Scenes from the Halloween Event

Done two, haven't gotten anything

First time in, I lagged for 30 seconds, then got killed by something. The lag was so bad I couldn't see anything. So eventually I logged out.

Second time, I waited a bit, then entered. Less lag, I guess because it was 5 am and less players. A bunch of Thoros wandering around. These were killed by the mob of players

Then I think some Fallen Knights (guys on big horses). Again, killed.

Then a big raid boss appeared. This lasted awhile, then it got killed. Lots of drops, but I didn't get any.

Then a little while later, a giant treasure chest appeared. Killed it, only one person got something (chips?)

Then the AM appeared, and we had some more Thoros. I actually got a drop from one of those. I think leather boots. Whee!

I guess better than nothing, but compared to events in other games, pretty lame, IMHO.

What's the deal with guys harassing women?

Seriously, I don't get it. Two examples from tonight.

First off, my own clan, there was this 16 year old kid. For some reason, pretty much every time she came on, this guy would harass her. Talking about her chest, really stupid attempts to flirt with her, then tonight he starts blathering about her "time of the month" and PMS and stuff. So she gets pissed and quits the clan. Not that I blame her. I'm surprised she lasted that long. I was pretty close to quitting the clan myself (and still am, actually. Most the people are really nice, but there are always some in a clan that irk you. Maybe I'm just not a clan person...)

Secondly, with Catharsis falling apart again, out of the ashes has arisen a couple of clans, including the all-female Femme-Fatales. And yet pretty much every time they shout a recruiting message, they get subjected to some sort of harassment or snarky comment (like in the SS above). The wit later PMed me, saying there are no women on the internet (after I pointed out by his logic, the Brazilian clan was faking it as well).

Yet, we have clans full of Brazilians (as mentioned), Spanish speakers, even for a while, one full of Russians. I don't remember any of them being bothered like that, except when the Russians would use Cyrillic letters. And that was just making fun of the fact that no one else could even see the letters (since no ones but Russians have that font installed) and it just showed up as squares.

Seriously, just because someone in the game is a woman, doesn't mean you have to flirt/hit on her; make comments about her anatomy, or really, treat her any different than a guy, really. And same goes if they (or any other group) want to form a clan. Personally, it makes more sense than the one by country, because to me at least, one of the cool things about the internet is meeting (and playing games with ) people from all over the world.

I have no idea why people do that. I swear, the internet didn't used to be like that. Maybe it's kids are just getting more and more socially awkward, they don't meet girls/women in real life, so online they act like total asses towards them. Maybe it's the rampant sexism in the political campaign and media, first against Hillary, then against Palin. Maybe it's anime, which in my small experience, has creepy views towards women.

Calyce better be worth it...

15 million vis to buy 50 MP (which took me like 2 1/2 weeks of farming to make)

14 million vis to buy a Mysterious Steel Piece

30 mysterious powders to make the ottite for her crossbow (bought from cash shop).

100,000 fesos to by the vet stance manual (since the quest to get it is buggy)

??? how many 92 chips and enchant boosts to get decent stats - actually, I got lucky and on my first try, got 30% attack, 27% speed, which is good enough for me (better than any of my other 92es)

300 gold on FA passes to level her up to vet (soon I hope, she's 86 now)

Calcye in Deserted Quay...

I spent half an hour wandering around Deserted Quay before finding the right spot (eventually was given a clue by clan member Basque).

Except, you probably shouldn't do her quest yet, it's bugged, and on Orpesia, will prevent you from entering Los Toldos until its resolved

Colony Wars

I missed the first 30 minutes of it, feeding my cats. I was impressed to find my clanmates had taken a colony.

Sadly, it didn't last, but still pretty cool.

Then we tried to take another colony, but got wiped out. I think we gave about as good as we got, though, as the picture shows

Hades Covenant is no more!

Apparently my first clan disbanded yesterday. I dunno why, though I would speculate it might have something to do with the leader's impending marriage.

Part of me is sad, since it was my first clan and the leader put some effort into it, part of me also thinks it's probably a good thing for a lot of the members. (For the same reasons I left).

Got my pet...

Looks pissed off, actually, and can't say that I blame him, me having killed his mother and siblings and all that.

Kinda slow at picking up stuff. On the plus side, came with a 24% charge, so can use him a little (since I'm lacking fesos to buy food).

Thoughts on the patch (so far)....

Calyce is pretty cool. Only got her up to 49, but the Escrima stance isn't nearly as bad as I feared (in fact, I think I'm going to try a Lisa after I'm done with Calyce).

The pet quest is pretty evil, killing cute little furry animals.

The tweaked UI skin took a little getting used to, but seems to be a lot better.

The whole fesos thing has prices in an uproar. As well as the massively upgraded Bellem's boxes, which now drop mission lobbies, keys to instances, dyes, jewels (including high quality gems) as well as the occasional talt.

I'm not sure the fesos thing is going to make the game more friendly to non-uber people, since they are apparently available in PY, which means experts are going to crawl all over it (that was the case when my clan tried it, I got stomped, then lagged out). And people are going to be hunting all the mini-bosses to get jewels for the socket machine

The new patch is live, kinda.

Got Calyce (pictured above). Little trickier than I expected, the fight apparently scales to your highest character, and I had my scout (20% vet) and two 60 level guys. I ended up fighting a bunch of 107 level pirates.

Unfortunately, through a combo of server problems (they've been up and down) and ISP problems (Verizon still sucks) I haven't been able to play much. AFKed Calyce up to 27, but haven't actively played her much. She doesn't get her Xbow skill until level 60, either.

Citadel Owns Orpesia...

Literally! They took over the whole map in this week's CW. Pretty fun, actually, my new clan tried to take over Deserted Quay, but were kept at bay by one or two Citadel members

Calyce is finally coming (next week)

We should be getting an update next week, including Pets, Fesos, some other crap, but most importantly, Calyce!

I've had 50 mp set aside for her for months, and finally I shall have her. It's almost here.

Of course, it's from Neume, so take it with a huge grain of salt.

Ok, next topic. On patch day (a week from today) players will be able to add sockets to their items by talking with Claire (she won''t be available as a UPC just yet). Players will also be able to obtain jewels and socket them into their newly socketed items (Claire does this too).

After you do that players can head to the Pet Master in Gigante Beach and get their first pet: Poppet. He likes to pick up things for you... BUT you gotta remember to feed him. The pet food for him can be found on the Feso Exchange.

Feso will also be immeadiately available on the Bazaar. Just purchase an Earthstone and take it to the Feso Exchange. Players can also get Feso Stones by completing Andre''s UFC and killing monsters in the Forgotten and Ancient Areas. We will have additional ways to get these as well (e.g. AM Events, Community Events, F2P Promotions and Raid drosps).

The Feso Exchange will be live on Wednesday. This will change a few things on the Bazaar. From now on, most temporary items (excluding Premium Back costumes) will ONLY be available on the Feso Exchange. Consumables and Permanent items (as well as packages) will be what the Bazaar focuses on. What this means is that most of the powerful Cash Shop items will be available to all players through the Feso Exchange.

Wednesday will bring a host of other minor changes I have already posted about in my other thread. There is more I haven''t talked about yet and we will have more patches on the way before we get into Echoes of an Empire (anticpate an Update 5, 6, 7 and possibly 8).

Got a new clan and the Swamp Angler...

I joined No_NeeD. Which I still think is a silly name, but seemed to be the best fit. Lots of members, including some fairly active ones. The guy that recruited me, Unlimted is nice (guess he doesn't need a second i).

And in the first hour of my being a member, we killed the Swamp Angler not once, not twice, but thrice.

So I've done that and most of the Bahamar quest line. I'm now stuck again near the end, I need 100 quartz, and I only have 16. There's no more on the market and I can't seem to find any as a drop.

Verizon Internet sucks...

Ugh. No, I can't you hear you now, because your crappy internet service isn't working very well. If I'm lucky I can get on it for 1-2 minutes.

The One/Ceres kill the Hill Giant

http://forum.swordofthenewworld.com/index.php?showtopic=28028

The guardian to the new maps of Xibola (however it's spelled in game).

Congrats to them (and the server).

But yikes, just looking at the pics, makes me realize just how futile this game can be. After 4 months of playing, my best vet is 20% to Expert. Some of the screenshots had people who were 40% to the next level (Master).

It's not just the cash shop (AA passes and all that), but people who can AFK can get 1-3% to Expert to in 24 hours. If you actively play for 4 hours, you'll be lucky to get .25%

Vetted my Karjalain

She's really a fun character to play, but I worry about her post-vet, since she can only wear regular leather armor, not fighter nor scout, so she doesn't get a evasion bonus from those armors.

Searching for a clan, part three...

This is a tricky task because there aren't a whole lot of clans in the game, and also because my list of enemies is larger than my list of friends.

I posted an ad and got a few offers.

Catharsis - I would have, except they let McGeezers in, who I don't like

Telos - the last time I got into a broading argument with McGeezers, the leader of the clan sent me a snarky message. I think it was her - some variation of Misiercorde

No_NeeD - maybe, I almost joined them once, but I'm allergic to funky capitalization.