Mystic Worlds

Saylah Visits "No Prisoners. No Mercy." Podcast

I think the show was posted early this week.  I thought they always went live on Thursdays.  I'd like to thank Sister Julie and Sister Fran for being such gracious hosts and inviting me to chat about WAR with them.  I had a wonderful time.  You can find the episode on Virgin Worlds.

WAR: Changes to Upcoming 1.0.5 Patch

There's a Mythic post about changes to the upcoming patch.  Sounds like good news for healers.  I have a hybrid so anything that's good for healing is fine by me.  However, it appears that the BW/Sorc DOT buffs are being delayed pending further analysis.  Boo!

Honestly, I have to admit being a bit surprised when I read about the buff.  A DOT spec'd BW can lay down some damage IF they can stay alive long enough.  I wanted a buff of some sort because from where I sit, Sorcs can easily out damage a BW, yet we're supposed to be mirror classes.  I'm starting to feel like mirror doesn't mean equal.

I'm not sure if buffing DOTs would have helped anyway because it was being applied to both classes unless the BW uses DOTs more often than at Sorc, and I have no clue about that aspect.  What I see as a disparity in the class spell options - purple puddle for example.  I don't know of any spell on the BW side that can waste a whole group of people like that spell can.  Combined with the Magus pull crap, it's an indefensable combination.

WAR Crafting: One Down. One to Go.

Last night I completed my  first Warhammer Online profession, Cultivating.  I could have been done last week.  I was sitting at 195 but didn’t bother growing the final five seeds needed to finish it out.  I’ve been a bit miffed at being stuck in the 130s in Apothecary due to a lack of the correct level of water.  As a result, finishing Cultivating felt rather pointless.  The deciding factor to finish it out was that my bank vault is completely full of herbs for Apothecary, so the seeds just had to go.  It was either grow them and hope they sprouted something that would add into one of the existing stacks of components, sell them on the AH for a pittance or simply chuck them.  I opted to finish it and and be done with it.  I feel confident that Mythic will get around to bolstering the deficient aspects of crafting and when they do, I'll already be set.

I was however, surprised not to see a Tome unlock?? I looked through the Tome three times but didn't see any sort of entry related to crafting.  I find that odd in a game that marks so many of your milestones including a laundry list of crazy and frivolous notations.  It's strange not to have one for the crafting professions.

NaNoWriMo Word Count: 7212

As I mentioned before I’m not going for the novel or the 50K word count.  I’m using the event as a time to focus on writing in general.  I had a couple of short stories that I wanted start AND finish in November.  I might also be able to squeeze in an essay that I’ve outlined and has been on my mind for quite some time.  In fact, I might start the essay after I finish this first short story.

My home office is an interesting mess.  I purchased huge easel pads used in meetings to outline my stories.  I got the self adhesive kind instead of an easel and plastered all available wall space.  So now my friends and family think I’m even more insane than usual.  *smile*

I end my first week at 7.2K words which is not half bad.

WOW to WAR to WOW, I Hate You!

"Are you telling me that all of this could just suddenly end at any time?"

"Yes, it could...It lies to her. It tells her things only a child can understand. It's been using her to restrain the others. To her, it simply is another child. To us, it is The Beast."

If you were playing WOW then came to WAR only to go back to WOW, I officially hate you now!  Hmm, I think I might have to hate Mythic too.

I was a happy solo player - well sometimes bitter but forget that part, until you all came along with your Open Groups, PQs, easy to find Warbands and witty Vent chat.  You reeled me in with your non-stop action and frolicking adventures.  Just when you've sold me on more is better, you abandon me to empty zones and the sound of crickets on Vent!  I despise all of you now and forever!!

Let me amend that.  I won't hate Heartless_ even if he goes back to WOW.  He loved WAR now he hates WAR - or at least sounds on the verge of hating it but that's just Heartless_.  *Smiles and hugs Heartless_ my AOE grinding buddy.*

WAR: Low Population Problems

My vacation arrived at 5PM CT on Friday, at which time I promptly logged into WAR.  I hadn’t played in a week and was getting that must play itch.  I was really shocked to find so few guild members online and it wasn’t just the day or hour of day, it’s remained that way for the past few days.

In general, the whole game is less populated.  The whole Open Group mechanic is a bit futile when there aren’t enough people in the zone who need to do what you need to do.  As a long time solo player I don’t mind questing all alone for long periods of time.  However, the riotous fun from the preview weekend and initial launch spoiled me on the idea that “big is better” and more fun.  Worst of all is that although I can certainly solo the INF in each chapter via the Public Quests, I can't complete them to Stage III and as a result, have zero opportunity of chest rewards.  You can sometimes get two or three people together but depending on the classes, you still might not be able to complete Stage III which is a bummer.

Looking for Some Steampunk

NANOWRIMO UPDATE
No word count yet.  I'm working a lot this week putting as many items to bed as possible before my 3 week vacation starts this Friday.  I have all my outlines completed and a writing schedule all mapped out.

IN OTHER NEWS
I'd also like to get some reading done while I'm off.  Writing is a priority for the next 3 weeks.  However, with the exception of a few days saved for each of the upcoming holidays, this is going to consume the remainder of my vacation days, so I want to squeeze some leisure time into the mix too.

I've been meaning to try some Steampunk but don't know where to start.  I was hoping that if I throw out the names of some favorite and hated authors, my kind readers might post some suggestions.

Favorite Authors:

• Stephen R. Donaldson
• Roger Zelazny
• Sharon Kay Penman
• Angie Sage
• JK Rowling
• Dan Simmons
• Margret Weis
• Stephen King

Can't Stand:

• Robert Jordon

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

AFK

I only played WAR a couple of days last week.  I was completely worn out from work and too many 12 AM gaming sessions in a row.  I will probably take it easy this week too.

I've been planning for months to do NaNoWriMo this year.  In fact, I'm taking 3 weeks vacation during the month of November for that reason.  I'm not pushing for the complete novel.  I have a short story series in mind and a couple of essays.  I'm using the November event more as a vehicle to focus on writing.  This means that I won't be doing much gaming after the first week of the month, which translates to very few posts.

Good luck to everyone.  I wish you many days of uninterrupted and inspired writing!