The Problem with Housing in MMORPGs
Housing in the MMORPG genre continuously fails to reach its potential. Despite the scope it offers both in functionality and gameplay, it has seldom progressed beyond offering storage and some arbitrary customisation. Hence this is a perennial subject of debate for many MMO communities. Given the popularity of this subject, it would appear to indicate that there’s a potential market for expanded housing functionality. And yet many MMO developers still display a blindspot for this issue. You’d think that the scope for monetisation would prove a big enough incentive but housing just doesn’t seem to be especially high on their priority list. It is odd considering that the MMORPG genre is a fundamentally social one. Housing in theory offers so much scope to capitalise and explore this aspect of gaming. Yet it remains a cul-de-sac and an afterthought.
Housing in the MMORPG genre continuously fails to reach its potential. Despite the scope it offers both in functionality and gameplay, it has seldom progressed beyond offering storage and some arbitrary customisation. Hence this is a perennial subject of debate for many MMO communities. Given the popularity of this subject, it would appear to indicate that there’s a potential market for expanded housing functionality. And yet many MMO developers still display a blindspot for this issue. You’d think that the scope for monetisation would prove a big enough incentive but housing just doesn’t seem to be especially high on their priority list. It is odd considering that the MMORPG genre is a fundamentally social one. Housing in theory offers so much scope to capitalise and explore this aspect of gaming. Yet it remains a cul-de-sac and an afterthought.
I have a Deluxe Premium House in The Lord of the Rings Online. It has crafting stations, storage, a “visiting banker” and a summoning horn which calls a vendor NPC. I have made an attempt to decorate it stylishly but beyond that I seldom visit it as it doesn’t offer anything else. There are some minor quests in the Cape of Belfalas housing zone but they are not repeatable. This is a real shame as they are quite enjoyable. Especially the one where you take an old and faithful dog out for a walk. The only real advantage my house offers is a fast travel skill that has a 1 minute cool down. I specifically chose a house at Bay Road as it is the nearest to a cluster of NPCs offering Auction House, Provisioner and Stable services. So my house mainly provides a travel hub service and nothing else. It all seems such a waste of resources. I suspect that the new Rohan based housing coming with Update 26 is not going to be anything radically different.
Star Trek Online deals with housing in a somewhat different way but ultimately still faces the same issues. Your ship is your house to all intents and purposes, providing shared storage and in some cases, access to the Exchange (auction house). You can visit Engineering, Sick Bay and your ship’s councillor and the NPCs will provide Duty Officer Missions. But again, there’s not much on offer beyond this. You can place trophies in the Captain’s Quarters and in the communal lounge. And you can also visit the bridge of your ship, although there’s only so many times you can sit in the Captain's chair and hit the “engage” emote before it gets old. Again this feels like a major missed opportunity. Some vessels offer minor variations on these services, such as bespoke Duty Officer Missions but it’s hardly a major selling point. Considering the amount of customisation you can do to your build and gear in STO, it would be nice to see the same ethos extended toward your ship interior.
If you ask a hundred MMO players what they want from housing in their game of choice, you’ll get 100 different answers. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why developers are reticent to tackle anything housing related. Personally, I’d like to see in LOTRO some sort of collective undertaking, similar to the Fleet Projects in STO. A system that allowed those living in a specific housing phase to contribute to group endeavours that would upgrade community resources. I’d like to see quests and tasks in housing areas. Why not give players a reason to visit their house and interact with their neighbours. Offering unique items can certainly be an incentive. In STO I’d like to see some quest content that offered you a chance to customise and augment your ship’s interior. Rather than just duty officer assignments, it would be nice to have some bespoke missions that involved the crew of your vessel. Something that would make your frequenting your ships various departments more than just a cosmetic exercise. It would certainly be useful to have all resources you find on Earth Spacedock available on your ship.
Although I never really warmed to the rebuilding of Hytbold in LOTRO, some of the systems found in that part of the game could be augmented and used in a housing scenario. Any form of interactivity is an improvement over just functionality. Perhaps a housing area could also have some sort of bespoke story quest line. Something that gives some character to an area, so it isn’t just a glorified storage service. What I don’t want to see is just an increase of cosmetic items. Although it is fun to be able to personalise the look of your virtual house, there needs to be more to it than just another collection to grind for. If customising leads to unlocking content then that would certainly add more depth. But I suspect that many developers simply prioritise PVE content development over everything else, for practical reasons. Although you can argue that taking a risk with housing could well pay off. But I suspect that it will remain an untap resource and all we’re likely to see in any new MMOs will be the straightforward “by and collect” approach we see in The Elder Scrolls Online.
Play Your Own Way
This post comes with caveats. In a perfect world, common sense would prevail and I wouldn’t have to list them. But we live in an age where some people take great pleasure in being professional contrarians and deliberately obtuse. So let me state clearly and unequivocally, I am not advocating that your gaming pleasure should come at the expense of someone else's. If you sign up for a 12 man raid and have a specific role to play, then do so to the best of your ability. Fooling around has consequences in such a scenario. However, that is not what is being discussed here. Nope. What I am suggesting is that you should take your pleasures, where you can find them. And if they have no tangible impact upon other players, then you are totally entitled to play your game of choice in a manner that suits you. It’s a simple axiom, yet it still proves to be very difficult for some gamers to comprehend and more importantly accept. Allow me to explain by means of an example.
This post comes with caveats. In a perfect world, common sense would prevail and I wouldn’t have to list them. But we live in an age where some people take great pleasure in being professional contrarians and deliberately obtuse. So let me state clearly and unequivocally, I am not advocating that your gaming pleasure should come at the expense of someone else's. If you sign up for a 12 man raid and have a specific role to play, then do so to the best of your ability. Fooling around has consequences in such a scenario. However, that is not what is being discussed here. Nope. What I am suggesting is that you should take your pleasures, where you can find them. And if they have no tangible impact upon other players, then you are totally entitled to play your game of choice in a manner that suits you. It’s a simple axiom, yet it still proves to be very difficult for some gamers to comprehend and more importantly accept. Allow me to explain by means of an example.
I was playing Call of Duty Warzone a few nights ago. I like to play Solo Battle Royale mode, which consists of 150 players parachuting into the warzone in a free-for-all fight. Now not being the world’s best “runner and gunner”, I try various different tactics to keep me engaged and occupied when playing this game. On the occasion in question, I decided to grab one of the helicopters you find dotted around the map and took to the skies above Verdansk. Now this doesn’t come without risk, as you can take fire from players equipped with LMGs and surface to air missiles. If you alight upon a rooftop, you are at further risk as there’s full access to these areas via stairwells. Players can also call in airstrikes and artillery bombardments. So if you decide to fly a helicopter as a means of avoiding the firefights happening at ground level, you have to keep moving and keep an eye on the contracting “safe zone”. Well to cut a long story short, this is what I did. I managed to stay aloft and get into the last three players, however I eventually succumbed to the gas and crashed.
Now for me, this was just an amusing experiment and diversion. It’s not something I intend to do continuously but I’ll certainly try it again with another type of vehicle. It’s a means for me to keep engaged with the game. However, it has come to my attention that “this sort of behaviour” is an anathema to some CoD WZ players. And you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out who. Every game has their own version of the “Fun Police” but it seems to be especially more endemic to PVP genres. There’s a certain type of player that considers their own approach to the game to be the only relevant position and doesn’t care for any form of dissent on the issue. They’re self appointed arbiters of what is and isn’t (in their opinion) the correct way to play. It’s an utterly intellectually bankrupt position but we sadly live in an age of such dogmatic tribalism. And it was some of this brigade who were most displeased with my shenanigans as they felt it wasn’t in the spirit of the game.
It will come as no surprise to you that these baseless complaints fell on deaf ears. My activities incommoded no one and as there is no universally accepted game code, such complaints are irrelevant. If you want to ensure that everyone you play with cleaves to the same ideology as you, I would advise not joining public groups but instead creating private games. All of which can be done easily in CoD WZ. But such people would much rather have something to complain about and see every minor social interaction in life as some part of a wider ongoing culture war. The best way to counter such entrenched stupidity is to mock it. Therefore, I strongly advocate and extol the mantra of “play your own way”. You are not beholden to slavishly follow someone else’s interpretation of the rules. Do what brings you pleasure and fun. If you want to collect all the shinies, then you do that. Roleplay a Bolivian, amputee, bee keeper if you see fit. Only play a specific zone in an MMO if that’s your jam. Dress up alts, eschew levelling, ignore the prevailing game meta if you like. You are free to do what you want, how you want within the terms of service. Angry arguments to the contrary are just white noise from the socially dysfunctional. Bollocks to them.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare
I originally climbed aboard the Call of Duty bandwagon in 2009 when Modern Warfare 2 came out. I enjoyed the campaign and the multiplayer so much I promptly bought the first instalment. I then stuck with the franchise up until 2013. I didn’t especially like Ghosts, although I enjoyed the option to play as a dog which was different. Overall I was somewhat tired of the FPS genre from then on and so didn’t keep up with any further releases. For me the best iteration of the game was Black Ops in 2010. The campaign had a densely plotted story and the multiplayer was extremely polished. The multiplayer maps were well conceived allowing for fluid and engaging gameplay. Six years on and I recently got an itch to play Call of Duty again. The soft reboot of the franchise with Modern warfare in November 2019 promised a return to basics. The recent inclusion of a battle royale mode with the release of Warzone finally clinched the deal. So I bought a discounted version of the standard game recently and dived back in.
I originally climbed aboard the Call of Duty bandwagon in 2009 when Modern Warfare 2 came out. I enjoyed the campaign and the multiplayer so much I promptly bought the first instalment. I then stuck with the franchise up until 2013. I didn’t especially like Ghosts, although I enjoyed the option to play as a dog which was different. Overall I was somewhat tired of the FPS genre from then on and so didn’t keep up with any further releases. For me the best iteration of the game was Black Ops in 2010. The campaign had a densely plotted story and the multiplayer was extremely polished. The multiplayer maps were well conceived allowing for fluid and engaging gameplay. Six years on and I recently got an itch to play Call of Duty again. The soft reboot of the franchise with Modern warfare in November 2019 promised a return to basics. The recent inclusion of a battle royale mode with the release of Warzone finally clinched the deal. So I bought a discounted version of the standard game recently and dived back in.
This post is not intended as a review. There have been plenty of those already. What I mainly want to do is share a few thoughts on the way Call of Duty Modern Warfare handles the various kinds of multiplayer modes. The campaign is acceptable and does what it’s supposed to do. Does it go out of its way to be controversial? Yes but the franchise has form for this. But let’s face it, these games are bought for their multiplayer component and that is where the franchise strength and innovation has always been. At present (Season 3) there are over forty multiplayer maps available in the game. Some of these are small and deliberately confined, offering rapid gameplay for small teams (2vs2). Then there are medium maps offering a more traditional multiplayer experience. Some of these are remakes of classic maps from CoD4, CoD MW2 and CoD MW3. And then there are the larger ground war maps, designed for 64 players in total. These offer a far more tactical approach to the game, rather than pure run and gun gameplay.
Out of all game modes, I enjoy Team Deathmatch the most. For me this is the most purest multiplayer experience to be found in CoD MW, unburdened with complexity or gimmicks. However in the latest instalment of the game, the degree of my enjoyment is very dependent upon which map is being played. Some such as Azhir Cave or Hackney Yard offer a sufficient variety of environments to afford the player a good choice in loadouts. These maps provide fluid gameplay but the players still have a choice of strategy. This is CoD MW at its best. However, the dial gets turned up to 11 on many of the smaller maps such as Gulag Showers. These are fine if they are played with the correct size team but if utilised with larger populations they become just a frenzied free-for-all. Spawn, spray gun fire, die, rinse and repeat. It’s manic gameplay that means that everyone will get a number of kills simply by random chance. And then there’s the Ground War maps which work best if each team plays in a collaborative and coordinated manner. Or else you spend half your time just trying to find where everyone else is at. Alternatively you can dig in and camp.
Then there’s the Plunder Mode, where the objective is to collect cash hidden around the map and then arrange for its collection. The principle is sound but the reality of the situation is not the same as the concept that is sold during the tutorial. The matches often take far too long. They’re limited to either 30 minutes maximum (which is forever in this fast paced genre) or until either squad has collectively banked $1 million. All too often the majority of players are concentrated in one area of the map, focusing on the same stash of money. These fights again just become a free for all, which makes them initially amusing but such an approach gets old quickly. Unlike the Warzone multiplayer experience there is no mechanic that forces the gameplay along or advances the situation. As a result Plunder Mode often descends into a “wee stooshie”, robbing players who crave a more measured approach of any measured fun.
Finally, Warzone is a surprisingly good attempt at the Battle Royale genre from the Call of Duty developers. It manages to add just enough innovation to the formula to make it sufficiently different from other games. The standout mechanic is the chance to re-enter the game, if you die early on. You respawn in the Gulag Showers map armed with just a sidearm and go one on one with another player. The victor is redeployed in the Warzone. Then there’s the looting in the actual combat zone itself, which is streamlined and equitable in the initial stages of the game. However, there is the ability to have prebuilt loadouts air dropped into the game and this can make a sizable difference to proceedings. Experienced players therefore tend to end the latter stages of the game better geared and with useful killstreaks and buffs. Warzone also works better with team based gameplay as this encourages a more proactive approach to exploring the map and seeking out the enemy.
As ever with multiplayer games, the wild card in the proceedings is the human element. If you play with a group of friends then you’ll more than likely find the engaging gameplay you seek. Play with strangers and it becomes far more of a lottery. Players will abandon pick up groups if they underachieve or differ in skill. Playing Warzone with 150 solo players is also a challenge. The sensible thing to do is the aim for where you think the centre of the ever decreasing circle will be, grab a weapon and find somewhere to dig in. You can frequently find yourself in the last remaining 20 players this way but it doesn’t make for the most compelling gameplay. Also joining a game populated by experienced players who know the maps well and have unlocked optimal loadouts can also make Team Deathmatch an uphill struggle. The flaw in most of the multiplayer permutations in CoD MW is that you have to play a lot to unlock resources and learn your way around before you get the most out of the game. Hence newer players may well become despondent at being cannon fodder and thus leave the game.
However, CoD MW has a saving grace that can throw a lifeline to new players who find themselves battling the learning curve. There is a multiplayer practise mode which allows you to play against bots of varying difficulty. It allows you to customise your loadout (and there is an insane amount of scope to customize your weaponry), pick a specific map and experiment with the various game modes. Furthermore, the AI of the bots is quite challenging. There is also a tutorial for Warzone, although it is confined to a specific part of the map (The Quarry) and doesn’t offer the scope of the other multiplayer practise modes. I would certainly recommend practise mode, especially for those players who dislike live PVP and its associated “culture”. Overall, Call of Duty Modern Warfare offers exactly what it claims to and if approached with the right mindset, will provide varying degrees of entertainment. If you have friends you can play with, then you’ll experience the best that the franchise can offer. As ever dedicated servers are sorely missed and every now and then you’ll have a poor game due to the players or the host quitting. The developers also need to come up with an incentive for players to stick around until the end of the match. However such issues have always been inherent with any sort of PvP. If you bear all of this in mind then the latest instalment of CoD can offer you hours of entertainment.
Sabotage (2014)
Arnold Schwarzenegger's return to the big screen after his political career has been uneven to say the least. His cameos in The Expendables and The Expendables 2 were well received, with their self referential charm and age related irony. Yet his first major movie The Last Stand, although competent, failed to find an audience. Escape Plan fared better at the box office but did not put Arnie back on the A list. Effectively there's a large percentage of the contemporary cinematic audience who were born after his heyday and are simply not overt fans of his work. His core audience is more than likely of the age group that consume most of their film entertainment at home. Which may explain why Sabotage tanked in the US upon release on March 28th 2014. It was the worst opening box office of Arnie's career. He used to break first day opening records.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's return to the big screen after his political career has been uneven to say the least. His cameos in The Expendables and The Expendables 2 were well received, with their self referential charm and age related irony. Yet his first major movie The Last Stand, although competent, failed to find an audience. Escape Plan fared better at the box office but did not put Arnie back on the A list. Effectively there's a large percentage of the contemporary cinematic audience who were born after his heyday and are simply not overt fans of his work. His core audience is more than likely of the age group that consume most of their film entertainment at home. Which may explain why Sabotage tanked in the US upon release on March 28th 2014. It was the worst opening box office of Arnie's career. He used to break first day opening records.
On paper Sabotage should work. Director David Ayer (Training Day) is capable of making a movie that are more than the sum of its parts and presenting us with a tale of loyalty among elite squads. Sadly he fails. Schwarzenegger strives to give a more in-depth performance as John “Breacher” Wharton, leader of a crack squad of DEA agents. Yet his endeavours are lost within the movie's numerous shortcomings. The cast are mainly wasted, being saddled with an immensely stupid, contradictory and mean spirited screenplay. Sporting such two dimensional names as “Neck,” “Monster” and “Tripod” there is precious little to like about the main characters. There's a lot of on screen violence but it is not in the usual idiom you'd expect from such a movie. It's just there because some producer thought that it was required. The dialogue is poor and littered with profanity that seems to be present to simply bolster the screenplay.
If you are looking for any kind of redeeming quality in Sabotage, then there is the spark of a decent subplot involving Olivia Williams and Harold Perrineau, playing the two officers investigating the alleged theft of ten million dollars by Wharton's team. There is a tangible sense of chemistry between them and they have some amusing banter. Sadly it does not have sufficient impact upon the rest of the movie with it's casual brutality, crass sexism and misogyny. If the film had been written from their point of view then it may well have been a superior product. As it stands Sabotage is perfunctory. I have no problem with a movie being earnestly dumb. It's when it's cynically dumb I feel that all involved should pause and take stock.
I am very curious as to what Schwarzenegger will do next because I think his immediate film has ground to a halt. It's curious that some box office stars and larger than life Hollywood legends have managed to maintain a successful career well into their autumn years. John Wayne and Clint Eastwood both maintained box office and critical acclaim well beyond their sixties. Sadly the contrived shenanigans of Sabotage are a far cry from True Grit and Gran Torino. Perhaps a change in direction away from action movies would be beneficial. Maybe a move to a major TV show would offer a chance for Arnold to find an appropriate audience.
COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 Part 4
I started displaying symptoms of COVID-19 on Sunday 5th April. I developed a headache, a raised temperature and muscle pains. And then the coughing started along with a sense of tightness in my chest. It was initially just uncomfortable and inconvenient. By Wednesday all symptoms had become much worse and I felt like I was in a constant bear hug. I was continuously trying to find a position where breathing wasn’t so painful and awkward. Due to the toll that fighting the virus was taking on my body, I was feeling very lethargic, despite sleeping at night for over 10 hours and napping during the day. I also noticed that I was continuously thirsty and was eating a great deal, to fuel my body’s immune system. Then on the evening of Friday 10th April I started to feel extremely cold. That evening was the worst I felt throughout the entire experience. Despite wrapping myself in a duvet and multiple blankets, I could not get warm. And then over the course of the weekend all symptoms started to decline. By Monday 13th April all that was left of COVID-19 was a sense of extreme fatigue. Something that will last for another week according to medical sources.
I started displaying symptoms of COVID-19 on Sunday 5th April. I developed a headache, a raised temperature and muscle pains. And then the coughing started along with a sense of tightness in my chest. It was initially just uncomfortable and inconvenient. By Wednesday all symptoms had become much worse and I felt like I was in a constant bear hug. I was continuously trying to find a position where breathing wasn’t so painful and awkward. Due to the toll that fighting the virus was taking on my body, I was feeling very lethargic, despite sleeping at night for over 10 hours and napping during the day. I also noticed that I was continuously thirsty and was eating a great deal, to fuel my body’s immune system. Then on the evening of Friday 10th April I started to feel extremely cold. That evening was the worst I felt throughout the entire experience. Despite wrapping myself in a duvet and multiple blankets, I could not get warm. And then over the course of the weekend all symptoms started to decline. By Monday 13th April all that was left of COVID-19 was a sense of extreme fatigue. Something that will last for another week according to medical sources.
Looking back at these events with a fresh sense of perspective, I was too preoccupied with dealing with my symptoms to be overly scared about my medical condition at the time. However, if my breathing had deteriorated any further I would have had to have sought medical attention. With hindsight I appreciate that this was a nerve racking experience for Mrs P who had to attend to me, while maintaining a safe distance. However, I managed to keep myself occupied during this nine day experience and felt this was a major contribution to maintaining a positive mental outlook and not giving into fear. Media coverage of COVID-19 tends to fall on the extreme end of the spectrum, which doesn’t entirely reflect reality of the disease. 80% of those that contract the virus develop mild symptoms, like those I had and are able to make a full recovery within 7 to 14 days. However, that being said, it was still far from a pleasant experience. The breathing related issues were my biggest concern and it must be terrifying for those who require hospitalisation and assistance with respiration.
Although there is not yet a comprehensive picture of all the effects of COVID-19, there is no overwhelming data to show that you can re-contract the virus. Hence, having survived my bout of illness, I feel a lot more comfortable when out and about. I had to visit the Pharmacist today and was not so concerned when other people broke the social distancing protocols. If you think about the lockdown policy logically, all it is designed to do is to slow the infection rate among the population, so as to not overwhelm the healthcare system. The lockdown does not guarantee that you will not contract COVID-19. You’d have to live in a clean room for that to be a reality. However, although I am relieved that I have come through this experience relatively unscathed, I am still observing social distancing rules at home to ensure that my family’s wider health is not put in jeopardy. The nightly new broadcasts are a sober reminder that although only a small percentage develop serious symptoms, it is a truly horrific experience for those who do.
Cutting Your Own Hair Part 2
Today my Panasonic ER-GB37 Wet & Dry Hair Trimmer arrived. As I suspected, once unpacked there was nothing excessively complex about this device or its operation. So I duly charged it for a couple of hours and then decided it was time to attempt to cut my own hair, as I haven’t had a haircut in over five weeks. The trimmer can cut to twenty different lengths between 10mm to 0.5mm. I opted for 6mm which equates to one quarter of an inch or Number #2 as some Barbers refer to it. I washed my hair and then went and sat outside at the garden table to make use of the natural sunlight. Rather than removing one of the various large wall mirrors that adorn our house, I opted to use a simple shaving mirror. This proved a sound choice as it comes with a stand. After a few deep breaths I began the process.
Today my Panasonic ER-GB37 Wet & Dry Hair Trimmer arrived. As I suspected, once unpacked there was nothing excessively complex about this device or its operation. So I duly charged it for a couple of hours and then decided it was time to attempt to cut my own hair, as I haven’t had a haircut in over five weeks. The trimmer can cut to twenty different lengths between 10mm to 0.5mm. I opted for 6mm which equates to one quarter of an inch or Number #2 as some Barbers refer to it. I washed my hair and then went and sat outside at the garden table to make use of the natural sunlight. Rather than removing one of the various large wall mirrors that adorn our house, I opted to use a simple shaving mirror. This proved a sound choice as it comes with a stand. After a few deep breaths I began the process.
I am happy to report that this wasn’t as difficult a chore as I suspected. I am right handed and could reach most of my head quite easily. Naturally the back and the nape of the neck proved tricky and I had to request Mrs P’s assistance for these areas. There were a few moments where it felt a little awkward and trimming around my ears took the most attention. Overall it went well and I am pleased with the results. I took off the plastic guard from the trimmer blades to fine tune my sideburns and Mrs P then used a safety razor to tidy up my lower neck. I was glad that the good weather allowed me to do this outside as I wouldn’t have wanted the mess that was made to have occurred indoors. It looked like someone had set about a Badger with a strimmer. This entire process was observed by both my neighbours who seemed sceptical of its success initially.
Under the current “lockdown” conditions, I am glad that this enterprise went well. My hair may not be especially stylish at present but it is short and evenly cut and shouldn’t need another cut for three to four weeks. I will visit my 90 year old Father tomorrow and offer to cut his hair as he is currently sporting a what can only be described as a Worzel Gummidge look. A friend jokingly said that now that I’ve successfully cut my own hair is there any need for me to pay for a haircut ever again? Well as far as I’m concerned the answer is yes. Cutting my own hair is a convenient compromise but I much prefer my monthly visits to my local Barbershop. Getting your haircut is only half the pleasure of going. I enjoy the social interaction with the staff and find the entire process extremely relaxing. That’s not an experience I can duplicate at home.
Bullroarer Update 26 Preview #1
Standing Stone Games are currently previewing Update 26 for The Lord of the Rings Online on the Bullroarer Test Server. The new zone, the Wells of Langflood, follows in the idiom of Vale of Anduin with a comparable aesthetic. However, as this region is further north and at a higher altitude, there is a prevailing mist in most areas. The landscape also slowly climbs North as you approach where the arms of the Misty Mountains and Ered Mithrin meet. Overall it is a bright and colourful zone filled with wildlife. However, there are also various mobs from Mount Gundabad and several advance camps of Trolls and Orcs. There are also numerous Dwarven ruins indicating their historical presence in the region. The Eagles also feature in the area and obviously appear in several of the zones quest storylines.
Standing Stone Games are currently previewing Update 26 for The Lord of the Rings Online on the Bullroarer Test Server. The new zone, the Wells of Langflood, follows in the idiom of Vale of Anduin with a comparable aesthetic. However, as this region is further north and at a higher altitude, there is a prevailing mist in most areas. The landscape also slowly climbs North as you approach where the arms of the Misty Mountains and Ered Mithrin meet. Overall it is a bright and colourful zone filled with wildlife. However, there are also various mobs from Mount Gundabad and several advance camps of Trolls and Orcs. There are also numerous Dwarven ruins indicating their historical presence in the region. The Eagles also feature in the area and obviously appear in several of the zones quest storylines.
There are four stables in Wells of Langflood. Limlók is the main Beorning settlement in an area called Floodfells. Further North there’s a second smaller settlement, Thokvist, just off the central road that traverses the zone from North to South. This area called Misthallow is quite small and penned in by mountains to the East and the river Anduin to the West. Further North there is the area known as Framsburg, which was the ancient home of the Éothéod, the ancestors of the Rohirrim. Many of the ruins are now home to Trolls and Orcs. And at the very Northern Apex of the map there is a third stable of Hlithseld. This area is more mountainous with narrow, twisting paths, overlooking ancient Dwarven remains. The new zone ends here at Elderslade and obviously will lead at a future date into Gundalok. There is a road that leads to the North East to the West of Rushgate.
The fourth stable is by far the most intriguing. It is located in the hidden village of Lyndelby which lies to the West of Framsburg on the opposite side of the river. It is accessed via a narrow winding path through a mountainous ravine and lies nestled in the arms of the Misty Mountains and North of the river Langwell. This secret valley is lush and fertile and home to Holbytlan, possibly the River Hobbits that SSG alluded to recently. It makes sense canonically that such a settlement could exist and their proximity to the Éothéod explains why Holbytlan appear in the legends of the Rohirrim. The mountain also shields this Hobbit community from an enemy enclave at Sundergrót. Among the Dwarven ruins, the enemy has siege engines and other weapons of war. Access to this area is via a makeshift bridge that traverses the Anduin and along a path West.
The Wells of Langflood is an agreeable new zone. If you enjoyed the ambience of the Vale of Anduin, then this is more of the same. There are numerous mountainous vistas with impressive views and the ambient music is once again integral to the atmosphere of the zone. As ever, about a third of the area shown on the map is inaccessible and SSG have done their usual trick of using the environment to funnel the player from quest hub to quest hub. I am definitely looking forward to returning to such a bright and verdant zone region having spent several months in Imlad Morgul, which I found to be a depressing and gloomy environment . As ever please note that Bullroarer is a test server and there is always scope for content to change prior to its release to the live game.
In addition to the pictures in this post, here is a link to a gallery of screenshots via Google Photos. All are available at the original screen resolution of 1920 x 1200.
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
You could quite easily lose thirty minutes from A Million Ways to Die in the West. Tighter pacing would certainly shorten the gaps between the genuinely funny material. As it is, the movie is somewhat baggy and surprisingly middle of the road. Yes it has all of Seth McFarlane's usual hallmarks as far as extreme humour but it lacks the occasional moments of satire and social commentary that you see in Family Guy and in Ted (his best movie to date). The movie is very much aware of what it is and focuses a little excessively on observational humour based on traditional tropes and memes of the Western genre. You frequently get the feeling at times that it’s trying very hard to be “funny” in a “Seth McFarlane” idiom but it smacks a little of “art imitating art”.
You could quite easily lose thirty minutes from A Million Ways to Die in the West. Tighter pacing would certainly shorten the gaps between the genuinely funny material. As it is, the movie is somewhat baggy and surprisingly middle of the road. Yes it has all of Seth McFarlane's usual hallmarks as far as extreme humour but it lacks the occasional moments of satire and social commentary that you see in Family Guy and in Ted (his best movie to date). The movie is very much aware of what it is and focuses a little excessively on observational humour based on traditional tropes and memes of the Western genre. You frequently get the feeling at times that it’s trying very hard to be “funny” in a “Seth McFarlane” idiom but it smacks a little of “art imitating art”.
Perhaps it was a mistake for McFarlane to cast himself in the lead as the Sheep Farmer hero who's been recently dumped by his girlfriend (Amanda Seyfried). Charlize Theron carries a lot of the movie as the sharp-shooting wife of an infamous outlaw played by Liam Neeson. Quite why she takes a liking to McFarlane is mystery. It is fun to see Mr. Neeson send himself up, yet I was left with the feeling that there could have been much more done with his role. Neil Patrick Harris camps it up nicely as Seyfried’s new lover and the ongoing relationship between town prostitute (Sarah Silverman) and smitten virgin (Giovanni Ribisi) is a great idea but sadly loses momentum. Family Guy often wrestles with multiple story lines and random asides but still manages to carry them off well. It is exactly this ability which is missing from A Million Ways to Die in the West.
As ever with McFarlane's work, it is the incidental jokes and tangential humour that works the best. There's a droll cameo by Gilbert Gottfried as Abraham Lincoln and Christopher Lloyd makes an appearance as Doc Brown from Back to the Future. Keep an eye out for lots of other uncredited cameos. Another one of the directors strength's is with his musical acumen. The soundtrack by Joel McNeely is eminently suitable and compliments the movie nicely. The cinematography by Michael Barrett effectively captures the harsh environment of a frontier town. He also shows a keen awareness of how classic Westerns were shot.
Perhaps one of the reasons A Million Ways to Die in the West fails to live up to expectations is because it tries too hard to not be Blazing Saddles. However, if it had focused more on the way that seminal movies are constructed it may well have benefited. As it is A Million Ways to Die in the West is a mixed bag. It fared adequately at the box office but failed to find any popular consensus with both critics and fans alike. It may come as no surprise that Ted 2 was expedited to try and re-establish the commercial viability of the Seth McFarlane brand. Finally, I stumbled upon a curious piece of trivia connected to this film. There is an audio book of A Million Ways to Die in the West available, based on the movie's screenplay, read by Jonathan Frakes. WTF?
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.
Classic Game Themes: More of my Personal Favourites
Back in August 2018, I posted seven of my favourite tracks from various video games that I’ve played over the years. I thought recently that it was high time that I did the same again. So here are a further five musical cues that I especially enjoy. All of which contribute greatly to the respective games that they feature in. Unlike film composers, musicians that write for video games do not always enjoy comparable exposure or attention. Yet often they have a more complex remit, having to write material for dozens of hours of content, rather than just two or three. Furthermore, the complete soundtrack to many video games often remain conspicuously absent, with fans having to data mine the game client to find the tracks that they love. Which is why it is important for those that enjoy video game music to show their support. Perhaps then more publishers will release full and comprehensive game soundtracks for digital download.
Back in August 2018, I posted seven of my favourite tracks from various video games that I’ve played over the years. I thought recently that it was high time that I did the same again. So here are a further five musical cues that I especially enjoy. All of which contribute greatly to the respective games that they feature in. Unlike film composers, musicians that write for video games do not always enjoy comparable exposure or attention. Yet often they have a more complex remit, having to write material for dozens of hours of content, rather than just two or three. Furthermore, the complete soundtrack to many video games often remain conspicuously absent, with fans having to data mine the game client to find the tracks that they love. Which is why it is important for those that enjoy video game music to show their support. Perhaps then more publishers will release full and comprehensive game soundtracks for digital download.
The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Blood & Wine: The Slopes Of The Blessure. By Piotr Musial
I enjoyed the Blood & Wine expansion the most out of all the content for The Witcher 3. The region of Toussaint is beautifully realised and oozes charm and sophistication. Based heavily upon the South of France, Piotr Musial’s ambient music reflects this and features a superbly non-ironic use of an accordian.
Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns Theme. By Maclaine Diemer
It didn’t take me long to fall out of love with Guild Wars 2 after the arrival of its first expansion. Yet despite the flaws inherent in the new zone, the main theme was not one of them. This pounding motif is both portentous and grandiose. Just listening to it makes me want to return to this MMORPG.
Two Worlds II: The Road is Still Long. By Borislav Slavov
The quality of the soundtrack for Two Worlds II is quite surprising. This is not an RPG produced by a Triple A developer. Yet despite the budget, there is a great deal of depth and musical sophistication to the game’s score. This track which features at the end of the game really nails it with it’s triumphal tone.
Star Trek Online: Age of Discovery Theme. By Kevin Manthei
Kevin Manthei has been the driving force behind the music of Star Trek Online for over a decade. He is dependable, adaptable and totally gets what “Trek” is about. I actually prefer his title music for Age of Discovery more than the official theme for the show itself.
Guild Wars 2: Sanctum Sprint. By Leif Chappelle
The Sanctum Sprint is a high speed race, complete with twitch gaming tactics. It’s frenetic and entertaining (or at least it was when I last played it in late 2015). I’m not quite sure how composer Leif Chapelle concluded that a Mariachi style motif was relevant but it works well and oozes character.
Cutting Your Own Hair Part 1
I usually go to my local Barber’s every four weeks or so. It’s about fifteen minutes walk from my home and I’ve been going there since 1970. I like to keep my hair short and I enjoy the therapeutic benefits of relaxing and have someone cut my hair. The staff are great and there is a curious sense of continuity that comes from going to the same establishment for 50 years. The original Barber has retired and his son now runs the premises. In my youth I used to favour certain styles and was especially fond of a well cut flattop (Kurt Russel sported an absolute beauty in the 1994 movie Stargate). Sadly such a style is very labour intensive and time consuming. Hence many stylists don’t care to undertake such a cut and it’s a bitch to manitain. Hence in more recent years, I’ve favoured a straightforward clipper cut. This consists of Number 1 (one-eighth of an inch/3mm) around the back and side and Number 2 (one-quarter of an inch/6mm) on top. However, the Barber shop is currently closed and I’ve not had a hair cut for nearly 5 weeks.
Fuck this guy with his good looks and his “this is a piece of piss” attitude
I usually go to my local Barber’s every four weeks or so. It’s about fifteen minutes walk from my home and I’ve been going there since 1970. I like to keep my hair short and I enjoy the therapeutic benefits of relaxing and have someone cut my hair. The staff are great and there is a curious sense of continuity that comes from going to the same establishment for 50 years. The original Barber has retired and his son now runs the premises. In my youth I used to favour certain styles and was especially fond of a well cut flattop (Kurt Russel sported an absolute beauty in the 1994 movie Stargate). Sadly such a style is very labour intensive and time consuming. Hence many stylists don’t care to undertake such a cut and it’s a bitch to manitain. Hence in more recent years, I’ve favoured a straightforward clipper cut. This consists of Number 1 (one-eighth of an inch/3mm) around the back and side and Number 2 (one-quarter of an inch/6mm) on top. However, the Barber shop is currently closed and I’ve not had a hair cut for nearly 5 weeks.
Now although by other people’s standards my hair is still relatively short, it currently looks a mess (well I think so anyway). If I gel it up, it has reached the point of looking like a dilapidated paintbrush. And if I leave it naturally after washing, all the white shows at the sides (it seems to grow at a different pace to other hair) and I end up looking like a Badger. Neither of these are good looks. Hence I have concluded that it is time to grasp the nettle and attempt to cut my own hair. Oh what times we live in. Will I be removing my own appendix next? Now in theory, this shouldn’t be too difficult. Firstly, all I need to undertake this task is a decent cordless hair/beard trimmer. There are plenty to choose from on Amazon. Secondly, rather than try and cut my hair to two separate lengths and “fade” them in, it would be far more practical to cut my hair to one overall length. However, reality often proves to be a radically different experience. I suspect that lighting, space and copious use of mirrors are going to play a major part in this “project”.
So I’ve spent some time researching what make and model of clippers would be appropriate for the task in hand, along with watching copious amounts of YouTube videos as to how to cut your own hair. Some of the advice available is practical, whereas other videos seem to vastly oversimplify the practicalities of contemporary hair styling. I’ve managed to get a good deal on a Panasonic wet and dry hair and beard trimmer which can cut to 20 different lengths (allegedly). This model usually retails at £65 but I’ve bought it for £32. I already have a small beard trimmer but I don’t think it’s up to the job of cutting my entire head of hair, so I thought it best to buy the right tool for the job. If I fully recover from my current bout of COVID-19, I am hoping to attempt to cut my hair next Thursday or Friday. I have a suspicion that I may have to involve Mrs P, although she is far from enamoured by the prospect. Look out for a follow up post next week, where I discuss the results, be they good or bad.
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
I was 12 years old when I first saw Battle Beyond the Stars during its UK theatrical release. I remember that I enjoyed it and thought it was an action packed movie. Being young, lacking the critical faculties that come with age and exposure to a wider variety of cinematic material, a lot of the films plus points were lost on me. I recollect that I did pick up on the fact that this film was more ghoulish than the other “Space Operas” that flooded theatres at the time. But beyond that, all I saw was a fun and enjoyable science fiction movie. I cheered when the Malmori were defeated and was saddened when Space Cowboy died. It is only after subsequent viewing over the years, that I’ve realised that this film is a microcosm of all the things that made Roger Corman productions so successful and unique. Despite its low budget, the visual effects were good and innovative for the times. There was more sex and violence present, than in comparable productions. And the crew is a veritable who’s who of talent that went on to wider success.
I was 12 years old when I first saw Battle Beyond the Stars during its UK theatrical release. I remember that I enjoyed it and thought it was an action packed movie. Being young, lacking the critical faculties that come with age and exposure to a wider variety of cinematic material, a lot of the films plus points were lost on me. I recollect that I did pick up on the fact that this film was more ghoulish than the other “Space Operas” that flooded theatres at the time. But beyond that, all I saw was a fun and enjoyable science fiction movie. I cheered when the Malmori were defeated and was saddened when Space Cowboy died. It is only after subsequent viewing over the years, that I’ve realised that this film is a microcosm of all the things that made Roger Corman productions so successful and unique. Despite its low budget, the visual effects were good and innovative for the times. There was more sex and violence present, than in comparable productions. And the crew is a veritable who’s who of talent that went on to wider success.
For those who may have missed this movie, it’s premise is straightforward. Battle Beyond the Stars is The Magnificent Seven (and thus Seven Samurai) in space. Sador of the Malmori (John Saxon) and his army of mutants deliver an ultimatum to the peaceful planet of Akir. Surrender and become a vassal state, or he will use his Stellar Converter and destroy all life. He gives the planet seven days to prepare. Young farmer Shad (Richard Thomas) takes the last remaining Corsair Class ship and sets about trying to hire mercenaries to defend his home. He manages to find Space Cowboy (George Peppard), a space trader from Earth. Gelt (Robert Vaughn), a veteran assassin looking for a place to hide. Saint-Exmin (Cybil Danning), a Valkyrie warrior looking to prove herself in battle and Nanelia (Darlanne Fluegal), a young scientist. Shad is also joined by Nestor, five telepathic clones and Cayman (Morgan Woodward), the last surviving member of the Lazuli who has a score to settle with Sador. The seven ships return to Akir and prepare for a ground assault.
There are a combination of factors that make Battle Beyond the Stars superior to many of the low budget Star Wars knock offs that flooded the market in the late seventies and early eighties. First off, the screenplay by John Sayles is noticeably above average and it is clear that he has a solid grasp of such material. Sayles has a great deal of experience writing genre scripts for such movies as Piranha, Alligator, The Howling, and The Challenge. There is action, the right kind of humour and a sense of the theatrical and flamboyant. However, all these elements are tempered and do not undermine the audience’s investment in the central characters. And then there’s the casting, which apparently took the lion share of the budget. Robert Vaughn essentially reprises the same role he had in the original Magnificent Seven back in 1960. George Peppard effortlessly fills the shoes of Space Cowboy, exuding the cocky charm while smoking cigars and drinking Scotch.
Battle Beyond the Stars also boasts a surprisingly good production design and visual effects. Corman initially hired James Cameron as a model maker after being impressed with his short film Xenogenesis. When the original art director for the film was fired, Cameron became responsible for the majority of the film's special effects. There is also a great score by James Horner (which has subsequently been reused in numerous other Corman productions). It made an impression with the executives at Paramount Studios who hired him to write the score for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. But ultimately all these unique and positive aspects coalesce because of the guiding hands of Roger Corman, who knows exactly how to sell this sort of material. Battle Beyond the Stars is the epitome of low budget, exploitation fodder, done right. There’s action, romance, heaving cleavage, violence, explosions, pathos filled death scenes and a surprising amount of philosophy. What’s not to like?
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.
LOTRO: Producer’s Letter 2020
After several month’s delay and various rumours about internal corporate dissent, Standing Stone Games have finally released this year’s Producer’s Letter. Its arrival has produced a collective sigh of relief from the playerbase, as neither Executive Producer Severlin (Rob Ciccolini) or Community Manager Cordovan (Jerry Snook) seem to shine at corporate communications. In fact there has been an information vacuum for over six months. As for the letter, it certainly promises a lot of new content for The Lord of the Rings Online coming over the next year to eighteen months. And at first glance it sounds as if there’s something for everyone. A catalogue of PVE content, adjustments to the Legendary Items systems, a designated PVP server, more Premium Housing (this time in Rohan) and a further Legendary Server offering greater content difficulty. However, as ever the devil is in the detail and until we know more the vagaries are somewhat frustrating.
After several month’s delay and various rumours about internal corporate dissent, Standing Stone Games have finally released this year’s Producer’s Letter. Its arrival has produced a collective sigh of relief from the playerbase, as neither Executive Producer Severlin (Rob Ciccolini) or Community Manager Cordovan (Jerry Snook) seem to shine at corporate communications. In fact there has been an information vacuum for over six months. As for the letter, it certainly promises a lot of new content for The Lord of the Rings Online coming over the next year to eighteen months. And at first glance it sounds as if there’s something for everyone. A catalogue of PVE content, adjustments to the Legendary Items systems, a designated PVP server, more Premium Housing (this time in Rohan) and a further Legendary Server offering greater content difficulty. However, as ever the devil is in the detail and until we know more the vagaries are somewhat frustrating.
A new PVE Epic Storyline “The Legacy of Durin and the Trials of the Dwarves” is scheduled to run over 2020-21. The first instalment called Mists of Wilderland, that will take players to the Wells of Langflood, is to be released in late spring. Later in the year after the release of Aragorn and Arwen’s wedding, SSG are adding the War of the Three Peaks. This is scaling content open to all players allowing them to come to Durin's aid, as the Dwarves advance to Mount Gundabad to deal with the Orc threat. All of this content is the “meat and potatoes” of LOTRO. Raids, instances and PVE quests are the things that keep players engaged and playing. If the overhaul to the LI system is fair, sensible and not yet another grindfest, then I shall be pleased. Legendary Weapons are a great concept that have never met their full potential since their introduction in 2008.
I am however, somewhat reticent about some of the other ideas mooted in the Producer’s Letter. I’m not sure what the population is of the two current Legendary Servers but is there any real value in offering a third? Offering more difficult combat in the manner described by SSG, with the Eye of Sauron boosting mob performance sounds intriguing but if this is then met with a reciprocal boost in player performance, exactly what has been gained? It sounds somewhat similar to the existing “Inspired Greatness” mechanic that allows single players to solo content that was originally intended for groups. And where I welcome a new PVP combat server for fans of such content, for any competitive and ranked gameplay to have any longevity, it will require regular updates. Other competitive games have seasons, themed material and a great deal of developer/community interaction. If the LOTRO PVP players are simply encouraged to relocate to an environment that is static as the Ettenmoors in the existing game, then it’s not much of an improvement.
Spreading the LOTRO playerbase across multiple servers is both a risk to business and community cohesion. If players old and new, commit to one of the new servers and it doesn’t work out the way they hoped, will they return to their old servers? Certainly for new players it means starting afresh. And for established players returning to alts that have fallen below level cap, catching up can be an uphill struggle at times. It’s a shame that SSG cannot offer a variety of play styles and activities on the current live servers thus ensuring that LOTRO players although pursuing different goals are at least in the same virtual Middle-earth. I also don’t like to see such words as “temporary” in any road map style communication. These are after all public business plans. Short term objectives don’t always inspire confidence. However, once again I will reiterate that LOTRO is a 13 year old MMO and frankly having any timetable for new content is a good thing compared to the alternatives. Let us see what comes of it all.
COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 Part 3
I wasn’t expecting to write the next instalment of this “pandemic diary” so soon. However, yesterday morning (Sunday 5th April) I developed a headache and shortly afterwards a temperature and muscle pains. By midday I started coughing persistently and noticed what I will describe as a sense of tightness in my chest (it feels like I’m wearing a shirt that is too small for me). These symptoms persisted and I went to bed at an uncustomary early hour. I slept in the spare bedroom, which is also my office and have isolated myself as well as I can (we live in a bungalow) from Mrs P. As of this morning the symptoms have persisted and it now feels very similar to a bout of flu. I am sluggish and groggy but certainly not at the point where I need medical treatment. Napping is proving useful and I’m hoping I can mainly sleep through this, as I am now stuck in the office for the next 7 days. I am allowed access to the bathroom, although separate towels and rigorous cleaning of all handles and surfaces is now the rule of thumb.
May be he was right
I wasn’t expecting to write the next instalment of this “pandemic diary” so soon. However, yesterday morning (Sunday 5th April) I developed a headache and shortly afterwards a temperature and muscle pains. By midday I started coughing persistently and noticed what I will describe as a sense of tightness in my chest (it feels like I’m wearing a shirt that is too small for me). These symptoms persisted and I went to bed at an uncustomary early hour. I slept in the spare bedroom, which is also my office and have isolated myself as well as I can (we live in a bungalow) from Mrs P. As of this morning the symptoms have persisted and it now feels very similar to a bout of flu. I am sluggish and groggy but certainly not at the point where I need medical treatment. Napping is proving useful and I’m hoping I can mainly sleep through this, as I am now stuck in the office for the next 7 days. I am allowed access to the bathroom, although separate towels and rigorous cleaning of all handles and surfaces is now the rule of thumb.
This situation was inevitable. Staying indoors only reduces the risk of infection. But unless we all make like Howard Hughes, then sooner or later someone you know or yourself will catch COVID-19. Because I think it is important for the NHS and the various scientific institutions to have as much data as possible about infection rates, I completed the survey on the NHS website. There was also information for those who may need additional help with self isolation. Because not only am I now forced to stay indoors so is Mrs P. So neither of us can go to the shops for the next week and I can no longer go round to care for my parents. Luckily my sister is working from home but the situation now increases her work load. I also spoke to a local carers charity who have offered to assist with the collection of medication from the pharmacist and the provision of essential supplies such as bread and milk. We are fortunate enough at present to have a well stocked larder.
A sound message that bears repeating
Although I am not exactly happy about getting ill, at least myself and Mrs P are in a very fortunate position with regard to where we live and our personal situation. Neither of us work in the traditional sense (Mrs P has retired and I am a carer), so our finances are not in jeopardy. We have a garden so we don’t feel that we’re in a prison cell. Our neighbours are kind, decent people and everyone in the street is being more communicative than usual. Plus being quarantined in my office has its advantages. I have access to my PC so I can still write, speak to friends online, play games and watch Netflix and Amazon Prime. At least while I’m well enough to. If I feel too ill to do these things I can draw the curtains and sleep. Beyond this it is now just a waiting game. Hopefully my symptoms will remain mild and pass within a week or so. My main concerns lie with Mrs P as she has health issues. But there’s no point in panicking. This is a time for cool heads and patience.
Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen
The gaming community (as well as many others) can be somewhat myopic at times. I'm sure many people are aware of Father Roderick and his prolific body of work. Is there a game, genre movie, TV show or some form of technology that he doesn't cover on his various podcasts and YouTube videos? Yet outside of this environment, his championing of all things "geek" still comes as a culture shock to the wider world with their somewhat entrenched attitudes towards both the “nerdy” and the religious. His 2013 book Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer, endeavours to address this issue. Furthermore it clearly advocates that the church should embrace all forms of new media and engage with all communities. Fandom, shared interests and hobbies are a great starting point for this.
The gaming community (as well as many others) can be somewhat myopic at times. I'm sure many people are aware of Father Roderick and his prolific body of work. Is there a game, genre movie, TV show or some form of technology that he doesn't cover on his various podcasts and YouTube videos? Yet outside of this environment, his championing of all things "geek" still comes as a culture shock to the wider world with their somewhat entrenched attitudes towards both the “nerdy” and the religious. His 2013 book Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer, endeavours to address this issue. Furthermore it clearly advocates that the church should embrace all forms of new media and engage with all communities. Fandom, shared interests and hobbies are a great starting point for this.
One of the reasons I enjoyed Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer so much is because I am of a similar age group to Father Roderick and have shared many of the same aspects of pop culture while growing up. The impact that Star Wars had upon most children of the seventies is succinctly explored within the book. The love of specific TV shows and the importance of certain science fiction and fantasy authors will chime with many readers. The passion these things instilled in so many of us is clearly present in the text. It is through the love of these common interests that Father Roderick manages to dispel so many misconceptions about the clergy. It makes him very accessible and relatable, which is a major theme of the book.
What becomes apparent very quickly is Father Roderick’s practical and sincere approach to evangelism. Evangelism is something that many people of faith feel compelled to undertake but often mishandle. Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer shows a means of engaging with others through shared interest, winning trust and respect and then being in a better position to explore religious belief. The common sense of such an approach is irrefutable. Too often faith is separated from real life and placed in a remote ivory tower or framed in terms of academia. It's perceived formality can be intimidating. Yet here we have a priest who can happily talk to you about playing MMOs and wiping in a raid, or how the latest entry in the MCU is either perfunctory or awesome.
Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer is a very accessible book, written in an informal and engaging way. It gives a great insight into Father Roderick's life and clearly shows the importance of new media, not only to the church but in all walks of life. We learn of his love of all things geeky and how his passion for the works of Tolkien and J.K. Rowling among so many other things, made him an internet hit. Cookery and personal health are other excellent examples of how he engages with people. Overall, Geekpriest: Confessions of a New Media Pioneer is an accessible read irrespective of your stance on faith. At the very least its fundamental message of getting to know people through shared interests is one that bears repeating. We are all so quick to pigeon hole each other and segregate ourselves these days, that we often forget about the things that unite us.
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.
MMO Etiquette
A lot of MMORPGs are experiencing high levels of new or returning players at present (for some particular reason). Despite this particular genre of games having radically evolved over the last two decades, there is still one fundamental component that has remained a constant. Namely the human factor. Hence there is plenty of scope for both old and new players to clash, disagree and fall out. Why, you may ask. Well mainly because behavioural and social norms that prevail in the real world, do not necessarily translate so well to a virtual environment. Visual cues such as body language are not available and it’s harder to pick up on tone and nuance from plain text, typed in global chat. However, we can all take steps to prevent any misunderstanding that can lead to a “wee stoushie”, by refreshing our respective memories about some basic MMO etiquette.
Whose round is it?
A lot of MMORPGs are experiencing high levels of new or returning players at present (for some particular reason). Despite this particular genre of games having radically evolved over the last two decades, there is still one fundamental component that has remained a constant. Namely the human factor. Hence there is plenty of scope for both old and new players to clash, disagree and fall out. Why, you may ask. Well mainly because behavioural and social norms that prevail in the real world, do not necessarily translate so well to a virtual environment. Visual cues such as body language are not available and it’s harder to pick up on tone and nuance from plain text, typed in global chat. However, we can all take steps to prevent any misunderstanding that can lead to a “wee stoushie”, by refreshing our respective memories about some basic MMO etiquette.
So here are some simple tips in no specific order. Some are more important than others but all can contribute to a better player experience and a less fractious atmosphere.
No Ninja invites to groups or guilds. Do not random spam complete strangers with unsolicited invitations to groups or guilds. Always ask first. Failure will just get you instantly placed on an ignore list.
When in a PUG (Pick Up Group), always address the various members by their screen names and not by class. Courtesy is king in a social game.
Do not aggro dump. IE if you’re being chased by every mob in Christendom, don’t run through groups of other players in an attempt to lose the mess of trouble that’s following you.
Call people out on racism, sexism and homophobia. Don’t let it slide. Alternatively, take a screen capture of any text based abuse or bigotry and report the offender to the GMs. MMO players get the community they deserve. If you facilitate assholes by giving them a free pass, then you’re shitting in your own virtual watering hole.
Do not tolerate ill manners or bullying in raids and other group activities. Give offenders one warning to cool their heels and if they continue, then kick them from the group. If you don’t have control of the group, then leave, citing the offender as the reason for your withdrawal.
A pre-agreed time for a raid is not optional or flexible. It is absolute. Be punctual. Kick or exclude those who are late, so that they learn to tell the time. Most children can master this.
Only roll on loot that is relevant to your class. Always agree upon rules regarding the division of loot prior to starting and group content.
Never beg for gold in chat in any zone. Just don’t. It’s just unseemly. We all earned our gold. Why the fuck can’t you?
Don’t crowd the mailbox or any other public interactive resource. Get the fuck off your mount and stow your pet. Be as cognitive about virtual personal space, as you would real life personal space.
Don't just walk out on your group without saying a word. If something comes up and you have to leave your PC, then let all others concerned parties know. If a raid is not going well or you’re running out of time, then politely point out that you’d like to leave at the first convenient juncture.
If you’re in a specific zone farming resources or pursuing a slayer deed and you encounter another play, consider playing collaboratively, rather than playing against each other. A simple exchange of “tells” can remedy this matter. Sometimes people prefer to play alone. If that’s the case maybe start your activities as far away from the other player as possible.
You may not know the intricacies of a specific raid, especially if it is new content. Sometimes all involved are learning on the fly. However, if you have been asked along specifically because of your character’s class, then make sure you’re up to speed with the basics.
If a group activities requires consumable, then bring consumables. Not a bunch of damn fool excuses for forgetting them.
Keep text based chat clear and concise. Do not lapse into slang and esoteric terminology unless all our au fait with such things.
Use public chat channels for the purposes they were created for. IE restrict trade enquiries to trade channels, for example. And remember players have usually logged into an MMO to play the game and not listen to your “armchair views” of identity politics, the Eucharist and its theological implications and Etruscan pottery. Confine your bloviations on the contentious to private channels.
Some games have recurring events that happen at regular intervals. Sometimes there may be an in-game timer that can inform you when they’re next available. Alternatively, there may be third party websites with scheduling information. Use these facilities. Do not just ask the obvious, like that guy you had in your class when you were 12, who was a total twat and had no sense of the dynamics of human interaction.
Do not steal other player’s kills. Do not interfere with other players' activities without their consent. They may be setting themselves a personal challenge and may not actually want your help.
Not everyone likes, or feels comfortable using voice chat. When grouping, always have options when it comes to communicating. If someone doesn’t want to use chat, respect their stance and leave it at that. Don’t cross examine them.
Don’t assume the gender of a player is the same as their avatar. Don’t assume all players are the same age as you. Don’t assume that your primary language is the same for everyone.
Remember that you can charge whatever you want for an item on Auction House. If anyone complains about undercutting prices, ignore them. They can always purchase your items and take them off the market. Unless the developers have set specific rules regarding pricing, do what you want. Funny how people only like capitalism while it serves their purpose.
If group content goes badly, be very careful with regard to assigning blame because the player whose competence you’re questioning, may well think the same about you. If in doubt, bid everyone goodnight and leave without comment.
You’re not totally anonymous, despite your fancy onscreen name. Players can gain a reputation within a gaming community. It’s up to you whether that’s good or bad.
People play MMOs for all sorts of reasons. You are not the arbiter of fun, nor deputised to enforce your own interpretation of how the game “should be played”.
Finally, never let anyone called Colin join your guild. Just don’t. You’ll regret it.
I’m sure I’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to MMO etiquette. Please feel free to leave further helpful tips in the comments below.
COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 Part 2
It’s been one and a half weeks since my last entry regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020. As I’m sure you’re all aware, a lot has happened globally in that time and many nations are currently coming to terms with the ramifications of dealing with this virus in their own “bespoke” way. Personally I think a global approach to the problem would be beneficial but the rise of nationalism and a diminishing of worldwide institutions such as the United Nations has made such a strategy very difficult. I was going to summarise my thoughts on the UK’s response to this crisis but I have decided instead to defer such a post for another week and instead focus upon a more positive theme. Because something has happened recently in the UK. Something I was doubtful about because I’ve been so jaded by contemporary politics. And yet despite my cynicism, I have seen a demonstrable increase in community spirit, solidarity and compassion in the last few days. And it has been a thing of beauty to behold.
It’s been one and a half weeks since my last entry regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020. As I’m sure you’re all aware, a lot has happened globally in that time and many nations are currently coming to terms with the ramifications of dealing with this virus in their own “bespoke” way. Personally I think a global approach to the problem would be beneficial but the rise of nationalism and a diminishing of worldwide institutions such as the United Nations has made such a strategy very difficult. I was going to summarise my thoughts on the UK’s response to this crisis but I have decided instead to defer such a post for another week and instead focus upon a more positive theme. Because something has happened recently in the UK. Something I was doubtful about because I’ve been so jaded by contemporary politics. And yet despite my cynicism, I have seen a demonstrable increase in community spirit, solidarity and compassion in the last few days. And it has been a thing of beauty to behold.
Since 2016, the UK has been beset by a malaise of partisan politics and cultural tribalism. We’ve seen an increase in hate crimes, the Brexit debate has caused families to fall out and not talk to each other and the UK has teetered on the brink of an irreversible culture war, just like the one that besets the US. Or to put it another way “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!” to quote Peter Venkman. But the current situation has suddenly pushed all of that to one side and suddenly we find ourselves confronted with a mass display of decency, civic mindedness and dare I say it, a sense of society. Something a infamous deceased Prime Minister claimed didn’t exist. Furthermore, the ongoing display of both common sense and public spiritedness raises questions as to whether there may even be a fundamental shift of perspective in the UK. Will certain jobs that have been branded low skilled and low paid and therefore bereft of any virtue (from certain quarters), suddenly be reappraised by a public who suddenly realise their inherent virtue?
The prophetic words of Peter Venkman
We live in a world that is incredibly interconnected and based upon just in time supply chains and numerous complex dependencies. Yet modern life often focuses on the superficial and we are enamored by wealth, tabloids perception of success and by nonsensical political dogma. And then along comes a problem of a global nature and gives everyone a very swift reality check. Suddenly the denizens of the gossip columns aren’t so important. Reality show celebrities, sportsmen and women, as well as popular musicians suddenly don’t seem so relevant. And as for Hollywood actors singing an ill conceived cover version of John Lennon’s attack upon consumerism, well it’s all been shown in stark relief. Because suddenly we’ve focused upon those we depend upon. With regard to some professions, some of us have only just learned how necessary they are to the functioning of a well ordered society.
At present, an estimated 22% of all working-age individuals are in key worker occupations according to the IFS (Institute of Fiscal Studies). That is approximately 7.1 million working age adults across the UK, out of a total workforce of 32.90 million people, aged 16 years and over in current employment. So while over three quarters of the nation’s workers remain at home, just under a quarter continue to go to work, keeping vital services running. These range from the immediately obvious such as the healthcare workers, the police and other emergency services, to retail workers, the post office and local government. But when you think about it, the list continues to grow. Transport, freight and farming need to keep ticking over. And where there are people working, you need cleaners, caterers and security. The UK has an ageing population so this means a lot of vulnerable people need help at home. So the list then grows to include carers, charitable institutions and support groups. The bottom line is that without this very broad and diverse percentage of society, we’d all be up shit creek without a paddle, crying for our respective Mothers.
On average, a newly qualified nurse can expect to earn around £23,000 a year
What makes this reversal in opinion or epiphany if you’re feeling more charitable, so surprising is that it comes hard on the heels of a decade of tabloid hyperbole and negative briefing against many of these people and professions. The government recently released new immigration guidelines in which they set a financial value on peoples respective worth. Apparently earning under £25,000 was crassly designated “low skilled”, despite the fact that the UK average salary is only £36,000 which implies that a substantial amount of folk in this country are therefore “low skilled”, despite this including many people working in professions I’ve already mentioned. Too long we have extolled the virtues of industries that already have pots of cash and then make more pots of cash, as somehow being the summit of human achievement. I don’t believe that these folk will be able to offer any practical help when you need a respirator.
Tonight, I rather sheepishly went outside of my home, stood on the drive and clapped at 20:00 PM to show my support to all those currently working in healthcare. Us Brits don’t go in for making a fuss and I’m sure many people, like myself, would much prefer to write an upbeat letter to The Times. However, as more people emerged from their houses, waved, chatted and exuded sincerity, I suddenly felt quite emotional and part of something inherently good. Finally, there is something honest and dare I say righteous to get behind. Throughout the UK, young and old are putting themselves in harms way by going to work and just keeping the nation’s collective shit together. From what I’ve seen, many are doing this with a sense of pride and a smile on their face. Which is why we must continue to foster this positive civic minded feeling and ensure that those taking a calculated risk (because that is definitely what it is) feel respected and appreciated.
“No Roger you can’t have any Tramadol”
I went to the Pharmacist today to collect some outstanding medicine for my parents. I was greeted with a smile, and my enquiry speedily dealt with. I was also told that a controlled item would be dropped off later to my folk’s home address. Two hours later it was. I waved like a child greeting a train as the Pharmacist drove away. I can regale you with similar stories about the good natured staff who served me at my local supermarket. Many are in their teens and early twenties but they take all of what’s going on in their stride. And why not? Remember, young people have built nations if you know your history and Will Sampson quotes. So I ensured that I say thank you and offer genuinely supportive remarks to all I encounter. I was profoundly grateful to the hospital transport crew who brought my Mother home today after several weeks in respite care. I bellowed “cheers mate” to the courier who delivers vital supplies from Amazon. This list is ever growing and I urge everyone to be excellent to each other and spread this honest sentiment around.
The current state of affairs is unprecedented and many nations are having a crash course on what is important and what is not. The UK is certainly re-calibrating its opinions and preconceptions and I am delighted after years of scepticism to discover that we still seem to be a fundamentally decent nation. Not everyone is a card carrying member of the National Union of Assholes. People still volunteer, help others and care. Although this is a national crisis there is a great deal of scope to come together and become that tolerant and kindly country that we used to be. I hope we continue to do the right thing and maintain this positive mindset long after the problem that besets us goes away. We have collectively solved as a nation, more problems in the last month than we have in the last five years. The homeless have been found accommodation, the needy are being cared for and people are genuinely concerned for each other’s welfare, instead of bickering, and squabbling. Is it perfect? No. Is it a good start. Most definitely. Finally we’ve reminded ourselves that we can be a force for good and can live up to the values that all our dead heroes have extolled. Let’s not squander this moment.
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