We sat down with PWE's Product Manager, Thang Phan, to talk about War of the Immortals' upcoming expansion, Last Omen

Get Your Adventurer Wings Code for War of the Immortals!

With War of the Immortals' upcoming expansion, Last Omen, launching on May 10th, 2012, we here at ZAM got the chance to chat with Perfect World Entertainment Product Manager Thang Phan to talk about what's in store for WOI players. In this exclusive interview, we talk about changes to the clan systems, new bloodline powers, the big PvP updates, and the highly anticipated scythe-wielding Harbinger class. We're also giving away Adventurer's Wings for War of the Immortals, so head over to our giveaway page to grab yours today! Read on for the interview and the expansion trailer beyond!

ZAM: First of all, thanks for chatting with us! And getting right into things... Storywise, how do Los Omen and the new Asgard quest hub fit into the game?

Thang Phan: When this expansion drops, the players are already in the thick of finding the strongest of the world's relics to aid in the resurrection of Odin. If they fail, the cycle of Ragnarok will be completed and the world will be destroyed... and needless to say, no one wants that. In the middle of all this chaos, players will discover that a rogue god, Apollo, is also vying for power, recruiting angels to his army. 

Players are tasked with keeping Apollo from attaining the Lost Omen and protecting Asgard from his siege on the Heavens themselves... and in the process they'll also learn that resurrecting Odin might not be as easy as they all thought. Players will assemble in Asgard for not only the story but also many other daily/weekly events. 

ZAM: Tell us about the new Harbinger class. What kinds of skills will the class bring to the game, and what roles can it fill? 

Thang: Tasked with keeping the world in balance the mystical order of the Harbingers has always remained in the shadows and aiding only when required. But now, with the coming of Ragnarok and the influx of evil, the Harbingers have revealed themselves.

Following their ancient traditions Harbingers wield the scythe and the mystic arts of psychic and soul power to both augment their attacks and devastate the enemy. As a close ranged fighter, they can fit several different roles of DPS, Off-Tank or specialize in PvP. 

ZAM: We've been told the new Defiled Paradise will be a PvP area and will contain a new world boss. What's different about the PvP in the area, and what exactly is this new monster?

Thang: Defiled Paradise congregates players who enjoy world PvP with combat oriented goals while obtaining epic drops. Players in the area fight to gather resources to summon Odin's great steed, the elite Sleipnir. This mystical beast is actually a unicorn that was only tamed by Odin, but when he disappeared Sleipnir went out of control. 

ZAM: Speaking of PvP, can you give us a rundown of the new battle arena and the new Alliance battle, Siege of Rites and Battle Royal?

Thang: We're introducing the new King of Combat daily event, gathering players to compete in group-based battle. Players seek to destroy the opposing group's crystal while defending their own. Teams will have an assortment of tools at their disposal, from vehicles to special buffing glyphs. The first team to overpower the other and destroy its core defense crystal will be the winner. 

Other PVP modes we are happy to announce are the Alliance-based Siege of Rites and Battle Royal. These battles are done in epic proportions, never before seen in WOI. In the Siege of Rites players challenge each other to represent 1 of 3 strongholds in an Alliance vs. Alliance battle (180 vs. 180 players). Teams seek to destroy the others base or reduce their numbers to 0. 

In addition to winning massive rewards for Siege of Rites, Alliances become automatically eligible to compete in Battle Royal. Players jump into the fray in a three way Alliance battle (540 people Max.) in a competition of resources where teams  have the potential to summon one of the three gods; Odin, Zeus and Loki. Teams who gather enough resources the fastest will win and claim their supremacy.  

ZAM: What rewards can PvPers expect to discover with the expansion?

Thang: PvPers can expect a wide variety of combat aimed at both the smaller group experience to the large scale fights everyone one enjoys. Combat mounts and other equipment enhancers have also been added for additional customization and combat prowess. 

ZAM: It sounds like the pet system is receiving an overhaul. How is their growth being changed?

Thang: The new Pet Ascension system is a new pet growth system that allows special pets and 2nd Generation pets to become more powerful. The Pet Ascension system has the chance to increase Pet's Quality, Growth, Fortify Level, and Boost.

ZAM: Could you tell us a bit about the bloodline powers? What are they, who gets them, what their uses and limitations, etc.? 

Thang: Bloodline is a new secondary stats system introduced in the Lost Omen expansion for high level players. Level 90+ players will be able to speak to a new NPC in Atlantis to start a branch quest line to unlock their Bloodline. Once the Bloodline has been unlocked, Aspects can be embedded into the Aspect Slots to increase the Affinity for Slaughter (Loki), Order (Zeus), Immortality (Odin), or Nature (Morgana). Each of the four types has six unique skills: four passive and two active. Players can choose to customize their bloodline according to their play style. Players will not be able to obtain all the skills so they need to choose wisely. 

ZAM: It sounds like the clan system is being changed as well. Could you explain what's happening with alliances and legions? 

Thang: We wanted to make the battles in War of the Immortals bigger and better. The old clan system could only accommodate 18 members while the new legion system can accommodate 60. The factions system has been renamed to Alliance and simplified in the Lost Omen expansion. A single Alliance is comprised of 3 legions which is at most 180 players. This makes Territory Wars bigger and the combat more intense. This will help legions upgrade their domains a lot faster and really get legion members to be more involved.

ZAM: When will the expansion launch and what will be the cost for it? 

Thang: The expansion will launch on May 10, 2012. There will be no cost for the expansion since War of the Immortals is free- to- play. 

Paul "LockeColeMA" Cleveland, Staff Writer