Valar Guild

March 22, 2020 Sunday Meeting

5:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Savings Time
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): (10)
    Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Arwen, Elrond, Eonwe, Lenwe, Miriel (Maha), Nar, Pallando, Varda (presiding)

Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
    Next week, Daylight Savings Times across the continents should align.
Web:
    Tolkien Site / Stories:
        New story posted today: "And the Halfling Forth Shall Stand" by Shirebound.
Gaming:
    General reports: World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, StarCraft 2, Diablo 3, Hearthstone, Overwatch, (more Hearthstone), Heroes of the Storm, Conan Exiles
Tolkien:
    Topic: Tolkien Moment:  it's easy to be misled into thinking Frodo was no fighter, until one reads such items as this one.
After-meeting:
    Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon
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Before-meeting
J - MosbyLast Friday at 9:24 PM
Hey guys - we're thinking of doing the Draigoch raid next Friday (3/27) since it's available to all now.  Anyone want in?  I think we have 4 or 5 so far. [Note: Lord of the Rings Online]

Eonwe ValarLast Saturday at 6:32 AM
Just got a 2-mask Horrific Vision done. Might have to dare a 3-mask, heh. [Note: World of Warcraft]
I'm managing to make it through without risking too much sanity, so I guess I'm sitting better than I thought I'd be.
Eonwe ValarLast Saturday at 6:45 AM
Btw, anyone interested: https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23355424/gain-the-winds-of-wisdom-100-experience-buff-through-april-20
    World of Warcraft
    Gain the Winds of Wisdom 100% Experience Buff Through April 20 - WoW
    If you’re staying indoors and find yourself back in Azeroth, we’ve made it easier to level a new character as the Winds of Wisdom buff blows through the world.
Time to get those alts levelled :}
Hope you all are being safe :}

Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 4:31 AM
Tried a 3-mask run. Almost made it, but didn't quite have the oomph. I unluckily lost my free rez to a pack in the Old Town, or I might've made it.

VardaLast Sunday at 3:50 PM
Mosby, I think I can come. Need a time.
9 pm EDT? Ok, sounds doable.

VardaLast Sunday at 4:02 PM
If anyone needs pre-reqs, check with Mosby who will be near a summoning horn. [Note: that lets your character locate the entrance to Draigoch's cave to be able to enter it.]

And now is our meeting time. Hello folks. : )
ArwenLast Sunday at 4:06 PM
hello :slight_smile:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:06 PM
Aiya Arwen : )  Good to see you!
ArwenLast Sunday at 4:07 PM
good to see you as well!
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:07 PM
Aiya!
Windows just took about 20 minutes to update, if not more, so a bit late :wink:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:08 PM
Grats for making it in!
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:08 PM
thanks
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VardaLast Sunday at 4:10 PM
Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
Membership:
MahaLast Sunday at 4:10 PM
Aiya
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:10 PM
Aiya!
VardaLast Sunday at 4:10 PM
Miriel! Aiya : )
Elwing was visiting our house this past weekend, left a few hours ago, but passes her Aiya on.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:11 PM
One more week, then DST and times will align again :wink:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:12 PM
Here's hoping that in these crazy times, we get to see each other more online and even game together some. : )
I pretty much just play LotRO, but on all three of our servers.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:13 PM
Arien poked.
VardaLast Sunday at 4:13 PM
Thank you
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:13 PM
Hmm, I play a bunch of blizzard games but only on Europe :wink:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:13 PM
Good to hear the times are closing up soon. : )
We have others in Europe.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:13 PM
Hence me poking Arien just now.
VardaLast Sunday at 4:14 PM
Arien, Imrahil, Helm, maybe Aragorn if he's still around? Fladrif I'm not sure
One nice thing is several of our games are letting us play free for a while
Even the free to play LotRO is letting folks into quests normally closed to them.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:14 PM
Fladrif still around. Gave his regards last meeting, and I think he came online as a lurker for a bit :slight_smile:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:14 PM
Yay lurkage!
MahaLast Sunday at 4:15 PM
and Irmo and I are in Europe
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:15 PM
Last on bnet 17 hours ago.
VardaLast Sunday at 4:15 PM
And Irmo and Miriel! : )
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:15 PM
Yay!
VardaLast Sunday at 4:15 PM
We may have more in Europe than the Americas active.
Being about half and half is excellent. : )
Pallando-ValarLast Sunday at 4:15 PM
Aiya
VardaLast Sunday at 4:16 PM
Miriel, what do you play now? Still Guild Wars?
Aiya to the Blue Wizard!
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:16 PM
Aiya!
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:16 PM
Aiya :))
VardaLast Sunday at 4:16 PM
Hey Sunshine
MahaLast Sunday at 4:16 PM
Sometimes and other times this and that
VardaLast Sunday at 4:17 PM
Feel free to drop into LotRO! : )
Right now in Landroval we have Lenwe, Nar, and myself online.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:17 PM
Aiya!
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:18 PM
Aiya Maha , Varda and Cala :slight_smile:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:18 PM
Anyway, here's hoping we can enjoy getting together in some games while the times are crazy enough to allow it.
Nar is trying to join us here on Discord.
He usually has fencing practice Sunday night, but is off for once. : )
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:20 PM
that is nice :slight_smile:
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:21 PM
Fencing might be nice to do, but I'm kind of on the fence about it.
dodges bricks
VardaLast Sunday at 4:21 PM
: )
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:22 PM
i just fence with a plastic sword :wink: .. well fibreglass core with some foam stuff hehe
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:22 PM
Lightsaber? :slight_smile:
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:23 PM
but its fun .. well light sabre has a channeling cristal or focus shall we say and is put together with the force .. at least according to to SwotRo :wink:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:26 PM
If there's no other news?
On to
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Web News:
New short story online for Tolkien stories, by Shirebound:
"And the Halfling Forth Shall Stand"
http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/fiction/authors/Shirebound/AndtheHalflingForthShallStand.htm
    And the Halfling Forth Shall Stand
    fanfiction Fellowship of the
    Rings. "In Rivendell, Frodo thinks about who might have
    volunteered to be the Ring-bearer had he died of his wound."
Oh, in membership, Eonwe thinks he'll probably be stuck working during the meeting.
Pallando, were you trying to type?
Pallando-ValarLast Sunday at 4:27 PM
I can expand on my link from last week if anyone had questions. :slight_smile:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:28 PM
Ahh, the war!
in Eve Online
Elrond or Celebrian? You might be able to ask the most intelligent questions?
Sauron says hi. He's been playing in Eve.
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Gaming:
Eonwe put a bunch on the Games Site for us. : )
http://valarguild.org/gaming
    The Valar Guild Games Site
    Valar Guild Games Site
When this stuff is mentioned, please feel free to add to it, even if it seems late.
We can't really talk over each other when typing! Still understand each other, one thing I like about it.

World of Warcraft:
This week's bonus event: Wrath of the Lich King Timewalking.
Un'Goro Madness began the 17th and runs through Thursday, March 19th.
(You may have stories to tell about that!)
The PvP Brawl: Packed House began the 17th and runs through Tuesday, March 24th.
Check out the recent hotfixes.
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23277654/hotfixes-march-16-2020
    World of Warcraft
    Hotfixes: March 18, 2020 - WoW
    Here you'll find a list of hotfixes that address various issues related to World of Warcraft: Battle For Azeroth.
The Trial of Style began the 20th and runs through Tuesday, March 24th.

ArwenLast Sunday at 4:33 PM
ooh, there's a war on in Eve Online?
VardaLast Sunday at 4:34 PM
Arwen, you need to read Pallando's write-up!
If you're finding yourself with lots of free time due to current world events, now is a good time to level alts or start a new character. Blizzard is giving a 100% XP buff through April 20th.
(Eve:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Eve/comments/f28oiv/the_year_long_war_you_never_heard_about/
    reddit
    r/Eve - The Year Long War You Never Heard About
    286 votes and 41 comments so far on Reddit
That's the war news Pallando put up and he offered to answer questions just now. : )
ArwenLast Sunday at 4:35 PM
ahh, hs stuff

VardaLast Sunday at 4:35 PM
Back to World of Warcraft:
Check out everything there is to do at max level in the blog Return to Azeroth: Catching Up at 120.
ArwenLast Sunday at 4:36 PM
ty!
VardaLast Sunday at 4:37 PM
Aiya Nar : )
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23355423/return-to-azeroth-catching-up-at-120
    World of Warcraft
    Return to Azeroth: Catching Up at 120 - WoW
    If you’ve been away from the trials and tribulations on Azeroth’s shores, then we’ve got you covered in our brief guide to getting back in the action at level 120.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:39 PM
I looked at that, hoping it would give me advice on catching up since I basically skipped 8.1 and 8.2 quest content until now.
But it's all basic unlock stuff up to 8.3 which I'd already done.
VardaLast Sunday at 4:39 PM
Good luck. Any help?
ah well
Check out the recent hotfixes.
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23277654/hotfixes-march-18-2020
    World of Warcraft
    Hotfixes: March 18, 2020 - WoW
    Here you'll find a list of hotfixes that address various issues related to World of Warcraft: Battle For Azeroth.

ElrondLast Sunday at 4:41 PM
Aiya (bit late)
VardaLast Sunday at 4:41 PM
Aiya Elrond!
Showing up at all is great!

Folks with questions for Pallando on the Eve war feel free to ask, or leave him a message when he's away.
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:42 PM
Aiya Eonwe :slight_smile:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:42 PM
Starts with an E anyway.
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:42 PM
err Elrond :slight_smile:
ElrondLast Sunday at 4:42 PM
Haha
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:42 PM
i don t do names ..
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:42 PM
Aiya Elrond!
VardaLast Sunday at 4:43 PM
I did that last week, different names though. : )
Equal opportunity!
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:43 PM
uh yeah
VardaLast Sunday at 4:44 PM
Any other WoW news? Quite a few of you play it, including Classic.
Hoping you can get together some. : )
Gorlim is on WoW right now, classic I think.

Lord of the Rings Online:
We've had some great updates, not just hotfixes.
New raid, added in up to Tier 3.
LenweLast Sunday at 4:46 PM
Aiya everyone :slight_smile:
(not to interrupt...)
VardaLast Sunday at 4:46 PM
Aiya Lenwe!
No way to interrupt. Just type and join in!
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 4:47 PM
Aiya!
VardaLast Sunday at 4:47 PM
Good to see you in LotRO at the same time. : )
We happen to be in LotRO news, perfect.
https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?678978-Update-25-4-2-Release-Notes
https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?679003-Update-25-4-3-Release-Notes
The raid is  Remmorchant, the Net of Darkness
ArienValarLast Sunday at 4:49 PM
aiya Lenwe :slight_smile:
VardaLast Sunday at 4:50 PM
Also, for our LotRO gamers,
Our friend Mosby, also in this channel, is offering a Draigoch (dragon instance) run on Friday at 9pm EDT /servertime.
I hope to be there. : )  Been a while and should be fun.
Lord of the Rings Online kinmates in kin from this past week:Landroval:
Arien
Fangorn
Lenwe
Nar
Varda

Ithil:
Dis
Falco
Fangorn
Varda

Anor:
Arien
Fangorn
Varda
.
Any other Lord of the Rings Online news you'd like to mention?
Spring Festival is running.
Also in LotRO, this announcement, especially nice for free to play:
https://www.lotro.com/en/friends
    All quests, instances, and skirmishes, including those in expansion packs, are open to everyone through April 30.
The Baggins' Birthday event will be available March 26 through April 6.
Enjoy!
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StarCraft II:
In the same spirit:
Blizzard is also making all Co-Op Commanders free-to-play through April 2nd and bonus XP through April 16th.
Also check out the multiplayer map updates.
https://starcraft2.com/en-us/news/23357709
    StarCraft II
    StarCraft II Official Game Site
    Wage war across the galaxy with three unique and powerful races. StarCraft II is a real-time strategy game from Blizzard Entertainment for the PC and Mac.

https://starcraft2.com/en-us/news/23320965
    StarCraft II
    StarCraft II Official Game Site
    Wage war across the galaxy with three unique and powerful races. StarCraft II is a real-time strategy game from Blizzard Entertainment for the PC and Mac.

Eowyn (as Cenedra), Fangorn, and Faramir have been gaming in SC 2. Others of you also!

Diablo 3:
Check out the blog Inside look: Season 20's new sets featuring Rhykker.
https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/23321072/inside-look-season-20s-new-sets-featuring-rhykker-3-12-2020
    Diablo III
    Inside look: Season 20's new sets featuring Rhykker
    We sat down with prominent Diablo III community content creator Rhykker to hear his thoughts on the three new class sets that arrived in Diablo III's Patch 2.6.8.

Hearthstone:
The Hearthstone Showcase was the 17th:
https://playhearthstone.com/en-us/blog/23335603/save-the-date-hearthstone-2020-showcase-coming-march-17
    Save the Date: Hearthstone 2020 Showcase Coming March 17!
    Tune in on March 17 for a preview of new content and major changes coming to Hearthstone.
A new class is coming: the Demon Hunter.
https://playhearthstone.com/en-us/blog/23305788/introducing-the-demon-hunter
    Introducing the Demon Hunter
    Are you prepared?

Overwatch:
A new blog is out: Mixing Up the Meta: Scott Mercer on Hero Pools in Season 21.
https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/23323791/mixing-up-the-meta-scott-mercer-on-hero-pools-in-season-21
    Overwatch
    Mixing Up the Meta: Scott Mercer on Hero Pools in Season 21
    Interested in the philosophy behind the newest change to Overwatch Competitive play? Principal Game Designer Scott Mercer provided some insight into how Hero Pools will shake things up in Season 21.
A new hero is coming: Echo.
https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/23356245/echoes-of-echo-a-history-of-hero-32
    Overwatch
    Echoes of Echo: A History of Hero 32
    You’ve seen her before. Now, she’s finally here—Echo, the 32nd hero to join the ranks of the Overwatch roster.

Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:00 PM
Hearthstone:
New class also comees with Outland expansion (fitting) and the start of the Year of the Phoenix!
VardaLast Sunday at 5:01 PM
Thanks!

Heroes of the Storm:
Check out the new blog: Heroes artists discuss their process… and manage to leak this year’s Greek Gods event.
https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/heroes-of-the-storm/23355629/heroes-artists-discuss-their-process-and-manage-to-leak-this-year-s-greek-gods-event
    Heroes artists discuss their process… and manage to leak this year’...
    We sat down with the artists to find out what exactly has been going on behind the scenes of their criminally creative skin pack concoctions and get a subevent leak in the process.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:02 PM
Hmm, I'm intrigued. The two heroes showcased are not on my regular roster but I'm sure there'll be more :slight_smile:
VardaLast Sunday at 5:02 PM
Most likely. : )

Miriel has some news too!
MahaToday at 4:57 PM
Wolves of Valinor Private Conan Exiles Server (PvE). Please send a message to Maha (Miriel) or Irmo in discord for srv password and connection info, include steam name and Valar Guild name. 10 player online limit currently.
MahaToday at 5:01 PM
We are still working on creating an RP environment, please be patient.
.
She's getting the steam link to be posted soon (tm).
https://store.steampowered.com/app/440900/Conan_Exiles/
    Steam
    Conan Exiles
    Conan Exiles is an online multiplayer survival game, now with mounts and mounted combat, set in the lands of Conan the Barbarian.
    Enter a vast, open-world sandbox and play together with friends and strangers as you build your own home or even a shared city. Survive freezing co...
    Price
    $39.99
    Recommendations
    33799
    Metacritic
    68
Also, for those that may not know, Scatha-(Valar) has been keeping up a Steam spot for the Valar Guild for years. : )
Be sure to check it out if you use Steam! : )

MahaLast Sunday at 5:08 PM
I have a picture of Irm's Lorien he created if this is a good time to share it
VardaLast Sunday at 5:09 PM
Yes please!
MahaLast Sunday at 5:11 PM
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/652892723489013791/680786859164565504/20200223001343_1.jpg

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/652892723489013791/678652977283727400/20200216182157_1.jpg

VardaLast Sunday at 5:14 PM
O wow. That's a dreamy place. : )
MahaLast Sunday at 5:15 PM
Oh and there is more to it, but I will save that for players
VardaLast Sunday at 5:16 PM
Sounds fair.
MahaLast Sunday at 5:18 PM
All are welcome and if you are having difficult times and want to play contact us perhaps we can work something out
VardaLast Sunday at 5:19 PM
Thank you! Very kind.

That was a lot of news, folks! Thank you for passing it along.
We are over our hour, so if you need to leave, it's quite all right.
If you would like to stay, we are about to move to
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Tolkien!
If any of you have a topic, question, cool Tolkien link you'd like to mention, feel free.
If you don't want to "interrupt" whatever is being said, the handy dandy side message is there to let you be called on.
So here's a Tolkien Moment for you!
For those who don't know, what we call a Tolkien Moment is anything in Tolkien's works that we type a bit of that we found especially interesting for some reason.
In this one, it reminds us that it's easy to be misled into thinking Frodo was no fighter, until one reads such items as this one
This is from The Two Towers, "The Taming of Sméagol"
For background,
Frodo and Sam hear Gollum following them, as he's talking to himself while climbing through a rough area. He's definitely after the One Ring. He hates and curses the hobbits that he sees as thieves that "took" "his" Ring. Gollum slips and falls, wrapping into a ball. Sam takes immediate advantage and goes after Gollum who is stronger than he appears, pins Sam's arms, and starts choking him.
./quote
Things would have gone ill with Sam, if he had been alone. But Frodo sprang up, and drew Sting from its sheath. With his left hand he drew back Gollum's head by its thin lank hair, stretching its long neck, and forcing his pale venomous eyes to stare up at the sky.
"Let go! Gollum," he said. "This is Sting. You have seen it before once upon a time. Let go, or you'll feel it this time! I'll cut your throat."
Gollum collapsed and went as loose as a wet string. Sam got up, fingering his shoulder. His eyes smouldered with anger, but he could not avenge himself; his miserable enemy lay grovelling on the stones whimpering.
"Don't hurt us! Don't let them hurt us, precious! They won't hurt us will they, nice little hobbitses? We didn't mean no harm, but they jumps on us like cats on poor mices, they did, precious. And we're so lonely, gollum. We'll be nice to them, very nice, if they'll be nice to us, won't we, yes, yess."
"Well, what's to be done with it?" said Sam. "Tie it up, so as it can't come sneaking after us no more, I say.""No," said Frodo. "If we kill him, we must kill him outright. But we can't do that, not as things are. Poor wretch. He's done us no harm."
"Oh hasn't he!" said Sam rubbing his shoulder.
./endquote
.
Feel free to comment. : )
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:28 PM
I think they used part of that in the movie. I distinctly remember Frodo holding Sting against Gollum's throat and saying that "You've seen it before" quote.
VardaLast Sunday at 5:28 PM
Right!
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:28 PM
So even in the movie he wasn't a complete pacifist. He was just against undeserved killing out of convenience, which is admirable.
VardaLast Sunday at 5:29 PM
After this part, Frodo gets Gollum to work as their guide, setting a trap for when Gollum tries to sneak off. Also, Frodo sets up the oath by Gollum that ends up causing the destruction of the One Ring.
Agreed, Phar.
Also, this scene shows Sam moving very quickly when he sees the opportunity He was just surprisingly outmatched.
He didn't ask first, just zoomed up.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:31 PM
Gollum is indeed surprisingly strong. Wiry, but quite experienced in the slaying of orcs, at least, as I recall.
Granted, that was with Ring equipped.
VardaLast Sunday at 5:32 PM
Right. Gollum was eating the smaller ones. He didn't need the invisibility in the dark.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:32 PM
Also true.
But if anyone can see in the dark, it's probably orcses.
VardaLast Sunday at 5:32 PM
Interesting thought. So maybe the Ring was more help than we thought.
Any other comments?
Maybe the unfortunate in Moria with a stabbed foot? : )
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:38 PM
Heh, yes. Poor troll :wink:
Seems a nasty place to get stabbed.
Especially in the toe or something.
VardaLast Sunday at 5:38 PM
Sure made it back off and not join in!
A special blade like that was not in the contract.

We are about 40 minutes overtime so let's officially call it here. Feel free to just enjoy chatting in the "After-meeting"!j
the gavel slips up on the hammerpad, around the mugs of ale
whop
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After-meeting!
Heya Nar! Saw you typing there. : )
Free chat by any of us now!
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:42 PM
Thinking about it.. isn't a tiny cut in the leg also how Sargeras got defeated in the first War of the Ancients?
VardaLast Sunday at 5:44 PM
I have no idea. : )
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 5:45 PM
Your Warcraft lore is lacking!
VardaLast Sunday at 5:45 PM
O noes!
I'm grabbing a snack and coming back to play LotRO, but will still be in Discord.
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Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 6:04 PM
Personal gaming report!
For flashgaming, there were 3 badges this week I didn't have yet, so easy choice :wink:
VardaLast Sunday at 6:08 PM
Nice
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 6:09 PM
https://www.kongregate.com/games/turboNuke/turbo-golf is the first game! It's golf, but with a twist: It's also about speed! Your character will run after the ball just like the competitors do after theirs, and the aim is to get it into the hole the fastest rather than in the least shots. Which helps, but you can't delay too much :slight_smile:
    Kongregate
    Turbo Golf
    It#39s golf like you#39ve never played it before. Sure, get the ball in the hole, but this is a race... hit the ball, then run to where it lands!
    Fastest time on...
Also upgrades to be gotten with cash won in the games, including better balls, clubs, etc.

https://www.kongregate.com/games/fexLabs/dillo-hills for the second game! Sidescrolling game where you roll around the hills with an armadillo. With good landing, boosting, and ramping up speed while rolling, you get to fly high in the air and make it as far as possible :slight_smile:
    Kongregate
    Dillo Hills
    This tiny armadillo#39s biggest dream is to fly through the air like a bird. But without any wings, he#39ll have to improvise! Slide along hills to build up speed,...
Also with upgrades, to do even better next time!

https://www.kongregate.com/games/ahbonk/the-last-canopy for the last game! A bullet hell shooter, but again with a twist! You can use an absorb ability to absorb the abilities/attacks of the enemies, fill up your companion orbs, and then have them shoot it back for a duration. Always fun to use the enemy's weapons against it!
    Kongregate
    The Last Canopy
    In this unique shooter, you start off with weak firepower,
    so absorb the enemy#39s attack and make it your own!
    Avoid, Absorb, Attack!
    Selected by Jayisgames...
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Blizzard Gaming:
Heroes of the Storm:
level 396, 2 levels gained. Auriel to 4, and Zagara to 16. Guess I played her enough in brawls to get an extra level over time :wink:
Hearthstone:
A few more matches and quests done this week, it must help that I can go to bed later every day now that both places where I work are closed.
Seems that the battleground perks for buying 20 dragon packs will expire when the next expansion comes, so I figured I'd try to get there before then. Might make it, might not. But getting some packs either way!
Brawl this week is Three Wishes, where you start with random decks and a wish for a useful card, and shuffle 2 more into the deck for later. As far as I could tell, it was mostly the random decks that are most important, as the wishes didn't seem to be that noticeable.
WoW:
N'Zoth definitely somewhat on farm, which is nice since we can reach him immediately from now on, so we'll get 3 corruption resistance unlocked every week.
On heroic progress, we got our first Drestagath kill, yay!
What remains now is the endbosses of each wing, and then the 2 N'Zoth fights. Still 5 bosses to go, but we're getting there!
Got my cloak to rank 15, the maximum. Out of the 4 runs needed for the last 8 quest items, I decided to do 3 with 1 mask each, using the 3 masks I hadn't completed it with yet, so I could get all the cosmetic masks unlocked. Worked pretty well.
Also got a new pet out of it, the Void-Scarred Cat, and my last rank 3 essence from the visions, Unwavering Ward (for healing spec).
I think I'll let the horrific visions rest a bit. Nothing urgent to get anymore. There's still 3 pets to get, a bunch of mementos for cosmetics, and some achievements for going in with more masks, but I'd rather get just a bit more gear before then. So I figure I'll save up the currency for a few weeks, if not months, and do a bunch of them later on when I feel up for it.
Who knows, maybe I won't push the cosmetic rewards until 9.0 or even the next expansion, when it might be even easier :slight_smile:
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 6:49 PM
Weekly is timewalks, still on that... supposedly a bit harder now since it adapts more to the essences you have, so I've been going more carefully. Maybe too carefully though.
Continuing 8.1 content, I dove into the darkshore warfront a bunch of times this week. The flow is a bit off, though, compared to the Arathi one. The map is usually conquered right until the last shore long before the necessary buildings are constructed, which means a long wait before we get the siege weapons out to break the defenses of the final naval platform and reach the boss.
Even the two large defensive siege towers at Lordanel Landing fall long before then, and they're supposed to be brought down by the weapons.
So yeah, that was a bit annoying. In any case, I did get all my achievements over the week. Captured all the locations personally, recruited all the different troops, and used essences of storms to embody all 3 night elf allies.
The last one was the trickiest, since those essences can only be gotten from killing blows on random mobs after the Altar of Elders is built, and you can guess that there are no horde left on the mainland except the occasional attack wave before the altar is constructed. Took me quite a few matches to get all 3.
But that's done now, so I'll focus on the rare mobs in the patrol phase instead :slight_smile:
Another 8.1 project, the outpost upgrades in Kul Tiras. 3 items to buy, 3 missions to send out, 3 upgrades to visit. Not all equally useful though.
The one in Stormsong is a fast transport vehicle, which could be nice for world quests until I get flight. The one in Drustvar is a blessing that gives you movement speed after a kill, which while useful for questing, could be annoying to go back each time and refresh the blessing whenever I'm doing an emissary.
And the one in Tiragarde is a cannon which launches you from the most remote flightpoint in the zone to a patch of water away from flightpoints but a common location for Azerite world quests.
In itself kinda useful for those quests, but it's generally better to ride over from a closer flightpoint than travel all the way to the cannon.
Did more faction assaults, have now done all except the Nazmir assault which I'll do once it comes with the quest I need for achievement. Tiragarde did come with a quest for an achievement, but that achievement requires 3 different npcs and only one is up each time. So it'll be a long wait to get 1) the assault, 2) the right quest and 3) all the right npcs.
And finally, dove into the war campaign for 8.1, leading up to the Dazar'alor raid! Did the first chapter where you and Jaina defend the western sea gate from a horde invasion, and most of the second chapter including in intelligent gorilla and a dangerous invention. Will work on the rest of the 8.1 campaign next week :slight_smile:
And that's my report for the week!

VardaLast Sunday at 7:22 PM
Thanks, Phar. : )
ArienValarLast Sunday at 7:32 PM
Namarie all :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:47 PM
Heya to anyone still around.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:47 PM
Aiya!
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:48 PM
How goes it?
I see you got rank 15 on your cloak. Forgot to mention I got mine too, but I'm sure if I was trying a 3-mask Horrific Vision it was understood :}
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:50 PM
hehe, yep
Not something I'll bother with yet. Sanity's fine, but the damage is just too high for little old cat druid me.
VardaLast Sunday at 7:51 PM
Aiya :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:52 PM
Yeah, I almost had the 3-mask, but I took a chance I probably shouldn't have in the last fight and it cost me.
Heya Varda :}
I'll be getting my weekly corruption resistance from the Horrific Visions though.
I'm just not enough into raiding, let alone having the time, to try and find a pug for normal Ny'alotha.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:53 PM
I'll get mine from normal N'Zoth. If we ever miss him for a week, I'll do an extra vision.
Yeah, okay, pugging is bad :wink:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:54 PM
I like Horrific Visions as a concept because I like that they're introducing difficult content for 1-5 players that offers a gearing path.
I like them as a feature because at least so far they've been fun :}
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:55 PM
Very true. Not one for keystones?
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:55 PM
I'm not interested in doing mythic dungeons with a pug.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:55 PM
Alright :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:55 PM
If I'm going to do difficult content with a group, I prefer it with friends.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:55 PM
True.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:56 PM
And the last time I tried to dabble in a normal raid, right after "flex" became the new "normal" I met the same attitude that turned me off from raids in the first place, so I haven't bothered past LFR since.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:56 PM
I do a weekly keystone Kings Rest for mount, with pugs, but don't go beyond 4 or 5 usually.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:57 PM
And LFR hasn't been terribly exciting for me either. I Still haven't done that last raid before Ny'alotha, whatever that one was called.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:58 PM
Eternal Palace? Really? But it's such a nice place :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:59 PM
Only reason I really would want to do a Mythic+ is to unlock that particular skin for my Ashbringer.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:59 PM
Ah yes.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:59 PM
Ok, maybe it was the one before Eternal Palace.
That 1-off raid.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 7:59 PM
Crucible of Storms. Yeah, okay.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 7:59 PM
Yeah, that one.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:00 PM
That makes more sense. It's needed for a few quests, though, so maybe worth doing once.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:01 PM
I guess. The 200 items needed for the Nazjatar crafting thing really turned me off to running Eternal Pallace raid after the first couple of goes to get the first level of that.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:01 PM
Oh yeah. Since I skipped most of 8.2 questing, I still don't have that thing unlocked. I'll need to pug all those myself, which is a shame after all the raiding I already did there.
But if necessary I'll visit it during the next expansion :wink:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:02 PM
The Shreds of Insanity at least are available from more gameplay options, if I want to PvP. Even though I'm not a big PvPer, the option to get them that way at least makes it feel less oppressive.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:02 PM
True that.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:03 PM
I think there's an artifact skin that requires Honor rank 80 anyway, so at least it'd be moving towards another thing I'd want at the same time.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:03 PM
There is, yep. Last one I'm missing out of all my druid appearances.
I'm somewhere mid-60s I think.
And there's the 100k honor essence rank, even though it's cosmetic :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:04 PM
If I recall, the only one I may never actually get is the Mythic+15 requirement. Unfortunately, that's the green fire one and that's the one I want most of the ones I don't have, lol.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:05 PM
Oof, yes, can imagine. Was lucky to get it at the end of Legion, since the scaling changes with each season in BfA. Very annoying.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:06 PM
Too bad I can't go do a mythic+ of an older dungeon, but eh.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:06 PM
Alas.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:08 PM
I wouldn't have minded getting the rapier appearance for my Outlaw Rogue, but eh, can only invest so much time and my Paladin is more important, lol.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:09 PM
Priorities :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:13 PM
:}
How are your 8.3 Reps coming?
Got Uldum Accord/Rajani to Exalted yet?
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:16 PM
Revered now, I only do the dailies when I do the assaults. Doing them every day is a bit too much :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:17 PM
Understandable. I skip some days, but I need them for vessels for Visions :}
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:17 PM
Well, that's why I do the assaults and lesser visions, but the rewards from the daily quests seem so few :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:18 PM
Yeah.
I was sticking around for as long as I could in the lesser visions to farm as long as I could, but with as long as I can stay in there now doesn't really seem worth it now, lol.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:19 PM
Heh, rescue a few souls and you can stay there for a long, long time.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:19 PM
Yeah.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:20 PM
In the interests of time efficiency, I just generally do the quest there and get out for my rewards.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:20 PM
And the corrupted momentos aren't coming in large quantities in there, so little reason to stay longer than the quest takes at this point.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:20 PM
Yep.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:20 PM
Yeah, I've been moving towards that. Don't think there's anything out of them I'm missing at this point.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 8:21 PM
If you want mementos, though, it doesn't hurt to lfr nyalotha a bit. I think the 200 mementos per trash lieutenant drop there too.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 8:24 PM
Yeah, I need to complete that still.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 9:00 PM
I'm not particularly hurting for the momentos, but the completion wouldn't hurt.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 9:01 PM
I think I'm only lacking one more memento talent, so that's not a problem either. But the cosmetics would be nice.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 9:03 PM
Yeah.
Nice thing about Discord: We can all be on different battlefields and still chat :}
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 9:05 PM
hehe
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 9:07 PM
Oh, have you found that insect quest series in Uldum yet, Phar?
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 9:07 PM
I found it. First quest, anyway. But I'm postponing it for later :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 9:07 PM
Fair enough :}
I'm in the fourth round I think, Got toy, then pet.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 9:08 PM
Ah yes :slight_smile: Toy, pet, mount.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 9:08 PM
One of these days I'll have to track down the Alpaca.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 9:08 PM
Yep, that too.
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 9:09 PM
Keep in mind that that quest can send you out into Uldum or into the Vale, so if you're doing one of those anyway and you are interested in working on it, might as well check where it's gonna send you that day.
Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 9:09 PM
True.

Ar-Pharazon-VLast Sunday at 9:22 PM
namarie!
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 9:32 PM
Sleep well!
VardaLast Sunday at 9:47 PM
Namarie : )
VardaLast Sunday at 9:56 PM
Namarie for now
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 10:20 PM
Sleep well ;}
Eonwe ValarLast Sunday at 10:53 PM
Time for me to be off. Take care all, good night, sleep well, and have fun.

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