Checking In - Finally

[EchoVamper]

I guess it is about time to at least tell you all that I haven't disappeared from the face of the earth. The last two months have been so hectic that I truly had to just push gaming to the very back of my priorities...and it all happened very fast. Here's a synopsis of what happened (trying not to dramatize):

My wife began to have dizziness and blacked out a couple of times. She (and I with her of course) had to be air-lifted to the Wichita from western Kansas for severe cardiac irregularities. We had 5 minutes to pack, to arrange for our son to stay with Grandma, and to climb on the plane. She had a rough time for about a month and we were away from home during that time. To make a long story short: a couple months (and thousands of dollars) later I am happy to report that she is now stable on medication and doing much better.

Things are getting back to normal, and here's my situation:

I hadn't touched a video game since her illness until last night.. I have a lifetime subscription to LOTRO, but haven't opened it up yet. I just started messing around last night and opened up WAR and DAoC to take some characters for a spin. It felt good, but I didn't really do much.

I really have treasured the Far Journeys group and I'd love to hang out with the gang a bit. Thanks for keeping me in the Gmail loop.

I probably can't commit 100% to periodic play though. At this point I don't think I'd be dependable enough to play any vital role in a group. I'm still on double duty with our son while my wife recovers. But I do want to try to re-engage a little, just to release a little tension.

Don't be surprised if a strange character appears out of nowhere some night and offers to kill stuff with you, or bothers Sinaedh in Midgard, or just roleplays a bit within earshot, mumbling something about going on a "far journey".

Oh... and Happy Birthday Kul!

[Morreion]

Very glad to hear that your wife is doing better, Echo! It must have been very harrowing and traumatic. Welcome back

The 4-person LOTRO group is level 36-ish now and we are on Book 4.3. When you can play regularly again, let us know and we can get you up to speed!

[sinaedh]

Sorry to hear your wife was not feeling well, but glad to hear she's feeling better! I'm sure you do have many duties, but gaming can be, as you have said, a 'time out' from the battles (so to speak).

I look forward to hearing/seeing another roleplayer if you do visit Midgard now and again. Oh, and Sinaedh the player there is usually Cueaveb the character, of the guild Asatruar.

[ariesel]

ECHOOOOO! I am SO glad to hear from you and thank goodness your wife is on the road to recovery! Tell her we'll send positive vibes to Kansas

Whenever we see you will be wonderful. Hope your wife gets stronger every day and give your son a big hug from Ari!

[elethea]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, it must have been a terrifying time for all of you. I'm so glad to hear that your wife is recovering and things are getting back to normal.

[Regolyth]

It's good to hear you're wife is doing better, and welcome back to the forums. I've been away for a bit myself.

[EchoVamper]

So, my dear Cueaveb, I am just coming of age in Midgard (having traveled the other realms more extensively). What makes the realm tick? What combinations of classes make for strong fighting groups? What classes are likely to be valued in fighting off the other realms? Are any in real demand?

[sinaedh]

What makes the realm tick? Well, unfortunately with clustering, that's hard to define. There are some die-hard Mid-only players (I am in the guild of one of them), but many others who are quite different from the community of DAOC (in any realm, I imagine) in the beginning. That's rather sad, in my opinion. That having been said, it's a rather dark land, but with some excellent stories, and hardy warriors.

Having said that, there are some good leaders (Atrebates who is from the UK and thus plays at a rather non-North American time), and KaptKent (who tries to lead, but whose tactics leave something to be imagined (again in my opinion)), Skeetaro (who I haven't seen around lately, unfortunatly) and Fraggy (another European (German) fellow who is rather specific with his needs and desires). A guild called Concordium of Jackals often runs in the frontiers, and they are good at what they do, tend to accept outsiders, but outsiders can feel a bit... outside... for a time with them, as they know each other well. Asarna's Arme from Percival is on Ywain... I don't know them personally, but one tagged me after recognizing the guild name my character had on. I've heard of others from Percival there, but am not sure at this point who/where. Unfortunately I was rather limited in the Nimue and Guinnevere scenes, so don't know if there are guilds from those servers on Ywain.

As for needs in Midgard, a well-played pac healer is always in demand, as are well-played skalds. Shaman are in demand, but most dislike the fact that they're often "endurance bots" in a group. Berserkers are... well... good damage, but many times the game has seemed to devolve into a casting fest, and zerkers suffer somewhat there. They still scare me though. Warriors have diminished as well, although in siege warfare, warlord warriors are good. Thanes are very fun (I love making big hammers!), but most Midgard players sort of sniff at them. Bonedancers are somewhat overpowered, and as a mending healer I rather dislike them because you can never tell where their pets will be. Warlocks are overpowered... I doubt anyone will disagree with that. They tend to cluster in the Labyrinth. Sneaks are popular and often run in groups. Runemasters blow things up (most go runecarving, though I recently watched a dark runie do amazing damage). Spiritmasters are common in the frontiers. I don't see a lot of maulers or savages... they may be solo type characters.

All in all, with the right group of friends, you can be pretty much any sort of dark Viking type character you wish! If you need/want, feel free to look me up as Cueaveb (or any character in Kampvilja or Ukjent Frykt).