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[LotRO dev diaries take a look at upcoming Rune-keeper and Hunter changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/lotro-dev-diaries-take-a-look-at-upcoming-rune-keeper-and-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/lotro-dev-diaries-take-a-look-at-upcoming-rune-keeper-and-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/lotro-dev-diaries-take-a-look-at-upcoming-rune-keeper-and-hunter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
With the launch of Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard just a short week away, Turbine is beginning to round out its pre-Isengard dev diaries. Today, we've got a double-whammy for you in the form of some new information on what will become of Rune-keepers and Hunters when the new expansion hits.

On the Rune-keeper side of things, the devs have a variety of goals for the class, such as refining the class' trait trees, allowing the class to perform as a "hybrid AoE damage dealer," and buffing the class' AoE healing slightly. Chisels and rifflers will be seeing big changes in order to allow all of them to be used by Rune-keepers of the DPS and healing variety rather than gearing them toward one or the other. As with all other classes, the team is focusing on improving existing skills rather than introducing new ones, and as such the greatest changes are coming to the Rune-keeper's trait lines. Each trait line's four-set bonus is seeing changes to some degree.

Meanwhile, in Hunter land, the goals for the class are much more concise. The devs want to give players further incentive to use all three of the available combat stances while performing "general cleanup" on the class. All stance-specific bonuses have been removed from all trait lines and redistributed elsewhere, thereby keeping Hunters from being locked into a specific stance based on their choice of trait line. Hunters will also be granted the ability to dual-wield and to wear medium armor from the get-go, which should help new players immensely. Of course, a variety of Hunter abilities have been improved, and the class is also gaining two new skills to round out its repertoire.

For the entire set of changes to both classes, head on over to the dev diaries and soak up all the juicy details. And remember, Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard launches in just a week, so prepare yourselves accordingly.

MassivelyLotRO dev diaries take a look at upcoming Rune-keeper and Hunter changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changesclassclass-changesdev-diariesdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrorise-of-isengardrune-keeperturbineTurbine-EntertainmentTue, 20 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexon releases new MapleStory map and two new classes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/nexon-releases-new-maplestory-map-and-two-new-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/nexon-releases-new-maplestory-map-and-two-new-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/nexon-releases-new-maplestory-map-and-two-new-classes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

MapleStory - Wild HunterMapleStory's Big Bang patch series is reloading for a second round of content updates, and this time the new stuff includes a new map, two new classes, and a new story.

Nexon's free-to-play fantasy side-scroller now features the Wild Hunter and Battle Mage classes, which players can commandeer in an effort to stem the tide of the relentless Black Wing menace that threatens to destroy the Resistance. Surprisingly, the Battle Mage isn't a bring-up-the-rear kind of DPSer like most mages you may have met. Nexon's press release says he'll be "the first into danger, placing himself between his teammates and the forces of darkness."

The Wild Hunter, on the other hand, is very much a keep-'em-at-range kind of gal who "will shoot down her targets with deadly accuracy [while riding] on the back of a jaguar." MapleStory will also be featuring another Hot Time event on August 6th, so mark your calendars and be sure to log in, grab an SP reset scroll and get some double XP. Finally, don't forget to click past the cut for a couple of videos focused on the new classes.

Continue reading Nexon releases new MapleStory map and two new classes

MassivelyNexon releases new MapleStory map and two new classes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-mageclassesdouble-xpdpsf2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-mechanicshot-timehottimehunterjaguarmagemaple-storymaplestorynew-contentnexonpatchespress-releaseranged-damagetrailersvideowild-hunterThu, 04 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Class graduation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Amid all of the hubbabaloo of E3, Rise of Isengard reveals, and pre-order madness, something equally as significant has been taking place on the Lord of the Rings Online scene: proposed class changes.

Turbine's been fairly good giving each of the classes a pass over this last year, but it looks as though something even more significant is in the offering when the expansion hits this fall. As we all know, the level cap is going up to 75, virtues will increase to a new cap of 12, and stats will be expanded in several ways. But there's even more on top of that: Orion and Zombie Columbus have been posting a steady stream of proposed class changes on the forums.

These aren't all tiny tuning measures, either. In many cases, weak elements of classes and class builds will be radically revamped, and how you play these classes will change forever. As with any prospect of change, these proposed notes are both exciting and scary to behold. I felt it was high past time we at least chew on the reveals thus far and see how our classes will be graduating to the next level when Isengard arrives.

Of course, these are all proposed and highly subject to change between now and whenever they're implemented. As Orion said, "Blogs are coming out before the major changes so that we can get your feedback early, often and when we are still agile enough to respond to the valid reasoning behind concerns or true issues that are found." Read with a grain of salt (if you like, perch the salt on your shoulder so it can view the screen better).

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Class graduation

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Class graduation originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burglarcaptainchampionclassclassese3e3-2011f2pfeaturedfree-to-playguardianhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrominstrelorionrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrunekeeperthe-road-to-mordorturbinewardenzombie-columbusFri, 24 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate open beta to begin June 30th [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/hellgate-open-beta-to-begin-june-30th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/hellgate-open-beta-to-begin-june-30th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/hellgate-open-beta-to-begin-june-30th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hellgate's closed beta has been going on since the beginning of this month, but now it's almost time to kick open the doors and blast some monsters in open beta. T3FUN announced today that the freshly rebooted Hellgate will be entering open beta in six days on June 30th.

Strap up your armor and choose your weapons and get ready to jump into the seedy supernatural underbelly of the world of Hellgate. Just make sure you come prepared by checking out our previous coverage of the game!

[Update: The official announcement has been released, and it contains news of a few new features for the game. Duel Areas will be included for players who wish to take part in some team-based PvP combat, while those with a PvE inclination can test their mettle with the Cow Room (surely an homage to Diablo II's infamous Cow Level), where players face off against wave after wave of zombies in hopes of netting some rare loot. For the full press release, hit the official site.]

MassivelyHellgate open beta to begin June 30th [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonhunteropen-betascreensavert3-funt3funFri, 24 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Frozen in time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/the-road-to-mordor-frozen-in-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/the-road-to-mordor-frozen-in-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/the-road-to-mordor-frozen-in-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Frozen in time

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balrogbree-landburglarcaptaincheatercheaterselfelvesf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreeze-tagfrostbitefrozengamehunterin-game-eventInternational-Association-of-Virtual-Freeze-Taglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropvpruinsstar-warstagthawedFri, 27 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMOs play upon your real-world fears?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/30/the-daily-grind-do-mmos-play-upon-your-real-world-fears/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/30/the-daily-grind-do-mmos-play-upon-your-real-world-fears/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/30/the-daily-grind-do-mmos-play-upon-your-real-world-fears/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's a friend of mine who suffers from extreme acrophobia -- the fear of heights. It's so bad, in fact, that she experiences anxiety attacks if she gets too far from the ground or goes flying in an MMO. This phobia's kept her away from certain zones in games if these areas utilize a lot of high-up places.

I know of other people who experience a terribly common fear -- arachnophobia -- and struggle with the appearance of giant spiders in MMOs. You know, the critters that practically every online RPG is required to include by law. I've even heard of cases where Hunters in World of Warcraft chose spider pets to gain an edge in PvP, if they so happened to be fighting an opponent with that particular fear.

It's a strange question, but here it is nonetheless: Do MMOs play upon your real-world fears? Do you struggle with parts of your game, or know others who do, because the devs happened to recreate a personal phobia of yours?

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: Do MMOs play upon your real-world fears? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acrophobiaarachnophobiafearfear-of-heightsfear-of-spidersfearshunteropinionphobiapvptdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 30 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Echo... echo... echo...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/the-road-to-mordor-echo-echo-echo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last night before I drifted off to sleep, I was idly wondering what it would be like to actually live in Middle-earth. Apart from the extremely high mortality rate due to wandering wolves, bold bandits, and orchestrating orcs, it might be a pretty excellent place to dwell, as long as one didn't mind a lack of Wi-Fi and Starbucks. I think Hobbit pies and Dwarf ale would be an acceptable substitute.

Next week our virtual world will grow a bit in girth and depth with the Echoes of the Dead update. When all is patched and done, it'll be a truly big update containing meaty piles of content to devour. I think many of us are still scrutinizing Turbine as we go through this first year after the free-to-play switch, watching to see whether all of this additional revenue will be pumped back into the game or not. Echoes of the Dead marks the second post-F2P update for Lord of the Rings Online, following last November's Journey to Winter-home, and I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with just how much is being served up this time around.

So in anticipation of the patch, let's walk through the major features of LotRO's latest update and see whether it was worth the wait!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Echo... echo... echo...

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Echo... echo... echo... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-instancesbook-3burglarcharacter-panelcraftingdwarfechoes-of-the-deadenedwaithevendimf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgallerygaunt-lordshunterinstancesisengardjourney-to-winter-homelegacieslegendary-itemlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaminstrelmonster-playmorianorth-downspatchpvmppvpradiancerelicssara-leesharper-imageskirmishessoloficationstarbucksturbineturbine-entertainmentupdatevolume-iivolume-iiivolume-iii-book-3wifiwinter-homeFri, 18 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Just around the bend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/the-road-to-mordor-just-around-the-bend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been a few months since the November Update in Lord of the Rings Online, and the natives are restless -- as usual. Some folks are despairing the long wait until Rise of Isengard while others are itching for more challenges to their currently level-capped characters. Then there are the players who are hopelessly lost in Moria and would give their eye teeth for a flashlight.

Happily, a new update is just around the bend, code-named Echoes of the Dead. The actual name is Echoes of the Dead too, so I guess that's not such a great code. Over the past couple of weeks, we've started to get a feel for just how large this update is, and after reading through the Bullroarer test notes on Wednesday, I think we're in for a tsunami of a patch.

Of course, these patch notes come in the middle of Turbine's carefully spaced dev diaries dealing with each major change or addition, which means that we're a little in the dark as to the specifics of half of this update. That's not going to stop me -- or any of you -- from analyzing, speculating and gesturing excitedly to no one in particular.

So let's dig in to this hearty meal of mushrooms and patch notes to see just how deep LotRO's rabbit hole goes!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Just around the bend

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Just around the bend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bear-hugburglarcharacter-panelcosmetic-outfitcraftingdamage-over-timedotdungeonsechoes-of-the-deadfeaturefeaturedhunterinstanceslegacieslegendary-itemslord-of-the-ringslore-masterlotromap-homeminstrelmonster-playmoriamysterious-relicsnovember-updateoutfitoutfit-systempatchpatch-notespvepvmpradianceraidraid-instancesrise-of-isengardrune-keepersamsungskirmishesstancestest-servertest-server-notesthe-road-to-mordortim-langturbineuiupdateupdate-notesuser-interfacevolume-1volume-2volume-3volume-3-book-3Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine dev diary outlines LotRO Hunter tweaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/turbine-dev-diary-outlines-lotro-hunter-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/turbine-dev-diary-outlines-lotro-hunter-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/turbine-dev-diary-outlines-lotro-hunter-tweaks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The winds of change are blowing toward Lord of the Rings Online's Hunter class, and Turbine developer Brian "Zombie Columbus" Aloisio has penned a new dev diary detailing the efforts to make Hunters more interesting for high-level players. This is no small feat, as "the Hunter was intentionally designed to avoid complexity," Aloisio says. "The differences between the trait lines are a little shallow."

How exactly is Turbine going to achieve the delicate balance between easy-to-play and hard-to-master? Aloisio outlines three primary focus points for the Hunter changes: a reduction of the number of "filler" traits, enhancements for underused skills (as opposed to new skill additions), and general maintenance. The dev diary goes into great detail regarding the bowmaster and huntsman lines, with the former ultimately receiving a reduction in top damage potential but an increase in the overall effective damage and the latter seeing significant changes to Fleet Stance and Strength of the Earth.

Find a path to the official LotRO website for the full details.

MassivelyTurbine dev diary outlines LotRO Hunter tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-aloisioclass-changesclass-tweaksclassesf2pfantasyfree-to-playhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromiddle-earthtolkienturbineturbine-entertainmentzombie-columbusWed, 09 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Putting the "lass" back in "class"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-road-to-mordor-putting-the-lass-back-in-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-road-to-mordor-putting-the-lass-back-in-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-road-to-mordor-putting-the-lass-back-in-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With the not-so-recent NDA lift on the beta, LotRO players are fast at work discussing, analyzing, dissecting and pouring over all of the information coming from testers. Like a double Shire rainbow, the main question on everyone's lips is, "What does it mean?" We want to know how this is going to impact us, our future, and our gameplay, and the massive scope of this change is both unsettling and heady.

Last week we sifted through the LotRO forums for testimonies about several aspects of the beta, which was treated with a stony silence from the lot of you. Oh, I kid! Nothing gets the tongues wagging around here like a good mouthful of free-to-play, although I've been informed by the leaders of the Global Conspiracy Against Gamers Having Fun that this topic has three days left on the clock until it's locked away in a vault forever.

So even though I tried to touch on the relevant points of the beta last week, there's simply so much of it out there that I had to leave some behind. It's easy to forget that this fall's update contains more than the LotRO store, like a whole barrel of additions and fixes to the game -- including class tweaks. Grab my hobbity hand, and we will venture into the land of the unknown... the land of class changes.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Putting the "lass" back in "class"

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Putting the "lass" back in "class" originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaburglarcaptainchampionclass-previewclass-previewsdouble-rainbowf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglobal-conspiracy-against-gamers-having-fungoldilocksguardianhobbity-handhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrominstrelndarune-keeperturbinewardenwhat-does-it-meanFri, 13 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Shopping for your skirmish soldier]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-for-your-skirmish-soldier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-for-your-skirmish-soldier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-for-your-skirmish-soldier/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Every Friday, The Road to Mordor brings you the latest in Lord of the Rings Online news, guides and analysis.

Breaking up, as the song goes, is hard to do -- but sometimes very, very necessary. I'll admit that I have recently settled into a bit of a skirmish funk, firing up a session here and there merely for the XP and the privilege of filling my bags with 576 different types of marks (seriously, Turbine, couldn't we switch from this confusing British-like currency to something more streamlined, like the Euro?). When I couldn't find a partner for a skirmish, the sessions seemed like a drag, and even though I dutifully stabbed my way through them, I grew to resent their length and my death-prone Herbalist soldier.

It wasn't until the other day that a friend challenged my choice of soldier, and in so doing, freed me up for a more enjoyable skirmish experience. "Why are you sticking with the Herbalist?" he asked. I shrugged -- I thought that's what you picked when you were DPS-y and lacked a lot of self-heals. After doing a bit of research on the forums, I made the switch from the decaf healbot to 100% caffeinated Archer goodness, and I couldn't be happier. Pew pew, stab stab, win win.

The choice of a soldier companion for skirmishes may be the tipping point between a painful slog and a joyful battle, as it was in my case. If you're still trying to figure out which soldier might work best with your class, then hit the jump and see what other players recommend you try.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Shopping for your skirmish soldier

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Shopping for your skirmish soldier originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archerbannerguardburglarcaptainchampioncomboduofeaturedguardianherbalisthunterif-you-read-these-tags-you-have-excellent-eyesightlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrominstrelprotectorrune-keepersageskirmishskirmish-solidersoldierturbinewardenwarriorFri, 21 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A class made just for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-class-made-just-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-class-made-just-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-class-made-just-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Every Friday, The Road to Mordor brings you the latest in Lord of the Rings Online news, guides and analysis.

In some MMORPGs, picking a class to suit your taste and playstyle is as uncomplicated as buying your favorite beverage. Do you want something fizzy? Then get a soft drink. Something to make you think you're way more witty than you actually are? Beer will do. Something to fill your bladder in under 0.2 minutes? Ice tea, baby. So it is in many MMOs, where players find that game's version of their favorite class and hit the "play" button without thinking. It's a sad commentary on the tired and bland class design that's come from the Holy Trinity of game design, but that's a discussion for another day (or column).

Instead, I want to devote today's Road to Mordor to sorting out the nine playable classes of LotRO, because they are very often not what you'd expect from MMORPG class stereotypes. I've met a lot of players who end up playing -- and falling in love with -- a class that they would never touch in another game, due to that unique Turbine Twist[TM] that's put into each class. So whether you're rolling your very first character in LotRO or thinking about taking a walk in another class' shoes, hit the jump for a handy guide to these nine classes.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A class made just for you

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A class made just for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burglarcaptainchampionclassesfeaturedguardianhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrominstrelrune-keeperthe-road-to-mordorturbinewardenFri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A roundup of World of Warcraft's major class changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/a-roundup-of-world-of-warcrafts-major-class-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/a-roundup-of-world-of-warcrafts-major-class-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/a-roundup-of-world-of-warcrafts-major-class-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Love it or hate it, World of Warcraft is the 900-pound gorilla of the MMO market at the moment. Nearly everyone who games online has at least tried it, and even those of us who play other games very possibly still play it as an old standby. So it's hard to miss the news about the newest expansion, Cataclysm, which is poised to remake the world in many ways. It's also home to an ambitious series of overhauls to classes and their talent structure, with far-reaching changes for every class in the game.

Our sister site, WoW.com, has been keeping abreast of the development team's slow roll of new information about each class, with every class but Paladins having their upcoming changes previewed. (Paladins are due out on the 16th, due to being "deep in development.") They've also gone through an in-depth analysis of each different set of changes, from the good to the bad. So if you've played the game at all -- and the odds are you have -- take a look past the break for a quick version of everything coming when World of Warcraft brings down the end of the world.

Continue reading A roundup of World of Warcraft's major class changes

MassivelyA roundup of World of Warcraft's major class changes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmclass-changesclassesdeath-knightdruidexpansionshuntermagepriestrogueshamanwarlockwarriorworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmSat, 10 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Not your everyday monkey business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/one-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/one-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/one-shots/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While great big apes have become pretty much the popular tanky-pet of choice for many World of Warcraft Hunters. having your pet ape tank for you isn't without some dangers to the poor pixel-monkey! Today's One Shots from Garumoo of Dath'Remar in World of Warcraft shows off a poor ape pet who seems to have had a chunk of his back taken out during a fight. Or shows off a really weird graphical glitch for the non-RPers in the house. In either case, Garumoo sums up nicely: no idea what happened here, even Breanni is stumped. We hope he is on the mend soon, though. The little black crater in his back just looks weird.

Do you have some screenshots showing off strange glitches, bugs, or other visual quirks from your favorite game? Perhaps you just spotted a re-used texture hanging out where it shouldn't be? We want your screenshots of them, if so! Send them to us here at oneshots AT massively.com, along with name and game. No other info is needed, but you're welcome to add it, if you'd like. We'll post it here and show it off to all our readers, giving you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Not your everyday monkey business originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardgarumoohunterhunter-petsone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 17 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Life after 50: Progressing your Burglar, Hunter and Lore-master in Moria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/life-after-50-progressing-your-burglar-hunter-and-lore-master/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/life-after-50-progressing-your-burglar-hunter-and-lore-master/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/life-after-50-progressing-your-burglar-hunter-and-lore-master/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Believe it or not, there's a lot more to Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria than just the Rune-keeper and the Warden. Chances are, if you already have a favorite class that you've leveled to 50, you're going to be more interested in getting that character through the mines and onto 60. Turbine realizes this, and have recently written three wonderful new Developer Diaries featuring the Burglar, the Hunter and Lore-master's roles from 50 to 60.

These new Dev Diaries do more than just list new skills, they actually cover certain roles that these classes may play to use certain spells more effectively. Plus, with the introduction of trait sets (much like armor sets work now, with bonuses given to certain trait combos), the roles are much more defined for each class. Check out each of these three articles for the Burglar, Hunter and Lore-master to get yourself ready for Mines of Moria, coming very soon!

MassivelyLife after 50: Progressing your Burglar, Hunter and Lore-master in Moria originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burglardev-diaryexpansionhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotromines-of-moriaturbineWed, 08 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Xfire to broadcast WoW's Sunwell Plateau raid live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/xfire-to-broadcast-wows-sunwell-plateau-raid-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/xfire-to-broadcast-wows-sunwell-plateau-raid-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/xfire-to-broadcast-wows-sunwell-plateau-raid-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


This Wednesday at noon (EDT), Xfire will run a live broadcast of a raid in World of Warcraft's top instance -- the Sunwell Plateau. The raid will be performed by famous uberguild Nihilum, and the broadcast will run on the Dyyno technology.

This is the second raid broadcast by Xfire, but this time around advances in technology enable a higher number of viewers and better quality. Up to 4,000 people may tune in. Four different points of view will be provided -- those of a Warrior, a Hunter, a Druid, and a Warlock. The raid is expected to last between three and four hours. To watch, you'll have to head over to Xfire's website and install both the Xfire client and the Dyyno plugin.

What do you think, readers? Pro-level raiding as a spectator sport? Is that something you're actually intrigued by, or does it sound like a terrible waste of time? We're skeptical, but maybe we're just not as l33t as j00.

MassivelyXfire to broadcast WoW's Sunwell Plateau raid live originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbroadcastdruiddyynohunterlivenihilumraidraidingstreamingstreamssunwell-plateauvideowarlockwarriorworld-of-warcraftwowxfireMon, 23 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Hunter's guide to fast-travel in LotRO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/a-hunters-guide-to-fast-travel-in-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/a-hunters-guide-to-fast-travel-in-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/a-hunters-guide-to-fast-travel-in-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


There are several reasons to roll a Hunter in Lord of the Rings Online. You can usually do the most damage. You are the primary ranged-attacker. You can track virtually anything in the game. You can provide speed buffs that help you and your fellowship run faster. You can name yourself some clever variation of "Legolas". Whoa wait, no. Please don't ever do that. But the fact of the matter is, the Hunter is a powerful and extremely popular class in the game, and it would never hurt to learn a bit more about the actual usefulness of their skills.

In this guide, we're going to focus on one of the most valuable aspects of the Hunter: the wayfaring or "guide" skills that allow you to quickly and easily teleport yourself or your entire fellowship to certain spots across the map instantly.

Continue reading A Hunter's guide to fast-travel in LotRO

MassivelyA Hunter's guide to fast-travel in LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredguidehunterjoystiqfeatureslotrotravelingtravellingwayfarerwayfaringMon, 16 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Traveling in LotRO: Are we there yet?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/traveling-in-lotro-are-we-there-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/traveling-in-lotro-are-we-there-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/traveling-in-lotro-are-we-there-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Traveling in any MMO can be a daunting task. In some older games, traveling across the large map was just par for the course, so to speak. Many players found it just a giant hassle and complained that it was simply put in as a way to get you to spend more time paying for the game. In more recent games, many developers have opted to add in waypoints or instant teleportation access for those more casual players who don't have the time to spend running from point A to point B.

When we look at fairly recent games like LotRO or Vanguard though, we see that traveling across the map is just part of the immersion. Sure, it may be irritating when you have a quest that takes you from one end of Eriador to the other (unless you're a Hunter), but that's the whole thing with the Lord of the Rings lore. Exploration and taking your time, enjoying the scenery, is just what this game is all about. After all, it took Frodo three whole movies to get from The Shire to Mordor, right?

MassivelyTraveling in LotRO: Are we there yet? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eriadorhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromaptraveltravelingturbinevanguardFri, 06 Jun 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Business as usual edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wrup-business-as-usual-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wrup-business-as-usual-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wrup-business-as-usual-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is it just us or are people settling into their habits lately? Age of Conan is a standby for a lot of folks since release, while WoW remains a constant favorite among MMO players. EVE may have seen a little boost in the ratings lately thanks to all the buzz around the expansion (ditto for DDO), but there hasn't really big a big shakeup in the MMO game in quite a while, seems like. Nevertheless, it's Friday, so it's time to ask you, dear reader: What aRe yoU Playing?

Massively's own James Egan is one of those diving back into EVE Online, presumably to blast some nubs out of the sky. I continue to be fascinated by World of Warcraft -- my Hunter is continuing the climb to 70, even if it's slow going lately. And Tateru Nino still hangs out in Second Life and City of Heroes.

So things are pretty business as usual this weekend -- would it be wrong to start asking for an MMO release that actually shakes things up? Have you recently broken ground on a new and exciting MMO, or are you standing by your old standbys this weekend? What are you up to?

MassivelyWRUP: Business as usual edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanbusinesscity-of-heroesevefridayhunterjames-eganmmosecond-lifetateru-ninowhat-are-you-playingwowwrupFri, 30 May 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO, A Look Back: Books 10 & 11]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/lotro-a-look-back-books-10-and-11/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/lotro-a-look-back-books-10-and-11/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/lotro-a-look-back-books-10-and-11/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


On August 21, 2007, Book 10: The City of Kings was released and opened up the city of Annúminas was for players to experience. Unfortunately, the city had been invaded by the forces of Angmar, and players had to fight to keep certain points of the city friendly to them. If they failed, the entire area will fall under the Witch-king's control.

Hunters and Captains both received class reviews, and a new mechanic was introduced called Critter Play. Different than PvMP, Critter Play allowed players to take on new forms in a PvE setting. The first form introduced was that of a chicken. Not to be outdone, Trolls, and Rangers were introduced into PvMP as well as a very large polish pass on PvMP as a whole.

Other new features brought to the game were factions with the major races (with rewards for increasing said faction) and the bartering system which allowed players to turn in certain monster drops for armor rewards. And of course, no Book is complete without a raft of new quests introduced for high level players to grind through.

Continue reading LotRO, A Look Back: Books 10 & 11

MassivelyLotRO, A Look Back: Books 10 & 11 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angmarannuminasblarogbook-10book-11captainchicken-playcity-of-kingscritter-playdefenders-of-eriadorgollumhigh-passhunterlore-masterlotrolotro-book-10minstrelpvmpthe-rifttrollshawsturbineThu, 24 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Coolest classes ever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/player-vs-everything-coolest-classes-ever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/player-vs-everything-coolest-classes-ever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/player-vs-everything-coolest-classes-ever/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


For most fantasy MMOGs, the basic classes you can expect to be playing aren't too hard to predict. Whether you're a stalwart warrior with shield in hand, a crafty mage raining fiery bolts of destruction, a sneaky rogue with poison on his knife, or a benevolent cleric healing the wounds of his allies, you make up part of what's known as the holy trinity of MMOs: Tank-DPS-Healer. You need someone to get your foe's attention, someone to whack them over the head until they die, and someone to keep everyone alive until that happens. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

We can debate the merits of that particular combat system as long as you like, but what I really wanted to point out is how boring those three specialized roles are. The four archetypes I mentioned are a staple in almost every single fantasy MMOG on the market, but they're far from the most interesting ones. While it's true that you can't get by without them, they've become so vanilla-flavored at this point that they're practically passé. Whenever I log into a new game and look at their class list, I wince a little. "Oh, a chance to be a brave warrior... again. Hmm. Mage? Rogue? Meh."

I've always been a big fan of classes that went against the grain, played outside the box, and did something a little different from the "core" classes. Not everyone needs to fit nicely into those three archetypal slots. The classes that don't often turn out to be the most rewarding and fun to play, in my experience. That said, I thought I'd take a look at some of the more interesting class designs in the games I've played and discuss what made them so cool.

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Coolest classes ever

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Coolest classes ever originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureranarchy-onlinecity-of-villainsclassclassesenchantereverquestfeaturedguild-warsholy-trinityhorizonshunterjoystiqfeatureslore-mastermastermindmesmerplayer-vs-everythingultima-onlineworld-of-warcraftFri, 18 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are classes played out?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-daily-grind-are-classes-played-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-daily-grind-are-classes-played-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-daily-grind-are-classes-played-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Our recent post about Fallen Earth makes mention of the fact that in the game, there will be no traditional class structures -- players can allocate points wherever they like. They're not locked into a setup where they only have access to a particular pool. And that got us thinking: is it time for the class system to move on?

Think about it. Even the real life military, with all its roles, functions, and chains of command, appreciates a soldier with a diverse skillset. And really, does it make sense that just because you're, say, a Hunter, that it's impossible for you to carry a shield? Having an open system means that one could truly customize their character, and not feel like just one more in the herd. But maybe having definable classes is the best way to determine a player's function during a raid? What are the good reasons to keep offering the class structure?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are classes played out? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chain-of-commandclass-structureclassesfallen-earthhuntershieldtdgthe-daily-grindTue, 08 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choosing your race in Middle-earth: Dwarf and Hobbit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/choosing-your-race-in-middle-earth-dwarf-and-hobbit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/choosing-your-race-in-middle-earth-dwarf-and-hobbit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/25/choosing-your-race-in-middle-earth-dwarf-and-hobbit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Here is the second half of our Lord of the Rings Online guide to races, which covers some tips and tricks to help players starting out in Middle-earth and those who've been wandering its lands as well. As we said with the first half of our guide, its purpose isn't to say which race is the best pick for which class --but to just give some insight. So without further delay, lets get to everyone's favorite cranky, stout race -- Dwarves!

Continue reading Choosing your race in Middle-earth: Dwarf and Hobbit

MassivelyChoosing your race in Middle-earth: Dwarf and Hobbit originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burglardwarvesered-luinfeaturedguardianhobbithunterlittle-delvinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromiddle-earthracessilver-deep-mineMon, 25 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Perils of changing pets in World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/perils-of-changing-pets-in-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/perils-of-changing-pets-in-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/perils-of-changing-pets-in-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Night flight to MenethilAs a hunter (well for my main character, in the few days before crunch time, my pet is a big part of the arsenal available to me. I'm quite happy, most of the time, with my bear. Extra armour and extra hit points a nice tank maketh, and if the damage is a little lower per second, that's cancelled out by some durability on those times when I make a mistake and send the poor beast in to a stickier situation than expected (like when I get hit by a load of big critters who all respawn on my head in the middle of an over-level fight).

But I was tempted by the thought of big scorpid venom after being hit by one, so I swapped pets, briefly. Ouch is the only description I can think of. The venom is great in PvP I'm sure, but not so useful vs. critters, especially critters with poison themselves. The absence of growl and the ability to attract and hold aggro meant I was suddenly in the midst of fighting all the time. The fact that, even after the scorpid levelled I couldn't teach it growl (or similar) was the final nail in the poor scorpion's coffin. For PvE play I want that tank bank and doing what tanks do best - holding aggro. If I, as I do, sometimes tip over the edge and pull them off him by mistake, so be it - for most things I'm fighting at around my level, it's half dead or more before it disengages. There is still time for a stun and an arcane shot for a bit more damage before contact. It leaves the daggers I use as a nice back up to kill the almost-dead critter as it arrives.

The moral of this tale - for both Hunters and Warlocks I guess - think about your pets/summons and what you use them for. Piling out extra damage is nice, but do you want a tank more? If you're hunting in a group, does that change? (How much would the group tank like a pet that slows the attacks on him from ancillary targets, I wonder?) Pets are an important part of your arsenal - one I use all the time and I'm sure most hunters and warlocks do too. Thinking about how to use them is surely smart?

MassivelyPerils of changing pets in World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beargrouphunterpetPvEPvPscorpid,tankwarlockWorldof-WarcraftTue, 29 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Last days of January edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/wrup-last-days-of-january-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/wrup-last-days-of-january-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/wrup-last-days-of-january-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Can you believe January is almost already over? Time flies, as they say, when you're playing MMOs. Wait-- that's what they say, isn't it?

This weekend, I'm going to be playing lots of Burnout Paradise, which actually has a lot of MMO qualities. The online gameplay is exquisite, and Criterion did a great job of tracking everything (and I mean everything) you do, and even then displaying that information to the people you're playing against. Before a race, it'll say things like "toucansamurai has 40 online takedowns," and the in-game narration will even taunt you to try and battle against certain players. Very awesome. It doesn't have a persistent world, per se (although many of the things you destroy do remain destroyed, I guess, even if other players don't see them that way), so it's not really an MMO in the strictest sense of the word. But for a racing game, it does a lot of online things just right.

And of course, like everyone else, I find myself drawn back yet again to World of Warcraft. My Night Elf Hunter isn't leveling itself, unfortunately. What aRe yoU Playing this weekend in the world of MMOs?

Previously on WRUP...

MassivelyWRUP: Last days of January edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnout-paradisehunterlevelingmassivelynight-elfwhat-are-you-playingworld-of-warcraftwrupFri, 25 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Dead man's chest edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/wrup-dead-mans-chest-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/wrup-dead-mans-chest-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/wrup-dead-mans-chest-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It's Friday, which means that not only is the weekend here, but it's time once again for our weekly query: we want to know just What aRe yoU Playing?

I know quite a few folks will be headed into the Pirates of the Burning Sea preorder this weekend, as FLS just recently opened the floodgates on their servers. Me, I've just gotten my WoW addiction back into gear, so I'll be back pushing my very first character off into Outland and up towards 70. I'm also planning to head into Dungeons and Dragons Online for the first time-- being that I'm a huge fan of pen and paper D&D, it'll be interesting to see how Turbine has translated Eberron into MMO form.

What are you up to in the virtual worlds this weekend?

Gallery: Pirates of the Burning Sea Press Tour

MassivelyWRUP: Dead man's chest edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DDOeberronhunteroutlandpirates-of-the-burning-seapotbswowwrupFri, 11 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Last LotRO dev chat of 2007]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/last-lotro-dev-chat-of-2007/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/last-lotro-dev-chat-of-2007/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/last-lotro-dev-chat-of-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


German Lord of the Rings Online site, Lotro-welten, held their last monthly LotRO dev chat on Friday. Unlike some previous dev chats, this one had some juicy bits. Most of it focused on class improvements in Book 12 which is expected to land on the test server Roheryn very soon in the new year.

Hunter tweaks are going to be focused on solo survivability and increasing dps in a way that makes sense for the class. Examples of what they have planned include boosting Focus by 3 when the Hunter uses their Blindside melee strike+bow shot ability. This will allow the Hunter the Focus they need to fire off their high damage Penetrating Shot ranged attack. Also, Fear will not be broken by any DoTs that were already on the target when the Fear is applies. And the high damage Merciful Shot will revert back to being usable when the target is at 50% health instead of 25%.

The devs also elaborated on the Guardian changes coming. They will be receiving a new dps stance that will open up a new set of skills to use. This is designed to be used with 2-handed weapons, but can be also used with sword and shield in hand. Guardians will also be getting a new talent which will allow them to divert all incoming damage on a single target to themselves. This will not be stackable, but will be usable in Player vs Monster Player combat.

Continue reading Last LotRO dev chat of 2007

MassivelyLast LotRO dev chat of 2007 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blindsidebook-12burglardps-stancefellowship-maneueverguardianhunterlotrolotro-weltenmerciful-shotmischiefmonth-of-the-burglarmonth-of-the-guardianmonth-of-the-hunterpenetrating-shotriddleroherynWed, 26 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How much mini-management is too much?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/how-much-mini-management-is-too-much/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/how-much-mini-management-is-too-much/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/how-much-mini-management-is-too-much/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I've rolled a Hunter at least 4 times in World of Warcraft, only to lose interest after about level 12. Why? I couldn't handle the thought of all that pet maintenance. Seriously, who needs the hassle? Keep it fed, teach it new abilities, swap it in and out of stables, worry about loyalty ... and you don't even get the benefit of being able to play-wrestle with it in off hours!

Is it worth it to go through all that trouble just for a companion that's meant to address a class's deficiencies? I've never been a warlock; is it the same with those pets? At what point does the fun of having a pet get outweighed by the annoyance of upkeep? What do you think, is caring for your pet fun, or should it be streamlined?

MassivelyHow much mini-management is too much? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classhuntermaintenancemassivelypetupkeepwarlockworld-of-warcraftMon, 26 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Conclusion to The Rift loot guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/conclusion-to-the-rift-loot-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/conclusion-to-the-rift-loot-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/conclusion-to-the-rift-loot-guide/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We've reached part four of TenTonHammer's guide to the equipment obtained in Lord of the Rings Online's new raid zone, The Rift of Nurz Ghashu. In this final update, it is Hunters, Captains, and Burglars whose eyes will light up, as their new class-specific armor sets are examined in detail. The three classes will receive the "Doom-Hunter" set, the "Armor of the North Star", and the "Thrill-Seeker" set, respectively.

As with the other Rift gear we've had a look at, these sets are some of the best equipment in the game. Each gem that is handed in for gear will be needed by each class, and will always result in the same slot of armor. For example, a Sparkling Diamond is what is used for the glove-slot armor of every class. This does make it a bit easier to keep track of than in some other games, where the same quest item may equal different types of armor for different classes, and a whole raid can stall while people struggle to figure out if it's something they need or not.

So if the thought of slaying a Balrog isn't enough of an incentive for you to try and assemble your guild at The Rift (it isn't?) then hopefully the lure of these epic lewts will draw you to this exciting new content. Part four of the guide -- for hunters, burglars and captains -- is found through the related story link, and if you didn't get to see our previous posts, here is our coverage of part one, part two and part three.

MassivelyConclusion to The Rift loot guide originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armor-of-the-north-starbalrogburglarcaptaindoom-huntergemhow-tohunterlotroriftthe-riftthe-rift-of-nurz-ghashuthrill-seekerturbineThu, 08 Nov 2007 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London class overview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/hellgate-london-class-breakdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/hellgate-london-class-breakdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/07/hellgate-london-class-breakdown/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I am having a blast playing Hellgate: London, but it took me a while to sort through the different classes and choose one for playthrough. After dabbling with them all, I have settled on the Summoner as my current favorite. Following is a very general breakdown of the different classes to help you choose which one to try.

The Templars
These are the melee classes. They have some good survivability skills, especially when surrounded by mobs.

Guardians: This is the standard tank class -- sword, shield, the best armor, etc. They can also do a decent amount of melee damage and can acquire a healing aura at level 2 which heals the Guardian more as the number of mobs attacking increases.

Blademaster: DPS Melee. If you like dual wielding blades, the Blademaster is your class. They can also carry shields if you like and get auras of their own like the Guardians.

Continue reading Hellgate: London class overview

MassivelyHellgate: London class overview originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blademastercabalistclassclassesEAengineerevokerfeaturedflagship-studiosguardianhellgate-londonhunterjoystiqfeaturesmarksmansummonertemplarWed, 07 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Book 12 details revealed in new LotRO dev chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/book-12-details-revealed-in-new-lotro-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/book-12-details-revealed-in-new-lotro-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/book-12-details-revealed-in-new-lotro-dev-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The German Lord of the Rings Online fansite LotRO-Welten held its regular end of the month chat with LotRO devs, community managers and players. Today they posted the transcripts and, boy howdy, it's a treasure trove of Book 12 goodness.

The Burglar and Guardian revamp revelations weren't too extensive as the class dev didn't make it to the chat. But Burglars were promised a stealth that can be extended to a group member and a set of skills that can be used after a successful Fellowship Maneuver.

Though two classes get the spotlight for revamps, all classes are going to get small adjustments. Devs hinted that the recently revamped Hunter class make get a few of their skills improved and Champions will get some love as well, but nothing specific was mentioned.

Continue reading Book 12 details revealed in new LotRO dev chat

MassivelyBook 12 details revealed in new LotRO dev chat originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angmarbook-12book-13burglarchampionschicken-playcrafting-stationscustomizable-horsedelving-of-frordev-chatdisplayable-trophiesfellowship-maneuversfishingguardianhouse-petshunterlotr-weltenlotrolotro-class-revampmonth-of-the-burglarmonth-of-the-guardianplayer-vs-monster-playerpvmppvmp-monster-racialt-traitsrotating-decorationstranscriptsFri, 02 Nov 2007 20:32:00 EST<![CDATA[A better bow for younger hunters in Middle Earth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/lotro-tip-a-better-bow-for-younger-hunters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/lotro-tip-a-better-bow-for-younger-hunters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/17/lotro-tip-a-better-bow-for-younger-hunters/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Got a lower level Hunter in LotRO and are looking for that extra edge? You've made it to Combe and Chetwood, maybe looked in on Bree. Gee those bows are nice, but you're maybe level 7 or 8, and level restrictions put the better bows out of your league.

Well, wave your hand dismissively at the wares of those city-folk. You can do better.

Continue reading A better bow for younger hunters in Middle Earth

MassivelyA better bow for younger hunters in Middle Earth originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breechetwoodcombegreenway-crossinghow-tohunterlotronorthern-bree-fieldsprancing-ponyrose-thornleysouthern-bree-fieldsthornley-bowWed, 17 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST