Zarkon. That's who.
Of all the things I've been called over the years... Evil. Ebeneezer Scrooge. Mr. Grinch. The king of sinful sots. Let me tell you, they're all just lies and vicious rumors.
There's a soft spot, deep down inside that comes out this time of year... when the ice storms and snow chill Wither's cold-blooded heart to her happiest levels... and the icicle that pokes your eye out (or was that a B.B. fired from a Red Rider B.B. Gun?) may be sharper than Eviscerate's sarcasm... while the cold wind bites harder than his humor... and the grey skies make his outlook seem cheerful.
Well, the point is that even an evil dictator like me has a soft spot for the TBones and Yuracks and Tiny Tims of this world. And that soft spot has compelled me to bring Christmas early to the Voltron Force. Everyone has done a great job, well, except for all of you, you incompetent fools, in assisting me with the spread of evil and empire throughout the universe. If you'd ever stop plotting against me, we might achieve it one day.
And that soft spot... well, the Hunk of Christmas Future showed me poor Eviscerate and poor Lucin, the 'rogues of want and need' and how they froze because of their inadequate shoulder armor. So moved by the Hunk of Christmas Future and the musical stylings of Aquitane Marley (seriously, if I have to listen to "The Night they Drove Ol' Dixie Down" again...) that I brought Christmas early to our two neediest rogues. (If only that grinch Jeff Kaplan would bring PvP buffs...)
Which then gave that beggar druid I picked up at the almshouse to do our grunt work the best shoulder armor of all. Even I got some new bling for my neck and belt--but I was too busy handing out epics like Santa Claus handing out ho-ho-ho's at the Hilton residence for you all to have noticed me greedily making out like a bandit... like the evil genius I am.
Ahem. The reformed, warm-hearted evil genius that I am.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Greatest Night(s) Ever
So, I'm here at 3am writing because I love this game. The last two nights have been phenomenal... so a quick recap.
-Monday: Enduring 2 hours of frustrating wipes and near-misses to finally down Maiden after I make few important realizations: her consecrate doesn't really hurt and will break redemption on me... so Aquitane doesn't have to solo heal for 25 seconds or however long it is; if I create macros for dispell and then keymash 7-0, I can dispell holy fire from my assignments with ease.
After those realizations, we down her. Go figure--it was my fault.
-Tuesday... this was the best day to follow up the fun of Maiden.
1. Midday Halaa battle. Ally are dumb, don't take out the healer, I do about 50k healing in a short period of time, 40 halaa marks and 0 deaths later, I'm a happy camper and laughing at the dumb ally.
2. Dumb ally get dumber. I duel a 70 paladin at the Auchindon meeting stone. I don't have mana burn on any toolbar. (Whoops). I get the Pally under 10%, pally blows Lay on Hands. I was just like 'wow.' So now I have to kill the pally all over again while running out of mana.
Pally bubbles to heal. A third life bar. Guh.
At this point, I said 'fuck it' and used my Orgril'la healthstone and a cheap mana pot. I also feared after the bubble and used the time not to attack but to find mana burn and put it on my toolbar. It's a disc spell. Who knew?
Somewhere in there, I use shadowfiend to get mana back and get lucky and have inner focus crit for 5200.
I mana burn pally everytime she gets to around 10%. Pally only gets in a few heals, my dots are effective. Close to 8 minutes after the start of the duel, I wand the pally down to 8%, get shadow word death up at the right time and hit it for the win.
Yes, an epic, 8 minute duel... and the Pally blew both lay on hands and bubble... and still couldn't win. With me needing to find mana burn in my spellbook. Wow.
3. EZMode Shadow Labs clear--Druwyn is on the path to Kara! I do DPS. Group succeeds. World ends with holy priest being successful DPS. More at 11.
4. Heroic Slave Pens--Not satisfied with having done DPS in Shadow Labs, we get Aquitane to heal heroic Slave Pens. Aquitane succeeds in healing Hunk while I still find a way to do 16% DPS and only rarely go out of mana. Tigole destroys workstation after seeing that 4 good players can carry a holy priest smiting naga in a heroic.
Not only am I doing damage, but I'm talking baseball on vent for half of it. With Aquitane in the other room schooling me on baseball trivia. Guh.
We get to the end, Yurack replaces Aquitane, and I take over healing. If there's ever 2 things that could turn a group south to wipeland, those could be it.
I sleep through healing Hunk on Quagmirran and Yurack doesn't pull aggro! And then the lewtz. Oh, giggity giggity!
-Yurack takes the nether and makes Hunk his leet +36 (with gems) stam gun.
- Eviscerate gets Midnight Leggings (epicness. Hawtness).
- I get some +5hit/+6stam epic gem. (Now, for the mana-etched spaulders...)
Everyone gets badges of justice. A heroic is laid to waste with little to no difficulty, and we all go home happy.
And I go to Halaa and get 10 more marks for one death. L2AttackHealer Ally. Nubtards. And if you're a pally and duel me--I have 2 words: Bubble Hearth.
-Monday: Enduring 2 hours of frustrating wipes and near-misses to finally down Maiden after I make few important realizations: her consecrate doesn't really hurt and will break redemption on me... so Aquitane doesn't have to solo heal for 25 seconds or however long it is; if I create macros for dispell and then keymash 7-0, I can dispell holy fire from my assignments with ease.
After those realizations, we down her. Go figure--it was my fault.
-Tuesday... this was the best day to follow up the fun of Maiden.
1. Midday Halaa battle. Ally are dumb, don't take out the healer, I do about 50k healing in a short period of time, 40 halaa marks and 0 deaths later, I'm a happy camper and laughing at the dumb ally.
2. Dumb ally get dumber. I duel a 70 paladin at the Auchindon meeting stone. I don't have mana burn on any toolbar. (Whoops). I get the Pally under 10%, pally blows Lay on Hands. I was just like 'wow.' So now I have to kill the pally all over again while running out of mana.
Pally bubbles to heal. A third life bar. Guh.
At this point, I said 'fuck it' and used my Orgril'la healthstone and a cheap mana pot. I also feared after the bubble and used the time not to attack but to find mana burn and put it on my toolbar. It's a disc spell. Who knew?
Somewhere in there, I use shadowfiend to get mana back and get lucky and have inner focus crit for 5200.
I mana burn pally everytime she gets to around 10%. Pally only gets in a few heals, my dots are effective. Close to 8 minutes after the start of the duel, I wand the pally down to 8%, get shadow word death up at the right time and hit it for the win.
Yes, an epic, 8 minute duel... and the Pally blew both lay on hands and bubble... and still couldn't win. With me needing to find mana burn in my spellbook. Wow.
3. EZMode Shadow Labs clear--Druwyn is on the path to Kara! I do DPS. Group succeeds. World ends with holy priest being successful DPS. More at 11.
4. Heroic Slave Pens--Not satisfied with having done DPS in Shadow Labs, we get Aquitane to heal heroic Slave Pens. Aquitane succeeds in healing Hunk while I still find a way to do 16% DPS and only rarely go out of mana. Tigole destroys workstation after seeing that 4 good players can carry a holy priest smiting naga in a heroic.
Not only am I doing damage, but I'm talking baseball on vent for half of it. With Aquitane in the other room schooling me on baseball trivia. Guh.
We get to the end, Yurack replaces Aquitane, and I take over healing. If there's ever 2 things that could turn a group south to wipeland, those could be it.
I sleep through healing Hunk on Quagmirran and Yurack doesn't pull aggro! And then the lewtz. Oh, giggity giggity!
-Yurack takes the nether and makes Hunk his leet +36 (with gems) stam gun.
- Eviscerate gets Midnight Leggings (epicness. Hawtness).
- I get some +5hit/+6stam epic gem. (Now, for the mana-etched spaulders...)
Everyone gets badges of justice. A heroic is laid to waste with little to no difficulty, and we all go home happy.
And I go to Halaa and get 10 more marks for one death. L2AttackHealer Ally. Nubtards. And if you're a pally and duel me--I have 2 words: Bubble Hearth.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
To Merge or Not to Merge? (With DnA)
TLDR/Wall of Text Crits you for left eye version at the bottom.
Back when we first started this train in January, I had no idea where it was going. If anything "off the tracks" was the most popular answer--look who's wearing the engineer's hat.
The guild looks a bit different now than it did way back when. Some good friends--Igor, Allura(aka Gaminail from Kel'Thuzad), Taelara and Lance/Cunegonde have either left or can only be with us here and there. Somewhere in the back of my head, there was the idea all along that we'd need to expand a bit. Not having done this whole GM thing, I had no clue how to do that. Honestly, I still really don't--except that somehow I think we've gotten things right.
I don't know what stroke of good fortune caused Lucin, Sanura and Ertai to look at the gajillion servers and pick Terrokar, but they did... and they've been here almost since the start. Our resident Sith Lord, Dick Cheney... er Llibill pointed Narav in this direction. (PS, you must send him your 1 copper as tribute... do this, you'll get a mail back with 2 copper. Nevermind that mail costs 30 copper to send. Just do it.)
I could say the same thing about Thanatas, Deavious, Flayre, Tarok, and our newest addition, Eviscerate. And you are an addition--I have a guild house made of Legos that keeps getting bigger every time we add someone. TBone is that unfinished room in the basement, you know the one with the water heater and boxes from 4 moves ago that never have been opened...
There's a question that's coming up and that I'm going to need to answer soon... Do we stay the nice, sizeable Lego house that we are right now, or do we grow to be a mansion. Mansions look nice and give you a lot more space and opportunity--they're also a lot harder to maintain and to keep all of its guests happy.
(Get snowballs in-game and throw them at me if you hate this analogy.)
What I want to say is this. I like where we're at. We're progressing well, and we're progressing intelligently. There's a lot of cooperation going on. We're making friends in other guilds. There's a real positive vibe going.
The guild DnA has proposed that we merge our guilds together. I've been thinking about this for 3 weeks, maybe a month, and I'm no closer to having an opinion than I was at the outset. This is where I need your help. Do you want to do this? Or do you want to leave things as they are for the time being?
My thoughts: As it stands, both of our guilds are probably missing a few pieces for Kara--though I think we're more complete. Combined, we'd have enough.
That's a strong upside. The downside is that we'd have enough for one group, but not two. That leads to nightmares of scheduling, who goes, etc. I want everyone we have to be able to go if they can. I feel like if we'd merge, I'd be risking that.
Other things to consider--they'd like to form under a completely new guild tag. I'm not completely averse to it, but I like our identity, as the Voltron Force. My vote would be for "Form Blazing Sword" if we would rename... but I'd rather not. Thoughts? If you secretly hate the name/theme, then this might be a chance to make a new suggestion, get everyone in favor of it and savor your tag every day you play.
Also the question of guild structure/authority. We're a very contrarian guild in this sense. We really don't have any structure--everyone has /ginvite privileges. If you want your own rank, you get it. Just ask Secretary of Donuts Yurack or the Guild Hobag of the week (currently that Clothlion nub, I think).
I don't want to have officers, ever. I don't want to have structure and authority, ever. I want everyone to work together as equals, to have a voice as equal to everyone else. Most of all, I don't want you to think that this decision--merge or not--is one that you don't have a say in. You do. And I want to hear it.
I think that Prophetus and others are mostly good with this conception, but I'm not entirely for sure. I really don't want to give this up--I think it's a big part of what makes us who we are and why we have our good energy going.
I want to end the post with what I think the best reason to do this is. I really like the people from DnA that I've played with. They've been nice, and they're a lot of fun--witness the Halaa of a good time we had world PvPing tonight. DnA is on board with this idea, from what I gather. It is up to us.
I need your thoughts though--post comments, talk to me in game, etc. Prophetus keeps asking me for an answer--I figure I owe him one, one way or another sorta soon.
TLDR/Dodge Wall of Text version:
-I talk about how much I like all of you. Except for TBone, who is that unfinished storage room in the basement of this metaphorical home we've built. I think Yurack's corpse is in it, causing it to smell. Or is that Hunk? Don't get too close to water heater bud, one more of those and the pilot light could asplode.
-DnA wants to merge with us. Our home could be come a mansion. But do we really want a mansion?
The upsides:
- Seem to be nice and fun to play with
- A more solid Kara group and probably a little quicker.
- More people to instance/quest with.
- More resources, a JC at 350+, so San won't have to feel guilty about having to keep leveling to keep pace with JC. (We love you for doing it though!)
- Form Blazing Sword? (I still love it)
The possible drawbacks:
- Guild renamed? No more VF? Oh noes!
- People being left out of Kara/feeling left behind?
- Would they want officer structure/authority? I like everyone as equals.
- If so, could Yurack handle a demotion to Undersecretary of Donuts?
- Does it make sense at this point?
Are there alternatives--e.g. guild alliance with agreed loot rules/priorities, etc. for Kara?
I need your thoughts.
Back when we first started this train in January, I had no idea where it was going. If anything "off the tracks" was the most popular answer--look who's wearing the engineer's hat.
The guild looks a bit different now than it did way back when. Some good friends--Igor, Allura(aka Gaminail from Kel'Thuzad), Taelara and Lance/Cunegonde have either left or can only be with us here and there. Somewhere in the back of my head, there was the idea all along that we'd need to expand a bit. Not having done this whole GM thing, I had no clue how to do that. Honestly, I still really don't--except that somehow I think we've gotten things right.
I don't know what stroke of good fortune caused Lucin, Sanura and Ertai to look at the gajillion servers and pick Terrokar, but they did... and they've been here almost since the start. Our resident Sith Lord, Dick Cheney... er Llibill pointed Narav in this direction. (PS, you must send him your 1 copper as tribute... do this, you'll get a mail back with 2 copper. Nevermind that mail costs 30 copper to send. Just do it.)
I could say the same thing about Thanatas, Deavious, Flayre, Tarok, and our newest addition, Eviscerate. And you are an addition--I have a guild house made of Legos that keeps getting bigger every time we add someone. TBone is that unfinished room in the basement, you know the one with the water heater and boxes from 4 moves ago that never have been opened...
There's a question that's coming up and that I'm going to need to answer soon... Do we stay the nice, sizeable Lego house that we are right now, or do we grow to be a mansion. Mansions look nice and give you a lot more space and opportunity--they're also a lot harder to maintain and to keep all of its guests happy.
(Get snowballs in-game and throw them at me if you hate this analogy.)
What I want to say is this. I like where we're at. We're progressing well, and we're progressing intelligently. There's a lot of cooperation going on. We're making friends in other guilds. There's a real positive vibe going.
The guild DnA has proposed that we merge our guilds together. I've been thinking about this for 3 weeks, maybe a month, and I'm no closer to having an opinion than I was at the outset. This is where I need your help. Do you want to do this? Or do you want to leave things as they are for the time being?
My thoughts: As it stands, both of our guilds are probably missing a few pieces for Kara--though I think we're more complete. Combined, we'd have enough.
That's a strong upside. The downside is that we'd have enough for one group, but not two. That leads to nightmares of scheduling, who goes, etc. I want everyone we have to be able to go if they can. I feel like if we'd merge, I'd be risking that.
Other things to consider--they'd like to form under a completely new guild tag. I'm not completely averse to it, but I like our identity, as the Voltron Force. My vote would be for "Form Blazing Sword" if we would rename... but I'd rather not. Thoughts? If you secretly hate the name/theme, then this might be a chance to make a new suggestion, get everyone in favor of it and savor your tag every day you play.
Also the question of guild structure/authority. We're a very contrarian guild in this sense. We really don't have any structure--everyone has /ginvite privileges. If you want your own rank, you get it. Just ask Secretary of Donuts Yurack or the Guild Hobag of the week (currently that Clothlion nub, I think).
I don't want to have officers, ever. I don't want to have structure and authority, ever. I want everyone to work together as equals, to have a voice as equal to everyone else. Most of all, I don't want you to think that this decision--merge or not--is one that you don't have a say in. You do. And I want to hear it.
I think that Prophetus and others are mostly good with this conception, but I'm not entirely for sure. I really don't want to give this up--I think it's a big part of what makes us who we are and why we have our good energy going.
I want to end the post with what I think the best reason to do this is. I really like the people from DnA that I've played with. They've been nice, and they're a lot of fun--witness the Halaa of a good time we had world PvPing tonight. DnA is on board with this idea, from what I gather. It is up to us.
I need your thoughts though--post comments, talk to me in game, etc. Prophetus keeps asking me for an answer--I figure I owe him one, one way or another sorta soon.
TLDR/Dodge Wall of Text version:
-I talk about how much I like all of you. Except for TBone, who is that unfinished storage room in the basement of this metaphorical home we've built. I think Yurack's corpse is in it, causing it to smell. Or is that Hunk? Don't get too close to water heater bud, one more of those and the pilot light could asplode.
-DnA wants to merge with us. Our home could be come a mansion. But do we really want a mansion?
The upsides:
- Seem to be nice and fun to play with
- A more solid Kara group and probably a little quicker.
- More people to instance/quest with.
- More resources, a JC at 350+, so San won't have to feel guilty about having to keep leveling to keep pace with JC. (We love you for doing it though!)
- Form Blazing Sword? (I still love it)
The possible drawbacks:
- Guild renamed? No more VF? Oh noes!
- People being left out of Kara/feeling left behind?
- Would they want officer structure/authority? I like everyone as equals.
- If so, could Yurack handle a demotion to Undersecretary of Donuts?
- Does it make sense at this point?
Are there alternatives--e.g. guild alliance with agreed loot rules/priorities, etc. for Kara?
I need your thoughts.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
State of the Voltron Force
I think it's time--mostly because I haven't posted here in nearly a month--to do what every leader does from time to time, give a "State of the X" speech. And I'm pleased to announce that the State of the Voltron Force is. . . (wait for it. . . wait for it. . .) EVIL!
Yes, evil! I'm so proud of you guys. You've come so far from the days when you wouldn't gank Sanura's alt in the Gurubashi Arena, even though you were 20 levels higher--then corpse camp her all night--to the minions of evil that you are now. It just brings tears to my eyes. Cold, evil tears of evilness. And it's not just you guys, but you're hanging out with evil friends too! This DnA group--they're great sidekicks in evil. If you're skeptical of this, I have photographic evidence and a great story to tell.
Last night, this guy named "Pallydone"--how evil is that, he's a Paladin that lets all those goody-goody Dranei and Human Paladins know that they're done--and our very own master of demonology Thanatas (one day you might even create a robeast as cool as my Shadowfiend, but not as evil) send me tells saying that they need help killing this big scary dragon of goodness and ask me to come heal the fight. I said okay, and the next thing I know, I'm standing on the top of this narrow mountain out on some god forsaken rock off the astral coast of Shadowmoon Valley. We're talking like a tall, narrow number two pencil sticking out of the ground mountain. Down below there are all these level 72 elites that are pretending to be evil, but clearly aren't evil enough to scale mountains like us, but still, it's pretty evil and awesome out there.
But anyways, they all talk like they're going to kill some dragon, and I'm like "dragon, I don't see no stinken dragon." Then they tell me that I need some special goggles to see into some "ghost world." And now I'm getting skeptical. Ghost world eh? That sounds cool--but it's obviously too cool and too evil for Blizzard to have come up with. Like they ever would do something as cool as make 5 people stand on top of this tiny mountain and fight a ghost dragon. Please. If you've been to Onyxia's Lair and dealt with the creative genius that is the "Deep Breath," you know why I'm skeptical. Ghost Dragon, right...
So, being pretty skeptical, they tell me that they've engaged this ghost dragon. I look for it, but don't see it. Then again, it could be that I'm a healer and was only looking at health bars for the whole fight. But all I see is Pallydone's health bar dropping, along with the shaman in the party. I figured they just brought me out to heal a duel, but not wanting to be too evil-sided, I healed both of them until they stopped losing health. I figure one ran to the other side of the tiny mountain and canceled the duel.
Then they all got on their flying mounts and flew away, leaving me all alone on top of this 2x4 rock with no flying mount and a hearthstone with a 40 minute cooldown. And there are all these like super badass elite beasts that are too dumb to bow before me below. See for yourself:
They lead me on a snipe hunt. Those, evil, awesome people summon me out to a rock in the middle of nowhere, "fight" an invisible mob, then fly away. It was so evil, I wish I had thought of it myself.
After we had a good laugh, they let me in on killing some real and visible dragons, and then we freed that evil Far Seer Thrall in Old Hillsbrad, and it was fun.
So, as you can see, the state of the Voltron Force is evil. And all is well.
(PS - I think that the snipe hunt is going to be the new Rag cut scene.)
Yes, evil! I'm so proud of you guys. You've come so far from the days when you wouldn't gank Sanura's alt in the Gurubashi Arena, even though you were 20 levels higher--then corpse camp her all night--to the minions of evil that you are now. It just brings tears to my eyes. Cold, evil tears of evilness. And it's not just you guys, but you're hanging out with evil friends too! This DnA group--they're great sidekicks in evil. If you're skeptical of this, I have photographic evidence and a great story to tell.
Last night, this guy named "Pallydone"--how evil is that, he's a Paladin that lets all those goody-goody Dranei and Human Paladins know that they're done--and our very own master of demonology Thanatas (one day you might even create a robeast as cool as my Shadowfiend, but not as evil) send me tells saying that they need help killing this big scary dragon of goodness and ask me to come heal the fight. I said okay, and the next thing I know, I'm standing on the top of this narrow mountain out on some god forsaken rock off the astral coast of Shadowmoon Valley. We're talking like a tall, narrow number two pencil sticking out of the ground mountain. Down below there are all these level 72 elites that are pretending to be evil, but clearly aren't evil enough to scale mountains like us, but still, it's pretty evil and awesome out there.
But anyways, they all talk like they're going to kill some dragon, and I'm like "dragon, I don't see no stinken dragon." Then they tell me that I need some special goggles to see into some "ghost world." And now I'm getting skeptical. Ghost world eh? That sounds cool--but it's obviously too cool and too evil for Blizzard to have come up with. Like they ever would do something as cool as make 5 people stand on top of this tiny mountain and fight a ghost dragon. Please. If you've been to Onyxia's Lair and dealt with the creative genius that is the "Deep Breath," you know why I'm skeptical. Ghost Dragon, right...
So, being pretty skeptical, they tell me that they've engaged this ghost dragon. I look for it, but don't see it. Then again, it could be that I'm a healer and was only looking at health bars for the whole fight. But all I see is Pallydone's health bar dropping, along with the shaman in the party. I figured they just brought me out to heal a duel, but not wanting to be too evil-sided, I healed both of them until they stopped losing health. I figure one ran to the other side of the tiny mountain and canceled the duel.
Then they all got on their flying mounts and flew away, leaving me all alone on top of this 2x4 rock with no flying mount and a hearthstone with a 40 minute cooldown. And there are all these like super badass elite beasts that are too dumb to bow before me below. See for yourself:
They lead me on a snipe hunt. Those, evil, awesome people summon me out to a rock in the middle of nowhere, "fight" an invisible mob, then fly away. It was so evil, I wish I had thought of it myself.
After we had a good laugh, they let me in on killing some real and visible dragons, and then we freed that evil Far Seer Thrall in Old Hillsbrad, and it was fun.
So, as you can see, the state of the Voltron Force is evil. And all is well.
(PS - I think that the snipe hunt is going to be the new Rag cut scene.)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Served by Aquitane
Sometimes the greatest of us end up with egg on our face. It's one of those things that comes with being supremely awesome that really doesn't get talked about, mostly because it would discourage people from being awesome. Who wants to be awesome if it means getting served? Exactly. Well, here's the story.
Aquitane (David) is starting a play-by-email game of Diplomacy (the single greatest board game ever created). If you're not familiar with it, clicky. The reason it's so great--it involves virtually no luck--there are no dice. Everything that happens, happens because of the conscious decisions of others in how they choose to order their units, who they ally with and who they attack. Each player has equal opportunity to influence the other players in the "Diplomacy" phase. Nothing in the outcome of the game is random.
The only random element is what country you play. In a live game, we traditionally draw out of a coffee mug or something. In a play-by-email game, David decided it would be best to give me a random list of the 7 powers and then assign them based on the order in which people replied to his invitation to play. He told me the list. My coveted England was sixth.
So, gaming the system like awesome people do, I timed my e-mail to arrive sixth. It actually arrived sixth. So I get to sip on tea in London, right? Not so fast.
David then turned around and told another player that he was really going to assign powers in the reverse order of the list that he gave me. Instead of England, I play the dreaded Austria--no naval outlets and surrounded on every side. I get to fight over the Balkans. Yay?
Statistically, Austria is the most eliminated power in games. Awesome.
So, not only did I get fooled by David, but I got fooled into taking the statistically worst power in the game. I have precious little doubt that England and Austria were diametrically arranged as such (and thereby accuse David of violating the random choice of powers rule--he needed to draw his 7 out of a hat). But that's here nor there. I got served.
But because I'm awesome, I'm going to go win the game with Austria.
Aquitane (David) is starting a play-by-email game of Diplomacy (the single greatest board game ever created). If you're not familiar with it, clicky. The reason it's so great--it involves virtually no luck--there are no dice. Everything that happens, happens because of the conscious decisions of others in how they choose to order their units, who they ally with and who they attack. Each player has equal opportunity to influence the other players in the "Diplomacy" phase. Nothing in the outcome of the game is random.
The only random element is what country you play. In a live game, we traditionally draw out of a coffee mug or something. In a play-by-email game, David decided it would be best to give me a random list of the 7 powers and then assign them based on the order in which people replied to his invitation to play. He told me the list. My coveted England was sixth.
So, gaming the system like awesome people do, I timed my e-mail to arrive sixth. It actually arrived sixth. So I get to sip on tea in London, right? Not so fast.
David then turned around and told another player that he was really going to assign powers in the reverse order of the list that he gave me. Instead of England, I play the dreaded Austria--no naval outlets and surrounded on every side. I get to fight over the Balkans. Yay?
Statistically, Austria is the most eliminated power in games. Awesome.
So, not only did I get fooled by David, but I got fooled into taking the statistically worst power in the game. I have precious little doubt that England and Austria were diametrically arranged as such (and thereby accuse David of violating the random choice of powers rule--he needed to draw his 7 out of a hat). But that's here nor there. I got served.
But because I'm awesome, I'm going to go win the game with Austria.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Guild Charter Revised
Okay, I think that this is a lot better. I think that it captures who we are--a casual and fun guild--without quite an altogether casual tone. I hope that it finds the balance of being fun and respecting who we are and the time we play--which is what makes this work. As always, thoughts, comments? Leave them, say something in game.
-Z
The Guild Charter of the Voltron Force
Who Are We? Diverse and Fun!
If you’re reading this and aren’t a member, I want to thank you for taking the time to find out who we are and what our guild’s values are. If you’re reading this and are a member, I hope that each time you read this, that your experiences mirror the mission and values set forth here.
The Voltron Force—an appropriately dated reference for a lot of our guild members (twenty-somethings)—was created to provide a casual and fun environment for friends to play World of Warcraft together. So far, one initial group of friends has reached out to others who wanted to join up with us. We are now a nexus of multiple groups of friends, both in-game and real-life, spanning from the East Coast, to Chicago, the Mississippi Delta, Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast. We are students, teachers, young professionals, sports fans, goofballs, and just plain fun people to talk to.
Our diversity as people and easygoing nature are one of our most important assets.
Who’s In Charge Here Anyways?
I am—Jason, aka Zarkon in game. However, I really let the inmates run the asylum. That is to say, the feedback and thoughts of everyone in the guild is important to me. There is no hierarchy in this guild. Instead, you get to name your own rank, if you want one. There are no officers. There are people who are worth listening to—I do every day and trust them completely. I won’t name them because I trust that their personalities, fairness, helpfulness and game play will command your attention. Another way to put this, we all listen to each other. Listen, and you will be heard.
Our Mission—Progression Through Selfless Teamwork, Commitment to Excellence
As students and working professionals, we recognize that different people can progress at different speeds in the game. We have kept ourselves within a few levels of each other, so there are always people to play with and instance with. Our guild is respectful of those that can play less than others and makes sure that they aren’t left behind. At the same time, we are all committed to getting to Kharazan one day soon (probably sometime in July or August) and progressing beyond it.
As friends and guildmates, we recognize the importance of going forward as a team and cohesive unit. As such, we have all contributed to keeping our tanks well-geared, our professions developed, and have selflessly moved gear around the guild. One of my favorite guild moments was when at level 42, four of us scrounged up 10 gold each to buy our tank an epic shield for 50 gold, to use at level 45. That is the selflessness and community that you can expect in this guild. Following is Leading by example.
On a personal note, as the Guild Master, I decided from day one to roll a priest and take responsibility as one of our main healers. I also am one of those ‘priests who heal’ in battlegrounds. This commitment to the whole and to success runs throughout the guild. Everyone has found a niche and role to play in the guild, as a class, in their professions, and the commitment has been outstanding. Everyone is a leader by example. Act and you will be heard.
Of course, PvE content is not our only focus. We have consistently instanced as a guild three nights a week (M/W/Sat). We have also PvP’d with each other in every bracket and hope to field a competitive arena team. If you want to focus on PvP, you will find several ready and willing teammates who know how to kill the enemy and keep you alive.
Should I Join? Perhaps.
If you’re looking for server firsts, lots of pups and fast progression, we aren’t going to be for you. If you’re looking for a good group of people who are fun, cooperate, help each other, listen and will progress at a speed friendly to a more casual player, then we are for you. If you have friends who want to join for our people and our values—great! We’ll find a place for everyone.
-Z
The Guild Charter of the Voltron Force
Who Are We? Diverse and Fun!
If you’re reading this and aren’t a member, I want to thank you for taking the time to find out who we are and what our guild’s values are. If you’re reading this and are a member, I hope that each time you read this, that your experiences mirror the mission and values set forth here.
The Voltron Force—an appropriately dated reference for a lot of our guild members (twenty-somethings)—was created to provide a casual and fun environment for friends to play World of Warcraft together. So far, one initial group of friends has reached out to others who wanted to join up with us. We are now a nexus of multiple groups of friends, both in-game and real-life, spanning from the East Coast, to Chicago, the Mississippi Delta, Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast. We are students, teachers, young professionals, sports fans, goofballs, and just plain fun people to talk to.
Our diversity as people and easygoing nature are one of our most important assets.
Who’s In Charge Here Anyways?
I am—Jason, aka Zarkon in game. However, I really let the inmates run the asylum. That is to say, the feedback and thoughts of everyone in the guild is important to me. There is no hierarchy in this guild. Instead, you get to name your own rank, if you want one. There are no officers. There are people who are worth listening to—I do every day and trust them completely. I won’t name them because I trust that their personalities, fairness, helpfulness and game play will command your attention. Another way to put this, we all listen to each other. Listen, and you will be heard.
Our Mission—Progression Through Selfless Teamwork, Commitment to Excellence
As students and working professionals, we recognize that different people can progress at different speeds in the game. We have kept ourselves within a few levels of each other, so there are always people to play with and instance with. Our guild is respectful of those that can play less than others and makes sure that they aren’t left behind. At the same time, we are all committed to getting to Kharazan one day soon (probably sometime in July or August) and progressing beyond it.
As friends and guildmates, we recognize the importance of going forward as a team and cohesive unit. As such, we have all contributed to keeping our tanks well-geared, our professions developed, and have selflessly moved gear around the guild. One of my favorite guild moments was when at level 42, four of us scrounged up 10 gold each to buy our tank an epic shield for 50 gold, to use at level 45. That is the selflessness and community that you can expect in this guild. Following is Leading by example.
On a personal note, as the Guild Master, I decided from day one to roll a priest and take responsibility as one of our main healers. I also am one of those ‘priests who heal’ in battlegrounds. This commitment to the whole and to success runs throughout the guild. Everyone has found a niche and role to play in the guild, as a class, in their professions, and the commitment has been outstanding. Everyone is a leader by example. Act and you will be heard.
Of course, PvE content is not our only focus. We have consistently instanced as a guild three nights a week (M/W/Sat). We have also PvP’d with each other in every bracket and hope to field a competitive arena team. If you want to focus on PvP, you will find several ready and willing teammates who know how to kill the enemy and keep you alive.
Should I Join? Perhaps.
If you’re looking for server firsts, lots of pups and fast progression, we aren’t going to be for you. If you’re looking for a good group of people who are fun, cooperate, help each other, listen and will progress at a speed friendly to a more casual player, then we are for you. If you have friends who want to join for our people and our values—great! We’ll find a place for everyone.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Guild Charter
Read it, let me know what you think in the comments. If you like it, I'll post it on the website.
Feel free to suggest revisions.
Guild Charter of The Voltron Force
I thought of writing this in the style of an old 17th Century colonial charter—you know, like the Pilgrims on board the Mayflower wrote. But then I thought that you didn’t want to read old English or pious declarations of how God had blessed them with starvation and a big freakin rock. That and we’re nothing like the Pilgrims. We openly practice witchcraft, and we find debates about the purity of the Anglican Church to be trite and dated.
The only similarity we have to the pilgrims is that we’re a group of people that has come together for reasons that have something to do with shared values. Despite our laid back, fun-loving, and often irreverent attitudes, those of us in the Voltron Force believe in more than the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter and long, slow, deep soft, wet kisses that last three days.
Oh, the Pilgrims didn’t believe in those things either? Well, they damn well ought to have. But yeah, we’re nothing like them.
What we are like is a bunch of relatively young (think 20 and 30 somethings) goofballs that have fun playing World of Warcraft. Pretty much all of us have jobs or are students. Some of us are working on professional degress, others are on a six year plan. We have aspiring lawyers, opera singers, engineers and AV geeks. Some of us are hopeless enough to root for the Chicago Cubs, while others were dumb enough to buy into John Madden’s 1990’s garbage about the Dalls Cowboys being America’s team. No more than one of us believes that Rex Grossman will turn into a good and consistent NFL quarterback.
We’re very open and welcoming. We’ll listen to you bitch about work, the incompetence of your favorite sports teams, your hangover, or whatever else is on your mind. Odds are, we can empathize… or are desperate enough to need someone to make us feel better about our day. Either way, we’re happy to listen to you in /g.
We also do fun things in game. We PvP together, and we even have healers who heal in PvP. We ninja the arena trinket in STV, even when other guilds devote the better part of their full resources to getting it. We taunt alliance toons into world PvP. We run instances at least 3 nights a week, and we laugh when our noob priest, main healer, and Guildmaster wipes us in ways that were previously thought impossible. We actually help each other with quests and shit. We even have Vent to coordinate our exercises in hilarity, ownership, or futility. It just sorta depends on the night.
A lot of us have a good amount of experience. We’ve been there for Nef and Twin Emps first kills. (And second, and 30th, etc.) We got tired of the raiding as grinding, consumable farming, six night a week commitment it got to be. We saw how it could polarize a guild between the hardcore and more casual players. We saw how raiding systems that gave priority to officers and how bad DKP systems could alienate casual, but loyal and committed members. We’ve lived, loved, wiped, one-shotted, grinded, swore at five consecutive weeks of time lapse on Chromaggus (yes, five weeks), and hopefully through it all, learned a lot.
We want to build on that past experience and eventually get to Kharazan. We want to kick the teeth in of whatever Medivh left behind. We also hope Blizzard will allow for chess matches between raid members on Medivh’s chess board. But we aren’t going to break our necks to do this. We even want to move beyond Kharazan and kill some Nagas, Gruul, etc. But again, our pace, our terms.
If you join this guild, you can expect a fun environment. We’re casual, but we want to win. We will PvP. We will arena. We will Kharazan. We will raid. We will treat you fairly. We all do selfless things for the better of the guild. We all accept that we have to sacrifice more often than not (you are just one person of many), but we’re all very grateful when everyone does something nice for us. This is the glue that holds us together (God knows it’s not my humor). There are no officers, no ranks, no hierarchy. Instead, you get sweet ranks like “Lion Force,” or “Evil General,” or “CTU Tac Team,” or something you make up and want to be called.
We need druids and warlocks badly. But even more importantly, we need good people. If this is you, please, come join us. Type “/Who VF” and ask one of us about the guild. Everyone has /ginvite privileges. Who knows. You might get one.
Feel free to suggest revisions.
Guild Charter of The Voltron Force
I thought of writing this in the style of an old 17th Century colonial charter—you know, like the Pilgrims on board the Mayflower wrote. But then I thought that you didn’t want to read old English or pious declarations of how God had blessed them with starvation and a big freakin rock. That and we’re nothing like the Pilgrims. We openly practice witchcraft, and we find debates about the purity of the Anglican Church to be trite and dated.
The only similarity we have to the pilgrims is that we’re a group of people that has come together for reasons that have something to do with shared values. Despite our laid back, fun-loving, and often irreverent attitudes, those of us in the Voltron Force believe in more than the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter and long, slow, deep soft, wet kisses that last three days.
Oh, the Pilgrims didn’t believe in those things either? Well, they damn well ought to have. But yeah, we’re nothing like them.
What we are like is a bunch of relatively young (think 20 and 30 somethings) goofballs that have fun playing World of Warcraft. Pretty much all of us have jobs or are students. Some of us are working on professional degress, others are on a six year plan. We have aspiring lawyers, opera singers, engineers and AV geeks. Some of us are hopeless enough to root for the Chicago Cubs, while others were dumb enough to buy into John Madden’s 1990’s garbage about the Dalls Cowboys being America’s team. No more than one of us believes that Rex Grossman will turn into a good and consistent NFL quarterback.
We’re very open and welcoming. We’ll listen to you bitch about work, the incompetence of your favorite sports teams, your hangover, or whatever else is on your mind. Odds are, we can empathize… or are desperate enough to need someone to make us feel better about our day. Either way, we’re happy to listen to you in /g.
We also do fun things in game. We PvP together, and we even have healers who heal in PvP. We ninja the arena trinket in STV, even when other guilds devote the better part of their full resources to getting it. We taunt alliance toons into world PvP. We run instances at least 3 nights a week, and we laugh when our noob priest, main healer, and Guildmaster wipes us in ways that were previously thought impossible. We actually help each other with quests and shit. We even have Vent to coordinate our exercises in hilarity, ownership, or futility. It just sorta depends on the night.
A lot of us have a good amount of experience. We’ve been there for Nef and Twin Emps first kills. (And second, and 30th, etc.) We got tired of the raiding as grinding, consumable farming, six night a week commitment it got to be. We saw how it could polarize a guild between the hardcore and more casual players. We saw how raiding systems that gave priority to officers and how bad DKP systems could alienate casual, but loyal and committed members. We’ve lived, loved, wiped, one-shotted, grinded, swore at five consecutive weeks of time lapse on Chromaggus (yes, five weeks), and hopefully through it all, learned a lot.
We want to build on that past experience and eventually get to Kharazan. We want to kick the teeth in of whatever Medivh left behind. We also hope Blizzard will allow for chess matches between raid members on Medivh’s chess board. But we aren’t going to break our necks to do this. We even want to move beyond Kharazan and kill some Nagas, Gruul, etc. But again, our pace, our terms.
If you join this guild, you can expect a fun environment. We’re casual, but we want to win. We will PvP. We will arena. We will Kharazan. We will raid. We will treat you fairly. We all do selfless things for the better of the guild. We all accept that we have to sacrifice more often than not (you are just one person of many), but we’re all very grateful when everyone does something nice for us. This is the glue that holds us together (God knows it’s not my humor). There are no officers, no ranks, no hierarchy. Instead, you get sweet ranks like “Lion Force,” or “Evil General,” or “CTU Tac Team,” or something you make up and want to be called.
We need druids and warlocks badly. But even more importantly, we need good people. If this is you, please, come join us. Type “/Who VF” and ask one of us about the guild. Everyone has /ginvite privileges. Who knows. You might get one.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Like Always... Evil Lackeys Lack Evil
It's so difficult being evil these days... what, with that spoiled Prince turned Regicidal Lich holed up in that frozen glacier up north and all... Who died and made him Oedipus Rex? Or that vain, Arayan Blood Elf that's pretending to rule that hunk of rock known as 'Outland.' God knows what he's doing, playing the vain magical mad scientist out there... He's probably melting the heads off of female Blood Elf dolls and frying lost dranei with magnifying glasses. But you know it just has to be pure evil if he gets his own patch and fortress replete with multiple winged dungeons. That's evil to the third, or fifth, or however many wings he has.
And here we are, wandering around Azeroth, trying to get a level 10 Dranei Shaman to cower at our feet. The people we beat up for lunch money are lucky to have two flipping silver on them. One of our biggest evil accomplishments to date has been killing three vikings who fell off the pages of Cunegonde' s Astreix comic book and landed in Uldaman. Our evil, denoted by the same symbol that will mark Barry Bonds' eventual home run record.
And we didn't even take steroids.
Well, we had an opportunity for some real, pure evil tonight, when level 20, Princess Peaches stepped into the free-for-all of the Gurubashi Arena with evil lackeys--or lacking evil--Hunk and Sovain to get the treasure chest and the +5 stamina trinket. Giving this reward to a level 20 Paladin is funny and evil in its own right.
But it's not nearly as funny and evil as then killing said paladin until her res timer exceeds her level.
A failure to see this is what separates the evil lackeys from the evil geniuses. At a time when so many evils are diverting the world's attention from us, we could've used some cheap publicity--a screenshot of the level 20 Paladin attmepting to bubble hearth out of the arena and away from her own guildmates.
That's the sort of evil that you can't teach. That's the sort of evil that the world respects and admires with awe. That's the sort of evil that takes names like 'Illidan' and 'Oedipus'... er 'Arthas' off of people's tongues and puts yours on it.
Unfortunately, it seems that's the sort of evil that only I am capable of. Evil help, it's just so hard to find these days.
And here we are, wandering around Azeroth, trying to get a level 10 Dranei Shaman to cower at our feet. The people we beat up for lunch money are lucky to have two flipping silver on them. One of our biggest evil accomplishments to date has been killing three vikings who fell off the pages of Cunegonde' s Astreix comic book and landed in Uldaman. Our evil, denoted by the same symbol that will mark Barry Bonds' eventual home run record.
And we didn't even take steroids.
Well, we had an opportunity for some real, pure evil tonight, when level 20, Princess Peaches stepped into the free-for-all of the Gurubashi Arena with evil lackeys--or lacking evil--Hunk and Sovain to get the treasure chest and the +5 stamina trinket. Giving this reward to a level 20 Paladin is funny and evil in its own right.
But it's not nearly as funny and evil as then killing said paladin until her res timer exceeds her level.
A failure to see this is what separates the evil lackeys from the evil geniuses. At a time when so many evils are diverting the world's attention from us, we could've used some cheap publicity--a screenshot of the level 20 Paladin attmepting to bubble hearth out of the arena and away from her own guildmates.
That's the sort of evil that you can't teach. That's the sort of evil that the world respects and admires with awe. That's the sort of evil that takes names like 'Illidan' and 'Oedipus'... er 'Arthas' off of people's tongues and puts yours on it.
Unfortunately, it seems that's the sort of evil that only I am capable of. Evil help, it's just so hard to find these days.
Monday, March 26, 2007
An Open Letter to Frenzy Battlegroup Alliance
Dear Alliance Players in the Frenzy Battlegroup:
Please, allow me to offer you a laurel and a hearty handshake for a job well done. You know how to lose battlegrounds like champs. For that, I, along with the rest of the Horde in the Frenzy battlegroup, am truly thankful.
Watching you guys futilely attack our flag carrier in Warsong Gulch as I heal them, while leaving me alone never gets old. The same goes for when me and one damage class hold a node 2 v 4 in Arathi Basin. I admit, your failure and ineptitude, even when the numbers are even--or you outnumber us by one or two--is so mind boggling that I'm left with more questions than answers. Some of those questions include:
What is it like to ride the short bus to the battlegrounds? Do the few horde it occasionally drops off make it really crowded? Or is the 'short' bus the price humans and night elves pay for their alliance with the dwarves and gnomes?
When during the Obama administration do you expect to get your first PvP epic? Is even money on Frenzy alliance winning 10 Warsong Gulch's that I'm in (you have two, and I PvP a lot) before the US withdraws from Iraq too generous to Alliance PvPers?
Can I talk you into making characters named after infamous pro wrestling jobbers? Seeing toons with names like 'Brooklyn Brawler,' 'Barry Horowitz,' 'Villano V (or III, or IV),' 'La Parka,' 'El Dandy,' 'Barry Darsow,' 'Lenny Lane (did he ever give his Loverboy CD back to Chris Jericho?)' and the like might leave me laughing hard enough that you'd get a flag cap or two.
And finally, one simple question: Did you eat paint chips when you were a child?
Thank you for all the easy wins and honor. But please, I'd rather have fun in the battlegrounds, not mocking you outside.
Sincerely,
Zarkon
Evil King, The Priest Who Heals in Battlegrounds, and Leader of the Voltron Force
Please, allow me to offer you a laurel and a hearty handshake for a job well done. You know how to lose battlegrounds like champs. For that, I, along with the rest of the Horde in the Frenzy battlegroup, am truly thankful.
Watching you guys futilely attack our flag carrier in Warsong Gulch as I heal them, while leaving me alone never gets old. The same goes for when me and one damage class hold a node 2 v 4 in Arathi Basin. I admit, your failure and ineptitude, even when the numbers are even--or you outnumber us by one or two--is so mind boggling that I'm left with more questions than answers. Some of those questions include:
What is it like to ride the short bus to the battlegrounds? Do the few horde it occasionally drops off make it really crowded? Or is the 'short' bus the price humans and night elves pay for their alliance with the dwarves and gnomes?
When during the Obama administration do you expect to get your first PvP epic? Is even money on Frenzy alliance winning 10 Warsong Gulch's that I'm in (you have two, and I PvP a lot) before the US withdraws from Iraq too generous to Alliance PvPers?
Can I talk you into making characters named after infamous pro wrestling jobbers? Seeing toons with names like 'Brooklyn Brawler,' 'Barry Horowitz,' 'Villano V (or III, or IV),' 'La Parka,' 'El Dandy,' 'Barry Darsow,' 'Lenny Lane (did he ever give his Loverboy CD back to Chris Jericho?)' and the like might leave me laughing hard enough that you'd get a flag cap or two.
And finally, one simple question: Did you eat paint chips when you were a child?
Thank you for all the easy wins and honor. But please, I'd rather have fun in the battlegrounds, not mocking you outside.
Sincerely,
Zarkon
Evil King, The Priest Who Heals in Battlegrounds, and Leader of the Voltron Force
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Forums, Level 40 and More
A few things to take note of... Aquitane/Silvanesti is setting up forums for the guild at www.voltronforce.freeforums.org He doesn't anticipate having them working until Thursday night or Friday, but you can head over there and register now.
Last night's run through the armory was good--we got a crapload of greens and some more of the Scarlet Chain set... and we had the boss killed, save 4 mobs running in out of nowhere and causing just a bit more havoc than we could handle... and then turning a 2 pull into a 6 pull on the way back. We also learned a bit about tanking and level requirements...
Which brings up the point of level 40 and that some of us are getting very close to hitting us. With a lack of lively PvP most of the time, it does leave us with few options-especially since tradeskills are going very well.
I'm not sure what to do about this dilemma... Farming gold is always a good option, though boring as hell, and those crawlers still give you some experience... Logging outside of an inn or city to avoid rest exp is a decent move too, I suppose. To avoid the more exp that comes with instances, we could spend Wednesday night helping Hunk do a bazillion quests down in STV in an hour or two and get our tank up to a healthy 35 or so.
The last thing to note is that our guild needs some class balance at a few key spots... First, we need a druid. I was hoping for (and still am, eventually) my brother to play this role. It really hasn't worked out like I had planned. We also could use a warlock. Some RL stuff has come up for Allura, limiting her playing time.
If you get a chance to play with a druid or warlock and you like them, and they're unguilded, let me know. We'll basically look mid 20's to 30's. This isn't a priority--but it would be nice as TBone is leveling to have the option of getting 2 groups going like we had last night and keeping them balanced. Our rogue-heavy runs have worked well, but eventually sap won't work... :-) And when it doesn't, we need to be ready to adapt.
Last night's run through the armory was good--we got a crapload of greens and some more of the Scarlet Chain set... and we had the boss killed, save 4 mobs running in out of nowhere and causing just a bit more havoc than we could handle... and then turning a 2 pull into a 6 pull on the way back. We also learned a bit about tanking and level requirements...
Which brings up the point of level 40 and that some of us are getting very close to hitting us. With a lack of lively PvP most of the time, it does leave us with few options-especially since tradeskills are going very well.
I'm not sure what to do about this dilemma... Farming gold is always a good option, though boring as hell, and those crawlers still give you some experience... Logging outside of an inn or city to avoid rest exp is a decent move too, I suppose. To avoid the more exp that comes with instances, we could spend Wednesday night helping Hunk do a bazillion quests down in STV in an hour or two and get our tank up to a healthy 35 or so.
The last thing to note is that our guild needs some class balance at a few key spots... First, we need a druid. I was hoping for (and still am, eventually) my brother to play this role. It really hasn't worked out like I had planned. We also could use a warlock. Some RL stuff has come up for Allura, limiting her playing time.
If you get a chance to play with a druid or warlock and you like them, and they're unguilded, let me know. We'll basically look mid 20's to 30's. This isn't a priority--but it would be nice as TBone is leveling to have the option of getting 2 groups going like we had last night and keeping them balanced. Our rogue-heavy runs have worked well, but eventually sap won't work... :-) And when it doesn't, we need to be ready to adapt.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Back at it, at least for a day...
Hey kids, just a quick update as the weekend winds down in Pittsburgh... It's been a fun weekend for me--I was in Buffalo on Thursday to watch Pitt win its first round game, spent over 12 consecutive hours in one of three bars on Friday watching hoops, the Penguins and never quite getting drunk with a lot of different friends...
Saturday, I slept until 2 and watched hoops and celebrated St. Patty's day by nearly having a heart attack as Pitt blew a 19 point lead in the 2nd half to win in overtime. But a win is a win. I saw even more friends... and today, I watched more hoops and hockey... and was disappointed, but also excited for the Penguins when I went to the arena store to find they were sold out of every single jersey. My road white Jordan Staal jersey will have to wait.
I'll be back in Chicago for a day and night tomorrow before heading home to Iowa to spend time with my family. I'm hoping to maybe head up to Yurack's place on Wednesday to play too, but we'll see. Pitt plays out in San Jose this Thursday--I trust that you'll all be watching!
I'm hoping to hit up Scarlet Monastery tomorrow, one, if not two wings. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone--and I made sure to click off everyone's /gkick ability--so if you tried to play a practical joke on me over the weekend, I outsmarted you!
Saturday, I slept until 2 and watched hoops and celebrated St. Patty's day by nearly having a heart attack as Pitt blew a 19 point lead in the 2nd half to win in overtime. But a win is a win. I saw even more friends... and today, I watched more hoops and hockey... and was disappointed, but also excited for the Penguins when I went to the arena store to find they were sold out of every single jersey. My road white Jordan Staal jersey will have to wait.
I'll be back in Chicago for a day and night tomorrow before heading home to Iowa to spend time with my family. I'm hoping to maybe head up to Yurack's place on Wednesday to play too, but we'll see. Pitt plays out in San Jose this Thursday--I trust that you'll all be watching!
I'm hoping to hit up Scarlet Monastery tomorrow, one, if not two wings. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone--and I made sure to click off everyone's /gkick ability--so if you tried to play a practical joke on me over the weekend, I outsmarted you!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Mr. Moneytroll's Shell(fish) Game
Want to have your mount at 40? Don't mind an hour or two of drudgery here and there? Have I got the game for you.
No, this doesn't involve a dollar, a crane that couldn't hold a baby hamster without opening its jaws wider than fans after waching a Sidney Crosby shootout goal, a string of profanity and an unimpressed girl. In other words, this game makes you richer, not poorer.
Go visit Mr. Moneytroll in Desolace. There's a troll who tells you about his shellfish traps out in the sea around the dock and such at Shadowprey village. You swim down, open the traps, and you either get 1 or 2 shellfish, a mob, or vendor trash. For every 5 shellfish you get, he gives you 55s. It's infinitely repeatable, best I can tell. I've turned in about 100 shellfish. That's 11g.
I was doing this with an underwater breathing pot. You need to. I can make them and will farm the blackmouth to make a bunch. Just send me an in-game mail requesting a few. If you can send me blackmouth too, that'd be great.
I was making about 10-12g/hour. It's not fun, but hey, it pays the bills.
Go play Mr. Moneytroll's shellfish game. Everyone is a winer.
No, this doesn't involve a dollar, a crane that couldn't hold a baby hamster without opening its jaws wider than fans after waching a Sidney Crosby shootout goal, a string of profanity and an unimpressed girl. In other words, this game makes you richer, not poorer.
Go visit Mr. Moneytroll in Desolace. There's a troll who tells you about his shellfish traps out in the sea around the dock and such at Shadowprey village. You swim down, open the traps, and you either get 1 or 2 shellfish, a mob, or vendor trash. For every 5 shellfish you get, he gives you 55s. It's infinitely repeatable, best I can tell. I've turned in about 100 shellfish. That's 11g.
I was doing this with an underwater breathing pot. You need to. I can make them and will farm the blackmouth to make a bunch. Just send me an in-game mail requesting a few. If you can send me blackmouth too, that'd be great.
I was making about 10-12g/hour. It's not fun, but hey, it pays the bills.
Go play Mr. Moneytroll's shellfish game. Everyone is a winer.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Skills/Professions
In looking at Hunk's comment about being held up for ransom for heavy leather on the AH, I thought that I'd take the chance to remind everyone to use in-game mail and their comments page in game under the guild tab to list skills/professions.
If you need leather, hit up a skinner. I know that Ertai and Lucin have lots of heavy leather, and I think that Silvanesti is getting to that point too.
If you need health/mana pots, and I'm not on, send me an in-game mail. I'll get whatever you need. I can make a lot of other pots too.
If you need gems to level jewelcrafting, let me know. I'll do my best to get those funneled to you.
Basically, lets try to leave the AH for selling our stuff and taking advantage of good buys from others. I think that we have enough trade goods and such in-guild to make sure nobody goes without something that they need. And if it's something that nobody can make or has quite yet, we can figure out how to get it.
If you need leather, hit up a skinner. I know that Ertai and Lucin have lots of heavy leather, and I think that Silvanesti is getting to that point too.
If you need health/mana pots, and I'm not on, send me an in-game mail. I'll get whatever you need. I can make a lot of other pots too.
If you need gems to level jewelcrafting, let me know. I'll do my best to get those funneled to you.
Basically, lets try to leave the AH for selling our stuff and taking advantage of good buys from others. I think that we have enough trade goods and such in-guild to make sure nobody goes without something that they need. And if it's something that nobody can make or has quite yet, we can figure out how to get it.
Law School Exams Make Jason a Dull Boy
The University of Chicago law school is filled with 2 things right now: angst and misery. That's why I study at home and take breaks by logging onto Terokkar. I hate angst and misery. Life throws enough of that your way over the course of other things... why add to it? You might point out that I'm a Cubs fan, though. To this I have no answer, other than that the angst and misery is usually dulled to apathy and schadenfreude by late July when we're 10+ games out.
But anyways... sorry for the quasi-lack of instancing the past week. It's time to get back on track tomorrow night. I propose the following ambitious schedule...
Starting somewhere between 8 and 9, provided that Bill is on, get Bill is 2 crystals in WC and help him kill Dar'Kahn if he's to that point. That should give him 2 good staff options and a boatload of exp.
Then we wander over to RFK and/or BFD and get people who need quests there, their completed quests.
Then we wander up to SM and punk the GY (good quest in there and some grave moss) and the library. I'd suggest the armory, but that Herod guy is level 40, and a lot of mobs in there are high 30's. Once Hunk gets to 35, I think we can rock it no problem.
I think that we can also make a run at Ironaya in Uldaman in a week or so.
With that said, I'm going to be gone over the weekend. It's spring break, and I'm flying to Pittsburgh Thursday morning to meet friends, to drive to Buffalo Thursday night to watch Pitt's first round game. Hopefully we'll be heading back to take on the Dookies Saturday night, with Penguins games on Friday/Sunday.
And then I'm heading home next Tuesday where I might not have hi-speed Internet. So, I might be taking a forced break of a week and a half here, save next Monday night.
I don't want to hold you guys back--but at the same time, if everyone catches up during this period, I think we can start turning our attention to SM Cathedral, Uldaman and Zul'Farrak... and mounts! Sweet, sweet mounts!
I'll see everyone tomorrow night, and maybe for a round of PvP tonight.
But anyways... sorry for the quasi-lack of instancing the past week. It's time to get back on track tomorrow night. I propose the following ambitious schedule...
Starting somewhere between 8 and 9, provided that Bill is on, get Bill is 2 crystals in WC and help him kill Dar'Kahn if he's to that point. That should give him 2 good staff options and a boatload of exp.
Then we wander over to RFK and/or BFD and get people who need quests there, their completed quests.
Then we wander up to SM and punk the GY (good quest in there and some grave moss) and the library. I'd suggest the armory, but that Herod guy is level 40, and a lot of mobs in there are high 30's. Once Hunk gets to 35, I think we can rock it no problem.
I think that we can also make a run at Ironaya in Uldaman in a week or so.
With that said, I'm going to be gone over the weekend. It's spring break, and I'm flying to Pittsburgh Thursday morning to meet friends, to drive to Buffalo Thursday night to watch Pitt's first round game. Hopefully we'll be heading back to take on the Dookies Saturday night, with Penguins games on Friday/Sunday.
And then I'm heading home next Tuesday where I might not have hi-speed Internet. So, I might be taking a forced break of a week and a half here, save next Monday night.
I don't want to hold you guys back--but at the same time, if everyone catches up during this period, I think we can start turning our attention to SM Cathedral, Uldaman and Zul'Farrak... and mounts! Sweet, sweet mounts!
I'll see everyone tomorrow night, and maybe for a round of PvP tonight.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
The Weekly Main Event: Razorfen Kraul
You know, I like things with cool names. That's why every time I log in, I take a moment to admire my priest, because honestly, could you have a cooler name for a bad guy than Zarkon? I think not. Even Trogdor pales in comparison. Even if you give him the title of Burninator.
You know what else has a cool name? Razorfen Kraul. It's scary--and sort of German. You might even be able to convince people that it was the name of Hitler's bunker. It may even be possible to convince people in Barrens chat that Hitler is the final boss of the instance. People are dumb--after all, people in Barrens assert the superiority of Chuck Norris to Jack Bauer all of the time. I weep for our future.
But you know what has a dumb name? The Quillboar. Honestly people, Quillboar sounds like the brand of pen that Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence with. I mean, when given your choice of quill pens, would you choose 'Dove Quill' or 'Quillboar?' These men survived Valley Forge. They sure as hell are taking the Quillboar. It's manly. I bet you could convince people in Barrens chat that TJ only wrote with Engineer's Ink, a Quillboar pen and a kobold's candle for light.
Come to think of it, Quillboar is actually a pretty cool name... for a pen. But for a flipping pig with spines? We call dem Razorbacks. Instead they're called the Razormane or something dumb like that.
So Wednesday night, we set forth to eradicate the Germans from Razorfen Kraul. And we do so with a general whose name makes Patton sound like a wussy.
I'm done. I'm ready to go forth and conquer my property outline for the next 29 hours. And maybe sleep somewhere along the way.
You can find quest information here.
You know what else has a cool name? Razorfen Kraul. It's scary--and sort of German. You might even be able to convince people that it was the name of Hitler's bunker. It may even be possible to convince people in Barrens chat that Hitler is the final boss of the instance. People are dumb--after all, people in Barrens assert the superiority of Chuck Norris to Jack Bauer all of the time. I weep for our future.
But you know what has a dumb name? The Quillboar. Honestly people, Quillboar sounds like the brand of pen that Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence with. I mean, when given your choice of quill pens, would you choose 'Dove Quill' or 'Quillboar?' These men survived Valley Forge. They sure as hell are taking the Quillboar. It's manly. I bet you could convince people in Barrens chat that TJ only wrote with Engineer's Ink, a Quillboar pen and a kobold's candle for light.
Come to think of it, Quillboar is actually a pretty cool name... for a pen. But for a flipping pig with spines? We call dem Razorbacks. Instead they're called the Razormane or something dumb like that.
So Wednesday night, we set forth to eradicate the Germans from Razorfen Kraul. And we do so with a general whose name makes Patton sound like a wussy.
I'm done. I'm ready to go forth and conquer my property outline for the next 29 hours. And maybe sleep somewhere along the way.
You can find quest information here.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Blackfathom Depths
Lets hit Blackfathom Deeps tomorrow night around 9. You can find quest information here. It appears as if there is one quest that starts in Thunder Bluff and 3 that start with one person in the Zoram Strand, which is the Horde outpost near the Deeps.
This will be our toughest PvE challenge yet. Tough as in we might actually have to think about how we pull mobs and try a little. I'm sure we'll be up for it.
It's AB weekend. Hopefully that means alliance will queue. I want my boots. If you're on, hit me up, and we'll queue as a group for both AB and WSG.
Hope you all had a good week!
This will be our toughest PvE challenge yet. Tough as in we might actually have to think about how we pull mobs and try a little. I'm sure we'll be up for it.
It's AB weekend. Hopefully that means alliance will queue. I want my boots. If you're on, hit me up, and we'll queue as a group for both AB and WSG.
Hope you all had a good week!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
New Members, Warsong Domination and the Weekly Main Event
First, a welcome to our newest members Lucin and Sanura. Both are FFXI vets and bring additional DPS to the guild. Lucin ran SFK with us Saturday night, was on vent and seemed to fit right in with us and our philosophy.
Lucin and I also dominated WSG for the better part of last evening, scoring definitely a few flag caps as a 2-man running team. Silvanesti, Sanura and Igor also joined in the fun and got a good look at just how bad the alliance in our battlegroup are.
But if numbers are more your thing, try this on.
15-0, 45 caps to 1. I couldn't make those numbers up if I wanted to.
Wednesday night the plan is to queue for WSG/AB while questing and helping out anyone who needs to clean up some loose ends... This probably means killing Dar'Kahn in Ghostlands for Bill and Taelara, hopefully clearing out 2 bosses in Wailing Caverns for Bill and maybe killing some dwarves in Hillsbrad.
And of course dominating some alliance in the battlegrounds.
Lucin and I also dominated WSG for the better part of last evening, scoring definitely a few flag caps as a 2-man running team. Silvanesti, Sanura and Igor also joined in the fun and got a good look at just how bad the alliance in our battlegroup are.
But if numbers are more your thing, try this on.
15-0, 45 caps to 1. I couldn't make those numbers up if I wanted to.
Wednesday night the plan is to queue for WSG/AB while questing and helping out anyone who needs to clean up some loose ends... This probably means killing Dar'Kahn in Ghostlands for Bill and Taelara, hopefully clearing out 2 bosses in Wailing Caverns for Bill and maybe killing some dwarves in Hillsbrad.
And of course dominating some alliance in the battlegrounds.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
SFK, WSG and More
For those that stayed up to do our two SFK runs last night, thank you. The second was a little more rough--but we had a 20 druid in our group that didn't quite have a feel for his aggro radius. Arugal also proved to be quite annoying--mind controlling me and burning a mana pot, which cost me a few key heals later, but we survived.
We're 2 Robes of Arugal richer, and there's more to be had for our casters. Our next target will be Blackfathom Depths up in Ashenvale. I've never been there before--it's sort of like the bastard child of instances (along with the Temple of Atal'Hakar). Nobody goes there ally or horde.
Which is why we should go. And conquer.
I'm taking it easy today, queuing for Warsong Gulch and reading. The WSG games have been a ton of fun, two 3-0 dominations by the horde. Because face it... we're better PvPers. I had no clue that you got a damage/healing meter for a BG after it was over... The second BG, I healed for over 12k. Nobody else had over 2. There was one fight where it was a hunter + pet of ours against 3 alliance. I stayed at max range and healed through it for him to kill one, then for a rogue of ours to show up and win.
I know my role in a battleground. That might have explained why I had 3-5 alliance tools one me every time I was in a big battle. It was actually kind of fun.
I also did over 11k damage that run. I don't know how to explain that, other than that dots add up?
You can check out the rewards for 20-29 WSG here: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/basics/factions/warsong/index.html
I like the cape and then ring... The staff is way nice too - anything with MP/5 on it for me and I get giddy. That's a lot of WSG for the staff though. The cape is hopefully 2 matches away. The ring, maybe 5-8... unless we keep winning. Which we might.
For the horde!
We're 2 Robes of Arugal richer, and there's more to be had for our casters. Our next target will be Blackfathom Depths up in Ashenvale. I've never been there before--it's sort of like the bastard child of instances (along with the Temple of Atal'Hakar). Nobody goes there ally or horde.
Which is why we should go. And conquer.
I'm taking it easy today, queuing for Warsong Gulch and reading. The WSG games have been a ton of fun, two 3-0 dominations by the horde. Because face it... we're better PvPers. I had no clue that you got a damage/healing meter for a BG after it was over... The second BG, I healed for over 12k. Nobody else had over 2. There was one fight where it was a hunter + pet of ours against 3 alliance. I stayed at max range and healed through it for him to kill one, then for a rogue of ours to show up and win.
I know my role in a battleground. That might have explained why I had 3-5 alliance tools one me every time I was in a big battle. It was actually kind of fun.
I also did over 11k damage that run. I don't know how to explain that, other than that dots add up?
You can check out the rewards for 20-29 WSG here: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/basics/factions/warsong/index.html
I like the cape and then ring... The staff is way nice too - anything with MP/5 on it for me and I get giddy. That's a lot of WSG for the staff though. The cape is hopefully 2 matches away. The ring, maybe 5-8... unless we keep winning. Which we might.
For the horde!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Dominating Wailing Caverns and SFK
Way to dominate WC not once, but twice. I think that we got everyone through, except for Creasey who DC'd (thanks to the Cox Cable stuff you're reading about). He needs one last gem for his Wingblade. Let's try to do that for him on Saturday.
I'm thinking that we could use the message board that Hunk has created. We'll try to get that going this weekend. It'd be nice to have somewhere where everyone can post what they make and do and when they can play, etc. in a more accessible way than the comments.
Shadowfang Keep is the next target. We'll hopefully take it down Saturday night.
I'm thinking that we could use the message board that Hunk has created. We'll try to get that going this weekend. It'd be nice to have somewhere where everyone can post what they make and do and when they can play, etc. in a more accessible way than the comments.
Shadowfang Keep is the next target. We'll hopefully take it down Saturday night.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Wailing Caverns Tonight!
We close the book on this instance. 9 server.
Make sure you have the oases pre-req quests done to get your big reward of a nice blue weapon.
Shadowfang Keep to come this weekend. Exciting!
Make sure you have the oases pre-req quests done to get your big reward of a nice blue weapon.
Shadowfang Keep to come this weekend. Exciting!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
A few reagents to send to me
As you kill beasts out and about in Azeroth, save any sharp claws or large fangs. I need them to make Hunk his rage potions.
Hope everyone had a great weekend. We now have guild chat too! See you all soon.
Hope everyone had a great weekend. We now have guild chat too! See you all soon.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Money, Money, Money
Before I talk about the Benjamins, a thank you to the new (old) faces that have joined us this week. Hunk found a pretty sweet 2-handed axe while we were questing on Wednesday... and we got super-excited. It was remarked that 'was like old times.'
After spending well over half of my /played at 'end-game' content and most of the 1-60 grind the first time by myself, that made me feel really good about not what we're doing... Not just for reasons of nostalgia, but because it's nice to do it in a community and share in the fun of doing all of the fun things that aren't raiding MC and BWL every week in perpetuity. I'm glad that everyone is on board and having fun.
With that said...
My toon now has over 5g. My current moneymaker is fishing up Oily Blackmouth in the Skittering Dark/North Tide Hollow in Silverpine just north of The Sepulcher. I'm getting 1g/stack of Blackmouth and have pushed the Stranglekelp (also 1 stack/run) to 85 silver/stack. I'm trying 90 this weekend, etc.
If you see something on the AH that's both sweet and something you wouldn't easily replace, let me know. Hopefully we'll have a modest guild bankroll to work with in a week or so. (Emphasis on modest, but that might be enough with such a small economy.)
Tomorrow and Saturday are my law school musical performances. There will likely be pictures and maybe even footage. I'll have pictures up when first convenient to.
If you have some aspect of the infamous 'RL' that you'd like to share with everyone, let me know and I'll make sure it gets on here! Or the message board that I'd like to move to soon, but need to find 2 hours to figure out and get the word out and all that jazz. Soon.
After spending well over half of my /played at 'end-game' content and most of the 1-60 grind the first time by myself, that made me feel really good about not what we're doing... Not just for reasons of nostalgia, but because it's nice to do it in a community and share in the fun of doing all of the fun things that aren't raiding MC and BWL every week in perpetuity. I'm glad that everyone is on board and having fun.
With that said...
My toon now has over 5g. My current moneymaker is fishing up Oily Blackmouth in the Skittering Dark/North Tide Hollow in Silverpine just north of The Sepulcher. I'm getting 1g/stack of Blackmouth and have pushed the Stranglekelp (also 1 stack/run) to 85 silver/stack. I'm trying 90 this weekend, etc.
If you see something on the AH that's both sweet and something you wouldn't easily replace, let me know. Hopefully we'll have a modest guild bankroll to work with in a week or so. (Emphasis on modest, but that might be enough with such a small economy.)
Tomorrow and Saturday are my law school musical performances. There will likely be pictures and maybe even footage. I'll have pictures up when first convenient to.
If you have some aspect of the infamous 'RL' that you'd like to share with everyone, let me know and I'll make sure it gets on here! Or the message board that I'd like to move to soon, but need to find 2 hours to figure out and get the word out and all that jazz. Soon.
Monday, February 12, 2007
The Weekly Main Event
Thursday night. 9:30ish. Go without me if I'm not on.
The mission: Deatholme.
There are 3 quests.
1. Kill the main dude's lieutenants. It's the end of a chain that involves... um... well, you get it in Tranquillen, I think. They're named, non-elite 20ish mobs. Cake.
2. Rescue captives. You get some antidote from the apothecary. Again, a chain, too tired to remember what starts it.
3. Kahn!!! (Said in my best Captain Kirk voice.) Well, Dar'Kahn. Or whatever his name is. This is the continuation of the quest where you have to kill the minions in Deathholme. Not too tough at 20 if you're smart and avoid adds.
Blue weapons abound for completing this.
Get ready to pwn some undead and close the book on our time in the beautiful Ghostlands. Our next quest hubs are Tarren Mill and Ashenvale. Preferences?
The mission: Deatholme.
There are 3 quests.
1. Kill the main dude's lieutenants. It's the end of a chain that involves... um... well, you get it in Tranquillen, I think. They're named, non-elite 20ish mobs. Cake.
2. Rescue captives. You get some antidote from the apothecary. Again, a chain, too tired to remember what starts it.
3. Kahn!!! (Said in my best Captain Kirk voice.) Well, Dar'Kahn. Or whatever his name is. This is the continuation of the quest where you have to kill the minions in Deathholme. Not too tough at 20 if you're smart and avoid adds.
Blue weapons abound for completing this.
Get ready to pwn some undead and close the book on our time in the beautiful Ghostlands. Our next quest hubs are Tarren Mill and Ashenvale. Preferences?
Sunday, February 11, 2007
3-Manning the Wailing Caverns and More
Thanks to everyone who played at any point this weekend. It was fun running around with you.
Last night, Hunk, Yurack and I set foot as a party of 3 into the Wailing Caverns. We managed to drop 2 bosses, a ton of trash, get lost one a few occasions, complete 3 quests, and generally destroyed the place... until we pulled just a few too many mobs. If there was some good lewtz in your mailbox, it likely came from the adventure.
I have a busy week coming up... 3 hours of rehearsal M-Thursday and the show on Friday and Saturday... on top of reading and starting finals prep.
I may want to play Wed night - post here if you can play... if not, then I'll just take a week off, and we'll get back at it next week. Feel free to level up to 23-25 if you want to. I'll pop on here and there to check mail--want pots or have stuff to funnel to the right people, send it to me and it'll get where it's going.
Hope everyone had a good weekend. Take care!
Last night, Hunk, Yurack and I set foot as a party of 3 into the Wailing Caverns. We managed to drop 2 bosses, a ton of trash, get lost one a few occasions, complete 3 quests, and generally destroyed the place... until we pulled just a few too many mobs. If there was some good lewtz in your mailbox, it likely came from the adventure.
I have a busy week coming up... 3 hours of rehearsal M-Thursday and the show on Friday and Saturday... on top of reading and starting finals prep.
I may want to play Wed night - post here if you can play... if not, then I'll just take a week off, and we'll get back at it next week. Feel free to level up to 23-25 if you want to. I'll pop on here and there to check mail--want pots or have stuff to funnel to the right people, send it to me and it'll get where it's going.
Hope everyone had a good weekend. Take care!
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Happy Birthday Gami!
Happy birthday! I promise to let you pick out your own pet robeast to play with.
Tonight, Wailing Caverns. 9:30ish server (central). Or whenever we can get the gang together.
There's a quest chain that starts in the Barrens about investigating the Barrens' Oases (plural of Oasis?). It's like 3 quests, run through those... you go to TB at the end and get the quest to kill the boss, which nets you a fun blue weapon.
If WC doesn't seem to work well, we'll go pwn Deathholme. But I think we're gonna rock the Wailing Caverns and leave Arugal up in Shadowfang Keep trembling for when we come for him... cause he's next.
Tonight, Wailing Caverns. 9:30ish server (central). Or whenever we can get the gang together.
There's a quest chain that starts in the Barrens about investigating the Barrens' Oases (plural of Oasis?). It's like 3 quests, run through those... you go to TB at the end and get the quest to kill the boss, which nets you a fun blue weapon.
If WC doesn't seem to work well, we'll go pwn Deathholme. But I think we're gonna rock the Wailing Caverns and leave Arugal up in Shadowfang Keep trembling for when we come for him... cause he's next.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Weekend Availability
Simple question--post in comments when you can/would like to play this weekend.
We can quest or we can try our hand at The Wailing Caverns. I'll have a quest guide up for the one quest chain that you have to do in Barrens (about 30 minutes of time) to get the quest for the boss/best reward in there... a blue dagger or a +7 stam/int/spirit staff.
We can quest or we can try our hand at The Wailing Caverns. I'll have a quest guide up for the one quest chain that you have to do in Barrens (about 30 minutes of time) to get the quest for the boss/best reward in there... a blue dagger or a +7 stam/int/spirit staff.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Guild Name, the Weekday Main Event and More
Hey Everyone... good use of the blog thus far. Torq has a message board set up. I'm going to try and figure that out this weekend and post the link. It should be a more readable format and user friendly. Stay tuned for details.
So, about the guild name... Blizzard says 'Voltron Force' is reserved. Probably copyrights or something. Creasey suggested 'VF' which was our tag in the ancient Diablo 1 days. I initially thought Vol Tron Force. But that just doesn't look right... and then today, it hit me.
"Form Blazing Sword"
Do we have a winner?
Leveling... Lets call level 20 the max of where we want to be. 21 if you can't help it.
The Wednesday Night Main Event: Down the 2 abominations. Nickleyo suggested that we take down another elite in deatholme. That sounds good--can you post/link the quest chain Nickle, so we're all on the same page? It'd be awesome if we could roll into the Wailing Caverns with a phat ring and a blue item. There's also a sweet tank sword that we could get Torq.
Let's tentatively think Wailing Caverns this Saturday night. I think that 17-18, if that can be swung should be a good minimum. I'll double check that.
That's all from here. I hope your weeks are off to a good start.
So, about the guild name... Blizzard says 'Voltron Force' is reserved. Probably copyrights or something. Creasey suggested 'VF' which was our tag in the ancient Diablo 1 days. I initially thought Vol Tron Force. But that just doesn't look right... and then today, it hit me.
"Form Blazing Sword"
Do we have a winner?
Leveling... Lets call level 20 the max of where we want to be. 21 if you can't help it.
The Wednesday Night Main Event: Down the 2 abominations. Nickleyo suggested that we take down another elite in deatholme. That sounds good--can you post/link the quest chain Nickle, so we're all on the same page? It'd be awesome if we could roll into the Wailing Caverns with a phat ring and a blue item. There's also a sweet tank sword that we could get Torq.
Let's tentatively think Wailing Caverns this Saturday night. I think that 17-18, if that can be swung should be a good minimum. I'll double check that.
That's all from here. I hope your weeks are off to a good start.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
The Weekly Main Event
Each week I hope to have one night where we can do something fun for a short period of time--call it the 'Weekly Main Event' for now.
This week, there are two abominations we have to kill (you can get the quest from a wanted poster in Tranquillen) known as Knucklerot and Luzran. They're around level 20-22, gold elites.
While we're a couple levels under them, I think that 5 of us shouldn't have any problem with them. I'm thinking one night, Tues-Thurs 10 Server/CST. Post if this works... or if it doesn't, when would. We'll get it on and down some aboms.
I likely won't be able to play much this week or next, so this might be our principal action for the week.
Great work in RFC last night. It was a lot of fun--and something new for everyone. I'm looking forward to pwning Wailing Caverns and Shadowfang Keep.
This week, there are two abominations we have to kill (you can get the quest from a wanted poster in Tranquillen) known as Knucklerot and Luzran. They're around level 20-22, gold elites.
While we're a couple levels under them, I think that 5 of us shouldn't have any problem with them. I'm thinking one night, Tues-Thurs 10 Server/CST. Post if this works... or if it doesn't, when would. We'll get it on and down some aboms.
I likely won't be able to play much this week or next, so this might be our principal action for the week.
Great work in RFC last night. It was a lot of fun--and something new for everyone. I'm looking forward to pwning Wailing Caverns and Shadowfang Keep.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
RFC and Other Updates
Ragefire Chasm tonight, 9:30 Central/Server. We may delay a bit if Hunk can get on, but a bit later. If not, we'll go with Igor tanking.
Other important updates...
I got another silver elite--this time a level 15 spider in the Skittering Dark.
Anyone know where/how to level fishing? I need Oily Blackmouth to advance my alchemy.
If you get wool, send it to Allura. You'll get 8 slot bags!
Briarthorn and Mageroyal are the highest herbs on my list. If you see some areas where they're plentiful, let me know.
I'm about to train regular healing pots in alchemy. It's 30s to learn. If you could float me 5 to help with this, that'd be awesome.
See y'all tonight!
Other important updates...
I got another silver elite--this time a level 15 spider in the Skittering Dark.
Anyone know where/how to level fishing? I need Oily Blackmouth to advance my alchemy.
If you get wool, send it to Allura. You'll get 8 slot bags!
Briarthorn and Mageroyal are the highest herbs on my list. If you see some areas where they're plentiful, let me know.
I'm about to train regular healing pots in alchemy. It's 30s to learn. If you could float me 5 to help with this, that'd be awesome.
See y'all tonight!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
The Rest of the Week
I think that things are going well for a first week. Yurak and I have pushed our way up to level 13. I plan on holding position here and will be devoting whatever time that I have tomorrow to finding Mageroyal and making some mana potions. I think that I may have to head to Silverpine and Chuck Norris' land (aka teh Barrenz).
Upcoming Events:
Friday Night: Optional questing--for the Blood Elves, finishing up the first zone and moving on to Ghostlands (8 billion quests there, amazing graphics, lots of fun). This would be a fun time to play in small groups. And there's a level 11 elite Crypt Fiend that I need some help bringing down. He looks like a nice monster to have Haggar reanimate and send against those damn lions. Questing to start 8 or 9 Central. IM me or call me or look here for further details as we get there.
Everyone else, if you could try to get to 11, 12, 13--somewhere in there by Saturday night, that'd be great. If not, it won't be the end of the world. We are going to try to run RFC below Orgrimmar on Saturday evening, like 9 or 10 central. We'll work out the time later.
Good work so far. I'm having a lot of fun with this. I hope that you are too.
But most importantly, it's great to be in touch with everyone again.
Upcoming Events:
Friday Night: Optional questing--for the Blood Elves, finishing up the first zone and moving on to Ghostlands (8 billion quests there, amazing graphics, lots of fun). This would be a fun time to play in small groups. And there's a level 11 elite Crypt Fiend that I need some help bringing down. He looks like a nice monster to have Haggar reanimate and send against those damn lions. Questing to start 8 or 9 Central. IM me or call me or look here for further details as we get there.
Everyone else, if you could try to get to 11, 12, 13--somewhere in there by Saturday night, that'd be great. If not, it won't be the end of the world. We are going to try to run RFC below Orgrimmar on Saturday evening, like 9 or 10 central. We'll work out the time later.
Good work so far. I'm having a lot of fun with this. I hope that you are too.
But most importantly, it's great to be in touch with everyone again.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Guild First!!!
This afternoon, I think that I accomplished a guild first, one of monumentous occasion.
I killed a level 11, Silver Elite elemental. Power Word Shield, mind blast, a dot, and a few smites later, he fell at my feet. In the process, I saved Groundskeeper Wyllithen. Yes, there's a quest to save Groundskeeper Willy. Highlight of my day.
But I'm sure you want to skip this humor and just get to the phat lewtz, so here it is (drum roll please!): a +2 Strength mail chest that I sent to our tank Hunk. His neighboring elemental friend dropped a +1 Strength shield, which was also delivered to Hunk.
I plan on checking for this elemental badass tomorrow around the same time. It would be sweet to have him on "farm."
We're going to have an uber-leet geared tank this Saturday for RFC. The Burning Legion beware!
I killed a level 11, Silver Elite elemental. Power Word Shield, mind blast, a dot, and a few smites later, he fell at my feet. In the process, I saved Groundskeeper Wyllithen. Yes, there's a quest to save Groundskeeper Willy. Highlight of my day.
But I'm sure you want to skip this humor and just get to the phat lewtz, so here it is (drum roll please!): a +2 Strength mail chest that I sent to our tank Hunk. His neighboring elemental friend dropped a +1 Strength shield, which was also delivered to Hunk.
I plan on checking for this elemental badass tomorrow around the same time. It would be sweet to have him on "farm."
We're going to have an uber-leet geared tank this Saturday for RFC. The Burning Legion beware!
Monday, January 29, 2007
What Do We Eat? Tiger Meat! Tiger Meat!
Ahhh, the old rallying cry of Dowling before we'd kick the shit out of Valley.
But seriously, for those questing in Eversong (BE Zone) and anyone else killing vile tigers, send me your Lynx Meat. I can cook it into tasty +2 Stam and +Spirit steaks for us to enjoy as we instance.
Also, melee and non-healing classes, be sure to level your first aid. Send any unused linen to Allura for bags. Ditto for tailoring plans.
Any Ore, metal bars, or Smithing Plans, send to Hunk.
Leather/Leather Plans to Silvanesti
Jewels to Lotor.
That is all for now.
But seriously, for those questing in Eversong (BE Zone) and anyone else killing vile tigers, send me your Lynx Meat. I can cook it into tasty +2 Stam and +Spirit steaks for us to enjoy as we instance.
Also, melee and non-healing classes, be sure to level your first aid. Send any unused linen to Allura for bags. Ditto for tailoring plans.
Any Ore, metal bars, or Smithing Plans, send to Hunk.
Leather/Leather Plans to Silvanesti
Jewels to Lotor.
That is all for now.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Professions
So far:
Me (Zarkon): Herb/Alch
Silve...dumbass who didn't stick with the theme: Leatherworking/Skinning
Allura: Enchant/Tailor
Hunk: Mining/Smithing
Post yours in comments and it will be added.
Me (Zarkon): Herb/Alch
Silve...dumbass who didn't stick with the theme: Leatherworking/Skinning
Allura: Enchant/Tailor
Hunk: Mining/Smithing
Post yours in comments and it will be added.
Week 1 Goals
By Friday February, 2...
-Level 12-15. Basically, we want to do RFC (the noob place beneath Ogrimmar) to run an instance together, have fun and start learning roles that we really haven't had before. I've never healed. Creasey hasn't been a hunter. Stoos has no clue how to CC, etc. I think that my brother may have the jump on the rest of us!
The money question: When can we get together to do this? Friday? Saturday? Sunday? Times? That's what the comments are for. As the week goes on and you get an idea, post it.
Week 2 Forecast
Try to get to 18-20ish... Maybe look at Wailing Caverns or first parts of SFK. Or at least killing one of those damn Sons of Arugal.
Anyone up for exploring the Ghostlands (new BE area)?
A nostalgic trip to the Deadmines?
-Level 12-15. Basically, we want to do RFC (the noob place beneath Ogrimmar) to run an instance together, have fun and start learning roles that we really haven't had before. I've never healed. Creasey hasn't been a hunter. Stoos has no clue how to CC, etc. I think that my brother may have the jump on the rest of us!
The money question: When can we get together to do this? Friday? Saturday? Sunday? Times? That's what the comments are for. As the week goes on and you get an idea, post it.
Week 2 Forecast
Try to get to 18-20ish... Maybe look at Wailing Caverns or first parts of SFK. Or at least killing one of those damn Sons of Arugal.
Anyone up for exploring the Ghostlands (new BE area)?
A nostalgic trip to the Deadmines?
New Home Cause I'm a Dumbass
I failed to write down the log in name or password of the last site. After a week+ of not logging in... it's forgotten for good.
So here we are.
The Server: Terakkor (yeah, it's care bear, but that might be nice too... there's still contested areas, and flags.)
The Roster:
Me-Zarkon, BE Priest
Creasey-Silvanesti, BE Hunter
Jeff a.k.a. Torq-Hunk, Tauren Warrior
Connor-Lotor, Tauren Druid
Gaminail-Allura, BE Warlock
Turner-Yurack, Tauren Shaman
Stoos, TBD
Jorge, TBD
So here we are.
The Server: Terakkor (yeah, it's care bear, but that might be nice too... there's still contested areas, and flags.)
The Roster:
Me-Zarkon, BE Priest
Creasey-Silvanesti, BE Hunter
Jeff a.k.a. Torq-Hunk, Tauren Warrior
Connor-Lotor, Tauren Druid
Gaminail-Allura, BE Warlock
Turner-Yurack, Tauren Shaman
Stoos, TBD
Jorge, TBD
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