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Archive for January, 2010
Arcane Brilliance: Arcane 101
Jan 31st
Welcome to another Arcane Brilliance, the weekly mage column that is the only place I know of where a gnome in a dress with glowing hands hanging out in the middle of the forest isn’t so much creepy as it is socially acceptable. Since I see a growing trend among the other class columnists, and because I crave the approval of my peers, I bring you Arcane 101. This is intended to be a relatively basic overview of the spec; I won’t be delving into much in the way of the more complex mechanics here. This will also be a PvE-centric column. We’ll revisit arcane PvP at some future point, but sadly not today. So without further ado:
1. What is arcane?
The leftmost of the three mage specs, this tree focuses on magic that is neither fiery nor frosted. It is (for the next five minutes or so, at least) the current single-target pure DPS champ, as far as mage specs go.
2. Arcane Benefits
- Extremely high damage
- Simple rotation
- Low hit cap
- Provides good raid utility
- Missile Barrage is awesome
3. Arcane drawbacks
- Highly dependent on timely procs for mana efficiency
- Cannot sustain highest DPS rotation
- Rotation is fairly boring
- Sub-par AoE
Continue reading Arcane Brilliance: Arcane 101
The Light and How to Swing It: Holy 101
Jan 31st
Every Sunday, Chase Christian of The Light and How to Swing It invites you to discuss the finer side of the paladin class: the holy specialization. This week, we examine the basics of a holy paladin, from gems and enchants to talents and spell usage.
I have always been of the belief that the paladin is a healer at heart, with their hybrid nature simply an extension of their healing capability. In vanilla WoW, paladins were the Alliance’s healing all-star, with our tier sets and raid utility focusing on the restorative arts. Retribution and protection both have abilities that heal in some way, and their talent trees even have pro-healing options. If you want to experience the purest distilled essence of the paladin class, you have to try holy.
This is intended to be a guide to the holy paladin’s basic principles and tenets, not an in-depth guide into high-end raid healing or specialized gearing choices. If you’re new to the holy paladin or want to discover what the spec is all about, read on.
Continue reading The Light and How to Swing It: Holy 101
Growing Pains: How to approach gearing up your tank
Jan 31st
I’m going to assume that if you’re still reading this past the title, you’re interested in talking about tank gearing for your level 80 and that you’ve presumably used the Dungeon Finder to level him or her as a tank, but you’re certainly not rocking full T9 yet. It’s generally accepted that you’ll be saving up emblems for that, and of course filling the gaps for rings and trinkets and such as you can. You also may be a DPS player who wants to switch over to tanking but don’t have the gear yet.
First off, please, don’t pass on tanking gear just because it’s blue or dropped in a normal or heroic. Just because it’s not iLevel 232+ doesn’t mean it’s not good. You should be collecting and using upgrades as they drop, even if they won’t immediately put you at 35K health. Please remember also that a lot of people ran these instances and heroics back when Wrath first released with 22k or so health: despite what speed obsessed or hyper geared players will tell you, it is indeed possible to tank all the original Wrath heroics in blues.
Take the Nerubian Shield Ring, for example. If this drops More >
Lo mejor de la semana XXVI
Jan 31st
Dejamos atrás una semana más y como es costumbre, aquí tenéis un resumen con las noticias más destacadas:
- Empezamos con el anuncio de la cuarta beta cerrada del Allods Online, que nos trae los Astral Ships.
- Por otro lado Phantasy Star Universe se ve obligado a cerrar sus puertas.
- Continuamos con el anuncio de un nuevo MMOFPS Táctico, BlackShot
- También ha salido información nueva de The Secret World, y podemos ver el pueblo de Kingsmouth, y un nuevo trailer.
- Seguimos con un nuevo podcast de APB, en el que nos muestran algunas de las opciones con las que contaremos en el apartado sonoro.
- Finalmente se ha dado a conocer la fecha para la beta abierta de Mortal Online.
Estas han sido las noticias más destacadas de la semana, también podéis echar un vistazo a las primeras impresiones que os hemos preparado sobre Global Agenda, así como al análisis que ha preparado Arroes sobre Entropia Universe.
Esta también ha sido una semana especial para la web, ya que hemos substituido los foros viejos por unos nuevos con muchas más opciones, así que os invitamos a que os deis una vuelta por el y disfrutéis de las nuevas opciones que tenéis a vuestra disposición.
[1.Local]: Distracted by puppies
Jan 31st
Reader comments — ahh, yes, the juicy goodness following a meaty post. [1.Local] ducks past the swinging doors to see what readers have been chatting about in the back room over the past week.
Some of us had a little trouble focusing on the topics at hand this past week. It seems we were, ahh, a wee bit distracted by the puppies.
Hooch [Quite possibly crazy]: Firs … *distracted by puppies* krizzlybear: Oh look, what a surprise. someone trying to mask a first po — *also distracted by puppies* Nicknin10do: Hooch, you’re so cra … *also distracted by puppies* Hal: This is the dumbest thing I … *distracted* D’awwwww. Narshe: What is this? I don’t even – *gasp* elstor: Wow you guys are so la – *distracted by puppies* Sev: C-c-c-combo brea — Dawww, so cute. God damn it, the puppies got to me, too. The220: Many pups … now! Handle it!
Ok, ok, don’t slap us with minus 50 DKP! … More of the week’s distractions (plus several juicy conversations that actually stayed on target), after the break.
Continue reading [1.Local]: Distracted by puppies
Sunday Morning Funnies: Jazzercise
Jan 31st
Ladies and gentlemen, and all those with paws/hooves, etc, I think we might just be entering a new phase of the Sunday Morning Funnies. Why? Because this week’s list is pretty long too.
So long, in fact, that I had to throw it all behind the break again. Have I missed any? Do you know of a comic that isn’t listed here? If so, throw it into the comments section! Let’s see just how long we can make this thing. Hunt them down, and leave me a tip.
Last week, I seem to recall promising you a Long Cat. Just to be safe, I’ve delivered two. Yes, you can all has long cats.
Continue reading Sunday Morning Funnies: Jazzercise
Bluehole Studio : Bluehole condamné à dédommager NCsoft
Jan 31st
Pour développer Tera, le studio Bluehole utiliserait le code de Lineage 3, propriété de NCsoft. La justice coréenne accorde deux milliards de wons en réparation.
On s’en souvient, NCsoft avait initié le développement de Lineage 3 (en 2006) jusqu’à ce que le code source du jeu soit dérobé par d’anciens salariés de NCsoft et que le projet soit annulé. NCsoft avait alors engagé des poursuites devant les tribunaux coréens et le marathon judiciaire qui dure depuis des années, connaît aujourd’hui un nouvel épisode.
Après des condamnations pénales l’été dernier, la Seoul Central District Court (une juridiction civile, cette fois) vient de condamner les dirigeants du studio Bluehole à verser deux milliards de wons (1,2 millions d’euros) de dédommagement à NCsoft. En pour cause, plusieurs développeurs travaillant anciennement sur Lineage 3 chez NCsoft ont fondé le studio Bluehole et utiliseraient aujourd’hui leurs travaux sur le code du MMO avorté de NCsoft pour leur nouveau projet Tera Online. Selon les magistrats coréens, le code reste la propriété de NCsoft, ils accordent donc un dédommagement substantiel au développeur original.
On ignore encore quel impact peut avoir la décision sur le développement de Tera Online (le MMORPG est attendu cette année en Corée), mais les dirigeants de Bluehole se disent insatisfaits du jugement et More >
Allods Online: Closed beta keys giveaway
Jan 31st
Thanks to Gala Networks Europe, we are offering 750 closed beta keys to Allods Online. All you have to do is to click on the link on the image below to get a key. The might run out fast so be quick to get yours!
“The game features an unprecedented level of detail for an MMORPG2 warring factions, 6 races, 8 archetypes, 28 classes, hundreds of skills, and over 1,500 quests. Its visuals were designed by artists who won the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 10th place awards at Dominance War, one of the most prestigious global art competitions, in both the 2D and 3D categories. All of the animations are motion captured, and the Allods 3D game engine was developed entirely in-house. The orchestral soundtrack, composed by Mark Morgan and rising star Vladislav Isaev, was inspired by classical, electronica, new age, and tribal musical genres. An immense amount of content is featured in the game: raiding and dungeon instances, pets, balanced PvP, a crafting system designed as mini-games, dozens of astral islands (Allods), and numerous other features. The story spans a series of games published over 11 years beginning with Rage of Mages, featuring a background history remarkable in its complexity and depth.”
Read here all More >
New MMOs in January 2010 Round up!
Jan 31st
In the min-January, a cruel earthquake hit Haiti and cast a big shadow over the sun of the new year. Before we go straight to the topic, we would like to express our respect and sincere thanks to SOE and Hello Kitty Online’s publishers as well as other kind-hearted people for their generous help to Haiti. We really hope Haiti people will recover from the misery and rebuild their homes soon. OK, let’s get back to today’s topic and wipe away all the dark clouds to rekindle the hope by reviewing the new MMOs debuted in January.
Vote for New Games in January 2010
Soul Master
Last Online
Battle of the Immortals
Forsaken World
Monster Forest
Pop Tag!
Dungeon Bandits
KillSkill
Astonishia Online
Project 9
Soul Master
Soul Master, an action MMORTS focusing on the PvP and non-targeting battle system, just debuted firstly in Korea and then plans to be exported to North America very soon. Its non-targeting battle system and anime-themed RTS gameplay will surely trigger many players’ interest. It’s also regarded as a DOTA kinda like game.
- Action MMORTS Soul Master – 1st Gameplay Video Released- Highly Anticipated Action MMORTS Soul Master Comes to NA
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More >Around Azeroth: Fire and brimstone
Jan 31st
What’s the proper term for a gathering of warlocks? A conclave? A summoning? A coven? Ah, yes — a hellraising. Michael wrote in to inform us of such a meeting, which occurred last night in the bowels of Karazhan on the Moon Guard server. “Warlocks of every race were there, as well as a few gate-crashers of a nonwarlock type in disguise,” he writes. “This is a picture of us surrounding a pit of infernal fire, basking in our vileness. Afterwards, there was a fearsomeness pageant and storytelling around the campfire.”
Do you have any unusual, beautiful or interesting World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? We’d love to see them on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!
Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. Please include the word “Azeroth” in your post so it does not get swept into the spam bin. We strongly prefer full screen shots without the UI showing — use alt-Z to remove it. Please, no more battleground scoreboards, Val’kyr More >