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[The Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/the-tattered-notebook-exploring-gu-60/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/the-tattered-notebook-exploring-gu-60/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/the-tattered-notebook-exploring-gu-60/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Game Update 60: The Children of War went live last week, and with it came a plethora of new content and some big changes to the game. Rallos Zek has begun preparations for his march on the Western Wastes, and Drunder is the new front line for the impending war. There are new heroic instances, new raid content, and even a new battleground scenario. In addition, there were some itemization changes, new battleground gear, and adjustments to the adornment interface.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at a few of the highlights from EverQuest II's latest update.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsChildren-of-wardestiny-of-veliousdrundereq2eqiiEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedfeaturedgearratongatattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookveliouszekMon, 06 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-perfect-ten-best-non-traditional-mmo-fantasy-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-perfect-ten-best-non-traditional-mmo-fantasy-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-perfect-ten-best-non-traditional-mmo-fantasy-races/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Elves. Dwarves. Humans. Halflings. Gnomes. Hobbits. Dark elves. High elves. Half-elves. Wood elves. Keebler elves. Elvish impersonators.

Are you as tired as I am of the endless regurgitation of stock fantasy races in our MMOs? It seems inconceivable (I do not think that means what you think it means) for a new fantasy title to come out without most of the above races infesting the character creation screen with moldy unoriginality, putrescent stank, and dusty boredom.

That's why today I'm standing up to praise 10 MMOs that dare to go above and beyond the stale by offering mostly unique and different races than the rest of the market. Hopefully future games will learn from their example and throw off the yokes of generic oppression to give us something bold and refreshing!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Best non-traditional MMO fantasy races originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acallods-onlineasherons-callbed-wettingburning-crusadecharrdaocdark-age-of-camelotdark-elvesddodraeneidragondragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinedwarveseberronelveselvish-impersonatoreq2eqiiettenmoorseverquest-2everquest-iifalcor-the-luck-dragongargoylegibberlingsgnomesgpotatoguild-wars-2halflingshigh-elveshobbitshorizonsistariaistaria-formerly-horizonskeebler-elveskoboldlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playnarniaperfect-10perfect-tenpuff-the-magic-dragonpvmpratongareepicheeprubiskavensoeSony-Online-Entertainmentspider-weaverturbineultima-onlineundeadwarforgedWarhammer-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EQII's GU58 fixes spells, adds content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/eqiis-gu58-fixes-spells-adds-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/eqiis-gu58-fixes-spells-adds-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/12/eqiis-gu58-fixes-spells-adds-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's patch day in EverQuest II, and you know what that means: ch-ch-changes (hopefully for the better). Game Update 58 is upon us -- and the servers are back up -- giving you ample opportunity to check out the laundry list of tweaks to the live client. Speaking of said laundry list, SOE's Amnerys has posted the full update notes on the official forums, and they're chock full of interesting tidbits including a spell effects revamp, a dedicated mount inventory window and appearance slots, housing tweaks, and various class, PvP, and UI updates.

GU58 also marks the unveiling of a new max-level dungeon to the world of Norrath. High shaman Zraxth has unleashed powerful planar forces, and level 90 players can now travel to the Ruins of Guk to partake of the single-group zone known as Zraxth's Unseen Arcanum.

Check out all the GU58 goodies on the official EQII forums.

MassivelyEQII's GU58 fixes spells, adds content originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EQ2EQIIeverquesteverquest-iigame-update-58gu-58heroic-dungeonnew-dungeonpatchratongasoeSony-Online-Entertainmentspell-effectsupdatezraxthzraxths-unseen-arcanumTue, 12 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Mask of the betrayer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/the-tattered-notebook-mask-of-the-betrayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/the-tattered-notebook-mask-of-the-betrayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/the-tattered-notebook-mask-of-the-betrayer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


You know, there's something decidedly ironic about playing a rat in an MMORPG, particularly in a themepark grinder like EverQuest II (and before anyone burns me at the stake, it's a good themepark grinder, I'm positively in love with it). The parallels are almost too perfect. Rats chase cheese and players chase digital carrots, running around a pre-defined maze with numerous boundaries, roadblocks, and invisible walls just like your average lab rodent. Luckily EQII camouflages these minor irritations better than most games, even on fairly grinderific content like the city betrayal quest series.

Yes, I've returned to playing my ratonga after a week of cheating on him with a shiny new shadowknight, and I've finally managed to move his furry little butt away from the abusive stylings of Freeport to a comfy little four-room rat hole off the side streets of South Qeynos.

Turn the page for more on his journey and thumb through his gallery below.

Gallery: EQII Ratonga Betrayal

HavenMore HavenLight at the end of the tunnelI've got to pick up trash?Back to Freeport

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Mask of the betrayer

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Mask of the betrayer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betrayalbetrayal-questcheeseEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iifactionfaction-grindfeaturedgallerygil-mcmartingrand-inquisitor-telexgrindhavenopinionqeynosratongascreenshotssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentthe-tattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebook-jef-reahardMon, 26 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: What's a sandbox guy like you doing in a themepark game like this?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/the-tattered-notebook-whats-a-sandbox-guy-like-you-doing-in-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/the-tattered-notebook-whats-a-sandbox-guy-like-you-doing-in-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/the-tattered-notebook-whats-a-sandbox-guy-like-you-doing-in-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


You'll have to forgive my enthusiasm this week, as there's just no way to be completely objective about the fact that I'm having a blast in EverQuest II. That said, this is an opinion column, so objectivity isn't exactly a requirement, but I do normally like to highlight the good and the bad whether it be Norrath, Hyboria, Atreia, or wherever else my wandering MMO eye casts its withering gaze. For the first time in a long time though, I'm thoroughly enjoying my MMORPGs.

I know right? Who'd have thunk that you could have fun playing games?

More to the point, and because I like to repeat lengthy, borderline run-on column titles, what's a sandbox guy like me doing in a themepark game like this?

Sneak past the cut to find out.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: What's a sandbox guy like you doing in a themepark game like this?

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: What's a sandbox guy like you doing in a themepark game like this? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedopinionratongaSOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmentthe-tattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebook-jef-reahardMon, 05 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The running of the Ratonga]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/11/the-running-of-the-ratonga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/11/the-running-of-the-ratonga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/11/the-running-of-the-ratonga/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Well, okay, it's not called that, but it's going to look awfully similar. EverQuest II is calling for players to create a brand new, level 1 Ratonga character for the Rat Race, a scavenger hunt of sorts being run on 21 different servers. The race will begin in Hate's Envy on all servers, where the horde of new Ratonga will be given a list of items to gather as they race through Norrath. The fastest finishers will win special in-game prizes, but there are also gifts for everyone who participates.

Kiara and Amnerys from the SOE Community Relations team will be your hosts for this event, so it's sure to be lots of fun. This is an ongoing event, with the first race set for next Tuesday, the 13th, and races scheduled nearly every day until November 6th. Check the list on the official site for starting dates and times for each server, and good luck in the Rat Race!

MassivelyThe running of the Ratonga originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amneryseverquest-2everquest-iikiararat-raceratongasoesony-online-entertainmentSun, 11 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST