Man, how about that thing called Life?

Currently watching "Good Eats" doing tenderloins. Mmmmmmmm. Work has been crazy since Jan and we have a big upgrade this weekend that I get to work the first 9 hours of Saturday for (yes, the first ones). Supposed to go smoothly but that's still a lot of time and a particularly bad time of day for those of us who are human to stay awake.

Got a new pc, just need a new video card now. Still, I think I'll like this quad core, 6gb of ram, and hard drive that is 2x bigger than all my other storage for pc's combined (you could even add the ps3 in there!). Got Windows 7 Ultimate RC on it, no real judgement yet besides the fact that the way Start->Programs works now is lamer than heck. I installed AoC from scratch and it's not an option, although just Start followed by typing Age works. That and stupid restrictions like needing to run Station Launcher as Admin. Coulda sworn I turned off UAC, but maybe that was in Vista pre-upgrade. Need to figure that out. Also need to figure out how to get the old Control Panel back (assuming you can in Win7).

And now "Good Eats" is on to part 2 of their tenderloin hour. Mmmmmm. Hope this one includes either grilling or baking of said steaks.

Rollerderby was a good time, got a visit from MrB as well. My buddy's wife skates like a demon and her team was the only one we really enjoyed watching. Cousin's wedding went off without a hitch. And in a couple weeks it will once again be time for the Firemen's ball. Come on Summer and times where vacation is easier to come by. And maybe by the 4th of July, YaMB will have released their latest Christmas Extravaganza episode. There's a rumor the original lost eps9-22 are in the works for re-release but I'm guessing if they do come out, all references to Snapple will have been replaced with Pepsi Max, and there will be a new all digital cast member.

Anyways, I'll be trying to get to 30-35 in AoC after I get a new video card, and see if I can finally master a space profession in SWG only 4 years and 3+ months after I first bought the game. Maybe I'll finally have hardware to run it at above 10 fps in the cantina. They really need to get someone who knows how to optimize game engines already. Come on SOE, it's been 5 years and your game still doesn't perform as well as Age of Conan does on the same hardware. Chop Chop!

I'm back.

Been pretty busy, still pretty busy, but had the morning "off" for a upper-gi follow through, aka drink barium and pop rocks, and get xrays. Bout to head into work, but tonight is going to be 10 term missions on Mooftak and some Age of Conan. Woot. New link, I found: http://www.conankave.com/. Also looking forward to the next ep of YaMB. Any day now, I'm sure.

It's Monday

Only got about an hour of social SWG in this weekend, with several additional hours of AFK while I caught up on sleep on the couch. Had a good weekend with my buds, but it seems like I can always use some additional time off.

As part of my re-upping Station Pass, I did get Vanguard downloaded but never launched. To be honest, besides the fact that I'm a forum addict with poor impulse control, I also listened to the newest EQ-IQ podcast prior to resubbing. Been listening to older YaMB's where they discuss EQ2 and Vanguard, which didn't hurt (fanboy alert!). I would like to get that EQ2 bear pet but the closest BestBuy with a physical copy of the EQ2 Box is in Janesville.

The plan for evenings this week is to get my mmo on. Looks like Kernel had put enough maintenance into harvesters that they haven't all been destroyed yet. It would be nice to get him to level 35 this week. For Mooftak, I'd like to do between 5 and 10 terminal missions per day. Surely that would work out to a decent bit of levelling. I should start a contest as to how long it will take me to get Mooftak to level 90 (or even 60). At this pace, it'll be another year. Gotta remember that it took me 10 months to level Valcyn.Skootalbaht to 90 and he was an entertainer. Would like to explore a little in Vanguard as well and see what performance is like on the shuttle (it was crap on the Macbook Pro, but then again, SWG had a problem too).

On an unrelated note, keep an eye on YaMB (twitter) because episode 105 might be out this week (it's apparently recorded but not edited). Maybe it'll be out in time for me to listen to on my trip back to Iowa Thursday night.

I Pledge

Taking a cue from old episodes of YaMB, I pledge to do the following before Monday, Dec 15th:
-AoC for 6+ hours (gotta hit 25 or maybe even 30)
-SWG for 4+ hours (gotta hit at least 10 on my new Starsider Trader)
-Blog something
-Upload those dang screenshots
Maybe I should do also pledge to pledge for the next month. Got a busy time at work and I need to be able to relax. Theoretically things like the above relax me.

Latest randomness

So I'm away from Age of Conan for a week. Kind of nice but I didn't get a chance to upload any screenshots before I left home. Hoping to be back on Sat and maybe I'll do it then.

I finally hit 20, got a big ol' battle axe. Figured out that mentoring in Tortage is pretty much useless for the lower level folks. I'll need to spend my next first moments of AoC retooling my toolbars to take advantage of new combos and such.

And on a completely unrelated note, I've found a new tv show to captivate me (I need to take a break from Firefly, having seen each episode prolly 100 times, though not recently, per aforementioned break). NCIS. Caught 3 episodes last Sat on USA. Good stories, good characters, good writing, and it actually makes me laugh. Been awhile. Besides The Office, I only really follow Rescue Me which won't re-air till Jan or Feb. Tonight is a new episode from season 6 on CBS, tomorrow is a marathon on USA.

And on a "podcasts I listen to" note, where the heck is Hyborian Herald #13? I'm jonesing pretty badly. I guess YaMB are recording 101 tonight. Considering how non-plussed I am about Hoth (granted I haven't been there but I have a 90 ent and a 14 smuggler, and you need 4 people to go to Hoth), I'll be interested to see what they have to say on the state of the game.

And on a pizza note, at some point I'll upload pictures of my double decker pizza from my phone and put it up for y'all to see. In the meantime, enjoy your turkey day if you celebrate it (and why would you turn down a chance to eat turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and gravy, do you hate all that is right and good in this world?).

Screenshots from this weekend

Amandara_picture003
Originally uploaded by RHTblog

Here are some screenshots from this weekend. You may notice some weird issues due to the age of my system.

Oh, and you may notice MrBubble from YaMB in one of them.

Goodbye Tortage

Welp, I'll be dropping my Station Pass before long. Will play EQ2 over Thanksgiving probably, and maybe check out the holiday events, but for now I think I'll get my EQ2 fix through West Karana and other blogs. Age of Conan has taken possession of me.

My buddy and I have leveled from 5 to 17 completely by grouping (sometimes adding others) and killing crocs, gorillas, and others in the White Sands, and by doing quests in the Archeronian Ruins. Our battle against the bat demon was aided and made possible by a great group of people we happened to see running through the area and invited to our group. Standing atop the bat demon's ledge, there was just an amazing view. This game's visuals have hooked me in. Not just the style of graphics (EQ2 is amazing but the "feel" isn't right for me, isn't real), but the grand vistas. It was actually a screenshot in Cimmerian mountains that kept me coming back to any blog entry I could find about it, and finally prompted me to buy. Nothing on the AoC box captures me like the online mountain vistas I have seen. I'll upload screenshots I've taken later this week. Keep in mind I'm playing on a P4 3.4Ghz, 2gb ram, and an ATI X800XT. Not exactly current hardware (bought in Aug and Sept of 05).

The city of Tartania is beautiful but I had an urge to find mountians so I went to the area known as Lacheish Plains. Being a barbarian I had the advantage of stealth which became necessary when I crossed into an area with Yeti's. While running across the landscape trying to find the highest possible vantage points, I took a small fall and was de-stealthed. Taking advantage of the Yeti-less aspect of the immediate area, I started running to the next hill when I was set upon by two others, a level 17 and 18, some sort of melee classes (was too busy fighting to check). I was able to dispatch them both without making full use of my 2 step combos that I gained with level 17. What a rush. From "oh crap, I'm going to die" to "whoa, I just took that one out, and I still have 2/3's health" to "BRING IT ON SISTER!" to "aww man, I wanted to finish her off with the new combo". It was awesome. Since I lived, I bear no ill will towards them :) but instead instantly thought how special an element pvp adds to this huge world. Even if I had died, I would have been saddened at my reset in travel but since it was an even level ambush, it would have been ok, just "man, I wish my buddy would have been with me." 

This is why Age of Conan has captured me. The gameplay is something I enjoy (not just click auto attack and wait for specials to refresh), the graphic style is truly spectacular, and the lore background are just awesome. If only SWG could carry out the first part, and do slightly better on the second. Also, props to the Hyborian Herald (also a member of VirginWorlds), which is another thing that had me hooked. As with YaMB, I listened to it before I played the game, and while not even close to YaMB's style, he puts out a great podcast, and I eagerly await episode 13.

Anyways, that's all I have for now. Thanks to my buddy for giving me the social element, to my random group-mates (now on my friends list), to Funcom, and to Streamweaver for helping me find my gaming home. I haven't enjoyed a game (pc, xbox, 360, or ps3) this much since my days of QuakeWorld (thanks Muppet Clan), Half-Life (thank you freshmen year floormates), or Quake 3 (thanks Barker house foes). If you're on the RP-PVP serve Hyp, feel free to add Amandara to your friends list and look me up in game.

Happy to be /stuck with you (and holiday talk)

Last night, ran around with Mr. Bubble just outside the walls of Tortage, trying to complete "A Brother's Vengeance." We were 2 level 8 (and then 9) fools getting schooled by Picts. We're both Barbarians, so no heals = either quick win or certain death, especially if a 3rd Pict happens upon our battle. We finally made it near the quest goal Pict, tried to be clever and sneak around to the side, and we both got stuck between the rock ledge and a tree. /stuck never worked. For awhile I was able to loot some enemies, which was weird considering I was clicking on a Pict that was just out of range of hating me, clicking combos, and hoping he would come at me. The combo click seemed to loot something from somewhere. Unfortunately they were all loot pieces that were orange to me. Will probably give it a try again tonight. "Tune in tonight at 8EST to Beavis and Butthead in Tortage." Fools we are.

*Update* R2D2 we wish you a merry Christmas. Thank Yoda for Holiday Extravaganza episodes of YaMB. It's cold here in Wisc, but no snow that will stick yet. It's not even Thanksgiving and I'm jonesing for Christmas. Or maybe just snow and a holiday (come on Turkey day, hurry up and get here). Also, regarding snow, today is Snow Plow Driver Appreciation Day in Wisc, so of course it's raining.

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

Welp, >24 hours into the weekend and no HKO, SWG, EQ2, or Solitare has been played yet. Small chance I might get some in around noon, we'll see. 

Apparently, a number of YaMB'ers are actually rolling into HKO, based on the postings of one Brit who has actually installed it and gotten it to work. By my count there are now 7 YaMB'ers either in HKO or hoping to be. Freaking crazy. MrB didn't know what he was starting when first made a HKO joke oh so long ago. There are also going to be Guild Races (what's that?) and a race to build New York City in HKO. They're going all out it sounds like. Maybe I should install.

Mondays and such

Feels like the weekend is never long enough. Had a buddy in town over the weekend which was great. Didn't get much sleep which = no gaming. Did pickup Ironman on Blu-ray. Pretty sweet. Finally watched "The Good Shephard" (bought it 9 months ago). Good flick. Still jonesing for YaMB Episode 100, this week hopefully?

Games and such update

So, Vanguard never did run acceptably and is now gone. SWG and EQ2 have been downloaded again. Apparently Spore is all the rage but my disk space limitation is still a problem. Will try to check out the creature creator tonight.

Current podcasts that I'm listening to: Hyborian Herald, EQ-IQ, Equal Perspectives, Shut Up We're Talking. Eagerly anticipating Episode 100 of SWG w/ Yivvits and MrBubble.