Valar Guild

January 3, 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.]
["slight smile" is the same as we are used to using as a regular smiley]

Attending (and spoke): (7)
    Discord: Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (Before and After-meetings), Falco, Frodo, Shelob, Varda (presiding)

Contents:
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:
Gaming:
    General reports: World of WarCraft, Diablo 3, Lord of the Rings Online, Cyberpunk 2077, Endless Space, flashgaming and the demise of Flash.   
Tolkien:
    Topic: Tolkien Moment from Varda. In Rivendell, Gandalf wonders what Frodo may change into.
    Toast: during After-meeting. "To the Professor!"
After-meeting:
    WoW talk
    LotRO two group gaming occurrences from Discord requests during the meeting.
    *RP discussion. Request to locate dates for meetings where we discussed the rp. [Varda considers putting an asterisk *RP so we can find it in the page rather than words like "splurp". So if you see an asterisk, that's what is going on.]
    Flashgaming Reviews by Ar-Pharazon.
top

Before-meeting
Eonwë Valar12/30/2020
You know, I've fought three separate world bosses in the Shadowlands. Is it fitting that the first one to make the fight worthwhile to me was the one named "Valinor"? :}
[5:34 AM]
https://www.wowhead.com/item=183311/memory-of-the-final-verdict
    Wowhead
    Memory of the Final Verdict
    Memory of the Final Verdict is a quest item. It is looted from Valinor. In the Items category. Added in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. Always up to date.

Eonwë Valar12/30/2020
Got that from him, and an Emblem of Renown.
January 1, 2021

Eonwë Valar01/01/2021
Heya all and Happy New Year. May this be a better year for us all.
January 3, 2021

ShelobYesterday at 12:30 PM
Hey all, I think I'll be heading off to bed early today, so I won't be there for the meeting to wish you all a merry new year in person.
[12:31 PM]
So, Merry New Year and may your 2021 be as good as my 2020 has been.
Or, as a friend of mine put it quite eloquently, may your best todays be the worst of your tomorrows.

VardaYesterday at 3:48 PM
Nice way to say it!
[3:48 PM]
Thanks, Shelob.
[3:48 PM]
Eonwe, it sounds very fitting!

VardaYesterday at 4:00 PM
@Bounder Hurray! It's time to get together again for chat, Tolkien, maybe even gaming!
[4:00 PM]
Aiya

Arien  ValarYesterday at 4:01 PM
Aiya

VardaYesterday at 4:01 PM
Aiya Sunshine : )

ShelobYesterday at 4:01 PM
Aiya! I ended up not doing the smart thing and thus I am still awake.

VardaYesterday at 4:01 PM
haha - uh oh

Arien  ValarYesterday at 4:01 PM
Aiya Shelob

VardaYesterday at 4:01 PM
Maybe a quick hi and news and off to sleep? : )

Arien  ValarYesterday at 4:01 PM
never done that ~ gyn gyn

VardaYesterday at 4:01 PM
heh

Arien  ValarYesterday at 4:01 PM
hum hum

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VardaYesterday at 4:02 PM

Elen sila lumenn' omentielvo!
[4:02 PM]

Membership:
[4:02 PM]
Maybe we can do this quickly and send you both off to investigate the realm of Irmo, Lord of Dreams. : )
[4:03 PM]
Happy New Year to all!

ShelobYesterday at 4:03 PM
Merry New Year!

VardaYesterday at 4:03 PM
We had a ton of fireworks, black-eyed peas, and generally too many yummy things to eat, plus gaming and a lot of fun chat.

Arien  ValarYesterday at 4:03 PM
Happy New Year and  may it be a better one

VardaYesterday at 4:04 PM
Aye to that. : )

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Web:
[4:04 PM]
I need to write something, heh.
[4:04 PM]

top

Gaming:
[4:04 PM]
Eonwe said he might not be able to show up or at least not on time, but he kindly put up the Gaming News for us.

Arien  ValarYesterday at 4:04 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8u4VLk0iTI
    YouTube
    333bear333ify
    ♫  Enya - May it be ( lyrics ) ♫

VardaYesterday at 4:04 PM
As always, feel free to chime in with additional news!
[4:05 PM]
ahhh, Enya : )
[4:05 PM]
Thank you.
[4:05 PM]
Now playing it while typing.
[4:05 PM]

World of WarCraft:
[4:06 PM]
The Darkmoon Faire begins today and runs through Saturday, January 10th.
[4:06 PM]
This week's bonus event: Wrath of the Lich King Timewalking.
[4:06 PM]
Any other WoW news you'd like to mention?
[4:06 PM]
Fellow Valarites spotted there? Any sign of Helm or Aragorn maybe?
[4:08 PM]
Love that music.
[4:08 PM]

Diablo 3:
[4:09 PM]
The Darkening of Tristam event begins today and runs through the end of January.
[4:09 PM]
Above in the Before-meeting you can see news from Eonwe on his adventures in WoW and "Valinor".
[4:09 PM]

Lord of the Rings Online:
[4:09 PM]
Much gaming, folks returning.
[4:10 PM]
Landroval server:
Arien
Dis
Elwing
Eonwe
Eowyn
Fangorn
Frodo
Irmo
Melilot
Miriel
Nar
Shelob
Varda

Ithil server:
Arien
Dis
Eonwe
Falco
Fangorn
Varda

Anor server:
Arien
Fangorn
Varda
[4:10 PM]
And some Arien person on all three servers. : )

Arien  ValarYesterday at 4:10 PM
yeah i d been sorting out crafting materials and housing upkeeps

VardaYesterday at 4:11 PM
Very good

ShelobYesterday at 4:11 PM
Also some Varda and Fangorn persons by the looks of things.

VardaYesterday at 4:11 PM
True. : )
[4:11 PM]
If you do deeds on any server, the LotRO points show up on all of them as shared.
[4:12 PM]
If it's the same account.
[4:12 PM]
Also, on the fifth, the winter festival is over. Grab horses and your poinsettia huorn, and nifty other stuff before then!
[4:12 PM]
Any other gaming news?

ShelobYesterday at 4:13 PM
I've started playing Syberpunk 2077 today. So far the looks and feels of the game are amazing.

VardaYesterday at 4:13 PM
I see Endless Space, The Elder Scrolls Online, StarCraft II, Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and World of WarCraft being played even as we type. : )
[4:14 PM]
Ahh, thanks. You recommend it then?

ShelobYesterday at 4:14 PM
It's like Watchdogs as it should have been. In the correct timeline as well, corporate dystopian future.
[4:14 PM]
And I think it has a heavier emphasis on character development and general RPG'ness than Watchdogs had.

VardaYesterday at 4:14 PM
Sounds like Shadowrun?

ShelobYesterday at 4:15 PM
Shadowrun, but realtime and first person.
[4:15 PM]
It's too early to give it my full unapologetic endorsement, but so far it's very good.

VardaYesterday at 4:16 PM
So a good start!

ShelobYesterday at 4:16 PM
Endless Space is an Orion-like 4X game. They're a dime a dozen nowadays, but it's still good imho.
[4:17 PM]
Though I would say that Stellaris is a lot better than ES.
[4:18 PM]
A lot less micromanagement though. Something the devs at Stellaris still haven't properly fixed.
[4:18 PM]
Back to you Varda.

VardaYesterday at 4:18 PM
Thank you. Appreciate your reviews.
[4:19 PM]
Any other gaming news, reviews?

FalcoYesterday at 4:19 PM
Aiya

VardaYesterday at 4:19 PM
Falco! Aiya!
[4:19 PM]
Any news from your end of things, Falco?

FalcoYesterday at 4:20 PM
No much.  Keeping updates on SpaceX.
[4:20 PM]
*Noty

VardaYesterday at 4:20 PM
Excellent!

FalcoYesterday at 4:20 PM
lol *Not

VardaYesterday at 4:20 PM
What's the link you'd suggest for us to find your commentary?

FalcoYesterday at 4:21 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky5l9ZxsG9M
    YouTube
    LabPadre
    Nerdle Cam 4K-  Starship SN9 Live At SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Facility

VardaYesterday at 4:21 PM
Woot! Thank you!

FalcoYesterday at 4:21 PM
This is the Main live feed.  We have 8 Cameras running.
[4:21 PM]
The commentary will be on all 8 feeds.

VardaYesterday at 4:22 PM
And your commentary is on the one above?
[4:22 PM]
ahh, thanks!

ShelobYesterday at 4:22 PM
When is it scheduled to launch?

FalcoYesterday at 4:22 PM
There are 8 of us that will be working on Commentary.  I will be on and off the next 3 days depending on how things go.
[4:22 PM]
We think in 2 weeks.
[4:23 PM]
4th to 6th they have Closures scheduled but most like WDR "Wet Dress Rehearsal"

VardaYesterday at 4:23 PM
: )

FalcoYesterday at 4:23 PM
We also haven't see a TFR "Temp Flight Restriction" released from the FAA to allow for the launch.

VardaYesterday at 4:24 PM
With the holidays over, maybe they'll give it soon?

FalcoYesterday at 4:24 PM
That's what we expect.
[4:24 PM]
We are also working on putting together some Video Podcasts soon.

VardaYesterday at 4:24 PM
Ah cool

ShelobYesterday at 4:25 PM
Are you on the SpaceX team Falco, or a journalist covering it or something? I must've missed the memo on that particular subject.

VardaYesterday at 4:27 PM
The "memo" might be our transcripts. : )
[4:27 PM]
He covers it from LabPadre's cameras.

FalcoYesterday at 4:28 PM
Just covering it with a bunch of other enthusiasts

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:31 PM
Aiya, catching up on chat.

VardaYesterday at 4:32 PM
Good thing you read fast!
[4:32 PM]
On to
[4:32 PM]

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Tolkien! (Note: later. Remained on gaming topics a bit longer.)
[4:32 PM]
If any of you have a question or topic, feel free to bring it up. Otherwise, I have a Tolkien Moment for you.
[4:33 PM]
And if anyone is in need of a fellow gamer while still in touch here, now's a good time to mention or send a tell.
[4:34 PM]
Suggestions for anything at all are welcome. If not here for all to discuss, toss it to me on the side or in an email or game or wherever.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:34 PM
Well, let me start with a small after-mention gaming wise...

VardaYesterday at 4:34 PM
Ok

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:35 PM
Flash is on its last legs, as I've mentioned in the past; support is now ended, and it'll be updated to be disabled in most browsers on the 12th of this month.

VardaYesterday at 4:35 PM
But most have gone to HTML what is the number 5?

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:35 PM
Kongregate, the site I do my flashgaming on mostly, however, is busy editing itself to allow interaction with an addon called Supernova, which should allow flashgames to be played in a separate player or something. I'm not too sure about the details.

VardaYesterday at 4:36 PM
Ah nifty

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:36 PM
So with some luck I'll be continuing my flashgaming adventures, but it'll take some work, and I'm not sure if the people - if there are any - here who actually try my links want to go through that. So is there still a point to continuing my flashgaming report?
[4:36 PM]
I could always continue it for fun

VardaYesterday at 4:37 PM
Will you still be flashgaming?
[4:37 PM]
If so, feel free to mention your adventures if you like.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:37 PM
I will, but for most people the links, or well, the games, will no longer be working.
[4:37 PM]
Assuming this thing works.

VardaYesterday at 4:37 PM
But you can show them how to reach the games. And some will move to HTML?

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:38 PM
Well, I'll link you https://www.getsupernova.com/ but I'm not planning on linking that every week  New games aren't accepted anymore on kongregate, though, so I don't think they'll be moving specific games to html.

VardaYesterday at 4:39 PM
Ouch.

FrodoYesterday at 4:39 PM
Hey all!

VardaYesterday at 4:39 PM
Seems as if they could put the new ones if on html up at least.
[4:39 PM]
Aiya Frodo. : )

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:39 PM
Aiya!

FrodoYesterday at 4:39 PM
Just checking in to say hi - Alexander and I had a fun week this week. I've been off! back to work tomorrow.

VardaYesterday at 4:40 PM
Wonderful!

Arien  ValarYesterday at 4:40 PM
great to hear

FrodoYesterday at 4:41 PM
Levels 42 now!

VardaYesterday at 4:41 PM
Woot! You've been busy!

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:41 PM
Grats!

VardaYesterday at 4:45 PM
Ok, we have a turtle that must die on Ithil right after the meeting, and an instance  on Landroval right after. [Note: LotRO gaming request from Arien.]

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:46 PM
Go ninja that turtle.

VardaYesterday at 4:47 PM
First, here's  a Tolkien Moment for you all. : )
[4:47 PM]
Gandalf with Frodo in Rivendell:
The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
[4:47 PM]
Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside, and took a good look at Frodo.
The colour had come back to his face, and his eyes were clear, and fully awake and aware.
He was smiling, and there seemed to be little wrong with him.
But to the wizard's eye there was a faint change, just a hint as it were of transparency, about him, and especially about the left hand that lay outside the coverlet.
"Still, that must be expected," said Gandalf to himself.
"He is not half through yet, and to what he will come in the end not even Elrond can foretell.
Not to evil, I think.
He may become like a glass filled with a clear light for eyes to see that can."
"You look splendid," he said aloud.
[4:50 PM]
End quote.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:50 PM
I've heard of a glass eye, but a glass hand?

VardaYesterday at 4:50 PM
So Frodo could have looked like a glass of light. Not just his hand.
[4:51 PM]
I had remembered it as just his hand and saw this on a re-read.
[4:51 PM]
"especially" the hand.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:51 PM
True.

VardaYesterday at 4:51 PM
All of him was changing!

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:51 PM
Glad it wasn't just his skin, or you could see all his organs...

VardaYesterday at 4:52 PM
The Invisible Frodo!

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:52 PM
So transparant!

VardaYesterday at 4:52 PM
Did you ever see the old toy that showed a clear skin so you could see the internal part?

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:53 PM
It rings no bells.

VardaYesterday at 4:53 PM
At least for Frodo, he sounds as if he were turning into a Frodo-shaped glass of light, not a nazgul.
[4:53 PM]
Could have been very interesting to see!

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:53 PM
Frodo needs no phial. He is a phial.

VardaYesterday at 4:54 PM
hehe : )
[4:54 PM]
That could give Shelob a problem. : )

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:54 PM
Right, was thinking that

VardaYesterday at 4:55 PM
He might have been Barad-dur's worst nightmare.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:56 PM
Blinding the Eye.

VardaYesterday at 4:56 PM
: )
[4:57 PM]
Could have been quite a different story.
[4:57 PM]
Glass Frodo vs the Nine!
[4:57 PM]
or all of Barad-dur. : )

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:57 PM
Give him a few focusing mirrors...
[4:57 PM]
can laser the place down

ShelobYesterday at 4:58 PM
I was not running away from that light. Those are filthy lies.
[4:58 PM]
But speaking of lights. Mine are about to go out. Namarie!

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 4:58 PM
namarie!

VardaYesterday at 4:59 PM
Namarie!

[4:59 PM]
the glassy gavel bounces up to the hammerpad
[4:59 PM]
tink!
[4:59 PM]
it barely touched, for fear of breaking
[5:00 PM]

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After-meeting!

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:00 PM
And for whoever thinks the focusing mirrors look familiar, yes, I did finish Revendreth this week.

VardaYesterday at 5:02 PM
Grats : )

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:03 PM
thanks

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 5:14 PM
Heya all.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:15 PM
Aiya!

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 5:18 PM
Happy New Year.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:18 PM
Yes! Happy new year to everyone!

Arien  ValarYesterday at 5:19 PM
Happy new yer
[5:19 PM]
turtle dead

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:19 PM
Yay! I think!

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 5:20 PM
Mourns the unfortunate turtle

VardaYesterday at 5:28 PM
Awww
[5:28 PM]
It was only defeated.
[5:29 PM]
It came right back. : )
[5:29 PM]
It's ready to trample someone else now!
[5:29 PM]
And aiya Eonwe : )

Arien  ValarYesterday at 5:47 PM
Namarie Valarites sleep well

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:47 PM
Namarie!

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 5:52 PM
hehe
[5:52 PM]
By the way, RE: Mission Tables for Shadowlands in case this is of use to anyone:
[5:54 PM]
Simple way to tell if you team is going to win:
(Enemy Team's HP) / (Your Team's Attack) = Number of turns to beat enemy.
(Your Team's HP) / (Enemy Team's Attack) = Number of turns for enemy to defeat you.
Lower number wins.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:54 PM
So units don't get taken out one by one?
[5:54 PM]
I admit I've yet to try it, but that's what it looked like in the previews.
[5:55 PM]
Only just got my covenant yesterday

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 5:55 PM
They do, but that seems to be the rule so far.
[5:55 PM]
Addenda:
[5:56 PM]
1.) I've not measured the exact number of turns, but on light observation it does seem there could be fewer turns taken to reach the result. This is likely because
[5:56 PM]
2.) Blizzard no doubt built variability in damage into the system just like with player character skills, therefore
[5:57 PM]
3.) If the two numbers are close, I imagine the outcome could go either way due to that variability.
[5:57 PM]
However, so far at least, when there's been a difference of at least two or three turns between my team and the enemy team, I have not yet lost.(edited)

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:57 PM
Good to know

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 5:58 PM
The math here seems to be pretty intuitive. If team's average damage is enough to take out the enemy before they take you out, you win.
[5:59 PM]
Blizzard gives us Both team's HP and Attack, so I assume they want us to do something with it, heh.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 5:59 PM
fair enough
[5:59 PM]
I thought there was a whole ranged/melee thing going on.

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 5:59 PM
It would be pointless if these numbers weren't representative of some amount of useful data.
[6:00 PM]
If there's a deeper layer, I've yet to see it. Not saying it's not there.
[6:01 PM]
But I wouldn't be terribly excited by a Pokemon-level advantage/disadvantage system in a fire-and-forget side-system personally.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:02 PM
Oh, I dunno. There's something to be said for a typical melee-tank/glass-cannon composition game.

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:04 PM
Eh, if that were the point of the whole game, maybe. In WoW, to me it would just be another annoyance meant to keep me from doing actual content to pad Blizzard's time played metric, which of course wouldn't work because I'd still only have so much time to devote to it, I'd just be losing out on doing something interesting instead.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:05 PM
Fair enough.

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:06 PM
Granted, that's me, and I recognize other people might find it interesting. I just want to send my guys on missions and know they won't come back empty handed, hehe.(edited)

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:06 PM
True

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:09 PM
If it were a game with more immediate combat results, it might be more interesting to add more depth, but if I have to wait 4+ hours to see the results, I only have so many of those I can do and I want to get them sent ASAP.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:09 PM
Good point!

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:09 PM
I don't mind that added level in Pet Battles, for example, the direct analogy to Pokemon.
[6:11 PM]
The time spent is up front to put your team together for the fight you're facing, and you get the results for your work immediately: Either you beat the opponent or not. You don't have to wait four hours after you put everything together to see how the battle went.
[6:13 PM]
If you fail, you can tell from how it went if it was just a bad RNG run and you should try again with the same team, or if it's just not going to work and you need to figure out a new strategy.
[6:18 PM]
Anyway, I hope that math is of some use. So far it's worked for me :} I'll have to do measurements and compare how many turns it takes, see if it does indeed vary like I suspect.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:19 PM
Sounds good

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:26 PM
On an unrelated note, the RP: this isn't the time period of Auros' life I've been focusing on recently, but I suppose I should. Do I need to give a better kick-off post than my last one?(edited)

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:28 PM
You could, but I feel like a bit of a short-term refreshment on what's ahead of us next might be in order unless you just want posts like "Calion: mounts his horse, follows Auros" and "Fainan: Does the same!"

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:28 PM
OK, let's shoot for a brainstorming session/refresher next week then.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:28 PM
nods
[6:30 PM]
We make plans and plans and we take so slow getting there we've forgotten what they were and what meeting notes they were in

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:30 PM
Hehe, aye :}
[6:32 PM]
Maybe moreseo than one of my long "drag all the RP stuff out of the meeting minutes" posts, We should keep a post with a running list of meeting minutes where we've discussed it. Would make for easier reference.(edited)
[6:33 PM]
Maybe that would be a good update for the first post of the discussion thread.
[6:34 PM]
Congrats, Phar, you just gave me more work, lol.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:34 PM

[6:34 PM]
Well, to be fair, a 5 minute summary in the next meeting should see us through the next few posts

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:35 PM
Well, I put out an open invitation if anyone wants to skim through the last few years of meetings to tell me which meetings we spoke about the RP at annd whisper me those dates, I'd appreciate it :}
[6:36 PM]
Ok, this has got to be a lie. There is no way we started Angmar Bound back in December of 2011.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:36 PM
We don't even need to stick to the plans we've made, if we don't remember them.
[6:36 PM]
hmm?
[6:36 PM]
Wouldn't surprise me.

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:37 PM
Well, officially started February 3, 2012, but that still seems too long ago.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:37 PM
Time flies.

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:38 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ipVHyKnx6Y
    YouTube
    Moonlightmermaid13
    Charlotte's Web-Mother Earth And Father Time Lyrics

[6:38 PM]
Sorry, just thought about it, hehe.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:39 PM
"Time flies", he said, as he threw his alarm clock out the window...

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 6:39 PM
hehe

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Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:45 PM
Personal gaming report!
[6:45 PM]
Well, for a nice change, another website got a few new games, so I've got 2 of those, including one I just spent half an hour finishing up
[6:48 PM]
But for the one from Kongregate, as a badge this week it was considered in poor taste... but I like to see it as a celebration of saying goodbye to 2020 as the year of covid, since the vaccines are starting to be deployed
[6:51 PM]
https://www.kongregate.com/games/DarkRealmStudios/pandemic-2 as the first game! A strategy/upgrade/management game where you unleash a virus of your own making on the world. Evolve, spread, become more resistant, contagious, and other attributes! Goal is to take over the world.
    Kongregate
    Pandemic 2
    The sequel to the original game Pandemic is finally here! Bigger and better in every way. Evolve your disease, infect the world and exterminate 6.3 billion peo...

[6:52 PM]
It's a rather famous game among the flashgaming community, or should I say infamous? Regardless, it's given rise to various memes about Madagascar being the first to close its borders and most difficult to take over... so maybe when covid came, we all should've moved there!

VardaYesterday at 6:55 PM
Today is the day we raise a glass and drink. "To the Professor!"
[6:56 PM]
This is his birthday. : )

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 6:56 PM
Congrats Professor!

VardaYesterday at 6:58 PM
We thank Professor JRR Tolkien for years and years of fun in books, gaming, and all forms of play!
[7:02 PM]
Generally the toast is at 9 P.M. your own time, but we are all over the clock, so here you go. : )

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:06 PM
http://www.physicsgames.net/game/Car_Drawing_Physics.html is the second game! You draw a vehicle with a single line to get it across obstacles. Hints are available for the shape, but otherwise it really speaks for itself  Draw a line, both ends get a wheel attached and see how it moves forward!
    Physics Games - Car Drawing Physics
    Draw a car that will overcome obstacles and reach the finish line. The catch is that you can only draw a single line.
[7:07 PM]
Had a bit of link advertising in that version of the game after a few levels played, though you can easily restart and  play some further levels... but https://modularmindset.itch.io/cardrawinggame also works as original source if you don't want to take the trouble!
    itch.io
    Car Drawing Game by ModularMindset
    A 2D Physics Drawing Puzzle o-o

[7:09 PM]
http://www.physicsgames.net/game/Sand_Balls.html for the third game! The one I've played in full over the last couple of days
    Physics Games - Sand Balls
    Dig through the sand to guide the multicolored balls around obstacles and fill up the dump truck. Colorless balls will change color when they come into contact with colored balls. There are 100 levels to complete!
[7:10 PM]
Dig through 100 levels of obstacle-filled sand to let gravity guide the little colored balls downward. Enough balls need to make it to the truck waiting below to pass the level, so don't let them fall into the red grinder or get stuck behind angles or obstacles.
[7:12 PM]
You can dig (with the mouse) swiftly, but might stumble into obstacles you didn't see coming. Also, the camera moves with the lowest balls, which means you can't dig free those that have remained behind, though they will follow if their way is clear.
[7:13 PM]
It's pretty simple, and the levels don't get really hard, though further on multiple tries are needed if you mess up.
[7:14 PM]
And of course the further you get, the more varied the levels become, with new obstacles and types of objects. Though many level sections are directly copied among levels, so parts might look repetitive. But the level itself is always different
[7:15 PM]
And there's always plenty more balls around than you need in the end, including "reinforcements" of colorless balls along the way, so it never gets really frustrating!
[7:19 PM]
That said, if you're having trouble, it may pay off to take things a bit slow  No timer present!
[7:19 PM]

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Blizzard gamign:
[7:23 PM]
Heroes of the Storm:
one level gained, getting Azmodan to 8  440 now!
[7:25 PM]
Hearthstone:
Reward track to 41! At least I've noticed the levels cap at 5000 xp each, so getting to 50 should not be a problem.
[7:26 PM]
Also, Demon Hunter to level 32, getting another gold card, though it's one I don't use in the deck. I think the 34 one should be good though!
[7:26 PM]
Oh, and I finally got 250 ranked wins on the druid, my class with the lowest wincount. Halfway to the golden portrait!
[7:28 PM]
Tavern brawl is for new year's, with a cooperation element. You need to aid  your opponent, heal them, use cards that aid both sides, etc, while also spending mana on getting 25 fireworks going and taking care of party crashers before they kill someone. When the fireworks are complete you get a pinata boss to defeat with a ton of health. So key is to work together, don't take too long to get to phase 2, and hopefully you should make it! Otherwise, try again
[7:29 PM]
WoW:
[7:30 PM]
Completed Revendreth! Also started my covenant campaign, choosing Night Fae. Was there really any doubt?
[7:30 PM]
Did the first few quests there up to unlocking world quests and class abilities.
[7:31 PM]
Weekly is timewalks, first one of the expansion. As expected, my warrior and demon hunter were no longer eligible for even the lower ones, having scaled below 50. So just five with the druid for now.
[7:31 PM]
First one was kinda tricky without covenant stuff unlocked yet, but I saved the last 4 until I had the two abilities.
Got a few gear upgrades from the timewalks, and a 200 ilevel cloak from the weekly questreward for them, not bad, though the legendary cloak was hardly the piece that needed upgrading the most
[7:33 PM]
Winter veil's over! But I did get all my alts to the tree and their gifts. Didn't get the Flames of Ragnaros illusion from the Greench daily, but there's always next year. At which point I hopefully  have 4 max levels, so 4 times the chances!

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 7:35 PM
if that's the only illusion from the Greench, I think I got that in a previous year, and again this year. Too bad it's BoP.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:35 PM
Haven't been able to raid yet; got a bit more gear upgrades (and also sorted out my mog after leveling) but 170 ilevel is preferred and I'm still sub-150. Maybe next reset!
[7:35 PM]
Actually there's 2, the wintery one and the ragnaros one.
[7:35 PM]
Wintery is rather more common; in fact, I think I got one as well this year.
[7:36 PM]
What eeeelse... oh yes.
[7:36 PM]
Done with Uldum assaults for now! Got my final paragon supply reward, the Cursed Dune Watcher pet.
[7:36 PM]
There's still rares to kill, mounts to get etc, but those are no priority.
[7:37 PM]
So I'm done with assaults in general for the time being. Should save a bit of time!
[7:38 PM]
And finally, I gave in to the holiday sale, and bought the Woof Pack at.. 77% off or so
[7:38 PM]
Since I already had one of the two mounts.
[7:39 PM]
So got one new mount, the Vulpine Familiar, and 2 pets, Shadow and the Alterac Brew-Pup!
[7:39 PM]
The Brewpup was what I really wanted from it, as I'd had my eye on it for a few years. Though the others are nice as well.
[7:40 PM]
Oh, speaking of mounts, missed that out in my notes... got the Dreamlight Runestag for doing the Night Fae covenant intro quests

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 7:42 PM
Congrats :}

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:43 PM
Very fun quests, wherein the expansions of Legion and BfA are reproduced in a play you star in, with lots of costumes, quotes, and audience commentary, including rather selfaware comments about things that really shouldn't have worked (a sword in a planet with no large effect on the ecosystem?) as well as Ysera being rather absorbed by the stories taking place
[7:43 PM]
Thanks!
[7:43 PM]
And that's my report for the week!

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 7:43 PM
Speaking of which, I got one of the Bastion mounts for doing the campaign part at around Renown 18.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:43 PM
Ooh, grats!
[7:43 PM]
Renown 1

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 7:43 PM
Thanks.

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:43 PM
But I'll catch up.
[7:43 PM]
is 18 the max in this reset?

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 7:44 PM
Was rather disappointed by the wings I got too. Blizzard doesn't want to give us long wings or long cloaks.
[7:45 PM]
I think it is? To be honest I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think I have any more Campaign currently to do, so I'm going to say definitely... maybe :}(edited)
[7:45 PM]
Or maybe definitely :}

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:46 PM
Alright. Can keep track of that so I'll know when I'm caught up
[7:48 PM]
Shouldn't take very long, the catchup system is pretty massive. Callings, dungeons, raids etc.

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 7:49 PM
I must be off for a bit. I'm not going to log out of Discord, as I expect to be back, but Probably after you've already called it a night, Phar :}

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:49 PM
Probably within the next 10 minutes
[7:49 PM]
Namarie then!

Eonwë ValarYesterday at 7:49 PM
So for you, and others of similar mind, I say good night and sleep well :} For others who may still be here when I get back, I say see you in a bit :}

Ar-Pharazon-VYesterday at 7:53 PM
namarie all!

VardaYesterday at 7:55 PM
Namarie [Note: completed second LotRO group game from this Discord meeting, called for by Frodo.]


January 4, 2021

Eonwë ValarToday at 7:54 AM
RE: Mission Tables: Looks like, with my most recent move upward in the mission table "campaign", another wrench has been thrown into the calculations - environmental effects. I don't yet see a way to counter or account for those.

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