tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3911443490811928042024-02-19T01:33:43.996+00:00Enunciating EndeavoursA collection of my random thoughts largely about WoW, though possibly diverging into other games.Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-66903895894137321862015-04-24T19:32:00.000+01:002015-04-24T19:32:23.073+01:00Tis the Season<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
So as promised this I am going yammer on about seasons in Diablo. I am a
massive fan of the how seasons work. While there has been a few teething
problems especially around length of the season trying to find that sweet spot.
They offer a fresh means of playing through the content available, while
offering enough of incentive to get people interested. After the cut I will
break down where I feel seasons work and also look at implications of seasons
as a style of game content.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
As a person who has two of each hero at max level in Diablo, one of biggest
problems I have is focusing enough on one character to achieve high level
greater rifts or farm Hellfire Amulets/Rings. Inherently I end up with one or
two well geared heroes and the rest in partial states of set completion.
Seasons grant me an opportunity to focus on individual heroes and thus achieve
a lot more with them than I would normally. For example in season 2 I played an
Explosive palm Monk and Rhaekors Barb. Ultimately the season ended a bit too
soon so I was unable to completely finish the builds and get all the gear I
needed.<br />
<br />
But these characters were far more powerful, than the originals deleted to
make them. (<i>When I make a seasonal hero I choose one of my existing heroes
and delete it and then remake it in the season.</i>) In the current season I
have three characters going, a Delseres Frost Orb build Wizard, A Wrath of
Wastes Barb and an Unhallowed Essence Demon hunter. The Demon hunters gear is
lagging I still haven't completed the full 6 piece set bonus. Though this is
more to do with my struggles with the demon hunter class than anything
else. <br />
<br />
I have also unlocked the special banner and portrait for the season as well.
These are very nice additions as rewards they look really cool and it is a
different type of reward to the season only legendaries. Hopefully going
forward into future seasons Blizzard will continue to keep adding cosmetic
rewards to the seasons, some more vanity pets would be really awesome I have
the skeletal dog and he is very cool. It seems likely that the addition of the
wardrobe will open the door to an increase in cosmetic rewards. <br />
<br />
In the long term one of issues that may occur with the seasons is if they
continue to add new legendaries each season. By the time we reach season 12, 13
etc, there is going to be a very large pool of gear available. This is good
having a wide a varied pool of legendaries to choose from leads to good build
diversity, however it also makes it far more difficult to focus on creating a
specific hero with certain gear set. As I mentioned above I came into season
three looking to gear those three characters with those three sets. As such as
for the Wizard especially I managed to get a full Tal Rasha set and Firebirds
before I got my six piece Delseres.<br />
<br />
Which ok that very specific style of creating a character probably runs counter
to the way the Devs want us to play. I always feel they want us to create builds
around the gear we find not aim for specific builds. In the long term I feel
that some tweaking to kadalas gambling will be needed to create a better way of
getting specific pieces of gear. Linked to this as well is the legendary gems,
by the time the season comes round and my stashes are merged I will have
another load of low level gems to bin.<br />
<br />
This coupled with the tedium of having to level multiples of same gems where
many builds require the same gems. (<i>Yes I know I could just move more high
level gems from hero to hero, however this feels just as awkward to me as levelling
duplicates</i>.) The Devs have been talking about this issue in a lot of their
interviews with fan sites. I hope they opt for a Wow style heirloom interface
where I can make multiple copies of a gem I own. Though this could intern
decrease the incentive and need to re-run greater rifts. <br />
<br />
I often wonder if you could take the season system and add it to Wow, not
the entire system but the ability to reroll a character yet keep all your end
game gear. I know a few people who enjoy levelling low level characters
but then stop dead when they get to level cap. With no interest in grinding out
yet more dungeon and raid gear. It would very cool to be able replay low level
content on your main knowing that when you get to level 100. You could reequip
all your old gear, however if the time walker tech works out in patch 6.2 then
that may be a better and easier means to achieving the same goal. <br />
<br />
Overall Seasons have been a fantastic addition to the game. They offer a
solid platform in which new areas, maps and bounties can be tested. While the
limited window of opportunity creates a legitimate reason to pick up the game
and blast through the season for a few weeks, then allowing you to take break
in-between seasons thus helping to prevent burnout. Obviously seasons are not
the definitive solution to end game content for Diablo. While they do offer a
lot of content currently as we go through more and more seasons the incentive
to complete them will only decrease as move closer to perfectly geared
characters. But then that goes for the game as a whole eventually we will
require new games modes or a new expansion to continue the games life span. (I
would love to see the D2 druid added)<br />
<br />
For now though season provide a fun and repeatable means of enjoying the
game content for large amounts of the player base. I would love to see them
build upon this especially adding in some more cosmetic rewards. As well as a
return to the quirky achievements and challenges that we had at launch like
punch Diablo and Pinked. It adds a medal ground between having really easy
season objectives and some of the far harder challenges. But would get us out
in the game doing different things instead of running endless Rifts.<br />
<br />
Ok up next week will be either Raiding or Hearthstone. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><br />
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-56731011603621304992015-04-17T17:46:00.001+01:002015-04-17T17:46:09.488+01:00Account Wide Everything<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
With each passing year the amount of content we have to play through
increases at the same time the number of alts we run also increases. Are having
alts a viable section of available game content? Yet each time we get new
content we have to spend the same amount of time to achieve goals that are main
has already achieved. Ultimately I think this does not add to game play and the
amount of content we have to play through. But in fact detracts from our desire
to replay the content multiple times. But fear not Friends there is a solution
to our woes, and it even exists in the game right now.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
I am a massive fan of account wide features, in part as bit of alt junkie
but also as long time diablo player. It's always nice to obtain items on your
main character that you don't need and simply send them to an alt that does.
One of the biggest barriers to alt content has always been time, while it's
fairly easy to achieve the mandatory gear thresholds and attunement quests on
mains. It becomes a massive time sink and not very fun to have to repeat this
across multiple characters. This harms the game in both the short and long terms,
in the short term it effects participation and queue times. In the long term it
can affect the desire to keep playing.<br />
<br />
Now giving blizzard there credit they have begun to move more stuff to
account wide, in 6.1 we got heirlooms which was fantastic. Previously we have received
achievements, pets and mounts. Also the legendary ring quests have increased
drops on alts when your main has completed it. Which is brilliant, in a similar
way to the cloak in MoP there is no way you would not want to have the ring on
every character possible. As well as unlocking <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/follower=466/garona-halforcen">Garona</a> for all your garrisons.
Yet both quest chains are fairly intensive time wise, I hope that with the
arrival of the next raid tier they increase the number of bosses that drops
Stones and Runes.<br />
<br />
All of the above measures are good; however I don't think that this goes far
enough. The time has come for the floodgates to be opened and for as much as
possible to be made account wide. From Banks and storage to Reputations to
tabards. Maybe even gear from outside of raid content. Fundamentally I don't
think that Wow is ever going to attract a massive intake of NEW players. After
ten years the time has come to focus on quality of life for the existing player
base. By making the content easier to replay multiple times through. (<i>It could
even be as simple as decreasing requirements based on the number of times you
have completed it.</i>)<br />
<br />
A prime example of this was the timeless isle, as a piece of content it offers
both lots of new top end content world bosses and rare hunts as well as a rep
faction to grind. But it also offered people at the bottom end of gear
progression a means of catching up. Or for people with many alts a shortcut to getting
them geared to a reasonable level to run group content. If I have only one character
geared for raids I can only run that raid once a week if a I have 6 geared,
while I may not choose to run it 6 times. I will probably run it more than once
thus adding more bodies into queues and groups finders. <br />
<br />
Now the only major negative of masses of account wide features is the
possibility to trivialize the content. But in my opinion making it easier to
RERUN content multiple times has little impact on its value to a player who
only runs the content once. Or more simply as long as the first time through
the content takes time and is meaningful. It does not matter if the 2nd time it
takes half that long to complete and the third time it takes half again. For
example the WoD quests are fantastic, yet now on my eighth time through I no
longer watch any of the cinematic or even complete the zones. My sole aim is to
complete the levelling experience as fast as possible. In this situation there
would be no issues in having a massive experience buff for alts after you had
completed the quest the first time.<br />
<br />
In many ways as the game continues to move forward and evolve, we have
reached the point where the fact that many features aren't yet account wide is
absurd. For my final example I am going to use the WoD reputation factions. I
have 7 level 100's yet despite this I only have one maxed out faction, because
the rep grind are long laborious and ultimately worthless. The removals of gear
from reputation vendors while a good thing. Has left the Reputation vendors
with very slim pickings that barely justify the time and effort required to get
to exalted on one character let alone multiples. I for one really liked the
championing a faction system from MoP, it was a nice daily bonus and gave you
another reason to run 5man Heroics. WoD could use this, because at the moment
rep grinds are endless and dungeons have no value.<br />
<br />
So coming up next I am going to wax lyrically about Seasons in Diablo, after
that it will probably be a reflective look at hearthstone and how it's so much
better on tablet/phone. The week after that it will be either the state or
raiding, or look at 6.2 and the ramifications if we only have two tiers of
raiding. Though of course the orders could change. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-15546998656186168092015-03-14T01:17:00.001+00:002015-03-14T01:17:06.938+00:00Is there value anymore?So as mentioned last week my choice for this weeks post is, about how with the current industry trends and the increasing popularity of the gaming market. Are we as gamers being ripped off by both the industry as a whole and invdividual companies to better there profit margins and increase there share holder happyness. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
So where to begin, one of my pet peeves at this moment in time is the trend of games that only offer multiplay content, still retailing for the same price as other games offering both multi and single player content. (<i>To define, single player content must be actual new content not merely playing the multiplay with bots, Also the "campaign" has to actually have a meaningful story and take longer than 3 hours.</i>) Its not that i am against selling games with purley multiplayer game modes, for many game this would make a lot of sense. (looking at you COD) However to then retail these games for the same price as other tripleA titles, and attempt to justify, that playing the game with bots is a single player campaign is absurd. The qaulity of your product shouild define its price not what the price of the items next to it are.<br />
<br />
Briefly pausing here the above point applys doubly to the MMO market, so many subscription based MMOs ultimately fail and have to move to a free to play model or a hybrid between the two. the common logic seems to be that as people £8 per month for WoW that they will then pay the same for another MMO. by charging the same money they are saying that there brand new game offers the same level of content and polish as ten years of Wow its absurd. Also if they priced themsleves a bit cheaper they would appeal to more people purely on a monetary basis. Or at least provide a encouragement to try the other product.<br />
<br />
So we reach cash shops and real money transactions, for many people the bane of modern gaming. My personal opinion is that if you want to spend extra money for in game items so be it. I have bought pets and mounts for Wow and a skin for HoTS. (<i>though i bought the skin on half price sale, i feel at the moment skins and heros are just a little to pricy in HoTS</i>) it is your money and if you want to buy six hundred sparkle ponys so be it. However the massive revenues that can be levied by micro transactions, (See EAs yearly financial reports.) has lead to an increase in the sheer ammount of items that can be purchased for real cash. There are many occurances of games being releasde that contain masses of content locked behind pay walls, yet as mentioned before the game still retails at the full price. <br />
<br />
micro transactions can play a important role in enabling a safe system that allows people to spend there money if they choose to without fear of fraud. They should be either mandatory pay walls in content, or games where literally everything in the game can be pruchased for real money. Simply to generate bigger revenues for the company. Far to much content that is locked into micro transactions is overpriced, i problably wouldnt buy a skin for a hero for £7-8 but at £3-4 i may even buy two.<br />
<br />
Finally the straw that broke the camels back. Releasing games wich are broken and barely playable, or that require massive day one patchs just to get the game working. Since when has it become acceptable to release games that appear as if they have been barely tested. For example AC unity outsold Blackflag by a lot, this depsite the fact the game was unplayable at lauch. Yet nothing is changing games companys are pushing ahead with more yealry releases. We the paying public are funding this, Quality brings loyalty and Loyalty should bring Quality.<br />
<br />
The only way these issues will ever change is if we the audience take a astance we need to stop filling corporate pocklets for broken or rip off content. Because everytime we go out and buy, games that havnt been properly tested our paying over the odds for content. We only reinforce that there is a market for poorly constructed low qaulity, over priced produce. Howe many trailers do we see at E3 and other conferences that end up looking nothing like the game on release. The Quickest and simplest way of putting our point across is buy withholding our money, to many companies now a days have forgotten how they got to where they are. We are not bottomless pits of cash, that need to be milked for all we are worth.<br />
<br />
Overall i tried to avoid picking on specific comapnies or games where i could and focus more on industry trends in general. Fundamentaly i feel that we are in a slump in creativity not just in Gaming but also in Movies and Tv to. But if we continue to fund and support this rehashed, repeated, remade, reworked content, it not only encourages companies to not change. But also it makes it more difficult for those companies and individuals that are tryting to create new content to get there work out there and funded. Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-55107901899732956072015-03-01T15:36:00.000+00:002015-03-01T15:37:41.624+00:00So "Patch" 6.1 is here.......<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As
promised last week, this week up I am going to attempt to look at patch 6.1
without being uber negative. Suffice to say there is a fair amount of negative
feedback floating around the net at the moment. In all honesty while some of it
is warranted, 6.1 is not as bad as people make out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
</span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So to
jump in what is 6.1? Well the numbering denotes that this is the first major
patch of the WoD (6.0) era. Unfortunately compared to previous patches in the
prior expansions, 6.1 has no meaningful content. It does provide a lot of
features and quality of life changes, I like pretty much all of the features
except maybe the selfie camera. The heirloom tab is fantastic the mount u get
is rubbish though.... Twitter integration while a bit odd is still useful and
it may get me to post more screenshots so win there. A lot of the Garrison
changes are nice but not spectacular; being able to press one button to create
all work orders is a massive boost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Yet
however I choose to talk up these features, I can't hide the elephant in the
room. The lack of any meaningful end game content, this is not helped when
certain Blizzard CMs happen to tweet about content that didn't make it in. This
only serves to irratate the community more, having a daily quest hub akin to
the isle of thunder would have been fantastic. It could have tied into the Raid
and provided a wealth of story based content. (More on raid tie ins at the end)
But alas no it got it got cut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">More
worryingly here though is that we have heard talk and rumours for a while since
Blizzconn about how there could only be two tiers of raids with this being a
"short" expansion. But if that is so far we have our first tier of
raids, we are still have no idea how Tannan Jungle, Faralon and the Iron Docks
zones/areas will fit into the equation. Or if there will be any room for them
all, if next content is Quest hub >> Raid Tier >> Quest hub can
they all fit into that pattern. Also with the defeat of Backhand, there are
only two warlords left of which one Guldan is hardly a threat, though if I am
being honest Grommash isn't really either. Why are we delaying surely the
next step is Tannan Jungle and the end of Expac. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Now this
next bit will be a bit cynical, so apologies in advance I just can't help
myself. So around Blizzconn we heard about how they had taken on board that we
did not enjoy the massive wait for content at the end of MoP. So they were
increasing teams' size and hiring more artists as art assets were a major hold
up. Here we are 4 months or so into the expansion and we aren't really seeing
the any benefit of this. To me it feels like they are feeding content in drips
and drabs and spreading it out over the span of the expac. For example of the
iron docks quest hub wasn't ready for 6.1, could they not have left 6.1 for a
month of so? To me there isn't any feature in the patch that waiting another
month or so would have mattered. (Obviously I have no idea how much work it would
take to complete the daily hub) If feels odd to release a patch with a major piece
of content being delayed, almost just to hit a regular release cycle for patches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ok so
summing up here and ending on positives because there are some, many somes in
fact. Colour-blind Mode amazing, it's a massive step up from the previous
iteration. As someone who is colour-blind being able to tweak the settings so I
can actually differentiate between different shades of colours is fantastic. It's
a huge win and something more games I wish would offer, though considering the
cost and time to create for a lot of single release triple a title don't have
the lifespan to warrant such efforts. Also the Jukebox is awesome, not just
because of Convert to raids sounders. But there is a lot of Wow music now most
of it awesome, it's nice to be able to pick and choose what we like. Though if I
am being honest I want this for the whole game not just in my garrison. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">One thing
that occurs to me with patch 6.1, Blizz could have solved this entire issue if
they had just chucked Blackrock Foundry in with 6.1 and called it the Blackrock
foundry raid patch. Would we be complaining if this was the case? Well probably
not as much some other end game content would be nice but you can't have your
cake and eat it. Then we could have had a really cool raid patch trailer that
Blizz normally do, I miss those. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So next
week Friday again because for now it works, possible subject matters could be.
As gamers are we being ripped off, the lack of cohesion and continuity in Wods
Story compared to MoP, or something else maybe. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-17953851850182781502015-02-21T02:18:00.000+00:002015-03-01T15:38:00.683+00:00Return #23 and Musings on Crowd Founding<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Return
number twenty three to the world of blogging. Well maybe not that many but it's
been several times that I have stopped writing and left for a extended period
of time only to take up the pen many months later. Though this time it has been
almost a year give or take. But back I am now and fingers crossed keys to blog
should happen every Friday from now on if I can stick to that casual posting
schedule. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A almost
year is a long period of time, probably far too much me to summarize in this
article, so I shall start at the end and lay down where I am at this moment in
time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I am
still playing Wow, I have not un-subbed between now and the last time I was
blogging. Though in an odd way at the moment it doesn't feel like I am playing.
I log in do my Garrison missions across five max level characters and that's it
for the day. Once a week I run LFR for Abbro stones and do garrisons campaigns
on my alts. It's such a hands off style of play that I could easily have
written I am no longer player Wow. Diablo's season two isn't helping though as
at the moment that is taking up a lot of my time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">But the
real kicker here is that without raiding, as many people have spoken and written
about on the net. Currently there is very little to do at the level cap. That
content that we have to do is very small chunks spread quite a way apart. I won't
go into massive detail here as next week I intend to dissect 6.1. But it's odd I
love the garrison feature its cool and I enjoy micro management. However I can't
escape the nagging feeling that it is the major cause of the problem. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I barely
if ever leave my Garrison at lvl 100, for all the wonders and amazing story of
Draenor through the levelling experience. There is so little content for level
100 characters I once capped apexis crystals, then had to blow loads on pets
and gear since then I haven't really bothered to do the dailies. I can get all
the gear I need for now from my Garrison missions, or via content I can queue
for from within my garrison. The Garrison is a means without an end at this
moment in time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">But as I
said I shall expand on these issues next week with 6.1. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Finally
getting round to the other half of my title, Crowd Funding and thrown in here
is probably Free to play games as well. I respect and like crowd funding it's
an awesome means for large numbers of people to positively impact the
community/world. It also creates a system were creators of content etc have to
be far more aware to the opinions of their audience which can only be good in
my book. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">But ultimately
as more and more games and sites etc become free to play or crowd funded, what
happens when the interest and ergo the money dries up. To use the example of
F2P games which normally fund themselves via cash shops and the like. If nobody
buys anything but they all still play what happens to the game or the quality
of the game. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Crowd
funding is so advance that at the moment the legal stuff is still catching up,
in effect when we fund a project by any of the means. We are just handing over
cash to those people with very little in return other than promises. Obviously
we don't just give our backing to people we don't trust. However the large amounts
of money that move around will tempt many more deviant members of society to
try and take advantage or game the system. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Of course
as well there are many good cause yet we only have limited funds with which to
support them. How do we choose between two good causes? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So that
wraps it all up for now, hoping that this isn't a false start to blogging
again........ I shall endeavour to get the next one done for next Friday
possibly at a more sociable hour. :)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-26288108996045314712014-05-01T19:44:00.002+01:002014-05-01T19:44:42.748+01:00Money Money Money its a rich mans game!?!<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Today I
want to babble about cost of gaming, this was brought up by a survey blizzard
sent me about micro transactions. Obviously aside from buying the game and
paying the subscription, all other charges are completely optional. But what is
an acceptable amount to charge people? Should the price of a ten year old
game being going down not up? And is there really an issue with micro
transactions in a subscription based game? After the break I will attempt to
babble coherently on these problems. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> So
to begin with were it all kicked off, the other week I received a survey from
blizzard it was about features of WoD as well as HotS, and what I played/spent
in other games. While I was answering the question I slowly began to realise
that I have never spent any money on micro transactions that could be earned by
playing the game. I have bought many pets and mounts from the store in WoW
though most of them not for myself but rather for Admiring Azeroth. Looking
back as well most were bought when they were on offer. I never bought anything
off of D3's RMAH yet I sold probably close to 150 pounds of stuff and used the
funds to buy other games. On the whole I personally prefer to earn items in
game as opposed to buying them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">However
at the same point I don't have any problems with micro transactions and cash
shops, in fact I would love to see other stuff added as long as it maintains a
reasonable price. For example at the moment the shop bought boost is £40, I can
quite easily say I will never buy one at that price. Yet if the price was say
£10 I would probably buy several over the course of the next few years. My
basis here is that 40 quid is the price of 4months of game time. (<i>Roughly)</i>
In that time I could level like 50 characters to 90, therefore in my own
personal opinion I don't consider it to be value for money. Yet I don't go
spouting bile on the forums about blizzard ripping me off or allowing people to
pay to win. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The issue
is that while Blizzard makes games they are also a business they MUST make
money, shareholders and all that jazz. But increased revenue also leads to
increased content and more games, you only have to look at the Blizzards job
section all the artist and coders they are hiring. That's were our money is
going and in the long run that can only be a good thing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Though I
have to confess I was not all that amused when I saw the pricing of the latest
expansion, I even checked back to see what I paid for MoP. I understand that
they put a lot of work into each new expansion and relatively the price for WoW
is cheap when compared to some other MMOs. At the same point they are new
whereas WoW is Ten years old. In an ideal I would love for the price of WoW to
keep going down including the subscription. Yet this would never happen, even
in months where I don't really play much I still pay my sub. It would take an
astronomical rise in subscription prices to really affect the numbers that we
have playing now. We are the rump that is the left, the fan boys/girls while we
do whinge about the cost and we will continue to do so. We are so unlikely to
ever actually properly un-sub and leave the game. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">But
Blizzard must be careful that they don't make it feel like they are exploiting
our fan status to get more money out of us. We all accept necessary price
rises, be it inflation or extortionate taxes that some countries levy. But take
the wording of the prices raises for account services in pounds the other day.
That was a complete cock up leaving the player base that pays in pounds feeling
more ripped off than normal. (<i>10 dollars does not equate to 10 pounds, it
make no sense that it is cheaper for me to gift a pet to a US player rather
than buying the same pet for myself. but I won't go into details here there are
many interesting posts on the forums that make the point far more succinctly
than I could.)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Money in
games is always a touchy subject, the person that earns a 100k a year (<i>not
me sadly)</i> has far more deposable income to spend if they choose to. Than
someone who earns minimum wage, a large part of my support for cash shops is if
you have the money it is your choice how you spend it. If for example the cash
shop sells a million sparkle ponies a month, then maybe the price of expansions
never has to increase in the future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So this
post didn't turn out quite as I had intended it to, though that may have been
for the better. Next week I intend to bash some head together and insult as
many people as I can with my aggressive defence of LFR as content. Well
hopefully not offend, but I will try and be honest and protect my fellow
LFR-Heroes. Peace out y'all</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-69699438847799081352014-04-22T01:22:00.000+01:002014-04-22T01:23:01.286+01:00Are the Comunity ever happy?Short answer No, slightly longer answer maybe!?! i have been wanting to blog for a wee while now i have a myriad of ideas swirling around my frontal cortex. Yet when i come to sit at the computer to type them it becomes a chore (<i>thanks dyslexia</i>), that and finding the time recently has been a minor issue. But anyways to start with here goes my thoughts on few rather hot topics that have aggravated the community recently.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Well to start with something that up until recently was even beginning to piss me off, though over the last month or so i have begun to mellow out about it. That is the supposed "Delay" with WoD. Its a very intriguing case MoP gave us so much content we panicked and burnt out, and know we ae back to a pre-expansion drought as per normal. I am not going to wade into massive depth here about the ins and outs of why when and should we have a wait for content. Instead there is a couple of things that have change my approach to the whole situation.<br />
<br />
Firstly Blizzard are no longer a single game company, (<i>this point was made in a few fan site interviews</i>) due to the high level of crossover of there players base. They quite simply cannot afford to dump game releases on top of other game news/releases. While it is difficult to quantify how much of a impact say, dropping a new WoW patch when D3 SC2 or Hearthstone gets content would have. There would be some far better to delay news and allow the other games to spread there wings, lest we not forget RoS must be a success as D3 left a bad vibe with the community. Blizzard would never do anything that may compromise a launch of one of there own titles it makes no sense. (<i>other peoples titles however.... they are fair game</i>)<br />
<br />
The other fact that has slowly dawned on me is when do i want WoD to drop? For me personally i don't want to see WoD until Sept at the earliest. If the expansion dropped during the summer, it makes no sense, it is probably the worst time you could release a MMORPG.(<i>in my opinion anyways</i>) Summer sees a traditional drop off in the player base for many obvious reasons, Weather, BBqs, Holidays and Child care due to school closure. Obviously this wouldn't make people not buy the expac or even not play, it would however create increased pressure on our free time and the need to justify that time. Computer games are a hobby (for most of us) and as such the time we spend is our free time. Its far easier to invest 12 hours of play on a cold rainy day in October than it is on bright sunny day in June and not feel like you have wasted that time.<br />
<br />
These two thoughts have aided in tempering my rage at the delay to the point that i may now even consider taking a wee break for month in the summer and will plan my pre-expansion bucket list accordingly to compensate for said break.<br />
<br />
So finally Azeroth choppers........................... me i quite enjoyed it its fun short and i have some interest in bikes etc. However large swathes of the community seem to take real anger at this. Some laughably blaming the show for the expansion "delays" , which to be quite honest is absurd and retarded. Unless i am highly mistaken the entire WoW dev team have not just downed tools on the expansion to make the show.<br />
<br />
Ok so the subject matter is a bit odd but maybe its the first of many web shows, up next WoW cosplay or a day in the life of the dev giving us a sneak peak behinds the scenes. There in is the key problem people have with the show its not the show itself or hell people would be raging on the WoWMovie, but its the subject matter that is aggravating. To put this bluntly if you don't like it you don't have to watch it. More importantly, DON'T MOAN ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME! so many people just constantly bitching about something they will never watch or never intend to watch. I am not a massive fan of cosplay while i appreciate the extreme effort and skills people put in to make there costumes, i would never watch a show about it. Yet i refrain from shoe-horning my dislike of this into every web show, blog post, tweet or conversation i have.<br />
<br />
So to sum up (<i>and try and link the post back to the title) </i>as a community we have a increasing tendency to blow things out of all proportion. Context and hindsight are wonderful things, for example the more eagle eyed of you will have noticed i have avoided the Alpha patch notes and changes to game. This is for two changes firstly its ALPHA, and secondly i agree with all of them (<i>like 99% actually</i>). I am always a large fan of the evolution of the game and changes help prevent staleness and boredom. Also i don't believe that removal of UNNECESSARY buttons does not mean dumbing down of the game. Indeed my hope is we will return to systems were everyone can play a class adequately but skilled players have the opportunity to excel and stand out. As opposed to performance being tied to heavily to gear. (<i>BOO!)</i><br />
<br />
<i>That's all for today folks, up next no eta atm, it will either be a post on Guilds, Attitudes or defending LFR though maybe i will roll all three into a uber post! peace out y'all </i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
recent aggro aobut features<br />
chopper show<br />
delay in wow beta/news<br />
wth wud we want a expac in summerMark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-74254437277184476462013-11-07T17:38:00.002+00:002013-11-07T17:38:45.068+00:00I Love the smell of Speculation in the morning!So with Blizzconn on its way in a matter of days i have decided to postpone my intended post about pets in favour of some speculation. The build up to Blizzconn always feels very Christmas like to me. Not simply because they both occupy the same general region of the year. The whole you want to know what your going to get, yet if you do find out it spoils the surprise. This year Blizzard have done a grand job of keeping everything under wraps. Though to be honest the only game that has been pre announced is the Wow Expac so technically a lot of stuff has been spoiled. But at the same time its worked well. All i know about the game that formerly was Blizzard All Stars is that it has a new name and logo. I am massively excited just to see what they are going to show us. After the cut i will outline my wish list for things i want to see/hope to see. :)<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Ok so still here?<br />
<br />
Then on with the show, Firstly i want well expect really to see a new iteration of the annual pass. In my opinion the annual pass seems like a no brainer its a good way to get people subbing into Wow for twelve months, that covers the pre expansion lull. The only reason for this to not happen is if they are optimistic that they can roll content and games out fast enough to meet demand. Though if anything i would love to see the annual pass expanded to include a option for the free game, so you could pick Legacy of the Void or Reaper of Souls. To be fair that last point is unlikely but i can always hope. Though it would increase the number of people who the pass appeals to maybe.<br />
<br />
Second up we are going to go a bit crazy here, i want to see them announce a legacy/veteran system to reward long term players. Nothing crazy and game changing just something purely visual similar to how both the HoS wings and D3 CE wings work in |Diablo but across all of there games. Or maybe something similar to D3 paragon system whereby your portrait that appears across Bnet changes the longer you have been playing. I like the idea of a veteran system as i feel the longer Wow the biggest challenge it faces is not grabbing new players from the multitude of new games on the market including F2P games. But trying to keep the existing player base still playing, 10 years is a long time for many people to play and there comes a inevitable changes to lifestyle/habit that reduce and eventually prevent people investing the same time they used to. While a veteran system wouldn't solve this issue it would be a nice way to reward people for the time and energy they have invested.<br />
<br />
Thirdly, Betas lot and lots of Betas. i would expect news of beta for Both LoV and RoS for sure i peg RoS for a march release when the AH's shut down so beta know would be right. But also i expect Beta for the Wow epxac. Despite the fact we know very little about the next expac, the nature in which Mop has rolled out with the quickness of patches the more coherent story lines. MoP feels like it was Wow 2.0 changing the way we play the game. Offering more varied option and massive new features. Pet battles, Flexi raids, Scenarios, Proving grounds, Challenge modes, Catch up mechanics and more. I think of MoP as the game getting a massive game play overhaul setting it up for the next expansions. Coupled with the massive size of the Wow Dev team at the moment, as well as there continued drive to decrease release times. I get the feeling that the 5th expansion is nearing completion, and they are going to blow us away at Blizzconn on Friday. As i mentioned above Wow is really the only game being Announced we know what all the others are all ready.<br />
<br />
Finally ..... Heroes of the Storm. I expect a lot form this, it massive development time coupled with all the E-sports people blizzard has hired. As well as the fact that All Stars was playable last Blizzconn, lead me to the point that this one may be a lot closer than we know/think. I agree with the guys at Gamebreaker, i don't think Heroes is just going to be a LoL clone they are going to try and bring something different to the genre. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a Alpha somewhere if you were going to make a New Dota style game it would make sense to invite some of the best players in the world to test it privately before you announce it to the world. As they can provide the best feedback. So maybe news of a Beta here possibly June/July after RoS has possibly released.<br />
<br />
One quick note i do not really know what to expect from Hearthstone at Conn, a release date is probably very likely. But after that i dont know what they can offer other than the live tournament, which will be awesome. I Wonder if they may delve into future development options for the game. I can think of several new game modes that i would love to see in Hearthstone, a speed game with really quick turn timers would be cool. Also i would love to see a LoL style vote option about people conduct after you have played someone, something simple just thumbs up and thumbs down. With people getting increased matchmaking times if they amass massive amount's thumbs down. At the moment i feel its a little to easy to troll people and waste there time. Also it would be nice to be able to reward a player for being a good opponents.Finally a angry emote would be handy because sometimes you just want to vent in a match, normally at myself because i have done something silly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHHNwYrpzfIQquqzPFa4laBOoAaCbjafubpc0nAzc6157zEGgh9j7o68GUR2vbCOQQqSITYKwLiFYt2J7aXQ-7ese6Kx2eQyT5coLHaNkL7eUZw0-fS6pp9gtMYXfiacABSzGT9_6ppQ/s1600/WoWScrnShot_110713_154725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHHNwYrpzfIQquqzPFa4laBOoAaCbjafubpc0nAzc6157zEGgh9j7o68GUR2vbCOQQqSITYKwLiFYt2J7aXQ-7ese6Kx2eQyT5coLHaNkL7eUZw0-fS6pp9gtMYXfiacABSzGT9_6ppQ/s320/WoWScrnShot_110713_154725.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Murky!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So there we go, a few things i want/hope to see this weekend. Obviously i will no very soon if i am right or wrong and i am sure there will be a lot of things that take me by complete surprise. But i will do a follow post on Monday maybe, that will attempt to dissect what we learnt. Though to be honest this may take more than one post. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-30430322984089183482013-10-30T18:14:00.001+00:002013-10-30T18:14:44.460+00:00You mean i have to trade with people............So this post is all D3 stuff if it ain't your thing feel free to skip it. Some random thoughts on the removal of the AH and a slightly more in depth look at Reaper of Souls know that we have some more info. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>So they finally did it, both expected and yet unexpected at the same time. The AH the scourge of of D3 for many many players, is going to be gone both RMAH and the normal gold AH. To be honest this should be to surprising, many of the issues in game have stemmed from the region wide auction house. Why would you bother to farm when you can buy gear? Also there is very little point in resetting all the loot and creating this wealth of new items if i can just pop into the AH and pimp my character out.<br />
<br />
However on the flip side this is a massive announcement, remember that the Auction house was a major game feature for D3 when it launched. I myself have made a large amount on the AH and bought collectors editions with the proceeds. To make a sweeping change like this is pretty much unheard of by Blizzard, they talk about the arena making endgame balance a pain in Wow but imagine if they removed arenas from Wow. It is also a very brave decision as it place the emphasis firmly back on player to player trades. Which in turn opens up the whole can of worms of negotiating, always a opportunity for grief and scams. (<i>on a side note what value will gold have in RoS, if the mystic doesn't cost billions of gold is having a billion gold any good?) </i>Though in the same side i did enjoyed the rune barter system of D2, with a bit of thought to prevent scams trading should be to much of a issue.<br />
<br />
By and large i figure the reasoning behind this switch, is would Reaper of Souls fix D3 if the auction house still existed? Possibly not though we cant be a hundred percent certain here. However if there was no AH would RoS solve many of the issues D3 has? I don't want to say yes to the latter option yet but for sure it would have a massive impact on the long term viability of the game. This is the real issue here even with the AH's D3 was still a fun game when there people playing, however after patches the player base would dwindle as there was limited reason to continue to farm. IF RoS can solve the long term game issues and provide a continued reason to play it will go a massive way towards solving D3's problems. <br />
<br />
So as time approaches and Blizzconn is nearly here, (<i>Virtual ticket for me) </i>there has been more information appearing about RoS. I love the way in which the mystic will deal with transmogg, to basically unlock a catalogue of all the gear you can mogg to is amazing. One of the few issues with with Wows Mogg system is the need to keep the gear and considering space is even more a premium in D3 its a very clever solution. Also it means people who enjoy tinkering with there Moggs/style can flick through them at there hearts content til they find a look they like.<br />
<br />
One thing i like about the crusader is the region of combat a mid range to close combat fighter filling the same role as such that the WD does. It brings a nice balance to the heroes we can play. We now have 2 range 2 melee and 2 middle area (<i>sorry for the awkward descriptions) </i>along with 2 dex 2 int 2 str heroes its a neat little symmetry now if we could get 6 player groups that would be awesome.<br />
<br />
Finally i was intrigued to see that Blizzard had been canvassing for information on reaper of souls pricings. Which is very interesting, obviously they will have to sell the Expac and traditionally most Blizzard has sold expacs for around half the cost of the main game. However RoS is almost D3 2.0 so they may want to make a lot of money here especially with no AH revenue. Though these questionnaires about pricing do show that they are aware many people feel that they are owed for forking out a lot of money on what could be argued was a defective game for a long while. I got my copy through the annual pass so this issue doesn't effect me. I would think that a price of around £15 to £20 would be reasonable and then if they offered all existing accounts a reward package of some free stuff, a xp boost for your crusader to get him to 60 ready for RoS among other things. This may sweeten the deal and keep people happy.<br />
<br />
So that all for today, now i go back to waiting for Blizzconn a new annual pass with RoS beta access and Heroes beta. i really wanna smash things as Zeratul. :D <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-22426069447750970702013-10-27T18:18:00.002+00:002013-10-27T18:18:42.710+00:00Two Wow features i dislike part 1.<div dir="ltr">
I have read a number of blogs recently that deal with new features people would like to see added to wow. These vary from adding addon functionality to account wide storage and other odd and ends. Some of these features i agree with however many are just wishful thinking on the parts of many people. I believe the future of Wow is the adaption of existing game features to streamline the game and make it more user friendly, ie flexi raiding etc.<br />
<br />
Linked to this i am also against adding both new races and even another new class, i dont think the game has room or even space for either of these. Instead i favour continued work on the existing races, new models, Broken Draenei, Dark Iron Dwarves, Mecha-Gnomes and a Cenarius style avatar/shapeshift for druids etc etc. After the break i will attempt to justify why i dislike this feature and how it could be changed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Ok so the feature that i dislike is ............................... Reforging, it has become so mandatory and important that there exist now both addons and websites that show how to gem, enchant and reforge your charecter to the optimum level. While i am not trying to knock the stunning work the creators of these sites/addons do, i my self use them. Because i cant be bothered to sit down and work out the stat percentages and were i can gain the most bang for my buck. To emphasise the point i have got lazy recently i wait till i get 2 or 3 gear upgrades before i commit to a regem/reforge session as its a pin to reforge n regem for one minor upgrade. <br />
<br />
I think the core concept behind reforging is sound, it as very annoying back in the day to acquire new gear upgrades but the find by equipping them you would be so heinously over hit cap you could hit a needle in a haystack. But there was only really two options suck it up or not take the upgrade. There was only so little that could be done by changing gems etc to help balance the numbers. Reforging does solve this problem, so if your like me your are arcane mage and all you get is Crit trinkets. I have the option to get rid of that hideous crit for sweet sweet Mastery. Its not a perfect solution but it does help to alleviate the problem of unwanted loot. <br />
<br />
However it does create a similar issue to what happened when they removed the daily cap, the cap served a very useful purpose it prevented players from gong mad running dailies. While 25 a day is still a massive amount it is far more manageable than 50 or more. However if you allow the players the option to do something they will if they deem it to be a advantage. This is what happened to reforging because you can reforge every item, why would you not reforge them? (<i>i kinda get the feeling the daily cap may return in the next expac)</i><br />
<br />
Fortunately there is a fairly simple solution, limit the slots that you can reforge, to say 4 or maybe 5. This should help create a slightly more meaningful reason to reforge were you access your gear looking for the best pieces to reforge. While i do understand that people will still use sites to do this for them hopefully, after all humanity is lazy we don't bother to create our own methods if we can simply copy what somebody else tells us. However if it gets people to focus on the class stats even a little and removes some of the tedium of reforging then this is a good move in my book. After understanding the way in which a character uses/interacts with stats an go a long way towards helping to improve your performance in whatever role you play.<br />
<br />
The whole area of character customisation and optimisation could be streamlined not just reforging. This has something that has happened recently with the removal of stat sticks (wands, relics and librams) as well the loss of head enchants. I would love to see this taken further create a real reason and lore based idea for item customisation for example. Make reforging about weapons only. after all isn't that what reforging means. Offer a wider range of customisation on the weapon and thus remove weapon enchants. I like the way wrist and leg enchants work at the moment it feels right that a tailor or leather working is able to imbue your items with power. I would love to continue in this vein across all the item slots ensuring there is a varied range of improvements but also they exist for a real reason not just to add gem slots to everything. (<i>I am looking at you dragonsoul gear. my mage had like 90 gems slots all gemmed int what is the point?)</i><br />
<br />
This started out as a article on reforging bat i am ending up with a overview of item optimisation, i wonder if it could all be tied into the professions better as well. For example if you want to reforge your weapon you need a a Blacksmith because that's what they do. Hell you could even bring back the weapon smith perks, after all if you want a cloak you go to a tailor if you want gems you find a Jewelcrafter so if you want your weapon fixed why not find a Blacksmith.<i> </i>It would create a far better us and reason for many of the professions than what currently exists in game.<br />
<br />
Ok so wrapping it up for know, i have a 2nd feature i want to talk about hence the title. But i shall leave that to a later point have some other ideas swirling in my mind at the moment that are slightly more pressing to talk about. :) peace out y'all<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-89632909528869522192013-10-10T18:12:00.000+01:002013-10-10T18:12:05.112+01:00Childe Zulgar to the Timeless Isle came.So been a while since i sat here and wrote anything, life has been busy and my spare times has been most spent playing Wow leaving little to no time to write about playing Wow.So slightly delayed but here are my thoughts on 5.4 and a couple of other observations i made.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>So first and foremost the timeless isle ...... oh WOW!!! For me the timeless isle encompasses all the best parts oft he RPG elements of Wow, exploring its wonders is a lot of fun even after a few weeks i still enjoy just logging in killing some things chasing rare spawns down and joking in general chat. Blizzard have hinted in recent interviews (<a href="http://wow.joystiq.com/2013/10/07/patch-5-4-developer-round-table-information-roundup/">Dev round table</a>) that this will be the future template for end game content going forward. This in my opinion is a good thing, though possibly a little bit more structure and some other quests weeklies/monthlies would be nice, maybe something like the Darkmoon Faire ear quest. Something along the lines of killing 10k mobs over the course of a month on the island. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-ZEv6Rp9a7uAQce-19PNksHzjBSLazTozSY28FQ871G3Wq-7yHNTfUKrXL2OTBaie9cBB0XQunLXDA8OTxU6z5cFTjd5CY-mr42BsPUs63SQbElGM5ugF-fdiN9ka5IojEaCEEQewf0/s1600/WoWScrnShot_091813_235809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-ZEv6Rp9a7uAQce-19PNksHzjBSLazTozSY28FQ871G3Wq-7yHNTfUKrXL2OTBaie9cBB0XQunLXDA8OTxU6z5cFTjd5CY-mr42BsPUs63SQbElGM5ugF-fdiN9ka5IojEaCEEQewf0/s320/WoWScrnShot_091813_235809.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some picks of my shiny shiny</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Though i do have one major gripe, though it isnt related to the island more towards the way the island is dealt with by players. It came after a incident in my guild were a player asked for assistance with the <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/quest=32974">http://www.wowhead.com/quest=32974</a> quest chain. I thought this quest chain was amazing when i got it to make you have to sit and read the quest text and have to engage your brain for a bit. (<i>i also enjoy the timewalker lady who ask you the daily lore question by the graveyard) </i>Instead one of my fellow guildlies responded to this with a complete breakdown of the quest including the CoOrds for tom tom. This made me so mad, to take such a wonderful and interesting element of the game and destroy into a linear go to a, b and c snoozefest. Is absolutely repulsive, shame on anyone out there who did similar.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqf2C3n80Gvfjdpcs0k-CQ1YMIseIKCwn0ssq1TpOWCIn90E65x0s6q8ywWclnxfWTUkvbZcDn4bJTzqZe9PlvOO03o474bSj-aFja83bYbeEn4EfF7-qD3cx4qBWCxgLi7_K7kJ_LQk/s1600/WoWScrnShot_091813_235910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqf2C3n80Gvfjdpcs0k-CQ1YMIseIKCwn0ssq1TpOWCIn90E65x0s6q8ywWclnxfWTUkvbZcDn4bJTzqZe9PlvOO03o474bSj-aFja83bYbeEn4EfF7-qD3cx4qBWCxgLi7_K7kJ_LQk/s320/WoWScrnShot_091813_235910.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jade serpaint cloak always reminds me a bit of tyrael</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This got me to thinking on two things firstly CoOrd addons, while i understand that they play a nice role when it comes to finding bjects in outdated content especially for very obscure achievements such as <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/achievement=2257">http://www.wowhead.com/achievement=2257</a> . But to use it on current content literally about four days after it has released , where is the point in even bothering to play game. You have just turned a large open world MMORPG into a join the dots puzzle that a two year old child could complete. I would like CoOrd addons broken from at the least all current content, and if this is not possible then break them entirely and remove it form the game. You should at least try and complete something on your own before you ask for assistance. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WIBAlRnMxuZrKlK2IhDA90KcXeNZQcIuqotjhRoi0Y1PLSl0d0j6KeMOql0cwrsMceoj-sPZYlYrKGyEYFNTGxtNn1TPzUSq60JN67naASsaXi6wojBwTLJ0f4zjdNO80yMCHQt6DZo/s1600/WoWScrnShot_091813_235906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WIBAlRnMxuZrKlK2IhDA90KcXeNZQcIuqotjhRoi0Y1PLSl0d0j6KeMOql0cwrsMceoj-sPZYlYrKGyEYFNTGxtNn1TPzUSq60JN67naASsaXi6wojBwTLJ0f4zjdNO80yMCHQt6DZo/s320/WoWScrnShot_091813_235906.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I cant decide if this is my fave cloak proc or if i prefer Nizao's</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Secondly i viewed this incident as a microcosm of Wow at this moment in time, player numbers are dropping and despite the efforts of the Devs to fix this. They gave us queued content when we complained about having to sit in trade for days finding groups (LFD, LFR) then when moaned that all we did was sit in queues. So they gave us group content you needed to speak to people to run (HcSCs, Challenge modes, Flexi raids) We bitched about dailies so much they created weeklies and free4all content like the timeless isle. Yet still the game struggles to reach the levels it once was, and in my mind the blame lays squarely on the player base and the way in which we approach the game.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zaMxFKgzPPIPeMdg6vjsZMhrPkgD_RppF4Qt_-wZ9-UGgfQwQFn8U_B_sDNtdr0jX5fnHjZ355Zepb_LmMH2Fc-gihq2NlnT9WTQbhDtrAM5CEGmCq3PvjzVOvnllD3su-VEspYu_9w/s1600/WoWScrnShot_040513_231919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zaMxFKgzPPIPeMdg6vjsZMhrPkgD_RppF4Qt_-wZ9-UGgfQwQFn8U_B_sDNtdr0jX5fnHjZ355Zepb_LmMH2Fc-gihq2NlnT9WTQbhDtrAM5CEGmCq3PvjzVOvnllD3su-VEspYu_9w/s320/WoWScrnShot_040513_231919.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying bear!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The game has become a number cruncher for a large amount of people, its all about Ilvl, Capping x & y or Achievement points. While Blizzard must take some of the blame here as they added all this while knowing it would only boost the epeen culture. Know that they are trying to shift the trend backwards to create less importance on numbers and more on exploration and fun dynamic content. It will be a struggle look at the way we have carved up the Timeless isle the best piece of end game content that the game has ever had outside of raids. People are all ready "done" with it, what they really mean is that they need a new way to add another couple of points to there ilvl. Gear is the only way to incentivize the player base at the moment. <i>(i read a quote from a dev that they could create a system to allow us to run older raid content at appropriate levels with scaling but they need a way of incentivizing that feature so enough people run it to make it worth creating</i>)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudpbLHVnWvduYzEyxaGIT4_ulu8VD3OfYJkPAfK4zx90kw6SWOAJdxw8dcDDLFav7Md6ratGb2u7glrzgDKEnvn4VlVhF1hXqlRHSPiJ9PiPeFkBK4Cpdx8cSnI_HvZ2zJQEuFMLLqAc/s1600/WoWScrnShot_091913_165808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudpbLHVnWvduYzEyxaGIT4_ulu8VD3OfYJkPAfK4zx90kw6SWOAJdxw8dcDDLFav7Md6ratGb2u7glrzgDKEnvn4VlVhF1hXqlRHSPiJ9PiPeFkBK4Cpdx8cSnI_HvZ2zJQEuFMLLqAc/s320/WoWScrnShot_091913_165808.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shadow Pan-da</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Gear is a massive issue in Wow, and one that would prove to be incredibly difficult to solve because for large amounts of the player base gear is the main driving force for them to run content. (<i>i am being a bit of a hypocrite here as i largely played over the summer to craft the legendary cloak, but it is the only legendary i have i feel a bit of a cheat to go back n craft the older ones when i can solo the content)</i> My main feeling is to improve gear you need to make epic gear EPIC again :) something they talk a lot about in D3 with its new loot. I would favour a system were Green gear comes from HC, SC and crafting to enable you to enter Raid content. Then said raid content ie LFR Flex and Norm would offer Blue gear. With Epics coming off of HC Raids and Final bosses of raid tiers, and also World bosses. But i wont go into any details here like many of my blogs this one is growing into a beast.<br />
<br />
On a final note i finally got Hearthstone access last week though as of yet i wont be writing a full blog on this as i feel that until everyone who wants to play the game can it is a tad unfair to divulge so much game information. People should be free to find and explore the fun facets of the game at there own leisure. So i shall throw two quick thoughts about it here. 1. its FUN! and 2. I want a android version.<br />
<br />
Many thanks to anyone who reaches this far in the article the end is nigh you may rest for know :) thanks and peace out y'<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
all.<br />
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-80121971457841822682013-08-25T22:21:00.004+01:002013-08-25T22:21:59.391+01:00A Strange Week!Well its been a crazy week, Announcements Announcements and more so I'm just going to sift through it all today and give some of my perspective on all that gone down in the world of Blizzcraft.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Reaper of Souls!!! Oh hell yes D3 maybe returning to its darker roots, i have played through all the D3 franchise and one of the largest changes has been the move form a Horror game with limited sight to a larger open worldish game. I remember crawling though the Catacombs in D1 literally afraid of what was around the next corner as i could only see 2 yards infront of my face. But i could still hear those weird demon cat things crawling around. Also the <strike>Paladin</strike> sorry i mean Crusader looks awesome, while i do find the Barbarian a cool class to play it just doesn't replace the Paladin or Warrior from previous Diablo games. From what i have seen from gamesconn so far and the interviews with the makers, Reaper of Souls should go a long way to addressing some of the fundamental issues with Diablo. If i read things correctly several of the new features will be available around November time in a pre expac patch similar to how Wow does things. (<i>i may ramble some more in D3 if i have the times some time soon</i>)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxFzFiAotToAbAD1msNMG23-B_cZAA6R2ugm0ylu2U4QK0hXZmirAUOyZz8fSSqyhZeJCAeQgR3jz0Qm_8DdOPXx13kX21jyFu_4VwkJ1RK6WSb_Kx_fGlvvlVP4AdKDoHfFImtmwJBU/s1600/WoWScrnShot_081513_000713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxFzFiAotToAbAD1msNMG23-B_cZAA6R2ugm0ylu2U4QK0hXZmirAUOyZz8fSSqyhZeJCAeQgR3jz0Qm_8DdOPXx13kX21jyFu_4VwkJ1RK6WSb_Kx_fGlvvlVP4AdKDoHfFImtmwJBU/s320/WoWScrnShot_081513_000713.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Secondly some mixed news this week Hearthstone Beta is here ish.......................... well for those lucky enough to have a invite and to live in America. This has lead to some interesting fallout on the web with some very pissed off people. It seems as always Blizzard has underestimated just how many people are eagerly awaiting the beta. So people have been getting a bit shirty with the fact that it "appears" mainly to be people from Fansites etc who have keys. Someone made a awesome counter argument to this last week, if most of the people you follow on twitter/the web are fansites then of course it will seem that only they have Beta access, after all it is there job to " promote" and review and this is what they are doing. However i would argue that nowadays there are very few proper reviews, most just stick to showering a game with 5/5 and 10 stars, until the game collapses under the weight of all those glowing reviews. Or it resembles a pile of fanboy dribble that is not even worth the time to read, see any Consol review for those though it is beginning to slip into PC games as well. Though i do have some concerns the level of information that is available is a little disheartening, the net is full of 'look at me stream x vs y' or 'X deck is OP vs Y deck'. Or worse guide on how to play, and how to compile decks. It is all information that i want to learn for myself while playing, not have broken down into step by step idiots guides. Complexity is nice in games and its fun to be able to solve problem, even if you fail twenty times its rewarding when you eventually find a solution.<i>(Streaming game content is something that divides my opinion, I'm not sure if i enjoy all the streams if im being 100% honest)</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3i9NUlo8rL1TLp0aiV2XjCj2db4IvPL1kC7yd0wuEv376_0BHVI7O5h7g4t9CUIgfysOV6GcDgjUC43-fsgoJlsy12gkHGgX3zNBYO_lO63zW5mpIWo-1fxeV37xJ9KCJPIttYKNjlE/s1600/WoWScrnShot_081513_000721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3i9NUlo8rL1TLp0aiV2XjCj2db4IvPL1kC7yd0wuEv376_0BHVI7O5h7g4t9CUIgfysOV6GcDgjUC43-fsgoJlsy12gkHGgX3zNBYO_lO63zW5mpIWo-1fxeV37xJ9KCJPIttYKNjlE/s320/WoWScrnShot_081513_000721.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Ok sometimes i read things that just make me laugh, i will roughly quote what i read this week to do with the Impending Item Squish. The crux of the point is when are items get squished older content becomes harder as we are less powerful. I laughed so hard i swear i ruptured my spleen at this. Its a opinion that surfaces from time to time now. Its like people have failed to grasp the core concept, its not just your items that will get squished. Its literally every number in game HP, Mana, AP, Boss HP etc etc Its not surprising that Blizz have been cautious when it comes to item squishing, its this feeling we will be less powerful. It the same as whether you have 5 new levels per new expac or 10, it doesn't matter its all the same. For example A boss has 100000HP and you hit it for 1000HP per attack is the same as a boss having 100HP and you hitting it for 1HP per attack. The numbers don't matter..................... if anything having smaller numbers should make it slightly easier for More people to theorycraft and work out Plateaus for stats etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqBAB5kOn9agT739hUjhG5De_3ONzE6sq413tLqLq0hLOE9uw-NQ-HSuNE6pK47Apl-p3-C9uJUq-YC6cTyLaMrpvsESPiva53akiu0uEUL6dVfNSncY2NLFQb7a628bL6gY11oVFaCk/s1600/WoWScrnShot_081513_012245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqBAB5kOn9agT739hUjhG5De_3ONzE6sq413tLqLq0hLOE9uw-NQ-HSuNE6pK47Apl-p3-C9uJUq-YC6cTyLaMrpvsESPiva53akiu0uEUL6dVfNSncY2NLFQb7a628bL6gY11oVFaCk/s320/WoWScrnShot_081513_012245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Moving on Tom Chilton dropped some news on F2P Wow this week and stirred the mire a wee bit. So here's my ten pence worth on F2P Wow, of course it WILL happen. One day the player base will dwindle to a level were there is no longer a point in releasing loads of content all the time in many patch's, therefore there Will be less people working on the game and less hardware in the background ie servers. Simply there wont be a need for a subscription as the game wont have the same production/running cost it does now. In relation to this if we look at the other F2P MMORPG's, it seem that most of them sit around the 1-2 million player base or smaller mark. (Roughly) Currently Wow has 7 million, say for example it loses 500k players a year. At that rate it would take 8 years for Wow to diminish to a level that would allow for F2P, of course if it was losing 1mill a year it would be 4 years. Either way it is still a significant amount of time remembering that each expac/patch also steadies the numbers for a while upon release.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUvIxnuDsW_KtlYW0dmiuSRL0bk0THDRCa8RoMNP6TMSoCmhpXnsjmVSLX0iake47zB1eZPCPw48MPKYl2yoAEGVjMN-QDj-On96szMxoVRqdS75hyHxVZUQKPnELyrz2dVkBuT0Cqvs/s1600/WoWScrnShot_081913_165241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUvIxnuDsW_KtlYW0dmiuSRL0bk0THDRCa8RoMNP6TMSoCmhpXnsjmVSLX0iake47zB1eZPCPw48MPKYl2yoAEGVjMN-QDj-On96szMxoVRqdS75hyHxVZUQKPnELyrz2dVkBuT0Cqvs/s320/WoWScrnShot_081913_165241.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">600ilvls and it looks cool Win win</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally the 5.4 trailer.............................. wow that was sick! Blizzard have a habit of impressing with there trailers and Vids the recent Shahao Vids were awesome as well and don't get me started on the Reaper of Souls cinematic. <i>(i am filled with a lot hope for the wow movie, if its as good as the SC2/D3 cinematics it will look awesome</i>) However sadly my Joy at seeing Taran Zhu die was rather short lived. Don't get me wrong i do not hate him , i like the Shado-Pan after they are just NINJAS!! However they fall into the terrible cliched pit of Neutral Factions/Characters, ie Kirin Tor, Argent Crusade and the Guardians of Hyal. Its this high and mighty all fighting is wrong dont kill that horde that begins to nark me, it turns what would be interesting factions into boring repetitions of themselves. Neutral factions have to exist for gameplay. However to make it work they need a realistic angle ie Wrathion or the Klaxxi. We all new from questing with the Klaxxi one day we would be wiping them out, hey they even showed us were they store there elite warriors and told us they serve the old golds. But hell at the time we needed there help to remove the Empress and stop the Swarm, it worked we used them they used us. It makes sense in a similar way that Wrathion does. He plays each faction off against each other, supposedly helping save Azeroth yet when we stole the Heart of the Lei Shen. He Ate it. IE he did what Lei did when he stole Ra Dens power. I work for Wrathion he pays me well (600 ilvl Cloaks!!) but i cant shake the feeling one day i shall have to drive a spear through his skull.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvxYEf5adgSM72Mbn0IrdkWA9CYVx2VxbApYAndAaRjaMqV5V0R27aLPFq2LS_SVM8ADSNmMQrZoo0U9TOJdCmDwRa3N-jIUYt9YJ8NMu2ftFqfw19WEM2xTYluAoRnuFHOjhiP3QIpU/s1600/WoWScrnShot_081913_165246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvxYEf5adgSM72Mbn0IrdkWA9CYVx2VxbApYAndAaRjaMqV5V0R27aLPFq2LS_SVM8ADSNmMQrZoo0U9TOJdCmDwRa3N-jIUYt9YJ8NMu2ftFqfw19WEM2xTYluAoRnuFHOjhiP3QIpU/s320/WoWScrnShot_081913_165246.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Bit or ramble today been a while since i wrote anything, I have a interesting theory on old Wrathion which i may share next time out, if i remember or if nothing else springs up that distracts me from it. I plan many blogs but write few they get replaced by new ideas before i have even drafted the first idea. :) peace out y'all.Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-15459468467691687222013-08-09T13:17:00.000+01:002013-08-09T13:17:01.431+01:00Are we really a Alliance?World of warcraft is a game about two factions being at war with each other. Er....... except it isn't there is only really one faction and that is the horde the Alliance lore and story is a mess to be quite honest with you. I will try not to make this a rambling rant about alliance lore, instead my aim is to be constructive. Pointing out were and how Alliance lore could be better.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>So to begin with i want to briefly touch touch upon points made by the writers at WowInsider in there Know your lore columns a few weeks/months ago. Firstly the Alliance story is mainly reactive as opposed to proactive. Most of the Alliance story over the last expansion or even two has been i response to actions that he horde have made. This has been especially true of MoP, only really at the beginning of the expansion with the incursions into Pandaria did we see real Alliance action. By know we are reduced to a process of cleaning up the horde's mess, ie the divine bell, taking Lei shens Power. (<i>this last one intrigues me as it stand the most powerful mage in Azeroth has the Thunder Kings power in her staff! maybe she will use it position Dalaran somewhere new?</i>) While it is good and it shows prudence and wisdom to sometimes allow the enemy to strike first. It also makes for poor game play if we spend the entire expansion cleaning up the hordes mess.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi18yIvw9HgDYgIixBrblUB9zNTkgt8IqvNHj0HRJbxp6wBMMkt9-zHKWo78-v2NAxdQURZkNyZkyf9oydStEs-ZQ8JXKz4xpzYeX4mSyOshJlE83hTxob0wQeHZj0-uBToJYTZ_SKamY/s1600/WoWScrnShot_080813_222803.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi18yIvw9HgDYgIixBrblUB9zNTkgt8IqvNHj0HRJbxp6wBMMkt9-zHKWo78-v2NAxdQURZkNyZkyf9oydStEs-ZQ8JXKz4xpzYeX4mSyOshJlE83hTxob0wQeHZj0-uBToJYTZ_SKamY/s320/WoWScrnShot_080813_222803.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For example the siege of Orgrimmar, would it not make more sense for the Alliance to leave Garrosh and Vol'jin to duke it out. While we focus on strengthening key Alliance areas, for example Ashenvale, Arathi Highlands and Also creating a new Port/City Hub in Kalimdorto replace Theramore. While i understand that we have to be there from a game play point of view as otherwise there would be no End raid for Alliance Players. To be honest the Ultimate outcome of the SoO is that the Alliance should occupy Org, it makes no sense for the Alliance to hand it back to Vol'jin. The Enemy of my Enemy is my friend................... Until we go to War. Therein lies a large part of the issue there is no way that SoO can have a good and fist punching ending for the Alliance. Quite simply because it is the major horde capitol city, it would impact on the game far to much to have it captured by the Alliance. But Not capturing the city is just massively stupid for the Alliance, therefore rendering any Alliance actions as irrelevant.<br />
<br />
We arrive now at one of the Biggest issues with the Alliance lore, that ties in with the title. The Alliance is divided far to many of our Races have issues. Yet these issues seem have very little resolvent in game. While i must admit that the Blood in the Snow scenario seems to have settled the Drawves for the time being. The Gnomes are still city less as are the Worgen, who seem to be in the odd situation of all there people live in Darnassus but there King reside in Stormwind. The Dranei are horribly underused, for a race that is ancient with massive knowledge of battle and the light you would assume to see them everywhere aiding and training the Alliance forces. The Night Elves despite having a host of the greatest heroes/leaders around. Malfurion, Tyrande, Jarod Shadowsong and Cenarius himself. They do very Little just allowing the Horde to mow its way through Ashenvale. Finally we reach the Humans, were Varian has gone form a blood crazed psycho to balanced leader in the blink of the eye and on top of this he also has the Support of Jaina and the Might of Dalaran at his disposal. (<i>I like varian a lot i would like to see him evolve into a Anduin Lothar for the Alliance Uniting its people and leading it to Victory on the Battlefield.)</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaVnY-FGtpy0v7UDaTdYCog2I1NNT7mloOfX1trHI7FHwPttTMJKbGDYDGfduKpMKrzZxden0OvCt1AM06LqZiK8pjVW0CUHpl7rHNA6DHnmZuD4iDYsoRH5Xza7FYPKeeri98rcbXrM/s1600/WoWScrnShot_080813_231439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaVnY-FGtpy0v7UDaTdYCog2I1NNT7mloOfX1trHI7FHwPttTMJKbGDYDGfduKpMKrzZxden0OvCt1AM06LqZiK8pjVW0CUHpl7rHNA6DHnmZuD4iDYsoRH5Xza7FYPKeeri98rcbXrM/s320/WoWScrnShot_080813_231439.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I want to focus on two Alliance characters for a second, Malf and Varian. They are both very cool and powerful character's, i played as Malf through WC3 and its expac. yet sadly for most Alliance players the largest part of there stories play out in the Novels. I enjoy the the novels that Blizzard writes, indeed if you are Alliance you should read Stormrage, Wolfheart and the Tides of War. They will fill in huge gaps in the Alliance story, like why Malf is back and why Genn is in Sw all friendly with Varian and also why Varian is a more Balanced character. Most importantly they also explain far more clearly the true events of Theramore, and who the Alliance lost. My point here is Malf and Varian are massive characters for the Alliance, they cant just spring into the game (<i>Malf appearing in Cata</i>) or Suddenly change (<i>varian in MoP</i>) in the blink of an eye. It cheapens them as characters, especially when compared to Garrosh, a character you met in TBC then played alongside while he learnt war in Wotlk. While playing thoruhg the game you learn about Garrosh in way you never can unless to read the novels for Malf and Varian. Novels need to supplement in game lore not play out game changing situations out of sight of the majority of the player base. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SEGcIIwHPjC9PSjnUksQl8Xnk3xvS9JHAHCGZvE4WPzgEs4mcOv8IFqfMQbM_2LyYyRazry39_9eiqRMCo-5ekl3mFrTUeKpUZKqbJ7NeNe39hlRzN2orlJbDHuProvDvuV5LZLFqR8/s1600/WoWScrnShot_080813_223609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SEGcIIwHPjC9PSjnUksQl8Xnk3xvS9JHAHCGZvE4WPzgEs4mcOv8IFqfMQbM_2LyYyRazry39_9eiqRMCo-5ekl3mFrTUeKpUZKqbJ7NeNe39hlRzN2orlJbDHuProvDvuV5LZLFqR8/s320/WoWScrnShot_080813_223609.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So enough of me pontificating about whats wrong with the Alliance, though i could continue for quite a while. One of the biggest issues of is the lack of action that we see from our Leaders. For example the Horde are tearing down the forest of Ashenvale, yet the Arch druid is doing nothing about it. I would love to see them phase in a load of battles for key Zones, in a similar way to how the barrens works with the Lvl 90 content phased on top of the existing Zone. You could in a main city ans suddenly a Alliance herald appears calling your side to battle you zone into Ashenvale, or Westfall, Arathi any Zone that needs aid. You find a faction Leader (<i>one that makes sense to be there ofc</i>) then you proceed to back up your boss as he pushed back the Horde forces. It can be Npc toons and you just help in the slaughter, upon completion say 15-20 Min's all lowbies in that zone get a buff something Like 'Valor of the Alliance' granting them increased xp for a bit or something along those lines. You could even add daily/weekly quests to encourage 90's to go help. This i think would help solve the issue of faction leaders doing nothing, yet would not effect the game play. Its just some world phased content. It is also dynamic you could tie it into the Guild challenge system, as a guild help your faction reclaim Ashenvale earn gold for your Gbank. <br />
<br />
The other action that could be taken is for Blizzard to use the scenarios, to play out events from the novels in game so people can see what is happening. You cant go back and un-write the novels but u can at least help to bring them into the game more. For example a CoT Sc about Stormrage you could have to defend Malf from Fandrals minions and the Nightmare while he wakes and heals himself. I'm not talking anything complex here just simply quick lore heavy scenarios that help bridsge the gap, and inform the player base. In my mind this is what Sc's really are for progressing lore content, and allowing individual players to get up close and personal with it. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-bxhUgT3tu9G0GxhTR8pd0ArvC8SzzgIBkBmvBbzfDRBluQDaBgab1wuug13JU0n030ZjV7_EJ5Mrabxn3K0kVFPTuDIX76tvWS78ftBVA0S0E9zO9PLhbqKEq-tccV-ZS_XD4ogEvI/s1600/WoWScrnShot_080813_223144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-bxhUgT3tu9G0GxhTR8pd0ArvC8SzzgIBkBmvBbzfDRBluQDaBgab1wuug13JU0n030ZjV7_EJ5Mrabxn3K0kVFPTuDIX76tvWS78ftBVA0S0E9zO9PLhbqKEq-tccV-ZS_XD4ogEvI/s320/WoWScrnShot_080813_223144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally i just want to clarify my though on SoO, i am not saying it is going to be a poor raid. I am sure it will be as much if not more fun than all the other raids. What i mean is it cannot and will not ever be a success moment for the Alliance, no matter how the Devs word it or people argue. To sieges your Enemies city and throw him down, but then to leave and not take his city makes no sense on any level. There is no way around it they only way for the SoO to be a success is if we sack Org, and bring Garrosh back in chains to SW. however it is impossible to have a major faction city as just a smoking whole in the ground, no matter how much it <u><b>should</b></u> happen. Ultimately game play has to take precedent over lore, there is no other way.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ok so I'm going to wrap this up now it has grown somewhat larger than i had intended at the outset. But it is very east to get carried away when it comes to talking about in game Lore. <br />
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-83871768985145886192013-07-31T22:24:00.002+01:002013-07-31T22:24:46.435+01:00A Strange lethargyThis was meant to be a post about Levelling that i promised last time out however, that is turning into a bit of brute and will require a large section of my weekend to finish. Instead I'm going a Little off topic here. Over the last month or so i have seen a odd change in the way i play Wow, Join me after the break as i go through it all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>So for a while now i have been playing a lot of other games, in the last week or two i have played. In no particular order, Borderlands2, Call of Juarez the Gunslinger, EvE (<i>14 day trial</i>), Dota2, Civ 5, Football Manager 2013, LoL and Stronghold. The thing that struck me as odd though is the fact that i haven't had massive amounts of free time recently, with work and summer and a lot of reading to do. It dawned on me a couple of days ago that largely i have been playing all these games when i would normally play Wow. I still am playing Wow but not a massive amount.<br />
<br />
Its odd its not that i have a major desire to stop playing Wow, i did my week "cold turkey" when my psu blew up. I use the addiction metaphor very aptly in this case as Wow may as well be a drug, it is very impressive at being able to Lure you in and suddenly a 15min session becomes 2 hrs. The whole package is meant to keep you hooked from making alts to the Damn achievements. I'm not hating on Wow here just to be clear. Its that i find it interesting that after spending a week without playing, i would have assumed that i would be playing like mad to catch up. Instead its like other stuff has raised its hand to fill the void and now Wow has to compete for my affections all over again.<br />
<br />
This leads me to my next point point, i have been quite vocal on here about how much i support the idea of giving us more content faster. However it is also possibly having a adverse effect on how i play the game. For Example at the moment i am not Raiding other than some fun runs in ToT norm on a Saturday. The only section of the game that is majorly important for me at this moment is finishing off collecting my <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=94594">http://www.wowhead.com/item=94594</a> so that i can be ready for 5.4 to drop. And knab my legendary cloak nice and quick. Likewise i am still 2 pets short of the 30 lvl 25's i need to enter the tournament. Aside from this there is nothing pressing that i want/need to complete.<br />
<br />
This is the subtle irony of having more content and more specifically having the catch up mechanics. In 5.4 you can get BoA gear of a 490ish Ilvl from the new island, on top of this you will also be able to collect all parts of the legendary from ToT (<i>This i find odd as it means there is no reason to run the first tier of lfr after 5.4</i>) There in is the crux of the matter previously in older patch's i would be spending the time gearing up my alts maxing reputations, and also capping VP or JP so i coud splurge out on gear when the patch dropped. To put this into perspective my main has all the reputation factions of MoP maxed out, the only one of my toons that has maxxed a MoP rep is my Pala and he has two. Because there is no point there is always a new means of gearing or catching up being added, why bother grinding GL rep in the vale when i can send that toon gear that is better my main is farming on the Celestial isle next patch.<br />
<br />
Its very odd at the moment and leaves me feeling quite conflicted about the game. I agree with the new Legendary system, giving one to anyone prepared to spend the time all expansion working through content. However i cant understand the need to speed up the drop rates etc for items for parts of the Quest chain. I know the <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=94594">http://www.wowhead.com/item=94594</a> are a bitch to get, but if you speed the process up there is no achievement if say you go into ToT and you get all 12 in one week. (<i>hypothetical situation there) </i>The catch up mechanics while nice also seem to render parts of the content obsolete to Quickly in my opinion.<br />
<br />
I read a while ago a post in the forums where the writer was asking for Lfr to be delayed by a whole patch so that people were running Lfr for Msv, HoF and ToeS when ToT was released or when 5.1 was launched. While this may be a bit extreme especially with the legitimate place that Lfr has in gearing now, though with Flex raiding maybe this could happen. I like the idea of delaying a feature so people clearing Normal/Heroic mode are not met with people wearing the same game in trade withing a few weeks. I think that all catch mechanics should be delayed by a patch, or should be added in the Non raid patches. It would ensure that older content stays fresher for longer as there is no real way to bypass it immediately. <br />
<br />
Finally a quick word on Virtual realms, i see there is a lot of Questions flying around as to when, how and what virtual realms will be like. But the way i looked at the feature i felt that it was basically a server merge, you would log in on 5.4 and your server would be merged with a suitable other low pop realm. There would be more people more stuff on the AH and better faction balance. There wouldnt be a choosing of sorts there is no electing to go on a virtual server you just are on it. For example of the virtual servers were simply you Battlegroup. You would log in there and everyone in your BG would be on your server etc. Also it amuses me when people ask if they will join PvP with only other PvP severs etc. Of course they will it would be completely stupid and a sure fire way to wind the community up if they didn't.<br />
<br />
Well there we go a slightly longer blog than intended buy meh meh :P <br />
<br />
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-15175401766841786482013-07-25T23:14:00.006+01:002013-07-25T23:14:59.928+01:00Three items i want in the cash store, and three i dont.So over the last couple of weeks i have Read a few interesting articles on what people would like to see in the cash shop. So i felt that it was time to chip in my twopence worth. I am going to approach this slightly differently from other articles as you may have guess from the title I'm going to do 3 things i want and 3 i don't. Join me after the cut for my ideas/opinions.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>So to start with i will chose one item that i don't want to see in the Wow Cash shop, this one is very straightforward. Its Gear,by which i mean anyhting armour or weapons with stats etc. Not cosmetic/vanity. I could write a lot about this bout it is fairly self explanatory. Wow is a gear orientated game and by taking away the need to grind for gear. You will in fact remove the purpose and point of the game, RPG's are about character progression after all.<br />
<br />
This leads me to my First feature i want to see in the cash shop, Vanity gear like the previous item fairly straight forward. While there are some risks involved if say for example all the coolest new gear is in the cash shop not the game. Generally i have no issues with being able to buy Cosmetic gear, in fact most of the other F2P games have cosmetic items in there cash shops. <i>(from what i can tell that is pretty much all u can buy in dota 2)</i><br />
<br />
OK onto my second feature i don't want to see in the cash shop this one is a wee bit more controversial as i have read a few post and blogs were people were in favour of being able to purchase these items. This is Game Features, by which i mean extra bank space, character slots, etc. My problem here is that these features should be part of the base game not something that we need to buy for real money. It would be like if you were questing through elwynn forest and you reached a area you couldn't enter unless you make a one off payment of real money. All in all it is just plain wrong, i understand that for a lot of people want more toon slots because they have filled theirs. But Seriously if u can really justify having 11 toons on a server and you manage to play 1 hour a day on each, that's 77 hours a week or 7 hours a character. Its not really possible to play that many toons "properly". (<i>Tbh if this is the case you may have larger issues than not enough character slots, like not enough sunlight :P)</i><br />
<br />
<i> </i>Ok next feature i want to see in the shop, is Vanity items that change your appearance not mog gear but items similar to <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=46781">http://www.wowhead.com/item=46781</a> . Or items that work in a similar fashion to the wands and masks we have for the Halloween world event. I would love items that would enable me to make my toon look like a faction leader or other important characters from the game. (<i>cough Illidan Cough cough :) )</i> Also this could be expanded to other Blizz games, maybe i cud strut around Stormwind as Tyrael. Or those really cool Queen of blades wings you get for the SC2 Collectors edition in D3 id love a pair of them in Wow.<br />
<br />
My final item i don't want to see is a bit of a curve ball, Mounts back in the day before account-wide mounts happened. Buying a mount for £20 was a good investment it was account-wide and scaled with your riding skill. A absolute bargain back then, now however can you justify the price tag for a mount that is hardly different from the rest at all. While i don't think it is really likely that they will remove the mounts, being more reasonable i think they need to at least half them in price. To make them more reasonable.<br />
<br />
Finally the last feature that i would add to Wow's cash shop is........................................................................................................................................<br />
<br />
Buying pre-levelled toons or paying to have your toon bumped to max level. A bit controversial i know but something that has bothered me for a long time is how worthless Levelling really is.(<i>i have a blog in the works going into this in more detail so i will be brief here.) </i> I have 4 toons i want to level but i cant/don't and this is largely due to two major reasons i have levelled 6 toons to 90 so far and im tired of repeating the same quests. Also and more importantly all of the real game content is at the max level, you only have to look at all the new stuff that gets added to the game its for lvl 90s not level 10s. I feel that levelling no longer serves the same purpose it used to in game, and this purpose is only ever going to get smaller as the level cap is raised again and again. I would compromise on this feature and take something like the scroll of Resurrection where you only get bumped to 85 or to word it better you still need to do the current expac content.<br />
<br />
Now that final feature coupled with the ability to scale your toons back to lower levels (<i>i want this feature a lot) , </i>would allow me to go back and play around with older content at my own leisure and not get bogged down levelling toon number 8 through Hellfire Peninsula getting stomped on by <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/npc=18733">http://www.wowhead.com/npc=18733</a> . So there we go some ideas on the cash store sum straightforward some quirky and some that probably will never happen but we can all dream. Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-71056449018016271422013-07-21T05:07:00.000+01:002013-07-21T05:07:38.816+01:00Cash Shop ControversySo Blizzard really know how to cause a major S*** storm online don't they. I often wonder if they do it on purpose to wind up all the trolls and wingers on the forums. Not only have we seen Some data mining hinting at a cash shop but we have now had a full blown statement and items that may be sold previewed to us. Its difficult to judge at the moment whether the cash shop is going down well or not. I briefly checked out the forums and as expected it all post like 'OMG adding cash shop to a Subscription game WTF' or 'i hate you Blizz im Quiting' or more of the same crap you normally get. (<i>i feel sorry for the CMs dealing with some of the stuff, if i was a CM hint hint Blizz there would be a lot of banned accounts and i mean a LOT!</i>) I am in favour of a Cash shop though to be 100% honest i probably wouldn't use it, i like wasting hours of my life grinding for items. Hell i played Diablo 2 my character's were wiped several times and i kept grinding for that damn Crown of Ages! After the break i will break this all down for you, including a odd prophecy i made a while ago that may be true.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Ok this first thing i want to clear up is the continual winging about play to win etc etc. As the recently announced VANITY items have highlighted just how unlikely it is Blizzard add Weapons or Armour to the Store. (<i>Except Vanity items ofc</i>) It makes so little sense when you consider how very slowly and carefully they have been introducing micro transactions to the game, it was years ago we got that much hated sparkle pony. I remember the Outcry people on my server were going mental in trade and on forums. A few Months later no one cared any more, and slowly but surely more and more items have been added. This move has been on the cards for years, largely because a working cash shop on top of subscription would be a huge cash boost. irregardless of the moral standpoint/issues that may arise. While ultimately Wow is still going strong to lose 4 million active subscribers, and the increasing strength of Free to play games. Has meant that the in game cash shop is probably the first stage to towards a future free to play model.(<i>When i say future i mean like way in the future)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Also as a minor point when every nearly every other MMO has a Cash shop, it is hardly surprising that Blizz are making one. Its what they do they steal other companies ideas of major game features and then implement them in there own game better than the originals. So that we the user has no real reason to leave Wow for pastures new. <br />
<br />
This next paragraph was going to be about how just because we have data mined items and the shop atm doesn't mean its coming right now. However i have had to retcon this as the Items are now live. While i wont buy any of them myself (<i>i will post about what i would and wouldn't buy soon</i>) i think they may be just a tad to expensive. I don't think any item should cost as much or more than a months game time unless its awesomely useful. Like the mounts used to be before the advent of cross server mounts. I think if anything here Blizzard have maybe jumped the gun a little bit with these items. But maybe its a devious plan so when they announce the next items that are half the price we all go 'OH wow must buy' or something like that. <br />
<br />
On to my two pieces of prophecy, a age ago i wrote a blog post discussing implications for the in game browser and a topic i touched on at the time was the ability to access Account functions including the store in game. Well Bingo the store is coming in game, and I'm my opinion this is a good thing. I like having everything i one place, i am a huge fan of the new Battlenet Launcher. Just need to get my grubby hands on its shiny shiny beta. I bugs the hell out of me that i have to alt tab and log out and in, to access different games/account functions. It is just plain stupid and time consuming. I have logged into the game/launcher i want access to all my account settings and games from one place.<br />
<br />
My second attempt at being Nostradamus, came a few week/months ago when it was announced that Wow tcg's new deck would have no new loot. But would instead feature a bonus chance at all existing loot from previous decks. At the time i said to my Gfriend that i thought this was because Blizz were going to start making/selling there own Tcg loot. Though i did say that this would be via Hearthstone, which does not appear to be the case. I have always found it odd that you can get such awesome stuff from the Tcg loot cards, while i know that they must pay licensing fee etc. I have always felt that Blizz have missed a trick here, if they sold the Tcg Loot in there store they could make a killing. For example <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=49284">http://www.wowhead.com/item=49284</a> is currently for around $500 and upwards, and people pay that (<i>i dont know why, but it is there life and there choice</i>) . Say Blizz sold this in store for $10 or something around that amount, it would only take 1 million to people to buy it and BAM $10 million. I think that they could not only charge more for it, but also there would be a lot more than just 1 million people who would buy it.<br />
<br />
I find the fuss created by the store quite surreal at times it amuses me to read other peoples blogs both in defence of and against it. Largely because in my mind having a in game cash shop doesn't bother me in the slightest because there are very few items i would ever buy. For example i have made a lot money on the D3 RMAH yet i have spent a grand total of £0 on buying in game items. In Dota 2 i got a treasure chest i need to buy a key for £1.25 to open, have i opened the chest............. hell no. Ultimately spending money comes down to your own personal preferences, there are a large number of people who will spend a substantial amount of money on micro-transactions. Its a Cash Cow and while Blizzard continue to produce better content and a more complete gaming experience, as well as churning out content faster than ever. If they choose to milk it (<i>sorry for the farming puns</i>) you cant blame them, while the game remains hugely profitable for there company we will still get huge amounts of content and regular Expansions. In my books that's a win, nothing in life after all is really free. Money is the driving force behind pretty much everything. <br />
<br />
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-43552202736149419582013-06-20T22:52:00.001+01:002013-06-20T22:52:52.309+01:00Well it isnt the pony i was promised.........................So this week has been a odd one my triumphant return to blogging and Wow. <i>i jest</i> As always when you return to the game it see fit to reward you with shines to keep you hooked. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
So on my weekly trawl through <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/zone=3457">Karazahn</a> going after pets and finishing my Violet Eye rep grind. I always kill <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/npc=16152">Attumen</a> more out of hope than anything else, well this week lady luck was smiling on me! At least the <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=30480">Fiery Warhorse</a> and a the feat of strength to boot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXu1UZqLDpJ4sAhOCKRwaOedcNrYc7ww2VJMliYrFG7-GRtKhadCb7Xj5mxlWBI3aqLWdV2H2Zami-5UFysd69-yJL7X6tB3Ew-gYMLtrUyfW7N18AEsfeWm40LA068e8kQPEVQiq5us8/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061813_001718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXu1UZqLDpJ4sAhOCKRwaOedcNrYc7ww2VJMliYrFG7-GRtKhadCb7Xj5mxlWBI3aqLWdV2H2Zami-5UFysd69-yJL7X6tB3Ew-gYMLtrUyfW7N18AEsfeWm40LA068e8kQPEVQiq5us8/s200/WoWScrnShot_061813_001718.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpBPfvV74lD4a3mhRGcJVot7pf4__IMwP3kwHPLOB_3BYdwEeKFI_Vi-fEtpo3os2hjhjer1_m-MjCzMoVYRsN-ibMCr2OCxYVyBPzPBrRzrViTo2yGkYgaYCeImdcOYSX8cbWfjkRkY/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061813_001715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpBPfvV74lD4a3mhRGcJVot7pf4__IMwP3kwHPLOB_3BYdwEeKFI_Vi-fEtpo3os2hjhjer1_m-MjCzMoVYRsN-ibMCr2OCxYVyBPzPBrRzrViTo2yGkYgaYCeImdcOYSX8cbWfjkRkY/s200/WoWScrnShot_061813_001715.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-O1EduobwcDxncSEg5ZXdrwUQcP2GJsSGavUcsR9jQ3QCkUoEn65fYtRQaXZ31M7c_HqpTVzjUzffA9X2dQ9zzSs95XlsX_hV7eCzqfIzfVgXTwXSbK3gcN7yZAh5KZOcq2Rq8febaU/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061813_001722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-O1EduobwcDxncSEg5ZXdrwUQcP2GJsSGavUcsR9jQ3QCkUoEn65fYtRQaXZ31M7c_HqpTVzjUzffA9X2dQ9zzSs95XlsX_hV7eCzqfIzfVgXTwXSbK3gcN7yZAh5KZOcq2Rq8febaU/s200/WoWScrnShot_061813_001722.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
As i mentioned in my last post i was intending to buy the <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=30480">Tabard of the lightbringer</a>, and here it is in all it glory. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqHF8bFriwRF0iArfSrfHV2xPqZiL036LsKsnVlQDi9ms6aOVAxLR5GQZVmQAc30-emRLV4VNk34MiLrmyqgflwH5JkLaPwb3S3w5B3jv0DK8tCaqfrV_Cx1Tv6Uaf6fdOvcACrWlF0U/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061813_001423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqHF8bFriwRF0iArfSrfHV2xPqZiL036LsKsnVlQDi9ms6aOVAxLR5GQZVmQAc30-emRLV4VNk34MiLrmyqgflwH5JkLaPwb3S3w5B3jv0DK8tCaqfrV_Cx1Tv6Uaf6fdOvcACrWlF0U/s200/WoWScrnShot_061813_001423.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeb6cvnhuswU-GQXxjVmhpZWuOy46Zu8qms3mec6ouJfj0JgGabm1z7EIpfybBBazhq8bV88CmcCuXIvJgJwlcGEjGvzkRlKRDAgrUmyjU6abebAupbpQ-PIK8UHlIlNH2xuqmnaLJhk/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061813_001426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCeb6cvnhuswU-GQXxjVmhpZWuOy46Zu8qms3mec6ouJfj0JgGabm1z7EIpfybBBazhq8bV88CmcCuXIvJgJwlcGEjGvzkRlKRDAgrUmyjU6abebAupbpQ-PIK8UHlIlNH2xuqmnaLJhk/s200/WoWScrnShot_061813_001426.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuqvDUKzeInmkiJo_kXs-CbmbcFAkVlGJZcks4T676p2SdF3pF0ouO68bv-xpFvbAtqzwxK1WNpMoXT86j06RsU7tuXRSSm8zwKiyUxwsPk30nhqhq7zr0ntkaqQvFaoVbHPnU9PzjgQ/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061813_001405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuqvDUKzeInmkiJo_kXs-CbmbcFAkVlGJZcks4T676p2SdF3pF0ouO68bv-xpFvbAtqzwxK1WNpMoXT86j06RsU7tuXRSSm8zwKiyUxwsPk30nhqhq7zr0ntkaqQvFaoVbHPnU9PzjgQ/s200/WoWScrnShot_061813_001405.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1K1uxfwZNl4uYmv3pCJ-L9TdCMivWGQUX5q6iBtkZ3tZE7myuEiQ8Mm-7S9V3_hFPEXUslmvWVoVgvyR3Ud5ddwFdmxcFvvYa9oktedwpZJqzbz3HIysJuoFuDO2HcmV9gUQGMgJIN88/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061813_001419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1K1uxfwZNl4uYmv3pCJ-L9TdCMivWGQUX5q6iBtkZ3tZE7myuEiQ8Mm-7S9V3_hFPEXUslmvWVoVgvyR3Ud5ddwFdmxcFvvYa9oktedwpZJqzbz3HIysJuoFuDO2HcmV9gUQGMgJIN88/s200/WoWScrnShot_061813_001419.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKoPspQE-9uGV5PVMbLeTCxcpA6zZKEbhQmwXNrdVcOFrFZZgiHZL1zDdNwx2jmAKiSP8j5DW-whp6IGrrNwLEBcgIBymWWCso0T0CGTRmJxuKXoYqNsGZrRDpgwENMN8H5hJHHfAMSU/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061813_001407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKoPspQE-9uGV5PVMbLeTCxcpA6zZKEbhQmwXNrdVcOFrFZZgiHZL1zDdNwx2jmAKiSP8j5DW-whp6IGrrNwLEBcgIBymWWCso0T0CGTRmJxuKXoYqNsGZrRDpgwENMN8H5hJHHfAMSU/s200/WoWScrnShot_061813_001407.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So that about it for now i have a few larger post in the creating etc but as withe all large blog posts it takes time to create. Then there is the editing to do and finding screen shots. <i>making excuses here i know. </i>I should have a large post probably about guilds ready at the weekend i hope. For know i will continue with the minor updates etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally anyone who isn't reading <a href="http://eightyearsinazeroth.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/memoirspart-7.html">Eight years in Azeroth , </a>i would heartily recommend it. It is a very honest account and recollection of hardcore raiding from Vanilla wow. It often pulls no punches with the accurate retelling of exploits and behaviour that players would use for the sake of filling a raid roster. On bonus note it has less rose tinted specs than a lot of other posts of its kind. <i>A good thing in my opinion.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-443585958124922622013-06-17T12:56:00.000+01:002013-06-17T12:56:21.162+01:00Haha Neltharion gimme that sword!Well for a long time now i have been farming Black wing lair for transmogg, obviously the judgement set for my pala. Luckily for me <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/npc=14020">Chrommagus</a> dropped Judgement shoulders for me a while ago (the final piece i needed). So what sword could i possibly mean? Join me after the break to find out. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Well to be honest with you there are two swords in Bwl that i and probably many others want, fortunately for me they both dropped yesterday. Of course i am speaking of the <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=19364">Ashkandi</a>, i have been after this sword for a long time. Not only is the model really cool but it is also a must have for any alliance player. I mean who wouldn't want the sword of Anduin Lothar!?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tDGe43919Yw75cQpp7kiILUYb6f9nyF35A5aOCgENqrDRKff0dm5bhyphenhyphen2JmcGG73LZIzxIXnY8JeX_CFE0II5veFnhDSFIYmPHbtn3B9VIzaYlKj8uBTFseKBexOEEKwhB8gx64-1B4I/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061713_005559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tDGe43919Yw75cQpp7kiILUYb6f9nyF35A5aOCgENqrDRKff0dm5bhyphenhyphen2JmcGG73LZIzxIXnY8JeX_CFE0II5veFnhDSFIYmPHbtn3B9VIzaYlKj8uBTFseKBexOEEKwhB8gx64-1B4I/s200/WoWScrnShot_061713_005559.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzskC8GAAFW-no1Y1J6Bzp5A8Purq_oBNXeUSocBkQIR58SzcElY1rEOM0PjnHLf6-cr5IyhFGllUk3RjDOrISPOwDiq6FCjhBMTD3x1w58Cte1NzZJBNlCx0nbpQT_AtPJh2K3Ah6Egk/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061713_005531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzskC8GAAFW-no1Y1J6Bzp5A8Purq_oBNXeUSocBkQIR58SzcElY1rEOM0PjnHLf6-cr5IyhFGllUk3RjDOrISPOwDiq6FCjhBMTD3x1w58Cte1NzZJBNlCx0nbpQT_AtPJh2K3Ah6Egk/s200/WoWScrnShot_061713_005531.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BYxBJORuDUP3bpMr4oLxGtvbtNLN96AubkQ7O083QHBfaEcpqduo5JW2g7j4iFtJibQ1OClBzlKzpMr-jREHf0Lm1bfx75UargHm7LaFymfeVPFo1Bt0lrs_9_b1DZWr_8-B8Or6Xg4/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061713_124409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0BYxBJORuDUP3bpMr4oLxGtvbtNLN96AubkQ7O083QHBfaEcpqduo5JW2g7j4iFtJibQ1OClBzlKzpMr-jREHf0Lm1bfx75UargHm7LaFymfeVPFo1Bt0lrs_9_b1DZWr_8-B8Or6Xg4/s200/WoWScrnShot_061713_124409.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Second sword i wanted from here was for my offspec tanking gear. <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=19351#.">Maladath</a> despite being a really old model is still in my opinion one of the best looking 1H weapons in the game. However unfortunately i few months ago i finally got <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=49303">Quel'Serrar</a> from Onxyia 10. So for now i wont be using my new 1hander, well unless i can create a mogg set to go with it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXXuACoGzdMNWX9-UBc1qxnfYCJl0Q_3Y_l-LWXqmc1BOqsQqiFGH1zc_654pFejoev8pujIFlbzBj92AJAeN_xFd7BVurvargrxvwsOKnrL_dbbPLwYy1p_uhPdk7QmmXAtnIputZoA/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061713_124655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXXuACoGzdMNWX9-UBc1qxnfYCJl0Q_3Y_l-LWXqmc1BOqsQqiFGH1zc_654pFejoev8pujIFlbzBj92AJAeN_xFd7BVurvargrxvwsOKnrL_dbbPLwYy1p_uhPdk7QmmXAtnIputZoA/s200/WoWScrnShot_061713_124655.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqITdzmzzdiBQ_hMlFE101e4d-1kQTBLxSjkKT2kp_PMJ8r64gyiYrZsRCgQE1BXpcSyZ8R33TUj0vajuk-54cJESrYH6k-sw5pGqBByW9Nw25zFbtMDFLpFCYAqcH9TyiqqXdQkhZhU/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061713_124439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqITdzmzzdiBQ_hMlFE101e4d-1kQTBLxSjkKT2kp_PMJ8r64gyiYrZsRCgQE1BXpcSyZ8R33TUj0vajuk-54cJESrYH6k-sw5pGqBByW9Nw25zFbtMDFLpFCYAqcH9TyiqqXdQkhZhU/s200/WoWScrnShot_061713_124439.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6MpIx8tIcW8nY2lwtzZovuMEV1TnciwUcnYYgcTK21vFgJRwObaPiDm1GapdapoVrpTNVczr5LlqdxzmkNyIPgXy_ewZVAdR69GPl_3jG9cbaL-K1PdxTzE7EbTkgSqKhIuS5Yd8iog/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061713_124451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6MpIx8tIcW8nY2lwtzZovuMEV1TnciwUcnYYgcTK21vFgJRwObaPiDm1GapdapoVrpTNVczr5LlqdxzmkNyIPgXy_ewZVAdR69GPl_3jG9cbaL-K1PdxTzE7EbTkgSqKhIuS5Yd8iog/s200/WoWScrnShot_061713_124451.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Though to be honest finding a shield to go with my tanking offspec is far harder than moggin weapons. This all stems from Blizz not allowing me to use <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=18825#comments">Grand Marshals Aegis</a> , i get they want to keep some of the older hard to earn gear still unique. However just make a recoloured version or something along those lines. When i Storm the walls of Orgrimmar in the next patch, i want the horde to know who i am right before i smash my shield through the back of there head!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hm3wUSiybHvAV7BeczA-rAfH1DoYW2DzqDuW-rJWoiLhi8pfBRzyJCvIcMXJtGLE9U2rRB_58fd1HsO0jrmktm7-GN4ZRMQj6InPH6zIhxlIJNnicqqC-pjpUwpCxM-vkFafNCTCw-c/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061713_124533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hm3wUSiybHvAV7BeczA-rAfH1DoYW2DzqDuW-rJWoiLhi8pfBRzyJCvIcMXJtGLE9U2rRB_58fd1HsO0jrmktm7-GN4ZRMQj6InPH6zIhxlIJNnicqqC-pjpUwpCxM-vkFafNCTCw-c/s200/WoWScrnShot_061713_124533.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
On a final Note to complete my Paladins Transmogg, i am currently bidding on a <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=52252">Tabard of the Lightbringer</a> currently at 123k. After Hording all this gold for a while now i am going crazy and blowing it on Mounts (<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=82453">Jeweled Onxy Panther</a>) and Pets (<a href="http://www.wowhead.com/npc=53283">Guardian Cub</a>). I think this has to do with playing a lot of D3 lately when you have hundreds of millions of gold you suddenly become more carefree with spending it. :) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkn_aI6jtUWASFD4I-bBEofdKBowA6C9HoNPxxF0ngWk5VJ7nul33jPxTW0z9G7-Ztz3GofpisnF5AQXSmTiiv20TiI9FNf4ExzBYqr-PSqGtKuAyfvD2veXAAp4OsnXABYToLTVxCZA/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061713_124800.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkn_aI6jtUWASFD4I-bBEofdKBowA6C9HoNPxxF0ngWk5VJ7nul33jPxTW0z9G7-Ztz3GofpisnF5AQXSmTiiv20TiI9FNf4ExzBYqr-PSqGtKuAyfvD2veXAAp4OsnXABYToLTVxCZA/s200/WoWScrnShot_061713_124800.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-91399724418991084772013-06-17T01:09:00.001+01:002013-06-17T02:22:44.482+01:00Back again etc :P<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->Well it seems like it has been a long time since I have sat
down to blog, probably heading to around a month now. Real life has once again
impacted upon my ability to write, weddings work and glorious sunshine not
necessarily in that order. So I figured in would start with a quick update
post, where I am at this moment in time and then see where it goes from there.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So Huge news first I have finally completed my goal on D3
and made enough money to purchase SC2 digital collector's edition. The rather
cool <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=90177">baneling</a> pet is now part of my ever expanding pet battle roster. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5ZeFHYuzmwWo549RO5yjUqYRz8B8F0ARLQr1w6NU9F_jYd5aSLVr_SxthC5EWqroO2eUXL8skj5uniXTHtpXI4UFwIPYU4HYGwrpMZiotxqwtLqOa3sSoUwkIyeBtar-qLdGD5cqAYM/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061213_161314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5ZeFHYuzmwWo549RO5yjUqYRz8B8F0ARLQr1w6NU9F_jYd5aSLVr_SxthC5EWqroO2eUXL8skj5uniXTHtpXI4UFwIPYU4HYGwrpMZiotxqwtLqOa3sSoUwkIyeBtar-qLdGD5cqAYM/s200/WoWScrnShot_061213_161314.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIIjAVygV0QZIs8vTYITFIVHN-MvIu5en6StEomISHO0blnQofBtXFhbqz-ywHPdrw_Z8YdSrKBjet6AoqrSeTFG3YTTeUwpBgTW7STnZcD77zAPYpdIov_4n8enjx-A1jyOIHGXpGZk/s1600/WoWScrnShot_061213_161311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIIjAVygV0QZIs8vTYITFIVHN-MvIu5en6StEomISHO0blnQofBtXFhbqz-ywHPdrw_Z8YdSrKBjet6AoqrSeTFG3YTTeUwpBgTW7STnZcD77zAPYpdIov_4n8enjx-A1jyOIHGXpGZk/s200/WoWScrnShot_061213_161311.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZzc48SGC1GcCnI5RkGvrSN1TUwJiOV4WYG7_u2IqSlDR8VToJ-GADtpx0qyEpkP9uw89F-QGe0h1wN2cudn3qpWimdfcTOp5NTZHcyxXKrqu5slcwdY_riLQnrrHi8atY9Wuna1SeFo/s1600/WoWScrnShot_060713_160359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZzc48SGC1GcCnI5RkGvrSN1TUwJiOV4WYG7_u2IqSlDR8VToJ-GADtpx0qyEpkP9uw89F-QGe0h1wN2cudn3qpWimdfcTOp5NTZHcyxXKrqu5slcwdY_riLQnrrHi8atY9Wuna1SeFo/s200/WoWScrnShot_060713_160359.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Related to the above point I also finally completed the
inferno machine event in D3, of course my first crafted hellfire ring was
rubbish. But at least I have one which should aid me in getting to paragon
level 100 eventually.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ym7eM5h4CBY6nUHdx2bEZqpab2nlM3GMO0BcucLWVAVBJ-cNpFpMuWgqY0C7yuvAFhocMn9iLekKZwKlxulBaJRw0wW617UkT_hMk0MULQpZl6VGv6TWwskWT_SGvd8Efv8yElphRNg/s1600/WoWScrnShot_041313_172725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ym7eM5h4CBY6nUHdx2bEZqpab2nlM3GMO0BcucLWVAVBJ-cNpFpMuWgqY0C7yuvAFhocMn9iLekKZwKlxulBaJRw0wW617UkT_hMk0MULQpZl6VGv6TWwskWT_SGvd8Efv8yElphRNg/s200/WoWScrnShot_041313_172725.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
I have a new guild! No more being an officer or a GM back to
just being a drone, and it's a lot of fun. I intend to post on my reasons for changing
guilds fairly soon, not that I have much experience this is only my 4<sup>th</sup>
guild in six years of playing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6r3tGNBPjOF4ICw4DtAqOJCfin-ukZHH2PXXkkenxEDacrqRXrsfr20TWHB2c6NFOyzt4yBfqPhMMfOPwSxBAgX5x9Huw_XdmFMsQ7ZeJ47u9H4eD7nfZlYIfJrpMRgr0_b6RuO7enzY/s1600/WoWScrnShot_042113_005905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6r3tGNBPjOF4ICw4DtAqOJCfin-ukZHH2PXXkkenxEDacrqRXrsfr20TWHB2c6NFOyzt4yBfqPhMMfOPwSxBAgX5x9Huw_XdmFMsQ7ZeJ47u9H4eD7nfZlYIfJrpMRgr0_b6RuO7enzY/s200/WoWScrnShot_042113_005905.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
So much news to cover, flexi raiding?!?!, no titan, where my
hearthstone beta?, are blizz adding to much to wow in too short a time is that
even possible. I intend/hope to give all these topics some air time over the
next few weeks. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZWnxTUBGRbLZT_ZehW3H8M_KX6AkZooYDJUE3U51E8xQmDhbo9436rVZhIqRP1G5cnCWoZyXpGVGNquhay-zyZs5gEu8BAhyk589JKeinNAY0XAlLdgGBkbytZ1JQAR7bm83wOZgA4/s1600/WoWScrnShot_041113_234823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhZWnxTUBGRbLZT_ZehW3H8M_KX6AkZooYDJUE3U51E8xQmDhbo9436rVZhIqRP1G5cnCWoZyXpGVGNquhay-zyZs5gEu8BAhyk589JKeinNAY0XAlLdgGBkbytZ1JQAR7bm83wOZgA4/s200/WoWScrnShot_041113_234823.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well that pretty much wraps it up for now; though I do have
a plan of action going forward I am going to endeavour to write up some of
these blogs in advance so that I can adhere to a stricter blogging schedule. My
aim is to get around 2-3 posts a week, this may be a bit optimistic but we
shall see. My biggest issue is that when I am not playing much Wow, time that I
would spend blogging is reallocated to either playing Wow or enjoying the sun!!
Peace out yall!</div>
Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-57611644348372306212013-05-07T16:06:00.001+01:002013-05-07T16:06:42.074+01:00Delayed Speculation Part 2A bit later than promised but here is the second half of my random speculations on WoW and what blizzard have been up to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>In the first half i mentioned the arrival of a browser in patch 5.3, while there many possibilities that i discussed i had clearly overlooked one quite obvious one. This came to my attention after a particulary stress fall LFR on Sunday night we spent neither a hour on dark Animus, though most of this was spent waiting in the Queue for those ever elusive tanks. Now if i had a browser maybe i could have loaded it up and played a few games of hearthstone while i waited for some tanks to join the group. Incidentally i just alt-tabbed out and watched the latest video on Hearthstone, well worth checking out for anyone entirely new to the genre such as myself.<br />
<br />
The second part of my speculation came after the announcement that Blizzard had purchased the entire IPL off of IGN. (not the cricket league, the epsorts section) While they were quick to point that they were not just going to run the tournament as it had been, in fact most of the the people that were hired are going to be working on other projects. This last bit got me thinking, what would be the purpose of buying out this epsorts section only to then disband it.<br />
<br />
Its become fairly obvious recently that blizzard are beginning to take the E-sports scene very seriously, you only have to view the astronomical sum that they are investing into the SC world championships. E-sports offer a means of prolonging the lifespan of a game indefinitely as well as creating new revenue streams. While i don't think that we will ever see a proper E-sports added to WoW, simply because the game is so old now that adding in a massive feature like that along with a spectator mode would probably not be cost effective. Though admittedly i can see a future pet battle E-sport, though this would require continued overhaul of the system to create the level of competitiveness needed for a truly engrossing E-sport.<br />
<br />
However it is the other games in the franchise mainly the two newbies that i can see having E-sports built into them from a ground up level rather than added in at a later date. Firstly i would be willing to bet a large amount of money that Titan will have various in game features that will lend itself very nicely to the E-sports genre. As well as this i can see there being E-sports market for Hearthstone if it takes off as well as it has the potential to, though in this case i rescind my previous statement about having it from the start i think this would probably be a feature added to hearthstone after launch.<br />
<br />
Ok so here is the curve ball the Blizzard game i can see having a E-sport component is................ (cue a drum roll please) D3, no seriously i mean this. A few months ago it was announced that the anticipated arena style pvp system would not be coming to D3 yet. Instead we got the brawling system which though it is fun it just is not real PvP. Now D3 has some serious lifespan issues largely caused by the AH, and the impact that it has had on the necessity to repeat the game over and over to get that god like item. While we will be seeing a expansion for D3, i don't think releasing more and more content for D3 will ever solve the issue. Also this would be a very costly and I'm not sure that D3 generates enough money for this to be a viable option.<br />
<br />
Now if you could add a viable E-sport to the game say in the form of a team based arena style pvp, complete with ladders and a ranking system. Would this be a hit with players i think so,in my opinion the combat system of D3 with the limited number of spells available to players. (you only have 6 buttons to press) Along with the awesome animations for a lot of the moves, points very heavily towards a fast paced hardcore team based pvp system.<br />
<br />
Ok so this post has been mostly written for several weeks now, just had to find the time to finish it off and upload it. Next up will be either my long awaited patch 5.2 post or possibly one of my thoughts on the alliance my ideas on the next war chief or possibly blizzconn speculation or something like that.<br />
<br />
Peace out y'all Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-42511741466500808542013-04-10T22:15:00.000+01:002013-04-10T22:15:32.849+01:00Not what was intendedOk so this post was supposed to be about the Isle of thunder, however like all well laid out plans that one has been delayed by a couple of days. This is for two reasons; firstly time is just not my friend at the moment, secondly a couple of pieces of news this week caught my attention. These will allow me to go crazy with speculation, so if you have a tin-foil hat please equip it. Failing that stand squarely within the nearest door frame in case of building collapse.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Ok so first up the new in game browser was announced/data mined this week, whether this will make it into the final release of patch 5.3 only time will tell. Also I am not yet sure if this is that awesome feature that Ghostcrawler tweeted about a while ago. I hope it isn't as secretly I am holding my hopes out for complete character scaling allowing you to quest with low level friends as well as run older content at the correct level.<br />
<br />
To be clear when I say in game browser, the term browser is a very lose term. As it stands at the moment, all you can access is Blizzards online support site. To be honest I am not sure if we can ever expect this feature to become a full blown web browser, or to have access to external sites that are not Blizzard. For two reasons firstly player base trust, it would be very foolish to allow the entire player base to have open access within game. While most of the players base could be trusted there will always be some people who do there utmost to access information of a adult nature. While yes Blizzard could put in place security protocols, no security is a 100% safe - people will always find a way to circumvent it in the end.<br />
<br />
Secondly, there comes the issue of what sites would be allowed to be accessed on the browser. (I am working off the assumption it would use some sort of blacklisting for sites that are not allowed). Ok for example Blizzard decide to allow players to access Wowhead, seems fair enough to use full database site with loads of handy information. But then say the decide that people cant access WowInsider (no offence guys I love your site just needed a example) as its more of a blog based site with larger articles and not something you would check every time you get stuck in game. Here's the issue you can't allow every site - tio many security risks, but at the same point if you only allow some websites it will be deemed as favouritism. In the end the safest approach is to allow only content from your own sites.<br />
<br />
This leads me quite nicely to my first piece of speculation. As we have established only allowing access to there own sites is the only way forward for the in game. For D3 there exists on the Blizzard site a extensive game guide along with item database that covers all your needs with regards to gear information. Secondly they recently added all the changes to battle pets and a new pet journal to the WoW site, is it to far a jump to see Blizzard cutting out the middle man and making there own WoW Database possibly? But it could happen.<br />
<br />
One of the things that has always bugged me about WoW is the external Blizzard functions - the shop, forums and media feeds etc are all accessed outside of the game. Ok so for a while now the EU store has been down, you cannot purchase any physical items as the store is being overhauled. Now maybe the store is being overhauled so it can be accessed in game via the browser? Ok so this might be a no for that one but at the same point take the forums - if they could be accessed in game that would be awesome. (I am going to write about the forums, I have a lot of anger to vent at some of the s*** that goes on in them) My Gf has started the ironman challenge which is set up over the forums, wouldn't it be very cool if you could create a running commentary over the forums offering hints and tips without out even alt-tabbing out of the game? YES!!<br />
<br />
Ok so finally we are going to grab the crazy by both hands and throw out this curve ball. My D3 time at the moment is largely me logging in every couple of days to re-list my stuff on the RMAH then logging out again. I think it would be awesome if I got notifications across B-net even when I am playing SC2. I am not asking for the ability to list auctions without logging into the game (though that would be nice) just for pop up notifications. This could work both ways as well playing D3 got a raid your signed up to on the calendar in WoW, boom up pops a cross game notification that lets you know in half a hour your pew pew finger is needed. The possibilities here are endless for cross game notifications and information. <br />
<br />
Ok so this blog has kinda taken on a life of its own. I still haven't even spoken about the second thing I wanted to which is the acquisition of IPL by Blizz so you will have to tune in tomorrow (hopefully) for the second half - sorry guys.<br />
<br />
Peace out y'allMark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-24054037220470739742013-04-07T18:28:00.001+01:002013-04-07T18:28:37.535+01:00HearthstoneOk so while i was absent Blizzard, those cheeky swines dropped a absolute bomb! So after my initial puzzling about what the hell Hearthstone is, after watching the trailer video (which was very cool) i have to confess i am now eagerly anticipating its release. On a side note i like many others was expecting the announcement to be the Blizz All-Stars or even failing that maybe just maybe (fingers crossed one day) a Pet battle app. For Anyone out there that thought this would be Titan, you may slap yourselves. Why would Blizz announce a Titan at Pax East, when they have Blizzconn in November. Anyways after the break i shall share my thoughts, hopes and feelings on Hearthstone.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>So a trading card game that is played online....... OMG pay dirt! The initial flaw with most trading card games or even tabletop games i simply the need for you the player to know other people that play who live near you. Boom Hearthstone shoots this out of the water with the existing battlenet system you have no need to know anyone that you are playing, also you have the ability to play anyone, anywhere at anytime. This is a massive game changer it takes Hearthstone from the level of a small niche game to potentially huge global game that requires very little to get into aside from having a Internet connection.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1zmjwYIcfNfMtJvv7nbtIn0L8bKHuDpZ3T1Xu65HNWi1hgBityjjkeoUinBjY3i5kHMWvHEdDWjK64okrVdRaI925WTxMyJDG3yOlG2l4wGZbwD7nXn83ci3RG6H6ooAxiB671ui8Wg/s1600/WoWScrnShot_030713_004603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1zmjwYIcfNfMtJvv7nbtIn0L8bKHuDpZ3T1Xu65HNWi1hgBityjjkeoUinBjY3i5kHMWvHEdDWjK64okrVdRaI925WTxMyJDG3yOlG2l4wGZbwD7nXn83ci3RG6H6ooAxiB671ui8Wg/s200/WoWScrnShot_030713_004603.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSF4XuNPrtATZWRvYFYgqv9TcFuPBQ_9sWGhuOmvDjiLP4V9BLvITPgQWDmRFKd8vxmdLCN2nHCvmQhO9GuRTrB2v4IEguAHiW1ZqMcAVSIEurhhfVTI1p2qhzzC0l7V9GAM-UbMlZTM/s1600/WoWScrnShot_021313_150528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSF4XuNPrtATZWRvYFYgqv9TcFuPBQ_9sWGhuOmvDjiLP4V9BLvITPgQWDmRFKd8vxmdLCN2nHCvmQhO9GuRTrB2v4IEguAHiW1ZqMcAVSIEurhhfVTI1p2qhzzC0l7V9GAM-UbMlZTM/s200/WoWScrnShot_021313_150528.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Ok here is a small hope that i have for Hearthstone, as it will be over Battlenet and its free2play, though i assume that top up cards/decks will cost money. (not certain on how this will work yet) I would like to see two features integrated, firstly a kind of reward system for existing game subscriptions to WoW. With Hearthstone being based in the WoW universe i see no reason why you couldn't be rewarded with free cards or something similar. Maybe one pack per month or one uber card per month or something along these lines. Also i would like direct integration Battlenet's wallet system. With a AH style both real money and a direct card for card trade system, providing you with the ways and mean of getting cards you need and getting rid of cards you don't.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX8w0bmdTS5td1QYvpq6HGZfT9JCKGkhidE7esQJnf0epREB5TKFLPoNzJ6x5b5psMHfKhHFJv5hSinmBbT50pB9oV3it2_WFwEwq24j3mv5P2QJmG4cuKhSmDbffyBu55Uzf1ojfM2M/s1600/WoWScrnShot_040513_012045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX8w0bmdTS5td1QYvpq6HGZfT9JCKGkhidE7esQJnf0epREB5TKFLPoNzJ6x5b5psMHfKhHFJv5hSinmBbT50pB9oV3it2_WFwEwq24j3mv5P2QJmG4cuKhSmDbffyBu55Uzf1ojfM2M/s200/WoWScrnShot_040513_012045.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally while the announcement took me by surprise, it does make a lot of sense when you break it down. TCGs are fairly firmly set in the fantasy genre, it is a logical step to try to integrate a WoW TCG with WoW and tap into the existing market of players. Also Blizzard employ and use a lot of very good artists that create a wealth of pictures and images that are very very cool. Hearthstone allows Blizzard to show off all this and possibly attract new players into there franchises. Finally TCG games are fairly simple to create and run business wise there not a massive amount of investment (ish) but the potential to be a massive (magic the gathering).<br />
<br />
So there we go i am excited for <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/npc=29089">http://www.wowhead.com/npc=29089</a> Please. Then i think Blizzard are going to be onto a another massive game as well as a large share of all my money. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUpYSk8gB5Wc_Kq3tHyc3gck7cmb6Iyu80ajEYwlQTDu8nCLUBPm-U1Ow0obDBr8b2tGweN_p8pfP1uh8koIjepDXxby9TgGnFliCS7dE3fLatcg9KF2K496GN2OZ8ZXbD6xSk5MEPtg/s1600/WoWScrnShot_040513_231919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUpYSk8gB5Wc_Kq3tHyc3gck7cmb6Iyu80ajEYwlQTDu8nCLUBPm-U1Ow0obDBr8b2tGweN_p8pfP1uh8koIjepDXxby9TgGnFliCS7dE3fLatcg9KF2K496GN2OZ8ZXbD6xSk5MEPtg/s320/WoWScrnShot_040513_231919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hearthstone, if it brings loot cards or other wow related goodies <br />
<br />
Peace out y'all :)Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-5077525960944549842013-04-03T13:07:00.003+01:002013-04-03T13:10:53.560+01:00I am not dead ........ honest!Ok well i am back and about to blog for the first time in several weeks, really havn't realised it had been that long. Before i go any further i would like to offer up a quick apology for my absence. Three weeks ago i was struck down my the pandemic that is "man flu" which kept me away from the computer, as its difficult to type with snot fountaining out of your nostrils. Then as those of you who follow my other half's blog will no (<a href="http://admiring-azeroth.blogspot.co.uk/">admiring-azeroth</a>), i was away for a week on holiday. During which time i screwed my foot up and have spent the last several days hobbling around. This coupled with lots of overtime at work has kept me from the blog. After the break ill outline what i hope to achieve blog wise in the next few weeks. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Ok still with me? then let us proceed :)<br />
<br />
Firstly i have missed a lot of game time like a metric f*** tonne. So i am heavily playing catch up at the moment. So i shall bullet point this for ease.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Hearthstone!???!!??!!?! Did not see that coming at all i expected like many other blizz all-stars. But i am massively psyched for this, as to why that will be Saturdays blog.</li>
<li>5.2 is amazing, in my humble opinion probably the best patch wow has ever had. (i am seriously struggling to think of a path as good) So i intend to get my thoughts on this patch down hopefully Sun/Mon (fingers crossed)</li>
<li>I have hit 300k gold in WoW (not a lot i know) did not happen as i intended but more on that next week weds/Thurs hopefully.</li>
<li>Halfway to my target of £40 on D3, soon that baneling will be mine! :)</li>
<li>Blizzconn, this ones going to be a tinfoil hat job lots of my speculation on what we will get at Blizzconn this year. :) </li>
<li>Beasts of fable, yes i have completed this and damn it was easy. My thoughts here on both this and pet battles in general. </li>
</ol>
After that i have a few blog ideas on LFR, Dailies, and some other bits n bobs. :)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPf6FZPJqo0fIUh0p_LUH_j7uJ2lb3lUa0yBZOu3CMgGC0GyTI8FnD-3dzjud-zkFyzOaxaPSig9OzrONeXCbFTxwWtpPaD9e1hHca86jkdPEa48-lZCISczx1CgMSW67-G0RGEAWzB6o/s1600/WoWScrnShot_040213_232125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPf6FZPJqo0fIUh0p_LUH_j7uJ2lb3lUa0yBZOu3CMgGC0GyTI8FnD-3dzjud-zkFyzOaxaPSig9OzrONeXCbFTxwWtpPaD9e1hHca86jkdPEa48-lZCISczx1CgMSW67-G0RGEAWzB6o/s320/WoWScrnShot_040213_232125.jpg" width="320" /></a>Ok so i have set myself a large list of things to do but i feel this is a better way to approach easing myself back into blogging and getting into a rhythm again. But needless to say real life happens so all this could go out the window. To finish i leave you with a screen shot i call TentBear. Peace out y'all.Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-52678162434512276632013-02-22T22:58:00.002+00:002013-02-22T22:58:33.955+00:00A quick updateJust a quick update, its been a while since I've blogged. Real life has got a bit hectic etc etc. So this is just going to be a quick rundown of what I have been doing. Not much wow news to be honest but I will come to that in a bit.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Firstly a few weeks a go I splashed out some hard earned pennies on a new grpahics card, as my old one was a wee bit dated. After installing it last week and having a few teething problems which it appears was down to my rather dated 19 inch monitor. I finally cracked out the money and got my self a pretty sweet 24 inch monitor. The upshot of this is that I am now running my old 19 as a side monitor so I can play and blog! (High fives all round)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OE9ZrixoW8urXejFtYCQyuaHrWcOhCtlwXQd9avFgLn0P_N6A4kePNLZONa7arueyOFkJY-_wnyxn-vBRUIk6AwOaxnRVd3d4WbJG4jnyePDlFb_Ok9hrFKLzXCJrOmEdWlce4kxLRA/s1600/Screenshot002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OE9ZrixoW8urXejFtYCQyuaHrWcOhCtlwXQd9avFgLn0P_N6A4kePNLZONa7arueyOFkJY-_wnyxn-vBRUIk6AwOaxnRVd3d4WbJG4jnyePDlFb_Ok9hrFKLzXCJrOmEdWlce4kxLRA/s320/Screenshot002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So I have not played much WoW over the last week, for two reasons really. Firstly I think I gave myself partial burnout when grinding 6k valor points. That coupled with not needing to complete any of the world events this month has left with little to do in the game. On top of this I also stepped back into D3, its been a while since I last logged in (probably around 5 months or so) and I was largely just looking to test my new grapics card. So after that long out my first port of call was the auction house, (gold ofc :) ) for a meagre 2 million gold I redecked out most of my toons with sweet epics. Then I headed out into the world to smash some skellingtons. After a minor four hour binge I remembered how much I love the instant gratifaction that you get when mobs go boom! Its something I like a lot.It gives the game a good feel and watching gold shower out of the corpse of your slain enemies is always fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tJUU-uHVelVBjhbuCWQs6oeKDnc8Zvps8fwiDj4QTPMx-7McgobIP-4LptBCMTgmdjMmZBpHGmfXXGyXtK33w3fACDaijdpEr1itKJuqwlZXAH6QsVZ3x_fRc8HQUDEuUtl-acTLkDo/s1600/Screenshot003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tJUU-uHVelVBjhbuCWQs6oeKDnc8Zvps8fwiDj4QTPMx-7McgobIP-4LptBCMTgmdjMmZBpHGmfXXGyXtK33w3fACDaijdpEr1itKJuqwlZXAH6QsVZ3x_fRc8HQUDEuUtl-acTLkDo/s320/Screenshot003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On a side not while I do not buy items off the RMAH, I just dont get the point in spending real money to buy the best gear. But hey if people want to buy my stuff then im down with that. As it stands im up to £15 in my Battle.net wallet which I am saving towards a digital deluxe edition of Heart of the Swarm (yes I play all of blizzards games) I really want the Baneling pet!<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally I intend to take part in my first Blog Azeroth shared topic. I should have my post done and uploaded tomorrow (fingers crossed. <br />
<br />
Peace out all.Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-391144349081192804.post-66669298124628098942013-02-15T16:38:00.000+00:002013-02-15T16:38:18.203+00:00Legendaries Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
So following on from part one of this post, where we established that as a guild leader I am in favor of the new changes to the legendary weapons for MoP. Though, I use the term weapons very loosely, as this is my first major gripe with the system as a player. In my opinion the legendary quest chains need to involve a lot of dedicated effort and possibly a bit of luck so that ultimately in the end when you finish and get your item, be it <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=71086" target="_blank">staff</a>, <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/itemset=1087" target="_blank">daggers </a>or <a href="http://www.wowhead.com/item=46017" target="_blank">mace </a>it is a huge achievement.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vvQYvWHWIQNicuCRN0xpZPvQZSWLsK8qk7g6S38rpC9aRdeEOTy4RBOtaCbkRFWzExsHsfbjUTbrXv2DwDLN0h0RRwdiVpCUvkP3hmex0HRYpw4zG72xZPd1MLy-g6dAJSSvYpk6P8M/s1600/WoWScrnShot_012513_152328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vvQYvWHWIQNicuCRN0xpZPvQZSWLsK8qk7g6S38rpC9aRdeEOTy4RBOtaCbkRFWzExsHsfbjUTbrXv2DwDLN0h0RRwdiVpCUvkP3hmex0HRYpw4zG72xZPd1MLy-g6dAJSSvYpk6P8M/s320/WoWScrnShot_012513_152328.jpg" width="320" /></a>In 5.0 it isn't - while the quest chain itself is fun, and on a personal note I do really enjoy Wrathion as a NPC - he is a bit of a dude, when you complete the first part of the quest chain you are rewarded with a +500 stat gem. Which is powerful but quite clearly not as awesome as a whole weapon. Linked to this is the fact that if you have, like myself, been quite unlucky until recently with drops, you may complete the the quest but not have a weapon to socket the gem in. Which in my personal opinion is just a very odd design choice. While I do understand people raiding regularly will probably have their weapons by now, it does force the rest of us to farm LFR waiting for a drop. The fact that you can complete the legendary quest chain in LFR, I also find odd. However I intend to blog about LFR at a later date so I shall leave that for now (for the record I love LFR as a feature, I just have a couple of minor issues with it).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vWPeJ45I2lqdK4MmwpXcV_3j5gpprxYdbt3YtLW9C89bD2r5ZIk781JZq8s4Kze354lxEIgCHFdZeRP8qXZU2ZMKalc-p7nSWJgBGpzgjD5hCtK6S9rv_-h5E9d_3d8u7o25_KJ_XJs/s1600/WoWScrnShot_012513_003048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vWPeJ45I2lqdK4MmwpXcV_3j5gpprxYdbt3YtLW9C89bD2r5ZIk781JZq8s4Kze354lxEIgCHFdZeRP8qXZU2ZMKalc-p7nSWJgBGpzgjD5hCtK6S9rv_-h5E9d_3d8u7o25_KJ_XJs/s320/WoWScrnShot_012513_003048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Obviously at the moment we don't know how the legendary quest chain will evolve, the 5.1 section rewards an item that will add a socket to your sha-touched weapon. However in 5.3 we get legendary meta gems with procs for each class and a pvp gem. My main concern here is will we ever get a proper legendary weapon or will it continue to be character upgrades for various gears. I like the idea of building a legendary weapon over the course of the expac whereby each boss you defeat you take an item from then and add it to your weapon. Thus eventually we end up killing the final boss of MoP with an awesome weapon we crafted from scratch and that may possibly be named after us (fingers crossed on the last part). Now that would be cool, like I said previously it is still early days and at only patch 5.2 with probably 3-4 more patches to go there plenty of time for blizz to surprise us. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAml7ez0CIRQd-BcGU9i0Jmk6VNW7IePfdseGJXdIejIOA51bXUS3TZMruvhd9GlSfsuXzIx0yM0ilDreQn7mZIQ89we-SoX39FYkvLN1GY-IOtFfYykc4gwc6ldbDd5QKTIz2t4KELng/s1600/WoWScrnShot_012513_003133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAml7ez0CIRQd-BcGU9i0Jmk6VNW7IePfdseGJXdIejIOA51bXUS3TZMruvhd9GlSfsuXzIx0yM0ilDreQn7mZIQ89we-SoX39FYkvLN1GY-IOtFfYykc4gwc6ldbDd5QKTIz2t4KELng/s320/WoWScrnShot_012513_003133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Overall I would say I am a fan of the new legendary system. I just have a few reservations. I hope that eventually when we finish crafting our legendaries. It can stand side by side in our guild housing (again fingers crossed), next to the older legendaries and not look out of place. It would be a shame if we got to the end and it was just disappointment, though with hindsight blizzard usually deliver when it comes to epic content. Wrathions legendary adventure has the potential to be truly epic content. Mark-is-Squidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15122700342084273011noreply@blogger.com0