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TERA's High Elves strut their stuff in a high-octane video

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Races, TERA

"We believe. We remember." Those are the watchwords of the High Elves of TERA, and they're not just talking about rock 'n roll, mind you. As TERA's launch approaches, En Masse is making a strong bid for the legitimacy of this race by releasing its High Elf spotlight video. It's two minutes of flips, ridiculously big weapons, and strong magic flaunted in the face of enemies everywhere.

Once a conquering nation that operated under the name of the Children of Karas, the High Elves suffered a humiliating downfall and subsequently re-emerged as a force for good. While their aid to the good people of the world is welcome, they're not quite trusted as of yet.

High Elves receive four unique racials: They can teleport to their home city, refill their mana, regenerate mana upon resurrection, and gather alchemy resources quickly.

Check out the video after the jump and let us know if you'll be rolling a High Elf upon launch!

Continue reading TERA's High Elves strut their stuff in a high-octane video

TERA's High Elves strut their stuff in a high-octane video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the Mask: Angels and Devils

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Lore, Free-to-play, Roleplaying, Champions Online, Behind the Mask

Last week on Behind the Mask, we talked about the basic dimensional structure of the Champions universe and its parallels with the Kabballah. This week, we take you a bit deeper into the mythos of Champions Online. We'll take a look at the Astral Plane, or Yetzirah, and the key places that exist there. I'll be focusing heavily on the Quaternion -- a series of four planar zones within the Lower Astral Plane that embody most fantasy elements critical to the Champions Universe.

If you have ever wondered about demons and angels, this is a must-read. The Vibora Bay story arc paints a very unusual picture about the nature of these planes, and we'll be covering just what Heaven and Hell are in respect to that story. We'll also be covering faeries, elves, dwarves, and other popular fantasy elements. If you're planning on creating a roleplaying character who fits into a fantasy subtype, travels through dimensions, or just uses magic, this information will be critical to you!

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Angels and Devils

Behind the Mask: Angels and Devils originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Seven things to do in Ered Luin before you die

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

As I moved on to my second starter zone in Lord of the Rings Online on my mission to complete every quest in every area of the game, I was in for a rude, if expected, awakening. In comparison to the Shire, LotRO's Ered Luin is lacking across the board. It's hard to imagine that the game's most eastern zone, which houses not one but two racial starting areas, could turn out to be a snoozefest, but I'll let the title of this article do the talking for me. I wanted to have 10 highlights of each zone for this series and could barely get to seven.

The problem here is multifold. In trying to cram both the Elves and Dwarves into a relatively small (if tall) zone, Turbine didn't allow for the space to develop either race's culture before throwing them together in the middle for an awkward social dance. The races aren't allowed to really establish their personalities, either, leaving the Elves to start shining in Rivendell and the Dwarves in Moria. Finally, many of the quests are so dull and forgettable as to prompt players to race through the area to escape to more interesting locales.

It's not all a loss, of course. Some of the areas are quite scenic, and I do actually approve of the concept of setting up the conflict between Dwarves and Elves. If anything, the taste of ideas here almost begs for the area to be significantly expanded so that these concepts could be played out and the respective Elf and Dwarf habitations could be given more life.

In the end, I recommend that visiting travelers, adventurers, and treasure-hunters pack a light lunch and plan to get the following seven activities done in a half-day's span.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Seven things to do in Ered Luin before you die

The Road to Mordor: Seven things to do in Ered Luin before you die originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list

Larry Everett — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Opinion, Humor, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon

Once we start Star Wars: The Old Republic, we will not be able to stop. After only playing the game twice, I have a hard time going back to other games because -- among other things -- voice-over dialogue is far superior to walls of text any day. Then, of course, we can't forget character choices. We will be able to tell the quest-giver what we think of fetching that item for him at the shop when he could just as easily get it himself if he decided to walk 10 feet to the building next to him. That leads me to the point of this article.

Despite all the incredible things we will be able to do in SWTOR, certain others will be missed once the game launches. Particular staples of MMO games, in general, will never be seen again. As someone who is placing his MMO future in TOR, I suggest creating a bucket list. Let's face it: When The Old Republic releases, we cannot look back to other MMOs. They will be dead to us. After the cut, I have complied a list of 10 items that we will never see again once we start playing TOR. Count them down with me.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list

Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flameseeker Chronicles: Sylvari week wrap-up

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Races, Flameseeker Chronicles

Guild Wars 2 Sylvari week is over, much to the relief of abused F5 keys everywhere. We've finally seen the redesign, we've read the lore, we've gotten more details about the culture, we've watched new videos, and best of all, we've talked the subject to death.

Now that it's all over and we've had a chance to process the infodump, it's time for my standard post-race-week Flameseeker Chronicles analysis. Follow along after the jump, where I'll recap a few of the high points of Sylvari week.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Sylvari week wrap-up

Flameseeker Chronicles: Sylvari week wrap-up originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Why Elves are the scourge of MMOs

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Races, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

Astute readers of Massively or my personal blog Bio Break are probably quite familiar with my blatant prejudice against all things Elf. I hate Elves and everything for which they stand. And nowhere does this hatred blossom more brightly than in the fertile fields of MMOs.

As the axiom goes, where there is fantasy, there are Elves. Blame J.R.R. Tolkien for popularizing a race of what used to be cookie and Santa helpers. Almost overnight Elves became in vogue in geek culture, and efforts to root them out with flamethrowers have been in vain. Any fantasy MMO that is announced is required, by some arcane law that can only be broken with the blood of a virgin god, to include Elves as a racial choice -- or, if the developers are feeling particularly sadistic, more than one choice. Wood, night, blood, dark, light, mystical -- take your pick. There are plenty of Elves for everyone!

Well, I'm not having it. Elves don't get a free pass on my watch, and I'm not afraid to stand up to the powerful Pro-Elf lobby and nail my 10 theses as to why Elves suck on the doors of this blog. Consider your pointy ears on notice, you woodland freaks -- the jig is up!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Why Elves are the scourge of MMOs

The Perfect Ten: Why Elves are the scourge of MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Double dragons

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

Last week Turbine released the concept art for one of its major bosses from the upcoming Rise of Isengard expansion: Draigoch. With it came a number of appropriate "oohs" and "ahhs," and no doubt raiders began thinking up uses for a giant dragon skull in their homes. But there was also a crowd that popped out to cry foul about lore molestation -- that this was a blatant example of Turbine pandering to MMO players by including the expected dragons even when the lore shouldn't support it.

A couple examples of quotes, first. "Yet whatever way you cut this idea, how can you integrate another dragon into the story? Smaug was the last one of his kind," Contains Moderate Peril complains. A commenter on our article sniped, "So Turbine's decided to entirely drop the pretense of sticking to the lore, then?"

Ouch.

As much as I am totally not attached to MMO lore in general, I feel like this might be a good time to both address this particular argument and also the larger one of Turbine's approach to Tolkien's world. Are giant dragons lore-breaking? Does Turbine simply not care about remaining faithful to source material? Do you have my decaf light mocha with cinnamon sprinkles?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Double dragons

The Road to Mordor: Double dragons originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO gives us a glimpse into Isengard's Dunland

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Previews, Free-to-play

Dunland, one of Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard's three new zones, promises to be a treat for bold Hobbits and nebbish Elves alike. Today we've gotten a better picture of what Dunland will look like as Turbine's released six screenshots giving us a feel for the wide range of vistas we'll be encountering.

Dunland is located at the southern reaches of the Misty Mountains, with hilly, swampy and woodsy areas awaiting our discovery. The zone is dominated by the many clans of the Dunland peoples who are being tempted by Saruman into joining the forces of the Enemy.

We've got a little over two months to go until LotRO's latest expansion hits the streets, so take your time to peruse all six of these new screenshots in the gallery below:

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Core Gallery

LotRO gives us a glimpse into Isengard's Dunland originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Will the door open?': CCP opens up about the future of EVE's avatars

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Interviews, Previews

Tactical Gamers has a lot of nice things to say about EVE Online's latest expansion, Incarna, but more than just fawning over the truly revolutionary ability to make avatars who walk around in a room, the site roped in two of the game's leads, CCP Soundwave and CCP Flying Scotsman, to jaw about the latest and greatest in the game.

The first, and probably biggest, question for the devs was, "Will the captain's quarters doors ever open to allow avatars to interact with other players?" The devs confirmed that, yes, such a day is coming and will take place over a series of phases. The first stage is to include what CCP is calling "Establishments" in which players can mingle and take part in "various activities."

Interestingly enough, the topic of emotes is a divisive subject among the CCP staff, with some arguing for their inclusion and others fearful that emotes will turn EVE into World of Warcraft, what with the dancing Elves on mailboxes and all. Emotes will be eventually added, but they will have "meaning" behind them.

For more on Incarna, super-capitals and the future of the game, give this interview a listen!

'Will the door open?': CCP opens up about the future of EVE's avatars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Warhammer Online, The Game Archaeologist

Let's begin with a little personal history. Back in 2008, I decided to get into the blogging scene by jumping on board the latest MMO hotness -- in this case, Warhammer Online. As I was growing increasingly tired of World of Warcraft, WAR seemed to offer a refreshing alternative: a darker world full of brutal PvP and awesome new ideas. So I joined the elite ranks of bloggers (hey, stop laughing so hard) and spent the better part of two years jawing about Mythic's latest fantasy project.

And while Warhammer Online was, in my opinion, a solid product, it certainly failed to live up to the extremely high expectations held by both the development team and the players. No matter how it turned out, I really enjoyed talking about WAR, especially in the days leading up to its launch.

One of the first articles I ever wrote for my blog WAAAGH! dealt with the first attempt to bring Warhammer Online into the MMO genre (as a fun aside, it was one of the first times I got my name on Massively!). It's a "what if?" tale that's tantalizing to consider -- an entirely different studio, Climax Online, creating a much darker version of Warhammer than we've ever seen online. The tale of the game's rise and fall (and subsequent rise and fall again) captivated me, and I wanted to expand my old article as part of our recent series into exploring MMOs canceled before their launch.

So what if Climax had brought Warhammer Online to bear? Would it have eclipsed Mythic's vision or been its own animal? Hit the jump and let's dive into the pages of ancient history!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza!

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Lord of the Rings Online, Reviews, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

One of the probably-not-very-interesting things about me is that I'm somewhat of a video game soundtrack aficionado. Ever since MP3s became all the rage, I've been collecting my favorite tunes from console and computer games, often replacing the in-game score with my own personal soundtrack.

MMO soundtracks, as a whole, are hit or miss with me. While there are many incredible pieces out there, a bulk of what you find is low-key atmospheric stuff that isn't meant to be on anyone's Top 40 playlist. Lord of the Rings Online has its up and downs as a soundtrack, but overall it really does evoke the spirit of Middle-earth. It's hard to imagine playing the game, especially the early levels, without hearing these tracks.

I've collected both the soundtracks to Shadows of Angmar and Mines of Moria and have been saving them for a special occasion. Today is that special occasion. These were composed by Chance Thomas (who's scored many Lord of the Rings-related games) and Stephen DiGregorio. Ranging from bombastic to sinister to folksy, this score covers the gamut of themes and emotions related to the journey of the Ring. It's cool to listen to it independently of the game, as you can appreciate the score for what it is -- and see how the pieces evoke memories of your times in LotRO.

Instead of individually reviewing all 40 or so tracks, I'm simply going to pick my 10 most favorite to share with you!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza!

The Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Ultima Online, Humor, The Game Archaeologist

Last week on The Game Archaeologist: Murder most foul! A promising sequel to a hit MMO cut down in its prime, left to die on the front steps of EA's headquarters while its team was banished into exile! With special guest star, Richard Garriott's hair braid.

And now, for the exciting conclusion!

As disappointed that some MMO fans were over Ultima Worlds Online: Origin's cancellation, the truth is that the industry still was young, these MMOs still had their "new car smell," and hey, there was always Ultima Online to play. It was probably the right call at the time to not create your own competition, but if that was the case, EA should've never begun it to begin with.

So did the company have a major case of cancellation remorse? Or did it look at other industry sequels like Asheron's Call 2 and EverQuest II and feel as though it was being upstaged?

Whatever the reason, EA decided that it had been too hasty, and it greenlit development on yet another Ultima Online sequel, this one titled Ultima X: Odyssey. It would go deeper and further into development, gather more acclaim, and generate more hype than UWO:O, and in fact would get within spitting distance of launching.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey

The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO industry, The Game Archaeologist

I had so much fun walking down the halls of "What if?" last week that I thought I'd keep the streak going for the rest of the month (if you'll allow for some summertime indulgence). It's not that I necessarily wanted MMO history to turn out differently than it did, but it's always tantalizing to wonder what the field would look like with different games out there. Would they have proven more popular than our current crops? Would they have pushed the envelope of innovation?

Of course, it's easy to project greatness onto never-released titles, bemoaning that "if only MMO X had launched, we would've had the perfect game!" What ifs are interesting but should never be taken as absolute fact.

This week I wanted to look at a project that's related to an MMO near and dear to my heart. As most of you know, I'm somewhat of a Lord of the Rings Online nut here at Massively. Sure, the rest of the staff is upset that I smoke pipeweed inside and never wear shoes, but that's just how far I go to understand the game.

But even my LotRO isn't immune to a massive what if. Known to some but not to all, Turbine wasn't the first MMO studio to take a crack at Tolkien's license -- no, for that we have to travel back to 1998 and revisit Sierra On-Line. It was this company that had a brief but memorable run designing Middle-earth Online, aka "What if LotRO had permadeath?" It's a fascinating glimpse into an entirely different approach to the IP, and even though it died a fairly early death, it's important to be remembered. Frodo lives!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online

The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist sees The Shadow of Yserbius

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Virtual worlds, Humor, The Game Archaeologist

Really, I blame my parents for not being filthy rich. If they were, we could've afforded the $130/month unlimited subscription fee to the ImagiNation Network (INN) back in the early '90s. Just think! All of the gaming, the socializing, and the roleplaying that you could handle -- for such a low price! I mean, sure, there were hourly options, but who'd want to play for a mere five hours a month?

So instead of becoming part of a growing online community, I had to be content with my SNES and copy of Chrono Trigger -- hard times, indeed. Sometimes I think how my life would've been different if we had subscribed to Sierra's colorful online world, because I would've had a chance to get in on one of the first graphical MMOs: The Shadow of Yserbius.

It was a step forward in graphic quality from the text-only MUDs of the day but perhaps a step backward from the complexity that many MUDs brought to the table. Still, for a few shining years, it entranced thousands who lined up to delve dungeons deeply alongside their friends (and a couple of complete strangers with odor disorders).

Today we're going to take a quick peek at one of the first MMOs that stepped into the realm of lush color and animations and see what made The Shadow of Yserbius so enduring.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist sees The Shadow of Yserbius

The Game Archaeologist sees The Shadow of Yserbius originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Frozen in time

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

My goat snorted as it cleared the final rise, and I pulled its reins to bring it to a halt. Raising a hand to shield my eyes from the sun, I gazed at the decrepit ruins before me.

A chill ran up my spine as I imagined the horrors that awaited me within the crumbling structure. For many days I had traveled the countryside looking for just this place, yet now that I'd found it, I was unsure whether I wanted to be here at all. My guides had long since fled in terror, abandoning gear and food in their haste to flee what they called "evil territory."

I curled my fist and summoned all of the powers of determination that remained within me. It had to be done. I had come too far and shed too much blood to turn my back on the ruins' ancient secrets right as I was on the verge of discovery. Sure, it was the beginning of every scary play ever, but I knew completely that my destiny would be made or broken in the next few minutes.

I kicked my mount into action, and we solemnly entered the deep shadows of the ruins' domain. It was do or die time.

"FREEZE TAG!" I shouted. "GAME ON!"

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Frozen in time

The Road to Mordor: Frozen in time originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Dawn of Fantasy screenshots and information on races

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Previews, News items, Races, MMORTS

Dawn of Fantasy seems like it's been in development for an awfully long time, but with a release coming in June, MMORTS fans should be getting excited. The team behind the game has sent along some new screenshots as well as more information on the three most influential races in the game -- Men, Orcs, and Elves.

Elves, as most fantasy fans will likely expect, are split between Wood Elves and High Elves, with the former excelling at natural magic and the latter focusing on city building and alchemy. Orcs count a number of savage tribes among their numbers, with Desert Orcs and Swamp Orcs both focusing heavily upon offensive measures. Last but not least, the race of Men encompasses the cities of Rollingplain and Menthorn -- both are united under a single ruler, but Menthorn is filled with unrest and talk of rebellion.

MMORTS fans will want to keep their eyes on Dawn of Fantasy as the game approaches release on June 17th.

Gallery: Dawn of Fantasy Screenshot Gallery

New Dawn of Fantasy screenshots and information on races originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 2

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor

Last year, I spent a column giving my reflections, thoughts, and observations on the entirety of Volume 1 of Lord of the Rings Online's epic storyline, and today I'd like to do the same for Volume 2. Since these stories are at the center of LotRO's player experience, it's important to see how they function and hold up in today's increasingly story-centric MMO environment.

I've gone through Volume 2 twice, once before the "solofication" of the recent update and once after. The second journey was, by far, much more enjoyable since I didn't have to sit there for weeks hoping to find enough players on the same part of the Fellowship portions to continue the tale. Being able to go through it at my own pace was vastly more enjoyable, especially when I could dedicate huge chunks of time to knock out several chapters in one go.

And this is a good thing, as this volume of the epic story not only gives you one of your legendary traits but greatly helps you build reputation toward a faction that will give you another one (the Iron Garrison Guards). As such, Volume 2 will continue to be an important part of any character's journey.

So let's dig into this puppy (not... a literal puppy, you understand) and see what Volume 2 has to offer. If you haven't yet gone through this part of the epic story, beware: Here be spoilers!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 2

The Road to Mordor: A look back at Volume 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hold the gates: Dawn of Fantasy dev diary gives an overview of stronghold defense

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 03 May 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, MMORTS, Dev Diaries

We haven't heard from 505 Games' Dawn of Fantasy for a while, but it looks as though the MMORTS is coming along quite nicely. In a first of hopefully several developer diaries, Lead Writer and Associate Producer Gordon Farrell shows one of the game's modes: stronghold defense.

Dawn of Fantasy players will be encouraged to take control of pre-built villages, towns, and castle fortresses and defend them from the enemy as the situation warrants. In the video, Farrell shows how these strongholds can be built up and defenses laid out prior to the enemy's assault.

The diary goes on to show a sample scenario of a player attempting to hold on to a multi-tiered fortress against the combined assault of Elves and Orcs. Each faction looks to have its own style and special units -- for example, the Elves wield giant Treants as siege weapons, whereas the Orcs have mobile towers and battering rams.

Even though the cavalry comes to the rescue, the defending player is soon overwhelmed. However, Farrell speculates about what you might have done differently instead. You can watch the full dev diary after the jump!

Continue reading Hold the gates: Dawn of Fantasy dev diary gives an overview of stronghold defense

Hold the gates: Dawn of Fantasy dev diary gives an overview of stronghold defense originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trion details RIFT's Silverwood lore

Jef Reahard — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Lore, New titles, News items, RIFT

It's mid-week, and if you've been following our RIFT coverage for some time, you know that that's generally when Trion graces us with another lore-centric news item. Last week it was a profile of Alsbeth the Discordant; this time around we've got a look at the primordial elven sanctuary known as Silverwood.

RIFT's high elves are described by Trion as the wardens of all life, and so it follows that the race be given stewardship over the untamed wilds, forests, and vibrant greenery of their ancestral home. Join us after the cut to explore how Tavril, Telara's nature goddess, bade the high elves defend Silverwood through the ages and how the forests are faring under the onslaught of the destructive planar rifts.

Gallery: RIFT: Core Gallery

Continue reading Trion details RIFT's Silverwood lore

Trion details RIFT's Silverwood lore originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: What if?

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Classes, Opinion, Free-to-play, Races, The Road to Mordor

By the time you read this, I'll be scurrying around PAX East in Boston, feeling much like a Hobbit: unable to see over the crowd, far out of my element, and deeply wishing I purchased shoes. I'll of course be talking with the folks at Turbine to see what information I can wheedle out of them about the future of this terrific game, so if you don't hear from me again, I'm most likely languishing in a PR dungeon somewhere for being too nosy.

It's a good week, therefore, to be thinking about the future. My mind never stops thinking about future possibilities for any franchise, and even if they never come to be, these speculations are a great pastime of any fan. I'm always wondering "What if?" as I play Lord of the Rings Online -- what if I could mug Frodo and become the Ring-bearer? What if those lazy bums finally finished the repairs to the tavern in Frogmorton? What if Elves could kill innocent woodland creatures and go to the dark side?

Playing "What if?" with LotRO is tougher than with other games because of the limitations imposed by the IP. Despite what some say, Turbine's struggled hard to stay within the boundaries of lore and setting, and while that's helped the company to be creative in ways that it might not have otherwise, it does present some unique obstacles that aren't present in competing MMOs.

So to celebrate PAX, LotRO, and the future, here's a column of "What ifs?" for your consumption!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: What if?

The Road to Mordor: What if? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A world torn asunder: RIFT's Mathosian Civil War revealed

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Previews, RIFT

Brother vs. brother, elf vs. elf: This is the sad state of Telara that led to the Mathosian Civil War. While RIFT players may find themselves drawn to the planar invasions as the key conflict of the world, the truth is that plenty of events and key figures have played a part in shaping the land up to this point.

Today Trion Worlds released the backstory of both the Mathosian Civil War and Shyla Starhearth, the leader of the High Elves. Both Aedraxis Mathos and Shyla find themselves at odds over the conflict and the future of the world. It's interesting to note that the civil war began at the city of Port Scion, which will be both a PvP warfront at launch and a proper zone sometime thereafter.

Hit the jump to bone up on your RIFT lore as two mighty forces come to a head!

Continue reading A world torn asunder: RIFT's Mathosian Civil War revealed

A world torn asunder: RIFT's Mathosian Civil War revealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Asheron's Call, Dark Age of Camelot, Dungeons and Dragons Online, EverQuest II, Lord of the Rings Online, Ultima Online, Guild Wars 2, Humor, Allods Online, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

Elves. Dwarves. Humans. Halflings. Gnomes. Hobbits. Dark elves. High elves. Half-elves. Wood elves. Keebler elves. Elvish impersonators.

Are you as tired as I am of the endless regurgitation of stock fantasy races in our MMOs? It seems inconceivable (I do not think that means what you think it means) for a new fantasy title to come out without most of the above races infesting the character creation screen with moldy unoriginality, putrescent stank, and dusty boredom.

That's why today I'm standing up to praise 10 MMOs that dare to go above and beyond the stale by offering mostly unique and different races than the rest of the market. Hopefully future games will learn from their example and throw off the yokes of generic oppression to give us something bold and refreshing!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races

The Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are you pro-elf or anti-elf?

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

The pro-elf lobby will tell you of their deep wisdom, their abiding love of nature and their immortality. If you're not an elf, they reason, then you should deeply want to be one. After all, who wouldn't like a pocket unicorn and an innate ability to win the Olympic gold medal in archery? Elves are cool, which is why every fantasy MMO -- by sovereign law -- includes one.

Elves are filthy blights upon the land and should be eliminated on site, the anti-elf federation declares. We've had enough of their haughty arrogance, their tree-hugging insanity, and their pocket unicorns that always get underfoot. They're like that popular kid in class who looks a little too good, and has a rotten-to-the-core personality to back it up. Elves suck.

So which side do you land on: pro-elf or anti-elf? Let's hash this out, right here, right now!

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!

The Daily Grind: Are you pro-elf or anti-elf? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive Rift reveal: The Kelari race!

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Previews, Races, RIFT

As Rift: Planes of Telara marches closer and closer to that glorious day when demons will invade our world, we've been eagerly soaking up Trion Worlds' gradual reveal of the races, classes and features of this promising title. Today we're pleased to announce Rift's sixth race, the Kelari!

If the thought of edgy rebel elves who channel magic into machines makes your ears perk up, then you're going to love the Kelari. They're not just the stereotypical "dark elves" that many fantasy games boast, but instead they carry with them the same genre-twist that Rift is becoming known for creating. Read on for Trion Worlds' official background description of the race, as well as a few new gorgeous screenshots in our gallery.

Continue reading Exclusive Rift reveal: The Kelari race!

Exclusive Rift reveal: The Kelari race! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disillusionment with MMOs

Jeremy Stratton — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Lore, Opinion, Races, Roleplaying, Humor

Because I never studied nor considered studying psychology, you may doubt my words, but I will still tell you that many people go through a phase in life in which things become less shiny for them. What, there really is no Santa Claus? Those awesome space battles on TV are just tiny plastic miniatures hanging from fishing-line? World of Warcraft didn't invent Naga? Sooner or later the curtain will be pulled back on something you found new or fascinating in your life. Losing that sense of excitement from something you thought was different or new can leave a gaping hole of disillusionment.

The short history of MMOs is not immune to providing plenty of room for players to become disillusioned. Like television, movies, and books, MMOs don't use 100% new content that developers invented out of thin air. I've been on many MMO forums and have seen players at different stages of disillusionment seemingly frothing at the mouth about being sick of elves in fantasy MMOs, and accusing one MMO of stealing a name or even a similar-sounding name from an MMO they would defend as "more original." The fact is that most concepts and ideas have already been done, and it can just be hard to deal with. Who doesn't get a little disillusioned when he grows up and finds out his dad or mom really isn't the smartest or strongest person in the world? If I haven't disappointed you enough then follow along as I spoil even more of your favorite MMOs -- but hopefully I can also show you that disillusionment isn't the end.

Continue reading Disillusionment with MMOs

Disillusionment with MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online gears up for Closed Beta Test 3 with preview articles

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Free-to-play, Allods Online

The third closed beta for Allods Online starts tomorrow, which might seem like quite a ways off if you're one of the many people anticipating the game (or one of the winners of our recent beta key giveaway). Even if you weren't lucky enough to get into the beta testing, you can still be excited about the game and hungry for more information. As part of the ramp-up for this test, Astrum Nival and gPotato have posted a series of previews of the look and lore of some of the areas in the game.

Starting with the dusty wasteland of the Orcish homeland (complete with Goblinball field) and the elven land of Tenebra, the preview moves on to contested territories and dungeons. Asee-Teph, one of the first contested areas, seems to have more than a few factional artillery pieces in place across this jungle-like area. Following that is Eljune, which seems to be the border between forest and tundra, as well as home to demons and ruins.

The previews also include a handful of dungeons: the dark and forbidding Castle Blight, the industrial Lab Thirteen overrun with giant insects, and the ethereally gothic Darkblood Citadel. Allods Online has been generating some impressed reactions, and these previews help show why, even if it's only showing the impressive visuals.

Allods Online gears up for Closed Beta Test 3 with preview articles originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic patches in 'Storming of the Acropolis'

Kyle Horner — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic

Today brings patch 2.1.2 to Runes of Magic, which is also being called Storming of the Acropolis. The biggest addition is of course a new dungeon in the form of the Naga Acropolis, which is crawling with elite henchmen. This is a particularly hard challenge meant for grouped players who'll eventually earn the chance to defeat King Sharleedah -- we've no doubt the king drops phat loots. Also coming with this patch are the Halloween Pumpkin Festival, some elite skills for the Elf classes, minor UI tweaks, a land expansion for the Aotulia Volcano zone and some bug fixing.

You couldn't ask for much more in a free content patch. We're sure the Runes of Magic community is already enjoying themselves with all the shiny new content. It's also good to see the Elves being fleshed out some more mechanically, as any new race added to an MMO often times needs some tuning before it falls in line with the previous races.

Runes of Magic patches in 'Storming of the Acropolis' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic celebrates Chapter II release

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, News items, Runes of Magic

The Runes of Magic community has been waiting a long time, and now, Chapter II: The Elven Prophecy has arrived! With new raids for the community to enjoy; new elven characters; new Druid and Warden classes; and a few different contests to participate in, you'd think that Frogster Interactive and Runewaker Entertainment would have more than enough to celebrate!

Well, it turns out that not only have they managed to release a huge new chunk of content extremely smoothly, they've also managed to attract 1.9 million players to their game since the initial launch a scant six months ago. With the continual focus on improvements, the gifts to the player-base in the form of the occasional diamonds, armor sets, and the like, we're not too surprised. Runes of Magic is a F2P that seems determined to make their mark. With an expansion, almost 2 million players, and a bunch of free fun for their player-base, we're curious to see how the next 6 months go for them. In the meantime, we'll be in Taborea, leveling our Druids and Wardens.

Gallery: Runes of Magic: The Elven Prophecy

Gallery: Runes of Magic: The Weeping Coast

Runes of Magic celebrates Chapter II release originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic's Elven Prophecy releases September 15, collectors items announced

James Egan — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, Races, Runes of Magic

Frogster has just announced a September 15 release date for Runes of Magic's next content update, Chapter II - The Elven Prophecy. The update will bring players into new zones, like the Savage Lands, in addition to adding a new race to Runes of Magic -- the elves. September 15 will also mark the release of a boxed version of Runes of Magic for Germany, France, and Spain (at a recommended retail price of €9,90). That boxed version will include a few collectors items:

Manticore pet

Printed manual

Poster-sized world map of Taborea

Time-limited mount: Thunder Wartiger

Continue reading Runes of Magic's Elven Prophecy releases September 15, collectors items announced

Runes of Magic's Elven Prophecy releases September 15, collectors items announced originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Runes of Magic introduces Druids and Wardens in The Elven Prophecy

Lesley Smith — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Culture, Events, in-game, Launches, Lore, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Races, Runes of Magic

We've told you all about the next patch -- entitled The Elven Prophecy -- for Runes of Magic and, in advance of the launch in September, Frogster have introduced two new Elven classes: the Druid and the Warden. Both classes are rooted deeply in nature, with their abilities tied to the world itself and each have their place within the world and lore of Runes of Magic.

Essentially Elven priests, Druids have similar abilities to a mage and are able to channel the gifts of nature in battle or to heal their allies. Wardens meanwhile, are the peacekeepers of Elven society and the land who exist in an almost symbiotic state with the flora of the Elves' homeland. In times of war, they are skilled at close combat. Frogster have updated The Elven Prophecy site with some suitably Elven artwork and information on both classes. You can also take a peek at our gallery to see what the new patch is going to look like.

Gallery: Runes of Magic: The Elven Prophecy

Runes of Magic introduces Druids and Wardens in The Elven Prophecy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda trailer puts pansy elves in their place

William Dobson — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, New titles, Global Agenda, Humor

We just had a look at some of the gameplay from Global Agenda at E3, but the latest trailer from Hi-Rez studios is a bit different. It's a more humorous look at the sort of characters that will be found in-game, or rather, the sorts that won't. Walking around in a flowing robe and attempting to fling fireballs won't get you very far in Global Agenda, as the trailer points out so clearly -- a Recon character makes short work of an elf trying to fill his cast-bar to attack, proving that technology is the key to victory in this particular world, and that other elves hoping to join the game's cast need not apply. Hit the jump to check out the full trailer.

Continue reading Global Agenda trailer puts pansy elves in their place

Global Agenda trailer puts pansy elves in their place originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warhammer Online updates lore with The Origin of the Elves

James Egan — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Warhammer Online

The GOA Team at Warhammer Online updated the game's lore this week with "The Origin of the Elves". Love 'em or hate 'em, they came from somewhere. But even the Elves themselves aren't sure of their true origins, which have been lost with the passage of thousands of years. The Origin of the Elves walks the reader from the early, peaceful days of the Elves on the Isle of Ulthuan to when the Old Ones' Warp Gates collapsed, and the forces of Chaos flooded in. The struggle to resist Chaos changed the Elves, forcing them to become increasingly war-like in order to survive.

The Warhammer Online lore update tells the tale of the key figures in the history of the Elves and the parts they've played leading up to The Sundering, the cataclysm that shattered Nagarythe and further divided their once-harmonious race. You can find "The Origins of the Elves" over at The Warhammer Herald.

The sands of the Tomb Kings are coming as the final release in the Call to Arms live expansion, the Land of the Dead approaches! Massively has your back with coverage from Mythic Entertainment at Games Day '09, so get your WAAGGGHHH ready for RvR mayhem as Massively re-arms for WAR!

Warhammer Online updates lore with The Origin of the Elves originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What race would you add to Free Realms?

Kyle Horner — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, News items, The Daily Grind, Free Realms

Humans and Pixies -- or faeries if you like -- of both genders are currently available in SOE's upcoming Free Realms. Some of us have already jokingly suggested what we'd want in future races, but it seemed like a reasonable enough question to ask those interested in playing the game what they would want to see.

Certainly there are all sorts of other things that could be added to Free Realms, most of them being new jobs. And while those are without a doubt coming, we'll leave that topic for another day and another grind.

So what's it gonna be dear Massively readers? More fantasy ala Dwarves and Elves, or would you rather race karts, raise pets, cook food and fight Robgoblins (yes, that is what they're called) as a robotic penguin person? Speaking of Robgoblins, there's always playing as baddies like them or trolls and such, too!

So many choices.

The Daily Grind: What race would you add to Free Realms? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC09: Runes of Magic has lots more in store

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Interviews, Previews, News items, Races, Runes of Magic

We had the opportunity to sit down with the Runes of Magic team at GDC last week. As one of the strongest free-to-play entrants in the MMO genre in the last little while, we've been very curious as to some of the things they have in store for the future. Luckily the guys from Frogster didn't disappoint as they sat down and gave us some hints of the many things that players can look forward to in upcoming months.

Unlike many MMO publishers, the Frogster team is actually maintaining a fairly large live team; 65 people are currently working on Runes of Magic. Normally when an MMO launches, you'll see the teams cut down to about 20 or 30 people. That said they have a fairly ambitious schedule of things they want to release, so maintaining a full live team was something they said they felt was important to do. The Runes of Magic live team are looking to publish new content approximately every four months.

Gallery: Runes of Magic Gallery

Continue reading GDC09: Runes of Magic has lots more in store

GDC09: Runes of Magic has lots more in store originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Know Your LotRO Lore: Lothlorien

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Culture, Lore, Patches, Academic, Know Your LotRO Lore

With Lord of the Rings Online's Volume II: Book 7 content releasing this month, it would only be fitting to spend this week's Know Your LotRO Lore catching you up on the land of Lothlórien. As discussed in our Turbine dev tour earlier this week, Lothlórien plays a key role in the Elven resistance against Sauron. Understanding its lore is crucial to appreciating how closely Turbine has re-created this area for us in the game.

Follow with us through the link below to find out more on this Elven wonderland, and be sure to read through all of our previous Know Your LotRO Lore articles in preparation for your time in the game and the upcoming content.

Gallery: Know Your LotRO Lore

Continue reading Know Your LotRO Lore: Lothlorien

Know Your LotRO Lore: Lothlorien originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Getting back to basics with LotRO's new player experience

Kyle Horner — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, News items

We appreciate a developer who goes back to earlier content and improves upon it. And to that end, our appreciation of those who go back to the very beginning knows no bounds. That's why we're quite pleased with Turbine for rolling out their "New Player Experience" changes with the free Volume II: Book 7 update to Lord of the Rings Online.

If you'd like to know exactly what all the changes are going to be about then take a look at this developer diary focusing on the Dwarf and Elf starting zones. Much of the changes are quality of life stuff, like reducing travel times and removing all newbie instances to avoid any load screens. Turbine's also added quest rewards for specific races and classes, and even tossed in dyes as rewards to alleviate the tedium of seeing equipment clones running all over the place.

These changes (and others) are all great improvements. With the new quest tracking system coming at the same time, Lord of the Rings Online is shaping up to be an all-around friendlier MMO experience.

Getting back to basics with LotRO's new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO Volume II: Book 7 concept art depicts Elven beauty

Kyle Horner — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, News items

The newest concept art to hit from the Volume II: Book 7: Leaves of Lórien update for Lord of the Rings Online features an astonishingly beautiful Galadriel's Court. Does it surprise anyone else that elves are all about visually stunning architecture? While the Dwarves are primarily concerned with size and how much gold was involved, the Elves seem to focus on making everything curvy and elegant. It's like an M.C. Escher drawing, only with leaves and vines instead of doors and stairs.

There's plenty more beautiful concept are that's previously come out of Turbine, and we highly encourage you browse through them if you haven't yet. Trust us, it's worth the few minutes you'll spend massaging your eye muscles enough to stop them from popping those precious peepers back into their sockets. Additionally, we've got the first screens from the Volume II: Book 7 update as well.

Gallery: LotRO Volume 2: Book 7

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Gallery

LotRO Volume II: Book 7 concept art depicts Elven beauty originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mabinogi expansion "Pioneers of Iria" set for February 26th

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Expansions, Launches, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Mabinogi

The massive content addition Pioneers of Iria is set to go live for Mabinogi users on February 26th, introducing two new races and a brand new continent for the low, low cost of free.

Information about Iria has been slowly released over time on the Erinn Walker website, which has revealed even more interesting things about the new expansion. Iria will be featuring more field bosses to take on in large groups, like giant wooly mammoths, yetis, sandworms, dragons and even Ifrit himself. The new races, elves and giants, will also be able to take advantage of transformation techniques and enter "beast mode" to deal more damage to enemies around them.

Nexon has also released a new trailer for Iria, which we've embedded for your viewing pleasure after the break. For more information on what Iria has in store for players, check out the Iria website and stay tuned to Massively.com.

Continue reading Mabinogi expansion "Pioneers of Iria" set for February 26th

Mabinogi expansion "Pioneers of Iria" set for February 26th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Know Your LotRO Lore: The Elves

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Lore, Education, Know Your LotRO Lore

Welcome to Know Your LotRO Lore, a new weekly column here at Massively showcasing the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien's world as it intersects with Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online.

The Elf is possibly the most intricately-detailed race in all of J.R.R. Tolkien's works. He created their histories, bloodlines and origins throughout his entire life, from before The Hobbit to works published after his death.

Did Tolkien invent Elves? No, but he did redefine them as they're portrayed today in modern fantasy settings. Mostly everything we see in WoW, Warhammer, and of course LotRO come from Tolkien's descriptions of the Germanic and Celtic mythological creatures. Follow along below on our journey through the origins and progression of Tolkien's Elves in Middle-earth and beyond.

Elven Origins >>

Gallery: Know Your LotRO Lore

Know Your LotRO Lore: The Elves originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paul Barnett thinks you look like a Dwarf

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Interviews, MMO industry, Warhammer Online, Opinion, Humor

Since Warhammer Online's launch, we haven't heard much out of the normally very vocal Creative Director for Mythic, Paul Barnett. Yet, in a recent interview at Ten Ton Hammer, Barnett speaks out about a few topics that are near and dear to his heart; most notably, the psychology of player races in WAR and how they pertain to appearance.

Barnett is usually full of witty metaphors and clever comparisons, and he certainly doesn't disappoint in this interview. On the topic of Dwarfs, Barnett muses on the people who play them and how "Most of the people I've met who like Dwarfs basically look like Dwarfs". He goes on to discuss the psychology of the Greenskins, Chaos players and finally the Elves. "I don't think people that play as Elves look like Elves either, because then I'd have to hunt them all down and kill them because they're too perfect. And if you did look like a Dark Elf or High Elf, you wouldn't be playing our game, you'd be walking around asking people to look at you because you're so beautiful."

Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Paul Barnett thinks you look like a Dwarf originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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