Rift application - Vella (3/1/0)
- Thread starter mavfin
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2011
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- 525
Re: Rift application - Vella
Chatted quite a bit with Mav off and on. Seems good peeps, and fits in well with the crew, IMHO.
Nerdy enough to survive when the geekspeak sessions break out
Plus, he's nearly as old as I am, so you poons can have another person to make age discrimatory comments to.
Added plus - taste in books. Reading is fundamental, boys and girls - real paper books. That's what we used before these Kindles and Nooks and stuff. Why, I remember when a nook was something you kindled a fire in.. (hah! 3 ereader references in one sentence!)
So Mav, as avid (2-3 books a week minimum) reader myself....
I detect an Eddings preference in your toon names. Is he your favorite author? Have you read ALL of the Shannara books, or just the later sets? If you had ONE s/f author you had to pick as someone who just captured your attention/imagination and sucked you into their fantasy world, who would it be, what was the book, and why?
Chatted quite a bit with Mav off and on. Seems good peeps, and fits in well with the crew, IMHO.
Nerdy enough to survive when the geekspeak sessions break out
Plus, he's nearly as old as I am, so you poons can have another person to make age discrimatory comments to.
Added plus - taste in books. Reading is fundamental, boys and girls - real paper books. That's what we used before these Kindles and Nooks and stuff. Why, I remember when a nook was something you kindled a fire in.. (hah! 3 ereader references in one sentence!)
So Mav, as avid (2-3 books a week minimum) reader myself....
I detect an Eddings preference in your toon names. Is he your favorite author? Have you read ALL of the Shannara books, or just the later sets? If you had ONE s/f author you had to pick as someone who just captured your attention/imagination and sucked you into their fantasy world, who would it be, what was the book, and why?
Re: Rift application - Vella
(Warning: incoming wall of text!)
Ok, first, Shannara: Yeah, I read the original series of three (Sword, Elfstones, Wishsong) as a teenager. I also read the next Shannara series (Scions, Druid, Elf Queen, Talismans) cover to cover when they were new. As to the later ones, I've got the third Shannara series and a copy of Jarka Ruus, but I just can't get into them for whatever reason. I waded through Ilse Witch but couldn't hack the rest. Just didn't have the can't-put-this-down of the earlier ones. I also enjoyed the first Magic Kingdom for Sale series, but, again, can't get into the second. The prequel series, again, I tried, but, just not there for me. Indeed, I have the one-book anthologies of the Sword series and of the Heritage series and still read them once in a while.
I'm sure any reader of fantasy will probably remember Donaldson and the Covenant series, which were pretty decent, but, I liked Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through (Mordant's Need) much more. I haven't read them in years, but I still remember the basic story, if not the names of the characters.
Now, on to Eddings. I know that some criticize the man for the fact that he tells a variant of the same story in all four of his main series, and it's a valid criticism. However, where Eddings excels for me (and my daughters will tell you the same thing) is that when you put the book down, you feel like you know the characters, and you're sad to leave them. Eddings sucked me into his worlds, and made me feel like I was *there* with the characters. So yeah, with full awareness of the blue-jewel fixation, he's my favorite fantasy author.
I picked up Guardians of the West when Demon Lord of Karanda was new in hardback. 100 pages in, I was hooked, and realized there was a whole series I had missed. I ordered the Belgariad, and then I was lost! I discovered the Sparhawk series, too, and read them. I have all of the Garion and Sparhawk books in my house, and they get re-read a fair amount by my daughters and I when we lack newer reading material. We've even literally worn out more than a few of them He also has a stand-alone book named The Redemption of Althalus, and it's definitely worth reading if you like him. It showcases all the best about Eddings; characters you feel like you know, family and love, and little bits of humor between the characters.
He always said his wife was as much a part of the books' success as he was, and I can believe that. Strong female characters are everywhere in his books, and I mean that in the best way. Sparhawk, for example, is as strong a male character as you would want, but, Ehlana is still the center of his life, and she's not just a pretty face in the book, either.
Elder Gods wasn't really up to par, I'm guessing his health failed halfway through. There won't be any more, as he passed a few years ago.
As far as books: I'm married to a reading specialist who works for the local school district. I grew up in a house full of books, with a mother who taught high school science, and I now live in a house full of books. My daughters and my boy (even the Asperger's 3rd daughter) all read above grade level because they like to read. They see us reading all the time, and think that's the way it should be. The teenage girls are as happy to go wander through BN or go to the library as they are to go to the mall, and I call that a success. I read books and game more than I watch TV.
As far as the old raider thing, definitely. I tanked most of Vanilla and BC, and in Wrath, I branched out. By ICC, they called me the Swiss Army Knife, as I had three toons I could bring, depending on what was needed, for just about any role you wanted. Melee DPS, Ranged (elem or shadow) DPS, heals (disc or shammy resto), or tank. I definitely got my money's worth out of WoW, but, seven years is a long time to play one game. I'll go visit my old friends a bit when MoP comes out, but the days when WoW is all I do are over, pretty much.
Oh, and if you're starting a D3 branch when that comes out, I already have the pre-download on my hard drive waiting for the day it can be installed. :2thumbsup:
I really like you guys so far. I feel at home in your runs, with people who are competent, but not elitist jerks about it, and the lack of drama makes me happy. If I want drama, I have three teenage girls. :mrgreen: I also don't feel pressured to be there every minute, either. I'll level my 50 to a point where I can raid with you with the proper gear eventually, but that won't be my focus. Especially when a game is still fairly new to me, I like to go try stuff, so I'll get bored gearing up my 50, and go play my rogue, or my warrior, or whatever I feel like that day. Don't remember who it was, but they tossed my alt in the guild already, just so I could still talk in gchat. I appreciated that, whoever you were.
(Warning: incoming wall of text!)
Ok, first, Shannara: Yeah, I read the original series of three (Sword, Elfstones, Wishsong) as a teenager. I also read the next Shannara series (Scions, Druid, Elf Queen, Talismans) cover to cover when they were new. As to the later ones, I've got the third Shannara series and a copy of Jarka Ruus, but I just can't get into them for whatever reason. I waded through Ilse Witch but couldn't hack the rest. Just didn't have the can't-put-this-down of the earlier ones. I also enjoyed the first Magic Kingdom for Sale series, but, again, can't get into the second. The prequel series, again, I tried, but, just not there for me. Indeed, I have the one-book anthologies of the Sword series and of the Heritage series and still read them once in a while.
I'm sure any reader of fantasy will probably remember Donaldson and the Covenant series, which were pretty decent, but, I liked Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through (Mordant's Need) much more. I haven't read them in years, but I still remember the basic story, if not the names of the characters.
Now, on to Eddings. I know that some criticize the man for the fact that he tells a variant of the same story in all four of his main series, and it's a valid criticism. However, where Eddings excels for me (and my daughters will tell you the same thing) is that when you put the book down, you feel like you know the characters, and you're sad to leave them. Eddings sucked me into his worlds, and made me feel like I was *there* with the characters. So yeah, with full awareness of the blue-jewel fixation, he's my favorite fantasy author.
I picked up Guardians of the West when Demon Lord of Karanda was new in hardback. 100 pages in, I was hooked, and realized there was a whole series I had missed. I ordered the Belgariad, and then I was lost! I discovered the Sparhawk series, too, and read them. I have all of the Garion and Sparhawk books in my house, and they get re-read a fair amount by my daughters and I when we lack newer reading material. We've even literally worn out more than a few of them He also has a stand-alone book named The Redemption of Althalus, and it's definitely worth reading if you like him. It showcases all the best about Eddings; characters you feel like you know, family and love, and little bits of humor between the characters.
He always said his wife was as much a part of the books' success as he was, and I can believe that. Strong female characters are everywhere in his books, and I mean that in the best way. Sparhawk, for example, is as strong a male character as you would want, but, Ehlana is still the center of his life, and she's not just a pretty face in the book, either.
Elder Gods wasn't really up to par, I'm guessing his health failed halfway through. There won't be any more, as he passed a few years ago.
As far as books: I'm married to a reading specialist who works for the local school district. I grew up in a house full of books, with a mother who taught high school science, and I now live in a house full of books. My daughters and my boy (even the Asperger's 3rd daughter) all read above grade level because they like to read. They see us reading all the time, and think that's the way it should be. The teenage girls are as happy to go wander through BN or go to the library as they are to go to the mall, and I call that a success. I read books and game more than I watch TV.
As far as the old raider thing, definitely. I tanked most of Vanilla and BC, and in Wrath, I branched out. By ICC, they called me the Swiss Army Knife, as I had three toons I could bring, depending on what was needed, for just about any role you wanted. Melee DPS, Ranged (elem or shadow) DPS, heals (disc or shammy resto), or tank. I definitely got my money's worth out of WoW, but, seven years is a long time to play one game. I'll go visit my old friends a bit when MoP comes out, but the days when WoW is all I do are over, pretty much.
Oh, and if you're starting a D3 branch when that comes out, I already have the pre-download on my hard drive waiting for the day it can be installed. :2thumbsup:
I really like you guys so far. I feel at home in your runs, with people who are competent, but not elitist jerks about it, and the lack of drama makes me happy. If I want drama, I have three teenage girls. :mrgreen: I also don't feel pressured to be there every minute, either. I'll level my 50 to a point where I can raid with you with the proper gear eventually, but that won't be my focus. Especially when a game is still fairly new to me, I like to go try stuff, so I'll get bored gearing up my 50, and go play my rogue, or my warrior, or whatever I feel like that day. Don't remember who it was, but they tossed my alt in the guild already, just so I could still talk in gchat. I appreciated that, whoever you were.
Re: Rift application - Vella
So, a new phase in the World Event. Mounts next week, for those who care.
I'm working up a heal spec for my little chloro, may level that one in instances, we'll see.
Running with Yennik in experts always makes me feel inferior. :lol: In my gear, I'm happy to put out 1K, then he puts out 2.5K. Just the way it goes! At least with Stargazer tanking, I'm not afraid to step in the middle of the pile and AoE. In pugs, I don't run up and do it as quick. I've gotten splattered doing that a few times.
Help me not have to keep the thread alive by myself!
So, a new phase in the World Event. Mounts next week, for those who care.
I'm working up a heal spec for my little chloro, may level that one in instances, we'll see.
Running with Yennik in experts always makes me feel inferior. :lol: In my gear, I'm happy to put out 1K, then he puts out 2.5K. Just the way it goes! At least with Stargazer tanking, I'm not afraid to step in the middle of the pile and AoE. In pugs, I don't run up and do it as quick. I've gotten splattered doing that a few times.
Help me not have to keep the thread alive by myself!
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2011
- Messages
- 1,503
Re: Rift application - Vella
You must keep your thread alive by yourself. You have no other option. Actually, you did ask for us to come in and say nice things about you, which I will appease.
Mav's on mumble and in game quite often. He's always willing to help, which was good because yesterday I needed a lot of help with the saga quest. Still nowhere near done, but at least I'm further along than I was before.
Personally, I'd give him a positive vote of confidence. Hopefully an officer can catch up with him in game and chat/play with him so we can start getting some votes rolling.
See you in game this weekend or next week Mav
You must keep your thread alive by yourself. You have no other option. Actually, you did ask for us to come in and say nice things about you, which I will appease.
Mav's on mumble and in game quite often. He's always willing to help, which was good because yesterday I needed a lot of help with the saga quest. Still nowhere near done, but at least I'm further along than I was before.
Personally, I'd give him a positive vote of confidence. Hopefully an officer can catch up with him in game and chat/play with him so we can start getting some votes rolling.
See you in game this weekend or next week Mav
Re: Rift application - Vella (2/0/0)
Thanks a lot, guys!
We ran till pretty late (2 AM here) last night, running experts, and watching Shanks almost get QWERTY-faced. The comedy on the last run with the undergeared warrior was funny, though.
I made sure I could pull 6-700 DPS before i set foot in an expert. Obviously he didn't subscribe to that. More the 'if I have just enough to queue, people will carry me!'...ugh. It's one thing if the guildies say "hey, come along, we'll take care of you" and quite another to expect strangers to carry you when you obviously can't contribute at least as much as the instance was designed for.
Thanks a lot, guys!
We ran till pretty late (2 AM here) last night, running experts, and watching Shanks almost get QWERTY-faced. The comedy on the last run with the undergeared warrior was funny, though.
I made sure I could pull 6-700 DPS before i set foot in an expert. Obviously he didn't subscribe to that. More the 'if I have just enough to queue, people will carry me!'...ugh. It's one thing if the guildies say "hey, come along, we'll take care of you" and quite another to expect strangers to carry you when you obviously can't contribute at least as much as the instance was designed for.
Re: Rift application - Vella (2/0/0)
Went to DH tonight, we were short of geared people again. Fun and fast little raid, even if I did go splat the first dance on the boss with the circles. (I told you I would.)
Stalking here for more feedback if you haven't already chimed in on this thread. Also, I won't be quite as active for the next few weeks, but I'll still be around quite a bit.
Went to DH tonight, we were short of geared people again. Fun and fast little raid, even if I did go splat the first dance on the boss with the circles. (I told you I would.)
Stalking here for more feedback if you haven't already chimed in on this thread. Also, I won't be quite as active for the next few weeks, but I'll still be around quite a bit.
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 2,410
That, or you happen to catch my eye as I meander by. Welcome aboard, Vella.
