On reaching the finish line

Okay, so I've finally hit the 50,000 word quota...all in 5 days before the deadline. I'm still half-satisfied though. The scene is right smack in the middle of the naval battle in Baleares, and I'm not really feeling what I'm writing. Nonetheless, I will have to get this scene over and done with in order to get to the part that I'd want to write most---and that is shipping my 3 MCs to the New World.

Funny how I've slowed down to a pathetic crawl after 50k. I don't feel like a winner, not when I'm not entirely satisfied with the current state of the scenes unfolding in the story.

I just want to get this over and done with! D:

The long overdue update

I am procrastinating yet again to update this blog about this crazy project that I signed up for. And judging by the date today, man, I've been so lazy in updating this blog. I've been caught up with work and with the everyday task of coughing up 2,000 words for this novel. Let me just tell you about my roller coaster journey so far.

ONE. I will have to revise the novel title & synopsis because frankly speaking, the 13 chapters I've written so far doesn't even come close to the synopsis I came up with. Heck, the 3 main characters (MCs) haven't even immigrated to GE just yet! *headdesk*

TWO. Despite the above-mentioned reason to run around like a headless chicken, I am quite actually pleased on how the background story's turning out. Most of the scenes I've imagined and committed to each chapter were actually included in the game's backstory. YAY! My weird imagination is actually being useful for a change.

THREE. There might be a possibility that this 50k word fanfic novel will just tackle the story of the Old World, meaning just Orpesia (Vespanola, Oporuto, Brestia, Targa and Illier). Oh, and there's also smatterings on the beginnings of Granado Espada thrown in for good measure. The origins of my 3 MCs are also included here, but since I am not Jesus and I can't work miracles, I don't think I have enough firepower to flesh out the GE story we all know in-game.

FOUR. Concurrent to that thought, God willing if I still have that burning passion to write about the game, then probably NaNoWriMo 2010 will be the sequel to this year's novel. By that time, hopefully, I'd have done proper research on the quests, starting from the Pioneering storyline down to the Masquerade arc. This one takes major research, and I will have the time to do so if I shelve this part of the story for next year.

FIVE. I am at woe. It's the 2nd to the last week of November and my scenes are crawling like shat. However, I am planning an exciting scene which will hopefully end the novel at more than 50k words---and that's the time the 3 MCs will be shipped to the New World. Hopefully I have enough scenes to get to that part.

Just for the record, here's my word count breakdown for the past few weeks:

Day 1: 5016
Day 2: 7449
Day 3: 9812
Day 4: 11980
Day 5: 14109
Day 6: 16252
Day 7: 18438
Day 8: 20561
Day 9: 22264
Day 10: 23329
Day 11: 25016
Day 12: 27154
Day 13: 28824
Day 14: 30929
Day 15: 33098
Day 16: 35144
Day 17: 37186
Day 18: 39281
Day 19: 41471
Day 20: 43652

I did mention that I am running into a bit of scene stump, right? Well, I got past that when I introduced the cameo appearance of the Falkenhausen Family in the story. I am LOLing the whole time these guys talk...have you ever heard people speak of themselves like there's nothing between their ears but thin air? That's the stuff I'm talking about. LOL mode!

“Oh, do you really think so, Lehre? I had to memorize the spell you taught me for an entire week and it was very difficult at first, but then I said to myself that if ever I am going to be a good enough Elementalist, I have to be like my brother Lehre, and Lehre is really great and all, but I have to be great as well. But then, I lost the piece of parchment you gave me where you wrote the spell, and I did not want to ask you for another copy because I know you can be quite grouchy when I ask you to repeat what you have taught me, so I tried my very best to recall the chant you told me to memorize, and I did! I did remember! It was very nice, kind of like this furry Shapka hat that is so fluffy that I love hugging it when I am not wearing it over my head.” --- Alia Falkenhausen, Chapter 13

See what I mean? LOOOOOOL! I love these guys for rescuing me from a perpetual state of boredom!

[Preview] The diary of Ferrucio Espada

Ferrucio Espada and his Dear Diary

Day 5 of NaNoWriMo. I am at 14,109 words with 6 chapters and still building the background story around Orpesia in general.

I've finally set the pace to talk about the voyage of Ferrucio Espada which will inadvertently lead him to discover the New World. To help me paint a better picture of it all, I've been researching about Christopher Columbus.

I just realized that there are a lot of similarities drafted with the fictional character of Mr. Espada with that of 'ol Chris, although the circumstances or the story behind their similar discovers were somewhat different.

And yes, Pioneers, the Pinta did exist. It was one of the fleets that sailed with Columbus in the 15th century.

Since good 'ol Chris kept a seafarer's diary to chronicle his perilous adventure out in the ocean, I thought maybe I should give Mr. Espada similar treatment as well. And without further ado, here's a short preview of Mr. Espada's Dear Diary moments. XD

Today, we ran at about 7 ½ knots, sometimes at 9 knots. Approximately, we made 177 miles, but I told the crew 132 miles; it seems they cannot stand it any longer. They mutter incoherent things under their breaths, yet I know that they mock and slander me for dragging them to this long voyage. I accuse them for their lack of spirit and their deliberate disobedience to me, their captain. I had to tell them repeatedly of the oaths they swore before the king to see to the end of this mission. I tried to lift their spirits as best as I could, telling them all about the rewards we will all reap once we accomplish our task, but to no avail.

They said it was insanity on their part to risk their lives, regretting the very pledge about swearing allegiance to me in this journey. Some feel that they have already reached the point in the voyage where no man has gone before and are thus not required to go to the end of the world with such dwindling provisions and lack of resources for the trip back home.

Some of my trusted men (who continue to dwindle in number as we go about this perilous quest) told me that if I continue to persist, the men will throw me into the sea when I am asleep. They will then craft this tale that I fell overboard while taking the position of the North Star with my maps.

There are times when I had to bite back my tongue in agreement to their complaints; I too feel that this journey has been an act of lunacy on my desire to embark on a new adventure. As much as I love a good exploration as any sailor, I do not want it to be at the expense of these men whose families are still awaiting their return back home. Yet, I am confident that if I lose command of this expedition, the flotilla will never reach Katai, and will most probably never make it back to Oporuto.

I still pray to God that He will give me the strength and the perseverance to see through all this and show us the way.

I haz a synopsis!

Finally, some progress!

And yes, NaNoWriMo is but three days away! Oh gahd...I am shaking in my skivvies. XD

My chapter scenes are a mess. I hope I make a semblance of order out of all these when November 1 hits. There's just so much to do, and what am I doing? Procrastinating, that's what! Somebody shoot me.

I'll be posting sporadically until I'm satisfied with the lackluster progress I'm making.

So help me God.

The 3 heroines: Familia del Castillo

She may be the youngest of the three sisters, but no one can mistake the sense of honor and duty in her words and actions. Decisive yet prudent, sharp but witty, guarded yet vulnerable, she wields guns and rifles with sheer accuracy and resolution. A true daughter of a Margrave and a Vespanolan Princess, she vows to protect her sisters and to unmask her parents' murderers as they unravel the secrets and mysteries in the New World.

Mute since the day of her birth, she has the uncanny ability to communicate with her sisters and kinsmen with the power of her mind. Her sweet and innocent facade hides the steely, resolute conviction of a woman determined to unlock the secret of the greatest treasure in the New World---the Legacy of Ferruccio Espada.

Dazzled and enamored by the pomp and frivolity of court, her concerns revolve around snagging the best catch in the kingdom. Despite her vanity, she carries her mother's skill in the magical arts, an ability that only she has mastered. Hoping to end the strife between the countries of Orpesia, she learns that there's more to the people of Granado Espada that she and her sisters could ever fathom.

-----

Yeah, I know it's been forever, but I have to lay out my plans this November for NaNoWriMo as I'll be pretty much busy at work next week. So far, I'm hoping to finish a more detailed character profile for each of my MCs (main characters). I can already visualize the first few scenes...I just hope I don't run out of ideas.

Just don't let November come just yet. :p

The GE fanfic novel project

I'm back! Well, back to blogging, that is. I've missed this place after months of hiatus! It's great to be back!

I've joined yet again this year's National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which means it's going to be another busy November for me. But what's got me so excited about this project is the fact that I'll be writing a 50k word fanfic on...what else? Granado Espada!

I have to admit that this is going to be one hell of a busy month. Although I'm really psyched to write this fanfic, the very same fears plague me every time I join this thingamajig, i.e., beating the 50k word cut, writing something that doesn't look like a pathetic attempt at novel writing, and making the story believable.

Right now I'm doing a bit of research on feudal/medieval Europe just to give me an understanding on the historical basis of GE. I admit it's already late to be researching a broad topic, but I wasn't sure if I can pull it off, that was, until this month. I figured that I basically know the ins and outs of the game and writing a fanfic novel of GE is something that I should really get started on. I've been wanting to write the back stories of the various NPCs as well as my own speculations of the game's end story, and joining NaNoWriMo will hopefully get those creative juices flowing.

I shall try to blog about the novel's progress here, as I think it's but fitting to talk about my novel writing woes about GE in this blog. Hopefully when the story's fleshed out, I might post a few snippets. :)

This is something that I'd like to do not just for myself, but for the game that I grew to love for the past 2 years.

Let the agony begin! XD

Grind till you drop: The race to Master level

IAH announces the arrival of the Master Promotion Scroll to the Cash Shop, as well as the in-game event for the race to Master level.

This is good news to those who've practically known no other place in GE but those paid dungeons. LOL. I know a few people who have already reached Expert Lvl. 10 (100%), so it's just a matter of buying those scrolls and promoting their characters.

As for me...well...I'm going to be realistic in saying that I can't possibly boost my mains in just a month to Master. But this doesn't mean that it will totally be a far-fetched idea. I remember saying before that I may not probably reach Expert level, but look where I am now. My main team's Expert, plus I have 2 additional characters waiting to be promoted. I'm thinking that I may probably reach Master level, but not within the month. I have priorities too, and that includes beefing up my team and equipping them with the right armors and weapons.

Although I couldn't help but wish that IAH can help the players power level by giving us a 2x EXP event, or perhaps opening another dungeon similar to the Ancient Shelter now that more players have access to the Premium Buff.

I'm guessing that sGE won't be able to access future game content if a considerable number in the player population have reached the level requirements. This happened previously as one patch got delayed a couple of times because only a small percentage of the players have reached Expert level. If IAH manages to get IMC's approval for a 2x EXP and a new dungeon, it's going to be a win-win situation in terms of item sales & player numbers. But of course I'm not an expert on this, nor do I know the set-up between IAH and IMC. Nevertheless, I hope they can do something about the EXP rate for those leveling to Master.

7-day solo flight

Yesterday I bid my friends in Sanggre Faction a temporary, but sad farewell. After finally figuring out how to transfer the FL rings, my small, cozy faction had a new leader in the person of Trianna.

It kinda felt weird not to have those shiny rings, but I guess it's all for the best. Trianna will be a good leader to the group, and perhaps the next time I encounter the faction, I'll be seeing new faces within the ranks.

Anyway, it's going to be a long week ahead of me as I go solo. It's a good thing I was able to redeem the Noble Court ranks now that my family level shaved off 3 points when I left the faction. I'll be regaining those hopefully in the coming week as I join the ranks of the ¤ ALL ¤ STAR ¤.

A new adventure awaits me very soon!

On the wings of lurve~

Pardon me for the rather corny pun to the title of this post. I'm just ecstatic that I've received the Rojo Puesta del Sol wings from the Hellena's Tarot Cards web event!

The wings have an inherent glow when worn. I'm really glad I bought 3 pairs that I can use on whichever MCC teams I choose to use. They look absolutely splendid on the girls. :)

On a personal note, I'm on my way to having a 5th Expert character! Unbelievable! I thought I'd only have my mains as Experts, but I've been hanging around a lot in AT AFKing most of the time, that in all those daily leveling activities, I managed to get my Bernelli promoted! Well, she's not yet promoted technically because I have yet to buy an Expert scroll for her. Not only that, my very own Selva is well on her way to the next level promotion as well. Things are looking good, if I do say so myself.

I've also made a decision to move to a raid-active faction after thorough contemplation. Although it really saddens me to leave my small faction, I think it's about time for me to start enjoying the game more by experiencing more activities like high level raids and everything. Truth be told, I haven't experienced any major raids, except when I tagged along LC for GOF and Garim. I'd like to know what it's like to participate in Uraeus, Griffon, GOL and all other raids with a big group that's reputed to be doing these raids on a daily basis.

I originally wanted to join LC for that purpose, since I've been with these people and have interacted with them on several occasions. But I feel that I'd be of more use in another faction, since LC does have 2 CCs in their ranks to date. And so, the automatic decision was to go to the ¤ All ¤ Star ¤ Faction.

It's actually my first time to try my luck in getting into a renowned faction. I remember back in Carracci and during the earlier days in Rembrandt, ¤ All ¤ Star ¤ was reputed to have top tier players as members, thus commanding a formidable army every Colony War.

Even though AS has had a change of FLs over the past 2 years of GE, I still have that same impression of power, skill and cunningness when it comes to these guys being active in the game. It's the perfect scenario for me to stop slacking off and really get serious in getting ahead.

Applying in itself was already nerve-wracking. I've been invited previously to join in LC, but I felt that at that time, and with my current team, I wouldn't be of much help to the faction. Now I think I have more or less the capability to go alongside most players in terms of getting ahead with power-leveled characters.

The AS peepz were quite thorough in putting me under a microscope. It's quite understandable that they set certain standards, although at one point I've questioned myself if I even fit the bill to join these guys. At that time I thought I must've been on crack to have ever ambitioned a spot in that really prestigious guild.

But looks like things are swimming well. I may have to leave my current faction sometime soon, but I can't seem to pass the FL rubber duckies to Trianna, as the system said that changing FLs isn't allowed when it's election period. Wow, I didn't even know such a function existed!

Ah well, I think it would be best for me to let the faction penalty blow off some steam for the meantime. There's a lot of things to do lately and I haven't been that much productive, hence the rather late post for today. XD

DS Blogiversary: Teh Winrar!

I now haz teh winnar! But before that, I'd like to thank everyone who visited my blog, whether you joined this contest or not. Thank you for still continuing to visit this humble blog, and for that, I shall keep on doing what I do best!

Anway, enough with the flak...join me in congratulating teh epic winnar of the Granado Espada super funky tumbler!

It's Vacciuolo of Rembrandt Server!

And just to spill the answers..

1. Tala the Musk, Sidapa the Scout, Amihan the Elem
2. Cervantes
3. CARNAGE
4. September 15, 2007
5. Female Elementalist in Robe of Fire
   

Thanks once again to everyone who participated! Watch out for more contests in my blog soon! :D

DS Blogiversary last day of submissions!

Just a quick post. :)

If you want to win a GE tumbler (and a seekret prize of lulz), you can still submit your entries to DS' Blogiversary Contest! Deadline is until 11PM tonight (2300 hrs GMT+8)!

To those who have submitted, good luck to all of you! I'll be announcing the lucky winner tomorrow, so watch out for it! :D

Celebrating Independence Day

Happy Independence Day, Philippines!

To celebrate one of the country's national holidays, I, along with my fellow Community Crew member Patronum, organized a small in-game get-together with the PH GE gamers. I started broading past 4PM to invite everyone for a fireworks display at the City of Auch in Channel 1 to commemorate the Philippine Independence Day.

I believe NineMoons made the same gathering last year, but this time, I was surprised to see so many people! Pinoys from Takhisis, E M I N E N C E and a few other factions were there, so were my good friends Vacciuolo (who finally went back to GE) and Trianna.

Instead of the usual fireworks thing, we decided to form a human "PH" sign at the city plaza. It took quite some time for us to rally the people to cooperate, but thanks mainly to Patronum's herding abilities (LOL), everyone managed to work together.

Here's some of the screenshots taken by Patronum:

And one pretty screenshot by Vacciuolo:

As for me, I was DC-ing so badly that I wasn't able to get any decent screenshots of my own. D:

Nonetheless, I'd like to thank all GE PH gamers who were present this afternoon, and even more so to the Malaysian players who joined in just for kicks! :D Thank you SO much for a successful gathering. :) Until the next one! ;)

Viva Las Islas Filipinas!

DeSanggria is two years old!

As promised, here's a little something for everyone reading this humble blog. :)

I actually missed out my site's birthday as it was last month, but as usual, I'd like to do things a bit differently by getting you guys working on a nice contest.

Now, this is just going to be a simple one. I will be narrating 5 questions about this blog and particularly the DeSanggria family in general. If you're sharp enough, you will find all the answers in this site. All you have to do is use the search button.

What's the prize, you may ask?

I'll be giving away a Granado Espada tumbler, the very same one that Uncle Meepoktah is auctioning in his own sale. The good news is, if you win the contest, I will ship it to you, wherever you are! It's a really nice and durable tumbler that you can use as a water container when you're out on the road or anywhere else.

Tumbler image c/o Mistress Hrin

Aside from the tumbler, I shall be including a secret prize that's not GE related. Hehehe. I just want to add something extra to make it worth your while. :D

Okay, let's get down to business!

What are the names of my main family in Rembrandt? Clue: Musketeer, Scout, Elem (all female)


From which server did I start off in GE when it was first launched?

What's the name of my first faction in this server (your answer to #2)?

When did GE Philippines celebrate its own launch party?

What was my first GE cosplay?

Again, I'd like to remind you that all the answers are found in this blog...all you have to do is use the search button. Easy, right?

After you've taken down the answers, email your entry to me at this address: desanggria[at]gmail[dot]com. You can only submit an entry once, and the winner will be determined via randomizer (so I really hope you're the lucky type hehe). Please use the following format when submitting:

*Real Name:
*Address:
IGN:
Server:
Faction:
Your answers:

*Information will be held in strictest confidence.

Deadline for submission of entries is Wednesday, June 17 at 2300hrs (GMT+8). I will announce the winner the next day, June 18, just in time for the weekly maintenance.

Got it? Good! Good luck guys and I hope you have fun in this contest! :)

Plantronics GameCom Blogger's Challenge

It was another typical late night for me yesterday when I got back from work. Little did I know that things aren't as common as they seemed.

This little banner at the GE forums got me curious. I thought IAH was just going to upload the collective posts of the bloggers who reviewed the awesome Plantronics GameCom 777 Headset, but pfeh....I shouldn't have underestimated things.

Click here to know why.

It's a blogging challenge! O_O

I didn't precisely know that our reviews will be pitted against each other (and with a rather juicy prize dangling right before us O,...,O). I just feel a bit privileged to see my blog alongside a few greats as well. :D

Wish us all luck! :D

P.S.: I shall have a contest very soon, so stick around to find out what it's all about! ^^

Eargasmic!

I am in surround sound heaven. <3

It's been almost a week since the Plantronics GameCom 777 Headset arrived at my doorstep, and I'm loving every minute of it. :)

Since I'm almost always in front of the computer every day, having a nice headset/earphone is a necesarry accessory for my PC, moreso that all avid gamers need to have quality headsets to complete their gaming experience.

Using the GameCom headset in my day-to-day work and leisure activities on the computer was indeed the best experience ever. I've owned many headsets before, but nothing can quite compare to the digital surround sound that only this headset can give. Here are some of the situations where I use it most frequently.

• Listening to music while working. There's not a day that passes by where I don't open my iTunes to listen to some great sounds. I'm the kind of person who gets a lot of work done while listening to music. Having the GameCom headset glued to my ears the entire day brings the music literally closer to my ears! It's as if I could hear the synthesizers right on my ears! How's that for listening to Backstreet Boys? LOL!

• Playing Granado Espada. I have to admit that I've turned off the game's music since it gets to be repetitive, but I tried activating it when the GameCom headset on, and I have to side with Uncle MPT about this. Listening to the superb music of GE can really drive you to emo tears! I most especially loved repeating these songs:

Violin of Death (City of Auch bgm) - I've always been a big fan of string instruments, particularly the violin. Listening to this song on GameCom was like having several violins playing live!

Odyssey (Al Quelt Moreza bgm) - How does having a chorus of blending voices sound? Heavenly.

Nangman Trance (Tetra Catacombs bgm) - I really enjoyed listening to this track most of all, as it is my favorite GE bgm ever. I can distinctly hear almost all the intruments playing, which is something that I rarely experience while using my other headsets. It certainly brings back memories of my noob, power-leveling days. :)

• Watching videos. As earlier mentioned, the music, SFX and speeches are much more evident when I use the GameCom headset while watching videos. It's like being inside a cinema with all the hodgepodge of sounds blaring at your ears from all corners.

Having said all these, here's what I absolutely love about the headset.

1. Superb sound quality. I'm going to mention this again and again: you can never go wrong with the Gamecom headset when it counts to sound quality. If you're the type of person who listens to a lot of music or who just loves to play games, I couldn't recommend any headset like this.
2. Ergonomic features. The Plantronics GameCom 777 Headset probably has the best ergonomic features on the unit, particularly the soft cushions on the head and ear pieces. The most definitely provide the utmost comfort for that surround sound quality. It's like snuggling to soft, cozy sheets!
3. Discreet microphone. Safely (and inconspicuously) tucked away at the sides of the head piece is one little microphone that comes in handy when chatting with friends. I particularly use YM and Ventrilo, and I have to say that the mic carries my voice clearly and without static, unlike those in the headsets I've previously owned. What's even better is that I barely notice or feel the mic when I'm using it! It's placed a good distance from the face, making it seem like you're not using one. That's pretty ingenious if I do say so myself.
4. Volume controls. Unlike in my other headsets, it's very easy to adjust the volume with Gamecom. The volume dial makes it easy for me to know where to turn for louder/softer volume.
   

However, there are some things that I'd like to take note.

1. The uncomfortable pressure on the ears while wearing the headset for hours can be quite daunting. As much as I'd love to keep the headset on the entire day, I had to rest my ears from the discomfort. I hope the product's designing team can work out a way to provide more comfort while wearing it for longer periods of time.
2. The headset is rather big and bulky. Although it's not that heavy to carry around, it looks particularly massive than most headsets. I feel like I'm a disc jockey while wearing it. XD I wonder if there's a way to make it more lightweight while having those really nice ergonomic cushions? :D
   

Despite it all, there are many redeeming factors to the product, with the sound quality being the topmost plus factor. It may have a pricey tag, but it's something I'm willing to save up on, if only to get the best quality while listening to music or playing games. :)

Acknowledgement
This blog entry is a demo review of the Plantronics GameCom 777 Headset. I'd like to thank the gracious people of Plantronics in Singapore, as well as to IAHGames for giving me this great opportunity to review a top-class product. Special thanks to Mistress Hrin because if not for her blog plug, I'd never have known there was such a promotion! :D

I've got mail!

...and this time, it wasn't just the bills. >:D

Just this lazy Saturday afternoon, I felt like it was Christmas in May. Look what just arrived at my doorstep!

Merry Christmas! XD

I thought for one that I was too late to apply for a blog review of the Plantronics GameCom 777 Headset when I first saw it in Hrin's blog. But, lo and behold, the goodies are here!

Open eeeeet!

Teh loots.

The mother of all loots! >:D

The package contained the headset itself (in a small tote bag), a note from the people of Plantronics in Singapore, and the Demo Kit. I was literally hopping around with glee! Looking for the very first gadget to plug it in for an impromptu demo, I quickly grabbed this:

Playing Chrono Cross in PSP! :3

Okay, I know it wasn't the best gadget to try it out, but I was so excited, I could've plugged it anywhere. LOL.

Anyway, Hrin has also written her own review about the product (and with a teary-eyed pic of uncle MPT to boot!), and while browsing, I noticed one thing...the headset that was shipped to me didn't have any USB attachments. D:

Nevertheless, I shall be writing a more detailed review about the product as well as my experience in using the headset while playing GE (and a whole slew of other music tripping and voice chatting) in the next post, so stay tuned!

A fashion commentary on new GE costumes

Any avid GE gamer would have to be insane to pass up the opportunity to own costumes for their own characters. Whether it be for the stocks or RNPCs, GE's brand of fashion truly makes each one of us eager for new updates.

I'm not exactly a fashion guru, nor am I that well-versed when it comes to fashion terminologies and such. Let me, however, provide you with my personal comments on the up and coming couture that's going to hit our servers really soon!

The Trump Series

According to Mistress Hrin, things are well in the way for the next patch update this month. Although there's no final name to the patch itself, v.3.4 features the Arsene Circus, where a whole lot of circus-y stuff is bound to arrive in the New World. The main highlight of the patch of course, is the arrival of a new Elementalist-type RNPC, Hellena, and the opening of Ania's recruitment quest. Among these new characters, there's also new maps, boss monsters and mobs to encounter on this rather challenging patch update. I also got word that the cat pet (Sith/Nyato) will also be available in this patch.

The overall look and feel for this patch is obviously that of a deck of cards. From the costumes, maps, character/monster names, this update will bring a different spin to the costumes of the stock characters, aptly named as The Trump Series.

Now let's talk about them one by one, shall we? :D

Musketeer

As expected, Musks are the cloth-clad characters that don't go all-out for skin exposure. Just like the Le Blanc series, Musks don't show that much TNA, and the discerning elements of the Trump theme can be seen in the checkered patches and the heart choker for the female Musk.

I love Musks to bits, but I just feel that the female one looks tomboyish in most of her costumes. I just wish they'd flatter her feminine looks, much like what they did for the Clivia Sprite. The costume design looks a bit plain if you put her side-by-side with the Wiz and Elem.



Wizard

I think that the Wiz class truly embodies the costume theme with the checkered designs, and spade emblems on their clothes. The male Wiz looks right at home with the theme, as if he was made for such design. Meanwhile, the female Wiz looks like a regal courtier in her gown! Those accordion-like skirt frills reminds me of Shakespeare's collar. LOL.




Elementalist

No one would argue that Elems are the most flamboyantly dressed characters in the game, not to mention the most daring one as well. This one, however, got totally offhand.

For one, the male Elem's clothes are ok, but the stripes are a bit too much. The designers could've opted for a minimalist look, same with the male Musk and Wiz.

For the female Elem, now that's what you call a deck of cards exploding on a dress! She looks like a fondue cake with all the layered petticoats. It's a bit overdone for me. Besides, they went all clothed on this series, compared to the more revealing clothes in their other costumes. Quite a bit inconsistent, considering that players are actually peeping Toms when it comes to the female Elem. :p



Scout

I've always thought of Scouts as the innocent looking ones in the game, most especially the female. On this costume though, the innocence was totally smothered by the rather..uh...revealing outfit that makes the female scout look like a lolita for pedos or something. XD Although I have to admit that it matches her skin tone, but still, it's a bit far too revealing for my own comfort. The male one, on the other hand, looks ok. But there's too much purple that he reminds me of ice cream. :x It's also a far cry from the Croanian costume/Oiled Body look that really showed off his buff body.



Fighter

The male Fighter looks like something you'd expect from the anime Sailormoon. No kidding. And his arm's dislocated. XD

I'm a bit neutral to this, as I think the impressions would come when we see the costumes worn by the characters themselves. Based from my experience, the renders may look unappealing, but would look really nice on the actual characters. I'm still reserving my thoughts on this, though I have to say that the female Fighter's femininity is given some justice.

Overall, I'd say that the Wizard class tops the cool, sophisticated look for this series of costumes. It would also help if there was a bit of play in colors. So far I've noticed that the predominant shade was purple, and not everyone would look good at it. Still, the costume update is still worth something to anticipate. Hopefully they'd look a lot better once they're worn by the characters and we see them live in our servers. :)


Image Sources:
sGE Forums
GE Hanbiton

[Guide] Topping up using e-Points

For the Philippine GE players, I hope this post finds some use to you.

I've been seeing and hearing scores of top-up concerns of GE PH players when it comes to using e-Points (EP) to purchase G-Points (GP). I haven't used EP myself, but a recent happening while helping my friend top-up using the said currency has led me to understand the process a bit more.

Turns out, it's not that difficult at all. I wonder why so many players have erroneously placed their EP credits to their e-Games account. Seeing things for myself made me realize why people are confused with the whole process.

Allow me to shed some light into this.

Step 1: Go to the e-Games website. Click on the My Account button at the top-right corner.

Step 2: Key in your e-Games account details.

Step 3: Go to the GE Top-up section at the left side of the navigational bar.

Step 4: Fill in the necessary details (IAH user account, EP card PIN & password).

After entering the information, your EP card load is automatically credited to your GE/IAH account as G-Points!

A common mistake made by most players in the process is that they go directly to the e-Games Top-up section. A word of advice: DON'T DO THIS OTHERWISE YOUR EP LOAD WILL BE CREDITED TO YOUR E-GAMES ACCOUNT. You won't be able to retrieve your EP and will thus file a ticket to the e-Games Helpdesk to resolve this.

Just make sure you go immediately to the GE Top-up section, and you're good. ^_^

An unexpected surprise

Ok, so I apparently missed a few. My eyes must be failing me.

My entry


and...



Someone else's

Ah, well. At least I scored myself a few ABS. :D


Thanks, dudes from IAH. ;) Hope to see more mini-games like these.

Cirque du Soleil in June

RCM Hrin has recently blogged about the upcoming release of v.3.4.14, otherwise known as the circus patch. Ok, there's no official name for the patch just yet, so I just made that up XD.

The new patch looks promising, with new maps and a new RNPC to recruit. The cat pet will also be released in this patch, though I do hope it doesn't consume much pet food as Pigling does (still haven't got the pig though...my luck's not really rubbing off).


One thing that got me salivating in Hrin's post was the update on the Premium Treasure Boxes! Every single item is worth something (especially those Constellation signs), so there's probably no better time to get that from the Item Shop (well, I'd be floored if they brought back the Phoenix wings though...I'd love to have that D:).

The patch is set to be rolled out in 18 June. I am somewhat excited about all this, in the sense that I'm assuming that this is going to be a more challenging map than Zeia. Speculations are already up and about, saying that the patch might herald the release of the Master Promotion Scrolls.


Gosh, the requirements just keep getting a lot more steep in every patch update.


Hrin is opening the doors to suggestions for the patch name for v.3.4.14, so if you happen to think up of something that would fit the circus-like theme, then do make those suggestions count!


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In other news, a new GE server in Vietnam is currently up in the works. Based from what I understood in Hrin's post, Vietnam will have their own GE, although I think they're working closely with IAH. I'm not sure if I interpreted it as a new server, or whether Vietnam will play a distributor role for the SEA version of GE. Kindly correct me if ever I missed anything. :x


Nevertheless, I hope the GE community continues to grow, regardless of the server we all play in. ^^


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Some stuff I picked up in the forums about jGE: They're getting seiyuus (or voice actors) for RNPC VOs!


For those who've watched a few anime shows and played a few videogames know how seiyuus can make or break the overall persona of a character. I, for one, have been a huge fan of the Japanese VOs for GE characters and I absolutely find their voices extremely suited for the role.


This blog particularly talks about the specific RNPCs that need some really kick-ass VOs. I've come across some familiar seiyuu names and needless to say, I would absolutely love to hear their voices in those characters!


And yes, jGE is getting their own RNPC by the name of Miyufu. They say she's a martial artist type, though she looks more like a samurai to me based on her costume.


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Straight from the horse's mouth: Uncle Meepoktah tweets about plans for an upcoming GE tournament...Team Arena style!


Unfortunately, I suck at this, so I hope everyone else joins! Hehehe. This is going to be so much fun. I hope I can get to watch in the sidelines. XD


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RANT: Does anyone read these days? I mean...seriously. There's another facepalm thread in the forums complaining about the re-scheduled maintenance. Yeah, yeah, another round of self-pwnt posts on why it wasn't properly announced. Kinda weird because I saw the web announcement early this week.


Get this: they say that not everyone checks the website and forums for updates like this. I nearly ROFLed.


Man, oh man...God save the world from pea-brained whiners. <_<

Presenting...the Noble's Court!

If you've been spending a lot of time in the forums (like me XD), chances are, you've seen the Operation: N teaser that the IAH staff cooked up. Frankly speaking, the teaser worked wonders as it got everyone (well, most of the players who frequented the forums) abuzz with what the secrecy was all about.

Sir Lyndon unveils the mystery.

It was pretty mysterious back then, with speculations ranging from various things, that was, until someone cracked the seekretz with a preview done in other GE countries. Not that they had the same program, but rather the rewards itself.

Anyway, everything's all revealed now. Operation: N, or The Noble's Court, is actually some sort of reward system that gives stuff to players for reaching a certain family level.

I see an Ancient Shelter Pass listed there. Yay! :3

Players with family level 20 and who've completed the Vespanola's Ten Nobles Quest (Bahama series of quests) will get the consumables listed, plus a flag back costume. However, those who've finished the same quest but have family levels 25 and above will get an additional 30 day flag which gives DR+1.

According to Kaioujin, this includes your base family level plus the additional if you're part of a faction.

This also means that I will have to pick a side for my small faction (whether Royalist or Republican) if I will want to claim even the 30 day DR+1 flag.

Nevertheless, this is great news! There's going to be a lot of motivation for players to grind and promote their characters for additional family levels. Over the next few months, more Noble Ranks will be released, and I think the levels are going to be raised for that matter. I do hope the rewards are extra sweet for that. :D

Viscounts and Earls...sounds interesting.

Time to vet some characters then. *cracks knuckles*

Know more about The Noble's Court here!

Selva, the Knight Protector

Woooo! I gots teh goods! :3

Getting pwnt D:

First off, we haz new ABS loot! Yay!

My girls are loving it! :3 But I'd reaaaaallly want to get the Clivia Sprite costume for the Musketeer, Pigling and those 1-year wings! But I just burned 100ABS but got another Gold School Costume for Scout and a Star Knuckle. Looks like my luck is still in the works.

Anyway, I tried to have a crack at the new features of the latest patch. I joined the Joaquin Barrier Siege one afternoon, and I have to say that this one's a tougher nut to crack compared to the one generated by mission stones.

Gang laep tiemz!

I squadded up with a few AS peepz and other high tier players for this mission, but dang, the mobs pack quite a punch! I burned a few SCs, but we totally lost the mission. The mobs were just too many and there weren't that much of us in the squad to clear all obstructions. Still, the experience was quite something.

And that night, I PMed a few friends if they wanted to join the 8PM Team Arena just for kicks. I even broaded for good measure just to fill up the slot.

Together with fellow CC Blacksword, Falkenhausen, Pai Man Llavore and some new found friends. My DFL, Trianna, joined in some time before the mission started.

I have never played DoTA all my life, so I don't have a clue how the Team Arena works. So here's how everything looked like in the middle of the battle.

Blue team gets pwnt for what seems like forever.

I finally learned some valuable lessons after this failed mission.

1. Kill some mobs, get coins. You and your teammates can farm coins and compile all these together to buy some useful buffs and debuffs for your team and against the enemies.
2. You can never run all the way to the opponent's base, not unless you're on a suicide mission.
3. Sure, they say that everyone's basically on the same AR & DR. But darnit, ELNs and Marlin Javelins hurt. A lot.

To cap off that night's session, here's a rather quotable quote from my musk:

Conversations when you're dead suddenly become meaningful. Teh lulz.

Fuse me baby!

The GE Community Crew team is once again inviting everyone to participate in yet another forum screenshot event!

Remember this? This month's event has something to do with this image, and yes, it is doable in GE...screenshot wise, that is. :D

Fuse your characters together and see the results! We're looking for the real unique and quirky screenshot that would make us wonder how you ever got such a seamless picture that can pass for a new character altogether, or even an image that will make us laugh at the absurdity of it all.

It's up to you, folks! With so many characters, costumes and accessories (not to mention poses) available in the game, the possibilities are endless! To sweeten the deal, the CCrew (thanks to the generous people of IAHGames) will be giving away not just ABS, but a Lucifer Wings Package! That extra AR brought by the wings is surely worth the effort, so join now!

Contest ends on 30 April 2009! Get crackin'!

For more information & details on the mechanics, click here.