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[Runes of Magic's Fires of Shadowforge update features new race, starting zone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/runes-of-magics-fires-of-shadowforge-update-features-new-race/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/runes-of-magics-fires-of-shadowforge-update-features-new-race/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/runes-of-magics-fires-of-shadowforge-update-features-new-race/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Runes of Magic - Shadowforge dwarfRunes of Magic's Chapter V is on the way, and along with several new features, it's bringing a whole lot of dwarven flavor to the game's sprawling fantasy world.

The Shadowforge Dwarves are the game's latest race, and players who choose to roll one will begin their adventures in the new Yrvandis Hollows starting area. In addition to the usual newbie zone accoutrements, the area features an instance called the Outskirts of Taffrock that Frogster describes as "particularly challenging." Players will face off against a final boss known as Dark Gargoylem, along with his horde of aggressive spirits that have hunkered down in the lower levels of the ancient dwarven hall.

Runes of Magic is a free-to-play fantasy title developed by Runewaker and published by Frogster. The Fires of Shadowforge update releases June 12th.

[Source: Frogster press release]

MassivelyRunes of Magic's Fires of Shadowforge update features new race, starting zone originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeonsdwarvesf2pfantasyfires-of-shadowforgefree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveromrunes-of-magicrunes-of-magic-chapter-vrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttaboreaFri, 25 May 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic weekend event psyches players up for Chapter V]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/runes-of-magic-weekend-event-psyches-players-up-for-chapter-v/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/runes-of-magic-weekend-event-psyches-players-up-for-chapter-v/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/runes-of-magic-weekend-event-psyches-players-up-for-chapter-v/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Runes of Magic
Runes of Magic is counting down the days until its next major update, Chapter V: Fires of Shadowforge, and Frogster is throwing five exciting events to pep up its playerbase during the wait. The Big Five, as the company is calling it, is currently at the halfway mark as its third event that will take place over the holiday weekend.

From May 25th through May 29th, Runes of Magic players can visit the Helping Hands in one of several locations in the game to get an incredible buff. This two-hour buff will boost experience, talent point, and rare loot gain for all who accept it. Players can receive the buff once a day for the duration of the event.

The highlight of Chapter V is most definitely the addition of a pair of new classes: the Champion and the Warlock. Also coming with Chapter V are the playable Shadowforge Dwarves, a new starter zone, and additional high-level instances. The update will release on June 12th.

MassivelyRunes of Magic weekend event psyches players up for Chapter V originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-fivebig-five-eventbuffchampionchapter-5chapter-veventf2pfantasyfires-of-shadowforgefree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivein-game-eventplayer-buffromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentShadowforge-Dwarvestaboreathe-big-fivewarlockThu, 24 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic shows off the new Champion and Warlock]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/runes-of-magic-shows-off-the-new-champion-and-warlock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/runes-of-magic-shows-off-the-new-champion-and-warlock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/runes-of-magic-shows-off-the-new-champion-and-warlock/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Now, if he transformed into a plane, that would be something.
New classes are always exciting. In a game with an established set of abilities and character options, the chance to take a different option helps keep the game engaging and surprising. That's no doubt part of the rationale behind Runes of Magic's two new classes, the Champion and the Warlock. But they're also meant to show off the ingenuity and cleverness of the Dwarves, and in a new preview of these two classes, it becomes clear just how much both will bring to the table.

The Warlock is an arcane caster who has delved into the knowledge of the Shadowforge Dwarves, allowing him to act as either a damage dealer or a support character as the situation warrants. Champions are masters of pseudo-mystical forge techniques, with the Champion ultimately being capable of transforming into a special Runic Robot form for increased damage and durability. There are only a few more weeks until the game's next major update, and then players will get to try out the new hybrid classes for themselves.

MassivelyRunes of Magic shows off the new Champion and Warlock originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championclassescoming-patchesf2pfantasyfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehybridhybrid-classesmajor-patchesnew-classespatchespreviewpreviewsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttaboreawarlockWed, 16 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Play Runes of Magic in your browser (if you're in Europe)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/play-runes-of-magic-in-your-browser-if-youre-in-europe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/play-runes-of-magic-in-your-browser-if-youre-in-europe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/play-runes-of-magic-in-your-browser-if-youre-in-europe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic - spellcaster and pet
Want to play Runes of Magic in your browser? Now you can, thanks to the fruits of a partnership between Frogster and Kalydo. Frogster tells us that "game quality is not compromised in the new version, and Runes of Magic can now be played on any PC that meets the technical requirements without having to download the full client."

It usually takes about 30 seconds of streaming to reach RoM's main menu and character creation interface. Also of note is the fact that the browser version runs on the same servers as the client version, so you'll still have access to all of your friends and familiars.

The bad news is that the browser version is only available in Europe as of today. We'll update you as soon as we hear about Frogster's plans for additional markets.

[Source: Frogster press release]

MassivelyPlay Runes of Magic in your browser (if you're in Europe) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-runes-of-magicf2pfantasyfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivekalydoromrunes-of-magicrunes-of-magic-browser-basedrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttaboreaTue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Easter event roundup: 2012 edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/massivelys-easter-event-roundup-2012-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/massivelys-easter-event-roundup-2012-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/massivelys-easter-event-roundup-2012-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bunnies at church
Whether you're an Easter traditionalist or you simply need an excuse to eat a chocolate bunny, it's that time of year again. It's also time for a few of our favorite MMO devs to don their silly hats and introduce all manner of egg hunts and contests into games like RuneScape, Runes of Magic, and World of Warcraft.

That's just the tip of the Easter event iceberg; you'll find several more festively inclined titles in our roundup after the cut. Before you hop on over, have a look at the two bunnies above and repeat after us: d'awww.

Continue reading Massively's Easter event roundup: 2012 edition

MassivelyMassively's Easter event roundup: 2012 edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoactivisionanetarenanetatlanticaatlantica-onlineblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmodragon-nesteastereaster-2012easter-eventseaster-roundupeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieventseverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-warsgwholiday-roundupin-game-eventsjagexjagex-games-studioncsoftnexonnexon-americanexon-entertainmentnexon-korearomrounduprsrunes-of-magicrunescaperunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxscarlet-legacysoesonysony-online-entertainmenttaboreatactical-mmovindictuswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 07 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 194: Bookah bookah!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/massively-speaking-episode-194-bookah-bookah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/massively-speaking-episode-194-bookah-bookah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/massively-speaking-episode-194-bookah-bookah/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Vanguard
Massively Speaking Episode 194 welcomes aboard resident Star Trek Online expert Terilynn Shull to talk about Tribbles and bits and why Star Trek doesn't have more "The Fly" incidents involving the transporter and local flora or fauna. Captain Archer would have been vastly improved by beaming him into a badger.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 194: Bookah bookah!

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 194: Bookah bookah! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbrantbrianna-royceccpccp-gamesend-of-nationseonf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegothicguild-wars-2gw2horrorhumorjustin-olivettimassively-speakingmmortsncsoftopinionpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespodcastpodcastingpodcastsromrtsrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentsupernaturaltaboreatelontriontrion-worldsvampirevampiresvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarwhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessTue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 194Massively.com Staff01:05:44podcasts<![CDATA[Runes of Magic Chapter 5 features new race, two new classes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/runes-of-magic-chapter-5-features-new-race-two-new-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/runes-of-magic-chapter-5-features-new-race-two-new-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/runes-of-magic-chapter-5-features-new-race-two-new-classes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Runes of Magic - Fires of Shadowforge logo
Frogster is prepping for the next chapter in its Runes of Magic saga, and the company says it's going to be a doozy. Chapter 5 is called Fires of Shadowforge, and not only will it bring the requisite new zones, dungeons, and quests, but players will also have access to a new race and two new classes.

The Shadowforge Dwarves have been hidden beneath the ground of Taborea for some time now, perfecting their dark arts and blacksmithing skills as well as founding a kingdom in the continent's network of caves. Thus far Frogster is remaining coy about the gameplay associated with the new race and the two new arcane-based classes (the Sorcerer and the Champion), but the company says it will publish skill info and other details in the coming weeks.

[Source: Frogster press release]

MassivelyRunes of Magic Chapter 5 features new race, two new classes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championexpansionf2pfantasyfires-of-shadowforgefree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveromrunes-of-magicrunes-of-magic-dwarvesrunes-of-magic-new-classesrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentshadowforge-dwarvessorcerertaboreaFri, 23 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The hidden perils of Guild Wars 2's microtransactions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-soapbox-the-hidden-perils-of-guild-wars-2s-microtransactio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-soapbox-the-hidden-perils-of-guild-wars-2s-microtransactio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-soapbox-the-hidden-perils-of-guild-wars-2s-microtransactio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 screenshot
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

The ArenaNet post about microtransactions in Guild Wars 2 reveals that the "gems" currency will be bought with real money and be available for purchase with in-game gold in GW2. But people seem to have forgetten that Runes of Magic's cash shop operated this way three years ago. I've been playing RoM since closed beta, and the cash shop is one of the reasons RoM is so different from other F2P MMOs of its era.

Frogster eventually removed the ability to buy diamonds with gold because of fraud, so I'm curious to see how ArenaNet handles that issue. My time in RoM has shown me that there are other issues involved here, issues of security, players gaming the system, botting, and pay-to-win debates. In other words, there's more at stake here than whether cash shops sell gear or items toward gaining power.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The hidden perils of Guild Wars 2's microtransactions

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The hidden perils of Guild Wars 2's microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetauction houseauction-housecash-shopdiamondseditorialf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegemsguild-wars-2gw2item-shopjeremy-strattonmicro-transactionsmicrotransactionsncsoftop-edopinionpay-to-winrantrantsreal-money-tradingrmtromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentselling-powersoapboxtaboreathe-soapboxWed, 21 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic on its third anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/runes-of-magic-on-its-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/runes-of-magic-on-its-third-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/runes-of-magic-on-its-third-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Runes of Magic 3rd B-day image
Runes of Magic's third anniversary is finally upon us. Frogster has been gearing up for the event by holding diamond sales and cash-shop specials. Each anniversary, you can also take part in multiple frog-related quests and events. Frog-bashing, frog disguises, and more frog-bashing have long been a staple. Frog-racing and frog etiquette have been added to the roster. What's frog etiquette? Why, it's either insulting or complimenting frogs, silly. During the festivities, various freebies are usually handed out to players who log in, as well.

The real question is what's new in the land of Taborea, but if you wanted to know about new lands or dungeons, you'll have to wait a little bit longer. There's no official word, but given the time that's passed and the unofficial images and information that are floating around the Internet, we know Chapter 5 can't be too far off. There are still players out there who are far from making their way through the Chapter 4 content, but many guilds on the cutting edge are starting to trample Tomb of the Seven Heroes into a well-worn path.

During this intermediary period, Runewaker added the random attribute extractor and the costume interface. This isn't a replacement to aggregating; it's more like an extension. Most recently, the team introduced a patch containing bug fixes and a sprinkling of changes to the user interface, guilds, pets, vendor NPCs, quests, crafting, and skills. Some of the most exciting information is sketchy but does point to two possible new classes. And what class (or race?) could possibly have skills with names like "forge" and "runecraft" in them? Hmm...

Continue reading Runes of Magic on its third anniversary

MassivelyRunes of Magic on its third anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-years-oldanniversariesanniversarybirthdayf2pfantasyfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehappy-anniversaryhappy-anniversary-romhappy-anniversary-runes-of-magichappy-birthday-romhappy-birthday-runes-of-magicjeremy-strattonromrumorrumorsrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttaboreathird-anniversarythree-years-oldMon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
The last time on the Perfect Ten, disaster struck the good ship Poseidon and the surviving readers were running out of air as they tried to escape the flipped-over vessel. Also, we were counting down the top 20 MMO themes, but that's of small consolation to the soon-to-be bereaved friends and families, don't you think?

Because we play these games extensively, it's not uncommon for MMO music -- and themes -- to become vilified by the sheer number of times we've heard them. That's a little unfair to a three-minute piece of soundtrack that slaves every day to feed his wife and kids, doing the best he can in a trying situation. So perhaps we can put aside melodic oversaturation to look at these tracks anew, shall we?

With half of them out of the way, it's time to look into the elite of the elite: the 10 best MMO themes of all time. According to me. A guy you don't know. You've got goosebumps, don't you?

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two)

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acallodsallods-onlineasherons-calleqeq2everquesteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedgranado-espadaguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2jeremy-soulelistmusicperfect-tenromrunes-of-magicscorestar-trek-onlinestosword-of-the-new-worldthe-perfect-tenthemetheme-musictitle-themeturbineultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player.

With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more.

To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionaion-gameAnarchy-Onlineaocccpccp-eveccp-gameschampions-onlinecharacter-creationcharacter-customizationcity-of-heroescocohcraft-of-godscraft-of-the-godscraftingcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalleden-eternaleq-1eq-2eq-ieq-iieveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineever-quest-1ever-quest-2ever-quest-iever-quest-iieverquest-1everquest-2everquest-ieverquest-iifallen-earthfeaturedfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiflyffFuncomglitchguild-housinghousingking-of-kings-3liden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroluna-onlinemabinogimission-architectnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesplanetsideplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionsplayer-housingplayer-run-economyrunescapeRyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoe-eq-1soe-eq-2soe-eq-isoe-eq-iisome-assembly-requiredsony-eq-1sony-eq-2sony-eq-isony-eq-iisquare-enixst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineturbineTurbine-EntertainmentUltima-OnlineUOvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvirtual-worldwar-of-the-immortalswizard-101xbox-360XsyonFri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic to receive Turkish and Latin American localization from Aeria Games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/runes-of-magic-to-receive-turkish-and-latin-american-localizatio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/runes-of-magic-to-receive-turkish-and-latin-american-localizatio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/runes-of-magic-to-receive-turkish-and-latin-american-localizatio/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Server lag from huge gatherings is a universal language.
Aeria Games seems to be making a niche for itself localizing games into neglected regions. Earlier this year, it was announced that the company would take on the localization for Perfect World International for Latin America. Now it's doing the same thing for another game, taking the responsibility of localizing Runes of Magic for both the Latin American market and the Turkish market. That means all of the current live features of Runes of Magic in your native language, assuming your native language is Spanish, Portuguese, or Turkish.

No details have been disclosed about the timeframe for the launch of these new localizations. According to Len Hoang, CEO of Aeria Games, the release is part of the company's overall ongoing strategy -- "We believe emerging markets will continue to rise in importance for Aeria Games as we commit to growing our global community of power players." Keep your eyes peeled for more news about the release.

[Source: Aeria Games press release]

MassivelyRunes of Magic to receive Turkish and Latin American localization from Aeria Games originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeria-gamesf2pfree-to-playfrogsterlanguagelatin-americalen-hoanglocalizationlocalizationslocalized-clientnewsportugeseromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentspanishturkeyturkishFri, 02 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic now featuring new raid content, Tergothen Bay zone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/runes-of-magic-now-featuring-new-raid-content-tergothen-bay-zon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/runes-of-magic-now-featuring-new-raid-content-tergothen-bay-zon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/runes-of-magic-now-featuring-new-raid-content-tergothen-bay-zon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Runes of Magic - Tergothen Bay screenshot
Thanksgiving presents aren't really a tradition as of yet, but Frogster nonetheless gave its Runes of Magic faithful a gift in the form of the game's 4.0.5 content patch. The update is called Souls of the Past, and it brings a bit of new endgame stuff to the free-to-play fantasy MMO.

First up is a new raid dungeon called the Tomb of the Seven Heroes, and it will challenge groups of 12 players with seven formidable boss battles. Frogster has also raised the level cap to 70 and is also offering up a entirely new content zone called Tergothen Bay. Here the players will find themselves taking part in the ongoing struggles between the region's ruling families, and the new content "paves the way to Chapter 5, which we are all very much looking forward to," says Runes of Magic producer Mandy Blumenthal.

MassivelyRunes of Magic now featuring new raid content, Tergothen Bay zone originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-updatef2pfantasyfree-to-playfrogsterpatchesraidsrunes-of-magicrunes-of-magic-chapter-5runewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsouls-of-the-pasttaboreatergothen-baytomb-of-the-seven-heroesFri, 25 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic reveals Souls of the Past trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/runes-of-magic-reveals-souls-of-the-past-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/runes-of-magic-reveals-souls-of-the-past-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/runes-of-magic-reveals-souls-of-the-past-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Runes of Magic - Tergothen Bay gate
Get ready, Runes of Magic fans. Frogster has unveiled a brand-spanking-new trailer for the fantasy title's upcoming Souls of the Past content patch. According to a developer post on the game's official boards, the update will go live on November 22nd and will feature a level cap increase as well as a new adventuring region.

Players will be able to advance from 67 to 70, and they'll also be able to explore Tergothen Bay, a royal coastal town near the foothills of the Redhill Mountains. The trailer is short, but it shows off a few of the big nasties awaiting players in the region's new dungeon. It also touches on the lore behind the new content, and specifically how the demon Sismond continues to manipulate the citizens of Taborea. Check it out after the break.

Continue reading Runes of Magic reveals Souls of the Past trailer

MassivelyRunes of Magic reveals Souls of the Past trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfree-to-playfrogsternew-contentpatchesredhill-mountainsrunes-of-magicsouls-of-the-pasttaboreatergothen-baytrailervideoTue, 15 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
Last week, Runes of Magic's latest patch brought Knight skill balancing, saw the return of the Juice Festival, and tried to remove some macro functions. All in all, it wasn't a huge patch, but it was enough to light up the RoM forum with a lot of chatter.

As it turns out, many vocal players were saddened to see the removal of macro functions that gave them an incredible amount of flexibility. The abilities given to players to make scripts, macros and addons with amazing freedom have been among RoM's strong points, but they also allowed so much freedom that they skirted the boundary between "helpful addon" and "botting."

The proposed macro change may be one of the fastest retractions Frogster has ever had to make, but there's also the balancing that Knights received and the Juice Festival to talk about in this week's Lost Pages of Taborea. Grab your favorite juice and meet me after the break.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsclass-balancediycedo-it-yourself-combat-enginefeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonjuice-festivalknightknight-balanceknight-balancinglost-pages-of-taboreamacromacro-nerfmacrospatchpatch-4.0.3patchesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscriptsMon, 10 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
I've got one more article concerning the current state of Runes of Magic's economy. To round out my trilogy, I'm taking a look at actual fixes to what could be seen as a broken mechanic. If the current inflation is indeed seen as something that is broken and could quickly damage the playability in RoM, then the fixes would likely be band-aids. It would take too long to rework an entire system filled with thousands of items, each affecting the other. The fix would also need to be implemented quickly. That puts some limitations on our speculations. What does the fix need to concentrate on?

The problem seems boil down to the excess amounts of gold that can be hoarded -- hundreds and hundreds of millions can be saved up. It's also possible for high-level, well-geared players to accumulate gold rather quickly. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to take a look at gold sinks (including one Frogster is testing), gold-caps, and some other ways to tame the economy.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economic-recoveryeconomic-stimuluseconomicseconomyfeaturedfixing-the-economyfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegoldgold-faucetgold-fixgold-sinkinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 03 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Beating the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/lost-pages-of-taborea-beating-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/lost-pages-of-taborea-beating-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/lost-pages-of-taborea-beating-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic image
Last week, I expounded on Runes of Magic's current economic situation. Prices are crazier than the obligatory car salesman's, only in reverse. That is to say, prices are extremely high for everything right now. It doesn't stop the game from functioning, but it does put a lot of gear and upgrading tools out of reach for new and free players.

This week in Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to look at a handful of ways that you can continue to enjoy RoM until the storm blows over (if it blows over). Even though prices seem out of hand, you can still get equipped well enough from new quests to start running dungeons. The minigames have been rejuvenated into farming grounds, thanks to the introduction of crimson stats. And even though it is often scoffed at, arena gear is an option for those willing to grind honor points or materials.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Beating the economy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Beating the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coast-of-opportunitycrimsoncrimson-statseconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 26 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/the-perfect-ten-pirates-ahoy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten: Pirates
Fantasy pirates: Love 'em or hate 'em, they're deeply ingrained in geek culture to the point that they're almost impossible to dislodge. This past Monday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day, when everyone's inner pirate was encouraged to "Arr!" heartily, look for treasure in long-forgotten places, and embrace the fashion style of bandanas and eyepatches.

It seemed like a perfect week, therefore, to look at piratey life in MMOs. From entire games to mere outfits and from the token pirate union that has a chapter in each game to delusional madmen, this list aims to sate the swagger of keyboard swashbucklers. It's a testament to the pirate phenomenon that most developers can't help but include a buccaneer or two, even if the setting isn't always asking for it -- a phenomenon even the U.S. Navy has accepted.

Hit the jump to start, and sail straight on 'til morning!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy!

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Pirates ahoy! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahoyblizzardcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcookiecovddodeadminesdisneydungeons-and-dragons-onlineeveeve-onlinefeaturedfree-realmsghost-piratesgooniesinternational-talk-like-a-pirate-dayirestone-inletjohnny-deppjolly-rogerlong-dronglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromr-smiteperfect-10perfect-tenpiratepiratespirates-in-spacepirates-of-the-burning-seapirates-of-the-caribbean-onlinepirates-plunderplunderravenfellrunes-of-magicscallywagsscooby-dootalk-like-a-pirate-daythe-gooniesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenturbineus-navywarwarhammer-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftwowyaaryarThu, 22 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
For months now, it's been no secret that Runes of Magic's economy has been out of whack. I've been sitting on this article, watching and waiting to see what would happen next. The assumption, of course, is that I think something will happen. I keep thinking that Runewaker, Frogster and RoM will align like stars to zap the economy back to its previous state, or that RoM's economy will act like a large, slowly deflating balloon, but nothing's happened for months. That's not to say the something that could happen will never happen. This period of severe inflation is a drop in the bucket compared to the life of the game. But what if the economy stays the way it is?

I've stopped asking questions that pointed and started asking how this new economy makes sense. I don't think anything is more wrong with the economy now than it was before. Prices are higher, much higher, on everything. For some, that's enough of a problem, but is it a problem for the operation of RoM? In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, follow me down the rabbit hole to see how the weird might actually be normal.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>currencydiamond-pricesdiamondseconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegoldinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Runes of Magic/Magic Hub image
I'm going to jump on this one before anyone else does. The company Overwolf developed a little application that provides MMO players with social networking, web, video and screenshot functionality without the need to alt+tab out of a game.

It's a lot like what Trion has built into RIFT, only in a third-party package, and Frogster partnered with Overwolf to provide a Runes of Magic-branded version called Magic Hub -- complete with RoM-specific buttons.

After some technical problems, I got Magic Hub to work and put it through its paces. There are other applications out there that provide a wide range of functionality for gamers, but since this one is customized for RoM, I thought I'd give my impressions.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegmailimpressionintegrated-webintegrationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamagic-hubmsn-messengeropinionoverlayoverwolfromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscreenshotsskypesocial-networkingsteamthird-partythird-party-applicationstwittervideoyoutubeMon, 12 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST