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[Warhammer's 1.4.3 patch goes live today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/warhammers-1-4-3-patch-goes-live-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's patch day in Warhammer Online, and we've got your your 1.4.3 update at a glance. In case you're trying to sneak in a few minutes of play during your workday, we're sorry to inform you that Mythic's servers are currently down (the good news is that there's an expected up time of 1:30 p.m. EDT according to the note posted yesterday on the official website).

So what's new and exciting in this patch? For starters, Sigmartide. This two-week live event sees Order players basking in the glow of the faction's first emperor while they "seek out corruption, cleanse the wicked, and honor the age-old bonds with the Dwarfs." Destruction types, meanwhile, will actively oppose all the revelry by desecrating celebration altars and doing all the things that bad guys do.

Also falling under the 1.4.3 banner are new temporary RvR accessory sets and a shakeup of WAR's scenario lineup. Hit up the official website for more details.

MassivelyWarhammer's 1.4.3 patch goes live today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.31.4.3-patchdestructioneaea-mythicelectronic-artsfantasymythicmythic-entertainmentorderpatchrvrsigmartideupdatewarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 28 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With so many awesome things happening for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning lately, with the Verminous Horde expansion, the new store, patch 1.4 and all the rest, Greg has decided to turn his all-seeing eye sideways, to a land called the Badlands, and take Waging WAR along to explore a community-driven event that has been held there for nearly a year now with great success.

Since launch, WAR has enjoyed a great community. With every great community, a great event is inevitable. I've been around the block since WAR was released and have experienced the game on several different servers. I originally rolled my first character, a Swordmaster named Xiimmel, on Iron Rock. Later, I rolled an Archmage named Feiyen on Dark Crag, who I eventually moved back to Iron Rock where she was renamed Veeo. I never did get a chance to explore Phoenix Throne, which was collapsed along with Dark Crag some time ago. Recently, I joined the Badlands community on the side of Destruction with a variety of new characters, and the community there has been good to me so far. Part of that experience the last few weeks has been the opportunity to participate in a community-driven phenomenon known as the Battle for Badlands. Since this is all quite new to me, I decided to do a community spotlight on the event in today's Waging WAR.

Read on past the cut where I play 6Qs and deliver the details about the Battle for Badlands while I try to answer your 5Ws and maybe an H.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale

MassivelyWaging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archmagebadlandsbattle-for-badlandsBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-mythiccommunity-eventsdark-age-of-camelotdark-cragdestructionEAea-mythicfeaturedgaiscioch-familymythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentorderphoenix-throneswordmasterwaging-warwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eaSat, 13 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online previews Thanquol's Incursion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/warhammer-online-previews-thanquols-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/warhammer-online-previews-thanquols-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/warhammer-online-previews-thanquols-incursion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If there's one note that Warhammer Online has been hitting rather steadily of late, it's the solid note of the Skaven. The vicious rat-men have been a popular race in the franchise for years, and the promise of an increased presence for the group has been met with nothing but anticipation. So it's unsurprising that Thanquol's Incursion is the newest element of the game under development as a 24v24 RvR dungeon -- a chance for both Order and Chaos to fight back against a Skaven operation of enormous scope.

While the dungeon contains several Skaven bosses, the theme is still RvR, with boss fights tallying victory according to both damage dealt and enemy players slain. Players will engage in battles on multiple fronts, and the preview suggests that there's a definite element of trying to work the bosses to deal the most damage possible to your enemies. Take a look at the full preview for what promises to be an all-out brawl between three different sides for Warhammer Online enthusiasts.

MassivelyWarhammer Online previews Thanquol's Incursion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythicboss-battlesbosseschaosdungeon-previewmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-dungeonorderpreviewpvp-dungeonrvrrvr-dungeonskavenskaven-dungeonthree-way-battletier-4under-developmentwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 19 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In this week's installment of Waging WAR, Greg returns to the Chaotic Zeal series and peels back another layer or two of the Zealot career in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. He tells us about his experience through tiers 2 and 3 and talks about what makes the zealot stand out in the chaos crowd. If only we could get him to eat his onions with the same fanaticism...

At the end of the first issue of the Chaotic Zeal series, I left off by saying that I was happily looking forward to playing through tiers 2 and 3 and the promise the Zealot would bring. I'll kick off this second article in the series by saying that I wasn't disappointed in the least. The Zealot is an absolute pleasure to play as a PvP healer, despite the settings and circumstances I was presented with. The career's growth is robust and meaningful with a variety of attractive tactics and morale abilities, while the playstyle becomes more and more refined over time. I could fill an entire column with anecdotes and memories of my time with the career through the middle tiers, as the Zealot is a career experience that tends to be quite engaging and memorable. Instead, I'll focus on my impressions of leveling through them. Thus, with my Zealot poised on the precipice of tier 4 at level 30, I'll look back and recall the issues I faced getting there.

Follow along after the cut as I discuss the middle tiers with the Zealot career.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two

MassivelyWaging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicdestructionEAea-mythicfeaturedflash-of-chaoshealingmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentorderpvpsiege-enginessiege-vehiclessiege-weaponsTier-2tier-3tzeentchtzeentchs-cordialwaging-warwarWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eazealotzealotsSat, 16 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR: Play both factions on the same server by patch 1.3.6]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/war-play-both-factions-on-the-same-server-by-patch-1-3-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/war-play-both-factions-on-the-same-server-by-patch-1-3-6/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/war-play-both-factions-on-the-same-server-by-patch-1-3-6/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's always important to eat your dessert first at dinner and then the main meal -- or so our rapscallion uncles taught us. So it is with developer articles. While the bulk of Carrie Gouskos' April Producer's Letter for Warhammer Online was devoted to examining the reasons behind the 1.3.5 patch changes, including the 100% RvR city sieges, it's not a bad idea to skip ahead to the final paragraph of the letter for one truly tasty tidbit:

"By 1.3.6 players will have the capability to play as both Order and Destruction on the same server. We did this in Camelot, because we wanted to give players more choices about where they wanted to play and who they wanted to play with. We're aware of the possible downsides (such as cross-realming) and we're aware that people have a lot of realm pride, which we believe is very important, so we're going to be introducing a significant lockout timer to switch between realms."

Up to this point, once a player rolled either a Destruction or Order player on a server, the opposing faction was denied to them unless they deleted every character and started over. This certainly represents a significant change in the the faction struggle of WAR, but could also solve the issue of friends being unable to connect on the same realm because one rolled Order and the other Destruction. Carrie highlighted other changes and revisions forthcoming to the game, including an auction house revamp and a pass at improving the open-RvR experience. Head over to the WAR Herald to read the full letter!

MassivelyWAR: Play both factions on the same server by patch 1.3.6 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecarrie-gouskosdark-age-of-camelotdestructionfactionsmythicorderproducers-letterrvrrvr-city-siegeswarWarhammer-OnlineFri, 30 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's 100% RvR city siege outlined in development notes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/warhammer-onlines-100-rvr-city-siege-outlined-in-development-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/warhammer-onlines-100-rvr-city-siege-outlined-in-development-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/14/warhammer-onlines-100-rvr-city-siege-outlined-in-development-n/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Since its inception, Warhammer Online's greatest strength and selling point has been its Realm vs. Realm (RvR) gameplay between the forces of Order and Destruction. With the upcoming 1.3.5 patch, RvR is poised to claim its rightful birthright with 100% RvR city sieges (in the past, city sieges have been a mix of RvR and PvE). Yesterday, Mythic posted a slew of "In Development" notes pertaining to 1.3.5, specifically outlining their plans for the new edition of city sieges.

WAR's new city sieges now have a maximum battle time of two hours, feature a respectable 24v24 population, and offer plenty of rewards, including a PQ-style chest roll for the winners. Once a player joins the fray, they'll be automatically put into a warband and pointed toward the battle.

City sieges take place over three stages, each with specific objectives and a time limit. In stage one, the invaders will attempt to breach the palace gates while the defenders try to stave them off. This is accomplished on both sides by waging war over linked control points that function as a tug-of-war between the forces. Moving on to the second stage, each side has the win condition of either escorting their warlord to the palace gate or defeating the enemy warlord. Depending on how stage two ends, stage three will take place either in the palace or at the city's gates, and involves killing the enemy's king. One of the neatest parts of this final stage is that four players on each side will be chosen to be "Champions" -- highly buffed characters with a special new ability.

The new city sieges sound streamlined, dynamic and -- dare we say it? -- a bloody good time for all. You can check out the proposed development notes for this patch on WAR's forums.

MassivelyWarhammer Online's 100% RvR city siege outlined in development notes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.3.5championscity-siegedestructionin-developmentmythicorderpatchpatch-1.3.5pqtug-of-warwarWarhammer-Onlinewarhammer-online-1.3.5warhammer-patch-1.3.5Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR: Order bites back, tearing down the Inevitable City]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/war-order-bites-back-tearing-down-the-inevitable-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/war-order-bites-back-tearing-down-the-inevitable-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/war-order-bites-back-tearing-down-the-inevitable-city/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are North American Warhammer servers too competitive or are the players just lazier than their brethren across the pond. Europeans can boast another world-first in WAR as Order members of Eltharion took down Tchar'zanek only a couple weeks after K8P took down Karl Franz.

One of the biggest pre-launch worries about WAR was that Destruction would boast a huge population advantage over Order and continually dominate. Players were a bit worried when Destuction was first to capture a city, but, albeit on a different server, this return strike by Order bodes well for the game's future in terms of realm balance. The true test of balance, however, is whether or not Order on K8P or Destruction on Eltharion can capture a city.

We will call this capture legitimate even though Mythic announced that they are making some changes to the king encounters based on what happened after K8P took down Franz. Tchar'zanek was killed before the new fixes could be implemented.

Ironically, this marks EU's second world-first even though some EU players feel they are treated as second-class citizens when it comes to WAR. Congratulations seem to be in order *cough cough*, so cheers! Oh, and to you NA players... hurry up, why don't ya!?

Video after the cut!

[Via: Bio Break]

Continue reading WAR: Order bites back, tearing down the Inevitable City

MassivelyWAR: Order bites back, tearing down the Inevitable City originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancecity-capturemythic-entertainmentorderrealm-balancervrtcharzanekwarwarhammer-onlineworld-firstWed, 15 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zone locks double in WAR after release of new Zone Domination System]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/zone-locks-double-in-war-after-release-of-new-zone-domination-sy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/zone-locks-double-in-war-after-release-of-new-zone-domination-sy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/zone-locks-double-in-war-after-release-of-new-zone-domination-sy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The primary RvR campaign goal in Warhammer Online is to capture and defend zones from your enemy. Up until recently, it was very difficult to capture zones and too easy to defend zones, which led to player frustration. Mythic introduced a new zone locking mechanic called the Zone Domination System (ZDS) in patch 1.2 to help address this issue.

We heard early reports that the ZDS was working as intended, but had no hard numbers to back up the claims. Now we do. Nazgum, an avid MMO gamer and new WAR blogger, has been collecting zone capture data from the official Realm War site for the last 30 days and has come up with some interesting results.

Zone captures have doubled across all servers with the new ZDS. Order and Destruction are roughly even in number of zone captures if you average them out across all servers as well. One concern players have with the new system is that zones can be more easily "ninja'd" during 5am raids. Nazgum's charts show that the majority of zone locks occur between 2 and 6am (in North America). Finally, he compares activity on the two role-play servers to address Ostermark's envy of Phoenix Throne.

MassivelyZone locks double in WAR after release of new Zone Domination System originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2-patchdestructionmythic-entertainmentnazgumorderwarwarhammer-onlinezone-controlzone-dominationThu, 19 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Faction populations largely balanced in Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/faction-populations-largely-balanced-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/faction-populations-largely-balanced-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/faction-populations-largely-balanced-in-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When Warhammer Online launched, one of the pressing concerns players had was population imbalance between Order and Destruction. Some of the measures Mythic Entertainment has taken to remedy this -- like free server transfers -- seem to have worked, according to Mythic's Jess Folsom.

A recent dev blog by Folsom at the Warhammer Herald addresses the concerns WAR players continue to have about faction imbalances, and paints a decidedly bright picture of the current state of play.

Percentages shown for the average of all North American servers shows a near equal balance in active accounts per faction (49% Order vs. 51% Destruction), and an even 50/50 split between factions in terms of average experience and renown point gains.

Continue reading Faction populations largely balanced in Warhammer Online

MassivelyFaction populations largely balanced in Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructiondevdev-blogexperiencefaction-populationfactionsfree-server-transfersjess-folsommonolithmythicmythic-entertainmentnorth-americaopen-rvrorderpopulationpopulation-imbalancerenownrenown-pointswarwarhammer-onlineTue, 20 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's cities more than just a backdrop]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/warhammer-onlines-cities-more-than-just-a-backdrop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/warhammer-onlines-cities-more-than-just-a-backdrop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/warhammer-onlines-cities-more-than-just-a-backdrop/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Game journalist Alec Meer, well-known for his writing at Rock, Paper, Shotgun, recently contributed a Eurogamer piece on the "social and architectural heart" of Warhammer Online -- its cities. Meer looks beyond the RvR game mechanics, the classes, "man-slapping" and the other trappings that make Warhammer Online what it is, and focuses instead on the setting itself, as seen in The Inevitable City and Altdorf. When Meer looks at The Inevitable City, he points out how it's not just your normal MMO hive of activity and commerce, or a place to line up quests. "These are the reasons to visit it, but they're not its real purpose. What it really does is define what the Destruction races are, and what they're trying to turn the Warhammer world into... You only get an inkling of that in the main world," Meer writes.

Contrast this with Altdorf. Meer writes, "Cobbled streets, chunky stone buildings - very European. This is what Order are fighting for. Well, except it's really dirty. Altdorf is not a picture postcard - it's grim and crumbling, full of squalor and fear - as much because of the ongoing war as because of the despotism and aggression of the Empire's rulers," Meer states. Do you agree with Meer that the cities of Warhammer Online are more than just a backdrop for your activities? Do you think the look of WAR's capital cities accurately reflect the conflict between Destruction and Order to reshape the world, each according to their own opposing paradigm?
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWarhammer Online's cities more than just a backdrop originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alec-meeraltdorfcitiescitydesctructionendgamefantasymythic-entertainmentopinionorderracesrockpapershotgunthe-inevitable-citywarwarhammer-onlineTue, 02 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: That's gotta hurt]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/one-shots-thats-gotta-hurt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/one-shots-thats-gotta-hurt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/one-shots-thats-gotta-hurt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sometimes, it's just one of those days. Perhaps you woke up to find you were out of coffee, you get out the door late, people seem to take special delight in being pains all day, and then it's time to face rush hour traffic. Fun, fun, fun. But for every day like that, there are moments like these, where you can escape into your favorite fantasy world and spend your evening cleaving skulls in twain, venting frustration from your day. Today's Warhammer Online One Shots from Dwalin may not be inspired by a rough day, but it certainly captures the gleeful moment of putting the smack down on someone! Dwalin writes in: My favourite picture that I've captured since I started playing Warhammer Online. My Ironbreaker, Dwalin, is about to give a chaos champion a splitting headache. [It was] taken during the Siege of Bohsenfels public quest, on the Burlok server. That champion is going to feel that in the morning.

If you've read this far, it means you like One Shots, so why not do us a huge favor and send in some screenshots from your MMO gaming? We need lots more screenshot love, and you're the best ones to help us out. Just grab screenshots from your favorite game (or hey, least favorite, if you're playing it) and send it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a quick description. We'll showcase the screenshot and give you the credit for sending it along. Then you can tell everyone that we put your screenshot out for all to see!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: That's gotta hurt originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dwalineamythicone-shotsorderscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: The agony of defeat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/one-shots-the-agony-of-defeat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/one-shots-the-agony-of-defeat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/one-shots-the-agony-of-defeat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Ah, the glorious sweetness of victory - so wonderful when it is ours; so bitter when it is not. Today's Warhammer Online One Shots breaks our normal guideline for screenshots without UI, but we feel in this case it fits the frenetic battle framed in all that busy information well. That, and we're down to only a few reader-submitted screenshots, so if you've been thinking about sending some screens in, now is an excellent time! This screen comes to us from Doula Doom, who is from the Knights of Terror. Doula writes in and sets the scene for us: Here we are defending a keep from the sickly sweet goodness that are Order forces. There were at least 60 players in attendance (at least 40 on order and 20 on Destruction), and Order eventually overcame our defence and took the keep.

We know there are oodles of you out there reading, and we're betting that at least some of you are playing/have played MMOs - otherwise, why would you be here, eh? One Shots needs your screens, dear readers! So while you're out playing, or digging through your hard drive, grab some screenshots for us. Send them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, server, and a brief description of what's in the screenshot. (Please, turn your UI off if possible.) In turn we'll give your screenshot and note to us a moment to shine, right here on Massively. How cool is that?

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: The agony of defeat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battledestructiondoula-doomeamythicone-shotsorderpvpscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlineMon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bringing WAR to the web]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/bringing-war-to-the-web/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/bringing-war-to-the-web/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/bringing-war-to-the-web/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Any massively multiplayer online game built around the twin pillars of PvP and territorial control can't go wrong by providing realtime status updates of the struggle via the web. Warhammer Online has endeavored to do just that with the Realm War site, as addressed in a dev diary by the title's Web Development Lead, Scott Stricklin. The dev blog touches on what Mythic has accomplished thus far with bringing WAR to the web, and what they hope to accomplish in the future -- namely, podcasts, community news, and character and guild profiles. While they have no shortage of ideas about how to expand WAR outside of the client, their first objective has been to bring Realm vs. Realm data to the web. That goal has now been realized, and Stricklin walks the reader through the features of the newly revamped Realm War site.

Players now have access to updated information about the overall campaign and the status of each capital city, Stricklin writes. This information is also presented visually, with each capital city's look changing based on its status, ranging from peaceful to besieged. This can all be kept in a pop up box in your browser to provide continual updates for when the tide of battle turns. Further information is provided through selectors which represent a server's racial pairings, giving a snapshot of what's happening with each tier's zone control. An added bonus to this are influence maps for each zone, similar to the in-game maps, which show the status of the various RvR objectives and allow a player to mouse over keeps, seeing when it was last captured and by which guild. Have a look at Scott Stricklin's dev diary for more on the Realm War site, or better yet, just head over there and try it out for yourself.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyBringing WAR to the web originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capital-citiesdestructionea-mythicendgamefantasygame-mechanicsinfluence-mapkeepkeepsmapsmythic-entertainmentorderpvpracesrealm-vs-realmrealm-warrealm-war-sitervrscott-stricklinterritorial-controltierswarwarhammer-onlinezone-controlzonesFri, 21 Nov 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your Warhammer Online statistical analysis on]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/get-your-warhammer-online-statistical-analysis-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/get-your-warhammer-online-statistical-analysis-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/get-your-warhammer-online-statistical-analysis-on/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you're the type of person that just loves to eat up statistics like they were infused with more sugar than chocolate-covered chocolate chip pancakes covered in sugar, then boy have we got a site for you. The Warhammer Online blog Waaagh! has taken notice of a website called Waralytics, which as its name suggests is an analytical site dedicated to Mythic's newest MMO. It's interesting to note that it would appear that the balance between Order and Destruction players is pretty much even now, with a ratio of 1.3:1 in favor of Destruction. That's hardly as bad as it was back in the early days of World of Warcraft, when some servers were nearly 3:1 in favor of Alliance.

There are a couple caveats to this statistical site, however. The stats are being pulled from guilded characters only, which leaves out quite a few solo-preferenced players. We've gone ahead and made a handy quick list of the stats for anyone that wants to take a glance. You can find them after the cut.

Continue reading Get your Warhammer Online statistical analysis on

MassivelyGet your Warhammer Online statistical analysis on originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardallianceblizzarddestructioneaelectronic-artsfactionhordemythicmythic-entertainmentorderstatisticswaaaghwarwaralyticswarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 29 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's latest weekly realm population bonuses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/wars-latest-weekly-realm-population-bonuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/wars-latest-weekly-realm-population-bonuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/18/wars-latest-weekly-realm-population-bonuses/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Mythic Entertainment announced their latest list of Warhammer Online servers to receive realm population bonuses this week. Not surprisingly, five of the seven (Core) servers listed impart bonuses for playing Order.

Mythic stated: "Great rewards await those who take up their charge and help bolster their army's strengths where it's needed the most... these bonuses are temporary boosts to help new players get into the game and strengthen their allies' efforts on servers where their realm struggles to keep up with the growing armies of their enemy. For one week, these chosen servers will bestow divine gifts upon the designated realm to help swell their ranks and give them the power to try and turn the tides of battle. Players who join the vanguard will receive a 20% bonus to renown and experience." The list of servers that give these bonuses is found in-game at the Server Select screen; the currently listed bonuses will expire on October 24th.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWAR's latest weekly realm population bonuses originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coredestructionmythic-entertainmentorderpopulationpopulation-bonusespvprealm-bonusesrvrserverswarwarhammer-onlineSat, 18 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Blowing (lava) bath bubbles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/one-shots-blowing-lava-bath-bubbles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/one-shots-blowing-lava-bath-bubbles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/one-shots-blowing-lava-bath-bubbles/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There's nothing quite as wonderful as taking a peaceful moment out for yourself after a long, hard day. Of course, when we think of something nice to do, lava baths don't immediately spring to mind. But apparently for Snacky from the Iron Fist server, who has become a regular Warhammer Online contributor to One Shots, this is just the thing to soothe an aching back. Snacky writes in: Being as we Dwarves spend so much time in the snowy mountains of our homeland, it's always lovely to get away and warm the chill bones. Here I am at the College of Wizards having myself a little "me" time. It's great to relax, but we have to ask how that lava spurt got there? It looks a little wrong.

Have you done something off-the-wall that people might find funny? Perhaps you've got a special place you go to relax after a long day of playing. Whatever the reason, and whatever the game, we want to see your screenshots! Just send them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name/server/guild and a brief description of the shot. We'll post it out here for everyone to check out and give you all the credit!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Blowing (lava) bath bubbles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dwarfealava-bathmythicone-shotsorderscreenshotscreenshotssnackywarwarhammer-onlineThu, 16 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Atop the cliffs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/one-shots-atop-the-cliffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/one-shots-atop-the-cliffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/one-shots-atop-the-cliffs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Perhaps it's just us, but when this screenshot came in, one of the first reactions was "Wow, can you imagine bungee jumping off of there?" Okay, so we of the Massively crew are an admittedly fun-loving lot, but the note that came in with today's One Shots was equally as impressed with the heights shown in this screen. Neurose from the Dark Crag open-RvR server in Warhammer Online sent this in to us along with the following: A few mates and I have been hitting the 15th and 16th chapters in Empire Tier 4 -- Reikland recently. During this time we passed what seems to be the most awe-inspiring spot in Reikland, and from my personal experience, what could be the coolest structure in all of the empire zones. We took a professional photo in lieu of this moment, and I have got to say.. its pretty bangin'.

Are you equally as impressed by heights? If so, why not show us some of the towering structures in your favorite game. We're always on the lookout for art and architecture in different games, and we know we can't possibly have seen it all already. So grab some screens of your favorite buildings and send them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name/server/guild and a quick description of what we're seeing. We'll post them here and give you the credit for it!

Gallery: One Shots




MassivelyOne Shots: Atop the cliffs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>neuroseone-shotsorderreiklandscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 15 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Look out behind you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/one-shots-look-out-behind-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/one-shots-look-out-behind-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/13/one-shots-look-out-behind-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Don't you just hate it when you're minding your own business and the next thing you know someone wants to eat your face? No? Well if not, then Warhammer Online is definitely a good game for you -- you never know what's going to happen next. Not sure what I'm talking about? Well, here's a story and screenshot for you from Chuthulhu of the guild Dusk till Dawn on the Averheim server. Chuthulhu writes in: The other night me and some guildies were roaming around the inevitable city when someone managed to aggro a lvl 40 hero giant. I tried to do the noble thing and sacrafice my Orcy self for the group, ironically it was hitting me for 0 damage so we beat him down. I just thought this picture was a great example of how epic some of the monsters are in this game!

Surprised by a monster? Beaten down by a boss? Or perhaps you emerged triumphant and saved the day. Whatever game you're playing, we'd love to see your action shots! Just send those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name/server/guild and a quick description of just what was going on in the scene. We'll post them up here and give you the credit for the cool screen!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Look out behind you originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chuthulhudestructioneamythicone-shotsorderscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlineMon, 13 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's party hits 750,000 players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/warhammer-onlines-party-hits-750-000-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/warhammer-onlines-party-hits-750-000-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/warhammer-onlines-party-hits-750-000-players/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It seems like the forces of Order and Destruction have been busy recruiting, because Gamasutra is reporting that Warhammer Online is now partying hard at 750,000 subscribers strong. This news comes after the announcement of the title hitting 500,000 players in late September. The pace of Warhammer Online's subscriber increase has certainly been an impressive thing to behold. Mythic has got to be pretty excited to see their labor of love continue its upward march.

If you're one of the three quarters of a million players crushing some skulls in WAR be sure to keep an ear pressed to our news feed for the game. Or, if you're a World of Warcraft player who's still unsure of trying the game, check out our handy guide that was made with you in mind.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWarhammer Online's party hits 750,000 players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardbreakingdestructioneaelectronic-artsgamasutramythicmythic-entertainmentorderwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 10 Oct 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Do queues make you more hardcore?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


After a recent blog post by Tobold entitled "Do Queues Make Destruction More Hardcore", we thought we'd take this concept a step further and ask the question of any queue on any server in any game. Throwing the whole notion out the window that Warhammer Online's Destruction players are more hardcore, we'd rather focus on the issue of queues, dedication and how it all relates to hardcore vs. casual in general.

In Tobold's argument, when a player faces a queue, they have three options: Give up and play something else, switch to a lower-population server or wait it out. This applies to the servers themselves and any RvR situation where you need to wait for 'balance'. His prognosis is that since Destruction has seemingly more players, they face a queue more often. This leads to an evolution of players who can't cope with these queues (i.e. casual players without the time to sit and wait for 2 hours to play a game) to re-roll an Order character, or perhaps switch servers entirely. However, this begs the question: Are players on high-pop servers simply more hardcore because they have that time and dedication to wait it out? Or are the hardcore players the ones who can't waste their time sitting in-wait, because they want to spend more time actually playing the game?

MassivelyDo queues make you more hardcore? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualdestructionhardcoremythicorderqueuetoboldwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 06 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's first city siege: The king is dead. Long live the king.]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


It was only the other day when we reported that the first Warhammer Online city siege endgame had begun. Initial reports indicated that a relatively small group of players, in average gear, managed to capture Altdorf on the EU server Karak Eight Peaks, partially due to bugs in the game. However, rumors of the death of Emperor Karl Franz have been exaggerated. More details have come to light since then; Electronic Arts contacted MMO blogger Tobold, and set the record straight.

As it turns out, Destruction didn't fully capture Altdorf. Rather, they put it in a contested state, and the would-be conquerors on the Destruction side were ousted by Order before they could complete enough public quests to reach the final battle against Emperor Karl Franz.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading WAR's first city siege: The king is dead. Long live the king.

MassivelyWAR's first city siege: The king is dead. Long live the king. originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altdorfbugscity-siegedestructioneaea-mythicelectronic-artsemperor-karl-franzendgamefantasygame-mechanicsguildskarl-franzmythic-entertainmentorderpqpublic-questspvpsiegewarwarhammer-onlineSun, 05 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's cross-server scenario queues akin to socialism]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/wars-cross-server-scenario-queues-akin-to-socialism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/wars-cross-server-scenario-queues-akin-to-socialism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/wars-cross-server-scenario-queues-akin-to-socialism/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online, despite a very smooth launch, has a few nagging problems that have cropped up in its first weeks of life. Chief among its growing pains is the problem of scenario queuing issues, both on barren servers and the ones that are practically choking on players. Snafzg over at The Greenskin asks if creating a better situation for all Warhammer Online players must entail some degree of sacrifice made by all through cross-server scenario queues, likening the solution to socialism. A situation where the 'good servers' sacrifice for the benefit of 'problem servers'.

Snafzg writes, "I'm not saying socialism is bad... but I wonder if there are alternative solutions that don't punish (too strong a word?) people on good servers for the benefit of those on bad servers. I don't envy Mythic here... Make one crowd happy only to piss off another?" He also points out that the core issues of server population imbalance impact the game on many levels, and suggests some potential solutions for both overpopulation and underpopulation issues. If you're not happy with the scenario frequency in Warhammer Online, give Snafzg's "Cross-Server Scenario Socialism..." post a read, and let him know if you agree with his views on the issue.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWAR's cross-server scenario queues akin to socialism originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cross-serverdestructionea-mythicimbalancemythic-entertainmentorderpopulation-imbalancescenario-queuesscenariosserver-populationsnafzgsocialismthe-greenskinwarwarhammer-onlineSat, 04 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order and Destruction guild heraldry art collected]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/order-and-destruction-guild-heraldry-art-collected/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/order-and-destruction-guild-heraldry-art-collected/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/order-and-destruction-guild-heraldry-art-collected/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


It seems that plenty of Warhammer Online fans are excited about the standards and heraldry aspects of the game. Some of us here at Massively feel the same way. In fact, we've just come across a slew of guild heraldry images, for both Destruction and Order, which are certainly worth a look if you're into the customization aspects of Warhammer Online.

Check out the hundreds of examples and combinations (we're not exaggerating) of Destruction guild heraldry that Atole of Monolith has put together, grouped by color, shape, pattern and emblem. For a look at the Order side, you'll probably want to see this equally impressive collection of guild emblems. Take a look below the cut for a sampling of each.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading Order and Destruction guild heraldry art collected

MassivelyOrder and Destruction guild heraldry art collected originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customizationdestructionea-mythicemblememblemsguild-emblemguild-emblemsguildsheraldrymythic-entertainmentorderstandardsthe-greenskinwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 02 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why is Destruction more popular than Order?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/why-is-destruction-more-popular-than-order/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/why-is-destruction-more-popular-than-order/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/why-is-destruction-more-popular-than-order/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There exists an interesting theory concerning gamer preference of good vs. evil. It is said that in World of Warcraft, as in many other games, the "good" seems to be the most popular choice. Most people want to be the pretty human character, save the princess and become the hero.

Enter Warhammer Online, where the majority of players have flocked to the Destruction side. This isn't simply the 'darker' side, this is the burn-down-your-house evil side. This is the stuff-a-dwarf-in-a-barrel-and-toss-him-off-a-castle-wall evil side. So why do players relate more to this type of bad guy persona? Relmstein has some theories about this over at his blog, which include the fact that Mythic focused much of their hype on the Destruction side. Check out his post for the rest of his five reasons why Destruction is more popular than Order, and let us know what you think.

MassivelyWhy is Destruction more popular than Order? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructionevilgoodorderpopularityrealmrelmsteinwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choosing between Order and Destruction in Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/choosing-between-order-and-destruction-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/choosing-between-order-and-destruction-in-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/choosing-between-order-and-destruction-in-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Have you decided what you're going to play in Warhammer Online? In the days leading up to the game's launch, some of us already have a good idea of which class we'll play (like "all"). Prima Official Game Guides is getting ready for the Warhammer Online launch as well, with a class quiz that asks, "In the War between Order and Chaos, what role will you play?" To help answer that question, or just to help show you some of the possibilities in Warhammer Online, they've got a short personality test that shows how well a given character choice fits you.

Some of us at Massively guess that the majority of players will choose Destruction when Warhammer Online launches, but there's definitely something to be said for the white hats as well. The quiz result is pretty much a foregone conclusion, but it's a nice distraction from work or while you wait for access to the game a bit later this month. We'd wager that most who take the personality test simply choose the most twisted answers possible (we did), but give it a shot and see what comes up.
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MassivelyChoosing between Order and Destruction in Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaoschaos-chosenclassesdestructionfantasyorderpersonality-testprima-gamesprima-guidesquizraceswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 03 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR population heading towards equilibrium, poll suggests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/war-population-heading-towards-equilibrium-poll-suggests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/war-population-heading-towards-equilibrium-poll-suggests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/war-population-heading-towards-equilibrium-poll-suggests/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fish or cut bait? Boxers or briefs? Order or Destruction? It's those difficult choices that make life complicated. When it comes to MMOs, getting the balance of appeal right between player factions is one tricky task. According to Napox, as detailed over on thegreenskin.com, the population balance on Warhammer Online is now evening out, after an initial surge of favor for Destruction. This data comes from a career poll on warhammeralliance.com.

Napox's meticulously researched spreadsheets give a current estimate of 47% Order, 53% Destruction; the bad guys are still in front, but at least more people are signing up to play for the white-hats. Goblin Shaman is by far the most popular class, while the Elf White Lion is the least.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading WAR population heading towards equilibrium, poll suggests

MassivelyWAR population heading towards equilibrium, poll suggests originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesdestructionea-mythicorderpollwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 29 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Dark Elf days in WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/the-digital-continuum-dark-elf-days-in-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/the-digital-continuum-dark-elf-days-in-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/09/the-digital-continuum-dark-elf-days-in-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


So we've gotten official approval to speak our minds early and often about the Dark Elf (High Elves too, but bollocks to Order, I say!) experience in tier one and two as much as we like. That led me to decide that it would be fun to give you my personal take on them. Especially considering that in the not-so-distant past I made my worries about Warhammer Online very well known. As worrisome as Mythic's decision to remove four cities and four -- but in reality, two -- classes made me before, I'm happy to say that overall my experience with the early Dark Elf starting zone has been a positive one.

From the moment you enter Warhammer Online as a level one Dark Elf surrounded by Black Arks and clanging metal, you'll be made to feel like an evil and menacing figure. This is done in various ways and I'm glad to say that it's never undone. One way Mythic invests you into your character is the first quest you ever receive and it's going to put a smile on a lot of your faces, unless you're an Order player. If you're an Order or player, you'll probably want to run into my sword for Malekith's sake. Trust me, it's really all for the best.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Dark Elf days in WAR

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Dark Elf days in WAR originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-arkblack-guardchoppadark-elvesdestructioneaelectronic-artselves-of-warfeaturedgreenskinshigh-elvesjoystiqfeaturesmalekithmassively-goes-to-warmythicmythic-entertainmentorderthe-digital-continuumwarwarhammer-onlineSat, 09 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic-Con 08: Hands-on with Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/comic-con-08-hands-on-with-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/comic-con-08-hands-on-with-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/comic-con-08-hands-on-with-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Last week at Comic-Con in San Diego, I sat down with Warhammer Online producer Jeff Skalski and got my hands on the beta for the first time. I could go in-depth on all the new features and functions of the game, but our own Michael Zenke beat me to the punch on that one. Instead I want to give my impressions of the game from the perspective of a long-time MMOG player with little time to play these days and even less interest in PvP.

You may be asking yourself why I would be drawn to yet another MMOG, much less one largely centered on PvP given my statement above. The answer is simple: revirginization. In a discussion I had with 38 Studios at Comic-Con, I questioned them about how they thought yet another fantasy-based MMOG could succeed in an already heavily saturated market. The answer they gave me was simple and true: gamers have had wonderful experiences when they've first played other fantasy-based titles, but the thrill has been lost by repetitive gameplay. Now, many of us are looking to recapture that newbie experience again with a new title. Warhammer Online may be that game for me, not for its PvE content, but for its Realm vs Realm PvP set-up.

Continue reading Comic-Con 08: Hands-on with Warhammer Online

MassivelyComic-Con 08: Hands-on with Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic-con-08comic-con-2008customizable-uidestructionfeaturedjeff-skalskijoystiqfeaturesmassively-goes-to-warorderrealm-vs-realmrevirginizationrvrtome-of-knowledgeTue, 29 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Diet WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/the-digital-continuum-diet-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/the-digital-continuum-diet-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/the-digital-continuum-diet-war/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Diet Warhammer Online: same great taste, less content. Is it bad that the recently re-branded Mythic Entertainment just cut out a large portion of our Warhammer Online pie and put it in the deep freeze? Well it's certainly not good when a developer cuts content they've been talking about publicly for so long, especially when launch is only three or four months away. I've already written about why this MMO ode to classic tabletop trappings shouldn't be shoved onto shelves half-baked and I still feel like I'd rather see a delay than see so much content cut. While there have been plenty of delays already, that doesn't mean more would have been intolerable.

I'm going to try and take an honest look at what the removal of four capital cities and four classes means for Warhammer Online. I will admit that when the news first hit, a vile and seemingly ancient sort of anger began to boil up inside my lungs. It was the onset of some form of draconian rage at the removal of so much content that I'd been personally invested in as a future player. I never really got into Chaos and planned on playing Dark Elves, but now a large part of that content is gone. At first I felt anger and confusion towards Mythic. It wasn't until after that initial knee-jerk anger passed that I was able to give some real thought to their choice and was able to consider the varied consequences.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Diet WAR

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Diet WAR originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altdorfblack-guardchaosdark-elvesdestructiondwarvesea-mythicempirefeaturedgreenskinshigh-elvesinevitable-cityjohn-riccitiellojoystiqfeaturesknight-of-the-blazing-sunmassively-goes-to-warmythicmythic-entertainmentorderpublic-queststome-of-knowledgewarwarhammer-onlineSat, 12 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Which WAR faction favors more mature players?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/which-war-faction-favors-more-mature-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/which-war-faction-favors-more-mature-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/which-war-faction-favors-more-mature-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's generally accepted as common knowledge that Horde players in World of Warcraft are, by and large, the more mature of the two factions. Whether or not this is actually supported by hard data is a matter of debate, but the logic says that older players are the ones best able to overlook the stigma of playing races long-perceived to be the "bad guys." There are mouth-breathers no matter what faction you roll, but perception is what it is.

We've been watching a poll over at Warhammer Alliance that sought to identify a specific age correlation between the two factions amongst the hardcore Warhammer Online community. With just over 2100 votes cast at the time of writing this, we did find an interest trend. Although Destruction was more popular than Order in every demographic, the disparity between the two become decreasingly pronounced as you move up in the age bracket. The ratio went from 1.7:1 in the 12-16 bracket to 1.5:1 amongst those 17-25 to 1.3:1 for ages 26-35, finally to 1.1:1 in the 35+ bracket. Does this mean Order will be the faction of choice for older players? Definitely too early to tell, but this early data is intriguing.

MassivelyWhich WAR faction favors more mature players? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>datadestructionea-mythicfactionsimbalancematurityorderpollWARwarhammer-onlineTue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Peer into WAR's career system guts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/peer-into-wars-career-system-guts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/peer-into-wars-career-system-guts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/peer-into-wars-career-system-guts/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you just can't get yourself enough Warhammer Online information, then let us point your by-now strained-from-lack-of-sleep eyes towards this MMORPG.com preview of the game's career system. EA Mythic has obviously spent a lot of time thinking about their classes and with very good reason. In a game that's centered around the developer's patented Realm vs Realm combat system it matters very much that there is a close-as-possible balance between the two factions of Order and Chaos.

This is of course a subject that's been touched on by us and other people all around the MMO blogosphere, which is probably making the guys responsible for realm balance over at EA Mythic feel a little stressed -- that is if they weren't to begin with.

If that preview still doesn't sate your now-obviously insatiable desire to know more about Squig Herders and Chaos Magi or essentially any other class featured in the game, we've got you covered.

MassivelyPeer into WAR's career system guts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>career-systemchaosea-mythicmagusorderrealm-vs-realmrvrsquig-herderwarwarhammer-onlineWed, 25 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's White Lion's pets designed to be meaningful]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/wars-white-lions-pets-designed-to-be-meaningful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/wars-white-lions-pets-designed-to-be-meaningful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/wars-white-lions-pets-designed-to-be-meaningful/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The guys n' gals over at Ten Ton Hammer were able to speak with Mark Jacobs about the newest Warhammer Online class, the White Lion. Pets that gain levels are pretty standard in the MMORPG world, in fact it's almost a given anymore. However, in an interesting twist, players will keep and level just one pet throughout their time with the White Lion class. EA Mythic is promising a dynamic experience that makes each player's lion meaningful, but hasn't yet gone into the mechanic bits of everything just yet.

While this may not be groundbreaking news, it's very interesting to note Jacobs enthusiasm for giving players a pet with which they'll develop an attachment. Just knowing that there won't be any re-teaching of skills and abilities is definitely a big relief to us, too. Now we just have to wonder how many players are going to roll this class -- a worry that many Destruction players are likely sharing.

Then again, Squig Herders still have that whole thing where they jump into their pets and use them like a suit of squishy, toothy, crazed armor. Not to mention the fact that some of the higher level Squigs looks exceedingly awesome. Seems to us like Warhammer Online's supposed imbalance fears may be over before they've even begun, thanks in part to EA Mythic's keen sense of what we're now referring to as "Class Coolness".

MassivelyWAR's White Lion's pets designed to be meaningful originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destructionea-mythicelectronic-artsmark-jacobsordersquigsten-ton-hammerwarwarhammer-onlinewhite-lionwhite-lion-of-chraceMon, 09 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's realm imbalance fears]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/warhammer-onlines-realm-imbalance-fears/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/warhammer-onlines-realm-imbalance-fears/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/warhammer-onlines-realm-imbalance-fears/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


When Warhammer Online releases later this year do you think there will be a skewed realm population? The GREENSkin blog seems to think so, but history would disagree with them. Whenever a game has been faction-based the "evil" races tend to be popular during the beta period. This fear of imbalance was a issue in Dark Age of Camelot and in World of Warcraft. During both of those instances beta testers expressed worry that the more evil of the realms would be entirely overpopulated post launch. However, the exact opposite happened to the complete befuddlement of beta testers everywhere.

Continue reading Warhammer Online's realm imbalance fears

MassivelyWarhammer Online's realm imbalance fears originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardallianceblizzardchaosdark-age-of-camelotdark-elvesdestructionea-mythicelectronic-artsgobboshordemythicorcsorderthe-greenskinwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 07 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's January video of the month contains RvR greatness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/warhammer-onlines-january-video-of-the-month-contains-rvr-great/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/warhammer-onlines-january-video-of-the-month-contains-rvr-great/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/warhammer-onlines-january-video-of-the-month-contains-rvr-great/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The new Warhammer Online video of the month for January is out (introduced by the lovable Paul Barnett) and it's chocked-full of great RvR footage. Not only do we get to see all the races battling it out in the video, but if you watch closely you'll see your first glimpses of the Chaos Marauder class (limb mutations, woo!). You'll also be treated to giant axe-wielding Dwarves and plenty of spellcasting. That's not to mention that there is one very big squig in the video, too. We also really have got to give it up for the High Elf Swordmasters -- they just look cool looking with their big swords swinging around.

Warhammer Online looks like it should deliver some really fun PvP and RvR battles in all sorts of different locales. When some of the battles in the video looked like they were taking place in capital cities, a certain anxious-yet-excited feeling definitely overcame us. Now, hopefully -- and according to EA Mythic -- the PvE game will be just as strong as the RvR/PvP side.

MassivelyWarhammer Online's January video of the month contains RvR greatness originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chaoseaea-mythicelectronic-artsmaraudersorderpvprvrsquigswarwarhammer-onlineFri, 01 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST