Issue 50 • December 2013 1 • Gameon Magazine Battlefield 4

Battlefield 4 Review

Issue 50 • December 2013 1 • GameOn Magazine Hello and welcome to our second issue of the WildStar Community Magazine!

We’d like to firstly thank you for supporting the magazine and for the fantastic response for the first issue! We hope you continue to support us as we proceed with the magazine.

We have yet another guide on how to jazz up your house, and we have an exclusive interview with the Design Producer of Carbine Studios, Stephan Frost. We have given you the run down of one of the community held events Thaydfest, which was held not long ago, with a short interview with the organisers. This issue we also included our thoughts on the recent Megasever update.

Packed with artwork, gorgeous screenshots and interesting content, there is a lot to feast your eyes on!

If you have any ideas for us to include in the magazine for future issues, please feel free to email us at [email protected]

We hope you enjoy the second issue!

The Editor

Please subscribe for free to help secure the future of the magazine

www.gameonmag.com/wildstar

WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 3 Hello and welcome to our second issue of the WildStar Community Magazine!

We’d like to firstly thank you for supporting the magazine and for the fantastic response for the first issue! We hope you continue to support us as we proceed with the magazine.

Packed with artwork, gorgeous screenshots and interesting content, there is a lot to feast your eyes on!

If you have any ideas for us to include in the magazine for future issues, please feel free to email us at [email protected]

We hope you enjoy the second issue!

The Editor

Please subscribe for free to help secure the future of the magazine

www.gameonmag.com/wildstar

WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 3 STAFF

Editor - Jessica Greenfield Cheif Editor - Steve Greenfield Production Manager -Tadamichi Hosokawa

Staff Writer - Mike Baker Staff Writer - Tadamichi Hosokawa Staff Writer - Ryan Stanley CONTENTS Staff Writer - Kim Morgan Staff Writer - Nadine Tawney Contents 4 Artwork - Ellis Clark Settlers: Circle the Wagons 6 In-Game Photography - Anneli Torgersson Megaservers, Megapopulations 8 In-Game Photography - Ryan Stanley It’s All About The Community 12 In-Game Photography - Tadamichi Hosokawa Interview With Stephan Frost 20 In-Game Photography - Kim Morgan Addons & Customization 101 30 In-Game Photography - Ellis Clark Belle Walker 32 In-Game Photography - Nadine Tawney Nexus Better Homes & Plots 36 In-Game Photography - Mike Baker Wildstar Wordsearch 40 Wildstar Crossword 41 Guest Artwork - Josie Konzelman The Untold Stories of Stormtalon’s Lair 42 Why I Like Wildstar: A Sci Fi Geek’s Guide 48 Design Guidance - Kris West

4 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 5 STAFF

Editor - Jessica Greenfield Cheif Editor - Steve Greenfield Production Manager -Tadamichi Hosokawa

4 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 5 to the Expansion point. The Like all paths, the Settler levels Once repaired by Scientists, structures you create range from grant unique abilities and some miningbots are programmed by Hospitals to Spaceports and offer awesome loot. The better loot comes Settlers to dig for more resources, a variety of bonuses to the zone. in the form of Fabkits, inventory making ideal partners. Settlers are ARTICLE SETTLERS: CIRCLE Public Service: Ok, so you aren’t storage, costumes and upgrade kits fantastic for sociable players and a criminal (maybe you are), that containing an amp point at level 15 are handy to have along for some THE WAGONS doesn’t mean you can’t pick up and an ability point at level 30. And of the harder boss fights. If you empty booze cans or help a local the path abilities are some of the choose to become a Settler, stay Nexus is a dangerous place. Are you ready to help tame the overgrown find missing items or NPCs. most helpful in the game (levels are vigilant and keep activating the buff wilds and bring order and peace to the deserted Eldan world? Supply Cache: Digging up path levels and not player levels): stations; they will, not only, help different resources and objects others but also yourself. Order of he noise of engines to live in space again, then you Civil Defense: A task that sees by following a bar that appears Settler’s Campfire: Unlocks at priority when activating buff stations humming are one of the should consider the Settler path. you build upgrades and repair on your screen, and acts like a level 4, tier 1 at level 14 and tier 2 at vary depending on your class but Tmost cliched parts of sci- defenses of towns and camps. You tricorder from Star Trek. The bar level 27. The most useful path ability, always prioritise the XP and rep fi, and for good reason. When they As a Settler, your role will earn a small amount of rep with gets longer the closer you get. heals all nearby allies for 20 minutes ones. Rep buffs come in handy are the dominant sound, they convey entail changing the landscape each upgrade, while there may be and has a 60 minute cooldown. when attunement starts and will isolation. The ever-present low hum, (in a sustainable way of course) bonuses granted for completing Settlers civic natures mean that Summon Mailbox: make that process a lot quicker. like in Firefly, conveys the sense of to make Nexus a more habitable all the upgrades in the area. you’ll be able to help players by Unlocks at level 5 and has constant journey, another staple planet for humanoids. By collecting Expansion: The most common collecting resources and building a ten minute cooldown. I’ll leave you with these final, type of task Settlers perform. buff stations; it will also help you Summon Vendbot: Unlocks Spaghetti-Western-esque words: “ENGINES ADD ATMOSPHERE These can come as buff stations, to level quicker if you take the at level 8, tier 1 at level 18 and circle those wagons pardners, it’s WHERE THERE IS NO SOUND vendors, taxis and a whole host time to collect resources while on tier 2 at level 27. Pretty self- time to tame the wilds of Nexus. And OUTSIDE OF THE STAGNANT, of other upgrades. It’s important missions. If you don’t like grinding, explanatory; each tier unlocks be thankful the oxians respawn! RECYCLED AIR CONDITIONING that you place buff stations for it’s not the best role for you. different items for sale and the OF THE SPACECRAFT.” your fellow players. It’s how However, the benefits to yourself ability has a 60 minute cooldown. By Mike Baker you earn respect among others and others are totally worth it. of the Sci-fi genre. Engines add resources, that change depending as well as path XP and rep. atmosphere where there is no sound on the zone or region, you can Infrastructure: Larger outside of the stagnant, recycled build improvements to help PCs Expansions, it usually helps to air conditioning of the spacecraft. and NPCs on Nexus. There are get a few Settlers to gather the several different mission types. resources needed. Resources are But if you long for wide open Each task offers rewards in bonus different, to the rest of those in spaces and making sure that your reputation (rep) and looty-goodness: the zone, and you can usually only fellow allied players never have carry three or five before returning

6 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 7 to the Expansion point. The Like all paths, the Settler levels Once repaired by Scientists, structures you create range from grant unique abilities and some miningbots are programmed by Hospitals to Spaceports and offer awesome loot. The better loot comes Settlers to dig for more resources, a variety of bonuses to the zone. in the form of Fabkits, inventory making ideal partners. Settlers are ARTICLE SETTLERS: CIRCLE Public Service: Ok, so you aren’t storage, costumes and upgrade kits fantastic for sociable players and a criminal (maybe you are), that containing an amp point at level 15 are handy to have along for some THE WAGONS doesn’t mean you can’t pick up and an ability point at level 30. And of the harder boss fights. If you empty booze cans or help a local the path abilities are some of the choose to become a Settler, stay Nexus is a dangerous place. Are you ready to help tame the overgrown find missing items or NPCs. most helpful in the game (levels are vigilant and keep activating the buff wilds and bring order and peace to the deserted Eldan world? Supply Cache: Digging up path levels and not player levels): stations; they will, not only, help different resources and objects others but also yourself. Order of he noise of engines to live in space again, then you Civil Defense: A task that sees by following a bar that appears Settler’s Campfire: Unlocks at priority when activating buff stations humming are one of the should consider the Settler path. you build upgrades and repair on your screen, and acts like a level 4, tier 1 at level 14 and tier 2 at vary depending on your class but Tmost cliched parts of sci- defenses of towns and camps. You tricorder from Star Trek. The bar level 27. The most useful path ability, always prioritise the XP and rep fi, and for good reason. When they As a Settler, your role will earn a small amount of rep with gets longer the closer you get. heals all nearby allies for 20 minutes ones. Rep buffs come in handy are the dominant sound, they convey entail changing the landscape each upgrade, while there may be and has a 60 minute cooldown. when attunement starts and will isolation. The ever-present low hum, (in a sustainable way of course) bonuses granted for completing Settlers civic natures mean that Summon Mailbox: make that process a lot quicker. like in Firefly, conveys the sense of to make Nexus a more habitable all the upgrades in the area. you’ll be able to help players by Unlocks at level 5 and has constant journey, another staple planet for humanoids. By collecting Expansion: The most common collecting resources and building a ten minute cooldown. I’ll leave you with these final, type of task Settlers perform. buff stations; it will also help you Summon Vendbot: Unlocks Spaghetti-Western-esque words: “ENGINES ADD ATMOSPHERE These can come as buff stations, to level quicker if you take the at level 8, tier 1 at level 18 and circle those wagons pardners, it’s WHERE THERE IS NO SOUND vendors, taxis and a whole host time to collect resources while on tier 2 at level 27. Pretty self- time to tame the wilds of Nexus. And OUTSIDE OF THE STAGNANT, of other upgrades. It’s important missions. If you don’t like grinding, explanatory; each tier unlocks be thankful the oxians respawn! RECYCLED AIR CONDITIONING that you place buff stations for it’s not the best role for you. different items for sale and the OF THE SPACECRAFT.” your fellow players. It’s how However, the benefits to yourself ability has a 60 minute cooldown. By Mike Baker you earn respect among others and others are totally worth it. of the Sci-fi genre. Engines add resources, that change depending as well as path XP and rep. atmosphere where there is no sound on the zone or region, you can Infrastructure: Larger outside of the stagnant, recycled build improvements to help PCs Expansions, it usually helps to air conditioning of the spacecraft. and NPCs on Nexus. There are get a few Settlers to gather the several different mission types. resources needed. Resources are But if you long for wide open Each task offers rewards in bonus different, to the rest of those in spaces and making sure that your reputation (rep) and looty-goodness: the zone, and you can usually only fellow allied players never have carry three or five before returning

6 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 7 guild-patriotism form. Now, with players to help with holdouts megaservers, it’s a lot easier to and more active buff stations. get to your faction’s capital and look around for a new guild. We are yet to see what effects the ARTICLE megaservers will have on dungeon While having a guild isn’t and adventure waiting times: they essential, it can help with have always been cross-server endgame (and for some, leveling) events. However, I suspect with the enjoyment and it’s the only way higher populations, there will be to enter the more enjoyable more options in finding players for raids. However, the game isn’t all groups and less reliance on pugging massive raids and PvP; there are with the LFG tool. Players are more solo elements, like the Auction likely to advertise if they’re looking House (AH) that are dependent for one or two party members MEGASERVERS, on the new servers as well. as opposed to three or four. MEGAPOPULATIONS Megaservers will help the The only downside to inconsistencies currently being megaservers is that once one server It’s hard to get in to trouble with no cohorts. Before the 15th of October it experienced on the AH: combining is filled, the next will be be almost was a struggle on less populated servers to wreak havoc on Nexus. Now the economies of multiple empty, though this isn’t a major that Megaservers are online it’s looking good for in-game hijinx. servers. We will also see a more issue and will mostly affect the standardised C.R.E.D.D. price, more capitals at this stage. Though with exus is a place of colour. But there’s a problem. Exploring on the character select screens. The times when zones will seem empty. sales and purchases of farmed more players returning after Drop 3 NA place that sees Gene the starter zone shows only the zones you’re in are ghost-zones. Guilds will be the big winners with mats and crafted items. Weapons arrives in November, you may notice Roddenberry’s dream of a Western glimmer of humanoid interactions Fear not, Megaservers have arrived. megaservers; merging servers and armor will take a slight hit as a few zones appearing empty. You in Space realised like only once that don’t have an algorithm on one But what are these mystical things? will increase population pools. the market adjusts but after a few can always log-out and back in or before -- you Firefly fans know side. There’s barely anyone until months everything will stabalize. wait until you enter the next zone. where I’m at. From the moment you hit your capital city. Those that Megaservers work by starting Despite the capitals on the you appear in your starter zone are around are almost as clueless with one server per-zone. Once that quieter servers still having players, Other PvE positives for solo or Rolling out the megaservers the excitement of meeting new as you. Afterall, the game is only server hits maximum population guilds have been struggling to get leveling players are taking down has been smooth and hasn’t been people, actual and computer a few months old and there are the program opens access to numbers together to raid. Many Primes. More players means plagued by some of the quality controlled, grips you and drives you lulls while experienced players are another, and so on. Because each guilds haven’t been advertising more opportunities to party-up control issues that have plagued to level through 50 and beyond. raiding or adventuring or dungeon zone has a different amount of in-game as Wildstar hasn’t been and hit harder mobs with better previous drops. Taking the extra crawling; alts have taken to sitting servers active, there will still be around long enough to have loot rolls. There will also be more time, despite the inconvenience

8 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 9 guild-patriotism form. Now, with players to help with holdouts megaservers, it’s a lot easier to and more active buff stations. get to your faction’s capital and look around for a new guild. We are yet to see what effects the ARTICLE megaservers will have on dungeon While having a guild isn’t and adventure waiting times: they essential, it can help with have always been cross-server endgame (and for some, leveling) events. However, I suspect with the enjoyment and it’s the only way higher populations, there will be to enter the more enjoyable more options in finding players for raids. However, the game isn’t all groups and less reliance on pugging massive raids and PvP; there are with the LFG tool. Players are more solo elements, like the Auction likely to advertise if they’re looking House (AH) that are dependent for one or two party members MEGASERVERS, on the new servers as well. as opposed to three or four. MEGAPOPULATIONS Megaservers will help the The only downside to inconsistencies currently being megaservers is that once one server It’s hard to get in to trouble with no cohorts. Before the 15th of October it experienced on the AH: combining is filled, the next will be be almost was a struggle on less populated servers to wreak havoc on Nexus. Now the economies of multiple empty, though this isn’t a major that Megaservers are online it’s looking good for in-game hijinx. servers. We will also see a more issue and will mostly affect the standardised C.R.E.D.D. price, more capitals at this stage. Though with exus is a place of colour. But there’s a problem. Exploring on the character select screens. The times when zones will seem empty. sales and purchases of farmed more players returning after Drop 3 NA place that sees Gene the starter zone shows only the zones you’re in are ghost-zones. Guilds will be the big winners with mats and crafted items. Weapons arrives in November, you may notice Roddenberry’s dream of a Western glimmer of humanoid interactions Fear not, Megaservers have arrived. megaservers; merging servers and armor will take a slight hit as a few zones appearing empty. You in Space realised like only once that don’t have an algorithm on one But what are these mystical things? will increase population pools. the market adjusts but after a few can always log-out and back in or before -- you Firefly fans know side. There’s barely anyone until months everything will stabalize. wait until you enter the next zone. where I’m at. From the moment you hit your capital city. Those that Megaservers work by starting Despite the capitals on the you appear in your starter zone are around are almost as clueless with one server per-zone. Once that quieter servers still having players, Other PvE positives for solo or Rolling out the megaservers the excitement of meeting new as you. Afterall, the game is only server hits maximum population guilds have been struggling to get leveling players are taking down has been smooth and hasn’t been people, actual and computer a few months old and there are the program opens access to numbers together to raid. Many Primes. More players means plagued by some of the quality controlled, grips you and drives you lulls while experienced players are another, and so on. Because each guilds haven’t been advertising more opportunities to party-up control issues that have plagued to level through 50 and beyond. raiding or adventuring or dungeon zone has a different amount of in-game as Wildstar hasn’t been and hit harder mobs with better previous drops. Taking the extra crawling; alts have taken to sitting servers active, there will still be around long enough to have loot rolls. There will also be more time, despite the inconvenience

8 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 9 to players, has helped create megaservers; something that the Wildstar failing but a sign that the a longer-lasting fix that will haters have to remember when introduction of this technology was hopefully gain more players and criticising Carbine moving to the well thought out to ensure less keep current ones satisfied. new servers. NCSoft have been bugs, more consistent populations pushing for use of this technology to and much more enjoyment. ARTICLE It seems that NCSoft has learned help set it apart from other games from Guild Wars 2’s upgrade to the in the genre. This isn’t a sign of By Mike Baker

Ellis Clark

10 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 11 to players, has helped create megaservers; something that the Wildstar failing but a sign that the a longer-lasting fix that will haters have to remember when introduction of this technology was hopefully gain more players and criticising Carbine moving to the well thought out to ensure less keep current ones satisfied. new servers. NCSoft have been bugs, more consistent populations pushing for use of this technology to and much more enjoyment. ARTICLE It seems that NCSoft has learned help set it apart from other games from Guild Wars 2’s upgrade to the in the genre. This isn’t a sign of By Mike Baker

Ellis Clark

10 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 11 Ellias: Since the Wildstar First of all, can you tell us what Our long-term goal with IT’S ALL ABOUT THE Magazine is a “community” Thaydfest is and what roles you two ThaydFest is to get different guilds magazine, I felt that we needed to played in organizing this event? or circles to sponsor different events showcase significant events that - so for example a PvP guild might ARTICLE COMMUNITY the community put together. Nephele: Sure! Let’s start run a duelling competition, or an Thaydfest: Thayd is bursting with activity--people are running around, with what ThaydFest is. RP guild might do an RP event. But, dancing, crafting and selling, chatting, role-playing, guild-recruiting. I’m a contributor to the since this was the first time, most of magazine as a fan and member ThaydFest is basically a big the events ended up being run by the Costume Contest Winners of the Wildstar community, and I community showcase - the idea was Black Dagger Society and our allies. (Left to Right): jumped at the opportunity to give to have a day where we could pull • Best Female Costume: Nifty Engi readers a behind-the-scenes look in people from all over the server As far as roles go, I was the • Best Overall Costume: Tech R at a large-scale event like this. for a series of different events. main planner and organizer for • Best Male Costume: ThaydFest. I basically handled Jack OSpades • Silliest Costume: Ildriss Amaranth • Scariest Costume: Kelzam Duskthorn t was a sight for sore eyes after • Lore Trivia Contest the splintering of the population • Hourly Raffles A week after the event, I (Ellias Ithat happened merely months • The Alizar Criterium Race Stormchaser) was able to sit after the launch of Wildstar. • A “Super-secret” down and chat with two of the Roleplay Quest organizers of the event, Nephele The timing couldn’t be better. • The Exile Fashion Revue Veridian and Chestnut Stonebough The megaservers went up without Costume Contest of the Black Dagger Society. a hitch, and the community rallied together, creating a fun-filled day For specific details of the events Participants had many events to choose from: To see the amazing winners of the Ellias: Thank you both • The Lifestyles of Nexus Housing Contest from both factions, for meeting me today. Housing Contest look here: Exiles / Dominion • Thayd Crafting Fair Chestnut: Our pleasure. :)

12 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 13 Ellias: Since the Wildstar First of all, can you tell us what Our long-term goal with IT’S ALL ABOUT THE Magazine is a “community” Thaydfest is and what roles you two ThaydFest is to get different guilds magazine, I felt that we needed to played in organizing this event? or circles to sponsor different events showcase significant events that - so for example a PvP guild might ARTICLE COMMUNITY the community put together. Nephele: Sure! Let’s start run a duelling competition, or an Thaydfest: Thayd is bursting with activity--people are running around, with what ThaydFest is. RP guild might do an RP event. But, dancing, crafting and selling, chatting, role-playing, guild-recruiting. I’m a contributor to the since this was the first time, most of magazine as a fan and member ThaydFest is basically a big the events ended up being run by the Costume Contest Winners of the Wildstar community, and I community showcase - the idea was Black Dagger Society and our allies. (Left to Right): jumped at the opportunity to give to have a day where we could pull • Best Female Costume: Nifty Engi readers a behind-the-scenes look in people from all over the server As far as roles go, I was the • Best Overall Costume: Tech R at a large-scale event like this. for a series of different events. main planner and organizer for • Best Male Costume: ThaydFest. I basically handled Jack OSpades • Silliest Costume: Ildriss Amaranth • Scariest Costume: Kelzam Duskthorn t was a sight for sore eyes after • Lore Trivia Contest the splintering of the population • Hourly Raffles A week after the event, I (Ellias Ithat happened merely months • The Alizar Criterium Race Stormchaser) was able to sit after the launch of Wildstar. • A “Super-secret” down and chat with two of the Roleplay Quest organizers of the event, Nephele The timing couldn’t be better. • The Exile Fashion Revue Veridian and Chestnut Stonebough The megaservers went up without Costume Contest of the Black Dagger Society. a hitch, and the community rallied together, creating a fun-filled day For specific details of the events Participants had many events to choose from: To see the amazing winners of the Ellias: Thank you both • The Lifestyles of Nexus Housing Contest from both factions, for meeting me today. Housing Contest look here: Exiles / Dominion • Thayd Crafting Fair Chestnut: Our pleasure. :)

12 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 13 everything from coming up with Where did the idea originate the event concepts to making from? Was it something you Ellias: I think the timing for Chestnut: Well, I can tell sure that everything happened did previous to Wildstar? Or the megaserver was perfect you based on the number of on the day of the event itself. was it a sudden inspiration? for something like this. houses we’ve looked at, that one of the biggest was definitely ARTICLE Chestnut headed up our team Chestnut: I’m going to leave Nephele: We got super lucky the housing contest. :) of judges for the Lifestyles of that one to Neph, because on the server merge happening Nexus competition, and put in he’s the inspiration. ;P when it did. I was worried that There was also quite a large a lot of work on the back end to it would take the servers down group of folks into the RP 101 event. help me with social media for Nephele: It’s something I did over the weekend and we’d ThaydFest overall as well. before Wildstar - I ran a guild in have to postpone ThaydFest! Ellias: I unfortunately barely Vanguard for several years, and missed that event, but I’m sure Ellias: I definitely noticed her we did similar community events Ellias: That would have been many people are curious. flurry of activity on the twitters. there. We started doing them in a nightmare, I can imagine. Nephele: She’s all over Vanguard because of the ships that Nephele: I have to give kudos twitter. Which is good, took teams of crafters to build - we So, to the event itself: to Murdock for RP 101. It was because I’m a newb at it. :) would build the ships, come up with I know you had many different something he came up with all contests to give them away, and and can become quite discouraging to help build the community. And events throughout the day; a on his own, and all I really did Of course none of it would have then race them around the oceans at times. What made you and your then Megas happened just in time huge race, a housing contest, a was tell him that he could run been successful without a lot of and rivers to finish the event. team decide that it was worth (I still swear Neph has connections costume contest, raffles, Roleplay it during ThaydFest - from what other people, both from the Daggers When we decided we wanted the effort to make it happen? :P) and it became an even bigger 101... Which events do you think I heard, it went really well. and the rest of the community. to do a server event to help build community, and more of a “Hey! drew the biggest crowds? Chestnut and I were just two community here, the format Nephele: Chestnut’s probably Welcome to our new server! Ellias: It looked like a small parts in a really big event. seemed like it would move over going to say “Because Nephele Here’s some awesome things Nephele: Well, for the housing classroom, with people sitting in really well. Although sadly we wouldn’t take no for an answer” ;) we can do as a huge group!” contest I think we had nearly a circle, listening attentively. Chestnut: Yeah, we can’t don’t have ships to race. 50 signups just on the Exile Chestnut: I heard from some really take all the credit. So many Chestnut: Bahaha, pretty much. Nephele: For me it was just that side, so that might have the folks that it was neat to have a other guilds, and individuals Chestnut: Yet! I’d done this before and felt really most individual participation. look into an aspect of the game assisted with prize support, But honestly, when Neph confident that it would work here they’d possibly never tried before. running events, and more. Ellias: (Space)ships! presented it to the guild, and a few too. Wildstar has a great community, We used raid groups for most of our allies, everybody’s reaction and really all that the community of the contests and they were Nephele: It’s funny - before Ellias: Yes, I noticed in the forum Nephele: Yeah! One day :) was, “Hey! That sounds really neat!” needs to make it great is for people pretty much full every time. the merge, a lot of people from posts for the event that there were to step up and organize things Evindra were worried that many people contributing, which Ellias: Organizing a large event Since it was originally slated for like this to get everyone involved. It’s hard to say which one would most people on the new server is a wonderful thing to see. with many moving parts is not easy Evindra prior to Megas, we wanted At least, that’s my opinion :) have had the most people. wouldn’t be interested in RP at

14 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 15 everything from coming up with Where did the idea originate the event concepts to making from? Was it something you Ellias: I think the timing for Chestnut: Well, I can tell sure that everything happened did previous to Wildstar? Or the megaserver was perfect you based on the number of on the day of the event itself. was it a sudden inspiration? for something like this. houses we’ve looked at, that one of the biggest was definitely ARTICLE Chestnut headed up our team Chestnut: I’m going to leave Nephele: We got super lucky the housing contest. :) of judges for the Lifestyles of that one to Neph, because on the server merge happening Nexus competition, and put in he’s the inspiration. ;P when it did. I was worried that There was also quite a large a lot of work on the back end to it would take the servers down group of folks into the RP 101 event. help me with social media for Nephele: It’s something I did over the weekend and we’d ThaydFest overall as well. before Wildstar - I ran a guild in have to postpone ThaydFest! Ellias: I unfortunately barely Vanguard for several years, and missed that event, but I’m sure Ellias: I definitely noticed her we did similar community events Ellias: That would have been many people are curious. flurry of activity on the twitters. there. We started doing them in a nightmare, I can imagine. Nephele: She’s all over Vanguard because of the ships that Nephele: I have to give kudos twitter. Which is good, took teams of crafters to build - we So, to the event itself: to Murdock for RP 101. It was because I’m a newb at it. :) would build the ships, come up with I know you had many different something he came up with all contests to give them away, and and can become quite discouraging to help build the community. And events throughout the day; a on his own, and all I really did Of course none of it would have then race them around the oceans at times. What made you and your then Megas happened just in time huge race, a housing contest, a was tell him that he could run been successful without a lot of and rivers to finish the event. team decide that it was worth (I still swear Neph has connections costume contest, raffles, Roleplay it during ThaydFest - from what other people, both from the Daggers When we decided we wanted the effort to make it happen? :P) and it became an even bigger 101... Which events do you think I heard, it went really well. and the rest of the community. to do a server event to help build community, and more of a “Hey! drew the biggest crowds? Chestnut and I were just two community here, the format Nephele: Chestnut’s probably Welcome to our new server! Ellias: It looked like a small parts in a really big event. seemed like it would move over going to say “Because Nephele Here’s some awesome things Nephele: Well, for the housing classroom, with people sitting in really well. Although sadly we wouldn’t take no for an answer” ;) we can do as a huge group!” contest I think we had nearly a circle, listening attentively. Chestnut: Yeah, we can’t don’t have ships to race. 50 signups just on the Exile Chestnut: I heard from some really take all the credit. So many Chestnut: Bahaha, pretty much. Nephele: For me it was just that side, so that might have the folks that it was neat to have a other guilds, and individuals Chestnut: Yet! I’d done this before and felt really most individual participation. look into an aspect of the game assisted with prize support, But honestly, when Neph confident that it would work here they’d possibly never tried before. running events, and more. Ellias: (Space)ships! presented it to the guild, and a few too. Wildstar has a great community, We used raid groups for most of our allies, everybody’s reaction and really all that the community of the contests and they were Nephele: It’s funny - before Ellias: Yes, I noticed in the forum Nephele: Yeah! One day :) was, “Hey! That sounds really neat!” needs to make it great is for people pretty much full every time. the merge, a lot of people from posts for the event that there were to step up and organize things Evindra were worried that many people contributing, which Ellias: Organizing a large event Since it was originally slated for like this to get everyone involved. It’s hard to say which one would most people on the new server is a wonderful thing to see. with many moving parts is not easy Evindra prior to Megas, we wanted At least, that’s my opinion :) have had the most people. wouldn’t be interested in RP at

14 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 15 all, or worse would try to troll Likewise there are some issues truly unexpected - I was really better, smoother experience for both Chestnut: We did get a suggestion Ellias: I can see that. them. I think the opposite has with chat channels that Carbine impressed by the reception that factions to be able to participate to maybe have “Thayd”Fest Although, I do see some strong actually turned out to be true. could address to help RPers a bit, the event got though. The only in community events like this? become something in more of faction pride from certain but these are fairly minor things. real snag was the problems with a neutral zone. Though, I would people... Ellias: That’s actually an the housing addons, and we Nephele: We looked at potentially love for the Dominon to start ARTICLE interesting phenomenon. I haven’t Chestnut: I know that as an managed to work through that. making this cross-faction, but an “Illium”Fest, personally. I have one last question. seen any negativity towards RPer that was worried about trolls, the level restrictions on cross- roleplaying myself since the merge. I’ve been significantly pleased Chestnut: I think it was great faction areas make it hard to do. Ellias: There could even be What do you think Carbine can and surprised at the reaction. at bringing the community Plus there’s always the chance a competition between them. do to support community-driven Nephele: There have been a together. It was great to see a that a PvP brawl may break out. Instead of having server pride, events like this in the future? few but it’s really rare - it makes Ellias: That’s really great mention on the new Zero to Fifty So for the next event I’m not sure we would have faction pride. me super proud of the community to hear. I hope that as the stream, and know that they want whether we’ll keep it faction-based Nephele: I could probably give we have on Entity. You don’t see community stabilizes and grows to see more of what the WildStar or do something cross-faction Chestnut: I think the neat thing Carbine a wishlist, but I think the a community supporting RP this in the future, they continue community as a whole does. instead. However just because about the WildStar community, best thing would be to add more much in most other games. to be supportive of RPers. there’s a ThaydFest doesn’t mean is that we can play either faction, things that we players can use to I think one of the best “results” that some Dominion guilds can’t and a lot of folks enjoy playing generate content for each other. We Ellias: So do you think the Nephele: I think it’s really of it was getting asked when the team up and do IlliumFest. If both, so there’s less “This were joking a little about spaceships roleplaying community is generally all about setting the tone - as next one would be, and the folks they did, we’d support them in faction!” “That faction!” and races, but that sort of thing would pleased with its new home long as we RPers keep showing saying, “hey, I really want to help any way we could, actually! more general camaraderie. be amazing to do as a server event. on Entity? Has Carbine given everyone else how cool we are, next time! Please let me know! enough tools to make it a fruitful they’ll have no choice but to I want to run x event/donate experience for those interested in accept us and join in the fun. things/be a helper/be a judge”. that aspect of the community? Ellias: Best of luck to you! :) Ellias: That’s very exciting. Chestnut: I think that folks are I can see this becoming bigger adjusting well to the new tools, Back to the topic of Thaydfest: and bigger in the future. and utilizing some pretty neat Were there any unexpected addons to help manage various results from the event, positive This being “Thayd”fest, naturally, chat channels for RP and non-RP. or negative? What would you like it becomes hard for the Dominion to see in the next Thaydfest to side to participate. When there is a Nephele: I think most folks are make an even better experience strong faction divide built into the acclimating pretty well. We could for the community? design of the game, it essentially always use more social animations, prevents half of the player base and the ability to sit properly on Nephele: I don’t know that from participating in some of these chairs on housing plots of course. anything happened that was events. How can we make for a

16 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 17 all, or worse would try to troll Likewise there are some issues truly unexpected - I was really better, smoother experience for both Chestnut: We did get a suggestion Ellias: I can see that. them. I think the opposite has with chat channels that Carbine impressed by the reception that factions to be able to participate to maybe have “Thayd”Fest Although, I do see some strong actually turned out to be true. could address to help RPers a bit, the event got though. The only in community events like this? become something in more of faction pride from certain but these are fairly minor things. real snag was the problems with a neutral zone. Though, I would people... Ellias: That’s actually an the housing addons, and we Nephele: We looked at potentially love for the Dominon to start ARTICLE interesting phenomenon. I haven’t Chestnut: I know that as an managed to work through that. making this cross-faction, but an “Illium”Fest, personally. I have one last question. seen any negativity towards RPer that was worried about trolls, the level restrictions on cross- roleplaying myself since the merge. I’ve been significantly pleased Chestnut: I think it was great faction areas make it hard to do. Ellias: There could even be What do you think Carbine can and surprised at the reaction. at bringing the community Plus there’s always the chance a competition between them. do to support community-driven Nephele: There have been a together. It was great to see a that a PvP brawl may break out. Instead of having server pride, events like this in the future? few but it’s really rare - it makes Ellias: That’s really great mention on the new Zero to Fifty So for the next event I’m not sure we would have faction pride. me super proud of the community to hear. I hope that as the stream, and know that they want whether we’ll keep it faction-based Nephele: I could probably give we have on Entity. You don’t see community stabilizes and grows to see more of what the WildStar or do something cross-faction Chestnut: I think the neat thing Carbine a wishlist, but I think the a community supporting RP this in the future, they continue community as a whole does. instead. However just because about the WildStar community, best thing would be to add more much in most other games. to be supportive of RPers. there’s a ThaydFest doesn’t mean is that we can play either faction, things that we players can use to I think one of the best “results” that some Dominion guilds can’t and a lot of folks enjoy playing generate content for each other. We Ellias: So do you think the Nephele: I think it’s really of it was getting asked when the team up and do IlliumFest. If both, so there’s less “This were joking a little about spaceships roleplaying community is generally all about setting the tone - as next one would be, and the folks they did, we’d support them in faction!” “That faction!” and races, but that sort of thing would pleased with its new home long as we RPers keep showing saying, “hey, I really want to help any way we could, actually! more general camaraderie. be amazing to do as a server event. on Entity? Has Carbine given everyone else how cool we are, next time! Please let me know! enough tools to make it a fruitful they’ll have no choice but to I want to run x event/donate experience for those interested in accept us and join in the fun. things/be a helper/be a judge”. that aspect of the community? Ellias: Best of luck to you! :) Ellias: That’s very exciting. Chestnut: I think that folks are I can see this becoming bigger adjusting well to the new tools, Back to the topic of Thaydfest: and bigger in the future. and utilizing some pretty neat Were there any unexpected addons to help manage various results from the event, positive This being “Thayd”fest, naturally, chat channels for RP and non-RP. or negative? What would you like it becomes hard for the Dominion to see in the next Thaydfest to side to participate. When there is a Nephele: I think most folks are make an even better experience strong faction divide built into the acclimating pretty well. We could for the community? design of the game, it essentially always use more social animations, prevents half of the player base and the ability to sit properly on Nephele: I don’t know that from participating in some of these chairs on housing plots of course. anything happened that was events. How can we make for a

16 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 17 Chestnut: We’ll definitely be end I just want to give a huge shout against the horde of opposing posting a new forum thread for out to everyone that helped with the players, all while walking through the next one, so people should event - they made it all possible! the dreaded Malgrave Trail. check out the Entity forums for Extra Life: it. That will be the easiest way Chestnut: It was awesome Some outstanding Wildstar ARTICLE to get involved, I think. :) speaking with you too. :) Thanks for community members took time taking time out of *your* schedule. :) out of their lives to support this charity gaming-event, raising money Ellias: You’re very welcome! It for local children’s hospitals! was great speaking with you two. The Crimson Cross Guild (Entity) Black Swan, Destinia This wraps up our coverage of and Co. (Jabbit) the first Wildstar Community event! Making-a-Heart Chestnut: I think having Carbine Any last thoughts you two would But, wait. There’s more! It seems YouTube Video (Jabbit) come out, even for a few minutes, like to share with the community? that Entity is not the only server Even MMO Reporter helped as someone suggested in feedback, brewing up awesome events. the cause by playing Wildstar! would be really cool. It would help Chestnut: Just to get involved! show that they really do enjoy Step up to run events, and don’t and better and more awesome than Here are some other Do these events sound fun to seeing what we as a community be afraid to make suggestions on the first. In the meantime I hope notable community events that you? Now that you got a peek into create. Having them be a guest the forum for other events! For a lot of other folks run events for Nephele: We’ll probably also happened recently: Wildstar’s awesome community judge, such as Toe Knee coming instance, Bonny Lass and Sno White us to attend too! All work and no start posting about it six weeks Battle for Farside (Warhound): events, go find one and participate! out to judge a costume contest... are running a dueling tournament play makes for a sad Nephele. :) or so in advance as we start A massive open-world PvP event Or better yet, start one up and let us y’know. Things like that. on Tuesdays starting in November. getting organized. So the best where players from both factions know the details. We will do our best Ellias: I agree that events like thing to do is just watch the gathered and battled for the low- to publish it in the magazine! (Our Chestnut: (#PappyForPresident) Having folks go out and support these bring out the best of an forums as Chestnut says. gravity moonscape of Farside! publication date is the 8th of each other folks and their events is how online gaming community, and I Whitevale Butcher Party (Jabbit): month, so be aware of the timing Ellias: Haha.. Toe Knee... we build an amazing game that can already hear murmurings of Ellias: Again, thank you and your This was the EU community’s of your event when contacting us.) that is something. people want to keep logging into. events being prepared here and team for putting this great event answer to the Battle for Farside. Contact e-mail: wildstar@ there from different servers. together. Thayd was bustling with Which one was bloodier? Go watch gameonmag.com Chestnut: It killed me Nephele: ThaydFest was a ton of activity, and it was very encouraging the YouTube videos and find out! Name of Event / Server / Faction when he made the stream work, but it was absolutely worth it Is there a preferred forum to see people just having fun all Revenge of Malgrave Trail (Jabbit): / Date and Time / Brief Description toon with that name. when we got to see everyone coming post or a contact person for around the city and beyond. Malgrave Trail… with an evil out and having fun. The next one those who would want to get twist! An open-world PvP event Ellias: I can imagine all the will probably happen in early spring, involved in the next event? Nephele: Thanks for taking the where each faction chooses an By Tadamichi Hosokawa viewers facepalming at once. and we’re hoping to make it bigger time to talk to us Ellias! Before we ‘escort’ who they must defend

18 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 19 Chestnut: We’ll definitely be end I just want to give a huge shout against the horde of opposing posting a new forum thread for out to everyone that helped with the players, all while walking through the next one, so people should event - they made it all possible! the dreaded Malgrave Trail. check out the Entity forums for Extra Life: it. That will be the easiest way Chestnut: It was awesome Some outstanding Wildstar ARTICLE to get involved, I think. :) speaking with you too. :) Thanks for community members took time taking time out of *your* schedule. :) out of their lives to support this charity gaming-event, raising money Ellias: You’re very welcome! It for local children’s hospitals! was great speaking with you two. The Crimson Cross Guild (Entity) Black Swan, Destinia This wraps up our coverage of and Co. (Jabbit) the first Wildstar Community event! Making-a-Heart Chestnut: I think having Carbine Any last thoughts you two would But, wait. There’s more! It seems YouTube Video (Jabbit) come out, even for a few minutes, like to share with the community? that Entity is not the only server Even MMO Reporter helped as someone suggested in feedback, brewing up awesome events. the cause by playing Wildstar! would be really cool. It would help Chestnut: Just to get involved! show that they really do enjoy Step up to run events, and don’t and better and more awesome than Here are some other Do these events sound fun to seeing what we as a community be afraid to make suggestions on the first. In the meantime I hope notable community events that you? Now that you got a peek into create. Having them be a guest the forum for other events! For a lot of other folks run events for Nephele: We’ll probably also happened recently: Wildstar’s awesome community judge, such as Toe Knee coming instance, Bonny Lass and Sno White us to attend too! All work and no start posting about it six weeks Battle for Farside (Warhound): events, go find one and participate! out to judge a costume contest... are running a dueling tournament play makes for a sad Nephele. :) or so in advance as we start A massive open-world PvP event Or better yet, start one up and let us y’know. Things like that. on Tuesdays starting in November. getting organized. So the best where players from both factions know the details. We will do our best Ellias: I agree that events like thing to do is just watch the gathered and battled for the low- to publish it in the magazine! (Our Chestnut: (#PappyForPresident) Having folks go out and support these bring out the best of an forums as Chestnut says. gravity moonscape of Farside! publication date is the 8th of each other folks and their events is how online gaming community, and I Whitevale Butcher Party (Jabbit): month, so be aware of the timing Ellias: Haha.. Toe Knee... we build an amazing game that can already hear murmurings of Ellias: Again, thank you and your This was the EU community’s of your event when contacting us.) that is something. people want to keep logging into. events being prepared here and team for putting this great event answer to the Battle for Farside. Contact e-mail: wildstar@ there from different servers. together. Thayd was bustling with Which one was bloodier? Go watch gameonmag.com Chestnut: It killed me Nephele: ThaydFest was a ton of activity, and it was very encouraging the YouTube videos and find out! Name of Event / Server / Faction when he made the stream work, but it was absolutely worth it Is there a preferred forum to see people just having fun all Revenge of Malgrave Trail (Jabbit): / Date and Time / Brief Description toon with that name. when we got to see everyone coming post or a contact person for around the city and beyond. Malgrave Trail… with an evil out and having fun. The next one those who would want to get twist! An open-world PvP event Ellias: I can imagine all the will probably happen in early spring, involved in the next event? Nephele: Thanks for taking the where each faction chooses an By Tadamichi Hosokawa viewers facepalming at once. and we’re hoping to make it bigger time to talk to us Ellias! Before we ‘escort’ who they must defend

18 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 19 about 270 people here so getting of been messing with each other. GameOn: Can you talk all those people thinking towards I don’t know if you guys have seen us through an average day the same direction, and then our Vines, we do a lot of stuff where in your working week? working on something so that they we mess around and kind of do that Stephan: Mine personally is understand what WildStar is and stuff just that we’re not like, “Hey, talking with lots of teams. We do

INTERVIEW what we are trying to accomplish we’ve worked a 12 hour day let’s just daily stand ups. I’m kind of boring with the game, is very difficult. get in front of a computer and work compared to the average designer So I am happy that the majority of on it.” You just slowly get driven who gets to come up with fun ideas the people here understand the insane. Random Story, not office and things like that. I just make direction that WildStar is going and related: We went to Pax Prime and sure that people are on task and whether it’s design or whether it’s gamescom in 2011. I was sharing a doing the things that they need to art, everybody here gets it. So co- room with some people and I was do. Sometimes people will just drift ordinating all those things and then so exhausted from the travelling off and go “Wow, I want to work on getting them done in a reasonable back and forth and the jet lag and this” and I’m like “What are you INTERVIEW WITH amount of time is a very difficult all that stuff. One of the guys I was doing? We need to get this thing task, but we did it - so that’s good. in a room with was snoring and I done,” so hurting people is a big STEPHAN FROST - was not awake, and I just yelled at thing for me. So it is daily stand ups GameOn: You mentioned the him in my sleep and I didn’t even and talking with folks to make sure DESIGN PRODUCER 270 plus people in the office. I know it. It was kind of weird and that there aren’t any issues, and if can imagine that not only being so the next day he was like, “Did there are issues they are brought AT CARBINE STUDIOS a challenge to manage them you yell at me in your sleep?” and I up to the right people. We have to He is also the dev speaker for videos and has been working with design teams for the past four but also control them in certain was like, “I don’t remember, what make sure the creative direction is years, making sure they get their deliverables done on time, quality checking and more. Most aspects. In the offices I have you are talking about,” and he was in a way that we should all be going. recently though, he has been working on the publishing side, helping get the game launched. worked in, there have been quite like, “No - you did,” and I started to Sometimes people are like “I want a lot of office pranks going on, remember. So we have tons of weird to add this really, really dark sort of GameOn: Can you summarise epicly huge, so when creating it, make an MMO, you’re making six and I was wondering if there was experiences over the years trying angle on something” and we are, WildStar in 10 words or less? we needed to create a creative games, so we had to unify those. If anything like that in your offices? to work together, whether that’s in “Wow - that is a little too brutal man, Stephan: It’s an action combat assembly line on how we are going you look at something like housing, Stephan: I would say so. I think the office or travelling out on the let’s tone it down a little bit” or vice massively multiplayer online game. to make content for the game. How we did a really good job of saying, you kind of go insane if you don’t road. There’s been a lot of beers, versa. There’s a lot of talking with are we going to make dungeons? “Well, we are going to put all these mess around with people a little bit. a lot of hungover people at events people in general, going to other GameOn: What sort of How are we going to make housing elements from all the things you There are a lot of Nerf Darts that but usually they are a lot more fun teams if maybe there is a prop that hurdles were there to overcome available? Is it going to be PvP? love in all these different systems usually kind of hit me in the face when you’re hungover and you’ve somebody needs on the design during the design process? Then we make sure that they play and give you benefits of all those and/or other people and there’s got some nachos the next day. team to complete the quest. I have Stephan: Well, this game is well together. Really, when you things”. So that was huge. We have a ton of times when we have kind to go and talk to those people and

20 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 21 about 270 people here so getting of been messing with each other. GameOn: Can you talk all those people thinking towards I don’t know if you guys have seen us through an average day the same direction, and then our Vines, we do a lot of stuff where in your working week? working on something so that they we mess around and kind of do that Stephan: Mine personally is understand what WildStar is and stuff just that we’re not like, “Hey, talking with lots of teams. We do

20 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 21 computers” and we are like, ”You put this in and maybe we can cut that has never heard of WildStar I GameOn: What features during know we want to have this cool thing something else”. So doing stuff like think it’s a very personality-driven development had to be cut from the where he puts a virus in that kills that makes my job challenging, but game, whether that’s in our art style game that you wish had ended up in millions of people,” - “No no no - don’t get me wrong, it’s also pretty or whether that’s in our lore. It’s just the final product, and reasons why? Sith don’t program” then that sucks. cool that we can add in things like a fun experience to have rather than Stephan: Well I can give you one It limits your creativity, so luckily I that that people really react well to. the usual dreary, brown, gritty MMO and I can’t give you another. One that

INTERVIEW think with us we are able to come thing that you see every time you I was really bummed that we had to up with this zany stuff and have it GameOn: So you mentioned play a game which is “WE’RE STILL cut because I think it’s really cool, be ok. Sometimes we go too zany that WildStar being a new IP, so DARK AND GRITTY. EVERYTHING IS and I don’t know that we won’t do it and then we dial it back but for the for those who may not have heard SO BRUTAL” .WildStar has a great in the future, but I can’t really ruin most part is was just coming up with about WildStar or haven’t quite feel to it which comes across in the surprise on that one because it’s those ideas and then also having got in to it yet, for you, what makes our combat and in our housing, all freaking awesome and PR would kill these things, specifically here at WildStar unique and why should sorts of stuff where you’re moving me for saying anything about that. Carbine, we have the mentality of if users decide to invest in it? constantly and having to kind of The other one is we had fishing in you can prototype something that’s Stephan: WildStar is one of the think about stuff. It’s not just “Oh, the game but it was rocket fishing. fun and interesting we’ll usually few MMOs I think that actually does tab targetting. I’m going to hit my Basically you had a bazooka and you find a way to work it into the game. humour well and has a personality three buttons so that I kill the mob would aim at the ocean and then So hoverboards, for example, was that is memorable. We say in front of me” -’ I’ve got to move, blow up fish and that was how you say, “Hey, when are you going to when we were making this game, a programmer and an artist just personality not just because we are stay alive and interrupt correctly. did the fishing. We had a model for finish your thing” or try to convince it was kind of like we’re going to designing and making hoverboards. humorous - we do a lot of humour I think that kind of separates us it, it was like a shark cannon, you them to finish it sooner, then have come up with something we think We didn’t plan it or say “we’re going things, but personality also suggests from other games in that regard. I could shoot in in water and hit stuff. somebody else yell at me because is cool. So when we come up with to make hoverboards and it’s going that there can be more than just think fun is a little more paramount The problem is it just wasn’t quite up I’ve changed somebody else’s plan a new idea on the design side it to be the best thing ever,” they put humor. That we have characters for us rather than having to stick to our standard of what we thought of action. It’s a lot of stuff like that. is kind of interesting because we it in and did it in their free time. We that are jerks, maybe they’re nice, to the story. That for me is the was fun and something we could do can go, “Hey - more people?! We said “Damn this is awesome, we maybe they’re sarcastic, maybe interesting thing about WildStar. by launch. We wanted to focus on GameOn: So what is the want to do this. Can you work in a need to add this into the game,” they’re whatever but for somebody trade skills being as good as they most exciting thing about story about this stuff?” and usually and sometimes to the chagrin of working on WildStar for you? they will say, “Yeah, we’ll come up myself, because I’m a producer Stephan: It’s a new IP. I’ve worked with a storyline for that, or we’ll so my job is getting things done at a lot of different companies add some sort of thing for this,” as on time, don’t add things because where you have to work on Hannah opposed to if we were working on that usually means delaying the Montana or Batman, whatever it is Star Wars or something. If we came project so it means saying “Okay and you have to stick to the standard up with a cool idea for a Sith and we - well what are we going to have that has been set by somebody that had some brand manager going, to re-jig around the schedule to you don’t even know. So, luckily “I’m sorry - Sith don’t program make sure that we can actually

22 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 23 computers” and we are like, ”You put this in and maybe we can cut that has never heard of WildStar I GameOn: What features during know we want to have this cool thing something else”. So doing stuff like think it’s a very personality-driven development had to be cut from the where he puts a virus in that kills that makes my job challenging, but game, whether that’s in our art style game that you wish had ended up in millions of people,” - “No no no - don’t get me wrong, it’s also pretty or whether that’s in our lore. It’s just the final product, and reasons why? Sith don’t program” then that sucks. cool that we can add in things like a fun experience to have rather than Stephan: Well I can give you one It limits your creativity, so luckily I that that people really react well to. the usual dreary, brown, gritty MMO and I can’t give you another. One that

22 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 23 could be and so if we added this it Stephan: Don’t be a dick in at the game. I think one way they playing and you’ll see them going would have been another thing that dungeons - that would be my can do that and improve on that “That’s impossible - nobody can get we would have had to do, which number one point. We have some kind of thing is, when you are in a out of those” but it’s not impossible might have lowered the quality of pretty difficult dungeons and I don’t dungeon, sometimes people have actually. It’s totally possible it’s just other stuff. So, it’s a fun mechanic in think they’re difficult from our never played in a dungeon so they that you’re terrible. But you can theory and I think it’s one that we’re perspective of “we like to be jerks don’t know what to deal with and get better though, you can learn,

INTERVIEW working on getting out to players so and make people die and laugh”, so if you’ve done it multiple times, better save my dodges and don’t you’ll see it in the future, it’s just as although we do to a degree. I think talking with them and telling them use them early. The cool thing is to when, that is the question. We just that the difficulty is something that your strategy I think really does when you watch a player who has want to make sure it’s fun, we don’t you can look at and understand it, it help. I’ve done it myself numerous played through these multiple want to put anything in that’s not fun. is communicated well I think. So if a times and people have given me and playing with it. I thinks it’s a veteran versions are pretty difficult. times, it’s highly impressive because telegraph said “Oh oh, I’d better get guild invites at the end of it . It’s like rewarding experience in the end. You earn the title of veteran if you you think “damn, this guy knows GameOn: Speaking of future out of that red or I’ll die” and usually you’re going to war and you survive Also go to people’s housing plots. We get a gold on those things. In my what he is doing” so to me that is a developments, now that WildStar you can see when those things are some crazy attack and you’re like have a feature that allows you to go opinion those things are absolutely testament to balance and stuff like has been released, what plans are going to happen. So when people “That was amazing guys, we’re to neighbours or just randomly tour brutal. The regular dungeons that but there are always going to there that you can talk about to help are in there sometimes they just going to be friends for life”. That’s through some random dude’s house are still difficult but they are not be people that will complain and the game grow and develop more give up and then quit and then tell kind of what the dungeons are like so you can start chatting them up insurmountable. I think a majority say that they’re too hard or they’re from the average player’s angle? everybody else that they’re terrible so it’s just a matter of being patient and talking with them. That’s great. of people that go through those too difficult and we kind of don’t things understand what’s happening, care. There’s loads of other content GameOn: So, you mentioned it’s just a matter of amassing the for you to do in the game. It would about people rage quitting. skills that you are given in WildStar. be one thing if we said that “ok - Obviously that is more down to Everybody has the tools to survive dungeons are the only way that you the actual player rather than the the leveling dungeons. Everybody. can level” then that means we’re game being too difficult, but what By the time you get to level 20 and cutting out a huge chunk of our sort of challenges did you face you’re playing through Stormtalon player base and saying good luck, when you were trying to balance or Kel Voreth whether it is dodging, have fun. But we’re not doing that the difficulty in the dungeons? double jumping, interrupting or here. Dungeons are opt in - you don’t In particular so that they are group interrupting you are given have to do dungeons. I think our PVE not ridiculously easy for the pro those mechanics. It’s a question of content is completely doable by the players but then not ridiculously can you effectively use them. What’s average gamer. We can make those hard for the new players? funny is that we watch streams all things difficult because it’s opt in so Stephan: Well I think we did it the time, we always say that the devs that’s how we balance plus it’s more in a couple of ways. One of those are always listening on all our videos fun when you beat it. You feel like ways was we made veteran versions and it’s absolutely true. We watch you have actually earned something and we made regular versions. The through the live streams of people as opposed to just being handed this.

24 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 25 could be and so if we added this it Stephan: Don’t be a dick in at the game. I think one way they playing and you’ll see them going would have been another thing that dungeons - that would be my can do that and improve on that “That’s impossible - nobody can get we would have had to do, which number one point. We have some kind of thing is, when you are in a out of those” but it’s not impossible might have lowered the quality of pretty difficult dungeons and I don’t dungeon, sometimes people have actually. It’s totally possible it’s just other stuff. So, it’s a fun mechanic in think they’re difficult from our never played in a dungeon so they that you’re terrible. But you can theory and I think it’s one that we’re perspective of “we like to be jerks don’t know what to deal with and get better though, you can learn,

24 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 25 INTERVIEW

GameOn: You mentioned that all the time. We have an internal off payment such as Guild Wars? you sit and watch people stream. e-mail address for fixing live issues Stephan: There were a few Has there been anything, besides or things like that and it basically reasons. One of them was that I bugs, that a player has done whilst goes out to a group of people who always make the comparison that you’ve been watching, that you have review those e-mails and assess the HBO costs extra per month, it’s a then only realised is possible in importance so we watch those on a subscription and people pay for it the game? For instance a certain regular basis and try to improve it. regularly without batting an eyelid. sequence of moves that work well When we do add in fixes or things And the reason that they do that is together or something similar? like that we always have to take because the content is good and Stephan: We were doing that into consideration how important so, if you have things like Game of in Beta, so not even before launch is it because there is a chance that Thrones and True Detective on your we were watching people play we could break something if we channel people are like “Damn - this live streams. There was a cheat, try to hotfix it in and then break is awesome - I’ll pay extra every something like a double dodge super something else for somebody else month for this stuff”. You have things leap that could get you super far and then we have people flipping like Netflix, and these Amazon if you timed them correctly and so desks and it’s terrible. It’s all about services that are coming out as well. there would be people that would triaging and understanding what It’s not unusual to have subscription put up YouTube videos or stuff like is important and what isn’t. services. Subscriptions are how we “How to double dodge super jump are paying for everything, Spotify, to your heart’s content”… so we said GameOn: As of late quite a lot of loads of stuff. It’s not unusual. The ok we are going to fix that. So we MMOs have been going slightly more thing is it also allows us to give look into things like that. There was towards the Free-to-Play model. everybody everything in the game. one where you could run up the side Why did Carbine decide that WildStar You’ll notice that there are no micro of a dungeon wall and just skip all was going to be subscription based transactions. It not like “You can only sorts of trash mobs. We see stuff rather than free to play or a one get these player classes by doing

26 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 27 INTERVIEW

26 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 27 these things”. In free-to-play games based and then you get everything usually don’t have an issue with it. you sometimes feel dirty, because For example, you get the unicorn it a case of “We can’t let players do GameOn:Will you be mount. But beyond that, if they are this they are actually going to have implementing a trial system at all? saying “if you want to level faster fun the whole time so we’re going to At the moment people have to either or if you want to get this ultimate charge for it”. We wanted to set it up buy the game outright or watch weapon that is super badass and

INTERVIEW to where it was. We did subscription videos to give them an idea how the only way that you can be the based stuff, we’re going to give it looks. Are there any try before best is by buying this” and you are people stuff constantly and the other you buy systems on the horizon? paying your subscriptions, then I angle that what we are doing is we Stephan: We do actually have a think that is not a good move. are adding content every month. So free trial. If you buy a subscription last month we did a whole zone, we for the game you can give 3 passes GameOn: Will we be seeing did a new Post-cap Playspace which to your friends for a week. You can any more races or classes added is all end game content; we added give them out and they can play in to WildStar in the future? a new mount, new skins, we added as long as they want for up to a Stephan: I think that there is a loads of stuff and it’s all part of your week and if they get to level 30, in possibility. But any time soon? No. subscription. So we are not nickel- that week, they can subscribe and I think the majority of what we are and-diming anybody, you are paying they get to keep that character and focussing on right now is making that $15 a month but it should be continue playing from that point sure that the content we have is worth it, and it is on us to make on. That is definitely in there and good and that we are continually sure we put in content that is worth there also might be some stuff in updating, so that’s bug fixing, that’s it because if it isn’t then we are the the future that we might do here optimising and that’s creating ones not making money. So we went and there that you’ll see, but I content for things like PvP. For that route just because we felt that it can’t really talk about right now. example, very soon you are going worked well with what WildStar was to see a brand new battleground. doing. Not to say that those other GameOn: You mentioned about So it’s stuff like that that makes the models aren’t valuable and that microtransactions and how they current game more enjoyable with you can’t make money off them but leave a bad taste in your mouth, different systems. So will you see there are a lot of times that we’ve so what is your personal opinion more stuff any time soon? No. Will seen in MMOs where we feel that on in-game purchases? you see it in the future? Maybe. it is a little rough having to pay for Stephan: It depends on the game some of this stuff that we’re making and so redundant what they are you pay for. You could be having trying to sell. There are subscription fun - but not any more. We just games that do have them and By GameOn Magazine said to hell with that - subscription usually if they are vanity related I

28 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 29 these things”. In free-to-play games based and then you get everything usually don’t have an issue with it. you sometimes feel dirty, because For example, you get the unicorn it a case of “We can’t let players do GameOn:Will you be mount. But beyond that, if they are this they are actually going to have implementing a trial system at all? saying “if you want to level faster fun the whole time so we’re going to At the moment people have to either or if you want to get this ultimate charge for it”. We wanted to set it up buy the game outright or watch weapon that is super badass and

28 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 29 another addon author (the names your addons folder, ADDONS & might change). Some addons might and you’re done! even be implemented in the default GUIDE CUSTOMIZATION 101 UI in future patches, and thus not The short way: necessary to have installed anymore. Curse.com provides a Addons: you may have heard, used them, or even created them in other games! Addons allow client that will install the players to fully customize their user interface (UI), and WildStar takes that to the next level. will need to type /reloadui and hit enter to reload your UI. nlike other games, Best of all, it’s free! • BetterQuestLog: Cleans up there are no differences the quest log and makes it Hit ‘Esc’ -> Addons -> Ubetween a Carbine addon What are some good much more easier to navigate. Select the addon from the developer and an external addon addons to start with? • MailAttachmentGrabber: With list. If the status indicator is developer. If they can do it, you can the click of a button, it will green, you are good to go! do it. This means there are no hidden The following addons will greatly automatically open all your Wait. How do you install addons automatically for you, as Otherwise, click “Change APIs (coding), or special permissions increase your quality of life in the mail and collect the gold and all these addons? long as you download them from the Load Rules”, and select “Load required to create these addons. game, and save you a ton of time. items. (Extremely useful if Curse website. It will also track and Addon”. Click the Reload UI you use the Auction House The long way: notify you when addons need to be button on the bottom right Every single element in • Junk It: Automatically sell and Commodity Exchange). 1. Type %APPDATA%\NCSOFT\ updated, which saves a lot of time. and it should load right up! the UI is customizable, so the your “junk” (common items • ItemPreviewImproved: As the WildStar in the address bar. possibilities are endless! that have literally no use) name suggests, it improves 2. Create a folder called Now, how do I customize As for accessing the addon’s from your inventory. the preview function (Ctrl + “addons” if it doesn’t addons in-game? settings and options, some already exist. addons will have their own Where can I find and “BEST OF ALL, IT’S FREE!” 3. Download the addon (it usually First, make sure the addon is buttons appear on the left-hand download addons? comes in a .zip file). Drag the loaded. If you installed the addon side under the options menu • TapThat: Automatically Right-click). It allows you to folder inside the zip file into while having WildStar open, you (Esc). If there isn’t, almost all One of the best source for completes CSIs (Client Side preview items on the Auction addons have a slash command addons is on Curse.com Interactions) when you House, quest rewards, chat to access its options panel. Refer start them (it includes the links, challenges, need vs to the addon description on that This website categorizes Rapid Tap, Press and Hold, greed window, and even addon’s webpage on Curse.com. addons by popularity, types, Metronome and Memory items you cannot equip. and most recently updated. (“Simon Says”) sequences That’s it! Happy addon hunting! You will easily find a wide variety: that you often see in quests). This is just the tip of the iceberg! unit frame artwork, damage meters, It does not, however, some extremely convenient addons, automatically break you Keep in mind: Addons may By Nadine Tawney and even silly, just-for-fun addons. from CC (crowd control). get discontinued or taken over by

30 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 31 another addon author (the names your addons folder, ADDONS & might change). Some addons might and you’re done! even be implemented in the default GUIDE CUSTOMIZATION 101 UI in future patches, and thus not The short way: necessary to have installed anymore. Curse.com provides a Addons: you may have heard, used them, or even created them in other games! Addons allow client that will install the players to fully customize their user interface (UI), and WildStar takes that to the next level. will need to type /reloadui and hit enter to reload your UI. nlike other games, Best of all, it’s free! • BetterQuestLog: Cleans up there are no differences the quest log and makes it Hit ‘Esc’ -> Addons -> Ubetween a Carbine addon What are some good much more easier to navigate. Select the addon from the developer and an external addon addons to start with? • MailAttachmentGrabber: With list. If the status indicator is developer. If they can do it, you can the click of a button, it will green, you are good to go! do it. This means there are no hidden The following addons will greatly automatically open all your Wait. How do you install addons automatically for you, as Otherwise, click “Change APIs (coding), or special permissions increase your quality of life in the mail and collect the gold and all these addons? long as you download them from the Load Rules”, and select “Load required to create these addons. game, and save you a ton of time. items. (Extremely useful if Curse website. It will also track and Addon”. Click the Reload UI you use the Auction House The long way: notify you when addons need to be button on the bottom right Every single element in • Junk It: Automatically sell and Commodity Exchange). 1. Type %APPDATA%\NCSOFT\ updated, which saves a lot of time. and it should load right up! the UI is customizable, so the your “junk” (common items • ItemPreviewImproved: As the WildStar in the address bar. possibilities are endless! that have literally no use) name suggests, it improves 2. Create a folder called Now, how do I customize As for accessing the addon’s from your inventory. the preview function (Ctrl + “addons” if it doesn’t addons in-game? settings and options, some already exist. addons will have their own Where can I find and “BEST OF ALL, IT’S FREE!” 3. Download the addon (it usually First, make sure the addon is buttons appear on the left-hand download addons? comes in a .zip file). Drag the loaded. If you installed the addon side under the options menu • TapThat: Automatically Right-click). It allows you to folder inside the zip file into while having WildStar open, you (Esc). If there isn’t, almost all One of the best source for completes CSIs (Client Side preview items on the Auction addons have a slash command addons is on Curse.com Interactions) when you House, quest rewards, chat to access its options panel. Refer start them (it includes the links, challenges, need vs to the addon description on that This website categorizes Rapid Tap, Press and Hold, greed window, and even addon’s webpage on Curse.com. addons by popularity, types, Metronome and Memory items you cannot equip. and most recently updated. (“Simon Says”) sequences That’s it! Happy addon hunting! You will easily find a wide variety: that you often see in quests). This is just the tip of the iceberg! unit frame artwork, damage meters, It does not, however, some extremely convenient addons, automatically break you Keep in mind: Addons may By Nadine Tawney and even silly, just-for-fun addons. from CC (crowd control). get discontinued or taken over by

30 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 31 BELLE WALKER

Belle Walker, a lively and enthusiastic scientist working for the Exiles on Nexus. Her father, Dorian Walker, rediscovered the planet and was instrumental in influencing her to found the XAS.

er blonde hair, short red founder of the XAS (Exile Academy has no clue as to the technology’s uses

NPC PROFILE NPC top, brown shorts and of Science). Rarely displaying any until it’s too late. Her father, Dorian, Hspiked navy pauldron offers sort of restraint when it comes to encourages her morbid curiosity with a juxtaposition to her nerd-esque long discovery of the scientific variety, she’s Eldan tech, having given her childhood Coach’s socks and steampunk goggles more than happy to press any large, presents of found relics. There’s even always on her head -- just in case she red buttons she happens across. an issue of Tales from Beyond the uncovers abandoned Eldan tech to Fringe chronicling an early mishap that tinker with. Two scanbots follow her At Site 14, Algorac, an accident would have resulted in her death if it everywhere, acting as two sides of her involving an annihilator resulted in wasn’t for her two metallic companions. ego. Rusty, a buoyant and cheerful local wildlife and her scientist team scanbot that is infatuated with it’s being augmented. Nihilistic curiosity Despite her many mishaps, she owner; and Bolt, cynical and fatalistic. is passed down from her father, and can always be found in and around while some Exiles find this to be a Eldan ruins in Exile territory, tinkering As a human appearing in her dangerous trait; Dorian, Belle and at some new artifact. After all, her mid twenties, Belle Walker’s the XAS may be the only reason that father always told her: If at first you technological experience would the Exiles made landfall on Nexus. don’t succeed, try breakin’ somethin’. cause even Steve Wozniak to shuffle a foot for embarrassment. She’s Even though repairing and activating By Mike Baker an unashamed technologist and alien tech is a speciality, Belle often

32 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 33 BELLE WALKER

Belle Walker, a lively and enthusiastic scientist working for the Exiles on Nexus. Her father, Dorian Walker, rediscovered the planet and was instrumental in influencing her to found the XAS. er blonde hair, short red founder of the XAS (Exile Academy has no clue as to the technology’s uses

32 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 33 Josie Konzelman

WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 34 WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 35 Josie Konzelman

WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 34 WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 35 This tutorial assumes you are Your Cassian Floor will act as advantage of the fence’s nice somewhat familiar with the controls the back wall of your fireplace. stone base and show it off.

GUIDE in the housing system. Advanced Line it up with your Draken Floor, mode is highly recommended for aligned to your house’s wall. But this fence is so uneven! precise rotating controls and use of Why aren’t there pillars at both NEXUS BETTER the copy and paste buttons. Make Now we’re getting somewhere! ends? Not to worry. Take your next sure you’re in edit mode (Ctrl-F6) This is where the magic is in piece and rotate it 90 degrees. HOMES & PLOTS and open your crate (Ctrl-F3). housing. Your Metal Fire Pit will look You’ll end up with this - As the days grow shorter and the weather grows colder, we long for huge and unruly when you first place the warmth of our home away from home - on Nexus, of course. What The Exile Spacious House. A it. Scale it way down, and sink it into Line up your other two fences better way to welcome yourself in than with a cozy fireplace? perfect blank canvas to begin with! your Draken Floor to hide as much appropriately and you won’t see metal as you can. Advanced mode the difference! Clipping items into s the days grow shorter lovely custom fireplace and be - If you’ve been playing a lot of War Place your first Draken Floor, and will help you find the best angle. each other is A-OK with this building and the weather grows the envy of all your neighbors. of the Wilds, you may already own the line it up with the top of your house system. If you see textures flickering Acolder, we long for the “Small Campfire” item. This is a fine wall’s baseboard. I didn’t resize this Safety first! Every fire place because they’re lined up too closely warmth of our home away from While there are a huge variety substitute for the fire pit if you want from the default setting, but you should have some kind of gate in together, use advanced mode to home - on Nexus, of course. What of items you can purchase from to use things you already have. may be able to make something front of it. Scale down your first adjust some of your numbers. A better way to welcome yourself Architects to work with, this tutorial more grandiose if you have the Rusted Iron Fence and place it in small tweak on your X or Y axis in than with a cozy fireplace? uses items you can purchase This will be enough to make the space, or smaller if you don’t have front of your Draken Floor. This won’t be noticeably uneven, and it straight off the housing vendor on basic structure. If you’d like to place one of the spacious houses. is why we placed the first piece will stop the items from flashing. There are some fireplaces you your plot. Ctrl-F4 is your default the additional decor shown in the higher up - we’re going to take can purchase from Architects or find keybinding to bring up the menu. introduction image, here’s the list: as random drops that are good to go, no mess and no fuss; a modern Here are the items for • Aurin Shelf x1 @ 2500r Chua-Tech Heatrod Fireplace, or an your shopping list: • Animal Skull with Exile Hologram Fireplace for when Tusks x1 @ 500r you don’t want to pay for more wood. • Cassian Floor x1 @ 20s = 20s • Fancy Floral Arrangement • Cassian Pillar x3 @ 10s = 30s Vase x1 @ 50s But what’s a Nexian to do • Draken Floor x2 @ 20s = 40s • Alchemist’s Books x1 @ 1500r if none of those options are • Granok Wall x8 @ 25s = 2g • Small Picture Frames appealing? Never fear! Through • Metal Fire Pit x1 @ 4g = 4g x1 @750r WildStar’s robust housing system, • Rusted Iron Fence x3 @ 1g = 3g • Picture Frame you can make your own! For (Hoogle) x1 @50s under 10 gold, you can have a Total Cost: 9g, 90s • Total Cost: 1g, 4750 renown

36 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 37 This tutorial assumes you are Your Cassian Floor will act as advantage of the fence’s nice somewhat familiar with the controls the back wall of your fireplace. stone base and show it off.

36 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 37 So now you have a fire You built that! A very fine creation surround by a gate. Time to indeed. But what’s a fireplace close off those flames into without a mantle? Do you have

GUIDE a proper chamber. Take two some spare Renown? An Aurin of your Cassian Pillars, and Shelf is a very classy option - overlap them with the middle pillars of the Rusted Iron Fence Time to load that mantle up with pieces you used on each side. knick knacks and tchotchke! You Fill in the space between the gotta make that house look lived-in! pillars and the wall with two of your Granok Walls, like so - Much better. Now sit back and admire your work. YOU built that! Again, there’s a lot of items sinking into the house’s floors and Epilogue: A Word of Caution walls, which is OK!/perfectly fine/ etc. Top off your main chamber Always take into consideration with your second Draken Floor. where you will be building your Your third Cassian Pillar will custom projects before you get be used to frame the edge. too far into them. Otherwise you’ll end up with this great fireplace Depending on your house, this and half of your pieces are sticking might be where you would like through the back wall into your to stop. You may have a shorter stairwell. Maybe that works for ceiling or you may prefer not to you. Maybe you’re a housing rebel have a smoke stack. If you need without a care. If not, I recommend a truly authentic fireplace, let’s building against walls that face the continue with our remaining outside. Your furniture will never Granok Walls. Shrink them to clip and will not be visible in the your preferred width and place outdoor section of your plot due them on top of our mantle area. to zoning, so you can go nuts! Depending on how tall you want or need this to be, you might Happy building! need to stack some on top of each other. This model uses By Kim Morgan six in total for the chimney.

38 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 39 So now you have a fire You built that! A very fine creation surround by a gate. Time to indeed. But what’s a fireplace close off those flames into without a mantle? Do you have

38 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 39 WILDSTAR WILDSTAR WORDSEARCH CROSSWORD

Sentinent beings from Nexus A puzzle about Nexus and it’s residents COFFEE BREAK COFFEE

Click this page to download the Wordsearch! Click this page to download the Crossword!

40 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 41 WILDSTAR WILDSTAR WORDSEARCH CROSSWORD

Sentinent beings from Nexus A puzzle about Nexus and it’s residents COFFEE BREAK COFFEE

Click this page to download the Wordsearch! Click this page to download the Crossword!

40 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 41 the prophet’s speech and all the on one of their allies. With some of air and lightning. Close at hand minions turn and attack. The battle quick thinking, the team disrupts are four minions on guard, doing THE UNTOLD is quickly finished; the odds always the chant in order to save their party his bidding. The party decides that

GUIDE in their favor. As they follow the member. Once the party learns what nothing will get between them and STORIES OF Invoker’s escape route deeper into to disrupt, this foe becomes an easy the truth, so they all work together the cave, they run into a Thundercall to formulate a plan of attack. STORMTALON’S LAIR Sentinel and Thundercall Shaman. Glyavr chooses to be the one to After engaging these two distract Blade-Wind while the “As adventurers you have survived hostile environments, scaled mountains, they notice that the squad rest of the group focuses on and battled Nexus natives; now you must dive deeper to unlock the is not able to down the defeating him. Glyavr charges secrets of Nexus in search of the Thundercaller’s new god” Sentinel because the Shaman into battle and angers the Invoker. is healing for the majority of In return, he reacts with a giant ur adventure party a Mordesh Soldier; Spellslinger The adventurers enter his health. Each adventurer now cross-lighting attack that the party includes a mish-mash Gizmo, a Chua Scientist; and our cautiously through a portal at the focuses on the Shaman to interrupt was not expecting, forcing them to Oof members, the kind Medic Eldritch, a Cassian Settler. Thundercaller’s Camp into a cave his rejuvenation spell as it takes adjust their positions. Xeirphena is that would never mix unless under How this group came to be is none that opens up to a small staging two stuns to stop his casting. They now able to soothe them back to the most dire of circumstances. We other than a simple chain of events area. Minions bow down to the finish off the Thundercall Shaman full health. After a few minutes of have our Warrior Glyavr, a Granok that brought them all to the focal words of their prophet, Blade-Wind with ease and wor diligently to battle, everyone is knocked back Soldier; Esper Xeirphena, an point targeting Stormtalon’s Lair. the Invoker. A few seconds pass destroy the Sentinel who, without with a force so hard it separates Aurin Explorer; Stalker Project86, and the group’s invasion disturbs his Shaman friend, is no longer everyone’s weapons from their a match for the adventurers. hands. Lightning now begins to fall on random members of the After killing a few more party. Commencement of chaos Thundercallers along the path, the target to take down. A few more has now set in, the party dodging party is faced with a new foe; he battles harden their resolve to figure random lightning strikes over and seems to be a mage of some sorts out what is occurring in Stormtalon’s over for what seemed an eternity for the Thundercallers. The Storm Lair and how it may be terminated. - until Project86 had a revelation. Weaver, although he is alone, gives He stands a little too close to one the impression that he can conjure Finally, the party comes face to of the minions and a lightning bolt great power. This foe carries with face with Blade-Wind the Invoker for strikes one of them. Now the group him two interrupt armor and it will the second time. This time it looks startes dropping lightning on the take multiple party members to like he is going to hold his ground minions, slaying them quickly. They disrupt its casting ability’s. When and block any discovery of the notice that for every minion killed, the group finally engages the Storm truth. Hovering above the ground, a moving static field appears in its Weaver he begins channeling a spell Blade-Wind conjures the power place and stuns anyone in its path

42 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 43 the prophet’s speech and all the on one of their allies. With some of air and lightning. Close at hand minions turn and attack. The battle quick thinking, the team disrupts are four minions on guard, doing THE UNTOLD is quickly finished; the odds always the chant in order to save their party his bidding. The party decides that

42 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 43 jabbitt. After a few more slaves are Project86 and Eldritch to keep the now only Stormtalon stands in their released and foes vanquished, they enemies stunned and confused. way. The secrets of Nexus lay just arrive at a new opening in the cave. Following the death of these three beyond; the Datacron is now within

GUIDE creatures, the group is knocked back their grasp. Now they must devise Upon entering the room they find to the front of the room. Aethros a plan to take down Stormtalon and an elemental blocking their way spawns at the back of the room and claim their prize. They will have to deeper into the chasm. Aethros is begins casting his spell, the “Wrath figure this fight along the way. it’s name. Being the good friend of God”. The adventurers push that Eldritch is, he drops a Settler’s through the gauntlet of tornados Glyavr pulls Stormtalon close Campfire and they rest up as they and lightning strikes to disrupt his to the altar and notices that the decide how to approach their next casting. By now, they have come to other members are safe behind adversary. Project86 suggests they understand that he can summon the enemy. Glyavr is taking a just attack him head-on, being a an attack that can kill them in a medium amount of damage from Soldier in the Galactic Army; Gizmo single blow. The party works hard Stormtalon’s cleave of his massive- insists that they out-think their to take down Aethros’s health and claws. Then, for no apparent reason, opponent with his Scientist skills; he again dissipates.They fight off Stormtalon moves to the middle of Glyavr has heard enough and just the three foes this time with ease, the room. Immediately following, wants to get to the bottom of it. As making their way back through the an explosion of wind sends the they close in on Aethros, tornados gauntlet to slay Aethros. After the group flying backwards. The group for a few seconds and do a moderate Invoker. As the Invoker attempts the party of adventurers kill the begin to spawn, moving to the outer eradication of Aethros, the magical is stunned. They struggle to break amount of damage to any member to cast his spell again, Glyavr Thundercallers, they release the walls. This stops the group in its barrier blocking their progression to free and get back to Stormtalon. caught in its grasp. The party only and Project86 disrupt his cast hostages, one by one. The moment place. What else could this creature the end of the dungeon is unlocked. learns of this because Gizmo just and the party finishes him off. they release the third captive they summon if he has the potential A massive area of effect spell happens to be standing in its wake. face a new opponent: the Skyborn to control the wind so easily? The adventurers make haste, is now casting inward toward Gizmo aside, they continue to kill After the Invoker’s expiration, Tempest. This elemental has the slaying another ten foes until they Stormtalon. The whole group the minions. When they kill the last they acquire a medium-sized chest power of lightning and wind on his Glyavr maneuvers Aethros into finally come to the High Priest. He uses all their interrupt abilities to one, the group is knocked back a containing a few useful items for side. While Glyavr is trying to keep a safe position away from the other begins to give a speech about second time, disarming them yet the party. After resting for a few the other members of the team party members. The ground lights the new god being born and again. Frantically scurrying for minutes, they advance down the safe he is inadvertently cornered up with red as the team avoids the they stand back and their weapons, the boss raises his path into the next room and take against a wall as the Skyborn pure arcane energy, deadly to the watch Stormtalon staff and casts a large circle of red notice that there is no shortage Tempest charges, each charge touch. A few minutes pass and being birthed from onto the ground, with only a few of Shamans and Sentinels found leaving a static field trail behind Aethros vanishes, summoning some augmented small boxes of safety. They avoid within the bowels of Stormtalon’s him. Once the group predicts the three small elementals that attack. cocoon. They his cast, retrieve their weapons Lair. Slowly and carefully, they Skyborn Tempest’s movements, With the addition of the extra foes, have made it to and continue butchering the move into the next open cavern. As he is easier to drop than a blind Glyavr requests assistance from the end, and

44 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 45 jabbitt. After a few more slaves are Project86 and Eldritch to keep the now only Stormtalon stands in their released and foes vanquished, they enemies stunned and confused. way. The secrets of Nexus lay just arrive at a new opening in the cave. Following the death of these three beyond; the Datacron is now within

44 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 45 disturb the casting of his ability. Glyavr picks up the slack again and gets Stormtalon under control.

GUIDE They continue the fight and are knocked back a second time, but this time, they are ready. In between the knockback part of the fight, Stormtalon casts static circles on the group, but all they have to do to avoid it is to slowly move out of its path. Out of nowhere comes a windblast similar to the knockback, but this one makes the whole room red except for a small circle centered around one of the adventures. The party is fast on their feet and quickly put two and two together to get in the circle of safety. This cycle continues three more times until they finally annihilate Stormtalon. In the end, they retrieve the Datacron which leads them to more inquiring and less solutions. For all their effort they are rewarded with the Shaman’s personal stash. Every member finds something that will improve their competence to continue their search for the secrets of Nexus. As quickly as this party came together, the adventurers go their own ways, never to acknowledge their encounter.

By Ryan Stanley

46 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 47 disturb the casting of his ability. Glyavr picks up the slack again and gets Stormtalon under control.

By Ryan Stanley

46 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 47 WHY I LIKE and have taken the challenge out of 6. DIFFICULTY: so often I backtrack to do tasks gaming. Hand-holding you through until I’m a little more equipped. WILDSTAR: A SCI FI missions and giving you massive Carbine has returned to a more bonuses to get through any fights difficult model of play. With minimal 5. COMBAT: OPINION GEEK’S GUIDE that could be formidable. Games hand-holding and truly difficult that have multiplayer and single- mobs, Wildstar is attempting There was nothing worse when For a geek born in the late 70s, video games became an escape from school-yard player offer little more than a few to find the balance that some trying to learn World of Warcraft bullies. Sci-Fi became an escape from the grind of life in small-town Australia. hours of easy gameplay, barely gamers are longing for. If you nine years in, standing still while When I got older, I learned to fit in, but my love of games and sci-fi only grew. preparing you for the tea-bagging encounter regular mobs that are battling was a challenge. I didn’t you’re going to receive if you dare too easy, there are always Primes. even realise that there was a Dodge here was a time, were designed to never be beaten; you tried nonetheless. A design played as loosely in multiplayer. If they’re too easy, there’s PvP. stat until level twenty of my first somewhere between though consisting of a small screen theory that has gone the way of the toon: there was the assumption Tthe Cretaceous Period made of a few dots, it allowed aforementioned period of prehistory. That brings me to the Being a player that levels in that everyone knew, so it was and the iPad, when video games escapism that television couldn’t. first of the top 6 reasons of: higher zones, I’ve found few games never explained in the beginner were made for geeks. Gallaga, They were amazing challenges, Some games have taken the ‘Why I love Wildstar’: that have offered the difficulty of guides. Guild Wars 2, another Asteroids and Space Invaders that you knew were hopeless, but easiness too far -- even MMO’s -- this one -- to the point that I die NCSoft title, used dodging with a

48 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 49 WHY I LIKE and have taken the challenge out of 6. DIFFICULTY: so often I backtrack to do tasks gaming. Hand-holding you through until I’m a little more equipped. WILDSTAR: A SCI FI missions and giving you massive Carbine has returned to a more bonuses to get through any fights difficult model of play. With minimal 5. COMBAT: OPINION GEEK’S GUIDE that could be formidable. Games hand-holding and truly difficult that have multiplayer and single- mobs, Wildstar is attempting There was nothing worse when For a geek born in the late 70s, video games became an escape from school-yard player offer little more than a few to find the balance that some trying to learn World of Warcraft bullies. Sci-Fi became an escape from the grind of life in small-town Australia. hours of easy gameplay, barely gamers are longing for. If you nine years in, standing still while When I got older, I learned to fit in, but my love of games and sci-fi only grew. preparing you for the tea-bagging encounter regular mobs that are battling was a challenge. I didn’t you’re going to receive if you dare too easy, there are always Primes. even realise that there was a Dodge here was a time, were designed to never be beaten; you tried nonetheless. A design played as loosely in multiplayer. If they’re too easy, there’s PvP. stat until level twenty of my first somewhere between though consisting of a small screen theory that has gone the way of the toon: there was the assumption Tthe Cretaceous Period made of a few dots, it allowed aforementioned period of prehistory. That brings me to the Being a player that levels in that everyone knew, so it was and the iPad, when video games escapism that television couldn’t. first of the top 6 reasons of: higher zones, I’ve found few games never explained in the beginner were made for geeks. Gallaga, They were amazing challenges, Some games have taken the ‘Why I love Wildstar’: that have offered the difficulty of guides. Guild Wars 2, another Asteroids and Space Invaders that you knew were hopeless, but easiness too far -- even MMO’s -- this one -- to the point that I die NCSoft title, used dodging with a

48 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 49 degree of success, though it uses quickly learn to get out of the way complement the tones of wicked tab-targeting, and dodge wasn’t and stop blaming the healers in adult-humour. Beautiful landscapes always efficient when facing curving raids for not doing their jobs. are bright and colour-filled, they bullets. Telegraphs in Wildstar work can be a little difficult to get well, with the exception of a few 4. ART: used to. Though once your eyes OPINION bugs that Carbine are working on. adjust, slow down and enjoy. Colourful comics are now In Wildstar’s combat system, turned to dark, angsty films and 3. STORIES: action takes the main role of games have followed suit. But not combat; while maintaining strategy Wildstar: it’s style is a return to I’m not only talking lore with it’s LAS’s (Limited Action fun comic art work that echoes --which is a major part of the Sets). You can always tell a WoW anime and young-adult western games enjoyability-- but the player on Nexus; standing still and cartoons of the 90s. Reflected in stories that have come out of rotating through abilities. They the races; cute, colourful images Nexus. Stories of the players.

The first month or two there was a lot of attention against people helping others with mobs. Now that attitude’s changed. More staying positive. In-game it is easy help. Their transparency helps based on The Jetsons; and having people are helping one another to get advice through the advice with Content Drops that haven’t hoverboards like Marty McFly’s. The randomly, leading to some great channel and more experienced gone as smoothly as hoped. nostalgic trance Nexus immerses stories, especially in the dailies players stumbling across me in is wonderful. And though and boss raids. Lore and roleplay struggling ones. Many times I’ve 1. REFERENCES: I want to endlessly talk on the based guilds are thriving, Carbine helped out and made some new easter-eggs hidden throughout, has even released naming guides stalkers (not the class, but the Now, to the main reason I I’ll refrain for brevity’s sake. after accepting player feedback. friendly, send you a jabbit-head love this game: pop-culture Immersion comes not only from in the mail kind) by intruding. references and, more importantly, There are many stories the stories that studios offer, but cult-culture references. coming to titillate sci-fi fanboys the players that help create them. The mentoring system and like me. So get your Protostar LFG (looking for groups) tool I grew up watching trashy sci- holo-rooms ready for the next 2. COMMUNITY: will help you meet other players fi and horror films. It’s exciting wave of quests, lore and loot. who are generally helpful. With seeing: creatures based on Critters Not just a great NBC show. Carbine’s support being excellent, (Chompacabra’s); Firefly-class Wildstar’s community is helpful you won’t have to wait long for starships laying in the waters of By Mike Baker and, despite some frustrations, information on bug-fixes general Malgrave; robots and flying cars

50 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 51 degree of success, though it uses quickly learn to get out of the way complement the tones of wicked tab-targeting, and dodge wasn’t and stop blaming the healers in adult-humour. Beautiful landscapes always efficient when facing curving raids for not doing their jobs. are bright and colour-filled, they bullets. Telegraphs in Wildstar work can be a little difficult to get well, with the exception of a few 4. ART: used to. Though once your eyes OPINION bugs that Carbine are working on. adjust, slow down and enjoy. Colourful comics are now In Wildstar’s combat system, turned to dark, angsty films and 3. STORIES: action takes the main role of games have followed suit. But not combat; while maintaining strategy Wildstar: it’s style is a return to I’m not only talking lore with it’s LAS’s (Limited Action fun comic art work that echoes --which is a major part of the Sets). You can always tell a WoW anime and young-adult western games enjoyability-- but the player on Nexus; standing still and cartoons of the 90s. Reflected in stories that have come out of rotating through abilities. They the races; cute, colourful images Nexus. Stories of the players.

50 // WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine WildStar Community Magazine The GameOn Magazine // 51 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Brothers: The Thoughts of Two Gamers

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Issue 48 • October 2013 52 • GameOn Magazine