Games Page Mass Update 2009

by Eonwe-(Valar)
September 5, 2009
News > GPMU2009

Hail and salutations to all members of the Valar Guild!
 
It's your humble Vala and Games Page webmaster, Eonwë, and yes, it's time once again time for the annual Games Page Mass-Update(GPMU for short) :} This is where I expunge the old gaming data for the last year from the Games Page, and beseech you to send in your newer gaming info, so that we can hopefully find eachother in the games we play :} Answering counts as contact in the event of a sweep, and even if you don't have much time for games right now, letting us know so is preferable to not replying at all, since it also lets us know your information is still correct and you're still interested in being a member. Please reply by September 30th to have your information included right off the bat with the refreshed Games Page.
 
Our community of Tolkien fans and gamers is approaching its Twelfth Anniversary on October 4th (e-mail celebration ideas to Varda :}). Thank you and congratulations to all those who have made it possible over the years :} Since our founding days in Diablo 1 we've sought to provide a haven for legit, cooperative play with honorable gamers away from the rudeness and profanity found in many games. One way I try to do my part is by making sure you all have a chance to find other Valar Guild members in whatever games you play :} That's where the annual GPMU comes in. By making sure the info is updated at least yearly, there's a reasonable chance that if you wanted to find a partner for, say, Battle for Middle-Earth 2, you could find one through the Games Page.
 
We also have ways members can get together outside of games. These are our Forum (please register using your Guild name so we know who you are :}) and our weekly meeting, held every Sunday on AIM in channel Valar Guild Meetingplace (whisper VardaValar1 or Eonwe Valar to get an invitation if you need one). The Forum can be used for many things, from discussing Tolkien to signing up for raids. At the Sunday meeting, we discuss business first(Membership News, Web News, and Gaming), then move into Tolkien discussion. Take these as a chance to meet members who play other games and chat with them :}
 
We have plenty for members to do outside of games as well. Our Tolkien Site (maintained by Varda) consists of an Encyclopedia (be sure to cite sources in your articles and papers), a Stories page, a Poetry page, and an Art page, all consisting of Tolkien-related items created by members. The Games Page (maintained by me) is always seeking reviews of games.
 
 
On the Gaming front, we have been quite busy in Lord of the Rings Online. For the last several months we've been running with another group against Filikul, a giant turtle boss in one of LotRO's raid instances. There's also been talk of having an all-Valar run later in the week after the instance reset, if we have the interest, as we certainly have the manpower :} We also have other groupings throughout the week, including before and after the attack on the turtle.
 
Speaking of Lord of the Rings Online, Turbine just announced a new expansion: The Siege of Mirkwood. Level cap will be 65 in this one. Check out http://www.lotro.com/news/pressreleases/459-the-lord-of-the-rings-online-siege-of-mirkwood for more details. It's supposed to be out *this* fall. That's right, this very year :} So far, it sounds like only a digital download is planned. Hopefully we'll get word of a more tangible format soon, for those of us who like to actually have the disks and other little goodies :}
 
 
We've not been quite so busy on Lothar in World of Warcraft, but some of us are enjoying the Argent Tournament and we are up to 5 bank tabs :}
 
We've been fairly busy on Uldaman in World of Warcraft the last few months, and some of our characters are filling up the 2 bank tabs we have there :}
 
Blizzard announced their next expanson for World of Warcraft at Blizzcon a couple of weeks ago. It is called Cataclysm and is supposed to feature Deathwing as the primary antagonist. Their level cap is 85 (also only 5 levels higher than the previous cap. Interesting that both Blizzard and Turbine would choose to go that route, eh?), but will be offering alternative means of advancement at high level. There is, as always with Blizzard, no official word on when it will be out yet, so we'll just have to wait for it :} Seeing as we still have one more major content patch (3.3) for Wrath of the Lich King, however, I wouldn't expect the next expansion until next year :}
 
Before we reach 3.3, though, we will have 3.2.2. Blizzard is redesigning the Onyxia raid for the Fifth Anniversary of World of Warcraft, bringing it up to current raid standards. If you're a collector who wants his T2 helm, you might want to move soon to get in there and claim it from Onyxia's hoard. WoW's fifth Anniversary is in November, so chances are good 3.2.2 will hit by then.
 
 
Blizzard also announced a new class for Diablo 3 at Blizzcon: the Monk.
 

Unfortunately, nothing really new was gleaned about Starcraft 2, but we do know more about the upcoming Battle.net improvements. Their goal is to integrate their games such that WoW players, SC2 players, and D3 players can intercommunicate. Sounds promising :}
 
 
So, that brings us to the end.
Remember:
1.) Please respond by September 30th with your gaming info. Either catch me at a meeting or reply to this e-mail.
2.) Check out all our wonderful pages and consider sending something of your own in :}
3.) Continue to show the world the shining examples of humanity you are :}
4.) Read more Tolkien :} Or at least read :}
 
 
Take care all and hope to hear from you soon! May Elbereth's stars light your path!
Eonwë-(Valar), proud member of the Valar Guild
Email to deneltir (AT) hotmail (dot) com