The comments are yours. Feel free to pimp and recruit.

(I have also been curious about EQ2 lately; I don’t know if the “no cover charge” announcement makes me more likely or more leery.)

: Zubon

How’s Fallen Earth Going? is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

You may not know me, but I go by the name Ethic. I used to play MMOs and write about them here. Somewhere along the line, I found myself with just enough time to play games for a few hours a week with nothing much to say afterwards. Same old same old, know what I mean? Thankfully, some other folks keep things going around here when I’m not feeling “wordy”.

Over the years, I have seen my interests flit about from here to there and back. TV has taken up more of my free time with Lost, Fringe, 24, Castle, Big Bang Theory, Justified and my Farscape complete series DVDs. There are some really enjoyable TV shows out there lately. After I get caught up with my shows on the DVR, I turn my attention to the PC.

On Mondays, I spend 2 hours in Lord of the Rings Online participating in “Ales and Tales” on the Landroval server. It’s an event where folks get together in different locations each Monday to play music, tell tales and generally make merry. It is my first real attempt at participating in a role play event. So far I keep to myself and maybe /dance to a tune now and then but I am finding myself a little more comfortable with the idea and I am enjoying myself.

When my wife is available for some game time, we have been playing World of Warcraft together. She already has a level 80 hunter and we did the recruit-a-friend thing which resulted in my getting closer than ever before to capping out in WoW. She has a 75 priest and I have a 75 warlock. So close and yet to me each level seems to take forever. I guess when you play 1 hour a week it can seem that way. We’ll get there sooner or later. For me, hitting 80 feels like it will be the end, but for her she can’t wait because she really enjoys the PvP battlegrounds at level 80.

Then I caught word on twitter about Everquest 2 offering their own recruit-a-friend deal. I’ve always wanted to give EQ2 a proper try but since the initial launch I have hardly played it at all. I re-activated my account and then invited my wife to play. We started in Neriak and by level 10 my wife had lost interest and I was really hating on the visuals. We talked about it and agreed to give the game a little more time and so we recreated our characters in Qeynos which visually has made a huge difference for me, not to mention the graphic tweaks I tried out thanks to advice from Scopique on twitter.

Other than that I spent some time in Fallen Earth – which I still really like but for some reason can’t play for more than a week or two at a time. There is also a couple of beta tests that I got involved in, which always takes up time because it is exciting to get a sneak peek at things coming out down the road. This weekend I hope to have a new computer set up for my wife so she can play Everquest 2 without the poor performance she has been having on her current PC.

Honestly, this year feels like the quiet before the sTORm.

- Ethic

The Quiet Before the sTORm is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

Mal: Well, look at this! Appears we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us?
Zoe: Big damn heroes, sir!
Mal: Ain’t we just?

In Fallen Earth, I am not a big damn hero. I am not really a hero at all. Mostly I am just trying to get by without becoming a meal. A survivor if you will.

Ammunition is limited. If I want to shoot a bullet I need to make it first. Every time I fire a shot and it misses, seeing the bullet ricochet in the dirt behind my target makes me die a little inside each time. My own! My precious!

I don’t want to have some post-apocalyptic freaks rape me to death, eat my flesh and sew my skin into their clothing. Not even if I’m very very lucky and they do it in that order. I want to live.

Bang bang, I shot you down
Bang bang, you hit the ground

- Ethic

No Big Damn Heroes is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

Macbeth says: If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well It were done quickly.
Macbeth says: If the assassination could trample up the consequence, and catch with his turkeys success;
Macbeth says: That but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here.
Macbeth says: But here, upon this bang and shoot of time, we’ld jump the life to come.
Macbeth says: But in these cases we still have judgment here;
Macbeth says: That we but teach bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague the inventor.
Macbeth says: This even-handed justice commends the ingredients of our poison’d chalice to our own lips.
Macbeth says: He’s here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed;
Macbeth says: Then, as his host; who should against his murderer shut the door; Not bear the knife myself.
Macbeth says: Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek; hath been so clear in his great office,
Macbeth says: That his virtues will bleed like angels, trumpet-tongued; against the deep damnation of his taking-off;
Macbeth says: And pity; like a naked new-born babe, striding the blast, or heaven’s cherry beam,
Macbeth says: Horsed upon the sideless couriers of theater, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind.
Macbeth says: I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only faulty ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on the ether.
Lady Macbeth says: How now! What news?
Lady Macbeth says: He has almost supp’d: why have you left the chamber?
Macbeth says: Hath he ask’d for me?
Lady Macbeth says: Know you not he has?
Macbeth says: We will proceed no further in this business:
Macbeth says: He hath honour’d me of late; and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Macbeth says: Which would be worn now in their dental floss, Not cast aside so soon.
Lady Macbeth says: Was the hope drunk wherein you dress’d yourself? Hath it slept since?
Lady Macbeth says: And wakes it now, to look so green and pale at what it did so freely? From this time such I account thy love.
Lady Macbeth says: Art thou scared To be the same in thine own act and valour As thou art in desire?
Lady Macbeth says: Wouldst thou have that Which thou call the ornery of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem,
Lady Macbeth says: Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would, Like the poor cat i’the adage?
Macbeth says: Prithee, peace: I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.
Lady Macbeth says: What beast was’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? when you durst do it, then you were a man;
Lady Macbeth says: And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man. Nor time nor place did then adhere, and yet you would make both:
Lady Macbeth says: They have made themselves, and that their fitness new does unmake you.
Lady Macbeth says: I have given suck, and know how tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me:
Lady Macbeth says: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums,
Lady Macbeth says: And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.
Macbeth says: If we should fail?
Lady Macbeth says: We fail! But screw your courage to the sticky place, And we’ll not fail.
Lady Macbeth says: When Duncan is asleep– Whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey soundly invite him–
Lady Macbeth says: His two chamberlains will I with wine and whassup so convince that memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a puma…
Macbeth says: What the hell’s a puma?
Lady Macbeth says: It scarcely matters!
Macbeth says: We say it everytime we do the play, though, and I’d really like to know what we’re talking about.
Lady Macbeth says: Fine. It’s a type of duck.
Macbeth says: So, it’s like an internet?
Lady Macbeth says: What?
Macbeth says: When we did Midsummer Night’s Dream, There’s a line that talks about internets. You told me that was a type of duck too.
Lady Macbeth says: Right, then.
Macbeth says: I’ve never seen a duck. Sounds like the world used to be ripe with many varieties.
Lady Macbeth says: Indeed. Can we get on with the play, then?
Macbeth says: I suppose.
Lady Macbeth says: Where were we? Ah. Yes…and the receipt of reason A limp peck only: when in swinish sleep Their drenched natures lie as in a death,
Lady Macbeth says: What cannot you and I perform upon The unguarded Duncan? What not put upon His spunky officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?
Macbeth says: Bring forth men-children only; For thy undaunted mettle should decompose…
Macbeth says: Hey, wait a minute. Do you think they’ve got Ducks up at Lake Mead?
Lady Macbeth says: Oh, sure. Giant mutant man-eating ducks, I wager.
Macbeth says: What kind, do you suppose? Internets or pumas?
Lady Macbeth says: Hmm. Will you drop it if l choose one?
Macbeth says: Sure.
Lady Macbeth says: Great, then. Pumas.
Macbeth says: Really? Not internets?
Lady Macbeth says: You said you’d drop it.
Macbeth says: Couldn‘t it be both?
Lady Macbeth says: No. They are unable to coexist.
Macbeth says: Really? Wild.
Lady Macbeth says: The play, then?
Macbeth says: Oh, yes. All right, then. I think I was at, nothing but males. Will it not be received, When we have mark’d with
Macbeth says: Blood those sleepy two of his own chamber and used their very daggers, That they have done‘t?
Lady Macbeth says: Who dares receive it other, As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar Upon his death?
Macbeth says: I am settled, and bend up each cupholder agent to this terrible feat.
Macbeth says: Away, and mock the time with fairy shows: False face must hide what the false heart doth know.
Macbeth says: Are you sure about the pumas?
Lady Macbeth says: Good God, Roman. Let it go.

- Ethic

Macbeth, Fallen Earth Style is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

I first started playing and everything was confusing. Somehow I found I enjoyed this. After all, I am a clone that just woke up and realized what is happening in the world around me. Things would be confusing. Soon I escaped from the Hoover Damn and joined the outside world.

There were a lot of quests to do but I kind of felt tired of questing so I went in to town to see if I could learn more about crafting. It didn’t take long before I was questing anyway in order to learn how to craft. It seemed more interesting as the rewards were often crafting skill books which allowed me to craft more items.

I learned quite early on that pretty much anything you need can be acquired in one of 3 ways: craft it, buy it, or gather it (harvesting or hunting). This opens up a lot of doors for playing how you want to. If you like to craft, make it. If you are in a hurry, buy it. If you want some adventure, go out and find it.

The form of currency used is poker chips which I get a kick out of. Kind of makes sense really. I earned enough chips just from harvesting around town and selling the goods in order to purchase an untrained horse which I then trained with a crafting skill. Level 2 and I have transportation, thank you very much.

In many games I learn about a large carrot that I decide to work for and then I get it and start to lose some interest. One of those large carrots for me is a mount. Having this out of the way so soon had me worried. What else would hold my interest? It was not long before I decided to cancel my account before the free time ended.

Over the next week or so, I keep sitting at my computer only to find my largest desire was to go back into Fallen Earth for some reason. I figured I better follow my wish and reactivate the account. Back in I went.

At this point I should mention how nice it is to be in a clan of helpful folks. I’m still connected in with the Casualties Guild and we had a few folks interested in Fallen Earth so I joined up with them to officially start the clan. This opens up the wonderful feature of a shared clan bank vault.

Most of my clanmates have left me in the dust but that is ok with me. I found myself enjoying the slower pace of exploration. I feel very connected with the setting. It’s a wasteland and we are all struggling to get by. I enjoy that aspect of the game so being alone just feels right.

I’ve been able to use the hand-me-downs from my clanmates and that has been really nice. I was able to equip myself up with some nice armor and weapons. By armor I mean rubber boots, brown cargo pants, t-shirt, camo jacket, goggles and a motorcycle helmet. By weapons I mean baseball bats, box cutters, carving knives, a samurai sword, paintball guns and finally an actual pistol.

I have learned how to make my own bullets so that was a big project for me. I spent some time gathering the ingredients for gun powder. After I made several batches of this, I was able to make the bullets with the gun powder and using some scrap metals. Crafting occurs in real time, but you can craft while you do anything else, including logging out. This is great for me as I can kick off a dozen sets of bullets and then log off and go to bed. When I next decide to play, the bullets are long since finished.

This brings up another thing I have enjoyed. You get XP for doing almost anything in Fallen Earth. Crafting, hunting, harvesting, etc. It all adds to your level. You get what is called “Action Points” for doing things. These points can then be spent on whatever you want to. Raise your pistols skill, armor use, or raise one of your attributes (or do all three). Your choice.

I think the biggest thing pulling me into the game is the sense of a “real world” that I get. I get on my horse and ride off into the wilderness. Come across a camp of bandits and decide I want to fight them because I can see there are a lot of scrap piles for me to dig through. Now I need to find a safe space to leave my horse, because it is attackable as well and it does not disappear into my backpack. This helps to feel more real.

I can then approach the bandit camp. Now I decide what to do. Should I start off with some ranged attacks with my pistol and then switch to my samurai sword when they close in? Should I just try to sneak in a harvest the scrap piles without them seeing me? I think the wide range of choices really appeals to me.

Eventually the camp is wiped clean and I have full packs (my horse also has a pack which I can fill up too) and head back to town. My first stop is always the bank vault to drop off any crafting goods I may want to use later. Then I sell anything that has no real use (which is not usually much). It is not unusual to also find an NPC in town that wanted me to take down the bandit boss and return with his hat to prove I did so. I already had the hat so that is an easy quest.

I enjoy heading off looking for interesting things. I’ve found an old theme park with a roller coaster. An open pit mine filled with ores to mine. Underground caves filled with strange creatures. Giant rabbits. I’m told there is a city filled with gorillas somewhere nearby. Even the quests feel different. The writing is enjoyable and I actually find myself wanting to help these folks.

I really think there is so much put in this game to help pull you into that setting that it really appeals to me. There is no zoning that I’ve encountered. There is no fast travel (yet). If I want to go check out a town on my map, it is an adventure. It’s strange because some of these same things I used to complain about. Over time, I guess I have found out that sometimes I really enjoy taking a game at a slower pace. I’m in no rush to get to some sort of end game. I’m truly enjoying the ride. Nothing so far has made me feel like I’m grinding towards some goal. Just surviving in the post-apocalypse seems enjoyment enough.

Before I go, I should probably mention some of the things that bother me. Hmm. I got nothing. Sorry.

Wait, I think I have one. The skill system is kind of strange. I would like to have my pistol skill raise when I use it, but instead I must spend Action Points to raise it. I’m a pretty big fan of the “use a skill, gain some skill” design. This seems like it would be a good game to use that system. Also, some of the animations are a little off. Oh and combat is not real exciting so far but it’s different enough that I like it. My character actually swears when she gets hit. Fun.

- Ethic

Exploring Fallen Earth is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

They also gave me this nice new (to me anyway) blade which really should be better at provoking people than using that skill.

- Ethic

My New Favorite Skill Icon is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

FALLEN EARTH, LLC, and Icarus Studios Inc., developers of the self-titled massively multiplayer online game (MMO), announced today the development of a cross-platform iPhone application, which allows players to connect into the live game server and interact with the game remotely via their iPhone.

Through the new iPhone application, players will have constant access to Fallen Earth, which has been one of the most critically acclaimed releases this year. Through its interactive features, the application will allow Fallen Earth players to view their in-game character stats, mutations and trade skills as well as provide access to equipped and stored items. Players will also have the capacity to view maps for each of the three sectors in the 1,000 square kilometers of the game’s landscape.

“Fallen Earth fans will have the ability to interact with the game when away from their PCs in a way never before seen in an MMO,” said Dave Haydysch, Project Manager of Fallen Earth. “With the Fallen Earth iPhone app, players will be able to play many aspects of the game in real-time while on-the-go.”

Scheduled for release in Q1 of 2010, the application will feature extensive real-time management of several key in-game systems. Players will be able to manage their crafting queue, view recipes, craft items, buy and sell items at the Auction House as well as interact with friends, Clan members and other online players through multiple chat channels, mail and private messaging.

Sweet.

- Ethic

Fallen Earth Goes Mobile is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

Sounds nice, and I wish everyone involved 101% super happy success time. However, I won’t play it. Just looking at the screenshots turns me off. It looks really unappealing to me, visually. Of course I’m not arguing to make it pretty and full of saccharine; it’s supposed to be post-apocalyptic. It is what it must be. But I look at that world, and I see the way it looks, and I have zero desire to spend time in that. The screenshots I’ve seen around range from unengaging to depressing, so why would I go there? I wouldn’t.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Gameplay over graphics all you want. But my days of biting hard candies just to get to the (small) creamy nougat center of fun are over. I’m glad there’s fun in it. I’m glad it’s new. I just wish it wasn’t so ugly (in my view).

Smart but not pretty is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

The first mode was easy. I had a preorder key for an ATV. Typed it in and a key appears in my inventory. Use the key and an ATV appears before me. Click on that and away I go. Level 2, right out of the tutorial and I have a mount. Excellent. I checked the cost of gas and… ouch. I found the garage/stable just outside of town and parked it for later. Special note: mounts have extra storage!

I decided I better get a horse since feed looks cheaper than gas by a long shot. I found the horse seller in town and decided to save up to buy an untrained horse since it was affordable. Time to go scavenging for scrap metals, woods and other items to sell. I also needed to gather some leather to make a bridle to train my horse when I buy it.

I spent a few hours gathering and hunting near town. I found a hole in the scrap yard fence and crawled in to grab some parts from an old computer in there. I even found scrap on the roof tops in town. My love of virtual Parkour comes in handy. Trying to find various ways up to the roof tops afforded me the opportunity to discover kitchens, beds, bathtubs and toilets. Guess we don’t have it so rough out here after all.

Tip for the lady running the armor shop on the roof, provide easier access and you might get a sale.

I gathered enough scrap to sell that I bought my horse and the needed items to train it. Among those items are: one basic animal training kit, several sacks of horse feed, one basic veterinary kit and five pieces of ragged leather to make a bridle. After creating the bridle I would be able to summon the horse, however I noticed an advanced riding horse bridle that would only require one extra sack of food and it seemed like I would have a better trained horse. I decided to go for it and after a short while, I had my horse. Nice to know, crafting goes on in the background and you can do anything else you want, even logging out.

I also figured out how to rotate the camera (alt + right mouse button) so now you can finally see my character from the front. Yes, the first bit of clothing I found that I could equip was a pair of 3D glasses. One final note for now, I have seen quest givers but have yet to actually accept one. There is plenty to do that keeps my interest.

- Ethic

Fallen Earth: Need Transportation is a post from: Kill Ten Rats

You pull an axe from the head of a corpse and then use it on a guard. You find a rifle and use it to defend your position. You heal soldiers. You buy things. You make things. You drive an ATV. All of this is inside the Hoover Dam. You find out the horrible truth about what you are.

Eventually you will make your way to “town”. As you can see in that screen shot, I am fully equipped with two pistols, a crossbow, a 2×4 and a pipe. And I’m only a crafter. The things you need to do just to be able to make something useful.

I climbed up on top of one of the buildings to get a better view. Here is what appears to be the ruins of a monorail system. This is a closer view of town. Down below from here you can see one of the many graveyards just outside of town. I climbed back down and spent some time dreaming about a brighter future. I took one more look at the remains of a possible monorail system. Around the corner I spotted a junk yard. People are already finding a way to make a living. Around town you will spot several forms of transportation, the most common right now is a horse.

I have only just started my adventures so there will be more details down the road, but for now I wanted to highlight two nice features I have not seen done this well before. Both the chat and the inventory can be sorted out by tabs that you control. It is really nice. I really love the ability to make tabs to sort my inventory any way I want to. Weapons and ammo on one tab? Check!

- Ethic

Fallen Earth: First Taste is a post from: Kill Ten Rats