It has been a while since I’ve been strictly a player in a role-playing environment. It is not that I mind being the GM, because, I’m definitely learning that the surprise and exploration comes in finding out what players do (and they always find a way to surprise you). At the same time, there’s something exciting in being that player who has no idea what is going on that one can lose if they GM more than they play.
I started playing in a tabletop where three characters wake up in a lab of sorts on stone slabs in the dark. Their journey leads them to a Victorian style parlor with a fire running and blood on the floor (but no body). Through their adventures, the group finds they are in an estate with a lake glowing with toxic green glow outside. There’s also two bodies hanging from a tree and a giant cat with horns that takes one away for a snack.
I feel like I’m in some old sci-fi story from the days of radio. Or, I’ve been plopped into Lost as one of the characters. So far, there are no stats. This is mainly because the characters woke up with knowledge of just basics. They don’t know who they are or what they can do.
One might question what my tea kettle has to do with gaming. And I’ll admit, not very much. The only way I can make this one relevant at all is because it happened in the hour before raiding in which I wanted the tea. I have never really had a real tea kettle. Most days, I get by with nuking the water. My parents gave me a real whistling kettle for Christmas so I thought I’d try it out. I did everything right and reading the instructions it told me that a gas stove should be on low to medium. So, of course, I find a happy medium and put the water on to boil.
10 minutes later, I explain to the guild that I’m waiting on this water to boil and I think it’s taking a long time. Ten minutes after that, Enkida points out that she hopes my water is still not waiting to boil.
The moral of this story is that water takes 212 degrees to boil (says Tyrolos) and it won’t get there on low heat.
That tea was pretty yummy, though!
The holidays are gone. I was gone for most of them so I felt like I was playing a bit of catch up when I got back into it. My hunter has a fair good number of gear upgrades. I could afford to upgrade my chest piece to T9 from T8, but, I haven’t felt rushed about it. I’m nearly there, so it’s only a matter of time. I’m still trying to get the Orca Harpoon from Heroic Halls of Reflection. I’m starting to believe I can get a better weapon from raiding at this point before I get that drop. Autoshotmoo has also found 93% of the Inscriptions in the game. I’m hoping to make that 100% in time for Cataclysm. Bit by bit, I have been delving into my Exploration achievement and I almost have this one complete.
I started tanking again after a long break since May 2009. Even in just my T7, it feels like a different game. Sometimes, I still mess up, but, considering we made it through Regular Halls of Reflection on my level 200 gear…I think it’s not so bad after all. I got off my butt and did some Jewelcrafting dailies. I know everything will be replaced in Cataclysm, but, gathering patterns gives me a sense of satisfaction.
Before January is over, I also want to get my mage one piece of T9. I realize that stuff falls from the sky these days; this in no way means I’m not going to enjoy it. Tyrolos also gave me some enchanting supplies. I’m hoping to get some sweet points of Tailoring and make my Epic Flying Carpet along the way.
Finally, I have the leveling bug. It was on my Resolution list to level Mewmoo to 80 before Cataclysm. I’m at 75, so, if I delve into it every chance I get…well, I think it will definitely happen.
My parents got me Lego Rockband for Christmas. I’ve been kind of disinterested in the game guitars but now I am super excited. My Lego people will rock out!!!
Today, I caught up to current on Box 13. It is on break but so far I want to know what is going on. It has the same sense that a show like Lost gives. The main character is caught in a mystery of boxes and is confused and intrigued as the reader. It’s free to comixology readers on the iPhone or iPod touch. Worth a read if you get a chance.
I think this one speaks for itself doesn’t it?
I haven’t talked about Firan for a while. To be honest, I didn’t have a solid direction for quite some time. I like thinking about game design, I like plotting, and I like writing stories. Many times, this does not translate well into talking much about here. Mostly, there are so many things that can’t be shared because they are spoilers. Or, I fear the mundane details of design, which are fascinating to me, are extremely boring to other people. I’m pretty sure the ins and outs of keeping a request queue from 150 players down to 40 or less is something of a pretty good niche.
When people look at Firan, they see a social and political roleplaying game. For me, there’s a whole back end of little pockets of information that must be filtered, handled, set in motion, and processed. Studying efficiency has always been part of the game to me (once I became a wizard) as the story itself. And finding the balance between the two, it has always been a challenge and a delight.
Around December 17th, I finally stepped up into the Assistant Chief Wizard position. About 3-4 days later, Prince Zaridos killed Prince Argin and the world went to hell in a hand basket. I admit I wasn’t sure I wanted to take it on at that point. I have since managed to stop hyperventilating enough to realize that it’s a challenge that can be handled. A lot of wizards have over five years of Firan experience. Since I joined the staff in 2001, my picture of the roleplaying world has exploded. I’ve examined different systems and different methods of resolution. I’ve had time to experience more of what is fair and what is good story and how to mix them both. And I have the experience now to realize, it’s going to be difficult, hard, bloody, and quite possibly deadly.
With all that in mind, I believe we can do an interesting and fair job. This sort of unrest is why people came to Firan to play for many. It’s like the situation has put forth a challenge to make it count. And we all know, I have trouble backing down from a challenge.
I am posting from my iPod touch for the first time. Hopefully this post makes sense! While away from my computer for the weekend, I have rediscovered an old joy in reading comic books. The first I randomly picked was The Darkness/Pitt. It appears to be an extension of the game, The Darkness. I really like the Xbox 360 game. It’s dark, disconcerting, and wacky. The comic is the same way. The second I started is the Box 13 series about a writer that receives a mysterious box that sets in motion an enigmatic journey. Readers unravel the mystery right alongside the main character. Box 13 is based on a radio show and so far is a fascinating read!
Today, I was thinking of my wish list of things that I want to complete in World of Warcraft. I thought I’d write it down so I don’t forget:
- PUG with 100 random people using Dungeon Finder on Autoshotmoo
- Save up enough gold to get my Mechanohog on Autoshotmoo
- Get at least two pieces of my T9 on my Mage before Cataclysm
- Level my mining and blacksmithing on my Paladin to at least 425
- See Mewmoo (my feral druid) hit level 80
It’s a big list. I’m not sure I can complete it all but it will be fun trying!
This year I spent a long time on Overlord. Rearranging our schedules and priorities took a lot of precedence and I finally think I have a handle on it. So in the last days of 2009, I decided to get crazy. It started with the end of Loremaster in World of Warcraft. It was such a relief to finish. I felt like I had time again. Time to do all these crazy achievements like explore the world, read all the books, and fish all the loots. I was finished just in time to start enjoying the new Dungeon Finder tool. It’s been so nice to jump into instances and get them done (PUG antics aside).
I decided that Overlord’s mechanics were just not enjoyable enough to keep plugging at. Instead, I put in Overlord II that Brian got me for my birthday. Man, it’s like the same game revived very much so. I have to say that it’s an improvement /alone/ on the way they created the bread crumb quests, the money gains, and the new and different ways you can operate your minions. So far, they’ve strayed from just killing a bunch of guys and picking up a bunch of objects. Sure, it’s there. But you don’t notice, because, much of it involves ramming things with boats, solving puzzles, or brainwashing people. While I don’t think Overlord II has a plot that competes with Dragon Age, it definitely has a much better plot line than the original. I find it twice as engaging. Thanks, Brian!
My friends Diana and Jesse also introduced me to 1 vs. 100. Man, this game is so good for a variety of reasons. If you like trivia, it’s awesome for that. More so, I find it is even more fun when the guy next to you in the crowd is really sure that “Let them eat cake” was quoted by Little Debbie. The live version of the game has opportunities for you to earn a spot in the mob of as the ‘one’. Both of them have chances to win Microsoft points and swag. It’s free if you are an Xbox gold member and worth checking out at least once.
I have a few more days left in this year. I don’t know what wonders I will play during this time. I have some more to say on some other gaming subjects but I have to run!
