2012

On A Crooked Little Hill, There Was a Crooked Little House #WurmOnline

I own two deeds on Deliverance, and the second deed has been sorely neglected. When I built it, I was going for a ‘natural’ look, and I didn’t terraform any of the land. That, was a mistake. It meant that the three buildings I created as well as all of my pens were crooked, sloped oddly in various sections of the flooring, and just looked horrible. Each time I went to this deed to do some mining I was struck by how bad it all looked.

I finally made the decision to scrap the whole deed and start from scratch. I took down all three buildings, and while I liked the initial layout, it could use some work. I spent the majority of the day working on flattening the area, and dug up over 500 dirt. 500! That’s how much ‘crooked’ the old deed consisted of.

This deed is a ‘get away’ deed. That means there’s space for a very tiny farm, but I don’t actually expect to use it. Only two small pens that should be easy to cover with enchanted grass for when I’m visiting, and very low upkeep.

One of the most recent changes is that now lamps are filled by guards, and I’ve never had guards before because I didn’t really have a need for them. I do appreciate having a deed lit up at night, so paying an extra silver a month (two silver, one for each deed) so that I don’t have to re-fill them is important to me. Re-filling them every 3-5 days isn’t THAT big of a deal, but it’s a convenience factor. People pay for convenience.

I’m pleased with how the deed is re-forming itself. I have one house completed, and the other two are coming along. Then it’s just a matter of making a lot of slabs and bricks as well as fence bars. Not exactly my favorite things in the world to do, but c’est la vie.

I’ll be sure to post screen shots once it’s completed!

There’s No Place Like Home #WurmOnline

The novelty of Celebration has worn off, and this weekend (thanks to a very generous Moumix) I brought all of my characters back home to Deliverance. I still have Falkenstein Castle, and I intend on keeping it (there’s over 150 days of upkeep paid) but I missed being able to hold sermons and I missed having all of my characters together. My Fo priest has 43 animal husbandry, and working up that skill again so I can see the traits on the 30+ horses I have is a bit of a pain. Not to mention she has 40+ farming, and can cast Fo spells which come in handy.

The population on Deliverance has dwindled slightly due to the new server, our average used to be over 100, some times 120-130, but now we’re holding at around 90. Expected with the new release. I love my deeds on this server, and I love the market place (Puzzle Plaza) and community that I know there. I’ve been making some great sales, enjoy to keep my deeds going. I’ve been happily working my skills up (yesterday I reached 30 jewel crafting) and Moumix and I have started holding sermons again. It’s pretty nice to have 8 characters participating between us (it’s enough for a prayer re-set).

In an amusing story, yesterday I went out walking along the coast to see if there were any ships I could salvage (remember folks, lock and moor your boats!) and along the way I happened to stumble into my own boat, a sailboat I had left far down the coast at the steppes some months ago. Back when I was hunting for hell horses. The amusing thing is that I didn’t even remember leaving it there (at the time) but when I found it suddenly it all came flooding back. It had 17 dmg on it, which (for a boat) is a lot. I sailed it home, and happily picked up the 300 planks I had also found while out and about.

You can never have too many planks.

The evening was finished by heading back to my old Darkpaw Bay deed, and loading up my new knarr (thanks to Moumix) with the materials I had been keeping in Squid’s house. The house is decaying quite heavily due to its low quality, and I wanted to remove the items before other scavengers came. Normally I wouldn’t really care, but there were 400 wemp that I wanted as well as a lot of copper (I still don’t have an easily accessible copper vein). When all is said and done, it’s nice to have everyone on the same deed.

As always, happy gaming, no matter where you find yourself!

Level 50+ Crafting Quest: Genesis #VGD #Vanguard #VGSOH

Finding information on Vanguard can be a bit tricky. You have to filter through things that are filled with outdated information and piece together bits from numerous other sites. It seems like over the years many sites have been started, but the information on all of them varies and is in multiple stages of completion.

When I hit 50 artificer (note, not the cap, the cap is 55) I knew there was a crafting quest that I was now able to do, but I had no idea what it was or where it was. There was no indication in-game of anyone I should visit, and so I had to do a google search for it. Eventually I found what I was looking for, a quest walk through for the Genesis chain, posted on the forums of Final Resolve. I’m taking their article and posting it here because I’ve seen far too many other sites go under and the information lost.

The Genesis questline is for level 50+ crafters.  In addition to giving you some nice gear and enough experience to give you 1.7 levels, it will give you access to the recipes to craft level 51+ spells/abilities and the various enhancement upgrades.  Note the latter will also require POTA access since the reagent needed can only be purchased from POTA and is not tradeable.

The quest starts with Geoffrey Wallstein, who is located in the Merchant’s Daughter Inn in the New Horizon’s quadrant of New Targoner.  Approx location is (-37,370 by 46,500).

Spoiler alert:  Do not read on if you don’t want any clues to the quest

1) Genesis – The Rumor:  Learn more about the artifact from Geoffrey.  Research his findings.  Go to the docks in NT and talk to Alison McTane.  Provide her either 5 dusky boards, mithril ingots or veilthread bolts in exchange for the item.  Return to Geoffrey.
Reward:  1 Million experience; Lvl 48 shirt – + 44 Ingenuity, +59 to all skills; Lvl 48 legs – +36 Reasoning, + 49 to all skills.

2) Genesis – The Bookseller:  Go to Lucan Bell in New Targoner crafting area.
Reward:  75K experience

3) Genesis – Puzzle Pieces:  Collect items using locations in your journal.  Avoid interference from “The Coinman”.  You will need to got to 10 locations and click to obtain the items you need.  You can do this in any order.  Follow your compass as you select each to find the exact location.  The bookseller will give you the initial part you need (Genesis Core).
– 1) Metal parts:  Located in the 3 rivers village (Thestra)
– 2) Crystals:  Located in Jharru Flats (Qalia)
– 3) Residue:  Located in a tree trunk in Ca’ial Brael (Kojan)
– 4) Conduit:  Located in Konarthi Point (Thestra)
– 5) Lens:  Located in Coastal Graveyard (Thestra)
– 6) Scroll:  Located in Ahgram (Qalia)
– 7) Liquid:  Located in Afrit (Qalia)
– 8) Wire:  Located in the Cliffs of Ghelgad overlooking Khal (Qalia)
– 9) Orb:  Located in Tanvu (Kojan)
-10) Flame:  Located in Tomb of Lord Tsang (Kojan)
Reward:  1 Million experience; Lvl 48 Mask – +47 Finesse, + 31 to all skills; Lvl 48 Boots – +34 Problem Solving, + 23 to all skills.

4) Genesis – Back Together:  Repair the Genesis (finishing combine).
Reward:  750K experience

5) Genesis – Lucan’s Discovery:  Speak to Geoffrey Wallstein for information, then report back to Lucan.  Geoffrey will share that you will need to talk to Rold and Joley in Ahgram.  However, be sure you return to Lucan first.  Lucan will then send you BACK to Geoffrey so you can obtain the next quest which sends you to Ahgram.
Reward:  500K experience

6) Genesis – Gnomes and the Coinman:  Geoffrey Wallstein will now direct you to talk to Rold and Joley in Ahgram.  Follow your compass to find them.
Reward:  750 experience

7) Genesis – Thieves’ Tools:  Craft 4 sets of tools for Rold and Joley.
Reward:  750 experience; Ancient Builder’s Ring – +1 Problem Solving, +8 to all skills

8) Genesis – Time for Stealing:  Cause a distraction in the Bloodied Sun Inn by dumping a sack of critters in the inn.  Click the bag they give you to dump the critters.
Reward:  1 Million experience; Treasure Hunter Apron, Lvl 48, +35 Problem solving, +58 Finesse, +31 Tool

9) Genesis – Suprise for Lucan:  Return to Lucan in New Targoner with the missing Genesis part.
Reward:  750K experience; Experimentation Gloves, Lvl 48, +17 Reasoning, +17 Finesse, +70 tool use

10) Genesis – A Few Questions:  Test the Genesis (finishing combine).
Reward:  750K experience; Artifact Maker Utility Pouch, Lvl 48, 70 slot, +2 Problem solving, +11 Station; Artifact Maker Toolbelt, Lvl 48, 6 slot, +2 Reasoning, +3 Finesse, +8 Tool use

11) Genesis – Back to Geoffrey:  Speak to Geoffrey Wallstein.
Reward:  500K experience

12) Genesis – The Coinman:  Confront the Coinman in the Tradewin Tavern of Khal.  Return to Geoffrey in NT.
Reward:  750K experience

13) Genesis – Treasure Time:  Craft the treasure hunting rod and take it to Lucan.
Reward:  1 Million experience; Gold Masterwork Sigil

14) Genesis – The Last Puzzle Piece:  Lucan will send you to a path near Bordiner’s cleft.  There you will find the Coinman and a Spirit.  Talk to the spirit who will challenge you both to create the best artisan work.  Return to Lucan.
Reward:  1 Million experience

15) Genesis – Proof of Talent:  Construct Lucan’s Pre-cataclysm ceremonial armor.  Recipes will allow you to make pieces used in the assembly combine.  Once complete, return to the spirit outside Bordiner’s Cleft and show him your work.  Return to Lucan in NT
Reward:  1,912,050 experience; Genesis Tool – Level 48, +21 Tool Use, +85 Tool effectiveness.  (This tool is two tools in one.  Right click to convert it to the other form.  There are 3 options – 1 for each class.); Ability to learn spell / enhancement recipes from Lucan Bell.

Product Review: UnoTelly

Note: It should be noted before I go forward with this post that I was given a review account to test this product out with, and I did not purchase it with my own money.

One of my biggest complaints living here in Canada (in regards to the internet and entertainment) has always been that I can’t access shows in other countries without having to resort to VPN changes or some other work around in order to watch some of my favorite shows. Even shows I pay for on Netflix differ from US to Canada. When I was approached in an email asked if I’d like to test out UnoTelly, I was only too eager.

The web site claimed that UnoDNS was easy to set up on every device you may possibly own, so I started out by installing their ‘UnoHelper’ on my PC, it was quick and painless and I had it up and running without any troubles. I was able to watch Hulu and Netflix.com without any interruptions in my speed, and if it were not for the small icon on my desktop I probably wouldn’t have even known it was running at all. I used it for a few hours without any of the noticeable slow downs that I’ve experienced with other VPN services, especially in prime time.

I did attempt to also get this working on my ipad, but ran into some login issues, so I wasn’t able to test it further. My only concern is that occasionally I would get a message saying my IP address had changed and I should refresh it. Being the non-tech savvy person that I am, I’m guessing this has to do with my ISP and not with UnoTelly. It was a bit distracting but nothing that wasn’t solved by hitting the refresh button. ** edit ** I just have to say again, what great and prompt service I was given during my review. I emailed support, found all my questions answered, and have no more difficulties. Works fantastic!

The product comes at a great price (thee tiers with different pricing depending on what you’re looking for) and they include channels for you to use which I found really helpful. They are right on with the speed, and I experienced no slow downs. Over all, I’m really pleased. The contact emails I’ve received were pleasant and helpful, and prompt which is something I really value in customer support.

It’s a great system, and so far I have no complaints. I’m looking forward to using UnoTelly more in the future, and hopefully it continues to work as well as they’ve suggested. Anyone else out there have any experience with UnoTelly? Let me know in comments, thanks!

Decorating In Glitch (again) #PlayGlitch #Glitch

In October 2011 I was playing a little browser game called ‘Glitch’  – I wrote about it a time or two here on MmoQuests. The creators decided that the game was not as magnificent as they wanted it to be, and so they put it back into beta and changed a whole bunch of stuff with it. That’s the short story, at least. It’s been quite some time now, but my character is still there and today I was looking for something light and easy to play, and Glitch fills that desire quite well.

It took me a few minutes to catch up with some pretty important changes, most noticeably, I no longer owned a house in a neighborhood. It looks like I was refunded the cost, and all of my house items were placed in my inventory, including my pets, so that’s handy. I do miss the way my house used to look, but it’s FAR more customizable now. You place the furniture yourself, design the walls, ceiling, and floor, expand the yard (and the house) and where the neighborhood used to be outside is your own personal street that you can cultivate. There’s even a sign post at one end where you can add the names of your friends so everyone can port easily to their humble abodes.

You can customize each item in the house, some are free, some with a subscription, some with purchased currency. It seems like there are three types of currency now. One is currents, one is .. I’m not sure what it’s called but they’re purple little clouds with i’s in them, inspiration maybe? Then there are also credits, which is the currency you purchase with real money. You can use credits to purchase house furniture and clothing for your little avatar.

There are still quests, still a LOT of crafting, and I had fun just wandering around getting familiar with things once more. If you’d like to add me to your friends list you can check out my profile (I’m Stargrace in game, of course) and while I can’t promise that I’ll be playing a whole lot, it does give me something different to do, quickly, when I’m in the mood for that sort of thing.

I’m working on fox brushing right now. I don’t even know what that is, I just know it’s an animal skill that I don’t have yet. Once that is done, it’s time to move on to crafting furniture! I’m always a sucker for housing.

The subscription costs to Glitch is quite steep for what it offers you (imo), with three levels of subscriptions. Tin is $5 a month, which is a pretty good price, but comes with very little (you can view the plans here). If you’re REALLY a fan of the game I suppose the $14.99/m plan may be something you’d want to look into, but I can’t see myself ever spending that much on a browser game, even with the 400 credits and 50 teleportation tokens it comes with. There’s nothing stopping you from playing for free or even just purchasing some credits to help support the game. Buying a year subscription for $50 (the lowest price range, you save $10) is not bad, and it does grant you access to all subscriber only options and customizations. The problem is when your subscription runs out, so do those options. It’s still a great little game to check out and I highly suggest people give it a try.

Happy gaming, no matter where you find yourself!