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Best starting race
I've been leveling a few Draenei alts off and on and finally figured out just why it is that I keep rolling the damn things in addition to my beloved Tauren; their starting quests rock. You wake from stasis, meet the locals, save a princess, make early ties to the Alliance and find out why there's a good reason the some of 'em won't trust you right off the bat, discover nefarious deeds afoot, fight a dragon, and then save your people and get a cool tabard. "Find your way back to the Outland, Hero of Argus," Exarch Admetius tells you, in a nice preview of things to come, and Velen has a good lore moment with you shortly afterwards.Having leveled a toon out of every starting area to at least 20, it's hard not to notice that some areas make it a lot easier than others. I don't mean the general ease of leveling per se, but just how fast the time seems to fly by. For all that a certain percentage of the playerbase frowns on RP on non-RP servers, most peoples' favorite quests do have an element of RP to them, or at least the RP sense of being fully engaged with the world. And in that respect the Draenei starting zones are, in my opinion, unparalleled. If I had to rank them --
Breakfast Topic: Faction Pride
I remember the night of January 15, 2007. I stood outside a game store in the bitter cold anxiously awaiting the doors opening so we could get our hands on a shiny new copy of the freshly launched Burning Crusade. There were probably thirty people there, and of course the conversation was all about World of Warcraft. The air was tense between proud members of the Alliance and the Horde. Most players identify strongly with one faction or the other. It was strange to me how the faction rivalry crossed over into the real world. I play Horde. I've been known to wear a t-shirt that says "Real Women Roll Horde." I've tried playing Alliance characters, and it just doesn't work for me. My real-world friends who play WoW also play on Horde side. I gravitate toward fellow followers of Thrall. Recently I've started a new job where a number of people play the game. Much to my surprise, I've found some Ally players that I actually like.
Breakfast Topic: Who should be leader of the free world (of Azeroth)? (Poll)
Here in the States it's election season. Newspapers and websites are plastered with campaign information. Preliminary polling for both factions will close on March 20, 2008. Then the leaders will go head to head, vying for the leader of the World... of Warcraft. Feel free to campaign in the comments for your candidate of choice. Who should serve as the leader of the Alliance?
Guild Wars tops 5 million sold
A bit behind the times with this, but better late than never: Guild Wars cracked five million boxes sold late last month! NCsoft is (understandably) pleased, and there's a lot of crowing in the official press release. That number includes every box in the whole franchise, of course, so that's spread out across Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall, and Eye of the North. That's a pretty outstanding achievement, with the game having originally launched back in April of 2005. Back in the day, just after World of Warcraft had launched, the idea of a US publisher succeeding with a game that didn't require a subscription was considering crazy talk. With Guild Wars 2 already in the works and now five million units of the original out and about in the world, I'd say that kind of talk is now quite debunked.While it doesn't look like there's any sort of in-game celebration going on, the site has a few details for other community-type things. The February Championship series results are in, if you care about that sort of thing. They're also running a contest right now, if you have an eye for design, looking to get players making brand-new weapons for inclusion in the game. The weapons from the 2007 design-a-weapon contest are fantastic, so good luck to any budding artists out there. %Gallery-9135%
Tuskarr page stealth-edited
Although it only went live a few days ago, Blizzard's Tuskarr page on their Wrath of the Lich King site has already been subtly updated. I don't have a copy of the old page, but it used to say something about being beset by Taunka and Murlocs. Here's what it says now:...they are constantly beset by the Kvaldir and an arctic race of murloc-like creatures known as the Gorloc.As Blizzplanet speculates, it's possible that the Kvaldir are just a specific faction of Taunka, but their name looks more Vrykul-ish, and in fact seems to be derived from an Icelandic word meaning "to afflict torment" (credit for this theory goes to Drakhzor, of Deathwing-EU). It's also interesting that the Gorloc are listed as "murloc-like;" hopefully this means they won't be quite so annoying. Do they say "mrgllrgll" in a Northern accent?
The Daily Grind: National pride?
One of the things that gets some of us about PvP hype are the claims that "you'll be saving your nation/faction/etc!" Tobold, however, joined the "meh" camp the other day with an excellent post about Nationalism in MMORPGs. To give my personal example, if the Scryers and the Aldor in World of Warcraft started going at it in the middle of Shattrath, the only thing that would interest me about any "faction fighting" would be if my side could take control of Scryer's rise in the end. (I hate the drop off the Aldor tier; it means instant death if you miss the elevator.) Beyond that, as long as the bank and flight path NPCs are unharmed, and the portals are still open, I could honestly care less. While some of our staff admit to feeling a connection with the Horde or the Alliance, it almost always seems to come down to the people we know in the end. Tobold posits that this is due to the Dunbar number -- we're just not wired to trust an entire nation worth of people. Also, as he points out, there's always the fact that no matter how bad you trash things, it always respawns eventually; there is just no permanent damage to a site or a "nation" in these battles.Today we thought we'd spin off this concept and ask what your thoughts were on it -- do you think it's possible to really have a game developer get you energized about defending a "nation" or does it also come back to the people you know too? Is it less about defending NPCs/any given location, or is it more about having fun kicking the other side's butt? Do you really care if your city if being attacked when you know that eventually control will be returned to your side? Is there really any such thing as a national pride in MMOs for you?
Encrypted Text: My bad reputations
Of all the things I fail at in WoW, one of my most epic failures is my reputations. Something about facing the long grind to exalted kills a part of me. Looking at my Armory, I'm exalted with exactly three factions: Sporeggar (because I wanted to be the only alchemist with Shrouding Potion), Frostwolf Clan (for the ram), and Scryers (for the offhand dagger that I replaced, like, FIVE DAYS after getting the rep to buy it.) I blame my dislike for rep grinds squarely on the Cenarion Circle. Endless hours in the desert of Silithus for a mediocre cloak made me lazy. But there are lots of decent reputation rewards available out there, mostly for newly 70 rogues. So what are the best factions for rogues to grind? Cenarion Expedition This reputation is worth it to drive to revered, if only for the Glyph of Ferocity, which is the best rogue head enchant in the game. Otherwise, it's all profession stuff and druid/hunter gear -- with one exception. The CE is a necessary stop if you're planning on getting the Opportunist's Battlegear, the new, rep-based version of the old PVP GM/HW gear. This set is meant as a starter for arena newbies, or PvErs looking to try out some PvP. You need to be revered with CE to pick up the headpiece. Watch out, though -- it's going to be a long haul to get all five pieces. Honor Hold/Thrallmar This isn't one of the best rep grinds for rogues, although you'll need to get to honored if you want to grab the Opportunist's Leather Gloves. And considering that the gloves make your Deadly Throw silence enemies, you'll definitely want them. Other than that, Alliance can pick up the Footman's Longsword at honored, which is okay for early Outland leveling, and exalted brings both sides an excellent bow or gun.
Jumping through the Gate: Factions and Missions
Ten Ton Hammer has posted another of their Jumpgate Evolution bi-weekly interviews, this time with Hermann Peterscheck, Producer for JGE. In this installment, Peterscheck answers questions about the game's factions and missions.While reading through the Q&A I was comforted by the fact that Peterscheck continues to push the idea that JGE doesn't have hard and fast rules, and that they are trying to put as much of the game's outcome into the hands of the players (through their choices) as possible. This was something he mentioned during his interview about death and roleplaying as well, so it really does seem like something they intend to follow through with. In this case, while players will have to choose what nation to play (Quantar, Solrain or Octavius) there are no rules about allegiances, thus factions can interact in a myriad of ways with all of them.
Stargate Worlds designer dodges questions, gets back to work
mmolecule has an interview up with Chris Bernert, Lead Systems Designer for the upcoming Stargate Worlds. He ducks most of their questions pretty adeptly (newsflash: SGW has "exciting plans" for their PvP system!), but there are a few interesting tidbits in here, including the fact that players of different factions will be able to communicate with each other, a la Star Wars Galaxies rather than World of Warcraft.The other big note is that players will have three ways of reviving in the game-- either at the nearest "hospital," by another player, or right at the site of death. But CME says they haven't figured out the penalties for each situation yet. Bernert also says they're still working on coming up with the UI design. There's no question the folks behind SGW are facing a lot of challenges in trying to make a great MMO game out of a cult IP, but considering that they're hoping to go live a year from now, maybe they should cool it a bit on the interviews and get to work on the game itself.{Via Curse]
One Shots: An abandoned ship
, Paul, who has sent us a number of shots from Guild Wars, offers for your consideration this shot of a ship, seen frozen into the ice, in Nightfall. He explains that this ship can be found in the southern Shiverpeaks of Tyri -- and that it looks a great deal like the ships from Factions. Interesting! It's the only reference that we know of for Factions inside of Nightfall.Know of any out-of-the-way places in your favorite game?? We want to hear about it -- and see it! -- for our next edition of One Shots! Send your screenshots and stories to oneshots@massively.com. You may see it featured here tomorrow, same time, same place! %Gallery-9798%
Massively's Massive Giveaways: Guild Wars part 7
Due to overwhelming response earlier from the casters in the house, we decided to pick a cool Guild Wars caster-style screenshot for the final giveaway. Not that we're giving away the picture (the art giveaway was the last giveaway post) but we thought it was fitting as we wind down into the later hours of the chilly night. For this, our final Guild Wars themed giveaway, we're offering the last of the boxed sets of all of the Guild Wars games. Featuring many interesting classes, areas, and power sets, (as well as those henchmen we love so very dearly) Guild Wars is fun to play and easy on the eyes. Of course, there's always the official rules that we have to abide by that say you must be 18+, a U.S. resident, and leave a comment between now and 10:00 PM Eastern tomorrow evening. (11/10)Good luck!
Massively's Massive Giveaways: Guild Wars part 6
We don't know about you, but the thing that really sets different MMOs apart for us is the graphical feel involved in each game. Sure, all the developer houses have great concepts, and we love the stories involved. But it is the artists who breathe the colorful life into all of these worlds. They give us great characters to play and sweeping vistas to play in. So for this giveaway on today's Guild Wars theme day, we're passing along a fantastic art print from the Guild Wars artists. That's right; one lucky winner will walk away with the above print, suitable for framing. Of course, you must be 18+, a resident of the U.S. and all those other details outlined in our official rules to win. Just leave a comment between now and 8:00 PM Eastern tomorrow (11/10) and you're automagically entered to win this really unique piece of art.
Massively's Massive Giveaways: Guild Wars part 5
Ah, fantasy lands! Where you can meet the strangest creatures, whomp on them, and make off with their belongings for fun and profit. Nothing is quite like stepping into a new world for the first time. This hour we're featuring a Guild Wars key that will give you access to all the games thus far, enabling you to visit all the strange and wonderful parts of the Guild Wars world. While it will mean a download for our lucky winner, those seeking challenge and adventure in strange new places will certainly not be defeated by such a minor thing as that.Yes, the official rules are still in effect, meaning that you have to be 18+, a resident of the U.S. and not a fuzzy wolf guy just waiting to pounce and eat our face like the one pictured above. Of course, there's a small catch -- we want to know what mob you took up revenge killing on because they ate your face one too many times. (any MMO will do) That's it! Easy, no? Tell us your most hated face-munching mob in the comments before 6:00 PM Eastern tomorrow (11/10), and you may be the lucky winner who walks away with the key.
Massively's Massive Giveaways: Guild Wars part 4
One of the reasons we think Fantasy-themed MMOs have been so big is just because you can do some truly wicked things that you just can't pull off in meatspace. Magic spells, teleporting from town to town, and those amazing costumes are right up there on the list of things we wish we had everyday access to in the real world. Of course, Guild Wars has all of those these nifty tidbits and more -- and without requiring 'rent' like life tends to.For this featured giveaway, we're offering up another Guild Wars boxed set of all the games. If you haven't had a chance to check out GW, this is perfect for you. Of course, if you already have a copy of Guild Wars for yourself, why not enter anyway? You never know -- if you meet the requirements of being 18+, a U.S. resident, and have read the official rules -- you may just land a copy to give to a friend for the upcoming holidays. Just be sure to answer the following question before 4:00 PM Eastern tomorrow. (11/10)If real life was an MMO, what class would you be?
Massively's Massive Giveaways: Guild Wars part 3
If you've been with us this far, you know today is Guild Wars day here at Massively. Yes, we have delved into the land of scantily clad ladies and powerful, daring men that would make even Vallejo feel all warm and fuzzy. (Okay, maybe it just makes us feel all warm and fuzzy. But still...) This time, we're featuring four copies of Eye of the North to give away! Well, three boxed copies and one game key, but again, we know a download won't stop you from getting your monster slaying on.Four lucky winners will be chosen at random for this giveaway -- although I will warn you that Eye of the North requires you to have a copy of Guild Wars already. EotN is the first real game-required expansion to the series as opposed to the prior standalone "expansions." Of course, we have to throw out the official rules disclaimer that you must be 18 years of age, a resident of the U.S., leave a comment here before 2:00 pm Eastern on 11/10, and fully understand that the blonde hottie above will not show up at your house to give you your copy. But if you already have Guild Wars and would like to pick up a copy of the Eye of the North for your very own, here's your chance. On your mark, get set, comment!
Massively's Massive Giveaways - Guild Wars part 2
We don't know about you, but lunch hour is one of the best times of the day. Why? Not only do you get to relax for a bit, but in our case, it's a great time to get some gaming in. Of course, some people will undoubtedly scream at us for having food anywhere near the computer. (At least you're not having to buy our replacement keyboards, eh? ;D ) For this next giveaway, we're offering up today's featured game; Guild Wars. Why is this a great lunchtime game? Simple! The way the GW world is set up, you can generally easily grab a quest or two and blow through them in a lunch hour. Or you can just log in for a bit and enjoy the beautiful landscape, letting your mind chill out in some place that doesn't look like a cubicle or classroom for a bit. Now to the good part -- one lucky winner is getting what we like to consider the Guild Wars lunchtime escape pack! We're giving away all of the Guild Wars games (this time in full boxed set that we'll mail to you) for folks who need a game to enjoy some downtime in.This time, however, we'd like to hear what your favorite lunchtime escape is. Do you like to game, read, take a walk, or just come hang out with us here for lunch? Leave your lunchtime advice in the comments and you may be lucky enough to walk away with lots of Guild Wars goodness! As per the official rules, you must be 18 and up, a U.S. resident, and have left that lunchtime tip left here before 12:00 pm Eastern on 11/10 to be eligible.So tell us, what's your lunchtime zen?
Massively's Massive Giveaways: Guild Wars
Happy one week birthday to us! It's been a tremendous first week, and we've been honored to see such a great showing of support from the MMO community. You all are really making this a launch to remember, and we'd like to thank you for it by yet another crazy day filled with birthday presents -- for you!Okay, enough mushy stuff from us. Today's Massive Giveaways feature that free-to-play sensation, Guild Wars! With many features folks have come to love (hooray henchmen) and the ability to group up with friends all without having to deal with subscriptions, this has become an extremely popular title. If you haven't had a chance to get your own copy (or complete your set of all of them) never fear! We have lots and lots of great Guild Wars prizes to give away today. For this first hour, we're giving away a key for the combined set of all the Guild Wars games! This key includes Guild Wars, Guild Wars: Factions, Guild Wars: Nightfall and Guild Wars: Eye of the North. True, you will have to download the games from online when you register your keys (or perhaps snitch a copy of the installers from that friend of yours who has been pestering you to play) but for four fabulously fun games to play, what's a little download between friends? As always, there's that 18 & up, must be a U.S. resident and all the other official rules business that you know so well by now. But for those eligible, what are you waiting for? You only have until 10:00 am Eastern on Saturday (11/10) to get your name in the hat, so get to commenting!
Seeing low level quests again
Tenehuini over on the EU forums has an excellent point: currently, higher level characters have no way at all of seeing which NPCs, at a glance, have lower-level quests for them. What we need is another set of exclamation points, a toggled way of showing which NPCs have quests for us, even if they're below our current level.Aeus says it's a good idea that just hasn't been acted on yet, but I'll add my voice to the crowd asking for action. Before, when lower level quests didn't grant XP or rep, this wasn't that big a deal-- if you were going back to do a certain low level quest (for lore or completion purposes), you probably knew where it was anyway. But since reputation has been buffed on lowbie quests, there's value in knowing where quests are. And there's really no reason for Blizzard to hide that info, anyway-- the quests are viewable right after you talk to the questgiver, so why not throw a exclamation point up there?The only question, then, is what color. Later in the thread, Readbeard comes up with a whole list of exclamation point colors-- green, yellow, orange and red for quest difficulty, and black and gray for pre- or post-level status. As good an idea as that sounds to us WoW veterans, my guess is that Blizzard won't vibe with it-- explaining all the different colored exclamation points to a new player might be a little tough. But still, a toggle-able lowbie quest exclamation should be easy to implement, and would help those folks headed back to the starter areas to pick up experience, rep, or whatever else they want.
Probable factions in Wrath of the Lich King
Jikiyami from Kul'tiras dropped a tip asking us about all the different factions that might be in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion when it comes out. Unfortunately, Blizzard hasn't completed design on most of Northrend, so I'd bet that the actual list of factions isn't really determined yet. But that won't stop us from speculating who you might be working for from level 70-80. There will most likely be Horde and Alliance starting factions, just like Honor Hold and Thrallmar. For Horde, Forsaken seem to be taking the spotlight (according to what we saw in the playthrough), so an "Apothecaries' Guild" faction might be up there. For Alliance, I'm betting the Dwarves will lead, so an "Explorer's League" type of group might be a good guess. Dalaran will be up there, of course, so we'll either see the Violet Citadel make a return, or another Mage-based faction. The Tuskarr, a new race, are supposedly fighting against Naga trying to melt their grounds, so I bet we'll see a faction for them. Lake Wintergrasp is a World PvP zone, so expect a Horde and Alliance faction for each side. We know Gnomish flying machines will be available in the expansion, so I'd guess there's a Gnomish faction to rep up for in order to gain access to those. In Dragonblight, the rumor is that Deathwing is setting up shop, so there may be a new faction fighting against him. And that same faction may be situated around the Nexus, an instance hub in which Malygos is running things. Then again, we've heard that Dalaran is fighting Malygos' campaign against magic, so this may overlap with the Mages there. Jikiyami points out, rightfully, that supposedly some Nerubians are fighting against Arthas, so outside Azjol-Nerub we may find a faction ready to give us rep for fighting in there. And finally, someone's got to lead the battle against Arthas and his Scourge, right? Blizzard seemed kind of opposed to this at BlizzCon, but I would be very, very disappointed if the Argent Dawn didn't have some role to play near Icecrown Citadel or the new Naxx. Or maybe Arthas will have his own rep to grind-- how else would we get access to a Death Knight? So there's about ten guesses at different factions right there. And who knows if older factions might show up-- since so many players are now allied with the Scryer or the Aldor, will they come back through the Portal and have a place in Northrend? Either way, there'll be no shortage of rep to grind in the cold north.
In the reputation grinder
Reputation grinding is something of a mixed bag in the World of Warcraft-- some factions have many options for the player who wants to gain rep. Most of the new factions in Burning Crusade have quests, turn-ins, and various instances that all award rep. Others (especially those that existed pre-BC) are more difficult, requiring hours upon hours of grinding away on specific mobs that provide little return, as anyone who's ever gotten exalted with the Wintersaber Trainers will tell you.Not all factions provide rewards that everyone will need-- if you're anything like me (and, I think, most players), you'll pick and choose which factions you want to grind. For at least one person, however, the goal was to hit Exalted with all available factions. Tombom, from Cho'gall, is exalted with 36 different factions (37 if you count switching from Scryer to Aldor), including Darkmoon Faire. I'd be lying if I said that this didn't make me feel bad about neglecting some of my own reputation goals, but it does inspire me - if a Disc / Holy priest can do it, why not me?Congratulations, Tombom!Thanks, Centipede!
