leetspeak
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En Masse details TERA's roleplay server ruleset
En Masse Entertainment has spilled the beans about TERA's roleplay server ruleset (yes, people still RP in MMORPGs!). A new server FAQ has all the details, and the short version is that there will initially be one "official" ruleset server. Celestial Hills is where you'll want to roll if you're partial to player-generated stories, but be aware that En Masse is taking a laissez-faire stance to its RP ruleset. The company says it will implement naming conventions to discourage leetspeak and real-world references, but it also says that the subjective nature of such a policy makes it difficult to enforce. En Masse also says it won't monitor out-of-character chat, but it will boot those who "continually harass others." Finally, the FAQ addresses player requests for RP tools like the ability to walk and create custom emotes. "We are working on a list of game features to enhance your roleplay experience," En Masse explains. "[As with] all game feedback, we are evaluating and prioritizing getting it in the game." [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion
OK, OK, maybe Shakespeare is a bit melodramatic, but the idea of taking on a role and playing it out on a stage is not a foreign idea -- even in Aion. It just so happens that this stage is not under your feet but in virtual space instead. Besides, I happen to love Shakespeare, so props to me for mentioning him in a gaming column! Now, I am the first to admit that NCsoft doesn't make it easy for a gamer to roleplay in Aion; there are scant few tools to support this style of play. But that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Despite this dearth, there is in fact a whole community comprised of legions both large and small as well as individuals. These players use personal connections and a player-created chat channel in-game as well as external tools such as the Aion Roleplayers website to bind themselves together and support the community as a whole. So what exactly is roleplay, and how viable is it in the world of Atreia? Exit stage left (past the cut) to define RP, debunk some RP myths, and explore RP in general Aion.
WoW Rookie: Gaming terminology 101
New around here? WoW Rookie points WoW's newest players to the resources they need to get acclimated. Send us a note to suggest a WoW Rookie topic.Probably one of the top requests WoW Rookie gets from new players is a plea for an explanation of WoW and gaming terminology. Even a casual skim of WoW Insider's front page can prove challenging to new gamers. Example: what to experienced players is a routine update on new PTR schedules can be an exercise in frustration for readers who are still sorting out WTT from WTF. ("PTR? WTF?!?") It's not just WoW-specific abbreviations and acronyms that puzzle new players. Add in gaming lingo and internet chat terms, and you have the recipe for a truly intimidating mix.
More WoW license plates from our readers
Last week we posted an epic license plate and asked for more, and you guys responded in force. We've added four new plates to our gallery, which you can browse below. My favorite is seen above -- Jeff N. actually took a picture of it at BlizzCon. It's not his car, but it is a pretty awesome plate.The Hawaiians plate comes from Leialoha B., who gave the plate as a Christmas gift to her guildies in Hawaiians on Thaurissian, and the "MPG FTW" (which isn't really WoW-related, unless there's an "MPG" acronym we're not thinking of in the game ("Mana per gallon"?) comes from Angelo. More MPG for the win, indeed. And finally, the ZOMG LOL (also not necessarily WoW-related, but we'll accept it) plate comes from Joejohn, who saw it as he was driving around the other day in Washington, DC.All awesome. If you've got another plate for us to add in, drop us a note with a picture and we'll get it included.%Gallery-20183%
You know you are too old to play WoW when...
Does leet speak reduce your WoW playing enjoyment? Do caps lock and abbreviations set your teeth on edge? If so, Xkhan agrees with you and attributes it possibly to age. His list of pet peeves incites an interesting forum thread discussing in-game annoyances along with the etymological origins of some leet speak.For example, did you know that GG stands for Good Game? While it is currently used sarcastically, for years it has been spammed at the end of FPS games as a show of good sportsmanship. Ah, playing CTF in Tribes II with the Hammer or something-or-other mod equaled hours of pure gaming pleasure. But I digress...We've discussed pet peeves before and whether or not we are killing our language with leetspeak. Many mature players would prefer not to play with children who are incapable of forming grammatically correct sentences or playing their character properly. But do we get more upset with these annoyances the older we get?
