September 2006

The Gong of War and a pool of tranquility

stargrace September 7, 2006 0Comment

Silverstep, squishing Gurgrog the Carver, Champion of War

Yesterday two new quests were added to the game, live events in preparation of the gods returning to Norrath. The quests were divided by city again, Qeynos being able to do the one for Tranquility, located on the docks in Zek, and the Freeportians heading off to do the bidding of the god of war, along the back of Zek by DFC. Both quests rewarded house items, though I must say my Freeportian warden is feeling slightly neglected prize-wise, so I ran Ricotta (my only good aligned character) to Silverstep’s home, and dropped off her two items there to add to the growing collection of nick nacks and other random items.

The Qeynos quest was difficult, you get zoned into a version of DFC and are allowed 5 items to take with you. You’re sent to rescue 5 monks, using NO violence at all. The items are handy, things such as 30 seconds of an orc illusion, 60 seconds of run speed increase, an aoe mez, an aoe stun, things like that. The first time I died, badly. There are see invis mobs on your way, so you really have no choice but to use some of these items from the outset unless you are one of those lucky classes who can already feign death on your own. You run to the jail in DFC, have to click a few levers, and open some cages, then port the monks back to their home safely, again with no violence whatso ever even though the orcs seem to have no such restriction.

Reward is a pool that is a house item, buffs your power by 438. I love it. Or rather, Silverstep loves it.

The Freeport quest was much easier. You zone into a version of DFC and are told to defeat arena champions. It takes me back to my splitpaw days except it’s much much easier. The final mob is a level above me and pictured above. Reward, is a gong that can be placed in your house, and increases your attack speed by 10%. Sort of usless for my priest. Since I do spend so much time collecting house items for her though, it’s sitting by her weapon wall. I also took Ricotta and did the valor quest in the commonlands. I have to say. I hate beetles. You have to save some and even if they crawl right under your feet and you’re not moving at all, you are proclaimed to be a murderer. Ricotta didn’t like that at all. Reward, a very nice looking spear that can be placed on your wall, and gives a 438 hp buff. Also not sitting in Silverstep’s house.

Hopefully later today I’ll manage to completed the screaming mace. I’ve also got to pick up Ghoulsbane, and the Bone Bladed Claymore. Then Silverstep will only have two more heritage quests to complete, the ancient desert power, and the wurmslayer. I’ve been having some fun with the new tradeskill writs that were added back to the game. However. I hate the timed ones. They do seem to pass my levels quickly though. Problem is I’m a level 52 woodworker with Silverstep, and she needs *SO* many supplies, that can only be farmed in Sinking Sands, or Pillars of Flame. There are no other zones for T6 nodes. They are also CRAMMED with people farming, bots doing their bot thing, everyone and their cat and dog happens to be there. It’s frustrating when all I want to do is get out of this tier of tradeskilling.

Little Coercer who Could

stargrace September 6, 2006 0Comment

Stargrace hanging out in nektulos Castle, completing A missing Mask, and Hadden’s Earring

I’ve been on a heritage quest spree lately, helping to level both the guild and my own personal status numbers a little bit, so that maybe when the new expansion comes out in November, I can attempt to purchase a new mount. That, and Silverstep still owes a whole lotta rent on her 5-room house. So I took the coercer out to do her share. She’s completed 11 total now out of the 26. Eww. There’s a lot I’m leary of doing with her since she can’t exactly take the brunt of the hits from everyone.

Camped agony on Silverstep yesterday, which is the quest starter to screaming mace. Decided I’d had enough of hq’s though and just left it at that. I’m anxious for them to implement the tradeskill writs again, even though I’m not certain they’ll be as good as what I’m expecting (I’d prefer no timer on them and able to do a whole lot without too many restraints) – my main reason for wanting this is that I spent three hours tradeskilling with the 50 woodworker yesterday, and she only gets two new recipes a level. It’s becoming very painful on both resources and just plain… boring. Fuel is 23s each. It takes 10 fuel to make one item. I get 1.5% exp with full vitality. That’s a whole lot of crafted stuff to make just for one single level. I hate it even more then I hate leveling up a tailor and I hate that pretty bad. I’m hoping the writs will at least give me some more incentive into crafting with the lesser-liked tradeskillers. Stargrace has it easy, she’s already a level 70 provisioner, now if I could only get her adventure level to match. It’s hard to find a group for the coercer though. She’s not exactly dps, nor is she a healer, or a tank. Which means she’s utility to groups who already have all of the essential classes. It happens, after about 5 hours of looking for a group. Yes, I can take her to solo as well. Can only do that so often or for so long though before one is tired of it too.

Anyone need a pair of shoes?

stargrace September 5, 2006 0Comment

GEB’s, Jboots, and DWB, collected in Silverstep’s house

Silverstep finally completed saving soles, and added her golden boots to the collection by the doorway in her house. A huge thank you to Cordanim for letting me borrow his dps skills for the level 50 epicx2 that I was uncertain of solo’ing. Wardens just don’t come packed with dps. It took be about 5 tries to finish the instance, Baston of Flames. Mostly because the lava kept eatting me and I forgot how to do the zone solo without dying. Guild dinged 16 from it though, and it made my 20th HQ completed (finally). 6 more to go. Next I hope to get bone bladed claymore, ghoulsbane, and screaming mace completed.

On a side note…

I *really* wish they add status to heritage quest items that you use as house items. When you complete a HQ, if you have no interest in actually using the item, you can right click them and examin them, and place a mounting to the back of them. This transforms the items into house items that can then be placed. Unfortunetly, besides looking like interesting house pieces, they server little other purpose. They can also be sold to vendors for a fair amount of coin, 5g for the lowest ones, and 60g for the more expensive ones. I’ve kept all of the HQ that Silverstep has done, all 20 are spread throughout her house thus far. Most as weapons on her wall, and others as little trinkets that sit on tables. But I really wish they added some status value to my home, to help work down some of the rent I owe every week. I know it’s not a new idea, people have been mentioning this for ages now, so why no change? It’s great to be able to keep these items that we’ve all worked so hard for, but for items (I think they even still add to the count of items in your house, I’m not certain on that though) that are placed in the house, some status would be nice.

Rescue of the Green Hoods, and training is a shield

stargrace September 4, 2006 0Comment

Silverstep in the Deathfist Arena, fighting before Emperor Fyst

Looking through Silverstep’s quest journal last night, I realized I was probably just as bad as Cordanim with some of the heritage quests I’ve yet to complete at level 70. Since I originally made the character as part of a trio and we were far more concerned with getting levels and exp then questing, she’s missed out on a lot. I’ve never done any faction quests or ring of fate quests at all in maj;dul even though I’ve completed the Godking weapon. I never did any of the To Speak as a Dragon chain of quests besides the very first few that are required later for Claymore. She’s sitting at 430 quests completed or so. Majority of those are book collection quests to satisfy her cravings (yes I realize characters don’t have cravings, I’m talking from an rp sense here no need to tell me I’m crazy, I’m well aware of that factor!).

So while I spent the day as Stargrace, mentored down to level 41 to complete the pre-quests for rescue of the green hoods, and also completed the six trials needed for training is a shield , I decided that I’d take Silverstep out and dust her off, and solo those two quests. Good practice for when the guild goes and does it as the Deathfist citadel script can be a huge pain to run through if you’re not sure what to do. Fyst himself at the end is a level 42 epicx2 (who does not hit like an epicx2, but has the hitpoints of one).

I haven’t been to this zone since I played Qutey, my halfling templar waaayy back when. Back when the game had just come out and I actually spent a lot of time doing everything there was to do, groups were in abundance and twinks were unheard of. So it brought back a lot of memories. A lot of painful memories. There are adds, and mobs EVERYWHERE in this zone. It’ll be pretty interesting to see how the guild handles this zone when everything is coloured. At the time I completed it with Qutey, I swore never ever to go back unless I was level 52+ and the entire thing was gray. I did complete both HQ’s though, and got some guild status. Almost level 16.

I also felt a little nostalgic about having tossed Ricotta the dirge aside for so long. She really is a lot of fun to play. I farmed the night before and for once, had incredible luck, coming away with 13 rares! Two of them feysteel! I had two imbued level 32 dirge weapons made, a short sword and a dagger which she’s now wearing with pride. Dinged her to 33 without ever having left NQ. One of the joys of collection quests and having a level 70 main heh. Pleanty of money to twink out the little ones. Granted I spent about 3p more then I would have liked to spent.. but this is a game where I can spend my money unwisely and have very little repercussions. I watch money enough in real life who wants to do it in a video game.

So those were my past few nights. Today, I’m hoping to get Stargrace caught up in some of the easier HQ. Level 64 coercer and she’s only completed 9/26 HQ’s thus far….. feel free to call me a slacker, I know I am *grins*.

Bloodline Chronicles, and too much tradeskilling

stargrace September 3, 2006 0Comment

Silverstep in the Bloodline Chronicles expansion pack, smushing random goblins

So I actually played Silverstep some this weekend, though she didn’t get to do anything very exciting besides some quests from the Bloodline Chronicles. Which, I actually really loved as far as expansion packs go, aside from one thing.

The chain of quests is very lengthly, has a good story behind it. Unfortunately, they all use the exact same instance. So for 10+ quests you’re running through the same zone, with practically the same mobs, and the exact same lay out. Granted, since it was 100% gray to me I didn’t mind that much. I was there for other reasons. The expansion pack came out with a specific set of spells, player made. These spells never get upgraded. You have to have completed the first three quests given by npc at a camp on either side of the waterfalls in nek forest in order to buy these recipes, which are not flagged no trade. So Willamina hit level 35 sage, and I took Silverstep off to the falls to complete the first three quests, bought the recipe books for sage, alchemist, and jeweler. So Willamina is now very happy with her adept3 of swarm of bats. Especially since like I said, those spells / skills never ever get upgraded. Silverstep is still using her Spirit of the bat at level 70, and Stargrace uses her manacloak every chance she gets. Exceptionally handy spells.

Since I’ve been sick most of the weekend (feeling good today though finally!) I took it easy and didn’t do too much of anything. I crafted a lot, and did a lot of farming. Calicia hit level 34 tailor, Ixiana hit level 26 carpenter, Willamina hit 36 sage, Ricotta hit 30 Jeweler, and uh.. I think that’s it. Silverstep is sitting at 50 woodworker and she’ll be there forever as far as I’m concerned. I hate being able to only make 3 items a level. She can make invis totems, and that’s all I ever really wanted her for. Stargrace is a 70 provisioner, so she’s set now as well. I’m still missing a lot of tradeskill books, but hopfully that will come in time and I can get some good deals.

Cleaned out the guild bank, I’m one of three leaders back in my old guild. We have 14 members, 30 characters total in guild (with alts), and they’re all a very friendly bunch. I tend to keep to myself for the most part, so at times I probably seem reserved and maybe rude, but it’s un-intentional. Today they’re planning to do DFC, which is a zone I absolutely hate and am not looking forward to at all, we’ll have to see how it goes. I’m contemplating doing it with Stargrace, the 64 coercer, mentored down. She would have to do rescue of the greenhood first though. Meh. Again, we’ll have to see.