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[Alganon delays expansion, plans double-XP weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/alganon-delays-expansion-plans-double-xp-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/alganon-delays-expansion-plans-double-xp-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/alganon-delays-expansion-plans-double-xp-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Alganon
Citing "unforseen circumstances," the team at QOL has announced that Alganon's Rise of the Ourobani expansion will be delayed until the fourth quarter of this year. "After evaluation of the project, it was decided that more time was needed in order to do some critical bug fixes as well as to spend more time on certain areas and features of the expansion in order to do the best work possible," the devs wrote in the April newsletter.

Rise of the Ourobani will feature the playable titular race, a brand-new continent to explore, a Warden combat companion, PvP, and flying mounts. To soften the blow of the expansion's delay, QOL has released several sneak peek pictures and videos.

Even though the expansion is a ways away, players have a reason to log in now, as Alganon is preparing a double-XP weekend from April 20 through the 23rd.

You can watch Rise of the Ourobani flying mounts in action after the break.

Continue reading Alganon delays expansion, plans double-XP weekend

MassivelyAlganon delays expansion, plans double-XP weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonclasscontinentdelaydouble-xpdouble-xp-weekendf2pfantasyflying-mountflying-mountsfree-to-playourobaniqolquestquest-onlineracerise-of-the-ourobanitrailervideowardenTue, 17 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO's Great River update flows today, patch notes released [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/lotros-great-river-update-flows-today-patch-notes-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/lotros-great-river-update-flows-today-patch-notes-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/12/lotros-great-river-update-flows-today-patch-notes-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
Strike the tents and put out the campfires, Middle-earth adventurers; it's time to move on... north? That's right, Lord of the Rings Online is taking players on a journey back to an old familiar location -- Lothlorien forest -- as it releases Update 6: Shores of the Great River today. It's an absolutely massive content update for the game meant to span the gap between the Rise of Isengard and Riders of Rohan expansions.

While players patch up and wait for the servers to come back online, there are patch notes and then some to be read. If you lack the hour or so it might take to really get into the notes, just know that the update's highlights include a brand-new high-level zone (The Great River), the next book of the epic story, the addition of Landscape Soldiers and a fleshed-out barter wallet, several major class updates (such as the Warden and Rune-keeper), an improved Instance Finder tool, and plenty of PvP improvements.

Massively recently sat down with the developers to tour through the new content in Update 6.

[Update: Added the trailer for the update after the jump!]

Gallery: LotRO - Update 6: Shores of the Great River

Continue reading LotRO's Great River update flows today, patch notes released [Updated]

MassivelyLotRO's Great River update flows today, patch notes released [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barter-walletf2pfantasyfree-to-playgallerylandscape-soldierslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropatchpatch-notesriders-of-rohanrise-of-isengardrune-keeperscreenshotsthe-great-riverturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-6update-noteswardenMon, 12 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO cleans up the Warden's act]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/lotro-cleans-up-the-wardens-act/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/lotro-cleans-up-the-wardens-act/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/lotro-cleans-up-the-wardens-act/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

LotRO
If you're a Lord of the Rings Online Warden, then your world is about to change. Update 6 will reshape this advanced class to strengthen the Warden as a tank, offer a better DPS role, and fashion a ranged fighting trait line. The latter will also be DPS, although it will also offer some measure of support for groups.

The latest dev diary by Turbine walks us through these changes as the team works to clearly define the three styles of play. One of the big changes is the addition of a brand-new gambit builder, which comes from javelin throws when players are fighting in the new ranged (Assailment) stance. This gambit builder will replace the spear thrusts in the stance, as it's somewhat difficult to jab someone from 40 meters away with a stick.

Another significant change is the addition to what Turbine calls "flavoring" for gambits. These are bonus effects that change depending on the Warden's stance to strengthen tanking, melee DPS, or ranged DPS. Other fun tweaks to the class include allowing Wardens to prep a gambit ahead of a battle and a huge overhaul to the three trait lines.

MassivelyLotRO cleans up the Warden's act originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classclass-diarydev-diariesdev-diaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playgambitslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-6wardenwardensFri, 09 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-road-to-mordor-resolutions-baggins-and-took-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Road to Mordor
Mmm... smell that? It's the smell of a fresh new year, that is! Rolled right off the factory floor with no dings, the warranty still intact, and a tank full of gas and dreams. Makes one want to abandon the routine and head out onto the open road, does it not?

I'm one of those old fuddy-duddys who actually does New Year's resolutions, whether or not I'm actually capable of keeping them. I think it's important to try to better oneself and keep reaching for higher goals and standards, and if a new year is a convenient excuse to get my butt in gear, then I'm not complaining.

So right now I'm staring at a field of endless potential for Lord of the Rings Online in 2012. I've actually been giving it a lot of thought -- what do I want out of this year? As LotRO heads toward its fifth anniversary, is there really anything new left that I haven't experienced? And what the heck am I going to write about for 52 more weeks?

Never fear because the more I pondered, the more I realized that there's plenty of content yet to plunder (plus, of course, whatever Turbine has up its sleeves for the year). So for today's column, I sat down and drew up a list of resolutions in two parts: "Bagginsish" resolutions that are all about fluff and creature comforts and "Tookish" resolutions that are more concerned with high adventure.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Resolutions, Baggins and Took-style originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bagginsfarmingfeaturedhousinginstance-finderlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronew-year-resolutionnew-year-resolutionsnew-years-resolutionsplayer-housingresolutionsrise-of-isengardthe-hobbitthe-road-to-mordortookturbineturbine-entertainmentwardenSat, 07 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II invites you backstage with a pair of Age of Discovery videos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/everquest-ii-invites-you-backstage-with-a-pair-of-age-of-discove/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/everquest-ii-invites-you-backstage-with-a-pair-of-age-of-discove/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/everquest-ii-invites-you-backstage-with-a-pair-of-age-of-discove/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EverQuest II
Ignore the man behind the curtain! Bow before the great and powerful Smokejumper! Oh... what? It's OK if they see behind the curtain? Come on in, folks -- SOE's totally fine with you seeing what's going on backstage during the development of EverQuest II's Age of Discovery and has a couple videos to prove it.

The first video is narrated by EQII Lead Game Designer Akil Hooper, who takes us on a lightning tour of the new Beastlords and their animal Warders. Hooper shows off the new additions to the UI that make viewing, customizing, and switching between the Warders possible.

Flipping over to Age of Discovery's mercenaries feature, Game Designer Carlos Mora demonstrates how the system works. Players can hire one of 10 mercenary NPCs to form a temporary party, and Mercenaries have both a hiring fee and a salary that is withdrawn from your account every 30 minutes. Mora says that a couple of the mercs are more difficult to find -- and more unique -- but are worth the search.

You can watch both of the behind-the-scenes videos after the jump!

Continue reading EverQuest II invites you backstage with a pair of Age of Discovery videos

MassivelyEverQuest II invites you backstage with a pair of Age of Discovery videos originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-discoveryakil-hooperbeastlordbeastlordsbehind-the-scenescarlos-moradev-diaryeqiieverquest-iiexpansionmercenariesmercenarymercssoesony-online-entertainmentwardenwardensSat, 03 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New LotRO dev diary addresses upcoming Warden changes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/new-lotro-dev-diary-addresses-upcoming-warden-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/new-lotro-dev-diary-addresses-upcoming-warden-changes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/new-lotro-dev-diary-addresses-upcoming-warden-changes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard is only five days away now, but Turbine still isn't quite done with its pre-Isengard dev diary series. Today's entry focuses on the Warden class, which -- as Allan Maki puts it -- "is in a good spot, not a great one, but not really needing a complete revision or reimagining." Instead, the team is taking a look at some of the class' shortcomings to see where improvements can be made.

For instance, Wardens are quite underpowered when it comes to filling a DPS role in a group, and their rotation for doing so isn't exactly exciting. As a result, the spear skills Mighty Blow and Unerring Strike have been modified to provide the Warden with more DPS utility while also giving the class a more exciting rotation.

Next up is a matter of building, dumping, and maintaining threat. Three new skills have been added to the Warden's gambit system, and each of them fixes one of these problems. Deflection will rapidly drop threat on the Warden, Aggression allows Wardens to quickly absorb threat from nearby Fellowship members, and Never Surrender allows Wardens a five-minute window wherein they cannot be defeated, and if their morale drops below 5%, they will be healed to 75% health and 50% power.

The Warden's lack of any sort of stun immunity is the third issue to be looked at. To remedy this situation, at level 74, Turbine is granting Wardens the ability Shield Tactics, which is a new gambit that provides the Warden with stun immunity for 10 seconds.

The team is also introducing a new feature called Potency to the class. Potency is a combat state that has a chance to be activated whenever a simple gambit (Goad, Deft Strike, and Defensive Strike) is used. Once a Warden has entered the Potency state, he can then commit one of his gambits to Battle Memory, which will allow him to use that gambit on command throughout the battle, though at the cost of Morale rather than Power.

For the full, intricate details on the changes coming to the Warden class, head on over to the dev diary and give it a read-through.

MassivelyNew LotRO dev diary addresses upcoming Warden changes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diariesdev-diaryexpansionf2pfree-to-playisengardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrorise-of-isengardturbineturbine-entertainmentwardenThu, 22 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Class graduation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-road-to-mordor-class-graduation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Amid all of the hubbabaloo of E3, Rise of Isengard reveals, and pre-order madness, something equally as significant has been taking place on the Lord of the Rings Online scene: proposed class changes.

Turbine's been fairly good giving each of the classes a pass over this last year, but it looks as though something even more significant is in the offering when the expansion hits this fall. As we all know, the level cap is going up to 75, virtues will increase to a new cap of 12, and stats will be expanded in several ways. But there's even more on top of that: Orion and Zombie Columbus have been posting a steady stream of proposed class changes on the forums.

These aren't all tiny tuning measures, either. In many cases, weak elements of classes and class builds will be radically revamped, and how you play these classes will change forever. As with any prospect of change, these proposed notes are both exciting and scary to behold. I felt it was high past time we at least chew on the reveals thus far and see how our classes will be graduating to the next level when Isengard arrives.

Of course, these are all proposed and highly subject to change between now and whenever they're implemented. As Orion said, "Blogs are coming out before the major changes so that we can get your feedback early, often and when we are still agile enough to respond to the valid reasoning behind concerns or true issues that are found." Read with a grain of salt (if you like, perch the salt on your shoulder so it can view the screen better).

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Class graduation

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Class graduation originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burglarcaptainchampionclassclassese3e3-2011f2pfeaturedfree-to-playguardianhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrominstrelorionrise-of-isengardroad-to-mordorrunekeeperthe-road-to-mordorturbinewardenzombie-columbusFri, 24 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Because we are true geeks, last weekend my wife and I went to see X-Men: First Class. Afterward, we got into a discussion about what mutant power we'd pick for ourselves if we had the choice. I was torn between teleportation and quick healing, while my wife wanted to be able to turn into cash to pay off our mortgage. I think one of us is more grounded in the real world than the other.

But the more I think about it, the more I was intrigued with the idea of a shapeshifter. To be anyone would give you unparalleled freedom -- and plenty of chances to get into mischief, too. Come to think of it, it's probably best I'm not granted that particular superpower.

However, plenty of MMOs do give players the chance to shift between their normal forms and something else entirely. While there are far more than 10 examples that the brain trust over here came up with, I'm going to pick out my favorites to highlight.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureraliensanarchy-onlineaoarchetypechronicles-of-spellborncity-of-heroescohcount-choculadervishdruiddruidsdwarfeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifacehuggerfeaturedfurygrim-reaperguild-warsgwkheldiankheldiansleetlichlich-formmoonkinmorphmorphsmysticnecromancerperfect-10perfect-tenpolymorphriftrift-planes-of-telarashapeshiftshapeshiftersshapeshiftingteam-edwardteam-jacobthe-chronicles-of-spellbornthe-countultima-onlineuovampirevampire-formwardenworgenworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/enter-at-your-own-rift-zero-sum-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever since I started following RIFT, I've been entranced by the wide-open -- but not limitless -- class system. After all, the virtual world and everything populating it is only half the game; the other half resides in the avatar that sticks with you while you explore it all. Many MMOs have interesting ways of letting you build and grow your character, but sooner or later they come to a point where there's little more to be done other than incrementally increasing your stats by gaining better gear.

Not so with RIFT, as even a level 50 can drop a few coins to shape a completely new build from scratch. No longer are we bound to a rigidly defined creation; we are free to experiment, tinker, and try out these roles to our hearts' content.

With RIFT's soul system, there are a few ground rules that everyone learns early in the game. You can have up to three souls in your archetype active at any one time; you can only spend as many points in a build as you have in levels (such as 10 points at level 10); and you'll end up with 66 points at level 50, which means that you'll at least dabble in a second soul tree with every build. And while you can certainly spread soul points across all three trees, today I wanted to look at the benefits of a zero-point soul, the "third wheel," if you will, of builds.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Zero-sum game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archonassassinbardbeastmasterbladedancerbuildbuildschampionchloromancerclassclass-buildsclassesclericdominatordruiddungeons-and-dragonselemental-summonerenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedhealinghealsjusticarmagemagic-the-gatheringnecromancerpaladinpetpetspurifierrangerreaverriftriftbladeriftstalkerroguesaboteursentinelshamanshieldssoulsoul-buildsoul-talent-treesoul-treesoul-treessoulssplashsplash-soultalent-treestalentsvoid-knightwardenwarlockwarlordwarriorzero-point-soulWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Community check-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's a quiet week around these here parts, what with the Thanksgiving holiday in NA and the lull before the November Update hits on the 29th. As such, I thought it'd be a great time to catch up on the current state of the community, especially as we've seen so many new bloggers and sites and podcasts arrive on the scene in the past year.

I've always said that Lord of the Rings Online is truly blessed with not just a stellar community but an active one as well. Some MMOs see very little in the way of fan-created sites, keeping most of the community action centered on official forums and the like. However, when it comes to LotRO, we have not only the MyLotro.com blogs set up by Turbine, but a cornucopia of web delights fashioned by hard-working players.

So to say "Thanks!" to this wonderful community, today I want to highlight some of the best LotRO resource websites, blogs and podcasts that consistently go above and beyond in making our slice of the MMO landscape a delight to visit.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Community check-up

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Community check-up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ales-and-talesarmorblogsclasscommunityezinefeaturedfishinggearhobbitimmersionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-wikimapmusicmusic-systemmylotromylotro.compodcastPodcastsresourcesturbineTurbine-EntertainmentwardenweaponswikiFri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara at Gamer Day II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telara-at-gamer-day-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telara-at-gamer-day-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/hands-on-with-rift-planes-of-telara-at-gamer-day-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As part of its recent Gamer Day event, Trion Worlds invited Massively back to its studio for another look at Rift: Planes of Telara. Having now been to two of these Gamer Day events, I can say without a doubt that last week's was the more festive -- the player-community leaders and swarm of devs certainly made the whole experience much more wild than the first and reminded me that I was supposed to be having fun (not just studiously taking notes for you lovely readers, although I did that too!).

Since this was my second day-long hands-on with the game (the first being last summer when I got to check out Rift's dynamic content), I thought it best to focus on two areas: improvements to systems I'd seen before, and totally new elements I hadn't seen at all (like the Guardian starting zone, PvP, UI enhancements, Deepstrike Mines, and several new souls including Riftblades, Bards, and Wardens!). Follow along after the break for my second impressions of this MMO that continues to surprise me with its glittering shine of polish.

Gallery: RIFT: Core Gallery

Continue reading Hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara at Gamer Day II

MassivelyHands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara at Gamer Day II originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabardbattlegroundsbooksclericCollectionsdeath-penaltydeepstrike-minesfactionsfeaturedFirst-Impressionsgamers-dayguardianhands-onhealinghousinginstancesnewbie-zonesnicholas-mcdowellopinionprestige-rankpvpriftrift-planes-of-telarariftbladescott-hartsmansecond-impressionSoulsstarting-zoneswimmingtriontrion-worldsuser-interfacewardenwarfrontwarfrontswater-mageTue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO Veteran's Day sale slashes expansion costs in half]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/lotro-veterans-day-sale-slashes-expansion-costs-in-half/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/lotro-veterans-day-sale-slashes-expansion-costs-in-half/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/lotro-veterans-day-sale-slashes-expansion-costs-in-half/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day, and you know what that means: Incredible savings on MMO expansions! Well, that and honoring the brave soldiers that fought in wars. But also the expansion thing.

For 11/11, Turbine is offering a few great deals for Lord of the Rings Online players. First up is a new exchange rate of $11.11 for a 1111 Turbine Point bundle (locking in a decent 1:1 TP-to-penny ratio) for the LotRO store. For any players lacking one of the expansions, both Mines of Moria and Siege of Mirkwood are half-off at 1248 TP and 998 TP, respectively. Shrewd shoppers can also pick up a Moria-capable goat mount, the Valour virtue, two fun emotes and XP boosts for 50% off the normal price.

Mines of Moria unlocks all of the quests and deeds for this level 50-60 zone, as well as the Rune-keeper and Warden classes, while Siege of Mirkwood opens up the titular area and increases the level cap to 65. This sale ends at midnight EST on November 11th, so move quickly if you want to take advantage of this offer!

MassivelyLotRO Veteran's Day sale slashes expansion costs in half originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exchange-rateexpansionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-storemines-of-moriamirkwoodmoriarune-keepersalesiege-of-mirkwoodstore-saleturbineTurbine-Entertainmentturbine-pointsveterans-dayveterans-day-salewardenWed, 10 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Horton hears a patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-horton-hears-a-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-horton-hears-a-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-horton-hears-a-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Few things get me more excited than the promise of a big steak dinner and a big, beefy patch. Both get the mouth watering, the senses tingling, and the anticipation racing. However, the former comes and goes within minutes, while the latter is here to stay. I love devouring a good set of patch notes, chewing every morsel of information as my mind tries to picture it in action.

Mental note -- I should not be writing columns when I'm hungry.

I trust you were as pleased as I was when you woke up to the Lord of the Rings Online November update patch notes this past week (Standard Disclaimer: These are for the test server and are subject to change, void in Nevada). We knew that Turbine had a few substantial projects in the works for November, but this is far beyond what I'd speculated. It's one of those "There's something for everyone -- well, almost everyone" updates that has a little of everything, a buffet of sumptuous delights. Sure, it's not going to please folks looking for new dungeons, the promised LI and housing revamps, or the continuation of the epic storyline. That said, Turbine's first post-F2P patch is considerably bigger than anticipated, and if this is any indication of the course the company is setting with releases, I'm happy to be on board.

Let's break down this LotRO update after the jump, and see just who this patch is for and what it has to offer, shall we?

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Horton hears a patch

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Horton hears a patch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosmetic-outfitcraftingddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinedyeepic-storylineered-luinevendimf2pfarmingfeaturedfree-playersfree-to-playlegendary-itemsleveling-sigillord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrolotro-weeklymathomnovember-updatepatchreprep-grindreputationroll-one-hundredskirmishessteaktask-systemturbineturbine-pointsupdatevaultvipwardenwardrobeworldwowFri, 29 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Putting the "lass" back in "class"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-road-to-mordor-putting-the-lass-back-in-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-road-to-mordor-putting-the-lass-back-in-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-road-to-mordor-putting-the-lass-back-in-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With the not-so-recent NDA lift on the beta, LotRO players are fast at work discussing, analyzing, dissecting and pouring over all of the information coming from testers. Like a double Shire rainbow, the main question on everyone's lips is, "What does it mean?" We want to know how this is going to impact us, our future, and our gameplay, and the massive scope of this change is both unsettling and heady.

Last week we sifted through the LotRO forums for testimonies about several aspects of the beta, which was treated with a stony silence from the lot of you. Oh, I kid! Nothing gets the tongues wagging around here like a good mouthful of free-to-play, although I've been informed by the leaders of the Global Conspiracy Against Gamers Having Fun that this topic has three days left on the clock until it's locked away in a vault forever.

So even though I tried to touch on the relevant points of the beta last week, there's simply so much of it out there that I had to leave some behind. It's easy to forget that this fall's update contains more than the LotRO store, like a whole barrel of additions and fixes to the game -- including class tweaks. Grab my hobbity hand, and we will venture into the land of the unknown... the land of class changes.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Putting the "lass" back in "class"

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Putting the "lass" back in "class" originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaburglarcaptainchampionclass-previewclass-previewsdouble-rainbowf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglobal-conspiracy-against-gamers-having-fungoldilocksguardianhobbity-handhunterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrominstrelndarune-keeperturbinewardenwhat-does-it-meanFri, 13 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Shopping for your skirmish soldier]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-for-your-skirmish-soldier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-for-your-skirmish-soldier/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/the-road-to-mordor-shopping-for-your-skirmish-soldier/#commentsFiled under: , ,


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

Breaking up, as the song goes, is hard to do -- but sometimes very, very necessary. I'll admit that I have recently settled into a bit of a skirmish funk, firing up a session here and there merely for the XP and the privilege of filling my bags with 576 different types of marks (seriously, Turbine, couldn't we switch from this confusing British-like currency to something more streamlined, like the Euro?). When I couldn't find a partner for a skirmish, the sessions seemed like a drag, and even though I dutifully stabbed my way through them, I grew to resent their length and my death-prone Herbalist soldier.

It wasn't until the other day that a friend challenged my choice of soldier, and in so doing, freed me up for a more enjoyable skirmish experience. "Why are you sticking with the Herbalist?" he asked. I shrugged -- I thought that's what you picked when you were DPS-y and lacked a lot of self-heals. After doing a bit of research on the forums, I made the switch from the decaf healbot to 100% caffeinated Archer goodness, and I couldn't be happier. Pew pew, stab stab, win win.

The choice of a soldier companion for skirmishes may be the tipping point between a painful slog and a joyful battle, as it was in my case. If you're still trying to figure out which soldier might work best with your class, then hit the jump and see what other players recommend you try.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Shopping for your skirmish soldier

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Shopping for your skirmish soldier originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archerbannerguardburglarcaptainchampioncomboduofeaturedguardianherbalisthunterif-you-read-these-tags-you-have-excellent-eyesightlord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-masterlotrominstrelprotectorrune-keepersageskirmishskirmish-solidersoldierturbinewardenwarriorFri, 21 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: A class made just for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-class-made-just-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-class-made-just-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-road-to-mordor-a-class-made-just-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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

In some MMORPGs, picking a class to suit your taste and playstyle is as uncomplicated as buying your favorite beverage. Do you want something fizzy? Then get a soft drink. Something to make you think you're way more witty than you actually are? Beer will do. Something to fill your bladder in under 0.2 minutes? Ice tea, baby. So it is in many MMOs, where players find that game's version of their favorite class and hit the "play" button without thinking. It's a sad commentary on the tired and bland class design that's come from the Holy Trinity of game design, but that's a discussion for another day (or column).

Instead, I want to devote today's Road to Mordor to sorting out the nine playable classes of LotRO, because they are very often not what you'd expect from MMORPG class stereotypes. I've met a lot of players who end up playing -- and falling in love with -- a class that they would never touch in another game, due to that unique Turbine Twist[TM] that's put into each class. So whether you're rolling your very first character in LotRO or thinking about taking a walk in another class' shoes, hit the jump for a handy guide to these nine classes.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: A class made just for you

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: A class made just for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've already covered the new Druid class that came with the The Elven Prophecy update to Runes of Magic this month. Now we explore the other new class, the Warden. This class relies on their blade to inflict damage on their foes. It's not a ranged attack class as it does not rely on the bow, it is a melee attack class. They also use their summonable nature spirits for quite a bit of DPS as well as their self-only utility and protection buffs.

The Warden comes with a number of damage dealing spells. But instead of being long range nukes, they are usually channeled through the Warden's weapons. Later on, the channeled weapon attacks will restore the Warden's health with every blow. The Warden does have one direct damage spell, but it drains the lifeforce of their pet. They also receive one area of effect damage spell. At level 32 the Warden gains the ability to wield two-handed axes and swords and at level 50 they get an AE melee attack.

Since the Warden is usually on the front lines of battle, he also has a number of protection spells to reduce damage to himself. These include emergency spells like the Level 16 Elven Amulet that reduces physical damage to the Warden for a short time. All of the Warden's buffs are restricted to themselves and their pets.

After the jump, a full list of abilities and more playstyle analysis for the class.

Continue reading Runes of Magic Warden class overview

MassivelyRunes of Magic Warden class overview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The free-to-play Runes of Magic launched its first expansion called Chapter II: The Elven Prophecy this week. Along with new content came two new classes beloved to the fantasy RPG genre: Druid and Warden. Only playable by the Elf race, these two new classes use the power of nature to both defend and attack to keep their world safe.

The Druid class is envisioned not only as a healer and buffer, but also as a damage dealer and performer of great feats of magic. Certain spells increase the Druid's Nature's Power counter. With enough counters the Druid gets access to spells that can turn the tide of battle in a big way, both defensively and offensively. But with only cloth armor and a weak staff attack, melee damage is not one of the strong suits of this class, unlike their counterpart in other MMOs. Later in their career, Druids can specialize in augmenting either their healing or their damage spells.

After the jump, the full line up of spells for the class.

Continue reading Runes of Magic Druid class overview

MassivelyRunes of Magic Druid class overview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>druidelven-prophecyfrogsternatures-powerromrunes-of-magicwardenFri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion: Say goodbye to GameGuard (for now...)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/aion-say-goodbye-to-gameguard-for-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/aion-say-goodbye-to-gameguard-for-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/aion-say-goodbye-to-gameguard-for-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Hark! The Herald Daeva Sing. NCsoft casts GameGuard out from under its wing." Many an Aion player are rejoicing at the latest news out of NCsoft. The game will not be launching with infamous anti-cheating software GameGuard (GG). If you're unfamiliar with this software, it comes packaged with many Asian MMOs. Think of it as Warden from World of Warcraft or Punkbuster from your favorite FPS... on steroids. GG has probably been the number one complaint about Aion throughout beta and it appears that NCsoft is unwilling to put off any customers on launch day by potentially inconsistent performance.

However, this removal of GG will be only temporary until they can figure out a way to re-enable it without causing major issues. NCsoft just released one last patch before launch to banish GG and include a few more updates to the client. The level cap has been raised from 45 to 50. Players can now reserve 2 characters during preselect and create 8 characters in total during the head start period and beyond. Finally, channels will be set at 10 instances for the first two zones of each faction. This number will be reduced once players settle in, likely to reduce farming potential and maintain critical mass.

MassivelyAion: Say goodbye to GameGuard (for now...) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hark! New screenshots for Lord of the Rings Online's free Volume II: Book 7 update have, uh, revealed themselves! Okay, we won't expose you -- our dear readers -- to any further torture. We realize that sometimes our diatribes can go a bit deep into the nerdy lore of J.R.R. Tolkien's world.

These six new screens are focused on the new player experience overhaul that Turbine has given to each of the starting zones within the game. We're really digging this goblin dude, who looks pretty devious. Although the caterpillar/butterfly guy being attacked by a Human Warden is also quite a nice shot, as well. We've got all six in our gallery, so feel free to pick your own favorites!

Gallery: LotRO Volume 2: Book 7

MassivelySix maliciously fresh screens from LotRO's new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>goblinhumanj-r-r-tolkienlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-book-2.7tolkienturbinewardenThu, 12 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The week in Massively features]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/the-week-in-massively-features/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/the-week-in-massively-features/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/14/the-week-in-massively-features/#commentsFiled under: ,

Speculating on combat in Star Wars: The Old Republic
Even though Star Wars: The Old Republic is now officially a real game, we still know very little about it aside from slivers of information BioWare has been able to share with us. What we know even less about is the combat system, which has simply been described as "choreographed" much like the battles featured in the Star Wars films.
Warhammer developers weigh in on 1.1a RvR changes
The core philosophy for 1.1 as regards RvR is to guarantee you a rewarding time in open field combat. It should be just as rewarding as spending an hour anywhere else in the game.
Why you should be playing Lord of the Rings Online: The Warden
The Warden class in the Lord of the Rings Online (introduced with the new Mines of Moria expansion) is, all things considered, a blast to play. A capable jack-of-all-trades class, rich in tactical options. Not a class for those who prefer their combat to be a bit mindless, the Warden keeps you thinking.
SOE CEO John Smedley explains the Station Cash service roll out
We sat down earlier this week with SOE's CEO John Smedley for a talk about the whys and wherefors of the Station Cash service. More than just a novelty incorporated into their flagship games, Station Cash is an important new service vital to the future of Sony Online Entertainment.

Continue reading The week in Massively features

MassivelyThe week in Massively features originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Why you should be playing ..." is a free form column from Massively.com intended to inform you about our favorite parts of our favorite games. We want you to know why we play what we do!

The Warden class in the Lord of the Rings Online (introduced with the new Mines of Moria expansion) is, all things considered, a blast to play. A capable jack-of-all-trades class, rich in tactical options. Not a class for those who prefer their combat to be a bit mindless, the Warden keeps you thinking.

The biggest downfall of the Warden is probably hubris.

You see, the Warden is capable. Very capable. Durable in a fight, with a mix of melee and range attacks, and a variety of support powers, when they come up against opponents without special attacks (poison, stunning and so forth) such as orcs or brigands, Wardens can quite comfortably take on foes up to five levels or so above their own. The downside of this is that it can often lead you into trouble.

Read on to find out why I love the kind of trouble the Warden offers.

Continue reading Why you should be playing Lord of the Rings Online: The Warden

MassivelyWhy you should be playing Lord of the Rings Online: The Warden originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriaopinionwardenwhy-you-should-be-playingTue, 09 Dec 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath? Pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/the-digital-continuum-moria-or-wrath-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/the-digital-continuum-moria-or-wrath-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/the-digital-continuum-moria-or-wrath-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath? Pt. 2

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath? Pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Standing in the tiny store, I found myself at a crossroads. I'd put a lot of thought into this, but now that the decision was starting back at me, it seemed much more daunting. The question kept repeating in my head, "Do I buy Wrath, or Moria?" The financially devoid part of my brain enthusiastically yelled, "Both!" while the logical part reminded me that my time was already stretched fairly thin and that trying to dive into two new expansions would probably not be a wise move.

Decisions, decisions.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath?

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookbooksfeaturedjoystiqfeatureslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriaopinionrune-keeperthe-digital-continuumturbinewardenwotlkwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingSat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look at the new classes of WoW, LotRO and WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/a-look-at-the-new-classes-of-wow-lotro-and-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/a-look-at-the-new-classes-of-wow-lotro-and-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/a-look-at-the-new-classes-of-wow-lotro-and-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Book of Grudges, a Warhammer Online blog, is taking an interesting look at World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online and Warhammer Online -- the big three, basically -- and the fact that each of them is currently adding classes to their game worlds. What's even more interesting is that each of these three games is handling their new classes in very different fashions. Death Knights are a big epic instanced experiences; Runekeepers and Wardens are designed to be solo-able and compliment each other well and Knights of the Blazing Sun and Black Guards are being integrated into the game the game via a special in-game event.

It's interesting that you could play each of the new class experiences in succession and none of them would operate in the same way. That's a surprisingly large amount of variety between three very-fantasy titles -- one of which is based in the origin of high-fantasy.

MassivelyA look at the new classes of WoW, LotRO and WAR originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblack-guardblizzarddeath-knighteaelectronic-artsknight-of-the-blazing-sunlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromythicrunekeeperturbinewarwarcraftwardenwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 21 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your plans for Moria?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/15/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-plans-for-moria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/15/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-plans-for-moria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/15/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-plans-for-moria/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


On Tuesday, players will be able to experience Turbine's eagerly-anticipated new expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online, Mines of Moria. With two new classes, the Warden and Rune-Keeper, tons of new content and lore to explore, and new monsters to slay, players are excited about all the goodness about to come. With new classes, a trip into the dark and foreboding Misty Mountains, and new legendary items, what's not to love?

Of course, with any new expansion comes a few questions. Will you be shelving your beloved adventurer(s) to roll one of the two new character classes? Will you stick with the character you've worked hard at and continue onwards? Perhaps take a couple of days off to really sink your teeth into all the delicious newness that Moria has to offer and do both! What are your plans for Moria's launch?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are your plans for Moria? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finishing off their Developer Diary series for the Lord of the Rings Online classes progressing past level 50, Turbine has recently released their final article for the Captain, Guardian and Warden. As with the previous two, this one show players the most effective ways to play these three classes as they venture into Moria and explore the all-new Trait Sets. Each trait in each set is explained, as are the benefits for pursuing each path.

If you missed the other dev diaries for the remaining classes, take a look back at our previous coverage concerning the Burglar, Hunter and Lore-master, plus one concerning the Minstrel, Champion and Rune-keeper. Now that all classes are covered, you can get your mains ready and effectively plan your attack on Moria for November 18th!

MassivelyLife After 50: Progressing your Captain, Guardian and Warden in Moria originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Lord of the Rings Online's Mines of Moria expansion is right around the corner, and we've been having a blast in the beta. Yesterday we shared some of our experiences in two hands-on guides to the new classes -- the Warden and the Rune-keeper.

The Warden uses a unique melee combos called Gambits, while the Rune-keeper moves up and down a scale between two roles -- healer and nuker. Both look to be welcome additions to a game that previously lacked variety in its class choices compared to some competing titles. If you're a LotRO player, which one of these do you plan to roll on November 18th?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Warden or Rune-keeper? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Warden is one of the two new classes releasing in Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria on November 18th. It is considered a tank of sorts, yet uses medium leather armor instead of plate, and wields both a spear for melee combat, and a javelin for ranged combat. They're considered the guardian angels of Middle-earth, and specialize in special skill combinations called Gambits that can let the player adjust their skill needs on the fly, according to a particular situation. While they may not be the heaviest hitters or the most heavily-armored, their flexibility and adaptability in combat is where the Warden really shines.

After spending several weeks in the Moria beta, we're going to approach this article as a hands-on piece, without spending too much time with stats and figures. Turbine has just released a dev diary showcasing the Warden with a wonderful summary of the basics of the class. We highly recommend using that article as a learning tool, and this one as our general impressions of the Warden in certain situations. We'll go through some of the skills that you'll get with the higher-level Warden, explain some useful Gambits, discuss solo-ability vs. group play and then give our final impressions. Follow along through the link below to see what we thought.

MassivelyMassively in Moria: Hands on with the Warden originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classfeaturedguidehands-onjoystiqfeatureslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriawardenMon, 20 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine releases three new Mines of Moria videos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/turbine-releases-three-new-mines-of-moria-videos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/turbine-releases-three-new-mines-of-moria-videos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/17/turbine-releases-three-new-mines-of-moria-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Turbine has just released three new videos promoting their upcoming expansion for Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria. These videos show the two new classes: the Warden and Rune-keeper. Plus, they delve a bit into the new Foundations of Stone area within the Mines.

If you weren't pumped up enough already about Moria, following our extensive coverage and our upcoming coverage, these short videos might help with that excitement a bit. Although we've seen plenty of pics for both of the new classes, this is the first official video showing the Warden and the Rune-keeper. Be sure to check out all three videos embedded just after the cut.

Continue reading Turbine releases three new Mines of Moria videos

MassivelyTurbine releases three new Mines of Moria videos originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemastersfoundations-of-stonelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriarune-keeperturbinevideowardenFri, 17 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO dev diary looks back at creating the Warden class]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/lotro-dev-diary-looks-back-at-creating-the-warden-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/lotro-dev-diary-looks-back-at-creating-the-warden-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/lotro-dev-diary-looks-back-at-creating-the-warden-class/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Turbine's posted a new developer diary that exposes the creative and mechanical processes of designing the Warden, one of the new classes coming in Mines of Moria. There's something for everyone in the diary from the inspiration of the Warden to its gambit combat mechanic. We don't get an in-depth look at gambits and instead get a more introductory look at how they function. Thankfully we didn't come out of the read-through confused, in fact we felt like Turbine did a good job of laying the groundwork for understanding the class even before it hits retail.

Anyone who's watched movies like 300 or Troy is definitely going to fall in love with the Warden. Not that the class is exactly like the Spartan soldier led by Leonidas -- it evokes that imagery a bit, though. We can't wait to see the Warden in action on our monitors in just a months time.

MassivelyLotRO dev diary looks back at creating the Warden class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>300codemastersdev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-diarygambitlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaturbinewardenThu, 16 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Moria and Harvestfest explored on Massively]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/moria-and-harvestfest-explored-on-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/moria-and-harvestfest-explored-on-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/moria-and-harvestfest-explored-on-massively/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Turbine games are down for their bi-weekly maintenance, but Massively has your back with lots of LotRO goodness. Our guide to the Fall Harvest Festival provides you with a walkthrough to gain all the seasonal items you won't see until next year (and who doesn't want that creepy bunny mask?). And if you are looking forward to the Mines of Moria expansion, we have an exclusive walkthrough of the dwarven kingdom as well as video of the new terrain.

Soon the NDA will drop on the beta and Massively will have extensive guides on the new master classes, the spear-wielding Warden tank and the healing and dps machine known as the Rune-keeper, as well has walkthroughs for the opening Books of Volume 2 and many of the Moria encounters. Until then, enjoy our guides and let us know in the comments what you want to see from our Moria coverage.

MassivelyMoria and Harvestfest explored on Massively originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fall-harvestlotromines-of-moriarune-keeperturbinewardenMon, 06 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Mines of Moria Warden and Rune-keeper screenshots released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/new-mines-of-moria-warden-and-rune-keeper-screenshots-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/new-mines-of-moria-warden-and-rune-keeper-screenshots-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/new-mines-of-moria-warden-and-rune-keeper-screenshots-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As part of the continued stream of exciting information we've been getting for Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria, Turbine has recently released eight new screenshots showcasing the two new classes coming with the expansion. We have four for the Warden, and four for the Rune-keeper, all showing various action shots to get us fired up for what's to come.

You may remember, courtesy of some previous articles we've written, about the functionalities of the Warden and the Rune-keeper. The Warden being the one that uses the special "gambit" skills, and the Rune-keeper being the one that uses either healing or DPS proficiencies, depending on how you'd like to play the class. Once more information is released on these classes and Moria in general, you can count on us to let you know about it!

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Gallery

MassivelyNew Mines of Moria Warden and Rune-keeper screenshots released originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriarune-keeperscreenshotsturbinewardenWed, 17 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's exclusive interview with Turbine: Moria and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/massivelys-interview-with-turbine-moria-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/massivelys-interview-with-turbine-moria-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/massivelys-interview-with-turbine-moria-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Recently, we were fortunate enough to sit down with some of the fine folks at Turbine to discuss a few more details on their newest content patch and the future of Lord of the Rings Online. During this play session, we got a load of screenshots and an in-game video to document the amazing content that will launch with Book 14: The Ring-forges of Eregion.

The details of that play session are coming soon in another post and gallery, but for now, we'll tide you over with an exclusive interview with Jeffrey Steefel, Adam Mersky, Meghan "Patience" Rodberg and Aaron Campbell of Turbine. In it, we cover everything from the challenges Turbine may face with global distribution, to the reasoning behind introducing two new classes with Mines of Moria. Follow along after the jump for the complete interview.

Continue reading Massively's exclusive interview with Turbine: Moria and more

MassivelyMassively's exclusive interview with Turbine: Moria and more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbelladam-merskycodemastersfeaturedinterviewjeffrey-steefeljoystiqfeatureslotrolotro-book-14meghan-rodbergmines-of-moriarune-masterturbinewardenSat, 12 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST