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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO pet class?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center; ">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/"><img alt="EQII Beastlord" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/12/darkelfbeastlord2.jpg" /></a></div>
If you started playing MMOs at the beginning of the genre, you may be saddled with a prejudice against pet classes. In early <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Ultima-Online/">Ultima Online</a></em>, an Animal Tamer's pets, usually dragons, had a way of getting their master into notoriety trouble. In <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/EverQuest/">EverQuest</a></em>, if ever a pull went awry, blame was placed on the Necromancers and Magicians, deserved or not -- obviously, those classes just had poor pet control. Even <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em>' Masterminds, implemented only in 2005, have a bad reputation for reckless behavior (not to mention for blocking party members' movement).<br />
<br />
Pet AI has come a very long way over the last decade and a half, though, and pet classes continue to be popular, perhaps because they allow players to micromanage a group without actually having to be <em>in</em> one. And some games, like <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Star-Wars-The-Old-Republic/">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a></em>, have made <em>all</em> classes pet classes by virtue of companions. Are you a fan of pet classes, and if so, what's your favorite implementation across the genre?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/">The Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO pet class?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20132423/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ai</category><category>animal-tamer</category><category>beastlord</category><category>bioware</category><category>brianna-royce-tdg</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>City-of-Villains</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>coh</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>ea</category><category>Electronic-Arts</category><category>eq</category><category>EQ2</category><category>EQII</category><category>everquest</category><category>EverQuest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>magician</category><category>mastermind</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>necromancer</category><category>opinion</category><category>paragon-studios</category><category>pet</category><category>pet-ai</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pet-classes</category><category>pets</category><category>soe</category><category>Sony-Online-Entertainment</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>swtor</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>tor</category><category>ultima-online</category><category>uo</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Brianna Royce]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EQII patch features Beastlord prelude quest]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/eqii-patch-features-beastlord-prelude-quest/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/eqii-patch-features-beastlord-prelude-quest/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/eqii-patch-features-beastlord-prelude-quest/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/eqii-patch-features-beastlord-prelude-quest/"><img alt="EverQuest II - Beastlord with wolf pet" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/10/1838256-eq2beastlord.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/soe">Sony Online Entertainment</a> pushed a small update to <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii"><em>EverQuest II's</em></a> live servers today. While that's not particularly newsworthy in and of itself, it bears mentioning because the patch brought a hint of the oft-requested Beastlord class to the newest version of Norrath.<br />
<a href="http://eq2wire.com/2011/10/11/october-11-2011-update-notes-beastlord-prelude-2-and-free-velious-armor/"><br />
EQ2Wire</a> has the details, and also assuages our fears a bit about the necessity of completing the quest prior to the class's official introduction in next months <em>Age of Discovery</em> expansion. As it turns out, today's quest is the second in a series, and it's entirely optional. The quest line provides interested players with some background lore on where the Beastlords have been and why they're now returning to Norrath.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/eqii-patch-features-beastlord-prelude-quest/">EQII patch features Beastlord prelude quest</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/eqii-patch-features-beastlord-prelude-quest/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20078893/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/eqii-patch-features-beastlord-prelude-quest/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-discovery</category><category>beast-lord</category><category>beastlord</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>expansion</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>lore</category><category>norrath</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pets</category><category>quests</category><category>soe</category><category>Sony-Online-Entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[SWTOR dev diary comments on companion control]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-dev-diary-comments-on-companion-control/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-dev-diary-comments-on-companion-control/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-dev-diary-comments-on-companion-control/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-dev-diary-comments-on-companion-control/"><img alt="SWTOR companions" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/10/companions-part-two.jpg" /></a></div>
A couple of weeks ago, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/BioWare/">BioWare</a> began <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-releases-more-swtor-companion-info/">a diary</a> outlining the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/"><em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em></a> companion. In the second part of the companion developer's diary released today, Senior Game Designer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/william-wallace/">William Wallace</a> tackles the intricate mechanics of companion control. MMO players' opinions vary on how pets should be handled in combat situations. If not handled well, companions can overpower a group sometimes and completely ruin it at others.<br />
<br />
Wallace admits that BioWare's vision for companions has been augmented based on how players actually used the NPCs during gameplay. The team added passive and active controls over companions. In fact, if a player only wishes to control some companion actions but not others, BioWare provided ways to do that, too.<br />
<br />
We also know that sometimes groups can be split up. Wallace explains how <em>SWTOR</em> works around that:
<blockquote class="bq-standard">
	If a player leaves the group or its proximity, to travel to a vendor for instance, he is able to summon his companion for the journey. Upon reentering proximity of the group, the companion is automatically dismissed. The remaining group can temporarily substitute the missing player with one of their companions if desired.</blockquote>
Companions are a staple in BioWare games. Developers promise to continue to make the companion gaming experience better -- meeting or exceeding your expectations.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-dev-diary-comments-on-companion-control/">SWTOR dev diary comments on companion control</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-dev-diary-comments-on-companion-control/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20076539/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-dev-diary-comments-on-companion-control/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>BioWare</category><category>companion</category><category>companions</category><category>developer-blog</category><category>developer-diary</category><category>EA</category><category>Electronic-Arts</category><category>LucasArts</category><category>pet-class</category><category>Star-Wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>SWTOR</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>TOR</category><category>william-wallace</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Larry Everett]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lore-masters tune up their hogs to cruise the mean streets of Isengard]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/"><img alt="LotRO Lore-master" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/08/lmaster.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/rise-of-isengard/"><em>: Rise of Isengard</em></a> is bringing plenty of class changes, tweaks, and updates to the table, and the hybrid Lore-master class is waiting for the dev love with arms wide open. While <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine/">Turbine's</a> talked about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/lore-masters-master-the-healing-arts-in-lotros-newest-dev-diary/">the class' increased ability to be a reliable off-healer</a>, word is coming out of the beta that there are many more changes than just the ability to slap a bandage on a wounded ally.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.casualstrolltomordor.com/2011/08/rise-of-isengard-lore-master-changes/">A Casual Stroll to Mordor</a> reports on how the improved skills function in play. These include the ability to stack up to three Burning Embers DoTs on a target, the combination of two Signs of Battle powers into one Wizard's Fire, a nice 10% buff to pet damage through Sign of the wild: Rage, and a much more versatile Improved Staff Sweep.<br />
<br />
There's also word on the new Lore-master pet: a Limrafn. While Lore-masters were originally slated to receive an Auroch pet, apparently the common complaint about the pet's size ended up swaying Turbine's mind. The Limrafn is a floating ball of light that doesn't attack, but instead assists the Lore-master in the off-healing department.<br />
<br />
Lore-masters will also see one of their lesser-utilized trait lines -- Keeper of Animals -- given much love in the form of tempting abilities and buffs.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/">Lore-masters tune up their hogs to cruise the mean streets of Isengard</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20031496/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/lore-masters-tune-up-their-hogs-to-cruise-the-mean-streets-of-is/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-casual-stroll-to-mordor</category><category>beta</category><category>class</category><category>class-revamp</category><category>f2p</category><category>floating-lightbulb-of-silliness</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>healer</category><category>healing</category><category>how-do-you-say-Limrafn</category><category>Limrafn</category><category>lm</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lore-master</category><category>lotro</category><category>off-healer</category><category>pet</category><category>pet-class</category><category>rise-of-isengard</category><category>skill-revamp</category><category>skills</category><category>turbine</category><category>Turbine-Entertainment</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Nuna bites]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-nuna-bites/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-nuna-bites/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-nuna-bites/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-real-world/" rel="tag">Events, real-world</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hyperspace-beacon/" rel="tag">Hyperspace Beacon</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-nuna-bites/"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/07/hb-nuna-1311593434.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
If you happened to be in San Diego this weekend then you may have noticed a large gathering of geekery known as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/sdcc-2011/">Comic-Con</a>. Usually, this mecca of nerdom focuses on comic book related publications. Although <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/"><em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em></a> isn't exactly comic book gold, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dark-horse">Dark Horse</a> comics rose through the ranks of pulp royalty because of its vast library of Star Wars-related publications. It only seems right that <em>TOR</em> presents itself to this audience.<br />
<br />
Besides the panel in Comic-Con proper, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/BioWare/">BioWare</a> developers hosted three separate question and answer sessions focusing on <em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em>. As with most Q&amp;As, the majority of questions asked have been answered already in the past. If you were hanging out in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/darth-hater">Darth Hater</a>'s Ventrilo server like I was during the live broadcasts, then you heard a lot of "We knew that already." That being said, there were some pieces of juicy meat tossed to the crowd that we had not heard before. I will call them nuna bites, and you can find your slice after the break.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-nuna-bites/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Hyperspace Beacon: Nuna bites</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-nuna-bites/">Hyperspace Beacon: Nuna bites</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-nuna-bites/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19998727/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-nuna-bites/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>AC</category><category>advanced-classes</category><category>BioWare</category><category>companions</category><category>dallas-dickinson</category><category>EA</category><category>Electronic-Arts</category><category>endgame</category><category>featured</category><category>flashpoint</category><category>georg-zoeller</category><category>Holly-Field</category><category>Ilum</category><category>james-ohlen</category><category>LucasArts</category><category>mounts</category><category>pet-class</category><category>PvE</category><category>PvP</category><category>rich-vogel</category><category>san-diego</category><category>san-diego-comic-con</category><category>san-diego-comic-con-2011</category><category>sdcc</category><category>sdcc-2011</category><category>Star-Wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>Stephen-Reid</category><category>swtor</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>tor</category><category>vehicle</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Larry Everett]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest/" rel="tag">EverQuest</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook/" rel="tag">The Tattered Notebook</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-next/" rel="tag">EverQuest Next</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/planetside-2/" rel="tag">PlanetSide 2</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://www.soe.com"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/07/eqnext.jpg" /></a></div>
If there's one thing that came out of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fan-faire-2011/">Fan Faire</a> about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/everquest-next/"><em>EQ Next</em></a>, it's that no one will talk about <em>EQ Next</em>. No matter who you talked to, any time the subject came up, the answer was always, "I can't talk about that." However, Executive Producer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/dave-georgeson/">Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson</a> sat down with Massively during Fan Faire to talk more about <a href="http://www.everquest2.com"><em>EverQuest II</em></a>, and during that interview, he did give a tiny glimpse into what that game would be like.<br />
<br />
In this week's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook">Tattered Notebook</a>, Massively gets the scoop on Beastlords, the dungeon builder, Freeport's revamp, and much more.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/">The Tattered Notebook: Exec. Producer Dave Georgeson on EverQuest II and EverQuest Next</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19993132/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/the-tattered-notebook-exec-producer-dave-georgeson-on-everques/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>akil-hooper</category><category>alts</category><category>beastlord</category><category>beastlords</category><category>citadel</category><category>crushbone</category><category>dave-georgeson</category><category>design-your-own-dungeon</category><category>dungeon-builder</category><category>dungeon-finder</category><category>emily-taylor</category><category>eq</category><category>eq-next</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqii</category><category>everquest</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>EverQuest-ii</category><category>everquest-next</category><category>fan-faire</category><category>fan-faire-2011</category><category>freeport</category><category>game-of-thrones</category><category>itemization</category><category>nasa-moon-shot</category><category>orc</category><category>pet</category><category>pet-class</category><category>planetside-2</category><category>ps2</category><category>revamp</category><category>rich-waters</category><category>tattered-notebook</category><category>velious</category><category>warder</category><category>warlock</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Karen Bryan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does a class' popularity influence your desire to play it?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/"><img  src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/07/ferris.jpg" /></a></div>
There are a few constants that dog my adventures into every MMO.  I will <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/storyboard-say-yes-to-the-dress/">play a female character even though I am a man</a>, I will <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/pet-class/">go nuts over pet classes</a> if they are available, I will probably create <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/alts/">a legion of alts</a> before ever hitting the level cap, and I will wear stylish hats even if the stats aren't the greatest.  But above all of that, the biggest constant in my playing career is that I almost always refuse to pick MMO classes that are extremely popular.<br />
<br />
I think it's because I -- like probably most of you -- like to feel unique in games, even though it's usually difficult to achieve.  Choosing a class that's in the minority helps with that feeling, and conversely, going with the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/fotm/">FOTM</a> or whatever the kids are calling it these days makes me feel like I've got my unique snowflake status revoked.<br />
<br />
So is this insane?  Do you allow class popularity to influence your desire to play it, or do you just go with whatever sounds like the most fun?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/">The Daily Grind: Does a class' popularity influence your desire to play it?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19987487/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-daily-grind-does-a-class-popularity-influence-your-desire/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alt</category><category>alts</category><category>fotm</category><category>guys-playing-girls</category><category>hat</category><category>hats</category><category>im-weird-get-over-it</category><category>legion</category><category>opinion</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pet-classes</category><category>popular</category><category>popular-class</category><category>popular-classes</category><category>popularity</category><category>stylish-hat</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-dailiy-grind</category><category>unique</category><category>unique-snowflake</category><category>you-are-not-a-unique-snowflake</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you want from a pet class?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/11/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-from-a-pet-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/11/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-from-a-pet-class/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/11/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-from-a-pet-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/06/mm.jpg" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
It's a fact of life: If an MMO has a pet class, I'll be playing it. It's simply too alluring to avoid! I love the constant virtual companionship, the feeling that I'm "cheating" by tag-teaming mobs with a solo party of two, and the customization that pet classes bring. From <a href="http://www.lotro.com/"><em>Lord of the Rings Online's</em></a> Lore-master to <a href="http://www.anarchy-online.com/"><em>Anarchy Online's</em></a> Meta-Physicist, pet classes suit me like a second skin.<br />
<br />
So assuming that you have at least a passing interest in pet classes, what would you want from one? Maybe you'd like a pet to grow physically over time or to respond to a plethora of commands. Perhaps your playstyle skews more toward controlling a horde of minions at a go. Or do you like being able to hunt and tame your own unique beast from the wilds?<br />
<br />
What would make the ideal pet class? What haven't we seen in MMOs yet that could make these classes even better?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/11/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-from-a-pet-class/">The Daily Grind: What do you want from a pet class?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/11/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-from-a-pet-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19961608/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/11/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-from-a-pet-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>anarchy-online</category><category>ao</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lore-master</category><category>lotro</category><category>meta-physicist</category><category>minion-master</category><category>minions</category><category>opinion</category><category>pet</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pet-classes</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 11 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Masterminds]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-masterminds/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-masterminds/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-masterminds/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes/" rel="tag">City of Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-villains/" rel="tag">City of Villains</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/a-mild-mannered-reporter/" rel="tag">A Mild-Mannered Reporter</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://fienemannroad.wordpress.com/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/03/coh-mmr-1300746764.jpg" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
It's hard to get a much more iconic villainous archetype than the Mastermind. Most of the <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com"><em>City of Heroes</em></a> choices can make perfect sense for both factions, but if you're calling in legions of battle droids to fight your opponents, you're really half a step away from building a laser to destroy Newark. (Although that might just be throwing good lasers after bad, there.) That doesn't mean that the players have no right to play on the faction they want, just that... it's a bit harder to see the archetype as particularly heroic.<br />
<br />
But we're not here to talk about the thematic elements of the class (or at least not <em>just</em> for that). This week it's time to look at what is also one of the most recognizable archetypes in <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/City-of-Heroes/">City of Heroes</a></em> by virtue of its uniquely overwhelming system of minions. So whether you're new to the game as a whole or just to this particular archetype, click on through for an examination of what it means to be a Mastermind.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-masterminds/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Masterminds</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-masterminds/">A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Masterminds</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-masterminds/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19887001/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-masterminds/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>a-mild-mannered-reporter</category><category>city-of-heroes</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>coh</category><category>column</category><category>cov</category><category>cox</category><category>featured</category><category>group-roles</category><category>masterminds</category><category>opinion</category><category>paragon</category><category>paragon-studios</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pets</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[GDC 2011: Gods &amp; Heroes hopes to give its audience something unexpected]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes-hopes-to-give-its-audience-something-u/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes-hopes-to-give-its-audience-something-u/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes-hopes-to-give-its-audience-something-u/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-interviews/" rel="tag">Massively Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-event-coverage/" rel="tag">Massively Event Coverage</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://godsandheroes.com/"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/03/gnh-boxart-crop.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
The in-game story for <a href="http://godsandheroes.com/"><em>Gods and Heroes</em></a> begins with a Roman general returning home after his time in war only to be thrust into battle again. The history of the game itself mirrors this journey: In October 2006, the original creators of the game, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_Entertainment">Perpetual Entertainment</a>, shut down. However, in August 2010, independent developer <a href="http://www.heatwave.com/">Heatwave Interactive</a> picked up the rights to develop and distribute the game. Our hero's journey started once more. Just as your character in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/gods-and-heroes/"><em>G&amp;H</em></a> returns home to an estate in ruins and a craving for revenge, Heatwave developers are fighting back the old gods and attacking the game with renewed vigor.<br />
<br />
At <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/gdc-2011">GDC 2011</a>, our editor-in-chief Shawn Schuster discussed the rise, fall, and rebirth of the game with CEO <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/anthony-castoro">Anthony Castoro</a>, Lead Designer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/tim-schubert">Tim Schubert</a>, and Community Manager <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/donna-prior">Donna Prior</a>. "<em>I think a lot of people expected us to go free-to-play and microtransact the minions then put it out there. But in early alpha tests and beta tests, people really wanted a full game out of this and expect us to treat it a certain way. We are working really hard to do that,</em>" said Castoro, who went on to assure us that he is not <em>just</em> out to make money -- he hopes to deliver a great game too. Follow after the break to find out what is going to make this game victorious in the gladiatorial arena.<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes/">Gods and Heroes</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes/#4232996"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/06/tower2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes/#4232994"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/06/lookingwestatsunset_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes/#4232993"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/06/lookingeastsunrise_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes/#4232992"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/06/library7_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes/#4232991"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/06/ghestatescreens0206-16-2011_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes-hopes-to-give-its-audience-something-u/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>GDC 2011: Gods &amp; Heroes hopes to give its audience something unexpected</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes-hopes-to-give-its-audience-something-u/">GDC 2011: Gods &amp; Heroes hopes to give its audience something unexpected</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes-hopes-to-give-its-audience-something-u/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19865845/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-gods-and-heroes-hopes-to-give-its-audience-something-u/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Anthony-Castoro</category><category>blood-and-gore</category><category>crafting</category><category>donna-prior</category><category>featured</category><category>gallery</category><category>game-developers-conference</category><category>gdc</category><category>gdc-2011</category><category>gods-and-heroes</category><category>gods-and-heroes-rome-rising</category><category>heatwave</category><category>heatwave-interactive</category><category>interview</category><category>mature-content</category><category>minions</category><category>mythology</category><category>pet-class</category><category>player-estate</category><category>player-housing</category><category>rome</category><category>tim-shubert</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Larry Everett]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Exclusive: A look at RIFT's Druid]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rift/" rel="tag">RIFT</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#/38"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/01/rift-druid-epl-117.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
Within <a href="http://riftgame.com"><em>RIFT</em></a>'s soul system, there's room for a wide variety of different classes within the four core options -- two different Clerics might have very different sets of souls equipped and play like two completely different classes. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Trion-Worlds/">Trion Worlds</a> has been slowly providing information to players about what they can expect from the various souls, but every time a new soul is revealed, it's something completely different from what's come before. The Druid is one of the souls available to Clerics, for instance, but it couldn't be more different than options such as the Purifier or Sentinel.<br />
<br />
Druids are a pet class, but not in the traditional sense. Where a Mage with a pet-using soul would rely on his pets to deal damage, the Druid uses her pets as conduits to empower her, making her a fierce combatant in her own right. Although vulnerable if her companions are damaged, the Druid herself is the core of her strength, using a variety of companions for a multitude of effects. Click past the break for more information and backstory on <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/RIFT/">RIFT</a></em>'s Druid, and check in every day this week for more heretofore unseen souls.<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/">RIFT: Core Gallery</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788802"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-river-of-souls-plutonus_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788801"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-river-of-souls-gaurath_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788799"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-river-of-souls-galenir_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788796"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-ravalos_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788793"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-ragnoth_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Exclusive: A look at RIFT's Druid</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/">Exclusive: A look at RIFT's Druid</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19804371/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-druid/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>backstory</category><category>class</category><category>class-preview</category><category>class-previews</category><category>classes</category><category>druid</category><category>exclusive</category><category>fiction</category><category>lore</category><category>massively-exclusive</category><category>new-class</category><category>new-souls</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pets</category><category>rift</category><category>rift-planes-of-telara</category><category>soul</category><category>soul-system</category><category>souls</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the best pet class?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-pet-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-pet-class/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-pet-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/04/mm.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
When a fierce and unrelenting enemy stares you down from across the battlefield, sometimes having a faithful companion at your side makes all the difference. While some people deride pet class users as playing "easy mode" or relying too much on what they see as a gimmick, we pet class players know better. We know that there is power in the assistance of a friend, there is comfort in a creature loyally plodding by your side through thick and thin, and there is a singular joy in sending them to their doom -- over and over again -- as you laugh maniacally at the awesome power from it all.<br />
<br />
So for those of us who always drift over to the pet classes on the character selection screen, which ones do you think are the best? Perhaps it's the tried-and-true <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><em>World of Warcraft</em></a> Hunter, or the old-school <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/anarchy-online/"><em>Anarchy Online</em></a> Bureaucrat, or the quirky <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> Lore-master that gets you all peppy in the morning? Maybe <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes"><em>City of Villains'</em></a> Mastermind is all the pet class you'll ever need, or you delight in anything that begins with the letters "Necro-" for your gaming fix. Which pet class is the best, and why?<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-pet-class/">The Daily Grind: What's the best pet class?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-pet-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19444471/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-pet-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>anarchy-online</category><category>city-of-villains</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>Necromancer</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pets</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>world-of-warcraft</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Mail time]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/the-tattered-notebook-mail-time/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/the-tattered-notebook-mail-time/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/the-tattered-notebook-mail-time/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/everquest-ii/" rel="tag">EverQuest II</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/tips-and-tricks/" rel="tag">Tips and tricks</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/grouping/" rel="tag">Grouping</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook/" rel="tag">The Tattered Notebook</a></p><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-tattered-notebook"><img border="1" hspace="4" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/03/tatteredemail.jpg" /></a></div>
Ah ha! Finally! Freedom from the human reporter, Seraphina! She is going to <a href="http://www.paxsite.com/paxeast/index.php">PAX East</a>, leaving me to my own devices! Now, finally, I can enact the plan I've been waiting so long to do!<br />
<br />
...answer one of your e-mails. Muhahahahahahaha!<br />
<br />
Ok, ok darlings. I know that perhaps this is not quite the same as world domination or the destruction of Qeynos, but it's special for me, yes? Usually I have to be somewhat pleasant in these weekly scribblings. But, with my oversight gone, I can let you experience the wrath of a true Tier'dal!<br />
<br />
...with helpful advice along the way, of course.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/the-tattered-notebook-mail-time/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Tattered Notebook: Mail time</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/the-tattered-notebook-mail-time/">The Tattered Notebook: Mail time</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/the-tattered-notebook-mail-time/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19411273/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/the-tattered-notebook-mail-time/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>advice</category><category>caster</category><category>class</category><category>damage-dealer</category><category>e-mail</category><category>eq2</category><category>eqII</category><category>everquest-2</category><category>everquest-ii</category><category>everquest2</category><category>guide</category><category>partying</category><category>pet</category><category>pet-class</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>spellcaster</category><category>the-tattered-notebook</category><category>tips-and-tricks</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Seraphina Brennan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Runes of Magic Warden class overview]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/runes-of-magic-warden-class-overview/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/runes-of-magic-warden-class-overview/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/runes-of-magic-warden-class-overview/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/expansions/" rel="tag">Expansions</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/runes-of-magic/" rel="tag">Runes of Magic</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/runes-of-magic/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/09/rom-warden-and-pet-580.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /></div>
We've already covered <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/runes-of-magic-druid-class-overview/">the new Druid class</a> that came with the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/runes-of-magic-celebrates-chapter-ii-release/">The Elven Prophecy</a> update to <a href="http://www.runesofmagic.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">Runes of Magic</span></a> this month. Now we explore the other new class, the Warden. This class relies on their blade to inflict damage on their foes. It's not a ranged attack class as it does not rely on the bow, it is a melee attack class. They also use their summonable nature spirits for quite a bit of DPS as well as their self-only utility and protection buffs.<br /><br />The Warden comes with a number of damage dealing spells. But instead of being long range nukes, they are usually channeled through the Warden's weapons. Later on, the channeled weapon attacks will restore the Warden's health with every blow. The Warden does have one direct damage spell, but it drains the lifeforce of their pet. They also receive one area of effect damage spell. At level 32 the Warden gains the ability to wield two-handed axes and swords and at level 50 they get an AE melee attack.<br /> <br /> Since the Warden is usually on the front lines of battle, he also has a number of protection spells to reduce damage to himself. These include emergency spells like the Level 16 Elven Amulet that reduces physical damage to the Warden for a short time. All of the Warden's buffs are restricted to themselves and their pets.<br /><br />After the jump, a full list of abilities and more playstyle analysis for the class.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/runes-of-magic-warden-class-overview/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Runes of Magic Warden class overview</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/runes-of-magic-warden-class-overview/">Runes of Magic Warden class overview</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/runes-of-magic-warden-class-overview/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19165730/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/runes-of-magic-warden-class-overview/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>elven-prophecy</category><category>frogster</category><category>nature-spirit</category><category>natures-power</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pets</category><category>rom</category><category>rom-expansion</category><category>rom-warden-pets</category><category>warden</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Dan O'Halloran]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Melee DPS careers for Order - White Lion]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-order-white-lion/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-order-white-lion/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-order-white-lion/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a></p><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-order-white-lion/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Melee DPS careers for Order - White Lion</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-order-white-lion/">Massively goes to WAR: An overview of Melee DPS careers for Order - White Lion</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-order-white-lion/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1306241/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/massively-goes-to-war-an-overview-of-melee-dps-order-white-lion/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>elves-of-war</category><category>high-elf</category><category>massively-goes-to-war</category><category>mythic-entertainment</category><category>order-melee-dps-career</category><category>pet-class</category><category>war</category><category>warhammer-online</category><category>white-lion</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Dan O'Halloran]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stargate Worlds level cap to increase every three months]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/stargate-worlds-level-cap-to-increase-every-three-months/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/stargate-worlds-level-cap-to-increase-every-three-months/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/stargate-worlds-level-cap-to-increase-every-three-months/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/stargate-worlds/" rel="tag">Stargate Worlds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://site.stargate-worlds.fr/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=219&amp;Itemid=114"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/sgwfrance_425.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.stargateworlds.com"><em>Stargate Worlds</em></a> France <a href="http://site.stargate-worlds.fr/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=219&amp;Itemid=114">conducted a very substantial interview</a> with <a href="http://www.cheyenneme.com">Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment</a>/<a href="http://www.firesky.com">Firesky</a> Studio Head Dan Elggren at the <a href="http://www.gc-germany.com/index.php?lang=2">Games Convention</a> in Leipzig. We say it's substantial because it includes a few new revelations about the game.<br /><br />The most notable of those revelations: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/cheyenne-mountain-entertainment">CME</a>/<a href="http://www.firesky.com">Firesky</a> will be raising the game's level cap (50 at launch) by two levels every three months to coincide with new content updates and episodes. The second most interesting tidbit is about teams. Teams are a social unit smaller than commands (guilds); think of them as persistently existing and organized groups/parties. Anyway, the big news about teams is that players will be able to name their regular groups. Cool!<br /> <br /> Other topics included various <em>Stargate</em> inside jokes, Elggren plugging the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/stargate-worlds-beta-invites-coming-in-early-september-october/">gas-guzzling Hummer promotion</a>, and some stuff about the Asgard, Archaeologist, Jaffa, and Go'auld classes that has already been <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/massively-visits-stargate-worlds/">floating around</a> for a while. Watch the video for all that. Note that most of the video is in French with English subtitles, while the interview itself is in English with French subtitles.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/stargate-worlds-level-cap-to-increase-every-three-months/">Stargate Worlds level cap to increase every three months</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://site.stargate-worlds.fr/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=219&amp;Itemid=114>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/stargate-worlds-level-cap-to-increase-every-three-months/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1300309/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/31/stargate-worlds-level-cap-to-increase-every-three-months/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>archaeologist</category><category>asgard</category><category>beta</category><category>cheyenne-mountain-entertainment</category><category>dan-elggren</category><category>europe</category><category>firesky</category><category>france</category><category>french</category><category>gc-08</category><category>gc-2008</category><category>goauld</category><category>hummer</category><category>hummers</category><category>interview</category><category>jaffa</category><category>leipzig</category><category>level-cap</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pvp</category><category>sgw</category><category>stargate</category><category>stargate-worlds</category><category>stargate-worlds-france</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Elves of WAR: White Lion levels 6-10]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-6-10/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-6-10/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-6-10/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guides/" rel="tag">Guides</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/leveling/" rel="tag">Leveling</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-on</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Massively Hands-on</a></p><img align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/06/whiteliondude.jpg" alt="" />In <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-1-5/">the first five levels of this High Elf melee dps career</a>, we got a lion, an axe and an attitude. Time to take it on the road for five more levels and all the new abilities that come with it.<br /><strong><br />Level 6 - Sundering Chop</strong><br />40 AP, Instant cast, 5ft range<br /><em>A powerful axe chop which deals 28 damage. If you are behind the enemy, then this attack will ignore 50% of their armor.</em><br /><br />With you lion set in tank mode with Trained to Threaten, this axe attack replaces Hack as your spam attack. It costs a little more in AP, but does about 50% more damage if you are behind the mob.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-6-10/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Elves of WAR: White Lion levels 6-10</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-6-10/">The Elves of WAR: White Lion levels 6-10</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-6-10/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1287144/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-6-10/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>elves-of-war</category><category>featured</category><category>high-elf</category><category>high-elves</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>leveling-guide</category><category>massively-goes-to-war</category><category>mythic-entertainment</category><category>order-melee-dps-career</category><category>pet-class</category><category>war</category><category>war-lion</category><category>warhammer-online</category><category>white-lion</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Dan O'Halloran]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Elves of WAR: Meet the White Lion, levels 1-5]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-1-5/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-1-5/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-1-5/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/leveling/" rel="tag">Leveling</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-on</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/massively-hands-on/" rel="tag">Massively Hands-on</a></p><img align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/06/whiteliondude.jpg" alt="" />Earlier in the week we gave you <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion/">a broad overview of this <em>Warhammer Online</em> class</a> based on our higher level beta experiences. Today, we continue our exclusive pre-NDA look at the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/elves-of-war">Elves of <em>WAR</em></a> with a look at the White Lion class from the ground up.<br /><br />The White Lion career is a melee dps class on the side of Order only available to High Elves. With a loyal lion pet by their side and an enormous axe in their hand the White Lion is very good at taking down enemies, especially small groups of them.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-1-5/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Elves of WAR: Meet the White Lion, levels 1-5</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-1-5/">The Elves of WAR: Meet the White Lion, levels 1-5</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-1-5/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1285202/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-meet-the-white-lion-levels-1-5/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>beginners-guide</category><category>elves-of-war</category><category>featured</category><category>high-elf</category><category>high-elves</category><category>joystiqfeatures</category><category>massively-goes-to-war</category><category>mythic-entertainment</category><category>order-melee-dps-class</category><category>pet-class</category><category>war</category><category>warhammer-online</category><category>white-lion</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Dan O'Halloran]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[White Lion confirmed as final High Elf career]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/white-lion-confirmed-as-final-high-elf-career/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/white-lion-confirmed-as-final-high-elf-career/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/white-lion-confirmed-as-final-high-elf-career/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/forums/" rel="tag">Forums</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.warhammeralliance.com/forums/album.php?albumid=35&amp;pictureid=1634"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/05/warwhitelionconcept.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
At long last, Mythic has finally <a href="http://www.warhammeralliance.com/forums/showthread.php?p=862069#post862069">confirmed the last of the High Elf careers</a> for <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a>. After months of speculation and lots of hints, they've finally confirmed that the White Lion class will round out <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/WAR"><em>WAR's</em></a> robust list of player careers. The White Lion will be fulfilling the melee DPS niche on the side of order and will focus on the dynamics between the hardy White Lion and his war lion pet.<br /><br />Unlike his <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com/armiesofWAR/greenskins/GoblinSquigHerder.php">Destruction counterpart the Squig Herder</a> whose Squigs are relatively expendable balls of sentient fungus, the White Lion's bond with his pet starts at level one, and there will be a good degree of customization available so that each player's pet will be relatively unique. War lions will grow and change as their master grows in power, and will even be capable of fighting in a feral capacity if you fell his master in battle first.<br /><br />We're excited to see the last of <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com/armiesofWAR/index.php"><em>WAR's</em> careers</a> fall into place. Here's hoping we're only a few steps away from the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/german-war-box-confirms-ce-and-preorder-info/">open beta</a>!<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/white-lion-confirmed-as-final-high-elf-career/">White Lion confirmed as final High Elf career</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Wed, 28 May 2008 18:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.warhammeralliance.com/forums/showthread.php?p=862069#post862069>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/white-lion-confirmed-as-final-high-elf-career/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1208508/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/white-lion-confirmed-as-final-high-elf-career/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>breaking</category><category>ea-mythic</category><category>high-elf</category><category>high-elves</category><category>melee-dps</category><category>mythic</category><category>open-beta</category><category>pet-class</category><category>WAR</category><category>war-lion</category><category>warhammer-alliance</category><category>warhammer-online</category><category>white-lion</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Chris Chester]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 18:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The future of the MMO pet class]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-future-of-the-mmo-pet-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-future-of-the-mmo-pet-class/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-future-of-the-mmo-pet-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/neocron-2/" rel="tag">Neocron 2</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a></p><a href="http://blogs.chimpswithkeyboards.com/vanhemlock/archive/2008/04/03/1884.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/puppy.jpg" alt="" /></a>Almost every MMO has them; the typical pet class. Whether it's charming a beast of nature, raising one from the corpse of a fallen enemy or creating one from scratch, the mechanics of the pet classes are always intriguing to players. Over at <a href="http://blogs.chimpswithkeyboards.com/vanhemlock/archive/2008/04/03/1884.aspx">Van Hemlock's blog</a>, he tears down the basics of the pet class and shares his experiences with his favorites on various online games he's played through the years.<br /><br />His feature example is from <a href="http://ng.neocron.com/">10tacle Studios' <em>Neocron 2: Beyond Dome of York</em></a>. In this game, there's a <a href="http://ng.neocron.com/index.php?id=50">Rigger</a> class which enables a drone as it's pet of sorts. Van Hemlock goes on to describe exactly how this drone works and why it intrigues him so much in spite of the fact that the game is several years old, and there are so many other online games out there with similar classes.<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.virginworlds.com/pg.php?n=10080">VirginWorlds</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-future-of-the-mmo-pet-class/">The future of the MMO pet class</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://blogs.chimpswithkeyboards.com/vanhemlock/archive/2008/04/03/1884.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-future-of-the-mmo-pet-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1161982/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/08/the-future-of-the-mmo-pet-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>10tacle studios</category><category>10tacleStudios</category><category>neocron2</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pets</category><category>rigger</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[White Lions are the last career for High Elves?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/white-lions-are-the-last-career-for-high-elves/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/white-lions-are-the-last-career-for-high-elves/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/white-lions-are-the-last-career-for-high-elves/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warhammer-online/" rel="tag">Warhammer Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/races/" rel="tag">Races</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.keenandgraev.com/?p=558"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/whitelion.jpg"  alt="" /></a><br /></div>
Just a little bit of fun speculation about the last class for <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/WarhammerOnline/">Warhammer Online</a></em>'s <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/high-elves/">High Elves</a>-- GOA, the company co-publishing <em>WAR</em> in Europe, apparently put up <a href="http://www.keenandgraev.com/?p=558">this big display picture</a> at Dreamhack, and <a href="http://www.warhammeralliance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22006"><em>Warhammer</em> know-it-alls have identified</a> that High Elf on the right as a "White Lion," supposedly <a href="http://uk.games-workshop.com/highelves/miniature-gallery/13/">a career straight from the miniatures game</a>.<br /><br />Of course, we have no idea what this means-- previous speculation has called the White Lion career <a href="http://www.warhammeralliance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21920">a DPS-based pet class</a> (wielding a melee-two hander <em>and</em> fighting with pets?), and while the miniatures class looks completely different, there's no doubt that there is definitely a white lion fighting alongside the Elf in the picture above.  All of this is still just rumors, however -- we won't know what that last High Elves career is until they announced it -- but hey, at least it's a cool looking display.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/white-lions-are-the-last-career-for-high-elves/">White Lions are the last career for High Elves?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.keenandgraev.com/?p=558>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/white-lions-are-the-last-career-for-high-elves/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1053975/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/white-lions-are-the-last-career-for-high-elves/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>career</category><category>dreamhack</category><category>high-elves</category><category>miniatures</category><category>mythic</category><category>pet-class</category><category>pets</category><category>warhammer-online</category><category>white-lion</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Mike Schramm]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
