Mystic Worlds

Realm Transfer Service Coming to a Server Near You!

Tobold post an article and link about the soon to be released, WOW Character Transfer Service.  There will be $25 USD fee, gold restrictions based on character level and rules about what servers can be selected as your destination.  Most people that are complaining are doing so about the fee.  Eh, it's not that bad.  Actually, I would pay more if I was really desperate to move a character.  When you consider the amount of time and effort put into a high level toon, paying 25-bucks to get to somewhere you really want to be isn't bad at all.

Hmm, this is something that I will be seriously looking into.  It's not something to be done lightly.  As there is a 6-month wait before you can move the same character again.

Have You Ever Felt That Way?

If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted. If Sauron is defeated and Aragorn made king and all that you hope for comes true you will still have to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort for you, no comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death - an image of the splendor of the kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world. But you, my daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt as nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Here you will dwell bound to your grief under the fading trees until all the world is changed and the long years of your life are utterly spent.

Elrond – Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

I love words. I adore fantasy and the dream of epic adventure.  Put those two things together and you have the nectar that sustains me.  My favorite novel of all time is, The Mirror of Her Dreams by Stephen R. Donaldson.  However, one of the most poetic and quotable fantasies is, The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Tolkien’s prose, as beautiful to me as Shakespeare’s sonnets, makes me feel the truth of what he is saying.  They both have the ability to unleash raw emotions and completely immerse me in their imagery.  Thus far, there has only been one MMORPG that has evoked the same level of reaction within me…

It was dark – both in the real world, and the fantasy world in which my Enchanter inhabited.  A light snow was falling across the frozen land.  Everything around me was quiet.  I heard nothing and saw no one.  I gazed above me at the shattered moon and wondered if there would be enough light to find my way.  I was a bit lost but unafraid.  Up ahead of me I saw the purple glow of a portal.  Hoping that it was the right one, I raced forward and leapt through.

When I materialized on the other side, I was standing outside the gates of the walled city known as, Linvak Tukal.  The poignant orchestral music that had begun to play in the background was mesmerizing and inspiring.  The once great city loomed before me.  It was empty but not dead - walled but not alone.  From my vantage point, I watched as players raced by on the crossroads below.  I saw common players such as myself and Heroes of Dereth; their telltale golden light burning beneath their feet.  Even in the thickening darkness the splendor of their armor shun brightly.  The urgency of their errands reflected in their quick and decisive movements.  They seemed to have purpose and deeds to be done of importance.  I wanted to be one of them!  I wanted a more grand adventure.  Something more than killing at will or for my singular need.  And I wanted to be steeped in glory – shining armor and the light of the sun glowing eternally beneath me.  I wanted to be a Hero of Dereth too.

Such was Asheron’s Call 2 for me.  When was the last time you felt that way playing a game?  Have ever felt that emotionally vested in an MMO?

AC1 and EQ1 Still Around While Their Decendants Hobble.

Asheron's Call is still alive and kicking.  It even has a recently released expansion pack.  The original EverQuest is still being played and trying to regain life with its retro-release of game content with the upgraded and awesome EQ2 graphics.  Each of these games spawned a II.  One of which is defunct - AC2.  What I want to know is what did AC1 and EQ1 do so right that they weren't able to replicate or capitolize on in their decendant games?  And why didnt they just expand AC1 into AC2 or EQ1 into EQ2 instead of releasing competitive games.  Wasnt that canabalization of their own potential player-base?

Man Proposes and God Disposes

Sometimes it seems that no matter how well you plan, things just don't work out the way you'd like.  As you know, I recently moved back to GA to be closer to my family.  My sister has a new a baby and is a single mom, my parents are aging and not getting around as well as they used to.

My job was wonderful about my decision to relocate to GA and allowed me to relocate and work from home.  Silly me.  I assumed I'd have more time to play games.  I invisioned raid during the week and late into the nite because I could sleep a bit later, not get dressed and have no commute.  What I hadn't planned on was the constant stream of visitors - family, and the feeling that I need to work more hours to make sure that my boss knows I'm not taking advantage.  These two things have combined to reduce my game time drastically.  I have little or no personal time, let alone time to play any games. *Cries*  I have a redesigned blog that I have absolutely no time to care about and very little gaming experiences to share even if I did.

My family already considers me the nerd and PC freak-of-nature, so I've been hesitant to say things like, "well, I'm actually playing the game," as they call it, "so now's not a good time to come by".  Or "You guys have been here all day go home now so I can play WOW."  "And by the way, take your rugrats with you so I can get on my PC!" 

Besides too many guests ruining my formerly ordered and rhythmic existence, I'm still unpacking.  Feeling insecure now about my job, unpacking into a place not nearly as big as where I was and pop-in guests are stressing me waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out.

Dont get me wrong - family is great.  And it's cool that I'm the popular/hip aunt and my house is where all the kids want to be.  But it's a bit over the top for me sometimes.  My job is a pressure-cooker and am a bit tempermental.  Can you say, high maintenance?  I require a lot of alone time to keep my sanity and feel balanced.

I'm sure things well settle into place over time and the novelity of me and my son being back in GA will wear off. Until then, game time and personal time are in short supply.