Hey Everyone,
So I'm a Wizard101 Gamer, and I love to talk about the game. I offer tips, tricks, and strategies to other players for help. If you ever need anything, just let me know ;) Feel Free to express your opinion here IN A POLITE MANNER!
Now, I know for a fact that KingsIsle won't be there (sad right? The one time I get to go to an expo, I miss out on my favorite gaming company! I actually wrote to them to see if they would consider coming, so I really hope they'll reply with some good news). Anyway, I'll be recording videos (not with me in them, of course! Just my voice! :D) of what it looks like including some different Comics, Anime, and Video Games they have there to play, so if you have something you'd like to see, go ahead and let me know! I'll try to stop by everything that people ask (however, if I don't get to it, I'm sorry!). That will be from October 14th to October 16th, so watch out for that!
So you heard it right, I'm hosting a Christmas party!
*Ummm ... Luke ... it's the middle of September ... why are you posting about this?*
Good question, curious readers! One of the reasons I'm posting about this so early is simple for availability. See, with my Wizaversary, I had to reschedule the day because someone had already booked the day for their own Wizaversary. See, I booked the day about a month in advance, whereas the other wizard had been talking about it for a pretty long time, so it was obvious to me that I needed to reschedule. It's just nice to have first dibs and not have to worry about different days being available (and hey, you CAN'T break the international protocol of dibs!).
My second reason is simply because of time constraints. There are a lot of items I want to fill my Sunken Palace with, including rare and (very hard to make) crafted items. Therefore, it's going to take a lot of money, reagents, and time to get this party up to the caliber I expect it to be; I hope for it to be much bigger than my Wizaversary.
Here is the details of the party:
Luke GoldHorn's Jinglebell Rock Party!
Who: Why, you of course!
What: Christmas Party
Where: Gilroy SkullFlame's Sunken Palace
When: Friday, December 23rd, 8:00 P.M. EST (7:00 CST, 6:00 MT, 5 PST)
I'm expecting to have a lot of people, so please, spread the word and I hope you can show up! I'm going to try to get some contests going, so stay tuned for those too. I'm going to post these same details up when the date comes (much) closer, so don't feel pressured to keep coming to this particular blog post.
So I know it's been a while since I blogged or made a video. You see, I've been moving, and school's coming up tomorrow, so I've been trying to enjoy my time in game as a casual player that also tweets a bunch. So what have I been up to? My latest project has been leveling my second Life alt, Oran FoeHammer. For those of you that don't follow me on Twitter, I made a goal to have Oran at Legendary by September 6th, 2011 (which is in fact tomorrow). I'm sad to say that I did NOT reach my goal. Oran is currently Level 55 and beginning the Floating Land questline. The only real play time I have left is tonight. With this new Sunken Palace (that I'm fixing up to talk about) begging me to decorate it, I'm fairly certain that Oran will not reach his intended goal.
Anyway, let's cut to the chase; my pros and cons of the Sunken Palace. I'll start with the outside, and work my way in. In case you're uniformed of the deets of this house, it runs your pocket for 10,000 Crowns or 100,000 Gold. I have also started decorating this house as well, so you will see furniture items (if you are looking for pictures of the house plain, I'd recommend checking YouTube or The Friendly Necromancer's Blog Roll):
Pros:
1. The Entrance: The entrance to this grand castle is amazing! Let me just point out that the street lamps and the bushes are housing items so I do not confuse anyone. It really looks like you're walking into a fish bowl! I love it! :)
2. Passage on the Side Leading to the Boat: I really like this passageway off the main entrance simply because it's simple. It cuts down traveling time and it blends into the scenery.
3. The Ship: For the sake of clarity, I'd like to point out that the boxes are housing items. I really like this piece in the house. It's what the player's have been asking for ever since last October, and it just adds to the fishbowl feel I described earlier. This is what I love about KingsIsle; they listen to their players.
4. The Marketplace: For clarity, the food carts and fountain are housing items and do not come with the house. I really like this area, but I couldn't find a good name for it, so I called it the Marketplace, however it can serve as a forum, courtyard, or other rooms.
5. The Walkway: For clarity, the wooden benches are my housing items. I really like this stone walkway at the entrance of the house. I've actually nicknamed it the Boardwalk (that's what I was going for with the wooden benches!).
6. Stairs to Master Bedroom with Sitting Area: I really like the spiral stairways leading up to the master bedroom because it adds class to it. I also really like the sitting area off to the right of the stairway.
7. Sitting Area: The chairs, the bookshelves, the fireplace, and the piano are all my housing items. I really like how there's a specific room to sit down and chat with your friends. I also really like the chandelier!
8. Guest Room: The best thing about this room is that it can be anything! You can make this into a sitting room, library, guest room, and much more! It has a lot of potential which makes it a great room for housing!
Cons:
1. The Cave: While some may like the cave (I'm actually in the process of turning this into a Dragon's lair), I find it to be really ... random. I don't know, it just seems out of place and alienated, and it doesn't have much potential.
2. The Ship: Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the ship! But do you see how the lights are on? I want to go IN the ship! How cool would it be to be able to go into an area that still had air in it?! I personally think that would be awesome.
3. The Toll Buildings: Again, don't get me wrong; the toll buildings are actually one of my favorite features of the house. However, I really want to be able to go inside! I want to see what it looks like in there! I feel like it'd be awesome!
4. The Pedestals (also, Water): This change follows the pattern of the last. All I want from this is to be able to place a statue on the pedestal. I think it would be amazing if I could place my statues there. Also, a little side note (it's a bit short to be an actual stand alone con), I think the water shouldn't be as murky. I understand that some people like it murky, but I feel that clear water like in Calypso's instance would be really cool!
5. The Water: I simply cannot stand all the water! Why, you ask? For two reasons: 1. Because I cannot place objects in the water, and 2. It takes up a TON of housing space! Either of the above (or both!) need to be fixed, because it gets to be a bit too much!
That's really all I can think of at the moment. I'm thinking of hosting a Christmas party at my Sunken Palace instead of a Halloween party at the Wizard's Watchtower, but there's penty of time until then, so I'll be sure to update you by the last week of October with a date and a time! I also wanted to take the time to say Happy Birthday Wizard101 and Christina IceDreamer! We have such a great community and game here, and I just wanted to say thanks to both of those important idols! I'll catch you guys later!
For those of you who have access to the Test Realm (and even some of you who don't), you'd know that there are two new houses available at the Crowns Shop (10,000 a pop, or 100,000 gold). Well, one of these houses (my favorite of the two, actually) is called the Wizard's Watchtower (the other is called the Sunken Palace). Today I'm here with you to talk about my opinions of this new house (and maybe some other time I'll talk about the Sunken Palace. I'm going to start with some things I liked about the house, and then move on to the things that can be improved (Note: I've actually started decorating in the Test Realm because I'm pre-planning for a party I'm gonna have for Halloween, so your going to see some housing items):
1. Hallway on the Second Floor: I really like the look of this hallway on the second floor of the Wizard's Watchtower. It gives a really good castle feel, and the mosaics of the dragon only enhance the feel! The carpet blends in very well too, tying the whole room together without you having to even place a housing item! Good job KingsIsle!
2. Dragon Statue, Dragon Feet Columns, and the general Second Floor (Library-like Room): This is just ... wow. First (and most obvious), the dragon statue is great! I love the fire coming out of its mouth. And the fact it's standing on top of the main circular bookshelf just makes this preinstalled feature even more amazing. I also like the library feel of the second floor. Another well done KingsIsle :).
3. Observatory: The view is stunning in this room. And the size of the telescope is huge! The mosaics of the dragon are a nice pull together of the room, and I really like the wood floor and the preinstalled wallpaper. Very nice!
4. Opening Room: The opening room is stunning as you see the giant library pillar pulling the room together. Again, I really like the library feel and the dragon decor.
5. Staircase to the Dragon: Again, this part of the house gives me that "castle" feel that I absolutely love about a home. The rug is a nice touch, and I love the preinstalled torches and banners of dragons.
6. Dragon's Lair (Smog/Hobbit Reference): When I saw this, I literally laughed out loud. If you've ever read (or seen) The Hobbit, you'd know who Smog is, and you'd know how this scene was inspired. Bottom line: AWESOME!
tehehe, anyway, let's move on ...
7. Dragon Claw Lagoon: I really like this feature because it gives the house a location. It tells you, "Hey, your house isn't just on a random island. Your house is centered around a giant and probably ancient statue of a dragon claw". I like anything that gives my house a better definition. :)
8. Castle Entrance: This is just a really cool sight. Again, like the dragon claw statue, it gives your house a location: on the top of a waterfall. I really like the glowing orbs on the pedestals and the dragon keeping watch over the entrance of your house, as well as the observatory in the backround. Very pretty :).
Things That Could Change (This is where I can have some fun!):
1. The Dragon Claw Lagoon: When I first walked around in the house, I thought that little opening in the rope fence was telling me to venture into the whirlpool of a lagoon. When I found out it was just there for looks, I was pretty disappointed. We should be able to go into the whirpool. It could lead into a secret dungeon or cave full of water. Heck, it could lead into a half underwater zone of your house! I'll revisit this point later...
2. The Random Rope: I don't have much to say about this point, since it's pretty short and simple. I'm not sure if you can see it in the picture, but the lowest arch has a rope fence preventing you from going under this. I'd really just like to know why. There doesn't seem to be a reason for it (it looks big enough to travel under) and it really downgrades the look of the house.
3. The Dragon's Lair: This place is perfect as is, except for one small thing. I want to be able to place housing items in this area. As of the current moment, you cannot do so. I'm not sure if this is a current bug, but I have some housing items that would make this room cooler than it is now.
4. This Wall (in the entrance of the staircase): Now this isn't a mandatory change (just an idea suggestion), but why not move the spiral staircase behind this wall and make this room more like a side room instead of a tiny room with a huge spiral staircase in it. I'd also like the ability to place housing items in this room as well.
5. Another Wall (in a the hallway direct before the hallway filled with mosaic windows): Again, this is a great opportunity to add a secret room or hallway. Or better yet, make it another part of the house. It just seems like a loose end that could make the house a lot better than it is currently.
6. Series of Bookshelves: Another secret room suggestion. They could make this another spiral staircase to the dungeon or cave that the Dragon Claw Lagoon leads to. I personally think this a very good idea, but hey, we all have our opinions, right?
7. The Observatory: I'd like to make a side part of this room directly where the camera is pointed to be designated as a bedroom. There are only a few houses with designated bedrooms, and to me it kinda defeats the purpose of a home if your wizard doesn't have a place to sleep. Also, make a spiral staircase from the hallway to this room instead of teleporting me there (since we do see it as a tower from the outside).
Well, that's what I would change! Feel free to voice your opinions on what I thought or tell me what you like/ want to see changed! Until next time!
Hello withces and wizards of the Spiral, and welcome to Episode Three of The Commons Courier! After a semi-long break, I, Luke GoldHorn, am back to take you through this awesome Spiral we are graced with. Stay tuned as I talk about recent news in game, give PvP tips, interview Cassandra GriffonDreamer from Witchwarrior101, answer questions, and much more! Thanks for tuning in, and don't forget to submit your entries to the Jackpot Segment and submit your questions!
***Jackpot Segment Winners***
1. NicholasLionRider
2. Senthose365
3. Ethansherr12
Thanks for entering, and the winners should receive a code by Sunday (8/14/11) latest!
This is just a quick post summarizing my feelings of Wysteria that I posted on a W101Central thread. I thought it would be neat to share my feelings about it on the blog. Here it is:
While I really enjoy the new world because its so much like Harry Potter (trust me, I'm an uber HP fan; just got my Elder Wand in the mail yesterday), it's hard to look like the good guy when saying that they should take this away. At the very least, they should make it known to the public that they have JKR's permission to do this (IF they have her permission to do this; she might not even know about it). Like I said, I'm a big fan of HP, and while I do enjoy all the new similarities, I think the new world should not be released for several reasons. The first is because I grew up with Harry Potter; I've been following his adventures since about 2003, if not before. It hurts when you see a rip off of something you loved dearly since you were little (although, IMO, if Warner Bros. had released a HP MMO, KI wouldn't have ever created Wysteria). It's a bit challenging to understand if your not in the same situation. The next reason is coming from the content. Even though the area in total costs less than $10, I feel it's not quite worth it to go through this area on all my wizards (7 Legendaries, one in each school). Take Celestia for example; obviously it was more expensive and massive then Wysteria, it had a lot more unique offerings such as useful gear and tons of experience. Pigswick really only offers a Pickswick Uniform Set (which doesn't have stats), The Spiral Cup Housing Item (ok, so that is pretty cool...), a Golden Piggle (who's stats aren't even good), and a wand (which is really good for level 20-30). My point is, it's not quite worth it for people who have 3+ Legendary Wizards to go through it over and over again.
I've heard people say different things such as, "KI should be sued!" and "I love it because it's like Harry Potter". I don't wish for KingsIsle to be sued, but I really think the new world makes a mockery of a great game and company. Even though it isn't the case, it makes KingsIsle look like they don't have any original ideas. It wasn't so bad before Wysteria, where it had a lot of differences from Harry Potter (however, compared on a general level, they were alike). The similarities of HP that come with Wysteria make W101 less unique. There's nothing wrong with a few references or suggestive hints, but when you're taking characters from a series (McGonagall, Umbridge, Draco Malfoy, Hogwats, and even Fleur Delacour) and making them animals that talk (Mrs. Dowager,Belladonna Crisp,Randolf SpellShine,PigsWig, and Nalia DuneStrider), well, you're not going to get my personal endorsements and support.
