Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I didn't get to play much TESO over the weekend, I had some issues with my computer and Dire had the weekend off so it was busy, in a good way. My computer was starting to give me enough problems to finally format, which seem to have halted for now, and my son thinks it was overheating. So a good cleaning and monitoring the temp seems to have helped. He's now inherited it as his, which it is still a decent machine, the only thing it really needs is an upgraded processor. But I've had it for a few years, I remember writing on this blog when I got it. So it isn't tooo old, as this blog will be about five years, this year. I didn't get it right when I started, heh.

Dire took pity on me and picked me up a new one. I have been wanting one for quite awhile! Last summer I was starting to realize I really wanted to upgrade before long. For the time being I beefed up the video card without having to replace the power supply, I threw in an GeForce GTX 550. I didn't want to put a ton of money in it but it is already much cheaper now I saw when I went to get the new card for the new computer. Good thing is it is still nice for my son to use it. I picked it up especially to be able to play FFXIV, which it did the job well enough to tide me over, it has done especially well with TESO. For the new machine I put in the GTX 770 TI, which the 660 still competes with it, or is comparable in many ways, but I just wanted this one more so. In the end it has some massive fans on it, didn't think it would fit inside but it did. It runs great, my games look so good, not a huge deal greater than 550, but combined with a new processor (well new everything), I get much better, stable FPS with the graphics cranked all the way up. I think that's the biggest thing I notice, a huge boost in FPS and no more hitching on games in populated areas.



So yeah, TESO looks amazing, runs amazing, and so does GW2. Those are the only games I've yet to play over the weekend. Yes, GW2 was one of the first to be installed. It is so easy to fall back into that game, poke around and play. Dire decided to play again. He's forgotten everything, which I couldn't believe. It was like teaching him about a new game. What I really appreciated about us playing GW2 was the fact that I didn't have to make a new character to be able to play with him. I decided to log the ranger on (necro might have been overkill with all those pets I haul around, lol) and group with him. Instantly scaled down to his level when I pop over to the zone, we quest and have fun, how much better can it get? What he's already done I can do later, I can just help him with hearts and we catch many events. The ranger can throw out some heals which helps too. I was very happy with this set up, I can take my favorite characters and still play with him even if I am not anywhere near his level. Well done, Guild Wars 2, well done. THAT is the biggest reason I wanted him to play this over other titles. We almost went back to LoTRO but he just is working too much lately to justify a sub.



I had a great time and I still play the game alone as well, it is a title I always seem to get sucked back into and it looks gorgeous. Plenty to do, plenty of puttering around to do, events and so on. For now it is a good place for us to be. He's starting over as a guardian, which suits him. I sent him one of every weapon to skill them up and see what he liked the most, I just knew he'd be using a 2h sword, lol.

Mostly TESO is getting the attention (little GW2 snuck in here and there, can't help it!), I play as much as I am able with my brother, Heri. Our bud, Rak, has played with us some with his alt but he is nearing end game with his main, sitting at 47 when I logged out (!! I'm only level 10 and 17). I love the faction switch but it hasn't been all roses.



TESO isn't easy on bad choices, especially in early game. I got so fed up I asked Rak to let me port to him at the city where you can respec. I had thought I wanted to do full plate and swords but that didn't work out as planned, and I had a very hard time because of it. The gold was hefty, but I had the amount. Getting there was a royal pain at level 8. I wasn't going to reroll either. So his help greatly improved my play. Being able to switch my points out and change bad decisions made things all the better for me. I think the developers should consider adding shrines to the starting cities, it would save a lot of frustration and give more freedom to these flexible characters we are creating, but might want to give a test run with before we decide a final path. The wrong choices can make the game really hard, which can lead to a lot of deaths, wasted gold on repair, rerolls, and eventually burn out. It is a slower leveling game so I can see burnout after getting too many choices wrong.

That is my biggest beef, besides no mentoring and too much phasing, which makes the game hard to play with friends. That's why I'm playing GW2 with Dire, honestly. If it had those it'd be pretty near perfect. Let's hope for the future! Besides that it is a good game, I'm still having fun. I had a fantastic time on my first character on the other faction (Daggerfall). I made better choices, and I think the quests seemed to flow a bit better, but I love this (Ebonheart) side. I am having an easier time this week. I want to heal some and using cloth is helping with mana issues, I decided to use staves, I just prefer range, which has helped also. No regrets on switching factions! Just regrets at what I thought I wanted to do and spreading things too thin!

That's it for today, I need to get some stuff done and then some levels before times gets away from me! Safe adventures!

.

Sharing some screenshots before I format my ol' hunk of junk. Meh, enjoy.

Fear me! Another neat emote /controlrod

Standing around, trying to decide if I should format tonight or tomorrow.

Map travel.

Some furniture. Like the style here for the Dark Elves.

A vampire! 

Moving along.

Heri and I in town on our white horseys.

Out questing.

Which way do we go?

 

Lava really hurts!

Volcano in background, merely for looks. 

Some combat.... I got stuck with an axe for a bit. 

This week Heri and I decided to switch things up in TESO, swapping factions. We really like Daggerfall but we decided to switch to Ebonheart with some alts we wanted to play also. Instead of doing the same content over, this seemed a cool choice. I'll still play the sorc as well but I think I really enjoy a Templar quite a bit, it could very well turn into the main. Heri is going with the traditional rogue type nightblade, enjoying the playstyle, he says it clicks with him more. While I am more of a paladin type who throws out some spot heals when things get tough or when I have mana... heh. The joys of being a hybrid, mana management. I'm still quite low level so working on some gear will help. Which I plan on doing as soon as this post is done.

My friend Rak was a bit disheartened when I didn't start off on the faction with Dark Elves, because I'm always a Dark Elf if there is the option. In the end it won out, as I really love Dark Elves. It was the first race I played in my first MMO. Anyhow, I love the city, it is a bit different than the other faction, it has a different feel. I can't quite describe it but each starting areas/towns have their own ambiance to them. I'm just really digging this game, the graphics, the music, the animations...

Jammin' out, lol.

Man, the animations! The emotes are so much fun to play with, a real RP heaven. Opening doors your character uses their hand to push it open, I can't say when I last saw that happen in an MMO. Overall I think the game has some very sweet animations and that really helps with immersion. Last night we were playing around with them, Heri and I, and found we can do jumping jacks, sit in chairs that we pull out of thin air, push ups, sit ups, play music instruments (with actual music playing), and other things like... play dead. It was hilarious. Run up to a quest giver and flop dead at their feet. It gets some funny reactions, lol. I can see us wasting much time goofing off with emotes and animations being silly. I can, and have, see/seen these get really silly almost to the point of immersion breaking. All in all a good laugh so far.

Another thing I like is the ability to have tattoos, face paints and so on. Really gives character to the... character. Costumes, boy do I have fun with these. I switched all my costumes from my sorc to the temp and presto! no newbie looking armor, yay. I am excited to see just how many costumes I can collect as I make my way through the game.

I ran across this while heading to the bank in Daggerfall.... Getting a little carried away with those emotes, eh?

Being melee is a bit different than casting, it took a little getting used to. I'm swinging a big 2hander because it feels pretty good with the class. The damage seems decent and for now that's the route I want to take. Slinging some lightning and fire spells, tossing out a few heals. Lots of fun so far, feels pretty solid and strong, I'll just have to see how it flows in a few levels. For a change it is nice not having to worry about a pet who has no AI which I can control.

I'm wanting Dire to try my Templar this weekend to get a feel for the game. I don't think him trying a level one will really give him the feel I want him grasp, to see how things start to connect after a few levels and choices. He is taking a break from EQ while work is busy and wants something easier to hop in and out of. We considered going back to LoTRO but he was leaning more to GW2, but if I could get him into TESO I think he's love it in the end. I'd love for him be along my side in TESO. If not I'm all for playing GW2 with him too. We'll have to see how it goes. My son is also interested, so he might join me also.

I hope to get caught up or past the sorc soon, with my temp, and Dire has some time off over the holiday...soooo.... maybe I can get him playing, wish me luck! Screenshot time! Pictures and more pictures!

Questing with Heri.

Lighting can make all the difference.

Following you.

Admiring the sunrise.

Not big on snowy areas but this one wasn't too bad.

A little chilly for a swim I suppose.

Little places to explore off in the distance.

Arg, I'm so blind I can't find my sunglasses.

Questing.

More questing.

Reminds me of something.... 

I love Morrowind, this is a nice feel for bringing back the feeling.

Ah, yeah, it reminds me of Vanguard Saga of Heroes! More updates with new textures of course ;)

The world at your fingertips. Or perhaps- Let your fingers do the walking.... lol. 

I've spent a little over a week playing The Elder Scrolls Online since launch. I'm still learning things along the way but this week I have a much better grasp of how they game works. I'm really having a blast! The game has a nice feel to  it, I don't feel it as much of a grind it has been more like an adventure, an enjoyable journey. I'm only sitting at level 14, Raptr says I am in the top 20% of players, hitting Hardcore rank yesterday. I've only played about 34 hours. Some of that may of been my son an hour or two here and there. He made a character but hasn't progressed much with it. But I think that is a fair gauge to get a nice feel for the leveling aspect. So far I love it. 

The game is just gorgeous! I end up taking way too many screenshots. Another thing is how I don't see many people that look alike really, which is something new. Lots of different faces, skin colors and sizes. I find it all pretty interesting. The game has more of an adventuring feeling to it. Quests are not merely kill this collect that, you feel drawn in. My brother read a lore book and told me he actually wanted to read more when it ended. The only real drawback i can complain about would be the masses of people while you are just trying to explore a tomb, poke in a few containers, glance over at a bookcase perhaps, while they run ahead blasting everything to bits before you get there. I'm sure it will calm down in due time. I had initially thought this game would be different, not so massively in design, but it is nice to see people around.

I'm more of a classic caster, wearing mostly cloth, using pets and casting from range. It all sounds very boring when I read about other sorcerers wearing full plate and tanking or slicing things with a 2h weapon. Or a life tapping rogue who can AoE and heal. But the thing is that it is what I went in wanting, I find it fun, it clicks and that is all that matters. I use a restoration staff for the moment but I will be swapping that up quite a lot when I hit my next level. I am thinking a bow or perhaps a damage staff. Something ranged, I love being ranged. My next class will be more melee but that won't be for a long time. The thing about this game is you can do SO much with any class. It takes some thought, some thinking ahead and some imagination. You're not locked into just a class. 

What else to comment on? Neat stuff, fluff. Costumes, which can be collected from quests, you can use them after the quest is finished (like some servants clothing). I like that. There are also costumes from quests as rewards (there is a costume slot), my friend linked me one he got at 25, I am so looking forward to getting more! Gideon Emery- He's apparently voicing the NPC you go to for the Fighter's guild on the Ebonheart side. That was cool to see when I made my dark elf alt (who is still sitting at 3). What else? I love going into houses and poking around in crates and bags. That just adds a neat bit of exploring, lock picking chests too! The music is fantastic, the voice acting is pleasant and not so forced feeling as some games. Map travel is great when you really need it, or run to a shrine and save yourself a few gold to travel. 

My brother, Heri, started this week. He's really enjoying the game, which I am happy to see. He was really big into the older ESO games, he knows a lot of the lore and sees the ties into this one from the others. He's really pumped about it. He loves the freedom of the classes and armor/weapon combos. I think he's having trouble picking, like a kid in the candy store. I sometimes wonder if I should have picked this or that... Int he end if I kept wondering I'd never get anything done trying everything out, heh. 

I will be subbing again next month, I don't see myself unsubbing anytime soon to be honest. I really love this game. I can't get enough of it. While I want to play more than I do, I'm not rushing things. I am taking it slow, picking the flowers, rummaging through old chests, questing, meeting new characters and just having a heck of a time! 

More thoughts as I continue to level. Being 14, I am sure most of you have far more experience on the game than I do, but for those of you who haven't tried it, some impressions as I continue on my journey. In closing, the scenery isn't much the same but it is beautiful and with so many places to explore it often makes me think of Vanguard Saga of Heroes. I miss that game so much sometimes, in my heart it is already gone. Anyhow, screenshot time!

Questing on a lovely sunny day.

My dark elf alt. Not a fan of snowy starting areas >.<

A pretty vista.

Ruins.

Giddy up!

The swamp.

Exploring and questing.

Heri and I.

Chasing fireflies (well that's what I call them) for a screenshot, lol. 

Creepy farm.

Lovely beach.

This outfit is actually a costume, which looks neat for riding.

One of those 'events' I never seem to stumble on them at the right time or get anything good :(

Ahhh.... you turned me into a Man! Weird quest, thought I was going to transform into an undead or maybe a werewolf... no just trans-gender, lol.