

Also getting a significant rework is the PvP ruleset, which Dynamight admitted "clearly haven’t worked out as intended," as "Player killing was rampant." One of the issues was that large groups of players faced virtually no consequences for picking on smaller groups, a circumstance that could never have been predicted!

Now, "evil" characters can no longer interact with most city services and drop all loot upon their deaths. "Neutral" players can fight other neutral and evil players with no karma loss and are the only ones who can summon Legends and defeat them to earn Lost Tales; they also lose just three to four pieces of loot upon death. "Good" players lose only one or two pieces when they croak.

The alpha is available to players who have purchased a Master Pack or higher in the Fractured store or backed the Kickstarter at an appropriate level. It runs from September 22 to October 13. Learn more about the test on the Fractured website.