With the new Eye of the North expansion Guild Wars has brought two new races into play - the Norn and the Asura. Players who had pre-ordered Eye of the North got a chance to sample the game play before launch over the Sneak Peek weekend. Since most people will encounter the Norn first, we'll be covering them in this article.

The Norn are giant Viking-like warriors who live in the Far Shiverpeaks. They are skilled hunters who have a close relationship with nature, with the ability to transform into giant bears in battle. In each explorable area in Eye of the North, Resurrection Shrines are dotted around the landscape.

Norn Reputation Points are gained from completing Norn quests, missions and dungeons, and killing creatures in explorable areas while under the Norn Hunting Party blessing, which is granted by Norn NPCs near Resurrection Shrines. So it's important to keep an eye on your map when exploring, to seek out new Norn NPCs near the shrines. With the new race comes a new Title Track - the Norn Title Track grants special quests and skills.

Until you reach Rank 1, you will not be able to talk to any Norn NPCs in any outposts. Once you have reached Rank 3 you will be able to use the Norn NPCs to craft consumables - single use items which can boost your abilities or negate any death penalty. Once at Rank 4 you can use the Norn Weaponsmiths to create custom weapons. You can use Norn Armourers once you reach Rank 5.

As the Norn are suspicious of strangers, each time you talk to a new Norn NPC, they will challenge you to single combat. Most parties will find such combat very easy, especially as the party size is 8 in all Eye of the North areas. Giving you a Reputation Point per kill, the Norn Hunting Party blessing is a good way to advance on the Norn Title Track while exploring. Another random bonus is an increase in the Norn Hunting Party blessing level, which gives you more Reputation Points for each kill.

Each NPC will only give out Reputation Points and bonuses once. Keep an eye on the map to keep track of where you have travelled - Resurrection Shrines appear on your Eye of the North map, and you can travel back to them to pick up NPC bonuses.

A random bonus you will sometimes pick up is Strength of the Norn, an enchantment that lasts for 60 seconds. While active you gain +100 health, and when the enchantment runs out you are healed for 100 health.

Some quests are only accessible if you have reached a certain Rank. As your Rank rises, go back and talk to the town-based NPCs to see if they have new quests. This opens up a new level of game play in Guild Wars, as when you advance in the new Eye of the North ranks, the gameplay and the missions will change.