Phoenix Lab’s Dauntless has entered its “Founder’s Alpha” – which allows players to enter the game early, for a fee. With the Closed Beta set to begin on September 1st, you may be wondering what makes people pay money to get a Free to Play game. Let’s dig in to Dauntless a bit and see if it’s worth it.

Dauntless Features

How a cooperative “big game hunting” by an indie studio aims to challenge the Monster Hunter world:

• Defy Extinction: Do battle against fearsome behemoths that draw their cataclysmic power from aether, consuming the world.

• Master the Hunt: Hone your skills against unforgiving behemoths. Hunt together and capture glory.

• Craft Your Legacy: A slayer’s legend is written in their armour and weapons, forged from the trophies they take from the behemoths they defeat.

The Dauntless Alpha is here!

The Founder’s Pack program for Dauntless allows players to be early backers and guarantee Closed Beta access as well as earn perks of different items and materials when engaging the deadly behemoths. There are 3 different tiers of founder, coming with a variety of different bonuses, but by far the coolest one is the Custom Flare. Also, the “Founder” tier or most expensive one (80 USD), allows you to start your own Guild, which doesn’t seem to be something players can do otherwise.

For players itching to jump into the role of Slayers and take control of the Shattered Isles, the Founder’s Alpha is the perfect kind of monetization: You can “invest” in the game by backing it early and get a discounted set of goodies that late-comers will pay more for. Such a system has been a staple of Kickstarter and Free to Play games for a long time, and will surely pay off for the decisive backers who are now enjoying their perks. If you’d like to know what they get, we have you covered.

Hunting Behemoths

Behemoths are the large creatures you hunt in Dauntless. These beasts consume a substance called Aether which enhances their power and defines their abilities. Depending on the elemental Aether they consume, Behemoths can employ blaze, shock and frost energies in combat. In the Alpha you can encounter:

• Shrikes: flying predatory behemoths,
• Drasks: lumbering, lightning fueled hulks,
• Embermanes: fiery, clawed beasts that are built for speed.

During the Founder’s Alpha, players can challenge these creatures in parties of up to four participants. As a Slayer, your mission is to hunt and eradicate these dangerous beasts who threaten the safety of everyone on the Shattered Isles. Also in doing these Hunts, players gain the necessary materials to improve their gear.

Alpha Parties, Weapons & Synergies

Unfortunately available character customizations are rather minimal to start with and many of the player models look rather samey. If you are a “Champion”, you receive more materials for every Behemoth you slay, and if you paid for the highest “Founder” tier, you apply a stackable buff to your entire group that enhances all their drops as well! Players will soon discover the benefits of other Patrons and be happy others backed the project.

The different weapon categories of Dauntless are available to any player and determine the fighting style and combo attacks. Slayers wield axes, swords, hammers and Chain Blades depending on preference, style. Sometimes you may change weapons (due to party makeup), as no single weapon type can provide every tactical option. Players will note that when using Axes, Hammers and Swords they will roll to avoid being struck, but when they use Chain Blades they “dash”. The dash feels so good too, and immediately reminds you of Bloodborne.

Multiplayer provides Slayers an opportunity to find synergies, take on roles and create the ultimate monster-slaying party. You can find a match and fill your party very quickly and easily, and set off to share your experience in the field. This literally takes an average of 10 seconds to accomplish and might be the greatest thing about the Alpha.

Once out in the Islands, players can farm for materials while they look for the roaming Behemoth they have chosen to hunt. Materials are instanced so you won’t have to try to beat people to the chase, ore or whatever else you might need. It is strongly advised you spend some time farming before each fight because once the fight is over the Hunt will end and you will be transported back to Ramsgate.

When a party member finds the beast, they can deploy a Flare that is visible from far away and will surely attract other party members to the rally point. It also leaves a handy marker on your compass so even if you don’t see it you can just head in the direction of the now present marker.

During combat, multiplayer effects such as buffs and revives come into play, as well as the always-dreaded aggro management. Behemoths increase in challenge and mechanic complexity, which leads to higher-tier weapons and armor, which leads to even more difficult Behemoths and so on. Although it takes about an hour or two to really get into it, once you’re going it’s not hard to see how someone could get addicted to this game rather easily.

Alpha Crafting

Returning to Ramsgate after slaying a Behemoth allows you to open Cores that nets you rewards (this works similarly to the way the Cryptarch worked in Destiny). Cores rewards can be taken to Aethersmiths who will add them to your weapons and armor to improve their abilities and appearance or even grant new ones entirely. The more powerful the beast you slay, the more impressive the gear you can craft from their trophies.

Players can expect to be frequent visitors to the Smiths as they apply their spoils to improve their beast hunting prowess, or unlock new blueprints much like players did with Nioh. You will also find quests from NPCs in the city that charge you with gathering materials for inspection, or have specific requirements of rare items.

This is where the game will aim micro-transactions, selling consumables the boost enemy drop rates and rarity. However, Phoenix Labs has assures us that these boosters are no replacement for skill, and we’re inclined to believe them as you aren’t going to be getting anything if you don’t kill the beast!

Alpha Customizations

Founders obtain lots of vanity items, including forum and game credit recognition, but Chroma Cores and Transmorg Stones are where it’s at. Founding players have access to more dyes and customization than others, and get the amazing benefit of being able to transform the appearance of weapons and armor to duplicate a desired look. These items will also be sold as consumables, but again if you know you’ll be playing this a lot then buying early nets you a discounted price.

So should you buy this Founder’s Pack?

• Are you a fan of Monster Hunter? Can’t wait to get some online co-op action? Then probably yes!
• Not a fan of Hunting party games but very intrigued? Read our detailed hands-on preview of the game for a blow-by-blow to how the experience is.
• Not sure it’s worth the money? Then wait it out: better to pay a bit more later than waste your money on something that wasn’t quite for you.

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