Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Look behind the living world in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/look-behind-the-living-world-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/look-behind-the-living-world-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/look-behind-the-living-world-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Now why can't every class have its own version of this to pilot all the time?
Have you been out of the loop in Guild Wars 2? There's been big stuff going on with the game's narrative, sure, but it's easy to lose the thread if you're not playing the game on a regular basis. The latest developer video from ArenaNet is meant to address this, with narrative designers Angel McCoy and Scott McGough talking about the events of the Flame and Frost storyline and how the game's previous stories are leading into future developments.

The crux of Flame and Frost is the allegiance between the Dredge and the Flame Legion, with the former lacking in magical artillery and the latter being cut off from traditional Charr machinery. That alliance led to the capture of civilians, which in turn led to a push by two young heroes to free former prisoners... which in turn has led to a population move to an unexpected place. Watch the full video for a glimpse at how the story elements lead into one another and to get hints about what's around the bend.

Continue reading Look behind the living world in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyLook behind the living world in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbackgroundbuy-to-playfantasyflame-and-frostguild-wars-2gw2living-worldlorencsoftnewsstoriesstoryvideovideosTue, 07 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
About five years ago, on April 27th, 2008, I joined the Massively team and wrote the very first issue of the EVE Evolved column. Five years later, the column is still going strong and delivering its weekly dose of EVE Online to thousands of readers. I used to worry about running out of ideas to write about, but regular game updates and hilarious player shenanigans mean there's always something interesting going on in New Eden. When EVE hits its 10th anniversary in May, this column will have been running for just over half of the game's lifetime. In that time, I've written over 250 in-depth articles, guides, in-game stories and opinion pieces on EVE Online and a few on DUST 514.

As usual, I'll be celebrating this anniversary by rounding up this year's column highlights and giving away two 30-day Pilot's License Extensions to two lucky readers. To enter the competition, write a comment explaining which EVE Evolved articles from this year you liked best and what topics you'd like to see covered in the coming year. You will need an active EVE account to claim the prize, so be sure to include your character name in your comment if you want to be in with a chance. If you'd rather not give out your character name or don't have an EVE account but would like to give the game a go, you can sign up a new trial account and use the name of your new character.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at the highlights from the column's fifth year!

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetanniversaryapocryphaasakaibaitingbounty-hunterbounty-huntingccpccp-gamesconsolecrimewatchcruisersdecadedustdust-514eoneveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsexplorationfeaturedfive-year-anniversaryfive-yearsfpsfrigatesgame-designguideguideshistoryhulkinfernolowsecmmofpsnyphurodysseyopinionopinion-piecepiracyplaystationplaystation-3ps3pvepvpretributionrisk-vs-rewardsandboxsci-fiship-fittingship-fittingsship-setupsshooterspeculationstoriesstorystorytellingthe-battle-for-caldari-primewormholewormholesSun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Making EVE history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/eve-evolved-making-eve-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/eve-evolved-making-eve-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/eve-evolved-making-eve-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
EVE Online has the odd distinction of being one of the only MMOs in which the developers have almost no control over the active storyline. There have been plenty of fiction articles written about the game's backstory, and the NPC factions occasionally butt heads in short news pieces, but none of it feels very real. It's only when these events actually occur inside the game world that they become real, and when that happens, the outcome is at the mercy of players.

2010's spectacular Sansha abduction live event was the perfect example of this, with thousands of players becoming immersed in a very real emerging storyline. The story was fluid and evolved based on what players did, and so it made the NPC factions come alive in a way that fiction never could. While the scripted NPC portions of these storylines certainly constitute part of EVE's history, the most interesting tales follow the unexpected actions of players and alliances.

The fascinating thing is that the audience for these stories extends far beyond the playerbase itself, with news of high-profile events occasionally taking the global gaming media by storm. But for every 3,000-man battle and 200 billion ISK scam that's reported, there are hundreds of smaller events that would be just as interesting to read about or watch a video on. Most of these events have been lost to the mists of time, kept secret or talked about only among those directly involved ... until now.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the types of NPC-based and player-run stories that happen regularly in EVE and speculate on CCP's upcoming plans to document and preserve that history.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Making EVE history

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Making EVE history originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asakaibattleccpccp-gamesconsoledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeve-wikieventsfeaturedfictionfpsheisthistorylivestreamLiveStreamingmmofpsplaystationplaystation-3politicsps3roleplayingsandboxscamsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotsshooterstoriesstreamingvideovideoswikiSun, 03 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Is EVE becoming a spectator sport?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/03/eve-evolved-is-eve-becoming-a-spectator-sport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/03/eve-evolved-is-eve-becoming-a-spectator-sport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/03/eve-evolved-is-eve-becoming-a-spectator-sport/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
This week saw another landmark event in EVE Online grab the gaming community's attention as over 3,000 players from dozens of alliances battled it out in the lowsec system of Asakai on the Caldari border. The battle reached 2,800 concurrent players at peak, falling just short of 2011's record-breaking siege of LXQ2-T which hit 3,110 simultaneous combatants at its peak. There were livestreams, tons of after-action reports, and the story of this immense battle started by one man clicking the wrong button really captured our imaginations.

EVE is one of those rare cases in which a lot of people find the media that surrounds the game more fun than the game itself. News of big in-game events like scams, heists, and huge battles spreads across the internet like wildfire, even among people who hate the game or have never tried it. When news of the Asakai battle emerged, someone on Reddit suggested that people should play EVE for only a few months to get some background and then quit and just read the stories. I've seen a lot of similar comments over the years saying that EVE is more fun to watch and read about than play, and it makes me wonder if the game is becoming a bit of a spectator sport.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at why stories like the Battle of Asakai are so pervasive and explain why I think EVE should embrace its role as a spectator sport.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Is EVE becoming a spectator sport?

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Is EVE becoming a spectator sport? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliance-warfareasakaiavatarbillioncapital-shipscarrierccpccp-gamesdreadnoughteveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeventeventsfeaturedisklivestreamLiveStreaminglorenyxopinionpvpsandboxsci-fispectatingspectatorspectator-sportsportstoriesstorystorytellingstreamstreamingsupercarriersupercarrierstitantitansvideoSun, 03 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Why we write about only the games you hate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/ask-massively-why-we-write-about-only-the-games-you-hate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/ask-massively-why-we-write-about-only-the-games-you-hate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/ask-massively-why-we-write-about-only-the-games-you-hate/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WildStar. Shiny.
Welcome back to Ask Massively because why not? You're here; I'm here.

We've previously discussed defining MMOs and how we select the games and the news Massively covers. This week, let's talk about column selection and perception of story frequency.

tomrobbins asked, "Why do you guys cover [WildStar] so intensely yet other MMOs you barely mention? This game can't do a thing with out getting an article written about it here, yet it's not even out. Other MMOs barely get mentioned. This site seems only about WildStar, EverQuest II, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Star Trek Online lately."

Does it sometimes feel as if we're reading different sites entirely?

Continue reading Ask Massively: Why we write about only the games you hate

MassivelyAsk Massively: Why we write about only the games you hate originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnarticlesask-massivelybrianna-royce-ask-massivelycolumnscoveragefeaturedfrequencyfrequency-illusionhumormassively-metametaopinionperceptionpostsrecency-illusionselective-perceptionstoriestoenail-clippings-onlinewildstarThu, 10 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Lessons from what roleplaying resembles most]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/storyboard-lessons-from-what-roleplaying-resembles-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/storyboard-lessons-from-what-roleplaying-resembles-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/storyboard-lessons-from-what-roleplaying-resembles-most/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If the header looks weird, it's because my new computer showed up and I had to remake it. Will probably do a full redesign sometime soon.
When you get right down to it, roleplaying isn't really like a movie or a novel in which you determine the story. It's not even all that much like a video game in which you write the story; those tend to be structured better. No, roleplaying is most like making your own serial comic book.

Think about it. You have a number of charcters with superhuman abilities getting into conflicts on a regular basis. Sometimes those characters pan out into a satisfying story arc, but other times characters show up and then vanish, either because they were awful or because the author didn't know what to do with them. There's a real risk of running on into boredom, and there are a lot of times when characters get kludged into other storylines for cross-promotional purposes.

Regular readers will probably guess that I don't think of this as a bad thing. I like comics a lot, after all. And it means that we can take some interesting lessons from the long lifespan of comics because when you realize you're making a big collaborative comic, you earn the right to use some tricks of the trade.

Continue reading Storyboard: Lessons from what roleplaying resembles most

MassivelyStoryboard: Lessons from what roleplaying resembles most originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>characterscomic-bookscomicsculturefeaturedhumoropinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstoriesstorystoryboardsuggestionsFri, 24 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Sandboxes make the best stories]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/29/eve-evolved-sandboxes-make-the-best-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/29/eve-evolved-sandboxes-make-the-best-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/29/eve-evolved-sandboxes-make-the-best-stories/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Every MMO has stories to tell, some written by developers and told through quest content and others created by players through everyday gameplay. Themepark MMOs lead every player through the same fictional story and give no real control over the outcome, but I have to wonder whether the effort invested in that story is even worth it. MMOs are meant to have long-term replayability, and a linear story is new only the first time you play through it. After a while, players find themselves skipping dialogue, ignoring quest text, and grinding yet another character to the endgame.

In contrast, sandbox MMOs tend to eschew their own storylines in favour of letting players make it up as they go along. Sandbox MMO EVE Online has spawned some incredible tales and videos over its lifetime, with stories of political goings-on, wars, and record heists hitting the news every year without fail. EVE stories usually also appeal to many people who don't even play the game, an effect uncommon in other MMOs. It's not often that the in-game exploits of a themepark MMO guild will reach the media or generate the same level of interest as a big EVE story, so what is the magic sauce that makes stories from EVE so appealing?

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at some of the best stories and videos from EVE Online and ask why EVE continues to grip us with its stories and themepark MMOs don't.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Sandboxes make the best stories

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Sandboxes make the best stories originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeventeventsfantasyfeaturedfictionghscguiding-hand-social-clubheistisklarry-everettopinionsandboxsanshascamscammingsci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicstoriesstorystorytellingswtorthe-old-republictheftthemeparkworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 29 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 weaves together three story types]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/guild-wars-2-weaves-together-three-story-types/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/guild-wars-2-weaves-together-three-story-types/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/guild-wars-2-weaves-together-three-story-types/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2 on the three stories it tells
ArenaNet Continuity and Lore Designer Jeff Grubb claims that there are three types of stories that players will encounter in Guild Wars 2, and he's written up an informative post explaining how the team has woven these tales into the game. "This is an underlying theme of the game -- people coming together and cooperating to fight a greater foe," Grubb explains.

The first type is what he calls Story of the World. This is the over-arching narrative that deals with the biggest threat to the world (the Elder Dragons) and how it is to be countered. ArenaNet chose to use dynamic events to tell these stories so that players are gradually made aware of the threat.

The second story type is your personal one, which tells of your own rise to power, fame, and glory in a variety of ways. Finally, there's the story of the five central iconic characters in the game (Destiny's Edge) and how they relate to you and each other.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 weaves together three story types originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetacontinuitydestinys-edgeelder-dragonsfantasyguild-wars-2gw2jeff-grubblorencsoftstoriesstorystorytellingtaleTue, 24 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: When I was the problem]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/storyboard-when-i-was-the-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/storyboard-when-i-was-the-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/storyboard-when-i-was-the-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No, none of these pictures are from MMOs.
I do not claim to have any sort of superhuman intellect. If I understand how people are likely to make mistakes in roleplaying and how to fix those mistakes, it's a product of having made a lot of mistakes of my own. Sometimes it's a result of failing to fix them and realizing what would have worked after the fact. And while I'll write advice on how to fix the things that you're doing wrong, I never want to give the impression that I'm preaching rather than practicing.

Last week's column was all about what happens when it turns out you're the problem, and there's a J'accuse-style rant if there ever was one. In light of that, I wanted to make it very clear that there have been situations in which my character was the problem rather than some hypothetical example. And so I pulled out three of the most notable examples of places where it turns out I was causing a world of disruption within the group.

Continue reading Storyboard: When I was the problem

MassivelyStoryboard: When I was the problem originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anecdotesculturefeaturedmistakesopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstoriesstorystoryboardFri, 15 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Underused enemies in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-underused-enemies-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-underused-enemies-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/a-mild-mannered-reporter-underused-enemies-in-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
Last week I discussed why I'm not fond of Nemesis as a group, and this week I promised to discuss villainous groups that I think that City of Heroes could use a bit more actively. So I am certain that longtime readers expected me to spend most of this week talking about the Fifth Column because of course I would. I love the Fifth Column, I think they're a fantastic group of villains, and I've talked about how great they are as a group over and over.

Surprise! Not this time.

For all that I love the Column (and their continual curbstomping of their pale imitation in the Council), that wasn't my goal this week. No, this time around I want to highlight other groups that I think Paragon City could use a bit more often, enemies that either fall off the radar or just don't get as much attention as they're due. Even in a game that's been around as long as City of Heroes, there are certain enemy groups that just never get the love they deserve. Maybe the future can fix that for some of these guys.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Underused enemies in City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Underused enemies in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterarcscharacterscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcultureenemy-groupsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomheroesloremild-mannered-reportermission-arcsmissionsncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosstoriesstorysuperherosuperheroesvillain-groupsvillainsWed, 06 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: You guys must be the party]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/storyboard-you-guys-must-be-the-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/storyboard-you-guys-must-be-the-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/storyboard-you-guys-must-be-the-party/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I always wonder if people read more into these header images than they ought to.
A couple of weeks back, I wrote an article about dealing with a major ongoing storyline in an MMO. For those of you who neither read the article nor can spare the time to click the link and read it now: It talked about the problems presented by having a storyline and offered a few different solutions for handling such inconsistencies. Of course, as I noted, very few of these problems apply to open-world sandbox games that have no sort of ongoing developer-run story for you to stumble around.

No, those games have issues entirely their own, starting with the very nature of player-run stories.

A completely player-driven story has the advantage of not having several issues that can crop up when dealing with an ongoing in-game story, but it also still has some serious problems. There are still issues that you're going to have to have answers for when you're in a game that lets you craft the world to match your whims, and unfortunately the methods for doing so aren't quite as straightforward as the methods for dealing with an in-game storyline.

Continue reading Storyboard: You guys must be the party

MassivelyStoryboard: You guys must be the party originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturefeaturedopen-worldopinionplayer-driven-storiesroleplayingrpsandboxstoriesstorystoryboardFri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Let the gate be]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/storyboard-let-the-gate-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/storyboard-let-the-gate-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/storyboard-let-the-gate-be/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a while since a Rhio picture.
Over the past two weeks, I've been essentially playing politics. That's a bit glib, sure, but if you have a better term for arguing two sides of the same issue over the course of two separate essays, I'd love to hear it. Of course, turning around and arguing the other side of my own points is something that I've been doing for years now; it's really not surprising.

For those of you just catching up, we've been discussing player-generated story in games -- whether it deserves to be the only form of story and whether or not it's any good at that goal. Today, I'm going to try to wrap up this discussion forever, or at least for the purposes of this little mini-discussion. That requires a bit of re-framing, since I think that like a lot of other issues, this one isn't nearly as monochromatic as we like to pretend it is. There are virtues to both sides, and the real danger lies not in preferring one but demonizing the other.

Continue reading Storyboard: Let the gate be

MassivelyStoryboard: Let the gate be originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsfeaturedloreopinionroleplayingrpstoriesstorystoryboardFri, 06 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The gatekeepers of story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/storyboard-the-gatekeepers-of-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/storyboard-the-gatekeepers-of-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/storyboard-the-gatekeepers-of-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Storyboard
There's a notion floating around the MMO mindspace, one that you've no doubt heard over and over again, especially in light of the recent heartbreaking closure of Star Wars Galaxies. It's the idea that creating a capital-S story in an MMO is by definition a flawed enterprise. According to this argument, the whole point of an MMO and the point of good roleplaying is to create a story that's unique to the players. Real memorable stories should come from players, not from developers.

I could just write "no" here and be finished, but instead I've gone into full-on rant mode on this one. About a year ago, I wrote up a piece explaining that players are not individually storytellers, not even if you're roleplaying. That extends further, though -- a group of roleplayers does not suddenly become a storyteller, like a version of Devastator that's made up of literature majors. This isn't right, and it's doing a great disservice to the things that roleplaying actually does well.

Continue reading Storyboard: The gatekeepers of story

MassivelyStoryboard: The gatekeepers of story originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnfeaturedin-game-storyloreopinionrantroleplayingrpstoriesstorystoryboardFri, 23 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The joys of scripting the apocalypse: A behind-the-scenes look at Fallen Earth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth
What's it like to have a post-apocalyptic landscape as your writing canvas? According to Marie Croall, it's pure heaven. Fallen Earth's lead designer opened up to Rock, Paper, Shotgun about the joys of writing and designing the myriad of quests for the game, as well as the free-to-play transition, plans for PvP, and the dynamic world events.

Croall is part of a slimmed-down team of 12 developers who currently develop Fallen Earth's content. Saying that the team is always trying to "push the envelope" when it comes to the stories told, she notes that each area contains the imbued spirit of each writer: "I worked on a lot of the conflict towns early on and we knew that this was a place for people to kill each other, so a lot of the missions ended up being really thinly veiled insults."

One of the aspects of Fallen Earth that Croall loves is how crazy the team can get. In one instance, the team decided to redo the starter town of Boneclaw by dropping a missile right into it. "We killed off all the players that were there, all the NPCs, and left it as a radiation zone for a good two months, while we made the new town. We flat out nuked it because it wasn't doing what we wanted it to do. Boom!"

While Fallen Earth skirts the line between sandbox and theme park, Croall says the team is devoting a great deal of resources to beefing up the former. "The more features we add, the more ways for players to drive themselves, it makes the world better, it makes it feel like what we saw it as," she said.

MassivelyThe joys of scripting the apocalypse: A behind-the-scenes look at Fallen Earth originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boneclawf2pfallen-earthfree-to-playgamers-firstinterviewloremarie-croallnukepvprock-paper-shotgunsandboxstoriesstorystorytellingworld-eventswriterwriterswritingSun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: The 10 most memorable quests in LotRO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/the-road-to-mordor-the-10-most-memorable-quests-in-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/the-road-to-mordor-the-10-most-memorable-quests-in-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/the-road-to-mordor-the-10-most-memorable-quests-in-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
I honestly have no idea how many quests we're up to in Lord of the Rings Online at this point. Thousands, for sure. And as with many other facets in life, 90% of these quests are fated to be unmemorable tasks that blur together with all the rest. However, I've always felt that LotRO has a decently high cool quest-to-forgettable chore ratio, at least compared to other MMOs.

What makes a memorable quest? Here's my litmus test: When I sat down first thing in the morning, all bleary-eyed, to write this article, these quests bubbled up to the forefront of my mind. They've "stuck," for lack of a more precise term, in my head. They've made an impression, and because of that I feel they're among the cream of the crop in LotRO's repertoire.

For today's Road to Mordor, I'm going to simply list the first 10 most memorable quests that came to me. I actually was going to just do six, but couldn't stop myself there; I could barely halt at 10, if that gives you an indication. These might not be your most favorite quests or even the best in the game, but they've been the ones that have stuck with me through thick and thin.'

Warning: Past this point thar be spoilers! Beware!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The 10 most memorable quests in LotRO

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The 10 most memorable quests in LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ale-associationepic-storylinefeaturedfrodofrostblufffrostbluff-theatregollumhauntinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaquestquestsrise-of-isengardstoriestookturbinevolume-2volume-iiwatcherwatcher-in-the-waterSat, 05 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The battle for story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-soapbox-the-battle-for-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-soapbox-the-battle-for-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-soapbox-the-battle-for-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Storyteller
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

When I was in grad school, one of my favorite classes spent a couple of sessions talking about the use and importance of story in teaching. It opened my eyes to the fact that stories are one of the most universal elements of the human experience, from antiquity to modern times, ranging from a little kid playing with toys to an adult penning a novel. We simply love to tell and listen to stories -- they grab our attention, spark our imagination, teach us valuable lessons, and create lasting memories.

But somewhere along the years, something went horribly wrong when it came to MMOs and stories. MMOs were always supposed to be the ultimate platform for storytelling, as both developers and players could pitch in to weave epic sagas, and for a while that seemed to be the case. Lately, however, I've seen a movement that is thrashing hard against stories in MMOs, typically using one of the following two statements: "Get your stupid story out of my game!" or "Stories are better left to other forms of entertainment."

It's made me a sad panda to realize that MMO storytelling is under attack by the very players who should embrace it, and often they're acting as if they're being dragged, kicking and screaming, into future MMOs where story is placed as a priority. Make no mistake: The battle for story is on, and the stakes have never been higher.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The battle for story

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The battle for story originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetasherons-callbacklashbiowarednddungeons-and-dragonsepic-sagafeaturedfuncomguild-wars-2gw2lord-of-the-rings-onlinelorenamaste-entertainmentriftroleplayingrprpgrpgssandboxstar-wars-the-old-republicstoriesstorystorybricksstorytellingtaletalesteam-fortress-2the-secret-worldtheme-parktriontrion-worldsturbineTue, 01 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Navel-gazing cardboard cutouts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/storyboard-navel-gazing-cardboard-cutouts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/storyboard-navel-gazing-cardboard-cutouts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/28/storyboard-navel-gazing-cardboard-cutouts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Shocking!
When you create a character for roleplaying, most of the time your creation is something of a mess. He or she has a huge pile of issues, regrets, fears, mental blind spots, and possibly even physical ailments that should have a lasting impact on telling stories and creating drama. And your goal as a player is to take all of those flaws into account to tell stories about someone less than perfect, whose imperfections you can hopefully see even if the character can't.

Unfortunately for everyone, there are two very compelling ways to do this, and neither one of them is right or wrong or even evident at a glance. It's only by roleplaying with someone for a while that you get a sense of what she's aiming for, and it often turns out to be after it's too late to do anything. You might be going for character arcs or character development, and the two are frequently incompatible over the long term.

Continue reading Storyboard: Navel-gazing cardboard cutouts

MassivelyStoryboard: Navel-gazing cardboard cutouts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-arcscharacter-developmentcharactersfeaturedinteractionsopinionplayer-created-contentplayer-created-experienceroleplayingrpstoriesstory-arcsstoryboardFri, 28 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Veteran EVE Online pilots share wisdom with new players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/veteran-eve-online-players-share-wisdom-with-new-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/veteran-eve-online-players-share-wisdom-with-new-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/veteran-eve-online-players-share-wisdom-with-new-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EVE Online - rookie frigate
If you're looking for an excuse to visit the recently revamped EVE Online official forums, you could do a lot worse than a newbie help thread started by CCP Fallout. Whether you're an actual New Eden rookie or a veteran looking to dispense advice (note we didn't say good advice, since it's EVE), it's worth checking out.

The thread is also good for a bit o' the ol' nostalgia, as Fallout specifically mentions silly mistakes she made back in the day, and she invites other players to share similar stories. The thread is fairly modest to this point (i.e., it's definitely not approaching threadnaught territory), but we suspect it will swell a bit as more vets weigh in with stories, pointers, and trolling attempts.

MassivelyVeteran EVE Online pilots share wisdom with new players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceccpccp-falloutccp-gameseveeve-onilneforumsnew-edennew-forumsnew-playersnewb-not-nubnewbiesnewbssandboxsci-fistoriesFri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What was your favorite experience as a tank?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-experience-as-a-tank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-experience-as-a-tank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-favorite-experience-as-a-tank/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Maybe you have a sword and shield, maybe you have a really high Dodge rating, maybe you have durable force fields. Whatever your qualifications for the role, you take up the mantle of the tank to keep the rest of your party safe against your enemies, whether they're gang members in DC Universe Online, vicious beasts in Final Fantasy XIV, or enemy starships in Star Trek Online. Whatever your game of choice, if you've played MMOs for a long enough stretch, you've had opportunity to tank.

Of course, part of tanking is that you wind up with stories, in no small part just because it's such a vital job. You can't fake the experience -- you have to get in close and take the blows for the party members who can't survive them. So what was your favorite experience as the party's meat shield? Was it a specific run, a specific group, or was there an entire game that made tanking feel like the most enjoyable thing in the world?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What was your favorite experience as a tank? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anecdotesculturegame-mechanicsholy-trinityopinionpartyparty-mechanicsrolesstoriesstorysurvivaltankingtdgthe-daily-grindTue, 02 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"No designer could ask for more to draw upon," The Secret World's Joel Bylos says. "This world, our world, is the greatest resource of them all."

And so begins a fascinating trip down the dark alleys of storytelling in Funcom's upcoming MMO. In a dev diary posted at MMORPG.com, The Secret World team suggests it's more interesting to set the game in our world instead of in rehashed fantasy lands. By embracing the concept of "everything is true," the writers open the door to every conspiracy theory, every urban legend, and every branch of pseudoscience known to man.

"The story is exploration. The story is discovery," Bylos promises. He says that the ultimate goal of the storytelling team is to get players to stop mindlessly clicking and to start engaging the story on a conscious level. This includes investigating events, hunting for clues and solving puzzles. No, this isn't Scooby-Doo Online (although that would be awesome).

It's also interesting to note that every character in the game has full voice-over and motion capture as a way to pull you into the story instead of jolt you out of it. Bylos also outlines the different types of missions, which include stealth and infiltration, action, investigation, and story.

[Thanks Even!]

MassivelyEngaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiraciesconspiracyconspiracy-theoriesdev-diarydeveloper-diaryhorrorimmersionimmersivenessinvestigationjoel-bylosmmorpg.compsuedosciencepuzzlesRagnar-Tornquistscooby-doo-onlinestoriesstorystorytellingthe-secret-worldtswurban-legendsvideowritingFri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: The Secret World's Dag Scheve talks MMO story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/massively-exclusive-the-secret-worlds-dag-scheve-talks-mmo-sto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/massively-exclusive-the-secret-worlds-dag-scheve-talks-mmo-sto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/massively-exclusive-the-secret-worlds-dag-scheve-talks-mmo-sto/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

MMO story has been getting a lot of press these days, and Funcom has thrown its hat into the ring with a couple of noteworthy developer blogs concerning narrative in The Secret World. The upcoming fantasy-horror MMORPG looks to combine its unique real-world setting and skill-based progression with a compelling narrative populated by memorable NPCs.

We recently chatted with lead writer Dag Scheve to follow up on his NPC-focused dev diary with a few burning questions. Scheve also talks about the narrative and design challenges inherent in massively multiplayer storytelling, and you'll find all that and more in our exclusive interview after the cut.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The Secret World's Dag Scheve talks MMO story

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: The Secret World's Dag Scheve talks MMO story originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dag-schevedev-blogdev-diaryexclusivefantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorinterviewinterviewsmission-terminalsnarrativenpcsstoriesstorythe-secret-worldtswWed, 20 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The story of the story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/storyboard-the-story-of-the-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/storyboard-the-story-of-the-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/storyboard-the-story-of-the-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Two weeks ago, I went over the bare minimums of running a long-standing story in an MMO. Specifically, I was covering the more administrative and less narrative aspects of keeping a story going, due in no small part to the fact that you can't actually plan most of a story in a consensual environment. Instead, what you plan are setpieces and isolated incidents for everyone to interact with, smaller bits of stage setting that weave together into a larger and more satisfying whole.

If you couldn't guess, though, today I'm going to focus more on the latter. For an ongoing story in a game, you need to have some structure and some motivation to keep moving, so you're going to have to know a bit about creating engaging scenes and keeping everyone engaged. This, of course, is no small task in a tabletop game, where you have complete control of surrounding events and are creating a scene to facilitate the characters of others. It gets wonderfully more complex when you're setting up a scene for your character without any control of NPCs or surrounding environments.

Continue reading Storyboard: The story of the story

MassivelyStoryboard: The story of the story originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgroundcolumncraftingfeaturedgroup-coordinationgroup-planningloreopinionplanningroleplayingrpstoriesstorystoryboardFri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallout Online newsletter tells stories and shows off new weapons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/fallout-online-newsletter-tells-stories-and-shows-off-new-weapon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/fallout-online-newsletter-tells-stories-and-shows-off-new-weapon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/fallout-online-newsletter-tells-stories-and-shows-off-new-weapon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Dark humor has always been an important part of the Fallout series, being especially obvious in the first two Fallout games that Interplay developed before selling the single-player game's rights to Bethesda. Now, with the fourth edition of the Fallout Online newsletter, The Armageddon Rag, we're not only treated to some typically dark and twisted storytelling but given a peek at some of the weapons that we'll see in the wastes.

Along with the 9mm Burreyetta Model 86d seen above, there are other deliciously wicked-looking bits of weaponry concept art to check out, such as the Chemblaster 3000 CDS, a special stimpak that insists "even the dead will rise" when it is used, and slightly more familiar weapons like the AKA-47. Between the art and the descriptions, we're sure any post-apocalyptic fan waiting for Fallout Online will find goodness to geek out on. Just don't greeble on yourself, OK?

MassivelyFallout Online newsletter tells stories and shows off new weapons originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armageddon-ragbethesdaconcept-artfalloutfallout-mmofallout-onlinefoInterplayinterplay-entertainmentlorenewsletterpreviewstoriesMon, 28 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: Your journeys]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/the-game-archaeologist-goes-planetside-your-journeys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/the-game-archaeologist-goes-planetside-your-journeys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/the-game-archaeologist-goes-planetside-your-journeys/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

While war itself is a hellish, nasty activity that we'd be better off without, there's always been something compelling about playing war as both kids and adults. When you strip war of death and suffering, the play version can become downright compelling as we get engrossed in tales of heroics, deep strategies, risky gambits, and clear-cut victories. It's why we invest so much time in simulating war throughout our lives -- in snowball fights, toy soldiers, laser tag, and MMOs.

For the soldiers of PlanetSide, the war has been raging for over eight years now with no end in sight, and that's just fine with everyone involved. The game was designed to be a perpetual struggle between military forces -- not due to politics or prejudice but simply for the love of the fight.

In the year or so I've been writing this column, I've never seen so many people come forward when asked to share their experiences with an MMO as have done for PlanetSide. There's definitely something compelling and unique about this MMOFPS that's become a dear part of many gamers' memories, and I'm pleased to be sharing those stories with you today. Hit the jump for the glory, trooper!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: Your journeys

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist goes PlanetSide: Your journeys originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bridge-battlesclancloakercore-combatdoomfeaturedfirst-person-shooterfpshammahijackinterviewjackedmagridersmmofpsnorwayoutfitplanetsideskeeterssky-divingsnipersnowball-fightssoesony-online-entertainmentstarsiege-tribesstoriestony-danzatribestribes-2warwhos-the-bossTue, 22 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Contents Under Pressure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-contents-under-pressure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-contents-under-pressure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-contents-under-pressure/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ah, Berserkers. If you've ever wondered what goes on in the minds of warriors who let their emotions run wild, the newest TERA "Day in the Life" lore entry might pique your interest. Either that, or pay a visit to the nearest MMORPG forum.

In any event, En Masse Entertainment lead writer David Noonan has penned a tale of battle, bloodlust, and bodacious armor that features Naurene, a High Elf Berserker with a giant axe and an attitude to match. While she's easy on the eyes in that typical TERA fashion, Naurene isn't exactly a girl you'd bring home to meet the family, as she's in the habit of talking to her recently deceased foes and rarely anyone else.

Jump the cut for her story as well as a few new screens.

Continue reading Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Contents Under Pressure

MassivelyMassively's exclusive TERA lore: Contents Under Pressure originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-day-in-the-lifeberserkerdavid-noonanen-masseen-masse-entertainmentexclusiveexclusive-tera-lorefantasylorenaurenestoriesteratera-onlineWed, 16 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Five Tenets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-five-tenets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-five-tenets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-five-tenets/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Curious about the stoic Baraka race of En Masse Entertainment's upcoming TERA MMORPG? If so, Massively has a treat for you in the form of our latest exclusive lore entry from the world of Arborea. Despite their fearsome physiques and brooding countenances, Baraka are one of TERA's more scholarly races, and their barrel-chested bodies belie a gentle nature and pacifistic tendencies.

It's not all bookworms and turning the other cheek though, as today's yarn by En Masse lead writer David Noonan demonstrates. When pressed, Baraka can be quite fearsome -- if cerebral -- fighting machines. Join us after the cut for a day in the life of Thuul, a Baraka archer tasked with defending his home against the horde of argon invaders.

Continue reading Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Five Tenets

MassivelyMassively's exclusive TERA lore: Five Tenets originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archerbarakaBlueHolebluehole-studiodavid-noonanen-masseen-masse-entertainmentexclusiveexclusive-tera-lorefantasyfeaturedlorestoriesteratera-onlinethuulThu, 20 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Slaughter is the Best Medicine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-slaughter-is-the-best-medicine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-slaughter-is-the-best-medicine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-slaughter-is-the-best-medicine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Pay attention TERA fans, as Massively's got another lore exclusive to whet your appetite for the forthcoming fantasy MMORPG from En Masse and Bluehole Studio. While we'd love to tell you about American or European beta dates, not to mention a launch window, this tasty morsel from En Masse writer R.K. MacPherson will have to do for the moment.

Join us after the cut for the story of Traius, a young Castanic soldier (and a member of the recently revealed Mystic class) who grows tired of waiting on the call to arms. Be sure to check out the new screens throughout the text, and have a look back at our previous lore exclusives for more of TERA's backstory.

Continue reading Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Slaughter is the Best Medicine

MassivelyMassively's exclusive TERA lore: Slaughter is the Best Medicine originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlueHolebluehole-studiocastanicen-masseen-masse-entertainmentexclusive-tera-lorefantasyfeaturedloremysticrk-macphersonstoriesteratera-onlinetraiusThu, 16 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Brothers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-brothers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-brothers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/massivelys-exclusive-tera-lore-brothers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Massively is proud to bring you another TERA exclusive this week, in the form of a new lore snippet penned by En Masse Entertainment scribe Bridget McKenna. The piece fleshes out more of TERA's extensive backstory by offering a glimpse into the lives of two Amani soldiers preparing for the endless war against the argon.

Turn the page for another intriguing master and apprentice yarn, this time focusing on the stoic Nariiz and his tough-as-nails lance instructor Furad. Don't forget to gawk at our exclusive screenshots sprinkled throughout the text, and check out our previous lore exclusives that you might have missed.

Continue reading Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Brothers

MassivelyMassively's exclusive TERA lore: Brothers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amaniBlueHolebluehole-studiobridget-mckennabrothersen-masseen-masse-entertainmentexclusiveexclusive-tera-lorefeaturedlancerlancerslorestoriesteratera-onlineThu, 11 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth takes part in NaNoWriMo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/fallen-earth-takes-part-in-nanowrimo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/fallen-earth-takes-part-in-nanowrimo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/fallen-earth-takes-part-in-nanowrimo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

November, for those of you unfamiliar with the concept, is National Novel Writing Month and host to an annual challenge -- write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. It's a tall order that not everyone can manage, but the Fallen Earth development team contains at least one hopeful. Director of Content Development Wes Platt is working on his novel, and he's looking to the game's players to help make it a collaborative effort every step of the way.

With an official thread on the forums, Platt is both posting his progress as he goes and taking suggestions from players as to where the story should head next. He also has posted his NaNoWriMo profile page so that players also taking part in the contest can track his progress and cheer him along. Fallen Earth fans would do well to take part in the crafting of the story -- it's not just the first novel for the game, but a novel written in a month's time.

MassivelyFallen Earth takes part in NaNoWriMo originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycommunity-effortsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfefictionicarusicarus-studiosnanowriomonational-novel-writing-monthnovelnovelsofficial-novelspromotionstorieswes-plattThu, 28 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: TERA lore - The Slayer's Spark]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/massively-exclusive-tera-lore-the-slayers-spark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/massively-exclusive-tera-lore-the-slayers-spark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/massively-exclusive-tera-lore-the-slayers-spark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yesterday we brought you news of En Masse Entertainment's new Race and Class series, which kicked off with a profile of castanics and slayers, as well as a collation of TERA's extensive world lore. Today, Massively is proud to bring you an exclusive look at even more of the upcoming action MMO's backstory, courtesy of En Masse scribe R.K. MacPherson.

Join us after the cut for The Slayer's Spark, a master and apprentice tale featuring the no-nonsense castanic Isaura and a fresh-faced amani Vanguard recruit named Jahangir.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: TERA lore - The Slayer's Spark

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: TERA lore - The Slayer's Spark originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoamanibackstorycastanicen-masseen-masse-entertainmentexclusiveexclusive-tera-lorelorerk-macphersonslayerstoriesteratera-onlinevanguardsFri, 15 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Best practices]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Roleplaying is a finicky business. If organizing endgame raid groups is like herding cats, organizing coherent roleplaying is like herding cats with even more ego. And no promise of rewards. And with only other players to provide a threat. And you're herding them with a Nerf bat that many of them are more inclined to just play with. And you have to balance it around activities such as endgame raiding.

It takes a lot to get roleplaying going and keep it going, is what we're getting at. It's a testament to how passionately people feel about roleplaying that, despite all of this, it happens on a consistent basis and usually without too much (unintentional) drama. But it's hard work for everyone involved, and that just inspires people to be more passionate about it as an aggregate. Hence the creation of a column entirely devoted to roleplayers and the careful art of crafting, playing, and working through characters.

Continue reading Storyboard: Best practices

MassivelyStoryboard: Best practices originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptingavoiding-dramacommunicatecommunicationdramafeaturedroleplayingstoriesstorytellingFri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The war for Providence rages on in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/the-war-for-providence-rages-on-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/the-war-for-providence-rages-on-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/the-war-for-providence-rages-on-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The fierce wars alliances wage each day in EVE Online can undoubtedly make for some great story-telling. Each region has a history of the wars players have fought in it and each station bares the memory of a dozen take-overs and assaults. Few stations hold more significance than the outpost in 9UY4-H in the Providence region. Originally named "Unity station", the outpost has had a long and violent history since its construction by Minmatar terrorist faction "Ushra'Kahn". The significance of 9UY4-H comes partly from the fact the system is a bottleneck in logistics and trade routes leading to three empire access points, two of which are exits into high security space. For those fighting over the station in 9UY4-H, however, it holds more political meaning than strategic due to Ushra'Kahn's long history of war against the Amarrian faction "Curatores Veritatis Alliance".

Both groups have always been strong adopters of role-play, turning what would normally be a normal war into a personal vendetta. As Amarr traditionalists, CVA support the enslavement of the Minmatar race, a significant part of EVE's back-story. In retaliation, Ushra'Kahn seek liberation for all Minmatar slaves and have never given up their fight against CVA. The station in 9UY4-H has become a focal point for that war, which has lasted over three years and shows no signs of diminishing. The EVE Online "Interstellar Correspondents", EVE's in-game news team, have just finished writing up a fascinating four-part historical account of the war in Providence and what has led to its current state today. If you're interested in the complex political movements and wars in EVE Online, it's definitely a good read [part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4].

MassivelyThe war for Providence rages on in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allianceccpccp-eveccp-gamescuratores-veritatis-alliancecvaeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinepoliticsprovidencepvproleplayingstoriesushrakahnwarfareMon, 15 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have a favorite roleplaying moment?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/the-daily-grind-have-a-favorite-roleplaying-moment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/the-daily-grind-have-a-favorite-roleplaying-moment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/the-daily-grind-have-a-favorite-roleplaying-moment/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently on the Grind, we asked about your favorite in-game moments. Some of you gave us some really awesome moments, others laughed it off, and others gave us... well... moments. Yes... we'll just refer to them as moments...

Anyway, bad eye-gouging memories aside and on to the topic at hand, today we have another question along those lines for all of you roleplayers out there: What's your favorite roleplaying moment? Many RPers seem to have that one story-arc or character, or great scene that sticks in their minds. It's a story that comes out when you ask what's your favorite moment in a game.

Today, we want to hear more of those moments, but specifically of the RP variety. Toss them out into the comment box below, as we can't wait to read them!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have a favorite roleplaying moment? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>momentsopinionroleplayroleplayingstoriesthe-daily-grindWed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: A story for Sunday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/one-shots-a-story-for-sunday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/one-shots-a-story-for-sunday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/one-shots-a-story-for-sunday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Maybe it's just us, but the drone hives we keep seeing are getting even more wicked-looking; giant, dark, amorphous structures looming in the depths of space. However, along with today's gorgeous EVE Online screenshot, we also have a tremendously cool short story to go with it from Ryl'avin Redwense! As it's a bit long, we'll be placing part of it behind the cut rather than editing it. If you'd like to send in a short story of your own to go with your screenshot, email it to us at oneshots [AT] massively [DOT] com. Now, on with today's excellent EVE Online tale from our very talented reader!

"Warp drive, active." Ryl'avin Redwense lost count of the times she had heard that from the NeoCom.

It was her second day out of Federation space, and the bridge crew aboard the Swiftwind let out a collective gasp as the warp bubble collapsed. This time, she counted.

There were those few warps you did remember.

Gallery: One Shots

Continue reading One Shots: A story for Sunday

MassivelyOne Shots: A story for Sunday originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinefan-fictionone-shotsRylavin-RedwensescreenshotscreenshotsstoriesSun, 28 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New City of Heroes Fanzine released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/new-city-of-heroes-fanzine-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/new-city-of-heroes-fanzine-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/17/new-city-of-heroes-fanzine-released/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Did you enjoy the stories and artwork that ran in the Top Cow line of the City of Heroes comics? Ever regret not sending in your work? Well, here's your chance, because Issue #0 of the new City of Heroes Fanzine was released today.

For those of you who may be concerned that this publication is replacing the City Scoop, fear not: the fanzine was never intended to replace the scoop, but to add to the lore and backstory of the CoX universe. Then, too, the fanzine will only be coming out quarterly, so you'll have to rely on the Scoop ... and Massively, of course ... for timely news about the Rogue Isles and Paragon City.

So pull out your pens and digital tablets, and share your stories and visions of the digital world all of our alts inhabit. We're looking forward to seeing what you have to offer. And don't forget, if you have any thoughts about the fanzine, issues you'd like to raise, or concerns you feel need to be addressed, bring them up in the City of Heroes official forum.

MassivelyNew City of Heroes Fanzine released originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArtworkCity-of-HeroesCity-of-VillainsCoXFanzineIssue-0Paragon-CityRogue-IslesStoriesTop-CowSat, 17 Nov 2007 05:30:00 EST