Colony Wars (8/12/07): Suicidal tendencies + GE server maintenance

Yay! I've finally finished updating the CARNAGE Faction blog! Please do check it out for my report on the Faction-wide event as well as yesterday's Colony Wars.

And since re-writing the CW report here would be tedious, I'd just like to point out a few things I didn't mention in my update on the Faction blog.

First off, I took the plunge in actually wading in the bloodshed without the benefit of a squad. I was standing like an idiot in Coimbra minutes after the war has started, and I suddenly felt the urge to see the action in front of me instead of just reading stuff in the Faction chat. Good thing I was able to save at least one warp point nearest to a CARNAGE Colony. From there I used the Faction's Colony Manager to warp to King's Garden.

Of course, I was expecting to die after I warped to the territory. And true enough, I was taken down by some guys from Norgard. While lying there, I realized that even if I did manage to skittle away from the mob, I'd have died still, as I was the lone CARNAGE family facing a dozen people or so.

Norgard taking a whack at our King's Garden Colony.

I figured I probably won't be able to much of help anyway, not when majority of the people rain on Photon Splashes and Holes of Darkness on everyone, so I thought of just letting Cyradis the Scout do the medic work in reviving the fallen.

But nevertheless, I kept dying, but thanks to one friend from Dominion, I was revived and in turn, I helped out one faction mate. Just one. Damn stupid lag for making things extra hard for a lowbie like me.

One particular thing I've observed was the ingenious strategy of Yakisoba and its allies to retaliate after we've left a given Colony. These attacks were simultaneously launched, thereby splitting the troops in the defense of the territories.

A friend from Dominion revives Cyradis.

With all the major hoopla happening in-game and in the Faction chat, I wasn't able to list the Factions who declared war, but nevertheless, it was a fun and action-packed day for me. I might even do this suicidal coverage thing again. LOL.

'Gratz to everyone who participated! Until next week's war!

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And even greater news!

GE will have an early server maintenance in preparation of the version 2.1.18 patch. As such, the game will be inaccessible starting tomorrow, August 14 at 1000 hours (GMT +8), until Thursday, August 16, at 1200 hours (GMT +8).

So I suggest we all take advantage of the few remaining hours! Grind, grind, grind beybeh!

news and events update

So far, it has been an exciting week for some of us who've been spending quite a number of our waking hours immersed in this New World. Let me just enumerate what the DeSanggria family has been up to for the past few days.

GE business model: Hybrid P2P

I've always been an advocate of the pay-to-play scheme for this game. IAHGames has rather enumerated valid reasons why a free-to-play model would not be the right fit for a game of this caliber. It's good that they've finally broken the silence amidst speculations on what business model they will implement.

So for those who've been living under a rock, Granado Espada will have a Php 300/month payment scheme, under which the said amount will have corresponding G-Points for use in the Item Mall. Note that players also have the option of availing either G-Points with and without Game Time. They also have the choice of selecting Gamer Value Card (GVC) beyond the minumum monthly charges.

Please refer to the sGE website for details on the GVC, G-Points and payment breakdown.


In-game event: The Return of Vergo the Cursed

...or rather, the non-appearance of Vergo the Cursed. LOL.

I decided to take a peek on what was happening in this event, which took place at the Reboldoeux Queen's Gate Channel 1. The GE-wide taunts of Vergo got everyone psyched up to take him down, and naturally when most of the Pioneering Families took on his challenge, we all encountered a fiend far worse than Vergo himself:

Fun time LAG. W00t!~

Pioneers converge at the Queen's Gate.
Spot the Baron who killed Verdandi!

I was barely moving down the steps of the gate, and when I reached the fountain, Verdandi was killed on the spot by a Yakisoba member (we're still at war with them to this day *shakes head*). Thankfully, one of my faction mates revived my Elementalist and that's when the people (and the lag) started kicking in.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, Vergo sent quite a number of his minions to chop off Cervantes' defense. Take note that these monsters were not just the usual chaps...these were level 100 bosses. I've spotted a handful of Elgums, Grim Reapers, Magical Dragon Heads, TRexes, and a few level 83 gits such as Vladimir and the Fallen Champion.

And there were about 15 or so Treasure Golems that were unleashed as well. =_=;;

No sign of the Dark Lord.
And no, it's not you, Voldemort. XD

Monster drops were quite few and rare. Those who were able to get past the lag and actually pick up those items were lucky. Some of the baddies dropped the Sheep Horn hair for the Elementalist, as well as high quality rubies and other items.

But the thing was, we didn't see Vergo. Or his shadow. Nuh uh.

What the eff is wrong with the universe?


CARNAGE Faction event

Some enterprising dude by the family name of Cz°Overdose organized an in-game event for everyone in the faction. I'll be writing about that over at the CARNAGE Faction blog, so check it out once the article is up.


Faction politics

I know I'm probably not the best authority to comment on the faction politics happening in Cervantes, but I'm greatly disturbed at what's happening. As much as I'd like to say my piece, I just hope everything gets straightened out—for everyone's sake.

As Granado Espada is such an immersive world, it would do well for everyone to remember that THIS IS JUST A GAME. Let's not get carried away and bring the animosity in real life. Jeez.

But really, if someone offers a truce, accepting it would count for maturity and sportsmanship. Getting fussed up on so small a thing says a lot on one's character. I really ought to shut my trap. LOL.


Etcetera

Baroque era be damned, these guys need a vacation too!

GE goes tropical!

Welcome to GE summer capital, Gigantes Island!

Free watermelons over there!

Oh my, if he's part of the summer party, SIGN ME UP!! <3

ZOMG! NEW ITEMS!

We interrupt the previous boring post with this breakthrough announcement...

I was kinda getting anxious here at work with the huge deadline hanging on my neck, so I made the usual rounds of checking out some GE-related websites. The GE SG page in particular just posted a new update on the upcoming release of GE ver. 2.1.18, the much-awaited business model, and...NEW ITEMS!! W00t!!!!

I'm especially excited on the new costumes for the characters, seeing that the Naharurosa will be made available to the female Elementalist.

Flowery orange: Naharurosa

Musketeer in purple: Alberto's Royal Uniform

Snoop Dogg lookalike M'Boma: Noblesse Coat Costume

The Musketeer & Elementalist on a date.

Plus of course, new items will be included in the Item Mall, and this includes the extended warp slots and extra barracks slots!! Wahooo!!! This is going to blow a huge hole in my pocket, I can feel it! XD

And I'm pretty sure the level 100 people are going to have a roll now that the Veteran Stances are just within reach...

Check out all the goodies here.

a change of pace + GE in-game event

I've decided to move in to Caravaggio for the meantime in order to get to work on the next featured faction for the website. I'm currently within the ranks of the PasawayProphecy Faction, a fun group who enjoys sniffing katol (wehehehe) and passing around amusing comments on the Faction chat.

And with my temporary transfer to Caravaggio, I've revived the DeSanggria cousins Kahlil (Scout), Raquim (Musketeer), and Armeo (Elementalist), who all happen to be guys. LOL. I wonder what's the counterpart for chicksilog for girls then. XD

Anyway, I'm back to leveling the boys from scratch. It's such a chore to level, now with the 2XP event gone and all. I'm beginning to get tired of seeing the Ferruccio Junction and those blasted hopping crocodiles. But something unexpected happened last night in that very spot: some low level monster dude dropped the most insane item ever...a friggin' Lloyd Control Ring! O.O

Okay, I know this costs millions and all, with so many players getting their share of Catherine RNPCs. I thought it was my lucky day and that I can have this thing transferred to my Cervantes characters. But then again, stupid me, I just realized I can't very nearly transfer items to another server so that means either I train the boys decently to reach the appropriate level so I can get my own Catherine, sell it to the market place or to someone else, or to just plain give it away.

But I'm not that much of a saint to actually give it away without a catch. Mwahahahaha.

In other news, I've finally leveled the girls to 52! Hahahaha. It's such a big feat for me, considering the limited time I can play and that I don't have someone else to pilot my characters. I'm just glad they're finally eligible to wear other clothing aside from those leather armors and robes which have become really sickening to look at for the last 3 months. LOL.

At last, new wardrobe! :3

Oh and I just realized the girls can be Baroned now, but if we ever do meet in-game, go easy on me. ^^

But I'm not stopping there! I hope to see the Verdandi dressed in a Rosa Matrimonio gown, Alaena in a Gladiator Suit and Cyradis in a Laranja e Preto ensemble. That's gonna take a lot of grinding for me. XD I guess I ought to say goodbye to my social life for the meantime. Harharhar.

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RCM Hrin has announced an in-game event happening in all of GE's 5 servers on Channel 1: The Return of the Dark Lord, Vergo The Cursed.

The event happens today, August 9, at 2000 (GMT +8) at the Reboldeoux Queen's Gate. I heard this Vergo dude's one tough nut...good thing wyldfyer from the GE forums had this handy screenshot of this monster.

Waah! Level 100 abomination!

I'm not too sure if I can stick around to cover the event (with the storm brewing and all), but we'll see!

P.S.: It's Singapore's National Day today! Have a great one, people! ^0^

GE's back!

Yup, you heard it right. The Granado Espada servers are now up since 3:30 this morning, and the first to announce this great news was none other than my faction mates in CARNAGE. Some were still up at around 2AM, no doubt amusing themselves with other online games and whatnot. It's a good thing they've got first dibs on the news...what a great way to start the day! Hehehe.

So forget drinking a cup of steaming coffee and musing about life in this rainy day. Time to get back to the addiction! >:)