Job well done and new faces

Erollis Manor House Project Completed
This past weekend I finished the furnishing and decorating the Erollis Manor home I was commissioned to do.  I'm very relieved it's over.  I don't know that I'd take on such a huge job again unless I can contract for it a couple of rooms at a time.  I felt the pressure of completing the project quickly because I'd been paid in advance and the amount (20 Plat) was a bit staggering to a player at my skill level.  After a couple of days, I started to feel "pressured" to work on the house even though the customer was absent and not pushing me.  I know, it was a "me" thing but it did feel like my game time was being robbed on days when I felt more like simply puttering around.  Smaller jobs like this one, I'd jump in again with both feet.  The whole place, starting from scratch and no direction given other than, "have fun", not so much.  *Smile*

At times, I also felt not up to the task.  I'm only a mid tier carpenter with a limited amount of elaborate or unique items.  Many of the faction items, world events and such weren't in place when I started this character 3 years ago.  For that amount of money I wanted him to have the best, but I'm not able to craft the best yet, plus sheer volume of furnishing needed meant that I had to employ diversity.  In the end, I made sure to include the best of what I could craft including, Master Crafted Legendary items as often as possible.  He loved his bar area in the library.  I made a personal promise to myself to upgrade the low tier one I had available with an Ironweed version when I reach that level.  I also purchased a few items off the Broker that I felt were necessary but I was nowhere near to reaching the level to make them such as a reflection pool for the Prayer Room and plants for the Stable and Groom room in the basement.

On Sunday evening I sent him in game mail announcing that I'd completed the project.  When I logged in on Monday I received a very enthusiastic reply that he absolutely adored the house.  The mail included a 10 plat tip.  I'm happy it's over and was a job well done.  I'm pleased that he was so happy.

New Friends and Faces
Several days ago, while I was advertising the store in game, a couple of guild mates came in to have a look around.  I did my usual RP conversation.  They were very polite and enthusiastic about my idea but left without purchasing anything.  That in and of itself isn't unusual.  Many people come in just to see what I'm doing, chat and offer words of encouragement.  What made this pair of visitors different is that within a few minutes the came back with a troop of friends.  It was really funny to see them all materialize in the store together.  They looked around some more.  A couple of them purchased items from the crates and asked if I did full house furnishing.  *Gulp*  I explained that I was doing one already that they could take a look at and get back to me.  They left smiling and waving.

A few minutes later the pair that had first come in the shop came back and offered to show me their Guild Hall since I was obviously into decorating.  I didn't have anyone else in the shop at the time so I went with them.  I wasn't playing EQ2 when the GH features were implemented.  I returned for a short time afterward but wasn't in a guild where they'd purchased one, so I'd never seen them.

They gave me a tour of their Halas based GH and it was very nice.  It looked homey and lived in.  Players were coming and going.  They saved the best for last.  I was impressed enough when I walked by the Banker, Harvesters and Merchants in the second room.  My mouth watered when we walked into their fully outfitted crafting room.  *Sigh* Wow, my hat is off to players and guilds that have the patience and tenacity to grind out the faction for these rewards.  I don't think I have it in me.  I'm the opposite of enthusiastic when it comes to leveling EQ2 style.

I responded with the appropriate words of awe. I was impressed.  The players showing me around were level 70-something and 80. I'd assumed they'd copied characters over from Live.  They said no.  They wanted the guild to start up from scratch with people leveling together alongside the new F2P players, which was the whole point of coming over. Www-wow! 

I Joined a Guild
I WISH I didn't find adventuring so painful in EQ2.  I think at the root of my issue is that I don't really care so much about the majority of the storyline in a game and the majority of the combat is out somewhere in no man's land, when what I enjoy more is a few infamous lore characters, intelligent and crafty opponents (non animals please!!), diverse environments (stop sending me into the woods, marshes and barren locales where who gives a crap what's out here??) and good combat mechanics.  In a nutshell - I want to kill interesting stuff in your pretty pretty world then go off to tinker.  First choice tinkering is crafting but PVP will do.

Before I left they asked if I wanted to join their guild.  They assured me I'd find many crafting minded individuals to befriend and I might like to try out the crafting instances and quests since I'd never done them.  How could I refuse such an offer?  I didn't.  I joined Exclusive, a casual, mature (adults only) guild that does crafting and adventuring together, and is also in the process of preparing to raid.

Thank you Ziyi for your kind offer to join your guild.  I'd joined Exclusive just before you posted your comment.  I put the carpenter there but when I get back to my Illusionist, I'll be coming your way.  *Smile*

Comments

[Ziyi]

*cries*
Oh well, no harm done! Not by you anyway, Twinkle's been bursting in flames of late, I wonder if it's an elemental puberty thing?

(I'm kind of wondering though if you didn't spell your guild name wrong :o)

xox
Ziyi and flaming Twinkle

[Pai]

Wow, the house looks great! I've really enjoyed reading about your furniture shop and decorating business, it's great to hear people having fun in other ways than the old 'kill ten rats' grind.

[Julie Whitefeather]

Quit an amazing looking house. You have quite the talent there.

Julie Whitefeather

[Alysianah aka Saylah]

@Ziyi - tell Twinkles that when I re-open the shop she can come by for tea and a treat. You're right, it's Elusive. LOL They're a very friendly bunch and lots of them doing stuff together everyday. I'm still focused on doing my own thing but the chatter is entertaining. Now that I think about it, I think my Warden would do better you and Ziyi.

As much as I'd like to stop repeating content I've seen and enter new zones, I don't enjoy the Illy as much anymore. I've played other pet and crowd control classes that I've enjoyed much more. I really want to play the Warden but am loath to give up the 40-something levels on the Illy. *sigh*

@Pai - Thanks so much! I only took a few pictures. I swear I was so brain dead by the time I finished, I just wanted to get out of there. Plus I knew that I had a move of my own looming because the intro house had become too small. More on that in an upcoming post.

@Julie - Thanks! I wish I could make cooler items but it is what it is, and he knew what level crafter I was before I accepted the project. Once I'm settled again, I need to research and get started on the quests that provide the more unique recipes and start doing the World Events.