Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
The Inferno expansion is set to launch on Tuesday May 22nd, promising a complete revamp of EVE Online's war declaration system and a whole host of new modules. If you're in a wardec corp, you'll need to make a few adjustments to the way you operate when the patch goes live. The minimum war fee will increase to 50 million ISK even if you're declaring war on a small corporation, making very small corps less-appealing targets. The fee increases based on the number of members in the target corp, but it doesn't start increasing until around the 130-member mark. If you want to get your money's worth, you'll be best off picking a target corp with 100-150 members or selecting very high-value small targets.

Be very wary of wardeccing large alliances after the patch. While the previous war system swung in favour of the attacker, the new system has gone to the opposite extreme. Large corps and alliances are now significantly more costly and dangerous to declare war on, especially as the defender can now call mercenaries into the war at any time. Players have complained that the increasing war costs could be abused by getting all alliance members to add alts to the corp, but this would be a logistical nightmare to apply in practice and would increase fees by only a few hundred million ISK. If alt padding becomes a problem, CCP will undoubtedly step in and revise the fee structure.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the new modules and gameplay changes coming in Tuesday's Inferno expansion and give some tips on preparing for the patch.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancillaryarchaeologybhaalgornblobblobbingblueprintblueprintsccpccp-gamesdominixeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionexplorationfeaturedfleetganghackinginfernolabsmagnetometricmagsheathneutraliserpvpradarresearchsandboxsci-fishield-boostershield-tankingtanktankingtech-1tech-2wormholeSun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you play classes you don't like?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-classes-you-dont-like/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesdaily-grinddo-you-play-classes-you-dont-likef2pfantasyfree-to-playguardianlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelord-of-the-rings-online-guardianlotrolotro-guardianmiddle-earthopinionrohanrohan-expansiontankingtankstdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 17 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Tanks vs. healers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/leaderboard-tanks-vs-healers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/leaderboard-tanks-vs-healers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/leaderboard-tanks-vs-healers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Leaderboard
While often seen as a symbiotic pairing against the greatest threats the video game world has ever known, tanks and healers have nevertheless fostered a rivalry of sorts. Both see their role in a group as being paramount to success, but which is more vital? Which takes more skill? Which is under-appreciated by fellow teammates?

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "This is a chicken-or-egg scenario! How can I choose when both are vital to survival? I love both! Don't make me pick!" Now you're lying on the floor, cradling your head and whimpering.

Seriously, stop being a Charlie Brown and take a side! Are tanks more important due to their scarcity and skill that it takes to juggle aggro and take all the pain meant for others? Are healers the mostly unsung heroes of raids, forced to stare at shrinking green bars instead of getting to eyeball the action?

Let's put this bickering to rest, daddy wants to take a nap. Have it out after the jump: tanks vs. healers. I expect that this will put an end to centuries of violence surrounding the subject.

Continue reading Leaderboard: Tanks vs. healers

MassivelyLeaderboard: Tanks vs. healers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charlie-brownchicken-or-eggcombat-rolesfeaturedhealerhealershealingleaderboardpollpollsrolerolestanktankingtanksMon, 13 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Throwing stones at their glass houses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/behind-the-mask-throwing-stones-at-their-glass-houses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/behind-the-mask-throwing-stones-at-their-glass-houses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/behind-the-mask-throwing-stones-at-their-glass-houses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This week on Behind the Mask, we're going to take an in-depth look at Champions Online's new Earth powerset. It took me quite a while to review Wind, and Earth is relatively new. Why the time disparity?

The real answer is that I looked at Wind long before last week, but I didn't really find anything fun or exciting at a first look. Earth is a lot different. Earth has a lot of potential for combining powers between the set; it can Stagger enemies and then exploit that Stagger for damage or bonus effects. Because a lot of the Earth tricks eat your Stagger stacks, you have to choose between keeping Stagger on your targets for the debuff or eating it for the bonus power effects. On top of that, it has the first viable Brick archetype heal, making the Mountain the second reliable Archetype tank. Earth is a lot of fun.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Throwing stones at their glass houses

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Throwing stones at their glass houses originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>by-your-powers-combinedchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosearthearth-powersearth-powersetf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhealingperfect-world-entertainmentpwesupporttankingThu, 26 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online reveals new Mountain archetype]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/champions-online-reveals-new-mountain-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/champions-online-reveals-new-mountain-archetype/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/champions-online-reveals-new-mountain-archetype/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Champions Online - The Mountain
Champions Online has a new protector in town, and he's about as subtle as Gregor Clegane (though quite a bit nicer). The game's newest archetype is called The Mountain, and Cryptic has revealed all the vitals on Champions' official website.

The Mountain is "an embodiment of the rocks and earth that surround us, standing firm in the face of [his] foes," and Cryptic says that the archetype boasts knock-downs and considerable damage-soaking abilities.

The devs have also provided a handy power listing that details everything from 1 to 40, as well as a few concept phrases -- like rock golem, earth elemental, and primordial entity -- to give you an idea what you're in for if you make a Mountain.

MassivelyChampions Online reveals new Mountain archetype originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR - The Bounty Hunter
So you're thinking of being a Star Wars: The Old Republic Bounty Hunter, are you? It's a fine choice of profession. Challenging work, definitely. Requires a lot of travel, a quick draw, and a willingness to take on impossible odds. Some Hunters might see themselves as the avenging hand of the law, some just want to get paid, and some of them genuinely care about the Sith cause. But at the end of the day, every Bounty Hunter lives according to the same code: Find the mark and get paid for the job.

Of course, the in-game Bounty Hunter has all the tools needed to make that happen. With a plethora of tricks in his suit of armor, Hunters can do everything -- provide field medical support, keep targets occupied long enough for others to take them down, or even just waste everything with a plethora of missiles. There are a lot of options available to players who go down the route of the Bounty Hunter, and it doesn't hurt that the entire class oozes with style and intrigue from the start.

Continue reading SWTOR: So you want to play a Bounty Hunter

MassivelySWTOR: So you want to play a Bounty Hunter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austinbounty-hunterclassclass-mechanicsclassesdpseaea-biowareelectronic-artsfeaturedgame-mechanicsguideguideshealerhealingloremechanicsopinionrolesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-class-guideswtor-guideswtor-launchswtor-launch-guidetanktankingthe-old-republictorMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR: So you want to play a Jedi Knight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-knight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-knight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-knight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR - The Jedi Knight
If it's true that gamers would rather play Luke Skywalker than Uncle Owen, then the Jedi Knight is the class to put that claim to the test in Star Wars: The Old Republic. The Knight is the Republic side's melee specialist and classic tank-mage, who supplements her melee attacks with taunts, buffs, and Force powers. She operates on the front lines of the war against the Sith, protecting her allies and representing the Jedi Order across the galaxy.

Also, lightsabers. Two of them.

Continue reading SWTOR: So you want to play a Jedi Knight

MassivelySWTOR: So you want to play a Jedi Knight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassclassesdpseaElectronic-Artsfeaturedfocusguardianguideguidesjedijedi-guardianjedi-knightjedi-sentineljedi-templeknightloremeleemelee-dpspreviewragesentinelstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-class-guideswtor-guideswtor-launch-guidetanktankingthe-old-republictortythonwarriorWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[War of the Immortals shows off the Champion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/war-of-the-immortals-shows-off-the-champion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/war-of-the-immortals-shows-off-the-champion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/war-of-the-immortals-shows-off-the-champion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Champion makes some sort of humorous remark about losing aggro, and the party eats it up.
Welcome back on this glorious Tuesday evening for the latest round of War of the Immortals class previews. The legendary Champion is now approaching for its spotlight, showing off its insurmountable defense and array of holy-themed powers. One would be hard-pressed to find a tank more suited to the job than this class, the Champion, bearer of enormous armor and its exclusive class mount besides.

As one might expect from the visuals, the Champion is clearly well-oriented to a defensive role, but the trailer also shows off the fact that the class is hardly a slouch in the offensive department, wielding a sword that would be a two-hander in most other games and a shield large enough to be used as a makeshift raft. The trailer just past the cut should make it clear that the class tanks with the same style as every other class in War of the Immortals.

[Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]

Continue reading War of the Immortals shows off the Champion

MassivelyWar of the Immortals shows off the Champion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I've mused for a long time about the problems with tanking in Champions Online, since it's my preferred PvE role. Gold members can build freeform characters with everything one would need for a tank, leaving only skill as a requirement. On the other hand, Silver members have been left out in the cold. It's unfortunate, but there has simply been no decent archetype tank.

This all changed with the launch of the Master, a martial arts-themed melee fighter with everything needed to compete in the toughest lairs. Although he isn't a perfect tanking package, he is completely functional and does his job well. He's the Mind of tanking archetypes: He soaks damage, he owns face, and he isn't reliant on a healer for sustainability. I think I'm in love.

Although he is not a free archetype, unlocking the Master is a one-time purchase. If you're into the tank playstyle but you're not into a subscription, this archetype is for you.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: How tanking got easier

MassivelyBehind the Mask: How tanking got easier originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfree-to-playkung-fukung-fu-mastermartial-artistmartial-artsmasterperfect-world-entertainmentpweshurikens-and-lightningtanktank-archetypetankingtanksThu, 10 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Georg Zoeller salutes the Trooper class]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/swtors-georg-zoeller-salutes-the-trooper-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/swtors-georg-zoeller-salutes-the-trooper-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/swtors-georg-zoeller-salutes-the-trooper-class/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR
He won't play favorites between the choice of builds, but BioWare's Georg Zoeller is remarkably open otherwise when it comes to talking about Star Wars: The Old Republic's Trooper in action.

In an interview on RepublicTrooper.com, Zoeller fields a number of questions about the Trooper's capabilities in combat, especially in regard to how a ranged class can function as a tank. After struggling with these unique problems, BioWare tuned the Vanguard (the Trooper's advanced tanking spec) to be a mid-ranged tank with visual effects to show when the class was warding off melee attacks.

"Statistically, their tanking ability is based more upon absorption and shielding and less about avoidance, making them the slightly more predictable tanks (Medics love that)," he wrote. "Finally, they are visually very different when in action, as most of their abilities are themed around technical attacks "

Zoeller said that all-Trooper guilds are entirely possible, given the flexibility of the advanced class roles, as Troopers cover the gamut of the Holy Trinity. He sees Trooper healers as being extremely desirable: "Commandos are the only medic class capable of increasing their target's mitigation and receptivity to heals. They are also the only Advanced Class that features a 'smart heal,' an auto-response heal that triggers on the target when they take damage."

MassivelySWTOR's Georg Zoeller salutes the Trooper class originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online screenshot
It's not very commonplace to showcase a single build on Behind the Mask. In fact, aside from the Archetypes, I've never directly addressed any of the millions of build options in Champions Online. However, one build in particular has garnered a lot of attention lately. It's infamous for its incredible survivability, and many people consider it the benchmark of all builds. The main permutation of the build is Invul/dodge, but the core idea is using layered defenses to ramp up survivability to ridiculous levels.

This week, we'll cover what Invul/dodge is, how it works, and some popular variants. We'll also discuss its limitations and counters. While Invul/dodge is probably the most situationally durable build in the game, it has its weaknesses. Some players might delude you into thinking that Invul/dodge is good at everything, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Practical indestructibility

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Practical indestructibility originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdodgef2pfeaturedflavor-of-the-monthfotmfotm-doesnt-mean-imbafree-to-playidfinvulnerabilitylayered-defensesperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwetanktankingThu, 13 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: The best defense isn't a good offense]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/behind-the-mask-the-best-defense-isnt-a-good-offense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/behind-the-mask-the-best-defense-isnt-a-good-offense/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/behind-the-mask-the-best-defense-isnt-a-good-offense/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Champions Online Screenshot
Blocking is one of the elements that separates Champions Online from just another MMO. Along with combat movement, blocking turns CO from another game of "1, 2, then 4 until dead" into a dynamic action experience.

Blocking reduces incoming damage by a ton, even with no investment in upgrading it. It also gives you sizable energy boosts for every attack you block, which gives you comeback potential. Many players block only charged attacks, and even more simply never block. While it's important to block charged attacks, blocking isn't just for the few times when those happen.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The best defense isn't a good offense

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The best defense isn't a good offense originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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[Behind the Mask: The Art of War, tanking edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/behind-the-mask-the-art-of-war-tanking-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/behind-the-mask-the-art-of-war-tanking-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/behind-the-mask-the-art-of-war-tanking-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Recently, my girlfriend told me that Behind the Mask hasn't had enough "fun" articles lately. What is "fun," anyway? And why is my girlfriend nerdy enough to actually understand what CON and PRE are? She doesn't even play Champions Online!

However, I did promise this week I'd do an article on CO tanking techniques. It'll include very little on specific powers and more on how to use those specific powers. I had a video guide planned, but my project file got corrupted. Hopefully the information presented here is enough for you to get a good idea of what to do.

One key element of of my techniques is that they are heavily geared toward a character with Acrobatics. If you do not have Acrobatics, you are at a massive disadvantage compared to a tank who does. In-battle mobility is extremely important for a tank!

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The Art of War, tanking edition

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The Art of War, tanking edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecocommon-sensecrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgamer-skilljoustjoust-is-actually-an-armored-core-termjoustingkeybindingspay-attentionroottankingThu, 26 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArcheAge producer talks tanking, adventure system, and closed beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/archeage-producer-talks-tanking-adventure-system-and-closed-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/archeage-producer-talks-tanking-adventure-system-and-closed-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/archeage-producer-talks-tanking-adventure-system-and-closed-be/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

AAportal has translated a new interview with XL Games lead designer Kim Kyung-Tae, and the piece sheds a bit of light on what players can expect in ArcheAge's third Korean closed beta test later this month. The event is designed for 5,000 players and will feature newly enabled game systems including adventures, battlefields, and instanced dungeons.

The interview boasts several interesting nuggets, chief among them a brief description of ArcheAge's adventure content. "Adventure content works by a system of hints: the player can randomly find a clue or hint how to find a special place. If you collect enough hints to find it, you will see a special item or monster. These can't be found in normal ways, only through the adventure contents, so it is not related to leveling up," Kim explains. Adventure system rewards won't replace quest or crafted items and instead exist "just for fun."

Kim also has some intriguing things to say about the MMO trinity, more specifically the fact that gameplay in ArcheAge doesn't require a tank. "The overall gameplay will be around using various devices and cooperating with other players in the party. In real life, no one should be able to tank a big monster, and instead take it down with trickery. We want it to be the same in the game." The interview also features discussion on siege mechanics, housing, and travel systems, and you can read the full text at AAportal.

MassivelyArcheAge producer talks tanking, adventure system, and closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When I posted about teaming roles last week, I really wasn't expecting the feedback you guys gave me. Some of you insisted that the holy trinity was dead, others told me that healers can do just fine if they only have heals, and still others told me that tanks are useless. Some of you also commented that Archetypes make decent tanks or that spread stats are a bad thing. I wish I had time to make a detailed rebuttal to all the comments, but information comes first!

This week, we're going to talk about Champions Online's threat mechanics. Originally I was going to talk about tanks in general, but that is such a huge topic that we're just going to have to break it up into bite-sized chunks. I talked about threat mechanics a long time ago, but some things have changed.

This is particularly relevant because the two adventure packs are on sale right now, and if you're a free member, you really owe it to yourself to pick them up. They're that awesome, and you can explore the game's more interesting team content for a tiny fraction of the price. When you try them out, you'll have this guide to tell you about how big team engagements work and why your Inventor faceplants every fight.

You may even be able to stop it...

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Pointing fingers and assigning blame

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Pointing fingers and assigning blame originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Class systems are sometimes maligned by certain segments of the MMORPG-playing population. Whether these folks feel that classes are too restrictive or simply desire gameplay that deviates from the norm, anti-class rhetoric is fairly common. While Aeria Games' free-to-play Eden Eternal MMO still makes use of traditional MMO class archetypes, one thing the game has in spades is variety.

Eden Eternal allows players to freely swap between 15 classes, one of which is the venerable Warrior and the subject of a newly released video. Warriors, as you might expect, fall under the game's tanking branch. What you might not guess is that in addition to being meatshields, Warriors do respectable damage. The class uses shields, seven different types of axes, five tank branch skills, and seven class-specific skills that you'll see in the trailer. Have a look after the break.

Continue reading Aeria releases new Eden Eternal Warrior video

MassivelyAeria releases new Eden Eternal Warrior video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesclass-videoclasseseden-eternalf2pfantasyfree-to-playskillstankingtankstrailervideowarriorWed, 11 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Eat your tanking or you won't get your ice cream]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-soapbox-eat-your-tanking-or-you-wont-get-your-ice-cream/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-soapbox-eat-your-tanking-or-you-wont-get-your-ice-cream/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/the-soapbox-eat-your-tanking-or-you-wont-get-your-ice-cream/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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.

Picture this -- you're a parent of a squalling child. (For some of you, this may be a very easy picture as you sit at the dinner table.) Your child is refusing to eat his or her dinner on the basis that the broccoli doesn't taste like doughnuts covered in Skittles. Being a mature adult and realizing that a lifetime of Skittle-based food toppings is not a viable dietary choice, you are trying to patiently reason with said child despite the fact that the child assumes Kevin at school is evil incarnate because he took the good swing despite your child's having called it.

Eventually, you break down. You tell your child that a special treat awaits if he or she eats all of those vegetables. And so your child queues up for a random heroic in World of Warcraft, and -- wait, we skipped ahead of the metaphor, but that's essentially what the whole Call to Arms feature boils down to. And it brings up interesting questions of bribery, choice, and what makes a fun and functional mechanic.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Eat your tanking or you won't get your ice cream

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Eat your tanking or you won't get your ice cream originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcall-to-armsclass-rolescommunityfeaturedholy-trinityopinionsocial-engineeringsocial-interactiontankingthe-soapboxworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 19 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: Five powers that make Ice nice]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/alter-ego-five-powers-that-make-ice-nice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/alter-ego-five-powers-that-make-ice-nice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/alter-ego-five-powers-that-make-ice-nice/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Last week we took a look into the Fire powerset in DC Universe Online, one of the two tanking powersets available to heroes and villains who want to spend their time at the front lines of the fight. As noted last week, the Fire powers make tanking a snap by simply soaking damage through the use of self-healing. Ice, by contrast, is all about mitigating damage through armor abilities, which help tanks shrug off smackdowns that would leave other players knocked out and drooling on themselves.

While my Ice tank is just shy of DC Universe Online's endgame at the moment, I have spent time running her in groups, reading just about anything I could put my mitts on about tanking powerset suggestions, and fiddling with my own build as I progress. I feel pretty comfortable recommending five great powers to consider for an Icy-tanking hotbar, since I've seen these oft repeated. I find them useful in my everyday play now -- even if I'm not quite up to smacking the biggest baddies around yet. So if you're curious as to what much research (and faceplanting) has unearthed as five of the best Ice tanking powers, then join me behind the break!

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Five powers that make Ice nice

MassivelyAlter-Ego: Five powers that make Ice nice originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'll admit it: Of all the powers I've played with in DC Universe Online thus far, the Fire and Ice powersets are undoubtedly my two personal favorites. Normally I'm not so much the tanking type, but there's something about these two trees that just satisfies the comic book nerd in me. I grew up watching my favorite heroes taking on incredible odds, being beaten down, and triumphing at the end of the day. However, as in any MMO involving endgame raiding, no man is an island. While I might enjoy standing toe-to-toe with the bad guys, if I don't have a good group behind me, there's only so much I can do before I'm spending quality time with the defeat button.

This is where I have to note that specific endgame "builds" don't appear to be quite as easy to create in DC Universe Online as they are in other games such as World of Warcraft. As DCUO is still in its infancy, there are many players who are working hard on theorycrafting statistics. This means that there simply aren't any 100%-perfect cookie-cutter builds everyone adheres to as yet. Still, there are some power choices that seem to be fairly popular for Fire tanks in this early stage, which is what we'll be taking a look at this week.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Five favorite Fire tank powers

MassivelyAlter-Ego: Five favorite Fire tank powers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter-egobuildbuildsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoendgamefeaturedfirefire-tankopinionpowersetpowersetssoesony-online-entertainmentstrategytanktankingSat, 26 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: The power that changed the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/behind-the-mask-the-power-that-changed-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/behind-the-mask-the-power-that-changed-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/behind-the-mask-the-power-that-changed-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

One of the difficult things about explaining complex systems is that sometimes too much detail is bad, and other times not enough detail is also bad. Last week I talked about the myriad defensive systems in Champions Online as a precursor to an analysis of the mighty Inertial Dampening Field. The big problem is that in a huge complex series of systems like CO's, it's difficult to get all the information into one column.

This week, we're going to skip talking about the new Inventor Archetype and the Gadgeteering revamp to talk more about the impact of IDF on the free-form hero game. IDF is probably the most game-changing power released in F2P, and its effects on Champions' gameplay is far-reaching.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The power that changed the game

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The power that changed the game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amebehind-the-maskchampions-onlinechris-matzcocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studioscustom-archetypef2pfeaturedforce-frameworkfree-form-herofree-to-playidfinertial-dampening-fieldnerf-pet-spampets-suckpvepvptankingThu, 03 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Incursion guide -- Fleet setup and tanking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/eve-evolved-incursion-guide-fleet-setup-and-tanking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/eve-evolved-incursion-guide-fleet-setup-and-tanking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/eve-evolved-incursion-guide-fleet-setup-and-tanking/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In last week's EVE Evolved, I gave my first impressions of EVE Online's newest group PvE activity based on a cautious first night spent at an incursion in Obray. The Sansha incursions have been running for over a week now, and players have come up with some clearly effective strategies for clearing the sites. Many groups are now tackling the incursions in relative safety, and yet every incursion still sees several ill-prepared fleets decimated at the hands of Sansha's ships.

Incursions throw some difficult challenges at players, with focus fire melting vulnerable targets, energy neutralisers and ECM disabling your support ships, and bomber frigates wreaking havoc on large hulls. In some encounters, Sansha's Nation will even use deployable remote repair platforms and other structures to its advantage and will call in random reinforcement waves if your group is too slow. With the right fleet composition and strategy, however, all of those challenges can be overcome with ease. It seems that what players need most right now is a solid guide to tackling incursions.

Over the next few editions of the EVE Evolved column, I'll be smashing my way through EVE's incursions to compile a comprehensive guide from the ground up. In this week's first part of the guide, we get the ball rolling with vital information on incursion fleet composition and tanking strategies. This part of the guide is aimed mainly at those interested in Vanguard-level sites, but the fleet setup and tanking strategies described are fundamental to all encounter sizes.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I tackle the fundamentals of incursion fleet design and tanking, which should be enough to help your group jump right into 10-man Vanguard encounters.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Incursion guide -- Fleet setup and tanking

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Incursion guide -- Fleet setup and tanking originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there's one thing that's always bothered me about the archetypes in City of Heroes -- the vanilla game, that is -- it's that none of them has a name that's particularly evocative, even though there are tons of examples that each archetype can draw upon. Today's archetype is a perfect example, one that covers Superman, Colossus, Giant-Man, Captain Marvel, even certain incarnations of more variable characters like Iron Man. But the name "Tanker" fails to conjure up images of anything beyond a dry recitation of party roles.

Yes, this week we're discussing the third of four melee-heavy archetypes with the Tanker, as was hinted at the end of the last column. It's also the archetype closest to its two predecessors, coming with almost identical power selections in a slightly different order. But the Tanker's powers get prioritized in a very different way, so whether you're new to the game or just the class, let's take a look at how to make your Tanker as tanky as possible.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Tankers

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Tankers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greg takes us through to see the dark side of our character sheets, and explains the various defensive stats found in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. He trudges through this week's Waging WAR with the stubborn stoutness of an Ironbreaker, and the cunning pre-determination of Tzeentch's Chosen to bring us this guide...

For every 10 tanks running around with gigantic two-handed weapons and the Focused Offense tactic slotted, there is one tank with a shield. And for every 10 of those tanks, there's that one who will step onto the battlefield and shake its very foundations with his/her ability to soak incredible amounts of damage and survive. What makes those tanks so indomitable? It is their preference for and understanding of defensive statistics. Sure, they may not hit as hard as others, but their ability to stand defiantly in the face of an entire warband is what makes them so fearsome. With confidence, these rare titans stride onto the battlefields knowing they could put up a fight against death itself and stand a chance to win.

Continue after the break as I explain the defensive character statistics of WAR.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Guide to defensive stats

MassivelyWaging WAR: Guide to defensive stats originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicEAea-mythicElectronic-Artsfeaturedguideguidesinitiativemagical-resistancesmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmenttanktankingtankstoughnesswaging-warWarhammerWarhammer-Onlineweapon-skillwillpowerwoundsSat, 30 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Making the cut]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/wings-over-atreia-making-the-cut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/wings-over-atreia-making-the-cut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/wings-over-atreia-making-the-cut/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


"What position are you applying for?" The interviewer listens and nods.

"Mmhmm. Thank you. Now, what special skills can you bring to the team?"

"Please list all previous experience and describe your major accomplishments." A pause.

"Have you the required equipment to adequately perform your duties?"

The interviewer is quiet while sizing up the applicant.

"I'm sorry, but you just don't quite have what we are looking for. Next!"

Sound familiar? No, this isn't a job interview -- this is the rigmarole many players experience simply to get into a group in NCsoft's Aion. You might think that time of day or availability of people in the right level range would have the most affect on forming up a group, whether in a legion or a PUG. Instead, players often must contend with an entirely different beast before even stepping foot into an instance: group elitism.

Unless you have a regular group of friends with identical play times or a very supportive legion, you are apt to occasionally find yourself in the situation of seeking a group while traipsing about Atreia. Even with a regular group, there are going to be times you are left more-or-less on your own and just want to get something done. Thus begins the (oft times unpleasant) task of creating or finding a group. Like a microcosm of drama played out in short spurts, group formation showcases a variety of less-than-desirable attributes: greed; envy; lust; selfishness; and inflated egos. Just how exclusive can this process become? Your inclusion could ride solely on your class, equipment, or skill set, and have nothing to do with your ability and skill as a player. Heck, even your name may keep you out of groups.

Join me past the cut to explore elitism in group dynamics in Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Making the cut

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Making the cut originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamearchetypeArchetypesatreiaclassesclericdramaelitismfeaturedgearedgroupinggroupshealersinstanceslegionnamesnamingnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpugpugsreputationskillskill-setskillst-labstanktankingtemplartheobomosWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 25 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's hands-on with End of Nations' PvE and PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-end-of-nations-pve-and-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-end-of-nations-pve-and-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/massivelys-hands-on-with-end-of-nations-pve-and-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

You know that scene in Contact in which Jodie Foster is looking out at the cosmos, telling the folks at mission control that they should have sent a poet? All the while I was playing End of Nations at Trion World's Gamer's Day event, I kept thinking, "Massively should have sent a StarCraft guru!" I initially felt very much out of my element. MMOs and RPGs are my shtick; I only rarely dive into turn-based strategy games. And RTS games? Forget it. They don't agree with me. If it doesn't have a pause button, I probably don't have time for it. I'm too easily distractible, too impatient, and too exhausted after a work-day of multi-tasking to spend my playtime multi-tasking even more. There's just no time for cooking meals, browsing lolcats, and chatting with the spouse when you're neck-deep in an RTS. RTS games are serious business; they require my undivided attention and concentration, and I don't like doing things halfway.

And yet maybe that makes me just the right person to try out an MMORTS hybrid like Trion's EoN. Most people who give it a spin when it hits the market will probably have a lot in common with me -- they'll be loyalists to one side or the other, not to both. Maybe an RTS novice is just the sort of person who can test out the game, present it to MMO gamers, and explain just what the heck this game thinks it's doing playing around in our end of the pool.

Or maybe I'll end up sobbing amidst the charred remains of my tank minions. You'll never know if you don't hit the break!

Gallery: End of Nations Gamer's Day

Continue reading Massively's hands-on with End of Nations' PvE and PvP

MassivelyMassively's hands-on with End of Nations' PvE and PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armycandy-apple-red-is-too-a-good-tank-colorCommandercommander-rolecustomizationend-of-nationseonfeaturedgallerygamers-dayHeadquartersmagadanmapmapsmmortsmovieomanorder-of-nationspetroglyphpetroglyph-studiospreviewpvepvpreally-big-nukeRTSscreenshotsstrategytanktankingtankstrailertrailerstriontrion-worldswarWed, 18 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hey, guys, did you know that Going Rogue is launching in less than a week? That's crazy. It feels especially strange to me, since this was an expansion that had barely been announced when I started here, and has since become pretty personally important. But we're not here to talk about my vague feelings about the impending launch, we're here to talk about its larger implications for City of Heroes -- namely, the obvious systemic changes that might well be coming when the expansion goes live.

Now, some of you are doubtlessly going to point out that we're not even getting our first Incarnate slot, the expansion isn't changing any part of the system, and so forth and so on. But you forget that there is an interesting change to the system coming that we all know about: the fact that archetypes will no longer be allegiance-locked. That's right -- whether you're in City of Heroes or City of Villains, you'll no longer be limited to five different archetypes. And considering the fact that the archetypes are roughly analogous on both sides now, this might have just a bit of an impact.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypebalancecity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainsclassclassescohcontrolcovcoxdpsexpansionexpansionsfeaturedgoing-roguegrgroupinggroupshybrid-classeshybridsncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospartiespartyingplaystyleportmanteauspowersetssupporttankingteamsWed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Threatening]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/the-daily-grind-threatening/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/the-daily-grind-threatening/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/11/the-daily-grind-threatening/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While not every MMO features aggro mechanics (Second Life is remarkably free of them, for example), nine times out of ten endgame content will at least peripherally involve someone tanking something big and nasty. Usually with claws. And in almost every case, tanking involves a series of mechanics about threat. There has to be some reason why the big nasty is targeting the character in four-inch-thick armor with a shield instead of the robed priest that has a coughing fit when she walks too quickly, after all.

For the upcoming expansion, World of Warcraft's team is considering making some changes to threat mechanics, something that Spinks summarizes and rails against quite eloquently. It does raise the question, however, of how responsible a tank ought to be for managing threat. How big a part of gameplay should tanking actually be? Do you prefer games where you never have to worry about threat, or games where tanking is a very near thing? Which game do you think featured the most engaging methods for holding enemy attention that you'd like to see more of?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Threatening originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last week, I asked you guys if anyone was interested in a Massively SG. Well, the comments and emails seemed pretty positive, so I'll be forming one up; send a PM or friend invite to @Auspicious if you're interested. I also made a Massively chat channel, creatively named Massively. Feel free to hop in and use it to socialize with me or other Massively readers while you're smashing down villains! I'll be on this weekend and we can think of a suitably "super" SG name.

This week, we're going to be talking about survival. A little bit of tanking info will be included, but I am hoping that Cryptic changes the currently screwy aggro mechanics. Right now, they require tanks to constantly attack everything in a given room at the same time -- certainly a difficult prospect even at the best of times.

Staying alive, however, is universal. Everyone hates dying, even in Champions Online. Not everyone has to take hits all the time, but when those hits come, a little bit of survival sure helps. A lot of survival helps even more.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: A glass jaw is not an advantage

MassivelyBehind the Mask: A glass jaw is not an advantage originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedpveSurvivabilitytankingThu, 17 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Finding the Holy Trinity]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/behind-the-mask-finding-the-holy-trinity/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/behind-the-mask-finding-the-holy-trinity/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/behind-the-mask-finding-the-holy-trinity/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

One of the common statements made among the newer MMO generation is the idea that a game "abolishes the holy trinity." It's the idea that their game has evolved to the point where labels like "tank," healer," and "damage dealer" aren't as relevant when talking about a character. This idea isn't particularly new -- the first big RPG with mass online support to break this trend was probably Diablo 2, which actually predates most of the mass-market MMORPGs available today.

Champions Online definitely takes a step in this direction. In fact, it was a suggestion on the forums and the overwhelming player response against the holy trinity that gave me the idea to write this in the first place. Champions is very solo-friendly, and a character can build to be pretty self-sufficient -- one can build for tanking, damage dealing, and self-healing all in the same package. This lends some pretty big weights to the idea that the holy trinity is a thing of the past.

But Champions Online has a few things in its design that maintain the "Holy Trinity" design concept. Hit the jump, and I'll talk about why, contrary to popular belief, I think that keeping the holy trinity around is a good thing.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Finding the Holy Trinity

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Finding the Holy Trinity originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Behind-the-Maskchampions-onlinecoco-wikicrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdpsfeaturedguidehealingholy-trinitynemesis-confrontationtanktankingvibora-bayThu, 01 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Medic ships, part 2: High-end healing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/eve-evolved-medic-ships-part-2-high-end-healing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/eve-evolved-medic-ships-part-2-high-end-healing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/28/eve-evolved-medic-ships-part-2-high-end-healing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

In the first of this two-part guide, I looked at some of the more affordable entry level ships and modules available to dedicated healers in EVE Online. I went on to examine an effective strategy for using medic ships as part of a PvE gang, whether you need some help on a particularly hard mission or you're trying to crack one of EVE's hardest exploration complexes. This week, I look at high-end healing as I explore capital ships and the role of medic ships in both PvP and wormhole operations.

Healing in missions and exploration sites is a largely passive affair, with the healer permanently locked to the main tank. NPCs in these sites never switch targets but the same can't be said for players or the advanced Sleeper AI that roam wormhole systems. Repairing your gang-mates in PvP or a wormhole operation is a completely different affair, made all the more complicated by the fact that the dedicated medic ship is sure to come under fire.

In this article, I look at capital ships and the remote assistance strategies players use in PvP or wormhole operations.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Medic ships, part 2: High-end healing

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Medic ships, part 2: High-end healing originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capitalcarrierccpccp-eveccp-gamescruisereveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedguardianguideguideshealhealerhealinglogisticsmedicmedic-shiponeirospvepvprorqualsleepersleeperstanktankingtipswormholewormholesSun, 28 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Medic ships, part 1: The healers of EVE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/21/eve-evolved-medic-ships-part-1-the-healers-of-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/21/eve-evolved-medic-ships-part-1-the-healers-of-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/21/eve-evolved-medic-ships-part-1-the-healers-of-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The holy trinity of tank, healer and damage-dealer is present in every MMO, including EVE Online. While most MMOs dedicate these roles to specific classes, ships in EVE can do all three at the same time. When running missions solo, for example, a ship will need to tank incoming damage, repair it and deal damage themselves. Setting up a ship for solo PvE becomes a balancing act between the three roles. Too little tank and you'll find yourself in trouble, but too little damage and you'll take forever to kill NPCs.

As part of a gang, however, remote armour repair and shield transfer modules allow pilots to specialise into a traditional healer role. Rather than having each player repair their own damage, it can be much more effective to have a dedicated medic ship to repair anyone that gets shot at. There are even specialised ships for would-be healers in EVE, from entry-level cruisers to advanced Tech 2 Logistics ships and massive capital ships. Medic ships can be an effective part of any gang, whether you're tackling a tough level 4 or 5 mission or engaging in large-scale gang PvP.

In this first part of a two-part look into dedicated healers in EVE Online, I look at the more affordable ships and modules available and the best strategy for healing in PvE.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Medic ships, part 1: The healers of EVE

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Medic ships, part 1: The healers of EVE originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amarrcaldariccpccp-eveccp-gamesdpseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedgallentegroupgroupsguardianguidehealerhealershealinglogisticsminmataroneirossolotanktankingtipstips-and-tricksSun, 21 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Attacking the holy trinity of MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/22/attacking-the-holy-trinity-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/22/attacking-the-holy-trinity-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/22/attacking-the-holy-trinity-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you've played MMOs for any length of time, you've probably grown very familiar with the trinity. You can't help but be acquainted with it in any sort of group content, where in more games than not there's that split between the tank, the healer, and the DPS. Certainly there are subdivisions and extra roles, but for the most part those extra roles are slight twists on one of the existing roles. (Controllers in City of Heroes are DPS with a debuffing/controlling aspect and slightly less damage, for instance). Brian "Psychochild" Green has an article on Gamasutra examining the issues with the holy trinity in game design: what purposes it serves, what its drawbacks are, and how useful it might be to get rid of it entirely.

Examining the roots of the trinity design in Dungeons & Dragons and common gameplay types it offered, Green goes on to take a look at how the structure has become codified, what other potential systems could be put in place, and if there's even an advantage to doing so. He discusses the issues of hybrid classes, group versus solo design, and proposes a potential alternative that remains rooted in the core elements of the design. Anyone with an interest in design should take a look at the full article, as it contains some interesting insights and analysis of one of the core underpinnings of our genre.

MassivelyAttacking the holy trinity of MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-greenbrian-psychochild-greencity-of-heroesclass-mechanicscohdpsdungeons-and-dragonsgamasutrahealerhealingholy-trinityhyrbidspsychochildtanktankingTue, 22 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Top five EVE Online apps]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/eve-evolved-top-five-eve-online-apps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/eve-evolved-top-five-eve-online-apps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/eve-evolved-top-five-eve-online-apps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Back in 2004, a friend introduced me to a relatively new space MMO called EVE Online, where the markets were run by the players and there were undiscovered frontiers to chart. A short time after, I became obsessed with pre-calculating everything in the game. I thought that if the game server can calculate everything we do, I must be able to replicate the process and come up with some interesting results. I wasn't alone, many other pilots had previously created simple spreadsheets and web-databases of EVE's items. Rather than the game's developers hoarding the information required for such an undertaking, they took an unusual stance and released large portions of their main database for player-study. Websites began popping up listing information from the data dumps and it wasn't long before the first pioneering apps came about in the form of handy spreadsheets and interactive web-pages, my own fairly popular tanking spreadsheet among them.

In this article, I look at how player-developed apps came about in EVE and give details on my top five EVE apps. Once you've tried these programs, you won't know how you lived without them.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Top five EVE Online apps

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Top five EVE Online apps originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apiappapplicationcapsuleercapsuleer-2.0ccpccp-gamesdevelopmentefteveeve commandereve fitting tooleve-evolvedeve-onlineEveFittingToolEVEMonfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesnyphurplayer-developmentplayer-drivenPOSskillsspreadsheettankingSun, 09 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Combat boosters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/03/eve-evolved-combat-boosters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/03/eve-evolved-combat-boosters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/03/eve-evolved-combat-boosters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The drug trade has been a part of EVE since the very beginning. Originally, drugs were nothing more than a trading commodity occasionally demanded by agents in low security space. The old drug trade goods still exist in EVE, a non-functional relic of years gone past. A new drug trade has taken its place - the black market for performance-enhancing combat boosters. If you want to push your ship to the absolute limit of its abilities, whether it's for PvE or PvP, you're definitely going to want to get your hands on some combat boosters.

In this article, I take a look at the drug trade in EVE and the different kinds of performance-enhancing combat boosters that are available.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Combat boosters

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Combat boosters originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue pillBluePillboostersccpccp-gamescrashdropdrugseveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexilefeaturedfrentixillegaljoystiqfeaturesmasudimindfloodsmugglingsooth sayerSoothSayertankingx-instinctSun, 03 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: The role you play pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/behind-the-curtain-the-role-you-play-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/behind-the-curtain-the-role-you-play-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/behind-the-curtain-the-role-you-play-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I haven't looked back. I've had a lot of ups and downs on my journey to level 80. I haven't always stayed true to my original goal, and ended up skipping more than my fair share of groups at level 70 - can you believe that I didn't actually visit one Heroic dungeon in Burning Crusade?

I've been in groups where the run was smooth as silk, and the chat had be holding my sides from laughing too hard.

On the flip-side, I've had groups which made me want to claw my eyeballs from their sockets, and break my fingers so I couldn't play ever again. Seriously, Barrens General had nothing on some of these people.

I've discovered that a lot of the things that make me a good healer in WoW also make me a good tank. Situational and tactical awareness, an eye for detail, the ability and willingness to communicate and the ability to make decisions quickly are necessary for success in both roles. Don't get me wrong - I'm not the best tank out there, I'm far from perfect, but I'm bloody good at it, and you could do an awful lot worse.

Tanking is a role that puts a fair amount of responsibility on the player's shoulders. Whether you like it or not, whether you even realise it or not, a lot of the wipes that happen in an instance will be your fault. Yes, that Warlock/Mage/Shaman shouldn't be pulling aggro, but you should be watching Omen and warning them about it. Mobs running around one-shotting your healer? You should be picking them up before bad things happen.

You might not agree, you might say that aggro is each player's own responsibility - that they should be checking their own Omen, and making sure they're behind you in aggro. That's fair enough, I just calls 'em the way I sees 'em.

I never expected to enjoy tanking as much as I do. I've found a role that I never thought would have suited me, but by the same token, might not have enjoyed as much if I'd gone into it earlier in the game. Maybe I was wrong about the other classes I considered, and I'd have ended up feeling as much at home being a Mage or Shaman.

Most of us play games for some small amount of escapism, to get away from our real lives and forget our stresses for a little while if we can. But are we drawn to certain classes because they reflect something within ourselves? Do I enjoy tanking and healing because of some personality quirk? Does that mean I enjoy smoothing over people's concerns and keeping them happy in real life? My family would beg to differ. Are Mages running a heavy Fire spec all secret Pyromaniacs? Are those of us with a Druid secret hippies? The analogy doesn't really hold much weight, I'll admit - but there may be something in it.

Feel free to comment below, share similar stories of you finding your niche, or even stories of you not finding it. Let me know if agree or disagree with my theories - I'll try not to delete the ones that disagree. No promises though.

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: The role you play pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainburning-crusadeclasseshealingplaystyleplaystylestankingworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 31 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: The role you play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/behind-the-curtain-the-role-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/behind-the-curtain-the-role-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/behind-the-curtain-the-role-you-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This week, I'd like to talk a bit about how taking a look at how you play a game, and which class you play, and maybe choosing to change one or both can pay dividends.

Before I do that though, I would just like to mention that I did finally manage to get hold of Baron Rivendare's mount after 68 runs - my thanks to all of you who shared similar stories in the comments of last week's column. Or at the very least, my thanks to whatever Blizzard GM read my whinings and took pity on me, if that's what happened.

Apart from Keith. Ten runs, two mounts and one sword? Keith, I'll be hunting you down to kill you in your sleep, I just wanted to give you fair warning.

If you've been paying attention to any of my columns of late, you'll have noticed that I'm playing a level 80 Protection Warrior in World of Warcraft just now.

I may not have Matthew Rossi's deep, rather touching, love for the Warrior class, but I do love being a tank. Which is something of a surprise, because it was never something I thought I would enjoy being.

My first character in WoW, away back around patch 1.9 was a Tauren Druid. I won't lie, the whole idealized Native American feel of the Tauren sucked me right in. The serenely beautiful rolling plains of Mulgore certainly didn't hurt my choice either. As for the Druid class itself, I can't quite remember what drew me there. I imagine it was that the theory and lore behind the class match up well with that of the Tauren race itself - they seemed to go well together, so I guess I just went with it.

Levelling up, of course, I specced Feral. I knew the Balance and Restoration trees were there, but I avoided them. I avoided Balance because it didn't suit the way I wanted to play, and I avoided Restoration because I wasn't yet comfortable speccing into a tree which required regular PUGs to get the most out of it.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: The role you play

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: The role you play originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainburning-crusadefeaturedhealingplaystyleplaystylesrolestankingworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 31 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE provides further clarification on EQ2's Fighter revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/soe-provides-further-clarification-on-eq2s-fighter-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/soe-provides-further-clarification-on-eq2s-fighter-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/soe-provides-further-clarification-on-eq2s-fighter-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Whether you're fully behind them or not, the changes to EverQuest II's hate system are quite significant and will have an impact on gameplay for all classes, not just the Fighters. Testament to the enormity of the overhaul is the fact that SOE has put out yet another summary of the changes, available on the EQ2Players community site. This latest clarification does not get quite as specific as Aeralik's take last week, but it does include an explanation and pictures of the new hate meter, which will form part of the standard UI when the patch goes live.

If you have aggro on a mob, your meter will show the figure '100'. For everyone else, the closer their number is to 100, the closer they are to pulling a party foul and stealing aggro. This makes it much easier for DPS and healers to see when they are in danger of drawing an NPC's attention, and they can either remove themselves from the fight for a while, or hit a de-taunt ability (which has an instant effect on the hate meter number). The EQ2Players write-up also includes a list of the changes to fighter's abilities, but for a more detailed analysis and community feedback, Aeralik's thread is where you should head.

MassivelySOE provides further clarification on EQ2's Fighter revamp originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeralikaggroaggro-changeschris-kozakeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifigher-revamphatehate-metersoesony-online-entertainmenttankingthreatthreat-meterWed, 28 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Significant aggro changes on the way for EQII]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/significant-hate-changes-coming-to-eqii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/significant-hate-changes-coming-to-eqii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/significant-hate-changes-coming-to-eqii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's a fairly hefty set of changes to EverQuest II's hate/aggro system currently being ironed out on Test, and they aren't to everyone's liking. Due to the the complexity of the changes, developer Chris "Aeralik" Kozak has offered up a summary for players to wrap their heads around. We'll attempt to boil it down even more for you, at the cost of including some of the finer details.

The problem with the aggro system begins with the fact that hate has scaled linearly as the game has progressed, and damage has scaled exponentially with gear and new skills, making it hard for designated aggro-holders to keep control of mobs. One of the changes on Test has given taunts the chance to hit critically, just like damage spells, and there will be a base and normalized amount of threat from taunt abilities.

Continue reading Significant aggro changes on the way for EQII

MassivelySignificant aggro changes on the way for EQII originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeralikaggroberserkerbruiserchris-kozakeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifightersguardianhatemonkpaladinshadowknightsoesony-online-entertainmenttankingtankstesttest-serverthe-shadow-odysseythreatWed, 21 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Unusual tanks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/eve-evolved-the-art-of-tanking-unusual-tanks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/eve-evolved-the-art-of-tanking-unusual-tanks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/eve-evolved-the-art-of-tanking-unusual-tanks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Although in EVE Online we tend to think of a tank as our ship's ability to absorb damage and self-repair, it makes sense to describe any strategy used to keep yourself alive as a form of tank. In the previous parts of this guide on the art of tanking in EVE , I gave some tips on choosing what type of tank to use on your ship and gave an overview of both armour and shield tanking. In this final part of the guide, I take a look at alternative strategies for keeping your ship alive. Strategies such as the spider tank, defensive use of electronic warfare and the much lauded speed-tank are put under the microscope as I look at some of EVE's more unusual tanks.

Spider tank:
When I first coined the term "spider tank" back in early 2006 (before that calling it a "squadron tank"), I was convinced we would see them on the battlefield increasingly frequently. Sure enough, spider tanks have become a staple of gang and small fleet warfare. A spider tank is a strategy in which each member of a fleet fits a remote armour repairer or shield transfer in one of their high slots and they repair anyone in the fleet who starts to take damage. When the enemy concentrate their fire on one member of the gang, the gang concentrates their remote repairers on that member to keep him alive.

Read on to find out how a logistics ship can generate capacitor out of thin air and how ECM, long range weaponry and speed can be effectively used as tanks.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Unusual tanks

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Unusual tanks originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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