Just ran across this GameTrailers.com interview with David Gilbertson on pending updates for Vanguard. Some great action clips tossed in here (typical GameTrailers style) but some interesting news as well.

It breaks down to…

… things to expect immediately:
More performance fixes
Fellowships (in test - release next patch?)
Better LFG functionality
More solo content
More small group content

…and things to expect in the near future (few months..?)
Raid content

…and things to come (an expansion - the next expansion..?)
Player cities

This video clip shows some VERY heavily armored characters entering some sort of dungeon/castle - looks like some high level/endgame level combat & gear. Looks very interesting. I’m still lucky to get equipment that actually has stats on it

Once again Lee from down under (Sidney, Austrailia) kicks out a decent preview of Vanguard. See the game from the start - character creation, all the way through to some inital gameplay, questing, combat etc.

Thanks again Lee!!

Lee, a Vanguard fan from Sidney, Australia posted this fantastic gameplay preview video on YouTube.

Shows a few combat moves and special abilities from a rogue, a necromancer and a ranger. Although the video has gone through considerable compression, you can still see how fantastic Vanguard’s graphics really are.

Thanks Lee!!

The Kojani human starting area is very cool. I started a monk there myself, and was intrigued by the storyline they introduce you into. You start out as a soldier of the empire doing the bidding of your senior officers slaughtering and pillaging. Your concience gets the best of you though as you struggle to do what you know is right. The sequences unfold pretty interestingly - I’m glad to see this depth of story telling involved so early in the game.

This video was posted on YouTube by another Vanguard Saga of Heroes fan

Heh - Looks like we’re already starting to see people sharing their Vanguard experience on Youtube & Google Video. It’s really easy to get a clip using free video capture software (ie Fraps.com) and get ut up there on Youtube & Google videos, and it seems like a good way to promote the game over the next couple of months to help get people aware of its release!

Sigil has introduced a number of unique features to the MMORPG world with Vanguard : Saga of Heroes. From free-flying mounts, to several unique races & classes, to a whole new way of looking at crafting to a whole new feature all togather - diplomacy.

I hadn’t seen a video of Vanguard’s diplomacy feature yet, so I thought I’d share one for those of you who haven’t tried it yet or aren’t yet in beta. It really is interesting how they’ve integrated this element into the gameplay.

Diplomacy is a card game. The player and the NPC each select cards from their deck to play against one another. Each player gets points which move a marker towards the player when the player is winning the conversation, or back towards the NPC when the player begins to lose ground.

Different cards are worth different point values, and may require certain points already be pooled befre they can be played. There is a bit more detailed explaination in the Diplomacy section of out Vanguard MMORPG forums

Sigil’s Vanguard : Saga of Heroes (VG) is a noted pioneer MMORPG in many ways, not the least of which is free flying airborne mounts. This unique travel feature puts you at the reins of some awesome looking transportation from dragons (drakes) to winged horses (pegasus). Here’s a great preview of one of Vanguard’s unique flying mounts - the mighty winged griffin.

Everyone who has played an MMORPG in the last few years has likely played WOW and is probably aware of websites like IGE.com and the gold farmers (predominately Chinese youths) who supply them with hundreds and thousands of virtual gold pieces.

What does it mean to the average player and how does it affect the gaming experience of the innocent players who do not stoop to external means to get ahead in the game? It’s often at the core of some heated forum debate or trade channel flaming session.

This video clip has MTV talking to some of the top players in the virtual gold/platinum market that feeds WOW and other massively popular MMORPGs.