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New LotRO Vol. III book 1 screens include awesome dragon
Turbine knows how to please a crowd, as evidenced by these new screens for Volume III: Allies of the King, Book 1 for Lord of the Rings Online. Who doesn't love dragons? Well, okay, probably not the party currently under siege by one in the screenshot above -- but everyone else for the most part. At least, everyone else loves them until they're attacked by one. Anyhow, check out the rest of the screens. We especially recommend this one particular screen, where you'll find some other non-dragon enemies that look more than ready to tear apart your character in-game. Yes, we know, we've got a problem with dragons today. Don't worry, we're done now. Honest.%Gallery-84675%
Blizzard and how they deal with ninjas
Wojtek sent us this thread in which he posted a long series of emails between him and Blizzard about the ninja of an Onyxia Drake. There's a lot of back and forth, but eventually, the bottom line is that Blizzard was not able to help him, whether that's because he didn't have the information right, they couldn't find what they needed in the chat logs, or they just didn't want to. Later on, the thread is locked, and Wojtek is given the usual feedback address for the GM actions. So what does all this mean? We've heard in the past that Blizzard will occasionally help with ninjas, and we've even heard unofficially that if you get the main looter in a PuG raid to state the looting conditions ahead of time, Blizzard can go back, look that up, and then reward loot based on who really deserves it. But of course, all of that is unofficial, and there are so many variations and issues in situations like these that there can't really be a hard and fast rule -- sometimes Blizzard can help, sometimes they can't.
How to: Five Amber drakes in The Oculus
After yet another Cracked Egg with nothing but a Cobra Hatchling in it, and the bigtime raiding proto-drakes constantly getting dropped out of the game, there's really only one other option: the Red Proto-drake, a reward for the Glory of the Hero meta-achievement. It's not easy: you've got to not only beat all of the heroics in the game, but all of the hard mode achievements for each of them. Guides like our OverAchievers can help, and a really great group to go along with helps more, but some of the achievements are so tough they need extra attention.The Oculus' achievement, however, is one that needs an even closer look. And 4 Haelz kindly provides exactly that, with an in-depth guide to toppling two achievements in one, both the Emerald and Ruby Void, by doing the boss with five Amber drakes. The Amber drakes are usually meant as DPS, which makes this fight extra tough: you can't take much damage at all, because you can't get any damage back without healers. So what it requires, instead, is communication and coordination. Basically, you use the drakes' Time Stop ability to slow the fight down, and then try to do some coordinated kiting while DPSing like mad, all the time hoping that you can bring him down before he takes one of you out.As Bell says, once you get the idea (and have wiped a few times -- you should probably be riding the drakes naked, since not only does your gear not affect their performance, but it'll save you repair costs), the fight's not actually that hard to pull off, but it's the learning that's going to hurt.
Raid Rx: On the fly healing
Raid Rx has returned from retirement! Every week, Raid Rx will help you quarterback your healers to victory! Your host is Matt Low, the grand poobah of World of Matticus and a founder of PlusHeal, a new healing community for all restorative classes. This week we're going to cover assignment-less healing: When to get away with it and when you can't! Assignment-less healing. It often has unpredictable results. Sometimes your raid group will be lucky and emerge unscathed. I'm a control freak. I like to have a plan A, a plan B and even a plan for when things go wrong. I've joined my share of pickup groups in the past few months. I usually play on my alt Shaman. I'm more of the Shatner type that hurls bolts of lightning. I've experienced mixed success. On bosses like Archavon, Anub'Rekhan and Sartharion with no drakes active, I notice not a whole lot of organized healing is done. Either that or it was organized behind the scenes via whispers. To be fair, those types encounters can be done with little organization before hand. I know the first time I went into Naxx and Obsidian Sanctum wearing half blues, a smattering of crafted epics and the odd green or two. Having the healing set up in advance helped out a lot and reassured people. Sometimes it helps the raid morale some when they know the confidence emanating from healers who know who they're healing is there.
EVE Evolved: The art of tanking - Shield tanking
In part 1 of this series on the world of tanking in EVE Online, I introduced the concept of tanking as it applies to EVE and explained how to select which type of tank to use with your ship. I then went on to give a complete overview of armour tanking, including the equipment and skills you'll need to succeed. In this second part of the guide, I explore the art of shield tanking. Shield tanking: In addition to the differences mentioned in the previous article, shield tanking differs significantly from armour tanking. Shield boosters can repair damage a lot faster than armour repairers due to their faster cycle time but are less efficient and will use up a lot more capacitor. An active shield tank is characterised by the use of hardeners to resist damage and a shield booster to repair damage that makes it through. However, since shield naturally recharges over time, it's possible to make a completely passive shield tank that relies on a high recharge rate rather than a shield booster. Different sets of equipment are used for these two different types of shield tank. Read on and find out all you ever wanted to know about shield tanking, including what modules and skills you can use to boost your combat performance.
The Elves of WAR: Dark Elf Chapter I Public Quest, Spires of Narthain
The first Public Quest (PQ) we came across while playing our Dark Elves was a very cool experience, especially considering that this is only the first of many PQs. We suppose it's in Mythic's best interest to -- pardon the term -- wow players early and often and the Spires of Narthain PQ does exactly that. Around level four or five, you'll be headed to the area your map has conveniently indicated for you to complete some quests. Suddenly, an objective indicator will show up in the upper-right portion of your screen. What's this? Well, you've arrived at the Spires of Narthain, the last bastion of High Elf defense in this area. Get ready for some action.
One Shots: Don't look behind you!
I can assure you, sir, that whatever you choose to do next you should not look over your left shoulder. I am not looking at anything in particular, just the lovely rocky outcropping. Why am I backing up slowly, keeping my hands empty and in plain view? No reason at all.Wookers on the Lord of the Rings Online Meneldor server is the unlucky drake-chow in this shot, from the same PrintScreen artist who brought us Defending Weathertop. Do you have a few screens of your own sitting in a directory on your computer? Have you abandoned a friend to their inevitable fate? Maybe lead a raid to their untimely death? Send us your just pre-or-post disaster shots right to oneshots AT massively DOT com. Your pain is our pleasure! %Gallery-9798%
New Uncharted: Drake's Fortune artwork: too good to be true?
Lead character artist for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Richard Diamant, has shown off a couple of rather spectacular looking character renders from the game during an interview with 3DTotal.com. Those of you looking for any new information on Uncharted need not read on. The interview covers his rise to glory at the top of Naughty Dog's character design team and not much else. Though this may interest you if you're interested in 3D graphics as a hobby or career.Among the artwork that adorns the interview can be found a couple of familiar faces. High resolution renders of Drake and Elena, from the neck up, take pride of place at the top of the article. These frankly gorgeous shots have stirred up a wee bit of debate on the PS3Forums as to their role within the game itself. While it is true that models, textures and shaders in this high detail could (arguably) never be processed in real-time on the PS3 hardware, there's nothing to say that they will not be utilised in cut-scenes. Not yet, at least. Comparing these shots to previous screen captures show quite a bit of improvement, though there is every possibility that they are simply concept pieces. Personally, I think we'll see them in the game, if only in cut-scenes involving facial close-ups. Failing to use these great models would be such a waste. Check out the hi-res images here and here and if you're into your 3D CGI, then read the interview here.[Via PS3 Forums]
New Xyanide Resurrection screens released
Gamespot has just released a bunch new screens of Playlogic's upcoming shooter Xyanide Resurrection. And if shooting at giant, half-naked, outer-space prepubescent boys is your idea of having a good time, the game appears to be right up your alley.Fortunately for us, that's not all it has going for it. The game's developer, Playlogic, is using a new video-streaming technology that combines high-quality interactive video backgrounds withreal-time game sceneries for the first time ever in a handheld game, the company's press release stated.In the game, you play as Drake, an executioner who must escort the witch Aguira to the Maelstrom all while navigating through tunnels and fighting off enemies.
Burning Crusade Update: Nether Drakes
The Burning Crusade site has been updated with further information on the flying mounts that may be found in the Outlands. Lore-wise these creatures are the offspring of the black dragon Deathwing, who traveled through the Dark Portal to Draenor, believing it to be a safe haven for some of his eggs. When Ner'zhul opened multiple portals on Draenor with the intent of invading foreign lands, the magical energies released tore the planet apart - and altered the eggs, causing the resulting creatures to have the ability to shift between the physical and astral planes. In use, a Nether Drake will have the speed of an epic mount and be able to run on the ground as well as fly through the air. How they may be obtained or what they might cost, however, remains a mystery!
Nether Drake is first flying mount
We already knew that the Burning Crusade expansion will feature flying mounts, but at E3 we've seen firsthand the Flying Drake, one of these mounts. Zones like Outland are being designed with flying mounts -- which are available at level 70 -- in mind, so getting your new mount will unlock new content within these zones.The Flying Drake was demonstrated with a Draenei character, but we don't know which other mounts will be available, or to whom. Given the existing quest storylines, gryphons or hippogryphs may be a possibility, but it's likely that Blizzard will introduce some brand new mounts as well.
