Six months old! A journey into WAR…

Hey Everybody,

I know I’ve been a little bit scarce for a little bit here but I wanted to pop my head in to make a little announcement. Today, February 18th, marks the six month mark for Fires of War!

It’s been a bit of a journey. Back in August, I had high aspirations for the blog but a realist viewpoint. I’d come as a fresh faced amateur writer from my first blog, MMO Madness. At that time, I wanted to be a one man WoW Insider but had no real conception of the amount of work and dedication such a task would take. Or how challenging it would be to get regular readers.

By the time I was getting done with that blog, I’d been following WAR for a while and was in love. The game was the answer to all of the problems that plagued other games. More than that, it promised new and exciting features and fun content  beyond what we’d experienced before. I ate the hype up. The hook was stuck in my bellow before they’d even begun to reel in. So, Fires of War was born. A new, more focused, writing endeavor, bred from passion and the virual enthusiasm of other bloggers such as Snafzg and Keen.

My introductory post promised news, opinion, daily updates and a podcast (aptly titled the “WARcast”). My aspirations were still high. It was summer break from college and I had all the time in the world to scour the web for beta updates, interviews, rumors, and news. So I did. Commenting was low but readers were actually coming. I became more active in the blog community and started commenting instead of silently stalking my favorite sites.

Then the game launched, well, opened into a public beta. I posted screenshots and first impressions. I was enamored. And so it continued for some time. I began writing for Hammer of War Online, a multi-blogger project that also aspired to WoW Insider heights. It was about this time that I noticed I couldn’t quite keep up with all the little bits of news that were coming out. Mythic was so active in the community, so vocal and open, that my supply couldn’t quite match demand, if you catch my meaning. Still, I caught what I could, editorialized all over the place, and enjoyed my newfound voice.

Somewhere along the line, Paul Barnett (and possibly others), caught wind of the blog and began checking it out. The first time Paul emailed me, I was floored. Truly, the guy who’d become a celebrity among the community actually read my blog? It was a milestone for me.

Around this time, the honeymoon ended. I knew the WAR was an amazing game with a lot to offer and unmatched potential for greatness. But my playtimes and the current population numbers meant that I couldn’t experience oRvR. And that I was waiting for scenarios to pop for extended periods of time. I was alright with this, since I’m a big fan of good PvE, but my favorite part of PvE, PQs, were also undermanned. As a result of my playtime, I decided to play another game in conjunction.

I also decided to expand the scope of the blog. This was perhaps the most challenging time for Fires of War. As I expected, many of the readers fell out. If I wasn’t a WAR only blog, then I’d probably fall apart like so many others had done. Or worse, degrade into WAR hate and WoW fanboyism. Neither happened, not that I expected them too anyways. But still, the blog took a hit. Yet, many readers remained which encouraged me to continue and not give up.

I wrote about WoW a bit. I wrote about Vanguard and LotRO too. But I never left WAR. I was still playing it, after all, albeit off and on for short periods during the periods glossed over in this post. I still kept a watchful eye on all of the WAR blogs and fansites.

Then, a couple big things happened. I landed an interview with Paul Barnett for the Age of  Blogging initiative. And then, ever so kindly, they sent me a blood spattered Valentine full with a cryptic, threatening, message. This openness and involvement with the community epitomized why I’d wanted to play the game in the first place. Truly, it’s the biggest reason why I still believe WAR is the most promising MMO out there. The team behind it is unrivaled.

But I digress. Somewhere along the line, the readers started returning building back readership to more than it ever was before. I mirrored the blog on gameriot, to expand the audience further, but with the understanding that many of the readers there would never come here, so to speak. But it was never about WordPress pageviews. Ever, it was about voice, express, dialogue, and community.

Now, six months down the line, Fires of War is at a different spot than whence it came. We have a different banner, a different look, but the same core we’ve always had. Roots in WAR, tendrils in other waters. And, right now, that’s the way I like it.

Most importantly, we still have a great set of regular readers. Readers that check daily for updates, even though real life promises to make that ever challenging (but far from impossible). Readers that comment, link to, and independently support the blog. Readers that put me on their own blog rolls, which in turn promises them another dedicated reader. Readers that have shown themselves to be courteous, intelligent, and with a great sense of humor.

When I started, I never would have thought that Fires of WAR, would be where it is today. As bloggers, we like to say we write because we love writing and that’s true. But, the truth of the matter is, your readership keeps us going. So, thanks to all of you. Thank you Snafzg, Syp, Arbitrary & Spinks, Keen, Ferrel, Ysharros, Ardua, and everyone else for providing me a place in the community, encouragement, and an example to work by.

I’m sorry if I didn’t mention you by name. There are just too many. But it’s a safe bet that if I’ve ever commented to, linked to, or mentioned one of your posts, you’re on that list!

Here’s to six months more!

TMI!?

My buddy got breathy... I got scared.

So, this evening, during a game of RL pool with a friend (and guildie) I was visiting, my GL started squealing over vent about a date she just landed. It hurt my ears, but that’s not the point.

Now, let me say, first and foremost, my GL is a kind, fair, and all around pleasant lady. She runs the guild in a manner that benefits everyone as much as possible. She cares and does a great job.

Anyways, she was excited because it was her first date in a while. Her last relationship had ended because of WoW, she says, so beginning anew was exciting and understandably so. She was nervous though. Ready to back out actually. I’m in a guild with quite a few people in it and the 15 or so in the vent channel were all encouraging her to go for it. “Don’t be nervous” we told her. “You’re a beautiful girl, go for it.”

Like most people in a comfortable atmosphere, she was talking a little bit about her past relationships and as loyal guildies and, dare I say, friends, we listened and responded. She was scared and hadn’t had anything serious since her last relationship. Then she dropped the bomb. “Don’t tell anyone,” she says (who would we tell, I thought, we don’t know you RL after all). “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but I’ve messed around I just haven’t had any real relationship. Last weekend I had two guys over.”

… okaaay. That was when it got a little weird. As one of two women, out of 15 total players on vent, I think she said exactly the wrong thing. I got to see exactly how odd my guild could be. Immediately, she was begged for details on her MMF encounter. When she gave them in brief, guildies wanted more.

It was kind of… how do you say… creepy? Yes. It was creepy. I’m not the kind of guy who ever got off on watching porn with his friends or talking about sexual things. I didn’t want to be around my friends when they were horned up. It was uncomfortable. On vent, I got to hear 13 people change from normal gamers into salivating horn dogs. Even though I couldn’t see their faces, it still weirded me out enough to log off.

Which makes me wonder, was it really appropriate, or anything other than harmful to the guild for our GL to share that? She’s a person and entitled to make her own decisions. Personally, I don’t care what she does in her real life but I can’t help but assume that she probably lost the respect of some of her followers. I mean, you know that kind of thing is going to circulate like wild fire.

So, how much is too much? I know that people get comfortable with their guildies. That’s great and conducive to a pleasant guild experience but where is the line for that kind of thing?

Personally, there’s no sex in WoW and I don’t want to hear about it from other guildies. I don’t know them RL and, even if I did, I don’t care what they do in bed. It’s their business and it doesn’t affect me. Plus, I’d rather not hear a bunch of guys get all breathy through my headset. Has anyone else out there been in this situation? It’s strange, right? Or am I the weird one?

An email from Paul Barnett

Update: The post Paul emailed me regarding was “How Streamlining the MMO Experience Failed WAR“. Thanks for bringing that up Rorik!

I’ve been a little lax in checking the email account I keep for this blog lately, so imagine my surprise when I log in last night to find a message from Paul Barnett himself!

It was nothing groundbreaking you would all care about, and I’m not sure if it was anything he would like shared, so I’ll refrain from posting the content of the email here. Suffice it to say that despite the late hour I read the email, I found myself feeling both excited (a developer reads my blog? Wow!) and also a little bad.

My posts on WAR have been pretty critical of late, which is perhaps not giving full weight to my feelings about the game. I’ve shared them in comments across several other popular blogs but I think it’s only fair that I share them here too.

I’m not currently playing Warhammer Online. More than any other reason, this is because I usually play during the day when there’s usually less people on to oRvR with. As we all know, having large groups of other people to play with can really impact how much fun a player will have in the game. For me, my play time is a self-limiting factor that bars me from experiencing what many find to be the magnum opus of the game: oRvR. There are issues and things that don’t necessarily appeal to me but let me explain the other side of the coin too.

WAR has more potential than any other game on the market. That includes WoW. The systems they’ve put into the game, such as PQs and keep sieges, are poised to be genre pushing. Conceptually, WAR stands above any other title of its kind. Graphically, it’s already ahead of the pack (for those who enjoy stylization, of which I am one) and is ready to be scaled upward as time goes on.

I haven’t quit WAR. Not by any definition of the word. I’ve said from the beginning that I’m taking a break. As patches go in, the content gets updated, and the playerbase solidifies and grows, so too will what I’m able to experience and take away, and I’ll come back. When I played WAR, there was a lot I found fun and really just “hooked” me when I was doing it. Sure, there are things I don’t care for, such as crafting or the lack of fluff content, but this is personal preference and I don’t necessarily think I represent any kind of majority here.

So, I hope my recent posts haven’t pushed anyone towards thinking that WAR is a bad game. It’s not. Imagine a world where there was no WoW to compare to. In that world, a game like WAR would be remarkable. I think that sometimes we can all fall victim to the trap of unfair, and even unconscious, comparisons.
If you have issues with the state of WAR, don’t just quit. Give it a chance. Wait a while, keep an eye on what’s happening.

I don’t think that anyone can deny that Mythic has proved themselves to be one of the most dedicated teams out there. They’re constantly releasing updates and patches, and, perhaps most importantly, they’re about the most communicative group you could ever hope for. They talk, they listen, and they work with us.

Everything I’ve said here, I’ve said before and stand by it. I’ve been a little critical lately, perhaps in part due to my own fair share of blog reading, but it’s important everyone understands where I truly stand. The day I give up on WAR is the day I stop blogging about it and that’s not coming any time soon.

Author’s Note: Just to clarify, Paul emailed me to share his thoughts on one of my posts. He didn’t say anything to directly cause this entry. More than anything, it was the realization that the people who make the game read what I have to say and maybe I haven’t given their hard work a fair enough shake lately.

UtP: The Wisdom of the Black Guard?

It’s Monday again, folks, and that means another edition of Upon the Pyre! I was disposed last Monday, so this will be the first article in a couple of weeks.

In this edition, I look at the implementation of the Black Guard and Knight of the Burning Sun back into the game. We’re all happy about their return, aren’t we? I mean, we knew about those classes before the game launched and many of use had our eye on them for our first character. When I first heard about it in the State of the Game address, I was initially happy. Now, I’m not so sure.

Head on over to Hammer of War and check it out. Let me know what you think – is it a good idea to bring back the Black Guard?

Read the full article here.

Upon the Pyre, October 6th edition!

Update: Check out my full piece here.

Alveterzane Readers!

As I shared with you last week, Upon the Pyre (my column at Hammer of War) has been moved to Mondays… and that’s today! As of this posting, the good folks over at HoW are working to get this week’s article up and ready for viewing. We’re covering keeps this week; why your guild should care and what you should expect of your guild leaders. If you’re just getting into RvR, or Warhammer in general, definitely give it a look. Even if you’re a veteren, hop on over and let me know your takes.

For the time being, check out their homepage and my article will be on the top when it’s up. I’ll update this post with a direct link as soon as it’s available.

Take Care!

Upon the Pyre: Why the Hate for PvE?

The latest edition of Upon the Pyre is now up over at Hammer of War! We’ve changed things up a little bit, so now my column can be found every Monday. I’m cool with this change and I hope it allows more of you to stop by in your free time… or down (read: unsupervised) time at work. My blog and HoW get the most page hits during the week. I know what you’re up to! Don’t worry, I won’t tell your boss as long as you don’t tell mine.

I’ve been scanning the reviews for WAR since launch. Some are very positive, some are negative, and quite a few are in between. One sticking point for a lot of reviewers is the PvE content. A lot of people don’t like that it’s not revolutionary; they don’t like “more of the same”. I just don’t understand these sentiments. Did we expect something more than what we got? Why? Help me out here, guys.

Click here to check it out.

Upon the Pyre: Strategies to Give You an Edge in Battle

RvR is faction on faction mayhem. You’re a representative of your race, a gear in the machine that is Order or Destruction and if you want to win, you have to know how to do it. Now, I’m no RvR guru but I have learned a few tricks that will help give you an edge in battle. That’s what today’s column is about.

It’s Sunday again, and that means another edition of Upon the Pyre! I’ve written up some of the best ways that I’ve found to lay your enemies to waste. Feel free to share your own in the comments section, too. Check it out and let’s create our own compendium of death – I’m thinking of titling it “Fluffy Bunny goes to WAR”.

The column is up now. Click here to view it.