Valar Guild

March 8, 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): (4)
    Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe, Varda (presiding)

Before-meeting
    World of Warcraft
Meeting begins
Membership news:
    Daylight Savings Time begins today for Eastern time, which is Valar time.
Web:
    Tolkien Site / Stories:
        New story posted today: "A Sense of Wonder" by Shirebound.
Gaming:
    General reports: Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Overwatch. More LotRO. StarCraft 2.
Tolkien:
    Topic: Tolkien Moment and discussion of it, about the changing relationship of the smiths of Eregion with Sauron.
        Tangent: Forum group story. Tangents from that relating a particular character from our group story to some in other games and stories, rapidly going from serious discussion to, well, not.
After-meeting:
    More fun chat.
    WoW: Blackrock Depths.
    Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon
        Pixoji
        Hook
        Duck, think outside the flock
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Before-meeting

Eonwe ValarLast Tuesday at 8:38 PM
Heya. Forgot to mention I got the Drake of the Four Winds from Ishak a few days ago :}
Eonwe ValarLast Tuesday at 9:20 PM
Ugh,and that Leaden Foot debuff makes the Lost Areas in Stormwind a pain. We should get better loot for doing those than the Orgrimmar Lost Areas, heh.
Eonwe ValarLast Thursday at 3:57 AM
Made it through the Stormwind vision, the run speed food helped.
And got Reek and void-scarred cat pets :}
VardaToday at 4:00 PM
Any hobbit would have to agree that adventuring is better with food. And grats. : )
Aiya to all. Meeting time is now an hour earlier, thanks to Valar time being linked to Eastern time, which just went to Daylight Savings.

Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!

Membership:
See daylight savings time above.  : )
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Web:
Tolkien Site / Stories:
We have a new story up by Shirebound:
"A Sense of Wonder" by Shirebound, posted on our story site today. "While in Rivendell, the discovery of one of Aragorn’s childhood toys gives Pippin an idea." Aragorn, Frodo, Pippin. 1 chapter.
http://valarguild.org/varda/Tolkien/encyc/fiction/authors/Shirebound/ASenseofWonder.htm
A Sense of Wonder
fanfiction Fellowship of the Rings. "While in Rivendell, the discovery of one of Aragorn’s childhood toys gives Pippin an idea."

Gaming:
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:03 PM
Heya all.
VardaToday at 4:03 PM
Eonwe, aiya!
Just hit Gaming. If you're not about to run out the door, would you like to take that part?
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:05 PM
Sure.
VardaToday at 4:05 PM
Yay! the gavel hops to Eonwe
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:06 PM

Lord of the Rings Online:
Update 25.4 came out this week. : https://www.lotro.com/forums/showthread.php?678721-Update-25-4-Release-Notes
Among other things, this brings the latest expansion, Minas Morgul, and the newest race, Stout-axe Dwarves, to the LotRO store for purchase with LotRO Points.
VardaToday at 4:07 PM
Nice for those on a budget!
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:07 PM

World of Warcraft:
The PvP Brawl: Southshore vs Tarren Mill begins today and runs through Tuesday, March 10th.
This week's Bonus Event: Battle for Azeroth Dungeons.
Next Week's Bonus Event: Pet Battles.
The final section of LFR for Ny'alotha, the Waking City will also be opening this Tuesday.
Check out this week's hotfixes. : https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/23277654/hotfixes-march-5-2020
    World of Warcraft
    Hotfixes: March 5, 2020 - WoW
    Here you'll find a list of hotfixes that address various issues related to World of Warcraft: Battle For Azeroth.

Diablo 3:
Patch 2.6.8 is live. : https://us.diablo3.com/en/blog/23319443/patch-268-now-live-3-3-2020
    Diablo III
    Patch 2.6.8 Now Live
    Patch 2.6.8 is now available to play in all regions!
The next season will be starting March 13th.

Overwatch:
Overwatch is starting to rotate heroes in and out of a playable pool.
For Competitive mode, that is.
To that effect, 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.

That's it for gaming news from me.
VardaToday at 4:12 PM
Thank you, Eonwe. : )

Players this past week in kin in Lord of the Rings Online:
Landroval:
Arien
Bregalad
Eonwe
Fangorn
Nar
Varda

Ithil:
Arien
Dis
Falco
Fangorn
Varda

Anor:
Arien
Varda
Fangorn, Eowyn, and grandson played StarCraft 2 together, something I've been neglecting to mention, pardon.

And we can see a batch of us in games right now. : )
For some reason, Discord only shows we are in LotRO if we set it at the time to show.
(Means we can sneak in!)
Any other news, suggestions, comments? Now's the time!
Onwards
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Tolkien:
Does anyone have a Tolkien topic they'd like to bring up? Could be a link, chat topic, Tolkien Moment, other related.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:16 PM
Aiya!
VardaToday at 4:16 PM
Aiya Phar  : )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:17 PM
Wow, you're fast. 15 minutes in and you're already at Tolkien. And here I thought I had enough time to shower and still be here :wink:
VardaToday at 4:17 PM
Fast shower. : )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:17 PM
Not as fast as I'd planned!
VardaToday at 4:18 PM
Plans splatter in the face of real life. : )
We mop up and adapt. Yay us!
Anyway, I have a Tolkien Moment but it may take a bit to type. Feel free to mention your own if you have one, folks.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:20 PM
Arien poked :slight_smile:
She says she's got some business with dark irons but will be here asap
VardaToday at 4:21 PM
Okie dokie.

RotK [Note: typo, should be FotR] "The Council of Elrond"
"(Elrond) told of the Elven-smiths of Eregion and their friendship with Moria, and their eagerness for knowledge, by which Sauron ensnared them.
For in that time he was not yet evil to behold, and they received his aid and grew mighty in craft,
whereas he learned all their secrets, and betrayed them, and forged secretly in the Mountain of Fire the One Ring to be their master.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:22 PM
RotK, or FotR?
VardaToday at 4:22 PM
But Celebrimbor was aware of him, and hid the Three which he had made
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:22 PM
one of those ots
VardaToday at 4:23 PM
./facepalm FotR thanks!
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:23 PM
:}
VardaToday at 4:23 PM
made; and there was war and the land was laid waste, and the gate of Moria was shut."
./endquote
That is a lot of events happening in a very short space.
Could be a whole book, easily.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:24 PM
"there was war" indeed encapsulates a lot happening
VardaToday at 4:24 PM
heh
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:25 PM
When there's a lot happening in a short text you get the sense that it also happened very fast.
Sauron's forces just roll over Eregion in 5 seconds and the dwarves go "Quick, close the door and they won't see us"
VardaToday at 4:26 PM
There you go.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:29 PM
Considering that Eregion was probably mostly smiths and not really a standing army, yeah, there probably wasn't much there to wage a war.
VardaToday at 4:30 PM
That is interesting. Some of those smiths may have been involved in previous battles, but perhaps more as behind the lines making supplies.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:30 PM
Not to say the Elves there weren't capable, they probably were, but if you're dealing with superior numbers against an enemy who already knows your secrets, you're already fightning an uphill battle.
VardaToday at 4:31 PM
Sauron was already on the inside. It was a disaster.
On another note, wasn't Auros in our forum story over there at that time?
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:32 PM
Hmm, that would've been the War of the Elves and Sauron near the middle of the Second Age. I'm going to have to check the timeline, but I think Auros wouldn't have been born yet.
VardaToday at 4:33 PM
Ah ok
He would have heard plenty about it though, I'll bet. : )
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:33 PM
Aye :}
VardaToday at 4:34 PM
Survivors from there would have gone with Elrond to Rivendell, be fantastic teachers.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:35 PM
I envisioned him being born closer to the end of the Second Age, old enough to be in the Last Alliance, but young enough to have more or less missed the "glory days" of the Noldor.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:35 PM
...Now picturing you as the Garrosh of the Noldor.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:35 PM
Lol.
Not quite :}
VardaToday at 4:36 PM
So he would have been hearing the "when I was young" a lot, enough to feel like finding adventures to get away. : )
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:37 PM
Auros wouldn't make a deal with Sauron to try and reclaim the glory of the Noldor.
VardaToday at 4:38 PM
The nope would ring off the cliffsides.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:38 PM
To be fair, Garrosh didn't sign up with the demons. He was firmly against them all the way.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:38 PM
But he was perfectly ok with trying to take up Old God powers. That'd be like signing up with Ungoliant to fight Morgoth.
Or vice versa I suppose.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:39 PM
Hmm, good point. Though I guess he thought he could control it.
Actually, he could.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:44 PM
If I recall, Blizzard kinda flip-flopped on that.
One minute they told us yeah, he was still in control, then later they said something about him going mad or something like that.
You know, typical Blizzard villain MO, heh.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:46 PM
Yep, pretty much.
Illidan was doing the right thing, then fighting for the Legion for his survival, then... he went mad.
VardaToday at 4:46 PM
Of course I can control it! Give it to me. O hmm maybe not so much.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:46 PM
Kael'thas joined Illidan to feed his people, and then.. he went mad.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:48 PM
Except for Malygos. He was mad, then he went super-sane and decided to destroy all magic users, heh.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:48 PM
Oh yes, very sane :slight_smile:
Deathwing was an evil schemer who wanted to combine the dragonflights under his rule, and then he went mad. Retroactively.
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:51 PM
But as for Auros, he and his group of friends , as I mentioned in one of my forum RP posts, did have plans at one point to reclaim Eregion. I imagine he held onto that vision longer than his friends.
At one point = when they were younger, probably after the Last Alliance in the beginning of the Third Age.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 4:55 PM
What was that about plans and life again? :wink:
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:55 PM
:}
VardaToday at 4:56 PM
: )
Eonwe ValarToday at 4:59 PM
Consider from his generation's perspective it's kinda like "Hey, I just got here and we're already done?"
VardaToday at 4:59 PM
hah, about right. Time to start something new.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:00 PM
Makes you wonder what Elrond told his kids when they were growing up. "Well, we were awesome once, but our best days are behind us. Now get ready to get on this ship."
VardaToday at 5:00 PM
Defeatist sounding.
Maybe they thought the glory days would be in Valinor?
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:01 PM
Going back to the glory days. That works.
VardaToday at 5:01 PM
heh, or not.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:03 PM
That's kinda the problem that doomed the Noldor. They became focused as a people on the past.
Even if the Three were still able to act after the Ring was destroyed, it would've only been to preserve what they had. Their days were numbered.
VardaToday at 5:04 PM
The Rings were bad about being used to preserve the old days instead of work towards new things.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:05 PM
Too many had already given up and sailed West.
Not enough wanted to move forward, preserving what they can but still moving forward. They just wanted to preserve.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:07 PM
I meant going back to the glory days by sailing to Valinor :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:08 PM
But would those have really been the "glory days"? ;} They certainly would be peaceful :}
VardaToday at 5:08 PM
I wonder. If they were preparing for the time of Morgoth's return, rather like a form of Ragnarok, they may have been busy indeed.
Also, getting ready to make a new Arda. A whole world.
Peaceful, but maybe not at rest.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:09 PM
Fair enough.
But I don't think they would've had much population growth. It seems the majority of the population, at least that from Middle-Earth, was aged beyond that particular phase of their life.
VardaToday at 5:11 PM
Keeps Valinor from being overrun with elves? : )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:11 PM
Surely the ones in Mandos would come out eventually.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:12 PM
Can you imagine the Noldor instituting a law demanding child bearing? Heh "You must have at least 5 children. Prizes given for each child over 8."
VardaToday at 5:12 PM
: )
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:12 PM
"Come on, folks, there's a queue lining up in Mandos. Hurry up."
VardaToday at 5:13 PM
That's another point. Every elf that ever lived going into Valinor. Sure hope we have the same magic as inside a tent in the Harryk Potter movies.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:13 PM
I imagine Aman is big enough, and not all went anyway.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:13 PM
Just gotta build high.
VardaToday at 5:14 PM
Right up Taniquetil!
I think it did have a magic that would handle the space, actually.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:14 PM
Couple of skyscrapers. Elves are good at tall buildings.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:14 PM
Elves who died could refuse the summons to Mandos.
VardaToday at 5:15 PM
They could even go Houseless, similar to ghosts.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:15 PM
That's how we get the problem of the Houseless.
VardaToday at 5:15 PM
Good October stories. : )
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:15 PM
:}
For those interested, I haven't forgotten the next chapter of the RP. I'm in the process of writing the opening.
I just can't seem to get past the part where Auros defeats the Balrog that infiltrated Rivendell.... ;}
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:18 PM
Can't decide if it has wings?
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:20 PM
Oh no, it definitely has wings. That's how it was going to fly away. Then Auros lasso'd it. I can't decide if it took one punch or two :}
Or just a glare :}
VardaToday at 5:21 PM
Went Sayen, however that's spelled.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:21 PM
Saiyan, or Saiyajin, are how I've seen it spelled.
VardaToday at 5:22 PM
Can't see the wings on Balrogs because they turn plaid when moving.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:22 PM
Saiyan is the general consensus :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:22 PM
And if there is any doubt in anyone's mind, I am not being serious about that whole balrog part :}
VardaToday at 5:23 PM
But I might be serious about the plaid part? er, no.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:23 PM
:}
I know you and Phar get it, but anyone else reading the meeting minutes might not :}
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:23 PM
hehe
VardaToday at 5:24 PM
Aye, must think of them, laughing until they can't read straight.
the gavel wanders around confusedly through the pile of paperwork on the table
 the hammerpad unburies itself like a sarlacc pit
 *the gavel falls just enough toI
 thonnnk!
 the hammerpad spits it back above the mass of papers towards the shelf, where it swims back to safety
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After-meeting!
The Valar of Seriousness took the day off.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:26 PM
So it seems :slight_smile:
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:26 PM
:}
VardaToday at 5:27 PM
But at least we remembered we have a forum story!
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:27 PM
Boba-rog falls into the Sarlacc pit? :}
VardaToday at 5:28 PM
Yep.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:30 PM
I would make a joke about going to Endor to deal with Darth Saruman, but you know, either half of that mash-up is going to have us going to Endor :}
Endor = Middle-Earth or Endor = planet with a forest moon.
Or the moon itself. I forget right now.
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:33 PM
So... Tilion's vessel grew trees and spawned some Ewoks?
VardaToday at 5:33 PM
Sounds as if we need to eat supper and come back and game. : ) t
Those who can.
That's no moon...
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:33 PM
:}
VardaToday at 5:33 PM
O wait, maybe it is.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:35 PM
I must be off :} But remember: "Do, or do not. We must do what we can with the time given us." - Grand-Master of the Istari Gandalf
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:36 PM
Wise words.
Eonwe ValarToday at 5:36 PM
I'll stop now :}
Take care all, good night, sleep well, and have fun :}
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:38 PM
Namarie!
VardaToday at 5:41 PM
Namarie : )
Off for supper. Will return to read the rest of tonight's madness. Maybe even game! Whee!
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:42 PM
Enjoy!
VardaToday at 5:42 PM
You too. : )

ArienValarToday at 5:59 PM
Business with Iron Dwarves successful concluded :slight_smile:
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:59 PM
Blackrock Depths? :slight_smile:
ArienValarToday at 5:59 PM
aye :slight_smile:
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 5:59 PM
That's one serious dungeon. Did the whole thing?
ArienValarToday at 5:59 PM
we did most of the quests available there .. not quite but with incendius and angerforgfe
tlhe others got tired
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 6:00 PM
Ah.
ArienValarToday at 6:00 PM
but we did the black vault and the key quest
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 6:00 PM
Oh, that's an interesting one :slight_smile:
ArienValarToday at 6:00 PM
so we were in there two and a half hours and really smooth and fun
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 6:01 PM
Two and a half hours and still not all the way done :smile:
ArienValarToday at 6:01 PM
yup :slight_smile: with my other Pala who is a healer now i was in there 5 and a half hours that was just before the emperor room :slight_smile:
i just got fed up then and my mind conked out and didnt manage to do the last room
alas
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Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 8:53 PM
Right, was busy with some stuff, but time for personal gaming report :slight_smile:

For flashgaming, 3 puzzle games this week! Probably linked them before, but hey, nothing new, and they're fun :wink:
https://www.kongregate.com/games/ZBlip/pixoji is the first game! A pixel puzzle game that is basically a mix of minesweeper and a whole bunch of other counting puzzles where you have to decide which squares to fill.
    Kongregate
    Pixoji
    Use pixels to solve pixels

You get more and more mechanics and hints as you go, and combining them gets rather tricky :slight_smile:
https://www.kongregate.com/games/targaciej/hook for the second game, where you have to unhook lines in the right order to get them all removed :slight_smile:
    Kongregate
    Hook
    Tiny minimal puzzle game.
    Full version:
        http://playthehook.com

https://www.kongregate.com/games/bontegames/duck-think-outside-the-flock for the third game, a large variety of duck puzzles, made by bontegames, one of my favorite puzzle game makers :slight_smile:
    Kongregate
    Duck, think outside the flock
    25 levels for you to crack while you quack...
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Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 9:08 PM
Blizzard gaming:
Heroes of the Storm:
2 levels gained, up to 392! Auriel to 3, and Alextrasza to level 2 through brawls. Guess it's healer week for me :slight_smile: But they're fun healers, so that's okay.
Hearthstone:
3th anniversary event is going, with Spirit of the Competition legendary quests. Stuff like play so many cards, take so many turns... but always good pack rewards for them!
Brawl is revisiting an old one, where random decks are distributed throughout the players, and whoever loses gets the deck of the opponent for the next match, while the winner keeps the same. Supposedly it should lead to one or more decks dominating the pool, so it's an interesting experiment.
WoW:
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 9:26 PM
Got N'Zoth down on normal difficulty! New cutscene, a few aftermath quests, and I believe the war campaign conclusion but I've not gone that far yet. Still, pretty much the end of the expansion, storywise... though questwise I've still got previous patches to work on.
We intend to finish up the normal shortcut quest, so we can farm final 2 bosses on normal more easily, and work on heroic difficulty on the side. If we can clear it on heroic, there's a new mount in it :slight_smile:
Got cloak to rank 13, and cleared all horrific vision objectives for the first time, unlocking the first mask. Which I then used to clear the entire place again with 1 mask, unlocking 2 more masks. Getting more difficult though, with mask use :slight_smile:
I got the achievement for a full clear, giving a new pet called Reek, but failed to grab the achievement for a full clear with mask... I think I forgot to open a cage on the mask run, so it didn't count for that. Silly me. Will go again next week, but with an easier mask unlocked it should be better :slight_smile:
Weekly quest is 4 mythic dungeons, which went rather well! And for reward I got Qwor Nlyeth, heroic quality, which I've been aiming for for quite some time now, as it gives the aoe proc, very good :slight_smile:
(weapon)
With both weapons got on heroic quality, I'm gonna need to figure out what to spend my seals on from here on. Other than later bosses on heroic, which we've not downed yet, I'm running out of gear upgrades already!
And finally, pets! So. many. new. pets.
It started with me completing all the Jani quests in Zandalar, after which I bought the Jani pet, which is the last 8.0 pet to spend pet charms on. There's other pets from other vendors, but I won't bother with getting charms for those yet.
And my next project was Battle Safari, capturing all the wild pets I didn't have yet from Kul Tiras and Zandalar.
Along the way I also got Dasher, a pet that drops from a rare near the raptor hatching grounds.
All the wild safari pets I managed to grab a rare quality version of, except Boghopper. There are reports that it can't spawn a rare, and after getting 6 other rare pets as backline pets from fighting the Boghoppers, I'm inclined to agree.
Even though another pet that also didn't give rares at first, the Hermit Crab, was fixed later in the expansion.
As a reward for battle safari I got another pet, the Dreadtick Leecher, and I also got the 1000 unique pets achievement, giving me another new pet, Hearthy, the Hearthstone elemental :smile:
In total I got 26 new pets this week!
Some really nice ones too, like Hearthy, the leecher, and a spectral raven.
This wraps up my 8.0 objectives; next week I'm starting on the 8.1 list, including faction assaults and the Darkshore scenario.
And that's my report for the week!
Ar-Pharazon-VToday at 9:54 PM
namarie!
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