Mystic Worlds

GW2 and Beyond - Please Stop Pronouncing Aegis Wrong

I swear a kitten dies every time I hear podcasters pronounce aegis with a hard 'g'. It's killing me. It's like nails on a chalkboard. Guardians have the most attributes/traits that provide or enhance aegis.  I'm a Guardian. Please stop f'ing up the pronunciation. <jk> Then again not, I kindly request you all stop the madness.

Reminds me of when I felt compelled to send Van Hemlock the pronunciation for Mines of Moria so they'd stop saying Mines of Mariah, as in Mariah Carey. They were good sports about it and responded on their podcast that Tolkien was saying it wrong.

[Tangent] I miss the Van Hemlock podcast. I really really do.  I know from personal experience that life situations change and content producers have conflicting priorities. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop me from missing some of the "old greats" from my MMO podcasts subscription feed.  *sigh*

GW2 Halloween Fun

I'm a sucker for the special events.  As beautiful as Tyria is, I had to see what ANet was going to add for Halloween.  For my personal tastes, I wasn't disappointed.

It's Full of Stars

The first thing I did was run around Lion's Arch. OMG it was gorgeously decked out for Halloween.  I did a couple of quests, won a few costume battles but lost way more than I'd won.  I heard about mysterious doors appearing throughout the world so I ran to two of my favorite zones, Queensdale and Gendarren Fields to find them. Unfortunately, every single door I found was bugged.  They were stuck in the open position with no interactions available.  *Sad face* I chalked it up to server load and early bugs.  I meant to go back the next day to try again but found something better and never bothered.  

You need to see the doors for yourself, however.  Find one if you haven't. The door's interior is a view into the cosmos which immediately reminded me of the movie, 2001: a Space Odyssey.  All of the content added is stunning.  PLEASE add player housing.  Just imagining the visual detail and art style makes me salivate.

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

ANet does itself a GREAT DISSERVICE with the vague Cash Shop item descriptions.  I absolutely love RP inspired dress up.  Unfortunately, the style (clothing) descriptions don't tell you what skills/animations you're getting from the outfit.  It's a generic " comes with 5 skills" blurb. The Witch's outfit in particular, appealed to me.  I just wasn't sure it would be worth the price. Luckily for ANet, the impulse to buy was strong that day.  I was in the halloween spirit.

 

I'm very happy I went forward with my impluse purchase. I ADORE THIS OUTFIT!!! It was worth every single gem.  I've done anything and everything possible wearing this costume since I purchased it.  I'll be wearing this puppy long after Halloween. I've said this before, but ANet could get me to part with cash by including more varied RP costumes.  I mean full costumes like this and the Chef;'s outfit which I also own, not the glasses and hats.  Pooey on those.  By the way, a hotkey to change into town clothes wouldn't be remiss or at least add an option for me to bind them to a key.  In and out of Hero Pane gets old when your outside of the cities.

More Costume Love

My witch's outfit sports 4 fun interactions and one kill feature. Forget the fact that I get a skill that let's me produce the Trick-or-Treat Cauldrons which allows other players to receive a trick or treat.  Never mind that I can melt like the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz, a childhood favorite musical, where I wore my family and friends out reciting every piece of dialogue and singing every damn song for months on end.  No, none of this compares to riding on a broomstick.  Pure gold.  Screw your jumping puzzle and Mad King's Clock Tower.  I can glide on a broomstick, dance around Tyria in my witch's garb colored with rare dyes and drop cauldrons to pick fights, which is exactly what I did.  That was more than enough to please me for the 1st holiday event in GW2.

Max Level Jeweler

I also dinged 400 Jeweler over the weekend.  I sat in Lion's Arch, dressed as a Witch of course, and ran through my huge inventory of components.  The fact that I actually enjoy wandering the zones harvesting items paid off in spades. I could have hit 400 a while ago. I was pretty sure I had enough materials to simply sit at the station and do it but hadn't made the time. Hanging out in Lion's Arch during the holiday event provided the necessary motivation and eye candy to get the job done.  Woot!  It didn't feel that difficult. I enjoy the little mini game of crafting in GW2.  I estimate that 95% of my XP came from new discoveries.  The only XP obtained from repeating the same items was the initial processing of the ore.  

Next I want to max out my cooking which is currently in the high 200s.  Then it will be time to figure out which items have decent profit and start to enter the actual crafting market versus selling off the raws I don't use.

GW2 Update - Where are they now?

Pending MIA

I haven't been playing as much GW2 since hitting level 80,  Nothing to do with the game in particular.  It's more a coincedence of timing.  The national novel writing event, NaNoWriMo starts on November 1st.  This is the year that I am committed to finishing a work of fiction in November!  Time is passing, so much faster than many of us realize.  I don't know about you, but I'm  not getting any younger.  I've hit a now or never mentality.  Is it writing or is it jewelry?  It's time to make up my damn mind and move forward.

What this means for gaming is I shouldn't be gaming at all for the next several weeks.  For me however, that's an unrealistic expectation because gaming relaxes me and helps me clear my head.  I will continue to do harvesting, crafting and whatever zone events I run into for the" no more than an hour" during the few days a week I allow myself to play.  People tempting me with Pirates 101 are very wicked souls!

GW2 Update

I've spent the last two weeks uncovering the high level zone areas - getting waypoints, points of interest and skills points.  I have to tell ya that I really enjoy the sense of chaos and danger lurking in the zones above level 70.  Unless you're in an enclosed NPC enclave, there are no safe spots.  Even then you're not guaranteed  safety.  You're just as likely find yourself dead if you go for a prolonged AFK.  It's a war zone friends, time to recognize.  Waypoints and friendly NPC controlled enclaves fall on a regular basis. *Smile*

Sitting at max level in another game, I've come to a few conclusions for myself and GW2.  In the interest of a short post, I'll do it bullet style.

Not so happy parts:

• I'm not enticed by fake levels.  Rift lost me at the end when I'd done most of the 5-mans and felt uninspired to do the new zone.  Ember Isle was gorgeous but I'm not into fake dings - points to spend in something that I clearly didn't need since I managed to max level and do Tier 2 dungeons without them.  I feel the same way about continuing to ding in GW2.  I don't need anymore skill points from leveling.  I've purchased every skill I want and have ZERO intention of grinding the crazy requirements for legendary skins.  *HURL*  Even if they were uber gamebreaking gear I wouldn't grind for it.  It's simply not important enough to me. 
• End game karma gear isn't rocking my world either.  The skins are aiight, nothing to write home about to me and I have equivalent stats from purchasing crafted gear on the cheap.
• When I have an hour or so to play, I usually can't get into WvW.  ZOMG the WvW queues.
• Game camera is the worst  Now that I'm not leveling and paralyzed by the fear of not completing a map, I try my hand at vistas when they're nearby. That camera. I mean DAMN.  I shouldn't be this aware of the game camera, its limitations and awkwardness.  Tight spaces, vertical or horizontal are annoying.  And don't be in a situation with both!  The camera goes into an EPILEPTIC SEIZURE trying to resolve the graphic boundaries.  You can't tilt it to see where you are or where you're trying to jump to next.

Still in love parts:

• On the bright side, I sill enjoy crafting very much even though many items sell for less than it costs to make them.  It's mostly a resource supplier market.  I'm the sort of gamer who is fine with that because I find harvesting relaxing.  Almost 300 cooking and same on Jeweler, and I've not been at all tempted to look up recipes.  I enjoy the mini-game aspect of crafting.
• I haven't tired of how stunningly beautiful Tyria is when I'm rolling through the zones.  Just takes my breath away.
• My Guardian still feels like the best class in the world.  Well, it's at least my favorite of all time.
• I enjoy the instanced aspects of my personal story even though I've given up on the storyline itself which got sorta boring.  I just ignore the NPCs they send along when I can because NO ONE that stupid or skillless would be sent along.  They'd be scrubbing pots and peeling potatoes.

What I need more of:

• Guildhalls or player housing please - I need something I'd be willing to grind for and those are the things that would get me to sign on the dotted line
• More vanity costumes in the Cash Shop - yeah... uhm,  I have my Chef outfit but I'd be willing to drop cash on more RP-worthy elements.
• Cash shop gear skins for heavy gear where my ass isn't hanging out would be appreciated.  As a Guardian, I simply REFUSE to wear armor with my navel and ass showing.  Really guys?? Get over that crap already. My level 80 crafted gear was so horrible in this regards, I purchased transmute stones and reskinned with what I'd been wearing at level 70.
• Some people will blow a gasket but I'd like to join dungeon groups without spamming in chat.  I don't want to have to stand idle in that area waiting for a group.  I want to be out in the world doing stuff while waiting.  I'm not dying to PUG trust me.  When you have relatively small windows of time to play, standing around spamming for a group isn't what you want to do with that time.
• Normalize travel costs.  When compared to how much items sell for on the market, the cost of travel seems ludicrous.  Before I use a portal, I ask myself how much that will cost me compared to the mats I can sell from that area.  Players should be encourage to go anywhere and everywhere, as their precense adds to the activity in a zone, especially since we're downranked.  I think most people jump in on events that happen in their vacinity, so we should be encouraged to go, not sit where we are unless it's lucrative to go.

Reality check - short is never short for me.  Anywho, I'm still enjoying GW2.  No game is perfect.  I'm still having fun but will be MIA for much of November.

GW2 Level 80 - Now What?

I’ve been level 80 for several days now.  The last few levels were gained harvesting items.  I was in my first run through Twilight Arbor when I dinged 80.  It was a 4 person guild run + one PUG invite.  Things went fairly well.  We had two people with some familiarity but nothing extensive.  We faltered here-n-there and had to look up the strategy for the last encounter after three wipes.  Death and all, it was still fun.  No arguing or blaming.  No whining either.  We just got on with it, making jokes as we went along.

Now that I’m level 80 it’s time to decide what end game will be to me personally.  I’ve been pretty certain about what I wanted to do all along.  I purposefully kept myself from vering in these directions sooner, afraid I’d get overwhelmed by the choices and never reach the promise land.  I’ve only seen a fraction of the PVE overland content and no WvW or sPvP since the live game released.  I can do whatever I want, at whatever level of intensity I choose.

My Personal End Game Plan

• Complete all dungeons on story mode
• Complete all dungeons on explorable mode
• Reach max as a Chef and Jeweler
• Open up the entire map, gaining all waypoints to simplify harvesting different ranges of items as well as keep the view fresh by changing up zones a lot.
• Join an dungeon raiding team of some sort
• Join guild sponsored WvW events
• Earn enough gold to purchase a cultural armor set

That’s my plan and the general priority for those activities  I’ve got googobs of options.  My biggest decision right now is that I can’t decide on a new spec for my Guardian.  I want to do group activities and support and healing.  However, when I changed over to that it made farming through mobs take MUCH LONGER and the combat doesn’t feel as much fun.  I think I’ve been spoiled by my burning build. Think it’s time to check out some fansites and forums to see what other Guardians are doing.

I’m level 80 and the view looks pretty damn good from up here.  Skies the limit!

GW2 - I Need it a Bit More Steamy

I was pleased with the sprinkling of Steampunk elements in Warhammer Online.  The flavor was certainly there, more so for some classes than others but there nonetheless.  I was elated by Rift’s inclusion of even more Steampunk elements.  The idea blended well within the confines of the story being told and the associated technology but I always felt it could have been more pronounced.  The artifacts that were there were nothing short of stunning but didn’t feel integral or integrated into my game play.

I can’t say enough about Guild Wars 2 art direction and graphics.  I’d be running around saying STUNNING all day and night but most times, that’s the impression it leaves.  Here too, I thirst for more than the splattering of Steampunk being offered in popular MMOs.  I get all googly-eyed when I see things here and there.  I almost lose my mind when I find a weapon I’d actually use that has a taste of Steampunk.  On this topic however, I’m a greedy bugger and want more.

I feel as though Steampunk is easily be fused with fantasy so why so little of it beyond window dressing? Is it really that niche?  Based on the concept art, I thought the Charr city would be amazing Steampunk or even the Asura but not so much.  Again, it’s more flavored than an essential element.  Charr is more fused metal and grunge.  Asura is high technology that feels modern.  Maybe my ideal of Steampunk is too narrow.  I certainly don’t expect or need a Victorian aesthetic.  There are nice elements scattered throughout Tyria but it’s more backdrop.  I just wish there was one city or port of call completely infused in it.

From an armour perspective, I wish I could transmute cloth or leather items over my Guardian gear. I've seen gorgeous Steampunk worthy elements - helms and cuffs for cloth wears and jackets and shoulders for leather.  I'm inspired by the Steampunk genre in my reading, writing and some of my own jewelry designs.  I'm desperate to see more of it in a AAA MMO.

I walk around Divinity’s Reach and Lion’s Arch for the fun of it.  Lion’s Arch is especially packed with lots of flavor.  Sure it has some steam elements but reminds me more of an upgraded version of Booty Bay.  To revel in the beauty and feeling of being in a “real” Steampunk city would be amazing..  I keep crossing my fingers it will come to a MMO near me soon.

GW2 - WTB Auctioneer Add-On

Instability, unintentional theft, filter bugs and inability to search for items by your class aside, I like the initial features in the Black Lion Trading Company.  I even like that it has a name other than auction house.  How deliciously RP of them.  Better still is that you can at least interact with the market place without being there.  No more having to ask, "Anyone near AH can do a price check for me??"

Very Decent Start

I scan the Top listings regularly.  I ADORE how it saves me the time of searching for the lowest sale price when I'm setting up my auctions.  I LOVE that auctions don’t expire which gives you an opportunity to make a profit on low margin items, ala EQ2. Praise be to the gods of Tyria!  Another game gets it - finally. I think it's awesome that you can put in buy orders.

For players interested in trading Gems, I think the market trending data is great. Although I wish it were available for all items with a few more statistics similar to EVE Online.  The transaction history features seems to take a bit from EVE and EQ2. I like being able to see a history of what I’ve sold or purchased and for how much.  All-in-all, the initial feature-set is decent but what I really need is Auctioneer level features!  

Auctioneer is a hugely popular auction house add-on for World of Warcraft.  It provides historical stats on the auction house items, as well as stores the results of your own activity.  Most anyone who is serious about making money selling items in WOW uses this mod.

Needs More for Metagame Enthusiasts

I believe playing the market is going to be a popular metagame but GW2 lacks what many of us are used to having available in other games. WOW, EQ2 and EVE, all have fan sites that provide trade/market data.  WOW and EVE also have player developed add-on.  Blizzard went even futher by developing a web-based app to allow interacting with the auction house outside the game.

I understand if ANet doesn't want expose the game to add-on development.  I'm perfectly fine with that decision.   On the flip side however, that means I'm going to look to them to develop these types of features in the game. With GW2 being one of the few AAA MMOs boasting a game-wide auction house, there are opportunities to turn up the volume on trade as a full-time occupation at end game. I’d like to see them step up to the plate and provide us with features to support it.  I need an Auctioneer-like application and I wouldn’t thumb my nose at a mobile app either.  HINT-HINT!

GW2 - Autoplay Nerfed or Fixed

Post a patch that happened while I was away on business,  the Guild Wars 2 autoplay feature no longer by-passes the persistent and insistent "Validate Your Email Address" request.  With the 7 days of BS I endured after authentication was turned on en masse, leaving me locked out of my account shortly after launch, there's no way in hell I will ever touch the Send button again.   With this recent change, I'm now forced to click cancel every time I log into the game.  Boo! Hiss!

I preferred it better when autoplay ignored this question and simply executed “play” after the 3 second countdown.  Not sure if this is a nerf or a fix.  Whatever it is, in my case, it's now annoying.  

Dear ANet,

I will purchase a security token device when/if you provide one like I did for World of Warcraft. I’d even opt-in for a mobile phone application of some sort. However, I have permanently and irrevocably, parted ways with your email authentication system.

That's right - NEVER EVER GONNA TOUCH IT OR ENABLED IT ON ONE OF MY ACCOUNTS AGAIN.  Hell, I try not to even look at it.  Fooled me once and oh how it burned.  Won’t get to fool me twice.

Sincerly,

Scorched

GW2 - Citizen of Tyria

As sure as the sun will rise again, I’ll be level 80 in a few days.  Being out of town last week held it at bay and I’ll be out of town again this week. Sitting at level 76+, as a result of doing a little crafting when I got back, I know level 80 is only a few hearts and skill points away.  When I start considering my options for an end-game journey,  I begin thinking about money.  How much gold will I need and how do I want to earn it?.

I don’t mind farming materials, especially harvesting.  I enjoyed it in EQ2 and didn’t find it a burden in WOW.  I’m a bit of an odd duck who finds  it relaxing.  And if I’m doing it in a beautiful game, such as Rift and now GW2, I enjoy it even more.  As a chef and jeweler, I will continue to harvest zones to provide supplies for the more profitable items I make and to sell excess raw materials but that’s not enough. I want to do more.

Trade Market as Metagame

I’d like to play the market beyond selling raws and my own goods.  I found testing these waters in EVE Online exciting.  There was always the chance the market you change up under you and you’d lose your investment.  Or worse, you’d lose your cargo delivering it to more profitable areas. Although I won’t face that particular danger or thrill of victory in GW2, I still think it could be a profitable and diverting, metagame opportunity.

Ravious from Kill Ten Rats has been thinking about the same lately - creative ways of making money in the GW2 market.  He posted his thoughts and linked to a blog dedicated to providing tips and tricks for playing the market  Give it and the linked blog a read.  I’m going to check it out while I’m on the road again.