February 2, 2020 Sunday Meeting
5:00
P.M. Eastern time (-4 GMT aka 9 P.M. aka 21:00)
Discord:
Valar Guild/meeting_place
Back to News
Transcript work by Varda.
[times are Central Time from Varda's Discord. Add one hour for
Eastern.]
["slight smile" is the same as we are used to using as a regular
smiley]
Attending (and
spoke): (5)
Discord:
Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Fladrif, Varda (presiding)
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news
Web:
Art by Deepgroover-(T), posted yesterday:
"Thorin".
Story by Shirebound, posted yesterday: "The Magic
of a Wizard's Song".
Gaming:
General reports:
World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Diablo 3, Hearthstone,
Overwatch, WarCraft 3: Reforged, Creeper World 2, Lost Vikings, GoT:
Winter is Coming
Tolkien:
Link sent by Meriadoc-(V): "Luthien's Lament"
Topic: What interactions
can we think of between Valar and people of Middle-earth?
After-meeting:
Flashgaming Reviews by
Ar-Pharazon
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Before-meeting
Feb. 1, 2020:
Eonwe ValarYesterday at 3:54 AM
Heya :}
Got my cloak to Rank 8 in WoW. Yay me :}
Feb. 2, 2020:
Eonwe ValarToday at 3:56 PM
Heya all.
Happy Groundhog Day :}
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 3:57 PM
Aiya!
Ah, that time again. And again. And again.
Eonwe ValarToday at 3:57 PM
Yep, lol.
Got another transmog skin from my Ashbringer: Honor lvl 50.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 3:58 PM
Grats!
Very nice.
How long until 80?
Eonwe ValarToday at 3:58 PM
THe one I really want is the green flame one, but that takes
completing a mythic 15 keystone and my chances of doing that are
extremely low, heh.
Longer than I can estimate :}
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 3:59 PM
Hmm. Luckily that was more easily done in Legion for me, I'm only
missing the 80 honor one. Currently at 63.
It's a lot harder in BfA since it scales up every season.
Eonwe ValarToday at 3:59 PM
The only reason I've been doing PvP recently is because these Shreds
of Insanity, unlike its Nazjatar equivalent, can come from Honorable
Kills, so it's worth doing to me.
VardaToday at 3:59 PM
I hear the groundhog said we have an early spring. : )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 3:59 PM
Global Warming
VardaToday at 4:00 PM
and aiya. : )
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:01 PM
Heya :}
VardaToday at 4:01 PM
Hate to break up a good meeting with a meeting. : )
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:01 PM
:}
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:01 PM
Aiya!
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:02 PM
Thankfully I didn't spend my entire PvP bout losing, hehe. Alliance
actually won a few.
VardaToday at 4:02 PM
: )
What's that song? I've been on both sides now?
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:03 PM
I've seen clouds from both sides now...
VardaToday at 4:03 PM
That's it.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:03 PM
My dad was a fan of a cover by a Dutch artist and I've heard plenty
of times :slight_smile:
*heard it
Not that I minded. Started playing it for myself for a while as
well.
VardaToday at 4:04 PM
Nice to be able to share fun.
speaking of....
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Elen sila lumenn' ometielvo!
Membership:
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:04 PM
Such a transition.
VardaToday at 4:04 PM
heh
I have not poked anyone yet. They are all comfortable.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:05 PM
I'll give Arien a poke.
VardaToday at 4:05 PM
Guess I should do that now. Kind of like being an alarm clock. heh
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:05 PM
And poked an ent for good measure!
FladrifVToday at 4:05 PM
Aiya
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:05 PM
:Aiya :smile:
VardaToday at 4:06 PM
Aiya Ent!
Careful that big guy doesn't step on you.
(last was to Phar)
ArienValarToday at 4:06 PM
Heya and Grats :slight_smile:
VardaToday at 4:07 PM
Aiya Sunshine : )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:07 PM
Aiya!
ArienValarToday at 4:07 PM
Aiya :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:07 PM
It'd be pretty scary to see someone big enough to step on an Ent,
hehe.
ArienValarToday at 4:07 PM
hehe
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:08 PM
Must be quite a colossus indeed.
Don't think a balrog could do that.
FladrifVToday at 4:08 PM
I call that entnormous
VardaToday at 4:08 PM
One of those rock/storm giants maybe?
ArienValarToday at 4:09 PM
there is a children story iin German where a giant appears that only
appears to be a giant from far away :slight_smile: The nearer you
get the smaller he appears until when you stand in front of him he
is normal sized :slight_smile:
VardaToday at 4:09 PM
Cool. Reverse perspective!
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:09 PM
That would so mess with my head.
ArienValarToday at 4:09 PM
so i guess from very far away he might appear bigger as an Ent
:slight_smile:
VardaToday at 4:09 PM
Or a being with no perspective at all!
ArienValarToday at 4:10 PM
hmm he is called Herr Tur Tur
VardaToday at 4:10 PM
Thanks. Now we can look the story up.
FladrifVToday at 4:10 PM
sir door door
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:10 PM
hehe
VardaToday at 4:11 PM
Odd. Door?
ArienValarToday at 4:11 PM
and you call a .. wait Seeming Giant? or something and the story is
from Ottfried Preussler
its not Tuere Fladrif :|P
Tur Tur
even though you might pronounce Tuere as Tur :wink:
VardaToday at 4:12 PM
What is "tur"?
FladrifVToday at 4:12 PM
atleast this ent does
ArienValarToday at 4:12 PM
Tuere is german for Dorr
FladrifVToday at 4:12 PM
but tur is door
ArienValarToday at 4:12 PM
but it is the Umlaut
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:12 PM
I try not to pronounce German at all.
FladrifVToday at 4:12 PM
I have to on a daily basis
VardaToday at 4:12 PM
Work work
On to
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Web News:
We have some. : )
Art:
Deepgroover-(T) did a model of Thorin, full size. He added in a lot
of fun stuff so it shows him in Mirkwood.
ArienValarToday at 4:13 PM
https://www.thegermanproject.com/german-lessons/german-pronunciation
German sounds, symbols and pronunciation | Learn
German
Get a crash course in German pronunciation in
this free beginner German lesson. Learn how to say those weird ß, ä,
ö, ü symbols with clear audio examples.
VardaToday at 4:14 PM
Thanks, Arien. : )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:14 PM
Wait, full size?
Actual dwarf size?
VardaToday at 4:14 PM
o sorry, full body. /facepalm
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:14 PM
Ah :slight_smile:
VardaToday at 4:14 PM
He has done full size faces.
ArienValarToday at 4:14 PM
laughs
VardaToday at 4:14 PM
http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/art/gallery/DeepGroover/Thorin/ThorinMirkwood.htm
Thorin
model: full figure Thorin in
Mirkwood
ArienValarToday at 4:14 PM
i d love to see that full size
Story:
VardaToday at 4:15 PM
We also have a story, one chapter, by Shirebound:
"The Magic of a Wizard's Song"
http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/fiction/authors/Shirebound/The%20MagicofaWizardsSong.htm
The Magic of a Wizard's Song
fanfiction Fellowship of the Rings.
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Gaming:
Eonwe, would you like to take this part if you're not being dragged
away?
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:18 PM
Sure.
World of Warcraft
The Darkmoon Faire begins today and runs through Saturday, February
8th. Some new stuff (arcade) was added, so don't miss it!
I tried it, seems to be no rewards, just if you like redoing some of
the dailies for no gain.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:20 PM
Think I might visit it tonight. I always love that uncrossing the
lines puzzle.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:21 PM
Check out the newest hotfixes. : https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23277654/hotfixes-january-30-2020
World of Warcraft
Hotfixes: January 30, 2020 - WoW
Here you'll find a list of hotfixes that address
various issues related to World of Warcraft: Battle For Azeroth.
Lord of the Rings Online
Update 25.3.1 came out this week. : https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?678182-Update-25-3-1-Release-Notes
Update 25.3.1 Release Notes
Here are the Release Notes for Update 25.3.1, released on Wednesday,
January 29th.
News and Notes:
Items
Diablo 3
The new PTR begins February 6th. : https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/23298649/patch-268-ptr-begins-26-1-31-2020
Diablo III
Patch 2.6.8 PTR Begins 2/6
The two-week PTR testing period for 2.6.8 begins
February 6 and we need your help to make Season 20 better than ever!
There is a new Developer Insight: Balancing & Class Set Design.
: https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/23290575/%5Bd3%5D-developer-insights-balancing-class-set-design-1-28-2020
Diablo III
[D3] Developer Insights: Balancing & Class
Set Design
Developer Insights is our blog where we reveal
some of the processes and philosophies behind our updates and
designs.
In this edition, we'll be talking about
the nature of balancing Class Sets in Diablo III, as well as our
goals for the upcoming 2.6.8 patch and beyond.
Hearthstone
Galakrond's Awakening Chapter 2 is now live. : https://playhearthstone.com/en-us/blog/23284206/galakrond-s-awakening-chapter-2-live-now
Galakrond's Awakening Chapter 2 - Live Now!
Chapter 2 of Galakrond's Awakening is now
available!
The two leagues clash at Wyrmrest, and you'll
play through both sides of the story in the next part of this dual
adventure.
Overwatch
A new blog is out: So Many Masks, So Little Time: A Look at Face
Changer Sombra. :https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/23294766/so-many-masks-so-little-time-a-look-at-face-changer-sombra
Overwatch
So Many Masks, So Little Time: A Look at Face
Changer Sombra
Take a closer glance at Sombra's new Face Changer
skin and the process behind designing a legendary look fit for the
Lunar New Year.
Pardon, more World of Warcraft News:
Ny'alotha, the Waking City is now available in Mythic Difficulty and
LFR Wing 1.
Also, this week's bonus event: Warlords of Draenor Timewalking. Next
Week's: Arena Skirmishes.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:25 PM
Ooh, interesting. Get to see if Guardian is still good in arena
after the nerfs.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:25 PM
Also,
Warcraft 3:
Reforged is live, but it seems it hasn't quite got the reception
Blizzard no doubt hoped for.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:25 PM
(many bugs)
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:26 PM
That's it for the gaming news I have.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:26 PM
I talked to Fladrif when I was installing it, we're planning on
playing a bit of Warcraft 3 across versions one of these
days :slight_smile:
He the original, I reforged. See if it makes any difference.
FladrifVToday at 4:28 PM
I would like to add that I have installed it
including the solo adventure for HS
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:29 PM
Ah, yes!
Dragonses.
VardaToday at 4:29 PM
A bit more for Lord of the Rings Online.
We had an update, 25.3.1 Wednesday [same link as above]
https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?678182-Update-25-3-1-Release-Notes
Update 25.3.1 Release Notes
Here are the Release Notes for Update 25.3.1,
released on Wednesday, January 29th.
News and Notes:
Items
Lord of the Rings Online players report by server for this
past week:
Landroval:
Eonwe
Fangorn
Nar
Varda
Ithil:
Dis
Falco
Fangorn
Varda
Anor:
Fangorn
Varda
That's it from me.
Any other games folks would like to mention? Eve? Dota? etc? : )
StarCraft 2 with Eowyn and Fangorn
Seen any fellow Valarites in your games?
Sauron has been on Eve too.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:33 PM
I saw Ioreth in the bnet group :}
VardaToday at 4:33 PM
Yay!
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:33 PM
Cleared Creeper World 2 bonus levels for the first time, now
heading into Creeper World 3, and made a wishlist of all kinds of
games I'd like to play/replay the campaigns of. Including a bunch of
Blizzard games!
Reminds me, I should add Lost Vikings.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:34 PM
Wish I could add notes for people like I can in a WoW Guild, but
c'est la vie.
VardaToday at 4:34 PM
Has anyone tried the Game of Thrones game and have an opinion?
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:34 PM
Which one? If it's Winter is Coming, the browsergame, I've
been playing for about a year.
VardaToday at 4:34 PM
Can't add notes on others in LotRO either. They have to make their
own.
There's another, Phar?
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:35 PM
I could probably name like 5 GoT games of various genres I've seen
come out over the years.
VardaToday at 4:35 PM
If you've been playing a year, you may like it. Haven't seen it on
your list.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:35 PM
I'm sure I did when I first started :stuck_out_tongue:
VardaToday at 4:35 PM
ok, probably did!
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:35 PM
And again when the dragons were introduced a couple of months ago.
But if you're talking about a new one, it has to be a different one.
VardaToday at 4:36 PM
Not a new one. Thanks. I remember you mentioning the dragons.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:36 PM
Ah, good :slight_smile:
VardaToday at 4:36 PM
We have lots of games that haven't been brought up at the meetings.
yay for gamers. : )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:37 PM
But if you want a quick review, it's an okay browser/desktop add
game. Lots of stuff to build, research, and otherwise unlock and
upgrade.
VardaToday at 4:37 PM
And of course Sauron's tabletop game is still going at our
house with Gimli and a couple of Tolkien-onlies, and me.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:37 PM
There's not a lot of GoT in it, mostly the named commanders and the
geography, but since then they've also added the dragons and a week
or two ago an Army of the Dead event.
They keep adding stuff, and though it's heavily pay-to-win, you can
get pretty far as a free player, though it's a lot slower.
Just make sure to set your goals for yourself rather than compare
yourself to other players. And join a guild for a lot of extra
support and functionality :slight_smile:
VardaToday at 4:38 PM
Mostly solo?
ahh, multi
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:39 PM
Yep! You can rally up alliance members for attacks on camps or other
players, or defend each other, or that sort of thing. But there's
also support with researches and constructions and other solo
projects, as well as the donating of resources.
So in all it's pretty useful.
VardaToday at 4:39 PM
Alrighty. Thanks! I was sort of considering it after having
completed the books (as far as they go), but haven't seen the TV
series.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:40 PM
And the graphics are pretty yet the gameplay is smooth, so in that
respect it's also worth a try.
VardaToday at 4:40 PM
Good to know.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:40 PM
It's mostly built around tv show characters for commanders, complete
with their appearances, but the book stuff can mostly be seen in the
geography.
VardaToday at 4:40 PM
On to
top
Tolkien!
Meriadoc-V sent us a link of a song inspired by
Luthien's lament before Mandos, that moved him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F3X5CrPn8I
YouTube
EURIELLE
The Silmarillion (Part 6): 'Lúthien's Lament' by
Eurielle - Lyric...
Enjoy. : )
So for today's question: What interactions can
we think of between Valar and people of Middle-earth?
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:44 PM
Do the Istari count as a sort of messengers?
VardaToday at 4:44 PM
You have a point.
Valarin owls. : )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:44 PM
Eagles :slight_smile:
For a more direct approach, Orome's early visits to the Elves come
to mind.
VardaToday at 4:45 PM
Good one
Ulmo also had direct contact.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:46 PM
And apparently Melkor visited the early Men to corrupt them and make
them fear death. Not sure if he counts as a Vala at that point.
VardaToday at 4:47 PM
The Valar tended to stay away to keep from causing extreme damage.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:48 PM
Melkor didn't mind :slight_smile:
VardaToday at 4:48 PM
Ulmo and Tuor
Ulmo and Finrod
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:50 PM
Ulmo and Turgon.
ArienValarToday at 4:51 PM
Dreams
VardaToday at 4:51 PM
Aye, Arien
ArienValarToday at 4:52 PM
Galadriels Mirror .. it was elven magic i think .. but sure through
powers that Galadriel got from the Valar maybe ? in order to help
her fulfill her part in the story of Middlearth
VardaToday at 4:53 PM
Interesting. The water held the light from the morning star, that
came from a Silmaril.
and the light of the Silmaril came from Valinor.
ArienValarToday at 4:54 PM
Ah didnt know that detail :slight_smile:
interesting indeed
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:54 PM
So the same stuff as the phial?
VardaToday at 4:54 PM
yes, since the phial held water from the mirror
Earendil wore the Silmaril while pilotinig his star.
*piloting
If we have no more suggestions?
Aule tosses a new gavel lightly onto the hammerpad
thakuuuuum!!!
the table vibrates
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:57 PM
And that's how earthquakes were born.
VardaToday at 4:57 PM
the stunned gavel is drawn back to the shelf via cable
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After-meeting!
Now we know, Phar!
ArienValarToday at 4:58 PM
interesting gavel that :slight_smile:
VardaToday at 5:08 PM
Fangorn /waves hi!
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:09 PM
waves
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Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:38 PM
Personal gaming report!
We start with 3 flashgames.
2 old but fun, 1 new but... takes some getting used to.
Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:46 PM
http://www.kongregate.com/games/ArmorGames/monster-bark
is the first! A puzzle strategy game where you have to collect your
stuff or save your friends to exit the level. You start as a dog who
can fit through small spaces and bark, and each (human) friend has
new unique abilities. Use them to complete each level!
Kongregate
Monster Bark
Can you save Bark the dog and all his friends?
Bark the dog has been robbed by monsters.
Monsters were always jealous about the great friends and sweet
stuff...
Nice graphics and music, too :slight_smile:
Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:54 PM
https://www.kongregate.com/games/player_03/run-3
is the second game! Fun, but pretty hard. You play a running..
creature, and have to make your way through 3d levels by jumping
from platform to platform. See how far you get, or even finish it
:slight_smile:
Kongregate
Run 3
Run, skate, float, bounce, and/or jump your way
through even more space tunnels!
Don#39t worry if they fall apart on you,
repairing them is someone else#39s job.
https://www.kongregate.com/games/urbz/mud-and-blood-2
is the third game, a war game where you have to defend from oncoming
soldiers by setting up defensive lines and calling for
reinforcements or other upgrades.
Kongregate
Mud and Blood 2
Ready for some unfair brutality?
Experience World War 2 as a squad leader in a
extensively random war game.
MNB2 is all about testing your decision making
ab...
I can't really get the hang of it, but it was the only new game for
me this week from the badges and I did manage to get through with
good use of jeeps :slight_smile: But try it, and if you can make
sense of the menus and commands, go for it!
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Blizzard gaming:
Heroes of the Storm:
Still level 387. Had some fun brawls though, where I got to use D.Va
and Sylvanas, as well as Tassadar with a talent build I hadn't tried
before. Lost that one, but won the other 2 :wink:
Hearthstone:
Couple of games played, still not too many. Still, the Lunar
Festival has started with some event quests, and I've worked on
those.
Brawl is Lunar Festival themed, where you pick a class, get a random
deck, and then choose an animal from the chinese zodiac to buff your
deck, such as an extra heal or damage and other varying buffs.
Allows for a few new strategies :slight_smile:
Personally I went in with the priest and chose the buff where if you
use the hero power, you do 2 damage to a random enemy. Combined with
the healing power from the priest, that was quite handy.
WoW:
Got my cloak to rank 8 as well! Decided to tackle both corrupted
zones in the Horrific Vision at once, solo, to see if I could make
it. I did, and even got the final boss down with hundreds of sanity
to spare.
I'm close to getting the talent that gives 200 sanity whenever you
kill an elite, which should allow me to go even further.
With the maximum rank got for this reset, I decided to save the
materials for further Visions for the next few weeks, as the quests
required to get each further rank will only get harder.
Raiding going well, we've gotten 10 out of 12 bosses down on normal.
Only the two N'Zoth fights remain. First his Carapace, and then the
core.
No weapons for me yet - though the other 2 people who can use the
spear, did get them, so next time they can trade it to me :wink: -
but I did get a new pet from Maut, a little obsidian statue called
Muar.
I also tried Raidfinder difficulty on wednesday for the first wing,
trying to get a weapon, but no luck. But that was where I got the
pet, so that's fine.
Continued to do Assaults as well, getting mementos and coalescing
visions to get further into Horrific Visions, as well as some
reputation with the factions related to the Assaults. Along the way
I completed the questlines for the Aqir and the Amathet Allied
Assaults, so now I've got all 4 done.
I was able to make some time today for the crownquests for the lunar
festival, as I travelled along Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms to
pick up 12 different flowers from specific areas, and upon turning
them in all 4 of the transmog crowns are now permanently useable!
Got 2 new essences: rank 2 of an essence from lesser visions, and
rank 1 of a vision that comes from the raid. Which is actually
pretty nice, though getting further ranks will take a while.
Weekly is timewalks, of which I've only done one so far, but I'll
get the other 4 in the next 2 days. It'll give a piece of loot from
normal Nyalotha, which could come in handy. If I'm really lucky it
might even be a weapon, but not counting on it :wink:
And finally, back to island expeditions, the normal way with just 3
mythic islands. I did get enough dubloons to buy all 3 transmog
hats, so that's good! Next up I'll be saving for the Bind on Account
gear which should give some new appearances, and after that I can
start spending them on salvage supplies. That'll be good!
Oh, and WoWrelated, I completed the biography for my huntress. It
was 4 years since I finished my previous, but since I'm in a
creative streak, I thought I'd work on it, and it went well, just
slightly my longest one yet. Next up is the warrior, but that'll
require some work, it's the least developed story in my head.
And that's my report for the week!
Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 8:32 PM
namarie!
VardaYesterday at 11:32 PM
Namarie
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