'Why do you play so much?' my wife often asks me. And since I like to analyze stuff I have thought about that a lot.
My conclusion is this:
As most guys I am a bit a 'one track mind'. And if I doesn't have anything that occupies my thoughts I get a bit restless. Like that feeling after a 500 page book ends.
So I tend to immerse my self in some activity that needs me to focus on it in a analytical way. It may be a book, a game or building new shelves in the cupboard. Sometimes it is work - but since I don't want to work around the clock I like some thing not work related to focus on.
Usually this 'thing' is a game. Mostly since it appeals to the problem solving and exploring side of me.
This is what I think is the core reason that busy working guys starts home improving as soon as they leave the car. The more stressful job - the more addictive side activity needed.
Anyone out there that agree?
Visar inlägg med etikett Rant. Visa alla inlägg
Visar inlägg med etikett Rant. Visa alla inlägg
tisdag 5 maj 2009
torsdag 24 april 2008
Getting rid of the gear race
One of the biggest issues and controversies in WoW at the moment is the comparisons between gear.
Is the PvP gear 'welfare epics'? Should all new drops go to tanks/main healers in the first place in a raid? Is the arena rating limitations on S4 arena gear making the 'below 1700' not worth going arena? etc etc.
I think I have the embryo of an idea to solve this.
Let's first explain with arena gear.
With the coming season 4 lots of the gear demands a specific rating, and already there have been a discussion about it killing of the non hardcore arena teams.
First I thought - that’s easily solved. Why not get like 5 different versions of the shoulders which demands specific ratings? Like: none, 1500, 1700, 1900, 2100. This will make it possible for every arena player to slowly achieve better gear according to accomplishment.
And to not make it cost too much, get rid of earned arena points (not rating) and say that chest takes 4 weeks of playing a minimum 10 matches/week to be able to buy. And shoulders 8 weeks.
Here we have options of needing to work toward specific pieces. Like say that each week earns you a merit point which can be put in towards the 4 needed for chest. (A bit like a talent tree where the full tree make you able to wear that piece. Maybe should come with the option of respeccs.) Gettig 'attuned' to wear shoulders makes u able to upgrade to better rating shoulders without putting in the weeks again. A bit of a two way improvement avenue. Rating wise or slot wise.
New arena gear
What will be the result? Well. We would get arena players which all can work toward new gear in two ways. Either by improving their rating or to week by week work towards ability to wear a specific gear slot. More intervals makes it easier to actually get up on the ladder in comparison to now where its a huge difference if u can get the S4 set or not. This would make skill more important but keeping the gear advancement element of play.
But what about PvE then?
Yeah that’s another thing - or is it really? Why not get rid of the old drop system. Let everyone earn PvE rating by downing bosses and clearing instances.
This rating would then make you eligible to buy new gear, much like the arena system.
Wait a minute! Why not grind ZF then to get the best gear!?
Well thats easily solved too. Each boss is wort a number of points, say 60 points for Omor the Unscarred. Say that first time you get 60 points and then we have diminishing returns for him like cutting it to a third each time. 2nd=20, 3rd=7, 4th=3 etc. This to a max of like double the original value for him 120 points. Then you cant grind Omorr any more.
Then we can get phat loot by going in with a good group. Twink runs FTW!
Sure. But if we then add this system with a negative multiplier according to the PvE score of all the individuals in the group/raid? So doing Omorr the Unscarred with a group of BT raiders will diminish the PvE-points gained a lot. That will actually make it worth the time to do the instances with like levelled people.
Ok. I'll save up my points and buy the phattest axe in Azeroth already at lvl 60
Well, you wont. The system will work like the arena system above. The total points make you able to buy better gear. But they will not go away. They are a rating and not spendable points.
What do we get then for PvE?
Players get gear according to accomplishment. There is still a grinding component in there. And there is a motivator for taking on content made for your level.
This will make it meaningless to do Kara badge runs or easy heroics.
There is one drawback though. The thrill of seeing what that boss will drop today. Nothing is as thrilling like seeing that nifty helm drop and checking it out with a ctrl-click.
OK. Suggestion time is over. Please comment if you made it all through =)
Is the PvP gear 'welfare epics'? Should all new drops go to tanks/main healers in the first place in a raid? Is the arena rating limitations on S4 arena gear making the 'below 1700' not worth going arena? etc etc.
I think I have the embryo of an idea to solve this.
Let's first explain with arena gear.
With the coming season 4 lots of the gear demands a specific rating, and already there have been a discussion about it killing of the non hardcore arena teams.
First I thought - that’s easily solved. Why not get like 5 different versions of the shoulders which demands specific ratings? Like: none, 1500, 1700, 1900, 2100. This will make it possible for every arena player to slowly achieve better gear according to accomplishment.
And to not make it cost too much, get rid of earned arena points (not rating) and say that chest takes 4 weeks of playing a minimum 10 matches/week to be able to buy. And shoulders 8 weeks.
Here we have options of needing to work toward specific pieces. Like say that each week earns you a merit point which can be put in towards the 4 needed for chest. (A bit like a talent tree where the full tree make you able to wear that piece. Maybe should come with the option of respeccs.) Gettig 'attuned' to wear shoulders makes u able to upgrade to better rating shoulders without putting in the weeks again. A bit of a two way improvement avenue. Rating wise or slot wise.
New arena gear
What will be the result? Well. We would get arena players which all can work toward new gear in two ways. Either by improving their rating or to week by week work towards ability to wear a specific gear slot. More intervals makes it easier to actually get up on the ladder in comparison to now where its a huge difference if u can get the S4 set or not. This would make skill more important but keeping the gear advancement element of play.
But what about PvE then?
Yeah that’s another thing - or is it really? Why not get rid of the old drop system. Let everyone earn PvE rating by downing bosses and clearing instances.
This rating would then make you eligible to buy new gear, much like the arena system.
Wait a minute! Why not grind ZF then to get the best gear!?
Well thats easily solved too. Each boss is wort a number of points, say 60 points for Omor the Unscarred. Say that first time you get 60 points and then we have diminishing returns for him like cutting it to a third each time. 2nd=20, 3rd=7, 4th=3 etc. This to a max of like double the original value for him 120 points. Then you cant grind Omorr any more.
Then we can get phat loot by going in with a good group. Twink runs FTW!
Sure. But if we then add this system with a negative multiplier according to the PvE score of all the individuals in the group/raid? So doing Omorr the Unscarred with a group of BT raiders will diminish the PvE-points gained a lot. That will actually make it worth the time to do the instances with like levelled people.
Ok. I'll save up my points and buy the phattest axe in Azeroth already at lvl 60
Well, you wont. The system will work like the arena system above. The total points make you able to buy better gear. But they will not go away. They are a rating and not spendable points.
What do we get then for PvE?
Players get gear according to accomplishment. There is still a grinding component in there. And there is a motivator for taking on content made for your level.
This will make it meaningless to do Kara badge runs or easy heroics.
There is one drawback though. The thrill of seeing what that boss will drop today. Nothing is as thrilling like seeing that nifty helm drop and checking it out with a ctrl-click.
OK. Suggestion time is over. Please comment if you made it all through =)
onsdag 16 april 2008
Is levelling the wrong path?
MMORPG is all about getting better and doing cooler stuff. No problem with that. But I do wonder - is levelling actually the right thing?
Ok, I really liked to level up my first WoW-charachter, my paladin Gawain, to lvl 60. And then I levelled up my warrior to level 70. 1-60 was boooring but done with the 60 to 70 span to look forward to.
Then I tried to level up a warlock to 70 on a different server (this was actually my very first char that got abandoned at lvl 42 for my paladin). I managed to get the lock to 62 before interest faded completely. Same with trying to level up the pally just to be able to heal in the end game. He's stuck at 65-ish.
Not that I don't wanna play them in 70 instances. But it was too much of a boring one man job to get the bastards to 70. Doing the 1-60 span was better since with dedicated playing following a levelling guide it was kinda neat just to ding twice an evening. The lock was levelled after the "fast levelling patch" so he was even easier. And maybe because paladins are one of the slowest classes to level, fury warrior and affliction lock was pure dps fun in different aspects.
Reason for 10 new levels
But back to the point. New level caps are made for two reasons. One of them is that reaching the new cap is time needed to play (play time = income for Blizzard) and the other that everybody is at square one after reaching the new cap. All old gear needs to be replaced, factions worked at etc which needs more play time. And also since the slate is wiped clean we are all on equal footing Newbies and Hardcore raiders which makes it possible to become a hardcore raider for a former newbie.
Ok, that settled.
Blizzard wants us to play more. But levelling of alts is just made by some. Most people tend to leave them midlevel in my experience. If we played with many characters we would probably play more. Maybe it should only be needed to level one char and the rest would follow? Or will that mean we will only see hunters farm their way up to lvl 70 and then become different classes that don't know how to play their class?
More gaming = more fun = more money
All I know is that I would play more if I didn't need to level my alts. Especially since the problem with my warrior was that I reached what I call the "content-cap" (it is reaching the cap of content that you may experience due to different circumstances like game time, guild progress etc). I didn't have enough game time to do Karazhan on a regular basis and doing heroics over and over wasn't that fun. But I wouldn't mind healing through Shadow Labs if my pally had been lvl 70.
I don’t have the solution for the problem but I feel like it needs to be addressed. This is maybe a way towards a problem I noticed a while back with mates playing but not able to enjoy it fully because of different levels of progress. That might become a later post.
Ok, I really liked to level up my first WoW-charachter, my paladin Gawain, to lvl 60. And then I levelled up my warrior to level 70. 1-60 was boooring but done with the 60 to 70 span to look forward to.
Then I tried to level up a warlock to 70 on a different server (this was actually my very first char that got abandoned at lvl 42 for my paladin). I managed to get the lock to 62 before interest faded completely. Same with trying to level up the pally just to be able to heal in the end game. He's stuck at 65-ish.
Not that I don't wanna play them in 70 instances. But it was too much of a boring one man job to get the bastards to 70. Doing the 1-60 span was better since with dedicated playing following a levelling guide it was kinda neat just to ding twice an evening. The lock was levelled after the "fast levelling patch" so he was even easier. And maybe because paladins are one of the slowest classes to level, fury warrior and affliction lock was pure dps fun in different aspects.
Reason for 10 new levels
But back to the point. New level caps are made for two reasons. One of them is that reaching the new cap is time needed to play (play time = income for Blizzard) and the other that everybody is at square one after reaching the new cap. All old gear needs to be replaced, factions worked at etc which needs more play time. And also since the slate is wiped clean we are all on equal footing Newbies and Hardcore raiders which makes it possible to become a hardcore raider for a former newbie.
Ok, that settled.
Blizzard wants us to play more. But levelling of alts is just made by some. Most people tend to leave them midlevel in my experience. If we played with many characters we would probably play more. Maybe it should only be needed to level one char and the rest would follow? Or will that mean we will only see hunters farm their way up to lvl 70 and then become different classes that don't know how to play their class?
More gaming = more fun = more money
All I know is that I would play more if I didn't need to level my alts. Especially since the problem with my warrior was that I reached what I call the "content-cap" (it is reaching the cap of content that you may experience due to different circumstances like game time, guild progress etc). I didn't have enough game time to do Karazhan on a regular basis and doing heroics over and over wasn't that fun. But I wouldn't mind healing through Shadow Labs if my pally had been lvl 70.
I don’t have the solution for the problem but I feel like it needs to be addressed. This is maybe a way towards a problem I noticed a while back with mates playing but not able to enjoy it fully because of different levels of progress. That might become a later post.
fredag 11 april 2008
WotLK - the death of WoW?
I have this nagging feeling that expansions in WoW is slowly killing the game. I'll try to explain:
When playing the original WoW, pre Burning Crusade, we all knew that 60 was the level cap and reaching that would make it possible to go into the raid instances. Gear upgrade was slow.
Then BC landed. In a couple of days (hours for some) they had exchanged every last piece of equipment to Outland greens. All work pre-BC was more or less for naught - if you look at the game gear wise. The good experiences lingered though (I still remember taking down Onyxia and meeting Ragnaros)
In Outland we where going for 70 asap. We all knew that instance loot in Hellfire Citadel or Coilfang was just a step on the way. Many even didn't enter the mid 60 instances before trying heroics (which is a huge mistake as all know who tried heroics with someone that hasn't done the regular).
For me, a medium fast leveller, I reached 70 and made all of the instances, but no raid content, before the news of WotLK released.
A friend of mine had grinded for money a lot to be able to make his tailor set (Frozen shadoweave). He got a bit pissed. "Why the hell did I do all this work when in a couple of months it will be all for nothing?" he asked me.
The only good answer I could come up with was: "But you must be playing for now also!?"
Investing in WoW
Somewhere here I got a bit concerned. If we should be inspired to try to get better and better equipment we need to feel the investment (of time) is worth the outcome (of gear) in accordance to its longevity (time to update making it obsolete).
I think this might be more of a problem for casual gamers. If playing time is scarse (like mine) and I have 12 months before next expansion makes gear outdated I don't want to put 6 of these months into getting ok gear for early raid content. The investment doesn't pay off enough.
Then we have the arena season gear and the discussion of welfare epics which makes it even more complicated. (For those not into this discussion it is about that the Season 1 gear is available for honor, which makes grinding Alterac Valley the best way to get great gear. For dps the S1 gear is on par with heroics/Karazhan gear).
Time over execution
Now it might feel like I am whining about my gear not being good enough and it takes too long time to get it. Well I am ;) No not really. The thing I think is the problem here is that WoW is extremely concentrated on gear improvement. All the avenues on getting good gear is more or less about the time you invest in the game. This might seem offensive to say, but I don’t mean that all are unskilled that have good gear - but admit that you met your fair share of real asshats with really great gear? =)
Maybe this is a better way to put it. Playing little but good gets you ok gear. Playing a lot but quite badly gets you better gear.
Since this is a tanking blog mostly I just ask you to remember all the times in a PuG with some real stupid party/raid member that you more or less ask not to mess things up and are glad if he’s on auto shot (yeah I'm talking to you huntard =) ).
Conclusion?
Hrmm, I got a bit sidetracked here. But my point is: Since WoW is such a gear improvement orientated game, too short intervals between making that earned gear obsolete (welfare epics or new level caps) makes it less interesting to play the game.
If the focus could shift towards skill this wouldn’t be that much of a problem.
One thing to take into account is the difference between vertical vs. horizontal advancement in a game. Vertical is things orientated on getting you onwards, horizontal is stuff that improves the experince on your actual level without increasing the ability to progress. Vertical orientated games are more addicitive (new fixes/gear) and WoW is one of them.
When playing the original WoW, pre Burning Crusade, we all knew that 60 was the level cap and reaching that would make it possible to go into the raid instances. Gear upgrade was slow.
Then BC landed. In a couple of days (hours for some) they had exchanged every last piece of equipment to Outland greens. All work pre-BC was more or less for naught - if you look at the game gear wise. The good experiences lingered though (I still remember taking down Onyxia and meeting Ragnaros)
In Outland we where going for 70 asap. We all knew that instance loot in Hellfire Citadel or Coilfang was just a step on the way. Many even didn't enter the mid 60 instances before trying heroics (which is a huge mistake as all know who tried heroics with someone that hasn't done the regular).
For me, a medium fast leveller, I reached 70 and made all of the instances, but no raid content, before the news of WotLK released.
A friend of mine had grinded for money a lot to be able to make his tailor set (Frozen shadoweave). He got a bit pissed. "Why the hell did I do all this work when in a couple of months it will be all for nothing?" he asked me.
The only good answer I could come up with was: "But you must be playing for now also!?"
Investing in WoW
Somewhere here I got a bit concerned. If we should be inspired to try to get better and better equipment we need to feel the investment (of time) is worth the outcome (of gear) in accordance to its longevity (time to update making it obsolete).
I think this might be more of a problem for casual gamers. If playing time is scarse (like mine) and I have 12 months before next expansion makes gear outdated I don't want to put 6 of these months into getting ok gear for early raid content. The investment doesn't pay off enough.
Then we have the arena season gear and the discussion of welfare epics which makes it even more complicated. (For those not into this discussion it is about that the Season 1 gear is available for honor, which makes grinding Alterac Valley the best way to get great gear. For dps the S1 gear is on par with heroics/Karazhan gear).
Time over execution
Now it might feel like I am whining about my gear not being good enough and it takes too long time to get it. Well I am ;) No not really. The thing I think is the problem here is that WoW is extremely concentrated on gear improvement. All the avenues on getting good gear is more or less about the time you invest in the game. This might seem offensive to say, but I don’t mean that all are unskilled that have good gear - but admit that you met your fair share of real asshats with really great gear? =)
Maybe this is a better way to put it. Playing little but good gets you ok gear. Playing a lot but quite badly gets you better gear.
Since this is a tanking blog mostly I just ask you to remember all the times in a PuG with some real stupid party/raid member that you more or less ask not to mess things up and are glad if he’s on auto shot (yeah I'm talking to you huntard =) ).
Conclusion?
Hrmm, I got a bit sidetracked here. But my point is: Since WoW is such a gear improvement orientated game, too short intervals between making that earned gear obsolete (welfare epics or new level caps) makes it less interesting to play the game.
If the focus could shift towards skill this wouldn’t be that much of a problem.
One thing to take into account is the difference between vertical vs. horizontal advancement in a game. Vertical is things orientated on getting you onwards, horizontal is stuff that improves the experince on your actual level without increasing the ability to progress. Vertical orientated games are more addicitive (new fixes/gear) and WoW is one of them.
tisdag 11 mars 2008
The infidelity of DaddyGamer, part II
My second affair has made me spellbound. That’s why I haven’t written for so long. This fling is less calculating than I have been used to for a long time. Not as flashy as my main relationship but instead more down to earth and good looking in it's own way. I have been asked about deciding looks and clothes a lot more than used to. This do make me feel like not hanging out with a harlot or hobo in multicoloured garb. But the importance of a ring was mentioned almost from the start...
Well. Not as good description as my first affair. As you may have concluded it's Lord of the Rings - Shadows of Angmar that I am talking about.
It is very similar to WoW. Levelling to 50 is done by quests and monster kills. But the quests give much more experience than grinding mobs. A mob of the same level might give about 100 xp (at lvl 25) while completing a quest at the same level will give somewhere around 1200 xp.
Another nice thing is that there is something called Deeds. Different deeds are possible to accomplish according to zone, class and race. For example killing 25 wolves in Bree-land might give you the possibility to use the title "Wolf slayer" (I made this one up - but you get the drift). And after finishing killing wolves on the basic level of the deed you can start on getting the advanced benefit like the trait Valour +1.
Traits are given for accomplishing deeds and they add up. So it is possible to get Valour 4 for example. Each rank of a trait will give you more bonuses. And you can only equip a certain amount of traits according to your level. There are also class and race traits.
About the looks. Chainmail look like chainmail. Leather like leather. No lightning ridden wolves heads on your shoulder pads as in WoW. At lvl 20 you are allowed to equip gear for only visual purposes also. You get two extra copies of the character screen in which it's possible to equip gear and make them show but not count for bonuses. It's still the gear on your ordinary character screen that will give you equipment bonuses.
This is a nice feature. Makes it possible to custom your looks a lot more. But you will never look as sinister or kick-ass as in WoW since Lotro is low fantasy.
In the same time the looks in Lotro are more real. You get the feeling that you are moving in the world of Tolkien. The first time I saw Weathertop trough the mists I had to stop and look in awe.
Another thing that is kind of nice to is that since it is not the no.1 MMORPG out there, no number crunchers have gotten the proper threat rotation etc right yet. Although I hugely appreciate them in WoW this do make playing in Lotro a newer more open experience. There is no right or wrong. I've heard no discussions about the proper spec or right gear yet.
The biggest boon is actually that most of my IRL friends started playing it too. All online games are social games foremost. That is what makes them nice.
And it seems that Lotro attracts a more mature crowd too. That is real nice. Not heard any leet talk yet.
Well. Not as good description as my first affair. As you may have concluded it's Lord of the Rings - Shadows of Angmar that I am talking about.
It is very similar to WoW. Levelling to 50 is done by quests and monster kills. But the quests give much more experience than grinding mobs. A mob of the same level might give about 100 xp (at lvl 25) while completing a quest at the same level will give somewhere around 1200 xp.
Another nice thing is that there is something called Deeds. Different deeds are possible to accomplish according to zone, class and race. For example killing 25 wolves in Bree-land might give you the possibility to use the title "Wolf slayer" (I made this one up - but you get the drift). And after finishing killing wolves on the basic level of the deed you can start on getting the advanced benefit like the trait Valour +1.
Traits are given for accomplishing deeds and they add up. So it is possible to get Valour 4 for example. Each rank of a trait will give you more bonuses. And you can only equip a certain amount of traits according to your level. There are also class and race traits.
About the looks. Chainmail look like chainmail. Leather like leather. No lightning ridden wolves heads on your shoulder pads as in WoW. At lvl 20 you are allowed to equip gear for only visual purposes also. You get two extra copies of the character screen in which it's possible to equip gear and make them show but not count for bonuses. It's still the gear on your ordinary character screen that will give you equipment bonuses.
This is a nice feature. Makes it possible to custom your looks a lot more. But you will never look as sinister or kick-ass as in WoW since Lotro is low fantasy.
In the same time the looks in Lotro are more real. You get the feeling that you are moving in the world of Tolkien. The first time I saw Weathertop trough the mists I had to stop and look in awe.
Another thing that is kind of nice to is that since it is not the no.1 MMORPG out there, no number crunchers have gotten the proper threat rotation etc right yet. Although I hugely appreciate them in WoW this do make playing in Lotro a newer more open experience. There is no right or wrong. I've heard no discussions about the proper spec or right gear yet.
The biggest boon is actually that most of my IRL friends started playing it too. All online games are social games foremost. That is what makes them nice.
And it seems that Lotro attracts a more mature crowd too. That is real nice. Not heard any leet talk yet.
torsdag 14 februari 2008
Running on empty
After browsing my favourite blogs abot WoW I realize we share the same problem. Most of us are running on empty. Motivation is low, game time declines and old groups are torn apart due to ppl leaving the game.
One of my most trusted friends, which have I have played arena with a lot, have decided not to prolong his subscription. Another haven’t logged in for 3 weeks.
My warrior is stuck pre-Kara. My lock is loitering in Honor hold. And my paladin have taken a nap in Terrokar forest.
I feel I ought to level the lock and pally before WotLK arrives. But the levels between 60 and 70 are hard work. And somewhere in the back of my head I think "Maybe they will extend the 'easy leveling' to a 20-70 span after the expansion?"
Maybe the best thing is to take a break until expansion arrives so I won’t get fed up on WoW? :(
One of my most trusted friends, which have I have played arena with a lot, have decided not to prolong his subscription. Another haven’t logged in for 3 weeks.
My warrior is stuck pre-Kara. My lock is loitering in Honor hold. And my paladin have taken a nap in Terrokar forest.
I feel I ought to level the lock and pally before WotLK arrives. But the levels between 60 and 70 are hard work. And somewhere in the back of my head I think "Maybe they will extend the 'easy leveling' to a 20-70 span after the expansion?"
Maybe the best thing is to take a break until expansion arrives so I won’t get fed up on WoW? :(
onsdag 23 januari 2008
Revive the heroics!
Heroics are a half assed attempt of keeping the same instances alive longer. Why not going for a more story related/accurate version of the heroics. Why are they harder? Why the same exact mobs?
Probably (I'm no designer) the hardest part wit the places are the layout and that kind of graphics. So keep that. The other must be the skins and movement of the mobs/bosses. So keep that too. The third must be placement so they chain pull properly etc and are at the right level of challenge. That needs to change.
Take Blood furnace for instance. That is a place where they have corrupted orcs to fel orcs and tapped the blood of Magtheridon to do so. Last boss is Kelidan the breaker - a warlock.
Lets make heroic BF like this: Since the heroes (that’s us ;D ) cleared the place the remnants of Kelidans soul has reshaped into an unstable dimensional rift and is spawning demons all through the place. Make first boss w skin of Omor (from ramp) and some new abilities. Place demons all over the place and make it feel new. Etc.
In my mind that wouldn’t make it that hard to get done - and give completely new content. Just jacking up the health and damage of everyone seems like a cheap solution.
Let the Belfs invade the empty Slave pens, make Nagas push into Mana tombs, let the demons take over Shadow labs. And why not revive the old continent instances in the same fashion? Let the beasts and monsters from Outland transgress the portal as well as us. Fel orcs would love BRD in my mind. Let the Belfs of Tempest keep ally with the Scarlet crusade.
What would you like to see?
Probably (I'm no designer) the hardest part wit the places are the layout and that kind of graphics. So keep that. The other must be the skins and movement of the mobs/bosses. So keep that too. The third must be placement so they chain pull properly etc and are at the right level of challenge. That needs to change.
Take Blood furnace for instance. That is a place where they have corrupted orcs to fel orcs and tapped the blood of Magtheridon to do so. Last boss is Kelidan the breaker - a warlock.
Lets make heroic BF like this: Since the heroes (that’s us ;D ) cleared the place the remnants of Kelidans soul has reshaped into an unstable dimensional rift and is spawning demons all through the place. Make first boss w skin of Omor (from ramp) and some new abilities. Place demons all over the place and make it feel new. Etc.
In my mind that wouldn’t make it that hard to get done - and give completely new content. Just jacking up the health and damage of everyone seems like a cheap solution.
Let the Belfs invade the empty Slave pens, make Nagas push into Mana tombs, let the demons take over Shadow labs. And why not revive the old continent instances in the same fashion? Let the beasts and monsters from Outland transgress the portal as well as us. Fel orcs would love BRD in my mind. Let the Belfs of Tempest keep ally with the Scarlet crusade.
What would you like to see?
onsdag 16 januari 2008
Bored, stupid or just mean?
I am currently leveling my lock a bit since it's a slow period in my warriors guild. My warrior is on a RPPvP server which is nice in two ways. First - it is always cool to have some RP interaction although it is scarce. But the best part is that ppl are a bit more mature. If I see a horde, I'd say it is a 50-50 chance that he will attack me. If I'm a lowbie and he's a lvl ?? for me I'd say he will only attack once out of ten. It is a bit civilized actually.
But my lock is on a pure PvP server. It is aggravating.
Logged in into Gadgetzan the other day. Came out of the inn and outside there is 4 lvl 50's loitering around trying to emote taunt me in to attacking them. Like anyone would with the guards around. Then they hang around waiting for any alliance trying to leave to gank them well away from the guards.
Next time in Gadgetzan a lvl 44 (I was lvl 48) tries to taunt me and lure me out of the city so his friendly ?? rogue can backstab me there. Good the guards cast net otherwise I would been had again.
And the third time I barely log on before a pally (?? again) runs around Gadg slaying all alliance and bubbles to get away from guards, runs out to loose aggro then repeat.
On this realm I always check out an inn before entering because often some lvl ?? hangs around there killing ppl.
What I wonder is - WHY??!!
The only gain from this behaviour is to aggravate other ppl. And the only reason to do so must be to take out their frustration from real life on someone in the game that can't fight back.
Now you might imagine that I am pissed. Well, I was at first - but not any longer. If anyone out there have been bullied in school, mistreated by their parents or feel that they are the lowest form on the social evoloutionary ladder. Then you are welcome to attack my lock. He's just a bunch of pixels and there isn't even a repair cost for PvP death. Go ahead give him your best shot.
I just hope that you realize that IRL-problems can't be solved in WoW or vice versa, so learn how to deal with them in real life too.
But my lock is on a pure PvP server. It is aggravating.
Logged in into Gadgetzan the other day. Came out of the inn and outside there is 4 lvl 50's loitering around trying to emote taunt me in to attacking them. Like anyone would with the guards around. Then they hang around waiting for any alliance trying to leave to gank them well away from the guards.
Next time in Gadgetzan a lvl 44 (I was lvl 48) tries to taunt me and lure me out of the city so his friendly ?? rogue can backstab me there. Good the guards cast net otherwise I would been had again.
And the third time I barely log on before a pally (?? again) runs around Gadg slaying all alliance and bubbles to get away from guards, runs out to loose aggro then repeat.
On this realm I always check out an inn before entering because often some lvl ?? hangs around there killing ppl.
What I wonder is - WHY??!!
The only gain from this behaviour is to aggravate other ppl. And the only reason to do so must be to take out their frustration from real life on someone in the game that can't fight back.
Now you might imagine that I am pissed. Well, I was at first - but not any longer. If anyone out there have been bullied in school, mistreated by their parents or feel that they are the lowest form on the social evoloutionary ladder. Then you are welcome to attack my lock. He's just a bunch of pixels and there isn't even a repair cost for PvP death. Go ahead give him your best shot.
I just hope that you realize that IRL-problems can't be solved in WoW or vice versa, so learn how to deal with them in real life too.
tisdag 8 januari 2008
The irresistable lure of MMORPG
The Witcher is a great game, I've gotten to episode 2. Medieval Total War II is awesome in its big scale battles, I've almost conquered France.
That is the thing. I have tried them out for a while, but I always get sucked into WoW again.
I have just a little time to play and I need to choose what to play. And the decision always falls on WoW ultimately. Just that instance, just that piece of gear. Always wanna become a little better.
And when one character gets boring someone new gets my attention. Right now I am playing my 44 lock and try to level him up. Good fun to try to learn a new class. And locks rock when u get a hang of it. As we all know as warriors who have done the feared dotted up running around.
But the thing that really keeps me in the game is my friends. I live 500k away from most my old friends and a good chunk of them are playing WoW. It is a great way to keep in touch and have fun at the same time.
What is that makes you tick? Is it that extra gear or the social life?
That is the thing. I have tried them out for a while, but I always get sucked into WoW again.
I have just a little time to play and I need to choose what to play. And the decision always falls on WoW ultimately. Just that instance, just that piece of gear. Always wanna become a little better.
And when one character gets boring someone new gets my attention. Right now I am playing my 44 lock and try to level him up. Good fun to try to learn a new class. And locks rock when u get a hang of it. As we all know as warriors who have done the feared dotted up running around.
But the thing that really keeps me in the game is my friends. I live 500k away from most my old friends and a good chunk of them are playing WoW. It is a great way to keep in touch and have fun at the same time.
What is that makes you tick? Is it that extra gear or the social life?
måndag 3 december 2007
Nightbane linked to my kids
It's very strange. But somehow Nightbane is linked to my kids. Pull one - and pull all...
Last week I had the opportunity to actually join a Karahzan raid. My guild more or less has Kara on farm (not my making) and they where doing the second night run - which means all is cleared up to chess or so.
Well, they asked me if I could join but I was sceptical - since my kids tend to wake up a lot at the moment. But I agreed.
We went in and up to Nightbane. All went smooth. At the same second they pull Nightbane both my kids wake up screaming. One needs a bottle and one needs comfort. Up to the kids with bottle to my wife and a quick re-tucking in of the older. Back down. And I am still alive!
I go in swinging. 'Sweet', I think. Then the older wakes up again screaming. Excuses over voice chat and back up again. I come down to the computer at the exact moment I die. Then all is still upside. Both kids sleeping and I sit watching my dead char lying on the ground.
I feel so bad about deserting them in the fight so I leave afterwards. (They kill NB so I get my badges, that’s how much better than me they are).
The rest of the evening the kids don’t wake up a single time and I loiter around Shattrah while I can still hear the rest of the raid on voice chat taking on Prince...
Last week I had the opportunity to actually join a Karahzan raid. My guild more or less has Kara on farm (not my making) and they where doing the second night run - which means all is cleared up to chess or so.
Well, they asked me if I could join but I was sceptical - since my kids tend to wake up a lot at the moment. But I agreed.
We went in and up to Nightbane. All went smooth. At the same second they pull Nightbane both my kids wake up screaming. One needs a bottle and one needs comfort. Up to the kids with bottle to my wife and a quick re-tucking in of the older. Back down. And I am still alive!
I go in swinging. 'Sweet', I think. Then the older wakes up again screaming. Excuses over voice chat and back up again. I come down to the computer at the exact moment I die. Then all is still upside. Both kids sleeping and I sit watching my dead char lying on the ground.
I feel so bad about deserting them in the fight so I leave afterwards. (They kill NB so I get my badges, that’s how much better than me they are).
The rest of the evening the kids don’t wake up a single time and I loiter around Shattrah while I can still hear the rest of the raid on voice chat taking on Prince...
tisdag 6 november 2007
Hitting the content cap
Ever got that feeling that 'This is as far as I will get'? I have that feeling right now. It's a bit of a combination with real life and motivation. Let's call it the motivation cycle.
In my eyes the motivation cycle is dependent on the want and possibility to go further into the content. Below lvl 70 just reaching 70 is the thing for motivation, after 70 it is to clear all the instances and getting attuned for heroics and Karazhan. The cycle is the correlation between running heroics and raids. Something like this:
I need better gear to be able to progress further in Karazhan => Doing heroics => better gear => Able to do more in Karazhan => I need better gear to progress further in Karazhan, and on and on.
The problem is when this cycle breaks. For me it has broken on the ability to go Karazhan. I will probably easily have a spot in the guilds raid group, but due to IRL stuff (read previous post 'Total disgrace') I am not able to join.
This makes all other WoW-gaming a bit irrelevant.
So I respecced Arms and keep on going Arena to have some fun there at least. Such a huge difference when going in as a PvP spec in comparison with a tank spec.
Things will probably lighten up at home soon and I will find the time to game a bit more. But right now I am playing games with a 'pause' key.
By the way, I installed 'The Witcher' yesterday. If you haven’t played it - check it out. Awesome game.
In my eyes the motivation cycle is dependent on the want and possibility to go further into the content. Below lvl 70 just reaching 70 is the thing for motivation, after 70 it is to clear all the instances and getting attuned for heroics and Karazhan. The cycle is the correlation between running heroics and raids. Something like this:
I need better gear to be able to progress further in Karazhan => Doing heroics => better gear => Able to do more in Karazhan => I need better gear to progress further in Karazhan, and on and on.
The problem is when this cycle breaks. For me it has broken on the ability to go Karazhan. I will probably easily have a spot in the guilds raid group, but due to IRL stuff (read previous post 'Total disgrace') I am not able to join.
This makes all other WoW-gaming a bit irrelevant.
So I respecced Arms and keep on going Arena to have some fun there at least. Such a huge difference when going in as a PvP spec in comparison with a tank spec.
Things will probably lighten up at home soon and I will find the time to game a bit more. But right now I am playing games with a 'pause' key.
By the way, I installed 'The Witcher' yesterday. If you haven’t played it - check it out. Awesome game.
onsdag 24 oktober 2007
Playing with kids
And I am not referring to the 13 year olds out there. No I am talking about having two small children at home. My oldest are three years and the youngest almost seven months.
This means some troubles. First the ability to show up on time. In my old guild everyone wanted to raid at seven. Which is impossible for me. My oldest goes to bed at about that time and since I am usually the one tucking him in - my wife attends the small one att the same time - I can never be online at that time.
Some people (read older ones with kids) are very good about this. But the younger crowd don't understand at all. Not much to do about. I try to only join raids starting at eight or later. But this is still hard to meet from time to time. Getting a three year old to sleep isn't anything like exact science. Takes from 10 min to one and a half hour.
Then we have the 'waking up screaming' issue. Happens from time to time. Three year olds are just starting to have nightmares. Last time it was: 'Daddy it is a bird in my bed'. Turned out to be one of his cuddly animals. Apparently he imagines pigs lurking in his room also. God am I glad I have been very strict about not having him look while I play if there are a fight... Some vendoring, horse riding and gryphon flying we have done together. But no fighting.
But I don’t think the kids are the biggest obstacle when family interferes with gaming. Nope it is 'aggro from the wife-mob'. =D
But that will be another post...
torsdag 11 oktober 2007
The guild drama
Haven't written in a while due to the fact that we have had some high grade drama in our guild. As I have written before we have this core raid that should be the regular crew going into Karazhan. The A-team if you like.
Since many didn't get spots in the A-team me and two others started a Wednesday raid.
But now the core raid wants to forbid the Wednesday raid to go, because if someone might get locked to Karazhan and then needed in case of emergency in the Core raid. That would be bad.
This means they want the rest of the guild on standby just in case...
Of course this have made us quite angry. We can't come and we aren't allowed to do anything else.
Big drama is under way. Raid leader is resigning because members don't appreciate him enough and blah blah blah.
The most interesting thing is that he has confessed that the core raid ain't made up from the most suitable to the task - but from senior members because they deserve to go.
This is actually quite funny. Guild management is a bit like "Management for dummies".
Since many didn't get spots in the A-team me and two others started a Wednesday raid.
But now the core raid wants to forbid the Wednesday raid to go, because if someone might get locked to Karazhan and then needed in case of emergency in the Core raid. That would be bad.
This means they want the rest of the guild on standby just in case...
Of course this have made us quite angry. We can't come and we aren't allowed to do anything else.
Big drama is under way. Raid leader is resigning because members don't appreciate him enough and blah blah blah.
The most interesting thing is that he has confessed that the core raid ain't made up from the most suitable to the task - but from senior members because they deserve to go.
This is actually quite funny. Guild management is a bit like "Management for dummies".
måndag 1 oktober 2007
My favourite foe
For some strange reason I don't like murlocs or naga. Not that they are particularly difficult but they just dont feel good to fight with. I really can't describe it better but they aren't real foes in my eyes. Sure they hit hard and can wipe your raid but...
It might have something to do with the instances they inhabit. Coilfang reservoir is a bog. After a hard night in an instance you just don't feel good when saying: "I have been in a bog all night killing fish people and mermaids with tridents." I got this feeling already in Black Fathoms Deep. Damp and boring.
Orcs on the other hand. Or Dark iron dwarves in Black Rock Depth!!! That is what I want a dungeon to look like! Lava pouring from the walls while walking around in a hell version of Moria. I really loved that place. When I went to Outland and landed inside Hellfire citadel i got happy right away. Cool looking orcs in awesome armor, big demons and a run down citadel. My type of place all over.
Then we have this middle ground: trolls in a jungle. Me don't like...
They are skinny, have bad posture and all to much vegetables all around. This is a bad sign for the coming Zul'Aman (if I ever get there).
Am I the only one feeling like this? Do you have some place that you like more than the rest for aesthetic reasons?
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