Mystic Worlds

EQ2 Extended: Feasting Tables

Lets Eat!
This is a time of year when many Americans begin planning three of the biggest food consumption holidays of the year.  I've personally been on Epicurious for the past two weeks preparing for Thanksgiving. And all too quickly, Christmas will be here, necessitating the preparation of another tasty family feast.

Feasts Feasting Tables
As I started redesigning my EQ2 Extended furniture showroom, I decided to create two "Feasting Tables". It's a timely inclusion for the season and satisifies a request I'd received a few weeks ago to provide an estimate for creating one.  At the time, I'd never considered it and had nothing to display for options. Worse, I had no idea what was possible from a crafting perspective.  

My search revealed that recipes for craftable food and tableware was very thin.  The vast majority of items in this category are provided as quest rewards and holiday events, which means I can't mass produce them to sell. Daunted but not defeated, I decided to press on using what I could make or creatively devise.

The Darker Side
Halloween decorating being the exception, I've avoided crafting the more sinister looking carpentry items.  I don't even make one for the bonus crafting XP since my levels come quickly just by producing customer orders.

I know sinister themed items appeal to a portion of the players, especially in a game with "evil" races living in sinister style zones but it doesn't appeal to me.  That being the case, I don't feel as though I possess any knack for styling those types of displays but decided to include a mild one for display.

DIY Issues Being Housed Here

I don't know why I thought to separate the posts for the DIY issues on a separate mini blog.  It's a few more steps than I want to maintain long term.  All future issues will be housed and linked here but under the EQ2 Decorating DIY Issues category if you want to find all issues.

1. Kelethin Kitchen Redesign
2. Country Kitchen Design  - Includes how to build a refrigerator
3. Building an Aquarium

 

 

Big Ups to GameBreaker TV

I don't typically engage in individual blog or site forums.  It' take more time than I really have keeping up with the blogs themselves.  There are so many good ones out there.  And I rarely comment on podcasts either because I'm listening while on the go.  So here's my personal BIG-UP to Gary Gannon and GameBreaker TV.  

I've been HUGE F'N FAN since the days of MOG Army, when Gary was paired up with Ryan Verniere. That's back went Brent was still doing the news for his site Virgin Worlds.  In my playlist, that was the golden days of my podcast listening.  I have added more favorites for sure, but I missed both podcasts. I'm elated that Gary is back in full force with a group of extremely entertaining co-hosts. I'm lovin' it, lovin' it and LOVIN' IT!

If you haven't been watching their vidcasts you're missing great gaming related entertainment.  Hell one of my favorites is for a game I'm not even playing, FFXIV. Then there's This Week in MMOs hosted by Gary and Mike B which is a complete hoot.

EQ2 Decorating DIY Issue 3 - Building Aquariums

The November issue of EQ2 Decorating DIY is now available.  This month we explore how to put all those aquatic plushies to good use by building your own aquarium. Visit my companion blog to read all about it.

Couldn't Resist 2nd Breakfast

Hitting the Streets on my Main

I’m hitting the streets of Norrath on my main this weekend.  My level 59 Illusionist has been on the shelf for several weeks.  I’m actually ready to do some questing/leveling on her.  I will be accompanied by one of my readers who joined me on EQ2X and liked it enough to sub gold.  He’s been leveling like a demon to catch up to my main while I’ve been crafting like a fiend.  Now that we’re close enough in level to do some duo runs, we’re going to hit Sinking Sands.  First stop for me is to get a few of the aquatic plushies.  *Smile*

This weekend is also Moonlight Enchantments in EQ2/X.  I so have to participate this time.  It will be the first one I’ve been around for since I went crafting insane. Must have me some preeecious items for more – yeah, decorating. LOL I honestly can’t help myself!  

EQ2 Extended: You Can’t Have it Both Ways!

To many MMO players cash shops are an abomination.  They don’t want people to pay their way to the top of a game.  Although I’ve never understood why anyone cares how someone else got to the “top” of a game, unless it’s in an e-sport.  As long as it’s within the confines of the EULA, I honestly can’t give a damn about how someone else chooses to play a game.  I’m neutral on the topic.  

I’m completely supportive of people who choose not to play games with cash shops.  I also agree with players who don’t believe cash shops are the debbil.  Given the option, I'm more than likely to purchase items that make sense for my play style and value system.  In EQ2X, the first thing I did was cover up that horrid stat armor I was wearing with something that matched.  And even though I already had a mount previously purchased with in game currency, I bought a prettier one from the cash shop.  *Smile*

For the record, cash shops don’t ruin games.  Badly implemented ones do.  Wizard101 has had a cash shop and subscription options from day one.  They’ve managed to do this successfully without calling forth the four horsemen of the apocalypse to destroy life as we know it.  Cash shops aren’t a black-n-white issue.

Quick Update

I'm on the road

I started a new job last week which I'm very pleased about.  Now that I'm gone, it's probably okay to say that I had been working for Motorola Mobile Devices for the past 10 years.  I'm completely out of the telecommunications industry and very happy about it. I've joined my former Executive Director and two other members of our former team. The first day was pretty darn funny.  Same boss and core team mates altogether at different company, in different state but it immediately felt like home. Everyone I've met so far is very excited for us to be with them and I'm equally enthused about taking on new challenges and opportunities.

I will still be classified as a full-time telecommuter but I'll need to travel more than I've had to in recent years.  I'm fine with travel. I don't have any small children at home.  I also find hotels a nice opportunity to focus on personal projects without the fear of being interrupted or more aptly, being too easily distracted.  I want to use that time to get more engaged with writing fiction again.