While dynamic updating is a very cool feature, it wouldn't matter too much if the content wasn't interesting to begin with. So let's talk about the game's content. David told me that one of the big things he sees as missing in the current MMORPGs is purpose, or “why?” To this end, Artifact is attempting to provide a lot of context and purpose for players in Horizons. The backstory of Istaria is closely woven with the players' lives. A powerful Necromancer was besieging the living races with his undead armies for hundreds of years. Some races haven't been heard from at all in that time. While the undead no longer seems to be attacking Tazoon, almost the entire rest of the world is under their control. Tazoon seems to be largely safe, while the rest of the land is considered “frontier.” Players can settle the frontier, beating back the undead, expanding the territory of the Living Races. Frontier towns can be attacked by roving undead monsters, forcing players to defend their own settlements. Clearing an area of undead and fighting back enough invasions could actually push the frontier further out, expanding the “safer” territories.