August 15, 2010 Sunday Meeting
5pm EST (GMT - 5)
AIM: Valar Guild Meetingplace
Back to News
Transcript work by Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, and Varda.
Attending: (6)
ArPharazonV, Eonwe
Valar (presiding), fladrifv, Galdor-(V)/galdorandwe,
Indis-(V)/karakedi25, Menelvagor Valar
Before-meeting:
Meeting begins
Membership:
Ar-Pharazon's grandmother has passed away.
Landroval's wife is now an initiate in LotRO.
Arien is missing this week while traveling.
Fladrif is traveling, probable reason for his connection problems during the meeting.
Web:
Forum revamp for the Valar Guild. Send comments and suggestions to Eonwe.
The RP section moved from the LotRO area to the Tolkien area of the Forum.
Gaming:
LotRO
WoW
StarCraft 1 & 2
Tolkien:
Indis' topic: RP chat.
After-meeting
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Before-meeting:
You have just entered room "valarguildmeetingplace."
Eonwe Valar: Heya Phar.
ArPharazonV: Aiya!
Eonwe Valar: How goes it?
ArPharazonV: Bit early, but I thought, why not. I'm only just browsing
anyway. Didn't have the people for tonight's Lich King raid.
Eonwe Valar: Sorry to hear that. I'm working on the forum.
ArPharazonV: Ah, right.
ArPharazonV: anything decided yet?
Eonwe Valar: Since I'd had forum work on my back-back burner for a
while anyway, yes :} Last week just gave me a reason to put it in
motion.
Eonwe Valar: I don't think my changes will completely alienate either
camp: the one that likes everything the way it is, or the one that
thinks the design now is horrible.
Eonwe Valar: The current color scheme at least I'm going to try and hold onto as an alternate skin.
ArPharazonV: ah, nice
Eonwe Valar: Of course, there's also the possibility both camp will decide to hate me for the changes, lol :}
ArPharazonV: Well, that's the thing about compromises... it disappoints everyone ;-)
Eonwe Valar: :}
Eonwe Valar: The only boards I'm completely getting rid of are ones
that were never used. The rest are either being kept as-is or being
merged because I have no other choices.
ArPharazonV: oh? which ones are those former? I think I've looked at all of em at some point.
ArPharazonV: Some games?
Eonwe Valar: There are some boards, Like the Marketplace board for DAoC and Everquest, that were never used.
Eonwe Valar: No point in salvaging something that was never used. If we actually need it, we can bring it back.
ArPharazonV: True. If nothing was in there, nothing gets lost.
Eonwe Valar: The standard Gandalf plan: Preserve that which may be preserved, the rest will pass away.
ArPharazonV: Rivendell, Lorien... islands in a sea of decay, in a way
Eonwe Valar: I suppose so, but I'm referring to what Gandalf tells
Aragorn when they stand on Mount Mindolluin overlooking Aragorn's realm.
ArPharazonV: ahh
Eonwe Valar: It's almost 4. Guess I should invite everyone to the meeting :}
galdorandwe has entered the room.
galdorandwe has left the room.
ArPharazonV: that didn't go well
Eonwe Valar: hmm?
ArPharazonV: Galdor entered and left again immediately
Eonwe Valar: Ah. Yeah :-\
fladrifv has entered the room.
Eonwe Valar: Heya Fladrif.
Eonwe Valar: Afk for a moment. Need to get a drink before we start the meeting.
Eonwe Valar: I intend to make it a relatively quick one, so whisper me
now with any news and its proper section, and tell anyone who comes in
while I'm gone to do the same please :}
Eonwe Valar: Back
ArPharazonV: Aiyata
Eonwe Valar: Hantal.
Eonwe Valar: Looks like this will be a very quick meeting.
Eonwe Valar: Everyone here?
Eonwe Valar: Guess not :}
ArPharazonV: I'm here!
Eonwe Valar: That's a relief :}
Eonwe Valar: Fladrif? :}
Eonwe Valar: We need to quit letting ents soak their roots during the meeting :}
ArPharazonV: Maybe he's typing very very slowly.
Eonwe Valar: hoom hom, hehe.
Eonwe Valar: Everyone whom I can invite has been invited: Arwen, Fladrif, Menel, Gilraen, Galdor, and Ecthelion.
Eonwe Valar: Only Phar, Fladrif and Eonwë in here. Let's go ahead
and begin. The others can read the meeting on the News Page :}
ArPharazonV: Galdor and Meneldir appear to be on mobile phones. That might explain Galdor's mishap earlier.
ArPharazonV: I also have a Russ82275 in my Valar list but no idea who it is.
Eonwe Valar: True.
Eonwe Valar: Ex-Manwe as I recall.
ArPharazonV: Ah.
ArPharazonV: adding that to a note
Eonwe Valar: I ought to do a culling of my Valar Guild AIM list soon too.
Eonwe Valar: Ok, beginning meeting.
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Eonwe Valar: Elen Sila Lumenn Omentielvo!
Eonwe Valar: Membership:
fladrifv has left the room.
Eonwe Valar: Varda is out of town, heading to see Merry.
fladrifv: ayia
Eonwe Valar: WB Fladrif :}
ArPharazonV: oh, I've got bombur too..
ArPharazonV: Aiyata
fladrifv: does it work now?
fladrifv has left the room.
ArPharazonV: Odd, it says you just left. You're not even in the list of people in the room.
ArPharazonV: And there you leave again.
ArPharazonV: This is going to be such an interesting transcript.
ArPharazonV: Want me to invite Bombur?
Eonwe Valar: He just left on my screen after asking "Does it work now." This doesn't sound promising.
ArPharazonV: yeah, same here
Eonwe Valar: Hmm, I'm not sure if Bombur is still a member...
Eonwe Valar: Looks like he is, according to the Membership page. MrMonkey2002Blah?
ArPharazonV: yeah
ArPharazonV: that's him
ArPharazonV: inviting now
Eonwe Valar: Hmm, for some reason he's in my AIM's dropped list, but the Membership page shows him as an active member.
ArPharazonV: status "away", online "6 days, 17 hours, 38 minutes"
Eonwe Valar: You can try inviting him. If he accepts, great. If not, oh well.
ArPharazonV: *grin* what are the odds of him coming back during the meeting...
ArPharazonV: I did.
Eonwe Valar: I'm guessing not that great :}
Eonwe Valar: Hehe, this is a really easy meeting :}
ArPharazonV: invited Fladrif again
Eonwe Valar: In other Membership news, Landroval's wife joined us as an initiate in LotRO.
Eonwe Valar: She's read LotR, and should be testing with us before too long.
ArPharazonV: Hmm, good luck to her!
Eonwe Valar: Aye :}
Eonwe Valar: I don't suppose you have any more Membership news, Phar?
ArPharazonV: Hmm... no. Got some family things going on, but I should probably keep that stuff to myself.
Eonwe Valar: Fair enough.
Eonwe Valar: Hope it works out.
ArPharazonV: Hmm, yes. That won't happen. I'll just say it...
ArPharazonV: My grandmother died this Friday night. Was already quite weak, and a wound pretty much finished it. So..
ArPharazonV: things need to be taken care of, funeral's on thursday...
Eonwe Valar: I'm sorry to hear that Phar.
ArPharazonV: Thank you.
karakedi25 has entered the room.
karakedi25: aiya
Eonwe Valar: My condolensces to you and your family.
Eonwe Valar: Heya Indis.
ArPharazonV: Thanks.
Eonwe Valar: Arien is on holiday and will miss this week and next, Tulkas should be about to go on leave, and Fladrif is travelling.
ArPharazonV: My parents had just gone on a 10-day vacation on
wednesday, so they had to come back and will now be missing the rest of
it.
ArPharazonV: But you can't account for these things. It could've been weeks if not longer, if that wound hadn't happened.
Eonwe Valar: It's still a tragedy.
ArPharazonV: Yeah, I know... but it wasn't wholly unexpected, so we've
had the chance to prepare somewhat... the night of her dying was the
worst, all of us staying with her.
ArPharazonV: Fladrif travelling? I thought I remembered him saying he'd
be in the Netherlands on the 14th. But obviously I haven't had the
chance to meet with him yet.
Eonwe Valar: I'm going by last week's Membership on that, and since
he's having trouble getting in and staying in the channel, it's likely
he is .
ArPharazonV: Hmm.
ArPharazonV: I'll contact him on msn.
Eonwe Valar: Thanks.
Eonwe Valar: Indis, did you have any membership news?
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Eonwe Valar: OK, guess I'll move to Web then :}
fladrifv has entered the room.
fladrifv: aiyata
Eonwe Valar: Assuming you've tried to get on the Forum before/during the meeting, unless you're me, Varda, or Menel, you should've noticed you couldn't do it.
Eonwe Valar: WB Fladrif :}
ArPharazonV: Welcome back :-)
ArPharazonV: hmm, am I still here?
ArPharazonV: wow, lag
Eonwe Valar: I've had working on the Forum on my back-back burner for a
while, last week just gave me a good reason to move it to the front
burner. So, I'm working on it as we speak.
Eonwe Valar: You're still here Phar :}
ArPharazonV: yeah, just had typing lag
Eonwe Valar: Or rather, I'm working on it, but I am taking a short break to chair the meeting :}
karakedi25: sorry, was distracted. No membership news for me.
Eonwe Valar: Thanks Indis. Fladrif, any Membership news from you before we move to gaming?
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Eonwe Valar: OK, on to Gaming:
Eonwe Valar: New Developer Diary for LotRO: Instances part 4.
Eonwe Valar: Monday and Wednesday instance running took the group to
wherever the destination for Volume 2, Book 6, Chapter 8 is.
karakedi25: Deep in the Foundations of Stone
Eonwe Valar: Thanks.
karakedi25: Things seem to be somewhat static in the game as people wait for the new material that's in Beta now.
Eonwe Valar: I'm afraid I have nothing to report from WoW. I didn't really get to do much more than my heroic dailies this week in WoW.
karakedi25: In LotRO, a lot of us are completing deeds, both in instances and on landscape
Eonwe Valar: Any other gaming besides WoW and LotRO this week?
ArPharazonV: hmm, gaming-related, I found a nice video, summarizing Starcraft I (and expansion) in 5 minutes, from IGN.
ArPharazonV: Funny, but accurate, and rather useful for new SCII players, and there's even a lotr reference ;-)
ArPharazonV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQa8co522zc
Eonwe Valar: hehe
ArPharazonV: also uses bits from SCII cinematics and artwork, if you're interested
Eonwe Valar: Any other business before we move to Tolkien? And now would bea good time to whisper me a Tolkien topic.
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Eonwe Valar: OK, on to Tolkien.
Eonwe Valar: Indis would like to discuss the RP. Phar, are you here?
ArPharazonV: I'm here.
Eonwe Valar: Any ideas where we go from here in the RP?
Eonwe Valar: That's an open question, by the way.
ArPharazonV: I wanted to say "While we're discussing it, is a good time to write my post" but obviously the forum's down.
karakedi25: we need to end the fight in the clearing one way or another
ArPharazonV: Yeah. I've got my next post fixed in the brain. Will end
up with the last wave of Orcses and Calaron reaching the clearing, so
final confrontation in Mirkwood is on its way.
Eonwe Valar: I think it might reserve a bit of the danger of the enemy
we're fighting if we don't have to go through slaying every single one
of them.
ArPharazonV: Good point. Maybe I'll hold back a bit from the clearing
once we see Estarion go in, and we can have some message delivered.
Somehow.
karakedi25: some of it we can assume, so we're in shape to meet Calaron
karakedi25: that is, we can assume some of the orc-killing
ArPharazonV: For a start, Calaron needs to be able to show his face
without getting an arrow in it, because mysterious voice from the
bushes doesn't look very well.
karakedi25: brb
Eonwe Valar: Well, Calaron can still descend on the clearing, in the
middle of the current fight (so that we haven't killed all the orcs),
and the out for not having a big fight on our hands with Calaron there
can be that some companies of Mirkwood Elves arrive, as I'm pretty sure
we've discussed having happen.
ArPharazonV: Maybe Calaron sends in the Orcs to begin with, sees us
gaining the upper hand, and pulls them back out of the battle, stepping
in instead, and retreating when...
Eonwe Valar: Harder to take out the leader if all his minions are standing there ready to take you down if you get too close.
ArPharazonV: yes, when those companies arrive
ArPharazonV: anyway, if it's going up tonight, let me know and I'll write, otherwise I'll be checking it throughout the week
ArPharazonV: the forum that is
karakedi25: back
Eonwe Valar: I intend for the forum not to be down for much more than a
couple more hours, but you're probably better off waking up tomorrow
and posting.
ArPharazonV: Guess so. But I've got a few hours more. We'll see.
Eonwe Valar: ok.
karakedi25: back
Eonwe Valar: I have a couple of things I have to tweak that I couldn't
actually mess with until I brought the forum down, so that would be the
only thing to extend the estimate on the forum.
Eonwe Valar: Welcome back Indis.
ArPharazonV: Aiyata :-)
karakedi25: thanks
Eonwe Valar: So to make sure I've got the right image in my mind for the RP:
Eonwe Valar: Auros and company fighting, Calaron arrives, fighting
stops with plenty of orcs still alive, words exchanged, maybe between
Auros and Calaron, probably between Calion and Calaron, fight maybe
about to resume, but arrival of some backup for Auros et al. forces a
retreat of the enemy (or maybe just Calaron, who would use his orcs to
cover his own retreat) or at least some stalling where our party can go
about its merry way.
Eonwe Valar: The "words exchanged" part is not mutually exclusive either. Could include both cases.
ArPharazonV: He'd retreat under their cover, but still try to salvage a lot of him to come with him.
ArPharazonV: *a lot of them
ArPharazonV: but... that's just details
Eonwe Valar: Yeah. I'm just going for the top-level view of the plan.
ArPharazonV: It sounds good, yes. I had in mind a bit of combat
including Calaron until the backup arrives, and then the word exchange,
but your way seems to fit better.
ArPharazonV: Can definitely make it work, and start the conversation with my next post.
Eonwe Valar: Sounsd good.
Eonwe Valar: *Sounds even
Eonwe Valar: Oh, I suppose I should share this right now: The "Scouting Ahead" story is changing location.
ArPharazonV: it was in the lotro section, I believe?
Eonwe Valar: Aye.
Eonwe Valar: You won't find it with LotRO when the forum comes back up.
I liked it on the main index, and it's evolved somewhat beyond *just*
LotRO, so it's moving to the Tolkien Category.
ArPharazonV: allright
ArPharazonV: still has its own subsection I presume?
Eonwe Valar: hmm? It's its own board, but it was one before too.
Eonwe Valar: Before it was a board in the LotRO category, now it's a board in the Tolkien category.
ArPharazonV: yeah, that's what I meant, its own subsection
ArPharazonV: that's why I said "still"
Eonwe Valar: Seemed an odd question, since there can't be threads on the forum index, only in a board. :}
ArPharazonV: yeah, I meant that the threads wouldn't just stand on their own within the Tolkien category
Eonwe Valar: Aye, that's right.
ArPharazonV: but in their own sub-board as before
Eonwe Valar: Some words can throw the discussion a bit though, i.e.
sub-board, since "sub-board" from the forum's perspective is a board
without a board, not a board under a category.
Eonwe Valar: er, a board within a board.
ArPharazonV: I meant a board within a board. Or section within a section. Or something.
ArPharazonV: a sub-category within a bigger category
Eonwe Valar: a board under a category is just a board, a sub-board would be a board within one of the boards under a category.
ArPharazonV: Aha.
Eonwe Valar: So a 2nd-level board, for another way to look at it... Category > Board > Sub-board.
ArPharazonV: Oh, I get it now. When you meant the Tolkien category, I
assumed the general tolkien board which we use for discussion topics,
but you mean the category of Tolkien boards already visible.
Eonwe Valar: Aye.
Eonwe Valar: Right now, I plan, if we go beyond "Scouting Ahead" to
create a board to Archive the previous story arc boards in, and keep on
the forum index the board containing the current story arc, if that
makes sense.
ArPharazonV: story arc boards? all our arcs have been seperate threads
so far, unless you want to make new boards for Angmar etc?
Eonwe Valar: Story arc, as in "Scouting Ahead" is the current story arc. The indivudal threads are more like chapters.
Eonwe Valar: *individual
ArPharazonV: so we've only got one story arc so far
Eonwe Valar: Aye.
ArPharazonV: So that's what you meant with "if we go beyond"
ArPharazonV: I'm full of late understanding tonight!
Eonwe Valar: For an anime example, comapre DBZ: You've got the Saiyan
Saga, the Namek Sage, the Frieza Sag, the Cell Saga, etc. etc. etc.
ArPharazonV: *nod*
Eonwe Valar: Aye. The end of our current arc will be when we reach Rivendell.
Eonwe Valar: We may have some posts within Rivendell itself, but the
beginning of the next arc would essentially be us gearing up for our
next task. How we introduce that we can figure out as we get closer.
Eonwe Valar: The above in response to "ArPharazonV: So that's what you meant with 'if we go beyond'"
ArPharazonV: Aye.
Eonwe Valar: I tend to think at least a couple steps down the road, even if we may never get to that step :}
ArPharazonV: Oh, we're drawing near now! Well, we've still got a bit of a mountain trip ahead of us.
Eonwe Valar: Aye.
Eonwe Valar: Auros' motivation for going with the party on the Angmar
is probably not going to be revealed until the next arc. Until then, as
far as he's concerned, his task is done once he reports back to Elrond.
Eonwe Valar: *on to Angmar.
ArPharazonV: *grin* I guess Calion's motivation's coming up pretty soon.
ArPharazonV: "Brother, meet me in Angmar!" "Okidoki!"
Eonwe Valar: :}
Eonwe Valar: Well, the Mirkwood Elves have official business in Angmar anyway, from what I recall of our story so far.
Eonwe Valar: Frali, Auros, and Estarion, as far as I recall, have no motivation to go beyond Rivendell.
Eonwe Valar: Not that every one of us needs one beyond "Hey, it was fun
travelling with you. Why don't I stick around for a while?" :}
ArPharazonV: sounds like something the other two would say, yes..
Eonwe Valar: I'm still working on a couple of Auros side-stories that
will hopefully be ready at the end of the Scouting Ahead arc, as they
may or may not be pertinent to the next arc. :}
Eonwe Valar: These side-stories will not directly go into the story,
but on the Guild's Stories page, and might fall into the "nice to know
about Auros" category.
Eonwe Valar: They may be referred to :}
Eonwe Valar: Not that the characters should know any of it, but it'll be fun for the readers to know :}
fladrifv has left the room.
Eonwe Valar: Hmm, that wasn't good. Menel rejected my invitation, and Fladrif disappears from the channel.
ArPharazonV: not just the channel
Eonwe Valar: According to AIM he rejected it, that is.
ArPharazonV: he's no longer online in either messenger
Eonwe Valar: Ouch.
ArPharazonV: Fladrif that is
Eonwe Valar: Hope everything's ok on his end.
Eonwe Valar: Anything else on the RP?
Menelvagor Valar has entered the room.
Menelvagor Valar: Aiya
Eonwe Valar: Heya Menel :}
Menelvagor Valar: kinda empty here.
Eonwe Valar: We were discussing the RP and its future :}
Menelvagor Valar: cool.
Eonwe Valar: Fladrif was in here, but it's generally been empty, aye. Varda is out of town.
ArPharazonV: Aye. As soon as forum's back up, I'm gonna lead into the word-exchange.
Eonwe Valar: Alot of people probably prefer to get an invitation from her ratherthan some random Eonwë guy :}
Menelvagor Valar: those people are not too well informed on our hierarchy :-P
Eonwe Valar: Here's the basic story outline that we're looking at for the clearing scene.
Eonwe Valar: :}
Eonwe Valar: Auros and company fighting, Calaron arrives, fighting
stops with plenty of orcs still alive, words exchanged, maybe between
Auros and Calaron, probably between Calion and Calaron, fight maybe
about to resume, but arrival of some backup for Auros et al. forces a
retreat of the enemy (or maybe just Calaron, who would use his orcs to
cover his own retreat) or at least some stalling where our party can go
about its merry way.
Menelvagor Valar: sounds good.
Menelvagor Valar: I was waiting for Pharzie to post, as I figured he'd
be right on my tail, as well as not thinking it necessary to post
another "brawl" type post :-)
Eonwe Valar: Now, just to make sure, we *do* plan on putting in a camping scene or two after we leave Mirkwood?
Menelvagor Valar: I would think a day or two to and over the mountains would be necessary, aye.
Menelvagor Valar: we could even write considering to stay at Beorn's.
Eonwe Valar: We've discussed it, for a chance to build character ties
and all. Could laos tie these campfire bonding into actuall combat
scenes where characters have covered eachother's backs.
Eonwe Valar: *Could laos = Could also.
ArPharazonV: hmm... goblins, mountain giants..
ArPharazonV: we've got 1 mention of mountain giants in The Hobbit, I say we explore them further!
Eonwe Valar: :}
Menelvagor Valar: I would figure we'd encounter giants on our way to Angband through the Ettenmoors.
ArPharazonV: do they appear in LotrO?
Menelvagor Valar: Giants... not that I am aware of.
Menelvagor Valar: Trolls... aplenty.
Eonwe Valar: In LotRO, yes, there are giants.
Eonwe Valar: Unless you meant LotR.
ArPharazonV: myes, I'm not talking about trolls
ArPharazonV: no, I meant LotrO
Eonwe Valar: Ok, just checking.
ArPharazonV: I would've remembered if there were mountain giants in LotR when attempting to cross the MM :-)
Eonwe Valar: Yes, there are giants in the Misty Mountains, southern end in LotRO.
ArPharazonV: ah
ArPharazonV: any details?
Menelvagor Valar: well, aside from Wolves, while travelling to the
mountains, and goblins while traversing said mountains, I don't see how
more combat would be of use.
ArPharazonV: we might as well take over the concept, because The Hobbit didn't give us much
Menelvagor Valar: and I think that Rivendell itself might give plenty of opportunity to bond.
Eonwe Valar: I'd really rather we manage to avoid much more combat,
since it would be mostly anticlimactic, having just faced our big foe
for the chapter/ arc.
Menelvagor Valar: exactly.
Menelvagor Valar: I would much more prefer to have a rather uneventful further journey to Rivendell.
ArPharazonV: fine with me
Menelvagor Valar: Of course, the Goblins might pester us, and Wolves might be a nuisance.
Eonwe Valar: I wouldn't rule out bonding around the campfire though, if we can do it well.
Menelvagor Valar: but they would be nothing compared to.
ArPharazonV: our "big foe" will be in Angmar too though, I didn't really figure that into arc-division
Menelvagor Valar: Oh yes, the campfire idea is a good one.
Eonwe Valar: We can try to employ a bit of stealth the get around goblins and wolves, namely we don't get too close to them.
Menelvagor Valar: but to be honest, I'd see a couple days, maybe weeks of rest at Rivendell as a chapter of its own.
Eonwe Valar: We probably ought to plan our combat in future arcs a bit
differently as well. But this was a first go, so it's not we can be
expected to nail everything the first time through.
Eonwe Valar: *it's not like
Menelvagor Valar: felt a lot like comp stomp to me.
Menelvagor Valar: I was the lucky one having to deal with a real opponent in the form of Calaron.
ArPharazonV: Heh. I recently joked in our WoW comm channel that we
should get really powerful and legendary bosses who were being
controlled by GMs, unfeasable as that may be....
Eonwe Valar: I want to talk more about it as we get closer, but I don't
want to bog the current discussion down too much on how we can do
better. Let's get through the current arc and then we'll evaluate
before we begind the next.
ArPharazonV: and it just hits me that that's what we had in our RP too now, a villain controlled by a player
ArPharazonV: and Estarion has the honor of dealing with him in combat, yes ;-)
Eonwe Valar: :}
Menelvagor Valar: combat... combat... more like a jab and run game :-D
Menelvagor Valar: but felt much more like a real combat.
Menelvagor Valar: like when I started in on those Orvs.
Menelvagor Valar: I could have said I slew a dozen or so while they hadn't fully been aware of me yet.
ArPharazonV: It was odd. We didn't actually discuss things that much (I
didn't plan to, wanted to see how this went) which means we couldn't
involve each other in our posts much.
ArPharazonV: That watered down the combat a bit.
Eonwe Valar: Aye.
ArPharazonV: Still, an interesting experiment.
galdorandwe has entered the room.
Menelvagor Valar: yet it became much more life-like imho.
galdorandwe: Aiya!
Menelvagor Valar: Aiya!
Eonwe Valar: Aye, we improved it as we went, and I'm confident we'll do much better with the next arc.
Eonwe Valar: Heya Galdor :}
ArPharazonV: Aiya!
galdorandwe: What have I missed?
Menelvagor Valar: almost as much as I have :-)
Eonwe Valar: We're done with the business meeting and are discussing the RP.
LotRO:
galdorandwe: I have game news to report. Well, personal game news.
Eonwe Valar: Go ahead.
galdorandwe: My lvl 57 Hunter, Andwe just completed the Grand Stair
Instance twice in the past hour...it's the first time I ever was in
there...what a trip. I got the Enemies of Lothlorien quest from Avar
AFTER going through, however...LOL.
Eonwe Valar: Hehe :} Congrats :}
ArPharazonV: Congrats!
Menelvagor Valar: hehe. and ;p;
Menelvagor Valar: lol*
Menelvagor Valar: kinda reminds me of something :-P
ArPharazonV: so you went in twice, and *then* you got the quest? or you went in once, got the quest, and went in again?
galdorandwe: Didn't know there was so much tactic planning to the FM's.
3 green then 3 blue...I was like a babe in the woods. Thankfully the
veterans I was with walked me through. lvl 65 guard with 9k morale
tanked...No I got the quests AFTER the second run. I'm 100k exp away
from 58...I'd have been there easily with the 8 or so quest you get
from the orc camp, LOL. I can see from the Hunter trainer that "life
really begins at lvl 58" for hunters, LOL
Eonwe Valar: :}
Menelvagor Valar: haha :-)
Menelvagor Valar: I have a bit of personal game news as well :-P
Eonwe Valar: Go ahead :}
galdorandwe: Don't supposed i could convince any of you to run it again :-)
Menelvagor Valar: kinda forgot when diving into the RP :-)
Menelvagor Valar: my highest is a lvl 35 hunter :-P
WoW:
Menelvagor Valar: and I lost my account name / password somewhere during a complete comp reinstall.
Menelvagor Valar: anyways.
Eonwe Valar: Well yikes. Call customer service and get it back?
Menelvagor Valar: Today I was on Menelmacare (my 79 Pally on the US server...
Menelvagor Valar: I might in the future :-)
Menelvagor Valar: Got into an instance, the first I went to with items
that are eligible for the "needy" achievement... and bam, I roll a 100
:-P
Eonwe Valar: Congrats :}
galdorandwe: wow.
ArPharazonV: Nice!
Menelvagor Valar: spent a year and a half trying to get that one on my Europe main :-D
Eonwe Valar: I still ahven't managed that or the "Greedy" one.
Menelvagor Valar: Greedy as actually "easy"
ArPharazonV: I think I got both my Needy and Greedy one within a few days from each other...
galdorandwe: what's the tolkein topic for today?
ArPharazonV: might even have been the same instance.. I know I got one of them in Trial of the Champion at least
Menelvagor Valar: needy is an entirely different matter if you don't
actually need anything from any instance that doesn't have masterlooter
on :-P
Eonwe Valar: Needy only gets harder, as you *need* less and less, heheh.
ArPharazonV: I got it for an offspec item in a heroic Champion
Menelvagor Valar: yeah, I got it on my Euro main like a month ago on a full guild naxx-undying run.
Eonwe Valar: We were discussing the RP story we have going on the Forum: Scouting Ahead.
Menelvagor Valar: my off-spec gear for my euro main is waaaay past heroic items :-P
Eonwe Valar: The forum is down right now because I'm working on it.
Should be higher levels of awesome when you can access it though :}
galdorandwe: Scouting Ahead?
ArPharazonV: agh, I can't stand undying runs. Always someone screwing up somewhere, usually at Heigan.
Menelvagor Valar: even my off-off-off spec :-P
Menelvagor Valar: oh, at Heigan we are like: if you're unsure, don't come.
Menelvagor Valar: if you're sure and we're not sure, you don't get to come.
ArPharazonV: When we go for achievement runs in Naxx for some other
achievement, I always hope someone dies quickly so we won't get all
hyper on Undying.
Menelvagor Valar: we'd rather do it with 3 people and spend 15 mins, than having it bummered.
Eonwe Valar: Yeah, it's the Role-Play story we started way back before
LotRO came out, and have been working on it since. It's taken on
something of a life of its own, though it originally was related to
LotRO/MEO.
ArPharazonV: We almost did it once. But someone disconnected on Kel'thuzad and got void zoned.
Menelvagor Valar: now is about 6 years old I think.
galdorandwe: afk...dinnertime and I'm the cook :-)
ArPharazonV: Yeah. 2004.
Eonwe Valar: Happy cooking :}
Eonwe Valar: Check out the story once the forum is back up, Galdor.
Menelvagor Valar: april 2004 to be exact :-)
Eonwe Valar: Always room for one more if writing is your thing.
Menelvagor Valar: march*
Eonwe Valar: And if not, reading is fun too :}
ArPharazonV: Ah. A year before I joined WoW.
Menelvagor Valar: 18th, 19:22 PM EST to be really really exact :-P
ArPharazonV: A year and 8 days before I joined WoW, then.
Eonwe Valar: Menel only knows because he can still access the forum :}
ArPharazonV: Hmm, I suppose we can't? :-)
Menelvagor Valar: of course I can :-)
Menelvagor Valar: well, I am the super duper uber admin :-P
Menelvagor Valar: so I have rights even Eonwe doesn't there :-P
Eonwe Valar: Only admins can get in right now. I did it to keep something from breaking in the face of the public :}
Menelvagor Valar: of course, the real adminning has long been taken over by Eonwe and Varda, but still :-D [Note: mostly Eonwe.]
Menelvagor Valar: oh, btw, fun fact, I have my comp hooked to my tv right now :-D
Menelvagor Valar: HDMI cable ftw :-D
Eonwe Valar: I thought of a way to end the current story arc by the
way: with a cliffhanger :} Have Auros walking in to give his report as
the last post of the chapter :}
Eonwe Valar: Congrats :}
Menelvagor Valar: too bad my tv screen is just slightly off for WoW and SCII
Menelvagor Valar: all around the edges of the games fall off my screen :-(
Eonwe Valar: I was also commenting earlier on how Auros' reasons for
going to Angmar won't be revealed until the beginning of the next arc.
Menelvagor Valar: so I have to use a much smaller resolution to make it fit.
ArPharazonV: Ouch, that must be hard to scroll in SCII.
Menelvagor Valar: not at all.
Menelvagor Valar: just means that my mineral count for example fall off the screen.
Menelvagor Valar: scrolling is completely done by mini-map or keyboard.
ArPharazonV: Oh? You don't have trouble reaching the edge of the screen with the mouse to scroll?
ArPharazonV: Ah.
ArPharazonV: That sounds annoying :-)
Menelvagor Valar: I just lowered the resolution to make it fit.
Menelvagor Valar: just means I have to hook my comp to my normal screen for raiding.
Menelvagor Valar: since I can't raid on a small screen anymore :-P
ArPharazonV: I tried playing SCII in windowed mode at the start. But
couldn't handle losing the mouse-scroll, so went for the
fullscreen/windowed combo where I can still scroll but more easily
alt-tab.
ArPharazonV: heh
Menelvagor Valar: small resolution*
Menelvagor Valar: yeah, using that as well for SCII on my tv.
Menelvagor Valar: pretty much same resolution as on my computer screen, but still looks better for some odd reason :-D
ArPharazonV: haha
Eonwe Valar: If the RP discussion is done, I'll be turning my attention back to the Forum so it gets done :}
Menelvagor Valar: I think there may not be much more to discuss.
RP:
Menelvagor Valar: I've always preferred the RP to be more dynamic than planned.
Menelvagor Valar: in my opinion, the planning is pretty much for
planning, so we don't have to spend half of our posts on it, or
over-arcing story decisions.
Menelvagor Valar: mostly the first one.
Eonwe Valar: Having a general direction is helpful, aye.
Menelvagor Valar: aye, but it's entirely possible to completely incorporate most of it into the RP.
Eonwe Valar: I think a certian amount of overal planning would help us,
and a bit of discussion as the parts come, but no, I don't want to
completely eliminate the dynamic element. Having it in consideration
before it gets to paper doesn't hurt though.
Menelvagor Valar: the general direction is much more so we won't run in 6 different directions.
Menelvagor Valar: true, true.
Menelvagor Valar: much like the interaction between me and Calaron.
ArPharazonV: Yes. Running in 6 different directions is pretty much what happened when you broke off from the party ;-)
Menelvagor Valar: How I put those things into effect in my posts is a different matter though.
Eonwe Valar: For combat scenes particularly. If we're going to wipe
every enemy we have off the face of the earth as if they're cardboard
cut-outs, combat is going to be beyond dry and boring.
Menelvagor Valar: which is kinda why we spent like 3 months getting our combined post together.
Menelvagor Valar: I think it wouldn't hurt th
Eonwe Valar: Our enemies should have some form of tactical experience,
and the smarter ones should be able to lay out a battlefield to give
them some level of advantage, save where our characters are the ones
laying out the battlefield.
Menelvagor Valar: that some of us would intermittently post as "the baddies"
Menelvagor Valar: Which is a role I'd be happy to take upon myself :-)
Eonwe Valar: Well, dual-posts (not to be confused with double-posts) are a special matter in my opinion.
ArPharazonV: I like playing the baddy from time to time. I'm just horrible at it. Good thing Calaron's story is nearly over.
ArPharazonV: Well, after a long break to come.
Menelvagor Valar: well, as long as you can recognize that the
difference in who or what you post for are usually not things the other
party knows...
Menelvagor Valar: I've played as DM from time to time.
Menelvagor Valar: and I've played as "evil" characters in D&D as well.
Menelvagor Valar: though in there, I tend to be the really really chaotic evil guy.
Menelvagor Valar: which makes it rather easy to play the evil "overlord" :-D
Eonwe Valar: That's another benefit of discussing some character
interaction before-hand as well. It helps smooth the story together
better.
Menelvagor Valar: Though I must admit, every one of us has tried to make the baddies look authentic.
Menelvagor Valar: the real problem was that all our posts combined made
the enemy feel wooden, horrendously stupid, and, as Eonwe put it so
well, card-board.
Eonwe Valar: Aye.
Eonwe Valar: It's as if 5 separate characters are fighting 5 separate groups, not 1 group is fighting another group.
Menelvagor Valar: which is exactly why I say it wouldn't be a bad idea to have "the baddies" post as well.
Menelvagor Valar: just as Eonwe posted as Thranduil pretty much separately from his own posts at one point.
Menelvagor Valar: exactly.
Eonwe Valar: I agree with Menel.
Menelvagor Valar: and 1 person controlling said other group would be able to add much more cohesion.
Menelvagor Valar: On the other hand...
Eonwe Valar: I thin rather than appointing one person "permanently," to
cover the bad-guys, we can either take it on a fight-by fight basis, or
chapter-by-chapter (which may or may not be the same as fight-by-fight)
or arc-by-arc.
Eonwe Valar: *I think.
Menelvagor Valar: even though there were smarter foes around, the main
threat was busy elsewhere, which does have references in LotR that the
Orcs fight with much less of their usual zeal.
Menelvagor Valar: not one person, I agree.
Menelvagor Valar: fight by fight, unless multiple fights are during the same combat.
Menelvagor Valar: if you get my drift.
Eonwe Valar: Well, discussion on the story would still happen, but primary enemy movements would be to one person to post.
ArPharazonV: I guess I'm responsible for this one then, though I've not
made much use of that besides around Calaron himself, and not the Orcs
in the clearing.
Menelvagor Valar: well, I think we could talk about enemy movements as well.
ArPharazonV: But as I said, I'm a horribly villain ;-)
Menelvagor Valar: so that the party wouldn't be completely overwhelmed.
Menelvagor Valar: well, you can always ask someone else do the planning for your baddies :-)
Eonwe Valar: I'm talking about one person posting on behalf of the enemy, as you were suggesting, Menel.
Menelvagor Valar: As am I.
Menelvagor Valar: just stating that adding something else to the mix might warrant discussion as well.
Menelvagor Valar: but more general, fewer details.
ArPharazonV: Writing for the individual Orcs was something I didn't
think of. Could've made a much better fight. Though I should really
post more for that.
Menelvagor Valar: much like I've been doing with Estarion really.
Menelvagor Valar: well, you had Calaron and Calion to worry about, and several sub-plots for both characters.
Menelvagor Valar: so I can't fault you for that :-)
ArPharazonV: Yeah. But as Calaron is leading the current Orcs it would've made sense.
Eonwe Valar: Discussion of the enemy campaign should be on a
chapter-by-chapter basis, in my opinion: Where are we going to meet the
enemy, how we will deal with them, how we're not going to turn them
into cardboard cut-outs, that kind of thing :}
Menelvagor Valar: it would have, aye :-)
Menelvagor Valar: at most, aye.
Menelvagor Valar: I suggest we bring this up next week as well for approval of the other RP'ers :-)
Eonwe Valar: We don't have to coreograph each character's combat
beforehand, but if we can lay out the scenario before we engage, we
might be able to make it look like we're dealign with thinking
creatures, unless they're not thinking creatures :}
Menelvagor Valar: aye.
Eonwe Valar: That's all I want.
Menelvagor Valar: unless it's some sort of ambush :-)
Menelvagor Valar: a true ambiush :-D
Eonwe Valar: Well, we can discuss ambush as well. Just because our
characters don't know an ambush is coming doesn't mean we can't :}
Menelvagor Valar: not the flimsy one Calaron put together :-P no offense of course.
ArPharazonV: So, from the start.. what creatures are we facing, do they
come in waves? How many at a time? Do we have leaders, melee, archers?
ArPharazonV: Spiders planning webbing?
Menelvagor Valar: not necessarily that much Pharzie.
Menelvagor Valar: just a general layout.
ArPharazonV: This is just a rough idea of course, what we could discuss... based on the clearing battle
ArPharazonV: What did you have in mind then?
Menelvagor Valar: well, you know how I've been forthcoming with information regarding Estarion?
Eonwe Valar: And aye, we may come up with something on-the-fly (no pun
there) that may work nicely, so it's not to rule out anythign we can
add, only to make sure our combat has both meat *and* bones.
Menelvagor Valar: or rather the lack thereof?
Menelvagor Valar: it's really hard to leave out any information the
character may not possess if you have that information in your head.
Menelvagor Valar: so I prefer to give a sketchy outline of my plans, and leave the details for the others to figure out.
Menelvagor Valar: it makes it more real.
Menelvagor Valar: at least, in my opinion it does.
Menelvagor Valar: but as Eonwe says, it's just something that will help us coordinate, not some standard we should swear by.
Eonwe Valar: Well that's what the OOC discussion is for :} Should we
not be assuming something? Are we taking for granted knowledge we
shouldn't have?
Eonwe Valar: That kind of thing.
Menelvagor Valar: aye.
Menelvagor Valar: though most of our ooc discussion is done in meetings noewadays :-D
ArPharazonV: more direct feedback than on the forum, which I prefer
Eonwe Valar: For example, if Auros is thinking something (as noted by italics) and someone quotes his thoughts, shame on you :}
ArPharazonV: The reason I phone rather than text, or chat rather than email.
Menelvagor Valar: something like that Phar :-)
Eonwe Valar: You obviously haven't got an e-mail from me in a while, Phar :}
ArPharazonV: "The angle of Auros' left eyebrow and the wrinkle on his
chin indicate that he's thinking "(insert thoughts here)", which
worries Calion.
ArPharazonV: Not a good way to quote your thoughts?
Eonwe Valar: Some of my e-mails can get pretty long and detailed.
Eonwe Valar: Probably not, Phar.
Eonwe Valar: Though if something besides calm shows on Auros' face
outside battle (in which case it would probably typically be
determination) it's probably a good indication something is up. Unless
you Calion just made him mad, hehe :}
Eonwe Valar: *Unless Calion, subtract the "you"
ArPharazonV: you, Calion would have worked ;-)
Menelvagor Valar: well, here's a way of "quoting someone's thoughts:
Menelvagor Valar: "The way Fainan reacted, indicated to Estarion that she was thinking such and such."
ArPharazonV: Yeah, a bit like what I did, but more generally speaking.
Menelvagor Valar: but it shows that the character, Estarion in this
instance, interpretes the other character's. Fainan's, moves and body
language.
Menelvagor Valar: yes, but make it plain it's an interpretation of the character.
Eonwe Valar: Reaction to something might give away thoughts on the subject. Facial expression, probably not.
Eonwe Valar: Not enough to give away *actual* thought, that is.
Surprise, anger, i.e. attitude towards something, you could get from a
facial expression.
ArPharazonV: I'm a bit reminded of Aragorn's superior tracking skill which was mocked so much as a result of the movies.
Eonwe Valar: Unless that person is particularly good about controlling
their body language, which does happen, and some things might vary from
person to person.
Menelvagor Valar: page 5 of "return to Mirkwood" might give you some thougts Pharzie.
Menelvagor Valar: once it's back up of course :-)
Menelvagor Valar: Gotta love being admin while the forum is in maintenance mode :-D
Eonwe Valar: hehe
Eonwe Valar: Oh, almost forgot :}
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Eonwe Valar: *bangs gavel* Aftermeeting :}
ArPharazonV: :-)
Eonwe Valar: For reference, Meeting Attendance: Phar, Indis, Fladrif,
Galdor, Menel, and Eonwë (Presiding). Did I miss anyone?
Menelvagor Valar: not to my awareness.
ArPharazonV: Think that's it.
Eonwe Valar: Ok, good :}
ArPharazonV: sending a transcript (which includes people entering and leaving) to Varda anyway, but yeah
Eonwe Valar: If I list the attendance, it saves digging :}
ArPharazonV: that's true
galdorandwe: back...is the meeting ending?
Menelvagor Valar: I think we're pretty much done.
ArPharazonV: we're in aftermeeting
Menelvagor Valar: all that's left really is for Eonwe to bang the gavel.
Eonwe Valar: Already did that :}
galdorandwe: are any of you heading back to the game?
Menelvagor Valar: ah, must have missed that :-D
Menelvagor Valar: going to WoW in a bit, but also discussing various things with Eonwe in side chat.
Menelvagor Valar: some of it is Forum related.
galdorandwe: Ok. I'll be LFF for GS :-)
Eonwe Valar: I've got too much work to do on the Forum right now to go
to a game :} Do let everyone in LotRO know they need to visit our
Guild's Forum this week though :}
Eonwe Valar: Every guild member, that is :}
Menelvagor Valar: Looking for Fellowship and Grand Stairs for others :-)
Eonwe Valar: A random LotRO player may or may not be interested in our Forum, but a guild member should be :}
Menelvagor Valar: Varda will most likely set the motd to reflect the revamp :-D [Note: any LotRO officer can change the LotRO message of the day.]
galdorandwe: Menel...which toons are yours?
Menelvagor Valar: Menelmacar, Tingilinde and uhm...
Menelvagor Valar: Elenhaya, Elenvanya and Elenrauta.
galdorandwe: Gotcha
Menelvagor Valar: might be Menelmacare :-P
Menelvagor Valar: Aside from Menelmacar(e), which is a direct
translation of Menelvagor, they're all translations of star + whatever
reflects part of most of the character. :-)
galdorandwe: I'm out....the Grand Stair awaits me :-) NIght all.
Eonwe Valar: Have fun Galdor :}
Menelvagor Valar: night nigth.
galdorandwe has left the room.
ArPharazonV: Allright. I'll post tomorrow. Gonna save and send transcript.
Eonwe Valar: Ok. Sleep well Phar and thanks.
ArPharazonV 7:25 pm
ArPharazonV (7:25:20 PM):
saved
ArPharazonV 7:34 pm
ArPharazonV (7:34:12 PM):
and sent
ArPharazonV (7:34:14 PM):
Namarie!
Eonwe Valar 7:34 pm
Eonwe Valar (7:34:23 PM):
Take care Phar :}
Eonwe Valar (7:34:36 PM):
See you on the other side of the forum update :}
ArPharazonV 7:34 pm
ArPharazonV (7:34:41 PM):
hehe, indeed
ArPharazonV has left the room.
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