Get your holiday on with Holidash!

Krystalle Voecks

- http://www.krystallevoecks.com/

Saved from being eaten by wild dogs, Krystalle now devotedly works for Weblogs, Inc. as Lead. When not in therapy to get past her fear of being a chew-toy, she likes to write, sleep, dance, read, and of course, game.

One Shots: Surprise!

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Warhammer Online, One Shots


You never know when a quest is going to go horribly awry, and you'll find yourself face to face - or nose to beak, in this case - with a big creature who is bent on your destruction. Today's One Shots shows off one such "oh crap" moment, sent in to us from Xion, who is playing Warhammer Online on the EU servers! Xion writes in: Well, I did an epic chain-quest on the Isle of the Dead. In this quest I had to destroy a [piece of] jewelry, but when I destroyed it a Souleater demon broke out from it. Well... it was a trap. After that I had to destroy the Demon. Do you think I had a chance against it?

We love to see those moments where things jump out at you and go "boo!" - or roar, squawk, or just leer menacingly at you. If you've run across one such moment of eek in your favorite game, why not send that screenshot in? Just email it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a brief description. We'll post it and give you the credit for sending it in!

Gallery: One Shots


One Shots: Diablo doesn't dance

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Screenshots, One Shots


While this One Shots is a bit late for the Halloween holiday, but it's still not too late to be enjoyed! We figured it would be nice to enjoy a look back at some World of Warcraft areas that many people have deserted in their dash through Northrend. Today's One Shots comes to us from our staff columnist, Craig Withers, who snapped this in the Horde outpost in Nagrand at the tail end of last month. Craig writes: [This] is a little more mundane, and is simply a shot of one of my characters turned into mini-Diablo during the Hallow's End event. Despite looking kind of evilly cute or cutely evil, he didn't have much going for him with no emote visuals or even a jumping animation.

If you've snagged some silly or fun screenshots of yourself during a recent holiday or server event, we'd love to see them! Just send those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the game, and a quick description of what we're seeing. Your screenshots help us show off new and interesting lands here on One Shots (not to mention mean that we can quit digging through staff screenshot folders) so send yours in today!

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: Frozen wastes

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Warhammer Online, One Shots


As the winter moves across the land, we brace for colder weather. Of course, we think one of the best things to do when the weather is freezing is to relax at home with your favorite MMO and play with friends. Even if the weather there is freezing cold, you'll never feel it! Today's One Shots is one such frozen vista, in honor of the chilly weather, showing a snowy pass in Warhammer Online, sent in by ScytheNoire. He let us know that this is the entrance to Jaggedspine Ridge camp for Chaos in High Pass. Chilly!

Have you seen an interesting bit of landscape on your in-game travels? If so, grab a screenshot of it and send it in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the game, and a quick description. We'll post it up here for everyone to enjoy and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots


Meet the Team: Krystalle Voecks

Filed under: Massively meta, Meet the Team


Once a week our writers will give you a glimpse into their lives, to let you get to know them and the characters they play a little better. Click here to read more Meet the Team.

What do you do for Massively.com?

Currently, I'm a staff writer, which means I do a bit of this and a bit of that. Additionally, I do One Shots daily and have just picked up the mantle of First Impressions, which we'll be restarting soon. Originally, I helped found the site as a co-lead, but I stepped down last month to dedicate more time towards my degree and certifications. That adult responsibility thing gets in the way of the fun stuff at times.

Gallery: Meet the Team

William DobsonTateru NinoAdrian BottAlexis KassanShawn Schuster

One Shots: Run to the hills

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Screenshots, One Shots

From everything we've heard in talking to the many World of Warcraft players we know, they're pretty universally having an absolute ball playing through Northrend or creating Death Knights. As we're starting to see screenshots coming in from other folks playing through Wrath of the Lich King, we're getting much the same opinion from them. Today's One Shots comes to us from Machineman, who writes: Here's my rogue Machineman running through Valgarde with Utgarde Keep and the Vrykul harpoon launchers in the background.Truly stunning!

If you're one of the 11 million denizens of Azeroth who has been trekking through the new content, we want to hear from you! Gather up some screenshots of you playing and send those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a quick description. Yours could be featured next!

Gallery: One Shots

The Daily Grind: Did you take the day off for Moria or Shadow Odyssey?

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Opinion, The Daily Grind


Today is the day! Not just one, but two awesome expansions, chock-full of great new content are coming out today. The Lord of the Rings Online has its first separate expansion, The Mines of Moria. EverQuest II has its fifth expansion The Shadow Odyssey, but one that just furnishes tons of new content and goodness without boosting levels like expansions normally do. Of course, with two great new expansions launching today, we thought we'd ask -- are you taking today off to enjoy all the new content? Or are you going to go ahead and head in, knowing full well you'll be spending all day with your head in the clouds thinking of all the cool stuff you'll be doing this evening? Let us know!

(For those of you who decided to be good and go in today, we're adding in some gallery goodness to help pass the time and whet your appetite!)

One Shots: Medic!

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, EVE Online, One Shots


There's always something going on in New Eden. From the basics like mining and mission running to huge PvP wars, Tranquility is abuzz with activity. Today's One Shots comes from Massively's very own EVE Online columnist, Brendan Drain, who is also known in the EVE community as Nyphur. Brendan's weekly column, EVE Evolved, keeps players in-the-know on this highly interesting sandbox MMO - and the note he sent along with today's One Shots is no exception to his normal insight. Brendan tells us a bit about this interesting ship: This is an Oneiros, the Gallente logistics cruiser. Its role is basically the healer class out of other MMOs. With a massive bonus to remote armor repairer range and capacitor use, these ships are perfect for assisting with difficult level 5 missions and are very useful in organised PVP gangs.

Are there any insights, tips, or tricks you'd like to give others in regards to your favorite game? Perhaps you'd like to show off your favorite ship, as our other EVE Online writer James Egan did, or you have great screens of PvP. If you've got screenshots from your favorite MMO, we want them! Just send them in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a brief description. Yours could be the next one featured here!

Gallery: One Shots

The Daily Grind: Will you be exploring The Shadow Odyssey?

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, Opinion, The Daily Grind


As many excited EverQuest II players are well aware, tomorrow is an important day. It marks the launch day for EverQuest II's fifth expansion, The Shadow Odyssey. Of course, for those folks who have been thinking about getting into EQ2 but haven't taken the dive as yet, it's a good time for you as well - SOE tends to bundle in all previous games with their expansions so you can check them out without shelling out a bunch of money. The Shadow Odyssey brings in lots of content for players from level 50 to level 80, with the addition of several areas brought forward from EverQuest like Guk, Mistmoore and Befallen. While this expansion doesn't increase the level cap, it does increase the number of Achievement points, adds heritage quests, opens alternate achievement paths - and so, so much more!

Today we wanted to ask - are you heading into the shadowy world of EverQuest II's Shadow Odyssey? If so, what part sounds like the best part to you? Is it visiting places you may remember from EverQuest? The sharded gear rewards? Perhaps you're just looking forward to all those Achivement points so you can really get your character to where you wanted it to be. Let us know!

One Shots: Two moons

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, One Shots, Warlords Online


We have to admit, when we got this Warhammer Online One Shots, we didn't see that second tiny greenish moon over the big white one in our mailbox preview thumbnail. We simply saw the above title he sent and wondered if we were about to get an eyeful of Greenskin butt. Thankfully, that didn't occur. As for the rest, well, you'd need to ask Deadkatt about the location - all he sent along was a note that he snapped this while playing Warhammer Online at 2 in the morning. If you know where it was taken, feel free to leave a comment and let us know!

Into late-night gaming when the world is quiet and the moon is shining in the darkened sky? If so, why not grab a moonlit shot of your favorite game world and send it to us. (We'll pass on player-moons, thanks.) Send them in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, server and a description of the area/battle/etc. we're seeing. We'll post them out here for everyone to moon over.

Gallery: One Shots

The Daily Grind: Did you get the Moria Collector's Edition?

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Opinion, The Daily Grind


While Turbine has already offered online account upgrade options for those with Lord of the Rings Online, some of us just can't resist a well put together Collector's Edition box when it comes to our favorite games. In grand fashion, Turbine has certainly rolled out a sweet box set for Mines of Moria. In the Moria CE, you're treated to goodies like a large (22" square) cloth map of Moria, a replica of the One Ring with a pouch, lots of art and music, a starter's guide, 3 in-game item tokens and a special badge for the forums. Add to that the pre-order bonus that nets you a Moria cloak, the "Moria Expeditionary" in-game title, and a return of the highly-praised $199 lifetime pricing, plus still more - and you can see why we'd be oohing and aahing over the Mines of Moria Collector's Edition pre-order.

This morning we thought we'd ask our Lord of the Rings Online fans - did you heed the call of the Collector's Edition and pick one up? If not, did you opt for a pre-ordered copy, or did you take the online account upgrade option to save yourself from having yet another game box in your house? Maybe you purchased the Collector's Edition, but went ahead and pre-downloaded everything anyway just so you could jump in Moria that much sooner. We know we can't be the only ones who geek out on a good Collector's Edition, so let us know.

MapleStory set to be boarded, mateys

Filed under: MapleStory, Classes, News items, Free-to-play

Ever wanted to take on monsters and swagger around, with nary a care for lesser landlubbers? Well Nexon's got just the thing for you in their newly created MapleStory player class - Pirates! Launching this month, the addition of the Pirate class adds a new facet on this already popular game. Players start with the Pirate, but can choose one of two job paths as their levels increase. At level 30, players can specialize in the fast melee attacks of the Brawler, or go for the ranged-attack prowess of the Gunslinger. Both job trees continue up to Buccaneer or Corsair at level 120, respectively. Additionally, pirates gain several fun new abilities like sneaking past monsters in barrels, the ability to summon sea creatures to help, and even transformative battle powers.

As if that weren't timber-shivering enough to give players an incentive for rolling a Pirate, MapleStory is also adding in a series of new maps and areas to experience aboard the Pirate ship Nautilus, just full of new adventures. They're also planning a series of contests based around the new class, including a costume contest, a user-generated content contest and even a competition for pirate-themed guilds. To top it all off, MapleStory is introducing a new server for people to play on - Demethos - which should give new players a chance to be on a more even footing as everyone levels up. Sounds like some serious sea fun to us. Yarr!

One Shots: Well-balanced beef

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, One Shots


Sometimes you find something strange in your favorite online world that makes you stop and say "what?!" Today's One Shots balancing act shows just a such strange situation from Lord of the Rings Online. If you look very closely, you see Tzel standing on a fence - not too terribly strange, really. But then, what's that to the right? Apparently a nearby cow thought that being atop a fence was a lovely place to spend some time hanging out as well - and a wee calf joined in the fun! As Laira, Hunter, Protector of the Shire who sent this screenshot in notes: Passing through the ranger camp of Esteldin in the North Downs this evening with my friend Tzel when we were surprised to stumble upon these animals balancing on the fences of their enclosure. Do you think we should alert their owner?

Have you found something strange in your favorite online world? Perhaps you're a Lord of the Rings Online player who would like to show us what you're doing just before Mines of Moria launches? We love to see adventurers in their daily lives just as much as we love to see the silly and strange. Just send those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a quick description. Your screenshots could be the next ones shown here!

Gallery: One Shots



The Daily Grind: What are your plans for Moria?

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Opinion, The Daily Grind


On Tuesday, players will be able to experience Turbine's eagerly-anticipated new expansion for The Lord of the Rings Online, Mines of Moria. With two new classes, the Warden and Rune-Keeper, tons of new content and lore to explore, and new monsters to slay, players are excited about all the goodness about to come. With new classes, a trip into the dark and foreboding Misty Mountains, and new legendary items, what's not to love?

Of course, with any new expansion comes a few questions. Will you be shelving your beloved adventurer(s) to roll one of the two new character classes? Will you stick with the character you've worked hard at and continue onwards? Perhaps take a couple of days off to really sink your teeth into all the delicious newness that Moria has to offer and do both! What are your plans for Moria's launch?

One Shots: Pig in the city

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Warhammer Online, One Shots


We suspect this aurora portal above the Inevitable City in Warhammer Online has a mysterious power. With the swirling forces of chaos within, ripping at the very fabric of reality itself, it calls out... compelling players to come to it and snap screenshots! Today's One Shots comes from site regular ScytheNoire, who places our point of view on the business end of his War Boar as his Greenskin sits on the back, waiting to spring into action and make someone else into bacon.

Is there one particularly cool or gorgeous spot in your favorite MMO that draws people to it by the droves? If so, you should snag a screenshot of your character there and send it in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com, postcard-style! Tell us a bit about the area, and perhaps what you did in game that day. We'll post your travel postcard for everyone to enjoy.

Gallery: One Shots

Blizzard execs haven't played Wrath as yet

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Expansions, Launches, New titles, News items, Humor


Last night was generally a time for merriment and revelry, as many World of Warcraft players talked in lines around the world about just what they were going to do when they first got into game. Would it be the frozen tundra of Northrend, with new races and achievements by the score? Or would they instead be starting a new character and heading for Arthas' floating Necropolis? Surprisingly, among two of the people discussing just what they'd be doing in the strange new lands that Blizzard built were two of Blizzard's very own co-founders; Mike Morhaime, Blizzard's CEO, and Frank Pearce, Blizzard's Executive VP of Product Development. MTV's Multiplayer blog had a launch-night chat with with both Morhaime and Pearce, and discovered neither one of them has really played through the Wrath content as yet.

As if that weren't strange enough, it would appear that both men really haven't thought about rolling a Death Knight - or for that matter, what they'd name theirs if they do. We know people who weren't in beta that have planned talent trees, gear progression and more for their Death Knights, so drawing a blank on a good name seems a bit strange to us. Of course, Pearce's reasoning for not going Death Knight is one many World of Warcraft players can likely relate to; he doesn't want to get left behind on his main by his guild, as he was when Burning Crusade launched. But Morhaime, well, we'll have to cut him slack for being the CEO of a company making oodles of money and in heavy development and marketing cycles between Wrath, StarCraft II and Diablo III. Our suggestion would be to take a few well-deserved days off and enjoy some gaming; we hear there's this really popular new MMO expansion just came out that they might enjoy.

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