racing the content keeping up and the need for speed

Todays theme revolves around concepts of  speed and the philosophy of leveling. MMOs  by design create a number of competing goals within the design but coded in such a way as to allow for longevity, a small series of challenges increasing in difficulty combined with a diminishing set of rewards increasing in value. . With most people having a succession of alts the content is no longer new but familiar and the desire to blast through to the highest level becomes increasingly attractive. I also have this desire to get Ceren as powerful as possible but am beginning to think at what cost. In business and management we often do a cost benefit analysis weighing up investment against increased productivity results.My cost benefit analysis for Ceren is that speed can often mean a loss of functionality and complex understanding of in game lore legend character customisation and most importantly fun and enjoyment.
Ceren
Went hunting today with Adianne and Kristal *. Kristal was a great companion but we found ourselves getting ganked alot so she called in the big guns and her friend Adianne a lev 90 Ranger appeared to help speed the process up, .a concept known as clearing the zone which we proceeded to do. Great fun but Ceren was left in the dust.  Ceren has silver hair because she is controlled by an older gamer. I suddenly realised that I have become used to a slower pace (Grandma speed)I'm trying to work out if thats due to a lack of skill {eg slow targeting slow combos still learning the class) or an actual preference to take my time and enjoy the ride. I was on voice as well which added an extra level of challenge.
Thinking about an experienced player checking quest journal, moving, sending private tells, chatting in guild chat,chatting in group chat to a non voice group member,checking map, as well as listening tto background music watching the hotbar for twitters as well as watching TV....hmmmm 
* Character names changed for privacy

Wiping blame lag or system specs instead of yourself ?

Some dungeons and instances aren't meant to be duoed. Karnacks Castle is one such. Enyar and me try to get in with Enyar chronomaging down to 72. This should be possible with 2 good players but somehow today my system seems jumpy and my targeting seems laggy. So need to work out whether what caused us to wipe 3 times was my bad targeting due to still trying an alternative key set combined with lag and choppiness my video card settings a problem with my cache and memory in my low tech system or my general suckiness.


Decide that it is my general suckiness after 3 wipes think Enyar fell asleep as it was 4am Central US time.

Grumpy but have a plan to fix...... its called upgrade and practise  

Cerens Journey : Training for Grouping and Raiding in EQ2 an Introduction

My name is  JD Conrad and this is my Blog. I am also known as Ceren.

I play  Ceren a L72 Paladin in a digital world called Norrath..

Im starting this blog to record from day one my adventures in learning how to become a great team player and junior raider in EQ2 Live. 

The learning curve complexity and challenge of a high end multi million dollar MMO is daunting for many especially of my generation who played the original D@D with dice miniatures  maps on graph paper and a collection of dice.

The technological change that has happened since the 1970s is something we could only dream of when working out damage mitigation on Texas Instruments Scientific calcs and nerd raging at our friends when they did something stupid. 

Now we are in a complete world with its own economy society and memes with relationships that span age race and philosophy and are working together or solo to meet our goals : fun, new friendships new challenges

immersion in a fantasy world and a sense of a new type of group or co operative community.

I would like to explore in this blog my time spent in the persistent world of Norrath and how I as a older gamer learn the ways and arts of the grouping and raiding culture. I am nearly Fifty but have heard of Eighty year olds playing in our world of  Norrath.

I hope this will help both Newcomers  as well as experienced players and guilds who would like to share feedback  experience and support with us on our journey .

This should be a warm supportive  island of ideas experiences and support as well as challenge and laughter. The pressure is internal a pressure to be the best one can.

Sister of the Knights Templar ... My Fae Templar Alt respec ???

Piyi  Lev 82 Templar 78 Armorer 62 AA

So Piyi is my Templar my nephew levelled her then left for WOW so she is mine now. She taught me the game and the basics but is need of a major respec at only 60 aas tatty equipment  spells not upgraded so needs tlc.

Ceren is my priority but I think it will pay to learn another class during my training to give me more flexible thinking as to how classes work and interact and plate healers are  always in demand ...

She needs her armorers epic and some groups for aas or even chrono back down and grind aas.... this is where i do need the attitude of a power leveller as to how to do it ....

We have spent many fun hours gathering harvesting and HD and repairing. The Guild repairer has become rich since Piyi joined Windwalkers

setting the path forward of macros guildies and welcomes

ceren in the windwalkers dojo

Hey All

Today was macro day and chat command day began setting macros and started scratching my head in regard to how to macro thru implied targets grrrr the UI is against me the target previous target key is somewhat elusive in the default settings or Im tired and my mind is mash.

I am also a guild recruiter and had  great fun today  helping two of our invites a necro and a ranger (Rysin and Thornthistle) set up their housing. I had sent them the standard boxes, sales crates and a few pieces of low tier hc furniture as well as a mail box (from Hallas shinies)and taught the basics of the broker vaults and positioning . all went well  (still learning how to best give in game help sometimes I have learnt something but forget how to explain it in help desk style language.) 

Windwalkers and the Test of Time Girls

Hi all

Today was a little more relaxing playing around with macros and targetting. Have decided to persevere with practising my new keyboard layout and see how it goes with macros. Looking at gaming mice and keyboards but early days yet.

Plan for tonight is to solo a few zones and practise pulling and positioning. I can fluff as much as I like on my own.

My trainers at the moment are Enjar Lev 90 SK and Uber Tank in my Windwalkers guild..... Arnora and Jenn who helped me from day one and now Katiedoodah Luckeee and Bad Cat from Test of Time.... the amount of friendly help and support has been greatly appreciated....

keyboard and mouse

Hey

Still huge issues combining  my keyboard and mouse.There has to be a better way without upgrading to a gaming mouse and gaming keyboard. I have swapped to left hand directional keys for my toon and am fluffing alot trying to turn solo mobs ( would a gaming mouse help ? ) or is just that after six months play my brain has got stuck in a pattern that will be hard to break .....still looking at fixes