I have arrived!

9 days, 23 hours of playtime and roughly one month of being activly played (that ratio is SCARY):

Dun dun duuuuuuuuhn!



I have finally arrived. My second max level character in a game ever. (The first was FFXI. That's right folks, I only got to 59 in vanilla WoW before my boyfriend finally let me quit and I do not regret it) Just in time for my subscription to run out and my broke arse to be unable to pay it for a week or so ; ; And just in time to start it all over again with DoK when my BF rolls his blackgaurd. I don't really mind, I'm hella excited by their characters and storyline and look forward to playing them. But 958,000 xp from 39-40 was scary as crap and I don't feel like doing it again anytime soon. 

PS: Why are my screenshot always so jaggedy when I have no AA issues in game? Weird.

RvR weenies.

Yesterday's Heavy Metal task was to kill 15 people in open RvR. This is of course, an awesome idea. I enjoy open RvR, there's just some key elements to it that keep my lazy butt from doing it very often (1: Lag 2: Lag 3: Travel time). But when I logged on in Eaitain I was happy to see an open warband of about twelve people which my boyfriend and I promptly joined and took off for Dragonwake.  

 Dragonwake didn't seem much going on, or rather, I showed up too late to see much going on but the group decided to head for Kadrin Valley since it was unlocked and had tasty looking blue on the map. When we got there scouts reported that Order had just flipped the last BO and was heading for the southern keep so off we went. 

At this point, there are thirteen of us. We set up our seige weapons on the first wall, set the fire under the oil and were waiting when Order arrived.   Remember now, there were thirteen of us. Taking a headcount as they arrived I counted at least 18, most likely a few more. The battle over the door was pretty fun. Against the norm they actually brought their own ballistas and managed to destroy the ones we'd set up against them promptly. There was an awesome five minutes of fighting over the oil as two or three bright wizards nuke it to pieces and four of us constantly repaired it and lobbed it at their heads. Conversation on our side was to the tune of "Do we have enough to hold them off?" "They seem pretty organized" etc.  

First door goes down and we all fall back to the keep. At this point we start putting out calls to the rest of the zone to come help but Order has such a lockdown on the postern door that no one can get in and the handful that went out to try to chase them away ended up dead in seconds. As it becomes clear that the door is going to be falling soon I left my post at the top of the keep, taking another quick head count of the front and back door before falling back to the keep lord room.  

The count by my eye almost exactly even. We had 18 people, Order had 19-20 people. Chances are that in fact they had a few more since I can clearly see how many people destro has but it's hard to count two doors as people are running about. Conversation on our side continues along the lines of "Can we do this?" We quickly organize a tactic. We have two chosen and a black orc as well as several sorcerers. The plan is simple but beautiful, the tanks block the top of the ramp with their big beefy tankness, the sorceres nuke like maniacs and hope that a BW doesn't get them in sight and the healers keep them alive. (What was I doing you ask? Oh, I'm a MDPS. I sit on my thumbs.)  

Order breaks through the door and rushes in! Tense moment! Conversation on our side is reassurance "Be patient, just stay still. They'll rush us any moment, be ready." So we follow orders and wait... and wait a bit more. It becomes clear that Order is waiting on -us- to get impatient and come down to them. They finally send up a scout who throws himself at the tanks, blows up and promptly gets raised. Alright! Scout means action soon. Then something funny happens. 

Nothing.

  That's right folks, after roughly an hour and a half of back and forth skin of your teeth battle over the doors, on equal or greater footing with destruction, Order finds themselves unwilling to gather their courage, come up with a tactic and come for what they came for. They all freaking left without setting foot on the ramp. When we finally got that they were chickening out we ran down the ramp to find one lone Iron Breaker standing his ground and ready to take us on. Poor guy, he must have hated his team mates but I'd like to shake his hand.   

After this display of what tactical defense looks like we fully expected to see Order at their keep to the north when we left to claim it. Did we? Of course not, not an ever loving soul was there. One of our members stated "Pfft, if they're going to be this lame I'm going to bed." And so I logged out with 8/15. (After taking all of Praag without seeing a soul.)

The good news is that I got two pieces of Annihilator's, head and shoulders. The bad news is that I lost a bit of faith in humanity. 

Open RvR Update Repost

A straight copy paste because it was lost off the front page of the herald already and is too awesome not to point out:

"Folks,

   Over the last few months I’ve spoken about our continued focus on improving our open RvR systems.  While we have taken some major steps in the last month, we believe that there is much more we can do to encourage people to take part in oRvR throughout the entire evolution of their character(s).  Over the next few months we have some very exciting changes and additions taking place.  Please note that as always, this does not represent everything that either we are doing or thinking about doing, just what we, as of now, plan on adding to WAR. 

   We have a number of major initiatives planned for oRvR in WAR.  Please keep in mind that these changes/systems apply to oRvR only and not to scenarios.  This is not all we are working on but these do reflect the majority of oRvR additions that we are currently working on/planning for the next few months.

   First, we have created an RvR Influence system.  This system is designed to reward our oRvR players with lots of new stuff that you can only get through oRvR.  This will be a complimentary system to our PQ Influence system.  This system is already implemented in 1.1 and is scheduled to go LIVE along with that version in December.   

   Second, we want to improve the visibility that players have into oRvR and make it easier for players to get involved in the action quickly and easily.   We have a number of wide-ranging changes going into our map and travel systems to allow players to better understand the state of oRvR in our game and also allow them to get to the action faster.  We have already taken one step with putting a Rally Master in each Warcamp but we will also add the ability for people to have a second bind point to make it even easier for players to move around the maps.  We will also make it easily for players to see where players from their Realm are engaging in oRvR, a Campaign HUD for all tiers and other improvements We will also improve Tier-wide messaging about what is going on in Battlefield Objectives and Keeps.  Other additions include changes to the UI, in-game manual improvements, map enhancements, and a few other changes.

   Third, we want to provide greater incentives to players to participate in oRvR.  In order to accomplish this we will be adding additional layers to the questing system of oRvR including the addition of Keep Quests, “Daily Event Quests”, Chained RvR Missions, improve the initial Tome Unlocks and other oRvR-oriented Events.  We will also improve our BO itemization.  Our goal is to provide players with even more incentive for participating in oRvR than we have already. 

   Fourth, we want to encourage guilds to take and control keeps, and we will continue our work on adding better rewards for Guilds who own Keeps as well as the addition of a system of Keep upgrades. This system will be added to the game in several stages beginning in the late winter.

   Finally, we will begin work on a global oRvR “Fame” system that will be tied directly to the Tome of Knowledge which will provide more rewards, titles, experience, etc. for participating and being successful in oRvR.    This system will provide even more incentives for people to participate in oRvR than the current systems and one that fits nicely both with the ToK’s concept as “This is your life” as well as an additional advancement and reward system.

   Please keep in mind that these additions are subject to change and given the nature of these changes/improvements, they will not go LIVE until we have thoroughly tested them.  However, these are crucial improvements to WAR and are being treated as such by the team.

    Finally, I want to close this out with a brief explanation about the role that we believe that oRvR should play in WAR.  It’s really as simple as this, oRvR should be a major focus for leveling, item gain, etc. in WAR.  Some of the systems are already in place and in Tier 4, oRvR is alive and well.  On other Tiers, however, oRvR is not being engaged in as often as we had hoped when we launched WAR.  Our goal is to ensure that oRvR is the place where players can level the fastest, get the best items and overall, have a great time while doing it.  It is supposed to be riskier, more challenging but ultimately, more rewarding than any other place within WAR.  What is outlined in this letter are some of the ways we plan on making this happen over the next few months and beyond. 

    As always, we thank you for your patronage and support.  We won’t let you down.

Mark Jacobs

VP/GM Mythic Entertainment"

All I can says is: Freck yeah. And also, I serious need more ram and a new video card before all this stuff makes me want to do ORvR 70% more than I do currently.

For the Record

I'd just like to say, in an effort to counter balance Syp's isistance that the WAR bloggers are all negative:

I love WAR.  Do I think that it has issues? Of course it does, it's a two month old game. I usually don't play MMOs at launch for that very reason but the boyfriend was threatening me with WoW torture. (That's sort of like water torture except more painful and more repetative. Plus more idiots jumping around everywhere.) I am level headed and experienced in MMOs enough to know that it will get better. I trust Mythic, just based on the amount of fixes and content added already, to continue to make things better. They're not Destination Games after all. So! For the record, Ainilome/Sevren is a happy WAR camper and not likely to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Sevren is now 38. The rate at which I've leveled has seriously blown my mind, I have put in a stupid amount of playtime in the past month. The sort of playtime that I'd be ashamed to tell my mother. But I'm nearly there and still loving the hell out of witch elf. I've done it mostly on PvE because ... brace yourselves now..

I like PvE. I know! /gasp. Dark Elf lands at least have some really awesome and fun quests, some interesting storyline and great things to roleplay through. My only complaint is that even mixed with a scenerio every now and then there isn't enough content in DE lands to get me to 40. Every level since 31ish I've had to go somewhere else to finish half a level and unlock the quests at the next camp. I'd like either more quests or just a raise in XP given, or reduction in XP required. But it's minor in the end, I just put on my RP blinders and grind off quests in Greenskin lands out of character. Not nearly as fun as staying in my home zone though. 

My other complaint is one common to witch elves. Our itemization really, really, really sucks. And is quite buggy. Twice now in Bastian Stair I've won a purple bag with an awesome helm. Problem is, the "helm" is actually Chosen shoulders and hovers big WoW style shoulderpads four feet off my shoulders. Awsome! Only not. And the final influence reward from Bastian Stair? The shoes are actually gloves and the gloves are actually shoes and BOTH of them have Willpower as a main stat with not a drop of strength. Honestly, the poor guys at Mythic must have been pulling eighteen hour shifts near launch to manage goofs like that. 

Yesterday saw a day of questing for the the proc weapons and I am now the happy owner of Nightfall and Frenzy, smexy things that they are. I would hug them if they weren't so sharp. Varian got his proc weapons as well, going with Midnight and Cenbur.

Except Cenbur is a chalice that's actually a sword, or a sword that look like a chalice. 

Honestly now Mythic. 

1.05

The unsung, unpraised best change in 1.05:

New horn sounds for calling mounts. 

Never having to hear a chorus of "bweeer nuuuuur" ever again is simply priceless. 

What it means to be a Druchii

Disclaimer: This will likely come across as a rant, as it's one of those thoughts that have been bubbling in my mind for a few weeks and have been pushed to the point of being put into words. Also, I very dearly love roleplaying and probably more so love the lore and background history that developers of fantasy worlds spend so much blood, sweat and tears laying out for us. I could rant equally as well and as passionatly about the poorly done Egyptological "specials" on the History Channel. It's just how I get about history and society, even made up ones. I also desperatly LOVE talking about my characters, their motivations and quirks and could brain storm OOCly for hours with fellow RPs and have done so in the past. None of this is meant specifically about any one person and as it's not posted on a public forum but a private blog, it is of course, only my thoughts and shouldn't be taken as law. (as if it would be.)

Nearly every roleplaying Druchii (dark elf) I've crossed paths with across two servers now has suffered from one thing that makes it terribly hard to believe their character.

They are far too nice. 

Druchii are not.nice. They may be pleasant in company they enjoy, when it suits their needs or when the person they are being pleasant to is higher ranking than them. They have absolutely no qualms about stepping all over anyone below them and do not give a scaven's fuzzy ass how you're feeling today. I understand that it takes a special type of roleplayer, the serious sort with a strong sense of what is IC and what is OOC, to play a giant ass hole. But if you rolled a Druchii... you ARE a giant asshole and I expect you to be as such. When a druchii smiles warmly, bows, asks me how my day is my character's immediate reaction is "What the hell is wrong with you? What do you want?" and my personal reaction is a quiet groan. 

In our day to day life, in sane normal human society we expect everyone around us to be neutrally pleasant. That certainly isn't to say everyone is (ha!) or that it's expected to be sincer. The druchii are not humans, they are not exactly sane either, from our point of view. The whole race and their entire society is not set up to expect everyone you meet to be neautrally pleasant. Druchii do not quietly converse about the weather while standing in line at the store, nor do the check out ladies at their stores remember your name or ask how your child's cold is doing. (Real world example, it's a good contrast.) The idea of congenial friendless is devoid in their society. When meeting a druchii of the same rank they are expected to be curt, cool. When meeting one of a lesser rank they are expected, by social stadards, to be demanding and dominering lest the lesser see a chance to unsurp you. 

My guild (Khaine bless them!) is both heavy RP and dark elf themed. I love them to little tiny pieces. Sevren? Freaking hates them all. She is however, the lowest rank of the guild currently and so does her proper sucking up. There are perhaps, three characters in the whole rather large guild that she mildly respects and that doesn't include it's leaders/officers. She pays them the lip service they deserve, but she is not personally impressed or sincerly respectful of them. She is a druchii. Respect is earned two ways. By outranking her (which they very much do) or by scaring the shit out of her (which they don't). 

I understand that as stated above, it takes certain types of roleplayers to be ok with being a giant arse. Some are just too nice in real life to feel comfortable doing it without the express permission of those they're talking to, or perhaps just don't want to. And it also takes a certain type to -get- that it's strictly in character. But if you claim to be a roleplayer, and can't understand that the guy over there threatening to "peel your skin back like a scroll" (<3> Korinth) doesn't actually want to do so, you need a more solid ground into your hobby. Me and my character are two very, very different things. Just because Sevren is a bitch to you, doesn't mean we can't laugh and goof off and be best buds OOCly. Prime example above, OOCly I respect the hell out of my guild leaders and think they do an awesome job. But with the heavy 100% focus of the guild I know that real life feelings do not need to influence my character. Because they're roleplayers too, and get it. I can also -hate- your alt, and love your main. Because character is not player. So be a jerk! I get it.

This isn't to say that everyone should be cliche evil. (No one should be cliche anything) Or that it's not possible for a semi-decent dark elf to exist. Too much nicey nice is ... well, too much.

I play a Druchii. I am an evil bitch at my very core. Sevren doesn't think she is, because it's just how she is, how her people are. I just wish more played that way, fleshed out their characters that way and got more into the spirit of their race. Because a lot of dark elf characters could just as easily be high elf by switching the "Blood for Khaine!" rhetoric for "Hail Asuryan!"

Also, I reserve the right to beat the everloving crap out of anyone who greets me with "Vendui" or makes their name T'Anything. (I'm only half joking about that.)

Also, anyone who plays a Druchii should be required to read at least a few chapters of the Malus Darkblade books. (And I am not joking about that.)

Treadmill (Plus RP rambles)

I'm starting to feel the grind.

Sevren just hit 30, heck of a lot of levels in a week or two, for me at least. Varian (the boyfriend) plans on being 34 or so by the time we go back to school on Thursday but I think I'm going to die if we push for that. I understand the push, we're in a game we love, both playing classes with love and we're not the lowest level players in our guild. All of those things are EXTREMELY rare in the grand scheme of things. I don't have a problem putting the time in to level, it's just...

The grind. 

Yes yes, it's not -that- bad. I realize that. You're talking to a girl who's played Final Fantasy XI for five years. I know a grind when I see one, but regardless. I played for seven hours straight today, focusing on questing chapter 13 and 14 in greenskin lands while doing scenerios and it still took me that whole time to go from 40% to 100%. And now 523,170 experience from 30-31 makes me want to sit down and sob. Quests that give between 6,000 and 10,000 (the latter being very rare) exp plus Tor Anroc giving 3000-11,000 depending makes that five.hundred.thousand. experience points look gigantic. 

I concider myself a hardcore player in a lot of ways. Gaming is my main hobby (mostly, my only one). I live with my boyfriend who's just as big a gamer as I am. We're both full time students with plenty of free time and have no problem spending a whole day hanging out at our PCs smashing Order in the face together.  If I look at the required exp from 28ish to 40 and reel I can't imagine what a more casual player feels. 

I'm sure it only feels like a ton because I'm actually pushing for max level, something I don't usually do. I should take more breaks to roleplay with someone other than Varian (or just at all, grind grind grind the last few days). My guild obviously has a whole ton of storyline and interactions going on but being new and also being driven to level, I've not managed to even hear about them much less take part in them. Sevren's goals need a bit more hashing out I think. She's very selfish and very uninterested in pretty much anyone else. Her priorities are Khaine and the standing of the temple and helping Varian with the goals he holds centered around his own house. Re-reading that I see what my problem with her is. She's a servant type of character, a follower and her leader just wants to get to 40 tomorrow!  *flails* 

I also need to figure out how to get them involved in my personal RP. Crap on a stick, Varian -ran Sevren through and threatened to slit her throat- in a blind rage a few days ago and somehow I managed to communicate none of it to our guild.  (caused by Sevren making up the wrong story and claiming to have slept with his biggest enemy. Druchii wise, she asked for it.) It was such an awesome bit of unplanned RP as well. It certainly advanced and changed their relationship, but not a soul heard of it and probably never will. Sometimes, the hardest part of roleplaying isn't being in character or making up storyline, it's getting others involved... or getting yourself involved, depending on standing.

They exist!

Ah HA! Look! Elf men do in fact possess legs and I bring visual proof!

See it? Right there ... peeking out of the skirt. Mythic's concept artists are even getting sick of all the damn skirts. 

Joking aside, my biggest fear for Black Gaurd is that they'll suffer from the same thing Swordmaster does since their armor is extrememly simular. All Swordmaster's look alike. Skirt + cone head helm = Random Swordmaster. I'm fairly resigned to being stuck with more men in skirts. But I'm afraid they're all going to look the same at level 5 as they do at 40. Mythic kicks such butt at Dark Elf female armor as is proven by my collection of "robes" and "armor" for my girls. Why do the men have to be so blah?  /le sigh. 

Dark Elf Female Phrases

Inspired by Risset at The Inevitable City I spent a half hour or so right clicking myself and listing the different phrases that dark elf women say. I'm really amazed at how much voice work there is, as Risset noted several phrases have different versions (marked by "x2" in my list)  and I'm sure there are more versions unmarked as they're only noticeable if they're said near each other. I kept thinking that my list had to be complete and then I'd hear another. Such an untapped resource for voice emotes.

"My regards."

"Hail."

"It's always better to conquer."

"It's not personal, it's buisness. The buisness of war."

"Only the weak die."

"Fear will keep the weak in line."

"You have quite the reputation."

"The end of this war is the begining of another." x2

"Malekith's favor is a double edged sword."

"Leave me be."

"Greetings."

"Well met... I suppose."

"You have a certain ... simple charm."

"Never enter a battle of wits unarmed."

"I suppose you're here to raise moral."

"You must find favor if you are to survive."

"Be on time, that way you can strike first."

"Above all else, be armed."

"I will remember you."

"Slaughter our weakling kin!"

"I've no time for fools."

"What do you seek?"

"Now what?"

"It seems the rumors about you are true."

"Rise from one ambition to another."

"I see you have illusions of adiquecy."

"Seek favor, power and the downfall of your foes."

"Never beg..."

"Ah, the exception that proves the rule."

"I suppose you're useful to someone..."

"It is always better to conquer."

"I offer you nothing but the chance to die."

"Your face offends me."

"What news?"

"Hail Malekith!"

"There are no friends, only rivals."

"How brave of you to annoy me."

"You're very bold."

"Ulthuan will be ours!"

"When this war is over ... beware."

"You remind me of our weakling cousins."

"I never met a foe my sword couldn't strike."

"If I throw a stick ... will you leave?"

"Presumptious cur!"

"They say you're easily lead, they were half wrong."

"What an interesting odor..."

"Titles do not grant honor, people give honor to titles."

"Palace politics are never related to morals."

"I didn't know the commander kept a pet."

"The strong survive."

"Why do you distrub me?"

"Promises are often a necesssity of the past."

"Go away."

"I am busy." x2

"I've heard of you."

"Peace and parley."

"Treaties are for the beaten."

"Are you trying to anger me?"

"Above all despise weakness."

"Interesting look ... I can see what you're trying to do."

"I know what they're saying about you."

"Hurt enough so vengence is impossible."

"We are here to overthrow. That is our nature."

"Treat your men generously or destroy them. It is the only way."

"Hate is gained by good works as well as ill."

"Respects to your house."

"What do you seek?"

"Excuse me?"

"You might have washed."

"The wise do once what the fools do finally."

"We don't want peace, we want victory!"

"If you wish to be obeyed, know how to command."

"You remind me of me when I was young and foolish."

"Do I know you?"

"You stink, mongral!"

"I don't want to be seen with you."

"The high elves will fall!"

"Don't! Get away!"

"I never lack a good reason to break a promise."

"Are you stupid? Leave me be."

Some of these got a good laugh out of my boyfriend and I, they're all perfectly Druchii in nature.