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[Dungeons and Dragons Online offers another Hireling weekend for the Holiday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/dungeons-and-dragons-online-offers-another-hireling-weekend-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/dungeons-and-dragons-online-offers-another-hireling-weekend-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/dungeons-and-dragons-online-offers-another-hireling-weekend-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


After the success of the first Dungeons and Dragons Online hireling preview, the folks at Turbine have opened the doors on their newest game mechanic for yet another trial. The second hireling preview began on Wednesday of this week, and will be going all throughout the weekend into Monday morning. The announcement of the program at the official forums includes a number of changes to the system as they hope to roll it out on live servers. This preview weekend still features limited functionality, and the newest changes aren't available over the course of this sneak peek.

Changes to the hireling concept surround the NPC's "usage". Hireling contracts are now one-use items that can be purchased from the appropriate vendors; because of this change, the contracts are now far less-expensive than the original 'timed' versions of the hireling contracts. A new 'defensive' mode has also been added to the creatures' AI, and hireling clerics have reprioritized the act of healing both themselves and their comrades. Full notes on the changes to the hireling system will be available in the patch notes once the feature is fully added to the game.

MassivelyDungeons and Dragons Online offers another Hireling weekend for the Holiday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-8dungeons-and-dragons-onlinehirelingsturbineFri, 28 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO Module 8 complete patch notes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/ddo-module-8-complete-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/ddo-module-8-complete-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/ddo-module-8-complete-patch-notes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If you missed the news last week from the release of Dungeons and Dragons Online's new Module 8, we thought we should probably point you to the complete patch notes. These notes show everything that's been added to the game with this free content upgrade, including the highly-anticipated Hirelings and DirectX 10 support!

Also, you may want to check out our exclusive early coverage of Module 8 with a dev tour last month. This dev tour gave us the opportunity to get some early screenshots and video footage of the new content, as well as a feature article on the new player experience that has changed so drastically in Module 8. This is an enormous patch, containing many improvements that cater to both the hardcore, experienced DDO players, and those who may be looking to get into the game for the first time. Be sure to check out the complete patch notes after the cut below.

Continue reading DDO Module 8 complete patch notes

MassivelyDDO Module 8 complete patch notes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-8dungeons-and-dragons-onlinemodule-8patch-notesturbineTue, 04 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Roll for initiative!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/01/one-shots-roll-for-initiative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/01/one-shots-roll-for-initiative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/01/one-shots-roll-for-initiative/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We've spent many a happy hour gathered around a table, adventuring with friends while fighting over possession of the snacks. So we love to see screens from Dungeons and Dragons Online, where people play out campaigns -- just in MMO form! Today's One Shots comes to us from Massively reader Bam! who sent along this gorgeous screenshot from Dungeons and Dragons Online along with the following note: Though I wanted to capture the moment where the dragon is walking in the ice tunnel below you, I missed it, so here it is. This is the cause of all the trouble in the new starter area for DDO mod 8. Without spoiling too much of anything, we're here to turn the balance in the fight between the mindflayer and the dragon. The changes made in Mod 8 (including DX10) are fantastic. I hope it will attract some new players!

Do you have a screenshot that takes you back to a great memory? Perhaps you have screens from when you first started playing MMOs and would like to share your stories of what it felt like to step into that world? One Shots is about community, and that means we need your screens and stories! Want to contribute but don't know how? It's easy. Just email your screenshot along with whatever you'd like to say about it to oneshots AT massively DOT com. Include your character name (server and guild optional) along with the game so we know who to give credit to. Pretty simple, no?

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Roll for initiative! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bamddoddo-module-8dungeons-and-dragons-onlinemodule-8one-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsturbineSat, 01 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's tour of Dungeons and Dragons Online Module 8]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/massivelys-tour-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online-module-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/massivelys-tour-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online-module-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/massivelys-tour-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online-module-8/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We here at Massively love MMOs big and small. We have a special fondness for games that do things just a touch differently, though, so it should be no surprise that we're big fans of Dungeons and Dragons Online. Turbine's action/adventure MMO is a very different animal from your average fantasy game. It's fantastically beautiful, innovate, and coming soon it'll have a whole new passle of content for players new and old. If you've been reading along with the site you've probably already seen Massively's guide to the new player experience coming in DDO Module 8. We also had the chance to go on an extensive walkthrough of the new high end content, and that's what we're bringing to you today!

Join us as we explore the depths of the Reaver's Refuge, crawl through the Monastery of the Scorpion, and attempt to rescue a dragon from a band of fearsome Frost Giants! We'll run through all the new features in the module, from rune armor to hirelings! We also highly recommend checking out DDOcast's guide to the hirelings and the entire module patch notes from the Dungeons and Dragons Online test realm.

But first, take the tour of all-new module 8 content, courtesy of Massively.com.

Gallery: DDO Module 8 Tour

The DigThe HireThe JumpThe Fall The Refuge

Gallery: DDO Module 8 New Player Gallery

Choosing your StyleThe BardThe Warforged WizardHow about a Cleric?Choosing your Path

Continue reading Massively's tour of Dungeons and Dragons Online Module 8

MassivelyMassively's tour of Dungeons and Dragons Online Module 8 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-8dungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedfrost-giantsgiantsjoystiq-featureskoboldsturbineTue, 21 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeons & Dragons Online Module 8: The new player experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/dungeons-and-dragons-online-module-8-the-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/dungeons-and-dragons-online-module-8-the-new-player-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/dungeons-and-dragons-online-module-8-the-new-player-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


With the upcoming Module 8 for Dungeons and Dragons Online, the folks at Turbine were kind enough to give us a hands-on sneak peek into this impressive patch. We saw so much of the shiny that you can certainly expect more feature articles here at Massively concerning Module 8 in the near future, but for now, we wanted to focus on the new player experience for anyone looking to get into the game for the first time.

The new player experience in DDO's Module 8 has all changed. Take what you knew of the game before -- either at launch or during a trial period somewhere along the way -- and throw it out the window. The process has changed into something more easily-accessible to those people who want to get into the game, but aren't particularly familiar with Dungeons & Dragons rulesets. Don't worry though, for you hardcore advanced players, there's still options to completely customize your character as much as you'd like. Follow along in our new player experience with character creation features, and be sure to check out the Module 8 gallery linked below.

Gallery: DDO Module 8 New Player Gallery

Choosing your StyleThe BardThe Warforged WizardHow about a Cleric?Choosing your Path

MassivelyDungeons & Dragons Online Module 8: The new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-8dungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedgalleryguidejoystiqfeaturesnew-playerturbineThu, 16 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively catches up with Dungeons and Dragons Online at Gen Con]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/massively-catches-up-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online-at-gen-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/massively-catches-up-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online-at-gen-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/massively-catches-up-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online-at-gen-con/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Gen Con is rolling along this weekend in Indianapolis, and Turbine is there showing off their upcoming release of Module 8 in Dungeons and Dragons Online. Massively dropped in on their show floor booth to see what they had to see and chat about the brand new character creation system coming to the game, as well as upcoming enhancements, including an increased level cap and maybe even a chance to see Khorvaire in DDO.

Our interview and demo starts after the break, and you can check out the pictures we got of the new content in the gallery below. Good things ahead for D&D fans, especially new players to the game.

Gallery: Gen Con DDO Gallery

Continue reading Massively catches up with Dungeons and Dragons Online at Gen Con

MassivelyMassively catches up with Dungeons and Dragons Online at Gen Con originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-creationclassesddo-druidddo-module-8druiddungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedgen-congen-con-2008genconindianapolisjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmassively-featuressenior-producerstarting-areaSat, 16 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Monk and more in DDO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/the-monk-and-more-in-ddo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/the-monk-and-more-in-ddo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/the-monk-and-more-in-ddo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Dungeon & Dragons Online's upcoming free content expansion, Module 7, is fast-approaching it's May release date, and we couldn't be more excited about the goodies we have in store for us. The fine folks at MMORPG.com were able take this opportunity to chat with DDO's Senior Producer Kate Paiz about more details on what was previously reported about this expansion as well as future expansions.

Module 7 will introduce us to an improved crafting system and new eldritch rituals, a high level wilderness area with two new raids, a revamp of Three Barrel Cove, and something DDO players have been pining after since release: the debut of the Monk. Reportedly, the Monk is in the balance and bug-fixing stage with some minor artistic fine-tuning going on before it's release.

MassivelyThe Monk and more in DDO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-7ddo-module-8fourth-editionkate-paizmmorpg.commonkturbineThu, 17 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Dungeons and Dragons Online continues to plough on as a successful (to its players, at least) little MMO based on the official, original pen-and-paper board game. Just off the release of Module 6 and the recent second anniversary of the game, Massively got to interview their senior producer Kate Paiz. She talked to us about the upcoming Module 7 (including a little tip that lower level players will enjoy), the main goals of her dev team as Wizards of the Coast heads toward the release of the pen-and-paper game's fourth edition, and, oh yeah, that Penny Arcade comic that Ms. Paiz featured prominently in.

The interview starts right after the break, so grab your masterwork Vorpal blade, your +4 Shield of Blocking, and wade on in by clicking below.

Continue reading Massively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online

MassivelyMassively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-6ddo-module-7ddo-module-8ddo-second-anniversarydungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedinterviewinvasionjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmarketplace-tentmassivelymodule-6module-7penny-arcadeshavarathworld-eventsMon, 31 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST