Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.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/<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2 disciplines and WvWvW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/choose-my-adventure-gw2-disciplines-and-wvwvw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/choose-my-adventure-gw2-disciplines-and-wvwvw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/choose-my-adventure-gw2-disciplines-and-wvwvw/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure Guild Wars 2 disciplines and WvWvW
This week in our Guild Wars 2 edition of Choose My Adventure, level 26 Mesmer Pippy Peat donned his two-handed staff (with his two-handed greatsword as backup) and headed for the brutally fun battlegrounds in world vs. world vs. world. I tried my hand at utilizing my new skills, Radiation Field and Feedback, with marginal success. Some tasty burgers to up my Radiation Field's condition duration helped, though.

I had a blast with tailoring but maybe a little more with cooking. I discovered some interesting ways to go about crafting to level up faster. I lingered in Brisban Wildlands before moving on to WvWvW because I had to catch some more video and screenshots to add to the gallery and wanted to make a snazzy new video.

Read on for more eye-popping screenshots, a recounting of my trials, and another round of voting.

Gallery: CMA: Guild Wars 2

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2 disciplines and WvWvW

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2 disciplines and WvWvW originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    anetarenanetchefchoose-my-adventurecmacookingcraftcraftingdisciplinesfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2hands-onjeremy-strattonncsoftopinionpollpollsprofessionsreaders-choiceskillstailortailoringtraitsvotevotingWed, 14 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST    <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: The Guild Wars 2 way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/choose-my-adventure-the-guild-wars-2-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/choose-my-adventure-the-guild-wars-2-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/choose-my-adventure-the-guild-wars-2-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

    Choose My Adventure The Guild Wars 2 way
    This week has been severely under-productive in light of my lofty Guild Wars 2 goals, but that's not a bad thing. Pippy Peat, the sad yet determined I-think-I-can Mesmer has wielded his two-handed greatsword with gusto and has been fighting a valiant fight.

    The jarring emptiness of Metrica Province has left me wondering whether some of GW2's events are scaling improperly, are set too high, or aren't scaling at all. Nevertheless, there were plenty of events for me to take part in, and they've been my main source of experience for this week's Choose My Adventure. I've also come across some bugs and glitches that Massively's resident GW2 expert, Elisabeth Cardy, has helped me with.

    My greatsword is proving incredibly handy, mixed with clones of myself to distract the Inquest and random grumpy animals. I couldn't resist zapping some of the innocent critters littering the landscape. I'm sorry. Pippy is a sad, depressed, maybe narcissistic little Mesmer. Every once in a while, he takes his aggression out on the local fauna.

    Setting up a reasonable amount of polls is proving to be difficult. There are so many options for traits, weapons, and skills. It's staggering. Instead of trying to be all-inclusive for every aspect of the game, I'm trying to take into consideration how readers feel from votes and comments and use that as a guide. So what has Pippy has gotten himself into this week?

    Gallery: CMA: Guild Wars 2

    Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The Guild Wars 2 way

    MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The Guild Wars 2 way originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      ]]>      anetarenanetchoose-my-adventurecmafantasyfeaturedgalleriesgalleryguild-wars-2gw2hands-onjeremy-strattonmesmerncsoftopinionpollpollsreaders-choicescreenshotscreenshotsvotevotingWed, 07 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST      <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2, Tyria and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/choose-my-adventure-guild-wars-2-tyria-and-beyond/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/choose-my-adventure-guild-wars-2-tyria-and-beyond/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/choose-my-adventure-guild-wars-2-tyria-and-beyond/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

      Choose My Adventure GW2, tyria and beyond
      Last week's polls were interesting to watch. I wasn't sure which Guild Wars 2 class I was going to end up with. As it turns out, I'll be playing a male Asura Mesmer. The Mesmer won out by a measley seven votes, thus changing my fate from a turret-dropping, technological mastermind to that of a magical duelist.

      My illusion-shattering Mesmer made its first steps into Metrica Province. I didn't want to accomplish too much without you voting for me, but I did want to get the cube spinning. Check out my initial adventures after the break be sure to and vote on next week's polls which cover weapons, zones, and more.

      Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2, Tyria and beyond

      MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2, Tyria and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        anetarenanetchoose-my-adventurecmafantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2hands-onjeremy-strattonncsoftopinionpollpollsreaders-choicevotevotingWed, 31 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2 takes the polls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/choose-my-adventure-no-correlation-between-being-popular-and-no/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/choose-my-adventure-no-correlation-between-being-popular-and-no/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/choose-my-adventure-no-correlation-between-being-popular-and-no/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

        Guild Wars 2 screenshot
        MMOs come and go. They get popular and sink to obscurity. Expansions can give a suffering MMO another chance, make an average MMO the popular kid on the block, or change the industry completely. No matter which MMOs come and go or what expansions push an MMO into the sunlight for a spell, many MMOs will keep on running with a larger community than there were votes on this poll. Not to mention people who aren't playing but want to see someone else play! Guild Wars 2 and Allods were initially close enough in the poll to leave a little doubt as to who might win, but GW2 swept ahead and held on to the end.

        So before I let you vote on what you want me to do in Guild Wars 2, let me tell you a bit about my playstyle so you can make your decision. You'll find all of this week's polls at the end!

        Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2 takes the polls

        MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Guild Wars 2 takes the polls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>          anetarenanetchoose-my-adventurecmafantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2hands-onjeremy-strattonncsoftopinionpollpollsreaders-choicevotevotingWed, 24 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST          <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: You decide the MMO and how I play it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/choose-my-adventure-you-decide-the-mmo-and-how-i-play-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/choose-my-adventure-you-decide-the-mmo-and-how-i-play-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/choose-my-adventure-you-decide-the-mmo-and-how-i-play-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

          Choose My Adventure You decide the MMO and how I play it
          It's finally time for my second round of Choose My Adventure. The last time I helmed CMA, Lineage II was top pick, and I had a lot of fun with it. I took tons of screenshots and video to keep you in the loop as to my progress, and you can expect the same, whichever game is chosen this time.

          MJ's turn with The Secret World was a lot of fun to read and follow. She even livestreamed some of her shenanigans... I mean, adventures. You can bet I'll be playing with one finger over the PrtScn button and livestreaming some of my adventures as well. I hope to make this a multimedia extravaganza of epic proportions.

          Take a look through your choices and vote, vote, vote. And make sure to get those votes in by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday the 21st!

          Continue reading Choose My Adventure: You decide the MMO and how I play it

          MassivelyChoose My Adventure: You decide the MMO and how I play it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ]]>            allodsallods-onlineanetarenanetastrum-nivalchoose-my-adventurecmacode-clubcrypticcryptic-studioseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfallen-earthfantasyfefeaturedfpsfree-to-playg1gagala-netgamersfirstglobal agendagpotatoguild-wars-2gw2hands-onhi-rezhi-rez-studioshistoricalmail-ru-gamesmail.ru-gamesmailru-gamesmmofpsncsoftopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpollpollspost-apocpost-apocalypticpvppwereaders-choicesandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentspy-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotanktankstelonthird-person-shootertpsvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgvotevotingwarwargaming.netwastelandsworld-of-tankswotwurmwurm-onlineWed, 17 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST            <![CDATA[Vanguard releases October producer's letter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/vanguard-producers-letter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/vanguard-producers-letter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/vanguard-producers-letter/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

            Vanguard screenshot
            Vanguard's new producer, Harvey "Rahtiz" Burgess, released a new producer's letter today to keep players informed on what's been going on since the F2P launch.

            Burgess mentions more team members coming aboard, more changes in the coming weeks, and what may be a big blow to the community involving Salim "Silius" Grant, but it's not exactly bad news for him.

            While it's not exactly a giant pumpkin full of news-candy, Burgess also makes mention that City of Brass will finally be out by late November, plus more information on top of last week's SOE Webcast about player studio. For the full story, hop on over to the official Vanguard website.

            MassivelyVanguard releases October producer's letter originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ]]>            f2pfantasyfree-to-playharvey-burgessharvey-rahtiz-burgesssalem-grantsalem-silius-grantsandboxsiliussoesonysony-online-entertainmenttelonvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgFri, 12 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST            <![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: SOE elaborates on Vanguard's F2P conversion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/massively-exclusive-soe-elaborates-on-vanguards-f2p-conversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/massively-exclusive-soe-elaborates-on-vanguards-f2p-conversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/massively-exclusive-soe-elaborates-on-vanguards-f2p-conversion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

            Vanguard F2P
            Vanguard news is ramping up in preparation for the August 14th free-to-play conversion date. In fact, Sony Online Entertainment quietly kicked off a soft launch of the revamped game yesterday, giving players a first glimpse of the new website, pricing matrix, and in-game station store.

            Massively sat down with Andy Sites, the game's director of development at SOE, to ask him what players can expect during and after Vanguard's F2P transition. We've got the official scoop on transition content, housing and boats, server types, and more beyond the break!

            Continue reading Massively Exclusive: SOE elaborates on Vanguard's F2P conversion

            MassivelyMassively Exclusive: SOE elaborates on Vanguard's F2P conversion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              ]]>              andy-sitesdirector-of-developmentf2pf2p-transitionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewinterviewspreviewpreviewsq--aq-and-aqaquestion-and-answersandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttelonvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgWed, 08 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST              <![CDATA[The Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/the-soapbox-l2p-and-the-antisocial-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/the-soapbox-l2p-and-the-antisocial-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/the-soapbox-l2p-and-the-antisocial-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

              The Soapbox When words don't mean what they say
              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.

              I'm amazed how often I still hear the phrase "learn to play." It's become a nasty term that makes me suspect those saying it just don't want other gamers around at all. And I can hardly blame them when the MMO market is pushing a markedly single-player agenda.

              MMOs tout our ability to play with friends and interact with others, but in the end, they are selfish games that breed and attract selfish gamers. In modern MMOs, interaction barely rises above single-player co-op. Guild Wars 2 exemplifies this by dropping you in a world with the potential for thousands of players to be all around you, but its alienating mechanics often make you feel like a lonely ghost who wants nothing more than to hug someone.

              L2P and other stock insults are rooted in something ugly: the literally antisocial nature of many MMOs.

              Continue reading The Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO

              MassivelyThe Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                anetarenanetcultureeditorialelitismelitistelitist-jerksentitlemententitlementsfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2jeremy-strattonncsoftnegativenegativityop-edopinionpessimismpessimisticrantrantssoapboxsub-culturethe-soapboxTue, 31 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST                <![CDATA[New patch and level-jumping event for Vindictus Europe]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/new-patch-and-level-jumping-event-for-vindictus-europe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/new-patch-and-level-jumping-event-for-vindictus-europe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/new-patch-and-level-jumping-event-for-vindictus-europe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                Vindictus level jumping event
                Between now and August 1st, Vindictus EU will be holding a jumping event. No, this isn't a late Easter event but a chance for any player to jump a new character straight to level 50.

                Special armor and weapon sets will be provided to get your new character on the path to glory. Nexon Europe apparently thinks you need even more incentive to skip 50 levels of grinding. Plus, jumped characters will grant their entire party double experience and see a chance for extra evil cores to drop.

                [Source: Nexon Europe press release]

                MassivelyNew patch and level-jumping event for Vindictus Europe originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ]]>                  action-mmoeventsf2pfantasyfree-to-playnexonnexon-entertainmentnexon-europevindictusWed, 18 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST                  <![CDATA[MMO Blender: Jeremy's unholy MMO concoction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/mmo-blender-jeremys-unholy-mmo-concoction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/mmo-blender-jeremys-unholy-mmo-concoction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/mmo-blender-jeremys-unholy-mmo-concoction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

                  MMO Blender
                  Have you ever wished MMO developers could put away their checkbooks, pluck out the best bits of their respective MMOs, and weld them together to construct the megalopolis of MMOs? We do too! So today, we're launching a brand-new opinion column, MMO Blender, in which the Massively writers will mix and match their favorite features from existing MMOs for your amusement. But do our choices create a perfectly honed machine or a lumbering, speechless frankenstein of an MMO that deserves to be put out of its misery?

                  First up: Livestreamer extraordinaire and Contributing Editor Jeremy Stratton with a potent, sandboxy blend of Fallen Earth, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, and more. Wet your whistle after the break and look for more MMO Blenders from the rest of our staff in the coming weeks!

                  Continue reading MMO Blender: Jeremy's unholy MMO concoction

                  MassivelyMMO Blender: Jeremy's unholy MMO concoction originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    ]]>                    anetarenanetarmchair-game-designauction-housecastlleccpccp-gamescode-clubcraftingdecoratingdigdynamic-eventseconomyeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfallen-earthfantasyfavorite-mmofefeaturedfellowship-maneuversffa-pvpfrankengamefrankenmmofree-for-allfree-for-all-pvpfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefurnitureg1game-designgame-mechanicsgamersfirstguild-wars-2gw2housinginternet-spaceshipsjeremy-strattonkeepslayout-editorlineagelineage-2lineage-iilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologyncsoftopen-world-housingopinionplayer-housingplayer-vs-playerpost-apocpost-apocalypticpvpromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisiegesiege-warfaresiegessoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinetaboreatelonterraformterraformingturbineturbine-entertainmentvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwastelandsworld-eventswurmwurm-onlineFri, 22 Jun 2012 15:00:00 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.

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                      ]]>                      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.

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                        ]]>                        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[Choose My Adventure: So long, Lineage II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/choose-my-adventure-so-long-lineage-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/choose-my-adventure-so-long-lineage-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/choose-my-adventure-so-long-lineage-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

                        Screenshot Lineage 2
                        I'm here at the end of the line. Six weeks and 48 levels brings me to the close of my time on Choose My Adventure with Lineage II. It became a little grindy toward the end, but that's due to my inability to find a group, something that's important in order to experience some of the content. When I began this little adventure, I knew nothing of Lineage II. I'm walking away a regular player who's looking forward to trying out the numerous PvP options. I wanted to finish this ride with a bang, and I was lucky enough to be ending after a siege weekend.

                        Lineage II has some rather involved sieges and other PvP content that should please many players at mid- to high-level. I was a litle confused at first, but I was able to use the broadcast crystal to watch some siege gameplay. This final farewell covers a lot of PvP in the game, so buckle up!

                        Gallery: CMA: Lineage 2

                        Continue reading Choose My Adventure: So long, Lineage II

                        MassivelyChoose My Adventure: So long, Lineage II originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          ]]>                          choose-my-adventurecmaf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygoddess-of-destructionhands-onjeremy-strattonlineage-2lineage-iincsoftncsoft-westopinionpath-to-awakeningpollpollsreaders-choicescreenshotscreenshotsvotevotingWed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST                          <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: How Lineage II feels to a Western newcomer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/choose-my-adventure-how-lineage-ii-feels-to-a-western-newcomer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/choose-my-adventure-how-lineage-ii-feels-to-a-western-newcomer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/choose-my-adventure-how-lineage-ii-feels-to-a-western-newcomer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                          Lineage 2 screenshot
                          We're down to the wire for Lineage II's Choose My Adventure, with one more week to go. My Abyss Walker quickly rushed to the 40s, at which point leveling has slowed down considerably. I've talked about pets, explored (only a fraction of) the countryside, and touched on crafting and other features. What else could we possibly talk about?

                          I haven't really shared a lot of my experiences with my character class or how the class-transfers and skills affect my overall enjoyment of Lineage II. My third class-transfer is set in stone thanks to your poll choices and the game mechanics; now that I'm an Abyss Walker, I'm locked-in to become a Ghost Hunter, which makes sense. Ghost Hunter is melee, like my Abyss Walker. I can't really jump ship at this point and go ranged. So let's look a little more at my character, what the future could hold for him in terms of more class-transfers, and my opinions on non-situational combat and how that makes the game feel to me.

                          Gallery: CMA: Lineage 2

                          Continue reading Choose My Adventure: How Lineage II feels to a Western newcomer

                          MassivelyChoose My Adventure: How Lineage II feels to a Western newcomer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                            ]]>                            choose-my-adventurecmaf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygoddess-of-destructionhands-onjeremy-strattonlineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftncsoft-westopinionpath-to-awakeningpollpollsreaders-choicescreenshotscreenshotsvotevotingWed, 04 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST                            <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Post-Christmas update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/choose-my-adventure-post-christmas-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/choose-my-adventure-post-christmas-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/choose-my-adventure-post-christmas-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                            A turkey and ham coma, family soiree, and the biggest calendar holiday of the year have left my Lineage II escapades a wee bit smaller this week, but not without some fun happenings. Speaking of holidays, I hope everyone had a terrific one!

                            Random events, miraculously revived dead pets, more amazing scenery, and lots of killing are on deck in today's Choose My Adventure. It turns out that I am terrible at raising my pet wolf and even got into an accidental scuffle with another player that left her pet dead and me even deader. I returned to the Path to Awakening because that's what you voted for last week. I've also neared the end of the uber-fast leveling cycle via quests and am turning to grinding for the majority of my experience gain. The fun-level has yet to dip for me; there's higher level gameplay I'm really hoping to dip my dagger into, and I'm curious to see what level I can reach by the end of this trip. As always, check out the extensive gallery and livestreams, and tune in to MV Guide to see when my next livestream will be.

                            Gallery: CMA: Lineage 2

                            Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Post-Christmas update

                            MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Post-Christmas update originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                              ]]>                              choose-my-adventurechristmascmacraftingf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygoddess-of-destructionhands-onjeremy-strattonl2lineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftncsoft-westopinionpath-to-awakeningpollpollsreaders-choicescreenshotscreenshotsvotevotingWed, 28 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST                              <![CDATA[Massively's MMO predictions for 2012: Jeremy Stratton]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012-jeremy-stratton/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012-jeremy-stratton/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/massivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012-jeremy-stratton/#commentsJeremy StrattonStar Wars:The Old Republic will continue to be a success, through the three-month mark. Voice-overs and an extremely solid build won't be enough to push it to the top without a major redesign to focus on future trends. It won't prove to be a replacement for World of Warcraft, damage any other MMOs subscription numbers or spawn any large, dedicated, commercial websites, but it will become a regular among the deeply rooted MMOs like Lord of the Rings Online, RIFT, and the many others doing quite well.

                              WoW's Mists of Pandaria won't be the magic sauce that keeps or raises subscription numbers. Blizzard will have to deal with juggling the business end of the MMO to remain on top. MoP's big claim to fame will be how it becomes a major contender in shifting design philosophy and changing player expectations to issue in a wider variety of gameplay between MMOs, which we'll only start to see toward the end of the new year.

                              Following in the wake of a slow, almost imperceptible shift in design and expectations will be a slow and steady rise in the popularity of existing MMOs, like Fallen Earth.

                              For the first time, since it launched, EVE Online will struggle with declining numbers as CCP suffers from growing pains with a rocky DUST 514 launch and a series of substantial hiccups.

                              MMOs, in general, will continue to look at console-based gameplay as a road-map for fun but less for massively multiplayer online gaming. The industries will converge somewhat, but this will also help profitable spots open up for more traditional MMORPG design.

                              One of the bigger movers and shakers that will continue pushing the evolution of the genre will be EverQuest Next, as new info and art trickle out to, causing a world-wide gamer blackout as computers everywhere short-circuit from all the drool.

                              None of the MMOs set to come out in the next year will do miraculously well, but the industry will be primed for more old-school meets new-school gaming experiences. The money-side of the industry will be able to afford to make room for much more than on-rails, repeat dungeon-running MMOs or fantasy-less sandboxes, as it will need to meet new expectations, resulting in a great year for more diverse MMOs catering to veterans and newbs alike. This next year will spearhead the next revolution in MMOs, and gamers will reap the rewards of more choices, different experiences, and more of it all in a shorter span of time in the next few years.

                              Want more staff predictions for 2012? Pick a writer below:

                              Beau Hindman | Bree Royce | Brendan Drain | Eliot Lefebvre | Jef Reahard | Jeremy Stratton | Justin Olivetti | Shawn Schuster

                              MassivelyMassively's MMO predictions for 2012: Jeremy Stratton originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                ]]>                                Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST                                <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Exploration week]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/choose-my-adventure-exploration-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/choose-my-adventure-exploration-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/choose-my-adventure-exploration-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                                Lineage 2 screenshot
                                From desert wastelands and salty shorelines to plateaus and ocean floors, I've been busy traveling in Aden, and I've seen but a glimpse of the entire continent. Last week, you voted for me to stray from the Path to Awakening and explore the world in Lineage II, and I've been having a blast doing just that.

                                I discovered a monster racetrack, ran into raid bosses in the middle of nowhere, discovered a vast undersea temple, and so much more. I've also added 47 more screenshots to the gallery, uploaded a walkabout video, and have another livestream this week. We still aren't done yet. There are more chances for you to decide my fate in this week's Choose My Adventure.

                                Gallery: CMA: Lineage 2

                                Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Exploration week

                                MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Exploration week originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                  ]]>                                  choose-my-adventurecmaf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygoddess-of-destructionhands-onjeremy-strattonl2lineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftncsoft-westopinionpath-to-awakeningpollpollsreaders-choicescreenshotscreenshotsvideovideosvotevotingWed, 21 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST                                  <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: A male Dark Elf Fighter in Aden]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/choose-my-adventure-a-male-dark-elf-fighter-in-aden/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/choose-my-adventure-a-male-dark-elf-fighter-in-aden/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/choose-my-adventure-a-male-dark-elf-fighter-in-aden/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

                                  Lineage II screenshot
                                  Last week in Choose My Adventure, you voted for what kind of character I should make. I dutifully rolled him up and set off for fantastical adventures in Lineage II. Today, I bring you a dungeon video, many screenshots, first impressions, and even a livestream. It's a multi-media extravaganza! And we're also on to the next round of voting for what direction my character takes.

                                  Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though. I had to start out at the bottom of the barrel. For the first 20 levels, I called Talking Island Village home, until I was transported to the mainland and a little town called Gludio. I discovered, among other things, that there are many tantalizing spots to see in the game -- if you are willing to travel off the beaten path. These spots are well worth the layover, especially if you have a powerful-enough machine. As old as Lineage II is, it's strikingly gorgeous. I didn't dawdle for too long, as I had some leveling to do, and I made a few discoveries along the way.

                                  Gallery: CMA: Lineage 2

                                  Continue reading Choose My Adventure: A male Dark Elf Fighter in Aden

                                  MassivelyChoose My Adventure: A male Dark Elf Fighter in Aden originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                    ]]>                                    choose-my-adventurecmadark-elfdungeonf2pfantasyfeaturedfighterfree-to-playgalleriesgallerygold-sellersjeremy-strattonl2l2trulyfreelevelinglineage-2Lineage-iilineage2lineageIIlivestreamlivestreamsncsoftpetpetspollpollsvideovideosWed, 14 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST                                    <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Lineage II by a landslide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/choose-my-adventure-lineage-ii-by-a-landslide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/choose-my-adventure-lineage-ii-by-a-landslide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/choose-my-adventure-lineage-ii-by-a-landslide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                                    Lineage 2
                                    It was no contest from the get-go. Lineage II took an early lead in last week's poll and firmly held on to it. Color me shocked. I really thought that a few of the entries would be closely tied. Some contestants recently added some juicy content releases, but Lineage II crushed them, and all the others, by getting 1,320 votes. The runner-up, Black Prophecy, only managed to secure 299 votes.

                                    All its servers going F2P and the release of Age of Discovery weren't enough to put EverQuest II in the running. The F2P population boom in DC Universe Online's and its recent Lightning Strikes update weren't enough to create competition. Nope. The allure of Lineage II's F2P mode and the launch of the Goddess of Destruction expansion were just too much for voters to pass up.

                                    Now it's your turn to start steering my course in the lands of Lineage II. Race, class, gender and my first class-transfer are all on the table.

                                    I've tried to make voting as easy and clear as possible, but given how each race, and gender determine which classes you can choose from, you should make an effort to understand how all the choices work. Here's one example: Voting Dwarf and then Mystic is wasting a vote because Dwarves can only be Fighters, and it skews the results for those who are voting for a race that can be Mystics. You'll see what I mean.

                                    Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Lineage II by a landslide

                                    MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Lineage II by a landslide originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      ]]>                                      choose-my-adventureclassclassescmaf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgendergoddess-of-destructionhands-onjeremy-strattonkamaellineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftopinionpollpollsraceracesreaders-choicetruly-freevotevotingWed, 07 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST                                      <![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: No Skyrim, unfortunately]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/choose-my-adventure-no-skyrim-unfortunately/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/choose-my-adventure-no-skyrim-unfortunately/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/choose-my-adventure-no-skyrim-unfortunately/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                      Skyrim image
                                      For the next six weeks, you, dear readers, get to poke me with virtual sticks and jeer as I do your bidding in an MMO of your choosing. Who am I, you ask. Some of you know me from Massively TV's livestreams, during which I like to ninja loot Karen Bryan's kills. Some of you know me from reading my Runes of Magic articles. What none of you (likely) knows is that I actively play and enjoy many of the MMOs featured here on Massively. However, there are plenty of other MMOs I've either never played or have only sampled briefly. You are going to rectify that.

                                      I tend to have a casual, laid-back style of play. You'd typically find me crafting armor rather than running a dungeon in World of Warcraft. I'd rather be exploring the countryside in Vanguard than progressing through raid content. So whether you revel in the idea of throwing me out of my comfort zone or you want to sit next to me on my extra-soft carebear couch, now's your chance to vote. I'll also be livestreaming parts of Choose My Adventure in the coming weeks. Oh yeah -- and you have until Saturday to vote!

                                      Continue reading Choose My Adventure: No Skyrim, unfortunately

                                      MassivelyChoose My Adventure: No Skyrim, unfortunately originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        allodsallods-onlineastrum-nivalblack-prophecychampionschampions-onlinechoose-my-adventurecmacrypticcryptic-studiosdc-universe-onlinedcuoeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedfree-realmsfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegala-netglobal-agendagpotatohero-gameshi-rez-studioslineage-2lineage-iincsoftpollpollsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestoWed, 30 Nov 2011 15:00:00 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.

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                                          ]]>                                          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.

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                                            ]]>                                            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.

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                                              ]]>                                              coast-of-opportunitycrimsoncrimson-statseconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 26 Sep 2011 14:00:00 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.

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                                                ]]>                                                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.

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                                                  ]]>                                                  facebookfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegmailimpressionintegrated-webintegrationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamagic-hubmsn-messengeropinionoverlayoverwolfromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscreenshotsskypesocial-networkingsteamthird-partythird-party-applicationstwittervideoyoutubeMon, 12 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST                                                  <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                  Runes of Magic screenshot
                                                  Summer is starting to wane, and the cold winds will soon be blustering through the city streets. Kids with chattering teeth and blue fingers will be sitting in front of stoves or fireplaces, rolling their eyes as grandpa proclaims that he had to walk to and from school barefoot through snow uphill both ways. While our grandfathers fantasize about the pride of hardships, we can slip off to the computer and live in our fantasy worlds that provide mounts to make traveling a bit more fun.

                                                  Runes of Magic has a wide variety of mounts that can run, hover and float over water. Some of these mounts are more rare than others, like those seen only on holidays or during special fundraisers, while some are two-seaters. From the sleek and vicious to the large and powerful to the just plain wacky, RoM has a mount for all occasions. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I go over the mounts that are available, their rarity, their speed, and some ways to give your preferred mount a boost.

                                                  Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts!

                                                  MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                    ]]>                                                    featuredfloat-on-waterfloatingfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegroundhoverhoveringjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamountsover-waterromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttransportationtraveltravelingwaterborneMon, 05 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST                                                    <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                                                    Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic screenshots
                                                    It took me a little while, but you should know by now that I was going to do a Guild Wars 2 comparison. It's a little later than I previously said I'd write it, but there's no time like the present, right?

                                                    Runes of Magic has been chugging along for over two years now, while GW2 is -- sort of -- just around the corner, and Guild Wars is the veteran of the bunch at six years of age.

                                                    What do these MMOs have in common that would provoke me to attempt a comparison? I'll give you a hint: It has nothing to do with jumping. What they do share is character customization, which, really, many MMOs have. It's a pretty standard feature.

                                                    In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at how RoM could have taken some customization cues from GW, while GW2 might be taking some from RoM -- sort of like a movie based off a show based off a movie.

                                                    Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic

                                                    MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                      ]]>                                                      aggregatoranetarenanetarmor-customizingarmor-dyearmor-dyescoloringcomponentscustomizationcustomizingdyeenhancementfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2jeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreancsoftromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstatisticsstatstransmutation-stonesupgradingMon, 29 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST                                                      <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Runes of Magic's potential for EVE combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/lost-pages-of-taborea-runes-of-magics-potential-for-eve-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/lost-pages-of-taborea-runes-of-magics-potential-for-eve-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/lost-pages-of-taborea-runes-of-magics-potential-for-eve-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                      Runes of Magic screenshot
                                                      I've been thinking a lot lately on other ways that Runes of Magic reminds me of EVE Online. Not that any systems are exactly the same, but they have certain similarities. Wurm Online and Minecraft are arguably different in how they function, but they both scratch the same creative itch.

                                                      RoM's gear-modification system lends itself to EVE-esque combat. Keep in mind we're not talking about how the mechanics or guts of the games are similar or different; we're talking about how the same itch is being scratched. In the case of RoM's PvP being like EVE, it's more like tickling the itch with a feather, which makes you want to scratch it even more. I want to scratch that itch with a Brillo pad by exploring how RoM's open-world PvP could function more like EVE's, thanks to the arcane transmutor. Let's start with how I think battlefields differ from open-world PvP.

                                                      Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Runes of Magic's potential for EVE combat

                                                      MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Runes of Magic's potential for EVE combat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                        ]]>                                                        battlefieldscombatdeatheveeve-onlinefeaturedffa-pvpffapvpfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveincentivesjeremy-strattonlootinglost-pages-of-taboreapenaltiespk-protectionplayer-lootingplayer-vs-playerpvprewardsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 22 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST                                                        <![CDATA[The Soapbox: MMO slot machines]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/the-soapbox-mmo-slot-machines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/the-soapbox-mmo-slot-machines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/the-soapbox-mmo-slot-machines/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                        Slot machines photo
                                                        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.

                                                        We are beginning to drown in a sea of MMOs that are shedding variety to mimic simplified slot machines. The danger in this is that MMO gameplay is becoming akin to gambling. Enjoyment of minute-to-minute gameplay is being replaced by hours of frustration unless we manage to match three-of-a-kind to get our loot drops. The success of the games isn't resting on the shoulders of enjoyable content but on the prizes to be won by schlepping through that content. We're letting developers know this not just by playing these games but by literally asking for more of the same.

                                                        The result is that money flies into developers' hands while they skirt the boundaries of ethics by supplying "gameplay" soaked in habitual greed, delivering to players only the barest skeleton of an MMO.

                                                        Continue reading The Soapbox: MMO slot machines

                                                        MassivelyThe Soapbox: MMO slot machines originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                          ]]>                                                          actionaddictionconsoleeditorialethicsfeaturedgamblingopinionsimplifiedslot-machinesoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 16 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST                                                          <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                          Runes of Magic screenshot
                                                          Today's email comes to us from Jack Readman.
                                                          Dear Jeremy: As the subject suggests, I am curious about Runes of Magic. I have given it several tries before and can say I enjoyed it, but I always left it after a while due to distractions. Currently I'm playing RIFT and enjoying the endgame raiding and to a lesser extent the 5-mans. So I do like my PvE content. What does RoM have to offer in this regard? I love The housing thing and other diversions like that. What else is there? Tell me what is great about RoM and what gives it its flavor? How dependent do you have to be on the cash shop?
                                                          Thanks for writing, Jack. I'm sure many players have very similar questions when approaching Runes of Magic for the first time. I've tried to formulate a response akin to how I'd explain RoM to my friends -- if they'd actually want to listen to me for as long as this article is.

                                                          I can only offer my opinions, but ultimately what you think of RoM is up to you. I play RIFT, but I haven't gotten beyond level 20. I'm also not really into endgame in RoM yet, although I think I'm fairly familiar with the MMO as a whole. Keep in mind certain features will net you different answers depending on how a player approaches MMOs in general. I can tell you right off the bat that the majority of RoM's dungeons are six-man or twelve-man, but for the rest of my verbose answers, you'll have to click past the break.

                                                          Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email

                                                          MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Answering email originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                            ]]>                                                            describing-romdescribing-runes-of-magicemailfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehow-tohow-to-describe-romhow-to-describe-runes-of-magichow-would-you-describe-romhow-would-you-describe-runes-of-magicjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreaopinionquestionsquestions-and-answersreader-emailromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentviewer-emailwhat-is-romwhat-is-runes-of-magicwhat-makes-rom-popularwhat-makes-runes-of-magic-popularwhats-so-great-about-runes-of-magicwhy-should-i-play-runes-of-magicMon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST                                                            <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Faction flags]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-faction-flags/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-faction-flags/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-faction-flags/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                            I love taking screenshots. There, I said it. Give me endless zones with nooks and crannies to explore around every corner and I'll take screenshots of them. I'm currently sitting at 11.2 Gigs -- just for Runes of Magic. Buildings, landscapes, caves, outfits, weapons, mounts; You name it, and I've probably taken a screenshot of it. Oddly enough, it's the action shots I usually don't try to capture. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy capturing a good light show as my guild face-plants a boss, but the majority of my screenshots folder is overwhelmingly filled with persistent-world shots devoid of player characters.

                                                            Many of the factions in RoM have unique architecture and flags signifying their peoples. I've dug through the beast I call a screenshot folder and put together a visual trip through the many different ways factions choose to advertise. Did I say there were many? There are. I didn't include every last faction-flag I could find, but I've chosen from some of the more common ones -- and some of my favorites. As you'll see, there are some really great designs that help immerse you in RoM. I love these little attentions to detail that show the effort developers put into designing a world.

                                                            Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Faction flags

                                                            MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Faction flags originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                              ]]>                                                              barbariancapracentaurscyclopsfactionsfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveice-dwarfice-dwarvesjeremy-strattonleoninelost-pages-of-taboreaminotaursnpcobsidian-strongholdorder-of-the-dark-gloryraceracesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentvaranasMon, 08 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST                                                              <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                              The lore in Runes of Magic can sometimes be frustrating. There's an incomplete -- and vague -- history that sparks questions of who did what and when. Sometimes, there are references to reoccurring incidents without anyone knowing anything of who was involved or when it happened. As new chapters are released, some of those questions are answered and story-holes are filled, but new questions get added as well. We are veering off the beaten track in this week's Lost Pages of Taborea to dive into some lore.

                                                              There's a growing amount of story for lore-hungry players to discuss and I wanted to revisit some Chapter 3 lore that helps us to understand a little more about the history and present-day in the world of Taborea. The following article is written for those players who may already know about the game's lore, but want to know even more. Given the overall amount of story and the way it's spread out through levels, zones and time-frames, I almost didn't feel the need to put any spoiler warnings on this post. Instead, I left out details learned from going inside the various dungeons.

                                                              Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins

                                                              MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                ]]>                                                                androthangrenantaikolonartiscaninechapter-3chapter-iiidalanisdark-elvesfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehistoryjeremy-strattonjyr-najyrnajyrna-elveskalokalonkalumekawak-angerfangkawaks-tombking-kalumelechifleoninelorelost-pages-of-taboreanorthern-janost-forestracesroleplayingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentshadorsismondstorytemple-of-the-moonthe-elder-kingdomsthe-great-banishmentthe-voidthunderhoof-hillstirsov-firebootMon, 01 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST                                                                <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: What could have been]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-could-have-been/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-could-have-been/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-could-have-been/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                                We always face changes in our favorite MMOs. A new patch comes along and changes multi-click gathering to single-click, a cool pet system gets added or our main class gets nerfed. Sometimes changes happen before the game ever sees them, though.

                                                                Runes of Magic had some different features planned that were never implemented. Tile-dungeons, a streaming client and party-spells are a few of these features left on the cutting-room floor. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to insert a titular line and look at what could have been.

                                                                Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: What could have been

                                                                MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: What could have been originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                  ]]>                                                                  bitraiderbitstreambitstreamingconjunctionsdungeonsdynamic-contentdynamic-dungeonsfellowship-maneuversflyingfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveinstancesjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamonster-cardsmonster-petspartyparty-attack-spellspet-systempetsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstreamingstreaming-clienttile-dungeonsMon, 25 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST                                                                  <![CDATA[One Shots: Dead men don't fly]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/one-shots-dead-men-dont-fly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/one-shots-dead-men-dont-fly/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/one-shots-dead-men-dont-fly/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                                  I thought I'd travel off the beaten path this week and see how Requiem: Memento Mori is doing. I couldn't find my old character, but I started a new one and took advantage of a months worth of premium time. I also think there's a bonus XP event going on right now.

                                                                  This is my level 26 Battle Mage taking a trip from Zakate to South Watchtower on a Wingrider, the mode of transport between hubs.

                                                                  I always enjoyed Requiem's graphics and the areas between Kurt and Zakate both feel open and diverse. It's like one giant zone, but with individual areas all styled differently.

                                                                  All this week, we Massively writers are spotlighting some of our personal favorite One Shots. What exciting stories revolve around our screenshots? Stay tuned to find out. Next week, after staff picks week, will be free-for-all week for you, our readers. Send any eye-catching, beautiful, scary, or generally epic screenshot to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll pick the best of the best for next week's One Shots!

                                                                  Gallery: One Shots: 2011

                                                                  MassivelyOne Shots: Dead men don't fly originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                    ]]>                                                                    free-to-playgravitygravity-interactivehorrorone-shotsrequiemrequiem-memento-moriscreenshotstransportationWed, 20 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST                                                                    <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                    It's been a long time since we've heard anything about Diamonds being reinstituted into Runes of Magic's auction house. Since that fateful day they were removed, a lot of new players have joined, veterans have left and some things that should not have been forgotten... were lost.

                                                                    Having Diamonds in the auction house is an important feature that was planned from the get-go. It allows for seamless trading and player-controlled price fluctuations that keep all items obtainable for everyone. It's about having the freedom to play multiple ways. Options are more numerous than simply paying and having everything opened up or not paying and being stuck. With RoM's cash-shop items being integrated into the title's gameplay, there's a grayscale that lets players have many more options in how they want to play.

                                                                    It's not an overly complex issue, but one worth looking back on. Getting Diamonds back in the auction house isn't a lost cause, but the issue has dragged on to the point that long time players may have given up all hope. This edition of Lost Pages of Taborea is all about looking back at the beginning and bringing players up to speed on diamonds in (or not-in) the auction house.

                                                                    Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds

                                                                    MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                      ]]>                                                                      auction-housecash-shopcurrencydiamondsfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegiftinggoldjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreareal-money-transactionsrmtromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttradingMon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST                                                                      <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-eves-plex-and-pvp-to-roms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-eves-plex-and-pvp-to-roms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-eves-plex-and-pvp-to-roms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                                      I was prepping for a Guild Wars 2 comparison with Runes of Magic, but in light of the current buzz in the air, I'm moving my EVE Online comparison up.

                                                                      A couple of interesting blocks fell into place this week that fit well with a look at how EVE and RoM allow money to circulate through the economies, and how PvP works in conjunction with it. While there's no contest as to which MMO has the more robust economy, there are still similarities that fit the pay-to-progress comment Mr. Simon Ludgate made in a recent Gamasutra article.

                                                                      Swarming around the above topics is the question of how much it costs to stay competitive in RoM, which I've also been working on. What does Gamasutra's article have to do with RoM, how much does it cost to be competitive and how are economies similar in these two MMOs? You can also read my memorandum to all EVE PvPers. Set your jump-point past the break to see.

                                                                      Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's

                                                                      MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                        ]]>                                                                        cash-shopcomparisondiamondseconomieseconomyeveeve-onlinefrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegame-economiesjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreapay-to-playpay-to-progresspay-to-winplayer-vs-playerplexpvpromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 11 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST                                                                        <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                                                        I'm bouncing off last week's Lost Pages of Taborea to elaborate on why Runes of Magic's content is lackluster, especially in light of the ability to over-gear but also to come up with some ideas to keep it from becoming meaningless and boring. It's not absolutely necessary, but it will help if you've read last week's article.

                                                                        RoM's gear-system ensures that you get a lot of variety in choosing what kind of character to make and how you want to play it, but there's a threshold at which the only way to allow for even more diversity among class builds is to offset the linear difficulty of new content by replacing your stats with more powerful versions of themselves, adding refinements and tiering, upgrades that just up your sheer power. Players get funneled into more restrictive builds as they gain levels.

                                                                        The downfall is in the content itself because it becomes super-easy-mode killing after over-gearing. It's turning on a cheat code. Any need -- or desire -- to manage blood bars or skill rotations gets thrown out with the trash. It's a foreseeable issue in just about any game across any platform or genre in which you would allow the players to gain extra amounts of power. But is there a way to allow for it and keep in some challenge and variety? Some solutions might be to slow down the pace of combat, stretch the utility of player bars, make content more dynamic, or throw in some sandbox behavior.

                                                                        Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content

                                                                        MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                          ]]>                                                                          auction-housecontentcraftingcrafting-systemdungeonsdynamic-contenteconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehorizontaljeremy-strattonlinearlost-pages-of-taboreaplayer-drivenplayer-driven-economyprogressionromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxthemeparkMon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST                                                                          <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Content needs to meet the versatility of gear-upgrading]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/lost-pages-of-taborea-content-needs-to-meet-the-versatility-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/lost-pages-of-taborea-content-needs-to-meet-the-versatility-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/lost-pages-of-taborea-content-needs-to-meet-the-versatility-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                          Last week I compared looting and class-bending in Runes of Magic with similar features found in RIFT. RoM's system of gear customization was a part of that article. This week, I want to talk business. Don't worry, I'm not a business major about to sling pie charts at you or talk about quarterly earnings. I want to talk a bit about business, specifically about how it might relate to decisions developers make concerning what kind of balance to put into an MMO.

                                                                          RoM's gear system is extremely flexible on the outside, but inside there are some restrictions. Some of these restrictions are imposed by the game, but some are imposed by players. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, let's take a look at how the flexibility and choice of RoM's gear system -- and other systems -- are in opposition to the game's content and some desires players have.

                                                                          Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Content needs to meet the versatility of gear-upgrading

                                                                          MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Content needs to meet the versatility of gear-upgrading originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                            ]]>                                                                            balancedbalancingbalancing-classesbalancing-contentchoiceclass-combinationsclass-combosdiversitydynamic-contentequalequalityfairfairnessfeaturedfreedomfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreaoptionsriftromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstereotypesversatilityMon, 27 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST                                                                            <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing RIFT's looting and multi-class systems to Runes of Magic's]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-rifts-looting-and-multi-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-rifts-looting-and-multi-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-rifts-looting-and-multi-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                                            Sometimes I feel like I'm playing the best MMO that no one's ever heard of. Lately, all I see are new games on the horizon that promise new flexible class systems, better functionality in old standard mechanics, improved pet systems, and so on. Every time I read these press releases, announcements, or blogs, I lean back, tilt my head a bit and say, "Interesting. But Runes of Magic already does that." It's why I have a lot of faith -- even if I disagree from time to time -- in Runewaker. The company has made all these great systems that are exactly what newer games are promising, and players are stoked about it. It really has me wanting to embark on a series comparing systems between RoM and other MMOs.

                                                                            RIFT has bulk-looting and class combining that I want to compare with similar features in RoM for this week's Lost Pages of Taborea. I'm tired of feeling like I'm playing an MMO no one's heard of, even if it isn't true -- RoM is very popular and it keeps growing at a fast pace. But dagnabbit, sometimes I want to tell everyone RoM did it before the other guy gets all the credit. Let's look at RoM's dual-class and pet systems to compare looting and multi-classes between these two games.

                                                                            Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing RIFT's looting and multi-class systems to Runes of Magic's

                                                                            MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Comparing RIFT's looting and multi-class systems to Runes of Magic's originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                              ]]>                                                                              auto-lootbulk-lootingclassclass-combinationsclassescombining-classesduel-classfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreammo-featuresmulti-classmulti-lootmulti-lootingpet-lootingriftrolesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsoulsoul-treestatisticsstatssystemsMon, 20 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST                                                                              <![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Is the guild lock-out good or bad?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-the-guild-lock-out-good-or-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-the-guild-lock-out-good-or-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-the-guild-lock-out-good-or-bad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                              I want to talk about Runes of Magic's lock-out that prevents anyone from forming a guild or inviting players to a guild between set hours each night. The lock-out takes place between the hours of 7 and 11 p.m. EDT every night. That's a four-hour window each evening that is within the only hours some people can play. It prevents players from forming or getting into guilds, which are standard features expected of MMOs these days. Forming communities and playing with others is one of the biggest reasons to play an MMO. This week on Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to discuss the allure of this feature, why I think it's bad that players have to work around it, the pros and cons of why it's in RoM, and why it's not being discussed.

                                                                              Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Is the guild lock-out good or bad?

                                                                              MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Is the guild lock-out good or bad? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                                ]]>                                                                                cant-form-guildfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-invitesguild-lockguild-lock-outguild-lockoutguild-membersguild-vs-guildguildsjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamercmercingrecruitingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsiege-warsiege-warsMon, 13 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST