tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64937465542466253972024-02-20T12:53:37.254+00:00Of Ice and FireJust zis guy, you know?Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-1048586577074773882008-09-14T12:47:00.002+01:002008-09-14T13:08:59.382+01:00Baby Steps... IN SPACESo once again I brave the black of New Eden, this time resubbing on of my old trial accounts. So far, I've shuttled around my stuff from the trial to be in more useful positions, experimented with how the market works, trading away my refined minerals and got blown up on the second mission I went on. Bugger.Fortunately, I'd insured it a little beforehand, and I'd been given 1m isk by a friend Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-56058276576822546552008-08-29T13:37:00.001+01:002008-08-29T13:38:06.687+01:00MMOs of the FUTURE...are not coming yet.So the things I'm looking at in the MMO future-possibility space:Age of Conan: Already out, but falls into this category as, in my eyes, its still far to broken. I'm sure people will (actually the won't) be savaging this and saying its teh awesome, but a) they'd be drowned out by number 3, and 2) it is. Also, I don't care for games that go "look, look, we're mature!", even Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-12336390554464110842008-08-22T13:49:00.002+01:002008-08-22T14:12:04.747+01:00No internet and no beer make cbob... something somethingAnd so my brief sojourn into the mythical RL ends. Two weeks after moving in, modem, isp and phone line align, and my third arm (or something) is reattached. And I get to play MMOs again, yay!During my downtime, I finished Half Life 2: Episode 2 (although no gnome yet), and am in the last, insanely hard part of Cave Story, a whimsical little platformer in the vein of Metroid and Castlevania. I'veChangling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-60504828197358582952008-07-31T13:26:00.000+01:002008-07-31T13:26:11.839+01:00Micro-transactions and the WestWhile I was mooching around buying Nightfall to expand my Guild Wars horizons, I noticed a couple of interesting things in the GW store. Specifically, for six of your English pounds (approximately $11.75, €7.50 (although priced at €9 and $10, so tough luck Europe I guess)), you can buy unlocked skills from each campaign. To clarify for those not in 'the know'; in Guild Wars, once you learn a Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-59758176967762224442008-07-30T20:05:00.004+01:002008-07-30T20:50:41.222+01:00I Will SurviveThe Tuesday N00b Club: Survivor EditionLast night saw the beginning of a worryingly hardcore endeavor: reach 1337500 XP in Guild Wars without dying. Not once.To add to the fun, this is in Nightfall, which I've not done yet, so I don't know the tricks to the missions to do them without dying. Fortunately, some of the less n00bish of the Tuesday N00bs do know what they're doing, so I guess I cede Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-19551522097106664812008-07-30T10:49:00.003+01:002008-07-30T10:54:03.022+01:00I'll show you a dead horseI found it interesting browsing my feeds this morning just how much bloggers repeat themselves. Keen was (and the entire comments thread besides Cuppy) slavishly fanboying over WAR, despite the game not being out. Again. And yes I know betas, but saying 'WAR is not WoW' leads directly to the quote about Age of Conan in Zero Punctuation because yes it is, thats the way games markets work.Tobold Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-5451365169266918052008-07-25T12:12:00.002+01:002008-07-25T12:32:28.497+01:00The State of PlayI probably mentioned waaaaay back when I started this blog that my main character was my WoW mage, and probably mentioned the term 'frost 4 life'.Yeah, that didn't last too long.Magey is now an arcane/frost build, after I realised that a couple of gear ever-so-slight downgrades, coupled with a respec would increase my damage considerably. I now do slightly scary amounts of damage spamming arcane Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-55345692432530960632008-07-19T19:41:00.002+01:002008-07-19T19:48:36.695+01:00Who's to blame?In an interesting turn of events, I just got evicted from a group. Context:In an alternate life, I'm a bear tonk. I have enough armor/defense/hp to tank heroics. Just about. I'm still in blues and greens, but that's good enough, as you start getting epics in heroics.The others in my group were all Tier 5+. This means they're a full two sets of gear above the gear I'm at. So on the first pull, Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-73357747265798305522008-07-18T18:50:00.001+01:002008-07-18T18:51:41.653+01:00First!Beta patch notes are upJust wanted to be the first person on my RSS to report it :)Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-715245827880210652008-06-24T17:13:00.002+01:002008-06-24T17:21:26.076+01:00Delurk mode activatedUnmothballing for a moment here, I'm quite hacked off at everyone complaining about Dr. Bartle comparing WAR to WoW. No, WAR is not a WoW clone, but it is still a graphical DikuMUD requiring the killing of ten foozles to get an extra level to get extra abilities and some abstract points to put into some kind of alternative advancement tree, then a gear grind and mudflation at the top end. So is Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-30838649993518875122008-01-31T12:34:00.000+00:002008-01-31T12:35:45.958+00:00WarriorsI've recently started a cow warrior to play with some friends. It starts with a two handed hammer. Yet I can still rend, and eventually hamstring using a blunt weapon. What?Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-68964452522185692602008-01-29T05:06:00.000+00:002008-01-29T05:16:40.493+00:00The Price of Gold(oh man, this post is going to get gold selling spam out the whatsit)I managed to find elemental plateau completely empty: it was 5am server time I guess, which was an advantage. I thought I would perform an experiment.I figure that elemental plateau is probably the most profitable place to grind money. Maybe there's somewhere with cloth and gold drops that beats it, or a better drop rate on Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-49280297716298877362008-01-25T22:55:00.001+00:002008-01-25T23:14:03.545+00:00HeadcrabsI just finished the Ravenholme section in Half-Life 2 (yes, the original, not one of the episodes).If I hear that screech again, it'll be too soon.Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-36000868414892158592008-01-24T18:33:00.000+00:002008-01-24T19:16:14.231+00:00On the Impact of PvPTobold and Syncaine (and I will openly admit I haven't come across his blog before) have both made a post on so-called "impact pvp", pvp that affects the world in meaningful ways. The general conclusion from both is you can't have "impact pvp" and successful pve in the same game.I'd like to disagree. I think that there isn't such a game at the moment, but that there could be. It would need a Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-1216633935603115882008-01-23T10:39:00.000+00:002008-01-23T10:59:59.762+00:00Obligatory Catchup PostSo I've not posted in aaaaaaaaaaaaaaages.I blame sunspots. That and just having an absolute ton of stuff happening; a show to stage manage, Christmas, moving back and forth to uni, and exams. Exams still aren't quite over, but I've got something I really want to comment on so, I thought I'd try and catch everything up.Of the three games I can actively play (without setting up a new account or Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-61656965191274295852007-11-09T13:46:00.000+00:002007-11-09T13:58:03.629+00:00Sewers and ShiftersOur second session of D&D took place last night, albeit with a slightly different line-up of PCs, and now up to 6 PCs. Seeing as I'm running a from-the-book game, this means encounters are (should be) a bit simpler than they were originally planned to be.That said, it was a cakewalk; the hardest part of the game was organising 6 people's worth of combat rounds, and trying to get them to agree howChangling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-44114818533381000442007-11-06T23:57:00.000+00:002007-11-09T13:43:59.565+00:00Fishing in WoWMy brain appears to have dribbled out of my skull while trying to become skilled enough at fishing to catch Icefin Bluefish so I can get a nice spell damage buff. So I present my protips for leveling fishing:1) bind 'cast line' to middle mouse buttonb) switch on autolootIII) have two monitorsδ) find a radio show/podcast/something to hold your attentionThe procedure is then this: Middle click and Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-76526837365152371462007-11-03T14:49:00.000+00:002007-11-03T15:00:05.881+00:00The grind, it beckons :(So I succumbed. I am now resubscribed to WoW (as of a couple of weeks ago actually). Unfortunately, things move as slowly now as they did before I quit.The problem is, of course, a lack of utility classes. And by utility classes, I actually mean healers and tanks. Anyone can do damage, but taking hits, and stopping the guy taking hits from falling over takes specialist skills, ones that people Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-81827632568871205352007-11-02T13:41:00.001+00:002007-11-02T13:51:22.442+00:00Of lack of dungeons or dragonsLast night I successfully ran my second D&D game. Well, mostly successfully anyway.Last week saw a group of 9(!) first level adventurers in an inn called 'The Obvious Cliche', whereupon they were attacked by 4 CR1ish zombies. Oddly, they didn't get wiped out, despite their best attempts not to run away, but that game didn't really lead anywhere as I kinda hadn't planned ahead very well ;)This Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-45666633735986818562007-10-22T17:09:00.000+01:002007-11-03T15:21:28.383+00:005/5, will play againThus endeth the review.Well, kinda. I guess I should elaborate a bit.Portal is excellent. Its a fantastic concept, well executed, and at a beautiful dificulty curve. Then its over, with a wonderful feeling of satisfaction.Although I've not played the bonus challenge maps, I have played through the commentary, which took about an hour, because the second time through you know all the puzzle Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-9137339583159126682007-10-22T02:43:00.001+01:002007-10-22T02:44:02.045+01:00Delicious CakeFinished Portal. Finished Portal with commentary. Now 2:45 am. Need sleep.Review tomorrow!Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-28726596726455906222007-10-21T12:50:00.000+01:002007-10-21T13:01:22.582+01:00Downloading....Blizzard seems to have done a lot of right things with its games (startling revelation, I know!). The fact that they've got me wanting to play it again after just not having played it for a while, and some reasonable looking patch notes is kinda a testament to that. Unfortunately, they have their own set of failings.Yes, I know I said I wouldn't precisely one post ago, but I set up the client Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-41227571718523232262007-10-19T18:14:00.000+01:002007-11-03T15:22:31.988+00:00Breaking the silenceLong time no see! (well, type, whatever. You know what I mean)Hopefully this will be the start of more bloggage, but I thought I should update the (apparently) 4 or so people a day who read what I throw out here, even when I'm not posting!To update everyone on whats been happening in my absence:I completed Guild Wars: Factions, with the Tuesday n00b Club (check out the picture of me dancing!), Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-69708139978557204432007-09-17T14:49:00.000+01:002007-09-17T15:06:42.097+01:00Ach no Hans! its the meme!Due to circumstanes such as moving and cleaning and stuff I've not had much time to play games, let alone blog them recently, so sorry if you actually hang on my every word (and seriously, its a bit creepy if you do). But this morning Melmoth got meme all over me, so I feel I should do something about it :)Four jobs I have had in my life (not including my current job):PaperboyPhotography store Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493746554246625397.post-49517240868578485772007-09-08T14:05:00.000+01:002007-09-08T14:50:14.492+01:00I can still see my screen!What with it being a new game to me, I've been fighting with the City of $dudes interface recently. Its pretty slick, and reasonably customisable, although nowhere near the extent of WoW's 'mod it until it feels right' culture. Everything has its own little 'show this' button, a docking toggle, resizing nubbin, move doohicky, and so on, which facilitates customisation, even if it does take a Changling bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17319790792209346325noreply@blogger.com0