Valar Guild

November 5, 2023 Sunday Meeting

5:00 P.M. Eastern 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, which is Valar time and LotRO /servertime.]
Attending (and typed): (6)
    Discord:  Arien, Ar-Pharazon, Eonwe (presiding), Pengolodh (before), Sandalf, Varda
Before-meeting
Meeting begins
Membership news:
Web:
Gaming:
   
Tolkien:
    Topic from Ar-Pharazon:
After-meeting:
    More Tolkien chat
    (non) Flashgaming Reviews (plus) by Ar-Pharazon. Includes Blizzard games afterwards.
 top

Before-meeting

Sandalf13 — 10/31/2023 7:06 PM
Happy Halloween, y'all!
November 1, 2023

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 12:04 PM
Happy Dia de los Muertos as well  Both are holidays in WoW as well, lots of stuffs to do (and I think if I spend 50k gold on the new item for DdlM I'll almost be broke).
[12:05 PM]
Yep, caught up on this channel as well now... not sure why you thought I was in the first of the 2  missed meetings in the first place, internet went out the thursday before.
[12:06 PM]
Long story short, replaced modem on thursday to no effect, mechanic came by on friday to tell us the problem was outside and team couldn't come to dig until next thursday, which was then postponed to friday, but the whole work took until monday because apparently they didn't work in the weekend (and there was lots of rain in those days as well).
And it was more sidewalk work that caused it than road work, but close enough
[12:07 PM]
Oh, and I took some of the internet-less time to read some Tales of the Perilous Realm and Letters of Tolkien; the latter gave me a rather interesting Tolkien Moment I'll share in the next meeting

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 7:59 PM
Ar!!! How glad I am to see you back! What happened? I hope you and all of your famly are well. Sei gesund!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:00 PM
Some days without internet, but yes, all is well

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:00 PM
Thank goodness.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:00 PM
Read above if you want more info.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:00 PM
I just did. Sounds complicated and frustrating, but the end result is that you are back with us. Bravo!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:01 PM
Yes! Funny how you don't really notice how stuff like that influences your life until you're cut off for over a week without warning or preparation. Makes it more annoying than just going on vacation.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:01 PM
I did send you a personal note...did you receive it?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:02 PM
Ah yes, thanks, but you're not the only one, so I thought I'd explain it in here

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:02 PM
That is just fine. Did you have a chance to review our meeting notes for the last two meetings that you missed?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:03 PM
Hmm, actually spent much of today going through missed chat in most of the discord servers I'm a part of, and got through this channel at least.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:03 PM
Super!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:05 PM
And I know about the river Stoor thing; I think I read something about that in Letters in the past week, how Smeagol's people indeed went back east over the Misty Mountains at some point. In fact it might even have been the same letter that my upcoming Tolkien moment comes from

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:07 PM
Did you suffer any losses due to your inability to game during your computer diastem?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:08 PM
Well, I managed to grab the "kongpanion" on a flashgame site by logging on 5 times on my laptop at my brothers' house's wifi, and kept my Duolingo streak alive that way as well... and while we didn't have interactive tv here for the duration, I did manage to get my recordings planned through his house as well.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:08 PM
You are resourceful, as always!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:10 PM
Only real "loss" was some events in World of Warcraft, including losing out on some Halloween cosmetics, including a customization for my favorite dragon mount, but I'm sure they'll be back next year. The other thing was an achievement in the game that required me to do 4 dungeons every week for 5 weeks for a certain event, of which I've only managed to get 4 weeks. But I assume that event will be back as well for another chance at the mount reward.
And of course I've got a ton of catching up to do

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:11 PM
Hey...sounds like a challenge. BTW, a diastem is a geologic term for a break in the rock record, usually between two sedimentary layers. Poor choice of  words on my part...sorry. A better word might have been "lacuna."

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:12 PM
Hmm, I think we actually used "hiatus" (or the Dutch equivalent) for that in our Earth Sciences university courses. But I might be mistaken.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:13 PM
Hiatus is good, too.
What is most interesting about the rock record, is that more time is "missing" than we have a record of in the layered sedimentary rocks.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:14 PM
Well, that makes sense, especially if you go further back. It's similar to tree rings. Except for the timescale of course.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:15 PM
Another good word for your experiences of late might be "interregnum." It used to mean a period between the death of one king/queen and the assumption of that role by the next queen/king. In more general usage, it just means any break in a chain of events.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:16 PM
Of course, with my specialty interest being in biogeology and evolution, the gaps are even larger and more annoying, especially if trying to find something in a specific region

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:16 PM
I can understand that. There are so many breaks in the fossil record.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:17 PM
Yes. Amazing what we've actually accomplished with what little is being found.
Molecular/DNA stuff helps, of course.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:19 PM
How true that is. I attended the luncheon meeting of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists in Denver earlier today, and heard a talk on the Lyons Sandstone (Permian period). At that time, the Great Plains and Mountain West was lying close to the equator, and much hotter and drier than it is even now. The Lyons is a huge series of eolian (wind blown_) dunes that stretch from southern Canada south to southern Colorado, and from central Nebraska as far west as Utah.
[8:20 PM]
It was actually around 30 degs North at the time, in the present-day desert belt.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:21 PM
Eolian sanddunes... yep, sounds like desert to me.
Good place to find fossils, too. Like how the Gobi desert is so bountiful.
[8:22 PM]
Stuff gets covered pretty fast.
And uncovered in modern days

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:23 PM
It sure was.
[8:23 PM]
That is what the cross bedding in the Lyons looks like.



Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:24 PM
Oh wow, so much detail.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:24 PM
Incredible how the record can sometimes preserve such details...
The winds are long, long gone...but the dunes that they created remain. How poetic, in a sense.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:24 PM
Not bad for 300 million years.

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:25 PM
You got that right.
[8:26 PM]
Oooops....got to go. Need to call my sister for our daily chat. I am SO glad to talk with you, and to learn that everything is good. Sei gesund and enjoy! Namarie!!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:26 PM
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair... (edited)

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:26 PM
Ozymandias....great poem.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:26 PM
Alright, sure, namarie, gotta go sleep anyway

Sandalf13 — 11/01/2023 8:26 PM
Schlafen Sie gut!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/01/2023 8:27 PM
You too, later
November 2, 2023

Eonwë Valar — 11/02/2023 9:47 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3pOIDaF1Dw
    YouTube
    We Are Not Alive
    Stan Lee Destroys Power Scaling In A Minute And Nine Seconds


Sandalf13 — 11/02/2023 9:55 PM
Ya sure ya bertcha!

November 3, 2023

Eonwë Valar — 11/03/2023 7:44 PM
Blizzcon going, next three WoW expansions announced.

First one supposedly coming next year:
https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24025826/world-of-warcraft-the-war-within™-announced
    World of Warcraft
    World of Warcraft®: The War Within™ Announced! - WoW
    World of Warcraft®: The War Within™ has just been announced!
    Prepare to descend beneath the surface of Azeroth to explore subterranean worlds full of hidden wonders, earn the trust of the new Earthen allied race, and face an ancient evil lurking in the darkness.


Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/03/2023 7:57 PM
I'm already fascinated with the second one, just for this saga, the title and the logo

Eonwë Valar — 11/03/2023 11:38 PM
I'm skeptical of their ability to do anything good with characters I like, so I'm just focused on gameplay features. Some sound interesting, but again, warily interested.
[11:41 PM]
I'm curious what exactly they're going to do with the Arathi, considering Anduin Lothar was the last heir of the Arathi Kings. We'll see.
[11:42 PM]
Notice we got no pictures of them, but we have Earthern and Nerubians.
[11:43 PM]
And I wonder how much gold or other resource they're going to demand we sink into Warbands to be able to use the stuff we care about, like linked banks,

November 4, 2023

Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 1:21 AM
Admittedly, I do like the idea of my Horde Blood Elf Pally and my main Alliance Human Pally hanging out.

Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 1:41 AM
What I know for sure is that since I've been paying for WoW for 20 years, they better send me an Ashbringer for the 20th and not another orc statue.
[1:43 AM]
And hopefully they put soundtracks in the Collector's Editions for these three expansions unlike they did for Dragonflight, which I'm still annoyed about.
[1:47 AM]
Hmm, one thing I do find out of the ordinary: the current expansion is included with the purchase of the coming one. Usually they just give the previous expansion to everyone when they move on to the new one. I wonder if this signals an end to that practice. (edited)

Eonwë Valar — Yesterday at 2:03 AM
Other than a bank and maybe renown (specifically for the coming expansion) I'm not sure what other "collections" and "achievements" they could be sharing between characters with Warbands that they're not already sharing.
[2:05 AM]
Wow, a year without another major content patch. That always went well for Blizzard in the past.

Eonwë Valar — 11/04/2023 2:14 AM
"Your Warbrand will share gold and a materials bank. Currency can be shared, potentially at a cost." --- hmmm, neutral I suppose.

Pengolodh — 11/04/2023 5:14 PM
Nuts news about WOW Classic plus
[5:14 PM]
Makes me want to logon again so much lol

Eonwë Valar — 11/04/2023 9:57 PM
These three notes about Warbands are the only ones that really mean anything to me:
-----------------------------------
Account-wide Bank - Multiple tabs, account-wide crafting reagents
"Warbound until equipped" items that you can give to your other characters
Drop as personal loot from content at slightly lower item levels than the content
You can unlock transmog appearances of different armor types on any character but can still only wear the armor type of the class.
----------------------------------- (edited)
[9:58 PM]
And the second is more of a "well, ok" than "ooh, exciting"
[10:01 PM]
I'm warily interested in Delves. Those have been a project in the making since Horrific Visions at least. They include "lessons learned from scenarios" but I don't count those because they were more like slightly smaller dungeons/dungeon groups than scalable 1-5 player content.
[10:03 PM]
Hero Talents - These names for Paladin:
------------------
Lightsmith
Herald of the Sun
Templar
------------------
Templar ok, but the other two are, eh.

Eonwë Valar — 11/04/2023 10:05 PM
I guess I'll wait to see what exactly each does.
[10:07 PM]
Cross-Realm guilds sounds good. Now they just need Cross-Region guilds, heh.
November 5, 2023

Pengolodh — 11/05/2023 6:36 AM
Templar is the stand out for sure.
[6:36 AM]
Isnt there an account wide guild feature too?

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 7:57 AM
Account-wide guild? You mean the Warband?

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:00 PM
Aiya All!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:00 PM
Aiya!

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:02 PM
Hwya.
[4:06 PM]
Give me a couple more minutes and we'll begin.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:08 PM
There is a sale on for seconds in Aisle 3.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:08 PM
aiya folks >:)

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:08 PM
Aiya!

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:08 PM
Hours remain the most economical buy, however.
[4:08 PM]
Aiya Arien!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:09 PM
Fortnights are underrated.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:09 PM
yeah seams reputation gains are account wide too and the bank too
[4:10 PM]
so that is quite neat

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:10 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zT4Y-QNdto
YouTube
chinita41
Steve Miller Band - Fly Like An Eagle


Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:10 PM
Fly like an eagle, sting like a...
[4:11 PM]
something that flies, stings, but is also big

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:11 PM
Fly like an eagle, and stink like a fell beast?

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:11 PM
i am quite glad we can switch between dragonriding and normal flying .... because for the sake of it i suck at that

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:11 PM
That'll work.
[4:12 PM]
Heh, I can't wait to dragonride in moth form. Though dragonfly would be more fitting!

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:12 PM
moth form :D?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:12 PM
Druid flying form has a moth variant, I've been using it since late Shadowlands

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:13 PM
nice
[4:13 PM]
like Galadriel as butterfly ?

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:13 PM
Bah, if I can't do this then I just don't care about flying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j51XdsXGjFQ
YouTube
gameraspinning
Gamera in flight

[4:14 PM]
But I would settle for this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKFxf8p77MI
YouTube
Gojira Godzilla
Godzilla Takes Flight! - HD 60fps

[4:14 PM]
OK, time for a measure of seriousness.
[4:15 PM]
Let's begin the meeting.
[4:15 PM]
Elen SIla Lumenn Omentielvo!

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:16 PM
Aiya! The gavel is happily trying out Eonwe's hand today. : )

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:16 PM
aiya Varda

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:16 PM
Membership:

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:16 PM
Aiya Varda!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
Aiya!

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
Aiya you lovely people. : )

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
Everyone who's here, say Thorondor to be noted for the roll.

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
Thorondor

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
Thorondor

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
Thorondor

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
More flying. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
( my current form, for Arien https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=modtk2U3Bac&t=293s )
YouTube
MrGM
The 8 NEW Druid Travel Forms of 9.1.5 & How to Obtain Them | Shadow...

[4:17 PM]
Thorondor

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:17 PM
Nice!

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:18 PM
Actually, Gwaihir Airlines has a better record for customer service.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:18 PM
So that's Eonwë, Varda, Arien, Sandalf, and Pharazon.

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:19 PM
(and anyone else who slips in later)

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:20 PM
(I haz some member news)

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:20 PM
Go ahead Phar.

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:20 PM
Pengolodh seems to have said something earlier.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:20 PM
Well, l've got past member news and future, so let's start with the former.
[4:22 PM]
I went without internet from thursday the 19th of october to monday the 30th, so that's why I've been gone! Some workings on the sidewalks in the neighbourhood that took a long time to be able to be fixed, during which we also had no interactive tv... so I had time for a bunch of other stuff, including offline games I'll mention in my personal gaming, but also reading some of my Shakespeare book, and both Letters of Tolkien and Tales from the Perilous Realm

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:22 PM
Nice!

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:23 PM
@Bounder Meeting going for those who'd like to be here :}

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:23 PM
Thanks for the concerns and the private messages, but if I don't have internet, I can't respond to those

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:23 PM
It sounds as if you did quite well surviving without the Internet, and took the time to read some really great stuff. Good for you!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:24 PM
Anyway, while browsing through Letters, I came across a fun story - funnily enough, same letter that gave me confirmation about last week's Stoors-topic - about a character from the Third Age who is not mentioned, as far as I know, in any of the other books.
[4:24 PM]
Which is why I'd like to give that story as a tolkien moment later on
[4:26 PM]
For future news, after a few meetings and emails, I'm now officially on the waiting list for a sort of assisted living building, to get my own home/rooms. And they're even expecting something to open up soon, so I'll be moving out on my own for the first time in the next few months, is the expectation!

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:26 PM
Ohh nice!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:26 PM
And that is my member news

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:26 PM
Congrats Phar.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:26 PM
Thanks!

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:28 PM
Any other Member News?

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:29 PM
Yes

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:29 PM
still a week holidays

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:29 PM
Fangorn and I are in Arizona visiting Eowyn, Faramir, and RealFloppa. Much fun! But I may be intermittent in presence for fun reasons.
[4:29 PM]
Have a great week, Arien!

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 4:30 PM

[4:30 PM]
you too
[4:30 PM]
say aiya to the gang from me

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:30 PM
Hi gang!

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:30 PM
I suppose we'll allow it, if it's for fun reasons.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:30 PM
Heh, yes, you both  I've had enough "holiday" away from my normal routine lately

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:30 PM
hehe, thanks Eonwe

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:31 PM
But the minute you stop having fun you gotta be here :}

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:31 PM
heh
[4:31 PM]
ahh, I'll come here and have fun too, like now!

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:32 PM
if there's no other Member news...
[4:32 PM]
Web:
[4:34 PM]
Nothing to mention for the moment.

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:34 PM
There is a lot, just my fault for not having it up yet. Sorry folks.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:35 PM
No sweat.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:35 PM
Gaming:
[4:36 PM]
Blizzcon was this weekend, so plenty to mention.
[4:37 PM]
Next 3 WoW expansions announced, first Diablo 4 expansion announced, Hearthstone expansion announced, a few coming Overwatch heroes announced. And more.
[4:38 PM]
World of Warcraft:
[4:38 PM]
This week's bonus event: World Quests.

The Darkmoon Faire is going this week.
[4:38 PM]
Don't forget the new content patch Guardians of the Dream goes live this Tuesday. --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24020034/updated-nov-1-dragonflight-guardians-of-the-dream-content-update-notes
World of Warcraft
[UPDATED NOV 1] Dragonflight: Guardians of the Dream Content Update...
Dragonflight: Guardians of the Dream arrives to World of Warcraft on November 7!

[4:38 PM]
See what's available at November's Trading Post. --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24022618/updated-114-novembers-trading-post-is-out-of-this-world
World of Warcraft
[Updated 11/4] November’s Trading Post is Out of this World - WoW
New class armor sets and weapon sets are available for the Monk, Warlock, and Warrior in this month’s Trading Post offerings. This month’s signature item— Arsenal: Cosmic Weapons Cache—is out of this world. The Arsenal: Cosmic Weapons Cache now includes two additional swords!

[4:39 PM]
And all the blogs to give you the info announced at Blizzcon:
[4:39 PM]
World of Warcraft: The War Within Announced! --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24025826/world-of-warcraft-the-war-within™-announced
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft®: The War Within™ Announced! - WoW
World of Warcraft®: The War Within™ has just been announced! Prepare to descend beneath the surface of Azeroth to explore subterranean worlds full of hidden wonders, earn the trust of the new Earthen allied race, and face an ancient evil lurking in the darkness.

[4:39 PM]
World of Warcraft®: Deep Dive Panel Recap --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24025828/world-of-warcraft-deep-dive-panel-recap
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft®: Deep Dive Panel Recap - WoW
During the World of Warcraft®: Deep Dive panel at BlizzCon 2023, Game Director Ion Hazzikostas took viewers deeper into the features coming in the next chapter of World of Warcraft: The War Within™.


Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:40 PM
War Within being a bit more literal than in most contexts.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:40 PM
World of Warcraft: What’s Next Panel Recap --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24025827/world-of-warcraft-whats-next-panel-recap
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft®: What’s Next Panel Recap - WoW
During the World of Warcraft®: What’s Next panel at BlizzCon 2023, Cinematic Narrative Director Terran Gregory, Associate Design Director Maria Hamilton, and Associate Game Director Morgan Day dove into an overview of the world, story, and features coming in the next chapter of World of Warcraft—The War Within™.

[4:40 PM]
WoW Classic: Cataclysm Classic Announced at BlizzCon --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24023092/wow-classic-cataclysm-classic-announced-at-blizzcon
World of Warcraft
WoW Classic: Cataclysm Classic Announced at BlizzCon - WoW
At BlizzCon 2023, World of Warcraft Executive Producer Holly Longdale took to the stage to announce the next expansion for World of Warcraft Classic.

[4:40 PM]
World of Warcraft Classic: Season of Discovery Announced at BlizzCon --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24023090/world-of-warcraft-classic-season-of-discovery-announced-at-blizzcon
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft Classic: Season of Discovery Announced at BlizzCo...
World of Warcraft Executive Producer Holly Longdale took to the BlizzCon 2023 stage to announce a new WoW Classic seasonal experience: Season of Discovery, coming to Azeroth the week of November 30.

[4:41 PM]
World of Warcraft Classic: What's Next Panel Recap --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24023093/world-of-warcraft-classic-whats-next-panel-recap
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft Classic: What's Next Panel Recap - WoW
What's coming for WoW Classic after you have faced off against the Lich King in Icecrown Citadel? WoW Classic developers take us on a journey to see what's coming next to Classic Azeroth.

[4:41 PM]
I'm going to remain warily neutral about the things announced. We'll see if they live up to the hype and hope.
And since Warcraft Rumble is now live, if you complete the tutorial you get a battle pet for WoW. --- https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24023091/gnomelia-delivers-warcraft-rumbles-joyful-chaos-to-wow
World of Warcraft
Gnomelia Delivers Warcraft Rumble’s Joyful Chaos to WoW - WoW
There’s no better pilot than a S.A.F.E. pilot, and Gnomelia Gearheart is the best. Dive into joyful chaos when you add her to your expanding Collection of Battle Pets.

[4:43 PM]
Diablo 4:

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:43 PM
Yay for gnomes as pets

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:43 PM
Diablo 4 blog from Blizzcon: Delve Into The Developer Campfire Chat At Blizzcon 2023. Includes the announcement of the first expansion, Vessel of Hatred. --- https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo4/24022268/delve-into-the-developer-campfire-chat-at-blizzcon-2023
Delve into the Developer Campfire Chat at BlizzCon 2023
A new Expansion, Endgame content, and Malignant Rings! Delve into the vast upcoming content revealed in the Diablo IV BlizzCon 2023 Campfire Chat.


Varda — 11/05/2023 4:43 PM
um. As a former gnomette, not sure about that pet stuff. : )

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:44 PM
It does seem odd to make it a battle pet, but shrugs.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:44 PM
I've got 4 gnomes myself in Team Cal (hopefully we can name the warband) and I'm still liking it  Might even have gnomes with gnome pets!

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:45 PM
hehe

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:46 PM
There's just something about sending a gnome into a pit with someone's pet and expecting them to duke it out.
[4:47 PM]
I feel like that's a practice that would've been banned.

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:47 PM
No one listened to the gnomes banning it? : )

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:47 PM
heh

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:48 PM
Hehe, my standard team for pvp pet battle week (such as the current one) consists of Father Winter's Helper, Winter's Little Helper, and Rotten Little Helper. 3 christmas gnomes throwing ice lances and gifts around

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:48 PM
We have heralds and other helpers in other games.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:48 PM
Anyway, back to Diablo 4: New patch coming November 7th. --- https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo4/23964909/diablo-iv-patch-notes
Diablo IV Patch Notes
We will continually update this article with all patches the development team implements for Diablo IV.

[4:49 PM]
Hmm, I'd forgotten those helpers count as Battle Pets. My Guild Herald and my Argent Squire certainly do not.
[4:50 PM]
Diablo Immortal:
Check out the latest bug fixes. --- https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/diablo-immortal/23826549/diablo-immortal-bug-fixes-and-patch-notes-for-all-platforms
Diablo Immortal Bug Fixes and Patch Notes for All Platforms
We will continually update this blog with all bug fixes and patches the team implements for Diablo Immortal on all platforms.


Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 4:50 PM
They're actually pretty good. Good synergy and some high damage attacks.
[4:50 PM]
I generally win more than I lose in these weeks.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:52 PM
Overwatch 2:
As of my posting to the Games Site News, Blizzard didn't post their own Overwatch recap to their site, so just go to MMO-Champion to check out what's coming. Their recap is pretty good to get a gist.
[4:53 PM]
https://www.mmo-champion.com/content/11817-BlizzCon-2023-Recap
BlizzCon 2023 Recap - MMO-Champion
BlizzCon 2023 Recap
[4:54 PM]
Hearthstone:
[4:54 PM]
The Hearthstone Blizzcon announcements:
[4:54 PM]
The Tavern Overflows at BlizzCon! --- https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24010900/the-tavern-overflows-at-blizzcon
The Tavern Overflows at BlizzCon!
Come see what Hearthstone has in store for BlizzCon this year.

[4:55 PM]
Introducing Battlegrounds Duos! --- https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24008691/introducing-battlegrounds-duos
Introducing Battlegrounds Duos!
Grab a friend and head to the Tavern for your first look at an upcoming way to play: Battlegrounds Duos!

[4:55 PM]
Introducing Catch-Up Packs! --- https://hearthstone.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24008690/introducing-catch-up-packs
Introducing Catch-Up Packs!
Catch-Up Packs are a new type of pack with tons of extra value for new and returning players.

[4:55 PM]
Warcraft Rumble:
And as already mentioned, Warcraft Rumble is Live. --- https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/warcraftrumble/24025829/warcraft-rumble-now-live-worldwide
Warcraft Rumble Now Live Worldwide!
Experience the dazzling new sensation that’s been sweeping Azeroth. Blizzard Entertainment’s mobile action strategy game Warcraft Rumble™ is now live worldwide* on Android and iOS devices!

[4:56 PM]
Any other gaming news?

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:56 PM
Aye, a little
[4:56 PM]
for
[4:56 PM]
Lord of the Rings Online:
[4:57 PM]
Battle Potion of Restoration x5 for Coupon Code: BATTLECURE through November 9th.
[4:57 PM]
Lord of the Rings Online gamers in kin this past week:

Landroval server (role-play encouraged):
Arien
Elwing
Eonwe
Fangorn
Ioreth
Nar
Tulkas
Varda

Crickhollow server (regular):
Eonwe
Falco
Fangorn
Varda

Treebeard server (legendary, slow-leveling):
Varda
[4:57 PM]
Fangorn and I have been slipping in to play a bit of duo.
[4:58 PM]
Falco has been leveling like crazy on Crickhollow. : )
[4:58 PM]
That's my news.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:58 PM
Thanks.

Varda — 11/05/2023 4:59 PM
: )

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 4:59 PM


Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 4:59 PM
OK, if there's no other gaming news....
[4:59 PM]

Tolkien:

[5:00 PM]
Phar, your floor to give your Tolkien Moment.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:00 PM
Alright!

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:00 PM
polishes floor quickly

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:01 PM
For context, this is a letter clarifying gifts, families, and hobbit hierarchy/matriarchy, hence the Stoor connection mentioned earlier... and it talks about how in large hobbit families, if the lord of the house died, his wife would rule until her death.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:02 PM
Sounds very progressive.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:04 PM
"A well-known case, also, was that of Lalia the Great (or less courteously the Fat). Fortinbras II, one time head of the Tooks and Thain, married Lalia of the Clayhangers in 1314, when he was 36 and she was 31. He died in 1380 at the age of 102, but she long outlived him, coming to an unfortunate end in 1402 at the age of 119. So she ruled the Tooks and the Great Smials for 22 years, a great and memorable, if not universally beloved, 'matriarch'.
[5:05 PM]
She was not at the famous Party (SY 1401), but was prevented from attending rather by her great size and immobility than by her age. Her son, Ferumbras, had no wife, being unable (it was alleged) to find anyone willing to occupy apartments in the Great Smials, under the rule of Lalia.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:07 PM
No young lady wanted her for a mother-in-law, heh.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:07 PM
: )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:07 PM
Lalia, in her last and fattest years, had the custom of being wheeled to the Great Door, to take the air on a fine morning. In the spring of SY 1402 her clumsy attendant let the heavy chair run over the threshold and tipped Lalia down the flight of steps into the garden. So ended a reign and life that might well have rivalled that of the Great Took.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:08 PM
i am glad this stor is going to be continued . since it began with the heart of Azeroth in Legion

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:08 PM
Was the attendant brought up on charges?

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:08 PM
Maybe given a tip?

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:09 PM
The attendant certainly gave a tip. ducks

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:09 PM
That is the crux of the matter! Was it a tip or an accident?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:10 PM
It was widely rumoured that the attendant was Pearl (Pippin's sister), though the Tooks tried to keep the matter within the family. At the celebration of Ferumbras' accession the displeasure and regret of the family was formally expressed by the exclusion of Pearl from the ceremony and feast; but it did not escape notice that later (after a decent interval) she appeared in a splendid necklace of her name-jewels that had long lain in the hoard of the Thains."
[5:10 PM]
end quote
[5:10 PM]
So yes, disciplined and rewarded
[5:11 PM]
And I can't imagine Pippin's sister doing it on purpose, but who knows? Ferumbras certainly appreciated it!

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:12 PM
"I'm incredibly angry at you! To show my displeasure, here is some fine jewelry! Wear it and think about what you've done!" (edited)

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:12 PM
hehe

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:12 PM
The family may well have been of two minds about the incident, whether or not it was on purpose.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:12 PM
well Pippin was rather impulsive and daring if not reckless

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:12 PM
Perhaps she did it at the behest of Ferumbras, who promised her a gift (after at certain amount of time had passed) if she did the deed.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:12 PM
On purpose, probably not. Maybe she just wasn't strong enough. Maybe it was her first day on that particular duty.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:13 PM
so i wonder whether his sister had a bit of that streak too or a certain cljumsiness dpending on her age

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:13 PM
Perhaps Lalia's fatness, that day, had just... reached the threshold.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:13 PM
Oh no.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:14 PM
And she was described as clumsy in this story

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:14 PM
Like the fat man who ate one more tidbit and then exploded, in "The Meaning of Life," by Monty Python.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:14 PM
Just so heavy that it made the handling a problem?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:14 PM
Perhaps Ferumbras even assigned her the job because she was clumsy!

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:14 PM
heh

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:14 PM
Yeah, but that's probably a description Lalia gave her, and we know Lalia wasn't exactly the belle of the ball.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:14 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAUYO6AY1ow&ab_channel=BingeSociety
YouTube
Binge Society
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life: Mr. Creosote underestimates his...


Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:15 PM
When you're rich, why take accountability for your own faults when you can blame it on a nearby servant.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:15 PM
"I'm perfectly healthy and not overweight at all. It's not my fault if my attendants have trouble pushing me."

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:16 PM
That's a possibility.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:16 PM
Finger-pointing, a human occupation since the beginning. : )  Thus why we must embrace "The buck stops here". (Not money, guys!)

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:16 PM
Meanwhile, Bombur over in Erebor: "Dang, I got fat!"

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:17 PM
Aye. Wonder if some of that description was brought forward to Bombur who had to be carried.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:17 PM
he needed nine young dwarves to lift him

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:17 PM
hehe - that's bad, yep.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:18 PM
I wonder what his bed was made of.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:18 PM
All clumsy, no doubt, in his view.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:18 PM
Adamantium.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:18 PM
Hay on the floor? : )

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:18 PM
so how should one young girl be able to cope with that ?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:19 PM
"I can't do this for 10 more years!" tips

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 5:19 PM
Ooops...I do not want to look like Mr. Creosote, so I gotta run. Will check in later for Ar's report...yay!...and go from there. Sei gesund and Namarie (for now).

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:19 PM
Namarie

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:19 PM
In fairness, she shouldn't be, but life has never been fair.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:19 PM
Namarie and thanks for coming. : )

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:19 PM
Namarie

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:20 PM
Should be a very different report!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:20 PM
Quite

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:21 PM
Anything else to add on this topic before I let everyone be about their business?

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:22 PM
Re-used ideas, put to good use in the text that appears to be able to be published?
[5:22 PM]
LIke Legolas of Gondolin, a scout, night-sighted, guide, with some of that recycled.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:23 PM
Had you heard of Lalia before? I did find a mention in the Tolkien Gateway

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:23 PM
you mean she was turned into Bombur for Lotro?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:23 PM
I wonder if there are more of these gems around in Letters or Nature.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:23 PM
Now now, we all know nothing is recycled in Tolkien's works. It's all brand new straight from his head and never appeared in any form before him.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:23 PM
Used from his own head, aye. : )

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:24 PM
for Lotr i mean of course

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:24 PM
: )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:24 PM
For the record, it's Letter 214 for those who wish to look it up.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:24 PM
Thank you! That is helpful.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:25 PM
Thanks Phar. I do remember reading some of that, and I do believe you'll find at least one or two more gems in there.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:25 PM


Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:25 PM
*In the Letters as a whole, not that specific letter, heh.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:26 PM
The whole book is pretty much a gem. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:26 PM
Oh yes.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:26 PM
Shines all my books

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:26 PM
i dont see it as recycling, Eonwe. But we know that Tolkien rexdeveeloped ideas and characters or used bits and pieces of old ones that he used in his later works for other characters with other names#

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:26 PM
An Arkenstone all in itself.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:27 PM
It's kind of re-using a good idea from earlier. And it is a perfectly good practice. Not plagiarizing but using his own thoughts.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:27 PM
i mean developped or grew characters from one idea or concept into the finished personality
[5:28 PM]
aye

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:28 PM
Well put.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:29 PM
or he had this story of this lady , then was not very happy  with it and rewrote it with changes that were more satisfying to him

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:30 PM
Not that we've done anything like that, of course. cough

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:30 PM
since it was not very fair towards the attendant or about the lady

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:30 PM
We all know Tolkien doesn't write drafts. Every version of every story is as valid as every other. That's why Trotter and Strider had to speed-walk to the death at Weathertop for supremacy.

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:30 PM
never cough

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:31 PM
Not sure when he came up with the story, but the letter dates from the late fifties, so very much after Bombur, and indeed after Lord of the Rings, as can be told from the characters involved.

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:32 PM
He might've come up with it just because of that person he was writing the letter to, heh.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:32 PM
It might just be a little story that was around for a while but was either too silly or otherwise had no place in LotR to put it, or he might have made it up for the letter.
[5:32 PM]
Indeed

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:33 PM
Interesting thought!

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:34 PM
Ok, we're at An hour and 33 minutes after the meeting start time, so we'll call it here because I need to step away from the computer for a bit, but feel free to continue to chatting.
Raises gavel way up into the air

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:34 PM
looks way up

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:35 PM
See the little gavels rise up, rise up ♪

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:35 PM
see the sun ray that makes them flare up, flarer up!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:35 PM
https://wiki.lspace.org/All_The_Little_Angels
All The Little Angels

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 5:36 PM
bang
[5:36 PM]

Aftermeeting:

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:37 PM
by the way I made a River Hobbit on Landy
[5:38 PM]
but yeah it is getting bed time for me yawn
[5:38 PM]
Namarie!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:39 PM
Namarie!

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:39 PM
ahh another day for the invite then : )
[5:39 PM]
Namarie!
[5:40 PM]
I enjoy my River Hobbit character. : ) Especially gaming in the new areas.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:40 PM
Speaking of new chars, I'm trying to think of a good name for an Earthen lady. Gotta be a rock pun in there somewhere, like Calgranita or Calmarbela or Calmeralda
[5:40 PM]
I've still got a while before the expansion's released, but still!

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:40 PM
Fun. Maybe you can catch Sandalf in time then with some idea. : )
[5:41 PM]
Calgranita if you want rock, Calmerelda if she's a gem?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:41 PM
Good call! He could have some fitting terminology.
[5:41 PM]
Heh, yes. Calmeralde would need a green skin color though, not sure if that'll be added.
[5:41 PM]
*da
[5:42 PM]
Calsapphi(r)a is she's blue!

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:42 PM
That sounds pretty!
[5:42 PM]
(I'm such a girl.)

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:42 PM
hehe
[5:43 PM]
Guy here, but with a 50/50 character ratio give or take, and I don't mind them having pretty names

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:43 PM
If it fits the character, it's a good name.
[5:44 PM]
I have a dwarf (looks like a guy) named Timbridhill.
[5:45 PM]
If it fits, they can wear it well.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:45 PM

[5:46 PM]
https://www.wowhead.com/news/world-of-warcraft-the-war-within-earthen-allied-race-preview-335862 here's an early preview. Blue/purple's definitely in there. They might add green too, who knows?
Wowhead
World of Warcraft The War Within - Earthen Allied Race Preview
Blizzard released a preview of the Earthen Allied Race preview coming with the next expansion, The War Within!

[5:47 PM]
Looks like you can add gems, too.

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:48 PM
They look like dwarves, but kind of dead.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:48 PM
Looks like they can be red, as well...
[5:48 PM]
Heh. They're the rocky progenitors of the dwarves, untouched by the Curse of Flesh!

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:48 PM
Ahh, makes sense then.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:49 PM
And yet, capable of growing hair, apparently. Or are they wigs...?

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:50 PM
Spun gold and such?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:51 PM
Rumplestiltskin in reverse?

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:51 PM
Maybe so!

Arien  Valar — 11/05/2023 5:55 PM
I recommend Uldaman run and do the disc quest for the story

Varda — 11/05/2023 5:56 PM
Story tends to improve any play. : )

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 5:56 PM
Both on stage and in-game!

Varda — 11/05/2023 6:34 PM
Web News:
[6:34 PM]
Article by Eonwe: "Eregion"
[6:34 PM]
https://valarguild.org/tolkien/encyc/articles/e/EregionE.htm

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 7:42 PM
Aiya!

Eonwë Valar — 11/05/2023 8:02 PM
Heya.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 8:02 PM
Still on? Wonderfiul!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:06 PM
Aiya! Let's start on a lengthy gaming report

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 8:06 PM
Alright!!!!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:07 PM
For (non)flashgaming, let's start with this rpg/d&d-like idle game, https://www.kongregate.com/games/Gniller/incremental-adventures
Kongregate
Incremental Adventures
Lead your heroes in their neverending adventures!

[8:08 PM]
The idea is to advance through a dungeon, or tower, floor by floor, using a party of adventurers of various classes. You collect experience as you go, leveling your heroes, unlocking extra stats, and collecting gold for gear for each class.
[8:09 PM]
At level 100, you can prestige, to make the next run faster! Use your classes and synergies to go as efficiently as possible, and get further with each prestige.
[8:10 PM]
There's also ascensions but i've not gotten that far, it seems like another reset-level like prestige.
[8:10 PM]
In any case, still an idle game, and a minimalistic one at that when it comes to the interface, but with an adventuring theme which can be fun if that's your thing
[8:13 PM]
Right. Now, when I had no internet, I started out watching some dvds - including the entire extended hobbit trilogy for the first time, which I really should've mentioned earlier in the meeting - but then realized I had various games I could play on my pc that didn't require the internet.

Varda — 11/05/2023 8:14 PM
What did you think of the Extended Hobbit?

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:15 PM
Well, I actually hadn't seen movie 3 at all yet, though I'd seen bits of it, let alone the extended version. But I rather liked it
[8:16 PM]
A lot of key bits were quite true to the book, or adapted as well as expected like the scale/thrush bit, and while the Dale and Erebor bits were heavily expanded on, I kinda enjoyed that.
[8:18 PM]
The Battle of the Five Armies was definitely interesting too with a lot of humor and character-focuses, and overall the whole thing was quite enjoyable  Not to be taken too seriously, but then again, neither was the book.
[8:19 PM]
Biggest flaw was the Kili-Tauriel forced romance. It didn't get a lot of screentime, which was both a curse, as it really made the whole thing even more forced, but also a blessing, since it really did not have as big a role in the story as it could have been.
[8:21 PM]
I've seen people complaining about a lack of closure to the Alfrid-bit in Laketown/Dale (I meant Laketown earlier when I talked about the Dale expansion), but that was actually part of the Extended, so that reason alone would be enough to recommend it
[8:22 PM]
So yes, I liked it! In some parts it actually felt more true to the book than LotR did, but even so, I would take it as an enjoyable movie on its own without comparing it.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:22 PM
Will definitely give the commentaries and special features a try in the future
[8:23 PM]
Right! Offline games.
[8:23 PM]
I started with replaying Particle Fleet, the Creeper World-based strategy game from the same maker. You have to slowly advance across a map, collecting energy and building up a fleet, holding back the Particles' advance and taking out particle spawners and other mechanics, like ships mimicking your own fleet.
[8:23 PM]
Went through the entire campaign and most of the extra scenarios in one night

Varda — 11/05/2023 8:25 PM
(Thanks! And I will read more later while putting up the transcript.)

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:25 PM
Then I looked at a series of point and click adventure games I had, Broken Sword. Didn't get 3 and 4 to work properly yet, might have to use the internet to fix that, but I completed 1, part of 2, and half of 5. Definitely worth a look to finishing those as well later on
[8:28 PM]
The series is about 2 investigators, a rather curious busybody called George Stobbart and a young journalist called Nicole Collard, working together to solve murders and mysteries, usually with a slight supernatural angle and religious/mythical inspirations. Bit of an old series, but still worth playing! And the puzzles aren't that difficult; in any case, they come with a hint system if you're totally lost. At least, the Director's Cuts of the first 2 do. Original versions might have you looking up a walkthrough
[8:31 PM]
I also played a bunch of Plants vs Zombies, the defense game where you have to put plants in your garden to withstand waves of undead. You unlock a lot more variations of plants (and zombies) as you complete levels, as well as some minigames. I'd already gotten the first 2 sets of levels completed in the past, but made my way through 2 more this time. Can be difficult, but you can choose your plants for each level based on the level and a preview of the zombies you'll get in that level.
[8:32 PM]
Then I played some Warcraft 1, no cheats this time around. Completed human campaign levels 1 and 2, and then decided to switch to the orc campaign where I got levels 1 to 5. Then catapults with splash damage were introduced and it got really frustrating, I'll have to really think about how I handle things in the future

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:34 PM
Not the only blizzard game I played offline: I then went for the Lost Vikings! An old platformer where you switch between 3 characters, each with their own abilities, which you have to use in a puzzle-like fashion to get through each level.
[8:34 PM]
I finished the first 3 levels, completing the space ship set, and then started the prehistoric era, where I ran into some trouble. Will get back to that later as well, I'm sure
[8:37 PM]
I would've liked to try out Blackthorne as well, also from the Blizzard Classic collection, but apparently I didn't have it downloaded/installed... and well, no internet.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 8:37 PM
At least you have something new to do in the future!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:38 PM
Yes!

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 8:38 PM
BTW...best wishes and good luck on your new digs. I am sure you will be happy to be in a place of your own.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:39 PM
Well, it's not too far away, so I'll still be hanging out at my parents' home a lot, but I hope to ease into it, and I'm sure I'll be fine once I get the hang of doing stuff for myself, which is where the assisted living comes in to help me out.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 8:40 PM
Good for you! I am so glad. This is a big step for uou.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:41 PM
Next up I replayed Jack of All Tribes! A casual and smallish time management game where you work your way through 39 levels, constructing buildings, gathering resources and making gold to accomplish the goals in each level. You also collect artifacts along the way that give permanent upgrades, and will ultimately see you back home from the prehistoric times
[8:41 PM]
And then I went for a bigger game, for which I've still got the cd, the strategy game Populous: The Beginning.
[8:43 PM]
Each level is a separate planet, where you grow your tribe, constructing homes and training buildings, and use your shaman's spells and trained armies to fight against other tribes. You unlock more spells permanently as you progress through the campaign, ultimately reshaping the land itself to destroy your enemies. But they can do the same, so be careful!
[8:44 PM]
Completed as far as level 10 out of 25, and things are getting more complex with multiple tribes, landbridges, and multiple ways of getting around. I'll get back to that later as well I'm sure
[8:48 PM]
And lastly I played some Creeper World 1 as well, where you have to fend off and conquer maps from the liquid Creeper, collecting energy from controlled area to power your weapons. I'd completed the campaign and extra missions in the past, but found out there's a calendar (Chronom) mode where each day has a map of its own... for about 10000 years. The idea is to try a new map every day, or try your best at historical dates or your birthday, but decided to go all the way back to 0000, where I completed january 1 to 10. Of course there's no way you can complete all 3 and a half million maps this way, but if I'm ever bored there's always more maps to complete!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 8:52 PM
Right. And then internet came back and I had to catch up on Blizzard games
[8:54 PM]
Diablo 4: Didn't have a lot of time for this, but after doing a lot of catchup I resumed playing my seasonal character, the blood necromancer, Calshanguia. Got her to level 10, completing chapter 1 of the seasonal journey, or well, getting the 6 out of 8 objectives required. I also completed the first 2 quests of the seasonal story, getting bitten by vampires along the way and unlocking the first vampire powers. Working well so far!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:01 PM
Hearthstone:
Got to level 101 on the reward track! Got the final reward, the 10th tier 1 hero skin, Uther Lawbringer for paladin. I wonder what'll happen in the next track.
[9:03 PM]
I also completed the quest event, getting more skins along the way, and bought 1 or 2 for gold, as well as opening some more packs.
[9:04 PM]
Got some new card backs as well: The one for november, the promotion one from Warcraft Rumble, and one about 2023 which I assume is Blizzcon-related.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:04 PM
I somehow suspect that even though you were glad to get the internet back, you still enjoyed your time away!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:04 PM
Sure  I had times when I was a bit bored, but kept finding new things to play and read.
[9:05 PM]
Catching up afterwards is always the real annoyance
[9:06 PM]
The brawl this week is The Haunted Carousel: Choose a class, get a deck, and each side of the board starts with a dreadsteed, a minion that respawns as its own deathrattle. Also, every turn, all the minions rotate around the board, so also from player to player.
[9:07 PM]
My advice is to flood the board with cheap minions - I even managed to copy a dreadsteed or two - because the rotations keep the number of minions the same on each side, so if you outnumber the enemy, you'll eventually outnumber them with their own stronger minions as well.
[9:07 PM]
It worked for me, at least
[9:08 PM]
Warcraft Rumble: Started the game, after downloading Bluestacks, an android emulator for the pc

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:09 PM
Reading is always good, as my Mother told me so many years ago. She was, of course, an English teacher!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:11 PM
Fun little game, mix between cell strategy and the moba-genre - though officially it's described as a tower defense variant - where you spawn minis (and your minis' leader) for gold on various lanes, trying to push to the enemy boss, taking over towers etc along the way, as well as mining ore and opening chests to give a gold boost. There's some strategy going on with minion types, making it quite interesting; if you find an obvious flaw in a certain level, change your army around!
[9:12 PM]
You can level your minis through play, and from certain rewards after winning a certain amount of games (win 9 games for 3 rewards on the daily reward track, for example) and buy new minis or upgrade their quality through the shopping grid, where you spend coins that you get from beating levels for the first time, or beating levels with the Arclight Surge on them, an event that renews every 3 days.
[9:14 PM]
I prefer to collect all the minis first when possible, and only then start upgrading, though that probably hurts my progress on the short term, since it might be better to focus on a handful of minis to upgrade, from 1 of the 5 factions.
[9:14 PM]
I'd like to make a beastfaction-specialized army, but I don't have a beast leader yet, nor enough varying roles, so it's a bit of an alliance/beast mix at the moment.
[9:15 PM]
Still, a lot of upgrading and collecting to do, so I'm enjoying myself!
[9:16 PM]
There's also pvp, but I'm not too good at that. So instead I'll get the warchests for my guild through Surges rather than pvp. But we've got enough active people to unlock the new leader, Sylvanas, this season anyway
[9:17 PM]
As for progress, my account/collection level is now 6, which gets higher as you collect more minis or upgrade them; my sigil collection from map levels is up to 22, unlocking quests and other stuff; and my first leader, Tirion, is now green quality and level 9, so my army's getting quite decent. I've completed the Elwynn, Westfall, Duskwood and Stranglethorn zones, and currently working on Barrens.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:18 PM
Progress is being made!
[9:18 PM]
WoW:
[9:19 PM]
Still no raids, though we're planning on going back to a 3-raid schedule in about a week and a half, for the new patch.
[9:20 PM]
Still doing pvp brawls, getting to honor level 117.
[9:20 PM]
Missed the fourth week of timewalking quests because of no internet, so no achievement for 5x the full buff, but I'm sure the timewalking event will be back later.
[9:21 PM]
I did manage the arena skirmish weekly, though, winning 10 fights in one night. Quite intense!

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:21 PM
I am glad you survived.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:21 PM
And this week's weekly is pet battles and world quests, so quite relaxed. Giving me a lot of time to catch up on stuff.
[9:22 PM]
Hallow's End holiday is over! I wasn't able to spend many days on it, but did finally manage to collect the fourth witch's hat from the Bradensbrook daily quest, so I don't have to go back there next year. I also completed the new questline for the Headless Horseman, though I did not get any of his new drops.
[9:23 PM]
That said, a friend of mine sent me a Scarlet key instead of it dropping for me, so I can unlock the  old Scarlet Monastery dungeons anyway.
[9:24 PM]
And I grabbed enough candy from candy buckets - getting the dragon isles bucket achievement along the way, and the final area for the Dragon Isles explorer achievement - to get the new offhand pumpkin appearance.
[9:24 PM]
In fact, I thought it was 250 candy rather than 150, so when I went to buy the thing I actually had 100 too many... ah well.
[9:25 PM]
For the Day of the Dead holiday, I bought the dragon armor customization for 50k... making me pretty much broke. My main character is now down to 17k gold, which is actually less than some of my higher alts. Ah well, can always pool gold a bit if I need to buy something

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:26 PM
I am impressed. Day of the Dead/Halloween. Quite a night to enjoy here in the States.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:26 PM
Oh, and finally, a new pet! Promotion pet from Warcraft Rumble, the gnome pilot Gnomelia Gearheart, as we mentioned earlier in the meeting

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:26 PM
I saw her picture during our earlier chat.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:28 PM
She may look serious on that link, but she's actually quite nutty

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:28 PM
I prefer a nutty character, myself...makes life interesting. It is too easy to get caught up in a boring, repetitive rut.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:28 PM
Heh, very true.
[9:29 PM]
Anyway, unless I missed something, that'd be my report for the week!

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:29 PM
I am sure that your numerous experiences gaming can provide you with a non-boring perspective.
[9:29 PM]
An excellent report! I am glad that I hung around long enough to read it as you posted it. Sei gesund!

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:30 PM
You too, namarie

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:30 PM
We had snow last weekend, it is getting into the 70s early this week, but then more snow by the weekend. Liife on the Great Plains. At least the weather is never boring!
[9:30 PM]
:)4
[9:30 PM]


Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/05/2023 9:30 PM
Heh, just lots and lots of rain here, and a named storm earlier in the week.

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:31 PM
Namarie!

Sandalf13 — 11/05/2023 9:31 PM
Namarie!
November 9, 2023

Eonwë Valar — 11/09/2023 2:46 AM
As goofy as it looks, I think the Flourishing Whimsydrake is tied for first with the Highland Drake for best looking of the 5 Dragonriding mounts.  The other three are a very distant 5th. (I award none of them higher, heh).

November 10, 2023

Eonwë Valar — 11/10/2023 2:08 PM
Some screenshots of the mounts in questions now in the screenshots channel. The Green Knight you see there is me. Sir Gawain is nowhere in sight.

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/10/2023 2:20 PM
Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who prefers the velocidrake  Wolf head, antlers, some sort of mane, all in black and white/grey. Cute little nightmare!

Eonwë Valar — 11/10/2023 2:21 PM
hehe
[2:22 PM]
Btw, forgot there was a Netherdrake as well. I suppose I'd put that at a moderately spaced second behind the Highlands Drake and the Whimseydrake... and demote the other three to a very distant tie at 6th, lol. (edited)

Ar-Pharazon-V — 11/10/2023 2:26 PM
Just took a new screenshot for your reference

Eonwë Valar — 11/10/2023 2:27 PM
:}

November 11, 2023

Varda — 11/11/2023 5:54 PM
Arien expects to be late to the meeting, having to work late that day.

Sandalf13 — 11/11/2023 5:55 PM
I hope to be on time!

Varda — 11/11/2023 7:37 PM
Yay!
[7:37 PM]
I'm iffy on exact time, but hope to be present!

Eonwë Valar — 11/11/2023 8:24 PM
I expect to be on time.

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