Lady Jess

Army Wife, Mom of teenage girls, blogger, photographer and gamer. Slightly dramatic, prone to /Jessrage, and maybe a little nuts.

I Didn’t Want To Love You

SW:ToR 7 Responses »

Nov 282011

When Belghast asked me a couple weeks ago if I was going to try Star Wars: The Old Republic, I said no. I couldn’t get into Mass Effect at all, and I’m not a Sci-Fi fan in the least. I’m more a fantasy game fan. Dragons, Elves, Dwarves, that’s where my heart lies. I also said I didn’t want another MMO. Because I was sure WoW was enough.

Then I got into this past weekend beta. My first try was a Jedi Consular. She was enough to show me I might be wrong. Then, for some reason, I logged out and created a Smuggler. That’s when they had me. That’s when the Black Magic that is Bioware grabbed me, held on with a death grip that would make Darth Vader quiver, and sucked me right in. Me! Someone who hasn’t watched a Star Wars movie since the 80’s. Someone that barely remembers more than Darth Vader bad, Republic good, Vader is Luke’s Father and Hans Solo was awesome.

Now, I’m not going to detail the techie aspects. But I’m going to tell you what I loved.

Dialog!

Bioware’s typical dialog choices are here. My character is fully voiced, delivers her lines beautifully. As a smuggler, she is witty, sarcastic, downright snarky sometimes, and sensitive when needed. Each dialog option let’s you form your character’s personality. It also effects your companions opinion about you. want to be a smartass with a heart of gold, great! Want to be a greedy bastard just in it for the profits, no problem! Want to tell this guy you wouldn’t help him if pigs flew, you can do that too. It’s not just take the quest, turn it in. There are actual choices here. They also can change your Light Side/Dark Side meter. And this is where Bioware once again shines. If you are unhappy with a dialog choice you made, and the conversation hasn’t ended yet? Simply hit escape and start it over!

Who’s The Good Guy?

I played Republic for the beta. Being used to Alliance good, Horde bad from WoW this was where Bioware hit me again. Sometimes, the “Light Choice” is the more “bad” choice. That’s right, there are questionable morals in The Republic. And by taking the “Light” choice, you are actually making the not so moral decision. And I love that. They made sure The Republic isn’t straight up “good”. They in fact have a lot of Gray area here. Much like Dragon Age, where the Grey Wardens are the hero, but not always by making the “good” choices.

Companions!

And romance. I only got to meet one companion in the beta. But I fell for him right away. I fell for other people’s companions too, they are really well done. So far, at least. And of course, romance exists! Which I’ve come to expect from Bioware. I know, I know, most people don’t think it’s necessary. But I think it’s important in an RPG. It adds to the RP factor. It lends realism as well, because let’s face it, who is going to have a group of 5 people living and working together without something growing from it?

Codex Me!

The Bioware codex! I love the codexes in Dragon Age. Because there is a lot of lore, a lot of people, and things you need to remember. But it’s also not feasable to think it’s possible to remember all of it. With ToR, you have the Codex, people, places, things, professions, etc get put here as you discover them, and you can look back later if you need information. It provides information on your companions as well, which is really helpful, telling you a bit of their backstory, and what gifts they like.

I’m In Love

From start to finish I thoroughly loved playing the beta. My class quest chain sucked me into the story. And made me feel like a real part of the world, not just a visitor. Bioware, as usual, makes you feel like the Best Badass Hero on the Planet from the very start. As it should be. The graphics were amazing, the sound effects were like being in the movies. And the Character Creation blew my mind. The UI was pretty intuitive if you’ve played WoW and Dragon Age you know just where to look for most things.

I have 2 weeks left of school. Then another 2 weeks before the game launches. So, I guess I’ll just have to kick back, relax, and wait. Because there’s no way I’m not buying.

I don’t think TOR will be the WoW Killer people believe. It’s really great, but Star Wars and Sci Fi are a completely different animal than the Azeroth universe they’ve created. But, if Bioware is successful with this, and there is no earthly reason they won’t be, it starts a precedent. If based on the success, they opt for a fantasy based MMORPG, then, I think Blizzard will have serious competition. I know it would probably pull me away.

On Being Thankful

Holidaze No Responses »

Nov 242011

Happy Thanksgiving All! Today, I’m just going to take a moment to be Thankful.

For:

My husband being HOME, and not in some desert being shot at.
My family, both my small extended family, and my HUGE amount of really awesome In Laws!
That I am no longer living in a place I hate, and get to enjoy living in a place I love.
All my awesome friends, near and far, new and old, online and off.
The ability to stay in touch no matter the distance thanks to blogging, facebook, twitter, tumblr, and cell phones
The opportunity to get a college education (Thanks Hunny!)
That my children are all around good kids.
Not having to cook this year!

Wishing everyone a wonderful day full of good food, good company, and safe travels!

It Finally Happened!

WoW 2 Responses »

Nov 232011

150 pets! It’s taken a long time to get those last ones, but here it is. And I’d never have gotten it without the generosity of guildies both past and present. Such gifts as the Deviant Hatchling (Team effor thanks to Twice and Bear), Ammenvale Lashling and Dun Morogh Cub Mystery gift, and I believe Ruu), Black Tabby (Nyssa from my old Khaz’Goroth guilds), Twice, and Algie for the repeated farming of that damned blood elf instance on that Island I can’t remember to get the Phoenix Hatchling, and…unbelievably, the Hyacinth Macaw (Thank you Twice!), and all of @parallelguild for your patience in putting up with the crazy pet lady.

It takes a village to raise a Celestial Dragon….

And if by chance I forgot anyone, because my memory kinda sucks, Thank you too!

Think Before You Cut

In The Army No Responses »

Nov 222011

The following is a statement from Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (Source) from my Tumblr.

The failure of the Congressional Supercommittee to reach an agreement on deficit reduction is a setback for the country’s efforts to achieve fiscal responsibility while protecting our national security. If Congress fails to act over the next year, the Department of Defense will face devastating, automatic, across-the-board cuts that will tear a seam in the nation’s defense.

Despite the danger posed by sequestration, I join the President in his call for Congress to avoid an easy way out of this crisis. Congress cannot simply turn off the sequester mechanism, but instead must pass deficit reduction at least equal to the $1.2 trillion it was charged to pass under the Budget Control Act.

In my four decades involved with public service, I have never been more concerned about the ability of Congress to forge common-sense solutions to the nation’s pressing problems. Since becoming Secretary of Defense, I have made it clear that the Department has a responsibility to help the country get its fiscal house in order — and we are doing that. I have been leading a strategy-driven effort to achieve the more than $450 billion in cuts over 10 years required by the Budget Control Act. We will move ahead with that plan.

But as Secretary of Defense, my primary responsibility is to protect the security of the nation. The half-trillion in additional cuts demanded by sequester would lead to a hollow force incapable of sustaining the missions it is assigned. If implemented, sequester would also jeopardize our ability to provide our troops and their families with the benefits and the support they have been promised. Our troops deserve better, and our nation demands better.

The emphasis in bold, is from my friend Andrea, who added…

Emphasis mine. I know a lot of people would applaud further cuts to the defense budget, but what a lot of people don’t understand is that the first things to be cut are not materiel or training. The cuts will first come from benefits and family programs. I know that even though I don’t qualify for MyCAA (educational training for spouses), I regularly use FMWR(Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation) and ACS (Army Community Services) programs to help me just get through the day some days.

This is the part most people don’t realize when they scream for cuts to defense spending. I don’t care what your opinion on the wars is. That is not, I repeat NOT where spending cuts get made. It’s the FAMILIES that pay. Please, please PLEASE, hear and understand this. The cuts could/would include health care, dental, prescriptions (adding copays, or increasing them) child care, vital when BOTH parents must work, because believe me, we are certainly NOT that well paid. I’ve been very lucky these last years to not need work. My kids are older, out of the expensive phase of diapers, bottles, formula, etc. Even MORE vital when husbands are sent to train, to war, or to schools. Even I am looking to start building a resume and work experience.

Educational programs provided through ACS (Army Community Services, which provide job hunting, resume, adjustment to military life, resource gathering, educating new spouses, and many other vital services), Educational programs for dependents, such as the ability to take proctored exams at our Ed Centers, a benefit we already lost at our last post, not to mention sports and activities that help these kids feel like NORMAL kids with all the moving around, family counseling and outreach programs. They may not sound like much to you, but we depend on their availability. Especially when our husbands are away, be it for field time or deployments, or schools.

Think about who these cuts are really going to hurt before you demand them.