The Soap Box
The Vindictus mage love edition
Vindictus, the free-to-play hack-and-slash MMO from Nexon, recently came out of beta and introduced its third character class, Evie the Mage. I’ve been waiting for this class to become available ever since I saw some of the attacks it can pull off. On top of the usual pyrotechnics you expect of a mage class, she can lift up her enemies in a kind of anti-gravity field and slam them down on to the ground. She can also summon a golem by pulling together the destructible debris in the dungeon to form an animated giant pet to command. Higher levels grant you the ability to forgo magic in favor of becoming a scythe wielding death machine or to fill the role of group healer. Fun stuff. Can’t wait until the fourth and fifth classes become available.
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MMO News
SWTOR Smuggler video premieres
Bioware releases another video highlighting a SWTOR class, this time the Han Solo-inspired Smuggler class. This support role looks like it can do a little bit of everything, including emergency heal. Nice jack-of-all-trades class for those who like to do it all.
Details of EVE's Incursion expansion
EVE has a new pirate organization coming to cause havoc this winter with the Incursion expansion. There promises to be several new encounters designed for all group sizes, and lots of rewards worth a fair amount of isk. Check out Massively's round up for more information.
Vindictus grappling move in glorious video action
Nexon's upcoming free-to-play action MMORPG Vindictus has a lot of visceral action to offer players. One of the most brutal move available to players is the grapple: grabbing the opponent by the neck and smashing them down. This move can even be used to bowl over other opponents as well. Trust me, this one never gets old. Video of the move below.
- Vindictus status
- Early access Open Beta (key required): In progress
- Full Open Beta: Wednesday, October 6, 2010
- Launch: Unannounced
PAX 2010: Massively goes hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara
Trion was at PAX 2010 this weekend showing off the latest build of their upcoming cyberpunk fantasy MMORPG, Rift: Planes of Telara. Massively was there to run the demo through its paces and came back with a report on character creation, dungeon running and class specialization. It's a good first look at the title for those unfamiliar with it. Video below explains class system and how you can combine different styles of play.
DCUO Cinematic trailer releases Director's Cut version
SOE released the beautifully crafted DC Universe Online Cinematic at San Diego Comic Con this summer. It sets the stage for the lore of the upcoming superhero MMORPG. In this new cut, Jim Lee and the company that created the cinematic go over the trailer scene by scene explaining the thought process behind it all.
- DCUO Status:
- Closed beta: In progress
- Open beta: Unannounced
- Launch date: Tuesday, November 2, 2010
PAX 2010: Hands-on with Guild Wars 2
Massively's Guild Wars 2 columnist Rubi Bayer is in Seattle at PAX 2010 and took the opportunity to get a hands-on demo of the upcoming ArenaNet title. Her writeup includes screenshots, video and her impressions. Guild Wars 2 is schedule to release in 2011.
World of Tanks video shows off heavy tank warfare
Wargaming.net's Russian MMO World of Tanks has a new video showing off their heavy tank warfare. No elves, no magic swords, no dragons, just metal behemoths marching across the countryside in a clash of munitions and mayhem. Sound good? Beta applications are still open.
FFXIV open beta closed, preorders and early access begin
Square Enix has announced the end to the open beta in advance of the September 30, 2010 launch. However, preorders of the collector's edition has begun and grants you not only the usual CE goodies, but also early access to the game starting September 21, 2010.
PAX 2010: DDO announces Half-Elf and Half-Orc playable races
Massively sat down with the Turbine crew at PAX 2010 and came back with this report about the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons Online Update 7 coming in October. The update will include two new playable races (Half-Elf and Half-Orc), a new raid for the under level 10 crowd, a search function for the auction house and more.
LotRO Vol 3 Book 2 Patch 1 notes hit the test server
This month's free-to-play conversion for Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online brought a boatload of changes to the game, both functional and behind the scenes. It's no surprise the first patch afterwards, Vol3 Book2 Patch 1 is more of a list of bug fixes than new game content. This new patch is currently on Bullroarer, LotRO's public test server.
- LotRO Status:
- Vol 3 Book 2: LotRO went Free To Play on September 10, 2010.
- Vol 3 Book 2 Patch 1: Bug fixes, on the public test server, no live date announced.
- Next expansion: Isengard (via PC Gamer)
LotRO Release Notes - Volume III, Book 2, Patch 1 (BULLROARER ONLY)
The following release notes apply only to the Bullroarer Test Server. All changes and updates listed are subject to change before being released to the live servers. Release Notes GeneralCaptain
- Several references to the Lorebook within the game have been updated to read “MyLOTRO” instead of “Lorebook”. Clicking on the “MyLotro” button on the start menu or radar ring will now take you to your MyLOTRO page and provide access to all Community Sites from directly within the game.
- Players who last logged out while in the Fornost or Great Barrow instances before Volume III, Book 2 went live can now log in again.
- You should no longer see an interior map from an area you have left while out in the world.
- Players in the Archet and Ered Luin starting areas can now transfer to the same layer as your fellowship leader.
- Teleporting between Housing areas and Dynamic Layers now works properly.
Champion
- The Captain’s Armaments for the Man-at-arms, the Squire and the Pilgrim will now allow the summoning of Heralds of Hope and Victory instead of always summoning Heralds of War.
Skirmishes
- The Champion legacy that increases Critical Damage magnitude will now affect the second and third attacks for all skills.
The Ettenmoors (PvMP)
- All daily quests have had their minimum bestowal levels correctly set.
Raids & Instances
- Tomes of Deed Acceleration no longer advance monster play kill deeds.
- Leave Instance now works correctly for session players.
- In certain cases the instance, ”Rise of the Fallen Son” could not be completed. This has been corrected.
- The Blind One, Zholuga, and Nornan somehow opened up the cabinet with the bag of extra-steroid-infused Monster Chow. We've installed child-proof locks on the cabinet, so the Blind One, Zholuga, and Nornan are back to their old selves. Or, to put it another way:
- Reduced the Damage-over-Time effects in the Turtle Raid to their previous values.
- Reduced the effects “Virulent Contagion” & “Paralyzing Contagion” in Dar Narbugud to their previous values.
Items
- Haudh Iarcith
- The door to the epic area now requires a minimum level of 45 to open. Westernesse protection has been removed from several monsters. Addressed an incorrect loot assignment. Spawn timers on the bosses have been dramatically reduced.
- Great Barrow: Thadur
- Removed some adds from the boss fight.
- The Challenge quest should now work properly.
- Great Barrow: Sambrog
- Adds will now correctly clear when the boss resets.
- Great Barrow: Maze
- The challenge quest now correctly fails when the fight is reset.
- Helegrod: Drake Wing
- Deeds will now correctly update while you are in a raid.
- Helegrod: Spider Wing
- Deeds will now correctly update while you are in a raid.
- The deed, “Zaudru's Brood” now requires 100 kills.
Town Services
- The set bonus on the level 65 Armour of the Aurochs Hunter set has been fixed to properly reduce the cooldown of “Penetrating Shot” when all 6 pieces are equipped.
- The level 65 Annúminas armor will no longer accept dyes as the armor does not support them.
- “Map to Thorin's Hall” will no longer play a cinematic when used.
- The deed “Helegrod -- Drake Wing” no longer advertises the deed acceleration item. This deed cannot be accelerated.
- Novice's Mark will no longer conflict with the run speed perks purchased from the Destiny Panel or the LOTRO Store.
- Fixed some auto-consumed skill-granting items that were not setup to auto-consume if the player was mounted when purchasing them from the LOTRO store.
- The “Veteran Esquire's Heavy Mail” had its name accidentally changed to “Veteran Recruit's Heavy Mail” and its level reduced to 27. This item now has the correct name and its level increased to 37.
- “Comagol”, “Rangers of Esteldin” kindred rep sword, now has “Rangers of Esteldin” faction requirement instead of “Wardens of Annúminas”
Wardrobe
- Vendors that sell steeds no longer repair items.
Quests
- Items with unique color palettes can now be cosmetically equipped from the wardrobe correctly.
- In Volume I, Book 1 Chapter 11, you are no longer able to interrupt the scene with Sambrog while he's talking.
- In Volume I, Book 3 Chapter 5, you will no longer see the message, “Drukordh has been defeated!”, until you've actually defeated him.
Aion 1 year anniversary pet and Daeva's Days
NCSoft's PvEvP MMORPG Aion celebrates its first anniversary this month for the North American debut. Aion's Lance Stile issued a state of the game address that covered all of the improvements made tot he game in the past year. He also announced those players who have been with the game for a year will receive a new in-game pet, the Aqua Griffo. Also, the in-game limited event Daeva's Day has kicked off. Players can earn fireworks, funny hats and other RP items. It ends Wednesday, October 6, 2010.
- Aion
- Last expansion: Assualt on Balaurea, September 2010
- Next expansion: Unannounced
WoW Cataclysm beta update: new titles, new achievements and Tier 11 armor set bonuses
Blizzard dropped a large patch on the WoW Cataclysm beta servers last night and MMO-Champion has all the datamined details. Included are a new list of guild achievements, player achievements, a boat load of player titles and the details on the new T11 armor set bonuses for all classes.
EverQuest 2 offers bonuses for multi-month subscriptions
Last month, SOE's EQ2 offered a new free-to-play version of the game, but still retained their monthly subscription servers. To reward those who continue to pay monthly, EQ2 is now offering bonus in-game items for multi-month subscriptions. Three-month prepaid subscribers will get a Cloak of the Storm. Six-month subs receive the cloak and Nizaran Assassin's Armor. Twelve-month subs get both those plus a Steed of the Blazing Sun and 500 Station Cash.
EverQuest's 17th expansion House of Thule announced preorder special
EverQuest just keeps on keepin' on. In preparation for it's 17th expansion, House of Thule, SOE has released a video showing off the new zones and encounters. Preorders have started and include special mounts, mercenaries, a 20-slot bag and more. There is a collector's edition and a standard edition, but all of these appear to be digital download only offers. The preorder offer ends Monday, October 11, 2010, the day before the expansion goes live.
- EverQuest
- Current expansion: Underfoot, December 15, 2009
- Next expansion: House of Thule, Tuesday, October 12, 2010
