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Choose My Adventure: Second verse, same as the first
It's been another interesting week in Vanguard, to say the least. Remember that thing I said last week about crafting and diplomacy being deep? I can now say with absolute certainty that they are so double-rainbow intensely deep that I've spent the last several days primarily working on those two skills as opposed to moving on to the next village. Indeed, attempting to finish all the quests in Sun Village has sent me back to Tentrees Farmstead (the first starter town) to pick up even more crafting and diplomacy work! Will I ever escape, or will I be sucked into an ever-swirling loop of crafting, diplomacy, harvesting, or whatever odd side-skill lurks just ahead, ready to whomp me over the head and make off with my magical cookies? Well, this week you'll get to decide, as I put the future of my fuzzy little Raki to a vote! But first, join me after the break as I recap the last week's adventure in Telon.
Choose My Adventure: The isle of noob
This week found me diving into the Isle of Dawn to check out the newer starting area in Vanguard. What I found there wasn't entirely surprising, since I had heard about the learning curve in the game, but it still managed to throw me enough curve balls to keep me on my toes. Between trying my hand at crafting, dabbling in diplomacy, and attempting to switch my brain from my normal stabby-rogue-self to playing a melee healbot for more than just myself, there was a lot to get my head around in Vanguard. Curious as to how this first week of Choose My Adventure played out? Wondering what kinds of things I experienced during my travels? Well, join me behind the break as I take a look at my first steps in Telon!
Vanguard celebrates with the Telon Faire
Are you new to Vanguard: Saga of Heroes? Are you a veteran of the game who just wants to get out of the cave for a while? Why not join your fellow players for an evening of jousting, dueling, parleying (diplomacy), hall-decorating contests, boat races, or a crafting bazaar? Thanks to the members of the Impact guild -- who are taking over where the Shadowfire guild left off -- you can meet fellow members of the community while possibly earning some cool prizes! The event is better every time they host it, this being the seventh. It's also a good sign that, despite server mergers, tiny development teams, and three years of forum drama, there are always community members willing to step up to do the work required for such an event. The Impact guild also hosts Newbie Nights every other week. As for the Telon Faire, it starts this Saturday, September 18th, at 4 p.m. EDT and runs until the griffins come home. Head to Aghram to join in the activities! Support them -- stop by, say hello, or give a donation. After all, prizes will be handed out mostly in cold, hard cash that players can really use. So, if you're new, or want to help out some new players, watch for the announcement and head for Aghram!
Choose My Adventure: Apseth, the Raki disciple
Last week's votes have been tallied, and this week we've got a shiny new Vanguard edition of Choose My Adventure to start! With 12.5% of the overall votes, Raki managed to take the lead as our character's race. With that said, while 110 votes were cast for blood mage, that is not a viable class option for a Raki. Thankfully, the second place winner at 86 votes, disciple, is something a Raki can be, so that's our winner! So, without further delay, allow me to introduce you to Apseth Navarre, Raki disciple -- my shiny new Vanguard character that you'll get to help direct (and even play along with, if you'd like) through this series of Choose My Adventure posts. Interested in finding out more or taking part in this week's adventures? Well then, join me after the break as we start down the path into reader-driven adventure, Vanguard-style!
One Shots: There is unrest in the forest
One of the fun things about getting to write Choose My Adventure is being able to run around with Massively readers who jump in to check out the MMO in question too. While my journey in Vanguard won't actually begin until early tomorrow morning (you have voted in this round, yes?), one of our regular One Shots contributors, Joshua P., decided to get an early start. He reports back with this picturesque image from the starting area and a quick note: "Since Vanguard was picked as the CMA, I decided I would try it out. This game is beautiful, and I'm only playing on the medium graphics settings. The experience on the trial island has been great, and blood mages are a really fun class!" Are you part of our Massively Mob? Do you run around with Beau for Rise and Shiny? Why not take a picture of your adventures with the group and send it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com! We're always looking for great screenshots. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in. %Gallery-85937%
Choose My Adventure: Off to Telon!
Join me as I brave my way through lands unknown in an adventure dictated entirely by you, the Massively readers! Vote for everything from game played to character creation to ultimate goal and watch it unfold in a series of posts and galleries here on the site. Then, after our two months are up, we'll do it all over again in a new game! Well, the masses have once again spoken, and this time I'm headed off to spend the next six weeks running around in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes! I'll admit that this is one title that I've never played. At the time it was released, my computer's stats were nowhere near the level required to play it (surprise), so I gave it a pass. Since then, I've been intrigued by the world (largely due to many of the lovely One Shots I've seen on it), but I simply haven't taken the first step to check the game out. Thanks to the vote being rocked by the Vanguard community, it looks like I'm going to get that chance to see Telon after all! Unfamiliar with Vanguard? Know all about it and would rather skip straight to this week's polls? Join me behind the break for both!
One Shots: A look into the future, perhaps
The voting continues in the most recent Choose My Adventure poll. EverQuest II Extended is currently hanging out in third place. Tearing it up at second is the indie MMO, Ryzom. However, it appears that the Vanguard community has mobilized and its members in it to win it. With a week from today left on the poll that decides my next six-week adventure, it's going to be interesting to see if any of the other challengers will mobilize its fans and take the lead. In the meantime, we have this lovely Vanguard view from our regular contributor, Vendayn, for our enjoyment. Will this wind up being a location I get to visit soon? Time will tell! "Hello, Vendayn here. I go by Isasis Wraithmire in Vanguard, on Telon. One of the first things I saw after arriving on Qalia from the island was this amazing view. An amazing night sky, with still some light from the sun. You can also see the town of Qa Riverbanks and a camp in the corner, across the river." One Shots relies on reader contributions to keep going, so if you've got an MMO account, a PRT SCRN button and email, you can help us out! Take a cool screenshot of your favorite MMO and email it to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in the image. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the credit! %Gallery-85937%
One Shots: Trifecta!
Today we offer another in an unplanned series of waterfalls. Truly, it's a trio of tremendous terrain treats on One Shots! This gorgeous overland view comes to us from another of our regular contributors, Vendayn, who goes by The Explorer here on Massively, or as Isasis Wraithmire in the game we see today -- Vanguard. Between the fluffy purple clouds overhead, and the combination of cliffs, waterfall, and interesting foliage, we couldn't resist. Vendayn writes in to explain: "This is looking out toward the West of New Targoner in Vanguard. [It is located] on the Thestra continent. I was taken aback by this beautiful landscape. The waterfall in the background, with the rock pillars...and the sun was just setting, which made it even more perfect." Do you have screenshots of your favorite game that you haven't sent in to us yet? If so, why are you holding back? You should gather those up and send them to us here at oneshots@massively.com! We can always use more screenshots to show off. %Gallery-85937%
Massively's Community Detective, Issue #5: Vanguard - Saga of Heroes
Much has been written around the MMO blogosphere regarding SOE's Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. From its troubled beginnings as a not-quite-ready-for-launch title, to fledgling Sigil Games Online's financial difficulties, to lead designer Brad McQuaid's well-publicized struggles with management and personal issues, the spiritual successor to EverQuest has always had a bit of a dark cloud hovering over its head. Happily, a fun game remains despite all the problems, and the title's snake-bit tendencies don't seem to have affected either its community or its customer service. Fly past the cut (on your rented pegasus) for more.
Rise and Shiny recap: Zentia
Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play, indie or unusual game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 9 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. CDT), followed by this column the Sunday after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau@massively.com or Twitter me @Beau_Hindman. It's hard for a game to strike a perfect balance of fun and challenge. In fact, I'd say it's the result of otherworldly forces as much as it is the hard work of the developer. Many of the greatest games I have ever played are a conglomerate of many factors that were beyond the control of the artists, writers and producers who first crafted the world. Sometimes, the crew must simply hope that its ship floats, and that it happens to set her to sail just as the weather is perfect. Then a game like ChangYou's Zentia comes along, a game that has all the wonderful qualities I am looking for -- as the result of some very smart, specific design choices made by some very creative people. Sure, I discovered the game on accident (I wasn't actively looking for a game the day Zentia fell into my lap), but the game has obviously been crafted with precision and care. If you'd like to read up on some of the details of the game, you can check out our E3 coverage here, or read an article of mine here. Also, you can get your closed beta key here. Otherwise, see me after the break, and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section!
Massively's Vanguard group smushes spiders, moves on to bigger things
Recently, we started a static group for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, and since then we have made our way off of the Isle of the Dawn, the newbie zone. We started out killing hobgoblins and facing down fire demons, made our way through the misty waters of a swamp, and moved on to flying a group of pegasi into the firey Hell of the Temple of the Ancients. (OK, more like "laggy Hell," but they have fixed that issue since then.) I ran through most of the Isle's content alone before, so revisiting it in a full group was such a pleasure. Well, we fight on! We met on Monday to conquer the Jade Depths: essentially a giant spider-infested system of caves, going through such tribulations as becoming impregnated with arachnid larvae, digging through piles of bones, and using magical portals. All was spooky -- very spooky. We are going to meet up next Monday, the 2nd of August, to take a swipe at the Vault of Heroes. While it might be old, take a look at this entry from Jaye over at Journeys with Jaye to give you an idea of what lies in store! Here is a list of quests in the zone, as well. Be between the levels of 11-14, grab your best armor, and meet us at 9 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. CDT) in Veskal's Exchange. Contact Rikoo Rakoo, Burtimus or Massively Lee for a guild invite! Hopefully this time the larval-impregnation will be kept to a minimum.
One Shots: Been through the desert on a horse with no name
Late at night, with only a waxing moon to keep him company, we find Shanert riding his brand new mount across a sandy expanse in Vanguard. Sadly, we're not entirely sure where this location is, but we're glad to see today's screenshot nonetheless. Why? Because for those who are interested in checking out Vanguard, but have never been able to find a group interested in running it with you, you'll definitely want to check out Beau's group night! Perhaps we'll even start to see some more One Shots from this lovely, but neglected, corner of the MMOGsphere. If you're traveling in a land we don't see often, we'd love to have a screenshot from you. All you have to do to take part is to email one over to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in the image. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the credit for sending it in. %Gallery-85937%
Vanguard US server merge complete [Update]
It's been a rough ride for players of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes over the past few months, with the dreaded "maintenance letter" back in December that left players uncertain about the game's future. That uncertainty wasn't helped when rumors began circling that the game would be merging servers, followed by a confirmation of same. As of now, the server merge is complete, with the game's population all concentrated on a single server dubbed Telon. The good news for players is that the merge, on a whole, went fairly smoothly. There was a slight extension of the expected operation time, which is really normal when dealing with a large-scale operation. It should also help the game's players enjoy the game with a larger population to draw from. The bad news is... well, a server merge is never exactly a comforting fact for any game, and we can only hope that the long-term benefits for Vanguard outweigh the negatives. [Update: This does not affect the EU server which is set to merge at a later date. Thank you to everyone who tipped us on this!]
One Shots: You are not cleared to buzz the tower
While Star Wars Galaxies is currently tearing up the Choose my Adventure voting by mobilizing their forum community, there was another SOE game in the mix that was doing very well at the beginning of voting -- Vanguard! With Vanguard having grand vistas like this, and the ability to fly around on pegasi, we can understand why folks might be curious to see more of this game. Still, we do have today's lovely One Shots that comes to us from Солнцев А., who writes in to tell us more about it: "Here my Wood Elf ranger Antalisia on Halgar (EU) server (The Third Sun guild) wanted to show you one of a many spectacular places in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. The place is called Jalen's Crossing and it is aimed at low levels (around 8-12). It is an immense bridge built by the race of Raki (foxlike people). You can also see on the shot the several floating islands. This is called 'Arks of Harmony' -- [it is a] floating temple built by Raki, but now infested with elementals. You can get there either taking pegasus or via teleporter on the bridge." If you think we're not showing off your favorite game often enough, there's an easy way to fix that: send in your own screenshots and tales! One Shots is entirely dependent on community input, so you guys make or break the depth (or non-depth) we show here. Our email address is oneshots@massively.com: Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description too. In return for sending in your best shots, we'll give you the credit for sending in something we haven't seen before. Couldn't be easier. %Gallery-85937%
The Daily Grind: Beta burnout, spoilers, and testing TOR
The recent hubbub surrounding Star Wars: The Old Republic's closed beta invites got me to thinking. Perhaps I should reconsider my recent policy against signing up for the betas of games that I'm planning on playing long-term, not only to get a sneak peak at the most anticipated title in years (purely for journalistic purposes of course), but also to help test and make my voice heard while the game is still somewhat malleable. Then, I recalled my experiences with betas ranging from Vanguard, to Mortal Online (alpha?), to The Matrix Online, all titles which at one point or another were at the top of my list of prospective "main" MMORPGs. In each case, the testing period soured me on the games before they even launched, and while each case was different, the ultimate outcome was the same: come release, I really had no desire to be there. That changed quickly with Vanguard, and I did ultimately end up playing the release client for quite a while, but as a result of the other burnouts, I've adopted a policy of signing up for betas of those titles that don't really interest me long-term. What say you, Massively readers? Are you prolific beta-testers who lend a bug-hunting hand to every title that comes down the pipe? Or are you more like me, selective and prone to avoiding those games you know you actually want to play at release?
Vanguard, Saga of Confusion: a look back
Perhaps it is all my experience with independent music that grew my patience for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. It might sound like a stretch, but for years I witnessed firsthand the lack of power that a large publisher can bring to the table. My rickety band would show up in our scratched up tour bus, only to open for a label-backed band that also showed up in a scratched up tour bus. Such is the guarantee of the major label: a guarantee of only publishing and/or perhaps distribution. While those promises are no small thing, the fans must come to grips with what that means. In the end, Vanguard players are just like those fans who cannot fathom why there is not a new album released every year, or why their favorite band pulls up in a Dodge van instead of a tour bus. It's a simple lack of understanding of how these things often work, and can often lead to players who feel left out in the cold, ignored by a publisher that seemingly has bottomless pockets. I am going to illustrate why I think Vanguard is where it is now, and who might be responsible for the current position it is in.
Brad McQuaid returns, forms new company
Brad McQuaid, the former CEO of Sigil Games and one of the driving creative forces behind Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and the original EverQuest, has announced his return to gaming after a three-year hiatus. Lost amid the hubbub of last week's E3 deluge was an announcement on McQuaid's personal blog that served as both a news update as well as a job recruitment posting for his new company. "After a needed three[-]year break from 11 years of working on massively multiplayer games with the large teams, budgets, and 3-5 year development cycles[,] I think this will be a nice change of pace. I'm also very excited to be involved in a genre that is relatively new to me. I look forward to bringing MMO design principles to casual/social gaming," he wrote. Dust off your resumes and view the full announcement on McQuaid's blog.
Vanguard community members don't let the Man get them down
There are many communities that suffer from loving a game that never seem to get the attention that many of the big boys do. Or, the game that they love has a reputation for being buggy or unplayable or, worse, dead. The Vanguard community has long been the victim of rumors, a game with an unforgettable start and constant forum debates about who should be doing what. Then there are the members of the community that not only enjoy the game, but that try and do something to make it better. These are labors of love, and often are the equivalent of random acts of kindness; almost anonymously handed out to a very needy community. So today we wanted to point squarely at a few individuals that, instead of worrying about who is going to change the situation, work to change the situation. Some of the work going on behind the scenes at some of these projects must be astounding.
Rumor: Server merge may be in the cards for Vanguard
Server merges are a fairly touchy subject with just about any MMO community. For some, they're a sign that a company is putting a game on life support. For others, it is viewed as a way for a company to pool resources and effort in maintaining a smaller server structure so they can redistribute funds and manpower into improving the game. In either case, it still beats having one's favorite MMO shut down altogether. That's why we were interested to note a somewhat cryptic post on the official Vanguard forums made by Salim "Silius" Grant, the game's Lead Developer. While he doesn't state that he is definitely talking about server merges, the thread is named "the big merger" and merges are the primary topic in the thread. The post in question reads: "[w]e are still working out the details on this. We are finalizing the process and running it through QA while working on the marketing side so we can get the word out to people and a good bit of forewarning. Hopefully we can get the official word out soon. Sorry for the lack of updates but it really has just been constant QA of the process so we can have as few bugs as possible once this occurs. This combined with getting the other content releases out the door has made things rather hectic around here." We contacted Sony Online Entertainment for clarification, but were told that there are currently no plans on the horizon for server merges in Vanguard. What precisely Grant could have been talking about in his forum posting if this is the case is something we're going to have to wait and see.
One Shots: A beautiful day for a flight
While we may not often see the lush landscapes of Vanguard here, they stand waiting for those who are interested in checking out this scenic world. That's why we're glad to hear from the occasional adventurer who wanders into Vanguard -- and other off-the-beaten-path MMOs like it. Today, we have a great One Shots that comes to us from the intrepid wanderer, Vendayn, who sends us reports on his travels from time to time. He writes: "Hello from Vendayn. I re-subscribed to Vanguard: Saga of Heroes recently and was amazed at how good the graphics still are. By removing fog in-game, you get an amazing view of the land like you can see in the screenshot. This was taken on Isle of Dawn, while I was doing the Pegasus scouting quest." If you're playing an MMO that doesn't often get love here on Massively, why don't you grab a screenshot of life in that game and tell us all about it! All MMOs are welcome, from big to small. Just email them in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post them out here for everyone to look at, and give you the credit for sending it in. %Gallery-85937%
