Warhammer 40K Eternal Crusade Classes Revealed
Behaviour Interactive announces 18 of the classes in their upcoming MMO
On Wednesday Behaviour Interactive finally released information about the Founder's Program for their upcoming MMO, Warhammer 40K: Eternal Crusade. While this is still the main announcement for the week, that's not all the news for Games Workshop fans out there. Just a few days prior, Behaviour Interactive kept their promise and released a list of currently confirmed classes for the four factions:
Space Marines
- Tactical Marine
- Devastator
- Assault Marine
- Apothecary
Orks
- Shoota
- 'Eavy/Loota
- Stormboy
- Painboy
Chaos Space Marines
- Chaos Space Marine
- Havoc
- Raptor
- Aspiring Sorcerer
Eldar
- Dire Avenger
- Fire Dragon
- Dark Reaper
- Swooping Hawk
- Howling Banshee
- Striking Scorpion
- Warlock
The first thing that's jumping out to most of you is that the Eldar have three more classes than the other factions. Before anyone picks up torches and pitchforks, here's the explanation from Lead Designer Brent Ellison:
"A Space Marine class is very flexible - for example a Tactical Marine can be excellent at mid-range anti-infantry with a Boltgun, be a short-range vehicle killer with a Meltagun or take the sniper role with a Stalker Bolter. An Assault Marine performs a very different function depending on whether they equip a Jump Pack or a Storm Shield and a Devastator can be in the front lines with a Multi-Melta or stand far at the back with a Lascannon. They can also modify their accessories to get more accuracy, survivability, etc. in their role.
The unique flavor of Eldar Aspects, on the other hand, is that they are very specialized. A Swooping Hawk's job is always to fly overhead and take out infantry, while a Dark Reaper tries to stay as far away from their targets as possible. So while the Eldar have as much customization as the other factions, it's spread across a larger number of classes and there are fewer combat roles per class."
The developers also point out that this initial list is only comprised of the base classes that are 100% confirmed. In addition to any base classes that may pop up during Alpha/Beta, there will also be Elite and Hero classes announced at a later date. If you'd like to know more about the world of Eternal Crusade, head over to their site to find out about the world of Arkhona, the Tyranid threat that wiped out the Imperium colonies, and why the four player factions are so interested in this one planet in the middle of Segmentum Obscurus. You can also read our own Colt Casey's interview with the developers for more information about the Founders Program and what they're offering to bring you into the 40K universe.
So how many of you out there have already picked out your classes for when Alpha and Beta access open up? I'm still torn between honoring the Emperor in melee combat as a Assault Marine or commiting heresy in the name of Horus as a Chaos Space Marine. Honestly, whoever offers me a Thunder Hammer first wins. I miss smashing Orks with it in Space Marine and there's a whole planet full of Tyranid that need squished.
Michael "Ragar" Branham