Massively Speaking Episode 194: Bookah bookah!

More Vanguard talk!

One of the points about Vanguard is that there is already a great deal to do; comparisons with SWG at launch are not really relevant. Now, at the level cap, where people have been sitting for 2+ years with now new content, there's a huge drought. But somebody new coming in will have years of content ahead of them.

Gems are truly truly outrageous! Viva Taric!

"All gamers want more options..." Could NOT be more accurate... talk about "robin-hooding" the arrow in the bullseye. Well said Teri.
We do create 'characters' as gamers, and appearance does matter.

@CCP
/facepalm
You want to attract more 'diversity' in your gamer population? "HTFU" might not be the best approach to becoming more ... approachable.

Really enjoyed this episode folks. It's fantastic when you have guests on occasionally... it just brings up the energy level, and the fun level.

(non sequitur: everyone in this household thinks Teri's voice is professional radio quality - really pleasant resonance.)

@Justin : Singing and Memory : These things are linked. You know mnemonic devices, right? ("Every Good Boy Does Fine"). Heck, even "Schoolhouse Rock" knew that and gave you songs to sing by teaching you about Multiplication and History. I've even seen people remember songs they preformed/remembered in Elementary school compared to tests.

So, maybe School Tests should be sung in schools instead of rote memorization?

STO : Woo! Kestrel! Yaay! Can't wait for the interview.

"A chef in your Kitchen?!?!" (I really got to return to STO!) I wasn't keen on Voyager and the fires that could have started in such an oxygen-rich environment by a crazy alien named "Neelix"! (Okay, so they probably solved that problem "in the future"... ;P ). But really, you null-void your "insta-matter" (replicators) dispensers while taking up ship space! (Although, my one Salurian captain would love that environment, since he trades in such goods "under the table" to Admirals et al! So, I tend to break canon, too, but that's my lite-comedy character! ;P )

Cash Shop/GW2: It may be denial, but it probably is that people did not really put any "deep thought" into this. GW1 didn't initially have a cash shop and it's current one seems rather optional. I still prefer (or "wax/opine over") the EQ-paid boxed expansions but we are now digital and shipping boxes/distribution does cut into profits.

Still, I prefer no lockboxes; "out-of-sight=out-of-mind" and all that.

Female Vampire Popularity and the LARP : Generally, Bri is right...however! In college and a bit after...going to various Cons...OMG! For some reason, the women just "appeared" for Masq:LARPing at cons (and they were some nice-looking gals or dressed rather nice!). From my experience, I've never seen such a high ratio of women gamers (and this goes for online, too in MUSHes and the later "Masquerade" game that was released that tried to emulate Bioware's NeverWinter Nights in 3-D but wasn't as successful) for any "sorta PnP game". I remember one "Living Greyhawk" campaign I did a bit of a LARP skit (with singing) and afterwards, group after group of Vampire:Masq LARPers came wondering if there was more to it than the usual "bunch of guys rolling dice"!

In any event, I think CCP is "thinking like a male nerd" and not approaching this in a level-headed fashion (Okay, that is NOT an intended pun!). Maybe they should appeal to griefers and their sense of fashion for their version of WoD: Actually, when it was announced CCP would be doing WoD, I could scarcely believe they would get all the "details" right in their version; the stuff that attracted players to it in the first place. We have yet to see, but I am still skeptical.

Another thing I've been meaning to ask for some time, from Terrilynn:

I recognize the name from the STO forums, but can you give me a link to the avatar you first used on the forums? (Or a few of the first pics?)

I am trying to link a "name to a face" but the high-heeled go-go boots aren't cutting it in my head.

Long time listener, rare commenter. Great podcast! It is part of my regular weekly routine. Keep up the good work.

Luxx

P.S. The "BRants" (tm) don't come across as crazy-person rants. Don't be offended by the label.

Now that I've listened to the whole show (not just the Vanguard part) I can offer the comment that in my experience there *were* a comparatively large number of women involved in World of Darkness, particularly in the LARP end of things. On the other hand, this was in comparison with, say, tabletop D&D, which back the the day was mostly guys. The face-to-face gaming demographic has changed significantly in the last decade or so. I think this is in part due to a broader cultural shift, but I also think WoD deserves some credit as well for bringing in more women than were there before. Note that this was years and years before Twilight.

Now, as far as the MMO goes... I dunno. I guess it's a novel thing to market.

It didn't seem to me that Chris McDonough (who was with White Wolf long before CCP even formed) was saying, 'Teehee, girls like pretty clothes!' Rather, what I got out of it was, 'We're making sure to hit the notes that made our games the ones that drew women to see the appeal of roleplaying in far larger numbers than any games had previously. Primarily that's always seemed to be that our games are about storytelling, social interaction and personal expression. To that end, having a robust fashion range is important to making sure your character presents themselves the way you want others to see them. Especially if you're playing a Toreador or Ventrue.'

I'm sure everyone at CCP knows plenty of games in the industry have ways to let players dress their characters how they want. The only difference with what they're doing is that they're making sure there's contemporary haute couture for the upper-class, elegant vampire types, and taking what you wear out of the equation for combat prowess. Both of which fit the source material perfectly. Body armour doesn't mean much to undead monsters who find bullets as harmful as you might find getting punched in the thigh by an eight-year old.

Anyway, really like the show nonetheless. I guess I just have more experience with White Wolf so I can read between the lines a little more accurately to their actual intent. Hope you don't mind my ramblings days after the show, I just didn't get around to listening until now.