Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - Comparing Age of Conan's free and premium services
As I mentioned last time, I'm currently test-driving the EU servers. As such, my Age of Conan subscription fee is spoken for, and my US server characters are now relegated to free-to-play status. Since I'm still deciding on an EU main (I just rerolled after getting a PoM to 22), I figured I'd use this week's column to take a quick look at my veteran account through the eyes of a free-to-play customer.

When AoC Unchained debuted last summer, I read the account services matrix like everyone else, but to be frank, I didn't pay it much attention because I'd always been a subscriber. In the back of my mind, I figured that anyone who's halfway serious about Age of Conan would want to sub up, and my experiences this weekend have only reinforced that notion.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaa-f2paccount-downgradeage-of-conanage-of-conan-account-downgradeage-of-conan-extended-trialage-of-conan-f2p-matrixage-of-conan-free-vs-premiumage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-account-downgradeaoc-advanced-ridingaoc-downgradeaoc-mountsaoc-unchainedaoc-veteran-rewardsbusiness-modelsconandowngradef2pf2p-conversionsf2p-matrixf2tfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-tryfreemiumfreemium-conversionfuncomgodslayerhyboriakhitaikhitai-f2popinionrise-of-the-godslayerthe-anvil-of-cromtrialunchainedMon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: A look inside the Forgotten City]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/the-anvil-of-crom-a-look-inside-the-forgotten-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/the-anvil-of-crom-a-look-inside-the-forgotten-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/31/the-anvil-of-crom-a-look-inside-the-forgotten-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

A couple of weeks ago I took you on a tour of the Breach, one of two new instances that debuted with Age of Conan's free-to-play Unchained patch. Today, we'll nose around the second dungeon, an outdoor playfield called the Forgotten City that -- like its predecessor -- has AoC's distinctive far-eastern flavor written all over it.

The two instances are similar in that they both scale to a player's level between 40 and 80, and they're both accessed via the Gateway to Khitai zone that serves as the entry point into AoC's Rise of the Godslayer content. That's about where the similarities end, though, as the dungeons are quite different in terms of visual style and challenge level.

Gallery: Age of Conan - The Forgotten City

Loading screenApproaching the cityPath to the cityArchway againArchway

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: A look inside the Forgotten City

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: A look inside the Forgotten City originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah yes, where else but Massively can you get a lesson in both Shakespeare and Age of Conan (in the same article, no less)? Nowhere else, I tell you, and before we get to the Conan part, let's get ye olde English out of the way. Many of you have no doubt uttered today's titular phrase on your way into a particularly nasty game dungeon. A few of you may have even uttered it correctly.

Here's your gold star.

The rest of you, pay attention: It's unto the breach. Unto, not into. So said Shakespeare and later Olivier in his 1944 film adaptation of Henry V. And yeah, I used to say it wrong too. Anyway, on to the AoC. The Breach in question is one of two new solo dungeons added with the Unchained update, and thanks to Blood and Glory, this particular dungeon is the only one of the pair that your humble columnist has found time to sample.

Gallery: Age of Conan - The Breach

Loading screenThe Breach from afarDead guys hangingBear Shaman's campfireThe Arena again

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Once more unto the Breach, dear friends

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Once more unto the Breach, dear friends originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you haven't been paying attention to Age of Conan lately, Funcom has just sent out a handy newsletter designed to catch you up on all that's new and exciting in the realm of Hyboria. The mailing covers the recent AoC Unrated free-to-play announcement as well as some of the new content that takes the form of the Breach and Forgotten City solo dungeons.

Don't forget about the Savage Coast of Turan content coming later this summer (and coinciding with the Conan feature film reboot), and of course there's the Blood & Glory hardcore PvP server ruleset (also coming soon). If you're a former AoC subscriber, check your email for the newsletter, and stick with Massively for more exclusive AoC coverage throughout the summer.

MassivelyCatch up on Hyborian changes with Funcom's new Age of Conan newsletter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unratedaocaoc-unratedconan-filmconan-movief2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomkhitainew contentNewContentsavage-coast-of-turansolo-dungeonsthe-breachthe-forgotten-cityWed, 15 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom profiles Age of Conan's Forgotten City and The Breach solo instances]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/funcom-profiles-age-of-conans-forgotten-city-and-the-breach-sol/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/funcom-profiles-age-of-conans-forgotten-city-and-the-breach-sol/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/funcom-profiles-age-of-conans-forgotten-city-and-the-breach-sol/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

By now, everyone's aware that Funcom is getting ready to unleash the world of Hyboria on the free-to-play scene. What you may not know is that in addition to the hybrid payment model, the Age of Conan Unrated update is going to be be bringing new content to the game as well.

Said content comes in the form of two new solo dungeons located in the lands of Khitai. Both instances are repeatable and designed to scale to a player's level (between 40 and 80), providing an alternative to the Tarantia Villas 40 to 80 experience that formerly filled in the gaps in AoC's mid-level curve. Funcom has told us that the new instances -- The Breach and The Forgotten City -- will be freely available to subscribers and available to Unrated F2P players for a small fee.

Join us after the break for Funcom's take on the game mechanics, the storylines, and the locations themselves. While you're at it, check out the new dungeon images in our Age of Conan gallery below.

Gallery: Age of Conan Gallery

Continue reading Funcom profiles Age of Conan's Forgotten City and The Breach solo instances

MassivelyFuncom profiles Age of Conan's Forgotten City and The Breach solo instances originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acg-dungeonage-of-conanage-of-conan-unratedaocaoc-unratedauto-content-generation-dungeonf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalleryhyboriakhitairise-of-the-godslayerscaling-contentscreenshotsthe-breachthe-forgotten-cityThu, 02 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan monthly update details patch schedule, talks Khitai difficulty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-patch-schedule-talks-khitai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-patch-schedule-talks-khitai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-patch-schedule-talks-khitai/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's been a big week for Age of Conan, and Funcom game director Craig Morrison has capped it off with his traditional end-of-the-month development update. Though it's a bit redundant if you've been paying attention over the last few days, Silirrion does let us in on a general patch schedule now that all the cats are out of the bag.

The next update will officially bring about AoC: Unrated and the new business model and will also feature new content in the form of the Forgotten City and Breach auto-content generation dungeons we've discussed previously. The Funcom team has also eased up on the Khitai dungeon difficulty, at least for normal mode, and Morrison says, "the earlier instances have also been made more accessible for those arriving in Khitai for the first time, and will not require AA investment to be worthwhile options."

Finally, we get a look at the list of tech-related improvements in the offing as well as confirmation that the film-related Savage Coast of Turan adventure pack will be part of the game's fall update cycle. Check out all the goods on the official forums.

MassivelyAge of Conan monthly update details patch schedule, talks Khitai difficulty originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocaoc-unratedcraig-morrisondev-diaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomkhitaikhitai-dungeonskhitai-normal-modemonthly-development-updatesavage-coast-of-turansilirrionthe-savage-coast-of-turanFri, 27 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom's Age of Conan version 2.2 patch detailed, delayed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/funcoms-age-of-conan-version-2-2-patch-detailed-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/funcoms-age-of-conan-version-2-2-patch-detailed-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/funcoms-age-of-conan-version-2-2-patch-detailed-delayed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yesterday we told you about two new group dungeons in Age of Conan's Paikang imperial city, and later tonight you should be able to experience them for yourself. Yes, it's patch day in Hyboria, and version 2.2 is in the process of being pushed live to the game's American shards. European servers received the update earlier this morning, and there are a few issues, judging by a feedback thread on the EU boards.

What's in the patch other than the previously mentioned Ai and Tian'an District dungeons? Quite a lot of stuff actually, starting with tweaks to the endgame faction grind. Funcom has made a significant number of adjustments to faction quests, faction quest rewards, and Marks of Acclaim distribution.

Combat, in particular crowd-control abilities and counters, has also been tweaked in the 2.2 update, and the official patch notes have a complete breakdown on the changes by class. As of press time, Funcom's Age of Conan launcher indicates that the patch has been delayed by five hours, with an estimated up time of 6:00 p.m. EDT.

MassivelyFuncom's Age of Conan version 2.2 patch detailed, delayed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.2-patchage-of-conanaoccccrowd-controlfaction-grindfantasyfuncomgrindhyboriakhitaimarks-of-acclaimpatchpatch-notespatchesWed, 04 May 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom teases new Age of Conan group dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/funcom-teases-new-age-of-conan-group-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/funcom-teases-new-age-of-conan-group-dungeons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/funcom-teases-new-age-of-conan-group-dungeons/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The city of Paikang is getting a bit of an update in the next few weeks, and players of Funcom's Age of Conan should be pleased to note that the Imperial capital will soon be the home of two new level-80 instances.

The dungeons are designed for elite groups and take place in two outdoor zones that were recently profiled at MMORPG.com. The Ai District features an expansive playfield along with two "set-piece" boss encounters and "the odd secret to be revealed from careful investigation."

The Tian'an District is quite different in that it features six boss fights as well as a race against the clock to clear them all. Funcom has deliberately elevated the challenge level in this district, and Tian'an will reportedly require a skilled (and coordinated) group to claim its rewards. While Funcom hasn't revealed those rewards in detail, it has hinted that they will be on par with the existing Kara Korum dungeon drops.

MassivelyFuncom teases new Age of Conan group dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaiai-districtaocboss-fightsbossesdev-blogdev-diaryfantasyfuncomgroup-dungeongroup-instanceinstanceskhitainew-contentpaikangpverise-of-the-godslayertianantianan-districtTue, 03 May 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Would F2P solve the population problem?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/the-anvil-of-crom-would-f2p-solve-the-population-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/the-anvil-of-crom-would-f2p-solve-the-population-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/the-anvil-of-crom-would-f2p-solve-the-population-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Howdy folks, and welcome back to another installment of The Anvil of Crom. This week I'll be taking a short break from reporting on my CMA activities. I took a bit of an impromptu vacation last week and as a result didn't get to play Oakarm much at all. He's still hanging out in his mid-30s, looking for dungeon groups, and training me on those pesky melee combos, so look for more on that tangent in the weeks to come.

Today I'd like to indulge in some speculation regarding a potentially free-to-play Age of Conan. I know, I know, I've talked about this on multiple occasions before, but a recent conversation I had with a buddy (and former AoC subscriber) got me to thinking seriously about the pros and cons.

Hi-Rez Studios' recent announcement of its Global Agenda F2P re-configuration also factored into my choice of column topics this week since I made extensive use of GA as an example last time. Anyhow, hop over the cut and let's chat about it.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Would F2P solve the population problem?

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Would F2P solve the population problem? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lots of new content is on the near horizon for Age of Conan, and Massively has teamed up with Funcom to bring you an exclusive look at one of the game's newly minted solo dungeons. The Refuge of the Apostate is a level 80 instance located in the lands of Khitai (Kara Korum, to be exact), and it features a storyline involving the Scarlet Circle and Last Legion factions.

Funcom's designers are keen on making an unusual dungeon experience (and one you want to repeat) as opposed to the usual mob- and boss-whacking fight-fests. To that end, the Refuge dungeon is rife with what Funcom calls "environmental challenges."

Aside from the new content and story experiences, the Refuge will likely be popular with players due to its rewards (which include factional marks of acclaim, rare trophies, and esteem tokens). Check out Funcom's full description of the new content after the cut.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Age of Conan's Refuge of the Apostate solo dungeon

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Age of Conan's Refuge of the Apostate solo dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocapostateesteem-tokensexclusivefactionfeaturedfuncomkara-korumkhitailast-legionlevel-80level-80-contentmarks-of-acclaimnew-contentpverefuge-of-the-apostaterise-of-the-godslayerscarlet-circlesolo-dungeonsolo-instancetian-baiThu, 07 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan monthly update details new high-level content, faction grind relief]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-new-high-level-content-fact/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-new-high-level-content-fact/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/age-of-conan-monthly-update-details-new-high-level-content-fact/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Good news abounds for fans of Funcom's Age of Conan, and game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison has the details in today's monthly development update. The list of positive changes coming to the dark fantasy MMORPG is a long one, and it begins with two new team instances set in the Khitain capital of Paikang.

First up is the T'ian'an District, which Morrison says is "all about boss encounters." It also features a speed-run component, and doing a full clear of the zone in one attempt looks to be something only the most elite groups will manage. Next is the Ai District which features two set-piece boss battles as well as "the odd secret to be revealed from careful investigation."

The much-reviled Khitai faction grind is also receiving a makeover, though the specifics remain something of a mystery. Morrison explains that faction quest rewards will be substantially increased, but the tweaked content will also bring lockout timers, "forcing some variety into your play sessions." While Morrison doesn't specify the exact nature of the reward increases, he does indicate that we'll be able to see for ourselves very shortly on AoC's test server. Finally, Silirrion reminds PvP-focused players to vote on the Blood and Glory ruleset polls, and provides a tentative release schedule for all of the upcoming content (including the previously mentioned solo instances).

MassivelyAge of Conan monthly update details new high-level content, faction grind relief originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanai-districtaoccraig-morrisondev-blogdev-diarydev-updatefaction-grindfantasyfuncomgrindgroup-dungeonskhitaimonthly-development-updatenew-contentpaikangpatchsilirrionsolo-dungeonstianan-districtupdateWed, 30 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan Dreamworld patch goes live, faction grind reduced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/age-of-conan-dreamworld-patch-goes-live-faction-grind-reduced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/age-of-conan-dreamworld-patch-goes-live-faction-grind-reduced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/age-of-conan-dreamworld-patch-goes-live-faction-grind-reduced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today's the big day for Age of Conan's Dreamworld engine upgrade, and Funcom has made the extensive notes available as it deploys the update to the live servers. Dreamworld features improved memory handling, loading times, framerates, and network latency as well as several visual upgrades (including the addition of tree wind, god rays, and higher-quality water for DX9 users).

The 2.1.3 patch also brings a few notable tweaks aside from Dreamworld, including minigame class balance fixes and the ability to purchase Khitai faction items (including simple trophies, marks of acclaim, and imperial insignias) with veteran tokens.

Age of Conan's launcher notes that "this is part of the current focus on improving the faction progression in Khitai, which will continue in subsequent updates with a significant increase in the speed of progression for faction." Check out the full patch notes on the official AoC forums.

MassivelyAge of Conan Dreamworld patch goes live, faction grind reduced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.1.32.1.3-patchage-of-conanaocdreamworldengine-upgradefactionfaction-grindfantasyfuncomgrindgrind-reductionkhitaiminigamesveteran-tokensTue, 08 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Red fields, rice paddies, and the war-torn Chosain Province]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/the-anvil-of-crom-red-fields-rice-paddies-and-the-war-torn-ch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/the-anvil-of-crom-red-fields-rice-paddies-and-the-war-torn-ch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/the-anvil-of-crom-red-fields-rice-paddies-and-the-war-torn-ch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Blood.

Blood dripped from the talisman clutched in the mage's left hand. Fresh blood it was, deep red, almost black in the pale moonlight, blending with the red-orange stalks of firegrass that parted as the mage moved through them. A demon crept along behind him, his demon, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as she silently followed.

Ahead, across a vast lake of firegrass, two soldiers of the Last Legion lounged lazily in the crook of an ancient oak, its boughs and branches twisting skyward like so many gnarled fingers grasping in vein for the velvety backdrop of night. The mage stopped, images of a man twisting on the end of a rough brown rope rising unbidden in his mind. The rope hung taut from the branch of a massive dead tree, and two soldiers of the Last Legion prodded the swinging corpse with the tips of their steel.

The mage blinked, his eyes refocusing on the men ahead of him, their ornate Legion armor clearly visible even in the dark. They were not the same soldiers, but then it did not matter. The mage whispered and his thrall winked briefly out of existence, reappearing between the two soldiers whereupon it performed its ghastly task. The mage crossed the field of grass and dismissed the demon, glancing dispassionately at the red stains on the oak's massive trunk.

Chosain was red with blood already and would grow redder still.

Gallery: Age of Conan - Chosain Province

Chosain roadChosain at nightBattlefield bodiesBattlefield hangmenGun Hai exterior

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Red fields, rice paddies, and the war-torn Chosain Province

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Red fields, rice paddies, and the war-torn Chosain Province originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocchosainchosain-provincefantasyfeaturedfuncomgalleryhyborian-travelogueimpressionskhitaiopinionscreenshotsthe-anvil-of-cromzone-impressionsSun, 30 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan dev update details new solo instances]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/age-of-conan-dev-update-details-new-solo-instances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/age-of-conan-dev-update-details-new-solo-instances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/age-of-conan-dev-update-details-new-solo-instances/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Looking for more solo-centric content in Age of Conan? If so, you'll want to check out Funcom game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison's latest monthly development update for all the details on three new solo instances coming soon to a Hyborian server near you.

First up is the Refuge of the Apostate, a level 80 instance found in Khitai's Kara Korum zone. The dungeon centers on the conflict between the Scarlet Circle and Last Legion factions, though non-aligned players will still be able to take part. The encounter is designed to be challenging both in terms of navigating the environment and defeating the boss and his minions, so Funcom designers have granted players significant completion rewards including faction marks of acclaim and rare trophies. There's a catch though -- the dungeon can only be done once every 20 hours.

Funcom is also gifting solo players with two Auto Content Generation (ACG) dungeons. If you're familiar with the Tarantia Noble District villas, you'll have an idea of what's in store here. Like the villas, each of the new areas scales to a player's level between 40 and 80. The Breach and the Forgotten City dungeons feature three repeatable quests, also located in Khitai, and they are designed to provide players with another option for advancing to endgame.

Read all about the new instances (and a bit about upcoming crowd-control tweaks) on Age of Conan's official forums.

MassivelyAge of Conan dev update details new solo instances originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccraig-morrisoncrowd-controldev-diarydev-updatefantasyforgotten-cityfuncomkara-korumkhitaipverefuge-of-the-apostatesilirrionsolosolo-instancesthe-breachFri, 28 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Breaking down the Khitai grind, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/16/the-anvil-of-crom-breaking-down-the-khitai-grind-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/16/the-anvil-of-crom-breaking-down-the-khitai-grind-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/16/the-anvil-of-crom-breaking-down-the-khitai-grind-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So I'm attacking the endgame faction grind with renewed vigor. After spending the past couple of months thoroughly engaged in Darkfall and somewhat distracted by Global Agenda, I have to confess to (formerly) being less than enthusiastic about Khitai repeatables, marks of acclaim, and 6-man pick up groups in Age of Conan.

Time away from Hyboria (or at least, less time in Hyboria) makes a man yearn to return, though, as there is no place in MMO land that compares in terms of sights and sounds. That said, I'm still not a fan of the grind, and I still think Funcom needs to address the fact that it takes the average player months -- if he's lucky -- to get a full suit of Khitai armor (never mind jewelry and a couple of weapons). It does seem a bit less daunting when you break it down into chunks, though, and when you set yourself a reasonable goal and stop worrying about if or when you'll ever have time to play an alt.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Breaking down the Khitai grind, part one

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Breaking down the Khitai grind, part one originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaocarmorchosainchosain-provincede-weifactionfaction-grindfantasyfeaturedfuncomgrindguideguideskhitaikhitai-grindmistress-yinorthern-grasslandsscarlet-circlethe-anvil-of-cromyiSun, 16 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Gateway to adventure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/26/the-anvil-of-crom-gateway-to-adventure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/26/the-anvil-of-crom-gateway-to-adventure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/26/the-anvil-of-crom-gateway-to-adventure/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I've been spending so much time in Khitai's Northern Grasslands lately that I'm starting to dream of wolves, 50-foot-tall golems, and crotchety warmonk bosses that mop the floors of their monastery with the remains of my asphyxiated assassin. As such, I figure it's time for a little change of pace, as well as a change of scenery. Ah hell, since I'm an incurable altoholic, let's go ahead and throw a change of character in there as well. Goodbye squishy 'sin, I'll miss you (not).

Anyway, several alts are in the works, but rather than focus on the hows and whys of a new class (more on that in the coming weeks), we'll chew the scenery in this week's Anvil of Crom.

Join me after the cut for a look at the majestic Gateway to Khitai, the latest stop on our tour of Hyboria's many and varied questing zones.

Gallery: Age of Conan - Gateway to Khitai

Kurosawa extra?Yeah I died, but cool armor!Kill the guard, free the slave.Looking westward across the zoneNear the Great Wall

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Gateway to adventure

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Gateway to adventure originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocaoc-zone-impressionsfeaturedfuncomgalleryhyborian-traveloguekhitaiopinionpvequestingrise-of-the-godslayerscreenshotscreenshotsthe-anvil-of-cromzone-impressionszonesSun, 26 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Storming the Warmonk Monastery]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/the-anvil-of-crom-storming-the-warmonk-monastery/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/the-anvil-of-crom-storming-the-warmonk-monastery/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/the-anvil-of-crom-storming-the-warmonk-monastery/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Woo! After a few weeks of toodling around Rise of the Godslayer's new Khitai zones, I finally managed to get in on the 6-man instance action that serves as some of Age of Conan's new endgame content. Life as an assassin in a small guild isn't all it's cracked up to be, so I bit the bullet and joined a PUG or two (when they'd have me). Pro tip for players thinking of taking a sin to endgame: be really good at your class, train up Tainted Weapons and Finely Honed, or join a big guild that doesn't mind taking along the most disposable of the game's DPS classes.

As I haven't yet partaken of the extensive raiding content in Age of Conan's old world, the Khitai 6-mans were my first taste of what Funcom offers for endgame folks. Read along after the cut for some impressions and advice.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Storming the Warmonk Monastery

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Storming the Warmonk Monastery originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-man-dungeons6-man-instances6-mansage-of-conananvil-of-cromaocfeaturedfuncomkhitaiopinionreliquary-of-flamerise-of-the-godslayerthe-anvil-of-cromvortex-of-stormswarmonkwarmonk-monasterySun, 12 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Traveling the Silk Road]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/the-anvil-of-crom-traveling-the-silk-road/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/the-anvil-of-crom-traveling-the-silk-road/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/the-anvil-of-crom-traveling-the-silk-road/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last week we spoke briefly with Funcom executive producer and game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison regarding Age of Conan's random encounter mechanic, which will invoke a series of one-off solo instances designed to add a bit of flavor to the journey to Hyboria's Far East. We also checked out five of the 11 available instances: four sea-faring adventures and one rare-spawn quest-giving encounter.

This week, we'll step through the remaining five adventures, all of them land-locked, in addition to taking a quick look at the second rare spawn. Voyage past the cut for more.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Traveling the Silk Road

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Traveling the Silk Road originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-random-encountersanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaoccraig-morrisonfar-eastfeaturedfuncomguidesinstanceinstanceskhitaikhitai-random-encountersopinionsilirrionsilk-roadsilk-road-instancesolosoloingthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 29 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Random encounters with Craig Morrison]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/the-anvil-of-crom-random-encounters-with-craig-morrison/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/the-anvil-of-crom-random-encounters-with-craig-morrison/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/the-anvil-of-crom-random-encounters-with-craig-morrison/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So, what do random encounters and Age of Conan executive producer Craig "Silirrion" Morrison have in common? Truthfully, not much as far as The Anvil of Crom and its author is concerned, as I've never had the pleasure of meeting Funcom's game director in person. That said, he was kind enough to answer a few questions for this week's column via email, all of them pertaining to the random encounter mechanic implemented with last May's Rise of the Godslayer expansion.

What's a random encounter, you may find yourself asking? Peek behind the curtain and find out.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Random encounters with Craig Morrison

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Random encounters with Craig Morrison originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-random-encountersanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaocaoc-random-encounterscraig-morrisonfeaturedfuncomguideskhitaikhitai-random-encountersopinionrandom-encounterssilirrionsilk-roadthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 22 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Singing the PUG blues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently I've been having a hard time finding a decent pickup group in Age of Conan. I'm excited to run some of the Khitai 6-man instances as well as the old-world dungeons that I've yet to experience like The Iron Tower, Onyx Chambers, and Atzel's Fortress. That said, whether it's due to being under-geared and one of the thousands of DPS-types crowding the server, or the fact that the high-level game is very cliquish and/or guild-focused, I can't seem to make it work. If it's gear that's holding me back, then it's the classic chicken-or-egg dilemma (how can I get geared if I can't get a dungeon group?). If the answer is a guild, well I've got one, but I'm one of the very few high-level players; the rest are still slogging their way through the middle levels.

Whatever the reason, PUGs (or actually the lack of them) are becoming something of an annoyance. What about you, Massively readers? Are you constantly on the outside looking in or can you get a group whenever you want? Does your game of choice feature a plethora of endgame PUGs or is it mostly premade guild groups?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Singing the PUG blues originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-man-dungeonsage-of-conanaocatzels-fortressdungeonsfuncomim-so-ronerykhitaionyx-chambersopinionspickup-groupPUGpugsthe-daily-grindthe-iron-towerThu, 19 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Journey through the Grasslands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/15/the-anvil-of-crom-journey-through-the-grasslands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/15/the-anvil-of-crom-journey-through-the-grasslands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/15/the-anvil-of-crom-journey-through-the-grasslands/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The assassin moved forward, slowly, the soles of his padded boots gliding soundlessly over the dense packing of leaves and mulch that formed the forest floor. His eyes darted this way and that, scarred hands never far from the ivory-inlaid hilts of the blades hanging loosely at his waist. Quickening his pace, he ducked and dodged around the endless stalks of greenish bamboo that reached for the canopy high above.

Thin sunbeams bathed portions of the glade in an otherworldly light. They also cast parts of the dense bamboo thicket into semi-darkness, and it was from one of these dim pockets that the bear emerged. A towering, snarling monstrosity, it leered at the assassin, then charged. Stalks of bamboo snapped and splintered in its path as the assassin whirled and fled. The ground shook as the beast gained; he felt its breath on his neck as he emerged from the forest into blinding sunlight. A rock wall loomed ahead of him and he leaped for it, his feet finding purchase on the tiny ledges as he scrambled up the sheer side of the cliff. Panting, he finally reached the summit and turned to watch the stalks of bamboo swaying far below him like a sea of grass that parted as the beast rumbled back into the undergrowth.

Sneak past the cut for more.

Gallery: Age of Conan - Khitai Northern Grasslands

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Journey through the Grasslands

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Journey through the Grasslands originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaoc-zone-impressionsfeaturedfuncomgraphicshyborian-traveloguekhitainorthern-grasslandsopinionthe-anvil-of-cromzone-guidezone-impressionszonesSun, 15 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Building a Khitai PC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/the-anvil-of-crom-building-a-khitai-pc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/the-anvil-of-crom-building-a-khitai-pc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/the-anvil-of-crom-building-a-khitai-pc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So I've finally started to have technical issues with Age of Conan. Despite being in the original closed beta, the launch weekend headstart, and several bug-ridden months of playtime after that, I've never really been unable to run the game until recently.

I'm playing with the same PC I used back when the game debuted in 2008; the only concession to hardware advancements I've made in the past two years is an updated video card. For some reason though, Khitai has become increasingly unplayable on my rig. This is curious because I was in the Godslayer beta with no problems, just like I tooled around in the Gateway zone when the expansion went live with no problems.

After the last couple of patches though, I'm unable to play in Hyboria's far east for more than a few minutes before a memory crash takes me back to the desktop. Also, I've had to completely bottom-out my graphical settings to be able to load into the new zones (and even with this concession, it literally takes four to six minutes -- yes I've timed it -- of staring at the loading screen and progress bar).

Slog past the cut for more.

Gallery: Age of Conan - Khitai PC Build

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Building a Khitai PC

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Building a Khitai PC originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaocbuild-a-gaming-pcbuild-a-pcfeaturedfpsframe-ratesfuncomgaming-pc-buildkhitaiopinionpc-buildpc-gamingperformancethe-anvil-of-cromSun, 08 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How often do you upgrade your gaming PC?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/the-daily-grind-how-often-do-you-upgrade-your-gaming-pc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/the-daily-grind-how-often-do-you-upgrade-your-gaming-pc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/the-daily-grind-how-often-do-you-upgrade-your-gaming-pc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Well, it's that time of decade again, the cycle that comes around every three or four years when I'm forced to put an aging PC out to pasture. Age of Conan's new Khitai zones have brought my four-year-old gaming rig to its knees and, rather than run around looking at circa-1998 environment textures (and six minute load times), I recently took the upgrade plunge.

Luckily, most MMORPGs don't have the stringent hardware requirements that a lot of single-player games feature, and you can generally get away with relying on outdated hardware in our particular subset of gaming. For example, aside from a video card upgrade (driven by the silly desire to play Crysis a couple years ago), I've been playing dozens of MMOs on a PC that hasn't been state-of-the-art since early 2006.

What about you, Massively readers? How often do you upgrade your gaming PCs, and has an MMORPG ever driven you to do so?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How often do you upgrade your gaming PC? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccrysisfuncomgaming-machinesgaming-pchardware-requirementskhitaiopinionpc-upgraderise-of-the-godslayersystem-buildsthe-daily-grindvideo-cardsSat, 07 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AoC's Morrison drops hints about the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/aocs-morrison-drops-hints-about-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/aocs-morrison-drops-hints-about-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/aocs-morrison-drops-hints-about-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Funcom's Craig Morrison, Silirrion on the official Age of Conan forums, has returned with another Letter from the Game Director. Morrison, who also serves as executive producer on the Robert E. Howard-themed MMORPG, looks into his crystal ball to give fans a bit of a teaser in terms of future updates.

"So overall, the answer to the 'what next?' question is more of 'a little bit of everything' rather than one specific theme for the time being. We want to continue to improve the game and build upon the progress we have seen so far. That means now that the expansion is out, we will take the opportunity to address a wider selection of smaller and back-end or performance updates," he writes.

What's involved in the "little bit of everything?" We're glad you asked. According to Morrison, everything entails new Khitai quests, performance tweaks for all of the recently released expansion content, and significant revisions to the Dreamworld game engine as well as various DirectX10 functionality. Oh yeah, tweaks to PvP gameplay (specifically Shrines of Bori issues), possible vanity options, GUI enhancements, and cross-server minigame options are also on the table. "We are also though looking at a few things that offer longer term benefits. Included there are things like changing the way the mini-games queues work at a fundamental level to ensure fairer fights, and also starting to investigate further the possibility of offering cross-server PVP games," Morrison says.

Check out the full letter for all of the details.

MassivelyAoC's Morrison drops hints about the future originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanfuncomfuture-updateskhitailetter-from-the-game-directorpvepvprise-of-the-godslayersilirrionMon, 31 May 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Mysterious marauder]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/22/one-shots-mysterious-marauder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/22/one-shots-mysterious-marauder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/22/one-shots-mysterious-marauder/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the recent expansion Rise of the Godslayer now live in Age of Conan and the contest in conjunction with Xfire, Funcom's bloody barbarian MMO seems to be enjoying a surge in popularity currently. That's why we're a little mystified as to precisely why we got a great screenshot of a burned out caravan in Khitai from a mysterious stranger who refused to give us his name. Is he on the run from King Conan? Has he done something truly dastardly that has turned the ancient gods against him? Perhaps he torched those caravan wagons himself! We'll likely never know, but hey -- at least we have a really nice screenshot to enjoy.

Are you adventuring through the new areas in Age of Conan? Would you like to show off some of the exotic sights of Khitai? All you have to do is email your screenshots to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief note indicating what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to check out and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Mysterious marauder originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocFuncomkhitaione-shotsrise-of-the-godslayerrotgutscreenshotsSat, 22 May 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Getting into Godslayer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/16/the-anvil-of-crom-getting-into-godslayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/16/the-anvil-of-crom-getting-into-godslayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/16/the-anvil-of-crom-getting-into-godslayer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You might have heard about a little expansion that recently came out, Rise of the Godslayer or some such. Yes it's been getting a lot of press around these parts, particularly up to last Tuesday's launch. As some of you snarkier keyboard cowboys have noted, said coverage has since died down. Contrary to popular conspiracy theories though, that's not because of a buggy expansion launch but rather because we've been spending so much time playing it.

I mean really, who has time to write about games when you could be playing the heck out of them? Eventually responsibility did rear its ugly head and here you have this week's column, i.e. what passes for my initial impressions of the live expansion client. Since we covered Alternate Advancement in detail in our beta preview, this week's piece is a little lighter on the game play details and a little heavier on the general atmosphere.

So, join us past the cut as we take a break from our dueling rangers and head for Hyboria's exotic far east.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Getting into Godslayer

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Getting into Godslayer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromexpansionfeaturedkhitaikhitanlaunchesrise-of-the-godslayerthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 16 May 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AoC: Rise of the Godslayer launch day roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/aoc-rise-of-the-godslayer-launch-day-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/aoc-rise-of-the-godslayer-launch-day-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/11/aoc-rise-of-the-godslayer-launch-day-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Can't get enough Rise of the Godslayer? We here at Massively can't either. In fact, if we weren't slaving away composing this roundup to make your Godslayer launch day research a little easier, we'd be logged in right now. So thank us, of course, and be sure to check out all of our Age of Conan expansion coverage that you may have missed.

GDC10: A look at Rise of the Godslayer
If you're looking for an exhaustive run down of all the features coming your way in the new expansion, look no further than this Rise of the Godslayer preview from GDC2010. The piece features extensive information on new factions, mounts, dungeons, and excerpts from an interview with Game Director Craig Morrison.
Faction Armor detailed in Game Director Letter
Game Director Craig Morrison details the new faction armor system in the upcoming Rise of the Godslayer expansion, and Massively brings you the highlights as well as a smattering of helpful links.
Massively interviews Craig Morrison
Massively's weekly Age of Conan column, The Anvil of Crom, sits down with Funcom's Craig Morrison to talk about a wide range of topics, including tidbits about the new Rise of the Godslayer expansion.
Rise of the Godslayer retail exclusives announced
Funcom announces that Rise of the Godslayer will be available in both digital download and retail formats, both including exclusive pre-order pet items, XP bonuses, and assorted goodies.
Instanced travel encounters detailed
Funcom's Craig Morrison returns with another Letter from the Game Director, this time highlighting a unique feature of the expansion that takes the form of instanced travel encounters. Massively is there with all the details and links.
Rise of Godslayer beta impressions
Jef Reahard, Massively's man on the street in Hyboria and author of the weekly Anvil of Crom column, takes a long look at the Godslayer beta and the Alternate Advancement system and likes what he sees.
Rise of the Godslayer launch trailer released
GameTrailers releases the exclusive teaser trailer for Funcom's Rise of the Godslayer expansion. The trailer, a pleasing mixture of concept art, comic panels, and in-game footage, shows off the lush lands of Khitai, new tiger mounts, and brief glimpses of the new dungeons in action.

MassivelyAoC: Rise of the Godslayer launch day roundup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-rise-of-the-godslayerconanexpansionsfuncomkhitailaunch-daylaunchesrise-of-the-godslayerTue, 11 May 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Godslayer launch trailer unveiled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/godslayer-launch-trailer-unveiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/godslayer-launch-trailer-unveiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/04/godslayer-launch-trailer-unveiled/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With less than a week to go before the launch of Age of Conan's first expansion, the hype is steadily building for Funcom's Rise of the Godslayer. Portions of the new content, scheduled to release on May 11th, are available for inspection courtesy of a two minute teaser video hosted at Gametrailers.

The trailer, a pleasing mixture of concept art, comic panels, and in-game footage, shows off the lush lands of Khitai, new tiger mounts, and brief glimpses of the new dungeons in action.

Check it out after the cut and over at Gametrailers, and also be sure to read our impressions of the Rise of the Godslayer beta.

Continue reading Godslayer launch trailer unveiled

MassivelyGodslayer launch trailer unveiled originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanexpansionfuncomkhitaipvepvprise-of-the-godslayertrailervideoTue, 04 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What's to come in Rise of the Godslayer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/whats-to-come-in-rise-of-the-godslayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/whats-to-come-in-rise-of-the-godslayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/07/whats-to-come-in-rise-of-the-godslayer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Tigers, PvP, corruption, and more are coming with Age of Conan's next expansion, Rise of the Godslayer. Xfire has hosted a sneak peek live broadcast hosted by game director Craig Morrison and lead expansion designer Joel Bylos, and the two have shown off some of the inner workings of the expansion, including some of the changes and additions players will find.

We here at Massively were watching closely and taking notes, so if you didn't get the chance to watch the video then no worries! As we said before, we have your back and we're ready to take you headlong into the blood and corruption of Age of Conan's expansion.

Continue reading What's to come in Rise of the Godslayer

MassivelyWhat's to come in Rise of the Godslayer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanbattlefieldclosed-betacraig-morrisondig-sitesexpansionexplorationfuncomjoel-byloskhitaimonster-aipreviewpvprise-of-the-godslayerscholars-of-chenghoshrinestamarain-tigersxfireMon, 07 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2009: We travel east with Rise of the Godslayer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/pax-2009-we-travel-east-with-rise-of-the-godslayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/pax-2009-we-travel-east-with-rise-of-the-godslayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/09/pax-2009-we-travel-east-with-rise-of-the-godslayer/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Age of Conan came to PAX pretty much directly off their announcement of the Rise of the Godslayer expansion. So when we arrived at our appointment to check the game out and speak with Executive Producer Craig Morrison, you can imagine our curiosity levels were quite high.

This expansion is taking players far into the eastern lands of Khitai, which is essentially a retelling of our own ancient eastern worlds. Something we were told right away is that Funcom wanted to avoid Japanese influences, as they're fairly over-saturated in videogames. Instead, they're going for a heavy focus on Korean and Chinese culture for the lands of Khitai.

Gallery: Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer

Continue reading PAX 2009: We travel east with Rise of the Godslayer

MassivelyPAX 2009: We travel east with Rise of the Godslayer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocchinaconancraig-morrisonexpansionfeaturedfuncomkhitaikoreapaxpax-2009rise-of-the-godslayerrobert-e-howardrotgWed, 09 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan devs release their August newsletter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/age-of-conan-devs-release-their-august-newsletter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/age-of-conan-devs-release-their-august-newsletter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/age-of-conan-devs-release-their-august-newsletter/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The devs over at Age of Conan have just posted their August newsletter on the game's official website. In it they look back over the last month and the announcement of the new AoC expansion, Rise of the Godslayer, as well as clarifying some titbits about the new expansion. This includes thanking players for their feedback and explaining why they chose to venture to Khitai (the Conan-version of China) over other lands featured in the original books. The devs also touch on the fascinating subject of world design and how player feedback has shaped the new armor they are working on.

The most interesting nugget in the newsletter is a sneak peak at what the immediate future holds for AoC in the form of the 1.06 update. This includes the possibility of splitting the update into parts rather than deluging players with a giant patch. They also look at the new level 80 dungeon, the House of Crom, the Veterans System and Tier Three Raiding. So if you're an AoC player excited about the new expansion and the next big update, you might want to head over to the official site and check out the newsletter for yourself.

MassivelyAge of Conan devs release their August newsletter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocaoc-patch-1.06funcomfuncom-age-of-conanhouse-of-cromkhitainewsletternewslettersrise-of-the-godslayerMon, 31 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan expansion concept art unveiled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/age-of-conan-expansion-concept-art-unveiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/age-of-conan-expansion-concept-art-unveiled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/age-of-conan-expansion-concept-art-unveiled/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


As we mentioned, Funcom's Hyborian MMORPG Age of Conan is set to expand. As of yesterday, the concept art first shown at Leipzig is now available to view, courtesy of GameSpy. The dragon banners, pagoda-like structures and mask style suggest that Khitai, Robert E. Howard's composite version of China, may be the setting. If so - and this is only speculation - it might be a promising choice, despite not receiving much attention in the original Howard tales.

Khitai is far to the east of Aquilonia, Stygia and Cimmeria. In A Witch Shall Be Born, Howard portrayed Khitai as a place of sorcery and deep tangled jungles: 'He was a magician from far Khitai, returning to his native kingdom after a journey to Stygia. He took me with him to purple-towering Paikang, its minarets rising amid the vine-festooned jungles of bamboo, and there I grew to womanhood under his teaching. Age had steeped him deep in black wisdom, not weakened his powers of evil. Many things he taught me...' The current race options in Age of Conan don't allow any race but Stygians to be mages, so a Khitai-based expansion could change that. The Tower of the Elephant also mentions 'priests of Yun' who dwell in the lost jungles of Khitai. If the concept art shows rogues and soldiers, a player character Khitai race could be the first to have access to all four class options.
Warhammer Online Coverage Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous Age of Conan coverage, and stick with Massively for more news from the Hyborian Age!

Continue reading Age of Conan expansion concept art unveiled

MassivelyAge of Conan expansion concept art unveiled originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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