Author: Ethic

I own this little MMO gaming blog but I hardly ever write on it any more. I'm more of a bloglord or something. Thankfully I have several minions to keep things rolling along.
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Промоакции для игроков не только в шутерах — воспользуйся промокодом Vavada от наших партнеров и получи бонусы, которые подарят азарт и атмосферу, сравнимую с игровыми победами.

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Trinity Calls

miningI’m back in EVE Online.

I foolishly thought I was finally done with this game and gave away most of my ISK (in game money) to Alaph. This was done, in part, to discourage my return. However, I recently learned some co-workers started playing EVE and they have lured me back in to help them. Therefore, I canceled my WoW and EQ2 accounts and fired up my EVE accounts. Playing with friends trumps over playing a game you vowed to never play again.

I logged in to find myself deep in Goonswarm space. It appears they have pushed BoB out of what used to be ASCN space when I left. The nice folks in local spent some time trying to recruit me and finally relented to my requests for a pod-destroyed trip to Empire space. Even better, they purchased all my ships and modules at a more than fair price before sending me on my way. Good folks out there, nice to know.

Found I still had a few ships in Empire so now it’s time to learn about the new features added since I left. If nothing else, the new graphics in the Trinity expansion look amazing!

– Ethic

Hunter Journal: Page 20

TravelA fine day for travel!

I awoke with a great desire to cast my eyes upon new places. Therefore I sold some of my vast collection of hooves, paws and teeth to a vendor and purchased a ride out the Great East Road to the Lone-lands. On my way, I passed by the appropriately named Forsaken Inn.

I reached the destination stable and could see Amon Sûl way off in the distance. Amon Sûl is also known as “Hill of the Wind” or Weathertop. Weathertop used to have a watchtower on top of it, which held a palantíri. I bet you didn’t know I was such a historian. Truth be told, the stable master wouldn’t shut up about it.

I decided to travel to the top and see what I could see. Finding the right path took a few tries but I eventually found my way. I decided I had done enough hiking for one day and chose to make camp for the night on top of Weathertop. Not a bad day’s work. Didn’t hunt anything other than some birds, but at least they were tasty.

(Previously…)

– Ethic

Hunter Journal: Page 19

Today I was riding a horse and some weird guys in black robes started chasing me near the Brandywine River. I got away, but during the escape through some trees I got poked square in the eye with a small branch. I have to wear an eye patch for a few weeks now. It’s me shootin’ eye too! I don’t feel like writing anything more in my journal today. Mood: frustrated.

(Previously…)

– Ethic

Decapitation Good, Nipples Bad

It’s official: Virtual gore, decapitation, dismemberment, and over-the-top type fatalities are fine in the USA.

Virtual nipples are bad.

Thanks to Broken Toys for the heads up.

UPDATE: Funcom made a mistake. Nipples are included in the USA version. Full blood! Full fatalities! Breasts with nipples! Crom be praised! Not full nudity! Oh well.

– Ethic

Hunter Journal: Page 14

Speedy DeliverySome days it just doesn’t pay to go outside.

I shook out the cobwebs of my beer-induced haze. Gunderic Grubb had been pushing pints of Old Withywindle in front of me all afternoon. “Best beer in the Eastfarthing,” he’d claimed, “or at least it used to be.” He’d offer no further explanation but that was good because I really didn’t care, the beer was cold and properly scrambled my worries. But anyway, where was I? Oh, right – going outside.

I stumbled out of The Golden Perch and into the bright sunlight. Deciding to head towards Bree (no other idea had occurred to me), I leaned in the direction of the Brandywine Bridge and moved my feet just enough to keep from falling on my face. Unfortunately before I got to the bridge, Postman Smallburrow hailed me over.

Continue reading Hunter Journal: Page 14

Lord of the Rings Online: Book 12

The gigantic Book 12 patch notes have been released and I thought I’d highlight the interesting stuff.

The Burglar and Guardian classes get major updates, with the Champion getting a “part 2” lighter update. All the other classes get minor updates.

Outfit system and a barbershop to make cosmetic changes. Includes new social clothing and cosmetic weapons. Examples: backpacks, quivers, hauberks, dresses, tunics, shirts and pants. Look how you want to look!

Additional level 10-20 content with solo focus, some quests being redesigned for solo as well.

Lots of Angmar changes.

Housing changes including allowing all of your characters to share ownership of your house including fast recall. Also: usable items (light your candles), object rotation, and housing owner name displayed as you approach.

New anti-spam tools.

Over an hour of additional music added.

I have to say, they are really cranking out the updates. There are lots more, visit the LotRO site for the full patch notes.

– Ethic

Where Did The Social Go?

MMOs have become more and more focused on solo players and there are many reasons for this. Many people are out there, like me, that just don’t have the time to find a group or else they are worried about having to leave in the middle of something and making the group angry. I claim this is a game design flaw and instead of designing in heavy solo content, games should be focusing on ways to take advantage of the fact that a large number of people are playing the same game at the same time.

Lets take a look at groups in general. Currently many people shy away from “pick up groups” because either they end up with someone that doesn’t know how to play very well and thus harming the group’s advancement or else they are worried something in real life will force them to have to leave too soon. Therefore, they end up playing solo. If a game was to focus instead on making grouping up fun no matter the group make up, and make it easy for people to come and go easily, it would change the interest levels of the players towards grouping in general.

Continue reading Where Did The Social Go?