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The Tattered Notebook: Merge this!

Karen Bryan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Classes, Culture, Economy, Lore, Opinion, Races, Humor, The Tattered Notebook

Server mergers are coming this week to EverQuest II, and with it come some serious questions about what stays, what goes, and who gets stuck with a name with a lousy X at the end. But sometimes mergers are a good thing, and I think since we're on the subject, it's worth looking at what else could be merged in the world of Norrath.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, I'll consider how merging tokens, towns, classes, gods, guild halls and more could benefit EQII. Join me past the cut!

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The Tattered Notebook: Merge this! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Embark on the age of adventure: Win a copy of Final Fantasy XIV!

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, New titles, Final Fantasy XIV, Giveaways

Final Fantasy XIV. OK, now that the first sentence has stoked the inevitable flame war, let's get to the meat of this post. The nice people over at Square-Enix have sent us a copy of Final Fantasy XIV, and we're excited to give it away to you lovely readers!

We know that the game might not be everybody's cup of tea, but this is a contest you should jump into if you have been considering the title. Our winnable copy is a standard editon of the game, and it comes with the standard 30 days of play before charging you a subscription fee. (I feel like I'm detailing the features on a new car, or something.) And, as an added bonus, the game comes wrapped in cellophane! Oooooh! Shiny!

Interested in how you can win this game? Hit the continue reading button, and you'll soon find out!

Continue reading Embark on the age of adventure: Win a copy of Final Fantasy XIV!

Embark on the age of adventure: Win a copy of Final Fantasy XIV! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Gaming Iconoclast: Deity not included

Rafe Brox — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Roleplaying, Humor, The Gaming Iconoclast

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.
- Judy Bloom

(Hey, just be glad you didn't get another Neitzsche quote*)

The fantasy-based worlds our characters inhabit are, almost without exception, richly steeped in legend and brimming with lore. This is doubly true for those that have come to parturition after having existed outside of the digital realm. Frequently, the book or books upon which they are based feature the prominent (occasionally bordering on overwhelming) presence, if not direct and outright influence, of the God or Gods the characters worship... or at least call upon to save their bacon once in a while.

Having been so much a part of the lives of the inhabitants of these universes, at least before they found themselves to be at our command, the relegation of these heretofore great cosmic forces to the essential position of role-playing wallpaper at best is puzzling, the occasional trimming of an Elder God's Toenail notwithstanding. In all these worlds full of powerful wizards channeling arcane energies and hurling bolts of numinous fire at their enemies, or healers using their connection to the divine to aid their allies -- some of whom are called Priests outright -- where are the Gods themselves? And, more to the point, where is the role of religion in the characters' lives?

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The Gaming Iconoclast: Deity not included originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pray your way into the Age of Conan beta

William Dobson — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Age of Conan, Contests, News items

Many of you will have already been praying for access to Age of Conan's exclusive closed beta. Now, Funcom has announced that the Gods are feeling generous enough to grant a select few of these prayers -- provided they're good enough.

Visit this thread to get all the details, and view the terms and conditions. Essentially, you'll need to address a prayer, asking for beta access, to one of the Hyborean deities (examples of which are listed in the post), and the "funniest/best/most creative/outstanding entries" will be given general beta keys for AoC. Only one entry is allowed per user, and the winners will not be published due to the NDA. So what are you waiting for? Slap your palms together and get praying!

Pray your way into the Age of Conan beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ten Ton Hammer's guide to EQ2's pantheon of deities

Samuel Axon — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, Lore, PvE, Roleplaying

Both EverQuest and EverQuest II let players choose deities for their characters. This feature's primary purpose in the first EverQuest was facilitation of role-playing, but in EQ2 a player's choice of deity (a feature added in the Echoes of Faydwer expansion) has gameplay implications as well. It's a really cool idea which was born in the old text MUD days but which finds only rare application in modern games.

For those who play EQ2 and want to explore Norrath's vast pantheon of deities, Ten Ton Hammer has a terrific guide. It lists all the deities with descriptions and lists of their alignments, the quests you can do in their names, and the miracles they'll grant you.

Walk with Mithaniel Marr, my friend.

Ten Ton Hammer's guide to EQ2's pantheon of deities originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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