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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Massively SpeakingJoystiqMassively Speaking<![CDATA[Storyboard: The way it was for three years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Going back in time.
Roleplaying is the same as it ever was. People are still shoehorning in lore characters into backstories, someone is a sparkly magic vampire, and you can still turn a corner in a tavern to find two people with a decided lack of gear or public shame. (In Second Life, that corner is the one you turn to download the game.) But I've had three years of talking about it, so it's at least a little different than it was.

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say it's better.

Every year I like to take a look back at the past year, talk about what worked well, what didn't work at all, and what I'd like to do in the future. So it is for this year, complete with a nice big surprise down at the end there. Regular readers may be less surprised, but you can just bear with me.

Continue reading Storyboard: The way it was for three years

MassivelyStoryboard: The way it was for three years originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featurednew-featuresopinionretrospectiveroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardstoryboard-librarythree-yearsyear-in-reviewFri, 17 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tamriel Infinium: Elder Scrolls Online's factional divides]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-factional-divides/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-factional-divides/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/tamriel-infinium-elder-scrolls-onlines-factional-divides/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Tamriel Infinium ESO factional divides
The Elder Scrolls Online's Tamriel hosts many races that are generally segregated from each other. Nords of Skyrim usually stick to their northern frosty mountains. Argonians settle in their Black Marsh. Khajiit rest in Elsweyr. But we know from playing other Elder Scrolls games that individuals of all races most definitely move around the map, mostly adventurers like our possible TESO characters. It is very possible from a canon perspective that my Redguard will wander through Morrowind. Unlike other faction-based MMOs, TESO has an interesting plan for those players with wanderlust.

For today's column, I've found a community member who explains some of the implications of factional divides for us. I'm also interested in how you will personally handle some of these factional issues.

Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: Elder Scrolls Online's factional divides

MassivelyTamriel Infinium: Elder Scrolls Online's factional divides originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftcolumnCross-Factioncross-faction-communicationelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineesofaction-loyaltyfactionsfeaturedrace-choicesracesRichie-Procopiotamrieltamriel-infiniumtesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinezenimaxzenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 17 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GemStone IV website screenshot
MUD May has been a blast so far, but I won't lie to you and say that I hope to even make a dent in the decades-old history of many of these titles. I decided instead to use some examples from my favorite MUDs that I have come across over the last couple of years. It's admittedly been a challenge to think about what to cover. Do I cover the communities? The in-game mechanics? The publishers?

This week I decided to attempt to kill several birds with a handful of stones (and questions) and snagged Simutronics Producer Eric Latham for an video interview. Simutronics has been in the business for 26 years, and the publisher makes my favorite MUD, Gemstone IV. Latham has been with the company for 15 of those years! Technically I am using the interview and video as part of my Rise and Shiny series, but the questions and answers are more relevant to the general topic of MUDs. You might see it now as well as later, but it will hopefully provide some insight into the world of making MUDs.

Continue reading Free for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV

MassivelyFree for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneric-lathamf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstonegemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionsimutronicsvelvet-ropeWed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Making villains work]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So how am I going to make the header screwy next week? I have a few ideas.
A while ago, I talked about the fact that roleplaying in MMOs most closely resembles comic books. This is apropos of the current discussion because both mediums have a fundamental issue with how villains are supposed to work. A good villain should be roundly trounced by the end of a story, but you also want to bring back a villain for more antics later on. So as I begin the follow-up to my recent column on the topic, the question becomes how you can make a villain who's entertaining and satisfying to encounter without becoming boring or making everyone wonder why no one has stabbed him yet.

To be fair, there's no way to absolutely fix this problem. Someone will always have the idea that stabbing the villain to death will alleviate the problem, and that assumption is pretty much right. But there are ways to minimize the issue without making everyone seem like a colossal twit or creating the soap opera problem (wherein everyone is a malicious jerk every so often and no one seems to make long-term changes). This week I want to examine how both antagonistic and malicious villains can be played to avoid those pitfalls.

Continue reading Storyboard: Making villains work

MassivelyStoryboard: Making villains work originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistscharactersfeaturedjerksopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardvillainsFri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Gemstone IV artwork
Welcome back to the second installment of MUD May! Almost any time I write an article, I try to keep new players in mind. It's fun to see the reaction from readers when I talk about MUDs or other "classic" MMO models and how these games can pull in fresh blood. Many people seem to forget that there are new players coming into MMO gaming all the time, and MUDs should be no different. Over the next few columns, I will be pulling examples from five games: Gemstone IV, Dragonrealms, Threshold RPG, BatMUD, and Achaea to explain how some basic MUD systems work.

With that in mind, I'd like to use this week's installment to explain -- in a very simple way -- how combat might feel in a MUD. One of the biggest hurdles for a new MUD player is often the massive amount of information that is built from decades of development. MUD players often sneer at the thought of simplifying the entry for new players. To be fair, this unwelcoming attitude is common in gaming in general. I feel differently, however, and want to explain some of the basics of these fantastic MMOs -- simply -- in a way that illustrates just how cool MUDs can be.

Continue reading Free for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs

MassivelyFree for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeaBatMUDbeau-hindmanDragonrealmsf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionsimutronicsthreshold-rpgvelvet-ropeWed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does gamification stymie your roleplay?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-daily-grind-does-gamification-stymie-your-roleplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-daily-grind-does-gamification-stymie-your-roleplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/06/the-daily-grind-does-gamification-stymie-your-roleplay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Corvette dungeon
Some colleagues and I were discussing roleplay in MMOs the other day, and the conversation briefly touched on our preferences for MMOs as games or MMOs as virtual worlds. One of my co-workers explained that mass gamification and an inability to affect the world or other players isn't a detriment to his roleplay because it's private and personal, whereas I find myself roleplaying much less than I used to because my actions can't affect anyone or anything in most current MMOs.

What about you, Massively readers? Does gamification stymie your roleplay?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Does gamification stymie your roleplay? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindgame-vs-worldgamificationopinionroleplaytdgthe-daily-grindvirtual-worldsworld-vs-gameMon, 06 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stick and Rudder: Star Citizen celebrates $9 million with Auroras, space suits, and LTI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/stick-and-rudder-star-citizen-celebrates-9-million-with-aurora/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/stick-and-rudder-star-citizen-celebrates-9-million-with-aurora/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/05/stick-and-rudder-star-citizen-celebrates-9-million-with-aurora/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Stick and Rudder - Auroras, space suits, and $9 million
You know, Star Citizen occasionally seems too good to be true. Take this past week, for example. It saw not one, not two, but three major news releases focused on the fledgling space sandbox, all of which were well-received by most in the community and all of which generated even more buzz and positive word-of-mouth for Chris Roberts' crowdfunded juggernaut.

I'm certainly not complaining, mind you; it's just that Cloud Imperium's game is doing a damned fine job of turning a cynic hardened by years of sub-standard MMO releases into a wide-eyed game-loving kid again. So let's talk after the cut about the Aurora, our new space suits, and lifetime insurance, shall we?

Continue reading Stick and Rudder: Star Citizen celebrates $9 million with Auroras, space suits, and LTI

MassivelyStick and Rudder: Star Citizen celebrates $9 million with Auroras, space suits, and LTI originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9-meeellion-dollarsauroraaurora-lxchris-robertscloud-imperiumfeaturedlifetime-insuranceroberts-space-industriesrsirsi-space-suitsandboxsci-fishipspacespace-simspace-suitspacesimstar-citizenstar-citizen-9-millionstar-citizen-aurorastick-and-rudderSun, 05 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Just the artifacts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/storyboard-just-the-artifacts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are a lot of powerful items in our everyday life. Smartphones, for instance.
There's something inherently alluring about objects of power. That much is obvious; games are already fairly littered with them, ranging from weapons to vehicles to various items whose powers are invariably decided by needs of the plot. It's inevitable that as a roleplayer you would want to create something of power for your own purposes, something that has a purpose that only you know, hopefully a purpose with more careful thought than "being the most scary thing ever."

Items like this are what I'm calling artifacts. In some settings they're actual artifacts; in others they're just exceptionally well-programmed computers or bits of otherwise lost technology or whatever. They're useful for extended roleplaying, they create an additional element of your characters, and they're also really problematic in a variety of ways. Still, the drawbacks aren't significant enough to make them useless, just significant enough that you'll want to use a careful hand when adding in your own hidden wonders.

Continue reading Storyboard: Just the artifacts

MassivelyStoryboard: Just the artifacts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artifactsfeatureditemsobjectsopinionrelicsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Introduction to MUD May]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Gemstone IV character description screenshot
For the month of May, I will be using this column to cover the world of MUDs aka multi-user-domains or dungeons. MUDs are text-based MMORPGs, and playing one is sort of like playing through a choose-your-own-adventure book with potentially thousands of other players. I'm not so arrogant to think that I could cover the decades of MUD development within the span of five articles, but I've had a go at it in the past and want to examine the topic more. Why?

There are many reasons, and to kick off this series, I'd like to talk about them. After today, my columns will concentrate on interviews with developers and players to explain how and why MUDs still work, and I hope that all of this will encourage many of you who have never tried a MUD to pick one out now. The recent buzz surrounding Twine-based games and interactive storytelling is perfect fuel for MUDs to come back into the spotlight. Unless, of course, many of the issues with the insulated community of MUDers sabotage the perfect timing.

Let's get started.

Continue reading Free for All: Introduction to MUD May

MassivelyFree for All: Introduction to MUD May originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffaforced-rpfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsmulti-user-dungeonopinionroleplayRolePlayingthreshold-rpgvelvet-ropeWed, 01 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Name change unlock coming to SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/name-change-unlock-coming-to-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/name-change-unlock-coming-to-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/name-change-unlock-coming-to-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Name change service coming to SWTOR
The customization options continue to grow in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Producer Cory Butler told The Old Republic Roleplay that besides the appearance designer and Cathar coming in Update 2.1, players will also be able to change their characters' names. Finally, Darth LordSnuffleFluff can change his name to Darth LordMegaSnuffleFluff like he always wanted.

Butler explains that the name-change option will be available on the Cartel Market as an unlock. However, since it is an unlock and not a service through the official website, that means some players will be able to change names with in-game credits via the Galactic Trade Network.

Congratulations, SWTOR players, you will now be able to change everything about your character except class and gender when GU 2.1 releases.

MassivelyName change unlock coming to SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearance-designerbiowarecharacter-namecory-butlereaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playlucasartsname-changename-change-servicename-change-unlocksci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 01 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: My lore problem]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/the-soapbox-my-lore-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/the-soapbox-my-lore-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/the-soapbox-my-lore-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
"In the distant forests of El'quen, a dark evil stirs. Marrowgore the Unhunter, imprisoned for a thousand years in Cauldron Lake by the Eye of Son'drak, has broken free. Now, he and his evil BoneSlurpers stage an all-out war on the United Provinces. You, a freshly christened hero known for valorous acts both on and off the battlefield, must take charge of the Sacred Axeblade of Loqtai, harness the power it contains, and send the Unhunter back to his watery prison.

"But first, can you get me nine wolf pelts?"

Continue reading The Soapbox: My lore problem

MassivelyThe Soapbox: My lore problem originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betacutsceneeditorialfeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesloremassively-metammo-loreop-edopen-betaopinionplotrantrantsroundupsoapboxstorystorytellingtestingthe-soapboxtropesTue, 30 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[True stories of EVE Online to become comic book and TV series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/true-stories-of-eve-online-to-become-comic-book-and-tv-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/true-stories-of-eve-online-to-become-comic-book-and-tv-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/27/true-stories-of-eve-online-to-become-comic-book-and-tv-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

True stories of EVE Online to become comic book and TV series
The CCP Presents Keynote at the annual EVE Online Fanfest is usually a fairly tame retrospective on how CCP has a company has done the past year and where it's going in the future, but for EVE's tenth anniversary, CCP broke out the big guns. In addition to announcing a massive new collector's edition, the studio has also revealed plans to turn real stories of events inside the sandbox into professional comic books and even a TV series.

Industry giant Dark Horse Comics, the company responsible for comics like Hellboy and Sin City, will be publishing the 54-page graphic novel this winter in both a paid-for print form and a free digital download. For the lore buffs among us, Dark Horse will also be producing a colossal 184-page glossy colour hardback book covering all of the NPC backstory and lore behind EVE Online and DUST 514. Titled EVE Source, the book will be an in-character almanac of everything in the EVE setting that isn't player-created and will even include previously unreleased concept art.

Continue reading True stories of EVE Online to become comic book and TV series

MassivelyTrue stories of EVE Online to become comic book and TV series originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comiccomicsdark-horsedark-horse-comicsdust-514eveeve-comiceve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-filmeve-onlineeve-online-fanfesteve-online-fanfest-2013eve-sourceeve-tveve-tv-serieseve-videoeventevent-coveragefactionsfanfestfilmhellboyicelandlorelore-booklore-booksmassively-event-coveragenewsnpc-storyrekyjaviksin-citystorylinestorylinestelevisiontvSat, 27 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Villainy afoot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/storyboard-villainy-afoot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/storyboard-villainy-afoot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/storyboard-villainy-afoot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In that moment you will realize that you are not the hero of your own story; you are the villain. You are the source of anguish. You are what must be demolished for the good of everyone.
I really thought this was a topic I had revisited on a few occasions, but apparently the only time Storyboard has discussed villainy was back in the column's infancy when I was still properly finding its voice. (Not that I feel that project has ever stopped, but that's another matter.) And it's an interesting topic for many reasons because villainy as a concept really gets put through the wringer in RP to begin with, especially if you tend to let morality be muddled into a few million shades of gray like I tend to.

The thing about villains in roleplaying is having a character solely meant as A Villain generally doesn't work as well, simply because no real people are as malicious as that might require. Instead, you wind up with several people serving as the villains in a particular timeframe. So we need to define what we mean by villains, what role they can play in roleplaying, and what the pitfalls are in the first place.

Continue reading Storyboard: Villainy afoot

MassivelyStoryboard: Villainy afoot originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistsenemiesfeaturedjust-plain-jerksopinionopponentsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardstorytellingsuggestionsvillainsFri, 26 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: My favorite female armor sets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brienne picture
Of all of the crazy characters from HBO's Game of Thrones, Brienne is easily my favorite. Why is she my favorite? It's not because she's just heroic or brave or any of the things that people often attribute to her; it's because she's a survivor. Much of that survival comes from her armor and the fact that she knows well enough to be able to protect herself! The actress Gwendoline Christie has talked about how uncomfortable the armor is to wear. I've heard the producers say that the metal skin is supposed to look sort of mismatched, and I love that. It only makes it stronger.

I often wish MMOs represented armor in better ways, especially for female characters. Some MMOs do a better job than others, and some MMOs do a decent job some of the time. Here are some of my picks for my favorite armor sets for female humans, orcs, goblins or... well, you get the point.

(Please don't post Game of Thrones spoilers in the comments section.)

Continue reading Free for All: My favorite female armor sets

MassivelyFree for All: My favorite female armor sets originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancostumesdesigneverquestEverQuest-2f2pfeaturedfemale-armorffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivGuild-Wars-2illyriadmudopinionRolePlayingRyzomVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropeWed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World has a lot of clothing options]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/the-secret-world-has-a-lot-of-clothing-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/the-secret-world-has-a-lot-of-clothing-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/the-secret-world-has-a-lot-of-clothing-options/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

tsw dev guide on costumes see team email
If you've played The Secret World for more than five minutes, you're probably aware of the fact that it has some of the most extensive outfit options of any MMORPG on the market. If you're not aware of that fact, well, you're the target audience of Funcom's latest dev blog.

It's all about avatar customization, and it details how TSW's stats are kept separate from clothing items in order to satisfy your inner min-maxer and fashion maven simultaneously. Since the game is set in the modern world, you'll find many authentic styles available to earn in-game or purchase through the cash shop. If you're a fan of the otherworldly, don't fret. There are plenty of sci-fi, steampunk, horror, fantasy, and medieval get-ups as well.

MassivelyThe Secret World has a lot of clothing options originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playfactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologysci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-clothingsecret-world-customizationskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswtsw-clothingtsw-customizationTue, 23 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Dramatic community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/storyboard-dramatic-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/storyboard-dramatic-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/storyboard-dramatic-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A subtle shift in process has yielded positive results with these headers.
A couple of friends of mine recently found themselves knee-deep in roleplaying community drama. For those of you who have not seen this dread beast before, let me assure you that it is the most vile of all forms of drama, in which people wind up angry at one another over elements that virtually no one else cares about. I've seen it strike many times, and it's always frustrating and unpleasant due in no small part to its sheer pointlessness.

I've talked about community drama on one occasion when it comes to the Final Fantasy XIV roleplaying community, but the fact that I'm seeing it passed around elsewhere means that it's a topic worth addressing in a general sense. This isn't drama centered around what happened within the game but drama about the managerial aspects of the community, about handling site ownership and moderation and all of the associated stuff. And there are a few tricks to help minimize this before it starts.

Continue reading Storyboard: Dramatic community

MassivelyStoryboard: Dramatic community originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argumentscommunity-dramacommunity-organizationcommunity-sitesdramafeaturedopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingroleplaying-communitiesrpstorystoryboardFri, 19 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Profession discussion - the Builder]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-builder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-builder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/storyboard-profession-discussion-the-builder/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Anyone who mentions the name Bob in the comments is earning a disapproving look.
Human beings like to make stuff. It's in our nature, presumably because the humans who liked making things were able to create important inventions like clothing and weapons and homes and portable DVD players. That stuff gives you an edge over the guy hunting with a rock and a decent pitching arm. A lot of jobs and hobbies alike revolve around making things or changing existing made things into new made things.

The Builder isn't just someone who enjoys making things but someone who lives by making things. Our previous professions have all focused around providing something, but the Builder is the person responsible for making those things. This is a profession that's all about creating, something near and dear to most roleplayers to begin with. But it's also a profession that has a bit more to it than simply being the guy down the road who puts cabinets together at a discount.

Continue reading Storyboard: Profession discussion - the Builder

MassivelyStoryboard: Profession discussion - the Builder originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildingcharacter-conceptscharacter-creationcharacterscreatingcreativityfeaturedopinionprofession-discussionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardthe-builderFri, 12 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Moral framework]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/storyboard-moral-framework/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/storyboard-moral-framework/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/05/storyboard-moral-framework/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Good, bad... I'm the guy with a column.
Every so often, I start a column and it just doesn't come together. So my original plans for this week's article are being changed. I could technically go back and edit last week's piece to erase any evidence that plans had changed, but that would just be wrong.

That segues nicely into this week's actual topic: morality. We generally paint morality in broader strokes than is necessarily beneficial, as evidenced by the fact that I just said that something as harmless as editing an old article could be considered wrong. Obviously it's not harming anyone, but because of standards that I impose on myself, I feel as if it's the wrong course of action to take.

Pretty much all of your characters have moral codes, and if you're not thinking about them consciously, those codes can easily default to the same ones that you have. I've touched on that idea before, but there's more to it than that. When you get right down to it, your characters need their own codes, some of which you might even find personally repugnant.

Continue reading Storyboard: Moral framework

MassivelyStoryboard: Moral framework originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-moralsevilfeaturedgoodmoralitymoralsopinionphilosophyrightroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsituational-moralsstorystoryboardwrongFri, 05 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP launches True Stories, eyes possible EVE film or TV series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/ccp-launches-true-stories-eyes-possible-eve-film-or-tv-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/ccp-launches-true-stories-eyes-possible-eve-film-or-tv-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/ccp-launches-true-stories-eyes-possible-eve-film-or-tv-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

CCP launches True Stories, eyes possible EVE film or TV series
CCP has announced a new EVE Online initiative called True Stories that aims to collect and preserve noteworthy New Eden events in an archive powered by the game's players. Creative director Torfi Frans Olafsson explains, via a new dev blog, that CCP has set up a submission system for paying players that includes the ability to upvote, downvote, and debate.

The submission phase ends on May 1st, with a voting period to follow that concludes on May 15th.

There are prizes including a trip to CCP headquarters in Iceland as well as 10-year subscriptions to EVE. Olafsson also mentions that CCP is looking to expand EVE with additional books, comics, and a possible film or TV series. "Our prospective media partners have shown great interest in adapting or using as inspiration actual events from the game itself," Olafsson says.

MassivelyCCP launches True Stories, eyes possible EVE film or TV series originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesconsoledustdust-514eveeve-onlineeve-storieseve-true-storiesfpsinternet-spaceshipsmmofpsplaystationplaystation-3ps3sandboxsci-fishooterspreadsheets-onlinetorfi-frans-olafssontrue-storiesThu, 04 Apr 2013 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Defiance launch week diary: Day one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/alter-ego-a-defiance-launch-week-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/alter-ego-a-defiance-launch-week-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/alter-ego-a-defiance-launch-week-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Defiance character select screen
I'm an ark hunter, or so they tell me. They being the ruggedly handsome NPCs on display in Defiance's opening cutscene. There's a gruff military man, a captain I think, and some balding suit with trendy eyewear named Von Bach.

There's a bunch of frenzied activity on board the stratocarrier New Freedom, and I pass by a familiar roughneck and a red-haired alien girl that I've seen before in Defiance's ubiquitous television commercials. I'm a human male because I'm one of those weirdos who plays to real-world type in video games. I've got corn-rows here, though, blonde ones, and a face that only a mother could love. Much like my real face, I didn't have a lot of say in the matter because Defiance's character customization is rather bare bones. There's Human or Irathient, male or female. After that there's a choice of four origins: Veteran, Survivalist, Outlaw, and Machinist.

I have a hard time with this because if the earth really were on the edge of sci-fi post-apocalyptic alien invasion extinction, I would no doubt be some sort of grizzled Survivalist/Outlaw/Machinist hybrid. Though this isn't a class-based game from what I hear, for now I have to choose.

It's Survivalist.

Continue reading Massively's Defiance launch week diary: Day one

MassivelyMassively's Defiance launch week diary: Day one originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkark-hunterarkfalldefiancedefiance-first-impressionsdefiance-hands-ondefiance-launchdefiance-launch-diarydefiance-launch-impressionsfeaturedhands-onlaunchlaunch-daylaunchespvpsci-fisyfytransmedia-synergytriontrion-worldstvxboxTue, 02 Apr 2013 11:30:00 EST