Paragon

Paragon
Information
Developer(s)	Epic Games
Publisher(s)	Epic Games
'Platform	PC, PS4
'Released	Open Beta - August 16, 2016
Genre(s)	MOBA

Paragon is a MOBA currently being developed by Epic Games in which two teams of five players are pitted against each other in a battle arena. It is currently on PC and PS4 with paid Early Access since Spring of 2016 and Open Beta starting August 16 2016. The game is still in early access and everything is subject to change

Skill matters - where you aim, when you attack, and how you move. Players can earn cards, build and upgrade decks, changing the stats of their Heroes. Different combinations can dramatically change gameplay.

Features

• Player vs AI - this mode allows players to queue up with four other players and put them against an AI team

• Death Cams - When a player dies, they have the option to spectate the rest of their team and can switch between teammates using the right and left mouse button.
• 3rd person perspective - A different camera angle from traditional mobas to allow for a different experience.
• Profile Progression - The more games of Paragon that are played, the more boosts and card packs that can be unlocked. Players can check their progression in the Profile tab located in the Overview.
• Deck Builder - Click on a card to add it to the current deck. Start with the Prime Helix card, then Equipment cards and finish with Upgrade cards. Cards can also be removed from a deck. Filters can be used to acquire specific stats in your currently available card. Don't forget to upgrade cards and save and name your decks.
• Friends list - Invite your friends to join your team

Basic Match Gameplay

(from Alpha footage, so subject to change)

The Map

Paragon is a MOBA (Multiplayer online battle arena - similar to League of Legends or DOTA 2). The goal of Paragon is to destroy the enemy's Core, located at the opposite end of the map. Players will spawn near their own Core as will minions. Paragon has three lanes, one one each side of the map and one down the center. Inside each map are Towers, Inhibitors and if you are on the Agora map (currently the only one available) there will also be multiple Shadow Pads. These are blue pools that offer a place for players to hide - or maybe not - as anyone on a pad, can see anyone else stealthed in the vicinity. The Shadow Pads hide anyone in or near it, placing them into a Shadow Plane. Some Heroes (currently only Kallari) and certain cards also have access to the Shadow Plane for brief amounts of time. The map is covered in jungle and unlike many typical MOBA maps seen up to now, Paragon's map is multi-level, allowing players (most effectively Rangers or Casters) to get on higher ground, away from the minions, and attempt to pick off their targets from an advantage point.

Minimap

The minimap is located at the top right of the player's screen and shows key information, including the location of enemies (unless hidden) and which direction they are going, which towers are still up, the locations of Harvesters, Shadow Pads, Inhibitors, the Core and where the lanes are. The ally team will always show as blue on the map and the enemy as orange. You the Player will always show as a yellow circle with an arrow, pointing in the direction you are facing.

Minions are also color coded on the map and show as smaller dots.

Cards

After Heroes are selected, card decks are ready and teams are created, players will enter the match at their base. During gameplay, players will be able to use cards from either decks they have built or from Starter Decks and slot up to 6 cards in their arsenal. These slots are located on the left side of the user interface. If a player is at their base, they can bring up the card menu (currently G) and look at their currently available cards for that Hero. The cards and card points available will be based on the player's card XP (CXP) level. To purchase a card, click the empty slot, and then the card. Each card is different and augments the Hero in different ways. Some cards can be upgraded. To upgrade a card, click on the card to be upgraded and select from the row of upgrade cards that will appear below it. Cards are only accessible at base, so be sure to make initial selections prior to entering the playing field.

For more information on the types of Cards, how they are used and which Hero's can use each type, go to Cards.

Hero Levels

During gameplay, players will gain points by killing minions and enemy players. Each player starts at 1 in a match and can level up to 15. While leveling, heroes increase mana, health and base stats. The abilities of each hero are different as is their role. Players will need to decide where to spend their points first. Locked abilities (ones that have not earned enough points to use) will not be upgradable until they are unlocked, so at first, player choices are limited. Once a player has points to spend, the ability HUD on the lower right corner of the screen will have a unique special effect and players will also be given a verbal que. To upgrade an ability, hold down the CTRL key, and then press the key for the ability (Q, E, R, LMB, RMB). Players will be able to see what the upgrade will do. As this does not affect the match play or the player taking damage, it is best to do this while hidden or at base.

Note: Update .27 removed the ability to upgrade LMB, instead it now scales throughout the match.

Roles

There are several different Roles of Heroes in Paragon. Knowing each Role and what their abilities are will help players know how to fight against them. There are Primary Roles as well as Secondary Roles. Think of Primary Roles as Classes. They are Tank, Fighter, Assassin, Ranger and Caster. The Secondary Role is what service they provide in a match. These are Support, Ganker, Carry, Area Control, Jungler and Pusher. Each class has one Primary and one Secondary, but some Heroes can perform in more than one role if required, though not as well. For instance, Grux, who is a Fighter, can act as a tank. Since players cannot control what their teammates choose to play, building decks that include role options may be worthwhile. Decks can have up to 40 cards in them. Twice more than most players would ever use in a single match.

Travel

Note: Travel Mode and Recall will be removed in an upcoming update and replaced with Teleport. This new ability will have a cooldown. Players will be able to upgrade cards in the field using a new feature called Power On Demand.

  If a player's Hero becomes low on health, they can Recall (B) back to their base to recover. Recalling automatically intiates Travel Mode . Travel Mode allows players to return to the fight quickly and can also be activated using the Shift key. The camera view will move in and the Hero moves faster than normal for a short time. Using any abilities will turn off Travel Mode. If players take damage while in Travel Mode, they will be rooted in place. 

Harvesters

A Harvester is a stationary unit placed on a map solely for the production of Amber, an in-match currency. There can be as many as 7 Harvesters total. Any player who is assigned to build these devices, should ideally slot a Harvester Key (or better) card first. This will decrease the time it takes to build it.

Note:Be sure to include one in any player-built deck. All starter decks have one Harvester Key card in them.

To activate a built Harvester, the player needs to be in range of it. Any amount of amber collected is duplicated to each team member. Enemy Harvesters can be destroyed and new harvesters can be rebuilt in enemy locations. This means that one team could potentially have more Harvesters than the other, possibly giving them an advantage. They can also be damaged and not destroyed. This will destroy any amber it had currently collected, defying it to enemy players.

Amber

Players will need to collect Amber orbs from Harvesters or defeated Heroes, minions, and towers which will in turn grant Hero XP as well as card XP. Once a player has collected enough Amber, they will be granted Card Points that they can use to purchase cards. The current level of experience is shown on the player's HUD next to the health bar. If a player is killed, unused Amber is lost.

Team Communication

Teamwork in Paragon, or any MOBA type game is key. Paragon come equipped with a Team Com that will allow players to quickly and easily dictate what type of assistance they need without having to type it out in a chat window. 

Destruction of a team's Core will end the match. 

Gallery

Videos

Paragon - Basics Guide PS4

Paragon - Gameplay Updates for Alpha Testers - Online Test 2

Paragon from Epic Games - Gameplay First Look

EPIC GAMES Announces PARAGON - The Daily Byte

External links

Epic Games - Paragon Official