Gods and Heroes



Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising (abbreviated as G&H or GnH) is the title of a fantasy MMORPG currently in development by Heatwave Interactive. The scheduled release date is June 21, 2011.

The game is set in the world of Rome, with an immersion in both historical and mythological lore. Players will create characters from Roman-era archetypes (Soldier, Gladiator, Mystic, and Priest) to battle enemies through heroic combat and forceful magic. Divine intervention also plays a role; the character will devote themselves to one of the gods of the Roman pantheon, and will need to maintain favor with that god through offerings of deed and treasure. Additional hallmarks of the game include a parallel storyline involving efforts to rebuild the character's family estate, and the ability to control multiple minions through a configurable AI.

Backstory
From the official site:

"From the day of its founding many centuries ago, Rome has never known a lasting peace. The land was settled by Aeneas amidst conflict, and the city’s foundations were laid amidst brotherly strife, Romulus even slaying his own brother Remus during an argument." "Now, once again Rome finds itself amidst conflict, surrounded on all sides by foes. To the east, war against the Samnites rages on; to the west, Faliscan nationalists rebel against the Romans who now occupy their homeland; in the south, the Greek colonists of Magna Graecia are becoming emboldened, reaching ever closer to Rome; in the north, disheartened Etruscans — their armies crushed by Rome — are resorting to necromancy and infernal pacts in a desperate bid for power; and in the distant snow-capped mountains of Gaul, the tribes who sacked Rome a generation ago are rising once again."

"But Rome’s enemies are not all human; indeed, things are look grim in the immortal realm as well. In Hades, the bonds that bind the Titans in Tartarus are weakening, resulting in an abundance of deadly beasts appearing on earth — the likes of which have not been seen since the time of myth. Most troubling of all is the sudden appearance of a strange cult calling themselves Telchinists. Their goal is nothing less than to summon the Telchines, the ancient Sorcerer Gods who sided against Olympus during the Titanomachia."

"But there is hope: The Scions of Olympus, Roman heroes descended from the noble Olympians, are rising to the occasion. These brave heroes and their squads of allies — including the great Titus Romanus and his brave cohorts — are combating the enemies of Rome and Olympus alike. But they are not alone: Soldiers, Priests, Mystics, and Gladiators have joined the cause. No matter their allegiances, or beliefs, or origins, all are Romans at this time.

For if they fail, Rome will fall."

Disclaimer


Gods & Heroes™, Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising™ and the Gods & Heroes logo are © 2011 Heatwave Interactive. Images provided by Heatwave Interactive per the fan-site licensing agreement.