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[New DDO Menace of the Underdark video profiles Druid class]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/new-ddo-menace-of-the-underdark-video-profiles-druid-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Dungeons and Dragons Online - Druid wolf form
Turbine continues its Menace of the Underdark info blitz this morning with a new video centering on Dungeons and Dragons Online's maiden expansion. If you've been hiding in a troll cave for the last month, you may not be aware that the devs are taking players from Eberron to the Forgotten Realms starting on June 25th.

There's also a new Druid class, which is the focus of today's dev diary clip. Executive producer Fernando Paiz calls the Druid the single most requested feature by the DDO playerbase over the last six years. Click past the cut to learn more about the class and see if it measures up to your expectations.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Continue reading New DDO Menace of the Underdark video profiles Druid class

MassivelyNew DDO Menace of the Underdark video profiles Druid class originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-videodnddruiddruid-videodungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfantasyfree-to-playmenace-of-the-underdarkmenace-of-the-underdark-videoturbineturbine-entertainmentvideoFri, 18 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/druids-drow-and-destinies-in-an-epic-ddo-expansion-tour/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

DDO
On Thursday, Turbine will take the wraps off of Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark and commence with the closed beta. It's a heady time for both the team and playerbase, as this 2007 title steps into the big leagues of expansion-holding MMOs. And because we know you hate waiting for all the goods, we joined Turbine on the test server for an advance look at some of the hottest features coming with June's launch.

On the phone with us was Senior Producer Eric Boyer, Community Specialist Amanda Grove, and Design Director Ian Currie. "We want to show players how big the expansion pack is and how much it'll be changing the game," Boyer began, telling us that levels one through 20 were merely "heroic" -- now it'll be time to make the move into epic territory.

From a look at the much-anticipated Druid and the previously vague Epic Destinies to a lightning tour of your first day in the Forgotten Realms, the team was out to convince us that Menace of the Underdark is fully worthy of the "expansion" moniker. How's it looking so far? Take a look for yourself!

Continue reading Druids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour

MassivelyDruids, Drow, and destinies in an epic DDO expansion tour originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amanda-grovebetacharacter-customizationddodnddrowdruiddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeberronepic-destiniesepic-destinyepic-destiny-systemeric-boyerEveningStarexpansionf2pfantasyfate-pointsforgotten-realmsfree-to-playhands-onian-currielevel-cap-increaselord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromenace-of-the-underdarkmoriapreviewthe-darkeningturbineturbine-entertainmenttwist-of-fateuiupdate-15wolf-packWed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine reveals shape-shifting DDO Druid class]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/turbine-reveals-shape-shifting-ddo-druid-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Dungeons and Dragons Online - Druid shapeshifting
Turbine has a present for all you would-be shape-shifters out there, and it takes the form of the new Druid class coming with Dungeons and Dragons Online's new Menace of the Underdark expansion.

The content drops on June 25th, and the Druid will be available as a premium playable class (and free to VIPs). The Druid is primarily a caster, but he's also proficient with daggers, sickles, staves, and clubs. His signature ability allows him to transform into a winter wolf, a dire bear, a water elemental, or a fire elemental. Each shape has its own set of spells, and the class also features a Druidic oath that boosts resistances to entanglement, poison, and other natural ailments.

More info on the expansion is available via Turbine's official website.

[Source: Turbine press release]

MassivelyTurbine reveals shape-shifting DDO Druid class originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesddodnddruiddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineexpansionsf2pfantasyforgotten-realmsfree-to-playmenace-of-the-underdarkshape-shiftingshapeshifterturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 20 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO's Menace of the Underdark releasing June 25th, opens up pre-orders]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/going-inside-dungeons-and-dragons-online-menace-of-the-underdar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

DDO Menace of the Underdark
Speaking of Guinness World Records for video games, I wonder whether Dungeons and Dragons Online would be eligible for "Longest time between game release and launch of its first expansion?" Six years may just be the longest we've ever witnessed, as DDO released in 2006, and it wasn't until 2012 that Menace of the Underdark was revealed. The good news is that come June 25th, the drought will be over.

We asked Turbine why now seemed like a good time for an expansion. The devs said that Atari had made some noise back in the day about one, but it never came to fruition. With the success of free-to-play, Turbine wanted to see whether the expansion model was still viable, so Lord of the Rings Online was chosen as a test subject. When Rise of Isengard became the best-selling expansion for the company, the company felt secure letting DDO have a chance, although there was quite a lot of wrangling with Wizards of the Coast about the details and permissions.

Record or no, it's an exciting event for DDO players, and the today, Turbine has announced the two biggest details for the expansion's schedule. The first is that Menace of the Underdark has a release date, and the second is the opening of pre-orders. Read on to get all of the juicy infos.

Continue reading DDO's Menace of the Underdark releasing June 25th, opens up pre-orders

MassivelyDDO's Menace of the Underdark releasing June 25th, opens up pre-orders originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baldurs-gateddodruiddruid-classdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeberronepic-destiniesf2pfeaturedFernando-Paizforgotten-realmsfree-to-playmenace-of-the-underdarkneverwinter-nightspre-orderpreorderra-Salvatoretome-of-learningturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-12update-13update-14wizards-of-the-coastwotcMon, 27 Feb 2012 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine makes 'biggest announcement since free-to-play' for Dungeons and Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/turbine-makes-biggest-announcement-since-free-to-play-for-dung/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lolth
The Dungeons and Dragons Online developers have been enjoying the game's success, and things are running smoothly, but fans know that doesn't mean the team's been kicking back and relaxing. We've had content updates regularly, and not just little token patches but rather new adventure packs, new races and classes, the addition of crafting, and much more.

Have you enjoyed the past year or so in DDO? Well, hang on to your hats because we spent some time chatting with Eric Boyer and Fernando Paiz and... well, those updates aren't the only thing the developers have been working on.

Click past the break to see what's about to take DDO by storm.

Continue reading Turbine makes 'biggest announcement since free-to-play' for Dungeons and Dragons Online

MassivelyTurbine makes 'biggest announcement since free-to-play' for Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d-n-d-onlineddodruiddruid-classdruidsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeric-boyerexpansionf2pfeaturedfernando-paizforgotten-realmsfree-to-playlevel-caplevel-cap-increasemenace-of-the-underdarkturbineunderdarkThu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Because we are true geeks, last weekend my wife and I went to see X-Men: First Class. Afterward, we got into a discussion about what mutant power we'd pick for ourselves if we had the choice. I was torn between teleportation and quick healing, while my wife wanted to be able to turn into cash to pay off our mortgage. I think one of us is more grounded in the real world than the other.

But the more I think about it, the more I was intrigued with the idea of a shapeshifter. To be anyone would give you unparalleled freedom -- and plenty of chances to get into mischief, too. Come to think of it, it's probably best I'm not granted that particular superpower.

However, plenty of MMOs do give players the chance to shift between their normal forms and something else entirely. While there are far more than 10 examples that the brain trust over here came up with, I'm going to pick out my favorites to highlight.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureraliensanarchy-onlineaoarchetypechronicles-of-spellborncity-of-heroescohcount-choculadervishdruiddruidsdwarfeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifacehuggerfeaturedfurygrim-reaperguild-warsgwkheldiankheldiansleetlichlich-formmoonkinmorphmorphsmysticnecromancerperfect-10perfect-tenpolymorphriftrift-planes-of-telarashapeshiftshapeshiftersshapeshiftingteam-edwardteam-jacobthe-chronicles-of-spellbornthe-countultima-onlineuovampirevampire-formwardenworgenworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW player makes her way to 85 without quest or kill experience]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/wow-player-makes-her-way-to-85-without-quest-or-kill-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/wow-player-makes-her-way-to-85-without-quest-or-kill-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/wow-player-makes-her-way-to-85-without-quest-or-kill-experience/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tired of the same old same old in your favorite MMO? Looking for something else to do? Well, if you're one of a particular breed of players, you might try out setting some self-imposed limitations on your leveling. In World of Warcraft, several players have tried their hands at different methods. Gutrot from the EU leveled to 70 wearing only a loincloth. Gweryc decided to run his hunter as a melee-only character. Noor the Pacifist then decided to level his character to 70 by not killing any mobs at all, and he only did quests that involved non-violent criteria (like FedEx quests).

Now we hear that another player has upped the alternative-leveling ante by not questing at all. Everbloom, level 85 Night Elf Restoration Druid from the Feathermoon server, leveled all the way to 85 by grinding exploration and gathering experience! While Everbloom's armory profile shows that the character entered one five-man dungeon at some point, there is only one completed quest -- and Everbloom explained that one was a fluke. Apparently Blizzard blindsided her by granting a quest completion for simply reading an Argent Tournament invitation letter -- even without having a quest for it. Everbloom additionally managed to level to 85 while only dying 25 times in total (once to falling), making this crazy stunt an even more impressive feat.

If you'd like to read more about it directly from the source, head over to the World of Warcraft forums and check out Feathermoon's leveling thread. It's certainly worth a look if you've ever thought about trying some form of self-imposed limitation leveling in your MMO of choice.

MassivelyWoW player makes her way to 85 without quest or kill experience originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative-levelingblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdruideverbloomgatheringgrinding-gatheringgrinding-tradeskillsnight-elfself-imposed-limitationstradeskillsworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 11 Apr 2011 12:30:00 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[The Daily Grind: How would you convince someone to jump ship to your MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/the-daily-grind-how-would-you-convince-someone-to-jump-ship-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/the-daily-grind-how-would-you-convince-someone-to-jump-ship-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/the-daily-grind-how-would-you-convince-someone-to-jump-ship-to/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I've always noticed that when someone becomes completely enamored, infatuated or smitten with a great thing, he always wants to tell others about it in the hopes of sharing it. Whether it be losing weight, a great movie, a hot new artist or an awesome MMO blog, we all have our evangelistic moments as we make the case for how terrific something is to our friends.

Do we do this with MMOs? Does a bear relieve himself in the woods and then shapeshift into an Elven Druid? Most definitely. MMO players are never short on expressing their opinions, especially to friends, family and whatever anonymous forum-goer may be lurking. Not only do we love our games, but we want others to love them as well.

So how would you convince someone to give your favorite MMO a try over the one he's currently enjoying? What makes yours so special, and how would you transfer a bit of your passion to others? For a bonus question, have you ever successfully wooed someone to your game, and if so, how did you do it?

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: How would you convince someone to jump ship to your MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>druidelfeve-onlinejump-shipopinionshapeshifttdgthe-daily-grindMon, 14 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: Your journeys]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-neverending-quest-your-journeys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-neverending-quest-your-journeys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-neverending-quest-your-journeys/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I have to say, this month's been everything I'd hoped it would be for EverQuest. As with many of these older MMOs, my working knowledge of EQ was spotty and anecdotal at best, and I'm personally glad to rectify that. EverQuest's always felt like a "You had to have been there" club to me, one that stopped accepting members a long, long time ago. It's great, therefore, to see that there's a thriving community, a rich history and an uplifting future in store for the game.

Above everything else, I've come to realize just how crucial EverQuest was -- for better or worse, depending on your perspective -- to the development of the MMO genre for the past decade or so. If SOE never created EQ, just how different would our games be today? It's incredibly hard to imagine.

As we continue our EQ month here at The Game Archaeologist, we have two things on the immediate agenda. The first is to share a few of your personal journeys that you emailed my way, and the second is a look at how you can plug in with EverQuest if you've never done so in the past. It turns out, quite fortuitously, that this is looking to be one of the best times to do so. Read on, courageous gamer!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: Your journeys

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: Your journeys originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescohddodruiddungeons-and-dragons-onlineeqescape-to-norratheveeve-onlineeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedf2pfippy-darkpawfree-to-playgordonhouse-of-thulekunarknecromancerpollpollsprogression-serverstipaunderfootwe-fly-spitfireswest-karanaTue, 25 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: A look at RIFT's Druid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Within RIFT's soul system, there's room for a wide variety of different classes within the four core options -- two different Clerics might have very different sets of souls equipped and play like two completely different classes. Trion Worlds has been slowly providing information to players about what they can expect from the various souls, but every time a new soul is revealed, it's something completely different from what's come before. The Druid is one of the souls available to Clerics, for instance, but it couldn't be more different than options such as the Purifier or Sentinel.

Druids are a pet class, but not in the traditional sense. Where a Mage with a pet-using soul would rely on his pets to deal damage, the Druid uses her pets as conduits to empower her, making her a fierce combatant in her own right. Although vulnerable if her companions are damaged, the Druid herself is the core of her strength, using a variety of companions for a multitude of effects. Click past the break for more information and backstory on RIFT's Druid, and check in every day this week for more heretofore unseen souls.

Gallery: RIFT: Core Gallery

Continue reading Exclusive: A look at RIFT's Druid

MassivelyExclusive: A look at RIFT's Druid originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstoryclassclass-previewclass-previewsclassesdruidexclusivefictionloremassively-exclusivenew-classnew-soulspet-classpetsriftrift-planes-of-telarasoulsoul-systemsoulstriontrion-worldsTue, 18 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring (the rest of) Eberron]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/exploring-the-rest-of-eberron/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/exploring-the-rest-of-eberron/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/exploring-the-rest-of-eberron/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

By the time you read this, I'll be scampering about GenCon in Indianapolis, thick in the middle of four days of gaming and geekery. Don't weep for me, for I am already gone! One of my hopes for this weekend is to reconnect with pen-and-paper RPGs, a part of my gaming life that has almost withered into nothingness.

That got me thinking about Eberron -- the D&D campaign in which DDO is set. You don't hear DDO players fussing about it so much any more (people either made their peace with it or moved on), but way back when, the Eberron setting was a fairly controversial choice for Turbine to make. After all, there are dozens upon dozens of campaign settings, including some (like Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance) that most people associate with the franchise.

Eberron, on the other hand, was a relatively wet-behind-the-ears upstart with a quirky setting that can best be described as "Indiana Jones meets steampunk meets flashy, practical magic." Personally, I've grown to like the campaign, and I want to take a look at how the pen-and-paper version was constructed, how the Eberron setting shines in DDO, and how Turbine could be using it more.

Continue reading Exploring (the rest of) Eberron

MassivelyExploring (the rest of) Eberron originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificerbaldurs-gatechangelingsclassesdaelkyr-half-bloodsddodruiddungeons-and-dragonseberronexploring-eberronfeaturedfilm-noirgnomeshalf-orckalashtarkhovairekieth-bakerneverwinter-nightspsiforgedpsionicspsychicpsychic-warriorpulp-adventurepulp-fictionracesshifterssoulknifesteampunkstormreachtheres-no-race-like-gnometurbinewarforgedWizards-of-the-CoastxendrikFri, 06 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A roundup of World of Warcraft's major class changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/a-roundup-of-world-of-warcrafts-major-class-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/a-roundup-of-world-of-warcrafts-major-class-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/a-roundup-of-world-of-warcrafts-major-class-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Love it or hate it, World of Warcraft is the 900-pound gorilla of the MMO market at the moment. Nearly everyone who games online has at least tried it, and even those of us who play other games very possibly still play it as an old standby. So it's hard to miss the news about the newest expansion, Cataclysm, which is poised to remake the world in many ways. It's also home to an ambitious series of overhauls to classes and their talent structure, with far-reaching changes for every class in the game.

Our sister site, WoW.com, has been keeping abreast of the development team's slow roll of new information about each class, with every class but Paladins having their upcoming changes previewed. (Paladins are due out on the 16th, due to being "deep in development.") They've also gone through an in-depth analysis of each different set of changes, from the good to the bad. So if you've played the game at all -- and the odds are you have -- take a look past the break for a quick version of everything coming when World of Warcraft brings down the end of the world.

Continue reading A roundup of World of Warcraft's major class changes

MassivelyA roundup of World of Warcraft's major class changes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmclass-changesclassesdeath-knightdruidexpansionshuntermagepriestrogueshamanwarlockwarriorworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmSat, 10 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A sneak peek at Atlantica Online's new class and dungeon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/a-sneak-peek-at-atlantica-onlines-new-class-and-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/a-sneak-peek-at-atlantica-onlines-new-class-and-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/a-sneak-peek-at-atlantica-onlines-new-class-and-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's time for this newest installment of NDoors Interactive's bi-weekly developer journal here at Massively. We've covered so much already, but now we're excited to see some news of a shiny new class, called the Druid Mercenary, and the Grand Canyon Dungeon. Here's what they had to say:

Atlantica Online is proud to present our newest addition to our growing list of mercenaries, the Druid. In our next patch, players who have reached level 100 will be able to begin the recruitment quest for this axe wielding mercenary.

Continue reading A sneak peek at Atlantica Online's new class and dungeon

MassivelyA sneak peek at Atlantica Online's new class and dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlantica-onlinedev-diarydev-journaldruidndoorsndoors-interactivenew-classnew-dungeonFri, 04 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic Druid class overview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/runes-of-magic-druid-class-overview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/runes-of-magic-druid-class-overview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/runes-of-magic-druid-class-overview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The free-to-play Runes of Magic launched its first expansion called Chapter II: The Elven Prophecy this week. Along with new content came two new classes beloved to the fantasy RPG genre: Druid and Warden. Only playable by the Elf race, these two new classes use the power of nature to both defend and attack to keep their world safe.

The Druid class is envisioned not only as a healer and buffer, but also as a damage dealer and performer of great feats of magic. Certain spells increase the Druid's Nature's Power counter. With enough counters the Druid gets access to spells that can turn the tide of battle in a big way, both defensively and offensively. But with only cloth armor and a weak staff attack, melee damage is not one of the strong suits of this class, unlike their counterpart in other MMOs. Later in their career, Druids can specialize in augmenting either their healing or their damage spells.

After the jump, the full line up of spells for the class.

Continue reading Runes of Magic Druid class overview

MassivelyRunes of Magic Druid class overview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>druidelven-prophecyfrogsternatures-powerromrunes-of-magicwardenFri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanguard gets final 3 weapon sets: Druid, Necro, Sorcerer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/vanguard-gets-final-3-weapon-sets-druid-necro-sorcerer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/vanguard-gets-final-3-weapon-sets-druid-necro-sorcerer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/30/vanguard-gets-final-3-weapon-sets-druid-necro-sorcerer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Vanguard: Saga of Heroes doesn't get as much attention as other SOE games, but it clearly has a dedicated community of players. It's also a game that has seen a significant amount of change since it launched, and the developers are continually improving Vanguard through player input.

The latest announcement from the Vanguard developers is about the new weapon sets they're going to introduce, specifically for the Druid, Necro, and Sorcerer classes. They write: "You might have thought that we forgot about 3 certain classes when we were featuring some of the new weaponry. Never fear, this week we were able to wrangle the final 3 weapon sets up for everyone to check out in all their glory."

Continue reading Vanguard gets final 3 weapon sets: Druid, Necro, Sorcerer

MassivelyVanguard gets final 3 weapon sets: Druid, Necro, Sorcerer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-updatesclassesdruidfantasynecrosoesony-online-entertainmentsorcerervanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesweaponsSun, 30 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Highlights from the SOE Fan Faire 2009 community address]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/27/highlights-from-the-soe-fan-faire-2009-community-address/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/27/highlights-from-the-soe-fan-faire-2009-community-address/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/27/highlights-from-the-soe-fan-faire-2009-community-address/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire 2009 is happening in Las Vegas, and of course they've had a number of things to unveil so far. SOE president John Smedley gave his community address last evening, and other speakers made an appearance as well. We've got a few highlights from SOE Fan Faire 2009 for you:

Station Cash

Smedley jumped right in by talking about the state of the SOE game lineup and some of the new directions they've explored with them in this past year. One of those new directions has been the introduction of Station Cash, and he talked about the growing adoption of Station Cash among SOE game subscribers in EverQuest and EverQuest II, as well as how it will soon be tied into new services and customization options. He announced a partnership with Hewlett-Packard which will allow players to purchase matte print images of art from the games using Station Cash. You'll be able to have your own character rendered in a high-quality art print, or even have your entire guild depicted and sent to you as a hardcopy art book.

EverQuest: Underfoot and EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate

On the topic of EverQuest, remember that mention we had of SOE trademarking new EQ properties? It turns out these are the new expansions: EverQuest: Underfoot and EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate. Smedley kicked off the EQ announcements by reflecting back on 10 years of EverQuest and looking to where the IP is headed in the future. EverQuest II producer Alan "Brenlo" Crosby discussed the game's sixth expansion, Sentinel's Fate, where players will travel to the land of Odus and see what's happened there since The Shattering.

He dropped a few details about this next expansion, slated for a February 2010 launch, and the updates they plan to release between now and Sentinel's Fate. These updates will include the ability to downtier characters, allowing you to go back and replay older content, plus achievements are coming to EverQuest II. In addition, the EQ II level cap will increase by ten levels.

SOE hasn't forgotten about their long-term fans either, those who have stuck with the original EverQuest through the years. EverQuest producer Thomas Terrazas announced the sixteenth EQ expansion, Underfoot, which will launch in November 2009. Underfoot will feature 12-15 zones at launch, with bonus zones and additional content to release in April of 2010. Underfoot will have twice as many weapons as any of the previous 15 expansions, a new focus targeting window (allowing you to add specific targets to your list, monitor health of friends and foes), and achievement tracking that will help players remain aware of the objectives to be completed in their progression path. "In other words," Terrazas said, "you won't have to go looking online on somebody else's website so see what you need. It'll be in-game."

Fan Faire 2009 attendees will get both expansions for free.

Continue reading Highlights from the SOE Fan Faire 2009 community address

MassivelyHighlights from the SOE Fan Faire 2009 community address originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan-crosbybig-bang-entertainmentbreakingbrenlochris-fielddeath-troopersderby-racerdruiddruidseverquesteverquest-2everquest-2-sentinels-fateeverquest-underfootfan-faire-2009free-realmshewlett-packardhpjohn-smedleykart-racerken-georgelaralyn-mcwilliamssentinels-fatesoesoe-fan-fairesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstation-cashswgthomas-terazzastoppsunderfootuser-generated-contentSat, 27 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO adds free-to-play with Eberron Unlimited [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/ddo-adds-free-to-play-with-eberron-unlimited/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/ddo-adds-free-to-play-with-eberron-unlimited/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/ddo-adds-free-to-play-with-eberron-unlimited/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Gigantic news coming out of Turbine today with the announcement of Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited and its beta launch. This new version of the game will offer players the ability to download the game and play for free. In addition, players can purchase items, adventure packs, and account services at their discretion from the brand new DDO Store. Alternatively, traditional-minded players can subscribe to get unlimited access to all of the game's content.

Turbine is pioneering something very interesting and exciting here, as the hybrid model isn't widely used at this point, with Free Realms being the closest comparison we can think of off the top of our collective heads. Allowing players the choice of free-to-play or subscription seems like a perfect fit for Dungeons and Dragons Online. Plus, the announcement comes with new content, including a brand new class! There appears to be no confirmation on what class it is, but our guess would be the Druid.

Check out the details after the break!

Continue reading DDO adds free-to-play with Eberron Unlimited [Updated]

MassivelyDDO adds free-to-play with Eberron Unlimited [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingddodruiddungeons-and-dragons-onlineeberron-unlimitedfree-realmsfree-to-playhybridsoesubscriptionturbineTue, 09 Jun 2009 12:53:00 EST<![CDATA[New Tauren druid kitty forms revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/new-tauren-druid-kitty-forms-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/new-tauren-druid-kitty-forms-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/new-tauren-druid-kitty-forms-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We mentioned last week that new bear forms for Tauren and Night Elf druids were rocking the World of Warcraft. Well now Blizzard have revealed the new Tauren kitty forms with the updated Night Elf forms following later in the week. The somewhat naff and ugly lionesque melee form finally gets a makeover, becoming more realistic and doubtless millions of Tauren druids are crapping their pants right now

Our sister site WoW.com have been discussing the new forms and the consensus seems to be positive but, lets be honest, anything is better than the old cat form. At least these new skins look realistic, even if the horns remain seriously pointy. Remember these forms will hit in the upcoming patch 3.2 (also known as Call of the Crusade) and you'll be able to switch skin tones by visiting your friendly barber in any one of the capital cities. We'll bring you more on the Night Elf forms as soon as they are revealed.

MassivelyNew Tauren druid kitty forms revealed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-the-crusadedruiddruidstauren-cat-formtauren-druidwow-patch-3.2Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:30:00 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[Xfire to broadcast WoW's Sunwell Plateau raid live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/xfire-to-broadcast-wows-sunwell-plateau-raid-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/xfire-to-broadcast-wows-sunwell-plateau-raid-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/xfire-to-broadcast-wows-sunwell-plateau-raid-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


This Wednesday at noon (EDT), Xfire will run a live broadcast of a raid in World of Warcraft's top instance -- the Sunwell Plateau. The raid will be performed by famous uberguild Nihilum, and the broadcast will run on the Dyyno technology.

This is the second raid broadcast by Xfire, but this time around advances in technology enable a higher number of viewers and better quality. Up to 4,000 people may tune in. Four different points of view will be provided -- those of a Warrior, a Hunter, a Druid, and a Warlock. The raid is expected to last between three and four hours. To watch, you'll have to head over to Xfire's website and install both the Xfire client and the Dyyno plugin.

What do you think, readers? Pro-level raiding as a spectator sport? Is that something you're actually intrigued by, or does it sound like a terrible waste of time? We're skeptical, but maybe we're just not as l33t as j00.

MassivelyXfire to broadcast WoW's Sunwell Plateau raid live originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbroadcastdruiddyynohunterlivenihilumraidraidingstreamingstreamssunwell-plateauvideowarlockwarriorworld-of-warcraftwowxfireMon, 23 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Azeroth a red state or a blue state?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/is-azeroth-a-red-state-or-a-blue-state/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/is-azeroth-a-red-state-or-a-blue-state/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/is-azeroth-a-red-state-or-a-blue-state/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

We knew there were geeks in the writer's stable at Comedy Central, but now it's confirmed: there are gamers, too. For their Indecision 2008 site, Comedy Central has put together a handy one-sheet of the three major candidates, and what they will need to focus on to win the votes of various classes in World of Warcraft.

Anyone with general knowledge could have put this together, but there's one particular bit that makes us think at least one writer is a WoW player: For the Druid vote, Hilary Clinton needs to understand that they dislike that "Her dominant stance disrupts Feral Combat spells." Look over the list and see if you can find the candidate who best represents your character!

[Via TenTonHammer]

MassivelyIs Azeroth a red state or a blue state? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerothbarack-obamablue-statecandidatescomedy-centraldruidferal-combathilary-clintonindecision-2008john-mccainred-stateworld-of-warcraftWed, 23 Apr 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanguard Game Update 4 preview shows new flying mounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/vanguard-game-update-4-preview-shows-new-flying-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/vanguard-game-update-4-preview-shows-new-flying-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/vanguard-game-update-4-preview-shows-new-flying-mounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The next Vanguard content patch, Game Update 4, has now had it's features listed. Headlining the preview over at VGPlayers is the addition of flying mounts, and we get to see what they look like (that spiffy griffon pictured above, if you didn't guess). Also mention in the preview is the introduction of visible helmets -- while it's nice to see them in the game at last, it's hard to be too thrilled with visible helmets being a big feature in a patch for a game that's been out this long. GU4 will bring Veteran Rewards for older accounts to Vanguard as well, similar to what we have already in EverQuest II.

Over at the forums, there is an extensive list of the other things that GU4 will bring. Notable among these is a new overland raid target, Fengrot Foulbreath (designed for 18 well-geared high level players) and updates to the Druid, Necromancer, Shaman and Dread Knight classes. If you want to try out all the updates, the whole lot is already in place on the Test Server, so you can take to the skies with your fancy new helmet right now. We have the full list of changes for the patch posted after the break for your perusing.

Continue reading Vanguard Game Update 4 preview shows new flying mounts

MassivelyVanguard Game Update 4 preview shows new flying mounts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdread-knightdruidflying-mountgame-update-4griffon-mountgu4helmetnecromancershamanveteran-rewardsvisible-helmetFri, 22 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Druid on a stick!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/one-shots-druid-on-a-stick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/one-shots-druid-on-a-stick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/one-shots-druid-on-a-stick/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sure enough, we mentioned we're all about some old-school shots, and we got lots and lots of them! Today's One Shots comes to us from Grimthorn Redbeard, who sent this one along with the caption of "Druid on a stick." Technically, that's really not so much what it is, as it's a graphical bug in EverQuest that used to pop swimmers up onto the decks of boats while swimming -- but it made us laugh all the same!

Old-school, new-school -- we don't care! Feel free to send in your interesting, beautiful, funny, or just strange screenshots and stories to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Your adventures could be featured here next!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Druid on a stick! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boatdruiddruid-on-a-stickeqeverquestone-shotssoeswimmingverantTue, 19 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do the little things bother you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/the-daily-grind-do-the-little-things-bother-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/the-daily-grind-do-the-little-things-bother-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/the-daily-grind-do-the-little-things-bother-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There's a fun little rant over at videogamer.com about a couple of the odd annoyances that questers experience in World of Warcraft, like the infrequency of loot drops and the relatively slow traveling speed sans mounts. A favorite line: 'Did I just kill a mutated Raptor whose brain was held in with just the skin on its head?' As a Tauren Druid, I know exactly the quest he's talking about, and yeah, it's something I wondered about myself, briefly.

But these things differ from game to game, and no game ever gets everything completely right. These little quirks are things that the quester must simply grin and bear, trusting in the larger picture to make more sense as an objective. Or is it that cut-and-dried?

Have you ever quit playing a game because of too many of these weird little quests? Does there need to be more reason in what you do? Do you even bother to look at the mission description?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do the little things bother you? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>druidfeaturedquestingraptortaurenthe-daily-grindvideogamer.comworld-of-warcraftTue, 15 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ear modification: bad for your elf]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/ear-modification-bad-for-your-elf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/ear-modification-bad-for-your-elf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/ear-modification-bad-for-your-elf/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Moonfire! Moonfire! Moonfire!One of the more bizarre stories to surface on the internet this week is the Modern Plasztikai Sebészet -- henceforth referred to as the "Elf Ear Clinic". The site is almost certainly fake -- but it's an idea that isn't too far off being a reality, and surely must appeal to a percentage of MMO players somewhere.

Real world influencing MMOs is nothing new -- but MMOs being able to influence physical aspects of real life is something new entirely, Second-Life excluded. And it's maybe just a little bit scary. They can say faun-clubs all they want, but what they really mean is level 70 night elf druids.

And just so you know; pointy elf ears wouldn't necessarily allow you to hear better anyway. Ear shape and hearing is individual, not universal -- having elongated pointy ears would change how you hear sounds, and after years of your brain interpreting sounds from your original ear shape it's unlikely to be an improvement. Oh well.

Would *you* be tempted to get a pair of elf ears? Or is this a step too far in body modification?

MassivelyEar modification: bad for your elf originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>druidelffaun-clubmodern-plasztikai-sebészetweirdMon, 05 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST