<?xml version="1.0"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd">
<channel>
<title>Massively</title>
<link>http://massively.joystiq.com</link>
<description>Massively</description>
<image>
<url>http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif</url>
<title>Massively</title>
<link>http://massively.joystiq.com</link>
</image>
<language>en-us</language>
<copyright>Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.</copyright>
<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[LotRO's Wargs to be stealthy or beefy fighters]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/"><img alt="LotRO" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/warg.jpg" /></a></div>
It's a dog-eat-dog world in Middle-earth, and only the most vicious of canines will succeed in the cutthroat world of PvMP. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> is preparing for a whole host of monster play renovations with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/update-6/">Update 6</a>, and Wargs are on tap for some serious love. <a href="http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/1804-update-6-developer-diary-warg-revisions">A new dev diary</a> on the official <em>LotRO </em>site lists all of the many, many changes coming for Wargs due to this shift in focus.<br />
<br />
As a stealth class, Wargs were seen by developers as being too vulnerable to imminent death after entering into combat. As such, the devs are beefing up the class' survivability by giving players a choice. With Update 6, Wargs can move between Shadow (stealth) and Flayer (brawler) stances, depending on the player's preference and situation. The Flayer stance will replace the old Shadow Howler one.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine/">Turbine</a> previously outlined other changes for PvMP in Update 6, including <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/what-a-tangled-web-lord-of-the-rings-online-weaves-especially-f/">Weavers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/latest-lord-of-the-rings-online-dev-diary-is-rather-audacious/">Audacity</a>, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/lord-of-the-rings-online-offering-pvmp-players-some-commendation/">Commendations</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/">LotRO's Wargs to be stealthy or beefy fighters</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20181985/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/lotros-wargs-to-be-stealthy-or-beefy-fighters/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>brawler</category><category>dev-diary</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>monster-play</category><category>pvmp</category><category>pvp</category><category>stealth</category><category>turbine</category><category>turbine-entertainment</category><category>update-6</category><category>warg</category><category>wargs</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Repopulation devs talk stealth, skill lists]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-repopulation-devs-talk-stealth-skill-lists/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-repopulation-devs-talk-stealth-skill-lists/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-repopulation-devs-talk-stealth-skill-lists/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sandbox/" rel="tag">Sandbox</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-repopulation-devs-talk-stealth-skill-lists/"><img alt="The Repopulation - there's a lot of blue in this screenshot" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/therepopulation3640.jpg" /></a></div>
Development continues on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/the-repopulation"><em>The Repopulation</em></a>, a new sci-fi sandbox MMORPG from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/above-and-beyond-technologies">Above &amp; Beyond Technologies</a>. The dev team has kicked off 2012 by updating the <a href="http://www.therepopulation.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=196&amp;Itemid=460">skill list section</a> of the game's official website, and in addition to the overview, classifications, and ranking verbiage, there's also a link to a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p0K4zvXNCL9NcVpha_PAlwEhWO7OKK3x6K5NWVGNnj0/edit?pli=1">Google document</a> showing all the skills currently in production.<br />
<br />
The devs also took the time to answer a couple of random forum questions, among them how combat/crafting interdependency works as well as how the game's stealth system is shaping up. "We don't have the exact disguise system in place yet so I cannot really speculate on it beyond the fact it will be for hiding in plain sight (instead of out of sight with stealth). A spy class is a good idea on what that might work like. The whole idea is to impersonate a certain faction or sub-faction so you won't get attacked," the Xerves says.<br />
<br />
[Thanks to S. Thompson for the tip!]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-repopulation-devs-talk-stealth-skill-lists/">The Repopulation devs talk stealth, skill lists</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-repopulation-devs-talk-stealth-skill-lists/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20141482/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-repopulation-devs-talk-stealth-skill-lists/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>above-and-beyond</category><category>above-and-beyond-technologies</category><category>combat</category><category>crafting</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>hiding-in-plain-sight</category><category>interdependency</category><category>repopulation</category><category>sandbox</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>skill-based</category><category>skill-list</category><category>skills</category><category>stealth</category><category>the-repopulation</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wakfu open beta starts January 4th]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wakfu-open-beta-starts-january-4th/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wakfu-open-beta-starts-january-4th/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wakfu-open-beta-starts-january-4th/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/betas/" rel="tag">Betas</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wakfu-open-beta-starts-january-4th/"><img alt="Wakfu - Srams Shadow class" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/12/sram-carrou.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ankama">Ankama</a> and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/square-enix">Square-Enix</a> have announced that <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/wakfu"><em>Wakfu's</em></a> open beta will begin on January 4th. The date will also mark the release of content update 0.311, which will bring a new achievement tracking tool and the <a href="http://www.wakfu.com/na/mmorpg/community/news/283706-dev-blog-gameplay-srams-shadow">Srams Shadow</a> class to the game. The Shadow is an assassin archetype who comes complete with invisibility mechanics and the ability to dish out considerable melee damage.<br />
<br />
The devs will also be wiping the servers for the open beta phase, but contest, promotional items, and holiday event items will persist through the reset. Ankama is also temporarily removing two classes (the Ecaflip and the Rogue) for further balancing. Look for the Rogue and its rival Masqueraider to make their return shortly after <em>Wakfu's</em> February launch.<br />
<br />
[Thanks to AterNox for the tip!]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wakfu-open-beta-starts-january-4th/">Wakfu open beta starts January 4th</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wakfu-open-beta-starts-january-4th/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20135280/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/wakfu-open-beta-starts-january-4th/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>ankama</category><category>assassin</category><category>beta</category><category>classes</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>invisibility</category><category>open-beta</category><category>server-wipe</category><category>shadow</category><category>square-enix</category><category>srams-shadow</category><category>stealth</category><category>wakfu</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ask Massively: This is a sneaking mission edition]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/ask-massively/" rel="tag">Ask Massively</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/"><img alt="I'm also sad that peachifruit isn't doing an MGS4 comic.  Or finishing her P4 comic.  She did good parodies." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/11/askmassively-epl-1107.jpg" /></a></div>
Let's get something straight: Even though I'm late to the party with <em>Metal Gear Solid 4</em>, I'm a fan of the series. It's not perfect by any means, but it's one of my favorite franchises of all time. That having been said, why is it always a sneaking mission? Just once, I'd like to be told that this is a march-in-with-an-automatic-gun-and-shoot-people-in-the-face mission. But no, solo sneaking mission, every single time. I know, it's the series hallmark, but since my second playthrough is already going to be a bloodbath with a stealth unit equipped, part of me wants to do that on the <em>first</em> playthrough. Just once.<br />
<br />
Appropriately enough, this week's questions for Ask Massively involve stealth in MMOs. They also involve subscription fees, but that doesn't really segue naturally. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, feel free to leave it in the comments or mail it along to <a href="mailto:ask@massively.com">ask@massively.com</a>.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ask Massively: This is a sneaking mission edition</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/">Ask Massively: This is a sneaking mission edition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20100765/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>answers</category><category>ask-massively</category><category>column</category><category>featured</category><category>fees</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>humor</category><category>opinion</category><category>questions</category><category>stealth</category><category>subscription-fees</category><category>subscriptions</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[World of Tanks introduces stealth with Update 7.0]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/world-of-tanks-introduces-stealth-with-update-7-0/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/world-of-tanks-introduces-stealth-with-update-7-0/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/world-of-tanks-introduces-stealth-with-update-7-0/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/historical/" rel="tag">Historical</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/galleries/" rel="tag">Galleries</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/war/" rel="tag">War</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-tanks/" rel="tag">World of Tanks</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/world-of-tanks-introduces-stealth-with-update-7-0/"><img alt="Snow camo - World of Tanks" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/11/camouflageimage09-sm.jpg" /></a></div>
The newly announced Update 7.0 for <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/World-of-Tanks/">World of Tanks</a></em> contains a laundry list of new content for the wildly popular free-to-play MMO.<br />
<br />
First up, we have two new maps -- Fjords and Swamp -- where the clan warfare can take on an extra challenge with the highly anticipated camouflage system, applied to all maps. This version of stealth allows certain skins to be applied to the tanks that will "provide enhanced invisibility and add more to the strategic element of tank combat." Keep in mind that this isn't some kind of magic invisibility spell; it's an authentic camouflage pattern applied to the tanks, according to which map you're in.<br />
<br />
In addition, Update 7.0 also introduces fog of war for Clan Wars, hiding the other team's roster, and clan emblems to let other players know how you roll.<br />
<br />
For more on this update, check out the <em>World of Tanks</em> site, as well as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/gdc-austin-2011-planes-tanks-and-battleships-wargaming-sh/">our recent interview</a> with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Wargaming-net/">Wargaming.net</a> from <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/GDC-Online-2011/">GDC Online 2011</a>.<br />
<br />
[Source: Wargaming.net press release]<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/world-of-tanks-0/">World of Tanks</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/world-of-tanks-0/#4716960"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/tank1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/world-of-tanks-0/#4716961"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/tank2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/world-of-tanks-0/#4716962"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/tank3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/world-of-tanks-0/#4716963"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/tank4_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/world-of-tanks-0/#4716964"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/01/tank5_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/world-of-tanks-introduces-stealth-with-update-7-0/">World of Tanks introduces stealth with Update 7.0</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/world-of-tanks-introduces-stealth-with-update-7-0/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20095390/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/world-of-tanks-introduces-stealth-with-update-7-0/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>camouflage</category><category>clan-emblems</category><category>clan-warfare</category><category>f2p</category><category>fjord</category><category>fog-of-war</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>stealth</category><category>swamp</category><category>update-7</category><category>update-7.0</category><category>wargaming.net</category><category>world-of-tanks</category><category>wot</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Shawn Schuster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV talks about the new stealthy gathering]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/consoles/" rel="tag">Consoles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/final-fantasy-xiv/" rel="tag">Final Fantasy XIV</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/"><img alt="Pictured: stealth." src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/08/ffxiv-stealth-epl-822.jpg" /></a></div>
It's not always easy being a gatherer in <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/Final-Fantasy-XIV/">Final Fantasy XIV</a></em>. Sure, you get all of the features of a full-fledged class, and that's pretty nice. You are sent out into the wild amidst hordes of ravenous beasts, however, and you aren't given many defensive options beyond "try to throw a rock at things." At least, that's the case at the moment. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ffxiv-Patch-1.19/">Patch 1.19</a> is bringing a major change to the way Disciplines of the Land handle their trade, with <a href="http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/21817">a new ability known as Coeurl Step</a>.<br />
<br />
Named after the cat-like monsters found across the series, the new ability permits gatherers to enter an undetectable state for various tiers of levels at the cost of a severe drop in movement speed. Stealth can be maintained even while gathering, however, allowing players to sneak right past aggressive monsters and take their bounty from the land with ease. While Coeurl Step is exclusive to the gathering classes, there are few players who haven't picked up one gathering class or another, so most of the playerbase will benefit from <a href="http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/21817">the option to go incognito</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/">Final Fantasy XIV talks about the new stealthy gathering</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20024062/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/final-fantasy-xiv-talks-about-the-new-stealthy-gathering/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>abilities</category><category>disciples-of-the-land</category><category>disciplines-of-the-land</category><category>ff</category><category>ff14</category><category>ffxiv</category><category>ffxiv-patch-1.19</category><category>final-fantasy</category><category>final-fantasy-14</category><category>final-fantasy-xiv</category><category>gathering</category><category>gathering-classes</category><category>news</category><category>non-combat-classes</category><category>square</category><category>square-enix</category><category>stealth</category><category>updates</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pve/" rel="tag">PvE</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-anvil-of-crom/" rel="tag">The Anvil of Crom</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/08/aocbannermain.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
It's been quite a while since I devoted an <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-anvil-of-crom">Anvil of Crom</a> entry to deconstructing one of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/craig-morrison">Craig Morrison's</a> monthly <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/age-of-conan"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> 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.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com/news/monthly_development_update_july_2011">end-of-July</a> 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.<br />
<br />
Join me after the cut for a bit of discussion on PvP, the future, and a bunch of interesting bullet points.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>The Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/">The Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20006298/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/07/the-anvil-of-crom-deconstructing-the-dev-update-pvp-edition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>anvil-of-crom</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>combo-molding</category><category>combo-skipping</category><category>craig-morrison</category><category>development-update</category><category>exploits</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>featured</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>gameplay</category><category>opinion</category><category>pve</category><category>pvp</category><category>ranger-tracking</category><category>silirrion</category><category>stamina</category><category>stealth</category><category>the-anvil-of-crom</category><category>tracking</category><category>world-boss</category><category>world-bosses</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan dev update outlines PvP changes]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/07/aocpissedoffranger.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> game director Craig "<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/craig-morrison">Silirrion</a>" Morrison has posted his latest monthly development update, and the lengthy piece focuses heavily on the PvP side of the game. While class-specific balance fixes aren't given much lip service here (Morrison says they're addressed in each game update anyway, and are an ongoing process), <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom</a> is looking at quite a few changes to <em>AoC's</em> PvP component.<br />
<br />
Morrison tasks lead systems designer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/einar-forselv">Einar Forselv</a> with talking about the specific goals, and he gives us a general look at what's on the dev team's plate. First up is the problematic minigame respawn mechanic, and Forselv says that Funcom is looking to make it more like the systems found in your average FPS as well as address the loopholes people use to perform AFK exploits.<br />
<br />
Ranger tracking will also be "<em>overhauled</em>," which likely means a nerf since the feature is the subject of much QQ from the non-Ranger community. Siege performance changes are also on the table, as are stamina and aggro fixes, changes to animation and combat calculation interactions, and tweaks to the stealth system. Finally, this month's dev update mentions that new PvP world bosses are on the way to Hyboria, and teases the upcoming <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/savage-coast-of-turan">Savage Coast of Turan</a> content that ties in with this summer's Conan film reboot.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/">Age of Conan dev update outlines PvP changes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20004318/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/age-of-conan-dev-update-outlines-pvp-changes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>age-of-conan-unchained</category><category>aoc</category><category>aoc-unchained</category><category>blood-and-glory</category><category>craig-morrison</category><category>dev-diary</category><category>dev-update</category><category>einar-forselv</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>pvp</category><category>pvp-world-bosses</category><category>qq</category><category>rangers</category><category>silirrion</category><category>stealth</category><category>tracking</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Find the Force]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/hyperspace-beacon-find-the-force/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/hyperspace-beacon-find-the-force/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/hyperspace-beacon-find-the-force/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hyperspace-beacon/" rel="tag">Hyperspace Beacon</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hyperspace-beacon/"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/06/hb-find-force.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
<div>
	With <a href="http://e3expo.com">E3</a> last week, I really considered devoting this article to opinions regarding the latest news for <a href="http://swtor.com"><em>Star Wars: The Old Republic</em></a>. Then I realized that Massively already published a ton of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/"><em>SWTOR</em></a> related articles about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/e3-2011/">E3 this week</a>. During the show itself, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/e3-2011-hands-on-with-swtors-imperial-agent-operative/">Dan gave his impressions</a> of playing the game, and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/e3-2011-hands-on-impressions-of-star-wars-the-old-republic/">all four of our attendees delivered impressions yesterday</a>. It's good to read impressions from people who love MMOs but aren't necessarily die-hard fans of <a href="http://bioware.com">BioWare</a> or Star Wars -- you'll get a different perspective than you would reading this column.<br />
	<br />
	So instead, this week I'll examine the announced abilities for the Jedi Consular class. The majority of this information stems from the advanced class page, but there is a little bit that comes from <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/367/feature/5273/Star-Wars-The-Old-Republic-Advanced-Classes-Interview.html">MMORPG's interview</a> with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Georg-Zoeller">Georg Zoeller</a>. Hop past the break as we explore the abilities of this powerful Force-user.</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/hyperspace-beacon-find-the-force/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Hyperspace Beacon: Find the Force</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/hyperspace-beacon-find-the-force/">Hyperspace Beacon: Find the Force</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/hyperspace-beacon-find-the-force/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19965318/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/hyperspace-beacon-find-the-force/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>advanced-classes</category><category>BioWare</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>daniel-erickson</category><category>EA</category><category>Electronic-Arts</category><category>featured</category><category>force</category><category>georg-zoeller</category><category>healer</category><category>hyperspace-beacon</category><category>Jedi</category><category>jedi-consular</category><category>Jedi-Sage</category><category>Jedi-Shadow</category><category>LucasArts</category><category>mechanics</category><category>rogue</category><category>Star-Wars</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>stealth</category><category>swtor</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>tor</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Larry Everett]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you think about stealth?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-stealth/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-stealth/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-stealth/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/"><img  src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/04/stealth.jpg" style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;" /></a></div>
I remember back when <a href="http://www.warhammeronline.com/"><em>Warhammer Online</em></a> was in development and the issue arose of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/stealth/">stealth</a> in the game.  At first, the devs were adamant that stealth was a cheesy PvP tactic that had no place in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warhammer-online/"><em>WAR</em></a>.  This stance lasted for some time <a href="http://waaagh.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/stealth-the-phantom-controversy/">until they abruptly did an about-face</a> and introduced a couple of stealth classes, much to the dismay of players looking forward to a PvP title free of the feature.<br />
<br />
So we learned that stealth comes to most all MMOs, whether we like it or not.  For some, stealth is an empowering ability that allows players to bend the rules of mob engagement and attack them on their own terms.  For others, stealth is an infuriating tactic in PvP battles that is usually followed up by stuns, massive damage and death.<br />
<br />
So what do you think about stealth?  Is it a great feature or a horrible one?  Is it so standard that all MMOs must include it from here on out?  Do you enjoy playing stealth classes or secretly loathe them?<br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>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 <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-stealth/">The Daily Grind: What do you think about stealth?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-stealth/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19914574/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-about-stealth/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>imperial-agent</category><category>opinion</category><category>pvp</category><category>rogue</category><category>stealth</category><category>stunlock</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>war</category><category>warhammer-online</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Your eyes can deceive you]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/hyperspace-beacon-your-eyes-can-deceive-you/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/hyperspace-beacon-your-eyes-can-deceive-you/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/hyperspace-beacon-your-eyes-can-deceive-you/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/" rel="tag">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hyperspace-beacon/" rel="tag">Hyperspace Beacon</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hyperspace-beacon/"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/04/hb-eye-deceive.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
I don't know about you, but <a href="http://www.swtor.com/news/blog/20110408">this Friday's update</a> surprised me. After the freighter-full of information we have been receiving, I was kind of expecting a meager morsel of facts from <em><a href="http://swtor.com">Star Wars: The Old Republic</a> </em>in this most recent update. However, just knowing that the update was written by Lead Combat Designer <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/georg-zoeller">Georg Zoeller</a>, I was excited about it. Zoeller is surely the most active developer on the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-wars-the-old-republic/"><em>SWTOR</em></a> forums, and he always has some incredible nuggets of information to share with the community.<br />
<br />
This week, I want to talk about combat roles. Although <a href="http://bioware.com">BioWare</a> mentioned that it supports the standard trinity, it was refreshing to read that the team is mixing things up a bit based on advanced classes. For instance, your Bounty Hunter easily slips into the DPS or the tank role, but developers have thrown healing into the equation, too. This week, I want to talk about another role I did not expect to see: the Stealth Tank.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/hyperspace-beacon-your-eyes-can-deceive-you/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Hyperspace Beacon: Your eyes can deceive you</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/hyperspace-beacon-your-eyes-can-deceive-you/">Hyperspace Beacon: Your eyes can deceive you</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/hyperspace-beacon-your-eyes-can-deceive-you/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19908792/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/hyperspace-beacon-your-eyes-can-deceive-you/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>BioWare</category><category>classes</category><category>consular</category><category>EA</category><category>Electronic-Arts</category><category>featured</category><category>Jedi</category><category>jedi-consular</category><category>LucasArts</category><category>rogue</category><category>roles</category><category>Star-Wars</category><category>star-wars-galaxies</category><category>star-wars-the-old-republic</category><category>stealth</category><category>SWG</category><category>swtor</category><category>tank</category><category>the-old-republic</category><category>tor</category><category>World-of-Warcraft</category><category>WoW</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Larry Everett]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[ArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2/" rel="tag">Guild Wars 2</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://www.massively.joystiq.com/category/guild-wars-2"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/03/thief-rb-311.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.arena.net">ArenaNet</a> unveiled new information on the <a href="http://www.guildwars2.com"><em>Guild Wars 2</em></a> Thief early this morning via an <a href="http://ca.kotaku.com/5780900/the-guild-wars-2-thief-is-a-rogue-like-none-other">interview and skill video on Kotaku</a>, giving eager fans more insight into the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/new-guild-wars-2-video-gives-info-on-pax-east-demo-more-glimpse/">demo videos released last week at GDC</a>.<br />
<br />
The interview with <a href="http://www.massively.joystiq.com/tag/eric-flannum">Eric Flannum</a>, <a href="http://www.massively.joystiq.com/tag/jon-peters">Jon Peters</a>, and <a href="http://www.massively.joystiq.com/tag/isaiah-cartwright">Isaiah Cartwright</a> builds on much of what we already know: dual pistols, stealth skills, stealing, and so on. The skill video reinforces much of what the developers have to say as well, but what's new? Follow along after the jump for the latest scoop on the Thief!<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>ArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/">ArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19876393/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>anet</category><category>arenanet</category><category>guild-wars-2</category><category>guild-wars-2-thief</category><category>gw2</category><category>kotaku</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>stealing</category><category>stealth</category><category>thief</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rubi Bayer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wings-over-atreia/" rel="tag">Wings Over Atreia</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/wings-over-atreia"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/03/woaheaderasmo.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
You know the feeling -- you learn about some upcoming goodness and you want it. Or do you crave it? You can fall anywhere along the spectrum of anticipation, provoked by things you just look forward to all the way to things that make you squeal in schoolgirl giddiness at the mere thought! It's a game in and of itself. Such is the way of <em><a href="http://na.aiononline.com/"><em>Aion</em></a></em> updates, which tantalize and tease players for quite some time before going live (and even longer if you can translate the original Korean patch notes yourself!). Not yet having a release date for updates is not dampening the anticipation of many Daevas but rather is fueling it instead.<br />
<br />
So what brought about my musings on this topic? I squealed! More specifically, an announcement this week that put me right into the giddy mode: Winter <em>is</em> coming! George R.R. Martin's fifth book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series will <a href="http://grrm.livejournal.com/198122.html">release in July</a>. Now, while my fangirliness in its supreme is reserved for this outstanding literature, I also have things that I am looking forward to in game. However, there are those who have a virtual heart attack when new goodies for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion"><em>Aion</em></a> are announced; I have one legionmate who will only re-sub when <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/07/aion-2-5-patch-notes-translated-lots-of-new-content-incoming/">update 2.5</a> rolls around and brings with it all the little bells and whistles he is pining for. It is quite interesting to listen as he randomly pops into Ventrilo to trumpet the greatness of this upcoming gaming salvation, then disappears again into the night.<br />
<br />
So what about 2.5 has my legionmate so excitable... and excited? Skip-to-my-lou past the cut to take a look at some of the upcoming features.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Wings Over Atreia: Anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/">Wings Over Atreia: Anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19862895/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/wings-over-atreia-anticipaaaaaaaaaaaation/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2.5</category><category>aion</category><category>aion-game</category><category>Casting-Speed</category><category>casting-speed-cap</category><category>emotes</category><category>featured</category><category>george-r-r-martin</category><category>graphics-upgrade</category><category>helper-system</category><category>incentive</category><category>incentives</category><category>nc-soft</category><category>nc-soft-aion</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>ncsoft-aion</category><category>nerf</category><category>nerf-bat</category><category>new-skills</category><category>patch-2.5</category><category>patch-notes</category><category>porgus</category><category>skills</category><category>stealth</category><category>upgrade</category><category>upgrades</category><category>ventrilo</category><category>Wings-Over-Atreia</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[MJ Guthrie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[LotRO ramps up to Echoes of the Dead with new dev diaries]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/lotro-ramps-up-to-echoes-of-the-dead-with-new-dev-diaries/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/lotro-ramps-up-to-echoes-of-the-dead-with-new-dev-diaries/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/lotro-ramps-up-to-echoes-of-the-dead-with-new-dev-diaries/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dev-diaries/" rel="tag">Dev Diaries</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lotro.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/02/echoes.jpg" /></a></div>
Speculation is on a head-on collision with fact, as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine/">Turbine</a> has started to roll out information about the next <a href="http://www.lotro.com"><em>Lord of the Rings Online</em></a> update, titled "<a href="http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?&amp;postid=5210132#post5210132">Echoes of the Dead</a>." As players wonder whether <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/11/lord-of-the-rings-online-invaded-by-mysterious-relics-takes-hom/">the mysterious runes</a> of a couple weeks ago indicate a new raid hub, or whether Echoes of the Dead is the name of the next book in the epic storyline, Turbine has at least shed light on class changes scheduled for this next update.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ken-burd/">Ken Burd</a> caters to the thieves, er, treasure-hunters in the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online"><em>LotRO</em></a> crowd <a href="http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/1016-update-2-burglar-developer-diary">with his Burglar dev diary</a>. Several improvements and buffs for the class are in order, including additional stealth stances, bleed effects matching weapon damage types, beefier Fellowship Maneuvers, the ability to go faster in stealth, and a "Safe Fall" skill to safeguard against falling injuries (although Burglars can still be killed by falling too far).<br />
<br />
For the musically minded, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/tim-lang/">Tim Lang</a> has you covered <a href="http://www.lotro.com/gameinfo/devdiaries/1015">with his Minstrel dev diary</a>. Lang lists a huge amount of tweaks and fixes for the class, including shorter cooldowns for select skills, several new legacies, and an additional skill called "Anthem of the Third Age," which buffs either damage or healing, depending on whether you're in War Speech stance or not.<br />
<br />
Finally, in response to this past weekend's game and forum outages, <a href="http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?&amp;postid=5211701#post5211701">Sapience announced</a> that NA players will enjoy increased +5% XP gains from monster kills as well as token drops that can be exchanged for gift boxes from now through Sunday the 6th.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/lotro-ramps-up-to-echoes-of-the-dead-with-new-dev-diaries/">LotRO ramps up to Echoes of the Dead with new dev diaries</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/lotro-ramps-up-to-echoes-of-the-dead-with-new-dev-diaries/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19827758/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/lotro-ramps-up-to-echoes-of-the-dead-with-new-dev-diaries/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>anthem-of-the-third-age</category><category>burglar</category><category>class</category><category>dev-diary</category><category>echoes-of-the-dead</category><category>fellowship-maneuvers</category><category>gift-boxes</category><category>ken-burd</category><category>lord-of-the-rings-online</category><category>lotro</category><category>minstrel</category><category>safe-fall</category><category>sapience</category><category>stealth</category><category>tim-lang</category><category>turbine</category><category>war-speech</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Exclusive: A look at RIFT's Saboteur]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-saboteur/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-saboteur/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-saboteur/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rift/" rel="tag">RIFT</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/screenshots/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#/49"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/01/rift-saboteur-epl-117-1295313983.jpg" /></a></div>
You can call them rogues, thieves, scoundrels, but by any name they're stealthy little bastards. <a href="http://www.riftgame.com"><em>RIFT</em></a>'s Rogues are no exception, with the difference being that the soul system allows them access to several unique flavors of sneaky little bastard. There are the backstabbing Assassins, the sniping Marksmen, and the defensive Riftstalker all under the same overarching aegis, allowing players a wide variety of different options. But none of them yet has been the truly annoying sort, the one who looks to be finally caught flat-footed just as you realize he's been playing you the whole time.<br />
<br />
Rounding off a week of new soul previews is the Saboteur -- and while it might seem a bit less glamorous to come last, that's exactly how the Saboteur would want it. An expert in preparation and subtle traps, the Saboteur is vulnerable without time to prepare his various battlefield modifications, but immensely destructive if he's in control. Click on past the break for more backstory and information on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/RIFT/">RIFT</a>'s resident schemer.<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/">RIFT: Core Gallery</a></strong></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788802"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-river-of-souls-plutonus_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788801"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-river-of-souls-gaurath_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788799"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-river-of-souls-galenir_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788796"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-ravalos_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/photos/rift-planes-of-telara-pax-2010/#4788793"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/02/rift-1.7-ragnoth_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-saboteur/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Exclusive: A look at RIFT's Saboteur</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-saboteur/">Exclusive: A look at RIFT's Saboteur</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-saboteur/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19804398/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/exclusive-a-look-at-rifts-saboteur/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>class</category><category>class-preview</category><category>class-previews</category><category>classes</category><category>exclusive</category><category>lore</category><category>massively-exclusive</category><category>new-class</category><category>new-souls</category><category>rift</category><category>rift-planes-of-telara</category><category>rogue</category><category>sabotage</category><category>saboteur</category><category>sneaking</category><category>soul</category><category>soul-system</category><category>souls</category><category>stealth</category><category>trion</category><category>trion-worlds</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Rogue]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/roleplaying/" rel="tag">Roleplaying</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/storyboard/" rel="tag">Storyboard</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/storyboard"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/11/storyboard-28-epl-1124.jpg" /></a></div>
A disproportionate number of roleplaying characters are heroes. Well, "heroes" might be a bit too strong of a term -- said characters may or may not have actually done anything heroic -- but given the opportunity, they prefer to be on the noble and self-sacrificing side of a conflict. There's nothing wrong with that, to be sure, but there is something to be said for playing someone whose ethics are a bit less grounded in an abstract idea of right or wrong.<br />
<br />
Most fantasy games have a class either named as a rogue or some variant thereof, and even when the class doesn't exist, the hallmarks are there. Stealthy and sneaky, usually aimed at quick bursts of damage -- all of those elements speak to how rogues work. But they don't actually define a true rogue any more than a hammer defines a carpenter. So feel free to cue up some appropriate music (at your discretion) as we dive into the second archetype study, taking a good hard look at the most underhanded archetype around.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Rogue</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/">Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Rogue</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19732996/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-rogue/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>amorality</category><category>archetypes</category><category>character</category><category>characters</category><category>featured</category><category>morality</category><category>opinion</category><category>rogue</category><category>rogues</category><category>roleplaying</category><category>rp</category><category>self-gain</category><category>sneaking</category><category>stealth</category><category>storyboard</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Forsaken World's assassin slices and dices]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/forsaken-worlds-assassin-slices-and-dices/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/forsaken-worlds-assassin-slices-and-dices/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/forsaken-worlds-assassin-slices-and-dices/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/previews/" rel="tag">Previews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fw.perfectworld.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/09/assassin.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<em>"By the time you see one,"</em> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/perfect-world-entertainment/">Perfect World Entertainment</a> promises,<em> "it's already too late."</em> Of course when you do see one of Forsaken World's assassins, your last thought may be,<em> </em>"Where are all your clothes, girl?"<br />
<br />
The assassin is the focus of <a href="http://fw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=120711"><em>Forsaken World's</em></a> <a href="http://fw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=120711">latest class spotlight</a>, and if you're thinking "rogue" right now, you're not too far off the mark. This class, playable only by Human and Kindred characters, certainly seems to embody many of the typical qualities of a MMO rogue, from dual-wielding to stealth attacks to working off a combo points system. However, they do get a few interesting abilities, such as being able to run down fleeing opponents with as much mercy as you might expect from an assassin.<br />
<br />
The class spotlight also lists a few of the assassin's skills-in-progress, which include a brief increase to run speed, the ability to enter and remain in stealth even while in combat, and transferring a slow effect from yourself to your enemy. You can read the full rundown <a href="http://fw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=120711">over at <em>Forsaken World</em></a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/forsaken-worlds-assassin-slices-and-dices/">Forsaken World's assassin slices and dices</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://fw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=120711>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/forsaken-worlds-assassin-slices-and-dices/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19645624/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/forsaken-worlds-assassin-slices-and-dices/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>assassin</category><category>class</category><category>class-spotlight</category><category>f2p</category><category>forsaken-world</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>human</category><category>kindred</category><category>perfect-world-entertainment</category><category>rogue</category><category>stealth</category><category>underboobage</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Olivetti]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Global Agenda]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-global-agenda/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-global-agenda/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-global-agenda/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/events-in-game/" rel="tag">Events, in-game</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/reviews/" rel="tag">Reviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/hands-on/" rel="tag">Hands-on</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmofps/" rel="tag">MMOFPS</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/global-agenda/" rel="tag">Global Agenda</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/humor/" rel="tag">Humor</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/rise-and-shiny/" rel="tag">Rise and Shiny</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/global-agenda/"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/08/ga-for-randd-1.jpg" /></a></div>
PvP is a funny thing. Essentially, it is a glorified game of tag. There are variations on the theme, of course: freeze tag, Marco Polo, or Hide-and-Seek. Most of us have had the pleasure of spending a summer evening playing it with our friends. I know that when we played it, we added the dimension of The Woods (as they were known) and all that hiding<em> in</em> those woods on a dark summer evening implies. It was<em> intense</em>, I remember. Once, I hid under a pile of leaves for 40 minutes, scared out of my mind, while my buddy tried to find me. <br />
<br />
Good PvP can be like that, but bad PvP can ruin your evening. Bad PvP, like a rainstorm during a campout, usually ends with one or more participants taking the event<em> way too seriously</em>. But when you spend a few hours in good PvP, running around shooting at strangers, throwing mines at each other and getting shot down by automated turrets, your heart will race and you will realize that you have had a smile on your face most of the time. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.globalagendagame.com/"><em>Global Agenda</em></a> has that effect on me, like a good game of tag.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-global-agenda/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Rise and Shiny recap: Global Agenda</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-global-agenda/">Rise and Shiny recap: Global Agenda</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-global-agenda/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19607720/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-global-agenda/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>beau-hindman</category><category>darkfall</category><category>featured</category><category>first-person-shooter</category><category>fps</category><category>global-agenda</category><category>hi-rez</category><category>hi-rez-studios</category><category>mmofps</category><category>mortal-online</category><category>pve</category><category>pve-to-pvp</category><category>pvp</category><category>rise-and-shiny</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>science-fiction</category><category>shooter</category><category>sniper</category><category>stealth</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Beau Hindman]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Star Trek Online unveils cloaking Klingon warship: Vo'Quv Class]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/star-trek-online-unveils-cloaking-klingon-warship-voquv-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/star-trek-online-unveils-cloaking-klingon-warship-voquv-class/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/star-trek-online-unveils-cloaking-klingon-warship-voquv-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lore/" rel="tag">Lore</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online/" rel="tag">Star Trek Online</a></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><img hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/07/stoklingonempirevoquvclassat580.jpg" /></a><br />Some of us at Massively are <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/bloggers/james-egan">big fans of stealth classes and gameplay</a> in MMOs. When it comes to space combat, even moreso when you can decloak with enough firepower to wipe out an opponent before they realize what's happening and disappear just as fast. However, will this stealth-focused gameplay be viable in the tactical PvP of <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a>? We can't say for sure yet as there hasn't been much in the way of in-game combat footage, but the info they've released on this latest Klingon Empire warship, the <a href="http://www.startrekonline.com/ships/voquv">Vo'Quv Class</a>, suggests this type of gameplay <em>might</em> just be possible. <br /><br />Of course the ship profile is heavy on the lore elements we're sure <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/star-trek-online"><em>Star Trek Online</em></a> fans will want to sink their teeth into, but the specifications released for the Vo'Quv Class offensive and defensive systems list a "Class 7 Cloaking Device" backed up by a complement of disruptor beams which can fire in any direction taking out enemy shields, while multiple torpedo launchers finish the job.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/star-trek-online-unveils-cloaking-klingon-warship-voquv-class/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Star Trek Online unveils cloaking Klingon warship: Vo'Quv Class</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/star-trek-online-unveils-cloaking-klingon-warship-voquv-class/">Star Trek Online unveils cloaking Klingon warship: Vo'Quv Class</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.startrekonline.com/ships/voquv>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/star-trek-online-unveils-cloaking-klingon-warship-voquv-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19109725/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/star-trek-online-unveils-cloaking-klingon-warship-voquv-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cloak</category><category>cloaking-device</category><category>combat</category><category>flagship</category><category>klingon</category><category>klingon-empire</category><category>lore</category><category>new-titles</category><category>pvp</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>ship-class</category><category>ship-classes</category><category>star-trek</category><category>star-trek-online</category><category>stealth</category><category>sto</category><category>super-carrier</category><category>voquv</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Egan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[EVE and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online/" rel="tag">EVE Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guilds/" rel="tag">Guilds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/tips-and-tricks/" rel="tag">Tips and tricks</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/politics/" rel="tag">Politics</a></p><em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/10/minmatarrifterimage425.jpg" /></a><br /></em>
<div align="center"><em>Sun Tzu: Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. </em><br /></div>
<br />The 6th century B.C. military treatise, <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_War ">The Art of War</a></em> by Sun Tzu, serves admirably as a tract on corporate espionage and warfare in <a href="http://www.eve-online.com"><em>EVE Online's</em></a> far future backdrop of New Eden. It is, after all, a corporation-dominated setting and game where player organizations perpetually fight for supremacy over their competitors. As <em>The Art of War</em> is required reading in some MBA programs, it stands to reason it could have some practical applications to a game based around military conglomerates. Warfare in <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/eve-online">EVE,</a></em> while limited by game mechanics as to what's possible (as all games are of course), can have a heavy social component. Paired with the sandbox nature of the game, there are numerous possibilities in <em>EVE</em> that most other MMOs simply don't offer, or can't offer through their respective game mechanics. <br /><br />Much of <em>The Art of War</em> focuses on deception, situational awareness, and overcoming your opponents through cunning rather than brute force. Of course, brute force has worked rather well for some prominent alliances, but without strategic thinking guiding their campaigns, it would all come undone at some point. Strategy is the focus of a new series of articles from Black Claw of <em>EVE Online</em> blog <a href="http://blackclawtravels.blogspot.com/">"The Travels of Black Claw."</a> He's just kicked off the first in this series based on a guide to warfare he created for his <em>EVE</em> corporation. First up is <a href="http://blackclawtravels.blogspot.com/2008/10/art-of-war-laying-plans.html">"The Art of War: Laying Plans"</a> -- which deals with assessing your own organization and the relative strength of the opposition, then figuring out how best to counter that opposition. Black Claw stated that next up will be "Waging War." Sun Tzu's <em>The Art of War</em> also deals with topics like stages of a competitive campaign, the importance of varying tactics, and the use of spies. Assuming Black Claw continues with his guide along these lines, it should be an interesting series of articles.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/">EVE and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://blackclawtravels.blogspot.com/2008/10/art-of-war-laying-plans.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1347451/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>black-claw</category><category>ccp</category><category>ccp-games</category><category>conflict</category><category>cunning</category><category>deception</category><category>eve</category><category>eve-online</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>new-eden</category><category>opinion</category><category>planning</category><category>pvp</category><category>sandbox</category><category>stealth</category><category>strategy</category><category>sun-tzu</category><category>sun-zi</category><category>the-art-of-war</category><category>the-travels-of-black-claw</category><category>war</category><category>warfare</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Egan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Video interview reveals Stargate Worlds stealth mechanics]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/video-interview-reveals-stargate-worlds-stealth-mechanics/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/video-interview-reveals-stargate-worlds-stealth-mechanics/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/video-interview-reveals-stargate-worlds-stealth-mechanics/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/stargate-worlds/" rel="tag">Stargate Worlds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/stargate-worlds"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="middle" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/08/sgw425.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />Jon Wood at MMORPG.com is on a serious roll with <a href="http://www.stargateworlds.com/"><em>Stargate Worlds</em></a> video interviews. His latest is with <a href="http://www.cheyenneme.com/company/management/">Demetrius Comes,</a> VP of Technology at <a href="http://www.cheyenneme.com/">Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment,</a> on the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/stargate-worlds"><em>Stargate Worlds</em></a> stealth system. The system will be based off of combinations of abilities and gear, creating regenerating stealth points that are resisted with reveal points. Comes acknowledges that stealth play will not be a universal option for all players, and will be limited to the commando class.<br /><br />Comes also reveals more of the game mechanics of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/stealth">stealth play,</a> particularly the dynamic between a character's stealth rating and the reveal rating inherent to NPCs and player characters. The <a href="http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/242/view/videos/play/1260">interview is brief,</a> but hints at what fans of cloaky-sneaky gameplay will get in <em>Stargate Worlds. </em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/video-interview-reveals-stargate-worlds-stealth-mechanics/">Video interview reveals Stargate Worlds stealth mechanics</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/242/view/videos/play/1260>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/video-interview-reveals-stargate-worlds-stealth-mechanics/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1284561/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/14/video-interview-reveals-stargate-worlds-stealth-mechanics/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cheyenne-mountain-entertainment</category><category>classes</category><category>cloak</category><category>demetrius-comes</category><category>firesky</category><category>game-mechanics</category><category>interviews</category><category>jon-wood</category><category>mmorpg</category><category>mmorpg.com</category><category>reveal-rating</category><category>sci-fi</category><category>sneak</category><category>sneaky</category><category>stargate-worlds</category><category>stealth</category><category>stealth-rating</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[James Egan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[E308: A glimpse into The Agency's guilds and classes]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/e308-a-glimpse-into-the-agencys-guilds-and-classes/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/e308-a-glimpse-into-the-agencys-guilds-and-classes/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/e308-a-glimpse-into-the-agencys-guilds-and-classes/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guilds/" rel="tag">Guilds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-agency/" rel="tag">The Agency</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/spy/" rel="tag">Spy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmofps/" rel="tag">MMOFPS</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-agency"><img hspace="4" border="1" vspace="4" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/07/agency_unite_swap_425.jpg" /></a></div>
In our recent talk with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/matt-wilson/">Matt Wilson</a> at <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/e3-2008/">E3</a>, we were given a lot of really illuminating information about classes and guilds in the upcoming <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/soe/">SOE</a> title, <a href="http://theagency.station.sony.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Agency</span></a>. It would seem that the <span style="font-style: italic;">Agency</span> crew is doing a very good job of listening to many of the frustrations of MMOG players, while taking the time to study popular games like<span style="font-style: italic;"> <a href="http://orange.half-life2.com/tf2.html">Team Fortress 2</a></span>. If you've been wondering about the different classes and abilities, as well as social structure in this upcoming MMOFPS, then you'll be interested to hear what's in the works.<br /><br /><strong>Massively: What are the classes or archetypal roles in <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-agency/"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Agency</span></a>?</strong><br /><br />Matt Wilson: Our four primary classes are basically Combat, which is the ability to have weapons and have high defenses. Stealth, which is more of a high-DPS, sniper rifles and other things that you take into battle, [Undercover] Stealth which is very important, which is sneaking around and distractions. And finally, there's the Support classes like your Medics and Field Techs. Field Techs are about defense, turrets, other cool things like that. Medics are more about supporting the team, being able to support med stations while you're out in the field, heals, that kind of thing. Those are the general archetypes. Then we have specialties that fall out of those, allowing players to specialize further in each class.<br /><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/e308-a-glimpse-into-the-agencys-guilds-and-classes/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>E308: A glimpse into The Agency's guilds and classes</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/e308-a-glimpse-into-the-agencys-guilds-and-classes/">E308: A glimpse into The Agency's guilds and classes</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/e308-a-glimpse-into-the-agencys-guilds-and-classes/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1261526/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/e308-a-glimpse-into-the-agencys-guilds-and-classes/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>agency</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>combat</category><category>e3-2008</category><category>e308</category><category>featured</category><category>guilds</category><category>joint-agencies</category><category>matt-wilson</category><category>role</category><category>soe</category><category>sony-online-entertainment</category><category>stealth</category><category>support</category><category>team-fortress-2</category><category>TF2</category><category>the-agency</category><category>undercover</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Krystalle Voecks]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Undocumented changes for AoC 26th of June patch]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/undocumented-changes-for-aoc-26th-of-june-patch/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/undocumented-changes-for-aoc-26th-of-june-patch/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/undocumented-changes-for-aoc-26th-of-june-patch/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/bugs/" rel="tag">Bugs</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a></p><a href="http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=56554"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/06/aocundocumented26thjune_225px.jpg"  alt="" /></a>In <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/more-undocumented-changes-found-in-yesterdays-aoc-patch/">keeping with tradition</a>, <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> players have found some changes that did not make it on to the official patch notes for <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/age-of-conan-patch-notes-for-june-26th/">today's update</a>. The community's findings have been compiled into <a href="http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=56554">one handy forum thread</a>, and here are some of the more significant items on the list (although the thread will likely have more added to it later on):<br /><br />
<ul>
    <li>Barbarian talent "Cyclone of Razors" has had its damage lowered from 28% to 10% at 5 points.</li>
    <li>Necromancers can no longer send pets to attack while hidden.</li>
    <li>Assassin ability "From the Darkness" animation changed and damage after charge reduced by up to 70%.</li>
    <li>Rangers mez shot seems to not be working properly.<br /></li>
    <li>Dark Templar's magic damage coefficient is bugged.</li>
    <li>A bug with casting from your mount, a feature reintroduced today on the official notes. Casters can begin casting a spell while standing still on their mount, and are then free to run around while casting it without interruption, leading to easy kiting.</li>
    <li>Still to be verified: Variety of loot from epic Kheshatta bosses increased, and new blues dropping.</li>
</ul><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/undocumented-changes-for-aoc-26th-of-june-patch/">Undocumented changes for AoC 26th of June patch</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=56554>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/undocumented-changes-for-aoc-26th-of-june-patch/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1237262/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/26/undocumented-changes-for-aoc-26th-of-june-patch/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>assassin</category><category>barbarian</category><category>dark-templar</category><category>funcom</category><category>mount</category><category>necromancer</category><category>patch</category><category>ranger</category><category>stealth</category><category>stealth-nerf</category><category>undocumented</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[William Dobson]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[What this morning's AoC patch notes didn't mention]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/what-this-mornings-aoc-patch-notes-didnt-mention/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/what-this-mornings-aoc-patch-notes-didnt-mention/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/what-this-mornings-aoc-patch-notes-didnt-mention/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a></p><a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/06/nerf.jpg" id="img1" alt="" /></a>It's very busy over at <a href="http://www.funcom.com">FunCom</a>, what with two patches a week coming out for <a href="http://www.ageofconan.com"><em>Age of Conan</em></a>. We understand. We know that sometimes stuff gets missed off the patch notes. Of course, sometimes stuff gets <em>purposefully left</em> off patch notes, and it can be hard to tell whether this was by accident or design.<br /><br />What's certain is that when something changes, players will eventually find out. The more players, the sooner they find out; and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>AoC</em></a> has rather a lot of players right now. Between them, with cross-referencing going on between <a href="http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/index.php">European</a> and <a href="http://forums.ageofconan.com/index.php">American</a> forums (always nice to see), the players have put together an unofficial list of what <em>else</em> changed with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/new-aoc-patch-brings-important-fixes">this morning's patch.</a><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/what-this-mornings-aoc-patch-notes-didnt-mention/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>What this morning's AoC patch notes didn't mention</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/what-this-mornings-aoc-patch-notes-didnt-mention/">What this morning's AoC patch notes didn't mention</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=38058>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/what-this-mornings-aoc-patch-notes-didnt-mention/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1220080/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/what-this-mornings-aoc-patch-notes-didnt-mention/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>crouch</category><category>funcom</category><category>instance</category><category>patch</category><category>stealth</category><category>stealth-nerf</category><category>undocumented-changes</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Adrian Bott]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Two new warrior types for Warrior Epic]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/2-new-warrior-types-for-warrior-epic/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/2-new-warrior-types-for-warrior-epic/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/2-new-warrior-types-for-warrior-epic/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/screenshots/" rel="tag">Screenshots</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warrior-epic/" rel="tag">Warrior Epic</a></p><a href="http://www.warriorepic.com/warriors.aspx"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/04/thenewwarriorclasses.jpg" alt="" /></a>Somehow, since we <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/new-warrior-class-from-warrior-epic-the-pangolin/">last covered</a> the class updates from <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/warrior-epic/">Warrior Epic</a></em>, not one, but two new classes have been revealed! The first is the <a href="http://www.warriorepic.com/vanisher.aspx">Vanisher</a>, clearly the stealth/rogue warrior of the title. Sporting a look decidedly alien and intricate at the same time, this is easily one of the more stylish warriors available from <em>WE</em>.<br /><br />The second new type is the <a href="http://www.warriorepic.com/dreadnaught.aspx">Dreadnaught</a>, obviously the tank's tank. These guys are built like sumo wrestlers and outfitted like ... well, like a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnought">dreadnought</a>! <br /><br />Though the <a href="http://www.warriorepic.com/warriors.aspx">Warriors page</a> seems to have filled up, looking at the bottom of each individual warrior's page reveals a bar with warrior face icons, and there's a final space with a question mark in it. Could there be one final mystery warrior approaching?<br /><br />[Thanks, Brice!]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/2-new-warrior-types-for-warrior-epic/">Two new warrior types for Warrior Epic</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.warriorepic.com/warriors.aspx>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/2-new-warrior-types-for-warrior-epic/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1170090/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/2-new-warrior-types-for-warrior-epic/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>dreadnaught</category><category>dreadnought</category><category>mystery-warrior</category><category>rogue</category><category>stealth</category><category>sumo</category><category>vanisher</category><category>warrior-epic</category><category>warrior-types</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Akela Talamasca]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Get your stealth on with Global Agenda]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/at-a-glance/" rel="tag">At a glance</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/sci-fi/" rel="tag">Sci-fi</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/pvp/" rel="tag">PvP</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/spy/" rel="tag">Spy</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.hirezstudios.com/games/GA_DeconstructionA01.html"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/globalagendascreenhuh.jpg" /></a><br /></div>
Or, maybe not. <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/global-agenda"><em>Global Agenda</em></a> is an upcoming title by <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/hi-rez-studios">Hi-Rez Studios</a> that calls itself 'spy-fi'; puzzle that one out, go ahead, we'll wait. Purportedly espousing a game system of tactical espionage, the <a href="http://www.gametrailers.com/player/19070&amp;type=wmv.html?id=19070&amp;type=wmv">gameplay video</a> available seems more like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo:_Combat_Evolved"><em>Halo</em></a> than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splinter_cell"><em>Splinter Cell</em></a>. Not that there's anything wrong with that.<br /><br />Using the Unreal Engine 3, everything looks nice and moves smoothly. Other features of the game include racing for advanced technology before other players receive it; capturing and holding strategic locations; and special tech like stealth suits, holographic disguises, and remote    control robots. This shows promise, and we'll keep our ear to the ground -- or at least, our sonic wavelength remote analyzer.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/">Get your stealth on with Global Agenda</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.hirezstudios.com/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1140855/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>espionage</category><category>global-agenda</category><category>halo</category><category>hi-rez-studios</category><category>holograms</category><category>robots</category><category>splinter-cell</category><category>spy-fi</category><category>stealth</category><category>unreal-engine-3</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Akela Talamasca]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let the Month of the Burglar begin]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/let-the-month-of-the-burglar-begin/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/let-the-month-of-the-burglar-begin/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/let-the-month-of-the-burglar-begin/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/lord-of-the-rings-online/" rel="tag">Lord of the Rings Online</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><a href="http://lotro.warcry.com/media/images/guides/burglar.gif"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/burglar.jpg" alt="" /></a>The <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/burglar">Burglars</a> of Middle-earth should be happy about <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/book-12">Book 12</a> -- of this we can all be sure. We had the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/lotro-book-11-defenders-of-eriador-notes-and-release-date/">months of the Minstrel and the Hunter,</a> and so on, but it's Burglars' turn for some lovin'!<br /><br /><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/turbine">Turbine</a> has finally all-out <a href="http://www.lotro.com/article/483">announced the Month of the Burglar,</a> and laid out Book 12's changes to the class for all to see. Burglars will get a new a new toggle skill called "Mischief," by which Tricks, Trick removal skills, and Riddle will be cheaper and more frequently usable, respectively. Two new skills are also available in Mischief mode -- Clever Retort and Confound.<br /><br />They'll also get the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/02/book-12-details-revealed-in-new-lotro-dev-chat/">previously-announced</a> ability to bring a friend into stealth mode with them, a position-sensitive strike, some Fellowship Maneuver Response Skills, and perhaps most awesomely, the ability to summon a vendor to sell stuff to. Oh, and they'll finally be able to use clubs. And there will be equipables that will beef up Fellowship Maneuvers.<br /><br />Phew! Surely all that is worth the wait, right?<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/let-the-month-of-the-burglar-begin/">Let the Month of the Burglar begin</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.lotro.com/article/483>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/let-the-month-of-the-burglar-begin/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1084711/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/let-the-month-of-the-burglar-begin/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>book-12</category><category>burglar</category><category>clubs</category><category>fellowship-maneuvers</category><category>lotro</category><category>mischief</category><category>month-of-the-burglar</category><category>stealth</category><category>tricks</category><category>turbine</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Age of Conan's Assassin class is stealthy, badass]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/age-of-conans-assassin-class-is-stealthy-badass/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/age-of-conans-assassin-class-is-stealthy-badass/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/age-of-conans-assassin-class-is-stealthy-badass/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan/" rel="tag">Age of Conan</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/classes/" rel="tag">Classes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15580"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/assassin.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com">Ten Ton Hammer</a> has <a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15580">published the fourth in its series</a> of "class interviews" with <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/funcom">Funcom.</a> Previously it spoke with the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/age-of-conan"><em>Age of Conan</em></a> devs about the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/age-of-conans-dark-templar-in-depth/">Dark Templar,</a> the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/age-of-conans-guardian-put-under-the-microscope/">Guardian,</a> and the <a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15066">Conqueror.</a> This time it's the Assassin.<a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15580"><br /><br />You can read the </a><a href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15580">interview</a> for all the details, but the gist of it is: Asassins use stealth and quick bursts of high damage melee attacks in tandem with poison and debuffs to fell opponents quickly. As a counter-balance to their extraordinary offensive capabilities, they are very weak in terms of defenses. They wear thin silk armor because it allows them to move freely and silently.<br /><br />So the class is about 90% the same as the <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/rogues">Rogue</a> class in games like <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft"><em>World of Warcraft</em>.</a> Unfortunately, <a href="http://www.pennyarcademerch.com/pat070211.html">"Assassins do it from behind"</a> just doesn't have the same ring to it. <!--image size is 105 x 68px //--> <br /><br />
<div style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-top: 5px;"> <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="left" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/12/aoc-swipe.jpg" alt="" style="margin-bottom: 20px;" /></a> Check out our <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-product-developer-interview-with-gameplay-video/">Age of Conan interview and video footage</a>, and our <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/14/age-of-conan-artwork-for-your-drooling-pleasure/">gallery of new artwork</a>!</div>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/age-of-conans-assassin-class-is-stealthy-badass/">Age of Conan's Assassin class is stealthy, badass</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/15580>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/age-of-conans-assassin-class-is-stealthy-badass/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1059541/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/age-of-conans-assassin-class-is-stealthy-badass/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>age-of-conan</category><category>aoc</category><category>assassin</category><category>class</category><category>classes</category><category>dps</category><category>funcom</category><category>interview</category><category>lotus</category><category>melee</category><category>poison</category><category>rogue</category><category>silk</category><category>stealth</category><category>ten-ton-hammer</category><category>tth</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Samuel Axon]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Verbing a noun: introducing new powers]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/verbing-a-noun-introducing-new-powers/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/verbing-a-noun-introducing-new-powers/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/verbing-a-noun-introducing-new-powers/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes/" rel="tag">City of Heroes</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a></p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/and-in-depth-look-at-issue-11-power-sets-in-coh-cov/"><img alt="" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2007/11/hover.jpg" align="right" vspace="4" border="1" /></a>When thinking about game powers, developers have to consider four primary questions: what do the players want, do those desires fit reasonably within the framework of the game, how can the powers be balanced for the game, and how can they be coded? For example, when <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ncsoft">NCsoft</a>'s <em><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/city-of-heroes">City of Heroes</a></em> introduced Flight, it was competing with Super Speed, Teleportation and Leaping. How could they build it out to where it was neither overpowered nor useless? Through a series of trial-and-error efforts -- and thankfully providing an additional 10% bump in <a href="http://www.pvponline.com/2004/06/04/fri-jun-04/">hover speed</a> in Issue 8 -- they loaded a <a href="http://www.cityofheroes.com/gameinfo/powers.html">power set</a> into the game that gave heroes a new way of seeing the city without unbalancing other transportation powers currently in place.<br /><br />As to verbs that may be more common throughout MMOs, we've all had the opportunity to "run" -- either into battle or away from almost certain peril -- and I doubt there's many here who haven't wished for the ability to "turn invisible" in order to <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/09/05/encrypted-text-how-not-to-be-seen/">stealth</a> through a difficult mission, but what about some of the more exotic verbs out there? Oh, sure, in most games the alts can backslap one another, gesture angrily, and dance, but these are powerless emotes: they don't actually impact the game play. Take your favorite MMO, though, and think about what game-impacting verb or verbs you'd like to see added. Perhaps it might help to take a look at the thought process currently pushing <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/world-of-warcraft">World of Warcraft</a>'s new <a href="http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/09/29/breakfast-topic-design-your-own-death-knight/">Death Knight</a> and ask yourself this: if you were a developer, what would you add to the build, and how would you balance it?<br /><br />[Via <a href="http://www.eldergame.com/index.php">Elder Game</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/verbing-a-noun-introducing-new-powers/">Verbing a noun: introducing new powers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.eldergame.com/2007/11/19/picking-fun-game-verbs/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/verbing-a-noun-introducing-new-powers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1048176/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/verbing-a-noun-introducing-new-powers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>City-of-Heroes</category><category>CoH</category><category>CoX</category><category>Death-Knight</category><category>Developer</category><category>Flight</category><category>Game-Balance</category><category>Leaping</category><category>NCsoft</category><category>Power-Set</category><category>Stealth</category><category>Super-Speed</category><category>Teleportation</category><category>Verb</category><category>World-of-Warcraft</category><category>WoW</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jonathan Northwood]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
