Category Archives: Combat Systems

Rift: On the doorstep to 50

Posted on March 28, 2011 by SynCaine

Things are progressing nicely in Rift. I’m currently halfway through level 47, while others are just a few bars away from 50. We also have a nice ‘second core’ of people around the 20s and 30s. A few more members … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Inquisition Clan, PvP, Rift | 9 Comments

Souls > Trinity

Posted on March 22, 2011 by SynCaine

If everyone can be a tank/healer/dps, do you still have a holy trinity? Games with skill systems, rather than class systems, don’t have the holy trinity problem. You don’t stop a fleet action in EVE because your tank is afk, … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, MMO design, Rift, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 21 Comments

The real Rift review

Posted on March 21, 2011 by SynCaine

I did not want to do a formal review of Rift until I hit 50, but seeing as this continues to get more and more out of hand, a character at 42 will have to do. So this review is … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, crafting, Inquisition Clan, MMO design, PvP, Rift | 31 Comments

PAX thoughts: Guild Wars 2

Posted on March 14, 2011 by SynCaine

Brain overloaded with stuff to write after PAX, making it difficult to write anything. Good problem and all that. Expect a little more activity here over the next few days. First, I’ll just clarify that the post below is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, Guild Wars, Mass Media, MMO design, Rift, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 36 Comments

Rift: Souls of goodness

Posted on March 8, 2011 by SynCaine

Yesterday I pointed out that no single feature of Rift really stands out enough to singularly sell the game, but that does not mean there are not systems within the game that either bring something new or interesting to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, MMO design, PvP, Rift | 12 Comments

Rift Launch + Realm of the Fae

Posted on March 1, 2011 by SynCaine

To echo what TAGN said today (and to cross-link for maximum blog traffic whoring), Rift does officially launch today, even though it might as well have launched last week. It would also be sadly humorous if Trion overestimates the demand … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, MMO design, Rift | 9 Comments

Non-factors raging again? Good thing we can easily replace them!

Posted on January 27, 2011 by SynCaine

I don’t always agree with Tobold, as we generally approach MMO games from two very different viewpoints, along with having different writing styles, but I’m in total agreement with the basis for this post and the ones before it, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, MMO design, Rant, World of Warcraft | 58 Comments

Warband mod pack and a pile of bodies

Posted on January 4, 2011 by SynCaine

All M&B:Warband, all the time! I’m going to install this monster collection of mods as soon as I ‘finish’ my current game. I like the sound of a lot of them, and as of right now I’m looking more for … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Mount and Blade: Warband | 10 Comments

Last day of Hardcore Casual

Posted on January 3, 2011 by SynCaine

Dear Reader, This is no longer an MMO blog, it’s now just a blog about Mount and Blade: Warband. I hope you understand, but lets face it, you are likely too busy playing M&B:W to read blogs. If I were … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, Mount and Blade: Warband, Random, Site update | 21 Comments

MMO PvP: Never fair and balanced

Posted on December 29, 2010 by SynCaine

Comment that caught my attention over at Massively, from Jef’s excellent Soapbox piece about RP and FFA PvP: “It isn’t PVP because it is never fair and balanced.” A lot of layers to that one line. For starters, what defines … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, Mass Media, MMO design, PvP | 19 Comments