Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: Learning the basics of combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-art-of-wushu-learning-the-basics-of-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-art-of-wushu-learning-the-basics-of-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-art-of-wushu-learning-the-basics-of-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Art of Wushu Learning the basics of combat
Many readers balked when I said Age of Wushu had the best combat in an MMO ever back when I did my first impressions piece. I admit, it was a bold claim. However, even after playing Guild Wars 2, TERA, and numerous other games with "deep MMO combat," I stand by what I said back then. Age of Wushu's PvP combat is the best in any MMO.

If you're coming from a mostly MMO background, combat in Age of Wushu is a bit daunting at first. It's really nothing like combat in any other MMO. It has a bit slower pace than a typical action-MMO, but it is the first to really employ tempo control. Attacking recklessly is a patch to a quick defeat, forcing players to make tough tactical decisions.

If you're like me and came to MMOs from a fighting game background, things readily click into place. Baiting common reactions and punishing them, punishing actions on reaction, and getting in the head of your opponent is better-rewarded than in any other MMO combat system. I don't want to badmouth games like GW2 that have great combat, so don't get me wrong; many other games have excellent combat. Age of Wushu's battle system is just even more fantastic. When I win a fight against an even-leveled opponent (or higher level, though that's rare) without taking an unblocked hit, I feel like a total beast.

Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Learning the basics of combat

MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Learning the basics of combat originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>    age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushubasicsbest-combat-everbest-combat-in-an-mmo-everbest-mmo-combatchinachinesechinese-mythologycolumncombatduelduel-guideduelingfeaturedkung-fumartial-artspvprock-paper-scissorssandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usawushuwuxiaWed, 22 May 2013 09:00:00 EST    <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaching ourselves LoL matchups]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-summoners-guidebook-teaching-ourselves-lol-matchups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-summoners-guidebook-teaching-ourselves-lol-matchups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-summoners-guidebook-teaching-ourselves-lol-matchups/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

    The Summoner's Guidebook Teaching ourselves LoL matchups
    I'm always looking for things to teach players in the Summoner's Guidebook. We have, however, covered a lot of the low hanging fruit in one way or another. In League of Legends, and virtually every other asymmetric competitive game, matchup knowledge comprises the huge bulk of information that is truly useful to read about. This week was originally going to be a counter-Ryze guide, but then I decided to cover a broader topic to help reach more people.

    I don't really like discussing specific character matchups largely because the character you're using matters almost as much as your opponent's. What does Ryze do against Kassadin in lane, for instance? The answer is not a whole lot if the Kassadin is decent. I could write a counter-Kassadin guide, but a lot of it wouldn't be usable by Ryze. Instead, this week we'll discuss how to think about the opponent's kit and develop a strategy to win on your own (or at least survive).

    Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaching ourselves LoL matchups

    MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teaching ourselves LoL matchups originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      ]]>      appraisalcharacter-selectcharacter-selectionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playguideguidesleagueleague-of-legendslolmatchupmatchup-knowledgemobaopinionpvpriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookvaluationThu, 16 May 2013 11:00:00 EST      <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: How do assassins work in League of Legends?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-summoners-guidebook-how-do-assassins-work-in-league-of-leg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-summoners-guidebook-how-do-assassins-work-in-league-of-leg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-summoners-guidebook-how-do-assassins-work-in-league-of-leg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

      The Summoner's Guidebook How do assassins work in League of Legends
      In case you didn't notice, the title of this week's column is a question. It's not because I know the answer; it's because I've been thinking a lot about it lately and don't have a really good answer.

      Assassins are in a strange state when it comes to teamfights. In League of Legends, there's a period when teams tend to group up to fight over objectives. This marks the midgame in Summoner's Rift, it happens after altars unlock in Twisted Treeline, and it occurs anytime both teams know where the other team is on the Crystal Scar. We've discussed teamfights a lot already, but what is troubling is the presence of assassins in these fights. Assassins are best when they're able to jump in and kill an unprepared target, ideally before a teamfight starts. Once that's done, their team can jump in with a numbers advantage and take the objective or wipe out the enemy.

      When both teams are grouped up ahead of time, assassins lose a lot of their might. Assassins can't kill without exposing themselves to heavy risk, which makes them a liability to their team until they jump in. After they jump in, they're still likely to be the first ones to get focused down.

      What do we do about this? What's the solution? I don't have a clear answer -- but I can still share my observations.

      Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: How do assassins work in League of Legends?

      MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: How do assassins work in League of Legends? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>        akaliassassinassasssinsdyingevelynnf2pfeaturedfree-to-playkassadinleagueleague-of-legendslolmobanurse-akaliopinionpatrick-does-not-know-everything-about-leagueplaying-badquestionquestion-for-readersriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteamfightteamfightingteamfightsthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 09 May 2013 18:00:00 EST        <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: Understanding the Meridian System]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/the-art-of-wushu-understanding-the-meridian-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/the-art-of-wushu-understanding-the-meridian-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/the-art-of-wushu-understanding-the-meridian-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

        The Art of Wushu Understanding the Meridian System
        Age of Wushu is not the most accessible game. It is full of confusing systems that are hard to decipher, and a large part of the "skill" in the game is being able to wade through the mess of gameplay elements and produce an optimized character.

        Meridians are one more extremely confusing system to handle. There are nine meridian lines, advanced characters can activate four of them, and even training them at all is pretty confusing. Training the correct ones adds another layer of complexity to an already confusing game.

        I'm not a huge fan of the system -- it causes a number of metagame problems, particularly due to the increased HP inherent to everyone who trains a meridian line. However, it's there and we have to make the best use of it. How do we do that? Read on!

        Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Understanding the Meridian System

        MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Understanding the Meridian System originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>          age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushuchinachinesechinese-mythologycolumnconfusingfeaturedguideguideskung-fumartial-artsmeridianmeridiasopinionsandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usastatstat-guidestatswushuwuxiaWed, 08 May 2013 19:00:00 EST          <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Playing LoL's new ARAM mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-summoners-guidebook-playing-lols-new-aram-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-summoners-guidebook-playing-lols-new-aram-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/02/the-summoners-guidebook-playing-lols-new-aram-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

          The Summoner's Guidebook Playing LoL's new ARAM mode
          Many of you already know what ARAM is -- it's a phenomenon that is hardly exclusive to League of Legends, and even in MOBAs where there isn't a map built for it, ARAM matches are played. Before the 3.6 patch, I tended to play ARAM matches either before or after my normal play sessions. I typically played a couple of games of Classic or Dominion, with a game or two of ARAM either before or after. As I've mentioned in the past, I enjoy ARAM as a way to unwind and practice without stress.

          Patch 3.6 changed this by removing the Proving Grounds, replacing it with the Howling Abyss, and making ARAM a dedicated gametype with its own matchmaking. Now I play probably twice as many games as before, typically 8 to 10 ARAM games with no other matches. As it turns out, even I'm vulnerable to casual fun. The 3.6 patch also added in quite a few cool features that make ARAM much, much better than the pick-up custom games. I think that it's a great addition to League of Legends, especially for those who aren't particularly hardcore.

          Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Playing LoL's new ARAM mode

          MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Playing LoL's new ARAM mode originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ]]>            all-random-all-midaramcasual-funcasual-gamingf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreljordfunhowling-abyssinfluencing-randomleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionqueue-dodgeriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 02 May 2013 19:00:00 EST            <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-summoners-guidebook-support-in-league-of-legends-doesnt-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-summoners-guidebook-support-in-league-of-legends-doesnt-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/the-summoners-guidebook-support-in-league-of-legends-doesnt-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

            The Summoner's Guidebook Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing
            Out of all the roles in League of Legends, support is the most misunderstood. People expect supports to be similar to healing classes in other games, the kinds of characters who knit sweaters and cook dinner while the real warriors go out and fight on the front lines. When people first learn about the metagame, they often have the mistaken impression that because the support doesn't farm, there are fewer expectations of the playstyle.

            However, supports are less like MMO healers and more like the shortstop in baseball. He's not a baseman, but that gives him flexibility to be where a baseman can't be. He's constantly in the thick of the action, and his team regularly relies on him to make plays. In League, the support's freedom from farming gives her the freedom to roam, to fish for aggressive opportunities and shut down the enemy. She can even wander into mid lane or the enemy jungle in search of these opportunities. Far from a shrinking violet, the support is one of the biggest playmakers on her team.

            I got my start in LoL playing support, and it's a role I inherently understand well. I'm not really happy making aggressive lane plays and would prefer to relax and let my mechanics win my games for me (hence why I like ADC), but when thrust into the role of playmaker, I do reasonably well. For team leaders or just people who like to make others play by their rules, support is the role of choice.

            Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing

            MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Support in League of Legends doesn't mean healing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              ]]>              crowd-controlf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhealerhealinglane-partnerleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesstunstunssummoners-guidebooksupportteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 25 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST              <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: The war for server time [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-art-of-wushu-the-war-for-server-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-art-of-wushu-the-war-for-server-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-art-of-wushu-the-war-for-server-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

              The Art of Wushu The war for server time
              Scheduled events are a huge part of Age of Wushu. While each player has the option of enjoying the game at his own pace, scheduled events mark the major ways people can have an impact on the world at large. Because these events have to occur at a specific time, their placement will always be convenient for some and inconvenient for others.

              Recently -- and without warning -- Snail changed the server time in response to complaints about various events being inconvenient. This time change was influenced by a vote thread on the official forums, but was otherwise invisible; there were no warnings in the game's launcher or via in-game announcements until days afterward. The lack of communication about the time change was bad enough, but unfortunately, listening to the vocal minority had much larger, far-reaching problems for players. [Please see the end of this article for Snail's appended response to these arguments.]

              I was going to talk about meridians this time, but addressing this topic was something you requested. You came to the Massively tip jar. You emailed me directly. You messaged me in game. You even came to my house and said, "Hey man, you should write about how messed up the time change is." You asked, and this is my reply.

              Continue reading The Art of Wushu: The war for server time [Updated]

              MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: The war for server time [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushuchinachinesechinese-mythologycolumndev-mistakedeveloper-mistakeentitledentitlementfeaturedguild-warkung-fumartial-artsopinionprotestsandboxscript-stealingscriptssnail-gamessnail-games-usatime-changetimezonewhiningwushuwuxiaWed, 24 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST                <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: It takes skill to right-click stuff in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/the-summoners-guidebook-it-takes-skill-to-right-click-stuff-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/the-summoners-guidebook-it-takes-skill-to-right-click-stuff-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/the-summoners-guidebook-it-takes-skill-to-right-click-stuff-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                The Summoner's Guidebook It takes skill to right click stuff in League of Legends
                I've mentioned in passing that my favorite role on Summoner's Rift is ADC, otherwise known as "AD Carry" or "ranged DPS." This might be a bit of a surprise for some of you. Typically in League of Legends, the jungler is the playmaker, and if not, the support is. The playmaker roles seem like more suited to me, especially because I write guides on how to make plays. The ADC is the opposite of a playmaker. She's incredibly reactionary, relying on others to start things so she can finish them. Bruisers, tanks, junglers, mages, and supports all have tools to make things happen, but not the ADC.

                I didn't learn to love carrying right away. It was sort of an evolutionary process, moving from support to mid to never-playing-SR-again to top to jungle to ADC. One of the things I love about ADC is that you can't be good at it starting out. You can be better than the people you're playing against, but you can't be good at it at all. The huge technical curve, more than anything else, is what attracts me to the role.

                Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: It takes skill to right-click stuff in League of Legends

                MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: It takes skill to right-click stuff in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ]]>                  ad-carryadccarrycarryingf2pfeaturedfree-to-playleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpassive-aggressivepatiencepatientranged-carryranged-dpsriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 18 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST                  <![CDATA[The Age of Wushu team on what's coming after launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-age-of-wushu-team-on-whats-coming-after-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-age-of-wushu-team-on-whats-coming-after-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-age-of-wushu-team-on-whats-coming-after-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                  Talking with the Age of Wushu team about upcoming features
                  A week ago, we asked Snail Games some questions pertaining to Age of Wushu and its launch in the west. Just in time for launch, the studio got back to us with some answers. Sometimes, good things come to those who wait.

                  We pulled no punches with our questions, asking Snail about the recent Suzhou market fiasco, when the devs plan to add features from other versions of the game, and how they plan to address current game-breaking bugs. Interested in hearing the answers? We know we were!

                  Continue reading The Age of Wushu team on what's coming after launch

                  MassivelyThe Age of Wushu team on what's coming after launch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    ]]>                    age-of-wulinage-of-wushuchinachinesechinese-mythologyexploitexploit-fixfeaturedinterviewinterviewskung-fumarket-bugmartial-artssandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usaweddingwedding-systemwushuwuxiaThu, 11 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST                    <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Reworking three League of Legends champions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-summoners-guidebook-reworking-three-league-of-legends-cham/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-summoners-guidebook-reworking-three-league-of-legends-cham/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-summoners-guidebook-reworking-three-league-of-legends-cham/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                    The Summoner's Guidebook Reworking three League of Legends champions
                    The Karma rework was probably one of the most-anticipated events to happen in recent League of Legends history. Karma was a character that was well-liked by the whole community but was almost universally seen as bad. With a surprising change to her model and lore as well as her ability set, Karma has risen from the ashes as an entirely different character. The changes to Karma are similar to the changes to Evelynn, in that Riot completely removed an old character and transplanted someone else that superficially resembled the old character in her place.

                    However, I was really surprised when Riot decided to rework two additional champions as well. The studio took Trundle out of the jungle and into the frozen mountains of Freljord, reworking his kit to reflect the changes in his lore. Sejuani, on the other hand, was much like Karma: a champion that didn't mechanically fit. Little changed about her lore, but she decided to put on some clothes and storm off to Summoner's Rift as a new woman. But are the changes to these three characters good for the League, or were the characters better off staying the same?

                    Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Reworking three League of Legends champions

                    MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Reworking three League of Legends champions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      ]]>                      champion-rebalancechampion-reworkf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreljordkarmaleagueleague-of-legendslollore-changesmobaopinionrebalancereworkriotriot-gamessejuanisummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktrundletrundle-in-the-jungleThu, 11 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST                      <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: Launching into Age of Wushu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/the-art-of-wushu-launching-into-age-of-wushu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/the-art-of-wushu-launching-into-age-of-wushu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/the-art-of-wushu-launching-into-age-of-wushu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                      The Art of Wushu Launching into Age of Wushu
                      Age of Wushu just launched publicly today, and as you read this, thousands of players are getting into the game for the very first time. For a lot of you first-time readers, you might be wondering what the heck is this game, why should you play it, and what are some of the community resources for the game?

                      Age of Wushu is an open-world PvP sandbox set in a fictional Ming Dynasty China where traditional MMO elements like sorcery and character levels are eschewed for martial arts and proficiency in a wide variety of different skills. I'm fond of saying that Wushu is "like EVE in China." Many of AoW's features are similar to EVE's systems, including an emphasis on leveling breadth versus depth, a true player economy, and social maneuvering and backstabbing. At the same time, Wushu is a fundamentally different creature, with skill-based gameplay and a much clunkier interface. It's also a bit simpler than EVE, but the barrier of entry is still pretty high.

                      The Art of Wushu column is about lowering that bar a bit, and I'm simultaneously proud and sad to say that the English fan-made wiki still currently provides much less in-depth information than this column does. If you're already playing the game, check out some of the previous articles as they are pretty useful things that I link people to regularly. If you're not a new player yet, well... this one's for you.

                      Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Launching into Age of Wushu

                      MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Launching into Age of Wushu originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        ]]>                        age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushublue-dragonchinachinesechinese-mythologycolumnfeaturedhands-onkung-fulaunchlaunch-daylaunch-day-patchlaunchesmartial-artsmeridianmeridiansminers-are-best-pvperspvpsandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usastare-into-eternitywhite-tigerwhy-play-age-of-wushuwushuwuxiaWed, 10 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST                        <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Dealing with emotional stress in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/the-summoners-guidebook-dealing-with-emotional-stress-in-leagu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/the-summoners-guidebook-dealing-with-emotional-stress-in-leagu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/04/the-summoners-guidebook-dealing-with-emotional-stress-in-leagu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                        The Summoner's Guidebook Dealing with emotional stress in LoL
                        League of Legends is a frustrating game. As much as I portray myself as an unfeeling robot in the Summoner's Guidebook, I am not a paragon of precise execution and flawless decision-making. I've mentioned that I experience rage at my fellow players just as much as the next person. In fact, I probably get upset when I play more frequently than a typical player does.

                        As many of you have probably noticed, I take League of Legends pretty seriously. I don't screw around or play oddball characters. I don't like the idea of "playing for fun," even though I like to have fun as much as the next person. Saying "I play for fun" is just an excuse to dodge responsibility for my failures, and I don't like to play that way. I like to think that my contribution in a game matters, and two to four other people are counting on me to play my best. Even though that responsibility is hard to carry sometimes, it's better to shoulder it than to mindlessly mash my face on the keyboard and expect a win.

                        The problem is that sometimes it wears on me. I will frequently play only one game in a day if that one game ends up causing me a lot of frustration. It isn't about winning or losing; it's about dealing with the emotional frustration that comes from a game outside my control.

                        Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Dealing with emotional stress in League of Legends

                        MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Dealing with emotional stress in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          ]]>                          all-random-all-midarambad-teambad-teammatesemotional-controlemotionsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playimproveleagueleague-of-legendslolmanic-depressionmobaopinionrageragingriotriot-gamesslumpstressstress-managementsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 04 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST                          <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/the-summoners-guidebook-the-best-ways-to-ruin-a-gank-in-league/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/the-summoners-guidebook-the-best-ways-to-ruin-a-gank-in-league/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/28/the-summoners-guidebook-the-best-ways-to-ruin-a-gank-in-league/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                          The Summoner's Guidebook The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends
                          In League of Legends' Classic mode, jungling is my second-most preferred role. I prefer ADC first, since it is very taxing on attention and raw skill matters more than strategy. However, as a jungler, I can impact the game more meaningfully. While being ADC allows me to usually win the game in spite of awful teammates, jungling helps me prevent those awful teammates from throwing the game away.

                          When I'm going for a gank, there's nothing worse than someone mucking it up for me -- except when I screw it up myself. It's frustrating when I ping for a gank and my mid lane proceeds to engage and die to his opponent before I get there. It's even worse when I run through a place that I know is warded, attempt a gank anyway, and get jumped by three opponents. Sometimes a gank wasn't meant to be, but most of the time, we botched it all on our own.

                          Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends

                          MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The best ways to ruin a gank in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                            ]]>                            awful-teammateawful-teammatesbadbadscant-fix-badf2pfailfailedfailed-gankfeaturedfree-to-playgankgankedgankergankingleagueleague-of-legendslollost-timemobaopinionriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 28 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST                            <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: The right stats for each style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/the-art-of-wushu-the-right-stats-for-each-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/the-art-of-wushu-the-right-stats-for-each-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/the-art-of-wushu-the-right-stats-for-each-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                            The Art of Wushu The right stats for each style
                            There are a few questions I answer on a very regular basis in Age of Wushu. "How do you make money?" is a pretty common question, but I think we've answered that. "Can you annotate my book?" happens rather frequently, too. However, the most common question I answer is "what stats should I get?"

                            The answer for this question is anything but simple, and I end up spending hours explaining it to individuals. If I went back through my chat logs, I could probably fill this entire column just by copy-pasting because I've answered this question so many times.

                            For the first time, this information will be available as a public resource. Instead of spending hours of my time explaining it to people, I can just link it! Even if you think you know what you're doing with your stats, this is a must-read.

                            Continue reading The Art of Wushu: The right stats for each style

                            MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: The right stats for each style originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                              ]]>                              age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushuchinachinesechinese-mythologycolumnequipmentfeaturedgeargear-guideguideguideskung-fumartial-artssandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usastat-guidestatswushuwuxiaWed, 27 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST                              <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' hardest choices]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-hardest-choices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-hardest-choices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/21/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-hardest-choices/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                              The Summoner's Guidebook League of Legends' hardest choices
                              Sometimes League of Legends gives us hard choices. As a jungler, I'm frequently tasked with the difficult decision of whether to gank or counter-jungle and where I should do so. After a lost teamfight, you also have to make a lot of decisions about how to turn the game around. Should you buy elixirs? Should you try to farm and stall the game out or force another teamfight in a better position?

                              These are all difficult choices. However, most players have to deal with the toughest question of all: Which champion should I unlock next?

                              Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' hardest choices

                              MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' hardest choices originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                ]]>                                champion-selectcharacter-purchasescharacter-selectcharacter-unlocksdecision-makingf2pfeaturedfree-to-playleagueleague-of-legendslollulumobaopinionriotriot-gamesstoresummoners-guidebooksyndrathe-summoners-guidebookThu, 21 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST                                <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/the-summoners-guidebook-staging-the-perfect-comeback-in-league/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/the-summoners-guidebook-staging-the-perfect-comeback-in-league/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/the-summoners-guidebook-staging-the-perfect-comeback-in-league/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                The Summoner's Guidebook Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends
                                The chips are down and you're behind. The enemy has only two turrets down, and your inhibitor turrets are barely standing. Your own jungle is warded, and the only thing that lets you know your enemies aren't going for Baron is that you can see them charging up your mid lane.

                                We've all had those kinds of games in our League of Legends career. While I'm a big advocate of surrendering early, there are those who want to fight until the bitter end. Is there any chance of winning? Maybe, maybe not. This week, we'll look at how to win games when you've probably already lost.

                                Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends

                                MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Staging the perfect comeback in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                  ]]>                                  f2pfeaturedfree-to-playgiving-it-awayleagueleague-of-legendslollosinglost-the-gamemobaopinionriotriot-gamesstop-giving-it-awaysummoners-guidebooksurrendersurrender-at-20the-summoners-guidebookThu, 14 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST                                  <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: Winning in market PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/the-art-of-wushu-winning-in-market-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/the-art-of-wushu-winning-in-market-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/the-art-of-wushu-winning-in-market-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                                  The Art of Wushu Winning in market PvP
                                  Last time on the Art of Wushu, I promised I would write on how to sell production crafts. Crafting is a big deal in Age of Wushu, so it seemed like a reasonable topic to cover. However, I realized doing so would probably be a mistake. Why?

                                  If you followed my advice from two weeks ago, congratulations. You probably noticed a huge nosedive in a few markets: hemp, ramie, iron, and mint all took a huge hit. It's a bit flattering to see how I can write a post on what to sell and readers like you guys take it to heart, flooding the market with supply and crashing the value of these commodities. If I gave advice on production crafting, the same thing would happen.

                                  Instead, this week I'm going to talk about real market strategy. Pointing out things that sell doesn't help you if the market takes a nose-dive. Understanding supply and demand curves, market equilibrium, and the importance of market diversity are all long-term tools that will help you regardless of what you're selling.

                                  Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Winning in market PvP

                                  MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Winning in market PvP originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                    ]]>                                    age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushuchinachinesechinese-mythologycolumncraftingdemandeconomicseconomyfeaturedguidekung-fumarketmarket-crashmarket-equilibriummarketingmartial-artsprice-checkingpricespricingsandboxsellingsnail-gamessnail-games-usasupplysupply-and-demandwushuwuxiaWed, 13 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST                                    <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: The little stories League of Legends creates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/the-summoners-guidebook-the-little-stories-league-of-legends-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/the-summoners-guidebook-the-little-stories-league-of-legends-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/the-summoners-guidebook-the-little-stories-league-of-legends-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                    The Summoner's Guidebook The little stories League of Legends creates
                                    Recently, one of you guys asked to see more personal stories showcasing my experiences in League of Legends. Normally I'm not as fond of doing that sort of thing unless there's a moral in the story somewhere. I like teaching, so that is what the Guidebook does a lot of. The column's name is the Summoner's Guidebook for that reason, after all!

                                    However, I was thinking about it when I was playing last week, and I ended up playing a really great unranked, blind pick game. The outcome was very close, and the overall dynamics of the game were a firm reminder of why I play League of Legends. There was no "mid or feed." It began with good communication by our team and good sportsmanship by both teams at the end. In my mind, that makes this story one worth sharing with you.

                                    Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: The little stories League of Legends creates

                                    MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The little stories League of Legends creates originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      ]]>                                      f2pfeaturedfree-to-playgamejunglejunglingleagueleague-of-legendslolmatchmatch-reportmobaopinionriotriot-gamesstorytimesummoners-guidebookteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookwe-just-won-a-teamfightThu, 07 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST                                      <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: LoL melts special snowflakes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-summoners-guidebook-lol-melts-special-snowflakes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-summoners-guidebook-lol-melts-special-snowflakes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-summoners-guidebook-lol-melts-special-snowflakes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                      The Summoner's Guidebook LoL melts special snowflakes
                                      Never let it be said that I don't listen to feedback. Recently, one of you readers suggested that I write about following the metagame, and I thought, "Hey, why not?" This was largely spawned by the Penny Arcade comic suggesting that somehow, a player should pick the champion he wants without regard for what his team needs.

                                      Who actually believes that this is a good thing to do? League of Legends is a team game. Characters in LoL are designed with strengths and weaknesses. It is not only important but natural to pick characters that fit together. The natural evolution of this thought process is the metagame: a series of standard roles that characters can fill on a team. I've talked about meta before, and you guys seem to have differing opinions than I do. "Meta is for the sheep," you say. I don't think that picking the right man for the job makes you a sheep. I think of it more like running with the pack rather than being a lone wolf.

                                      Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: LoL melts special snowflakes

                                      MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: LoL melts special snowflakes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                        ]]>                                        ad-carryadccompetitioncompetitive-playcooperationf2pfeaturedfree-to-playjungleleagueleague-of-legendslolmetametagamemobaopinionpenny-arcadepvpranged-carryriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteamteam-playerteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 28 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST                                        <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: Making silver through harvesting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/the-art-of-wushu-making-silver-through-harvesting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/the-art-of-wushu-making-silver-through-harvesting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/the-art-of-wushu-making-silver-through-harvesting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                                        The Art of Wushu Making silver through harvesting
                                        I got a lot of backlash over the last installment of The Art of Wushu. While the issues over pay-to-win are understandable, an overwhelming number of you seemed to disbelieve the amount of silver I was able to produce daily. Some of you protested my 1D/daily figure (which is on the high side), while others questioned whether I could make even 500L per day. My email was flooded with people asking me to share some of my secrets.

                                        I was going to talk about movement and parkour this time, but because you guys asked, you'll get an answer. "How do I make money in Age of Wushu," you ask? Let's cover the easy ways to make money. These are methods that literally any player, regardless of subscription status or level, can take advantage of. This time we're going to cover harvesting -- what sells and what doesn't. Let's get started.

                                        Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Making silver through harvesting

                                        MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Making silver through harvesting originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                          ]]>                                          age-of-wulinage-of-wushuage-of-wushu-guideage-of-wushu-guidesart-of-wushuchinachinesechinese-mythologycolumnfeaturedfishinggatheringharvestinghempherbalismincomekung-fumaking-money-in-age-of-wushumartial-artsminingmoneymoney-makingmoneymakingpoison-makingsandboxsellingsilversnail-gamessnail-games-usavendingwushuwuxiayou-can-harvest-weed-tooWed, 27 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST                                          <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Punishing common LoL laning mistakes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/the-summoners-guidebook-punishing-common-lol-laning-mistakes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/the-summoners-guidebook-punishing-common-lol-laning-mistakes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/the-summoners-guidebook-punishing-common-lol-laning-mistakes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                          The Summoner's Guidebook Punishing common LoL laning mistakes
                                          This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, we're getting back to the basics of League of Legends. Laning tactics are an incredibly broad topic, and they're also a springboard to developing good teamfighting skills. When you can take your narrow laning focus into a teamfight and think broadly about a situation, you'll know that you've really made a big leap in skill.

                                          Although the header suggests we're talking about mistakes, this week's column is largely on the topic of counting cooldowns. We've already talked a bit about positioning mistakes, so the only option left on the agenda is timing mistakes. By the time you're finished reading today, you should have a good grasp on how to make an opponent waste a useful skill and take advantage of that skill's cooldown to punish him.

                                          Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Punishing common LoL laning mistakes

                                          MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Punishing common LoL laning mistakes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                            ]]>                                            aggressive-laningbaiting-skillshotsdodging-skillshotsf2pfeaturedfree-damagefree-to-playgeometrylane-bullylaningleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionperpendicular-movementpunishing-mistakesriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebooksummoners-riftthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 21 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST                                            <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Our least favorite LoL champions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/the-summoners-guidebook-our-least-favorite-lol-champions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/the-summoners-guidebook-our-least-favorite-lol-champions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/the-summoners-guidebook-our-least-favorite-lol-champions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

                                            The Summoner's Guidebook Our least favorite LoL champions
                                            Everyone has preferences. We're naturally attracted to the aesthetics of certain characters, or perhaps we really like a character's gameplay or even his voice actor. For instance, everyone knows that I really like Poppy, but I'm attracted to a lot of other characters. I tend to like the "mature" seductive women like Ahri, Nidalee, or Zyra, for instance. I also really love Jax and his overconfident fighter attitude (plus "Pizza the Champ" jokes), and I really love Udyr and Sona's stance mechanics. Everyone loves Riven, too; the combination of a shy, talented warrior woman with really cool, combo-oriented gameplay tends to make her a favorite of many summoners.

                                            League of Legends is a big game and has a lot of characters, though. Not all characters are equally loved. This week, we're going to look at some of the champions I personally can't stand, generally because I hate fighting against them.

                                            Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Our least favorite LoL champions

                                            MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Our least favorite LoL champions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                              ]]>                                              disliked-characterdravenf2pfeaturedfizzfree-to-playgarenhatejaycekatarinaleagueleague-of-legendsleast-favorite-characterlolmobanamiopinionriotriot-gamesshacosummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktryndamerevarusThu, 14 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST                                              <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: Paying doesn't mean winning]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/the-art-of-wushu-paying-doesnt-mean-winning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/the-art-of-wushu-paying-doesnt-mean-winning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/13/the-art-of-wushu-paying-doesnt-mean-winning/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                              The Art of Wushu Paying doesn't mean winning
                                              Age of Wushu has come under a lot of fire as a pay-to-win game. There are ways to get in-game power for out-of-game money, so there are a lot of reasons to assume that real cash can turn you into one of the top fighters in Jianghu.

                                              Fortunately for the dedicated players (and to the chagrin of cash shop whales), the truth is a bit more skewed. There are varying degrees of pay-to-win cash shops, but Age of Wushu's cash shop provides very few outlets to directly buy power. The main culprit is the simple fact that spending real money can give a player silver to spend on anything he or she wants.

                                              Silver is king in Age of Wushu. The entire player market revolves around silver, and the largest source of it comes from the cash shop. Does this mean you need to pay to have a chance?

                                              Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Paying doesn't mean winning

                                              MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Paying doesn't mean winning originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                ]]>                                                age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushucash-shopcash-shopschinachinesechinese-mythologycolumncultivationepic-mountfeaturedgoes-fasthorseinternal-cultivationkung-fumartial-artsmartial-trainingmountneigongopinionpay-to-winpay-to-win-debatesandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usatangmentangmen-goes-fastwushuwuxiaWed, 13 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST                                                <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Winning LoL games takes good decisions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/the-summoners-guidebook-winning-lol-games-takes-good-decisions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/the-summoners-guidebook-winning-lol-games-takes-good-decisions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/the-summoners-guidebook-winning-lol-games-takes-good-decisions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                The Summoner's Guidebook Winning LoL games takes good decisions
                                                Decision-making is a broad topic, so I am a bit hesitant to cover it directly. It's the little things that contribute to victory in League of Legends, and decision-making is not a little thing. It's a big topic with a lot of ground to cover. As I've said many times in the past, experience is the best teacher, and I can only tell you what to look for.

                                                However, I wanted to bring the column back around to talking about what it takes to step up your game. By now, you've heard me talk at length about mechanical things -- things like last-hitting or aiming skillshots that you can sit down and practice. I've talked more on narrow things like how to make a good team composition or execute ganks. Now I'm going to begin to put everything together and talk about what things you should think about before you click to move on the minimap, place a ward, or ping your team to go for dragon. Good decisions win LoL games, and whether you're a pro or an amateur, you can improve on the choices you make.

                                                Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Winning LoL games takes good decisions

                                                MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Winning LoL games takes good decisions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                  ]]>                                                  decision-makingdecisionsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankgankedgankergankinggood-decisionsits-shen-babyleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesshensummoners-guidebookteamteam-playerteam-playingteamfightteamfightingthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 07 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST                                                  <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: A year of summoning Guidebooks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/the-summoners-guidebook-a-year-of-summoning-guidebooks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/the-summoners-guidebook-a-year-of-summoning-guidebooks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/the-summoners-guidebook-a-year-of-summoning-guidebooks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                  The Summoner's Guidebook A year of summoning Guidebooks
                                                  It feels sort of strange to be writing the one year anniversary of the Summoner's Guidebook. On the one hand, it feels like yesterday since Shawn asked me to do more MOBA coverage and I pitched the idea of a League of Legends column to him. On the other hand, it feels like I've been writing about League for ages. I've grown tremendously as a player; from a guy who stomps pubbies in low-Elo games to a guy who gets stomped by experts in high-Elo games. I have no illusions about going pro, but I've made a lot of progress up the skill ladder.

                                                  I don't chalk up this advancement to chance or aptitude. I know I didn't get here on my own. I have you guys to thank -- faithful readers who have read my column, either silently or vocally in the comments, who force performance upon me. I can't just be a hypocrite and tell you to practice a skill. I have to practice what I preach! When my authority in this column falls on my ability to execute on the battlefield, I need to step up my game. This week's Guidebook is my love letter to all of you.

                                                  Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: A year of summoning Guidebooks

                                                  MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: A year of summoning Guidebooks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                    ]]>                                                    anniversarycompetitiondominiondominion-strategyduo-queuef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgankgankinghigh-elokassadinlast-hittingleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlollol-world-championshipslow-elomid-lanemlg-pro-circuitmobaopinionpoppypracticepro-gamerpro-gamingriotriot-gamesself-improvementsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 31 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST                                                    <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: Gathering and crafting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/the-art-of-wushu-gathering-and-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/the-art-of-wushu-gathering-and-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/30/the-art-of-wushu-gathering-and-crafting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                                                    The Art of Wushu Gathering and crafting
                                                    Life skills are the central point of Age of Wushu's player economy. All useful equipment, food, and most of the useful consumables are only available through crafting, and equipment requires lengthy production chains and an injection of tradable silver in order to make it effective. This process is fairly daunting to a new player, and even experienced players go for a long time without taking advantage of the many advantages present from trade and crafting.

                                                    In Age of Wushu, life skills represent a character's day job. You'll go to work gathering materials to sell or to craft into goods to sell, and then use the money from those sales to purchase things other people make and food to sustain yourself. Because we have a limited amount of space, this column will focus on production skills and production chains so that you can make the best choice about which type of goods you want to craft.

                                                    Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Gathering and crafting

                                                    MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Gathering and crafting originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                      ]]>                                                      age-of-wushu-craftingage-of-wushu-crafting-guideage-of-wushu-guideblacksmithchefcookingcraftingcraftsmanday-jobfeaturedgatheringharvestingjewelcraftinglife-skillspoison-makingpoisonerproductiontailoringtradeskillsweaponsmithWed, 30 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST                                                      <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: The perfect LoL gank]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/the-summoners-guidebook-the-perfect-lol-gank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/the-summoners-guidebook-the-perfect-lol-gank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/the-summoners-guidebook-the-perfect-lol-gank/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                      The Summoner's Guidebook The perfect LoL gank
                                                      We've talked a lot about teamfighting lately, but that's not the only kind of engagement in League of Legends. In truth, a large number of kills in most non-professional games occur long before teams ever group up to take an objective. Even in a teamfight-focused gametype like Dominion, smaller skirmishes are frequent. The most successful skirmishes are those where one team outnumbers the other. In cases where the numbers advantage is only apparent after it's already too late, it's called a gank.

                                                      Ganking is a critical part of LoL. You can put an enemy team out of commission long before the midgame starts by having many successful ganks. While it's common in Summoner's Rift to have the jungler be the ganking linchpin of a team, ganking is not confined to junglers. Roaming supports and mages are also quite effective, and in a gametype like Dominion, anyone who can approach undetected and deliver burst damage or CC can make an effective ganker. This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, we'll talk about setting up for ganks and some ways to make them pay off more effectively.

                                                      Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: The perfect LoL gank

                                                      MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The perfect LoL gank originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                        ]]>                                                        crystal-scardominionf2pfeaturedfiorafree-to-playgankgankergankingjunglejunglerleagueleague-of-legendsleonalolmobaopinionrengarriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-crystal-scarthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST                                                        <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/17/the-summoners-guidebook-teamfight-positioning-wins-lol-matches/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                        The Summoner's Guidebook Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches
                                                        Two weeks ago, I talked about zoning in League of Legends. One of you mentioned in the comments that I should focus more on teamfight positioning and less on laning, since there is more complexity in that. I agree, but there's a caveat.

                                                        It is extremely difficult to explain how to position properly in League of Legends. It is one of my greatest disappointments that I learned this skill purely through practice and experience. Positioning is a fluid thing; no guide can tell you exactly what you should do in the situations you find yourself in. Mistakes are the greatest teacher. I can do only so much.

                                                        However, it was a request, so I will do my best to convey my instincts on this. I had to play and watch a bunch of games just thinking about this to try and put my feelings into words. I hope it will help you out, if only a little bit.

                                                        Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches

                                                        MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teamfight positioning wins LoL matches originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                          ]]>                                                          all-random-all-midaramclg-eudont-get-caughtf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgiving-matches-awayguideguidesleagueleague-of-legendslollol-world-championshipsmobaopinionout-of-positionpositioningriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteamfightteamfightingthe-summoners-guidebookworld-championshipsworld-elitezoningThu, 17 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST                                                          <![CDATA[The Art of Wushu: The right martial arts school for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/the-art-of-wushu-the-right-martial-arts-school-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/the-art-of-wushu-the-right-martial-arts-school-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/16/the-art-of-wushu-the-right-martial-arts-school-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                          The Art of Wushu The right martial arts school for you
                                                          Normally at Massively, we start off a column by linking to relevant community sites and information resources for a game. Things are a bit different with Age of Wushu, however. Aside from the main community site and the wiki currently under construction, there isn't much information about the game available in English.

                                                          Running biweekly, The Art of Wushu will help you navigate the sprawling Wushu sandbox. This week, we'll be looking at the various martial arts schools in the game and which schools to select in order to fit your preferred playstyle. While we can't go over each school's intricacies in depth, we'll do our best to give you a brief primer on what you can expect as a member of a particular school.

                                                          Continue reading The Art of Wushu: The right martial arts school for you

                                                          MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: The right martial arts school for you originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                            ]]>                                                            age-of-wulinage-of-wushuart-of-wushuasiabeggars-sectcharacter-creationchinachinesechinese-mmoclass-choiceemeifeaturedfighting-stylegpotatogvgjet-lijinyi-weijinyiweikidnappingmartial-artsming-dynastypvproyal-guardssandboxscholarsschoolschool-choiceschool-selectionshaolinsnail-gamessnail-games-usatangmenthe-art-of-warthe-art-of-wushuwanderers-valleywudangwushuwuxiaWed, 16 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST                                                            <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/the-summoners-guidebook-cleaning-up-after-your-lol-messes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                            Cleaning up after your LoL messes
                                                            Two weeks ago, we covered initiation in the Summoner's Guidebook, and last week we covered zoning. Those two elements comprise the early and middle parts of a teamfight, but if you want to win in League of Legends, you need to finish strong.

                                                            As a fight winds down, wounded players begin to disengage in order to lick their wounds. Some characters just want to pull out early to wait out cooldowns, while in other cases it's purely a matter of health. Sometimes a player will get zoned out of a fight so far that she cannot contribute meaningfully to the teamfight at large. At this point, tough decisions start to crop up. Do you split off and give chase, taking away a large chunk of health from your team to secure the kill? Or do you allow the enemy to get away, giving away potential gold and/or allowing the enemy team a chance to come back?

                                                            This decision is a non-question for a lot of players, but we should really be thinking about it when we are fighting. There are a lot of questions we should be asking ourselves before we drop out of a fight to chase, but all too often our eyes get filled with the sight of blood and everything else vanishes. I know you can do a little better than that.

                                                            Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes

                                                            MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Cleaning up after your LoL messes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                              ]]>                                                              bad-playchasingchess-analogydecision-makingdont-chasedont-chase-shacodont-chase-singeddont-chase-teemof2pfeaturedfree-to-playgiving-chaseknight-threatens-queenleagueleague-of-legendslolmistakemobaopinionpvpriotriot-gamessmart-playsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 10 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST                                                              <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Controlling space in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/the-summoners-guidebook-controlling-space-in-league-of-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                              The Summoner's Guidebook Controlling space in League of Legends
                                                              Zoning is a concept that's been covered quite a bit. The concept of space control is something central to most competitive video games, and Shurelia already made an excellent video on zoning that is very specific to League of Legends.

                                                              While Shurelia's video is well worth the watch, there are some areas she didn't cover and a few things that could be explained in a little more depth. I would consider this more of an addendum to her excellent tutorial, and you should watch it before you continue on.

                                                              Controlling space effectively is incredibly powerful in League. Skillful use of zoning can lead to lots of free damage, and even if your opponent is good at avoiding you, zoning can allow you to last-hit in lane or win a teamfight. If you've ever wanted to drive your opponent completely out of the lane, continue on. We've got a lot of ground to cover.

                                                              Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Controlling space in League of Legends

                                                              MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Controlling space in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                ]]>                                                                dodging-skillshotsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playguideguidesleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpractice-makes-perfectpracticingpunishing-mistakesriotriot-gamesskillshotspace-controlstutter-step-microsummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookzoningThu, 03 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST                                                                <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-summoners-guidebook-teaming-up-to-fight-in-league-of-legen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                The Summoner's Guidebook Teaming up to fight in League of Legends
                                                                Grouping up to fight enemies together is a concept that is old as history itself. Numerous treatises on group warfare have been written, ranging from small unit tactics to battle strategies involving hundreds of thousands or millions of combatants. A lot of the same principles of combat that are used in warfare are applicable to games and especially to team-based PvP games like League of Legends.

                                                                It might not be readily apparent how ideas like the mission of a Marine rifle team might apply to a five-player team in LoL, but there are more similarities than you think. The tools are different -- for example, games use different means to suppress the enemy than real soldiers -- but the tactics are surprisingly similar.

                                                                This week, we're going to cover the beginning of a fight. Starting a fight at an advantage is important element in victory, as the opening seconds of a battle matter the most. If you can leverage an advantage early on in a fight, you can snowball that advantage into a decisive win.

                                                                Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends

                                                                MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Teaming up to fight in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                  ]]>                                                                  crowd-controlf2pfeaturedfighting-togetherfree-to-playgroup-pvpinitiationleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesstarting-fightssummoners-guidebookteam-fightteam-fightsteamfightteamfightingteamworkthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 27 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST                                                                  <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-season-3-imbalances/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                                  The Summoner's Guidebook League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances good or bad
                                                                  If you've played League of Legends for a while, you were probably shocked at the launch of all the new Season 3 changes. They're absolutely crazy! When I first saw them, I couldn't make heads or tails of them. What's the new best item builds? What's the best path to making them? I seriously had no idea.

                                                                  Things have settled down a little, but items are still a little chaotic, and MLG is already hosting Season 3 qualifiers. This can't be right! I've covered before why tossing around the metagame is bad, but hosting tournaments that will affect entry into the Season 3 Championships with the game in this state is outrageous. I'm sure LoL will recover and things will get iterated on, but what are things going to be like in the meantime?

                                                                  Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad?

                                                                  MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' Season 3 imbalances -- good or bad? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                    ]]>                                                                    balanceblack-cleaverblackfire-torchcleaver-metaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playimbalanced-itemsitem-guideitemsleagueleague-of-legendslolmajor-league-gamingmlgmobaopinionpatchpatch-changespatchespvpriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteemoteemo-imbateemopocalypsethe-summoners-guidebookThu, 20 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST                                                                    <![CDATA[First impressions from the Age of Wushu beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/first-impressions-from-the-age-of-wushu-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/first-impressions-from-the-age-of-wushu-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/first-impressions-from-the-age-of-wushu-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

                                                                    First Impressions from the Age of Wushu beta
                                                                    When I first started playing the Age of Wushu beta, I had a lot of expectations. As I first started playing, the game felt ho-hum. It was clumsy, the translation wasn't very good, and the combat felt clunky. My friends saved an infamous IM conversation during which I expressed how the game was a let-down. I had heard a lot about the skill-based martial arts battles, but the combat and movement felt so clumsy. There were some interesting features for sure, but my expectations soon faded, and I mostly kept playing out of a sense of obligation, to see whether there was anything hidden beyond the awkward translation and uninspired gameplay.

                                                                    Three days later, I was a believer. Age of Wushu's combat, while awkward at first, proved to be incredibly deep and allowed for endless variations of personal expression. Mastery of battle wasn't just about abusing a broken mechanic, and the foundations of the game's economy soon proved to threaten the hold that EVE Online currently has on the sandbox market. Open PVP with real consequences, horizontal character progression, a player-driven economy, and the best combat system in any MMO ever -- you'll find it all in Age of Wushu.

                                                                    Continue reading First impressions from the Age of Wushu beta

                                                                    MassivelyFirst impressions from the Age of Wushu beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                      ]]>                                                                      age-of-wulinage-of-wushuasiachinachinesechinese-mmoeve-online-eat-your-heart-outf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-play-mmohands-onjet-likidnappingkung-fumartial-artsming-dynastyopen-endedopen-pvpopinionplayer-driven-contentplayer-driven-economyplayer-versus-playerpreviewpreviewspvpsandboxsnail-gamessnail-games-usaspyingwushuwuxiaTue, 18 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST                                                                      <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/the-summoners-guidebook-one-lady-fights-for-equality-in-the-le/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/the-summoners-guidebook-one-lady-fights-for-equality-in-the-le/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/the-summoners-guidebook-one-lady-fights-for-equality-in-the-le/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                      The Summoner's Guidebook One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends
                                                                      If you recall from a few months back, we covered gender equality in League of Legends. The general outcome of that column was that women are under-represented in the tank and melee fighter roles and are very over-represented in the support role. Furthermore, women are heavily objectified in LoL, and there's really no dispute over that. Some girls in the League stroll into combat with little more than underwear and a smile, and most of them wear some kind of overly sexualized outfit.

                                                                      However, one woman fights against the tide. She wears her conservative armor proudly and fights in a rather unladylike manner. She doesn't utter seductive remarks while she runs around the map in high heels. Everything about her is direct, practical, and in-your-face. She's Poppy, and she's my favorite character in League of Legends.

                                                                      Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends

                                                                      MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: One lady fights for equality in the League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                        ]]>                                                                        diplomatic-immunityf2pfeaturedfeminismfree-to-playgender-equalityleagueleague-of-legendslollolimobaopinionparagon-of-demaciapoppyriotriot-gamesstrong-womansummoners-guidebookthe-iron-ambassadorthe-summoners-guidebooktomboywomens-rightsThu, 13 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST                                                                        <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: IPL's League of Legends a paragon of tournaments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-summoners-guidebook-ipls-league-of-legends-a-paragon-of-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-summoners-guidebook-ipls-league-of-legends-a-paragon-of-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/the-summoners-guidebook-ipls-league-of-legends-a-paragon-of-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

                                                                        The Summoner's Guidebook IPL's League of Legends a paragon of tournaments
                                                                        I feel a bit tuckered out from League of Legends tournaments. I love the game, and I love the pro scene, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood to watch hours and hours of gameplay and then try to digest it all. As a columnist, I have to watch tournaments with a different eye than a normal spectator, which can be exhausting, so I wasn't really looking forward to IPL 5. My favorite team (Dignitas) wasn't playing, and all my tournament hype was spent watching the Season 2 finals.

                                                                        However, IPL did a lot to keep my interest. Normally, I'm not really into IGN's LoL coverage, as it's heavy on entertainment and presentation value and low on information. This time, not only were the matches interesting, but the format was excellent, the commentary was good, and the space between matches was filled with tons of informative content. I really couldn't have asked for a better LoL tournament to end the year. Every other tournament this year paled in comparison.

                                                                        Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: IPL's League of Legends a paragon of tournaments

                                                                        MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: IPL's League of Legends a paragon of tournaments originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                          ]]>                                                                          best-tournament-everevent-coveragef2pfeaturedfree-to-playignIGN-pro-leagueiplipl-5ipl5leagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktournamenttournament-coverageThu, 06 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST                                                                          <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Roaming the jungle in League of Legends Dominion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/the-summoners-guidebook-roaming-the-jungle-in-league-of-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/the-summoners-guidebook-roaming-the-jungle-in-league-of-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/the-summoners-guidebook-roaming-the-jungle-in-league-of-legend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                          The Summoner's Guidebook Roaming the jungle in League of Legends Dominion
                                                                          Although players often consider jungling to be a role exclusive to League of Legends' Classic gametypes, proper exploitation of the jungle is vitally important to success in Dominion as well. At the lower levels of play, players often feed too much information to the enemy and allow their foes to move through jungle areas unmolested.

                                                                          Never do this! When you're ahead, the most important thing you can do in Dominion is secure your lead further by limiting the enemy's movements. The only way to do this is to control the jungle. If you're familiar with the idea of warding the enemy jungle to limit enemy movements on Summoner's Rift, controlling the jungle on Dominion will likely be familiar to you.

                                                                          Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Roaming the jungle in League of Legends Dominion

                                                                          MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Roaming the jungle in League of Legends Dominion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                            ]]>                                                                            dominionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playjunglejungle-controljunglingleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlolmap-awarenessmap-controlmap-objectivemobaobjectivesopinionriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookThu, 29 Nov 2012 21:00:00 EST                                                                            <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Why play League of Legends Dominion?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-summoners-guidebook-why-play-league-of-legends-dominion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-summoners-guidebook-why-play-league-of-legends-dominion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-summoners-guidebook-why-play-league-of-legends-dominion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                            The Summoner's Guidebook Why play League of Legends Dominion
                                                                            Lately, there's been a bit of doomsaying about League of Legends' point capture gametype. Red posts on the subject have mentioned that while the dedicated Dominion playerbase is slowly growing, the lower-level playerbase is shrinking. This is unfortunate because a lot of LoL players just don't seem to get Dominion. I don't actually understand this because Dominion is a less complex game than Summoner's Rift even though it maintains similar levels of strategic depth. Top players have been pushing for ranked since Season 2 started, but the devs have pushed aside their requests, saying "Dominion needs more time."

                                                                            RiotNome mentioned that one of the biggest problems Dominion currently faces is that there's not enough propagation of information. That means that if we want new Dominion players, we have to show them why Dominion is great and what the basics of the game mode are. It'll be no surprise to regular readers that it's my favorite gametype, so I'm ready to do my part.

                                                                            Why play Dominion? Because it's fast and fun.

                                                                            Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Why play League of Legends Dominion?

                                                                            MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Why play League of Legends Dominion? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                              ]]>                                                                              capture-pointsdominionf2pfast-and-funfeaturedfree-to-playleagueleague-of-legendsleague-of-legends-dominionlolmobaopinionriotriot-gamesseason-3summoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebookwhy-play-dominionThu, 22 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST                                                                              <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' revamped 3v3 mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-revamped-3v3-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-revamped-3v3-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/15/the-summoners-guidebook-league-of-legends-revamped-3v3-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

                                                                              The Summoner's Guidebook League of Legends' revamped 3v3 mode
                                                                              I really liked playing on the Twisted Treeline prior to the recent revamp. It felt like Summoner's Rift lite: a way to practice the key SR skills in a gametype that didn't require quite as much map awareness. Now, League of Legends' 3v3 mode has taken on a different face, and it doesn't feel much like SR -- or any other map, for that matter.

                                                                              I didn't want to comment right away on the new direction for TT. The game mode is new, and the metagame is in its infant stages. People are trying new strategies and builds, and while initially strong tactics have already been discovered, there's no telling whether those tactics will last into the start of Season 3. Any competitive game has points in time when different things are overpowered, and as people discover new counters, the true metagame will start to surface.

                                                                              This week in the Summoner's Guidebook, we'll look at my first experiences in TT and what I think of the new mode. It's starkly different from the old version, and the strategies are not obvious. Is it as broken as the detractors say, or is the meta still coming together?

                                                                              Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' revamped 3v3 mode

                                                                              MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: League of Legends' revamped 3v3 mode originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                                ]]>                                                                                blackfire-torchcompetitive-playcreep-scoref2pfarmingfarming-goldfeaturedfree-to-playgetting-aheadgoldjunglerjunglinglaneslaninglast-hittingleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpvprevamprevamped-zoneriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookteemoteemo-imbathe-summoners-guidebooktwisted-treelineThu, 15 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST                                                                                <![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Tiers don't belong in League of Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-summoners-guidebook-tiers-dont-belong-in-league-of-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-summoners-guidebook-tiers-dont-belong-in-league-of-legend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/the-summoners-guidebook-tiers-dont-belong-in-league-of-legend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

                                                                                The Summoner's Guidebook Tiers don't belong in League of Legends
                                                                                One of the things that really bother me is when players make tier lists of characters in League of Legends. Tier lists are an often subjective measurement of how good a character is when matched up against other characters, and players like to voice their opinions on who is strong and who is weak.

                                                                                Unfortunately, even tier lists that are fairly accurate are fundamentally flawed in any competitive game, and they're especially flawed in League. At their best, tier lists show characters who do well in many situations or who are very difficult to counter. At their worst, tier lists are flawed and show a lack of understanding on the part of the author.

                                                                                This doesn't mean that there aren't strong or weak champions, but a tier list doesn't even tell part of the story. It just gives an arbitrary rating that says very little about a character's true strengths or how to leverage them.

                                                                                Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Tiers don't belong in League of Legends

                                                                                MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Tiers don't belong in League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                                                                  ]]>                                                                                  blitzcrankdarius-isnt-opezrealf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgod-tierleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionriotriot-gamessonasummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktier-listtier-liststier-lists-are-badtierstires-don-exitsThu, 08 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST