Can you add PvP to a PvE game years later?

What is making EQ2 suddenly add PvP to a game that is known for PvE?  Do they even have the player base to support it?  Will it get new players to play EQ2 with this change?

I have to say they are starting it out right.  By making it cross server battlegrounds it is probably guaranteed to make any pvp player happy with non stop queueing.

It seems pretty exciting to me.  I bought EQ2 at Xmas time, and now this is definitely giving me motivation to play it.

Will the pvp make you try EQ2?




One of the first battlegrounds sounds very similar to Warsong Gulch in World of Warcraft.

Battlefield of Ganak

Deep in the overgrown keeps of the Kunark jungle, a bloodthirsty group of Iksar is holding tournaments in the ruins of their great ancestors. Following their cultural practices of swarming fortresses, annihilating enemies and stealing their treasures, the tournament games are meant to mimic the violent event, not as tradition, but as sport! Rewards await those who are victorious including combat secrets, battle techniques and other valuable information that has been passed down through the ages.

View Map

• Game Type: Capture the Flag
• Players: 6 Person Group
• Environment: Outdoor arena with two large oppositional bases with intersecting interiors
• Objective: Capture the enemy's flag located within their base and return it to your base with your flag still in place

Win Condition: First team to successfully capture and return three flags wins

The next battleground sounds similar to Eye of the Storm, or Arathi Basin in World of Warcraft

Smuggler's Den

Join the battle of two groups eternally at odds! Seafarer factions are vying for supremacy and willing to handsomely reward any mercenary brave enough to fight for their side. With limitless resources, neither side is willing to allow the opposition to capture and control the islets. Key control over pivotal trading positions is imperative to delivering goods in a profitable manner. The battle continues with the struggle to control strategic lookouts and smuggler havens.

View Map

• Game Type: Hold Territory
• Players: 24 Person Group
• Environment: Five spires on top of two pinnacles jutting out of a raging ocean
• Objective: Gain control and hold towers longer than the opposition to earn Tower Tickets

Win Condition: First team to reach the displayed Tower Ticket goal wins

The third battleground sounds more like a Warhammer Scenario

Gears of Klak'Anon

Gnomes studying a magical and likely cursed technological artifact are particularly intrigued about the unusual properties of this mythical relic. Especially the effects that it grants to its possessor, which rapidly decay health, but with the dubious tradeoff of increased offensive potential. In an effort to further study the effects, and for their own twisted amusement, players are rewarded for engaging in a science experiment turned entertainment, Hold the Relic.

View Map

• Game Type: Hold the Relic
• Players: 6 Person Group
• Environment: Industrious clockwork foundry containing scientific equipment in motion
• Objective: Acquire and hold the relic to accrue points faster than the opposition

Win Condition: First team to reach the set score wins

Pugs in MMORPG's

Pugs in MMORPG's can sometimes be a frustrating experience.  Why? 

I see people all the time complaining about players in their pugs.  They have low dps, bad gear, using a two hander as a tank, and etc.  What do most players do?  They usually ridicule the person by calling them a noob, vote kicking them, and etc.  Is that really how to treat someone?  Is that really going to help them the next time they join a group?

Why not take the time to show them how to play, or what they might be doing wrong?  What good is it to throw someone to the wolves, and not help them?  If you are such a great player shouldn't you be able to teach other players how to be a great player?  Why is it that everyone is expected to be an elite player from day one? 

The funniest thing about pugs is everyone in the group thinks everyone else in the group is not as good as them.  Ask anyone who joins a pug, and they will always tell you about how bad everyone else was.  You never hear anyone talk about how they joined a pug, and all the players were better than them.

Why do players always think they are better than everyone else when they join a pug?

Do you like Playing MMORPG's with Friends?

Friends are pretty special to most people.  You will do anything for your friends.  The question is will you bend over backwards for your friends in a MMORPG?

I always have thought playing a MMORPG with friends, coworkers, or a girlfriend would be the greatest ever.  After several experiences I can't say I actually enjoy it.  I have to say I would rather make new friends in the game, and play with them instead.

In World of Warcraft closed beta our guild became really close.  We worked out every detail on how the guild was going to work on the live server during launch.  We were all going to group together, donate all our money, and drops to each other.  All the crafters received everything they needed for free, and in turn they would make backpacks, armor, weapons, enchants, and etc.  It sounded like it was going to be a well oiled machine.

The drama started early.  The hardcore guys felt like they were donating more, and reaping less of the benefits.  The guild drama was just beginning.  The hardcore guys were already farming instances, and getting geared.  The others started feeling left out of guild runs.

One night the hardcore members left the guild, and rerolled new characters on Dragonmaw without a word.  It worked great until about three weeks later everyone went back to the old server because they couldn't hack leveling to 60 again.

I stuck it out, and made lots of new friends on Dragonmaw, and still consider it my server even though Arthas was my server at launch.   I feel my friends on Dragonmaw were truly my friends.

I quit the game after a few years, and when I transferred to a new location on my job it seemed everyone played World of Warcraft.  They all told me they were hardcore players.  I couldn't wait.

I thought how great it would be to talk World of Warcraft all day at work, and play when we got home.  I soon learned that everyone has a different definition of hardcore.  I think of it as a second job at least playing thirty hours a week.  The problem was my other coworkers defined hardcore as an hour or two every other night which I soon figured out when no one was ever on.

It seems your tolerance level for people you know in real life is much lower than people from the game.  Every little noob move, or horrible player is much harder to deal with.   Normally you could just call someone a Noob, /gkick them, and move on.  With playing with real life friends you have to worry about the repercussions at work.  Do you really tell your boss he sucks at Warcraft?  How do you tell someone you work with you don't want them in your raid group.  How do you deal with wipes when it's real life friends causing it?  Do you take it out on them?  How do you tell your girlfriend she sucks as a healer?

It just gets plain ugly, and I would rather just deal with in-game friends.  How about you?  Do you get irritated alot quicker with real life friends when playing MMORPG's?

Are Addons getting Elitist in MMORPG's?

I think addons in MMORPG's are getting just a little bit elitist these days.  I just can't believe the functions of some of them these days.

The latest one I find just filling up with elitism is Rankwatch.  I just can't believe what it does.

How would you like to get a whisper that says "Why are you using rank 5 of your flash heal?  You should be using rank 8.", or "Why are you using rank 8 of mind blast on this boss.  You should be using rank 6 to prevent grabbing aggro."

These aren't exactly what it says, but very close.  If you were in a group, and another party member uses this addon would you be offended, or say thanks?

I personally don't want every spell, heal, or whatever being micro managed from an addon.  Do you think addons are taking the fun out of gaming?

Aion Introduces RMT for Plastic Surgery

Aion released their Community address, and basically introduced RMT coming to the game. How will the players take it? Will they pay real money to recreate their characters looks, or pay another real money transaction fee to switch genders?

This is only the beginning of their new Account Services feature from what I read. I am sure by years end you will be able to spend hundreds of dollars buying stuff. Is it really worth it to pay real money for plastic surgery in Aion?

I don't really understand why anyone would pay to change their character.  Didn't everyone already spend an hour creating their toon originally?  I really only see this as a way for someone to recreate themselves, or change their looks if they bought the account.  I don't really see why else you would pay to change something so minor.

So you figure with a big community address you would read some patch notes, or hear about some exciting upcoming content but not a word. It was the most uneventful announcement I have seen. What about their vision?  I am thinking that vision was their ten year vision.

Oh wait. They did announce some changes. They are revamping the website, and the forums. Aren't you excited?

Increasing the Level Cap Kills The MMORPG

What do you think about level cap increases when a mmorpg does an expansion?   Do you think it's necessary? Why can't they just increase gear, but leave the levels the same?

I can only think of negative things with a level cap increase for expansions.  It makes all old content obsolete. It resets and makes all players equal no matter the time invested in the game.

Is the added grind just there to give the devs more time to finish other content, or is there other reasons?

Are adding levels punishing any new players to the game who now have to grind out 85 levels to reach max level?  Are the new players going to quit before getting to 85 because the first 75 levels are ghost towns?

Are adding levels actually making players burn out quicker, and not make alts because of the huge grind to 85?  Is it making players just quit the game instead of leveling up alts for a change of scenery?

Porn Industry Blames Decline on World of Warcraft

I just ran into this article on Tom's Hardware that the porn industry is now blaming World of Warcraft for their declining profits along with other online games.  I guess guys really do like Blood Elves, and Night Elves.

Is it really online gaming causing it?

Lifetime Subscriptions to MMORPG's are a Joke

Yes, I am laughing right now because lifetime subscriptions to MMORPG's are really funny.  It seems to be the latest trend for MMORPG's to offer lifetime subscriptions to their games.  Are there really any benefits that make it worth the $250?

I think I would rather enjoy fifty cups of coffee at Starbucks than pay that kind of money for a lifetime subscription to any MMORPG.  I have read on many blogs about players doing it.  The reasons they give make no sense to me.

I read that one player says they don't log in enough to pay a monthly subscription.  Okay than why even play the game?  If you play a game less than 10 hours a month I don't see how a lifetime subscription to a MMORPG is better than paying a monthly subscription when you can cancel whenever, and save money.  If you only have ten hours available to play a game I suggest you log off your computer right now, and buy yourself a PS3, Xbox, or a Wii instead.

Another player stated that when they subscribe for just a month they feel obligated to devote all their gaming time to that game for the month.  If that is their logic than how does paying a lifetime subscription to a MMORPG not make you obligated for life to play that game?  Would you rather feel like you are married to a game, or single and play multiple games?

This other player talked about it pays for itself in less than two years.  What if you buy the lifetime subscription, and three months later you hate the game?  You would have to play the game for three or four years to come out financially ahead.  In that amount of time you will probably be lured to another MMORPG with better graphics, better gameplay, and etc.  Would you make a lifetime commitment after dating someone for a few days?  Probably not so why would you do it for a MMORPG?

Even this other player did it for the extra race they could play.  Isn't that almost like a RMT?  You are paying some gaming company $250 to play one certain race in a MMORPG.  What are you smoking?  It is probably the same player who complains about paying $10 for a name, faction, or server change even though they are paying ten times that amount to play some special class.

What if the MMORPG closes down after a year or two?  Would you be happy?

I can see doing a lifetime subscription to a MMORPG if there were real benefits.  Give me double xp, alts that start at level 25, expansions half price, other game titles discounted, any MMORPG made by them included, or something that feels like I am receiving my $250 worth.

What do you think about lifetime subscriptions to MMORPG's?

MMORPG's Should Charge $50 for Beta Testing

What if a new upcoming MMORPG sent you a beta invite, but it would cost $50 before you could participate.  Would you do it? 

I think personally that MMORPG, and other gaming companies should charge to beta test.  I know you probably are thinking I lost my mind, but why would I want to pay to beta test?

It is pretty simple.  It seems these days beta testers are really not doing their jobs.  They are just doing it for the free gaming time like a free trial to a MMORPG.  How many beta testers aren't really even interested in the MMORPG, and just signed up for it along with ten other games hoping to at least get one invite?

How many beta testers are really submitting bugs, offering feedback, putting in countless hours of play time?  I know a few friends who were in Warhammer Online's closed beta, and logged in once or twice.  The same thing for some coworkers for the World of Warcraft expansion beta testing.  What good were those invites?  It basically just took up a spot for someone who might have actually worked to improve the game before the release.

I really think that is why so many MMORPG's these days that come out feel rushed, and unfinished.  I think most players take beta testing casually, and don't take their beta invites seriously.

This is the whole reason I think they should make beta testers pay.  It would be an almost guarantee that players would be logging in hundreds and hundreds of hours playing to make sure they feel they received their $50 worth.

A player paying that kind of money to beta test would also be hardcore.  I would take five hundred paying beta testers over ten thousand free invites.  The quality of feedback, suggestions would be astronomical compared to the current state of beta testers for MMORPG's.

Is $50 for beta testing an MMORPG worth it to you?

Is DAoC being Energized with a shot of Adrenaline?

With GOA pulling the plug on DAoC EU will it energize the US Servers with a shot of adrenaline?  Is Mythic planning on creating new servers for them, or merging them with the current US servers?

If Mythic decides to merge all players to US servers it could really boost the servers activity levels for DAoC.  Will Warhammer follow in its footsteps soon?

I think it could really make RvR exciting again.

Dark Poeta Detailed Walkthrough

My friend Hoschi keeps cranking out some excellent Aion guides, and walkthroughs.  His latest is a Dark Poeta walkthrough.  I am amazed at all the great details of Hoschi's step by step guide for Dark Poeta.

Could You Remove all Money from MMORPG's?

What would a MMORPG be like without any money in-game?  Would it better, or worse?  Would it put gold farmers out of business?

I think it could work.  Mobs would drop nothing.  No gear, weapons, money, or loot of any kind.

Everything would be earned through quests.  You do quests to get backpacks by completing quests that give supply rewards, and than giving them to a npc tailor to make.  You could do the same thing for mounts, weapons, gear, and etc.  Everything would be quest based.

You would still do raiding to complete quest requirements, and gather pieces needed to make things.

It would be great in controlling the economy because nothing would ever change for the quest requirements.

Do you think it would work removing money from MMORPG's?

Should have Aion won Grind of the Year, not Game of the Year for 2009?

If you played Aion than you know why I am asking the question.  How did Aion get 2009 Game of the Year?

Did they pay them to say it?  If so give me $25,000, and I will praise your game.  I think a better award would of been 2009 Grind of the Year.

Do you think Aion was the Game of the Year for 2009?  If not, which one?

What would World of Warcraft be like without addons?

Have you ever thought of playing World of Warcraft without addons?  Would you even be allowed in a guild without having them installed?  Why has World of Warcraft players, and MMORPG gamers become so dependent on addons?

What if dps meters were removed from Warcraft?  I think it would be bigger than the Cataclysm.  So many players would be crying, and ragequitting.  They would have nothing to brag about at the end of the raid about how great they are.  I think a bunch of addons in Warcraft made playing some classes like bot mode where I could teach a five year old to play it.

I never realized how addicted to addons I was until I started playing Warhammer Online at release after playing Warcraft for two years.  It was a living nightmare.  How dare they make me think for myself.  Of course as the game progressed some very valuable addons came into the game.

Did addons eventually ruin Warhammer Online?  I think partially they did.  Everyone relied on State of the Realm to decide where to fight.  It made it easy to see where your opponents were, and which zones were going to be the easiest to flip, or which zone you needed to defend.  Without that one addon it would of made Tier 4 ORvR a little more interesting I think.  I even think it may have possibly kept zerg vs zerg warfare to a minimum.  I think smaller groups would have ventured out more.

I have to say one of the reasons I hated Aion was that no addons were allowed.  You were stuck with the way the devs decided the game should be.  I hated the UI in Aion with a passion.  I wanted my ezmode healing squared or healbot.

Do you like addons, or do you think it ruins the game?

Wasdstomp's New Years Resolution for 2010

It's simple.  I want to provide my readers with my own E-book, or possibly several in 2010.

Why Do The Credits Roll After Hitting Renown Rank 80 in WAR?

Is the game really over when you hit that milestone in Warhammer Online?   It isn't officially over, but it makes 99% of the game pointless after you do reach renown rank 80.

I know many players who stopped playing after they hit it because RvR became boring without any goals.

With renown being worthless it takes any motivation out of taking battle objectives, keeps, zones, and cities.  You only did it before for the renown, and now that is gone.

Many players that reached renown rank 80 just stopped playing immediately with that toon.  The thought of handing out Sovereign pieces in zerg battles just made alot of players cringe.  So most just shelved their toons, and played alts until IC reached the king kill.  They would than log them in just for that.

So it defeats the main purpose of high renown rank players dropping this gear, and is the #1 reason Warhammer Online needs to add something to keep players playing once they hit renown rank 80.

I think they need to make renown ranks higher, and change the gear requirements on the RvR sets to match the new higher ranks.

I also wrote about a Nemesis Influence being implemented into the game once you reach renown rank 80 that keeps players playing.

How do you think they could keep players who are renown rank 80 playing those characters instead of alts?

Should MMORPG's of the Future remove Levels?

Lately I have been thinking how great it would be if all new MMORPG's required no leveling.  I personally hate leveling with a passion, but do it because I want to reach end game where the fun actually is.

If levels are removed how would players show character progression?  I think there is still a viable option out there that players would accept. What is this option?

I have a few ideas I would like to throw out there.

Just think about World of Warcraft for a minute.  What if every current zone was level 80 content?  What if instead of gaining xp every quest was part of a campaign quest like in Aion.  Once you complete a 10 step quest you gain a spell, or a title that gives you a special stat, or opens one spot on your talent tree.

This would still give players a time sink, but take away the whole xp bar watching, and level progression.

I think players enjoy the sense of accomplishment more from that than simply grinding mobs.

You could also tie in achievements in some way to unlock mounts, slots, or whatever.

Do you think something like that would work?

Top 5 blog posts on Wasdstomp for 2009

Three reasons Aion killed our legion

Seven reasons the Endless Trial in Warhammer Fails

Killing innocent people in an airport in Modern Warfare 2

Is this really worth 500 gold in World of Warcraft?

World of Warcraft triple xp shot with whip cream and caramel sauce

Warhammer Producers Letter Ripped apart like a Shredder on Steroids

Is this the producers letter I have anticipated?  If so can someone just shoot me now.  This is the saddest Warhammer Producers letter I have ever seen.  Could you at least fake it?  This letter created about as much excitement as a Knitting Convention in Iowa.

Let me dissect this letter piece by piece, and rip it apart like a shredder on steroids.

First on the list Kegs End.  Do you really think this event is exciting?  I would rather go shovel snow for 3 hours in my driveway.

They talk about a great past year.  What was so great?  If it was so great wouldn't they still have all 60+ servers still live?

They brag about new dungeons, zones, and scenarios.  I have to say they did pick a perfect name for the new zone Land of the Dead, but a better name probably should of been Land of the DOA (Dead on Arrival).  I think my guild literally spent about 1 hour in that zone total since it was launched.  It was the biggest waste of time ever.

They speak of new dungeons.  Are they talking about Tomb of the Vulture Lord?  The dungeon you can only have access for once you RvR for hours to get access too, and by that time no one wants to do it.  Oh but the RvR is going to be exciting in this zone.  You can invade other peoples instances, but players already know when others are there, and ready to invade.  If the zone was open 24/7 to both sides the RvR would possibly be a little more exciting.  They ranted and raved like it was like Darkness Falls.  It was nothing like it.

What are these new scenarios?  Are we talking about Twister Tower?  Okay the scenario that everyone hated, but did it anyway to complete Live Event tasks.  Mythic remove the Live event tasks, and see if anyone does it.  Let me save you some time, and tell you no one would.  Oh wait, I forgot the populations are so bad even other scenarios don't pop.

They talk about the second keep ramps as the second coming.  This is something that just needed fixed.  Hey I have a great idea.  Let's put a keep lord at the top of the keep with only one way to get there.  What does it do?  It causes no RvR plain and simple.  The attackers zerg the lord, and the defenders zerg the lords room.  There are no small battles outside the keeps, inside the outer keep.  It is just one zerg fighting another zerg, and seeing who can heal, and run back faster if they die.

They act like the War Report is the greatest thing since the Droid cell phone.  Is it really an 8 hour cooldown?  What a joke.  Who plays more than 8 hours these days in Warhammer?

The underdog system.  How much thought process was put into this?  OMG, Aion has a third npc faction we need a quick fix guys.  This system is one more joke.  It is not going to help any faction who is outnumbered, or outgeared.

You really mention Ordnance?  At first the number needed to buy something was so overpriced it was just stupid.  Even with the lowered amounts needed it is just a huge waste of time.

Luckily Greg Oden doesn't work for Mythic.  All these kneejerk reactions would cripple the guy.  How about all the Aion is so beautiful posts?  How does Warhammer react....OMG lets add bloom.  Players will come back in droves.

Okay lets launch the game on other platforms, and countries.  Are you serious?  This is the day, and age of the internet.  You think other countries haven't already seen this game fail, or MAC users?  What are you guys thinking?

They mention a few new things coming, but I will wait for that in another post along with my very own Warhammer Producers Letter that would actually cause excitement, and bring subscribers back.

7 days of Hell in Warhammer Online

I had a good laugh today at Mythic.  I decided to stroll over to the Warhammer Herald.  I see some hot fix notes.  Now here comes the funny part.

Battle Brew Backpack: Fixed an issue which caused this item to not be usable by the appropriate realm. Please note: This change did not fix existing bugged Battle Brew Backpacks. If you find yourself in possession of a bugged Battle Brew Backpack, please file an in-game appeal using the “Missing Item” category. Please note, appeals may take up to 7 days to be processed.  

I finally picked myself up from the floor from laughing so hard.  For a company that stresses the layoffs haven't affected anything I have to disagree.  Are you kidding me?  It really takes 7 days to respond to an appeal?

What if it was something really critical?  7 days is like 10 years in gaming time.  How could it take that long to fix an appeal when you probably are lucky to have 25k subscribers?