Daffodils

Spring is here, finally. It brings erratic weather along with it - one day it’s 75, another it’s 45. But it’s still my second favorite season next to fall.

I find myself in a new season with WoW, too. For the majority of this expansion I have not really enjoyed the game. I’ve been logging in only to raid, and then only because my guild needs me for their progression team. 

And now I find myself in the MoP beta. I didn’t sign up for the annual pass gig, I knew when it was offered there was a high chance I wouldn’t still be playing in a year. However I am still dedicated to seeing learntoraid succeed and they got me a beta key, hoping I’d find some enjoyment in the beta and that I might feel inclined to make some videos for the new 5mans. I am still not sure. I have been playing the beta but haven’t really been enjoying it. It’s still the same old WoW, and the upcoming panda expansion offers little to interest me.

Meanwhile I have been chomping at the bit to get into the GuildWars 2 beta. Every video I’ve seen about it seems fantastic. It’s so different, and every feature is thoughtfully done with a purpose and with the player in mind.

Outside of gaming I have been working on a major project that I will be launching soon.  I also joined a community garden in the town I live in, which is very exciting for me since I’ve always loved gardening but currently live in an apt which lacks a yard. 

Not many people know this, but last thanksgiving my grandmother discovered she had a brain tumor. She has since been through chemotherapy and radiation, and as her closest living relative I have been traveling back and forth to check on her and make sure she is doing ok. Most recently she has been told she will now be in remission for 2 years. After that, I don’t know what will happen.

I’m just trying to focus on the positive for now — like L2R growing (two more potential staff, woohoo!), GW2, the community garden, cancer remission, and my project launching within the next few weeks. The snow has melted, and the daffodils are blooming.

What lies ahead?

For a long time I felt my interest in WoW waning. For months now (maybe even a year?) I have only logged in to raid a few selected nights a week. Pretty much the only thing that had kept me subscribed at all was the guild I was in and the relationships I had there. I still do kinda feel that way. But then L2R hit and I find myself enjoying another aspect of WoW. Not playing it for my own enjoyment, but rather discovering things and sharing ideas with others, helping players understand parts of the game and being part of the “business” side of WoW I suppose you could say.

BlizzCon was this weekend and while I wasn’t able to attend I did watch the event via the DirectTv stream. Lots of interesting changes. I have to admit that when I heard about MoP I thought we were being teased. But as the day progressed it became clear that MoP was indeed real. I am.. uncertain about the next expansion. I am choosing to remain optimistic but my I can’t help feeling displeased with how MoP is looking so far. I know that people will say, “We already have space goats and gnomes, what’s so different?”. It’s hard to put a finger on, but the Pandaren look just too.. cutesy. Like they were made to appeal to children. Add that to the new Pat Battle system and.. yeah. They’re definitely trying to broaden their audience there. Should they be faulted for that? Not necessarily. 

I was glad to hear that they are working on updating character models. I am surprised that they haven’t gotten to it sooner. It’s something that players universally want (I have never heard someone say they’d rather keep the old orc or troll models, for example) and even if someone did want to keep them, they could simply have it as a toggle option. Low quality character models and animations is the #1 inhibitor for me that keeps me from enjoying alts. 

I am very interested to see where the new talent changes go, and while I’m not thrilled about Panderans the zone of Panderia does look rather pretty. And I do love the concept of having a “rest” between Big Bad Guys with a focus more on faction war. Maybe after that we can have a Big Bad Girl?

Currently I am in the middle of working on my next UI Workshop for L2R. It’s for Tidy Plates and this one is a bit different because I’ve incorporated an interview and someone else’s footage for their PoV. I’m always trying to think of what would make my videos better, more watchable, more teachable, and more fun. I’m still a bit stoked about being part of L2R and I really hope I am able to contribute something positive to the gaming community. 

YouTube Playlist

A quick playlist of some of the songs I’ve been enjoying this year.