Stellar Dawn

Ren wrote this incredible article about MechScape.

There are a few things that cross my mind from time to time while playing the game. One of which is what would ever happen if the game ended? Would I continue to keep in contact some way or another with my friends in the game? Am I so different from them that if we take away the one common factor we have, is there enough there to continue on that friendship?

I have to admit it, I’m not big into MMORPGs. I tried EverQuest for about a week and hated it. I really have no interest in World of Warcraft. One of the things that drew me to Runescape was it being browser-based. However the more important aspect of it was that it was incredibly less pretentious than the other major MMORPGs. With EQ, I felt like I couldn’t get a handle of it, on top of that I was being killed about every 2 seconds and taunted. I’m sure if you had been playing for years its fine, but starting off, it doesn’t necessarily make you feel welcome.

The more and more I read about MechScape, I find the more it appeals to me. It seems like it is going to be geared towards an older crowd. I’m also more into a sci-fi setting than I am of a more Renaissance era type. As interested in times that pre-date guns, cars, etc which Runescape has gotten me in, the possibility of a futuristic setting is more to my personal liking. However, this brings up a number of issues. The first of which means that I would either try MechScape and not like it, try to do some sort of balance between RS & MS or just stop playing RS entirely. I can never understand how people play 10 different games at once or even have 5 RS accounts. I have enough trouble finding time for my one character on one game.

There will inevitably be a huge flood to MS as it is released, being that a lot of people want to be the first to do certain things. With this, at least everyone is starting out on the same level. This is very appealing to me. This takes out a big chunk of the intimidation factor. Also, one of the reasons I hated doing quests was that there were so many of them. Each needing about 4 other quests as a requirement. Now that I’m done, its not hanging over my head, I have no problem with staying current with them. I know some of my RS friends would probably try it. I’ve already lost a few in game friends to FunOrb and Arcanists. However MS is even more split up with 4 different races. Will inter-race communication be allowed? Who knows.

I also don’t want to think that all the development I put into RS has gone to waste. It’s a game I worked hard at for years, I feel proud of it. Not only of what I’ve accomplished, but how I’ve accomplished it. There’s no release date yet, which makes me think this will be something not happening in 2009, but in 2010. It just feels like there’s this weird impending break-up looming and I’m not sure what to do about it. Until its released I’ll just go about my business.

Still no computer to play from. It’s easier to write a quick blog at work than it is to try and get away with playing. Been sneaking on for about 2 mins each day though to buy staves. For some reason I feel really drawn to Woodcutting. Not exactly why. I find it relaxing, much like Fishing. I’m split between better xp of the SC hatchet and getting bonus Firemaking experience using the adze. Any thoughts on using either?

Also, I figured out the problem with taking screen shots I was having. Look forward to them once I'm back online.

It's official...

Best Buy's 72 hour diagnostic guarantee (which the guy told me takes about 5 days - figure that one out). He figures its a Vista problem, which conveniently isn't covered in the warranty I paid about $300 for, which would take an additional 2-4 weeks.

So 3-5 weeks without a laptop... Do yourself a favor kids, if you bought a laptop with a warranty that includes everything such as spilling coffee on it, cracking the screen, dropping it... Before you take it in to get it fixed, run it over with your car. That will prevent it from being a "software problem."

I feel like I've been sidelined with a torn ACL or something... Do I need to go down to the minors before I start playing the actual game again, just to make sure I still have it?

And Boom Goes the Dynamite...

I got a few levels over the past week or so. 87 Woodcutting being the best of it. I'm closing in on a Hitpoints, Ranged, Firemaking skill as well.

I've been playing a lot of SC. Took a few SC coifs down to Avansies to pick up some noted Addy Bars. I'm failing at Slayer month bad. The more I do it, the more I realize I just don't like combat that much. Without a mini-game or something, just standing there attacking something bores the heck out of me. I know its the only way to really train the skill, but blah, I just think of all the other things I could be doing, which are just as repetative, but that I like more.

Last night it happened. My 9 month old laptop decided to just end it. I tried everything I could to get it going again. It turns on, I open the browser, its ok for about 5 mins, then I get a few error messages and it freezes to the point where even Ctrl Alt Del won't shut it down. At least its still under warranty. I'm going to take it in tomorrow or tonight, but who knows how long it will take. So for now, I'll try to sneak on for about 5 mins to get staves, but that's about it. :(

I might as well take advantage of the finally nice weather anyways... Maybe it was a hint. Either way, I hope to be back skilling soon!

Entering the Modern Era

I completed the Chosen Commander and Glorious Memories to regain my Quest Cape. I'm really not a fan of Dorgesh Kaan. Sure it looks pretty awesome, but I'm terrible with finding my way around it. I did that on Tuesday, Wednesday was the new quest and I made myself remember how much I hate doing quests on the first day they're released. I like the Relekka quests for some reason. I think there's just so many different places to go, all pretty close to each other and easily accessible.

After I was done with those I alched my way to 85 Magic. Which is awesome because I can now teleport block. I don't even pk, I just like having that ability if I ever wanted to use it. Moreso, I'm happy about the Fishing Guild teleport on Lunar.

That level got me some big fireworks as it marked my 1900th level. I've been averaging around 100 levels every 3 months for the past year or so. This one took me a week longer. I know that the next one will absolutely take me longer. If I can get to 2000 in about 5 months, I would be happy with that.

This month's skill is Slayer. I better brush up on my cb skills, I haven't trained any of that in a long time...

3-0!

Its official kids, I'm 3o!

Forced my way to 1897 levels. 6k from Mining, 45k from a Magic and 47k from a Firemaking level. Maybe I can get 1900 in the next 24 hours and have 2 celebrations.

Baseball starts this next weekend and I have to give a shout out to 15 miles away (Gooo villanova!!)

Daily Grind

Real life has been pretty hectic, I haven’t gotten on to play much. Clan trips keep getting cancelled left and right. It kind of makes me wish I had the time I spent prepping for them back.

For the few hours I get to play, I’ve got a pretty decent routine down. Staves, check on tree, check on star and do either if they are close in time. If both are over and hour, I’ll take my Graahk and hunt chins until it runs out. Its really annoying that the familiar stays so close to you when hunting. I just want to check my box, I don’t need to chat with it. Its amazing to me how much the bonuses help in hunting. I take a dip in the mud bath and summon the graahk, using pots when the mud bath wears off. It’s a difference of getting 3 chins out of 4 traps or getting 1 out of 4. One more summoning level til the Arctic Bear familiar which gives a +7. For trees, if it’s a low level, I’ll focus on chopping the tree as much as possible, only chopping the roots when they’re impossible to avoid, saving the kindling for the higher level trees.

The past week I’ve stalled at 1893 levels, however I’m close to about 8 which I’ll see how many I can get this weekend. I think I’ll be able to cross the 1900 barrier.

No team for the Jagex Cup. I think I’ll just use it as motivation and train whatever skill it is solo. I’ve been thinking about signing up for one of those 300+ people clans I see all over the forums recruiting people. I never PvP, but just to say I was part of it and check it out. Its kind of annoying when you’re excited to try something and can’t because you can’t solo it. It reminds me of standing in Varrock going “Need black arm band member!!!!!!” over and over again for hours.

Jagex Cup

Random post - but if anyone needs another for the skilling part of the Jagex Cup, I could definitely use a team. I've got 1893 total with my lowest being 66 Construction. This is as close as begging as I'm going to get.