Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which zones are you happy to see destroyed?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-daily-grind-which-zones-are-you-happy-to-see-destroyed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-daily-grind-which-zones-are-you-happy-to-see-destroyed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/the-daily-grind-which-zones-are-you-happy-to-see-destroyed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When City of Heroes announced that the game's new starting experience will include the wholesale destruction of Galaxy City, there were some players who were sad. There were many more who were happy at the thought of Galaxy City being smashed into rubble and twisted metal, and there were even a few volunteers to help wreck it before the update hits. There are zones that we like in any game, yes, but there are also zones that seemingly nobody enjoys.

Fortunately, the nature of MMOs ensures that the zone you hate today could be getting an extensive makeover via demolition tomorrow. So what zones do you think deserve a big dose of a cosmic wrecking ball? Are they zones that have already been destroyed, such as World of Warcraft's long-loathed Darkshore, or zones you just can't wait to see destroyed (such as Galaxy City)? Or are there even zones that show no sign of going anywhere that you'd just like to see wrecked?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which zones are you happy to see destroyed? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructionhumoropinionremovaltdgthe-daily-grindupdate-changeszone-changeszonesFri, 01 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer's 1.4.3 patch goes live today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's patch day in Warhammer Online, and we've got your your 1.4.3 update at a glance. In case you're trying to sneak in a few minutes of play during your workday, we're sorry to inform you that Mythic's servers are currently down (the good news is that there's an expected up time of 1:30 p.m. EDT according to the note posted yesterday on the official website).

So what's new and exciting in this patch? For starters, Sigmartide. This two-week live event sees Order players basking in the glow of the faction's first emperor while they "seek out corruption, cleanse the wicked, and honor the age-old bonds with the Dwarfs." Destruction types, meanwhile, will actively oppose all the revelry by desecrating celebration altars and doing all the things that bad guys do.

Also falling under the 1.4.3 banner are new temporary RvR accessory sets and a shakeup of WAR's scenario lineup. Hit up the official website for more details.

MassivelyWarhammer's 1.4.3 patch goes live today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.31.4.3-patchdestructioneaea-mythicelectronic-artsfantasymythicmythic-entertainmentorderpatchrvrsigmartideupdatewarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 28 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With so many awesome things happening for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning lately, with the Verminous Horde expansion, the new store, patch 1.4 and all the rest, Greg has decided to turn his all-seeing eye sideways, to a land called the Badlands, and take Waging WAR along to explore a community-driven event that has been held there for nearly a year now with great success.

Since launch, WAR has enjoyed a great community. With every great community, a great event is inevitable. I've been around the block since WAR was released and have experienced the game on several different servers. I originally rolled my first character, a Swordmaster named Xiimmel, on Iron Rock. Later, I rolled an Archmage named Feiyen on Dark Crag, who I eventually moved back to Iron Rock where she was renamed Veeo. I never did get a chance to explore Phoenix Throne, which was collapsed along with Dark Crag some time ago. Recently, I joined the Badlands community on the side of Destruction with a variety of new characters, and the community there has been good to me so far. Part of that experience the last few weeks has been the opportunity to participate in a community-driven phenomenon known as the Battle for Badlands. Since this is all quite new to me, I decided to do a community spotlight on the event in today's Waging WAR.

Read on past the cut where I play 6Qs and deliver the details about the Battle for Badlands while I try to answer your 5Ws and maybe an H.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale

MassivelyWaging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archmagebadlandsbattle-for-badlandsBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-mythiccommunity-eventsdark-age-of-camelotdark-cragdestructionEAea-mythicfeaturedgaiscioch-familymythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentorderphoenix-throneswordmasterwaging-warwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eaSat, 13 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In this week's installment of Waging WAR, Greg returns to the Chaotic Zeal series and peels back another layer or two of the Zealot career in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. He tells us about his experience through tiers 2 and 3 and talks about what makes the zealot stand out in the chaos crowd. If only we could get him to eat his onions with the same fanaticism...

At the end of the first issue of the Chaotic Zeal series, I left off by saying that I was happily looking forward to playing through tiers 2 and 3 and the promise the Zealot would bring. I'll kick off this second article in the series by saying that I wasn't disappointed in the least. The Zealot is an absolute pleasure to play as a PvP healer, despite the settings and circumstances I was presented with. The career's growth is robust and meaningful with a variety of attractive tactics and morale abilities, while the playstyle becomes more and more refined over time. I could fill an entire column with anecdotes and memories of my time with the career through the middle tiers, as the Zealot is a career experience that tends to be quite engaging and memorable. Instead, I'll focus on my impressions of leveling through them. Thus, with my Zealot poised on the precipice of tier 4 at level 30, I'll look back and recall the issues I faced getting there.

Follow along after the cut as I discuss the middle tiers with the Zealot career.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two

MassivelyWaging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicdestructionEAea-mythicfeaturedflash-of-chaoshealingmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentorderpvpsiege-enginessiege-vehiclessiege-weaponsTier-2tier-3tzeentchtzeentchs-cordialwaging-warwarWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eazealotzealotsSat, 16 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Continuing in the tradition of the Nagarythe Chronicles, Waging WAR moves forward this week with the first issue of another multipart career spotlight for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. This time, however, Greg has defected to the velvet darkness of Chaos. Brandishing a skull in one hand and a twisted dagger in the other, Greg rolls a zealot and starts down a road of uncertainty, where the only constant is Change by the will of Tzeentch.

It has been a long time since I've played the game on the side of Destruction. Actually, truth be told, I've never really been serious about any Destruction character I've ever rolled at all, with my highest level being somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 or so on a blackguard when the class was first released. It has also been quite a while since I've done any career spotlights for the column. With those facts in mind, I've decided to do a multipart series for the zealot and to take a look at how they play and what makes them tick through the various tiers of growth up into Tier 4. The reasons I chose the zealot for the series are simple and few. First of all, the last time I had my hands on the zealot career was long before the new Harbinger mechanic was released, and I want to try it out for myself. Second, I have a considerable amount of experience healing (and DPSing) with my archmage, so I have a baseline for comparison. Finally, I thought a defection would be fun as I level and discover new areas, quests and storylines that I never gave myself a chance to become familiar with.

Follow along after the break as I take a look at the zealot through levels 1-11 in Tier 1.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part one

MassivelyWaging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part one originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archmagebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicdestructionEAea-mythicfeaturedharbingerharbinger-of-changeharbinger-of-doommythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentnagarythe-chroniclestzeentchwaging-warwarWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eazealotSat, 25 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Suspension (of disbelief) bridge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/one-shots-suspension-of-disbelief-bridge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/one-shots-suspension-of-disbelief-bridge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/one-shots-suspension-of-disbelief-bridge/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While the orcs in Warhammer Online may not be prized for their smarts, they do generally have the ability to tell when something is not quite right. With that said, apparently this very silly orc decided that despite the missing bridge, he'd just stomp out where it should have been -- and amazingly enough, it worked! Today's amusing image comes to us from Cory, who writes in: "I've been playing Warhammer Online, and this is me on the bugged invisibridge in Hunters Vale: Legchoppa and the Last Crusade."

Have you captured a strange image from your favorite game? Would you like to share it with us? If so, just email those screenshots in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in! Easy, and fun.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Suspension (of disbelief) bridge originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corydestructioneahunters-valeinvisible-bridgemythicmythic-entertainmentorcwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 10 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Off to explore]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/one-shots-off-to-explore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/one-shots-off-to-explore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/one-shots-off-to-explore/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Where the ravens flock and the forces of Destruction hone their skills, there are secrets lurking. For brave explorers, the wild magics of Warhammer Online can often result in strange journeys -- if you know where to look, anyway. Today we have a tip from one of our readers, Taawa, on where to look if you're interested in seeing strange lands. He writes in to explain today's screenshot:

"In Warhammer Online there is a Chaos portal behind the arena floor in the Inevitable City. Entering the portal will temporarily send you to interesting and unique places. Warhammer Online is an excellent game for explorers in part because of these kinds of finds. The character pictured is my main: a zealot named Lyram on the Badlands server."

One Shots is always on the hunt for interesting screenshots of MMOs. If you'd like to take part, we'd definitely love to see your screenshots. Email them to us here at oneshots@massively.com, along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Yours could wind up as the next one we post here on Massively!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Off to explore originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructioneainevitable-citylyrammythicmythic-entertainmentone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotstaawawarwarhammer-onlineMon, 02 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Itchy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/one-shots-itchy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/one-shots-itchy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/one-shots-itchy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When you're but one dwarf, standing alone atop the ridge near your enemies, you likely have little chance of taking a keep all by yourself. Now when you're the one dwarf who incites armies to battle, or perhaps serves as the scout ahead of a large raiding party -- well that changes things a bit! While we don't know whether Talkan occupied either position or was just there on his own, we do know that his hatred of Destruction (or at least their architecture) in Warhammer Online is mighty. How can we tell? Check out the note that came with today's One Shots entry:

"Here is a snapshot of my ironbreaker glaring down at the goblin/orc-made keep called Thickmuck -- it's literally made from wood and mud! All this greenskin work makes my beard bristle and my axe itch! This stuff is even worse than human stonework!"

We're always on the lookout for art and architecture in different games, and we know we can't possibly have seen it all already. So grab some screens of your favorite game and send them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com with your name (server and guild optional) and a quick description of what we're seeing. We'll post them here, and give you the credit for sending them in.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Itchy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructionEAelectronic-artsironbreakermythicMythic-Entertainmentone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotstalkanwarwarhammerWarhammer-OnlineThu, 01 Jul 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR: Play both factions on the same server by patch 1.3.6]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/war-play-both-factions-on-the-same-server-by-patch-1-3-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/war-play-both-factions-on-the-same-server-by-patch-1-3-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/war-play-both-factions-on-the-same-server-by-patch-1-3-6/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's always important to eat your dessert first at dinner and then the main meal -- or so our rapscallion uncles taught us. So it is with developer articles. While the bulk of Carrie Gouskos' April Producer's Letter for Warhammer Online was devoted to examining the reasons behind the 1.3.5 patch changes, including the 100% RvR city sieges, it's not a bad idea to skip ahead to the final paragraph of the letter for one truly tasty tidbit:

"By 1.3.6 players will have the capability to play as both Order and Destruction on the same server. We did this in Camelot, because we wanted to give players more choices about where they wanted to play and who they wanted to play with. We're aware of the possible downsides (such as cross-realming) and we're aware that people have a lot of realm pride, which we believe is very important, so we're going to be introducing a significant lockout timer to switch between realms."

Up to this point, once a player rolled either a Destruction or Order player on a server, the opposing faction was denied to them unless they deleted every character and started over. This certainly represents a significant change in the the faction struggle of WAR, but could also solve the issue of friends being unable to connect on the same realm because one rolled Order and the other Destruction. Carrie highlighted other changes and revisions forthcoming to the game, including an auction house revamp and a pass at improving the open-RvR experience. Head over to the WAR Herald to read the full letter!

MassivelyWAR: Play both factions on the same server by patch 1.3.6 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecarrie-gouskosdark-age-of-camelotdestructionfactionsmythicorderproducers-letterrvrrvr-city-siegeswarWarhammer-OnlineFri, 30 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's 100% RvR city siege outlined in development notes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/warhammer-onlines-100-rvr-city-siege-outlined-in-development-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/warhammer-onlines-100-rvr-city-siege-outlined-in-development-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/warhammer-onlines-100-rvr-city-siege-outlined-in-development-n/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Since its inception, Warhammer Online's greatest strength and selling point has been its Realm vs. Realm (RvR) gameplay between the forces of Order and Destruction. With the upcoming 1.3.5 patch, RvR is poised to claim its rightful birthright with 100% RvR city sieges (in the past, city sieges have been a mix of RvR and PvE). Yesterday, Mythic posted a slew of "In Development" notes pertaining to 1.3.5, specifically outlining their plans for the new edition of city sieges.

WAR's new city sieges now have a maximum battle time of two hours, feature a respectable 24v24 population, and offer plenty of rewards, including a PQ-style chest roll for the winners. Once a player joins the fray, they'll be automatically put into a warband and pointed toward the battle.

City sieges take place over three stages, each with specific objectives and a time limit. In stage one, the invaders will attempt to breach the palace gates while the defenders try to stave them off. This is accomplished on both sides by waging war over linked control points that function as a tug-of-war between the forces. Moving on to the second stage, each side has the win condition of either escorting their warlord to the palace gate or defeating the enemy warlord. Depending on how stage two ends, stage three will take place either in the palace or at the city's gates, and involves killing the enemy's king. One of the neatest parts of this final stage is that four players on each side will be chosen to be "Champions" -- highly buffed characters with a special new ability.

The new city sieges sound streamlined, dynamic and -- dare we say it? -- a bloody good time for all. You can check out the proposed development notes for this patch on WAR's forums.

MassivelyWarhammer Online's 100% RvR city siege outlined in development notes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3.5championscity-siegedestructionin-developmentmythicorderpatchpatch-1.3.5pqtug-of-warwarWarhammer-Onlinewarhammer-online-1.3.5warhammer-patch-1.3.5Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: The couple that slays together stays together]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/one-shots-the-couple-that-slays-together-stays-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/one-shots-the-couple-that-slays-together-stays-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/one-shots-the-couple-that-slays-together-stays-together/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


While there have been many asking for non-glitched Warhammer Online shots, we've had only a few brave souls like today's One Shots contributor Pedro D. take us up on the challenge. As if sending in a non-glitchy shot weren't enough, he's managed to catch a picture of the strange mating rituals of those on the Destruction side. He writes in: Recently I've created a Zealot on another server to [see] how it [feels] to be a healer of pure evil. [While] walking through Chapter 2 (for those who don't play Warhammer Online this is for players of level 4-7) I stumble[d] upon four level 40 characters in some kind of double date of evil. Being at WAR and being on the side of pure evil is no excuse to stop loving. (By the way, that is my always friendly Hell Hound back there.)

If you've got a non-glitched shot of something fun, interesting, pretty, crazy - or pretty crazy - from Warhammer Online, we want to see them! Email them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, a brief description, and whatever else you'd like to add. We'll post it out here for folks to enjoy.

Gallery: One Shots


MassivelyOne Shots: The couple that slays together stays together originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructioneamythicmythic-entertainmentnon-glitchone-shotspedro-dscreenshotwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 06 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: A face only a mother could love]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/one-shots-a-face-only-a-mother-could-love/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Believe it or not, not every Warhammer Online image we get has a glitch in it. It just seems like more people snap screenshots of funny glitches than normal life. We figure they're too busy trying to kill each other for that. That's why even if this guy's face is scary-looking, we're glad to see it today on One Shots - and glitch-free! Without further ado, here's today's contributor: This is my Warrior Priest, Serathor, from the Phoenix Throne server of Warhammer Online. As I [was] waiting for me and my warband to finish defending a battlefield objective in the Shadowlands, I turned around to capture an amazing lightning strike hitting one of the spires.

When you're out and about in your favorite MMO, why not snap some screenshots and send them our way? It's always appreciated as we love to have lots of different worlds to show off. Just email them to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and the game the image is from. Be sure to add in your name, the name the game is from and a brief description so we can credit you properly.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: A face only a mother could love originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructioneamythicmythic-entertainmentone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsserathorwaaghwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zone locks double in WAR after release of new Zone Domination System]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/zone-locks-double-in-war-after-release-of-new-zone-domination-sy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/zone-locks-double-in-war-after-release-of-new-zone-domination-sy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/zone-locks-double-in-war-after-release-of-new-zone-domination-sy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The primary RvR campaign goal in Warhammer Online is to capture and defend zones from your enemy. Up until recently, it was very difficult to capture zones and too easy to defend zones, which led to player frustration. Mythic introduced a new zone locking mechanic called the Zone Domination System (ZDS) in patch 1.2 to help address this issue.

We heard early reports that the ZDS was working as intended, but had no hard numbers to back up the claims. Now we do. Nazgum, an avid MMO gamer and new WAR blogger, has been collecting zone capture data from the official Realm War site for the last 30 days and has come up with some interesting results.

Zone captures have doubled across all servers with the new ZDS. Order and Destruction are roughly even in number of zone captures if you average them out across all servers as well. One concern players have with the new system is that zones can be more easily "ninja'd" during 5am raids. Nazgum's charts show that the majority of zone locks occur between 2 and 6am (in North America). Finally, he compares activity on the two role-play servers to address Ostermark's envy of Phoenix Throne.

MassivelyZone locks double in WAR after release of new Zone Domination System originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2-patchdestructionmythic-entertainmentnazgumorderwarwarhammer-onlinezone-controlzone-dominationThu, 19 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Faction populations largely balanced in Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/faction-populations-largely-balanced-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/faction-populations-largely-balanced-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/faction-populations-largely-balanced-in-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When Warhammer Online launched, one of the pressing concerns players had was population imbalance between Order and Destruction. Some of the measures Mythic Entertainment has taken to remedy this -- like free server transfers -- seem to have worked, according to Mythic's Jess Folsom.

A recent dev blog by Folsom at the Warhammer Herald addresses the concerns WAR players continue to have about faction imbalances, and paints a decidedly bright picture of the current state of play.

Percentages shown for the average of all North American servers shows a near equal balance in active accounts per faction (49% Order vs. 51% Destruction), and an even 50/50 split between factions in terms of average experience and renown point gains.

Continue reading Faction populations largely balanced in Warhammer Online

MassivelyFaction populations largely balanced in Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructiondevdev-blogexperiencefaction-populationfactionsfree-server-transfersjess-folsommonolithmythicmythic-entertainmentnorth-americaopen-rvrorderpopulationpopulation-imbalancerenownrenown-pointswarwarhammer-onlineTue, 20 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: The agony of defeat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/one-shots-the-agony-of-defeat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/one-shots-the-agony-of-defeat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/one-shots-the-agony-of-defeat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ah, the glorious sweetness of victory - so wonderful when it is ours; so bitter when it is not. Today's Warhammer Online One Shots breaks our normal guideline for screenshots without UI, but we feel in this case it fits the frenetic battle framed in all that busy information well. That, and we're down to only a few reader-submitted screenshots, so if you've been thinking about sending some screens in, now is an excellent time! This screen comes to us from Doula Doom, who is from the Knights of Terror. Doula writes in and sets the scene for us: Here we are defending a keep from the sickly sweet goodness that are Order forces. There were at least 60 players in attendance (at least 40 on order and 20 on Destruction), and Order eventually overcame our defence and took the keep.

We know there are oodles of you out there reading, and we're betting that at least some of you are playing/have played MMOs - otherwise, why would you be here, eh? One Shots needs your screens, dear readers! So while you're out playing, or digging through your hard drive, grab some screenshots for us. Send them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, server, and a brief description of what's in the screenshot. (Please, turn your UI off if possible.) In turn we'll give your screenshot and note to us a moment to shine, right here on Massively. How cool is that?

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: The agony of defeat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battledestructiondoula-doomeamythicone-shotsorderpvpscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlineMon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bringing WAR to the web]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/bringing-war-to-the-web/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/bringing-war-to-the-web/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/bringing-war-to-the-web/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Any massively multiplayer online game built around the twin pillars of PvP and territorial control can't go wrong by providing realtime status updates of the struggle via the web. Warhammer Online has endeavored to do just that with the Realm War site, as addressed in a dev diary by the title's Web Development Lead, Scott Stricklin. The dev blog touches on what Mythic has accomplished thus far with bringing WAR to the web, and what they hope to accomplish in the future -- namely, podcasts, community news, and character and guild profiles. While they have no shortage of ideas about how to expand WAR outside of the client, their first objective has been to bring Realm vs. Realm data to the web. That goal has now been realized, and Stricklin walks the reader through the features of the newly revamped Realm War site.

Players now have access to updated information about the overall campaign and the status of each capital city, Stricklin writes. This information is also presented visually, with each capital city's look changing based on its status, ranging from peaceful to besieged. This can all be kept in a pop up box in your browser to provide continual updates for when the tide of battle turns. Further information is provided through selectors which represent a server's racial pairings, giving a snapshot of what's happening with each tier's zone control. An added bonus to this are influence maps for each zone, similar to the in-game maps, which show the status of the various RvR objectives and allow a player to mouse over keeps, seeing when it was last captured and by which guild. Have a look at Scott Stricklin's dev diary for more on the Realm War site, or better yet, just head over there and try it out for yourself.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyBringing WAR to the web originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capital-citiesdestructionea-mythicendgamefantasygame-mechanicsinfluence-mapkeepkeepsmapsmythic-entertainmentorderpvpracesrealm-vs-realmrealm-warrealm-war-sitervrscott-stricklinterritorial-controltierswarwarhammer-onlinezone-controlzonesFri, 21 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Two moons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/one-shots-two-moons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/one-shots-two-moons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/one-shots-two-moons/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We have to admit, when we got this Warhammer Online One Shots, we didn't see that second tiny greenish moon over the big white one in our mailbox preview thumbnail. We simply saw the above title he sent and wondered if we were about to get an eyeful of Greenskin butt. Thankfully, that didn't occur. As for the rest, well, you'd need to ask Deadkatt about the location - all he sent along was a note that he snapped this while playing Warhammer Online at 2 in the morning. If you know where it was taken, feel free to leave a comment and let us know!

Into late-night gaming when the world is quiet and the moon is shining in the darkened sky? If so, why not grab a moonlit shot of your favorite game world and send it to us. (We'll pass on player-moons, thanks.) Send them in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, server and a description of the area/battle/etc. we're seeing. We'll post them out here for everyone to moon over.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Two moons originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deadcattdestructioneagreenskinmythicone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlineSun, 16 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Pig in the city]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/one-shots-pig-in-the-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/one-shots-pig-in-the-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/one-shots-pig-in-the-city/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We suspect this aurora portal above the Inevitable City in Warhammer Online has a mysterious power. With the swirling forces of chaos within, ripping at the very fabric of reality itself, it calls out... compelling players to come to it and snap screenshots! Today's One Shots comes from site regular ScytheNoire, who places our point of view on the business end of his War Boar as his Greenskin sits on the back, waiting to spring into action and make someone else into bacon.

Is there one particularly cool or gorgeous spot in your favorite MMO that draws people to it by the droves? If so, you should snag a screenshot of your character there and send it in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com, postcard-style! Tell us a bit about the area, and perhaps what you did in game that day. We'll post your travel postcard for everyone to enjoy.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Pig in the city originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructionone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsscythenoirewarwarhammer-onlineFri, 14 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Feeling teeny]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/one-shots-feeling-teeny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/one-shots-feeling-teeny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/one-shots-feeling-teeny/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It doesn't matter how you slice it -- even if the big bad guy is on your side, standing next to him can sometimes still make you feel really tiny. Not sure what we mean when making that statement coupled with the above fiery screenshot from Warhammer Online? Well, if you look very, very closely (or check out the full-size image) you can see ScytheNoire's wee teeny orc standing between the hooves of this enormous Bloodletter. As ScytheNoire noted, [This is the] Bloodletter of Khorne with my Black Orc. I feel small and insignificant. We'd probably feel the same, except we'd probably be more concerned with that whole "on fire" thing first. Ouch!

Have you snapped any fun shots of your character up against (or hanging out with) a particularly big, nasty monster? Slaying or praying, we want to see those screenshots! Just send them in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a quick description. We'll post them out here for everyone to check out and marvel at your daring -- or impending death.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Feeling teeny originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructioneagreenskinmythicone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsscythenoirewarwarhammer-onlineMon, 10 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: A moment of silence]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/one-shots-a-moment-of-silence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/one-shots-a-moment-of-silence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/one-shots-a-moment-of-silence/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The clarions of battle sound; some will stand, some will fall. It is the way of Warhammer Online. As a warning to the allies of Order, the Destruction forces have strung the remains of their Dwarven foes across the landscape. This dark and gritty One Shots was sent in by our regular contributor, Snacky, who plays this particular Greenskin on the Iron Claw server. Snacky writes in: Even as a Destruction Greenie, I still have some sympathy when I see how these Dwarfs ended up. I'll never admit it, but I do say a silent prayer that I don't end up like that!

Many players love the PvP scenarios in Warhammer Online, but we know it's not the only place with gritty details like these. As such, we're sending out a call to all players -- send us your battle shots! Corp war, battlegrounds, Monster PvP, raiding, we want to see your screens. Just send those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a quick description. One Shots needs your screens, so send them in and enjoy your moment in the blog-sun!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: A moment of silence originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructioneagreenskinmythicone-shotspvpscreenshotscreenshotssnackywarwarhammer-onlineSat, 08 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: We are all puppets of Destruction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/02/one-shots-the-puppets-of-destruction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/02/one-shots-the-puppets-of-destruction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/02/one-shots-the-puppets-of-destruction/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Just when we thought we'd seen it all in regards to Warhammer Online, something like today's One Shots comes along and firms up the fact that we've really only scratched the surface in this column. We've heard of some pretty interesting ways to taunt your enemies or amuse your friends, but using puppets in an MMO is one we don't generally see. This screenshot, in from our regular Warhammer Online contributor, Snacky (this time reporting in from the Badlands server), shows off one such confusing and yet funny moment. Snacky writes in: In my downtime while waiting for scenarios to pop, I like to amuse myself and the occasional passerby with a puppet show. We're not entirely convinced they're watching the puppet, Snacky.

If you're one of the legion of players who are enjoying Warhammer Online, we'd love to see what you've been up to. Alternately, if WAR just wasn't your thing, and you've gone to another game, don't think we don't want to hear from you -- we do! We want screenshots from all MMOs, big and small. (If your game is small, it's a great way to get some free promotion for it!) Just get your game on, grab some screenshots for us and email them in. Our address is oneshots AT massively DOT com. Don't forget to include your name (server/guiid welcome too) and a quick description. We show it off and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots


MassivelyOne Shots: We are all puppets of Destruction originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructioneamythicone-shotspuppetpuppetsscreenshotscreenshotssillysnackywarwarhammer-onlineSun, 02 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Hidden hydra]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/one-shots-hidden-hydra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/one-shots-hidden-hydra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/one-shots-hidden-hydra/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


As Warhammer Online continues to patch in new things, it seems that players who return to older areas are finding new things to enjoy in-game. With the announcement of server merges, we're hoping that we'll also find lots of new people in different areas to group with as well. Today's One Shots is about one such recent Warhammer Online revisit from Snacky (or in this case Gruzugsnarug on the Iron Claw (Oceanic) server, as the character is known) happened upon. Snacky writes: When I first did this starting area, I noticed a cave which I was closed to all who would dare venture off the beaten path. I decided to revisit the area with a new character and was not disappointed. I was greeted with this awesome sight of a Hydra with an escort of dark elf tamers.

We love to find new things we missed out on the first time around. If you've found anything you missed out on, we'd love to hear about it. Just send your screens and stories in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name/server/game. We'll post them out here for everyone to enjoy.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Hidden hydra originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructioneahydramythicone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotssnackywarwarhammer-onlineFri, 31 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your Warhammer Online statistical analysis on]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/get-your-warhammer-online-statistical-analysis-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/get-your-warhammer-online-statistical-analysis-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/get-your-warhammer-online-statistical-analysis-on/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you're the type of person that just loves to eat up statistics like they were infused with more sugar than chocolate-covered chocolate chip pancakes covered in sugar, then boy have we got a site for you. The Warhammer Online blog Waaagh! has taken notice of a website called Waralytics, which as its name suggests is an analytical site dedicated to Mythic's newest MMO. It's interesting to note that it would appear that the balance between Order and Destruction players is pretty much even now, with a ratio of 1.3:1 in favor of Destruction. That's hardly as bad as it was back in the early days of World of Warcraft, when some servers were nearly 3:1 in favor of Alliance.

There are a couple caveats to this statistical site, however. The stats are being pulled from guilded characters only, which leaves out quite a few solo-preferenced players. We've gone ahead and made a handy quick list of the stats for anyone that wants to take a glance. You can find them after the cut.

Continue reading Get your Warhammer Online statistical analysis on

MassivelyGet your Warhammer Online statistical analysis on originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardallianceblizzarddestructioneaelectronic-artsfactionhordemythicmythic-entertainmentorderstatisticswaaaghwarwaralyticswarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 29 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: A first taste of Chaos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/one-shots-a-first-taste-of-chaos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/one-shots-a-first-taste-of-chaos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/one-shots-a-first-taste-of-chaos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Most people playing Destruction who have wandered into the Inevitable City can relate to today's Warhammer Online screenshot. After all, it's not every day that you're presented with a huge castle surrounded by an awesome light show. This screenshot came in to us from Brevia, who thought we'd enjoy seeing Rurg on his first trip there. Brevia writes: Rurg is the guild leader of the Azazel destruction guild Genocidal Tendencies. Here we find Rurg getting his first view of the eternal citadel in Inevitable City. You can't see Rurg's face, but trust me it's full of shock and awe at the wondrous and powerful site before him.

If you've found an awe-inspiring area in your favorite game, we want to see it! Just send it to us here at oneshots At massively DOT com along with your name/server/guild and a quick description. We'll post it out here for all the Massively readers to see and give you the credit. (Besides, it's pretty cool to see your own screenshot up here, we think.)

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: A first taste of Chaos originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breviachaosdestructioneainevitable-citymythicone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 22 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's latest weekly realm population bonuses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/wars-latest-weekly-realm-population-bonuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/wars-latest-weekly-realm-population-bonuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/wars-latest-weekly-realm-population-bonuses/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Mythic Entertainment announced their latest list of Warhammer Online servers to receive realm population bonuses this week. Not surprisingly, five of the seven (Core) servers listed impart bonuses for playing Order.

Mythic stated: "Great rewards await those who take up their charge and help bolster their army's strengths where it's needed the most... these bonuses are temporary boosts to help new players get into the game and strengthen their allies' efforts on servers where their realm struggles to keep up with the growing armies of their enemy. For one week, these chosen servers will bestow divine gifts upon the designated realm to help swell their ranks and give them the power to try and turn the tides of battle. Players who join the vanguard will receive a 20% bonus to renown and experience." The list of servers that give these bonuses is found in-game at the Server Select screen; the currently listed bonuses will expire on October 24th.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWAR's latest weekly realm population bonuses originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coredestructionmythic-entertainmentorderpopulationpopulation-bonusespvprealm-bonusesrvrserverswarwarhammer-onlineSat, 18 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Look out behind you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/one-shots-look-out-behind-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/one-shots-look-out-behind-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/one-shots-look-out-behind-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Don't you just hate it when you're minding your own business and the next thing you know someone wants to eat your face? No? Well if not, then Warhammer Online is definitely a good game for you -- you never know what's going to happen next. Not sure what I'm talking about? Well, here's a story and screenshot for you from Chuthulhu of the guild Dusk till Dawn on the Averheim server. Chuthulhu writes in: The other night me and some guildies were roaming around the inevitable city when someone managed to aggro a lvl 40 hero giant. I tried to do the noble thing and sacrafice my Orcy self for the group, ironically it was hitting me for 0 damage so we beat him down. I just thought this picture was a great example of how epic some of the monsters are in this game!

Surprised by a monster? Beaten down by a boss? Or perhaps you emerged triumphant and saved the day. Whatever game you're playing, we'd love to see your action shots! Just send those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name/server/guild and a quick description of just what was going on in the scene. We'll post them up here and give you the credit for the cool screen!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Look out behind you originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chuthulhudestructioneamythicone-shotsorderscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlineMon, 13 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's party hits 750,000 players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/warhammer-onlines-party-hits-750-000-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/warhammer-onlines-party-hits-750-000-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/warhammer-onlines-party-hits-750-000-players/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It seems like the forces of Order and Destruction have been busy recruiting, because Gamasutra is reporting that Warhammer Online is now partying hard at 750,000 subscribers strong. This news comes after the announcement of the title hitting 500,000 players in late September. The pace of Warhammer Online's subscriber increase has certainly been an impressive thing to behold. Mythic has got to be pretty excited to see their labor of love continue its upward march.

If you're one of the three quarters of a million players crushing some skulls in WAR be sure to keep an ear pressed to our news feed for the game. Or, if you're a World of Warcraft player who's still unsure of trying the game, check out our handy guide that was made with you in mind.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWarhammer Online's party hits 750,000 players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardbreakingdestructioneaelectronic-artsgamasutramythicmythic-entertainmentorderwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 10 Oct 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Do queues make you more hardcore?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


After a recent blog post by Tobold entitled "Do Queues Make Destruction More Hardcore", we thought we'd take this concept a step further and ask the question of any queue on any server in any game. Throwing the whole notion out the window that Warhammer Online's Destruction players are more hardcore, we'd rather focus on the issue of queues, dedication and how it all relates to hardcore vs. casual in general.

In Tobold's argument, when a player faces a queue, they have three options: Give up and play something else, switch to a lower-population server or wait it out. This applies to the servers themselves and any RvR situation where you need to wait for 'balance'. His prognosis is that since Destruction has seemingly more players, they face a queue more often. This leads to an evolution of players who can't cope with these queues (i.e. casual players without the time to sit and wait for 2 hours to play a game) to re-roll an Order character, or perhaps switch servers entirely. However, this begs the question: Are players on high-pop servers simply more hardcore because they have that time and dedication to wait it out? Or are the hardcore players the ones who can't waste their time sitting in-wait, because they want to spend more time actually playing the game?

MassivelyDo queues make you more hardcore? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualdestructionhardcoremythicorderqueuetoboldwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 06 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's first city siege: The king is dead. Long live the king.]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


It was only the other day when we reported that the first Warhammer Online city siege endgame had begun. Initial reports indicated that a relatively small group of players, in average gear, managed to capture Altdorf on the EU server Karak Eight Peaks, partially due to bugs in the game. However, rumors of the death of Emperor Karl Franz have been exaggerated. More details have come to light since then; Electronic Arts contacted MMO blogger Tobold, and set the record straight.

As it turns out, Destruction didn't fully capture Altdorf. Rather, they put it in a contested state, and the would-be conquerors on the Destruction side were ousted by Order before they could complete enough public quests to reach the final battle against Emperor Karl Franz.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading WAR's first city siege: The king is dead. Long live the king.

MassivelyWAR's first city siege: The king is dead. Long live the king. originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altdorfbugscity-siegedestructioneaea-mythicelectronic-artsemperor-karl-franzendgamefantasygame-mechanicsguildskarl-franzmythic-entertainmentorderpqpublic-questspvpsiegewarwarhammer-onlineSun, 05 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's cross-server scenario queues akin to socialism]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/wars-cross-server-scenario-queues-akin-to-socialism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/wars-cross-server-scenario-queues-akin-to-socialism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/wars-cross-server-scenario-queues-akin-to-socialism/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online, despite a very smooth launch, has a few nagging problems that have cropped up in its first weeks of life. Chief among its growing pains is the problem of scenario queuing issues, both on barren servers and the ones that are practically choking on players. Snafzg over at The Greenskin asks if creating a better situation for all Warhammer Online players must entail some degree of sacrifice made by all through cross-server scenario queues, likening the solution to socialism. A situation where the 'good servers' sacrifice for the benefit of 'problem servers'.

Snafzg writes, "I'm not saying socialism is bad... but I wonder if there are alternative solutions that don't punish (too strong a word?) people on good servers for the benefit of those on bad servers. I don't envy Mythic here... Make one crowd happy only to piss off another?" He also points out that the core issues of server population imbalance impact the game on many levels, and suggests some potential solutions for both overpopulation and underpopulation issues. If you're not happy with the scenario frequency in Warhammer Online, give Snafzg's "Cross-Server Scenario Socialism..." post a read, and let him know if you agree with his views on the issue.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWAR's cross-server scenario queues akin to socialism originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cross-serverdestructionea-mythicimbalancemythic-entertainmentorderpopulation-imbalancescenario-queuesscenariosserver-populationsnafzgsocialismthe-greenskinwarwarhammer-onlineSat, 04 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order and Destruction guild heraldry art collected]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/order-and-destruction-guild-heraldry-art-collected/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/order-and-destruction-guild-heraldry-art-collected/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/order-and-destruction-guild-heraldry-art-collected/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


It seems that plenty of Warhammer Online fans are excited about the standards and heraldry aspects of the game. Some of us here at Massively feel the same way. In fact, we've just come across a slew of guild heraldry images, for both Destruction and Order, which are certainly worth a look if you're into the customization aspects of Warhammer Online.

Check out the hundreds of examples and combinations (we're not exaggerating) of Destruction guild heraldry that Atole of Monolith has put together, grouped by color, shape, pattern and emblem. For a look at the Order side, you'll probably want to see this equally impressive collection of guild emblems. Take a look below the cut for a sampling of each.
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Continue reading Order and Destruction guild heraldry art collected

MassivelyOrder and Destruction guild heraldry art collected originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is perhaps one of the more off the wall screens we've seen from Warhammer Online as yet. We see a wee teeny player in a giant nest with floating ships in the air behind it. As Excelsior explained when he sent this One Shots in: the eagles nest pic is in, you guessed it, an eagles nest. But I refuse to give any details of how to get there or even where it is. As such, we'll have to rely on you readers! If you know where this eagle's nest is in Warhammer Online, leave us a comment! (If you don't, now you have something to go hunting.)

We love adventurers who find strange and unusual things in the familiar landscapes of games we've seen. For that matter, we love seeing games we haven't seen too! If you've got something new to show us (even if the only real difference is you and your friends in the image) you should send it in. Pop them into an email to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with a quick description, your name, server, or guild if you'd like. We'll post it here for everyone.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Hidden eagle's nest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructioneaexcelsiormythicone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotswaaaghwarwarhammer-onlineSat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why is Destruction more popular than Order?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/why-is-destruction-more-popular-than-order/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/why-is-destruction-more-popular-than-order/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/why-is-destruction-more-popular-than-order/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There exists an interesting theory concerning gamer preference of good vs. evil. It is said that in World of Warcraft, as in many other games, the "good" seems to be the most popular choice. Most people want to be the pretty human character, save the princess and become the hero.

Enter Warhammer Online, where the majority of players have flocked to the Destruction side. This isn't simply the 'darker' side, this is the burn-down-your-house evil side. This is the stuff-a-dwarf-in-a-barrel-and-toss-him-off-a-castle-wall evil side. So why do players relate more to this type of bad guy persona? Relmstein has some theories about this over at his blog, which include the fact that Mythic focused much of their hype on the Destruction side. Check out his post for the rest of his five reasons why Destruction is more popular than Order, and let us know what you think.

MassivelyWhy is Destruction more popular than Order? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructionevilgoodorderpopularityrealmrelmsteinwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Ranged DPS careers for Destruction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-ranged-dps-careers-for-des/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-ranged-dps-careers-for-des/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-ranged-dps-careers-for-des/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's face it: DPS classes just have more fun. Tanks have to always worry about being between the squishies and the pointy things. Healers have to make sure their fellows are standing upright. All DPS classes have to do is be pointed in the right direction and relatively sober. That fun factor is even more true than the norm in Warhammer Online, as the Destruction races offer up some gloriously sadistic ways to squick the other side.

There are three ranged DPS classes on the Destruction side, and with only their two melee counterparts to rely on they'll be taking up a lot of the damage-dealing slack once the game goes live. Players who choose these classes are going to have a heck of a lot of fun variously shooting, exploding, and damning the souls of their opponents. That's just how DPS players like it, too. Join us for a walk on the dark side with the Squig Herder, the Dark Elf Sorceress, and the Chaos Magus.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Ranged DPS careers for Destruction

MassivelyMassively goes to WAR: An overview of Ranged DPS careers for Destruction originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructiondpsfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmagusmassively-goes-to-warmythic-entertainmentsorcerersquig-herderwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 05 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choosing between Order and Destruction in Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/choosing-between-order-and-destruction-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/choosing-between-order-and-destruction-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/choosing-between-order-and-destruction-in-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Have you decided what you're going to play in Warhammer Online? In the days leading up to the game's launch, some of us already have a good idea of which class we'll play (like "all"). Prima Official Game Guides is getting ready for the Warhammer Online launch as well, with a class quiz that asks, "In the War between Order and Chaos, what role will you play?" To help answer that question, or just to help show you some of the possibilities in Warhammer Online, they've got a short personality test that shows how well a given character choice fits you.

Some of us at Massively guess that the majority of players will choose Destruction when Warhammer Online launches, but there's definitely something to be said for the white hats as well. The quiz result is pretty much a foregone conclusion, but it's a nice distraction from work or while you wait for access to the game a bit later this month. We'd wager that most who take the personality test simply choose the most twisted answers possible (we did), but give it a shot and see what comes up.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyChoosing between Order and Destruction in Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaoschaos-chosenclassesdestructionfantasyorderpersonality-testprima-gamesprima-guidesquizraceswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 03 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR population heading towards equilibrium, poll suggests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/war-population-heading-towards-equilibrium-poll-suggests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/war-population-heading-towards-equilibrium-poll-suggests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/war-population-heading-towards-equilibrium-poll-suggests/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fish or cut bait? Boxers or briefs? Order or Destruction? It's those difficult choices that make life complicated. When it comes to MMOs, getting the balance of appeal right between player factions is one tricky task. According to Napox, as detailed over on thegreenskin.com, the population balance on Warhammer Online is now evening out, after an initial surge of favor for Destruction. This data comes from a career poll on warhammeralliance.com.

Napox's meticulously researched spreadsheets give a current estimate of 47% Order, 53% Destruction; the bad guys are still in front, but at least more people are signing up to play for the white-hats. Goblin Shaman is by far the most popular class, while the Elf White Lion is the least.
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Continue reading WAR population heading towards equilibrium, poll suggests

MassivelyWAR population heading towards equilibrium, poll suggests originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesdestructionea-mythicorderpollwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 29 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Healing careers for Destruction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-healing-careers-for-destru/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-healing-careers-for-destru/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-healing-careers-for-destru/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If you're a planning on being a Destruction player in Warhammer Online and want to focus on healing, consider yourself covered. For starters, don't worry about being a heal-bot, this game probably has some of the most damage capable healers in an MMO that we've seen to date. That's not to say a healer can out-damage a DPS class, instead they're simply deft at dealing with combat on their own terms. For example: whether you enjoy keeping some distance from combat while supporting allies or prefer to get down and dirty, your needs will be met. It's indeed a diverse healing world in Warhammer Online and we've got it all mapped out for you.

Continue reading Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Healing careers for Destruction

MassivelyMassively goes to WAR: An overview of Healing careers for Destruction originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaosdark-elvesdestructiondisciple-of-khainefeaturedgorkgreenskinsjoystiqfeatureskhainemorkmythicmythic-entertainmentraven-lordshamantzeentchwarwarhammer-onlinezealotTue, 19 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Melee DPS Careers for Destruction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-careers-for-dest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-careers-for-dest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-careers-for-dest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Warhammer Online offers two takes on melee DPS classes for Destruction at this moment in time. One of them is the slightly traditional Witch Elf, who's kind of like a rogue with a thirst for unrelenting murder and on heavy doses of mind-altering drugs. The other class is the Marauder, who is more irregular with his very flexible and cool looking mutation mechanic -- he can grow all sorts of disgusting stuff out of his body. So which one will you be playing come launch day? We've put together this class overview for exactly that question.

Continue reading Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Melee DPS Careers for Destruction

MassivelyMassively goes to WAR: An overview of Melee DPS Careers for Destruction originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaosdark-elvesdestructionfeaturedjoystiqfeatureskhainemaraudermythicmythic-entertainmenttzeentchwarwarhammer-onlinewitch-elfTue, 19 Aug 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Dark Elf days in WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/the-digital-continuum-dark-elf-days-in-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/the-digital-continuum-dark-elf-days-in-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/the-digital-continuum-dark-elf-days-in-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


So we've gotten official approval to speak our minds early and often about the Dark Elf (High Elves too, but bollocks to Order, I say!) experience in tier one and two as much as we like. That led me to decide that it would be fun to give you my personal take on them. Especially considering that in the not-so-distant past I made my worries about Warhammer Online very well known. As worrisome as Mythic's decision to remove four cities and four -- but in reality, two -- classes made me before, I'm happy to say that overall my experience with the early Dark Elf starting zone has been a positive one.

From the moment you enter Warhammer Online as a level one Dark Elf surrounded by Black Arks and clanging metal, you'll be made to feel like an evil and menacing figure. This is done in various ways and I'm glad to say that it's never undone. One way Mythic invests you into your character is the first quest you ever receive and it's going to put a smile on a lot of your faces, unless you're an Order player. If you're an Order or player, you'll probably want to run into my sword for Malekith's sake. Trust me, it's really all for the best.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Dark Elf days in WAR

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Dark Elf days in WAR originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-arkblack-guardchoppadark-elvesdestructioneaelectronic-artselves-of-warfeaturedgreenskinshigh-elvesjoystiqfeaturesmalekithmassively-goes-to-warmythicmythic-entertainmentorderthe-digital-continuumwarwarhammer-onlineSat, 09 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jay Leno joins the Greenskins in Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/jay-leno-joins-the-greenskins-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/jay-leno-joins-the-greenskins-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/jay-leno-joins-the-greenskins-in-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


On first seeing this video, we're not entirely sure what to think. Does Jay Leno really prefer being a Gobbo in Warhammer Online or is it just that Gobbos are the only ones with big chins? We're guessing it's the chin. You're probably rightfully wondering why Warhammer Online is appearing on The Tonight Show. Well you're not alone. Our only guess would be that this is some sort of preemptive strike at cultural relevance before the game is even out. Everyone knows that once a game has cultural relevance it's just a matter of time until those subscription numbers start falling from the sky like nerdy rain.

It's also probable that this is just an honest-to-goodness case of The Tonight Show taking an interest in Warhammer Online. Paul Barnett is there on that video doing his "Crazy Englishman on Crack" bit that we love him for doing. Either way, it's a baffling video to watch and you'll probably find your palm firmly pressed against your face by the end of its short duration. It's after the cut, for those of you brave enough to watch it.
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Continue reading Jay Leno joins the Greenskins in Warhammer Online

MassivelyJay Leno joins the Greenskins in Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedestructioneaelectronic-artsgobbogobbosgoblinsgreenskinsjay-lenomythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettthe-tonight-showwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineThu, 07 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST