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[The Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-repopulation-lets-players-customize-outfits-to-their-hearts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Repopulation
As The Repopulation is free from conventional MMO leveling and hews to skill-based progression instead, dealing with player gear is substantially more difficult than it would be otherwise. The team posted a five-minute dev video explaining how items, repair, and what it calls "fittings" work in the game.

The long and the short of The Repopulation's gear system is that players will be able to pick the outfit (or "shells") that they like the best visually and then equip the stats they want on it. This is done through fittings, which is similar to socket systems found in other MMOs.

As outfits take damage, the conditions of the fittings can and do degrade, reducing the stats associated with it. If it gets too bad, the fittings will either need to be repaired or replaced.

You can check out The Repopulation's gear system after the break. The team is currently accepting signups for June's alpha testing.

[Thanks to Halldorr and J.C. for the tip!]

Continue reading The Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content

MassivelyThe Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiescustomizable-gearcustomizedev-blogdev-diarydev-videofittingfitting-systemfittingsgeargear-progressionitemitemsoutfitoutfit-systemrepairrepopulationsandboxsci-fishellsocketsocket-systemthe-repopulationvideoWed, 02 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: To say nothing of cute shoes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/storyboard-to-say-nothing-of-cute-shoes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/storyboard-to-say-nothing-of-cute-shoes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/storyboard-to-say-nothing-of-cute-shoes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

During PAX East, I roleplayed a drunk man. It's a role I'm apparently quite good at.
Just as in real life, player characters in MMOs have more than one set of clothing for different situations. Sure, I don't divide my actual clothes up in usual MMO categories ("well, those are my PvP pants"), but I have things I wear around the house that I wouldn't wear out in public or when attending a funeral, for instance. But even that doesn't compare to a high-level roleplaying character, who has not only PvP gear and PvE gear and solo gear tand the like but also funeral gear and casual gear and so forth. It's all the joy of assembling a real wardrobe alongside the joy of stat comparisons.

Roleplaying outfits are universally important. Even if your character is in a game without visible gear (such as City of Heroes), you probably have different outfits for different circumstances (civilian clothes, for instance). But there's an art to putting together a good roleplaying ensemble, and it's not just as simple as equipping the same equipment you wore 10 levels ago and calling it a day. You want to create a distinct impression, and that takes a little more doing. So how do you assemble a good roleplaying outfit?

Continue reading Storyboard: To say nothing of cute shoes

MassivelyStoryboard: To say nothing of cute shoes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearanceequipmentfeaturedgearopinionoutfitsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 13 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making the 'jump' from Guild Wars to Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/making-the-jump-from-guild-wars-to-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/making-the-jump-from-guild-wars-to-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/26/making-the-jump-from-guild-wars-to-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Black Citadel Forest, Guild Wars 2
The second Guild Wars 2 press beta weekend has come and gone, and Massively was there every step of the way. Stay tuned throughout the day today for even more guides, impressions, videos, and Q&As to get you ready for the highly anticipated sequel to Guild Wars.

Guild Wars 2 is on the way (when it's ready), and classic Guild Wars players probably understand that soon they'll be competing with a younger sibling -- a smarter, more attractive one who's sure to get more of mom's attention. And while we're sure that some of the more stalwart Guild Wars 2 fans are also Guild Wars players, not all veterans of the first edition are dedicated to licking up every drop of sequel info squeezed out of blogs, conventions, and betas. Those veterans might just be wondering, what exactly can Guild Wars 2 offer them, other than Hall of Monuments tie-ins? What's changed? What's the same? What will they love, what will they hate, and what could possibly make them jump ship to the new hotness?

The first and most important thing you must know is that yes, you can jump in Guild Wars 2! Seriously, though, jumping is more than just a thing you do with your spacebar when you're bored; it's a symbol of boundlessness. Guild Wars 2 itself is trying to jump a lot higher than its elder brother, and probably the essential difference between the games is that feeling that the walls have come down and gravity is letting loose. That alone should urge classic players to take a peek, but if that's not enough for you, fire up your Jeremy Soule soundtracks (yes, he's onboard for an encore!) and read on...

Continue reading Making the 'jump' from Guild Wars to Guild Wars 2

MassivelyMaking the 'jump' from Guild Wars to Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetauction-hallbetacash-shopcharacter-creationclosed-betaclosed-beta-3comparisondeathdeath-penaltydungeonsdynamic-contenteconomyendgameeye-of-the-northfantasyfeaturedgeargemsgroupgroupingguideguidesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-betaguild-wars-2-guideguild-wars-2-previewguildsgvggwgw2hall-of-monumentshands-onhominterfacejumpjumpingloremap-travelncsoftpreviewpreviewspropheciespvpquestsrenown-heartrmtsidekickingskill-pointtrading-posttyriauiuser-interfaceworld-vs-worldworld-vs-world-vs-worldwvwwvwvwMon, 26 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT details upcoming Expert Mode dungeon changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/rift-details-upcoming-expert-mode-dungeon-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/rift-details-upcoming-expert-mode-dungeon-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/rift-details-upcoming-expert-mode-dungeon-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- RIFT
RIFT's patch 1.7: Carnival of the Ascended is bringing with it some pretty neat things, such as in-game marriage, PvP improvements, and the eponymous Carnival of the Ascended. But long-time, high-level players are probably most curious about the changes coming to Expert Mode dungeons. Tier 1 and tier 2 Expert Mode dungeons are merging into a single Expert tier.

What this means is that all players with tier 1 gear will keep that gear (which will be improved by item changes being introduced in the patch), but it will never drop again. The upgraded versions of tier 1 gear will drop in its stead. Previous tier 1 dungeons have had their difficulty increased to be more on par with tier 2 dungeons, and Trion Worlds has also "turned the dials up a bit higher on some encounters to keep things interesting with your flashy new gear."

For the full details on all of the changes coming to the Expert Mode system and the endgame gear system, just click on through the link below to the RIFT official site.

MassivelyRIFT details upcoming Expert Mode dungeon changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.7Carnival-of-the-Ascendedexpert-modeexpert-mode-dungeonsgeargear-overhaulitemizationlootoverhaulpatchpatch-1.7patchesplanes-of-telarariftrift-planes-of-telaratier-1tier-2triontrion-worldsFri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-eltnen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-eltnen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/wings-over-atreia-boss-world-tour-eltnen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
They're big! They're bad! They're da boss(es)! And they've got your loot!

That's right: Lurking about all corners of Aion, powerful monsters beckon (lure?) Daevas with promises of tantalizing loot and illustrious glory. Who doesn't like the rush of downing a powerful foe or nabbing a coveted item?

Previous tours of Heiron and Inggison scouted out said monsters and offered some tips as to who was worth fighting and who should be avoided when hunting alone. Those lands focused on higher-level players. However, with double XP weekends throughout January, there will undoubtedly be an influx of players in the lower levels. What better time to take stock of the bosses available to this crowd?

This week, Wings Over Atreia takes a tour of Eltnen to expose the available bosses to treasure-hungry Daevas. Be warned, though: The opportunity to take on these behemoths may be short-lived during a time of double XP, especially when combined with mentoring. So before you move on to bigger, brighter lands, take a moment to stop and smell the roses -- or kill the bosses, as it were.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamebossesdropsErucas-TemplefeaturedgearguideKaiden-Headquarterskaiden-mineKHQLepharist-Citadellootnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionWings-Over-Atreiaworld-bossworld-bossesWorldBossesMon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE tweaking EQII's dungeon finder mechanics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/soe-tweaking-eqiis-dungeon-finder-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/soe-tweaking-eqiis-dungeon-finder-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/soe-tweaking-eqiis-dungeon-finder-mechanics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EverQuest II - Barren Sky dungeon
Once upon a time, EverQuest II's dungeon finder was a hot-button issue. Some players wanted it, others predicted the doom of grouping, the game, and life as we know it if the feature got implemented. Fast forward a few months and now the dungeon finder is hardly used aside from guildless mid-level players looking for a quick PUG crawl.

Sony Online Entertainment has announced a couple of tweaks designed to incentivize the mechanic, and EQ2Wire has the relevant developer quotes as well as a bit of commentary on the process. In a nutshell, SOE is adding contested dungeons and daily rewards into the mix. While this may result in a temporary upswing in dungeon finder interest, it doesn't address the primary reason veteran and high-level players shun the mechanic. The system still won't take player gear into account when forming parties, so it is therefore quite useless when gear-dependent content -- like any of the dungeons from the Destiny of Velious expansion -- is the goal.

MassivelySOE tweaking EQII's dungeon finder mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destiny-of-veliousdungeondungeon-finderdungeonseq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgated-contentgeargear-grindpuggingpugssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentMon, 02 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on impressions of The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Scary monster dude in The Secret World
Last month, Funcom held a special hands-on event for The Secret World at its Montreal, Canada offices, where we sent freelancer François Blondin to cover all the exciting details. François also got to play the game for several hours, giving us a fresh perspective on what TSW has to offer MMO gamers.

In Funcom's upcoming The Secret World, the game's three factions -- Templars, Illuminati and Dragons -- face off, compete, and collaborate (all at the same time!) amidst the nightmarish creatures being revealed throughout the world. But choose your allegiance carefully: Your faction determines your path and special bonuses for the whole game, and faction-switching won't be an option. Join me for a hands-on look at the game's current incarnation!

Gallery: The Secret World

Continue reading Hands-on impressions of The Secret World

MassivelyHands-on impressions of The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorcash-shopchakrascollisioncombatcraftingdemodouble-dippingdragonsequipmentexclusivefactionsfeaturedfuncomgearhands-onhiveilluminatiimpressionsjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmontrealpreviewpvepvpquestingquestsRagnar-Tornquistskill-basedskillsstatssubscriptiontemplarsthe-hivethe-secret-worldthree-queststswweaponswheel-of-skillsMon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Angels Online gets new expansion, new equipment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/angels-online-gets-new-expansion-new-equipment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/angels-online-gets-new-expansion-new-equipment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/angels-online-gets-new-expansion-new-equipment/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Angels Online - 2D anime gameplay screenshot
Angels Online's newest expansion is trading the dangerous jungles of primordial paradise for the heat of an Egyptian-style desert. Pharaoh's Lost Treasure is set in and around the city of Basil, and the expansion features new weapons and armor with "some of the best stats the game has to offer."

According to a new IGG press release, Angels Online's dev team spent a lot of time getting the look of the new expansion armor sets just right. For Mages, new purple robes offer both offensive and defensive bonuses. Light armor wearers will appreciate new bone designs that offer protection without restricting movement. Plate wearers aren't left out either, as they can acquire new sets that combine "rich culture, style, and durability." Head to the Angels Online website to learn more and to download the game.

[Source: IGG press release]

MassivelyAngels Online gets new expansion, new equipment originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angels-onlinearmorexpansionexpansionsf2pfree-to-playgeariggnew-gearpharaohs-lost-treasurepress-releaseweaponsMon, 31 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/captains-log-every-day-i-m-tribbleing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65322.9...

Hello, computer (and players)! For the past several weeks, Star Trek Online players have been checking out the latest F2P beta builds on the Tribble test server. While there have been a few patches on other days, more for stability fixes and minor tweaking, Thursdays seem to be the designated day for us to receive the largest pushes of new content. The latest round of updates has brought further economy changes, new events and ships, and even more heated debates. Since we seem to be a ways out from the seeing the updates ported to the Holodeck live server, there is still plenty of time to check it all out and provide your feedback to the devs.

I would like to dedicate this entry to those who are helping test the changes. This week's Captain's Log serves as a checklist of sorts on what new content you can test and where you can provide feedback about it. As you read through, I suggest that you read a particular section, jump into game to check out the particular change, formulate an opinion, and head to the linked forum where you can leave your feedback. No matter what you think, it's important to let the devs know -- they will make changes based upon a collective opinion.

Ensign, warp 10! It's time to create our own party rock anthem...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Every day I'm tribbleing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilityc-storeconsolecraftingcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaily-eventdevdev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-blogdeveloper-diarydevsdilithiumdoffduty-officerduty-officer-systemevent-calendarf2pfeature-testingfeaturedfeedbackforumforumsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgame-systemsgeargozerhereticklingon-academylivestreamloglore-missionspatchespath-to-f2pperfect-world-entertainmentpowerpwesci-fishipsspecial-task-forcespecial-task-force-missionsspecial-testingstst-onlinestar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarfleet-academystephen-dangelostfstf-updatesstostormshadetest-servertrek-onlineuiui-tweakupdatesThu, 27 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/dark-age-of-camelot-gears-up-its-newbies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

DAoC
As part of Mythic's continued efforts to introduce a "New User Journey" experience that's friendly to Dark Age of Camelot beginners, the studio has turned its attention to the ever-crucial subject of gear. In a new dev diary by DJ Frazier, the dev spells out the problem: "For a new player who wanders into battlegrounds, especially ones like Thidranki or Molvik, they will often find themselves losing almost every fight they encounter, simply because they are playing against people who have had a chance to outfit themselves out in the best equipment they can find for their level range."

Because the team fears that this armor disparity proves to be a dealbreaker for many newbies, the devs are retuning the gear that players get during their leveling up process to be more durable and competitive on the battlefield.

The two main paths of leveling -- PvE questing and RvR battlegrounds -- will both offer solid picks of gear when patch 1.110 hits. Players who risk the battlegrounds will find themselves in possession of top-notch weapons and armor, whereas those who choose to quest will find themselves "90% of the way there" with their gear. Hopefully, these changes will create an environment that's much more welcoming to newcomers to DAoC.

MassivelyDark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorbattlegroundsbeginnersdaocdark-age-of-camelotdev-diaryDJ-Frazierea-mythicgearmythicnew-user-journeynewbiesnoobspvepvprvrweaponsThu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GodsWar Online takes the battle to a whole new level]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/godswar-online-takes-the-battle-to-a-whole-new-level/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/godswar-online-takes-the-battle-to-a-whole-new-level/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/godswar-online-takes-the-battle-to-a-whole-new-level/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GodsWar Online
GodsWar Online is on the verge of another major content update, and it's never our wish at Massively that players be caught unaware, just in case you want to plan ahead and move laundry night to a different day or something.

The Grecian title will be throwing a gob -- which is made up of 10 goblets -- of additional features and content our way, including a level cap increase and a new storyline for players to enjoy. As the conflict between the three factions rises to an even higher level, elite warriors will be glad to get their hands on Class Suit III gear, not to mention to be able to upgrade said gear with collected medals.

GodsWar will be tweaking Wonderland somewhat, particularly in regard to tougher BOSS fights (although there will be new weaknesses that players can exploit). The update will also allow you to swap out your character's gender for a modest fee, just in case you choose poorly in the beginning or are discontented with your current anatomical features.

[Source: IGG press release]

MassivelyGodsWar Online takes the battle to a whole new level originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossclass-suit-iiicontentcontent-patchcontent-updatef2pfree-to-playgeargendergender-swapgenderbendergodswargodswar-onlineigglevel-caplevel-cap-increasepatchswitch-genderwonderlandFri, 16 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wrath of Heroes
Mythic is taking an interesting approach in promoting its new MOBA, Warhammer Online Wrath of Heroes -- it's throwing Warhammer Online under the bus. At the Wrath of Heroes reveal panel at PAX, the Mythic team talked up its new project as something that Heroes' parent game is not.

The team found that people liked WAR but couldn't justify investing in it, so Mythic wanted to create an experience for them. The team took what it saw as one the more popular aspects of WAR -- the scenarios -- and modified them to pit three teams (six on each) against each other for quick, 15-minute gameplay sessions. On death, you can choose any hero in your arsenal so you can adjust to whatever your team needs.

This game format allowed the team to strip away the parts of the game it saw as unnecessary. "We went, you know what? If you play the MMO, we give you all this cool equipment on your adventure, and it's a neat thing to do, but let's just get rid of the boring crap and give people cool [stuff] to wear," Paul Barnett said.

Citing the accumulation of multiple -- and sometimes quite situational -- skills over the course of "748,000 hours of grinding," Barnett said that his team got rid of this approach by focusing on only five skills per hero in Wrath of Heroes. He thinks that the small incremental progress of skills and skill effects in Warhammer Online is "dull" and instead extolls Wrath of Heroes for picking the best skills, effects and armor so that players don't have to worry about getting all of them.

You can watch the full reveal panel of Wrath of Heroes after the jump.

[Thanks to Joris for the tip!]

Continue reading Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR

MassivelyMythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6v6v6bioware-mythiccarrie-gouskosdark-age-of-camelotdeveloper-panelea-mythicf2pfree-to-playgamespotgearmobamythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpaxpax-prime-2011reveal-panelthrow-under-the-buswarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesTue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Finally 50]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/enter-at-your-own-rift-finally-50/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/enter-at-your-own-rift-finally-50/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/enter-at-your-own-rift-finally-50/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT statue
As an MMO player, I'm generally behind the curve when it comes to leveling and cutting-edge content exploration. Pushing myself to level quickly is far less fun to me than taking my time and exploring all the nooks and crannies, and my available playtime is far less than it used to be. Ergo, while many of have been at the level cap for months and are either elite PvPers or Raiders of the Lost Hammerknell, I've just hit 50 this past week for the first time in RIFT.

In a way, being behind the curve is a blessing because others have gone before you and forged a path so that coming from behind is much easier. That said, I still felt overwhelmed when the final ding happened because my previously clear goals evaporated in a second. What do I do now? How do I gear up? What does one do at level 50, anyway?

Fortunately, I'm part of a guild that's full of seasoned 50s, not to mention that I'm friends with plenty of bloggers who were 50 when I was still in diapers. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Ahem. So for this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I posited them this question: What do you and should you do when you hit 50 in the game? They came back to me with excellent responses that I'm now going to share with you.

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR IMMINENT KNOWLEDGE!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Finally 50

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Finally 50 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-tzronkowskicraftingdrowned-hallsenter-at-your-wn-riftepic-slantexpert-dungeonsexpert-riftfactionfeaturedferrelgeargearing-upgreenscales-blightlfglfg-toolmmo-reporternikaylaraid-riftreputationriftrunecrafterthe-fluff-factorthe-mmo-reportertier-1tier-2triontrion-worldswarfrontwarfrontsWed, 31 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively exclusive: Luvinia Online enchants, crafts, enhances and reshapes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/massively-exclusive-luvinia-online-enchants-crafts-enhances-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/massively-exclusive-luvinia-online-enchants-crafts-enhances-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/massively-exclusive-luvinia-online-enchants-crafts-enhances-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Luvinia Online
On the last exciting episode of Luvinia Online Exposé, Outspark shared with us some of the design plans and interesting mechanics behind its gear system for this upcoming title. Today, it's all about enchanting -- the interesting art of taking something and pimping the heck out of it -- and other cool ways to customize the items in your inventory.

So what does Luvinia's system for gear upgrades look like, and how can players best utilize these features to fine-tune their characters' potential? We'll let the devs at Outspark answer this for themselves:

You gotta have options

Last time we talked a little bit about some ways to make what you've got even better with energy stones. While the energy stones are temporary and add quite a bit of personalized bang for the buck, there are also a few ways to permanently update your gear to better suit your role. The two big ones we'll cover are enchanting and card placement, but there are a few other tricks in game to help you too.

Continue reading Massively exclusive: Luvinia Online enchants, crafts, enhances and reshapes

MassivelyMassively exclusive: Luvinia Online enchants, crafts, enhances and reshapes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingdev-diaryenchantenchantingenhanceenhancementexclusivegatheringgearluvinialuvinia-onlineoutsparkprofessionsreshapereshaping-systemSat, 27 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RuneScape spices up minigames with better rewards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/runescape-spices-up-minigames-with-better-rewards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/runescape-spices-up-minigames-with-better-rewards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/runescape-spices-up-minigames-with-better-rewards/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RuneScape
RuneScape, the under-the-radar MMO that keeps drawing in the crowds in mind-boggling numbers, wants everyone to enjoy the title's many minigames. While they're fun for their own sake, we're not going to sneeze at the prospect of getting a shiny trinket or two while we play -- and RuneScape has quite a few new shinies on tap for dedicated minigamers.

Jagex has added a "veritable bounty" of top-notch rewards for minigames, although these are only attainable by high-level players. These include five new sets of gear that can help boost one's skill focus (such as Runecrafting or Thieving), a cute and not-so-cuddly TzRek-Jad pet, new lunar spells, gear customization items, and more. For an infernal doggy, there's very little we wouldn't do, so we'll bet these rewards will be popular motivators.

RuneScape boasts an impressive 10 minigames, including Castle Wars, Pest Control, and the TzHaar Fight Pits.

MassivelyRuneScape spices up minigames with better rewards originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castle-warsf2pfree-to-playgearjagexlunar-magiclunar-spellsminigameminigamespatchpest-controlpetrewardsrunecraftingrunescapethievingTzHaar-Fight-PitsTzRek-JadFri, 26 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What is player skill, anyway?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/the-daily-grind-what-is-player-skill-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/the-daily-grind-what-is-player-skill-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/the-daily-grind-what-is-player-skill-anyway/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2
Today it's time to tackle the somewhat touchy subject of player skill in MMORPGs. With Guild Wars 2 touting its active dodging system and TERA just on the horizon with its action-based combat, many games seem to be attempting to force individual player skill to weigh more heavily in overall gameplay. Guild Wars 2's PvP takes it a step further, putting all players on an even playing field with equal gear and equal stats, leaving the only undecided factor to be the skill of each individual player.

But what is player skill? Some people argue that twitch-based gameplay (such as GW2's dodging or TERA's movement and aiming system) isn't skill but rather is a matter of reflexes. Some argue that regardless of gear or character stats, a truly skilled player will always come out on top. Some argue that skill is a matter of knowledge -- knowing your class and the class of your opponent.

So today we ask you, what is player skill? Is it the ability to aim a shot in such a way that you lead a player across the map and nail him in the head? Is it knowing to save your cooldowns for when a particular class lands a nasty CC ability on you? Does gear play a part, or does it simply impede a truly balanced experience? Perhaps it's some combination of the above. What does player skill mean to you?

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 is player skill, anyway? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatdodginggeargw2player-skillskilltdgterathe-daily-grindtwitchtwitch-basedtwitch-based-gameplaytwitch-combatwhat-is-skillWed, 24 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively exclusive: Luvinia Online equipment education]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/massively-exclusive-luvinia-online-equipment-education/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/massively-exclusive-luvinia-online-equipment-education/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/massively-exclusive-luvinia-online-equipment-education/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Luvinia Online
Gear in MMOs isn't just about making a fashion statement; it's often the difference between life and death, success and failure, envy and pity. So it is with Luvinia Online, as gear will be a primary focus of any adventurer who doesn't want his lifespan to be measured in minutes.

Outspark has been gracious enough to treat us to a comprehensive introduction to how gear works in Luvinia. On top of the expected stats and rarity values, Luvinia has a few interesting ideas about how to modify gear and trade it between characters.

Luvinia Online finished closed beta last month, but is heading for open beta fairly soon. Hit the jump to start your edumacation in the fine art of equipment, courtesy of the development team at Outspark.

Continue reading Massively exclusive: Luvinia Online equipment education

MassivelyMassively exclusive: Luvinia Online equipment education originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabound-to-characterbuffsclosed-betaenergy-stonesequipmentfreezinggearluvinialuvinia-onlineopen-betaoutsparkplayer-trade-systempvpraritystatstradingunbinding-stonesFri, 12 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Universe update adds progression system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lego-universe-update-adds-progression-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lego-universe-update-adds-progression-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lego-universe-update-adds-progression-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

LEGO Universe has the creative aspects of MMOs and online gaming down pat. After all, we're talking LEGOs (edit: LEGO BRICKS OMG, LEGO BRICKS) here, and if there's one word that's synonymous with the long-running Danish toy line, that word is build.

What's there to do in LEGO Universe when your creativity runs dry, though? Thanks to the game's latest content update, traditional MMO character-building is now a viable option. Player minifigures may progress through 40 levels of content, unlocking points, achievements, and equipment along the way.

That's not all, as the latest LEGO Universe patch also features four new faction kits (Specialized Adventurer, Shinobi, Inventor, and Space Ranger), each of them aligned with one of the game's four Nexus Force factions and each offering players the opportunity to rank up and explore "new gear, powers, and abilities." Last but not least, the new LEGO Universe update brings a new instance challenge in the form of the Avant Gardens, and a big nasty known as the Spider Queen awaits players who are creative enough to make it through to the final battle.

MassivelyLEGO Universe update adds progression system originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avant-gardensbuildingcreativityequipmentf2pfamilyfree-to-playgame-updategeargrindinventorkidslegolego-universelegoslevel-upleveling-systemlevelsminifigure-levelspatchpress-releaseprogressionshinobispace-rangerspecialized-adventurerspider-queenMon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New LotRO dev diary outlines future itemization improvements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/new-lotro-dev-diary-outlines-future-itemization-improvements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/new-lotro-dev-diary-outlines-future-itemization-improvements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/new-lotro-dev-diary-outlines-future-itemization-improvements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some days we feel like Paul Revere, riding our 120% mounts through towns and shouting announcements like "Rise of Isengard is coming! Rise of Isengard is coming!" It's OK, people probably prefer to get their news shouted at them by cyber equestrian newsies than any other method, right? And in the case of Lord of the Rings Online's latest expansion, it's good we do so, because a whole host of itemization improvements is coming to the game.

In a new dev diary, the LotRO systems team lays out the path for itemization improvements, including where we've been in the game and where we're going with gear. Two of the biggest concerns that the team identified to fix were minute increments between gear upgrades and the inability to predict what combination of equipment players would use to hit the stat caps. Therefore, the caps will be removed and players should see more substantial gear upgrades with the expansion.

The diary goes on to share how different segments of the player community will be able to access top-of-the-line gear in the future, including solo players, crafters, casual groupers, and raiders. Other interesting tidbits include desirable yellow gear, gear dropping in instance chests, and the addition of a non-gating stat called Finesse.

MassivelyNew LotRO dev diary outlines future itemization improvements originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyber-equestrian-newsiesdev-diarydropfinessegearisengarditemizationlootlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-systems-teamrise-of-isengardroisystems-teamturbineturbine-entertainmentyellow-itemsThu, 28 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Anything worth having is worth a little pain]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/one-shots-anything-worth-having-is-worth-a-little-pain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/one-shots-anything-worth-having-is-worth-a-little-pain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/one-shots-anything-worth-having-is-worth-a-little-pain/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Today's One Shots submission comes from Ryan, who picked up some new armor in Guild Wars recently. It took a little more than just running to the nearest armor vendor to acquire it, though:
Here's my Guild Wars Necromancer in her Elite Canthan armor set and facial scar pattern. Any experienced GW player can tell you there is but one way to have this armor crafted: You have to go through Shiro to get it! And pay a pretty penny, of course, but it is totally worth it. Oh, and if any of you were wondering, yes, that is a Gorgon head in her left hand!
We're approaching the end of gear week, so if you've got some great armor or weapons to show off, send them in soon! We're also preparing for next week, which is pet week on One Shots. Have you got a great pet companion in your MMO of choice? Send it to oneshots@massively.com, tell us a little about what the game is, the pet, and how you acquired it, and we'll feature it here on One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Anything worth having is worth a little pain originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetgalleriesgallerygeargear-weekguild-warsgwncsoftone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsThu, 30 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Welcome to gear week!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/one-shots-welcome-to-gear-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/one-shots-welcome-to-gear-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/one-shots-welcome-to-gear-week/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This week's theme on One Shots is gear. If you can wear it or wield it, we're showing it off this week. Adam kicks off the theme with an image from Aion:
This is my Spiritmaster showing off one of Aion's PvP armor sets. The amount of detail in the game's equipment is staggering, even moreso after the graphical upgrades in 2.5! Besides, how many games let you wear a Vega/Jack-of-Blades-style mask? I plan to reskin this set onto subsequent PvP outfits for a long, long time.
Ready to show off your gear? Send a screenshot of your favorite items to oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a paragraph or two telling us what your items are and how you got them!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Welcome to gear week! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiongalleriesgallerygearncsoftone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsMon, 27 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online dev diary is all about the goods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/age-of-empires-online-dev-diary-is-all-about-the-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/age-of-empires-online-dev-diary-is-all-about-the-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/17/age-of-empires-online-dev-diary-is-all-about-the-goods/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Using tongue-in-cheek stick puppets, the folks at Age of Empires Online have emerged to give us a quick overview of the gear system in a new dev diary. Yes, even empire-building titles rely on good ol' fashioned MMO gear to equip armies.

Once attached to an army, gear changes the appearance and stats of your troops. The more rare the gear, the tougher they become. Gear can be found, purchased, and crafted as you may expect. You have to purchase the civilization with real-world money in order to be able to equip the very best items, however.

And if you're curious about Age of Empires Online's pricing structure, ShackNews has the full skinny. Some of the purchases are merely cosmetic, although it looks like there's bad news for those looking to avoid a "pay to win" scenario: "Unfortunately, Microsoft's approach to monetising Age of Empires Online seems to be one of placing non-paying players at a significant disadvantage."

Age of Empires Online is slated for an August 16th launch. You can watch the dev diary on gear for a chuckle or two after the jump!

Continue reading Age of Empires Online dev diary is all about the goods

MassivelyAge of Empires Online dev diary is all about the goods originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empires-onlineaoeaoeocraftingdev-diarydeveloper-diaryf2pfree-to-playgearlaunchmicrosoftpay-to-winpricing-structurerock-paper-shotgunshacknewsFri, 17 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/the-tattered-notebook-exploring-gu-60/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/the-tattered-notebook-exploring-gu-60/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/the-tattered-notebook-exploring-gu-60/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Game Update 60: The Children of War went live last week, and with it came a plethora of new content and some big changes to the game. Rallos Zek has begun preparations for his march on the Western Wastes, and Drunder is the new front line for the impending war. There are new heroic instances, new raid content, and even a new battleground scenario. In addition, there were some itemization changes, new battleground gear, and adjustments to the adornment interface.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at a few of the highlights from EverQuest II's latest update.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsChildren-of-wardestiny-of-veliousdrundereq2eqiiEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedfeaturedgearratongatattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookveliouszekMon, 06 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Grinding skill instead of gear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-soapbox-grinding-skill-instead-of-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-soapbox-grinding-skill-instead-of-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/the-soapbox-grinding-skill-instead-of-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

One of the most troubling things I see in gamers these days is their incessant pursuit of loot. If you happen to play World of Warcraft, you know that getting into a pick-up raid involves a lot of people waving around GearScore like it's an actual measurement of player ability. Ever tried to get into an Ultra-Max Security group in Global Agenda? I hope you've got top-quality token gear and are level 50 because the time you spent getting those things matters a lot more than actually having any sort of skills.

As a tournament fighting-game player, I take offense to this. You don't need to have an epic'd-out Chun Li to win in Street Fighter. In online games, gear is important, but it isn't the first thing you should be pursuing.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Grinding skill instead of gear

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Grinding skill instead of gear originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildbuildsendgamefeaturedfotmgeargearscoreopinionplayer-skillpvepvpraidingskillskill-vs-gearsoapboxspecspecstalentthe-soapboxyou-must-defeat-sheng-long-to-stand-a-chanceTue, 31 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Tinkering with standard classes and my Priest/Rogue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/lost-pages-of-taborea-tinkering-with-standard-classes-and-my-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/lost-pages-of-taborea-tinkering-with-standard-classes-and-my-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/lost-pages-of-taborea-tinkering-with-standard-classes-and-my-pr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aside from some ancillary problems, one of the things I love so much about Runes of Magic is that it gives me ability to augment weapons and equipment via the arcane transmutor. When that is coupled with a dual-class system, players are given a lot of room to bend traditional classes to their wills.

I've been running a Priest/Rogue for a while now and loving it. The selection of offensive spells, the Rogue's skills, and the weapons I can wield have me wanting to push the boundaries of typical class specifications. I'm building a hammer-wielding Priest that's specced much like I'd spec a Mage, but the class can also pump out adequate melee damage. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to give you a run-down of the gear, weapons, and stats I'm choosing. It should serve as a good guide to some unique possibilities for classes in RoM.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Tinkering with standard classes and my Priest/Rogue

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Tinkering with standard classes and my Priest/Rogue originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane transmutorArcaneTransmutorarmorbending-class-rolesbreaking-class-rulesbreaking-the-moldclass-combosclass-rolesdual-classfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefun-with-classesgearhybridhybrid-classesjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamodifyingnon-standard-classesplaying-with-classespriestpriest-rogueroguerolesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentupgradingweaponsMon, 30 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Whatever shall I wear?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/flameseeker-chronicles-whatever-shall-i-wear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/flameseeker-chronicles-whatever-shall-i-wear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/flameseeker-chronicles-whatever-shall-i-wear/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Every now and again I'm fond of revisiting the basics of Guild Wars here in Flameseeker Chronicles. This usually happens for one of two reasons: newer players have given me some ideas on things that are universally confusing or there's a lack of new Guild Wars 2 news.

Well, the Engineer topic has bypassed "beating a dead horse" and is rapidly approaching "beating a small smear of glue," and Justin Olivetti is playing Guild Wars in earnest again. What does that last thing have to do with the price of tea in Cantha, you ask? Follow along after the jump and we'll find out!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Whatever shall I wear?

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Whatever shall I wear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarmorarmor-guidefeaturedgearguild-warsguild-wars-101guild-wars-starter-guidegwinsigniainsigniasncsoftrunesMon, 30 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 is skill-based, says lead designer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/guild-wars-2-is-skill-based-says-lead-designer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/guild-wars-2-is-skill-based-says-lead-designer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/guild-wars-2-is-skill-based-says-lead-designer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Although Guild Wars 2 has had many reveals lately, much of the game is still shrouded in mystery, and ArenaNet has generally remained tight-lipped about specific game information. However, in a recent interview with Guild-Hall.cz, Lead Designer Eric Flannum did let fans in on a few tidbits.

A concern for a lot of players is skill vs. level. Flannum revealed that skill will play a significant role in Guild Wars 2 and clarified it by saying, "For really large level spreads of say 10 or more levels, then the gear and raw power of the character is going to be a huge factor. When you are talking about smaller level differences then skill plays a very large role." Given the more action-based combat mechanics of the game, we think this makes a lot of sense.

In a related question, Flannum was asked about the quality of dropped gear vs. crafted gear. "It will be possible to craft items that are comparable in power to the best items available through drops and other rewards," he assured readers.

For the whole interview with Flannum and designers Jon Peters, Jeff Grubb, Colin Johanson, and Ree Soesbee, hop to Guild-Hall.cz.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 is skill-based, says lead designer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetatributescolin-johansoncraftingcrafting-systemeric-flannumgearguild-hallguild-hall-czGuild-Wars-2GW2interviewjeff-grubbjon-petersncsoftree-soesbeeskill-basedskill-based-combatskillsFri, 06 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Don't give up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/wasteland-diaries-dont-give-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/wasteland-diaries-dont-give-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/wasteland-diaries-dont-give-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In Fallen Earth PvP, there is a pretty wide rift between the haves and the have-nots. A novice will rarely fare well in Fallen Earth combat, but there are rare exceptions. There are some groups that fight so well that it might even seem like they are hacking or cheating in some way. Usually, this isn't the case. What they are doing, however, is using every advantage they can get out of the game mechanics. They are also working together like a well-oiled machine. This takes a bit of knowledge and a lot of practice. A well-trained and coordinated team will make short work of a rag-tag pick-up group.

In this post, I will lay out the basic knowledge that you will need to PvP. If you take these few pointers to heart, you will be more likely to understand what happens when you lose and what to do to correct it. Overcoming the learning curve in Fallen Earth PvP requires two things. The first and most important thing is patience. When you get knocked down, you have to brush yourself off and try again. The second thing you will need is a firm understanding of the game mechanics. If you understand the rules of the game, you will be more likely to figure out what you did wrong and what your opponents did right. I can't teach you how to be patient, but I can tell you a few things about the game mechanics that might help you stay alive. Even if you never plan to PvP (mobs can be vicious too), click past the cut to start your training.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Don't give up

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Don't give up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buffsconsumablescontingenciesdpsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedfocus-firegearhealshotsicarus-studiosmutationspvppvp-guideskillssnaresstunstacticsvoice-commsFri, 06 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Walk on the wild side]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/flameseeker-chronicles-walk-on-the-wild-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/flameseeker-chronicles-walk-on-the-wild-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/flameseeker-chronicles-walk-on-the-wild-side/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I have a confession to make: I'm burned out on Guild Wars. That's not the fault of Guild Wars at all -- I'm finding a general feeling of burnout with all themepark MMOs in general. I discussed it at length with Shawn and Beau on last week's Massively Speaking, but the short version is that I find myself logging into my core MMOs (Guild Wars, Dungeons and Dragons Online, and RIFT), saying some version of "Meh," and logging out again.

After a couple weeks of this, it finally occurred to me to take my own darn advice: Try something new and different. With my typical all-or-nothing approach, I'm jumping in with both feet. So what is my new venture? Most of you can probably guess, but follow along after the jump for the skinny on my latest project.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Walk on the wild side

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Walk on the wild side originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetfeaturedgearguild-warsgwncsoftoh-god-oh-god-were-all-gonna-diepvpRArandom-arenasMon, 18 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: If we all look cool, how do we know who's really cool?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/the-tattered-notebook-if-we-all-look-cool-how-do-we-know-whos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/the-tattered-notebook-if-we-all-look-cool-how-do-we-know-whos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/the-tattered-notebook-if-we-all-look-cool-how-do-we-know-whos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Last week, we looked at the amazing job that EverQuest II does with providing ways to make your character look unique. EQII is one of the best when it comes to making your character look special, cool, and fitting of who you are. But there's another side of this coin, and as one forum poster has rightfully pointed out, the best-looking items aren't always the best items in the game. As Rayven2 noted recently on the official forums:
A good example is the Elemental War Sword. Sure it drops from an easy-mode mob, but it's a 4x raid and takes time and effort to beat (at least the first time you do it). The sword should look somewhat cool, but the graphic is just the same reused sword graphic painted gold. The chillborne sword is the one that has the particle effects for 200SC. So you bust your hump beating a mob that took 24 people to take down only to get a reward that looks worse than an appearance weapon anyone can acquire for little or no effort. None of the scout weapons look anywhere as cool as the SC daggers out there.
Senior Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson replied, saying, "It's a fair point, although if we're not paying attention to that now, it's by oversight, not by intent. Everyone wants something cool looking (not just cool stats) when they overcome big challenges. That's natural."

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll take a closer look at "looking cool" and how the rise of cash shops has changed the way we view each other.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: If we all look cool, how do we know who's really cool?

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: If we all look cool, how do we know who's really cool? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearance-itemsappearance-tabcash-shopclass-gearclass-hatcosmeticsDave-georgesoneq2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgearkingdom-of-skymarketplaceprismaticsraidingraiding-gearrayven2sentinels-fatesmokejumperMon, 11 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: Building a better costume]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/22/alter-ego-building-a-better-costume/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/22/alter-ego-building-a-better-costume/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/22/alter-ego-building-a-better-costume/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In last week's Alter-Ego column, I went over some of the basics of creating a character as well as my own view on the costume creator. This, in turn, set off a small firestorm of remarks in the comments both for and against the way DC Universe Online's designers have handled costuming. One thing was made fairly clear to me -- there are lot of people out there who don't entirely understand just how costuming and stat-based gear in DC Universe Online actually work. While you do start off with a limited number of options in the creator for costuming choices, a great many open up once you actually start playing the game. As such, I wanted to take some time in this week's column to really dig into how gear and costuming works in the game. Hopefully, it will help to clear up some confusion for people who haven't had a chance to actually play the game as yet.

So if you're curious about how to build your super costume choices or how the nuts and bolts of stat gear work for heroes and villains, then join me behind the break for this week's edition of Alter-Ego!

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Building a better costume

MassivelyAlter-Ego: Building a better costume originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter-egocosmeticcosmeticscostumecostumescostumingdc-comicsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuofeaturedgearMentorsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentstatsvideoSat, 22 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/wings-over-atreia-altaholics-anonymous/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

OK, now I've done it... my status as an oddity at Massively is exposed for all the world to see. I confess -- I do not like to play alts. Whew. There, I said it. That wasn't so hard. And being unique is not such a bad thing, right?

In gaming, and in Aion especially, I definitely feel out of place for this philosophy. After all, Aion not only encourages but rewards you for playing alts; what other game gives you an impressive armor set and weapon only after you reach mid-level on numerous characters? And even for those who eschew playing alts, there are times when you are forced to do so (like I was). Pathetic available inventory space? Make a mule. Miss lower-level solo instances because they were introduced after you were too high of a level? Make a noob. But these are only a couple of examples involving mechanics. What makes people create so many alts that they need spreadsheets just to know who has what and is where?

Head past the cut to delve into the pros and cons of managing multiple characters in Atreia.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamealtaltsdramafeaturedfenrisgeargroupinggrouping-incentivesinstancesinventoryinventory-managementInventoryManagementmiragentnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionriftingroleplayWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Community check-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's a quiet week around these here parts, what with the Thanksgiving holiday in NA and the lull before the November Update hits on the 29th. As such, I thought it'd be a great time to catch up on the current state of the community, especially as we've seen so many new bloggers and sites and podcasts arrive on the scene in the past year.

I've always said that Lord of the Rings Online is truly blessed with not just a stellar community but an active one as well. Some MMOs see very little in the way of fan-created sites, keeping most of the community action centered on official forums and the like. However, when it comes to LotRO, we have not only the MyLotro.com blogs set up by Turbine, but a cornucopia of web delights fashioned by hard-working players.

So to say "Thanks!" to this wonderful community, today I want to highlight some of the best LotRO resource websites, blogs and podcasts that consistently go above and beyond in making our slice of the MMO landscape a delight to visit.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Community check-up

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Community check-up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ales-and-talesarmorblogsclasscommunityezinefeaturedfishinggearhobbitimmersionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-wikimapmusicmusic-systemmylotromylotro.compodcastPodcastsresourcesturbineTurbine-EntertainmentwardenweaponswikiFri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Icarus publishes latest Fallen Earth State of the Game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/icarus-publishes-latest-fallen-earth-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/icarus-publishes-latest-fallen-earth-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/icarus-publishes-latest-fallen-earth-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Fallen Earth fans have had a rough couple of weeks (to say nothing of the staff at Icarus Studios). The post-apocalyptic sci-fi MMORPG was recently hit with a round of layoffs that impacted several key people and likely left subscribers wondering as to the future of everyone's favorite digital wasteland.

Happily, Icarus senior game designer Marie Croall is here with a lengthy State of the Game letter that puts a few of our fears to rest and outlines a path forward. Though Croall doesn't directly address the recent layoffs, preferring instead to focus on the upcoming development schedule, it's clear that there are a lot of improvements incoming, which bodes well for Fallen Earth's fans and future.

Croall talks about Sector 4, a level cap increase, and new gear, consumables, and recipes that will soon see the light of day. Graphical upgrades and physical combat changes are also on the way, with the latter being pushed to the test server before the end of the month. The Fallen Earth team will also be improving high-end group content, tweaking the serendipity system, and continuing to balance Progress Towns throughout December. Finally, look for long-awaited additional character slots to be available in the Fallen Earth store as early as next week.

Check out the full letter on the official forums, and also look for the Fallen Earth devs on next week's Massively Speaking podcast with Shawn and Rubi.

MassivelyIcarus publishes latest Fallen Earth State of the Game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fallen-earthfallen-earth-llcgearhigh-end-group-contenticarusicarus-studiositemsmarie-croallphysical-combat-changesprogress-townsrecipesState-of-the-gametest-serverworld-bossesTue, 16 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Sandbox or themepark]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-sandbox-or-themepark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-sandbox-or-themepark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-sandbox-or-themepark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lately I've had some great conversations over on the Runes of Magic forum that have me thinking about what type of MMO Runewaker has created. Every MMO eventually gets stamped as either sandbox or themepark, depending on whether it has an open-ended environment or is filled with directed activities. RoM is packed with minigames, quests, dungeons, housing, pets and guild content. RoM's minigame, Malatina's Course of Terror, can be taken at any level and yields the same possible rewards to all players. Yet the devs are constantly adding quests, dungeons, and other high-level content, all of which requires a player to level in order to take part. What kind of MMO is RoM? Do these terms shape your opinions of what you want to see added in the game? And does any of this matter?

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Sandbox or themepark

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Sandbox or themepark originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>directedfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegeargear-heavygear-modsgive-you-a-shovelguidedhold-your-handmodsno-goalsopen-endedopen-worldplayer-made-contentplayer-toolsquest-drivenromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxstatsthemeparkupgradeMon, 15 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews BioWare on SWTOR's crafting and PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/massively-interviews-bioware-on-swtors-crafting-and-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/massively-interviews-bioware-on-swtors-crafting-and-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/massively-interviews-bioware-on-swtors-crafting-and-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to head down to LucasArts in San Francisco to check out the current build of Star Wars: The Old Republic and chat with some of the BioWare developers. While my hands-on with the game won't be out until next month, we can deliver a couple of smaller interviews on two of the recently revealed systems in the game. And I think you'll want to hear what the interviewees have to say!

Join me past the cut as I ask lead writer Daniel Erickson and lead PvP designer Gabe Amatangelo all about the Alderaan Warzone, the PvP reward system, avoiding battleground design pitfalls, companion tradeskilling, player-made gear, and hardcore crafting in SWTOR.

Continue reading Massively interviews BioWare on SWTOR's crafting and PvP

MassivelyMassively interviews BioWare on SWTOR's crafting and PvP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alderaan-warzonebattlegroundbattlegroundsBioWarebioware-eacompanioncompanionscraftingcrafting-systemdaniel-ericksonEAeconomyElectronic-Artsfeaturedgabe-amatangelogearinterviewInterviewsLucasArtspvpStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortradeskilltradeskillswarzonewarzonesFri, 12 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Solve all your problems with chainsaws edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/ask-massively-solve-all-your-problems-with-chainsaws-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/ask-massively-solve-all-your-problems-with-chainsaws-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/ask-massively-solve-all-your-problems-with-chainsaws-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We don't really want to solve all our problems with violence. It's just that violence solves problems so quickly and efficiently that it's kind of silly. With a sufficiently large lever, Aristotle believed he could move the world, but I say with a sufficiently large chainsaw you could probably solve all of your problems in such a way that they would never need to be solved again. Although most state and local authorities might take some issue with this approach. And it's hard to feel a sense of fulfillment just by chainsawing everything in your path.

So maybe we can't solve everything with violence after all. This week's questions both speak to problems that don't allow the option -- the persistent bugbears of gear grinds and slow connections. Click past the break for this week's answers, and if you have your own questions, you can leave them in the comments or send them to ask@massively.com. Or chainsaw them into a tree and send us a picture. Chainsaws are pretty awesome.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Solve all your problems with chainsaws edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Solve all your problems with chainsaws edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohconnection-speedscovcoxddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeqeverquestff11ffxifinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigame-sizegeargear-grindguild-warsgwkilling-ten-ratslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromassively-metaq-and-aquestions-and-answersslow-connectionultima-onlineuoThu, 11 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[All you ever wanted to know about Rift's gear and were not afraid to ask]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-rifts-gear-and-were-not-afrai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-rifts-gear-and-were-not-afrai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-rifts-gear-and-were-not-afrai/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While some players may possess the tact not to come right out and say it to a dev's face, when an upcoming MMO is being discussed there's always the inner voice shouting, "What about my loots? Is the gear pimpin' or what?"

Forget zones and races and dynamic events -- today at Ten Ton Hammer, the crowd finally got the Rift: Planes of Telara dev team to open up about the outfits that constitute a bulk of the rewards of the game. In this reader Q&A, Game System Designer Drew Clowery tackled numerous questions about Rift's gear. Rift will launch with 48 armor set models -- each boasting a number of variants and texture options -- but will not initially offer armor set bonuses.

Veteran MMO gamers will feel at home with Rift's armor system, which is restricted by class (warriors will be able to wear heavier armor than rogues, for example) and can be bound on pickup or equip. Loot comes in one of four levels of rarity -- common, uncommon, rare and epic -- based on its utility and difficulty to attain. Crafted gear will be competitive (and apparently customizable) to dropped gear. And finally, Rift will not launch with an appearance system that replaces the look of worn gear with cosmetic items.

Clowery feels that the team has struck a good balance between loot being useful and being a barrier: "Loot is an important part of our game, and so it has to have an important impact upon the characters. That said, it's not completely overwhelming... We don't design encounters to be gear checks. We design them to see if you can get together and do this."

MassivelyAll you ever wanted to know about Rift's gear and were not afraid to ask originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearancearmorarmor-setarmor-set-bonusescosmeticcrafted-geardrew-cloweryepicgeargear-gear-never-changeslootoutfitq-and-ararerarityriftrift-planes-of-telaraTen-Ton-Hammertriontrion-worldstthWed, 10 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring Eberron: Closing the community gap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/exploring-eberron-closing-the-community-gap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/exploring-eberron-closing-the-community-gap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/exploring-eberron-closing-the-community-gap/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In last week's Exploring Eberron, I talked quite a bit about the community divide in Dungeons and Dragons Online and why it exists. Update 7 seems to be ushering in a new era of DDO, one in which the devs turn their attention back to the veteran and high-level players.

I've been around DDO for about a year, and Exploring Eberron is geared toward the less experienced player, so I sincerely understand and appreciate Turbine's effort over the past year or so to provide plenty of content for the "new kids." It's something that made complete sense -- what good are thousands of new customers if you don't have a rich, in-depth game to keep them around?

However, I can understand the frustration of the veteran players who are sort of sitting around saying, "But what about us?" Will the next year solve this? Follow along after the jump while I gaze into my crystal ball.

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: Closing the community gap

MassivelyExploring Eberron: Closing the community gap originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorddoddo-update-7ddo-wikidungeons-and-dragons-onlineexploring-eberronf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpgearturbineweaponsFri, 15 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How important is your character's armor appearance?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/30/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-your-characters-armor-appeara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/30/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-your-characters-armor-appeara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/30/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-your-characters-armor-appeara/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Guild Wars 2 generated some buzz this week with a detailed blog post regarding the upcoming game's dye system for character armor. Players will have the ability to dye each armor piece different colors -- white sleeves and a red bodice, for example -- and the full dye system could have over 400 available colors.

This system brings the following question to mind: "Do you care?" The attention paid to armor style varies widely in MMOs, from the nonexistent armors of EVE Online to the not-so-pretty armors of Dungeons and Dragons Online to the stylish armors of Final Fantasy XIV. Are you the type to spend time getting your gear's appearance just so, or are you more interested in spending time on the battlefield rather than the catwalk?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How important is your character's armor appearance? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorgearim-too-sexy-for-my-shieldopinionthe-daily-grindThu, 30 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST