Dungeon Finder, You’ve Changed My Life

What did I spend my Friday afternoon doing?  Why, funny you should ask!  After nearly three years of avoiding them like the plague, I finally broke down Saturday and tried out Blizzard’s new Dungeon Finder.  Dungeon Finder is, of course, the upgraded version of the old LFG tool (that’s “Looking For Group” for the uneducated).  The tool matches you with dungeons in your level range, for example, if you’re level 72-80, you’ll be allowed to select random, heroic or specific content from upper level Outlands to Northrend.  At 80, you’re allowed to select from random heroic, regular or specific Northrend only dungeons. 

So far, the only character I’ve used this on is my 80 Hunter.  Frost badges are the new hotness in patch 3.3, so it adds another level of conversion to the whole picture.  To get lower level badges, you suddenly have to be a mathmatician and able to deduce which badges need to be downgraded to fill a certain quota to buy Gear X.  In current order, it goes, to the best of my figuring: Frost –> Triumph –> Conquest –> Valor –> Heroism.  I’m extremely interested in Heroism badges because they allow you to buy some Heirloom gear, which is account bound and can be sent to lower level toons for xp bonuses.  The gear grows with the character, readjusting their bonuses as the level increases.

I’m getting a little of topic, I suppose. 

What I’m trying to say is, I’m excited about the Dungeon Finder and plan on taking full advantage of it.  I love the fact that I don’t have to spam for groups, worry about being rejected for gear reasons, etc.  Though, part of the new system is the ability to kick someone from the party, with enough votes, so I suppose that could still be a problem.  From what I understand, the system compares gear, and will usually place an undergeared toon in with some overgeared toons so the party won’t be too hampered.  I’m still buidling up badges to upgrade my equipment, so it’ll take me some run time.  But, you can’t upgrade if you don’t run, so it’s a bit of a catch if you start getting kicked from groups. 

All of you folks that have never wanted to group before, you have to give this a try.  Pretty much everyone I’ve grouped with, so far, has been nice, gets in there and kicks butt, and I’ve only seen the group vote to kick once, and that was on a priest who wasn’t healing during fights.  We all died (including the priest), well, I feigned death because I was the only one left and the mobs were heading my way!  It all turned out good, though, as we hardly had to wait at all for a replacement to be sent in.

Dungeon Finder is also a great, quick way for casual folks to get their raiding in without having to wait for guild runs or, as I already said, spam trade or worry about being rejected.  Now, no one really has a reason to complain about not getting good gear.

So, go try it out, don’t be afraid.  The worst that can happen is you get voted out of a group, but it does have to be unanimous, I believe.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go collect some badges.

Mogathorn Update: Level 73

While I didn’t get as much WoW time in as I’d originally planned, I did manage to take my Dwarf Death Knight from 71 1/2 to 73.  It’s not as big a leap as I’d hoped for, but it’ll do in the long run. 

The hardest part, right now, is finding quests.  It seems I’m in an awkward spot where there are alot of silver question marks and group dungeon quests.  I’m not a big grouping person, as I leveled my 80 hunter main pretty much solo the entire way. 

My main points of questing is in Dragonblight, around Wyrmrest Temple and Winterguard Keep.  Borean Tundra, around the Coldarra questlines, which is where all of the dungeon quests come from, within the Nexus.  I’m sure there are some odd n’ end quests around in the area, but I’ve already gotten the “Nothing Boring About Borean” achievement for completing “X” number of quests as well as the “Explore Borean Tundra” achivement, so I’ve pretty much seen the entire area.

I may venture back down to the Howling Fjord just to try and push out another level and start earning quests down there as well, since I’m at a crawl, for now.

Dear Sony

Dear Sony,

After purchasing your expensive blu-ray disc player (known simply as the PS3) about a year ago, I’ve had only one complaint about the system.  It seems that even though you touted the fact and used it as one of the many reasons to jack up the price to a god-awful amount, the built in wi-fi adapter suck major donkey parts.  Aside from jacking in directly to my broadband connection, I can’t rely on a stable (when I can get one) wireless signal via the PS3 blu-ray disc player that I payed $499 for. 

Sony, shouldn’t it be able to connect to the Sony Store every single time I attempt to?  Shoudln’t I be able to access BD Live features without having to wait forever?  Should a simple trial game download take an hour or more to download just so I can decide if I want to purchase the game or not? 

Now, being Sony (or a fanboy of such) I’m sure it’ll be blamed on my router, my connection, one of a million things Sony has nothing to do with.  But, let me assure you completely that I have no problem with any other wireless device in my house.  My laptop connects fine, as does my Zune, DS and my only video gaming console, the Xbox 360, which required a seperate adapter be purchased (and which works great, thanks).

In closing, Sony, I’d like to suggest that, if you’re going to include a feature that works only half the time, if at all, please put it in for free, don’t use it as an added excuse to create the most expensive gaming console of all time.

kthxbye,

James

Warhammer Online: The Reckoning Goes Semi-Free

Mythic had gone a new route to increase interest in their MMO title, “Warhammer Online: The Reckoning.”  It seems they’ve decided to take that 10-day free trial they were offering players and extended it to an unlimited time.  There is a catch, however, as they’ve locked the free version at a Level 10 cap. 

This seems much like a business model that the “Dungeons & Dragons: Eberron Unlimited” MMO has been having massive success with.  I look for Warhammer to go free to play within a years time and add a companion store to sell wares and bonus content for paying players.

Warhammer Online Free Trial Link

12 Hottest Geek Girls

Manolith has posted their list of the 12 hottest geek girls.  I’ll have to agree with pretty much all of them :)  The list includes the likes of Veronica Belmont, Oliva Munn, Jessica Chobot and Jolie O’Dell.  There are even a few I wasn’t familiar with!

Run over to 12 Hottest Geek Girls / Manolith to check them out and make your thoughts heard!

Icecrown Citadel: The Frozen Throne

I usually skip past the Blizzard Launcher for WoW, but I noticed a link today that caught my attention.  For anyone that hasn’t seen it yet, Blizzard posted a brief description of their next raid instance: Icecrown Citadel, home of the Lich King himself.

You can read the full “story” by clicking here. 

In a nutshell:

• Fight along-side Highlord Tirion Fordring, High Overlord Saurfang, Muradin Bronzebeard, Highlord Darion Morgraine and King Varian Wrynn. 
• 10- and 25-player versions
• each version has 12 encounters that can easily be toggled to either Heroic or Normal using a new interface
• rewards start at level 251 in normal mode 10-man’s and increase to level 264 in heric 10-man and normal 25-player encounters.  Heroic 25-player mode items reach level 277.
• shortly into the instance, you end up outside fighting the Horde/Alliance from the airships, Skybreaker or Orgrim’s Hammer depending on your faction.  You’re trying to protect your gunship while destroying the other.
• and, of course, the final boss is … The Lich King himself.

It sounds great and I’m sure players will be complaining about how easy it is in no time.  Sadly, I doubt I’ll ever see this content in anything other than Youtube videos and pictures.  But just knowing it’s there is enough for me ;)

A Year Later, And Death Knights Still Rule

Blizzard released the second “World of Warcraft” expansion, “Wrath of the Lich King,” on November 13th, 2008.  Now, almost a year later, the Death Knight hero class is still kicking butt and taking names.  Despite balancing issues in the beginning, and even now seeming to be a little OP (over powered), the DK is (in my opinion) one of the more fun and fast characters to play in the “World of Warcraft.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Hunter man, myself.  I do play other classes, as well, so I’m not a strict Death Knight aficionado.  I have an 80 hunter, 72 warlock, 61 paladin and, of course, my 63 death knight.  So, I’m no stranger to other classes, but when I just want to tear through a zone, kicking butt and taking names with practically no down-time, I can log in to my death knight and go to town. 

Of course, if you look at my other, higher level characters, you’ll see I have a love for “pet classes.”  The hunter has a pet, the warlock has a demon, and … for my death knight, I spec’d Unholy so I could have a full-time ghoul running by my side.    I’m a sucker for companions during my solo quests through Azeroth. 

This isn’t a long post, I won’t bore you with the same statistics, lore or mechanics as to what a death knight is, his/her roles and how best to play them.  Simply, I just wanted to comment on how much fun they still are.  I realize that some people still refuse to play a death knight for their own personal reasons.  Maybe it’s because they start out at a higher level, it doesn’t fit their story (for those rp folk), or maybe they have a problem with the kinks in the lore.  Those people are out there, and all I have to say to them is: you’re missing out on half the fun, brother!

Death Knights, be it an alt or a main, should be tried by everyone at least once.  Heck, it took me three tries to get one I was happy with!  I finally settled on Mogathorn.

Mogathorn Armory Link

Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited

Free to download!  Free to play! 

This is what captured my attention, along with the Dungeons & Dragons name.  So, I downloaded the client and have started playing this “free” MMO.  I’ll post more of my thoughts as I play a little more of the game.  Right now, it is impressive in design, though a little clunky in execution.  I say this as a loyal fan of Blizzard Entertainment’s “World of Warcraft,” mind you, but also as someone that is always looking for something else to pass my time. 

So far, DDO has promise.  The catch to it being a “free” MMO, though, is that it puts more wanted and beneficial items in a store and makes them available for purchase using a “points” system, similar to XBox Live’s Microsoft Points. 

Here are a few images from my gameplay as a Cleric-class (Level 1, Rank 5).

The DDO Store, offering upgrades for armor, weapons, potions, cosmetic features and even leveling and xp gain!

 

Each quest “instance” offers 4 skill levels.  “Solo,” “Normal,” and if you upgrade to a premium plan, “Hard” and “Elite.”

As you move along on your quests and come upon places of interest, a “DM” reads related text that can prove useful.

Character Sheet features your stats.

A separate screen features your equipment and bonuses from said equipment.

Facebook Is My Gaming Platform

Okay, so it really isn’t a gaming platform.  But, what Facebook, as well as other venues such as Myspace and even the iTunes App Store, offers is quick, easy gaming.  These social games are easy to jump in to, play and get back out of, as long as you don’t go overboard with the number you become involved with.  With huge fan numbers, these games must be doing something right, and doing it hand over fist. 

Zynga, Playfish, SuperPoke!, these are just a couple of the publishers you can find applications listed under.  The games range from restaurant management, fish care, farm sims, mafia control, word and puzzle games … the list of genres is endless.  But what is it that makes them so popular?  The fact that they are free?  They can be played with friends and strangers alike without need for a pricey membership?  They’re simple and easy to step away from without missing something?  I’d say all of the above and more!

These games do not come without the established community, either.  There are fan pages where players can get together and join each other (friend or stranger) as neighbors, crime family members, servants, etc, to help build your status, wealth and power.  The games aren’t all shallow and simple, either.  There can be complex, multi-level games with “add-ons” that expand your regular game play to new areas with matching abilities and items to find, win or purchase. 

Allow me to take one example that happens to be my favorite.  Mafia Wars, by Zynga.  In Mafia Wars, you are basically playing something along the lines of an rpg.  You do quests, known here as “jobs,” to gain experience, money, sometimes loot and eventually level up so you can do more complex jobs for bigger rewards.  Add to your party, or “mob” and you can take on even bigger jobs and puchase more powerful items.  It all sounds very complex and involved, but in reality, you have a set number of moves you can do per visit. 

You are limited to your actions based on your Energy, one of the three main components your actions are based upon.  The other two are Health (hit points) and Stamina (how many times you can fight).  Each time you gain a level of experience, you are awarded 5 points to distribute among these areas as well as two others, Attack and Defense.  But, back to Energy.  You may log in to play Mafia Wars, but how long you play in any particular session will usually depend on how much experience you have and what jobs you are doing to consume that energy.  If you have 100 Energy, and each job costs 25 energy to perform, then you are only going to play for 4 turns.  A turn, mind you, consists of simply clicking a single button.  There is no action to this particular game.  It’s text-based.  You read it, click a button and it displays the results of your actions. 

Maybe I’m not doing this game justice, but it really can become addicting.  The Mafia Wars game itself has seen two expansions.  One taking you to Cuba and the latest to Moscow, Russia.  Each has its own currency and jobs you must perform to expand your influence and outfit.  But this isn’t the only type of game.  If you aren’t into mobsters, you can be a hero, a dragon slayer, a race car driver, a band member looking for the perfect gig … the imagination is endless in these games!  You have to try it for yourself to really “get” it.  But you should at least try it once. 

This may not be the next generation of gaming, but it does give the casual player a bit more of a feeling of being a “gamer” and gets them involved in a large community of players that more hardcore people are already experiencing.  And, it also lets hardcore gamers step away from their shooters, action rpgs and hack n’ slash adventures to relax in a simpler world that doesn’t require as much button pushing and foul language.

It’s just fun.  And, really, isn’t that what gaming is all about?

Brewfest ‘09!

I’m only 4 days late, but in case you haven’t logged in or heard, by now, it’s Brewfest time in Azeroth!  That’s right, every alcoholic’s favorite holiday has come ‘round once again to the World of Warcraft.

Brewfest is based loosely on the Bavarian Oktoberfest.  It is celebrated between September 20th and October 4th of every year in Azeroth, outside the major cities of both factions.  The main event, including the various quests and games, are held outside Ironforge and Orgrimmar.  The official description for the event reads:

Celebrated by both the Horde and the Alliance, the Brewfest is a time to enjoy the fruits of the harvest: pretzels, cheese, and brew! The competing breweries Thunderbrew, Barleybrew, and the Ogres, all come together outside of all the major cities in a bid to outdo each other with their special ales, meads, and beers. Brave adventurers are invited to sit back, take a pull, and sample the finest wares these brewers have to offer!

Aside from free beers and ales, players can also compete in various quests to receive rewards (mounts, Brewfest gold coins, etc) and earn achievements.  For more detailed information on all events, check out the World of Warcraft’s official Brewfest Page.

As far as achievements go, there is a couple of news ones to go along with last years goals.  Wowhead has a nice Brewfest – Achievement page to go along with the event, as well as the usual comments from regular users to help one should you become confused, lost or just don’t understand what you need to do.

This years achievements include:

Strange Brew – “Drink the Brewfest Beers listed below.”  This quest, along with The Brewfest Diet, were the most frustrating to do the first day of the event.  There were so many people gathered around the vendors that you could hardly find the person to click on.  Even then, if you were lucky enough to get a coinbag and click, the items you needed, they would display a, “Item is Busy” error.

Brew of the Month – “Join the Brew of the Month club.”  This requires 200 Brewfest coins, which are earned through quests.

Direbrewfest – “Kill Coren Direbrew.”

Disturbing the Peace – “While wearing 3 pieces of Brewfest clothing, get completely smashed and dance in Dalaran.”  Again, this quest requires Brewfest coins to buy the various garments from vendors in Ironforge or Orgrimmar.

Have Keg, Will Travel – “Obtain a Brewfest mount, or transform yours into one using Brewfest Hops.”  If you can’t get a mount to drop from killing Coren Direbrew, then you have the option, this year, of buying Hops from a vendor.  These will automatically transform your own mount into something more … festive.  Of course, this will require Brewfest coins from quests.

The Brewfest Diet — “Eat 8 of the Brewfest foods listed below.”  See my comments concerning Strange Brew.

Drunken Stupor — “Fall 65 yards without dying while completely smashed during the Brewfest Holiday.”  Similar to the regular achievement of falling 65 yards without dying, except you have to get hella drunk and do it.

Down With The Dark Iron — “Defend the Brewfest camp from the Dark Iron attack and complete the quest, “This One Time, When I Was Drunk…”  This happens randomly, as far as I can tell.  The quest in question doesn’t pop up until AFTER the event is over.  Dark Iron Dwarves will start drilling up out of the ground in tunneling machines.  Once they do, go to a table, grab a refillable mug, drink and then chuck the mug at them by clicking on the mug.  It’ll hurl itself automatically.  This goes on for awhile, but once it is complete, look for the broken cog wheel laying on the ground with the exclaimation point over it.  It will give you the quest in question and you’ll then need to turn it in to the main events dude at the front of the vendors area.

Does Your Wolpertinger Linger? – “Obtain a Wolpertinger pet.”  This was my first and only achievement for Brewfest last year.  You can simply buy these from the vendors … for Brewfest coins, of course.

Brewfest is another great way that Blizzard keeps players entertained and involved in the game.  Social events such as this are an outstanding feature that allows for a nice change of gameplay, good interactions with guildmates and other attendees and lets you take a break from the usual grind of leveling or “end game” mechanics. 

So, put aside your leveling, save your rested xp and go grab a big old mug of ale from that Ogre over there.  It’ll be worth the hangover the next morning.  Oh, and as a side note, Drunken Vomiting is a channeled effect that leaves you dazed and immobile for a few seconds.  No, no I’m not making it up …