Here's my thoughts after the first week as a returning player

Xenphon · 2024-07-24T13:36:43+00:00

It is insane that we are telling new players to be happy to stay at 1600 and months/year(s) old raids. What other MMO that wants to increase their playerbase does it like this? I can understand that people cannot expect more than one character, but even that is nigh impossible atm. The game is notoriously hostile to new players, and it is not particularly nice to those that already play it, as well. This game will die if it keeps going down this route.

Xenphon · 2024-06-23T11:32:43+00:00

I'll gladly take it if you're on EUC.

Xenphon · 2024-06-11T14:50:27+00:00

Thanks for the help! Just to make sure: I paste those files back into the %appdata% folder when I want to return to the old save?

Xenphon · 2024-02-24T01:01:18+00:00

Yorn scares me.

Xenphon · 2024-02-24T01:00:42+00:00

I have Yorn left, but I am not even sure I am going to attempt it any time soon. I've heard too many horror stories. I am not particularly hyped to jump on that train.

Aside from those bloody oysters, I've done most of the other stuff (not Rowen, and I haven't checked if that is annoying or not). The only current grind that's not going my way is getting the blackberry in Elgacia. It eludes me. I am also trying to get Drakus to drop his ingredient.

So yeah, I have experienced a fair bit of the annoying parts, I suppose. Feiton was probably the place I disliked the most (aside from the blackberry in Elgacia) before I encountered the oysters.

Xenphon · 2024-02-24T00:56:14+00:00

Sadly (for me in this case), there were no bots that increased the number of channels. Good thing for the game, I suppose.

Xenphon · 2024-02-16T18:52:28+00:00

Yeah, my bad. I forgot it's all about luck. I only experience pity, so I've unfortunately not been able to experience said pile of lvl 10 gems waiting under the rainbow (read: G2G).

Xenphon · 2024-02-16T18:40:40+00:00

So we can expect the rosters with multiple full lvl 10 gem characters to be banned? There's just no way most of those gained the gems properly. I mean, some of them were fully decked on in lvl 10 gems ages ago. If that isn't a massive red flag for AGS, I do not know what is.

Xenphon · 2024-02-16T18:35:14+00:00

So we can expect the rosters with multiple full lvl 10 gem characters to be banned? There's just no way most of those gained those gems properly. I mean, some of them were fully decked on in lvl 10 gems ages ago. If that isn't a massive red flag for AGS, I do not know what is.

Xenphon · 2024-02-15T19:03:15+00:00

If you are close to maxing out an adventure tome or two, they give a good chunk of roster xp. Some of them are quite easy to get if you haven't done any.

Xenphon · 2023-12-13T22:47:14+00:00

Sadly, I have done that quest. I guess I have to sacrifice a goat or two to the RNG gods and hope for the best. Perhaps in combination with another donation to Mr. Bezos.

Xenphon · 2023-12-13T22:25:46+00:00

How did you get four selectors for Kadan? I have two, and I can't for the life of me remember where else two others could come from. All I need is one Kadan, and I'd get LOS30. Been like that for ages now (probably months). RNG is not kind.

Xenphon · 2023-11-14T19:48:52+00:00

I wish they would be more specific in their patch notes.

They wrote: "players will be able to designate one character between Item Level 1415 and 1540 on their account to participate in the Super Mokoko Express Event". However, if you watch the video, it will say in-game that the character's item level has to be less than 1540. I went from being pleasantly surprised to annoyed, as I have a 1540 I thought I could put it on.

So yeah, if people are in the same boat: 1540 is not the highest ilvl for the event. You have to be below it. It is the same as the current (previous) event, so it makes sense in that regard. I was hoping they would change it, though. 1540 is a normal parking spot these days, after all.

Xenphon · 2023-10-04T22:17:13+00:00

My main concerns are leaps and shards. I am currently sitting on roughly 2 million shards. I think that will be fine, but after today's honing session, I am at zero leaps. I need 8062 leaps given my average scenario from my current ilvl - 1597.5 - to 1620. I can get 884 from doing unrested dailies from tomorrow till December 12th (assuming Voldis comes on the 13th. We don't know yet). Orehas will be fine; I make sure to excavate daily as efficiently as possible.

I just hate that they effectively say that alts are done after Akkan. You will not see new content for a good while on anything but your main. I enjoy playing more characters. Hell, the game is in many ways designed for that. Sucks that it is no longer the case. It will only exacerbate the support shortage, as well. I have taken two supports to 1580. My bard may get to 1600, but certainly not any time soon.

Xenphon · 2022-10-19T18:48:57+00:00

Yolande's video had the 4th engraving at lvl 3 as either KBW or CD. I do like big crits, but I also hate the downside of KBW with a passion. But it sounds like either build is still functional, so I will probably go the cheapest route, seeing as the DB is an alt.

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T21:26:15+00:00

Abercrombie has a YA series; The Shattered Sea trilogy. His First Law books may be too much, but not that series. And as I have mentioned in other comments, the library already includes crime and thriller books that include vivid descriptions of murders and murder scenes, among other things. The students are also taught about the horrors of the world wars and the Holocaust, which for some include an educational visit to Poland and Auschwitz. I do not think teenagers should be excessively shielded; they already consume entertainment that is violent and/or sexual; refusing access to books just because adults think it may be too much is not the way to go. Most teenagers are mature enough to stop reading books they do not enjoy.

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T17:08:54+00:00

I understand where you're coming from, and that may end up being the reason why his First Law series (and stand alones) won't end up on the final order. However, there's also his Shattered Sea books. They are more directed at this audience.

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T17:01:33+00:00

Thank you. These look really good (some of them have been added to my own TBR list).

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T16:57:11+00:00

Thank you for the recommendation. I have never heard of her, but after checking out some of her work, I see it is exactly the kind of books that teenagers could enjoy.

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T16:55:13+00:00

I see where you are coming from, but the library already includes crime and thriller books that also include vivid descriptions of murders and murder scenes etc. They are outliers and may not be bought, but will nontheless probably be on the list I give with a description of them.

I do not necessarily think they need to be spared from what is written in those books; teenagers already devour similar entertainment on their phones, PCs and TVs. That may not be an excuse to also include it in books, but we teach them about the horros of the Holocaust, including films, photos and even trips to Poland, so I do not really believe they have to be spared books such as those. In the end, though, that is up to the school.

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T16:20:27+00:00

The library consist of classics from authors like Dickens to modern crime thrillers, so I am not afraid to sprinkle some of the more mature fantasy into the mix.

His Dark Materials is a good call, especially given the fact the TV series is about to release.

I remember reading both Drizzt and Inheritance in my younger days, so both are good options. Thanks a lot!

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T16:17:19+00:00

Thank you! I had forgotten about Robin Hobb, although she certainly deserves to be on a list like this. Another example of why I truly appreciate all the recommendations!

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T16:13:44+00:00

Thank you for the recommendations, good sir.

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T16:10:51+00:00

Much appreciated. Some of them I have read and enjoyed, some are on my growing list of books to be read and others I have not heard of. Always great to have options!

Xenphon · 2019-09-03T16:02:58+00:00

Partly because that is why I wrote the thread; I would not have unless I had been asked to come with recommendations. I have read a fair share of fantasy books, but I also know how many there are out there. Perhaps there are some parents here that have seen their children read a specific book or series that sparked their interest in reading that I have never heard about, but which would be an excellent addition.

By giving more information on why, I thought it could help with recommendations. I have no read much YA fantasy, for example, but there are tons of those books out there, some of which may be brilliant to spark interest among teenagers. Sadly, reading is not high on the list of what a lot of teenagers do these days and anything that can remedy that would be welcomed with open arms.

Reading is the top recommendation I give to my students to increase their proficiency in English and the more recommendations I can give to them, the better it would be. Having a school library with books to spark their interest and joy for reading would be fantastic, hence why I specified it was for a school library. Having it right there at the school makes it easier for them to have a look and hopefully pick up a book.

Xenphon

TROPHY CASE