Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: The coming LotRO class apocalypse and how you can survive it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-road-to-mordor-the-coming-lotro-class-apocalypse-and-how-yo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-road-to-mordor-the-coming-lotro-class-apocalypse-and-how-yo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/the-road-to-mordor-the-coming-lotro-class-apocalypse-and-how-yo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor The coming class apocalypse and how you can survive it
Out of the four primary goals that the Lord of the Rings Online team has stated for 2013, the promise of class revamps has proven to be the most nerve-wracking -- and intriguing -- among the populace. After all, when you say that "significant changes" are coming to classes and don't follow up with any sort of significant details, speculation and worry is going to run amok.

Last September I argued that classes did need a shakeup. While the whole structure isn't without its redeeming (ahem) virtues, I believed that it wasn't intuitive for new players, that there wasn't really any growth in the abilities or builds of characters post-Moria, and that much of the deed system was simply too grindy.

That's why I'm cautiously optimistic about the "coming class apocalypse" in 2013 -- I'm tired of the status quo. LotRO has an opportunity to cut the dead weight and make leveling interesting all over again. Let's take a look at a few statements by the dev team to deduce what we'll be looking at when it happens.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The coming LotRO class apocalypse and how you can survive it

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The coming LotRO class apocalypse and how you can survive it originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classclass-revampclass-treesexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playkate-paizlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroMatt-Zimmittiopinionriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrorskill-treestalent-treesthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 30 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO commits to housing revamp, player council, and more Rohan in 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/lotro-commits-to-housing-revamp-player-council-and-more-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/lotro-commits-to-housing-revamp-player-council-and-more-rohan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/lotro-commits-to-housing-revamp-player-council-and-more-rohan/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO commits to housing revamp, player council, and more Rohan in 2013
Turbine's Kate Paiz might be brief in her Lord of the Rings Online producer's letter, but this economy of words holds a treasure trove of ideas for the year. In the letter, she outlines the primary goals for the game in 2013, including a much-requested housing revamp and further expansion into the Rohan region.

Paiz outlines four initiatives for the year. The first is forming a player's council to facilitate discussion and feedback between players and the dev team. The second is adding Western Rohan to the game, initially through a region called Wildermore in the spring and later through a bigger addition in the fall. The third is the aforementioned housing revamp, which will take place later in the year.

The fourth initiative is an effort by the team to make "significant changes" to classes. "We will be making some significant changes to the skills and traits of the Free Peoples classes," Paiz writes. "We'll be pruning out skills that just feel disappointing in play and increasing the potency of others. The end result will be fewer skills, but a more profound impact on moment-to-moment play."

MassivelyLotRO commits to housing revamp, player council, and more Rohan in 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-changesf2pfantasyfree-to-playhousingkate-paizlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroplayer-housingplayers-councilproducers-letterriders-of-rohanrohanstate-of-the-gameturbineturbine-entertainmentwildermoreThu, 31 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings: Riders of Rohan delayed until October 15th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/lord-of-the-rings-riders-of-rohan-delayed-until-october-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/lord-of-the-rings-riders-of-rohan-delayed-until-october-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/lord-of-the-rings-riders-of-rohan-delayed-until-october-15th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Riders of Rohan delayed until October 15th
For those on their mounts, eagerly awaiting the charge into the lands of Rohan, Turbine has one word for you: Whoa. The studio announced that it is delaying the launch of Lord of the Rings: Riders of Rohan from September 5th until October 15th.

Executive Producer Kate Paiz sent out the following letter to fans explaining the delay:
We've had a very successful Beta program with some of the largest and most active beta player populations we've seen since Moria. The amount and quality of feedback on our largest expansion ever has been fantastic.

Thanks to some great efforts from beta players, we've identified issues that we think need to be addressed before we can launch. In order to address those issues and meet our expectations for quality we're going to need more time. As a result, we've elected to delay our launch to October 15th.
Paiz thanked players for their patience and promised a gift for all those who have pre-purchased the expansion. This gift will arrive around September 5th in the form of 500 Turbine Points and a bag of consumables.

MassivelyLord of the Rings: Riders of Rohan delayed until October 15th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compensationdelaydelayedexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playkate-paizlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroproducers-letterriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentturbine-pointsWed, 22 Aug 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Lord of the Rings Online dev diary explores creating the characters of Rohan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/latest-lord-of-the-rings-online-dev-diary-explores-creating-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/latest-lord-of-the-rings-online-dev-diary-explores-creating-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/latest-lord-of-the-rings-online-dev-diary-explores-creating-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Latest Lord of the Rings Online dev diary explores creating the characters of Rohan
Adding to the stampede of developer diaries focusing on Lord of the Ring Online's upcoming expansion Riders of Rohan, Turbine has released the fourth episode of Bringing Rohan to Life titled Creating the Character. In this video, Executive producer Kate Paiz talks about how working with the live action teaser gave a deeper insight into feelings and the moment-to-moment lives of the characters in Rohan.

Utilizing these insights, Director Mitch Cohen states, "We're creating a three-dimensional world through their performances." But Tolkien purists need not worry that the expansion is based heavily on that short clip made just for the game. Todd Demelle, Online Art Director, notes that the team relied heavily on Tolkien's text to get the feel of Rohan. He highlighted the importance of authenticity, stating that the team was "focusing a lot on authenticity, making sure that the materials and the construction and the various things that make up the Rohan culture are as true as authentic as [it] can make them."

The video also treats viewers to some of the vistas in-game. Check it out after the break.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Continue reading Latest Lord of the Rings Online dev diary explores creating the characters of Rohan

MassivelyLatest Lord of the Rings Online dev diary explores creating the characters of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>authenticitydev-diarydeveloper-diaryexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playKate-Paizlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroMitch-Cohenriders-of-rohanrorTodd-DemelleTolkienturbineturbine-entertainmentvideovideo-dev-diaryMon, 13 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Riding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Riders of Rohan
In the words of Frank Sinatra, 2011 "was a very good year" for Lord of the Rings Online. Executive Producer Kate Paiz and Director of Communications Adam Mersky sat down with us to talk about the future of the game, but before they got to the juicy details, they wanted to give a quick recap of the previous year for the game and the studio.

The big emphasis for LotRO in 2011 was the unifying of the global community and the release of the game's third (and best-selling) expansion, Rise of Isengard. While the aforementioned unification of the NA and EU sides of the game presented many challenges for the team including localization, it paid off in spades. Turbine plans to continue to add more payment options for those used to methods other than the ones currently available. The team was most proud of unveiling Saruman "in all of his glory" and the inclusion of free players into the sphere of Monster Play.

"The game definitely grew last year," Mersky said in response to a question about the current number of players. He noted that the playerbase has changed somewhat in the past two years, becoming more casual in some respects.

But it's time to move forward! Turbine is prepared to take LotRO players on a dizzying chase around the wilds of Middle-earth with a few significant changes and additions to the game -- and the release of the brand-new expansion later this year, Riders of Rohan. Mounted combat, ho!

Continue reading Riding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012

MassivelyRiding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acadam-merskyamon-henaragornasherons-callbig-teves-of-fangornfangornfangorn-forestfeaturedfifth-anniversaryfourth-anniversaryfrank-sinatragilmligreat-rivergreat-river-andulgrindaversaryinstance-finderkate-paizlegolaslord-of-the-rings-onlinelothlorienlotromounted-combatriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardrohanrohirrimskirmish-soldiersoldiers-in-landscapessoldiers-on-landscapestolkienturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Not all who wander are lost]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-road-to-mordor-not-all-who-wander-are-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-road-to-mordor-not-all-who-wander-are-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/the-road-to-mordor-not-all-who-wander-are-lost/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Road to Mordor
These are exciting times for Lord of the Rings Online, for sure. The Fellowship -- and hundreds of thousands of groupies following in its wake -- has moved south, and we are growing ever closer to Mordor and Mt. Doom. In a month, Middle-earth will grow significantly with the addition of Rise of Isengard, and level-capped players will suddenly have a whole new buffet of content to devour.

It's also a good era for exposure for the game, as plenty of people will get to see the expansion at Gamescom and PAX, not to mention those already in the beta proper. While we haven't heard anything about the game's finances or player numbers lately, there's no reason to believe that it's not still going strong.

That said, I want to take a step back today, as I sometimes do, and look at the larger picture. How is LotRO positioned against the current competition and the heavy-hitters yet to come? What does Turbine need to be working on over the next year or two? Are we just wandering aimlessly, or is the path laid out for journey for a long time to come?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Not all who wander are lost

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Not all who wander are lost originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanall-who-wander-are-not-lostcharacter-developmentcontent-pathered-luinexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfuture-plansgamescomgamescom-2011guild-wars-2gw2hobbithousinghousing-revampkate-paizmordornon-combat-petspaxpax-2011pax-primepax-prime-2011player-housingproducers-lettersophies-choicestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorterathe-hobbitthe-road-to-mordorthe-secret-worldtolkientreasure-hunttswturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-3vanity-petsFri, 19 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO March Producer's letter offers glimpse of fun to come]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/lotro-march-producers-letter-offers-glimpse-into-fun-to-come/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/lotro-march-producers-letter-offers-glimpse-into-fun-to-come/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/lotro-march-producers-letter-offers-glimpse-into-fun-to-come/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's been a busy month for Lord of the Rings Online, with Update 2: Echoes of the Dead going live, tons of players checking out all the improvements and new content available to them, and the popular Spring Festival already underway. However, Turbine isn't resting on its laurels. According to the March Producer's letter by Kate Paiz, Executive Producer for Lord of the Rings Online, there are even more cool things planned for the not-too-distant future.

Not only does Paiz touch on all the great content just introduced to the game in Update 2, but she notes that LotRO's fourth anniversary is coming up in April, that will see the addition of a new in-game Anniversary Festival celebration. Along with that, players can look forward to an unnamed treasure-hunting event, which will "likely be open for play periodically over the year." There are also some more tasty tidbits on Update 3, with a note that we'll hear more details about Isengard a little later down the road. In all, if you call Middle-earth your MMO home, you'll want to pop by the Lord of the Rings Online site and check out all the details the newest Producer's Letter has to offer.

MassivelyLotRO March Producer's letter offers glimpse of fun to come originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>echoes-of-the-deadholiday-eventsisengardkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-update-2lotro-update-3new-contentproducers-letterspring-festivalturbineturbine-entertainmentupcoming-plansupdate-2update-3Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2011: Delving LotRO dungeons deeply]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-delving-lotro-dungeons-deeply/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-delving-lotro-dungeons-deeply/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/pax-east-2011-delving-lotro-dungeons-deeply/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Right now, Lord of the Rings Online is in a brief respite between the insanity of PAX East and the upcoming March 21st release date for its next big update, Echoes of the Dead. To say that there's a lot coming with this update is a vast understatement, so it was great to get a sneak peek at the five new instances before they went live.

Earlier this year, players started to get rumblings about a major upcoming event as five mysterious relics popped up all over Middle-earth in Evendim, Forochel, Enedwaith, North Downs and the Trollshaws. By finding all five, players completed a special deed and got the title "Calm Before the Storm," foreshadowing dire events to follow. All anyone could do after that was prepare for an uncertain future.

It turns out that LotRO's players had good reason to prepare, because as of next week, five new dungeons will open their doors for business -- the business of eating adventurers alive and spitting out their bones, that is. Spurned Gaunt-lords have returned to make life for the Free Peoples of Middle-earth harder by transforming the very landscape into their hellish domain, and it's up to you to thwart their schemes.

Hit the jump as we traveled to these new instances at PAX East with LotRO Executive Producer Kate Paiz!

Continue reading PAX East 2011: Delving LotRO dungeons deeply

MassivelyPAX East 2011: Delving LotRO dungeons deeply originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alienscannibalechoes-of-the-deadenedwaithevendimfacehuggersfeaturedforochelgaunt-lordshobbitskate-paizLegbathillfflfglooking-for-fellowshiplooking-for-grouplord-of-the-rings-onlinelost-templelotromaggotsnorth-cottonfarmsnorth-downsOst-Dunhothpaxpax-2011pax-eastpax-east-2011sari-surmaspider-hobbitspidersstoneheightthe-shiretrollshawsturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 15 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine: LotRO revenue tripled since going F2P]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/turbine-lotro-revenue-tripled-since-going-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/turbine-lotro-revenue-tripled-since-going-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/turbine-lotro-revenue-tripled-since-going-f2p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online's future is so bright, it's wearing shades these days. At least, according to a new interview at TTH, where LotRO's Kate Paiz and Adam Mersky opened up about the success of the free-to-play conversion. Turbine has seen LotRO's profits triple since F2P along with a huge influx of new players, and that spells good news for the future of the game.

The duo turned its attention to the upcoming year for LotRO, which includes the Rise of Isengard expansion. While Paiz and Mersky didn't indicate whether there would be any new zones between now and then, they did confirm that the epic story would be continued, leading up to the confrontation between the rangers and Saruman's growing forces. Rise of Isengard will feature a push to the south with the Dunland and Gap of Isengard zones, whereas Isengard proper will pit players against the foul forces of the Tower of Orthanc.

Isengard isn't the only thing players have to look forward to in the next year -- a big cosmetic system revamp is planned along with non-combat pets. Hardcore players also have a new raid cluster to look forward to before Isengard's release. Other possibilities for the future? Cosmetic weapons, a Rohan expansion and the Battle of Helm's Deep are all on the table.

[Thanks A Casual Stroll to Mordor!]

MassivelyTurbine: LotRO revenue tripled since going F2P originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-merskybattle-of-helms-deepcosmetic-outfitcosmetic-systemcosmetic-weapondunlandf2pfree-to-playgap-of-rohaninterviewkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronon-combat-petpodcastprofitsraidraid-clusterrise-of-isengardrohansarumantower-of-orthanctthturbinevanity-petThu, 06 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A year in Middle-earth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-a-year-in-middle-earth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-a-year-in-middle-earth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-a-year-in-middle-earth/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What a difference a year makes, eh? One year ago, and you didn't have to put up with me yammering at you every Friday like a hyperactive badger with a personality disorder. One year ago, and we weren't free-to-play-anything, Turbine was its own company, the festivals were nowhere near as cool as they are today, and shrews freely roamed the land without fear of reprisal.

So in my last Road to Mordor (of the year, stop rejoicing over there!), I thought it'd be great to look back at the wild rollercoaster that was 2010 in Lord of the Rings Online. I also thought I'd get an easy column out of all this, but that was before I had to read through 1,337 posts and my eyeballs began to lose pressure.

January

Stuff happened. Let's move on.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A year in Middle-earth

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A year in Middle-earth originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybilboclosed-betacodemasterscontestcraftingddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinee3end-of-the-year-2010enedwaithexpansioneyeball-pressuref2pfall-festivalfree-to-playfrostbluff-theatrehaunted-burrowisengardisengard-private-preview-programjeff-jungejeffrey-steefelkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrolotterieslotterylua-scriptingmoddingmodsoath-of-the-rangerspaxpax-2010pax-primeqareputation-mountsrise-of-isengardrune-keepersapienceshrew-stompingshrewssiege-of-mirkwoodspring-festivalsteed-of-nightsummer-festivalsyp-is-so-dreamytalk-like-a-pirate-daythe-road-to-mordorthird-anniversaryturbineturbine-entertainmentvaultvolume-iii-book-1wardrobewarner-broswbwinter-homeyule-festivalFri, 31 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-perfect-ten-the-movers-and-shakers-of-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Even though MMOs are the products of great teams of talented workers -- from sound artists to writers -- it's inevitable that a few of the people behind the curtain step out into the limelight. It's a smart move, really; it provides a personal face for people to associate with the game, it keeps messages consistent, and it draws any potential hate onto one person instead of the team at large.

It stands to reason that these public figures end up being some of the major movers and shakers in the industry because of their high-profile positions. From CEOs to community managers, these are the people with power to make decisions, the voice to change opinions, and the personalities to inspire millions.

Oh, that last sentence is pure poetry. Let's re-read it again, shall we?

So in our last Perfect Ten of the year, I've asked the Massively team to compile a list of the 10 biggest MMO movers and shakers of this year. All of these people now owe us cupcakes of gratitude. (Legal Disclaimer: This does not signify a binding cupcake-blogger contract.)

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>30-studiosage-of-conanaocarenanetask-crypticbiowarebioware-mythicbree-profred-this-tgachampionschampions-onlinechris-caocoocraig-morrisoncraig-zinkievichcrypticcryptic-studioscupcakecupcake-contractcurt-schillingdan-ericksondan-stahldaniel-ericksondaniel-stahldark-side-of-the-forcedc-universe-onlinedcuoddodungeon-fighter-onlinedungeons-and-dragons-onlineea-biowareend-of-the-yearend-of-the-year-2010engineering-reportseq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfourth-pillarfree-to-playfuncomguild-warsguild-wars-2jack-emmertkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromabinogimaplestorymike-obrienmin-kimneverwinternexonnexon-nanexon-north-americapaizperfect-10perfect-tenrhode-islandriftrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmanstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicstoswtorthe-old-republicthe-perfect-tentortriontrion-worldsturbinevindictusworld-of-warcraftThu, 30 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kate Paiz answers the "Whys" of LotRO's changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/kate-paiz-answers-the-whys-of-lotros-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/kate-paiz-answers-the-whys-of-lotros-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/kate-paiz-answers-the-whys-of-lotros-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When a parent tells a kid to do something, the immediate follow-up question is invariably, "Why?" Likewise, Lord of the Rings Online's Kate Paiz knows that players are constantly asking "Why?" when Turbine makes any additions or changes to the game, which is why she spends a bulk of her December Producer's Letter explaining the company's actions and decisions.

Paiz says that the team saw that not enough F2P players were heading into the Lone-lands, which is why they made the zone's quest pack free for everyone. Other deep LotRO secrets she reveals are the reasons behind removal of radiance, dual upgrades to the legendary item system, the addition of cosmetic pets for all (which may provide buffs when used!), and the expansion of Monster Play so that all tiers of players can participate.

She also shares an encouraging word about the financial state of the game: "Revenues for the game have continued to increase. While we are getting some great feedback on what the LotRO Store can do better and what other items you'd like to find there, Store usage continues to be much higher than industry averages!"

You can read the full Producer's Letter over at LotRO's website.

MassivelyKate Paiz answers the "Whys" of LotRO's changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosmetic-petsdev-diaryf2pfree-to-playkate-paizlegendary-itemslone-landslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playproducers-letterpvmpradianceturbineTurbine-EntertainmentwhyFri, 03 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO producer's letter hints at new "Task" system and more for the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/lotro-producers-letter-hints-at-new-task-system-and-more-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/lotro-producers-letter-hints-at-new-task-system-and-more-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/lotro-producers-letter-hints-at-new-task-system-and-more-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Since the launch of Lord of the Ring Online's F2P version, there's been an air of both optimism and uncertainty as to the game's future. How will Turbine handle updates from here on out? Will the epic storyline continue or go stagnant? And when oh when will we see giant flying eagle mounts?

While she doesn't handle the eagle mount issue, LotRO's Kate Paiz tackles many of these questions and more besides in her first producer's letter following the recent update. Paiz says that the team has shifted the way they're approaching updates: In an effort to get more frequent content to players, not every future update will contain an additional book of the epic storyline -- but the storyline will continue.

Paiz then laid out several upcoming features for the November update, including a new "Task" system for low-level players, another revision to the player vault and a fine-tuning of the Lore-master and Rune-keeper classes. Turbine will also be unlocking the two expansions (Mines of Moria and Siege of Mirkwood) for all players to travel through and experience the epic storyline, although the free-to-play crowd will still need to purchase the expansions to unlock quests and deeds in those zones.

The future is looking up for LotRO, so head on over to the official site to read the full producer's letter!

MassivelyLotRO producer's letter hints at new "Task" system and more for the future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionf2pflying-eagle-mountsfree-to-playi-wanna-fly-like-the-eagle-to-the-seakate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotromines-of-moriaproducers-letterrune-keepersiege-of-mirkwoodtask-systemturbineupdateThu, 21 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[[Updated] Lord of the Rings Online F2P launch date announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/lord-of-the-rings-online-f2p-launch-date-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/lord-of-the-rings-online-f2p-launch-date-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/lord-of-the-rings-online-f2p-launch-date-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Turbine crew has been preparing for The Lord of the Rings Online to go free-to-play since the announcement in June, and players have been very interested in a launch date.

"This fall" has been the only answer for a while, as developers said they wanted to make sure the game was completely ready before committing to a date. They seem to be pretty certain now, as the announcement of a September 10th launch date came from Turbine early this morning.

Executive Producer Kate Paiz gives plenty of credit to the beta testers: "Our LOTRO beta program has been a huge success and we want to thank all of our players who worked with us to get the game ready for launch."

[Update: Current and former subscribers can access the game two days early, on September 8th.]

Massively[Updated] Lord of the Rings Online F2P launch date announced originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaf2pfree-to-playftpkate-paizlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelord-of-the-rings-online-free-to-playlotrolotro-f2pturbineWed, 18 Aug 2010 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Kate Paiz praises community, addresses F2P switch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/lotros-kate-paiz-praises-community-addresses-f2p-switch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/lotros-kate-paiz-praises-community-addresses-f2p-switch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/lotros-kate-paiz-praises-community-addresses-f2p-switch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Over at Mordor or Bust, Lord of the Rings Online's new executive producer Kate Paiz sat down to talk about what's on every hobbit's mind: the transition to LotRO's free-to-play version this fall. Paiz took the reins of LotRO just as the F2P change was announced and is bringing her experience from DDO Unlimited's transition over to LotRO's team.

In the interview, Paiz spends a considerable amount of time both praising the community and reassuring it that these changes will benefit the game as a whole. One of the issues she addressed was the lack of Player versus Monster Player (PvMP) combat for non-subscribers, saying that it was necessary for now, but that may change in the future: "While we plan to introduce [PvMP] at some point in the future to the rest of the playerbase, we wanted to first focus on delivering the quality PvE game that we have to players in a way that continued to drive great interest and fun in the game."

While she declined to comment on whether Turbine would be giving refunds for lifetime subscribers who purchased that option shortly before the announcement of the F2P change, Paiz did say they'd like to offer lifetime VIP subscriptions again at some point. Paiz also said Turbine has "a lot of ideas" for additional classes, and it is working with the CDC to get LotRO launched in China.

You can read the full interview over at Mordor or Bust!

MassivelyLotRO's Kate Paiz praises community, addresses F2P switch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdcchinaclassesddoddo-unlimiteddungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfree-to-playkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromordor-or-bustplayer-vs-player-monsterpvmpturbineMon, 12 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kate Paiz takes LotRO's Exec Producer reins from Jeffrey Steefel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/kate-paiz-takes-lotros-exec-producer-reins-from-jeffrey-steefel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/kate-paiz-takes-lotros-exec-producer-reins-from-jeffrey-steefel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/07/kate-paiz-takes-lotros-exec-producer-reins-from-jeffrey-steefel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For Lord of the Rings Online fans and players, this past weekend was undoubtedly one of the busiest news periods for the title since launch. Once official word hit that LotRO was indeed going free-to-play, players had FAQs and charts and numerous interviews to read, digest and figure out what it meant for the future of the game.

It's understandable that a second big announcement would get lost amid the flurry of F2P frenzy, especially since it was packaged in with the F2P announcement itself. However, now that things have settled somewhat, it's important to recognize a significant leadership change at Turbine. Kate Paiz has taken over as Executive Producer for the title, following in Jeffrey Steefel's footsteps, who has moved on to a new project at Turbine.

According to her introduction letter, Paiz worked as a producer for both There.com and DDO, and helped to supervise the latter's transition into its successful hybrid F2P model. This experience will be invaluable for LotRO's new evolution, and she couldn't be happier: "Given my background, it's hardly surprising that I believe very strongly in the power of providing gamers with a choice in how they pay and play our games." Considering that one of her first public acts as Executive Producer was to handle the bombardment of interviews and forum questions about LotRO's upcoming model, one could say that her new position was forged in the fires of Mt. Doom itself.

MassivelyKate Paiz takes LotRO's Exec Producer reins from Jeffrey Steefel originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineexecutive-producerf2pfree-to-playjeffrey-steefelkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromt-doomtherethere.comtheres-no-crying-in-lotroturbineMon, 07 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you think of LotRO's new F2P model?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-lotros-new-f2p-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-lotros-new-f2p-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-lotros-new-f2p-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While predicted and anticipated by some, the news that Lord of the Rings Online is going free-to-play this fall still hit like a 1,000-pound bomb yesterday. The new free-to-play LotRO forums were abuzz about the topic, some excited to have their friends join in, some calling for a boycott, and others simply wanting more information before coming to a conclusion. One thing is clear: Turbine is hoping for lightning to strike twice after DDO's successful move to F2P last year.

Turbine posted a small book's worth of information already, including a letter from LotRO's new executive producer Kate Paiz, a fairly comprehensive FAQ, and a chart comparing the benefits of each of the three tiers of players.

It's certainly a lot to digest, and after a day to sort through the news and commentary, we want to hear from you: what do you think of LotRO's new free-to-play model? For those of you who've abstained from LotRO due to the subscription fee, will this be enough to entice you to dip your toes into Middle-earth? If you're a lifetime subscriber, do you feel as though you're being compensated properly in this transition? Is this a sign of desperation or a beacon of hope for the future of the game? Are you excited about the new content coming this fall, including a new region to explore? Will you reserve judgment until you try the beta?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What do you think of LotRO's new F2P model? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfree-to-playkate-paizlifetime-subscriptionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromiddle-earthopiniontdgthe-daily-grindturbineSat, 05 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO goes F2P: An interview with Turbine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/ddo-goes-f2p-an-interview-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/ddo-goes-f2p-an-interview-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/ddo-goes-f2p-an-interview-with-turbine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As the news hit yesterday concerning Dungeons and Dragons Online going free-to-play, many MMO gamers collectively rejoiced, while others didn't. The idea of this hybrid business model is wonderful for those who have yet to experience DDO, as it now gives them a chance to play the game as long as they'd like, with no level cap restrictions for absolutely no cost. This means no credit card info changing hands, no commitments to a monthly fee and the implied need to "get your money's worth" and no real need to quit the game if you can't afford it. But it can't be that easy, can it? Well, there's a slight catch.

Current subscribers will see no real change in the game, as what they're paying for now is what's included in the new VIP model. The F2P players will not exactly have access to the same features for free, yet they can purchase as little or as much as they'd like in the Turbine store with Turbine points. This allows more casual players the chance to play the game and only pay for those features they know they'll use. To help explain this new system, and answer some questions we had, we had a chance to sit down with Adam Mersky, Turbine's Director of Communication, Kate Paiz, Senior Producer for DDO and Fernando Paiz, Executive Producer for DDO. Keep reading after the jump to find out what they had to say.

Gallery: DDO Unlimited

Continue reading DDO goes F2P: An interview with Turbine

MassivelyDDO goes F2P: An interview with Turbine originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-merskybusiness-modelsddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfeaturedfernando-paizfree-to-playkate-paizturbineWed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO letter announces more features coming with Module 9]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/ddo-letter-announces-more-features-coming-with-module-9/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/ddo-letter-announces-more-features-coming-with-module-9/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/ddo-letter-announces-more-features-coming-with-module-9/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As Dungeons and Dragons Online celebrates its third anniversary, Senior Producer Kate Paiz addresses the community with a letter to the players. This letter includes a look back at the last three years in DDO, a mention of Kate's favorite changes to the game so far and the most exciting part: what's to come with Module 9.

There are five main changes outlined in this letter (in addition to those sneak peeks already in the forums). These upcoming changes include a shared bank tab for all characters on one account, an updated targeting system, a clearer combat feedback system, skill changes and more! This is all in addition to the level cap increase to 20 that many players have been eager to experience. Check out the official discussion forum for Module 9 as well as continued coverage from Massively on this exciting new content update.

MassivelyDDO letter announces more features coming with Module 9 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-9dungeons-and-dragons-onlinekate-paizturbineMon, 02 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More details on Dungeons and Dragons Online's Module 8]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/13/more-details-on-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/13/more-details-on-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/13/more-details-on-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-8/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We're pretty well swept up in the Wrath of the Lich King launch today, but that doesn't mean we're not keeping an eye on the rest of the MMO world. Our most recent Massively Speaking podcast featured an interview with Turbine's Kate Paiz, Senior Producer for Dungeons and Dragons Online, conducted by our overlord Michael Zenke. The interview hits on some details of Turbine's plans for Dungeon and Dragons Online in Module 8 (namely 'hirelings') and beyond.

But there's more -- GameBanshee recently ran a Turbine interview detailing how DDO has changed in Module 8 over its previous iterations. The GameBanshee interview gives us some additional details on Module 8's hirelings, and focuses on the new Character Generation system, a story-based introduction to the game, and content for higher-level players.

MassivelyMore details on Dungeons and Dragons Online's Module 8 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-creationddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineexpansionsfantasygame-mechanicsgamebansheehirelingsinterviewskate-paizmichael-zenkemmo-industrymodule-8racesturbinewrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 13 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 31]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-31/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-31/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-31/#commentsFiled under: ,

Massively Speaking Episode 31 is all about Dungeons and Dragons Online! Shawn and Michael sit down for a chat with Kate Paiz of the Turbine development team. We explore the nooks and crannies of DDO Module 8, released to the live servers just the week before last and a brand new day for the venerable game. Join us as we talk microtransactions, future content additions to the game, and the meat and potatoes of dragon on giant combat!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot us an email to podcast AT massively DOT com. Maybe we'll read your letter on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[Zune] Subscribe to Massively Speaking via the Zune service.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[Digg] Like the show? Digg it.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[VW] Listen at VirginWorlds.com
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 31

MassivelyMassively Speaking Podcast Episode 31 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmassively-speakingWed, 12 Nov 2008 11:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 31Massively.com Staff33:52podcasts<![CDATA[Massively catches up with Dungeons and Dragons Online at Gen Con]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/massively-catches-up-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online-at-gen-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/massively-catches-up-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online-at-gen-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/16/massively-catches-up-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online-at-gen-con/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Gen Con is rolling along this weekend in Indianapolis, and Turbine is there showing off their upcoming release of Module 8 in Dungeons and Dragons Online. Massively dropped in on their show floor booth to see what they had to see and chat about the brand new character creation system coming to the game, as well as upcoming enhancements, including an increased level cap and maybe even a chance to see Khorvaire in DDO.

Our interview and demo starts after the break, and you can check out the pictures we got of the new content in the gallery below. Good things ahead for D&D fans, especially new players to the game.

Gallery: Gen Con DDO Gallery

Continue reading Massively catches up with Dungeons and Dragons Online at Gen Con

MassivelyMassively catches up with Dungeons and Dragons Online at Gen Con originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-creationclassesddo-druidddo-module-8druiddungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedgen-congen-con-2008genconindianapolisjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmassively-featuressenior-producerstarting-areaSat, 16 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine party at GenCon Indy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/turbine-party-at-gencon-indy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/turbine-party-at-gencon-indy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/turbine-party-at-gencon-indy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's always exciting to hear when dev companies find a way to casually mingle with their communities at gaming expos, more than just sitting behind a booth or at a panel talking and answering questions. Since August is somehow designated as the month for gaming conventions, we are overwhelmed by the after-party announcements popping up for next month's expos.

Turbine joins the fray with a recent announcement about their GenCon after-party. It will be held at Jillians in Indianapolis, IN from 8-10PM on Friday, August 15th. You will have the opportunity to meet Eldorudo, Tolero, Patience, Kate Paiz and more from the Turbine team. There will also be food, games, fun and swag for all in attendance. They'd like anyone planning on attending to RSVP for a proper headcount.

MassivelyTurbine party at GenCon Indy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>after-partygencongencon-indyindianapoliskate-paizpatienceturbineWed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively covers Dungeons and Dragons Online's Module 7]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/massively-covers-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-7/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/massively-covers-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-7/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/massively-covers-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-7/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

DDO's Module 7 goes live today, and boy, if you're looking for information about it, you're in the right place. Massively has been covering Module 7 since before Module 6 dropped, and just in case you missed out on any of our great coverage, it's right here for your perusing pleasure.
We critted on the coverage of this new patch (going live today), and you get to be the one to claim all the loot. Before you sign in and check out Module 7 today, be sure to check all the links above and read about it here.

Gallery: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Module 7 Walkthrough

Continue reading Massively covers Dungeons and Dragons Online's Module 7

MassivelyMassively covers Dungeons and Dragons Online's Module 7 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classcoverageDDOddo-module-7dungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedinterviewsjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmassivelymonkpatch-daypreviewreleaseroundupsTue, 03 Jun 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[D&DO Module 7: The Gygax shrine and Three Barrel Cove]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/danddo-module-7-the-gygax-shrine-and-three-barrel-cove/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/danddo-module-7-the-gygax-shrine-and-three-barrel-cove/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/danddo-module-7-the-gygax-shrine-and-three-barrel-cove/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We stood in front of a peaceful shrine, adorned with a book and an inlaid gem. This little shrine in the lower level area of Delera's Tomb is a monument one of D&D's greatest champions, co-creator Gary Gygax -- it stands in the middle of the area where the man himself narrated some of the ingame DM text. Paiz also told us that there would be event quests and items associated with Gygax in the game, and though we didn't get to see any of those, it seemed like a fitting tribute to one of the men who came up with the foundation of all these games we play.

Then, we were whisked away (via admin commands in the client) to another updated low level area, Three Barrel Cove. This area was one of the first created for the game a long time ago (all of the Turbine employees present at the play session admitted that it "preceded" all of them), and since so many players will be leveling up again with the Monk class, the devs decided to revamp the approximately level 5 area, and make it bigger, clearer, and completely redistribute the monsters within. This is only one of a number of changes made to the entire game to accomodate the new class -- Paiz said that they did a "full equipment pass" on all the items to make sure that Monks were itemized throughout the levels.

The first area within Three Barrel that we got to see was The Black Loch, a huge pirate ship in a cave that serves as the tavern and hub for the area. Everything was very pirate-themed (though the pirate vs. ninja battle, we were told, would have to wait for another game update), and the devs said they had a lot of fun playing with the pirate asthetic, and turning all of the different races and groups in the game into pirate versions of themselves.

This showed in our first quest, too -- in order to prove our worth as pirates, the party was asked to make it through Rackham's Trial, a test that a pirate captain gave to recruits. There were traps aplenty inside the quest, and as we carefully (and sometimes not so -- we sprung quite a few traps just by walking into them accidentally), the devs talked about how they try to both mix up the gameplay with different types of puzzles, but also give players who aren't as interested in mind games and tricks ways to avoid them if preferred.

One example given was an "agility test" -- there were a series of ladders heading up a vertical tunnel, and as players, we had to jump from ladder to ladder (sometimes even from one side of the tunnel to the other) to make our way up top. After a few tries, we weren't getting too far, so the devs pointed out that there was another entrance in the instance that led past the trap, so only one player had to beat the test and then let everyone else through.

But on the other hand, the devs said, they didn't want to make the puzzles too easy. They also showed us an extremely elaborate puzzle that could have been designed by Rube Goldberg, consisting of a number of different floor designs, levers, dart machines, and rotating directors. With the short time we had to try the trap, we didn't even get through the first phase of it, but as tough as it was, that didn't even compare to the second trap we saw:

In a quest to save a fellow pirate, we made our way through a dungeon, and eventually ended up in a room where the man we were looking for stood in a cage in the middle. As we entered, he beckoned us not to move, but at the devs' hinting, we took a look up around the walls of the room -- every single square inch of the large pedestals of the room was covered in a kind of rotate-able jigsaw puzzle (this one will be familiar to D&D Online players, as you play a much, much simpler version of it early on in the game). The idea was to rotate the pieces to line up and make light paths, but in this gigantic version of that puzzle (the dev who made it, we were told, "is probably certifiably crazy"), there's one twist: every wrong move gets our friend in the cage shocked, and too many shocks means a dead friend and a failed quest. Players who like puzzles will find no shortage of things to do in Module 7.

Our final stop in Three Barrel Cove was in the outer area, to get a look at one of the two new monster types in Module 7, the Sahaguin, a race of fishmen armed with spears living on the coast near the pirate ships. Their design and animations were suitably impressive (their spears did a fun flip before planting themselves in the sand when the creatures died), and we were told that this is only the beginning of the story for these creatures.

After a look at the updated lower level area, we then headed to a wreckage that will also be very familiar to D&D Online players, and that serves as the mouth of the new higher level quests dungeons in Module 7.

Click here to continue the preview...

MassivelyD&DO Module 7: The Gygax shrine and Three Barrel Cove originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeons-and-dragons-onlinegary-gygaxhands-onkate-paizshrinethree-barrel-coveTue, 27 May 2008 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively previews Dungeons & Dragons Online's Module 7]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/massively-previews-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-7/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/massively-previews-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-7/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/massively-previews-dungeons-and-dragons-onlines-module-7/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Dungeons & Dragons Online continues to hold their own in a quickly-growing MMO world. When DDO first showed up as a licensed MMO of the grandaddy of roleplaying games, their main goal was just to meet expectations -- so many people have been a fan of the pen-and-paper game for so long that putting it into MMO form was no easy task. But since release, the DDO team has made improvement after improvement, and added so much content to the game that it's moved beyond the license to stand on its own as a very singular kind of MMO.

Massively got a chance to sit down with the team and take a look at the latest update, Module 7, due out on June 3, and currently in public testing. In addition to some extended playtime with the new Monk class, we got to see updates to the lower level Three Barrel Cove area, a shrine to recently passed-on D&D creator Gary Gygax, and the new raid area under the destroyed Marketplace tent, as well as a few new monsters and raid bosses that can be found down there.

To start your tour through Module 7, just roll a d20 and click on through. To jump to any section of the walkthrough (including directly to our exclusive video preview, if that's what you're looking for), hit the links after the break.

Gallery: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Module 7 Walkthrough

Continue reading Massively previews Dungeons & Dragons Online's Module 7

MassivelyMassively previews Dungeons & Dragons Online's Module 7 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DDddoddo-module-7dungeons-and-dragons-onlineeventsfeaturedgary-gygaxhands-onjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmarketplacemassivelymonkplayerpreviewraidingthe-subterranethree-barrel-covetweet-thisxyzzyTue, 27 May 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Monk and more in DDO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/the-monk-and-more-in-ddo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/the-monk-and-more-in-ddo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/the-monk-and-more-in-ddo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Dungeon & Dragons Online's upcoming free content expansion, Module 7, is fast-approaching it's May release date, and we couldn't be more excited about the goodies we have in store for us. The fine folks at MMORPG.com were able take this opportunity to chat with DDO's Senior Producer Kate Paiz about more details on what was previously reported about this expansion as well as future expansions.

Module 7 will introduce us to an improved crafting system and new eldritch rituals, a high level wilderness area with two new raids, a revamp of Three Barrel Cove, and something DDO players have been pining after since release: the debut of the Monk. Reportedly, the Monk is in the balance and bug-fixing stage with some minor artistic fine-tuning going on before it's release.

MassivelyThe Monk and more in DDO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-7ddo-module-8fourth-editionkate-paizmmorpg.commonkturbineThu, 17 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/massively-interviews-kate-paiz-of-dungeons-and-dragons-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Dungeons and Dragons Online continues to plough on as a successful (to its players, at least) little MMO based on the official, original pen-and-paper board game. Just off the release of Module 6 and the recent second anniversary of the game, Massively got to interview their senior producer Kate Paiz. She talked to us about the upcoming Module 7 (including a little tip that lower level players will enjoy), the main goals of her dev team as Wizards of the Coast heads toward the release of the pen-and-paper game's fourth edition, and, oh yeah, that Penny Arcade comic that Ms. Paiz featured prominently in.

The interview starts right after the break, so grab your masterwork Vorpal blade, your +4 Shield of Blocking, and wade on in by clicking below.

Continue reading Massively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online

MassivelyMassively interviews Kate Paiz of Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddoddo-module-6ddo-module-7ddo-module-8ddo-second-anniversarydungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedinterviewinvasionjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmarketplace-tentmassivelymodule-6module-7penny-arcadeshavarathworld-eventsMon, 31 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kate Paiz interviewed for DDO's second anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/kate-paiz-interviewed-for-ddos-second-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/kate-paiz-interviewed-for-ddos-second-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/kate-paiz-interviewed-for-ddos-second-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

To mark the second anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons Online, RPG Vault interviewed the game's senior producer, Kate Paiz. The interviewer asked Paiz to give a basic explanation of the game, and to comment on the state of the game at launch compared to where it's at now, on its second birthday -- RPG Vault described the overall feel of the reviews that DDO received at launch as "good but not oustanding". Paiz said that she did feel that the launch reviews were fair, but that much has been improved now, especially the significant additions of PvP and solo gameplay.

Paiz is also asked to look forward, to tell us what is coming in the future, and to say what makes DDO a game that people should try if they haven't before. She brought up Module 7, which includes the Monk class as well as some new low and high level content, looking after both veterans and newbies. At the end of the interview, she asked to hear from the players of the game about what they'd like to see added, with particular interest in any guild features that people have ideas for -- she mentions the importance of guilds in bringing new players to the game, and wants to make sure that things are kept interesting for these groups.

MassivelyKate Paiz interviewed for DDO's second anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2nd-anniversaryanniversaryddokate-paizmodule-7monkpaizsecond-anniversaryturbineTue, 25 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kate Paiz discusses DDO's Module 7; Monk demo at Connect 08]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/kate-paiz-discusses-ddos-module-7-monk-demo-at-connect-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/kate-paiz-discusses-ddos-module-7-monk-demo-at-connect-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/kate-paiz-discusses-ddos-module-7-monk-demo-at-connect-08/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ten Ton Hammer recently had the chance to talk to Dungeons and Dragons Online producer Kate Paiz, and learned about some of the things to expect when Module 7 is released. During the interview, she said that the Connect 08 event that will take place in just a few days time now will showcase one of the main features of this content update, the brand new Monk class. This will not just be a video -- there will be a playable demo available to attendees as well.

Apart from the Monk, Module 7 will bring a new high level wilderness and raid based in Shavarath, and some improvements to the crafting system, with more crafting love promised for the future. TTH also asks Paiz about how the 4th Edition D&D Ruleset will affect DDO. Without going into all the detail here, she basically says that they will work out what fits with DDO only after the Wizards of the Coast iron out the new feature set, which is not set in stone just yet. Check out the full interview for more on that and Module 7, with just a hint of Module 8 at the end.

MassivelyKate Paiz discusses DDO's Module 7; Monk demo at Connect 08 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4th-editionconnect-08ddofourth-editionkate-paizmodule-7module-8monkpaizshavarathturbineWed, 12 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Women of the Agency]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/women-of-the-agency/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/women-of-the-agency/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/women-of-the-agency/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MTV Multiplayer's Tracey John sat down with the female members of SOE's The Agency team to talk about not only their upcoming MMO (which looks hot), but what it's like to work in what John calls a "male-dominated field." While it's true that much of the videogame market is still dominated by men, there has been quite a bit of inroads made in terms of female developers in the MMO genre-- DDO's Senior Producer Kate Paiz jumps to mind, but from NCSoft to Bioware to Linden Labs, there is now quite a bit of female representation on MMO and RPG development teams.

Most of the talk centers around "G.I.R.L.," short for "gamers in real life," which is a program set up by Sony to "educate and recruit women in the videogame industry." They do say that they don't feel they've faced many challenges because of their gender, and considering that the gaming audience has changed quite a bit in the past few years, that's not really a surprise. But they have had to make a few woman-specific calls as developers, like making sure a female outfit in The Agency didn't show off a characters' bra line.

Interesting read, if only to see how far women have come into the field of videogame development, and yet how much farther there is to go.

MassivelyWomen of the Agency originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaregamers-in-real-lifegirlkate-paizmale-dominated-fieldmmomtv-multiplayerncsoftrpgsoethe-agencywomenThu, 06 Mar 2008 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes Hands-on with DDO and the Shroud]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/massively-goes-hands-on-with-ddo-and-the-shroud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/massively-goes-hands-on-with-ddo-and-the-shroud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/massively-goes-hands-on-with-ddo-and-the-shroud/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


It's pretty fair to say that Turbine's Dungeons and Dragons Online has never been one of the biggest players in the MMO space-- it was released with relatively little fanfare, and though the setting (Wizards of the Coast's Eberron setting from the pen-and-paper D&D game) appealed to a lot of roleplayers, Turbine's choice to make the game a real-time combat experience turned off many of the hardcore D&D crowd.

But since release, DDO has definitely forged a small but strong fanbase. In the game's just under two short years of existence, they've already released fourteen major updates. The latest, Module 6, is due out next week, and Turbine offered us a chance to take a spin in the new content, and join Senior Producer Kate Paiz, Lead Designer Stephen Murray, and Quest Designer Joe Barry in a run through the brand new raid instance, The Shroud. Read on to learn where they took me and what it was like to take down a big red demon in the newest raid.

Gallery: DDO The Shroud Hands-on

Continue reading Massively goes Hands-on with DDO and the Shroud

MassivelyMassively goes Hands-on with DDO and the Shroud originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedhands-oninterviewjoe-barryjoystiqfeatureskate-paizmodule-6press-tourstephen-murraythe-shroudturbinevale-of-twilightWed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 EST