http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/-t1.htm The General Discussion forum is where players can talk about anything related to The Dragoon Network and player community. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:30:49 GMT 10 http://i13.servimg.com/u/f13/11/03/74/02/dragoo13.jpg http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/-t1.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/are-open-betas-necessary-t5311.htm TheHidden01 Final Fantasy XIV is in open beta as we speak, and anyone with even a passing interest in MMORPGs is probably already aware of that fact. What you may not be aware of is that very little is actually going to get "tested" (much less re-implemented) during this month-long honeymoon. Many people have even begun referring to open beta periods as marketing betas, since they basically exist to generate awareness of the title and build as much hype as possible. While my own reaction ... General Discussion Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:30:49 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/are-open-betas-necessary-t5311.htm#19560 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/are-open-betas-necessary-t5311.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-content-will-you-never-do-again-t5304.htm TheHidden01 For me, it's Dungeons and Dragons Online's The Pit, a horribly convoluted 3-D maze of traps, ramps and switchback objectives. My one and only experience running this dungeon lasted well over two hours and several deaths. It was one of those runs that you grit your teeth and hang on thinking that it's got to end some time soon... right? When I finally stepped out into the sunlight, I turned around, /spit on the doorway, and promised myself, "Never again!" So what content are you ... General Discussion Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:16:15 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-content-will-you-never-do-again-t5304.htm#19545 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-content-will-you-never-do-again-t5304.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/do-you-keep-old-account-information-t5295.htm TheHidden01 Odds are good that you've played a fair number of MMOs over the years. Every single one comes with a code telling you that it's very important you hold on to that code, that you need to keep a log of all your account information so that nothing gets lost. And if you ever lose it, you know that's an excellent reminder, since if you'd paid attention then you wouldn't be sifting through your desk now desperately searching for the notebook paper where you'd written your password. Most players ... General Discussion Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:24:09 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/do-you-keep-old-account-information-t5295.htm#19522 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/do-you-keep-old-account-information-t5295.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/brother-can-you-lend-me-a-hand-t5289.htm TheHidden01 MMOs occasionally appear to be the mother of all oxymorons. On one hand, you have games specifically designed for many, many people to play simultaneously and work together for increased rewards; on the other, loot and personal advancement tend to cultivate greed and jerkish behavior. So by the games' designs, players are pulled between the extremes of selfishness and selflessness. Here at Massively we'd like to focus on the good that bubbles out of our games, which is why we'd like to ... General Discussion Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:10:30 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/brother-can-you-lend-me-a-hand-t5289.htm#19514 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/brother-can-you-lend-me-a-hand-t5289.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-the-cruelest-prank-you-ve-played-on-a-new-player-t5282.htm TheHidden01 We all intend to be nice to the newer players, really we do. It's not as if anyone forgets that we were new at one point, not knowing our aft launcher from our elbow in Star Trek Online. And yet for some reason, after the right barrage of questions about how you loot things in Final Fantasy XI, where you can get travel powers in City of Heroes, or how to train pistols in Fallen Earth... well, eventually you just snap. You give someone advice that isn't just bad -- it's malicious. Almost ... General Discussion Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:11:32 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-the-cruelest-prank-you-ve-played-on-a-new-player-t5282.htm#19499 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-the-cruelest-prank-you-ve-played-on-a-new-player-t5282.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-most-memorable-mmo-rite-of-passage-t5278.htm TheHidden01 They're not always easy to define, but every MMO has universal moments that every player seems to go through, find incredibly annoying/tedious/laughable, and then complain about to others. These rites of passage are what bond us together, strangers in name, united through a notorious experience. In WoW, it was accumulating enough Goretusk livers from liverless boars and searching in vain for Mankrik's wife. In Star Trek Online, it used to be playing hide-and-seek with Sulu. In my main ... General Discussion Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:12:25 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-most-memorable-mmo-rite-of-passage-t5278.htm#19486 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-most-memorable-mmo-rite-of-passage-t5278.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/no-grind-no-pre-order-t5271.htm TheHidden01 This week's internet furor over Final Fantasy XIV's fatigue mechanic has been fascinating to watch. First off, as I'm a relative outsider to the franchise, it's given me an excuse to read up on the title as well as its predecessor, Final Fantasy XI (one of the few MMORPGs that couldn't hold my attention for the full free month). More importantly though, the walls of flame incoming from fans all over the internet about what amounts to a grind-limiting mechanic has been, shall we say, perplexing. ... General Discussion Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:23:39 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/no-grind-no-pre-order-t5271.htm#19473 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/no-grind-no-pre-order-t5271.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/who-s-your-dev-crush-t5267.htm TheHidden01 In our tiny part of the pop culture world, players seem to be as absolutely fascinated with the people and personalities at work behind their favorite games as they are with the games themselves. These developers are, for all intents and purposes, the celebrities of the MMO world, and as such, are subject to much scrutiny and intense feelings. I've noticed that the mere mention of a famous developer, community manager or industry leader on Massively is often enough to set off a huge string ... General Discussion Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:49:09 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/who-s-your-dev-crush-t5267.htm#19465 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/who-s-your-dev-crush-t5267.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/best-player-housing-t5264.htm TheHidden01 Maybe it's because I've been playing too long, or I'm getting too old, or I'm just too cynical. Whatever the reason, I'm rarely taken aback by MMORPGs nowadays. Many of them are quite enjoyable, don't get me wrong, but it has been quite some time since I've had a "holy insert-expletive-of-your-choice-here" moment. Last night, however, brought just such a moment (actually an hour's worth of moments) courtesy of the guild housing in EverQuest II. I've played nearly every game in ... General Discussion Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:34:01 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/best-player-housing-t5264.htm#19456 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/best-player-housing-t5264.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/are-mmos-too-over-sexualized-t5254.htm TheHidden01 The other day, a group of us in the Massively office watched the latest TERA demo video in a sort of horrified awe as the skimpily clad character ran with her fanny flying in the wind and gyrated her hips to cast a spell. It sparked an intense discussion among us as to the fine line between sexing a game up and over-sexing it just to draw in stereotypical drooling male gamers. It's a well-known adage that sex sells, and like it or hate it, attractive characters and skimpy outfits have ... General Discussion Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:09:00 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/are-mmos-too-over-sexualized-t5254.htm#19439 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/are-mmos-too-over-sexualized-t5254.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/would-you-like-to-see-your-favorite-ip-as-an-mmo-t5242.htm TheHidden01 MMORPGs often take their inspiration from existing intellectual properties including novels, films, and even pre-existing games. A few of the comments on yesterday's edition of The Daily Grind got us to thinking about untapped IPs that could conceivably be made into online games. Whether they should be made into online games is another thing entirely. Take George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire opus, by most accounts one of the landmarks of fantasy literature and an absurdly detailed ... General Discussion Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:39:50 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/would-you-like-to-see-your-favorite-ip-as-an-mmo-t5242.htm#19413 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/would-you-like-to-see-your-favorite-ip-as-an-mmo-t5242.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-will-make-you-stay-t5235.htm TheHidden01 Wow, there are so many MMORPGs coming out in the near future. Whether it's because of full games like Final Fantasy XIV or expansions like Aion's Assault on Balaurea, September is shaping up to be a busy month. Further on in the fall you have DCUO, rumors of WoW's Cataclysm, and then on into 2011 you've got TERA, Rift: Planes of Telara, and of course SWTOR. With all the new blood coming soon, some hard choices will need to be made regarding our current games, some of them favorites and ... General Discussion Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:00:55 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-will-make-you-stay-t5235.htm#19404 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-will-make-you-stay-t5235.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/when-old-members-leave-you-hope-they-change-something-right-t5221.htm TheHidden01 I was just seeing how AoC was and I stumbled across this! I couldn't stop laughing, although slightly annoyed that it's my words it just goes to show you that creativity is dead. My words powers more than one guild, one day I shall return and claim it like Aragorn. You see guys, this is why we are so good:- Here is ours:- http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=152229 Now look:- http://forums-eu.ageofconan.com/showthread.php?t=156638 LOL, I just randomely stumbled ... General Discussion Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:41:19 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/when-old-members-leave-you-hope-they-change-something-right-t5221.htm#19377 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/when-old-members-leave-you-hope-they-change-something-right-t5221.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/bow-to-the-rng-t5226.htm TheHidden01 If you were ever pressed to come up with three letters that defined MMORPGs more than anything else (other than, y'know, "MMO"... or "RPG"), chances are you'd be dithering between "PUG" and "RNG." Man, we gamers like our acronyms, don't we? Just one more step toward that militaristic online state! The RNG -- random number generator -- is that tiny unseen subroutine that basically decides whether you're going to get phat lewts or not, whether you're ... General Discussion Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:01:17 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/bow-to-the-rng-t5226.htm#19390 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/bow-to-the-rng-t5226.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/happy-birthday-neranis-t5208.htm TheHidden01

TH]]> General Discussion Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:38:02 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/happy-birthday-neranis-t5208.htm#19344 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/happy-birthday-neranis-t5208.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-class-will-you-never-ever-play-t5215.htm TheHidden01 Even the most stalwart class-monogamist among us is tempted from time to time to take a peek at the forbidden fruit of another profession. That class selection screen, it is a cruel joke played upon our sensibilities! What should I pick? How do I know I'll like it 500 hours from now? It's like trying to choose a lifelong mate by only reading his or her personals ad. You need a bit more to go on. Where was I? Ah, yes. So while we often give in to our altoholic nature -- or at least flirt ... General Discussion Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:22:32 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-class-will-you-never-ever-play-t5215.htm#19358 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-class-will-you-never-ever-play-t5215.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-mmo-fear-t5203.htm TheHidden01 We all have fears in the game. They range from things that squick us despite our best efforts (such as giant spiders) to more personal worries (such as crippling anxiety that you're not the best tank). But some fears are even more primal than that. Some fears get straight to the heart about where the industry is headed, what the fate of your favorite game might be, or whether or not you'll have time for MMOs in the future. And while you can kill squick-worthy enemies, you can't kill anxiety. So ... General Discussion Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:55:12 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-mmo-fear-t5203.htm#19337 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-mmo-fear-t5203.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-many-games-can-you-play-at-once-t5195.htm TheHidden01 Most of us here at Massively play multiple MMORPGs, and we're betting a large majority of the readership does as well. Whether it's the standard main game and one or two flings on the side, or the game-hopping manifesto that compels us to try anything and everything that comes down the pipe, everyone has his own method for enjoying his favorite genre. The only problem is that of time. Personally I don't have enough of it, as I could retire tomorrow and still never get to try all the games ... General Discussion Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:36:55 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-many-games-can-you-play-at-once-t5195.htm#19320 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-many-games-can-you-play-at-once-t5195.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-would-your-mmo-dream-job-be-t5193.htm TheHidden01 I'll be Frank and you'll be Ernest, and we'll both admit that we as players have the tendency to be armchair game designers. No, no, don't deny it; it just makes you look defensive. If there's a single theme that pervades every official MMO forum out there, it's that the players think they know what's best for the game, even more than the devs themselves, and if they were making the calls, Game X would be mopping the floor with World of Warcraft. So hey, why not indulge in the daydream ... General Discussion Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:33:25 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-would-your-mmo-dream-job-be-t5193.htm#19317 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-would-your-mmo-dream-job-be-t5193.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/new-worlds-to-explore-t5185.htm TheHidden01 Fantasy? Check. Science fiction? Not quite as many, but check. Historical? There are a few out there, maybe of dubious historical authenticity, but at least lacking orcs, magic, and ray guns (all of which are good enough for another check). If you haven't noticed, I'm making a checklist of MMORPG settings, and here is where I need your help. You see, after the aforementioned big three, I'm all out of ideas. Personally I don't think any of those noted above have been done exactly right, ... General Discussion Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:50:32 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/new-worlds-to-explore-t5185.htm#19305 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/new-worlds-to-explore-t5185.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/when-have-you-gotten-dramatic-t5177.htm TheHidden01 Nobody likes drama in an MMO. We might enjoy pretending to have drama, but actual explosions and confrontations between players aren't anyone's idea of a good time. After all, most of us get enough of that every day at work or school. And while a small portion of a game's playerbase will throw a tantrum any time the world doesn't bow and scrape to their whims, for the most part, players understand that no one wants to play nanny. Everyone behaves like mature adults. But there comes a time ... General Discussion Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:32:24 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/when-have-you-gotten-dramatic-t5177.htm#19290 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/when-have-you-gotten-dramatic-t5177.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-would-bring-you-back-t5172.htm TheHidden01 So you unsubscribed. It happens. Much as we'd like to think otherwise, no MMO entertains us forever, and whether it's a patch that changed a lot of fundamentals or just a general growing dissatisfaction with the game is largely irrelevant. What matters is that you stop and let the game drift out of your consciousness for a while, until you really barely remember your favorite times in the game. That is until something catches your eye and gets you reading about all the things that have changed; ... General Discussion Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:07:22 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-would-bring-you-back-t5172.htm#19281 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-would-bring-you-back-t5172.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-favorite-mmo-easter-egg-t5154.htm TheHidden01 Easter eggs have always struck me as weird. On one hand, the bunny keeps hiding them, so I guess he doesn't want you to find them. But then he makes them brilliantly colored, which blends in with nature not at all. So which is it, Easter bunny? Do you want us to find your eggs or not? In a similar fashion, some MMO Easter eggs are cleverly hidden, undiscovered by most who run on by. Those eggs tend to reward the observant, the meticulous and the just plain lucky. Then there are the eggs ... General Discussion Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:05:47 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-favorite-mmo-easter-egg-t5154.htm#19252 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/what-s-your-favorite-mmo-easter-egg-t5154.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-often-do-you-upgrade-your-gaming-pc-t5167.htm TheHidden01 Well, it's that time of decade again, the cycle that comes around every three or four years when I'm forced to put an aging PC out to pasture. Age of Conan's new Khitai zones have brought my four-year-old gaming rig to its knees and, rather than run around looking at circa-1998 environment textures (and six minute load times), I recently took the upgrade plunge. Luckily, most MMORPGs don't have the stringent hardware requirements that a lot of single-player games feature, and you can ... General Discussion Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:27:34 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-often-do-you-upgrade-your-gaming-pc-t5167.htm#19273 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-often-do-you-upgrade-your-gaming-pc-t5167.htm http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-do-you-like-your-pvp-t5145.htm TheHidden01 Ah, PvP. Personally I kinda hate it, even on those rare occasions when I manage to emerge victorious. In small doses it's OK, but usually it consists of getting face-rolled by a player who knows the game systems much better than I do. That said, minigame PvP is quite enjoyable, particularly Age of Conan's variety, as well as the scenarios in Warhammer Online. For a carebear like me, the only way to make PvP even semi-palatable is to grant control over when and if it happens. Sure, we may ... General Discussion Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:04:20 GMT http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-do-you-like-your-pvp-t5145.htm#19234 http://www.alwaysdragoons.com/general-discussion-f8/how-do-you-like-your-pvp-t5145.htm