Introducing TERA's first E-book

Minea Profile Options #11

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The e-book is just one of the ways we want to share the TERA lore with our users and yes! we are continuously working on our in-game writing as well. We have a team of writers whose sole purpose is to make sure that everything TERA is well-written and polished.

As for Nook... currently we don't have the e-book available for Nook. We do know that we'd like to have it available in all platforms, but aren't sure when that would happen. :(
ValkyrieLaw Profile Options #12

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Minea on 03/16/2012, 04:38 PM - view
The e-book is just one of the ways we want to share the TERA lore with our users and yes! we are continuously working on our in-game writing as well. We have a team of writers whose sole purpose is to make sure that everything TERA is well-written and polished.

As for Nook... currently we don't have the e-book available for Nook. We do know that we'd like to have it available in all platforms, but aren't sure when that would happen. :(


Which means not just translated from Korean, but completely original story created by said writers that has nothing to do with KTera?
Rosanna Profile Options #13

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Glad to hear :)
Minea Profile Options #14

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Eme-title Community Manager
ValkyrieLaw on 03/16/2012, 04:56 PM
Minea on 03/16/2012, 04:38 PM
The e-book is just one of the ways we want to share the TERA lore with our users and yes! we are continuously working on our in-game writing as well. We have a team of writers whose sole purpose is to make sure that everything TERA is well-written and polished.

As for Nook... currently we don't have the e-book available for Nook. We do know that we'd like to have it available in all platforms, but aren't sure when that would happen. :(


Which means not just translated from Korean, but completely original story created by said writers that has nothing to do with KTera?


Meaning the in-game writings aren't finished. :) Some things will be/are different from KTERA but some things won't/aren't. But we are definitely not just translating. Our writing team is a team entirely composed of writers for TERA.

@Comradeus, Kindle books can be read on free reading apps on iPhones/Android/Windows phones, PC's, Macs, iPads, and Blackberries if you have one of these. :)
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EdgeTO on 03/15/2012, 01:57 PM - view
When I really enjoy a game I definitely appreciate it when there's external material like this to turn to. It adds to the fun.

However, (and don't take offense by this, but I just don't know how else to put it), there are so many complaints right now regarding the quality of writing inside the game, both from players and the press. And when I see something like this it is difficult for me not to ask why you're not focusing your attention on fixing the writing in the game before doing something like this.

I understand the concept of a development team, but this isn't an example of someone ridiculously wondering why an artist isn't working on network coding instead of wallpaper art. This is an EME writer creating novels for the game while the in-game writing is in dire need of love. As a player who is frustrated by the poor quality of writing within the game, seeing you misallocate resources like this just doesn't make sense.

Now, perhaps your writing team is just huge, and you're making huge wonderful changes to the quest writing in Tera that will be ready by open beta, and had manpower to spare to work on a book like this. And if that is the case, awesome, and I will happily point out that I seem to have placed my foot into my mouth with my premature concerns.


70+ people at EME.
20+ people on the EME writing team.

I believe it's already been mentioned that there is an overhaul in the pipeline.
EdgeTO Profile Options #16

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Fatwa on 03/16/2012, 07:53 PM - view


70+ people at EME.
20+ people on the EME writing team.

I believe it's already been mentioned that there is an overhaul in the pipeline.


Yes, and this has been pointed out by myself and others a number of times elsewhere. The concern, however, is that we're not scheduled to get a peek at this new writing before open beta. And, at that point, the "soft launch" is pretty much stuck with however it turns out.

Considering how the current iteration turned out, I would be feeling less dread had their been more time for the players to offer feedback on it first. Hopefully it'll be a pleasant surprise instead, but "fingers crossed" is generally not how you want to launch a product.
EdgeTO Profile Options #17

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Gamekrazy on 03/16/2012, 03:34 PM - view
..but i'd like to talk about the book for a sec:

For a dollar I thought it was great. Good enough to hold me over on my TERA obsession for about a half hour. I havn't seen any good TERA fics or comics pop up, and like Edge said, seeing external media pop up is always nice. The two other stories you guys have advertised at the back of the book also have piqued my interest. Chances are if you keep sending out dollar short stories like this, I'll keep buying. Tera really does have a great world and story behind it even if the in-game writing isn't too great, and I really hope you keep the series up!

I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the review!

By the way, thanks for offering additional information, Minea. :)
Edited by: EdgeTO about 1 year ago
AvalonBright Profile Options #18

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I'm glad seeing people say exactly what I wanted to say. XD

On the book--very good! Way too short, of course, but for a dollar it's a nice bite sized bit, and being TERA-obsessed I couldn't pass it up. I would KILL to see TERA get big enough and have a good enough story to see someone like the wonderful Christie Golden do full length novels though. (Just don't catch Knaak's eye. >~>) Also, I hope you guys don't shy away from elin in future novels/short stories. I would love to see a dark, cynical, mostly amoral foxy or something that breaks away from the "cutesy" anime-girl image people that don't read the lore are expecting. XD

On the game story--Not very good. :( It has its curious moments (Elleon brings back shades of wonderful PSO's missing Rico), but in general... I appreciate the quests added and an attempt to make it not grindy, but the story itself needs major improvement. Now, I haven't played much past level 15 or so, so maybe as things go on it starts to ramp up, but as it stands in the early game, it's very "meh."

Now, again, people are going to hate me, but I have to use WoW as an example again, because even though I don't like where Cataclysm went, I'm not a blind fangirl that says OMG WOW SUX.

Look at how divisive people get over factions, or even favored characters. Look at the heat Sylvanas gets from one side and the love from the other side, whether horde or alliance alike. Look how much outcry there was over removing the Battle for Undercity because it was such an epic, story-filled questline. Look at the story forums and how much speculation and discussion goes on over the lore. Look at the outrage over hearing beloved Theramore would be destroyed in Mists.

As it stands, I don't see TERA getting any of that sort of love / hate in terms of its characters. And that, believe it or not, and whatever the PvPers like to think, is what makes a HUGE amount of people stay with a game. Sure, gameplay is fun, graphics are shiny, but without making your players feel a real connection to the world, it's just another holdover game for many people. That isn't saying I personally plan to drop it as soon as Mists or GW2 come out, but many will. I've seen it on a LOT of forums "Oh, this'll tide me over until <x> is released :D!"

Look. EME, I really hope someone sees this and reads this. I'm not just talking shop. I've been playing MMOs for 15 years or so. Alpha stages, beta stages, live stages, closed games, open games, whatever. I know what makes an MMO successful. And TERA needs a seriously improved story if it's going to stay that way.
EdgeTO Profile Options #19

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I picked up the e-book but I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

On the topic of the in-game story, I encourage people to go to the "Story & Quests" feedback forum and leave their input. There is currently at least one thread on the topic here:

http://tera-forums.enmasse.com/forums/cbt3-story-quests/topics/Quest-dialogue-in-Tera-is-still-awful

..which you can either join in on or start your own. The important thing is getting your feedback in. It is a bit discouraging to post there because threads in that section get locked and hidden away every other weekend (to make room for the next test weekend). And, honestly, there used to be a LOT more threads on this subject in the beginning, but people understandably get tired of re-posting their feedback every two weeks. However, I think it's important to make your thoughts or concerns on this subject heard.
Minea Profile Options #20

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Eme-title Community Manager
No need to worry that the posted feedback aren't being read, all EME folks can see the hidden forums. :P

We keep the different CBT feedback forums separated because we want to catch the feedback on the newly implemented items, such as the 5-second channel change, introduction of PvP servers, infamy, etc.