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Rise and Shiny recap: Urban Rivals

Beau Hindman — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Trading card games, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

I would like to start off by saying that Urban Rivals, a multiplayer collectible card game, is not an MMO. While I always try to play MMOs for this column, occasionally my "grab a random MMO, one that was recommended by a reader a while ago, and write about it" method needs some tweaking. I don't always get a chance to vet a game mainly because I want to go through the very first stages of play while streaming live on Mondays, so sometimes less-than-Massive games squeeze through. File this under Not So Massively.

Other than that, I found some neat design in the game. I didn't find anything that would just blow us away as gamers, but it has some cool ideas and artwork all the same. There's also the mobile version of the game to consider -- a universal app for the iPhone or iPad that allows for gaming anywhere.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Urban Rivals

Rise and Shiny recap: Urban Rivals originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: How not to sell an expansion

Karen Bryan — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

One month.

That's all that's left before EverQuest II's new expansion, Destiny of Velious, goes live. I've been looking forward to this expansion since 2009, when rumors first emerged that there was some work on Velious content quietly going on. It's my favorite content from EverQuest, and it really marked a Golden Age for those who look back fondly at the game.

But with one month left, I'm left feeling frustrated and concerned. There's just too much silence about the expansion and too many questions left unanswered. Read on to see why the blank slate of Destiny of Velious is a troublesome sign for players.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: How not to sell an expansion

The Tattered Notebook: How not to sell an expansion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: An Appeal for PLEX

Karen Bryan — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EVE Online, EverQuest II, Economy, Game mechanics, Opinion, Legends of Norrath, The Tattered Notebook

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum. There I was, sporting my Santa Glugg hat and all set to merrily report on all the Frostfell news, when the following two questions were posted on the official EverQuest II forums: Am I going to get banned for trading platinum in exchange for Station Cash items, and can we get platinum on the marketplace?

Surprisingly, Senior Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson replied to both. Read on to see what he said and why I think it's time for EverQuest II to follow EVE Online's lead and add purchasable, tradable game time or PLEX.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: An Appeal for PLEX

The Tattered Notebook: An Appeal for PLEX originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Gifting -- 'tis the season?

Karen Bryan — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, EverQuest II, Opinion, Browser, The Tattered Notebook, Family, Clone Wars Adventures

"Mom! Stop driving through the pink lights! Only go through the green ones!"

I glanced over at my two kids and bit my tongue. I was in the middle of speeder bike racing and was having a little trouble navigating the course. In the split second that I turned away, my bike steered off the course, ran halfway up the snowy embankment, and lodged itself in a campfire. I was already dead last, but now I had the pleasure of watching the other racers lap me, not once, but twice.

I was playing Clone Wars Adventures, the latest free-to-play game from Sony Online Entertainment, and I was experiencing the full effects of the generation gap. I know, you're probably saying, "Wait a second, this is an EverQuest II column!" And you're right, but this week, I'd like to take a look at something that both Clone Wars and EverQuest II now have in common -- gifting. Read on to see why EQII players aren't necessarily viewing this latest game change as much of a gift.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Gifting -- 'tis the season?

The Tattered Notebook: Gifting -- 'tis the season? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Never leave home without it

Karen Bryan — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Trading card games, Legends of Norrath, The Tattered Notebook

This week, I decided it's time to dump the bag. My characters often accumulate items at such a rapid rate that my bags quickly resemble those of a typical teenager at the mall. Any time I resign myself to plunking down at the bank to sort my inventory, I end up shocked at some of the stuff I bring home. However, there are some items in EverQuest II that are lifesavers, and others that can really be handy in a pinch. Let's take a look at a few items that you should never leave home without.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Never leave home without it

The Tattered Notebook: Never leave home without it originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE vets create new studio for TCGs based on upcoming MMO

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Trading card games

They're not quite Three Wolf Moon, but the folks over at Dire Wolf Digital have their own special brand of magic waiting in the wings. Formed by several Sony Online Entertainment veterans, including Scott Martins, Paul Dennan, Ryan Anderson and Bruce Mitchener, Dire Wolf Digital will focus on creating online trading card games (TCGs). The SOE vets have several TCGs under their belt, including Legends of Norrath and the Free Realms TCG.

What's interesting for MMO fans is that Dire Wolf Digital is working on a project in conjunction with an upcoming MMORPG. Per the press page: "The company is currently producing a trading card game based on an upcoming massively-multiplayer online game, and is in pre-production on additional social and strategy game projects for 2011."

Of course, we have no idea what this upcoming MMO is, but the talent involved makes Dire Wolf Digital worth watching. Considering that the team has previously worked on several TCGs for SOE and elsewhere, it certainly appears to have the pedigree necessary to succeed in the field.

SOE vets create new studio for TCGs based on upcoming MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Registration opens for SOE's Fan Faire

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Culture, Events, real-world, Free-to-play, Casual, Free Realms, DC Universe Online

Fans of EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies, and Free Realms have a big reason to get excited -- the seventh annual SOE Fan Faire opened up registration Tuesday. Just as a reminder to everyone who missed our previous announcement, the event will run on the weekend of August 5-8 at Bally's Las Vegas. Fan Faire will take place right in the center of the Vegas Strip, in the same venue as last year. That means even if you find a spare moment away from the events, there will be plenty of nearby attractions to go see.

The events already announced at Fan Faire include:

Developer panels
Contests
Live gaming tournaments
Tons of prize giveaways
A vendors area for all your memorabilia needs

In addition, SOE is giving away a whole mess of bonus items to people who register for the whole weekend, including free digital copies of the upcoming EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions.

Enough to get you excited? The hopes of breaking news for DC Universe Online is enough to get us hyped up. If you're a big fan of SOE's various titles and have a little vacation time, now might be a good time to start planning!

Registration opens for SOE's Fan Faire originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's Thanksgiving 2009 MMO wrapup

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Super-hero, Dungeons and Dragons Online, EverQuest, Guild Wars, Events, in-game, News items, War, Free-to-play, Browser, Earth Eternal, Champions Online, Dragonica Online

It's that time of year again -- Thanksgiving is tomorrow and all things turkey related have invaded the MMO world: hunting turkeys, eating turkeys, exchanging turkey parts for rewards, wielding turkey weapons, and even wearing turkeys on your head. Sending yourself into a tryptophan coma isn't the only thing to do, though. You'll find some non-turkey related PvP here and there, opportunities to spread Thanksgiving blessings, and even some new content. And of course, Thanksgiving bonuses, treats, and souvenirs are everywhere. Follow along after the jump for a look at what's going on for Thanksgiving.

Continue reading Massively's Thanksgiving 2009 MMO wrapup

Massively's Thanksgiving 2009 MMO wrapup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thrice the Halloween update hath patch'd

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Age of Conan, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Guild Wars, Lineage, Lineage 2, Culture, Events, in-game, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, Runes of Magic, Legends of Norrath

We are well into that time of year - Halloween is almost here and a quick look into nearly any MMO out there will show it. We've been talking about quite a few games out there and how they're celebrating, but they're certainly not the only ones putting jack-o-lanterns in their windows. Follow after the jump for a look at how some of our other favorite MMOs are celebrating.

Continue reading Thrice the Halloween update hath patch'd

Thrice the Halloween update hath patch'd originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EQ's producer discusses new Legends of Norrath-gated instance after player concerns

William Dobson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Business models, Culture, Forums, Legends of Norrath

Although the Legends of Norrath digital trading card game can be played completely separately from EverQuest, the two games have a lot of ties to each other beyond just lore. The former can be launched from within the latter game. There are also "loot cards" which not only function in LoN but can be redeemed in EverQuest for certain bonus items. Some people that play EQ but not LoN may have been upset in the past at missing out on a few of these loot card items, but it's doubtful that anything has caused as much of an outcry as is currently occurring over an upcoming loot card. The card in question is the Dragon Brood Crypt Key Card, and the resulting EQ reward will be the only way to access a brand new dungeon instance.

Continue reading EQ's producer discusses new Legends of Norrath-gated instance after player concerns

EQ's producer discusses new Legends of Norrath-gated instance after player concerns originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gen Con 2009: MMOs in the E-gaming area

Mike Schramm — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Galleries, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Roleplaying, Free Realms, Champions Online, Legends of Norrath, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Massively was at Gen Con 2009 yesterday in Indianapolis, Indiana, and while most of the (gigantic) convention was involved with more traditional types of gaming, from dice and board games to collectible card games and RPGs, MMOs made their own splash in the "e-gaming" area. Sony Online Entertainment probably had the biggest presence -- in among huge posters of Free Realms and Star Wars Galaxies, they had demos running of all of their current games (though we didn't see any previews of DCUO or The Agency running). A costumed model posed for pictures in front of a large Legends of Norrath poster, while over in the CCG area, SOE held tournaments of the game for players.

Gallery: MMOs at Gen Con 2009

Continue reading Gen Con 2009: MMOs in the E-gaming area

Gen Con 2009: MMOs in the E-gaming area originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath championship qualifiers start 16th of May

William Dobson — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Contests, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Legends of Norrath

If you're a hotshot Legends of Norrath player and want to get into the 2009 World Championship Tournament at Gen Con Indy in August, clear your schedule for this coming weekend. The first of the Championship Qualifiers will begin on Saturday the 16th of May, and if you're in the top 16 players of the day, you'll be playing on Sunday as well. Both first and second place will take home some cash, and travel and accommodation for Gen Con Indy so that they can compete in the World Championship.

Of course, if the cards don't line up for you this weekend, there will be other opportunities to win your championship spot over the next few months:

Legends of Norrath 2009 World Championship Qualifier Tournaments

Dates:

Scheduled for May 16-17, 2009
Scheduled for June 6-7, 2009
Scheduled for June 20-21, 2009
Scheduled for August 1-2, 2009

There will even be a few spots to be won at the actual Gen Con Indy event for a handful of lucky late entrants. The eventual World Championship tournament boasts US$10,000 and US$5,000 first and second prizes, and the winners' likenesses will be put on new cards. Full entry details for this weekend's contest can be found here. We'll keep you posted on further qualifier news as it comes up.

Legends of Norrath championship qualifiers start 16th of May originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What happens at Fan Faire, stays at Fan Faire

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, Pirates of the Burning Sea, PlanetSide, Events, real-world, The Agency, The Matrix Online, News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Everquest Online Adventures, Free Realms, DC Universe Online

Vegas, city of lights, nightlife, and SOE's Fan Faire! Sony has announced that they will once again be heading for Vegas to party down in high-rolling style. This year they'll be holding the event from June 25th to 28th at Bally's Hotel. The location they've picked is right in the middle of various Vegas attractions - although we're sure if you're there for the SOE party, you won't need to worry about that too much.

Having attended last year's Fan Faire, we can definitely say that it's a great weekend of fun and interesting panels, nice people - and this year's lineup appears to be just as interesting. So far the scheduled events include:

Special announcements and sneak peeks of upcoming SOE titles at the Third Annual Community Address from SOE President John Smedley
Autograph signings with members of the original EQ development team and other key contributors
Lots of in-game tournaments; and live, game-themed competitions and quests
Developer forums and roundtables
Cool giveaways and other fun items!
Player of the Year

To top it all off, prices for Vegas vacations are quite good, currently. So if you've been thinking about getting away, really dig SOE's games - or upcoming titles, and enjoy partying down with a great bunch of friendly, welcoming people, then definitely make some plans to attend this year's Fan Faire.

What happens at Fan Faire, stays at Fan Faire originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively catches up with SOE Tucson director Dan Kopycienski

James Egan — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, Trading card games

Sony Online Entertainment surprised us recently with the announcement that they'd acquired Octopi -- creators of the collectible strategy game PoxNora -- and that the studio would now be known as SOE Tucson. We had some questions about what this acquisition might mean for SOE moving into the future, as well as what changes are on the horizon for PoxNora.

Massively caught up with the former president of Octopi, Dan Kopycienski, who is now Director of Development at SOE Tucson. Although SOE Tucson is still very much a studio in transition, he was kind enough to speak with us about where PoxNora is today, and what it may become with the newfound backing of Sony Online Entertainment.

Continue reading Massively catches up with SOE Tucson director Dan Kopycienski

Massively catches up with SOE Tucson director Dan Kopycienski originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest II Producer's Letter lays out changes coming to the game

James Egan — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Classes, Expansions, Forums, Game mechanics, News items

The latest producer's letter for EverQuest II, from Senior Producer Bruce A. Ferguson (aka "Froech"), is a bit of a look back at how The Shadow Odyssey expansion was received by the players. More than that, it's a look ahead to the changes SOE wants to make with the Fighter classes. Ferguson writes, "Last summer, at Fan Faire, we discussed making some changes to the Fighter classes, in order to bring them back in line with our original vision, where all fighters manage their own aggro, instead of relying on other group members to channel them some hate. Making some of these changes will broaden the desirability of all Fighter classes, and help increase their role in groups, without altering others."

Those changes aren't something SOE is simply rolling out, and they've been releasing the Fighter revamp in stages following some lengthy testing. To that end, they're still hoping to get the feedback of players trying out these changes on the Test server. Beyond class balancing, Ferguson drops some info about what EverQuest II players can expect in the short term:

Continue reading EverQuest II Producer's Letter lays out changes coming to the game

EverQuest II Producer's Letter lays out changes coming to the game originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What do you think of table-top games?

Samuel Axon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Culture, Warhammer Online, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Trading card games

There exists a very close relationship between MMOs and table-top games.

Yesterday saw the launch of Ethernauts, the fifth expansion to EverQuest-related collectible trading card game Legends of Norrath. LoN is digital, but gameplay-wise, it's totally a table-top game. World of Warcraft has an entirely material trading card game. Warhammer Online is of course based on the Warhammer miniatures game, and WoW is getting a miniatures game of its own. And of course, the RPG genre originated on the table-top with Dungeons & Dragons.

We're wondering: how much crossover is there between digital and table-top games? How many of our readers play them? Tell us! What do you think of table-top games?

The Daily Grind: What do you think of table-top games? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath launches fifth expansion: Ethernauts

Samuel Axon — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, News items, Trading card games

Today marks the release of the fifth expansion to the Legends of Norrath digital trading card game -- Ethernauts. More than 280 cards join the existing arsenal, including four avatar cards, two new unit races, and 20 loot cards. They all play into a story that sets the stage for EverQuest II's upcoming The Shadow Odyssey expansion. In fact, there are even some scenarios based on never-before-seen TSO content.

In an attempt to give would-be newbies an incentive to buy in, SOE has also introduced the Legendary Starter Pack at the price of $19.99. If you're a vet, though, you can pick up Ethernauts booster packs for $2.99 each. Current EverQuest or EQ2 subscribers will get a free starter deck, 'cause, y'know -- you're not hooked on Norrath enough already, right?

Oh, and there are a bunch of special events all weekend celebrating the launch.

Well met, fellow Norrathian! Make sure to check out all of our coverage of the next EverQuest II expansion, The Shadow Odyssey as well as Seeds of Destruction, the next expansion to EverQuest!

Gallery: Legends of Norrath

Legends of Norrath launches fifth expansion: Ethernauts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Temperence

Michael Zenke — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Legends of Norrath

Our third and final Legends of Norrath preview card for the Ethernauts set is on display this morning. Ethernauts releases this Thursday, so this card brings our preview series for LoN Expansion 6. We've previously talked about several other 'card counter' mechanic offerings, including the personal attack card Vicious Assault and the pet buff Geotic Rune. Today, finally, we have a defensive card using the card counter mechanic; a quick flip of the wrist to get you out of a tight spot.

This past week we also took a look at some of the loot cards coming with this set. Those and all three of our preview cards are in our gallery for the set, below. Check them out, and get ready for the Legends of Norrath expansion's launch the day after tomorrow. Read on below the cut for a closer look at Temperence.

Continue reading Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Temperence

Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Temperence originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath Ethernauts loot card preview

Michael Zenke — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Trading card games, Legends of Norrath

We've been walking through some previews of the Legends of Norrath cards over the last two weeks, and now SOE has some more 'fun stuff' to show off. We have three brand-new loot cards to show off. Two are transformations for your EverQuest II character, and the third is a brand-new pet for your EverQuest character. Check out Allakhazam for even more EQ2 and EQ loot card hijinks!. Plus, keep your eyes on Massively for more loot card information soon, and another preview card through next week!

Well met, fellow Norrathian! Make sure to check out all of our coverage of the next EverQuest II expansion, The Shadow Odyssey as well as Seeds of Destruction, the next expansion to EverQuest!

Continue reading Legends of Norrath Ethernauts loot card preview

Legends of Norrath Ethernauts loot card preview originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Geotic Rune

Michael Zenke — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Trading card games, Legends of Norrath

Last week we began our latest preview series for the upcoming expansion to the TCG Legends of Norrath: Ethernauts. Vicious Assault, last week's card, introduced the 'card counter' mechanic that is taking a bow in this newest expansion. This week's preview card, Geotic Rune, utilizes that same mechanic to provide an all-new level of power to a very traditional Mage deck build.

Another early-to-midgame card, Geotic Rune will increase the power level of all those 'pet decks' out there. It sounds in general like pet fans will be getting a few treats in Ethernauts, a topic touched on in this week's designer analysis. SOE-Denver's Evan Lorentz joins us once again to discuss how Geotic Rune fits into the new expansion to Legends of Norrath, and where you might end up using it in your decks.

Read on below the cut for full details.

Continue reading Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Geotic Rune

Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Geotic Rune originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Vicious Assault

Michael Zenke — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Trading card games, Legends of Norrath

We announced the upcoming expansion to Legends of Norrath just a little less than two weeks ago. Already the release date for the new card set is approaching, and for the next few weeks we'll be offering up a preview-card-a-week to familiarize you with the expansion's new game elements. The art for the new set meets the standard set by previous expansions, and this time around we'll be trying to include comments from card designers along with the actual art itself.

Today we're previewing 'Vicious Assault', an early-to-midgame ability that starts an avatar-on-avatar combat. SOE Denver's Evan Lorentz walks us through the card and its use; despite the ability itself being fairly straightforward, the new set offers up some different takes on tried-and-true LoN strategies.

Read on below the cut for the full card art and Lorentz's take.

Continue reading Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Vicious Assault

Legends of Norrath Ethernauts card preview: Vicious Assault originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath's next expansion, Ethernauts, incoming

Michael Zenke — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Expansions, Trading card games, Legends of Norrath

The folks at Sony Online Entertainment passed us word that a brand-new expansion to their fantasy-themed TCG Legends of Norrath is coming very soon. Called simply Ethernauts, it will be the fifth expansion to the game since the game launched at the end of summer last year. It follows close on the heels of the Oathbreaker expansion, which came out in June of this year. While there are a lot of similarities with past expansions (280 new cards, 20 new loot cards, etc.) Ethernauts looks to be adding a few new bits of flavour to the pot.

Most intriguing is its deep tie-in to the upcoming Shadow Odyssey expansion to EverQuest 2. That connection was hinted at in our interview with LoN developers Kyle Heuer and Tom Lischke in June of this year. Players will take on the roles of ancient heroes, fighting against the darkness of The Void in the far distant past of Norrath. New gameplay elements will also be introduced, with all-new options for starter decks and deck building. We have the full release formatted below the cut, if you're interested. Look to this space in the near future for our typical art previews and promo art from the new expansion.

Gallery: Legends of Norrath

Continue reading Legends of Norrath's next expansion, Ethernauts, incoming

Legends of Norrath's next expansion, Ethernauts, incoming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The SOE Fan Faire bag o' schwag

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, EverQuest, EverQuest II, PlanetSide, Events, real-world, The Agency, The Matrix Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Everquest Online Adventures, Free Realms, Legends of Norrath, DC Universe Online

What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas -- unless of course you happen to be at Sony Online Entertainment's 2008 Fan Faire! We here at Massively are party-crashing this fun event bringing all the dark, dirty details to you straight from the heart of casino central!

For those who are unable to make it to this year's event (and those of you who are just curious about this kind of thing) we're bringing you the contents of the official SOE schwag bag for this year. So gather your courage, and dip in to the gallery for a first look at all the wonders contained in the 2008 Bag o' Schwag.

Gallery: SOE Fan Faire Schwag Bag

The SOE Fan Faire bag o' schwag originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LoN July Loot Tournament takes place this weekend

William Dobson — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Contests, Events, in-game, Trading card games, Legends of Norrath

The next Legends of Norrath Loot Tournament is knocking at your door and offering sweet, sweet loot for your participation this weekend. For 10 Event Passes, you're guaranteed at least three boosters packs, as well as a unique promotional card (Talisman of Pure Chaos) and one of two loot cards (Cloak of Dark Energy for EverQuest II and Familiar of Warden Hanwar for EverQuest). Placing in the top 25 will mean even more booster packs.

Kicking off on the 19th of July, the event will be all wrapped up just one day later, so you'll need to get involved this weekend if you want those prizes -- only U.S. residents are eligible, unfortunately.

LoN July Loot Tournament takes place this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What do you play while you play?

Michael Zenke — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

Let's face it ... sometimes MMOs have their 'slow moments'. Whether it's crafting, lengthy travel times, crafting materials gathering, crafting, endless grind sessions for rep or XP, waiting for guildies at an instance, or crafting, your average MMO player will experience a boring moment or two over the course of their gaming career. If you're anything like the bloggers around here, you'll have eventually realized that you can play two games at once if you put your mind to it. Casual games like the offerings of PopCap or PlayFirst can make the time go past oh-so-much faster. Some titles, like EverQuest, EverQuest 2, and soon Star Wars Galaxies, have their own TCG games embedded within the MMO itself.

So what do you play while you play? Are you a Bejeweled fan, maybe a Diner Dash aficionado? Give us your mini-game best shots in the comments!

The Daily Grind: What do you play while you play? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EverQuest ornament loot card upgrades

Brenda Holloway — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Patches, News items

EverQuest players love the Legends of Norrath: Oathbreaker cards that change the look of their weapons into weird and unique styles -- like the ornament at the right that takes any one-handed slashing weapon, and turns it into the fiery blade carried by creatures in Riftseeker's Sanctum. But the players have not loved so much the fact that the ornament takes up a valuable augmentation slot, which often means the weapon must be drastically reduced in power, just to look cool.

Since that's a trade-off few people really want to make, they've added ornamentations into the game. Ornamentations are single-use containers that take the weapon and permanently change the look of the weapon, but do not grant the weapon any of the stats or procs of the ornament. However, all the augmentation slots remain usable. Magus Alaria in the Guild Lobby will, starting Wednesday, July 9th, sell players a mutation device, for a small fee, that will turn an ornament into an ornamentation. We have a feeling she is going to be pretty busy that week.

EverQuest ornament loot card upgrades originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath Living Legacy Photo Contest

Brenda Holloway — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Legends of Norrath

EverQuest and EverQuest II are getting the lion's share of the attention in SOE's Living Legacy promotion. But they are reserving something special for their massively collectible card game, Legends of Norrath. Win the Living Legacy Photo Contest, and not only will you get your picture painted, in character by artist Kieran Yanner for use on a Legends of Norrath card, but you'll be flown to the SOE Fan Faire this August. If you're an EverQuest player, your image will be made into a statue and placed into the guild halls of every guild in Norrath. If you are an EverQuest II player, your card will be made into a painting that can be hung in a place of honor in your apartment. All you need to do is to send them a picture that shows your passion for EverQuest. Find the complete rules on the Legends of Norrath web site. And good luck!

Legends of Norrath Living Legacy Photo Contest originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview with Chuck Kallenbach, Game Designer on Legends of Norrath

Matt Warner — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Free-to-play, Trading card games

What's this gab we're hearing about Legends of Norrath, it isn't all about the loot cards? Heresy! We're still buying up those virtual packs in hopes to score a rare loot card. Nevertheless, over on IGN's EQ2 Vault we came across this interview with Chuck Kallenbach, Game Designer on Legends of Norrath. Much is discussed gameplay wise about the insight behind the new Monk class, one that doesn't use weapons. One other topic covered includes the conundrum on scaling the game's complexity with new gameplay mechanics with the importance to not veer away from the game's intuitiveness and accessibility.

The Oathbreaker set is the latest expansion introduced last week from Sony Online Entertainment. It brings 250 new cards, fresh gameplay mechanics, a new challenging raid scenario, and the following classes: Monk, Coercer, Templar and Beastlord. Many classes from EverQuest and EverQuest II are now represented in the game. If you are interested learning how to play Legends of Norrath but don't want to dump a bunch of cash you can download the client and play through the tutorials and it won't cost a you a dime.

Interview with Chuck Kallenbach, Game Designer on Legends of Norrath originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath: Oathbreaker expansion released

Michael Zenke — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Expansions, Free-to-play, Trading card games

Last week we brought you an exclusive spoiler of the loot cards for the newest Legends of Norrath expansion, Oathbreaker. As of today, Sony Online Entertainment has released the Oathbreaker set, letting those great mounts and fobs loose in the world of Norrath. The expansion comes with a number of great additions beyond just the loot cards, of course. Oathbreaker players will get to try out ten new single-player scenarios, the new Chel'drak raid, and brand new gameplay mechanics like the 'Charge' keyword. Avatars can now be made with the Froglok race, as can the pale-skinned Erudite spellcasting race.

One of the tricks LoN players have been using since the game launched involves examining the strategies implied by the starter decks. Oathbreaker features four, and they all incorporate the newest cards and mechanics in a neat little package - well worth checking out. The full announcement for the release is below the cut, there's a brand-new tourney going on this weekend to celebrate the expansion's launch, and you can also check out our galleries of loot cards and card art below.

Gallery: Legends of Norrath

Continue reading Legends of Norrath: Oathbreaker expansion released

Legends of Norrath: Oathbreaker expansion released originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sealed-deck tournament marks Oathbreaker's release this weekend

William Dobson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Contests, Events, in-game, Launches, Trading card games

The Oathbreaker set will be added to the growing Legends of Norrath library this weekend, and the EQ2Players website has announced that a special tournament will take place to celebrate the release. The format is sealed-deck, and participants will receive an Oathbreaker starter deck and three booster packs with which to create their arsenal for the tournament.

Shelling out the 20 Entry Pass fee will not only get you all those Oathbreaker packs -- you'll also receive this fiery fellow, the Phoenix Firesurger, which is an exclusive promotional card. Then, depending on how you place in the tournament, you'll get even more booster packs. This digital-dueling extravaganza will commence at 5PM PDT on the 20th of June -- get the full details at the LoN Events Calendar. Also, be sure to see our coverage of all the loot cards that this new set will open up this weekend.

Sealed-deck tournament marks Oathbreaker's release this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The week in Massively features

Michael Zenke — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Massively Meta

	EverQuest II GU46 -- The Void Invasion In EverQuest II's Game Update 46, you will be tasked with uncovering the mystery of the Void Storms, and freeing the native creatures of Norrath from their baleful influence. Your dedication will not go unrewarded; full sets of appearance armor (and one set of ... non-appearance armor) are yours for your hard work.
	Exclusive images of the new Legends of Norrath: Oathbreaker loot cards Today we have for you a great big spoiler. Every pack of cards has a chance to drop one of the rare loot cards into your account. We've got every single one of those cards from the Oathbreaker set laid out for you in a gallery below.
	Exclusive interview with AoC Senior Dialog Writer Aaron Dembski-Bowden The credit for a bewilderingly vast amount of this material goes to Aaron Dembski-Bowden, a young British writer already known for his work in the tabletop roleplaying field. We tracked him down and managed to secure an interview.
	Are female characters really penalized in Age of Conan? The bombshell comes on page 7, where the reviewer states outright that '... Age of Conan's weapon swing time depends on the duration of the visual swing animation, and female characters swing their weapons about 25% slower than males - so every female melee character does 25% less damage over time!'
	MMOGology: There's no place like Azeroth It seems like World of Warcraft operates as many gamers' home base. They might leave for a while to try out a new MMOG when they inevitably burn out on WoW; but most eventually gravitate back. The return might be in anticipation of an expansion, it might be that the gamer misses his guildies, or maybe it's the old, comfortable game mechanics.

Continue reading The week in Massively features

The week in Massively features originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive images of the new Legends of Norrath: Oathbreaker loot cards

Michael Zenke — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Trading card games

A week from today the next set of cards for Sony Online Entertainment's Legends of Norrath TCG will be released. Digital packs of cards will be noisily slotted into virtual racks, to be pawed over by players ... metaphorically. Aside from the obvious addition of some 250 new cards, the Oathbreaker set adds a number of new gameplay mechanics - new raids, the new "charge" keyword, and the Monk, Coercer, Templar and Beastlord classes.

Today we have for you a great big spoiler. Every pack of cards has a chance to drop one of the rare loot cards into your account. We've got every single one of those cards from the Oathbreaker set laid out for you in a gallery below. From the Drogan Distraction goblin illusion to the mysterious "Tarn's Ring of Ambition", the images and what they do is all laid out below.

If Oathbreaker is of interest to you, stick around to check out our interview with the developers behind the Legends of Norrath game.

Exclusive images of the new Legends of Norrath: Oathbreaker loot cards originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive interview with the developers of Legends of Norrath

Michael Zenke — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Trading card games, Massively Interviews

The next set of Legends of Norrath cards is slated to release just next week. Oathbreaker will be the final set in the 'first block' or 'year one' of the SOE-Denver production. To get some information on Oathbreaker, new raids, and future plans, we sat down to talk with Kyle Heuer, Associate Producer for the game, and Tom Lischke, Producer at the Sony Online Entertainment studio in Denver.

Join us as we talk about raid play, tournaments, some exciting plans for integrating Legends of Norrath with EverQuest and EverQuest 2, and a few hopeful words about the future of loot mounts for EQ2 players. Also make sure to head over to our exclusive gallery of Oathbreaker loot cards!

Continue reading Exclusive interview with the developers of Legends of Norrath

Exclusive interview with the developers of Legends of Norrath originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Art from the Legends of Norrath TCG slated for digital art book

Michael Zenke — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Trading card games

Sony Online Entertainment sent over word that art selections from their online trading card game Legends of Norrath have been selected to appear in a unique publication. The EXPOSÉ series of art books is well-known for highlighting some of the best commercial and digital art created in the past year. EXPOSÉ 6 is heading to store shelves soon, and some of the work SOE artists have done on the TCG passed muster in front of a panel of professional artists.

Pieces selected for the book include the gnarly looking Gnoll Shaman (above), as well as a depiction of EverQuest lore giant Mayong Mistmoore.Check out the gallery of included art pieces below, or read below the cut for the full press release.

Gallery: Legends of Norrath

Continue reading Art from the Legends of Norrath TCG slated for digital art book

Art from the Legends of Norrath TCG slated for digital art book originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Going back to EverCrack?

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, The Daily Grind, Trading card games

For those of you who haven't heard, Sony Online Entertainment has handed out 60 day subscriptions to all former EverQuest and EverQuest II subscribers -- even trial accounts! The whole initiative is part of this summer's Living Legacy marketing campaign, which will be including events, items, Legends of Norrath cards, experience weekends, and much much more! This is all leading up to the new expansion pack that will be released for EverQuest II later on this year.

So, this obviously begs the question, are you going to go back to your "EverCrack"? Is this aggressive marketing campaign enough to pull your hands away from the recently released Age of Conan, World of Warcraft, or other favorite MMO? With all of these incentives being offered, and so much to do inside of EverQuest each week this summer until August, will you find a need to go back to your old habits?

The Daily Grind: Going back to EverCrack? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath taps June 7th for next loot tournament

Matt Warner — Sat, 31 May 2008 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Contests, Events, in-game, Trading card games

Sony Online Entertainment has a jam-packed summer schedule planned for Legends of Norrath players. Oathbreaker is set to release on June 19th. There's the $100,000 World Championship event at Gen Con in August. The Legends of Norrath promo weekend is underway in both Everquest and EverQuest II. If that isn't enough there's another Loot Tournament coming next weekend on June 7th with all participating players receiving promotional cards and in-game loot rewards. The official details follow:

As per usual the entry fee is 10 event passes, and tournament play is limited to U.S. residents. Each participant will receive three Legends of Norrath booster packs, a Vahlai Ka'izal, Hateful Schemer promotional card and his or her choice of either an EverQuest Familiar of Severilous or EverQuest II Flaming Skull loot card. The top 25 finishers in each event also win extra booster packs.

If you are interested in LoN but don't want to dump a bunch of cash you can download the client and learn to play for free.

Legends of Norrath taps June 7th for next loot tournament originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 May 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Legends of Norrath Oathbreaker set to launch on June 19th

Michael Zenke — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Expansions, Free-to-play

Sony Online Entertainment sent over word that the fourth set of Legends of Norrath cards are in development, and are slated to be released on the 19th of June. Oathbreaker will complete the ongoing storyline begun by Oathbound, continued by Forsworn, and brought into focus by Inquisitor. The new set is going to be the last released into the gameworld before the $100,000 World Championship event in August. Oathbreaker will include another 250 cards, four new starter sets, and (of course) brand-new loot cards.

Other features include new free-to-play features, new scenarios for single-player gaming, the Monk, Coercer, Templar and Beastlord classes, and even a new raid encounter. Chel'drak the dragon turtle sounds like a fitting followup to Chardok, the current raid event in-game. We'll have more details on Oathbreaker as they become available. In the meantime, you can check out our gallery of Oathbreaker's art or read on below the cut for the official press release.

Continue reading Legends of Norrath Oathbreaker set to launch on June 19th

Legends of Norrath Oathbreaker set to launch on June 19th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you design EverQuest 3?

Brenda Holloway — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, News items, Everquest Online Adventures

At the ION '08 conference keynote, John Smedley hinted at another entry in SOE's long-running EverQuest franchise. Since EverQuest's 1999 release, the venerable fantasy game has been seen in such places as game consoles (EQ Online Adventures for the PS2), PDAs (The Pocket EverQuest trilogy for the Pocket PC), Real Time Strategy (Lords of EverQuest for the PC), online collectible card games (Legends of Norrath) and even versions for cell phones (EverQuest: Hero's Call). What could possibly be next for EverQuest?

EverQuest on the PC has already split itself between the original game and its sequel, EverQuest II. Releasing a sequel to a still-viable game was a gutsy move, but it fragmented the player base substantially, to the point where neither game, by itself, can challenge newer games such as Lord of the Rings Online. It's this blogger's opinion that SOE won't make that mistake again -- any EverQuest 3 would not be for the PC. It's not a huge leap of faith to assume that the next version of EQ would run on the PlayStation 3. SOE recently shifted from Sony Pictures to Sony Computer Entertainment America, makers of the PS3 and publishers of its first-party software. Beyond that, when Smedley mentioned to the Seattle Times that the PS3 would be a strong platform for MMOs, he certainly very likely had this game (and others we don't know about) in mind.

SOE has made some mistakes with EverQuest through the years, but has also had some huge successes and innovations. If you were an EQ3 designer, and all you had in front of you was a PS3 and a blank whiteboard, what features would you include to knock the socks off the players? Customizable quests and raids? A Steampunk theme? Faster, twitch-based gameplay? The ability to make your own cities? How would you make EQ a worthy competitor to today's great crop of MMOs?

How would you design EverQuest 3? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 May 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LoN Championship Qualifier for May takes place this weekend

William Dobson — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Contests, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Trading card games

The full details for the Legends of Norrath May Championship Qualifier have been spilled at EQ2Players. While there are regular tournaments for LoN all the time, these championship qualifiers are the ones you really want to win -- tasty cash prizes, and of course a place in the championship at Gen Con Indy, are up for grabs for those that can prove their skill.

The event will begin at 10:00AM PDT on Saturday the 17th, and spans both days of the weekend. This tournament doesn't have an entry fee, but you must be a U.S. resident to be eligible. The eventual winners of the championship at Gen Con will be showered with riches, so if you fancy your chances, it would be worth getting involved on Saturday and Sunday. More information on the prizes and tournament structure can be found after the break.

Continue reading LoN Championship Qualifier for May takes place this weekend

LoN Championship Qualifier for May takes place this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Card players prep for a $100,000 Legends of Norrath tourney

Michael Zenke — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Events, real-world, Free-to-play

The yearly gaming convention Gen Con is a fantasy world unto itself. A 'home away from home' for tabletop RPG players, board gamers, and miniatures fanatics, the Indianapolis-based event attracts thousands of nerdfolk from across the country. It's also a mecca for card gamers, and has traditionally been one of the crowning moments in the yearly tour circuits. The World of Warcraft TCG has its National Championship slated for that weekend, and Magic the Gathering traditionally offers huge winnings to Gen Con attendees.

Sony Online Enterainment continues its serious support for the Legends of Norrath online TCG by announcing a $100,000 prize purse for the winners of their own Gen Con event. Championship qualifiers have been held regularly for the last few months, and there are still three chances to make it into the big show. Even if you don't make it in via the online events, players at the show will still be able to qualify by participating in duels on the Thursday and Friday of convention week. The top individual prize to the first place winner is $25,000. Attendees will also get the chance to play against the new Ralkor Bloodmoon raid deck. Groups that win against their evil opponent are promised 'phat lewt'. Make sure to give him one for us if you make it out there.

Card players prep for a $100,000 Legends of Norrath tourney originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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