January 11, 2015 Sunday Meeting
5pm
EST (UTC/GMT - 5)
AIM: Valar Guild Meetingplace
Back to News
Transcript work by Ar-Pharazon and Varda.
Attending: (6)
Arien-(Valar)/AriehnV, ArPharazonV, Gilraen-(V)/Iryenth, Indis-(V)/karakedi25, PallandoValar, VardaValar1 (presiding)
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership:
Web:
Games Site
Tolkien Site: art, story
Gaming:
Tolkien:
Topic: Hope: How is this idea handled in Tolkien's stories? There's a lot of
fading and war and sadness, but there's always hope in there.
After-meeting:
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Before-meeting
You have just entered room "valarguildmeetingplace."
ArPharazonV: Aiya!
AriehnV: Aiya :-)
VardaValar1 has entered the room.
VardaValar1: Aiya Phar. No worries, we have another eight minutes. :-)
ArPharazonV: Aiya!
VardaValar1: Aiya Sunshine :-)
AriehnV: Aiya Varda :-)
AriehnV: how are you?
VardaValar1: Just got home, happy to be here. :-)
AriehnV: cool :-)
AriehnV: bad weather?
VardaValar1: Rainy and cool, not actually bad. Just glad to have made it home in time for the meeting.
AriehnV: nice :-) we had some storms here
AriehnV: gales i mean
AriehnV: Portree was lucky and was just 2 hours without power on Friday
AriehnV: some places were off 3 days
VardaValar1: Yikes
VardaValar1: We bought a generator at last. Tired of power outages.
ArPharazonV: Hmm, had a storm here as well, but nothing as bad.
ArPharazonV: I guess that's a good thing about not living in large areas of emptiness :P
AriehnV: we should as well but its not our property anyway .. and the store should hehe
AriehnV: and i guess yes ;-)
VardaValar1: Maybe because we're both just off the ocean, aye.
VardaValar1: Looks as if it's invite time. :-)
PallandoValar has entered the room.
ArPharazonV: Compared to the US, nobody in my country is far from the sea ;-)
VardaValar1: Aiya Pallando :-) Welcome to the meeting
AriehnV: Aiya Pallando :-)
karakedi25 has entered the room.
karakedi25: aiya
VardaValar1: Aiya Indis :-)
ArPharazonV: Aiya Pallando and Indis :-)
AriehnV: noone here really .. i mean no problem with an island that is 12 km wide and aout 30 miles long ;-)
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VardaValar1: Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
VardaValar1: A star shines on the hour of our meeting. :-)
VardaValar1: Membership:
VardaValar1: Arien and I are happy to have power and be able to be present!
VardaValar1: Any other membership news?
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VardaValar1: Web:
VardaValar1: Gaming Site: News archives aren't just Sunday news. Other days are seeing updates too.
VardaValar1: Behind the scenes for the whole site, work going on for coding. Just so you know. :-)
VardaValar1: Not just Games Site
VardaValar1: Tolkien Site:
VardaValar1: Art:
VardaValar1: New goodies from the Bohemian Weasel, this time pen art instead of painting:
VardaValar1: Melian:
VardaValar1: http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/art/gallery/BohemianWeasel/characters/Melian/tolkien-2013-melian1.jpg
VardaValar1: Here's the Witch-king of Angmar before he turned into a wraith:
VardaValar1: http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/art/gallery/BohemianWeasel/characters/Witchking/tolkien-2013-angmar1.jpg
VardaValar1: Eomer, Horse Lord:
VardaValar1: http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/art/gallery/BohemianWeasel/characters/Eomer/tolkien-2013-eomer1.jpg
VardaValar1: Rosie Cotton with Ribbons in Her Hair, as Sam remembered her in Mordor. Reason to keep going:
VardaValar1: http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/art/gallery/BohemianWeasel/characters/Rosie/tolkien-2013-rosie1.jpg
karakedi25: Why does Melian have such an unpleasant expression?
VardaValar1: Guarding the kingdom, probably. Setting up the Girdle.
ArPharazonV: Wouldn't say unpleasant... focused, maybe.
VardaValar1: Not letting anyone touch her favorite elves.
VardaValar1: Stern perhaps?
VardaValar1: She appears to be doing something magical, I figured it was the protective magic.
VardaValar1: That or Luthien broke another vase.
VardaValar1: I think it's also party the style.
VardaValar1: *partly
VardaValar1: Stories:
AriehnV: i like rosies picture :-)
VardaValar1: For those of you following "To See A World" by Nightwing, we have an update. Chapter 51 is online for her novel.
VardaValar1: http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/fiction/authorsT/Nightwing/ToSeeaWorld/See51.htm
VardaValar1: It's a work in progress, but it feels as if it's on the home stretch.
VardaValar1: It's an Aragorn and Legolas story about blindness in all its forms set pre-LotR.
VardaValar1: That's the week on the Tolkien Site. :-)
VardaValar1: Please feel free to send in your own work when you can. Or game reviews to Eonwe.
VardaValar1: WoW and LotRO reviews would be welcome. We have a few experts on those games here.
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VardaValar1: Gaming:
VardaValar1: WoW:
VardaValar1: Latest hotfixes:
VardaValar1: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/blog/16561637/603-hotfixes-january-9-1-9-2015
VardaValar1: The news is from Eonwe.
VardaValar1: Blizzard extended the anniversary event one week due to it
ending earlier than originally intended, so make use of that extra
week! It's now ending January 13th at 10:00 am PST!
ArPharazonV: This includes an extension of the anniversary event, up to
tuesday morning, in case you still want to hit Molten Core or
Hillsbrad/Tarren Mill.
ArPharazonV: Hah.
VardaValar1: Thanks for adding to that. :-)
VardaValar1: Darkmoon Faire is running this week, however, so here's your chance to get stuff completed there.
VardaValar1: That last about the Faire was from Jan 7, so it's about to run out.
ArPharazonV: I think it already did?
VardaValar1: Also, WoW and possibly other Blizzard games? will be down for maintenance Tues Jan 13th, 3amPST to 11amPST.
VardaValar1: Aye, probably. Wasn't sure if it ended at the end of today or not.
ArPharazonV: I thought either early in the day, or at midnight last night.. not sure.
VardaValar1: Okies, so ignore that one. :-)
VardaValar1: LotRO:
VardaValar1: An interesting Producer's Letter is up:
VardaValar1: http://www.lotro.com/en/game/articles/2015-producers-letter
VardaValar1: New areas are in the works:
VardaValar1: Osgiliath and Minas Tirith!
VardaValar1: Even the PvMP guys are getting some love, as they will be having an area of Osgiliath to fight over.
karakedi25: *will* may be an overstatement
VardaValar1: The world is expanded.
karakedi25: they are 'looking seriously into' it
VardaValar1: Aye, if it isn't up, it's a maybe. :-)
karakedi25: they've made no promises
VardaValar1: The team is also
seriously investigating a new PvMP map in Osgiliath. This landscape
would tell the story of the Battle of Osgiliath, and the layout of the
city (split by the Anduin) is perfect for smaller and more tightly
focused conflicts than the Ettenmoors. This would make the perfect
platform for gradual improvements to the PvMP experience, overall.
We’ll provide additional updates on this initiative as we get deeper
into 2015.
VardaValar1: /endquote
karakedi25: there you go
VardaValar1: Legendary Items: With
the Osgiliath update, you will be able to Imbue Level 100 Legendary
Items. An Imbued item continues to gain experience and will no longer
need to be deconstructed to advance. These items are already in
internal testing! There are many details still to work out, but you
should expect a developer diary on the topic early this year.
VardaValar1: New Fellowship
Challenges: As we push into the heart of the War of the Ring, this is
the perfect time for us to renew our focus on group content and
instances. Expect new instances in Osgiliath, along with additional
Roving Threats and group content on the landscape.
VardaValar1: Quality of Life: We have
been working to identify your most persistent bugs. You can expect a
renewed focus on resolving issues that may be small but troublesome, to
improve overall gameplay experience.
VardaValar1: Episodic Content: We are
currently in development on a new type of quest content that will roll
out like an episodic TV show, a little at a time, as you follow a new
friend across Middle-earth seeing familiar places in a new light.
VardaValar1: Server Populations:
Based on your feedback, we’re taking measures to get everyone onto the
more populous servers, so that finding parties is easier and festivals
and live events are more fun. We are working on both improved server
transfer tools and upgrades to our environments to improve playability.
Also we will be moving our European servers back to the EU! More
details on this coming soon!
VardaValar1: /endquote
karakedi25: That one has caused a huge furor.
VardaValar1: Anyway, sounds as if they are trying hard to bring us new fun stuff.
VardaValar1: The new EU servers worry me, as it can split us up again.
karakedi25: People are overreacting all over the place about server closures.
VardaValar1: But maybe they'll be better served.
ArPharazonV: It might just be to address latency issues if you choose to play on a server in your own region.
VardaValar1: Landroval has been seeing a huge influx of people fleeing low population servers.
karakedi25: The EU servers are meant to provide better connection and
less lag. No intention to split populations in terms of gameplay.
VardaValar1: Aye, Phar. As an internationaly group, they could split us
up even worse and we've already been having problems that way.
VardaValar1: But if it gives them a better experience, ok.
karakedi25: In fact, they are looking to see if there's a way newer
tech can make it possible for EU/NA to cross transfer. Current tech
won't permit it.
ArPharazonV: Oh, ambitious :-)
VardaValar1: Good luck to them.
VardaValar1: We'll let Arien test it. :-)
Iryenth has entered the room.
VardaValar1: Aiya Gilraen!
Iryenth: Aiya
ArPharazonV: Aiya!
karakedi25: They have said that there will be some servers closed, as
yet unspecified, but that they will give those affected free choice
where to move, will try to keep kinships together, and are looking into
how to enable those who move to take their belongings with them. There
are still many complications, but they've promised to keep information
flowing as they have it.
karakedi25: They will also leave those who do not transfer available
indefinitely on servers closed for play, in case they've been away and
return or change their minds about moving.
karakedi25: *those characters who..
ArPharazonV: So at least they're not pulling the plug and erasing the backups.
karakedi25: Nevertheless, a lot of people are panicking or getting into
what-if quarrels on the forum. They'd be much better off if they wait
for the information they need, since what-if scenarios are useless atm.
I'm quite sure the team is considering all the concerns that have been
mentioned. It's not to their advantage to have a lot of PO'd players.
VardaValar1: Maybe if they can toss their most desirable items into
their inventories, the stuff could move too? Temporary free extra space
maybe?
VardaValar1: Aye, people do seem to panic easily.
karakedi25: It all remains to be seen, but there's clearly no malice in any of thise.
karakedi25: *this
VardaValar1: Agreed.
AriehnV: i hope rhey let existing european players in kinships stay together
VardaValar1: The people leaving their servers for us have mostly said they were leaving big empty spaces looking for activity.
karakedi25: I think they'll try to do that for any kinship that wants to stay together.
karakedi25: they can't make promises yet because there are so many ramifications and complications
AriehnV: i dont want to be stuc with another game not being able to play with friends in us
karakedi25: I would say it is highly unlikely that Landroval will close.
AriehnV: or make it like SwotR where you can chose in which area to play
VardaValar1: I don't think you'd be forced onto an EU server anyway.
And Landroval is one of those that people migrate to, not from.
karakedi25: exactly
AriehnV: :-)
AriehnV: good *phew* wipes forehead
ArPharazonV: In WoW, when population servers declined, they started
merging/connecting them. I wonder whether the LotRO method will be more
or less effective.
karakedi25: Riddermark appears to be the least populated of the NA
servers. There were some EU ones near the bottom too. (Can't remember
which). Unofficial figures.
VardaValar1: They'll probably be looking at how other games handled the situation and going for the best current option.
karakedi25: There will be no mergers--they've already said that. They
will close servers to play but offer a long time for character
transfers.
AriehnV: very controversial solution in y oppinion
karakedi25: there is no non-controversial solution
karakedi25: I think they're seeking the least worst
VardaValar1: Not uncommon though. Same thing on EQ when we lost Zebuxoruk, or SWTOR when we had to move to Ebon Hawke.
VardaValar1: Aye, Indis. :-)
AriehnV: i am not happy with the mergers
VardaValar1: People are already migrating or waiting for free transfers.
VardaValar1: This could be a chance for us to pick up new members. :-)
karakedi25: people are anticipating free transfers. I've not see a promise for that, but it seems probable.
VardaValar1: People are hoping for it, aye.
ArPharazonV: So they're forcing you to move if you want to continue to play, but you have might have to pay for the transfer?
ArPharazonV: That seems rather nasty.
karakedi25: you're jumping to a conclusion, Phar
ArPharazonV: Well, you're giving it as a possibility.
VardaValar1: I doubt they would make them pay if they have to transfer, thus the expectation of free transfers.
karakedi25: All I've said is that nothing has been said about free
transfers, but I think they're likely given the apparent care with
which the team seems to be trying to make this happen
karakedi25: No point in getting PO'd about something that hasn't happened and isn't all that likely
ArPharazonV: Honestly, if they have any sense, I can't imagine them *not* giving free transfers.
karakedi25: precisely
ArPharazonV: Oh, I'm not PO'd, just worried. I don't even have a stake in this.
VardaValar1: Jumping whole kins together seems one of their options.
karakedi25: The point I want to make is that there is no point in reacting emotionally until there's more to react to
VardaValar1: We're on Landroval, so it doesn't affect us except as an opportunity to pick up more people.
VardaValar1: Although I'm curious what they're going to do with my alts
on other servers. Not worried about them, as they're barely played and
mostly to pick up TP or experiment.
karakedi25: it may affect those who have characters on other servers
karakedi25: I assume if it's one of the targeted servers, you will have the ability to move them wherever you want
VardaValar1: I have a pretty full set on Landroval, so they may wind up
elsewhere. Just curious to see how they handle it, not worried though.
karakedi25: not only do I have a full set on Landroval, I also have
duplicate names on my non-Landy alts, so that could be problematic.
I'll probably park them on one of the available servers.
VardaValar1: Sounds good. They put a -1 after the name to show it's a duplicate name, not attractive. :-)
karakedi25: I'm guessing they'll also provide a free name change in such cases.
VardaValar1: Most likely. Seeing a lot of the numbered names popping up right now.
ArPharazonV: Hehe. When they went on a name-purge for inactive
characters here, recently, they would add -xyz after your name if you
were too late to claim it (and hadn't played since.. 2008 or so?)
ArPharazonV: Can't use numbers in your name in WoW. I think
VardaValar1: haha
ArPharazonV: -xyz could make for interesting new names though!
VardaValar1: We can't use them either. Just added by the game if a same name transfer hits the server to differentiate.
karakedi25: One possiblility that's been raised is to attach a last
name that's the name of the server of origin. So if I transfer Alasse
from server A to Landy, she might be Alasse Elendilmir, for example.
ArPharazonV: The RPers might like that, as long as the match-up isn't
too odd. Not sure if you have evil server-names for example?
VardaValar1: We have a notary system for giving us last names. The name could become very long that way, Tolkienesque.
karakedi25: No evil server namews
karakedi25: evil play is limited to the Ettenmoors
VardaValar1: Although someone like Sauron or Ugluk might not be served well as an RPer by the good server names.
karakedi25: those names would not be permitted
ArPharazonV: so there's no Thangorodrim or Ungoliant server or something?
karakedi25: nope
karakedi25: most of them are fairly neutral
VardaValar1: I meant our people who RP Melkor and other such characters.
ArPharazonV: In WoW, server-names range all over the place. Some evil characters or clans or kingdoms included.
VardaValar1: On to other games...
VardaValar1: Heroes of the Storm:
VardaValar1: Some things are coming soon, like Hero League and Draft Mode as well as new skins and mounts.
VardaValar1: Dragon Age: Inquisition is both single and multi-player, high quality, fun game. Bilbo and Sauron recommend it.
VardaValar1: You can just stand there and watch the ocean swells, beautiful.
karakedi25: is it open pvp?
VardaValar1: I don't actually know. I'll go ask, one sec.
karakedi25: if so, not for me
VardaValar1: So far, our guys have only done co-op.
VardaValar1: Don't know about pvp.
karakedi25: beauty appeals, but being ganked does not
VardaValar1: Others read the transcript and wonder the same things.
VardaValar1: Aye to that.
VardaValar1: SWTOR still somewhat active.
VardaValar1: Any other general gaming news we should mention?
VardaValar1: Feel free to whisper your Tolkien topic, and I have one as well.
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VardaValar1: Tolkien:
VardaValar1: Don't forget our rp story on the forum. :-)
VardaValar1: Hope: How is this idea handled in
Tolkien's stories? There's a lot of fading and war and sadness, but
there's always hope in there.
ArPharazonV: Starlight seems to do it in most cases.
AriehnV: Light always symbolizes hope .. dont forget .. the Silmaril
even if created "illegally" even they contained hope and they thought
the last hope for Arda in saving the last light of the two trees in the
gems
AriehnV: yes starlight especially
VardaValar1: The silmarils were created legally. The problems with them came later.
AriehnV: also things like music and songs (the horns of Rohan when they
arrived on Pellargir .. rekindled hope in the defenders and fear in the
attackers)
VardaValar1: True, the silmarils contained the light that could have helped, so they held hope even if it wasn't realized.
ArPharazonV: Aerendil's star gave hope when it rose. The star that
shone through Sauron's darkness when Frodo and Sam had entered Mordor,
gave hope.
VardaValar1: The Shire gave Gandalf rest and hope.
VardaValar1: Aragorn's youthful name of Estel meant Hope.
VardaValar1: Frodo's ability to carry the Ring gave hope.
ArPharazonV: Bilbo finding the Ring gave hope, too, I think?
VardaValar1: Aye. Hope for a final ending to Sauron.
ArPharazonV: Hope that he'd be able to do this burglaring job :P
VardaValar1: Also good news that Sauron didn't have it.
VardaValar1: hehe
VardaValar1: Hope came back to Frodo when he discovered that the orcs hadn't taken the Ring. Sam had it.
ArPharazonV: Hope came to Frodo and Sam when they didn't have to leave their elven rope behind :-)
VardaValar1: Frodo and Sam gained new hope when the orcs started to
empty out of Mordor, caught by the decoy Aragorn's little army gave.
VardaValar1: Hope made Sam hold onto a few things even in Mordor,
including a box of dirt with a mallorn seed. And his pots and pans for
a long time.
VardaValar1: One of Morgoth's weapons was to give a feeling of hopelessness. We see it combated.
VardaValar1: t
VardaValar1: He only showed Hurin the bad things. Hope is a powerful weapon against the dread, allows springing back.
ArPharazonV: Part of Gandalf's job, I suppose, for which his ring came in useful.
VardaValar1: Aye!
VardaValar1: Rekindling spirits was a large part of what Gandalf did, brining hope.
VardaValar1: Grima ground down Theoden's hopes; Gandalf brought them back up.
VardaValar1: If no one has anything else to add?
VardaValar1: (This is a topic that could go on a long time, perhaps good for the forum?)
ArPharazonV: "The eagles are coming!"
VardaValar1: If we post some Tolkien topics on the board again, would any of you be interested in adding to them.
ArPharazonV: Hope with feathers.
VardaValar1: Aye, that's one. :-)
VardaValar1: Any topics currently on the board may also be commented on. Tolkien topics never go out of current use.
VardaValar1: *picks a hammer for its shiny, hopeful look*
VardaValar1: *Fwaaaazammmm!*
AriehnV: *tinggg*
VardaValar1: *Fireworks spark off in all directions*
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VardaValar1: After-meeting!
AriehnV: hehe
VardaValar1: Fun with Hammers.
AriehnV: btw ..the guardian made it t0 67 i think ..and getting on with
the epic book .. still hunting in mirkwood even though i could move on
^Y^ [Note: LotRO]
ArPharazonV: Oh, I saw Fladrif last night in Hearthstone, spectated a few of his paladin games. He appears to be rather into the more complex decks and combos than I am :-)
VardaValar1: Very nice. Mirkwood has lots of stuff going on and is the source for many future skirmishes.
ArPharazonV: *rather more
VardaValar1: Yay Fladrif!
VardaValar1: Sounds as if his chess playing affected his Hearthstone gaming.
AriehnV: ayep
ArPharazonV: Could be. He was playing with a paladin secrets deck and various legendaries. Looked quite interesting.
ArPharazonV: It was impressive, too, because he told me he hadn't
played a lot of paladin; he reached level 20 with it as I watched.
ArPharazonV: Makes me wonder how much better his other classes are doing, even.
VardaValar1: (The Hope topic is now on the Forum. Enjoy!)
VardaValar1: Aye, how well is Fladrif doing with something he is familiar with? Should be interesting.
ArPharazonV: Yep, that's what I mean.
ArPharazonV: Let's see... in WoW
I've been doing more Molten Core raids during the extended anniversary,
I've done 20 runs total now. No enchant yet, but it's very rare, so
that's not very surprising. But I'll be doing 2 more tomorrow night,
for the last time.
ArPharazonV: Because who knows, right?
VardaValar1: Always in motion, the future.
ArPharazonV: Getting more comfortable in the Highmaul raid as well,
with new boots acquired tonight. And my garrison's doing well too, 10
maxed out epic followers now. I'm hoping to finally do some actual
normal questing on wednesday ;-) Maybe finish up all the Lumber Mill
stuff.
ArPharazonV: Annnnd... flashgaming.
Finally beat the game I mentioned last week, Solarmax 2, on all
difficulties. Hard actually seemed easier than medium for much of the
way, but perhaps that was because I understood the game better.
ArPharazonV: Just all the practice, eh?
ArPharazonV: Does mean I didn't do too much new stuff this week though.
ArPharazonV: But if you want one I played this weekend with an upgradable car and lots of things to shoot, here's http://www.kongregate.com/games/IriySoft/road-of-fury-2 :-)
ArPharazonV: Oh, and here's some random but interesting gaming news:
VardaValar1: Sounds like a Houston highway?
ArPharazonV: Hah, I hope the Houston highways are not as dangerous ;-)
VardaValar1: :-)
ArPharazonV: A collection of about 2300 old dos games has appeared at the Internet Archive with an emulator for in the browser, so you can play directly.
ArPharazonV: https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos for those interested. There are a lot of interesting classics here!
ArPharazonV: There might still be some glitches, but they're working on updating things.
ArPharazonV: So check it out, and you might find something nostalgic :-)
ArPharazonV: Anyway, I need to be going soon, need to be up more early
tomorrow. Just playing 1 or 2 matches of Hearthstone before I go, see
if I can make progress in daily quests :-)
ArPharazonV: There! 2 quests done, and enough gold for to buy a new booster pack.
ArPharazonV: -for
AriehnV: all right sleep well :-)
AriehnV: Namarie from me a well
ArPharazonV: Namarie!
AriehnV has left the room.
ArPharazonV: Allright, saving and sending transcript.
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