December 2014

ArcheAge? ArcheAge.

stargrace December 7, 2014 No Comments

What ever happened to ArcheAge? It released not even three full months ago, and already there are far less players than when I first started out. Since I still have patron access thanks to being a beta supporter, and a friend was talking up the game over the weekend, and I actually had time to game for once, I decided why not explore once again. I had previously lost most of my desire to play when the guild I was in decided to implode due to a whole lot of drama. This time around I was starting fresh on a new server, and though I miss my old ‘mains’ (a lot, I really wish we had character transfers) at least there were some good friends around.

I’m nearing level 19 at the moment, and managed to find a spot for my small farm right away. Prices for items have skyrocketed to a degree that I would have never guessed. Just last month APEX were selling for 40 gold, those are now 200 gold. 16×16 plots of land were 300-500 gold, and those are now 1200-2000 gold depending on location. Even the 8×8 plots of land are going for huge amounts of gold, and it seems like only a small percent of the population controls the housing areas. I would still love to see all patrons be granted 1 16×16 and 1 8×8 – and then leave open spaces where people could battle for extra land. In any case, I was glad to get my small piece. I’m not sure what the chances are for me ever obtaining a 16×16 (especially not if I have to pay for it) but the 8×8 will suit me for now. Instead of picking up on a specific craft, I have just been harvesting and selling my goods on the AH. I’ve got a nice little store of coin, and I’m hoping that as I level up I can make use of that for gear and weapons.

I started out as a daggerspell, but at level 17 I decided I wasn’t really enjoying myself and I swapped over to a templar which has been my class of choice so far. I completed a few trade runs, and things are very much as they were when I stopped playing approximately a month ago (aside from the rise in prices). How long I stick things out this time will depend on a number of things (like how long my friends are around for) but I wouldn’t play at all if I didn’t have at least some fun doing it. I enjoy the world and the quests, I just don’t enjoy the mad property dash that seems to dictate every action in the game.

Gaming

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare

stargrace December 6, 2014 No Comments

EA decided to give away some games this weekend for a very limited time. The games include:

Need for Speed: Most Wanted (PS Vita)
Mirror’s Edge (PS3)
Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare (PS4)

Thankfully some friends alerted me of the giveaway, so I was able to snag Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare for my PS4 before the deal ended. It only runs until 9pm Eastern on Sunday. The giveaway was part of the 20th anniversary promotion for PlayStation, and hey, you can’t go wrong with free games.

With all that being said, I’ve never actually played this game before and it was nothing at all like what I expected from a PvsZ game. I suppose I was looking for a more traditional version – though the graphics are beautiful and I did have fun roaming around my garden. I’ll have to give it a better try later on.

Gaming

What’s on your Gaming Christmas Wish List?

stargrace December 5, 2014 1 Comment

We’re already almost a week into December, inching closer and closer to Christmas. I can hardly believe it! This year seems to have absolutely flown by. It seems the older I get, the faster time moves. I have been thinking about what video game related things I would like for Christmas this year and the answer is … very little! Aside from my steam wish list, I have had a very good (or very bad depending on how you look at it) year in terms of video games, so there’s not much on my list. As an example:

I had to replace my entire PC when I moved, so I don’t need any computer parts.
The only game I really REALLY wanted this year was Sims 4 (which I was gifted)

Those were my two major ‘wants’ for this year. Everything else is just icing on a pretty fantastic year. I played ArcheAge for a while (loved it, but in the end it just wasn’t for me), still play WildStar, still enjoy World of Warcraft, and dabble in Wurm Online (how odd that my top three games all begin with a W).

The only thing I still REALLY want is something that I haven’t been able to find anywhere, and that’s more time to be able to play the amazing games I have in my library.

What about everyone else? Is there a game or device you really want? Did you manage to have a stellar year? Let me know in comments! As always, happy gaming, no matter where you find yourself.

Gaming

6 Months of Progress in Wurm Online

stargrace December 4, 2014 1 Comment

Wurm is one of those delightful games where your work is never done. It has infinite replayability, and every time you play it the game is going to be different. I haven’t done a lot of Wurm posts this year, but I’ve still been playing. Back in June I made the move from Pristine to Xanadu, a giant megaserver that was opened. Xanadu differs from the other servers in the fact that there are no personal traders allowed. Those are the NPC you can purchase for 50 silver from starter town merchants (other traders). It’s also gigantic compared to the other servers. I have barely explored any of it where as I was quite familiar with Deliverance, Pristine, and a good portion of Exodus.

I’ve been at this deed location for 6 months now, and I love it. I haven’t purchased any other deeds (which is new for me, typically I own a handful) and I have no intention of moving (though I would like to explore a bit more). My deed is not done but a good portion of it is. There is still a path leading up to my mine that I’m working on, my olive and grape farms need some more sprouts, and I’m contemplating a larger house for my character (but we’ll see, it’s mostly just to use up space). The deed is 41 x 37 which is a fair size, and upkeep is 3 silver 3 copper and 40 iron. I don’t own any guards so that helps the cost quite a bit. I have roughly 25 horses but most of them are grey and I’m only keeping that many so that I can work my animal husbandry skill and try to get the elusive 5 speed. Once I get a higher AH skill and some more colours I’ll cull them.

My buildings are pretty sparse, and I’m thinking of working on that. I think I want a separate building for tailoring and smithing. Right now I have one large workshop for everything. I also have a building that servers as a kitchen, with my pantry and ovens. I have a stable running along the back of the deed, and a small 2×2 personal home. I’ve seen some fantastic elaborate homes on the forums, and I’m contemplating building something more extravagant. We’ll see I suppose. I dislike making mortar, but I do have an infinite supply of clay, so it could be worse.

Then of course there’s my mine. It’s quite small. I have contemplated setting up another deed for the chance at a larger mine, but I’m not sure if I really want to. I have enough iron to keep me busy for the next few years, maybe once I have exhausted those sources I’ll contemplate another. I’d like to get a few more different types of ore.. We’ll just have to see how that goes.

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

Gaming

When did they Add all This?!

stargrace December 3, 2014 1 Comment

Every so often when I’m playing Wurm Online I’ll get the sudden realization that an item or two has slipped into the game that I have never heard of before. I love these moments! I experienced it when they added seals, again when I discovered spinning wheels and sheep, and then once more this morning when I realized that they have added a great selection of decoration items to fine carpentry, as well as items to tailoring.

I have been waiting for more decoration items for quite some time and the team has done an absolutely amazing job.

Now we’re not restricted to barren castles or homes, we can add furniture, and colour! Of course in order to create these items you do need a bit of skill. My fine carpentry is 32 on my main (much higher on an alt that I am no longer using, since alts need their own subscriptions) which is a nice start but no where near the amount I need to make say a canopy bed. That puts me right in line for my next goal, working on fine carpentry. I’m busy burning all of my sleep bonus and skilling it up, slowly.

Plus, lets not forget that bridges are coming VERY soon! It’s a pretty great time to be playing Wurm.

ArcheAge? ArcheAge.

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare

What’s on your Gaming Christmas Wish List?

6 Months of Progress in Wurm Online

When did they Add all This?!

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The Construction of Quail Landing

Making Gold – One Sale at a Time

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