VG fun and games

Ultmar Killing the nasty bandits

Well today I made the goal of finishing up all the quests for my current level and had a good time doing so. The first thing I did was go to the Bandits camp that is in the area and try to find their attack plans. I ran around this encampment for close to a half hour. I managed to collect 3 heads that were wanted back in the outpost, but no luck on the bandit orders. I guess it will just be up to the guards to save the people without their info. What a hero I am!Cutting weeds?

After failing the guards of the outpost, I stuck out to the tree of life. What life? I'm not sure, but that is what they say so I'll go with it. When I got their the trees watcher had better things to do then talk to me, so he gave me a knife and told me to weed the area. I guess this is what I get for failing in my other quest, getting trusted to nothing more then weeding.....

Then after finishing this epic quest, he sent me to a faerie to find out more about this tree. Only thing is....the faerie only spoke nature talk...wonderful! I'm current on a quest to learn this new way of speaking before I called it a night.

Took a few days off to get my mind right

Well I havn't posted in a few days and that is because I went back to play Elder Scrolls 4 a little bit these past few days.

That is a game I really enjoy and it got me thinking, why do I play a game such as that so different then I play a MMO? In that game the quests are king and levels are just side bars that are things I don't strive to get. They just happen as they are meant to happen.

This is so different then a MMO though. In the MMO the levels are the thing and the quests are just a way to go their. I think that I really have to keep in the ES4 mind set insted of the MMO grind mind set.

Something to make my goal!

SWG and EQ night

Well I started off the night knowing I wasn't feeling the Vanguard playing today. So I want to SWG for a little bit of play time tonight.

Star Wars Galaxy

I logged on and first off wanted to finish up my quests for the Mayor of the town so that I could look around for a few other fun missions to play. He had me go kill some sand raiders and then was quite happy with the work I did for him. At that he let me go on my way.

This is when I went looking around a little bit to see what was happening in town, and I will say i found far more people then I really was expecting. Down in one of the bars it was just packed, and I had to just capture the moment.After this find, I did a fed ex quest for a food maker, which turned out to be pretty darn funny. I guess he just does not know a live creature from a dead cooked one is all I can say. Overall I enjoyed my SWG time tonight.

Everquest

Well the old school bug also bit me a bit today. I finally got the quest done gathering bat and rat fur, always wonderful, and think in the process I may have gotten a few lice in my hair as well. I hope it all goes for a good cause, but I can not think of anyone who would wear such things. I then explored a bit around the area and found a mushroom cave. Being the good diplomat I am, i ran in and killed all living mushrooms I could find.

The end of Tabula Rasa

Well today I read the bad news of TR going under. I really do feel quite sad about this. I started playing about a month after the game came out and found it pretty entertaining for the most part.

I did run into a few broken quests and graphic issues, but nothing that ever stopped my enjoyment. The big thing from this game that I think kill it was the same thing that has hurt so many other MMO's in the past. That is a bad launch.

When TR launched the first half of the game was just great. Quest were everywhere and the story was wonderful. The big issues though was that when you hit level 30 and picked your final class split, it seems like you run into the wall.

Things slowed down as far as quests when and you were pushed to grinding. Along with this force to grind also was the fact that their was not much to do when you got though it. So a good start ran into a rough finish to the experience.

The sad thing is that as of about a month ago, a lot of this has changed. Their is some, not a huge amount, but some content at max level. And D15 looked like it was going to be the holy grail of end game.

But its all not to be. NCsoft gave up on this little gem and now we can all just look back with ruby colored glasses and talk about the good old days of killing Stalkers in the Mire (I hate the Mire ps)

So to all TR players it is a sad sad day.

Gave up VG crafting

Well today I made a big decision for my time in Vanguard, I'm not going to go after crafting!

Well that was pretty easy. I just don't have enough time really to do the main game and play in the crafting as well. Once I do the whole experience of Vangaurd to 50 the first time, maybe then I'll come back and do the crafting thing on my next toon.

Did not make it far tonight at all

Well I got one quest done...that is pretty darn bad ass.

I logged into Vanguard and headed towards the bandits camp just east of the outpost I've been helping out. Their were three different areas to scout out to find the leader of the bandits that had been sending raids towards the outpost.

After slaughtering many peons, I finally found the leader. After a hard fought battle he fell, and I TOOK HIS DARN HEAD. Yeah, that is how a true Pally is!

Edit: Looking at this photo now and the photo of Ultmar without his Helm on his first day...they do look a bit alike don't they? Could it be I am related to bandit scum...hmmm.

Quick Post of EQ

Well this afternoon after classes I had some down time to unwind. So instead of sitting around watching TV or something, I logged into EQ to play with my Shadow knight some.

And by some i mean all of 30 minutes or so. Got to level 5 killing snakes real quick so that I can start working the level 5 to 10 quests. So that is it so far. Tonight though I plan on playing for a while after my trip to B-dub. Nothing beats a MMO after a few beers!

SWG, little bit of VG

Ultmar and his deadly blade

Well today I did a few quest in Vanguard early in the day while eating my breakfast. They were pretty standard go kill 10 bandits and then report back. I've been working for an outpost that has been having lots of trouble dealing with bandits who can apparently not only ride horses, but also the local spiders. Have not seen any mounted, but that's what the quests say so I guess they do. Also got to level 10 in my crafting. One more level and I'll have to go work the crafting quests. Might be a nice change of pace from the killing.


Star Wars Galaxies
This is what I spent about 2 hours playing tonight. So far its pretty fun. I got out of the starting station and down into mos ilse (sp I know). I guess the mayor of the town is having troubles with Jabba so its up to me to run around and do things for him. Kind of innoying, I didn't get him into trouble! Whatever, the combat is fun and the quests are pretty standard as well. Kill 8 of this then 8 more. On the plus side I did get my own speeder, so that rocks!

I managered to get to level 10 tonight, which also opened up the SWG verson of AA's. Going to have to look though that for my best options. Going to be loading up on ones that help with solo because I want to make sure I can play easy.

Vanguard, Isle of Dawn ending

Well today I hit level 10, almost 11 and finished up the last of the quests on the Isle of Dawn in Vanguard. I skipped the Diplo quests because I plan on not really going though that part of the game, at least not right now.

Overall I would have to say that this new starting zone is very well done. The quest story is pretty good and the rewards are far above those I remember for the other starting areas. It also seems to have a pretty good population of people trying the game out.


I also played a very small amount of EQ as well. Got one quest done and that was it. Still level 2 in that on my Shadowknight.

Might put some more game time in after I go to the gym here, need to burn off energy so I can chill and sit I think.

Vanguard, Everquest day

Well yesterday I deiced I was going to take a lot less role play approach to what I post on here. It was just to much work to try and remember who and what happen to make a story out of my day. So on that note, lets see whats been happening.

Summoning the fire deamon

In Vanguard I finally go the being close to the end of the isle of the dawn story. I am working on getting though a temple in the isle that has became the home of those who have corrupted the island. I was almost through, then did some bad work on pulling 5 guys around me, putting me on the floor. That was when I deiced to go get lunch and call it a day in Vanguard. So far the isle is a fun place, and I think I might explore around it a bit more when I finish the main story to see what else it their.

One of the Dragons of Crecent Reach

Next for the day was a very small jump into EQ. I rolled a new shadow knight for this game and ran around the town of crecent reach for about a hour. I gained 1 level and got a few gold. Other then that I didn't get much done at all. Took a while just to get use to the old school controls that EQ uses.

Vanguard, Enter the Sun Village

It was last at night when I finally got to the Sun Village down the path from where I left my now satisfied specter friend. The first order of business was to take the symbol covered paper to the village elder.
After reviewing what I had brought him, he told me of another in the friends to the north that was in need of aid. I then set out to help this man keep the last of the Sun Villages farms from being overrun by the hobgoblins and cutting off all food to the people of the village.

Though helping this man, I once again learned that some outside influence was acting on the creatures of this isle. It was something that was infecting everything it came into contact with and it was up to me to figure this out. In order to do this it was suggested I go visit the mayor of the Village, which I did.

The mayor directed me to a local hobgoblin camp close by so that I may look into what was corrupting these poor creatures. When I arrived at the came, it was filled not with hobs though, but instead strange men. These men were what was causing the outbreak of violence among the inhabitants of the isle. I ran back to report my news to the mayor who has a few ideas, but needed some time to think.

It was at this time that after so much killed, I needed another outlet for my mind. I visited the local blacksmiths and after talking for many hours, started taking up the hammer. So starts my life as a crafts man.

THE NUMBERS
Got to level 8 on my paladin and to level 7 smiting. Also got both gathering skills up over 100 so I can start doing tier 2 soon as I leave the isle.

Other Games
Well I finally got all the other games I plan on playing downloaded. On top of those all ready I was going to play with, I guess I get Star Wars Galaxy and Matrix Online for free. So I guess I'll be playing with those a bit.

So far only booted up SWG and it sorta feels like Tabula Rasa, but I've only played for a few seconds so I can't really tell yet.

First Night of Vanguard

Well today I finally finished re downloading Vanguard. I logged in and created a new toon on the Xeth server. I chose to play a paladin, Ultmar, for my Vanguard experience. This will be my first real time playing a heavy armor tank in a game so it should be pretty exciting.

The New Paladin Ultmars first seconds in the world

For my new jump into the world I chose to start in the pretty new Isle of the Dawn starting area. So far I was dropped into the middle of a conflict between the inhabitants of the isle and the hobgoblins who also call this area home.

First before I could go out and face the invasion of the hobs though, I had to prove myself strong enough for the village to count on. I did this by heading into a near by swamp area to investigate why many of the creatures were acting funny. Turns out the hobs were messing with some magic that they could not quite control. After almost dying trying to repair this magic, I was judged strong enough and set on my way down the road.

Ultmar fighting to cleanse the swamps

Down the road I was approached by a spirit wanting him to help another village in the area that was all ready destroyed by the hobs. At the spirits request I went into this burning hell hole of a village, slayed the hobs, and rescued many of the poor people stuck in burning inferno.

After helping the village, the spirit next decided it was time for revenge. He sent me to the hobs earth cave to slain and poison those who had done so much damage to the isle and its people. While in these caves another spirit stuck in this world also asked for help, which I supplied, allowing him to pass into the next world. I then cleansed this cave as well as a single Paladin is able to and returned to the spirit with the information I have learned while in the cave. I had found a note with a strange symbol upon it, which the spirit could not identify. He then sent me to the Sun village to meet with the elder to find out more information. This is where I must leave you though, as I make my way to the sun village.

THE NUMBERS STUFF

Got from level 1 to level 6. Island of the Dawn goes to level 10 I believe.

The current MMORPG plan

So I have made up my mind on the plan that I have for my future MMORPG playing over the next little while.

Currently I have Guild Wars, Everquest, Everquest 2, and Vanguard to choose from thanks the the Sony Station Pass. I plan on play all of these games in a very quest driven, lore discovering way.

What this means is I'm going to shy away from grinding mobs unless its for a quest of some sort. I'm going to instead put my time and effort into the stories and worlds instead of what level I am currently. This is going to be very hard to do, but with the help of blogging about my experience I hope I can keep up with it. So here are my goals for each game in the next month or so.

Guild Wars - I think for this I'm going to start working my way though Factions. Right now I have a Ranger almost though prof, but I really don't remember much of the story after 2 years. I want to start fresh and doing a new part of the game seems to be a good way.

Everquest - This one is going to be the least loved of all the game. Just because of its age I don't see myself having more then 1 or 2 play times a week for EQ. I'll just slowly work my way though content. I'll never see all of this game, but I want to at least get a good taste.

Vanguard - This is going to be my main! I just really want to explor all this game has to offer in its huge, wonderful world. I plan on doing both adventuring and crafting, but not diplo.

EQ2 - The runner up the Vanguard. I won't be going though this as quite or put as much time in, but I do think that I'll end up making my was up faster then EQ1.

The first post of many

Well good evening Mr. Blog. Today is your day of birth. I'm sure it was far less painful then a true birth, but the signing up is always a tough thing to do anyhow.

So what are you going to be when you grow up Mr. Blog? Well I'll tell you what you will be. You will be my MMO experiences. You will be my thoughts on comics and books I read. You will be my sounding board for bad days as well I'm sure.

So with that I leave you for the first time and hope you grow to be big and strong one day.