Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/lost-pages-of-taborea-patch-4-0-3-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
Last week, Runes of Magic's latest patch brought Knight skill balancing, saw the return of the Juice Festival, and tried to remove some macro functions. All in all, it wasn't a huge patch, but it was enough to light up the RoM forum with a lot of chatter.

As it turns out, many vocal players were saddened to see the removal of macro functions that gave them an incredible amount of flexibility. The abilities given to players to make scripts, macros and addons with amazing freedom have been among RoM's strong points, but they also allowed so much freedom that they skirted the boundary between "helpful addon" and "botting."

The proposed macro change may be one of the fastest retractions Frogster has ever had to make, but there's also the balancing that Knights received and the Juice Festival to talk about in this week's Lost Pages of Taborea. Grab your favorite juice and meet me after the break.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Patch 4.0.3 changes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsclass-balancediycedo-it-yourself-combat-enginefeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonjuice-festivalknightknight-balanceknight-balancinglost-pages-of-taboreamacromacro-nerfmacrospatchpatch-4.0.3patchesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscriptsMon, 10 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
I've got one more article concerning the current state of Runes of Magic's economy. To round out my trilogy, I'm taking a look at actual fixes to what could be seen as a broken mechanic. If the current inflation is indeed seen as something that is broken and could quickly damage the playability in RoM, then the fixes would likely be band-aids. It would take too long to rework an entire system filled with thousands of items, each affecting the other. The fix would also need to be implemented quickly. That puts some limitations on our speculations. What does the fix need to concentrate on?

The problem seems boil down to the excess amounts of gold that can be hoarded -- hundreds and hundreds of millions can be saved up. It's also possible for high-level, well-geared players to accumulate gold rather quickly. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to take a look at gold sinks (including one Frogster is testing), gold-caps, and some other ways to tame the economy.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economic-recoveryeconomic-stimuluseconomicseconomyfeaturedfixing-the-economyfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegoldgold-faucetgold-fixgold-sinkinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 03 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Beating the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/lost-pages-of-taborea-beating-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/lost-pages-of-taborea-beating-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/lost-pages-of-taborea-beating-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic image
Last week, I expounded on Runes of Magic's current economic situation. Prices are crazier than the obligatory car salesman's, only in reverse. That is to say, prices are extremely high for everything right now. It doesn't stop the game from functioning, but it does put a lot of gear and upgrading tools out of reach for new and free players.

This week in Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to look at a handful of ways that you can continue to enjoy RoM until the storm blows over (if it blows over). Even though prices seem out of hand, you can still get equipped well enough from new quests to start running dungeons. The minigames have been rejuvenated into farming grounds, thanks to the introduction of crimson stats. And even though it is often scoffed at, arena gear is an option for those willing to grind honor points or materials.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Beating the economy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Beating the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coast-of-opportunitycrimsoncrimson-statseconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 26 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
For months now, it's been no secret that Runes of Magic's economy has been out of whack. I've been sitting on this article, watching and waiting to see what would happen next. The assumption, of course, is that I think something will happen. I keep thinking that Runewaker, Frogster and RoM will align like stars to zap the economy back to its previous state, or that RoM's economy will act like a large, slowly deflating balloon, but nothing's happened for months. That's not to say the something that could happen will never happen. This period of severe inflation is a drop in the bucket compared to the life of the game. But what if the economy stays the way it is?

I've stopped asking questions that pointed and started asking how this new economy makes sense. I don't think anything is more wrong with the economy now than it was before. Prices are higher, much higher, on everything. For some, that's enough of a problem, but is it a problem for the operation of RoM? In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, follow me down the rabbit hole to see how the weird might actually be normal.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>currencydiamond-pricesdiamondseconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegoldinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Runes of Magic/Magic Hub image
I'm going to jump on this one before anyone else does. The company Overwolf developed a little application that provides MMO players with social networking, web, video and screenshot functionality without the need to alt+tab out of a game.

It's a lot like what Trion has built into RIFT, only in a third-party package, and Frogster partnered with Overwolf to provide a Runes of Magic-branded version called Magic Hub -- complete with RoM-specific buttons.

After some technical problems, I got Magic Hub to work and put it through its paces. There are other applications out there that provide a wide range of functionality for gamers, but since this one is customized for RoM, I thought I'd give my impressions.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegmailimpressionintegrated-webintegrationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamagic-hubmsn-messengeropinionoverlayoverwolfromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscreenshotsskypesocial-networkingsteamthird-partythird-party-applicationstwittervideoyoutubeMon, 12 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/lost-pages-of-taborea-lions-and-tigers-and-bears-oh-mounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
Summer is starting to wane, and the cold winds will soon be blustering through the city streets. Kids with chattering teeth and blue fingers will be sitting in front of stoves or fireplaces, rolling their eyes as grandpa proclaims that he had to walk to and from school barefoot through snow uphill both ways. While our grandfathers fantasize about the pride of hardships, we can slip off to the computer and live in our fantasy worlds that provide mounts to make traveling a bit more fun.

Runes of Magic has a wide variety of mounts that can run, hover and float over water. Some of these mounts are more rare than others, like those seen only on holidays or during special fundraisers, while some are two-seaters. From the sleek and vicious to the large and powerful to the just plain wacky, RoM has a mount for all occasions. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I go over the mounts that are available, their rarity, their speed, and some ways to give your preferred mount a boost.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts!

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Lions and tigers and bears, oh... mounts! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfloat-on-waterfloatingfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegroundhoverhoveringjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamountsover-waterromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttransportationtraveltravelingwaterborneMon, 05 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/lost-pages-of-taborea-customization-in-guild-wars-2-and-runes-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic screenshots
It took me a little while, but you should know by now that I was going to do a Guild Wars 2 comparison. It's a little later than I previously said I'd write it, but there's no time like the present, right?

Runes of Magic has been chugging along for over two years now, while GW2 is -- sort of -- just around the corner, and Guild Wars is the veteran of the bunch at six years of age.

What do these MMOs have in common that would provoke me to attempt a comparison? I'll give you a hint: It has nothing to do with jumping. What they do share is character customization, which, really, many MMOs have. It's a pretty standard feature.

In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at how RoM could have taken some customization cues from GW, while GW2 might be taking some from RoM -- sort of like a movie based off a show based off a movie.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Customization in Guild Wars 2 and Runes of Magic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggregatoranetarenanetarmor-customizingarmor-dyearmor-dyescoloringcomponentscustomizationcustomizingdyeenhancementfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2jeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreancsoftromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstatisticsstatstransmutation-stonesupgradingMon, 29 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Runes of Magic's potential for EVE combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/lost-pages-of-taborea-runes-of-magics-potential-for-eve-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/lost-pages-of-taborea-runes-of-magics-potential-for-eve-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/lost-pages-of-taborea-runes-of-magics-potential-for-eve-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
I've been thinking a lot lately on other ways that Runes of Magic reminds me of EVE Online. Not that any systems are exactly the same, but they have certain similarities. Wurm Online and Minecraft are arguably different in how they function, but they both scratch the same creative itch.

RoM's gear-modification system lends itself to EVE-esque combat. Keep in mind we're not talking about how the mechanics or guts of the games are similar or different; we're talking about how the same itch is being scratched. In the case of RoM's PvP being like EVE, it's more like tickling the itch with a feather, which makes you want to scratch it even more. I want to scratch that itch with a Brillo pad by exploring how RoM's open-world PvP could function more like EVE's, thanks to the arcane transmutor. Let's start with how I think battlefields differ from open-world PvP.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Runes of Magic's potential for EVE combat

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Runes of Magic's potential for EVE combat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefieldscombatdeatheveeve-onlinefeaturedffa-pvpffapvpfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveincentivesjeremy-strattonlootinglost-pages-of-taboreapenaltiespk-protectionplayer-lootingplayer-vs-playerpvprewardsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 22 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
Today's email comes to us from Jack Readman.
Dear Jeremy: As the subject suggests, I am curious about Runes of Magic. I have given it several tries before and can say I enjoyed it, but I always left it after a while due to distractions. Currently I'm playing RIFT and enjoying the endgame raiding and to a lesser extent the 5-mans. So I do like my PvE content. What does RoM have to offer in this regard? I love The housing thing and other diversions like that. What else is there? Tell me what is great about RoM and what gives it its flavor? How dependent do you have to be on the cash shop?
Thanks for writing, Jack. I'm sure many players have very similar questions when approaching Runes of Magic for the first time. I've tried to formulate a response akin to how I'd explain RoM to my friends -- if they'd actually want to listen to me for as long as this article is.

I can only offer my opinions, but ultimately what you think of RoM is up to you. I play RIFT, but I haven't gotten beyond level 20. I'm also not really into endgame in RoM yet, although I think I'm fairly familiar with the MMO as a whole. Keep in mind certain features will net you different answers depending on how a player approaches MMOs in general. I can tell you right off the bat that the majority of RoM's dungeons are six-man or twelve-man, but for the rest of my verbose answers, you'll have to click past the break.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Answering email originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>describing-romdescribing-runes-of-magicemailfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehow-tohow-to-describe-romhow-to-describe-runes-of-magichow-would-you-describe-romhow-would-you-describe-runes-of-magicjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreaopinionquestionsquestions-and-answersreader-emailromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentviewer-emailwhat-is-romwhat-is-runes-of-magicwhat-makes-rom-popularwhat-makes-runes-of-magic-popularwhats-so-great-about-runes-of-magicwhy-should-i-play-runes-of-magicMon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Faction flags]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-faction-flags/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-faction-flags/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/lost-pages-of-taborea-faction-flags/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I love taking screenshots. There, I said it. Give me endless zones with nooks and crannies to explore around every corner and I'll take screenshots of them. I'm currently sitting at 11.2 Gigs -- just for Runes of Magic. Buildings, landscapes, caves, outfits, weapons, mounts; You name it, and I've probably taken a screenshot of it. Oddly enough, it's the action shots I usually don't try to capture. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy capturing a good light show as my guild face-plants a boss, but the majority of my screenshots folder is overwhelmingly filled with persistent-world shots devoid of player characters.

Many of the factions in RoM have unique architecture and flags signifying their peoples. I've dug through the beast I call a screenshot folder and put together a visual trip through the many different ways factions choose to advertise. Did I say there were many? There are. I didn't include every last faction-flag I could find, but I've chosen from some of the more common ones -- and some of my favorites. As you'll see, there are some really great designs that help immerse you in RoM. I love these little attentions to detail that show the effort developers put into designing a world.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Faction flags

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Faction flags originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barbariancapracentaurscyclopsfactionsfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveice-dwarfice-dwarvesjeremy-strattonleoninelost-pages-of-taboreaminotaursnpcobsidian-strongholdorder-of-the-dark-gloryraceracesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentvaranasMon, 08 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The lore in Runes of Magic can sometimes be frustrating. There's an incomplete -- and vague -- history that sparks questions of who did what and when. Sometimes, there are references to reoccurring incidents without anyone knowing anything of who was involved or when it happened. As new chapters are released, some of those questions are answered and story-holes are filled, but new questions get added as well. We are veering off the beaten track in this week's Lost Pages of Taborea to dive into some lore.

There's a growing amount of story for lore-hungry players to discuss and I wanted to revisit some Chapter 3 lore that helps us to understand a little more about the history and present-day in the world of Taborea. The following article is written for those players who may already know about the game's lore, but want to know even more. Given the overall amount of story and the way it's spread out through levels, zones and time-frames, I almost didn't feel the need to put any spoiler warnings on this post. Instead, I left out details learned from going inside the various dungeons.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androthangrenantaikolonartiscaninechapter-3chapter-iiidalanisdark-elvesfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehistoryjeremy-strattonjyr-najyrnajyrna-elveskalokalonkalumekawak-angerfangkawaks-tombking-kalumelechifleoninelorelost-pages-of-taboreanorthern-janost-forestracesroleplayingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentshadorsismondstorytemple-of-the-moonthe-elder-kingdomsthe-great-banishmentthe-voidthunderhoof-hillstirsov-firebootMon, 01 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: What could have been]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-could-have-been/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-could-have-been/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-could-have-been/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We always face changes in our favorite MMOs. A new patch comes along and changes multi-click gathering to single-click, a cool pet system gets added or our main class gets nerfed. Sometimes changes happen before the game ever sees them, though.

Runes of Magic had some different features planned that were never implemented. Tile-dungeons, a streaming client and party-spells are a few of these features left on the cutting-room floor. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to insert a titular line and look at what could have been.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: What could have been

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: What could have been originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bitraiderbitstreambitstreamingconjunctionsdungeonsdynamic-contentdynamic-dungeonsfellowship-maneuversflyingfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveinstancesjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamonster-cardsmonster-petspartyparty-attack-spellspet-systempetsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstreamingstreaming-clienttile-dungeonsMon, 25 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been a long time since we've heard anything about Diamonds being reinstituted into Runes of Magic's auction house. Since that fateful day they were removed, a lot of new players have joined, veterans have left and some things that should not have been forgotten... were lost.

Having Diamonds in the auction house is an important feature that was planned from the get-go. It allows for seamless trading and player-controlled price fluctuations that keep all items obtainable for everyone. It's about having the freedom to play multiple ways. Options are more numerous than simply paying and having everything opened up or not paying and being stuck. With RoM's cash-shop items being integrated into the title's gameplay, there's a grayscale that lets players have many more options in how they want to play.

It's not an overly complex issue, but one worth looking back on. Getting Diamonds back in the auction house isn't a lost cause, but the issue has dragged on to the point that long time players may have given up all hope. This edition of Lost Pages of Taborea is all about looking back at the beginning and bringing players up to speed on diamonds in (or not-in) the auction house.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecash-shopcurrencydiamondsfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegiftinggoldjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreareal-money-transactionsrmtromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttradingMon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-eves-plex-and-pvp-to-roms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-eves-plex-and-pvp-to-roms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-eves-plex-and-pvp-to-roms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I was prepping for a Guild Wars 2 comparison with Runes of Magic, but in light of the current buzz in the air, I'm moving my EVE Online comparison up.

A couple of interesting blocks fell into place this week that fit well with a look at how EVE and RoM allow money to circulate through the economies, and how PvP works in conjunction with it. While there's no contest as to which MMO has the more robust economy, there are still similarities that fit the pay-to-progress comment Mr. Simon Ludgate made in a recent Gamasutra article.

Swarming around the above topics is the question of how much it costs to stay competitive in RoM, which I've also been working on. What does Gamasutra's article have to do with RoM, how much does it cost to be competitive and how are economies similar in these two MMOs? You can also read my memorandum to all EVE PvPers. Set your jump-point past the break to see.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash-shopcomparisondiamondseconomieseconomyeveeve-onlinefrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegame-economiesjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreapay-to-playpay-to-progresspay-to-winplayer-vs-playerplexpvpromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 11 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm bouncing off last week's Lost Pages of Taborea to elaborate on why Runes of Magic's content is lackluster, especially in light of the ability to over-gear but also to come up with some ideas to keep it from becoming meaningless and boring. It's not absolutely necessary, but it will help if you've read last week's article.

RoM's gear-system ensures that you get a lot of variety in choosing what kind of character to make and how you want to play it, but there's a threshold at which the only way to allow for even more diversity among class builds is to offset the linear difficulty of new content by replacing your stats with more powerful versions of themselves, adding refinements and tiering, upgrades that just up your sheer power. Players get funneled into more restrictive builds as they gain levels.

The downfall is in the content itself because it becomes super-easy-mode killing after over-gearing. It's turning on a cheat code. Any need -- or desire -- to manage blood bars or skill rotations gets thrown out with the trash. It's a foreseeable issue in just about any game across any platform or genre in which you would allow the players to gain extra amounts of power. But is there a way to allow for it and keep in some challenge and variety? Some solutions might be to slow down the pace of combat, stretch the utility of player bars, make content more dynamic, or throw in some sandbox behavior.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecontentcraftingcrafting-systemdungeonsdynamic-contenteconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehorizontaljeremy-strattonlinearlost-pages-of-taboreaplayer-drivenplayer-driven-economyprogressionromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxthemeparkMon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Content needs to meet the versatility of gear-upgrading]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/lost-pages-of-taborea-content-needs-to-meet-the-versatility-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/lost-pages-of-taborea-content-needs-to-meet-the-versatility-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/lost-pages-of-taborea-content-needs-to-meet-the-versatility-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Last week I compared looting and class-bending in Runes of Magic with similar features found in RIFT. RoM's system of gear customization was a part of that article. This week, I want to talk business. Don't worry, I'm not a business major about to sling pie charts at you or talk about quarterly earnings. I want to talk a bit about business, specifically about how it might relate to decisions developers make concerning what kind of balance to put into an MMO.

RoM's gear system is extremely flexible on the outside, but inside there are some restrictions. Some of these restrictions are imposed by the game, but some are imposed by players. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, let's take a look at how the flexibility and choice of RoM's gear system -- and other systems -- are in opposition to the game's content and some desires players have.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Content needs to meet the versatility of gear-upgrading

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Content needs to meet the versatility of gear-upgrading originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancedbalancingbalancing-classesbalancing-contentchoiceclass-combinationsclass-combosdiversitydynamic-contentequalequalityfairfairnessfeaturedfreedomfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreaoptionsriftromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstereotypesversatilityMon, 27 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing RIFT's looting and multi-class systems to Runes of Magic's]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-rifts-looting-and-multi-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-rifts-looting-and-multi-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/lost-pages-of-taborea-comparing-rifts-looting-and-multi-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Sometimes I feel like I'm playing the best MMO that no one's ever heard of. Lately, all I see are new games on the horizon that promise new flexible class systems, better functionality in old standard mechanics, improved pet systems, and so on. Every time I read these press releases, announcements, or blogs, I lean back, tilt my head a bit and say, "Interesting. But Runes of Magic already does that." It's why I have a lot of faith -- even if I disagree from time to time -- in Runewaker. The company has made all these great systems that are exactly what newer games are promising, and players are stoked about it. It really has me wanting to embark on a series comparing systems between RoM and other MMOs.

RIFT has bulk-looting and class combining that I want to compare with similar features in RoM for this week's Lost Pages of Taborea. I'm tired of feeling like I'm playing an MMO no one's heard of, even if it isn't true -- RoM is very popular and it keeps growing at a fast pace. But dagnabbit, sometimes I want to tell everyone RoM did it before the other guy gets all the credit. Let's look at RoM's dual-class and pet systems to compare looting and multi-classes between these two games.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing RIFT's looting and multi-class systems to Runes of Magic's

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Comparing RIFT's looting and multi-class systems to Runes of Magic's originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-lootbulk-lootingclassclass-combinationsclassescombining-classesduel-classfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreammo-featuresmulti-classmulti-lootmulti-lootingpet-lootingriftrolesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsoulsoul-treestatisticsstatssystemsMon, 20 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Is the guild lock-out good or bad?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-the-guild-lock-out-good-or-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-the-guild-lock-out-good-or-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-the-guild-lock-out-good-or-bad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I want to talk about Runes of Magic's lock-out that prevents anyone from forming a guild or inviting players to a guild between set hours each night. The lock-out takes place between the hours of 7 and 11 p.m. EDT every night. That's a four-hour window each evening that is within the only hours some people can play. It prevents players from forming or getting into guilds, which are standard features expected of MMOs these days. Forming communities and playing with others is one of the biggest reasons to play an MMO. This week on Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to discuss the allure of this feature, why I think it's bad that players have to work around it, the pros and cons of why it's in RoM, and why it's not being discussed.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Is the guild lock-out good or bad?

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Is the guild lock-out good or bad? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cant-form-guildfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-invitesguild-lockguild-lock-outguild-lockoutguild-membersguild-vs-guildguildsjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamercmercingrecruitingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsiege-warsiege-warsMon, 13 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: How will Chapter 4's content affect PUGs, gear, and the economy?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/lost-pages-of-taborea-how-will-chapter-4s-content-affect-pugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/lost-pages-of-taborea-how-will-chapter-4s-content-affect-pugs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/lost-pages-of-taborea-how-will-chapter-4s-content-affect-pugs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In nine agonizing days, the lands will despair as Chapter 4 hits Runes of Magic with all the force of a horde of zombies unleashed upon the TED conference. There'll be zombies, there'll be Dwarves, and oh yeah, there'll be world battlefields. I'm not sure what that last one will entail, but it sounds cool, doesn't it?

There's going to be some changes a comin' in RoM when the level cap is raised and new loot is dispersed among high-level players. MMOs can develop ecosystems that only the most in-tune players will be intimately familiar with. While you might be new to the game and happy enough to just quest or dabble in the many features RoM has to offer, there's a posh, red, velvety lounge filled with high-rollers keeping tabs on how new items and stats will trickle down to affect the game.

A new level cap means new armor, which means current top gear will be obsolete for said high rollers. Welfare epics will be unleashed on the market, prices will change, and the race for better gear will commence. This week on Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to look at how new content and items will affect the game. How will all the new items affect the economy? How will new dungeons affect pick-up-groups? And will we ever see a Screaming Gargoyle as a pet?

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: How will Chapter 4's content affect PUGs, gear, and the economy?

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: How will Chapter 4's content affect PUGs, gear, and the economy? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chapter-4chapter-ivexpansionfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlands-of-despairlevel-caplost-pages-of-taboreanew-armornew-contentnew-zonesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentupdatewelfare-epicsMon, 06 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Tinkering with standard classes and my Priest/Rogue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/lost-pages-of-taborea-tinkering-with-standard-classes-and-my-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/lost-pages-of-taborea-tinkering-with-standard-classes-and-my-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/lost-pages-of-taborea-tinkering-with-standard-classes-and-my-pr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Aside from some ancillary problems, one of the things I love so much about Runes of Magic is that it gives me ability to augment weapons and equipment via the arcane transmutor. When that is coupled with a dual-class system, players are given a lot of room to bend traditional classes to their wills.

I've been running a Priest/Rogue for a while now and loving it. The selection of offensive spells, the Rogue's skills, and the weapons I can wield have me wanting to push the boundaries of typical class specifications. I'm building a hammer-wielding Priest that's specced much like I'd spec a Mage, but the class can also pump out adequate melee damage. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to give you a run-down of the gear, weapons, and stats I'm choosing. It should serve as a good guide to some unique possibilities for classes in RoM.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Tinkering with standard classes and my Priest/Rogue

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Tinkering with standard classes and my Priest/Rogue originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane transmutorArcaneTransmutorarmorbending-class-rolesbreaking-class-rulesbreaking-the-moldclass-combosclass-rolesdual-classfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefun-with-classesgearhybridhybrid-classesjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamodifyingnon-standard-classesplaying-with-classespriestpriest-rogueroguerolesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentupgradingweaponsMon, 30 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: The poor, lonely looking-for-group tool]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-poor-lonely-looking-for-group-tool/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-poor-lonely-looking-for-group-tool/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-poor-lonely-looking-for-group-tool/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Karen's recent article about RIFT's new looking-for-group tool got me thinking about Runes of Magic's own LFG tool. It seems like such a nifty function, but it hardly ever gets used in RoM. It's such an interesting tool that I'm happy to see in the game, but it also seems to be better on paper than in practice. Part of the reason might be that it's slightly clumsy to use for the first time, which I'll get to a little later. LFG tools are one of those things that a lot of players ask for nowadays, but they only ever seem to be used minimally unless the devs attach incentives.

Let's turn caps-lock off, stop shouting in world chat, and take a closer look at RoM's LFG tool.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: The poor, lonely looking-for-group tool

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: The poor, lonely looking-for-group tool originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>application-boarddungeon-finderfeaturedfinding-groupsfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegroupinggrouping-mechanicsjeremy-strattonlfglfg-toollooking-for-grouplooking-for-group-toollost-pages-of-taboreapick-up-grouppick-up-groupspugpugsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 23 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 4 roundup and speculation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-4-roundup-and-speculation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-4-roundup-and-speculation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-4-roundup-and-speculation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I feel a little bit about RoM like Eliot does about Final Fantasy XI right now. News seems a tad sparse for Runes of Magic this week. We've had a few updates about Chapter 4, which is still on its way; I've recently gotten the RoM event-guild going (in spite of a rocky start); and Frogster gave us a sneak-peek of a major class rebalance. But most everything it still on the horizon.

It allows for lots of fun speculation, as new updates always do. Will Dwarves be a playable race? Are Scouts getting nerfed or made even stronger? This week I put together a roundup of Chapter 4 news with a healthy dose of speculation thrown in. As you'll see after the break, we've actually been shown a lot, but no doubt there's even more we haven't seen at all. And that leaves us all with questions.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 4 roundup and speculation

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 4 roundup and speculation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chapter-4chapter-ivexpansionfeaturedfireboot-dwarvesfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonkalo-principalitylands-of-despairlost-pages-of-taboreanew-contentNew-York-Cityredhill-mountainsrhino-peopleromrunes-of-magicrunewaker-entertainmentupdateMon, 16 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Where's the fun with world events?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/lost-pages-of-taborea-wheres-the-fun-with-world-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/lost-pages-of-taborea-wheres-the-fun-with-world-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/lost-pages-of-taborea-wheres-the-fun-with-world-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Borrowing a lesson from one of Justin's Road to Mordor articles, I decided to tackle Runes of Magic's world events. I'm talking about those repeatable events sprinkled around the world, events we'll be getting a lot more of when Chapter 4 hits, events anyone can jump into for fun and profit. It's the fun-vs.-profit scenario I want to look at.

Recently, the memento rewards on world events were nerfed. This comes after a lot of drama over players who were going AFK in droves to collect large numbers of the shiny coins to buy purple statted gear from the Black Codex vendors. My only concern with the events is that players can go AFK. Large groups of players, whose soul intention is to go AFK, block people who actually want to play and (dare I say) enjoy the events. However, there are still discussions surrounding the loot aspect of events.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Where's the fun with world events?

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Where's the fun with world events? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-codexcontenteventsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamementomementospearl-collectorromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentworld-eventsMon, 09 May 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Biting the bullet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/lost-pages-of-taborea-biting-the-bullet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/lost-pages-of-taborea-biting-the-bullet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/lost-pages-of-taborea-biting-the-bullet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I want to make a proposal that Runewaker, Frogster and all the powers that be strip away any semblance of forcing players to dig out their wallets while playing Runes of Magic. I haven't played as many free-to-play MMOs as Massively's Beau Hindman, but I have played a good many of them. I'm sure, by now, many players have experienced at least one. If you haven't, then you really should read Beau's columns... or Rubi's or Justin's. Heck, I think everyone here at Massively has experience with F2P MMOs and provides valuable input. Go read up on terms like hybrid, pay-to-play, pay-to-win and the many discussions that have come and gone covering the different F2P business models. I'll wait. Back? Good. Let's get crackin'.

RoM uses a traditional cash shop. It's not a hybrid like Lord of the Rings Online or Dungeons and Dragons Online. It's entirely run on a cash shop, like Perfect World International, Allods Online, or Zentia. But one difference I see with RoM's traditional cash shop is that it encourages players to exchange real cash for in-game gold. Other MMOs have allowed this, but usually it's not integrated. Exchanges are often terribly lopsided and see players charging other players ridiculous amounts of in-game currency for a cash-shop item that cost a few bucks. Cold, hard cash has become a seamless part of RoM's in-game economy. Real cash has taken on a balanced pricing-scale for items because money can be injected into the MMO. It can then be changed into gold to buy anything. A player's real money has not only been integrated into the game but become balanced in the same way any game-item is.

This is only one unique aspect of RoM that could allow for the removal of any perceived pressure to spend in the cash shop to fully enjoy the entire game. RoM already has a great system in which you can experience everything by sacrificing more time, but I think Runewaker and Frogster could do more. I say blow the doors wide open. Give players every little bit that RoM has to offer. It would be like dropping the monthly fee on a subscription-based MMO. I'll tell you how and why after the break.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Biting the bullet

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Biting the bullet originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscash-shopf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamake-rom-totally-freemicro-transactionsreduce-grindremove-grindromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 02 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Pros and cons of Chapter 4's new starting zone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-pros-and-cons-of-chapter-4s-new-starting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-pros-and-cons-of-chapter-4s-new-starting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/lost-pages-of-taborea-pros-and-cons-of-chapter-4s-new-starting/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Chapter 4 closed beta is well underway, and I finally got in to hack-n-slash my way through it. Actually, I sauntered through it carelessly on a high-level character. The new zone is terrific and very well-made, but I do have some misgivings about it.

I started thinking about the implications of the new zone on the rest of Runes of Magic. How is this new area going to be treated by old and new players alike? How will it shape the game? There's a very different vibe I got that I think will affect players differently than previous zones have done. Whether intended or not, some designs have different psychological effects on different players. Some players love Vanguard: Saga of Heroes for its vast, seamless world, one that provides a realistic sense of adventure and life. World of Warcraft offers a large landmass with well-designed endgame raiding. Both of these styles, as well as others, are viewed and treated differently depending on what we as gamers enjoy. Are you wanting to live in the world? Are you wanting to climb the ladder quickly to enjoy raiding or are you wanting to score big as a leader in PvP?

You can see my impressions and slightly uneasy feelings about questing and mob placement after the break. I threw in a snazzy high-definition video of the new zone for you to take a look at and share your thoughts on. How might it or might it not impact RoM? If you're so inclined to watch it until the end, I basically babble, stumble over my words, and elaborate on my main points in this article.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Pros and cons of Chapter 4's new starting zone

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Pros and cons of Chapter 4's new starting zone originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chapter-4chapter-4-closed-betachapter-ivclosed-betacoast-of-opportunityfeaturedjeremy-strattonlands-of-despairlands-of-malevolencelivestreamlost-pages-of-taboreanew-starting-zonenew-zoneromrom-betarom-closed-betarunes-of-magicrunes-of-magic-betarunes-of-magic-chapter-ivrunes-of-magic-closed-betavideoMon, 25 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Safer diamond gifting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-safer-diamond-gifting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-safer-diamond-gifting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-safer-diamond-gifting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The crazy, fast-paced leveling done over the second anniversary raised safety concerns over player-to-player diamond trading. There were droves of players reaching either level-cap or close to it when Frogster multiplied experience gain by five for Runes of Magic's second birthday. I'm sure it made a lot of players happy (including me). I gained over 20 levels on my secondary. As a residual effect, it has allowed many new players and diamond swindlers to get multiple new characters to very high levels.

Until Runewaker hashes out a way to allow diamond trading back on the auction house or creates an alternative system, players have to enter agreements involving trust. This work-around is the gifting feature that lets players buy and automatically send cash-shop goods to another player. Two players agree on a gold-to-diamonds price, one gifts the item directly to the other player, and the buyer has to mail the gold to the player. There's no security blanket on this approach. The buyer could send his gold and never receive the item, or the sender could gift an item and never receive payment.

There are some natural deterrents to being ripped off, and players have taken it upon themselves to reduce the risk factor. A player can very quickly get a bad reputation for dishonesty, and that makes it nigh impossible to get into a guild, siege war, pick-up-group or any content with others. Players liberally share info and keep track of reputations to help ensure they don't lose any diamonds or gold. New players will still come and go and not always fully grasp these unwritten safeguards. Today, I want to take a look at ways to better protect yourself, ways that can reduce frustration and allow you to concentrate on enjoying your time in Taborea.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Safer diamond gifting

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Safer diamond gifting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buying-diamondscash-shopdiamond-giftingdiamond-tradingdiamondsdiamonds-for-goldfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegifting-itemsgoldjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentselling-diamondstradingMon, 18 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Elaborating on XP gain and leveling alts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-elaborating-on-xp-gain-and-leveling-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-elaborating-on-xp-gain-and-leveling-alts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-elaborating-on-xp-gain-and-leveling-alts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This week I want to elaborate on experience gain, the honor party, and other ways of leveling alts. I received some great feedback from last week's article that suggests to me an interest in a much wider discussion of power-leveling. But before I get to that, let's clear up XP gain in Runes of Magic.

Most MMOs that I know of -- including RoM -- dish out XP based on the character's level and the level of the mob being slain. If your character is the same level as the mob, the game will give you an adequate amount of XP as a reward. If the mob is higher, you'll get even more experience, but you'll get less XP as you out-level a mob. If you've played any MMO, you're probably aware of this. In RoM, you'll stop collecting XP from mobs 10 levels lower than you. Naturally, fighting mobs slightly higher than you can be more efficient. You can continue to fight increasingly higher-level mobs, but at some point, there's just no way you'll be able to survive, which is why you may want to get a higher-level player to take you just about anywhere in RoM to power-level you. When a high-level player starts towing you around, though, the XP you gain will be based directly on the amount of XP that player would get from any mob he kills. Read on to see more about this and alternative ways of power-leveling.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Elaborating on XP gain and leveling alts

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Elaborating on XP gain and leveling alts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altsexperienceexperience-pointsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehelping-newbshonor-partyjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreapower-levelingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentspeed-levelingtutor-systemxp-gainMon, 11 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Power-leveling alts in an honor party]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-power-leveling-alts-in-an-honor-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-power-leveling-alts-in-an-honor-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-power-leveling-alts-in-an-honor-party/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Over the course of two years, Runes of Magic has had many patches. It has also had many changes and additions that never made it into the patch notes. They're usually nothing major -- maybe a minor graphical tweak or some other incidental improvements. Then there are items, quests, and features that seem to change, but I can never be sure based on my imperfect memory alone. Something seems to be new or different, but because it never made a lasting impression, I can't be sure whether I'm remembering it correctly. That's how I felt about the honor party.

The newbie tutor system seemed to quietly crawl under a rug, but over time it has proven to be operational. Even though the NPC in Varanas does a fair job of informing you what the honor party is and does, I'll give you a quick run-down of how it operates. One of the advantages of knowing about and using the honor party is having a very quick way of leveling alts through the first 20 levels. I wouldn't recommend it for first-time players, but let's take a look at using the honor party to give your alt a huge jump in levels on day one.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Power-leveling alts in an honor party

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Power-leveling alts in an honor party originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltsfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehonor-partyjeremy-strattonlevelinglost-pages-of-taboreanecropolis-of-mirrorsnompower-levelpower-levelingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentspeed-levelingMon, 04 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Guild activities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/lost-pages-of-taborea-guild-activities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/lost-pages-of-taborea-guild-activities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/lost-pages-of-taborea-guild-activities/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What does a guild mean to you? Guilds are the unified packs of like-minded players we gather around to create a little home for ourselves in our favorite MMOs. Guilds are a way to offer camaraderie, a band of tightly knit players who can help each other for mutual gain. Whether it's a family playing together online, close real-life friends who want to create a personal space to hang out, or single players who could use a helping hand to get through harder content, guilds can provide all of them

On one hand, having a function to create a guild isn't much more than a label, but that can go a long way. Players run with those kind of tools and create mini-societies and alliances, and they parcel out the playerbase into feudal territories. Even if a guild can be boiled down to just a special name tag, guilds can provide a powerful mechanism for players. Nowadays MMOs are giving guilds more to do, and Runes of Magic has more than its share of guild activities. Let's take a look at what guilds have access to.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Guild activities

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Guild activities originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguildguild-buildingsguild-castleguild-optionsguild-questsguild-vs-guildguildsjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsiege-warMon, 28 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: What just happened?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-just-happened/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-just-happened/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-what-just-happened/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There are always plenty of memories to make and share with others, as MMOs tend to be never-ending playgrounds for us to romp around in. And after recalling major events for Runes of Magic's second birthday, I've been stuck in fond-memory mode. Two years of playing RoM is a lot of time to build up memories, too. I've gone through many a server, guild and character since I started, and I've both made memories with friends and remembered events the game itself created.

Sometimes a developer forgets to turn off a light switch, a new bug appears, or a new patch brings unintended changes. I remember a handful of times some pretty interesting things have happened. Mysterious statues popping up, bosses appearing in houses, and other anomalies await after the break.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: What just happened?

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: What just happened? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bossboss-in-housebugsfeaturedfrog-kingfrog-statuefrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefunnyglitchglitcheshousehumorjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamemoriesmemorymysteriousnostalgiaromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstrangeweirdMon, 21 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic celebrates its second birthday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/runes-of-magic-celebrates-its-second-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/runes-of-magic-celebrates-its-second-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/runes-of-magic-celebrates-its-second-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Happy birthday, Runes of Magic! Two years have gone by, and you're growing up so fast. Anniversary celebrations are already underway in RoM. If your account has been lying dormant, you may want to wake it up, join the festivities, and get some free goodies while you're at it. For me, these two years flew by. It doesn't seem all that long ago that I wrote a look back at the first year of RoM.

In two years, RoM has seen three major updates, and a fourth is just around the corner. The first two chapters made it into the first year, and although Chapter 4 didn't quite make it into this article, chapter 3 brought a whopping amount of content and features.

If your extra ginger beer isn't cutting it anymore and you're feeling brave, move on up by grabbing a bottle of Blenhiem's old #5 and join me for a look back at the last year of RoM.

Continue reading Runes of Magic celebrates its second birthday

MassivelyRunes of Magic celebrates its second birthday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaychapter-3chapter-iiifeaturedfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefrogster-interctivehouseinstancesjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamementomonster-cardsmonster-compendiumpet-systemrelationshipsromrunes-of-magicrunewaker-enterainmentrunewaker-entertainmentsecond-anniversarysecond-birthdaythe-elder-kingdomstwo-yearstwo-years-oldvivoxvivox-voice-chatFri, 18 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Introduction to Ystra Labyrinth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/lost-pages-of-taborea-introduction-to-ystra-labyrinth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/lost-pages-of-taborea-introduction-to-ystra-labyrinth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/lost-pages-of-taborea-introduction-to-ystra-labyrinth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

For anyone who doesn't know yet, I've been livestreaming Runes of Magic as part of the MassivelyTV lineup. You can watch me die a lot and repeatedly forget where I'm going on Friday nights at 8:00 p.m. EDT. I just got done streaming some Battlefield playtime in RoM, but this coming Friday, the plan is to explore Ystra Labyrinth in Ystra Highlands.

Ystra Highlands is that frigid, snowy zone that covers levels 30 to 40 and come after you make your way through Aslan. The labyrinth is a section of ancient ruins recently discovered deep below Sea of Snow and is being explored by Ailic's Fellowship, a faction of researchers. It's an interesting area that resembles Mystic Altar graphically, but it's not an instance in the truest sense of the term. It's a world instance where you can freely bump shoulders with other parties, complete daily quests, and still run into some bosses. In this article, I dig deep below the snow to see what there is to do in Ystra Labyrinth.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Introduction to Ystra Labyrinth

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Introduction to Ystra Labyrinth originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveintroductionjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentworld-instanceystraystra-highlandsystra-labyrinthMon, 14 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: GDC 2011 chapter 4 sneak-peek]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/lost-pages-of-taborea-gdc-2011-reveals-a-sneak-peek-at-chapter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/lost-pages-of-taborea-gdc-2011-reveals-a-sneak-peek-at-chapter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/lost-pages-of-taborea-gdc-2011-reveals-a-sneak-peek-at-chapter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The big news is chapter 4 is on its way. Runes of Magic is getting a triple-class system -- that should help players find groups -- and more content to explore as players make their way to the new level-70 cap. Besides that and the exciting news that RoM will soon be playable in all its glory on Facebook without any need to download a client, we now know what players will encounter when they first venture into the Land of Malevolence, thanks to the Frogster folks at GDC 2011 who last week gave us a sneak-peek into the coming update!

As most veterans of RoM know, chapters have always been delivered to us in chunks, and so shall it be with chapter 4. This first chunk will introduce us to a new instance, the new area (spanning levels 62 to 64), and some interesting story -- which always makes me happy. Read on to see what new things there are to look forward to in RoM and why Mages may be smiling a bit more when this new content is released.

Gallery: Runes of Magic Chapter IV

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: GDC 2011 chapter 4 sneak-peek

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: GDC 2011 chapter 4 sneak-peek originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chapter-4featuredfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegalleriesgallerygame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011grafu-castlejeremy-strattonland-of-malevolencelevel-caplost-pages-of-taboreanew-dungeonnew-instancenew-level-capromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttriple-classMon, 07 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Balancing vs. viable vs. fun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/lost-pages-of-taborea-balancing-vs-viable-vs-fun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/lost-pages-of-taborea-balancing-vs-viable-vs-fun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/lost-pages-of-taborea-balancing-vs-viable-vs-fun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Thoughts of class-balancing, class-viability and triple-class combinations have been swimming in my head lately. In the wake of RIFT's open beta, Frogster announced that Runes of Magic will be moving to a triple-class system in early April. Along with a lot of speculation on how this will change RoM, there's talk of how badly three-class combos will upset class-balancing where some already feel classes are skewed.

Viable and balanced are pretty subjective terms in the MMO genre that make it hard for any two players to be on the same page. I find it even more confusing when some make it sound like there's a mass exodus to RIFT because of -- in part -- the idea that RoM's classes are more out of tune than yours truly trying to sing Zombie. These ideas are highly speculative. I'd like to throw my own opinions in about what makes a class in RoM viable, what not to look for when trying to find balance, and why we may not want to squeeze every possible class combination into the holy trinity of healer, DPS and tank.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Balancing vs. viable vs. fun

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Balancing vs. viable vs. fun originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebalancingbreaking-the-moldbrokenclassesdpsdual-classfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehealersholy-trinityimbalanceimbalancedjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreariftromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttankviableMon, 28 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: An interview with Dynamedion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-an-interview-with-dynamedion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-an-interview-with-dynamedion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-an-interview-with-dynamedion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A lot of people like music in video games, and for good reason. Today there are some amazing tracks being recorded by professionals and artists for us to listen to as we own noobs, take down mighty dragons, and explore serene vistas. The world of video game composing even has its own fanbase filled with players who pay close attention to who is making the musical score to tomorrow's buzz-worthy game. I have personally clawed around in the dark for months looking for scraps of information on Runes of Magic's soundtrack. Some fragments have been unearthed here and there, but I was finally able to get in touch with the source.

Dynamedion is the music production company behind many of the tracks in RoM. It has a number of games listed on its resume, including Halo Legends, Alan Wake, Call of Duty 4 and many more. I nabbed an interview with some of the lead composers to try to get some more information about the music in RoM. Where did the inspiration for these tracks come from? Who worked on them? Did they steal all the music from Bardy Woods? Set your metronome to epic fantasy and click to read on.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: An interview with Dynamedion

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: An interview with Dynamedion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocomposercomposersdynamedionfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamusicromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscoresongsongssoundtrackthemetheme-songtilman-sillescuMon, 21 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Community spotlight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/lost-pages-of-taborea-community-spotlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/lost-pages-of-taborea-community-spotlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/lost-pages-of-taborea-community-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic's second anniversary is not far off now. In the nearly two solid years since the official launch, a thriving gaming community has been cultivated. Within this active community are some talented players who weren't satisfied with just playing RoM. For whatever reasons, these players ventured outside the digital confines of the game to share their talents and their adventures through the land of Taborea.

I wanted to highlight a handful of members of this talented community that has evolved around RoM. Some have made outstanding guides, while others have made useful websites or fun blogs. There's a lot of great talent on the official forum and within the addon community, to be sure, but I tried to focus on examples of great forum guides and others who have stepped further away to do their own thing. Click past the break to see if you made the list.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Community spotlight

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Community spotlight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogscarved-lovecomicsfeaturedflo-n-andyfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamachinimapink-priestromrom-armoryrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstrategy-videostales-from-taboreathe-pink-priestMon, 14 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: One crafter's obsession]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/lost-pages-of-taborea-one-crafters-obsession/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/lost-pages-of-taborea-one-crafters-obsession/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/lost-pages-of-taborea-one-crafters-obsession/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Let me start this week off by telling you a little story of one crafter's obsession, of how he feels about crafting in MMOs, and what he hopes and dreams for.

I love crafting. I want more of it. Whenever I loaded up Runes of Magic, it was the first thing I got my grubby virtual hands on. Now, I know there are a lot of people who will say they like crafting, but I'm here to separate us even further by telling you what I really think about when I want more crafting.

I see lots of threads on the forums about how many people want crafting in RoM. There's a lot of conversation over how much work it should require and how much it should pay off. I feel disconnected from a lot of those players. I feel that we aren't truly like-minded. My brain doesn't run in the same direction. What the heck am I babbling about? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: One crafter's obsession

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: One crafter's obsession originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecraftcrafterscraftingcrafting-all-the-cool-kids-are-doing-itcrafting-culturefeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamerchantprofessionsromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 07 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Finding time to play Runes of Magic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/lost-pages-of-taborea-finding-time-to-play-runes-of-magic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/lost-pages-of-taborea-finding-time-to-play-runes-of-magic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/lost-pages-of-taborea-finding-time-to-play-runes-of-magic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ever since my semester started up, I've had to learn new ways to budget my time. My schedule cuts right through the middle of every day, which is both good and bad. I don't have to get up at an obscene hour for class, and I'm not in school through the night. It still makes it hard to play Runes of Magic and other MMOs, though, as it chops my free-time up into short, interspersed chunks. I initially found some ways to satiate my gaming addiction by -- gasp -- playing Perpetuum.

Games like Perpetuum -- and I suspect EVE Online -- have some nice pacing that allows me to go semi-AFK while I work on homework, articles or whatever. I can find safe places with large ore deposits, lay down a large container, and mine for 30 minutes at a time or longer. I'm still visiting the world of Taborea on weekends, and I make quick pit-stops during the week to check up on my fellow guild members, but I realized during my last visit that there are some nice ways for the returning college student to get in some game time and get his or her school-work done.

If you find your having trouble balancing work, school and life with RoM, you might find some satisfaction in the long term pet, guild, crafting, and skill-building goals.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Finding time to play Runes of Magic

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Finding time to play Runes of Magic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budgeting-timeencyclopediafeaturedfinding-time-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-castlejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamaterialspacingpet-craftingplant-systemplantsresourcesromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttimeMon, 31 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Improvements on MMO standards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/lost-pages-of-taborea-improvements-on-mmo-standards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/lost-pages-of-taborea-improvements-on-mmo-standards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/lost-pages-of-taborea-improvements-on-mmo-standards/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

After having a couple of conversations on the topic over the last month, I decided to make a list of more reasons I am so attracted to Runes of Magic. Runewaker may not have created the next evolutionary step in MMOs, but it did do some new and innovative things. It created what I consider to be the first hybrid traditional free-to-play MMO. RoM predominantly uses western game mechanics and a quest-driven leveling system with a cash shop. As far as actual gameplay is concerned, RoM features many standards -- very nice improvements on those standards.

In this article, I list six refinements that I think add to the increasing uniqueness of an MMO that constantly shows it's more than a generic clone. Jump past the break to see if you agree with me or share your favorite MMO standards that you think RoM improves upon.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Improvements on MMO standards

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Improvements on MMO standards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aoe-lootingbag-spacecorpse-runcorpse-runningdaily-questsfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveinventoryjeremy-strattonloot-overflowlost-pages-of-taboreammo-standardsmultiple-lootingno-corpse-runno-trash-lootromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstandardsMon, 24 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: The importance of learning to play your role]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-importance-of-learning-to-play-your-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-importance-of-learning-to-play-your-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/lost-pages-of-taborea-the-importance-of-learning-to-play-your-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This past week I was working on a couple of planned articles when I saw Josh Myers' post on WoW Insider about being a middle-ranged DPSer. I think the gist of the article was that we shouldn't look at another player's class and keep asking for buffs, skills or stats that would give another class more direct output to even out the equation. Not being able to pump out the most DPS is not a bad thing. This falls right in line with the subject of class balancing that I've been talking about with some astute players on the Runes of Magic forum.

I wish I could take credit for this, but it was midknight129 from the RoM forum who said -- to paraphrase -- "Classes don't have to be equal; they just should be equitable." Any player should want to play his class because he enjoys the skills and abilities that his preferred class provides, but he should also want a class that will hold up when compared to the other classes. This is especially true in a PvP environment. It's just hard sometimes to compare the damage-dealing capability of a Priest to that of, say, a Scout. All of this brings me to the idea of learning to play specific roles around intermittent patch updates and skewed mechanics. Can we enjoy our favorite class in such a gear-heavy MMO without worrying about maximum damage or healing output?

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: The importance of learning to play your role

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: The importance of learning to play your role originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesf2pfavorite-classfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlearning-to-playlost-pages-of-taboreaplay-for-funplay-your-classplay-your-roleroleromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 17 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST