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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Song of a superhero]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-song-of-a-superhero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-song-of-a-superhero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-song-of-a-superhero/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Song of a superhero
When it comes to fantasy MMOs, we've been there so long and done that so often that we hardly think about the framework that supports these worlds and our assumptions about them. This is doubly the case when it comes to who we are: We are always talented warriors or wizards who are out to do noble good deeds and get all, like, awesome and stuff. But we are mortal. We are people, just the best of people. We have adventuring spirits.

Except that this doesn't quite apply to RIFT. When you really look at it, our characters in RIFT aren't generic adventurers. Who we are is not only clearly stated time and again but made an integral part of the game and its story. It's an important distinction that's worth examining. We are Ascended.

Another word for that is "superhero."

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Song of a superhero

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Song of a superhero originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascendedascensionconquestenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedhighlanderimmortalityopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legionsuperherotelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldstropesx-menWed, 20 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Goodbye Scott, hello 2.2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-goodbye-scott-hello-2-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-goodbye-scott-hello-2-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-goodbye-scott-hello-2-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Goodbye Scott, hello 22
If I was to make a list of the top, oh, five or 10 MMO developers whom I admire, Scott Hartsman would be on there. It's not just that I appreciate that he's one of the few human beings who is shorter than I am, but that he's had a remarkable career full of accomplishments that I respect. EverQuest II and RIFT both owe a great debt to the leadership of Hartsman, which is why it was a sad shock to hear that he was leaving Trion Worlds for unknown pastures.

And thus we begin a new year of RIFT, teetering between uncertainty and promise. For as severe as Hartsman's departure will be felt in the development of the game and in its community, we're also looking ahead to the title's third year of operation and a new update that looks to add even more delectable treats on top of this fantasy buffet.

So today we're going to say goodbye to Scott and hello to Update 2.2 as we look at the recent state of the game post.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Goodbye Scott, hello 2.2

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Goodbye Scott, hello 2.2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.22.3archeagebill-fisherconquestdefiancedepartureend-of-nationsenter-at-your-own-rifteq-iieverquest-iifantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrscott-hartsmanstate-of-the-gamestorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsupdate-2.2update-2.3Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Dungeon review, part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-dungeon-review-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-dungeon-review-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-dungeon-review-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Dungeon review, part 1
I don't hide the fact that as an MMO gamer, I probably fall into the "casual" category by many of your definitions. Even so, I probably go dungeon diving in RIFT more than in other MMOs because of the game's silky-smooth LFG interface and the generally quick pace of the instance runs themselves. Hitting a dungeon while you've got one or more counters on the reward page is added incentive because you're at least guaranteed a solid loot drop of your very own (or plaques).

I'm still getting a feel for Storm Legion dungeons, but when it comes to the core game, I've run those instances more times than I can count. I figured I might as well share my thoughts on the first four dungeons you're likely to run in the early and mid-game to see if they pass muster. While I'm at it, I might tell a related story or two from my runs. Gather 'round, children, as Papa Olivetti smokes a stogie and tells you a tale you're unlikely to forget.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Dungeon review, part 1

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Dungeon review, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdungeondungeonsenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedinstanceinstancesopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 23 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: The burden of leveling]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-burden-of-leveling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-burden-of-leveling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-burden-of-leveling/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift The burden of leveling
I've seen a lot of positive comments about RIFT: Storm Legion so far, many of which are praising the expansion's zone designs, the new classes, and especially the Dimensions housing system. However, it seems that there's another comment that pops up frequently that's not as kind: It takes way too long to level from 50 to 60.

For some of you, this may be moot. You might already be level 60, have multiple 60s, or have been 60 since the day after Storm Legion came out. For others who aren't even level 50 yet, the expansion might sound a bit intimidating because of the hefty XP requirements to move that level marker up one number. In any case, I think that a good number of us can agree that it's definitely a slow process that detracted from rather than added to the experience of Storm Legion.

I've got several thoughts about how leveling in RIFT has become a burden instead of a blessing, how Trion is reshaping the XP game, and what this might portend for the future of the title.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The burden of leveling

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: The burden of leveling originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionexperiencefantasyfeaturedlevellevelingleveling-curvelevelsopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsxpWed, 09 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: My 2013 wish list]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-my-2013-wish-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-my-2013-wish-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-my-2013-wish-list/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift My 2013 wish list
The end of the year and the beginning of a new one is the traditional time to take stock of the past and make plans for the future, no? I thought RIFT had a banner year, especially in pushing out a great expansion less than two years after launch. Trion Worlds has continued to get those meaty content updates out, fleshing out the now-annual celebrations and growing the game in new and often-surprising ways.

Really, we have such a wealth of options and content on which to feast, so you'll really have to excuse me as I ignore everything the studio's done to date and talk about what I'd like to see done, changed, or added in the new year. Yup, it's time for a RIFT wish list in this Fae Yule season, straight from my fingers to Santa Crucia's home at the Death Pole!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: My 2013 wish list

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: My 2013 wish list originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013conquestenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldswish-listWed, 26 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: What the Trion layoffs mean for RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/enter-at-your-own-rift-what-do-the-trion-layoffs-mean-for-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/enter-at-your-own-rift-what-do-the-trion-layoffs-mean-for-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/enter-at-your-own-rift-what-do-the-trion-layoffs-mean-for-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter At Your Own Rift What do the Trion Layoffs mean for RIFT
It's been almost a week since we first heard about the layoffs at Trion, yet there are still more questions than answers about the depth and scope of them. How many people were let go? Were they all from the RIFT team? And why was it timed just a few months after the expansion launched? It's hard to read about the layoffs and not see it as a bad sign for the game, but there may be other factors to consider.

So what does this mean for RIFT? Let's consider that question in this week's Enter at your own Rift.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: What the Trion layoffs mean for RIFT

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: What the Trion layoffs mean for RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdefianceend-of-nationsenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedlayoffsmmo-industry-job-cutsopinionpvpriftrift-layoffsrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelaraterra-novathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 19 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Build to win]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-build-to-win/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-build-to-win/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-build-to-win/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Building off the backs of others
We've arrived at the point in RIFT's post-expansion launch cycle when I'm genuinely embarrassed to admit how slowly I've progressed. While many of you are probably 60 and living the high life in the endgame, I'm still (mumbles) 51. I have many excuses for this: a newborn at home, flip-flopping interest between my Rogue and Cleric, a lot of experimentation in Dimensions, and Storm Legion's generally slow leveling pace. But perhaps my greatest excuse stems from one of the core features of the game. I keep making new builds and experimenting with them.

Is that my fault? After all, with just one the addition of one new soul per calling a legion of new builds arose. Pun intended. Players on the forums are crunching numbers, fiddling with old builds, and magicking new ones out of thin air.

I've become fascinated if not addicted to testing out these player-created builds as of late. Some promise the world and are sadly lacking, while others have shown me synergies that I didn't realize were possible.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Build to win

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Build to win originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildbuildscaptain-n-the-game-masterclassclassesconquestenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrsoulsoul-buildssoul-treesoulsstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 12 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A peek at Update 2.1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-peek-at-update-2-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-peek-at-update-2-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-peek-at-update-2-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift A peek at Update 21
It's been only a few weeks since RIFT's the Storm Legion expansion has launched, but believe it or not, update 2.1 is coming already. It's like that feeling you get when you've just overstuffed yourself with turkey and suddenly Grandma appears with a tray full of dessert. Bits of the update recently hit the test server, and since some of it is Yule-themed, this update is probably due to hit the live servers soon. There's a surprising amount of new content and game changes, especially considering we're fresh off the heels of the expansion. As much as I love Crucia constantly screaming in my head, I ventured to the test server to check things out. For this week's Enter at Your Own Rift I've rounded up some of the highlights. Let's take a peek!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A peek at Update 2.1

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: A peek at Update 2.1 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dimensionsenter-at-your-own-riftfae-yulefantasyfeaturedopinionriftrift-chronicle-a-hero-risesrift-fae-yule-instant-adventuresrift-planes-of-telararift-sleddingrvrstorm-legiontelaratriontrion-worldsvaiyuuwhitefall-steppesWed, 05 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Three terrific player dimensions that have to be seen to be believed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-three-terrific-player-dimensions-that-ha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-three-terrific-player-dimensions-that-ha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-three-terrific-player-dimensions-that-ha/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Three terrific player dimensions that have to be seen to be believed
"Oh man, guys, I am going to go flat broke from Dimensions," I whined into guild chat.

While it seemed like everyone else in my guild was sprinting through Storm Legion, hitting level 60, and gearing up for the new endgame, I was puttering around at level 51 in my brand-new home, trying to figure out the best place for a kitchen nook. Earlier that day I had blown over 100 plat to purchase a new Dimension and outfit it with one of every item that was on sale in the Tempest Bay canals.

If you love player housing, then RIFT has got your next fix. It's flexible, it's insanely easy to use, and the possibilities are just about endless. I'm still fiddling around with ideas -- I think I'd like to make a haunted maze for visitors to enjoy -- so to get inspired, I started hopping around to other players' Dimensions and see what they whipped up. I'm pulling three examples out of the many that are already out there just to show off what this system is capable of doing.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Three terrific player dimensions that have to be seen to be believed

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Three terrific player dimensions that have to be seen to be believed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdimensiondimensionsenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedhousingopinionplayer-housingpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 28 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Finally facing the Storm Legion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-finally-facing-the-storm-legion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-finally-facing-the-storm-legion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/enter-at-your-own-rift-finally-facing-the-storm-legion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Enter at your own Rift Finally facing the Storm Legion
RIFT's Storm Legion finally arrived last week, and with it came a series of new questions to be answered. Will Crucia succeed in taking over Dusken and Brevane? Will the Guardians and Defiants cooperate to drive back the Storm Legion? And why does it seem as if Queen Miela is in 20 different places at the same time?

Armed with a two-handed staff and a foliage disguise, I set off to check things out now that the expansion has gone live. How well did I weather the storm?

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Finally facing the Storm Legion

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Finally facing the Storm Legion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brevaneconquestcruciadimensionsduskenenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-expansionrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrsoul-systemstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 21 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Storm Legion is a go!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-storm-legion-is-a-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-storm-legion-is-a-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-storm-legion-is-a-go/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Storm Legion is a go!
Earlier this year I celebrated my 36th birthday. While some of you were negligent in getting me that pony I've always wanted, Trion Worlds stepped up and delivered one of the best presents ever: the announcement of Storm Legion, its first expansion for RIFT. That happily coincided with my return to the game a week earlier and set me on a course of adventure and excitement all summer long.

And now it's here. By the time you read this, Storm Legion will have gone live on the servers and Telara as we know will be forever changed. New continents, souls, dungeons, raids, rifts, stories, player housing, dual-faction cities, and more will wash over us and leave us floundering in its wake. What to do first? What to see and experience?

I have huge hopes for Storm Legion. Trion's smartly releasing it after the crazy rush of most of the big fall expansions, and if the expansion lives up to even part of the hype, it could cement RIFT's reputation as a premium MMO worth the subscription. Heck, I'll just be happy to see an influx of returning players and new souls (so to speak) because this is a title worth supporting and enjoying.

My head is a jumble of thoughts and plans, so excuse me while I gibber about anything and everything in today's column.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Storm Legion is a go!

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Storm Legion is a go! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdimensiondimensionsenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 14 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Storm Legion zone guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-storm-legion-zone-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-storm-legion-zone-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/enter-at-your-own-rift-storm-legion-zone-guide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Enter at your own RIFT A brief guide to the zones of Storm Legion
This weekend's RIFT Storm Legion open beta arrived with the news that all zones were open for players to explore. So what better way to spend my gaming time than hopping on my mount and heading off to see as much of the world as possible? I knew the world was large, but it wasn't until I was halfway through Brevane that it really sunk in.

RIFT's expansion has a lot of exciting content, but I think what will surprise people is the sheer scope of the world. I journeyed through every zone (except for The Dendrome, which was still closed) and put together a brief guide of what I saw, which hopefully will make it easier to get started in the new areas.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Storm Legion zone guide

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Storm Legion zone guide originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedhands-onopinionpreviewpreviewspvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 07 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Weathering the tempest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/enter-at-your-own-rift-weathering-the-tempest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/enter-at-your-own-rift-weathering-the-tempest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/enter-at-your-own-rift-weathering-the-tempest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Weathering the tempest
The countdown is on like Donkey Kong, yo, although not as gorilla-y and barrel-y. With two weeks to go until Storm Legion thunders down on our heads like the big awesome expansion that we wanted, RIFT is positively buzzing with anticipation. Over the past week or so, Trion Worlds triggered the world event that will lead us into the expansion's content, and I've been on the ground doing all manner of responsible journalistic research with aplomb.

That is to say, I've been running around in circles yelling, "GUYZ! WHERE IS QUEST-GIVEY PERSON?" to my guildies, taking loads of screenshots to test the storage capacity of my hard drive, and occasionally trolling general chat by inviting people to my "personal dimension." It's what I do best.

While it's not quite over -- as of the time of this writing, it's just moved into phase three of four -- Tempest Rising is unique in RIFT's canon of world events. It's the first and only one that's served as a direct prologue to the single biggest content addition to the game, and it has to be spot-on with introducing the lore and conflict coming to the world. How's it going so far? Let's take a look.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Weathering the tempest

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Weathering the tempest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 31 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Enjoying the finer points of Storm Legion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/enter-at-your-own-rift-enjoying-the-finer-points-of-storm-legio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/enter-at-your-own-rift-enjoying-the-finer-points-of-storm-legio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/enter-at-your-own-rift-enjoying-the-finer-points-of-storm-legio/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at your own Rift Enjoying the finer points of Storm Legion
For the past two weeks, I've been sitting through panel after panel, keynote after keynote, and the constant message was about what the future of MMOs will look like. The big buzzwords from GDC Online and SOE Live were things like mobile gaming, user-generated content, emergent gameplay, and e-sports, but sometimes, it's the little things that make for a great MMO.

I'm still cutting my teeth on RIFT's Storm Legion, but there are several things that already get me excited about the expansion. We've heard a lot about the big things coming to the game, but in this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I'd like to talk about a few of the little things that will make this a well-received expansion.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Enjoying the finer points of Storm Legion

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Enjoying the finer points of Storm Legion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cape-juleconquestdimensionsenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedhunt-riftskingdom-of-pelledaneopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 24 Oct 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Analysing Storm Legion's new souls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/enter-at-your-own-rift-analysing-storm-legions-new-souls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/enter-at-your-own-rift-analysing-storm-legions-new-souls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/enter-at-your-own-rift-analysing-storm-legions-new-souls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Analysing Storm Legion's new souls
I still can't wrap my head around just how many metric tons of content are coming with RIFT: Storm Legion. It's an expansion that looks to put other expansions to shame by sheer size alone. Epeen competitions notwithstanding, any one of these major features would usually be good enough for a full expansion elsewhere.

Take the new souls, for example. Storm Legion is adding four of them, one for each archetype. That's not just four additional classes but a hefty amount of additional combinations, since RIFT builds allow for three souls at a time. So each archetype is going from 56 unique soul combinations to a whopping 84.

I can only imagine how much of a headache 336 different soul combinations are to balance, but fortunately I don't have to worry about it from my end. Instead, I want to take a look at the revealed new souls and speculate as to how they'll fit in with the game come next month.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Analysing Storm Legion's new souls

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Analysing Storm Legion's new souls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classclassesconquestdefilerenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedharbingeropinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontacticiantelaratempestthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 17 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Expansion anxiety]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-expansion-anxiety/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-expansion-anxiety/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-expansion-anxiety/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at your own Rift Expansion Anxiety
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting a big kick out of the little ad banner videos that RIFT is using to promote the Storm Legion expansion. The sight of a mini Scott and Russ flipping signs with promises to generic forum posts is a neat little marketing ploy. Even though I never click ad banners, and even though I'm getting the expansion, I still clicked on them just to see the video and the gameplay. It's like RIFT's version of Dumbledore smiling back through the Daily Prophet.

There's a lot I'm looking forward to in Storm Legion, but at the same time, I'm apprehensive about the changes that tend to come with the launch of any expansion. The world of Telara is changing, and Crucia is only part of that. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift we'll look at some of the changes that MMO expansions normally bring and see how they might affect RIFT.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Expansion anxiety

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Expansion anxiety originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdimensionsenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionexpansionsfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 10 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Six things I learned about leveling via instant adventures]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-six-things-i-learned-about-leveling-via/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-six-things-i-learned-about-leveling-via/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-six-things-i-learned-about-leveling-via/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Six things I learned about leveling via instant adventures
With a few weeks to blow before Storm Legion arrives to give us a wealth of new content to explore, I decided to roll up an alt in RIFT and see just how far I could get him in the meantime. The character is a mage, and the Harbinger soul looks wicked awesome, so I figured, why not?

I wasn't that interested in going back through all of the quests and zones, however. I've done them, explored them, and made peace with them, and I knew that chugging back through all of those quests would drive me nuts (and take too long!). So instead, I figured I might as well try a new tactic: I resolved to just use instant adventures augmented by dungeon runs for the entirety of my leveling experience.

It's a huge plus in RIFT's favor that this is an actual option, and I quite enjoy IAs anyway, so that choice felt right. Over the past week of doing this, I've learned a few interesting lessons about chugging through IAs as a character's sole source of XP, loot, and advancement. For anyone who might be following this path, I'd like to share those lessons.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Six things I learned about leveling via instant adventures

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Six things I learned about leveling via instant adventures originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdungeon-finderdungeonsenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedguideiaiasinstance-finderinstant-adventuresopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 03 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Macro this!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-macro-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-macro-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/enter-at-your-own-rift-macro-this/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at your own Rift Macro this!
You know that saying about never discussing religion or politics around the dinner table? I'd like to add one more to the list: RIFT macros. Some players love them, and some players hate them, to the point that the topic completely turns them off from the game. Each camp has some very valid arguments, and there doesn't seem to be too much of a middle ground on the subject. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I'd like to take a look at that polarizing issue and explain why I grew to love macros.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Macro this!

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Macro this! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheatingcombatcombat-macroconquesteasymodeenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedmacromacrosopinionpvpriftrift-literift-macrosrift-planes-of-telararvrskillskillstelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 26 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Fall colors... and more mead!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/enter-at-your-own-rift-fall-colors-and-more-mead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/enter-at-your-own-rift-fall-colors-and-more-mead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/enter-at-your-own-rift-fall-colors-and-more-mead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own RIFT Fall colors and more mead!
It wasn't that long ago that if you ever asked me what my favorite season was, I'd respond without hesitation, "Spring!" Being a Midwesterner means that spring is the rescue of winter doldrums and the march to summer. However, the past few years have swayed me to a different answer. I honestly feel that autumn has so much more to offer.

Maybe it's that my favorite holiday, Halloween, lies smack-dab in the middle of it. Perhaps it's the fragrant smells and gorgeous sights of leaves turning. Definitely it has something to do with bonfires, hot apple cider, hayrides, and fleece jackets.

So even while the last vestiges of 80-degree weather clings to my state, I'm already eager to dive head-first into a pile of leaves. Barring that, I'm more than content to revel in RIFT's newest festival, Autumn Harvest. Now with 100% more MEAD!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Fall colors... and more mead!

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Fall colors... and more mead! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atrophiniusautumn-festivalautumn-harvestconquestenter-at-your-own-rifteventfall-festivalfantasyfeaturedfestivalin-game-eventmobile-appopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 19 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: The calm before the storm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-calm-before-the-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-calm-before-the-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-calm-before-the-storm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Checking out the Calm Before the Storm, Update 110
You had me at "I've slept so long." Seriously, I rarely pay any attention to MMO trailers because they tend to be heavy on CGI, so what you see on the screen has nothing to do with what you'll actually see in the game. But with the Storm Legion trailer, a lot of it looks exactly like what we've seen in demos and gameplay videos that the RIFT team has shown at recent conventions. In other words, I can't wait for November to arrive.

But before the storm comes the calm, and before the expansion comes one last game update. RIFT launched about a year and a half ago and is closing in on its 10th update, a nice round number leading into the first expansion. That's an aggressive schedule by any MMO standard, but it's particularly impressive when you dig into the patch notes and see exactly what's changed each time. With the imminent arrival of the last update before the first expansion, I made my way back over to the test server to get a glimpse of some of the changes. Some of them are coming any day now with update 1.10, while others hint at what's coming in the lead-up to the expansion.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The calm before the storm

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: The calm before the storm originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calm-before-the-stormconquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedopinionpatchpatchespreviewpreviewspvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsupdateupdatesWed, 12 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Is the subscription justified?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-is-the-subscription-justified/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-is-the-subscription-justified/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/enter-at-your-own-rift-is-the-subscription-justified/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Is the subscription justified
I wonder whether the folks at Trion Worlds feel as if they're on an ever-shrinking island, holding fast to the subscription-only model while the world erodes into the sea of free-to-play. It's got to be an unsettling feeling, particularly as the competition continues to press in from all sides.

Is clinging to RIFT's subscription worth it? When even Star Wars: The Old Republic flinched and buckled to F2P, what chance does RIFT have to stay its course? Is Trion hurting or helping this game by holding fast to the business model?

It's a tricky question that's made trickier by the scarcity of facts. Trion's expressed strong confidence in the way it's steered RIFT so far, and I wonder whether that's a genuine confidence based on numbers that I don't see or a brave front for a duck that's paddling furiously under the calm pond surface.

So is RIFT really so good that it justifies a monthly subscription, and if so, what makes it OK to stay above the F2P waters on that tiny island?

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Is the subscription justified?

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Is the subscription justified? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdavid-reidenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrscott-hartsmanstorm-legionsubsub-onlysubssubscriptionsubscription-onlytelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 05 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: What's in your bag?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-whats-in-your-bag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-whats-in-your-bag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-whats-in-your-bag/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at your own Rift What's in your wallet or bag
I have a little confession to make. When it comes to random clicky items, unusual vanity pets, eccentric appearance items, and other quirky stuff in RIFT, I'm completely obsessed. During world events, while everyone else is eyeing the essences and new mounts, I'm scanning the appearance outfits and the clicky-effect items. I'll even do quests and content that I'm not necessarily interested in if the reward is something out of the ordinary. Clickies and odd items are great ways to lighten the mood when your group or raid has hit a wall, and they're a good way to liven up downtime in game. There's nothing like the sudden appearance of fireworks or the instant transformation of your raid leader into foliage.

For this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I'm diving into my RIFT bags and bank vault to highlight a few of my favorite clickies. Share some of yours!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: What's in your bag?

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: What's in your bag? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-campfirerift-factionrift-literift-planes-of-telararift-snowmanrift-soccer-ballrift-tiger-petrift-vanity-petsrift-world-eventsrvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 29 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's upcoming housing boom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-upcoming-housing-boom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-upcoming-housing-boom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-upcoming-housing-boom/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift RIFT's upcoming housing boom
Have no doubt, it's been an absolutely barnburner of a week or so for RIFT. As Trion Worlds chugs toward the unknown release date for Storm Legion, we've seen the reveal of the first new soul (the Harbinger), a special annual subscription offer, a tour of several areas of the expansion from Gamescom, and oh yeah, news that Trion's all but eliminating factional barriers.

And with all that, do you know what everyone's jabbering on about in the forums? Housing. Housing, housing, housing!

It doesn't surprise me; as a long-time proponent of player housing, I know full well the powerful attraction and appeal housing has when done right (emphasis on the last three words there). Housing gives players a sense of attachment to the game world, an outlet for creativity, and a personalized place to socialize. And finally we've heard the first concrete details (with video footage!) of RIFT's dimensions.

There's no avoiding it; there's going to be a huge housing boom in RIFT come this fall. So what will it look like?

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's upcoming housing boom

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's upcoming housing boom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cologneconconquestconventiondimensiondimensionsenter-at-your-own-rifteq-iieverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionfantasyfeaturedgamescomgamescom-2012germanyhousinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionplayer-housingpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrscripted-eventsstar-wars-galaxiesstorm-legionswgtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 22 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: First impressions from returning players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/enter-at-your-own-rift-first-impressions-from-returning-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/enter-at-your-own-rift-first-impressions-from-returning-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/enter-at-your-own-rift-first-impressions-from-returning-players/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at your own Rift
What do a statistician, a tinkerer, a party guy, a time-challenged player, and my better half all have in common? They're a handful of gamers who have recently been playing RIFT with me, and many of them have come back after a break from the game. It's pretty much been one coincidence after another that they've all come back around the same time, and while we all get along swimmingly, we all have differences in our playstyles that make this group a decent representation of the RIFT demographic on the whole. Would the game hook in everyone? Would the second time be the charm? Hear their impressions in this week's Enter at Your Own Rift.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: First impressions from returning players

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: First impressions from returning players originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedinstant-adventureskaren-bryanopinionplanar-attunementpvpriftrift-black-dyerift-feastrift-fishingrift-literift-mentoringrift-planes-of-telararift-pvp-zone-eventrvrsimplemeter-addontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 15 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Wardrobe blues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/enter-at-your-own-rift-wardrobe-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/enter-at-your-own-rift-wardrobe-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/enter-at-your-own-rift-wardrobe-blues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Wardrobe blues
One of the aspects of RIFT that I keep trumpeting to friends and strangers alike is just how wonderfully quick, responsive, and engaging Trion Worlds' updates have been. It's almost as if the dev team is engaging in a pillow fight with players, swinging away and trying to pummel us into submission with great content that's not always perfect but usually is great. In comparison, many other MMOs have become stodgy dinosaurs, creaking along with long-promised but never-arriving features.

So while I praise Trion for the bounty of nine major updates since launch, there's one feature that I've felt discontented with every since its inclusion: the wardrobe. For me to say this is kind of a big thing; anyone who knows me knows that I adore it when MMOs give us the option to dress up our characters the way we like. An appearance system was a big wish list item for me, and when Trion casually tossed it in the game early on, I was ecstatic.

Yet over the months, I've grown to dislike the system as a whole, especially in comparison to cosmetic gear systems in other titles that I play. It's a little difficult to put a finger on why, but I've got another 1000 words or so to make the attempt and then discuss solutions. Let's get to it!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Wardrobe blues

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Wardrobe blues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestcosmeticcosmetic-systemcosmeticsenter-at-your-own-riftf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionoutfitoutfitspvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrscott-hartsmantelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentwardrobewardrobe-systemWed, 08 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: What Scott Hartsman's AMA portends for RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/enter-at-your-own-rift-what-hartsmans-ama-portends-for-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/enter-at-your-own-rift-what-hartsmans-ama-portends-for-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/enter-at-your-own-rift-what-hartsmans-ama-portends-for-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Scott Hartsman
The Trion team is nothing if not persistent. In an elaborate plot involving Dr. Pepper and a one-way locked office, the devs were able to finally get Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman to participate in an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit. It was an engaging discussion that touched on a variety of topics, from up and coming titles such as End of Nations to Hartsman's journey from GM of the MUD Scepter of Goth to his time with SOE and his current endeavors with Trion. We learned that he's a pretty hardcore raider, that he plays incognito, and that his raid drink of choice is Grimbergen Blonde. But the focus of the conversation was RIFT, and while he didn't shed too much light on the upcoming expansion, he did drop a few hints about what we might see in the future. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll look at some of the highlights!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: What Scott Hartsman's AMA portends for RIFT

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: What Scott Hartsman's AMA portends for RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bardbardsconquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpredditreddit-amariftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrscott-hartsmanstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 01 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: The RIFT mobile app]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-rift-mobile-app/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-rift-mobile-app/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-rift-mobile-app/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Reviewing RIFT's mobile app
In this day and age, it's a complete mystery to me that pretty much everything in the world has an official mobile app except for most MMOs. If there was ever a clear call for mobile synergy, here it is, and yet most developers keep such a project on extremely low priority if they're even considering it at all. Fortunately, some studios seem to be coming around in this respect, and Trion's ahead of most of them with its portable connection to the game.

Available for both iOS and Android devices, the RIFT mobile app was an extremely pleasant surprise when it came out early this year. I know Karen's touched on it already, but I've been spending a good deal of time with it lately and thought I'd give it my own overview. Is this "eternally in beta" application a useful tool, a silly toy, or something in the middle? What could this app expand to include in the future? And what does Trion have to say about its continuing development?

The answers you seek are on their way... now.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The RIFT mobile app

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: The RIFT mobile app originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidconquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturediosiphonejames-karraslootablesmobilemobile-appopinionpvpreviewriftrift-literift-mobile-apprift-planes-of-telararvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 25 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: The joy of mentoring]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-joy-of-mentoring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-joy-of-mentoring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-joy-of-mentoring/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift The Joy of Mentoring
One of the reasons I like RIFT so much is that it has similar features to my other favorite MMO, EverQuest II. That's not really surprising, since RIFT's Executive Producer is Scott Hartsman, who was formerly EQII's Senior Producer and Creative Director. Since mentoring is one of the cornerstones of Norrath, it's something I was hoping would make its way into the world of Telara. But mentoring in RIFT is a little different what's in EQII, and it's worth taking a closer look at those changes because they've broken the major hurdle to allowing high- and low-level players to do things together. In fact, I think mentoring is something that every level-based MMO should add as a standard feature.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The joy of mentoring

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: The joy of mentoring originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chronomageconquestenter-at-your-own-rifteqii-mentoringfantasyfeaturedkaren-bryanmentormentoringopinionpvpriftrift-1.9rift-instant-adventuresrift-literift-mentoringrift-planes-of-telararift-zone-eventsrvrsidekickingtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 18 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Leveling the achievements way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-leveling-the-achievements-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-leveling-the-achievements-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-leveling-the-achievements-way/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Leveling the achievements way
In this week's Soapbox on Massively, I explained why I admire achievement systems in MMOs. Today I'd like to continue that discussion with a specific case study in RIFT. Consider it a companion piece.

When I came back to RIFT last month and started a new character, I had a choice as to how I would level back up through the game. There was the traditional questing path, pursuing dynamic events, running endless streams of dungeons, engaging in (shudder) PvP, or queuing up for instant adventures. I decided to blend them all together like premium yogurt and use the achievements system as a guide.

I don't tether myself to achievement systems in all MMOs I play, but RIFT's makes it fun and natural. It's easy to parse what's left to be done on a zone by zone or system by system basis, and the little noise and graphic that pops up makes me feel like a good doggy, indeed.

It's turned out to be an incredibly good decision. I've had so much more fun this time around than the first, greatly in part to achievements nudging me off the path well-traveled.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Leveling the achievements way

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Leveling the achievements way originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachievementsconquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 11 Jul 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Why Summerfest is the best]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-why-summerfest-is-the-best/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-why-summerfest-is-the-best/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-why-summerfest-is-the-best/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Why Summerfest is the best
Over the past few weeks, I've been over on RIFT's test shard to preview some of the changes arriving with update 1.9, like Summerfest. So now that it's live, it was fun to spend some time on the live servers to see it launch. And since I didn't get the chance to spend a lot of time with the Summerfest event, I decided to roll up my sleeves, break out my fishing pole and cooking pan, and try a few of the events and scavenger hunts.

I mentioned in a previous column that I thought 1.9 would be the biggest one yet and that it would bring some really important game changes, but my recent adventures in game this past week were even more eye-opening than I expected. Read on!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Why Summerfest is the best

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Why Summerfest is the best originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascend-a-friendconquestember-isleenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedlow-level-IAsopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrsilverwoodsummer-sunfishsummerfesttelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsupdate-1.9Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Going from zero to Storm Legion in a summer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-going-from-zero-to-storm-legion-in-a-sum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-going-from-zero-to-storm-legion-in-a-sum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-going-from-zero-to-storm-legion-in-a-sum/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift Going from zero to Storm Legion in a summer
As a returning player, I appreciated Karen's last column, which outlined some of the big changes to the game since last I played. While I had a level 50 Rogue sitting in Sanctum, I just couldn't connect with her because it had been so long. Even though I knew it would require a bucketload of time and effort, I rerolled a fresh-faced Cleric to go through the game all over again.

Was I insane? Probably. My biggest worry at this juncture is that I won't be ready for Storm Legion when it comes this fall. When you've been at the level cap for a while, you probably don't even think about the amount of content you need to chew through to get there. I didn't want to be caught flat-footed when the expansion released, shouting, "Wait up guys!" as I fell behind.

Re-rolling was good for me for two reasons. One, it's allowing me to connect with this new character and feel out all of the changes in the game. Two, it's giving me the chance to prove that anyone could start RIFT right now and be totally prepared for the expansion -- even if you're just a casual player. Today I want to share a few of my experiences on the leveling game and why it's not too late to get ready for Storm Legion, even if you're a newbie.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Going from zero to Storm Legion in a summer

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Going from zero to Storm Legion in a summer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altconquestendgameenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedlevelingopinionpvprerollriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 27 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A guide for new and returning RIFT players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-guide-for-new-and-returning-rift-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-guide-for-new-and-returning-rift-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-guide-for-new-and-returning-rift-playe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at your own Rift A handy guide to what's changed for new and returning players
We're on the eve of update 1.9 in RIFT, and I think it's full of great changes that will bring back returning players. But if you're one of the many who tried the game at launch and left a few months later, it might feel daunting to make a comeback because so much has changed.

Fear not! In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll gently introduce you to some of the biggest changes to the new player experience and provide a condensed rundown of the updates since launch. If you're seeking out a tl;dr version of the game since launch, you've come to the right place!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A guide for new and returning RIFT players

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: A guide for new and returning RIFT players originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chroniclesconquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedinstant-adventureopinionpvpriftrift-changesrift-guide-for-new-playersrift-guide-for-returning-playersrift-literift-planes-of-telararift-whats-changedrvrsliverssoulssummerfesttelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsupdate-1.9Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: How will Storm Legion change the face of RIFT?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-will-storm-legion-change-the-face-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-will-storm-legion-change-the-face-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-will-storm-legion-change-the-face-of/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift How will Storm Legion change the face of RIFT
Expansions are always a great time to get back into a game. Just ask me, Mr. Former-and-Now-Current RIFT Player. That's right -- I've leaped back into RIFT and have rejoined Karen to co-host this column. I know you're just a-shiver with excitement, but keep it together: We've got higher peaks to summit, my friend.

Two weeks ago, RIFT muscled back into the spotlight with the announcement of its first-ever expansion, Storm Legion. I don't know if any of you felt like this when you heard it, but I was surprised, considering just how much work Trion Worlds spends on updates. When did they devs have time to squeeze in work on a full-blown expansion as well?

But it's no myth. Storm Legion is coming this fall, and it's destined to change the face of RIFT as we know it. The world's about to triple in size, and the team is building on the lessons learned in the first year or so of this MMO's lifespan. Will it bolster RIFT against the current and coming competition? Do we need two more continents? And what, pray tell, are those four new souls?

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: How will Storm Legion change the face of RIFT?

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: How will Storm Legion change the face of RIFT? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaclassclassesconquestenter-at-your-own-riftexpansionfantasyfeaturedopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrsoulsoulsstorm-legiontelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 13 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Why update 1.9 could be the best one yet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-why-update-1-9-could-be-the-best-one-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-why-update-1-9-could-be-the-best-one-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/enter-at-your-own-rift-why-update-1-9-could-be-the-best-one-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Enter at your own Rift Why Update 19 could be the best one yet
In the most recent Enter at Your Own Rift, we looked at Conquest, an exciting new opportunity for instanced three-faction PvP. It's been generating a lot of buzz, and players have had two chances to check it out its development on the test server. Conquest is scheduled to be part of RIFT's Update 1.9, which is probably just around the corner if past update schedules are any indication.

But that's not all that's planned for the next game update, and there are two additions that I think could very well be gamechangers for RIFT. The first is a mentoring system, and the second is the addition of lower-level instant adventures. In this week's column, we'll look at both through last week's test event and explore why they could make update 1.9 the best one yet.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Why update 1.9 could be the best one yet

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Why update 1.9 could be the best one yet originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturediainstant-adventureinstant-adventuresopinionpatchpatchespvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 06 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-conquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-conquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/enter-at-your-own-rift-conquest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

rift conquest
RIFT fans wracked their brains trying to decipher the cryptic message on the forums a few weeks ago, and it turned out they were right: RIFT is on the verge of seeing the arrival of three faction PvP, and the game took its first step toward that with a test session on PTS last week.

If you missed it, take heart because this week's Enter at Your Own Rift gives a recap of the event and a beginning look at how Conquest plays out. Read on for handy primer on three-faction PvP in Telara!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Conquest PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdominionenter-at-your-own-riftextractorsfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedhands-onkaren-bryannightfalloathswornopinionpreviewpreviewspvpriftrift-planes-of-telararvrtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-rift-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-rift-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-rift-evolution/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

rift
RIFT has seen a great deal of new content and features over the past year, and each update tends to generate a lot of buzz about things like new raid zones, new warzones, world events, and yes, even fishing. But there have been quite a few subtle (and not so subtle) changes to the core of the game -- that is, the rifts themselves. Last summer, Justin wrote a great piece wondering whether rifts were in "danger of collapsing," and his point was that they were a good idea on paper but needed tweaks in order to stay relevant to the game.

It's worth looking back at the evolution of rifts over the past year to see what's changed since launch day. Read on for a look at what's new with rifts!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ember-isleenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedkaren-bryanopinionriftrift-planes-of-telarariftsshimmersandtelaratriontrion-worldszone-eventsWed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Handy tips for fishing and survival in Telara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-handy-tips-for-fishing-and-survival-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-handy-tips-for-fishing-and-survival-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/enter-at-your-own-rift-handy-tips-for-fishing-and-survival-in-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

rift fishing
In my last column about RIFT, I looked at a few highlights that were coming with Update 1.8, but because of the buzz surrounding the two new skills of fishing and survival, I wanted to delve into both a little more closely and perhaps even give a few tips I picked up so far that might be helpful if you're thinking of giving it a try.

Whether you're an old salt or a greenhorn, and if you're curious about what exactly it takes to fish in Telara or what you need to build yourself a nice camp and a warm meal, this week's Enter at Your Own Rift might help!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Handy tips for fishing and survival in Telara

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Handy tips for fishing and survival in Telara originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cookingcraftingenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedfishingfishing-derbyfishing-trophyopinionriftrift-bedrollrift-derbyrift-fishing-guiderift-planes-of-telararift-survival-guiderift-tentsurvivaltelaratradeskillstriontrion-worldsWed, 25 Apr 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Fishin' and survivin']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-fishin-and-survivin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-fishin-and-survivin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-fishin-and-survivin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

rift fishing
One of the parts of the recent RIFT producer's letter that caught my eye was the hint that there will soon be more to do in game besides "stab" stuff. Maybe I'm mellowing in my old age, or perhaps it's because of my inner Bartle explorer player-type, but I'm enjoying activities in MMOs that don't involve mass slaughter all the time. Usually, that means crafting, but the inventory management that's required often leaves me cross-eyed by the time I'm done.

With Update 1.8, RIFT will add two new skills to the game: fishing and survival. Non-combat activities have already been introduced in past updates, like the wedding instance, but these two new skills look to be fun games within the game, so I was eager to check things out. Join me as I don some hip-waders, pack up some flint, and head to PTS for a peek at fishing, survival, and a quick peek at the looking-for-guild tool.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Fishin' and survivin'

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Fishin' and survivin' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedfishingkaren-bryanlfglooking-for-guildopinionpatchpatchespreviewpreviewsriftrift-fishingrift-looking-for-guild-windowrift-planes-of-telararift-survivalsurvivaltelaratriontrion-worldsWed, 11 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A carnival recap and a war on the horizon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-carnival-recap-and-a-war-on-the-horizo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-carnival-recap-and-a-war-on-the-horizo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-carnival-recap-and-a-war-on-the-horizo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Rift Carnival
Over the past few weeks, RIFT has been celebrating its first birthday with the Carnival of the Ascended. It started off pleasantly enough, with games, prizes, turducken, and fireworks. But recently, some of the revelers got a little too rowdy, and players had to help subdue drunk and disorderly guests. Now, the event has entered its fourth phase, and the two sides have begun to attack rival outposts that have been set up along parade routes. If you haven't had a chance to check out the Carnival of the Ascended, now is a perfect time. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I'll highlight the carnival as it prepares to pack up and leave and peek at what's in store for Telara as this world event wraps up.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A carnival recap and a war on the horizon

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: A carnival recap and a war on the horizon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carnival-of-the-ascendeddeep-fried-butterenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedfishingmaelforgeopinionphase-4riftrift-carnivalrift-planes-of-telaratelaratriontrion-worldsupdate-1.8war-of-the-wantonWed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rift Ascended
It seems like ages ago, but back in July of 2010, Blizzard shook the MMO world with the announcement of RealID. You probably recall the firestorm, but the long and short of it is that Blizzard was planning to make all posts in the forums display each poster's real-life first and last name. The protests against it were so loud that Blizzard backed down from the move and life resumed as usual.

The intend was to integrate social media into Blizzard games, particularly Facebook, but it became a huge can of worms because it forced everyone who wanted to post on the forums to reveal their true names. But social media is continuing to grow, and there are lots of ways that game companies have made use of it. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, let's look at Trion's approach and revisit the idea of anonymity in MMOs.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymityblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmententer-at-your-own-rifteqeverquestfacebookfeaturedkaren-bryanprexusreal-idrealidriftriftconnectsocial-mediasonySony-Online-Entertainmenttriontrion-worldstwitterwowWed, 14 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST