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Mythos Global wants you to play your way

Matt Daniel — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, News items, Mythos, Free-to-play

Mythos Global has been on one crazy rollercoaster ride throughout its lifespan, and the latest incarnation of the free-to-play Diablo-esque dungeon-crawler has been in open beta for a little over a month now. But T3Fun wants players to know that there's more to Mythos than just dungeon-delving, and the studio has released a trio of new videos to prove it.

Whether you're a loot fiend, an achievement chaser, or a master crafter, Mythos has something for you. As with most Diablo-alikes, Mythos features a plethora of randomized loot for players to hoard like there's no tomorrow, while the artisans among us can become masters of their trades with the help of the game's unique crafting skill tree system. And of course, achievements and titles abound for those who just love showing off their heroic accomplishments. If any of these playstyles tickles your fancy, just head on over to the game's official site to get in on the action for yourself.

[Source: T3Fun press release]

Continue reading Mythos Global wants you to play your way

Mythos Global wants you to play your way originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online, Star Trek Online, Humor, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

Loot's not something that I see discussed much these days among MMO players. It's probably because loot's been around since the beginning of online time and is such a staple that we'd only really notice it if it went away completely or if the object in question were a major game-changer for us.

Random loot from mobs is a reward mechanic that is bordering on archaic, having been supplanted by dependable quest rewards and barter vendors that give us the gear we so desire. Of course, now we've come around the weird circle to the point that dropped lockboxes hold interesting loot, but we've got to pay for the privilege of seeing what's inside.

But let's not go there today! Instead, I'm going to share with you the 10 general types of loot that still get me excited while playing. They will shock, amaze, and radically reshape your life, as long as you've had a recent brain wipe and are awaiting brand-new neural instructions.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited

The Perfect Ten: Types of loot that get me excited originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2012: Publishing heavies weigh in on F2P conversions

Jef Reahard — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

Like it or not, free-to-play is rapidly coming to dominate every corner of the gaming industry. While that's good on the surface, it also blurs the line between business and design, and it creates a lot of tension for both consumers and developers who are increasingly faced with the challenges inherent in separating monetary decisions from gameplay decisions.

One of the more interesting GDC 2012 round-tables featured Sony Online Entertainment executive producer Dave Georgeson, NCSoft publishing director Steve Levy, Perfect World VP John Young, GamersFirst monetization director Joe Willmon, and Digi-Capital Limited managing director Tim Merel, all of whom convened for a mind-meld on successfully migrating subscription games to F2P.

As you would expect, the panel was heavy on business-speak, but it also featured plenty of insight into the pricing phenomenon that has become the rule rather than the exception.

Continue reading GDC 2012: Publishing heavies weigh in on F2P conversions

GDC 2012: Publishing heavies weigh in on F2P conversions originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIFT details upcoming Expert Mode dungeon changes

Matt Daniel — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, Endgame, News items, PvE, RIFT, Dungeons

RIFT's patch 1.7: Carnival of the Ascended is bringing with it some pretty neat things, such as in-game marriage, PvP improvements, and the eponymous Carnival of the Ascended. But long-time, high-level players are probably most curious about the changes coming to Expert Mode dungeons. Tier 1 and tier 2 Expert Mode dungeons are merging into a single Expert tier.

What this means is that all players with tier 1 gear will keep that gear (which will be improved by item changes being introduced in the patch), but it will never drop again. The upgraded versions of tier 1 gear will drop in its stead. Previous tier 1 dungeons have had their difficulty increased to be more on par with tier 2 dungeons, and Trion Worlds has also "turned the dials up a bit higher on some encounters to keep things interesting with your flashy new gear."

For the full details on all of the changes coming to the Expert Mode system and the endgame gear system, just click on through the link below to the RIFT official site.

RIFT details upcoming Expert Mode dungeon changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you like need vs. greed loot distribution?

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

MMO gaming: It's all about the loot.

OK, maybe not all about it, but there sure is a lot of thought and angst devoted to the items that fall from various AI-creature piñatas -- who got the best stuff, who didn't get any stuff, and how it's not fair that he got better stuff than you did.

Different games may offer different methods of loot distribution, like a round-robin option or Guild Wars' pre-assigned drops, but need before greed is still a long-standing and familiar method. So what do you think? Does the system, which relies largely on players rolling fairly, still work well, or has its time passed?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Do you like need vs. greed loot distribution? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Wings Over Atreia, Guides

They're big! They're bad! They're da boss(es)! And they've got your loot!

That's right: Lurking about all corners of Aion, powerful monsters beckon (lure?) Daevas with promises of tantalizing loot and illustrious glory. Who doesn't like the rush of downing a powerful foe or nabbing a coveted item?

Previous tours of Heiron and Inggison scouted out said monsters and offered some tips as to who was worth fighting and who should be avoided when hunting alone. Those lands focused on higher-level players. However, with double XP weekends throughout January, there will undoubtedly be an influx of players in the lower levels. What better time to take stock of the bosses available to this crowd?

This week, Wings Over Atreia takes a tour of Eltnen to expose the available bosses to treasure-hungry Daevas. Be warned, though: The opportunity to take on these behemoths may be short-lived during a time of double XP, especially when combined with mentoring. So before you move on to bigger, brighter lands, take a moment to stop and smell the roses -- or kill the bosses, as it were.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen

Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Eltnen originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIFT's 1.7 patch filled with content, coming soon

Jef Reahard — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, RIFT, Dungeons

What's next for RIFT? Well, the 1.7 patch, for starters. The update is called Carnival of the Ascended, and if it sounds a bit festive, it is. Telaran weddings are in the offing, as Trion is introducing a marriage mechanic to its fantasy MMO. There's also the new River of Souls Chronicle, which the official forums bill as an "undead adventure for two."

A new master mode dungeon is coming too, as is an expert dungeon overhaul with more options and better loot for endgame avatars. Finally, there's a free weekend coming your way on January 19th, and you can return to Telara (or check it out for the first time) for no charge through January 22nd.

RIFT's 1.7 patch filled with content, coming soon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Does quest reward realism matter?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor, Miscellaneous

While playing Star Wars: The Old Republic this week, my quest partner and I ran into something odd: A group of anti-Jedi Twi'lek pilgrims handed over an elite Jedi robe to his Consular. What were these pilgrims doing with expensive gear from their enemies, and if the quest-givers had looted the garb from Jedi corpses, why would they consider such wearables worthy gifts for us? In a game as story-driven as SWTOR, you'd think the quest rewards would match the lore, right?

Of course, BioWare's new epic isn't alone in these weird quirks. Think about how many fantasy games have monsters that drop abnormal numbers of body parts, or worse, money, when you know that ghost couldn't carry a sack of gold and you're pretty darn sure that bat had two eyes, not just one. But does it bother you? Are your immersions disrupted by such inanities, or do you chalk them up to game mechanics and go about your MMO business, happily accepting illogical quest rewards and looting ridiculous items (like furniture!) from any old white-con mob that wanders into your crosshairs?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Does quest reward realism matter? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New EVE dev diary talks PvE content

Jef Reahard — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, PvE, Sandbox, Dungeons

CCP has fired off another EVE Online press release, this time extolling the virtues of the PvE content coming in the winter expansion. New DED complexes are on the way, as are new bosses, modules, and "more reasons to generate massive explosions in space," according to CCP Affinity.

Anomalies will feature increased payouts and more NPCs, and consequently more ISK for the players. Magnometric sites will also see their overall value increase, and CCP is even adding a minimize function for dungeon-related pop-up messages to improve capsuleer quality of life. Read all about it on the official EVE website.

New EVE dev diary talks PvE content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online strengthening the fight against the Borg

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Previews, Endgame, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play

Since launch, Star Trek Online has always used the Borg as a major threat. This is evidenced by the Borg's position in several of the game's Strategic Task Forces, top-end challenges for the best of the best in the Federation and the KDF. The conversion to free-to-play will include improvements and updates for these STFs, starting with a change explained in the latest installment of the Path to F2P blog series.

The first change is the shift to two separate difficulty modes, Normal and Elite. STFs are also being added to the PvE queue feature so that players can more easily assemble a group. Last but not least, the missions will feature special rewards that can be traded for a variety of anti-Borg equipment, allowing successful players the chance to better tune their ships for future runs. These updates won't reduce the threat level of the Borg, but they should help more players face off against one of the game's marquee opponents.

Star Trek Online strengthening the fight against the Borg originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wasteland Diaries: Player-run economy

Edward Marshall — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Economy, Patches, PvP, PvE, Opinion, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

The economy in Fallen Earth has been stagnant for a while. The auction house has been just a place for trader clones (with maxed social skill) to post wares with a small markup from the NPC vendors prices. In some cases, these traders would post mats that could only be bought in PvP conflict towns or found in secret or dangerous scavenging spots. It was hard to be competitive in a market like that. Every resource had an unlimited supply thanks to the vendors. There were a few items that actually worked on the supply and demand principle, like vibrant and volatile chemicals and pre-fall tech. These items had prices that were dictated completely by the players. Through competition, the prices got pretty reasonable (and I even bought a few pre-fall techs to allieviate the Citadel grind).

All that has changed now, and the Fallen Earth team has made some massive changes to the way the economy works. In this post, I'll take a look at what has changed. I'll try to give my best guess about what will happen to the economy in the coming weeks. A great many players are already freaking out about this concept on the forums and in global chat. While I admit it's too early to tell what will become of us in the near future, there's no need to panic. People were rage-quitting the game mere hours after the changes were made. If you ask me, it's a bit premature to make a decision like that. Nobody really knows what will happen, but click past the cut to see my best guesses.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Player-run economy

Wasteland Diaries: Player-run economy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tales of Fantasy expansion brings new PvP and dungeon content

Jef Reahard — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, MMO industry, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Tales of Fantasy

Tales of Fantasy has a new expansion on the way, and Veil of Darkness is all about the PvP. A new IGG press release has given us a bit of a heads-up on the new content which centers around an area known as Coiling Hollow.

The hollow is basically a PvP-enabled zone where players can engage in wanton slaughter without fear of a death penalty (and rack up a bunch of honor points for disposing of members of the opposing faction).

That's not all, as Coiling Hollow also features something of a mother lode when it comes to loot. IGG tells us that the Serpent Shrine adventure area is "filled with the discarded treasure of a thousand warriors who dropped everything and ran for the exit," presumably due to the unimaginable horrors contained within. While there's no definitive release date for the Veil of Darkness content as of yet, you can keep an eye on the official Tales of Fantasy website, and Massively, for all the latest details.

Tales of Fantasy expansion brings new PvP and dungeon content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New LotRO dev diary outlines future itemization improvements

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries

Some days we feel like Paul Revere, riding our 120% mounts through towns and shouting announcements like "Rise of Isengard is coming! Rise of Isengard is coming!" It's OK, people probably prefer to get their news shouted at them by cyber equestrian newsies than any other method, right? And in the case of Lord of the Rings Online's latest expansion, it's good we do so, because a whole host of itemization improvements is coming to the game.

In a new dev diary, the LotRO systems team lays out the path for itemization improvements, including where we've been in the game and where we're going with gear. Two of the biggest concerns that the team identified to fix were minute increments between gear upgrades and the inability to predict what combination of equipment players would use to hit the stat caps. Therefore, the caps will be removed and players should see more substantial gear upgrades with the expansion.

The diary goes on to share how different segments of the player community will be able to access top-of-the-line gear in the future, including solo players, crafters, casual groupers, and raiders. Other interesting tidbits include desirable yellow gear, gear dropping in instance chests, and the addition of a non-gating stat called Finesse.

New LotRO dev diary outlines future itemization improvements originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the Mask: The incentives are backwards

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask

This week in Behind the Mask, we will not be discussing Aftershock, the new Comic Series adventure that started several weeks ago. I intend to talk about Aftershock after it's finished -- if I talked about each new issue of Aftershock, I wouldn't be able to talk about other things, since there's a new issue every week.

Instead, I'm going to talk about the broad aspect of teaming in Champions Online, and more importantly, the rewards for teaming. Teaming in CO is as fun as in other MMORPGs because playing with other people is generally a fun activity. Unfortunately, there isn't much material incentive to team. It's faster to get experience and gear solo, making lairs the only real reason to team.

I team all the time, though -- entirely because it's more fun to play with friends.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The incentives are backwards

Behind the Mask: The incentives are backwards originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Chat: Surprisingly not all about E3 edition

Rubi Bayer — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Global Chat, Miscellaneous

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Sure, we spent a lot of time on E3 last week, and it certainly dominated the news scene. Our readers found time to ponder non-E3 general gaming talk in addition to E3 talk, so follow along after the jump to see some of what they had to say this week.

Continue reading Global Chat: Surprisingly not all about E3 edition

Global Chat: Surprisingly not all about E3 edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan's Morrison talks Savage Coast dungeons and gear

Jef Reahard — Tue, 24 May 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items

Interested in learning more about Age of Conan's newly minted Savage Coast of Turan adventure pack? Eurogamer recently talked to Funcom game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison about everything from the marketing opportunities represented by the upcoming Conan film to specifics on the new tie-in content.

Morrison riffs on new instances, both the solo and group variety, including an encounter with pirates called Dead Man's Hand and another tryst based on the Island of Iron Statues from the original Robert E. Howard lore. There's also a new raid in the Temple of Elric that features Ela-Shan, a master thief whom Jason Momoa's Conan encounters in the new film.

Still want more? How about a new epic quest line and various loot upgrades? The drops from the team instances will be "slightly more powerful than the rewards we give for max-level content in Godslayer," Morrison explains. He also drops a hint about the adventure pack's new armor. "You can't go into an area like Turan and have that magnificent Persian theme without bringing in new armor sets." Despite the high-level nature of some of the drops, it appears that much of the Savage Coast content is aimed at players around level 50. Head to Eurogamer for more.

Age of Conan's Morrison talks Savage Coast dungeons and gear originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: This is only a test...

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

BEEEEP! The message you are about to hear is from your local public test server. This is only a test. Had this been an actual server, your XP would have been sliced, your loot drops diced, and your AP slashed. In the event of an actual server, the message you would receive would assure you that your characters would be safe from wipes and safer from bugs and glitches. This is the Aion PTS. Remember, this is only a test... server. BEEEEP!

Public test servers. Just three small words. What thoughts and feelings do these words invoke in MMO gamers? Much like the words "open beta," PTS seems to represent more of a sneak-peek playground for upcoming gaming goodness instead of a place to test and tweak said upcoming features before they go live. Come on, let's admit it: In an age when the philosophy of instant gratification seduces new acolytes by the hour, who can truly deny that desire to see all that is new and shiny? Who doesn't want to take a stroll through new instances, test out new weapons, and try on new gear? New equals exciting. And we test-drive cars, so why not games? And if we test-drive games, then why not game patches?

With this in mind, I think it would not be far-fetched to believe that Daevas flocked to New Atreia (as I have dubbed it, seeing as this world certainly could not be confused with the Atreia I already know) when NCsoft opened Aion's test server to the public on May 12th. After all, many players are eagerly anticipating the features offered in the 2.5 patch. So in order to bring you a taste of what's to come, yours truly ventured forth onto the realm of the PTS. What I found was exciting, fun... and a bit surprising.

Vicariously live the crazy whirlwind life of a PTSian after the break.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: This is only a test...

Wings Over Atreia: This is only a test... originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Drop -n- shop

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Hot topic! Hot topic! Fresh outta the community oven!

In a much-hyped announcement a while back, NCsoft proclaimed that drop rates in Aion were being significantly increased in the 2.1 patch. The company even employed a certain wide-eyed Shugo named Victor to outline his experiments and prove that drops now rained from the skies.

For a while, there was much rejoicing in the lands of Atreia. *cue Monty Python soundtrack* Oh, there were some naysayers who cried that an end to the economy as we knew it was at hand (not totally incorrect), but for the most part, Elyos and Asmodians alike flocked back to Aion with the promise of more wealth and gold loot. I even found that my bags could not hold everything that dropped during Taloc's Hollow runs, forcing me to to delete items in order to pick more up.

Alas -- that was then, and this is now. The pendulum has quietly swung back the other way to the what-exactly-does-a-loot-drop-look-like side. From personal experience, I can attest that getting drops now is about like pulling Stormwing's teeth... with only your bare hands and maybe some dental floss. The change is obvious, so why all the hush-hush? Currently it feels like a classic bait and switch: Market an enticing feature loudly to get players then remove it with equal secrecy and stealth. And to top that off, there are murmurs that the devs plan to implement changes that put a halt to the popular selling of loot rights. Aw, don't kick us while we are down!

Make sure you aren't on cool-down and zone past the cut to explore this bane of many a Daeva's life (drop rates) as well as the practice of selling loot rights within Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Drop -n- shop

Wings Over Atreia: Drop -n- shop originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Inggison

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, PvE, Wings Over Atreia, Guides

Back in January, Wings Over Atreia brought you the first installment of a series highlighting the who, where, what, and even some how of Aion's world bosses. At that time, we took a tour around the land of Heiron and met up with those tough (and some not-so-tough) bosses who taunt players with their juicy, coveted loot. But Heiron is for youngins; this week, we will focus our tour on the playground of the highest levels, the lands of Balaurea -- specifically, Inggison.

It never fails -- the best goodies are never the easy-to-get goodies. As much as Daevas may want to get their hot little hands on some of the weapons, armor, and crafting materials dropped by these world bosses, they have to first find these giants and second actually defeat them. So much easier said than done. On the bright side, some of the mobs are easier to kill and can even be soloed (although they are also well-camped). On the not-bright side, others don't seem to show their faces as often as hungry loot-hunters would like, or they take a friend or 20 to take down. So what's a Daeva to do?

Soar past the cut for some tips, tricks, and a handy map for seeking out those Inggison bosses and convincing them to give up their loot.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Inggison

Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Inggison originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Torchlight's Schaefer: MMO subscriptions aren't the way to go

Jef Reahard — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

Runic Games CEO and Torchlight developer Max Schaefer knows a thing or two about addictive, loot-driven dungeon crawlers. After all, he was a founding member of Blizzard North and instrumental in the development of Diablo and Diablo II. So, when Schaefer talks about game design, people generally listen.

Whether Schaefer's expertise extends to MMO business models is up for debate, though, which makes a recent interview at Charge-Shot.com an interesting read. "I don't think really anyone can do [subscriptions] anymore because pretty much everyone that does subscriptions has one for World of Warcraft," Schaefer posits, while speaking of his plans for the upcoming Torchlight MMO.

While the majority of the interview focuses on the new Xbox Live incarnation of the original Torchlight -- as well as the forthcoming Torchlight II -- it's also a window into Schaefer's design sensibilities and therefore a possible barometer for the type of gameplay that fans might expect from a Torchlight MMO. "[Torchlight] is the kind of game you can play for 20 minutes before you got to go out to dinner, but it's also one that you can geek out on all night. It's just a very accessible format that gives people a chance to enjoy a game rather than work at a game," Schaefer explains.

[Thanks to Craig for the tip!]

Torchlight's Schaefer: MMO subscriptions aren't the way to go originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Power Couples

Karen Bryan — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Last week, in honor of Valentine's Day, The Guild Counsel took a look at the challenges and uniqueness of online relationships in MMOs and the role guilds have (and don't have) in the equation. It might seem a little strange to some, but there are many who can vouch for the fact that these relationships are indeed strong and can turn into successful marriages. Thanks to those who shared their stories!

This week, we're shifting gears a bit to look at spouses in guilds. Whether they met online or not, married couples can affect a guild differently from individual members. And when one spouse is in a position of power, things can get even more complicated. Read on for a look at how to avoid having the MMO version of Heidi and Spencer in your guild.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Power Couples

The Guild Counsel: Power Couples originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

OK, now get your collective minds all out of the gutter! There we go. Of course, the title speaks to gaming styles and preferences in Aion. Lately, I've had the topic of grouping crop up in different discussions, from the trend of decreasing group sizes (Star Wars Galaxies had groups of 20, then Lineage II had groups of nine, followed by other games with a maximum group size of six) to questioning the need to group at all. To group, or not to group: Is that really the question?

I touched on this topic a bit a few weeks ago, but an adventure this past week brought my attention back to it; I discovered that you no longer need a full group for one of the more frustrating quests in the game (once you factor in trying to get a group when the rift is up and not have it camped on the other side by the enemy!). Instead, you can complete the quest with just two or three Daevas, a feat unheard of previously due to the difficult dungeon in enemy territory.

Granted, we completed our quest, which would have been impossible otherwise given the circumstances. But on a broader scale, what's with the trend of phasing out group content in MMOs and catering to the solo crowd? This phenomenon puzzles me. When a game is an MMO (read "massively multiplayer"), why discourage grouping by making almost all content accessible to the solo crowd -- especially in Aion (where learning good group dynamics can be crucial in large scale warfare)? In a time when social skills seem to be struggling to survive, why open yet another opportunity for people to avoid interaction?

Type /Invite and join me past the cut to examine this phenomenon and weigh in with your preferred gaming style in our comments.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group

Wings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: DKP will set you free

Karen Bryan — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

There are many questions in life that have been debated for eternity. The chicken or the egg? Pie or cake? Fish or cut bait? Pirates or ninjas? Yankees or Red Sox? Democrats or Republicans? Add to this list another age-old question -- merit or DKP? Although there are several systems for awarding loot, these two have traditionally been the most popular with guilds. I've used both extensively, and while each system is time-tested and works well, I've slowly become a DKP convert. In this week's Guild Counsel, it's time to take a look at the hot-button issue of what to do with loot.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: DKP will set you free

The Guild Counsel: DKP will set you free originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Heiron

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia, Guides

Or should l say world boss tour? Not counting the bosses at the ends of instances or campaigns, these are the baddest of the baddies, the top tier of PvE opponents. Some are beyond huge and make your heart stop the first time you stumble upon them; others are just average and innocuous-looking yet can wipe the floor with you when they sneeze. As vicious and imposing as they are, they often hold the most coveted loot.

Not only is the loot sought after by just about every Daeva and his daggie, but these behemoths only spawn randomly. In order to even have the chance to defeat them (and thereby snag the gold goodies), you must have a fair bit of luck to catch them when they are active and roaming the lands. That, and find them when they aren't being camped by others who also want those same goodies.

So where are these bosses and how can you get your wings on them (or avoid them, as the case may be)? Whether you want to sneak a peek at one of these mega-mobs without getting eaten or you want to strategize a way to defeat them and hoard some loot, Wings Over Atreia will introduce you to the highest-level named mobs in Atreia for your oggling or slicing-and-dicing pleasure. Today begins a series of articles highlighting the who, where, what, and even some how of Aion's world bosses.

Glide on past the cut to delve into the world bosses in Heiron.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Heiron

Wings Over Atreia: Boss world tour -- Heiron originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Going steady with Kromede's Trial

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Last week, I bared my soul and shared my first date with my favorite mid-level Aion instance, Kromede's Trial. OK, so maybe it is the only mid-level solo instance, but that doesn't diminish the fact that I enjoyed it immensely -- enough to return over and over and over again. Not even the lure of rifting changes could pull me away... although the second I hit level 45 and cannot enter the instance, I am off to Morheim! Until that moment, I am enjoying a combination of full-clears for armor and XP and quick runs just for the weapon.

So what about this instance hooked me enough to manage four different runs in one day during the reactivation celebration (while the lockout timer was reduced to four hours)? A steadily filled experience bar, a consistently filled cube, and the promise of a gold weapon after completing one repeatable quest 20 times, not to mention a growing collection of corrupt judge's armor pieces and a chance at Kaliga's key for a fabled weapon are why I simply can't say no. All this without having to deal with the inconvenience of forming a group, and all my other Aion goals can be met while the instance is on cool-down. What more could a girl want?

Peek past the cut to watch this love affair unfold as I continue to court Kromede's Trial. Enjoy a screenshot gallery as well!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Going steady with Kromede's Trial

Wings Over Atreia: Going steady with Kromede's Trial originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIV launches another notorious preview

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Previews, News items, PvE, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

We're not sure exactly when Final Fantasy XIV's large December update will be going live, but we do know that one of its major inclusions will be the addition of notorious monsters. The first of these powerful beasts has already been previewed, but a new one is now being shown for all to see... not that it would be easy to miss the enormous Tarbh Uisge. One of the last great buffalo, his mind has been eaten away through years of suppressive magics, leaving him as a bundle of violent rage.

Tarbh Uisge appears to be in the same category as the previously demonstrated Deadeyes in more ways than one. This great beast is linked to a levequest as well, but he also drops the same set of runestones as his contemporary. The Templar armor previewed alongside the buffalo, therefore, can be obtained by players slaying either beast and accumulating drops, which frees players to pursue both or neither as they see fit. Final Fantasy XIV should be releasing this newest opponent in the near future, which should yield a notable boon to everyone not trampled underfoot.

Final Fantasy XIV launches another notorious preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Taloc's Hollow speed runs

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: PvE, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia, Guides

The tropical breeze rustling through the branches. The exotic wildlife. The blessed solitude. While reminiscing about your previous excursion to famed Taloc's Hollow, you find yourself wanting to relive those great moments. OK, maybe you just want to tank up on some XP and loot. And who can blame you? Taloc's Hollow is one of "the" destination hotspots in Aion for those over level 51 to gather both kinah and experience. If you are in it for the XP, chances are you want to just clear everything in your path; after all, it isn't often you get to be in deity-mode, killing elite mobs on your own. However, there comes a time when you simply you don't want to or can't spend a couple hours clearing the instance out. Then what?

Well, then you aim for a speed run. These runs are often considered money-maker runs and are factored into a Daeva's wealth portfolio. While decent loot can and does drop off the trash mobs, many people reach the point that they only want to focus on a boss run and ignore everything else possible. Can you do it? Yup.

Dash past the cut for hints to help you get through Aion's highest-level solo instance quickly and efficiently.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Taloc's Hollow speed runs

Wings Over Atreia: Taloc's Hollow speed runs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Merge this!

Karen Bryan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Classes, Culture, Economy, Lore, Opinion, Races, Humor, The Tattered Notebook

Server mergers are coming this week to EverQuest II, and with it come some serious questions about what stays, what goes, and who gets stuck with a name with a lousy X at the end. But sometimes mergers are a good thing, and I think since we're on the subject, it's worth looking at what else could be merged in the world of Norrath.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, I'll consider how merging tokens, towns, classes, gods, guild halls and more could benefit EQII. Join me past the cut!

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Merge this!

The Tattered Notebook: Merge this! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft reveals juicy details on Aion 2.1, item drop rates substantially increased

Jef Reahard — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Patches, News items

Aion is the lucky recipient of "the single biggest change ever implemented by NCsoft across its entire portfolio of games." Version 2.1 is hitting the Public Test Server (PTS) today, with a launch date for the live shards currently scheduled for November 17th. What's so special about 2.1, you're probably asking?

In a nutshell, loot, and lots of it. More specifically, significantly increased drop rates are the order of the day. Now, we've heard the jokes as well. "Significant" means an increase from .01 to .02 percent, right? Wrong, as this time NCsoft means business. Aion's devs have offered up some specific statistics via press release, and you'll want to check out the tables after the cut for all the details.

If you've spent much time in the lands of Atreia, you're probably familiar with Beshmundir's Temple and the named bosses contained therein that players often farm for loot. Over a period of 20 Perilous Path Temple runs, testers collected 138 total loot items. Of these, 121 were fabled quality (including wings), and 17 were eternal. Similarly, NCsoft testers cataloged 20 runs through the famed Dark Poeta dungeon, recording all loot items acquired from Spiritmaster Atmach to Brigade General Anuhart. A total of 68 fabled items dropped, which averages out to 3.4 per run. This was also sans the final boss, so the actual numbers will likely be higher.

Finally, NCsoft is also gifting players with the new Aion Adventure Guide. According to the press release, the guide will "give players advice on where to find level-appropriate in-game content that will help with progression and reward them with items along the way. Crafted in-game messages and guides let players know where to go to find game content (quests, instances) that help progress them to the next level and give them hints on how to use new areas, such as the Abyss, and systems, such as Stigma Stones to their advantage."

Don't forget to fly past the cut for a detailed breakdown of the Beshmundir Temple runs in table format.

Continue reading NCsoft reveals juicy details on Aion 2.1, item drop rates substantially increased

NCsoft reveals juicy details on Aion 2.1, item drop rates substantially increased originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All you ever wanted to know about Rift's gear and were not afraid to ask

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Previews, RIFT, Community Q&A

While some players may possess the tact not to come right out and say it to a dev's face, when an upcoming MMO is being discussed there's always the inner voice shouting, "What about my loots? Is the gear pimpin' or what?"

Forget zones and races and dynamic events -- today at Ten Ton Hammer, the crowd finally got the Rift: Planes of Telara dev team to open up about the outfits that constitute a bulk of the rewards of the game. In this reader Q&A, Game System Designer Drew Clowery tackled numerous questions about Rift's gear. Rift will launch with 48 armor set models -- each boasting a number of variants and texture options -- but will not initially offer armor set bonuses.

Veteran MMO gamers will feel at home with Rift's armor system, which is restricted by class (warriors will be able to wear heavier armor than rogues, for example) and can be bound on pickup or equip. Loot comes in one of four levels of rarity -- common, uncommon, rare and epic -- based on its utility and difficulty to attain. Crafted gear will be competitive (and apparently customizable) to dropped gear. And finally, Rift will not launch with an appearance system that replaces the look of worn gear with cosmetic items.

Clowery feels that the team has struck a good balance between loot being useful and being a barrier: "Loot is an important part of our game, and so it has to have an important impact upon the characters. That said, it's not completely overwhelming... We don't design encounters to be gear checks. We design them to see if you can get together and do this."

All you ever wanted to know about Rift's gear and were not afraid to ask originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What do you think of random loot?

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game mechanics, Endgame, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor

Random loot has existed in games pretty much since the first game that featured some sort of loot, and for good reason. It's not exactly a conceptual leap to assume that Ingvar the Plunderer from World of Warcraft might have a powerful axe, seeing as he swings an axe around to great effect while you fight him. And of course, when you get a random drop, you feel a rush of reward. That's discounting, of course, the many times that you don't win the roll for the drop, or the drop simply doesn't happen to be among the loot dropped for that particular run. Anyone who has done the same content time and again in hopes of a drop that hasn't come will no doubt gladly relay horror stories.

At the best of times, random rewards make you feel like you managed to break the system and get an advantage. At the worst of times, random rewards make you feel like they've robbed you of something for no good reason. It's a topic that gets brought up every so often, and it merits another go: How do you feel about random loot? Do you think it's a good system? A bad system that's a necessary evil? Or do you prefer a system akin to Guild Wars', in which most rewards are purchased or crafted rather than dropped?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What do you think of random loot? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Destination guide -- Taloc's Hollow

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Wings Over Atreia, Guides

Are you weary of group dynamic bickering, spittle-laced rants, or plowing through repeatable quests until your head is spinning and your hands have a death-grip on your weapon? Are the crowds around Atreia just getting to you? Why not spend some quality time alone... when you needn't answer to anyone else? That's right folks! Leave your friends, your legion-mates, and all reminders of real life behind and come visit beautiful Taloc's Hollow!

Thinking of just kicking your heels up in Pandaemonium or Sanctum? Lounging around in an inner tube on dry land hardly a getaway makes, so hurry on down to the lush lands of Taloc's Forest (Inggison) or Krug Basin (Gelkmoros) for a little R&R -- rewards and, well, rewards. What does Taloc's have to offer? For the discerning level 51-55 adventurer, Taloc's offers the unique opportunity to gather treasure and soak up experience, all without having to share any of it with your compatriots. Need a random five-minute break to grab that leftover pizza? No problem! Find an awesome piece of fabled jewelry? Nope, you don't have to roll -- it's all yours.

Choose Taloc's Hollow as your next Aion destination spot today! Ready for adventure? Cruise on past the cut for a guided tour, along with some helpful hints, special tips, and time-saving deals for your trip.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Destination guide -- Taloc's Hollow

Wings Over Atreia: Destination guide -- Taloc's Hollow originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft details Lineage 2 Trick or Treat event

Jef Reahard — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lineage 2, Events, in-game, News items

Just when you thought we'd brought you all the news that's fit to print about Halloween-themed events in your favorite MMORPGs, NCsoft checks in with their Trick or Treat GM Event for Lineage 2. Kicking off today and running through October 28th, the event requires you to go hunting between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm Pacific time. If you see an elpy appear next to you, you'll have 20 seconds to /say or /shout "trick or treat."

If successful, a GM will transform you into a werewolf and teleport you to a special instance featuring a ton of loot-bearing elpies waiting to fall on your blade (or your claws). You'll be hauling in a ton of goodies, so you might want to consider clearing your inventory ahead of time. Read up on all the details at the official Lineage 2 website.

NCsoft details Lineage 2 Trick or Treat event originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Craft of Gods patch adds quests, dungeon, recurring events

Jef Reahard — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Craft of Gods

It's been a while since we've checked in with Craft of Gods, a free-to-play MMORPG based on Slavic mythology and produced by the Russian game studio known as Cyberdemons. We figured post-patch day is as good a time as any, and the latest update to the Kalicanthus Entertainment title has brought about a slew of changes including new quests, new dungeons, and revamped newbie areas.

Cyberdemons has also added recurring in-game events that include a special PvP cave featuring boss key drops and loot chests, named events featuring special named mobs at various locations in the game world, and a weekly mob-focused double experience event.

Take a look at the official patch notes for the full list of fixes, tweaks, and additions.

Craft of Gods patch adds quests, dungeon, recurring events originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArenaNet designer gives new details on armor and loot in Guild Wars 2

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Guild Wars 2

Last night was an interesting one for Guild Wars 2 fans. A new ArenaNet blog post popped up, this one courtesy of designer John Hargrove, who had a lot to say about two of our favorite things in the game: loot and armor.

Players have been wondering how loot is going to work in Guild Wars 2 in conjunction with the karma and dynamic event systems, so it was nice to have that cleared up. Unfortunately, much of the news got lost when players almost immediately focused on a single sentence: "With the transmutation system, you'll be able to acquire new items known as Transmutation Stones through our in-game store that allow you to customize your appearance."

The player base as a whole is pretty vocal about this single sentence, but there was so much more that John had to tell us. Follow along after the jump to see what it is.

Continue reading ArenaNet designer gives new details on armor and loot in Guild Wars 2

ArenaNet designer gives new details on armor and loot in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dig for Free Realms treasure on Facebook!

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Free-to-play, Free Realms, Family

Free Realms is already a pretty social game, but SOE thinks it can do even better. Capitalizing on the trend of social networking, Free Realms has launched a Treasure Trader application on Facebook for players to earn sweet, sweet loot even when you're not in the game (or especially when you can't be in the game).

The Treasure Trader has a dual purpose: To give gifts to friends or steal items from them. If an item is stolen -- and really, who in this day and age would do that? -- then the robbed party has 24 hours to defend his loot by correctly answering a trivia question. Of course, it might take more than 24 hours to repair a friendship due to this unwarranted mugging. The more loot that is taken and given, the more players earn codes for rewards in-game.

If Treasure Trader isn't your cup of Earl Gray, you may be interested to learn that a new racetrack is coming to the game. The Diamond Back racetrack is the winner of a racetrack design contest, and will be coming to Snowhill for everyone to enjoy.

Dig for Free Realms treasure on Facebook! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

Brianna Royce — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Classes, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, RIFT

Just a few weeks ago, I was invited to attend Trion Worlds' Gamer's Day in San Francisco to get some hands-on time with a couple of the company's upcoming titles, including Rift: Planes of Telara. If Rift seems to have come out of nowhere, that might be due both to the acquisition of EverQuest II veteran Scott Hartsman to head the project as executive producer, and to a clever name change meant to reflect the team's shift in development focus.

In fact, that shift in development focus is precisely what I was at Trion's studio to test -- I got to check out the Rifts themselves in all their glory, in the context of the greater dynamic content system that the developers are so excited about. Massively's writers have been able to play and report on character creation and the starting areas of Rift several times over the last year or so, including earlier this summer at E3. But until today's embargo lift (coinciding with the reveal at Gamescom), no one had quite seen the fabled planar invasions and takeovers in action.

Now we have.

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lost Pages of Taborea: Grouping basics

Jeremy Stratton — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Lost Pages of Taborea

This week, I've been thinking a lot about Runes of Magic's ability to cater to players with different MMO backgrounds. Many players may never have played a subscription game from the West, while others may never have experienced the different mechanics found in Eastern F2P MMOs. What you get is a banquet of food and all the guests aren't sure of the proper etiquette or rules or when it's time to eat. If we stick with a food analogy, the group feature would be a main dish.

Lots of F2P MMOs have been imported from the East, and they don't handle grouping in quite the same way as Western subscription-based games. In fact, the ideas of raiding, pick-up-groups, and instances that can be found in almost any Western MMO, don't exist in most F2P games. This article takes a look at some specifics of grouping in RoM, including the recruitment board, experience debt, looking for a group, and etiquette.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Grouping basics

Lost Pages of Taborea: Grouping basics originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best crafting?

Justin Olivetti — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Crafting is a strange subset of MMO play, when you think about it. For some folks, it's incredibly important; for the rest, chances are they hardly think about it. It's typically lacking the sort of interaction and feedback we get from combat, is a huge money and time sink, and usually offers less reward for more effort than raiding or other forms of loot acquisition.

Still, crafting is beloved by many for various reasons. It can be a great way to make money (depending on what you make and the market demand), it involves creation instead of destruction, and a crafty crafter can use his or her talents to help friends and benefit guilds. While most MMOs include crafting, it's rare to see a title rise above the bare minimum to fashion an engaging, intricate and beneficial system.

For you crafters in the Massively audience, which MMO would you say has the best crafting -- and what makes it so special? Is it the number of recipes or the randomness of the results? Have you found a game that hits that sweet spot of crafting perfection that made you stand up and cheer to the embarrassment of everyone else in the room?

The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best crafting? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO dev diary dishes on scaled instance rewards

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, Previews, Free-to-play

Do you have a lot of questions about the upcoming scaled instances in Lord of the Rings Online? Good, because Turbine has a whole truckload of answers for you! In the second of a hefty five developer diaries devoted to the subject, LotRO's Joe "jwbarry" Barry tempts players with sweet, sweet candy. Metaphorical candy, that is, taking the form of instance rewards.

The greatest problem that they had with rewards, Barry shares, is that itemizing a dungeon across a huge level range became a massive headache, requiring them to make "a prohibitive" amount of items. Instead, the LotRO dev team is taking a cue from its successful skirmish system, and reprogramming the scaled-instance mobs to drop tokens instead of loot. Players can then use these tokens to purchase armor sets, cosmetic items and even legendaries.

Barry spends the rest of the article discussing the stat-tracking feature (again, similar to stat-tracking functions with skirmishes) and how the team went back through the dungeons to raise the quality of the entire experience where needed. You can read the full dev diary over at Lord of the Rings Online's site.

LotRO dev diary dishes on scaled instance rewards originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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