Jump to content

stormveritas

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1415

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by stormveritas

  1. stormveritas
    Going for 90+ is no small task. It's almost always ugly; lots of time spent doing things you may not necessarily enjoy. I am also a giant cheapskate, and refuse to pay more than the reasonable minimum to level any skill.
     
    As such, to get from 85 to 90 construction, i'm spending lots of time stealing creation.
     
    Gross.
     
    Whether I play the fast version (super tedious) or the traditional format (slow), I love the game. Unfortunately, you need to play sooo many times in order to accumulate sufficient points to carry through a long-term goal such as this.
     
    All of my oak planks are sitting there, waiting, laughing at me. Mocking me. And there is virtually nothing I can do to stop them.
  2. stormveritas
    After recently achieving 83 dungeoneering, I decided it was time for a break. I've been working that skill hard for a long time, and though I had promised myself a few breaks, none had come. I decided to pause to pick up a handful of skills and things I've been putting off for too long, while my dungeoneering burnout period wears off. Specifically, I wanted:
    91 Mining 90 Hunter 91 Hunter[*Miscellania emptying
     
    Not too ambitious,and already well on my way. 91 mining was a breeze; it only showed up on my radar because I was close to completing it anyway. Hunter levels are slow to come by, but it's nice that each level has a significant in game bonus. At 90 I can hunt tyrannomastyxes in Dungeoneering, and at 91 I can do Kingly Implings and low level effigies.
     
    In the meanwhile, I've found that doddling about has some serious benefits! I've been much more consistent with my battlestaves, borking, kingdom management, and even got into the effigy game. For really minimal work, I'm pulling in 30k experience / day in farming, crafting, smithing, or mining. Not a bad gig!
     
    Quick question; does shared exp reset at the midnight hour in GMT, or is it more like Juna's Tears of Guthix, which resets based on a window since you gained exp?
  3. stormveritas
    Well, it's electronic sunshine, which should count for something.
     
    I finally hit level 80 dungeoneering and figured it was about time to climb out of there for a bit. It's still my lowest skill by quite a bit, but at least I have the peace of mind that I've unlocked access to everything that can be had. Also, I've got about 100K tokens, which is certainly enough to make a nice dent in whatever update comes my way.
     
    I got up to the surface level, and tried to get back into my routine. Battlestaves, Bork, Seaweed and sand. Miscellania check. I actually emptied Miscellania, and cleaning all of those herbs took an embarassingly long time (although I must come clean; I sold my harralanders and tarromin because I still have over 1k of each).
     
    I also got that lawyer's wig, Barrister or Bannister or something to that effect. Whatever; it doesn't fit in my costume room so I'm a little cranky about the whole ordeal. Those cases are FUN, but attack and defence exp are not in the top 50 of my priorities right now.
     
    I think I'd like to start striding back towards getting 90 in all skills (besides dungeoneering, at least until round 2 hits the presses). I've got lots of gross construction to do, as well as plenty of thieving, hunting, runecrafting, and a dash of herblore. Maybe I should finally bite the bullet on crafting all my amulets, and get magic up to be able to vengeance within the dungeons (embarrassing that I cannot!).
     
    Either way, I feel like a vampire on a day pass out in the high plain of Gielenor. Look for me rambling through, looking confused and unambitious!
  4. stormveritas
    My entire Runescape existence has consisted of three basic elements for the last two months: Shattered Hearts, Dungeoneering, and Miscellania maintenance. After farming my free tree seeds and collecting those blasted little rocks, that leaves me with one true time consuming pursuit: Dungeoneering.
     
    It's a strange addiction. I have all the items I need for quite some time (pro spear P++, pro platebody, 125 pro arrows), and have opened all the floors. I've also (I think) gotten every journal entry. Aside from the rewards, the only reason to keep crushing are the rewards (which I've yet to prioritize) and my desire to push all of my skills up to at least level 90.
     
    I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts on how to spend reward points. I'm considering buying the antipoison totem to use for Pyramid Plundering up to 99 thieving, but think instead it may be wise to spend my points on Augury and Rapid Renewal, which could come in handy in the dungeon. Still another part of me thinks it wise to wait and see how expensive the different "roles" are within the dungeon, as referenced in either behind the scenes or sneak peek or whatever.
     
    What does consensus say about the best use of points? A chaotic weapon? Shield? Prayers? Wait and see?
  5. stormveritas
    Well, all told it took about 3 weeks. 3 weeks for me to sink very deep into the dungeons of Daemonheim. 3 weeks to see about all it has to show me. 3 weeks to realize that sadly there is no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.
     
    I guess a part of me was hoping there would be something fantastic, something magnificent offered for reaching the bottom floor of the dungeon. Yes, I understand how insane this sounds. No, I have not been drinking.
     
    I've already gotten the best non-rare armor (pro plate). I've acquired the best non-rare weapon (pro spear p++, arguably the best weapon period). What is left? Perhaps I can be driven by raw levels; I'm closing in fast on 2300 which would be a nice, round total. I still have a couple floors left to clear, maybe I can trick myself into thinking you're given some reward for clearing floor 35.
     
    Perhaps I can hope for some of the better rewards the dungeon has to offer; I've already pulled in the bonecrusher, and have my sights set on things like the tome of life, the gem bag, coal bag, etc.
     
    Maybe I just need a better excuse to keep chasing levels that offer no benefit aside from total level?
  6. stormveritas
    The fact that I haven't updated is more due to my heroinesque addiction on dungeoneering. THIS is a skill I enjoy. Similar to slayer, it's very easy to doddle about at your own pace in dungeoneering, enjoying some really interesting journal entries and solving lots of puzzles.
     
    My problem is simple: experience is really the ONLY tangible thing that can be measured in Dungeoneering. Finding and binding awesome items is nice, but once you leave the dungeon you have NOTHING to show for your work dungeoneering. While there are some terrific rewards, the token needs for these rewards is somewhere between "nonsense" and "insanity".
     
    120K tokens for a bone crusher? So I need 1.2MM experience, or essentially level 70. Why is this eligible somewhere in the twenties? Does that make sense? The same can be said with all other low level items.
     
    Also, the thought of reaching level 120 is outrageous in this slow skill. Because of the lack of solid metrics, the ONLY thing people are currently doing is trying to max their experience rate. This isn't good for general enjoyment of the game, of the skill, or of the general dungeoneering experience.
     
    I think we've tasted just the tip of the iceberg for now. The fact that no new levels are opened after level 65 in the skill leads me to believe either more levels or more dungeons will be opened in the future. Additionally, perhaps some more tangible rewards will come out from dungeoneering after this rollout strategy. The track summoning took, a rollout followed by a second wave of content, seems to make the most sense as a way for Jagex to keep the skill fresh.
     
    I'm really worried about the skill if there ISN'T a new content rollout. At a measley level 46, I've earned very little total experience, and yet the overall experience is already becoming repetitive. Looking forward to some curveballs and changes mixing up the dungeoneering skill.
  7. stormveritas
    As some of my recent Times entries may have indicated, I really enjoy the D/D (or minigame, whatever) Shattered Hearts. What these articles may not necessarily indicate is that I have an almost unhealthy obsession with Shattered Hearts.
     
    Since my first statue build the Friday of the week this update was released, I have been looking forward each week to a fresh new collection of rocks to gather. The variety of things to do, the small feeling of achievement associated with each rock, and the bonus experience just keeps me coming back.
     
    Seriously, I think I have a problem.
     
    I got out of bed this morning, and as I was going through my routine, I was distracted by a note: today is Friday! New rocks day!
     
    Sure, the fact that it's a Friday after a work week that could best be described as "horrific" or "soul crushing" is wonderful. Sure, I am really looking forward to babysitting my adorable niece tonight, who just turned two and loves her uncle. The fact that Runescape entered my "awesome reasons to love Friday" list is both a little funny and quite a bit disquieting. Yikes. I think I need nerd rehab.
     
    I don't think I'll step away or try to gain some perspective on the relative importance of the game through distance. I know that in the great big ball of wax that Runescape is merely a little diversion, an enjoyable time waster that gives me some stress relief and some artificial and relatively easy to accomplish goals.
     
    But these rocks! How interesting that Jagex chose "rocks" to be the element to chase after in an update that upgrades my Runescape Addiction from serious to crackhead. Luckily I can't smoke these rocks or we'd have some issues.
     
    Stay Classy, San Diego.
  8. stormveritas
    ..or Flipping Fingers, or Fishing flippers... I almost refuse on the basis of pure principle to get the name of this minigame right.
     
    I'm generally middle-of-the-road when it comes to minigames. Generally that means I play them when I have to, and that's about the extent of it. I've played Soul Wars exactly twice now, once when it came out to try, and once when I had to play to access Nomad. Even my favorite games get worn down quickly, and Stealing Creation, for example, rarely sees me amble by, despite the fact that I genuinely enjoy playing it and find it to be a welcome change of pace for wonderful rewards.
     
    When I read out the rewards for Fish Flingers, I wasn't impressed. The tacklebox doesn't really appear to do much of anything; it has a few bait slots which hold a small amount of bait, and it can hold a bunch of items which I never hold onto anyway. Do people actually waste inventory slots with a harpoon or a big net when they are always right next to the fishing spot and cost about 10 gp? Really? On top of that, the experience rewards are slightly higher, at the cost of no profitability. Fishing, while slow, is very profitable, and my cheapskate tactics don't lend themselves to passing up on opportunities to bring in some gold. I still wince every time I runecraft at the Ourania altar, knowing that nearly double nats, or 1+ bloods / essence would be far better cash.
     
    So the proverbial hook that this minigame has sunk in me is a little tricky to explain. It is relatively inconvenient to have to wait around for the fisherman to arrive. It is not a game which I can use my skills to do better than most (as is the case with Stealing Creation). It is not a piece of content which yields terrific rewards (see: Penguins).
     
    I think what separates this game is the community aspect. I generally open my own CC before the game and invite everyone in to clue share. We share clues, combos, and locations, and rare is the time (except for that accursed Salmon glitch) that we ever fail to knock down all of the 100% fish, nor do we miss which fish is the whopper of the group. Instead, strangers gather about and work together towards a singular goal, and we celebrate as a team as we all take home the minimum of 2 medals for our efforts.
     
    Sure, there are the leeches. People who wait for callouts before casting a line, trying to preserve their 80%+ rating and not helping the team. People who hoard secrets like squirrels hoard nuts in late fall. These folks are generally exposed quickly, and removed from circulation. They then generally plead to rejoin when they realize that they cannot yield better than 1 medal on their own. Blacklists are effective like that.
     
    Generally I score out Jagex updates on a number of criteria: ease of use, reward value, convenience, and fun. While the first three elements are certainly a challenge with Flinging Flippers, the fun factor is through the roof. Bravo, Jagex!
  9. stormveritas
    Well, after playing this silly game for damned near five years, it dawned on me that perhaps I should consider trying out the more difficult aspects of the game. As someone who stays fairly focused on skilling and working my precious abilities up to ever higher levels, I've never really been one to seek out danger. Those are deeds for the fast clickers and youthful folks. I'm not one to try to kill other players (and get my head handed to me in the process), or go out and risk certain death killing the biggest baddies the game has to offer. At least, I wasn't before today.
     
    I'm not sure what prompted me to take on the General. Perhaps it was boredom, perhaps morbid curiosity. I've never really felt the need to go out and try to kill the GWD Bosses; in my trials through the slayer skill I earned plenty of coins to buy whatever I felt I needed (which, in large part due to exceptionally tight purse strings, is not much at all). I believe that my Shattered-Heart driven exodus from pure grinding has given me lots more free time, which I like to doddle about enjoying.
     
    Off to Graador the mighty! Big and strong and scary, or so I'm told. After watching roughly 19 hours of youtube videos featuring people solo'ing the boss to annoying, teen-angsty music, I felt ready. After all, my skills are all certainly sufficient. My equipment puts me in the running. Why shouldn't I enjoy some boss hunting?
     
    The Dungeon itself is something to which I am no stranger to. I geared up; mostly Barrows armor with my SGS, some sharks, extreme pots, prayer pots, and a tele tab. I prayed-range as I sprinted to the rope. As I was getting my backside gnawed on by some exceptionally ravenous wolves, it dawned on me:
     
    Good job, dummy. No hammer.
     
    Balls. Home tele! Hammer grab! Trollheim! Lather, rinse, repeat. I go down the rope and sprint far north to where I see everyone go. Hobgoblins here, and nothing else. Perfect! I spend my time building my kill count and using SGS specs to rebuild my lost hit and prayer points. Excuse me... constitution points. Yuck.
     
    After pulling together 40 Hobgoblin kills (and a lovely ranarr seed, thankyouverymuch), I'm off. I run through and GET CREAMED BY EVERYTHING PAST THE GONG. Perhaps I should equip my Ancient Mace before entering next time. Smart, Storm. Smart.
     
    Into Graador's bedroom, and I'm scrambling and panicky. Will I be able to eat in time? Can I heal up and get prayer flicked on? Will I have time?
     
    BAHAHAHAHAH!!!
     
    No one told me how packed these places are! After entering Graador's room, I found a load of much more organized, experienced adventurers. They've got those fancy curse prayers over their heads (the stuff I can't do), and I realize that I shouldn't be here. "Non-lootshare", an experienced friend advises, and I comply.
     
    And I worldhop to a non-lootshare world, where I find another level 137ish person with a Unicorn and some crazy prayers on. And I hop again.
    And I hop again.
    And I hop again.
     
    The cruelty of this situation reminds me of how much I disliked the Easter event. Finally, after 10 or so worldhops, I get my OWN GENERAL! Graador is mine, and I am off! I toggle on my quick prayers (protect melee and piety), sip up my potions, and get smashing. I chew through Tuna Taters like crap through a goose, but it's okay as down goes the Big Fella. Once he goes down, all his little minions aren't so tough anymore. They beg for mercy. I give them none.
     
    That was wonderful! So much fun, even for a very mundane drop. I gather my gear, set up for the next kill, and breathe deeply. I did it!
     
    And moments later, in pops another adventurer, a level 138 with a pretty pony and those crazy prayers. He sips an overload potion (which I cannot yet produce), and proceeds to do much more damage in a short period of time than I could fathom.
     
    And with that, my one-kill Graador adventure is all but over. It was fun, but perhaps I'm just not cut out for all this mercenary business. The bosses are best killed by the more coordinated or experienced, and certainly best handled by those who are focused. I will leave them for now, as I head back to the wild lifestyle of a palace Ivy Trimmer.
     
    We'll save those hijinks for the kids. I suppose there is a good reason I don't venture away from the routine of the mundane skillers.
  10. stormveritas
    Stealing Creation has officially crushed my soul. I absolutely despise it now, and have played it very little since my last blog cried and moaned. I am logging on daily essentially to do dailies right now, and that's about it. Battlestaves get done, an effigy somewhere is assisted, poor little Bork gets slaughtered, and Stormy jumps back into the perpetual thin air. If there are some new Penguins hopping about, I chase after them, too.
     
    There is the constant pleasure I get from doing those shattered heart rocks. I have 25 sets complete, and the full set for 26 has been collected, due to hand in Thursday.
     
    Unfortunately, I will not be able to hand them in next week, as I will be traveling Thursday-Monday (and missing the EXP weekend! EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE EXPLETIVE). That means I'll finish the entire Shattered Heart collection almost a week late, after nearly a year of dilligent rock-chasing.
     
    Crap.
     
    I need roughly 600 more Stealing Creation points until I can move on to level Construction. At -that- point, I'll get 91 construction and never have to do it again; I can simply collect free exp via effigies and call it a career on awful Stealing Creation.
     
    I still look for excuses every time I log in to do something different than SC.
  11. stormveritas

    Knockin Boots

    By stormveritas,

    Well, if you're this far I'm sure you understand the innuendo here. If not, I hate to disappoint you, but Penthouse Forums reside elsewhere and I don't write that type of nonsense anywho!
     
    The recent change to climbing boots (rock climbing boots, as they are now known) has the community in an understandable uproar. Inflation has long been one of the biggest concerns of the game, as we have seen cash influx at a very high rate, specifically due to changes in drop tables, shop behavior, and the Grand Exchange. The exacerbation of inflation as a result of this update cannot be understated.
     
    Figuring I was sick of watching my gold pile dwindle as my purchasing power plummets, I decided to get out there and do something about it. I actually bought 25 abyssal whips at the GE mid price, and was pleased to see the price climb today. I'm watching the price closely, but am very much hooked on the concept of merchanting in the future.
     
    For someone of reasonable wealth (my cash pile was in the 150M range), it truly seems to be the fastest way to gain (or lose) cash. With commodity materials, however, pricing is relatively fixed, and by hedging my bet over a few inversely performing products, I should be able to fair quite well.
     
    Stay tuned on this one. The last time I got into merching was years ago, and I was buuuurned by a few rares which quickly plummeted with the dissolution of free trade. Hopefully my once bitten, twice shy nature will protect me from more stupid decisions (hah!).
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept