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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/allods-online/" rel="tag">Allods Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Allods Online" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/allods-1335805247.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	<a href="http://www.massively.com/category/allods-online"><em>Allods Online</em>'s</a> astral space is about to get just a little bit bigger thanks to the game's recently announced patch 3.0.2. The title's publisher, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/gpotato">gPotato</a>, announced today that the game's May content update will be bringing "a host of fixes and tweaks alongside some significant new features, including a new mentoring system and a new sector of astral space dedicated to free-for-all treasure hunting."<br />
	<br />
	The game's mentoring system allows experienced, high-level players to impart their wisdom and knowledge upon new characters of the same faction and archetype. The system is managed entirely through the game's mentor interface, which also helps to match prospective apprentices with a mentor. Mentors can receive a number of rewards, including gold and marks of diligence, depending on the amount of time the mentor spends with his apprentice. The update is also unveiling a new area of astral space wherein players will compete in a free-for-all battle for randomly spawning treasure, but be warned: The more players are in the zone, the higher the chance that a demon will show up to try to wreck your day. Players will have a limited amount of time to contend with opposing players and marauding demons and to gather the most loot possible before time's up.<br />
	<br />
	To get a sneak peek at these shiny new features, just head on past the cut and have a look at the update's official trailer.<br />
	<br />
	[Source: gPotato press release]</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/">Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20227316/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>allods</category><category>allods-online</category><category>astral</category><category>astral-space</category><category>astrum-nival</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gala-net</category><category>gpotato</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentor-system</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentoring-system</category><category>mentors</category><category>patch</category><category>patches</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>update</category><category>updates</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why I Play: EverQuest II]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/why-i-play/" rel="tag">Why I Play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/"><img alt="EverQuest II screenshot" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/why-big-1334064811.jpg" style="width: 530px; height: 291px; " /></a></div>
Because.<br />
<br />
Remember back when this answer was lobbed at you as <em>the</em> definitive answer (often by moms tired of incessant "why"s or as a precursor to "I said so!")? But since I am not your mom -- and more importantly, the boss isn't about to pay me for a one word article -- let me elaborate, though, I warn you, you may regret it; once I get going I may not be able to stop! Seriously, they had to restrain me from taking over <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/why-i-play/">Why I Play</a>. Obviously I broke free mwuahahahaha!<br />
<br />
Simply put, I love <em><a href="http://www.everquest2.com/">EverQuest II</a></em>. I log into it daily. Sometimes I don't leave for more hours than I am willing to admit. I can hum the guild hall music from memory. I have a list of things I want to do so long I can't possibly get it all done. All this after taking a multi-year break. Yes folks, I left the game for a long time -- a move I am still kicking myself for. But certain features pulled me back, and let me just say, I am so glad I came back.<br />
<br />
So why <em>do</em> I play <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii"><em>EQII</em></a>? Where to begin...<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Why I Play: EverQuest II</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/">Why I Play: EverQuest II</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20211106/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/why-i-play-everquest-ii/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>appearance-items</category><category>appearance-slots</category><category>Collections</category><category>creativity</category><category>customization</category><category>decorating</category><category>dungeon-maker</category><category>editorial</category><category>eq-2</category><category>eq-ii</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>flying-mounts</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>housing</category><category>massively-meta</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentoring-system</category><category>meta</category><category>nostalgia</category><category>op-ed</category><category>opinion</category><category>player-generated-content</category><category>shiny</category><category>soe</category><category>sony</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>why-i-play</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Who was your MMO mentor -- and whom did you mentor?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-daily-grind-who-was-your-mmo-mentor-and-whom-did-you-men/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-daily-grind-who-was-your-mmo-mentor-and-whom-did-you-men/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-daily-grind-who-was-your-mmo-mentor-and-whom-did-you-men/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-daily-grind-who-was-your-mmo-mentor-and-whom-did-you-men/"><img alt="The Daily Grind" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/03/mentor.jpg" /></a></div>
No matter how many years we have played MMOs, we shouldn't forget that we all had to start somewhere. Yes, we were all noobies once, floundering through our first days in an online game and aggroing everything in sight without understanding what "aggro" meant. We all needed help and guidance, and some of us got it in the form of a friendly <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/mentor/">mentor</a>.<br />
<br />
This mentor showed us the ropes, taught us the slang, gave us resources so we weren't as vulnerable, and helped us get our game footing. Maybe it was a guild leader, a real-life friend or family member, or even a now-forgotten Gnome who took time out of her day to take pity on a greenhorn such as yourself.<br />
<br />
Later on as you gained more experience in the ways of the MMO, you had opportunities to mentor others in return. You heard the pleas from the advice channel, roped in a buddy to play the game, or taught a significant other about your hobby. The student became the teacher, and you found yourself explaining that mass-aggroing 20 mobs at once was not beneficial.<br />
<br />
So tell us: Who was your MMO mentor -- and whom did you mentor?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-daily-grind-who-was-your-mmo-mentor-and-whom-did-you-men/">The Daily Grind: Who was your MMO mentor -- and whom did you mentor?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-daily-grind-who-was-your-mmo-mentor-and-whom-did-you-men/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20194430/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/the-daily-grind-who-was-your-mmo-mentor-and-whom-did-you-men/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>daily-grind</category><category>guidance</category><category>help</category><category>mentee</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentoring</category><category>noobie</category><category>opinion</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Editorial examines MMO mentoring, community dynamics]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online/" rel="tag">Dungeons and Dragons Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rift/" rel="tag">RIFT</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xiv/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XIV</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/"><img alt="RIFT - dungeon group" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift.02.lg.jpg" /></a></div>
A wise man once described current-gen MMOs as "playing alone together." OK, truthfully I don't know who said that, nor do I know if he is particularly wise, but it resonated (and it's also applicable to a <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6710/tearing_down_barriers_how_to_.php">new editorial at Gamasutra</a> that focuses on improving the community aspects of our favorite genre).<br />
<br />
The piece looks at several current games -- including <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xiv"><em>Final Fantasy XIV</em></a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rift"><em>RIFT</em></a>, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dungeons-and-dragons-online"><em>Dungeons and Dragons Online</em></a> -- and analyzes how they both succeed and fail at bringing players together. Particular attention is paid to mentoring systems, though <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii"><em>EverQuest II's</em></a> is omitted. What ultimately emerges from the lengthy read is a portrait of a challenging issue that has its roots in both operational and design considerations, and while the piece doesn't offer any particular solution, it does provide quite a lot of food for thought.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/">Editorial examines MMO mentoring, community dynamics</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20172370/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/editorial-examines-mmo-mentoring-community-dynamics/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>community</category><category>ddo</category><category>dungeons-and-dragons-online</category><category>editorial</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>fantay</category><category>ffxiv</category><category>final-fantasy-xiv</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>grouping</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentor-system</category><category>mentoring</category><category>opinion</category><category>playing-alone-together</category><category>rift</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should more MMOs implement sidekicking?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-daily-grind-should-more-mmos-implement-sidekicking/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-daily-grind-should-more-mmos-implement-sidekicking/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-daily-grind-should-more-mmos-implement-sidekicking/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-daily-grind-should-more-mmos-implement-sidekicking/"><img alt="City of Heroes" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/10/gractionshot.jpg" /></a></div>
Back when <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Ultima-Online/">Ultima Online</a></em> was young, gamers didn't have to think about things like levels or content walls. Regardless of our skills or how long we'd been playing, we just joined up with our guildmates and went dungeoning. Throw enough people at a lich lord or a demon and that sucker's going down! But with the rise of level-based themepark games, the gap between time-rich and time-poor players has widened -- you aren't going to accomplish much if you're level 15 and your friends are all 50 and knee-deep in the endgame.<br />
<br />
To help alleviate that problem, games like <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em> and <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/EverQuest-II/">EverQuest II</a></em> pioneered "sidekicking" and "mentoring" systems, which allow highbies to partner up with lowbies, effectively boosting the noobies' levels and enabling their access to high-end content. Other games shun such systems, perhaps because they're difficult to balance and allow players to (at least temporarily) skip grindy level-based content that's meant to slow them down and keep them paying. What do you think -- should more MMOs implement sidekicking systems?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-daily-grind-should-more-mmos-implement-sidekicking/">The Daily Grind: Should more MMOs implement sidekicking?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-daily-grind-should-more-mmos-implement-sidekicking/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20085557/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-daily-grind-should-more-mmos-implement-sidekicking/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>brianna-royce-tdg</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>City-of-Villains</category><category>coh</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>EverQuest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentoring</category><category>newbie</category><category>noobie</category><category>opinion</category><category>sidekick</category><category>sidekicking</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>time-poor</category><category>time-rich</category><category>ultima-online</category><category>uo</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Down but not out!]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-tattered-notebook-down-but-not-out/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-tattered-notebook-down-but-not-out/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-tattered-notebook-down-but-not-out/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook/" rel="tag">The Tattered Notebook</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-tattered-notebook-down-but-not-out"><img alt="EQII Coldain" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/08/thurgadin.jpg" /></a></div>
I was closely watching our <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/choose-my-adventure-no-more-lightsabers/">Choose My Adventure poll</a> last week and had a flashback to 1986, when I was torn between rooting for my two favorite teams, the Red Sox and the Mets. There I sat, staring at my Cabbage Patch Red Sox doll and my Cabbage Patch Mets doll, trying to decide which one I would embrace as I tuned in for the first pitch. Whom would I root for? Hurst or Darling? Dewey or Nails? Mookie or Billy Bucks? Carter or Geddy? Boggs or Ho-Jo?<br />
<br />
I chose the Red Sox, and I'm still trying to get over that memorable World Series. The CMA poll had me right back in that seat, as I found myself rooting for both frontrunners, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rift/"><em>RIFT</em></a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/"><em>EverQuest II</em></a>. For <em>EQII</em> fans, the vote tally ended up somewhere under Bill Buckner's cleat, and <em>RIFT</em> ended up winning.<br />
<br />
Take heart, <em>EverQuest II</em> fans: We have a great game, and like an aged wine, it's getting more buttery with a hint of raspberries and a taste of oak. So raise your glasses because it's time to toast the reasons <em>EverQuest II</em> is a great game!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-tattered-notebook-down-but-not-out/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Tattered Notebook: Down but not out!</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-tattered-notebook-down-but-not-out/">The Tattered Notebook: Down but not out!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-tattered-notebook-down-but-not-out/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20021646/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-tattered-notebook-down-but-not-out/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>appearance-items</category><category>appearance-tab</category><category>atab</category><category>betrayal</category><category>community</category><category>content</category><category>eq-2</category><category>EQ-II</category><category>eq2</category><category>eq2wire</category><category>eq2x</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-2-extended</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>everquest-ii-extended</category><category>featured</category><category>housing</category><category>jethal-silverwing</category><category>mentoring</category><category>morgan-feldon</category><category>pets</category><category>rift</category><category>soe</category><category>Sony-Online-Entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Bryan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia:  Mentors, schmentors]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/wings-over-atreia-mentors-schmentors/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/wings-over-atreia-mentors-schmentors/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/wings-over-atreia-mentors-schmentors/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wings-over-atreia/" rel="tag">Wings Over Atreia</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wings-over-atreia"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/06/woaheader.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
Ahhh, the unadulterated bliss of traipsing about the promised land of milk and honey -- otherwise known as Atreia post <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/2.5-patch/">2.5</a>. The siren call of the Empyrean Crucible, the plink of new tokens in the cube, the sounds of laughter as Daevas <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ncsoft-releases-aion-pet-and-conditioning-guides/">play with</a> their newest cuddly little companions... what's that, you say? It is not all fluffy kittens and rainbows and sparkle ponies? *Gasp* How can that be?!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-empyrean-calling/">Last week</a>, we touched on a number of the additions and improvements brought to <em><a href="http://na.aiononline.com/">Aion</a></em> with the latest patch, <a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/2.5+Empyrean+Calling">Empyrean Calling</a>. However, after the novelty of the the new features had worn off a bit, the negative impact of some of these improvements became apparent; no matter how much is put into a system, there will always be pros and cons. Such can be said of the new mentoring system.<br />
<br />
Even while adding more to the gameplay of some, this system is taking away from it for others. Some were heard to be cursing mentoring from day one. Additionally, I venture to raise some concerns about long-term consequences that may not be considered in the rush to take advantage of the short-term gains. Sure, there are the benefits, but nothing comes without a cost. Nothing.<br />
<br />
So what could be so bad about mentoring in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion"><em>Aion</em></a>? Slip past the cut and I'll fill you in.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/wings-over-atreia-mentors-schmentors/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Wings Over Atreia:  Mentors, schmentors</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/wings-over-atreia-mentors-schmentors/">Wings Over Atreia:  Mentors, schmentors</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/wings-over-atreia-mentors-schmentors/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19952966/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/wings-over-atreia-mentors-schmentors/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2.5-patch</category><category>aion</category><category>aion-game</category><category>Empyrean-Calling</category><category>featured</category><category>grouping</category><category>Grouping-mechanics</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentor-system</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentoring-system</category><category>nc-soft</category><category>nc-soft-aion</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>ncsoft-aion</category><category>patch-2.5</category><category>pets</category><category>Wings-Over-Atreia</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: First impressions of Empyrean Calling]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-empyrean-calling/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-empyrean-calling/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-empyrean-calling/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/first-impressions/" rel="tag">First Impressions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wings-over-atreia/" rel="tag">Wings Over Atreia</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wings-over-atreia"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/woaheader-1306652719.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
IT'S HERE!!11! OMZG *cue altered cheer emote*<br />
<br />
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/">The wait</a> is over. Yes folks, <a href="http://na.aiononline.com/"><em>Aion</em></a> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/wings-over-atreia-2-5-going-live-on-25/">2.5</a> <a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/2.5+Empyrean+Calling">Empyrean Calling</a> has finally arrived on the North American servers. And just as they did when 2.0 (<a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/2.0+Feature+Guide+-+Assault+on+Balaurea">Assault on Balaurea</a>) <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-the-assault/">launched</a>, Daevas have been flocking back to check out a shiny new Atreia. My friends list is lighting up with names I haven't seen in... well, longer than I can actually recall!<br />
<br />
Only the second <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion"><em>Aion</em></a> update to warrant an actual name, this patch certainly brings some new goodies to the table. While not as extensive as its predecessor, it still offers substance enough for Daevas to really sink their teeth into. But after so much <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/wings-over-atreia-anticipation-part-duex/">anticipation</a>, did it live up to expectations? Does the fact that I have lost track of my week since last Wednesday say anything? From the new instances to the mentoring system, there is certainly more to do in-game, especially for those who have made it to level cap and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/wings-over-atreia-endgame-end-of-game/">endgame</a>.<br />
<br />
But don't just take my word for it! In honor of the release, <a href="http://us.ncsoft.com/en/">NCsoft</a> is offering another <a href="http://na.aiononline.com/news/announcements/aions-25-empyrean-calling-reactivation-celebration">reactivation celebration</a>: For 10 days (beginning at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, June 3rd and running until the same time on Monday, June 13th) any player with an <em>Aion</em> account can log in and experience the changes for herself.<br />
<br />
Can't wait until the 3rd for a taste? Barrel roll past the cut to check out my first impressions of Empyrean Calling.<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/aion-2-5-empyrean-calling/">Aion: 2.5 Empyrean Calling</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/aion-2-5-empyrean-calling/#4171753"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/g17-1306669937_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/aion-2-5-empyrean-calling/#4171740"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/g4-1306669871_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/aion-2-5-empyrean-calling/#4171758"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/g22_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/aion-2-5-empyrean-calling/#4171757"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/g21_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/aion-2-5-empyrean-calling/#4171759"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/g23_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-empyrean-calling/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Wings Over Atreia: First impressions of Empyrean Calling</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-empyrean-calling/">Wings Over Atreia: First impressions of Empyrean Calling</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 30 May 2011 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-empyrean-calling/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19946775/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/wings-over-atreia-first-impressions-of-empyrean-calling/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2.5-patch</category><category>aion</category><category>aion-crucible</category><category>aion-game</category><category>Empyrean-Calling</category><category>empyrean-crucible</category><category>esoterrace</category><category>esoterrace-instance</category><category>featured</category><category>gallery</category><category>instances</category><category>Mentor</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentoring-system</category><category>nc-soft</category><category>nc-soft-aion</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>ncsoft-aion</category><category>new-features</category><category>patch</category><category>patch-2.5</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 May 2011 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[NCsoft releases Aion pet and conditioning guides]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ncsoft-releases-aion-pet-and-conditioning-guides/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ncsoft-releases-aion-pet-and-conditioning-guides/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ncsoft-releases-aion-pet-and-conditioning-guides/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guides/" rel="tag">Guides</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://forums.na.aiononline.com/na/showthread.php?t=59229"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/aionpets-1305838995.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
The folks at <a href="http://ncsoft.com">NCsoft</a> are going gaga over guides this week, and <a href="http://aiononline.com"><em>Aion's</em></a> 2.5 <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/aion-2.5">update</a> looks to be the most well-documented patch in the history of the fantasy title. We've already shown off a <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/massively-exclusive-aion-mentoring-guide/">mentoring guide</a> as well as a walkthrough of the new <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/massively-exclusive-guide-to-aions-esoterrace-instance/">Esoterrace</a> instance, and today <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ncsoft">NCsoft</a> has updated its <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion"><em>Aion</em></a> website with a guide to 2.5's <a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/2.5+Pet+Changes">pet changes</a>, a guide to weapon and armor <a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/Conditioning+Guide">conditioning</a>, and a forum thread that serves as a <a href="http://forums.na.aiononline.com/na/showthread.php?t=59229">guide</a> to all the guides.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/empyrean-calling">Empyrean Calling</a> boasts 13 new pets as well as new pet moods and a pet management minigame that allows for pet-related emotes and social actions. The new weapon and armor conditioning system serves as a method for temporarily boosting the attributes of your gear. Of course, both of the new systems are much more complicated than the couple of paragraphs we've allotted to them here, so head to the official <em>Aion</em> website for <a href="http://forums.na.aiononline.com/na/showthread.php?t=59229">all the details</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ncsoft-releases-aion-pet-and-conditioning-guides/">NCsoft releases Aion pet and conditioning guides</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 19 May 2011 17:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ncsoft-releases-aion-pet-and-conditioning-guides/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19945089/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/ncsoft-releases-aion-pet-and-conditioning-guides/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2.5</category><category>2.5-patch</category><category>aion</category><category>aion-2.5</category><category>armor-conditioning</category><category>atreia</category><category>conditioning</category><category>daevas</category><category>empyrian-calling</category><category>esoterrace</category><category>fantasy</category><category>mentoring</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>pet-guide</category><category>pets</category><category>weapon-conditioning</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 17:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aion 2.5 on PTS today, new class skills video released]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/Patch+Notes+2.5"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/aionpets.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
<a href="http://aiononline.com"><em>Aion's</em></a> 2.5 <a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/Patch+Notes+2.5">patch</a> is right around the corner, and today marks the update's official debut on <a href="http://ncsoft.com">NCsoft's</a> North American player test server (<a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/Aion+2.5+PTS+FAQ">PTS</a>). The patch, otherwise known as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/aion-2.5">Empyrean Calling</a>, brings several new game features to the denizens of Atreia including a mentor system, expanded character customization options, a graphics engine update, new legion features, pet interaction, and new PvE instances.<br />
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To celebrate the milestone, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ncsoft">NCsoft</a> has released a new trailer that shows off some new class skills that are also coming with 2.5. Sixteen different skills, two for each of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion"><em>Aion's</em></a> classes, are shown in action as well as via textual descriptions.<br />
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Have a look at the trailer after the cut, and don't forget to head to the PTS to get an early glimpse of all the updates.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Aion 2.5 on PTS today, new class skills video released</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/">Aion 2.5 on PTS today, new class skills video released</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 12 May 2011 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19938692/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2.5</category><category>2.5-patch</category><category>aion</category><category>character-customization</category><category>customization</category><category>empyrean-calling</category><category>fantasy</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentor-system</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentors</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>new-instances</category><category>new-skills</category><category>pet-interaction</category><category>pets</category><category>pve</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have an MMO mentor?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/syrio.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
Many of us come to MMORPGs alone, seeking a temporary reprieve from the hustle and bustle of our offline lives via bits of escapist fantasy. Others come in groups or join groups upon arrival, the better to learn the various sub-systems of particular titles as well as engage in endgame pastimes like raiding, PvP, and economic domination.<br />
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Despite the increase in solo-friendly MMO fare in recent years, it is a rare gamer who rises to the top all by her lonesome, especially when it comes to competitive activities that demand a certain amount of knowledge, skill, or both.<br />
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Today's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind">Daily Grind</a> is all about your MMO mentors. Specifically, do you (or did you) have one? Are you one yourself? What, if anything, did your mentor teach you about MMOs that you might not have discovered on your own?<br />
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<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/">The Daily Grind: Do you have an MMO mentor?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 09 May 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19931548/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>game-discussion</category><category>gamer-discussion</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentors</category><category>mmo-discussion</category><category>mmo-hot-topics</category><category>mmo-issues</category><category>mmo-topics</category><category>mmorpg-discussion</category><category>mmorpg-hot-topics</category><category>mmorpg-topics</category><category>opinion</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>waterdance</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Free level 90? Heck yeah!]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/the-tattered-notebook-free-level-90-heck-yeah/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/the-tattered-notebook-free-level-90-heck-yeah/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/the-tattered-notebook-free-level-90-heck-yeah/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook/" rel="tag">The Tattered Notebook</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook/"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/eqiicoldainpunch.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
I'm a bit late to the party, but I want to throw my two coppers into the discussion on the level 90 winback suggestion that Senior Producer Dave "<a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/smokejumper">SmokeJumper</a>" Georgeson made recently. In a <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=40&amp;topic_id=499143�">recent forum thread</a>, he tossed out the idea of <em><a href="http://www.everquest2.com">EverQuest II's</a></em> offering level-capped characters to new players who purchased <a href="http://www.everquest2.com"><em>Destiny of Velious</em></a>. After a fairly robust discussion, he pulled it off the table, but I actually think it should still be an option.<br />
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Before you make fists of fury at the screen, hear me out! In this week's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook/">Tattered Notebook</a>, I'm going to look at why this promotion is needed and suggest a way that it actually could work for everyone's benefit.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/the-tattered-notebook-free-level-90-heck-yeah/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Tattered Notebook: Free level 90? Heck yeah!</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/the-tattered-notebook-free-level-90-heck-yeah/">The Tattered Notebook: Free level 90? Heck yeah!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 02 May 2011 17:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/the-tattered-notebook-free-level-90-heck-yeah/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19928742/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/the-tattered-notebook-free-level-90-heck-yeah/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>dave-georgeson</category><category>destiny-of-velious</category><category>dov</category><category>eq2</category><category>eq2x</category><category>eqii</category><category>EverQuest-2</category><category>everquest-2-extended</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>featured</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentor-system</category><category>mentoring</category><category>smokejumper</category><category>tattered-notebook</category><category>winback</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Bryan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 May 2011 17:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Help a troubled lowbie in Vanguard by becoming a mentor]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/help-a-troubled-lowbie-in-vanguard-by-becoming-a-mentor/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/help-a-troubled-lowbie-in-vanguard-by-becoming-a-mentor/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/help-a-troubled-lowbie-in-vanguard-by-becoming-a-mentor/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/leveling/" rel="tag">Leveling</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/vanguard/" rel="tag">Vanguard</a></p><a href="http://www.gameogre.com/vanguard.htm"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/10/vanguard7.jpg" /></a><br />Just like the tile says, there's a way you can help low-level players in <a href="http://vgplayers.station.sony.com/index.vm"><em>Vanguard: Saga of Heroes</em></a> -- become a mentor. With the most recent patch, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/vanguard/"><em>Vanguard</em></a> has added a mentoring system to help players of differing levels adventure and interact in a meaningful fashion.<br /><br />Similar to most mentoring systems, the high-level player's abilities and stats are capped at an appropriate level for the mentored player, restricting them to abilities they would have been able to use at the lower level. In all other ways, however, they'll function as a perfectly normal player, including <a href="http://www.warcry.com/news/view/95334-Vanguard-Mentor-a-Friend-Gain-Extra-XP">gaining experience</a> at the rate of a lower-level character. As a result, the tool is both an excellent way for dedicated players to introduce their friend to the game and a method for them to earn a little extra experience in the process. The mentoring system is fully usable if your friends are in the <a href="http://vanguard.station.sony.com/isleofdawn/">free trial area</a> as well, which is one of the best ways to encourage a player to stick with the game over a longer period.<br /><br />The patch also included the usual plethora of bugfixes and minor balance tweaks that have come to be standard fare for the MMO industry. Take a look at the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/posts/list.m?topic_id=50782">full patch notes</a> for the details.<br /><br />[ via <a href="http://www.warcry.com">WarCry</a> ]<a href="http://www.warcry.com"><br /></a><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/help-a-troubled-lowbie-in-vanguard-by-becoming-a-mentor/">Help a troubled lowbie in Vanguard by becoming a mentor</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://forums.station.sony.com/vg/posts/list.m?topic_id=50782>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/help-a-troubled-lowbie-in-vanguard-by-becoming-a-mentor/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19189840/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/help-a-troubled-lowbie-in-vanguard-by-becoming-a-mentor/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>mentoring</category><category>mentoring-system</category><category>patches</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>vanguard</category><category>vanguard-saga-of-heroes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EverQuest 2 leveling from 20 - 70 to become significantly faster]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/everquest-2-leveling-from-20-70-to-become-drastically-faster/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/everquest-2-leveling-from-20-70-to-become-drastically-faster/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/everquest-2-leveling-from-20-70-to-become-drastically-faster/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/massivelys-readers-you-interview-eq2s-senior-producer/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/09/eq2bearfightheader.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
The designers of <a href="http://everquest2.station.sony.com/"><em>EverQuest II</em></a> are planning to make radical alterations in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/eq2-gu-49">Game Update 49</a> to the leveling curve for characters between levels 20 and 70. <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=429922&amp;post_id=4787747#4787747"> A post by Design Supervisor Noel Walling on the official forums</a> details the changes. Whereas it currently takes on average around 164 hours for a player to advance from 20 to 70, it will soon only take around 100. To compensate for this change, Adept I spell drops will increase.<br /><br />Walling says these changes are intended to "get new players into the game faster." They're also a response to a low number of people in those level ranges. 1 - 20 and 70 - 80 are unchanged, but experience gains in the mentoring system are getting a boost to encourage higher level players to help new folks and alts level up. The benefits scale based on level, but players who are mentoring will gain between 50% and 300% extra XP from combat.<br /><br />This is an answer to a big problem in these types of games; they become top-heavy, and an insurmountable barrier to entry goes up. At this point, though, does it even make sense for it to take 100 hours to reach 70? Why not just 50? If it's not fun for 164 hours, it's probably not for 100 either, right?<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/everquest-2-leveling-from-20-70-to-become-drastically-faster/">EverQuest 2 leveling from 20 - 70 to become significantly faster</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=429922&amp;post_id=4787747#4787747>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/everquest-2-leveling-from-20-70-to-become-drastically-faster/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1316344/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/everquest-2-leveling-from-20-70-to-become-drastically-faster/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cap</category><category>eq2</category><category>eq2-gu-49</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>experience</category><category>forums</category><category>game-update-49</category><category>gu-49</category><category>hours</category><category>leveling</category><category>levels</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentoring</category><category>noel-walling</category><category>soe</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI to receive mentoring-esque Level Sync system]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/final-fantasy-xi-announces-mentoring-esque-level-sync-system/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/final-fantasy-xi-announces-mentoring-esque-level-sync-system/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/final-fantasy-xi-announces-mentoring-esque-level-sync-system/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xi/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XI</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div align="center"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/ffxiparty_425.jpg" /><br />
<div align="left"><a href="http://www.square-enix.com">Square-Enix</a> is taking another step towards making <a href="http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/index.shtml"><em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a> a little bit more playable for the masses by implementing what it calls the "Level Sync" system. The feature resembles the mentoring systems found in <a href="http://everquest2.station.sony.com"><em>EverQuest II</em></a> or <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> in that it allows higher level players to drop down to friends' levels and adventure with them while gaining experience.<br /><br />In its <a href="http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics/ff11us/detail/3599/detail.html">announcement</a> of this feature, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/square-enix">Square-Enix</a> went out of its way to emphasize that it has built in the system safeguards against abuse by powerlevelers and gold farmers. There are also some reasonable limitations intended to keep the game streamlined, fun, and balanced. For example, equipment-based stat bonuses will scale down with each level a player drops.<br /><br />There are <a href="http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics/ff11us/detail/3599/detail.html">explicit details at the official <em>Final Fantasy XI</em></a> website about how experience gains and equipment scale. We approve of this addition (as if you needed us to); in fact, we wonder why certain other games still don't have it. Being able to play with friends regardless of their time commitment and experience is a big positive, and we can't even think of a substantial drawback.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.allakhazam.com/story.html?story=14780">Allakhazam</a>]</div>
</div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/final-fantasy-xi-announces-mentoring-esque-level-sync-system/">Final Fantasy XI to receive mentoring-esque Level Sync system</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.playonline.com/pcd/topics/ff11us/detail/3599/detail.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/final-fantasy-xi-announces-mentoring-esque-level-sync-system/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1294712/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/final-fantasy-xi-announces-mentoring-esque-level-sync-system/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>feature</category><category>ff11</category><category>ffxi</category><category>final-fantasy-xi</category><category>level-sync</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentoring</category><category>play-online</category><category>square-enix</category><category>squeenix</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
