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Rant – Need New Shiny Toy!!

February 9, 2010 - 2:59 pm No Comments

So we are a few months away from Cataclysm (we all know it will be out in November or December) and I have to say for the first time in my WoW life cycle I’m getting bored. I log in every night and I barely do anything. If I don’t run ICC I only run the daily Heroic for my frost badges and that’s about it. I stand around not talking to people cause I’m overwhelmed half the time and just put on .

So the question is what do I do now? Do I look for another MMO? While I enjoyed the new Star Trek movie, I’m not a trekkie in the least bit. I don’t really find it all that interesting. If you would have asked me 4 months ago would I see myself leaving WoW for KoToR, I would have laughed at you and said no way, look at the graphics on that crap. Fast forward to now, and I’m going to have to say I’m really itching to try it, mainly cause I’m in need of something new. Not because the game looks any better then it did four months ago.

I’m a really hard person to keep interested. Before the iPhone I was buying and selling phones on ebay all the time just to get something new. Then I got the iPhone then the 3G, I passed on the 3GS but I’ve had the same interface, the same concept of the phone, same icons and I’ve LOVED this phone but when I saw the Google Nexus One I was like wow, a nice new phone, live wallpapers……T-Mobile, yuck, no thanks, then I saw it was going to Verizon….mmmm, I’m interested. But I’m quieted my thoughts and didn’t something I didn’t think I’d do… I jail broke my iPhone. Now I have new themes, new icons and hell I just got an app for it that makes it look identical to the iPad. It’s great, it will keep me interested a while longer till the 4th generation iPhone.

Getting back to WoW, I think I need something like what I did to the iPhone for WoW (NO, I’m not recommending I jailbrake WoW) just that I need a new look, I need a new feel. I’m sure Cataclysm will change all that for me and give me a new race and refresh my need to play. So I can safely say I’m not going to leave WoW, but I do think I need to play something else till Cataclysm (while still playing WoW).

I need that shiny new toy. Problem is I’m just not sure what that toy is right now…

If you all have some suggestions please let me know I’d love to hear them. Either post them here or email me at admin @ valaar dot com (preventing spammers, sorry, just type it out).

Thanks,

Mike aka Valaar

P.S. As I mentioned, I’m not leaving WoW and I’ll still post updates and news right here on Valaar.com

Posted in Rants, WoW |

Tanking Tidbit No. 8 – (Second Micro Edition)

January 15, 2010 - 11:50 am No Comments

In this tanking tidbit (second micro edition) I want to discuss marking. Every tank has their own way of marking mobs but it’s important to be consistent, more so in raids then in 5-mans.

When in a 5-man group it still helps to be consistent. If your marking mobs and right now Pit of Saron comes to mind when you start the climb up the hill after killing Ick. If you haven’t done this yet don’t worry its all the same. It’s become almost a common language that Skull is the first target to get hit. Skull is then followed by the X mark. Now after this there are toss ups as to what people use. I for instance use Square followed by Moon. After 4 targets it’s kind of open. If I have say 5 mobs I’ll just mark 4 and tell the group the “Kill Order” then leave the 5th mob open as the group should inevitably know that it’s last. If you see that target going down before anything else then your group is not listening to the kill order. Nip this in the bud because in hairy situations it’s imperative that your group works together on the same targets to drop them quicker. Unless your DPS is slamming down AoE they should be on the same target as the tank.

The kill order works the same for Raids as well. Its easier to explain on vent and faster but when you use the same order from one raid to another (with the same people) your raid will remember your kill order and you won’t have to explain it after a while and your progress will move much smoother and faster. This all goes back to something I mentioned before, if you’re a tank you’re a leader. Lead with confidence.

Build your Kill Order and stick to it. If someone says, “That’s not right” stand up for yourself and say it’s your KO and for the rest of this run this is the way it is, period.

Mike aka Valaar

P.S. Tanking Tidbits will be ending with Tidbit No.10, at least for a little while.
I’m going to be introducing some other features and continuing with “Random Observations”. If you have any questions on tanking that you’d like to ask please send them to me at admin@valaar.com

C7R7A46GF738

Posted in WoW |

The same old Valaar

December 8, 2009 - 8:29 am No Comments

Hey all, I’ve gotten some email asking me if I’m the same Valaar from Project Lore. Yes, I am. I am still a blogger for them and forum admin as well. I got started with Alex Albrecht and PL by doing the cartoon toons for the class guides and the Wings of Victory shirt on sale at jinx.com.

I’ve since slowed down my blogs there since the boys have taken a break. That’s sort of the reason I started up Valaar.com.

Hope that helps.

Thanks

Mike aka Valaar

Posted in WoW |

My 30th Cake…

November 30, 2009 - 7:01 pm No Comments

30_Cake

You have may have seen this on WoW.com today but I thought it was worth mentioning here as well. I turned the magical (or aging) number of 30 on November 20th. Once again my fiancee’ has gone above and beyond my expectations. She is truly a talent person. I love her so much, not only for the everyday things she does (and puts up with) but to actually support this addiction and made not one but two cakes for me is incredible.

This cake is a pumpkin spiced cake with cream cheese icing. The dragon is completely edible and was mmm… mmm… good.

Once I get my gallery up and going I’ll post more pictures and last year’s cake. If you haven’t seen it yet, here is the link to wow.com’s article on it here.

If your on Kargath (US Alliance) and see Erelia (55 Rogue) or her Alt/new Main Rayvin (71 DeathKnight) send her a message about the cake.

Later all!

Mike aka Valaar

Edit: I was informed by my fiancée that the dragon is made of fondant. It was cut out and left out to harden then was painted using powdered food coloring that was mixed with water. But yes, the whole thing is 100% edible.

Posted in Updates and/or News, WoW |

To buy or not to buy? That is the question!

November 25, 2009 - 9:18 pm No Comments

spending-money

I’ve listen to a few podcasts and read the forums lately about the idea of Blizzard doing these new micro-transactions. These pets have caused all kinds of praise and backlash. While I haven’t bought one simply cause of the price, I still lean on the side that it’s ok with the idea.

First, let me say I can understand why people are upset and I’ll list a few reasons for those who haven’t read these elsewhere. Some are upset that it takes the ability to RP (RolePlay) away or harder to do. It also begs the question is money greater then time played. I’ll go into that later. There is also the question of will these to lead to other micro-transactions? Will we be able to buy gold from Blizzard or even tier armor or that weapon you’ve been drooling after? While Blizzard has said no to those, they also said no to switching factions and races… that didn’t last. Some ask why would Blizzard do this, just to make more money?

Now to answer these (some are opinion while others are more or less facts). Pet’s do not make it harder or remove the aspect of RP, its the RP’ers choice to use pets if they wish too. These pets are no different then the Mini Diablo from the original collectors box. How does one RP that one? So I don’t believe this is even an arguable issue. Time or Money? Which is greater? Let’s face facts here, there are players that simply have no life or SO much free time that obtaining items is just a matter of exactly that, time. Other players play casually or on the verge of hardcore but have important things in life, spouse, children, job, family or an illness etc… So should these players suffer and not be able to obtain items because they can’t do a solid five hour raid? I don’t think so but that’s just me. Should a player who enjoys this game and has gotten themselves decently geared but not geared enough be unable to down the Lich King, after all they did buy the game with the idea that they could. I think they should. But do I agree that armor and weapons should be sold, no I don’t. But when it comes down to pets an small items like that or even mounts I don’t think that people should suffer and not be able to have something they really want if they can only get one way or the other. How is offering players for instance a Proto Drake for purchase any different then putting a loot card for the same thing in the Upper Deck card game?

As for Blizzard saying one thing and doing another, lets keep this in mind. This industry is moving and moving quickly. Blizzard is aware that there are competitors out there and they’ve managed to keep growing and keeping it’s momentum. Why? Because they change with the times and it’s surroundings. Aion has come out and WoW is running on 5 years old now and their other games on the horizon. So you need to offer players who’ve been playing their characters, the same characters, for five years something new and refreshing. If that means going from alliance to horde or vice versa then so be it. They are doing these maneuvers simple to stay on top and give you, the players, a refreshing product in between expansions.

I also personally think if they have those purchasable pets and you drop $10 real word cash your going to feel bad if you choose to leave for another game after dropping that money. Sort of like buyer remorse.

Well I think I’ve ranted enough on the subject. But I just hope the players who are hating on Blizzard for these moves rethink their stance as they are just doing these things to keep WoW number one.

Till next time,

Mike aka Valaar

Posted in WoW |

The Pandaren Brewmaster, For Sale?

November 25, 2009 - 4:12 pm No Comments

product

Yes, the Pandaren Brewmaster we all love and can never play is finally a figure. Blizzard’s own Kat Hunter (@kathunter) posted on Twitter the following link http://us.blizzard.com/store/details.xml?id=1100000802 that you may check out and see bigger and better pictures and even a price. But if your to lazy and don’t want to track around the asking price is $49.99. Sounds steep, but, it does weigh four and half pounds. Yes, you read that right. It’s also 8″ tall and it just looks beastly. It’s very cool no doubt, but, this makes me wonder what’s with all the love to the Pandaren lately? Makes one wonder if they are really just testing the waters to see if a Pandaren would make a nice playable race. Most likely not but oh you know you’d love it. Here’s an idea for Blizzard how about the Pandaren are the only NEUTRAL race….meaning you can talk, team, raid and shop with both factions. The only down side, you can’t PvP, since they are peaceful ambassador like creatures. Would be an interesting concept don’t ya think?

Well we may not be able to play as them but we can now play WITH them.

Anyway check it out and disregard my random banter.

-Valaar
Twitter @Valaar

Posted in WoW |

When is a game not a game?

March 30, 2009 - 8:30 pm 1 Comment

Recently I left my guild (in world of warcraft) that I help start because I was having some difficultly providing the time to raid. I joined another guild who had better raid times and they started on time and ended on time. I thought this would be the right choice. I’ll leave the name of the guild private. Basically they are known for downing pretty much everything with ease. My first raid with them we downed Sarth3D and I received my “Twilight Vanquisher” title. Then we proceeded to do Malygos 25 man and downed him. I thought to myself, WOW, this might be nice.

The next day I logged on and was confronted by one of the guild’s officer’s and rival Paladin tank. I was asked if I knew what “WWS” was and I was confused and responded, no. WWS is apparently and app or mod that the raid leader has running during the raid of an instance that makes a report detailing every players every move. I mean EVERYTHING. It keeps a report on how many times you clicked a certain action or how often you “DIDN’T” hit a certain action. I was then told I wasn’t playing my class the way I should. That I had to learn things and change things. They said they’d be monitoring my play style and would be judging me later.

This left a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t pay 15 dollars a month to play a “GAME” for a guild’s big brother to watch over me every second of a raid. I can understand a guild wanting to progress and move forward and down content. I’ve been in a few and I know others in a few guilds that having been moving forward in progression and have downed Sarth3D without any type of WWS or Big Brother antics.

If that wasn’t enough, I left a guild of people that cared and acknowledged me. When you log into Warcraft there’s something about getting a hello or hey from another player whether they mean it or if it’s just a formality. It’s acknowledgment one way or the other. I spent spent a week in this guild and didn’t have one person say hi or bye when I’d log on and say “Hey everyone” or “Later all”. Zero. Zip. Zilch.

I sat in front of my computer and thought to myself what did I do…

I realized that I left people that care, people that talk to you, people that raid together and progress and are willing to work around someone’s mistakes and help them fix it, without addons showing their mistakes… I left friends.

Thankfully I left on good terms, I spoke to Zalikarra and Kiana, two people who’ve made playing this game that much more enjoyable. Because they are real people who have emotions and care for one another. I don’t know if they’ll read this but I want to publicly thank them. I gave up my GL spot and left them in a hard spot and they took me back and with open arms. That is a guild. That is what true friendship is all about.

Posted in Rants, WoW |

Why is WoW so…well, WOW!

March 7, 2009 - 11:31 pm 1 Comment

Ok, so World of Warcraft has got over 14 million subscribers, give or take. This is a feat that no other game in the MMO genre can even come close to at this point. EverQuest the once dominant king of the MMO’s topped out at 400,000 people. That was considered the pinnacle at the time. Then came the juggernaut, World of Warcraft, I can remember seeing boxes in stores for WoW with gold stickers “1 Million Subscribers” then shortly after “5 Million” then “10 Million”….it just kept climbing.

How did Blizzards now flagship title climb so high while other MMO’s could only manage to get under a million or barely over it? Some critics and writers have ideas…such as its ease of game play. That it was user friendly to even novices of computer games. Unlike some games that were extremely difficult to get started with and then jump to a steep learning curve. I’m looking at you Anarchy Online!  Was it the colorful and stylized look that charmed those who wouldn’t normally pick up a dark dungeon crawler? It could have been the features that other games failed to have like an auction house, mounts, vanity pets, better end game content. There are numerous reasons that have been listed and I think they are all valid.

Then there is my theory why this game has done so well and reached a larger audience than EverQuest 1 and 2, Anarchy Online, Dark Age of Camelot, EVE, City of Heroes, Age of Conan, and even the new and struggling Warhammer. Blizzard is friendly to both PC and Mac. Now I’m not here to write as a Mac fan boy so relax PC devotees. What I am saying is there is a huge fan base of gamers out there that only have a Mac as their computers (they may have a 360 or PS3)….so when an MMO comes out and it’s PC only guess what, they get shafted.  Some people just don’t look at the Mac as a gaming machine. Keep in mind a little studio called Bungie certainly did when it made Myth and Myth 2, and even Halo was first made for the Mac before being purchased by Micro$oft. That aside, I can tell you that I play WoW on a MacBook Pro 2.6ghz Dual Core 256mb ATI with 4gb of ram. All hooked up to a 24” HD monitor….simply amazing. So it can be done. I know a lot of people in my guild that use Macs.

So I ask you all…while there are many things that attract us to WoW…what about those things that allow us to “actually” PLAY WoW. I’d like to try Age of Conan or even Warhammer but I can’t.

So do you agree? Do you think that this has any effect? Do you think other games would make a bigger impact and gain more subscribers and make a dent into WoW’s lead if had the same game plan and went to Mac’s as well?

Posted in Rants, WoW |

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