Monthly Archives: February 2012

Writerly Musings + Guild Wars Fanboyism

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Writerly musings:

Word writin'sAmidst all the Warcraft and general nerdery, it occurred to me I had not given any real attention on this blog to my life as a freelancer in some time. Considering that was supposed to be roughly 50% of the blog’s purpose, I suppose I should rectify that.

I have been getting more work as of late. It’s still not as much as I’d like, and being a freelancer, I expect it all to evaporate at any moment, but for now, things are looking a bit better than they did a few months ago.

You’d think I’d be happy about this, but I’ve always been the sort of person who feels the sting of defeat much more strongly than the pleasure of success, so the whole business leaves me feeling rather empty.

Even working for an environmental lawyer, furthering a cause I strongly believe in, doesn’t help. I’m fighting the good fight, and I still feel no sense of accomplishment.

And then there’s the fiction side of my writing life. I largely gave up on that a few months ago, but I’m feeling like I may want to try publishing again. Of all things, recreating my characters in Aion got me thinking of it.A character from my writing recreated via Aion's amazing character customization

Ah, Seesha. I never even started your book.

Of course, I’m still worried about the topsy-turvy state of the publishing industry right now. I could self-publish, but then I’d have to do all my own marketing, which is not an area where I have a lot of experience or expertise.

And then there’s the question of whether my books are actually good enough to be a hit. I realize it takes a while to get published, but my rejection stack is getting pretty massive, and I have no empirical indication that my writing is any good aside from being a finalist in Blizzard’s contest, which hardly counts.

This post seemed longer and more interesting in my head. Being a freelance writer sounds exciting and romantic, but all I do is write silly lists, spam Craigslist ads, and write angry emails to the people who think paying your writers is an optional step.

Guild Wars Fanboyism:

Since I’ve got some extra space in this post, I might as well share a video of Guild Wars 2 gameplay footage I saw on another blog the other day. This isn’t new, and if you’ve been following GW2’s development closely, you may have seen it before, but I’m a newcomer to the Guild Wars 2 bandwagon, so it was news to me.

A few things come to mind immediately upon viewing this:

1: OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!

2: This is absurdly similar to the Vrykul and the Howling Fjord. Am I crazy, or does even the music smack of Wrath of the Lich King? Not that I’m complaining, mind you.

3: I love the emphasis on your character’s personal story. I have always hated the facelessness of player characters in World of Warcraft, and frankly any game where your character is given no personality or development

4: Those graphics are amazing. I hope my feeble computer will be able to run this game.

5: OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!

Who Knew?

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I had such good fashion sense:

Yesterday, after much anticipation, Blizzard finally launched their transmogrification screenshot gallery, showing off all the very best outfits submitted to them by World of Warcraft players. I myself had submitted four of my mog sets to them a few weeks back, and I combed through the images hoping that one of the might have made the cut.

Imagine my surprise when, in amongst the ten thousand shots of paladins in plate bikinis, I found that three of my sets had made it into the gallery: my warlock, my rogue, and my paladin (tank set).

Who knew I was such a virtual fashionista?

But enough talk — it’s picture time. *Adopts snotty, non-specific European accent.*

My rogue's transmog set, as seen in Blizzard's transmogrification gallery‘ere ve have zhe latest in rogue fashion. Zhe shoulders, helm, and legs are zhe finest VanCleef’s Battlegear, zhe chest is zhe Tunic of the Dark Hour (available for justice points at Shattrath or Quel’danas), and zhe Argent Crusade reward Boots of the Neverending Path are both functional and elegant. Zhe look is finished with Riplimb’s Lost Collar and some season nine PvP gloves, and zhe daggers are Twinblade of the Hakkari and Azure Lightblade. Zhis set says, “I am a proud warrior of the Alliance, and I will shank you. In the face.”

My paladin in her tanking transmog setAnd here ve have a fine paladin set, proud and powerful. An old classic, Lightbringer shoulders, are complimented by a warrior tier eight helm recolour, zhe chest and legs are tier nine for zhat special Alliance-centrique look, and tier eleven off-set pieces play off zhe blue guild tabard. Zhe look is given an extra splash of drama with Quickening Blade of the Prince from Magister’s Terrace and zhe Royal Crest of Lordaeron from Culling of Stratholme.

My warlock in OrgimmarFinally, we come to zhe warlock. The legs, gloves, and shoulders are Brutal Gladiator’s Dreadweave, but zhe look is given a unique and classy flair with the Drakeweave Raiment for a non-robe chest, and further drama is added by zhe Horns of the Left Hand Path. Zhe Firebane Cloak adds a splash of colour appropriate for a Blood Elf lady. Silver-Thread Boots* and Sash and zhe Brutal Gladiator’s Staff completes zhe look. As zhis character is only level 70, zhis set proves one does not need to be max level to be stylish.

/endcheesyaccent

*(The boots in this picture are actually Netherweave Boots, but I started using Silver-Thread shortly after, and I think it looks much better.)

Here are direct links to the screenshots on their site:

Rogue.

Paladin.

Warlock.

Ironically, the set I thought was best, my mage’s, is the one set that didn’t make the cut.