Miscellany

The lag in game right now is palpable. Many of the people that I see on a regular basis in game have switched from playing their mains all the time to goofing off with alts, twinks and random acts of silliness as they kill time for the expansion to come out (My guess is going to be in Christmas). I believe the affliction is called ‘alt-itis’ to an extent but it’s more than that. It’s fear of terminal boredom.

Fear that you’re going to get bored with one of the games you have a huge affinity with. This has been the only MMORPG that I’ve ever played. Sure there’s been the lure of other shiny games out there but this is the one that I could relate to. I think mainly it was because it was set in a fantasy world that took much of its history from days of yore. I’ve always been a sucker for knights, dragons and wizards. I also know myself, I wouldn’t be able to split time between games fairly well and I’m not inclined to spend thirty bucks a month on games that I don’t play regularly.

So instead I’ve gone ahead and built another alt. While Lubrona has successfully hit 42, he’s going to sit there a while. Yes I mean to level him but the way things are going it appears that I’m going to have much time to get him to seventy and the leveling has increased exponentially. If you remember when I started Lubrona I told you that the two classes that I loathe the most in PVP are Warlock and Rogues.

Meet Lusneak (Yes, original I know.) Female Night Elf Rogue. Level 17 currently and running between Darkshore and Westfall. I know some players that love their rogues and I can say that when I’m only level 17 and get 150 point crits, I think the toon is OP.. of course this was before I was told that their damage output was decreased recently. Well if that’s the case I think I’ve picked the wrong classes to play.

Lubacca and Luciel

I’m still with Divine Forsaken; we’re running Kara, though due to my schedule on Tuesday I don’t usually run with them. I did run it this last week on Lubacca and my T4 gloves dropped, my first non ‘welfare’ epic. I still need to get a Meta gem for my helm but it’s on the back burner as I’m not playing him as often currently.

I think I told you that Luciel, my shaman, finally has two epics of his own. I went ahead and got him the Gladiator maces from PVP. So he’s doing some decent damage and now I just need to upgrade his armor. One of my guildies officially called me a PVP whore the other day because it seems that it’s where I spend most of my time when I’m on my 70s. Trust me it’s not from desire. I only hit AV. While I would love the Challenger name sake I know that it’s easier said that done.

The Isle hasn’t really called my attention since it was released but it seems that the honor grind there is exceptionally fast and I might have to break down and work on that with Lubacca. I want the Alchemist recipe so my time might be broken between Lusneak and Lubacca for a while. It helps that plenty of guildies have been using Herb Gatherer, now I know where most of the good stuff is.

Asshats

The downfall of a lag period, at least to me, is that there’s more asshats that seem to come out of the woodwork. There’s a couple on my realm that I wish I could banish to an asshat server never to be seen or heard from again. They bring up utterly retarded things in Trade and manage to pick a fight with any living person around simply because they want to.

One of the asshats that always seems to be on, night or day, is a mage that goes by the name Happypants (I shit you not.) This guys is the self proclaimed best mage on our server. His attitude is juvenile to say the least and his arrogance knows no bounds. He’s been kicked from several guilds and finally made his own, Minions of Happypants. Yes I’m serious.

I had the misfortune of running some EotS games with him during the EotS weekend and he proclaimed that the only reason why we were winning was due to his expertise. Even went as far as saying that I was the worst Shaman in our server. The guy just has a ego that won’t quit. I wish guys like this and the lackeys that they somehow acquire would just go and find a hole to live in.

What about you guys? The lag has to be hitting you to, what are you doing about it in game?

MotW

"Throw me the Idol and I'll throw you the whip"

One of the classics of all time has finally been re-released on DVD. Raiders really made an impact on the American mind-set and left Harrison Ford to become a franchise star AND action movie man.

Fact: In the Market scene where a huge man begins to display his prowess with a sword and Indy just shoots him, it was not originally scripted to happen that way. However, Harrison was sick with the flu and didn't want to go through the trouble of the fight, so he just shot him and they kept it in the movie.

And there shall come a reckoning (100th post)

There is nothing better in the world than knowing what you’re going to do tomorrow.

So at the end of the month I’m moving out. It’s official. During this weekend I’ve had several heart to heart’s with members of the family. The problem with a situation like the one that I’m in is that everyone hears what they want to hear. It’s the bane of existence as far as I’m concerned. If we actually listened and heard what was intended I don’t think so many communication problems would arise.

My Wife, M, has been more lucid recently. The reason for it is that is because last Friday morning I found out that she had already taken her month’s worth of meds in the short order of two weeks. After that she called me at work and asked me to steal a script for her from my office so she could have more meds…do I even have to tell you that it would never happen? I know I didn’t.

So during the weekend, because she hasn’t taken as many meds, she’s been better. She’s asked questions about the future and what I’m thinking. She knew that there was an issue between us; I’m not cold hearted guys. I am still trying to help her, I still console her when she’s crying and take care of her, but honestly I’ve really already decided my course of action. It’s the certainty that next month will bring more of the same that brings me to the conclusion.

I finally managed to sit and talk to the MIL. I told her how I felt. Moreover I laid out the entire family dynamic for her in a fashion that would show that I wasn’t being selfish or looking for the perfect woman. I am doing it because I am honestly tired of being an enabler. Make no mistake friends, looking at the last several years I know in my heart that it is EXACTLY what I am. I have watched her continually do this to herself and have allowed it to happen. Yes I have argued and spoken to her about it but ultimately I have left the decision to her.

Think about the family dynamic. There’s me, I work extremely hard and until recently I was what many could consider a complete shut in. Yes I play WOW and collect comics but that was as far as my vices went. The MIL is at work full time, comes home to eat and then goes upstairs to do homework, so really she’s never there. T, the fifteen year old, is home schooled. So that means that she’s home during the day to take care of M when she goes into a ‘relapse’ and then when I come home she looks to me for guidance. M is usually comatose and J the three year old is being raised by myself and T for the most part.

You look at that dynamic and tell me that it’s healthy and I’ll call you a liar. There’s no growth involved as a person in any of those situations. How are we growing if we’re in damage control mode all the time? How is there growth where there isn’t any intra personal communication going on? There isn’t.

That’s the rub of it folks and when I laid it out there for the MIL like that, well she finally got with the program! Imagine that! We’ve had three interventions for M in the past year and a half. Each time she was given an ultimatum and each time she agreed ONLY to go back on her word within a matter of time.

Yea, it’s time for a change. I’ve explained it, just like I’ve explained it to you to all parties involved and they finally get it. I’ve already spoken with a friend and he’s willing to let me be his roommate, which will help with expenses for me. Plus I’ll have a bud with me most times than not and I won’t feel like an outcast.

I’ve started playing WOW again now that I feel like I know where I’m going and why. I find it fun again, so happy about that. I’m working on getting my Shaman up to something close to looking like he’s loved. My druid continues to be my main and I’m going to make him make me some money here soon!

So, there’s the crisis at the moment. M wants me to keep the door open to the future but I don’t know that she can kick the habit and I’m unwilling to be put in this situation again. I need to feel like I’m accomplishing something and right now, with where I am, that’s not happening.

Guys, I thank you for the time and patience you’ve shown me. You’ve sent some great emails that have given me the ability to struggle forward and advice that I’ve taken to heart. (I’m looking at you Dax, I spoke with the church, they understand and agree). From here on out, while I may still give updates, I’ll begin to focus on WOW some more. Be ready. The Shaman is in office.