T w e n t y S i d e d
DM of the Rings LXXVIII: Think of the Children
Wednesday Action Log 7-3-24
This week I’ve gotten to play a bit of Phasmophobia. I quite like the new map, and the quality of life improvements are very appreciated. Especially a dedicated space for the lighter. I don’t have much more to say about it due to writing this right after playing only an hour, but I will probably be playing more.
I’m also still playing Rimworld. Not much happening other than paving everything outside of my base and accumulating as much wealth as possible.
What’s going on with everyone else?
Moving on in the Burning Crusade: Zangarmarsh
Here’s the current map of my presence in World of Warcraft:
- Selarashari has completed The Burning Crusade. I am currently working on crafting (blacksmithing) and checking for any rare drops I may want to get, like mounts or transmog gear. I have won the battle against trying to get 100% of everything gettable, mainly because class-specific gear makes that impossible for one character. Additionally, having the mutually exclusive factions of Scryer and Aldor means you either have to run two characters JUST FOR THAT, or get everything with one faction and then pay to switch and grind all the way up FROM UNFRIENDLY INSTEAD OF NEUTRAL with the other faction. I actually have an idea for getting this done, though…
- Mystilatre is functionally finished with Warlords of Draenor as well, excepting the ending raid on Hellfire Citadel. I finally went to the final zone, Tanaan Jungle, to run through the last bits of the story and get to the raid, only to find out that Tanaan Jungle isn’t a normal zone. For the record, even the first time I played through Warlords of Draenor I stopped when I reached Tanaan Jungle because I couldn’t find any quests other than bonus missions and repeatable reputation quests. Well, it turns out that’s all there is in this zone. The bonus missions direct you to numerous regional fights around the Jungle which collectively illustrate how you are closing in on Hellfire Citadel. There are a handful of weekly random “Garrison Missions” that contribute to this part of the game as well. Everything else in the expansion is waiting around for rare spawns and drops, just as with Selarashari. I am reaching a point of getting bored with WoD. I have started laying some groundwork for starting Wrath of the Lich King, and I could make an argument for sending either Selarashari or the re-rolled Cinderlynn to Northrend as the Blood Elves and Forsaken both have compelling story reasons to engage in that expansion. Mystilatre not so much, BUT it did occur to me that I could send her back in time to The Burning Crusade to do an Alliance/Aldor run through that story.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Moving on in the Burning Crusade: Zangarmarsh”
DM of the Rings Remastered LXXVII: An Important Distinction
Wednesday Action Log 6-26-24
This week I’m pretty much only playing Rimworld. I would also be playing Stardew Valley, but our internet is currently being very bad at its job. So I guess this week’s Rimworld highlights are: realizing that living in a mountainous ice sheet is bad when your only food, heat, and feed for your livestock comes from hydroponics. Nothing else could ever get done because if one person is out of commission, the whole colony would collapse.
So I started a new save and quickly learned that raiders can just take stuff and go if you live close enough to the edge of the map. They stole my couch and megascreen television. I liked that couch and I spent too much money on that TV. I also got a colonist with the traits too smart and fast learner, which skyrockets their learning speed for skills with a passion to 250% from 100% and skills without a passion to 88% from 35%.
Anyway, next week is probably going to be more Rimworld unless Armstrong remembers how to create internet. If they do figure it out, I’ll probably be playing the new Phasmophobia update.
What is going on with you guys?
Wait…I finished one?
Yes. Last week I completed Galactic Seasons 6 in Star Wars: The Old Republic, but that’s not what I’m talking about. A couple of days ago I finished The Burning Crusade expansion of World of Warcraft. I should clarify that I have finished THE STORY; the plot. I have done everything in the game that connects the end of the initial release of World of Warcraft, plus its updates; through to the end of The Burning Crusade and all its updates. As with other expansions, there were originally also some pre-patch events that took place BETWEEN The Burning Crusade and the next expansion, Wrath of the Lich King which can no longer be played. But more discussion on the move onto WotLK later. I should also note I do still have the Draenei Hunter Mystilatre in Warlords of Draenor completing the Garrison before finishing that expansion. I have had some uncertainty over when to call an expansion “done” for reasons I will get into with Selarashari.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “Wait…I finished one?”
DM of the Rings Remastered LXXVI: Our Once and Future Party Leader
From The Archives:
Batman: Arkham City
A look back at one of my favorite games. The gameplay was stellar, but the underlying story was clumsy and oddly constructed.
The Gameplay is the Story
Some advice to game developers on how to stop ruining good stories with bad cutscenes.
Steam Summer Blues
This mess of dross, confusion, and terrible UI design is the storefront the big publishers couldn't beat? Amazing.
Bethesda’s Launcher is Everything You Expect
From the company that brought us Fallout 76 comes a storefront / Steam competitor. It's a work of perfect awfulness. This is a monument to un-usability and anti-features.
Please Help I Can’t Stop Playing Cities: Skylines
What makes this borderline indie title so much better than the AAA juggernauts that came before?
Project Button Masher
I teach myself music composition by imitating the style of various videogame soundtracks. How did it turn out? Listen for yourself.
Free Radical
The product of fandom run unchecked, this novel began as a short story and grew into something of a cult hit.
Do It Again, Stupid
One of the highest-rated games of all time has some of the least interesting gameplay.
If Star Wars Was Made in 2006?
Imagine if the original Star Wars hadn't appeared in the 1970's, but instead was pitched to studios in 2006. How would that turn out?
Who Broke the In-Game Economy?
Why are RPG economies so bad? Why are shopkeepers so mercenary, why are the prices so crazy, and why do you always end up a gazillionaire by the end of the game? Can't we just have a sensible balanced economy?