Well!
It's been quite awhile since my last post. I do apologize. In my non-text based life, there were these pesky finals so I didn't have a LOT of time to make any posts.
Guildfest 416 is upon us! At its beginning, I had managed to save up a whopping 28 platinum Lirums. Which is next to nothing. I'm now scrambling to try and make four or five times that to get a few decent items to either keep or hold onto to sell later for a profit, or maybe both. 28 plat was enough to move out of the 'newbie clothing' and into something more... sophisticated. And by sophisticated, I mean a dusky purple travelling cloak with a whimsical liripipe hood. Because that is how I roll. I also nabbed a nice non-magic item-hiding tunic to match (well, white with an amethyst sash!) and a few other niceties, like a ledger case, contract case, a nice ledger, a wrist-worn skinning knife, aaaand a tinker's apron.
But before all of this, I convinced myself to go on the Quelling the Riot adventure, which was a ton of fun. I got to shoot detainees for an hour, smashed a few pots, gathered lots of Grey Raven commissary script, and nabbed myself a moneybelt that holds 150 coins! Just what a budding merchant needs, especially heading off to a festival with thieves lurking behind every corner, table, counter, curtain, suit of armor, and tent. They're literally everywhere. I can't wait to go on another adventure, perhaps the Riot: Aftermath, or even Quelling the Riot again! We'll have to see how the summer goes.
At Guildfest so far, I've only seen one GM-controlled person, Vatari, who plays silly games and gives out badass prizes. I did not win, unfortunately. I did, however, manage to get my first ever RPA! 5 points to Griffyndor! Er, I mean me!
In other news, I can now successfully complete hard carving work orders, which gives me a boost to my money making potential. Just in time since I need to make some serious cash make even more cash. More to come!
-GG
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
The first plat...
Howdy again!
So we're a few days into the great escape to DragonRealms, and things are going swimmingly. I'm adjusting to the DR 3.0 experience changes decently. It's odd to have all of these skills I'm used to just... gone, and combined, and so on. In a way, it's nice. Crossbows is crossbows, Stealth is Stalking and Hiding, Locksmithing is Lockpicking and Disarming... Training them is a bit easier as multiple things train them!
I've done the seemingly-impossible and managed to scrape together my first platinum Kronar. Brilliant! It turns out that sleazy louts are rather lucrative. One box had 8 silver Dokoras in it, which converts into almost a gold by itself. A whole gold in a single box! Wowzahs! I've also been switching back and forth between rats and louts to train skinning vs. locksmithing. I can't kill them all fast enough though, there's always more and more. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Louts also drop coats and cudgels, which I can collect and sell to the pawn shop for a few bronze total, but more importantly it teaches me scant amounts of Trading. Mags has told me to move along, so I'm "capped" out at 17 ranks. Not even enough for Circle 5! Ah well, we'll get there eventually.
'Til next time!
-Togwick
So we're a few days into the great escape to DragonRealms, and things are going swimmingly. I'm adjusting to the DR 3.0 experience changes decently. It's odd to have all of these skills I'm used to just... gone, and combined, and so on. In a way, it's nice. Crossbows is crossbows, Stealth is Stalking and Hiding, Locksmithing is Lockpicking and Disarming... Training them is a bit easier as multiple things train them!
I've done the seemingly-impossible and managed to scrape together my first platinum Kronar. Brilliant! It turns out that sleazy louts are rather lucrative. One box had 8 silver Dokoras in it, which converts into almost a gold by itself. A whole gold in a single box! Wowzahs! I've also been switching back and forth between rats and louts to train skinning vs. locksmithing. I can't kill them all fast enough though, there's always more and more. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Louts also drop coats and cudgels, which I can collect and sell to the pawn shop for a few bronze total, but more importantly it teaches me scant amounts of Trading. Mags has told me to move along, so I'm "capped" out at 17 ranks. Not even enough for Circle 5! Ah well, we'll get there eventually.
'Til next time!
-Togwick
Sunday, May 3, 2015
And now for something completely different...
I'm declaring GSIV F2P a complete failure.
It is just not feasible to actually play the game with the constraints on the account. I realize that it is meant to be an "introduction", but don't tout it as free to play when it is really just... well, I'm not even sure WHAT it is, but it sure as hell isn't free to play.
Aardwolf is free to play.
Iron Realms Entertainment is free to play.
This... psuedo-micro-transaction system where you aren't even a third-class citizen, more like a crash test dummy or something, is not free to play. On the surface yes, you don't have to pay to "play", but if I told you to go play soccer with a deflated ball and half a net in the middle of a dump, would you *really* consider it "playing soccer"? I didn't think so.
So instead, I'm going to set out on a different path. DragonRealms.
But wait, isn't this the same thing!? Not exactly.
Their F2P version is a bit better, you're more like a second class citizen instead of a dump-dweller. But I'm going full-monty. I subscribed. Because I wanted to be a trader.
Well, more specifically I used a random-character generator type thing to determine personality, etc., and a Trader is what fit best. So that's what I'm going to be!
So far, so good. I remember very basic things like "Go to Arthe Dale to train Athletics!" and "Sell firewood to Mags!". But, we'll use this blog to detail this return-to-newbiehood in DragonRealms and see how hard I crash and burn.
-GG
It is just not feasible to actually play the game with the constraints on the account. I realize that it is meant to be an "introduction", but don't tout it as free to play when it is really just... well, I'm not even sure WHAT it is, but it sure as hell isn't free to play.
Aardwolf is free to play.
Iron Realms Entertainment is free to play.
This... psuedo-micro-transaction system where you aren't even a third-class citizen, more like a crash test dummy or something, is not free to play. On the surface yes, you don't have to pay to "play", but if I told you to go play soccer with a deflated ball and half a net in the middle of a dump, would you *really* consider it "playing soccer"? I didn't think so.
So instead, I'm going to set out on a different path. DragonRealms.
But wait, isn't this the same thing!? Not exactly.
Their F2P version is a bit better, you're more like a second class citizen instead of a dump-dweller. But I'm going full-monty. I subscribed. Because I wanted to be a trader.
Well, more specifically I used a random-character generator type thing to determine personality, etc., and a Trader is what fit best. So that's what I'm going to be!
So far, so good. I remember very basic things like "Go to Arthe Dale to train Athletics!" and "Sell firewood to Mags!". But, we'll use this blog to detail this return-to-newbiehood in DragonRealms and see how hard I crash and burn.
-GG
Monday, April 13, 2015
Spitfire? I can barely get a spark...
Hello!
Well, we're a bit over a week into the experiment, and there are several trends emerging. I think I may have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. This lack of treasure thing is stupid. If you actually WANT people to spend money on SimuCoins to expand their bank accounts, you have to allow them to MAKE money. I can't make enough money to even bother setting foot onboard the Spitfire. There is no point to even try and make money because to get my mandatory 4x gear eventually, I'll be well past titled!
Gem bounties further compound the issue. I don't know how long I've been looking for green tourmalines, but I've found 1. It's dumb. I'm about ready to give up, but I've already found 1...
That being said, Gemstone is still as good as it once was. But this F2P is largely a joke, and in order to continue this experiment I may have to subscribe. But if I do that, I might as well bring back my old character!
Back to the grind for almost no gain!
~GG
Well, we're a bit over a week into the experiment, and there are several trends emerging. I think I may have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. This lack of treasure thing is stupid. If you actually WANT people to spend money on SimuCoins to expand their bank accounts, you have to allow them to MAKE money. I can't make enough money to even bother setting foot onboard the Spitfire. There is no point to even try and make money because to get my mandatory 4x gear eventually, I'll be well past titled!
Gem bounties further compound the issue. I don't know how long I've been looking for green tourmalines, but I've found 1. It's dumb. I'm about ready to give up, but I've already found 1...
That being said, Gemstone is still as good as it once was. But this F2P is largely a joke, and in order to continue this experiment I may have to subscribe. But if I do that, I might as well bring back my old character!
Back to the grind for almost no gain!
~GG
Monday, April 6, 2015
I thought I'd never farm turnips again...
Hello again!
Well, I took the dive. I started up a F2P (free to play) account with Gemstone IV. After much thought, I opted for a good old reliable Burghal Gnome Wizard. The basis is he's a delusional, crazy gnome who believes he's an Airship Commander, though his airship has of course crashed. Very much into tinkering, being crazy, and trying to re-establish his command. He'll be joining the Guardians of Sunfist, under whom he allegedly obtained his command from. I'm pretty sure it will be great. Or it could suck. Whatever.
I landed in the Landing (hah!) which is great. No need to make things exceedingly difficult and go where there is nobody, like Ta'Vaalor. Also, the Spitefire is making a stop in the Landing this weekend, which will be fantastic. I'm looking forward to it.
A few quick observations:
1) No Gift of Lumnis (EXtreme eXperience eXplosion!) makes it kind of sucky, but hey, at least I'm not gimped for exp gain. Yet.
2) Reduced treasure drops... ABSOLUTELY SUCK. Completing a gem bounty is a virtual impossibility unless you have the gems already. Not even kidding. I think from a 30 minute hunt in sea nymphs I managed to find a green adventurine stone and a star diopside, along with a single locked chest. I maybe netted 800 silver after tipping the locksmith 200 silvers.
Other things really suck, too. We'll see how long I can tolerate it. I give it 24 hours.
-GG
Well, I took the dive. I started up a F2P (free to play) account with Gemstone IV. After much thought, I opted for a good old reliable Burghal Gnome Wizard. The basis is he's a delusional, crazy gnome who believes he's an Airship Commander, though his airship has of course crashed. Very much into tinkering, being crazy, and trying to re-establish his command. He'll be joining the Guardians of Sunfist, under whom he allegedly obtained his command from. I'm pretty sure it will be great. Or it could suck. Whatever.
I landed in the Landing (hah!) which is great. No need to make things exceedingly difficult and go where there is nobody, like Ta'Vaalor. Also, the Spitefire is making a stop in the Landing this weekend, which will be fantastic. I'm looking forward to it.
A few quick observations:
1) No Gift of Lumnis (EXtreme eXperience eXplosion!) makes it kind of sucky, but hey, at least I'm not gimped for exp gain. Yet.
2) Reduced treasure drops... ABSOLUTELY SUCK. Completing a gem bounty is a virtual impossibility unless you have the gems already. Not even kidding. I think from a 30 minute hunt in sea nymphs I managed to find a green adventurine stone and a star diopside, along with a single locked chest. I maybe netted 800 silver after tipping the locksmith 200 silvers.
Other things really suck, too. We'll see how long I can tolerate it. I give it 24 hours.
-GG
Monday, March 30, 2015
A fresh beginning...
Once upon a time, my text based life began with a game by the name of Gemstone III. I would spend many hours roleplaying, hunting, and doing whatever I pleased in the magical world of Elanthia. As time went on, I went to college, joined the Navy, got married, had a kid, and started grad school. Since then I have played a great number of MUDs (multi-user dungeons or multi-user domains) but none have really felt like the Gemstone of old.
It just so happened the other day I got nostalgic and went to www.gemstone.net and noticed they were now offering a F2P option! How could this be!? No more $20 a month to play an antiquated genre of games? And yes, the subscription option is still available and the predominate method of playing the game. I thought this was grand, however, and immediately began devising a character to roll up and jump back into the game.
Then my wife discovered the F2P (free-to-play) restrictions. Slower exp, limited treasure, only one bank account, no Extreme Experience Explosion (now called Lumnis' Gift!?), and a limit of 100k in the bank!!! Everything else I thought was fine, but that last bit had me reeling. Suddenly I realized there was no way in hell that the game could possibly be enjoyable if you can't have more than 100k in the bank, and you can't hunt/gain experience with more than 5k in your pocket. I was crushed.
However, it dawned on me that this is just a challenge. I certainly can't afford the $20 a month (well, I *could* but I'd rather take my family to the zoo or something!) So I want to see just how exactly this so-called F2P system is going to work out. What would a newbie experience in GSIV with this scheme? My wife pointed out that Simutronics wasn't shifting their payment method from a subscription to a microtransaction system, but rather eliminating trial accounts that were limited to 30-days and offering an unlimited trial account, basically.
So I want to see (and document in this blog) what it takes to actually make this F2P account a true F2P MUD experience. Is it possible? Can I even get to level 20? How about beyond? How will I handle the money issue? I have some ideas I'll share in my next post!
Until then,
-A Returned Player
It just so happened the other day I got nostalgic and went to www.gemstone.net and noticed they were now offering a F2P option! How could this be!? No more $20 a month to play an antiquated genre of games? And yes, the subscription option is still available and the predominate method of playing the game. I thought this was grand, however, and immediately began devising a character to roll up and jump back into the game.
Then my wife discovered the F2P (free-to-play) restrictions. Slower exp, limited treasure, only one bank account, no Extreme Experience Explosion (now called Lumnis' Gift!?), and a limit of 100k in the bank!!! Everything else I thought was fine, but that last bit had me reeling. Suddenly I realized there was no way in hell that the game could possibly be enjoyable if you can't have more than 100k in the bank, and you can't hunt/gain experience with more than 5k in your pocket. I was crushed.
However, it dawned on me that this is just a challenge. I certainly can't afford the $20 a month (well, I *could* but I'd rather take my family to the zoo or something!) So I want to see just how exactly this so-called F2P system is going to work out. What would a newbie experience in GSIV with this scheme? My wife pointed out that Simutronics wasn't shifting their payment method from a subscription to a microtransaction system, but rather eliminating trial accounts that were limited to 30-days and offering an unlimited trial account, basically.
So I want to see (and document in this blog) what it takes to actually make this F2P account a true F2P MUD experience. Is it possible? Can I even get to level 20? How about beyond? How will I handle the money issue? I have some ideas I'll share in my next post!
Until then,
-A Returned Player
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