It’s the age-old question: Who would win in a fight, the mega-powerful good guy or the ultra-unstoppable bad guy? One the best parts of playing Lord of the Rings Conquest is becoming one of the most commanding heroes in Middle-earth. Here are five heroes from each side that will definitely get the blood flowing.

Good Guy #1: Gandalf

Middle-earth’s greatest wizard, Gandalf, matches up well against any of Sauron’s foes. You Shall Not Pass! destroys enemies next to him, while Lightning and Cleansing Fire burns them at range. In close combat, Gandalf cuts through foes better than you’d expect with his trusty Glamdring in hand. All this power comes in a frame that can handle lots of damage, and even if the forces of evil manage to hurt him, Gandalf is only one Healing Wisdom away from returning to full health.

Good Guy #2: Aragorn

The greatest warrior in the game, Aragorn slices through foes with his magical sword, Andúril, and withstands blow after blow to continue the fight. Dunharrow Dash shoulders foes out of the way and works wonders against overrun situations. Andúril’s Spirit will ruin an opponent if you time it to strike the foe. Your most powerful ability, Wave of Undead, sprays an area-effect blast that annihilates anything in its path. Aragorn can lead any charge, and there’s no better hero for wading into the thick of things to slaughter Sauron’s minions.

Good Guy #3: Legolas

Super deadly Legolas has the same quiver full of tricks that the Archer has and then some. His draw and release is much quicker than the average Archer, allowing him to rapid-fire on one target or several. With added health, his melee combat skills can put Orc Warriors to shame, and anyone that can take down giant Oliphaunts single-handedly deserves high praise indeed.

Good Guy #4: Frodo

Often underestimated, the small Hobbit Frodo can be a big, big threat. Perhaps the most deadly Cloaked Scout, Frodo has all the standard Scout weapons, and his short size helps him blend in even more with the surroundings. Normally on the quest of the Ringbearer, Frodo can be called upon to do battle in multiplayer action.

Good Guy #5: Isildur

The man who cut the One Ring from Sauron’s finger now has more than the Dark Lord to contend with. Isildur’s dazzling fighting techniques–quite literally, as his moves blur together in colorful animation–will avenge his fallen comrades on those unfortunate enough to be caught awestruck. All the standard Warrior abilities, with some extra kick, are at Isildur’s disposal.

Bad Guy #1: Saruman

Saruman may resemble Gandalf with one major difference: He has the potential to deal more damage. Where Gandalf and Mages in general can harm multiple foes with their area-effect flames, Saruman’s Fire Ball has a tighter firing arc and erupts for more damage if you strike your target. His Isengard Blast matches Gandalf’s You Shall Not Pass! ability, and when he loses health, a Heal can bring him back up to full. Also, if he performs melee attacks and launches a Fire Ball, it will target the person he was attacking.

Bad Guy #2: Balrog

The most dangerous creature in the incredibly dangerous Mines of Moria, the Balrog faces off against Gandalf in the “War of the Ring” and returns later in the Shire as a Hero you can control in the “Rise of Sauron.” Its most debilitating attack, its Fire Breath, razes a huge area in front of it and drops even the stoutest defender in seconds should they be unfortunate enough to linger in the flames.

Bad Guy #3: Witch-king

As you might imagine, the leader of the Nazgûl has the same strengths and weaknesses as the Nazgûl. However, his intimidating form packs a little more punch, and attacks like Terror Quake are swifter to execute. The Witch-king commands whatever situation you send him into, offensively or defensively, and the enemy shall bend their knee one way or another.

Bad Guy #4: Mouth of Sauron

The Mouth of Sauron is not like other Mages. His melee attacks are unique, and his Barad-dûr Fury is actually a powerful staff combo. Catch a foe with the full brunt of Barad-dûr Fury and even captains will fall. Of course, he still has the advantage of other Mages with a Fire Wall that can harm multiple enemies at once, and a Heal that can return him to full strength even should he decide to charge into the midst of heated combat.

Bad Guy #5: Sauron

The most powerful figure on the evil side towers over the battlefield. Imposing in size like one of the giants, Sauron fights as well as any Warrior, except he trades in sword for mace. With his long reach, Heart of Horror and Soul Collector can be brutal, while the area-effect Mordor Pound knocks down anyone caught in front of his mace slam. The Dark Lord can power through the entire side of good; he’s that nasty!

For more tips, walkthroughs and hints, check out the Lord of the Rings Conquest Official Game Guide and enter the movie replica contest!

]]> http://www.primagames.com/blog/2009/01/28/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-gandalf-vs-saruman/feed/ 0 http://www.primagames.com/blog/2009/01/21/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-tour-guide-to-middle-earth/ http://www.primagames.com/blog/2009/01/21/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-tour-guide-to-middle-earth/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:57:14 +0000 mikesearle http://www.primagames.com/blog/?p=399 Want to take a tour, albeit a sometimes bloody tour, down memory lane in Tolkien’s ultimate tale of good versus evil? Here are 10 key places in the game that you may remember from the books.

HELM’S DEEP

You start out defending the Deeping Wall and the good men of Rohan, and end in a battle to save Théoden in his throne room. When the Orcs crush forward against the stone ramparts in Helm’s Deep, you will really feel the press of Sauron’s horde and the delicate balance of despair and salvation that hangs over all of Middle-earth.

ISENGARD

Saruman’s Orcs have ravaged the land, and Wormtongue is a far greater threat than you ever imagined, able to slink into the shadows and slay with more than cruel words. You will gain the aid of Ents here (and play one yourself!) as you smash through to the Tower of Orthanc and play Gandalf against Saruman.

MINES OF MORIA

The dark twists and deadly drops of Moria are far from its greatest perils. The place teems with Orc stink, and the rumble of Trolls in the depths shake even the stoutest Warriors. Should you make it to the final chamber, the direst evil stands in your path—the mighty Balrog!

OSGILIATH

In the dying ruins of Osgiliath, you seek out the aid of Faramir and his Rangers (or slay him when playing through on the side of Sauron). Cut through Orc after Orc as you shepherd the Hobbit, Frodo Baggins, to safety outside the city.

MINAS TIRITH

The greatest city of the West, Minas Tirith, is falling. Join forces with Gandalf to save it against all odds on your first pass through as a good guy, then become a member of Saruman’s team as you dismantle it stone by stone on your second pass under Sauron’s guidance.

PELENNOR FIELDS

Huge siege engines and gigantic Oliphaunts crush the defenders as they crunch toward Théoden’s war camps. Legolas and Éowyn come to you aid, but will they be enough against hundreds of Orcs, Easterling armies, war machines and the Lord of the Nazgûl?

THE BLACK GATE

Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli and Legolas lead an army into Mordor’s fearsome fortress. You can play all four Heroes as you throw back Orcs, burn Trolls, and duel with the Mouth of Sauron and his deadly Captains. Can you outlast the endless horde long enough for Frodo to destroy the One Ring in Mount Doom?

MOUNT DOOM

You must kill the thieving Hobbit, Frodo Baggins! Yes, once you’ve unlocked the good side, you can play through the evil side as a lieutenant of Sauron. In the fiery caverns of Mount Doom, you race around as the Nazgûl and the Witch-king, cutting through traitorous Orcs who want the One Ring for themselves, in order to stop the Hobbit from destroying the Master’s precious artifact.

WEATHERTOP

The forces of Sauron are on the move. In a massive battle around Weathertop, you play one of the Orc classes (and later Saruman) accomplishing multiple mission objectives. In the end, you must face the imposter king Aragorn atop the rocky precipice.

RIVENDELL

Elrond and the Elves defend their home from your ruthless Orc army. Smash through the Elven swords with your mighty Trolls and powerful Orc classes, and square off against Elrond in a battle to the death. When Legolas joins the Elves, you gain the ultimate ally—the Dark Lord Sauron!

In the epic clash for Middle-earth’s salvation or damnation, four classes meet on the field of battle. You can have fun with them all, but in the end, you’ll probably gravitate toward one. Here’s a peek at each one, and why it may be your dream profession…

ARCHER

You can’t say you didn’t admire Legolas in the movies. The speed at which he twangs that bow and takes down Orcs, and to climb up the back of an Oliphaunt, we’re impressed.

You can do everything Legolas did–even play Legolas in the game–and then some. Your quiver has some extra special arrows in it. Fire Arrows deal with groups, Multi-Arrow strikes up to three foes simultaneously, and Poison Arrow slows and weakens opponents.

It’s for you if…you want to be the top assassin from afar. You never have to see the hatred in your foes’ eyes since they’ll never have the chance to get close to you.

MAGE

Admit it. You’ve always harbored a desire to lead the Fellowship, if you were ever given the chance. Other than playing Heroes like Gandalf, the Mage is the closest you’ll come to packing the power of Middle-earth’s wizards. As the Mage, you are a long-range bomber who can deal with large crowds with a single Fire Wall or Lightning blast. You’re also a great support class with a Heal ability to regain health for your allies and a Shield to cancel enemy ranged attacks. You are not, however, made of the sterner stuff of Warriors and shouldn’t just charge headlong into every combat situation.

It’s for you if…you love to rain destruction down on the enemy army, but also enjoy the supporting your fellow allies with a Heal here or there.

SCOUT

You have the power to slip in and out of shadow. As quiet as a whisper, you sneak up behind enemies and draw your blade. You are the master unseen assassin.

The Scout can do it all in close combat. He can dodge and weave through the crowd. Pummel enemies with special Foe Hammer and Foe Hewer attacks. Drop Satchel Bombs with deadly precision. In multiplayer action, the Scout can seize capture points all by himself without lifting a finger.

It’s for you if…you can’t wait to one-shot kill someone from behind. If you also like to show off your nifty combat moves, grab yourself a pair of daggers.

WARRIOR

You are the soldier for your side, strong and resilient. Sword in hand, your mailed body fearlessly races into battle without heed for life or limb. You are the great protector.

As a Warrior, you can play offensively or defensively, and do it well. Your special fire abilities can torch enemies, as large as Ents or as small as Orc Grunts. It takes opponents a long time to drop you in combat, and if you have your way, that will never happen.

It’s for you if…you can’t wait to charge into the heat of battle. You can take more blows than any other class, and a Warrior’s hits hurt hard.

]]> http://www.primagames.com/blog/2009/01/15/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-what-class-are-you/feed/ 1 http://www.primagames.com/blog/2009/01/09/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-tips/ http://www.primagames.com/blog/2009/01/09/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-tips/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:40:16 +0000 mikesearle http://www.primagames.com/blog/?p=343 Are you ready to defend Middle-earth from the forces of Sauron? Or, maybe, just maybe, you’ve got the urge to play a minion of Sauron and destroy those goody two-shoes Elves and Men folk? (Yep, you can play both good and evil sides in Lord of the Rings Conquest.) Well, we have a few combat tips for you, whether you sling an arrow as the Archer, raise Fire Walls as the Mage, slink around invisible as the Scout, or bash heads as the Warrior. For serious strategy and more tips than tea leaves in a Hobbit pantry, check out Prima’s official Lord of the Rings Conquest Game Guide on sale January 13 here: http://www.primagames.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780761560395.

Archer

• Always think long range first. You have a Kick melee attack for when foes close in on you, but it’s only an emergency move; your bow is definitely the best option.
• As an archer, keep your distance from melee units by firing Poison Arrows to slow them down, or knocking them down with a Fire Arrow or Kick.
• Practice your Zoom. If you have the time, it’s always easier to line up a target with a close-up view.
• The Archer can one-shot kill enemies even better than the Scout! While a Scout has to position himself for a Backstab behind a foe, the Archer only has to line up a headshot.
• Look for sniper points up on high. From above, you can survey the battle, usually out of harm’s way, and home in on your next victim.
• You do not have a healing ability. Look for enemies to drop Health Orbs and pick them up to stay alive.
• Stay in the rear. If you find yourself leading the charge ahead of your allies, you are in the wrong position.
• Slide into the protective Shield of a fellow Mage if you’re under assault from return fire, or seek out a Warrior if you need a bodyguard for some upcoming melee encounters.
• Never stay in one spot too long. Even a great sniper spot will be discovered by an enemy Scout eventually.

Mage

• Certain attacks cannot be interrupted by enemy attacks, such as the Mage’s Shockwave. These moves are generally slower, but inflict heavy damage. However, they are also slow to recover if you miss, providing the enemy a chance to counterattack. Experiment to find more, as these attacks can quickly turn the tide of battle when used properly.
• Think long-range first. The Mage works best when he picks off targets before they reach melee distance.
• Generally, hit a group of enemies with Firewall first. Next, charge up your Lightning and fry the closest remaining target.
• Use Shockwave to repel any enemies that manage to surround you. If you’re feeling daring, you can also wade into enemy groups and scatter them with a Shockwave blast.
• Shield can protect you from enemy ranged attacks. You can walk with Shield up, but you cannot attack (or recharge abilities), so use it only in situations where the enemy attack is overwhelming or when you need to slowly close on a better position.
• Your Heal can keep you in any fight. Whenever you are under 75 percent of your health, activate Heal. Trigger it often to stay at maximum health, and dance around avoiding combat if you need to use it multiple times to climb back to full.

Scout

• Cloak can be used to perfect your offense. Slip it on for just a few seconds to circle behind a foe for the Backstab, or pop up in front of them for several quick surprise strikes.
• Backstab is your main threat. From behind, you can one-shot kill anyone. Remember, though, that it takes a few seconds to pull off the maneuver, and you may be exposed to other enemies during this time.
• Blasting Powder not only hurls an opponent away from you, it also packs that same opponent with an explosive. Aim your hurtling opponent toward more foes and you can blast multiples for the price of one.
• You can be at the forefront of a charge, so long as you’re Cloaked and on your toes.
• Both Warriors and Scouts can string together combo moves, though the Scout can string together the longest sequence: eight attacks in a row!
• With Scouts, try stringing together melee attacks, starting with Light Attacks and ending with Heavy Attacks. Work in a progression, such as Light, Light, Medium, Medium, Heavy.
• Scouts gain energy slowly over time. If you’re in danger, try evading or blocking until you have enough energy to even the odds.
• Cloak can be used to perfect your defense. Use it whenever you leave an area so your enemies never know exactly where you’re going, and, of course, rely on it to drop out of sight whenever the enemy has you targeted for pain.
• Dodging with rolls is your best melee escape mechanism, though you can also block if you don’t think you’re going to get surrounded.
• Satchel Bombs can give you space from melee attackers if you learn to hurl them just right.

Warrior

• Many moves can be extended by hitting the button repeatedly, such as the Warrior’s Whirlwind Sweep.
• The Warrior can block melee attacks. However, certain attacks exist that cannot be blocked. These attacks differ from unit to unit, but every character possesses at least one. The Warrior’s Flame of Fury will still cause damage to blocking enemies.
• Certain attacks cannot be interrupted by enemy attacks, such as the Warrior’s Heavy Attack. These moves are generally slower, but inflict major damage. However, they are also slow to recover if you miss, providing the enemy a chance to counterattack. Experiment to find more, as these attacks can quickly turn the tide of battle when used properly.
• Warriors can string together combo moves to a maximum of six in a row.
• With Warriors, try stringing together melee attacks, starting with Light Attacks and ending with Heavy Attacks. A sequence such as Light, Light, Light, Medium, Medium, Heavy is among the Warrior’s deadliest combos.
• Warriors can also press Jump and Heavy Attack while in the air to perform an acrobatic slash on the target who they’re about to land on.
• Your sweep attacks can drive multiple enemies back. It’s effective for giving yourself more room and clearing areas such as capture circles.

• Throwing Axe is more a defensive action than an offensive one. Sure, it can deal damage, but more often than not you’ll find yourself tossing an axe to distract your foes as you close on them.

]]> http://www.primagames.com/blog/2009/01/09/lord-of-the-rings-conquest-tips/feed/ 1 http://www.primagames.com/blog/2008/10/29/hammer-time-3/ http://www.primagames.com/blog/2008/10/29/hammer-time-3/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:16:26 +0000 mikesearle http://primagames.wordpress.com/?p=560 Insider tips to master the Warhammer: Age of Reckoning MMO

This Week: Rank Milestones

An elite influence reward is a good thing in WAR, a piece of legendary armor, even better. We’re all looking to gear up our toons to godlike level so that the next time we run into some innocent joe scratching his head out in the middle of the RvR zone he’ll look like a heap of paste even a squig wouldn’t touch. There’s certainly a lot to look forward to in WAR, but what about those milestones everyone gets just by ranking up? Here are our faves…

EXPERIENCE RANK 10: New Bag

How many times have you gone out questing, only to have to return prematurely because your dang bag is full up again? You can’t carry much as a rookie…just 32 slots. There is hope, though. At Rank 10, you get a new 16-slot bag, vastly improving your carrying capacity, and you get others every 10 ranks. It’s worth leveling up just to gain the luggage and the peace of mind knowing you won’t be leaving sparkling corpses out on the battlefield anymore.

EXPERIENCE RANK 20: Mounts

Once you hit Rank 20, your life gets much easier, as you can now buy a mount! With a mount you can’t use any spells or abilities, but you travel 50 percent faster, which makes getting around much easier. You buy them in the capital cities, right across from the flight master in the Inevitable City, and to the very south by the guild registrar in Altdorf.

EXPERIENCE RANK 30: Tactics Slot

Actually, you get Tactics slots every 10 ranks, but by Rank 30 you’ve got a kickin’ array that will allow you to customize abilities for many different situations. You can also unlock a Tome Tactics slot and a Guild Tactics slot along the way.

EXPERIENCE RANK 40: Your Ultimate Morale Ability

You should be celebrating that you’ve attained the top rank in WAR! Still, you’ll probably have a lot of prime abilities when you hit 40, and the best may just be your Rank 4 Morale ability. In those long battles where you can build up a ton of Morale, this ability will dramatically turn the tides. It’s rare that it will go off, but when it does, look out!

This Week: 5 Time-Savers Beginners Need to Know

In WAR, there are battles to win and a world to conquer, but first you have to know how to tie your boots and strap on a sword. With so many choices, what kind of sword should you use, or would a mace be so much better? Take the following 5 tips to heart when starting up your first few characters and you’ll shave hours off your learning curve.

1. IT’S ALL IN THE DPS

Sword, mace, dagger–it really doesn’t matter so long as you consider two points. One, can your career use that weapon? If you can’t use something, the requirements will display in red, so no need agonizing over that weapon type. Two, what is the weapon’s DPS (damage per second)? DPS is a great little stat that helps you figure out how powerful a weapon is at a glance. Generally, the higher the DPS, the more likely you’ll want to use it. Of course, you’ll want to consider other bonuses on a weapon, especially if you aren’t a melee class, though all things equal, higher DPS wins.

2. CAREER DECISION

In your starting town, career trainers are the ones that grant you your new core abilities. Don’t leave home without them! It’s tempting to keep going out in the wilderness, completing quest after quest; however, after you rank up, you should always return back to home base, seek out the career trainer and learn your new abilities. Each ability increases your power significantly, especially at early ranks, so you’re just handicapping yourself if you skip them. In a close skirmish where your foe narrowly defeats you, that new ability could have saved the day.

3. WE NEED A CRASH CART IN HERE, STAT!

Your stats are your lifeblood. Learn them well to beef up your character and avoid dying repeatedly. Remember, not all stats are created equal for your career. A Bright Wizard, for example, will want to increase Intelligence at all costs to maximize spell efficiency, while a Black Orc would never bother with that rubbish. Study your stats before you start heavily adventuring because, with each piece of magical equipment that drops, you’ll need to make a decision on whether it’s an upgrade or not to your current gear based primarily on the stat bonuses.

4. MAP HAPPY

I’m sure you know you need maps to navigate around the world, but did you know in WAR they’re an integral part of questing? From the first quest that you accept, your main map (the “M” shortcut on your keyboard) circles your quest areas in red. If the quest lies outside the zone, you’ll see a big red arrow pointing you in the correct direction (it’s then circled in the new zone for you). Gather as many quests as you can and then click open your zone map. Most likely they’ll be at least an area or two with more than one circle indicating overlapping quest areas, or if you scroll your mouse pointer into a circle, you may see multiple quests in the same circled area. Now while you’re out and about you can complete several quests in the same area and save time on running back and forth. As an added neat little effect, your mini-map (top right of your screen) also displays the red quest circles so you don’t have to even go to the main map if you don’t want to bother.

5. FLY, BE FREE

Walking is slow going. Running, only a bit better. Once you get through your first few ranks, make your way out to your local warcamp. These areas are controlled by your faction on the outskirts of the zone’s RvR (realm vs. realm) area, where the action against enemy players takes place. Besides things like renown trainers and siege weapons, each warcamp holds a flightmaster. For a nominal fee, a flightmaster will fly you to a new, friendly zone. Travel time turns from hours into seconds, and you don’t have to worry about hoofing it through dangerous foreign territory. Always check the flightmaster for travel options to see if one of your upcoming destinations is a gyrocopter away.

This Week: Public Quests
Public quests are one of those brilliant ideas that make you wonder how it’s possible that they weren’t part of the first decade of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs). But have no fear, PQs are now part of the everyday landscape of WAR, and we’re all reaping the enjoyment.

If you haven’t played Warhammer Online yet, PQs are ever-present quests in particular locations of the world that open up to you as soon as you enter the area. Think of them as “community quests,” where you participate with everyone else around you without having to track down the storyline from a quest giver. You gain special influence just from taking part in PQs, and that influence gets traded in for some of the better gear in the game.

Each race chapter you play through contains public quests local to that area, usually just a creepy forest or burning windmill away. Everyone has preferences for their characters–you might want to focus on scenarios for renown rep or build up experience for your guild–but you usually want to target the PQs in your area first. Grind them till you have enough influence to max out your rewards, then head out for more quests or a little RvR action. Not only does this help supplement your questing experience gain, but it gives you access to a critical piece of armor or weaponry much earlier than you would receive it with a normal experience progression.

Don’t forget that you can grind public quests even without others in the area. Of course, you gain the most exp (and fun!) from grouping with others to complete the PQs; however, in those off-peak times when you just have to pile on some influence, head out to your local PQ anyway. Public quests are generally divided into three stages: 1) Soloable content, such as slaying 50 critters; 2) Party content, where you usually have to fight off champion-level bad guys; 3) Raid content, or a big boss who’ll stomp all over single characters and smaller groups. If you’re the only one in the PQ, you can clean up on the first phase and complete all the requirements for big influence. You can even attempt the second phase, so long as you dodge the tougher opponents and complete some of the other objectives (possibly destroying objects or rescuing NPCs). Forget the third phase–you have no prayer. Exit the PQ during the third stage and go do something else for 10 minutes. All PQs reset after a certain amount of time, and you can repeat your influence-farming ways until you master that chapter.

This Week: The Wight Stuff

I never knew if these guys sported a rib cage like some skeletal graveyard reject, wavered insubstantial like the spirits of the past or looked like something else strange and unearthly. What were wights? I remembered that barrow-wights from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” were corpses with corrupt souls that bound them to the world to continue with their evil deeds, and wights in the D&D Monster Manual had this vicious power to drain the life essence out of their victims and turn them into fellow wights.

Turns out the word wight comes from Middle English and means “living being” or “creature.” Perfectly generic to confuse us even further. A wight can also label a being from one of the Nine Worlds in Norse mythology, especially a nature spirit or ancestor. The English Channel’s famous Isle of Wight, by the way, has nothing to do with our creature wights, though that would be a crazily disturbing sight if it did, like something straight out of 28 Days Later.

Wights are a fascinating part of fantasy history that aren’t as fleshed out (no pun intended) than some of their famous elven and faerie brethren. Dwarves, goblins, dragons have become canon in fantasy literature; not the wight. They’ve only shown up as bit players on the fantasy stage. And that’s probably the way they like it, left to their own horrible devices in secret lairs beneath the earth. It’s enough to make a Balrog envious.

This Week: Hercules’ Headache

Today I found myself playing two MMOs with similar names and the same, dangerous creature: the hydra. World of Warcraft, the current reigning champ in the online gaming arena, and Warhammer: Age of Reckoning, an upcoming dynamic challenger, pit the multi-headed monster against you, though the hydra stamped me into the muck in WoW’s Outlands mires and roared through elven mountains in Warhammer.

Most of us know the Greek myths of the hydra. The poison-breathing, multi-head-chomping beast guarded the entrance to the Underworld in some stories and fought Hercules as one of the Twelve Labors in others. It’s the offspring of Gaia, and the sibling to other impressive beasts like the Chimera and Cerberus. I didn’t know that the hydra is also a stellar constellation, a record label, a Transformer and one of the most sinister criminal syndicates in the Marvel Universe (okay, I did know that last one, comic geek that I am).

In some tales, if you cut the head off a hydra, it grows back–or even worse, it grows two to replace the one. Call it super regeneration, or, to tap into my comic geekness again, a super healing factor that only Wolverine can dream he had. Neither of the hydras I faced had a whiff of regeneration, and it’s a good thing or I’d still be hacking my way to salvation.

This Week: Metal Heads

You could be fooled, or just plain confused, by an android. Unlike robots, which are more mechanical in nature, androids are machines designed to look like humans. Remember the replicants from Blade Runner? They were never called “androids” in the movie, but the movie was based on the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Cyborgs are even further removed from androids; they actually wear a little flesh, as they’re part living tissue and part metal.

Now, on the off chance that you were down at the local police station and had to pick out the android amidst a motley mechanized crew, I think I’d ask for a metal detector. Forget what your eyes see. Cyborgs beep half the time, androids probably fall in the middle and robots set off that annoying, constant whine that makes the sound of an unattended boiling kettle seem as blissful as crashing waves.

The term android comes from the Greek “andr,” or “man/male,” and the suffix “eides,” or “of the species.” Back in 1270, Albertus Magnus, a Middle Ages priest famous for critical thought, first used the word. It also appears in 1863 U.S. patents to describe “miniature humanlike toy automatons.”

Star Wars droids are the most famous modern-day examples. The shortened android term makes sense to me–chrome domes like C-3PO come up short in the human likeness department. Ironically, androids show up in Isaac Asimov’s classic I, Robot, and they’ve been the stars of video games, such as Data in any “Next Gen” Trek game or various characters in the Phantasy Star series.

In the 21st century, several Japanese companies have built “real” androids–you know, ones with plastic, computer chips, metal gears, or whatever makes it tick, not just imagination. They say one of the newer androids can fool the unsuspecting, so we’re certainly getting closer to BSG Cylons.