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.

I think this is a great compromise I can be happy with for the foreseeable future.  It gives me a reason to keep my fabulous shop – sorry I love it, even if that sounds boastful.  It tickles me with delight every time I walk in and realize that I created every item on display.  Barring of course the few plushies and veteran decorative pieces which are far and few, I remain amazed by what the EQ2 crafting system will allow and I’ve only scratched at the surface.

As for the newly crowned “best selling PC game of all time”, commonly referred to as Cataclysm - all hail Blizzard, I re-subscribed my accounts to check it out.  I'd pre-ordered a copy a few weeks back but I haven’t moved an inch out of Orgrimmar yet.  I haven’t been around long enough since it released to do anything.  Horde city did you ask?  Yes, I faction changed two possible mains Horde side to play with a gaming buddy.  

My biggest dilemma with WOW is that the two characters sitting at 80 aren’t the ones I’d like to level. They were taken to 80 by my son and nephew, neither of whom is playing anymore.  My preferred characters/classes are all sitting at 70.  I can’t decide if I’m willing to level the DK or Warlock through Cataclysm OR if I’m willing to take the Paladin, Druid or Priest thru Wrath and then into newest expansion.

The rate at which even normal leveling players are hitting 85, I’m leaning toward grabbing a 70 and going from there.  Not only am I not excited about leveling a DK or Warlock, even though the DK was fun gearing in PVP, neither of them has professions which is one of the must-haves for me.  Having been shuttled around to different household members, my Warlock would need to be caught up to TBC level crafting for tailoring and enchanting, the latter being very expensive.  Whereas I’d started gathering professions for the Paladin and the Druid which was only ever mine, is max for a 70 including fishing and cooking.

I’m not sure what to do.  I find tri-boxing the revamped low level content casual stress-free entertainment since I can relearn the talents and trees based on the drastic changes since I last played and I can level gathering professions as I go.  However, would I ever get them into Cata?  Probably not, which means another WOW expansion zone passes me by as far as seeing the content, which is part of the incentive to subscribe again.

If I weren’t traveling so much I could maybe…  possibly…  somehow try to dabble in both games. However, the reality is that I barely have time for one game and am trying to keep EQ2 crafting alive plus include WOW because I’m starting to miss adventuring (leveling), something I flat-out don’t enjoy in EQ2.  I enjoy adventuring and adore crafting.  Right now it takes two different games to scratch that itch.

An episode of TWIMMO on Game Breaker TV mentioned that Sony was considering doing a revamp of their zones ala Cata.  My thought is please do!   And while you're at it, PLEASE do some non-instance zones that aren't out in the wilds of somewhere and try adding quest hubs with city amenities and access to housing like Runes of Magic.  Something about these two elements that make zones feel more like virtual worlds to me instead of, "Oh, that's where you go to find mobs to kill."  Granted not all of WOW or ROM meet that criteria but some is a lot more than none outside of the starting zones.

Comments

[Ziyi]

Doesn't look like you'll be on anytime soon,
so I'll us this way to wish you a
Very Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!

xox
Ziyi&Twinkle

[Alysianah aka Saylah]

Thanks Ziyi - Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!!