Turning Progression on its Ear (a gaming thing)

A vista in GW2

First things first.  I’m an adult gamer.  If you don’t know what that means, go HERE.  I love online games, and recently I’ve come upon Guild Wars 2, and for many reasons I believe that ArenaNet cracked the code.  I loved Skyrim for the open-ended scope where your decisions seemed to really drive your story.  I loved Mass Effect (and even SWtOR) for the story and strong character development.  I loved early Dark Age of Camelot for their focus on accessible and meaningful realm conflict.  Having said all of that, the cornerstone of any Massively Multiplayer Online RPG is end game progression, and that is where I want to focus.  Guild Wars 2 (GW2) has turned progression on its ear and I believe for the better.

End game progression in an MMO is usually characterized by a character reaching max level and then moving through a series of encounters in order to obtain the highest levels of gear that the game can offer.  Your accomplishment is gauged by the type of gear you own, but that gear reflects the progressively higher level of skill necessary to achieve those items.  Additionally those items that you obtain enable you to progress to the next tier of items and so forth.  Progression expands the longevity of an online game, but that longevity can either become a never-ending hamster wheel or can offer multiple possibilities that keep people engaged.

My little Yurtil ready to take on a dungeon

On first glance, you might think that GW2 doesn’t have end game progression.  There are no ‘raid’ dungeons that provide levels of high end gear.  All of their dungeons are 5-man max and start at level 30 (really 35, but I’ll get to that later).  However, what isn’t clear is that the GW2 actually has a different type of progression.  There are 8 dungeons currently in the game.  Each of those dungeons has a story mode and an ‘Explore’ mode that is slated at 5-levels above the dungeon’s level.  Explore mode consists of 2-3 different ‘paths’ within the same dungeon.  That gives around 30 different dungeon experiences for a single character.

I came upon this in a random dungeon encounter

 GW2 automatically levels a character down to the level of a zone so you can group with people below your level and still have a significant challenge.  Therefore, the dungeons in GW2 start at level 30, but all characters level 30 and above can participate in those encounters.  The other BIG change in GW2 is the elimination of the ‘holy trinity’ of tank/healer/dps classes.  Any combination of characters can form a 5-man group and be successful.  Finally, dungeons in GW2 are HARD.  There may be a general strategy for success, but these dungeons are tuned to accommodate multiple strategies and in most cases, you are lucky if you only die a couple times per encounter.  The result is frantic, fun, and very intense.  You feel a real satisfaction when you finish a dungeon and there are times that you might just want to quit in frustration.

everywhere you go is beautiful

Then why do you want to run dungeons in GW2?  If you are leveling your character, the experience is excellent.  You gain about a level of experience per run.  If you are max level, you still gain tokens for each ‘Explore’ run.  Everyone who participates in and finishes a dungeon run in ‘Explore’ mode gets a number of dungeon-specific tokens for each run.  Those tokens can be used to purchase the highest level of armor and weapons from dungeon-specific vendors.  Each set of armor and weapons looks differently and has different stats.  Additionally, you can augment those stats with runes that you can purchase at these vendors as well.  Therefore, you can build your unique look, with the stats that work best for you by running these dungeons in ‘Explore’ mode multiple times.

More vistas. Beautiful artwork abounds.

Progression in GW2 starts at level 30, but runs well through level 80.  Gear choices are huge and with the addition of crafting, world-vs-world competition, small team pvp competition, and the various challenges involving platforming puzzles and zone unlocks there is a whole lot to keep the player engaged in just the base game.  Knowing that the original Guild Wars had a number of expansions, there is a lot to keep a player involved, and this is from a game that has NO subscription fee.  That is why I’m loving GW2 and think that ArenaNet has cracked the code with respect to MMORPGs.  I would encourage all my gamer friends to give it a try.  The price is only the cost of the game, the cost of any other console or PC game out on the market, but the value of the game is huge.

The New Car Dilemma

Alright.  I own a 2006 Honda Odyssey minivan.  It is awesome for carting teenagers around, putting stuff in and it’s generally a comfortable ride.  At this point in time, with gas prices around $3.50/gallon, a 20 mpg lack of fuel efficiency and a 25 minute commute each way to work (without traffic… at 6am), I think it’s time to get a very efficient ‘commuter car’.

The dilemma is multi-fold.  What to do with my Odyssey (fully paid for, 100K+ miles, tons of space), and more importantly, what car should I buy?  The first thought was to keep the Odyssey for ‘carting’ stuff around (like teenagers and kayaks) and get a small, fun, fuel efficient car for commuting and running around town (a grocery getter).

The first car that I was attracted to was a Smart ForTwo. I have a friend at work with one, and it’s a surprisingly ‘big’ car.  I fit in the car easily.  It’s made by Mercedes Benz and drives like a German car (very tight).  It’s also available in a convertible version (cheapest convertible on the market), which speaks to a high ‘fun’ factor in driving.  The car gets around 40 mpg, so it is no slouch in the mileage department.

If I wasn’t such a research nerd, the story would end there.  I would own a Smart car and probably be a happy camper.  However, I looked at the market and now I’m confused.

To be complete, I included four other cars to compare to the Smart Car.

[1] The Volkswagen Golf TDI – A very nice vehicle with a reliable diesel engine, giving excellent gas mileage.  The problem with the Golf is that it’s too damn expensive, coming in over $28,000 with an average mpg of 36 (epa rating used as a basis of comparison.. YRMV).  The Golf slid quickly off the list.

[2] The Honda Fit – I love Hondas. Period. Given a choice, I tend to be a loyal Honda customer.  I’ve had great luck with Hondas and I also really like the look and feel of the Fit.  At an average mpg of 30, the Fit is the worst in terms of gas mileage of the vehicles I’m looking at, sliding it down to the bottom of the list.

[3] The Smart ForTwo Cabriolet – As mentioned above, this way cute car started this discussion and was the basis of comparison.  Hitting close to 40 mpg and a price tag around $20K, the Smart car hits on all three of its cylinders.  The problem is space.  I have two daughters that I need to cart around on occasion and having to swap out cars to do my chauffer services could be problematic.

[4] The Scion iQ – Scion is the European Toyota line rebranded for the US.  This car compares VERY nicely to the Smart car.  It has the same mpg as the Smart car plus has a back seat for carrying 1.5 additional passengers (the driver’s seat is too far back to have room for anyone other than a baby or a legless midget).  The Scion iQ drives like a much bigger car, but is nimble like the Smart Car.  If I were to stop the comparison here, I think the decision would be easy.  I’d be in the Scion.  It’s a VERY nice car at a $16K price tag.

[5] The Toyota Prius C Four – The Prius has evolved and this ‘little’ version of the traditional hybrid is a wonderful little car.  First of all, it has an average of 50 mpg, with space for 5 adults and groceries.  At a price of a little over $23K, this is a very cost effective hybrid.  The drive is smooth and quiet, with lots of shiny tech on the dashboard. 

Right now, the decision is between the Prius and the iQ.  You can quantify the difference between the Scion and the Toyota with the gas mileage, space, sun roof, drivability, and tech. I think that I'm decided on keeping the Odyssey for occasional use, but trading in the minivan could enter into the equation as well, but for the sake of argument, let's take that off the table.  The bottom line is that all of the above vehicles are affordable.

I’m very confounded at this point and keep flip-flopping between the iQ and the Prius.  The iQ is probably more ‘fun’ to drive and a more unique vehicle, but honestly they both have plusses and minuses that keep me confused.  In terms of gas mileage, the 10 mpg more that the Prius gives equates to only about $30 in savings per month over the iQ, so the decision can’t be based on mileage alone.

Therefore, like all major decisions of grand importance (insert sarcastic look here), I go to the internet for input.  What do you all think?

How to find the +10 to all stats Datacron in SWtOR

I want to give the preliminary steps that you need to find the plus ten to all stats datacron for empire players.  I'll follow up later with the rest, but here is what you need to start:

1) Go to Axiel Park in Corellia:

2) Just South of the zoo, you will find what says 'Artifact' on your tooltip:

3) Take the crystal and now go to Alderaan and take a speeder to Outpost Talarn:

4) Hop on your speeder and find Lain-Ricie at the location listed:

5) Buy the MGGS.  It's unique.  You can only have one, but you can trade it.

6) Go back to the fleet and travel to the Ziost Shadow and go to the Bridge Deck.

7) From there, go to the elevator that is circled.  Go up to the museum. (to be finished later).

Diet Jihadists

I’m currently completing the first pulse of a diet strategy that aims at putting me somewhere near a bit overweight for my frame, rather than outright obese.  During this journey it has become apparent to me that diet is akin to religion in this world we live in.  Something as personal as the fuel that we power our bodies probably does merit the status of cult in the grand scheme of things, but as with all such endeavors, it is best to lead through example and not through preaching.

We are inundated with the mantra to eat less and exercise more.  That is the key to a healthy life.  And while this may be true for those that are less than 20 pounds overweight, for the rest of us, the layers of psychosis associated with being overweight outstrip the sense of that simple mantra.  For the rest of us, we need to break a destructive cycle, build positive habits, and learn to move again before we can even approach the ‘eat less/move more’ paradigm.

Truly the ‘eat less/move more’ ideal is over simplified.  In reality, exercise only builds stamina and muscle tone and does not a lot for weight loss, other than gobble up a small amount of calories.  Eating less is also an over simplification.  You need to eat an appropriately balanced diet that is consistent with your level of mobility and age.

Let me start with diet.  The Western diet is packed full of simple carbohydrates.  Ignore fast food for a minute, and go to any restaurant and try and find a meal that doesn’t contain a sauce, a grain, or a glaze.  Our bodies respond to this load by producing insulin to trigger our cells to absorb sugars from the blood.  As more and more insulin is produced, our cells become, over time, resistant to the effects of the hormone and we reach a state where sugar balance becomes precarious and metabolism shifts to focus on breaking down that sugar for fuel in preference to other fuels that we ingest.  In other words, our bodies become dependent on carbohydrates.  This is very similar to drug addiction, and should be a key indication for therapy.

Well, we don’t want to be told that we are addicts or that there is something wrong with us, but at the same time we are hammered with a society that places value on the anorexic look and shuns those who are overweight.  At the same time, we live in a world where a Big Mac cost the same as a head of broccoli. 

We are told to move more and that will cure our ills.  Again, that is an oversimplification.  Until you can move, it is hard for someone to move more.  People who are overweight have a number of issues that need to be addressed before they can move more.  I have torn menisci in both knees and arthritis in my lower back and both feet.  Asking me to move more three months ago was akin to a water boarding session, but now that I’m 65 pounds lighter, the prospect of exercise is a much more welcome undertaking.  Exercise is important, but you need to be able to exercise before its utility can be realized.  Your diet needs to be under control before exercise can be of any benefit.

So, why am I writing any of this?  I was reading about the diet that I am currently on and came across some articles that put it down on the basis of it not being ‘balanced’.  I’ve also run across some friends that roll their eyes (friends in the less than 20 lb. category) when I talk about the benefits of what I’m trying to achieve with just diet alone (although it is hard to deny that 65 lbs. in 3 months is anything but significant).  You see shows out there like ‘The Biggest Loser’ that focus on torturing people with exercise, but ignore the ‘boring’ but more important aspect of diet regulation.

Being a food addict who was brought up in a thoroughly Western culture, my biggest problem was my utter dependence on carbs.  I needed to break that cycle and re-learn how to build balance into my meals.  I needed to learn that I didn’t need to starve myself, but rather change my focus on the types of food that I ate.  I needed to rely on science rather than dogma. 

I’m weaning myself off of my current diet onto a maintenance plan for 6-8 months.  Then I will go on the diet again to ‘pulse’ myself down another 20 – 30 lbs.  At that point I will be comfortable with just being overweight, active, and ultimately healthy.

The Old Republic

Just when I thought I was out, they drag me back in (thanks Gatling). So, I’m a couple months into playing Star Wars: The Old Republic, and I must say that I’m having fun.  I’m also surprised that Jill is having a great time too.  Seeing as I have my Sith Assassin dutifully farming dailies and I have a stable of alts, spanning all the classes within the Imperial Empire (my legacy even expands to the Republic as well), I thought I’d spend a few bytes giving my evaluation of the game and the associated classes.

Overall, I think that Bioware did a good job of bringing the Star Wars universe to life.  The addition of voice acting and animations to questing gives you a personal investment in your character that you really didn’t get in other MMOs.  The game is more casual as MMOs go and that’s not a bad thing.  Also, crafting is interesting (now, only if they would make it useful).  The bottom line is that I’m having a lot of fun and think that SWtOR is a good waste of time.  I also like the fact that you can get ‘orange’ armor at lower levels and use that armor throughout the game by upgrading mods/enhancements/armor.  That way you can keep the same look on your character throughout much of the game.

The game also lets you collect 5 ‘companions’ during your journey.  I really enjoy having a NPC that complements my skills and can help me solo any quest line if I so desire.  I’ve also been having more fun in PVP than I thought I’d be having.  There are some very well written companions, and some that, well, could stand to be re-tooled.  My favorites are; Mako (the first Bounty Hunter companion, a cute, plucky healer companion that you’ll use for the entire game), Blizz (the Bounty Hunter’s Jawa companion.. oh so cool), Vette (the Warrior’s first companion, a spunky Twi’lek with some of the best writing for a companion), Andronikos Revel (a pirate companion for the Assassin class, voiced by Steve Blum, who is in countless anime series… Which Hunter Robin, GTO, and Cowboy Bebop to name a few).

The classes are interesting.  My main is a tank spec’d Assassin, and I really do enjoy that class.  Where else can you have a light armor tank that totally survives at his/her job.  As a side note, you can get a full set of light ‘orange’ armor at level 14 for the Sith Inquisitor lines (Sorcerer and Assassin).  If you have a female character then she can wear a steel bikini for the majority of the game (Imperial Dancer’s Outfit).

Okay, so here’s my thumbnail on each class:

Sith Inquisitor:

Assassin – A solid class that can spec tank or dps.  Currently, the tank spec is probably superior.   Think of this class as the Ret Paladin in WoW, but with stealth and better tanking skills.

Sorcerer – The primary healer class (debatable, since other classes have healing trees) in the game.  All in all, a good ranged dps or healer.

Sith Warrior:

Juggernaut – Jill just started up a Jug and is loving it.  Gatling’s main is a Jug and he enjoys that class as well.  This is your basic heavy armor tank.  They also have a dps line.  Really it’s a solid class.

Marauder – This is a pure dps fighter class, limited to medium armor.  I found it a little squishy, but honestly haven’t given it a fair shakedown.  My Marauder is stuck as my Auction House mule.

Bounty Hunter:

Mercenary – I love my Merc.  She is a runnin’ gunnin’ death machine.  Any class with a skill called ‘Death From Above’ has got to be good.  She does great in PVP and has solid dps for a heavy armor class.  Mercs also have a healing tree, so they can be effective healers as well.

Powertech – Jill is playing a Powertech and they seem solid as well.  They call them a ‘ranged tank’ which sounds weird, but kind of works.

Imperial Agent:

Sniper – Jill’s main is a Sniper and I’ve spent many an hour trying to keep her alive.  The Sniper is the squishiest class in the game.  They have a very high dps potential, but that dps depends on setting up and preparing for the situation.  The agent story line is awesome though, but this class does need some work.

Operative – The Operative is more like the classic rogue than any other class, although it does have a healing line to make it one of the more effective healers in the game.  I think the Operative is more versatile than the Sniper because it doesn’t rely on the ‘cover’ mechanic that the Sniper does.  It’s more of a run around and stab things class, which makes it very good for PVP.

The Republic classes are essentially the same ones as the Empire, but put in different clothes.  At any rate, I’ve prattled on enough.  If you are interested in playing, come over to the dark side on the Darth Brandon server.  We are in the guild Fear Machine with our mains.  Look for Hastur (me), Rhysta (Jill), or Gatling (Jim) and say hi :)  You can also find me on my stable full of Alts (all named after Great Old Ones) under the R’leyeh Legacy.