Author: Donster

New Crusader Kings II Expansion “Conclave” Coming Soon

Your Council Would Like a Word With You

The new year will bring new goodies from Paradox Development Studio and the team behind Crusader Kings II, Paradox’s best-selling and critically beloved medieval grand strategy game.

Conclave, the newest expansion for the game, will give your vassals some bite to go along with your bark, as the council that governs your realm will now demand some say in how you rule. Powerful dukes, regardless of competence, will require a seat at the table, and those left on the outside will be more likely to plot against you.

Keep your council happy, and the mighty vassals will resist the pull of faction and civil war. Dismiss their interests, though, and you may find yourself trying to hold together a council at war with itself.

Balance councillor skill and power to keep your dynasty safe and strong. Ignore powerful underlings at your peril, or simply buy their loyalty with favors. Conclave makes the royal council a force unto itself.

Other features of Conclave will include:

  • Councils can now vote on changes to realm laws – or you can try to limit their power and influence
  • Revised education system for royal children, with new traits and events designed for childhood
  • New diplomatic system that prioritizes marital alliances and non-aggression pacts, as well as the possibility of coalitions
  • Improved military combat model with a greater emphasis on morale, as well as new rules for mercenary companies
  • And many more smaller changes including the usual tweaks to how the AI prioritizes its decisions.
  • So the choice will be yours; do you dare to challenge your vassals on their council at the risk of challenging them on the battlefield? Can you move your nation towards greater centralization and power without your advisors realizing how much they are losing in the deal?

Crusader Kings II appreciates the subtlety of court intrigue. Conclave will give you new avenues to test that skill. You can watch the Crusader Kings II: Conclave Reveal Trailer here.

Conclave will be available in early 2016. For more information on Crusader Kings II, click here.

Crusader Kings II Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | |
Thermaltake Core X71 Full-Tower Chassis Review

thermaltake-core-x71-full-towerBy Brian Nyhuis @ Legit Reviews

Today we’re going to take a look at a brand new case that Thermaltake is announcing at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, NV. Kicking off our review coverage today, we’ll take a look at what this full-tower case all has to offer, and show you what makes it so special.

The Core X71 is a massive full-tower chassis, featuring two chambers for advanced cable management and/or various liquid or air cooling opportunities. Inside this case you will find no shortage of cooling potential, so right off the bat I think this case may be a hit amongst enthusiasts. We will have to find out how well these features look like they will work, along with how well the case is built.

Read The Review Here

Cases Hardware | Donster | |
Just Announced Hardware for 7 January 2016

newhardware-iconCheck out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

Hardware | Donster | |
A New Escape from Tarkov Gameplay Video Released

escape-from-tarkov-logoThe developers from Battlestate Games, a Russian game studio, have released the hot new video with gameplay of their online game, Escape from Tarkov. The video is set in the outskirts of the Tarkov city, in one of the chemical plant’s dorms that is now being used as a staging post by local raiders. At this location, characters of Escape from Tarkov can encounter Scavs, who have made the place their headquarters and are unlikely to welcome surprise guests. The video showcases inventory management, partial weapon tweaking, search for items, and investigation of the player’s surroundings.

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore story-driven MMO which combines the elements of FPS/TPS and RPG. The events take place in the Russian city of Tarkov, which has been sealed of by roadblocks and sunk into the chaos of local warfare between private miltray companies. The extreme conditions combat simulator employs a number of custom system modules to create an incredibly immersive gameplay and make players feel the reality of what is happening in the game. The closed beta-testing of Escape from Tarkov is planned for 2016.

You can sign up for the closed beta and get more game info at the Escape from Tarkov official webpage.

Escape from Tarkov MMORPGs | Donster | |
Return to Pillars of Eternity with New Trailer for The White March – Part 2

pillars-of-eternity-logoEpic Adventure in Eora to Resume with Latest Game Expansion on February 16

Obsidian Entertainment and Paradox Interactive announced today that The White March – Part 2, the second expansion to Pillars of Eternity, will release on February 16, 2016. The White March – Part 2 not only adds new content to the Pillars of Eternity universe, but also allows players to experience the conclusion of the stories told in The White March – Part 1, bringing the first epic chapter of Pillars of Eternity to a close. Players will find a variety of new challenges waiting for them in the snowy borderlands of the Eastern Reach, along with new quests, new abilities and a raised level cap, and a new companion: Meneha, the Barbarian.

For a first glimpse at The White March – Part 2, Obsidian and Paradox have released a new game trailer, available here.

Directed by Josh Sawyer, Game Director of Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, The White March – Part 2 brings players through an expertly crafted story from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. A series of new features await fans of the Pillars of Eternity universe, including a new “Story Time” mode, letting players experience the incredible narrative of Pillars of Eternity at a faster pace. Players will discover the answers to questions asked in the prior expansion, and lead companions old and new through new locations such as the Abbey of the Fallen Moon.

For more information on Pillars of Eternity and The White March – Part 2, visit the games official website.

Pillars of Eternity RPG | Donster | |
XFX R9 380X Double Dissipation XXX OC 4GB Review

xfx-r9-380x-double-dissipation-xxx-oc-4gbAuthor: Grady McKinney @ HardOCP

On our test bench today is the XFX R9 380X Double Dissipation XXX OC 4GB video card. It features the latest Ghost Thermal 3.0 cooling technology from XFX and a factory overclock. We will compare it to the ASUS STRIX GTX 960 DCU II OC 4GB in a battle of the $229 price point video cards to determine the better overall value.

Read The Review Here

Hardware Video Cards | Donster | |
Just Announced Hardware for 5 January 2016

newhardware-iconCheck out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

Hardware | Donster | |
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate – Jack the Ripper DLC Review

assassins-creed-syndicate-logoUbisoft handles the hunt for Jack the Ripper with surprising care, but familiar gameplay.

By Tom Phillips @ Eurogamer

Ubisoft’s announcement that it would adapt the murders of Jack the Ripper into a rip-roaring epilogue for Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate rose some eyebrows. How would the developer handle the gruesome murders? Would you play as Jack during them? After Syndicate’s solid main storyline and well-written cast of characters, it was a risky swansong to take on.

Read on…

Action/Strategy Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate | Donster | |
ASRock G10 Gaming Router Review

asrock-g10-gaming-routerAuthor: AkG @ Hardware Canucks

When searching for an optimal lag-free solution for online gaming, buyers typically go towards wired internet solutions since they tend to offer the best bandwidth and connection uptime. However, with the advent of 5GHz Wireless AC, WiFi has come all that much closer to achieving what gamers need and companies have begun to take advantage of that fact with new so-called “gaming grade” routers. While products from ASUS, Netgear and Linksys are the most visible in today’s market, ASRock is now introducing their own unique option: the G10 Gaming Router.

Read The Review Here

Hardware Networking | Donster | |
Just Announced Hardware for 31 December 2015

newhardware-iconCheck out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

Hardware | Donster | |