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[Champions Online 'ambitiously' re-itemizing the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/champions-online-ambitiously-re-itemizing-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/champions-online-ambitiously-re-itemizing-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/champions-online-ambitiously-re-itemizing-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Champions Online
As the groundhog pops up to see his shadow, so too do the devs of Champions Online pop up with their monthly UNTIL Field Report, dishing out the plans and proposed future updates for the game. This month's report is rather lengthy and kicks off with a promise about upcoming "ambitious" re-itemization of all items and rewards in Champions.

Currently in testing and on deck for the near future is a '90s Iron Age costume set, alerts, zone balancing, and a look at why them women folk walk so dang funny (apparently arms and legs are moving out of sync on female characters). Players also have a new travel power -- Distortion Acrobatics -- and specialization trees to look forward to.

There's also some good information in the report as to why some features and concerns have yet to move from low to high priority, such as the "lukewarm" feedback of team duels and the difficulties of balancing XP gifting.

As the next update for Champions Online nears, Cryptic promises a more in-depth series of dev diaries detailing the changes.

MassivelyChampions Online 'ambitiously' re-itemizing the game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-studiosdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playiron-ageitemizationpatchpreviewre-itemizationtest-servertestinguntil-field-reportupcoming-patchupdateFri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:00 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[The Tattered Notebook: A wish list for EQII's 'phase two']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-tattered-notebook-a-wish-list-for-eqiis-phase-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-tattered-notebook-a-wish-list-for-eqiis-phase-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-tattered-notebook-a-wish-list-for-eqiis-phase-two/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EQ2 Beastlord
EverQuest II has had quite a year, but I was recently thinking about a comment that Executive Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson made regarding the future of the game. In a recent interview, he discussed plans for "phase two," which is an ongoing list of things the team wants to do to improve the game but don't make it to live. With all of the new changes to the game, the team usually comes up with lots of extra ideas, and Georgeson said the focus going forward will be to knock out some of those ideas on the "phase two" list.

I thought it would be fun to put together a list of things I'd like to see on the phase two list, and since it's the season for wish lists anyway, the timing is perfect. Read on for a look at a few things I'd like to see in EQII next year, and then share your ideas below!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: A wish list for EQII's 'phase two'

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: A wish list for EQII's 'phase two' originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beastlord+eq2beastlordeq2dave-georgesoneqeq-2eq-iieq2eq2+new+contenteq2-traders-cornereq2-wish-listeq2newcontenteq2wireEQIIeverquesteverquest+nextEverQuest-2everquest-iieverquestnextf2pfantasyfeaturedfeldonfree-to-playitemizationjethylkaren-bryannaimiopinionsoesony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookSat, 24 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online producer's letter promises revitalization of classic content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/ultima-online-producers-letter-promises-revitalization-of-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/ultima-online-producers-letter-promises-revitalization-of-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/ultima-online-producers-letter-promises-revitalization-of-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bree's (old) house in Ultima Online :D
Did you wonder who was captaining Ultima Online since Calvin "Uriah" Crowner left his role as producer earlier this fall? Apparently, it's been none other than Jeff Skalski, who recently penned a producer's letter to introduce himself to the UO-faithful. In it, he explains that his goals for the grand-daddy of MMOs include heavily increasing the team's interaction with the community, implementing weekly Q&A sessions, squashing bugs, and "breathing life back into areas that have long been forgotten," i.e., revamping older content.

In fact, some of that older content -- Shame, one of the original and iconic anti-virtue dungeons in classic Britannia -- is due for its revamp sooner rather than later. Publish 73, now on the test server, retools Shame with a truly massive itemization overhaul and difficulty scaling as players descend the dungeon's depths.

MassivelyUltima Online producer's letter promises revitalization of classic content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-virtue-dungeoncalvin-crownerclassic-mmodungeondungeonseaElectronic-Artsitemizationjeff-skalskioverhaulpatchproducers-letterpublish-73shameultimaultima-onlineuouriahMon, 07 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2011: KingsIsle's Sara Jensen Schubert talks RPG math]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/gdc-austin-2011-kingsisles-sara-jensen-schubert-talks-rpg-math/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/gdc-austin-2011-kingsisles-sara-jensen-schubert-talks-rpg-math/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/gdc-austin-2011-kingsisles-sara-jensen-schubert-talks-rpg-math/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I'm sure many of us have wondered how game developers decide upon item stats, experience amounts, damage per second, and all of the other numbers that we come across in our favorite games. Actually, it might sound more like, "Why the heck is my uber sword of uberness only doing X amount of damage?!" At GDC Online this week, Sara Jensen Schubert gave a rare glimpse into the math behind MMORPGs. She has worked on games like Shadowbane and DC Universe Online and is now a lead designer at KingsIsle Entertainment. Her background and focus is a traditional RPG viewpoint, and she builds from there to go through the process of designing and building stats, character attributes, experience rewards, the leveling curve, and itemization. While her talk is aimed at those in the industry, it offers a unique perspective into what goes into those stats behind our gear and why it takes us so long to level up. Read on for highlights from the presentation.

Continue reading GDC Online 2011: KingsIsle's Sara Jensen Schubert talks RPG math

MassivelyGDC Online 2011: KingsIsle's Sara Jensen Schubert talks RPG math originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dcuodpsexperience-pointsfeaturedformulagdcgdc-2011gdc-onlinegdc-online-2011itemizationkingsislemathnumbersrpg-mathsara-jensen-schubertshadowbanespreadsheetsstatisticsWed, 12 Oct 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II's GU61 going live today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/everquest-iis-gu61-going-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/everquest-iis-gu61-going-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/everquest-iis-gu61-going-live-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EverQuest II - porting home
Those of you trying to log into EverQuest II this morning may have been greeted by a crashing launchpad or some variation on the standard "service offline" message. Fear not, as it's patch day, and the servers will be back sooner rather than later (we hope).

Game Update 61 is in the offing, and EQ2Wire has an extensive breakdown of the patch notes for what is one of the more significant non-expansion updates in the history of the game. Aside from the alternate advancement tweaks, the most significant change is a complete loot and itemization revamp. This means that there's no reason to restrict yourself to the "Golden Path" when it comes to leveling your characters. Norrath is one of the largest and most diverse game worlds in existence, and you should now see level-appropriate loot no matter where in the world you adventure.

Also of note are new dungeons that scale between levels 60 and 90 as well as the house rating system, a native video-capture and YouTube publishing feature, and the ability for your Fae and Arasai characters to fly at level 85 and up. Finally, the official EQII site has a lengthy new lore passage related to the update, and you can bone up on what's happening with the War of Zek while you're waiting for the servers to restart.

MassivelyEverQuest II's GU61 going live today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeonseq2eqiieqii-gu-61everquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgolden-pathgu-61gu61itemizationloot-revamplorenorrathpatchpatchesscaling-dungeonssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentvideo-capturewar-of-zekThu, 25 Aug 2011 11:30:00 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[The Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If there's one thing that came out of Fan Faire about EQ Next, it's that no one will talk about EQ Next. No matter who you talked to, any time the subject came up, the answer was always, "I can't talk about that." However, Executive Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson sat down with Massively during Fan Faire to talk more about EverQuest II, and during that interview, he did give a tiny glimpse into what that game would be like.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, Massively gets the scoop on Beastlords, the dungeon builder, Freeport's revamp, and much more.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akil-hooperaltsbeastlordbeastlordscitadelcrushbonedave-georgesondesign-your-own-dungeondungeon-builderdungeon-finderemily-tayloreqeq-nexteq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2EverQuest-iieverquest-nextfan-fairefan-faire-2011freeportgame-of-thronesitemizationnasa-moon-shotorcpetpet-classplanetside-2ps2revamprich-waterstattered-notebookveliouswarderwarlockMon, 18 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Fan Faire knowns and unknowns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/the-tattered-notebook-fan-faire-known-and-unknowns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/the-tattered-notebook-fan-faire-known-and-unknowns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/the-tattered-notebook-fan-faire-known-and-unknowns/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As we inch closer to Fan Faire, speculation begins to mount about what news EverQuest II fans will finally get to hear. Last year, players were smarting from the announcement of EQII Extended, the free-to-play server, and it seemed to deflate the mood among EQII Fan Faire attendees. This year, EQII is full of knowns and unknowns, to borrow a phrase from former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. We have known knowns, which are things that we know we know. And then there are known unknowns, or things that we know but we actually don't know. Lastly, there are unknown unknowns, which are things that we don't know we don't know. That's where things are in EQII currently. Confused? Me too! This week's Tattered Notebook will look at what we know and what we hope to find out more about at this year's Fan Faire.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Fan Faire knowns and unknowns

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Fan Faire knowns and unknowns originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dave-georgesondestiny-of-veliousdominoemily-tayloreqeq-nextEQ2eq2xEQIIeqII-extendedeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iieverquest-nextfan-fairefan-faire-2011featuredfreeportfreeport-revampitemizationjohn-smedleysentinels-fatesmokejumpersoesoe-fan-faireSony-Online-Entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookveliousMon, 27 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[APB Reloaded open beta coming May 18th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/apb-reloaded-open-beta-coming-may-18th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/apb-reloaded-open-beta-coming-may-18th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/apb-reloaded-open-beta-coming-may-18th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Mark your calendars, APB fans. May 18th is a big day in the history of the resurrected title since it marks the official start of open beta. Bjorn Book-Larsson broke the good news yesterday on the APB Reloaded blog, and he had a few other interesting nuggets to discuss as well.

GamersFirst's character restoration service should make its first appearance today around 4:00 p.m. PDT, and APB veterans from the Realtime Worlds days will be able to reclaim their old avatars and customizations. If you're unsure if you qualify, check your inbox as GamersFirst will be sending out email notices to everyone with an available reclaim.

Book-Larsson also talks briefly about some of the company's plans for dealing with cheaters. No details are given, of course, but GamersFirst is apparently very aware of all the attempted aimbotting going on thus far in the beta. Finally, there's a blurb concerning new item rollouts in the coming days, as well as some info relating to the game's payment interface. Head to the official APB Reloaded blog for more.

MassivelyAPB Reloaded open beta coming May 18th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimbotsaimbottingall-points-bulletinapbapb-reloadedbetaBjorn-Book-Larssoncharacter-reclaimscheaterscheatingcrimedev-blogdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playgamersfirstitemizationitemsopen-betasan-paroTue, 03 May 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Velious itemization and flying Gnomes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-tattered-notebook-velious-itemization-and-flying-gnomes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-tattered-notebook-velious-itemization-and-flying-gnomes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-tattered-notebook-velious-itemization-and-flying-gnomes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With the launch of Destiny of Velious rapidly approaching, EverQuest II fans are starting to hear a lot more about what this expansion will bring. This past week was filled with new lore, new screenshots, and another live Webcast with Senior Producer Dave Georgeson, Lead Designer Rich Waters, and Itemization Developer Salim Grant.

As in previous webcasts, the hosts talked about flying mounts, launch day events, and othmir, but the main topic they discussed was itemization and gear progression. There is no level cap increase with Destiny of Velious, and because of that, many players wondered what items would look like, especially since a lot of Sentinel's Fate gear was already loaded with procs, wards, and effects. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at how the developers tackled this difficult area and what changes players should expect to see with the arrival of Destiny of Velious.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Velious itemization and flying Gnomes

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Velious itemization and flying Gnomes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-ring-waradornmentsbattlegroundscoldain-ringdave-georgesondestiny-of-veliouseqEQ2EQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedflying-mountitemizationKaelnatures-defenderothmirrich-waterssalim-grantsoeSony-Online-EntertainmenttinkerfestveliouswebcastMon, 14 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion 2.1.0.5 update tweaks crafting difficulty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/aion-2-1-0-5-update-tweaks-crafting-difficulty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/aion-2-1-0-5-update-tweaks-crafting-difficulty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/aion-2-1-0-5-update-tweaks-crafting-difficulty/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Part two of the Aion 2.1 update is on the way to servers across Atreia, and the dev team has posted the official 2.1.0.5 patch notes to the game's website. The build debuted on the public test servers yesterday and is scheduled to take a bow on the live servers next Wednesday, January 26th.

The second half of the 2.1 patch focuses on Aion's crafting, and many new recipes are included in the mix. NCsoft has also upped the drop rates for many crafting materials (including desirable Balaur components like hearts and balic items). Your chances of snagging a "greater" version of the resources farmed from harvesting nodes have also been increased, and many crafting quests will see reduced difficulty (including the wince-inducing expert crafting quests as well as the Miragent Holy Templar and Fenris Fangs quests).

The 2.1.0.5 patch also brings a number of tweaks to instances, NPCs, and items, and you can see the full list of updates via the official website.

MassivelyAion 2.1.0.5 update tweaks crafting difficulty originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-2.1.0.5aion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternitycraftingfantasyitemizationncsoftncsoft-aionncsoft-westpatchpatch-notesquestsupdateFri, 21 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bluehole Studio details new TERA itemization tweaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/bluehole-studio-details-new-tera-itemization-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/bluehole-studio-details-new-tera-itemization-tweaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/bluehole-studio-details-new-tera-itemization-tweaks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's been awhile since we've heard any newsworthy tidbits from TERA's Korean testing phase, and TERAfans has come to the rescue with a new article translation detailing itemization and fusion enchantment tweaks. Mr. Blue, community manager for Bluehole Studio details a plethora of loot item additions, as well as a new equipment rank system (normal, rare, or legendary). In addition to providing players with a quick way to gauge the worth of a loot drop, the new system also adds extra stats to the more desirable pieces (one, two, and three extra stats for each successive rank).

The article also touches on fusion enchantment, crafting tweaks, and visual equipment variation. Check out all the details, including renders and screen captures from the Korean client, at TERAfans.

MassivelyBluehole Studio details new TERA itemization tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorBlueHolebluehole-studiocraftingen-masseen-masse-entertainmentenchantmentfusionitemizationmr-blueteratera-onlineweaponsWed, 27 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion's 2.1 patch to increase drop rates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/aions-2-1-patch-to-increase-drop-rates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/aions-2-1-patch-to-increase-drop-rates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/aions-2-1-patch-to-increase-drop-rates/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

NCsoft isn't resting on its winged laurels after last month's release of its Assault on Balaurea expansion. Aion's 2.1 patch is just around the corner, judging by its debut this week on the Korean test servers and the associated patch notes that have been posted to the North American PowerWiki.

The update is brimming with the usual NPC, quest, and instance bug fixes, as well as a reduction on the prerequisites for the greater stigma quests. That said, the most interesting additions to the patch are the loot table tweaks. In a nutshell, it seems NCsoft is finally heeding the cries of players to do something about Aion's abyssmal loot drop rates. The patch notes indicate "greatly increased" drop rates on gear from instance and field bosses as well as regular mobs. There also appears to be an across-the-board hike in the drop rate of fluxes, skill manuals, and stigma stones.

While this news might drive broker prices to new levels of ridiculousness over the next little while, Aion's economy will probably look a little different after 2.1 goes live and supply overtakes demand.

MassivelyAion's 2.1 patch to increase drop rates originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.1aionaion-the-tower-of-eternitydrop-ratesitemizationkorean-test-serverloot-dropsncsoftncsoft-koreaNCsoft-North-Americancsoft-westpatch-notesWed, 06 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part two)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/the-road-to-mordor-touring-the-falls-new-content-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/the-road-to-mordor-touring-the-falls-new-content-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/the-road-to-mordor-touring-the-falls-new-content-with-turbine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week we began a tour through the upcoming content Turbine have planned for Lord of the Rings Online, including the new-player experience, instance scaling and the region of Enedwaith. By themselves, those features represent so much exciting content that we could've ended there and been satisfied, but that wasn't the half of it.

Well, it was the half of it, actually. Here's the other half.

Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride on the Buckleberry Ferry!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part two)

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part two) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bilbo-bagginsbuckleberry-ferrycosmetic-itemsddoddo-unlimiteddungeons-and-dragons-onlineenedwaithf2pfall-festivalfeaturedflufffree-to-playhaunted-cellarhaunted-househelp-im-a-prisoner-to-the-ap-style-guideisengarditemizationlevel-cap-increaselfflord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemarketingmountsshireturbineturbine-pointsvirtuesFri, 09 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Redbana releases Mythos screens, relaunches website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/redbana-releases-mythos-screens-relaunches-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/redbana-releases-mythos-screens-relaunches-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/redbana-releases-mythos-screens-relaunches-website/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Redbana has let loose a little bit of new information regarding their upcoming Mythos MMORPG. Along with revamping the game's official website, the North American publisher has released five new screenshots of the title in action. The shots show everything from the user interface, to the in-game map, to dungeon and outdoor combat.

Mythos, a Diablo-esque dungeon crawler, was originally produced at Flagship Studios before being acquired by HanbitSoft, and features a classic isometric perspective along with a deep itemization system.

Check out the new screens that we've collected for you in the gallery below, and don't forget to stop by the game's new website.

Gallery: Mythos

MassivelyRedbana releases Mythos screens, relaunches website originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diablodungeon-crawlerflagship-studioshanbitsoftisometricitemizationmythosredbanawebsite-relaunchWed, 23 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA FGT2 gameplay feedback detailed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/tera-fgt2-gameplay-feedback-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/tera-fgt2-gameplay-feedback-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/tera-fgt2-gameplay-feedback-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


TERA's official website has updated with the first in a series of 'postmortem' articles featuring player feedback and developer responses to the recently concluded second round of focus group testing. En Masse has collated a mountain of information from the 60-hour testing period and organized it into three broad categories (gameplay, Westernization, and technology), each of which will feature a postmortem article.

The first article, focused on gameplay, expounds on everything from race/class combinations, to gear and itemization, to progression rewards. "Feedback regarding progression fell into four categories: equipment, items, skills, and gold acquisition. We asked testers whether they felt they received real and tangible rewards for their efforts, and feedback followed many of the same trends for each of the three categories. Gear was a hot topic: moving forward, TERA will feature more equipment items per level, new visuals for these items, and a wider assortment of item statistics. Gold seemed to be just about right, although testers noted that it was hard to tell for sure without a live, in-game economy," the article states.

Check out the full write-up over at the official site.

MassivelyTERA FGT2 gameplay feedback detailed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 May 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>en-masse-entertainmentfgt2focus-group-testingitemizationplayer-feedbackprogressionteraTue, 11 May 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA's Sam Kim talks PvP Battlefield, questing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/teras-sam-kim-talks-pvp-battlefield-questing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/teras-sam-kim-talks-pvp-battlefield-questing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/teras-sam-kim-talks-pvp-battlefield-questing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

German fansite TeraGamers.de features a new interview with TERA developer Sam Kim. While the majority of the web site is, naturally, auf Deutsch, the interview has been helpfully translated to English and is available on the site's forums. Kim discusses everything from quest innovation, to character customization improvements, to PvP options.

"I'm sure you know that there will be PvP servers, with world PvP, and PvE servers with consensual PvP. One thing you might not know too much about yet is the Battlefield system. This system has been designed to be scalable -- everything from pickup skirmishes to guild-on-guild frays," Kim says.

He also touches on the subject of item quality tiers, and acknowledges the fan demand for more armor and weapon variety. Check out the full interview over at TeraGamers.de.

MassivelyTERA's Sam Kim talks PvP Battlefield, questing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluehole-studiocharacter-creationcustomizationen-masse-entertainmentfantasyinterviewsitemizationpvepvpsam-kimteraFri, 07 May 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's Update 5 goes live, game director hints at future improvements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/age-of-conans-update-5-goes-live-game-director-hints-at-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/age-of-conans-update-5-goes-live-game-director-hints-at-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/age-of-conans-update-5-goes-live-game-director-hints-at-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The fifth major update to Age of Conan,"Gangs of Tarantia", has gone live. The update adds the Tarantia Commons District, a high level area with both single player and group dungeons, as well as a revamped RPG system. There are substantial system changes that have gone into effect in Update 5, which impact every class in Age of Conan, covering everything from itemization changes to feat trees, as well as abilities, spells, and combos. Plus Funcom has rolled out a complete overhaul of the gem crafting system and introduced new rewards tied in with guild cities. Any in-depth look at the sweeping changes made to Age of Conan with Update 5 is beyond the scope of this post, but are summarized in the patch notes.

In the June letter from the game director, Craig Morrison explains how Gangs of Tarantia is the most significant update made to the game thus far. Morrison also drops some hints about the directions Funcom plans to take Age of Conan with future game updates. He writes that the next update to Age of Conan will focus on three main areas: improving guild gameplay; new high level content in the House of Crom; and more goals and objectives with Border Kingdom PvP.

Beyond the letter from the game director, Funcom has grouped together a ton of information related to Gangs of Tarantia and AoC in general, which can be found in Issue #23 of the Age of Conan newsletter.

MassivelyAge of Conan's Update 5 goes live, game director hints at future improvements originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccraftingcraig-morrisonfantasyfuncomgame-directorgame-mechanicsgangs-of-tarantiagem-craftingguild-citiesguildsitemizationmmo-industrypatch-notespatchestarantia-commonsupdate-5Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online alters loot drops in city dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/warhammer-online-alters-loot-drops-in-city-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/warhammer-online-alters-loot-drops-in-city-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/warhammer-online-alters-loot-drops-in-city-dungeons/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Bearers of some coveted armor and items found in Warhammer Online's dungeons may have found they lost a few bragging rights this week. WAR's Community Coordinator, James Nichols, recently let players know about some changes to city dungeons that increase the frequency of rare item drops. The dungeons impacted are: Bilerot Burrow, Bloodwought Enclave, Sigmar's Crypts, and Warpblade Tunnels.

New "Rare" and "Very Rare" items have been introduced into all of the city dungeons, but even general loot is now better distributed amongst lower-level monsters found throughout the dungeons. These increased amounts of (lower level) item drops that are less tied to main bosses provide greater rewards to those players unable to complete a given dungeon.

Continue reading Warhammer Online alters loot drops in city dungeons

MassivelyWarhammer Online alters loot drops in city dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-coordinatordungeonsitem-dropsitemizationjames-nicholslootrarevery-rarewarwarhammer-heraldwarhammer-onlineTue, 09 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's system designer explains combat stats]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/age-of-conans-system-designer-explains-combat-stats/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/age-of-conans-system-designer-explains-combat-stats/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/age-of-conans-system-designer-explains-combat-stats/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

One of the most difficult things about getting up and running in a new MMO world is figuring out what all the stats mean, how they relate to one another, and which ones you should focus on gearing to achieve the greatest return for your character. There's been a distinct lack of clarity with Age of Conan's itemization up to this point, and Funcom System Designer Jayde recently made a post on the official European boards in the hopes of clearing up the confusion.

What's most interesting to us is the way that they've designed their system so that there are separate statistics for PvE and PvP. The goal, according to Jayde, is to provide a reasonable parity between high and low leveled characters so that players of all sorts can compete on the same battlefield. You're still not liable to beat a fully-decked out level 80 when you're fresh out of Tortage, but you'll actually be able to do damage without having all your attacks parried, blocked, or resisted, as happens in many other MMOs. Jayde has promised a more complete guide to Age of Conan's stats in the near future, and we anxiously await seeing what the amateur statisticians make of that.

MassivelyAge of Conan's system designer explains combat stats originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanitemizationjaydeofficial-forumspvepvpstatssystem-builderMon, 23 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player Consequences: Item Binding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/player-consequences-item-binding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/player-consequences-item-binding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/player-consequences-item-binding/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Players often feel like they have no control over their favorite MMOs, but the truth is every major design decision is made with them in mind. Developers listen to forums and every complaint and suggestion has a chance of changing the direction a game takes. Player Consequences is a new feature that follows some of the modern trends in MMOs and the player concerns that created them.

Item binding has become a fact of virtual life for most of us nowadays. We get an item, pick it up, and it somehow magically attaches itself to us like some kind of lamprey. We usually don't mind that much when we first get the item, but eventually we find something better. Then it becomes time to peel it off and sell. This is when we usually find out that the favorite item we worked so hard to earn is only worth a small pittance to the NPC merchant. It would be nice if we could sell it to another player or save it for one of our lower level characters, but most games don't allow this anymore.

You see, a long time ago back in the early and mysterious age of first generation MMOs, there wasn't really any reason for item binding. Oh some items might have a "required level" on them and some special quest rewards might be "no trade", but in general "bind on equip" and "bind on pickup" didn't exist. If you got lucky on a mob's loot table and won the Sword of Ultimate Uberness then it was yours to do with as you please. This usually meant that it became somewhat of a family heirloom and was passed down to every new character you created, much like that hand me down jacket from your older brother.

Continue reading Player Consequences: Item Binding

MassivelyPlayer Consequences: Item Binding originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyeverquestfeaturedinstancesitemizationplayer-consequencesworld-of-warcraftTue, 03 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa patch notes look promising]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-look-promising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-look-promising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-look-promising/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We've been waiting for a while now, and they've been teasing for a while now, but Tabula Rasa's 1.4 patch notes are finally available for perusing on the official website. On top of the promised universal attribute respec, there's a huge list of changes (both announced and not) too long to list in this space, but we thought we could pull out a few of the ones we're most excited about:

  • Item rarity has been changed again. Purples are now only attainable through Shared missions, blues through instance missions, and greens will be regular quest rewards. This might just fix the economy.
  • Hybrid races have been added, allowing players to make clones with Thrax, Brann, and Forean DNA spliced in. It's not even three weeks into January and already we have our #1 wish for 2008 fulfilled!
  • Changes to the Guardians staff abilities were implemented, upgrading their melee power and hopefully acting as their ticket out of nerfville.
  • Health and armor have been brought closer together for both players and enemies, enhancing the importance of health and healing. Higher level enemies have had their health and armor bumped down a little bit to allow for higher player survivability.
All positive changes, and all things we're looking forward to trying out on the PTS. Among the concerns we still have that aren't addressed though is the long-term viability of the game in terms of quests, crafting, and PvP, none of which are really addressed in these patch notes.

MassivelyTabula Rasa patch notes look promising originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesguardiansitemizationpatch-1.4patch-notesptstabula-rasatrFri, 18 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spears getting the shaft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/25/spears-getting-the-shaft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/25/spears-getting-the-shaft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/25/spears-getting-the-shaft/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Did you ever stop and wonder whether your MMO character is actually using his weapon properly? We spend so much time focusing on gearing up and looking for the next upgrade, that I think most people really miss just what exactly we're doing with those weapons. Cameron Sorden stops and takes a quizzical look at this question on his blog, Random Battle. Specifically, he muses on the ways that the spear, one of the more versatile melee weapons of antiquity, is used and abused and in the modern MMO.

Think about it, most spears are whipped about like over-sized swords or maces, whacking enemies like overly cumbersome cudgels. According to Sorden, spears are weapons that be wielded with extraordinary grace, and they're fairly misrepresented at this point. The only game we've seen coming down the pipes that really seems to be depicting spears with any authenticity is World of Kung Fu, and that game is still a little ways off. In the meantime, it looks like spears are getting the shaft.

MassivelySpears getting the shaft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Dec 2007 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameron-sordenitemizationrandom-battlespearsweaponsworld-of-kung-fuTue, 25 Dec 2007 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa in an equipment bind once again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/tabula-rasa-in-an-equipment-bind-once-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/tabula-rasa-in-an-equipment-bind-once-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/24/tabula-rasa-in-an-equipment-bind-once-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

About a month ago, I wrote an editorial about the controversy surrounding a change that Destination Games was planning to make to the itemization in their hit sci-fi MMO Tabula Rasa. At the core of contention was the proposed change that would make items have basic armor and weapon damage bonuses commensurate with the item's rarity. This was to be an important first-step to jump-starting Tabula Rasa's economy with the introduction of the Military Surplus. I came out strongly backing the fix, because I thought it would add some value to Tabula Rasa's credits and get the crafter aspect of the game kick-started.

I'm sad to report that things didn't work quite as I expected. The Military Surplus has seen a huge volume of business since it was put in, but once the initial price bubble for rare items burst, it became clear that the market for equipment in Tabula Rasa was broken, and for one simple reason: the game still lacks a mechanism where items are bind on equip. The consequence? The Military Surplus is flooded with rare item drops and quest rewards, and the market is only getting more saturated as players use their items, out-level them, then put them up for sale.

The crafting element of the game, where items are taken apart for components that can be used to upgrade other items, isn't taking items off the MS fast enough. While it's made finding 1337 equipment an easy task for even the most casual player, the quest for gear has fallen into the general background noise of the game. It's gotten to the point where it's scarcely worth putting items on the Military Surplus at all anymore, because one can make more money just grinding in the time it would take to list them. While I implore Paul Sage and company to continue to make the end-game the priority, I think it might also be in their best interest to slap a Bind on Equip sticker on items in the meantime.

MassivelyTabula Rasa in an equipment bind once again originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Dec 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingdestination-gameseconomyitemizationmilitary-surpluspurplestabula-rasatrMon, 24 Dec 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Military Surplus not without bugs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/military-surplus-not-without-bugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/military-surplus-not-without-bugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/military-surplus-not-without-bugs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


As reported to you yesterday, patch 1.3 of Tabula Rasa went live yesterday, bringing in many of the changes, fixes, and additions that we'd been salivating over for weeks. The addition of Military Surpluses, which allow players to auction off crafting items and old or unused gear, was among our favorite new things to play with (along with the change in itemization), because it gave some value to those AFS credits we'd been hoarding since launch. And while there were kinks in the repair numbers that got ironed out yesterday, there appear to be more bugs within the Military Surplus of which we weren't initially aware. From the official website:

Some players are reporting their auctions from yesterday are currently missing their date and time. We are investigating this issue, but so far, it does not appear that items are at risk. We will post an update as soon as we have it. Thank you for your patience.

It didn't sound like too big a deal until I logged on this afternoon and found that some of my items on auction not only lacked a start or end date, but could not be taken down from the Military Surplus. What a bummer! Of course, I'd still recommend continuing to put up items as normal, because the market for purples is still so inflated that there's a tremendous amount of money to be made, bugs or not.

MassivelyMilitary Surplus not without bugs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3destination-gamesitemizationmilitary-surpluspatchtabula-rasatrWed, 12 Dec 2007 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa 1.3 patch delights despite repair hiccup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/tabula-rasa-1-3-patch-delights-despite-repair-hiccup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/tabula-rasa-1-3-patch-delights-despite-repair-hiccup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/tabula-rasa-1-3-patch-delights-despite-repair-hiccup/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


After much to-do, Tabula Rasa's 1.3 patch finally went live today. The Military Surpluses are finally giving the game's currency some value, the Festive Seasonal Holiday Observance Flora look spectacular, and rare weapons are finally doing the sort of damage befitting their type. My purple Laser Cannon went from being a situational weapon to one that I can use in a huge melee to considerable success. I am overcome with holiday joy!

The only hiccup was a problem with the repair system, which DG has acknowledged and are currently hotfixing as we speak. The changes to itemization necessitated that rare weapons were more costly to repair, but something got fudged in the implementation, and when players logged back in post-patch, they found that the item health on their equipment was much lower than it was pre-patch, and that things were prohibitively expensive to fix. As of 4:30 EST, they pulled down the servers to fix this problem. The update on the website says that players that logged in before this fix will receive a "credit bonus" to compensate. We'll see what that means when the game comes back up in a little bit.

MassivelyTabula Rasa 1.3 patch delights despite repair hiccup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3christmasdestination-gamesitemizationmilitary-surpluspatchtabula-rasatrTue, 11 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TR 1.3 patch heralds in big changes on PTR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/tr-patch-heralds-in-big-changes-on-ptr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/tr-patch-heralds-in-big-changes-on-ptr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/tr-patch-heralds-in-big-changes-on-ptr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It seems like it's been a long time coming, but many hotly-anticipated changes to Tabula Rasa are finally making their way onto the build currently running on the PTRs. Exactly which changes, you ask? Well, honestly, just about all of them. According to the patch notes they released today, Rage is getting its big nerf, Military Surpluses will be implemented to give the game's economy a serious kick in the butt, itemization has been changed to make item rarity factor into damage, players all get a free respec, and of course, there are tons of bug fixes, skill tweaks, and even a few new missions.

There's no ETA on this patch going live, but the preface to the patch fixes seems to indicate that it might be another few weeks. According to the notes, "We are giving players patches earlier in the development process now - so this patch will NOT be going to the live servers. We will have another patch going on the test server in the near future that will be closer to a 'live' version." Giving it a bigger lead time seems like a good idea, but the sooner they can get these fixes live, the sooner general chat will stop being a non-stop Rageathon.

MassivelyTR 1.3 patch heralds in big changes on PTR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3destination-gamesitemizationmilitary-surpluspatchpatch-notesptrrage-nerfrgtrtabula-rasaWed, 05 Dec 2007 19:27:00 EST<![CDATA[EQ2: RoK's screwy itemization to result in upcoming nerfs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/eq2-roks-screwy-itemization-to-result-in-upcoming-nerfs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/eq2-roks-screwy-itemization-to-result-in-upcoming-nerfs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/29/eq2-roks-screwy-itemization-to-result-in-upcoming-nerfs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


I guess the leveling and itemization EQ2 devs cranked up the ez-mode a little too far, and completely spaced off during RoK's beta phase. Fyreflyte, dev extraordinaire, popped by the official EQ2 boards yesterday to deliver the news that a rather large tune (nerf) is in-store for the effects found on Rise of Kunark's Treasured items, such as Overflow and Divine Restoration.

The reason given for the upcoming nerfs is that while effects will automatically scale down on lower quality gear, given how easy it is to acquire these items they did not scale down enough resulting in a huge imbalance as these effects were intended for Legendary quality gear and not Treasured. O'rly? The stats on the items will remain the same, but the effects power will subside by at least 1/3 in some cases. Swinging the ole' nerf bat on items doesn't end there as the four rewards from the Anaphylaxis quest will be nerfed from Fabled to Legendary quality.

Don't you love the pleasantries like "hotfix" and "tune" that MMOG developers like to use today? I call it like I see it. Nerfs stink even when they are an evil necessary, but the devs blundered this one to the Ruins of Kunark and back. This should have never happened, but it did, and even the non-loot whores get to pay for it. What about all those players that replaced all their old gear with? This nerf is going to affect a lot of players.

MassivelyEQ2: RoK's screwy itemization to result in upcoming nerfs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iiitemizationnerfsrise-of-kunarkroksoeThu, 29 Nov 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The itemization bug bites Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/the-itemization-bug-bites-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/the-itemization-bug-bites-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/the-itemization-bug-bites-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


As you should already well know, Destination Games is hard at work on patching up some common complaints in their new sci-fi epic Tabula Rasa. Though the most significant part of the patch for most players was Rage getting whacked with the nerf bat and the promise of a free respec, that wasn't all that Paul Sage and crew had in mind. An easily overlooked part of the patch notes says, and here I quote, "We have also fixed another problem where item rarity was not affecting damage bonuses on the items. Now green weapons will do more damage than their white counterparts of the same level. Blues will do more than greens." Itemization is getting tweaked, and it's going to have huge ramifications.

As things of this nature usually do, the change has spawned a heated discussion within the TR community, with some feeling that the difference in itemization (which, if you'll note, is called a "fix" not a "change") is going to have profound implications for the way players approach equipment and the game in general. As the game exists now, damage is entirely independent of item quality, and the only advantages conferred by rare items (which follows the popular rarity scheme of white < green < blue < purple) are that they have their mod slots filled. In most cases an item bought at a vendor is basically equal to a purple of the same level that you can get either as a rare drop or as a quest reward. Why is that a problem?

Continue reading The itemization bug bites Tabula Rasa

MassivelyThe itemization bug bites Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>damage-bonusesdestination-gameseconomyend-gamefeatureditemizationitemsmaking-moneypatchpaul-sagepurplespvprgtrsurplus-storestabula-rasaWed, 28 Nov 2007 11:59:00 EST