Juxtaposed Life

Over the last couple of weeks there have been a couple of topics that frazzled me a bit when I heard them discussed. I really try not to respond to podcaster or blogger comments that I disagree with, because I do not feel I can debate well with the written word.  I am much more comfortable debating in person and often do with my co-workers and friends.

But these two topics struck me enough that I decided I should record my thoughts for future reflection.  My comments below are not so much direct responses to people I disagree with, they are simply my thoughts on the topics as I believe today.

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MrAnderson Free2Play, Games, Musings Guild Wars 2, micro transactions, MMO, Musings, rant

Hello again everyone.   Its been a busy summer for me, I have made sure to keep some time to play games and I figure its time for another “what I’ve been playing” update.    This time two games I’ve played approached a system in such strong opposite fashion that I’ve title my post around it.  Matchmaking.

Let’s start with the bad:  APB

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MrAnderson Design, FPS, Games, World of Warcraft Design, FPS, Games, MMO, RTS, Starcraft 2, World of Warcraft

The game industry as well as my family have had a busy summer so far.  So much so, that I probably should have taken the time to compose posts about things as they were happening.   *shrug* Oh well, this summary of thoughts will have to do.

The List starts here:

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MrAnderson Games, Musings, movies, tv Games, MMO, movies, Musings, tv, World of Warcraft

Wowhead posted some new information about the upcoming expansion, Cataclysm.  While I’m disappointed in the “Path of the Titans” loss, and not completely sold on their take on “Guild Leveling”, I was very happy to find this little nugget:

Raid Lockouts

Here’s another big change—they’ve added a great deal of flexibility to raid lockouts. Rather than being locked into a particular raid ID, you can now join any raid, as long as it doesn’t have any bosses up that you have already killed. Basically, as long as you’re not killing the same boss twice in one lockout period—you have total freedom.

Fantastic news!  This could be what I was asking for, explained in a much simpler and clearer way, as long the “ it doesn’t have any bosses up that you have already killed.” part checks the character status of kills and not the last raid the character was in status.

What I mean is I want to:

• Join a raid on Wednesday and kill boss 1 of 5
• have that raid runs without me on Thursday and kill boss 2
• Then allow me to join a new raid on Friday that has only killed boss 1.

If that is how Blizzard expects things to work then WELL DONE Blizzard.

MrAnderson Games, World of Warcraft Games, MMO, Raiding, World of Warcraft

While I was thinking about a quick post about things I was playing, watching, listening to, all the talk about Lord of the Rings Online going F2P helped tipped my hand.   Thus here I am actually sitting down to type out words on the blog.

LOTRO F2P
I have not even started to read everything people have said about this move to F2p, but I see there is a lot of conversation about it.  From a quick glance there is some positive, some negative, some a bit crazy,  and a few of my friends believe its a sign of the future; F2P is the way “all” future MMOs will use.

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MrAnderson Free2Play, Games, Lord of the Rings Online, Musings, World of Warcraft Free2Play, Games, Lotro, MMO, World of Warcraft

Time again for another addition of “What I’ve Been Playing”.  This edition’s guests are Red Dead Redemption, World of Warcraft, Dungeons and Dragons Online, and Alan Wake.  Although Alan Wake probably won’t make it, since he is still wrapped in plastic.

First up DDOU

This is a game I really but I have never been past level 2 any only off the starting zone for a little bit.  Last week I started playing a new character, whom was crafted by the decisions of my almost four-year-old, and has only been played when she is with me.  She has been having a blast, and it gives me a new perspective on the game.  The fact that its free to play, means I don’t see myself uninstalling it and instead enjoying it for a long time.

World of Warcraft

On my main character I have been continuing on my goal to collect 100 mounts; currently I am at 95.  I also spent some time advancing a few faction based, and old quest based goals that I had.  Though overall I am in a holding pattern with her until the next expansion, which gives me time to work on my alts; a rogue, druid, and a little bit of a pally. They are all still in the old world and I am having blast playing them.

Red Dead Redemption

I picked this up for two reasons; I like the old west setting and I enjoy “open world” games.  In the past I have not been consumer of Rockstar’s games, mostly because I am not a fan of playing a “bad guy”, so buying this was a bit of a risk for me.   I took that risk because I had heard they had implemented a system where players could pick the path of their character, and thus far its been a great being a reformed outlaw.   I suspect the story is going to take turn into darker moral grounds, but so far I am enjoying the heck out of it.

Alan Wake

I bought this, because. Umm.  I am not sure. I think I bought it because I fell victim to the hype.  I like the idea of the creepy, supernatural story game,  but I might have been a bit hasty in buying it.  I have yet to take it out of the plastic, so I ‘could’ take it back.  Though more likely I will give it a spin this weekend.  That is if I can take time away from stopping cattle rustlers and horse thieves.

MrAnderson Games Games

With all the discussion’s lately of cataclysm Raid changes, my mind started pondering how much I don’t like the way current Raid IDs are implemented.   In doing so I started thinking about ways I would improve the system and came to the same conclusion I did a few years back.   When I do this sort of thing I always ask myself, why did you not write your thoughts down?   My answer is always dumb, so this time I’m going to write instead of just talk.

Where to start?

How about how one person can screw everyone else out of raid content for the lockout period?

Yep, I think that is a good place to start since the worst things about MMOs are the other people.

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MrAnderson Design, Games, World of Warcraft Design, Games, MMO, World of Warcraft

I am back again, and with much less angst and apologies for my last post.  All my old frustration has been washed away by last weeks big news.

Cataclysm Alpha Leaks!

If you don’t want spoilers for the next World of Warcraft expansion, you should be careful about traveling to some of the popular WoW fan sites and blogs.  Last week the Friends and Family Alpha for Cataclysm started up and some people got their hands on the client and have been going crazy posting images pulled from it.

Since I don’t mind being spoiled, I could not resist the indulging in the information, and thus far I have not been disappointed.   The face of the old world is changing, in some major ways,  and I am encouraged to go back and visit some of my favorite (and not so favorite) locations; taking screenshots along the way.

I have also made a decision to put my plans to level up a shaman on hold, until I can do so with a Goblin. I am going to want to experience the leveling up process through the new world, and I think a shaman will be a great class to do it with since I can heal or DPS.

MMO-Champion currently has the largest compilation of information I have found, so if you want to spoil yourself head over there.

My Play List
Probably a surprise to no one,  I played a whole lot of World of Warcraft last week.  The highlights:

A second trip to ICC10
I was able to sub into my guild’s weekly ICC run and had a great time.  My first visit, with some alts,  took me up to Professor Putricide and I thought it was a good run.  That is until this last week, when in about just as much time this group sailed all the way up to before Sindragosa.  It was a blast.  I love running with people that have a clue.

More Rogue Leveling
My little Rogue is not up into her 50s and I have been having a blast with her.  I could be more efficient with her, and level her faster, but I am enjoying simply wandering around and doing blocks of quests.  I will be much more efficient with here when I hit Outland.

Shaking the Dust of my Pally
I have a confession to make. I have never been a tank.  For some reason I every character I have started with the intent of tanking has become either a healer or shelved.  My Blood Elf Pally has been resting unplayed in her high teens for years.  Until last week!

After talking with a few of my Raiding Pally friends I decided to at least try leveling up a pally and tanking some old instances.  Step one is complete, I have her UI set up and got here up to  level 26 so I can learn the basics of how to play her.   Step two will be to Tank and instance, and I hope to try that out this week.

Achievements
While I have not been actively working to acquire dungeon & raid achievements, there are a few general achievements that my priest has been working on getting. I know its not the “smart” thing to do, but I enjoy having meta goals that I can slowly work toward while doing other things.

My Watch List
And I will end with a quick list of things I have been watching:

• Lost : Only a few episodes left!
• Castle
• Mentalist
• Buffy and Angel: I know I am a bit late to the party here, but I am finally watching all of these in order.  Its slow going, but I am really enjoying these shows.
• Iron Man 2:  Yes I actually went to the movie theater!!  In fact, enjoyed the heck out of it.

MrAnderson Games, World of Warcraft, tv Games, MMO, tv, World of Warcraft