Welcome to the 525th edition of Loading... If you aren't reading this in your e-mail, you could be. Sign Up

The Lord of the Rings Online Stress test begins today. If you were sent a key giving you access to the game then I encourage you to check it out. Our very own LotRO community received a face-lift yesterday. There isn't a more comprehensive LotRO community on the Interwebs.

If you read one gaming article today, read Brian Green's "Cheat while exploring, not while achieving". It is a very interesting take on strategy guides, quest databases and the like. Brian compares these crutches for Explorers to the bots used by Achievers. It's a novel way of looking at the situaion and one that I as an Achiever would probably never have taken much time to consider.

"There's one dichotomy I've found fascinating about online games: people get all bent out of shape if you cheat in terms of achieving. Botting is generally frowned upon by companies, and the mere hint of the possibility of buying items/characters sends people into a frenzy.

Yet, the equivalent behaviors relating to exploring aren't as vilified. Heading to a site to find quest location? Not a problem. Buy a strategy guy? Go right ahead!"

What a great topic! Though I mentioned that I hadn't considered this angle I suppose that in truth I have without really putting two and two together. I have always wished that MMOGs would reach a level where the hardware and software could relate a dynamic quest experience to the player. Developers have long been capable of dreaming up dynamic quest systems, but technical restraints have forced the current system of one solution per quest.

In a dynamic quest system there are no complete spoilers. Locations and objectives could change on a moment's notice. If you inject quest-chains into this system, the combinations and permutations grow to the point that very few individuals should have the same quest experience over the course of a game.

The real question I suppose is do true Explorers use spoilers? Does a true Explorer visit our WoW database or our Vanguard database and get the answer to the quest? I know Achievers do, but wouldn't that completely spoil the fun for an Explorer? I can't tell you, because I'm not one.

Explorers, map the way for me please.

[Vote, rank, share, comment!]

--

Guild Management has never been easier! Not sure what GuildPortal is, or what it can do for your Guild? Click here to read about what GuildPortal is, why it's the most imitated, and why people have been using GP since October of 2001 to host their Guild web sites!

Exclusive TenTonHammer.com Content!

02.23.2007

2Moons Closed Beta Account Contest
"The developers at Acclaim have been gracious enough to give Ten Ton Hammer several accounts for the 2Moons closed beta. To receive one of these accounts, all you have to do is submit your email and one question that you'd like to ask the developers of 2Moons. If you're lucky, you may see your question featured in an upcoming 2Moons interview!" Dungeons and Dragons Online: Quest Guide - Depths Of Despair
"In the depths of the sewers of House Deneith, Sslysk the troglodyte chieftain plots and plans. A group of intrepid adventurers must exterminate his menace. Darkgolem shows you how in his new quest guide to The Depths of Despair!" EverQuest 2: Illusionist Achievement Points
"Continuing the Ten Ton Hammer series on class Achievement Points, we now have added the Illusionist AP table! This table is a great out-of-game guide for choosing AP lines that are most useful for you and your playstyle." Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Weakness/Vulnerability Guide
"Last week we posted Zinn's Weakness/Vulnerability Chart to show you which vulnerabilities you can create and exploit in your opponents in Vanguard. But you wanted more information on how weaknesses and vulnerabilities are used. Who are we to deny you? Zinn has updated our chart with a handy FAQ. Check it out!" Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Wiki Contest Closing
"You've only got one more day to make your Diplomacy card entries into our Vanguard database and win one of our two copies of the Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Collector's Edition. So get busy, visit our wiki, and win!" Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Kojan Spawn Map
"Cartographer Sypher Bloodthron has complete his trio of spawn maps for the continents of Telon. Head on over to our Spawn Maps page and check out the new Kojan Spawn Map!" Warhammer Online: Bestiary Update
"Today we've got another update to our Bestiary. This update includes some revision to previous entries such as the Ghoul and Tomb King as well as the newly added Chaos Furie." Warhammer Online: Chaos Zealot Overview
"In case you hadn't seen it yet, we've posted the official Mythic information from the recent conference call into the Zealot description. Also added is an updated 'TenTonThought', so take some time out of your busy surfing and check it out."

Hot Content

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Kojan Spawn Map Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Wiki Contest Closing 2Moons Closed Beta Account Contest World of Warcraft: Arena Guide Op/Ed: GameStopped World of Warcraft: Thrall's Escape From Durnholde Keep Aion: New Art Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Wiki Contest Vanguard: Saga of Heroes - Hardcore Crafting Guide World of Warcraft: Patch 2.08 Now Available For Download

Real World News - You Can't Make This Up

Black iMacs
Judge not a Mac by the colour of its skin. U.S. Soldier Jailed For 100 Years
Will return to Iraq when prison term ends. Man Does 40 Squat Thrusts On Elephant
This life changing news brought to you by Thailand. Lawmaker Comes Down On Plastic Gonads
It's a ballsy move.

Vin Diesel Fact: Peanut butter does not stick to the roof of Vin Diesel's mouth.

Thanks as always for visiting TenTonHammer.com

- John "Boomjack" Hoskin

You can read previously enjoyed editions of Loading... in the blog archive.