Massively Speaking

Massively Speaking http://massively.joystiq.com This is the Massively podcast http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Massively SpeakingJoystiqMassively Speaking<![CDATA[Storyboard: Why I rejected your guild application]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/storyboard-why-i-rejected-your-guild-application/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/storyboard-why-i-rejected-your-guild-application/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/storyboard-why-i-rejected-your-guild-application/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

Not pictured: Phillip J. Fry as an N7 operative. Yeah, that's life in this neck of the woods lately.

Explaining guilds to people who don't play MMOs is always odd. You have to explain the process of applying, getting interviewed, and generally being brought on some trial runs in a way that doesn't make the whole thing sound like an unpleasant second job. This is even worse when it comes to explaining roleplaying guilds, which often level all the same restrictions as endgame-focused guilds with the added benefit that you're being examined based on your character rather than your play ability.

So it feels like a real kick in the teeth to do all that and then get rejected.

At face value, this feels outright ridiculous. The only criteria for a roleplaying guild should be roleplaying, and if you're applying for one, you almost by definition pass. But there's actually a lot of valid reasons to say that someone just isn't right for your roleplaying guild. So you might not have been rejected because the guild is made up of judgmental pricks -- it might be for the best.

Continue reading Storyboard: Why I rejected your guild application

Storyboard: Why I rejected your guild application originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredguildguild-applicationguild-interactionguildsopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 25 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Four reasons in-character reporting is good for SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/hyperspace-beacon-four-reasons-in-character-reporting-is-good-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/hyperspace-beacon-four-reasons-in-character-reporting-is-good-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/hyperspace-beacon-four-reasons-in-character-reporting-is-good-f/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

Hyperspace Beacon: Four reasons in-character reporting is good for SWTOR

A few weeks back, I wrote an article about why I played Star Wars: The Old Republic. I drew on references from my childhood and how much Star Wars influenced my life. Although I did mention the impact of the roleplay community, I didn't talk about the roleplaying side of my MMO gameplay and how that influences my enjoyment of the game.

When the quests dry up and PvP becomes stale, RP and the RP community hold me to this game. Multiple readers of the Hyperspace Beacon and fans of The Republic have asked how they can get involved in the roleplay in SWTOR. I usually point them to one place: SWTOR-RP.com.

I could go on and on about this site and what it has done for the roleplay community, but nothing stands out more than the metagame that it's created with in-character articles. These news reports and editorials have been a launchpad for many in-character conversations. So let me draw you in and show you what I'm talking about.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Four reasons in-character reporting is good for SWTOR

Hyperspace Beacon: Four reasons in-character reporting is good for SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsfeaturedguild-eventsguildshyperspace-beaconin-characterin-character-eventsin-character-reportinglive-eventslucasartsopinionroleplayroleplayerroleplayingsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-rpthe-old-republictorTue, 22 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: BatMUD]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Video, Bugs, Culture, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Casual, Roleplaying, First Impressions, Rise and Shiny, Miscellaneous

BatMUD UI screenshot

Here I am making myself crazy once again. Why? Why do I insist on visiting games that I know will provoke issues both physical and mental? I guess it's because lately I have been fascinated with MUDs, or multi-user-dungeons. They are better described as text-based MMOs or choose-your-own-adventure books written with thousands of other players. It's a fascinating concept, especially when you consider how dissimilar it is to today's modern, easy-to-play offerings. The ancient design of the MUD now feels fresh, so much so that I have decided to dedicate a future article about the possibility of MUDs' viability in today's three-dimensional world.

I have found some good and some very bad over the last several weeks. I've also stumbled across brand-new versions of the migraines that often bother me when I concentrate way, way too hard on PC text. I have to admit that my issues do not seem that common, but it is important to look at a game from all angles, even from the angle of someone who has specific issues. BatMUD has tested my patience over the last few weeks and several hours. It's also shown me some wonderful adventure and sparked my imagination.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: BatMUD

Rise and Shiny: BatMUD originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BatMUDbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudmulti-user-dungeonrise-and-shinystreamthreshold-rpgtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 20 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

Yes, I plan to have something bizarre for this every anniversary.

Last year, I had planned to change up the focus of Storyboard a little. The "high and wide" format had been working, but I was worried that the column just wouldn't have legs if I didn't start going for more focused and narrow applications. So I spent several months working on just the right way to do more game-specific columns in here.

You don't remember them, of course, because none of them was ever posted. Those several months of work did not produce a single viable column.

At the capstone of the second year of Storyboard, I'm forced to basically eat crow about one of my major plans for the last year because it turns out that not only did it not work but it didn't need to work in the first place. I managed to fill up another year of columns just fine without going into great detail about one game over another, and as it turns out, I'm a lot happier with this year as a whole anyway.

Continue reading Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard

Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycolumncolumnsfeaturedlooking-backopinionretrospectiveroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Why roleplaying is worth the trouble]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/storyboard-reasons-its-worth-roleplaying/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/storyboard-reasons-its-worth-roleplaying/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/storyboard-reasons-its-worth-roleplaying/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

I need more stock images for these headers. Time to start digging.

Why bother roleplaying?

I've covered a lot of topics in this column that circle around that topic. I've talked about why roleplaying is important and how you can roleplay without tears, but I've never touched the central question, something that was brought to mind recently by a fellow Massively writer. Why even bother with roleplaying?

The usual answer is a shrug and a self-evident "because it's fun," but that's more a dismissal of the question than a functional response. That's not a good thing because there's a case to be made against roleplaying. Your character doesn't have an impact on the game world. Your roleplaying is, in the context of the game itself, irrelevant. The game doesn't care why your character wears weaker gear than normal; it just downgrades your stats and makes your life harder. You derive no benefit and wind up losing a lot of time for social interactions that are prone to drama and arguments. So why bother?

Continue reading Storyboard: Why roleplaying is worth the trouble

Storyboard: Why roleplaying is worth the trouble originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicefeaturedmotivationopinionplayer-motivationreasonsreasons-to-roleplayroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 11 May 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-miraluka/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-miraluka/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-miraluka/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Classes, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Races, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka

As I mentioned in my Why I Play Star Wars: The Old Republic piece, Dark Forces and Jedi Knight were two of the Star Wars video games I enjoyed most. Obviously, this was before Knights of the Old Republic. In Jedi Knight, the main antagonist was Jerec. Although it's never mentioned where Jerec comes from or even what species he was, his most distinguishing feature is the cover over his eyes. At the time, players thought it was a type of cybernetic implant similar to that worn by Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: The Next Generation. It wasn't until the Tales of the Jedi comic book series that we learned that Jerec and others are a part of the Force-seeing humanoid species known as the Miraluka.

If you choose to play a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Consular (or if you have 1.5 million credits to unlock it through the Legacy system), you can play as a Miraluka. I have been fascinated by this species since Jerec of Jedi Knight and Shoaneb Culu in the Tales of the Jedi after that. So this week, let's talk about this captivating species, its culture, its connection to the Force, and what its role is during the time of The Old Republic.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka

Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alpheridiesbiowareclassic-mmocultureeaelectronic-artsfeaturedgalaxiesholocron-fileshyperspace-beaconjedi-consularJedi-KnightJerecKatarrlucasartsmiralukaopinionroleplayroleplayingsandboxsci-fiShoaneb-Culusoesony-online-entertainmentspeciesstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorVisas-MarrTue, 08 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, Endgame, PvE, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Roleplaying, Miscellaneous, Dungeons

WoW

Massively's got so many cosmetic-gear gurus and sandbox aficionados on staff that sometimes I suspect no amount of character customization and housing and achievements and titles would ever be enough for us. We'd do just about anything for more ways to distinguish our characters in an MMO.

But what about raiding for cosmetic gear? Enter OpenRaid, a World of Warcraft website that helps players organize cross-server PvE dungeon raids and premade PvP teams for the express purpose of acquiring achievements and gear to transmogrify (i.e., map the skin of something cool onto something with good stats). While I'd hope that needing to run large-scale endgame content for gorgeous weapon skins isn't going to become commonplace in future MMOs, it's still fascinating to see roleplay-oriented players playing content they wouldn't normally touch, just to collect a dress.

So how far would you go -- or have you gone -- to get your hands on a sweet piece of cosmetic gear, title, or achievement?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcosmetic-gearcosmetic-itemsdaily-grindfantasyopenraidopinionraidraidingroleplayroleplayingtdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Problem players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/storyboard-problem-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/storyboard-problem-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/storyboard-problem-players/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

Hopefully my internet connection is working as you read this.

I don't tend to talk about the players behind the characters in this column because more often than not it doesn't matter. A good roleplayer is a good roleplayer, and if your characters can interact well, you don't really need to be close friends behind the scenes. Sure, I promote communication out of character, but that's to avoid drama, and liking the person involved is more of a bonus than a requisite goal. The majority of roleplayers won't have issues beyond character or story-based ones, and thus I focus on those.

There are exceptions.

Even if most of the troubles you'll encounter are the result of characters that don't quite work for whatever reason (something we're all guilty of), there are certain players who are going to cause problems no matter what. And I'm not talking about the guy who always makes the same character with minor setting adjustments. I'm talking about the players who will make you actively dislike the game you're playing, the cases where you're going to need to address the problem beyond just shaking your head at one character or another. These guys exist, and even though they're not the majority, they have an unpleasant impact.

Continue reading Storyboard: Problem players

Storyboard: Problem players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturefeaturedgroupsopinionproblem-playersproblemsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsocial-problemsstorystoryboardFri, 04 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The growth of a plot tumor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/storyboard-the-growth-of-a-plot-tumor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/storyboard-the-growth-of-a-plot-tumor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/storyboard-the-growth-of-a-plot-tumor/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

As I approach two years of this, I'm still waiting to run out of headers to assemble.

Everyone has had that friend. Heck, almost everyone has been that friend at one point or another. It's the guy who just found himself in a relationship, and suddenly every single topic of conversation jerks right back to that relationship. It starts out subtle, but eventually your friend will turn everything back to the topic of his relationship, up to and including a car crash. And while said friend isn't a bad guy, you start enjoying your time with him less and less because he's down to a single droning note that's no longer interesting.

The exact same thing happens in roleplaying. It's not usually about a girlfriend, although it can be. It's any aspect of a character's plot that grows until it's all-encompassing and grows into the plots of other characters as well. It's a plot tumor. It's a growth bigger than it has any right to be, and it's the sort of thing that can really drive you away from roleplaying whether or not you liked the plot in the beginning.

Continue reading Storyboard: The growth of a plot tumor

Storyboard: The growth of a plot tumor originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredopinionplot-tumorsplotsproblem-plotsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardtroubleFri, 27 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Advice from a master]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/hyperspace-beacon-advice-from-a-master/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/hyperspace-beacon-advice-from-a-master/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/hyperspace-beacon-advice-from-a-master/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

Hyperspace Beacon: Advice from a master

I had the pleasure of playing Star Wars Galaxies with Brian "OddjobXL" Rucker for at least five years before his unfortunate passing last week. We never met in person, but he was a great influence on my life despite my having only recently found out what he looked like. One of the great things about the internet is that personality really shines through when you don't have a preconceived notion of who someone is based on how he looks. Brian was one of those people whose personality stood out from the rest of the community because of the stories he created and wisdom he imparted to others.

When he played SWG, he posted quite a bit as Mandash Grim on the Starsider Galaxy roleplay website; when a good chunk of those players decided to give Star Wars: The Old Republic a go, he moved with them to SWTOR-RP. On this forum, he talked about how SWTOR influenced RP, even though it was not exactly the way he envisioned it.

It's hard to summarize in a thousand words his gaming philosophies, which had such an influence on me, but I'd like to highlight a few key things he wrote that I believe summarize his feelings on something everyone reading this column probably loves: Star Wars MMO storytelling.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Advice from a master

Hyperspace Beacon: Advice from a master originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebrian-ruckerclassic-mmocommunityeaelectronic-artsfeaturedgalaxieshyperspace-beaconlucasartsoddjob-xloddjobxlopinionroleplayingrpsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 24 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: One hundred moments and done]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/storyboard-one-hundred-moments-and-done/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/storyboard-one-hundred-moments-and-done/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/storyboard-one-hundred-moments-and-done/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

No, I'm not ending the column, but now people will read the whole thing because they'll suspect I am. Unless, of course, you read the alt text.

All good things must come to an end.

Roleplaying is all about creating a shared space for your character to inhabit with other characters. It's about crafting trials and challenges that can be overcome through narrative means; it's about building a set of experiences together. And all of the columns I've written up to this point have been entirely about making that work well and creating a shared environment that's fun for everyone.

But it can end. One day, you may log in to find that the people you've been roleplaying alongside are no longer there -- that the friends you once had have left, the allies you once charished have moved on, and your universe has narrowed by degrees until it's just you. After all of the roleplaying you've done, it tuns out that your group of fellow roleplayers has slowly drifted away until the only person who remembers these stories is you. And it seems fitting, for the 100th column, to talk about what happens when you're left remembering a universe that never was.

Continue reading Storyboard: One hundred moments and done

Storyboard: One hundred moments and done originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityconclusionsdepartureendingfeaturedleavingopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 20 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Prolific MMO blogger Brian 'OddjobXL' Rucker passes away]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/prolific-mmo-blogger-brian-oddjobxl-rucker-passes-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/prolific-mmo-blogger-brian-oddjobxl-rucker-passes-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/prolific-mmo-blogger-brian-oddjobxl-rucker-passes-away/#commentsFiled under: Culture, MMO industry, News items, Roleplaying, Miscellaneous

The MMO roleplaying community lost one of its most prolific authors this week as Brian "OddjobXL" Rucker passed away at the age of 48.

Rucker maintained a blog called The Roleplayer's Redoubt on MMORPG.com, and he was also featured in Massively's The Game Archaeologist, where he talked at length about MUDs, MUSHs, and Star Wars Galaxies.

Massively columnist Larry Everett remembers Rucker as "a very prominent member of both of my websites and a personal inspiration to me as a gamer, writer, and roleplayer." Rucker, known as Cap'n in SWG circles, covered roleplaying in dozens of disparate MMO titles. He also offered plenty of sage advice for both newbs and veterans alike.

[Thanks to Laura for the tip.]

Prolific MMO blogger Brian 'OddjobXL' Rucker passes away originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-ruckerclassic-mmocommunitygalaxiesMiscellaneousoddjob-xloddjobxlroleplayingrpsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgoFri, 20 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Outbreak]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/hyperspace-beacon-outbreak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/hyperspace-beacon-outbreak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/hyperspace-beacon-outbreak/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Lore, PvE, Opinion, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

Hyperspace Beacon: Outbreak

A year ago at PAX East, I spoke to Community Manager Stephen Reid about events in Star Wars: The Old Republic. He asked and answered a popular question at the time: "Will [SWTOR] have events where we randomly spawn NPCs for players to fight? No, but we will have events." He couldn't elaborate, but it did leave me wondering what that could possibly mean, especially when later at PAX East, Lead Writer Daniel Erickson said that SWTOR would not break the fourth wall by holding holiday-type events.

Earlier this year, Update 1.1: Rise of the Rakghouls brought us a new flashpoint called Kaon Under Siege. A ship crash landed in the heart of the Tion Hegemony, taking the Rakghoul virus off the planet Taris and spreading it to a new world. Both the Republic and the Empire sought to find the source of this outbreak. Like all flashpoints, Koan Under Siege is instanced and separate from the rest of the open world.

Relatedly, and quite surprisingly, BioWare started its first world event without announcing it on the official website or even letting anyone know that it was happening. On Sunday morning, everyone who was stopping by Carrick or Vaiken station could overhear an announcement that the planet Tatooine had been quarantined due to an outbreak of the Rakghoul virus.

So started my investigation...

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Outbreak

Hyperspace Beacon: Outbreak originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaniel-ericksoneaelectronic-artseventeventsfeaturedhyperspace-beaconin-game-eventlucasartsmini-gamesopinionoutbreakrakghoulRise-of-the-Rakghoulssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidswtortatooinethe-old-republictorworld-eventTue, 17 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Rakghoul plague has broken out across the galaxy of SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/a-rakghoul-plague-infects-everyone-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/a-rakghoul-plague-infects-everyone-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/a-rakghoul-plague-infects-everyone-in-swtor/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Lore, PvE, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic

SWTOR: News Cast

Citizens of Star Wars: The Old Republic are advised to steer clear of the the planet Tatooine to avoid infection from a Rakghoul virus outbreak.

A ship carrying infected passengers crashed in the northeast quadrant of the Dune Sea; quarantine teams have been dispatched to the local interplanetary space port to prevent the spread of the disease. Please, avoid all infected citizens at all costs! It is possible for you to carry the the virus yourself. If you are infected and attempt to flee the planet Tatooine, you will be fired upon for the safety of all Republic citizens.

At this time, the disease is contained to one planetary system; however, our advice is to avoid travel in major space stations and other areas with travelers who may be coming from the Tatooine system.

We will keep you informed of further developments as they unfold. May the Force be with you, and watch the official Imperial holonet broadcast after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading A Rakghoul plague has broken out across the galaxy of SWTOR

A Rakghoul plague has broken out across the galaxy of SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareEAElectronic-Artsin-game-eventLucasArtsplaguepverakghoulStar-WarsStar-Wars-The-Old-RepublicSWTORtatooineThe-Old-RepublicTORvideoSun, 15 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: To say nothing of cute shoes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/storyboard-to-say-nothing-of-cute-shoes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/storyboard-to-say-nothing-of-cute-shoes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/storyboard-to-say-nothing-of-cute-shoes/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

During PAX East, I roleplayed a drunk man. It's a role I'm apparently quite good at.

Just as in real life, player characters in MMOs have more than one set of clothing for different situations. Sure, I don't divide my actual clothes up in usual MMO categories ("well, those are my PvP pants"), but I have things I wear around the house that I wouldn't wear out in public or when attending a funeral, for instance. But even that doesn't compare to a high-level roleplaying character, who has not only PvP gear and PvE gear and solo gear tand the like but also funeral gear and casual gear and so forth. It's all the joy of assembling a real wardrobe alongside the joy of stat comparisons.

Roleplaying outfits are universally important. Even if your character is in a game without visible gear (such as City of Heroes), you probably have different outfits for different circumstances (civilian clothes, for instance). But there's an art to putting together a good roleplaying ensemble, and it's not just as simple as equipping the same equipment you wore 10 levels ago and calling it a day. You want to create a distinct impression, and that takes a little more doing. So how do you assemble a good roleplaying outfit?

Continue reading Storyboard: To say nothing of cute shoes

Storyboard: To say nothing of cute shoes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearanceequipmentfeaturedgearopinionoutfitsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 13 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Real life, Screenshots, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Roleplaying, Free for All, Miscellaneous, Sandbox

Browser screenshot

I need your help. If you are a reader, then I need you to open your memory boxes and take a look around at the bottom. Shuffle around where all the remnants of favorite past MMOs settle and see if you can find me something. If you are a developer who is reading this, then you might indeed have some special insight into my issue.

I need a game. A special game. It must fit a certain mold that is very particularly fitted to my very specific needs and wants. It's a tall order, to say the least.

Now, I understand how to use Google. At least once a week I am asked something along the lines of "Where do you find these weird games you cover?" I am always tempted to link the questioner to Google and walk away, but generally I tell him it is a combination of different efforts: some searching, some tipping from readers, and more than a smidge of good luck. Also understand that I have a lot of good titles keeping me busy, but I tend to become sort of obsessed with little projects along the way. So what do I need this week?

I need a semi-graphical, browser-based MUD-like MMO that features great customization for characters, text, and interface, that's what.

Continue reading Free for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO

Free for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-MMOsdie2nitedomain-of-heroesf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgraphical-mudmagic-duelmagicduelmudopinionWed, 11 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Chiss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-chiss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-chiss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-chiss/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Classes, Culture, Lore, Races, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Chiss

For some players, deciding which species to play in Star Wars: The Old Republic comes down to which skin tone is the coolest. Wasn't it said when the species were first announced that the choices were human with blue skin, human with green skin, bald human, human with head tails, and human with horns? Although hyperbolic, the sentiment contains an element of truth, especially when judged by aesthetics alone. Then again, no one complains in fantasy games when you have a choice between human, short human, and human with pointy ears. Elves and dwarves are viewed through the lens of pre-existing culture and folk-lore.

The Holocron Files are designed to lay the cultural foundation for some of SWTOR's species. From the horned Zabrak to the red-skinned Sith Pureblood, each Star Wars species has a rich history and backstory. Thankfully, BioWare kept that in mind when considering which species you could play.

In honor of my newest character, it's only fitting that we discuss the Chiss this week.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Chiss

Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Chiss originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascendancybiowareblue-skinchisscultureeaelectronic-artsEmpirefactionfeaturedholocron-fileshyperspace-beaconImperial-Agentlorelucasartsopinionracessci-fispeciesstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicthrawntorTue, 10 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Police state]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/storyboard-police-state/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/storyboard-police-state/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/storyboard-police-state/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

No, I don't know exactly why Saren's here.

Sometimes, column topics get away from you. When I sat down to write last week's Storyboard, I realized at the halfway mark that I had spent a lot of time not really hitting the core of the issue, and the overall article wound up being much weaker as a result. So I went back, started fresh, and instead delivered a column aimed squarely at the central question of whether or not it's important to have a flagged roleplaying server.

But there is an issue that I didn't really address in that column but still remains relevant. If you're going to talk about having an RP server exist even if it's not policed, you do need to address what policing a roleplaying server actually entails. A lot of it is just plain speculative at the moment, given the overall track record of the industry, but that doesn't mean it's not worth discussing.

Continue reading Storyboard: Police state

Storyboard: Police state originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredopinionpoliciespolicingroleplayroleplay-serversroleplayersroleplayingrprp-serversserver-policestorystoryboardFri, 06 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Flag a server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/storyboard-flag-a-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/storyboard-flag-a-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/storyboard-flag-a-server/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

I need to spend either more time or less time getting irritated by the people of the Internet from now on. Depends on how this article is received, I guess.

A couple of weeks ago, Matt Daniel, Elisabeth Cardy, and I were talking amongst ourselves about the dearth of official roleplaying servers in Guild Wars 2. Lis was contending that the primary defense from ArenaNet was the idea that the GMs wouldn't be able to properly police these servers, so as a result the, studio didn't want to designate them that way in the first place. As she put it, she'd rather see them not do the servers at all than do them in a slipshod fashion, and she believed an unpoliced roleplaying server was worse than no roleplaying server at all.

This prompted me to ask whether anyone actually expected roleplaying servers to be policed, but honestly, that's a tangent to the real issue. I can convincingly argue that there are ways that the servers should be policed, but regardless of whether or not roleplayers expect this to happen, I think it's pretty absolute that not having a roleplaying server is much more slipshod than having one with inadequate support. The alternative suggests you really don't care whether your game has roleplayers or not.

Continue reading Storyboard: Flag a server

Storyboard: Flag a server originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredopinionrantroleplayroleplayersroleplayingroleplaying-serversrpserver-flaggingserversstorystoryboardFri, 30 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/why-i-play-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/why-i-play-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/why-i-play-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Economy, Game mechanics, Opinion, Roleplaying, Sandbox, Dungeons, Crafting, Why I Play

EVE Online - Gallente Iteron hauler warping past a planet

I can't for the life of me convince my friends to sign up for EVE Online. In their defense, the game can feel like a job at first. There are no skinner box particle effects or angelic choirs signifying your latest achievement, nor does anyone shower you with virtual confetti as you graduate from the newbie island.

For these reasons and others like them, CCP seems to have topped out somewhere around half a million active subs at the game's high point. EVE is seen as unfriendly in some ways, but in actuality it's the friendliest MMO around if you're an imaginative sort with the desire to direct your own in-game destiny.

Could the tutorials be better? Sure. Could PvE missions be more engaging? Absolutely. Does either of these failings, or numerous others, detract from what is the genre's premier emergent experience?

Nope.

Continue reading Why I Play: EVE Online

Why I Play: EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescomplexitycraftingeconomyeditorialeveeve-onlinefeaturedinternet-spaceshipsmassively-metametanew-edenop-edopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentroleplayroleplayingsandboxSchadenfreudesci-fiuser-generated-contentwhy-i-playWed, 28 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST