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[Warhammer sticking with its subscription model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/warhammer-sticking-with-its-subscription-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Warhammer Online - still not F2P, hehe
Those of you holding out for a freemium conversion for Warhammer Online may as well resign yourselves to waiting on the upcoming Wrath of Heroes MOBA. In a new piece at PC Gamer, BioWare-Mythic vice president Eugene Evans says there are still no plans to give away the game aside from the ongoing endless trial that covers the title's newb tier content.

"Right now, we're focused on Wrath of Heroes as our free-to-play offering in the Warhammer universe," Evans said at this week's GDC. "We believe in the community of players who are playing Age of Reckoning. Yes, we could have attracted a lot of players to it [via F2P], but it's unclear how long you'll keep them. We wanted to support our game as it currently exists."

MassivelyWarhammer sticking with its subscription model originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicea-biowareea-mythicf2pfantasyfree-to-playgdcgdc-2011hehemobamythicMythic-Entertainmentwarwarhammerwarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesWed, 12 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Nuttin' happened, boss!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/choose-my-adventure-nuttin-happened-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/choose-my-adventure-nuttin-happened-boss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/choose-my-adventure-nuttin-happened-boss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ever thrown a birthday party and had no one attend? I haven't, but I experienced a similar sensation on Saturday, probably due more or less to my own poor planning. But it wasn't just events that didn't go according to plan this past week. Virtually nothing did, mostly due to real life intruding into my play time in frequently unpleasant fashion (not to mention a nicely bizarre computer problem that took several weeks of research and effort to finally identify and fix). So, awesome all around!

So this week featured distinctly less choppin' than usual. But there are still interesting anecdotes to relate, even if I've got a bit less material about Warhammer Online than usual. Click on past the break for this week's exploits, the latest round of polls (a bit different than the predecessors), and the usual randomly assembled letters that form words which hopefully entertain the audience.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Nuttin' happened, boss!

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Nuttin' happened, boss! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicchoose-my-adventurecmaeaelectronic-artseventsfeaturedmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionpvprvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningWed, 20 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's begin with a little personal history. Back in 2008, I decided to get into the blogging scene by jumping on board the latest MMO hotness -- in this case, Warhammer Online. As I was growing increasingly tired of World of Warcraft, WAR seemed to offer a refreshing alternative: a darker world full of brutal PvP and awesome new ideas. So I joined the elite ranks of bloggers (hey, stop laughing so hard) and spent the better part of two years jawing about Mythic's latest fantasy project.

And while Warhammer Online was, in my opinion, a solid product, it certainly failed to live up to the extremely high expectations held by both the development team and the players. No matter how it turned out, I really enjoyed talking about WAR, especially in the days leading up to its launch.

One of the first articles I ever wrote for my blog WAAAGH! dealt with the first attempt to bring Warhammer Online into the MMO genre (as a fun aside, it was one of the first times I got my name on Massively!). It's a "what if?" tale that's tantalizing to consider -- an entirely different studio, Climax Online, creating a much darker version of Warhammer than we've ever seen online. The tale of the game's rise and fall (and subsequent rise and fall again) captivated me, and I wanted to expand my old article as part of our recent series into exploring MMOs canceled before their launch.

So what if Climax had brought Warhammer Online to bear? Would it have eclipsed Mythic's vision or been its own animal? Hit the jump and let's dive into the pages of ancient history!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicadventureraltdorfcharacter-designclassclassesclimaxclimax-groupclimax-onlineDavid-Nicholsondwarvese3e3-2003e3-2004ea-mythicelvesfeaturedgames-workshopgamezonehalflingsKarl-Jefferylive-eventsmagicmaster-assassinmicrosoftmythicmythic-entertainmentogresoverlordpaul-barnettplaystationpvpreiklandrobin-dewsrogueseasonssegasilent-hillskill-basedsunglassessypwaaghwarwar-is-everywherewarhammerwarhammer-fantasywarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarriorweatherweather-eventsTue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/choose-my-adventure-marching-off-to-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The readers have spoken! More specifically, the fans of Warhammer Online have spoken, and so the game is my destination for the next several weeks. And what a surprising speech it was, especially given that I, my editor, and my co-workers all assumed that with RIFT on the ballot we might as well just close up the voting after half a day. But the forum thread on the official boards kept people coming over and voting, and thus I'm heading over into the world of Order and Chaos.

I'm glad to see Warhammer Online as the selection, as it's long been a game and setting that I've found interesting even though it's never quite made it on my list of things to play next. The game has certainly seen its fair share of hardship over the past several years, so it's going to be interesting to take a look at the game as it exists now. So click on past the break to start me down the path that leads me into the game and check out my usual disconnected ramblings.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningbioware-mythicchoose-my-adventuredcmacolumneaea-mythicElectronic-ArtsfeaturedmythicMythic-Entertainmentplayer-opinionpollpollsvotingwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningWed, 22 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/the-daily-grind-does-vanguards-diplomacy-system-deserve-anothe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/the-daily-grind-does-vanguards-diplomacy-system-deserve-anothe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/the-daily-grind-does-vanguards-diplomacy-system-deserve-anothe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

While I've never played Vanguard, I'll admit that I've always been fascinated by the game's diplomacy system. It was rather ambitious at the time it was first announced, as the devs boasted about how they were creating a whole new "sphere" of play by turning dialogues between you and NPCs into a deep, involved minigame.

Some people loved it -- and still do -- while others ignored it entirely. In any case, Vanguard's well-known struggles to stay afloat have kept the larger MMO community from experiencing the diplomacy system, which I feel is a shame. I've always hoped that other MMO devs would take this idea and run with it, creating a "next generation" version that would work well in contemporary games, sort of how Warhammer Online's public questing was picked up and revised for games that would follow (just as WAR picked it up from Ultima Online).

So my question to you today is, does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot? Should MMO devs take a closer look at the typically skimpy interactions between characters and NPCs to see if they can be improved? Or should this system best be left alone?

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: Does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diplomacydiplomacy-systemmini-gamesminigamesopinionpublic-questssigilsigil-gamessoesony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindUltima-Onlinevanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroeswarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningThu, 12 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Tapping the keg]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/waging-war-tapping-the-keg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/waging-war-tapping-the-keg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/waging-war-tapping-the-keg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mythic has released the Keg's End live event in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, and this week in Waging WAR, after falling off the wagon and bumping his head, Greg talks about all the things to see and do in-game during this holiday season. Don't worry, though -- we were able to get him to stop singing carols after the swelling went down.

It's that time of year again, and most everyone is celebrating something in some fashion. Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or Festivus, ultimately, it's a section of the calendar that many of us can appreciate and look forward to. On that note, I would like to extend my warmest and sincerest Season's Greetings to all Massively readers out there, wherever you are. And as fun as it is with the gift giving, merriment and world-peace-wishing, the best part of the season is when we get hammered and smack-talk our families. Wait, you don't smack-talk your family at your house? You mean... the season really is all about warmth, love, and mistletoe mischief? Hmm... well, it seems as though my family missed that memo. Behind-the-back dirt-dishing has been a staple at my house for as long as I can remember. But enough about that, let's talk about Warhammer Online and the Keg End live event -- something I can relate to. Forget about religion, politics, and corporate pan-handling; let's get out the gourds, chug a frothy or two, and loudly proclaim our bravest victories in that barrel-chested manner we're all so accustomed to (OK, maybe not all of us, but play along, will ye?).

Read on after the cut to learn about all the fun things you can look forward to with WAR's Keg End live event.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Tapping the keg

MassivelyWaging WAR: Tapping the keg originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedfestivuskeg-endlive-eventmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentwaging-warwarwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eaSat, 18 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ring in the end of the year with Warhammer Online's Keg End]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/ring-in-the-end-of-the-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/ring-in-the-end-of-the-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/ring-in-the-end-of-the-year-with-warhammer-onlines-keg-end/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Warhammer Online players have things to be thankful for this year, not the least of which being the 1.4 patch. And as the end of the year approaches, it's the traditional time for players to celebrate the passing of the old year in the game via copious amounts of liquor and the usual helping of ultraviolence. That's right, it's time for another round of Keg End, with Order and Destruction alike taking part in the festivities and competing for chances at the coveted Golden Stein.

Aside from the boastworthy exploits of the festival, players will also have giants to face off against, with special rewards for those capable of felling these enemies. There are also rare world drop items for players to look for, including your own personal keg handler or a battlebrew backpack. Warhammer Online players are encouraged to take a look at the official preview of the holiday event, which runs until January 4th to ensure that everyone has plenty of time to ring in the new year with a proper toast. Or a proper inebriated violent rampage, one or the other.

MassivelyRing in the end of the year with Warhammer Online's Keg End originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythicdrinkingea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsend-of-the-year-2010holiday-eventin-game-eventinebriationkeg-endmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentwarwar-eawar-patch-1.4warhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-online-eawinter-holiday-2010Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: On the distant horizon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/27/waging-war-on-the-distant-horizon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/27/waging-war-on-the-distant-horizon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/27/waging-war-on-the-distant-horizon/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's that time again! Yes, Greg's imagination has escaped its tiny 3x3 cell and is off spreading ruination and ruffling feathers across the countryside, armed with absurd notions and a not-so-surprising lack of reason and logic. This week's Waging WAR attempts to follow along in its wake as we take another look at the potential future of Warhammer Online: The Age of Reckoning.

WAR released with an impressive lineup of playable armies and careers, setting the stage for the Age of Reckoning with a 3v3, two-sided RvR layout. In the summer following the official release of WAR, we got our first free content expansion featuring the Tomb Kings in the Land of the Dead. Just recently, we finally, at long last, got our Skaven wishes granted. In the spirit of the holiday season coming up, I've decided to look ahead at what may come in the future as we approach new horizons in WAR. Even if we discount Brettonia as another flavor of civilized human (akin in many ways to the Empire), the Daemons of Chaos as being already represented in some form or another as a part of Tzeentch's Warhost, and the Ogre Kingdoms (and other assorted Dogs of War) as being more-or-less an NPC army, we're still left with some excellent offerings from Warhammer lore as far as where WAR can go in the foreseeable future.

Follow along after the break as I take another look at what's left on the table to play with for future packs and expansions for WAR.

Continue reading Waging WAR: On the distant horizon

MassivelyWaging WAR: On the distant horizon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beastmenbioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicbretonniaconjecturedaemons-of-chaosEAea-mythicElectronic-Artsfeaturedgames-workshophigh-elfkhornelizardmenmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentogre-kingdomsopinionopinion-columnopinion-piecepatch-1.4skavenspeculationtomb-kingstzeentchvampire-countsverminous-hordewaging-warWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eawood-elvesSat, 27 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Inside patch 1.4]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/waging-war-inside-patch-1-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/waging-war-inside-patch-1-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/waging-war-inside-patch-1-4/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Verminous Horde game update aka patch 1.4 for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is pretty much old news by now. Despite that, Greg takes a look at some of the highlights from the patch as well as the RvR Packs in this week's Waging WAR.

Wow! What a patch! There are so many new little tidbits, toys and tweaks in this patch that it's really sort of hard to describe them all in the space of a single issue of Waging WAR. On top of all the free content in the patch itself, there are also the progression and personality packs available on the EAStore ($10ea/$15combo). In fact, there is so much new content in WAR right now, it's going to take quite a bit of time for us to exhaust it all and start complaining about stagnation again.

Follow along after the break as I talk about some of the highlights from the patch.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Inside patch 1.4

MassivelyWaging WAR: Inside patch 1.4 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicBlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentdyeEAea-mythicea-storeeastoreElectronic-Artsendless-trialfeaturedmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentpatch1.4personality-packprogression-packrenown-rank-100rvrrvr-packskavenskaven-dungeonsnotling-heraldverminous-hordewaging-warwarwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwill-of-the-forsakenwill-of-the-forsaken-nerfworld-of-warcraftSat, 20 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Go away or I shall taunt you a second time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/one-shots-go-away-or-i-shall-taunt-you-a-second-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/one-shots-go-away-or-i-shall-taunt-you-a-second-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/one-shots-go-away-or-i-shall-taunt-you-a-second-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

More often than not, we tend to get screenshots with little to no explanation of what's going on in them. Since today's Warhammer Online One Shots is one such case, we're left to wonder what precisely started up this incredibly busy image. Was it everyone stampeding for the flag, as our best guess would be? Was there a sale on in the EA store? Perhaps someone called someone else a silly wiper of other people's bottoms, and it was on. Whatever the story is, we'll likely never know. Nonetheless, we can enjoy this crazy scene sent in to us from Mathia V. and hope for victory in our own PvP adventures!

One Shots is on the lookout for images from MMOs we don't get to see often. If you'd like to help us out, then send in a screenshot to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a note about what we're seeing. Please make sure your image is at least 1024px wide and has as little UI as is possible. You never know -- yours could be the next one we feature here.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Go away or I shall taunt you a second time originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaElectronic-Artsmathia-vmythicMythic-Entertainmentone-shotsScreen-ShotsscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammerWarhammer-Online-Age-of-ReckoningMon, 15 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/13/waging-war-battle-for-badlands-season-3-finale/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

With so many awesome things happening for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning lately, with the Verminous Horde expansion, the new store, patch 1.4 and all the rest, Greg has decided to turn his all-seeing eye sideways, to a land called the Badlands, and take Waging WAR along to explore a community-driven event that has been held there for nearly a year now with great success.

Since launch, WAR has enjoyed a great community. With every great community, a great event is inevitable. I've been around the block since WAR was released and have experienced the game on several different servers. I originally rolled my first character, a Swordmaster named Xiimmel, on Iron Rock. Later, I rolled an Archmage named Feiyen on Dark Crag, who I eventually moved back to Iron Rock where she was renamed Veeo. I never did get a chance to explore Phoenix Throne, which was collapsed along with Dark Crag some time ago. Recently, I joined the Badlands community on the side of Destruction with a variety of new characters, and the community there has been good to me so far. Part of that experience the last few weeks has been the opportunity to participate in a community-driven phenomenon known as the Battle for Badlands. Since this is all quite new to me, I decided to do a community spotlight on the event in today's Waging WAR.

Read on past the cut where I play 6Qs and deliver the details about the Battle for Badlands while I try to answer your 5Ws and maybe an H.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale

MassivelyWaging WAR: Battle for Badlands season 3 finale originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archmagebadlandsbattle-for-badlandsBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-mythiccommunity-eventsdark-age-of-camelotdark-cragdestructionEAea-mythicfeaturedgaiscioch-familymythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentorderphoenix-throneswordmasterwaging-warwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eaSat, 13 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Hands-on with Thanquol's Incursion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/waging-war-hands-on-with-thanquols-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/waging-war-hands-on-with-thanquols-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/waging-war-hands-on-with-thanquols-incursion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

This week, Waging WAR brings you Greg's hands-on impressions of the new RvR 24v24 instanced dungeon coming soon to Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. With true grit, determination, a staff, sequined robe and his trusty wizard hat, Greg brushes the dust off of his Archmage skills and reviews Thanquol's Incursion.

I was able to put together everything needed on Wednesday evening, so setting up for Friday afternoon's scheduled test of Thanquol's Incursion didn't take long at all. I didn't want to get tied up in learning a new career along with testing completely new content, so I decided to stick with what I know best and roll my Archmage on the PTS. Luckily, I tend to go light in the add-on department, so after getting my keybindings ready and scattering my UI all over the screen in my own (olympically) special way, I flew to Praag and found a warband in no time flat. Friday's event started up right on time, and the testing was under way. The warband headed out to one of the various instance gates and we zoned in.

Follow along after the break as I discuss my first-time hands-on experience with the new RvR gated 24v24 instanced dungeon: Thanquol's Incursion.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Hands-on with Thanquol's Incursion

MassivelyWaging WAR: Hands-on with Thanquol's Incursion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archmageBioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicboneripperchosencloud-of-corruptionEAea-biowareea-bioware-mythicea-gamesea-mythicfeaturedmantrapmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentpatch-1.4ptsQuakerat-ogrerr100rvrrvr-packskavenskaven-dungeonskeetkslayerthanquolthanquols-incursionthrotthrot-the-uncleanttkunderempirewaging-warwarwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eawarlock-engineerSat, 23 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/waging-war-chaotic-zeal-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In this week's installment of Waging WAR, Greg returns to the Chaotic Zeal series and peels back another layer or two of the Zealot career in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. He tells us about his experience through tiers 2 and 3 and talks about what makes the zealot stand out in the chaos crowd. If only we could get him to eat his onions with the same fanaticism...

At the end of the first issue of the Chaotic Zeal series, I left off by saying that I was happily looking forward to playing through tiers 2 and 3 and the promise the Zealot would bring. I'll kick off this second article in the series by saying that I wasn't disappointed in the least. The Zealot is an absolute pleasure to play as a PvP healer, despite the settings and circumstances I was presented with. The career's growth is robust and meaningful with a variety of attractive tactics and morale abilities, while the playstyle becomes more and more refined over time. I could fill an entire column with anecdotes and memories of my time with the career through the middle tiers, as the Zealot is a career experience that tends to be quite engaging and memorable. Instead, I'll focus on my impressions of leveling through them. Thus, with my Zealot poised on the precipice of tier 4 at level 30, I'll look back and recall the issues I faced getting there.

Follow along after the cut as I discuss the middle tiers with the Zealot career.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two

MassivelyWaging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part two originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This past week was an exciting week for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning as the new RvR systems were released for testing on the public test realm of Warpstone. Greg took part in both the Wednesday night and Friday afternoon sessions, and writes about his experiences and impressions in this week's Waging WAR.

When Mythic said that testing would begin in October, I don't think anyone expected to get his hands on the new changes to the RvR system so soon. Wednesday night was the first focused test, and I made it a point to take part. I also took part in the European-friendly session scheduled for Friday afternoon. Both events took place in the Tier 3 (Chaos vs. Empire) pairing across the zones of High Pass and Talabecland. There are certain issues that I feel are important enough to discuss regarding the way the new battlefield dynamics will bring about a golden age for melee careers, but this week, I want to focus on the RvR itself. Things have well and truly been shaken up, and this fresh experience is going to take some serious adjustment for veteran players as well as newcomers to the game.

Continue along after the break for more discussion on the topic.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The new RvR... Are we there yet?

MassivelyWaging WAR: The new RvR... Are we there yet? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We interrupt this week's scheduled career spotlight on Waging WAR to bring you Greg's impressions of the latest and greatest news from the floors of GamesDay: UK regarding Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and the new RvR content coming soon to a theatre of WAR near you.

OK. So. Take everything you know about the Tier 4 RvR Campaign in WAR and press the "Delete" button right now. In fact, press it a few times. Actually, keep going. Keep pressing it until all you're left with is three pairings with three zones each, each zone containing four battlefield objectives and two keeps, and two cities as the capstone for each realm. OK. Now access that part of your brain that stores silly words and euphemisms regarding "the problem with WAR." See that entry for "Waithammer?" Delete it. "PvDoor?" Press the button. Actually, just go wild. Take every criticism you've ever had for WAR's endgame and just throw it out. We're talking total tabula rasa here (and not the ill-fated game). OK, stop. That should do. With an open mind and absolutely no knowledge of in-game mechanics, you're now primed to understand what I'm about to describe regarding the changes that are on their way, and more importantly, why I believe those changes are so critical to the glorious future of WAR.

If your curiosity is even remotely piqued, click the "Read more" button.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Coming soon, to a theatre of WAR near you

MassivelyWaging WAR: Coming soon, to a theatre of WAR near you originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continuing in the tradition of the Nagarythe Chronicles, Waging WAR moves forward this week with the first issue of another multipart career spotlight for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. This time, however, Greg has defected to the velvet darkness of Chaos. Brandishing a skull in one hand and a twisted dagger in the other, Greg rolls a zealot and starts down a road of uncertainty, where the only constant is Change by the will of Tzeentch.

It has been a long time since I've played the game on the side of Destruction. Actually, truth be told, I've never really been serious about any Destruction character I've ever rolled at all, with my highest level being somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 or so on a blackguard when the class was first released. It has also been quite a while since I've done any career spotlights for the column. With those facts in mind, I've decided to do a multipart series for the zealot and to take a look at how they play and what makes them tick through the various tiers of growth up into Tier 4. The reasons I chose the zealot for the series are simple and few. First of all, the last time I had my hands on the zealot career was long before the new Harbinger mechanic was released, and I want to try it out for myself. Second, I have a considerable amount of experience healing (and DPSing) with my archmage, so I have a baseline for comparison. Finally, I thought a defection would be fun as I level and discover new areas, quests and storylines that I never gave myself a chance to become familiar with.

Follow along after the break as I take a look at the zealot through levels 1-11 in Tier 1.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part one

MassivelyWaging WAR: Chaotic zeal, part one originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In this installment of Waging WAR, Greg flips the world all upside-down-like and examines the soft, warm underbelly of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. The PvE side. He holds a mirror to some of the questions he's found himself asking in bad situations involving mean, unforgiving bosses, and he shows us all how not to play The Blame Game. Oh, and HAPPY SECOND ANNIVERSARY, Warhammer Online!!! Ahem, we now return you to our regularly scheduled Waging WAR content.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is primarily about the RvR. As such, we don't often discuss some of the things in the PvE instances throughout WAR that we've all experienced at least once (or at least most of us, anyway). Whether you're heading into Hunter's Vale in Tier 1, setting up for a boss in the Tomb of the Vulture Lord, or preparing for any number of instances in-between (I can name five major ones off the top of my head), we've all been there and done that. Things have inevitably gone south for all of us at least once. For some of us, things have gone south repeatedly, on the same boss, with the same group, in the same instance. Frustration and enmity start to set in, and people start wondering, "What is going on here?" What follows then is usually a series of questions tracing a certain pattern that we ask ourselves as we try to figure out what the problem is. I guess it is only human nature to enter into this type of internal dialogue when faced with problem solving in social situations.

Follow after the break to see what I'm talking about.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The blame game

MassivelyWaging WAR: The blame game originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In light of Gamescom coming next week (August 18th - 22nd), this week WagingWAR looks forward to what could be coming for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. But beware: Since Mythic has been so secretive about the future of WAR, we've been forced to compromise and offer mere conjecture. Unchained by reason or fact, we follow in the wake of that terrible beast known only as "Greg's Imagination."

With less than a week left until Gamescom, I find myself more and more excited by the potential of what Mythic could be set to reveal, regardless of the fact that it's given me nothing to chew on. I am hyped by the anti-hype. What follows is the result of that hype. There are no facts, rumours, hints, or tips to back up what amounts to totally unbarred speculation. I have organized the aftermath of my brainstorm in terms of what would excite me, from most to least, followed by why I believe these additions could make sense, and how they might be implemented. Keep in mind that some of what follows could simply be passed off as madness; it might be totally unfeasible, even by the most adept and well-financed of development teams. I'm fully aware of that. The point here was to just "let it go." And I did.

Crazy, or uncanny -- you decide. Follow along after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Gamescom and Mythic's anti-hype

MassivelyWaging WAR: Gamescom and Mythic's anti-hype originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waging WAR starts the month of August with a look at archetypes in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and the way they work together in RvR and scenarios. Although Greg's rules apply to pretty much any class-based, group-based, PvP-centric game, he prefers to think of them as particular to WAR, since there's a bunch of game-specific slang in there that he's too lazy to change.

Having a role to play is integral to the massively multiplayer online experience, but when the term "roleplay" comes up, it usually means something very specific and closely related to dramatic acting. Taken in a broader sense, it means that we choose our roles when we project the most imaginative aspect of our psychic selves and ask the question "who (or what) do I want to be?" Thus, our vicarious adventures begin. For the purposes of social gaming, it should come as no surprise that those classes usually fit another staple in the MMO universe -- the role trinity of tanker, healer, and damager. While the bond between the healer and tanker is obvious, the unspoken pact between healer and damager is just as sacred and yet all too easily forgotten. For those who were unaware such a promise existed, it goes something like, "I, the healer, promise to keep you alive so you can kill stuff in the face (better)." However, in many cases, the damaging character is delegated an expendable role, compared to the tank's priority or the healer's own survival. These are exceptions that the melee-damager is usually aware of and even comfortable with.

But today I'm not here to challenge those roles like I normally would when talking about damage-healer hybrids. As a specialized healer, I've defined a few, easy-to-remember rules that I believe every melee-damage player should follow in group situations (PUG or premade - there is little difference when it comes to these rules). Solo play is an entirely different realm and beyond the scope of this column; I want to focus on the special synergy between healer and melee-damager, and to dispense advice to those brave, wayward souls in their never-ending quest to face blades as they bring their own to bear.

I'll bestow these tidbits of wisdom after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: A healer's advice for melee-DPS

MassivelyWaging WAR: A healer's advice for melee-DPS originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After being slightly disappointed by the lack of response to last week's challenge, Greg was worried that he wouldn't have a topic for Waging WAR this week, and suffered a short-term bout of writer's block. But Serendipity and Providence once again shook hands, and two new announcements were made on the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning developer forums on Thursday and Friday earlier this week that would supply him with plenty of fodder for discussion in this week's column. Now, armed with the facts and a tall glass of creative juice, we can set things up properly, in all their italic glory.

The upcoming patch (1.3.6) for Warhammer Online promises a hefty amount of content, balancing, and changes. Highlights include the new armor vanity slots, the sovereign set revamps, the addition of the Against All Odds mechanic, and several class changes that have been needed for some time. In fact, it seems this latest career balancing pass has affected nearly every career available, and full mastery point refunds have been handed out to a whopping eight careers. The list doesn't stop there. Players will enjoy a new sticky targeting system, auction house interface, and loads of other new features including another batch of new art for the scenario weapons, and a revamp to the victory point system in the RvR campaign. There's even more still. You can read the full patch notes for patch 1.3.6, test the patch yourself (it went live on the PTS yesterday), or even take part in the developer lead focus tests on July 30th at 4 p.m. EDT and August 6th at 8 p.m. EDT.

But, of all the changes promised in the patch notes, one specific set of related changes has sparked my imagination for the future of WAR more than the rest. Find out what I'm talking about after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: And a pinch of warpstone, yes yes...

MassivelyWaging WAR: And a pinch of warpstone, yes yes... originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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During the last three weeks, Waging WAR took a look at the shadow warrior career in Warhammer Online, in an attempt to gain personal experience and insight into the complaints that most players have with the class. Due to popular demand, this week we return (albeit briefly) to the shadow warrior class to touch up a few frayed ends. We also set our sights forward and look ahead to future issues of Waging WAR.

I felt that my review of the career was based on solid ground, given the scope, and taking the setting and focus into consideration, and considering the fact that I had to grind the levels relatively quickly in order to stay on-time and deliver the column promptly. Despite my original intention to simply gain personal insight and experience with the class in an effort to have greater understanding of its hot-button issues, many of the Waging WAR readers who left comments were disappointed with my experiment, as I didn't have time or space to have a serious look at the skirmish and assault trees. So, throughout the last week, I felt obliged to play my shadow warrior, focusing all of my mastery points in either skirmish or assault (starting at rank 30, there are more than enough points available to explore an entire tree, and even a few inter-tree synergies).

Follow along after the break to find out how things went for me.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, supplemental

MassivelyWaging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, supplemental originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week bears with it the final installment to Waging WAR's Nagaryth Chronicles, which took a long-term, in-depth look at the Path of the Scout mastery tree available to Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning's shadow warrior. Admittedly, Greg didn't have time to take his character all the way through to rank 40/40, but this past July 4th weekend's double XP and renown bonuses allowed him to level through Tier 3 relatively quickly. He's also promised us that he'll continue to play her casually as a break from his Archmage main, from time to time.

Again, I would like to take a moment to respond to some feedback left as reader comments to last week's column:

@Taawa -- According to my experience, festerbombs are absolutely deadly (think: "BOOM Headshot!"), possibly even moreso than any sort of infiltration attack by stealth-class melee-damage-per-second (MDPS) careers. If you're the type who enjoys sneaking around terrain and quietly selecting a target while taking time to prepare a guaranteed kill, you'll enjoy this build. I'll explain more after the break.
@Kyelthis -- Again with excellent feedback: the Steady Aim (SA) - Replenishing Strikes (RS) - Rapid Fire (RF) combination (a combination that had never occured to me until you pointed it out) is almost always as effective as Lileath's Forgiveness (LF). However, I feel that my use of SA is slightly more productive. I'll explain why after the break.
@Hal900x -- I'm pretty sure you're mistaking Unshakeable Focus with SA. Also, Shadow Sting (SS) is extremely short-range (45'). My ideal build (complete by rank 35) was focusing on extremely long-range, high-burst, sniping -- which is why I opted for Fell the Weak (FTW, 100') instead, since it has the same effect except instead of requiring an ailment, the "mortal strike" component requires Vengeance of Nagarythe (VoN, and is one second longer in duration to boot!). Finally, SA applies a 50% increased critical chance to damaging attacks, not to the overall critical chance of the character; thus, any attack during those six seconds has its critical chance treated like a coin flip: heads for a critical, tails for a normal hit.

So, why do I think that shadow warriors are fine and don't need the attention that everyone seems to claim they need? I'll discuss my side of the issue after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part three

MassivelyWaging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part three originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Waging WAR continues this week with the second installment of the Nagaryth Chronicles -- an in-depth look at the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning's shadow warrior. We'll talk about how the career performs through tier two, identify key abilities, and open the floor to discussion about how we might begin to remedy some of the most basic issues with the career. So nock another arrow and let's get started.

First things first. I want to quickly respond to a few of the reader comments left on last week's column.

@MiloMenderBender: After you pointed out my target selection could be wrong, I started paying attention to my damage vs. the varying enemy careers. Your suggestion to pay closer attention to damage-per-kill rather than overall made perfect sense, and I'm now making more careful and efficient targeting decisions -- with satisfying results.
@Kyelthis: Your keybinding suggestions were excellent and definitely worth trying out.
@ShadowWAR: After reading your comment, it took only a moment to pay closer attention and confirm that the stances are not on the global cooldown (GCD) and skirmish stance does indeed return 1:1 ballistics to strength from items only.
@ the rest: Thank you for your contributions, and, although I'm hesitant to have this series turn into a conversation about mirrors, issues with the game in general or concerns with other careers, I want you to know that I read all of your comments and appreciate your feedback.

Moving on, let's continue with my impressions and issues with the shadow warrior through tier two after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part two

MassivelyWaging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part two originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week, Waging WAR starts the first in-depth career review with a three to four column exposè on Warhammer Online's shadow warrior. We'll take a look at the career as it progresses through each of the tiers, as well as consider key tactics, abilities and masteries that are learned along the way. As we go, we'll try to understand and break down what makes the shadow warrior tick, why so many players claim the career is broken, and whether or not Waging WAR agrees. So, let's get our tabi boots on, pull our face masks up, and get started.

For a long time now, I've stood on the sidelines and listened to horror stories regarding the shadow warrior. It has been clear that many players are (or have been) dissatisfied with the career, but I've never fully understood why. It isn't so difficult for me to peruse the SW forums or read one of the many blogs out there that explain things quite clearly, and understand the theory of it, but as far as first-hand experience goes, I've been lacking a direct understanding of the career and how it works. With that in mind, I've decided to educate myself; over the next few weeks, I'll be leveling a shadow warrior so I can analyze the career from the inside.

Continue reading Waging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part one

MassivelyWaging WAR: The Nagaryth Chronicles, part one originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earlier this year, Mythic Entertainment moved to take over the management of Dark Age of Camelot in Europe from publisher GOA, and this week we've learned that they're doing the same for Warhammer Online. In a brief announcement on WAR's EU site, GOA states that the full operation of the game is being handed over to Mythic. This includes a migration of all character data from GOA's servers to Mythic's. GOA has had the publishing rights to WAR since 2006.

The history of GOA and Warhammer Online is a rocky one, especially around the launch of the game in 2008. However, they retained the right to publish and run the game in Europe, and proceeded without any other severe bumps since then (OK, maybe a few bumps). GOA's parting note with the players is quietly upbeat: "We have enjoyed a lot of great times with you. Over the past couple of years we have fostered a fantastically vibrant and active community; we saw the world's first Tchar'Zanek and Karl Franz kills pre 1.3.5 and hosted undeniably some of the most professional guilds to ever play WAR."

While this undoubtedly comes as a shock to many EU players, the bottom line is that WAR will continue to run in the region. The WAR EU site promises more information and a transition FAQ in upcoming days, so stay tuned as we keep abreast of this developing situation.

MassivelyGOA hands over WAR EU to Mythic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingea-mythiceuropegoamythicMythic-Entertainmentwarwarhammer-onlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-ReckoningFri, 25 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Patch 1.3.6 and the proverbial DPS-Healer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/19/waging-war-patch-1-3-6-and-the-proverbial-dps-healer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/19/waging-war-patch-1-3-6-and-the-proverbial-dps-healer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/19/waging-war-patch-1-3-6-and-the-proverbial-dps-healer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There aren't very many companies that open up planned patch changes to their players and fans for discussion; however, Mythic is one that does. This week, Waging WAR focuses on the suggested career balance changes for the Zealot and Runepriest coming in patch 1.3.6 for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. We'll cover the issue as well as the proposed solution for these careers. We'll also discuss the impact that these changes might have on the affected careers and on the community in general. There's also a part where Greg throws some drama at the fan and rants about "DPS-Healers."

Let's start by clarifying the main issue and the proposed change. Currently, the other healing careers (Archmage, Shaman, Warrior Priest and Disciple of Khaine) have their mastery paths organized by the role which they might play (i.e. damage focus, healing focus, etc.); whereas, the Zealot and Runepriest don't. Their mastery paths are organized by the delivery method of their healing (i.e. over time, direct, or area). The problem is, after deciding whether to specialize offensively or defensively and gearing to that role (a freedom of choice that they should be given), the Zealot and Runepriest are left with only one-half of an effective skill-set -- the other half of their skills being rendered ineffective by role choice and gear itemization. To bring these careers in line with their archetypical cousins, a new mechanism is proposed which gives Zealots and Runepriests a chance to retain some effectiveness in skills that are outside their chosen role.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Patch 1.3.6 and the proverbial DPS-Healer

MassivelyWaging WAR: Patch 1.3.6 and the proverbial DPS-Healer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archmagecareersdeveloper-chatdeveloper-forumdevelopersdpsdps-healerdps-stancedpsingEAea-mythicforumshealerhealer-gearhealershealingmythicmythic-eaMythic-Entertainmentofficial-forumsofficial-websitepatch-1.3.6pvprunepriestwaging-warWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eazealotzealotsSat, 19 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR reveals details on its Wild Hunt live event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/war-reveals-details-on-its-wild-hunt-live-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/war-reveals-details-on-its-wild-hunt-live-event/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/war-reveals-details-on-its-wild-hunt-live-event/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mythic Entertainment has announced detailed plans for Warhammer Online's upcoming first anniversary in the form of a series of in-game events beginning with the Wild Hunt where six players will be able to pit their wits against Kurnous, the God of the Hunt, in a new instance called the Hunter's Vale, which we told you about earlier this month.

Taking inspiration from the ancient Celtic myth of Herne and the Wild Hunt, the event takes place from 31st August until 7th September. As well as the Hunter's Vale, players will also be able to chase down a mystic white stag in order to gain a special buff and the favour of the God as well as proving themselves able huntsmen. The Wild Hunt marks the first of a series of special events planned with special versions of the Mourkain Temple (September 11th-14th), Gates of Ekrund (September 18th-21th) and Temple of Isha (September 25th -28th) scenarios.

"This anniversary marks a major milestone for WAR, the Mythic development team, and our fantastic community of players," Jeff Hickman, WAR's Executive Producerm said. "We could think of no better way of marking this occasion than by celebrating our success with our fans for the entire month of September. We've got new content to share with the Wild Hunt live event, special versions of popular scenarios, and a 20% experience and renowned bonus, plus, players can get special rare drops, veteran rewards, fireworks, Halfling pies, and exploding stout! Now that is a party Warhammer style!"

MassivelyWAR reveals details on its Wild Hunt live event originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kurnousMythicmythic-entertainmentwarwar-1st-birthdaywarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-wild-huntThu, 20 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: This too shall pass]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

And so we mark the passing of another MMO. I was going to add an adjective to that sentence, maybe 'great', 'fine' or even just 'good'. I couldn't decide, as I didn't play Tabula Rasa beyond the Open Beta. That's clearly not my fault though, obviously it's something to do with the developers not making exactly the game I wanted, needed or deserved at the time. Cry, whine, QQ, etc.

Don't worry, this won't be an obituary for TR. That would be silly; I'm not lying when I say I didn't play it beyond Open Beta. I liked it well enough, but it lacked the spark that drives me to log on, night after night.

The news of TR's demise however, has got me thinking. Like it or not, nothing lasts forever. MMOs are subject to the same financial rules as any other business, and sometimes those rules mean you lose. Regardless of how long we've been playing any particular game, how many alts you've raised up or how much of a home you've made for yourself in the community there, there's a chance your MMO will die eventually. Some games last longer than others; gaining enough momentum to garner a fair-sized and dedicated fanbase before they're shut down. Others barely get out of Beta testing before things go South, and the doors are closed before momentum really gets going.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: This too shall pass

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: This too shall pass originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Many Chaos players will recognize the above image as being from inside Warhammer Online's Inevitable City, a place where many players can revel in the darkness that Mythic sought to create there. Unless of course, you're an Order player, in which case, this landscape is perhaps a bit too twisted for your liking. Today's image comes to us from David, who actually sent this picture in at the very tail end of the open Warhammer Online beta. Luckily, the landscape hasn't really changed, so we bring it to you today to enjoy.

Hey Order players! We haven't seen too many of your cities, so we send out a challenge -- send us your screenshots! After all, One Shots is more fun when we have community submissions. Of course, if you aren't playing WAR, we gladly welcome your screenshots as well. Just send them to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your character name, server, guild, and a description of what we're seeing in the picture. We double dog dare you.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: A monument to evil originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>davideamythicmythic-entertainmentone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotswarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningWed, 24 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Checking in with the Warhammer Online Beta - Part II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/checking-in-with-the-warhammer-online-beta-part-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/checking-in-with-the-warhammer-online-beta-part-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/checking-in-with-the-warhammer-online-beta-part-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Warhammer is synonymous with delay. Look up delay in the dictionary and there you'll see it, next to Duke Nukem Forever is Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Nothing but delays, all the time -- delay, delay, delayed again. Would you like another delay because we got one for you? Say, Waaaaaagh! If that isn't enough whining; fate has been cruel to those waiting for any new information as the promised weekly Warhammer Beta updates aren't weekly, weak maybe, but not weekly. I'll cut EA Mythic some slack given the rocky climate surrounding EA's conglomeration over the past month. So, let's see how far the different development teams are progressing since the last time they checked in. You can skip ahead and read the direct transcript from the Warhammer Herald, or feel free to continue after the jump and check-out my fabulous rehash. I added a few crappy dick jokes at the end, because well, I'm crazy.

Continue reading Checking in with the Warhammer Online Beta - Part II

MassivelyChecking in with the Warhammer Online Beta - Part II originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea-mythiceamythicwarwarhammer-beta-classeswarhammer-beta-public-questswarhammer-beta-updatewarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarhammer-online-betawarhammer-online-developmentwarhammer-player-versus-playerwarhammer-realm-versus-realmThu, 08 Nov 2007 20:33:00 EST<![CDATA[The Virtual World Boom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/the-virtual-world-boom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/the-virtual-world-boom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/16/the-virtual-world-boom/#commentsFiled under:

Looking for a great escape from reality? Nothing comes close to a Virtual World for a thrill seeking whimsical adventure that doesn't require you to crash your bank account or take some time away from work-- except when an expansion is released or you that long-awaited beta invite shows up, thank you sick leave! It's only natural that people from all walks of life and ages enjoy being entertained by an interactive medium that offers socialization, avatars, items, mini-games and other various shenanigans. Everyone from Webkinz moms, Club Penguin kiddos, the voracious World of Warcraft indulgers and in between is getting in on some Virtual World action.

The whole Virtual World genre is going to get a lot more crowded as big media conglomerates take notice and throw staggering piles of cash around in an attempt to attract new visitors. Recent findings by the Virtual World Conference suggest that from October 2006 to October 2007 more than 1 billion dollars was invested in 35 virtual worlds companies. Over at Business Week, there is a great write-up from Paul Heyman of Game Daily about the stirrings from the last Virtual Worlds conference and where some of this money is coming from and where it's going. You won't find any Jeff Kaplan quotes on "welfare epics" but it's still worth a gander if you are interested in an upcoming subset of the genre that will probably prove to be more popular than traditional based fantasy MMORPGS.

It isn't the promise land for every Virtual World. Mike Schramm recently reported on the MMO Boom and how it isn't always peaches and cream. This year has been rough on Auto Assault and Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising as both MMOGS shut down permanently while Ryzom is still hanging on for dear life. Despite the pitfalls, MMORPGS will thrive or World of Warcraft will at least, for how long? If Ultima Online has lasted 10 years, WoW will easily top that. 2008 should prove to be a better year for MMORPGS with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures set to hit our desktops. My hope is that these Virtual Worlds, the ones with elves and fireballs and not Hello Kitty, will be just as fun to explore as their predecessors.

MassivelyThe Virtual World Boom originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Age-of-ConanAge-of-Conan-Hyborian-AdventuresClub-PenguinHello-KittyMMORPGMMORPG-BoomMMORPG-BudgetOnline-GamingRyzomUltima-OnlineVirtual-WorldVirtual-Worlds-ConferenceWarhammerWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-ReckoningWebkinzWorld-of-WarcraftWoWTue, 16 Oct 2007 14:52:00 EST