Book 5, Chapter 4 – The Key-Stone

The dwarf told me that my next stop would be Iskeld’s Lookout, a place overrun by snowbeasts. It was one of the abandoned dwarf-holds that the dwarves left when the dragon, Thorog, took what was now Helegrod.

The snow beasts were not a problem; although there were a few bloody white carcasses laying near the Bruinen source. I meant to take some time to meditate on the source, and the Bruinen’s passage farther south, but I must say I was tiring of the Misty Mountains and the dwarf’s requests.

Gloin was happy that I returned. He always was though, I decided because it was some task that he did not have to do. At least I would not be attacking the Dourhand fortress without dwarven help… I hope.

A PvP-only WAR

Mythic gave the closed beta testers a few extra days before Warhammer Online Open Beta. Most of us were unsure as to whether our characters would get wiped, and my guild (Xen of Onslaught) was having a tough time deciding which server to use.  So, I had an idea from one of Josh Drescher’s (Mythic developer) interviews.  In it, he was challenged to play only RvR to see if it would work, and he said he was amazed that he could.  I decided to try the same with a Goblin Shaman.

The first hitch, and a notable one that I have seen through countless first impressions, is without prior knowledge of the game, RvR-only would be impossible.  You have to know how to queue up for Scenarios.  You have to know how to get to your first warcamp.  You have to know how to use Renown advancements.  There is a lot of required knowledge to be able to pull off RvR-only in a fun manner.

Luckily I did.  I hopped on and immediately entered a Scenario Queue and started the 5-10 minute run from the Chapter 1 Greenskin area to the Tier 1 Greenskin Warcamp: Screeb’s Stunty Killin’ Camp.  I made it to about midway between Chapters 1 and 2 before getting thrown in to a Scenario.  When it was over I was Rank 2 in Character and Renown (even though we lost).  Along the way I did about two more scenarios, and I am pretty sure I was Character Rank 3 by the time I got to the Warcamp.

In each Tier 1 Warcamp there are quests to scout out the Battlefield Objectives in the Tier 1 RvR-zone.  Doing all of these is crucial to fast leveling in RvR-only mode.  If you are lucky you can find a group heading towards an enemy controlled Battlefield Objective to knock out two birds with one stone.  Also, while you continue to do Scenarios keep getting the repeatable quest that requires you to complete the Scenario.  It is a great way to get a tad more experience and some gold to boot.

All in all, I had a pretty good time.  My guildmates told me that it was much faster to level by staying in a Public Quest and do Scenarios, but in this game I am not worried about speed.  You can RvR and “raid” at every Tier.  So to further answer the question: can you just RvR/PvP in WAR?  I would say resoundingly “yes.”

Carn Dum Carnage [pt. 6]

The Council has almost cleared a path through the city where the Witch King once reigned.  This bastion of evil and darkness is once again teeming with vile society under the direction of Mordirith, the false-king, the Steward of Angmar.  To his keep and castle we make our way.   The main avenue, boxed in with arthritic buildings and cold cruel stone walls, is patrolled by brute squads of the most massive battle trolls.

We are growing weary but undaunted.  The keep of Mordirith looms in the gloom over the parade grounds of evil armies long vanquished.  We must stop the new hordes from returning to their past grim glory.

The gate keepers of Mordirith are not as intimidating as they were meant to be.  These would be some of Angmar’s toughest battle tested Troll warriors.  But they’d obviously never met adversaries on par with the Council!

Only one beast now stands in our way.  The lone guard of Mordirith’s front door.  He stands patiently waiting for visitors…

Go on up and introduce us, Bryandt!

Their doorman cuts quite a figure… and he seems quite excited to meet our Guardian! (Yes, Bryandt is still in this picture. ;-})

It seems we’re not on the guest list.  We’ll just have to gate crash!

A Sniper’s Scalpel

Entry from the Sniper’s Voice Journal (tape 17, minutes 17-18):

Sniping a whacka in the head is a great thing, mate.  You take a squizz through your scope to see a seppo gobsmacked with another hole through the noggin.  Back at the HQ, they are worth a skite.

But, you don’t want to jumbuck with headshots the whole time. Those snipers seem to have tickets on themselves, but it’s really nothing spiffy. Don’t want to figjam with the amount of third-eyes I’ve pinned, but the ripper shots are the ones I brag about. Seeing a ruski turn the corner with his old greaser, only to make him keel over when you shot him through the avos. Now that’ll have anybody grinning like a shot fox.

<Session Ended.  © Reliable Excavation Demolition Transcription Services >

Mono, Ninja, Rock

It’s hard as hell to explain Audiosurf to someone.  I mean, it’s easy to sell them on it, because if you just tell them the pieces they’ll expect awesome.  The game takes a song from your own music collection (mp3s on your hard drive) and forms a track out of it that you race a little space ship along and collect colored blocks.  Most folks will be on board with this simple description.

But nothing can can express the experience that goes beyond the simple facts.  There’s listening to your music, there’s watching your music, and then there’s RIDING your music.  It’s intense and passionate and a blast!

A simple demonstration is a poor substitute for the real thing, but here’s a taste.  What’s a more appropriate soundtrack to zipping along in your space ship than some old school Floyd?

Let There Be More Light

Astronomy Domine

Interstellar Overdrive

(Don’t forget to comment and “like” the vids! ;-})