Wednesday 27 January 2016
Darkest Dungeon....
I've seen this game from time to time on live gaming streams both the Beta version and now on the full release. The style of the game reminds me a lot of other games from other genres that really appeals to me. Simply complex there is a lot on offer in this game and better for me to link a review:
Tuesday 26 January 2016
My Star Trek Online....
The 6th anniversary starts today (26thFeb2016) but as it starts at 10a.m. PST I have some time yet to wait for the first day's freebie.
Over the last few days I did take the opportunity to level my Klingon and Romulan characters.
The special mission for this event requires that you be level 10 or higher to start it so it made sense to level them up.
Over the last few days I did take the opportunity to level my Klingon and Romulan characters.
The special mission for this event requires that you be level 10 or higher to start it so it made sense to level them up.
 |
| Klingon Crew |
 |
| Decisions decisions.... |
 |
| Romulan crew.... I chose Federation. |
My Eve online....
The more time I wait to do up a blog entry on Eve Online the more Eve related links and web content I seem to have to go through. So I'm going to waffle on and rant a bit, may all my spelling mistakes be true.
My gameplay hasn't changed all that much with Eve Online. For the most part I've been doing the "daily grind", which stands apart from the expected norm or at least so most of the internet "says". Or more precisely the perceived expected normal way.
I get what I get from the game and I do it my way. Even when I question what I get from it (in and out of the game) and drift off to spend time on other games.
That daily grind can be whittled down to Planetary interaction, R&D/BPO refinement and copying, skill queue in space and asset micromanagement with some PVE in level 4's.
For a solo carebear in space I get what I get from it. The human interaction regarding fleeting up, getting on comms, doing roaming or even small scale or solo pvp is either too time consuming, isk wasting or more than not both of those things.
I would really love to be able to take on the burner missions in a single frigate fit, but I guess that's against the point of the burner missions. Until there is a middle ground I know I won't be doing them. If they push that AI/mission form onto the greater level 4 PVE I'll be quiting it altogether. Maybe I'll be brave and try to do that worm fit.
I'd like to get into Incursions but I have no contacts to "get me in", from that I've seen and experienced it takes so long to queue in a player made queueing/ web waiting system (*may not be fair) and the community is so elitist they don't take or consider people that even have their starter or "mid" range fits, it's not a practical go to activity. Maybe I should change tactics.
Even moving the other players of Eve to the customer category and if I were to be a station trader there is so much competition. I don't see how the top traders "only" do 30 minutes of game time a day to update orders. I really don't see how that makes them get multiple plex a month. Even with a captive audience in Null my marketing never broke the bank that way.
Maybe I just dont' get Eve Online. Maybe that's why I find so much of it as frustrating as well as enticing (good story). Like stumbling through a thorny rose bush to get to the perfect rose that doesnt' really exist, but still leaving you with all the "cuts" that are considered character building but just as isk poor as you started. It's all about the gamplay and experience..... right........right....
Some players detail how they do active isk generation, but even the advice in both those links is on a grander scale than most players are willing to commit to.
I just don't get how a lot of players online say that they do very little to gain isk but spend so much in their preferred activities like loosing faction ships with expensive modules in pvp.
Maybe I need to throw a monument shooting tantrum for CCP to notice.
CCP needs to notice a lot more from players, we know what we want in the game. CCP hears a lot of shouting form a lot of players but I think they do have selective hearing. I wonder what stats they look at, what advice they take behind closed doors and what reasoning they use to justify their actions.
I've felt the pvp rush and I've been part of big and small fleets but the experience is not one I'm constantly drawn toward. Maybe it's part risk aversion or maybe it's the need to have a lot of isk in a ship/gear to be competitive in the pvp, same thing really in the end.
On a more practical level I am still spending a good bit of time when in Eve on my Gallente themed character. Besides the "normal" stuff I've been mainly running a few missions for SOE loyalty points.
As well as some resource mining/processing, not as an isk generator but for making my own ships and items.
Although that character has no isk to burn I might get to grinding away at some SOE level 4's until I can sell off about 6 Astero frigate bpc's. I might then have enough isk to splurge and test out a T3 cruiser I've never flown before. The Proteus. With a setup something like this:
I also on this character got to really get my hands actively dirty with the new map and probe scanning and I have to say it sucks compared to the old version. The old one may have not looked as nice but at least it worked. This new version and the changes they have made are making scanning a lot harder then us used to be. I used to have no problem finding what I wanted and scanning it down to a precise point. Now the scanning is all u.i. fluff and clutter and no scanned content. Annoying. It is the system in place and I'll have to use it again but I'm not looking forward to it.
The last patch didn't really have much in it. Not like a big themed patch. Quality of life improvements, needed but fly under the radar very easily.
I'm not a fan of the new client launcher but that's mainly because it doent' do anything the current launcher does for me so no need to change it until forced to do so.
I do like that CCP Seagull is doing video's that are explaining at least in an outline manner the roadmap of Eve.
There looks to be an new event for the setup of the first Citadels. I thought that it would have been a more industrial based event but it looks to be a kill npc's and loot the needed materials rather than having an industrial corp get their name on a citadel's dedication plaque due to giving so much trit for it's construction. More details of the event here.
The new crowd sourcing project (Discovery) is now on the test server.
But the biggest news about Eve is the Skill the SP for isk "thing".
When I read the latest dev blog entry I was both concerned that it was going ahead and relieved that there was more detailed information that eased some of my concern. Yet I was really hit by the tone of the actual devblog. I think the best way to describe my interpretation of it's tone would be as "defencive". I go the feeling that CCP were going to go ahead with this idea/implementation regardless of what anyone said in feedback.
I can foresee a lot of hi-end alliances and wealthy entities running the markets on both of those items (extractor/injector).
There has always been a rule of thumb that if you can fly a ship in Eve you need the full set of supporting skills to back it up. A lot of newer players in space flying what they shouldn't be flying yet will be a waste but instead of time it will be at the expense of the players isk or more likely PLEX. A lot of newer players will get these new injections of SP and expect to kick a lot of áss. I just see a lot of (expensive for younger players) shít fit ships are going to be filling up the kill boards both on the pvp side and the pve losses.
I'm sure I'm overreacting and that some new players will use them and a good few vets will top up their alts or mains with sp to great effect.
Time will tell.
I just think it will do more hurt for new player retention. I really think that this form of isk to SP valuation in real terms (real money/plex) will devalue the longer term players in the game. That is something CCP does well on multiple fronts, time has told that much. CCP is looking for quick cashin's and they are going to get it at the expense of squeezing new players for more cash before they leave.
I think that it does change the games dynamic. After it's implemented you will no longer be able to estimate a players SP and combat ability via their creation date.That is neither good nor bad but a side effect.
Less my ranting and opinions, overall I'm still conflicted with this change and only time will truly tell how it all pans out. It is going ahead and nothing can stop it. I'm sure things will be updated/modified/adjusted over time as CCP see's fit.
There is a good article here from Sugar Kyle that is worth a read on the subject and says more in a better way than I could ever waffle about here.
I wonder who will run in the next election.
My gameplay hasn't changed all that much with Eve Online. For the most part I've been doing the "daily grind", which stands apart from the expected norm or at least so most of the internet "says". Or more precisely the perceived expected normal way.
I get what I get from the game and I do it my way. Even when I question what I get from it (in and out of the game) and drift off to spend time on other games.
That daily grind can be whittled down to Planetary interaction, R&D/BPO refinement and copying, skill queue in space and asset micromanagement with some PVE in level 4's.
For a solo carebear in space I get what I get from it. The human interaction regarding fleeting up, getting on comms, doing roaming or even small scale or solo pvp is either too time consuming, isk wasting or more than not both of those things.
I would really love to be able to take on the burner missions in a single frigate fit, but I guess that's against the point of the burner missions. Until there is a middle ground I know I won't be doing them. If they push that AI/mission form onto the greater level 4 PVE I'll be quiting it altogether. Maybe I'll be brave and try to do that worm fit.
I'd like to get into Incursions but I have no contacts to "get me in", from that I've seen and experienced it takes so long to queue in a player made queueing/ web waiting system (*may not be fair) and the community is so elitist they don't take or consider people that even have their starter or "mid" range fits, it's not a practical go to activity. Maybe I should change tactics.
Even moving the other players of Eve to the customer category and if I were to be a station trader there is so much competition. I don't see how the top traders "only" do 30 minutes of game time a day to update orders. I really don't see how that makes them get multiple plex a month. Even with a captive audience in Null my marketing never broke the bank that way.
Maybe I just dont' get Eve Online. Maybe that's why I find so much of it as frustrating as well as enticing (good story). Like stumbling through a thorny rose bush to get to the perfect rose that doesnt' really exist, but still leaving you with all the "cuts" that are considered character building but just as isk poor as you started. It's all about the gamplay and experience..... right........right....
Some players detail how they do active isk generation, but even the advice in both those links is on a grander scale than most players are willing to commit to.
I just don't get how a lot of players online say that they do very little to gain isk but spend so much in their preferred activities like loosing faction ships with expensive modules in pvp.
Maybe I need to throw a monument shooting tantrum for CCP to notice.
CCP needs to notice a lot more from players, we know what we want in the game. CCP hears a lot of shouting form a lot of players but I think they do have selective hearing. I wonder what stats they look at, what advice they take behind closed doors and what reasoning they use to justify their actions.
I've felt the pvp rush and I've been part of big and small fleets but the experience is not one I'm constantly drawn toward. Maybe it's part risk aversion or maybe it's the need to have a lot of isk in a ship/gear to be competitive in the pvp, same thing really in the end.
On a more practical level I am still spending a good bit of time when in Eve on my Gallente themed character. Besides the "normal" stuff I've been mainly running a few missions for SOE loyalty points.
As well as some resource mining/processing, not as an isk generator but for making my own ships and items.
Although that character has no isk to burn I might get to grinding away at some SOE level 4's until I can sell off about 6 Astero frigate bpc's. I might then have enough isk to splurge and test out a T3 cruiser I've never flown before. The Proteus. With a setup something like this:
I also on this character got to really get my hands actively dirty with the new map and probe scanning and I have to say it sucks compared to the old version. The old one may have not looked as nice but at least it worked. This new version and the changes they have made are making scanning a lot harder then us used to be. I used to have no problem finding what I wanted and scanning it down to a precise point. Now the scanning is all u.i. fluff and clutter and no scanned content. Annoying. It is the system in place and I'll have to use it again but I'm not looking forward to it.
The last patch didn't really have much in it. Not like a big themed patch. Quality of life improvements, needed but fly under the radar very easily.
I'm not a fan of the new client launcher but that's mainly because it doent' do anything the current launcher does for me so no need to change it until forced to do so.
I do like that CCP Seagull is doing video's that are explaining at least in an outline manner the roadmap of Eve.
There looks to be an new event for the setup of the first Citadels. I thought that it would have been a more industrial based event but it looks to be a kill npc's and loot the needed materials rather than having an industrial corp get their name on a citadel's dedication plaque due to giving so much trit for it's construction. More details of the event here.
The new crowd sourcing project (Discovery) is now on the test server.
But the biggest news about Eve is the Skill the SP for isk "thing".
When I read the latest dev blog entry I was both concerned that it was going ahead and relieved that there was more detailed information that eased some of my concern. Yet I was really hit by the tone of the actual devblog. I think the best way to describe my interpretation of it's tone would be as "defencive". I go the feeling that CCP were going to go ahead with this idea/implementation regardless of what anyone said in feedback.
I can foresee a lot of hi-end alliances and wealthy entities running the markets on both of those items (extractor/injector).
There has always been a rule of thumb that if you can fly a ship in Eve you need the full set of supporting skills to back it up. A lot of newer players in space flying what they shouldn't be flying yet will be a waste but instead of time it will be at the expense of the players isk or more likely PLEX. A lot of newer players will get these new injections of SP and expect to kick a lot of áss. I just see a lot of (expensive for younger players) shít fit ships are going to be filling up the kill boards both on the pvp side and the pve losses.
I'm sure I'm overreacting and that some new players will use them and a good few vets will top up their alts or mains with sp to great effect.
Time will tell.
I just think it will do more hurt for new player retention. I really think that this form of isk to SP valuation in real terms (real money/plex) will devalue the longer term players in the game. That is something CCP does well on multiple fronts, time has told that much. CCP is looking for quick cashin's and they are going to get it at the expense of squeezing new players for more cash before they leave.
I think that it does change the games dynamic. After it's implemented you will no longer be able to estimate a players SP and combat ability via their creation date.That is neither good nor bad but a side effect.
Less my ranting and opinions, overall I'm still conflicted with this change and only time will truly tell how it all pans out. It is going ahead and nothing can stop it. I'm sure things will be updated/modified/adjusted over time as CCP see's fit.
There is a good article here from Sugar Kyle that is worth a read on the subject and says more in a better way than I could ever waffle about here.
I wonder who will run in the next election.
Sunday 24 January 2016
Fallout 4.... Completed
I'll be talking about my playthrough of Fallout 4 so it WILL be full of spoilers.
You have been warned ;)
I've really really enjoyed my playthrough. The game has concluded well with the way I play.
I played the game mainly in this order: minutemen quests to the castle finish, brotherhood of steel missions until Show No Mercy, I then did the railroad missions which in short combined with the Institute missions, which also gave me an item (holotape) that allowed me to also finished off the brotherhood missions until I was able to free Paladin Danse and get the Brotherhood off his back. Then playing along with the Institute killing off the Brotherhood and then going on with them until the Synth rebellion was ready to move and with that finish it off with the Synth rebellion/railroad ending.
I could stitch 20 or so screenshots of all the missions in the order I did them but that is too long a task for right now but oddly enough there is about 220 mission both main and side quests completed.
With 10D 1H (241 Hours of gameplay!!!) over the last month I'd say I have gotten my money and gameplay value out of the game.
While playing this through the main reason with going along with the Brotherhood was to try and get Paladin Danse safe, either out of the Brotherhood as it were or to have so I didnt' have to kill him. And I was really happy with the way the game allows you to do that before taking down the brotherhood.
I only wish there was a way to avoid killing Scribe Haylen as she was part of the free Danse option.
I got to experience the full list of characters and story lines and one simple save at the end let me experience all the endings. I really enjoyed being able to "play" the factions knowing I was going to "betray" one over another or flip back again just by doing a load from that key saved game spot.
I did take my time to build up the needed likes to get the companions to give me their end perk. All but Strong. Everything I did with that Super Mutant was disliked and from the internet info there are only killing innocents and cannibalism that he does like and those are not part of my gameplay.
I mainly played the minutemen and brotherhood routes as I was busy with all other missions in game where the railroad "freedom trail" seemed like too much hard work when there was sooooo much else in the world to get done. In retrospect I really am glad it worked out that way. It also gave me a lot of time to explore, gain companions and their perks, gear and level my character up.
Overall the factions were very unique. Both in main story lines and with the characters that made them up. Side quests were very faction specific. Yes they did repeat the same side quests in mostly the same locations, but that was all par for the course as once you knew what was needed and where you got to do it in the fastest way possible.
I found the minutemen as a very unobjectionable faction that aims to protect the people and the common good and have a peaceful intent.
The railroad are also unobjectionable as they try to save synth's and integrate themselves into the commonwealth without drawing attention or harming those that already live there.
The Brotherhood is mainly the post war tech enhanced, World war 2 AXIS power of the game. Especially the way they have the young squires.
By the time you meet the Brothehood you have already spent a lot of time with Nick a very very human Synth and so the Brotherhood's anti-Synth mentality doesn't hold ground, at least with me.
The institute is a very isolationist, locked in faction and despite there progressing humanity philosophy they do not consider the commonwealth as "worth saving". Indeed the only thing they want from people on the "surface" is to use them as project guinea pigs.
Early in the game and before I knew what the Institute was I came across 2 men both calling for help saying that the opposite was going to kill the other. When I got close I saw that they were both the same named person. I had heard of synth replacements and obviously here was one "being done". I quicksaved and tried to save the "human". This was tricky as the only difference was that one had a pipe pistol and the other had a shotgun. Thankfully quicksave and luck is a perfect combination. Both the = human and Synth once "saved" went on to do the same thing so there was not telling that way who was who. The only way to know was to loot a synth component. So after I reloaded the save looted the component I knew the other was the "real" human. But it was this experience that with a lot of suspicion as the story line progressed that made me consider the Institute as the real hidden enemy for the commonwealth.
What really sealed the deal in my book was reading this Institute terminal entry.
It wasn't that long before going to the Institute when I had setup that homestead in the world for settlers! Synth replacement in my own back yard. Freaking abduction, interrogation and Synth replacement. That makes the Brotherhood shaking down settlers for food look tame!
My character and the weapons I've collected are really enjoyable. It's a good system where your skill and the items you have combine to do upgrades.
I have to say that if I had gotten to the railroad sooner I would have received the very special "Deliverer" 10mm Pistol, it really is a game changer. Not only for the James Bond look to it. But that weapon is an all range massively multishot VATS killing machine.
I can see how a melee "Skyrim" style combat can be done but that is just not for me in this game.
I went with mainly silenced weapons and upgraded as I went but concluded with these weapons:
The top row is my main go-to weapons and the second row is my random encounter / travelling weapons, as I could afford to spend a lot of their ammo on "non-priority" random targets etc.
I don't remember where I picked up the Explosive Pipe pistol but I have to say that it is a lot of fun. The splash damage from it is great for large groups or doorway choke points.
My main armour for most of the game was a Brotherhood jumpsuit (green) and Polymer Combat armour leadlined/deep pocketed with a Commando Chest piece and helmet. Earlier on in the game I went with the metal parts rather than leather and an Army Helmet and Fatigues.
My Special points were based around lone wandered / pistol weapons then "skills" needed for survivability and upgrading armour/ power suits / weapons.
For trying to pass the chat checks I went first for the Tux, Fashionable glasses and Formal hat. Which looks good but really looked cool with the fully upgraded and silenced 10mm pistol.
But later game I'll I went for the less cool looking but better stats Destroyers helmet and Agatha's dress but keeping the fashionable glasses.
I never really used power frames/armour much at all and they just became a collectibles thing for me. Using the frame on its own was handy for extra carrying capacity. As was the Brotherhood Vertibird taxi service.
Making the settlements and "home" base was also interesting and there is a lot you can do with the building system even if the user interface takes some getting used to.
I left my home base as Sanctuary hills but I did end up kitting out "Homebase" in Diamond City but never really used it.
I can foresee a revisit and a stay at lower levels or perhaps a replay at a harder level from a mid game save in the future.
I'm glad to have seen most of it in this first playthrough and it will be interesting to see what changes in patches and updates to come.
You have been warned ;)
I've really really enjoyed my playthrough. The game has concluded well with the way I play.
I played the game mainly in this order: minutemen quests to the castle finish, brotherhood of steel missions until Show No Mercy, I then did the railroad missions which in short combined with the Institute missions, which also gave me an item (holotape) that allowed me to also finished off the brotherhood missions until I was able to free Paladin Danse and get the Brotherhood off his back. Then playing along with the Institute killing off the Brotherhood and then going on with them until the Synth rebellion was ready to move and with that finish it off with the Synth rebellion/railroad ending.
I could stitch 20 or so screenshots of all the missions in the order I did them but that is too long a task for right now but oddly enough there is about 220 mission both main and side quests completed.
With 10D 1H (241 Hours of gameplay!!!) over the last month I'd say I have gotten my money and gameplay value out of the game.
While playing this through the main reason with going along with the Brotherhood was to try and get Paladin Danse safe, either out of the Brotherhood as it were or to have so I didnt' have to kill him. And I was really happy with the way the game allows you to do that before taking down the brotherhood.
I only wish there was a way to avoid killing Scribe Haylen as she was part of the free Danse option.
I got to experience the full list of characters and story lines and one simple save at the end let me experience all the endings. I really enjoyed being able to "play" the factions knowing I was going to "betray" one over another or flip back again just by doing a load from that key saved game spot.
I did take my time to build up the needed likes to get the companions to give me their end perk. All but Strong. Everything I did with that Super Mutant was disliked and from the internet info there are only killing innocents and cannibalism that he does like and those are not part of my gameplay.
I mainly played the minutemen and brotherhood routes as I was busy with all other missions in game where the railroad "freedom trail" seemed like too much hard work when there was sooooo much else in the world to get done. In retrospect I really am glad it worked out that way. It also gave me a lot of time to explore, gain companions and their perks, gear and level my character up.
Overall the factions were very unique. Both in main story lines and with the characters that made them up. Side quests were very faction specific. Yes they did repeat the same side quests in mostly the same locations, but that was all par for the course as once you knew what was needed and where you got to do it in the fastest way possible.
I found the minutemen as a very unobjectionable faction that aims to protect the people and the common good and have a peaceful intent.
The Brotherhood is mainly the post war tech enhanced, World war 2 AXIS power of the game. Especially the way they have the young squires.
 |
| looks like it should be a WW2 shooter there.... |
Early in the game and before I knew what the Institute was I came across 2 men both calling for help saying that the opposite was going to kill the other. When I got close I saw that they were both the same named person. I had heard of synth replacements and obviously here was one "being done". I quicksaved and tried to save the "human". This was tricky as the only difference was that one had a pipe pistol and the other had a shotgun. Thankfully quicksave and luck is a perfect combination. Both the = human and Synth once "saved" went on to do the same thing so there was not telling that way who was who. The only way to know was to loot a synth component. So after I reloaded the save looted the component I knew the other was the "real" human. But it was this experience that with a lot of suspicion as the story line progressed that made me consider the Institute as the real hidden enemy for the commonwealth.
What really sealed the deal in my book was reading this Institute terminal entry.
My character and the weapons I've collected are really enjoyable. It's a good system where your skill and the items you have combine to do upgrades.
I have to say that if I had gotten to the railroad sooner I would have received the very special "Deliverer" 10mm Pistol, it really is a game changer. Not only for the James Bond look to it. But that weapon is an all range massively multishot VATS killing machine.
I can see how a melee "Skyrim" style combat can be done but that is just not for me in this game.
I went with mainly silenced weapons and upgraded as I went but concluded with these weapons:
I don't remember where I picked up the Explosive Pipe pistol but I have to say that it is a lot of fun. The splash damage from it is great for large groups or doorway choke points.
 |
| Messy |
My main armour for most of the game was a Brotherhood jumpsuit (green) and Polymer Combat armour leadlined/deep pocketed with a Commando Chest piece and helmet. Earlier on in the game I went with the metal parts rather than leather and an Army Helmet and Fatigues.
My Special points were based around lone wandered / pistol weapons then "skills" needed for survivability and upgrading armour/ power suits / weapons.
For trying to pass the chat checks I went first for the Tux, Fashionable glasses and Formal hat. Which looks good but really looked cool with the fully upgraded and silenced 10mm pistol.
I never really used power frames/armour much at all and they just became a collectibles thing for me. Using the frame on its own was handy for extra carrying capacity. As was the Brotherhood Vertibird taxi service.
Making the settlements and "home" base was also interesting and there is a lot you can do with the building system even if the user interface takes some getting used to.
I left my home base as Sanctuary hills but I did end up kitting out "Homebase" in Diamond City but never really used it.
I can foresee a revisit and a stay at lower levels or perhaps a replay at a harder level from a mid game save in the future.
I'm glad to have seen most of it in this first playthrough and it will be interesting to see what changes in patches and updates to come.
Star Citizen Alpha 2.1.1....
The latest patch notes are here. As usual its a large download, I hope they work on a proper patching system as well rather than a redownload of the game each time.
Meaningful Change....
There is a good blog post over on The Grumpy Elf: Why so much change in legion.
The question in that blog post is:
"If change is the #1 reason people quit the game, why is blizzard so intent on pushing more change than we have ever seen before down our throats?".
You could say that that question is valid for all games, especially MMO's.
However with wow I've not seen too much of the coming changes to class's with the new expansion. What I have seen does indicate a lot of radical changes. A lot of abilities being taken away and given to other class specialisations. I guess to make them actually feel specialised.
I have for along time (years) played a hunter as one of my mains. I recall when they took away the snake trap, I felt that they had removed an ability that took away a part of my pvp pleasure. It was always a nice thing to leave for the person who killed you, as it would persist on the field as long as you didn't release to res. But I got over it quickly. On reading the details for my "new" beastmaster spec in the coming expansion I saw that they will be removing all traps. So no more ice trap and no more explosive trap. To be honest yes I did use the ice trap on occasion and the explosive trap at about the same rate but I would rather see an increase in my DPS through the spec I am and getting my pet to do more as I am a "beast master".
So the changes I've seen for my hunter in that spec look to be worth the changes.
I can only hope that the changes for my warlock to make him return back to his demonology spec well worth it and from the sounds of it I think I will. From what I've read they are returning that spec to be all about the demons a warlock can spawn and use for dps. How is that a bad thing. It can only be a bad thing if the dps on a well geared warlock sucks worse than a non level 100 in bad gear like it is now. I really really cry on my warlock with his sucky dps despite being well geared and having played a lock for years. (my newly dinged shadow priest does way more dps than my lock..... what gives!).
Blizz have had a lot of expansions at this stage, this new one better last a long while because I don't think I can take another expansion and it's changes and only last a few month's. For me I want something a lot more long term and meaningful.... maybe wow isn't a long term game, not as I want it to be.
As long as there is no change for the sake of change, changes can be a good thing.
I dont' think that's what Blizz are doing here. Trying to balance the class's is a difficult thing and I think that doing changes isn't going to just take a few tweaks no matter how I want my character to remain similar to the past and "feel" the same.
Making each class specialisation be specialised sounds good in theory. They are putting a lot into the next expansion and having a long "Test" time. All in all I have hope that that long testing period will edit and change the game and form it into the best class balanced game to date. I would be all for change as long as it makes my characters play "feel" a lot better and a lot more meaningful. If blizz fails and it ends up in a crash and burn then players will vote with their feet and leave the new expansion.
Dust 514.... Battlefield Fallout.
I've not had my ps3 connected since doing that bit of DIY a while ago. And to be honest I dont' miss it. One less game to do dailies on. Or at least that's what I had been thinking.
I did connect my 360 and have tried to get a few matches on Battlefield 4 but ended up on my own in a match.... that's not multiplayer. I can only say that new games or games like Fallout 4 are taking up players time.
I even tried battlefield 2 multiplayer. I did get a match from it and it's setting/options and class's brought back a lot of gaming memories (I miss the sniper artillery!). But again in saying that I went into a match and on parachuting in ended up drifting and leaving the game area and died. The next spawn saw me call in the must have sniper ability - Artillery - only to have it register the bush ahead of me as the target instead of the area the enemy was in. With such a FUBAR start to an old favourite I decided to retreat and not play it any more. I should have stuck with the memories. Which brings me back to what my point is... DUST 514 never had a massive drop off in players. I should hook the PS3 up and see what I'm missing it anything. Besides I saw a new video that makes me want to try out some new fits....
I did connect my 360 and have tried to get a few matches on Battlefield 4 but ended up on my own in a match.... that's not multiplayer. I can only say that new games or games like Fallout 4 are taking up players time.
I even tried battlefield 2 multiplayer. I did get a match from it and it's setting/options and class's brought back a lot of gaming memories (I miss the sniper artillery!). But again in saying that I went into a match and on parachuting in ended up drifting and leaving the game area and died. The next spawn saw me call in the must have sniper ability - Artillery - only to have it register the bush ahead of me as the target instead of the area the enemy was in. With such a FUBAR start to an old favourite I decided to retreat and not play it any more. I should have stuck with the memories. Which brings me back to what my point is... DUST 514 never had a massive drop off in players. I should hook the PS3 up and see what I'm missing it anything. Besides I saw a new video that makes me want to try out some new fits....
Star Trek Online.... 6th Anniversary
"We’re kicking off the celebrations early for Star Trek Online’s 6-year Anniversary! It’s been a wonderful year and we’re happy to celebrate alongside you. Every day from Tuesday 1/26 at 10am PST till Monday 2/1 at 10am PST we’ll be giving away new C-Store items for Captains to enjoy. Every 24 hours, we’ll be giving out a different item (or even multiple), so be sure to grab these up!"
New C-Store Items every day..... That can't be a bad thing! I can only hope there is a T6 Ship in there somewhere.
The Omega particle activity/game is making a return. Once you complete the minigame daily the particles you get are used with the R&D system to craft special Omega Upgrade Kits. Full details here.
For the anniversary there is of course a featured episode “Time and Tide” which will after the event time become a permanent part of the Delta mission chain.
Wednesday 20 January 2016
Top game taking up my current gaming time....
No surprise, by far the most time I'm spending gaming is still with Fallout 4.
It and other Bethesda games like it most definitely suck the life out of me. I try to resist but the sirens call of enjoyment through gameplay draws me in.
Despite all the negatives in glitches and "odd" character behaviours, the story and the way the game play's is a winner in my book. This has me more hooked than Skyrim ever had.
If you have yet to be won over or just have not considered the game, I suggest a quick look at this video, if your interested, it shows the start of the game and in doing so what it's potential for you may be like.
In saying that I have gone and bought the pre order for XCOM 2. I hope that I can get all I want done in Fallout 4 before that starts. I feel Fallout is in a good spot, where I can reload and start down any branch of the main storyline. That will save time.
If I'm into both games 100% at the same time I really will be in trouble; Spending all day and night in both games, such is the life of a side quest completionist.
It and other Bethesda games like it most definitely suck the life out of me. I try to resist but the sirens call of enjoyment through gameplay draws me in.
Despite all the negatives in glitches and "odd" character behaviours, the story and the way the game play's is a winner in my book. This has me more hooked than Skyrim ever had.
If you have yet to be won over or just have not considered the game, I suggest a quick look at this video, if your interested, it shows the start of the game and in doing so what it's potential for you may be like.
In saying that I have gone and bought the pre order for XCOM 2. I hope that I can get all I want done in Fallout 4 before that starts. I feel Fallout is in a good spot, where I can reload and start down any branch of the main storyline. That will save time.
If I'm into both games 100% at the same time I really will be in trouble; Spending all day and night in both games, such is the life of a side quest completionist.
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| Another "container" I need to look out for.... |
WoT....
World of Tanks is still a blast, pun intended. Quality game that you can jump in and out of at short notice.
It has enough badges and awards to make it feel like your really getting things done. Even if you enter the game in a light tank, speed drive to the oppositions flag/base and get assploded in a rain of fire.
It is a one death per match game but I like the way that once destroyed you can leave the current game and hop into another of your other tanks for another match. AND you don't get penalised for it. Once the game ends even if your not in it you get the rewards. Which is fun as you can have a few tanks in battle while you wait in another for your next match.
Each day seems to have a 2 times reward per tank for your first win which helps with the need to progress and gain research points to both improve your current tank and unlock the next.
I've been playing it on the Xbox One. Due to some household DIY I only recently re-setup my Xbox 360. I wasn't tempted to try the game on the 360 but once I heard that both xbox consoles shared players and game stats and I wanted to see for myself. True enough when I downloaded the game on the console and started it, it showed the current tanks I was using on the Xbox One. The 360's graphical changes to the garage were obvious even with the same stats and details under the hood. Still very playable I found the main difference was the view distance, which was feeling a lot more limited.
Long story short I'm glad to have it on both but I'll take the better Xbox One version any day.
It has enough badges and awards to make it feel like your really getting things done. Even if you enter the game in a light tank, speed drive to the oppositions flag/base and get assploded in a rain of fire.
It is a one death per match game but I like the way that once destroyed you can leave the current game and hop into another of your other tanks for another match. AND you don't get penalised for it. Once the game ends even if your not in it you get the rewards. Which is fun as you can have a few tanks in battle while you wait in another for your next match.
Each day seems to have a 2 times reward per tank for your first win which helps with the need to progress and gain research points to both improve your current tank and unlock the next.
Long story short I'm glad to have it on both but I'll take the better Xbox One version any day.
My Star Trek Online Update.... rollercoaster edition.
I've been enjoying a lot more Star Trek Online. With the end of the Winter Event I've been removed from the area because it no longer exists. Makes sense. I just wish there was a more prolonged version of a Q land. It was a more compact area that I liked better than the normal mission hubs.
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| Q |
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| Snowman Pet |
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| Snowconian Pet |
The main reason to buy ships was to get more ships to use with the fleet missions. And doing that was "just" another thing to do more for the sake of doing it.
I don't watch much Youtube about STO. The one STO channel I do watch seems to be the best on information/review/commentary is over with Brent Justice.
As I'm running a free to play account my interest was even more peeked with that Youtube channel when he started to run a free to play game play through. It has been my one stop shop for all things STO. Well worth a look.
I was very glad to see that he did a commentary between playthrough's to speak about ships and gearing a free to play character. Very informative.
Part 1:
My character is in a similar position to his character as spoken about in his video . Mine is currently level 60 in end game and with an out levelled ship and gear with which to progress in end game content. Which explains a lot of the ship explosions I'm getting involved in. That's the excuse I'm using now ;-p
So after watching his video I've decided to pool my resources. I don't want to pay/buy Zen with real money. I am already invested in another game that's my RL money sink (Eve Online) and I really do not want to start a second (technically third after WoW as well, albeit a lesser sink).
I already had 100 Zen I think I got free for being a pre purchase STO back in the day. I then changed the rest of the dilithium I had for another 500 Zen. As described in the video the best option for me I think is to either grind dilithium to trade for Zen. I'm not really into the grinding so I'll stick to what I've been doing in daily(ish) officer and fleet missions. Concentrating on maximum dilithium rewards. Not very Starfleet but it is the way the game is.
With that option I can go for a T6 Ship, however that would take too long and consume too much time.
I really really no do not want to grind.
So the other option is to buy the cheaper Tier 5 ship upgrade token to upgrade my current T5 ship. For that to happen I am currently short 100 Zen which is about 15,000 dilithium.
I already have 4500 so with a keeping an eye on daily missions and fleets I should be able to get the remaining 100 Zen in a week or so.
Considering all this I slightly regret buying one ship too many with the dilithium (60,000). But I'm not thinking of it too much. I now have a purpose to work towards and on completion I will have either upgraded the mirror universe ship or my original level 40 (last free) ship.
Meaning I will have the best ship I can have for my current situation.
Sounds good but all that just got shot out of the water....
An updated video is out with updated information. Which co-insides with my checking info online and in game.
Part 2:
The free ships can't be upgraded. And The problem with the mirror ships is that they're locked to Tier 5 and can't be upgraded either. Which totally sucks.
They (the games company) really want you to buy into the game with real money or grind for so long it really isn't worth it time wise imho. The game is entertainment not a job.
It just plain sucks to be this limited as a free to play character. STO is feeling like a lot more of a pay to win game then I thought before.
I've swung from joy about getting my ship upgraded to a low that makes me say I don't want to touch the game again.
Rollercoaster of emotions.
I've missed out on other free ships before but even at that they were T5 of the same level I currently have.
My old plan to get the ship from the next winter event will have to be the next possible ship upgrade. I know it will be a grind but as part of an event it will be a little more worth it in fun gamplay. But that's a looooooong time off.
Maybe they will do something for the games next anniversary coming up soon.
I'll have to ponder on this game a good bit.
I really do not want to have to grind reputation/currency. For me grinding like that in this game would take away the fun factor.
Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..... In the mean time back to what I was doing for entertainment on my main.
Daily officer and fleet missions. Storyline wise I've still got the Delta mission chain to play through. Once that is done I will consider the game "completed".
I do have the Klingon and Romulan alts that could be entertaining for a while but knowing the full limit on the end game levels of the characters I have no motivation to actively play them to reach that point. Maybe if the mood takes me once in a blue moon I may push them in levelling bit I foresee quick short game sessions for the joy of it. Maybe that's for the best.
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