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: Are you a fan of account-wide rewards?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-fan-of-account-wide-rewards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-fan-of-account-wide-rewards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-fan-of-account-wide-rewards/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars
Guild Wars has long been a source of mild frustration for me because not all of the game's achievements are account-wide. While aspects of the Hall of Monuments are based on your account's accomplishments and skill unlocks are accessible by alts, the game nevertheless discourages me from devoting time to my secondary toons, not when there are factions and titles still to grind on my main.

I'm intrigued by games that offer parallel power tracks that show your overall investment in the game, not just in one character. Lord of the Rings Online's Destiny and Star Wars: The Old Republic's Legacy systems do just that: They reward you for playing multiple characters by allotting you currency that can be spent on special rewards.

So today we ask you: Are you a fan of account-wide rewards like Destiny and Legacy points? Or do you think they unduly reward scattered play rather than specialization in one character and class in the game?

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: Are you a fan of account-wide rewards? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-wideaccount-wide-rewardsaltaltingaltsanetarenanetbiowarebrianna-royce-tdgdestinydestiny-pointsdestiny-systemeaElectronic-Artsguild-warsgwhall-of-monumentshomlegacylegacy-pointslegacy-systemlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftopinionstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republicturbineFri, 24 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are heirloom items bad for MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/the-daily-grind-are-heirloom-items-bad-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I may have chosen this image because it provided me the opportunity to make a 'you have a dead bird on your head' joke in the alt text
In its Wrath of the Lich King expansion, World of Warcraft introduced a new class of items: the heirloom. Heirlooms can be transferred between all of the characters on your account, even your alts belonging to "enemy" factions. While a cloth-bedecked caster can't exactly wear the heavy platemail of his older Paladin brother, the hand-me-downs are pretty useful for twinking if you plan it out a bit.

The trouble is that heirlooms effectively level up with the player, so an alt who has a truckload of heirlooms has no need to take part in the player market. Why would he need to buy a crafted staff from a Weaponsmith? He's got one that he can use for 80 (85, now) levels. And in that case, why bother crafting as a lowbie Weaponsmith at all?

What do you think -- do the conveniences of heirloom items outweigh their negative impact on MMO economies?

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: Are heirloom items bad for MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsbind-on-accountBlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcraftingdaily-grindeconomyheirloomheirloomsopinionplayer-economytdgthe-daily-grindtwinkWorld-of-WarcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 20 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When do you alt?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-alt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-alt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/the-daily-grind-when-do-you-alt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In some games, the correct answer is 'pretty much never' no matter what.
We know that some of you love to roll alts and some of you just play one character until the end time. This question is not about that. No, today we want something that's much more fundamental but yet subtly more important -- when do you make those alts? When do you click back over to character creation and start fresh?

For some players, it's a matter of boredom. Some players make new characters based on roleplaying demands. Some just love to roll new characters on a regular basis whenever one character hits an important milestone. And for some of us, it's just a matter of whenever the whim strikes, whether or not that whim makes a lot of sense at the time.

If you don't make alts, of course, your answer is "almost never." But if you do, we ask you -- when do you make your new characters? What motivates you to start again from the bottom on a regular basis? When is it time to make another character?

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: When do you alt? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-charactersalternatesaltscharacter-creationcultureexperimentationnew-charactersopinionrolling-altstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Happy Newb Year!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/wing-over-atreia-happy-newb-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/wing-over-atreia-happy-newb-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/wing-over-atreia-happy-newb-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
Oh, that feeling when a game is new and everything is an adventure! Say what you will, but I cherish those moments of still being a newb and getting to experience things for the first time while exploring a new world (mind you, that is newb as in "new person," not n00b meaning "hopelessly moronic"). The problem is, once you have been in a game for a while, that whole aura dissipates and you lose that feeling of wonder. I envy those just now coming to Aion, as those of us who have been here for the past two plus years have lost that initial excitement. And when you've lost that newbie feeling, then it's gone, gone, gone, whoa whoa whoa...

Or is it?

When you have played the game for a long period of time, you tend to settle into a rut that is hard to break out of. Log in, do dailies, do arenas, do dredge. Toss in a siege. Rinse and repeat. In the past, Wings Over Atreia has delved into some of the reasons to stay in game when things become a bit monotonous and we sludge through some of the more difficult times. But why should we sludge? Why not find ways to make Aion more interesting when you hit that plateau?

Some players have done just that. A little creativity (and sometimes some really insane friends) can really make a difference and bring back that newbie feeling -- or at least make things interesting while adding some variety to gaming.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Happy Newb Year!

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Happy Newb Year! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamealternate-rule-setaltsbeating-boredomboredomcomfort-zonefeaturedmonotonync-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnewbienewbie-experiencepermadeathroleplayroleplayersroleplayingMon, 09 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Celebrating the selfless gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/the-anvil-of-crom-celebrating-the-selfless-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/the-anvil-of-crom-celebrating-the-selfless-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/the-anvil-of-crom-celebrating-the-selfless-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - angry man header
Oh sh... it's time for another installment of Massively's Anvil of Crom! If I sound a bit harried, it's because there's simply not enough time in the day for all the gaming goodness going on lately. Whether we're talking about the MMO space where I'm currently dabbling in AoC, DC Universe Online, EverQuest II, and Global Agenda, or the single-player smorgasbords of Arkham City, Uncharted 3, and Skyrim, sometimes it sucks to be an adult with responsibilities!

Those "sometimes" are usually during the pre-Christmas release window when game publishers all get together and decide to make our entertainment lives miserable by releasing 35 badass titles at once. Hello geniuses, how's about we stagger the badassery throughout the year; you'll still be rolling in money and your customers won't be rushing through one title to get to the next.

Anyway, I'm continually on the lookout for interesting tidbits from Funcom's Hyboria, and over the past couple of weeks I've been struck by a noticeable uptick in what I'm going to call the quality community. Since AoC's 2008 launch, the game's community has been alternately awful and tolerable, and whether that's because of the game's mature rating (and the immature people it attracts) or some other factor, it's been a rare occasion when I've had cause to highlight the nice folk.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Celebrating the selfless gamer

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Celebrating the selfless gamer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaltsaocaoc-unchainedbarbiebarbie-the-barbariancommunityculturef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhyboriamad-immortal-manopinionrandom-acts-of-kindnessselflessselfless-gamerSun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are alts and mules a form of cheating?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/the-daily-grind-are-alts-and-mules-a-form-of-cheating/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/the-daily-grind-are-alts-and-mules-a-form-of-cheating/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/the-daily-grind-are-alts-and-mules-a-form-of-cheating/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mule Photograph by Einar Faanes
In response to Beau's recent Free For All column on the topic of botters and cheaters, reader Keith wrote in to suggest that there's another form of cheating much more common and pervasive: the use of alternate characters. In games like EVE Online or Star Wars Galaxies, which limit the number of characters players can create, extra accounts are manipulated to allow a single player access to more skills through alts ("skill mules"), more storage space ("bank mules" and "auction mules"), or more avenues for safe PvP scouting. But the problem occurs in alt-friendly games too, like World of Warcraft, where it's not uncommon to see someone five-boxing an entire team of Shamans, or Ultima Online, where it's standard practice for every player to have a "craft mule" who loads up on tradeskills (to the detriment of the player economy).

What do you think? Are alts and mules just another form of cheating, one that allows players with excess character slots or extra accounts unfair advantages? Or are "slave" characters just a natural and necessary part of online gaming?

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: Are alts and mules a form of cheating? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ah-mulealtalternate-charactersaltsauction-mulebank-mulebank-mulesbottersbrianna-royce-tdgcheaterscheatingeveeve-onlinemulemulesmulti-boxingopinionreader-mailskill-muleslaveslavesstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindUltima-OnlineuoWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 07 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Army of me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/storyboard-army-of-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/storyboard-army-of-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/storyboard-army-of-me/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'm not really a huge Bjork fan, although I do like her music, but I've made the Billy Idol reference often enough.
There are, sadly, more character concepts in pretty much every game on the market than there is time for me to play them all. This is a horrible setup, and I've lodged a complaint with the management, but I'm not expecting any sort of response. Mercifully, in the vast majority of games, you can at least somewhat sidestep this issue by using up all of your character slots on alts. If the game gives us 12 character spaces, the odds are good that many of us will have 12 characters within a month, with that number only changing as we kill off some of that number or get more slots.

All of this leads to another problem, though. If you play Alice and someone else plays Bob, there's plenty of space for the two of them to interact. But if you play Alice and Claire and Bob interacts with both of them, eventually, logic would dictate that Alice and Claire ought to interact with one another. And that's not just problematic from the standpoint of interacting with yourself; in many cases the game outright disallows that sort of login-juggling. Suddenly you need two characters to talk, and there's no way to even get them sharing the same room.

Continue reading Storyboard: Army of me

MassivelyStoryboard: Army of me originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaholismalternate-charactersaltsfeaturedopinionroleplayingrpscenesstoryboardFri, 14 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Out of all your characters, who's the favorite?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/the-daily-grind-out-of-all-your-characters-whos-the-favorite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/the-daily-grind-out-of-all-your-characters-whos-the-favorite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/the-daily-grind-out-of-all-your-characters-whos-the-favorite/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Play MMOs long enough and you'll amass your own little army of characters. Some details might be the same from game to game, even if you're not much of a roleplayer, but there's no doubt a vast difference in capability and what abilities are even available to a given player. Sure, you can have a similar-looking elf in both World of Warcraft and RIFT, but odds are good that the two will play completely differently.

Maybe you only have a couple of games in your history and you're immune to the urge of making dozens of alts, or perhaps you've got a hundred characters spread over dozens of games. Whatever the case, there are no doubt one or two names that stand out in the list. So who's your favorite character out of the ones you've played? Is it a character that stands out due to class abilities, roleplaying, or some other sentimental connection?

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: Out of all your characters, who's the favorite? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altscharacter-abilitiescharacter-historycharactersculturehistorynostalgiaopiniontdgthe-daily-grindMon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If there's one thing that came out of Fan Faire about EQ Next, it's that no one will talk about EQ Next. No matter who you talked to, any time the subject came up, the answer was always, "I can't talk about that." However, Executive Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson sat down with Massively during Fan Faire to talk more about EverQuest II, and during that interview, he did give a tiny glimpse into what that game would be like.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, Massively gets the scoop on Beastlords, the dungeon builder, Freeport's revamp, and much more.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akil-hooperaltsbeastlordbeastlordscitadelcrushbonedave-georgesondesign-your-own-dungeondungeon-builderdungeon-finderemily-tayloreqeq-nexteq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2EverQuest-iieverquest-nextfan-fairefan-faire-2011freeportgame-of-thronesitemizationnasa-moon-shotorcpetpet-classplanetside-2ps2revamprich-waterstattered-notebookveliouswarderwarlockMon, 18 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Allods Online's Rise of the Gods patch now live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/allods-onlines-rise-of-the-gods-patch-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/allods-onlines-rise-of-the-gods-patch-now-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/allods-onlines-rise-of-the-gods-patch-now-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's patch day for Allods Online, and gPotato's free-to-play fantasy epic is sporting quite a few revisions. The Rise of the Gods release (version 2.0.04.49 if you're counting at home) includes new high-level zones, increased challenge via the third Astral layer (as well as some ship navigation tweaks), more vanity items, and a new reincarnation system.

This last bit caught our interest as it allows high-level Allods players to create a second character that shares all of the original character's item shop goodies. Both toons also have access to the same Astral ships, gold, and a few other trinkets according to gPotato's latest press release, and the mechanic offers a new spin on the traditional alt-creation pastime. Read all about it via the 2.0.04.49 patch notes.

MassivelyAllods Online's Rise of the Gods patch now live originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0.042.0.04-patch2.0.04.492.0.04.49-patchaltsare-you-sure-have-enough-numbers-in-that-patch-numberastral-layercharacter-creationf2pfree-to-playnew-zonespatchreincarnationreincarnation-systemrise-of-the-godssecondary-charactership-navigationthird-astral-layerFri, 15 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does a class' popularity influence your desire to play it?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There are a few constants that dog my adventures into every MMO. I will play a female character even though I am a man, I will go nuts over pet classes if they are available, I will probably create a legion of alts before ever hitting the level cap, and I will wear stylish hats even if the stats aren't the greatest. But above all of that, the biggest constant in my playing career is that I almost always refuse to pick MMO classes that are extremely popular.

I think it's because I -- like probably most of you -- like to feel unique in games, even though it's usually difficult to achieve. Choosing a class that's in the minority helps with that feeling, and conversely, going with the FOTM or whatever the kids are calling it these days makes me feel like I've got my unique snowflake status revoked.

So is this insane? Do you allow class popularity to influence your desire to play it, or do you just go with whatever sounds like the most fun?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Does a class' popularity influence your desire to play it? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsfotmguys-playing-girlshathatsim-weird-get-over-itlegionopinionpet-classpet-classespopularpopular-classpopular-classespopularitystylish-hattdgthe-dailiy-grinduniqueunique-snowflakeyou-are-not-a-unique-snowflakeTue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Packing for Isengard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/the-road-to-mordor-packing-for-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/the-road-to-mordor-packing-for-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/the-road-to-mordor-packing-for-isengard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Isengard. Isengard. ISENGARD. It's all I can think about since last week's E3 reveal, and I know I'm not the only one. For some reason, having a firm launch date for Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion feels like a starting pistol's gone off, and we're beginning the race to the expansion in earnest.

Of course, we're not in that much of a hurry at this point. We still have well over three months to go, the beta has yet to begin, and something tells me that Turbine's got a few more tricks to pull out of its top hat before all is said and done. Still, I'm officially in "Go!" mode, and I bet I'm not the only one.

While I can't make September 27th come any sooner, I can think of six ways that we can prepare for our upcoming journey into Dunland and beyond. Seven, if you include putting together the absolute perfect outfit to slay Saruman in, but that's a given.

Hit the jump and I'll walk you through everything you should be doing this summer to get ready for Rise of Isengard!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Packing for Isengard

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Packing for Isengard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsdunlande3e3-2011enedwaithexpansionfeaturedisengardlegendary-itemslotropackingpeter-jacksonpreorderpreppreparationprepurchaserise-of-isengardsarumanskirmishesthe-road-to-mordorthe-two-towerstoothpicktpturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-pointsvirtuesvolume-iii-book-3Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you protective of your alts?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-daily-grind-are-you-protective-of-your-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-daily-grind-are-you-protective-of-your-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-daily-grind-are-you-protective-of-your-alts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The other day I realized that EverQuest II's website makes my alternate characters viewable to anyone who knows the name of my main. SOE theoretically gives me the option to toggle the public access functionality on each of my characters, but they're viewable by default (and there's currently a website bug that prevents my profile from being edited).

Character lookups aren't unique to EQII of course. Titles as diverse as Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, and EVE Online pipe in-game information to external websites all the time. What is unique, though, is forcing players to divulge the names of their alts -- even though in this case it's unintended. Though SOE has been polite enough in support ticket communications, its insistence that it can't fix its own website (and thus allow me the option of turning off the public profiles), leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

For today's Daily Grind, tell us about your feelings on alt anonymity. Did you know (and do you care) that SOE broadcasts your alts for the world to see? What are your feelings on the practice as it relates to other MMORPGs?

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: Are you protective of your alts? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-charactersaltsanonymityeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifantasygame-discussiongamer-discussionmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicssoeSony-Online-Entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 09 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/the-road-to-mordor-making-your-alts-work-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I have a confession to make. My name is Justin, and I'm a Lord of the Rings Online altoholic.

I know. I have a problem! I'm weak! DON'T STARE WITH THOSE ACCUSING EYES!

I always start out in games with the best of intentions: I'm going to stick with just one character, at least until I hit the level cap. I'll only make new characters to reserve names I like. I won't get class envy and wonder what's on the other side of the fence. I'll stay strong! I'll be an oak!

And then I turn out to be a willow tree, blowing about in the winds of whimsy, and suddenly I end up with alts staggered all over the leveling track. It's all right; I've come to embrace my altoholic tendencies because it really is who I am as a gamer. I like to sample everything, to try out different approaches to the game, and if I don't end up with a maxed-out uber-raider, then I can live with it.

If you follow this pattern and are prone to rolling up a lot of alts in LotRO, there are several advantages you can gain over the monogamous players out there. Today I want to take a look at how you can make your alts work for you, if only to give you an excuse to keep rolling them!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltaholicaltitisaltoaltoholismaltsauction-housebank-altburglarcodepenencycraftingcurrencyeconomyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhtclord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromichel-delvingmoneymulethe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Elaborating on XP gain and leveling alts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-elaborating-on-xp-gain-and-leveling-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-elaborating-on-xp-gain-and-leveling-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-elaborating-on-xp-gain-and-leveling-alts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This week I want to elaborate on experience gain, the honor party, and other ways of leveling alts. I received some great feedback from last week's article that suggests to me an interest in a much wider discussion of power-leveling. But before I get to that, let's clear up XP gain in Runes of Magic.

Most MMOs that I know of -- including RoM -- dish out XP based on the character's level and the level of the mob being slain. If your character is the same level as the mob, the game will give you an adequate amount of XP as a reward. If the mob is higher, you'll get even more experience, but you'll get less XP as you out-level a mob. If you've played any MMO, you're probably aware of this. In RoM, you'll stop collecting XP from mobs 10 levels lower than you. Naturally, fighting mobs slightly higher than you can be more efficient. You can continue to fight increasingly higher-level mobs, but at some point, there's just no way you'll be able to survive, which is why you may want to get a higher-level player to take you just about anywhere in RoM to power-level you. When a high-level player starts towing you around, though, the XP you gain will be based directly on the amount of XP that player would get from any mob he kills. Read on to see more about this and alternative ways of power-leveling.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Elaborating on XP gain and leveling alts

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Elaborating on XP gain and leveling alts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsexperienceexperience-pointsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehelping-newbshonor-partyjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreapower-levelingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentspeed-levelingtutor-systemxp-gainMon, 11 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Power-leveling alts in an honor party]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-power-leveling-alts-in-an-honor-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-power-leveling-alts-in-an-honor-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-power-leveling-alts-in-an-honor-party/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Over the course of two years, Runes of Magic has had many patches. It has also had many changes and additions that never made it into the patch notes. They're usually nothing major -- maybe a minor graphical tweak or some other incidental improvements. Then there are items, quests, and features that seem to change, but I can never be sure based on my imperfect memory alone. Something seems to be new or different, but because it never made a lasting impression, I can't be sure whether I'm remembering it correctly. That's how I felt about the honor party.

The newbie tutor system seemed to quietly crawl under a rug, but over time it has proven to be operational. Even though the NPC in Varanas does a fair job of informing you what the honor party is and does, I'll give you a quick run-down of how it operates. One of the advantages of knowing about and using the honor party is having a very quick way of leveling alts through the first 20 levels. I wouldn't recommend it for first-time players, but let's take a look at using the honor party to give your alt a huge jump in levels on day one.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Power-leveling alts in an honor party

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Power-leveling alts in an honor party originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehonor-partyjeremy-strattonlevelinglost-pages-of-taboreanecropolis-of-mirrorsnompower-levelpower-levelingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentspeed-levelingMon, 04 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Endgame = end of game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/wings-over-atreia-endgame-end-of-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/wings-over-atreia-endgame-end-of-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/wings-over-atreia-endgame-end-of-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It happens. All good things must come to an end... except (hopefully) your favorite MMORPG. After all, the whole idea of the MMO is to keep going endlessly, right? To supposedly ever-evolve -- there is no final "win" that concludes the story as in single-player RPGs. However, what do you do when you hit the level cap and have "been there and done that" with everything in game? I guess that's the disadvantage of not having a sandbox; as much I love the graphics and my friends in NCsoft's Aion, there really is just a finite list of things to do.

Now before anyone gets up-in-arms or sneers "I told you so," no, I am not quitting and I haven't given up on the game. I still enjoy it. It just so happens that my mind zeroed in on the topic this week as I logged in over the course a few days and just stared at my screen, wondering what I wanted to do. While I was feeling under the weather a bit (which dampened my endurance and enthusiasm to complete any major dungeons), I started wondering about what there actually is to do in Aion after you reach and sit at maximum level for a while.

For me, the two things that keep me interested in my virtual worlds are the community and friends that I find in game as well as exploring and experiencing new things. One involves the company providing regular content updates; the other allows for player-created content. But once there is nothing left to explore or experience, friends can drift away... so what does that leave? Pondering this subject and watching the community around me actually brought up some expected -- and some not quite expected -- answers.

Join me past the cut to look at different ways Daevas spend their time in Atreia and how they keep their interest sparked.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Endgame = end of game?

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Endgame = end of game? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamealtaltsatreiabeshmundir-templecontentdark-portaleventsfeaturedgoalgoal-settinggoalsgoalsettinggroupingnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpvpriftingrifting-changesskinssolosoloingsoloing-instancestrolltrollsudas-templeupdatesWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 28 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do alts help or hurt game retention?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/the-daily-grind-do-alts-help-or-hurt-game-retention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/the-daily-grind-do-alts-help-or-hurt-game-retention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/the-daily-grind-do-alts-help-or-hurt-game-retention/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'm going to share with you something I've struggled with and then ask for your professional opinion, Internet Friends. As a natural altoholic, I'm forever filling up my character select screen with a wide variety of heroes. And by heroes, I mean "experiments." Having a main is all fine and dandy, but sooner or later the winds of whimsy wash over me, and I feel the uncontrollable urge to roll up an alt.

My struggle is this: Is my altoholic nature helping me stay in the game longer or hurting my interest overall? On one hand, having a single character to focus on helps me to bond strongly with that toon, explore high-level content, and dedicate myself to a focused journey through the game. On the other hand, having alts adds the spicy variety that I crave and lets me explore the game in new ways.

But I've noticed that several alts can erode that tight attachment I have to an MMO, especially if I keep bouncing around between them. Does this happen to you? What do you think: Do alts help or hurt game retention for you in the long run?

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: Do alts help or hurt game retention? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltaholicaltsinternet-friendsopinionretentiontdgthe-daily-grindvarietyvariety-is-the-spice-of-lifeSun, 20 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Christmas in Agon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/choose-my-adventure-christmas-in-agon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/choose-my-adventure-christmas-in-agon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/choose-my-adventure-christmas-in-agon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Oy. Well, if I had to do it over again, I'd have scheduled this whole Choose My Adventure thing in such a way as to avoid the December holiday rush. Last week was rather hectic from an out-of-game perspective, and this week is shaping up to be even more so. That's not to say there wasn't any time for Darkfall, though, and I did manage around 20 hours of in-game activity for the week. As a testament to the title's staying power, there simply wasn't as much time as I'd have liked.

The fifth week of my Agonian ramble-on was filled with low-level PvP, a bit of questing and crafting, and more exploration than you can shake a candy cane at. Join me after the cut for a recap of the week that was.

Gallery: Choose My Adventure - Darkfall Gallery #4

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Christmas in Agon

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Christmas in Agon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsaventurineaventurine-sachoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-darkfallchristmaschristmas-2010darkfalldarkfall-onlinefeast-of-the-dawning-frostfeaturedgalleriesholidayholiday-2010inkarnationopinionpvepvpsandboxscreenshotsswiftsnoutWed, 22 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

OK, now I've done it... my status as an oddity at Massively is exposed for all the world to see. I confess -- I do not like to play alts. Whew. There, I said it. That wasn't so hard. And being unique is not such a bad thing, right?

In gaming, and in Aion especially, I definitely feel out of place for this philosophy. After all, Aion not only encourages but rewards you for playing alts; what other game gives you an impressive armor set and weapon only after you reach mid-level on numerous characters? And even for those who eschew playing alts, there are times when you are forced to do so (like I was). Pathetic available inventory space? Make a mule. Miss lower-level solo instances because they were introduced after you were too high of a level? Make a noob. But these are only a couple of examples involving mechanics. What makes people create so many alts that they need spreadsheets just to know who has what and is where?

Head past the cut to delve into the pros and cons of managing multiple characters in Atreia.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamealtaltsdramafeaturedfenrisgeargroupinggrouping-incentivesinstancesinventoryinventory-managementInventoryManagementmiragentnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionriftingroleplayWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How many alts do you have?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/the-daily-grind-how-many-alts-do-you-have/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/the-daily-grind-how-many-alts-do-you-have/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/the-daily-grind-how-many-alts-do-you-have/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Most of us have a primary MMO that we play, and whether it's our only game or simply the one we spend the most time in, somewhere along the line we end up rolling alternate characters. A few games allow you a maximum of one (EVE Online) or sometimes two characters per account or per server (Star Wars Galaxies), but most current titles give you ample character slots to fill.

While some folks probably stick with their "mains" through thick and thin, I suspect I'm not the only one who has run newbie content multiple times -- or paid for extra character slots -- in order to satisfy the particular brand of OCD that compels me to try every single solitary class in a given game.

The question of the day, ladies and gents, is how many alts do you have on your main game account? For the bonus round, tell us whether you play them regularly or if they simply exist to be mules for your main.
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: How many alts do you have? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-charactersaltscharacter-slotscharactersgame-discussiongamer-discussionmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 07 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should multiple accounts be policed?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-daily-grind-should-multiple-accounts-be-policed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-daily-grind-should-multiple-accounts-be-policed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-daily-grind-should-multiple-accounts-be-policed/#commentsFiled under: ,


Pirates of the Burning Sea recently amended its in-game rules to reflect an official stance on the practice of "alt-flipping," a tactic used by players with multiple accounts to manipulate the game's Conquest system. In a nutshell, Flying Lab devs have labeled certain uses of the tactic as griefing and stated that it will be policed as such (including possible bans).

Interestingly, Flying Lab also goes out of its way to state it has no problem with multiple accounts per se, saying that in most cases multiple accounts are a perfectly acceptable gameplay tactic. This seemingly opens up a can of worms over what is considered legitimate and/or acceptable gameplay, particularly when the game's design intentionally features a "cutthroat, competitive [...] system that drives players to find any edge they can get over the opposing forces."

Dual-boxing is nothing new in MMORPGs of course, and games like EVE Online even advertise it and run discount promotions for alt accounts. What about you, Massively readers? Do you dual-box, and more importantly, do you feel alt accounts should be policed?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should multiple accounts be policed? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-flippingalternate-charactersaltsdual-boxingeve-onlineflying-labflying-lab-softwareopinionPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapotbstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 19 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Low-level PvP alt]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-low-level-pvp-alt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-low-level-pvp-alt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-low-level-pvp-alt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I've been spending some time making a home for myself on Artemis. Yes, I've moved away from the PvP server, and I haven't regretted it. I've never really participated in open PvP, so it's not really a surprise. I've said before that I only started on a PvP server to have that extra option available to me and to have an added dose of excitement. Well, your unofficial ambassador to Taborea may be changing his tune.

After I made the switch to PvE, I wasn't sure what to do. I already had a high-level character. I didn't feel ready to put my main to rest. It's been my dedicated character for over a year, and it does give me the advantage of accessing high-level content. With the limited time I have for Runes of Magic right now, let alone other MMOs, I was tentative about making an alt. I took the plunge, made an alt, and haven't looked back. Oddly enough -- or maybe not -- I'm enjoying PvP more on a PvE server.

I've found that I like alt life, and it has me thinking creatively about what to do with each character. I've spoken about PvP culture; I've mentioned my idea for improving battlefields; and last week I spoke about siege badges that can help you in battlefields. This week, I want to cover building a low-level PvP alt. There's a lot to be done in prepping a low-level PvP alt, so let's get busy.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Low-level PvP alt

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Low-level PvP alt originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsarenabattlefieldbattlegroundsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-siegelost-pages-of-taborealow-levelmonster-cardspetsplayer-vs-playerpvpromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttitlestwinkMon, 13 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Curing the alt disease]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-anvil-of-crom-curing-the-alt-disease/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-anvil-of-crom-curing-the-alt-disease/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/18/the-anvil-of-crom-curing-the-alt-disease/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Alas, my poor rangers. Left to rot in the aftermath of the great ranger nerf revamp of 2010. Twisting in the wind like those gruesome impaled corpses Funcom is so fond of sprinkling throughout Age of Conan's various zones. Yes, I've abandoned the class, simply because I don't have the desire to relearn it from scratch, which is what such a complete overhaul requires. To be fair, it's not so much a nerf as it is a re-imagining, and one of these days I'll get around to leveling at least one of them the rest of the way to 80.

For now though, the change has prompted me to return to my original character, rolled way back on the head-start weekend in May 2008. He's an assassin, and I recently got him to 80, though he too has gone through quite a revamp since his original creation. Anyway, once I heard that final, magical ding, guess what I did? Nope, I didn't head to Khitai to partake of the new level 80 content. Nay, I didn't start grinding my perks or faction either. No, I promptly logged back to the character select screen and rolled up a guardian, planting his newbie feet on the beach at Tortage and wriggling his virtual toes in the sand before beginning the process all over again.

Point and laugh after the cut.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Curing the alt disease

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Curing the alt disease originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanalt-diseasealternate-charactersaltsanvil-of-cromaocclassesfeaturedfuncomopinionthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 18 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Do-over]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/wasteland-diaries-do-over/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/wasteland-diaries-do-over/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/wasteland-diaries-do-over/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Have you ever fantasized about a second chance? To go back to some major turning point in your life and do things differently from there? Well, as far as I know that's impossible in real life. But we can do it in games. Rolling an alt (as it's referred to) is a rather common thing among many MMO players. Some will never do it, and others do it way too often. I fall somewhere in the middle. In Fallen Earth I have three max-level characters: one pistoleer, one rifleman and a melee-specialist. Two are PvP characters, and the other is my maxed-out crafter.

Aside from sporadic PvP, that doesn't leave me with much to do but gather resources and stockpile chips. No thank you. I'd rather roll an alt. Now, in the many months I have played Fallen Earth, I have learned a great many things, which should improve my chances of survival in the wasteland during my seventh time (counting my beta characters) through. We shall see whether the knowledge I have amassed will keep me alive for any length of time. After the cut I'll chronicle my 12-hour rebirth.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Do-over

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Do-over originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsblood-sportscraftingdeath-biterdepot-66do-overfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfefeaturednumber-fiveoilvilleold-nagpost-apocalypticpvepvpsector-1sector-onethe-good-the-bad-and-the-uglywasteland-diarieswastelandsFri, 16 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What makes your characters stick?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-daily-grind-what-makes-your-characters-stick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-daily-grind-what-makes-your-characters-stick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-daily-grind-what-makes-your-characters-stick/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you're anything like me, alt-itis isn't a passing fad but rather, a way of life. I've never met an MMORPG that didn't inspire me to create a minimum of four alts (and usually many more). Even the original one-character-per-server incarnation of Star Wars Galaxies couldn't reign in my need to branch out.

Currently I'm rolling with a couple of rangers in Age of Conan, as well as a Demonologist that is surprisingly fun to play. In addition to my mid-40s sorcerer in Aion, I've been smitten by the alt bug there too, with time split between a chanter and a spiritmaster. I even went back to EverQuest II to check out Halas Reborn, and couldn't resist rolling a wizard, an illusionist, and a conjuror over the weekend.

The question, when surveying my army of alts, is which ones will be resigned to the scrap heap to make room for more experiments, and which will survive the cut and live to journey toward the max level? I don't know that I can pin down why some of my characters make it while others don't. Occasionally there will be a roleplay reason to keep one around. Sometimes a class is just really fun to play. Often I just fall back on my old standby of ranged DPS or crowd control. What about you Massively readers? I know some of you probably stick to one toon exclusively, but for those that don't, what is the deciding factor when it comes to designating a main?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What makes your characters stick? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionaltseverquest-2everquest-iimainsmultiple-charactersopinionstar-wars-galaxiesthe-daily-grindTue, 01 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shannon Posniewki talks level cap and mid-level content for Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/shannon-posniewki-talks-level-cap-and-mid-level-content-for-cham/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/shannon-posniewki-talks-level-cap-and-mid-level-content-for-cham/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/06/shannon-posniewki-talks-level-cap-and-mid-level-content-for-cham/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There are ways that the current Champions Online Executive Producer, Shannon Posniewki, doesn't follower in the footsteps of predecessor Bill Roper. But much like Roper, Posniewki loves talking about the game, and almost always has something interesting to say as a result. In a recent interview, he talked about some of the issues of the game's present and future that are doubtlessly on the minds of many players, not the least of which is the level cap.

Unfortunately for players who just can't get enough leveling, the cap is staying put for now -- the team likes it right where it is. However, they also recognize how popular it is to move a new character to max level and then start rolling up alts, and are looking into ways to make doing so more rewarding. They also want to buff out mid-range content a bit, with possibilities of something in the 20-30 range.

Adventure packs, the first of which is due out in June, will help expand the content by being repeatable and runnable by any hero above Level 11. Champions Online players might not be hitting Level 70 any time soon, but it looks like they'll have plenty to make up for it.

MassivelyShannon Posniewki talks level cap and mid-level content for Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsbill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosinterviewslevel-capnew-charactersshannon-posniewskiThu, 06 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How bad is your altitis?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/the-daily-grind-how-bad-is-your-altitis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/the-daily-grind-how-bad-is-your-altitis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/the-daily-grind-how-bad-is-your-altitis/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's taboo in sixteen developed countries. Mothers shriek in horror when they hear that their children suffer from it. Friendships are strained to the breaking point when it is revealed. More than $116 billion was spent on therapy fees in 2009 alone to combat it. It has been prophesied to be the leading cause of the end of the world in 2012.

Of which do I speak? The MMO condition that must not be named: Altitis.

Whoops, guess I named it.

To the brave altoholics out there willing to acknowledge this debilitating syndrome, tell us: how bad is your altitis? Have you maxed out every character slot on your server? On all of the servers? On all of the servers of every game that you have ever played or will play? Do you delete old characters weekly to roll new ones? Just how far do the depths of your alt depravity go?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How bad is your altitis? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaltitisaltoholicaltsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindMon, 12 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Issue 17 details for City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/new-issue-17-details-for-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/new-issue-17-details-for-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/new-issue-17-details-for-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you play City of Heroes, you're looking forward to the upcoming Issue 17. We've heard some of what can be expected from the big pre-expansion drop, but much of it was cloaked in vague terms -- improvements that didn't have any hard data attached to them, like the promise of new missions and UI revisions. But the official site has put up a page on the coming features for the update, and it helps clarify some things we didn't know about, as well as offering some excellent news besides. And it promises the end of Positron's dreaded unending task force! (It'll still be there, but it will be split into two parts and improved all around.)

Continue reading New Issue 17 details for City of Heroes

MassivelyNew Issue 17 details for City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsanimationscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcoh-issue-17contentcovcoxenhancementsgraphicsinfamyinfluencemailmission-architectmissionsparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioestask-forceWed, 24 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's next update promising alt leveling and travel improvements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/age-of-conans-next-update-promising-alt-leveling-and-travel-imp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/age-of-conans-next-update-promising-alt-leveling-and-travel-imp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/20/age-of-conans-next-update-promising-alt-leveling-and-travel-imp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Not every update is going to be a cavalcade of new and awesome systems, even though it feels really satisfying when they are. Craig Morrison, Age of Conan's director, has come out and said in so many words that unlike the game's recent 1.06 update, the upcoming 1.07 will largely feature changes under the hood that might not be as obvious to players. But his most recent letter to the game's fans is hardly all doom and gloom -- even with the lack of major new systems, there are still new things players will notice.

Travel concerns are one of the two major issues that the next update aims to address, allowing quicker travel to quest hubs and faster returns from the field. The transport is limited to quest hubs, allowing players easier access to where they need to return but not cutting out a sense of exploration. That's hardly the only bombshell the letter has to drop -- subscribers will now slowly accumulate extra levels that they can allocate to their characters, even while offline.

The system is intended to help with alt leveling rather than speeding through content, with Morrison stating that it would take nine months for a character to reach max level from this method. It's an interesting approach to helping alts keep up, and Age of Conan's players will soon get a chance to see how well it plays out.

MassivelyAge of Conan's next update promising alt leveling and travel improvements originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanalt-levelingaltsaocaoc-patch-1.06aoc-patch-1.07craig-morrisonfuncomrise-of-the-godslayertraveltravel-speedtravel-timeSat, 20 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you get the energy back?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-get-the-energy-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-get-the-energy-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-get-the-energy-back/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

No matter how much you love a game, there comes a point where it gets... tedious. It's as true for single-player games as it is for MMOs. But in a game with no defined endpoint, it's even easier to find yourself staring at the character screen and dreading taking a step into the world, because there's just no point to all of it.

But we're committed to these games, for better or worse, and so the usual reaction isn't to just stop but to try doing something different. To go for a different approach, level a different character, take on a new set of challenges. And while it takes some time to hit that perfect combination of elements, there's something for most of us that usually reignites that spark that you had when you first started the game. It went from interesting to boring and then back to interesting again.

How do you get yourself back into a game that you're finding yourself more lukewarm toward? Do you play a class that's outside of your normal range? Try setting some arbitrary challenge for yourself? Go to areas you usually don't? What gives you back the energy to log in to the game?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you get the energy back? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altscommitmentgame-commitmentgetting-boredleveling-challengenew-areasrenewed-energytdgthe-daily-grindunexplored-areasSun, 24 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Too late to start playing Lord of the Rings Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/too-late-to-start-playing-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/too-late-to-start-playing-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/too-late-to-start-playing-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The trouble with any long-running game is that it gets top-heavy. This is especially a problem in games such as Final Fantasy XI, where you simply have to group to accomplish most things in the game, but it's really a problem even in the most solo-friendly game with an expansion or two. After all, more often than not there's an ever-raising level cap, gear curve, and expected knowledge about the game, not to mention stretches of previously endgame content that's no longer relevant. When A Casual Stroll to Mordor asks if it's too late to start playing Lord of the Rings Online, the question could be extended to many other games.

Of course, it's probably not exceptionally surprising that the conclusion is "no," duly pointing out that the only time it's technically too late is when the game is shutting down soon. There are also tips about making the areas at lower levels less of a ghost town, which largely boil down to being proactive. People will almost always have alts or restarted characters, and actively trying to get your foot in the door can make up for a lot of inexperience. It's as true in Lord of the Rings Online as it is everywhere: putting forth the effort makes a lot of difference, even if it won't close the expanded level gap by itself.

MassivelyToo late to start playing Lord of the Rings Online? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoralternate-charactersaltsearly-gamegrindinglevel-caplevelinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolow-levelssocial-gametoo-late-to-playWed, 16 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise developers seeking community input on alts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/earthrise-developers-seeking-community-input-on-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/earthrise-developers-seeking-community-input-on-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/earthrise-developers-seeking-community-input-on-alts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Earthrise is an indy-developed science fiction MMO on the way from Masthead Studios in Bulgaria. The developers have stated that Earthrise will be a sandbox game, with a large part of the player experience based on what guilds try to accomplish in the post-apocalyptic setting of Enterra. Given this emphasis on player-driven content, Masthead Studios has been running a Community Consensus over the past few weeks where the devs seek input from Earthrise fans on various aspects of the game's design.

Today Masthead Studios wants to hear what the community thinks about alts. In most MMOs having extra character slots is expected, but alt play in a sandbox game where players will engage in espionage could get out of hand. Would the ability to easily for any player to create a cell of spy alts unbalance the game, or should there be a tight limit on character slots per account?

Continue reading Earthrise developers seeking community input on alts

MassivelyEarthrise developers seeking community input on alts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltscommunity-consensusearthriseenterraespionagemasthead-studiosnew-titlesopinionpost-apocalypticsci-fispiesspyspyingMon, 19 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alts need not apply in Freesky Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/alts-need-not-apply-in-freesky-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/alts-need-not-apply-in-freesky-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/13/alts-need-not-apply-in-freesky-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are a lot of games that don't necessarily make the process of having an alt a smooth road, but almost none that outright prevent you from even indulging the idea. However, Freesky Online has come out with a recent developer diary that states precisely that: no alts allowed. And while their decisions outlined therein are focused highly on the idea that as a free-to-play game there need to be certain measures in place to prevent abuse of the system, they're applicable to many of the issues that players of larger MMOs have faced.

An obvious example is the longstanding practice of "bank alts", which is specifically referenced in the diary -- as far as the game's developers are concerned, it's abusing the mechanics of the game for unscrupulous means. There are certain games where it's considered standard practice to have at least one character just for banking purposes, but there's a point to be made that this is circumventing the hard-coded limitation of how much space a single character has to store items. The ramifications for other games are likely small at the moment -- it's unlikely that CCP is going to start deleting extra characters, for instance -- but the concepts are interesting to anyone who plays games where alts are frequent.

MassivelyAlts need not apply in Freesky Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsccpeveeve-onlineffxifinal-fantasy-xifree-to-playfreesky-onlinegame-designiggTue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Perspective on the widespread use of alts in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/perspective-on-the-widespread-use-of-alts-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/perspective-on-the-widespread-use-of-alts-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/perspective-on-the-widespread-use-of-alts-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There are over 250,000 active subscriptions to the sci-fi massively multiplayer online game EVE Online, but have you ever wondered how many players that figure actually represents? The exact number of people that comprise the game's playerbase is unclear due to the common practice of playing with multiple accounts. While the end result is likely the same to CCP Games in a financial sense -- all of those active subs add up to a steady flow of income month to month -- the fact remains that the game doesn't necessarily have 250,000 different people logging into New Eden from month to month. At least, not yet, although the number of subscribers is growing. (EVE set a peak concurrent user record last Sunday of 48,065 players.)

Unlike some massively multiplayer online games, EVE is based on real-time skill training rather than using the system of leveling up central to other titles. Each EVE account has three character slots, but skill training can only be active on one character at a time. And as with most MMOs, a player can only be logged into one character per account at a time -- even if multi-boxing. If a player needs to skill up specialized alts, he or she must either sacrifice valuable skill training time on their main, or run a second (or third) account to really advance. A recent EVE-Mag article by Silene Derbhan, "Alternates: Are We Schizophrenics!?", looks closely at how alt play impacts the game. Derbhan states, "I would like to delve deeper into the game mechanics, to see why players are compelled not only to play different characters, as in any other MMO, but also to pay for every one of these added characters."

Continue reading Perspective on the widespread use of alts in EVE Online

MassivelyPerspective on the widespread use of alts in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsccpccp-gamesdual-boxingeveeve-mageve-onlinegame-mechanicsmulti-boxingopinionpeak-concurrent-userssci-fisilene-derbhanThu, 22 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games kills 'ghost training' on inactive EVE accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/ccp-games-kills-ghost-training-on-inactive-eve-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/ccp-games-kills-ghost-training-on-inactive-eve-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/ccp-games-kills-ghost-training-on-inactive-eve-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


EVE Online players who habitually 'ghost train' their alts on inactive accounts are about to be given a wake-up call. The myriad options that a player can take in the sandbox game means that training up specialized alts is a common practice. The time-based skill training system in EVE means that higher ranked skills can take well over a month to train to their maximum of level five. When creating a carrier or mothership alt, for example, it's typical to simply, well, not pay $15 for a month when you're not actually playing on that character while your skill training progresses.

This isn't limited to capital ship alts though. Many players unsubscribe after queuing up a long skill and resub once skill training is complete. This is how it's always been in the game (at least since this writer began playing), and by all indications is something CCP Games has been well aware of. Those days, as confirmed in today's announcement from CCP, are over.

Continue reading CCP Games kills 'ghost training' on inactive EVE accounts

MassivelyCCP Games kills 'ghost training' on inactive EVE accounts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsbreakingbusiness-modelsccpccp-falloutccp-gamesdevdevelopereveeve-onlineexploitsforumsgame-mechanicsghost-trainingpatchesprofessionssci-fiskill-trainingskillsMon, 13 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Are you ready for EVE Offline?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/are-you-ready-for-eve-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/are-you-ready-for-eve-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/are-you-ready-for-eve-offline/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Zubon over at Kill Ten Rats has written a bit of commentary about skill training in EVE Online. As players subbing multiple accounts used for different purposes know (particularly when training up initial skills), a fair amount of time is spent logging in and switching skill training, and not always so much actual gameplay seen with those characters. So, he suggests the idea of "EVE Offline" -- an extension of the game, played via a website or accessible with a mobile phone. The point of EVE Offline would be to turn skill training into its own game, not a peripheral activity related to EVE's standard (client) gameplay.

He presents this idea in the form of a CCP deal announcement, laying out the conditions and terms of the fictional EVE Offline. Tongue-in-cheek or is there a serious point? You decide. The post is ultimately a way of asking: How many EVE players essentially do this anyway with their characters, paying the full subscription price but not getting enough play time on those alts?

MassivelyAre you ready for EVE Offline? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinekill-ten-ratskilltenratsskill-trainingskillssubscriptionzubonSat, 04 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online Community Spotlight: a Q&A with Chribba]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/eve-online-community-spotlight-a-qanda-with-chribba/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/eve-online-community-spotlight-a-qanda-with-chribba/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/eve-online-community-spotlight-a-qanda-with-chribba/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Trust is a rare commodity in EVE Online. Many players are drawn to the game by the fact that almost any form of deceit, betrayal, and outright treachery is allowed in EVE. Not all players head down this path, of course, but plenty do. This element of risk is what makes the game exciting, but even those who are wary of the online personas of some EVE players may still find themselves getting backstabbed and robbed, or worse. Many in EVE have learned to profit from the misfortunes of others. However, this social environment has created certain opportunities for individuals who are able to establish their credibility over time, and through great effort.

Among the most trustworthy in EVE Online is Chribba, a player who's very active in the community and provides a number of services to EVE fans, free of charge. Helped by Chribba's efforts, EVE Online has expanded into a game where players become auteurs, creating videos and sharing their in-game pursuits with others, either for their own glory or their organization's propaganda. Of course, his contributions don't end there, as most everyone in the EVE community knows. Massively recently caught up with Chribba and asked him to share a bit about what he does for the EVE player base, and why he does it.

Continue reading EVE Online Community Spotlight: a Q&A with Chribba

MassivelyEVE Online Community Spotlight: a Q&A with Chribba originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancealtaltsbpoccpccp-gameschribbacommunitycommunity-spotlightescroweveeve-community-spotlighteve-fileseve-onlinefeaturedinterviewsjoystiqfeaturesmothershipomg-labsotherworld-enterprisesproxypvprepreputationsci-fisolotitanvolunteerwardecMon, 30 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rogue Signal: The wonderful world of alts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/rogue-signal-the-wonderful-world-of-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/rogue-signal-the-wonderful-world-of-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/rogue-signal-the-wonderful-world-of-alts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

With EVE Online's time-based skill system of character progression, multiple accounts are pretty commonplace amongst the hardcore and even semi-casual player. CCP even occasionally holds special discounts for the opening of new accounts, called the Power of Two program. EVE is unique in the way that it handles alts, in many ways. Since only one character can be training at a time, and, unlike other MMOs, there is no real end to the training a character will do, if you want to start something new from the ground up, you're going to need to either scrap your existing character, or open up a new account. Today, we'll take a look at how to go about creating an alt.

Continue reading Rogue Signal: The wonderful world of alts

MassivelyRogue Signal: The wonderful world of alts originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altscarebearingdual-boxingeve-onlinefeaturediskmaking-moneymanufacturingminingmissionsSun, 29 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Improvements to Tabula Rasa's performance on the way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/tabula-rasa-changes-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/tabula-rasa-changes-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/tabula-rasa-changes-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The most recent iteration of Tabula Rasa's Feedback Friday brought the announcement of a change to how the client will work in future deployments of the game. "The Bubble," as they call it, is an optimization that the developers hope to roll out in a future build of Tabula Rasa's Deployment 9. Until now, all static map objects such as rocks and trees loaded up front, but at the cost of decreased system performance. The Bubble will limit the client to loading only those static objects within a certain distance from the camera. The end result promises to be a client that uses less memory and delivers increased performance. They would, however, like help from the players with testing the bubble feature once it's viable.

As always, Feedback Friday also addressed player questions and concerns, namely that logout countdowns in PvP will stop being exploitable in Deployment 10. As it stands, players can evade combat during clan-wars by simply logging off. Another issue in the game that's being resolved is the common complaint about how difficult it is to keep track of friends. Presently each time a player creates a new character, they must reinvite all of their friends, ad nauseam. So beginning with Deployment 9, both the friends and ignore list are now user-based instead of character-based. This change alone will eliminate a number of headaches for TR players, but check out the Feedback Friday page for more details on how the game is evolving.

MassivelyImprovements to Tabula Rasa's performance on the way originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltscharactercharactersclientclonedestination-gamesfeedback-fridaygame-mechanicslagncsoftperformancepvpsci-fitabula-rasathe-bubbletrtr-deployment-10tr-deployment-9Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST