2007

Back into the Fae

stargrace March 22, 2007 4Comments

Tulips, the newest addition

Worked transmuting to 285 yesterday, which means I can now transmute up to level 62 items for components, though I can still only physically make the items from 50-59 until I hit a skill of 300. I’m glad I’m getting it all done now, and I don’t want to ever have to do that again. I’ve spent 65 plat on the project thus far, and have been farming the T6/7 stuff myself from poets and random adventuring zones. Each combine still takes 11 adepts (roughly) so that’s a whole lot of money being spent when I get a skill up now roughly every 4-5 combines. Still, I’m one of those people who enjoy being able to do everything herself as far as gear goes and in the long run I think it will benefit me to be able to make my own adornments and components for adornments.

On that note, I decided it was time to expand my alt-ness and create some new gals to play around on. Not just adventuring but also in the crafting realm, in fact probably more so in the crafting realm then anything else, I wanted a carpenter and an armorer. So I made Tulips (above) my new fae troubador, and I also made Flirt, my new fae guardian. Wait. Did I just say I made a guardian? A tank class? Something must be wrong with me. That’s right, I decided to give it a whirl. Do I expect my guardian to actually get anywhere? No, not really. I can level her using my healers though and mentoring from the other account, and tanks lately have been in high demand, they sort of get screwed. You only need one or two tanks on a raid, but you need one in every single group (at least instances, perhaps not if you’re just doing solo stuff) so they level up fast, but then get forgotten when it comes to raiding. Healers are also needed and level up fast, but there is such an abundance of them lately that mine are rarely needed. I’d like to level up my mystic a little just to see what they’re like end game, since I already have the 70 templar and fury.

Some others on the server have noticed the sharp decline in population – not in the game in general because honestly I see plenty of people still playing, but on Lucan D’Lere a lot of people have been transfering. In some cases, it’s been a good thing, we’ve lost some server troublemakers that I am not sorry to see go. In other cases entire role play guilds have decided to move to the other server in search of a larger player base. I keep /feedbacking to see if perhaps SoE will offer free character transfers again because that is the only way I’ll be able to move. I am not about to pay $50 per character to move all 8 that I currently have and because I’m so keen on the whole ‘being self reliant’ aspect, I’d be heartbroken if I had to give any of them up.

Because both coercers and illusionists seem to be in some what of a high demand, I was contemplating creating a coercer on one account and leveling them up slowly, then I’d have my choice of coercer or illusionist, but erms, I think perhaps I was getting a wee bit carried away *grins*

I’ve been having fun in game at least (incase that’s hard to tell). It was difficult adjusting to the fact that my best friend stopped playing completely (and now is saying he’s not going to play Vanguard either) and that the guild is no more, but it’s not that difficult to find another little niche for myself. I’ve at least been raiding, questing, and well ok so I haven’t been crafting much besides transmuting but now that I can at least do the beginning of T6 I can get back to the regular crafters. Too much time on my hands? Of course, but everyone needs a hobby. Does it interfere with my real life (the little bit that I have) I don’t think so. I’m reading a great book by Tad Williams called Shadowmarch, and with Easter coming up there’s some family events to attend to (not that my family is overly religious but we do have a nice dinner). Got a new vacuum, granted that’s not exciting at all *grins* anyhow, enough of my boring life!

A whole lot of grinding

stargrace March 21, 2007 0Comment

Silverstep’s Weapon wall – well, former weapon wall

So yesterday I decided I’d dedicate myself to transmuting and see how far I could raise the skill on 50 plat. I hate the price of the adornments out there even though I know they’re quite reasonable for the amount of resources they take. For example, each T6 adornment (treasured mind you, not legendary or fabled which require even more) take at least 10 adept1’s or treasured gear plus the cost of fuel. That’s a whole heck of a lot of money. Not to mention not every combine gives a skill up. In fact, now that I’m sitting at a skill of 260 (which means I can make T6 adornments now, and can transmute items up to level 57) it seems that it’s every 3-4th combine that gives me a skill up. That’s roughly over 1,500 T6 adepts and treasured pieces of gear. When you’re level 70 that’s very difficult to get, though I do have a level 52, they’re in an uncomfortable stage, where it’s either too low or too high for them to achieve.

On the other hand, I am exceptionally happy that I got the skill that high in one day. Again, it did cost me 50p, but that’s what I’d allotted myself to spend and I knew from the start that it would be a costly endeavor. Since the guild has broken apart the remaining members are without a transmuter, and I offered to make what I could or to at least turn their adepts / treasured gear into supplies for them so that they could in turn find the proper crafters and have them made, instead of spending huge amounts of money on the broker for adornments. Are adornments even that important? Well, it’s a matter of perspective really. I know quite a few people who play just fine with none at all. However, it does help. The plus to stats are always nice with the new cap limit, the plus to spell damage is also very nice. I have some plus healing ones on the healers, and I’m looking to be able to make the + int ones.

So, any suggestions on how to farm T6 things? I know I can run poets a few times, the mobs are all green and the items are transmutable T6 stuff. That includes the no trade fabled items, so that’s always very nice. T7 at least will be easier for me, since I can just farm that myself, my own level. I can also run instances like nest and collect easy things to transmute to make into items. It’s going to be T6 that’s the “hell” level for me though. Already dreading it and I’m 10 points into it (I need another 40 points… ew.. )

On a side note, I live on the 11th floor of an apartment building, and last night at about 9:30pm the fire alarms started going off. I own a kitty as well, and typically bring her with me when the fire alarms go off, but it was -22c outside, and I didn’t see any smoke or hear anything unusual (the building is known for pranksters pulling the alarm) so rather then risk her to the freezing cold outside, I left her at home and me and Shadowgeist trucked our way into the chilly winter air. 30 minutes later they let us back into the building, no fire in sight. Ugh. Walked back up the 11 flights of stairs because the elevators of course were packed with people also trying to get back to their houses. Needless today, my legs are sore from walking up and down those stairs. A woman outside had her kitty tucked into her jacket (mine would never tolerate that) so next time I’ll pack her up and take her to the car in the garage, at least then I’m not worrying over her being in the building still and she can stay warm. How’s that for excitement. I’d have rather just played EQII.

Face to Face with Venekor and other musings

stargrace March 20, 2007 1Comment

Silverstep, sitting on the throne in Kaladim, doesn’t she look purdy?

Yesterday was another fun day, I was invited with the same raid group from Sunday to do HoS (Halls of Seeing) with them. Now, I had already attempted HoS on Friday night with my templar, I posted about my experiences there being less then impressive, in fact they were quite painful. Due to the fact that I was with what once was a ‘hardcore’ raid guild, I expected far more from them. So when I went again on Monday night, it was a huge relief and a whole lot of fun. I joined their ventrillo channel to listen in, and partake in a few conversations. I use ACT and my G15 keyboard to time AoE’s on encounters, so I called out the AoE’s where I could to warn people that they were incoming. I was also parsing 3-5 the entire raid which is always nice for an enchanter.

Today I’m going to work up my transmuting *shudders* and not looking forward to that at all. My characters could really use some adornments, and it’s so much cheaper then having to buy them. Especially if I get gear upgrades and need more, or just want different adornments for different gear. I’m going to spend at least 40p working the skill, and see how far I can get it on that money. I’m at 150 currently (Just able to do T4 items) and I’m hoping that coin will get me to T6.

I also have a lot of L&L to complete, and a lot more quests. I’m still sitting at 93ap and I’d like to get 100 (on the Illusionist). It looks as though I may be able to raid Friday/Saturday/Sunday/Monday with this new group that I’ve been raiding with, and I hope it continues. We’ll just have to see how it goes.

One of these days I’d also like to work on the fireknight pages. A long annoying quest that I’m really not keen on starting. I think I’ve gotten a few general pages as I hung around Loping Plains and New Tunaria, but none of the harder ones quite yet. Ewies.

Lyceum and Labs, and a whole lot of fun

stargrace March 19, 2007 0Comment

The ap distribution between Illusionist (91 ap total) – Fury (83 ap total) – Templar (48 ap total)

Sunday was a great day in EQII at least. I was offered to raid Lyceum with some people that I didn’t really know that well, boxing my fury and illusionist, but at the last moment as I was clearing through the remainder of Valdoons, a friend asked if I wanted to come raid with their guild and clear Lyceum and then Labs afterwards. I was also asked if I wanted to give Banished a second shot and raid with them on my Templar – I declined after Fridays raid experience.

So the Illusionist headed to Lyceum, a zone I remember fondly. I frowned at myself for not having yet completed to speak as a dragon. I need draconic in order to acquire the quest located outside the zone just up on a ridge. I’ll have to get that done this week maybe so that I’m ready to do the quest next week. Both raids went off painlessly, and it was a lot of fun. I declined from using ventrilo, wasn’t really needed having been there so many times in the past anyhow. I was also invited back tonight, to do HoS (Halls of Seeing) so that’s a plus. Their guild leader is on hiatus at the moment, getting settled into a new place I believe. Their back up tank is fantastic at his job, and the raid was quickly filled, even over-filled in fact. It was the type of raid experience that I miss having in Torrent Knights. They’ve got a close family atmosphere, and everyone had fun.

The Illusionist finally got her Time Compression ap. A huge bonus. It’s a buff that can be placed on anyone in my group (other then myself) and reduces recast timers, as well as casting timers, and recovery timers by a portion that’s fairly significant, wizards love me for it. I’ve also got illusory arm, which is a permanent buff for 25% double attacks – both melee and ranged. Match that with my own dps (which is not too bad for an enchanter), power regen (which at times I wish I had less of – if I’m below 20% power I do 20% more dps) mezing, and various other tricks of the trade that illusionists have, and I’m a pretty nice support class.

As I looked over the ap set up for each of my level 70 characters, it surprised me to see where they sat. The fury has actually completed the most quests out of the three, but she has only recieved ap for a small portion of them. The templar who was my main for the first two years of the game, has barely any ap at all. The Illusionist, who was my new(est) main has the most ap out of all three characters, and most of those are from quest turn ins – even though the fury has been mentoring for a majority of quest turn ins. I wish I could see that list broken down even further, a list of quests I’ve recieved ap from, a list of items I’ve collected giving ap, and exploration events so I could see what I was missing. Is there even such thing? A list some place of exploration events so people can check each one and see if they’ve gotten the ap for it? Not sure, sounds like a fun (and time consuming) project though. Now that the Illusionist has TC I’m not sure where to go next. There is the Fireknight pages that both fury / illusionist really should be collecting, as well as the various signature quests that neither has done, and the illusionist needs to complete some more claymore steps – she’s on the final SoS portion now, and can move (finally) to PoA shortly. She also needs to work on DT access. The only difficulty with working more then one level 70 up. I’m sure once the newest expansion comes out I’ll slack behind on the fury and just work up the illusionist, but in the mean time they’re both fairly up to par (the fury already has her claymore as well as DT access) so I’ve got the time.

Euktrzkai Amda– who?

stargrace March 18, 2007 1Comment

Dasie listening to Euktrzkai Amdaatk – who has one of the longest speeches (besides Valdoon!) ever

I’ve had an influx of raid invites lately, and it’s nice but also a bit overwhelming at times. Especially because I get individual invites on separate characters, for different days. Yesterday a former guild member was taking his alliance through labs (which they also did the previous week) and asked if I’d like to come along with my templar. I was a bit hesitant simply because of the bad raid experience the night before, but I said sure, I love labs. The raid could not have gone any smoother. There was one wipe, and they were back up and ready to fight again in a matter of seconds (the whole room including a far reached named was accidentally pulled) – Vyemm died on the first pull, always a good sign. The tank did an amazing job even if he did die a few times, the backup tanks were superb (I was in the backup group with an assassin, illusionist, a guardian, shadowknight, and a fury who went LD and was replaced with a defiler). The loot system was random nbg (need before greed) – one fabled and one legendary per person. Which means that you could technically be unlucky on every single roll for months and never win a thing – but the possibility for upgrades is at least there even for the newcomers. It’s something most raids don’t have. If you’re a guest you should never expect to be getting any loot.

Once that raid was completed I relogged to my fury and was asked to a clockwork raid right away, it was too late for me though I was just checking sales and heading out for the night. My fury and illusionist were invited to a Lyceum raid today, the templar was invited to a different Lyceum raid today, and also invited to a Freethinkers Hideout (with the guild who’s raid experience I was less then happy about on Friday night) raid. I am not going to go to all of them, thank goodness, but in the mean time it is nice to be raiding again. I wish it were with my own guild but I’ll take what I can get.

I’ve been trying to figure out which classes (if any) I’d like to level up, since I’ve got the two separate accounts now, and I think I’ve decided on the mystic (who is going to betray to defiler) and a troubador. The troubador will also be a carpenter, since I’ve wanted one forever. I’d like an armor smith as well, but I’ll just wait on that. I still have issues with the server population, especially vs. other servers but I’m making due and it’s not always so bad. One thing I have noticed, hanging out on random teamspeak and vent servers with everyone I’ve raided with – everyone makes fun of everyone else, and gossip, is the key word. I’ve heard so much general ‘stuff’ about other people from other guilds over the past few days, it’s just astounding. People making fun of people and random tid bits of who’s staying who’s leaving who’s doing what with whom. People are interesting to say the least.