Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Warhammer Online: Three years later]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WAR
To this day, I don't know what quite came over me when I decided to throw my chips into the blogging scene to cover Warhammer Online, eight months before the game launched. Like many of you, I had been a long-time reader of MMO blogs, but I was intimidated at trying my hand at joining in, perhaps elevating these writers to the status of legendary wordsmiths who penned unequaled prose in our lifetimes.

Or I just didn't want to be one of a thousand World of Warcraft bloggers who dominated the scene. Just a thought.

In any case, it was a terrific decision to do so on my part. I found that I had a passion not only for MMOs but for talking about them, and I loved connecting with other writers and readers and players, which happens with blogging. I've been asked from time to time if I regret picking Warhammer Online as the game that I latched onto for a couple of years, and I always say no -- no regrets. The game was fun, but the coverage was an unparalleled rollercoaster of anticipation, hype, fun, speculation, promise, disappointment, and above all, ideas. Wonderful, flawed, captivating ideas.

I haven't touched WAR since 2010, so perhaps I'm not the best source for the latest and greatest in the game. But what I do have to offer is a humble blogger's perspective on what went right, what went wrong, and why I'm ultimately happy that WAR came into being and is chugging along on today, its third anniversary.

Continue reading Warhammer Online: Three years later

MassivelyWarhammer Online: Three years later originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybears-bears-bearsbetablizzardddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinedyefeaturedguild-warshypelaunchliving-citiesliving-guildslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromark-jacobsmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpublic-questsserversskavensquig-herdertabula-rasathird-anniversarythree-yearstome-of-knowledgetrinketswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 18 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online Patch 1.4.4 goes live this afternoon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/warhammer-online-patch-1-4-4-goes-live-this-afternoon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - humans
Warhammer Online's latest patch is here, and it's just in time for the fantasy title's third anniversary week. Well, technically the 1.4.4 patch isn't here yet, as the servers are still down and scheduled to rez at approximately 1:30 p.m. EDT today.

The new patch introduces the Wild Hunt live event, which allows players the chance to "test their skills tracking and slaying fierce animals, collecting sacred pelts, and sighting the elusive White Stag." There's also an opportunity to earn event influence and participate in the Curse of Kurnous public quest.

Mythic has also tweaked the RvR keep defense mechanics, introduced new vanity pet packs, and shifted the scenario lineup. Finally, you can vote for the next batch of scenarios via the Dev Discussions forum on the official WAR website.

MassivelyWarhammer Online Patch 1.4.4 goes live this afternoon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4.41.4.4-patchbioware-mythicea-mythicfantasylive-eventsmythicMythic-Entertainmentpatch-1.4.4public-questsscenariosWARwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewild-huntwild-hunt-live-eventTue, 13 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-are-rifts-in-danger-of-collapsing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Like many of you, I've been exploring RIFT's Waves of Madness event over the past couple of weeks -- and enjoying it, too. You can really see how Trion Worlds has taken some of the lessons learned from River of Souls and improved its second world event. There just seems like more to do, much more in terms of atmosphere (I love the dripping ceilings in Sanctum), I'm not feeling as rushed, and the event story is coming through loud and clear.

One of the interesting things I've noticed is that the event's daily quests have subtly shifted our focus from single-player activities to group ones. In phase one, it was all about boring solo quests: find hidden invaders, collect eggs, defeat a few underwater baddies. But just when we started to get used to (and bored from) the routine, the successive phases have moved us toward the game's dynamic content. Namely, rifts, rifts and more rifts.

I think this is brilliant, because we're now given a solid reason why we should participate in rifts above the mere rewards. I've been worried that Trion's letting its focus on dynamic content slip as it's been rushing to get other game features and endgame raids out the door, and RIFT without people playing rifts would be sadly ironic.

Today we're going to look at just how much RIFT depends on its titular feature, and what Trion should be doing to ensure that it doesn't become another nice yet abandoned idea.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing?

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Are rifts in danger of collapsing? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dynamic-contentsdynamic-eventdynamic-eventseventfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2invasioninvasionspublic-questpublic-questingpublic-questing-2.0public-questspublic-quests-2.0riftrift-planes-of-telarariftsriver-of-soulssanctumtelaratriontrion-worldsultima-onlineuowaves-of-madnessworld-eventWed, 13 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Casual gameplay and public groups]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/29/eve-evolved-casual-gameplay-and-public-groups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/29/eve-evolved-casual-gameplay-and-public-groups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/29/eve-evolved-casual-gameplay-and-public-groups/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

I've always held a belief that EVE Online isn't really at its best until I get into a good group. A lot of the most fun gameplay I've experienced over the years has been in a small group of strangers, friends or people who would soon become my friends. The year I spent in faction warfare and the two years I spent on wormhole expeditions with friends were incredibly good times that I look back on fondly. I've even found that the parts of EVE that aren't specifically intended for groups, such as exploration, mission-running, and trading, are a lot more enjoyable if I take a few friends along for the ride. There's no doubt in my mind that EVE is primarily a group game.

Two weeks ago, I talked about how EVE is more of a giant social sandbox than a game and that it's EVE's social nature that really motivates people to keep playing in the long-term. The remarkable ability of social communities in MMOs to self-organise when faced with challenges could be a massive asset to EVE's development if used well. When faction warfare was first released, for example, players rapidly organised themselves into fleets. People who had never met each other, many with no PvP experience at all, were soon practicing core fleet maneuvers together as a cohesive unit and facing off against hostile fleets. With nothing but a war declaration, some cosmic anomalies, and a few medals, EVE turned thousands of newbies into four terrifying fighting forces. That is something I'd definitely like to see repeated.

In this week's opinion-filled EVE Evolved, I delve into the world of casual gameplay and ask whether new public group activities could dramatically broaden EVE's appeal and keep gameplay fresh.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Casual gameplay and public groups

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Casual gameplay and public groups originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-gamingcasual-playersccpccp-eveccp-gamescorporationsdungeoneveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefaction-warfarefeaturedguildsmilitiaopinionpublic-groupspublic-questspvepvpraidriftriftsworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 29 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Living, breathing world': Martin Kerstein expounds on Guild Wars 2's dynamic events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/living-breathing-world-martin-kerstein-expounds-on-guild-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/living-breathing-world-martin-kerstein-expounds-on-guild-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/living-breathing-world-martin-kerstein-expounds-on-guild-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've heard the promises: No more grind. No more quests. A truly dynamic world. But can Guild Wars 2 truly live up to these lofty ideals, or will it come crashing down on us like so many other MMO promises in the past?

Speaking with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, ArenaNet's Martin Kerstein says that no, this is the real deal -- Guild Wars 2 will feature a "living, breathing world" unlike anything we've seen to date: "What we try to do with Guild Wars 2 anyway is to break a lot of the existing conventions, like by getting rid of quests and basically totally focusing on dynamic events. So you just run through the world and happen on stuff, and that stuff has an impact on the world... The good thing is those events run even if there are no players involved -- if there are no players, the enemy will take over and you'll have to get it back before you can actually do anything. That's why it feels more organic and breathing."

Shattering conventions is a favorite pastime at ArenaNet, as the company has made a public declaration that it is not afraid to go against the MMO flow. In the interview, Kerstein also addresses the cycle of dynamic events, World of Warcraft's subscriber decline ("It's an older game as well -- some people are maybe just tired," he said), and Warhammer Online's flawed Public Quest system.

Massively'Living, breathing world': Martin Kerstein expounds on Guild Wars 2's dynamic events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdynamic-eventdynamic-eventseventsgrindguild-wars-2gw2in-game-eventsliving-breathing-worldMartin-Kersteinncsoftpublic-questsquestsrock-paper-shotgunwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 18 May 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/the-daily-grind-does-vanguards-diplomacy-system-deserve-anothe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/the-daily-grind-does-vanguards-diplomacy-system-deserve-anothe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/the-daily-grind-does-vanguards-diplomacy-system-deserve-anothe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

While I've never played Vanguard, I'll admit that I've always been fascinated by the game's diplomacy system. It was rather ambitious at the time it was first announced, as the devs boasted about how they were creating a whole new "sphere" of play by turning dialogues between you and NPCs into a deep, involved minigame.

Some people loved it -- and still do -- while others ignored it entirely. In any case, Vanguard's well-known struggles to stay afloat have kept the larger MMO community from experiencing the diplomacy system, which I feel is a shame. I've always hoped that other MMO devs would take this idea and run with it, creating a "next generation" version that would work well in contemporary games, sort of how Warhammer Online's public questing was picked up and revised for games that would follow (just as WAR picked it up from Ultima Online).

So my question to you today is, does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot? Should MMO devs take a closer look at the typically skimpy interactions between characters and NPCs to see if they can be improved? Or should this system best be left alone?

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 Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diplomacydiplomacy-systemmini-gamesminigamesopinionpublic-questssigilsigil-gamessoesony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindUltima-Onlinevanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroeswarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningThu, 12 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: SmokeJumper talks GU60]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-tattered-notebook-smokejumper-talks-gu60/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-tattered-notebook-smokejumper-talks-gu60/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-tattered-notebook-smokejumper-talks-gu60/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The past week has certainly been difficult, both for Sony Online Entertainment and EverQuest II fans. The attack and the downtime has certainly been on players' minds as they wonder when the game will go live again and how much of their personal information was compromised.

But while these seem like dark days for EQII, there will be lots to look forward to in-game once things are back to normal. A few weeks ago, Senior Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson took time to answer some questions for Massively about Game Update 60, The Children of War. And he met again for a roundtable interview just before news of the attack on SOE broke.

Read on for highlights of the interview and a look at what's on the horizon once services are restored.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: SmokeJumper talks GU60

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: SmokeJumper talks GU60 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundschildren-of-warcrystal-cavernsdave-georgesondrundereq2eq2-extendedeq2xEQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iifeaturedfrozen-tundrapublic-questssmokejumpertattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookvanquishMon, 09 May 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Game improvements and a fundraiser for Japan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/the-tattered-notebook-game-improvements-and-a-fundraiser-for-ja/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/the-tattered-notebook-game-improvements-and-a-fundraiser-for-ja/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/the-tattered-notebook-game-improvements-and-a-fundraiser-for-ja/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the past week filled with PAX East and then an avalanche of PAX write-ups, I felt myself playing a bit of catch-up in EverQuest II. The playerbase is well into Velious content, so we're starting to hear lots of feedback and see lots of fine-tuning. With two updates this past week and Game Update 60 right around the corner, it's time to do a little spot check on what's going on in EverQuest II.

Read on for a closer look at changes to public quests, primal velium shards, and a new daily shard quest. Also, find out how you can help with Japan disaster relief through a new in-game fundraiser.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Game improvements and a fundraiser for Japan

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Game improvements and a fundraiser for Japan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystalline-breaksdaily-shard-questeqeq-iieq2eq2xeqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedfeaturedjapan-disaster-reliefjapan-earthquakememory-of-springmoonlight-enchantmentspublic-questsSOESony-Online-EntertainmentMon, 21 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Week one in Velious]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/the-tattered-notebook-week-one-in-velious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/the-tattered-notebook-week-one-in-velious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/the-tattered-notebook-week-one-in-velious/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been a very busy week since EverQuest II's Destiny of Velious launched! Despite a few server issues, the launch seemed to go smoothly, and there were plenty of players running around in otter illusion form by the end of the first day.

I happily welcomed the return of the Kael Giants, the Coldain Dwarves, and even the Tizmak! After battling the void for so long, I found them to be a refreshing change. In this first week, I set out to raise and train my flying griffon mount and began to tackle the new content. Read on for highlights of my past week, including public quests, my stubborn baby griffon, and a mysterious guide quest involving Kael Drakkel.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Week one in Velious

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Week one in Velious originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coldaincoldain-ringdestiny-of-veliousdovEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iiexpansionfeaturedflying-mountflying-mountskael-drakkelpublic-questsveliousMon, 28 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: What will Velious bring?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-tattered-notebook-what-will-velious-bring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-tattered-notebook-what-will-velious-bring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-tattered-notebook-what-will-velious-bring/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's been a long wait, but tomorrow, EverQuest II players will finally get to explore the frozen continent of Velious. Longtime players, including me, worried that the expansion would not pay tribute to the features that made the original Scars of Velious so popular. The official site isn't very reassuring, either, as it's dominated by announcements of appearance gear and marketing promotions. Veteran players are left feeling like the Wendy's lady, pointedly asking, "Where's the beef?"

With the arrival of launch day, what will the Destiny of Velious expansion bring to players? Is there more to this expansion than flying mounts and cute othmir illusions? Read on to see what players might expect to see.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: What will Velious bring?

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: What will Velious bring? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destiny-of-veliousdoveqEQ2eq2xEQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iifeaturedkael-drakkelkingdom-of-skykunarklodizalothmirpublic-questssentinels-fatethe-shadow-odysseytower-of-frozen-shadowveliousvelketorMon, 21 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter At Your Own Rift: Dispelling the WoWhammer myth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-dispelling-the-wowhammer-myth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-dispelling-the-wowhammer-myth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/enter-at-your-own-rift-dispelling-the-wowhammer-myth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you've participated in RIFT's beta events at all, you're probably wishing you had a nickel for every time you heard a player claim that RIFT is just like World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online -- WAR because of the comparison of rifts to public quests, and WoW mainly because it's the gold standard of MMOs today. Last week, my colleague Justin gave a great argument as to why the familiar isn't necessarily a bad thing. But while RIFT does have several familiar features, it manages in several ways to set itself apart from the pack.

This week, I'm going to tackle the argument that RIFT is just like WoW and Warhammer Online. Join me for a look at what makes this game stand out from the crowd, and see why it's time to dispel the WoWhammer myth.

Continue reading Enter At Your Own Rift: Dispelling the WoWhammer myth

MassivelyEnter At Your Own Rift: Dispelling the WoWhammer myth originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cindy-bowensenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedmythspublic-questsRIFTrift-invasionsrift-planes-of-telaraRift-podcastscott-hartsmansoulsoul-systemSoulsTelaraTriontrion-worldswarWarhammer-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftwowwowhammerWed, 09 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: More on flying mounts, public quests, and prestige homes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/the-tattered-notebook-more-on-flying-mounts-public-quests-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/the-tattered-notebook-more-on-flying-mounts-public-quests-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/the-tattered-notebook-more-on-flying-mounts-public-quests-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


SOE has been slowly getting new information out about Destiny of Velious. As part of an ongoing promotion to showcase the upcoming expansion, Senior Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson and Greg "Rothgar" Spence took part in the second installment of the Destiny of Velious webcast. They took the opportunity to elaborate on topics from the first show and also revealed some exciting new features. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at the highlights of last Friday's webcast. Read on to hear more about flying mounts, prestige housing, and public quests.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: More on flying mounts, public quests, and prestige homes

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: More on flying mounts, public quests, and prestige homes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dave-Georgesondestiny-of-veliousEQ2eq2xEQIIeqII-mobile-appErollisi-DayEverQuest-2everquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedexpansionflying-mountsfreebloodGreg-Spencemarketplaceothmirprestige-homespublic-questsrothgarsmokejumpersoeSony-Online-EntertainmentveliousMon, 07 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Highlights from the Destiny of Velious webcast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/the-tattered-notebook-highlights-from-the-destiny-of-velious-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/the-tattered-notebook-highlights-from-the-destiny-of-velious-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/the-tattered-notebook-highlights-from-the-destiny-of-velious-we/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With Destiny of Velious just around the corner, the team at SOE has announced a webcast schedule to provide details about the upcoming expansion and answer player questions. The first one was this past Friday and was attended by Senior Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson and Siliam "Silius" Grant, whom Vanguard fans might recognize. While the show was brief, the duo did touch on many different areas -- from itemization to raids and even to the addition of new public quests. Read on for highlights from the first Velious question-and-answer session.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Highlights from the Destiny of Velious webcast

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Highlights from the Destiny of Velious webcast originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betadave-georgesondestiny-of-veliousdoveqEQ2EQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iiexpansionskael-drakkellodizalothmirpublic-questsrallos-zeksentinels-fatesilium-grantsiliussmokejumpersoetower-of-frozen-shadowveliousvelketorWarhammer-OnlineWebcastwebcastingMon, 31 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telaras-dynamic-conte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just a few weeks ago, I was invited to attend Trion Worlds' Gamer's Day in San Francisco to get some hands-on time with a couple of the company's upcoming titles, including Rift: Planes of Telara. If Rift seems to have come out of nowhere, that might be due both to the acquisition of EverQuest II veteran Scott Hartsman to head the project as executive producer, and to a clever name change meant to reflect the team's shift in development focus.

In fact, that shift in development focus is precisely what I was at Trion's studio to test -- I got to check out the Rifts themselves in all their glory, in the context of the greater dynamic content system that the developers are so excited about. Massively's writers have been able to play and report on character creation and the starting areas of Rift several times over the last year or so, including earlier this summer at E3. But until today's embargo lift (coinciding with the reveal at Gamescom), no one had quite seen the fabled planar invasions and takeovers in action.

Now we have.

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content

MassivelyMassively's hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara's dynamic content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementAchievementsaddonsalphaalpha-testbattlegroundsbuildscallingCapture-the-flagcharacter-creationcharge-barclericclunkcollectionCollectionscraftingdefiantDemodynamic-contentEarth-Elementalelementalistepic-mountfeaturedfootholdfootholdsgallerygloamwoodgraphicsgroupgroupinggroupsguardianhealershealinghell-levelsheroes-of-telaraholy-city-of-sanctuminstanceinstancesinterfaceinvasionjumpingjust-say-no-to-hell-levelslootmapmapsminimapmodsp2ppay-to-playpetsphilosophyplaneplanesplanes-of-telarapublic-questspvpquestingrealm-of-the-faerespecresurrectionriftrift-planes-of-telarariftsscott-hartsmanscreenshotsshadowlandssoul-walkSteamPunkstrategerystrategysubscriptionswimmingtalent-treestalentstavril-plazatelaratrailertriontrion-worldsUIvideowarfrontwarfrontsWed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XI walks the Walk of Echoes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/final-fantasy-xi-walks-the-walk-of-echoes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/final-fantasy-xi-walks-the-walk-of-echoes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/final-fantasy-xi-walks-the-walk-of-echoes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Amidst all the changes coming with the June version update for Final Fantasy XI, players will finally be able to explore some of the Walk of Echoes. One of the most iconic and surreal parts of the Wings of the Goddess expansion, this region has only been visited in cutscenes up until now. This would be welcome in and of itself, but the implementation of the area is unique, a mixture of special battlefields and the Campaign battles. To start, players must be at least level 70 and have progressed to the "Cait Sith" mission in Wings of the Goddess. A moogle takes on the role of your transport to the timeless region, wherein adventurers will find several portals to battlefields.

Once within a battlefield, players will be subject to a time limit to face off against several enemies, with no limitations on new players entering the battlefield and engaging the monsters. The loot system is poised to work similarly to Warhammer Online's Public Quests, with all participants having a shot at rewards and the highest contributors getting bonuses. Final Fantasy XI players only have a couple days left before they can take part in the new content, but there's still time to familiarize yourself with this strange new region.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI walks the Walk of Echoes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waging WAR moves a step backward this week to take a fresh look at the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning new player experience. Greg gives us his take on what he thinks we can expect from the Endless Trial or a Re-enlistment subscription with a new character. He takes us through his experience over a few casual days of play and tells us about the leveling process, scenarios, RvR, twinking and more.

Lately, I have spent quite a bit of my time on my rank 40/70 Archmage, focusing on emblem collection and participating in the newly formatted Tier 4 city sieges. Earlier this week, as I considered topics for this weekend's column, I realized that it had been a while since I had experienced the low-level content. Conveniently enough, I was just starting to suffer a bit from healer's burn-out (thanklessly healing day after day can wear a person down), and decided I would take a break and tool around on a lowbie for some fresh kicks and giggles.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Revisiting the new player experience

MassivelyWaging WAR: Revisiting the new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archmagecommunityEAea-mythichunters-valemythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentnew-player-experiencenordlandpublic-questsrvrrvr-city-siegesscenariostier-1twinktwinkingtwinkswaging-warWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-Onlinewarhammer-online-eawitch-elfSat, 12 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Further details on Warhammer Online's new user journey]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/further-details-on-warhammer-onlines-new-user-journey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/further-details-on-warhammer-onlines-new-user-journey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/07/further-details-on-warhammer-onlines-new-user-journey/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


One of the features that's been mentioned repeatedly in conjunction with Warhammer Online's upcoming patch 1.3.2 is the New User Journey, an attempt to streamline and consolidate the path of new players. The most recent developer diary outlines in detail the reasons for the revamp as well as the new path of the game's experience, which the article mentions is designed to help the entire playerbase in the long run.

Highlighting the need for accessibility, the entry discusses the change to all players starting in the same location, explaining how it can help ensure other players in the area for the game's public quests. It also allows for the early questing experience to be more thoroughly revamped and improved, with all of the players starting out funneled through a single area. The original starting areas will still be available for players who want to explore them, but will no longer be mandatory.

The diary also points out some of the other new features added, including detailed tutorial windows to help introduce concepts in-play as well as an improvement to pop-up tooltips. Combined with global chat channels to help bolster the community, the focus is clearly on getting players unified and up to speed in the most efficient way possible, helping to diminish the barrier to entry. Take a look at the full article for more in-depth features including a closer look at the tutorial window.

MassivelyFurther details on Warhammer Online's new user journey originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Another lovely day begins for ghosts and ghouls with greenish skin, so close your eyes and you will find that you've arrived in Frightenstein!" With Halloween a few short weeks away, Mythic just treated us to a sneak peek of their upcoming Chaos-themed Live Event called Daemon Moon Rising. If you thought they were going to simply dust off last year's Halloween event, Witching Night, the trick's on you! Okay; no more lame puns, we promise.

Warhammer Online's monthly events are something to behold because they're usually done very well and bring some diversity to the otherwise singular purpose of stomping your enemy on the battlefield. We think Live Events are the epitome of horizontal expansion.

From October 23 to November 2, players will put on a number of spooky masks that grant special abilities and complete their event checklists. Of special note is the Daemonball Rally RvR public quest. Think of it as rugby... with decapitation. They're also opening up the Highpass Cemetary scenario to all tiers. You can check out the official video podcast here with all the (pumpkin) spicy details. Oops, we couldn't resist!

MassivelyThe Daemon Moon rises over WAR originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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During one of the many speeches being given at the Austin Game Developers Conference, Jeff Hickman, producer of Warhammer Online, spoke candidly on what he thought were WAR's failures and where Mythic could have done better. While Hickman has cited more than a few reasons WAR has been caught in the mire, the central theme to all of them is the ease of PvE gameplay and a game that doesn't inspire social interactions.

Hickman points out that they wanted the game to include a full battery of social features, including open groups, public quests, and other grouping tools, but they failed to design the game itself to encourage grouping. Part of this lies in the player versus environment quests where the gameplay was too easy and players didn't have a reason to group up.

Continue reading AGDC09: Jeff Hickman speaks on WAR's shortcomings

MassivelyAGDC09: Jeff Hickman speaks on WAR's shortcomings originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdcagdc-2009failuresjeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-partiespublic-questsshortcomingswarwarhammer-onlineThu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City siege improvements featured in WAR 1.3.1 patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/city-siege-improvements-featured-in-war-1-3-1-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/city-siege-improvements-featured-in-war-1-3-1-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/city-siege-improvements-featured-in-war-1-3-1-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's no secret that Warhammer Online's tier four endgame and city siege specifically are a bit lackluster. Mythic has admitted this by ranking it third place in their list of five key goals for the game's improvement. Well, just over a month after announcing endgame improvement as one of their top priorities, the studio is testing out new city siege mechanics and they sound quite interesting.

One of the biggest issues players currently have with city siege is that it features way too much PvE and not enough PvP (or in WAR's case, RvR). Patch 1.3.1 is introducing several improvements in this area. Sieged cities now have three states: Contested, captured, and rebuilding. Attackers and defenders will be present and battling it out in each state and the contested state public quests will benefit from a new design. Warlord encounters are now instanced and balanced for 24 players, allowing multiple groups to participate. Finally, there will be a number of siege UI improvements allowing you to keep better track of your realm's progress.

Nearly every area of the game is being touched in some way by the 1.31 patch. Take a look at the comprehensive patch notes on the Warhammer Herald to observe their true breadth and feel free to give them a try on the public test server.

MassivelyCity siege improvements featured in WAR 1.3.1 patch originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How long does it take to put together your average live event?

We usually take about three to six weeks for brainstorming and conception. Then there's the approval process, where I send the ideas to my boss, who sends them to "The Hickman," who sends them upstairs, who sends that to Games Workshop to make sure we're staying true to their concepts. Plus we have to coordinate with all of the other departments, like RvR, the items team, and Combat and Careers.

Then the production side takes another three weeks to maybe seven weeks on top of that. We'll be planning and producing the event usually the version before the live event is scheduled to take place, otherwise it would never be done in time. Then after that we'll have the playtesting and the QA sessions to make sure the bugs are worked out, and that takes another week to two weeks.

So, in short, you're looking at three months of work from inception to the final event.

And these aren't available on the test server, right?

Well... they're not suppose to be available on the test server. They're suppose to be hidden.. *smiles* But we have little breaks where the live events show up on the test server for a couple seconds.

"Just the sheer joy these events provide players should be reason enough for another developer [to make them.]"
It amazes me because in that short period of time when the live event is available, somebody will screenshot all of the objectives for all of the quests and then have that up on the internet before we can get the live event down. We try our best, but it always seems to slip out for a matter of seconds.

We want to be secretive and we want players to have a sense of discovery with our live events, plus they really can't be tested publically in such a short window. Live events focus on the whole world, and getting testing and feedback done is not all that useful to us.

What's your favorite part about the most recent live event?

From a developer's perspective, it was the opening cinematic to the RvR public quests. We did a custom cinematic with an airship flying in and exploding which results in the start of the RvR PQs. That was surely my favorite part, it was glorious!

From a player's perspective, it was the RvR that occured because of the live event. We created a center point for RvR in the event in Thunder Mountain. There were a number of different tasks that centered on this one area and that area was a hot spot for RvR the whole week. From the warcamp landing to the hot spot, the travel time was only about 3 minutes, but people in my warband would be killing others the entire way there. Thunder Mountain was locked most of the time when I was fighting in this event, but the RvR was just hot all the time. Whenever I was looking for a fight, I just went to Thunder Mountain because I knew it would be there.

We had warbands coming in and attempting to camp the area, but they could only hold it for a small amount of time before another warband came in to unseat them. It was a lot of fun.

Many other developers don't bother with live events. Plus when they give out exclusive items, they always seem to show up later and become unexclusive. So what would you say to another developer who was thinking of doing these exclusive live events?

Just look at the metrics. For our game we get more gameplay, more people in the game, and a lot of positive feedback. These events are only a limited time, so players come in and play and the realize all of the possiblities our game has to offer in that limited time. Just the sheer joy these events provide players should be reason enough for another developer.

"Live events gets to take all of that great stuff and put it all together into this nice package of fun."
We even see all of this in the cold metrics. Look server population the day of the event and the day after the event, and the event population will be higher.

Every game has its niche. For Warhammer, it's the RvR, the public quests, the living guilds, the city sieges. You hear us harp on this stuff over and over, because it's what we do. Live events gets to take all of that great stuff and put it all together into this nice package of fun. We bring to the front what we do the best through our live events.

We've got events planned for the rest of the year. We just put up the Northern Watch weekend event, and it was immensely successful. There was only a title offered as the reward, and it was easily one of the most successful events we've done.

Any sneak peeks you can give us as to what's coming?

Ah... well I can't really say anything because we need to go through all of that long approval process first, but the live event in the summer is going to be doing something that I don't think any MMO has done before. Ever. It's that level of magnitude for that event. We're going to challenge what people have come to expect out of our live events, I will say that much.

Ha ha, sweet! Ok then, let's end it out. Order or Destruction?

Order all the way. Engineer, baby! I feel like the combat and careers guys made that class for me. You blow stuff up, you shoot people, you have explosions! What could be better?
The sands of the Tomb Kings are coming as the final release in the Call to Arms live expansion, the Land of the Dead approaches! Massively has your back with coverage from Mythic Entertainment at Games Day '09, so get your WAAGGGHHH ready for RvR mayhem as Massively re-arms for WAR!

MassivelyGames Day '09: All about Warhammer Online's live events with Mark Davis pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Davis knows Warhammer Online's live events well. He should, because he's the man behind them! During Games Day '09, we had the chance to catch up with the live events lead and discuss some shop talk with him -- including a look at the newest live event, "Rise of the Tomb Kings," and a little about what goes on behind the scenes.

How long does it take for a live event to be produced? What are some of Mark's favorite moments? What can we expect in the live events to come? And, most importantly, what are we going to find in the Rise of the Tomb Kings? All of these questions, and more, are answered within!

Continue reading Games Day '09: All about Warhammer Online's live events with Mark Davis

MassivelyGames Day '09: All about Warhammer Online's live events with Mark Davis originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get caught in one of the clouds and you'll find yourself teleported to the bottom of one of the nearby tombs, stuck in a sarcophagus, and taking damage from the curse. Your friends can't get into the tombs due to barriers that are placed over the doors, turning this into a race to get out of the tomb before you die. These moments were filled with frantic cheers and laughter as we all danced around trying to avoid the dust clouds, accompanied by laughs of anguish as people would get caught and stuck inside of the tomb.

Overall, the PQs are really enjoyable and a nice step away from "kill, rinse, repeat." Even if they involve killing monsters, there's usually some sort of trick to the PQ that makes it into a very active experience, rather than a strict button mashing period. Plus if that last boss battle sounded crazy, think of how it could go when the zone flips sides and the enemy begins running in. Now you have a boss, enemy players, and dust clouds. Fights in the tombs while curse is in effect, anyone? Luring enemies to stand in the way of dust clouds?

Eventually though, we were taken away from the PQs and had the chance to step into the Tomb of the Vulure Lord itself -- testing our mettle against the various traps. The first one that stood in our way was a hallway filled with swinging pendulum blades.

These blades were stacked very close together, with little room between them to stand without getting yourself sliced in half. One hit kills you, so don't try running through aimlessly because it's not going to end well. This trap is all about timing, placement, and pattern recognition -- a classic console adventure trap. What I liked the most about these traps was that they don't require the whole party to make it. Three people is all you need out of your group of six, and dying in the dungeon will just respawn you at the entrance (as long as you maintain control, of course.)

"It's very different, and it's alot of fun."
Eventually making it past that trap gave us access to the Terracotta Army hall -- a room filled with terracotta statues of soldiers and chariots. The whole room could be categorized under "things that never end well" because, as you would expect, walking next to some statues causes them to come to life. This whole encounter is a hybrid PQ/boss battle, as killing enough soldiers will awaken the final boss of the room, an angry skeleton who switches between different stances while you do battle with him.

Overall, I have to admit, I wasn't expecting this. I was expecting an area and a dungeon filled with standard MMO trappings of trash mob pulls, boring grindfests, and RvR mixed in with all of that. What I got was a very carefully crafted zone that caters to all types of MMO players and merges PvP content with PvE content in a really inventive fashion. Even the Tomb of the Vulture Lord doesn't feel like a traditional MMO dungeon. It's an adventure through a tomb rather than a series of trash pulls with scary bosses. It tells a story and immerses you rather than just throwing themed encounters at you. Sure, this mystique will wear off over time, but I don't see this dungeon becoming something like other MMO dungeons. It's very different, and it's alot of fun. Land of the Dead is totally something you need to experience.
The sands of the Tomb Kings are coming as the final release in the Call to Arms live expansion, the Land of the Dead approaches! Massively has your back with coverage from Mythic Entertainment at Games Day '09, so get your WAAGGGHHH ready for RvR mayhem as Massively re-arms for WAR!

MassivelyGames Day '09: Our impressions of Warhammer's Land of the Dead pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-to-armsdarkness-fallsgames-daygames-day-2009games-workshophands-onimpressionsland-of-the-deadmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionpqspublic-questspvepvprealm-vs-realmrvrtomb-of-the-vulture-lordwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 11 May 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Games Day '09: Our impressions of Warhammer's Land of the Dead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/games-day-09-our-impressions-of-warhammers-land-of-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/games-day-09-our-impressions-of-warhammers-land-of-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/games-day-09-our-impressions-of-warhammers-land-of-the-dead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


So we've been over the cold, unfeeling facts about Land of the Dead. It's big, it's a throwback zone to action RPGs, it has RvR and PvE, and it's filled with mummies. But you don't want the facts, right? You want to know how it plays and you want to know if it's worth your time to pick up Warhammer or resubscribe to the game.

During my time at Games Day, I got the chance to participate in a bunch of the PQs in the new zone and try out a few areas of the Tomb of the Vulture Lord, the capstone dungeon of the whole experience. I got to be shanked by swinging blades, pierced by surprise dart traps, and I even got to wear the Sovereign armor set, the pinnacle armor of the game. (Yes, it looks completely badass.)

Continue reading Games Day '09: Our impressions of Warhammer's Land of the Dead

MassivelyGames Day '09: Our impressions of Warhammer's Land of the Dead originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-to-armsdarkness-fallsfeaturedgames-daygames-day-2009games-workshophands-onimpressionsjoystiqfeaturesland-of-the-deadmythic-entertainmentopinionpqspublic-questspvepvprealm-vs-realmrvrtomb-of-the-vulture-lordwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 11 May 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online to incorporate Warhammer's public quests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/champions-online-to-incorporate-warhammers-public-quests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/champions-online-to-incorporate-warhammers-public-quests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/champions-online-to-incorporate-warhammers-public-quests/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


One of the biggest innovations Warhammer Online brought to the MMO industry was easily its Public Quest system. The ability to share a big heroic encounter with a group of friends or even strangers is tons of fun, although without other people PQs suffer from an acute case of boringmentia. But that hasn't stopped Cryptic from applying their own version of the concept in Champions Online, according to an interview between Cryptic's Bill Roper and MMORPG.com from GDC 2009.

And who could blame them? The basic idea behind Public Quests is very solid, it's primarily the implementation that seemed to be off in Warhammer Online. A key point is the amount of PQs in the game. If Champions Online doesn't go overkill with them, then the lack of people conundrum may not arise. Beyond that, many other problems such as scalability and equipment progression could cease to be issues -- less is more, basically.

For Mythic, making the earlier PQs more solo friendly seems to have helped alleviate the problem. But considering that these quests are supposed to be public, that approach really does feel like a band-aid rather than a solution. It really could simply be that too many of the admittedly fun encounters in too close a proximity is just a bad idea.

MassivelyChampions Online to incorporate Warhammer's public quests originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataribill-roperchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studioseaelectronic-artsmythicmythic-entertainmentpublic-questswarwarhammer-onlineTue, 31 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Checking in with Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/the-digital-continuum-checking-in-with-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/the-digital-continuum-checking-in-with-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/the-digital-continuum-checking-in-with-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's been a while since Warhammer Online was released and in that time we've seen a lot of crazy stuff happen. Namely, Wrath of the Lich King launched, became the fastest selling PC game of all time and rocketed World of Warcraft into an even high number of subscriptions. And with everyone spending the last couple of months in Azeroth -- myself included, admittedly -- I felt it was about time to hang up my Death Knight armor, grab a halberd and run around as a crazed Dark Elf wearing way too many spikes and blades for his own good.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Checking in with Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Checking in with Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The latest edition of Warhammer Online's Grab Bag feature is up, and as well as a question-and-answer segment, we are treated to the first part of a feature on PvE dungeons, written by content developer Gary Astelford. A couple of the questions are directed at Open RvR; we're told to keep an eye out for some changes that will "make zone control more intuitive and rewarding" in the future. The new Easy PQ system is also asked about, and we learn that although the influence bonus for getting to the next stage of a PQ will be less (past Stage 2), all other influence gains are the same as a normal PQ. Oh, and those fancy statues that the top players have built in their honor to reflect the leaderboards? Expect enemies to be able to smash them down if the city becomes contested.

The dungeon feature looks at four different instances, two for lower levels and two for the level 40s. The dungeon entrances are pointed out, and their theme and lore are discussed -- it's in no way spoilerific, and is meant merely to entice players to visit and discover more for themselves. Part 1 of the feature includes the Altdorf Sewers, the Sacellum, Bilerot Burrows and Sigmar's Crypt.

MassivelyWAR Grab Bag No. 6: oRvR, Easy PQs, and dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the first and often touted systems being developed by Mythic for Warhammer Online was contribution. Anyone who's played a through a few Public Quests or Keep captures knows the contribution system is supposed to monitor how everyone plays and then dole out a proper score before a dice roll is applied to give it all a twinge of randomness. Well, a post over at Wizards & Wenches claims that they've discovered the secret formula to contribution: it doesn't exist.

The claim -- which has discussions threads at forums, along with screenshots -- is that when a player enters a zone, they are given a dice roll that applies to them until they leave the zone or log out. This means that a player who gets first will continue to do so, no matter what, until another player with a higher roll comes along.

Continue reading Warhammer Online community claims contribution system a sham

MassivelyWarhammer Online community claims contribution system a sham originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contributionkeepsmythicmythic-entertainmentpqpublic-questswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewizards-and-wenchesMon, 24 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR hotfix patch cleans up quests and PQs, hides EULA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/war-hotfix-patch-cleans-up-quests-and-pqs-hides-eula/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/war-hotfix-patch-cleans-up-quests-and-pqs-hides-eula/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/war-hotfix-patch-cleans-up-quests-and-pqs-hides-eula/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Following the release of patch 1.0.5, a further update to Warhammer Online has addressed a large number of bugs in various quests and PQs, the full list of which can be found in the hot fix patch notes. A handful of RVR-related problems were also quashed, most notably the lack of Healer NPCs in Kadrin Valley warcamp, and some missing set items in Tier 3 Gold Keep bags.

Further tinkering with client performance and stability made it into this hot fix as well, with a focus on "periods of intense combat" -- we'll have to see how that one pans out. However, arguably the best part of the patch is one of the simplest changes -- WAR's EULA will now only need to be agreed to when changes are made to it. Joy! It's the little things in life that make us happy.

MassivelyWAR hotfix patch cleans up quests and PQs, hides EULA originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaea-mythicelectronic-artsend-user-license-agreementeulahot-fixhotfixmythicpatchpqspublic-questsquestswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineFri, 21 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Guide to Warhammer's Witching Night]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/massivelys-war-camp-witching-night-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/massivelys-war-camp-witching-night-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/massivelys-war-camp-witching-night-08/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With the introduction of Patch 1.0.4, Witching Night has hit Warhammer Online. This is the first seasonal event the game has seen since its launch in September, and Mythic are doing their part to keep up with the whole "MMO holiday" thing that is so popular across many games. Participating in the events of Witching Night gives you a chance to get your hands on a number of rewards, including masks, cloaks and titles.

Although the special PQs have some irritating aspects (detailed in our guide), you'll still probably find yourself coming out to see what all the fuss is about. We've made a gallery guide of all that Witching Night has to offer, so click on the button below to find out all there is to know, before the event ends on November the 2nd!

Gallery: Warhammer Online: WAR Camp Series

Capturing and defending keepsIt all starts in Tier 2The bottom floorThe Keep LordKeep architecture
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyMassively's Guide to Warhammer's Witching Night originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloakseaea-mythicfeaturedmasksmassivelys-war-campmythicpqspublic-questswarwar-patch-1.0.4warhammerwarhammer-onlinewitching-nightThu, 30 Oct 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's first city siege: The king is dead. Long live the king.]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/wars-first-city-siege-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


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

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

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

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altdorfbugscity-siegedestructioneaea-mythicelectronic-artsemperor-karl-franzendgamefantasygame-mechanicsguildskarl-franzmythic-entertainmentorderpqpublic-questspvpsiegewarwarhammer-onlineSun, 05 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: WAR's secret PvP sauce]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/20/the-digital-continuum-wars-secret-pvp-sauce/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/20/the-digital-continuum-wars-secret-pvp-sauce/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/20/the-digital-continuum-wars-secret-pvp-sauce/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Before the game's launch day came, a lot of people found themselves thinking there was a stigma that came with Warhammer Online. There was a concern that you couldn't play the game without having to participate in PvP or that the PvE content assumed a much smaller role within the game. People were just plain scared/worried/concerned about PvP in general. Today when I log in I'll find countless strangers and friends all participating in some form of PvP content during their play session. So just what is Mythic's apparently potent secret sauce?

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: WAR's secret PvP sauce

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: WAR's secret PvP sauce originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmythicmythic-entertainmentopen-worldpublic-questspvpscenariossecret-saucewarwarhammer-onlineSat, 20 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: The calm before the WAR storm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/the-digital-continuum-the-calm-before-the-war-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/the-digital-continuum-the-calm-before-the-war-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/the-digital-continuum-the-calm-before-the-war-storm/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Do you know where your developers are tonight? Chances are the guys and gals over at Mythic Entertainment are busy scrambling to triple-check everything for the second time today. Meanwhile, the rest of us are awaiting one of three "launch" days with bated breath. Many of you are probably waiting for Tuesday, when the general pre-orders get to join the head start. However for a lot of players day one is coming tomorrow. So on the eve of "Hurricane WAR" approaching, I felt like going over some random bits about the game before it's no longer a beta and instead a newly launched MMORPG.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: The calm before the WAR storm

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: The calm before the WAR storm originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dark-elveseaelectronic-artsfeaturedgreenskinsjoystiqfeaturesmythicmythic-entertainmentorcpublic-questsroleplayserverserversswedish-fishtavernsthe-digital-continuumwarwarhammer-onlineSat, 13 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's Public Quests get called anti-social]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/wars-public-quests-get-called-anti-social/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/wars-public-quests-get-called-anti-social/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/11/wars-public-quests-get-called-anti-social/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Ryan Shwayder has posted a short rant on why he feels Warhammer Online's Public Quests are anti-social. His reasoning behind the claim comes down to the notion that because players can be jerks, they'll always act the role. We're apt to not subscribe to the idea that everyone online become dissenting human beings, because if that were true than every MMO's social aspects -- which is all of them -- wouldn't ever work.

We're not saying that PQs are perfect, but they're hardly breeding grounds for total infantile behavior. These are a new form of PvE and they're going to take some time for Mythic to work out the kinks. We're also inclined to mention that nobody wants to play with people who take every chance they get to screw someone over. Even with anonymity in play, people will still remember someone who was going out of their way to be a real pain in the neck.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWAR's Public Quests get called anti-social originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mythicmythic-entertainmentneftbatpublic-questsryan-shwaydersocialwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 11 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Terra Nova looks back (and forward) at the Diku legacy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/terra-nova-looks-back-and-forward-at-the-diku-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/terra-nova-looks-back-and-forward-at-the-diku-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/terra-nova-looks-back-and-forward-at-the-diku-legacy/#commentsFiled under: , ,


EverQuest, World of Warcraft, The Lord of the Rings Online, Age of Conan, Warhammer Online and many other MMOs all have one important thing in common. Well, okay; they have a lot of things in common -- like about 85% or more of their gameplay mechanics. But the main thing -- indeed, the reason why they have so much in common -- is that they are all descendants of a kind of text MUD game called Diku.

Acknowledging that, virtual worlds blog Terra Nova published a "State of the Diku" article for the year 2008. The article was written by Timothy Burke. It's mostly a dispassionate look at game design -- serious business. Burke starts out questioning the purpose of "vendor trash" drops (or grey items as they're generally known in many popular contemporary MMOs). Then he analyzes the public quests of Warhammer Online, viewing them as a positive variation on traditional Diku design.

If you're into thnking critically about MMO design, it's worth checking out. We take for granted the fact that most of today's MMOs are based on the Diku formula; maybe that means we're clinging to old ideas that don't make a lot of sense in today's world.

MassivelyTerra Nova looks back (and forward) at the Diku legacy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conandesigndikudiku-muddropsgreyhistoryitemsjunklord-of-the-rings-onlinemudpublic-questsstate-of-the-dikuterra-novatheorytimothy-burkevendor-trashwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftSat, 30 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes to WAR round-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/massively-goes-to-war-round-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Our long-running Massively goes to WAR series comes to an end with the lifting of the NDA. Our visit to Mythic Entertainment's offices back in May, along with additional information we've picked up along the way, has all been wrapped comfortably under this banner for your enjoyment. We'll have loads to talk about in the coming weeks, but for now enjoy this look back on our pre-NDA lift exploration of Warhammer's world.
E308: Warhammer Online is pretty much done
We had a chance to chat today with Josh Drescher and Adam Gershowitz, two of the leading lights behind EA Mythic's Warhammer Online. Even just two months after our huge Massively goes to WAR series, there were new elements to view and discuss.
Comic-Con 08: Hands-on with Warhammer Online
Last week at Comic-Con in San Diego, I sat down with Warhammer Online producer Jeff Skalski and got my hands on the beta for the first time. I could go in-depth on all the new features and functions of the game, but our own Michael Zenke beat me to the punch on that one. Instead I want to give my impressions of the game from the perspective of a long-time MMOG player with little time to play these days and even less interest in PvP.
E308: Exploring an improved Inevitable City in Warhammer Online
Last week we got the chance to see an updated version of the capital, and learned about what the extra time removing the other capitals has netted the Mythic Entertainment development team. Read on to hear Adam Gershowitz talk about city improvements, the endgame reward cycle, and how the two-cities structure has focused the player experience.
E308: Warhammer's designers explain the career/city removal
Careers lead Adam Gershowitz and Associate Producer Josh Drescher were instrumental in making our Massively goes to WAR series a success. Our lengthy discussion with the two Warhammer Online designers resulted in our in-depth analysis of (at that point) every class slated for the game.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out all of our previous Warhammer Online features, and don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading Massively goes to WAR round-up

MassivelyMassively goes to WAR round-up originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classescraftingfeaturedmassively-goes-to-warpublic-questspvprvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 19 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Elves of WAR: Dark Elf Chapter I Public Quest, Spires of Narthain]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-dark-elf-chapter-i-public-quest-spires-of-nar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-dark-elf-chapter-i-public-quest-spires-of-nar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/15/the-elves-of-war-dark-elf-chapter-i-public-quest-spires-of-nar/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The first Public Quest (PQ) we came across while playing our Dark Elves was a very cool experience, especially considering that this is only the first of many PQs. We suppose it's in Mythic's best interest to -- pardon the term -- wow players early and often and the Spires of Narthain PQ does exactly that. Around level four or five, you'll be headed to the area your map has conveniently indicated for you to complete some quests. Suddenly, an objective indicator will show up in the upper-right portion of your screen. What's this? Well, you've arrived at the Spires of Narthain, the last bastion of High Elf defense in this area. Get ready for some action.

Continue reading The Elves of WAR: Dark Elf Chapter I Public Quest, Spires of Narthain

MassivelyThe Elves of WAR: Dark Elf Chapter I Public Quest, Spires of Narthain originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dark-elvesdrakeeaelectronic-artselves-of-warjoystiqfeaturesmassively-goes-to-warmythicmythic-entertainmentpublic-questswarwarhammer-onlineFri, 15 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Elves of WAR: Level 1-5 quests for High Elves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/the-elves-of-war-level-1-5-quests-for-high-elves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/the-elves-of-war-level-1-5-quests-for-high-elves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/the-elves-of-war-level-1-5-quests-for-high-elves/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


Massively's exclusive coverage of the Elves of WAR continues with a look at the first five levels in the Warhammer Online for High Elves. Whether you roll an Archmage, Shadow Warrior, Swordmaster or White Lion, your High Elf will follow the same quest line, unless you fly to one of the other racial starting areas. Either way, prepare to have it out with Dark Elves from the get go.

Upon creating your High Elf you start the game in the outpost of Moonrise on the Blighted Isle. You'll have some basic abilities/spells already slotted in your hotbar. There is only one quest giver in the outpost, Silvshara Greywind. She gives a kill quest for six Dark Sprites in the forest, then five Dark Elf Infiltrators.

After completing the kill quests, your High Elf will be level two and be able to train in a new spell/ability by talking to the NPC with the bullseye over their head. If you don't have enough cash, you can kill a few more Dark Elves in the forest for coin and loot you can sell to the vendor.

Your next quest sends you to the quest hub in Calumel to the southeast. On the way there, you'll find an Elf who will give you the quest to shoot Harpies with the Eagle Claw Bolt Thrower next to him. This uses none of your spells/abilities, but puts you in shooter mode where you take control of the launcher and aim the crosshairs at the Harpies. This is just training for RvR use of harpoons and other siege equipment later in the game. But don't pass this up as it's easy exp and he will send you on to the same place you were heading anyway.

Continue reading The Elves of WAR: Level 1-5 quests for High Elves

MassivelyThe Elves of WAR: Level 1-5 quests for High Elves originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkaneth-dark-elvesazurewoodblackarksblighted-isledark-elfdark-elveselves-of-warfeaturedhigh-elfhigh-elf-starting-areahigh-elveshouse-arkanethjoystiqfeaturesmassively-goes-to-warmoonrisemythic-entertainmentpublic-questsscornlashshining-guardwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 14 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Do you actually want to play the game anymore?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/anti-aliased-do-you-actually-want-to-play-the-game-anymore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/anti-aliased-do-you-actually-want-to-play-the-game-anymore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/anti-aliased-do-you-actually-want-to-play-the-game-anymore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I was kicking around Silvermoon City of World of Warcraft a few nights ago, working on a new Blood Elf warlock as a way to relax and just forget about the long day, when I saw an extremely peculiar conversation in my chat window. What it boiled down to was a guy who was trying to get help with the warlock Voidwalker quest because he couldn't figure out where to go to find the void crystals specified in the quest log.

Now, instead of someone responding with a generalized location as to where you could find these crystals, the response, "Get QuestHelper and it will tell you where to go," was made. Needless to say, this guy was new to the game, and he was pretty baffled.

With the advent of custom interfaces, it seems that many people would rather have the game play itself than take the time to actually work things out. At the worst, people would rather pay to be able to "skip" through the game; thank you RMT. So, the key question around here remains: "Does anyone actually want to play anymore?"

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Do you actually want to play the game anymore?

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Do you actually want to play the game anymore? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Diet WAR

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

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