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 Secret World's skill system detailed in new video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-secret-worlds-skill-system-detailed-in-new-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-secret-worlds-skill-system-detailed-in-new-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-secret-worlds-skill-system-detailed-in-new-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - $6.66 per gallon
If you're staring down the barrel of The Secret World's first beta weekend and you're a little bit daunted by the game's 500-plus skills or its classless progression system, don't despair. Funcom has released an eight-minute video designed to teach you the basics and get your paranormal adventures off on the right foot.

The ability wheel breaks everything down into one of three categories: melee, magic, or ranged. Each is subdivided a further three times into different types of weapons (blood magic, blades, rifles, etc.). Technically you can learn every ability in the game, but you can only equip 14 at a time (seven active and seven passive), and you're also limited to equipping two weapons simultaneously. Your 14 abilities, when paired with your weapons of choice, make up your build, and half the fun in The Secret World is trying out all the possible permutations.

Learn more after the break, and don't forget to check out our Secret World press beta impressions while you're at it.

Continue reading The Secret World's skill system detailed in new video

MassivelyThe Secret World's skill system detailed in new video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildsfactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedskill-deckthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-buildstrailertswtsw-ability-wheeltsw-buildstsw-skill-videovideoFri, 11 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMOs coddle us too much in the early game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/the-daily-grind-do-mmos-coddle-us-too-much-in-the-early-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/the-daily-grind-do-mmos-coddle-us-too-much-in-the-early-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/the-daily-grind-do-mmos-coddle-us-too-much-in-the-early-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Aika
As much as I loved playing RIFT this year -- and I truly did -- one of my biggest critiques happened to be something beloved by many. This was the fact that the early game was so skewed toward giving you everything all at once: access to mounts and all of your class souls (and several builds). As nice as it was for the moment, I soon realized that it robbed me of that strong desire I usually have to want to level and reach significant milestones in my journey, as marked by finally getting said mount or finally gaining access to new classes.

The devs said that these changes were a result of player feedback, of which I have no doubt -- if you're going to ask players if they want everything as soon as they start a game, they're going to say "yes" whether it's a good idea or not. In practice, it felt like the game was coddling our new characters so much that we weren't put in much danger or had to struggle hard to gain these shiny toys.

What say you? In your MMO of choice, does the game coddle newbies so much that it picks them up every time they stub their toes, is it a perfect balance of challenge and ease, or is it even too difficult? Is coddling a good thing to retain new players or is it bad for the game over the long haul?

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 MMOs coddle us too much in the early game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildsclassclassescoddledevsearly-gamefeaturedmountmountsnewbiesopinionrifttdgthe-daily-grindWed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: How freeforms work]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/behind-the-mask-how-freeforms-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/behind-the-mask-how-freeforms-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/behind-the-mask-how-freeforms-work/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This week on Behind the Mask, we'll be looking at freeform characters and how they work. This is more of a primer for players who are interested in the Gold subscription and would like to know more about how freeform characters differ from archetypes. I'm also spotlighting it to show just how archetypes are built poorly and some ways they could be improved.

Freeform characters differ dramatically from archetypes. However, they follow a concrete set of rules on how they must be built. A hero can't just select Gigabolt, Ego Storm, or other high-level powers right from the start; there's a list of power restrictions that must be selected first. The power restrictions basically correlate to level restrictions, although there are some ways around that too.

While this may be familiar to Gold players, it will serve as a primer for those who are not experts at maneuvering around the power selection process.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: How freeforms work

MassivelyBehind the Mask: How freeforms work originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildingbuildschampions-onlinecharacter-customizationcocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedfreeformfreefprm-character-progressionopen-character-customizationperfect-world-entertainmentpweThu, 03 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World designers talk optimal builds, travel, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/the-secret-world-designers-talk-optimal-builds-travel-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/the-secret-world-designers-talk-optimal-builds-travel-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/the-secret-world-designers-talk-optimal-builds-travel-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Funcom devs have been hitting the publicity circuit lately in support of The Secret World, and GamePro has a new video interview featuring lead designer Martin Bruusgaard and lead content designer Joel Bylos. The pair spend a good nine minutes talking about various aspects of their upcoming fantasy-horror MMO, with particular attention given to the game's skill system and the builds it makes possible.

"In certain areas, people will need to have the correct effects to be optimal," Bylos explains. "In solo play especially, you will want to have a certain build." You can still progress any way you see fit, though, and Bylos was quick to point out that Funcom's intent is to provide a flexible character building system. That said, it's clear that build flexibility can come at the expense of perfect optimization, and ultimately Funcom is striving for a balance between playing how you want to play and tweaking your build as you go in order to progress through content.

The interview also touches on travel in The Secret World, and Bylos drops a few interesting hints about the use of hollow-earth myths to facilitate the globe-jumping that players will experience when traveling between far-flung locales like New York, Seoul, or London. Check out all the details after the cut.

Continue reading The Secret World designers talk optimal builds, travel, and more

MassivelyThe Secret World designers talk optimal builds, travel, and more originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildsfantasyfuncomgame-mechanicshorrorinterviewjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardskill-deckskill-systemskillsthe-secret-worldtswvideoWed, 13 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth dev blog talks builds, combat mechanics, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/fallen-earth-dev-blog-talks-builds-combat-mechanics-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/fallen-earth-dev-blog-talks-builds-combat-mechanics-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/fallen-earth-dev-blog-talks-builds-combat-mechanics-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Let it never be said that the devs at GamersFirst and Icarus fail to communicate with Fallen Earth players. The latest wasteland-flavored dev blog is longer than your average George R. R. Martin novel, and just about as complex.

This week's installment is heavy on builds and mechanical info following the recent combat revamp, and theorycrafters, min-maxers, and folks whose eyes don't glaze over at the thought of number-driven minutiae will no doubt find it instructive.

There's also a brief mention of current subscriber rewards, as well as some hinting at the various subscriber levels (and premium access benefits) that the dev team is still in the process of tweaking. Read all about it at the official Fallen Earth dev blog.

MassivelyFallen Earth dev blog talks builds, combat mechanics, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildscombat-buildscombat-mechanicscombat-revampdev-blogdev-diaryfallen-earthgame-mechanicsgamersfirsticarusicarus-studiospost-apocalypticsci-fiskill-buildsskillswastelandTue, 12 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Grinding skill instead of gear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-soapbox-grinding-skill-instead-of-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-soapbox-grinding-skill-instead-of-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-soapbox-grinding-skill-instead-of-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

One of the most troubling things I see in gamers these days is their incessant pursuit of loot. If you happen to play World of Warcraft, you know that getting into a pick-up raid involves a lot of people waving around GearScore like it's an actual measurement of player ability. Ever tried to get into an Ultra-Max Security group in Global Agenda? I hope you've got top-quality token gear and are level 50 because the time you spent getting those things matters a lot more than actually having any sort of skills.

As a tournament fighting-game player, I take offense to this. You don't need to have an epic'd-out Chun Li to win in Street Fighter. In online games, gear is important, but it isn't the first thing you should be pursuing.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Grinding skill instead of gear

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Grinding skill instead of gear originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildbuildsendgamefeaturedfotmgeargearscoreopinionplayer-skillpvepvpraidingskillskill-vs-gearsoapboxspecspecstalentthe-soapboxyou-must-defeat-sheng-long-to-stand-a-chanceTue, 31 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With almost two months on the post-launch clock at Trion Worlds, RIFT appears to be holding its own in the wild and woolly field of MMORPGs. With a major update and the first world event under its belt, RIFT is sailing into the future with the wind at its back and a hull full of subscribers below.

We got Trion's Scott Hartsman on the phone to discuss RIFT's second big patch, Update 1.2, as well as to see how the game's progressed thus far and where the team is trying to take it into the future. And of course we couldn't let this opportunity pass by without a candid dissection of the uneven world event and how Trion plans to learn from its mistakes.

So hit the jump and witness Scott Hartsman giving us a Care Bear Stare full of info and exclusive tidbits about the inner workings of RIFT!

Continue reading An exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated]

MassivelyAn exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-man-raidappearancebuildscharacter-transferscosmeticcosmetic-outfitsdynamic-eventfacebookfeaturedgilded-prophecyguild-bankslooking-for-groupoutfitsraidrecruit-a-friendriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsrolesscott-hartsmansliversthis-is-an-easter-egg-tagtriontrion-worldstwitterwardrobeworld-eventworld-pvpFri, 22 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Absorbent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/the-mog-log-absorbent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/the-mog-log-absorbent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/the-mog-log-absorbent/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

By the Twelve and by the Goddess, it's good to be back.

Logging back into Final Fantasy XIV was a unique pleasure, one that honestly had nothing to do with the changes to quest experience from Monday or anything else. It was due to the simple fact that I had missed the game, and if I had been in the middle of more projects with Final Fantasy XI, I would have been equally happy to log back in there. (It was still nice, but it's more a matter of seeing an old friend come back than anything.)

Now, for the past couple of weeks I've been vaguely hinting at talk about Thaumaturges, so it seems only fair that I use today as an opportunity to stand and deliver. I'm going to talk about one of my favorite abilities within the class, a set of skills that really starts upping the synergy between Disciples of Magic and Disciples of War. I'm speaking, of course, of the four major Absorb skills, which I loved when they were on Dark Knights and I love even more when I can toss them on any character I choose.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Absorbent

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Absorbent originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesabsorbbuildsclass-abilitiesclass-buildsclassescolumndrainfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivopinionskillssquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 02 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: Five favorite Fire tank powers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/alter-ego-five-favorite-fire-tank-powers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/alter-ego-five-favorite-fire-tank-powers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/alter-ego-five-favorite-fire-tank-powers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I'll admit it: Of all the powers I've played with in DC Universe Online thus far, the Fire and Ice powersets are undoubtedly my two personal favorites. Normally I'm not so much the tanking type, but there's something about these two trees that just satisfies the comic book nerd in me. I grew up watching my favorite heroes taking on incredible odds, being beaten down, and triumphing at the end of the day. However, as in any MMO involving endgame raiding, no man is an island. While I might enjoy standing toe-to-toe with the bad guys, if I don't have a good group behind me, there's only so much I can do before I'm spending quality time with the defeat button.

This is where I have to note that specific endgame "builds" don't appear to be quite as easy to create in DC Universe Online as they are in other games such as World of Warcraft. As DCUO is still in its infancy, there are many players who are working hard on theorycrafting statistics. This means that there simply aren't any 100%-perfect cookie-cutter builds everyone adheres to as yet. Still, there are some power choices that seem to be fairly popular for Fire tanks in this early stage, which is what we'll be taking a look at this week.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Five favorite Fire tank powers

MassivelyAlter-Ego: Five favorite Fire tank powers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter-egobuildbuildsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoendgamefeaturedfirefire-tankopinionpowersetpowersetssoesony-online-entertainmentstrategytanktankingSat, 26 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever since I started following RIFT, I've been entranced by the wide-open -- but not limitless -- class system. After all, the virtual world and everything populating it is only half the game; the other half resides in the avatar that sticks with you while you explore it all. Many MMOs have interesting ways of letting you build and grow your character, but sooner or later they come to a point where there's little more to be done other than incrementally increasing your stats by gaining better gear.

Not so with RIFT, as even a level 50 can drop a few coins to shape a completely new build from scratch. No longer are we bound to a rigidly defined creation; we are free to experiment, tinker, and try out these roles to our hearts' content.

With RIFT's soul system, there are a few ground rules that everyone learns early in the game. You can have up to three souls in your archetype active at any one time; you can only spend as many points in a build as you have in levels (such as 10 points at level 10); and you'll end up with 66 points at level 50, which means that you'll at least dabble in a second soul tree with every build. And while you can certainly spread soul points across all three trees, today I wanted to look at the benefits of a zero-point soul, the "third wheel," if you will, of builds.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archonassassinbardbeastmasterbladedancerbuildbuildschampionchloromancerclassclass-buildsclassesclericdominatordruiddungeons-and-dragonselemental-summonerenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedhealinghealsjusticarmagemagic-the-gatheringnecromancerpaladinpetpetspurifierrangerreaverriftriftbladeriftstalkerroguesaboteursentinelshamanshieldssoulsoul-buildsoul-talent-treesoul-treesoul-treessoulssplashsplash-soultalent-treestalentsvoid-knightwardenwarlockwarlordwarriorzero-point-soulWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Pre-launch checklist]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-pre-launch-checklist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-pre-launch-checklist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-pre-launch-checklist/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'll just come out and say it: The month or so right before the launch of a highly anticipated MMO is simultaneously ecstasy and agony, full of love and loathing. The waiting sucks, but the anticipation is delicious. The enthusiasm from the community is electric, but the heated emotions can be toxic. The discussion is fascinating, but the know-it-alls are annoying.

Personally, I kind of wish we could be at launch-plus-one month right now, just so that the frenzy of insane opinions will have died down and we can just, y'know, play the game without feeling as though we were in the middle of a verbal rugby match. Like any MMO, RIFT's going to have its positives and negatives, but I feel that this launch is going to be something we haven't seen in a long time: a solid, stable MMO that offers up a complete package. That pleases the Justin.

Since I can't whip out my magic remote control and fast-forward to April, I propose we do the next best thing. Let's open up our imaginary quest logs and run down a checklist of seven "To Dos" and a few "To Don'ts" to help us prepare for RIFT's release. Planning can be fun! Shut up, it can be!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Pre-launch checklist

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Pre-launch checklist originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypebetabeta-eventbuildbuildschecklistdefiantenter-at-your-own-riftexpectationsfeaturedforumsfoundersfounders-subscriptionguardianguildlaunchnvidiaofficial-forumsopen-betapitfallpitfallsplease-the-justinpre-orderpre-releasequest-logreading-rainbowriftrift-planes-of-telarasoulsoul-calculatorsoul-treesoul-tree-calculatortake-a-look-its-in-a-booktelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 16 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plan your perfect character with the RIFT soul calculator]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/plan-your-perfect-character-with-the-rift-soul-calculator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/plan-your-perfect-character-with-the-rift-soul-calculator/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/plan-your-perfect-character-with-the-rift-soul-calculator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

One of the greatest strengths of any MMORPG is its community. Regardless of the size of a title's playerbase, it's practically a given that the demographics will include folks with the skills (and the goodwill) to make the experience better for everyone. Usually this happens free of charge in the form of web-based tools and analysis, and the latest case in point comes to us courtesy of ZAM and its new RIFT soul calculator.

The tool allows rifters to experiment with builds all the way up to the game's level 50 cap (even though RIFT's current beta phase doesn't allow for endgame play). ZAM's announcement post carries a beta qualifier of its own, as the soul calculator is still under development and may feature a lingering bug or two.

RIFT is a subscription-based fantasy MMO developed by Trion Worlds which launches on March 1st. You can learn more about the game and sign up for beta via the official website.

MassivelyPlan your perfect character with the RIFT soul calculator originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>build-calculatorbuildscommunityfantasyriftrift-planes-of-telarariftssoul-calculatorsoulstriontrion-world-networktrion-worldszamMon, 24 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Long-term goals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/wasteland-diaries-long-term-goals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/wasteland-diaries-long-term-goals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/wasteland-diaries-long-term-goals/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So you're a brand-new clone in Fallen Earth, dressed in your snappy LifeNet ensemble? So far you've managed to get yourself blown to bits inside the bowels of the Hoover Dam. Remember that awesome scoped battle rifle you were using? Well, forget that. The weapons you will be using for the time being will be a bit more primitive and a lot less deadly. Luckily for you, Elena Winters was able to respawn you safely away from the dam.

After being led around by the nose, you're no doubt ready to begin making some of your own decisions. I'm going to tell you that you aren't quite ready to do that. Not just yet. Before you go off on your own, there are some important things you need to know. These things I will tell you will save you a lot of trouble later on. I wish someone had given me all the information I'm going to give you, but I learned it the hard way. As they say: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This also holds true in Fallen Earth. Now that you're in a safe place, I'll get that handy information to you after the break.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Long-term goals

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Long-term goals originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apbuildbuildscharacter-buildingcharacter-buildscraftingfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedhintsicarusicarus-studiosmutationsrerollrerollingskillsstatstipsFri, 19 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just a few weeks ago, I was invited to attend Trion Worlds' Gamer's Day in San Francisco to get some hands-on time with a couple of the company's upcoming titles, including Rift: Planes of Telara. If Rift seems to have come out of nowhere, that might be due both to the acquisition of EverQuest II veteran Scott Hartsman to head the project as executive producer, and to a clever name change meant to reflect the team's shift in development focus.

In fact, that shift in development focus is precisely what I was at Trion's studio to test -- I got to check out the Rifts themselves in all their glory, in the context of the greater dynamic content system that the developers are so excited about. Massively's writers have been able to play and report on character creation and the starting areas of Rift several times over the last year or so, including earlier this summer at E3. But until today's embargo lift (coinciding with the reveal at Gamescom), no one had quite seen the fabled planar invasions and takeovers in action.

Now we have.

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

MassivelyMassively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementAchievementsaddonsalphaalpha-testbattlegroundsbuildscallingCapture-the-flagcharacter-creationcharge-barclericclunkcollectionCollectionscraftingdefiantDemodynamic-contentEarth-Elementalelementalistepic-mountfeaturedfootholdfootholdsgallerygloamwoodgraphicsgroupgroupinggroupsguardianhealershealinghell-levelsheroes-of-telaraholy-city-of-sanctuminstanceinstancesinterfaceinvasionjumpingjust-say-no-to-hell-levelslootmapmapsminimapmodsp2ppay-to-playpetsphilosophyplaneplanesplanes-of-telarapublic-questspvpquestingrealm-of-the-faerespecresurrectionriftrift-planes-of-telarariftsscott-hartsmanscreenshotsshadowlandssoul-walkSteamPunkstrategerystrategysubscriptionswimmingtalent-treestalentstavril-plazatelaratrailertriontrion-worldsUIvideowarfrontwarfrontsWed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring Eberron: Rolling the right character for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/exploring-eberron-rolling-the-right-character-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/exploring-eberron-rolling-the-right-character-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/exploring-eberron-rolling-the-right-character-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Who are you whippersnappers? Get off my lawn or I'll blast ye into kingdom come! Shoo!

I mean, howdy! Sorry, I got a little startled there. We just found out this morning that Rubi, your faithful DDO columnist, was captured by a beholder and locked away in a level 20 dungeon. While the Massively DDO guild, OnedAwesome, faithfully levels up in a rescue attempt (every Wednesday night, 9pm eastern/8pm central!), I've been drafted to keep the column going until victory is assured.

Considering that a vast majority of my personal DDO resume is confined to levels 1 through 10, I have a soft spot for the newbie experience. And seeing how many fledgling dungeoneers are flocking to DDO these days, I figured I'd go back to the beginning to walk new players through the first week of the game. For you veterans out there, this would be a great time to (a) point out how much I say is completely wrong, and (b) offer up your own tips and advice in the comments section.

Today, let's start with one of the most vital decisions you'll ever make in the game: rolling a character. Hit the jump and let's hope for all 20s!

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: Rolling the right character for you

MassivelyExploring Eberron: Rolling the right character for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>28-point-build32-point-buildbattle-magebuildscharactercharacter-buildscharacter-creationcharacter-creatorcharacter-plannercharacter-planningclassesddoddo-storednddrowdungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineexploring-eberronfavored-soulfeaturedfree-to-playftpf2pgimpmonkracesshut-up-jeetsturbineturbine-pointswarforgedFri, 16 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Building character]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/18/wasteland-diaries-building-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/18/wasteland-diaries-building-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/18/wasteland-diaries-building-character/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When making a character in Fallen Earth, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While I still have three of my four respec injectors, newly created characters will not get a respec. So it is very important to determine what you want your character to be before you start spending AP. Fallen Earth is a "classless" system, but most builds are differentiated mainly by their choice of weapon mastery, and these could be construed as the three classes. While choice of weapon type will be the cornerstone of the build, there are still a great many questions you will want to have answers to before you start to improve your stats.

But your first consideration should be what type of character you want to play. You will want one that suits your playstyle, but isn't completely gimped. My goal with this post will be to help make sure you have a plan before you start your build. Even though you can probably just assign AP at random and still make a viable (at least for PvE) build, you probably want your character to be the best that he or she can be, right? Now, I am not a character-building expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I have some experience with it. After the cut, I'll give you the tools and knowledge you need to build a solid PvE or PvP character. You will need to make the tough decisions yourself.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Building character

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Building character originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildscharacter-buildsclassesclasslessfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeicarus-studiospost-apocalypticwastelandwastelandersFri, 18 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: There's a spider in my room (VEAT level 24)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-theres-a-spider-in-my-room-veat-leve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-theres-a-spider-in-my-room-veat-leve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-theres-a-spider-in-my-room-veat-leve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I want to give everyone a bit of an idea for how these illustrations come into being. After the first installment of the ongoing guide to villainous epic archetypes was on the plate, I let Ms. Fienemann know what I was planning so she would know what to draw. Once she drew that title image, I immediately laughed and noted how the middle soldier was sad. His name was Terry, and Jim and Earl (the other soldiers) were being jerks to him and not giving him even, like, a little bit of their lunch after Terry had fronted them both for coffee earlier in the week.

This week, Jim and Earl continue being mean to Terry despite not being in the drawing. And that just makes it funnier.

Where were we? Oh, right, leveling your epic villain archetype in City of Heroes. Or more accurately, making the big central decision to leveling your spider. By the time you hit 24 -- not very long after the last installment -- you're going to be neck-deep in a free respec that leads into unlocking the additional career paths for your character. Unfortunately, you're going to have to choose one or the other.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: There's a spider in my room (VEAT level 24)

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: There's a spider in my room (VEAT level 24) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every MMO seems to have a build or class triad. The rock, paper and scissors system. Or tank, healer and DPS (damage per second). Armor, infantry and artillery. However you look at it, it seems like most MMOs are balanced using this rule of three. In Fallen Earth the triad consists of three weapon skills that define the basic builds. Though it is a classless system, characters are usually designed around their weapon proficiencies. Fallen Earth currently has a rock, scissors and rock-eating scissor-smasher. Prior to version 1.4, the flavor-of-the-month build was melee. Pistol builds have now taken the top spot. This, of course, is debatable, but not many can argue against the ineffectuality of the rifleman in Fallen Earth.

Pistoleers have never been the weakest of the three; in fact (at least since open beta) they have been very viable and well-rounded builds. They are arguably, now, at the top of the heap and the balance has been shuffled leaving riflemen still at the bottom. The unbalancing has also caused an unbalancing of the factions as the pistol-using factions are clustered on one side of the faction wheel. For the most part, dual-wielding has always been much better than two-handed weapons, and that still holds true with melee weapons as well as firearms. But the rift between pistols and rifles has grown while the rift between melee and rifles has shrunk. One thing gets fixed while something else gets thrown out of whack. The next step is to balance the game. Continue reading after the break for a more in-depth analysis.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Rifleman's lament

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Rifleman's lament originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 May 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildscharacter-buildsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcFEfeaturedicarus-studiosopinionpistoleerpvpriflemanriflesFri, 28 May 2010 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Salutations to mutations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/wasteland-diaries-salutations-to-mutations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/wasteland-diaries-salutations-to-mutations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/wasteland-diaries-salutations-to-mutations/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Fallen Earth players that are close to making the jump to Sector 2 have a few things to consider. Of course, the biggest question is always that of faction. Faction choices can be influenced by mutations, since certain mutation lines are only available from certain factions. Some will just prefer to "flip the wheel", and I really can't give a good reason not to, but that's another story. When posed with the choices of mutations and factions, the choice can be overwhelming at first. Mutations are also tied to particular attributes, and mutation lines that will benefit from high intrinsic attribute scores will be most effective.

Factions won't make much of a difference after the mutation line is unlocked, however. Upgrading and using the mutations are independent of your current factional allegiances. You can have someone who is allied with the faction in question purchase mutagenics books or injectors for you. Or you could get them from the Auction House as a last resort. In order to make this decision a bit easier I will attempt to describe the mutations in layman's terms. For the hard numbers, check the TAOWiki. For a more simplified breakdown of the mutations available to you in Fallen Earth, keeping reading below.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Salutations to mutations

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Salutations to mutations originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedicarus-studiosmutationswasteland-diariesFri, 14 May 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Walking the virtuous path]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/the-road-to-mordor-walking-the-virtuous-path/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/the-road-to-mordor-walking-the-virtuous-path/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/the-road-to-mordor-walking-the-virtuous-path/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Every Friday, The Road to Mordor brings you the latest in Lord of the Rings Online news, guides and analysis.

LotRO's character building system is at once both flexible and a little intimidating to the new player. It combines several systems from other games -- including an achievement system (the Deed Log), collectible traits, skills that improve on use, easy reslotting - into a funky new beast. Frankly, I love being able to constantly tweak my build without having to scrap the whole thing and start all over with a maximum of fuss and funds.

However, what always confused me when I was new to LotRO were the Virtue traits - honestly, I had no idea what they were or that they were even there until my third month of playing. The game doesn't give you a huge tutorial on Virtues, and when you do give them a solid glance, they're somewhat underwhelming: seemingly minor stat boosts in a variety of packages. So why bother getting them? Are they too much trouble for what they're worth? What's the best way to accumulating Virtues if not?

That's what we're here to help you with. Speak, friend, and enter.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Walking the virtuous path

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Walking the virtuous path originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The big focus for this week's State of the Game for Champions Online is builds, which act as a way to switch your group role on the fly. The four flavors are: balanced, offense, defense and support -- or Guardian, Avenger, Sentinel and Protector, as they're known respectively in-game. Builds are part of a system that's designed to allow for more flexibility, and thus create characters who may be focused on defense for one mission and protection on another.

Another point of interest are the addition of Powerhouses, which are the in-game training rooms where players can test out potential new powers before committing to them. They're also where retraining occurs as well, so consider them your one-stop shop for all power selection possibilities.

As for the image you're seeing on our post, well, that's an action figure! Everyone loves chibi versions of characters and you can't have an MMO without tiny little personal pets following you around. So, who wants a mini-Foxbat? We know we do, because nothing's cuter than tiny super villains.

MassivelyBuilds, powerhouses and tiny pets in Champions Online's new State of the Game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atariavengerbuildschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosguardianpowerhousepowerhousesprotectorsentinelstate-of-the-gameFri, 24 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you use builds?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-builds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-builds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/22/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-builds/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This blogger was intrigued, on looking through a copy of the Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition Player's Handbook, to see that each character class had two different 'builds'. Apparently, the terminology (and the thinking behind it) has now officially migrated all the way back from MMOs to the pen-and-paper games that preceded them.

Some players create characters purely for concept, some for efficiency, some to fit a particular playstyle. In City of Heroes, a suprising number of not-so-good powers will still get picked if they fit a character's concept, such as Flurry for a superspeeder. In fact, one of the developers said some time ago that concept should be the primary reason for picking any power.

But other players come up with carefully structured builds and respect them like Cordon Bleu recipes. The thought and planning that goes into these builds, which are arguably a form of engineering challenge, is impressive. The individuality of the character doesn't matter; what matters is how well the character's abilities milk the game for every possible drop of performance.

Are you a build-user? Have you ever worked a character out to the specifications given in someone else's build? Do you like to plot and plan, and possibly share your work? Or would you rather make characters freestyle?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you use builds? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdungeons-and-dragonsthe-daily-grindMon, 22 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New AoC feat calculator lets you submit and browse specs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/new-aoc-feat-calculator-lets-you-submit-and-browse-specs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/new-aoc-feat-calculator-lets-you-submit-and-browse-specs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/new-aoc-feat-calculator-lets-you-submit-and-browse-specs/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The Age of Conan community site has brought a new feat calculator to our attention. Hosted at IGN's Age of Conan Vault, the calculator offers features found in other popular options, but one notable addition as well. Users have the ability to submit their spec to the Vault's database, which players can use to research their own builds. You can search the saved templates by level, class and name/description. People have already started to save their submissions, and hopefully this feature will prove to be a valuable resource as more players follow suit.

MassivelyNew AoC feat calculator lets you submit and browse specs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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