Massively^™

Any massively multiplayer online game built around the twin pillars of PvP and territorial control can't go wrong by providing realtime status updates of the struggle via the web. Warhammer Online has endeavored to do just that with the Realm War site, as addressed in a dev diary by the title's Web Development Lead, Scott Stricklin. The dev blog touches on what Mythic has accomplished thus far with bringing WAR to the web, and what they hope to accomplish in the future -- namely, podcasts, community news, and character and guild profiles. While they have no shortage of ideas about how to expand WAR outside of the client, their first objective has been to bring Realm vs. Realm data to the web. That goal has now been realized, and Stricklin walks the reader through the features of the newly revamped Realm War site.

Players now have access to updated information about the overall campaign and the status of each capital city, Stricklin writes. This information is also presented visually, with each capital city's look changing based on its status, ranging from peaceful to besieged. This can all be kept in a pop up box in your browser to provide continual updates for when the tide of battle turns. Further information is provided through selectors which represent a server's racial pairings, giving a snapshot of what's happening with each tier's zone control. An added bonus to this are influence maps for each zone, similar to the in-game maps, which show the status of the various RvR objectives and allow a player to mouse over keeps, seeing when it was last captured and by which guild. Have a look at Scott Stricklin's dev diary for more on the Realm War site, or better yet, just head over there and try it out for yourself.

---

	Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Following the release of patch 1.0.5, a further update to Warhammer Online has addressed a large number of bugs in various quests and PQs, the full list of which can be found in the hot fix patch notes. A handful of RVR-related problems were also quashed, most notably the lack of Healer NPCs in Kadrin Valley warcamp, and some missing set items in Tier 3 Gold Keep bags.

Further tinkering with client performance and stability made it into this hot fix as well, with a focus on "periods of intense combat" -- we'll have to see how that one pans out. However, arguably the best part of the patch is one of the simplest changes -- WAR's EULA will now only need to be agreed to when changes are made to it. Joy! It's the little things in life that make us happy.

The 1.0.5 patch for Warhammer Online hits live servers today and with it comes various small fixes and changes, mainly focused on RvR improvements. But that's probably not what everyone's the most excited about. No, that would be the fact that 1.0.5 is the start of the Heavy Metal event for players interested in trying out the new Reikland Factory Scenario and getting a chance at playing the Black Guard and Knight of the Blazing Sun a week earlier than everyone else.

We're sure that everyone is going to be quite busy playing around in the new Scenario for the next week or two, hopefully it won't be much longer now before some of those career and open RvR improvements come down the line. You can find the full patch notes after the break.

Mythic dev Mark Jacobs writes that the combat and careers patches for Warhammer Online will not be appearing in patch 1.0.5 as previously planned and are instead being rescheduled for patch 1.0.6. "Our plan was that no patch would make it through the [Public Test Servers] until we were sure that it was tested thoroughly and properly." writes Jacobs, "It was evident throughout the testing process that some of the changes needed to be reconsidered and some changed outright."

Patch 1.0.5 is going to deploy to live servers tomorrow (Tuesday, 18 November), with fixes/improvements to the Realm War system, and the "Heavy Metal" Live Event that sets the stage for the Knight of the Blazing Sun and Blackguard.

Apparently, folks aren't too pleased with the way GOA is handling Warhammer Online over in Europe. If this is news to you, welcome to two months ago. Yet, in their defense, GOA has been working to remedy these concerns and address many of the issues that have been alienating European WAR players since before launch.

In a recent forum post, GOA's Community Manager, Magnus, confronted these problems and let players know that they're not only aware of what's going on, but they're working to fix it. This wasn't quite enough for one blogger at Books of Grudges who described their frustration at what they say "smacks of PR." If the on-going issues with GOA have been affecting you lately, check out the Magnus post and the Book of Grudges response. You may find that you share their opinion.

There was a time when the western MMO market was flooded with imports of popular Korean titles. While there's still a steady influx of Asian games reworked to fit western playstyles, there's also a growing number of western MMOs being exported to Asia, particularly Korea. The obvious title that succeeds anywhere it goes is World of Warcraft, whose Asian following is legion. But smaller games have also been making inroads. EVE Online has been operating in China for years and Hellgate: London gained a new lease on life in Korea. They're not alone in this. Turbine has its eyes set on expanding into Korea with Lord of the Rings Online, and we know that Age of Conan is marching eastward, too. The latest successful western title to look east is Warhammer Online, which will soon be played in Korea as well.

Electronic Arts and Hangame are partnering to bring WAR to South Korea. In a related press statement, Mythic's Mark Jacobs said, "By partnering with Hangame, we hope to provide Korean gamers with a fresh, new fantasy experience and years' worth of Realm vs. Realm adventures on the frontlines of WAR." You can see the full announcement about WAR's attempt to capture Korean gamers over at The Earth Times. Given how PvP-centric Korean MMOs tend to be, do you think Warhammer Online would be a natural fit for gamers in this market?

---

	Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Isn't it fascinating to think of the people behind the toons you see running around your screen? Do you ever just find a quiet spot next to a busy marketplace or popular crossroads in game and just people-watch? Although it's sometimes fun to venture a guess at the real lives behind the virtual ones, we may overlook the increasing number of families who play these games together. Husbands and wives. Fathers and sons. Mothers and daughters. The combinations are almost endless.

In a recent article over at Game Set Watch, Michael Walbridge takes a look at the inner dynamics of the family gaming habit. He tells an all-too-familiar story of one family member (in this case his wife) who wants nothing more than to play Wrath of the Lich King upon release, yet he has sworn off WoW for good, in lieu of Warhammer Online. When his wife finally realizes that swearing off WoW for good really means "for good" this time, it nearly brings her to tears. Will he give in and rejoin his wife at Wrath's launch? Will he continue with WAR, crushing his entire family dynamic? You'll have to check out the story to find out!

It's perhaps a slightly underhanded tactic, but if it works, why not? Today's Warhammer Online One Shots comes to us from ScytheNoire who unleashed a small flood of Warhammer Online shots on us. Sadly he didn't give us a note to go along with this image. Of course we think it fairly well speaks for itself - if you want to get the attention of the opposing force and flummox them, why not head into battle wearing only the barest slip of armor and see what happens. It certainly got our attention!

If you've snagged a screenshot of a massing army, a central city, or a battle, we want to see those screens! All games are welcome, from the large-name titles to indie games. Just email them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a quick description. We'll post it for everyone to ogle.

It doesn't matter how you slice it -- even if the big bad guy is on your side, standing next to him can sometimes still make you feel really tiny. Not sure what we mean when making that statement coupled with the above fiery screenshot from Warhammer Online? Well, if you look very, very closely (or check out the full-size image) you can see ScytheNoire's wee teeny orc standing between the hooves of this enormous Bloodletter. As ScytheNoire noted, [This is the] Bloodletter of Khorne with my Black Orc. I feel small and insignificant. We'd probably feel the same, except we'd probably be more concerned with that whole "on fire" thing first. Ouch!

Have you snapped any fun shots of your character up against (or hanging out with) a particularly big, nasty monster? Slaying or praying, we want to see those screenshots! Just send them in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a quick description. We'll post them out here for everyone to check out and marvel at your daring -- or impending death.

The clarions of battle sound; some will stand, some will fall. It is the way of Warhammer Online. As a warning to the allies of Order, the Destruction forces have strung the remains of their Dwarven foes across the landscape. This dark and gritty One Shots was sent in by our regular contributor, Snacky, who plays this particular Greenskin on the Iron Claw server. Snacky writes in: Even as a Destruction Greenie, I still have some sympathy when I see how these Dwarfs ended up. I'll never admit it, but I do say a silent prayer that I don't end up like that!

Many players love the PvP scenarios in Warhammer Online, but we know it's not the only place with gritty details like these. As such, we're sending out a call to all players -- send us your battle shots! Corp war, battlegrounds, Monster PvP, raiding, we want to see your screens. Just send those to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a quick description. One Shots needs your screens, so send them in and enjoy your moment in the blog-sun!

Aside from answering a variety of user questions and reporting on the latest tidbits of Warhammer Online news in the usual Grab Bag style, this week's regular feature focuses on the basics of Zone Control.

If you've ever made the mistake of assuming that your realm has captured a zone by controlling all Battlefield objectives and Keeps, you'd be wrong. That's exactly what this Grab Bag feature aims to do: help the players understand what exactly is involved in controlling your Zone. Check out the entire article for more on Zone control and the answers to a few important player questions.

We just put up notice of the Warhammer Online 1.0.5 patch hitting the live servers, and the advent of official test servers. But what what does the patch mean? How is it going to affect your character class? Spinks over at Book of Grudges has done a fantastic job of breaking down the notes and clearing the decks for each archetype. According to the blogger, it sounds as though Healers, Ironbreakers, and classes relying on roots were the big losers. Heal over time spells recieved a big nerf, and the Ironbreaker 'grudge' mechanic has gotten a big slapping down as well.

Meanwhile pet classes have come out as the big winners, and all users of the damage over time-style spells will see an increase in their damage. Be sure to let us know in the comments what you think of the new changes as you begin to see their impact on gameplay!