Showing posts with label Linkfest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Linkfest. Show all posts
This Season's Games
Yes, I'm playing Warcraft again, but that's not what this post is about.
As Autumn started, my sons and daughter stopped playing Warcraft. I let my subscription lapse while I found other things to do. In particular, the family played other games. Between November birthdays and Christmas, we had lots of new games. The spouse and I had a great time buying presents at RIW. The store owner knows us and more importantly, knows the kids we were buying for and made some excellent recommendations.
Here are some winners:
Sushi Go! is an excellent, fun card game that takes little time. It's the family's favorite card game and we'll often grab it to occupy a few minutes, often while waiting for someone to get ready for something else. We've each experimented with different strategies and I've seen different ones succeed.
Roll For It! is another quick fun game, this time using dice. It's easy to think of it as something like Yahtzee. It's fast and simple and we've enjoyed it. The family seems to prefer Sushi Go, but YMMV and when we want a quick game of something that's different, this has our recommendation.
As for the big games, I received Ticket To Ride: Europe. My sneaky Son-In-Law excels at being quiet and getting away with building incredible links without anyone noticing until too late! One difference this version has from other the other Ticket to Ride games is the Train Station. Few of us paid much attention to them, but last minute stations allowed me to surprisingly jump up into second place. That won't happen next time, sigh. My family learns from their mistakes.
A big winner is Tokaido. Some of us had experimented with it at a games convention last year and we bought it for Christmas. We've enjoyed it more than a couple times. It's very different and somehow doesn't bring out the competitive edge. Well, unless you're trying the two person rules. My son and I tried it with different starting characters and enjoyed frustrating the other. It really is a beautiful game and usually relaxing.
One final word about electronic games. We had the usual electronic games, but those are almost always played individually. In the past, we've had super Smash Bros Brawls and that won't stop, but one present this year was the Jackbox Party Pack. This is a new family favorite, especially Drawful. Oh my gosh we can crack each other up! This can be hilarious and lead to more family in-jokes that can cause disruptions days later.
Cheers.
Day One Hundred and Twelve - 18 Oct 2011
Hallow's End and Gearing a Retadin
I logged on with expectations of a quick run of dailies and an Auction House visit, but was surprised to discover Hallow's End had started.
I immediately joined the queue for the Headless Horse, selecting DPS for the first time. I knew I was unlikely to fail. I just needed to do decent damage and not get myself killed. I made certain I knew where my "Oh Shit" Lay on Hands button was.
It was ridiculously easy. I actually topped the DPS Recount! I knew it wasn't about meters, but I took this as validation that I did indeed know something about what I was doing. Since I had a '/target Head of' macro, I was quick enough at switching. Seeing others selecting Need on the loot, I felt no guilt in doing the same. Kallixta won the Seal of the Petrified Pumpkin, perfect for my new spec! Three achievements popped from this encounter:
While quickly running through the Molten Front dailies, another interesting achievement popped:
Gearing
This brings me to the delayed discussion of Kallixta's newest gear set. The first thing I did was review my existing equipment. A few pieces of my Tanking set could be reused. I also found a couple recent Brewfest rewards
However, I could craft Redsteel Shoulders as something different. I also needed to purchase a few more Bold Inferno Rubies, some different enchants, added my recently acquired Lesser inscription of Jagged Stone
The end result is although it's a new Spec, I'm now better geared than I was with either of my other, longer standing Specs! Kallixta will also need to visit the Headless Horseman and get his Horrific Helm!
I logged on with expectations of a quick run of dailies and an Auction House visit, but was surprised to discover Hallow's End had started.
I immediately joined the queue for the Headless Horse, selecting DPS for the first time. I knew I was unlikely to fail. I just needed to do decent damage and not get myself killed. I made certain I knew where my "Oh Shit" Lay on Hands button was.
It was ridiculously easy. I actually topped the DPS Recount! I knew it wasn't about meters, but I took this as validation that I did indeed know something about what I was doing. Since I had a '/target Head of' macro, I was quick enough at switching. Seeing others selecting Need on the loot, I felt no guilt in doing the same. Kallixta won the Seal of the Petrified Pumpkin, perfect for my new spec! Three achievements popped from this encounter:
While quickly running through the Molten Front dailies, another interesting achievement popped:
- Exalted with The Guardians of Hyjal
Gearing
This brings me to the delayed discussion of Kallixta's newest gear set. The first thing I did was review my existing equipment. A few pieces of my Tanking set could be reused. I also found a couple recent Brewfest rewards
- Fireheart Necklace
- Pyrelord Greaves
- Notched Jawbone
- Amani Armguards
- Milthril Stopwatch
- Bubblier Brightbrew Charm
- Redsteel Helm
- Redsteel Breastplate
- Redsteel Legguards
- Bloodthirsty Pyrium Gauntlets
- Bloodthirsty Pyrium Belt
Next, I looked in the Auction House. Although the ring and trinket purchase was modest, I did decide the expensive purple weapon was worthwhile:
That leaves the shoulder quest reward that I can't upgrade!However, I could craft Redsteel Shoulders as something different. I also needed to purchase a few more Bold Inferno Rubies, some different enchants, added my recently acquired Lesser inscription of Jagged Stone
The end result is although it's a new Spec, I'm now better geared than I was with either of my other, longer standing Specs! Kallixta will also need to visit the Headless Horseman and get his Horrific Helm!
20 Days, Day 7 - My Blog's Name
This is my Day 7 post in Spellbound's 20 Days of WoW Blogging Challenge.
When I started this blog, I already had Martuska, a level capped Mage. This blog was dedicated to a new toon, Kallixta. She was the vehicle to allow me to explore things I'd missed when leveling Martuska. There were many corners I just couldn't see Martuska exploring. One of the most obvious was that a Mage was pure DPS while a Paladin allowed me to try both Tank and Healing.
Vidyala's experiment with The Pugging Pally was an inspiration for what I thought this blog might be like. It would be a journal allowing me to record what I did and when. Kallixta's posts continue to record the date and accomplishments, but their style is changing. I've discovered how much I enjoy writing her posts "in charcter", which I picked up from enjoying Ratshag's blog. These posts mean the title "Kallixta's Notes" continues to be relevant.
When I started this blog, I already had Martuska, a level capped Mage. This blog was dedicated to a new toon, Kallixta. She was the vehicle to allow me to explore things I'd missed when leveling Martuska. There were many corners I just couldn't see Martuska exploring. One of the most obvious was that a Mage was pure DPS while a Paladin allowed me to try both Tank and Healing.
Vidyala's experiment with The Pugging Pally was an inspiration for what I thought this blog might be like. It would be a journal allowing me to record what I did and when. Kallixta's posts continue to record the date and accomplishments, but their style is changing. I've discovered how much I enjoy writing her posts "in charcter", which I picked up from enjoying Ratshag's blog. These posts mean the title "Kallixta's Notes" continues to be relevant.
20 Days, Day 2 - Why Blog?
This is my Day 2 post in Spellbound's 20 Days of WoW Blogging challenge.
I orignally started a private blog for Martuska. It allowed me to experiment with blogging software and make private notes. I used it for things for planning equipment improvements for gearing her in preparation for entry Raiding. I also used it for notes on Achievement research and links to useful sites. It started to change into something else after time, especially as the notion of starting Kallixta entered my mind.
The initial form of Kallixta's Notes were inspired by Vidyala's fascinating experiment with Pugging Pally. By this time I had concluded that I wanted to start my experiment before Cataclysm and I needed a character that could tank and heal. That really meant a choice between Paladin and Druid and between Vidyala, Honors Code, Rhidach and Ophelie, they made it seem like an obvious choice. I've picked up more Paladin blogs to follow since, but those were the important ones at the time.
I knew that this time, the blog would be public, but I didn't have a plan for making the blog interesting. It seemed I could keep it as a diary, recording what I managed to do each session. My pattern of play already dictated infrequent play (compared to so many, it seems), so the pattern of Day X - DD/MM/YYYY posts were part of my planning. It was intended to be useful to me, trying to analyze what worked and what didn't.
After several months, a few things changed. Brewfest had me dust off Maruska for some holiday achievement hunting and I had a chance to re-evaluate my purpose. I knew the diary wasn't interesting to others and as Kalli gave me a chance to explore different corners, I now wanted her notes to explore different blogging styles. I made my first BA Shared Topic post and more opinion posts. I still wanted to make my blog something more interesting to others when Ringo Flinthammer inspired me to make an In Character post, which I was very pleased with. Seeing that at least one blog managed to stay in character often has me thinking of doing such more often.
I orignally started a private blog for Martuska. It allowed me to experiment with blogging software and make private notes. I used it for things for planning equipment improvements for gearing her in preparation for entry Raiding. I also used it for notes on Achievement research and links to useful sites. It started to change into something else after time, especially as the notion of starting Kallixta entered my mind.
The initial form of Kallixta's Notes were inspired by Vidyala's fascinating experiment with Pugging Pally. By this time I had concluded that I wanted to start my experiment before Cataclysm and I needed a character that could tank and heal. That really meant a choice between Paladin and Druid and between Vidyala, Honors Code, Rhidach and Ophelie, they made it seem like an obvious choice. I've picked up more Paladin blogs to follow since, but those were the important ones at the time.
I knew that this time, the blog would be public, but I didn't have a plan for making the blog interesting. It seemed I could keep it as a diary, recording what I managed to do each session. My pattern of play already dictated infrequent play (compared to so many, it seems), so the pattern of Day X - DD/MM/YYYY posts were part of my planning. It was intended to be useful to me, trying to analyze what worked and what didn't.
After several months, a few things changed. Brewfest had me dust off Maruska for some holiday achievement hunting and I had a chance to re-evaluate my purpose. I knew the diary wasn't interesting to others and as Kalli gave me a chance to explore different corners, I now wanted her notes to explore different blogging styles. I made my first BA Shared Topic post and more opinion posts. I still wanted to make my blog something more interesting to others when Ringo Flinthammer inspired me to make an In Character post, which I was very pleased with. Seeing that at least one blog managed to stay in character often has me thinking of doing such more often.
20 Days, Day 1 - Introduction to Kalli
20 Days of WoW Blogging Challenge was started by Spellbound and defined in the post http://spellbound.nu/?p=829. Althought I was tempted when Mhorgrim started, it wasn't until a deluge of others did it that I succumbed.
Welcome to Kallixta's Notes. I am Kallixta, which is pronounced "Callista", but you can call me "Kalli".
I am also "Dang Fool", but Dang Fool does things outside of the World of Warcraft. Kalli is focused only on WoW. I'm not hiding the fact that behind this female dwarf is a old male, but it shouldn't be important and I'll rarely bother to mention it again.
Kallixta is as of this date a level 69 Dwarf Protection Paladin. She is my main and the vehicle I want to use to explore Azeroth, especially things I haven't done before. I have a level 85 Gnome Mage, named Martuska, who shows up on occasion, but primarily as my mount and pet collector and Achievement Whore. Aldonza is not an important character, but something between a bank alt and a role-play spear carrier.
Dang Fool turns 50 this year. My first computer games were Pong and Space Invaders. My first role playing games were Dungeons and Dragons and Empire of the Petal Throne back in 1976 or so. Around the same time I was learning to keypunch cards, I discovered ARPANET and have been connecting to friends with it ever since. I still work with computers in my career, but I don't have a Facebook account or Twitter. I am happy to spend more hours camping outdoors than playing on WoW.
I met my wife while playing D&D in college, so I don't need to explain some things to her. She was the one that bought our first Magic: The Gathering decks, which my son and I still play. She encouraged me to try MUDs in the 1990s (typically RP on tinyMud), which gave me great practice at writing. I have actually sold a couple short stories and been published. I've had to declare something like $80 income to the IRS!
My family lived in England for over a year. I work just a few miles north of the Canadian border.
My older son bought the Burning Crusade Collector's Edition and introduced me to the game. He has since moved on to other games and the account is really my daughter's, who continues to play. I played haphazardly for years until May 2010 when Martuska hit 80. Not long after, I decided I wanted to experience WoW as someone that could do more than only DPS, thus Kallixta was born.
Welcome to Kallixta's Notes. I am Kallixta, which is pronounced "Callista", but you can call me "Kalli".
I am also "Dang Fool", but Dang Fool does things outside of the World of Warcraft. Kalli is focused only on WoW. I'm not hiding the fact that behind this female dwarf is a old male, but it shouldn't be important and I'll rarely bother to mention it again.
Kallixta is as of this date a level 69 Dwarf Protection Paladin. She is my main and the vehicle I want to use to explore Azeroth, especially things I haven't done before. I have a level 85 Gnome Mage, named Martuska, who shows up on occasion, but primarily as my mount and pet collector and Achievement Whore. Aldonza is not an important character, but something between a bank alt and a role-play spear carrier.
Dang Fool turns 50 this year. My first computer games were Pong and Space Invaders. My first role playing games were Dungeons and Dragons and Empire of the Petal Throne back in 1976 or so. Around the same time I was learning to keypunch cards, I discovered ARPANET and have been connecting to friends with it ever since. I still work with computers in my career, but I don't have a Facebook account or Twitter. I am happy to spend more hours camping outdoors than playing on WoW.
I met my wife while playing D&D in college, so I don't need to explain some things to her. She was the one that bought our first Magic: The Gathering decks, which my son and I still play. She encouraged me to try MUDs in the 1990s (typically RP on tinyMud), which gave me great practice at writing. I have actually sold a couple short stories and been published. I've had to declare something like $80 income to the IRS!
My family lived in England for over a year. I work just a few miles north of the Canadian border.
My older son bought the Burning Crusade Collector's Edition and introduced me to the game. He has since moved on to other games and the account is really my daughter's, who continues to play. I played haphazardly for years until May 2010 when Martuska hit 80. Not long after, I decided I wanted to experience WoW as someone that could do more than only DPS, thus Kallixta was born.
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