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[WildStar Wednesday showcases a rogue's gallery full of rogues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/wildstar-wednesday-showcases-a-rogues-gallery-full-of-rogues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/wildstar-wednesday-showcases-a-rogues-gallery-full-of-rogues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/wildstar-wednesday-showcases-a-rogues-gallery-full-of-rogues/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Shiny. Let's be bad guys.
WildStar is shaping up to be a lot of things, but "peaceful" isn't one of them. Players watching the various previews already have an idea of what the more natural threats in the game world will look like. This week's installment of WildStar Wednesday focuses on a much more human element, however: three different criminal organizations that all have a decided interest in the region of Algoroc. As if the wildlife wasn't bad enough, you have to contend with all manner of criminals as well.

Marauders are intergalactic pirates, the Darkspur Cartel is essentially an interstellar mafia, and the Crowe Gang is a group of smugglers and moonshine brewers. But all of them have an interest in Algoroc, and none of them are open to outsiders or anything law-abiding in the area. That means players are going to have to face off against all three, and from the looks of the preview, none of these groups will go down easily.

MassivelyWildStar Wednesday showcases a rogue's gallery full of rogues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosenemiesenemyncsoftopponentspreviewssandparksci-fantasysci-fiwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 18 Apr 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Vahzilok]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-vahzilok/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-vahzilok/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-vahzilok/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
A lot of the villains in City of Heroes started out as pretty nasty characters and only got worse from there. You can certainly justify why the Skulls feel the need to be a bunch of vandalizing thugs, sure, but it doesn't change the fact that the gang formed because a couple of thugs got to be top dog in the area. The Sky Raiders have always pretty much been out for piracy, the Circle of Thorns are one side of a battle of evil against evil, and the good acts that come out of Crey are more a testament to the size of the organization than anything.

And then you have the organizations that started out with good intentions. Often times these groups still have good intentions, in fact -- it's just that they don't have good ways of executing them. So it goes with Dr. Vahzilok and his loose coalition of involuntary surgeons. Oh, sure, they're modern boogeymen on the streets of Paragon City, but their goals are noble -- a fact that's easy to forget when you're faced with zombie bombs.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Vahzilok

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Vahzilok originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbackstorycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxenemiesfeaturedlorencsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosvillainsWed, 07 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Lost]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-lost/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
Paragon City has the same problems as any large city. Drug addiction, financial ruin, and any number of other horrible circumstances have conspired to give the city a large population of the homeless and hopeless, left wandering the streets and trying desperately to survive. But something emerged within the homeless population of the city, something that smells of a familiar evil and a problem that was never appropriately dealt with the first time. If your goal is to defend the system, your enemies will find the people whom the system has failed...

The Lost are among the saddest of all of the villainous groups in City of Heroes because at their core the group is made up of people who in many ways simply had no options. It's not even that they turned to crime out of desperation. These are people who, for better or worse, were blameless of anything more than minor crimes and poor decisions. And then they found themselves knee-deep in a war, moving from one sort of victim to another.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Lost

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Lost originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbackstorycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumnscovcoxenemiesenemy-groupsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playlorencsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosriktithe-lostvillain-groupsWed, 09 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Outcasts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-outcasts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-outcasts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-outcasts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
One of the elements that doesn't get explored often enough in MMOs is the concept of the people who didn't quite make it. It's generally accepted on some level that adventurers or superheroes or whatever you play are a cut above normal people, but there's still a point at which you stop being a Assault Rifle/Devices Blaster and start being just a guy with a gun and some toys. And the people just below that mark, just shy of reaching the big time, have a story to tell, just like the player characters.

So today's look at City of Heroes' villainous groups highlights one of the game's suggestions about what happens to those people. It's a group composed of those not quite strong enough to make a name beyond thuggery but just strong enough to be more dangerous than the low-level mooks you don't even notice. I'm talking, of course, about the Outcasts, the elemental-themed gang of mutants that terrorizes Steel Canyon, goes to war with the Trolls, and makes a cottage industry out of being almost good enough to hit the big time.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Outcasts

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Outcasts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxenemiesenemy-groupsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playloreopinionoutcastsWed, 05 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The baddies of City of Heroes' First Ward]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/the-baddies-of-city-of-heroes-first-ward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/the-baddies-of-city-of-heroes-first-ward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/the-baddies-of-city-of-heroes-first-ward/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

City of Heroes screenshot
City of Heroes' villains are some of the most memorable across the genre, so it's no wonder superhero fans are anxious to see whom (or what) they'll be fighting once CoH goes free-to-play later this year. To that end, Paragon Studios' art lead, Gilbert Martinez, has penned a dev diary over on PC Gamer that details four of the villain groups players will encounter in the upcoming First Ward zone.

First up are the mystics of the Carnival of Light, the perfect counterpoint to the existing Carnival of Shadows. These new Carnies are much better dressed and seek to "restore the balance of good and evil" in Praetoria. They're followed by the Direct Urban Strike Team (D.U.S.T.) units, elite PPD members with rugged armor and enormous plasma rifles that are surely not compensating for anything. If you're into tentacles, you'll love the failed Seer experiments known as the Awakened. And finally, the dreadful, harpy-like Talons of Vengeance embrace "themes of vengeance, magic, and the embodiment of the apocalypse."

Enjoy the new enemies (and their awesome high-detail graphics) at PC Gamer.

MassivelyThe baddies of City of Heroes' First Ward originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carniescarnival-of-lightcity-of-heroesCity-of-Villainscohcovcoxdev-diarydirect-urban-strike-teamDUSTenemiesfirst-wardgilbert-martinezncsoftparagonparagon-studiospc-gamertalons-of-vengeancethe-awakenedvillain-groupsThu, 08 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Trolls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-trolls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-trolls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-trolls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
The low-level gangs that heroes face in City of Heroes follow a pretty set pattern. At the absolute bottom are street thugs with a little bit of superhuman muscle at the very top, just enough to remind you that you are in a city swarming with mutants and magic and all of that fun stuff. One step up, however, and you start to find gangs that are just a little more vicious, ones that genuinely couldn't thrive at all outside of the superheroic milieu. That's where the Trolls sit -- as a group of legitimately superhuman street thugs mostly kept in line by their own issues.

The Trolls are most likely the first villain group out of the starter areas that you'll encounter in numbers, if for no other reason than the simple fact that they're swarming the Hollows. You're also likely to start running into them if you deal with the Skulls long enough because the Skulls are what keeps the Trolls up and running. Trolls aren't like their lower-level counterparts -- they suffer from a disease, and feeding that ailment is the source of their power and reputation.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Trolls

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Trolls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgroundcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxenemiesfeaturedgangslorencsoftparagonparagon-cityparagon-studiosthe-hollowsthe-trollstrollsWed, 24 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on Hellions & Skulls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-hellions-and-skulls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-hellions-and-skulls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-hellions-and-skulls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In every hierarchy, there has to be someone on the bottom, and that's where the Skulls and the Hellions sit. Sure, these gangs are terrifying to the civilian populace of Paragon City, but to heroes they're little more than a mild irritant. (They're probably less terrifying to the civilian populace of the Rogue Isles just by virtue of terror overload.) The one thing they're perfect for, however, is starting at the bottom of the many enemy groups within City of Heroes, because these two gangs are likely to be among your first enemies and the ones you level past the fastest.

Normally, villain groups deserve their own writeups, but in the case of these two gangs they can't help but be lumped together. Not just because they're similar in play, but because they're similar in structure. They're both the new kids on the block, metaphorically speaking, and they;'ve both made aggressive gains in various parts of Paragon City. The good fortune of one necessitates the fall of the other, even if one of the gangs is clearly destined for disintegration sooner or later. So let's look at the facemask-wearing enemies of the early-level game.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on Hellions & Skulls

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on Hellions & Skulls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxenemiesenemy-groupsfeaturedgo-hunt-kill-skulshellionsncsoftopinionopponentsparagonparagon-studiosskullsvillainsWed, 27 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Elsword Online unlocks the doors to two new dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/elsword-online-unlocks-the-doors-to-two-new-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/elsword-online-unlocks-the-doors-to-two-new-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/elsword-online-unlocks-the-doors-to-two-new-dungeons/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The comic book action-fest Elsword Online got a little bigger today, as Kill3rCombo expanded the newly launched title with additional dungeons, enemies and quests.

The dungeons -- Nasod Foundry and Altera Core -- will offer tougher challenges to the three main characters, while 24 new quests should help to keep the playerbase busy. Since dungeons are run repeatedly, two new locales will be welcome across the board.

When they're not beating up the bad guys, the principal characters can now learn a third cash skill and earn one of two new titles: Hero of Ponggo and Hero of Sonic. No, not the hedgehog or fast-food chain (we checked).

You can get a peek at Nasod Foundry and Altera Core in the gallery below, and don't forget to check out our first impressions of Elsword Online from last month!

Gallery: Elsword Online

MassivelyElsword Online unlocks the doors to two new dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altera-corecash-skilldungeondungeonselswordelsword-onlineenemieshero-of-ponggohero-of-sonickill3r-combokill3rcombomobsnasod-foundrypatchqueststitlesupdateWed, 22 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Eat your heart out, Bluebeard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/one-shots-eat-your-heart-out-bluebeard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/one-shots-eat-your-heart-out-bluebeard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/one-shots-eat-your-heart-out-bluebeard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Today's One Shots takes us from the intimidating to the lighthearted, thanks to Massively reader Xarrin:
Dynasty Warriors Online has an intriguing feature. While fighting on a battlefield vs. other players, neutral NPCs will occasionally pop up and challenge all of the combatants. Whoever can defeat this roaming vagabond will obtain his or her services as a skilled warrior fighting alongside you.

This gentleman, later named Pinkbeard, was by far the most interesting random-generated NPC in the game. With the appearance of an old man, voice of a 10-year-old, and namesake beard, he continues to frighten and confuse my opponents in matches.
Send a pic of the funniest, most strangely designed, or scariest enemy you've taken on in an MMO to oneshots@massively.com along with your name and the name of the game. Tell us a little about the foe and we'll share it here on One Shots!

Next week on One Shots is guild week. It's time to show off your best group shot of you and your guildmates. Whether you're hanging out, enjoying guild housing, taking out a huge enemy, or throwing a party, grab a screenshot, send it in, and tell us about your guild!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Eat your heart out, Bluebeard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesdwodynasty-warriorsdynasty-warriors-onlineenemiesgalleriesgalleryone-shotspinkbeardscreenshotscreenshotsxarrinFri, 10 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Fit for man and beast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-mog-log-fit-for-man-and-beast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-mog-log-fit-for-man-and-beast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-mog-log-fit-for-man-and-beast/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some weeks, I just don't have quite as much material as others. Oh, don't get me wrong -- the new May version update is out in Final Fantasy XI, which is awesome. But I already did a reaction piece on that, which kind of narrows down my options. Similarly, right now there isn't a lot happening in Final Fantasy XIV, just a lot of stuff around the corner that will eventually be released and probably be awesome. The fact that it's been Golden Week over in Japan has helped contribute to this overall sense of silence.

Thus, today I'm pulling something that at least distantly resembles a rabbit out of my hat by pulling out an old topic that I had never really written about before -- beastmen. Sadly underused thus far in Final Fantasy XIV, the beastmen in Final Fantasy XI contributed a lot to the game's setting and general sense of place, even though some of the critters were pretty hopelessly ridiculous. So as long as I'm taking a step off the beaten path, I'm walking around with some beastmen.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Fit for man and beast

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Fit for man and beast originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beastmencolumnsenemiesfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivinteractionsloreopinionsettingsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 14 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring Eberron: Weapon materials 101]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/exploring-eberron-weapon-materials-101/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/exploring-eberron-weapon-materials-101/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/exploring-eberron-weapon-materials-101/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Crafting is coming to Dungeons and Dragons Online! There's a lot of player excitement about the looming Update 9, but the introduction of a true crafting system easily eclipses a lot of it.

One of the most significant aspects of crafting in DDO is that players will be able to craft the perfect weapon rather than relying on lucky drops while playing or on the auction hall. This system will be open to even new players, and while that's great, it might get a little confusing for those who haven't had time to learn what all of the gear details mean.

For that reason, I want to take a look at some of the basics today: weapon material composition. Weapons are made of silver, adamantine, some varieties of wood, and much more. It can seem a little overwhelming to try to figure out what type of weapon you should choose and why -- and the temptation to say "oh, forget it" and just use whatever is strong.

Don't throw out that cool adamantine sword quite yet, though. Join me after the jump and let's look at what these materials mean and why you care!

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: Weapon materials 101

MassivelyExploring Eberron: Weapon materials 101 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineenemiesexploring-eberronf2pfeaturedfoesfree-to-playftpturbineturbine-entertainmentweapon-materialsweapon-typesweaponsFri, 01 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What enemy groups do you feel are overused?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/the-daily-grind-what-enemy-groups-do-you-feel-are-overused/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/the-daily-grind-what-enemy-groups-do-you-feel-are-overused/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/the-daily-grind-what-enemy-groups-do-you-feel-are-overused/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's no denying that the Praetorian Clockwork of City of Heroes are a cool-looking gang of robots. They're powerful, military, and intimidating in numbers, and their prominence in recent task forces isn't unwelcome. Of course, after fighting them all through the first 20 levels of the game, and then fighting them in the most recent task forces, and then fighting more of them in the upcoming Issue 20... some players might be getting just a bit tired of seeing the war machines stomping about.

World of Warcraft has at least one troll dungeon per expansion, Star Trek Online loves its Borg, and of course you've got Orcs from dawn to dusk in Lord of the Rings Online. Sometimes they make sense; sometimes they don't. But there's always one group of enemies that seems to get trotted out more often than others. So what group do you feel gets brought into the forefront just a bit too often in your game of choice? Was it a group that you used to like but have grown bored of, or one you never found all that interesting?

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: What enemy groups do you feel are overused? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistsenemiesenemyfoesloremobsmonstersopinionopponentsoppositiontdgthe-daily-grindvillainsSun, 13 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Famitsu previews upcoming additions to Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/famitsu-previews-upcoming-additions-to-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/famitsu-previews-upcoming-additions-to-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/famitsu-previews-upcoming-additions-to-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Discussion about Final Fantasy XIV of late has centered around the coming November version update, currently slated for today. But there's more coming beyond simply a host of UI fixes and system improvements, some of which have been previewed by Famitsu recently. The translation crew at FFXIVCore has put together a gallery of images as well as small descriptions of what's coming for the game, albeit without much contextual information about when these additions can be expected.

The new retainer outfits are a cosmetic addition that's welcome without being overwhelming, but the previews of monsters show off familiar foes from the series as a whole, familiar faces from Final Fantasy XI, and new enemies to fight. And the weapon preview seems to hint at some of the equipment players can look forward to from the notorious monsters slated for implementation before the end of the year. Final Fantasy XIV players are encouraged to take a look at the preview -- and possibly put some time aside for play today.

MassivelyFamitsu previews upcoming additions to Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>additionadditionscosmeticcosmetic-outfitsenemiesequipmentfamitsuffff14ffxivffxiv-november-updatefinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmonstersnotorious-monstersnovember-version-updateoutfitspreviewsquaresquare-enixThu, 25 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Sector 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/wasteland-diaries-sector-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/wasteland-diaries-sector-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/wasteland-diaries-sector-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In Fallen Earth the Grand Canyon Province is divided into sectors. Sector 1 is where you will learn the basics of the game, but there are a few important and new concepts you will be introduced to in sector 2. Those two concepts are mutations and factions. NPCs will try to introduce you to these concepts through a series of quests in Sunshine Corners. The quests will give you a basic rundown of each of Fallen Earth's faction's ideology, but there are a few other things you should know.

The purpose of the post will be to make sure that you know what to expect when you arrive in sector 2. You will be making one of the most important choices in your character's development when you choose a faction to align with. Each faction has different perks, mutations, and capstones. These all play a major part in what your character will become and must not be taken lightly, unless you like dumping chips into respec injectors. After the cut, I will arm you with the knowledge to make a better-informed decision.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Sector 2

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Sector 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capstonesconflict-townsenemiesfaction-wheelfactionsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedicarus-studiosmutationspost-apocalypticSandboxsector-2skillstradeskillswasteland-diarieswheel-flipFri, 20 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Share and enjoy in City of Heroes with the Praetorian Clockwork!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/share-and-enjoy-in-city-of-heroes-with-the-praetorian-clockwork/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/share-and-enjoy-in-city-of-heroes-with-the-praetorian-clockwork/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/share-and-enjoy-in-city-of-heroes-with-the-praetorian-clockwork/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Greetings, fine consumer! You appear to be the sort of discerning individual highly anticipating the upcoming expansion for City of Heroes, much like several of your friends in [SUBJECT_HOMETOWN_HERE]. Going Rogue will be releasing on August 17th, available online or at [SUBJECT_RETAILER_HERE], but perhaps you'd like an opportunity to see some of the most useful automatic companions available before the fact? If so, today is your lucky day, because you have the unprecedented opportunity to take a look at the details behind the Clockwork, the latest and greatest release from Neuron Technologies Unlimited!

Featuring voice recognition, a shiny chrome finish, and over nine thousand home maintenance routines, the Clockwork offer an unparalleled level of safety and security for the entire family. These super-toys last all summer long, with a self-replenishing power source and ample maintenance facilities. And if one of your neighbors challenges the bright new future being assembled by Emperor Cole, you'll be happy to note that all Clockwork are equipped with the best possible threat neutralization capabilities available. Further information, including ordering details and a full description of how you and your robot can share and enjoy your lives, can be found at the official site for City of Heroes.

MassivelyShare and enjoy in City of Heroes with the Praetorian Clockwork! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adversariesandroidscity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcomputerscovcoxenemiesenemy-robotsexpansionsgoing-roguegrloyalistparagonparagon-studiospraetoriapreviewsresistancerobotstechnologyThu, 05 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The villain in me is the villain in you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/storyboard-the-villain-in-me-is-the-villain-in-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/storyboard-the-villain-in-me-is-the-villain-in-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/storyboard-the-villain-in-me-is-the-villain-in-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I don't play any villains, and I never have. Not in their words, anyway -- they're always noble crusaders fighting against others who are sadly mistaken. Or just driven by pragmatism. Or suffering for the sins of another. They've always got a justification, a reason why the things they've done are somehow necessary. And even though I know (hopefully) that they're full of it, it makes them fascinating to play. So for today's Storyboard, I want to talk about villains in RP and how to make them work in your favor.

Before we start talking in-depth, however, it's worth noting that villains do share one thing with in-character romance: they're flashpoints for drama. They're not as bad, since it's a lot easier to separate the player from the character, but they still have the potential. They're also not going to fit into every style of roleplaying, as not every group is going to be conducive to having a specific character antagonist to work around. At least for now, we're just going to take those facts as given and look into the most important part of the equation: making and playing an effective villain in the first place.

Continue reading Storyboard: The villain in me is the villain in you

MassivelyStoryboard: The villain in me is the villain in you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistsenemiesfeaturedplayer-threatsplayer-villainsroleplayersroleplayingrpsociopathystoryboardthreatsvillainsFri, 23 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: The people have spoken!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/17/the-mog-log-the-people-have-spoken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/17/the-mog-log-the-people-have-spoken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/17/the-mog-log-the-people-have-spoken/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Actually, it's more like the people never stopped speaking. Because there's been quite a bit to talk about over the past few weeks, most of it circling around the enormous bursts of information coming out of the Final Fantasy XIV testing process. We've gotten our first few looks at what the game might look like, and compared to the lockstep class-and-level progression of Final Fantasy XI it's like the game's being developed by a whole other company. Or like it's some mixture of all the best parts of the games of yesteryear, which might not be that far from the truth.

If you haven't been in the mood to talk about the new hotness, of course, there's been plenty of other things to chat about, specifically the huge March update in Final Fantasy XI that added all sorts of new widgets. (An update I was lucky enough to take a tour of, if you missed it.) So jump on past the cut for the most interesting, though-provoking, or just most noteworthy threads over the past month around the web, as determined by reader mail and whatever caught my eye before my clicking hand got tired.

Continue reading The Mog Log: The people have spoken!

MassivelyThe Mog Log: The people have spoken! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycombatcommunityenemiesffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivloremonstersreligionroleplayingsquare-enixtestingxbox-360Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes: Going Rogue takes a look underground]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/city-of-heroes-going-rogue-takes-a-look-underground/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/city-of-heroes-going-rogue-takes-a-look-underground/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/20/city-of-heroes-going-rogue-takes-a-look-underground/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There are four months to go before the release of the second City of Heroes expansion, but the development team has been doing a lot of work to keep Going Rogue on everyone's mind. The announcement of Issue 17 certainly did quite a bit in that direction, as did the early release of Dual Pistols for prepurchasing customers. Now we've been given the first major update to the site since the biography of Tyrant, and it's a meaty one. Information and screenshots have been posted for both Calvin Scott, the leader of the Resistance, and the tunnel-dwelling nightmares known as Ghouls.

Calvin Scott's biography may be of interest to many players because it gives us something that the community had wondered about -- a heroic Mastermind, leading the Resistance troops against Praetoria's fascist regime. Ghouls, on the other hand, are at once more straightforward and more unsettling, crazed undead that lurk beneath Praetoria and threaten to devour anyone who strays into their territory. The black-and-white world of City of Heroes is getting many more shades of gray in the upcoming expansion, and both of these lore tidbits hint at just how blurred the lines will get come July.

MassivelyCity of Heroes: Going Rogue takes a look underground originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxenemiesghoulsgoing-rogueloreparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespraetorianpreordersresistancestorylineSat, 20 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Atlantica Online unleashes content update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/atlantica-online-unleashes-content-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/atlantica-online-unleashes-content-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/atlantica-online-unleashes-content-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Atlantica Online has rolled out another content update to the game, giving every player what they've longed for: the chance to beat the stuffing out of an impressive number of crab people. That's really what everyone wants out of a game, so we should all just go home and kill crab people. Of course, there were a couple other elements improved or expanded in the game's update, but who cares about little things like new skills and improved competition ranks when faced with a dynamic new cluster of enemies?

Leaving aside the awesomeness of getting to beat up homarids in Atlantica Online, the update is quite substantial, with a lengthy set of patch notes available on the official site. Players can enjoy augmented health points to extend the length of engagements, as well as the aforementioned new skills and competition ranks. The game has also streamlined its system of Mana Stones, combining and simplifying the Repair, Enhance, and Enchant stones to make life easier for players.

If all that's still not appealing enough to you, the fishing system has been improved, which might wind up bringing you back to crab people yet again. Take a look at the full notes to see all the additions and updates with this latest patch.

MassivelyAtlantica Online unleashes content update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlanticaatlantica-january-patchatlantica-onlinecrab-peopleenemiesfishinghomaridsndoorsndoors-interactivenew-skillspatchesstreamliningThu, 21 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite villain group?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-villain-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-villain-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-villain-group/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There are some groups of enemies that are just there in any game. You have to deal with them, but you don't really think about them after the fact. Then there are groups you actively dislike, either because they're obnoxious to fight or because of meta-game reasons. But then there are those other groups. The ones that are just pure fun to fight against, the ones you always take quests or missions for once they become available. They've got interesting story elements, they look visually distinct, and they're challenging but not annoying. It's at that point which you almost want to be allied with the villains in question, just out of sheer awesomeness. (EVE Online might have had this in mind when they first let you do precisely that.)

We ask you, our fine readers, what's your favorite antagonistic group? Are they a low-level enemy that you remember fondly, or a high-level group that you still fight against at the endgame? Have you liked them ever since you first encountered them, or did you slowly grow to like them as you were flung against them? What is it you like about them? It's silly, but we can't play a game for too long without forming attachments, so share yours with us this morning.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite villain group? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicantagnoistscultureenemiesopinionpvetdgthe-daily-grindvillainsMon, 30 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Vendettas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/03/the-daily-grind-vendettas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/03/the-daily-grind-vendettas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/03/the-daily-grind-vendettas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We've all had them. That one dungeon where your groups always wound up dying long before you got to the final boss, either because you couldn't get past the enemies or there was some trick you always screwed up. That one area that you couldn't quest in because you would get mobbed by adds. The quest you never could finish because the target was too hard to kill or too difficult to find. The elusive weapon a monster should have dropped a third of the time but never did when you got the kill.

Even though we all know that there's nothing on the AI side of an MMO but computer chips and electrical currents, we still find ourselves forming our own little plots of revenge. Since many of these points of endless frustration occur early in the game, to boot, we often have the opportunity to head back once we're more powerful and take out our frustration on the dungeons or enemies that always frustrated us before. And it might be a bit silly, but there's always a sense of glee to crushing your former roadblocks.

What sort of digital enemies have you made? Do you find yourself hunting down your lower-level targets of hatred, or do you tend to let go of the frustrations more easily?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Vendettas originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeonsenemiesquestsrevengethe-daily-grindSat, 03 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan video all about scary monsters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/age-of-conan-video-all-about-scary-monsters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/age-of-conan-video-all-about-scary-monsters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/age-of-conan-video-all-about-scary-monsters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


GameSpot is hosting its sixth official Age of Conan video, which we've embedded here. This time, members of the Age of Conan team talk about the philosophies and motivations behind the designs of the various hostile monsters and NPCs of the game-world.

The interview clips are interspersed with glimpses at the game's gorgeous graphics in motion. We're sure the graphics will go over well with XBox 360 players, but a case can and has been made that MMOs on the PC can benefit from low system requirements. On the other hand, AoC is not exactly aimed at your grandmother.

So if you've got one of those computers so powerful it has to be submerged in 15 gallons of liquid nitrogen to prevent a planet-busting anti-matter explosion, then rest assured that the monsters shown in the video look awesome.

[Via Warcry]

MassivelyAge of Conan video all about scary monsters originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocenemiesfuncomgamespotgraphicsinterviewsmobsmonstersnpcsofficial-movievideoxbox-360Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:30:00 EST