01.15.01
Day 2 of Obsidian Plains Monotony
Yep, still on the Obsidian plains...still killing Tuskers. I think this Tusker scent is starting to rub off on me. I hope I don't attract an amorous Tusker Gaurd today, it might be...unpleasant. I've established a reliable and static route though the spawns, a path that starts from BH then goes all the way to BSD and back. Tonight was a pretty good night actually, only 2 or 3 people encountered during that time, with the exception of the crowds around the BH area and BSD. Tanking was easy, I think I've finally gotten used to the level of damage being dished out by these things with only level 5 buffs(2-26). Also saw a family of Altered Druges get wiped out by a pod of Virindi, and a Diamond Golem mow though 2 spawns of Shadows, hehe. Killed lots of Tuskers leveled twice, then sat down for the rest of the time and chatted with friends.
Observations on people hunting in the plains:
People are the only random variable on the plains. I've separated them into 4 categories:
Veteran Hunters
These are usually the old school guys/girls that have played AC for half a year or more. They're experts at hunting in this area and are respectable players. They notice everyone in the area, know if they're buffing, afk, need help or already have a swarm picked out for yourself. They respect your territory, and won't get you killed. You'll see one or two a day if you hunt here, they're generally found loafing around and chatting with friends somewhere safe.
Hax0r 133t
High level players who have had only a short experience in AC, less than 6 months to be sure. You can tell them apart from Veteran players just by their hunting style. Depending on the personality, they may be well on their way to becoming a respectable member of the Veterans, or they may be far from it. I've seen a few tonight...first one I encountered attacked some tuskers to close to me while I was buffing, so I ended up running from the 3 Tuskers that turned around and came after me. Another one attacked some Shadows, then ran from the Destroyer Grievvers that came after him...dragging them into me while I was killing some Tuskers, and yet another decided to attack the same group of Tuskers I was attacking. I could rattle off more examples, but you get the drift. Say something, and you might get anything from a cold shoulder to an immature flame.
BSD Scrubs
They're usually restricted to the area immediately surrounding BSD. These mages/archers/melees usually arrive at the BSD via a portal, and are poking their heads out to see what's outside, or running from certain death inside. They think they know what they're doing, but generally don't--as you can see by the multitude of corpses strewn about in the general vicinity of the BSD area. Og mages with little outdoors experience are notorious for this, though it is not limited to them...they'll see something, say an Altered Druge, recall something about it having good loot, and decide they want it. I've seen several cases of this behavior, usually ending in him/her/it getting schooled.
Case 1 - Mage n00b
I can tank Tuskers, and I heard some high level say that they're like the hardest hitters in the game...so I should be ok out here. Plus I have an awesome template, therefore I should own everything.
Mage n00b says, "Equin Opaj"
Mage n00b says, "Equin Opaj"
Mage n00b says, "Equin Opaj"
Mage n00b says, "(Insert debuff here) eh, oh well" -- At this point the mage should just give up
Mage n00b says, "Equin Opaj"
Mage n00b says, "Cruath Quaguz"
*you hear screaming*
Altered Druge's lightning coruscates over Mage n00b's mortal remains!
If you're lucky, he would have been standing on top of you while you were lying down so the monster can conveniently have another person to chew on. This happened to me once today, didn't die but i got shut down by an ineptitude for the next 15 minutes.
Case 2 - Archer n00b
I can hit it no problem, I can probably kill it before it kills me.
*plink*
*plink*
*plink*
*plink*
*plink*
Archer n00b says, "Sweet!"
Archer n00b says, "ne1 got lfie pros?"
...
..
.
*Archer n00b makes the intelligent choice and dashes into the swarm to retrieve his loot*
Archer n00b is Obliterated by Altered Druge!
Archer n00b says, "Shurov Thiloi"
Archer n00b says, "dam, taht sux"
Archer n00b says, "ne1 help me get my body plz!!!!!11"
Archer n00b says, "ne1 help me get my body plz!!!!!11"
Archer n00b says, "ne1 help me get my body plz!!!!!11"
Archer n00b says, "ne1 help me get my body plz!!!!!11"
Archer n00b says, "ne1 help me get my body plz!!!!!11"
Archer n00b says, "ne1 help me get my body plz!!!!!11"
Archer n00b says, "ne1 help me get my body plz!!!!!11"
Pretty funny to watch, until the spam starts. Unfortunatley, usually someone is kind enough to help him get his body back, so he will come to the conclusion that "If I die getting my ph4t 13wt, someone will help me get my body, so I'll still get to keep my equpment, as along with getting ph4t 13wt!" And repeat the episode over and over again. They DO learn, or get skilled enough/equipped enough not to die, but not soon enough for my tastes.
Case 3 - Melee n00b
The logic of the Melee n00b is usually based on three conclusions:
1. I can hit Tuskers, and they're the hardest things to kill in the game...right?
2. I can kill/come close to killing a Tusker in one attack, so it should be easy out here...right?
3. If I stay away from casters, I should be OK.
These conclusions, however, is only partially true and has huge gaping holes, such as.
1. You can hit it, and you'll probably hit it for 20 instead of 269, like youre used to.
2. You're probably not properly equipped to handle the stuff out here.
3. Everything on the plains, with the exception of Tuskers and Hollow Minions, is a caster.
When the Melee n00b learns this, though, he/she continues undaunted, picking away at an Obsidian Golem with their Bandit Fire Yaoji. This is actually quite effective when there are 4 or 5 other Melee n00bs around, they'll usually take down their quarry quickly and at minimal losses...say 2 or 3. Quite effective, though unspeakably stupid.
I'm pretty sure at least 75% of the people who post one or two *UBER* items, ie. "Phat al 135 Gold Platemail Greaves, Impen V Str III Acid Bane VI Missile 197 Aluv 35 Arcane what is this worth in Shards plz - IGN" are BSD Scrubs. Oh and don't bother trying to teach or scold them, they'll usually give you a randomly generated flame/comment, such as: "Its not my problem," "F U n00b," or "STFU U DON'T KNOW SH*T!1" Actually I find these funny, because its usually the only time proper grammar is actually demonstrated.
Ok on to the next category...
Outdoor n00bs
These guys aren't too bad...they're just unschooled in plains hunting. They're usually people who have hunted in the Dires and Southern/Northern Osteth, and have decided they want to give this vast area of high-xp yield creatures a shot. They're usually curteous and concious of your postition on the field, though they'll still probably get you killed, especially when running from something...towards you. Its mostly archers that do this, they'll start to shoot at an Obsidian Golem, then run because they got too close to that Tusker...and the only lane of escape is though you. They usually learn quickly, though there are some exceptions.
Looks like I'm probably going to be in the plains leveling for another week or so before I hit 50...*sigh* ah well, I'll find more stuff to talk about tomorrow, I guess.
Zarya bint Tala'an
Who needs a shower...are there showers on Dereth?
