2010

Stay updated with Buzz

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)

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

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.

An Apology To Those Members of Torrent Knights

This weekend was quite drama-filled which is sad, but it happens. I’d like to send out an apology to those players on Antonia Bayle who were members of Torrent Knights.

The Story: When I decided to stop playing on AB and just concentrate on one server (Oasis) I left a ‘core’ group of people as leaders of the guild with the understanding that things would run as they had before, a casual guild with a T2 hall, open to friends and family. There were five of them, all whom I trusted exclusively. This was my first mistake (and not one I’ll make again). One person who had leadership abilities decided (I have no idea why) to kick out every single member of the guild (myself included) save for themselves, and their friend. I had no idea that any of this had gone on and it wasn’t until I logged into my last remaining character on AB that I even knew any of this happened. A quick look at EQ2 players showed that yes indeed, the guild had been all but dissolved.

I have since then regained control of Torrent Knights (which has been a guild I created back in 2007 and had ever since) and am trying to contact those who used to be members so I can get them re-guilded. I understand if people do not want to join the guild again but I’m hoping that they will. I’ve managed to invite Tipa, Kanad, and Calreth back to the guild and I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry that any of this happened. It shouldn’t have happened, and I’ve taken all precautions to ensure that it does not happen again.

It does also mean I’m back to playing on multiple servers, but I’ll find a way to divide my time (I really need a few copies of me) so that I can play on both sufficiently. I did not care or mind that I personally had been removed from the guild but there were 15 other innocent players who called TK home, and there was no way I was going to allow one person to ruin that for them.

Things are back to normal now, hopefully. If you were a member of TK and need an invite please contact me in game by mail with the time that you will be around so I can meet you and invite. My character on Antonia Bayle is Stargrace, and again I’m so sorry for the drama.

The Importance of Guild Levels

How important are guild levels to you? In most games levels don’t mean a great deal. In EQ2 however, they become things to treasure. At guild level 30 you unlock the first (also known as Tier 1) hall. You also unlock 5 room housing in Qeynos and Freeport (the newer towns don’t have these guild level restrictions). You gain 5 amenity for your hall, and other items open up on the city merchants.

At level 50 you unlock the T2 hall, and have the option of many more amenity. You also unlock rows to the guild bank as you level up which gives you much more space to deposit items that everyone can make use of.

I like the way that this works, but I don’t enjoy the length of time it takes to get anywhere. If you’re a large guild with dedicated players (and especially raiders) you may not even blink at the amount of status required to level your guild. But if you happen to play in mostly casual smaller guilds, or even have a guild of your own, you’ll realize the incredible amount of work it takes for one or two or even three people to level a guild. Reaching 30 is not so bad, and the grind from 30-40 seems to speed up some. Once you hit 50 it crawls by, and beyond 53 I have personally never seen in my own guilds (the ones I run) so I can’t really speak of it. Of course I’ve been in guilds of higher level, Iniquity is closing in on level 58, and Paradise Lost is almost 86. You can purchase some neat titles and fun house items the higher you get, too.

So what do you think, are you a fan of this ‘leveling up a guild’ idea? Do you like to make use of what comes with the bonus of working towards a common goal? Let me know below!

Nomadic Gamer