New MMO Sword of the New World 2 Announced with Open Beta

The folks at massively.com were let in on MMO Designers GamersFirst’s latest project, Sword of the New World 2. The team was given some cool game play details and a first look at screen shots from the game. Also announced was the opening of their beta that is available now!

Sword 2 will continue to feature the three character control system as implemented in the first game. Players will be able to choose from 5 classes: Musketeer, Elementalist, Fighter, Wizard and Scout. As you advance in Sword 2, you’ll get the chance to happen upon Unique Playing Characters (UPC’s) who will ask for help on a quest, aid you in battle and even become part of your “family” of playable characters. These 45 available UPC’s advance separately from your main 3 characters. You can have up to 54 playable characters in your family giving ample room for which UPC’s you wish to add to your ilk.

Sword 2 is also promising some interesting PVP. The hardcore PVP Baron Server makes it so any player over level 51 is fair game and you can even snag some of their loot if you manage to gank someone. However, every PVP kill on the Baron Server raises your Baron Level which puts you closer and closer to an exile camp on Los Toldos, an area of the game where merchants and other NPC’s won’t have anything to do with you because of your reputation as an assassin. Added to this, a high Baron Level increases the chance that you will drop one of your items when you are killed. Yet, on the other side of the coin, high Baron Levels add to your attack and damage, so its really a decision of risk vs. reward.

Sword 1’s political PVP and faction wars will return, but have been updated. Political PVP will be on all servers and go beyond the Camp 1 vs Camp 2 head on beat ‘um up. Now, players choose a faction to side with, either Republican or Royalist. Clan leaders can even opt to be a Faction Leader, candidates are elected by clans in your faction. The Republicans and Royalists fight for control of Colonies around the world in what Sword 2 is calling Faction Wars. After each month, totals are summed up and the winning faction (those with the most colonies) are given an in-game monetary bonus. The faction leader decides how the money is dispensed, so choosing a fair and balanced leader is important.

Sword 2 will still be free to play like its big brother and is expected to launch this summer, but you don;’t have to wait. The open-beta is available to join now!