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[Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/wings-over-atreia-ode-to-3-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/wings-over-atreia-ode-to-3-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/20/wings-over-atreia-ode-to-3-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
*cue pitch pipe*

Twinkle, twinkle, little patch,
How I wonder where you're at?
In the East they play with ease,
In the West you're just a tease!
Twinkle, twinkle, three point oh,
Hurry please I want you so!

I've tried to be patient. I really have. I even avoided any wayward glances at Aion's Korean patch notes (translated, of course) for 3.0. That way, I could contain my excitement a little better. I mean, we already know I am dying for housing, and I also know mounts are involved. But there is always so much more, and I was trying to make the wait more bearable. I stood firm in my resolve.

Then I broke down. I peeked. And oh how the many-tendriled beast of anticipation took hold of me once again! Of course there is always the requisite "fixed this bug" and "changed that appearance" filler, but when mining deeper, you also find some definite valuable nuggets. Aion's next patch has some "how cool," some "oh wow, that's really unexpected," and some "about time!" thrown in as well. From new zones to new instances to new features, there is plenty coming our way. Don't want to tax your scroll wheel and sift through the entire patch notes yourself? Wings Over Atreia delves in to uncover some of the most tantalizing treasures for you.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Ode to 3.0 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.0-patchaion-3.0aion-ascensionAturam-Sky-Fortressbeshbeshmundir-templeDorgal-Manordungeondungeon-crawldungeon-crawlingdungeonsexpansionfeaturedincreased-level-capLandis-Forestlevel-caplevel-cap-increasenew-contentnew-landsnew-zonespatch-3.0patchesRentus-Baserole-playrole-playingroleplayroleplayerroleplayersSand-Lords-LairSarpanskill-changesSRSteel-RakeTahmesTiamarantaWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 20 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT team updates RP server naming policy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rift-team-updates-rp-server-naming-policy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rift-team-updates-rp-server-naming-policy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/rift-team-updates-rp-server-naming-policy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The fine folks at Trion Worlds have finally answered a pressing question that's been on the tongues of RIFT roleplayers since launch: What are the roleplaying server naming rules, and how are they being enforced? Scott Hartsman stepped into the forums recently to offer clarification on the topic, something for which RIFT roleplayers are certainly grateful.

Hartsman says that the team's goal with naming rules is to "apply sanity and reason, as best as we can, to this inherently subjective topic that's as much about opinions as it is about facts." In light of this, the rules that will be imposed are fairly standard for the genre -- no partial or complete sentences (sorry, Ipwnyouhard!), no pop-culture references, no leetspeak, and no titles that are "obviously out of place in Telara" -- but even so, it's great to see them explicitly spelled out so players know what to expect. Hopefully this will lead to a more enjoyable roleplaying experience for anyone on RIFT's RP servers. For the full post, which also includes some tidbits on customer service feedback, skip on over to the official forum post.

MassivelyRIFT team updates RP server naming policy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hartsmannamingnaming-policyriftrift-planes-of-telararole-playingroleplayingrprp-naming-policyrp-server-rulesscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsSun, 08 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/wings-over-atreia-shakespeare-in-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/wings-over-atreia-shakespeare-in-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/wings-over-atreia-shakespeare-in-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

OK, OK, maybe Shakespeare is a bit melodramatic, but the idea of taking on a role and playing it out on a stage is not a foreign idea -- even in Aion. It just so happens that this stage is not under your feet but in virtual space instead. Besides, I happen to love Shakespeare, so props to me for mentioning him in a gaming column!

Now, I am the first to admit that NCsoft doesn't make it easy for a gamer to roleplay in Aion; there are scant few tools to support this style of play. But that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Despite this dearth, there is in fact a whole community comprised of legions both large and small as well as individuals. These players use personal connections and a player-created chat channel in-game as well as external tools such as the Aion Roleplayers website to bind themselves together and support the community as a whole.

So what exactly is roleplay, and how viable is it in the world of Atreia? Exit stage left (past the cut) to define RP, debunk some RP myths, and explore RP in general Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamecarebearCareBearscross-faction-communicationcustomizationdramaemoteemoteserpeventsfeaturedfluffhousingleet-speakLeetSpeaklive-eventlive-eventsnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionplayer-created-contentplayer-housingplayer-run-eventplayer-run-eventspvprole-playingroleplayroleplayerRolePlayingRPrp-pvpWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 28 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Revisiting the rules of immersion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/free-for-all-revisiting-the-rules-of-immersion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/free-for-all-revisiting-the-rules-of-immersion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/free-for-all-revisiting-the-rules-of-immersion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Years ago, I found myself wanting something more out of my gaming. I never was a "typical" player; I never achieved max level or defeated the greatest enemies. After some thought, I realized that I played the same as I lived: always curious, needing to explore, willing to step into someone else's story, or wanting to create my own. I needed games to mean more than just a stat-sheet or a weekly raid schedule. I needed to feel more connected to this activity that was taking up so much of my time. Otherwise, it was just a job.

At the time, I was very much into Vanguard. I still am, but my schedule has left me without enough time to play as much as I'd like. I loved how the world of Telon sucked you in with its massive landscapes and endless waters. Yes, the game has many issues, and yes, the community does as well. I wasn't going to let that stop me from writing up a series of rules -- more like guidelines -- that would almost force myself to slow down, to connect to the character I was playing, and to have fun.

I've decided to re-examine and update the rules, especially because I could use them now more than ever. We'll start by breaking down the original set.

Continue reading Free for All: Revisiting the rules of immersion

MassivelyFree for All: Revisiting the rules of immersion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbeau-turkeyfree-for-allImmersionimmersion-rulesmabinogirole-playrole-playingroleplayRolePlayingvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesWarhammer-Onlineweather-systemsWed, 01 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Finding the sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In this installment of Waging WAR, Greg takes a look at Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning from a few different angles and goes in search of the proverbial "sandbox" in a game that contains neither sand nor boxes.

Somewhere along the line during my childhood, I developed a habit for playing games with nearly every game I've ever played. I can even remember a time in my early teens when I sat down with a few friends and collaborated on making our own version of battlechess. Pages of chicken-scratched rules and several dice results-tables later, and we were off and running for a solid week of the most entertaining chess matches I've ever played. Or there was that time with The Sims when I started creating experimental families and then leaving my computer on overnight and not interacting with them, just to see how successful they could be without my help. I could bore you for hours on end with examples of how I twisted the rules and made my own games from the games I've played.

I suppose I can blame my penchant for metagaming on my early introduction to pen-and-paper roleplaying (i.e., D&D 1st Ed., to be specific). All I had was a sheet of paper, a handful of dice, a description of the world around me, and my imagination. By its very nature, PnP gaming is sandbox gaming. The reason I'm bringing this up now is that, until WAR, I had pretty much been able to "find the sandbox" in any MMO I was able to get my hands on. Whether it was building hardcore Dungeons & Dragons Online characters, roleplaying in City of Heroes, or achievement-chasing in World of Warcraft, I've never really been troubled with finding something to do when the grind started to wear me down. But now, with WAR, I'm finding most of my old tricks for MMO metagaming just aren't working.

To read about what I've tried, and why it didn't work in WAR, follow along after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Finding the sandbox

MassivelyWaging WAR: Finding the sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicchampions-onlinecity-of-heroesCity-of-Villainsddoddo-unlimitedDiabloDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedfeaturesgunbadhardcorehunters-valekeepersmass-effect-2mass-effect-2-pcmass-effect-dlcmythicmythic-eaMythic-EntertainmentMythicEntertainmentpermadeathPNPpvpRedEyerole-playrole-playingroleplayRolePlayingrvrSandboxThe-Simstometome-of-knowledgetome-unlockswaging-warwarWarhammer-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftWorldOfWarcraftwowSat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Demands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/storyboard-demands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/storyboard-demands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/storyboard-demands/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hello, fellow roleplayers! I'm here to yell at all of you, myself included, as well as pretty much every single company producing MMOs at the moment. If possible, I'd also like the opportunity to yell at Gary Gygax for perpetuating certain modes of play far past the point that they were healthy for roleplaying games as a genre, but these days that just seems disrespectful. (Yelling at him about Lejendary Adventure should still be fair game.)

What am I so whiny about? The fact that we're now more than a decade into the existence of MMOs as a genre, and yet the most successful games out there don't give the tiniest crap about roleplayers. And yes, you might say, that's their fault for being bad hosts -- but it's also our own fault. Because while the idea of trying to roleplay has been marginalized, we've been sitting by and nodding our heads and agreeing that yes, we're not doing anything important. So it's time for a rant.

Continue reading Storyboard: Demands

MassivelyStoryboard: Demands originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardentertainmentfeaturedopinionplayer-toolsrole-playrole-playingroleplayingrprp-communityrp-toolsryzomstoryboardtoolsworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: The keyboard is mightier than the text bubble]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/behind-the-mask-the-keyboard-is-mightier-than-the-text-bubble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/behind-the-mask-the-keyboard-is-mightier-than-the-text-bubble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/behind-the-mask-the-keyboard-is-mightier-than-the-text-bubble/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In roleplaying, everyone has his own preferences. Some people like simple, character-to-character interactions without a lot of heavy plot. Others love in-depth storylines and lots of character drama. One of the most heated preferences in roleplaying, however, is the way that characters should resolve conflict.

Roleplaying is strange in that player characters get into fights about 3000 times more often than people do in real life. I'm a former US Marine, and I've been in less than a half dozen fights (including the kind involving guns) since I turned 18. On the other hand, my roleplaying characters tend to get into serious, earth-shattering battles involving guns, high-voltage electricity and psychic strangulation powers on an almost-weekly basis.

Because I play Champions Online, this should be sort of an oddity. There are no playable villain characters in CO, so most characters should be do-gooding champions of love and justice. Even in comics, we rarely see heroes go up against other heroes except in strange circumstances. Isn't it a little odd that heroes would beat the heck out of each other all the time for no real reason?

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The keyboard is mightier than the text bubble

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The keyboard is mightier than the text bubble originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alwaysbehind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studioserasurefeaturedgerard-nierenbergharmonyjin-yongjohnathan-wendelpvprole-playingroleplayingRPrpvpThu, 26 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose my Adventure: Star Wars [please wait...] Galaxies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/04/choose-my-adventure-star-wars-please-wait-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/04/choose-my-adventure-star-wars-please-wait-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/04/choose-my-adventure-star-wars-please-wait-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As they say, the best laid plans of mice and men... This week, my adventure involved fighting a whole new foe that I hadn't yet encountered in my time with Star Wars Galaxies. A beast more fearsome to any MMO player than the biggest, baddest raid boss: overwrought server hamsters. But I'd note that while that particular portion of the week was very disappointing, there were some other very nice parts to this week's playtime. There simply wasn't nearly as much of it as I'd hoped for.

Curious as to what this week held (aside from a surprising amount of staring at a login screen)? Come join me after the break and check out the gallery below to see where my adventures led this week! Also, there's a poll this week, offering you the chance to pick what direction I'll be doing in my upcoming adventure as a new pilot!

Gallery: Choose my Adventure: Star Wars Galaxies

In a strange new place, looking for the scum and villainy.Bantha! Don't try to run them over in your landspeeder. It doesn't work very well.If the terminator was Mon Calamari...Say hello to Bintall. He's very handy with a blaster!Mo'ag and I had to put the Tuskens in their place.

Continue reading Choose my Adventure: Star Wars [please wait...] Galaxies

MassivelyChoose my Adventure: Star Wars [please wait...] Galaxies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmafeaturedoverworked-server-hamstersrole-playingrpsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgWed, 04 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hey, kids, the name's Han Solo. I've been asked to step in here because I know a thing or two about smuggling. I know many of you are lookin' to jump into this line of work, and I'm going to tell you right now: it ain't gonna be easy. You gotta live by your guts, kids. You hav'ta be smooth, and you can't let crazy green Rodians get under your skin. In fact, if a Rodian does come lookin' for you, I suggest you shoot him first. It'll save you some trouble in the long run, but don't forget to pay for the mess.

Maybe I should start with some of the greatest smugglers out there. That should help detour you from the insanity of this profession. Although none of 'em is as good as I am, Lando Calrissian, Dash Rendar, and even an old smuggler named Hylo Visz made their marks on history. Their lives were wrought with risky maneuvers, near-misses, and some damned good luck. So I guess if you think you've got what it takes, keep reading -- I'll meet you after the break.

[Thank you to Lois van Baarle for letting us use her artwork for the main banner. You can see more of her work at Loish.net.]

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bespinBioWareboba-fettChewbaccacloud-citydash-rendarEAhan-solohothHydian-wayhylo-viszlando-calrissianlorelucas-artsLucasArtsmandaloriannerf-herderoutriderrole-playrole-playingroleplayRolePlayingsabaccsmugglesmuggledsmugglersmugglerssmugglers-rulesmugglingStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystorytellingswtorswtor-lore-guideMon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE's Sansha live event takes an interesting turn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/eves-sansha-live-event-takes-an-interesting-turn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/eves-sansha-live-event-takes-an-interesting-turn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/eves-sansha-live-event-takes-an-interesting-turn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

On the 11th of May, CCP announced that they'd be bringing live events back to EVE Online. Later that day, the first event was set in motion with the apparent leak of private CONCORD police documents into the hands of players. The documents hinted at a Sansha NPC military build-up, and suggested that Sansha's Nation was behind the reported abduction of a Ducia Foundry expedition team. Events rapidly escalated, with players breaking the news that Sansha fleets had begun attacking the populated worlds of the four empires and abducting citizens in the tens of thousands. The most worrying part was that the navies of the four empires were unable to respond in time as the Sansha fleets were using wormholes to enter their target systems.

During the first few days of the event, locator agent traces on key Sansha slave actors between attacks revealed their presence in a system named 3-CE1R. This was quickly written off by many EVE players as a roleplaying inconsistency as that system is within the Jove Empire. Jove space is currently unreachable as the mysterious and technologically advanced race decided long ago to cut the stargate connections between their empire and the rest of New Eden. When random wormholes through space began spawning after the Seylinn disaster, none appeared to connect to Jove space. This led players to believe that the Jove Directorate possessed some form of control over wormhole formation, able to at least block it from occurring in their systems.

Skip past the cut to read the startling revelations recently made in this epic storyline arc.

Continue reading EVE's Sansha live event takes an interesting turn

MassivelyEVE's Sansha live event takes an interesting turn originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeventeventsfeaturedjovejove-empirelive-eventlive-eventsrole-playingroleplayingsanshasanshas-nationwormholewormhole-explorationwormholesTue, 29 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE blogger unveils Project Athena, a collection of fictional ship manuals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/eve-blogger-unveils-project-athena-a-collection-of-fictional-sh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/eve-blogger-unveils-project-athena-a-collection-of-fictional-sh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/eve-blogger-unveils-project-athena-a-collection-of-fictional-sh/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Few things impress me about EVE Online's community more than the incredible videos, artwork and fiction created by players. For the role-playing and fiction-writing communities, the game's continually-updated prime fiction acts as a canvas onto which new stories can be blended. Long-time EVE blogger Kirith Kodachi over at Inner Sanctum of the Ninveah has been an avid fiction-writer and contributor to EVE Tribune, producing several articles based on in-character technical overviews of EVE ships.

Over the past two years, Kirith has been teaming up with artists and volunteer writers to collaborate on creating a more comprehensive collection of these articles. Written in the style of fictional ship manuals and presented as technical briefings interspersed with historical information, the completed project (dubbed "Project Athena") features full articles on 23 ships and their Tech 2 counterparts. Although the historical information and technical specifications have been invented by Kirith and his contributors, he's done his best to stick as closely as possible to the official EVE prime fiction. At 64 MB, the huge PDF file isn't a small download, but for role-players or fans of EVE fiction it's definitely worth a look.

MassivelyEVE blogger unveils Project Athena, a collection of fictional ship manuals originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>athenablogbloggerccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefan-fictionfictionhistoryinner-sanctum-of-the-ninveahkirith-kodachininveahproject-athenarole-playingroleplayroleplayingSun, 13 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Sansha abduction live event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/16/eve-evolved-sansha-abduction-live-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/16/eve-evolved-sansha-abduction-live-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/16/eve-evolved-sansha-abduction-live-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

On Tuesday, CCP announced that the Tyrannis expansion heralded the rebirth of live events in EVE Online. No sooner had the post gone live than the planned events began to seriously kick off in-game. It all began when classified CONCORD documents were inadvertently leaked to the capsuleer community. Code-named "ISHAEKA", the documents revealed that a CONCORD task-force had been monitoring recent Sansha military build-up in their home region of Stain. Since then, Sansha fleets have been spotted emerging from wormholes and abducting citizens from the colonised planets of New Eden, leading to some huge clashes with players.

In this lore-packed article, I look at the story behind EVE's Sansha abduction event, how you can get involved in some of the epic battles and what could be improved in future events.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Sansha abduction live event

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Sansha abduction live event originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every Friday, The Road to Mordor brings you the latest in Lord of the Rings Online news, guides and analysis.

Hey dol merry dol, Lord of the Rings Online fans! My name is Justin Olivetti, and I have the pleasure of joining you on this winding, epic road to Mordor. I play a Captain on the Gladden server, and some of my favorite activities in LotRO include wandering accidentally into signature mob camps, exterminating the local fauna in the name of Deeds, and trying to cobble together the perfect pirate costume for show.

So I know that LotRO is one of the best MMORPGs out there, and you know that as well, but with all the newer MMOs bursting out of the gate on what seems like a weekly basis, how can you convince your friends, loved ones and everyone in your social network that a three-year-old title is worth giving a try if they missed it the first time around?

Never fear -- I am on your side, and ready to equip you with ten terrific reasons why the lovechild of Turbine and Tolkien deserve an even greater number of folks exploring the lands of Middle-earth. So hit the jump and let's spread the word!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: 10 reasons why LotRO is worth picking up over shiny new MMOs

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: 10 reasons why LotRO is worth picking up over shiny new MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cookingfeaturedfishinghobbyhousinglorelotromiddle-earthmonster playMonsterPlayrole-playingrpskirmishtitlestolkienFri, 05 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The roles we play, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play-part-2/#commentsContinue reading The roles we play, part 2

MassivelyThe roles we play, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conandesigndevelopmenteve-onlinefantasyfeaturedgame-designGame-Mechanicsimmersionimmersivekill-ten-ratsloremmo-industryopinionquestsrole-playingroleplayingstorystorytellingswtorworld-of-warcraftTue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The roles we play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

To some people, the term "role-playing" conjures up images of guys with tinfoil swords and shields shouting "Lighting bolt!". Role-playing in MMOs gets a similarly polarised reception, suggesting scenes of people playing pretend and speaking to each other in Shakespearean tone. To those of us that grew up with pen-and-paper role-playing games and single-player RPGs, it might mean the opportunity to play fantastic characters like wizards and rogues. At its core, however, role-playing is something far more subtle and fundamental than we sometimes give it credit for and it underpins the entire MMO genre. In playing an MMO, we are inherently playing roles that the game's developers have created for us. But do most MMO developers really know how to create engaging gameplay for us or are they failing to immerse us in their own chosen roles?

In this probative opinion piece, I delve into the roles we play in MMOs and the things developers often do wrong when designing an immersive game experience.

Continue reading The roles we play

MassivelyThe roles we play originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conandesigndevelopmenteve-onlinefantasyfeaturedgame-designGame-Mechanicsimmersionimmersivekill-ten-ratsloremmo-industryopinionquestsrole-playingroleplayingstorystorytellingswtorworld-of-warcraftTue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOrigins: The play's the thing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/mmorigins-the-plays-the-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/mmorigins-the-plays-the-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/mmorigins-the-plays-the-thing/#commentsFiled under: ,


When it comes to my roots in MMOs, I actually have to start fairly early on with my general introduction to tech geekery. Growing up in my house was a somewhat strange affair. You see, back when computers used to take up entire rooms and ran on giant reels of tape -- later plastic key cards and paper tapes -- my father was working with them. Being part of our household meant one was essentially living with a highly technical mind that worked on and loved things like supercomputers. I experienced ideas and machines that many in the world hadn't, save in movies or on TV. It also meant that there were some pretty strange technical odds and ends floating around our home.

Continue reading MMOrigins: The play's the thing

MassivelyMMOrigins: The play's the thing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosplayfeaturedlarplive-action-role-playingmmommoriginsmmorpgmmospgopinionrole-playrole-playingvampire-the-masqueradevtmwodworld-of-darknessFri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer role-play servers: And then there was one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/warhammer-role-play-servers-and-then-there-was-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/warhammer-role-play-servers-and-then-there-was-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/warhammer-role-play-servers-and-then-there-was-one/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Mythic just began another round of free server transfers in Warhammer Online and this time they are allowing players to transfer from Ostermark (OST) to either Phoenix Throne (PT) or Vortex (VOR). OST and PT are the only two remaining North American servers using the role-play rule set. VOR has a core rule set.

This transfer presented Mythic with some unique issues. OST may have been one of the lowest population servers, but it still had a fairly substantial active player base and forcing everyone onto one server could have led to balance and overpopulation consequences. Many role-players also had characters of one realm on OST and the opposite on PT.

Mythic's rules do not allow subscribers to play both sides of the war on the same server, so they gave players of PT the opportunity to transfer to VOR as well. Finally, there is the issue of transfering from a role-play server to a core server, where there is less enforcement of proper naming and player maturity.

These issues aside, WAR is a game that requires a large number of players to be enjoyable, so many Oysters (as they're called on OST) are embracing this transfer option (as evidenced by Mythic's account website running much slower than usual today). Those wishing to transfer should read all the rules before doing so, as the process requires character and guild preparation.

MassivelyWarhammer role-play servers: And then there was one originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mythic-entertainmentrole-playingserver-mergeserver-transferwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 31 Mar 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Leaving your last love behind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/the-daily-grind-leaving-your-last-love-behind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/the-daily-grind-leaving-your-last-love-behind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/the-daily-grind-leaving-your-last-love-behind/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Let's face it - we invest a lot in our characters over time. Maybe you have that one devoted main that you come back to, no matter what happens. Perhaps you've spread your love over a series of alts. Whatever the case may be, the truth is that many of us tend to get emotionally invested in our characters as time passes. We've worked hard, gotten them nice gear, picked up a nice mount, gotten an in-game house, etc. (depending on game). So, when the shine has worn off your old favorite game, and you're at the point where it's time to move on, how do you say goodbye?

The team here have done everything from visiting favorite zones one last time; logging out in a particularly pretty area; throwing a party with friends as a way to burn off back-stocked food/drink; or logging out in the place where we felt we had the most fun in the game. There again, others on the team just logged out and didn't really care, although it seemed like more often than not, that was the case in games we didn't really click with anyway. This morning we thought we'd ask you - when you've moved on from game to game, retiring your old adventuring 'friend' as it were, did you do anything special before you signed out and shut the account down? Or did you just sign out without a second thought? If you did something special, what did you do?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Leaving your last love behind originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancelgoodbyelast-daylogging-outmoving-onrole-playingrptdgthe-daily-grindMon, 16 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Blurring the lines]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/behind-the-curtain-blurring-the-lines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/behind-the-curtain-blurring-the-lines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/behind-the-curtain-blurring-the-lines/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I find it strange that sometimes the world created for our MMOs isn't always well served by the game itself. World building is obviously a vitally important part of designing an MMO, but what if the world created for a particular game becomes so enthralling, so exciting, that the structures of the game leave some players feeling constrained? What happens when players have ideas and stories they want their characters to play out, but the game provides no tools or options to do so?

How many times have you wanted to take the story behind your MMO just a little further, to push the envelope and really get into the world you're spending your free time in. Have you ever finished a quest chain and thought, "What happens next?" Have you ever wondered what Stormwind would look like if Onyxia's disguise stayed uncovered? Have you enjoyed an MMO enough, or more specifically, enjoyed the world enough, to actually step away from it and create your own adventures in it, outside of the game?

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Blurring the lines

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Blurring the lines originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainrole-playingroleplayroleplayerroleplayingrpwarwarcraftwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 25 Sep 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Dungeons and Dragons Fourth Edition?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/the-daily-grind-dungeons-and-dragons-fourth-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/the-daily-grind-dungeons-and-dragons-fourth-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/the-daily-grind-dungeons-and-dragons-fourth-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Today's the day, long anticipated by tabletop gamers of the d20 variety; Dungeons and Dragons Fourth Edition releases today, coming to a Friendly Local Gaming Store near you. If you aren't familiar with the new edition of the game, Eurogamer has a great rundown on the system's ins and outs. For a more hands-on technical approach, you can't beat the official Wizards of the Coast site and their lengthy series of preview articles. You might have also noticed Penny Arcade's recent discussion of 4E. Though it requires a site login to reach, their hands-on playtime with PvP's Scott Kurtz is hilariously listenable.

We ask, because we have to imagine some of you MMO fans out there also have occasion to 'roll the bones'. These games are ultimately all built on the foundation that the late, great Gary Gygax built, right? So, how about it: are you jumping to the newest edition?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Dungeons and Dragons Fourth Edition? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d20dnddungeons-and-dragonsfantasyfourth-editionpen-and-paperrole-playingtdgthe-daily-grindwizards-of-the-coastwotcFri, 06 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Pointless mini-zones]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/player-vs-everything-pointless-mini-zones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/player-vs-everything-pointless-mini-zones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/player-vs-everything-pointless-mini-zones/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

How pointless are so-called "pointless mini-zones," really? Michael did a post the other day which examined the history of a zone in EverQuest called Surefall Glade. Hitting his links gave me a nice little walk down memory lane -- I have fond memories of Surefall, being an old-school EQ fan who cut his teeth in Qeynos Hills, back in the day. There really isn't all that much to the zone, though. It's like the article says: a cabin, a lake, an archery range, and a few hidden caves with some bears. There's nothing to do but raise your fletching skill, and nothing to kill that's worth killing. Eventually they added some stuff to it, but it was still never anything more than a small, transitional town.

Surefall was the essence of a pointless mini-zone: Most players never had any compelling reason to go there. Still, did it add something to the game with its mere presence? Like Moonglade in World of Warcraft, you could argue that it was kind of a neat place for players to discover and hang out. We get so focused on the "content" of these games that sometimes we forget that exploring a new zone you've never seen before, even if there's really nothing to do there, is content in its own right. Besides, does every single zone in our MMOGs have to be a big quest hub tied to a specific zone? Can't some places just be places?

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Pointless mini-zones

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Pointless mini-zones originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airporteverquestexploitfeaturedmoongladeplayer-vs-everythingrole-playingroleplayroleplayingsilithussurefall-gladetimbermawworld-of-warcraftzonezonesThu, 08 May 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I wear funny hats and I'm proud of it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/anti-aliased-i-wear-funny-hats-and-im-proud-of-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/anti-aliased-i-wear-funny-hats-and-im-proud-of-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/anti-aliased-i-wear-funny-hats-and-im-proud-of-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Since when did role-playing become a dirty word? Apparently even mentioning the initials of the dreaded "RP" is enough to make people want to prove John Gabriel's Greater Internet Dickwad Theory as loudly as possible. Players go out of their way to make others feel uncomfortable and to ruin any sort of fun some people may have. Is it because it's the internet? Or have we forgotten the history of the role-playing game?

Because I can't exactly spend a whole column talking about the horrors of the internet (NSFW) I'm going to be focusing on the place of role-playing and how it got interjected into these online games of ours.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I wear funny hats and I'm proud of it

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I wear funny hats and I'm proud of it originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedblizzarddrdragonrealmsdungeons-and-dragonselectronic-artsepic-loot-for-allgary-gygaxgrindjohn-gabriels-greater-internet-dickwad-theorylinden-lablyra-studiosmudmushrichard-garriottrole-playingroleplayerroleplayingsecond-lifesimutronicssltwilight-empireulultima-onlineunderlightworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Maxed out and bored]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/player-vs-everything-maxed-out-and-bored/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/player-vs-everything-maxed-out-and-bored/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/player-vs-everything-maxed-out-and-bored/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Congratulations! You've hit level 70 (or whatever max level is in your favorite game), and you're officially a badass. For many players, this is a goal they've been striving towards for months -- even years in some cases. The feeling of having that first max level character is immensely invigorating. It's like putting the finishing touches on a long-term project or getting to the last page of a monstrous novel. What an accomplishment! However, after basking in the glow of your newly maxed out character for a few days, you quickly realize you have a small problem: What do you do with yourself now?

The answer to that question is going to depend heavily on what game you play. For most people, it's going to be PvP, raiding, or a nice mix of both. You'll probably continue collecting gear for your character or working on your skills. Depending on the game, you might be able to work on some sort of alternate advancement or achievement system for your character -- maybe even hunt down some unique titles. All of this is pretty standard fare for endgame content. Sooner or later, you'll probably get a little bored of it. Don't fret, though! There's a whole host of other interesting things you can do to keep yourself entertained at maximum level that go beyond the planned content. Read on for a few suggestions.

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Maxed out and bored

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Maxed out and bored originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activitiesauctionboredcollectingeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedgankinggriefinglevel-caplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromarketplaceplayer-vs-everythingrole-playingroleplayingthings-to-dotradeskillsworld-of-warcraftFri, 25 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragonrealms revisited]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/dragonrealms-revisited/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/dragonrealms-revisited/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/dragonrealms-revisited/#commentsFiled under: ,

DragonrealmsJust over two weeks ago I wrote my first impressions of Dragonrealms, a text-based MUD that was recommended to me. Here I am, knowing a bit more about the game, and more importantly still engaged, still having fun, plotting my next steps, and interacting with a range of characters on a regular basis. Following on from the comments to that post I plan to dip into Gemstone soon as well.

Dragonrealms has a lot of subtle design features under the hood, many of which I am still getting to grips with to be honest. However, a few things have emerged quite clearly since my first post: things that make the game quirky, interesting and good in my eyes - your mileage may vary.

Continue reading Dragonrealms revisited

MassivelyDragonrealms revisited originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DragonrealmsGemstoneMUDrole-playingRPGskillsSun, 02 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Space for a new style of MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/the-daily-grind-space-for-a-new-style-of-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/the-daily-grind-space-for-a-new-style-of-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/the-daily-grind-space-for-a-new-style-of-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

My uncle's dead 'ardAs you may know if you've read my earlier posts, I'm basically a Second Lifer, but in the interests of research and writing for Massively, I've tried Runescape, Dofus, Oberin, Vendetta Online and World of Warcraft. You may also have noticed a number of first impressions posts but relatively little follow up.

This isn't entirely an accident. All of the games have failed to attract and keep my attention. Second Life has not. Come the end of my free month, I'm not 99% certain I won't be subscribing to World of Warcraft because it's doing the same things as the other games.

Continue reading Space for a new style of MMO?

MassivelySpace for a new style of MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call-of-CthulhuDofusfeaturedlevel-basedMMORPGOberinopinionRole-playingRunequestRunescapeskills-based-role-playVendetta-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 03 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten Ton Hammer's guide to EQ2's pantheon of deities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/ten-ton-hammers-guide-to-eq2s-pantheon-of-deities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/ten-ton-hammers-guide-to-eq2s-pantheon-of-deities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/ten-ton-hammers-guide-to-eq2s-pantheon-of-deities/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Both EverQuest and EverQuest II let players choose deities for their characters. This feature's primary purpose in the first EverQuest was facilitation of role-playing, but in EQ2 a player's choice of deity (a feature added in the Echoes of Faydwer expansion) has gameplay implications as well. It's a really cool idea which was born in the old text MUD days but which finds only rare application in modern games.

For those who play EQ2 and want to explore Norrath's vast pantheon of deities, Ten Ton Hammer has a terrific guide. It lists all the deities with descriptions and lists of their alignments, the quests you can do in their names, and the miracles they'll grant you.

Walk with Mithaniel Marr, my friend.

MassivelyTen Ton Hammer's guide to EQ2's pantheon of deities originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deitiesechoes-of-faydwereqeq2everquesteverquest-2godsloremithaniel-marrnoratthrole-playingroleplayingsoeten-ton-hammerFri, 23 Nov 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PvP FTW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/pvp-ftw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/pvp-ftw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/pvp-ftw/#commentsFiled under: ,

Do you prefer the blood-lust of PvP to the bloody boring banality of PvE missions? Do you live for the bloodletting, the torment, the outrage of the poor fool who tried to walk in front of you while you were sharpening your dagger or honing your casting skills? Do you like the thought of playing forever, with no subscription fee required? Do you want to avoid all the banality of role-playing and focusing on what your teammates want at the expense of your own needs? If so, you're in luck.

Guild Wars, one of the best-known games NCsoft has produced, has catered to your wishes with the Guild Wars PVP Access Kit. If you don't have Guild Wars, and you're interested in the PvP aspect of the game instead of the role-playing elements, then this is the kit for you. It allows you to install Guild Wars with only the PvP elements active, allowing you to move foward with shanking friends and enemies alike. At under twenty dollars (plus tax, of course), it's a pay-once model, with lifetime gameplay and service updates at no charge. So buck up, little camper: you don't need to worry anymore about whether or not your guild is going to be impressed by your ability to mine for fish: all you have to worry about is whether or not you've ganked enough n00bs to ensure your place on the boards.

MassivelyPvP FTW originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Guild-WarsNCsoftPlayer-vs-PlayerPvPRole-PlayingRoleplayingRPMon, 19 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Second Life one of the few, true MMORPGs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/is-second-life-one-the-few-true-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/is-second-life-one-the-few-true-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/19/is-second-life-one-the-few-true-mmorpgs/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Before the flame war starts (I realize it's inevitable on this one), let me clarify what I mean by "true roleplaying": the game engine and "rules" place have as few restrictions as possible;. While most of the MMOs we play are allegedly roleplaying games, most of them define your role. A great roleplaying game lets you create your own role for yourself and act it out, similar to a character at an improv theatre. "Roleplaying" in most RPGs is sorta like being in Hamlet; you can put your own spin on it, but you're forced to working within the director's vision. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Great roles stuck in Hamlet.

Games like WoW can be considered "roleplaying," sure. WoW lets you become that burly dwarf that does a mean Gimli impression by gruffly saying, 'Where's the brew, mate?". But you're constrained by game limitations and people's expectations. For instance, if you wanted to role-play a "big bad dwarf that's a coward and wants to hide behind the priest's robes" well, that'd get old after the first instance and most likely ensure you aren't invited again. Yes, I know there's people like Naked Troll guy , but let's be fair, he's an exception in a game that derides people for not having the optimal spec on raids.

Continue reading Is Second Life one of the few, true MMORPGs?

MassivelyIs Second Life one of the few, true MMORPGs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredlinden-labrole-playingroleplayingrpgsecond-lifeSLworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 19 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST