Mystic Worlds

Rift Yo Hair Back-n-Forth

I’m still feeling rifteriffic about Rift: Planes of Telara.  I’m no longer as excited by running around the level 1 to 25 zones but how can you be after the umpteenth time through trying out different callings and soul combinations.  I know that I haven’t explored every area or quest hub within these zones and that is by design so that even the low levels will still contain some surprises.  And instanced content is an absolute no-no for me in beta.

Mount up Ladies and Gent

On Friday evening I purchased my first mount.  The fact that I was still running long distances on foot faded to the background after a while.  Once I officially stopped taking new quests there was no need for me to be anywhere in particular, unless I felt like going.  I travelled to different zones depending on what I wanted to test in the various soul mash-ups and builds I tried.  The closer I got to builds that felt right for me, the more my gold stayed in my pocket.  Once I had 3 plat, I raced to spend the 2.5-something needed to purchase the level 20 mount.  I was a bit disappointed when I realized there wasn’t a mechanical looking mount at the low levels.  *Sad face*

Getting Started in Rift: Matrix of Cleric Souls

I’d like to provide some basic information for players who are considering the Cleric calling in Rift: Planes of Telara. Choosing combinations can feel a bit overwhelming in the beginning, especially since very little information is available while the game is still in beta.  Between now and release I’m hoping to put out a Cleric Primer and general game overview.  While many things in Rift are similar to other MMOs, there’s more than enough that is different.

I really enjoy the Cleric calling.  I’ve acquired all 8 class souls, have leveled 4 characters to 20 and have experimented with various combinations along the way. I’m NOT an output min/max player.  I build my character to be effective by using appropriate stats and spell rotations.  However, my primary focus when choosing a class is what feels “right” for my play style and making sure that I’m going to enjoy playing what I’ve built.  

Not Abandoning EVE

I need my wider blog layout for a few upcoming posts so it's back to the original Mystic Worlds format until my next installment of EVE adventures.

Visual Catalog of Why I Enjoyed Rift

I Wasn't a Gamer

I didn't begin playing MMOs because I was a gamer.  I was far from it having mostly done board games prior to entering my first virtual world.  Consoles had been in our home but they hadn't pulled me in other than watching my children play.  As long time readers will know, recovering from multiple surgeries related to cancer brought me to the genre but fantasy is what made me stay.  I've had a fascination with fantasy all of my life, writing stories and skits since I was a little girl.  The first time I materialized into a virtual fantasy setting, where some element of me was personified into a shared dynamic experience, I was memorized and hooked.

For that reason, my criteria for enjoying MMOs may vary from the average player.  A heavily personalized experience is required – varied avenues of progression I can mix-n-match to suit my mood and preferences, detailed visual rendering, ability to interact with most of the objects in the world, articulation of my character’s perceived place in that society, adequate exploration, knick-knack things to do for down time, earning a living via crafting or something similar that feels plausible and the opportunity to compete against other players. 

The short version is here in a visual catalog of the features I enjoyed most.  Continue after the break for the more verbose version.  *Smile*

NOTE: My graphics settings can’t do the game justice yet. I have them on medium until my new graphics card arrives but you can get an idea of the game's flavor.

Visual Journey of What I Enjoyed

 

Why I Recently Pre-ordered Rift

When it comes to gaming I know exactly what I like.  Since Asheron's Call 2 went offline and my glory days in World of Warcraft waned, nothing has captivated me long enough that I hit max level.  Warhammer Online and Wizard101 got close but no cigar. As much as I enjoy playing MMOs, the Circle Line boat tour I've been on the past few years, has been disheartening.  

It hasn't all been bad news.  I've had spurts of fun and grand adventures like the COW Guild in Warhammer Online, right-on-time help and questing with friends Tipa and Cap'n John in W101, learning about war decs on the job in EVE was exhilarating if not fun at the time, multi-boxing instanced content in WOW was a fun personal challenge and running my little furniture shop in EQ2X was the most fun I've ever had crafting, bar none.  

What's eluded me, is the well rounded experience that makes me go all-in for an extended amount time and I miss it.  I'm so ready to do the long haul with a character and develop an intimate experience with another MMO I can hardly stand it.  I don't know if Rift will be the game to succeed where so many have failed outright or fallen short the past few years but it does have hopeful elements in its corner.

A Bit of Rift Talk with the Sisters

Sister Julie, Sister Fran and I talk about the more unique aspects of Rift, the upcoming MMO from Trion Worlds. You can give the episode a listen here: http://www.virginworlds.com/podcast.php?show=26&ep=78 Grr, Typepad doesn't support their standard blog compose UI on iPads and I'm on the road this week. Hence the sloppy short post.

Spreadsheets and Stars

Many Hats in New Eden

I’ve played EVE Online off and on over the past four years and in all that time I’ve never needed to dig out the ole spreadsheet until now.  The first time I played the game I attempted mining as a career and wanted to gouge my eyes out after just a couple of weeks.  It was a long time before I tried the game after that experience.

The next time I poked my head back in I decided to stick with running missions and salvaging.  That was probably my longest stint in the game.  It’s casual, quiet and back then, prices were such that I earned a very decent living between the two. Still corp-less however, the game gets a bit too quiet after a while and I returned to whatever fantasy MMO I was playing at the time.

My next trip into EVE was by leaps and bounds the most exciting.  I was invited into a newbie corporation where the conversation and cooperative industry activities were fun.  I did my own thing most days – missions and salvage.  When I was on during mining operation events, I flew among the escort squad guarding the miners.  There was lots of entertaining banter, killing rats and more salvaging opportunities.  The excitement came a few weeks in when we were wardec’d.  And if the rapid unraveling of the corporation hadn’t been happened so quickly, it might have been funny in retrospect.  Unfortunately, the way things played out it just made me decide to remain solo and that’s the way I’ve played ever since.

Rift Beta Weekend Impressions

Rift has not been on my radar.  I haven’t been looking for a new MMO.  I was fine dabbling in EVE Online, EQ2 Extended Crafting and poking around Cataclysm.  However, the uptick in blogger posts got me curious so I decided to check out this weekend’s event. Having only played for a weekend I’ll keep my impressions brief.

There was nothing that I didn’t like about Rift.  I could stand to do less running back and forth when you’re rift chasing.  However, I will say that the experience felt more like an army on the move because you had to traverse the landscape to reach conflict points versus hopping on a fast travel mechanic.  At times it felt old school fun to see small groups of players running in packs on their way to handle business.  I usually jumped right in behind them, without a thought of my level.  It reminded me very much of my fonder days in WAR.  Lowbie or not, healing is healing, if you’re about to bite the dust.  My healing wasn’t very powerful but I know I saved lives.  *smile*

I’m 100% sold on the Cleric calling.  And before more people start screaming for nerfs, Clerics are not priests.  They are a variant of every healing class you’ve encountered before – druid, warden, paladin, monk, priests, etc.  And most of those mentioned can take a punch and still heal.  If the class was called Battle Priest or Druid or Paladin, I think people would stop some of the teeth gnashing.

Curiosity Wins - Joining Rift Beta Event

I'll be giving Rift a spin this weekend as part of the game's Warfront beta event.  I know very little about the game and have no particular agenda other than trying the Cleric class.  Shoot me a tell if you see Saylah or Alysianah running around.

Shadows of New Eden: Fallen – Part 3 of 3

“Nice,” was all Silas said after giving the interior of my frigate the once-over.   We both knew that nice meant, “What a shithole you got here.”  He didn’t waste time after that.  “I want to see Reya.”

“Sure.  She’s in a passenger pod just forward on the main deck.”  I pointed in the general direction on the ceiling.

“After you,” he said, waving me forward.  “You have the advantage here.  Your ship.  Places to hide weapons and spring an attack.  You’ll have to forgive me not wanting to be jumped from behind.”

I made like it didn’t matter to me who went first and headed toward the stairs.  I kept my eyes on him, looking down as I climbed upward.  I walked the short distance in the narrow passageway, slightly turned in his direction the whole time.  When we entered the chamber with Reya, I moved to stand against the far wall.

I watched as he meticulously checked her vitals.  I started forward when he adjusted two of the settings.  He held his hand up for me to be silent or stay where I was, I didn’t know which.  I wasn’t ready to attack and there was no sane reason for him to risk his safety coming on board, if all he wanted was to hurt her.  He could have done from the safety of his ship.