April 2010

Saturday Book of the Day

stargrace April 10, 2010 No Comments

(( An incredibly huge thank you to Sycronn, who contacted me about donating a book to my library. This is their work, the book itself can be viewed in person on the Oasis server, in the North Freeport mage tower, bottom floor under the magical housing. Look for Ellithia))

The Poems of An Iksar
by Sycronn Dreamdusk

Special Print for Ellithia’s Library of Player-Written Books

My dearest reader,
Enjoy the confines of my imagination.
But caution, tread lightly, for it is easy enough to lose your way.

Many Greetings, Sycronn Dreamdusk

The Lover’s Kiss

breath endlessly mingling
with the empty space in between
waiting lips – faltering
a frozen moment in time
destined to be held still
– forever
hopeless eyes darken in gloom
only a span of butterfly
wings apart
affection wasted and decaying
no reason for slight touch
or molten spark anymore
– they fall to pieces

Apocalypse?

sitting lonely in a corner
painting pictures on the floor
heart starving, sorrow carves
ancient melodies into stone

rain storm battles
sun is losing ground
eyes void of all emotion
stare in silent screams

imaginative hollow mind
wandering darkened halls
snarling gods of rage
fall apart to whispers

sighing mother Gaia
puts her children to eternal sleep
to start anew
and rise up high again

Autumn’s Poem

autumn leaves
dancing red and gold
whispered songs
weaving through the sky
last raven’s caw
slowly dimming
lively childrens breath
fading away
gone
north wind howling
heralding cold
frost clutches
clings with icy hands
mist simmers
cloaking day and night alike
winter
is
coming

For A Friend

you’ve never heard a seagull’s cry
but still they haunt your nightly dreams
they fly up high just out of seafoams reach
and fill the azure skies above
with beating wings and salty song

one day you’ll surely find yourself
standing straight on sandy shore
and then those haunting nightly dreams
will be no more

Night

clawed paws pounding
over nocturnal forest paths
wild wolves mourning
their brethren’s fall
undying shadows rush
through thornéd undergrowth
hunting, running
from bloodied light of moon

Twilight Scene

leaves rustling in the wind
owls softly hooting
a lone wolf’s cry
greeting the moon
her face is brightening
silver streams of light
washing over canopies
the dragons dancing
in the air
delighting

Timeless

embrace the silence
of old days long gone
yesterday’s whisper fading
into the roaring screams
of tomorrow
this very day, this moment’s song
floats clearly through our minds
but the lingering emptiness
of the past
overwhelms

“Hurry, hurry”, called the wind
rushing me through endless fields of time
“tarry not, for the masses in your back
will not fall behind”.
I ran, I ran, I ran away
yet still demons caught me tripping
they cackled at my own despair
Suddenly fear scattered them far and wide
alerted by galloping hooves approaching
a splendid sight I encountered then
in the brazen world of hell
Nightmare, I cried,
for the flaming horse before me stood
as I slowly reached towards it

darkness fell

and I awoke

I lie forsaken on the border
between sanity and madness
darkness swirls around my head
I feel content and safe
is it not strange?
Others chase the last drop of light
I revel in shadows
my broken wings blacken
dark as ink my soul flows
towards the age old deities
grasping their lost faiths
turning from reality
runes etched into my core
I loose myself inside my mind
but I finally feel whole

Tanka

pink blossoms dying
following wind’s falling trail
golden sacred flames

world is now slowly ending
moon kisses the sun goodbye

Nature’s Song

Light breeze rushing through
The air
Dancing
With dying blossoms
Springs ending

Piece of desert
Fed by sea
Waves crashing against
The shore
Summer’s burning

Sparrows playing tag
Jumping
From branch to branch
Chirping singing
Autumn’s smiling

Green fading
Glowing red and gold
Falling
To the ground
Winter s approaching

Moon and sun
Shining
Never mind what season
Oblivious
To changes

Silverstep the Paladin hits 90

stargrace April 9, 2010 5 Comments

Remember that paladin I had returned to me not that long ago? She was 72 with pretty much nothing more to her name. I deleted her thinking I’d never actually play the tank, and then regretted the decision. After sending in a petition asking if there was any way at all I could get the character restored, it was graciously allowed. Since then the paladin has come a LONG way.

First of all, her name duplicated another character that I had on the server, so instead of being “Ellithiax” for the remainder of my time playing her, I paid some station cash for a name change potion (when they had that double point weekend for Easter) and renamed her to Silverstep. Not only that, but I was growing tired of playing high elves, so after consulting eq2.wikia.com on different races and their abilities, I chose an iksar.

Not many people I know are fond of the lizard creatures, but I adore them, especially the females who have fins that pop out during combat (pictured above). Without having to betray from a shadowknight, the paladin was almost complete.

I spent as much time as I could leveling her, and this week she finally hit level 90. She still lacks alternate advancement points, having just broken 110 this Friday, but her hitpoints no longer suffer (she’s at 19.2k self buffed) and she’s wearing some pretty good Sentinel’s Fate armor. I upgraded all of her skills to expert (the previously known adept3) and bought masters for lower level spells that were without upgrades.

Thanks to a lot of help from friends in game I was also able to obtain her mythical buff (after I had completed the fabled quest of course). This was an incredible upgrade for me, the pet summoned helps heal my group not to mention I almost feel like a “real” tank.

Sadly the prospects with the guild I had joined did not work out (long story not really suitable for this blog) so I’m back in Dragon’s Flight with all of my characters. I’m still eager to get some tanking under my belt, and while I’m certainly not the best out there by any means it’s a good feeling to know that for the first time ever, I have an end level tank.

That makes 4 level 90 adventurers (mystic, troubador, dirge, and paladin) as well as 4 level 90 crafters (jeweler, alchemist, carpenter and tailor). This grants me a 40% bonus to each on other characters. Leveling in EQ2 has always been quite easy, and Sentinel’s Fate is no different. Thankfully there is still LOTS to do, so even when you are ‘end game’ you’re not completely bored.

Safe travels, and I’ll see you in Norrath!

Stay updated with Buzz

stargrace April 8, 2010 No Comments

I was browsing through eq2players (a fairly frequent occurrence for me) and I happened to notice this post, talking about keeping your web site updated with the latest SOE news: here.

It allows you to create a custom bit of code that you can then use as a widget on your web site much like I have now along the right hand side of MmoQuests. The selections are quite varied, and if I had more room I’d love to have added every category for EQ, EQ2, and Vanguard, but alas there’s always some sort of restriction.

Still, the idea is very awesome, and I’m glad to see that every so often fan sites still get a little update to improve and become closer to their game of choice. This is something that (in the past) I think SOE has fallen behind on. It’s important to keep in touch with your supporters and fan sites, they are (more often then not) what is drawing new players in to the game through their own personal motivation and excitement.

If you run a site that would be interested in adding this sort of widget I highly suggest you check it out. After all who doesn’t like to be in the loop about major updates coming to their game of choice.

Happy gaming!

Main Hall Completed (almost)

stargrace April 7, 2010 4 Comments

It took me a long time to decide how to display the trophies that I’ve accumulated on Oasis. Thanks to kind donations from both Shadowgeist and Pennie, the collection is rounding out nicely. I’m still missing some important ones, like Darathar, Tarinax, Venekor, and a few other simple ones, but as of right now I have 14 of them (two are not included in the screen shot above, as they were added later).My small guild is called Dragon’s Flight, which is why there’s a dragon with wings outstretched in the main hallway. It’s been fantastic to decorate, and I’ve really been enjoying it.

On Antonia Bayle the guild hall design is a little slower. I’m going to be re-building my book collection over there (the player written one that I currently have on Oasis) and if you’re familiar with the T2 halls at all I will be placing it in the top most room, with the skylight. I’m excited about this prospect. I’ve yet to decide what I’d like to do with the rest of the hall yet, but before I can do anything I need to level up a carpenter on the 2nd server so that I’m not spending all of my plat on furniture (again, hehe).

What A View

stargrace April 6, 2010 2 Comments

This week is crunch week for me as far as deadlines go, which means even though I write about video games for a living, for this one week I don’t really have any time to play them (go figure). In the mean time, here is one of (many) amazing views in Sentinel’s Fate. This one happens to be the ceiling of the Erudian Library, one of my favorite zones. You explore it much like a clue game, finding out who committed murder. You need to gather clues for the room and weapon and the like, and piece them together to accuse the final NPC.

The great thing is that you can take home items from the zone. There are two books, a rug, as well as the item of the ‘body’ you’ll find in the zone. My favorite happens to be the planter with a little arm sticking out of it, like it was stuffed there haphazardly. The zone also drops some fantastic loot, so if you haven’t been there yet, I recommend it.

Anyone speak Erudite? I always wondered if those runes up there translated into anything. In case you’re not aware, in your EQ2 folder are language folders that have the alphabets of all the races. Yes, those symbols that you see are actual alphabet letters.

Cool or what.