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One Shots: Don't fear the reaper

Krystalle Voecks — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-play, One Shots

With the influx of new players in Lord of the Rings Online since the game's conversion to a free-to-play title, some have wondered just how well roleplaying groups would do. Well, according to the note attached to today's excellent One Shots from Deity, roleplay is still alive and well -- even in the depths of a dungeon! He writes in: "I'm from a long established, light-RP guild called Legends on the EU server Laurelin. We've fully embraced free-to-play and have welcomed many new players to our ranks. It was while running some new people through the Great Barrows that one of our more creative members, Cyph, took this screenshot. I think it really captures the essence of the Great Barrows and Lord of the Rings Online grouping. Plus, it's a great action shot! We took our time, did a bit of RPing along the way (and I don't mean standing around emoting), cleared the instances, and above all had some fun. What's even more amazing is that Cyph managed to do a great job playing while taking this picture and many others!"

We love to hear what different guilds are doing out there. If you'd like to tell us of your group's latest adventures, just grab a screenshot of your group in action and email it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in the image. Also please make sure your image is at least 1024 pixels wide and has no visible UI elements. Your screenshot could be the next one we feature here on One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: Don't fear the reaper originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E308: Interview reveals name of new AoC dungeon

Samuel Axon — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Interviews, News items

At E3, MMO bloggers Keen and Graev caught up with Funcom Product Manager and all-around Age of Conan-spinster Erling Ellingsen. The Vault Network-hosted interview covers a lot of the same ground that we went over in our own talk with Ellingson, but there was one extra bit that we thought was worth mentioning. We know you don't want to miss a thing, so here it is!

Ellingsen mentioned that a new dungeon instance called "House of Crom." He didn't give any information about it apart from the name, although Keen's prose suggested that he was unusually excited about it. We'd like to think that this House of Crom is, in fact, the actual house of the deity Crom, atop a monstrous mountain.

We also find it fun to imagine that the name of that dungeon is basically a curse phrase. Crom's name is rarely invoked except in cursing and swearing in Howard's Conan novels. You don't want to attract Crom's attention, you know. He might kick your pathetic mortal ass.

E308: Interview reveals name of new AoC dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:00:00 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?

Continue reading The Gaming Iconoclast: Deity not included

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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