"Your Darkfall Online Purchase Skill has increased by 0.1%"

I could have been playing since Monday actually, but I never checked my email since it looked as if my purchase timed-out and the game had sold out in 4 minutes. Well, I checked my email late Wednesday night and saw a confirmation of purchase; I then tried to log on the game and BAM... I'm in!

I created a male Mahirim and entered the world. The excessive shadows from the surrounding foliage almost killed my graphics card, but I quickly adjusted the video settings as most people do their first time in a game and everything was fine. I'm located in Texas and I was receiving a generous 150-170 ping with spikes into the 190's.The interface takes some getting used to, but after an hour it was definitely second nature. I did however reset my sheath weapon to my back mouse button and my "use" key from F over to the forward mouse button.

I took the first quest to kill some Goblins and acquire 5 axes; after a short run to the north I was engaged in combat with not one, but 3 goblins. I quickly retreated and waited for my buddy from work to show up (he just popped on vent and was logging on Darkfall).With both of us we had an easy, but still challenging time taking out the Goblins. We immediately traded in our starting wep (Dagger) for a polearm. This is a must since the daggers range is ridiculous.

We were taking turns making bank runs during our Goblin genocide; during one of my runs to the bank I hear my buddy on vent say and Ork just attacked and killed him. Well, I was almost back, so I sprinted to the location in time to see the Ork execute (a skill called "Gank") my friend.I drew my polearm and charged with a passion I haven't felt since the days of Ultima Online PvP. I was only a few hours old and didn't have much as far as skills, but I held my own and ALMOST killed the, now red after killing my buddy, Ork.

The funny part is another Mahirim sat there and watched the fight without helping either, then after the Ork had his victory, the spectator Mahirim finished the Ork and proceeded to loot all three of us, hehe. To the passive goes the spoils? =P

Anyways, now it's time to find a clan to join and help grow! I'm going to hit up Syncaine's clan since his commentary on PvP falls right in-line with my ideals.

Hope to see you all in the game, and if you haven't bought it yet, what are you waiting for!?

Darkfall Online

I know I said I'm "taking a break", and that is true in the sense I'm not playing WoW anymore, and I only log into EvE to set training, but after reading about Darkfall Online since 2005, and it's now released...

I have read enough to know I am going to spend the next 5 years of my life PK'ing people en'mass in Darkfall! I have yearned for the days of Ultima Online, and it seems current MMOs have nothing but profit margins in mind and aim their titles towards soccer moms and mentally challenged earmuff people.

I respect the limited release, but damn, I wish I could get in there cause I'm one of the people that WILL be staying! I have the game client downloaded, and my CC info saved and ready to purchase as soon as more copies become available.

I'm currently prepping for the game by reading all PvP strats, and any general info I can get on the game; however, I have yet to find a clan to join. I am looking for a clan with Orks and Furries as I plan to be howling at people when I decapitate them. I know it goes without saying, but the clan must be PvP focused (it's Darkfall, durr). If anyone knows any clans looking for a quality old school PvP'er, then please let me know who to contact.

Thanks,
Heineken - UO - Chesapeake 1996-2000

Break Time

I'm taking Trigonometry in college and after my first two test I have an 83.5 in the class. This is unacceptable, so I'm taking a break from gaming until I can bring that back up and hopefully end with an A

I will start gaming / blogging after this class since the classes I have left won't be a problem.

Thank you for understanding!

Keystone / Placebo / Civic

Complaining Gets You Nowhere!!

I'm waiting for family and friends to catch up to me on my gnome mage, but they're taking their time for various reasons. I don't mind the wait since I get to do BGs (30-39), and that's my favorite part of the game.

I've noticed that when the match is going in favor of the Horde, the Alliance tends to start name calling and bitching and moaning about people not knowing what to do. I'm some-what guilty of this behavior in my early days of WoW, but I've matured a little bit since then.

I recently started taking it upon myself to correct people's mistakes with a tone of humility, and surprisingly enough most of the time the person just didn't know that aspect of the game. I believe that more amateur gamers play on the Alliance side, and that is the reason for the Horde winning the majority of BGs.

So, it's not a fact of these people knowing what to do and screwing up, but rather not knowing what to do in the first place. WoW suffers already from lack of accountability, as there's not much you can do for a player being a tard and messing up, or screwing you over. If this can be overcome and we hold each other accountable for our actions (after we've been taught), then improvements will be made.

For this reason, I've also started calling people out, myself included, for making mistakes. These are players that I see all the time and I know they're aware of the correct action for that situation. This also must be done with a sense of humility, otherwise the message is lost and arguments erupt.

My point is, the next time you see someone screwing up in BGs, try explaining to that person where they messed up before calling them names. If they mess up after that, then call them out in a polite manner.

Keep in mind that success must be called out too for the balance to be in place. So while it's good to call out mistakes, it does nothing if you never call people out for success also.

I've been trying these tactics over the past few weeks, and my win percentage has gone up.
Try it, and tell me your results.

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Message to Twinks

I was in WSG on my level 71 druid the other night when it looked like our team was going to get steam rolled, so I stealth past all the Horde holding us at the graveyard. I ended up getting the flag and almost making it back before I died.

I therefore tried again, and this time made it a little further; this try was followed by a third attempt. Each try I announced my location and planned trip to return the flag in hopes I would receive some form of aide. I had even requested someone with more HP to come get the flag and I would heal them.

Well, our team just sat there at the graveyard and ran single-file into their death down below the graveyard cliff.

We obviously ended up losing that battle, but I wouldn't let it keep me down. I joined up again and tried the same tactic from the start. I asked for some help in returning the flag, but the response I got was, "Why are you trying to run the flag with your crappy HP".

I replied with a, "then come get it from me, so that I may heal you along the way back".

Well this sparked an argument between twinks, and the people there just for fun and trying to win the game.

I've played WoW since the day it was release, save my recent absence, and I understand better than anyone the importance of gear in PvP; however, I have also played more MMO's than most and understand basics concepts of PvP and individual skill.

A player with lower-than-normal HP for his battleground might look worthless at first, but if you immediately point that out without even letting this person prove their worth, then you have already seceded defeat before the game has started.

Now, granted this person had no way of knowing my flag running skills, but to just dismiss someone as such is, well, retarded.

I could have gotten into a e-peen contest with this person and cited my 1900+ arena team rating during Season 2, but what would that have done.

So here's my message to twinks...

Instead of filling your head with min / max stats and figures, why not try using some managerial leadership skills and put everyone in the correct seat on the bus. If you have a low HP person, then tell them to just heal, or stay on defense. Make use of them in some way, but don't discredit them for being there and therefore forfeit any help that person may have given the team.

If you want to be a solo-god, then go PUG in Counter-strike, that is no mentality for World of Warcraft Battlegrounds!

*sigh* I wish some of these wow PvP kiddies could have played the harsh days of Siege Perilous on Ultima Online, or even Darktide on Asheron's Call, but I digress... No Risk = Cocky Attitudes.

I come from a humbler time in PvP where you cherished any help you received; people banded together because they knew if they didn't they would be dog food to those that did, and all the gear, items, and gold they were caring were lost!

**Civic staggers away mumbling about walking uphill both ways in the snow**

Back on The Wagon

I know it has been a long time since my last post, so I have some explaining to do =P

Well, it all started during the Christmas break when my nephew came to visit and brought his computer and WoW with him. I don't know what it was about seeing it played again -- I played it 3 years before quitting -- but the nostalgia got to me. I went out and purchased WoTLK.

I had to create a new character since I don't have my old account. (don't ask =P)
I had to try some new name selections, as my old name was taken. I ended up with a gnome mage named Civic (I'm surprised it wasn't taken already).

I decided to actually work my professions this time, and raid more too. I took mining / engineering for the PvP possibilities, and of course the secondary professions Cooking, Fishing, and First Aide. I'm now level 22 and all 5 professions are 100+.

I haven't experienced much of the WoTLK content as I'm still leveling up my new character, but I have to say the added individualism presented through inscription is awesome! I think I spent too long in the 10-19 WSG casting Polymorph: Penguin (minor glyph).

So that is what I've been up to. I still have my EvE account set for training Cruiser V (20 days), but other than skill training, I've been spending most of my game time in WoW.

Well, that's all I've been up to, but I do have a rant about the attitude found in Battlegrounds, but that's to come later. I just wanted to give an update and let all two of my readers know that I'm still alive =P