An Open Letter to Blizzard

Dear Blizzard,

Do what you have to do, but don't leave us swinging in the wind until November.

Regards,

Ahzae, Lord of the Trifling Expansionitis.


(Big thanks to The Gregory Brothers (Schmoyoho) for one of the best new tracks I've heard in a while - go buy a T-shirt or something!)

Cataclysm Currency

The good folks (or folk, <3 Boubouille) at MMOchampion.com have been kind enough to design a currency calculator to show you what your useless tokens will be worth:

There's also a pvp currency converter. The conversion will include things like Honor points and forgotten tokens, like Venture Coins and Spirit Shards (Auchindoun).

Go check it out here!

EDIT: It looks like the conversion will happen before Cataclysm launches, start stocking up now if you want to take advantage.

-Ahz

"What sick man sends babies to fight me?"

I'm cutting my last post a bit short here, so make sure you flick back a bit if you missed it.

I'm back! Well, kinda back. Still completely burnt out on WoW, sadly, but I'm back because many of you are laying on the guilt thick and fast insisting that I'm abandoning you.

Alright, only one of you has insisted that, but their tears have moved me.

I know for a fact that I'm not the only one burning out either - it's happening to all of you this very second. Yes, you.

WoW can currently be boiled down to a list of things that are keeping us hanging on; my list consists only of the people I've come to care about within (and outside of) the guild. Some want to see all of the end-game content before it becomes obsolete. Others still hang on for achievements or are perhaps preparing financially for the Cataclysm. Whatever is keeping you coming back, try listing them off in your head and see how far you get...

The point of this decidedly negative-feeling lecture is that it's ok to be burnt out. Anyone who needs a break should take one, knowing fully that the guild will still be here when (if?) they return. Let's face it, we're basically wasting time while we wait for the expansion - I don't want anyone to be showing up purely out of a sense of obligation to the guild. We exist to have fun, don't forget.

I bring this up now because I can see the enthusiasm slowly fading from the guild overall and I'd hate to see someone leave because they thought we were going under. I know for a fact that many, if not most, other guilds are experiencing the same struggle. We're not going under. In fact, when the Cataclysm hits every part of Harms Way will be in full swing once again:

• New dungeons and raids to tackle.
• Guild achievements.
• Guild battlegrounds.
• Sadistic Sundays *cackle*

As always, HW will do the research on all encounters and teach our members how to handle them - and we'll have fun doing it, too.

Until then, things will seem to slow to a crawl. Take your own holiday from WoW if you need one; Try out some new games, move from your computer to your couch (I did that once), get a tan... anything you like. Then you can return for the Cataclysm and pick up with a completely refreshed guild and a new world to explore!

In the meantime, I hear Lord of the Rings Online just went free-to-play... perhaps I'll see you there.

NOTE: If enough people start taking holidays but want to stay around for raids, I'll start posting raid details here - saving people from having to log on every other day to check :)

Let me know what you think!

-Ahzae, Lord of the Trifling Gnome.

Progression Update

Ruck is going to kick my furry rump.

ToC: 2/5 *new*

Yup, Northrend Beasts and Jaraxxus down in a single attempt for each. Naturally I was so excited (I was about to get a haircut) that I forgot to take screenshots, so in its stead is a picture I drew with my face:

Ruck has been pushing for a ToC run for a while now, and of course we finally have a successful run when he's not around... So if anyone sees Ruck around, warn me so I can hide.

Big thanks to the non-guildies who put up with us - Mananana and Chewtoyhead - and an extra big thanks to Cathartic, a veteran raider willing to lend us a hand.

By the way, stop pestering me about the August Maobie - I haven't forgotten about it! I haven't been able to get in touch with Saravix yet, so I'm giving her three more days to claim it. If we don't hear from her in that time, the award goes to Thalkorn.

It's good to be back :D

-Ahz, Lord of the Tr- URK! *strangled by Ruck*

We're On Vacation (Apparently) + Vent!

I know, I know - I've been slacking off lately. A few members have spoken to me lately to let me know that they'll be offline for a while due to various reasons, and that put the final nail in the burnout coffin for me.


So for the remainder of this week Harms Way is effectively on holiday... well, I am at any rate.
I'll be off running around in different games (I've heard great things about a game called "Real Life"), resting up and getting my spirit back so I can return next Monday with renewed enthusiasm.


For the most part I'll likely be running around Eorzea (FFXIV), but I'm open to anything at this point. If you'd like to provide me with some desperately needed company or if you need me somewhere else (even in WoW), drop me an email at tobiasmasters@gmail.com.

This is not me. Really.

It figures that as soon as I decide to go on a holiday we get a vent server running. All the vent details are in the guild info in-game, so feel free to jump on and say hi (we're not jerks, remember?). Don't forget to behave yourself!


Huge thanks to Auzzythunder for setting this server up specifically for us. Make sure you pay him your respects (and gold and phat lewtz and a monkey) next time you see him.

Now that our numbers have grown (we have almost 80 members) it's time for some more officer types to help me do very little. Congratulations to Kerreck and Belláris, you both have more responsibility than you did yesterday! 


Everyone: make sure you pester them for things while I'm away (especially on Sunday).
Enjoy your special time you crazy kids!


That ought to cover it for now. I'm off until Monday; I'll keep posting here though so watch this space!


-Ahzae, Lord of the Trifling Headset

Coincidence? Nah.

As soon as I start talking about burnout while waiting for Cataclysm, a few other MMO's decided this would be a perfect time to sink their teeth in. Both of these have just been made available for free (for now), so if you're looking for a change then now is a good time to browse.




Champions Online


They've just started a free week to celebrate their anniversary, so anyone can sign up and start playing without restrictions. Of course, jumping straight from a game as polished as WoW into Champions will be quite a shock to your system - but the real meat of the game lies in character creation:

These are the two characters I've created so far: Bloodmaw and Turner. All characters are completely customisable - there's no such thing as "classes" in Champions. You just make yourself a hero and go nuts.

Final Fantasy XIV Open Beta

Server: Rabanastre

Went into Open Beta status yesterday (translation: free until launch-day), however it's still somewhat difficult to get in as you'll need to grab a key and due to the literally overwhelming response Square-Enix have had so far they've had to periodically suspend new applications.


In a nutshell, you go here: http://entry.ffxiv.com/ and you keep trying until you get through (wait maybe an hour or two in between attempts).


So where the frick is Ahzae?


I'll likely be somewhere in between these three games (or buying a suit, don't ask). If you want to get a hold of me for any reason, I can always be reached at tobiasmasters@gmail.com.


Of course, if you feel like trying out either of these MMO (especially Champions) then drop me a line - Harms Way can take over a whole new game until Cataclysm! (Kidding btw, I'll be back :P)


Ahzae - Lord of the Trifling Multiverse

Cataclysm Guild Achievements!

MMO Champion recently listed a whole stackload of guild achievements. Most of them are about what you'd expect, but there are a few that really stand out ("We Are Awesome" is one of them).

Hit the "read more" link to see the full list.