Stargrace

Taking Advantage of Bonus Experience Weekends

The bonus experience was flowing nicely this weekend in both EQ2 and EQ. While it may have only been a 50% bonus to combat / tradeskill in EQ2, it was 100% bonus in EQ which made for some pretty fun times – unfortunately I didn’t spend nearly as much time taking advantage of it as I would have liked, but I suppose some time is better then none.

The greatest thing about the bonus experience is knowing how to use it to its fullest potential. So, Ninga (Wpus) and I logged in and headed to Loping Plains (along with 27 other people who had the same idea might I add). LP is not a hot zone but there are repeatable tasks throughout the zone. One of which is to kill wereorcs, and worgs.

I always chuckle to myself when I explore through this zone, I spent so much time here in EQ2 before ever adventuring in it in EQ. There’s similarities but plenty of differences too. We grabbed the two tasks to kill 20 worgs and wereorcs and set to work dpsing them down. Things were going fairly smooth (if not a bit slow) and before too long Ultann returned and logged in with his magician to add to the dps.

When you complete these tasks, you can decline accepting a reward and that was the key to maximizing the experience gain. Each time we completed them (for a maximum of 10 completed plus two more to turn in) we declined the reward (which has an option of extra experience) and saved it up. Then all at once turned them in with lesson of the devoted running which is a veteran reward that boosts your experience gain.

By turning in three quests I managed to net myself 15% experience easily, that’s a huge amount at level 81. In fact the experience was so great that Ultann managed to find himself brushing up against level 85, the current cap for EQ. WOOT! I was very excited for him. My necromancer inched her way through most of level 81 before we decided to head back to EQ for the remainder of the evening, I was starting to get a little tired and wanted to do a quick CoA run (and perhaps pick up the dirge epic starter) before crashing for the night. Ninga is almost level 85 as well, it’s great to see them hitting the cap once more. My little necromancer has quite a bit of time left before she’ll see 85 but this is the closest I’ve been to ‘end game’ in EQ. Granted the cap will probably go up again before I actually DO see it, but that’s alright. It would be nice to hit it just so that I could focus on gaining some achievements, since I am missing a huge chunk (like 1500 or so, hehe).

The game was VERY busy last night on Drinal as well. Over 381 people were in the general channels (there was a general, and a general1 since 200 players per channel is the cap) and while they may not have been the most talkative of people they were definitely out and about which was great to see. I can only assume that the hot zones would have been VERY busy with people too.

I hope everyone had a fantastic evening, and here’s looking forward to the rest of the week! I’ll see you in Norrath.

Wrapping up the Weekend

Figures that the one screen shot I actually take yesterday has my dirge with her eyes closed – but I really wanted to show off the newest trophy our little guild of three+1 added yesterday! We managed to spot Vision of Vox up in Permafrost (we’ve been waiting for her all week) and while Ultann was out raiding Leviathan (with a pick up raid) Wpus and I decided we would try to duo this magnificent creature: me tanking on my 73 paladin which is a fairly scary thought right there.

I boxed the mystic and stood in the hallway just gazing at the dragon. I’ve never fought her before, and she’s still intimidating even if she cons gray. I knew only one thing about this encounter and that was she spawns adds. I had no idea how many.

We begun the fight easily enough, bolster, lots of shards handed out. Then the adds came.

They didn’t stop! At one point in time it seemed like we had 100’s of adds all raining down on us. Giants, elementals, other dragons even at the end. It was pretty fun. We were starting to get a little low on power (remember, this is an epicx4 and we consisted of a paladin, conjuror, and mystic) and I started to get worried that we wouldn’t be able to defeat her but slowly, ever so slowly, we managed to work her down. It was an epic battle and I was VERY happy to get the trophy added to our small (but very proud) collection. Next we’re trying to catch Venekor (the contested one in Cazic Thul) up so that we can add that trophy to the collection. The rest will take a little more finesse, it will require winning the item in a pick up raid, or running a raid of our own, so we’ll see how that goes.

The dirge hit level 80! I also had enough shards saved up for three pieces of T1 gear for her, so I quickly had my mystic make the pants, gloves, and hat. We ran Crypt of Agony and JUST as we were about to take down the final mob my power went out randomly for an hour. Thankfully I have a fantastic group of friends and they waited for me just in case that Cardiocutter dropped. Which it did not but that’s besides the point at least they waited.

We ended the evening on a high note and picked up a warlock for a deep forge run – we died on the final boss (once) because both of my characters died (I was standing in the wrong spot) and the 2nd healer was ported into the lava – but once we explained to the warlock that two of us were boxing (the main tank playing his healer and me on my dirge playing the other healer) he developed a little bit of patience and we took down the encounter on the second pull. Nothing of any use dropped, but we did get two shards from the zone at least, not all was lost.

Today I’ll be getting the dirge epic started (and maybe even completed depending on how the day goes) as well as working on my upcoming Beckett articles (deadlines in early June). Aside from that it should be a fairly quiet day. I’m looking forward to progressing the dirge and getting her some more upgrades – I did purchase two level 80 masters yesterday that were fairly cheap.

OH! Almost forgot. Have you taken a look yet at all of the new goodies that are coming with GU52? Well, takes a loot at EQ2 Traders Corner for all of the fantastic (not yet on test but shall be soon) items. Look at those furniture items down at the bottom, don’t those just look absolutely fantastic? Not to mention, look at those player created books! The designs are amazing – and WHO wouldn’t be excited about the revamp to those tailor made charms and throwing pouches? I know this update is not yet on test – but I’m exceptionally excited!

See you in Norrath!

Simply Gaming

Aww no screen shot to go with this post because I spent the majority of yesterday bedridden again and the screen shot quality of the laptop is just not that great. Snuck onto the computer early this morning before I have to go back to my cave for the rest of the day, at least it’s comfortable (even if I don’t have digital cable in there and the channels I do have suck!).

Despite being confined to my room I did get a fair amount of gaming done yesterday! It’s not like I’m going to let a few little problems stop me, eh?

To start it off Satia (the dirge) is now level 79 and 40% into it! This will mark my 8th level 80 I believe. I already have an 80: Coercer, Illusionist (x2), Templar, Warden, Troubador, and Mystic. The 50% bonus experience for the (US) holiday weekend has been nice in helping me along, plus I had a few smaller experience boosting potions, and I mentored with my mystic. In order to get that bit of experience the guild and I headed to Crypt of Agony, Maidens Chamber, Vaults of Eternal Sleep, as well as Unrest and Shard of Fear. Oh, lets not forget Chelsith too!

Crypt of Agony, Madiens, and Vaults were slightly disappointing as none of them dropped a single item that any of us were searching for – however Ultann managed to get his choker from Unrest finally, and Wpus managed to get his ring from Chelsith (you know the one that procs a huge aoe when a mob dies). Hamal (Kasul) also inched his way closer to 72 and gained a lot of achievement points from the instances, so that was good for him.

At 79 my little dirge had a lot of gear waiting for her, she can wear some new weapons and her new gi and a handful of other random items. I believe I have a few shards saved up so at level 80 she can get a piece or two of void gear (T1) until I can farm some shards on her. She’s still quite far behind in achievements, but is almost at 100 which is better then some of my characters (like the illusionist, lol). Of course this character isn’t even 80 yet and I’m already debating who to level up next, probably the paladin and then who knows, I may just create something new. I only have three characters on my 2nd account, so there’s lots of room over there still. Maybe a pure dps class of some sort. Suggestions?

Aside from that, I’m expecting a fairly quiet weekend. Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday, and their holiday Monday (for those who have it off). Chances are I’ll be some where in Norrath.

All in the Roll of the Dice

It’s bonus experience weekend due to Monday being a holiday in the states (have a wonderful day off!) and EQ2 has 50% bonus for both tradeskilling and adventuring, while EQ has doubled their experience so you have 100% bonus. Yesterday my dirge managed to inch her way to level 77 and part way through, which also meant she had some new gear to wear that I had stashed away. She’s got quite a bit of things from our daily instance runs that I have just been waiting to use.

Speaking of daily instance runs – CoA again nothing that we’re trying to get dropped. No Farseer, no burdened signet, no cardiocutter. At least we’ve seen the burdened signet once. We also headed to Maidens where surprisingly enough the gi of the swifttail dropped for a second time (the fabled one from the sisters) but of course since we got it yesterday there was no need for it any more (until Hamal can use it and he wasn’t around) so we just sold it to vendor. The Gift of the Queen fabled ring is what I’m after in particular from that zone, though I know there are a few other nice items. We’ve yet to see them.

Which is alright, it means we spend more time finishing the instances in the hopes that (one day) the items we need from each drop. Since the bonus experience this weekend is for crafters and adventurers alike, I may spend some time trying to get my provsioner a few levels. Of course then there’s the fact that my bard is fairly close to 80 and wouldn’t it be nice to get that finished off – as well as my paladin who is sitting at level 73 currently.

It’s fun to be in Kylong Plains doing the beginner RoK quests at level 77 as opposed to level 69. Since my characters lately have all been power leveled up through the ranks they have a huge lack of aa and being able to kill at level 77 is a lot faster then had I attempted it at a lower level. Though my gear is not exactly up to snuff (yet) and things can still hurt if I have too many at once. I do have all of my bards adept3’s which is a blessing. Paladin has her 71+ ones as well – and I managed to purchase her defensive stance master for 70p a few days ago (I forget if I mentioned it here or not, I probably did).

No doubt this weekend will see lots of gaming in both EQ and EQ2 and maybe some others thrown in there just because. We’ll see how it goes. I hope everyone has an amazing Saturday, and I’ll see you in Norrath!

O M G – The Sky is Falling! (Ok, not really)

For the last week or so on Kithicor the discussion in 70-79 has revolved around one thing and one thing only. The ‘nerf’ coming to procs. What is said nerf? Well simply put people are doing too much dps. So this change that is coming will tone it down, and it will tone it down by quite a huge amount for certain classes. What the change is going to do is remove any bonus’ that currently get stacked onto your procs. This means they will no longer crit, nor will they be affected by base spell damage or + spell damage or anything more then achievements and what have you.

This is going to mean a lot less dps especially for scout classes, and enchanters who rely on those procs to do their extra damage. Now, if you don’t raid you may not think this is such a big deal, and in fact I personally don’t feel like it’s that big of a deal. Not because I don’t think dps will drop drastically, it will (take a look at an ACT parse to see how often you crit on a proc and you’ll be surprised at the amount of damage it counts for) BUT the reason I’m not all upset about this change is because: We should be used to adjusting for things like this.

That’s right. Games change. Things that were once a good idea some times are not any more. As players we should be adept at rolling WITH the changes and finding new methods of combating it. If your DPS is going to drop THAT much that not having procs crit is going to significantly affect your progression and your game play then find a way to change that, be it more procing items (or perhaps less), master spells, gear, whatever. Fights will take longer – healers are going to be hit VERY hard with overloaded heals and a few other spells no longer being affected or able to crit. Why everyone is screaming that the sky is falling before the changes are even on test instead of acting maturely and sending in feedback about it, I have no idea. Remember that fighter revamp that was supposed to happen? People sent in their feedback and the idea was scrapped. Despite those of the general gaming audience who like to paint the employees of SOE with devil tails and horns, the developers DO actually listen, and contraire to what we as players may think – they do try to have the best interest of the player base at heart and they know what they’re doing! If you don’t like a particular change and have good solid reasons and proof as to why, then feedback it and let them know! If your guild is affected THAT much by the change and you can SEE this with some solid proof on the test server and the whole game is going to crumble and collapse because of this one change then let them know – logically.

Every time a big change comes people break out their ‘I’m leaving’ card and roll it around in channels for all to hear. Wait for things to get situated on the test server before breaking out the doom and gloom, and then go through the proper channels if it does affect you so much as to be game breaking. That’s all I’d like to see.

Aside from the general chatter in channels – Kasul managed to inch his way to level 71 yesterday, which was amazing. I didn’t spend a great deal of time in game (we all have our days) but I did manage to level the dirge to 76 and she’s part way to 77 now. 9th level 80 here I come!

Wpus, Ultann, and I headed to Crypt of Agony in the hopes that either Ultann’s Farseer would drop (negative) or the Cardiocutter would drop (also negative) or even the burdened signet (another no). The guild is crawling along to level 31 and more amenity which is fantastic at least. Afterwards I had enough energy in me for a Maidens run so we attempted to get the healer ring to drop (no luck) but – the fabled gi did drop, and I quickly relogged to my dirge to pick it up since scouts can use it.

One of these days the items we’ve been trying to get for well over a month will drop. Until then, we’ll just keep trying!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday, and a delightful weekend. I’m not sure where I’ll end up yet, but as always if you’d like to contact me you can find my information on the top left hand side of this site. Best bet is typically xfire or twitter, as I keep those up constantly.

Safe travels, see you in Norrath!