December 26, 2021
Sunday Meeting
5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard 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.]
Attending (and typed): (5)
Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe,
Sandalf13, Varda (presiding)
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:
Gaming:
World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Lord
of the Rings Online
Tolkien:
Topic: Is Sam's beloved Rosie Cotton
an essential character to the story?
After-meeting:
Continued chat.
(non)Flashgaming
Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games.
top
Before-meeting
Eonwë Valar — 12/23/2021
Am I missing something, or does the Shared Wardrobe in LotRO not
expand horizontally?
December 24,
2021
Shelob — 12/24/2021
It may have a hard-coded maximum width.
Eonwë Valar — 12/24/2021
Likely, but given pretty much every other inventory-type screen
doesn't, it's jarring.
[11:52 AM]
And Happy Christmas Eve All :}
December 25,
2021
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 2:04 AM
Merry Christmas Day :}
Shelob — Yesterday at 3:14 AM
Merry Christmas!
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 3:40 PM
Don't forget your WInter Veil Presents in WoW if you play WoW.
December 26,
2021
Eonwë Valar — Today at
3:35 PM
Heya all.
Varda — Today at 3:36 PM
Aiya Fionwe : )
Eonwë Valar — Today at 3:37 PM
How goes it?
Arien Valar — Today at 3:42 PM
Aiya all Merry christmas to you
Eonwë Valar — Today at 3:44 PM
Heya Arien.
Varda — Today at 3:49 PM
Aiya Sunshine : )
Arien Valar — Today at 3:49 PM
:)
Varda — Today at 4:00 PM
@Bounder Hurray! Time to chat with old friends about gaming and
Tolkien! Or just say hi!
[4:01 PM]
Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
Eonwë Valar — Today at 4:01 PM
Ok, so random "What would they call the Skirmish Soldier
equivalent of the Brawler?" moment. My suggestion: The Pugilist :}
Varda — Today at 4:01 PM
top
Membership:
[4:01 PM]
There you go! Good one for Boxing Day.
[4:03 PM]
Meriadoc headed home after lots of LotRO and munchies at our
house. : )
Hmm, he missed a cookie.
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:03 PM
Hallo all! I hope that everyone enjoyed a wonderfu Xmas holiday
yesterday, and is now in the midst of celebrating Boxing Day...
Varda — Today at 4:03 PM
I should look up Boxing Day. Isn't that Canada?
[4:03 PM]
What is it?
Eonwë Valar — Today at 4:03 PM
UK and former colonies.
[4:04 PM]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after
Christmas Day, occurring on the second or third day of
Christmastide.
Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts
to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping
holiday.
It originated in the United Kingdom and is
celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of
the Br...
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:04 PM
England. I always thought it had to do with all the boxes one must
put away after Xmas, but that is pretty naive. I would love to
know the origin of the term.
Arien Valar — Today at 4:04 PM
it was custom in the old days that mistress gave the servants a
christmas party
Varda — Today at 4:05 PM
No servants here! Hope you had a great Christmas anyway. : )
Arien Valar — Today at 4:05 PM
anjhd on the second dayh of christmas after the masters and
mistress day it was custom to box all the presents for the
others
[4:05 PM]
i think lsomething like this
Varda — Today at 4:06 PM
So it's also St. Stephan's Day.
Arien Valar — Today at 4:06 PM
thats what i heard
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:06 PM
Maeve Binchey included some delightful stories about Boxing Day in
one (or more) of the books she wrote about Scarlet Road, in
Dublin.
[4:06 PM]
Or was it Scarlet Feather? Now I have to look and see.
Arien Valar — Today at 4:06 PM
oh yeah itr was nice
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:10 PM
I am in the Eiseley Library once again for our meeting, so I was
just able to go and check...the book I was thinking of was "The
Scarlet Feather," by Binchey, in which she has a whole chapter
about the family gathering on Boxing Day. That was myu first
introduction to her books, and it was a good one.
Varda — Today at 4:11 PM
: )
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:14 PM
How was everyone's weather yesterday? Our warm and dry pattern
continued...other than that pretty violent rain storm I had after
my trip to Denver almost a couple of weeks ago, we have had dry
conditions. Every place from here west has been dry and
unseasonably warm. Very strange...although there is a report of
snow later this week. Mal sehen!
Varda — Today at 4:15 PM
Beautiful day for us yesterday and today.
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:15 PM
In Texas, right? Where?
Varda — Today at 4:17 PM
By the Gulf Coast
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:18 PM
Ah...usually warm there in December, isn't it?
Varda — Today at 4:18 PM
It's more or less our Autumn
[4:18 PM]
A little cooler than earlier, so it's pleasant. Sometimes cold for
Christmas, sometimes not.
[4:18 PM]
January is our winter.
[4:19 PM]
We have the AC on right now. : )
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:19 PM
Oy Weh! A/C in December! What is this world coming to?
[4:21 PM]
My host son from Germany, who now lives in Columbus, OH with his
wife and child, is in Leipzig, visiting his Mom for the first time
since the pandemic began. He sent me a picture of snow in Leipzig
for Xmas day, but it melted by the end of the day. Was there any
snow in the U.K. Arien?
Varda — Today at 4:21 PM
We're considered the semi-Tropics, not all that weird.
[4:24 PM]
Arien is probably working with her RP group in World of Warcraft
right now.
[4:24 PM]
top
Web:
[4:24 PM]
Nothing new on the Tolkien Site but
[4:24 PM]
here's a link that will keep you reading and reading and...
[4:24 PM]
https://www.tor.com/tags/people-of-middle-earth/
Tor.com
People of Middle-earth – Tor.com
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:24 PM
Does "RP" stand for "role play?"
Varda — Today at 4:24 PM
Aye.
[4:25 PM]
Her WoW group does RP same time as our meeting, so her attention
tends to be divided.
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:25 PM
Now I see, said the blind man.
Varda — Today at 4:26 PM
Your question was completely reasonable.
Eonwë Valar — Today at 4:26 PM
Funny what a little mud in your eyes can do?
Varda — Today at 4:26 PM
Now we need to get you into LotRO so your RP will have to do with
Middle-earth!
./duck
On to...
top
Gaming!
[4:26 PM]
Your gavel, Fionwe. : )
Eonwë Valar — Today at 4:27 PM
Thanks.
Varda — Today at 4:27 PM
it has a Christmas bowtie
Eonwë Valar — Today at 4:29 PM
World of Warcraft:
[4:29 PM]
This week's Bonus Events: Legion Timewalking and World Quests.
The PvP Brawl: Classic Ashran runs through Tuesday, December 28th.
[4:29 PM]
Diablo 4:
[4:30 PM]
The Quarterly Update is out. --- https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo4/23746639/diablo-iv-quarterly-update-december-2021
Diablo IV Quarterly Update—December 2021
Learn more about itemization, Paragon updates,
and the visual effects of Diablo IV in this next Quarterly
Developer Update.
[4:30 PM]
Overwatch:
Check out the A Gift for You: Inside the Latest Winter Wonderland
Skins. --- https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/news/23761133/a-gift-for-you-inside-the-latest-winter-wonderland-skins/
Overwatch
A gift for you: Inside the latest Winter
Wonderland skins
’Tis the season for the coziest event in
Overwatch!
[4:30 PM]
Hearthstone:
[4:31 PM]
Patch 22.0.2 is out this week. --- https://playhearthstone.com/en-us/news/23758614/22-0-2-patch-notes
22.0.2 Patch Notes
Patch 22.0.2 brings changes to Standard,
Battlegrounds, and more!
[4:31 PM]
Check out the blog Winter Veil Returns with Snow-Covered
Celebrations. --- https://playhearthstone.com/en-us/news/23755921/winter-veil-returns-with-snow-covered-celebrations
Winter Veil Returns with Snow-Covered
Celebrations
Learn more about the upcoming Winter Veil
festivities!
[4:32 PM]
Also in WoW: Don't forget your presents under the tree in
Ironforge if you haven't already got them.
Btw, my comment about mud was in reference to the story of Jesus
curing blindness by making mud and smearing it on a guy's eyes.
Appropos to the "Now I see, said the blind man" from Sandalf.
[4:33 PM]
That's it from me.
Varda — Today at 4:34 PM
Thank you, Eonwe.
[4:34 PM]
Lord of the Rings
Online:
[4:35 PM]
Interesting link concerning the LotRO game:
[4:35 PM]
https://massivelyop.com/2021/12/21/massively-ops-2021-awards-best-classic-mmo/
Massively Overpowered
Bree Royce
Massively OP’s 2021 Awards: Best Classic MMO
[4:35 PM]
If you vote, you can see the actual numbers and percents. Or ask
me.
[4:36 PM]
Our folk in kin this past week:
Landroval server:
Elwing
Eonwe
Eowyn
Fangorn
Ioreth
Meriadoc
Nar
Thranduil
Varda
Anor server:
Eonwe
Falco
Fangorn
Varda
Shadowfax server:
Arien
Varda
Treebeard server:
Varda
[4:36 PM]
Lots of Christmas break time players. : )
Arien Valar — Today at 4:37 PM
no snow down here maybe on hill tops
Varda — Today at 4:37 PM
Sounds lovely. Hope you did have those hill tops!
Arien Valar — Today at 4:37 PM
nice weather and sunshine here in Portree though cloudier today
[4:38 PM]
there is a nice view bit up the road
[4:39 PM]
you may carry on
Varda — Today at 4:39 PM
(Yule Festival ongoing)
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:40 PM
Wow Arien...my ship once stopped in Campbelltown, Scotland,,
enroute to The Med from the Norwegian Sea during the 1973 Yom
Kippur War. The closest I got to Portree. Very beautiful country,
and very significant geologically....after all, James Hutton was
from Edinburgh...
Arien Valar — Today at 4:40 PM
:)
[4:41 PM]
one day you may come loads of US folks coming over here , since
there s lots of family research over here going on
[4:41 PM]
and of course just for fun
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:42 PM
Ich würde solche eine Reise lieben!
Arien Valar — Today at 4:42 PM
[laugh emote]
Varda — Today at 4:44 PM
Pardon, could you translate that?
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:44 PM
I would such a trip love!
Varda — Today at 4:44 PM
Thank you.
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:45 PM
Sorry. I got carried away again.
Varda — Today at 4:45 PM
No worries. I just wanted to know. : )
On to...
top
Tolkien!
[4:45 PM]
Do we have any questions, comments, suggestions after this unusual
week?
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:47 PM
I can provide an update on my writing: First, I am nearly finished
with "The Healing of Frodo," a fictional story. I am also hoping
to use this quiet week to complete my chapter on Communications
Between the Elves and the Dunedain at the End of the Third Age. I
have your E-Mail address, Varda, and I may overload your inbox
with some stuff in the near future.
Varda — Today at 4:47 PM
Load it up. : )
[4:48 PM]
My email is on the Membership page and Contact page, for any who
need it. And other places as well.
[4:49 PM]
That earlier link gives
insights into characters in Tolkien starting with how they were in
drafts and on to their final forms. There's a lot of reading
there. We don't have to agree with it all, of course!, but it's
interesting.
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:49 PM
Where is the membership
page? Is it on Discord? Or on the Valar Guild site?
Varda — Today at 4:50 PM
Valar Guild site
[4:50 PM]
You might want to hit the index page and explore sometime?
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:50 PM
I shall do so.
Varda — Today at 4:50 PM
http://www.valarguild.org/
Valar Guild
an international society of Tolkien
appreciators and gamers.
[4:50 PM]
For fun, reload that index page for rotating
images. And reload the News page
for rotating quotes. : )
[4:51 PM]
The images are all from our art
page. Quotes are from the books.
[4:51 PM]
No hurry. The site is huge.
[4:52 PM]
Rosie Cotton. Essential character?
[4:52 PM]
That's my topic for today. Have at it!
[4:53 PM]
Perhaps to make it clearer: Is Sam's beloved Rosie Cotton an
essential character to the story?
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:54 PM
I think there are some interesting parallels. Aragorn had Arwen,
Sam had Rosie. Both inspired their men to go on, despite travail
and hardship. So yes, I believe Rosie is essential to the story.
Varda — Today at 4:54 PM
Agreed on the parallel!
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:54 PM
Perhaps Merry and Pippin were still too "young" to have
significant others...
Varda — Today at 4:55 PM
We know they did get married. : )
[4:55 PM]
But it was Rosie that we hear discussed.
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:55 PM
To Diamond of Long Cleve...and...
Eonwë Valar — Today at 4:55 PM
Pippin was just into what Hobbits considered "adult" at 33.
[4:56 PM]
At the time of the WotR. Merry a few years older if memory serves.
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:57 PM
I agree...I think Merry was only a couple of years older than
Pippin, and that Pippin had not quite yet reached 33 at the time
of the WoTR.
Varda — Today at 4:57 PM
Pippin was young enough that Elrond didn't want to let him go with
the Fellowship.
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:58 PM
Yet both Merry and Pippin, among all the members of the
Fellowship, I believe, grew and matured the most through the
entire tale.
Arien Valar — Today at 4:58 PM
i think he was still in his tweens then
[4:58 PM]
that s what i reckon in my storiy Just
a dare
Varda — Today at 4:59 PM
Pippin did marry Diamond of Long Cleeve. They had a son named
"Faramir".
Sandalf13 — Today at 4:59 PM
I will always remember my very FIRST reading of the killing of the
Witch King, as Merry saw Eowyn, and thought to himself that she
should not die alone, unaided...and HE was the one who provided
the actual death stroke that did in the evil Witch King.
Arien Valar — Today at 4:59 PM
thenh at my story he was eight or nine and Merry about ten years
older
Eonwë Valar — Today at 4:59 PM
Quick check in the books, Pippin was 29 when he was in MInas
Tirith. Fair enough, not quite there yet.
Arien Valar — Today at 5:00 PM
Frodo is about 20 Years older than Merry
Varda — Today at 5:00 PM
Merry married Estella Bolger.
Eonwë Valar — Today at 5:00 PM
Well, "nearly 29".
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:00 PM
Sounds right....I believe that at one point Merry says that he
"just" came-of-age (hit 33) and that he was now an adult.
[5:01 PM]
Frodo would have been 53...right on, as far as I know.
Varda — Today at 5:01 PM
Merry did hit the Witch-king from behind the knee with his special
barrow-blade. That brought the head possibly in range of Eowyn to
hit with her blade.
[5:02 PM]
Those blades from the barrows were important. One thing that
annoyed me about the movies.
Frodo backed off the troll with it by sticking it in his foot.
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:02 PM
Yes...but Tolkien points out that it was Merry's stroke that undid
the hidden sinews that held the Witch King together.
Varda — Today at 5:02 PM
Correct!
That made him vulnerable.
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:02 PM
Whether literal or figurative sinews is speculative, of course.
Varda — Today at 5:02 PM
And Merry was not technically a "Man".
[5:03 PM]
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sinew
Definition of SINEW
tendon; especially : one dressed for use as a
cord or thread; nerve; solid resilient strength : power… See the
full definition
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:04 PM
Absolutely,...as it was retold time and time again in the songs of
the Rohirrim, as they sang of Eowyn, Merry, and the Defeat of the
Witch King. I often wonder, when Merry and Pippin made their final
trip south, to first visit King Eomer and then move on to Minas
Tirith, if they were greeted with great honor, as they entered the
land of Rohan. I am sure that Merry was a heroic figure for the
Rohirrin by then...
Varda — Today at 5:04 PM
The chief supporting force.
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:04 PM
I suspect that King Eomer sent out an honor guard to guide them
through Rohan to Edoras...
Varda — Today at 5:05 PM
I wonder what the equivalent was of asking for an autograph. : )
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:05 PM
"Can I have a snatch of your pipeweed?" perhaps.
Varda — Today at 5:06 PM
Pipeweed was an unusual thing. Gandalf and Aragorn picked up the
habit from the Hobbits. I wonder how the Hobbits learned of it.
And of course it spread.
[5:06 PM]
O dear. Off I go on tangents again!
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:06 PM
Hey...we even do it today, on Arda marred.
Varda — Today at 5:06 PM
It spreeeeaaaaad.
[5:08 PM]
Rosie and Arwen were motivating forces behind their men, to not
only do great things but to return alive if they could.
[5:10 PM]
Rosie was Sam's attachment to home. The Ring came between Frodo
and his memories of the Shire. Sam helped be his anchor partly by
having those memories anchored back that way.
[5:11 PM]
The end of the trilogy has Sam going home to his house with his
wife and children. They were types showing the point of the whole
war.
[5:12 PM]
Any other thoughts? Requests?
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:13 PM
I just came across...somewhere...an essay on Tolkien's need to
include the Scouring of the Shire in the LoTR. Peter Jackson did
NOT include that entire episode in his movie, to its detriment, I
believe, but I believe that Tolkien was using The Scouring of the
Shire to make some of his thoughts on war known.
Varda — Today at 5:15 PM
Also to be the end of the Hero's Journey. And to show how the
Hobbits had grown since the beginning. That Gandalf's mission to
help the Free Peoples stand on their own had borne fruit.
That was also the Valar's mission.
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:15 PM
I am thankful that I came no closer to war than 1973 during my
Navy service, but I can well imagine that ANYONE who survived the
horrors of the trenches at the Battle of the Somme would have some
VERY strong emotions regarding war.
Varda — Today at 5:17 PM
Absolutely.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:18 PM
Aiya, happy winter veil, catching up
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:18 PM
And then Tolkien had to watch his own sons go off to War, some few
decades after the War to End All Wars ended.
Arien Valar — Today at 5:18 PM
Happy christmas and gladdig Yul and so on
Varda — Today at 5:18 PM
Aiya Phar : )
[5:19 PM]
Christopher Tolkien was in the war receiving letters from his
father about the books, helped him escape what was around him.
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:19 PM
Hallo, Phar!
[5:21 PM]
As you know, my Father served in the Army in WWII, and then he
sent me letters as my ship steamed on patrol in the eastern Med
during the 1973 war...it went on for months after the war actually
ended.
Varda — Today at 5:22 PM
So you have real insight into how Christopher Tolkien felt, why he
kept up his father's work against so much.
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:23 PM
I suppose you are right. My Dad died in 2014, at 99, and even now,
I am trying to rewrite his book on retirement for a new edition.
It is hard.
And thank you.
Varda — Today at 5:24 PM
Bless you. May it come out well! A book never seems perfectly done
to the writer, but the readers will most likely see great merit.
[5:25 PM]
We have hit 25 minutes past the hour, yay us!!
[5:26 PM]
the gavel twirls its Christmas bowtie on its rubberband and
bounces onto the hammerpad
whoooomph!
the hammerpad trampolines the gavel back to the shelf, and
the gavel does a merry, spinning landing
top
After-meeting!
[5:26 PM]
Free chat about any topic. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:27 PM
catching back on previous topics We were hoping for a white
christmas here, but the temperature rose by just a few degrees and
we got a wet one instead.
Varda — Today at 5:27 PM
heh
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:27 PM
At least you had some moisture!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:27 PM
And I used to thing Boxing Day was named after some martial arts
tradition
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:28 PM
I am sure you are not alone in that thought...
Varda — Today at 5:29 PM
We are an educational channel!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:30 PM
And yes, Rosie played a vital role in tethering Sam (and
indirectly Frodo I suppose) to the Shire. I also like that she and
her family had a bigger role in the Scouring, made her feel like
more than the seemingly random love interest she was in the movies
[5:30 PM]
..And that's, I guess, my contribution to the Tolkien topic :)
Varda — Today at 5:31 PM
Good mention! The Scouring part. We heard from a number of
interesting characters there.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:31 PM
Gives some insight on some hobbits we've only heard mentioned in
passing earlier.
Varda — Today at 5:32 PM
Aye!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:32 PM
Not just the brave conspiracy that went out on an adventure but
also what the general populace is capable of when their home is
threatened. Though it did take some experienced heroes to tip the
scales.
Varda — Today at 5:34 PM
And that experience was part of the point.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:35 PM
Of course, but Tolkien didn't make the Scouring just about
the 4 we knew, and I liked that. Not just some adventurers solving
nameless npcs' quests ;)
Varda — Today at 5:36 PM
Aye!
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:38 PM
Let me wish each and every one of you a wonderful Boxing Day. Hope
your leftovers are yummy and good! The sun has set over the
desolate horizon, and the library will soon be closed, so I must
bid you all farewell...until next week. Sei gesund! Enjoy!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:38 PM
Namarie!
[5:38 PM]
puts on the Boxing Gloves
Varda — Today at 5:39 PM
May the library always treat you well! Namarie : )
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:39 PM
Oh, I still need to start unBoxing my winter veil gifts. Haven't
had time these last 2 days :)
Sandalf13 — Today at 5:39 PM
Namarie!! :)
Varda — Today at 5:39 PM
Namarie!
Arien Valar — Today at 5:41 PM
Namarie :)
[5:41 PM]
i have to go as well i am afraid :I
work tomorrow
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 5:42 PM
Namarie :)
Arien Valar — Today at 5:42 PM
Namarie :)
Eonwë Valar — Today at 5:42 PM
Take care all who are leaving.
Eonwë Valar — Today at 5:54 PM
For those interested, got some time to play some Metroid Dread
last night. real fun, even in the frustration of some fights as
you develop a strategy to try and deal with them.
Varda — Today at 6:13 PM
Just thinking, this was our last meeting for 2021. May 2022 be a
good year, and look at all those 2's!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:13 PM
It'll be 200 years before we have more 2's than that.
Varda — Today at 6:14 PM
That's a good, long while!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:14 PM
Indeed it is!
[6:14 PM]
If Jesus had been born 200 years earlier we'd have 2222 now!
Varda — Today at 6:14 PM
Think I mentioned Fangorn and I had our 48'th wedding anniversary
on the 22nd? More 2's. : )
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:14 PM
Ah, grats! Probably :)
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:14 PM
12222022
Varda — Today at 6:14 PM
heh
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:15 PM
We could expand the year by 10 months if it'll help. Making 2021
longer can't make it any worse, heh. (edited)
[6:16 PM]
Anyway, Congrats :}
Here's to 48 more :}
Varda — Today at 6:17 PM
Thank you : )
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:20 PM
"Yay, 25k anima, I can get the last item from the Court of Night
vendor" sees 2 new items added since last visit, worth 40k
anima total
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:20 PM
heh
I haven't been doing much WoW stuff in the last few weeks, and did
even less this week. LotRO is far more entertaining than whatever
Blizzard calls what they've got going right now.
[6:22 PM]
But that's just me. Your mileage may vary.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:22 PM
Heh. Leveling some alts, trying to get weapon illusion from
Greench, double weekly quests.. 'm busy enough
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:22 PM
Hehe.
[6:23 PM]
As long as you're having fun. That's the important part.
I can't even muster the care to get my gear maxed out.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:24 PM
It was my intention for 9.1 to level 3 alts to max for covenants
and then take my druid through Korthia.
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:24 PM
I have more fun right now sitting at my house in LotRO staring at
my Holly Tree or mining ores to level my alts through crafting,
heh.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:24 PM
Right now 9.2 is well underway on the ptr and my alts are 48, 45
and 32.
[6:25 PM]
But I'm actually making progress on them, which is a novelty in
itself.
[6:26 PM]
So yeah, lots to do, and what I'm doing right now is pretty
refreshing :)
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:28 PM
I just did enough Yule stuff to get me a candlelit Shire Holly
Wreath for my house.
[6:28 PM]
Well, "just" being yesterday, but you get my point.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:28 PM
hehe
[6:30 PM]
I won't get bored of this game any time soon. Burnout maybe, if
things get too busy, but certainly not bored. Still lots of things
to do when looking around at the little things as well. Sure, not
everything's for everyone, but it's out there.
[6:32 PM]
I sometimes suspect that, if WoW ever went into maintenance mode
with no new content ever again, I'd still have enough to do
between alts, achievements and collections to keep me busy for
another 20 years.
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:33 PM
For me, it depends on if they let power creep go beyond whatever
the last raid they make is. If all raids become possible to solo,
I might have some stuff to occupy some time if only to fill out my
transmog.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:34 PM
That's true. I'd like that as well.
[6:35 PM]
Of course, if my raidgroup sticks around for a while as well we
might just get appearances for everyone and their alts
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:40 PM
Only thing I'd really like right now I think would be the Green
Flame Ashbringer transmog. Not likely to get it though when it
requires Mythic 15 keystone or something like that.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:41 PM
Yeah, that'd need some powercreep :)
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:41 PM
And the ability to solo queue for mythic keystones.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:41 PM
that too
[6:42 PM]
Hey, they made it work for islands now.
It might happen!
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:43 PM
I guess I need to remember to try those out solo at some point, if
I can muster the time and interest.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:44 PM
Now to queue for a timewalk while I fly to the Greench...
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:44 PM
They didn't spark my interest even when they were current content,
but they've got stuff to collect.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Today at 6:44 PM
We had a set team of 3 every week.
[6:44 PM]
Was pretty fun.
[6:44 PM]
But yeah, reason to do it now is for collects :)
Eonwë Valar — Today at 6:53 PM
The ultimate reason to do anything, lol.
Varda — Yesterday at 7:04 PM
In LotRO, cookable fish are an important thing now!
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:04 PM
Ooh
[7:04 PM]
Took you long enough, WoW's had it forever
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 7:05 PM
But does WoW have housing? :} LotRO's had it forever :} And no,
garrisons don't count :}
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:05 PM
hehe
[7:06 PM]
class halls?
Varda — Yesterday at 7:06 PM
The cookable fish have been around a long time. But right now,
it's needed to make the top tier food.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:06 PM
aha
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 7:06 PM
Class halls aren't customizable. :} But anyway, I'm not sure
there's much reason for WoW to have housing anyway, heh. (edited)
[7:08 PM]
Not anymore at least.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:08 PM
Well, it's by no means abandoned. But some of the social aspect is
lost, so it would have less value.
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 7:09 PM
LotRO manages to still be pretty social so far as I can tell, but
WoW would definitely take a hit. Part of it likely relates to the
types of players each one is generally appealing to right now.
[7:13 PM]
LotRO has an instance queue, still see plenty of people out in the
world, and I even venture out into the world for more than just
questing. The world is very scenic, which I think helps it.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:13 PM
Hmm, I suppose it helps to be slightly less cartoonish
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 7:14 PM
I'm sure that helps to some extent.
[7:16 PM]
WoW has some places with a great view, but it's usually a "that's
cool" and move on. I guess the best way to compare is a tourist
spot vs going out and hiking and finding the best spots yourself.
WoW thrives on the former: Blizzard making the location. LotRO
tells you to go out and find it yourself.
[7:18 PM]
But as always, this is all my opinion, and like Gimli arguing with
Eomer in the great Galadriel vs Arwen debate, you're free to make
your own determination, hehehe.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:18 PM
I could argue that there are some nice unusual places in WoW when
it comes to secluded corners of nature But most of them are
already known
[7:18 PM]
And yes, opinions!
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 7:23 PM
No doubt there are some good places "off the rails" of WoW.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:42 PM
First 4 chars have their gifts, 16 more to go over the next 4 days
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 7:48 PM
I only bother with the one to get the achievement/new gift
anymore.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 7:48 PM
Could do that, but I like to open all the gifts anyway and it's an
excuse to log the alts
[7:48 PM]
Team Cal as I call them.
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 7:48 PM
hehe, Fair enough.
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:03 PM
Personal gaming report!
[8:04 PM]
For (non)flashgaming, 2 old, 1 new.
[8:05 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/TeamSemiColon/string-theory-2
is the old one, a platformer in a 2-dimensional string theory
world where a scientist is searching for her colleagues from the
first game. Bring the characters - portrayed by simple geometric
forms - to the end of each level by manipulating the
strings/platforms, dragging, bending, bouncing, etc!
Kongregate
String Theory 2
In search of her lost colleagues, Eva enters
the second dimension. Will you help her find her way through this
weird dimension, and get everyone back to the Up...
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:25 PM
https://www.kongregate.com/games/dietzribi/toodee-and-topdee
is the second game, bit more recently mentioned. Combination of
top-down and a platformer, with 1 character in each mode, switch
between them to solve each level between different perspectives.
Some out of the box thinking required
Kongregate
Toodee and Topdee
What happens when a platform game and a top
down game are combined?
Made for Ludum Dare 41 (Jam) in under 72 hours.
Theme: Combine two incompatible genres.
...
[8:29 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/VasantJ/medieval-chronicles-1
is the new one, part of the medieval cop franchise, it was
interesting to see one featured I hadn't completed yet Point
and click detective puzzle game, and whereas the main series
started to get a darker storyline, the Chronicles go back to
solving individual crimes.
Kongregate
Medieval Chronicles 1
=Together Forever=
A Ghost summoning gone wrong, join Dregg as
he tries to solve the murder of John March
which
was either Accident, Murder or...
A Vengeful S...
[8:30 PM]
In this case, there's a death at a psychic's ghost summoning, and
you have to figure out whether it was an accident, a ghost, or...
something else?
[8:31 PM]
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Blizzard gaming:
[8:33 PM]
Hearthstone:
Level 50 on the reward track, getting me some new cards including
a new legendary for level 50, Caria Felsoul, a demon hunter minion
from the new expansion.
[8:33 PM]
Getting more honor, have reached Knight and am now going for
Knight-Lieutenant.
[8:34 PM]
Stepped up daily honor gain to 80, might add 10 more or so
whenever I get a rank higher.
[8:35 PM]
Brawl is Gift Exchange! Each player gets a gift on the board,
replaced on their next turn if one is killed, and whoever kills a
gift claims the prize, minions at a greatly reduced cost, so they
can quickly sway the game. Like last year I brought in a warlock
deck which excels at destroying its own minions, allowing me to
hoard gifts from both sides of the board. Works every time
[8:37 PM]
And for the Winter Veil event, picked up a free Snowman Thrall
hero skin! Rather reminiscent of the old Snow Fight warcraft book,
wherein young Thrall builds a snowman
[8:39 PM]
For mercenaries, no new ones, but I leveled a bunch through quests
and got one to level 30, Kurtrus.
WoW:
[8:40 PM]
No raids for holiday breaks, no old raid either, presumably also
because of holiday Gave me some time to work on other stuff!
[8:40 PM]
Whenever I wasn't busy with Christmas either, that is.
[8:41 PM]
Am still fighting Greench every day for a chance at the Ragnaros
weapon illusion, no luck yet. But did get a new toy out of that
quest, the Winter Veil Chorus Book. Sure, you can also get it from
the vendor for 52 copper, but might as well get it from the quest
instead
[8:43 PM]
But I did open the Winter Veil gifts tonight with a few
characters, which also got me a new toy, the Rockin' Rollin' Racer
Customizer, along with an additional appearance pack, allowing you
to customize your racer model before summoning it. Achievement
gotten with it as well to use two of its abilities in a
combination.
[8:44 PM]
Bought myself the Dragon Pack from the shop! 5 mounts - Heart of
the Aspects, Enchanted Fey Dragon, Steamscale Incinerator, Iron
Skyreaver, and Sylverian Dreamer. And 2 pets - Soul of the
Aspects, and the new one, Blinky, the colorchanging faerie dragon.
Goes well with the Enchanted Fey Dragon mount, as well
[8:45 PM]
And I also got enough anima to get the 25k Winterborn Raiment
appearance set from the Court of Night vendor! White recolor of
the Night Fae set, looks quite nice.
[8:45 PM]
Then switched vendor to the one at the amphitheater, where I got a
Theater Prop Kris dagger appearance for more anima.
[8:45 PM]
Time to save up again for the next item!
[8:46 PM]
Looks like a bunch of the vendors got new soulshapes added in the
last patch, but they're quite expensive indeed. Will probably need
some Korthia before being able to get them.
[8:46 PM]
And finally, alts!
[8:49 PM]
Got my rogue from level 43 to level 45, able to start the next
part of his class campaign. For doing so I got a friend to get me
through the Maw of Souls dungeon, then did a few quests, which led
me to now requiring Ravencrest's dungeon. But since said friend
has been unavailable for the last few days, I instead switched to
the mage for a bit, getting her through the Broken Shore and most
of the Dalaran introduction questline, while reaching level 32.
Next week hopefully back to the rogue for the next 3 levels and
then mage more fulltime!
[8:49 PM]
And that's my report for the week.
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 8:50 PM
Congrats :}
Ar-Pharazon-V — Yesterday at 8:50 PM
[8:51 PM]
well, namarie!
Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 8:57 PM
Sleep well :}
Varda — Yesterday at 9:21 PM
Thank you, Phar, and namarie.
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