MikeJL Blog - MMO

LOTRO Free To Play this Fall!

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:54:34 -0700

This is exciting news. LOTRO is going Free 2 play!

http://www.lotro.com/news/709-announcing-the-lord-of-the-rings-onlines-move-to-free-to-play-

I always liked LOTRO however I'd take it in small amounts of play and found it hard to justify the monthly sub. This fall I'm heading back. I will purchase some Turbine Points ans an upgrade to bag slots and gold cap.

Details..

Summer MMO Wanderings

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:38:39 -0700

Got the itch to revisit Warhammer “WAR.” Got a “fair” priced for a 60 day time card; I think after the over billing debacle Warhammer time cards are a hot item. Still a few dollars cheaper than a OTC 60 day card.

EDIT: Connection issues and graphics glitches. On a 10 day welcome back.. see if I'll use the 60 day time code or sell it on e-bay.

EDIT (6/8/10): Will let the 10 days free run out. Hold on too the 60 day WAR time code for now. Guess WAR just not doing it for me as I thought it would. Think as its a heavy RvR game and I like a more PvE. So I went back to EVE as its a no "end-game" game. More my speed.

New Life at 50

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:37:48 -0700

No not 50 years of age; level 50. In AoC when you hit level 50 you got a one time level 50 alt. With about 1 gold 50 silver (enough to purchase a mount) and a comparable set of gear.
So it finally happened; Vandoren, my Aquilonian Conqueror, hit level 50. DING!

So I created a Cimmerian Ranger , Thorngar.

New character and new expansion coming is pumping some fresh blood into AoC.

CROM!

Update (5/6): Ranger seems to become new main. Now at level 53.
Link to planed feat build for Bow/PvE

By CROM!

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:52:06 -0700

Conan! What is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women ..
Me: and 60 days of play for the cost of 30!

Got me a cheap 60 day Age of Conan time card. And heading out to Hyboria again. This time armed with a video card upgrade. Got a 9800GT 1GB few months ago and look forward to better graphics and smother performance.

Also .. Vandoren my 48 Conqueror is close to 50. And at 50 you get a one time alt also at level 50. I'm thinking Cimmerian Ranger. And to top it off I pre-ordered of the AoC expansion "Rise of the Godsalyer" that should arrive May 11th.

So poor me some ale and fetch me a wench.

then I'm off to bash some skulls.

Update (4/27/10) - BY CROM! new video card makes world of difference! I click "High" for graphics setting and get great FPS so far. And even get .. shadows! Game looks fantastic and played smooth. Did some combat in Fields of the Dead (to relearn how to swing a sword .. then headed to Old Tarantia Market (i.e. auction house) and FPS dropped into the 30's. Before with older AoC code and 8600GT I was lucky to get 20 FPS anywhere.

So off to a great start.

It's about the journey

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:02:55 -0700

Think why EVE has hooked me. It's the journey of it. I never been an "end-game" player in my MMOs. Did years ago in WoW (pre BC) however my life as a "raider" was short. Even now in STO I don't find and game appealing and as I hit Admiral I already have plans for other alts.

I find I enjoy the journey and adventure that comes with the progression in a game. EVE really seems about that. No rush to end game.

So here is to the start of my journey in EVE. (and a screen shot of my destroyer)

What the EVE?

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:11:25 -0700

For a person who loves Fantasy and PvE game play; I find it strange I subbed to EVE Online. Also this is the first where SciFi MMOs outnumber fantasy. I guess I love the variety.
Having co-workers who play EVE was a huge influence. One got me the 21 days trial (that is now a subbed account). I’m still focusing on PvE as the death penalty is steep over any other MMO I have played. However it’s this risk, extreme depth, the huge size of the game space and the sandbox feel that had drawn me in for now.

Guess I have MMO ADD and things will change when WoW Cataclysm arrives.

He said Captain I said what ...

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:16:01 -0700

Achieved capitan this weekend and finally got into the exploration class cruiser. This class is similar to Enterprise from TNG; however, the new ship is mix of Galaxy, Envoy and Celestial class parts.
Here is the USS Earl Gray:

Also I dished out several promotions to the crew. Especially the Bridge Officers (all commander rank) and my science officer is officially named Doctor now. Here is the latest crew ...

I did not post Cmdr. Eighteen. A liberated Borg (from the Amazon pre-order); she is an engineer and givers a +5 to all system (she is like my Data of my bridge crew).

The new command moves me from the Romulan front to DS9 and Cardasian space.

The Crew

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:01:22 -0700

Noticed a few other players have done this. So few screen shots, Windows Paint and 20 min I put together a montage of the ship and crew:

I picked my top key bridge officers and game them specific uniforms (rest of crew has standard TNG look). I still have a few Ensign rank officers; and a few Lt rank officers. One a liberated Borg as Lt. Engineer Bridge Officer and on my away team and a Vulcan science officer (gota have a Vulcan science officer).

This really brings a personal depth to the game.

I also ran across a Wiki site at www.stogeek.com that payers are making their own wiki pages.

Very cool
Some notes on skills I plan:
I'm going to dump Boarding party for Aceton Field 1. BP was too circumstantial and unsure how often I've seen it work. I might get it later with the Galaxy cruiser

I like to have my Eng BOff skills beef up survivability. Here is a plan:

At Captain (when I pickup my Galaxy) I may go with this:

Equipment changes also..
I got rid of the mines on my Heavy Cruiser and went with an additional beam. I really was an improvement. I might replace a forward plasma beam I have with a phaser. 4x phasers 2x torp. Need to upgrade the EPS console (have a +1 right now) as the extra phaser bank draws more power.

Torn between Two Ships

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:59:29 -0700

Promoted to Commander this weekend. (i.e. level 21). And giving a new ship assignment .I choose a heavy crusier:

From the wiki

"Despite their slow maneuverability, Cruisers have Advanced Warp cores, and with the extra power produced are capable of withstanding large amounts of damage, extending their shields to nearby damaged vessels, and equiping multiple phaser arrays to in their bow and aft equipment bays. These vessels also have large cargo holds making them ideal for moving equipment or personnel on long journeys."

Here is the USS Argonaut (in route to take on the "Domesday machine") I need to get some better pics of the ship.

Then the smaller choice of my a Research Science Vessel (RSV)

From the wiki
The Science vessel is perhaps the most versatile and useful ship found on the front lines of combat, and can be configured to support other vessels in a variety of different ways. The Science vessel shines when it comes to scientific research and application with the majority of the Bridge Officer stations focussed to Science personnel. Captains with a deep understanding of Scientific research and theory will find themselves and their vessels sought on the battlefield for the multitude of tasks they are able to perform.

Although Science vessels are not the most powerful, indeed some may see them as the most vunerable, they are not unarmed and can still be formidable vessels.

Here is the USS Equinox (I went ahead and purchased the ship):

Both offer different combat tactics. I play science all through Lt Cmdr and love it. However, I'm starting to lean too the cruiser. It can take a beating however the tactics of moving your weak shields out of harms way is not always the best (as the cruiser flys like the large ship it is). I found I also need to direct power to certain shields as well as plan ahead on maneuvering.

I read up on a cleaver tactic to use .. move into range above the target then open up a broadside. Make maneuvering a pain as you cannot fly straight up in STO so the elevation put you at an advantage.

So again .. I gain a rank and end up with two ships. Parking is becoming a problem.

Number One .. go park the RSV. Were taken the cruiser out for now.

I need a bigger STO garage

nospam@example.com (Mike) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:14:43 -0700

.. to hold my ships.
Having an extra an abundance of credits and points to get addition science bridge officer; I picked up a science vessel.
So I commissioned the U.S.S. Magellan.

Took it out for a quick trip (to the Delta Vouranus Cluster) and was having fun with the abilities it has (like targeting enemy sub systems; and the other abilities from the extra science officer). Admittedly the Orion smuggles I encountered were lower level so I’ll take out the Magellan to equal level areas see how it does.

Science or Cruisers .. it’s nice to have choices. Just parking could be a problem.