This is just a taste of the information from the latest Game Informer article. The hype levels are reaching maximum for me.

* Vex and Cabal will fight each other in game
* Multiple character slots
* Ability to rebuild character without losing previous progress
* Exos were built during golden age but have no memory of the time
* Customizable face, hair style, and tattoos
* “If you want to think about it in MMO terms, all of our classes are damage-per-second characters. Every character is capable of going into a situation and solving it. They may do it in different ways. The class is really more of an emotional archetype.” - Tyson Green
* In addition to classes there will be focuses that function kind of like a sub-class. And that will be where your abilities come from.
* Many different grenade types including homing and proximity.
* If you don’t like your focus you can change it at any time.
* Fallen ships appear like “rusted futuristic submarines”
* Types of Cabal: Legionnaires, Centurions, Gladiators, and Psions
* Cabal bleed oil
* Types of Vex: Goblins, Hobgoblins, Minotaurs, Hydras, and Harpies
* Types of Hive: Thralls, Troopers, Knights, Wizards, and Ogres
* Glimmer IS currency, a rare energy-based substance from the Golden Age
* There is a game map
* Competitive matches are in the world as activities.
* There will be a checkpoint system
* Factions are for competitive multiplayer, you fight in support of a faction
* Players can only wield one exotic weapon and one exotic piece of armor at a time, but you can carry as many as you want with you

Customizable face, hair style, and tattoos

a Tiger Man tattoo that covers my character's entire face.

This is just a taste of the information from the latest Game Informer article. The hype levels are reaching maximum for me.

* Vex and Cabal will fight each other in game
* Multiple character slots
* Ability to rebuild character without losing previous progress
* Exos were built during golden age but have no memory of the time
* Customizable face, hair style, and tattoos
* “If you want to think about it in MMO terms, all of our classes are damage-per-second characters. Every character is capable of going into a situation and solving it. They may do it in different ways. The class is really more of an emotional archetype.” - Tyson Green
* In addition to classes there will be focuses that function kind of like a sub-class. And that will be where your abilities come from.
* Many different grenade types including homing and proximity.
* If you don’t like your focus you can change it at any time.
* Fallen ships appear like “rusted futuristic submarines”
* Types of Cabal: Legionnaires, Centurions, Gladiators, and Psions
* Cabal bleed oil
* Types of Vex: Goblins, Hobgoblins, Minotaurs, Hydras, and Harpies
* Types of Hive: Thralls, Troopers, Knights, Wizards, and Ogres
* Glimmer IS currency, a rare energy-based substance from the Golden Age
* There is a game map
* Competitive matches are in the world as activities.
* There will be a checkpoint system
* Factions are for competitive multiplayer, you fight in support of a faction
* Players can only wield one exotic weapon and one exotic piece of armor at a time, but you can carry as many as you want with you

light match, run away.

I would like to purchase a physical copy of this issue. Does anyone know where I can do that? I looked online but only saw stuff about getting the year-long digital subscription.

Xenos, thanks for the summary. My eyes kept bugging out. Lots of stuff I/other suspected ending up being confirmed.

It will be cool to see how the checkpoint system works with such large playspaces. And I wonder if you just want to play MP, will there still be "playlists" as such or will you have to travel in between games. Maybe players will vote on the map/arena and then everyone is flown in and airdropped by their personal ship.

I would like to purchase a physical copy of this issue. Does anyone know where I can do that? I looked online but only saw stuff about getting the year-long digital subscription.

Game Informer is GameStop's magazine, so you should be able to find a copy there.

Game Informer is GameStop's magazine, so you should be able to find a copy there.

Is there usually a delay between subscribers and in-store release?

Is there usually a delay between subscribers and in-store release?

You know, I really don't know. The only reason I even have a digital subscription is because if you are buying enough stuff it's worth it to sign up for it to save money. You could always call GameStop and ask them though.

My level of excitement for this game is stupid high, but I'm a little disappointed that there's no space/aerial combat implied in this article.

Yup. A few days.

It's good to have things for them to focus on in future releases.

A bit more info, quoted from Destiny reddit user USplendid

• The Tower: Our home base where we go back between missions. There are vendors, you can turn in quest items, we can interact with other players in open plazas, and it also has class focused areas (specific designated areas) for hunters, warlocks, and titans. (Described as Earth's Camelot)
  
• Old Russia: One of the first places we visit for our missions (as seen in the demo). It's the ruins of the cosmodrome (modeled after Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan). It was an important place during the Golden Age for outer space exploration, hence all the colony ships left over unlaunched) Fallen hideout.
  
• Moon: Former human colony of interconnected bases. Since it's fall, the Hive have infested building underground tunnels and the Hellmouth. Surface of the moon is now fractured.
  
• Venus: Used to be a scientific research facility during the Golden Age. Now the Venusian ocean is rising on the decaying buildings. Now there lies a tower called the Vex Citadel that they defend heavily.
  
• Mars: Used to be a heavily populated metropolis, but now is buried in the red sands of Mars. Both the cabal and vex stake claim, causing a dispute between them. Turf war.
  
• Race and gender is cosmetic: Your face will be visible in shared, non-combat spaces where you roam w/o a helmet. You can therefore customize your face, hair style, and tattoos are mentioned.
  
• Humans trying to rebuild the world
  
• Awoken (presumably human) survived the Collapse "but were forever changed"
  
• Exo are self-aware machines developed during the Golden Age and rebooted with their memories wiped (Unknown original purpose).
  
• Choosing a class sets a tone by establishing style of abilities: What really determines how you play is how you develop your "focus". Each class (Hunter, Warlock, and Titan) have a class-specific focus.
  
• "Focuses" are the primary way we level and improve characters. Each focus advances from level 1 - 20. Within each focus their are tiers for different abilities (passive bonuses, weapon specialty bonuses, grenade types, unique movements like double jump and teleport, melee bonuses).
  
• Each focus has a "super ability" associated with it that can also be upgraded.
  
• We can switch between focuses: i.e. pick a more competitive focus for pvp and the switch to a more support focus for cooperative.
  
• Warlocks: start with a focus called Circle of Night - damage dealing but little protections and the super ability in the nova bomb. Heart of Fusion - a support build that's super ability is called Radiance and call revive and buff allies.
  
• Titans: start with a close-quarters focus that has Fist of Havoc. In later upgrades the shockwave can be amplified, adding electric damage over time that remains in place.
  
• Hunters: Bounty-Hunter archetype. Stealthiness. You start off with a gunslinger Focus. Special ability is the "Golden Gun" one-shot-kill and the special movement is teleport.
  
• There are multiple character slots. So you can try out and play in other roles without having to delete your current character or screw up progression.
  
• Guns are not class-specific (weapon perks are dependent on the focus and abilities you invest in).
  
• Armor, weapons, and focuses are meant to be synergistic. The Focus you choose should be accented with the appropriate weapons and armor to maximize effectiveness... but that's up to the player.
  
• Primary, Secondary, and Heavy weapons use three different color-coded ammo types.
  
• Armor is class-specific.
  
• Everyone gets a ghost, as well as a customize-able personal vehicle (Sparrow) to travel in open-world environments, and a space ship that will be visible to people when you drop in and out of activities.
  
• THE FALLEN: Space pirates descended from a once honorable species from different noble houses. Now they are nomadic and aggressive. They originate from deep space and they have distinct sigils from the house they belong to. Souls burst from their heads when you shoot them.
  
• THE CABAL: Industrial, militaristic, and warmongering expansionists. The Rome of Space.
  
• Legionnaires: typical front line grunts that charge and shoot
  
• Centurions: more mobile and have jet packs
  
• Gladiators: huge and strong with gattling guns
  
• Psions: smaller Cabals that use their mind to attack and pilot giant cabal ships. (Ooze black oily liquid when killed)
  
• THE VEX: Mentioned to be possibly from another time and space, they got here using warp gates. Robotic bodies with remnants of organics, some are humanoid while others more animalistic. Head shots don't hurt them as much as focusing on their abdominal power cores which oozes glowing liquid.
  
• Goblins: harass and overwhelm
  
• Hobgoblins: larger and have tails
  
• Minatours: even larger
  
• Hydras: three headed segmented machines that float in air and attack via turrets attached to each segment
  
• Harpies: smaller fly rapidly and occasionally open up before they fire
  
• THE HIVE: Ancient race that kept themselves alive in sarcophagus like ships. They typically burrow into a planet regardless of the damage it may cause and burrow tunnels and dungeon like caverns. Burst into dust and embers when you kill them.
  
• Thralls: mobs without weapons or armor
  
• Troopers: bulk of combat
  
• Knights: wield enormous cleavers
  
• Wizards: Fly overhead and unleash spells
  
• Ogres: mutant beasts, shoot energy from their head
  
• Back to discussing gameplay...
  
• Destiny has all players together in one massive world and links you with smaller groups at appropriate locations and times.
  
• When entering a public place a designated number of players (solo/fireteams/etc..) will be allowed to take on the challenge (as to not allow a swarming mass of guardians during engagements). So essentially entering a public place puts you in a unique server (shard) where others can join that specific battle.
  
• When dispatching enemies, your XP counter ticks up and all equipped weapons, armor, and skills increase.
  
• Some enemies you come across will be beyond your skill/armor/weapon level. Be best to move on and come back later.
  
• You call on you personal vehicle to traverse land quicker with the push of a button.
  
• Side missions can pop up anywhere, even during another mission. You can choose to take them or not (these missions could range from escorting a VIP to safety or killing a certain amount of enemy types).
  
• Melee attacks are different for each Focus.
  
• The left bumper throws out a grenade that is unique to your Focus (it has a cool-down).
  
• Pressing the jump button twice executes your focus' special movement (glide, double jump, teleport)
  
• Pressing both left+right bumper activates the super ability.
  
• Every class and focus has unique grenades, supers, bonuses, and upgrades for visual style and effect.
  
• You can take some enemy vehicles. However you cannot keep them.
  
• Glimmer is dropped by enemies and is the currency in Destiny. It is a rare, energy-based substance left over from the Golden Age.
  
• You can pull up an in-game map that targets locations with icons for story missions, coop strikes, competitive matches, and more... your ships will give you instant access to these locations.
  
• Strikes are cooperative missions that are relatively quick and team you up with others. Since strikes send you directly to locations you can choose to explore them after the strike is over.
  
• Raids are highly challenging cooperative story missions that are undertaken by organized groups against "insurmountable odds".
  
• Competitive matchmaking occurs between factions, in which factions hire you to compete against the guardians of other factions. The different factions are revealed to be integral in the development of and defense of the city. (Include capturing zones, death matches)
  
• You begin pvp without any heavy ammo.
  
• There is a lot of verticality (high ledges, buildings, etc...) that can be reached by movement specials by each class.
  
• Shifting environmental features can be used to our advantage or determent (position of the suns glare, changing mechanisms that block paths or sight)
  
• Weapons and armor can also improve stats and abilities. Bungie team decided to not take the route of incremental numerical differences and rather focused of more descriptive potential (like boosting speed, reducing headshot damage, enhancing a specific ability, speeding up health regeneration etc...).
  
• Similar to focuses, gear also has talent trees that gains exp through use.
  
• Four tiers of classifying gear: Basic (White), Common (green), Superior (Purple), And Gold (Exotic)
  
• You can only wield/equip one exotic armor and one exotic weapon at any given time but can carry as many as we like and switch between them whenever.

And while we are at it Space squirrel too!

*Choosing a class sets a tone by establishing style of abilities: What really determines how you play is how you develop your "focus". Each class (Hunter, Warlock, and Titan) have a class-specific focus.
*"Focuses" are the primary way we level and improve characters. Each focus advances from level 1 - 20. Within each focus their are tiers for different abilities (passive bonuses, weapon specialty bonuses, grenade types, unique movements like double jump and teleport, melee bonuses).
*Each focus has a "super ability" associated with it that can also be upgraded.
*Ability to rebuild character without losing previous progress
* If you don’t like your focus you can change it at any time.

Did Bungie learn NOTHING from why Diablo 3 sucked?

Here's a hint: if you are building a character by selecting attributes and abilities, and you can just change them on a whim, then it doesn't feel like you are BUILDING A CHARACTER. Unless the choices you make stick, you don't feel like you are building a character, because you AREN'T. When you can just change shit on the fly, your character is no longer unique.

This also means there aren't tradeoffs with character building, since you can just change your focuses to be optimal for whatever area you are fighting in.

You can respec your character in Borderlands. My go to guy is the Commando. I experimented a lot, and fell into one archtype that really defined the "Phisto Commando." When you played with me, you knew what you were getting, and I absolutely loved it.

Certainly felt like I was building a character - as much as a could in any game before or since.

Besides, it's not like you're forced to respec. The hardcore role-players just won't ever do it. Like they do, you know? They're hardcore. "Respec? Pshaw, sir." On the flip side, folks can always start a new character and adopt this rule if they wanna see what it's like.

Respec'ing gives the casuals and tinker-ers the space to do their thing. Don't really see the value in forcing everyone into starting a whole new character if they want to mix things up.

This all sounds very interesting. I'm currently more excited than I was before.

*Some enemies you come across will be beyond your skill/armor/weapon level. Be best to move on and come back later.

WEAK SAUCE. Grinding confirmed.

Did Bungie learn NOTHING from why Diablo 3 sucked?

Getting worked up about a sentence someone wrote on the internet after reading an article someone else wrote after playing a game you haven't played and is still in development seems a little absurd to me...

Here's a hint: if you are building a character by selecting attributes and abilities, and you can just change them on a whim, then it doesn't feel like you are BUILDING A CHARACTER. Unless the choices you make stick, you don't feel like you are building a character, because you AREN'T. When you can just change shit on the fly, your character is no longer unique.

The ability to change your character doesn't force you to do so. I roleplay in games where I have freedom to do all sorts of shit, but don't, because it doesn't fit right with my character. But sometimes I like switching things up after 300 hours of playing a Fighter and learn some decent spells.

Hell, I've been rope-playing in Halo since I first tried it.

This also means there aren't tradeoffs with character building, since you can just change your focuses to be optimal for whatever area you are fighting in.

Sounds like Megaman - cool!

It feels like you're just waiting for Destiny to be bad, Mr. Scrooge. Looking forward to waiting to see how the actual game plays, not your mental construct of what it must be. :)

Sounds like Megaman - cool!

Facepalm.

*Some enemies you come across will be beyond your skill/armor/weapon level. Be best to move on and come back later.

WEAK SAUCE. Grinding confirmed.

Seems like you're jumping some steps there. For me, it's only grinding if you're forced to spend hours leveling up playing the same stupid enemies over and over to progress in the game. The key ingredients are boredom and repetition.

If there's plenty of natural and fun opportunities to progress you character in the game world, having a range of enemy skills to encounter can add depth and variety to the world, as well as immersion.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion had all the enemies leveled to your own. It was kinda dumb. You're fighting nothing but wolves at the start. 70 hours in and you're fighting nothing but Minotaurs - no variety! No pacing to the combat! Skyrim learned from this (or reverted slightly back to Morrowind's ways) and leveled some common enemies and then mixed up the difficulties for a lot of the dungeons.

It was great. Made your character feel like it wasn't a badass from the start. Sometimes you had to run to survive! Then, many fun quests later, you've gotten better and you've progressed your skills, without grinding, and you head back to those same areas and reclaim your honor. If you have enough to do, there doesn't have to be any grinding.

Sounds like Megaman - cool!

Facepalm.

Exactly. :)

You enjoy jumping to conclusions, so I just keep jumping!

It was great. Made your character feel like it wasn't a badass from the start. Sometimes you had to run to survive! Then many fun quests later, , you've gotten better and you've progressed your skills, without grinding, and you head back to those same areas and reclaim your honor. If you have enough to do, there doesn't have to be any grinding.

Isn't this pretty much life? It's not like I jumped from accidently learning that lick from Blind Melon on guitar to absolutely melting thousands of faces with my bass of nuclear justice.

Isn't this pretty much life? It's not like I jumped from accidently learning that lick from Blind Melon on guitar to absolutely melting thousands of faces with my bass of nuclear justice.

No... that IS pretty much how it works.

... Just me?

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Mind gravy?

Feels a bit like the kind of games I imagined when I was a kid.

Seriously feels like someone cracked open an encyclopedia and started reading like the micro machines guy. Hard to process all this beautiful infos.

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Sounds like it's taking everything I love about progression and player investment and giving it a serious tweak. Loving all the detail we're getting about the world.

I like the bit about not having to split hairs to calculate which weapon is better. The math game can be fun, for sure, but I'd really rather spend my time interacting with the world. Happy to hear about their solutions to a lot of things that have hampered my enjoyment in other games.

I'm really really interested in the talk about the environment. Hopefully we'll see thick fog, sandstorms, monsoon rains, dense forests.

On the one hand, my curiosity has been sated. On the other; I can't wait to hear more.

:)

~m

Nice.

Hype levels are rising captain.

I called this afternoon and they still had the Middle Earth cover, so I'll check back in a few days.

Sounds like Megaman - cool!

Facepalm.

Exactly. :)

You enjoy jumping to conclusions, so I just keep jumping!

I guess only the beta will determine who is right, and who can draw.

I guess only the beta will determine who is right, and who can draw.

I drew first.

[*]Some enemies you come across will be beyond your skill/armor/weapon level. Be best to move on and come back later.

Nope, waiting to get my hands on GI for real

Cody and Levi to do some kinda "Let's Play" when the demo comes out. They can bounce their initial reactions/rage/praises off each other.

That'd be the best let's play odd couple ever. I vote they do it drunk and both become uncivilized neanderthals. Of course, I'm just guessing that's what would happen if they were drunk.

Right?

I can't imagine this would be too hard to set up. I'm just the ideas guy though; I leave this up to y'all.

:P

Were you thinking of holding out for a PC version, or getting one of the new consoles? I can't remember.

We can totally make a Bro Pact and hold out for a PC version. I'll bring a guitar and we can have a protest circle and stuff.

Right now, Destiny is on the same excitement tier as Titanfall - totally on my radar, but "wait and see."

This is opposed to say, Fallout 4, which is "OMG DAY ONE MUST BUY" excitement level.

Totes gonna be Boston, too. Just you wait.

I guess only the beta will determine who is right and can draw.

Fixed it.

Sorry, I'm a grammar nazi.

[:

It will depend on when I get the new components to start building a new PC. I'm planning on that to be sometime next year, around the summer. Not planning on getting a next-gen console.

I would not mind getting it for the 360, but that could be my only choice until I see actual facts that it will definitely come out on PC.

We will see what happens. I can make some sandwiches for the protest :P

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Destiny has all players together in one massive world and links you with smaller groups at appropriate locations and times.

I want to know more details about THIS ^^^^

"all players together in one massive world"

NO mention of platforms or game networks...could they have figured out a way for the players on different platforms to influence ONE world of Destiny as a whole, even if we can't play directly cross-platform/network?

That'd be the best let's play odd couple ever. I vote they do it drunk and both become uncivilized neanderthals. Of course, I'm just guessing that's what would happen if they were drunk.

I agree. But will we have the same version of the game? :-p

NO mention of platforms or game networks...could they have figured out a way for the players on different platforms to influence ONE world of Destiny as a whole, even if we can't play directly cross-platform/network?

That would be amazing, but I'd also gladly accept two worlds, Microsoft world and Sony world.

I'd let PC players have free reign everywhere, except I don't know if they're be balance/control/modding issues that would break everything.

I agree. But will we have the same version of the game? :-p

Easy fix. Ship Levi the Destiny PS4.

That'd be the best let's play odd couple ever. I vote they do it drunk and both become uncivilized neanderthals. Of course, I'm just guessing that's what would happen if they were drunk.

Hah, not sure the drink works on me like that. I remember years ago, when I drank more frequently, one night playing Grand Theft Auto San Andreas at a friend's. I was told all I was doing was driving on the highways around the whole map, just driving legally, not speeding, not doing anything interesting, as I kept whispering "this is the greatest game I've ever played."

So I presume Cody would be throwing controllers at the screen as I just sat there. :P

Our ratings would probably skyrocket pass DBOtv though, and I wouldn't want to see it cancelled and Duncan's dream of hosting the Tonight Show crushed.

I agree. But will we have the same version of the game? :-p

Easy fix. Ship Levi the Destiny PS4.

Wait, we're not all going SEGA Saturn? Damnit.

Wait, we're not all going SEGA Saturn? Damnit.

Come on, get with the times! Dreamcast! Just make sure you buy the broadband adapter, Destiny isn't going to support dial-up.

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Destiny isn't going to support dial-up.

This fact makes me pleased we live in the future. I wonder if we can Destiny on other terrible things, like IE6 or it's technological superior, a toaster.

I was told all I was doing was driving on the highways around the whole map, just driving legally, not speeding, not doing anything interesting, as I kept whispering "this is the greatest game I've ever played."

Spit-take number one.

Our ratings would probably skyrocket pass DBOtv though, and I wouldn't want to see it cancelled and Duncan's dream of hosting the Tonight Show crushed.

Spit-take number two.

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So I presume Cody would be throwing controllers at the screen as I just sat there. :P

I get more casual as I get more drunk. Why just the other day at a party, I actually half enjoyed the 5 player mode in the new super Mario for WiiU! Crazy right?!

When you played with me, you knew what you were getting

Yeah, constant nukes. :P

That reminds me, I still need to level up my commando.

On another note, most of this info has reinforced my mental image of Destiny's gameplay being "Bungie Borderlands." That is not in any way a bad thing, at least for me.

Actually, it's better. The one thing about Borderlands that irritates me is that simply being two or three levels below the rest of your group can render you useless, due to the enormous up-scaling of enemy damage and hitpoints as levels increase. Sounds like Destiny is not taking that route, which is good.

Did anybody else catch that in the GI coverage? Thoughts?

Generations ago, the Traveler came tot the solar system and perpared the way for humanity's expansion into the stars. It reshaped planets and moons, and taught us new technologies and mystical powers that led to a golden age. Then the Traveler's ancient enemy returned. The mysterious Darkness swept through the system, devastating civilization and leading to the Collapse. Few humans survived, due only to the intervention of the Traveler, leaving on last city on Earth protected from devastation. Now, many years later, humanity's guardians are departing the safety of the City to reclaim their legacy across Earth and its many neighboring celestial neighbors.

On Humanity's enemies

While humanity huddles behind the safety of its city, the solar system is overrun by a multitude of alien species, each with its own goals and abilities, but all linked to the force of Darkness that threatens to wipe out our species.

On the Hive Wizards

Wizards wear long, crumbling robes and fly overhead to unleash their spells, drawing on the power of the Darkness to fuel their powers.

Generations ago, the Traveler came tot the solar system and perpared the way for humanity's expansion into the stars. It reshaped planets and moons, and taught us new technologies and mystical powers that led to a golden age. Then the Traveler's ancient enemy returned. The mysterious Darkness swept through the system, devastating civilization and leading to the Collapse. Few humans survived, due only to the intervention of the Traveler, leaving one last city on Earth protected from devastation. Now, many years later, humanity's guardians are departing the safety of the City to reclaim their legacy across Earth and its many neighboring celestial neighbors.

On Humanity's enemies

While humanity huddles behind the safety of its city, the solar system is overrun by a multitude of alien species, each with its own goals and abilities, but all linked to the force of Darkness that threatens to wipe out our species.

On the Hive Wizards

Wizards wear long, crumbling robes and fly overhead to unleash their spells, drawing on the power of the Darkness to fuel their powers.

Interesting. So now we have The Traveler, a bright white object that was shown intensely bright during some of the Ronut videos. We have The Darkness which is against The Traveler for some reason. I wonder if there's anything behind the currency Humanity seems to being called Glimmer? A Glimmer of hope? A Glimmer in the Darkness? A Glimmer of light?

So, for now at least, I'm going to be calling Race 5 "Darkness".

I think the part about the Hive Wizards is really interesting because we now an official link between the Hive and the Darkness, where before we had the implied one of the black pryamid ships, their blue beams and the swirling black stuff:

Also, what was the title of the first Destiny ViDoc? Oh yeah, that's right!

I remember seeing a mysterious other alien type not yet discovered in the concept art. I imagine they will have you discover this darkness and it's intentions in a Halo 1 (Flood) or Mass Effect (Sovereign) way. But I would love to be wrong.

Interesting. So now we have The Traveler, a bright white object that was shown intensely bright during some of the Ronut videos. We have The Darkness which is against The Traveler for some reason. I wonder if there's anything behind the currency Humanity seems to being called Glimmer? A Glimmer of hope? A Glimmer in the Darkness? A Glimmer of light?

I keep coming back to your post in my thoughts and I can't shake your ideas. They feel so concrete :)

Along these lines, I'm wondering if what we've come to know as "The Traveler's Gift" bestowing powers upon the Guardians, I wonder if the official and/or in-game name for this will be "The Traveler's Light" or something along those lines. Could we even have some NPCs that worship the Traveler like a god? I would not be surprised to hear someone exclaim "May the Traveler's Light guide you" or, "By the Light!" (I'm thinking Skyrim-style in-game religiosity here... By the nines... Talos guide you... etc).

I think the part about the Hive Wizards is really interesting because we now an official link between the Hive and the Darkness, where before we had the implied one of the black pryamid ships, their blue beams and the swirling black stuff:

This would give a nice dichotomy. The Guardians are forces for good, empowered by the Light of the Traveler. The enemy races (maybe more than just the Hive) are forces for evil, empowered by The Darkness. I'm really liking this path of thinking...

Yup. A few days.

Just went and checked today... Still not in my local store :(

What would the atmosphere be like? Do they breathe oxygen?