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[Wasteland Diaries: It's fixed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/wasteland-diaries-its-fixed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/wasteland-diaries-its-fixed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/12/wasteland-diaries-its-fixed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Victors at Blockade
During the past couple of weeks, I haven't been playing Fallen Earth too much. I have been waiting for some changes to come along. I found the new combat system to be a bit too slow-paced and dull. It was very centered around healing. He who healed the best generally won the fights. I prefer a system in which he who deals the most damage is more likely to win. There are, of course, other tactical considerations involved in both types of combat, but the overall feel was just plain wrong in the healer-centric combat system.

I'm happy to report that some changes have been made to the system. There are still a few things I don't like about the 1.9 patch, but 1.9.2 fixed almost all of these issues. I won't say it was a perfect patch, but it was very close. There are still some minor issues I'd like to see addressed, but these are probably conscious design choices that are working as intended. In this post, I'd like to cover what has changed, why it's so great, and what we will see in the coming months. The urge to log into Fallen Earth is coming back to me, and it is all due to this new patch. After the cut, I'll explain why.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: It's fixed

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: It's fixed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-countyblockadecitadelcombat-systemecoomy-overhaulfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfast-travelfeaturedgamersfirsthealingicarusicarus-studiospowerprecisionpvepvpsector-4staminaterritory-controlFri, 12 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

It's been quite a while since I devoted an Anvil of Crom entry to deconstructing one of Craig Morrison's monthly Age of Conan development updates, and what better time to resurrect an old tradition than on the heels of one of the lengthier producer letters in recent memory.

The end-of-July document took a decidedly pro-PvP approach, and since I've been spending the majority of my game time on the new Blood and Glory server lately, reading between the lines on the bossman's latest state-of-the-game manifesto seems like the thing to do.

Join me after the cut for a bit of discussion on PvP, the future, and a bunch of interesting bullet points.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unchainedcombo-moldingcombo-skippingcraig-morrisondevelopment-updateexploitsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgameplayopinionpvepvpranger-trackingsilirrionstaminastealththe-anvil-of-cromtrackingworld-bossworld-bossesSun, 07 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: New AoC devs bringing optimism for the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/the-anvil-of-crom-new-aoc-devs-bringing-optimism-for-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/the-anvil-of-crom-new-aoc-devs-bringing-optimism-for-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/the-anvil-of-crom-new-aoc-devs-bringing-optimism-for-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wait a minute. Stop the presses. W. T. F?!

Do I detect some optimism here? From the Age of Conan community (and while we're getting all incredulous, from me)? What's next, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, and mass hysteria? As strange as it sounds, I do believe the tide is turning ever so slightly when it comes to Funcom's fantasy MMORPG. Things are, as they say, looking up, in no small part due to some fresh content and the promise of more to come.

Join me after the cut for a stroll down why-it's-a-good-time-to-be-an-AoC-fan lane.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: New AoC devs bringing optimism for the future

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: New AoC devs bringing optimism for the future originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocappearance-slotsclass-balancecontentcraftingdevsfantasyfeaturedfuncomhousingnew-devsopinionoptimismpositive-thinkingpositivitystaminathe-anvil-of-cromSun, 24 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Atlantica Online removes Stamina, allows unlimited play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/atlantica-online-removes-stamina-allows-unlimited-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/atlantica-online-removes-stamina-allows-unlimited-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/atlantica-online-removes-stamina-allows-unlimited-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nobody likes to be told how to play. Even if you have a good reason to try to limit player activities, players want to have the freedom to play an MMO however they want and whenever they want. It's a lesson that Atlantica Online has taken to heart with its latest mechanical change overhauling the Stamina system. Specifically, the overhaul consists of removing the system in its entirety as of today, allowing players unfettered access to the game's content.

Previously, the system was in place to prevent players from taking too many actions during a given period of time, which fatigued characters and locked down further progress. The removal allows players to continue playing for as long as they wish. Atlantica Online's players will no doubt be happy to hear that there's no clock in the background any longer, which is undeniably good unless you needed to be reminded to get up from the computer once in a while.

MassivelyAtlantica Online removes Stamina, allows unlimited play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlanticaatlantica-onlinef2pfatiguefree-to-playlevelinglimitationsndoorsndoors-interactiveplay-limitationsremovalstaminastamina-systemsystem-removalWed, 23 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questionable freshness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questionable-freshness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questionable-freshness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questionable-freshness/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We've been on a bit of a kick for new players lately, and that's not by coincidence. Sure, City of Heroes has a well-established playerbase by this point, but it's not like the game is exactly hostile to new players. And while I wanted to do another session of questions and answers, I wanted to wait until I had a good crop of questions that pertain to the newer crowd -- players less familiar with the game or with a given archetype, players who are interested in learning more but unable to find a cogent resource amidst scattered threads on the forums and one-off references in posts.

Let's face it, after nearly seven years, a lot of us don't need or want references to these things any longer. We don't need someone explaining to us about Enhancement Diversification or why someone other than the healer asks what you need for a wakie when you die. A newer player might have no idea about these things, though, and so we're mixing up the format a bit here. Let's get back to basics and look at some questions that might seem simple if you know the answer -- but don't tend to get answered if you don't.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questionable freshness

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questionable freshness originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterabilitiesanswersbrutebrutescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdefensefeaturedgame-mechanicsinherent-fitnessinherent-powersncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosq-and-aquestion-and-answerquestionsresistancestaminaWed, 19 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A holiday gift from Age of Conan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/a-holiday-gift-from-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/a-holiday-gift-from-age-of-conan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/a-holiday-gift-from-age-of-conan/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Massively has mentioned that Age of Conan is giving away in-game items all month as part of a seasonal contest they're running. But the latest Age of Conan newsletter let us know that everyone's received a free gift automatically, as of December 18th.

Funcom's given all players a new virtual item -- the Kosalan talisman of clarity. It boosts stamina and mana for its wearer, with a faster rate of regeneration for those traits. While it's not as über as the items obtainable at higher levels, it's not bad for a freebie. Age of Conan players can claim the Kosalan talisman by simply typing "/claim" in-game.
Warhammer Online Coverage Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous Age of Conan coverage, and stick with Massively for more news from the Hyborian Age!

MassivelyA holiday gift from Age of Conan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfuncomholidayholiday-eventholiday-eventsholidaysmananewsletterstaminatalismanvirtual-itemFri, 19 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO MMOnkey: Comparing active attack and auto attack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/mmo-mmonkey-comparing-active-attack-and-auto-attack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/mmo-mmonkey-comparing-active-attack-and-auto-attack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/mmo-mmonkey-comparing-active-attack-and-auto-attack/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In the opening sentence of a previous column I compared Age of Conan's active style of combat in which the player must instigate every attack with a keypress to the auto-attack combat common to most MMOs. I characterized auto attack as a go-make-a-cup-of-coffee type of combat which, as one commenter pointed out, was a bit of hyperbole designed to accentuate the difference between active and auto attack but which offended several other people who thought their combat skills were being denigrated.

The earlier column had nothing to do with styles of combat but all the combat-related comments got me thinking about some of the differences between active and auto attack. The two types of combat appear to have few, if any, important differences for the experienced player at the operational level (deployment of unit or squads in raids) or the strategic level (player-controlled access to important game resources as in EVE Online, Dark Age of Camelot and possibly Warhammer Online). When we look at game mechanics and individual unit tactics, however, important and potentially interesting differences begin to emerge.

Continue reading MMO MMOnkey: Comparing active attack and auto attack

MassivelyMMO MMOnkey: Comparing active attack and auto attack originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active-attackauto-attackcombatcombo-attackfeaturedgame-mechanicsjoystiqfeaturesmanameleeshieldsstaminatacticsThu, 10 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST