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[Hyperspace Beacon: Breaking the bank]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/hyperspace-beacon-breaking-the-bank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/hyperspace-beacon-breaking-the-bank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/hyperspace-beacon-breaking-the-bank/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Breaking the bank
Originally, when I set out to cover the guild bank, I wasn't expecting there to be so much information to parse. After all, a guild bank is just a bank, right? Wrong. So let me give a quick introduction to those of you just catching on to Update 1.2 for Star Wars: The Old Republic.

SWTOR's Update 1.2: Legacy introduces a boatload of content and other useful changes to the game. From the Legacy system itself, which rewards different types of solo gameplay, to additional story elements, such as a new PvP warzone and 16-man operation on the new planet of Denova, this game update attempts to show the subscribers that the monthly fee actually gets them something.

Many of the new additions to the game have been described as systems that should have been in at launch but for whatever reason had to be shelved for a later date. Some gaming media personalities believe that BioWare is hanging a lot of hope on this patch, labeling it "the Jesus Patch." And the guild bank is intended as a key feature of that patch. Thanks to Yll of the Test Guild on the public test server, I learned first-hand what the guild banks have to offer.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Breaking the bank

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Breaking the bank originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsfeaturedguild-bankguild-banksguild-managementhyperspace-beaconlegacylucasartsopinionsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorTest-Guildthe-old-republictorupdate-1.2YllTue, 03 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Does running a guild have to be so hard?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/the-guild-counsel-does-running-a-guild-have-to-be-so-hard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/the-guild-counsel-does-running-a-guild-have-to-be-so-hard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/the-guild-counsel-does-running-a-guild-have-to-be-so-hard/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Herding cats
When you hear people describe the role of guild leader, you often hear descriptions like "herding cats," "constantly busy," or "running the crazy house." Guild leaders are often easily identified because they're the ones running around at a frantic pace, trying to micromanage every last detail. It's no surprise that few people actually want to be guild leaders because the way the role is described, you're almost expected to take on a second job.

But sometimes guild leaders make things harder than they need to be. Part of that is from a desire to take on too much, but part of that is because there have traditionally been certain things we all assume have to be done. Whether you're a brand-new guild leader or someone who's been running the show for years, it's worth stepping back and questioning whether we really need to be doing all of the things we're doing. Let's put on some Bob Marley and look at a few ways to cut down on the busy work.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Does running a guild have to be so hard?

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Does running a guild have to be so hard? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicebackflaggingdkpfeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-bankguild-busy-workguild-counselguild-dkpguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-nannyguildskaren-bryanleadershipopinionthe-guild-counselThu, 19 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-guild-counsel-guild-life-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-guild-counsel-guild-life-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-guild-counsel-guild-life-in-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

swtor
If you thought the future looked cloudy for guilds in MMOs, Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch stomped out any doubts. The pre-launch list of guilds was so enormous that it rivaled the total player populations of other MMOs. But there are some interesting aspects to guild life in SWTOR, and this week in The Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at them.

If you're interested in some first impressions from a guild perspective, or if you're wondering how to make a guild now that the game has launched, read on for a look at guild life in SWTOR.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicebankbanksbiowarecreating-a-guild-in-swtordialogueeaelectronic-artsfeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-bankguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildskaren-bryanleadershiplucasartsopinionsci-fistar+wars+the+old+republicstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstarwarstheoldrepublicswtorswtor+guildswtor+guild+bankswtor+guildsswtorguildswtorguildbankswtorguildsthe+old+republicthe-guild-counselthe-old-republictheoldrepublictorvoice-chatThu, 22 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-looks-to-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-looks-to-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-looks-to-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
You may think that now that Star Wars: The Old Republic's early start underway and moving nicely, the developers over at BioWare are sitting back and enjoying a celebratory glass of champagne (or bottle of whiskey). You would be wrong, however, because a new post on the official site shows that BioWare is already looking toward the future. But what can players expect from the future of The Old Republic?
Guild functionality is high on the priority list, and players can expect everything from guild banks to guild capital ships in the future. UI customization is also "a very big priority" to BioWare. The studio also has "an entire team dedicated to adding content and features to [PvP]." The space system, the legacy system, and the galaxy as a whole are also on board for future updates. For the full details, just head on over to the official SWTOR site.

[Update: The team has also just posted an address to those who are not yet part of the early access pre-launch. We've included the contents of the message behind the break. Thanks to Onyx for the tip!]

Star Wars: The Old Republic is finally here, and the Force is with Massively! We've prepared a Hutt-sized feast of class introductions, gameplay guides, lore roundups, and hands-on previews to help you navigate the launch period and beyond. And don't forget our weekly SWTOR column, the Hyperspace Beacon!

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated]

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsfuturefuture-updatesguildguild-bankguild-banksguild-functionalityguildslegacy-systemspace-systemstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictoruiui-customizationupdatesTue, 13 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at your own Rift: Checking out Update 1.3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-checking-out-update-1-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-checking-out-update-1-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-checking-out-update-1-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The calm before the storm. That's the best way to describe the RIFT screenshot above. As I puttered around and wasted time trying to frame my screenshot from the ideal angle, working that nomad model to his full potential, I was seconds away from a zone event opening up on my head. Instantly, about 50 gigantic desert warriors emerged to attack us for their leader's amusement. And for the next half hour, Fortune's Shore was overrun with warriors, stone golems, and dog people.

Fortune's Shore isn't the only place to experience chaos and danger, though. Whatever the Dwarves did in Hammerknell, it's finally caught up with them -- and with all of Telara. Abyssal and Endless Court forces are posing a real threat, and the Ascended are now tasked with repelling the invasions and charging back into Hammerknell.

In this week's Enter at your Own Rift, we'll look at a few of the changes from Update 1.3. Read on for a look at tithes, character transfers, trial servers, and towering colossi!

Continue reading Enter at your own Rift: Checking out Update 1.3

MassivelyEnter at your own Rift: Checking out Update 1.3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankbless-wardstonecolossusenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedguild-bankriftrift-invasionsshimmersandtithetransferstrial-serverstriontrion-worldsupdate-1.3vaultwardstoneswaves-of-madnesszone-eventsWed, 29 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Today we're on the verge of RIFT's third major update's going live. It's a doozy of a patch, too, with a little something for everyone: a raid for endgame players, guild banks for... well, guilds, character transfers for the antsy, and RIFT's second world event for one and all.

With Patch 1.3, Trion Worlds puts its money where its mouth is by continuing with its streak of sizable, regular updates. It's a critical patch for some, as it seeks to answer the growing call for more endgame content while an increasing number of players hit 50. Fans of RIFT will most likely welcome the spread of the patch, but detractors will undoubtedly criticize why X was done instead of Y (and don't even get into Z; that letter is nothing but trouble). And above the noise, Trion sails on with apparent confidence and dedication.

Even though we got to speak with Trion at E3, I got the opportunity for another pre-1.3 interview with Design Producer Hal Hanlin (which, by the way, is a superhero fake identity if I ever heard one). In this no-holds-barred discussion, we covered the selling points of 1.3, the accusation that RIFT is "dying," and the philosophy behind Trion's rapid stream of content.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20-man-raid20-person-raidbalancebind-to-accountcharacter-transferscollectionscontentdesign-teamdesignerse3e3-2011enter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedguild-bankhal-hanlinhammerknelllfg-systemMurdantixMurdantix-mountpatch-1.3patch-1.4pvppvp-daily-questsraidred-sliversriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldswaves-of-madnessworld-eventWed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT's 1.3 update bringing new raid, free transfers, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/rifts-1-3-update-bringing-new-raid-free-transfers-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/rifts-1-3-update-bringing-new-raid-free-transfers-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/rifts-1-3-update-bringing-new-raid-free-transfers-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With less than a week remaining until the biggest game update in RIFT's short history, Trion Worlds is upping the excitement ante with a new press release detailing the extensive features coming with Waves of Madness.

The official unveiling will happen courtesy of a world event on June 22nd, and RIFT's 1.3 version update will subsequently include guild bank functionality, new item sets, new character accessories, new artifacts, free character transfers, and Hammerknell. This last is a 20-player raid that Trion says "will challenge even the most practiced players."

The encounter boasts three wings, 10 bosses, and a gaggle of gross-out monsters designed to make life more fun for Telara's endgame players. If we've piqued your curiosity, have a look at the official website for all the details.

MassivelyRIFT's 1.3 update bringing new raid, free transfers, and more originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3-patch1.3-updateartifactsendgame-contentfantasyfree-character-transfersguild-bankhammerknellitem-setspress-releasepveraidraidingriftrift-1.3rift-patchtelaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldswaves-of-madnessWed, 15 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: A guild guide to RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/the-guild-counsel-a-guild-guide-to-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/the-guild-counsel-a-guild-guide-to-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/the-guild-counsel-a-guild-guide-to-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With all of the buzz this week surrounding the launch of RIFT, I thought it would be a good opportunity for The Guild Counsel to take a closer look at guilds in the game. On the surface, with all of the solo content and the public grouping feature around rift invasions, it might not seem that guilds are very important. But at the higher levels, guilds definitely have a purpose, such as prepping for raid content, working on ancient wardstone quests, or coordinating PvP attacks in Warfronts and in the open world.

This week, we'll cover the basics of how to form up a guild and then take a closer look at some of the guild tools available to guild leaders.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: A guild guide to RIFT

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: A guild guide to RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredguild-bankguild-banksguild-counselguild-levelingguild-managementguild-questsguild-windowguildsiron-tombrealm-of-the-faeRIFTrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsThu, 03 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you an in-game pack rat?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/08/the-daily-grind-are-you-an-in-game-pack-rat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/08/the-daily-grind-are-you-an-in-game-pack-rat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/08/the-daily-grind-are-you-an-in-game-pack-rat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hi everyone. My name is Krystalle Voecks, and I am an in-game pack rat. My bank in World of Warcraft holds tons of random things like tabards, trinkets, and a bunch of holiday clothing that I picked up along the way. In City of Heroes, my vault is maxed out with higher-end salvage which I'm stockpiling for the day when I settle down and start grinding IO Enhancements for the various badges. I'm also generally only one or two spots away from being full on Wentworths' as well. The same holds true in pretty much every MMO I play, from EverQuest to EVE Online. If I have a room, chances are I'm going to hold on to something just in case I can use it later. That said, it seems to be a pretty common problem from what I hear from talking to other players, so I know I'm not alone in holding on to things for sentimental or 'potentially useful someday' reasons.

This morning we thought we'd ask just how prevalent this is among MMO players - and Massively readers. Are you also something of an in-game packrat? Do you have lots of things stocked up in case you might use them? Or do you unload anything you can't immediately use via in-game markets or private sales, preferring to keep your storage nice and clean?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you an in-game pack rat? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankclutterguild-bankhangarpack-ratpackratstoragetdgthe-daily-grindSun, 08 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST