3 Types of Underrated Content
Blaugust Festival of Blogging is an annual event held usually during the month of August. It’s designed to encourage content creation of all kinds and foster a sense of community. This year due to the lockdown in many countries, the event was held early in April and was well received despite the difficult circumstances. Now that August has arrived, Belghast, the founder and organizer of this prestigious festival has decided to hold an additional event in the form of Promptapalooza. It’s a month of scheduled writing prompts and a blogging relay. Each day a designated writer will explore a specific topic and then pass the blogging baton on to another. Hence, over the course of August, the event will showcase the work of 30 different bloggers. The list of writing prompts are all available in advance for anyone who may wish to use them.
Blaugust Festival of Blogging is an annual event held usually during the month of August. It’s designed to encourage content creation of all kinds and foster a sense of community. This year due to the lockdown in many countries, the event was held early in April and was well received despite the difficult circumstances. Now that August has arrived, Belghast, the founder and organizer of this prestigious festival has decided to hold an additional event in the form of Promptapalooza. It’s a month of scheduled writing prompts and a blogging relay. Each day a designated writer will explore a specific topic and then pass the blogging baton on to another. Hence, over the course of August, the event will showcase the work of 30 different bloggers. The list of writing prompts are all available in advance for anyone who may wish to use them.
Before I begin, I would like to thank Mailvaltar for their very kind introduction and urge you to read their previous Promptapalooza post “media that’s shaped my worldview”. It brought back fond memories of when I acquired my first radio/cassette player and the impact specific radio stations had upon me when I was young. Mailvatar also references a german author I’m not familiar with but the genre of books they wrote is certainly of interest to me. This highlights why the Promptapalooza event can be both entertaining and informative. Talking of which, let’s move on to my writing prompt which is as follows.
“What type of content do you feel is severely underrated?”
This is an interesting prompt and can be considered from different perspectives, Because this is a blogging event I immediately thought of the question in terms of writing. IE What types of blog posts are underrated or can be far more informative than initially thought. However the question could be extrapolated to cover other sorts of content such as video games, TV or movies. But rather than use this post as an excuse to write about the “found footage” genre in cinema (something I must get around to doing), I think it’s more appropriate for me to focus on writing and the variety of content that can be produced by a blogger. So with that in mind here are a few ideas, many of which I have used myself here on Contains Moderate Peril.
Here’s a picture intended to engender both cosy and benign sentiments towards blogging
Recurring Posts: Over the years my writing has gone from being specific to one game to covering a wide variety of subjects. Sometimes I find that I want to talk about something in broad terms rather than in specific detail. A prime example of this is what I’ve been watching on TV recently. As I consider Contains Moderate Peril to be broadly comparable to a magazine in its format, it was a logical step to have recurring posts just like the regular columns you find in print media. These posts afford me to write about a spectrum of subjects and provide updates and references on a rolling basis. With regard to my TV viewing habits, I started a recurring post under the tile of “The Idiot Box”. I have a similar post which covers what games I’ve been playing each month. I feel that these sorts of posts can be invaluable to summarising activities and touching upon talking points without getting bogged down in excessive minutiae. They also have a more personal aspect to them which can be invaluable in building a rapport with your audience.
Personal Posts: I read numerous blogs for a multitude of different reasons. Some writers have a knack for technical detail, where others exude an accessible, everyman/woman, “Tom Hanks” of blogging approach. Where some blogs are first and foremostly defined by the subject(s) they write about, others are more of a vehicle for the author’s personality (although they may not realise this). Never underestimate this factor. I know some bloggers are quite content to write about personal aspects of their lives and that others do their utmost to minimise the amount of information they reveal about themselves. But whatever approach is taken, there comes a point when aspects of your personality eventually bleed through into your written work via some strange process of literary osmosis. And as “you are your own brand” whether you like it or not, this becomes one of the reasons your readers relate to you. Therefore I think the occasional, well considered personal post can be invaluable in connecting with your audience. I’ve written about my caring commitments and more recently about my own personal health. These are aspects of life that are common to all and sometimes sharing one’s experience can be beneficial to others as well as cathartic for oneself.
Walter and Finwë have featured both in my writing and in my “tweets”. I suspect they they have plans to go “solo”
Multimedia Posts: I have jokingly advised in the past, that if new bloggers are stuck for an idea, then just post a few screenshots from a game they’re currently playing. However, this isn’t as facetious as it first appears. Readers often like screencaptures and videos from games they haven’t yet played or are thinking about buying. Material from grassroot sources, as opposed to official press kits, can be very informative and useful to others. I frequently log onto the LOTRO test servers and take copious amounts of screenshots of forthcoming content. This often results in a spike in website traffic as not everyone wants to install the test client or has the time to look for themselves. I also advocate posting pictures of other activities, such as day trips or vacations. Again this ties in with personal posts as well as providing readers with a chance to see material they may not encounter elsewhere. If you want to write about some specific piece of music or artist, then you may wish to include audio content or a YouTube video. Far from posts of this nature being a “lazy cop out”, I find they can be engaging and at times a more immediate means of expressing a sentiment or making a point.
And that concludes my take on types of “underrated content”. The next participant in Blaugust Promptapalooza is Everwake from Everwake’s Internet Adventures. They’ve already tackled two of the writing prompts and have some very interesting thoughts on “Fandom” and “Popular Content” which I recommend you peruse at your leisure. On Tuesday 4th of August they’ll be addressing the curious and intriguing subject of “personal rituals”. Being a creature of habit myself, I can certainly relate to this and look forward to reading Everwake’s thoughts on the matter. In the meantime enjoy Blaugust Promptapalooza and feel free to get involved throughout the course of the month. Don’t forget to join us on Discord for help, advice and a friendly chat.
Community and Friendship
I joined Twitter back in 2010. Perhaps the most surprising thing I quickly discovered about the platform is the immediacy of communication that it offers. You can follow someone, reply to something they say or initiate a conversation with them in real time. Hence interacting with those who share a common interest becomes very accessible and enjoyable. It’s a far cry from going to a convention, wandering around and then plucking up the courage to speak to someone or join in a conversation that others are having. Social media removes those awkward “ice breaking” moments. Of course not every Twitter exchange is a pleasant experience but overall I’ve not encountered many problems using social media over the past decade. Twitter has broadly been a positive experience and introduced me to a wider community. It has provided me with an opportunity to meet new people and become part of something that is both social and positive.
I joined Twitter back in 2010. Perhaps the most surprising thing I quickly discovered about the platform is the immediacy of communication that it offers. You can follow someone, reply to something they say or initiate a conversation with them in real time. Hence interacting with those who share a common interest becomes very accessible and enjoyable. It’s a far cry from going to a convention, wandering around and then plucking up the courage to speak to someone or join in a conversation that others are having. Social media removes those awkward “ice breaking” moments. Of course not every Twitter exchange is a pleasant experience but overall I’ve not encountered many problems using social media over the past decade. Twitter has broadly been a positive experience and introduced me to a wider community. It has provided me with an opportunity to meet new people and become part of something that is both social and positive.
Although I have always written throughout my life, it was my introduction to MMOs that really galvanised my endeavours. When I enjoy something I often feel compelled to write about my experiences and share them with others. So I initially blogged about The Lord of the Rings Online and later expanded my writing to encompass other games. Twitter proved to be a good medium to promote my material and I quickly found others who shared similar interests and wrote their own blogs or produced their own podcast. In an act of hubris I actually emailed one such podcaster and “suggested” he have a “european correspondent”. The next thing I knew I was talking to the two existing hosts of that show on Skype and subsequently found myself part of the team. This act of kindness and good faith was quite remarkable when you think about it. Here were two people who were doing a podcast by the “seat of their pants”, that were prepared to take a risk on some over enthusiastic British guy who basically tried to gate crash their project. But they took a gamble and it worked out well.
This was one of many acts of kindness that I’ve encountered over the years. The podcasting and blogging helped me find a very industrious and friendly fan community. Many of which were already established and had an online presence. Yet all were happy to promote new blogs and podcasts, leave positive feedback and generally be supportive. But it seems to be a recurring theme. So many of the content creators I’ve met over the years seem disposed towards helping others by default. And outside of our immediate shared fandom, it’s nice to get to know folk from all over the world. Because you do get to know people over time. Many of us are careful about what we share on social media or write about in our blog posts. Privacy is ever evolving and can be abused, so it is logical that people don’t fully “pull back the curtain” on their lives. Yet often a writer’s personality will bleed through into their work. They’ll occasionally throw in an anecdote about their life, be it a remark about their work, partner or family. It is these personal touches that build a sense of rapport.
There was a boom time for gaming blogs and it has now passed. Many of those who were active within the community have moved on or significantly reduced their output of content. And then there are those who just keep going because it’s “what they do”. Yet the blogging diaspora still endures and many of the people I met a decade ago are still about on social media. It’s always pleasant when someone you haven’t heard from for a while turns up in your timeline. It’s very much like bumping into an old friend as you come back from grocery shopping. And yes I am happy to use the word friend. I think the somewhat dismissive view that online friendships are not the same as those with people you physically meet, is archaic and simply incorrect.
I hold my online friends and peers in very high regard. I respect their opinions and am very grateful for the support they’ve shown me over the years and the way they’ve encouraged my content creation. I also find the different perspectives that they often provide invaluable in helping me to understand the modern world and learn about life. I like to hear about their families, their pets and the shenanigans that go on at their work. It proves that people have far more in common than differences. I am also saddened by the trials and tribulations that some face and hope I can be supportive when they need it. Even if all I can do is to raise a wry smile. And yes, if possible, I’d love to meet up with all of them. I think it would be a most enjoyable experience to finally put faces to virtual names.
The world is a complicated and difficult place at times. There certainly seems to be a palpable sense of gloom spreading at the moment and we’re all too often encouraged to get angry with each other. Yet I take immense comfort and hope from the community that I am part of and the people I am proud to call my friends. The mutual respect, support and kindness, along with the capacity to keep a sense of humour is in many ways an antidote to all the negativity that abounds. While writing this post I toyed with the idea of referencing a few of my Twitter buddies and what I enjoy about their virtual company. However, I quickly realised that it was impossible to do so as I didn’t want to leave anyone out and I am fortunate to know so many good people. So I’ll simply finish with a classic quote from Bilbo Baggins. “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve”. Thanks for being you, so to speak.
Time For a New Project (Again)
I am currently in a quandary with regard to my creative output. There’s a good chance that the lockdown has contributed to this state of mind and perhaps even the recent Blapril blogging event is partly to blame. I feel the need to do something at the moment but have no specific idea as to what it should be. I want to write but can’t think of anything at present that enthuses me sufficiently. I also want to return to podcasting, which is something I’ve always enjoyed. But I don’t especially relish producing a one man show. I’ve tried live streaming but don’t really think the medium plays to my strengths. Plus, I’m a little burnt out with gaming per se at present. Perhaps the answer lies in trying my hand at something completely new? This could potentially kill two birds with one stone as documenting the resulting learning curve could be a good source of blog posts. However, the first hurdle is deciding what my next project should be?
I am currently in a quandary with regard to my creative output. There’s a good chance that the lockdown has contributed to this state of mind and perhaps even the recent Blapril blogging event is partly to blame. I feel the need to do something at the moment but have no specific idea as to what it should be. I want to write but can’t think of anything at present that enthuses me sufficiently. I also want to return to podcasting, which is something I’ve always enjoyed. But I don’t especially relish producing a one man show. I’ve tried live streaming but don’t really think the medium plays to my strengths. Plus, I’m a little burnt out with gaming per se at present. Perhaps the answer lies in trying my hand at something completely new? This could potentially kill two birds with one stone as documenting the resulting learning curve could be a good source of blog posts. However, the first hurdle is deciding what my next project should be?
New projects can be fun and a great way to renew your sense of motivation and enthusiasm. However, they don’t always work out as expected. One of the most common pitfalls I find with any new project (and I know I’m not alone in this) is that the planning stage becomes the focus and the main source of enjoyment. I like plans. They’re an opportunity to buy new stationary or download new software, to stick post-it notes on your monitor and write numerous to-do lists. I always get a real kick out of all this planning and activity. However, once a coherent and finely tuned strategy has been drafted to tackle the new project, I find that I’ve somewhat lost interest in it. The planning was far more enjoyable and engaging. Hence my ambitions to produce YouTube videos, build a Box Girder Bridge and play the Sousaphone have never come to fruition. My potentially award winning musical based upon The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, also remains unwritten.
Upon mature reflection and sober consideration, there seems to be a simple problem at the heart of this dilemma (or minor “first world” problem). Rather than just undertaking activities that simply fill my time, I am very much focused upon activities that yield a result, achievements or produce something tangible at the end. Obviously the former is a lot easier to do than the latter and I am happy to do as such to a degree. However, I don’t just want to continuously passively consume and would consider it a personal failing if I stopped doing any kind of creative pastime. Which neatly brings this somewhat circular post back to its initial premise (like a word based Möbius Loop) that I need a new project. Perhaps a suitable idea will present itself within the next week or so. If not you can look forward to a series of blog posts called “The Beginners Guide to Playing the Sousaphone”.
Top Five Most Viewed Posts by Year
If you’ve been blogging for a while, it can be informative and fun to trawl through your statistical data. A common refrain from bloggers is that the post that they consider their best work is often the least read and that it’s the throwaway posts or articles written on a whim that find an audience. Both Wilhelm Arcturus and Belghast have analysed their website data and listed their respective top five most viewed posts by year. Having been writing for a comparable amount of time to these well known community figures, I thought I’d follow suit. Because I moved hosts to Squarespace and effectively started from scratch in August 2015 this will have to be my starting point. Although I exported all my content from my former hosted WordPress site, I have little statistical data. However, the six year period covered reveals some interesting details about what posts prove popular.
If you’ve been blogging for a while, it can be informative and fun to trawl through your statistical data. A common refrain from bloggers is that the post that they consider their best work is often the least read and that it’s the throwaway posts or articles written on a whim that find an audience. Both Wilhelm Arcturus and Belghast have analysed their website data and listed their respective top five most viewed posts by year. Having been writing for a comparable amount of time to these well known community figures, I thought I’d follow suit. Because I moved hosts to Squarespace and effectively started from scratch in August 2015 this will have to be my starting point. Although I exported all my content from my former hosted WordPress site, I have little statistical data. However, the six year period covered reveals some interesting details about what posts prove popular.
2015:
Posts on the MMORPG genre have always been a mainstay of my blogging. I’ve commented upon The Lord of the Rings Online since 2008 so it’s no surprise that such posts show in the top five for this year. I am curious about the Twitter related post although I seem to recollect this being linked to by another site. As for The Hobbit movie post, the franchise ran from 2012- 2014 with the extended editions being released a year after the theatrical versions. So as this post details what extra footage features in the longer version of the film, it makes sense being the most popular post of the year.
2016:
Again LOTRO features in the top five posts. This was the year that Standing Stone Games separated itself from developers Turbine. The movie review of Dawn of the Dead is actually of an obscure fan edit which tries to recreate the initial work print. It combines all the footage from George Romero’s Director’s Cut and the European version edited by Dario Argento. And it would appear the writing about vintage TV shows can also reach a wide audience. Again I think this post was linked to by a Gerry Anderson fan site, which explains how it got such traffic.
2017:
The post about a potential Silmarillion Movie, stemmed from speculation as to what Peter Jackson’s next project would be after The Hobbit Trilogy. By now a trend is apparent. Film reviews and movie related content has far greater longevity than gaming related posts. It also fares well with Google and my posts can turn up in the first two pages of search results. The Star Trek Online post reflects the fact that so much data regarding the game is generated in the official subreddit. There aren’t that many STO blogs that I know of, so I assume this is why this post got so much traffic.
2018:
I started playing The Elder Scrolls Online for the first time since the beta in 2018 and therefore wrote a few posts about subjects that didn’t seem to be covered elsewhere. Dolmen farming is a common practise in the game so this simple guide was obviously in the right place at the right time. The disposable nature of gear prior to reaching level cap in ESO bothered me. I guess it bothered others too. Providing a summary of content on the LOTRO test servers always generates web traffic. So many people don’t want to have to install a second version of the game.
2019:
By last year I was fully aware of what “works” best on Contains Moderate Peril. The review of the “unrated” version of World War Z catalogues all the additional footage. It’s hardly surprising that people want to know, as the theatrical version was rated PG-13. An odd choice for a zombie movie. And once again anything that informs LOTRO players about what new content is coming up does well. Perhaps I can claim a marketing allowance from SSG? That ESO post is back again. I suspect it will stay there.
2020:
Obviously the top five for 2020 is not a full year (neither was 2015) but it clearly shows what content gets the most traction with readers. Over 50% of all my web traffic is from Google searches. Mainly movie reviews. Gamers also like guides. Provide them with simple clear instructions that tell them what to do and ensure there’s some pictures and you may have a winning formula. I write about a range of subjects, the scope of which gets wider every year. Although those posts get read, they do not get the sort of numbers as the film reviews and simple guides. I’m certainly not going to change the focus of my writing because of the data presented here. However, I have decided to write an ongoing tips and hints post for Star Trek Online as I do feel it will connect with an audience. I’ll make no bones about it. I write primarily for myself but I do enjoy the fact that my content finds readers.
Blapril: Lessons Learned
I still think it was a good idea to move the scheduled August blogging event to April and take advantage of the lockdown. Many of us still have a lot more spare time on our hands than usual. However, upon reflection the lockdown has come with its own set of problems, one of which being a degree of mental discombobulation which does impact upon one’s motivation. So Blapril has felt a little different to last year’s Blaugust. The passion has still been present but I think this time round there’s also been a degree of catharsis. Writing can be good therapy for all sorts of problems. However, the uncertainty of the times and the worry it engenders has also impacted upon bloggers stamina. I was ill for a third of Blapril which threw my schedule. I’ve also been smitten with a degree of indolence that has made writing a bit of a struggle at times. I certainly don’t think I’ve applied myself to my mentoring role as well as previous years.
I still think it was a good idea to move the scheduled August blogging event to April and take advantage of the lockdown. Many of us still have a lot more spare time on our hands than usual. However, upon reflection the lockdown has come with its own set of problems, one of which being a degree of mental discombobulation which does impact upon one’s motivation. So Blapril has felt a little different to last year’s Blaugust. The passion has still been present but I think this time round there’s also been a degree of catharsis. Writing can be good therapy for all sorts of problems. However, the uncertainty of the times and the worry it engenders has also impacted upon bloggers stamina. I was ill for a third of Blapril which threw my schedule. I’ve also been smitten with a degree of indolence that has made writing a bit of a struggle at times. I certainly don’t think I’ve applied myself to my mentoring role as well as previous years.
A recurring follow on from every Blaugust and therefore inevitably Blapril, are the blogs that subsequently fall into decline or return to intermittent posting. Some folk want to write more often but can’t for various real world reasons. Many find that maintaining motivation outside of a community driven event can be a lot harder to do. Others discover that blogging on a regular basis is just not for them, which is fare enough. They either stop or become an occasional blogger. Hopefully participating in Blapril has still proven to be a useful and worthwhile experience. I still enjoy these events as I like being part of a friendly and supportive community and I like adding new blogs to Feedly (I currently track 127). There’s still a wealth of good content being produced and I get a great deal of pleasure by starting my day trawling through Feedly to see what everyone’s been up to.
As for me, I’ll just keep going as writing is something that has become an integral part of my life. I can take a break from time to time but I can’t really stop. I have several long form “think pieces” in development that I may try to hawk around and see if I can get any traction outside of my own blog. I also think it may be time for a new project. At the very least such an undertaking will result in a few blog posts as I usually document such things. However, looking back at what I’ve written about of late, I no longer see Contains Moderate Peril as being a blog about gaming, movies and popular culture anymore that I started so many years ago. Exactly what the right term is that defines it eludes me but it seems to be more than just “musings on video games, movies and popular culture”. I feel I now have a platform that allows me to express a broad range of thoughts and opinions. I also realise that the old adage about “if you throw enough shit at the wall, some of it will stick” is true.
Writing and Motivation
This week’s Blapril writing prompt is about “staying motivated”. It’s a perennial subject and one that is always relevant. Whenever writing events such as Blapril/Balugust are held, many of the participants are swept up in the initial excitement and camaraderie. At first they find both the time and the inclination to write. However, after a while, the realities of regularly writing become apparent. Finding the time may become more difficult, as does choosing material to write about. Something that was fun and enjoyable can eventually feel like a chore. Especially if you don’t receive any form of feedback. Hence it comes as no surprise that many blogs fall into decline and fade away. Content is posted far more intermittently and then there comes a point where the writer just stops. According to Google, only 167.4 million out of the 500 million plus blogs had been updated in the past 120 days.
This week’s Blapril writing prompt is about “staying motivated”. It’s a perennial subject and one that is always relevant. Whenever writing events such as Blapril/Balugust are held, many of the participants are swept up in the initial excitement and camaraderie. At first they find both the time and the inclination to write. However, after a while, the realities of regularly writing become apparent. Finding the time may become more difficult, as does choosing material to write about. Something that was fun and enjoyable can eventually feel like a chore. Especially if you don’t receive any form of feedback. Hence it comes as no surprise that many blogs fall into decline and fade away. Content is posted far more intermittently and then there comes a point where the writer just stops. According to Google, only 167.4 million out of the 500 million plus blogs had been updated in the past 120 days.
It is at this point in a blog post such as this, it is customary to reference some cunning lifehacks, tips and guidance to make writing “easier”. I have written such material before referencing the benefits of preparedness, keeping notes, allotting time, choosing an appropriate writing environment etc. But the bottom line is there is no universal strategy, set of rules or philosophical school of thought that can solve motivation issues. It may well sound glib but you will either write or you will not. If you want to maintain a blog and post on a fairly regular basis then you will. You will determine what is the best approach for you and do it. Alternatively, you may find yourself burning the midnight oil and rushing to get a post completed but even method still gets the job done. If you feel compelled to write, then you will find away.
I write because I enjoy it. I enjoy the process of planning and constructing a blog post. I like the way it helps me marshal my thoughts. Researching a subject can be very illuminating and presents an opportunity to learn. Writing has helped me expand my vocabulary, improved my analytical skills and provides me with a sense of satisfaction. I have very little leverage or agency in the real world (do any of us?) but I am in charge of my writing. I can pose questions, discuss and analyse things in an orderly way. It also affords me an opportunity to present myself and my thoughts to the world in a manner of my choosing. My writing is not determined by how I look or dress. Hopefully it is judged on its own merits. And because this is how I feel about writing, this is my source of motivation.
Now I’m sure there will be some people reading this post who think “that’s all fair and good but I don’t feel as passionate about writing as you do. I just like to do it for fun”. To which I reply “fine, then do it for fun”. Find the level that is good for you and don’t feel obliged to do anything else. Blapril is not a competition, a race or an exam. Everyone’s blogs are different because we’re all different. Focus on an approach that is good for you and then once you’ve determined that, stick with it. But no matter how you approach blogging there comes a point where you just have to do it. The words will only appear if you type them. Perhaps that is the ultimate motivation right there. The satisfaction in seeing something appear on the virtual page, that up until now has only existed in your head. And then knowing that you can share that with others at the click of a mouse.
My Writing Process (The Recipe Analogy)
Easha Dustfeather suggested a Blapril writing prompt to catalogue your writing process “as if it were a recipe”. I like this idea so I thought I’d give it a go. My process is one of two distinct halves. Ideas for blog posts come through a variety of means. Sometimes while thinking, one will spontaneously occur. More often inspiration is derived through reading other people’s content or by simply addressing current news issues. I have mentioned before how I keep an ideas list and continuously add to it. The next stage which I shall detail here, is how I take an idea forward and develop it into an orderly post. Again I must reference how I was taught to write up a Science Experiment at school and how that process has stuck with me over the years. This recipe idea has a lot of similarity to this which is why I think it inherently appeals to the way my mind works.
Easha Dustfeather suggested a Blapril writing prompt to catalogue your writing process “as if it were a recipe”. I like this idea so I thought I’d give it a go. My process is one of two distinct halves. Ideas for blog posts come through a variety of means. Sometimes while thinking, one will spontaneously occur. More often inspiration is derived through reading other people’s content or by simply addressing current news issues. I have mentioned before how I keep an ideas list and continuously add to it. The next stage which I shall detail here, is how I take an idea forward and develop it into an orderly post. Again I must reference how I was taught to write up a Science Experiment at school and how that process has stuck with me over the years. This recipe idea has a lot of similarity to this which is why I think it inherently appeals to the way my mind works.
NB The example I shall be using here is for a real blog post that I shall publish the day after this one. Rather than deal with abstracts, I thought it would be more useful to show the development of a blog post from start to finish.
Stage 1: The Idea.
I saw a comment on a website in which the author claimed to be “Middle-aged”. They then admitted to being 67 years old. I thought this phrase could lead to an interesting discussion about age and everything that goes with it. The idea just popped into my head when I saw the phrase written down. Admittedly, semantics is a subject I’m interested in. Plus there’s an added social element to this because society seems to willfully misuse words these days and subvert their dictionary meaning. So to invoke the recipe analogy, the idea is effectively our intent to bake a cake. The nature of the idea determines what sort of cake.
Stage 2: Points and paragraphs.
With any blog post I write, I always like there to be some sort of structure, especially if debating a point. I often start with simple bullet points and then attempt to put more meat on the bones. So with a discussion about “Middle-aged”, I’ll cite differing perspectives on the subject and develop these into separate paragraphs. IE Age is a numerical construct. Therefore the middle can be broadly determined through mathematical means. However a counter argument would be based in ideas about societal notions about age. So within the terms of our recipe metaphor, this is about ingredients and finding the correct balance to achieve the blog post you desire.
Stage 3: Editing and polishing.
I always write first and edit afterwards. I find that spell checking and tweaking as I go greatly slows my writing. So I strive to get all relevant thoughts out of my head and onto the virtual paper quickly and then endeavour to whip them into shape. If something doesn’t work it goes and if I come up with something pertinent at a later stage, it gets neatly dovetailed into the proceedings. If a blog post is proving difficult or dealing with something potentially controversial, then leaving it and returning at a later point is sometimes necessary. A fresh perspective can help in finalising an article. I also like to take some time in choosing any pictures that are to go with a post. I see this process as adding the icing to a cake and fine tuning the presentation of a dish as we’re using a recipe analogy.
So this is the process I usually apply to writing my blog posts. Sometimes I will shoot straight from the hip and just write something right off the bat (the Omelette approach) but that’s not something I do often. I prefer a more structured approach. I was going to add a “Stage 4” about posting finished articles and promoting them on social media but I believe that really is a separate subject altogether and that self promotion deserves a post entirely to itself. Overall, I still like this recipe analogy due to the similarities between cooking and writing. Both are clear processes that require organisation and preparation. Additionally, both are ultimately more than the sum of their respective parts and dependent on an additional “je ne sais quoi”. Plus it is often down to others to determine whether you’ve been successful.
Draft Posts
I currently have 98 blog posts sitting in my draft posts folder. Some of these are just a series of bullet points waiting to be developed into longer posts. Others are fully developed articles that just need some polish or minor tweaking. Many are film reviews that I’ve started and need to finish. Some are long and involved think pieces or talking points that have long ceased to be topical. Often these are in response to posts I’ve read on other websites such as Massively Overpowered. The oldest draft post dates back to 2014. The majority are from the last twelve months or so. For clarity, I write all my blog posts via Google Docs but all material is saved to a folder called Draft Blog Posts. When a post is finally completed and published on Contains Moderate Peril, I download it, save it as a Microsoft Word document and move it to an archive folder on my PC. The copy in the drafts folder is then deleted.
I currently have 98 blog posts sitting in my draft posts folder. Some of these are just a series of bullet points waiting to be developed into longer posts. Others are fully developed articles that just need some polish or minor tweaking. Many are film reviews that I’ve started and need to finish. Some are long and involved think pieces or talking points that have long ceased to be topical. Often these are in response to posts I’ve read on other websites such as Massively Overpowered. The oldest draft post dates back to 2014. The majority are from the last twelve months or so. For clarity, I write all my blog posts via Google Docs but all material is saved to a folder called Draft Blog Posts. When a post is finally completed and published on Contains Moderate Peril, I download it, save it as a Microsoft Word document and move it to an archive folder on my PC. The copy in the drafts folder is then deleted.
I have mixed feelings regarding the content of my draft posts folder. When I’m in a good mood, I view these incomplete documents positively, seeing them as ongoing projects that have yet to reach their respective potential. But on other occasions when I’m struggling with motivation and creativity, they are ignominious reminders of failure or poor thinking. However, irrespective of my feeling, draft posts serve an important purpose. They afford the writer an opportunity to collate their thoughts and see if some potential ideas can be shaped into a coherent post. They present a chance to experiment with writing styles and to see what works and what doesn’t. Writing in this fashion is a great way to improve your literacy skills. It also affords the author time to consider whether or not to publish anything that may be deemed controversial. Not every post has to realised immediately after being conceived. Sometimes you may wish to research a subject further before publishing. Draft posts offer this safety net.
Looking at a selection of posts from my draft folder, there are some that can be potentially purged. There’s one I started about celebrity gaming endorsements, which I began when Megan Fox was paid to promote Black Desert Online. No need to take that further as the story has been and gone. However, there’a lengthy post in development about “tie-in gaming” and how many of the games that are rushed out to capitalise on a movie franchise are often flawed. That still has “legs”. But the post that I’m still stuck on but I refuse to delete is simply called “Is The Party Racist?” and as I mentioned earlier, it’s been sitting there for ten years. The Party is a comedy film from 1968 directed by Blake Edwards and starring Peter Sellers. Sellers play an Indian actor called Hrundi V. Bakshi in “brownface” and therein lies the rub. Although the film is filled with the actors hallmark slapstick comedy, you cannot escape the film’s basic conceit and it is a controversial one to say the least. I still cannot get the tone of this post quite right.
There are some writers who approach their work differently and don’t avail themselves of draft posts. Again, if you’re writing a stream of consciousness then creating a first draft and then revising it kind of defeats the purpose. Some folks also like to type directly into the text editor on their blog. It is very much a case of “horses for courses”. But for those that favour a more traditional methodology, writing a post in stages, via a series of revisions is the way to go. Building up “work in progress” in your draft posts folder can be beneficial. Sometimes we can’t see the “woods for the trees” and leaving a post and starting another is the best way to clear our minds. Furthermore, digging around in your drafts folder when your inspiration is lacking, can sometimes provide you with a post to save the day. So who knows, perhaps the 98 draft posts that I currently have, can all find a purpose after all. Perhaps they just need time and a fresh perspective.
Blapril: Topic Brainstorming Week
According to the Blapril schedule, it’s Topic Brainstorming Week. One of the most common questions that you’ll hear from new or occasional bloggers is “what should I write about”. Now don’t go thinking that some of us are blessed with more inspiration than others. The reality is quite the opposite. Most of us can come up empty on occasions and struggle to find inspiration. This is just another aspect of blogging that needs to be managed and planned for. Therefore, I strongly advocate collating a list of subjects and ideas for future blog posts and continuously adding to it. So let us without further ado, get on with brainstorming a list of potential topics for bloggers to write about. Just remember that brainstorming is a nonlinear process, and I am writing my thoughts down as they occur to me. Hence many of the ideas will be somewhat tangential to each other, without any semblance of order. You can also find some useful ideas here, in a post I wrote back in 2016 called “Got Nothing to Write About?”.
“That’s the shittest idea in the history of ideas. If you speak again Colin, I’ll cut you…”
According to the Blapril schedule, it’s Topic Brainstorming Week. One of the most common questions that you’ll hear from new or occasional bloggers is “what should I write about”. Now don’t go thinking that some of us are blessed with more inspiration than others. The reality is quite the opposite. Most of us can come up empty on occasions and struggle to find inspiration. This is just another aspect of blogging that needs to be managed and planned for. Therefore, I strongly advocate collating a list of subjects and ideas for future blog posts and continuously adding to it. So let us without further ado, get on with brainstorming a list of potential topics for bloggers to write about. Just remember that brainstorming is a nonlinear process, and I am writing my thoughts down as they occur to me. Hence many of the ideas will be somewhat tangential to each other, without any semblance of order. You can also find some useful ideas here, in a post I wrote back in 2016 called “Got Nothing to Write About?”.
Write a post about yourself, your likes and dislikes. You don’t have to give out excessively personal information if you don’t want to. But readers like to know about the people that create the content that they consume.
Keep a game (or any other kind of hobby) diary. Write about your progress in say a new MMO. Discuss the decisions you make regarding the character you create and play
Write a guide or offer tips and hints. This can be as detailed or as simple as you like. People again eat this kind of content up.
Catalogue cosmetics. This can become incredibly popular and major sites have grown around such undertakings.
Post screenshots (and write about them if you want). Not exactly hard is it. Yet people like a well composed picture, especially if they too play the same game.
“Riff off” your fellow blogger’s posts (Massively OP is also a great source of gaming related discussion and debate). These sorts of blog posts are good for building communities and interacting with your blogging colleagues. A good talking point can often see multiple responses.
Write think pieces about wider issues in your area of interests. Commenting upon the wider video games industry is always a good source of content. Just ensure that you reference your sources and that any arguments are factual and based upon tangible information.
Catalogue and review the community activities associated with your field of interest.
Comment on gaming news. There is no lack of material here.
If you’re learning a new skill such as live streaming, document your progress. Writing down what you have learned and done is also a great way of ensuring that you retain that information. Again, such posts are beneficial to others.
Review the things you like. Be they games, books, comics, movies, sandwiches, beer etc. Posting such content is a great way to build an audience and such posts often have a great deal of longevity.
Share pictures of your day to day life. You’ll be surprised how blog posts that catalogue everyday aspects of life are well received. It’s interesting to see the little differences that exist in common place activities, such as shopping, in different countries.
If formal blog posts are not to your liking, then why not just write a “stream of consciousness”. This can be very therapeutic and if done well is a rewarding alternative to more linear postings.
Courtesy of Daily Creative Thing
It is important to remember that not every blog post you write has to be some sort of literary marvel. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take pride in your creative output and exercise some sort of quality control. But it’s perfectly fine to write a post about how you logged into your game of choice, did some quests, met friends and had fun. Or to blog about your pets, share with others how you enjoyed a show you saw on Netflix and how you had a great time at a convention or Renaissance faire. Such posts are very accessible to many and again help people to connect and build communities. One of the blogs I read regularly is Daily Creative Thing by Gracie. It catalogues the progress of her knitting projects. I don’t know if I can articulate cogently why this appeals to me but it just does. I like creativity in many forms and admire those who have such skills. It’s nice to see hard work pay off with a finished product. It also proves my point that you can successfully approach blogging and any angle. Once you’ve found your niche the content should flow.
Blogging Advice
Providing advice is an important part of Blapril. Guidance that may seem obvious to those who have been regularly writing, may potentially be a revelation to those who have only just started a blog. Hence I usually write over the course of these events, three or four posts offering tips. However, I hit a minor snag today as I sat down to write such a post. As soon as I had an idea about a specific aspect of blogging, I quickly discovered that I’d already previously written about it. I have been participating in various writing events of this kind since 2012 and have therefore covered a lot of ground (as have many of my esteemed colleagues). So I decided to collate all my past posts that offer advice and insight into specific areas of writing, into a single list. They cover a range of subjects from basic advice to those just starting a blog, to how often you should write and whether or not you should allow comments. Then there are other posts about writing styles, courting controversy etc.
Providing advice is an important part of Blapril. Guidance that may seem obvious to those who have been regularly writing, may potentially be a revelation to those who have only just started a blog. Hence I usually write over the course of these events, three or four posts offering tips. However, I hit a minor snag today as I sat down to write such a post. As soon as I had an idea about a specific aspect of blogging, I quickly discovered that I’d already previously written about it. I have been participating in various writing events of this kind since 2012 and have therefore covered a lot of ground (as have many of my esteemed colleagues). So I decided to collate all my past posts that offer advice and insight into specific areas of writing, into a single list. They cover a range of subjects from basic advice to those just starting a blog, to how often you should write and whether or not you should allow comments. Then there are other posts about writing styles, courting controversy etc.
As ever, when offering advice, it should be remembered that it is just that and not immutable rules (as I was reminded recently by a discussion on the Blapril Discord Server about the use of pictures in blog posts). What may work for one writer may be of any use for another, so ultimately I offer all this for your consideration only. But I do think I’ve gained a degree of experience over the last thirteen years of writing. Therefore I would recommend the following two posts, The Realities of Blogging and When Blogging Turns Bad, to those who may harbour dreams of blogging leading to “fortune and glory”. It is entirely possible through hard work and determination to move from writing for yourself, to paid employment. There are Blapril mentors who have successfully done this. But it is not as easy as “putting on a hat” as some people still think. Hence it never does any harm to have a gentle reality check and adjust one’s expectations.
This Jamf isn’t going to get anything written like this
Blogging Advice (2016 to the present):
Should You Allow Comments on Your Blog?
The Importance of Taking a Break
Opinions, Debate and Courting Controversy
Topics, Talking Points and Ideas for Blog Posts
The Importance of Making Notes
Finally, I write a recurring “column” called Thoughts on Blogging, in which I discuss my relationship with writing and various other miscellaneous ideas regarding content creation. Again, it may be of use to other Blapril participants. Yet, despite all this wealth of advice provided by all involved with this event, there is one fundamental fact that potentially trumps everything else. At some point you have to just sit down and write. By definition a writer writes. If you just put aside your concerns and knuckle down to writing you will immediately start to improve. Practise does indeed make perfect but it’s a long journey. One that starts by writing your first post. Although advice and guidance can help you refine your writing process, if you’re not writing then you’re simply not going to make any progress. Remember, “It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish" as Gaffer Gamgee said.
Blogger Recognition Award 2020
I woke up this morning to discover I’ve been tagged for an “award”. However, my dreams of donning a tuxedo, taking to a podium and emotionally thanking my loved ones were quickly dispelled when I realised this was one of those internet “tag and promote” exercises. Not that there’s anything wrong with such undertakings. These sorts of exercises serve a purpose and can be used to amplify the writings of new bloggers. It’s just that there’s no gold plated statuette involved. Never mind. This “award” also presents an opportunity to share some advice, which hopefully will be of use to many of those who are new to blogging and have recently signed up for Blapril. So without further ado, let us begin. First off, let’s recap what’s involved regarding the Blogger Recognition Award 2020.
I woke up this morning to discover I’ve been tagged for an “award”. However, my dreams of donning a tuxedo, taking to a podium and emotionally thanking my loved ones were quickly dispelled when I realised this was one of those internet “tag and promote” exercises. Not that there’s anything wrong with such undertakings. These sorts of exercises serve a purpose and can be used to amplify the writings of new bloggers. It’s just that there’s no gold plated statuette involved. Never mind. This “award” also presents an opportunity to share some advice, which hopefully will be of use to many of those who are new to blogging and have recently signed up for Blapril. So without further ado, let us begin. First off, let’s recap what’s involved regarding the Blogger Recognition Award 2020.
The Rules:
Thank the wonderful person who nominated you and leave a link back to their blogs.
Explain your blog’s origin story or its history.
Hand out two or more pieces of advice for new bloggers.
Nominate other bloggers and hook us up with links to their blogs.
Thanks For all the Fish:
So, to begin I would like to thank Naithin over at Time to Loot for the nomination. Naithin is a thoughtful and measured blogger who crafts engaging and intelligent posts. He writes in a cordial and informal way but there are often clear signs that everything written has been considered carefully. It’s the polar opposite to much of the “hot takes” and knee jerk, click bait that’s endemic among gaming blogs. If you haven’t added his RSS feed to your reading list, then you really should.
Origins:
As for the origins of Contains Moderate Peril, it is a story I covered in the past and there’s even a breakdown of the name in the “about” section of the website. However, for convenience here is a short breakdown of my “history”. I started blogging regularly in 2007. I had a movie blog and a gaming blog that focused on The Lord of the Rings Online. After a while the gaming blog expanded into covering other titles and eventually it made sense to combine all writing into a single website that covered “movies, gaming and popular culture”. As for the name, in the UK movies are rated by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) which is similar to the MPAA in the US. The BBFC often provides a small summary in conjunction with a rating that is then used in all subsequent advertising. The idea is to give consumers an overview of a film’s themes and content. The guidance for the 2005 movie King Kong was “contains frightening elements, moderate violence and frequent peril”. I then distilled this further down to the current name. It’s a snappy and memorable title for a blog but manually typing the URL is a pain in the butt.
Advice:
Just write. It takes discipline and determination to do it regularly. But the more you write the better you’ll get. Don’t focus on others and what they’re doing. Never make the mistake of comparing apples with oranges. Just concentrate on your output and what’s good for you.
Give credit to those whose posts you riff off, link to your sources if writing a think piece and be mindful that we are all to some extent, standing on the shoulders of giants. You are not the “King of the Internet”. We are all just “Net Citizens”. Oh and respond to comments. If someone’s taken the time to leave a remark about your work, then it is incumbent upon us to respond. And yes, I’m still terrible at this.
Finally and in many ways this may be the most important piece of advice. The internet never forgets. Reflect upon this. Think long and hard before you hit publish. We all get angry with the untrammelled stupidity of other people at times. But if you’re going to be critical then do it factually and do not make it spiteful or vindictive. Once you’ve crossed the line and said something inflammatory or just plain rude, you can’t truly ever delete it and carry on like it never happened. Posts and tweets are archived and cached. Plus readers can cut and paste as well as screen capture anything they see fit. An ill conceived comment can potentially return at any time and bite you on the ass.
Nominees:
I cordially invite the following bloggers, as they all have interesting sites and are not backwards about coming forwards, as the expression goes. However, if they’re too busy to take onboard this additional request, then no worries. It’s not my job to hassle other writers.
Izlain Me vs Myself and I
Telwyn Gaming SF
Welsh Troll WelshTroll
The Importance of Making Notes
As this is the start of Blapril prep week, I thought I’d share an important aspect of my blogging experience. As ever, I would like to state that what works for me may not necessarily work for you. We all approach writing in our own unique way and ultimately it’s all about doing what is appropriate for you. I find that having some processes in place helps me immensely with my writing. And perhaps the most fundamental of these is having a way to manage my thoughts. I’m sure many of us have experienced a situation where a good idea has occurred to us or we’ve thought of a good counterpoint to something we’ve read and thought “I must write that down”. Sadly, we then all too often fail to do so and hence we waste potential blogging “gold”. Which is why I want to talk about the importance of making notes.
As this is the start of Blapril prep week, I thought I’d share an important aspect of my blogging experience. As ever, I would like to state that what works for me may not necessarily work for you. We all approach writing in our own unique way and ultimately it’s all about doing what is appropriate for you. I find that having some processes in place helps me immensely with my writing. And perhaps the most fundamental of these is having a way to manage my thoughts. I’m sure many of us have experienced a situation where a good idea has occurred to us or we’ve thought of a good counterpoint to something we’ve read and thought “I must write that down”. Sadly, we then all too often fail to do so and hence we waste potential blogging “gold”. Which is why I want to talk about the importance of making notes.
If you’re writing a post that has a fundamental point to make or indeed several, then it helps if you take a structured approach. One of the easiest ways to start this process is to simply write down bullet points. You don’t even have to do this in order initially. Just write them down as they occur to you, as you would in a brainstorming exercise. You can then group them together or eliminate those that may not be necessary. These bullet points can then be fleshed out with further detail and developed into paragraphs. You now have the beginnings of a coherent post. For example, if I am reviewing a movie, I write down my thoughts as they come to me while watching. Later I collate them according to their type IE are they related to the acting and casting, writing and direction, or production design etc. The benefits of taking notes is that you can immediately record your thoughts and guarantee that you do not forget a point you wish to focus upon later. I often write blog posts sometime after the initial notes are made.
My notes for Tomb Raider (2018). A review I have yet to write up.
Notes can also be useful not just when writing a blog post but for planning them. We all have days when we’re lacking in inspiration. So why not just keep a rolling list of potential blog post ideas and add to it as and when something of interest springs to mind. Saving interesting articles you’ve read online to something like Pocket can be very useful as well. You won’t have to waste valuable time later trying to track down the material you wish to reference. And sometimes, even saving a picture or a screen capture can be useful for triggering a discussion at a later date. As for how you make your notes, that is entirely down to you. I have multiple notebooks in my office and in the lounge where I watch movies. I recently tried to change to a more modern method and decided to try Microsoft OneNote which I installed on my phone and tablet. It proved too convoluted for my needs, although I’m sure others may feel more comfortable with this medium. Another alternative is to use a voice recorder. Most smartphones have them.
I find that notes provide an excellent way of transcribing my initial thoughts and impressions. They also allow me to marshal my thoughts and create cogent debates and think pieces. Simply put, for me they are the foundation of all my writing and therefore an integral part of my content creation process. However, if you favour different writing styles, such as an unedited stream of consciousness, then the structure that notes bring may not be required or even beneficial to that process. But if you write reviews or are debating a point, then there is a need for structure and that begins with taking notes. Notes can offer improved focus and attention to detail, as well as comprehension and retention skills. They can also teach prioritisation and organisational abilities. They can also boost your creativity by providing clarity. Which is why I’m such a strong advocate of their use.
Get Ready for Blapril 2020
Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks that all this spare time that many of us now have, can be put to good use. Belghast over at Tales of the Aggronaut, has brought forward his yearly blogging and content creation festival Blaugust and rechristened it Blapril. As the name indicates, this event will now run throughout April. Blapril is primarily a festival of blogging (although it offers much that is relevant to other types of content creation) designed to bring together and encourage new or lapsed bloggers. It is also an ideal opportunity for existing writers to renew their motivation and up their game. The event provides a means to share information and offer valuable advice based upon personal experiences. Blapril is about community, mutual support and sharing content. As I mentioned in a previous post, self isolation is in many ways the perfect time to take up blogging, podcasting, live streaming or generally creating some form of online content. If you’re looking for a gentle nudge to start any of these activities, Blapril 2020 can provide it.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks that all this spare time that many of us now have, can be put to good use. Belghast over at Tales of the Aggronaut, has brought forward his yearly blogging and content creation festival Blaugust and rechristened it Blapril. As the name indicates, this event will now run throughout April. Blapril is primarily a festival of blogging (although it offers much that is relevant to other types of content creation) designed to bring together and encourage new or lapsed bloggers. It is also an ideal opportunity for existing writers to renew their motivation and up their game. The event provides a means to share information and offer valuable advice based upon personal experiences. Blapril is about community, mutual support and sharing content. As I mentioned in a previous post, self isolation is in many ways the perfect time to take up blogging, podcasting, live streaming or generally creating some form of online content. If you’re looking for a gentle nudge to start any of these activities, Blapril 2020 can provide it.
So if you’re interested in taking part in Blapril, there are several ways to do so. The first step is to fill out the Sign-Up Form for Blapril 2020 which can be found here. This is so the event organisers can track progress, “amplify” the promotion of your work and ensure that new bloggers get the support they may need.
There is also a Blapril Discord server which can be found here. This is the third year it has been active and there is quite a substantial community that is continuously active.This is an ideal place to say “hi”, seek answers and most importantly share your content each day in the appropriately named “share-your-content” channel.
When sharing your content on social media please use the hashtag #Blapril2020 for tracking purposes.It makes it easier for those keeping up with the event to find content.
Feel free to chat and interact with those participating in Blapril as it is very much a community event and part of the fun is getting to know the community. Mentors are available to help out with more immediate, hands on advice. There is also a “gaming-together” channel on Discord for those who may want to play socially.
There is also a Media Kit page with official graphics that you can use to promote your work and the event.
“write, Jamf…”
Blapril is not as a few misguided people have suggested in the past, a means of trying to foster some sort of “groupthink” approach to content creation. Quite the opposite is true. It is an event designed to encourage doing things your way. There is no one size fits all approach to blogging, podcasting etc. If you’re happy just writing about Animal Crossing: New Horizon or the bulbs you’ve just planted in your back garden, then that’s fine. Blapril is about helping people find a new hobby and having fun while doing it. And in light of the present circumstances, fun is going to be a much needed commodity. So ignore the self appointed “Fun Stasi” and get ready for Blapril. I’ll be helping out as a mentor and I’m already preparing a list of blog posts and toying with the idea of a podcast (it won’t happen you know but a man can dream). I look forward to reading a lot of new content and chatting with new friends on Discord.
Thoughts on Blogging Part 12
Due to the ongoing Global Pandemic, many people are now finding themselves working from home or having to stay in for health or childcare reasons. Hence there has been a marked increase in online leisure activities. Steam has been hit by a record number of concurrent users and Netflix and Amazon prime have both seen an increased demand upon their respective streaming services. If you’re not commuting then you are freeing up a substantial amount of hours each week. This potential abundance of “free time” along with a practical need to channel your energy into something to prevent yourself from going “stir crazy”, presents some interesting opportunities. Many people who have previously expressed an interest in writing and content creation now have the leeway to do so. Naturally, as a writing enthusiast and a long time blogger, I am happy to encourage such activities.
Due to the ongoing Global Pandemic, many people are now finding themselves working from home or having to stay in for health or childcare reasons. Hence there has been a marked increase in online leisure activities. Steam has been hit by a record number of concurrent users and Netflix and Amazon prime have both seen an increased demand upon their respective streaming services. If you’re not commuting then you are freeing up a substantial amount of hours each week. This potential abundance of “free time” along with a practical need to channel your energy into something to prevent yourself from going “stir crazy”, presents some interesting opportunities. Many people who have previously expressed an interest in writing and content creation now have the leeway to do so. Naturally, as a writing enthusiast and a long time blogger, I am happy to encourage such activities.
I have been part of a wider content creating community for over a decade now and it struck me as soon as this situation developed that a lot of people were going to find themselves quarantined at home with time on their hands. Leisure time is usually a premium commodity these days but I suspect that a lot of people will not be prepared for such a rapid change in fortune. Plus having to work at home, possibly cheek by jowl with your entire family, is going to require some sort of “safety valve” to release the stress such confinement inevitably brings. So in many respects now is an ideal time to start a new hobby. If it is pursued in a measured way then writing, podcasting, live streaming or creating videos may well provide not only a pleasurable leisure activity but also a means to interact and communicate with others. Something that we have taken for granted up until now.
“Sod off and go and do something constructive, instead of continuously bothering me, you sweaty galloot”
For the sake of my example I shall focus upon writing but obviously the points I hope to make are applicable to other forms of content creation. Writing your thoughts down regarding any subject provides a sense of focus. Often when we marshall our thoughts it leads to a clearer understanding of a subject. It is also a process that we can control 100%. Such things are good for your mental wellbeing while we’re all in lockdown. If you start a blog and write regularly, having a schedule provides a clear routine. Structure is beneficial when in self isolation. Plus writing more often will improve your literacy skills. And then there is pleasure to be found in sharing your words with others, building an audience and becoming part of a social community. No matter how niche your chosen subject may be, there’s always an audience to be found. It is often this interaction that is the most rewarding aspect of writing and it subsequently fuels your creativity and desire to continue.
So if you’ve always toyed with the idea of blogging about your favourite games, movies or your cats, then why not grab yourself a free account over at wordpress.com and give it a go. Alternatively maybe you’ve always wanted to do some live streaming? Well now’s the time to do it. It’s not that hard to figure out. Even I’ve managed it. The same goes for YouTube. The barriers to entry are very low and there’s a wealth of online help available to get you started. It would be great to get a positive from a negative and see a resurgence in all kinds of content creation during these difficult times. And if you still need a nudge or the safety net of a community that you can draw upon for advice and guidance, then I wouldn’t be surprised if you see a lot of online communities rally and offer a helping hand. Don’t pass up on a golden opportunity. What would you prefer? To look back on 2020 as the year you were terminally bored while you holed up for 3 to 4 months. Or for it to be the year you started a new hobby that got you through a difficult period? The choice is yours.
Thoughts on Blogging Part 11
The New Year is often a time for revised plans, renewed ambitions and a desire to get back on the proverbial horse when it comes to content creation. More often than not, many of these lofty ambitions wither on the vine or fall victim to our propensity for indolence. Which is why I think it is prudent to ensure that any goals that you set for yourself are realistic and attainable. If for example, you have just started blogging, then it is wiser to focus on developing and maintaining a writing schedule, rather than trying to get a million page views in your first month. Impossible goals lead to disappointment which can then crush your optimism. Measured, targeted achievements, obtained over a credible time period may not seem so satisfying but they get the job done. Which is why I have given a great deal of thought to my own blogging goals for 2020. I am not going to alter or replace the blog template, nor am I going to embark upon too many side projects such a streaming or creating video content. Although I’d like to do such things I cannot sustain them or cope with the volume of work they will create. This year I am just going to try to create as much written content as possible and focus on expanding brand awareness.
The New Year is often a time for revised plans, renewed ambitions and a desire to get back on the proverbial horse when it comes to content creation. More often than not, many of these lofty ambitions wither on the vine or fall victim to our propensity for indolence. Which is why I think it is prudent to ensure that any goals that you set for yourself are realistic and attainable. If for example, you have just started blogging, then it is wiser to focus on developing and maintaining a writing schedule, rather than trying to get a million page views in your first month. Impossible goals lead to disappointment which can then crush your optimism. Measured, targeted achievements, obtained over a credible time period may not seem so satisfying but they get the job done. Which is why I have given a great deal of thought to my own blogging goals for 2020. I am not going to alter or replace the blog template, nor am I going to embark upon too many side projects such a streaming or creating video content. Although I’d like to do such things I cannot sustain them or cope with the volume of work they will create. This year I am just going to try to create as much written content as possible and focus on expanding brand awareness.
For years, I’ve been using Microsoft Word as my primary means of writing blog posts. It serves my needs and is a very robust piece of software, filled with bells and whistles that I seldom ever use. However, there can be some compatibility issues from time to time but these are seldom the fault of Microsoft. Contains Moderate Peril is hosted via Squarespace and they’re constantly tinkering with the “backend”. I often log in to post an article only to discover a subtle change to the UI. Until recently I could import a Word Document without any formatting issues. However, a recent change now means that additional spaces are added between paragraphs and hyperlinks are lost. No doubt Squarespace will alter this in the long term but it makes for extra work in the meantime. Hence, I have started using Google Docs to create posts. At present there are now issues when I copy and paste the content into the post editor and then there’s the added bonus of accessibility. Google Drive allows me to access my draft documents from anywhere. At present, I spend a lot of time at my parents house. Using Google resources means I can write on the fly and be more productive, despite being away from my home office.
One of the keys to finding an audience is to promote your content on social media. It’s not something that everyone is good at and it can also make you feel very self conscious. One aspect of social media is that you are shamelessly drawing attention to yourself and that’s not to everyone’s liking. But it is a necessary evil so its best approached as a job. Out of all the various social media platforms, I find that Twitter is the most efficient means to promote my writing and generating traffic. However, to gain any traction requires a sizeable following of like-minded people who share common interests. I initially gained my Twitter following between 2010 and 2013 and it was mainly down to holding regular giveaways. I offered game codes, Blu-rays and DVDs as prizes and made leaving a comment on the post and following me on Twitter, as part of the means of entry. It broadly worked. Although some people would follow and then later leave, most seem to have stuck around. I wish to increase the size of my Twitter following so am going to reinstate the giveaways and hold them monthly. As I said earlier it can feel a bit of an impersonal Quid Pro Quo but I feel it is one of the more socially acceptable means of promotion.
I am also currently experimenting with Instagram to see if I can develop a presence there. I have an existing account that I have so far used just for family related content. However, I have now purged this of photos of my Granddaughters and such like and warned existing followers that I shall be changing tack. The idea is to try and create a community of followers and to focus on movies and TV. The medium lends itself to posting a screen capture of a scene from a classic film and then throwing it open for comments. This could also be used to promote existing film reviews that I’ve written. Of course it may not work and this may not be the right use of this platform but it’s worth a try. Social media can be flexible but it can also be an online cul-de-sac. In the past I’ve experimented with Facebook and building a community there. I had a website plugin that easily facilitated posting exiting blog content direct to Facebook. But I found that instead of bringing readers to my blog, it simply developed into a separate online presence of it own. as I didn’t want to have to manage multiple communities I stopped doing this and now just use Facebook to keep in touch with friends who have emigrated.
But no matter what ideas you can come up with to increase your readership, the fact remains that the best way to grow your blog is to just keep writing and posting new articles. Google seems to bear this out, as my film reviews are frequently found via online searches and make up a substantial amount of my overall blog traffic. It is a somewhat clichéd old adage but “if you throw enough crap at the wall, some will eventually stick”. Write about what you enjoy and just stick with it. Talk to other bloggers or comparable content creators. Keep at it and you will develop a style and the standard of your material will improve. But above all, just keep writing. Find a time of day that works for you and get your thoughts down on virtual paper. Remember, each blog post doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. Three coherent paragraphs should suffice. But a degree of determination and self discipline, so that you do actually do some writing, will yield results in the long run. It’s also rewarding to set a New Year’s Resolution, or long term goal that you do actually achieve.
International Picture Posting Month: The Lord of the Rings Online
The Lord of the Rings Online is unique in so far as there are no other Tolkien based MMORPGs available at present (although another is currently in development). I have played LOTRO since 2008 and what I have discovered during that time, is that although the game attracts MMO players, it also attracts dedicated Tolkien aficionados. Many of those who play LOTRO do not play other games or even consider themselves as gamers. The intellectual property is a magnet for fans and frequently a steppingstone into the world of gaming. Hence you have a player base that is heavily invested and forgiving, because of their affection for the source material. Few other MMOs have this sort of community. LOTRO offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Middle-earth. For many, the game’s vision of Tolkien’s world is superior to Peter Jackson’s movie adaptations. LOTRO has its own original aesthetic and style. Furthermore, after twelve years there is a prodigious amount of Middle-earth to explore. No other MMO can offer players access to The Shire, or Rohan or the Dead Marshes. So, in many respects LOTRO is an MMO occupying a unique niche in the video games market.
The Lord of the Rings Online is unique in so far as there are no other Tolkien based MMORPGs available at present (although another is currently in development). I have played LOTRO since 2008 and what I have discovered during that time, is that although the game attracts MMO players, it also attracts dedicated Tolkien aficionados. Many of those who play LOTRO do not play other games or even consider themselves as gamers. The intellectual property is a magnet for fans and frequently a steppingstone into the world of gaming. Hence you have a player base that is heavily invested and forgiving, because of their affection for the source material. Few other MMOs have this sort of community. LOTRO offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Middle-earth. For many, the game’s vision of Tolkien’s world is superior to Peter Jackson’s movie adaptations. LOTRO has its own original aesthetic and style. Furthermore, after twelve years there is a prodigious amount of Middle-earth to explore. No other MMO can offer players access to The Shire, or Rohan or the Dead Marshes. So, in many respects LOTRO is an MMO occupying a unique niche in the video games market.
Another aspect of LOTRO in which the game excels is the story structure and quest lines. All are driven by strong narratives and couched in the lore of Middle-earth. The writers have always shown an abiding love for the work of Professor Tolkien and this is reflected in both the main epic storyline, right down to the smallest regional quest. You’ll often find references both big and small to various events found in the original books, as well as links to tales dating further back in the history of Middle-earth. For example, there’s a minor quest in the South Farthing of The Shire, in which a young Hobbit falls asleep onboard a small covered wagon. He subsequently recounts a tale of travelling to a tower in a circle of rock and a scary old man dressed in white. It would appear that he has unwittingly hitched a ride to Isengard, via one the supply wagons Lotho Sackville-Baggins is sending to Saruman. It is minor asides such as these that embellish LOTRO and delight those who enjoy the source texts upon which they’re based.
Although some may argue that the halcyon days of the MMORPG are gone, there are still several enduring titles that can offer new players an engaging virtual world to explore and quest in. LOTRO is definitely one of these. Not only can it satisfy your MMO itch but also provide a franchise specific experience that no other game can directly compete with. Furthermore, after celebrating its twelfth anniversary this year, the developers have plans to expand the game further, adding yet more of Middle-earth to the game. Mount Gundabad is currently in development and will be available in 2020. So, if you’re looking for an original and immersive depiction of Tolkien’s world, with a narrative driven story and a welcoming community, then look no further than LOTRO. Just remember the wise words of Bilbo Baggins. “It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
In addition to the pictures in this post, here is a link to a gallery of screenshots from LOTRO via Google Photos. All are available at the original screen resolution of 1920 x 1200.
International Picture Posting Month: Star Trek Online
Although I pre-ordered Star Trek Online in early 2010, I was initially disappointed with the game. It took three attempts over several years for me to warm to this MMORPG and make it a mainstay of my gaming activities. STO was a mess when it launched. The game had switched game studios during its development and its new owners Cryptic, were legally obliged to abide by the existing release date. Hence the game was incomplete and somewhat lacking. Furthermore there were systems and mechanics in place that were geared towards a more traditional MMO methodology. Many of these were subsequently sidelined as Cryptic endeavoured to tidy up and refine the game. The MMO went F2P in January 2012 and it proved beneficial in so far as providing the developers with a stable business environment. Over the next three years, Cryptic made the game more coherent and orderly. Long term story arcs were presented in episodic feature episodes, reputation and gear procedures were refined and eventually the skills system was overhauled into a simpler “tree” format. By 2015, STO was finally the game it should have been at launch.
Although I pre-ordered Star Trek Online in early 2010, I was initially disappointed with the game. It took three attempts over several years for me to warm to this MMORPG and make it a mainstay of my gaming activities. STO was a mess when it launched. The game had switched game studios during its development and its new owners Cryptic, were legally obliged to abide by the existing release date. Hence the game was incomplete and somewhat lacking. Furthermore there were systems and mechanics in place that were geared towards a more traditional MMO methodology. Many of these were subsequently sidelined as Cryptic endeavoured to tidy up and refine the game. The MMO went F2P in January 2012 and it proved beneficial in so far as providing the developers with a stable business environment. Over the next three years, Cryptic made the game more coherent and orderly. Long term story arcs were presented in episodic feature episodes, reputation and gear procedures were refined and eventually the skills system was overhauled into a simpler “tree” format. By 2015, STO was finally the game it should have been at launch.
It was during the 2015 Delta Recruitment event that I finally got bitten by the STO bug. I created characters from all three of the faction then available, as each has a unique story for the first third of the game’s narrative. Playing Federation, Klingon and Romulan alts also offers a different perspective on the central story. The game has grown since then and a further three factions have been added. But although it is enjoyable to play such diverse characters, the greatest strength of STO lies in the lore. Set after the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation the story line explores some very interesting themes. The peace treaty with the Klingon Empire breaks down and leads to war. The destruction of the Romulan home world causes a schism in the Star Empire, leading to a Romulan Republic born out of the Vulcan reunification movement and the Reman Resistance. And being Star Trek there is naturally time travel resulting in the player visiting past era’s and even the alternative Kelvin Timeline. It is quite convoluted at times but the stories are frequently marbled with references to classic Trek lore.
STO lacks some of the polish of other MMOs. Its character models are somewhat dated and there are bugs in the game that have persisted for years. But its space combat is dynamic, engaging and satisfying. It also has a wealth of options for short, targeted gameplay, if you do not want to play through the various major story arcs. Plus the game regularly has events throughout the year, which unlike other MMOs offer more than just cosmetic rewards. There are Tier 6 ships to be earned along with other items that enhance gameplay. But the jewel in the crown of STO is its official support from rights holders CBS and the involvement of so many of the cast of the various TV shows. Interacting with such characters as Odo, Weyoun, Worf and Seven of Nine and having them voiced by René Auberjonois, Jeffrey Combs, Michael Dorn and Jeri Ryan is an absolute joy for Trek fans. Plus any game that has pet Hortas and allows you to use a Lirpa or Bat'leth in melee combat has to be doing something right. But as I’m a Trek fan and a lifetime account holder in STO, I guess I’m somewhat bias.
In addition to the pictures in this post, here is a link to a gallery of screenshots from STO via Google Photos. All are available at the original screen resolution of 1920 x 1200.
A Growth in Website Traffic
Bloggers are often very reluctant to talk about such things as website traffic, statistics and the general size of their audience. Firstly, it can appear like bragging or an exercise in self-aggrandising ego stroking. Secondly, they may be worried that they’ll find out that their audience is not as large as those of other writers. It’s generally one of those tricky subjects that is wrapped up in complex social etiquette. Like when you’re at a party and someone you don’t know that well asks you how much you earn a year. Exactly what is the correct response? (The correct answer is “enough to have you killed”, by the way). However, as writers we naturally want to reach an audience and connect with them. Therefore, we all tend to check on the number of pageviews and visits to our respective blogs from time to time and consider what we can do to increase our overall readership.
Bloggers are often very reluctant to talk about such things as website traffic, statistics and the general size of their audience. Firstly, it can appear like bragging or an exercise in self-aggrandising ego stroking. Secondly, they may be worried that they’ll find out that their audience is not as large as those of other writers. It’s generally one of those tricky subjects that is wrapped up in complex social etiquette. Like when you’re at a party and someone you don’t know that well asks you how much you earn a year. Exactly what is the correct response? (The correct answer is “enough to have you killed”, by the way). However, as writers we naturally want to reach an audience and connect with them. Therefore, we all tend to check on the number of pageviews and visits to our respective blogs from time to time and consider what we can do to increase our overall readership.
The Blaugust writing event certainly revitalised my enthusiasm for blogging. I wrote a post everyday during August and September. Due to real world commitments, that schedule has not been maintained through October and November but I still strive to write regularly. Subsequently, as there has been an increase in written content, there has been a reciprocal increase in overall website traffic. Pageviews and visits have grown by 10% each month which I find quite interesting. Naturally if you write more frequently, then readers who have found your material interesting will return more often. They may also share links via social media which can also create more traffic. But this alone does not account for the growth Contains Moderate Peril has experienced. I believe that it down to two other factors, both of which are out of my direct control and are mainly down to chance. The first is a third party linking to your work and referring traffic. The second is simply being in the right place at the right time and writing about a subject that is relevant or popular.
In September I wrote a post previewing the Stout-Axe Dwarf race that was coming to the MMORPG The Lord of the rings Online. The following month I wrote a similar article about the Minas Morgul expansion that was at that time on the public test server. Both posts proved popular with the LOTRO community but were further amplified by being retweeted by fans of the game and being referenced by Massively Overpowered website. Then this month I stumbled upon a technical solution for a performance problem that was affecting the PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2. This is a prime example of just being fortunate with regard to timing and what people are currently searching for on Google. This post has done very well as a result. However, I should point out that 50% of all the website traffic that Contains Moderate Peril receives, is from people searching via search engines and finding my back catalogue of work. This is especially true of the film reviews. I think this sends a clear message about the importance of building up a body of work.
A desire to reach a wider audience and connect with more people is not a hedonistic ideal. Writing is far from a one-way street. As ever, growth and statistical analysis of your website traffic is all about context, common sense and having realistic expectations. Your stats are a tool and should not be the driving force of your writing. Yet they can be used to motivate and “fine tune” your writing, by assessing what your readership enjoys the most. However, with there is no fast path to success with writing. Apart from producing good content, many of the facts that emerge from an analysis of blogging can be contradictory. Here are several taken from Social Media Examiner.
The number of bloggers worldwide is expected to reach 31.7 million in 2020.
The average word count of top-ranking content on Google is between 1,140-1,285 words. So it would seem that longform writing is far from dead.
Yet, despite length of post increasing, 43% of people admit to still skimming articles.
Blog articles with images get 94% more views. People like pictures, especially if they’re relevant.
For a writer who has just started blogging about their favourite pastime or who harbours dreams to write professionally, finding an audience and getting traction can seem very daunting and an uphill struggle. I think the best advice is to simply keep writing and promoting your work. Time is your ally. Google favours sites that have endured and have a body of work. There is some truth in the old adage that “if you throw enough shit at the wall, some of it will eventually stick”.
International Picture Posting Month: The Elder Scrolls Online
As my first post for International Picture Posting Month, I have decided to share some pictures and thoughts on the MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online. Out of the three games from this genre that I currently play, it’s the one that I’m currently enjoying the most. It has plenty of content to play through, the virtual world is immersive and the stories, characters and lore are very detailed and satisfying. As a more recent MMO, the game engine is robust and the visuals are far from dated. The game mechanics are multi-layered but combat is straightforward. There is no obvious skills bloat as you choose what you want on your hotbar. I also greatly enjoy the ambient music and recurring themes that play throughout the game. ESO is both solo and group friendly. You can also greatly augment your UI and the way you interact with the various systems, through the use of addons if you like. Alternatively, if you feel bold enough, then you can go with the default layout. From my perspective, ESO offers a great deal and ticks many of the boxes I favour. Yes it can have its foibles but name me an MMO that doesn’t?
As my first post for International Picture Posting Month, I have decided to share some pictures and thoughts on the MMORPG, The Elder Scrolls Online. Out of the three games from this genre that I currently play, it’s the one that I’m currently enjoying the most. It has plenty of content to play through, the virtual world is immersive and the stories, characters and lore are very detailed and satisfying. As a more recent MMO, the game engine is robust and the visuals are far from dated. The game mechanics are multi-layered but combat is straightforward. There is no obvious skills bloat as you choose what you want on your hotbar. I also greatly enjoy the ambient music and recurring themes that play throughout the game. ESO is both solo and group friendly. You can also greatly augment your UI and the way you interact with the various systems, through the use of addons if you like. Alternatively, if you feel bold enough, then you can go with the default layout. From my perspective, ESO offers a great deal and ticks many of the boxes I favour. Yes it can have its foibles but name me an MMO that doesn’t?
I currently have three characters at level cap in ESO. A High Elf Sorcerer (Aldmeri Dominion), an Argonian Necromancer (Ebonheart Pact) and an Imperial Dragonknight (Daggerfall Covenant). Although I’ve done the most content with my Sorcerer (she’s my oldest character), I’m actually enjoying the Dragonkinight the most, so I suspect they’ll end up as my primary alt. There’s something very satisfying about melee combat with a two-handed weapon. Combined with heavy armour and a strong Stamina build, I like the sheer survivability of the class. I use a bow as my secondary means of attack and find that it compliments things immensely. I can pick off one or two mobs before the third reaches me. Then I switch to my greatsword and swing away. I’m also trying to play through the game in some semblance of narrative order on this alt. This greatly enhances my gaming experience as I enjoy the complexity of the lore.
I recently decided to take advantage of becoming a Werewolf in ESO and its associated skills line. Unlike Vampirism that requires far too much maintenance for my liking, Lycanthropy provides not only a new Ultimate skill but an entire set of five skills while transformed. Furthermore, if used in a delve or dungeon, if you continuously “devour” your victims you can remain in Werewolf form for a considerable amount of time. It is also a good way of tackling boss fights in ESO as you become very robust while in this transformed state. Like other skills in the game, all the base Werewolf abilities can be morphed. I chose to augment the standard Werewolf Ultimate into Pack Leader, as it changes your appearance to that of a white Werewolf and also provides you with two Wolf support companions. I do not know if it is the best choice from a technical or statistical perspective but it certainly looks damn cool.
In addition to the pictures in this post, here is a link to a gallery of screenshots from ESO via Google Photos. All are available at the original screen resolution of 1920 x 1200. These include images of my various alts, Dolmen farming in the Alik’r Desert and the Pack Leader Werewolf transformation.
International Picture Posting Month
I like a blogging event. They’re a great form of community interaction. I also like activities with clear parameters that can be undertaken daily. Sometimes trying to come up with new ideas for posts and content is tricky. Events can alleviate this by providing clear structure and a set of preset tasks or prompts. Chestnut over at Gamer Girl Confessions is running International Picture Posting Month throughout November. Broadly speaking it’s the image equivalent of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) where you are encouraged to write 50,000 words. With IntPiPoMo (now there’s an easy to remember acronym) the idea is to post images, be it a screen capture from a game, a photo or some of your own artwork. The target for the month is 50 images. Although the emphasis is on the visual, there is also the option to write about the images you share if you so desire.
I like a blogging event. They’re a great form of community interaction. I also like activities with clear parameters that can be undertaken daily. Sometimes trying to come up with new ideas for posts and content is tricky. Events can alleviate this by providing clear structure and a set of preset tasks or prompts. Chestnut over at Gamer Girl Confessions is running International Picture Posting Month throughout November. Broadly speaking it’s the image equivalent of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) where you are encouraged to write 50,000 words. With IntPiPoMo (now there’s an easy to remember acronym) the idea is to post images, be it a screen capture from a game, a photo or some of your own artwork. The target for the month is 50 images. Although the emphasis is on the visual, there is also the option to write about the images you share if you so desire.
So I’ve signed up and intend to give this a go over the month ahead. Like many other gamers I have numerous folders of game related screenshots on my hard drive. I also have hundreds of images from various movies stored for use in film reviews. Hence, I think I have some suitable material for IntPiPoMo. Now due to the blog template I’m currently using, there is a size limit on any image I embed in a post. Therefore I shall attempt to upload the full-size images on a third-party hosting site and endeavour to integrate a scaled version (with a link back to the original) on Contains Moderate Peril. If this solution cannot be accommodated due to some technical reason, I’ll try and fudge some other workaround. I would like to maintain the original image size, as I think that scaling content sometimes diminishes its impact.
If you want any further details on this event and the prizes available (yes, that’s right there are also prizes involved) then head over to Gamer Girl Confessions using the link above. There’s a sign-up page so that Chestnut can track who’s participating in IntPiPoMo. So far, the following bloggers have “taken the King’s shilling” and are participating in International Picture Posting Month. It will be interesting to see what pictures they share in the weeks to come.
Cal – Galactic Antics
Chestnut – Gamer Girl Confessions
Shintar – Going Commando
Bhagpuss – Inventory Full
Paeroka – Nerdy Bookahs
Stargrace – Nomadic Gamers, eh!
Atheren – The Last Chapter Gaming Blog
Arislyn – The Tanking Mage
Welshtroll – Welshtroll