9, 10, 11

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

Windstorms was the only active. Some festival quests, then one mail invitations quest. I am at year 10 (did not start it yet), so soon I will close Eriador card deed.
These quests sometimes are interesting. Most are wasted opportunities, like gather remembrances. I use remembrance…and standard text about me remembering battles past. What about some random text, like “Oh, this is how it was”, “This event is too important to forget” etc.?

Anyway, I am mostly busy.

Bloxd

Nothing. Just going to random lobbies, seeking inspiration for castle and finding none. I don’t need fantasy style – just as pure medieval, as possible. I need realism. If all castle is just walls and throne room – well…where do they live, make parties, eat…?

Few fantasy castles. None historical. My builds are just stagnating.

—

And so may days goes, real life is very problematic. All I need is a will to correct mistakes, accept inevitable and find some real activity in Bloxd and Lotro.

Hamsters!

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

We finally have an 17th Anniversary festival. Festival rewards includ two cute hamsters. One is simple, another – with fireworks. Turth to be told, lazy hamster won’t launch fireworks, he just carries them. Explosive hamster? Self-propelled-hamster mine?
Simple (“Sienna”) hamster is 20 Anniversary tokens. Fireworks hamster (Merrymaking) is some 20 tokens, given for participating in festival instances. Luckily, Stormsong had 75/40 those special tokens. So my grumpy Minstrel has both hamsters.
Other rewards include steeds (I guess there are two), some cosmetics. If you have steel tokensm, you can barter permanent fireworks launchers. These look pretty cool.
Windstorms rushed to do quests. Experience for them is low, only some 7000 xp. But I got simple hamster very quickly. And then, rushed to do Anniversary quests. I got easy (Eriador) version. Many places to travel and explore. Rewards are of little use, but it is activity I need. And tokens as well – after all, I may need some festival stuff.
Some festival quests are too…narrow. I had to /challenge Old Man Willow. But I cannot challenge it from anywhere -there is exact spot. One step left or right – quest cannot advance. I wish developers changed that.

Bloxd

A total stagnation. Cannot build anything or plan anything. Standard houses remain, while I have no ideas how advanced buildings should look like. Castle is one BIG problem. Land plot is little (71 x 41 blocks). Naturally, castle must be high. Higher than church (naturally; local duke must show who rules the land). Any castle should include towers, living quarters for duke, living quarters for his wife & ladies. Every building should have normal rooms for everything, from sleeping to making parties and eating. Every building must be ig gothic style.
I tried to copy one fantasy castle found on internet. It was an absolute failure. So now I stand, unable to make any realistic thoughts. All I need is one person who would be kind to show me designs. That’s all, I can build when I have ideas.

—

My real life is going downstairs, I am facing too many problems…and all I could do is sit days in Lotro and Bloxd. Sometimes I create, sometimes I destroy, but it looks like I am running from myself.

Anyway, at least in Lotro things are going quite good.

Brown boredom and cathedrals

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

My Loremaster continued questing in Great River. Of course, Stanric was alive, just imprisoned. You know, when you cross ways with the Sith, you won’t end good. It was up to me to talk, investigate, gather resources. Then it was (again) up to me to restore Stanric and kill Sith. So far, so (almost) good. Stangard is safe.

Then there were some landscape quests. This nice quest about Eagles. Majestic Landroval. A pity that later SSG made eagles just a convenient transport/quest givers. For now, this quest is just remarkable. One that you can only admire. Also, a really epic story about local Oathbreakers.

Then I was redirected to Brown lands for boring quests. Kill turtles and bugs, then kill turtles and avancs, only to kill more turtles and bugs…then rush there and there, assault enemy camp few times. The only notable thing were Oathbreakers. My choice to forgive or condemn them. I choice to forgive. After all, I am nice person.

Brown lands were boring, local easterling camp is nightmare of camp navigation and quests are just boredom. I skipped all texts, killing what was needed. Yes, I was really happy to see Brown lands finished.

Now I have to finish all deeds in Great River…and move to Rohan. Rohan awaits, this is what I would be busy with for a long time.

Side note: redeemed SSG code for downtime – mount selection box. Chose red skeleton horse for my LM. Quite nice gift from SSG.

Bloxd

I saw one big majestic cathedral, built by really experienced player. My own cathedral looks like kid’s toy. Should I demolish most of it and then rebuilt? Or leave as testament for my lack of skills?

Town is being built very slowly. I have almost no inspiration about minecraft-ish medieval buildings. Simple houses are easy to build, they are all the same.

Unfortunately, had to ban one player. He started advertising his own lobby. I asked to stop. Then he continued to tell his lobby had too little visitors. I warned again. He ended telling insults about my lobby. Well, third warning was ban. I wish that player was a normal one. Another player logged, asked for admin. I explained I need no admins. Player left. He had no idea what this lobby is about – he just came to become another admin.

Sorry, no. I am the only admin, since I am the only one who knows direction of everything on my server.

And so weekend has ended. It was quite good in Lotro.

Nona & Horn 2.0

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

Sometimes life gives surprises. I got one of them. Was questing in Dunland, grinding reputation with Theodred’s riders. Had to locate Nona (she was killing Dunlendings), then go to Enedwaith…and oops, I was transported to Great River.

Now that’s a hand of fate. I started questing there. Quests (even if I know how they would flow) are interesting. They had stories, not just “kill rats” or “go on top of hill”. Stangard is as always – interesting. Just what…what do you expect from envoy, whose name starts “Sith”? To be kind good-heart person?
Nona’s story is interesting and really worth reading. As well as Horn’s.

I chose to finish most Stangard’s quests. Then epic and landscape redirected me to one monument. Well, this is it – I need to go there. Which I will do.

Great River is strange region. It has Stangard with its stories of courage and treachery. It has captivating story about Elf and Rohirrim. It has Nona and Horn. And then it has blank “Brown lands” and lvl.150 only Limlight Gorge. So, part of region one quests with interest; second part is “yes yes next ok finish”; third part is “ok, will one-shot this for endgame”.

But hey, after Great River (a filler region) there is nice Rohan with its stories. Rohan is worth waiting for.

Bloxd

Absolutely nothing. I am stuck at what I thought easiest buildings. While I am mostly good at simple houses, I do fail at shops. And with too little visitors – little chance to get any help.

So my days go on – more and more in Lotro, less in Bloxd.

Arches, windows

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

No play. Sorry, too tired to re-immerse into “kill orc, explore this point, kill Dunleding” thing.

Bloxd

This is where I built and demolished, played with Excel, built and demolished. I have walls of my cathedral and they are nice. Now, I have interior and this is where it is not nice. I have to place arches in such way they do not block windows. The somehow arches must be connected at the top and all must be done in cubes (it’s Bloxd, after all).

No good solution. Tried to ask folks on other lobbies – no result. Looks like I would have to torture Excel once more.

One person came with inappropriate advances (in chat). After 3 kicks I had to ban her. First ban, but it was well deserved. I wish I could persuade that person to behave.

I know I must resume Lotro, even if content is all about killing another horde of goblins, orcs, dunlendings or wargs. All for the sake of saving Midde Earth.
Bloxd remains priority. If I manage to construct medieval cathedral – half of my city problems are solved. All I need is some time googling and playing with Excel.

Gaps

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

With Theodred gone, I started questing for his faction. All these “patrol point”, “kill goblin” etc things. Many quests, lots to do…and too little loot to use for taskboard. Well, Gap of Rohan is just a gap in the game. Except for Isengard, not much to see here.

The only usefull thing is reputation with Theodred riders. So far I am getting it for quests. Let us hope I will have enough taskboard items when quests stop…

Bloxd

It is me and my Excel sheets. Planning cathedral, positioning doors and windows. Making it look medieval. Most of things are a problem. I need enough place for at least 100 people to sit. I need medieval look, so – little and colourfull windows. I need (probably) bell. And I need all of this to be connected.

But when I finish – it will mean 50% of problematic stuff solved. Castle would be another problem. It should be big and high, higher than cathedral.

In Lotro and Bloxd I see absolutely no social interaction. But maybe this is how any normal online game works now: you do your stuff, check wiki and continue doing your stuff. If help is needed, pray to all gods you get it by accident…

And so my day ended. Bit grindy, bit…optimistic…in both games.

Theodred and plans

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

My epic quest was short. Yes, that brave and disastrous attack by Theodred’s riders on Isengard. A pity to see brave Prince dead with one of his soldiers sobbing that hope of Rohan died today. I doubt Rohirrim have much ideas about strategy: frontal assault against well-fortified fortess is doomed to fail. Unless, of course, your numbers are superior and any losses are insignificant.

But the day was lost, Prince dead. Yes, lame Morflak met his end, but that did not change anything. There would be more morflaks, but no more theodreds.

Then it was a quest where I saw dream with lots of dead and then my own enemies. One of…terryfying visions, have to admit.

Now I would continue questing in Dunland, trying to grind reputation with Riders of Theodred. And as soon as situation allows – to Rohan, to my favourite Rohan, where green fields and stories await!

Bloxd

Almost all day was spent in planning. To look for real-life medieval cathedrals. To plan how they would look in Bloxd. To make them fit into 29 x 34 plot. So far – looks kind of normal. Exterior needs to be changed. Interior must be dark, with only windows illuminating. Altar and surroundings must be majestic.

And so my day has ended. Quite sad in Lotro…and too much planning in Bloxd.

Dungeons and cathedrals

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

And so it began – my captivity in Isengard. Of course, Falcon clan betrayed me and delivered to Saruman. There, I witnessed Loremaster’s version of Galadriel prophecy – about a knowledge and how deep would I go to get that knowledge. Interesting and captivating.

Everything else was half-interesting, half-boring. I knew all that would transpire, from “Kill 10 rats” to poor Acca’s fate. So I rushed. All I wanted was to escape grumpy Isengard and humiliated Morflok.

Post-escape reality: more and more dead Rangers. Some attacks on traitors’ village and confrontation with Lheu Brenin. Not too satisfying though. Brenin remains, Falcon clan remains treacherous and some Rangers are dead.

Now my quests bring me to the Gap of Rohan. Which, I hope, would be a bit more satifying. Even if it would mean bitter fight of Theodred (we know how it ends, right?).

I do want to get to Rohan. And there, I could stay for a really long time. There is nowhere to hurry, except Wildermore.

Bloxd

My cathedral is my obstacle number one! It should be medieval, it should be grand – and it may look grand, but not medieval. I tried to play with design: so far failing. In Excel it looks right…in reality not so. Met two players, they promised to build…and we did not meet.

So right now I am just googling at medieval cathedrals. Need to make one in 29 x 34 blocks plot. With too little ideas how to do it right.

But once cathedral is done – I would be free to finish almost all remaining town. Market may be bit…problematic. Problematic, yet doable.

What I need is one or two trusted players to aid with builds. And especially with ideas.

And so my questing/buildings goes on. Slowly, but it still works, even if I am absolutely solo. Looks like I became accustomed with being alone.

Riders and churches

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

Dunland quests continue. I took long and bit boring part. Go there, kill orc, pick some crates, kill more orcs, run here and there. Then go to mine, rescue all you can, mine iron, kill goblins. I did not care much about local stories. Just some random mine with random people asking for help. Rewards? Nobody cares, they are all trash.

And then I had to stop for a while. Had to go to one forest and make quests for Theodred’s riders. It’s ok, but it means different task items. So, I had to use remaining ones (not for reputation, just for xp). One more use and I am good to go.

Forest – I know – would be one of those “guess random location, pick quest to kill 5 rats”. Not so impressive, but…I will do what I must.

Bloxd

My planning went wrong. I calculated street, it turned out street is too narrow. Then, had to play with my cathedral. I built a tower – just nice 7 x 7 blocks size, ~25 blocks high tower from stone with some green and blue glass windows. Also, with staircase leading to iron bell. While building I realised I built it in wrong location. But now, tower is complete. All I need is another tower and cathedral itself.

Houses…I must force myself to build them. Too many complications with planning, due to “ice cone” building type. I know I must finish this town and then take some well deserved rest. But if 400 citizen size town is a problem, what would I do with my capital, maybe few thousand citizens large?

–

So my days goes – some Lotro, some Bloxd, absolutely no social interaction. But it looks I am just ok with that – living in silence and alone.

Protectors-crows and housing

Tags

Lord of the rings online, Lotro

Lord of the rings online

Windstorms quested in Dunland. She cannot participate in Spring festival: earning of local tokens is super-slow and ineffective. So, Dunland it was. Some quest there and here, summon 2 clans and protectors. Protectors demanded I kill crows and slugs and only then was I allowed. Of course, then I had to kill more crows.
This is where “fun” began: crows reflected, like 150% damage. Three shots, I was dead, appearing far away from lame protectors. I was dissatisfied. Looks like I would have to use my ranged pet and then finish crows by my weakiest attacks. Could take a day or two, all thanks to bad quest design.

Bloxd

My city grows really slowly. Planning (due to “ice cone” style) is hard. Then, I have buildings that I have no idea how they should look like (court house; guilds). Too little visitors, too little helpers. What I would need is one kind player for one long day. Player starts first floor, I make second, then he makes third, I make roof…should be twice faster. And with ~100 houses needed, would take one long day.

After Novocastrum – it would be a high time to rest and do nothing. Province would get its capital. Maybe it would be right time to surround capital with a network of villages or distant suburbs.

And so, my days go on in Lotro and Bloxd: little inspiration, much grind to do.