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 Daily Grind: Do you play classes you don't like?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - view from the rez pad
I recently returned to Lord of the Rings Online in anticipation of the Rohan-themed expansion pack due later this year.

As I was looking over my character page and deciding which of my toons I should take to 75, I reluctantly decided to abandon my highest level avatar. You see, he's a Guardian, and despite the fact that I'm basically throwing away 58 levels and some pretty decent gear, I simply can't bear the thought of playing what is absolutely the most boring class in any MMO, ever.

Why did I roll one, then? Mainly because my launch-day guild was going for class balance, and no one else wanted to play a tank. And that's my long-winded way of leading into today's Daily Grind question. Do you play classes you don't like (and if so, why)?

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: Do you play classes you don't like? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesdaily-grinddo-you-play-classes-you-dont-likef2pfantasyfree-to-playguardianlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelord-of-the-rings-online-guardianlotrolotro-guardianmiddle-earthopinionrohanrohan-expansiontankingtankstdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 17 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-report-card/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
It's been a half-year since Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion, Rise of Isengard, opened the doors to Dunland and beyond. It was an interesting expansion compared to what came before in several ways: It finally took us into the pages of The Two Towers, it introduced Rohan and the Rohirrim, and it introduced what I consider to be the most compelling villain this game has seen to date.

While the game's hinted and alluded to Saruman and his White Hand back-up dancers leading up to RoI, the expansion finally unveiled the mastermind behind many of the machinations of Middle-earth's mischief. His was not an overt city-crushing type of evil; instead, he's a crafty politician-type who attempts to woo and seduce minds to his cause. More than the Witch-king of Angmar or Sara Oakheart, Saruman gives us a perfect target for our justified outrage. This is a guy we don't want to see succeed, ever.

So with six months under our belt, I thought it would be a great time to evaluate as much of Rise of Isengard as I've experienced with the ol' report card treatment. Where does it get good marks -- and where does it need tutoring?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard report card originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evaluationexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaopinionpvereport-cardreviewriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrohanrohirrimsiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentSat, 07 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Ride to ruin and the world's ending!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-road-to-mordor-ride-to-ruin-and-the-worlds-ending/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-road-to-mordor-ride-to-ruin-and-the-worlds-ending/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/the-road-to-mordor-ride-to-ruin-and-the-worlds-ending/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Mounted combat's been on my mind a lot lately, particularly when I was galloping around Dunland and various clansmen knocked me off my horse. It was then that I wished I had a skill called "Trample to a Bloody Pulp -- For Rohan!" and that Turbine would finally earn that AO rating it's always craved. Barring that skill, I would just love a massive war horse that would send enemies fleeing from me instead of making a beeline for my knees (which are a prime target for arrows).

I'm both excited and nervous about the mounted combat system coming in Riders of Rohan. I'm excited that it will open up a new style of gameplay in this five-year-old game and nervous that it'll drag Lord of the Rings Online down if it's not done right. Whatever type of horseback combat we might envision will surely be different than the final product, and that uncertainty leaves me feeling in limbo.

More than anything else, Riders of Rohan is about mounted combat. Turbine's centering the expansion around it, dedicating an entire zone to it, and developing loads of assets and skills for it, and the company will undoubtedly be hyping it strongly over the course of the summer. It's a bold step to take but a necessary one as well, as the IP and nation of Rohan are steeped in mounted combat, and it's been a little weird that we've had to dismount to swing a sword ever since leaving the shire.

So will mounted combat prevail, fail, or muddle in the middle?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Ride to ruin and the world's ending!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Ride to ruin and the world's ending! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Age-of-Conanargent-tournamenteast-plainsf2pFallen-EarthfantasyfeaturedForsaken-Worldfree-to-playjoustinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromountmounted-combatmountsopinionriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrohanTales-of-Fantasythe-road-to-mordortrampleturbineturbine-entertainmentwar-horseswar-steedwar-steedswarbandsworld-of-warcraftSat, 24 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: An Update 6 play date with Turbine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-road-to-mordor-an-update-6-play-date-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-road-to-mordor-an-update-6-play-date-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-road-to-mordor-an-update-6-play-date-with-turbine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
This past week, Turbine called my parents and asked if I could come over to play Lord of the Rings Online. "Sure he can," my mother replied. "As long as he wears his galoshes. What? It's wet outside!"

And thus I ended up hanging out with the Turbine crew -- Aaron Campbell, Jared Pruett, and Jeff Libby -- as they walked me through Update 6 with the optional developer commentary mode set to "on." I highly recommend you rent a developer for the same experience, as it helps to have someone giving you a Cliff's Notes version of the game's complicated lore.

Pruett first caught me up on the major PvMP changes of this coming Monday's update. The team wanted to increase rewards and turn progression into a seasonal mechanic to keep players coming to the Ettenmoors. As such, PvMP now has a universal currency -- that's account-wide, by the way -- that will allow players to purchase top-end gear. The team also tweaked down what the devs saw as a DPS race in order to give players time to deliberate and make strategic choices during fights.

Beyond PvMP, the devs marched me right into the next epic storyline book that whisked us away to a strange new land: The Great River. What did I find waiting for me there?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: An Update 6 play date with Turbine

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: An Update 6 play date with Turbine originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbellanduinbarter-walletentsf2pfantasyfeaturedfellowshipfree-to-playgondorjared-pruettjeff-libbylandrovallandscape-soldierslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpatchplay-dateriders-of-rohanroad-to-mordorrohanrohirrimshadows-of-angmarsoldiers-on-landscapestangardthe-great-riverthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-6Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Fording the Great River]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-road-to-mordor-fording-the-great-river/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-road-to-mordor-fording-the-great-river/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-road-to-mordor-fording-the-great-river/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
At 1388 miles, the Anduin is the longest river known in Middle-earth, hence the name The Great River. If I put that into real-world perspective, it would vie for the 52nd longest river on Earth, somewhere between the Colorado River and China's Pearl River. Impressive, if not a record-breaker.

The Great River flows from the Misty Mountains down out to the Great Sea (lots of "greats" in Middle-earth, which is great), and it's on this waterway that the Fellowship of the Ring traveled from the solace of Lothlorien to the tragedy at Parth Galen. The river represents transition in many ways: from safety to peril, from unity to dissolution, from north to south, from The Fellowship of the Ring to The Two Towers.

For Lord of the Rings Online players, the Anduin will mark another transition: the bridge between Rise of Isengard and Riders of Rohan. Seeing as how we got a major taste of this brand-new zone this week, I thought we should take a gander at what The Great River will add to our journey toward Mordor.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Fording the Great River

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Fording the Great River originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anduinf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpatchriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrohanrohirrimthe-great-riverthe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Riding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/riding-into-rohan-lotro-maps-out-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Riders of Rohan
In the words of Frank Sinatra, 2011 "was a very good year" for Lord of the Rings Online. Executive Producer Kate Paiz and Director of Communications Adam Mersky sat down with us to talk about the future of the game, but before they got to the juicy details, they wanted to give a quick recap of the previous year for the game and the studio.

The big emphasis for LotRO in 2011 was the unifying of the global community and the release of the game's third (and best-selling) expansion, Rise of Isengard. While the aforementioned unification of the NA and EU sides of the game presented many challenges for the team including localization, it paid off in spades. Turbine plans to continue to add more payment options for those used to methods other than the ones currently available. The team was most proud of unveiling Saruman "in all of his glory" and the inclusion of free players into the sphere of Monster Play.

"The game definitely grew last year," Mersky said in response to a question about the current number of players. He noted that the playerbase has changed somewhat in the past two years, becoming more casual in some respects.

But it's time to move forward! Turbine is prepared to take LotRO players on a dizzying chase around the wilds of Middle-earth with a few significant changes and additions to the game -- and the release of the brand-new expansion later this year, Riders of Rohan. Mounted combat, ho!

Continue reading Riding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012

MassivelyRiding into Rohan: LotRO maps out 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acadam-merskyamon-henaragornasherons-callbig-teves-of-fangornfangornfangorn-forestfeaturedfifth-anniversaryfourth-anniversaryfrank-sinatragilmligreat-rivergreat-river-andulgrindaversaryinstance-finderkate-paizlegolaslord-of-the-rings-onlinelothlorienlotromounted-combatriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardrohanrohirrimskirmish-soldiersoldiers-in-landscapessoldiers-on-landscapestolkienturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Wish lists, past and future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-wish-lists-past-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-wish-lists-past-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-road-to-mordor-wish-lists-past-and-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Road to Mordor
Hobbits love making lists, don't they? In The Fellowship of the Ring, Bilbo had a lengthy list of friends and relatives to invite to his eleventy-first birthday party, and he didn't have the luxury of Facebook to help him out. I love lists as well, although I try to save most of that for my Perfect Ten column.

At the beginning of the year, I sat down and drafted up a "wish list" for Lord of the Rings Online's 2011 year, populating it with 11 changes and additions I was hoping to see by now. To my surprise, Turbine actually pulled off quite a few items on the list, and I thought it'd be a good idea to go back and examine which of my goals the team met and which remain elusive.

Also, since 2012 kicks off tomorrow, I'll look forward as well and draft up a dozen -- yes, one more over the year before -- wish list items that I'd love to see come true in the new year. It's my column; I can cry if I want to, after all. Let's get this party started!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Wish lists, past and future

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Wish lists, past and future originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bilbobilbo-bagginsclassclass-deedscosmetic-weaponsexpansionf2pfeaturedfellowship of the ringFellowshipOfTheRingfree-to-playhousingiconiconsinstance-finderlegendary-itemslilondonlord-of-the-rings-onlinemines-of-moriamounted-combatplayer-housingrise-of-isengardrohansummer-festivalturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtuesvoice-oversvolume-2wardrobewish-listSat, 31 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[YNK Interactive giving gifts for the holidays!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/ynk-interactive-giving-gifts-for-the-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/ynk-interactive-giving-gifts-for-the-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/ynk-interactive-giving-gifts-for-the-holidays/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Snow Kruger
As we approach the end of 2011, the crew at YNK Interactive is offering up some festive items to help Massively readers ring in the new year. YNK Interactive is the developer and publisher behind both ROHAN: Blood Feud and SEAL Online, and we've got some gift packs for players of both games.

For ROHAN: Blood Feud, the gift package includes a Snow Kruger mount for players level 30 and up, a Harmony Seal that grants a three-hour 400% XP boost to your entire party, and Celebration Glasses that give a bonus to STR, DEX, and INT. Pick up your code on our giveaway page, make sure you have a ROHAN account, then enter your code in the Gamer Code box of ROHAN's redemption page. Log into ROHAN and retrieve your items from your mail inventory.
[Sorry, all codes have been claimed]
SEAL Online players have some great items as well. The set includes three potions, each giving a bonus to defense, dexterity, or evasion. You'll also find a golden chest key that unlocks chests in the Monster Survival Dungeon. Pick up your code on our giveaway page, then redeem it using the Gamer Code section of SEAL Online's redemption page. Log into SEAL Online and you'll find your new items in your cash bank.

TO THE GIVEAWAY

Enjoy both giveaways, and thanks to YNK Interactive!

MassivelyYNK Interactive giving gifts for the holidays! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsf2pfree-to-playgiveawaygiveawaysrohanrohan-blood-feudseal-onlineynk-interactiveFri, 23 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine teases Rohan content with new LotRO screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/turbine-teases-rohan-content-with-new-lotro-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/turbine-teases-rohan-content-with-new-lotro-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/turbine-teases-rohan-content-with-new-lotro-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - FORTH EORLINGAS! OK, maybe not quite yet
Oh Turbine, how you're teasing us with visions of Rohan, Rohirrim, and desperately suicidal cavalry charges punctuated by raucous shouts of "DEATH!" OK, now that we're all hot and bothered, let's have a look at the latest Lord of the Rings Online screenshots.

The new batch coincides with the continuation of the game's epic storyline, and the shots primarily center around Theodred, prince of Rohan and son of King Theoden. If you've read Tolkien -- or seen Peter Jackson's films -- you're probably familiar with Theodred's fate and thus it might surprise you to learn that you'll be aiding him in Turbine's version of Middle-earth. It all fits, though, and you can find the prince in the game's new Dunland region, preparing his troops for battle and waiting on the timely assistance of heroes like you.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Core Gallery

MassivelyTurbine teases Rohan content with new LotRO screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dunlandf2pfantasyfree-to-playgallerylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroquestsrohanrohirrimscreensscreenshotstheodredtolkienturbineWed, 30 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hear me roar: Become the voice of a monster in R.O.H.A.N.]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/hear-me-roar-become-the-voice-of-a-monster-in-r-o-h-a-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/hear-me-roar-become-the-voice-of-a-monster-in-r-o-h-a-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/hear-me-roar-become-the-voice-of-a-monster-in-r-o-h-a-n/#commentsFiled under: , ,

ROHAN
Ever listen to video game sounds and go, "I could do that 20% better!"? Well, now's the time to prove it. YNK Interactive has launched a Roar & Win contest in which players are encouraged to record their most terrifying monster voice and submit it for possible use in R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud.

The best sound clips will be implemented into the game as the voice of the Boreal Hell Demon, a two-headed monstrosity in the Elemental Dungeon. Players are asked to record three phrases, including the lovely "I can just taste your filthy blood," in an effort to not just become part of the game, but to win prizes like a Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset, in-game currency, and in-game items.

YNK's Derrick Lee thinks this contest meshes well with the season: "Just in time for Halloween, the Roar & Win event will surely release the monsters within our players. Our year's focus is the community, and this event is a great way for our players to be a part of the game they love."

The contest ends at midnight on October 26th, and the winner's voice will be added to the game on November 1st.

MassivelyHear me roar: Become the voice of a monster in R.O.H.A.N. originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestderrick-leeelemental-dungeonhalloweenlogitechmonster-voiceroarroar-and-winrohanrohan-blood-feudsound-clipvoiceoverynkynk-interactiveWed, 19 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/take-a-ride-through-lotros-gap-of-rohan-with-a-new-walkthrough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/take-a-ride-through-lotros-gap-of-rohan-with-a-new-walkthrough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/take-a-ride-through-lotros-gap-of-rohan-with-a-new-walkthrough/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard
Lord of the Rings Online is gearing up for the release of its next expansion, Rise of Isengard, and the fine folks at A Casual Stroll to Mordor have your needs covered. After the recent Dunland walkthrough video, the Gap of Rohan is up for display. Of course, fans of the series will recognize Rohan as the home of the horse-loving Rohirrim.

But even players encountering the lands of the Horse Lords for the first time will find plenty to love (and plenty to kill). The video shows off some gorgeous scenic landscapes, a variety of cities and settlements, and of course plenty of baddies just waiting to be whacked. Just saddle up and ride on past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading Take a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video

MassivelyTake a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordoracstmf2pfree-to-playgap-of-rohanlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrorise-of-isengardrohanturbineturbine-entertainmentvideovideosMon, 19 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Inside Isengard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/the-road-to-mordor-inside-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/the-road-to-mordor-inside-isengard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/09/the-road-to-mordor-inside-isengard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online
It's one thing to sit down during a beta and poke around on your own, making educated guesses about why what went where and who what is wherefore. It's another thing entirely to pick up the phone and go, "Hey Turbine? Drop everything -- no, not your pants! -- and take me on a tour of Rise of Isengard! Um, magic word? Oh! Pretty please? With a cherry on top?"

The first approach is good, but I wanted to get a more in-depth look into the making of Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion from the people who actually made it. How does one approach fleshing out an area that received relatively little source support from the books? What is Turbine trying to do differently in its fourth year of LotRO development? And why should we be afraid of an old guy in a bathrobe who won't come out of his tower?

See? These are good questions to ask, which is why I sat down with Bob Hess, Aaron Campbell and Adam Mersky, who graciously took me on a whirlwind tour of Rise of Isengard. I wanted to cut through the PR-speak and learn about the real stories of the making of the expansion and what we'll be encountering within, and the devs were happy to oblige.

Hit the jump as we travel further down The Road to Mordor and take the Hobbits to Isengard!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Inside Isengard

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Inside Isengard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbelladam-merskybetabob-hessdunlandexpansionfeaturedhorsesisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromountsndaopen-betaorthancrise-of-isengardrohanrohirrimsarumanturbineturbine-entertainmentwulfs-cleftFri, 09 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud looks toward Hero expansion with new Divinity server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/r-o-h-a-n-blood-feud-looks-toward-hero-expansion-with-new-divi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/r-o-h-a-n-blood-feud-looks-toward-hero-expansion-with-new-divi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/r-o-h-a-n-blood-feud-looks-toward-hero-expansion-with-new-divi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

YNK Interactive has formally announced the introduction of Divinity, a new server for its R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud free-to-play fantasy MMORPG. The release marks the first step toward the forthcoming Hero expansion, and new players will find that the Divinity server provides several perks designed to help those new to R.O.H.A.N. get acclimated in a hurry.

All characters created during Divinity's first month will receive a starter package containing XP bonus items, a styling ticket, and a +5 stat costume. R.O.H.A.N. will also be featuring numerous drop rate and bonus XP events in the coming weeks to prepare for the expansion.

"Divinity is just the start of a new beginning with R.O.H.A.N. this year. We're thrilled on the release of the new server update, as it sets the foundation for the many events and exciting game content to come," says YNK's Derrick Lee.

MassivelyR.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud looks toward Hero expansion with new Divinity server originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blood-feudbonus-xpdivinitydivinity-serverdrop-ratesexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playhero-expansionpress-releaserohanrohan-blood-feudrohan-hero-expansionstarter-packWed, 04 May 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: What if?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/the-road-to-mordor-what-if/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/the-road-to-mordor-what-if/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/the-road-to-mordor-what-if/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

By the time you read this, I'll be scurrying around PAX East in Boston, feeling much like a Hobbit: unable to see over the crowd, far out of my element, and deeply wishing I purchased shoes. I'll of course be talking with the folks at Turbine to see what information I can wheedle out of them about the future of this terrific game, so if you don't hear from me again, I'm most likely languishing in a PR dungeon somewhere for being too nosy.

It's a good week, therefore, to be thinking about the future. My mind never stops thinking about future possibilities for any franchise, and even if they never come to be, these speculations are a great pastime of any fan. I'm always wondering "What if?" as I play Lord of the Rings Online -- what if I could mug Frodo and become the Ring-bearer? What if those lazy bums finally finished the repairs to the tavern in Frogmorton? What if Elves could kill innocent woodland creatures and go to the dark side?

Playing "What if?" with LotRO is tougher than with other games because of the limitations imposed by the IP. Despite what some say, Turbine's struggled hard to stay within the boundaries of lore and setting, and while that's helped the company to be creative in ways that it might not have otherwise, it does present some unique obstacles that aren't present in competing MMOs.

So to celebrate PAX, LotRO, and the future, here's a column of "What ifs?" for your consumption!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: What if?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: What if? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beornboat-mountsdwarfeaglesearth-kinelfelvesentseriadorfar-downsfeaturedfrodofrogmortongondorgray-havenshalf-elfhalf-elvenhobbitlindonlord-of-the-rings-onlinelossothlotromammothsmanMinhiriathmounted-combatOliphantspaxpax-eastrangersring-bearerrohanshapeshiftersledssouthfarthingspeculationstar-wars-galaxiesteam-saurontower-hillsturbineturbine-entertainmentvalawargswhat-ifwizardsFri, 11 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine: LotRO revenue tripled since going F2P]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/turbine-lotro-revenue-tripled-since-going-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/turbine-lotro-revenue-tripled-since-going-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/turbine-lotro-revenue-tripled-since-going-f2p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online's future is so bright, it's wearing shades these days. At least, according to a new interview at TTH, where LotRO's Kate Paiz and Adam Mersky opened up about the success of the free-to-play conversion. Turbine has seen LotRO's profits triple since F2P along with a huge influx of new players, and that spells good news for the future of the game.

The duo turned its attention to the upcoming year for LotRO, which includes the Rise of Isengard expansion. While Paiz and Mersky didn't indicate whether there would be any new zones between now and then, they did confirm that the epic story would be continued, leading up to the confrontation between the rangers and Saruman's growing forces. Rise of Isengard will feature a push to the south with the Dunland and Gap of Isengard zones, whereas Isengard proper will pit players against the foul forces of the Tower of Orthanc.

Isengard isn't the only thing players have to look forward to in the next year -- a big cosmetic system revamp is planned along with non-combat pets. Hardcore players also have a new raid cluster to look forward to before Isengard's release. Other possibilities for the future? Cosmetic weapons, a Rohan expansion and the Battle of Helm's Deep are all on the table.

[Thanks A Casual Stroll to Mordor!]

MassivelyTurbine: LotRO revenue tripled since going F2P originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-merskybattle-of-helms-deepcosmetic-outfitcosmetic-systemcosmetic-weapondunlandf2pfree-to-playgap-of-rohaninterviewkate-paizlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronon-combat-petpodcastprofitsraidraid-clusterrise-of-isengardrohansarumantower-of-orthanctthturbinevanity-petThu, 06 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard is coming!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/the-road-to-mordor-rise-of-isengard-is-coming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

[Update: Made a clarification that there is no indication of "open-world" PvMP in the expansion.]

Times are tough in Middle-earth, even after the inexplicable appearance of several hundred thousand new adventurers this fall. The Fellowship of the Ring is broken, Sauron is rising in power, and the White Hand of Saruman is marching across the lands. Even the bravest and hardiest soldier of the Free Peoples cannot be blamed for feeling disheartened, especially in the face of the monumental struggle to come.

Welcome to the beginning of The Two Towers in Lord of the Rings Online. Welcome to Isengard.

The rumors are true: Next year we will be venturing into LotRO's third expansion, titled Rise of Isengard, to confront evil in its own backyard. While this may not be the Rohan or Gondor expansion that we've anticipated, Turbine is fairly confident that it will be well-received by players and will represent an ambitious step forward on (wait for it) the road to Mordor.

Turbine's Adam Mersky and Aaron Campbell were on hand to outline for us the company's near- and far-future plans with Massively, starting with the imminent November update and cruising all the way through 2011. Hit the jump as we look at interactive theater, busy bees, Monster Play improvements and, of course, Isengard.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard is coming!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Rise of Isengard is coming! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbelladam-merskybreakingbusy-beecosmeticcosmetic-systemdourhanddungeonsdunlandeager-beaverenedwaithettenmoorsf2pfeaturedfedexfellowship-of-the-ringfirst-agefree-to-playgap-of-rohangondorikeaisengardjourney-to-winter-homelegendary-itemslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotromad-bagginsmiddle-earthmines-of-moriamonster-playnon-combat-petorthancoutfitpvmppvpraidsrandiancerise-of-isengardrohanrune-keepersarumanshadows-of-angmarsiege-of-mirkwoodstarter-zonestudly-mcawesometask-systemtasksthe-road-to-mordorthe-two-towersturbineTurbine-Entertainmentwardrobewhite-handwinter-homeyuleyule-festivalFri, 19 Nov 2010 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rohan: Blood Feud adds new dungeon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/rohan-blood-feud-adds-new-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/rohan-blood-feud-adds-new-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/rohan-blood-feud-adds-new-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: , ,

High-level fans of R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud who are looking for some new challenges should be pretty happy with YNK Interactive these days. Their latest patch, rolled out on the 19th, introduced a new dungeon for players level 75+. The dungeon, dubbed "Ronelia", will feature three areas -- the exterior, interior, and underground cell -- and offers dozens of new quests, including some that are repeatable. Players can expect new mobs, bosses, and items in Ronelia as well.

This new area will take players back in time to battle for the right to take over Ronelia Castle alongside Ohn, or play for the other side and stand with Bezemut and the Imperial Guard to defend against Ohn's invading army.

Derrick Lee, Game Lead for YNK Interactive, says that players should expect even more to come this year: "This is only the beginning of what we have coming in 2010 for R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud."

MassivelyRohan: Blood Feud adds new dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bezemutderrick-leedungeonOhnrohanrohan-blood-feudrohan-onlineroneliaronelia-castleynk-interactiveThu, 21 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: LotRO's feature future, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/the-digital-continuum-lotros-feature-future-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/the-digital-continuum-lotros-feature-future-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/17/the-digital-continuum-lotros-feature-future-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: LotRO's feature future, part 2

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: LotRO's feature future, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionshelms-deeplord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromonster-playopen-pvpopinionpvmppvprohansiege-of-mirkwoodsomTue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's spellbinding 'Lieutenant of Dol Guldur' trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/lotros-spellbinding-lieutenant-of-dol-guldur-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/lotros-spellbinding-lieutenant-of-dol-guldur-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/lotros-spellbinding-lieutenant-of-dol-guldur-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Turbine is stepping it up with their newest Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood trailer, Lieutenant of Dol Guldur. The voice acting, editing, music, creatures and setting are all enthralling to a degree that goes beyond our standard expectations. We've no doubt this one will get people's blood pumping, and in a good way. Seriously, this is the kind of stuff you expect when a company adopts an important IP -- especially where the voice acting is concerned.

We can't wait to see what the future holds for Turbine trailers, especially considering the locales of Middle-earth the game has yet to expand into its world. Rohan? Helm's Deep? Minas Tirith? Osgiliath? Thinking of trailers for all these places makes us tingle with anticipation.

Check out the trailer after the cut.

Continue reading LotRO's spellbinding 'Lieutenant of Dol Guldur' trailer

MassivelyLotRO's spellbinding 'Lieutenant of Dol Guldur' trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dol-guldurexpansionhelms-deeplord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrominas-tirithosgiliathrohansiege-of-mirkwoodtrailerturbinevideoTue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ijji.com boasts over 9 million registered accounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/ijji-com-boasts-over-9-million-registered-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/ijji-com-boasts-over-9-million-registered-accounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/ijji-com-boasts-over-9-million-registered-accounts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Ijji.com has hit a major milestone recently, revealing that their systems have tallied over 9 million accounts in their database. That's a pretty big number, and while they may not all be active accounts, it's still a very impressive amount of sign ups for anyone to have.

This comes as good news to players of Rohan, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, Luminary, HolyBeast Online, and Atlantica Online, as ijji.com funnels players into all of those games. More people means more players, and more players ultimately means more of, well, everything.

Ijji.com is still working on the upcoming MMOFPS, Huxley: The Dystopia, so those 9 million members will certainly come in handy in the future, as we'd all like more targets to shoot at for easy experience. Keep on signin' up, newbies! Fresh experience for all!

MassivelyIjji.com boasts over 9 million registered accounts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9-millionatlanticaatlantica-onlineholybeast-onlinehuxleyhuxley-the-dystopiaijji.comluminarymmofpsrohanrohan-blood-feudsignupssoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunThu, 08 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ROHAN: Blood Feud celebrating Million Member Mania]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/11/rohan-blood-feud-celebrating-million-member-mania/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/11/rohan-blood-feud-celebrating-million-member-mania/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/11/rohan-blood-feud-celebrating-million-member-mania/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


What's a R.O.H.A.N., you might ask? Apparently it stands for "Renaissance of Human and Nature" from what we're told. It would seem that since they've brought trade-skills in for players to enjoy in July, this F2P game appears to be going through its own renaissance. For example, word has come down that they've crossed the 1 million account mark - considered by some to be one of the first real landmarks for a F2P game. YNK Interactive's CEO, Jun Lee commented, "We are thrilled to see the R.O.H.A.N. community increase with R.O.H.A.N.'s continuous growth throughout the past year, and we will continue to bring our players the adventures R.O.H.A.N. has to offer in the future."

To celebrate, the team behind R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud are going to be holding a series of Million Member Mania events from now until September 21st. Players who win the various games (hide-and-seek, fishing derby, "Gauis Del Lagos", and more) will be awarded with one million Crones (in-game currency). So, if you've ever been curious to check out this particular F2P game, now sounds like a good time to pop in and enjoy the festivities - and possibly some free cash if you're any good at hide-and-seek or the like.

MassivelyROHAN: Blood Feud celebrating Million Member Mania originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-million-accountsf2pfree-to-playrohanrohan-blood-feudynk-interactiveFri, 11 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2009: Turbine tells us all about Siege of Mirkwood part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/pax-2009-turbine-tells-us-all-about-siege-of-mirkwood-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/pax-2009-turbine-tells-us-all-about-siege-of-mirkwood-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/08/pax-2009-turbine-tells-us-all-about-siege-of-mirkwood-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Continue reading PAX 2009: Turbine tells us all about Siege of Mirkwood part 2

MassivelyPAX 2009: Turbine tells us all about Siege of Mirkwood part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combathorsesjeffrey-steefellord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromy-lotromylotropaxpax-2009rohansiege-of-mirkwoodskirmishskirmishesturbineTue, 08 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rohan unveils new crafting system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/rohan-unveils-new-crafting-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/rohan-unveils-new-crafting-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/rohan-unveils-new-crafting-system/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Rohan: Blood Feud players can rejoice in the streets of Einhoren as the new crafting system has now been unveiled! For many players, this has always been a major gap in the game mechanics of this free-to-play MMO, but for others, it simply adds more to keep them in the game.

If you're interested in learning more about Rohan's crafting system, you can check out some extensive guides put together by the devs at YNK Interactive. There's one on Gathering, one on Producing, one on Upgrading and one on Extracting. From what we've been able to gather (see what we did there) since the announcement, these guides are extremely in-depth and explain just about everything you'd want to know to get started. From there you can check out the forums to see what players are saying about the advantages of crafted vs. dropped items, and how the new system will affect the economy. If you haven't played Rohan in awhile, this might also be a good time to take a look at our previous coverage and jump on in.

MassivelyRohan unveils new crafting system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingfree-to-playrohanrohan-blood-feudrohan-onlineynk-interactiveThu, 18 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Massively's day 4 roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/06/e3-2009-massivelys-day-4-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/06/e3-2009-massivelys-day-4-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/06/e3-2009-massivelys-day-4-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Wait a minute, day 4 of E3 2009? Remedial math skills? E3 was only a three-day event, but our own coverage of Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 is going to last a bit longer. We've still got a number of interviews and previews lined up for you in the coming days, today included, so we hope you'll keep reading this weekend. In the meantime, here are a few highlights of Massively's coverage of E3 2009 from yesterday:


If you'd like to see more, we've got some eye candy after the jump, with galleries for Champions Online, Torchlight, Rohan: Blood Feud, and Dragonica Online.

Continue reading E3 2009: Massively's day 4 roundup

MassivelyE3 2009: Massively's day 4 roundup originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinbill-roperchampions-onlinedragonica-onlinee3-2009final-fantasy-xivglobal-agendaheroes-of-telararohanrohan-blood-feudroundupstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-agencytorchlightSat, 06 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Launch date announced for Rohan: Blood Feud's crafting system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-launch-date-announced-for-rohan-blood-feuds-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-launch-date-announced-for-rohan-blood-feuds-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-launch-date-announced-for-rohan-blood-feuds-crafting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


YNK Interactive has revealed at E3 that their free-to-play MMO Rohan: Blood Feud will be getting a crafting system later this month. Andy Tubbs, the head of YNK Interactive's Rohan Division, helped make the announcement: "We are excited on soon releasing the Crafting System that will coincide greatly with our other game features like the Exchange Market, a place where players will have the ability to sell and/or buy crafted items from other players." The Exchange Market Tubbs referred to allows players to sell their items for Rohan Points, which is the currency needed to purchase things from the Item Mall -- in other words, crafting and selling the results could potentially become a good alternative to spending your own real cash.

The crafting system will involve three steps: the first is collecting resources, then comes the extraction of crafting materials from those raw goods, and finally, the actual crafting can take place with the refined materials. Various enhancements can be applied to crafted items once the creator is skilled enough. Look out for the new system to debut on the 16th of June.
Massively is on the ground in Los Angeles this week and covering all the latest E3 MMO news coming from the convention. Check out our breaking coverage (or all the Joystiq network E3 reporting) and keep your eye on Massively's front page for the latest developments.

MassivelyE3 2009: Launch date announced for Rohan: Blood Feud's crafting system originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-tubbscraftingcrafting-systeme3-2009exchange-marketf2pfree-to-playitem-mallrohanrohan-blood-feudrohan-onlineynkynk-interactiveFri, 05 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Has LotRO's next expansion been named?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/has-lotros-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/has-lotros-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/has-lotros-next-expansion-been-named/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Kill Ten Rats has uncovered a rather interesting website, called Riders of Rohan. Curiously, this website doesn't actually go to any place new -- it simply redirects to the official Lord of the Rings Online site. So this of course begs the question, will the next expansion (presumably this year's) be centered on Rohan and its lands? Will Lord of the Rings Online players be tromping around the Riddermark within the next twelve months?

It seems rather plausible given the Volume 2, Book 7 update's location, but of course there's no official word just yet. Still, that won't stop us from imagining up mounted combat as Horse Lords and massive armies marching onto the steps of Helm's Deep as we valiantly defend her gates from dark forces.

MassivelyHas LotRO's next expansion been named? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionhorseskill-ten-ratslord-of-the-rings-onlinlotromounted-combatmountsriddermarkriders-of-rohanrohanrumorturbineThu, 02 Apr 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rohan: Blood Feud gets new dungeon and more in latest patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/rohan-blood-feud-gets-new-dungeon-and-more-in-latest-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/rohan-blood-feud-gets-new-dungeon-and-more-in-latest-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/rohan-blood-feud-gets-new-dungeon-and-more-in-latest-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a couple of months since we last checked in on Rohan: Blood Feud, and it was doing pretty well back then. The latest big news from YNK Interactive's free-to-play MMO is a decent-sized patch that was released last week, which featured a brand new dungeon called the Fire Temple Garden, among other things. The Fire Temple Garden is intended to be a pretty dangerous area for level 80s, and has four separate sections within: Kasa's Tower, The Blazing Temple, The Ring of Flames, and the Lamp of Flames. Starting to pick the common theme here? The selection of screenshots that came with the dungeon's announcement confirm that there will be some firey foes to contend with.

16 new quests were added to the game in the patch, and all of these are found in the new dungeon. A system to fuse Option Stones was also introduced, allowing players to fuse multiple stones of the same grade to form a better one. The other main update is a new sidekick called Molly that can be purchased from the Item Mall. Molly can be used to heal your character every two minutes, and she can be leveled up a bit to increase her healing powers. If you haven't tried Rohan yet, you can do so by downloading the client and making an account at the official site.

MassivelyRohan: Blood Feud gets new dungeon and more in latest patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fire-temple-gardenfree-to-playitem-mallkasas-towermollypatchpatchesrohanrohan-blood-feudsidekickthe-blazing-templethe-lamp-of-flamesthe-ring-of-flamesynkynk-interactiveMon, 19 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine: Horsemanship to become "important" when LotRO reaches Rohan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/turbine-horsemanship-to-become-important-when-lotro-reaches-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/turbine-horsemanship-to-become-important-when-lotro-reaches-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/turbine-horsemanship-to-become-important-when-lotro-reaches-r/#comments Alright, it's time for that gaming industry tradition of speculation based on vague quotes from developers! In an interview with Ten Ton Hammer, The Lord of the Rings Online executive producer Jeffrey Steefel spoke about future updates to the game, saying that the best is yet to come because now that Turbine has moved into Moria, the really interesting and fully-fleshed-out stuff from Tolkien's source material is only a few steps away.

Among those interesting things is the land of Rohan, which fans of the books and movies will remember is a kingdom that prides itself on breeding and grooming the finest horses in Middle-earth. Steefel went on to say: "When we get to Rohan, does horsemanship become important? Yeah! Us and our horses would be strung up if we got to Rohan someday and didn't pay attention to horses. And it's just a matter of when."

Mounts in LotRO have admittedly always been a bit basic (but in a good way!), so this could mean any number of things, but perhaps the most exciting possibility would be Age of Conan-esque mounted combat. Go ahead and meditate on that for a bit, and read the interview for a few more vague quotes about the future of LotRO and the company's console plans if you feel compelled.

MassivelyTurbine: Horsemanship to become "important" when LotRO reaches Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookshorsehorsemanshiphorsesinterviewjeffrey-steefellord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamountmountsriders-of-rohanrohanrumorspeculationturbineMon, 24 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rohan: Blood Feud reaches 500k beta players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/rohan-blood-feud-reaches-500k-beta-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/rohan-blood-feud-reaches-500k-beta-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/rohan-blood-feud-reaches-500k-beta-players/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Korean-owned developer YNK Interactive has just announced that their free-to-play MMO Rohan: Blood Feud has just reached 500,000 registered players in the game's open beta. We first reported on Rohan earlier this year when the beta had begun, and we got some extensive hands-on time with the game.

"I'm thrilled to have hit the half million mark, and still counting", said Jun Lee, CEO of YNK Interactive. "As we continue to expand the game, so are we expanding our community base. We look forward to continuing to announce milestones like this in the months and years ahead." You can find out more information on the game and register for open beta on the Rohan: Blood Feud main site.

Gallery: Rohan Online: Blood Feud Gallery

IntroductionGorgeous visuals and environmentsCrowded cities full of merchantsNPC MerchantsGuess who!

MassivelyRohan: Blood Feud reaches 500k beta players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betarohanrohan-onlineynk-interactiveTue, 11 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rohan Online's Trading Center now open]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rohan-onlines-trading-center-now-open/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rohan-onlines-trading-center-now-open/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/08/rohan-onlines-trading-center-now-open/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

All of the most popular and successful MMOs have an auction house of some sort, but Rohan Online's recent addition of their Trading Center introduces players to some interesting features. Despite the fact that their basic in-game economy is based on the RMT purchase of Rohan Points, there are many options available.

The three main parts of the Trading Center are the Item Mall, the Exchange Market and Special Services. In the Item Mall, you can purchase in-game items from the company itself, but with the Exchange Market, you buy, sell and trade with other players. This is a great way to make your own Rohan Points instead of buying them yourself. In the Special Services section, you can buy changes to your characters from a new name to a new gender. All item purchases are conducted through a safe and secure environment and will be immediately added to your account.

MassivelyRohan Online's Trading Center now open originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseitem-mallrmtrohanrohan-blood-feudrohan-onlinetradingtrading-centerynk-interactiveTue, 08 Jul 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Squeaky monsters slain in Rohan: Blood Feud video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/squeaky-monsters-slain-in-rohan-blood-feud-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/squeaky-monsters-slain-in-rohan-blood-feud-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/22/squeaky-monsters-slain-in-rohan-blood-feud-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Rohan: Blood Feud is currently in open beta, and Ten Ton Hammer has visited the land of Rohan to get some video footage of the combat system in action. Our protagonist appears to be a ranged specialist character, with abilities that focus on firing arrows and slowing enemies from a distance.

In the second half of the video where commentary ceases, we hear the in-game sounds. As people lay into the NPCs, they give off sickeningly cute (and very quickly, annoying) rapid-fire squeaking noises. As hard as you try to focus on the combat being shown, you WILL be distracted by the little monsters squeaking their way into your nightmares. Check out the video and see for yourself -- if you dare.

MassivelySqueaky monsters slain in Rohan: Blood Feud video originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatcombat-systempverohanrohan-blood-feudrohan-onlinevideoSun, 22 Jun 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rohan: Blood Feud enters open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/rohan-blood-feud-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/rohan-blood-feud-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/rohan-blood-feud-enters-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In a genre that is exploding with popularity, the Korean free-to-play MMO market seems to get more and more competitive with their subscription-based western cousins. A perfect example of this is YNK Interactive's Rohan Online: Blood Feud, which has just entered open beta.

With a boom in this genre's popularity comes the need for developers to create something unique, that stands out in the crowd. With Rohan, you get much of the same controls, features and gameplay mechanics as other Korean-based MMOs, yet they do introduce their own element of uniqueness. For instance, they have a revolutionary revenge system set up where you can actually teleport straight back to the location of someone who killed you in a PvP duel. These players will automatically be added to your personal "hit list", where you can hunt them down yourself or bring along some friends to help bring the pain!

Follow us through the Rohan Online: Blood Feud gallery for more information!

Gallery: Rohan Online: Blood Feud Gallery

IntroductionGorgeous visuals and environmentsCrowded cities full of merchantsNPC MerchantsGuess who!

MassivelyRohan: Blood Feud enters open beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfree-to-playgallerykorearohanrohan-onlineynk-gamesynk-interactiveWed, 04 Jun 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Are you on the path?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/are-you-on-the-path/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/are-you-on-the-path/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/are-you-on-the-path/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

One factor that keeps MMORPGs running is the desire for progression. Every player who sets foot in any subscription-based game can eventually see the will of the developers creating systems that will make you dedicated time and energy to their game.

Yet, the one thing that no one seems to take notice of is the way we get sucked into keep playing. Sometimes isn't not about the difficulty of the challenge itself, but the path it takes to get to there. Everyone sees the physical difficulty of doing a raid, and everyone knows that the developers make it difficult to complete a raid so you keep playing longer, but very few can see the will of the developers resonating in the path it takes to get to the challenge.

Rohan at Blessing of Kings, however, locked onto that path in his latest post, entitled "Being on the Path".

Continue reading Are you on the path?

MassivelyAre you on the path? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenaarena-season-4blessing-of-kingsblizzardpersonal-ratingpvepvppvp-endgamepvp-gearraidsratingratingsrohanworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 02 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO dev chat reveals hints of the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/lotro-dev-chat-reveals-hints-of-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/lotro-dev-chat-reveals-hints-of-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/lotro-dev-chat-reveals-hints-of-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Deep into testing in Book 12, Lord of the Rings Online devs had little to reveal about the upcoming content patch that wasn't already announced. The juicy parts of this chat are the hints the devs dropped about long range plans for the game.

Fly like an Eagle: New variants of land mounts obtained through future patches and Festivals are mentioned, but more importantly the dev team is exploring "a new type of mount to take you into places horses would dare not go." Eagle ride anyone? And can you imagine the rep grind to get friendly with the Eagles? Roll up that Lore-master now.

Continue reading LotRO dev chat reveals hints of the future

MassivelyLotRO dev chat reveals hints of the future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashen-wastesbook-12book-13class-specializationdev-chateagle-mountseriadorflying-mountslotrorohanturbineFri, 25 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Double dev chat goodness for LotRO Book 12]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/double-dev-chat-goodness-for-lotro-book-12/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/double-dev-chat-goodness-for-lotro-book-12/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/double-dev-chat-goodness-for-lotro-book-12/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Two Lord of the Rings Online dev chats within one week? It's like Christmas came early for LotRO players. But it looks like some players are getting presents and others are getting coal.

German website, Lotro-Welten, held its monthly LotRO dev chat for European players last week. And last night US players got their own dev chat at MMORPG. Strangely, the EU dev chat held a wealth of new information while the US chat had very little new or interesting. Here are the highlights from Lotro-Welten's chat, mostly applying to the upcoming Book 12 content patch:
  • Fishing is being introduced as a new profession category called Hobbies
  • Hobbies are professions that anyone can level up in regardless of their other tradeskill choices
  • The barber in Book 12 will offer new hairstyles
  • The new cosmetic system allowing you to display different clothing will not extend to hand held items and will be entirely disabled in PvMP zones
  • More solo content is a big priority for the dev team and Angmar is getting a pass in Book 12 to become more solo friendly

Continue reading Double dev chat goodness for LotRO Book 12

MassivelyDouble dev chat goodness for LotRO Book 12 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 22:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angmarbarberbook-12burglarscosmetic-appearancedev-chatdevelope-chateasterlingsfishinghobbieslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-weltenmmorpgmounted-combatpvmprohanscholarsturbineTue, 04 Dec 2007 22:11:00 EST