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SWTOR's Sage, Sorcerer discipline changes detailed

Jef Reahard — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Patches, News Items, PvE, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Sages and Sorcerers, this Star Wars: The Old Republic dev diary's for you. BioWare has revealed the upcoming changes to two more of its advanced classes that will go live when the Shadow of Revan expansion launches on December 9th.

Both classes "have seen some changes to their baseline ability package," and all three specs for each class get at least one new active and two new passives. Learn more at the official SWTOR website!

SWTOR's Sage, Sorcerer discipline changes detailed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's changing combat in update 2.5

Larry Everett — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, Patches, PvP, Endgame, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, MMORPG

Let's talk about the combat changes coming in Star Wars: The Old Republic Update 2.5. We'll see pretty large sweeping changes to a couple of my favorite classes and some much-needed changes to others. Some of the changes make me question the thought processes of the designers, and some much-needed changes seem to be absent.

I don't consider myself a combat design expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I have played every class in SWTOR extensively with the exception of the Bounty Hunter and Trooper classes. But then those two classes aren't seeing any major changes in Update 2.5. Therefore, I don't have much to talk about with them anyway. My favorite class is the Marauder/Sentinel, so the nerfs and upgrades to that class are dear to me. But I also really enjoy the Operative/Scoundrel class as well. This class will see (and frankly, not see) some changes in the upcoming patch. But I believe the class that is affected the most is the Madness/Balance-specced Inquisitor/Consular. Let's start there.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's changing combat in update 2.5

Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's changing combat in update 2.5 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: Aura Kingdom reveals caster classes

MJ Guthrie — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries

Last week you got a glimpse of the melee classes coming to the anime world of Aura Kingdom. But what if you eschew the face-to-face fighting style of melee and prefer to fling fireballs at your foes or offer friends succor instead? Then this week's caster class reveal is for you!

If you enjoy raining magical mayhem down on the heads of your enemies, the Wizard class is right up your alley. On the other hand, if you'd rather be the one to save the day with your healing aid, you can delve into the role of the Bard. Can't quite decide between the two roles? Then become a Sorcerer and do a little of both! Have a look at these three classes in the gallery and then delve into even more details in the dev blogs below.

Continue reading Exclusive: Aura Kingdom reveals caster classes

Exclusive: Aura Kingdom reveals caster classes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's Dragon's Prophet first impressions

Jef Reahard — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, Previews, News Items, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, First Impressions, Dragon's Prophet

I don't have many fond memories from Runes of Magic. I didn't play it long, and the thing I recall most vividly is being forced to hunt around Runewaker's cash shop for an item that would let me talk in global chat.

Fortunately, negative vibes like that didn't affect my recent hands-on with Dragon's Prophet's beta, which, in case you're wondering, is Runewaker's followup to Runes of Magic. Unfortunately, I don't think the new game in its present state is quite ready for prime time.

Continue reading Massively's Dragon's Prophet first impressions

Massively's Dragon's Prophet first impressions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: All SWTOR classes are useful in Huttball, part two

Larry Everett — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, PvP, Endgame, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides, Hyperspace Beacon

A few weeks ago, after many weeks of seeing new players in Star Wars: The Old Republic warzones, I thought it would be a good idea to post a little guide on the basics of winning Huttball. Interestingly, that article birthed a conversation about how some classes were better suited for the game, but more importantly, some players had given up on the warzone because they felt that their particular class didn't work in Huttball at all.

Admittedly, certain classes do have more utilities that make them a better fit for the game, but I believe every class has its role in this particular arena. And more importantly, I believe that every class can have fun and feel useful. However, some players need a bit of training.

Two weeks ago, I covered the Sith Warrior, Jedi Knight, Imperial Agent, and Smuggler classes. In this week's coverage, I'm going to take a look at two SWTOR classes that seems to be built for this game and two others that have more surprises than you might think: the Sith Inquisitor, Jedi Consular, Republic Trooper, and Bounty Hunter.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: All SWTOR classes are useful in Huttball, part two

Hyperspace Beacon: All SWTOR classes are useful in Huttball, part two originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arcane Legends officially announced

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Mobile

While we knew it was coming, it is still nice to get official confirmation: Spacetime Studios has announced Arcane Legends, its latest MMO for iOS, Android, and Chrome.

With Arcane Legends, Spacetime Studios is going back to its fantasy roots. Instead of Pocket Legends' more traditional MMO combat, however, Arcane Legends will feature action combat full of combos and button-mashing. During the combat, a rage meter will allow players to activate powerful abilities when it's completely full.

The three classes announced for the game are the Warrior, Rogue, and Sorcerer. Arcane Legends will support both co-op and PvP gameplay.

CEO Gary Gattis thinks that Arcane Legends is different enough from previous Spacetime endeavors to justify its development: "With every Legends title we are focused on bringing something distinct to cross-platform gaming. With Arcane Legends we set out to create an action RPG with a clever and funny story, meaningful multiplayer gameplay and above all furious fast-paced tactical combat."

Massively will be getting its first look at Arcane Legends at E3 next month.

Arcane Legends officially announced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's James Ohlen shares the formula behind PvP nerfs

Larry Everett — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Patches, PvP, Interviews (Massively's), Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

When Update 1.2 launched for Star Wars: The Old Republic, most players witnessed some major changes to their classes. In my opinion, these changes weren't game-breaking, but they did require that some players re-evaluate how they played. Some classes were changed so drastically in this patch players claimed they felt as if they were truly playing a completely different class.

Major changes like this do not happen without reason, and from my time spent with SWTOR developers, I know that they are passionately interested in making their game the best it can be. So I asked Game Director James Ohlen some questions about these mechanical changes. In true James Ohlen fashion, he was more than happy to answer in intricate detail, and I'm excited to bring you those answers here in the Hyperspace Beacon.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's James Ohlen shares the formula behind PvP nerfs

Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's James Ohlen shares the formula behind PvP nerfs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spirit Tales introduces the Lunar Fox and Maned Dragon tribes

Matt Daniel — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, News Items, Free-to-Play, Races

If you are allergic to stupefyingly adorable things, you may want to look away now. If you're not, you may be interested in KoramGame's upcoming free-to-play title Spirit Tales. Fans of fluffy wittle animal-people with eyes the size of some small galaxies will find themselves right at home with the two newly announced tribes, the Lunar Fox tribe and the Maned Dragon tribe.

Each tribe has its own unique classes available to it; the Maned Dragon tribe sticks to tradition with the mainstays of Warrior (which plays the role of defender) and Archer (which supplies ranged DPS), while the Lunar Fox tribe bring some magic and cunning (and lots of DPS) to the table with the Sorcerer and Assassin classes. The full details on each tribe and its respective classes can be found over at the official Spirit Tales forums.

Spirit Tales introduces the Lunar Fox and Maned Dragon tribes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic Chapter 5 features new race, two new classes

Jef Reahard — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Runes of Magic, Dungeons

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

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

[Source: Frogster press release]

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

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See TERA's Lancer and Sorcerer in action

Jef Reahard — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, TERA

We told you yesterday that a tidal wave of TERA closed beta videos were heading your way, and now we've got a couple of clips that take you deep into the fantasy MMO's action combat.

In case you've been living under an Arborean rock for the last 12 months, TERA's combat is its raison d'etre, and publisher En Masse Entertainment is hoping to have a significant impact on the current MMO combat paradigm that's built on tab-targeting and hotkey spamming.

Join us after the break to see TERA's melee and ranged flavors courtesy of the Lancer and Sorcerer classes.

Continue reading See TERA's Lancer and Sorcerer in action

See TERA's Lancer and Sorcerer in action originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR: So you want to play a Sith Inquisitor

Matt Daniel — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, Game Mechanics, Guilds, Launches, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic

OK, enough of these goody-goody Jedi, all right? It's time to come to the Dark Side of Star Wars: The Old Republic, where the Sith Inquisitor reigns supreme. The Inquisitor fills a variety of roles within the ranks of the Empire, from healing to ranged DPS to melee DPS to tanking. There's an option for any playstyle, which makes the Inquisitor a great character for the indecisive among us. Also, you get Force Lightning, so that's pretty cool.

On your journey as a Sith Inquisitor, you begin as a slave who has recently discovered his (or her) Force-sensitivity. As you arrive at the Sith Academy on the red planet of Korriban, you're faced with a simple choice: Become Sith -- or die.

Continue reading SWTOR: So you want to play a Sith Inquisitor

SWTOR: So you want to play a Sith Inquisitor originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA website updates with glyph descriptions

Jef Reahard — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, TERA

Well, it's not a release date announcement, but it's not another big-ass monster reveal either, so we'll call that a win. What the heck are we talking about? The official TERA website has updated with a news blurb about the fantasy title's glyph system. The glyph mechanics become available at level 25, and they basically buff your various class skills. Influence and brilliance glyphs lower the MP cost of skill usage; energy and persistence glyphs give you shorter cooldowns; and glyphs of lingering increase skill durations.

There are hundreds of glyphs to choose from, and each skill has four different glyphs available. Head to the official site for more info, including specifics on Lancer and Sorcerer glyphs. TERA is currently scheduled for a spring 2012 release in the West.

TERA website updates with glyph descriptions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Triple your pleasure with three Dragon Nest updates

Jef Reahard — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dragon Nest, Dev Diaries

Your typical Massively news post centers on an item or two of interest from a current MMORPG. It might be class-related info, it might be a juicy dev quote, or it might be a video. Rarely, though, do we manage to cram all three of those items into a single, value-packed news post quite like this one. And we owe it all to the folks at Nexon who've smothered us with a veritable gob of new information about Dragon Nest.

The free-to-play fantasy MMO's website has just updated with our trifecta, and you can pay a visit to link number one to learn about the game's Warriors, Clerics, Archers, and Sorcerers. Behind link number two is a lengthy dev blog from Desmodeus Dragon Nest's lead producer who talks about the title's visuals, action, and story. Not to be outdone is link number three, which boasts a shiny new video detailing various combos and attacks from Dragon Nest's battle system. OK, maybe it is outdone, since you can also watch the video behind the cut without leaving the comfort of your Massively home.

Either way, a smorgasbord of new Dragon Nest info awaits.

Continue reading Triple your pleasure with three Dragon Nest updates

Triple your pleasure with three Dragon Nest updates originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX East 2011: Stalking through DDO's Update 9

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Patches, Previews, Free-to-Play, Events (Massively's Coverage)

One of the scariest games I ever played has to be the original Silent Hill. A nearly empty town shrouded with fog and featuring one of the most terrifying elementary schools ever devised? Yes, this is why I didn't sleep much in 1999. So when I started to get flashbacks as Fernando Paiz took me through the creepy alleyways of Dungeon and Dragons Online's upcoming update, I had to excuse myself and run around the PAX East show floor for a few minutes while shrieking like a tormented cat.

OK, it wasn't that frightening, but I definitely was getting a Silent Hill vibe from the latest adventure pack that Turbine has crafted for the game. Coming "soon" (TM, all rights reserved, void in Utah and the Yukon Territories), DDO's Update 9 promises to bring a wide assortment of lavish treats to a hungry populace. At the center of it is a level 15 quest chain that centers around mysterious abductions, a skittish population, and nightmares made flesh.

Hit the jump as I recall my brush with certain death in these adventures and relate the other jewels of Update 9!

Continue reading PAX East 2011: Stalking through DDO's Update 9

PAX East 2011: Stalking through DDO's Update 9 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA class videos explode from Frogster!

Larry Everett — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, New Titles, News Items, TERA

Bluehole Studio has been a bit silent as of late regarding its action MMORPG, TERA. But today, European publisher Frogster treated us with not one, not two, not even three, but eight trailers from the lands of TERA. These stunning videos give us a taste of each player class: Warrior, Lancer, Slayer, Sorcerer, Archer, Priest, Mystic, and Berserker. Despite what it may look like, each teaser is shot using TERA's in-game engine and textures -- there's no outside studio work here. Never-before-seen class features are showcased, and Frogster hopes to whet your appetite with these action-packed videos.

Follow after the break to judge each class video for yourself. So, truthfully, do these videos make you more excited about TERA?

Continue reading TERA class videos explode from Frogster!

TERA class videos explode from Frogster! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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En Masse unveils third TERA race and class series entry

Jef Reahard — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Video, New Titles, News Items, TERA

It's been a while since we've been treated to an update of En Masse Entertainment's TERA Race and Class series. Happily, today marks the third installment, and it's all about Humans, Mystics, and Sorcerers. If you're in the mood for early Christmas presents, we've got them in the form of a new TERA screenshot gallery, a gameplay video of Sorcerers blowing stuff up, and a few blurbs about races, classes, and quests.

TERA is currently gearing up for its Korean open beta, with a European and North American launch expected in 2011. Join us for all the juicy details after the cut.

Gallery: TERA Race and Class series

Continue reading En Masse unveils third TERA race and class series entry

En Masse unveils third TERA race and class series entry originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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En Masse revamps TERA website, adds dev blog and class skill videos

Jef Reahard — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New Titles, News Items, TERA

TERA's visual style is a big part of the forthcoming title's identity. From the high poly-count graphics to the controversial outfits and animations, En Masse Entertainment's Asian import is covered in a shiny, shimmering gloss. Earlier this week, the publisher revamped TERA's official website to match, doing away with the older Flash design for a sleeker, slicker content-focused look.

The site boasts an array of new features, including a new developer blog section and a media area with several new class videos viewable among the entries. In addition to the game's trailers, check out the skill-based videos for the various classes, including Lancer, Berserker, Priest, Slayer, Archer, Mystic, Warrior, and Sorcerer (the last of which you can also view after the cut).

Continue reading En Masse revamps TERA website, adds dev blog and class skill videos

En Masse revamps TERA website, adds dev blog and class skill videos originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA-Europe unveils archer and sorcerer gameplay videos

Jef Reahard — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New Titles, News Items, TERA

TERA's action combat system has gotten a lot of press over the months since the game's announcement, and rightly so as it looks to differentiate itself from traditional tab-target-spam-special MMO mechanics. While it sounds great on paper, particularly for melee and heavily armored types, ranged classes are a different animal.

Happily, Frogster and TERA-Europe have just released a pair of new gameplay videos that show the PvE experience from the perspective of both an archer and a sorcerer. The trailers give would-be players a first-hand look at ranged DPS in the world of TERA, and highlight the fact that both classes will require a certain amount of active participation and, dare we say it, player skill. Check out both videos after the break.

Continue reading TERA-Europe unveils archer and sorcerer gameplay videos

TERA-Europe unveils archer and sorcerer gameplay videos originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive TERA look at a day in the life of a sorcerer

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Lore, TERA

What would it truly be like to harness raw magics in the palm of your hand? How would you handle the knowledge that you could freeze or incinerate anyone who even looked at you wrong? It's these questions that TERA's sorcerers grapple with on a daily basis. Fancy weapons and shiny armor are no match for a six-hundred pound ice shard slamming into you, after all. That sort of ability should be licensed, but any player who logs into TERA will have the opportunity to give it a spin with no restrictions.

As TERA's content writer, En Masse's Fran Stewart has a good idea what goes through a sorcerer's head. Today, she brings to us this exclusive peek at a day in the life of a sorcerer. It's not just a fun little story, but a look at how this class functions in game. Turn the page and ignore the monster at the end of this post!

Continue reading Exclusive TERA look at a day in the life of a sorcerer

Exclusive TERA look at a day in the life of a sorcerer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamescom 2010: BioWare reveals 10 new advanced classes for TOR

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, Previews, Star Wars: The Old Republic

We've known for a while now that Star Wars: The Old Republic is planning to offer players two different specializations for each class, but up until now we've only heard of a couple of them. Today at Gamescom, however, BioWare unloaded the names and loose descriptions of ten advanced classes. The best part? No Bothans died for this information.

Darth Hater reports that imperial agent characters will have the choice between specializing as snipers (long-range DPS) or operatives (who use stealth and short-range weapons to get up close and personal). If a bounty hunter is more to your liking, then the choice between a powertech and a mercenary should get your imagination racing. Over on the Republic side, troopers will sign up for either commando or vanguard training. Commandos are the tanking line, although we don't know much about vanguards yet. SWTOR-Station spied a Zabrak trooper at the BioWare booth, indicating another possible race for the class.

Force-users are also in store for powerful upgrades. The villainous Sith inquisitors choose their path between a more Force-happy sorcerer or the twin lightsaber-using assassin. Their counterpart, the Jedi consular, has a similar decision to make: that of a shadow, who can use double-bladed lightsabers, or a wizard, who uses a single lightsaber but can heal. Are Star Wars fans ready for wizards and sorcerers in their MMO? Somehow, we think so.

Gamescom 2010: BioWare reveals 10 new advanced classes for TOR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exploring Eberron: All aboard the Hogwarts express

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Classes, Free-to-Play, Exploring Eberron

So you want to be a wizard, eh? Whoa, whoa, not so fast there young whippersnapper! Just because you've lived under the stairs your whole life and can talk to snakes doesn't mean that you're the "chosen" anything around here. Wizardry is a dangerous profession, to be sure, and if a Beholder doesn't eat you alive, you'll most likely melt your own face off with a misplaced acid spray. Maybe you'd be better off going with a... simpler class, like a barbarian or janitor.

No? Spells and glory is where it's at, you say? Fine. I'll teach you a few tricks, but don't go crying to mommy when the dark arts claim your soul just because you forgot to bring your eye of newt to the fight.

Might as well come in, then, and I'll show you a thing or two about starting your own wizard before you jump into your first dungeon to fight your first dragon. Maybe you'll even clear the wax out of your ears enough so that you'll survive past the initial day, eh? I can always dream, I suppose. So let's get started!

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: All aboard the Hogwarts express

Exploring Eberron: All aboard the Hogwarts express originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SDCC 2010: TERA by the numbers

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Previews, Races, TERA

If looks were everything, then TERA would certainly place as a finalist in the Miss Upcoming MMO Universe pageant. Yet as visually sumptuous as it may be, we're more interested in its personality. Can the brains match the beauty? So far, it looks promising. We've been locked on to TERA's unique brand of fantasy play since this year's E3 (and before), and as such, it's great to check back in with the title, take it out for a quiet romantic dinner, and see how it's shaping up.

We caught up with En Masse Entertainment at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con and spent a half hour putting the game through its paces and chatting up with TERA's devs. While TERA's dev team is working with a more recent build of the game, our hands-on demo was the same build as the one we saw at E3. Even so, it's always worth spending a few more minutes with an upcoming MMO to see what new facts and impressions can be gleaned. Hit the jump to read more about classes, races and an idea about not getting hit that's so crazy, it just might work!

Continue reading SDCC 2010: TERA by the numbers

SDCC 2010: TERA by the numbers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mythos reveals Pyromancer art

Jef Reahard — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Mythos

Redbana has released new artwork of the Pyromancer class in their upcoming Mythos MMORPG. The title, originally developed by Travis Baldree (FATE, Torchlight) at Flagship Studios but now the property of HanbitSoft, is a Diablo-style dungeon crawler, complete with isometric perspective and high levels of itemization and randomization.

Redbana is the North American publisher for Mythos, and has released the Pyromancer screens as the first of what promises to be a steady stream of information that will lead up to the beta tests and full release later this year. The Pyromancer, as you might expect, relies on fiery magic to burn enemies into submission, and fans can get a leg up on checking out the sorcery and other game elements by signing up for the Mythos newsletter at the official website.

Gallery: Mythos

Mythos reveals Pyromancer art originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vanguard gets final 3 weapon sets: Druid, Necro, Sorcerer

James Egan — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, News Items, Vanguard

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes doesn't get as much attention as other SOE games, but it clearly has a dedicated community of players. It's also a game that has seen a significant amount of change since it launched, and the developers are continually improving Vanguard through player input.

The latest announcement from the Vanguard developers is about the new weapon sets they're going to introduce, specifically for the Druid, Necro, and Sorcerer classes. They write: "You might have thought that we forgot about 3 certain classes when we were featuring some of the new weaponry. Never fear, this week we were able to wrangle the final 3 weapon sets up for everyone to check out in all their glory."

Continue reading Vanguard gets final 3 weapon sets: Druid, Necro, Sorcerer

Vanguard gets final 3 weapon sets: Druid, Necro, Sorcerer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delving into the archetypes and specialty classes of Aion

Brooke Pilley — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Classes, News Items

The folks over at Ten Ton Hammer have been cranking out a number of features that examine the various class archetypes and specialty classes of Aion. So far, they've produced two game guides showcasing the Priest and Mage archetypes and had four interviews with NCsoft discussing the Gladiator, Templar, Ranger, and Assassin specialty classes.

When creating a character in Aion, you must initially choose one of four available archetypes. Anyone who has played a fantasy MMO or RPG in the past decade or so will find them quite familiar. They are the Warrior, Scout, Priest, and Mage.

Once you reach level 9, you're sent on a quest to discover your true identity and ascend to daevahood. The quest is like Red Bull - it gives you wings. At this point you must choose a specialty class defined by your original archetype. Warriors become Gladiators or Templars. Scouts become Rangers or Assassins. Priests become Clerics or Chanters. Mages become Sorcerers(esses) or Spiritmasters.

By our count, TTH has covered half the archetypes and specialty classes so far, so keep your eyes peeled for the second half coming soon. We'll also bring you our own impressions of these classes when beta permits. So far, we've been limited to testing some pretty low level characters.

Delving into the archetypes and specialty classes of Aion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online 1.0.6 patch adds new classes, tidal wave of updates

Kyle Horner — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:45:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Warhammer Online, News Items

All those Warhammer Online players who where playing along with the Heavy Metal event in November will be happy to know that today the fruits of their labor has arrived. That's right: Today, Mythic brings us Black Guards and Knights of the Blazing Sun! For those who didn't finish the full Heavy Metal event, don't worry, the classes will become available to everyone next week. Servers are going down at 3:30AM PST / 6:30AM EST for North American players with Oceanic servers following at 9:00AM EST. No specific time-frame was given for the updating process, so we'll just have to sit tight and wait it out.

New classes aren't the only thing found in this patch, however. There's a ton of general game updates, performance updates, bug fixes and class tweaks coming with the 1.0.6 patch, too. In fact, there are so many class tweaks that Bright Wizards, Chosen, Engineers, Ironbreakers, Maguses (Magi?), Shadow Warriors, Sorcerers, Squig Herders and Swordmasters are all getting their mastery points refunded. Combat also seems to be a big focus, with a ton of improvements to auto-attack animations, ability responsiveness, morale responsiveness and root responsiveness.

All in all, we're pretty impressed with Mythic on this patch, as it delivers some substantial changes that many players have been waiting to see.

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!

Warhammer Online 1.0.6 patch adds new classes, tidal wave of updates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Digital Continuum: WAR's resistant early gratifitanktion

Kyle Horner — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Warhammer Online, Opinion, The Digital Continuum

Crubz is standing on my screen with a choppa in one hand and a blocka in the other, waiting for me to select him and log into Warhammer Online for some RvR action. My cursor glides onto the "character" button. I'd feel bad for what I'm about to do if it didn't seem so right. I stare into the load screen for Blighted Isle and wonder if I'll come to regret my penultimate choice -- the career I truly want isn't available to me, yet. I doubt that I ever will regret the decision because it's going to happen again. Regret will only rear its ugly head if I don't take at least one character to end game level. My Dark Elf Sorcerer is nearly level ten now with a renown rank of eight and my class hopping has only just begun.

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The Digital Continuum: WAR's resistant early gratifitanktion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Michael Zenke — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, Warhammer Online

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.

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

Massively 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.

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The Elves of WAR: Sorceress levels 6-10

Kyle Horner — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New Titles, Warhammer Online, Hands-On (Massively's)

The first five levels of the Sorceress class outfitted her with the basics spell-wise. These next five levels, however, add plenty of tricks into the mix. There's still more direct damage to be had, especially with your first morale ability. However, a lot of what you're getting in levels six through ten are buffs and debuffs or Augmentations and Hexes, as Warhammer Online likes to call them.

Umbral Strikes is going to be your bread and butter buff for a while after you get it, as the spell gives everyone in your group a 25% chance to cause extra damage whenever they attack. One particularly interesting ability allows you to deal slightly more damage to a target of your choosing over a period of time, but less damage to everything else as a cost. This one seems like an obvious choice for epic monsters or maybe that particularly annoying tank in RvR. Your level ten spell is probably the second most important spell, next to your brand new buff. It's a classic AoE root that no spellcaster should be without, really.

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The Elves of WAR: Sorceress levels 6-10 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Elves of WAR: Meet the Sorceress

Kyle Horner — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New Titles, Warhammer Online, Hands-On (Massively's)

Do dark magical forces beckon you? It could be that the Dark Elf Sorceress -- Sorcerer for males -- is just the class for you in Warhammer Online, so long as you don't mind being an Elf. The Sorceress is -- for all intents and purposes -- your typical mage-type class. Don't take that statement at face value, though. There is a nice twist to the class that helps keep things interesting while you nuke the snot out of everything in sight. The difference between, say, a Sorceress and an Archmage is the disdain for any adherence to the balancing act with magical energies. Where a High Elf crafts her magic with a careful touch, a Sorceress steals as much as she can and flings all of it at her enemies at once. This doesn't come without a risk, of course.

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The Elves of WAR: Meet the Sorceress originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview of Vanguard Game Update 5

Michael Zenke — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Patches, Vanguard

The Vanguard Players site just released information on the upcoming Game Update 5. Slated to hit the test servers at the beginning of next week, this latest in Vanguard's ongoing series of large content updates looks to be another doozy. Highlights from this update incude:

Racial Mounts: We featured two exclusive screenshots of the Dark Elf and Half Elf mounts this morning, but every race has their own unique ride. The folks at Ten Ton Hammer snagged their own shots, showing of the Gataro Raki mount, and the Kurashasa Scorpion mount. The full list of races and their mounts is on the site.
A city faction system they're calling 'Citizen Favor.' Players will be able to complete quests to earn positive faction standing with each individual city. Certain creatures can be slain to earn tokens, which are then turned in to earn standing and rewards. Raid-level monsters will drop ancient coins of exceptional value in this system.
Three classes received some TLC: the Psionicist, the Blood Mage, and the Sorcerer. Broken abilities were fixed, spells have been updated, and "all three classes should be more in-line with their intended vision." Exactly what was changed will be listed in the final patch notes.
Performance improvements, new particle effects for a number of classes, and more will also be added in the patch.

We'll have more on Game Update 5 in the days ahead, so make sure to check back.

Gallery: Vanguard Game Update 5 Gallery

Preview of Vanguard Game Update 5 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2 Aion character classes video

Akela Talamasca — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Video, Aion, Classes, New Titles, Previews, News Items, Opinion

NCsoft's upcoming MMO Aion sure looks nice, doesn't it? Wired has posted a mini-preview of two of its character classes, the Assassin and Sorcerer. There's nothing revolutionary about these videos, but it's amazing how the right soundtrack can add so much to a simple video. Try watching them for the first time without sound enabled, and see if they're still interesting.

Aion is scheduled to be released this year on an unannounced date.

2 Aion character classes video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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