Mystic Worlds

Really Sony??

Way to take the wind out of my sails.  I logged into EQ2X real quick to check on something and all was fine.  I try logging back into because I I'd forgotten to mail something to an alt but an update starts.  The update completes - EQ2X icon is gone, EQ2 launcher is there and patching.

When it's done it asks me to reset my password which I do but I'm still confused as to what's going on.  I see a link to a posting about a New Launcher and New Launcher FAQs.  BOTH LINKS GO TO DEAD LOCATIONS (505 errors).  Great.

When the patcher allows me to log back into the game all my characters are gone?  Uh???  I do a quick Google search to see that EQ2 has gone completely free to play and they are merging X and Live servers.  An email to account holders would have been nice.  Not everyone plays regularly enough to have seen it on the launcher in advance.  I was in the game several nights in a row the week before last, trying to finish up a section in my new house before leaving town on business.

I'd say I could care less since I'm pissy that I wasted my lunch trying figure this out but I'd purchased 3 presetige homes a couple of weeks ago so yeah, I'd like them and the chars that own them back please without me having to chase down WTF is going on.  I opened a ticket.  Grrrrrrr.

 P.S.  I am a gold subscriber on EQ2x so I am less than a happy camper.

Re-Subscribed to EQ2 Ex as Gold Member

Just before my mother passed away I was preparing to spend time exploring the new Rift content.  Since then I’ve decided I want something creative and less on rails, so I’m returning to EQ2 crafting.  I don’t have the time, energy or patience for the effort necessary to re-open my furniture shop.  I’ve decided to start a long term, more personal project of turning a Felwithe Mansion prestige house, into a wizard city.

High fantasy is where it’s at for me when it comes to favorite genre.  I like the idea of having a big project I can come back to when I have the time and inclination.  I’m looking forward to the creative challenge without the pressure of what someone else wants or needs.  I have a little too much on my plate in real life at the moment for the demands of others in a game.

I haven’t done anything yet.  I had just enough spare time to re-subscribe and purchase the house on the market place.  No auction expiration ia another thing I LOVE ABOUT EQ2’S AUCTION HOUSE. Logging into a game I haven’t played for months and finding plat in my sales displays is lovely.  Even better is the almost immediate continuation of sales from pre-existing listings once the upkeep owed on the house is paid up. SAHWEET!

Patching... Re-installing... Hoping for a weekend drive by.

I’ve been catching up on my favorite MMO blogs the past few days. It’s all making me very nostalgic.  I have a large amount of wonderful gaming memories linked to MMOs.  I know EQ2 is pretty sweet this time of year.  For my money, that game does holidays the best.  I’ve probably been dropped from my guild not that I did much with them.  I was so wrapped up in my furniture and custom home decorating shop.  Dare I install it on my current gaming PC???  

I haven’t even checked out the new Rift content.  But-but-but there they have trick-of-treat candy needed for crafting certain items that can only be harvested this time of year.  I could farm some if time allows over the weekend…  But-but the new Rift Chronicles are fun I’ve heard…  Maybe I can sqeeze in a weekend drive by.

Patching Rift…
Re-installing EQ2X…

 

Rifting the End Game. WTF Happened in New Eden?

Not Gaming Over Health Reasons

I haven’t blogged in a while because I haven’t been gaming.  Over the past several weeks I’ve had health concerns that were leaning toward a very scary place – again. Thankfully, after weeks of tests it doesn’t appear to be cancer.  An outpatient biopsy this Friday will hopefully confirm that it’s just an unusually large hemangioma on my liver.  They’re not a health risk and normally go undetected.  Mine just happened to form in a spot and develop to a size where I was experiencing pain, discomfort and a persistent state of nausea - not fun.

I'm still dealing with the symptoms but the overwhelming panic and depression over it are gone.  I feel much more in the “clear”.  Even knowing it will have to be treated, it’s several orders of magnitude away from liver cancer. For people who spoke to me here and there, in game or email, sorry.  It was just easier to say I was busy with work and stuff than explain when there was still so much uncertainty. Crossing my fingers for the biopsy results.  The doctors feel confident so I do too! 

Update 7/1: Biospy went fine.  Had a decent 4th. Have consult for results on Friday 8th.

 Update 7/8: BENIGN!!!!!!  Dodged a bullet.

Hit Level 50 in Rift

I returned to actively playing Rift again last weekend.  In two days I hit level 50 – FINALLY!  I’m such a scrub.  Most of the Casualties of War guild members have multiple 50s at this point.  They’re such a great bunch.  The night I hit level 50, they organized back-to-back Tier 1 dungeon runs to help me upgrade my gear.  My accessories, staff and shoulders were all replaced.  I cringe at using LFG tool to do some runs but I might have to in order to catch up.  My one good experience was quickly followed by a bad one.
 

EQ2 DIY Decorating - Simple Corner Bar

Every home that I’ve decorated or visited on behalf of potential customers contains a bar.  Is that a little odd since very few people I know in real life have bars in their homes?  I suppose that’s part of the fantasy coming out but I’ve never wanted one myself. I had a very simple bar in my original Halas starter home and the equivalent set I sold to players was extremely popular.

Before the holiday rush, I configured a new bar in the showroom. I used the same basic counter, one that the average player can afford to purchase.  The fancier ones made from Ironwood and above are extremely expensive since they require rare woods.  I find players more willing to pay that price for kitchen configurations more so than bars.  And because I was placing this bar alongside my lowest priced kitchen set, I wanted it in a similar price range.

Drat - Real Life Hits for 500K Damage

I've traveled 60% of the time since I started my new job.  I’m not complaining though because it’s all been enjoyable.  I’m working for someone I respect highly and am meeting lots of really nice people.  Besides which, I’m never alone when I’m gone because we’re performing group oriented activities, so the evenings are spent in pleasant conversation over a good meal.

However, the result is that I’m not gaming much at all and the game that has to take the biggest hit is the one that required the most attention, EQ2 Extended.  I can’t run a furniture shop if I’m not around to craft items, much less advertise the shop and take on orders for the custom décor items I enjoy building.  I will be downgrading my account to Silver come the New Year, but I’m not abandoning my home in Halas permanently. No sir, I still have big crafting plans.

I’ve decided to combine my love of building custom décor items with publishing the DIY articles and guides.  Instead of showcasing items I can make and sell, I’m going to showcase the items with instruction booklets so players can make these creations themselves.  I’ll replace my price books with links to DIY articles on here or the full blown magazine as appropriate.

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.

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.