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Hellgate London Game Overview

Hellgate: London is set in a post apocalyptic London in the year 2038. It can be played as single player or multiplayer which allows the players to team up with other gamers to battle demons play alone in single player mode. The online version has many MMORPG features such as subscription plans, player versus player combat and guild formation.

Gameplay

Hellgate: London is an action role playing game RPG with random generation of monsters, maps and loot to allow for replayability. Hellgate can be played in third person perspective or first person perspective. Aiming is not required for most weapons as they track their targets, lock-on, or carpet an area with explosives. Hellgate does feature sniper rifles and other weapons which require accurate aiming most of these weapons are exclusive to the Hunter faction. It can be played offline or online without a fee however players may pay a monthly fee to gain additional content including new areas, monsters, weapons, classes, events, quests, titles, game modes and other content. The game consists of five acts which account for approximately 40 hours of single player gameplay.

Multiplayer

Hellgate: London was created mainly with a focus on solo and cooperative PVE combat however players can duel in an arena if they prefer PVP combat. Hellgate Players may also choose to enter PvP mode in which case they must always be ready for PvP. This is a way to have wide-ranging free for alls or create a friendly-fire way of playing the game. In multiplayer mode, players may team up for quests. The world will not be split in servers but rather play a MMORPG with heavy instancing. Every character may solo the entire game if the player wishes. Grouping is optional though it will bring benefits in terms of experience gain and items acquired. As the number of players within an instance increase so will the difficulty.

Quests

• Storyline - These are special scripted quests following the storyline and moving it forward. They are highlighted in orange color and the Storyline quest givers have a blue marker over their heads.
• Template Basic quests built on eight models: collect, escort, infestation, explore, hunt, travel/talk-and-do, use item and operate object. The primary objective is to give players some variety while they undertake story quests.
• Task - Generic quests with more random objectives which are given out by NPCs throughout the game world. Completion will increase the characters reputation to unlock class specific quests and revealing new items and will also give experience for new levels. Most tasks are randomized.

Weapons

A Weapons power is based on character stats more than a players aiming skills. Players can put points in an Accuracy statistic which determines the precision of thier shots fired.

There are 5 types of damage. When a target is damaged there is a chance of suffering a special effect based on the type of damage taken. See the table below

Each weapon has a Strength value for the special effect of each type of damage it does which is compared to the corresponding Defense stat of the target in order to calculate the chance that a target will suffer effect. Items, buffs, mods, skills and equipment enhancements may alter Strength and Defense stats.

Weapons deliver damage in one of three different modes:

• Direct - only the enemy under the crosshairs will receive the damage
• Splash - Are effect damage centered on the target or location the player is aiming at.
• Field - An area of terrain is targeted to inflict damage on enemies who enter it.

Items

Hellgate: London uses a randomized item system with a pool of random special properties and bonuses applied to them to achieve re-playability and promote item collection.

Unwanted weapons and armor can be disassembled to save space in a characters inventory and can often yeild standard or rare crafting materials which can be exchanged for special weapons from an NPC vendor or used to upgrade existing weapons and armor. Random special properties can be added to weapons or armor and blueprints are available by which players can craft their own ammo if they have the raw materials.

The gamut for item collection and customization includes:

• Weapon mods: batteries, ammo and such, which can be removed for a price and swapped
• Upgradeable weapon damage or armor values at the Nano Forge
• adding random properties to weapons and armor
• Crafted weapons
• Other crafted items and mods using spare parts and recipe random drops

Items can have slots which players may insert mods to enhance its power. Mods can be technology that improves items or demonic artifacts and holy items called relics. Technology mods mainly for weapon upgrades while relics are more general in which bonuses they give. If the character adds a mod to a weapon the change is shown in-game. Mods can be removed from items as well.
Some examples of the types of mods are listed below:

• Ammo Magazines - Modify the type, amount, range, or accuracy of weapons. They can be magical or technological in nature.
• Battery Packs - Used to charge weapons with different types of damage: spectral, shock, poison, fire or physical.
• Fuel Tanks - Confer different damage types onto weapons.
• Relics - Part of a greater item or an item previously owned by someone of great ability.
• Rockets - Change the type of ammo a weapon uses while adding an explosive element to make it more powerful.

Factions and classes

Hellgate:London features three main archetypes or Factions each consisting of two professions which allow for a total of six professions. Each faction and it's available professions are listed below.

Templar: Is an underground society leftover from the original Knights Templar which combine Magic with futuristic technology and ancient artifacts to create armor and short range melee weapons. The Templar class is the only class which may wield melee weapons, shields and use self-affecting auras but have a limited slection of ranged weapons.

• Blademaster - An offense focused melee class and is the only profession which can dual wield swords.
• Guardian - A defensive melee class.

Cabalist: Students of the dark arts and fringe science. These powerful arcane casters are knollege seekers about the demons and how to achieve mastery over them. A Cabalist is suited for mid range combat.

They use ranged weapons with many unique effects.

• Evoker - Have an extensive array of elemental attacks and curses. They can equip two focus devices at the same time provided they purchase the dual wield skill.
• Summoner - Have skills which include offensive abilities and many summoning abilities. They can summon minions that can be enhanced over time or minions for specialized use. They cannot equip more than one focus device.

Hunter: Mysterious, highly-trained ex-military operatives who lay waste to their foes with advanced weapons which blendi arcane magics with of the latest in technology. Hunters are able to hit their targets from long distances.

They rely on high-powered rifles and cannons and armor relieing on the regenerating shield element as apposed to the damage absorbing armor element. They are suited for long range attacks and are considered weak in melee combat.

• Marksman - Ranged weapon specialists with many skills to enhance weaponry.
• Engineer - Similar to the Summoner with expendable minions as well as combat drones that can wield weapons.

Plot

Hellgate: London takes place in post-apocalyptic London in 2038 which has been invaded by demons. Humans had many champions holding back the invasion, Until recently. Some real-world events are referenced in the Hellgate story as averted crossover attempts. The Crusades were undertaken to fight back the minions of Hell as was the charring of London in the Great Fire eliminate the devistating Plague. The Knights Templar were the keepers of knowledge battling the demonic forces. However, these heroes suffered a charring of their own at the hands of King Phillip IV, who dispised the power they held in the world at large. While the Knights Templar survived as an organization, their numbers were severely reduced and they were forced to remain in hiding to stay alive.

As time passed and technology progressed the past began to fade from memory and the secrets of the arcane were lost. When the demons attacked again, they found their enemies unprepared. Normal weapons were no use against the demons, who could shrug off an RPG round. The Templars offered their special services to the military, but the leaders refused to believe in the old truths. Hellgate quickly took the victory in the battle for Earth. The Burn has begun.

All is not lost as several groups have been preparing for just such an eventuality. The London Underground was built to be demon resistant the stations now act as bases for would-be defenders. These defenders are armed with a fusion of modern weaponry and arcane magic. The players of HellGate are one of these defenders.