I've never been stolen from in-game (not counting having kills stolen -- there are people playing "King's Quest I" would could outkill me right now). But anyway, me = never stolen from.
This is because (1) I tend not to trust anyone, and (2) Don't let go of my really important stuff (bows, armor, etc).
So within the past few months, as I've done up my life/creature covenant suit (with majors, as well!) I've had more and more people look at me, and say, "What kind of armor is that?" or "Nice armor." A few, however, say, "Hey, can I see your armor?"
I normally shrug it off. Isn't this something of an old scam? It sure used to be. Person asks to "see" your armor and opens trade window. Person kind of times it, and closes trade window just as it's expected that you're putting item in window, causing you to "set down" the piece. Person picks it up. Person laughs.
So I'm in the Marketplace tonight, and "Shadow-Spear," (not in my alliance) asks to see my armor. He's so insistent that while I'm pricing armor from the al-Thor bot, he's just standing there WAITING to "see" it (I know this, because he told me he was waiting for me to be done with the bot). I am all set to grill him when I'm done with the bot, to ask why he can't just "see" it from where he's standing, when an alliancemate runs into us both, and says, "Hey Shadow." Shadow greets him back?
Whatwhatwhat?
This got me thinking -- maybe it WAS an innocent request(!).
Wow. I decided not to bring it up and do anything w/the guy -- I just logged on as a mule to make my purchase (since the mule has all the cash, lol).
I guess it's interesting -- the guy could well have meant nothing by it, but isn't that funny -- he used a really vintage method that old thieves used to use, but didn't know he was doing that.
I r teh suspicious . . . but at least I've never been stolen from, lol. ;-)
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Saturday, June 11, 2005
RL can be rough sometimes.
So, I don't go into too much detail re my job, as it's a sensitive position, but is in law enforcement. I got a call the other morning and the person on the other line said, "(redacted) is testifying before Congress today. Why don't you meet him at Dirksen (ooops, wrong building it turned out) and brief him quickly on (my area of expertise)? It's going to come up in his testimony and he wants to cut down on subsequent written submissions."
Um, ack.
So I scramble out the door of my office, grabbing about 10 binders filled with information I really didn't need in light of the questions later asked of me. After frantic cellphone calls, I found him and his surprisingly sparse entourage (although they asked more follow-ups than HE did(!)).
In fact, that's the kicker -- I really wasn't asked that much by this person. He just listened to me explain my end of the issue he was testifying about, then eventually said, "Ok, outstanding -- why don't you sit tight here and let's see if something else comes up. Is that ok?"
Fast forward DAYS later. I still haven't logged into AC, have been completely MIA for the most part, and otherwise have spent days (finally finishing up late Friday evening) putting together briefing materials for those pesky subsequent questions. Much of today has been spent doing stuff to clear my head -- I went for a nice run (was supposed to be much shorter, but I honestly think I was so spacey I didn't even do the math right), and then saw someone I hadn't seen for about a week.
Maybe I can finally log into AC tonight. Hope I remember how to play. :-/
Oh, wait -- I was never that good at it previously! :-P
Um, ack.
So I scramble out the door of my office, grabbing about 10 binders filled with information I really didn't need in light of the questions later asked of me. After frantic cellphone calls, I found him and his surprisingly sparse entourage (although they asked more follow-ups than HE did(!)).
In fact, that's the kicker -- I really wasn't asked that much by this person. He just listened to me explain my end of the issue he was testifying about, then eventually said, "Ok, outstanding -- why don't you sit tight here and let's see if something else comes up. Is that ok?"
Fast forward DAYS later. I still haven't logged into AC, have been completely MIA for the most part, and otherwise have spent days (finally finishing up late Friday evening) putting together briefing materials for those pesky subsequent questions. Much of today has been spent doing stuff to clear my head -- I went for a nice run (was supposed to be much shorter, but I honestly think I was so spacey I didn't even do the math right), and then saw someone I hadn't seen for about a week.
Maybe I can finally log into AC tonight. Hope I remember how to play. :-/
Oh, wait -- I was never that good at it previously! :-P
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Damn . . .
. . . THAT was fun!
I spotted a post by Juzam saying he was running the "Tursh Totem Quest" (actually, I misread it as the "Tush" totem quest, and was immediately intrigued). I did a quick check @Maggie's to see what the heck it was ("Holy crap," I said, "It's an %age of XP quest!").
@e logs on and runs like hell for GW.
Juzam wasn't there, but I figured one of the people standing around was him (I'm always so impressed with folks who have like 5 126s, since I'm just well, ME, and I can't even see hitting 126 by the expansion).
Off we go, a fellowship of 7.
This was one of those quests that scare the poop outta me, because there are just TONS of debuffs
On the other hand, at one point, I was rebuffed by (two!) mages in the fellow, and I almost wanted to say, "It's cool, don't bother," because I wanted to show that even will full life/creature 6s I could survive.
The good:
There were more than a few times I beat the support mage to heals, and gave myself full heals after taking triple-digit damage (but I wasn't even debuffed!) from spells. There were also a few times where we "doubled up" (meaning I healed myself for say, 92 points, but SO did the mage(!?)). Weird. I got a LOT of kills on this trip, and I know that part of that reason was because the baddies were softened up, but that still felt good.
Oh, and I not only killed a lot of the "Big Bad Guy's"(tm) minions at the end, I killed the "Big Bad Guy"(tm) himself. Me. I even took a screenshot with my name as the kill. I wasn't even using FIRE. Just my tinked up Slash Rending bow.
You say to your fellowship, "Holy crap! I killed him!"
(At this point, there's a respawn, and I'm still too busy staring at the "killed by . . . " message. But everyone else is waiting for their Tursh Totem shard, but they can't open the body.
You say to no one in particular, except out loud to the computer, "Holy crap! I killed him!"
Computer says to you, "So open and loot, you idiot."
Oops. Which brings me to . . .
The bad:
I wasn't psyched that I had to be the one guy who had to have buffs put on him prior to the final push, as all I ended up thinking to myself was that I was having to be carried along. Like, well, a gimp. @e notices the name of this freaking blog and moves on to . . .
The ugly:
Oh, there just HAD to be a jump, didn't there? RIght at the beginning. And if you miss, there are TONS of these nasty ol' rats that do hella damage to you. So of course, when the quest leader (whom I later found out to be Juzam's alt char) told us to jump, I just --
1. Jumped full power.
2. Diagonally.
Note: The jump is onto a THIN BRIDGE. Strung between the MIDDLE parts of the ledge.
Did Tai "look before he leapt?" Um, that would be a "no." I went sailing WAY over the little thin bridge (again, diagonally, mind you), right into the pit. Someone must have told the rats that my armor was "cheesy," and they CLEARLY don't get metaphors. Because they came at me like I was freaking fermenting right in front of them.
So I ran like hell, wetting my armor and rubbing an Aphus Recall gem like it was one of Gwyd's kitties, the whole way up as I looked for some ramps (not knowing if I would even be BACK there, mind you, I just went left over and over again). I got to the top of the ledge again:
So of course, I shift/jumped from the middle, right?
@e looks at the name of this blog again. Is it ever that easy?
Seriously, it was like someone else was controlling me, because I just ran back to the top, and "CANNONBALL!" sailed over the bridge -- again. I actually thought I --WAS-- in the middle of the ledge, and well, for goodness sakes, WHY BOTHER LOOKING TO MAKE SURE?!
Lather, rinse, repeat.
The 3rd time was the charm (just like my 3 years in 3rd grade!).
So I must have learned my lesson, eh? Um, nope:
Late into the quest, there's another jump. A pit.
(Juzam's alt char) says to your fellowship, "Everyone jump in."
I'm the only one left at the top. I'm inching back and forth, left and right, with my back toward the pit, using a compass and protractor to get the jump just right. I'll show em.
You say to your fellowship, "So is this a stepping shift jump, or full power?
(Juzam's alt char) says to your fellowship, "It's a pit, just jump in."
Oops. Didn't notice that. Why? Someone again literally didn't look before he leapt.
@e listens to the grumbling of his fellow-mates as they fight for their lives in the pit, while Tai is still testing the wind with his wet finger at the top of the pit.
But even *I* can figure out a way to screw up just jumping into a pit. And I did.
@e bouncebouncebounce
>>>"You can't jump while in the air"<<< I so heart that message.
@e bouncebouncebounce
(Sounds of battle rage on below)
@e bouncebouncebounce
(Hack! Slash! Boom! Scream! Debuff! Spell! Kapow!)
@e bouncebouncebounce
ARRRRGH!
Anyway. I eventually defied all odds, and actually fell in a downward motion (seriously, I could jump off the Tou-Tou lighthouse and hit a cloud ABOVE it).
That was late in the quest. Things were smooth(er) at that point, and I got a nice chunk o' XP for the quest.
And maybe next time, just maybe -- I'll look before I leap.
I spotted a post by Juzam saying he was running the "Tursh Totem Quest" (actually, I misread it as the "Tush" totem quest, and was immediately intrigued). I did a quick check @Maggie's to see what the heck it was ("Holy crap," I said, "It's an %age of XP quest!").
@e logs on and runs like hell for GW.
Juzam wasn't there, but I figured one of the people standing around was him (I'm always so impressed with folks who have like 5 126s, since I'm just well, ME, and I can't even see hitting 126 by the expansion).
Off we go, a fellowship of 7.
This was one of those quests that scare the poop outta me, because there are just TONS of debuffs
On the other hand, at one point, I was rebuffed by (two!) mages in the fellow, and I almost wanted to say, "It's cool, don't bother," because I wanted to show that even will full life/creature 6s I could survive.
The good:
There were more than a few times I beat the support mage to heals, and gave myself full heals after taking triple-digit damage (but I wasn't even debuffed!) from spells. There were also a few times where we "doubled up" (meaning I healed myself for say, 92 points, but SO did the mage(!?)). Weird. I got a LOT of kills on this trip, and I know that part of that reason was because the baddies were softened up, but that still felt good.
Oh, and I not only killed a lot of the "Big Bad Guy's"(tm) minions at the end, I killed the "Big Bad Guy"(tm) himself. Me. I even took a screenshot with my name as the kill. I wasn't even using FIRE. Just my tinked up Slash Rending bow.
You say to your fellowship, "Holy crap! I killed him!"
(At this point, there's a respawn, and I'm still too busy staring at the "killed by . . . " message. But everyone else is waiting for their Tursh Totem shard, but they can't open the body.
You say to no one in particular, except out loud to the computer, "Holy crap! I killed him!"
Computer says to you, "So open and loot, you idiot."
Oops. Which brings me to . . .
The bad:
I wasn't psyched that I had to be the one guy who had to have buffs put on him prior to the final push, as all I ended up thinking to myself was that I was having to be carried along. Like, well, a gimp. @e notices the name of this freaking blog and moves on to . . .
The ugly:
Oh, there just HAD to be a jump, didn't there? RIght at the beginning. And if you miss, there are TONS of these nasty ol' rats that do hella damage to you. So of course, when the quest leader (whom I later found out to be Juzam's alt char) told us to jump, I just --
1. Jumped full power.
2. Diagonally.
Note: The jump is onto a THIN BRIDGE. Strung between the MIDDLE parts of the ledge.
Did Tai "look before he leapt?" Um, that would be a "no." I went sailing WAY over the little thin bridge (again, diagonally, mind you), right into the pit. Someone must have told the rats that my armor was "cheesy," and they CLEARLY don't get metaphors. Because they came at me like I was freaking fermenting right in front of them.
So I ran like hell, wetting my armor and rubbing an Aphus Recall gem like it was one of Gwyd's kitties, the whole way up as I looked for some ramps (not knowing if I would even be BACK there, mind you, I just went left over and over again). I got to the top of the ledge again:
So of course, I shift/jumped from the middle, right?
@e looks at the name of this blog again. Is it ever that easy?
Seriously, it was like someone else was controlling me, because I just ran back to the top, and "CANNONBALL!" sailed over the bridge -- again. I actually thought I --WAS-- in the middle of the ledge, and well, for goodness sakes, WHY BOTHER LOOKING TO MAKE SURE?!
Lather, rinse, repeat.
The 3rd time was the charm (just like my 3 years in 3rd grade!).
So I must have learned my lesson, eh? Um, nope:
Late into the quest, there's another jump. A pit.
(Juzam's alt char) says to your fellowship, "Everyone jump in."
I'm the only one left at the top. I'm inching back and forth, left and right, with my back toward the pit, using a compass and protractor to get the jump just right. I'll show em.
You say to your fellowship, "So is this a stepping shift jump, or full power?
(Juzam's alt char) says to your fellowship, "It's a pit, just jump in."
Oops. Didn't notice that. Why? Someone again literally didn't look before he leapt.
@e listens to the grumbling of his fellow-mates as they fight for their lives in the pit, while Tai is still testing the wind with his wet finger at the top of the pit.
But even *I* can figure out a way to screw up just jumping into a pit. And I did.
@e bouncebouncebounce
>>>"You can't jump while in the air"<<< I so heart that message.
@e bouncebouncebounce
(Sounds of battle rage on below)
@e bouncebouncebounce
(Hack! Slash! Boom! Scream! Debuff! Spell! Kapow!)
@e bouncebouncebounce
ARRRRGH!
Anyway. I eventually defied all odds, and actually fell in a downward motion (seriously, I could jump off the Tou-Tou lighthouse and hit a cloud ABOVE it).
That was late in the quest. Things were smooth(er) at that point, and I got a nice chunk o' XP for the quest.
And maybe next time, just maybe -- I'll look before I leap.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Chiropractors.
Um, yuck. Can't post this on a VN thread that's already at 3 pages of mostly flames/pharming (thank you TOS, grr), but let's clear up a little bit. AynRand (who is a chiropractor, and an Ayn Rand devotee, so 2 strikes against her already) is pointing out billions of woes if you drink diet sodas containing aspartame.
Hmmmm . . .
http://www.quackwatch.org (do a search on "aspartame")
http://www.chirobase.org (points out the shortcomings of Chiropracty)
http://www.skepticreport.com/health/strokespinal.htm (even stronger article on these quacks)
I don't blame someone going if they are in pain, and want relief, but (other than attorneys and used car salesmen) I'm not sure of another profession with so much corruption, and so much utter hooey/drivel/poo driving it. And if someone's going to hold court on their views of health, let's consider the source.
Edit/Update: I just thought of something -- Gwyd posted an anecdote about a chiropractor, and I meant to point this out -- anecdotes mean JACK SQUAT in a logical argument:
http://www.skepticreport.com/print/natureanecdotes-p.htm
Show me some proof (other than chiropractors studying themselves and (gasp!) coming up with their own findings that they are helpful), and then we can talk.
Hmmmm . . .
http://www.quackwatch.org (do a search on "aspartame")
http://www.chirobase.org (points out the shortcomings of Chiropracty)
http://www.skepticreport.com/health/strokespinal.htm (even stronger article on these quacks)
I don't blame someone going if they are in pain, and want relief, but (other than attorneys and used car salesmen) I'm not sure of another profession with so much corruption, and so much utter hooey/drivel/poo driving it. And if someone's going to hold court on their views of health, let's consider the source.
Edit/Update: I just thought of something -- Gwyd posted an anecdote about a chiropractor, and I meant to point this out -- anecdotes mean JACK SQUAT in a logical argument:
http://www.skepticreport.com/print/natureanecdotes-p.htm
Show me some proof (other than chiropractors studying themselves and (gasp!) coming up with their own findings that they are helpful), and then we can talk.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Weird times in the 80+ hive as of late . . .
So two distinct incidents/weirdness in the 80+ hive as of late, and I'm not sure if it's commonplace, since I just don't go there that often.
The first involved someone named "Double Nickel," a mage. I can't say if the person's good or bad, because he simply didn't speak. As in, at all: I was in a fellow in the hive, and made it to the Matron. I saw him fighting her, and actually having a bit of a rough go at it. So I walk up behind him, and hit him with a blue healing kit for a triple digit heal.
Ok, so he says nothing. I've been there, I can understand furiously trying to click, press keys, and otherwise stay alive. But then everyone's dead. At this point, I repeat an invite to the fellow, and he's still playing Silent Bob.
*shrug* Recall to top, keep working in fellow.
I later found him in the hive, this time IN a fellow, but then the only time he spoke was when he had died, and another fellow member was pointing out/clearing his body (he said, "thanks," and never spoke again). Otherwise, he was silent. I'm really not chatty in a fellow either, but it just seemed weird. I thought of him tonight, because he passed me in the hive (judging by his direction) as he was headed for the Matron again (all of these times happened within the past 7 days, tops). He didn't even stop to see if there WAS a fellow (I'd have been happy to even be in a 2-person one, but no biggie).
*double shrug* Just struck me weird. I wouldn't have thought about it more, except for tonight:
This just happened. I had recalled to the top of the hive, and was not in a fellow (the one person I saw and asked if a fellow was open, said nothing, and just logged at the entrance). XP/hour = apx. 12mil/hr.
Then two people beam in, Zakfein Bonesplitter and Hope I Kancastit. The former was 126, the latter high 80s. I asked if there was a fellow, and after some fumbling by the level 80, she recruited me (no biggie, I can only imagine how hard it must be to be a mage in there). They seemed perfectly nice, although again quite silent.
So, I run off into the hive for good ol' bug-smashin.
After about 30 minutes, I look up on Infinity: XP/hour = apx 11 mil/hr.
Huh?
Look, I'm the FIRST person to bash XP wh0r3s. But this just seemed weird. Is it ok to do a "report" at that point? I spent some time just debating whether to even DO it. I decided against it, and instead looked to the fellow panel. Hmm, the 126 is --kinda-- damaged (at least noticeable), but the 80something seemed full.
I thought about it some more and made a decision -- this is the first time I've done something like this, but I just left the fellow without a word (and promptly saw my XP/hr increase). I stayed down below for a bit, and had a good ol'time, but after ANOTHER person passed me (not a member of a fellow, and didn't ask if there was one), I decided to recall to the LS and hit the 60+ hive to burn out my last arrows.
It's --ENTIRELY-- possible that I'm just wrong on this, but I thought the hives were places for fellows and general XP smashing? I have NO problem if you don't WANT to be in a fellow (in fact, I believe you still have a right to be there, even if you're just trying out/testing the waters). But do you really want to bring people into your fellow? Isn't it easier to say, "We're staying here at the entrance, just doing a shakedown cruise kinda thing." I don't blame those two at all -- it just seemed a little strange.
I wish I knew what the ettiquite on this type of thing was. :-( But then again, if I did, I'd probably be a lot higher than 109 after 5+ years at this. :-(
The first involved someone named "Double Nickel," a mage. I can't say if the person's good or bad, because he simply didn't speak. As in, at all: I was in a fellow in the hive, and made it to the Matron. I saw him fighting her, and actually having a bit of a rough go at it. So I walk up behind him, and hit him with a blue healing kit for a triple digit heal.
Ok, so he says nothing. I've been there, I can understand furiously trying to click, press keys, and otherwise stay alive. But then everyone's dead. At this point, I repeat an invite to the fellow, and he's still playing Silent Bob.
*shrug* Recall to top, keep working in fellow.
I later found him in the hive, this time IN a fellow, but then the only time he spoke was when he had died, and another fellow member was pointing out/clearing his body (he said, "thanks," and never spoke again). Otherwise, he was silent. I'm really not chatty in a fellow either, but it just seemed weird. I thought of him tonight, because he passed me in the hive (judging by his direction) as he was headed for the Matron again (all of these times happened within the past 7 days, tops). He didn't even stop to see if there WAS a fellow (I'd have been happy to even be in a 2-person one, but no biggie).
*double shrug* Just struck me weird. I wouldn't have thought about it more, except for tonight:
This just happened. I had recalled to the top of the hive, and was not in a fellow (the one person I saw and asked if a fellow was open, said nothing, and just logged at the entrance). XP/hour = apx. 12mil/hr.
Then two people beam in, Zakfein Bonesplitter and Hope I Kancastit. The former was 126, the latter high 80s. I asked if there was a fellow, and after some fumbling by the level 80, she recruited me (no biggie, I can only imagine how hard it must be to be a mage in there). They seemed perfectly nice, although again quite silent.
So, I run off into the hive for good ol' bug-smashin.
After about 30 minutes, I look up on Infinity: XP/hour = apx 11 mil/hr.
Huh?
Look, I'm the FIRST person to bash XP wh0r3s. But this just seemed weird. Is it ok to do a "report" at that point? I spent some time just debating whether to even DO it. I decided against it, and instead looked to the fellow panel. Hmm, the 126 is --kinda-- damaged (at least noticeable), but the 80something seemed full.
I thought about it some more and made a decision -- this is the first time I've done something like this, but I just left the fellow without a word (and promptly saw my XP/hr increase). I stayed down below for a bit, and had a good ol'time, but after ANOTHER person passed me (not a member of a fellow, and didn't ask if there was one), I decided to recall to the LS and hit the 60+ hive to burn out my last arrows.
It's --ENTIRELY-- possible that I'm just wrong on this, but I thought the hives were places for fellows and general XP smashing? I have NO problem if you don't WANT to be in a fellow (in fact, I believe you still have a right to be there, even if you're just trying out/testing the waters). But do you really want to bring people into your fellow? Isn't it easier to say, "We're staying here at the entrance, just doing a shakedown cruise kinda thing." I don't blame those two at all -- it just seemed a little strange.
I wish I knew what the ettiquite on this type of thing was. :-( But then again, if I did, I'd probably be a lot higher than 109 after 5+ years at this. :-(
Sunday, June 05, 2005
VOD -- bo-ring!
I must be doing something wrong, because the VOD just isn't doing it for me, XP-wise, even with a mage imp'ing everything for me. I'm using a CS bow, or a rending bow, depending on whether the mage is able to both imp & vuln, but . . . sheesh. Quite low XP. It seems like people really go out there and rack up the points, but I sure don't see it.
And those VOD Olthoi HOIT! :-O
And those VOD Olthoi HOIT! :-O
Friday, June 03, 2005
Thought.
LOL, this is too much:
Suppose you have a person, let's call him, "David."
David doesn't get along with Mary
David doesn't get along with Tom
David doesn't get along with Harry
David doesn't get along with Bob
David doesn't get along with George
Wouldn't David start to realize that the problem wasn't with THEM, but with David?
Guess it will only take a beatdown to set things straight. :-D
@e repeats to himself, "A promise is a promise, a promise is a promise, a promise is a promise."
@e *shakefist* at Thistle. =P
Suppose you have a person, let's call him, "David."
David doesn't get along with Mary
David doesn't get along with Tom
David doesn't get along with Harry
David doesn't get along with Bob
David doesn't get along with George
Wouldn't David start to realize that the problem wasn't with THEM, but with David?
Guess it will only take a beatdown to set things straight. :-D
@e repeats to himself, "A promise is a promise, a promise is a promise, a promise is a promise."
@e *shakefist* at Thistle. =P
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Pathetic
When people make a post on VN that garners little to no replies, but then "bump" the post a day later -- that's just sad and more than a little pathetic. No one gave a rat's ass about what you had to say. Deal with it. It's even worse when a person bumps a post DAYS old. People saw it. They just didn't care.
(Excludes trade/auction/ISOs for items, vassals, etc.)
(Excludes trade/auction/ISOs for items, vassals, etc.)
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Um, I was FLETCHING!
I hit the 80+ hive last night, just to try and rev up some extra XP. I was there about 90 minutes. Fellow members came and went. There was 1 death the entire time. 3 guesses who it was.
Sigh.
I remember, as I was in a corner with every bug on the server attacking me, thinking, "Wow, I probably should fletch right soon. But in the meantime, I'm getting so low on health, so I'll just drink an elixir rather than heal."
Oops. Out of those. I wonder if I have any random health potions on me, picked up from the bugs?
Double oops. Out of those too.
Maybe I'll crack and Aphus reca
>>>Olthoi Swarm Mutilator runs you through!<<<
Oops.
Kontrolled Kaos says to your fellowship, "nooooooooooo"
You say to your fellowship, "Ah, np, that's what I get for trying to fletch during a fight."
Well, I was KIND of fletching! I mean, I did at the lifestone.
And then I forgot to pick up more health potions from home before recalling back there. I r teh smart. :-(
Sigh.
I remember, as I was in a corner with every bug on the server attacking me, thinking, "Wow, I probably should fletch right soon. But in the meantime, I'm getting so low on health, so I'll just drink an elixir rather than heal."
Oops. Out of those. I wonder if I have any random health potions on me, picked up from the bugs?
Double oops. Out of those too.
Maybe I'll crack and Aphus reca
>>>Olthoi Swarm Mutilator runs you through!<<<
Oops.
Kontrolled Kaos says to your fellowship, "nooooooooooo"
You say to your fellowship, "Ah, np, that's what I get for trying to fletch during a fight."
Well, I was KIND of fletching! I mean, I did at the lifestone.
And then I forgot to pick up more health potions from home before recalling back there. I r teh smart. :-(
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Oh well, that was fast.
Woke up this morning to see that Kaos has apparently passed on his membership. I guess others took a more hard-line approach to this than I did. It's just as well. He violates the VN TOS almost daily, yet remains oblivious to that fact.
Based on a prior personal request/favor from Thistle, I've agreed to leave him alone, as she's explained to me that he has a history of these obsessions, and I'm honoring her request. I can't say it's a gratifying result, but I'm also very happy to not have to step away from the alliance.
Based on a prior personal request/favor from Thistle, I've agreed to leave him alone, as she's explained to me that he has a history of these obsessions, and I'm honoring her request. I can't say it's a gratifying result, but I'm also very happy to not have to step away from the alliance.
Monday, May 30, 2005
As Dereth turns . . .
So, lots of alliance related drama going on (not just mine, but other peoples' alliances). Three alliance recruiting threads, from what I can see:
1. Kaos first posted a recruiting thread. Actually quite nice to see so many people point out what a good group it is (even if it doesn't have the marquee power of Chunglee's clan, which still seems to be the gold standard of TD). There's some internal question now, because Gibbon posted that he wants to join Kaos' clan.
He's got an interesting road to go down if he wants to join since Kaos suspected Gibbon was behind a DNS attack on the clan site, since it happened the day Gibbon was sending e-mails to my home account, and posted on the clan boards (no one can prove anything, and as coincidental as it was, it's not even to the level of "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Some people saw his posts, and asked my opinion on his joining. I went out of my way in private tells and PMs to not be the deciding factor -- hell, I don't want to be ANY factor in this. I've made it clear -- my feelings on whether or not he should join are irrelevant. I really have to demur here -- I don't want to be a factor in deciding up or down on Gibbon. Honestly, I think he could be much more of an impact player than I can be. He plays far more, is higher level, and is otherwise much more available for quests and group hunts. The fact is, he has the potential to be a very positive impact on the group, unlike myself, who is awfully solitary in my time online.
Having said that, I will regrettably have to step away from that alliance, and will do so with (seriously) not an ounce of hard feelings or a bad heart. In fact, I'll remain an "alliance-friend," instead of an "alliance-mate." It's just a point of principle, but it's seriously not worth affecting someone else's gameplay (Gibbon's). Not putting him in because of my opinion makes ME the deciding factor, and the simple fact is, my departure from alliance status won't have any affect on the alliance itself.
That sounds pretty lame, but I know all too well that if I left the Kaos group, there would be no loss. I just don't have any impact on it, and on balance, Kaos' group would be better served WITH a power player, than a guy who falls off cliffs. A lot.
If I do leave, there's one thing for certain -- I'll never join any other alliance. 2 of them in 5 years is plenty.
Well, with THAT happy point taken care of, my take on the other 2 alliance recruiting threads that popped up subsequent to Kaos' thread:
2. Doomherald posted a thread subsequently to Kaos. Here's the thing: I've pretty much only read Doom on the boards, since the days he was with (or close to) Masonry. I know they jumped quests back in the day, and apparently took delight in messing with others' in-game experience, but my interactions with him as of late have been nothing but upfront and honorable. Maybe he's mellowed with age? (That, or with Willow out of the picture, he's back to normal, lol). He seems very willing to help out, quest, and otherwise just pitch in. It's weird, he's being a model player, and seems to still be getting beaten up over past actions and/or rep. I'm actually thinking he might be a good fit for, well, a misfit (not me -- see #1). =P
3. One of the al-Thors posted a thread, but that seems to be going nowhere fast. *shrug* I heard it's like one guy with 5 accounts or something.
1. Kaos first posted a recruiting thread. Actually quite nice to see so many people point out what a good group it is (even if it doesn't have the marquee power of Chunglee's clan, which still seems to be the gold standard of TD). There's some internal question now, because Gibbon posted that he wants to join Kaos' clan.
He's got an interesting road to go down if he wants to join since Kaos suspected Gibbon was behind a DNS attack on the clan site, since it happened the day Gibbon was sending e-mails to my home account, and posted on the clan boards (no one can prove anything, and as coincidental as it was, it's not even to the level of "beyond a reasonable doubt."
Some people saw his posts, and asked my opinion on his joining. I went out of my way in private tells and PMs to not be the deciding factor -- hell, I don't want to be ANY factor in this. I've made it clear -- my feelings on whether or not he should join are irrelevant. I really have to demur here -- I don't want to be a factor in deciding up or down on Gibbon. Honestly, I think he could be much more of an impact player than I can be. He plays far more, is higher level, and is otherwise much more available for quests and group hunts. The fact is, he has the potential to be a very positive impact on the group, unlike myself, who is awfully solitary in my time online.
Having said that, I will regrettably have to step away from that alliance, and will do so with (seriously) not an ounce of hard feelings or a bad heart. In fact, I'll remain an "alliance-friend," instead of an "alliance-mate." It's just a point of principle, but it's seriously not worth affecting someone else's gameplay (Gibbon's). Not putting him in because of my opinion makes ME the deciding factor, and the simple fact is, my departure from alliance status won't have any affect on the alliance itself.
That sounds pretty lame, but I know all too well that if I left the Kaos group, there would be no loss. I just don't have any impact on it, and on balance, Kaos' group would be better served WITH a power player, than a guy who falls off cliffs. A lot.
If I do leave, there's one thing for certain -- I'll never join any other alliance. 2 of them in 5 years is plenty.
Well, with THAT happy point taken care of, my take on the other 2 alliance recruiting threads that popped up subsequent to Kaos' thread:
2. Doomherald posted a thread subsequently to Kaos. Here's the thing: I've pretty much only read Doom on the boards, since the days he was with (or close to) Masonry. I know they jumped quests back in the day, and apparently took delight in messing with others' in-game experience, but my interactions with him as of late have been nothing but upfront and honorable. Maybe he's mellowed with age? (That, or with Willow out of the picture, he's back to normal, lol). He seems very willing to help out, quest, and otherwise just pitch in. It's weird, he's being a model player, and seems to still be getting beaten up over past actions and/or rep. I'm actually thinking he might be a good fit for, well, a misfit (not me -- see #1). =P
3. One of the al-Thors posted a thread, but that seems to be going nowhere fast. *shrug* I heard it's like one guy with 5 accounts or something.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
I love the "Library Book" quest.
There's this quest, called the "hidden entrance" quest, where you go and retrieve these 11 books, called "Report to Niraltah." You get 1% of your level for 10 of them (1 just gets you a no-drop "Guard Uniform," which might as well be inscribed, "Give this to a town crier immediately.").
Anyway. I love going there, because I absolutely NEVER fight a thing. Why bother? This is a LIBRARY, dammit! You ever seen librarians? They are either:
1. Freaking HAWT (once they take off their glasses, let their hair drop down to their waists, and step into whatever Whitesnake video they're about to be in), or
2. Fat and bearded, like UNIX programmers.
Technically, it's illegal to kill both (although some of the #2 class bring it on themselves).
It's LEGAL to kill librarians in Dereth, though. At least these two kinds in the Library Book quest dungeon:
1. A Tumerok, or
2. A Lugian.
Tumerok Librarian tells you, "QUIET j00 OR YOUR CARD IS REVOKEDZORED!"
Seriously, even for someone like me, that's like 8million XP (just under a mutilator pincer, and more than a Warrior pincer) for about 10 minutes' work, tops.
Except that I take a little more time than that.
I told you, I look at it like a library. So when I run through for the books, I tend to, um, type stuff out (seriously).
==================================
You say, "LIBRARIES ARE JUST PLACES FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO B M!"
You say, "THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM SUCKS!"
You say, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'M NOT PUTTING THE MAGAZINES BACK ON THEIR PROPER RACK POSITION!"
You say, "OH SURE -- I'D LOVE TO HANDLE BOOKS PREVIOUSLY READ 35 TIMES BY BLUE HAIRED OLD LADIES"
@e knocks over the card cataloge
You say, "WHO THE HELL COMES TO THE LIBRARY ANYMORE? HELLLOOOOOOO? THERE'S THIS THING CALLED THE INTERNET!"
==================================
All of those statements are things I've actually typed out, and spammed, as I run through the quest. Why do I go to the trouble to type them? Look, if you were in a library where the librarians wanted to kill you, wouldn't you finally vent a little?
I know what you're going to say: It's not a library. But when it was first introduced, it was often referred to as the "library book" quest.
So that's what it is.
Besides, I just KNOW I've seen a hottie in the corner, with her hair in a tight bun, wearing oversized glasses. If I keep going there, maybe she'll notice me. :-D
Anyway. I love going there, because I absolutely NEVER fight a thing. Why bother? This is a LIBRARY, dammit! You ever seen librarians? They are either:
1. Freaking HAWT (once they take off their glasses, let their hair drop down to their waists, and step into whatever Whitesnake video they're about to be in), or
2. Fat and bearded, like UNIX programmers.
Technically, it's illegal to kill both (although some of the #2 class bring it on themselves).
It's LEGAL to kill librarians in Dereth, though. At least these two kinds in the Library Book quest dungeon:
1. A Tumerok, or
2. A Lugian.
Tumerok Librarian tells you, "QUIET j00 OR YOUR CARD IS REVOKEDZORED!"
Seriously, even for someone like me, that's like 8million XP (just under a mutilator pincer, and more than a Warrior pincer) for about 10 minutes' work, tops.
Except that I take a little more time than that.
I told you, I look at it like a library. So when I run through for the books, I tend to, um, type stuff out (seriously).
==================================
You say, "LIBRARIES ARE JUST PLACES FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO B M!"
You say, "THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM SUCKS!"
You say, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'M NOT PUTTING THE MAGAZINES BACK ON THEIR PROPER RACK POSITION!"
You say, "OH SURE -- I'D LOVE TO HANDLE BOOKS PREVIOUSLY READ 35 TIMES BY BLUE HAIRED OLD LADIES"
@e knocks over the card cataloge
You say, "WHO THE HELL COMES TO THE LIBRARY ANYMORE? HELLLOOOOOOO? THERE'S THIS THING CALLED THE INTERNET!"
==================================
All of those statements are things I've actually typed out, and spammed, as I run through the quest. Why do I go to the trouble to type them? Look, if you were in a library where the librarians wanted to kill you, wouldn't you finally vent a little?
I know what you're going to say: It's not a library. But when it was first introduced, it was often referred to as the "library book" quest.
So that's what it is.
Besides, I just KNOW I've seen a hottie in the corner, with her hair in a tight bun, wearing oversized glasses. If I keep going there, maybe she'll notice me. :-D
Friday, May 27, 2005
I tried running El Tank . . .
. . . I hit "start," and it attempted to delete my character and reroll. :-(
Sigh. Tank won't even ACM or UCM me, since I suck so bad.
Why Tank?
In a fit of desperation I spec'd magic D early, untraining lockpick in the process. Over the past few weeks, I've been regularly going to the spec or unspec dungeons to get various gems "just in case," I wanted to tinker w/my template, in the futile hope that I could arrange my XP in such a way that I could have my 3D archer template in place. An additional benefit to that would be that (with enough XP), I'd have all of the relevant skills at the necessary minimums for waring my major suit.
So:
Just kind of sitting in my Villa (chez de vitae)'s basement, I did the following:
1. Untrained 'pick. (Goodbye, chances at Aerlinthe!)
2. Spec'd magic D
3. Moved lore to trained, and got a boatload of XP back, which I shunted into Magic D and/or Self.
4. Untrained Run, and got a moderate amount of XP back (I so loved having an insane Run skill, and gawd knows it certainly looked good from a role player's standpoint!).
Bottom line? I'm still, oh 1 BILLION xp away from 280 Magic D. I think. I've got melee at 364, missle at 305, but magic D is killing me.
I did some calculations: 20 million per hour over 5 hours is 100 million. 10 spouts of 100 million is 1 Bazillion-izzle. Now then, since I've eared 20/hr about, oh SIX times in the course of my AC career (and even then, the longest I'd ever played in that position was like 2 hours, tops), we're looking at me hitting 280 magic D sometime around Gwydiana's 35th marriage (figuring that each one runs about, what, 4 months?).
Pwned. :-(
Edit: One last thing. I love --no, make that LOVE LOVE LOVE-- my "dapper suit," from the Noir Assassination quest. In fact, I go out of my way to wear it when I'm not fighting. Except now, with Lore reduced to a trained skill w/ZERO xp in it, my armor can't come off until I hit the magic D level.
Double pwned.
Mana charges, anyone?
Sigh. Tank won't even ACM or UCM me, since I suck so bad.
Why Tank?
In a fit of desperation I spec'd magic D early, untraining lockpick in the process. Over the past few weeks, I've been regularly going to the spec or unspec dungeons to get various gems "just in case," I wanted to tinker w/my template, in the futile hope that I could arrange my XP in such a way that I could have my 3D archer template in place. An additional benefit to that would be that (with enough XP), I'd have all of the relevant skills at the necessary minimums for waring my major suit.
So:
Just kind of sitting in my Villa (chez de vitae)'s basement, I did the following:
1. Untrained 'pick. (Goodbye, chances at Aerlinthe!)
2. Spec'd magic D
3. Moved lore to trained, and got a boatload of XP back, which I shunted into Magic D and/or Self.
4. Untrained Run, and got a moderate amount of XP back (I so loved having an insane Run skill, and gawd knows it certainly looked good from a role player's standpoint!).
Bottom line? I'm still, oh 1 BILLION xp away from 280 Magic D. I think. I've got melee at 364, missle at 305, but magic D is killing me.
I did some calculations: 20 million per hour over 5 hours is 100 million. 10 spouts of 100 million is 1 Bazillion-izzle. Now then, since I've eared 20/hr about, oh SIX times in the course of my AC career (and even then, the longest I'd ever played in that position was like 2 hours, tops), we're looking at me hitting 280 magic D sometime around Gwydiana's 35th marriage (figuring that each one runs about, what, 4 months?).
Pwned. :-(
Edit: One last thing. I love --no, make that LOVE LOVE LOVE-- my "dapper suit," from the Noir Assassination quest. In fact, I go out of my way to wear it when I'm not fighting. Except now, with Lore reduced to a trained skill w/ZERO xp in it, my armor can't come off until I hit the magic D level.
Double pwned.
Mana charges, anyone?
Thursday, May 26, 2005
When it rains, it pours
Major bow items, that is.
Someone PM'd me out of the blue with some ANOTHER major bow covenant item (who knew ISOs were so effective?). Woot!
Now if I can just keep from blowing it up . . .
Someone PM'd me out of the blue with some ANOTHER major bow covenant item (who knew ISOs were so effective?). Woot!
Now if I can just keep from blowing it up . . .
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
I so heart Lokkie.
I don't even know why, but he cracks me up, and I dig him.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. =P
Not that there's anything wrong with that. =P
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Um, ahem.
So, I posted on the VN boards to look for a replacement of a major bow covenant item. WIthin 2 posts, someone offered me some seriously underpowered covenant bracers w/major bow.
For 50 MMDs.
Ouch.
@e counts the MMDs to his name.
@e counts up to 63.
@e remembers he owes 3 for something he bought Kitra
Down to 10 MMDs to my name.
But, for the time being, I've got major bow in my arsenal again.
===
Update: Dionysis (sp.) on the boards, out of the blue, offered me ANOTHER major bow covenant item. OMG! Awesome! He even accepted the last of my MMDs for them (had to even sell pyreal peas to make up the necessary amount). These aren't useable - yet. But I'm a-workin' towards em.
Wow. I think it was Taka Toka who wrote, "We come for the game, we stay for the people." Good observation, on balance, at least.
Because, after the 2 posts, I never bumped that thread again. Diony just PM'd me out of the blue.
For 50 MMDs.
Ouch.
@e counts the MMDs to his name.
@e counts up to 63.
@e remembers he owes 3 for something he bought Kitra
Down to 10 MMDs to my name.
But, for the time being, I've got major bow in my arsenal again.
===
Update: Dionysis (sp.) on the boards, out of the blue, offered me ANOTHER major bow covenant item. OMG! Awesome! He even accepted the last of my MMDs for them (had to even sell pyreal peas to make up the necessary amount). These aren't useable - yet. But I'm a-workin' towards em.
Wow. I think it was Taka Toka who wrote, "We come for the game, we stay for the people." Good observation, on balance, at least.
Because, after the 2 posts, I never bumped that thread again. Diony just PM'd me out of the blue.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Pot, meet kettle.
Here's Gibbon's most worthless vomiting -- God, I seriously have to weigh out the benefits vs. cost of just going to Florida to beat his POS ass down.
"It is one of the banes of the internet. People relish in the fact that they can be rude, crude, insulting, vile-spewing mega-gits with absolutley no worries about consequences."
--Gibbon Raver, Berek Heartthew in AC:TD.
Who is the BIGGEST violator of this? Who engages in the MOST personal attacks, second only to Wash Chines? Yup.
Pot, meet kettle.
@e adds another reason against ever logging in again.
"It is one of the banes of the internet. People relish in the fact that they can be rude, crude, insulting, vile-spewing mega-gits with absolutley no worries about consequences."
--Gibbon Raver, Berek Heartthew in AC:TD.
Who is the BIGGEST violator of this? Who engages in the MOST personal attacks, second only to Wash Chines? Yup.
Pot, meet kettle.
@e adds another reason against ever logging in again.
Maybe deleting isn't a bad move.
Why do I bother?
I worked for over a WEEK, staying up late, doing nothing but slagging through olthoi while burdened to get my missle D to 305 base (yes, that's accurate -- it's the 3D archer template) so I could weild the major bow greaves Doomherald gave me. The only problem was that they had a rank requirement.
They just blew up on the silk tinker, with the tinkerer claiming a 90% chance of it landing. The person who was tinking them did NOT wait for me to brill, however. He just saw me pull out the stone (which was out of mana). As I was charging it, he attempted the tinker, and blew up the one item I was building this template around, the one item that had actually given me optimism about maybe being able to experience some of the higher-end aspects of the game.
This was to be the cornerstone of me getting back into this game, and actually trying to make a template where you didn't have to buff, but just made do with level 6s (plus majors). Instead I'm left with a gaping hole. In fact, now I'm stuck with (1) missle D raised up high (which only allows me to wear one item I need -- is that truly worth spec'ing missle D?), (2) I had just swapped out lockpick for magic D, and (3) an absolute feeling of: Why bother?
It must make the loot/fate gods happy to know that while UCMers, griefers, and d00ds are soloing the planet, one casual player who was just trying to get by has had his teeth kicked in. When I hit 305 base missle (around 4pm), I was completely rejuvenated, and thought, "Hey, things are really looking up! Let me go dye and make these things useable."
Wow, that happiness lasted what, like 30 minutes?
I worked for over a WEEK, staying up late, doing nothing but slagging through olthoi while burdened to get my missle D to 305 base (yes, that's accurate -- it's the 3D archer template) so I could weild the major bow greaves Doomherald gave me. The only problem was that they had a rank requirement.
They just blew up on the silk tinker, with the tinkerer claiming a 90% chance of it landing. The person who was tinking them did NOT wait for me to brill, however. He just saw me pull out the stone (which was out of mana). As I was charging it, he attempted the tinker, and blew up the one item I was building this template around, the one item that had actually given me optimism about maybe being able to experience some of the higher-end aspects of the game.
This was to be the cornerstone of me getting back into this game, and actually trying to make a template where you didn't have to buff, but just made do with level 6s (plus majors). Instead I'm left with a gaping hole. In fact, now I'm stuck with (1) missle D raised up high (which only allows me to wear one item I need -- is that truly worth spec'ing missle D?), (2) I had just swapped out lockpick for magic D, and (3) an absolute feeling of: Why bother?
It must make the loot/fate gods happy to know that while UCMers, griefers, and d00ds are soloing the planet, one casual player who was just trying to get by has had his teeth kicked in. When I hit 305 base missle (around 4pm), I was completely rejuvenated, and thought, "Hey, things are really looking up! Let me go dye and make these things useable."
Wow, that happiness lasted what, like 30 minutes?
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Newsweek did it on purpose.
They knew the story was false, and printed it anyway. They did it deliberately to make money on sensationalism and to make money.
What? Is that unreasonable? Overstating a mistake? You say that Newsweek was given faulty info they believed to be reliable? You say that as long as Newsweek reviews its internal procedures to figure out the intelligence failure, all's well?
But, somehow it's ok to say that Bush "knew" there were no WMD's in Iraq? Somehow, it's ok to say that Bush deliberately went to war in Iraq just for (insert conspiratorial reason here)?
Hi. Welcome to KarmaVille.
@e prints "Newsweek lied, people died" posters.
What? Is that unreasonable? Overstating a mistake? You say that Newsweek was given faulty info they believed to be reliable? You say that as long as Newsweek reviews its internal procedures to figure out the intelligence failure, all's well?
But, somehow it's ok to say that Bush "knew" there were no WMD's in Iraq? Somehow, it's ok to say that Bush deliberately went to war in Iraq just for (insert conspiratorial reason here)?
Hi. Welcome to KarmaVille.
@e prints "Newsweek lied, people died" posters.
Woot! Life suit completed!
Swingblade (HR_Puffinstuff from the VN boards) just came through BIG for me.
He traded me HIS full life outfit (two clothing items and one bracelet) for MY full life outfit.
I've got room for my health necklace now! Wooooo-hooooo!
I r teh happy.
He traded me HIS full life outfit (two clothing items and one bracelet) for MY full life outfit.
I've got room for my health necklace now! Wooooo-hooooo!
I r teh happy.
Sunday, May 15, 2005
You know what's not a good move?
@e notices that he's down to 4 arrows in total, and is happy, since he wants to recall to Villa anyway.
@e takes off all his armor and puts on Dapper Suit to conserve mana.
@e notices Crystal Golem over there.
@e thinks, "What the hell, only 4 deadly fire arrows anyway."
Crystal Golem evaded your attack.
Crystal Golem evaded your attack.
Crystal Golem evaded your attack.
Crystal Golem evaded your attack.
@e notices Crystal Golem is next to him now . . .
You say, " . . . "
Tai Fung is recalling home.
Crystal Golem stops and looks at the floating, slowly spinning Gimp.
Crystal Golem tells you, "Much <3 for Rotisserie"
Crystal Golem beats Tai Fung to a lifeless pulp!
One hit.
Why wasn't this a good move? Let me 'splain it to you:
Tai's villa location: 36.1N 36.1W
Your corpse is located at 35.8N 36.5W
I was THAT close to the house. Why exactly did I do @house recall?
Oh yeah -- because I'm an idiot. :-(
@e takes off all his armor and puts on Dapper Suit to conserve mana.
@e notices Crystal Golem over there.
@e thinks, "What the hell, only 4 deadly fire arrows anyway."
Crystal Golem evaded your attack.
Crystal Golem evaded your attack.
Crystal Golem evaded your attack.
Crystal Golem evaded your attack.
@e notices Crystal Golem is next to him now . . .
You say, " . . . "
Tai Fung is recalling home.
Crystal Golem stops and looks at the floating, slowly spinning Gimp.
Crystal Golem tells you, "Much <3 for Rotisserie"
Crystal Golem beats Tai Fung to a lifeless pulp!
One hit.
Why wasn't this a good move? Let me 'splain it to you:
Tai's villa location: 36.1N 36.1W
Your corpse is located at 35.8N 36.5W
I was THAT close to the house. Why exactly did I do @house recall?
Oh yeah -- because I'm an idiot. :-(
There's a reason it's called the Valley of "DEATH," Tai!
Ok, so I'll admit it: I'm a VOD Virgin. Never been there.
Why?
It's a very complex series of reasons, mostly because of time problems, committments, and . . . oh, screw it -- that's not why.
I've never been able to find it.
Look, I *know* there are directions on how to get there, they usually involved:
1. Mansion portals (I wasn't a member of a monarchy)
2. Caul (if you think I had THAT portal up until recently, you're nuts).
3. Aerlinthe (ahem).
So, anyway, I finally decided to go. Once and for all. @e makes little trumpet sound with his lips. Figured I'd see what all the fuss was about.
I get "there" and promptly spend the next hour running "West then South," as described by my patron (I gotta give her credit, though -- she pointed out that if you just paid the D note, and then took portal after portal, ones where NO running was involved, you could get to the "VOD Lifestone." Now THOSE are route instructions I can handle!
Anyway, I take the portals, and per her instructions, run "West then South." Only to find Drudge Bloodletters, some (gasp!) Sinister Shadows, and LOTS of Imperial Mu-Miawhatevers. So, I recalled, and re-thought. "Hmm," I thought, "Maybe I'll try a LITTLE west, THEN South."
Silver Tuskers. :-/
Hmmm.
The whole time, I'm chatting with my patron, trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong. She keeps telling me that I'll know a VOD thingie when I see it.
You say to your Patron, "Oooooh -- look at GREAT Revenant! Is that one?"
Your Patron (name redacted to protect the innocent) says to you, "Um, no. That's a monster most people can kill by the time they leave the training hall. Where ARE you?"
You say to your Patron, "I went west then south, right past the lifestone like you said."
Your Patron (see above) says to you, "That's weird. You should be in the thick of it."
You say to your Patron, "Maybe they're afraid to spawn now that I'm all uber-ified."
Your Patron says to you, "Sorry, just trying to figure out why Tai can't find the broad side of a barn in the middle of an empty room."
Your Patron says to you, "mt"
You say to your Patron, " . . . "
So I do what all good men do when they're lost . . . I pulled up a map (heh, we just TELL women we navigate by feel). ACMAPS.com, specifically.
Wow. Look at that. TWO "VOD Lifestones."
One on the North end, one on the South end.
I've been running West then South. Which LS have I been at?
Yup.
Oops.
Let's try "East then North."
I run along, and all of a sudden, there's this group of baddies over there. Hmm. "Lich Oppressor." Oooooh! THAT sounds cool! Let's ID him.
Your base assess creature skill is now (still) pathetic!
Humph. Bah, let's just try a fire arrow.
You know that scene in "Finding Nemo," re Dory's attitude with the baby jellyfish? That's the tone I'm setting here.
Remember (wtf was Nemo's Dad's name?) that guy's attitude when the million BIG jellyfish wanted to turn him into slightly braised clownfish?
It wasn't pretty.
But it WAS fun. I gotta get back there.
Now if I can only remember how . . .
Why?
It's a very complex series of reasons, mostly because of time problems, committments, and . . . oh, screw it -- that's not why.
I've never been able to find it.
Look, I *know* there are directions on how to get there, they usually involved:
1. Mansion portals (I wasn't a member of a monarchy)
2. Caul (if you think I had THAT portal up until recently, you're nuts).
3. Aerlinthe (ahem).
So, anyway, I finally decided to go. Once and for all. @e makes little trumpet sound with his lips. Figured I'd see what all the fuss was about.
I get "there" and promptly spend the next hour running "West then South," as described by my patron (I gotta give her credit, though -- she pointed out that if you just paid the D note, and then took portal after portal, ones where NO running was involved, you could get to the "VOD Lifestone." Now THOSE are route instructions I can handle!
Anyway, I take the portals, and per her instructions, run "West then South." Only to find Drudge Bloodletters, some (gasp!) Sinister Shadows, and LOTS of Imperial Mu-Miawhatevers. So, I recalled, and re-thought. "Hmm," I thought, "Maybe I'll try a LITTLE west, THEN South."
Silver Tuskers. :-/
Hmmm.
The whole time, I'm chatting with my patron, trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong. She keeps telling me that I'll know a VOD thingie when I see it.
You say to your Patron, "Oooooh -- look at GREAT Revenant! Is that one?"
Your Patron (name redacted to protect the innocent) says to you, "Um, no. That's a monster most people can kill by the time they leave the training hall. Where ARE you?"
You say to your Patron, "I went west then south, right past the lifestone like you said."
Your Patron (see above) says to you, "That's weird. You should be in the thick of it."
You say to your Patron, "Maybe they're afraid to spawn now that I'm all uber-ified."
Your Patron says to you, "Sorry, just trying to figure out why Tai can't find the broad side of a barn in the middle of an empty room."
Your Patron says to you, "mt"
You say to your Patron, " . . . "
So I do what all good men do when they're lost . . . I pulled up a map (heh, we just TELL women we navigate by feel). ACMAPS.com, specifically.
Wow. Look at that. TWO "VOD Lifestones."
One on the North end, one on the South end.
I've been running West then South. Which LS have I been at?
Yup.
Oops.
Let's try "East then North."
I run along, and all of a sudden, there's this group of baddies over there. Hmm. "Lich Oppressor." Oooooh! THAT sounds cool! Let's ID him.
Your base assess creature skill is now (still) pathetic!
Humph. Bah, let's just try a fire arrow.
You know that scene in "Finding Nemo," re Dory's attitude with the baby jellyfish? That's the tone I'm setting here.
Remember (wtf was Nemo's Dad's name?) that guy's attitude when the million BIG jellyfish wanted to turn him into slightly braised clownfish?
It wasn't pretty.
But it WAS fun. I gotta get back there.
Now if I can only remember how . . .
Saturday, May 14, 2005
@e wipes a tear . . .
And now Juzam just goes out of his way to make a trade for me for ANOTHER incredibly useful piece of armor for me.
Zoikes.
Suddenly, last week's letdown over failing Aerlinthe (again and again and again) isn't as tough on the soul.
It's that whole Karma thing. Again. ;-)
Zoikes.
Suddenly, last week's letdown over failing Aerlinthe (again and again and again) isn't as tough on the soul.
It's that whole Karma thing. Again. ;-)
Thursday, May 12, 2005
@e feels his heart start to pitter-patter
I might have a SWEET trade with Doomherald coming up for some Major Bow greaves, and my patron (<3) found me a replacement major focus BP at the same time. This could seriously be a great break for me.
'Bout time! :D =P
'Bout time! :D =P
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Well, since I've put all that XP into my run skill . . .
. . . might as well see what it's like in RL!
The bad news is that the Marine Corps Marathon is WAAAAY past sold-out (apparently registration filled in like 62 hours!). :(
The good news is that I just got registered for the 8K portion of the race. :)
I guess I can just run the 8K portion of the race (we pick up at like mile 22, at Arlington Cemetary) 5 times. :D
Or, I can just run the 8K once and commence drinking at the finish line (Iwo Jima memorial). B-)
The bad news is that the Marine Corps Marathon is WAAAAY past sold-out (apparently registration filled in like 62 hours!). :(
The good news is that I just got registered for the 8K portion of the race. :)
I guess I can just run the 8K portion of the race (we pick up at like mile 22, at Arlington Cemetary) 5 times. :D
Or, I can just run the 8K once and commence drinking at the finish line (Iwo Jima memorial). B-)
Pathetic enforcement on VN -- where are the mods?
They go to all this trouble to hire mods who will be available at various times, and then NONE are around?
========
From the Vault TOS:
Rules:
Flaming, Harassment, Bashing, Baiting, Threats and Trolling (back)
The following is not allowed on the VN Forums:
Calling people names, swearing at people, following people around on various threads to purposefully bother or harass them, sending them Private Messages when they tell you not to, threatening people or just directly provoking or baiting people just for the purpose of getting a negative reaction is not allowed on our forums. Any word used in a derogatory fashion against somebody constitutes a personal attack and will be treated that way. This applies to all posters and all areas of our forums. We expect posters here to respect each other, even if they disagree and dislike each other, so please keep personal disputes off our forums.
========
You bet your ass I have a problem with Gibbon, and I will beat his ass in RL if we ever meet up (and I'm thinking that's going to be a LOT easier than I'd first thought -- woot!).
What's worse is that I've been told in PMs from Vault Mods that he's do be coddled and that he just "takes" to people from time to time, and just fixates on them. It's apparently known to the mods that he does this, but it's still permitted(!).
WTF?
Frankly, despite our board history, I wouldn't care -- if he pulled the stuff he's pulling now, I'd ban him. The VN mods can't be there all the time, but they need to show backbone when they ARE around. How many warnings does one require?
Pretty sad.
But meanwhile, I --DID-- specifically promise T4 that I wouldn't "agitate" him, since she noted that he's a problem child and gets these fixations.
Sigh.
========
From the Vault TOS:
Rules:
Flaming, Harassment, Bashing, Baiting, Threats and Trolling (back)
The following is not allowed on the VN Forums:
Calling people names, swearing at people, following people around on various threads to purposefully bother or harass them, sending them Private Messages when they tell you not to, threatening people or just directly provoking or baiting people just for the purpose of getting a negative reaction is not allowed on our forums. Any word used in a derogatory fashion against somebody constitutes a personal attack and will be treated that way. This applies to all posters and all areas of our forums. We expect posters here to respect each other, even if they disagree and dislike each other, so please keep personal disputes off our forums.
========
You bet your ass I have a problem with Gibbon, and I will beat his ass in RL if we ever meet up (and I'm thinking that's going to be a LOT easier than I'd first thought -- woot!).
What's worse is that I've been told in PMs from Vault Mods that he's do be coddled and that he just "takes" to people from time to time, and just fixates on them. It's apparently known to the mods that he does this, but it's still permitted(!).
WTF?
Frankly, despite our board history, I wouldn't care -- if he pulled the stuff he's pulling now, I'd ban him. The VN mods can't be there all the time, but they need to show backbone when they ARE around. How many warnings does one require?
Pretty sad.
But meanwhile, I --DID-- specifically promise T4 that I wouldn't "agitate" him, since she noted that he's a problem child and gets these fixations.
Sigh.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Another major
Just bought a major strength covenant item on VN. Not too shabby!
So, that's:
Major Str
Major End
Major Focus
Noble Coord (+12)
Noble Quick (+12)
And, if I feel like taking the HUGE AL hit, Major Bow.
Plus, full life 6 protects (kinda, at the cost of my +30 health necklace), and a nearly full array of creature buffs (missing missle D, sprint, and regeneration).
Can't wait to see how I screw up tonight . . .
So, that's:
Major Str
Major End
Major Focus
Noble Coord (+12)
Noble Quick (+12)
And, if I feel like taking the HUGE AL hit, Major Bow.
Plus, full life 6 protects (kinda, at the cost of my +30 health necklace), and a nearly full array of creature buffs (missing missle D, sprint, and regeneration).
Can't wait to see how I screw up tonight . . .
Monday, May 09, 2005
And here's the curse:
Well, actually, I'll save the curse for the end.
Attempt #3 (at least) for the Aerlinthe Lower Reservoir grate jump: Failure.
I posted the question as to the jump on VN and my alliance boards, and it seems there were two divergent opinions. One was for a "full forward" jump to the left corner, the other a shift jump. I opted for the shift jump to the corner.
Didn't even reach the grate. Fell straight down the shaft.
This is actually my fault, not the fault of any advisors either on VN or my clan boards. I should have realized that I'm gimped enough that a shift jump wouldn't be enough for me, and that I'd [u]have[/u] to do a full forward jump to even reach that corner. But I didn't think it through before I did the jump, so that's attempt number 4 at Aerlinthe down the tubes (only 3 jumps failed, as I recalled out of the Coral Tunnels the first time, not thinking as I was burdened for unrelated reasons).
Oh well. At least I'm not doing some boring powerleveling (which I can't do with the bellows, sluice bar, and dagger weighing me down, lol).
I'll give it yet another try tomorrow night. This is just plain ridiculous now.
Oh -- here's the curse (and it's a RL trait). I don't quit. As in ever. I am the fucking incarnation of the Energizer bunny. I go, and go and go, and don't quit. It's translated into mucho success in RL (probably too much of a type A anyway), and a heckuva reputation professionally, but it's not exactly that fun to live with this trait. You kind of detach from yourself, and know you're doing it, but can't stop. You step outside yourself, and almost join in with others saying, "Take it easy, ease up, let us/me help you." I don't quit not because I don't want to, but because I can't.
I guess it's like that scene in "Tin Cup," when Kevin Costner just keeps hitting ball after ball into the drink, and knows he can make it, so just keeps going anyway. Except instead of saying, "Gimmie another ball," I'm saying, "Gimmie another D note."
If you need me, I'll be on Aerlinthe. Not leaving that island until I can at least make the jump. Until then, gimmie another D note.
Fuck.
Attempt #3 (at least) for the Aerlinthe Lower Reservoir grate jump: Failure.
I posted the question as to the jump on VN and my alliance boards, and it seems there were two divergent opinions. One was for a "full forward" jump to the left corner, the other a shift jump. I opted for the shift jump to the corner.
Didn't even reach the grate. Fell straight down the shaft.
This is actually my fault, not the fault of any advisors either on VN or my clan boards. I should have realized that I'm gimped enough that a shift jump wouldn't be enough for me, and that I'd [u]have[/u] to do a full forward jump to even reach that corner. But I didn't think it through before I did the jump, so that's attempt number 4 at Aerlinthe down the tubes (only 3 jumps failed, as I recalled out of the Coral Tunnels the first time, not thinking as I was burdened for unrelated reasons).
Oh well. At least I'm not doing some boring powerleveling (which I can't do with the bellows, sluice bar, and dagger weighing me down, lol).
I'll give it yet another try tomorrow night. This is just plain ridiculous now.
Oh -- here's the curse (and it's a RL trait). I don't quit. As in ever. I am the fucking incarnation of the Energizer bunny. I go, and go and go, and don't quit. It's translated into mucho success in RL (probably too much of a type A anyway), and a heckuva reputation professionally, but it's not exactly that fun to live with this trait. You kind of detach from yourself, and know you're doing it, but can't stop. You step outside yourself, and almost join in with others saying, "Take it easy, ease up, let us/me help you." I don't quit not because I don't want to, but because I can't.
I guess it's like that scene in "Tin Cup," when Kevin Costner just keeps hitting ball after ball into the drink, and knows he can make it, so just keeps going anyway. Except instead of saying, "Gimmie another ball," I'm saying, "Gimmie another D note."
If you need me, I'll be on Aerlinthe. Not leaving that island until I can at least make the jump. Until then, gimmie another D note.
Fuck.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
So, why the FUCK do I bother?
Went to Aerlinthe again. Figured, "I'll just try the jump again -- if I make it, I'll log, and wait for everyone to find a good time to run the quest, since I've gotten everything we need -- I just have to make the jump."
Went to the ledge. Saw the grate. A jump to the wall, with a slide down to the grate didn't work the first time. Thought I'd do a shift/jump this time.
Missed. Not sure what happened, but it didn't stick.
Why the fuck do I even bother?
Went to the ledge. Saw the grate. A jump to the wall, with a slide down to the grate didn't work the first time. Thought I'd do a shift/jump this time.
Missed. Not sure what happened, but it didn't stick.
Why the fuck do I even bother?
Friday, May 06, 2005
Well, THAT was special.
I've never done Aerlinthe. Haven't even managed to ever be online when an Aerlinthe quest is running.
So, what's the perfect move for me? Yup: Trying to solo Aerlinthe.
I printed the VN guide to Aerlinthe, and had AC Maps up on the Mac (yes, I'm ambi-computable), and worked my way through it.
Holy crap -- setting up for that damn quest is LONG!
I got the bellows, (eventually) the sluice bar, and even the sacrificial dagger. Off I go to the lower Aerlinthe res. portal! Woot!
At this point, I'm thinking, "You go Me!"*
But of course -- there's a jump.
From the Guide: "If you miss the grate, you'll have to go back to the (D note) Emissary and start again.
Was there ever any doubt? Missed the jump, now saddled with the bar, bellows, and dagger.
That's special. And a complete waste. I guess I will hang on to the dagger (haw) and just bide my time to try again. Like when I have another 3 hours to be online.
FUCK!
*I realize "You go Me," is akin to "Ah-Nold" type talk, but allow me that one bit of Street Talk.
So, what's the perfect move for me? Yup: Trying to solo Aerlinthe.
I printed the VN guide to Aerlinthe, and had AC Maps up on the Mac (yes, I'm ambi-computable), and worked my way through it.
Holy crap -- setting up for that damn quest is LONG!
I got the bellows, (eventually) the sluice bar, and even the sacrificial dagger. Off I go to the lower Aerlinthe res. portal! Woot!
At this point, I'm thinking, "You go Me!"*
But of course -- there's a jump.
From the Guide: "If you miss the grate, you'll have to go back to the (D note) Emissary and start again.
Was there ever any doubt? Missed the jump, now saddled with the bar, bellows, and dagger.
That's special. And a complete waste. I guess I will hang on to the dagger (haw) and just bide my time to try again. Like when I have another 3 hours to be online.
FUCK!
*I realize "You go Me," is akin to "Ah-Nold" type talk, but allow me that one bit of Street Talk.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
What's your personality disorder?
LOL!
Heh -- "Avoidant: Very High"
This is a surprise why??? ;-)
http://www.4degreez.com/misc/personality_disorder_test.mv
Heh -- "Avoidant: Very High"
This is a surprise why??? ;-)
http://www.4degreez.com/misc/personality_disorder_test.mv
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
106? WTF?
So, I stuck it out last night after missing most of the weekend. Just like that, 106.
20 levels to 126. This is bizarre. New territory, to be sure, but bizarre.
20 levels to 126. This is bizarre. New territory, to be sure, but bizarre.
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Zoikes.
That was fun.
A while back, some alliancemates went off to go get their tusks, and I worked up the sheer "non-Tai-ness" to ask about coming along: I don't ask for help, but I knew that I couldn't do anything past the Rampagers when it came to tusks.
So, I tagged along, and did some tusks I'd never (ordinarily) get to do, namely Plated and Assailers. My head was spinning from (a) trying to keep up, and (b) trying not to end up as Monkey Chow.
I just did tusks, solo, from Guards on up through Assailers, and it was SUCH a rush. It's child's play to so many people, but to me, it was just FAN-TAS-TIC. It was exciting, challenging, and the result of good planning. It didn't hurt to have the other computer up, with ACMaps' guide displaying how to get where I need to get. It was great -- I was so close to the walls, I looked like those painted Egyptian drawings, with some differences:
1. I wasn't wearing black eye shadow.
2. I wasn't holding up a cat, and sacrificing it to the Sun God Ra.
3. The Egyptians typically painted themselves kicking ass (or sacrificing cats), whereas I mostly was trying to just squeeze past Assailers as I hugged the right wall of that whole effing dungeon.
>>>Edward G. Robinson tells you, "So Moses, where's your God nowwwww? Me-yeahhh, see?"
Afterwards, I was in such a charged up mood, it was kismet that Quest Timer woke up and told me that the "Library Book" quest had just timed up for me -- now THAT is a fun dungeon -- you basically run like hell through it, grabbing books off the floor.
And just like that, I'm halfway to 106.
Yeesh. This is all new territory. Cool territory, but new.
A while back, some alliancemates went off to go get their tusks, and I worked up the sheer "non-Tai-ness" to ask about coming along: I don't ask for help, but I knew that I couldn't do anything past the Rampagers when it came to tusks.
So, I tagged along, and did some tusks I'd never (ordinarily) get to do, namely Plated and Assailers. My head was spinning from (a) trying to keep up, and (b) trying not to end up as Monkey Chow.
I just did tusks, solo, from Guards on up through Assailers, and it was SUCH a rush. It's child's play to so many people, but to me, it was just FAN-TAS-TIC. It was exciting, challenging, and the result of good planning. It didn't hurt to have the other computer up, with ACMaps' guide displaying how to get where I need to get. It was great -- I was so close to the walls, I looked like those painted Egyptian drawings, with some differences:
1. I wasn't wearing black eye shadow.
2. I wasn't holding up a cat, and sacrificing it to the Sun God Ra.
3. The Egyptians typically painted themselves kicking ass (or sacrificing cats), whereas I mostly was trying to just squeeze past Assailers as I hugged the right wall of that whole effing dungeon.
>>>Edward G. Robinson tells you, "So Moses, where's your God nowwwww? Me-yeahhh, see?"
Afterwards, I was in such a charged up mood, it was kismet that Quest Timer woke up and told me that the "Library Book" quest had just timed up for me -- now THAT is a fun dungeon -- you basically run like hell through it, grabbing books off the floor.
And just like that, I'm halfway to 106.
Yeesh. This is all new territory. Cool territory, but new.
Friday, April 29, 2005
105!
Woot!
I'm deciding that I hate powerleveling, but over the past three days, I've logged in, hit either the matron hive or the withered beach, and just tried to earn 10 million XP. I've done it in each case in less than one hour (woot!), and then logged. I was finding 104 kinda hard for some reason, so I was happy to just push through it. But doing so kinda took some of the fun away. Anyway, no worries -- my timers for the tusks and pincers should be up this weekend, so those should be a nice kick in the pants.
Assuming I can get someone to show me how to get my Assailer and Devastator tusks. :-P :-D
I'm deciding that I hate powerleveling, but over the past three days, I've logged in, hit either the matron hive or the withered beach, and just tried to earn 10 million XP. I've done it in each case in less than one hour (woot!), and then logged. I was finding 104 kinda hard for some reason, so I was happy to just push through it. But doing so kinda took some of the fun away. Anyway, no worries -- my timers for the tusks and pincers should be up this weekend, so those should be a nice kick in the pants.
Assuming I can get someone to show me how to get my Assailer and Devastator tusks. :-P :-D
One lousy bracelet.
For a while there, I couldn't NOT fall over multi-spell creature/life jewelry.
Now all I need is a lightning/piercing bracelet, and I'm screwzored. I've tried bots, mobs, hell even the Candeth Keep jewelry seller. No luck. LOL. Ah well.
I do have a lightning/piercing necklace, but I want to wear that Nuhmidira thing.
Pfft. It'll happen.
Now all I need is a lightning/piercing bracelet, and I'm screwzored. I've tried bots, mobs, hell even the Candeth Keep jewelry seller. No luck. LOL. Ah well.
I do have a lightning/piercing necklace, but I want to wear that Nuhmidira thing.
Pfft. It'll happen.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
You know what sucks?
Being an "un-person" to people you thought were RL friends.
That's all. Not very funny, but so very true.
That's all. Not very funny, but so very true.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Well THAT karma kicked in quick!
Wow.
So, I'm bummed about the lugians, and decide to go try out a new bludgeoning bow on some bugs. It's working well (which is nice), but within minutes of showing up, an Olthoi Mutilator drops platemail tassets.
Hmm. I need tassets.
Wait. These have minor bow (my crappy ones have Major Bow, but still).
Hmm, maybe if I just dye them black to match my armor.
Wait. These are natural black in color.
Loot god tells you, "Just this once, gimp."
So, after I tink them up with Marble (yes, some marble) and steel, they are seriously resistant to bludgeoning (I love modifiying percentages on armor rather than far-more-expensive steel the whole way, particularly when fighting hollow mobs).
I'm sure I'll find some covenant tassets eventually, but for the time being, this was a good development.
So, I'm bummed about the lugians, and decide to go try out a new bludgeoning bow on some bugs. It's working well (which is nice), but within minutes of showing up, an Olthoi Mutilator drops platemail tassets.
Hmm. I need tassets.
Wait. These have minor bow (my crappy ones have Major Bow, but still).
Hmm, maybe if I just dye them black to match my armor.
Wait. These are natural black in color.
Loot god tells you, "Just this once, gimp."
So, after I tink them up with Marble (yes, some marble) and steel, they are seriously resistant to bludgeoning (I love modifiying percentages on armor rather than far-more-expensive steel the whole way, particularly when fighting hollow mobs).
I'm sure I'll find some covenant tassets eventually, but for the time being, this was a good development.
Sheesh.
Withereds were rough on me tonight. I guess I needed some reminding that I seriously suck!
Must have died 3 times there tonight. What's funny is that even alone in the bunker, I can make 15 million/hour. That can't be anything to sneeze at, but still I seriously took my lumps. I was going to stick around until 104th level, but got too pissed at myself for being tired and making stupid mistakes.
The culprit's definitely my AL 134 chain tassets. But they're Major Bow, and nearly every other piece of armor either has a major on it. Guess those deaths are the side-effect. :-(
Bah.
I'll hit 104 before Sunday's done. I'll probably hit the lifestone a few more times, too.
Must have died 3 times there tonight. What's funny is that even alone in the bunker, I can make 15 million/hour. That can't be anything to sneeze at, but still I seriously took my lumps. I was going to stick around until 104th level, but got too pissed at myself for being tired and making stupid mistakes.
The culprit's definitely my AL 134 chain tassets. But they're Major Bow, and nearly every other piece of armor either has a major on it. Guess those deaths are the side-effect. :-(
Bah.
I'll hit 104 before Sunday's done. I'll probably hit the lifestone a few more times, too.
I can't help it . . .
. . . but I'll get banned if I post in on VN.
Lokkie mentioned that he'd gone "to the dark side," prompting Asper to worry that Lokkie "switched teams."
We don't need Lokkie to switch teams. Straight Lokkie apparently got more ass than a toilet seat. Granted, so does Gay Lokkie, but it's not taking away from prospective asses "our team" is interested in. :p
There. I feel better now. :P
P.S. Yes, technically Gay Lokkie gets more ass Straight Lokkie, but that's (IMHO) from a literal sense. :D
Lokkie mentioned that he'd gone "to the dark side," prompting Asper to worry that Lokkie "switched teams."
We don't need Lokkie to switch teams. Straight Lokkie apparently got more ass than a toilet seat. Granted, so does Gay Lokkie, but it's not taking away from prospective asses "our team" is interested in. :p
There. I feel better now. :P
P.S. Yes, technically Gay Lokkie gets more ass Straight Lokkie, but that's (IMHO) from a literal sense. :D
"Streaky" hits with withereds
Is it just me, or do lots of people (well, archers) go through streaks where they hit about X times in a row, and then MISS almost the same number of times?
Weird.
Weird.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Even though I didn't say a word . . .
. . . that was just beautiful to watch. *sniff*
Actually LOL'd during it. :-D
Actually LOL'd during it. :-D
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Amendment to the withereds
So it turns out that my mage friend (356 base war) is actually able to hit these withered drudges and tumeroks pretty well. Not as well on the bandies.
When we BOTH went on the offensive, and "ping-ponged" the drudges, we did much better. I'd shoot one a few times, he'd turn and run to me (taking more hits). She'd zap him, so he'd turn away from me (letting me shoot him in the back), and run to her.
Lather, rinse, Level. :-D
Not too bad. Like 8 million an hour, with lots of looting, which is insanely good for her (she's a very solitary and infrequent player), and not bad for me (hey, I'm modest, I don't always need it hay-uge in XP terms).
Not bad!
When we BOTH went on the offensive, and "ping-ponged" the drudges, we did much better. I'd shoot one a few times, he'd turn and run to me (taking more hits). She'd zap him, so he'd turn away from me (letting me shoot him in the back), and run to her.
Lather, rinse, Level. :-D
Not too bad. Like 8 million an hour, with lots of looting, which is insanely good for her (she's a very solitary and infrequent player), and not bad for me (hey, I'm modest, I don't always need it hay-uge in XP terms).
Not bad!
For the record . . .
. . . I'm not sayin' a word. :-D
*crickets*
@e shines his halo . . . :-)
@e repeats to himself, "A promise is a promise." Hi Thistle! :-D
*crickets*
@e shines his halo . . . :-)
@e repeats to himself, "A promise is a promise." Hi Thistle! :-D
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Interesting experiment tonight
So I took my mage friend out to the withered area (no, not to leech, you XP whores), and had her set up behind me off from the lugians. Near some Drudges, Tumeroks, and Banderlings, in fact.
The idea was for her to cast extinguish spells on me (as well as heal), while I fought the usually-avoided spellcasting mobs.
Seems like a decent enough idea, especially since she's such a solitary player that she wouldn't ordinarily get to go out there.
Not so good results, although we lagged out and lost the connection.
Here's the thing -- those extinguish spells take a LOT of mana. Like 280 without Mana Conversion. She figured it was costing about 200 per spell. So we had to let them debuff me to a huge degree before pulling the trigger on casting the spell. Oh, and since she's not killing, the XP is basically halved (although I'm just not enough of a whore to care).
Humph. Another good idea down the drain. :-(
The idea was for her to cast extinguish spells on me (as well as heal), while I fought the usually-avoided spellcasting mobs.
Seems like a decent enough idea, especially since she's such a solitary player that she wouldn't ordinarily get to go out there.
Not so good results, although we lagged out and lost the connection.
Here's the thing -- those extinguish spells take a LOT of mana. Like 280 without Mana Conversion. She figured it was costing about 200 per spell. So we had to let them debuff me to a huge degree before pulling the trigger on casting the spell. Oh, and since she's not killing, the XP is basically halved (although I'm just not enough of a whore to care).
Humph. Another good idea down the drain. :-(
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Oh, so THERE'S the portal . . .
I've gone to the withered lugian beaches a couple of times now. The first time I joined a fellow, and then hit the bunker, figuring that I could pitch into the fellow that way, only to find out that the (nearly) hour I killed there did not share XP with the fellow.
Pwned.
The next time, I learned my lesson, was (without asking) put into a line for a beach fellow (no biggie, but bemusing), and eventually joined in. I was there for quite some time, and did fine for XP. But I wondered -- where the heck is the entrance to the withered lugian dungeon?
I just went there again last night, and dove into the bunker (white dots everywhere, no sense in waiting - I can make 11/hr alone, so that's worth the lack of drama). Eventually, I kind of wound around staircases here and there, and finally found the portal.
Hrm.
>>>Death says, "I *triple* dog dare you!<<<
Humph.
Dive in. It started out as a small fellow (4 of us), but was set to open recruiting, and in no time flat we were almost full. Chunglee even showed up, and couldn't have been nicer, although we were all out of sight of each other. It was interesting reading the chat log, as people discussed their templates.
I just tried to stay alive.
Recently, I decided to triple-spec my defenses, and so now have spec'd melee and missle D. Missle is like at 351 buffed, and I definitely noticed a drop in damage from the lugian rocks.
Except to my thighs. Oh, my thighs.
I have major bow chain tassets. Major Bow r teh good.
Base AL of 167 is not. :-( They're work 9. They've BEEN tinked with steel at least once, but I think tinked racially and perhaps two other tinks.
>>>Withered Lugian Prefect smashes your upper leg for 60 points of bludgeoning damage!<<<
Ow.
And no matter what last night, it seemed like EVERY lugian that spawned suddenly noticed that my high-base AL armor was all fine, except for the tassets.
They are dyed black, but you'd think they were colored in red and white circles (think Target).
>>>Withered Lugian Prefect tells you, "Dude, reroll."
Double Ow.
Sigh.
Pwned.
The next time, I learned my lesson, was (without asking) put into a line for a beach fellow (no biggie, but bemusing), and eventually joined in. I was there for quite some time, and did fine for XP. But I wondered -- where the heck is the entrance to the withered lugian dungeon?
I just went there again last night, and dove into the bunker (white dots everywhere, no sense in waiting - I can make 11/hr alone, so that's worth the lack of drama). Eventually, I kind of wound around staircases here and there, and finally found the portal.
Hrm.
>>>Death says, "I *triple* dog dare you!<<<
Humph.
Dive in. It started out as a small fellow (4 of us), but was set to open recruiting, and in no time flat we were almost full. Chunglee even showed up, and couldn't have been nicer, although we were all out of sight of each other. It was interesting reading the chat log, as people discussed their templates.
I just tried to stay alive.
Recently, I decided to triple-spec my defenses, and so now have spec'd melee and missle D. Missle is like at 351 buffed, and I definitely noticed a drop in damage from the lugian rocks.
Except to my thighs. Oh, my thighs.
I have major bow chain tassets. Major Bow r teh good.
Base AL of 167 is not. :-( They're work 9. They've BEEN tinked with steel at least once, but I think tinked racially and perhaps two other tinks.
>>>Withered Lugian Prefect smashes your upper leg for 60 points of bludgeoning damage!<<<
Ow.
And no matter what last night, it seemed like EVERY lugian that spawned suddenly noticed that my high-base AL armor was all fine, except for the tassets.
They are dyed black, but you'd think they were colored in red and white circles (think Target).
>>>Withered Lugian Prefect tells you, "Dude, reroll."
Double Ow.
Sigh.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Wow -- I've got a stalker!
Edit: Updated and cleaned up for readability. :-D
My hotmail flagged it as "junk" mail since he's not in my "contacts" list, but I just noticed -- Gibbon_Raver on the TD boards sent me a personal e-mail attacking me, and generally going nuts. He's still smarting over being exposed as a coward and an eBlowhard, and I've definitely gotten into his combed-over head. (Seriously, I've seen guys wearing end pillows on their heads that were more realistic).
Anyway, this is about a flame fest we had last week, when he publicly speculated that I must have been in cahoots with Asper_TD on some auction (and managed to plan it out 46 hours in advance). I think I know what stung him. I challenged him to let a Mod log into my VN account, and see if I had indeed hatched this l33t plan. If he was right, I'd accept a permaban. If he was wrong, I wanted him to take the challenge. He backed out, and got seriously flamed by all parties in the thread. The fact was, he shot his mouth off, acted tough, and got called on it. Then he ran. Of course, I pointed that out. Repeatedly. :-D
So now he's taken it to commercial e-mail? Laff.
This guy's pathetic, but I have to say, he's genuinely sad. His RL pic is disgusting, he's like Triumph the Insult dog said in that infamous "Star Wars" video, he "looks like some kind of uber-geek, built from the parts of lesser nerds." He's a 50something lamer, fat and balding (I'm so not convinced by the rug). Now with his panties in a wad because he was made to look like a fool (from multiple people) on the intardnet.
I wonder if Yahoo encourages people to use their accounts to send harrassing e-mail?
Update: I just checked -- I guess I made the mistake of responding to his e-mail, pointing out to him that it was flagged as junk, so I was sorry for the delay. But I then told him where he could stick his continued pathetic self. So now I've got MORE e-mail from him, as well as multiple PMs on the Vault. Joy.
LOL, and he's saying *I'm* the one with RL issues. ;-)
What's this all mean --- I got myself a stalker! (Um, a stalker who's admitted that he once picked up a transvestite off of a highway, rofl).
Edit/Update:
He was reported to Yahoo for sending repeated harrasing e-mails, and was pointed out to VN for the repeated PMs. So what's this guy do now?
Posts on my Clan boards. :-P
Yup, but he's COMPLETELY well-adjusted. *eyeroll*
I'm not sure what he's trying to prove, because honestly, if we ever met up, I'd gladly beat the living shit out of him. He's either pathetic enough to have no self-awareness, or is just a VERY old tard. At least he's old enough that this can't be a mid-life crisis -- based on actuarial tables, he doesn't have that much longer left to live anyway. :-D
My hotmail flagged it as "junk" mail since he's not in my "contacts" list, but I just noticed -- Gibbon_Raver on the TD boards sent me a personal e-mail attacking me, and generally going nuts. He's still smarting over being exposed as a coward and an eBlowhard, and I've definitely gotten into his combed-over head. (Seriously, I've seen guys wearing end pillows on their heads that were more realistic).
Anyway, this is about a flame fest we had last week, when he publicly speculated that I must have been in cahoots with Asper_TD on some auction (and managed to plan it out 46 hours in advance). I think I know what stung him. I challenged him to let a Mod log into my VN account, and see if I had indeed hatched this l33t plan. If he was right, I'd accept a permaban. If he was wrong, I wanted him to take the challenge. He backed out, and got seriously flamed by all parties in the thread. The fact was, he shot his mouth off, acted tough, and got called on it. Then he ran. Of course, I pointed that out. Repeatedly. :-D
So now he's taken it to commercial e-mail? Laff.
This guy's pathetic, but I have to say, he's genuinely sad. His RL pic is disgusting, he's like Triumph the Insult dog said in that infamous "Star Wars" video, he "looks like some kind of uber-geek, built from the parts of lesser nerds." He's a 50something lamer, fat and balding (I'm so not convinced by the rug). Now with his panties in a wad because he was made to look like a fool (from multiple people) on the intardnet.
I wonder if Yahoo encourages people to use their accounts to send harrassing e-mail?
Update: I just checked -- I guess I made the mistake of responding to his e-mail, pointing out to him that it was flagged as junk, so I was sorry for the delay. But I then told him where he could stick his continued pathetic self. So now I've got MORE e-mail from him, as well as multiple PMs on the Vault. Joy.
LOL, and he's saying *I'm* the one with RL issues. ;-)
What's this all mean --- I got myself a stalker! (Um, a stalker who's admitted that he once picked up a transvestite off of a highway, rofl).
Edit/Update:
He was reported to Yahoo for sending repeated harrasing e-mails, and was pointed out to VN for the repeated PMs. So what's this guy do now?
Posts on my Clan boards. :-P
Yup, but he's COMPLETELY well-adjusted. *eyeroll*
I'm not sure what he's trying to prove, because honestly, if we ever met up, I'd gladly beat the living shit out of him. He's either pathetic enough to have no self-awareness, or is just a VERY old tard. At least he's old enough that this can't be a mid-life crisis -- based on actuarial tables, he doesn't have that much longer left to live anyway. :-D
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Gotta love tweaks to a major suit
The full life/creature outfit is done, but I just won an auction for some noble gaunts, and have the quickness gem all ready for them.
That means I have majors or moderates in:
Coord
Bow
Focus
Quickness
Endurance
Willpower (well, this is a minor, lol)
I'm missing some kind of Invuln cantrip, but they are WAY out of my price range. Opal gauntlets won't fly (too low in AL, and I've got my major quickness noble gaunts).
But still -- woot! :D
That means I have majors or moderates in:
Coord
Bow
Focus
Quickness
Endurance
Willpower (well, this is a minor, lol)
I'm missing some kind of Invuln cantrip, but they are WAY out of my price range. Opal gauntlets won't fly (too low in AL, and I've got my major quickness noble gaunts).
But still -- woot! :D
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
The whole CapFan thing.
I think people have missed something about his "return post," but to post it on the VN boards would constitute running afoul of their TOS. :-( (Since it involves personal attacks).
Here goes:
I wish CapFan all the best, but rooted (in two different places) in his post is this implication: If you disagree with him, or are ticked over how he left, well then you're just an "addict" like him.
I wasn't in his monarchy, so I could not care LESS that he quit, although I always sympathized with the people he screwed in combatting his addiction.
What I am able to do is see that people's feelings were hurt because he disrupted their in-game experience. I sympathize with their feelings, and regret they had to log in to see that things were turned upside down.
Does it mean they have an addiction because they were ticked over having their game's experience harmed? Nope. That means that someone's still weak enough to think that this game, which holds such a grip on him, holds it on everyone else.
CapFan was weak, as all addicts are. Fine. 'Grats to him on recognizing it, and doing something about it. But he shouldn't assume people who disagree with him must also be "addicted."
I realize that at one place in his post he wrote that people who experienced "genuine anger" must have an addiction, but I'm not many (if any?) here posted that they did. Where on this thread have people "spewed hate" at him?
At best, people vented frustration that someone who made such an exit so as to affect others' in-game experience, citing an "addiction," would then turn to a similiar stimulus. That's not hate, that's not anger. That's pointing out inconsistencies.
I wish for nothing for the best for CapFan, but suggesting that people who don't think like him must also be addicted like him is just protecting his weakness onto others.
Just imagine this: Suppose a Turbine employee was an alcoholic, and then quits drinking. One day, he has the shakes, and flips a switch, wiping out 20% of the servers. People are pissed. He says, "Hey! They're just pixels! I have a RL issue that I'm dealing with, and RL > AC. If you don't think so too, then you're an addict!"
Don't get it. Whatever.
Good luck, dude. But stop playing WoW. You're just heading down another road, using another kind of drug. But it's still a form of addiction.
Sorry for the hate. Guess this is the only place left to spew it (besides, I suppose, the Lair). :-(
Here goes:
I wish CapFan all the best, but rooted (in two different places) in his post is this implication: If you disagree with him, or are ticked over how he left, well then you're just an "addict" like him.
I wasn't in his monarchy, so I could not care LESS that he quit, although I always sympathized with the people he screwed in combatting his addiction.
What I am able to do is see that people's feelings were hurt because he disrupted their in-game experience. I sympathize with their feelings, and regret they had to log in to see that things were turned upside down.
Does it mean they have an addiction because they were ticked over having their game's experience harmed? Nope. That means that someone's still weak enough to think that this game, which holds such a grip on him, holds it on everyone else.
CapFan was weak, as all addicts are. Fine. 'Grats to him on recognizing it, and doing something about it. But he shouldn't assume people who disagree with him must also be "addicted."
I realize that at one place in his post he wrote that people who experienced "genuine anger" must have an addiction, but I'm not many (if any?) here posted that they did. Where on this thread have people "spewed hate" at him?
At best, people vented frustration that someone who made such an exit so as to affect others' in-game experience, citing an "addiction," would then turn to a similiar stimulus. That's not hate, that's not anger. That's pointing out inconsistencies.
I wish for nothing for the best for CapFan, but suggesting that people who don't think like him must also be addicted like him is just protecting his weakness onto others.
Just imagine this: Suppose a Turbine employee was an alcoholic, and then quits drinking. One day, he has the shakes, and flips a switch, wiping out 20% of the servers. People are pissed. He says, "Hey! They're just pixels! I have a RL issue that I'm dealing with, and RL > AC. If you don't think so too, then you're an addict!"
Don't get it. Whatever.
Good luck, dude. But stop playing WoW. You're just heading down another road, using another kind of drug. But it's still a form of addiction.
Sorry for the hate. Guess this is the only place left to spew it (besides, I suppose, the Lair). :-(
Sunday, April 03, 2005
What a way to come back!
For once, a few good things happened tonight, with no downsides.
1. Logged back in Saturday night, after feeling bad for two (count em!) weeks.
1a. Yes, I realize the initial pain wasn't enough to keep me out of AC, but I really wanted Sing Caul recall. :-|
2. Was immediately given Noble Longbow by my fantastico patron (I really dig her, and it's hysterical that we just kind of joined up so casually).
3. Got some really nice DIs tinkered up courtesy of some cheap gold I bought.
4. SOLOED (seriously) the 80+ hive to the Matron, killed her ugly ass, and then threw the raiment on the ground (bah, another endurance one).
So, basically, I'm due for a huge death spiral/blowup right about the next time I log in. ;-) :-P
But, it's still really nice to be back. :-)
1. Logged back in Saturday night, after feeling bad for two (count em!) weeks.
1a. Yes, I realize the initial pain wasn't enough to keep me out of AC, but I really wanted Sing Caul recall. :-|
2. Was immediately given Noble Longbow by my fantastico patron (I really dig her, and it's hysterical that we just kind of joined up so casually).
3. Got some really nice DIs tinkered up courtesy of some cheap gold I bought.
4. SOLOED (seriously) the 80+ hive to the Matron, killed her ugly ass, and then threw the raiment on the ground (bah, another endurance one).
So, basically, I'm due for a huge death spiral/blowup right about the next time I log in. ;-) :-P
But, it's still really nice to be back. :-)
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