Tagged News: column

MMO worlds are stagnant. They have cardboard cutout monsters and NPCs that stand in their assigned space. Players knock the monsters down like a fantastical shooting range, but after a few minutes, the pulleys whir, the monsters stand up, and the world reverts to its static state. On a micro level where thousands of players are sharing the same game space, this is to be expected. The problem is that it also exists at a macro level and constantly echoes in the background, "This world is not real... this world is not real..."

After a hiatus for PAX, Jonathan Steinhauer's column returns with a new series on the Elements of the Game. First, though, is an in depth comparison of WoW and LOTRO and what it means for the Future of MMOs.

In this week's examination of Clausewitz "On Gaming," Jonathan Steinhauer looks at what victory and defeat mean ... to NPC monsters.

Jonathan Steinhauer continues his application of the writings of Carl Clausewitz to MMOGs, this time focusing on defeat and "life after death" in online worlds.

I had a chat with the king of Aquilonia this month, and while I was impressed by King Conan's hospitality, I was left wondering, "WWCD?" What Would Conan Do?

"You take your blade in one hand and your balls in the other, by Crom, and you cut them down, one by one, and if Crom wills it you will have their heads on a pike like a Stygian shish!"

This month, it's a satirical look at life on an open PvP server and raiding a beast on command of the king!

Jonathan Steinhauer continues his application of the writings of Carl Clausewitz to MMOGs, this time looking at what happens when victory is yours.

Jonathan Steinhauer continues his application of the writings of Clausewitz to gaming, this time examining what happens when you have to turn and run.

After spending 30 days in Hyboria, I decided it was time to check-in with myself and reflect on what has been so far:

"Personally, I've not been left disappointed by what I have experienced in the game so far... I wonder what the next 30 days are going to teach me."

In this edition of Mitra's Method, I take the time to stop and smell the roses.

Jonathan Steinhauer continues his study of Clausewitz and examines the art of the kill.

It's here!

Yes, and after a minor delay (newborn-aggro), I am now pleased to bring to you all the answers to the questions you submitted to me over the week-and-a-half. Here's a sneak-peek:

4. What level do spell-casters get Spellweaving and how difficult is it to control it?
As far as I know, spell-casters are able to Spellweave from the very early levels, but you'd have a very limited array of spells at your disposal at that stage. Spellweaving is not difficult to control, but as a player you'd need to be careful not to push things too far, as a Spellweave that goes wrong can bear negative consequences on your character. These penalties vary. I would recommend experimenting first, just to see how far you can push your spell-caster and to get a feel for the various bonuses and penalties that can arise as a result of a successful or failed Spellweaving attempt.

Jump inside to see all the answers!