2007

Tag! You’re It..

Four Things! As I was tagged by Kilanna, here are mine…

Four Movies I have watched over and over:

  • Ever After
  • Chicago
  • Love Actually
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (old version)

Four places I have lived:

  • North Bay, Ontario
  • Baden Soellingen, Germany
  • Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
  • Russell, Ontario

Four Shows I love to watch: ( I don’t watch tv.. 0_o )

  • Iron Chef

Four Places I have been on vacation:

  • Austria
  • Florida
  • Holland
  • France

Four of my favorite foods:

  • Sushi
  • Chocolate covered strawberries
  • Sandwhiches on fresh buns
  • Home made stew

Four favorite drinks:

  • Mudslide
  • Ceaser
  • Tea
  • Cranberry

Four places I would rather be right now:

  • Australia! Visiting Kilanna of course
  • Europe, I miss it a lot
  • Curled up with a good book
  • Out in the woods

Now, as for the people I’m tagging!

  • Gothun – Because he doesn’t post enough.
  • Cordanim – Because he’s not posting enough either! Damn business trips.
  • Jerrek – I’ve seen him around AB some times, so he can do some more posting too!
  • Average Joe – Hey, why not.

What’s Scarier then a 40ft Halfling..

 

Darcyle finding out first hand what the Avatar of Mischief has been up to

Since Bristlebane is live on servers, it’s only natural to assume that his avatar would be as well. Wandering through various nightbloods I stepped onto what appeared to be a huge mass of fur. Little did I know it was just ONE TOE of this massive halfling. He stands pretty dang tall, and on my server at least he’s yet to fall. Looks like the top end raid guilds are going to have their hands full.

I managed to do an unrest group early this morning with Goudia, she was still hunting her class hat and breastplate. I say was because she managed to (finally) get the hat to drop. Now she’s got her set bonus (wearing her feather hat for graphics) and just needs the chest piece for a full complete set. The only one of my characters to have their full set in fact. Pants and gloves are such a pain to obtain unless you have a very steady group of adventurers. Isn’t that everyone’s dream anyhow in an MMO? To have a constant steady group of (fun) people to wander the lands of Norrath? I know it’s not very typical that everyone is on at the same time, but I think that’s what we all look for.

Since the GU, my tome quest starters now drop from grey mobs. I am of course ecstatic over this and I’ll be working to get all of the ones I’m missing. I know there are nine in Obelisk, at least one in Blackburrow, two in Rivervale, and a few in Cazic-Thul as well. It’s going to be great working on these book quests and filling my home.

On a side note, I got some very pretty flowers yesterday from Bloodpact that smell like strawberries. Hopefully the cat doesn’t decide to eat them or knock over the container that I’ve got them propped up in. My mom’s birthday is this weekend, so I’ll be (hopefully, if she’s home) heading to my folks place this weekend to see how she’s doing.

I also did a very nice Obelisk of Blight group this morning, I didn’t need anything from the zone (except maybe that ring that refuses to ever drop for me, I’ve never seen it drop not even once) but it was still fun to run through, I did that with Stargrace. The illusionist doesn’t get out much but is still a lot of fun for me to play.

OH as another change that I didn’t even notice yesterday — they removed the rooted component to my troubadors precision of the maestro spell! I wouldn’t have even noticed were it not for the fact that I attempted to move as I cast it. The spell now dazes me, which means I can’t auto attack. I don’t anyhow with it, since it’s a proc that sets off on hostile spells. I adore the change, it was fantastic to learn. I’d typically toggle the spell off so I could run after my group that was charging ahead, and now I can simply keep up.

See.. This is what We Need More Of!

I was just mentioning in my post yesterday, that I thought we needed more interaction between Guides > Players.  Especially on role play preferred servers – but not limited to them. Low and behold after I do my daily reading of blogs, Cuppycake says the same thing, in a post about Roleplaying Barriers.

3.  I don’t see any game-related benefit to roleplaying.

There are indeed no tangible rewards for roleplaying within games anymore.  The GMs hardly even interact with roleplayers in games anymore.  This reminds me of the EQ1 Legends server, in which daily there would be GM events ran for the players.   Sometimes people would actually roleplay, and the GMs would roleplay back.  That was FUN.  Perhaps we need more GM or player run events with tangible rewards.

GU38, SoD (again) and other Ramblings

 

Stargrace, talking to the bard in preparation of collecting (another) 50 statues

So GU38 went live yesterday, for complete notes you can look here. For my own personal look on them, well.

I like the idea of “fluff” armor slots. I like to be able to wear my own thing, and look how I want to look. I don’t like how plate classes gain the most benefit from this new change because they can wear plate, chain, and cloth. Where cloth wearers are stuck wearing only cloth (though, there is some cloth that looks like plate, from the bloodline vendors I do believe). Of course it has a few down sides. For example people are out walking around in their Halloween masks. No problem with that from my perspective though. Almost everyone who wears robes is wearing the Barristers robe, since it’s black, and one of the few that is (and very easy to obtain because it’s quested). I’m looking for a specific hat that drops in Kaladim, and is wearable by all fighters, priests, and scouts, and it’s got the monk rice bowl graphic. Of course it’s a semi-rare drop and I’ll probably be camping it for weeks if I get serious about wanting it, but we’ll see how it goes.

In GU38 what they forgot to mention, was that the level 35 Bloodline spells got upgrades. But not for everyone. Heh. Crusaders, Bards, Mages, and Priests (minus mystics, who get no love) all now have a level 53 upgrade to their spells. I had fun making numerous sage and alchemist combines last night satisfying my own guild and characters as well as a few people from channels who were searching for the spells.

Bristlebane has also returned. Hordes of people ran towards Enchanted Lands to begin the new quests. The cloak, is too over powered in my opinion. For example, you can get a card reward that gives you 10 minutes of 100% experience bonus. Now, I know, 10 minutes isn’t long, right? Well, it still impacts your game. The cards can be held onto until RoK goes live. They are lore, so you can’t horde a whole lot of them, but it still seems slightly unfair.

Another change that wasn’t announced – if someone has already cast a rez, you will get a message as you try to cast yours. Which is great.  I hate unannounced changes, but it’s fun to figure them out.

The weapon changes did not really affect me, as I don’t play a scout who is big on melee damage. I know some people are now in love with their wurmslayers, and a few other weapons of choice. What I did like about the change was that the previous 1h weapon from Acada, a dagger, with +10 spell dmg on it, is now on Goudia, with +95 power and +26 int, it’s a great weapon that I can duel wield (since I don’t care about the low damage).

So, aside from the update. I decided to work on SoD on two more characters. Why? Because uh, not sure why. I decided I needed some goals in game. I wanted to get SoD and Claymore done on at least one more character. I chose Stargrace and Misako to start with, but after boxing the whole Tunarian section of the quest I decided maybe I should go with Stargrace and Dasie. See, Dasie already has her SoD. That saves me from having to box or find two groups going through the named in Castle Mistmoore. A zone that I hate beyond all other zones. Dasie has also done her SoD already. She has her ring of the four winds, and of course I love playing a templar. Misako has none of those completed. She doesn’t even have to speak as a dragon finished yet, and I dread doing that.. for the sixth time.

So aside from those lofty goals, I’m working on my coercer a bit. I love the class, since Stargrace was one for the better part of her EQ2 played time. Mine is (now) sitting at level 43. Wearing level 1 gear. I’ll have to fix that up, in fact as soon as I post this I’ll get started with Misako making her gear, and Dasie making some jewelry. Finally managed to upgrade her spells as well.

Hopefully, everyone else’ gaming days are going well! If anyone has some suggestions on perhaps things I can do, to keep things fresh, as I’ve been flip flopping from character to character and really accomplishing nothing at all. I’d love for that to change.

Festival of Discord – Role Play Event on the Antonia Bayle Server

 

Who wouldn’t want to participate in the Festival of Discord?

I know GU38 is going live today, and I figure lots of people will be posting notes to it, and their opinions. I’ll hold off and post about it tomorrow, I’d much rather have folks reading about the FoD upcoming, and save the GU38. Sorry for anyone who was looking forward to the notes! You can still find them on the EQ2players site.

The image from above is from the FoD’s web page, which you can find here. You can log in with any guild portal account, or just browse through the forums as you wish.

What is the Festival of Discord? It’s a week long role play event hosted by 10+ guilds on the Antonia Bayle server. It runs from September 22nd until September 29th, and includes a home decorating contest, a betting pool with gambling on winners, an assassination event, arenas, and so much more. I am certainly looking forward to it.

As of now, the guilds involved are:

  • Bloodthorn
  • Coterie of Thorns
  • Court of the Moon
  • Gunthak Pirates
  • House Gevaudan
  • Knights of Freeport
  • Pawnshop Syndicate
  • Raven Guard
  • Sojourners of Norrath
  • The Discipleship

It may not seem like your typical list of guilds. In fact, you may have not even heard of many of the guilds listed. Unless of course you are into role play. Then these words trickle down through the ranks. There is a list of contacts on their main page which can be found here if you’re looking to get involved in some way shape or form. They’re looking for volunteers for events, shops to peddle their wares during the festivities, and numerous other small details that goes into making an event like this work.

Some of you may have remembered my write up on the Festival of Unity which was held a few months back. I had a blast there, but due to some raid restraints (not an issue now since I don’t belong to a raid guild) I could not attend everything I wanted. I will most certainly be making an effort to attend all I can this time around, with in depth blog posts (hopefully also in character) abotut the events.

If you’re good aligned, you’ll have to sneak your way into the city for some events, just as the Festival of Unity was focused on a unity of each city, the Festival of Discord is for the.. darker.. sides of Norrath. That’s not to say they’re going to exclude their Qeynosian and Kelethian counter parts, but they certainly won’t be ushering them into the city either.

Are the GM’s going to be lending themselves out as they did for the FoU? I’m not sure, it would certainly be nice to see them take part again though. One thing I’ve noticed in EQ2 vs. EQ1 (I know, the two games are not the same and it’s difficult to liken them to one another) is that the guide events in EQ2 are far more restricted. Antonia Bayle may be a role play server and I have seen a guide or two around, but never any large events. Those that do happen, seem to be small scale where the larger events are almost constantly run by players. This is probably a good thing, it inspires players to role play and be creative, but I always loved seeing guides take an active role in their server. I contemplated applying to be a guide and would still love to if I could find any information on it (or even if applications are being accepted) but I can affect a server far more as a regular player with events, then I could as a guide even with my dedication I think.

Opening ceremonies begin September 22nd 2pm EST for those who are interested. Two hours later there is a “Battle to the Death” in the Commonlands, the opening ceremonies also begin in CL. On the 24th there’s even a drunken brawl at The Pit – for those who have no idea what the pit even is – It’s a players house in West Freeport in the Bloodhaze Inn, and they’ve been running events there for quite some time. Look under the housing name of Jenavive.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the festival, be sure to log into guild portal and sign up here.

Other events I’m looking forward to include a Masquerade event hosted by House Gevaudan, and the Gunthak Pirates who are hosting Captian Vilnius’ Secret Recipe Rum Drinking Contest. Quite a mouthful.

If you’re shy about these sort of events, please, don’t be! It’s lots of fun to be had by all even if you just wander around looking at everyone else. With the “fluff” armor slots coming today in GU38, it’s sure to be an amazing time watching those colourful costumes. You can get a hold of me by mail or tell in game or leave me an email (address posted at the top left of this site) as well as commenting here, if you’re interested in some company to any events. It’s a great way to meet a huge portion of the Antonia Bayle server, and find out what “Role Play Preferred” is all about.