Dungeons & Dragons Online Preview
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Two key elements separate combat in D&D Online from its kin: the use of WASD controls, and a natural mouselook. This isn't an alternate control scheme, either -- it's the primary way to play the game. The build we got to play mapped attacks to the left mouse button, and the guard move to the right, which, when used in conjunction with the movement keys, allowed characters to tumble about the ground to dodge incoming attacks. As this would imply, combat was very fast-paced, much more closely resembling an action RPG than an MMO. Rhythmic clicks of the mouse seemed to be more effective than wild mashing, and the combos that the melee characters had exhibited a satisfying level of oomph.
Special attacks take the form of feats, which, as per in the D&D system, are powerful abilities that characters can choose every few levels. This is especially true for non-magic-using characters -- wizards, sorcerers, clerics, and the like primarily use feats to supplement their magical abilities. Warrior-types, on the other hand -- fighters, paladins, barbarians, and the rest -- generally choose powerful special attacks. In D&D Online, these kinds of feats are the abilities that will populate your hotkey bar, if you're a melee fighter. Spellcasters, of course, can have their various spells mapped for easy access, while rogues will have their stealth and infiltration skills assigned.
The preview also features the first screenshots ever seen of the game thus far, so be sure to check it out!
