STO....

The details of the summer event ship reward, the Vorgon Dreadnought, look interesting.

5 aft weapons was the first thing that jumped out to me.

The key phrase in the description "balancing somewhere between the massive battle station of the Ryn'kodan and the sleek maneuverable strike ship of the Xyfius. Still robust and utilitarian, the Ytijara is intended to give as good as it gets when properly outfitted".

When properly outfitted eh.......

Hitman....

I got to do the latest (re-released) elusive target, The Chameleon. The first Elusive target I ever tried and failed miserably on wasn't this target after all but The Bookkeeper. He'll get his turn again.

The latest video by MrFreeze2244 was a non-suit only version that I liked a lot.

I did a semi similar run starting in disguise by the garage area and moving on the same(ish) from there.
I was unlucky right at the last second as a dude I knocked out was discovered. But in saying that I just dashed to the exit door as it happened..... Meh. Job done.

A Casual Carebear

That odd coin moment. I couldn't have done that if I'd tried. Random Hitman physics in action.

With that done I unlocked the Tactical Gear outfit with hat. The last suit I needed to complete the full set.

STO....

The ongoing adventures of Star Trek Online, are, ongoing. I've reached a lull in the gameplay of the latest expansion that's not just due to the hot weather. Getting my new Jem'hadar as well as my main through the new content has been good but I don't feel the need to take the rest of the characters through. Not yet anyway. So for now I'm back to Doff and Admiralty mission maintenance.

The holographic trader is great addition as a reward, saves me from getting into space to use the SS Azura. This also cuts down the need to return to Earth Spacedock.

The story-lines are good for the most part. Some jolting intersections in plot are present but can be forgiven overall. STO is it's own quirky self.

Not the end to Tasha Yar I was expecting. I'd go so far as to say it was worse then the original Tasha's end in TNG. Poor mirror Tasha.

The newest episode was interesting if a bit of a plain shooter, it tied up most loose ends, setting up the universe for continuing voyages.

Youtube....

With some spare time on hand I decided to mash up some video's and see what I could put together for a channel trailer....

A Casual Carebear

Games with Gold....

The July list of free games with XBox Gold is out.

I bought Splinter Cell Conviction back when it came out first. It'll be good to get the digital version.
Virtua Fighter may be worth an extended look. I'll claim the rest of the games but they aren't of any real interest to me(yet).

Xbox

Synthetik....

Synthetik is still on sale (35% off) on steam. I feel I've gotten my monies worth out of the game already.

It's got that one more try element to it. Picking up the right random weapon can make enemies melt, add in some enhancements and you start to feel god like. Until the weapon jams, you run out of ammo and have to revert to your starter gun.

It's all quick good fun and a time sink. 5 minutes here and it's 30 minutes later. I'm having a blast, pun intended.

A Casual Carebear

Hitman....

The Chameleon makes a return to the Colorado map this Friday. I recall him being the first elusive target I ever tried, failing miserably.

This time round I'll have to try the MrFreeze2244 Suit Only Silent Assassin. 

My only problem with that method is that I'm constantly spotted. Spotted at the fence gate, spotted by the walking guards, spotted by the basement guard.... Will see what happens this Friday.....

STO....

Lots of new additions to the summer event this year. New ship, new pets, new clothing. It's an event I've always liked so I'm looking forward to it starting on the July 3rd.

Darkest Dungeon....

The endless mode is now taking it's toll on the mercenaries, expendable and forgettable. I have no problem with using them that way. It saves my normal teams from the farm grind. I can definitely live with that.

I've been using a dodge team to run the filler dungeon. They have proved to be untouchable but their powers seem to be waning, maybe that's just the RNG.

Here they are in a Medium Champion (5) dungeon with some diverse battle tactics. Interesting team if I do say so myself.

A Casual Carebear

I finally "fixed" my newer level 2 team, I'll finish levelling them up to 6 in time. 

They are working well together, so far.

Here's a short Cove run with a surprise Collector appearing for them.

A Casual Carebear

BF1....

A Casual Carebear

WoW....

The numbers game....

Till the next stat squish hits....

Darkest Dungeon....

My first run with the dedicated Colour of Madness team (the level 2's) ended with a stalemate on the boss. The miller was down to about 70% health but the team were too busy healing and dealing with the additional mobs to do any meaningful damage. With progress stalled and all of them on deaths door I hit the retreat button. They all got back to the town but were in a bad mess of quirks and more stress than even the madman could handle.

This all left me with a problem, more filler weeks to put in. So that's what I did, basic short dungeons on my level 6's while the level 2's got the R&R treatment in town.

All was well and even another Thing from the Stars or two was done. The last of which gave the Memories of the mill pop-up.

Just as I was getting curious about that I ended a run, got back to town and read the new town event.

Engage awe moment!

Level restrictions no longer apply for the next dungeon run. I could have kissed the screen.

Time for Mr Miller to meet some level 6's!

It's not cheating as much as a random cheesing.... I wasn't looking for this event.
I'll call it good karma. I have no idea how that really can be as the expletives I've been hurling around would make any video I do unwatchable..... But still....

A Casual Carebear

I'm feeling much better after taking a good team in.

Defeating the Miller opens up the rest of the content. I think there is one more boss I've not seen yet.

I'll be doing endless mode, probably with the expendable new mercenary characters.
Lots to potter away with yet.

BF1...

Feeling like I was fully back in the swing of things, med-kit in hand "ah sure I'll try Operations again". I've not played Operations in a long long time(not that I've played it much at all). It's like a giant team death-match. Large scale operations, it's just not my favourite game mode. Mainly because it's filled with large clan groups all mincing the rest of the player-base. If only the mode was based on a version of conquest points rather than "removing tickets".

A Casual Carebear

I'm no longer in the swing of things. Back to regain some semblance of gaming dignity on the conquest maps.

WoW....

WoW is having a free weekend, from now till June 24th.

Logging back in I did exactly what I feared I'd do. Log in and check my characters, shrug my shoulders and wonder what to do....

The effort to bring any of them "up to speed" in an expansion that's on it's way out isn't' worth it. I was tempted to try the Frost Lord summer event or a random dungeon on my main warlock but the overriding 'meh'ness of it all was evident.

If I play at all I might do so with my wife to level with another of her characters.

Project Nova....

The latest Newsletter on the game still leaves me with more questions than answers, but that's no surprise. It's a game that seems to have changed a lot since the demo they did. It'll change a lot after the questionnaire and I'm sure it'll change a lot before it get released.

More info is good but they will never really open up about it. That's my feeling anyway. I'm confident it's in good hands with CCP Rattati.

"  To our veterans, more news will follow, so I urge you to spread the word to your friends and former corporation members. Your journey as the immortal and elite infantry of New Eden will soon continue."

I'm trying not to raise my hopes(too much).

Synthetik....

I'm glad I picked up Synthetik in the Steam sale; Great game at a great price.

The magazine eject, reload and weapon jamming mechanics add a lot to the game's replayability.

B+     I'll take it!

Darkest Dungeon....

I've been having a lot of filler dungeon run's as I wait for my level 1's and 2's to be treated and cured after farm run's.

I was expecting a no hassle quick run..... I should have known better. Not one but two surprise guests!

A Casual Carebear

So it starts....

So it starts....

Darkest Dungeon....

I was glad to see a patch for the latest DLC. One of the fixes, corrected a problem I'd experienced. " Fixed a crash and issues around using the Default Party Order button ".

I was also glad that I'd experienced the glitch in a save I didn't care too much about. For me it made a character disappear and two more be constantly in retreat.... But it was a comic glitch to see as the party transitioned in a dungeon.

A Casual Carebear

With the patch out I decided to load up the main save and choose four characters to "let go".
I wanted to get a Musketeer as one of the new four so had a few too many runs with older characters in older content as I waited for the new recruits to change. Eventually getting a roster I was happy with. Vestal, Musketeer, Occultist and a Leper. (4,3,2,1).

The occultist ended up with a unique quirk.

While I was doing the other dungeons as filler there were some interesting town events.

I've run the new recruits through a normal short dungeon and they'll need another one or two to get to level 2. I'll tweak their skill's/armour/trinkets etc and then take them into the farm for their first real run. I'm not expecting them to fail but I'm not convinced of their abilities at the moment either.

Astroneer....

Astroneer is such a tease! Mention it and all of a sudden a pre-steam sale offer appears.

Free is free....

Free for 24 hours - Swords & Soldiers HD on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/63500/Swords_and_Soldiers_HD/

Mystery code useful again....

Well well well.....

CONCORD SARO SKINS & COMBAT SUITS GIFTED TO MYSTERY CODE HOLDERS!

Astroneer....

Astroneer may be on my Steam 'I'm interested but not sold on just yet' list but the latest news about the game is adding positively to it's appeal.

The more I look into it's past development, plans for the future and just by seeing it's art style in action, the more it grows on me.

I was never into Space Engineers, it seemed too "real", needing proper scientific reasoning. Astroneer as I said is 'cute' and 'fun'. Depends on the mood I suppose.... But I can see myself trying Astroneer. Maybe trying it with friends. Space engineers didn't hook me in that way.

System Era

Kingdoms and Castles....

Grand indeed! Another nice update.

https://steamcommunity.com/games/569480/announcements/detail/3217141083783127796

Darkest Dungeon....

First surprise boss of the new DLC.

Not a hard boss at all, I need to play on my main save..... Time to consider who I should "let go".

A Casual Carebear

My Classic WoW....

With the new Battle for Azeroth expansion close to release I've been trying to keep up with the changes it'll bring. None excite me. None draw me in. None have made me want to log in never mind get the expansion. I'm convinced I'll not be returning to WoW.
I got on facebook etc and asked what guildies were returning to reform the guild. I got nothing but tumbleweed. Those that have stayed in game have all moved on.

My wife has already resub'd and started back at the game. Connecting back with handful of old guildies on another realm
.
So I'm surrounded by WoW in one form or another. The more I hear the more I'm reflecting on previous expansion and reminded of the initial expansion excitement followed by grind and disappointment. I'm also reminded that there will be a WoW classic release(at some stage). Still so many questions to be asked and answered about it. But my nostalgia is driving my hope that it will be the version of WoW I'll be 'happy' in.

The biggest driver in motivation for me to relive the level 60 day's is that as a character the world felt larger, more unknown and my character felt small in it. It was an adventure to quest. Not like today's characters that are god like.

Saying the world felt larger I'm reminded of the long run's up and down Darkshore to do handin's and get the next quests. The roads were busy with people doing the same. Life in action.

There was one flight path not two every 10 steps. Level 40 got the "slow" mount and 60 the "faster" version. Class quests made levelling and gaining items feel like achievements. Class trainers gave immersion. I could drone on.

Anyway it all got me thinking about it and being all nostalgic. There were downsides.
Bag space was stuffed with pets/mounts/materials and more(Keys!)
I decided to pull out the old screenshots, it wasn't all that bad was it?
The laptop I was using back in the day was a low end one, no fancy graphics card etc. So I'm surprised the screenies look halfway decent!

My first character was a druid. Looking back at the screenies I remember a lot of fond memories. It's only made my nostalgia worse. The old mods! The buffs!
The local chat LFG/LFM/LF2MDPS DM. Warlocks selling summons, mages selling portals. Players asking to be decursed, healed and buffed! The world was more alive! Networking was real; The warlock who knew a warlock that had the materials to complete the quest chain for the level 60 mount. It all seems such a a far cry from today's push button/receive bacon.
I sound like a Vanilla WoW leetist.  Maybe I am...
Hour long AV battles of strategy and endurance, a battle of will and meaning. I miss it. I miss it all!

Could Classic WoW alter the community? Divide it?

So many questions.

Blizz has a lot more to do than replicating the game software of the time. They need to bring the experience back to the players that crave this time in history. That's a tall, tall order.