Maidens Chamber

Simply Gaming

stargrace May 24, 2009 4Comments

Aww no screen shot to go with this post because I spent the majority of yesterday bedridden again and the screen shot quality of the laptop is just not that great. Snuck onto the computer early this morning before I have to go back to my cave for the rest of the day, at least it’s comfortable (even if I don’t have digital cable in there and the channels I do have suck!).

Despite being confined to my room I did get a fair amount of gaming done yesterday! It’s not like I’m going to let a few little problems stop me, eh?

To start it off Satia (the dirge) is now level 79 and 40% into it! This will mark my 8th level 80 I believe. I already have an 80: Coercer, Illusionist (x2), Templar, Warden, Troubador, and Mystic. The 50% bonus experience for the (US) holiday weekend has been nice in helping me along, plus I had a few smaller experience boosting potions, and I mentored with my mystic. In order to get that bit of experience the guild and I headed to Crypt of Agony, Maidens Chamber, Vaults of Eternal Sleep, as well as Unrest and Shard of Fear. Oh, lets not forget Chelsith too!

Crypt of Agony, Madiens, and Vaults were slightly disappointing as none of them dropped a single item that any of us were searching for – however Ultann managed to get his choker from Unrest finally, and Wpus managed to get his ring from Chelsith (you know the one that procs a huge aoe when a mob dies). Hamal (Kasul) also inched his way closer to 72 and gained a lot of achievement points from the instances, so that was good for him.

At 79 my little dirge had a lot of gear waiting for her, she can wear some new weapons and her new gi and a handful of other random items. I believe I have a few shards saved up so at level 80 she can get a piece or two of void gear (T1) until I can farm some shards on her. She’s still quite far behind in achievements, but is almost at 100 which is better then some of my characters (like the illusionist, lol). Of course this character isn’t even 80 yet and I’m already debating who to level up next, probably the paladin and then who knows, I may just create something new. I only have three characters on my 2nd account, so there’s lots of room over there still. Maybe a pure dps class of some sort. Suggestions?

Aside from that, I’m expecting a fairly quiet weekend. Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday, and their holiday Monday (for those who have it off). Chances are I’ll be some where in Norrath.

Gaming

All in the Roll of the Dice

stargrace May 23, 2009 0Comment

It’s bonus experience weekend due to Monday being a holiday in the states (have a wonderful day off!) and EQ2 has 50% bonus for both tradeskilling and adventuring, while EQ has doubled their experience so you have 100% bonus. Yesterday my dirge managed to inch her way to level 77 and part way through, which also meant she had some new gear to wear that I had stashed away. She’s got quite a bit of things from our daily instance runs that I have just been waiting to use.

Speaking of daily instance runs – CoA again nothing that we’re trying to get dropped. No Farseer, no burdened signet, no cardiocutter. At least we’ve seen the burdened signet once. We also headed to Maidens where surprisingly enough the gi of the swifttail dropped for a second time (the fabled one from the sisters) but of course since we got it yesterday there was no need for it any more (until Hamal can use it and he wasn’t around) so we just sold it to vendor. The Gift of the Queen fabled ring is what I’m after in particular from that zone, though I know there are a few other nice items. We’ve yet to see them.

Which is alright, it means we spend more time finishing the instances in the hopes that (one day) the items we need from each drop. Since the bonus experience this weekend is for crafters and adventurers alike, I may spend some time trying to get my provsioner a few levels. Of course then there’s the fact that my bard is fairly close to 80 and wouldn’t it be nice to get that finished off – as well as my paladin who is sitting at level 73 currently.

It’s fun to be in Kylong Plains doing the beginner RoK quests at level 77 as opposed to level 69. Since my characters lately have all been power leveled up through the ranks they have a huge lack of aa and being able to kill at level 77 is a lot faster then had I attempted it at a lower level. Though my gear is not exactly up to snuff (yet) and things can still hurt if I have too many at once. I do have all of my bards adept3’s which is a blessing. Paladin has her 71+ ones as well – and I managed to purchase her defensive stance master for 70p a few days ago (I forget if I mentioned it here or not, I probably did).

No doubt this weekend will see lots of gaming in both EQ and EQ2 and maybe some others thrown in there just because. We’ll see how it goes. I hope everyone has an amazing Saturday, and I’ll see you in Norrath!

Gaming

O M G – The Sky is Falling! (Ok, not really)

stargrace May 22, 2009 4Comments

For the last week or so on Kithicor the discussion in 70-79 has revolved around one thing and one thing only. The ‘nerf’ coming to procs. What is said nerf? Well simply put people are doing too much dps. So this change that is coming will tone it down, and it will tone it down by quite a huge amount for certain classes. What the change is going to do is remove any bonus’ that currently get stacked onto your procs. This means they will no longer crit, nor will they be affected by base spell damage or + spell damage or anything more then achievements and what have you.

This is going to mean a lot less dps especially for scout classes, and enchanters who rely on those procs to do their extra damage. Now, if you don’t raid you may not think this is such a big deal, and in fact I personally don’t feel like it’s that big of a deal. Not because I don’t think dps will drop drastically, it will (take a look at an ACT parse to see how often you crit on a proc and you’ll be surprised at the amount of damage it counts for) BUT the reason I’m not all upset about this change is because: We should be used to adjusting for things like this.

That’s right. Games change. Things that were once a good idea some times are not any more. As players we should be adept at rolling WITH the changes and finding new methods of combating it. If your DPS is going to drop THAT much that not having procs crit is going to significantly affect your progression and your game play then find a way to change that, be it more procing items (or perhaps less), master spells, gear, whatever. Fights will take longer – healers are going to be hit VERY hard with overloaded heals and a few other spells no longer being affected or able to crit. Why everyone is screaming that the sky is falling before the changes are even on test instead of acting maturely and sending in feedback about it, I have no idea. Remember that fighter revamp that was supposed to happen? People sent in their feedback and the idea was scrapped. Despite those of the general gaming audience who like to paint the employees of SOE with devil tails and horns, the developers DO actually listen, and contraire to what we as players may think – they do try to have the best interest of the player base at heart and they know what they’re doing! If you don’t like a particular change and have good solid reasons and proof as to why, then feedback it and let them know! If your guild is affected THAT much by the change and you can SEE this with some solid proof on the test server and the whole game is going to crumble and collapse because of this one change then let them know – logically.

Every time a big change comes people break out their ‘I’m leaving’ card and roll it around in channels for all to hear. Wait for things to get situated on the test server before breaking out the doom and gloom, and then go through the proper channels if it does affect you so much as to be game breaking. That’s all I’d like to see.

Aside from the general chatter in channels – Kasul managed to inch his way to level 71 yesterday, which was amazing. I didn’t spend a great deal of time in game (we all have our days) but I did manage to level the dirge to 76 and she’s part way to 77 now. 9th level 80 here I come!

Wpus, Ultann, and I headed to Crypt of Agony in the hopes that either Ultann’s Farseer would drop (negative) or the Cardiocutter would drop (also negative) or even the burdened signet (another no). The guild is crawling along to level 31 and more amenity which is fantastic at least. Afterwards I had enough energy in me for a Maidens run so we attempted to get the healer ring to drop (no luck) but – the fabled gi did drop, and I quickly relogged to my dirge to pick it up since scouts can use it.

One of these days the items we’ve been trying to get for well over a month will drop. Until then, we’ll just keep trying!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday, and a delightful weekend. I’m not sure where I’ll end up yet, but as always if you’d like to contact me you can find my information on the top left hand side of this site. Best bet is typically xfire or twitter, as I keep those up constantly.

Safe travels, see you in Norrath!

Gaming

Runnyeye The Gathering (and of course others)

stargrace May 6, 2009 0Comment

I was feeling slightly more like myself yesterday and the trio gathered together for some instance goodness. We decided to do something completely new for us and we headed to Enchanted Lands to take on Runnyeye: The Gathering (RE2).

It had been a while since I had done the zone, and my partners in crime (shadowknight and conjuror) had never been there at all. I played the illusionist on the pc and put the mystic on the laptop, Ultann played the MT (main tank) and played Nocbot (inquisitor) on his laptop. Essentially we were a group of five, with the two healers on autofollow. What could possibly go wrong, right?

Well, by the end of it I was quite surprised.

We managed to beat the entire zone except the last encounter with the 4^ and the epic x2. We took down Slamhammer on the 2nd run (after dying to the million hammers before). We took down the mob that spawns noxious gas clouds also on the 2nd run once we found a better strat for our boxed healers. Everything else was a 1st pull 1st kill experience.

We didn’t get anything of note, none of the fabled cloaks dropped (which would have been so nice) and no gear was an upgrade but it was still exceptionally satisfying to be able to take down those sorts of encounters in that particular zone with just our group.We all got a few aa, and managed to complete a few quests relating to the zone. I’ll have to remember to pick up the two quests we missed outside of the zone next time.

Now we’ve been able to clear all of the RoK instances (we headed back to Vaults and Maidens after RE2 to clear those) as well as RE2 and a few TSO instances. Next? We’re going to attempt to clear the guk TSO instances. Or see how far we can get through them in any case. I try to keep a positive outlook even when I think we’re going to get completely owned, so it will be interesting to see how things go. I keep reminding myself that we’re not exactly the best geared players out there, we have a mixture of TSO T2 gear and dropped jewelery, a few masters (with myself far behind in that department, I have one master spell). Again, this is a great indication that you do NOT have to be fully raid geared (or raid geared at all) in order to complete these things. Talent does surpass all else in the rare occassion. This idea is something I welcome openly.

In case you had not heard yet, player housing goes LIVE in Wizard 101 TODAY! That’s some pretty exciting news right there. It’s the only thing I wish we had in Free Realms too (which I spent a bit of time playing yesterday).

I hope everyone else had an exciting Tuesday, don’t forget Mother’s Day is Sunday!

Gaming

Working on Epics and Instances

stargrace May 5, 2009 1Comment

Ultann managed to get his inquisitor epic in two days. I was really happy for him but frustrated at the difference in ‘ease’ as far as epics go. Some are very easy to get (I finished the coercer one in a single day) and others are painstakingly long especially when you take into count the different pre-requisites they may have.

I’m trudging along with the mystic and illusionist epic though and I’m confident that some day I’ll get them. We’ll just have to see.

Yesterday evening was the first chunk of play time I’ve had steady in a bit, so the trio headed to instances of course. First on our list? Maidens. Now, we’ve never cleared this zone as a trio before, mostly because my enchanter at the time was too small to hold down the adds for Sandstorm as well as the sisters.

Yesterday it went flawlessly and we took down sandstorm (with four adds up) as well as the sisters (on the 2nd attempt, first attempt we had the order wrong) without any real issues. I was exceptionally happy because the zone is also one I need for the illusionist epic, and I’m glad that we can trio it. Plus some pretty fantastic loot drops there.

Speaking of loot for once it was on our side! No, we didn’t get any gear upgrades to drop but for once a few masters did. One of which being my all important power / health buff for the mystic. Premonition. I was so very excited. This spell typically goes for a huge amount of money. Ultann also managed to get his group taunt to drop, and a few masters dropped for folks to sell.

Once we were finished in Maidens we headed to Vaults, and then to our good friend Obelisk of Ahkzul which refused to drop the healer shield (again). We spent a little time in Chelsith but that zone is so incredibly long and the Leviathans tend to drop nothing but treasured so we like to avoid it. I wish it followed the ‘named will drop legendary’ rule but alas it does not. This zone COULD be so wonderful if just a few tweaks were made.

All in all it was a great night, and I had a lot of fun. Here’s hoping tonight is more of the same! See you in Norrath!

Simply Gaming

All in the Roll of the Dice

O M G – The Sky is Falling! (Ok, not really)

Runnyeye The Gathering (and of course others)

Working on Epics and Instances

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