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[Enter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/enter-at-your-own-rift-one-point-four/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week, Karen provided an excellent analysis on Trion Worlds' broad, eight-page State of the Game address as the company outlined its plans for the game's long-term future. This week, we're still going to cast our eyes to the present. As we wrap up the final phase of RIFT's Waves of Madness (how much fun is water bladder throwing, huh?) and raid guilds bang their way through Hammerknell, it's the time to revel in a brand-new content update: patch 1.4.

Yes, another patch. I think people are still in disbelief that Trion is able to pump out updates as rapidly as it has, and the current naysayer theory is that the company is merely polishing up content it wanted to get for launch but had to hold back for whatever reason. There's probably a kernel of truth to that, but it doesn't hold up from what we know. We know that Trion has parallel teams -- up to six of them -- working on live development, which includes world events and content updates. We know that some of the features we've seen in previous patches were a direct result of post-launch player feedback, so it can't all be capping off unfinished projects.

Say what you will, but from where I'm standing, Trion's putting its actions where its mouth is by continuing a hot-and-heavy updating streak without showing any signs of slowing down. It's smart, too; by providing faster updates than most MMOs on the market and giving players incentive to stay, return, and try the game for the first time, Trion's firming up its position as an MMO that's here to stay -- not one that's going to fold up shop when future titles hit.

So let's take a peek through the highlights of patch 1.4 as I offer my award-winning commentary on each of the points!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: One-point-four originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4chronicles-of-telaracommentarycrocnard-mountcross-server-lfgdrowned-hallsdungeon-runepic-quest-lineepic-storylinefeaturedintroductory-raidlegacy-of-the-fallenlfglooking-for-grouppatchpatch-1.4pugpvppvp-riftpvp-riftsraidriftstate-of-the-gamethe-drowned-hallsthe-water-sagatriontrion-worldsupdateupdate-schedulewarfrontwarfrontswater-sagawaves-of-madnessworld-pvpWed, 03 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PvP, slivers and crocodiles: RIFT outlines patch 1.4]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/pvp-slivers-and-crocodiles-rift-outlines-patch-1-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/pvp-slivers-and-crocodiles-rift-outlines-patch-1-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/pvp-slivers-and-crocodiles-rift-outlines-patch-1-4/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While RIFT's patch 1.4 has been on the test servers for a couple weeks now, we've finally received concrete details about Trion Worlds' latest update to this dynamic MMO. Titled "Legacy of the Fallen," 1.4 follows up the recent world event with a new epic quest line and a 10-man instance revolving around the continued threat of the Abyssal.

The epic chain, called the Water Saga, not only reveals the truth about the origins of the Abyssal cult, but gives players an opportunity to score high-end loot and a special crocnard mount. Those looking for more group-oriented activities may want to check out the Drowned Halls, a 10-person sliver that presents an alternate view of history where the Abyssal have conquered Telara.

Patch 1.4 has plenty of PvP action as well, including PvP rifts and alternative forms of warfronts. There are plenty of other goodies in store from the RIFT team, including quest item storage, the LFG tool expanding cross-server, and several new crafting options. Currently, there is no date for the patch.

MassivelyPvP, slivers and crocodiles: RIFT outlines patch 1.4 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4abyssalalternate-historycraftingcrocnardcrocnard-mountcrocodiledrowned-hallsepic-quest-lineepic-storylinelegacy-of-the-fallenmountpatch-1.4pvppvp-riftsriftriftssliverthe-drowned-hallsthe-water-sagatriontrion-worldswater-sagaFri, 29 Jul 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT's first State of the Game address floods players with news of the future [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/rifts-first-state-of-the-game-address-floods-players-with-news/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/rifts-first-state-of-the-game-address-floods-players-with-news/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/rifts-first-state-of-the-game-address-floods-players-with-news/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Trion Worlds has never been shy in talking about RIFT's upcoming content, especially considering how fast and furious said content's been flying down the pipe. However, the studio may have topped itself today as it gave its first State of the Game address, opening up about the title's history to date and both the near and far future of the team's plans.

It's difficult to try to summarize all of this news in a brief paragraph -- so we're not even going to try! Instead, Massively joined a number of other news outlets for a conference call with the RIFT team and Scott Hartsman to clarify all of the exciting content, fixes and features mentioned in this address.

So join us after the jump as we look at quality-of-life improvements, new types of rifts, vastly improved PvP experiences, solo dungeons, and something intriguing called "Instant Adventure."

Continue reading RIFT's first State of the Game address floods players with news of the future [Updated]

MassivelyRIFT's first State of the Game address floods players with news of the future [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-advancementchronicles-of-telaraescalationhigh-adventureinstant-adventurelfglfg-systemlfg-toolpatch-1.4planar-attunementplanar-attunement-treesplanesport-scionpreviewpvppvp-riftpvp-riftsriftriftsscarwood-reachscott-hartsmansolo-dungeonsstate-of-the-gamethe-chronicles-of-telaratriontrion-worldsupdateworld-pvpxpThu, 14 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT patch 1.4 arriving on test servers tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/rift-patch-1-4-arriving-on-test-servers-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/rift-patch-1-4-arriving-on-test-servers-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/rift-patch-1-4-arriving-on-test-servers-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"The seas have not calmed here at Trion as we continue to bring you more to enjoy with each update," Trion Worlds' James Nichols writes. Why doth the seas continue to roil? Because RIFT's patch 1.4 is landing on test servers tomorrow, July 14th, at 6:00 p.m. EDT.

Patch 1.4 follows 1.3's Waves of Madness world event, Hammerknell raid and guild banks with even more high-profile goodies. Probably one of the most-requested features, the ability to look for groups across servers, will be part of the update. This will allow the LFG tool to draw from a wider range of potential dungeon runners.

Also included in the testing process is an alternative gameplay mode for the Whitefall Steppes PvP warfront. Players will have to collect and hold Sourcestone at their base to activate powerful rune cannons to obliterate the enemy.

Instructions on how to participate in RIFT's public test server can be found over at the site.

MassivelyRIFT patch 1.4 arriving on test servers tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4cross-server-lfgcross-shard-lfghammerknelljames-nicholslfglfg-toollooking-for-grouppatch-1.3patch-1.4public-test-serverpvpriftrift-planes-of-telarasourcestonetriontrion-worldswarfrontwaves-of-madnesswhitefall-steppesWed, 13 Jul 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-talking-1-3-with-hal-hanlin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Today we're on the verge of RIFT's third major update's going live. It's a doozy of a patch, too, with a little something for everyone: a raid for endgame players, guild banks for... well, guilds, character transfers for the antsy, and RIFT's second world event for one and all.

With Patch 1.3, Trion Worlds puts its money where its mouth is by continuing with its streak of sizable, regular updates. It's a critical patch for some, as it seeks to answer the growing call for more endgame content while an increasing number of players hit 50. Fans of RIFT will most likely welcome the spread of the patch, but detractors will undoubtedly criticize why X was done instead of Y (and don't even get into Z; that letter is nothing but trouble). And above the noise, Trion sails on with apparent confidence and dedication.

Even though we got to speak with Trion at E3, I got the opportunity for another pre-1.3 interview with Design Producer Hal Hanlin (which, by the way, is a superhero fake identity if I ever heard one). In this no-holds-barred discussion, we covered the selling points of 1.3, the accusation that RIFT is "dying," and the philosophy behind Trion's rapid stream of content.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20-man-raid20-person-raidbalancebind-to-accountcharacter-transferscollectionscontentdesign-teamdesignerse3e3-2011enter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedguild-bankhal-hanlinhammerknelllfg-systemMurdantixMurdantix-mountpatch-1.3patch-1.4pvppvp-daily-questsraidred-sliversriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldswaves-of-madnessworld-eventWed, 22 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Infiltrate and destroy: Global Agenda Q&A runs a gauntlet of player queries]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/05/infiltrate-and-destroy-global-agenda-qanda-runs-a-gauntlet-of-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/05/infiltrate-and-destroy-global-agenda-qanda-runs-a-gauntlet-of-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/05/infiltrate-and-destroy-global-agenda-qanda-runs-a-gauntlet-of-pla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

"We just did five new hats -- that should keep them busy for a while," Global Agenda Executive Producer Todd Harris cheekily says before launching into a rapid-fire community Q&A video session. In this 10-minute back-and-forth, Harris and the other members of the Hi-Rez crew tackle a multitude of subjects from marriage proposals to jet packs.

One of the biggest upcoming goals for the team is to balance existing (and underperforming) devices in the game, which Harris says will be at the center of patch 1.4, while new device creation will be held back for 1.5. For those worried about performance in certain regions, west coast servers are scheduled to be added to help with both that area and Australia. The team also has plans to improve the Demolition game type for the future.

Global Agenda recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, so it's great to see the team continue to be this involved and passionate with both the game and the community. You can watch the full Q&A after the jump.

Continue reading Infiltrate and destroy: Global Agenda Q&A runs a gauntlet of player queries

MassivelyInfiltrate and destroy: Global Agenda Q&A runs a gauntlet of player queries originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryaustraliademolitiondevicesgaglobal-agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosmarriage-proposalspatch-1.4patch-1.5q-and-asandstormtodd-harrisSat, 05 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Guide to addons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/waging-war-guide-to-addons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/waging-war-guide-to-addons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/04/waging-war-guide-to-addons/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This week in WagingWAR Greg takes a look at the basic interface offered in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Well, he said he would take a look, but then he mumbled something about needing a blindfold first. Instead, he writes about all the great ways it can be changed via third-party add-ons and shows us why WAR's modding community really is just the bee's knees.

Let's be honest with ourselves right off the bat and agree that the WAR default interface, although functional, is lackluster in some respects. That's not to say that the developers of WAR made a disastrous UI for us to play with; in fact, the truth is quite the opposite. The standard UI is functional, genre-standard, and provides all the necessary information at a glance. It gets the job done. It also offers a layout editor that allows for simple, easy customization. But sometimes, someone else's idea for a UI element is simply better. Thankfully, WAR supports the Lua programming language and enjoys a strong and talented modding community.

Continue reading for the lowdown on what I consider to be the best of the best of what WAR's mod community has to offer as of patch 1.4.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Guide to addons

MassivelyWaging WAR: Guide to addons originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonsbioware-eabioware-mythiccurseEAea-mythicElectronic-Artsfeaturedinterfacemodificationmodificationsmodsmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentpatch-1.4UIui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewaging-warwarWarhammerWarhammer-OnlineSat, 04 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: On the distant horizon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/27/waging-war-on-the-distant-horizon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/27/waging-war-on-the-distant-horizon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/27/waging-war-on-the-distant-horizon/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's that time again! Yes, Greg's imagination has escaped its tiny 3x3 cell and is off spreading ruination and ruffling feathers across the countryside, armed with absurd notions and a not-so-surprising lack of reason and logic. This week's Waging WAR attempts to follow along in its wake as we take another look at the potential future of Warhammer Online: The Age of Reckoning.

WAR released with an impressive lineup of playable armies and careers, setting the stage for the Age of Reckoning with a 3v3, two-sided RvR layout. In the summer following the official release of WAR, we got our first free content expansion featuring the Tomb Kings in the Land of the Dead. Just recently, we finally, at long last, got our Skaven wishes granted. In the spirit of the holiday season coming up, I've decided to look ahead at what may come in the future as we approach new horizons in WAR. Even if we discount Brettonia as another flavor of civilized human (akin in many ways to the Empire), the Daemons of Chaos as being already represented in some form or another as a part of Tzeentch's Warhost, and the Ogre Kingdoms (and other assorted Dogs of War) as being more-or-less an NPC army, we're still left with some excellent offerings from Warhammer lore as far as where WAR can go in the foreseeable future.

Follow along after the break as I take another look at what's left on the table to play with for future packs and expansions for WAR.

Continue reading Waging WAR: On the distant horizon

MassivelyWaging WAR: On the distant horizon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beastmenbioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicbretonniaconjecturedaemons-of-chaosEAea-mythicElectronic-Artsfeaturedgames-workshophigh-elfkhornelizardmenmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentogre-kingdomsopinionopinion-columnopinion-piecepatch-1.4skavenspeculationtomb-kingstzeentchvampire-countsverminous-hordewaging-warWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eawood-elvesSat, 27 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Verminous Horde swarms WAR today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/the-verminous-horde-swarms-war-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/the-verminous-horde-swarms-war-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/the-verminous-horde-swarms-war-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sharpen those claws and prepare to throw down with the Skaven: Warhammer Online's 1.4 patch, The Verminous Horde, hits the live servers today!

WAR's 1.4 update includes a wide range of additions and improvements, although the highlight is the ability to play as one of the four new Skaven classes in RvR lakes. Other changes include a revamp of Open RvR mechanics, a Skaven-themed dungeon, a reworking of Renown Abilities and a Barber Surgeon who's anxious to give you a complete makeover.

Patch 1.4 also marks the addition of two RvR Packs to the controversial EA Store. The Progression pack adds 20 more RvR levels (bringing the cap to 100) in addition to faster leveling and more gear. For fluffaholics, the Personality pack is a bounty of vanity pets, mounts and dyes that help you make a dashing first impression.

Head on over to Warhammer Online to read the full 1.4 patch notes!

MassivelyThe Verminous Horde swarms WAR today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.41.4-the-verminous-hordebarber-surgeoncash-shopdungeonea-mythicea-storemythicMythic-Entertainmentopen-rvrpatchpatch-1.4personality-packprogression-packpvprenownrvrrvr-packskaventhe-verminous-hordevanity-petwarwarhammerWarhammer-OnlineThu, 18 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Hands-on with Thanquol's Incursion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/waging-war-hands-on-with-thanquols-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/waging-war-hands-on-with-thanquols-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/waging-war-hands-on-with-thanquols-incursion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

This week, Waging WAR brings you Greg's hands-on impressions of the new RvR 24v24 instanced dungeon coming soon to Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. With true grit, determination, a staff, sequined robe and his trusty wizard hat, Greg brushes the dust off of his Archmage skills and reviews Thanquol's Incursion.

I was able to put together everything needed on Wednesday evening, so setting up for Friday afternoon's scheduled test of Thanquol's Incursion didn't take long at all. I didn't want to get tied up in learning a new career along with testing completely new content, so I decided to stick with what I know best and roll my Archmage on the PTS. Luckily, I tend to go light in the add-on department, so after getting my keybindings ready and scattering my UI all over the screen in my own (olympically) special way, I flew to Praag and found a warband in no time flat. Friday's event started up right on time, and the testing was under way. The warband headed out to one of the various instance gates and we zoned in.

Follow along after the break as I discuss my first-time hands-on experience with the new RvR gated 24v24 instanced dungeon: Thanquol's Incursion.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Hands-on with Thanquol's Incursion

MassivelyWaging WAR: Hands-on with Thanquol's Incursion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archmageBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicboneripperchosencloud-of-corruptionEAea-biowareea-bioware-mythicea-gamesea-mythicfeaturedmantrapmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentpatch-1.4ptsQuakerat-ogrerr100rvrrvr-packskavenskaven-dungeonskeetkslayerthanquolthanquols-incursionthrotthrot-the-uncleanttkunderempirewaging-warwarwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eawarlock-engineerSat, 23 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: The new RvR... Are we there yet?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/waging-war-the-new-rvr-are-we-there-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/waging-war-the-new-rvr-are-we-there-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/09/waging-war-the-new-rvr-are-we-there-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

This past week was an exciting week for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning as the new RvR systems were released for testing on the public test realm of Warpstone. Greg took part in both the Wednesday night and Friday afternoon sessions, and writes about his experiences and impressions in this week's Waging WAR.

When Mythic said that testing would begin in October, I don't think anyone expected to get his hands on the new changes to the RvR system so soon. Wednesday night was the first focused test, and I made it a point to take part. I also took part in the European-friendly session scheduled for Friday afternoon. Both events took place in the Tier 3 (Chaos vs. Empire) pairing across the zones of High Pass and Talabecland. There are certain issues that I feel are important enough to discuss regarding the way the new battlefield dynamics will bring about a golden age for melee careers, but this week, I want to focus on the RvR itself. Things have well and truly been shaken up, and this fresh experience is going to take some serious adjustment for veteran players as well as newcomers to the game.

Continue along after the break for more discussion on the topic.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The new RvR... Are we there yet?

MassivelyWaging WAR: The new RvR... Are we there yet? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-belfordBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-mythiccarrie-gouskosEAea-mythicfeaturedmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentpatch-1.3.6patch-1.4podcastPodcastspublic-test-realmpublic-test-serverre-enlistersrvrrvr-campaignrvr-lakesrvr-packrvr-updateswaging-warwarWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eazergSat, 09 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Coming soon, to a theatre of WAR near you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/waging-war-coming-soon-to-a-theatre-of-war-near-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/waging-war-coming-soon-to-a-theatre-of-war-near-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/waging-war-coming-soon-to-a-theatre-of-war-near-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

We interrupt this week's scheduled career spotlight on Waging WAR to bring you Greg's impressions of the latest and greatest news from the floors of GamesDay: UK regarding Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and the new RvR content coming soon to a theatre of WAR near you.

OK. So. Take everything you know about the Tier 4 RvR Campaign in WAR and press the "Delete" button right now. In fact, press it a few times. Actually, keep going. Keep pressing it until all you're left with is three pairings with three zones each, each zone containing four battlefield objectives and two keeps, and two cities as the capstone for each realm. OK. Now access that part of your brain that stores silly words and euphemisms regarding "the problem with WAR." See that entry for "Waithammer?" Delete it. "PvDoor?" Press the button. Actually, just go wild. Take every criticism you've ever had for WAR's endgame and just throw it out. We're talking total tabula rasa here (and not the ill-fated game). OK, stop. That should do. With an open mind and absolutely no knowledge of in-game mechanics, you're now primed to understand what I'm about to describe regarding the changes that are on their way, and more importantly, why I believe those changes are so critical to the glorious future of WAR.

If your curiosity is even remotely piqued, click the "Read more" button.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Coming soon, to a theatre of WAR near you

MassivelyWaging WAR: Coming soon, to a theatre of WAR near you originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerial-bombersbattlefield-objectiveBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicbootaebruglirEAea-mythicEngineerengineersfeaturedgames-day-2010gutter-runnerKeepsmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentofficial-forumspack-masterpatch-1.4producers-letterrat-ogrervrrvr-campaignrvr-city-siegesrvr-packrvr-weaponssiegesiege-warfaresiege-weaponsskaventerrible-terrible-damagewaging-warwarwar-auraWarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-fantasyWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eawarlock-engineerSat, 02 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: One point four, baby!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/wasteland-diaries-one-point-four-baby/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/wasteland-diaries-one-point-four-baby/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/wasteland-diaries-one-point-four-baby/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth patch 1.4 hits today. This is a big deal. I can't overstate how insanely important this patch is. The combat system has been revamped, and we get the requisite respec. There's Blood Sports in which clones are pitted against one another for glory and Death Toll. You will no longer lose Death Toll for dying, and will receive some just for showing up. Death Toll is now a type of currency which can be spent on gas, ammo and gear. There are new mounts and pets. There is a new area called Deadfall which lies west of Deadfall Point and Warhall. Clan wars are now a reality. The battles will spill out of the conflict towns and into the more civilized areas. We will have an achievement system that chronicles our adventures in the wasteland. The level cap will be increased to 50 and we will get all the new stuff that comes with it. This will all be happening today.

Also, today May 7th, 2010, Massively and Fallen Earth will be holding the Blood Sports Brawl in Embry Crossroads. Come on out and say hello with bullets and knives. You must be at least level 5 to take part in the actual Blood Sports, but all levels are welcomed to the party in the bunker bar.

Want more information on today's patch? Click the "read more" button.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: One point four, baby!

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: One point four, baby! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsblood-sportsclan-warsdeadfalleffects-rebalancefallen-earthfallen-earth-llcicarus-studiospatchpatch-1.4respecFri, 07 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's interview with the new Fallen Earth lead developers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/massivelys-interview-with-the-new-fallen-earth-lead-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/massivelys-interview-with-the-new-fallen-earth-lead-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/massivelys-interview-with-the-new-fallen-earth-lead-developers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There have been some big changes in the wasteland lately: Fallen Earth has gotten some exciting new content, with even more on the way in the form of Blood Sports. The changes aren't just in game, though. While the departure of Lee Hammock left some sad faces behind, the current Fallen Earth team is more than enough to inspire confidence in the future of the game.

The majority of the player focus at the moment is on patches 1.4 and 1.5. The addition of both new PvE and PvP content -- along with changes to game mechanics -- is keeping everyone busy checking things out and wondering what's to come. With that in mind, Massively has some answers for you.

We recently spent some time talking with two of the new Fallen Earth leads -- Director of Content Development Wes Platt and Senior Game Designer Marie Croall -- about what's in store for the game. Follow along after the jump to see what they had to say.

Continue reading Massively's interview with the new Fallen Earth lead developers

MassivelyMassively's interview with the new Fallen Earth lead developers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blood-sportsfallen-earthicarusicarus-studiosinterviewmarie-croallpatch-1.4patch-1.5wes-plattThu, 29 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth dev journals detail respecs, effects and melee animation changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/fallen-earth-dev-journals-detail-respecs-effects-and-melee-anim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/fallen-earth-dev-journals-detail-respecs-effects-and-melee-anim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/fallen-earth-dev-journals-detail-respecs-effects-and-melee-anim/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With so many rapid-fire changes coming to Fallen Earth lately, some players may feel like they'll miss something important if they so much as blink.

Updates such as Blood Sports and mounts are getting plenty of attention, but there are many other things that you may be excited about while at the same time wishing they were explained as thoroughly as some of the others. The respec option, for example, is a fantastic opportunity for those of us who spent points unwisely while we were still learning how it all worked. The effects revamp is certainly going to have a significant effect on gameplay as well, but these are both potentially complicated updates. The Fallen Earth team is working to make sure that everyone understands how the updates will work and how they affect the players, starting with a pair of brand new dev journals. There are separate entries for both the respec and for the effects revamp, each detailing how they will work and offering a few hints for making the most of them.

And finally, Fallen Earth's Lead Animator Gabriel Smith has given us a great advance look at the melee animation improvements that we'll see in patch 1.4. Follow along after the jump to see what Gabriel had to say, and don't forget to check out the respec and effects dev journals as well.

Continue reading Fallen Earth dev journals detail respecs, effects and melee animation changes

MassivelyFallen Earth dev journals detail respecs, effects and melee animation changes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fallen-earthfallen-earth-respecgabriel-smithicarus-studiospatch-1.4respecThu, 29 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea Testbed server tournament announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/potbs-testbed-tournament-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/potbs-testbed-tournament-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/potbs-testbed-tournament-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Pirates of the Burning Sea has plenty to offer in terms of destruction. Sailors can take down ports in group conquest missions or just harass traders around the Spanish Main. However, spending all day chasing after booty is no way to flaunt your PvP skills. After all, you can only sink so many trade convoys before an angry fleet of fire ships is launched at your vessel. Flying Lab is offering a much more enticing form of combat for bloodthirsty sea dogs.

This Saturday, May 24th, on the Pirates of the Burning Sea Testbed server, will be your chance to blow your enemies out of the water and win some free game time, a video card, or even your own in-game parrot! As part of an effort to get the kinks worked out of PotBS patch 1.4, a PvP tournament is being organized to attract some traffic to the server. Details and prizes for the Testbed tournament have been announced and players are reminded to offer their feedback on the new patch. If you have a ship-of-the-line ready to unleash a wall of lead, set sail and see what you are made of.

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea Testbed server tournament announced originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flsflying-labpatch-1.4pirates-of-the-burning-seapotbspotbs-patch-1.4pvptournamentFri, 23 May 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Class changes coming in PotBS Patch 1.4]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/class-changes-coming-in-potbs-patch-1-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/class-changes-coming-in-potbs-patch-1-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/class-changes-coming-in-potbs-patch-1-4/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ahoy mates! With all of the server changes and patch discussions coming out of Pirates of the Burning Sea, we thought we'd bombard you with some more useful information. PotBS skills are going to get overhauled and the changes will soon be upon us. Pirate, naval officer, privateer, or free trader, PotBS patch 1.4 is going to change the way we sail the seven seas.

The changes are being broadcast in the form of several devlogs. So far, the privateer and the naval officer skills are receiving a bit of a spring cleaning. Each has had their skills shuffled around a bit to appeal to players who have had common complaints concerning their trees. For example, sanctioned piracy for the privateer is now a free skill at level 15! There is nothing better than receiving a free letter of marque from the monarch for tossing cannon balls and looting gold. The swabbing of the poop deck, so to speak, is coming soon, so be sure to read the PotBS patch 1.4 devlogs for info on your profession of choice!

MassivelyClass changes coming in PotBS Patch 1.4 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>devlogpatch-1.4pirates-of-the-burning-seapirates-of-the-burning-sea-patch-1.4potbspotbs-devlogpotbs-patch-1.4potbs-skillsTue, 06 May 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TR guilds say game over to the endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/16/tr-guilds-say-game-over-to-the-end-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/16/tr-guilds-say-game-over-to-the-end-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/16/tr-guilds-say-game-over-to-the-end-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


One of the biggest criticisms levied at NCsoft's sci-fi MMO Tabula Rasa is that it is, in many respects, an incomplete game. The Specialist tree has undergone months of retooling and tweaking to be made truly viable, the disparate amount of content in the mid to late levels has been the cause for considerable concern, and it's fairly well known that the game lacks a significant endgame.

It's this latter point that has caused a crisis of sorts on the Pegasus server. Both Defiance and Tranquility, two of the larger endgame guilds on the server (or so we're told), have decided to call it quits because of the barren state of the end-game. All there is to do once you've hit the level gap is PvP. Problem is, the PvP in Tabula Rasa is pretty broken, and the development team hasn't shown much interest in fixing it in the near future. Or if they have, they haven't done a terribly good job of communicating that.

Continue reading TR guilds say game over to the endgame

MassivelyTR guilds say game over to the endgame originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesendgameexodusguildsncsoftpatch-1.4pegasustabula-rasatrSat, 16 Feb 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa team talks two patches ahead, sort of]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/tabula-rasa-team-talks-two-patches-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/tabula-rasa-team-talks-two-patches-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/tabula-rasa-team-talks-two-patches-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Another week brings another gaggle of player questions for Critters over at the Tabula Rasa community team. Nothing of terribly much interest this week, though they're reporting that the development team is already on their second week of development on patch 1.6... which saddens my little gamer heart because we've scarcely heard any details about 1.5 yet. We know it exists, surely, but since one of the few details we have heard was later rescinded, it's hard to get terribly optimistic about the whole thing. We're not totally wise on the development process, but doesn't it seem a little premature to be working on 1.6 when players have only just came to terms with 1.4? Maybe I'm out of touch, that's always a possibility.

They also go on to address some slightly mundane questions like whether there are unlimited clone credits (no), whether player attributes pass over to clones (yes), whether item rarity should be affecting the quality of tools (yes, and they're fixing it), and whether we can get some more information on the always-popular Personal Armored Units (no, but stay tuned). There seems to be a growing frustration with these community updates, to which we are certainly not immune, and it stems from the general absence of real substantive developer feedback about player concerns. We'll see what the mood is next week.

MassivelyTabula Rasa team talks two patches ahead, sort of originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clonescrittersdestination-gamesfeedback-fridaypatch-1.4patch-1.5patch-1.6paustabula-rasatrFri, 15 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[TR's epic Blind Race finally sees winners]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/trs-epic-blind-race-finally-sees-winners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/trs-epic-blind-race-finally-sees-winners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/trs-epic-blind-race-finally-sees-winners/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We reported on it last weekend, and on Saturday it finally came to fruition. Certainly fetching the honors as one of the more... bizarre in-game events we've ever heard of, for Tabula Rasa or any other game, the gregarious lot on the Planet TR forums put together the first ever Blind Race. Racers were tasked with running a marathon race through a series of predetermined check-points with their monitors turned off. Guided by the voice of a coaching partner, they had to navigate the oft-treacherous landscape of the Wilderness, the Divide, and the Plains. With the buff to enemy mobs in patch 1.4, it's difficult even making that run when you have all your senses about you, so even more kudos to Andriss and Mcloseky for their victory!

In a sadder bit of news, the DG crew rescinded an announcement in a previous community update. Due to some complication on which they didn't care to elaborate, PvP safe zones will likely not make it into patch 1.5 as expected. It's still in the pipeline, we are assured, just not for a little while. I can live with that, as long as they're using the resources to address some of the other, more easily-fixed problems with the game.

MassivelyTR's epic Blind Race finally sees winners originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blind-racedestination-gamesevenpatch-1.4patch-1.5Planet-TRtabula-rasatrweekend-wrapupwinnersMon, 11 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Feedback Friday makes patch 1.5 blurb]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/feedback-friday-makes-patch-1-5-blurb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/feedback-friday-makes-patch-1-5-blurb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/feedback-friday-makes-patch-1-5-blurb/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After last week's less-than-exciting feedback Friday, we're happy to bring a bit of Tabula Rasa news to the forefront. High on the list this week is 1.5 patch talk, which is incidentally high on our list of things we want Destination Games to talk about.

A concern among many players since the 1.4 patch has been combat speed and general soloability. Apparently the reason for this problem originates from the way attributes worked with creatures pre-1.4 compared to how they function now. We're promised changes in 1.5 that may (or may not) improve upon this issue -- although it seems like this may not be resolved immediately.

There's a ton of other random bits in the update this week, but that's the biggest piece of news concerning the next patch. There is a mention of some upcoming armor optimization, specifically light armor. It's a bit vague, but players are warned to beware of some slight changes to the look of some armor pieces. We just hope that it's a good change, as nobody likes it when they log in and suddenly their armor looks a bit -- strange.

MassivelyFeedback Friday makes patch 1.5 blurb originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armor-optimizationdestination-gamesfeedback-fridaypatch-1.4patch-1.5tabula-rasatrSat, 09 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa is all patched up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/tabula-rasa-is-all-patched-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/tabula-rasa-is-all-patched-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/29/tabula-rasa-is-all-patched-up/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


I honestly can't tell you how we went a whole day without noticing, but Tabula Rasa's Patch 1.4 is currently active on the live servers. With it comes a wealth of new changes that we've been talking about over the last couple weeks. All players have had their attribute and skill points refunded with the change to in the effects of attributes. Alien hybrids are about to become the next big thing as players start churning out colorful clones for the changes in looks and base stats. Health now plays a bigger factor in the game than ever before, giving healers a greater role to play. There are of course lots of other tweaks, bug fixes, and additions to numerous to list here. If you want to review the full patch notes, take a peek after the jump.

One of the things I noted about the patch that I don't recall seeing in test is that the Military Surplus has a curiously low cap of 30 items per account. This will likely have the unfortunate effect of stunting whatever market there may have been for schematics, ammo, or... well, pretty much anything but blue and purple items. There's no real clear reason for the change, but it's kind of unfortunate. People have been struggling with crafting from the start, and now it looks like there's no real out waiting for them. Bummer.

Again, patch notes available for your perusal after the jump.

Continue reading Tabula Rasa is all patched up

MassivelyTabula Rasa is all patched up originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingdestination-gameshybridspatch-1.4respectabula-rasatrTue, 29 Jan 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Forum fun: you can't always get what you want]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/27/forum-fun-you-cant-always-get-what-you-want/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/27/forum-fun-you-cant-always-get-what-you-want/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/27/forum-fun-you-cant-always-get-what-you-want/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


When it comes to MMOs, change is inevitable. Every conscious decision that the developers make in response to player feedback is liable to affect the game in a number of important, though quite often unforeseen ways. When Destination Games acknowledged that they were going to tweak the effects of health and armor in Tabula Rasa's patch 1.4, most people (including yours truly) assumed that bumping up health relative to armor would have the positive effect of encouraging a larger role for Tabula Rasa's underutilized healing classes. And while experimentation on the public test server has shown that this has largely come to fruition, it has not come without its side-effects.

The TR crew also opted to make similar changes in the health/armor to Tabula Rasa's enemies, and a large segment of the community has made the case that this has slowed the pace of the combat on the PTS considerably. Tabula Rasa's combat, driven in large part by the brain power of designer Paul Sage, was the one area of the game that most people agreed was an unmitigated success. Even playing solo, players get to feel like Rambo (more Rambo IV in this case than the first one) as they use high tech weaponry to pew pew wave upon wave of enemies. Reports from the PTS, confirmed by this blogger, show that the average engagement has increased by several seconds. Moreover, fights with multiple enemies (which are really the combat du jour) are made even more difficult by enhanced armor regeneration for humanoid enemies.

Sadly, there isn't much for players to do but bitch. And bitching alone won't fill the content gap from 30 to 50!

MassivelyForum fun: you can't always get what you want originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bitchingcombatdestination-gamesforumspatch-1.4pew-pewplanet-trtabula-rasatrSun, 27 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TR mission designer elucidates Fault Lever instance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/tr-mission-designer-elucidates-fault-lever-instance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/tr-mission-designer-elucidates-fault-lever-instance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/tr-mission-designer-elucidates-fault-lever-instance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Ever wish you could pick the brain of the guy who developed your favorite instance? Whether you hate his work or you love it, sometimes the rationale that goes into a level on the developer side is just completely lost on players. In the case of Tabula Rasa's new end-game instance Fault Lever, this is not a concern players will have to ponder for long. RPG Vault has a guide to the as-yet-unreleased instance replete with commentary by David Fargo, the World Builder who brought the whole kit and caboodle together. (What a cool job title, by the way. What does your boyfriend do? Oh, he builds worlds.)

After reading the thing over, it really seems like David had a good idea. He explains how the "story" of the instance is primarily in the details, and those are the things he likes to expound upon the most. In the case of Fault Lever, it's a Bane encampment under siege by the ground-dwelling Atta. The premise is that this base houses some of the Bane upper brass, in deeply hostile territory, only managing to keep the Atta at bay by blasting the ground with gigantic hammers. The player's role is to destroy the generators powering these hammers, and in so doing seal the fate of the Bane enemies within.

While I like the idea of an instance where your primary goal is to turn two of your enemies against each other, I can't help but cringe at the thought of another underground instance. Is it really too much to have more instances where I can see the bloody sky? I already miss out on it in real life because I'm at work all day, do I really want to come home and go spelunking in my fantasy worlds too?

MassivelyTR mission designer elucidates Fault Lever instance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commentarydavid-fargodestination-gamespatch-1.4rpg-vaulttabula-rasatrworld-builderThu, 24 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TR alien hybrids beaten with ugly stick, have good personalities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/20/tr-alien-hybrids-beaten-with-ugly-stick-have-good-personalities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/20/tr-alien-hybrids-beaten-with-ugly-stick-have-good-personalities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/20/tr-alien-hybrids-beaten-with-ugly-stick-have-good-personalities/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the more shocking changes made when Destination Games announced the patch notes for Tabula Rasa 1.4 was the inclusion of inclusion of alien hybrids. After completing certain quest lines, players could gain the ability to splice alien DNA into any of their future clones, and are even given an extra clone credit to boot. These clones not only assume base attributes befitting their new alien heritage, they also gain the unseemly looks of the extra-terrestrial forebears. Most of the bigger TR forum communities have threads on the topic, with players having plowed through and gained access to the clones on the public test server nearly as quickly as it was announced. The Planet TR forum's overall write-up is probably the most thorough, but the image to the right was pulled from Gangrel's Unofficial forums.

That ugly beasty, winner of the Miss Arieki hybrid beauty pageant, is a Thrax hybrid, and is the result of splicing in the DNA of enemy troops. The other hybrids are considerably less offensive looking, and I would go as far as to say the Foreans might even look pretty cool. Many players, and I count myself amongst them, had been complaining because there weren't enough character customization options, and while turning myself into a horrifying mutant wasn't exactly what I had in mind, it's certainly a start. The problem is that there are only a couple versions of these hybrid faces, so the problem isn't really solved in the long run. It's still amusing though, and it'll be interesting to see how many people make the leap when the patch goes live.

MassivelyTR alien hybrids beaten with ugly stick, have good personalities originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesforeansgangrel'shybridsmiss-arieki-beauty-pageantpatch-1.4planet-trtabula-rasathraxtrSun, 20 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa Test Fest '08 starts Monday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-test-fest-08-starts-monday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-test-fest-08-starts-monday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-test-fest-08-starts-monday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


So you fancy yourself some sort of Tabula Rasa badass? Tell me then soldier, why exactly are you sporting armor dyed "bright cyan" on top of red long underwear? It's a question that even the most brave and noble AFS soldier has had to ask him or herself at some point or another. If we're such skulking badasses, why can't we paint our armor black to put the fear of God into those remorseless Bane monsters? Why instead do we look like brightly painted easter eggs with our bold hues and lusterless pastel dyes?

The answer, as it turns out, is that Destination Games has been saving that little carrot for a special promotion titled "Test Fest '08." Long-rumored, and still not fully explained, Test Fest '08 is going to be a contest where players will be encouraged to help in the development of Tabula Rasa by participating on the public test server. The prize, either for everybody that participates over a certain threshold or perhaps only for a select few, will be the black armor dye that players have been pining over since launch. Details are still forthcoming, but rest assured, we'll see you on the public test server!

MassivelyTabula Rasa Test Fest '08 starts Monday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-armor-dyecontestdestination-gamespatch-1.4ptstabula-rasatest-fest-08trFri, 18 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa patch notes look promising]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-look-promising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-look-promising/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/18/tabula-rasa-patch-notes-look-promising/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We've been waiting for a while now, and they've been teasing for a while now, but Tabula Rasa's 1.4 patch notes are finally available for perusing on the official website. On top of the promised universal attribute respec, there's a huge list of changes (both announced and not) too long to list in this space, but we thought we could pull out a few of the ones we're most excited about:

  • Item rarity has been changed again. Purples are now only attainable through Shared missions, blues through instance missions, and greens will be regular quest rewards. This might just fix the economy.
  • Hybrid races have been added, allowing players to make clones with Thrax, Brann, and Forean DNA spliced in. It's not even three weeks into January and already we have our #1 wish for 2008 fulfilled!
  • Changes to the Guardians staff abilities were implemented, upgrading their melee power and hopefully acting as their ticket out of nerfville.
  • Health and armor have been brought closer together for both players and enemies, enhancing the importance of health and healing. Higher level enemies have had their health and armor bumped down a little bit to allow for higher player survivability.
All positive changes, and all things we're looking forward to trying out on the PTS. Among the concerns we still have that aren't addressed though is the long-term viability of the game in terms of quests, crafting, and PvP, none of which are really addressed in these patch notes.

MassivelyTabula Rasa patch notes look promising originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesguardiansitemizationpatch-1.4patch-notesptstabula-rasatrFri, 18 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Tabula Rasa's leveling treadmill broken?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/is-tabula-rasas-leveling-treadmill-broken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/is-tabula-rasas-leveling-treadmill-broken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/15/is-tabula-rasas-leveling-treadmill-broken/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's no secret that MMOs operate on a finely tuned treadmill mechanic. The game offers players a succession of small goals, each of which provide the incentive for players to continue on towards the next goal, and so forth. The sustained success of games like World of Warcraft are attributable in no small part to the game's ability to continue to string the player along with new and more interesting goals. What happens though, when a game's system of rewards begins to break down? This is the question that TTH's RadarX explores in an editorial looking at Tabula Rasa's end-game. It's hardly a new question for fans of the game (additional end-game content ranked number 2 on our New Years Tabula Rasa wishlist), but the question is becoming more urgent as casual players finally catch up to their more hardcore brethren in the ranks of the Tier 4.

You'd have to believe that Destination Games is at least aware of the problem, it just becomes an issue of implementation. Looking at patch 1.4, with the announcement of a new level 50 instance, it seems evident that they're at least responding to the needs of those at the farthest end of the leveling race, but there's no immediate evidence that they're plugging in content in the middle. Probably the most promising sign was when they plugged in a whole new quest hub into the Palisades in a recent patch, but until they release the final patch notes for 1.4, we have no way of knowing whether the upper-middle level range will get the same treatment.

Where I disagree with RadarX is in his assertion that enemy density and the frequency of patrols should be toned down for areas like the Mires. Part of what makes Arieki so fun the first time around is the truly war-like atmosphere it generates. It only makes sense that in such a dense war zone, there would be areas that the Bane rule with an iron fist. I don't have a problem with areas like that encouraging more group activity, because frankly, it just suits the lore a heck of a lot better. Now if they just stuck in some quests for groups to do, I might stop by bitching all together and just get back to playing.

MassivelyIs Tabula Rasa's leveling treadmill broken? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ariekidestination-gamesend-gamegrindinglevelingpatch-1.4questsradarxtabula-rasatrtreadmilltthTue, 15 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More Tabula Rasa tidbits to string you along]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/more-tabula-rasa-tidbits-to-string-you-along/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/more-tabula-rasa-tidbits-to-string-you-along/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/more-tabula-rasa-tidbits-to-string-you-along/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You really have to admire the work that MMO community management teams do. Not only are they the front line of defense against player angst and rage in moments of crisis, but they're also the spin-doctors and craftsmen who take tiny tidbits of information and turn them into news. Take the Tabula Rasa community team for instance. It's pretty clear that Destination Games is plunking away at the 1.4 patch, trying to ready it up for public consumption on the PTR sometime in the next two weeks. They've already dropped the big news about Sanctus Grotto on Friday, and we figured that was all we'd get to preview of 1.4 before the patch notes came out. But oh no! On a slow news day, they've revealed two new nuggets of information to keep us coming back.

They've announced that they're changing the way ammo works for Machine Guns, Leech Guns, Polarity Guns, and Propellant Guns so that they can now take lower quality ammunition. This is going to mean big monetary savings for players that have, until now, been largely left to bankruptcy by their boom-sticks. Spies and Guardians, the game's two melee classes, have enjoyed an unfair advantage in this respect, as their weapons don't have prohibitive maintenance costs comparable to ammo. It's nothing as big as an end-game instance, but it's still worth noting.

And in a completely unrelated note, they're also putting in /sit and /laydown emotes. Cool, I guess?

MassivelyMore Tabula Rasa tidbits to string you along originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4ammocommunitycommunity-managementpatch-1.4ptrtabula-rasatrweekend-wrapupMon, 14 Jan 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Goodies galore in Tabula Rasa Feedback Friday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/goodies-galore-in-tabula-rasa-feedback-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/goodies-galore-in-tabula-rasa-feedback-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/goodies-galore-in-tabula-rasa-feedback-friday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gamer goodies abound in this week's version of Tabula Rasa's Feedback Friday from the fine folks at Destination Games. There doesn't appear to be terribly much development as far as the 1.4 patch is concerned (for those were sleeping under a rock last week - they gave a little preview of the new content), beyond that they're shoring up some of the bugs before they drop the patch on the public test realm. They also announced a new /robot emote and kirin mask for the three month veteran reward, and revealed that players will find some fireworks in their packs post-patch to help celebrate the Chinese new year. Sounds fun!

The biggest development this week is the announcement of Sanctus Grotto, a level 50 instance coming out later this month that will have players racing against the Bane to get to an Eloh artifact deep in the instance's bowls. They describe the instance as a "desperate race" against time, and we're hoping that this means it will actually be timed, and not just an inconsequential part of the lore. The end-game is in desperate need of being fleshed out, so the more content, the better. We'll likely hear more about this next week as 1.4 moves closer to being released on the PTR. Can't wait!

MassivelyGoodies galore in Tabula Rasa Feedback Friday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4chinese-new-yeardestination-gamesfeedback-fridaypatch-1.4sanctus-grottotabula-rasatrFri, 11 Jan 2008 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa Feedback Friday: Patch 1.4]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/tabula-rasa-feedback-friday-patch-1-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/tabula-rasa-feedback-friday-patch-1-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/tabula-rasa-feedback-friday-patch-1-4/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The Tabula Rasa team has given us a nice little preview of what to expect in the upcoming 1.4 patch for the start of 2008. Some of the new features include Hybrid aliens (!!!), a hide helmet option, an Ability and Attribute respec and some bug fixes. We're especially interested in the Hybrid stuff, as it sounds very interesting.

Another big fix will be focused on the issues Mires is having with performance, even with with the recent changes that were made to address this. The changes will be focused on creature count being a bit too high as well as many locations where enemy and friendly drop-ships have been appearing literally next to each other. Aside from the mires changes, the TR team is looking into the crackdown on RMT or "credit/gold" sellers. The large issue is the chat channel and their persistent adverts that keep popping up in the game. For now all we're told to do is use the /ignore command, but hopefully in the near future there will be better ways to deal with them.

The patch will be coming to the public test server soon, so hopefully we can report back on how those changes are coming along in the near future.

MassivelyTabula Rasa Feedback Friday: Patch 1.4 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gold-sellersgold-sellinghybridhybrid-aliensmiresncsoftpatchpatch-1.4rmttabula-rasaMon, 07 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST