Category Archives: Combat Systems

The more-of-the-same train just keeps on rolling

Posted on August 19, 2011 by SynCaine

Watching this video of the upcoming MMO Wildstar told me all I needed to know about the game (pass), but I find it interesting that what I see as “yet another WoW-clone” others see it as, well, here is one … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, MMO design, Rant, Rift, SW:TOR, World of Warcraft | 14 Comments

Is Darkfall vaporware, again?

Posted on August 13, 2011 by SynCaine

With most MMOs you have to deal with a lot of hype pre-release. Ideas looking amazing on paper, fans letting their imagination run wild on what could be, all of that. Is Darkfall the only MMO to ever repeat this … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, crafting, Darkfall Online, MMO design, Patch Notes, PvP | 17 Comments

Dawntide: A little more time

Posted on August 9, 2011 by SynCaine

I played a little more Dawntide (I can’t explain why, other than that I’m a sucker for sandboxes I guess), and while I still would not recommend it to most people, I have seen a few noteworthy things. The combat … Continue reading →

Posted in beta, Combat Systems, crafting, MMO design, Random | 1 Comment

I’m back, and the games I’m playing

Posted on August 5, 2011 by SynCaine

Finally back from vacation. The plan to blog while there did not exactly work out (you might have noticed), but the blogging break was nice as well. I’ve got the “how to get RPG players who turn to MMOs into … Continue reading →

Posted in beta, Combat Systems, DoTA, iPhone, League of Legends, Mount and Blade: Warband, Random | 10 Comments

Tarnished brilliance

Posted on June 9, 2011 by SynCaine

I’ve written about this before, but for some strange reason (solar flare?) it’s on my mind again today, so here we go. I hate Atlantica Online. I mean I hate it in that “I love you, I hate you, oh … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantica Online, Combat Systems, MMO design, PvP, Rant, RMT | 11 Comments

Rift: How bad is the PvP?

Posted on June 8, 2011 by SynCaine

Rift PvP is bad. I don’t know if it’s historically “all time” bad, but it’s at least close. It has, more or less, nothing going for it. The warfronts are meh, the balance is off, and the entire end-game aspect … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, MMO design, PvP, Rift | 29 Comments

Consensual murder

Posted on June 3, 2011 by SynCaine

Is killing someone in a FFA PvP MMO a malicious act? Eliot Lefebvre’s Daily Grind post today asks if FFA PvP is a dealbreak in an MMO for people, and not surprisingly for most it is, but that one line … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, Mass Media, PvP, Ultima Online | 11 Comments

The real reason for the tank shortage

Posted on April 25, 2011 by SynCaine

Let me start off by saying I enjoy playing the tank more than any other role in a themepark. I enjoy the challenge, I find the gameplay more entertaining, and well, I’m not a droolcup so playing DPS would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, MMO design, Rant, Rift | 14 Comments

Rift: Soul system working as intended

Posted on April 15, 2011 by SynCaine

Quick Rift observation for today, and next week I’ll wrap up the PvE Sandbox MMO series (which, btw, I think has gone really well, so thanks everyone for the feedback so far). Last night we ran expert Iron Tombs again, … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Inquisition Clan, MMO design, Rift | 15 Comments

Rift: Expert Dungeons, round one

Posted on April 4, 2011 by SynCaine

Inquisition has started running Expert dungeons in Rift, and so far the experience has been pretty damn enjoyable. The advancement pace is certainly much faster than 2004 WoW raiding, where I believe we spent about a week semi-pug-raid wiping on … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Inquisition Clan, Rift | 3 Comments