Dawnspire The Prelude is a computer game made by The 5 man team of Silent Grove Studios. Released in Mid 2006 by Lexicon Entertainment in Europe and Star-games in the United States. The game was released to mixed or average reviews and gained a metacritic score of 58. The game is a fast-paced tactical online action-RPG in an original fantasy setting. The game featured team-based online action with 6 original playable classes, global ranking, full guild support, dedicated servers and two unique and challenging game modes with bot support. The game grew in strength with each update but sadly did not manage to gain a critical mass player base. The player base it did gain were a dedicated community, fully supported by the developers. Dawnspire also gained the Best PC game award from the prestigious Swedish game awards in 2006. The game was available on release in a full price retail version with 4 character slots and a free unlimited trial version with 1 character slot and access to limited skills and game features. On September the 8th 2008 the developers took the decision to close the games master server and dedicated servers. Rather than consign the game to history they took the bold step of handing over a copy of the master server to the still enthusiastic player base. This master server and the forum/website are maintained by Johan Gustafsson. The community version of the game is free to play and comes with 12 character slots. In June of 2010 A few members of the community began to modify the game client and maps, increasing the number of maps available to the player base and opening up some of Dawnspires hidden potential.

Background story

More than a millenia has passed since the weave of magic was viciously torn apart, unleashing uncontrollable forces on the world that threatened to undo everything we know and severing the connection between our world and the Weave of magic. The source of all arcane power was then utterly lost to us.

During the chaos and turmoil of that time a powerful artifact was created. An immense towering spire of stone, infused with the last fleeting slivers of magic, created with the hope that it would mend the wound in the Weave, so that one day magic would return.

Now, a thousand years later, its work is done. Magic has come seeping back into the world, reawakening powerful relics and ancient shrines that will grant the one who possess them great power and influence in a world where magic is once again in its infancy.

As nations struggle to establish a new balance of power in a world where some who were powerless now have the means to bring down the mighthy, fear and paranoia set the stage for the ensuing chaos. Old friendships are severed with a bloodied blade, alliances that have stood for generations falter as mortal enemies new and old make ready for war. The hunger for conquest, and the fear of losing all, forces every hand to violent action. When the flames and echoes of war finally settle, who will be victorious? The just, or the wicked?

Gameplay

Dawnspire plays out across a fully rotatable 3D world in games of up to 8 versus 8. Dawnspire has 2 unique game modes, Relic Conquest were the concept is to find and return the 3 relics on any of the maps to your base. The other game mode is Shrine Domination the developers take on the domination game mode were teams fight to control 4 shrines. The game plays more like counter strike than many of the modern Defense of the Ancients games types it is compared to. Games are usually fast and frenetic and involve a fair degree of skill and team work to overcome your opponents. Each game lasts a maximum of 16 minutes unless time extensions are called into play during a game of Relic Conquest.

Music

The music of Dawnspire the Prelude is composed by Jonatan Crafoord a member of the Development team. He has also worked on titles such as Bionic Commando released in 2009.

Characters Classes

Prowler

At one with the wilds, the feral Prowler is a master stalker and hunter who relies on his proficiency with bow and arrow to bring down his prey. Even outside of combat he can aid his allies by using his great endurance to tirelessly scout and harass the enemy.

Reaver

Often mistaken for some underground monstrosity the Reavers of the Deep Elves are the perfect warriors. Trained and shaped both mentally and physically to be able to take on any adversary anywhere at any time.

Seeker

From the sunlit surface world, to the tunnels of the underworld far below, the Dwarven Seekers roam on instinct as they search for the ancient relics and ruins of their ancestors. Traveling mostly alone through uncharted territory the Seekers are resourceful and adaptable warriors.

Shadowblade

Having stayed in the shadows for centuries, the Shadowblades have been part of manipulating history and shaping events along the path chosen by those with both influence and wealth enough to afford their services. Being the knife edge of an ancient assassin order, they are trained from the day they take their first steps in the many subtle arts of death.

Templar

Tales of valor and heroic deeds, challenges won against all odds. These are the things that come to mind when Templars are mentioned, and to a certain degree they are true. The Templars use their healing magic in order to help the weak and the wounded, they can even bring the dead back to life.

Witch

In the magic-reluctant communities of the Orcs, Witches stand out as the sole exception to that rule. Working shamanistic magic to manipulate nature, the Witches can bring roots to aid them in combat and call on lightning to strike from the skies. They also dabble in what most would call necromancy, the manipulation of life energy.