No, this is not a post about women's tatoos, nor is it about how corporate culture only allows for men to rise to the top of the top positions. This is all about how honest you are...not me, YOU!
And when I say YOU, I don't mean YOU, rather I mean YA'LLS. Not YA'LLS as in just those who read this blog, but YA'LLS as including even those who don't but who post comments on all kinds of forums and blogs throughout the internets that Al Gore invented. I am soooooooo tired. Late nights, little sleep, worrying, fighting with the po-po (yes, I had a fight with a cop, but it was a civilized argument and I didn't get arrested). That's my excuse for my random thoughts.
Where was I? What's the point? Ah yes, honesty. I won't point to any specific comment from any specific forum, but I have an observation to make. Have you ever seen someone say (not an actual quote):
"blah, blah with this setup in X spec I topped the DPS charts every time...blah, blah, blah."
How many out on the internets are claiming that they are tops DPS? Over a year of reading blogs and forums I've see a whole lotta bunch of 'em. So many, in fact, I wonder who is coming in second, third, or even last among the DPS. By proof of sheer anecdotes only, it seems like EVERYONE is topping the charts, which means some of you are lying fornicators. Well, perhaps not fornicators, but definately lying.
The only way I can understand how so many top the charts is this: some of these people solo a lot. No, I change my mind, they are lying. Of course I have no proof for what I'm saying, but I don't need to, I don't work for a Newspaper who would have to fire me then print a retraction for calling people lying fornicators (sorry, did it again, I'm not really saying your fornicators). No, I have a tiny little blog that a few people read, and honestly I've never seen any of my readers claim what I'm talking about, so really I'm talking to the wind here.
Speaking of wind, Las Vegas gets really windy in the winter, which is approaching in a couple months. I'll keep my hair short because I hate combing it in the morning only to get messed up by the time I step through the front door at work.
The next time somebody says "X is why I always top the DPS charts, easy peasy..." I'm going to demand a recount screenshot or demand that they tell their spouse they are a lying fornicator!
Maybe I will, maybe I won't. It's all moot anyway since these people will probably never visit this part of the Al Gore internets. But if you do, here's my warning to you: TELL THE TRUTH! If you land 3rd, say it. It's ok to be third best behind two other really, really, really, really, really awesome DPS, there's no shame in being only really good. Just stop lying (notice I didn't say fornicating?).
______________________________________________
Song Update
I want to make something VERY CLEAR. I'm not setting out to write an entire musical, just a song inspired by muscials about the Cataclysm. One song! If I feel like more I will, but one song is all I'll do. I was thinking this morning, I'll probably be so embarassed that I'll stop blogging forever, just disappear, rename myself, and troll everyone else's blog till I get banned from all the Al Gore internets. Yes, that's a likely plan.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Two's Company
Every post for the next two or three weeks will have a dual purpose.
1) Continue doing what I do, writing about the connection between WoW and life and thier resulting issues (that and complete nonsense for the fun of it).
2) To give updates and ask for advice on my newly announced song project: WoW, The Musical.
__________________________________________
Should you look for a new job?
I'm curious, have any of you ever attempted to play in a role (tank, heals, or DPS) where you discovered that you were just not that good? I don't mean that 'it didn't feel right' or 'doing X didn't really click with me', what I refer to is a very real ineptitude despite hard work at researching and practicing.
For a long time I thougt that was going to be me as a healer, but I stuck with it longer than I originally wanted to because not only was there a need but I was grateful for a challenge. I wanted to quit, I believed myself really bad, but all it took was one small change and suddenly I became pretty good.
I tried tanking while leveling, but I found that I wasn't very good. I understood the priciples involved and knew my toolbox very well, but I don't think I had a good balance of awareness and quick reflexes to react to things when they went bad. I got too nervous and couldn't keep my cool. Bad traits for a tank.
DPS is natural and easy for me. Rotations make sense to my analytical mind, I find an ease in following a routine. Healing is in between tanking and DPS, and for a while I couldn't find that balance, but eventually it became a natural extension of what my eyes and brain processed, and I could react swiftly to problems.
Maybe I should go back to tanking now I have a handle on healing. Perhaps I wouldn't suck as much now that awareness has been learned. I still wonder, are some people destined to be 'bad' at a certain role because of some trait or characteristic of their person that is a barrier to success? I really don't know, I'm just thinking out loud.
___________________________________________
Now for the update on the musical.
I want to create a trio of singers, which may end up straining my voice a bit, but some lemon juice should help with that. I want it to be kind of a funny but dark song. In one corner there will be a Doomsayer who is mocking a poor, innocent Gnome about the impending Shattering. A struggle of wills, so to speak, will be the main theme of the first part of the song.
Just when it appears that the Gnome has found the courage to stand up to an elemental invasion, Deathwing himself appears to taunt the Gnome and bring him to his knees, all the while the Doomsayer laughing in the background, continuing to mock without remorse.
The conclusion is a surprise (or maybe I haven't got that far, you'll never know).
Of course this is what I have right now. I'm working out the lyrics and the melody currently, I'll figure out a way to mix some music in there as well. All of this, remember, is comletely subject to change at will. All I'm doing right now is to let you in on my creative process. Often when I start writing a story I think I've got a great idea but then it all comes crumbling down when I realize that I forgot a small detail. But this detail ends up being the cornerstone for the inspiration of a new idea or new story, and everything changes for the better. So please allow me to change my mind at will, as it may inevitably lead to something far better.
Remember also that I am open to suggestions, and will give full credit to any and all that help make this come together. I realized this morning when I woke up that I put myself in a pretty big hole, needing to deliver on a promise of something I haven't attempted in, well, never anything LIKE this. I have written songs before, but not with the aid of a computer. I shall do my best and hope it doesn't completely suck.
1) Continue doing what I do, writing about the connection between WoW and life and thier resulting issues (that and complete nonsense for the fun of it).
2) To give updates and ask for advice on my newly announced song project: WoW, The Musical.
__________________________________________
Should you look for a new job?
I'm curious, have any of you ever attempted to play in a role (tank, heals, or DPS) where you discovered that you were just not that good? I don't mean that 'it didn't feel right' or 'doing X didn't really click with me', what I refer to is a very real ineptitude despite hard work at researching and practicing.
For a long time I thougt that was going to be me as a healer, but I stuck with it longer than I originally wanted to because not only was there a need but I was grateful for a challenge. I wanted to quit, I believed myself really bad, but all it took was one small change and suddenly I became pretty good.
I tried tanking while leveling, but I found that I wasn't very good. I understood the priciples involved and knew my toolbox very well, but I don't think I had a good balance of awareness and quick reflexes to react to things when they went bad. I got too nervous and couldn't keep my cool. Bad traits for a tank.
DPS is natural and easy for me. Rotations make sense to my analytical mind, I find an ease in following a routine. Healing is in between tanking and DPS, and for a while I couldn't find that balance, but eventually it became a natural extension of what my eyes and brain processed, and I could react swiftly to problems.
Maybe I should go back to tanking now I have a handle on healing. Perhaps I wouldn't suck as much now that awareness has been learned. I still wonder, are some people destined to be 'bad' at a certain role because of some trait or characteristic of their person that is a barrier to success? I really don't know, I'm just thinking out loud.
___________________________________________
Now for the update on the musical.
I want to create a trio of singers, which may end up straining my voice a bit, but some lemon juice should help with that. I want it to be kind of a funny but dark song. In one corner there will be a Doomsayer who is mocking a poor, innocent Gnome about the impending Shattering. A struggle of wills, so to speak, will be the main theme of the first part of the song.
Just when it appears that the Gnome has found the courage to stand up to an elemental invasion, Deathwing himself appears to taunt the Gnome and bring him to his knees, all the while the Doomsayer laughing in the background, continuing to mock without remorse.
The conclusion is a surprise (or maybe I haven't got that far, you'll never know).
Of course this is what I have right now. I'm working out the lyrics and the melody currently, I'll figure out a way to mix some music in there as well. All of this, remember, is comletely subject to change at will. All I'm doing right now is to let you in on my creative process. Often when I start writing a story I think I've got a great idea but then it all comes crumbling down when I realize that I forgot a small detail. But this detail ends up being the cornerstone for the inspiration of a new idea or new story, and everything changes for the better. So please allow me to change my mind at will, as it may inevitably lead to something far better.
Remember also that I am open to suggestions, and will give full credit to any and all that help make this come together. I realized this morning when I woke up that I put myself in a pretty big hole, needing to deliver on a promise of something I haven't attempted in, well, never anything LIKE this. I have written songs before, but not with the aid of a computer. I shall do my best and hope it doesn't completely suck.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
WoW, The Musical
WoW, The Musical
Staring: Yours Truly
Lyrics by: Collaboration
Music by: Me
Rumor has it that some of you are in a transition. Within the wind of those same rumors I hear that there are some among you that want to discuss Cataclysm, while others don’t want to hear a thing and are simply waiting for Dec. 7, 2010. Wrath winding down, patch 4.0.1 in on our doorsteps, the world will be changing soon, and nothing says ‘hey, the world is about to blow up’ better than a great Broadway musical.
That’s right, folks, I am on the verge of doing something so totally embarrassing that I can hardly believe I’m putting it into words. But if I’m going to open my soul here, I’m going to need some help. First let me tell you what I’m planning, then I’m going to ask for some advice and a little bit of input.
This is the Plan
I love to sing, although it’s been a long while since I’ve been part of an organized singing group or had to perform for more than my own family. I also love to play Wow, so my thought was to write a song about WoW and sing it for you fine folk, right here on my blog.
I’ll begin to write the lyrics for the song and plan to present them to everyone for your input, revisions, edits, criticisms, and praise. After making final edits I’ll move on to create a tune, or a melody. I don’t have any musical instruments in my home at the moment, and am not very good with mixing voice and music on a computer, but I’ll figure something out.
Problem
The problem I have is that I don’t know how to record something and post it to the internet. Yeah, I’m not very pop-culture-techno-savy; don’t hate me because I’m beautiful! I don’t need much instruction, I’m an incredibly fast learner, but if I could get some tips on how to create a podcast or something from you fine folk that would be wonderful.
Performance
I used to sing and dance in musicals growing up. I played Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (the giant man-eating plant). I also played Rolf in The Sound of Music (the boyfriend of the eldest daughter Liesl who turns Nazi in the end). I’ve performed as Gaston in a college musical version of Beauty and the Beast…funniest character I’ve ever played. I’ve sang in front of thousands of people dozens of times so I should have no problem doing it for people I’ve never met who can’t even see my face. Plus, I’ll get to record it so you won’t hear all the really bad takes, you’ll get the best one I turn out (meaning there could be some mistakes but I’ll be so tired I just won’t care).
I can do impersonations too, so if you want a little Garth Brooks or Frank Sinatra, I’ll turn my voice in that direction. But more than likely I’ll sing it how the song dictates it should be sung, which is a very instinctual way to do it.
Warning
It has been years since I’ve really sang, and I admit that some of my skills have diminished somewhat, so don’t expect professional quality. I was never a professional anyway, just a passionate amateur, something that will seem all too obvious.
Need your Help
So if anyone out there can contribute either technical advice or lyrical inspiration, I most welcome it. It will take a few weeks at most to put this together, so the faster I get your help the faster I’ll finish. All I can say is THIS WILL BE…INTERESTING!
Staring: Yours Truly
Lyrics by: Collaboration
Music by: Me
Rumor has it that some of you are in a transition. Within the wind of those same rumors I hear that there are some among you that want to discuss Cataclysm, while others don’t want to hear a thing and are simply waiting for Dec. 7, 2010. Wrath winding down, patch 4.0.1 in on our doorsteps, the world will be changing soon, and nothing says ‘hey, the world is about to blow up’ better than a great Broadway musical.
That’s right, folks, I am on the verge of doing something so totally embarrassing that I can hardly believe I’m putting it into words. But if I’m going to open my soul here, I’m going to need some help. First let me tell you what I’m planning, then I’m going to ask for some advice and a little bit of input.
This is the Plan
I love to sing, although it’s been a long while since I’ve been part of an organized singing group or had to perform for more than my own family. I also love to play Wow, so my thought was to write a song about WoW and sing it for you fine folk, right here on my blog.
I’ll begin to write the lyrics for the song and plan to present them to everyone for your input, revisions, edits, criticisms, and praise. After making final edits I’ll move on to create a tune, or a melody. I don’t have any musical instruments in my home at the moment, and am not very good with mixing voice and music on a computer, but I’ll figure something out.
Problem
The problem I have is that I don’t know how to record something and post it to the internet. Yeah, I’m not very pop-culture-techno-savy; don’t hate me because I’m beautiful! I don’t need much instruction, I’m an incredibly fast learner, but if I could get some tips on how to create a podcast or something from you fine folk that would be wonderful.
Performance
I used to sing and dance in musicals growing up. I played Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (the giant man-eating plant). I also played Rolf in The Sound of Music (the boyfriend of the eldest daughter Liesl who turns Nazi in the end). I’ve performed as Gaston in a college musical version of Beauty and the Beast…funniest character I’ve ever played. I’ve sang in front of thousands of people dozens of times so I should have no problem doing it for people I’ve never met who can’t even see my face. Plus, I’ll get to record it so you won’t hear all the really bad takes, you’ll get the best one I turn out (meaning there could be some mistakes but I’ll be so tired I just won’t care).
I can do impersonations too, so if you want a little Garth Brooks or Frank Sinatra, I’ll turn my voice in that direction. But more than likely I’ll sing it how the song dictates it should be sung, which is a very instinctual way to do it.
Warning
It has been years since I’ve really sang, and I admit that some of my skills have diminished somewhat, so don’t expect professional quality. I was never a professional anyway, just a passionate amateur, something that will seem all too obvious.
Need your Help
So if anyone out there can contribute either technical advice or lyrical inspiration, I most welcome it. It will take a few weeks at most to put this together, so the faster I get your help the faster I’ll finish. All I can say is THIS WILL BE…INTERESTING!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Why Acronyms Will Destroy Civilization!
Let me begin with my conclusion. Acronyms will destroy civilization because it is a rapid deformation of language, which if continued at its present pace, will destroy our ability to communicate true thought. WoW is the breeding ground of the earth’s demise!
The Beginning
I am fortunate to have English (or American English) as my first language. Much of the world is compelled to learn English in school, and does so quite proficiently. In the US we have the elective to learn other languages, but nothing is mandatory and most fake their way through foreign language courses just to get the grade then forget everything they “learned” when the semester is done.
I have taken it upon myself to learn another language proficiently, however, and try to learn others. I read, write and speak near perfect Spanish. Actually, the particular version I speak is sometimes called Castellano (Castilian)! It’s still Spanish, but as we know the same base language can be spoken differently by different peoples around the world. English is spoken in the US, Australia and England, but we all know that they sounds very different from one another. My teaching came from Argentina, heavily influenced by Spain, from whence Castilian originated, thereby the language considered to be spoken in Argentina is Castellano (or Castilian) – though they have their own flare that they’ve added, which I love.
Over time languages change, words are added, taken away, spellings change, meanings change, etc. But very recently in our civilization there is a new language being spoken by the youth and even the older of the world, Acronym! I’m going to here and now call Acronym a new language, even though I know it technically isn’t, but it’s fun and helps me to focus my theme for this post so freakin’ roll with it, will ya!
Acronym has existed as a rogue, silently stealthing its way into languages across the world. With the advent of the personal computer, email, cell phones, and finally texting, Acronym has exploded into a worldwide phenomenon. Unstoppable, Acronym is now, after thousands of years, poised to take over the world and destroy human civilization as we know it. Acronym first planted its roots in video games more than two decades ago. Slowly unspooling itself from arcade to console to computer to cell phone based games, it’s now so deeply rooted in our civilizations psyche it may already be too late to quell.
Already the chosen language for cell phone texting, Acronym has invaded all MMO’s ever invented…ever. It’s emergence in WoW is not a coincidence, however, and has been planned for nearly 3,000 years.
OK, That Wasn’t the Beginning…This is… really!
3,000 years ago an ancient philosopher once said:
“The day efficiency is more important than constancy, shall be the day the earth takes her last breath. SISBD” -Philosopher Dude
So for 3,000 years, the great debate in the real scientific community isn’t whether man evolved from apes (not today’s subject, you’ll get banned for commenting about it), it’s been a raging debate over the meaning of those five letters, S.I.S.B.D. It does not translate into any known language of the day, but there are some theories floating around, some making more sense than others. Here is the list of the most famous probable translations.
SISBD = Sugar In Succulent Blueberry Dumplings!
SISBD = So, I suck Bob Dylan?
SISBD = Somewhere In Syria are Blue Dragons! (mostly discarded, not because Dragons don’t exist, but because of the use of the word “are” – scientists are strange)
SISBD = Shorter Installation Sessions Bring Drachmas! (Possible irony in use here)
SISBD = So It Shall Be Done! (Pff, that’s just stupid)
SISBD = Shadow Bolt > Incinerate > Shadow Bolt > Bane of Agony > Doomguard
In a conference this past June in Jerilisha (I forgot the country), it was decided by a panel of judges that SISBD’s true meaning as an acronym, which translated was a spell rotation for an Affliction Warlock. The philosopher, by using this acronym was saying that not only was the end of the world beginning 3,000 years ago, but also that the MMORPG World of Warcraft would be the vehicle that would drive our civilization into oblivion.
Stunned at such a powerful revelation, Activision Blizzard has maintained a tight lid on the news from the scientific community. But now we know that WoW is destroying Civilization by not only utilizing Acronym but demanding its usage by all players, old and young.
Don’t ever text? Too bad, learn Acronym or die! Not a tweeting kind of person, suck it! You must learn Acronym or you won’t be that 1M DPS for 25M ICC that can PST GS/ACHIEVE. That’s final and there’s nothing we can do about it.
Path of Enlightenment
I began my rebellion against Acronym nearly two years ago. I met someone else who also despised the power that Acronym had over WoW players. We met secretly in a room above a shop in Dalaran, talking of a world of complete sentences and verbs and adverbs. It was intoxicating. We were enlisted as official rebels by a guild leader who we felt truly understood our hate of Acronym. Day after day we would post recruitment ads in trade chat using nouns, verbs, adjectives and even a gerund once in a while (gerunds were always highly stimulating).
One day I was asked to join a group into Ice Crown Citadel 10 Man Raid Instance. I offered my services and was led by the raid leader into a room set aside for teaching new raiders. In this room I was faced with my deepest fears, from trash mobs to bosses to other damage dealers standing in fire (oh the horror). But it all had a purpose, to enlighten me and teach me the errors of my ways.
I am ever grateful to that raid leader for teaching me that Acronym love me, and I love Acronym. I don’t know how I could ever live without Acronym. You must understand that the philosopher had it wrong all those years ago, efficiency is not the death of mother earth, adverbs are.
I now sing the praises of Acronym to any and all who will listen to the truth. Whoever said, “Acronyms will destroy civilization because it is a rapid deformation of language, which if continued at its present pace, will destroy our ability to communicate true thought. WoW is the breeding ground of the earth’s demise!” is a poor soul in need of a hug, a nice guild, and some NAXX 25M as DPS, just pst GS/ACHIEVE for invite.
The Beginning
I am fortunate to have English (or American English) as my first language. Much of the world is compelled to learn English in school, and does so quite proficiently. In the US we have the elective to learn other languages, but nothing is mandatory and most fake their way through foreign language courses just to get the grade then forget everything they “learned” when the semester is done.
I have taken it upon myself to learn another language proficiently, however, and try to learn others. I read, write and speak near perfect Spanish. Actually, the particular version I speak is sometimes called Castellano (Castilian)! It’s still Spanish, but as we know the same base language can be spoken differently by different peoples around the world. English is spoken in the US, Australia and England, but we all know that they sounds very different from one another. My teaching came from Argentina, heavily influenced by Spain, from whence Castilian originated, thereby the language considered to be spoken in Argentina is Castellano (or Castilian) – though they have their own flare that they’ve added, which I love.
Over time languages change, words are added, taken away, spellings change, meanings change, etc. But very recently in our civilization there is a new language being spoken by the youth and even the older of the world, Acronym! I’m going to here and now call Acronym a new language, even though I know it technically isn’t, but it’s fun and helps me to focus my theme for this post so freakin’ roll with it, will ya!
Acronym has existed as a rogue, silently stealthing its way into languages across the world. With the advent of the personal computer, email, cell phones, and finally texting, Acronym has exploded into a worldwide phenomenon. Unstoppable, Acronym is now, after thousands of years, poised to take over the world and destroy human civilization as we know it. Acronym first planted its roots in video games more than two decades ago. Slowly unspooling itself from arcade to console to computer to cell phone based games, it’s now so deeply rooted in our civilizations psyche it may already be too late to quell.
Already the chosen language for cell phone texting, Acronym has invaded all MMO’s ever invented…ever. It’s emergence in WoW is not a coincidence, however, and has been planned for nearly 3,000 years.
OK, That Wasn’t the Beginning…This is… really!
3,000 years ago an ancient philosopher once said:
“The day efficiency is more important than constancy, shall be the day the earth takes her last breath. SISBD” -Philosopher Dude
So for 3,000 years, the great debate in the real scientific community isn’t whether man evolved from apes (not today’s subject, you’ll get banned for commenting about it), it’s been a raging debate over the meaning of those five letters, S.I.S.B.D. It does not translate into any known language of the day, but there are some theories floating around, some making more sense than others. Here is the list of the most famous probable translations.
SISBD = Sugar In Succulent Blueberry Dumplings!
SISBD = So, I suck Bob Dylan?
SISBD = Somewhere In Syria are Blue Dragons! (mostly discarded, not because Dragons don’t exist, but because of the use of the word “are” – scientists are strange)
SISBD = Shorter Installation Sessions Bring Drachmas! (Possible irony in use here)
SISBD = So It Shall Be Done! (Pff, that’s just stupid)
SISBD = Shadow Bolt > Incinerate > Shadow Bolt > Bane of Agony > Doomguard
In a conference this past June in Jerilisha (I forgot the country), it was decided by a panel of judges that SISBD’s true meaning as an acronym, which translated was a spell rotation for an Affliction Warlock. The philosopher, by using this acronym was saying that not only was the end of the world beginning 3,000 years ago, but also that the MMORPG World of Warcraft would be the vehicle that would drive our civilization into oblivion.
Stunned at such a powerful revelation, Activision Blizzard has maintained a tight lid on the news from the scientific community. But now we know that WoW is destroying Civilization by not only utilizing Acronym but demanding its usage by all players, old and young.
Don’t ever text? Too bad, learn Acronym or die! Not a tweeting kind of person, suck it! You must learn Acronym or you won’t be that 1M DPS for 25M ICC that can PST GS/ACHIEVE. That’s final and there’s nothing we can do about it.
Path of Enlightenment
I began my rebellion against Acronym nearly two years ago. I met someone else who also despised the power that Acronym had over WoW players. We met secretly in a room above a shop in Dalaran, talking of a world of complete sentences and verbs and adverbs. It was intoxicating. We were enlisted as official rebels by a guild leader who we felt truly understood our hate of Acronym. Day after day we would post recruitment ads in trade chat using nouns, verbs, adjectives and even a gerund once in a while (gerunds were always highly stimulating).
One day I was asked to join a group into Ice Crown Citadel 10 Man Raid Instance. I offered my services and was led by the raid leader into a room set aside for teaching new raiders. In this room I was faced with my deepest fears, from trash mobs to bosses to other damage dealers standing in fire (oh the horror). But it all had a purpose, to enlighten me and teach me the errors of my ways.
I am ever grateful to that raid leader for teaching me that Acronym love me, and I love Acronym. I don’t know how I could ever live without Acronym. You must understand that the philosopher had it wrong all those years ago, efficiency is not the death of mother earth, adverbs are.
I now sing the praises of Acronym to any and all who will listen to the truth. Whoever said, “Acronyms will destroy civilization because it is a rapid deformation of language, which if continued at its present pace, will destroy our ability to communicate true thought. WoW is the breeding ground of the earth’s demise!” is a poor soul in need of a hug, a nice guild, and some NAXX 25M as DPS, just pst GS/ACHIEVE for invite.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Seasons
We’re at the time of year in the Northern Hemisphere knows as fall, or autumn. It’s a season of great change to the world’s northern forests as the chlorophyll in leaves quickly disintegrates due to lack of sunshine, and the other pigments in the leaves begin to shine through giving us stunning reds, deep and penetrating oranges, and brilliant yellows. Explosions of color come to the forests of China, Europe, Appalachia then on to Canada. Of course let’s not forget the place I grew up, New England (specifically New Hampshire), who has, in my o-so-not-even-close-to-being-biased, THE BEST AUTUMN COLORS IN THE WORLD.
What is so different about this autumn than the ones that came before it? This autumn we received the news of the actual release date for Cataclysm. This time last year I was aware of it, as were we all with the announcement at Blizzcon, but this is the year it’s actually happening and is no longer some far off dream, it’s an impending inevitability. The inevitable for me is that I am being drained of my former pigments, my paradigm of Azeroth is disintegrating within me and I’m being filled with the vibrant colors of change.
In truth my change began to occur long before autumn, but it’s in this season that it’s all coming to a head and I’m being forced to face these new and fresh pigments, a new paradigm of how and why I play WoW. I’m forced to ask myself, what do the changes mean for me? I shall attempt to give voice to these colors.
What is so different about this autumn than the ones that came before it? This autumn we received the news of the actual release date for Cataclysm. This time last year I was aware of it, as were we all with the announcement at Blizzcon, but this is the year it’s actually happening and is no longer some far off dream, it’s an impending inevitability. The inevitable for me is that I am being drained of my former pigments, my paradigm of Azeroth is disintegrating within me and I’m being filled with the vibrant colors of change.
In truth my change began to occur long before autumn, but it’s in this season that it’s all coming to a head and I’m being forced to face these new and fresh pigments, a new paradigm of how and why I play WoW. I’m forced to ask myself, what do the changes mean for me? I shall attempt to give voice to these colors.
Gardener
I have sewn the seeds of a garden, and filled it with fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, Watermelon, Squash, Cucumber, Carrots, Peas. Around this garden I’ve planted flowers of various color, shape, size, and scent. It’s my garden and I need to tend to it well, removing weeds by hand and making sure the plants get the right amount of sunlight and water in their season.
Huh?
I am learning that my enjoyment of WoW comes when I involve myself in a plethora of activities, and I take the time in those activities to make sure I’m enjoying myself. Not going to fast, because I don’t want to flood my plants with too much sun or water, and not being too lethargic (i.e. spacing out the watering schedule so that my plants dry up). I’m learning that as I participate in the many, many activities that the game has to offer at ALL levels, I am doing no more than being true to myself and enjoying the game more.
I’ve always thought of myself as pretty well-rounded in life, just about everything fascinates me and I love to study all things that come before me. Whether it’s music, movies, books, or any educational subject I have an interest in it. It would be against my nature of being well-rounded if I only did one singular activity in the game. I tried that for a while, and although I liked it while I did it, I learned that I raided at the exclusion of other enjoyments, and that has and will change with Cataclysm.
I have sewn the seeds of a garden, and filled it with fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, Watermelon, Squash, Cucumber, Carrots, Peas. Around this garden I’ve planted flowers of various color, shape, size, and scent. It’s my garden and I need to tend to it well, removing weeds by hand and making sure the plants get the right amount of sunlight and water in their season.
Huh?
I am learning that my enjoyment of WoW comes when I involve myself in a plethora of activities, and I take the time in those activities to make sure I’m enjoying myself. Not going to fast, because I don’t want to flood my plants with too much sun or water, and not being too lethargic (i.e. spacing out the watering schedule so that my plants dry up). I’m learning that as I participate in the many, many activities that the game has to offer at ALL levels, I am doing no more than being true to myself and enjoying the game more.
I’ve always thought of myself as pretty well-rounded in life, just about everything fascinates me and I love to study all things that come before me. Whether it’s music, movies, books, or any educational subject I have an interest in it. It would be against my nature of being well-rounded if I only did one singular activity in the game. I tried that for a while, and although I liked it while I did it, I learned that I raided at the exclusion of other enjoyments, and that has and will change with Cataclysm.
Old & New Motivations
I still play as a form of release and relaxation from life. I still find my play time a fun way to connect with my kids because we truly share something in common. And as my 10-year old becomes a teen, I’m going to search for more and more things to have in common with him if I have any hope of maintaining a connection with him. He’s great, but he as disabilities that hinder his ability to socialize, even within his own family, so common interests remain an important connection.
But there are some motives that are new, sentiments that have morphed into pigments that will help redefine me. I’ve had a creativity awoken in me again, one that I repressed far too long while I made my way into reality and the business world. This creativity has found life in writing, not only this blog but in books that I’m attempting to write on the side. Stories might be a better word, not exactly novels, but one thing at a time I say. This creativity has influenced how I view learning new classes that I haven’t played beyond level 20 before.
Even though I know of the plethora of resources available to me, I will do a lot more personal exploring and experimenting of my classes as opposed to looking up the “best” rotations of talent specs for leveling or pvp or raiding, etc. Say what you will about the ability to be creative with the new talent trees, but I’ll study the trees myself and try to determine the best rotations through trial and error, and independent study rather than being told what to do. It’ll be a means of expressing my creativity in-game, to the extent that that will be possible (I know this is a debatable topic, but I don’t want to delve into it right now).
So I’ll keep some of the old motivations, and add a few new pigments to them, hopefully making my play experiences far more colorful than they ever were before.
Lore
The one thing that has been changing in me is my desire to know more of and immerse myself in the lore of World of Warcraft. I love a great story, and I’ve come across some really emotionally moving stories in some of my adventures already, and hope to be immersed in more.
This will combine nicely with my gardening skills, as I do more things in the game I’ll also take the time to learn the stories that are being told. There are rich characters in this game, people with remarkable backgrounds and sad tales to tell. I want to know more of these tales, to share in some part in their grief, pain, or happiness and victories. I live in a practical world where people “get go to school and get jobs and pay bills and such”, no longer do we truly believe in magical powers, today it’s smoke & mirrors or slight of hand that explains the supernatural. I want to at least pretend, even if it’s for minutes a day, that I’m a part of a magical story unfolding before my eyes, and that I am an important cog in that wheel.
With Azeroth changing and new stories and quests to be introduced, there will be plenty of content to go through and get lost in, and lost I shall get.
Seasons
There are times when WoW may feel like Spring, new and bright and filled with the hope of life and great new activities. There are other times where it may feel cold and dark, tedious and empty. Content is old, guildies on vacation, server population low, whatever the case. There will always me either personal or mass times of Winter, sort of like what happens pre-expansion. There is also Summer in WoW. A time of continued successes, stressful and long days where you fight both the heat of the environment and the continued wonders discovered in the Springtime of your play. You grow stronger in the face of the heat, you grow in power and understanding, all the while knowing that there will be an end and you’ll inevitably be led to the season of change, Autumn, or Fall. Class changes, spell changes, buffs or nerfs to players and content, new features that require a shift in attitude a different means of player interaction.
For all the seasons we pass through in WoW, the one thing that keeps us coming back, that keeps me coming back is I know what to expect. I know that if I’m in a lull to wait, a new season is just around the corner waiting to refresh my outlook and bring new life or meaningful changes to the how and why I play this game.
May you enjoy the changes that are coming, and may you one day visit New Hampshire in the Fall, it truly is spectacular to see!
Random Monday Musings
Beer Pong
How was your weekend? On Friday I, and everyone at work, received an email inviting everyone to a beer pong party at a local Vegas club. My first thought was, 'People at this office really do like their beer' (as this was one in a long line of invites for a Friday night drinking get-together). But beer pong? Really? You're sending out an invitation at work to EVERYONE at work for a BEER PONG party? Try growing up a bit, will ya? I don't care if I offend anyone who enjoys a good beer pong party, but to send out an invite to a bunch of business people? Really? Such is the corporate culture of some offices, I suppose, but I find it a bit immature.
PTR
Of the many amazing phenomenons of the PTR, I found a couple more. There seems to be a healthy disdain for Premade characters. I suppose I understand, for it leads to the second issue, really horrible pugs. If you thought pugs were bad on the live servers, try playing with others who are trying out tanking or healing for the first time ever.
Scenario: I zone into a dungeon to test out an 80 lock (yes, I did a premade, but Gronthe is 74, so I wanted to get an idea of what he'll be like a few levels from now, so I knew how to play the class). The healer says, 'Shadow is a good healing spec, right?'. After everyone wipes on the first two sets of trash the pug is disbanded.
Every, single, pug dungeon run (I don't have time or pain tolerance for raiding) has faced at least one person dropping group for some stupid reason. There's always one person who doesn't know what to do. Premades are bad when that person has no clue what they're doing. Although, I must puff up my own ego by saying that I got my 80 fire and frost mage (I don't have a mage of any level, I've deleted them all) to pound out 6K+ DPS in heroics, but I have such good teachers out there in the blogosphere that I can't help but be an awesome premade mage.
People still think that hitting gold cap is cool - those people are still morons.
Cataclysm
It's official, but I know you have heard. December 7th. I had guessed Nov. 23, so I was 2 weeks off. Oh well, I tried. At least I know exactly how long I have to finish builing my BoA gear armory. Yes, I use BoA gear because I like it. I raised 3 toons to 80 without it, and Gronthe is almost to 80 with it, and having it has not taken away any fun in the least. I don't always use it, however, as my lock has used a chest piece he got at level 60 and hasn't taken it off. Why? Well I do cheat a bit, putting in 3 epic gems to seriously up the spell power. What!? You would if you could too...maybe. Don't look at me like that, I'm having fun my way, that's all.
I would have you know that all my toons that play on different realms than my mains have to do everything the old fashioned way, I get to enjoy something while I can on ONE toon, I've earned it.
Priesting
Wow, playing a Discipline Priest with the new talents is FUN. In case you missed it:
F - Is for friends who do things together!
U - Is for you and me!
N - Is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea!
OR
F - Is for fire that burns down the whole world!
U - Is for Uranium...BOMB!
N - Is for No survivors...!
It's a song, from Spongebob, funny as heck too. Plankton is hilarious, and wouldn't make a good Disc Priest, he'd definately go Shadow! Spongebob would make a good Paladin, no brain power needed to do any sort of competitive damage (in Wrath at least).
Warlock
Soul Swap is the COOLEST SPELL EVER CREATED. Basically, it takes all the Shadow DoT's the Warlock as cast on a target, pulls them off before the target dies, then within 20 seconds can instantly reapply all of them to a new target. Talk about powerful. I was using it in some randoms, and is a great way to go from trash to a boss and absolutly unload shadow damage fast as an Affliction Warlock. But from what I hear, it's going to get nerfed so not as many spells can be swapped. Figures, just when Affliction became the best spec in the Universe it's getting nerfed, ah well, such is the case for everyone's class from their viewpoint at some time or another in the life and history of WoW.
Philosophy
My brain is tired. I can't write any heavy posts this week, so it'll be a week full of frivolity and fun things; or if not fun then simply less deep. I fried my brain last week, and that proved too much. Still, I shall continue to delve into the realms of our souls, as they connect with the games we play and how we play them. Just expect less...thinking this week than others.
Medicine
My pain meds spilled in my bag that I carry to and from work on Friday. But it wasn't until late Friday night that I noticed that there was a hole in the bottom of my bag and I lost a week and a half's worth of narcotics. Now I have to report it to the police if I have any hope of getting refills, which totally sucks. This, of course, has everything to do with my gaming because if I don't have pain meds I don't play WoW or any game for that matter. Wish me luck in hoping my doctor doesn't think I'm an addict trying to get a larger stash of Percocet, I really am telling the truth, so much so my wife had a panic attack (she's sweet like that).
Best of Luck
An open best of luck to Larisa, who's contemplating her future as a blogger. Whatever you do you know I won't say a contrary word. Would love to keep you around, but if you go at least I'll have months of great archived reading to finish up. May you find what you're looking for.
How was your weekend? On Friday I, and everyone at work, received an email inviting everyone to a beer pong party at a local Vegas club. My first thought was, 'People at this office really do like their beer' (as this was one in a long line of invites for a Friday night drinking get-together). But beer pong? Really? You're sending out an invitation at work to EVERYONE at work for a BEER PONG party? Try growing up a bit, will ya? I don't care if I offend anyone who enjoys a good beer pong party, but to send out an invite to a bunch of business people? Really? Such is the corporate culture of some offices, I suppose, but I find it a bit immature.
PTR
Of the many amazing phenomenons of the PTR, I found a couple more. There seems to be a healthy disdain for Premade characters. I suppose I understand, for it leads to the second issue, really horrible pugs. If you thought pugs were bad on the live servers, try playing with others who are trying out tanking or healing for the first time ever.
Scenario: I zone into a dungeon to test out an 80 lock (yes, I did a premade, but Gronthe is 74, so I wanted to get an idea of what he'll be like a few levels from now, so I knew how to play the class). The healer says, 'Shadow is a good healing spec, right?'. After everyone wipes on the first two sets of trash the pug is disbanded.
Every, single, pug dungeon run (I don't have time or pain tolerance for raiding) has faced at least one person dropping group for some stupid reason. There's always one person who doesn't know what to do. Premades are bad when that person has no clue what they're doing. Although, I must puff up my own ego by saying that I got my 80 fire and frost mage (I don't have a mage of any level, I've deleted them all) to pound out 6K+ DPS in heroics, but I have such good teachers out there in the blogosphere that I can't help but be an awesome premade mage.
People still think that hitting gold cap is cool - those people are still morons.
Cataclysm
It's official, but I know you have heard. December 7th. I had guessed Nov. 23, so I was 2 weeks off. Oh well, I tried. At least I know exactly how long I have to finish builing my BoA gear armory. Yes, I use BoA gear because I like it. I raised 3 toons to 80 without it, and Gronthe is almost to 80 with it, and having it has not taken away any fun in the least. I don't always use it, however, as my lock has used a chest piece he got at level 60 and hasn't taken it off. Why? Well I do cheat a bit, putting in 3 epic gems to seriously up the spell power. What!? You would if you could too...maybe. Don't look at me like that, I'm having fun my way, that's all.
I would have you know that all my toons that play on different realms than my mains have to do everything the old fashioned way, I get to enjoy something while I can on ONE toon, I've earned it.
Priesting
Wow, playing a Discipline Priest with the new talents is FUN. In case you missed it:
F - Is for friends who do things together!
U - Is for you and me!
N - Is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea!
OR
F - Is for fire that burns down the whole world!
U - Is for Uranium...BOMB!
N - Is for No survivors...!
It's a song, from Spongebob, funny as heck too. Plankton is hilarious, and wouldn't make a good Disc Priest, he'd definately go Shadow! Spongebob would make a good Paladin, no brain power needed to do any sort of competitive damage (in Wrath at least).
Warlock
Soul Swap is the COOLEST SPELL EVER CREATED. Basically, it takes all the Shadow DoT's the Warlock as cast on a target, pulls them off before the target dies, then within 20 seconds can instantly reapply all of them to a new target. Talk about powerful. I was using it in some randoms, and is a great way to go from trash to a boss and absolutly unload shadow damage fast as an Affliction Warlock. But from what I hear, it's going to get nerfed so not as many spells can be swapped. Figures, just when Affliction became the best spec in the Universe it's getting nerfed, ah well, such is the case for everyone's class from their viewpoint at some time or another in the life and history of WoW.
Philosophy
My brain is tired. I can't write any heavy posts this week, so it'll be a week full of frivolity and fun things; or if not fun then simply less deep. I fried my brain last week, and that proved too much. Still, I shall continue to delve into the realms of our souls, as they connect with the games we play and how we play them. Just expect less...thinking this week than others.
Medicine
My pain meds spilled in my bag that I carry to and from work on Friday. But it wasn't until late Friday night that I noticed that there was a hole in the bottom of my bag and I lost a week and a half's worth of narcotics. Now I have to report it to the police if I have any hope of getting refills, which totally sucks. This, of course, has everything to do with my gaming because if I don't have pain meds I don't play WoW or any game for that matter. Wish me luck in hoping my doctor doesn't think I'm an addict trying to get a larger stash of Percocet, I really am telling the truth, so much so my wife had a panic attack (she's sweet like that).
Best of Luck
An open best of luck to Larisa, who's contemplating her future as a blogger. Whatever you do you know I won't say a contrary word. Would love to keep you around, but if you go at least I'll have months of great archived reading to finish up. May you find what you're looking for.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Simple Joy
"Dear Diary,
My 8 year old son is going to raise his first toon to 80 this upcoming weeking. He's happy about it, and I'm happy for him. Ah, the simple joys in life!"
Don't worry, all you ignoramuses out there, I won't let him join your group and bring everyone down with this abismal gear score. The thing is, you try to take him 1v1 in PvP and I guarantee he'll smash you into the floor and wipe you up with his broom and dust pan...then repeat the process.
Ah, the simple joys in life!
My 8 year old son is going to raise his first toon to 80 this upcoming weeking. He's happy about it, and I'm happy for him. Ah, the simple joys in life!"
Don't worry, all you ignoramuses out there, I won't let him join your group and bring everyone down with this abismal gear score. The thing is, you try to take him 1v1 in PvP and I guarantee he'll smash you into the floor and wipe you up with his broom and dust pan...then repeat the process.
Ah, the simple joys in life!
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