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[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-why-there-are-no-more-epic-archetypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-why-there-are-no-more-epic-archetypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-why-there-are-no-more-epic-archetypes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
My weekend plans went cross-eyed, as they often do, but as a result I found myself looking through some old notes for future columns on City of Heroes. There were a lot of notes I took early on when I was first writing columns, some of which I wound up using and some of which wound up being discarded, but one particular idea jumped out at me: a column about potential future Epic Archetypes.

Specifically, I was looking back over and noting how a lot of the archetypes I listed wouldn't actually work at all.

I've gone on record as having been a big fan of EATs right from the beginning, as they're meant to be classes that break up the regular structure of the game's classes. That strikes me as laudable. But even disregarding the technical aspects of the epics that makes them more complex to develop and balance, I think there are some noteworthy basic problems with them on a conceptual level. We may very well never get another one just because the game has been structured to make them almost a design mistake that's never been corrected.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterarachnosarachnos-spidersarachnos-widowsarchetypescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassescohcovcoxeatsepic-archetypesf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomkheldiansmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospeacebringerssuperherosuperheroeswarshadesWed, 16 May 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: The real state of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/behind-the-mask-the-real-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/behind-the-mask-the-real-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/behind-the-mask-the-real-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Although Champions Online's most recent State of the Game has been out for a while, I sort of avoided talking about it in previous editions of Behind the Mask. The main reason was because I really wanted to cover the new powersets. However, that doesn't mean I don't have any comments on it.

If you look at the history of the State of the Game and Ask Cryptic entries, they fluctuate quite a bit between good information and annoying PR. The January SOTG was full of annoying PR, and it bothered me greatly. It felt dishonest. I saw a lot of hype on little things that no one wanted and very little on what people really wanted.

This week, I'm going to talk about the real state of the game: where CO is and where it needs to go. I'll also talk about some of the future stuff that Robobo mentioned in the SOTG. Is it good or bad? We'll see!

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The real state of the game

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The real state of the game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Archetypesbehind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedopinionperfect-world-entertainmentpwesotgState-of-the-gameThu, 02 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online reveals new Mountain archetype]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/champions-online-reveals-new-mountain-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/champions-online-reveals-new-mountain-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/champions-online-reveals-new-mountain-archetype/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Champions Online - The Mountain
Champions Online has a new protector in town, and he's about as subtle as Gregor Clegane (though quite a bit nicer). The game's newest archetype is called The Mountain, and Cryptic has revealed all the vitals on Champions' official website.

The Mountain is "an embodiment of the rocks and earth that surround us, standing firm in the face of [his] foes," and Cryptic says that the archetype boasts knock-downs and considerable damage-soaking abilities.

The devs have also provided a handy power listing that details everything from 1 to 40, as well as a few concept phrases -- like rock golem, earth elemental, and primordial entity -- to give you an idea what you're in for if you make a Mountain.

MassivelyChampions Online reveals new Mountain archetype originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypeschampionschampions-onlineclassescrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicsmountainperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentprotectorrolessuperherotankingtanksthe-mountainFri, 20 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Champions Online archetype available in regular and controversial editions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-champions-online-archetype-available-in-regular-and-controve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-champions-online-archetype-available-in-regular-and-controve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/new-champions-online-archetype-available-in-regular-and-controve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In this screenshot, everyone is still on fire, but it's purple. Color is special.
It might seem a little late for a demonic archetype, but Champions Online has still rolled one out into the store. The Scourge is a new ranged archetype focused on poisoning and debuffing the target, with less durability and melee power to balance its slow ranged ramp-up. Like all archetypes, it's free to subscribing players and available for free players in the cash store. But it's also tied to a new grab bag offered in the cash store, which is provoking a few player concerns.

The Cursed Grab Bag, among other things, contains a special token to unlock the Cursed archetype, which is essentially a color-shifted version of the Scourge archetype. Some players are a little concerned about the slippery slope being established here, as the Cursed archetype is not free to subscribers (although color-shifting powers is). As a result, concerns have been raised about what this cosmetic change might mean for future archetypes being released, although as others point out, you can always just change the color if you subscribe to begin with.

MassivelyNew Champions Online archetype available in regular and controversial editions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesbusiness-modelsc-storecash-shopchampionschampions-onlinecocommunitycontroversycrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-storecryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playmicrotransactionsWed, 23 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Comparing the archetype bruisers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/behind-the-mask-comparing-the-archetype-bruisers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/behind-the-mask-comparing-the-archetype-bruisers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/behind-the-mask-comparing-the-archetype-bruisers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A lot of people seem to get the wrong idea about Champions Online's Gold archetypes. For the most part, the Gold archetypes are simply different options to play with. As I mentioned previously, the Master is kind of an exception, since it's the only dedicated archetype tank. However, this does not mean that the Master is the beat-all-end-all or that Gold archetypes are outright superior to Silver ones. For the most part, the Silver archetypes are better at their focused roles than the comparable Gold archetypes.

This week, we're going to look at the damage-soaking tanky archetypes and compare them. I'll also give a quick comparison between these bruisers and a comparable freeform hero. There's quite a few to cover, so let's get to it!

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Comparing the archetype bruisers

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Comparing the archetype bruisers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypearchetypesbehemothbehind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedfighterglaciermastermelee-archetypenot-a-tank-article-this-timeperfect-worldpwesavagespecialistThu, 17 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of archetypes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-archetypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-archetypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-archetypes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I can't say I'm unhappy about the announcement of a new round of powerset proliferation in City of Heroes, but I can be a little upset about the timing. I mean, really, Paragon? You couldn't have waited until my ten-part series talking about the powers available to each archetype was a little more cold in the ground before shooting it to pieces? Would that have been such a tragedy? Now it's pre-obsoleted before I even had the chance to develop a profound dissatisfaction for it.

Oh, well. I might not be able to go back and edit all of the columns to accommodate all the upcoming changes (well, not credibly, anyway), but I can at least talk about the process and my thoughts behind the overall focus. And even if the columns won't quite stand the test of time, methodology matters, right? So let's get on with it and take a look back over the ten core archetypes, talk a little more about the epic archetypes, and even glance at the future of each given set.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of archetypes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of archetypes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterarchetypescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassescohcovcoxfeaturedncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosWed, 13 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: I put on my robe and wizard hat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/behind-the-mask-i-put-on-my-robe-and-wizard-hat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/behind-the-mask-i-put-on-my-robe-and-wizard-hat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/behind-the-mask-i-put-on-my-robe-and-wizard-hat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Grimoire is Champions Online's magic-using archetype, and it's one of the most functional archetypes overall. Many players, including me, consider it to be the most complete package of all the archetypes (free or otherwise), providing strong team support, offense, and defense all in one.

However, the Grimoire has a lot of quirks. He's not a blasty glass cannon, and leveling one up requires a lot of finesse and a totally different style of play. He lacks the ability to use easy damage attacks -- he can't draw a SMG or unleash mighty fire breath upon his foes. The Grimoire must approach battles much more tactically, especially in the early stages of the game.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: I put on my robe and wizard hat

MassivelyBehind the Mask: I put on my robe and wizard hat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypeArchetypeschampionschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedgrimoireopinionthe-grimoireThu, 30 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Stalkers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-stalkers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-stalkers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-stalkers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's kind of fitting that I wrap up this series on archetypes in City of Heroes just before I begin a six-week stint of a game chosen by popular opinion (go ahead and check in on Choose My Adventure if you're curious) because it's time for the last of the lot, one that seems almost obvious in retrospect when you look at the pattern in which I've been talking about each archetype. Scrappers were followed by a hybrid melee class, Brutes, which were followed by the Tankers, followed by the similarly party-oriented Defenders. Then we moved on to the inversely powered Corruptors, then the similar secondaries of Masterminds... and so on.

Long story short, there's just one archetype left, and in many ways it makes sense that this one would come at the absolute end of the proceedings. After all, we're talking about a class that prefers to stay hidden, one that sneaks out of sight and destroys opponents through a sudden and unexpected blow to the vitals. That's right, it's time to talk about Stalkers, and whether you're new to the game or just the class, let's cap things off with the sneakiest player option in the entire game.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Stalkers

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Stalkers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a way, there's a unique glory to unrepentant damage-dealing classes. Let the other characters focus on having unique and subtle hybrid style, through which every movement builds into some arcane methodology. That's all well and good, but you need to have a character option whose sole purpose in life is destruction. The sort of class whose idea of subtlety is shooting the target, shooting it again, and setting it on fire, and if there's anything left after all of that, maybe you'll ask it a question or two.

A hammer is an excellent tool when you just want something smashed, after all.

Blasters fill the role of unmitigated damage dealer in City of Heroes, and that makes them a joy to write about because they are focused without being monodimensional. Whether you're new to the game as a whole or just new to playing a ranged damage machine, read on for a discussion of the archetype, its abilities, and what can be expected when you decide to just blast everything into oblivion.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Blasters

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Blasters originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterarchetypesblastercity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassclassescohcolumncovcoxfeaturedncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosWed, 08 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Dominators]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-dominators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-dominators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-dominators/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Holy wow, it's been a really long time since the last archetype column. We kind of had an entire month (and then some) taken up with various anniversary shennanigans, and while I wouldn't exactly call that unfortunate, it did sort of take a bit of momentum out of the whole project. But we're back to discussing the archetypes of City of Heroes, and in a way today's discussion seems appropriate for being locked in place and unable to act for quite some time.

Yes, today we're taking a look at how the other half lives when it comes to control-based sets with a look at the Dominator. Like every villainous archetype, the Dominator combines elements that were previously separate, but on the surface it looks an awful lot like a Controller. Whether you're new to City of Heroes or just to the archetype, it's a good time to understand the difference and show off the positive elements of the class, because while those differences from Controllers might be subtle, they're important.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Dominators

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Dominators originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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En Masse Entertainment wants you to take everything you think you know about class roles and shove it -- well, you get the idea. En Masse's Scott James Magner waxes nostalgic on Dungeons and Dragons, EverQuest, and the establishment of the holy trinity. Scared of change? Don't worry too much. Magner says, "TERA isn't going to re-invent the wheel as far as class roles are concerned. Instead, we're redefining them as we move into the next generation of online games. TERA's eight classes fall easily into four in-demand roles, but how they do it is another story entirely."

The Lancer and Warrior fill the tank role, but Magner is careful to point out that there is much more to to defending your allies than simply spamming your high-threat abilities; it's also highly dependent on blocking and dodging in a timely manner. Healers won't be playing whack-a-mole anymore, and Magner says that TERA's healers are "just as often in the thick of combat as the outskirts." Lastly, Magner thinks that the trinity should further divide into a "'foundation' of four," with DPS roles divided based on whether they are ranged or melee. The melee attackers deliver high damage with each strike, but the ranged attackers have an unbeatable attack speed. For the full details, head on over to TERA's site and check out the full article.

MassivelyTERA blog post redefines the holy trinity originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesclass-rolesclassesen-masseen-masse-entertainmentholy-trinityscott-james-magnerteratera-onlineTue, 17 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA releases Community Play Event numbers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/tera-releases-community-play-event-numbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/tera-releases-community-play-event-numbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/tera-releases-community-play-event-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you're a TERA fan but not lucky enough to score an invite to En Masse Entertainment's recent Community Play Event (CPE), you can take heart in the fact that the company has released some information pertaining to all the players who did attend. We know, there's the potential for some salt in the wound here, but En Masse's Jon Tuite nonetheless has some interesting factoids relating to character races, classes, leveling trends, and many other data points.

It seems that Castanics were the most popular race during the recent CPE, and humanoid races in general accounted for a whopping 68% of all characters. Tuite also points out that the Baraka race was the least popular (7% of the population) and postulates that the lack of a female version could be the culprit.

In terms of class and party dynamics, the CPE data aren't far removed from your average fantasy MMO (i.e., there were a plethora of DPS types, fewer tanks, and even fewer healers). These stats are the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and you can indulge in more number-crunching at the official TERA website.

MassivelyTERA releases Community Play Event numbers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesclassescommunity-play-eventcpedemographicsdpsen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyhealersjon-tuitemathnom-nom-nomnumbersracestanksteratera-onlineMon, 18 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- a brief conclusion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/storyboard-archetype-discussion-a-brief-conclusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/storyboard-archetype-discussion-a-brief-conclusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/storyboard-archetype-discussion-a-brief-conclusion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Before I started writing up the archetypes that have made up a 10-part series (with two meta columns including this one), I only wrote out a very brief preamble in front of the Soldier column. As I said at the time, the goal was to provide character templates that work, in a broad sense -- characters that adapt easily to specifics and serve as a good jumping-off point for making something more original.

It's a good way of glossing the series, made only slightly worse by the fact that it's not altogether true.

From the first column, the archetypes I've been discussing have a long list of blanks for players to fill in, and that's been by design, because -- when you get right down to it, archetypes aren't characters. I touched upon this a bit when I stepped into the meta column, but now I want to be more explicit: Archetypes are at their core about motivation. They're not set to answer any questions about your character except for why he or she is out on the road, adventuring and questing and doing all sorts of unpleasant things.

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- a brief conclusion

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion -- a brief conclusion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetype-discussionarchetypescharacterscolumnsfeaturedloreopinionroleplayingrpstoryboardFri, 15 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Controllers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-controllers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-controllers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-controllers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Every game has certain classes that seem unique. I don't mean to suggest that the rest of City of Heroes isn't unique, but when the game launched, the Controller was definitely in a league by itself. Time has shown that the Mastermind's personal army makes the archetype a bit more uncommon than a class focusing on holds and control elements, but the Controller was pretty unique stuff when the game launched almost seven years ago. Or at least, it was to me. Other audience members may feel differently.

These days, with the trinity in most games having supplanted any unique roles, it's even more odd to think of "support" as a party role to be filled. But we're not here to talk about the gradual erosion of what was once a far more robust party structure; we're here to talk about Controllers. They're one of the original heroic archetypes, and they're also a very odd class from a design perspective, with a lot of offensive abilities but very little direct punch. So whether you are new to City of Heroes or just have never played with a hold set before, click on past the break for a look at what makes the archetype tick.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Controllers

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Controllers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I was originally going to wrap up the initial little series of archetypes this week, but I decided to hold off for a week for a couple of reasons: first, because I don't want to just be rehashing what I said two weeks back when discussing how the series actually worked; and second, because there are a lot of smaller and assorted topics that I wanted to talk about for this week's installment of the column. We're approaching the first anniversary, after all, and that means it's a good time to start thinking about the next year.

There's also more to be said about the archetype from last week, and that's where I'm going to start off. It seems as if pretty much everyone got the joke about that column; it was meant as a parody of an archetype that's all too common in MMOs: the Mary Sue in roleplaying form, the person who can do no wrong even as the player breaks all sort of rules for no reason beyond ego. But there's a reason I went with this archetype instead of my first idea for an April Fools' Day article -- I think this archetype can actually work in a game, if played with care and with a gentle hand.

Continue reading Storyboard: Of straw men and specifics

MassivelyStoryboard: Of straw men and specifics originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetype-discussionarchetypescolumnfeaturedhumoropinionroleplayingrpsettingstoryboardstrawmanFri, 08 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the Strawman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-strawman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-strawman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-strawman/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've saved the best for last in our archetype discussions, because this character is the best. Without a doubt. He is pure, unadulterated awesome distilled into walking, talking form, and you could only hope to be half as great as he is. He saves princesses, slays dragons, and wins kingdoms, even if the game doesn't feature any of the above, because he is just that great. Whatever you do, he knows about it, and whatever you think you've mastered, he's even better.

Don't hate him just because he's outdoing you at everything you try.

The Strawman is our last archetype out of the initial round, and he's without a doubt better than any of the other loser types that we've covered up until now. After all, they all had one crippling flaw or another, and the Strawman neatly sidesteps all of those problems. He's the man with the plan, the dude with a justified attitude, and the solution rather than cause of all the problems your group of fellow players will encounter.

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the Strawman

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion -- the Strawman originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-foolsapril-fools-2011archetypesawesomecharacter-archetypescharacter-creationcolumnfeaturedguitarplaying-the-guitar-while-riding-a-totally-sweet-motorcycleroleplayingrpshred-guitarstoryboardFri, 01 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: 'Role' play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/enter-at-your-own-rift-role-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/enter-at-your-own-rift-role-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/enter-at-your-own-rift-role-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In retrospect, it was all my fault. I had gotten too used to just throwing RIFT dungeon groups together and assuming that with the flexible soul system we'd be able to provide everything necessary no matter what archetype mixup we had. I suppose it's a testament to Trion Worlds' design that an exact group composition wasn't a top concern -- the goal is just getting five willing players together for a fun run.

We were running Darkening Deeps, and I decided to start a group so that I could show off the dungeon to Rubi. We had two Rogues, two Mages and a Warrior, and I felt pretty confident going in that we would prevail. And while the Warrior stepped up and said he would tank -- taking the burden off of my Riftstalker build -- everyone else was curiously quiet when I asked if there was another healer who could back up my Bard heals for boss fights.

Nothing. Not a peep. The other Rogue didn't have a Bard spec, and the Mages were whistling innocently when I asked if they happened to have a Chloromancer role tucked in their back pocket. Oh crud. This was going to hurt. Six trash pulls into the dungeon later, I called it and said that we simply didn't have enough healing power to make it through the bosses. My bad, I said, thanks for playing!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: 'Role' play

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: 'Role' play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesbardchloromancerclassclassesdarkening-deepsdpsdungeon-runfeaturedfive-man-dungeonsgrouphealerholy-trinityoff-tankpugriftrift-planes-of-telarariftstalkerrolerole-systemrolesrubisaboteursoul-systemsoul-treesoulsswiss-army-knifetankteamtrainertriontrion-worldsWed, 30 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the recursion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-recursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-recursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-recursion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are a lot of reasons a character would head off on the road to adventure. Sometimes it's out of a sense of duty, to a nation or to morality or even just duty itself. Other times it's a quest for knowledge, or acceptance, or cold hard cash. You might not want to be there, you might be seeking one profound goal, or you might just be along for the ride while everyone screws up around you. We've talked about each of these roles in turn, as archetypes for characters to fit into.

But an archetype is not a character. An archetype is the idea of a character, boiled down and stripped of everything but the skeleton. You need more to make a character that isn't one-dimensional.

I've spent the better part of the past several months discussing how the various archetypes work, but now I want to talk a little more about making them work together beyond just a character overview. (We still have at least one more installment of archetypes proper, but I wanted to write this up first.) So once you have the seed, what do you do from there?

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the recursion

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion -- the recursion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicearchetype-discussionarchetypescharactercharacter-creationcolumnfeaturedgoalsloremetaopinionroleplayingstoryboardFri, 25 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the Defiant]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-defiant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-defiant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-defiant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you were born around the same time that I was, then the odds are good you have the plucky princess seared into your brain by means both dark and Disneyean. You know the one I'm talking about: the girl possessed of a fair bit of good sense and independent thought who doesn't want to be a stay-in-court princess, despite her father's insistence that she'll get attacked by a bear within five seconds of leaving. So within 15 minutes she leaves anyway, and lo and behold, the next two hours of the film are devoted to the variety of bear-related mishaps that ensue.

But there's more to this than a line of somewhat nauseating merchandise for young girls. There's an archetype here, one for people of both genders who kick convention to the curb and opt for something just a bit more stimulating and challenging -- even though they're not always well-suited to those challenges. So let's take a look at the Defiant archetype past the cut. (And you can go ahead and hum Part of your World while you do so, if necessary. It's OK.)

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the Defiant

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion -- the Defiant originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetype-discussionarchetypescharactercharacter-creationcharacter-discussioncolumndefiantfeaturedopinionplucky-princessroleplayingrpstoryboardFri, 11 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fortune Online video dev diary details classes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/fortune-online-video-dev-diary-details-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/fortune-online-video-dev-diary-details-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/fortune-online-video-dev-diary-details-classes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Judging by a new (and slickly produced) dev diary video, Gazillion is spending a fair bit of money on its new Fortune Online MMORPG. The video features a mixture of in-game footage as well as commentary from producer Ricardo Mendoza, design director Adam Maxwell, and senior content designer Chris Holtorf. Most of the discussion is focused on two of the game's classes, the Master of Arms and the Disciple of the Dragon, which belong to the Warrior and Guardian archetypes respectively.

What's an archetype?

"Fortune Online has several classes that you can choose from but we've done something to sort of simplify it for more casual players. We've boiled them down into very basic archetypes," Maxwell explains. Check out the full video after the cut.

Continue reading Fortune Online video dev diary details classes

MassivelyFortune Online video dev diary details classes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-maxwellarchetypesbrowserbrowser-basedchris-holtorfclassesdiscipile-of-the-dragonf2pfantasyfortunefortune-onlinefree-to-playgazillionguardianmaster-of-armspress-releasericardo-mendozavideowarriorWed, 09 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Archetype ethos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-archetype-ethos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-archetype-ethos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-archetype-ethos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We're halfway through the rundowns of the archetypes in City of Heroes, one of those milestones that seems that it ought to be easy but always takes longer than you'd expect. And while I could just spin on to the next archetype straightaway, I decided instead to take the time to look at the method behind the writeups to date. You could argue that this is the sort of thing that really would have made more sense if it came before the evaluations, but this way I have actual examples to point to instead of just a lot of concepts.

In many ways, writing about the archetypes is a minefield because you aren't writing about a simple class. You could argue that there are 14 classes in the game without too much trouble, but even the most limited of those classes has well over three dozen different combinations of powers available. And that's not even getting into the fact that each archetype has its own default identity and role within a group and the simple fact that City of Heroes encourages players to make whatever they want. It's not a skill-based game, but trying to shoehorn each archetype into an overall class mold isn't always conducive to making people happy.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Archetype ethos

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Archetype ethos originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Up until now, all of the archetypes we've discussed have had one major element in common -- they've wanted to be out in the world. Maybe it's out of a sense of duty, maybe it's a desire for something, or maybe it's just a need to teach. Whatever the actual reasons, these archetypes are made up of people who aren't going to be totally happy just sitting at home right now. Many want to end up in a nice home, but that's further down the road.

The Trapped just wants to get out. She doesn't care about larger goals, she doesn't care about adventure, she doesn't want to make money or learn new things. She wants to go home and stay there. Unfortunately for her, she doesn't get to make that decision, and for whatever reason, she's out in the midst of an adventure when she never really wanted to be a part of it in the first place. So queue up your listening material and let's talk about being trapped in the midst of awesome.

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the Trapped

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion -- the Trapped originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetype-discussionarchetypescharacter-creationcharacter-typesfeaturefeaturedopinionroleplayingrpstoryboardFri, 25 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Defenders]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-defenders/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-defenders/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-defenders/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

So last week, my column went live on the same day that Paragon Studios assuaged pretty much every concern my article raised. I should be annoyed, I suppose -- these columns do not spring Athena-like from my forehead, after all -- but considering what the producer's letter means for City of Heroes, I can't be anything but happy. It shows that the problems that I can think of are getting brought up and addressed by the development team as well, and that means that there's a security buffer in place so that things never get bad.

And that segue leads us naturally into the next archetype up for discussion: Defenders. Probably the hardest archetype to cleanly fit to any pre-existing heroes, Defenders are still a vital part of the game and a lot of fun to play besides. They're the logical counterpart to the Tanker side of the equation. Whether you're new to City of Heroes as a whole or just new to the very idea of playing a Defender, click on past the break to take a look inside the most party-oriented archetype in the game (barring Kheldians, I suppose).

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Defenders

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Defenders originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every MMO design team has a wizard turning balance knobs and experimenting with the magical formulas to make gameplay both fun and challenging. On the Champions Online team, that wizard is Chris Matz, better known as Ame on the CO forums. He's one of the more active developers on the boards, keeping a strong hand on the pulse of the player community to get a feel for what the players think about new gameplay changes.

Recently we got to sit down and have a chat with Chris, and he leveled with us on everything from the new heavy weapons powerset to the uses of Teleportation in PvP to the upcoming Void Archetype, which will be hitting the live CO servers next week.

Hit the jump to read the full scoop!

Continue reading Champions Online's Chris Matz talks on F2P changes, PvP, and the future of CO

MassivelyChampions Online's Chris Matz talks on F2P changes, PvP, and the future of CO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ameArchetypeschampions-onlinechris-matzcocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedheavy-weaponsinteresting-mechanicsFri, 11 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Tankers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-tankers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-tankers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-tankers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If there's one thing that's always bothered me about the archetypes in City of Heroes -- the vanilla game, that is -- it's that none of them has a name that's particularly evocative, even though there are tons of examples that each archetype can draw upon. Today's archetype is a perfect example, one that covers Superman, Colossus, Giant-Man, Captain Marvel, even certain incarnations of more variable characters like Iron Man. But the name "Tanker" fails to conjure up images of anything beyond a dry recitation of party roles.

Yes, this week we're discussing the third of four melee-heavy archetypes with the Tanker, as was hinted at the end of the last column. It's also the archetype closest to its two predecessors, coming with almost identical power selections in a slightly different order. But the Tanker's powers get prioritized in a very different way, so whether you're new to the game or just the class, let's take a look at how to make your Tanker as tanky as possible.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Tankers

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Tankers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterarchetypescharacter-creationcharacter-optionscity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassclass-discussionclassescohcolumncovcoxfeaturedholy-trinityncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiostankerstankingWed, 02 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Archetype]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/hyperspace-beacon-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/hyperspace-beacon-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/hyperspace-beacon-archetype/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

How many hours do you spend in the character creator? Even in a limited character creator like Guild Wars', I will spend a lot of time getting my character to look just right. In games like Champions Online, City of Heroes, or -- dare I even think about -- All Points Bulletin, some players play just for the character creator, spending hours on hours creating character after character. DC Universe Online's character creation eats up large amount of my game time even though the character creator is a bit limited when compared to those others. What have we seen of Star Wars: The Old Republic's character creator? I don't mean what has leaked; I mean, what has been shown to us by the developers, because that is what is finished.

Then there is another huge part of creating a character that stretches beyond the physical appearance: personality. Yeah, I know, that's roleplay, right? Whether we just play ourselves in an extraordinary situation or we completely separate ourselves from our in-game avatars, we're roleplaying. And whether you consider yourself a roleplayer or not, you will roleplay -- even if only a little -- in SWTOR.

Follow me after the break as I touch on the things we know about the character creator in SWTOR and throw in some tidbits about possible archetypes you can follow when developing your character's personality.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Archetype

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Archetype originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArchetypesBioWarecharacter-creationcharacter-creatorEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedhyperspace-beaconLucasArtsmuppet-showStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorThe-Muppetsthe-old-republictorTue, 01 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Errant]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-errant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-errant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-errant/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you've seen The Princess Bride but haven't ever read the book, you have excellent taste in movies but you're missing out. There's a lot that by necessity had to be cut from the film, but the lost detail that stands out is just how much time Inigo Montoya spent training and preparing to hunt down the six-fingered man. It's one thing to be told that he strove to kill this man for years; it's another to be told in detail how hard he fought, how long he quested, and how much effort he poured into his goal until there was almost nothing left.

Today's archetype is Inigo Montoya. He is Roland Deschain, he is Alessan di Tigana, he is Captain Nero and James Ford and Depth Charge. He is the Errant, and he is anyone devoted to a singular purpose that drives every second of his actions. And he's probably the most problematic of the archetypes out there, because sooner or later he's going to have to deal with what it means to complete that purpose. So take a seat, and let's go on a single-minded journey.

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Errant

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion - the Errant originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the main draws of Champions Online is character customization. Costume creation is one part of that, while open power selection is another. The two elements allow players to make heroes that truly feel unique. No two Champions look the same, and while it's very possible for two different heroes to play similarly, there are enough ways to express yourself in the system that creating a truly unique hero is a simple matter.

As we near the big launch of F2P, I can't help but be stuck on the idea of Archetypes. Having a hero fixed into a particular power build seems contrary to the nature of CO, and when those builds are inferior to Custom characters built for the exact same things, well... let's just say a lot of people, including many of you readers here at Massively, don't see eye-to-eye with the Archetype design decision.

Naturally, I have my own ideas. Restricting F2P players in some way to encourage premium subscriptions is definitely something Cryptic should do, but there are quite a number of reasons why the existing path is... just a bad idea.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: What Archetypes really need

MassivelyBehind the Mask: What Archetypes really need originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetype-discussionarchetypesbehind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfinal-fantasyfree-to-playfreemiumgame-balancegod-of-warsuper-heroThu, 13 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Partisan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-partisan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-partisan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-partisan/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Clarity of purpose is a wonderful thing, made all the more likable by its usual absence. The fact is that most of us have only the vaguest idea of what to do, and we're all making things up as we go. It's the central ripoff discovered when you become an adult. Moral clarity is a joke, and whether you try to save everyone or just focus on saving yourself, it's a morass without any clear purpose for most of us.

The partisan puts the lie to that. He might follow a religion, he might follow a nation, he might follow an individual -- but whatever his leader might be, the partisan follows it without fail. He has his moral clarity at all times, even if keeping it might mean sacrificing his own judgment. And it's his view -- his vision of what is right -- that tells him exactly what he wants. So let's look at the partisan, in all of his one-true-path glory.

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Partisan

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion - the Partisan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>affiliationarchetypearchetype-discussionarchetypescharacter-affiliatoncolumnfeaturednational-pridenationsopinionpartisanreligionreligious-prideroleplayingrpstoryboardFri, 07 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Brutes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-brutes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-brutes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-brutes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's the start of a new year, and that means it's time to start getting fired up again. I have been taking a little break from being online for the new year weekend -- after all, when you're always online, it starts to wear on you just a little. But now it's time to get back in the saddle in City of Heroes and everywhere else, and I can't think of a better way to do that than to start in on the archetype overviews once again, especially since I had a friend tell me he was looking forward to his current favorite archetype.

We're not on that archetype today, however. No, after having taken a look at the Scrapper to kick things off, we're going to be moving on to a character type that's just down the street. It's the second of three archetypes with an offensive melee/defensive secondary mix, it's one of the four heavily melee-oriented options available, and it's the sort of character type that just makes you start hitting until everything is broken in half. That's right, we're looking at the Brute today, for players who are new to the Brute or to the game in general.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Brutes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Brutes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterabilitiesarchetype-discussionarchetypesbrutebrutescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassescohcolumncovcoxfeaturedncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospower-setspowersWed, 05 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the Paladin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-paladin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-paladin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-paladin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Archetypes, by their very definition, are idealizations. They aren't people; they're abstract concepts that people approach in varying degrees. Most of them aren't conscious aspirations, just a direction and a set of overall goals. Nobody really wants to be amoral in pursuit of a single goal, or an engine of war, or an endless question mark. You just kind of wind up in a place where you can be abstracted in that fashion.

Paladins are not like that.

Staggering numbers of different games have a class named "paladin," including nearly every class-based fantasy game in existence. But that's just a name, a collection of statistics and abilities and genre conventions. There's more to the archetype than that, something that taps into a very fundamental part of the human psyche. So as always, queue up some appropriate listening material, and let's take a look at an archetype that's almost always named as a class but has much more substance than a few holy-themed spells.

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion -- the Paladin

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion -- the Paladin originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetype-discussionarchetypescolumnfeaturedmoral-codemoralitymoralsopinionpaladinpaladinsroleplayingrpstoryboardFri, 24 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten levels of RIFT: A guide to your first day in Telara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/ten-levels-of-rift-a-guide-to-your-first-day-in-telara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/ten-levels-of-rift-a-guide-to-your-first-day-in-telara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/ten-levels-of-rift-a-guide-to-your-first-day-in-telara/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With two RIFT beta events under my belt, I was given the supreme honor of creating a guide to the first 10 levels of the game. Naturally, I fell apart under the stress, assumed the fetal position for a couple days while whimpering about "frame rates," and then was prodded into action by our editors. That's quite literally "prodded," mind you -- Massively purchased a pair of cattle prods last year at a police auction. It's going to be years until the scorch marks fade from my spine.

The purpose of this guide is two-fold. First, we want to give anyone who's interested in RIFT but couldn't get into the beta a chance to vicariously experience RIFT's newbie path. Second, while RIFT is careful to hold your hand during your first steps into Telara, there are always a lot of things that can be easily missed while one is partaking in the wonders of a new virtual world. So this guide is here to share a few tips and pointers that beta testers may have missed.

What are you waiting for? Roll up a new character by hitting the jump!

Continue reading Ten levels of RIFT: A guide to your first day in Telara

MassivelyTen levels of RIFT: A guide to your first day in Telara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievement-systemachievementsarchetypeArchetypesbeginner-zonebeginner-zonesbeginners-guidebetabeta-eventcattle-prodcautiouscharacter-creationcharacter-creatorclassclericclosed-betacritter-tearsdeathdeath-penaltydefianteq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifirst-ten-levelsguardianguideleveling-guidemagenewbie-experiencenewbie-guidenewbie-zonesporticulum-masterracial-abilitiesracial-bonusesracial-traitsriftrift-planes-of-telararoguesoulsoul-attunementsoul-systemsoul-travelsoul-vitalitysoulstelaratriontrion-worldsuiwarriorWed, 22 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Scrappers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-scrappers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-scrappers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-scrappers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We're in a small lull for City of Heroes at the moment, and truth be told it's well-deserved. After several months of invasions, updates, previews of the upcoming issues and so forth... it's nice to finally have a chance to just lean back and breathe a little bit. Of course, said breathing will involve a fair bit of superpowered antics, but as involved as that might be for the characters, the players don't have to be constantly looking to the future.

So while we technically should be working through the Incarnate System, the odds are better than even that we'll all be rolling alts over the holiday season. We play City of Heroes; alts are in our blood. So in a move that can only have been brought on by an almost criminal overdose of liquor, I've decided to start taking a look at the powersets of the archetypes, starting with the alt-friendly Scrapper. This should be of benefit to those who have never played a Scrapper, including players who are starting the game for the first time and who by definition haven't tried one before.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Scrappers

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Scrappers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterabilitiesarchetypearchetypescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclass-abilitiesclassescohcolumncovcoxfeaturedgroupingncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosplaystylepowerspowersetsscrapperssoloingthematic-choicesWed, 15 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Scholar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-scholar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-scholar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-scholar/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's time for our third archetype discussion, with the previous two being the Soldier and the Rogue. I've been pleased with the positive response I've seen so far, especially since the archetypes seem to help highlight the difference between a class and the character. There are classes that suggest a more roguelike approach (not a Roguelike approach; that's different), but people play them as soldiers, undertaking missions and killing based on exterior orders rather than any sort of malice or desire.

And that's great -- the power of archetypes is that you can have almost any class or combination of abilities backing them up. Such is the case with today's archetype, one that is often seen as being limited to spellcasters but which can really cover almost any set of skills. James Joyce wrote that when you think about things, you can understand them, and that's the bread and butter of the scholar. Queue up some appropriate music, and let's take a look at someone who just wants to know more.

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Scholar

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion - the Scholar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiaarchetypescolumnexperiencefeaturedknowledgelearningmetagamingroleplayingrpscholarsstoryboardstudystudyingthe-scholarFri, 10 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Rogue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A disproportionate number of roleplaying characters are heroes. Well, "heroes" might be a bit too strong of a term -- said characters may or may not have actually done anything heroic -- but given the opportunity, they prefer to be on the noble and self-sacrificing side of a conflict. There's nothing wrong with that, to be sure, but there is something to be said for playing someone whose ethics are a bit less grounded in an abstract idea of right or wrong.

Most fantasy games have a class either named as a rogue or some variant thereof, and even when the class doesn't exist, the hallmarks are there. Stealthy and sneaky, usually aimed at quick bursts of damage -- all of those elements speak to how rogues work. But they don't actually define a true rogue any more than a hammer defines a carpenter. So feel free to cue up some appropriate music (at your discretion) as we dive into the second archetype study, taking a good hard look at the most underhanded archetype around.

Continue reading Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Rogue

MassivelyStoryboard: Archetype discussion - the Rogue originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amoralityarchetypescharactercharactersfeaturedmoralityopinionrogueroguesroleplayingrpself-gainsneakingstealthstoryboardFri, 26 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online designer clarifies power changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/champions-online-designer-clarifies-power-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/champions-online-designer-clarifies-power-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/champions-online-designer-clarifies-power-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's easy for Champions Online players to feel like the game is in a constant state of change as the developers work on the free-to-play transition. Late last week our Champions Online columnist took a look at the first eight archetypes, and there was quite a bit of feedback from the CO community.

We spent some time chatting with Champions Online developer Chris Matz, who had plenty to say about the current and upcoming changes to the archetypes. Chris gave a great look at where things stand now and what the team has planned for the future, so follow along after the jump to see what he had to say!

Continue reading Champions Online designer clarifies power changes

MassivelyChampions Online designer clarifies power changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypeArchetypesbehind-the-maskbetachampionschampions-onlinechris-matzcocrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpFri, 26 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: The first order of business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/behind-the-mask-the-first-order-of-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/behind-the-mask-the-first-order-of-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/behind-the-mask-the-first-order-of-business/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sometimes we make mistakes. Last week, I talked about Champions Online's new archetypes, and while most of the criticisms are valid, I made several statements about incorrect stat selections that were untrue due to passives now scaling to superstats. This is actually a pretty big change to the way the game works, enough that I could almost write a whole article on that subject alone. It makes a whole mess of builds viable in vastly different ways, which is exciting. Although it does raise some concerns (polarization of builds towards CON, INT, and END), those issues really outweigh the dramatic increase in viability for some passives, particularly PFF and Seraphim.

This week though, I'm going to talk about the first tier of powers. T1 is the first layer of powers that players come across after their energy builders and weak T0 attacks. There's a huge disparity in balance between various T1 powers; some are basically worthless once T2 has unlocked, while others compete with the best T3 has to offer.

I'm here to mostly talk about the latter, and about how you can squeeze every bit of potential by making those required picks in T1 count.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The first order of business

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The first order of business originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypeArchetypesbehind-the-maskchampions-onlineclassescrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedopinionpowers-guidetier-1Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Eight ways for free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/behind-the-mask-eight-ways-for-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/behind-the-mask-eight-ways-for-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/behind-the-mask-eight-ways-for-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A little while ago, a full list of Champions Online's first eight archetypes was given to the public. Originally I wasn't going to talk about them much, but a couple people came up and asked me, "Are you going to write about archetypes this week?" I told them I probably wasn't, but after reflecting on it, it seemed a hot topic that I should probably talk about.

Cryptic has a habit of releasing ideas and content that are ridiculously bad in their first iterations. Over time, these ideas tend to get more and more polished, until we get something ranging from playable (melee) to almost exactly right (pets). The first pass at archetypes really isn't any different. The archetypes are bad. I am pretty sure the team will tweak the little problems, so talking about them seems sort of like jumping the gun.

But hey, you guys asked for it.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Eight ways for free-to-play

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Eight ways for free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesbalance-train-wreckbehind-the-maskchampions-onlineclassescocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumholy-trinityrolesThu, 18 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online unveils the eight free-to-play archetypes for launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/champions-online-unveils-the-eight-free-to-play-archetypes-for-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/champions-online-unveils-the-eight-free-to-play-archetypes-for-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/champions-online-unveils-the-eight-free-to-play-archetypes-for-l/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's an interesting road ahead for Champions Online as it prepares to go free-to-play. To facilitate the change and give subscribers a reason to keep paying regularly, the game is rolling out rigidly enforced archetypes that take away power selection but still allow for some personal customization. We've seen the initial description of how the archetypes will work, and the team at Cryptic Studios has just unveiled the eight archetypes that will be available to both free players and paying players when the conversion goes live.

Each archetype has a strictly defined role, along with several powers meant to enforce that role. Tanking, DPS, and healing are all represented by the available choices, meaning that even players who haven't spent anything will be able to take on whatever role best suits them in the game. Players should take a look at the official listing to see exactly what powers will be available and at the lore description for an idea of where each archetypical concept fits within the Champions Online framework.

MassivelyChampions Online unveils the eight free-to-play archetypes for launch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypesbusiness-modelschampions-onlineclassescocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdpsf2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgame-updateshealerholy-trinityparty-structureplayer-archetypesrolestankupdatesWed, 10 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Five years of scum and villainy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-five-years-of-scum-and-villainy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-five-years-of-scum-and-villainy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-five-years-of-scum-and-villainy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Let's face it, being a supervillain is fun. Sure, you root for the hero, because blowing up the entirety of California would probably be a bad thing, but in your heart you think that having come up with a plan to wipe out an entire state is pretty darn cool. City of Heroes might have launched letting players just take the role of a heroic sort, but five years ago tomorrow, they launched the game's first expansion, the appropriately named City of Villains.

Of course, these days few players think of CoV as an expansion. Since the two games were merged two years ago, the very concept seems almost ridiculous, and the two have long felt like halves of a whole. City of Heroes is generally accepted as the name of the game, despite a better fashion sense and leveling experience over in the Rogue Isles. But let's take a step back through to 2005 and honor this hive of scum and... well, you know the rest.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Five years of scum and villainy

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Five years of scum and villainy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclass-balanceclass-dynamicsclassescohcovcoxexpansionexpansionsfeaturedmissionsncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospvpretrospectivetextwritingWed, 27 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST