MMO Updates

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• Tamriel Infinium: The true meaning of The Elder Scrolls Online skill lines
• New Spellcasting Pathfinder dev blog declares game 'half done'
• The Stream Team: Drafting decks in the Hearthstone arena
• FFXIV's A Realm Awoken patch sports new website, trailer
• Some Assembly Required: How EverQuest Next Landmark could redefine PGC
• The Daily Grind: What do you expect from an MMO expansion?
• The Stream Team: Butchering mobs in The Secret World's Slaughterhouse
• The Guild Counsel: How to lead and still have fun
• SMITE's Nu Wa uses the elements to smi... crush her enemies
• The Summoner's Guidebook: Evelynn, League of Legends' new top jungler
• Here are three Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero vids
• The Eldar invade Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade
• SOE offers EQ and EQII rewards with Landmark pre-orders
• BioWare devs streaming SWTOR's Galactic Starfighter on Dec. 6
• DayZ alpha will be an actual alpha
• The Stream Team: Knocking on Haukke Manor's door in Final Fantasy XIV
• Black Gold Online unveils The Chambers of Greed instances
• League of Legends contract for 2014 prevents streaming of other games
• Allods Online unleashes the Wind of Changes today
• PlanetSide vs. PlanetSide 2: The key differences

Tamriel Infinium: The true meaning of The Elder Scrolls Online skill lines Posted: 06 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Opinion, Dungeons, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription, MMORPG, Tamriel Infinium I have always thought it presumptuous to declare that anyone can know the true meaning of anything. However, I believe that players might be led slightly astray by the latest Elder Scrolls Online video. I don't think that the ESO creators were lying because I do believe that it is distinctly possible to take on nearly any role no matter the class or race choice. However, as in every other MMO in existence, only certain combinations will reign supreme, and unfortunately, I also suspect that if you wish to fill a specific role, you will have to pick specific classes. Thanks to some of the data fan sites have gathered from convention playthroughs, we can guestimate which combinations will fill which roles the best. In order to understand where I'm coming from, let's explore how the progression system works. The minimalistic user interface for ESO displays four components related to your skills. Your health bar depletes every time an enemy lands a hit. The magicka bar indicates the amount of spell-slinging power you have. The stamina bar depletes when you perform a physical action like dodging or swinging your axe. Then you also have the toolbar, which gives you five active ability slots and an ultimate slot. When you reach a certain level, you will be able to actively switch between two toolbars based on your weapon. Your weapon, armor, and skills determine which role you play in a group. Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: The true meaning of The Elder Scrolls Online skill lines Tamriel Infinium: The true meaning of The Elder Scrolls Online skill lines originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Dec 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Spellcasting Pathfinder dev blog declares game 'half done' Posted: 06 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Classes, Game Mechanics, New Titles, News Items, Dev Diaries, Crowdfunding, Pathfinder Online In the most recent dev blog for Pathfinder Online, CEO Ryan Dancey announced that the game is half done, stating,"We're a little bit past the halfway point of development before Early Enrollment." Luckily for those eager to hear specifics about said progress, the blog goes into more detail -- a lot of details! These details, provided by Designer Stephen Cheney, focuses on changes to the spellcasting system. After bumping into difficulties with the system as first proposed, devs came up with some solutions to address concerns. The new system includes a new class of weapon that produces expendable effects (called spells for casters and maneuvers for non-casters) and alterations to the Refresh system. The expendables are also dropped as loot and treated like learned feats, which also prompted a few changes in active feats. You can read up on all the details in the blog post. [Thanks to Crysillis for the tip] New Spellcasting Pathfinder dev blog declares game 'half done' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Dec 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Spellcasting dev blog

The Stream Team: Drafting decks in the Hearthstone arena Posted: 06 Dec 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Hands-On, Trading Card Games, Livestream, The Stream Team, Hearthstone Have you ever played a game that infests your brain like a benevolent mental parasite that stays with you long after you get up from the computer chair? Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is one of those games that permeates your thoughts as you eat lunch, commute, and walk the dog. It even greets you as you drift into the blissful rest of unconsciousness, filling your dreams with summoned creatures and conjured fireballs. Join Massively's Richie as he delves into his latest obsession and drafts an arena deck live at 10:00 a.m. EST. Game: Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Host: Richie "Bog Otter" Procopio Date: Friday, December 6th, 2013 Time: 10:00 a.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Drafting decks in the Hearthstone arena The Stream Team: Drafting decks in the Hearthstone arena originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Dec 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

FFXIV's A Realm Awoken patch sports new website, trailer Posted: 06 Dec 2013 06:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, News Items, Final Fantasy XIV, Dungeons, Housing Why wait for the Producers Letter Live in just a little over a week to get a preview of Final Fantasy XIV's big A Realm Awoken patch? Square Enix has released a new action-packed 10-minute trailer touring 2.1. Along with the video, the studio has launched a new site dedicated to A Realm Awoken that includes details about the upcoming content, such as new bosses and lore, along with a host of new screenshots. Get a look at the action-packed adventures that await in The Wolf's Den, The Crystal Tower: Labyrinth of the Ancients, and Thornmatch as well as the new quests, housing, and much more in the video below. Continue reading FFXIV's A Realm Awoken patch sports new website, trailer FFXIV's A Realm Awoken patch sports new website, trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Twitter

Some Assembly Required: How EverQuest Next Landmark could redefine PGC Posted: 06 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, Opinion, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Some Assembly Required, Player-Generated Content PGC means Players Got Creativity! OK, no it doesn't really, but it could (and it's better than Pungent Goat Cheese!). As you know, in our MMOverse, the acronym stands for Player-Generated Content, which is not only the backbone of Some Assembly Required but easily my favorite part of gaming. And what is player-generated content if not a demonstration of player creativity? Unfortunately, for several years, my favorite part of games seemed to be the least important focus for MMO developers. PGC, if it is brought in at all, is relegated to the back seat (or locked away in the trunk). Luckily, times are a-changing. Just a glance over the past year shows that the aversion-to-PGC attitude is shifting; more sandboxes have gone into development with more and more features than in the last few years. But one game, above them all, is going beyond adding a few features. EverQuest Next Landmark is not just letting PGC into the car; it's plunking it in the driver's seat and handing over the keys, and in doing so could potentially redefine PGC as we know it. And that's a good thing! Instead of being treated as non-essential fluff, PGC could be seen as a vital ingredient to any MMO. Continue reading Some Assembly Required: How EverQuest Next Landmark could redefine PGC Some Assembly Required: How EverQuest Next Landmark could redefine PGC originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What do you expect from an MMO expansion? Posted: 06 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Classes, Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Races, Miscellaneous When World of Warcraft's Warlords of Draenor expansion was revealed last month, I was stoked to see what will be included but disappointed to see what will not -- namely, a new class or race. Admittedly, not every WoW expansion has seen these two additions, but each one has seen one or the other. It's not a rule, spoken or otherwise; it's just become something that folks expect. Thinking it over, I also found that I expect several additions in any expansion for any games: some sort of new landmass to explore, new gear to wear, and usually some new mechanic or skill for character development. In WoW, I'd certainly expect a level cap bump too, though I'd grumble about powercreep in most others (don't go getting any ideas, Guild Wars 2)! Let's put aside quibbles over the line between expansions and patches today and just focus on expansions. What, specifically, do you expect out of a content release that a studio labels an "expansion"? 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! The Daily Grind: What do you expect from an MMO expansion? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: Butchering mobs in The Secret World's Slaughterhouse Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Horror, Real-Life, Video, Massively Meta, The Secret World, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team, Buy-to-Play It's finally here: The Secret World dungeon run you have all been waiting for! Heck, Massively's MJ even broke out of prison earlier this week for it. Are you ready to plumb the depths of The Slaughterhouse? MJ is. OK, maybe she is, maybe she isn't -- but she's doing it anyways. Join us live at 9:00 p.m. for a two-hour show as MJ tackles the last of her Elite dungeon requirements to qualify to face the Gatekeeper. If this run is a success, then she is one step closer to having hew own nightmares... Nightmare Mode dungeons, that is. Game: The Secret World Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Thursday, December 5th, 2013 Time: 9:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Butchering mobs in The Secret World's Slaughterhouse The Stream Team: Butchering mobs in The Secret World's Slaughterhouse originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Guild Counsel: How to lead and still have fun Posted: 05 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel Leading is hard. Whether it's a sports team, an office of workers, or a guild, there are many challenges that all leaders share and make even the toughest person want to walk away. And because running a gaming guild is less of a job and more of a hobby (or at least, it should be!), it's hard to get good people to step forward and run things. We're all here to have fun in game, after all, and if leading a guild detracts from that, it's not surprising that some shy away from it. But running a guild isn't always about taking power and making hard decisions. In fact, there are plenty of successful guilds that have rejected the top-down mentality. Can leading a guild really be that easy? Continue reading The Guild Counsel: How to lead and still have fun The Guild Counsel: How to lead and still have fun originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SMITE's Nu Wa uses the elements to smi... crush her enemies Posted: 05 Dec 2013 04:30 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Classes, Free-to-Play Elemental mage-lovers have a new champion for their cause in Nu Wa, SMITE's guardian of heaven. Nu Wa is a half-human, half-snake master of elemental forces. She harnesses the powers of earth, water, fire, etc., to attack from a strategically safe distance. Some of Nu Wa's powers include throwing down a fog to stealth allies, summoning clay soldiers, launching a flame strike on a flammable foe, and casting the pillars of heaven to create an electrical field. Today's update also includes an optional Amethust Nu Wa skin, a revamp to the friends UI, and an improved beginner tutorial. You can check out Nu Wa's backstory and powers in her official video reveal after the break along with plenty of giant tortoise mutilation and gratuitous cleavage. Continue reading SMITE's Nu Wa uses the elements to smi... crush her enemies SMITE's Nu Wa uses the elements to smi... crush her enemies originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Patch notes

The Summoner's Guidebook: Evelynn, League of Legends' new top jungler Posted: 05 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, MOBA, League of Legends, The Summoner's Guidebook It shouldn't be a surprise that Evelynn is one of my favorite characters in League of Legends. Before the 3.14 patch, she was one of my go-to picks in the jungle. Now, I have not yet played a normal or ranked game in 3.14 that was on a character other than Evelynn save for one game where I was stuck playing mid (and lost horribly). I probably could have played Eve there too. Every game thus far I've gone 5/1 or better in the laning phase. She's just that good now. While there are a few other junglers that are considered to be very strong, I feel that Evelynn is the best of the best right now. She clears fast, deals tons of damage, and scales well with items. But more importantly, she can do what few other junglers do well: gank. Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Evelynn, League of Legends' new top jungler The Summoner's Guidebook: Evelynn, League of Legends' new top jungler originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Here are three Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero vids Posted: 05 Dec 2013 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play Remember Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero? It's undergone a bit of a name change since we reported on it two years ago, but it remains Perfect World's first attempt at an open world action MMORPG. It's also currently undergoing limited testing, according to MMO Culture. The site is spotlighting a trio of videos focusing on both classes and the environment. The game is of course heavily focused on martial arts, and it's also inspired by the wuxia novels of Louis Cha. Click past the cut to see some gameplay. Continue reading Here are three Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero vids Here are three Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero vids originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments MMO Culture

The Eldar invade Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade Posted: 05 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Races, Warhammer 40k Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade's racial roster continues to expand, as Behavior Interactive officially added the Eldar Craftworlds to the races and sub-factions page today. As the name and common sense implies, the Eldar are ancient, old, and qualified for senior citizen discounts in every part of the galaxy. However, as they have access to advanced technology and powerful psychic soldiers, they're not content to putter around Walmart on scooters but are instead right in the thick of the intergalactic conflict. Interestingly enough, the Eldar can also see their own future in which they meet a bitter end, but they fight on with severe denial even so. The Eldar invade Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments The Eldar Craftworlds

SOE offers EQ and EQII rewards with Landmark pre-orders Posted: 05 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Promotions, EverQuest Next, Sandbox Here's a gift idea for that sandbox MMO nut on your Christmas list: EverQuest Next Landmark Founder's Packs. Well, probably just one Founder's Pack, but you get the idea. SOE has updated its website with pre-order gifting functionality, and the company has also added a wee bit of extra incentive for current players of both EverQuest and EverQuest II. That incentive takes the form of an in-game flag corresponding to your Settler, Explorer, or Trailblazer Founder's Pack purchase. You can either use the flag as a home decoration or "carry it along with you during your adventures in Norrath." SOE offers EQ and EQII rewards with Landmark pre-orders originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Announcement

BioWare devs streaming SWTOR's Galactic Starfighter on Dec. 6 Posted: 05 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic If you're curious about Galactic Starfighter but you're not inclined to pay a Star Wars: The Old Republic subscription to access it before 2014, you might want to check out BioWare's Twitch channel on Friday, December 6th at 5:00 p.m. EDT. The announcement post bills the event as "three hours of intense free-flight dogfighting in space," and as a bonus it will be hosted and commented upon by developers. BioWare devs streaming SWTOR's Galactic Starfighter on Dec. 6 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Announcement

DayZ alpha will be an actual alpha Posted: 05 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Real-Life, Launches, PvP, News Items, PvE, Post-Apocalyptic, MMORPG, Buy-to-Play Early adopters are in for a rough ride when the standalone version of DayZ first enters Steam's early access program. According to a post made by Dean "Rocket" Hall on the game's official forums, DayZ's initial limited launch will be "a true-blue alpha." Hall noted that because the team is rebuilding "massive areas of the engine," many of DayZ's core features will not be seen for months. Buying early will be a recipe for disappointment. It's a chance for those who want to be part of that whole process. For them, the process is as much a part of the game as the whole experience. For many, this is the opposite of what they want. To enable a smooth launch, we're really targeting it at a core audience who want to get deeply involved in a very barebones experience that is a platform for future development. In other words, it's an alpha. Dean did not provide a release date, so we'll continue to keep this filed under Soon TM. DayZ alpha will be an actual alpha originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Forum PostRock, Paper, Shotgun

The Stream Team: Knocking on Haukke Manor's door in Final Fantasy XIV Posted: 05 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Massively Meta, Final Fantasy XIV, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team, Subscription There's just something exciting about experiencing a Final Fantasy XIV dungeon for the first time; the new sights, the new sounds, the new creatures... even the creative new ways to die can be appreciated, if not enjoyed. And Massively's MJ wants to share that first-time feeling with you as she races toward that stop in her storyline. Storyline progression, queues, and PUGs permitting, she's going to knock on the door of Haukke Manor and show herself right in. What awaits her? Well, she doesn't know! Join us live at 2:00 p.m. to be a part of the journey towards the dungeon. Game: Final Fantasy XIV Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Thursday, December 5th, 2013 Time: 2:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Knocking on Haukke Manor's door in Final Fantasy XIV The Stream Team: Knocking on Haukke Manor's door in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Black Gold Online unveils The Chambers of Greed instances Posted: 05 Dec 2013 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Dungeons, Steampunk A new feature is coming to Black Gold Online in addition to the main quest-line and normal dungeons that players already enjoy: The Chambers of Greed. These instances chambers, or greed pockets, bring variety to the game by offering challenging side activities that blend PvE and PvP and give another avenue for acquiring new gear by slaying higher level monsters and completing assorted other tasks. Unlike the openness of the over-world, The Greed Chambers have a darker, mysterious ambiance aimed at making players watch their every step. These chambers, which are more challenging that quests of the same level, will have hidden entrances to get inside. Players will need to discover these entrances themselves by getting in close, slaying a gatekeeper, or tripping some other trigger. Peek inside these new instances in the video below. [Source: Snail Games press release] Continue reading Black Gold Online unveils The Chambers of Greed instances Black Gold Online unveils The Chambers of Greed instances originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

League of Legends contract for 2014 prevents streaming of other games Posted: 05 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, News Items, Free-to-Play, Legal, MOBA, League of Legends The last thing that anyone at Riot Games wants is to provide free advertising to League of Legends' competitors. The first thing that the company wants to do is promote the professional gaming side of the community. In the contract for players taking part in the game's 2014 championship series, the company is aiming to kill two birds with one stone by preventing professional players from streaming any competing games during the duration of the 2014 season. Games considered to be "competition" include World of Tanks, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Dota 2, and StarCraft. An official response from the company states that this is comparable to the restrictions placed on pro athletes in several sports. Players in the official Reddit thread are upset by this decision, claiming that the comparison to professional athletes is both inaccurate and inapplicable in this particular context. It remains to be seen whether or not this will impact the game's championship numbers in any fashion. League of Legends contract for 2014 prevents streaming of other games originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments GameSpot, Reddit response thread on restrictions

Allods Online unleashes the Wind of Changes today Posted: 05 Dec 2013 10:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Allods Online Come gather, you players of Allods Online; at 4:00 p.m. EST it's patching time. Accept it that soon there'll be new battle lines. If the game for you is worth playing, then you'd better get ready to adapt to the climes, for the winds they are a-changin'. Seriously, you can't title a major update Wind of Changes and have the wind remain the same; it's right there in the title. Bob Dylan-inspired introductions aside, what's actually changing with this update? Plenty. The game is adding a new mail system and a variety of new mounts, along with major revamps of the Dominion system and the new Scarlet Bastion PvP map. There's also the new Class Change system and Astral Modifiers to ensure that you really feel how much the environment really is, well, changing. But you don't have to take our word for it; you can watch the trailer just past the break. Continue reading Allods Online unleashes the Wind of Changes today Allods Online unleashes the Wind of Changes today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Patch announcement

PlanetSide vs. PlanetSide 2: The key differences Posted: 05 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, PlanetSide, Business Models, Classes, Game Mechanics, PvP, War, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Livestream, PlanetSide 2 If you're a PlanetSide player who has been around since the beginning, I don't need to explain the differences between the original and its follow-up, PlanetSide 2. But if you're an old-school player who has never touched the second version, a new-school player who's never played the original, or a player who's brand-new to the universe completely, then this article about the PlanetSide duo and what sets the two games apart is for you. The first and most important difference is each game's population. I am not exaggerating when I say that the original PlanetSide is today merely a shell of its former self. I tried on several occasions to find a fight to join and was only once able to locate a tiny battle in one small corner of the world. That's something to keep in mind if you give the elder game a deeper look. Continue reading PlanetSide vs. PlanetSide 2: The key differences PlanetSide vs. PlanetSide 2: The key differences originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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