How much of an MMO is button smashing and how much involves actual skill? This installment is an investigation of how armor choices and shield employment can yield more combat decisions.

I like stats as much as the next person (probably more), but when warfare is boiled down to raw probabilities, battlefield skill disappears. The building of the best stat base becomes much more important than any sort of tactical competency. Instead of seeking a skill based work-around, games come up with new statistical probabilities.

In this installment, Jonathan Steinhauer looks at the last MMO class archetypes, the Healer, and why this role at least is solidly developed.

The archetypal concept of the tank assumes that PvE opponents have the mental capacity of cattle. Instead of a monster intelligently attacking what would make his enemy most vulnerable (the Healer) or what is the greatest actual threat (the DPS), it attacks the one opponent that isthe smallest real threat and the hardest to kill: the Rodeo Clown... er Tank.

In this week's RoleCraft, Jim Moreno looks at the issue of player housing in MMOGs and how it can shape one's roleplay experience.

Starting a new series on the archetypal MMO classes, Jonathan Steinhauer begins by looking at DPS and the issue of hitting versus damaging.

This week on RoleCraft, Jim Moreno looks into how roleplayers can prepare for an adventure - Research, Plan, Go!

In this edition of RoleCraft, Jim Moreno wonders about a crucial element in tabletop gaming missing from the MMO - the Dungeon-Master.

In this installment, Jonathan Steinhauer takes a look at the weapons of fantasy MMOs and how they have all become identical.

Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir has been patched to v1.22. The latest patch contains a host of bug and campaign fixes. Read the official notes after the jump.

On this week's RoleCraft, Jim Moreno wonders how exactly one can define roleplaying in an MMO due to the absence of a key player in tabletop RPing - the Dungeon Master.

Jonathan Steinhauer takes a look at roleplaying and why he has such a hard time fitting it into the MMO genre.

In this week's RoleCraft, Jim Moreno tries his hand at role-writing, telling the story of one particular Blood Elf in the World of Warcraft.

In this week's RoleCraft, Jim Moreno tackles Blizzard's recent debacle with the RP-PvE realm, Wyrmrest Accord.

Game designers face many challenges, and one of the largest of these is balance. Yet curiously, one facet that seems to garner a much smaller degree is the economy. That isn't to say MMO economics don't get a great deal of attention but as they stand the balance is more reminiscent of a band-aid than any real resolution.

This week in RoleCraft, Jim Moreno looks back at the RP scene in one of the very first MMOs: Ultima Online

In many of my recent articles, I've proceeded from the assumption that real life comparisons with games are a logical and natural concept. Apparently, I am mistaken. I have been told that the game is fantasy or sci-fi and that means it's not supposed to be real. Yet one of the great strengths of the genres is their link with the human experience.

A look back at the RoleCraft articles for the year of 2008.

Everything that exists, both in fiction and in reality, has links to what has come before so nothing is truly original. The adage "there is nothing new under the sun" holds true. In order to achieve something that is measurable, I will investigate originality in the sense of what is commonly called new IP.

WarCry is proud to bring back one of our more popular features, the Neverwinter Nights 2 Persistent World Spotlight. This week, we're featuring "The Unapproachable East -- Thesk". See what they're all about by clicking below.

In this week's RoleCraft, Jim Moreno celebrates holiday celebrations in MMOs by looking at how RPers might tackle religion in a game.

Coming a scant day ahead of release, Thieves' Guild has posted their review of the Neverwinter Nights 2 expansion, Storm of Zehir. It's a dandy and sounds like Obsidian has another hit on their hands. Check it out after the jump.

When Tolkien, the father of modern fantasy, wrote "The road goes ever ever on," MMOs took him at his word. A large part of online gaming consists of traveling from one point to another, but when it takes so much time to get anywhere, frustration mounts. If I'm picking up a book or alt-tabbing to web surf or check e-mail instead of playing the game, there is something wrong with the dynamics.

The folks at NWN Podcast have posted episode 79, this time featuring "Daniel", the lead designer of the "Dungeon Master Friendly Initiative", a powerful package of DM tools for players of Neverwinter Nights 2. Check out what else is in store for listeners after the jump.

The good folks over at Thieves Guild have a brand spankin' new interview with the Obsidian Entertainment developers, currently celebrating the gold status of Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir. Grab a teaser and the link by clicking 'read more'.

In this week's RoleCraft, Jim Moreno looks at how the new WoW Achievement system could affect roleplaying.

Obsidian Entertainment has announced the gold status of the Neverwinter Nights 2 expansion, Storm of Zehir. The expansion is set to release later in November. Check out some of the game's features by hitting 'read more'.

Character stories area told in MMOs so frequently we often don't even recognize them for what they are. They will exist whether there are active world stories or not. Such tales survive even if they are completely ignored by the devs. But as with all things in gaming, with proper attention character stories can be made stronger.

In this week's RoleCraft, Jim Moreno looks at other RP-centric sites around the Internet.

In this week's RoleCraft, Jim Moreno looks at the options RPers have when dealing with the old MMORPG standby - the expansion pack.

In this week's "RoleCraft," Jim Moreno looks at the difficulties of scheduling RP events with an established group, and some of the solutions involved.

The latest edition of Neverwinter Nights Podcast is out for your Saturday listening pleasure. Once again featuring a ton of news, the folks at the Podcast also take on another 'Golden Dragon' award winner. Grab the link after the jump.

In this week's "RoleCraft," Jim Moreno looks at different ways to roleplay with weather effects in-game.

NWN Podcast has put together another interesting show. Those who are builders will be particularly happy with the show as the interview centers around the founders of the Community Tileset Project. Click below!

Obsidian Entertainment has released the Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir trailer from this year's E3. It's great looking stuff so treat your eyes by clicking below.