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[Lost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic screenshots
It took me a little while, but you should know by now that I was going to do a Guild Wars 2 comparison. It's a little later than I previously said I'd write it, but there's no time like the present, right?

Runes of Magic has been chugging along for over two years now, while GW2 is -- sort of -- just around the corner, and Guild Wars is the veteran of the bunch at six years of age.

What do these MMOs have in common that would provoke me to attempt a comparison? I'll give you a hint: It has nothing to do with jumping. What they do share is character customization, which, really, many MMOs have. It's a pretty standard feature.

In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at how RoM could have taken some customization cues from GW, while GW2 might be taking some from RoM -- sort of like a movie based off a show based off a movie.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ahoy, fellow officers! I trust you all enjoyed your long weekend of shore leave and sightseeing. And I hope those of you not morally opposed to microtransactions took advantage of the C-Store sale -- I'm still waiting for Cryptic Studios to add playable Catullans, complete with space grooviness.

So, with spirits and warp cores recharged, it's time again for Captain's Log, Massively's weekly voyage into the far reaches of Star Trek Online. Last week, we learned about selecting your first starship. This week, let's talk about what happens when you get that ship blown to smithereens. Brace yourself, because we're about to explore the exciting world of difficulty sliders and death penalties!

Continue reading Captain's Log: Difficulty settings and the injury system

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Difficulty settings and the injury system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chief-engineerchief-medical-officercomponentscraig-Zinkievichcrypticcryptic-studiosdeep-space-nineearth-spacedockfeaturedqonosregeneratorsseason-1.1Star-TrekStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-gameplaystosto-death-penaltysto-difficultysto-difficulty-guidesto-difficulty-settingssto-difficulty-slidersto-guidesto-injuriessto-injuries-guidesto-injury-guidesto-injury-systemtrek-onlineThu, 03 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making/Money: Newbs at Auction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/making-money-newbs-at-auction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/making-money-newbs-at-auction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/making-money-newbs-at-auction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

... And we're not talking about selling accounts on eBay.

One of the most frustrating aspects of being a new player in an established game, to my mind, is the cost of start-up crafting materials. Hit up any public market area, auction house, trade square or similar as a newbie and you will see what I mean. Even low-level items of any use (i.e. not vendor trash) are sold for seemingly absurd amounts given the time that would be required at early levels in order to generate the money. It can make the start of a new character infuriating and the game too taxing (pun fully intended) to continue. Why does this happen? What makes these things so costly? Why can't we all just get along...? (Oh wait, that's another column entirely)

Continue reading Making/Money: Newbs at Auction

MassivelyMaking/Money: Newbs at Auction originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsauctionauction-houseauctionscomponentscrafted-itemscraftingeconomicseconomyfeaturedinflationlord-of-the-rings-onlinelow-levellowbiemaking-moneymaterialsmoneyrmtstartingtradeskilltradeskillsworld-of-warcraftSun, 13 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa crafting made easier with disassembly chart]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/tabula-rasa-crafting-made-easier-with-disassembly-chart/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/tabula-rasa-crafting-made-easier-with-disassembly-chart/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/tabula-rasa-crafting-made-easier-with-disassembly-chart/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the most bewildering aspects of Tabula Rasa (and believe me, there are many) is the almost inexplicably difficult crafting system, which not only turns out weapon modifications that are close to useless in combat, but also requires a style of component micro-management that borders on the insane. Part of the problem is that the only way to get most components is by breaking down other weapons, with no clear guide as to what parts you can expect to get out of the deal. So for most people, you end up with a footlocker full of strange-sounding parts, and somehow still end up without the parts you need to fill those recipes.

Alpha Wolf Wonderlus over at Tabula Rasa Vault has done us all an enormous favor by posting a disassembled item chart that shows what sort of components you're liable to get from a weapon with a given modification. It's still only a matter of probability whether you'll get a certain item, but it's good to know where to start looking if you've got a specific modification in mind.

This will come in handy if I ever make it to level 50 and make a crafting clone, which is just about the only time that crafting in Tabula Rasa is viable. Since crafting talent points are drawn from the same pool as combat abilities, most people don't bother trying crafting until after level 30, when it becomes possible to make a clone with all the crafting talents maxed out. Still, it's neat!

MassivelyTabula Rasa crafting made easier with disassembly chart originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>componentscraftingdestination-gamesdisassembled-itemitemsrecipestabula-rasatabula-rasa-vaulttrTue, 29 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST