Star Wars. MMORPG. BioWare. Star Wars: The Old Republic. The Force is strong in this one, as EA’s ambitious online offering featuring one of the most popular sci-fi franchises of all time is set to officially launch in just a few hours. Newcomers to the genre prepare to take up lightsabers and don Twi’lek garb while MMORPG vets wonder if it’s just par for the course fare Read: “WoW clone” set in space.

via Star Wars: The Old Republic | Review – National Online Games | Examiner.com.

The third set in Magic: The Gathering’s Innistrad block has been revealed – Avacyn Restored. There’s a few big surprises alongside this announcement of the presumed angelic return of Avacyn to the plane of Innistrad for players. Monty Ashley made the announcement today on the Magic Arcana.

via Avacyn Restored announced – National Magic the Gathering | Examiner.com.

Forest’s Fury is a mono-green Treefolk deck available in Magic: The Gathering Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. Forest’s Fury comes bundled with the Dark Heavens deck for $2.99 on Steam, and features a motley assortment of woodland wonders. Let’s take a look at the decklist and see how Forest’s Fury stacks up to the competition with a rundown and review!

via Forest’s Fury | Decklist and review – National Magic the Gathering | Examiner.com.

Dark Heavens is a black/white Angel deck available in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. Dark Heavens features an absolutely loaded decklist chock full of potent rares with incredible potential in the unlockable slots as well.

via Dark Heavens | Decklist and review – National Magic the Gathering | Examiner.com.

Early game items for Dota 2 matchups will usually consist of various health regeneration consumables, branches, maybe a few shields or crude armaments. After that, you’ll find players loading up on stat boosting items, but more often than not players deem to complete the Bracer over other options such as Wraith Bands or Null Talismans, even on heroes that don’t feature Strength as a main attribute. So why the Bracer?

via Brace Yourself – A look at the Bracer | Dota 2 – National Online Games | Examiner.com.

Quelling Blade is a piece of carry/jungle technology in Dota 2 that can often be overlooked in the race to complete Bracers, Wands, Vanguards, and stylish footwear. But starting a Dota 2 game with a Quelling Blade on your melee carry selection can be an excellent idea for both jungle creeping and landing last hits in a lane under duress.

via Carrying the Axe: Quelling Blade | Dota 2 – National Online Games | Examiner.com.

Death Prophet rises from the grave to join the ranks of the current hero list in the Dota 2 beta. Death Prophet is categorized as a Support hero under the current listings, but this intelligence based caster makes an incredible pushing machine with her swarm of ghosts, versatile silence, and fast cooldown nukes.

via Death Prophet Unearthed | Dota 2 – National Online Games | Examiner.com.

The Urn of Shadows is an interesting and eclectic “support” item in Dota 2, but don’t be fooled by the categorization.

via Urnin it – Using the Urn of Shadows | Dota 2 – National Online Games | Examiner.com.

N’aix the Lifestealer drags his wretched corpse into Valve’s Dota 2 beta this evening on Steam, bringing with him a lifeleeching, frenzied body ready to wreak havoc through enemy lines while shrugging off damage with a huge hp pool and a “Built in Black King Bar”.

via N’aix slinks into Dota 2 – National Online Games | Examiner.com.